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I Miss This Little Man So Much!

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Fri, 10 May 2013 04:47:00 +0000

Waiting to board his flight!

Okay, okay...so he's not so "little". But, as any momma will tell you, no matter HOW big her children get - they'll always be her "little ones"!

Anyway...Ethan left for CA yesterday to see his grandparents, Aunt and Uncle on Dean's side. Then tomorrow morning they're all flying out at the crack of dawn for NY and Washington DC.

It promises to be a very exciting trip for my little boy (oops! There's that word again!) filled with all sorts of sight seeing and adventures. But in the meantime...I miss him like crazy! :(

A Trip to the Kangaroo Farm

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Fri, 10 May 2013 04:40:00 +0000

What? Kangaroos in WA? Somebody pinch me!!

Last Sunday, we decided to take a trip up to Arlington to visit The Outback Kangaroo Farm. This little excursion was decided due to the fact that my one and only SON would be GONE for Mother’s Day {he’s off visiting his CA grandparents and Aunt for the next 2.5 weeks}, so I wanted to get my celebratin’ time in early. *Humph*

We saw so many adorable animals including donkeys, llamas, alpacas (no, I don’t know the difference), miniature horses, peacocks, and of course – wallabies and kangaroos!

At the very end of our little tour, we were SO excited to get to hold a baby wallaby! He was only 7 months old and absolutely breathtaking.

We *rarely* do stuff like this, so I can honestly say that our little trip was the most fun I’ve had in a LONG time! If you’re in WA state, I highly recommend you pay the ‘roos a visit! You won't be disappointed. :)

Coconut Oil as a Face Wash?

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 19:19:00 +0000

A few years ago, I learned about some of the amazing benefits of coconut oil. (Lots of good-for-you medium chain fatty acids, stable at high temps, etc.) I used it for several months then for some reason, I just kinda stopped buying it. {I can’t even tell you why.}

Well, then a few weeks ago I noticed a friend/co-worker’s skin was looking particularly awesome. Being the generous gal that she is, she told me how she’d started using coconut oil on her face. She said she sprayed it on like a tropical mist each night and in the morning, her skin was a happy camper! “Coconut oil? Seriously?!” Hmmm….

Then the following week (can you sense a pattern here?), my friend/boss, Karrie over at Happy Money Saver posted about how she used coconut oil as a moisturizer for a full 30 days in an effort to save a little moolah. Guess what? She too had great results!

So of course, that got me to thinking: Why don’t I give the ol’ coconut oil thing another try? This time…for facial purposes, not just cooking!

After researching things a bit further (Search: “coconut oil” + “skin care” + holy cow), I decided to dive in and take the plunge! I went to Trader Joe’s and picked up a jar of their Organic Coconut Oil for $5.99. (Name brand varieties found at organic grocery/health food stores ranged in price from $9.99-$15.99, so I saved a nice little chunk there.)

I told my daughters about it who (I admit) looked at me with more than a touch of skepticism, but they were up for anything that promised to make their (teenage hormone-driven) skin look better.

Each morning and every night before bed, we’d simply wet our faces with warm water, ‘wash’ with a little “scoop” of coconut oil, then rinse. A little bit of oil stays on your skin but it does absorb rather quickly. (It won’t leave greasy marks on your pillow cases or anything like that…Hee hee!)

And so far…? We LOVE it! Our faces are surprisingly NOT greasy in the morning, we didn’t wake up with pimples the size of Mt. Everest – in fact, the little tiny blemishes we did get were just that – tiny! And they were totally GONE within 24 hrs without using extra “stuff”. (Yayyyy!!) Even more interesting? We use it to shave our legs and – tadahhhhh! – no need for lotion afterwards!

So! What do you think? Have YOU washed with coconut oil before? What were your results?

Jammies to Work!

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:04:00 +0000

So in honor of “Wear Your Pajamas to Work” Day (which is actually *tomorrow*…) I thought I’d share this pic of me and my ADORABLE co-worker and “boss”, Fernando. Isn’t he precious?

{And yes, those are Stomp-Eez on my feet. They’re cute, too! But not as cute as Fernando! Hee hee!}

Do YOU work in your jammies?? I don’t normally, but for a fun little “photo shoot”, I figured…why not?!

Fit Mommy Returns!

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 22:15:00 +0000

Check it out, peeps! For those of you who’ve been ever so kind enough to read my blog since “back in the day”, Fit Mommy is back! Hooray! {Insert showers of confetti here}

My sweetie pie friend, Heidi asked if I’d like to be a contributing writer over at her new site, Homeschool Mosaics and well…let me tell you, I was touched. Touched I say!

So with that, I signed up and I’ve been back in the writing saddle ever since. My monthly column is designed to help, motivate and inspire other busy moms to get back in shape, once and for all!

This month’s column focuses specifically on weight training and why it’s so important for ladies to engage in. Check it out and let me know what you think!

JOIN THE FIT MOMMY DISCUSSION GROUP

If you’re looking for additional motivation, encouragement and support, feel free to join the Fit Mommy Discussion Group on Facebook. It’s fun, free and – most of all – private! No matter what your fitness level is, you’re more than welcome to join us! Request to join the group here.

Are YOU Up to the Challenge?

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:22:00 +0000

When I first signed up as a Beachbody coach, I had NO idea where it would go or how far it would take me.

