Dancing Through Life ~ Taryn

I am so thrilled to post another Dancing Through Life feature with my good friend and part-time boss Taryn Chase!  Taryn is a truly inspiring dancer, as is her mother and sister.  Her parents own a dance studio in Brentwood called Dance for Kids and she owns her very own dance and active wear boutique in the same shopping center fittingly called Brentwood Dance and Activewear!  She has major style, total taste and carries the cutest workout clothes at her shop (including discontinued LolaStretch Leos--go get some!)  I am so honored to be her friend and I'm so glad she decided to share how she keeps dancing through her life....

1.  When did you start dancing? 

I started dancing not too long after I learned to walk, I think I was 2

2.  What styles did you train in and which is your favorite?  

I trained primarily in ballet, tap and jazz when I was young, and then modern in college. I always gravitated towards jazz or lyrical (these days people call it contemporary :-)

3.  Did you dance professionally or in college?  If so, where, what schools, companies and/or shows? 

I was a dance major in college. I performed in  3 dance concerts per season and had the honor to work with choreographers such as John Pennington, Victoria Koenig, Stephanie Gilliland and  Loretta Livingston just to name a few.  I was also selected to attend ADF (American Dance Festival) at Duke University for a summer intensive and ACDF (American College Dance Festival) 3 years in a row.

4.  When did you decide to pursue a career other than that of a dancer?

 

In college, I was a double major- Dance and Psychology. At the end of my senior year, I realized that I did not want to pursue either as a profession. I loved dance more than anything in the world, but for me it was always more of a hobby and interest. I didn't have that "can't live without it" passion that is needed to be a starving artist. 

5.  What do you do now?  

After a long string of jobs for 8 years in the retail industry, I have found a way to combine my love of dance with my professional experience. I opened a Dancewear store in August of 2009. 

the interior of Brentwood Dance and Activewear

6.  How has dance affected your life?  How does it inspire you? 

I say this to every mom who comes into my store saying that they are not sure if dance is for their daughter: whether you dance for a year or your whole life, dance gives children so much! It gives a sense of mind body connection, a spacial awareness, a feeling for what it's like to work hard and be dedicated to something. It also ingrained in me an importance on physical fitness. Even though I don't get to dance much anymore, I am very active, I do yoga and pilates, I go to the gym and it brings me back to my roots. Dancers always inspire me because I know how much dedication and passion it takes to succeed. And even then, it's not a glamorous lifestyle, so you know they do it for the LOVE!

7.  Do you feel like your dance background helped you in other aspects of your life?  Did it contribute to your other successes?  

Dance contribute to my life in so many ways, but the funniest of which is parallel parking! When I very first started driving, I was an excellent parallel parker. My mom always attributed it to my mind, body, spacial awareness- from being a dancer!!! 

8.  How do you keep a hand in the dance world?  How do you support it? 

It is amazing to have my dancewear store. I get to keep a hand in the dance world, and give back all it gave to me. I see little dancers on a daily basis, and nurture and encourage their love of dance. It gives me so much joy to help a little one find her first pair of ballet shoes, or watch a dancer grow and develop and suddenly get her first pair of pointe shoes! 

SYTYCD ballerina Melissa Sandvig with Taryn at the shop

9.  Do you have a favorite dance film, book or dancer? 

My favorite cheesy dance film is Center Stage. I watched it countless times in college!  My favorite classic dance movie is Singin' in the Rain. And my favorite movie about dance is Strictly Ballroom.

10.  Do you plan to keep dancing throughout your life?

I hope to always keep one foot in the dance community. It is frustrating to go back after so many years because you know what you should be doing, but your body doesn't always correspond. I try not to get discouraged though, so I am actually going to a class tonight! Wish me luck :-)

What a great way to live a life full of dance, family and fashion, don't you think?  Thanks Taryn for sharing what you love about dance and the ways in which you keep dancing through life!  If you are or were a dancer and want to share how you are dancing through your own life, email me and let me know! 

redefining style

It comes with the spring.  The urge to clean up, start fresh and reorganize!  I have already gotten a jump on cleaning the apartment, but this time of year always makes me want to freshen up my own "look" too.  Anyone will tell you that I am an avid shopper.  I tend to buy a few prize pieces for my wardrobe from places like Anthropologie and the rest I leave up to whatever's cheap, cheerful and takes my fancy  (aka: forever 21.)  But I've been thinking that maybe this spring I want to try to add some sophistication to my wardrobe with a few nice and unique accessories. 

