Riot and Frolic

List of Last Week’s Labors of Love

June 3, 2013

– so many kale chips. The Maladroit Wife made some magically delicious ones at our Super Bowl party and I was hooked. Unfortunately, I was still holding on to the idea that I would dig a green smoothie every morning, so my bags of kale, heretofore, were spent killing the flavor and color of a perfectly good fruit smoothie.

– giving up the idea that I like green smoothies. I am all for eating healthfully, really. But healthy food still has to be enjoyable. Green smoothies don't quite qualify.

– took V and Mae Cake to the dentist for the first time and they were ROCK STARS. They sat so still and didn't whine even a little (they did better than I did). The hygenist and I thought Mae Cake had fallen asleep, but she was just being awesome. Needless to say, I got them lollipops directly afterward.

– a charm bracelet. I'm such a fabulous nerd. The G had asked me awhile ago if I would ever wear one and I scoffed, "No." [Think "The Office" episode:

Pam Halpert:	OK, heart-shaped jewellery is not something a woman buys for herself. A man definitely bought it for her recently. And it wasn't Michael.
Jim Halpert:	Wait, sorry. You like heart-shaped jewellery though, right?
Pam Halpert:	No. [casually turns back to camera] Except for the pendant, that you bought me! Which I love!

] But then this one reeeeeeally cool girl I know got one and it was so cute and it was shiny and IT MADE NOISE. Sold!

– complete obsession with the idea of a blonde pixie cut. For me. Frightening. And awesome.

– date night with The G where we ate ALL THE TACOS at Rusty Taco, walked around freezing Nordeast Minneapolis (52 degrees my ass), and saw a little of the new Star Trek movie and a lot of the last Hangover movie. Date night!

– realization that if I lean while posing for pictures, I look terrible. Stop leaning, woman!

– running. 4 times. What.

To What Are We Dancing?

May 31, 2013

After being in ballroom dance studios for 30+ hours a week for 10+ years, I am an absolute PRO at singing along with most elevator and hold music. Most of the time, I don't even realize the music that has entered my subconscious after hearing it in the background for hours at a time until I am tapping my foot to the tune at the bank or hardware store or restaurant.

But then there was this:

And along with a handful of other classic songs from the crooners of yesteryear, I blushed when the lyrics landed in my head. I mean, today's music is explicit, but using EVERY EUPHEMISM IN THE WORLD isn't much better.

Huzzah, Rosemary Clooney, you dirty bird.

Cheers, it's Friday.

you saw that coming, right?

One year ago: I'm Having A Ball, in which I write a pretty lame post.

Two years ago: Jif, in which I share my favorite go-to soup recipe.
Dandelion Crowns

May 30, 2013

A couple weeks ago, the dandelions were in bloom.

Yes, "bloom". Because dandelions are flowers.

Obviously, dandelion crowns were in order. I tried three different versions: the cut stem variety (hated it, required tools), the French braided way (heeeey, I'm all thumbs!), and the woven way (so visual! so easy!).

cannot find the source for this *sad*

Just about every day now, I get to practice.

We go out for a walk (princess garb is optional).

We gather dandelions (long stems are NOT optional).

I follow the illustration above while we walk .23 miles per hour.

I jerry-rig the ends together to form a circular, crown-y thing.

A happy princess dons her tiara and is Queen of the Backyard/Kitchen/Everything.

I haven't come up a great way of finishing off the ends (connecting the start to the end in a way that will hold), so any suggestions are welcome.

And if a dandelion really looks like this when it's set on fire? I'M SETTING THEM ALL ON FIRE.

Happy Thursday, yo.

One year ago: Facts About Motherhood, in which I terrify new moms with The Truth.
I Kicked My Own Ass

May 29, 2013

Today I laced up the running shoes (for the third time in five days! *shock and awe*) and decided to do the Magic Mile (a la running guru Jeff Galloway and his magnificent race time prediction formula).

not this

Basically, one runs a mile as fast and evenly paced as they can without puking, inputs the time into the groovy website, and it tells you how fast your 5k, 10k, half marathon, and full marathon times "should" be.

The last time I remember running one mile as fast as I could was in high school and it wasn't fast. I actually remember it being 12:20. 12:20! That's pretty terrible, y'all. (Especially if you're 17 and an athlete.)

I tried guessing what my current mile time was last night in an impatient bid to see what my race times would be. I very optimistically estimated a 8:30 mile, based on what I was running last year while I was in shape for running.

The scene this morning broke with actual sunshine and a one mile jog up to the nearest track.

I took a deep breath on my starting line and took off. It felt too fast, but I wasn't going to check my pace until I had completed the first lap.

7:46.

What the what?

I was preeeeeeetty sure I couldn't keep that pace up, but gave myself leave to slack off to avoid puking, because, gross.