My initial thought was to get a discount on Shakeology since both Sierra and I were drinking it like water. Then I thought how nice it would be to make a little extra cash on the side. No big, right?

So to kick things off, I formed my first-ever Challenge group back in March with a total of 6 Challengers. These ladies had watched my progress in real life and decided they wanted a shed pounds, lose inches and get healthier, too. So that’s what we did. We made a commitment to work together for 90 days straight – checking in and holding each other accountable – DAILY.

And you know what? Our efforts are paying OFF! Challenger #1 lost 6 pounds in her first 3 weeks; Challenger #2 has 3 pairs of work pants that no longer fit right (lost inches, baby!!) and Challenger #3 has whittled herself down to a svelte size ONE from a size 2-3….Amazing, right??

These ladies are blowing me AWAY with not only their progress, but their dedication, their passion and level of commitment to their – and their fellow Challengers’ – success. Their truly is strength in numbers, folks. And I’m loving it!

And while all this weight loss is completely cool, what’s really struck me is how I’m changing – as a person. The further along I get along this path, the more I realize: It’s SOOOO not about me! Everything I do with my Challenge groups or friends or customers is all designed to help THEM succeed – in whatever capacity they choose.

Whether it’s weight loss or gaining confidence or simply eating healthier, I love the “rush” I get from seeing other people happy, healthy and fulfilled. It’s incredible!

So…Are YOU up to the Challenge???

A Little March Madness

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 19:26:00 +0000

No, I’m not talking about basketball. I’m taking about this past month – the good, the awesome and the sad.

So remember how I said I was doing P90X? Well check this out! This is yours truly as photographed on March 9th…I’m back in a size 2, bayyybeeee! {Aww yeah!}

Not only that, but I currently have 6 ladies in my first ever Challenge Group and, at a week and a half in, they’re already seeing results! Woot, woot! I’m so proud and excited for them! We’re working out, making healthier food choices, and holding each other accountable every stinkin’ day for 90 days!

Each Challenger is a mom - some of us homeschool, others don’t; some are still chasing toddlers, while others are planning “dates” with their grandbabies; and some of us go to work every day, while others stay home. But despite our differences, one thing is clear: No matter HOW busy we are, we still MAKE time to get our health in order!

{True story: One of my challengers is a homeschooling mom of 10 and a grandmother of 1! If SHE can find time to workout, ANYONE can!}

Moving along…!

On the 19th, we celebrated Abby’s ascent into the TEEN years! Yep, that’s right. My 3rd and final “baby” is now a teenager. {Boo hoo! }

Like the nice (old) Mommy that I am, I decided to take her out shopping and let her pick out a new outfit – complete with new shoes! (Which was exactly what she said she wanted…clothes, shoes and cash. Okay, so I didn’t give her cash. Ahem.) We also stopped at the Bare Minerals counter at Nordstrom for her very first professional makeover!

The funny thing about this is that Sierra has been trying for months to get her sister to jump on the cosmetics bandwagon, only to be rebuffed at every turn.

Why???

Because unlike Sierra, Abby is a “less is more” kind of girl. So instead of blending 6 eyeshadows on her lids at once (I’m NOT exaggerating!), Abby prefers to look like she’s not wearing any makeup at all. {Funny how sibling preferences can vary so dramatically, huh?}

Then, we had Sierra’s friend, Emily bake Abby’s custom birthday cake featuring a Momma Hedgehog, Baby Hedgehog and “Mini” Cake!

To say this cake was a HUGE hit would be a SEVERE understatement! {Isn’t it awesome?!}

And in closing…just this past weekend, our family had to say goodbye to my parent’s beloved pooch, “Baby”. Unbeknownst to us all, Baby had developed cancer. By the time she began displaying some very scary and painful symptoms, it was too late. Her cancer was discovered last Friday - her health declining rapidly - and on Saturday afternoon she was gone.

So if you wouldn’t mind saying a few prayers for comfort and peace for my parents – especially for my stepdad who spent 24/7 with Baby and is having a really, really hard time without her – I’d be ever so grateful.

How has YOUR month been?

Hellooooo, Bombshell!

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 01:18:00 +0000

Hey, guess what everybody! I’m a Bombshell!

Now, before you cast me aside as a serious egomaniac, allow me to explain…

As every single one of you knows – I enjoy a good workout. But over the past few months, I found myself wanting a workout that was more systematic. (A+B = C) I was tired of trying to plan my own routines or figure out which DVD to use today. I wanted a “systematic” approach. I also wanted something that would hold me ACCOUNTABLE. (Because even workout junkies need a swift kick in the shorts too!)

Enter Brazil Butt Lift {crazy name, I know!} and P90X!

Like P90X, Brazil Butt Lift (BBL) is a program produced by Beachbody. I’d originally purchased BBL back in April as a late birthday present from me to me but never opened/used it due to lack of time. (Working 4-5 jobs has a way of doing that. Funny, right??) And as I’ve mentioned before, I’d received P90X a few years prior, but never completed it in full. But after starting P90X again, then shortly thereafter discovering a cool HYBRID schedule featuring both programs….Well, needless to say, I was in heaven.

Granted, my work schedules made life crazy to say the least, but I’m committed and determined to see myself through to the finish line. In fact, there’s a short BBL workout called “Bum Bum Rapido” as well as a set of TriAngle Training Cards featuring exercises from the program that I’d use on those days when I had VERY little time!

