Up Next... 'Smores!

 It has been a long tradition in our family to sit around a fire and roast marshmallows together.  So, today we built a firepit in our backyard. 

Once the perfect location was decided on, we dove right in and everyone helped.

Voila!  Tonight, we eat smores!

I love smores!

the challenge?

So, yes, I have been working on my personal challenge (see Amazingness ).  I have managed to make time to persue at least a couple items each week.  What I haven't managed to do is blog about them. =)

So I have almost finished a book that I started 5 months ago.  It's not even that long.  I just don't make a point of making time to read.  Until this last week.  =D

 If you haven't read Price and Prejudice and Zombies, you should.  I have been very surprised with how enjoyable it has been. 



I have been working on knitting a hipscarf.  No photos yet.  I made several attempts at crocheting it, but the yarn I have chosen makes me crazy when I try to crochet with it.   I have not decided what I will adorn the fringe with yet.  Hmmm....

What is a hipscarf, you say?  It's a scarf wrapped around the hips, often adorned with coins and or beads, most often worn by belly dancers.   As a belly dancer, you can never have enough bling! 

I have made a couple items in my kitchen that are brand new to me.  One was the muffins in the previous posts.  Seriously yummy!  They really do taste like doughnuts!  I even photographed one, as seen in the previous post.  So check one more thing off my challenge... playing around with photography.

I also combined a couple other items together and here are the results of that....

California Poppies... so pretty!

This one is my favorite!  I planted these for D, as they are one of his favorite flowers.  Behind them are my sunflowers which should make for amazing photos later.  =)

... And a few more photos to sign off with for today. 

A pretty orange California Poppy.

Pansies from Vicki's planter

MMMMM.... strawberries

Coming soon.....     

Meanderings and Strange Things You Might Hear If You Were Here







*poof*

Vicki's Breakfast

yummmm...

What's Cooking in My Kitchen this Morning....

Muffins That Taste Like Donuts

From the Tasty Kitchen Blog

Amazingness - the Fruitloopgirl Challenge

Completely and totally inspired by this lady:  The Pioneer Woman
If you have never heard of her, or checked out her website, go... now...  or maybe after you read my post.  =)   And especially: The Tasy Kitchen  which is the Pioneer Woman's amazing cooking/food/recipe site.  She is pretty amazing and has inspired me to tap into myself and find a little bit of my own amazingness.  I know it's in there somewhere!

So after spending a little time perusing those sites I feel challenged.  And here I go:

I have all these things that I love to do.  But they all compete with my time and generally I push them aside.  So each week, I will set aside time for at least two of following then post on either this blog or my crafting/hobbies blog, Brain Noodles, as appropriate.

• Crocheting
• Cooking something completely new
• photography (I don't claim to be a photographer, but I love to play with my camera!)
• writing
• paper crafts
• sewing (once I get my sewing machine repaired) 

Ideally, I would love to do one each day, but I have to be realistic and not set myself up to fail.   For those who know me well, I am open to ideas, and having you check up on me!  Seriously, email me, Facebook me, comment here, or phone me and ask me what I am working on next. 

I also challenge you all to make time to do the things you enjoy and then share your amazingness with us.  Please leave me a comment and let me know if you are interested in taking up a challenge of your own.  I will support you in any way I can!


~*~ poof ~*~

Hi. I'm Shari and I'm a Belly Dancer

So as many of you know, I belly dance.  It all started about 8 years ago (2002, I believe), when D and I were at the Wild Buffalo in Bellingham.  There was a great blues band there that night, but the highlight for me was the intermission show.  Out came the belly dancers.  They were Blond Ambition and they were awesome!  It sparked something in me that night.  I wanted to move like that.  It was both intoxicating and beautiful.  When Nancy got up on the water goblets to dance, I was in total awe. 

Fast forward to March of 2009.  Seven years have passed, but I have never had the courage nor the opportunity to take some belly dancing classes.  But it had been on my mind again, a lot!  then Crystle, my friends daughter posted on Facebook that she wanted to take a belly dance class.  I asked her if it would be weird for her to take a class with me, as I am her mom's friend.  She said that would be great, so I started my research.  That was how I found Annyse.  The first night that I joined her class, Crystle wasn't able to join me, so I ventured out alone.  That class was the last in the 8 week series.  So I was coming in cold to the review night.  I went completely outside my comfort zone and joined in.  Annyse was so graceful, I felt so awkward in comparison.  But, she and all her students were so encouraging.  They all cheered for me when we done.  And that was it.  I was hooked. 