2nd lap complete, 7:19.

Thinking back to those misty morning gym classes in high school and wheezing around that damn football field, I thought, "I am TOTALLY kicking my ass from high school." If that's not motivation to keep going, what is?

The third and fourth laps I returned to a completely reasonable yet surprising 7:46 pace.

I left that track BEAMING, people. I smoked my time from 17 years ago.

Sometimes you surprise yourself. Aim high. Reach for the stars. Carpe diem and all that crap.

One year ago: The Sugar-Free Thing, in which I don't eat sugar.

Two year ago: LLLL, in which I do a million things.
4 Wicked Brothers

May 28, 2013

Chocolate.

Scotch.

Coffee.

Cigars.

Sold!

I'm having a tasting party. Who's in?

Until then, check out this excellent graph:

It's a standard graphic for describing coffee, but it works for a lot of dark and delicious things.

Cheers.

One year ago: LLLL, in which Paul Newman steals all the sex appeal.

Two years ago: Unsolicited Opinions, in which I drink cherry pie.
List of Last Week’s Labors of Love

May 27, 2013

– I'm back. I was evaluating where blogging belongs in my life. [Lies, total lies. I was procrastinating. I couldn't think of a properly inspired post for "Craftacular" day and was trapped by indecision; should I write a topic that I feel passionate about that doesn't fall under a crafty heading or should I write something a little lame that qualifies as homemade? And then, having procrastinated so long that the Thursday conundrum doesn't apply anymore, it now applies to Friday and oh shit, I just cannot escape now and maybe I should just stop writing The Blog altogether, because, what a timesuck, but I love writing and metime and all that nonsense and so here we are.]

– the latest edition of Runner's World is delicious: pros and cons of the Color Run, overachieving mothers, beginner runner instructions and motivations, endless products and foods to sample. This is one magazine that keeps me entertained issue after issue.

– Top Studio (well, 3rd place) and Top Teacher awards for The G and I (2nd place for my man and 6th place for moi) at the Minnesota Star Ball, a nice little one-day event that happened last weekend. I was so proud of our students. I don't see G's students much and it is really great to see A) huge improvements or B) stellar debuts. Plus, my dude? Fun AND 1st. Woohoo!

Karin Lynn Photography took some really lovely shots at the event. Check out her website!

– I'm probably shooting myself in the foot here, but Zoo is using The Potty. She is ridiculously excited about it and cheers "YEEEEAAaaahhh!" anytime I ask her if she wants to go. Then, she'll chug into the bathroom and try to wiggle out of any clothes she's wearing. I've tried telling her that removing shirts isn't necessary, but it's all or nothing at this point.

– Baby, THIS IS NOT HOW YOU EAT STRING CHEESE!

– I had not gone to the dentist in a looooong time. We went last week and it was the first time I had gone to a dentist that hasn't known me since I was 5. Do you know they do digital x-rays now? And the scraper thingy is like super-charged water or something? It was NEAT. I will definitely go again this decade. Note: I am 34 and still have NEVER HAD A CAVITY. Boo-yah.

Seriously, though, I'm going to stop now. I could fill you in on everything, but that gets creepy. I mean, what are we supposed to talk about in person if I tell you everything here. We would have to talk about you the whole time and that just gets embarrassing [see: this blog].

Love ya. Peace out.

Thanks to all the Armed Forces members and families: my grandpas, Joe Hannasch, Ben Doran… Just thanks.

Two years ago: Epic Fail, in which I join Costco.
The Garbage Challenge – Attack of the Sandwich Bags

May 14, 2013

The Garbage Challenge has been going pretty well since I started composting the things, recycling the other things, and actually bringing those reuseable bags into the store.

But here's the next challenge: sandwich bags. Well, produce bags, sandwich bags, and the cellophane and plastic wrap that covers EVERY SINGLE THING AT THE STORE… and all the things in my refrigerator.

Scenario #1: I cut a couple slices of tomato for a sammie, then throw the remaining tomato in a plastic Ziplock bag to save for the next sandwich.

D'oh!

I have plastic containers (the kind you don't throw away, but not quite the kind your mother only let out of her house after you swore on her grave that you wouldn't lose) that I could keep that tomato in, but I never think of it.

Scenario #2: The G and I are leaving for The Ballrooms Practice in the morning and I want to pack some snacks for the ladies to enjoy on the car ride. Fishy crackers and apple slices into plastic baggies.

Nerds!

V and Mae Cake have adorable flip-top snack containers that they love to use. (Although I want one of these for Zoo… and myself.)

Scenario #3: I get some cheese out of its original plastic wrap, cut off a few slices, then put it in new, different plastic wrap to store in the fridge.