And slowly but surely, I’m being rewarded with a firmer, leaner, tighter EVERYTHING. (Hee hee!)

Then right around Christmas, I decided to delve into the world of Beachbody even further by doing the 3 Day Vegan Chocolate Shakeology “Cleanse”.

My plan here was three-fold. I wanted to:

Jumpstart my weight loss,
Get rid of those excess toxins and “crap” that we all have built up in our systems, and
Find something that would fill in the holes (nutritionally speaking) for my oldest who was now a self-proclaimed “vegan” (and a crappy vegan at that!)

Good intentions all, right? But I have to admit I was a bit apprehensive to even try this stuff in the first place since the last time I drank any sort of “protein” or “health” shake was waaaaay back in the early 90’s when they all tasted like chalk at best and powdered cat food at worst. (Weider Weight Gainer Powder, circa 1993? ‘Nuff said.)

But surprise surprise! This stuff didn’t taste like that AT ALL, but rather like a yummy chocolate milkshake. (No joke!) It completely wiped out my sugar cravings, gave me tons of energy (more so than my regular caffeine buzz), and after the 3 days, my work pants were looser and I felt like a million bucks! (Best of all – all 3 of my kids AND my hubby loved it too! And that’s saying somethin’, people…seriously.) Three-fold plan? Check, check and check!

That’s when I decided that there was more to this whole Beachbody thing than flashy advertising and cool infomercials. They were the “real deal” and had the “total package” of fitness, nutrition and accountability all rolled into one.

That’s why I decided to (wait for it…) join Beachbody as a Coach – specifically joining forces with The Bombshell Dynasty. (I am sooo excited by this, you have NO idea! ) These ladies – especially my coach, Kati – were instrumental in my decision to purchase BBL in the first place, and I’m thrilled to finally have the chance to help others the way they helped ME over a year ago.

Just think: a whole group of people – both men and women – who are just as insane as I am about working out! Hee hee!! I love it!

The next workouts on my list include:

Insanity (been DYING to try this one for YEARS!),
ChaLEAN Extreme
Turbo Fire

And get this: my own MOTHER is on board with Beachbody now too, and is working hard on her transformation as we speak! I’m so proud of her!

Stay tuned! Updates to follow!

If you’d like to take a peek at some of the other Bombshells and their incredible transformations, click here. **Please Note: Many images contain ladies in their bikinis, which some of my readers may find a bit inappropriate.**

Healthy Reese’s in a Glass? Someone Pinch Me!

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 23:34:00 +0000

Okay, so it's not exactly a Reese's but it sure does taste like one! For my lunch today, I whipped together 1 scoop of Chocolate Vegan Shakeology, 12 oz of vanilla almond milk and 1 tsp. of PB2 powdered peanut butter. (And three crushed up ice cubes.)

And…ohmygosh! It’s delicious! Like seriously delicious. No extra sweetener or anything necessary. (Crazy, huh?)

Do you know what this means???

It means I've officially found a way to kill my chocolate cravings AND not blow my diet, all in a single swoop! YESSSS!!!!

It’s seriously yummy, folks. I’m not even joking. Ask Abby! I gave her some and she freaking LOVED it! (And she’s WORSE than ME when it comes to picky eating!)

The only eensy weensy problem I have now?

I totally chugged it all down and it's now gone!

Why's that problem?

Because it's a MEAL replacement shake, not a “drink”. So now I'm completely FULL.

Oh well. Guess I’ll have to wait for dinner when I can have another glass! Yippee!

Twins? Nope!

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 16:07:00 +0000

Okay, this is kind of a crazy, random post...however! I thought it'd be cool to share these 2 recent photos of Ethan and Abby.

Pretty crazy look-alikes, huh? ;-)

Everywhere we go, people are constantly asking if they're twins. I mean CONSTANTLY! ;-) It's pretty cool, actually...even if they don't see the humor in it all the time. (Well, I should change that...ETHAN doesn't see the humor in it because he doesn't like being mistaken for a girl. Hee hee! But like I told him, that's to be expected if he's going to keep his hair long.)

Okay so, not only do they look alike, they're also nearly the same height and only 16 months apart, which REALLY ups the "Oh! Are they twins?" factor because they look like they're the same age.

So, what do you think? Would YOU mistake them for twins??

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Learning to Let Go and Press Ahead

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 21:06:00 +0000

On Sunday, January 13th, I received the terrible news that Momma Sheila Yaniv had passed away - less than 10 minutes after I'd initially heard she'd been taken to the hospital.

To say that my family and I were crushed - would be a serious understatement. For those of you on my Facebook, you may recall how Pastor David - Sheila's husband of nearly 52 years - passed away in June. To lose your two closest and dearest mentors - people who felt distinctly like FAMILY for the past 11+ years as opposed to your typical "Pastor/church member" relationship - is so very, very painful.

While I'm thrilled by the fact that these two lovebirds are reunited and dancing somewhere up there in heaven, (because let's face it; watching Momma grieve her hubby the last 6 months has been extremely painful as well!), I've found myself struggling to keep putting one foot in front of the other. The past 9 days have been so darn hard, in more ways than one.

