Rococo Mocco

2011-01-28T08:36:00.000-08:00

Has it really been sooo long??

Why, yes it has. Christmas dropped in like a lovely beautiful snowflake and melted away just as fast. True to form, our tree is still up!!!

But I want to post all these posts about all these things that are going on NOW, and I couldn't just SKIP CHRISTMAS COMPLETELY, could I?

Of course not.

One evening when Dane and Lena were having a sleepover w/ Grandma and Grandpa, we took Elsie out on a date with us to Benihana for dinner. It was great fun, and she was such a good, big girl for us! =) That's where these two shots are from.

We are pretty much putty in her hands, unfortunately.

So, I am however, going to start the new YEAR 2011 with some REAL posts. But I want to start from now, so let's bid adieu to the wonderful end of 2010, with it's accompanying festive graces and frivolity. It was great, and I was especially excited we got to host the Holiday w/ the whole Larson clan in our home (I just LOVE having us all together, in MY home) , and in addition to that we had my adopted (ok, not really) brother Michael Paul over on Christmas Eve too! It was great fun, and he and Elsie are now in LOVE. (Ok, not really. But kinda. I just say that because she asks when he is coming "home" and also says that "Him LOVES me." hahaha! Too cute. Their 27 1/2 yr age difference really is no matter.)

Although snow is still settled on the cold ground,

I have never been less aware for the cold weather, which I am usually notstop complaining about. That could be becuase I have had our heater set hotter than usual, so I am actually quite comforatable at home. Or it could also be that I am very busy, in a happy busy kind of way, and so I really don't care what the weather is! It's all good. AND, I must admit knowing that we are going on Vacay to WPB, Florida and the Keys in mid Feb is pretty encouraging too. THAT just about makes anything okay with me.

So, I'm BACK!

Again.

Really.

For real.

No quitting, procrastinating, lazing around, just being a bloggin' bum. None o' that.

I've got serious things to record here soon! From my eternal Dancing dreams to being schooled in the ways of the Unschoolers... I just want to make sure that even though I have a horrible memory, someone, somewhere will know how we lived at this moment in life.

2010-11-29T06:21:00.001-08:00

NICE IN NOVEMBER?!?

Well, shockingly, random warm days have made this November both enjoyable and more outdoorsy than normal!

Here's shots from a family picnic we had the weekend prior to Thanksgiving when Aunt Natty came home!

SUPER-DANE is up for hire. Only $45/ hour

for all super-manly duties.

Aunt Natttttttyyyyyyy's home for a few days!!! Wooo-peeee!

Nate, Stephie, and Millie-

We seriously don't laugh enough when we are together. ;)

Aunt Teenie and bb Malachi-CUTENESS!!

Nate and Ollie getting some play time in!

Grams and Gramps snuggle our little bunny!

Love having our fam together....

it's always laughter and fun. =)

2010-11-22T22:51:00.001-08:00

WOW. This blog is totally and completely OUT. OF. DATE. Well, basically just shut down.

Yeah, that was on purpose. Because you know all those really annoying "I LOOOOOOVVVEEE dancing" posts I made through the first part of the year? Well, that's about all anyone would have gotten from me since then too.

BUT, don't have coronary mom, and whomever else that was extremely SAD that I quit blogging. (I know there were HOARDS... hahahaha)

Guess whaaaaaaat?

Momma's gonna have a brand new blog.

Soon.

Well as soon as I can get my little Blogmakeoverin' fingers on it.

And it is going to be guaranteed to have LOTS OF DANCING on it.

;0)

And a shot or two of the kiddoes, as really, that's the WHOLE POINT of keeping this here journal thingy going anyway. The meeeeemmmorrrrieeesss. MEMORIES of the things I would forget! So, here mama.... here's the first post just to wet your blog-missin' appetite.

TTYS.

(that means talk to you soon...yeah I didn't know that either. Some one had to tell me.)

2010-05-23T20:22:00.000-07:00

Blogging. Temporarily. Stunted.

~
Well, if you still check this crazy thing I called a blog, you are going to be waiting again. I am just warning you that I am not blogging anymore. I mean, after this post. For a while. I am sick of it.

Ok, not sick of it exactly.... I just need to start fresh. All these pics on this blog are so out of date I cant stand it. And every time I think about what I can type out...my mind goes absolutely blank. That doesn't mean that good things aren't happening, it just means that I am kinda spent. I don't know where to start. I have a lot on my plate right now. LOTS.

Hubby works a lot.

Gone a LOT.

I am therefore alone with 3 children. A. LOT.

And it IS working out. Trust me it is ok. We are being blessed in a lot of ways. Like the fact that I am not on Prozac nor have I jumped off a bridge (yet...ok jk I wouldn't do that. Most likely.).

ALSO, I have been working some things out with Lena's homeschooling...

And I don't feel confident enough to post too much about it yet. Like whether it works or not. haha!

We are doing some experimental schooling techniques soon. Once we start. Which we've been on a extended spring break for like a month now. We are going off of "traditional schedules" altogether.

School when we want the WAY we want!! Hahaha.. I love first children...they are like the little testers of everything! (I know- I WAS one!!)

What else? I am still dancing. (DUH!) And teaching ZUMBA (OH YEAH.) Looking forward to more competing.

And with Mark working every hour of the day we have high hopes of making a serious dent in our school/housey practice loan debts...eventually! hahah.

Is this enough of a mish mosh for you?

What else...the kids are good. GOOD. I still know that homeschooling is our calling right now.

Who knows if it will last forever. We'll see.

And when I get a new REALLY adorable pic of us all looking darling and gorgeous and cute and I have energy for blogging again...I will revamp this gorgeous little thing and it will be so wonderful they will have to call the local news to do a big story on us.

CUTE LITTLE OLE US.

Until later my lovelies.

Hasta Luego! Au Revoir! Bon Voyage!

Yep.

Until then......