That's what she said!

i know it didn't make any sense, but we've hit all the television geniuses now

Obviously, I need a cheese dome, like the one Madame had when we stayed in France. It looked a lot like this:

From Etsy seller FrenchGypsy

Any of the Etsy ones are really cool; check out the "cheese dome" search results.

Scenario #4: I make my coffee in one of my awesome coffee mugs and drink it. I take my $1 coffee cup to Starbucks and reuse it a million times.

Winning! [editor refuses to publish any more Charlie Sheen photos]

But while we're at it, let's get a JOCO cup because they are so neat.

plus, it would match my snack container

What's your favorite travel mug/reuseable thing?

One year ago: LLLL, in which V wears the boots I want in my size.

Two years ago: And we shall call it Cake, in which I make… wait for it… a cake.
List of Last Week’s Labors of Love

May 13, 2013

– fun fact: I yawn when I'm nervous. I don't get butterflies anymore and I would rarely go so far to say I'm actually "nervous", but when the gun is about to go off… I look sleepy. *yawn yawn yawn* Like, ferocious yawning.

– we traveled with the 3 ladies on a plane again and no one died (of strangulation or embarrassment), so that's good.

– if you haven't been checking out the Instagram feed, YOU'VE TOTALLY MISSED OUT. It's over in the sidebar or at the Instagram app @riotandfrolic. It is epic children, dancing, and coffee shots.

– Atlanta, Georgia is a fun city. It's warm, it's green, the people are friendly, it's walkable, and there's mass transit. And by the way, Minnesota? You are NOT racially diverse. I feel like a hick saying this, but there are a lot of black people down South! … I really need to get out more.

– The G and I and student/friend America danced our pants off (not literally) all weekend at the amazing Atlanta Open. We all agreed it was a great competition with contested heats in all levels and age categories, a BADASS ballroom, lots of towels and water (sometimes it's the little things that count), a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, excellent dancing, and a great crowd.

– I finally ate at a Waffle House. I've been wanting to stop on our road trips for years and this weekend, we walked our butts over to the one across from Centennial Olympic Park. The WH food was terrifically fitting a greasy spoon diner and the service was crazy-nice, if not maybe the most on top of things. I think there were as many people working there as there were eating there. Is this a WH thing? I both loved and hated it.

– Centennial Olympic Park? So pretty! And useful! I can't imagine what a headcase I'd be if I actually went to the Olympics because I was kind of freaking out just being at a venue that held The Games 17 years ago.

What'd you do last week? Where's your favorite city to travel to? What's some place you've always wanted to go to, but never have? What do you think about the Olympics?
Be Better

May 10, 2013

It's very simple.

Stop complaining.

Be better.

One year ago: Let's Meditate

Two years ago: Interesting Fact
How to Make Diaper Wipes

May 9, 2013

We make our own diaper wipes. After doing a cost analysis I'm not exactly sure why since store-bought versus homemade are exactly the same and we're not very anal-retentive about what touches our babies' butts.

…

Do you see what I did there? Anal? Butts? HA!

Anyhow, I've had 2 whole people ask how we do it, so here:

Buy this:

We used to buy Viva brand paper towels (which advertise their "cloth-like" material), but I also used to shop at Kowalski's, if you know what I mean. (If you don't know what I mean, now I buy Target brand paper towels and shop at Aldi… Because I'm cheap.)

The "select a size" feature is a necessity, btw.

I bought the wipe solution cubes here.

Buy this, too:

It's made by Rubbermaid and I have no idea what its intended purpose is because I CAN'T FIND IT ON THE INTERWEBS ANYWHERE. Thanks, Googles. Anyways, I bought it at Target and it's the perfect size for half of a paper towel roll.

Saw your paper towel roll in half. I use a serrated bread knife. It makes wicked awesome dust bunnies, so beware.

Boil water and pour 2 cups of hothothot water into the perfectly-sized Rubbermaid container, over one wipes-solution cube. Let the cube dissolve.

Here's the secret sauce, kids: once your little soap cube has dissolved, dunk the uncut end of your paper towels in the water.
While the water will work its way up the paper towel, if you don't dunk the top end in the water, you'll have a slightly dry, and scratchy, half to your baby wipe. NO GOOD.

After the dunk, toss the half-roll in the bucket, cut side down, to soak up the remaining wipey water.

A few minutes later, dig out the cardboard roll from the inside. If your wipes are ready, the cardboard will easily pull away from the paper towels and your wipes will pull out from the center of the roll.

Violet!

Do you have DIY habits that don't save you any money? Do you just like the DIY factor? What do you do yourself instead of buying premade?

Two years ago: Before the Spray, in which I spray-paint in badly ventilated rooms.

One year ago: I'm, like, "whoa", in which I find out I have readers.

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