Alphabet Soup - AKA - Brain Mush

I have so much happening in my mind right now, that I don't know how or where to start to make a purposeful, meaningful post.  I'd be happy with just a light-hearted, humorous post. 

Instead, what you are getting is some randomness.  Maybe these random thoughts will inspire some later posts, but for now, this will have to do.

~ Driving home last week after a long day of setting up a hafla, dancing, celebrating, saying good-bye, taking down and packing up a hafla and playing with friends, Victoria was starting to fall asleep.  One of her last thoughts before drifting off...  "Mom, if I could be anyone else in the world, I would want to be you!"    Talk about a heart melting moment.

~ After posting a photo on Facebook of the yummy Chicken Fricassee I made a couple weeks back someone commented that I need to get out of the house more.  I was not really sure how to take that.  Did it mean that this person just didn't get it, the way I love to cook and share my kitchen successes? OR did it mean that my photo was really unappealing!?!?  Either way, I had a good laugh at myself that it got to me and moved on.  I must make this again sometime very soon!

Chicken Fricassee adapted from Julia Child's recipe.

~  Since I started belly dancing four years ago, I have learned to accept and love my body just as it is, while at the same time embracing the desire to healthy.   So, it's okay that no matter how many crunches, and twists and shimmies I do, I will never have a tiny waist and perfectly flat stomach.  And, I'm okay with that! (PS...  I hate cardio exercise for the sake of cardio exercise.  It has to be fun.  Running?  NOT fun!   Dancing?  Fun!!)

~  A couple nights ago, I was sleeping on the couch, as My Life was sleeping very heavy and snoring very loudly.  No matter which way he laid, he still snored.  So my pillow and I made our way to the couch, and curled up under my super soft blanket.  Then it happened.  I couldn't sleep.  My mind wandered to this and that, then the over-tiredness took it's toll.  I wondered what I would do if a zombie apocalypse where to happen.  How would I get to all the doors and make sure they are locked, blocked and secure.  How would block off the french doors going out onto the deck?  I made a plan and listed off the materials I needed to be prepared.  Yes, this is how my insomnia plagued mind works.  I finally fell asleep and dreamt of hiking in the mountains with my cat.  My mind is a weird and whacky place!

~  It's spring cleaning time!   I am targeting two areas in my home this week.  My desk and the playroom.  Time to overhaul these problem spots and get a grip on them so I no longer feel the need to apologize for them, or try to hide them.

~ If it ever stops raining, I will be cutting back my raspberries.  Having never done this before, I hope I still have berry producing plants when I am done!  We love raspberries in our house and are anxious to start picking them! 

My raspberries, blueberries and strawberries when they were just babies.

I am going to take my cat and go hiking in the mountains now.  Go bless and be blessed!

Wordless Wednesday 4-4-12 - Pure Gold

The lovely and talented Annyse dancing with her sword (well actually it was my sword because is out of balance) at the Spring Equinox Hafla.  Annyse featured her students as well as the Zahara Belly Dancers and the Visha Dancers!  It was both a hafla (a belly dance party) and a good-bye party for Annyse as she relocated to Edmonton with her honey.   

I wish you the best in your new hometown, Annyse.  

You are more than just my belly dance teacher, you are an inspiration and my friend.

Yaleileileileilei!!!

Dancing for Seniors

As a performer, an appreciative audience makes all the hard work worth it.  And, let me tell you, that when it comes to wonderful audiences, there are none more gracious than seniors. 

Now, don't get me wrong, performing at weddings, private parties and haflas are a lot of fun!  

Girl's Night In

I love to be a hostess.  There is nothing better than planning a party, then lovingly preparing an assortment of foods then welcoming friends into your home to share it with you.  I love that.  I did that this weekend.  It was Girl's Night In at my house.  

As I planned the evening, I wanted to have 'girly' food.  Or, to put it another way, as it was the eve of Super Bowl, 'anti-Super-bowl-party-food'.  The menu was vegetarian. Everything, except the crackers and chips, were homemade.

Jai Ho!

Zahara performed at the Days of Fire Hafla last night.  Unfortunately, we were sans Yvonne, who had taken a nasty bump to the head the night before and needed to rest.  We love you and missed you, Yvonne.

It was it was hosted at a Martial Arts Academy.  Hence the weapons in the background.  We weren't allowed to play with the weapons.

Annyse and I got both got a case of the nerves before hand.  My nerves caused me to completely forget one section of the choreography and jump ahead to the next.  Oops!

And for some reason my upper body felt like cement.

Woo!  Legs!

I love veil choreography.

I love the ending to this song!

No Diving in the Shallow Water

I love it when I innocently go somewhere or do something and find myself inspired to greater things.

Sometimes, it's the little things that inspire me to be a better person, mother, wife, friend, daughter, etc.  Just a touch, a look, a hug, a memory, some laughter, a tear, or a little voice saying, "I love you, Mommy".

Or, a recipe that inspires a great meal. 

Or, it can be more profound.  Like watching a mother and father in church on Sunday, giving their praise to God with tears in their eyes, with their little girl at their side.  Their little girl, whom just came home from Children's hospital, and is getting the upper hand in her battle with cancer.

Or being inspired to push through my block and get writing in blog again.  (Thanks PW)

Today, I am feeling inspired as a performer.  Last night, I went to see some belly dancers perform in Bellingham.  Not just any dancers, but the Mahala Dancers.  Their choreography was creative and beautiful.  Their costumes were gorgeous, all designed and made by one of the dancers.  Seriously, these ladies ooze talent.

But, the best part of all was the feeling I walked away with.  This feeling of joy.  This remembering of why I love to dance.  Why, I love the art of belly dance.   I could go on and on about all the wonderful things about it, but that is whole other post.  Probably posts.  More likely a book.  =)

The point is, I am inspired.  So today, I shall dance.

 And probably dream of heavenly costumes that I cannot afford.

 I should get my sewing machine fixed.

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.