I've often said that I want to glam up my style, add some more "adult" pieces to the mix, but that never really works out for me...I keep going back to the same style of peter pan collars, lace and bows--that's just me.  So why fight it?  

I'm thinking that this spring I will change up my look with a few highlights, some unusual but sweet jewelry and all my old clothes.  After all, just because it's Spring doesn't mean it all has to be new, right?   Right!!!???!!!

 

Here are some items that I am currently lusting after....

All from Shabby Apple....they have an amazing and large collection right now!

Fringe Factor

Every time I see someone pulling off some super cute Marianne Faithful bangs I want to cut some of my own.  And often times, I do.  But I have never been very confident that I look all that good with fringe.  Maybe the side-swept kind--- I can pull that off, but who can't?  I keep hoping I'll find a way to make it flattering, but I always seem to end up disappointed. 

My most recent fling with fringe made me certain...it's just not right for me and my face, but it was fun while it lasted.  Although, the boy informed me the other night that he's so glad my bangs have grown out because he HATED them.  Literally he said the word hate and I could really feel the hatred in his sentiment.  I was so surprised by his passion on the subject that it got me to thinking about fringe, faces and the haircuts we endure and try because they're simply "in style."  The 1980's are the perfect example of this in mass, as was the "Rachel" haircut circa early-mid 90's.  

I've pretty much had the same hair-do all my life, but there have been some bad ones amidst the norm.  Particularly the early ones!  But what it is about bangs?  Why do they look so good on some and so bad on others?  What is the mystery in the fringe?  I clearly have too much time to thing about things like this!  Have you had any bad haircuts?  I'd love to see if you'd love to share!

Dog Days are over....

I am excited and I will tell you why~

I get to dance just a little bit and that's just the perfect amount for me.  PLUS I feel like I've made some new friends!  

The ladies of Creations Dance Theater are so welcoming and so talented it makes me feel excited to know them and to share in their creativity.  I am participating in an upcoming show of theirs and I gotta say, they have been so cool about my schedule and limitations, it's refreshing to know that I can dance with them while still maintaining some normalcy and balance in my life!  But just seeing them rehearse makes me want to bust a move!  I think David Bowie said it best:  "Let's Dance!" 

Always a Winner, Never a Win-- Until NOW

I hope y'all had a lovely and less rainy weekend than me.  And I realize that it's Tuesday night and the weekend is already old news, but what can I say, I've been busy. All in all the weekend wasn't very eventful.  I spent most of the time cleaning and doing laundry and it plum near tuckered me out.  I didn't (and haven't) even get a chance to blog!  Can you imagine?  

But one of the best things that happened this weekend was for the first time ever I won a giveaway!  I can still hardly believe it.  I seriously have entered so many giveaways over the years and never once have I come even close to winning.  But I don't know, guess my luck has changed! 

Thanks to Alycia of The Curious Pug for hosting the giveaway and thanks to Pugly Pixel for the incredible loot!

The face of a winner!

falling into 1995--ish

I am currently watching "My So-Called Life" on Netflix and have been going through all my old CD's (many from my Jr. High and High School days) and I feel like I have just fallen back into the 1990's.  I am listening to Nirvana and Lisa Loeb.  It's so funny to watch Jared Leto and Claire Danes as angst ridden teenagers clad in plaid and flannel.  I wasn't allowed to watch "My So-Called Life"  when it was first airing on TV(it was deemed too mature for me by my parents) so it's rather nice to watch it now and see just how cheesy and angsty it was....Angela's relationship with Jordan does seriously resemble my high school crush and watching the drama play out brings those years rushing back to me!  That show, that music and the whole thing makes me shockingly thankful to have been a child of the 90's.   

This is my best 90's outfit complete with jean jacket and acid wash photo filter! 

And I totally used to wear my hair live Rayanne, with the one long strip down front.  Oh 1990's how great you look as I look back at you! 