Crystle and I continued to take classes with Annyse right through to December of '09.  We danced with fellow students in a July 4th parade.  Well, more like sprinted... the parade pace was so fast that we all found it very difficult to dance.  But, when December came, Annyse had to make the decision to not continue classes in Blaine.  By the first week of January, I was having some serious withdrawals.  I was very apprehensive about starting with a new teacher.  I really wanted to take my dancing to the next level.  To get out of beginner mode and maybe even perform one day soon.  I was pretty nervous that maybe a new teacher and new style would prove that I really wasn't very good and that I have no business doing this.  However, I missed it so much!  So I continued my search.  There were several options in Bellingham to choose from, but by March I had finally made up my mind to check out Maggie's class.  I had met her before and seen her perform so I knew she would be a good fit as a teacher. 

I think it was either the first or second class that I had gone to of Maggie's, when I got an email and a phone call from Annyse.  She invited me to join a troupe with her and Yvonne, who was another student of hers.  I felt so honored.  I felt so excited and scared.  I said yes!

I continued with Maggie's class, as it was a lot of fun.  It was also challenging.  I also took a drill class with Maggie in which we learned drills and exercises to strengthen our muscles and improve our skills.  It was awesome!  I loved dancing till my legs, butt and abs were burning and fatigued.  I love sore abs!

Weekly troupe practices/lessons started with Annyse and I have fallen in love with troupe choreography!  Plus, Annyse and Yvonne are amazing women.  I love spending time with them!  We worked hard on developing our first two choreographs.  Somewhere along the way, we settled on the name Zahara Sisters for our troupe.  Zahara is a feminine Arabic name meaning illuminated, or shining.  At our very first public performance, we did a gypsy Rom dance that drew rave reviews from Annyse's teacher.  And that was it.  I was now in love with performing.  =D 

Work in Maggie's class continued on a cane dance choreography that we would have the opportunity to perform at a Hafla in June.  This whole spinning of the cane was proving to be a problem for me.   But with help from both Maggie and Annyse, I got better at it.  Performing at the Hafla was a blast.  The Zahara Belly Dancers (as we are now called) performed, and I also participated in two student numbers with Maggie's class. 

Zahara has performed at a couple private events as well.  After our first paying gig, which was at a senior center, Yvonne and I were elated.  We could definitely get used to this.  And side note: seniors are the most generous and appreciative audience ever!  So fun to dance for them.

Meanwhile, belly dance has become a part of my everyday life.  I find myself practising and working on moves at the oddest times.  Like when I am cooking or doing laundry.    I spend way too much time surfing belly dance costume sites and drooling over what I can't afford.   I watch videos of other dancers, try to catch live performances whenever I can.  I have dragged D along to a few now.  I am sure it is such torture to see beautiful women shimmying and undulating!  I have dragged some friends along as well.   You all will be assimilated!

This last couple weeks I have been feeling stuck, but this week has been great!  With new choreography we are working on (Zahara) and encouragement coming from my hubby and some friends, my passion is reignited (is that a word?).  So to all my friends and family, I apologize in advance, but you will be hearing much more about belly dance.    I am not at all obsessed. 

working on belly rolls and....

decided I need to step up the workout and restrict my diet more.  Why have a strong stomach then have it buried under fat?  hmph!

Wax Me Poetic

I am finding my enthusiasm starting to wain,

with my motivation today, down the drain.

There is a list of things I so want to do,

but there is also a list of what I have to do.

One seems to come at the expense of the other,

and who is this kid who keep calling me mother?

Laundry, vacuuming, dusting and dishes,

they all make demands, smothering my wishes.

Who will make dinner? Oh right! That's me.

A family favorite tonight, salad and spaghetti.