I kept meaning to write a blog post about her, but I just couldn't make the words come. I mean, sure I'd post about her on FB, but that's where it stayed. (A few sentences here 'n there is one thing...but a whole post? No way.) Even now I can't really bring myself to do that.

On a side note, I want to say "thank you" to all my friends for their love and support. (You guys are amazing!)

Back to my story. Just this morning, I felt God - and even Momma Sheila's voice - say to me, "It's time to get up". And they weren't just telling me to get out of bed. (Because I *was* still in bed...) No. What they were saying was:

It's time to get up and push through this depressing fog.
Time to get back to living my life the way God intends for me to live it.
And most importantly...time to re-evaluate where I am spiritually and make the proper changes.

Okay. Confession time!

I've been feeling kind of "out of it" for quite awhile now (spiritually speaking). I think a lot of it had to do with the sheer number of things I've had piled on my plate over the past few years. But now I feel as though a great paradigm shift (if you will) has taken place. And as strange as it may be to actually give CREDIT to something as horrible as death for something so positive...well, there's no other way to describe it really.

So for the first time in 9 days, I actually got up and WORKED OUT (yep, you read that right. No workouts for the past 9 days!). And you know something? I felt pretty darn good afterwards! :) And you know what else? I could've sworn I'd heard Momma say, "Now that's my girl! Onward and upward!"

I'm ready, God. Bring it on!

PS: Momma? If you can see this, I just want you to know...that I will love you forever, and I'll like you for always. And that for as long as I'm living, my momma you'll be. xoxoxo

For the Love - and Loathing - of Kenpo X

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 22:11:00 +0000

Today's sore upper arms brought to you by...Kenpo X!

Ugh! I cannot BELIEVE how sore my arms are after yesterday's "little" kickboxing workout. *Yikes!*

Yes, I know (now) that I should've expected it. But quite honestly, I didn't think that kickboxing - with all of its jab, cross, hook, upper-cut glory behind it - would do much for your muscles because it didn't (wait for it...) require the use of weights. Doh!

{Yep, I admit it. I'm a total weight snob.}

Well, after a good 30 minutes "in the ring", I've clearly learned my lesson. I will never again doubt the benefits of a "kick-butt" kickboxing routine. EVER. My arms are killing me, people. Kill.ing.me!

And while I LOVED doing all those super awesome jab-jab-attack moves (seriously, I had a blast), I did not...I repeat, did NOT love the Yoga warm-up.

Nuh-uh. No siree, bub. Didn't like it at all. No way, no how!

"You have GOT to be kidding me!"

I don't know what it is, but I just can't seem to jump on the Yoga-wagon. Perhaps if I was all super f-l-e-x-i-b-l-e and bendy like a ~~twisty straw~~ good Yogi should be, then maybe I'd enjoy it. {BTW, am I even using that word correctly? Yogi? Ehh, whatever.}

But in all honesty, it would take a highly trained pit crew to hose me down with WD-40 in order to get me to properly execute each pose! (Think: Tin Man) And since THAT'S not gonna happen (safely), I guess I'll have to work on the ol' flexibility the old fashioned way....

With much weeping and gnashing of teeth! :)

Wish me luck, everyone...

Dude! It's Been HOW Long?!

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 03:18:00 +0000

Talk about your blogging hiatuses! It's been over 7 months since I've penned (okay, typed) anything on this here blog.

*Knock, knock, knock* Is there anybody here?

Abby waiting for her surgery.

Sooooo, are you ready for some (kinda-sorta) exciting updates? Okay, well...Abby had to have her appendix removed about 3 weeks ago. Yeah. Scary stuff, man! Thankfully we caught it early, there was no perforation and no rupture. She was admitted at 8pm, surgery at 2am, home at 11:30am. (Badda bing, badda boom!) Yes, she's still dancing her little heart out - now 5 days a week - and we're in the midst of her 2nd year of Nutcracker. In other news, I'm now doing volunteer work with her ballet school's Parent's Association. {I'm the Communications Coordinator! Sounds fancy, doesn't it? Good thing I don't have to communicate via blog...because we all know how bad THAT would be! *Ahem*}

Sierra's got her first J-O-B. (Insert "Hallelujah" chorus here) She's working P/T as a nanny for one very sweet 16 month old girl, whom Sierra just adores to pieces! On top of that, she's in her senior year of high school (insert shrieks of horror here) and *just recently informed me* (like 2 weeks ago) that she really wants to go to school to be a medical examiner. Yeah. Nothing like "picking your major" at the last freaking minute, right? So now we focus on doing that which is necessary to get into medical school. (If you happen to spy any new gray hairs on my noggin - this is why.) She'll also celebrate her 17th year of life in a few more weeks. (I am so stinkin' old...)

They're pretty cute - even if they don't look like me.

Ethan celebrated the big "14" ten days ago. Wow! And like a typical teenage boy, all he wants to do is eat, sleep and play video games. Bathing and other facets of personal hygiene do not even make the list. In other news, he finally got his Danbo belt (black & white) in taekwondo. He's officially 1 belt away from being a black belt! (Booyah!) Oh yes. And he's recently started taking guitar lessons, too. He's actually quite good at it, which I feel he MUST get from me. (Hey, 7.5 hrs of labor? Yeah, I'll attribute whatever finer qualities that boy has as stemming from my DNA, thank you very much.)