2010-05-10T20:53:00.000-07:00

The evolution of my dance.

I am so excited to be dancing. (You didn't notice, did you?) I was talking with my Dance instructor Michael about what my goals are today. What I do know and can say with all honesty is that I want to become the absolute best dancer I can become within my capacity and time. I want to be able to create a visual art form that is both as fulfilling for me to create as it is to watch. That is my ultimate goal.

This weekend we were visiting some antique stores...and I was looking at certain pieces that I liked and I thought...I could be buying a lot of this stuff if I wasn't dancing. I could be ordering custom upholstered furniture if I wasn't dancing. I could buy more chandeliers if I wasn't dancing. Just thinking about it for a moment made me get a tiny knot in my stomach. I LOVE gorgeous furniture. I love chandeliers. You KNOW that. But then, I thought about what I would do if I wasn't dancing. And it made me want to cry. I can't stop dancing! It's more than a physical object of art.

It's both art and therapy, excersize and life creation. It's giving life to my body in a way that nothing else could. I am learning to make something beautiful...and sometimes it feels like I am climbing a mountain I will NEVER reach the top of. But that is ok. I realize that because I watch other dancers who are able to make something beautiful...and just like Nester says...it applies to dancing just as much...It doesn't have to be PERFECT to be beautiful. I believe that. I know I will not ever achieve perfection. But beauty comes with imperfection and heart and soul.

That is what I feel when I dance,or even teaching or taking my wonderful Zumba classes. I am healed of all depression! I have struggled with depression in the past. I have fought it off and on for years...and for the past almost year and a half that these things have been a part of my life...depression and any signs of it have vanished.VANISHED!!! Can you believe that? It's truly a sign to me that it is MEANT for me to do these things. And as much as I may LOVE antique treasures and crystal sparkling lights...it can't touch what dance has done for me. Healing.

I feel so grateful for that...and I pray that God will allow me to be involved in it as long as I possibly can be. =) Where will it take me? I don't know. Whether it becomes a career for me someday I don't know, but I do see it as a distinct possibility. Sharing something you love with others seems quite natural. I think I could love teaching it to others. I see my life as needing to dance. Not WANTING to dance, (though I do) but NEEDING it. Like water and air.

It will be a large part of my life for the foreseeable future, and I am perfectly pleased about that.

2010-05-05T05:18:00.000-07:00

Here's a link to a tiny clip of my cha cha dance....
HERE!!!!!!

2010-05-03T19:49:00.000-07:00

"What ever you want to do, do it.

There are only so many more tomorrows. "

If you were to ask me why I am dancing right now. I think recently I realized part of why. Not realizing it when I began only four short months ago, four months that at the same time seems like an eternity because now I can't imagine my life without this part of me. I am alive now. More than ever. But I am rambling. Back to the point of this.

I realized that I as a mother, instead of pushing and prodding and dragging my daughter to dance classes she didn't enjoy and even hated to take, that I needed to do something different. Something that did not involve my child's personal interests at all. I realized a meager attempt to somehow make my daughter live my dream was completely pointless. I NEEDED to live my dream out. I needed to make that happen for me. For my well being. For the sake of my children seeing their Mother shoot for something. Train for something, work HARD on something. Hopefully have some of that effort become not only a catalyst to help me achieve my dreams, but to have it be some small kind of example to my loved little ones. I want them to know it takes work hard and focus, but with that anything is possible for them.

This costume is all by me! I created and stoned the top..added the skirt and stoned it as well. =) Sooooooooooo fun!!

Here we have a lovely dancer who is competing pro am like me, who I admire and love to watch her and her dance instructor. I have become dance friends with Jessika, and she has given me wonderfully kind and helpful advice!

She danced like a million dances, and this one was for her showdance.

My wonderful friend Pam with my and my teacher Michael.

She brought her adorable daughter to see as well.

Thanks for supporting us Pam! =)

Love my girl Pam!!

You know, we went up to the awards part and I honestly didn't even CARE whether I placed or anything...I had so much fun and truly felt like I did the very best I could. And nothing could beat that feeling. It was fantastic!

I AlSO want to thank my sweet Hubby Mark, who was the photographer/videographer through it all and was my cheerleader and was so proud of me. I truly am the luckiest girl in the world for his sweet support. Love ya babe!

Now that my first official dance competition is over, I am so happy with how it went! It was so fun and exciting, I had a wonderful time. For some reason I can't get a clip added to my post, it shows a little bit of our cha cha cha routine! My teacher Michael Paul worked hard with me on this and it payed off! I was totally prepped and I felt confidence and was able to really make it my best. I was very grateful for that! We saw a wonderful world champion pro couple perform several jaw-dropping dances later in the night...and I must say it was wonderful. I even teared up at one song they did! Why does it make me so emotional, I don't know...but it certainly does!!! It's just so beautiful. I love to be dancing, watch dancing, I think dancing is my personal drug. My personal prozac. haha!!

I will be the first to admit it's not all smiling and happiness, that is for sure. My teacher Michael pushes me and sometimes is just rough enough on me that I go home and cry(usually in the car-haha!!)....but obviously I have an easy cry reflex...so then again maybe it doesn't take much. haha. But it's worth it because I love learning and I love the process for the most part as well. I love getting compliments of course..but I have to be better at taking criticism too. I want to learn what I need to do to improve always.

Anyway... I leave you with another quote,

" To dance is to be out of yourself.

Larger, more beautiful, more powerful.

This is power, it is glory on earth and it is yours for the taking. "

=)
Anyway...I can't seem to get the video to post..so we'll work on it!

2010-04-11T15:43:00.000-07:00

Easter and a Weekend of Dancing!

Hello there blog world!