Dancing Through Life~ Heather

Today's Dancing Through Life Featured dancer is one of my favorite people, Heather Weingart.  Heather and I trained at the same dance academy in Van Nuys and performed many a Nutcracker together.  But then I joined a company and Heather was still in high school...you know how things go, we lost touch.  The amazing thing is we reconnected in college!  Heather ended up living in the house next door to mine and we were camp counselors together!  I am so thrilled that Heather has agreed to share her way of dancing through life here on 'le blog'.  I think you'll agree she does it with major style!   

1.  When did you start dancing?

I started dancing when I was around 4 years old. I remember being in a ballet class with all my friends from preschool and doing leaps across the floor!

2.  What styles did you train in and which is your favorite?

I trained in tap, jazz and ballet. To be honest, it’s easier to say which was my least favorite – and that was ALWAYS ballet! I loved tap and jazz. However, the more I trained in ballet, the more I found my technique in both jazz and tap grew stronger. I first began pointe classes when I was 12 and I truly believe it made me a stronger dancer.

3.  Did you dance professionally or in college?  If so, where, what schools, companies and/or shows?

I never danced professionally – however, throughout college (for 6 years total) I was a “Disc Jockey Dancer” with an entertainment company called You Should Be Dancing. I led the YMCA and other fun dances at Bar Mitzvahs and loved every second of it. It led me into emceeing and hosting which is what I’m currently pursuing.


4.  When did you decide to pursue a career other than that of a dancer? 

In college I realized just how much I loved talking. I was a tour guide at UCLA and after graduating became a Page at Paramount Pictures. Giving tours of the studio lot (and walking backwards for a living), I really found a passion in public speaking. I then pursued a role as Talent with Radio Disney and the rest is history! I never stopped dancing at events throughout those years – and still dance at our local Radio Disney events today (does the Hannah Montana Hoedown Throwdown count as dancing?)

source

5.  What do you do now?

I am currently a Promotion Coordinator with Radio Disney. I help plan and execute large, interactive events for families and our listeners throughout Southern California, while running promos, spots, creative recaps, etc. on air and online for Disney. I get to travel to other Radio Disney markets (most recently Dallas and Denver) to help execute events in other regions – hosting events on the microphone in front of large crowds, introducing celebrities onto stage before concerts (Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez to name a few), and interacting with kids through games, dancing and contests!

6.  How has dance affected your life?  How does it inspire you?

Dance has affected my life in so many ways. I feel like I have more rhythm than the average gal – I’m always able to bust-a-move anywhere and everywhere and it’s helped me immensely in my job (and social life for that matter!). I love teaching and choreographing new fun dances to some of our Radio Disney Top 30 songs and executing them at events. Most importantly, I absolutely love PERFORMING. Dancing led me to the stage where I realized just how much I adore being in front of a crowd and performing for a captive audience. I don’t think there’s any more thrilling feeling in the world. I find that it inspires my creativity at work – especially given the upbeat and fantastic music that Radio Disney promotes.

7.  Do you feel like your dance background helped you in other aspects of your life?  Did it contribute to your other successes?

My dance background has helped me in a variety of aspects in my life. As mentioned above, dancing is a huge part of my job that I use constantly. I love being able to let loose on a dance floor – or even do follow-along moves at our events. I love coming up with inventive ways to make kids move it and have a blast with our Road Crew. I must admit that I dance, or use my dance background, almost every single day!

source

8.  How do you keep a hand in the dance world?  How do you support it?

I love attending shows and performances where dancing is involved. I watch shows on television that center around dancing and talented performers (i.e. So You Think You Can Dance). I definitely could support the dance world more, and am looking for ways to do so (maybe being part of this blog is a good start?!)  

9.  Do you have a favorite dance film, book or dancer?

I know it’s cheesy, but Center Stage was such a big film for me growing up. I considered myself a “prima ballerina” at the time and just loved seeing a group of dancers go through similar experiences, competitive situations, etc. as I experienced. My favorite dancer is HEATHER TONER!!!! 

10.  Do you plan to keep dancing throughout your life? 

YES. ABSOLUTELY. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. DUH! Dancing makes me happy. Whether it’s a dancing exercise class (I’m kind of obsessed with Zumba right now) or just tapping my toe to the music playing in my office at work, dancing never fails to bring a smile to my face. It brought me so much joy growing up and continues to do so every day. Even after answering these questions… right now… I feel like getting up and dancing! 