Now for me...I'm working my tush off (well okay, not quite...but I WISH that was true!) at the hospital. Remember a(long)while ago when I'd mentioned how I was going to start training for a new position delivering trays? Well that's the "Room Service Ambassador" position (read: glorified waitress sans tips) and it is a definite workout! Nothing like pushing a metal cart that's nearly your height around the hospital! Or, if there's only 1 tray ready to go (as opposed to 4 or even 10), I'll skip the elevator and hike that tray up the stairs instead.

Did I mention the kitchen is on the 2nd floor...and I sometimes take the stairs alllllll the way up to the 8th floor? (Buns of steel, here I come!) I've also recently been trained on the Room Service Call Center, which means I can also TAKE the orders ANNNND deliver 'em. ;) Yep. Pretty sweet.

Even with this wealth of knowledge tucked securely under my apron, I'm still considered 'on-call' so my hours are never ever consistent. But that's okay. It keeps things interesting, if nothing else. And yes, I'm still working from home, too (can't forget about that), so I log anywhere between 50-60 hours in each week. {When Dean made a comment last week about how I "shouldn't be tired" because I didn't work (much), I seriously had to count to 10 to avoid attacking him like a wild animal. Okay, that's a lie. I counted to 3, glared at him, then whacked him solidly across the chest. Humph.}

I'm still working out, only now I've decided to do P90X again. Haven't touched those powerful DVD's in at least 2 years, but man oh man - they are absolutely awesome! {Bring it!}

That's it for now.

Bad Blogger...OUT!

Coppelia - Abby's Dream Come True

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:43:00 +0000

Back in May 2010, Dean and I took Abby to see PNB's production of Coppelia. She was so excited that day and took special care to wear her best dress (white, mid-calf length, lots of sequins and a small sparkly tiara in her hair), and kept biting her nails in anticipation.

As we watched the ballet, she would smile, laugh and gasp with delight every few moments. She was in her element! Then as the curtain rose on Act 3 and a beautiful row of girlies dressed in glittering pink and gold tutus appeared, my girl was speechless. Breathless even! ;)

After a moment she leaned over in the dark and whispered with her eyes as big as saucers, "Mommy! How did those girls get to do that?" "They're from the PNB school, honey." I whispered back.

Abby continued to watch, spellbound. Then at the end of the performance she asked, "Okay. So, how do I get in the school?" At that time, she was still dancing at Pacific Chamber Ballet but already things were starting to look sketchy for the new year. I explained how she would have to audition, which she immediately asked, "When can I audition??" I told her we'd talk about it later. (Ahem)

Later during the performance's Post Show Q&A, Abby walked right up and sat in the front row of chairs. (For the record, I never opt to sit in the front row...) After listening to a few adults ask their questions, she asked Olivier Wevers what he liked about playing the role of Dr. Coppelius (her other favorite part). He was very gracious and said he liked "playing with a character" and that was what made it fun for him. Then she asked the Artistic Director, Peter Boal how old the girls in Act 3 were. His response was, "Levels 3 and 4, maybe some 5's. So anywhere from about 10 to 13 or 14." Abby was 10 at the time and so you can imagine how much this pleased her.

As we left McCaw Hall that day, I noticed Abby looked deep in thought. When questioned, she simply said, "I'm thinking about how happy I am that I wore my best dress today." And why's that? "So that when I come back and audition for PNB, Mr. Boal will know who I am!" {#itdoesntworkthatway}

Fast forward to September 18th, 2010. She gets in to the school.

She was placed in Level 3 but sadly, Coppelia was not scheduled to be performed again. At least not yet. So Abby continued to work hard and hoped (and prayed a whole lot) that one day soon, Coppelia would be done again and that she'd get a part.

Last summer, it was announced that Coppelia would once again grace the stage during the company's 2011/12 Season.

There was a lot of speculation as to who would be chosen, how tall or how short you had to be, etc. With every passing rumor, Abby grew more impatient waiting for the Cast letters to go out. Then two friends received a letter. Then three friends. And at long last, so did she....

I'm pleased to announce that Abby received a letter in the mail (about 4 weeks back as I'm horrible about updating this thing), announcing that she had been chosen to perform in this year's production of Coppelia...in Act 3...wearing the very pink and gold costume that ignited her determination to get into the school two years earlier!

I'm so thankful to God for granting yet another exciting blessing in my daughter's life. To get the chance to perform in the very same production that catapulted her desire to attend the school into the stratosphere is nothing short of awesome! :)

Don Quixote - Cupid Variation

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:26:00 +0000

Here's the latest Don Q. clip! Abby is kneeling behind Cupid in a green cap sleeve leotard, finger under her chin, grinning like a Cheshire Cat, just to the right of Tom Skerritt. Isn't she cute? ;) We went to the dress rehearsal last night and it was AMAAAAZING!!! I can't wait to see tonight's big Opening! Woohoo!

Kisses from Katie

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:13:00 +0000

I'm really, really really loving this blog called "Kisses from Katie". This young woman's story is so touching - so inspiring - I can't stay away from it. I find myself thinking about it throughout the day and searching for even more blogs - more missionaries - like her.

Not sure what it is exactly that has me so transfixed. All I know for sure is that I feel something being stirred very deep within me as I read and look at her beautiful photos.