I know I am a lost soul to most since I have become the lazy blogger...lol! Easter has come and gone, my Sister Amelia THE very day of Easter actually BIRTHED an over 12 POUND (yes, that is correct) man-child baby boy, obviously were a couple of the highlights of our last 2 weeks. I would totally add a pic of that cute little tub o love but alas I have not actually witnessed him yet with my own eyes! We TRIED to be there the day of, but my poor sissy had a LONG hard labor..and can you blame her? So we had to drive home before she actually had him. I don't think I'd ever survive a baby that huge coming well, down and out, shall we say? In her own words: "OUCH."

Yeah.

So yeah- Kiddie Pic

images from last week...

I like to KISS that lil face.
EGG HUNT.

LOVING this Warm Spring!

~~~

On to this weekend!

SO I pretty much worked all week to learn a brand new routine for my first Dance competition on Friday...

And I will say that my fave parts of the experience were:

1. Bedazzling a dress I purchased online..with tons of crystal rhinestones...a crafty project that was totally fun and up my alley....and I am ready to do a few more now! haha!!

2. Practicing a ton...I just love it!

3. Getting all dolled up for the night.

4. ALSO, I had so many friends and family supporting me and cheering me on I almost couldn't believe it. It made me feel so happy. I don't think ever in my life have I felt so many kind people doing something like that for me. It was too sweet.

5. It was also really entertaining/ fun to get interviewed after the comp by some Spanish speaking TV station... who I guess because I have blond hair totally thought I was from some European country! haa!

My Least Fave part:

I was unexpectedly nervous!! In fact... I even blanked out on a few moves in our routine and I felt extremely unhappy with myself afterward. NEVER did I think I would do that!!! It was unexpected... On a positive note most people said they thought we looked great and they had no idea. So it was good and bad, you might say.

Nevertheless...

the very next night we had an opportunity to perform at Dennison University (and what a gorgeous campus) for a Salsa night at the school....and I got a second chance to dance.

I did GREAT and felt GREAT! It was a redemption to myself that I didn't suck. lol!!

Here are a few shots....

Ooooh, I made my hair clip too! It was so fun.

Mark matched me...lol!

So...on to another week of dancing and such.

I start teaching Zumba at a Lifetime fitness on Tuesday...My sister Natalie gets married on Friday, as well as one of the Comfort Dental Docs on Saturday! So a busy wedding weekend coming up!

Have a great week!

2010-03-18T13:35:00.000-07:00

Downtime.

A burning forehead and a lurching tummy are two reasons that I have the down time to sit here for a few moments and type any words out.

Luckily those symptoms do not belong to me, but my great Dane.

What to say? I don't know what to say. Life is moving fast and so am I as this spring starts to take hold on us! If you are my friend on face book then I post so regularly this most likely will be redundant! But, for the journalistic record (i.e. my parents who print this thing off and put into a very LARGE binder for the generations to follow), I feel the urge to share our life as always.

First of all, our worries about Lena's potential dyslexia have been felled. She is in the clear on that! (Not that it would have been that bad, I was all ready for it!) We have discovered that her issues with reading are vision related. She has a focus problem called Convergence insufficiency that cannot be detected by a standardized eye test, since she also has perfect 20/20 vision.

That little tidbit sure has been long in coming. I wish we could have figured it out two or three YEARS ago, but now is better than never, or later too. Now we will work with therapy to train her eyes to focus properly and eventually she'll be able to see words the way everyone else does! Thank the LORD above for that!

That should take a few to several months. And we'll be smooth sailin'!

YAY!

In addition to that, I am taking her out of Virtual Charter schooling, and we are going to what I like to call FREE WILLY schooling. hahaha. That looks so funny to write. But we are DONE with structured schools that attempt to recreate traditional schooling. We LEFT traditional school to get AWAY from traditional school. So I will blow a kiss good bye to the OHVA, who has shown me that I CAN home school my child. And now, with those little wings I have sprouted, I am going to snatch up my little birdies and fly off into another land of schooling-topia.

(And, No, I don't know who these people are, but doesn't her hair look nice? They definately look like happy homeschoolers. Happy Homeschoolers with nice hair.)

I look forward to it! Yay!(I say that too much. As well as Anywhoo-Lena told me that.) The freedom of having my children at home, unstructured, happy, and peaceful is really an unspeakable joy. I LOVE it. They love it. And it, though not what I ever EXPECTED, has been a surprisingly good twist in my life as a mother.

NEXT, we have...dance. I am getting better, I can feel that, and I am being told the same by my coaches (I feel silly calling them "COACH"...it's so sports like..haha!) And even though I am paying them (to tell me that ;))- I mean, to teach me, I still appreciate hearing the words said. I am truly in love with dancing. I bet you couldn't tell. hahah! I read somewhere that unless you have experienced it you'll never know what it feels like to love dance. I never want to stop! I want to be involved in it forever. Somehow some way. It's just so wonderful. So, yeah. That's where I stand (or rather..dance?haha.) on it.

I am also somewhat torn between both instructors, both of whom seem to really want to work more with me, as I am splitting my time between the two. On the positive side, I like it because they have different styles and are teaching me in different ways.

But, it is true that if I committed to one I could advance more quickly in one direction with that one instructor.

I know it doesn't seem like a big deal on the outside, but I have already become friendly with these people and now I honestly feel sick about picking one over the other...even if part of me sees that it could be advantageous in the end to do that. So that has been a tad concerning lately. I should probably not stress it so much. I know they will survive without me as a student, but I guess I just wish I had unlimited funds and could take lessons all week long!! haha!! That would cure everything.(As my husband says...more money would cure most of the quandries we have.haha.)

SO...anyway.. I am working toward a couple of small competitions, and I look forward to every day that I can dance. It makes me feel alive, happy, and wonderful!

