Poofs&Poodlesox

OC senior ladies Celtic Academy 18th in MidAmerica Fall down seven, stand up eight

[happinessandhardshoes]

Camille Slaght for CBC Arts: The Move. 

[discount-satan]

Random person at feis: Hey, that thing in your slip jig was really cool! I’ve never seen that before!

Me, quietly sweating: Um. Thanks.

Me, internally, admitting the truth:

[kimbellll]

When I was a little girl I dreamt of qualifying for the Oireachtas. Tonight, my wildest dream came true, and at my 10th Oireachtas I became the 2017 OIREACHTAS CHAMPION! Thank you to all of my amazing dance family for supporting me over all of these years and believing in me no matter what. Thank you to my family for being so supportive of my dreams. This is on the beginning. Roll on Glasgow 🥇🏆🌎#ardandomination (at Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel)

[poofsandpoodlesox]

@kimbellll so so happy for you!! Well deserved 😁

[poofsandpoodlesox]

Wow what a day/night!!! Finally recalled at oireachtas (check that goal off the list!— I don’t care that it was an automatic recall- I still recalled 😁), and came in 18th place!!!!! Not only did I dance the absolute best hp and reel of my life yesterday— after literally messing them up at every feis I’ve done this fall- I had scores placing me 10th, 12th, and 13th!!!!! WHAT!! And then I did my set (which I learned 2 weeks ago, bc I’m used to never having to need one so I was like “eh I guess I should learn this set just in case 🤪). Set was a mess LOL. Lead was fine and most of the set was fine but then I blanked out, and honestly I wasn’t focusing correctly at all during the entire dance. So my set dropped me down to 18th overall. But I am SO happy and freaking proud of myself!! I work 2 jobs (one full time, one part time that is part of my grad school requirement), and I’m in grad school full time (plus a hubby and puppy at home). So to say I felt unprepared for this oireachtas is a huge understatement. I’ve never been so unprepared for any competition. I HATE being unprepared. I had zero time to even think about dance this fall and honestly haven’t been able to get to class in 3 weeks. I went in to this oireachtas with zero expectations. I had realistic expectations that I’d probably get last or close to last bc I didn’t train like I wanted or had planned to; I was ready to accept low scores and took responsibility for it if it happened. Turns out this mentality is what probably helped me do so well. I’m always super anxious and over thinking everything but yesterday my motto was “fake it til you make it”. I said this to myself side stage and while waiting during the intro, and just focused on being so glad to be there. I danced with the girl who got 2nd for my reel (she’s sooo amazing) and instead of being scared to dance with her, I used it to push me further on stage bc I knew I wanted the judges to watch me too. Coming off stage everyone told me how I had never danced better and I felt really happy with my dancing but also knew my competition is SO hard so getting the recall would be tough (we didn’t know til after second round that they’d recall all of us). I was so so excited to finally participate in awards. For a while I had thought about this as possibly being my last O but after yesterday there’s no way I can stop now. One of the teachers who was lining us up during awards told us she danced til she was 34 and wanted us to beat her record 😁. I got a little taste of victory last night and now I’m hungry for more. I truly felt like I belonged up there last night for the first time and really felt like I was a good dancer finally and I have to see how far I can get now 😁💚💙💚 #mindovermatter #goals

[poofsandpoodlesox]

Trying something new 😁👸🏼

[poofsandpoodlesox]

6th overall yesterday and 3rd overall today, plus tried something different by going wigless today! Always wishing for better, but considering 2 of my hp steps I learned last week and made some minor mistakes in them both days I am super happy I placed. My schedule is INSANE right now so I’m happy to still be placing fairly well all things considered 😊 next stop- Chicago Halloween feis 🏅🏆🥇🎃👻

[poofsandpoodlesox]

Rough feis day. Again with collisions in my hp messing with my head. Trying not to take it too hard knowing my schedule is completely full so getting to class is challenging (I literally go from 4 am to 6 pm then grad work most days). I need to be at class more and that's the simple truth. Lessons learned and today is a new day, different judges today and another chance to get my steps on stage.