PNB’s Don Quixote

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:29:00 +0000

For those of you who are not “friends” with me on Facebook, here is the commercial for PNB’s Don Quixote. At roughly 16 seconds in to the clip is the “dream scene” where Abby and her friends will be performing as Cupid Children. Enjoy!

Week in Review

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 04:38:00 +0000

It’s been snowing off ‘n on all day. (Yes, my fellow Washingtonians – I went there! I’m now talking about the dreaded snow, just like everyone else.) It’s supposed to continue like this all week, which really doesn’t make me happy. Why? Because I’m not a fan of being cold, and the commute to Seattle will be even more unpleasant than normal. Oh well. Such is life!

{And honestly, it’s not a ton of snow. I just can’t stand it in any amount. *Wink*}

In other news, Abby goes back in on Wednesday to get her foot x-rayed. Hopefully the break has healed enough (and the pain has subsided completely) to get the “all clear” to begin dancing full-out again. Prayers are appreciated for this. Her foot’s still hurting and it’s been 5 weeks!

Guess what! Dean and I celebrated 14 years of togetherness back on the 11th. {Isn’t that somethin’?!} And to mark this momentous occasion, he surprised me with a dozen bright pink roses when I got home. Everyone say it with me: “Awwww…!”

Guess what again? I’ll begin training on a new position at work (hospital) on the 23rd. I’m really looking forward to it! The additional hours will be such a huge relief, even though I have to be there at 5am for a week. (YUCK!) There’s not enough caffeine in the world, folks…sigh. But like I said, I’m looking forward to it, and I hope to pick up more (consistent) hours once I’m trained. We.shall.see!

And now for a bit of a sad story…I was without a washer for a full 24 hrs this week. Longest 24 hours of my life! (Ha!) Thankfully, it was fixed quickly and I’m now back to my regular daily laundry routine. (Dean made it a point to tell our beloved maintenance guy/pal that, “Denise is really going to freak out! No – you don’t understand. I mean, she’s going to fuh-reeek out without a washer!” (I’m laughing now, but at the time I did “humph!” like a pouty 2 year old.)

I’m looking forward to reviewing Seattle Dance Project’s “Project 5” next Saturday! It’ll be so great to see Miss Rebecca, my boss and friend from Class Act Tutu. It’s been far too long! Just wish her beautiful daughter Rachel could join us. But sadly, she isn’t feeling well. (Poo!)

Sierra’s at her boyfriend’s house making homemade fettuccine alfredo. I hope she plans on sharing when she gets home! (Hee hee) Not sure how to take the whole boyfriend-thing still. It bugs me, I gotta say. Guess that just goes along with growing up to some degree. Thankfully Ethan still thinks girls are gross and Abby thinks boys are weird. That makes me super-happy!

Man, this post is BORING…I need to get out more or something.

Book Review: Savvy Shopper–Couponing Secrets from the Stockpiling Moms

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:10:00 +0000

Let’s face it – buying groceries is by far one of the biggest expenses for a family on a budget. While many of us look for ways to reduce our spending by using coupons or buying generic, we often become frustrated by the whole idea when we either don’t see a significant drop in our spending, or else find the practice of coupon clipping to be a major hassle. (*Blushing* Been there, done that! Ahem…)

If that describes you, chin up! In their new book, Savvy Savings – Couponing Secrets from the Stockpiling Moms, authors Melissa Jennings and Shelley King (www.stockpilingmoms.com) teach “coupon newbies” how to save BIG money at the grocery store, create a stockpile to last our families anywhere from 3-6 months, and NOT get all frazzled ‘n uptight right from the get-go.

Savvy Savings is more than a glorified tutorial. It takes you through the entire stockpiling process from start to finish in a clear, organized way. Information on everything from:

planning your shopping strategy
collecting and organizing your coupons
menu planning
coupon rules and the benefits of knowing your store’s coupon policy
deciphering coupon lingo
understanding sale cycles (and planning your shopping around them)
shopping with children
storage
frugal living ideas
donating your surplus to food banks or animal shelters
to coping strategies for those snarky comments and jabs of criticism (“So, exactly HOW many boxes of cereal do you need, anyway?”) is all here.

The crux of the book is about building that stockpile!

According to the author’s, a successful stockpile will save you thousands of dollars per year on everything from food, to toiletries, to pet food – even holiday gifts! This will enable you to:

pay off debts
take that family “dream vacation”
pay for your child’s college tuition
save for retirement or a down payment on a new home
and bless others in your community

And that, my friends, is what makes “savvy savings” so worthwhile!

My Thoughts: I was pleased with both the flow and the content of this book. The authors took a great deal of care in explaining all the ins and outs of couponing/stockpiling, and making it feel extremely “do-able”. Their personalities and genuine interest in helping others really shined through. It felt as though you were sitting down for a good chat with your best friend, not sitting in another coupon class!

By the end of the book, I was grabbing my sales ads, coupon inserts and scissors in earnest! (Hee hee) Even though I’ve been couponing off ‘n on for a few years, I have yet to really build a stockpile and see savings like those mentioned in the book. But I want to! I really, really want to.

If this is something you’ve considered trying but felt it was either “too hard” or “just didn’t work”, you should definitely get a copy of Savvy Savings. It will walk you through the crazy world of couponing step-by-step and teach you how to maximize your savings at every turn.

This book is great for both “newbies” and those who’ve recently fallen off the coupon wagon!