Completely inspiring, don't you think?  Thanks Heather for sharing what you love about dance and the ways in which you keep dancing through life!  If you are or were a dancer and want to share how you are dancing through your own life, email me and let me know!  

Happy Friday Everyone!

Hiding Out

Oh it's rainy and cold!  Another rain storm just hit LA and I am just so thankful to be home.  I've lit the lights and turned on the heat and am held up in our apartment feeling so cozy and safe.  It's times like this when I love the rain! 

Yes, I am wearing a crown in this picture...that's because at our house I'm the queen!  (Well, sort of....)  Have a snuggly evening! 

The Exhaustion of Dinner and a Movie

I think I have mentioned a time or two before on this blog that I really want to get better at cooking.  It's not necessarily that I'm bad at it, but I don't really like it all that much.  I know a lot of people do and to be honest, I'm kind of baffled by them.  I suppose I do alright with the actual cooking part, but it's all the prep and chopping of which I am not so fond.  But the boy is encouraging me to get better and build up my cooking confidence by simply practicing.  So I've been doing a bit more of our cooking lately.

Last night I cooked Chimmichuri Salmon with roasted potatoes and parsnips plus a hefty helping of peas and corn.  It actually turned out pretty good! 

But then, as the boy and I were out for an evening stroll, we both had little upset tummies.  We decided it must have been the potatoes and parsnips.  They tasted awesome, but I guess I added too much olive oil-- they were a tad bit greasy.  

So I may have a ways to go in the cooking confidence department still...but at least I'm trying, right?  After dinner we watched The Shawshank Redemption and I had forgotten how much it is a truly well made movie.  In fact, I stayed up to watch the whole thing and while I was glad at the time, this morning I have to swear that I'll never stay up so late on a week-night again!  (Oh how many times have I made THAT promise?)  

Me this morning...sooo sleepy!

All in all and minus the tumy aches, it was a pretty good evening.  Tonight the boy is cooking (thank goodness) so I should be able to just kick back and enjoy! 

Office Design

Let me take a moment to share with you all just what a nerd I can be sometimes.  Well, I suppose it's not nerdy, it's a good thing actually but something I am not accustomed to experiencing.....I like one of my projects that I am currently handling at work.  In fact, I like it so much I actually kind of wanted to work on it over the weekend.  But I resisted.  That was the nerdy part.

The project is coming up with a design scheme and color components for our new office.  We're moving in about two months and I have been given the task of liaising with the construction crew and picking out all the carpets, paints and furniture for my boss' approval.  It's like getting to live out an old fantasy of mine of being an interior designer.  I've been drawing up samples, putting together mood boards and color schemes.  It's just plain fun!  I only hope that all my designing ideas go over well with the big bosses, but even if they don't like all my ideas, I sure have had fun coming up with them! 

 Hope you're having a fun day at work too!  (Well you must be if you're reading this! ;)

The Magic Kingdom Then....

Saw this adorable video and had to share it with you.  This was posted by the grandson of the people in the video.  That's his grandma meeting Walt Disney at Disneyland in 1956! His name is is Jeff Altman and I am so glad he was kind enough to share this with everyone.  I just love seeing old footage of Disneyland!  It's actually kind of amazing how much it hasn't changed over the years!   It's a place that clearly carries a lot of happy memories for lots of people.  Enjoy! 

Home Movies At DisneyLand - 1956 from Jeff Altman on Vimeo.

A Night at the Ballet!

So as you may remember, the boy and I attended Saturday night's performance by the Los Angeles Ballet.  It was fun to be out on the town and back at UCLA (the theater was on campus) but I think we had mixed feelings about the actual ballet.  

Me and the Bruin Bear-- we roamed campus before the show, and the rain!

On the one hand its refreshing to see that the company is still going and seems to have expanded their number of dancers.  They have the privilege of being able to perform great works by Balanchine, such as Raymonda Variations and Western Symphony, two of the three pieces performed Saturday night.  And they have new choreographers offering them pieces too.  But even with all that I think they still haven't quite reached the level of expertise and professionalism they are gunning for...There were several moments during the show when I felt like I was watching a school academy performance.  The dancers seem young and lack a level of confidence and precision that sets the professionals apart from the amateurs.  Perhaps they were just having an off night, but I have a feeling they are just a few steps short of being a really professional and skilled company.  Although Western Symphony's upbeat music, fun costumes and flirty characters did help to end the evening on a crowd-pleasing note (it also finally allowed the dancers to show what they had by way of stage presence and personality.)  It was by far the strongest piece of the program.  I have hopes for LAB's future indeed, but they're still a ways away from being counted among the companies in ballet's "major leagues."  Maybe next season!        

