Riot and Frolic

List of Last Week’s Labors of Love

March 4, 2013

– things I'd never thought I'd say : "Hey, it's too bad we're out of cilantro."

I have, in the past, had a general distrust of recipes containing cilantro, what with the soapiness and the acid taste outweighing the health benefits. So like studies suggest, I wasn't too surprised to find out that my dad hates the herb, also. But then I ate this damn salad and my world was turned upside down.

applebee's fiesta chopped chicken salad

Cilantro! Delicious! Dammit!

Now I cook with it often and audibly lament my lack of it.

I think that means I'm a grown-up.

Yep. Cilantro tolerance = adult.

– I love my new boots.

bare traps paulette

Like, seriously Love. I don't generally wear shoes in my house, but these babies will stay on all day. I even took a nap with them on last week.

Yes. A nap. In boots.

– I'm thankful for the culinary tolerance of my children. It's not often they get to eat the toddler staples of mac 'n' cheese or cheese pizza. They put up with fish curry and spicy chicken soup and quinoa "pizza bites" and salads and a lot of whole grain nonsense. I think I can hear them sigh in relief when they ask what's for lunch and I say "noodles" (code for m'n'c). So, thank you, babies, for eating flourless, sugarless date "brownies" and black bean chocolate cake for "dessert".

– Apples are not my favorite vehicle for peanut butter.

To be clear, the fav is chocolate.

Or a spoon.

– I am cold all the time. Just, always. Do I have bad circulation? Am I dying? I'm pretty sure it's that I'm dying. Someone talk me out of this.

– my children are sooooo adorable.

not

– I haven't written in over a week and a half and you know how long it took me to write this damn post? Seven years.

Okay, an hour, but like most things, one needs to practice to get good at it. And when one doesn't practice, one gets rusty and lame and rambles on and
Trying To Look Cool While Not Getting Hit In The Face

February 21, 2013
I was recently lamenting my lack of accessories.

False.

I was recently lamenting my lack of accessories I like.

And am allowed to wear.

You see, I banned myself from wearing bracelets because I am obnoxious when I wear them. Similarily to when I have fake nails on, I use my hands to talk like the most flamboyant Italian, if I have an arm party*, you'll be sure my arms are flailing to make them jingle together as much as possible or just stop pinching me.

*arm party – a plethora of bracelets, usually including a watch

I also can't wear long necklaces.
1. I have a baby who will yank on it until she gets to wear it.
2. I'm going to hit myself in the face with it.
I like to accessorize for teaching and going out, but big neecklaces and earrings have turned out to be safety hazards for me and people around me. For example, I slightly chipped a friend's tooth with a particularly heavy necklace while twirling one night. Give me a large radius, people.

Therefore the choices are limited: one statement bracelet or collar-y type necklace, modestly sized earrings, or…

The Scarf.

Walking through the GDMOA last weekend, and Europe quite a few years ago [not that I equate these two locations at all; if anything, it just illustrated the huge fashion gap between the infinitely cooler Continent and ourselves], The Scarf is The Thing.

The Thing that makes you look put together even if you didn't brush you hair in the morning.

I saw this Scarf in the Urban Outfitters window and realized I have both cute fabric at home and crocheting skillz.

Two hours (total, over a couple of days) and no swearing later, I have The Scarf.

What do you think?

One year ago: Oh, No… - back when I used Hipstamatic for everything.
Rear Your Child

February 20, 2013

I'm fascinated by families. Specifically, how families divide or share child-rearing responsibilities.

I've heard horror stories of dads who've never been alone with their kids. HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN? I wonder what parents with 9-5 jobs do in the summer when their kid(s) aren't in school. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THEM? I hear about parents who never take their kids out in public, yet I also see moms out on the town (enjoying coffee, a beer, or time not tethered to a small maniac) and I wonder who is taking care of the babe. Babysitter? Dad? Nanny? Family member? Indentured servant? HOW DO YOU GET TIME ALONE?

I'll tell you what I do, for comparison's sake. I take 65% of the child-rearing duties, mostly because I'm home the majority of the waking hours. Feeding, bathing, teaching, reading, etc. That's me.

The G is stupid-good at using his time with them to play fun and educational games, read great kid novels, and teach them cool things.

If I go to work in the evening and The G is also working, I find one of the REALLY LOVELY PEOPLE in the my life who will babysit for free. (Have I told you how lovely and nice you are? You are so nice and lovely.) I have a last-resort option in case no one can do it, and that is a lady I actually pay. Sometimes, I have to bring the crew with me and MY STUDENTS ARE SO LOVELY AND TOLERANT of my children.