Savvy Saving: Couponing Secrets from Stockpiling Moms is available for only $9.59 on Amazon. (Which is a rather small investment, considering the HUGE returns you’ll receive after implementing all the frugal tips and strategies in this book!)

Two thumbs up!

A Little Late (but those of you who happen to be my FB pals already know this) but...

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:44:00 +0000

Okay, so remember how I said Abby didn't break her foot during December 10th's Nutcracker performance?

Well, I was wrong. Or at least, the doctor was wrong.

Yep, turns out she has a hairline fracture - something terribly difficult to see immediately following an injury.

Abby had gone back to class after a whopping 5 days off (hail, winter break!) and she apparently had to sit out during pointe work as her foot was hurting. So the next day, I managed to get her in to see one of the area's most sought-after podiatrists (I'm totally not making that up) later that afternoon.

She explained what happens with a contusion (or "bone bruise") - how the blood pools in the bone, making it impossible to see a slight fracture. She then ordered another x-ray of her feeties and - sure enough - there it was. The now visible hairline fracture. Awesome. (NOT)

So what does this mean for my little Pookie?

She won't have to wear a boot as she's already 4 weeks into the healing process and her foot's healing remarkably well. {Hooray!!!}
She can't dance full-out (ie: no jumping, nothing "high impact") and no pointe work for 2 weeks.
She had to miss the SAB (School of American Ballet) audition this past Sunday.
She can still perform in Don Quixote, provided she continues to heal well.

So there you have it. My youngest has her first broken bone. {Boo!} :-(

Ballet...it's not for wimps.

Nutcracker's Over, Happy New Year, Blah, Blah...

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 22:54:00 +0000

Abby's first Nutcracker run ended on December 27th at approximately 3pm PST {insert singing angel choir here}. She made it through 19 out of her 20 scheduled performances (see two posts down about injury) and enjoyed every stinkin' minute of it. (Except the whole injury part...)

Just before the final show, she received ~~one of~~ THE most treasured gift possible...an personally autographed pointe shoe from her favorite ballerina, Lindsi Dec (soloist with Pacific Northwest Ballet).

She was so excited, she was literally bouncing up 'n down like Tigger when the sweet lady handing the pointe shoes out said, "Abby...Abby Opper?" Abby's eyes lit up like a million-watt bulb. "Abby Opper? That's me! That's me!" (Soo funny :) )

In other news - Happy New Year to one and all! I have a feeling there will be several interesting things happening in my family in 2012. (And no, I'm not speaking of that lame-o "The world's going to end" theory.) I just really have a feeling that there will be a LOT of interesting developments this year. I just hope I'm able to keep up with them all! ;-)

To start 2012 off right, Dean and the kids (read: Sierra & Ethan) cleaned out the garage yesterday. Yippee! I LOVE seeing things all neat, tidy and organized once again. I even did some de-cluttering around the inside of the house myself (closets, magazines, books). Honestly, I get a major kick out grabbing a pile of crap and just tossing it. Ahhhh...! It's such a freeing, refreshing, all around awesome feeling. (Ha ha!) Yes, I'm that psychotic.

Hey, guess what? I'm considering buying a crockpot!

Yep, you read that right; me and a crockpot. (I'll wait for you to grab the smelling salts...it's *that* shocking, I know.)

Funny how things - and people - change as they get older. (Eegads! Did I just put that in print?!) But seriously, it's totally true. I'm on this baking kick as I mentioned in the previous post. I've also taken to trying my hand at actual recipes like, from a book, as opposed to memory (Example: fry up ground turkey, add seasoning, roll into tortillas, add cheese, salsa. Enjoy.). I'm also considering delving into the world of menu planning so as to make my life easier once ballet starts up again tomorrow (and with it, rehearsals for Don Quixote).

If I keep this up, my dear friend Tina just might keel over from a serious heart-attack. Ha ha ha! :) (*Ahem* Let's hope not...)

Just a Bakin' Fool...

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Pretzel Turtle Candies. Photo Credit: Deniseinbloom.com

I've been on a baking kick the past few days.{I know - crazy, right?}

So far, I've made 3 batches of these homemade pretzel turtle candies, a batch of this peanut butter fudge, and about 4 dozen snickerdoodle cookies.

Abby asked why I was in a baking mood (answer: "I don't know."); Sierra said she preferred "a baking kick" versus a "cleaning kick" any day. Ethan was excited when I handed him a cookie to try - then he flipped it over (to check for a burnt bottom) and finding that all was well, heartily ate every last crumb.

My kids love me sooo much. *Ahem*

As with most of my "moods" or "kicks", there's no telling how long this one will last. In the meantime, the kids - and Dean - are enjoying every minute of it.

Going Nuts

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:12:00 +0000

We're down the last 11 (10?) Nutcracker performances! Whew!!!

On a delightful note, Abby was recently featured in two of our local papers: The Weekly Herald and the Daily Herald (in which she was on the FRONT page!) Here is the link to the Daily Herald's article, in case you're interested:

http://heraldnet.com/article/20111206/NEWS01/712069938

Sadly, things got a little side-tracked following Saturday's performance. During the fight scene, both Abby and another toy soldier are captured and carried off-stage by a villainous "fighting mouse". Unfortunately, the "fighting mouse" accidentally tripped over the hem of his costume, and both Abby and the other child were dropped.

