Struggling.

We're really trying to watch what we spend. We've really been watching what we've been spending. So the fact that we just got billed $1,500 for water for the last two months is completely ridiculous. We already had Ted look at it and the water people but Thursday I'm trying to get the plumber to come look for ANYTHING. Because I'm not paying this much money for water for two months. Even between two people it's like $500 and that's more than our monthly rent. RIDICULOUS.

Either way, we're struggling to pay for everything right now... Rent, water, electricity, the car, food... We're really trying to stay on our own feet but I won't be mad if we get any money in food stamps... We are hardcore struggling. And it seems like even if we work every day it's not making a difference. ): Always so much to pay for.

I guess this is what life is about?

I miss walking into a store, my mom handing me a $5 bill, and that being the only money I handled ever.

Oh my my my.

xxx

Beth

Happy July!

We are super busy this month. Teaching private lessons, a dance class for Wendy's summer camp for two weeks, a workshop on the last Saturday of this month, and practice every Thursday for Genetiks. So much hype. We have so much to prepare and teach. (:

Our first class is today and I'm a little nervous...but I'm nervous before every class and every performance so I guess it's normal. I can't wait to get in the studio and teach.

I'm 20 years old now. Haha.

Weeeird.

xxx

Beth

Kitties and Kiddies.

I am a happy person. There is no doubt about it.
I am a very happy, satisfied person.
I love myself and all around me.
I am happy.
Even I believe that living feels like a dream. Living feels imaginary to the point of false reality. That's not bad. I don't know if it's good either. But I feel like living in this world as this person isn't extremely concrete. I mean, things are always changing no matter how you look at it. Everything is changing. So, how could we possibly live in a concrete world?
Two plus two might not always equal four and in the brains of some, it's twenty two or twooty two or it just stays two and two. There are a lot of possibilities in the world and far too many to make any facts set in stone.
Everyone is allowed their own individual life.
He is allowed to do whatever he wants with that life. So is she. So is everyone else.
As am I.
I am allowed to do whatever I want with my own individual life.
I'm allowed to make mistakes, to fall on my face, to eat ice cream every day WITH sprinkles. I'm allowed to fail an exam and then ace the retest. I'm allowed to love my family and sometimes hate them. I'm allowed to have two cats and a tiny human.
And that makes me a happy person.

xxx

Beth

This weekend has been crazy.

I love the arts. There is absolutely no denying it. I love, love, love the arts and all things creative. Creativity is so important in our lives as human beings. Innovation is everything.

And this weekend? I found a real sense of community. There really are good people out there but they don't come too often....so when you find them, stick to 'em. It's so important to have good people in your life to influence and help you better yourself.

That being said, I learned a lot in the past few days. Especially in the foundations, freestyle, and performance classes. Seriously? OH MY GOODNESS. I have never cyphered so much in a weekend. Never. Ever. EVER. Especially, with people watching. I finally feel some sense of confidence when I dance. And honestly, I've never felt so comfortable around a group of fellow dancers. Indeed, a lot of dance communities can stunt the growth of a dancer's freestyle, choreography, and dancing in general. But here, it feels like I'm home. Like everyone is on the same level with the same goals doing the same to help each other out.

EC and I love bringing art to the world around us and especially to those who can't get it. Training is so expensive and a lot of kids can't get any kind of art because of circumstance. Unfortunate. So...unfortunate. ): So, we want to change the circumstances of kids who aren't from financially capable households, who are in places where the arts aren't close by or easily accessible, kids who need encouragement in their art.

We want to bring those kids peace.

xxx

Beth

(peace love live)

Moving forward.

Moving forward, I'm glad so many things aren't in my life. It's taken me a long time to realize exactly what is good for me and what isn't and to actually make efforts to get the things bad for me away from me. It's a lot easier to just take things and take things but it's another to respect yourself, stand up, and walk away.

Eric and I are coming up on some hard times; this weekend is going to be crazy! But we're going to make it through. We've been working our butts off this week and we're both super tired. I'm so ready to be done with summer school.

Next month, we have a lot of dance classes to teach. We're teaching an intensive for two weeks at Wendy's and then subbing for Jose's hip-hop classes the next two weeks. At the same time, we have a gig lined up for private hip hop lessons and are teaching a couple's piece in Yorktown at the end of July. So hype!

I just hope I have enough energy to get through it all. Haha.

Peace. Love. Dance.

xxx

Beth

Our future.

Our future together is so bright. 

We have so much opportunity coming. 

This is last year's ARTspo. Just the beginning of a wonderful story. I don't know what has changed since then...but people who supported us through this, no longer support us. Is it conflicting interest? Unexplained animosity? I don't know. But whatever it is, it doesn't take away from what we have planned. 

I really enjoy working with you on ARTspo stuff, in class, teaching together, baking and delivering cookies together. We're a great team. I know this for fact. We're going to spend the rest of our life together being an amazing team! More than half the opportunities I see now are because of you, are with you, would not be if not for you. So, thank you. 

I will hang onto us forever. Our dreams and our souls align like I have never thought possible. 

Peace. Love. Live. 

Working hard; staying humble.

My body has been so sore since Jojo's 2 hour house class...

But, we've been doing our best to keep it moving from the studio on Sunday to the gym on Monday and yesterday. It's been a long, crazy process...but I'm finally starting to lose the soreness! Yes. Haha.

In the meanwhile, EC and I and the ARTspo 2014 team are working hard to bring this intensive together while still planning for the actual festival. The intensive is coming up on the first weekend of June and the festival is on the first weekend of August.

If you're a dancer, come train! Save your spot here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/artspo-dance-intensive-tickets-11528607375

Also, here is the "in-progress" shot of the flyer for the festival:

 

We're taking donations at the intensive for the festival and hopefully raising as much as we can to make it happen! The festival is going to be held in Durham, NC but we're still trying to confirm the venue.

In the meantime, I got a second job at the Cookie Company and EC and I have really been working hard to save up money. Lyssa's baby shower is this weekend! Yay! (: We miss her terribly.

This summer is definitely going to be a busy one. I'm taking summer classes, working two jobs, taking care of ARTspo things, and probably having Nini over for the summer so we can take her to art and dance classes! (: I just want her to have the opportunities EC and I never had.

Well, it's almost time to pick up Eric from work so I'll end this blog here.

Peace. Love. Live!

xxx

Beth! <3