I go out when there's no plans (mostly on the weekends) and get some MeTime (#metime). Often this time is spent running errands (to the bank, to the post office, picking up various doodads around town, meeting up with friends), but sometimes I get a cup of coffee and don't have to talk to anyone for an hour. *bliss* The G entertains the ladies during all that and everyone is happy.

How do you rear your child? Do you work at a "real job"? Who watches your kids? How do you go out without the wee ones?
You’re Doing It Wrong

February 19, 2013
No, this isn't a post about dancing (your crossover breaks or twinkles might still need some help, though).

Do you love oatmeal? If you don't, YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG.

Oatmeal is a delicious, fast, low-fat, mostly gluten-free, filling, and CHEAP breakfast food.

But here's the thing: it can totally suck. Ask my in-laws. Horror stories.

Here's the solution.

Oatmeal Awesomeness:
- the night before you want to enjoy some hot oats for breakfast, figure out how many people you want to feed and use 1/4 of a cup of oatmeal for each serving.
- pour your oatmeal and an equal amount of water into a pot (1/4 of oats = 1/4 cup of water; 1 cup of oats = 1 cup of water; etc.).
- add a splash of lemon juice or buttermilk to your pot of wet oats and then leave it somewhere. I put mine in our oven so no one will bump it or, God forbid, think it's a dirty dish and try to wash it.
- in the morning, add that equal amount of water to your pot (another 1/4 cup or 1 cup of water; whatever) and a good pinch of salt.
- heat.
- add bananas, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, peanut butter, chicken, hot sauce, nuts, fruit, berries, maple syrup, brown sugar, agave nectar, what have you.
- eat.
Soaking your oats overnight MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. Salt is also very important. And eating it promptly. Because cold oatmeal? Gross.

And if you still don't like it, then you have to try baked oatmeal. Which is cake. For breakfast.

What, you question the "…chicken, hot sauce…" add-ins? Well, let me tell you, bodybuilders love that shit. Someday I'm going to try it, because it sounds disgusting, but so did chocolate chip hummus and that stuff is fantastic.
List of Last Week’s Labors of Love – Facebook Style

February 18, 2013

How are you feeling today, Kate?

Well, fake Facebook, here's my missing status reports for the week:

– is not impressed by her own dancing prowess (says The G).

– wants to add Nessun Dorma to her list of songs. Pavarotti!

– fell down walking into the dance supply store.

– bought the shoes everyone loves and EVERYONE SHOULD LOVE THEM! They are stupid comfortable and I can feel every seam between floor boards AND point my toe AND not fall over so much. Brilliant.

– would love to hear a duet with Regina Spektor and Zooey Deschanel. I think it'd sound great. And be hilarious.

– had to tell The G there were buns in the oven last night and made it a point to say "There are literal buns in the oven… There are pieces of bread in this kitchen appliance… This is not a weird way of me telling you anything… Buns… Oven… I'm leaving now…"

– should have open commenting on da blog now. Like, you won't have to sign in, at all. And while it seems like an invitation to spam me, please leave your name, or at least a fun nickname, when you comment on my genius or stupidity, and/or agree or argue with my opinions stated as facts.

– started this HIIT business I've been hearing so much about. I can't exactly say I recommend doing it, because it hurts and is hard and I often fall down and swear, but it doesn't take very long and you get a really good workout.

I hate the girl in this video. Mostly because she makes you do terrible things, but also because she's tiny AND freakishly strong. And she has an accent. Which makes me want to punch her in the face.

– is no longer freaked out by her basement, but fully expects a mouse or gigantic spider to run across my workout space some morning.

– hates sitting. Ever since I started running seriously again and doing those stupid workouts, I can sit for about 10 minutes before A) everything starts cramping up and I'm stuck B) everything starts cramping up and I get really twitchy and uncomfortable. So I look like an old lady or a drug addict. Win win!

– recommends The Amsterdam for Dutch car bombs and bacon sandwiches with extra bacon. And pretty decent live music.

– enjoys eating vanilla Greek yogurt with frozen pineapple chunks. Bonus points for shredded coconut on top.

How was your week? Eat anything great? Hear any new music? WILL SOMEONE TRY TO COMMENT ON THIS SO WE CAN SEE IF THE COMMENTS WORK?!

yeah, he's dead
When Practice Goes Bad

February 15, 2013

Like Grizzly Man, often when people practice ballroom dancing, I'm waiting for something to go wrong.

Here's where you get in your own way:

Mental Practice

Here's the thing about mental practice, or visualization: you have to have done The Thing before you try to visualize yourself doing it.

"I tried it in my head all week."