On a day like today....

All I want to do is stay inside and read a book and snuggle up in cozy clothes and enjoy the warmth of our little nest.  But I can't, at least not till later, and that makes me a bit grumpy.  

This is one of the main reasons why I live in southern california.  I don't really do well with rain and cold weather.  I know it probably sounds really childish and silly, but honestly, I don't know how people get used to living in the constant rain and gloom.  "Forks" would not work for me.  I hate driving in bad weather.  It stresses me out to no end.  After living in the midwest for a short time I was completely turned off to severe weather conditions and swore that I would always live in So Cal.  

Now that may not actually come to pass...I made that statement when I was about 20 years old, so I mean, what the heck did I know?  But still, there is nothing I hate more than having to go out in the rain and brave the treacherous Los Angeles streets.  (We all don't know what the hell we're doing when it comes to the rain.)  But I suppose sometimes a girls just gotta do what she's gotta do.  Wish me luck!

Hope you are having a nice warm and snuggly Sunday! 

Weekend Wishlist

Hey All!  Hope you're Saturday morning has been a pleasant one.  I am so excited for the evening because the boy and I are going to see the Los Angeles Ballet!  The reviews for the program weren't exactly glowing, but I'm excited to go none the less.  I think it's important to support one's local ballet company and I just know it will be a fun night out for me and the boy.  They are performing Celebration tonight at the Freud Theater on UCLA's campus and just being on campus always makes me happy.  It's my old stomping ground, the place where the boy and I met and the site of some truly amazing and memorable times.  I'll be sure to post about it tomorrow, and thank you again to Neil and Katie for the tickets.  You guys are awesome!  

In the meantime here are some weekend wishes....

This flower crown via the fantastic DIY on the Bleubird Blog

Pretty Spring dress from Modcloth

Adorable loafers from Forever 21

Anthropologie dishes!  {source}

Dancing Through Life~ Alycia

 I am so thrilled to post my first ever dancing through life dancer feature and I think we're starting with a very special dancer indeed.  I am sure many of you know Alycia of the fanta-bu-lous blog The Curious Pug, but did you know she was a ballerina?  Well she is and she was gracious enough to share her dance experience with us.  I am so honored to have Alycia as my very first featured dancer.  Here is how she has been dancing through life....

 When did you start dancing? 

My mom put me in dance class when I was 3 and I danced all the way to college!

 What styles did you train in and which is your favorite? 

Ballet, which was my main focus, jazz, and a little teeny bit of tap and Irish step. Ballet was my favorite.

  Did you dance professionally or in college?  If so, where, what schools, companies and/or shows? 

I danced a little in college, but not as my major or anything. I just wanted to keep it up while studying for my degree in Speech Pathology. Eventually I had to stop because my schedule got too full with required major courses. But each summer since I was 13 to 17 I spent my summers in Saratoga, NY studying dance at the Briansky Ballet Center (This one time, at dance camp....hehe!) That was where I really developed my technique and skills.

Alycia and her sister in A Midsummer's Nights Dream--Alycia is the one in the back in arabesque!

  When did you decide to pursue a career other than that of a dancer?  

I knew I didn't want to pursue dance as a career probably when I was 17, right around the time kids start looking at colleges. I didn't enjoy hearing teachers tell me to suck in my already flat stomach and tuck in my booty (ok, that part of me was always a little fluffy) but I also have scoliosis and I just knew that I'd probably never get any better in my technique than I already was. I just wasn't having that much fun anymore and wanted to try new things!

 What do you do now? 

Now, I am an X-ray technician. I knew I wanted a career that dealt with the human body since dance had such a huge impact on my life. Even though I went to college for speech pathology, I realized that I didn't want to be a speech pathologist after all (sorry mom and dad's bank account!) So I went back to school in 2007 to study radiology (which just so happened to have free tuition because it was a hospital-based program. Go figure!)

