Riot and Frolic

a mostly ballroom dance, but also a bunch of other stuff, blog

recent posts

about

I own and rock people’s faces off teaching ballroom dancing at Dancers Studio in St. Paul, MN. My husband and I compete professionally in American style and wrangle eight children in our spare time. I’ve been teaching and competing in ballroom dancing for over 25 years and have lots of opinions on it. I am an expert by any means, but there are quite a few dancers who are better than me and I have a solid knowledge of basic technique, so suck it.

Month: March 2013

  • Why I Hate Dancing With The Stars

    While Dancing With The Stars has bought unprecedented exposure to ballroom dancing, I must argue that it sucks for the industry.  In the land of trying to set realistic expectations for students, Hollywood has put the glitter in everyone's eyes. Here's why: I have had several students lament that they're not as good as [Jerry…

  • Unpaid Programming – Shutterfly

    HOW MUCH DO I LOVE SHUTTERFLY? A LOT! My grams got Zoo a Cabbage Patch Kid doll for Christmas this year and it came with a coupon for a  free 8×8" Shutterfly book.  (Shutterfly makes custom photo albums, prints, stationary, and the like.) After hemming and hawing whether I had the time/energy to find enough…

  • The Joys of Motherhood

    As much as I think one should know what they're getting into with the whole motherhood thing, I feel like I've been a poo-poo-er of rearing children.  But it's a sweet gig, I swear. You get to play with your old toys.  Or just pick out the really cool new toys.  My Little Pony?  TOTALLY…

  • Sausage and Chocolate

    Short story long: I'm pretty Polish.  I grew up eating kielbasa on any occasion that was barely a holiday.  Our family (and every generation of family that I know of) got their goods from an authentic Slavic deli that is kind of a Big Deal around the Cities. represent the eagle Therefore, the "Polish sausage"…

  • List of Last Week’s Labors of Love

    – I've never been quite so proud of my husband.  Usually I do the grocery shopping, but I texted him a list on his way home from work and he came home with this baby. yes There are legends about amazing "meat sales", but I always thought they were myths.  UNTIL NOW. – Told myself…

  • Sunday Special – Back of the Closet

    This skirt has been taunting me from the back of my closet for years. YEARS. A simple, black pencil skirt with a geometric, vertical ruffle over one leg. None of my shirts seemed to pull it together, let alone ANY OF THE SHIRTS EVER MADE. Today I said, "Screw you, skirt" (except with fouler language;…

  • This Will Make You a Better Ballroom Dancer

    If not a better person.   Stand with your heels, rear, shoulder blades, and back of your head against a wall.  Put your elbows and forearms against the wall with your hands at your eye level (like you're making a "W" with your arms).  Slide your arms up (to make the "Y" of "YMCA") and…

  • Getting High Pays Off

    Last week, I spent my late nights getting high. On glue. Accidentally. I NEEDED to make a statement necklace since I WANTED something to dress up my daily tee shirt and jeans routine.  I'm trying to look like an adult these days and in my mind, grown-ups wear jewelry.   I had stalked a couple premade ones…

  • The Horrors of Motherhood

    I've written the facts of motherhood before, now I'm here to talk about the horrors.  Sometimes, I think they're the same thing. You will not be able to watch violent movies. For some of you, this might not be anything new.  But me?  I used to love a good action flick, including the violent ones.…

  • Cookie Dough in Sheep’s Clothing

      I saw a couple pins recently title "Cookie Dough Greek Yogurt".  I'm usually skeptical of somewhat healthy foods that try to pass themselves off as delicious.  A wolf in sheep's clothing, those healthful treats.  Like, just because it has "cookie dough" in the title, my tongue will make it delicious.  Dude, I lived sugar-free…