"I thought about all the things you told me."

While it is great that dancing is on your mind, if you are in the learning process, just picturing yourself doing proper technique won't cut the cheese because YOUR BODY NEEDS TO LEARN TO CUT THE CHEESE… or something like that.

Or I would dance like this:

Your muscles and bones need to learn how to move FIRST before you start using visualization. Muscle memory and your brain put together is a GLORIOUS thing, but if you don't have the muscle memory in plce, you're just daydreaming.

Repetition

Repetition is one of the cornerstones of a good practice regimen. But one question people often ask is, "What if I practice it wrong?"

Generally speaking, I'm unconcerned by incorrectness during practice, because for Pete's sake, you're practicing. That is wonderful.

The problem arises when you're practicing something that is detrimental to your body. Too much foot pressure, posture out of alignment, knees going askew. Clues you might be doing something wrong are obvious. Like the old doctor joke goes, "If it hurts, don't do it."

Pain and soreness are different beasts, though. Most dancers have to build up a whole set of muscles that normal people never use. Your feet should be sore as hell after practicing latin motion. You should not have a SHARP PAIN anywhere. Your back should be burning after working on your frame. Your hip should not be "tweaking".

Above Your Level

If you want to throw yourself into a Gold or Advanced class and you started dancing two weeks ago, more power to you. You are a strong person to pay for an hour during which you'll wander around cluelessly trying to keep up with syncopations and partnering positions you don't understand while enduring eyerolls and dirty looks from a large group of people.

If you just started two weeks ago and see more experienced dancers doing latin motion and sway and sway (see: any of the "Don't Dance" series), but you haven't been taught anything about those techniques and you start practicing them, you will create some bad habits.

Ballroom dancing was created with levels to give you a nice little staircase to climb, with one technique building on the previous one. When you skip a level (and, say, try to do continuity-style American Silver Smooth before you know how to close your feet on each half of a box), you're missing a big peice of what makes dancing beautiful aaaaaaand EASY.

Also, if no one has taught you, you are probably doing something wrong, so see "Repetition" above.

So, DO you practice? What do you do? Got any exercises you'd like to share? I'm going to show you my posture exercises next week, so get ready.

Happy Friday!

One year ago: Don't Drink It.
Songs That Haunt Me

February 14, 2013

Every once in awhile, there's a song that sticks. In my head, in my heart, in my body. And literally haunts my dreams. Literally.

01 Suo Gan

This song, from the Empire of the Sun soundtrack, was in my dreams off and on leading up to V's arrival 4+ years ago. I freaked out a little when we got a CD of lullabies with the same song on it.

The idea of Christian Bale singing to me is moving no matter what, but I'm not sure that's why I still hum this melody to the ladies when they're sleepy many years after seeing the movie.

"Shanty By The Sea" is :48 of loveliness in the midst of a rather violent, and clever, movie called Lucky Number Slevin. Not only is Josh Harnett in it (and he's not too bad to listen to), but Lucy Liu is the most adorable, smart, quick-witted love interest. The entire romantic interlude between Josh and Lucy takes place over this song.

4-05 Adagio For Strings 1

"Adagio for Strings" would jump out at me (in a quiet, barely audible way) periodically while driving in my Honda Civic, back in the day. I would be flipping through radio stations, and I would hear this, often arriving at my destination only to wait patiently in the car for the DJ to tell me what the song was. But no, every time, there would just be more music and not the track listing. In a huff, I'd grab my pager and go to work at Denny's.

Fast forward to 2006, when I finally catch the title and composer and I download the shit out of it and then I meet The G and the first time we make out? Yep, THIS SONG IS PLAYING! EPIC.

As I walked into a big event last weekend, the soundtrack to Little Women was playing over the loudspeakers. I might as well have started crying right there. The soundtrack to a delightful movie adaptation of my favorite book by my favorite author? Commence trance! [Jo, you idiot!]

Do you remember Gordeeva and Grinkov? They were the most beautiful pairs skaters EVER. And they skated to "Reverie" by Claude Debussy and it was… everything. And then he DIED, tragically. So every memory of them is MORE… everything.

Are there any songs that put you at peace? Or in pieces?

One year ago: LLLL, an awesome baby shower
Giving Up

February 13, 2013
It's Ash Wednesday and I'm Catholic, so you know I have to say something about Lent…

I guess… Actually, I'm kind of surprised I'm mentioning religion here.

…

On with the show!

For reference, I have been Catholic for… eight years? For some reason, I decided I wanted to "get religious" that many years ago and not have my Sundays consist of sleeping in late, drinking 2 cups of coffee over 4 hours, reading the newspaper until it got dark out, and then go dancing until 2am. Now I get up at a completely "AM" part of the day, put on nice clothes, and kneel for the better part of an hour and a half.