 How has dance affected your life?  How does it inspire you? 

I feel that dance has affected me in almost every way you can think. I am aware of my body (kinesthetics is the word I think!) I also feel that I learned an enormous amount of respect and discipline through dance.  People who don't even know me ask if I was a dancer because of the way I walk and my posture. But the most important thing is I am very dexterous with my feet!  HAHA!  I can precisely pick things up off the floor with my toes when I don't feel like bending down. I could probably draw you a picture too ;)

But dance definitely still inspires me. I always get butterflies in my stomach when I see a professional ballet performance. I know what's good and what isn't. I literally get chills watching men do pirouettes because they keep spinning and spinning and spinning.  It's bittersweet to watch. Sometimes it makes me sad to watch a ballet because of giving it up, but at the same time I am really happy with my life choices that I have made because I have done so.

 Do you feel like your dance background helped you in other aspects of your life?  Did it contribute to your other successes? 

Most definitely, like how I mentioned earlier with respect and discipline. And also in the creative part of my life. Dance was the first art I learned before sewing and crafting.

 How do you keep a hand in the dance world?  How do you support it? 

I suppose you could say I have a "fingertip" in the dance world because I don't really go out of my way to seek out dance related things anymore. But if I come across a blog or internet article about dance,  I will read it.

 Do you have a favorite dance film, book or dancer? 

I really love Joffrey Ballet's "Billboards." It was the first ballet I saw that was actually cool to me with all the music by Prince. And as a girl from New York, the New York City Ballet was my favorite company with my favorite dancers being Darcy Kistler and Wendy Whelan.

 Do you plan to keep dancing throughout your life?  

Maybe perhaps someday as a way to get in shape, like a jazz class or some other fun dance class with a friend. Nothing serious though. And with lot's of baggy clothes! Besides, big booty's are cool now ;)

Thanks Alycia for sharing what you love about dance and the ways in which you keep dancing through life!  If you are or were a dancer and want to share how you are dancing through your own life, email me and let me know!  

Happy Friday Everyone!

Hope you're having a Super St. Paddy's Day!

Visions of Green in my kitchen~

Tonight I decided to avoid the pubs and the party people and stay home and cook for the boy.  I am baking chicken and veggies with lots and lots of spuds--just for my Irish boy!  I hope he likes it.  And I hope you all have had a wonderful day!

Wanting to be Irish...

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  {Let's wing away to the Emerald Isle, shall we?}

This year as I look around town and see all the cheesy and stereotypical Irish decorations I can't help but feel a bit...put off.  Now don't get me wrong, I really enjoy a good holiday as much as the next girl.  I've always liked St. Patrick's Day because I've always felt quite Irish...And I look good in green!  My Dad's side of the family is originally from County Roscomon in Southern Ireland and my brothers and I grew up learning about Irish myths and folklore and basically loving all of it.  I have always felt proud that I can claim a little piece of that cultural history in my family.   

But after marrying an Irishman and now having been to Ireland, I feel a whole new respect for the place and its people.  I am not Irish, I mean c'mon now--I'm an American mutt--maybe mostly Irish, but a bit of Polish and German too.  I wish I was Irish!   And that's the thing I guess,  I can't help but feel like the way we Americans celebrate this holiday (at least here in Los Angeles) is rather derogatory to Irish culture.  I mean it sort of paints the Irish as nothing more than drinking, kissing hooligans who delight in wearing green and pinching people, then they blame it all on invisible-gold-hoarding-wish-granting-tiny-people.  And not that I am against drinking, kissing, pinching, the color green or leprechauns....in fact, I'm a big fan of all those things.  It's just that I wanted to take a moment to remind us all how much more there is to the Irish culture.  They are a beautiful people, with such spirit and zest for life and their traditions, like their history, are complicated and vast.  What I've seen of Ireland is so beautiful, you feel a kind of magic around you there...Maybe it's because I grew up in a desert, but it really is one of the prettiest places I've ever seen.  I think there is a reason, beyond green beer, that so many people like to partake in St. Patrick's Day festivities and it boils down to the fact that we all wish we were Irish!