Another thing that's going to make me feel wonderful is when I finish sewing white slipcovers for a bunch of chairs in my house and new pillows to freshen things UP! YES!!! And if I happen to try and make it look something like THIS, then I could die and all my dreams would come true.

THE END.

2010-03-09T12:05:00.000-08:00

"ODE to Spring"

(yeah...I am not quite exactly SURE what an ODE is,

but I think it's something to do with like going on and on

about some certain topic. Like SPRING.)

Ahem (clearing throat).

My dear and glorious friend Spring,

Today you've graced us with your sunshine and your wonders of light and life and breezy beauty! I have lain under your rays and soaked up Vitamin D like there was no tomorrow, dreaming of a time when this should be a common occurrence in my dreary days. Then I would be DREARY no more!

I would frolic through the spring tulips, gladly, whilst holding a wicker basket full of crocuses! I would wear nothing but cotton dresses, with eyelet and lace accents, and lovely little spring flats, or even sandals, that would show off my springy painted polka dot toenails!!

I think if you really decided to share with us with your ever loving constant beauty, I might even try my hand at some homemade lemonade to share generously with our neighbors, as we all lazily enjoy the comfort of your weather.

But Spring darling, please don't tease me! Don't come a little, then craftily hide behind a frigid snow cloud this March like you did a couple of years ago! That was just plain mean, no offense.

It was, though.

Mean, I mean.

You are so wonderful we all want you to stay around and visit us longer. SOO, Just pack your bags and you can come and stay in our guest room! It even has it's own bathroom, and I would EVEN let you sleep in, K???

Alright.

It's decided.

You are coming to stay, and I am SOOO excited!!!

What will I do first?

Ooh, I think I need a new flippy springy dress.

And then I'm looking up a recipe for homemade lemonade.

We're going to have so much fun!

Your friend (as long as you promise not to leave)always,

Rachel

2010-03-03T12:05:00.000-08:00

I have a confession.

(my Christmas tree is still up.)

What? Did you hear something? What? I didn't say anything. I mean, I am perfectly comfortable with my house and all the decor.

Perfectly.

I mean, yes- I know it's march. It's a great month!

Like the grande opening of SPRING!! (well, at least when there's not snow everywhere like we currently have)

OK, so I maybe have a teensie tiny thing I am slightly ever so much embarrassed about.

(my Christmas tree is still up!)

But LISTEN!

I have a perfectly GOOD reason for that.

Like, it's still SNOWING outside.

And it's frigid and winter-like

and dark and dreary to boot!

~
So I just can't be hiding in the woodwork (or Christmas lights) any LONGER!

I have reasons.

Plus, I WAS going to take it down by Valentine's day. I really was.

But then there was all this SNOW. And more SNOW.

And do you know the last TWO christmasses combined have had NO snow at our house?

But theeeeen, once it's all said and done with, the snow decides to grace us.

And what is MORE necessary than a CHRISTMAS tree ALL LIT UP on a white Snowy night?

So now I am out of the closet.

I am THAT lady.

the creepie Christmas one.

I am sorry.

It's just WHO. I. AM.

Love me or leave me!

The END.

2010-02-24T21:18:00.000-08:00

Good Golly I am a lame blogger lately!!

Do I even need to repeat the thoughts in my head?

"Me love dance. Me love dance.

Me want more dancing."

Um, I kind of feel like the cookie monster on Sesame Street.

"Me want MOOORE COOKIES!"

Only with dancing. Of course.

Please, if anyone knows what's wrong with me, please advise. Or diagnose. Which ever seems more appropriate to my situation.

Because I really have no idea what's going on.

Except that I eat, sleep, and breathe dancing.

Well, that is when I am not mommying, or schooling, or wifing. You know, to wife, which means to act as a spouse to a husband. (Dontcha let my crazy terminology throw you off kilter. It's just the words that spin round in my head.)

I am super happy though, if that's of any consequence.

I have graduated from Zumba-ing, which I of course owe my entire dancey life to, to ballrooming, and now I am hooked like a ball and chain.

And I don't mean to brag 'er nuthin'

BUT

It does feel really cool to go to my lessons and have my instructors tell me that I am like "3 times better" every time I come. tee hee. (yes I have been practicing...=)Just a lot- i mean, tad bit.)

Cuz' I am ANXIOUS to get good. Y'know? GOOOOOD. Well, at least goooood compared to NOT good, which I think is right around where I started.

And to the untrained eye, in at least Salsa, and possibly cha cha...I am starting to look good.

Woo-hoooooo!!!

And I am planning on a couple of competitions coming up in April and May.

My first!! YIKES!

I am already nervous.

I combat nervousness by a little o.c.d. practicing. You know, then if my body knows what to do, I can just shut my mind off and let it go.

That's how I work. I think.

And I must get something MAHHVELOUS to wear, dahhling. So I much look forward to that search. Yes. I'll keep you abreast of any fun things in the fashion world with it.

I am really drawn toward the Latin dresses that are pretty but simple in color and generally symmetrical in style. Here's an example of a pretty good one overall. I like the color a LOT (I love shimmery nudes) This is a rental, which is what I will do.

The back is pretty low for me, but as you all know I am sure, Latin dresses are prone to showing off some skin!! haha!

More to come!! =)

2010-02-17T12:08:00.000-08:00

Happy to be dancing...

As promised, I am now introducing you to my other sweet dance teacher, Michael Paul . He has danced for close to a decade I believe, and has had a super interesting history! From being a student at the Citadel, to living in France, to dancing all over the country in different cities! This pic is with his last professional partner, Dani. She is an amazing dancer to watch!! Wow, would I love to be able to move like her!! (Yep, I am working on it ;))

He's actually decided to head back to school now, and wants to become a high school teacher and mentor, so he is teaching Dance on the side! He told me that instead of going to heaven with a wall full of dance trophies (which I am sure he has) he wants to have touched lives for the better. That certainly is a noble cause, I'd say! (even despite my opinion of the public school system...lol!) He has a keen interest in gardening... and I think I've talked him into doing a square foot garden this spring. Yay for fresh herbs and veggies,right??

Oh what I would do for some gardening weather right now.....