[poofsandpoodlesox]

Haven't feised since march; learned my r/HP a month ago. Usually I'm a bundle of nerves when doing new steps the first time out, but today, even after waking up really nervous, my nerves were nonexistent side stage and while dancing 😀 Somehow I managed to pull off a 3rd place overall with a 2nd place in my HP 👍🏻😁 really happy with how I danced today and came back to competition strong. Now to push it harder for tomorrow's feis!! #soclosetoOC #justneedonemore #icanandiwill

[poofsandpoodlesox]

It's here!! Super excited to start training seriously. It's going to be extremely hard, mentally and physically, but I'm ready to give 110% Anyone else doing RNH?? Let's help motivate each other! #igotgoals #dontwishforitworkforit

[poofsandpoodlesox]

Ankle work after my evening run. Finally not feeling dead after a practice and a run lol #igotgoals #cantstopwontstop #ican

[wordsnquotes]

You don’t get better on the days when you feel like going. You get better on the days when you don’t want to go, but you go anyway. If you can overcome the negative energy coming from your tired body or unmotivated mind, you will grow and become better. It won’t be the best workout you have, you won’t accomplish as much as what you usually do when you actually feel good, but that doesn’t matter. Growth is a long term game, and the crappy days are more important.

Georges St. Pierre, The Way of the Fight (via wordsnquotes)

[irish-dancer-56]

I finally named my second slip jig! Here is a new recording of “Why We Dance”

[theglasgowreel-deactivated20210]

*hits reblog at the speed of lightening*  (also I love the title…definitely gives you something to think about while you listen to this piece and hits a chord with something I’ve been thinking a lot about the past few weeks)

[arya-snark]

if this had been up 1 week earlier i totally would have used it for my auditions videos :/

[irish-dancers-are-not-normal]

SO FREAKING BEAUTIFUL

[melval123]

OH MY GOD

[lifeinthefeislane]

This literally just brought me to tears. thank you

[sky-dance]

!!!

[poofsandpoodlesox]

Omg this is beautiful! I wish I was sj this year so I could practice to it

[harcules]

PSA: stop putting time limits on your goals. It’s not too late. Ur not too old. You didn’t miss your chance. Ur exactly where ur meant to be. You still have time. You still can do it! So go buddy. I’m rooting for yaaa!!!

[crcdletrs]

Don’t read the quotes that tell you ‘if you truly love it then you’ll find a way’ or ‘if you don’t sacrifice you’re not an athlete’ because I can tell you one thing. That is bull shit. I have been dancing for 4 years and had a 1 ½ off. I became depressed and unmotivated and no longer wanted to continue dancing, but every night I laid in bed moving my feet to the music in my head, i kept up to date with NANS, Worlds and All Scotlands results, I still found myself standing with a turnout and watching films like Jig and Lord of the Dance. Even though I no longer danced it was still on my mind 24/7. So just because you may not practice 4 hours a day, 6 times a week like a champion dancer or eat the best or exercise every single day DOES NOT mean you’re any less of a competitor or dancer. Family, mental illness, school, friends, injury everything eventually plays a part in your life that affects us greatly and you may find you have less to do with dance at this time, but don’t ever let anyone tell you you are any less a champion because you’ve hardly danced or thought of dance for a while.

[poofsandpoodlesox]

This. Me for real rn #missdance

[pointyourdamntoes]

These Rising Star skirts are giving me serious vintage solo dress vibes 💥

[poofsandpoodlesox]

Fun times! 🤓😱😭 #futurebcba so much studying! Started learning my reel steps yesterday.. hoping to have reel/HP down by the end of the month. More grad homework to do today and then getting things ready for the week ahead. Super sad I'm not really dancing for st pats this year :(. Can't fit it all in this time

[poofsandpoodlesox]

Flashcards and yoga mats.... studying and gym time lol #aba