That's right. 1.5 hours.

Not to brag or anything, but I roll with, what people call, "the serious Catholics".

Having been an agnostic, or just unknowing of any religion, for the other 26 years of my life has not made my transition to Catholicism easy. I took the RCIA (Catholicism for Idiots) class at a nearby church, but that didn't really tell me much. I've read parts of the bible, the cathecism, and various theology books, and I married into A Very Catholic Family, but I still don't know, or believe 100%, many of the dogmas.

What am I doing being Catholic then?

Wow, personal question. Buy a girl lunch first, huh?

Well, I like the community (you see the same people every week or more), the history (2000 years ain't bad), the code of ethics (10 Commandments, anyone?), the responsibility (the airing of greivances in reverse… confession!), and the calisthenics (up, down, kneel, stand up, sit down, fight fight fight!).

You owe me lunch.

ANYWAYS, this year I'm going big for Lent (the 40 days preceding Easter where one traditionally gives up some luxuries and/or "diets"): I'm giving up The Facebooks. And The Netflixs. AND Pinterest.

Basically, I'm giving up social media and watching t.v.

There ARE exceptions:
- My blog posts automatically to FB, and I am not giving up MAH BLOG, so you should see a FB post every morning or so with my daily update.
- The G will be updating our KGB9Dance page with the pertinents.
- America will be updating the Coffee Run page, because she is the co-President and likewisely awesome.
- I WILL watch Netflix or movies or television if it's for social entertainment. Sooo, does anyone want to come over and watch Vampire Diaries with me… every week?
- I'll use Pinterest to do searches (boys for the end of the blog, recipes, etc.), because let's face it, it's kind of the new Google.
Voila!

I figure there might be more crafts, more sleep, more yoga and running, more yelling, and more eventual peace of mind. There'll probably be some shakes and nausea at the beginning. I mean, remember when I gave up coffee?

One year ago: Don't Judge Me
Possible Oxymoron: Dessert Fail

February 12, 2013

New recipes go against my personality. I like routine. I don't like new things. I like repetition.

Nonetheless, I've been looking up new recipes with abandon. And then making them.

Last weekend, I tried making a copycat recipe of the Starbucks Toffee Almond Bar. Did anyone else eat their weight in these, like I did? For some God forsaken reason, 'Bucks stopped making them a few years ago and every once in awhile I get a craving for the delicious blondie brownie, filled with huge milk chocolate, white chocolate, AND toffee pieces.

Notice I did not include my own photo of these treats. That's because my version did not look not taste like the original (or possibly even what the recipe intended).

I blame the toffee pieces. I bought Heath's "milk chocolate toffee bits". In the words of Pretty Woman, "Big mistake… Big."

When I opened up the bag, mostly toffee dust emerged. Lacking options (and being too lazy to call their customer service hotline or return them to Target), I threw the few toffee bits and their overwhelming majority of dust into the blondie batter and stirred it up.

What emerged from my oven was delicious, but not the S.T.A.B.

OMG, best acronym ever!

Next time, I'm going to buy a bunch of Heath bars and chop them up into big, fat chunks of awesome.

Question: aren't blondie brownies just chocolate chip cookie dough, without the chips, in a pan?
List of Last Week’s Labors of Love

February 11, 2013

– cooked and baked all the things. Seriously, I've been cooking 2-4 meals a day. If I'm making a chicken so-and-so, I make the other chicken whatsit I have planned for later that week and throw the 2nd one in the freezer. I have sooooo much food everywhere. IT'S FANTASTIC!

– said "screw you, healthy eating" and ate all the things. Like, things I haven't eaten in months. I had McDonald's AND Little Caesar's in one day. So disgusting. Don't get me wrong, it was delicious for a minute, but then I felt like HELL. Processed food is weird, man.

– have slowly turned into a total hippy. See above. Did I mention I also do yoga and compost?

this is not what hippies have looked like in my experience

– on a related note: who wants to go to Wanderlust with me? I'm seriously flirting with the idea of heading out to Whistler in August and filling my quota of barefooted-kefir-drinking. Oh, you didn't know there was a quota? There is.

yoga and music and canada, what's not to love

– or could I go to the SeaWheeze? I'd run 13.1 in Vancouver.

running and vancouver, what's not to love

– basically, I'm just looking for a reason to go to the Pacific Northwest and hang out.

– HOW 'BOUT I DO BOTH?!

What'd you do last week? What have you been eating? Any big travel plans for 2013?

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