my mind is wandering to warmer thoughts...

Spring, perchance?

Oh well.

But wait!!

I am a fan of Winter now! I almost forgot. Silly me.

YAY for icicles!!

Alright, sorry for the tangent.

So yes, that is Michael, and today was a good lesson day! I am going to practice practice practice all I can to make the most of our time, so it can be productive and useful, not rehashing stuff from the week before that I should already have down.

And last night I did just that, which I think really helped me today. I am loving it.

So, we'll see what I can do..just have to keep working and be patient!

2010-02-15T06:55:00.000-08:00

Just Embrace it.

So we are expecting more snow tonight. Something like 5 inches or so. Not a ton, but enough to get me nervous on the roads...I am like an 85 year old white knuckler when there's a chance I might slide on 4 wheels. It's post traumatic from two earlier fender benders over the past couple years.

Anyway.

I am not against snow. Actually I quite think it very aesthetically pleasing! I know from being in places out west where the sun actually shines, that it can really sparkle on fresh powder. Like diamonds. And who doesn't like diamonds? I mean, here, in the horrid- ooops! I mean MARVELOUS Midwest, it's a tad harder to remember how glorious that white sugary coldness can be, what with us being mostly covered in clouds of darkness all winter.

But I am turning a new leaf today!

I hereby vow to embrace winter in all its frigid icy wetness and invite all to do the same!!!!! Don't let slush getcha down!

Don't let COLDNESS make ya' cranky!

(see? There's a tiny bit of light peeking through that day...)

Channel your inner igloo lovin' self and join me NOW!

Who's with me?

anyone? ANYONE?

ANYONE!!!!?

Well, whatever.

I am starting a "I used to hate and despise winter but I totally love it now. Seriously." CLUB.

Lena will be the honorary president.

'Cuz she loves the cold. Hates it hot.

She's a regular ESKIMO.

And I am going to follow her example!!!

(...Just as soon as I get my third layer of wool under clothes on, with my down blankie, and some heavy winter booties...and turn up the heat in my house.)

.....EMBRACE WINTER!!!!!!!!!!

2010-02-12T03:00:00.000-08:00

REFASHIONS!!!

~
SO my lovely and amazing (really, very amazing. and gorgeous.) friend Sara had recently posted some really super adorable projects she completed. They were some t-shirt refashiony things that were so cute I just could not control my own self and had to give them a whirl as well, despite the fact that I had no actual directions or guidance on it. Tee hee. I just threw all caution to the wind and went for it. And , while my things so far do not hold a candle in coolness and complexity to hers so far...it is still super rewarding and fun to have something with ruffles on it that I made. hahaha! I highly recommend sewing something with ruffles- and better do it quick before the trend has died! haha.

And so....here are my first two somewhat quickie attempts!

The pink one I didn't get a "before" pic...but it was just without the ruffly collar part. That's all.

I love how the ruffles dress it up though!

~
And then, on the black shirt, I also forgot to take a before pic, so I took a picture of a brown identical shirt I have, so you can see that it was a plain crew neck t-shirt. Stretchy, but plain.

On this I cut a V-neck into it...and also cut the t-shirt length sleeved into more of a cap sleeve length. I added a thin small row of ruffles around the entire neckline, and then I added a thicker row along the bottom 2/3rds of the v-neck, which really looks more like a ushape in the end. Just how it sewed up. I have to layer it with a tank top, which is good anyway because it needed a little length as well.

2010-02-10T22:39:00.000-08:00

New news for Lena....

Well, since Lena has struggled with reading, ever since she was really little, we have been trying to figure out what the issue was. We tried to take matters into our own hands, so to speak, by my teaching her reading lessons. That, as we all know, evolved into my taking her out of regular school, and now we have had her in an online Public Charter school. It resembles homeschooling in that it is HOME. Now that I have actually DONE it for a while, I will also point out that it does NOT resemble homeschooling and very much resembles traditional PUBLIC schooling in format, content, and schedules.

It is not the most flexible for a student who has any extra challenges. I have not had much assistance in that way. It seems that they are not equipped to deal (despite their claims) with children who may take longer than your average student to accomplish their lessons. It is frustrating to want to have something that will bring out the best in Lena, yet I feel compelled to stick to their "Schedule" and format and kind of feel like I am ramming information down her throat at a rapid fire pace. Obviously, not an ideal situation.

I read everything to her for the most part. Which is why a lot of our lessons take extra long, are time intensive for me because I have to be right by her side for EVERYTHING. I have taken the angle this year that no matter what I would not let her be stressed out about reading, after all the post traumatic stress she had from previous schooling, I wanted to build her confidence back up and allow her the freedom to try and read on her own terms,no pressure from me.

I had done a decent amount of research over the past little while, and was all but convinced she was dyslexic. I even attended the open house of a special private school that caters to dyslexic kids.

That all changed on Monday of this week!

After a completely random google search, I ran into the website of an AMAZING woman with her PHD. who specializes in helping kids with reading problems, as well as specifically helping homeschoolers to come up with a custom curriculum! And she was only a 1/2 hour form our house!! We went to see her on Monday.

It was so revealing.

Within only a few minutes of watching her read several books, the Doctor told me excitedly that she was DEFINITELY not dyslexic, and had a rare but treatable VISION problem!

It was such a relief to hear, but sad at the same time because I felt so sorry for how hard it has to have been for Lena all this time, if her eyes are having trouble focusing properly on the words!!

She told me that we have done an amazing job of getting her to read so well despite her vision issue.

SO, that is where we stand now. Lena has an appointment with an eye doctor who has been trained in a certain exam that tests and treats the problem she most likely has. And with possibly a combination of wearing eyeglasses and daily eye muscular therapy, it can be fixed!

I am so relieved. SERIOUSLY.