I now feel my creative juices start to fade,

I love my life, but can I have a maid?

the Princess and the Toad

Feeling a little... ummm...  no I can't find the word.  It's like anxious, but not really.  I don't know quite how to explain.  I also have no idea why.  It reminds me of when I was young, and I would say, "I have a feeling".  It is like the feeling of anticipation, but uncertainty of what or why.  That uncertainty leaves butterflies in my stomach.  Antsy.  That is closer.

Anyways, when feeling this way, I usually respond by avoiding doing stuff outside my normal routine.  But, I am on a new adventure, so I am going to respond in a new way.  Vicki and I are going to go out.  We will run some errands and maybe stop somewhere fun to play for a bit.  I will not be held captive by some unkown... whatever it is. 

So I am the princess, facing my toad.  I could scream at its hideousness and run away, or I can kiss it and see if it turns into a prince.  And it doesn't, well that's okay too.  Catch and release. 

oh bliss, thou hast found me

Part of my morning ritual is that once I am ready to sit down and have a coffee, I check out my email and FB, and  maybe even blog.  =)   This morning it looked a little like this...

Then, as I was trying to read through the glare on my screen, I heard a tap-tap-tap.  Up in our very sad, dieing weeping birch tree, was a little wood pecker.

He is pretty small.  Can you see him?

So yesterday, I took Vicki to her buddy Brett's 4th birthday party.  Brett is the little boy who's Meema (grandma) was looking after both Brett and Vicki since August of last year.  The two of them have grown very close.  Upon arriving at the party, Vicki immediately told Brett how she had had a dream the night before about him and his party.  He responded with, "I dreamt of you too Vicki."  Seriously, they are too cute.  I hadn't planned on staying for the party, but the kids were all so well behaved and it was a really nice bunch of group of moms and 1 dad.  So it was quite enjoyable.  I normally cringe and want to run away when it comes to children's parties.  But I have to say, that Brett's mom, Billie, and Meema put on a great party. 

When we got home, the house was so hot.  But it was still cooler than outside.  I struggled to find the motivation to turn on the stove and start making dinner, but I got to it.  Made some 4 cheese tortellini with creamy tomato sauce, and lightly sauteed zucchini.  It was seriously awesome.  But then I am a freak for pasta.  I only had time for a few bites though, as I had to head up to Canada. 

After what seemed like an excruciatingly long border wait, (only 15 mins, but it felt like an hour), I made my way to go pick up Josh.  We went and chilled at Starbucks and chatted.  Dang!  I miss that boy!  Er, man.  We talked about work, and he spoke of how he is planning to back to school in the fall.  He wants to graduate so he can go onto college and study science.  Something in either physics or biology.  That's right!  My Josh, who didn't do homework more often than he did, who hated school pretty much from day one of first grade, who skipped more often than he went in his last year of school, who thought about joining the military at one point just because the idea of college scared him crapless...  yes, my Josh.  My Josh wants to go to college!!!!   Now, I have to keep in mind, that it is Josh, and he takes awhile to act on these thoughts, because he has to think it through over and over and over and over (and over) before he is ready to take the plunge (and over).  

Then we spoke of relationships and how he hasn't had a girlfriend in a really long time.  He has very high standards you see.  And very few girls are date-able for him.  Then there is the whole problem of how does one meet new people, when your routine doesn't really put you out there.  I remember feeling the way he does.  Like the only one who doesn't have someone.  I remember feeling like I would be alone forever and that no one would ever want me.  Yet, now when I look back, those thoughts seem crazy.  How could I have ever felt that way when I was married at the ripe age of 18?  HA!

Anyways,  time with Jman was awesome.  Then I went onto Annyse's in White Rock.  We had a great practice.  Annyse is teaching us a new choreography.  A veil choreography this time.  Its going to be very awesome!  =)

So today's list:

~ play croquet with Vicki

~ laundry (seriously that is on the list ever single day.  Today it is bedding) woo.

~ housecleaning focus today is the living room. 

~ play a game with Vicki

~ something awesome for dinner

~ weeding

~ play with Vicki

~*~poof~*~

Oh Sweet Summer

Welcome to our house.  I was about to take a picture of the front of our house, to show off the pretty 'welcome garden', when I noticed my little buddies in the window. 

I like to fill this flower bed along our front walk with colorful welcoming flowers.  This year its blue lobelia, pink and purple impatients, red and variegated geraniums.   