The other child is fine (thank goodness!), but the mouse landed on Abby's right foot. Hard. (I'm telling you, watching that happen while you're sitting and watching from the audience is the worst.feeling.ever!)

We're not supposed to pick up the kids until intermission, so once the final "snowflake" made her exit and the curtain came down on Act 1, Dean and I were both up and running! After what felt like an eternity (maybe 10 minutes?), the children's backstage coordinator came down to get us.

In the meantime, we'd heard conflicting stories from the various children in her cast who'd repeatedly asked, "Did you see Abby? She got DROPPED!" Some would say that she'd hurt her nose. One said she'd BROKEN her nose! (*Gasp*) Another said "they called the doctor to come!"...oh my!

Turns out, none of that was exactly true. Her nose was fine and there is no "doctor" but rather the company's physical therapist who is backstage to deal with dancer's injuries as they happen. They'd thought it was her nose because apparently Abby had been holding her face in an effort to not cry, or hide her face so others wouldn't see her cry.

Her foot was swollen, bruised and painful to walk on. The physical therapist suggested she get x-rays the following day. (Yikes)

Thankfully, those x-rays revealed no sign of a fracture. Just a lot of swelling, bruising. She's been icing it like crazy and not taking class (which just about kills her, let me tell ya!). And while it's getting better, it still hurts to do things like point or go up on releve`.

However, she's been cleared to perform as she's only "marching", but she'll be icing before/after the show plus getting her foot lightly wrapped prior to going out on stage. Tonight will be her first night "back" (she'd missed Sunday's performance, obviously), which will serve as sort of a "test" to see whether or not she needs more time off. (She's really hoping and praying that that won't be the case.)

On a more humorous note, while we were waiting inside the doctor's office, Dean was taken aback by the condition of Abby's feet since starting pointe. (He obviously hasn't seen her barefoot in awhile.) Even more funny - the doctor had to ask, "So which foot did you hurt again?" ;-)

{Honestly, they're really not that bad...yet.}

I Have Nothin' To Say Today

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:06:00 +0000

Have you ever had a moment where you wanted to write a blog post because you think you have a ton of things to catch everyone up on (like they're all just waiting with bated breath for that next bit of prose to flow from your fingertips, right?), only to realize that you have absolutely NOTHING to say?

You see, I was going to tell you how I had yet to order my turkey dinner from the grocery store. I know, I know, it's not very "traditional" but believe me - it's sooo much easier! Mostly because I can't stand the idea of gutting and cleaning a gigantic dead turkey with my bare hands. (*Shudder*) I've done it - once. And it wasn't fun. Or pretty. Let's just say, I totally owe my mom BIG TIME. That with our constant back/forth for Nutcracker...? Umm, yeah.

Speaking of those 20 Nutcracker performances that are fast approaching: Opening Night is the day after Thanksgiving - you know, when everyone and their brother is out shopping on Black Friday. (Awesome...) But all sarcasm aside, I'm really looking forward to it. This is such a huge honor for Abby and I know she's going to LOVE every stinkin' minute of it. :) Now if I can just remember to pick up a couple of packages of those super long bobby pins and makeup remover wipes, I'll have it made.

Then there's the idea I'm tossing around about actually blogging more often, but that clearly exceeds the scope of my talents. (Hmm. I'm not too thrilled with how that last sentence flows...Oh well.)

Hey, guess what?! Ethan turned 13 earlier this month! (Insert horror music here) He had a total blast with his "shoot 'em up, bang-bang" video game party with all his trusty cohorts. At one point I thought I could literally smell the testosterone wafting about the house. Turns out it was just teenage boy feet. (And all the mommies of teenage boys say, "Amen!") I still can't quite wrap my head around the fact that he's a teenager already. I miss my chubby baby boy with the head full of luscious curls! (See? Wasn't he adorable?!)

Sierra's Sweet 16 party is this weekend and so far, NOT ONE of her friends has given me a definitive yes/no RSVP. Not one! I mean, hello folks?! Okay, I realize all her guests are young too, but c'mon! A little planning - and common courtesy (it's simple really: Yes you're coming, no you're not) makes this Mama happy. Just sayin'. (Twitch, twitch)

I was also going to tell you how Sierra's now taking taekwondo 5 days a week in an effort to show her teacher that she's worthy of testing for her 2nd and 3rd degree black belts before she's 18. From what I've been told, this is a highly unusual thing and reserved only for the rare, highly motivated, talented few. (Have I told you how much my kids freaking ROCK?!) Oh and here's something else. I find it amazing/interesting how both my girls are extremely ambitious whereas my son (see above) is NOT. In fact, if it weren't for video games and food, I think he just might keel over and expire. No joke. Sure hope THAT changes soon!

See there? I have absolutely nothing to write about! What did I tell ya??

New Blogger on the Block

noreply@blogger.com (Denise Opper) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 02:49:00 +0000

What kind of Momma would I be if I didn't broadcast the fact that Abby - at long last - finally has her own blog? :)

Check it out; it's called "Aweshum" (that's "awesome" with a heavy "SH" sound and "um" because...well...it's Abby's blog. 'Nuff said.) and she plans to post to it on a frequent basis.

We'll see how long that lasts!

If she's anything like her mother, brother or sister...ahem. Yeah. Aweshum!