Also, The reading Doctor advised us to get out of our online academy, and she is going to help me come up with a custom homeschooling curriculum that will specifically meet Lena's needs, work WITH her learning style and bring out the BEST in her! I am so grateful to have met this awesome woman, and I am so excited to grow with Lena in our homeschooling environment.

2010-02-10T12:10:00.001-08:00

Black and White...Happy Sad...Boy am I a moody Mama or WHAT?

~
I'd love to say I have a some fun new pics that I took during this morning's lesson, with my other instructor, Michael. I will introduce him better in another post. He really is great.

But today I did not have the energy for anything after our dancing. Let's just say dancing is hard. I know you know that...but even for someone (like me) who considers themselves an above average dancer, quite coordinated, and even a pretty fast learner it can be like pulling teeth (and I have on very good authority that THAT can be TOUGH!!)! Today was one of those days. Let's just cut to the chase by saying I was in tears on the way out to my car.

And that's not really all bad. So no worries there.

I am not sad that I cried, because I know it means I was frustrated, which means I was challenged, which means I was being pushed to do MORE. And I want to do more!! LOTS more! I want to look good when I dance, and it's going to take serious work! It's no joke. I mean, if the regular non dancer person had any idea all the things involved in it....they'd be shocked!

Here's a glimpse into today:

"Tummy IN (that's a biggie for me. I blame those three little punks that call me mama.) , and don't arch your back!"

"Elbow loose, rounded, but keep connected through the arm and hand"

"Twist, don't ROTATE!" (do you know the difference? I didn't! And BTW, I twisted so hard today...let's just say it felt like I was on a taffy puller! Jeez, do I need to get better at that!)

"What are you DOING there? Was THAT a check?" (I really had no idea..haha.)

"Face forward, twist out, give me pressure, feel the LEAD!"

"Maybe this move is too hard...I'll simplify it.."

(MY anxious response- "NO no no !!! Please just help me learn it!"

And on and on and on...until we were done and I felt like my twisty, not connected body was needing a small scale overhaul.

I think I should PRACTICE?

Yes.

SO for now....that's my update on dance. It was good. HARD, but good. I just have to be patient with myself. And I am glad that I can do it.

THE END. =)

2010-02-09T21:28:00.000-08:00

A peek inside....

We have been utterly snowed in for a few days here in the midwest and I'll tell ya, it makes for some LOOOOOONG days. Not that we are not home all day most of the time anyway now, what with school at home and all, but seriously!! Just to get out when it is THIS cold and horrid out, seriously makes it not even worth the trouble! I didn't want to bother, I didn't really even want to risk driving etc...in the yucky weather. I finally braved it tonight by myself and went to a dance lesson at the gym, but that was the biggest outing (make the the ONLY one) of my day! So, my main point is that is makes the days go by SoooooSLOW. I felt like this day lasted forever, which is NOT a common occurrence for me.

Anyway, I have FINALLY remembered to bring my camera with me so I could snap a shot of my dancing coaches. I want to get more pictures of everything I am doing dancing to chronicle and share more of it. Dancing does take a lot of my creative thought and time now, and so I am left with little brain for creative blogging, but hey, this will be interesting, right?(go ahead and nod your head, yes!haha!)

This is Allen, with whom I have been learning Salsa! He has a pretty cool dance history so far, and is doing a LOT of really neat things with it. He lived and opened 2 dance studios in NYC before moving here. SO he travels a lot back and forth from there. One thing I like about Allen is his goofy sense of humor. He definately gets my humor too and so we laugh a lot. I appreciate his lightheartedness, and it makes lessons really fun. We have thus far worked exclusively on Salsa, so I have already a pretty good collection of moves. The dance moves start at a bronze level, then go to silver, and then Gold level, and then it is called Open choreography. So, to tell you what level I am working at in salsa I am doing Gold and a little Open. It is seriously one of the most fun things I have ever done. EVER. I love it. I am just a happy happy woman when i am doing it. HAPPY. well, at least that's when things are clicking along and i am doing well. Then there are times when I feel like i am a little slow. Those times are gonna be less fun, obviously.

Anywhoo....i have felt like a desperate housewife or something lately because it seems like i am living from one dance lesson to the next. It is very cool to have the opportunity to learn this at this point in my life- what with being all 'mom of three' and wife and such. I feel extremely grateful for Mark's support and just for the joy it's brought into my soul! I hate to get all cheesy on ya, becuase seriously I so would totally make fun of someone saying exactly what i am about to say, but my dancing has become as important to me as ....well, breathing- in some ways. It has breathed life into my heart and mind and phsyche...is that too weird? I don't know...and honestly darlin' I don't give a damn! haha! (name that line)It's just something that if I had to let go of, let's just say I would mourn the loss deeply.

(and I certainly don't plan on it, just sayin')

Tommorrow I have another lesson, different instructor, so I will get some pics then too!

Nighty night!

2010-01-28T21:21:00.000-08:00

A few things I have realized.

~
1. Right now I think my creative fruits are getting all juiced at my Dance lessons...and the subsequent obsessing I do over them all week long. Therefore, my ability to create cohesive or interesting posts on the blog has decreased. Blogging has now taken back seat to my obsession for dance.

2. I have thought about getting my degree in dance now. I want to learn all I can learn about dance. I am a passionate lover of it. I am day dreaming, night dreaming, and wishing to do it whenever I have free time. It is like I have rediscovered something about myself I never allowed myself to fully realize as a younger person. They say do what you love. I love design. I love dance. When I went to college, if it wasn't an art/design class, if I had a choice, I took a dance class. I realized later that I totally messed up my schedule by chocking it full of non-major related ballroom classes.

The question I have for the old me:

WHY DID YOU NOT DOUBLE MAJOR? Clearly you loved both.

But I thought that dance wasn't a "Real JOB" kind of thing. I was supposed to go out and get a "real job" with a "real degree" sort of thing.