Vicki made two planters of her own again this year.  She is pretty proud of them.  This one here has a mix of last years snap dragons and new plants she added this year, including more snap dragons and pansies. 

We made jello jigglers.  I think blue jello is definitely my favorite flavor.

I thought I would try to get a nice pic of us together.  Vicki had other plans.  But after several tries, we finally got a good one. 

 

Here is our fruit garden.  We have a cherry tomato, a beefsteak tomato, 4 rapsberry and 4 blueberry and a couple extra strawberry plants that didn't fit into my strawberry planter.  We also have some vegetable garden planted, but due to the delay of the warm weather, it isn't much to photograph yet.  We have harvested almost all our radishes, and are still waiting on carrots, onions, brussel sprouts, kolrabi, beans and corn. 

Here is my strawberry planter which is very loaded with ripenning berries.  Behind it is Vicki's other planter, full of petunias and snapdragons.

Too cute not to share!  =D

Today is a short list again.  Vicki has a birthday party to go to, so I will take advantage of the time to get some serious house cleaning done.  Cuz, that's my favorite.

I have plans to go see my J-man this evening for coffee before heading to class/rehearsal time with Annyse and Yvonne.  Going to be a great day! 

Enjoy the day!   

~~*poof*~~

YA BABY!!!

That's what I'm talking about! 

 

~~*poof*~~

**Deep Sigh**

~fun~
Skippy and Carla coordinated a surprise visit with us yesterday.  They came and requested dinner (lolz) then hung in our backyard with us, playing badminton and being beyond patient with Vicki learning to play with them! 

~and now for something completey different...~
Well, this is it.  My first real week at home.  No going to work.  (Save to drop off some projects I was working on from home, which I haven't really done yet. ACK!) 

I have such a long list of things I want to do.  I keep finding myself saying, "I can do that now", or "Oh ya, I will work on that this week."   And if I were to make a list of all the things I said that about over the last few days, my entire day, each day this week would be full.  Overscheduled.  HA!  Grand vision of totally indulging in Vicki and creating amazing summer memories with her....  *poof*  ..... gone.

Alas, I will not allow that to happen.  Today, I have a short list.  It goes a little like this....
~ do laundry
~ make jello sticks
~ take Vicki to buy birthday present for Brett and quick stop at grocery store
~ chill in backyard, playing badminton, blowing bubbles, and a little gardening with this really cool kid I know....
 


...  if only Vicki had a pool....  *cough*d.e.n.n.i.s.*cough*
     (that story is a whole other post *wink*)


~~*poof*~~

Garden Graces

(AKA: things I have observed while working in my garden)





~ strawberries from your own garden taste better than any other you have ever tasted
~ raspberries from your own garden taste better than any other you have ever tasted
~ radishes from your own.... well you get the idea
~ moles eat hydrangea roots
~ our wonderful "this is the perfect blend of soil, peat and sand" top soil, crusts over then doesn't absorb water
~ something keeps eating our blueberries before they are ready
~ nothing will grow in our front garden bed under the trees. We have several plant corpses to prove it
~ vines are evil
~ shade gardens can be beautiful too
~ wasp larva can sting
~ 6 yr olds are pretty good at weeding.... once they understand the difference between the plants and weeds. =)
~ raccoons don't digest grapes (ew)

That's Right!

hehe

Muck n Muck celebrating Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day!

yes, I am Canadian. I'm proud to be Canadian. I live in the US. I quite like it.

So Vicki and I are heading up to Canada to spend the afternoon/evening with Muck and Oat Girl. Hopefully the rain lets off so we can go see some fireworks tonight. =)

Muck and I have been friends since grade 1! Yes, you read that correct. We have been friends for nearly 35 years. Thatsa long time! We grew up together. Went to school together. Raised our kids together. Lived together. Laughed together (a lot!) Cried Together. Celebrated together. Made mistakes together.

We are sisters, not by blood, but by bond.


We used to love to go to those photo booth thingies.

Christmas '87

New Year's 2001 at OUR house.

Muck n Muck

New phase of my life... New blog

The long and short of it is, this is my new blog. Hope you will return to read.