But I didn't even DO that anyway..so who was I kidding?

Questions about my past loom in my head.

Who was I?

Why was I like that?

What was I doing all that time?

3. When you learn how much you need to know...and then you realize how little you actually know..you feel like you are standing at the bottom of a mountain that you must be ready to climb if you are to find the success you seek.

4. Sometimes this thought goes through my head with my children: You are creating their future memories. Their life with you is what they will remember about growing up. What will they be like? What will they remember?

For some reason that thought puts my importance as a mother and my role in their lives into better FOCUS for me.

Sometimes I think I get a little lost in the day to day. I forget that this is IT for them. There's no dress rehearsal. Their lives,experiences,memories are getting molded, shaped, formed into something RIGHT. NOW.

I want it to be good for them.

I also know of someone who lost their little 3month old trisomy 18 baby yesterday.

I can't help but think about how I would never want to let go of that baby.

I would have a hard time doing that.

I hope I never have to do it.

I really am amazed at their strength.

And that's all for tonight.

2010-01-25T20:25:00.000-08:00

A new post from Me.

~
Did you know that blue stuff in your hair for about 1/2 hour makes a brownie go blondie?

Oh, yeah. That's what I am all "ups into" right about now. (that's my ghetto talk. like it?)So I'z gonna blog whilz I waitz for itz to get on wit it.

Did you know my technology sucks right now? My cell phone was dropped in Elsie bubbly bath a week ago and now I need a new phone. And my digital camera is lost in the abyss of my house. And it's in here, oh yes. I know it. I just really have no clue where. Darn thing. I am feeling kinda antsy and lost not being able to snap a pic at any random moment like normal.

It's like kinda making me sad!

Where are you my little Sony? Come to mama!!!

And then also, I have been in this kind of all encompassing affair with my Ballroom dance lessons. My brain drifts while I rock Elsie to naps, to bed at night...and it immediately lands in someplace where I am reliving my past week's lessons. What could I do better? How can I improve quicker? Why am I so darn impatient? Why can't I be amazing NOW, gosh darn it? Mark and I met one of my 2 dance instructors for dinner and salsa dancing last Friday on our date night. That night was really blissful to me because I had all my favorite dance people around me:

1.)The hubs, of course.

2.)BOTH my instructors, plus a handful of other teachers that were

there to be danced with.

3.)My bestie Zumba girl, who is just too fun to be with. See? That's me and her. This was a pic from her phone. Yah..cuz I no have no camera, dude.

And so, during dancing that night, I had an Epiphany.

I am a part of a dance food chain.

Right now I feel like I am climbing up the food chain, but I am definitely still somewhere on the middle of it. My hubby, for example is on the lower end of the food chain. (poor dear)

He knows very little...some, but not quite enough to make him really easy to dance with yet.(in a steps sort of way, I mean! He is always of course my sweetie, and I love to snuggle dance with him..=) which is what I do.lol!)

Anyway.. where was I?

Oh yes, the dance-FOOD CHAIN.

And so...now that I seem to know a little, I am able to hold my own a little tiny bit with the instructors. They dance with me, and it is fun. But...on Friday...I realized that they are humoring me.OF Course they are!! Duh? I thought I was so fun to dance with...but then the REAL ballroom girls come a knockin'.

Oh yeah...and then I watch my

instructors wander on over to the

T-o-P

of the dancey food chain.

And they get it on.

Dancing like WOW.

Dancing like...YEAH...I wanna do that.

I SOO-HOOO -HOOOO want to look like THAT.

Really cool.

And I knew that I am not there yet...but maybe, if my feet and brain can continue working together...maybe by the end of this year I will be able to say I got closer to the top of that coveted chain.

That would be a dream, sweetheart.

2010-01-20T20:46:00.000-08:00

Can you count to 1,2, 3-and-4 ?

Today's dance lesson seriously made me wonder if I could.

I was learning a tiny start to a chacha (like only 8 counts)..and seriously...my brain and feet would not cooperate! I kept thinking..I am NOT an uncoordinated person! I am GOOD at dancing! Aren't I?? I seriously CAN move. But tonight...my tootsies thought otherwise. They were a little sluggish I think. Or maybe it was my brain that was sluggish. Either way...I just kept thinking, my dance instructor must either be in complete torture with me, or he has the patience of JOB. For real. I think starting on the 2 count was what really threw me off....which also sounds really lame to me. Why should that be a big deal? I have no idea..but it was.

~
So...yeah. Tonight I learned some swing...which I think in International style is termed the Jive...Also called East coast swing. What I learned was cool, and fun-but also my brain-to-feet connection felt a tad sluggish tonight. I probably should have eaten a real dinner instead of half a banana and some raisins on the way over. lol! That would have helped a ton I'm sure.

Eating is such a pain sometimes! I just don't have time.

Especially today...we had a crazy day.

So we talked about how relying on watching yourself in mirrors is bad, because when you get in front of a crowd to compete or perform..you have no mirrors! That was a very good point! I realized I kind of hate having no mirrors because I know I am super dependant on them. I use them to judge how I am looking when I dance. Without them I hardly know what to do with myself. So..that made me think I SHOULD go without them a little so I can get more used to that.

~
We also worked on cha cha...and it was frustrating for me because 1. I couldn't get the basic beginning...so we had to go over and over and over it! 2. I wanted to practice some of what we had gone over the last lesson, and instead we did new stuff..which was ok but there were these turns we had done the other day that I was kind of anxious to try out again..I'm sure we'll get to it...but I am an impatient girl!

~
I am excited for next week...and I hope I can have a better time with more of a brain to foot connection! They need to be better friends. haha!

2010-01-17T21:29:00.000-08:00

Weekend Eating...

Lately I have been eating really badly.

Like, Chicken nuggets and french fries bad...with hardly a side of veggies to be seen for miles. (kid food is a plague to my exsistence.)

SO, today I made Soup! A healthy Lemon Lentil Soup with Spinach Leaves. (Like a WHOLE bag of fresh spinach.) I actually was "supposed" to use Kale, but I had spinach. So I just used spinach. I think I liked it better that way, I think.

And instead of green lentils, I used green peas.

But that was only because I really didn't even know there was a difference between green lentils and peas. And when I was standing in front of that whole row of lentil/beany dried things at the grocery store...I couldn't FIND the green lentils. So, I figured, what the heck! I am getting the peas. They are both LEGUMES, right? Same diff.

It turned out great.

I like soup.

It was freshy fresh tasting. And yummy.

The end.

Oh, and I talked to my long-distance (boo-hoo) best friend on the tele tonight for like a looooong time. And it made me miss her. I miss you Lisa. =) I need more friends like that in my life.

Okay, so it's not really the end.

Speaking of friends. When I was at the grocery store the other night, I was on the phone the ENTIRE time with my sister nearest in age to me. She and I are OPPOSITES in every way. Total. TRUST ME. Opposites. (post script: ok, my sister begs to differ on this. I guess that is true more in the past than now. She has single handedly converted me to homeschooling...and so to be accurate we are actaully morphing closer to eachother I think every year... but anyway!) Except for sense of humor. I was wandering around the supermarket trying my best to get what I needed, all while we were talking about how hilarious it would be if I walked up to some unsuspecting store clerk and asked in a very whiny Indian accent, "I am loookeeeing for your FRESH COOOOKING Cheeses." And repeat the phrase "fresh coooooking cheeese" lots of times.

You had to hear us say it. It was quite completely hilarious. So much so that I was nearly doubled over giggling on the phone in the bread isle. Yeah. You probably had to be there.

I laughed really hard, all by myself at the supermarket on my cell phone late at night. I am so weird some times...but laughing makes me happy. SO it's imperative that I do it regularly.
It's like a medical need. So that's why I had to. Yeah.

And...what else. Hmmmm. That 's it.

I did buy a super sweet 1980's throwback outfit at Forever 21 that has "Let's Dance" writen in Silver Sequins on the shirt, and I bought dark mettalic leggings to go with it. Oh yes I did. Cuz I am crazy like that. I'll try to take a pic when I wear it.

And that's it.

2010-01-13T21:38:00.000-08:00

MID WEEK Update

I don't really have a lot of energy for words right now.

(p.s.although now that I look at it, I guess I had SOME energy for words, as it looks like I wrote quite a few down...)

I will keep it simple.

Dancing? Yes.

Found a new/nother dance instructor. YES. Like both. (for different reasons- one is technical, one is teaching me some really cool choreography) Will dance with both until I change my mind on one or the other. New instructor just moved here from NYC, and has some pretty groovy dancey-connections! Tony Dovolani, Elena Grinenko, for two!)

Escaping into dance is keeping me sane. Went Salsa dancing on tuesday night for a short time, and could already FEEL improvement in my movements. It's pretty amazing how quickly I've noticed change.

Daytime hours occupied with Schooling Lena (overall going well...not a lot new to report there), Keeping teething toddling cranky child who craves death defying acts alive, and attempting to talk son into watching less pbs all day.

On a less than wonderful note, over the weekend my sweet little Sis Steph was hospitalized with a rare but serious infection on her face (of all frustrating places!) and we are trying to support her recovery. It is not a quick recovery. It involves a hospital like sterilization at home as well, which would be pretty overwhelming to anyone!~ Prayers for her are appreciated!

I also auditioned for a new Zumba teaching position, which has proved to be more difficult/annoying than I could have ever thought it would be. Dealing with managers who know nothing about Zumba (or the way the class goes) makes it difficult for them to understand why it doesn't get taught like an "old school" traditional dancey aerobics class (like jazzersize). It's different, and they have issues understanding it. So that's been rather frustrating. But, it will all work out I am sure. Not worried, it has just been more of an irritation like a splinter in your toe. Ignorant people irritate me. haha!

What can I say, my patience is low?

IT IS.

And, other than that....life is good.

Keep on keepin' on!

(or so they say?)

2010-01-05T20:45:00.000-08:00

Get your dancing shoes on.

Salsa dancing reminded me that I must wear a shoe that HUGS my foot when I dance. When I say hugs, I mean has proper toe coverage (so that no toes get sneakily pulled out while spinning fast-ouch!) and has some kind of strap that holds the heel on well, and has a mid sized heel that I can move in. I had completely forgotten how essential an item a proper dancing shoes was! I found a darling looking shoe that resembled a ballroom shoe, but wasn't ( I got it at DSW for like $25 on clearance!) and it became my go-to Salsa shoe. Got lots of compliments on it too, because it's pretty darn cute too! What with a satin rose on the peep toe area and a retro-40's look going .

I wore that shoe for my first dance lesson a week ago. Yeah, umm...it was NOT a ballroom shoe. I felt like I was ice skating on that dance floor! Not, I repeat, NOT good. Soooo....I went online and ordered my first "official" pair of ballroom dance shoes from THIS website.

Then....when I went to my second lesson yesterday....I forgot ANY shoes. (except, of course the black and white polka dotty rain boots I threw on to escape the slushy snow!) . SO then I went completely barefoot the whole time, which worked well, a LOT better than ice skating like the week before. The main downside to THAT was that it completely wrecked my fresh pedicure. My toenail polish rubbed right off!! Ack.

TODAY I received my new ballroom shoes!! They are going to be great, I think, as soon as I can figure out all the strappy parts. They definitely have a lovely suedey sole, which I can imagine will keep me from skating as much on the dance floor. haha. I am excited to put them to good use!

Oh, and I am also excited because I and two other Zumba instructors are throwing a free "Zumba" party tomorrow night...and we already have 100 people registered and like 50 people on a wait list to get in!! It's gonna be FUUUUN!!!! I'll let you know how that goes later! Gotta get some sleep tonight!

Soo...Nighty Night!

Walter Meego "Forever"

2010-01-04T21:41:00.001-08:00

I am offically in love with this song! Thanks Jessica for the tip! Can't get it out of my head! I wonder if I can do cha cha to this??