So, that's the end of my serious rant.  I plan to partake in a fun day of celebration in honor of St. Patrick.  I can't help it.  Today I just want to pretend I am 100% Irish!  But keeping in mind that though I may just be an American impostor, there is something special and just plain cool about the Irish and today (like everyday really) you true Irish have my regards, my respect and my best wishes!

  

Sláinte!

           

5 Things that Always Make Me Smile

Since it was so much fun to do last time, here's another 5 things that always make me smile no matter what's going on...

1.  Finishing things on my "to do list."

2.  Fajitas!

3. Ducklings

4.  "Dancing in the Dark"

5.  The sight of the boy walking in door in the evening!

Are you smiling?  Tell me why!

O.M.G.

I have been busy peeps.  Between work, dance, blog, crafts and home life I feel like I have been going and going non-stop.  PLUS stupid Daylight Savings Time has got me all mixed up.  It's funny cause every autumn I just think it's the best thing ever and then every spring I curse the stupid clocks and their one-less-hour-hi-jinks. 

I'm usually really good about balancing my time, but I do tend to multi-task myself into a frenzy now and again.  It's not something I intend to do, it's just my nature.  I feel like so much of the time I am doing three different things, juggling this, that and the other thing, while I'm mentally planning blog posts and designs and, and, and....you get the idea I'm sure.  

To help keep my sanity and sense of humor, I've implemented a few organizational tools that I thought I might share, just in case any of you are of a similar over-achieving nature! 

Firstly, there's is the chalkboard calendar in the kitchen.  Our whole lives are written up there-- social, work, extra-curricular, whatever.  It all goes on the board!

I know it's a bit cheesy, but without my days of the week vitamin tray I would never remember to take my vitamins...and I need vitamins!  A steady diet of Cheez-its and Diet Coke have seen to that.

Finally, my day-planner and my blogging journal.  It's my portable calendar/to do list and the little notebook I keep with me to write down ideas when inspiration strikes, which, I'm sure you'll agree, is always at the strangest moments!  It's seriously so much fun to look back at old posts I planned and see how my blog has developed and changed.  And it really helps to know that I have a way to jot down ideas before they drift away and I get caught up in the next project on my plate.  

How do you stay organized?  Tips and techniques are always encouraged!

For a Long Time I was in Love....

....with No Doubt.  Yep.  Go on music snobs, judge me if you must.  But you know how when your young, like a tween, and you come across a band that just knocks your socks off?  And it's not poppy in a over produced way or produced by the Disney corporation?  It's not even a band your friends are listening to, but you have found it and you know that it will be cool--it IS cool?  That's how I feel about No Doubt.

I loved Tragic Kingdom and proceeded to buy all their previous music, whatever I could get my hot little hands on.  I had never heard anything like it and I felt like instantly cooler for just knowing about it.   I was completely smitten with Gwen's tough girly-girl style and proceeded to bedazzle my bra straps, buy some wife-beaters and cut them short so my midriff would show.  It was a style I could make and afford!  That and my mom's reddest shade of lipstick made me a typical little "gwen-a-be."  I had a crush on Tony, thought Tom and Adrian seemed like they'd be so fun to hang out with, plus they were from Anaheim and I felt as though they were a band from a background much like mine.  They were inspiring in that way, I felt like they were just like me and if they could be cool then what was to stop me? (Remember I'm like 13 at this point.)      

I was right in my prime angst-y teen years when Return of Saturn was released and I loved singing along to the self-questioning tracks which make up most of the album.  That album definitely reminds me of a very interesting time in my life.  Rock Steady didn't hit quite so many chords with me, maybe I was just getting older and my music tastes were changing, but eventually it grew on me.  And now I am just thrilled to know that they are in the midst of recording a new album!  I can't wait to hear what they come up with this time and I am just so happy to know they are still making music together.

So here is a little video to take you back to a simpler time when No Doubt was just breaking out into the mainstream and we all were bearing quite a bit of midriff!

Dancing Through Life

Once a dancer, always a dancer.  It's true and then again, it's not.  So many girls give dance a try when they're young and many stick with it well into their teen years.  But after that, it is usually just the super serious ones that continue.  Especially in ballet. 

Dance requires discipline, strength, flexibility, a thick skin, artistry, athleticism and, often times, a very specific body-type.  All that together makes going pro a huge accomplishment, usually filled with plenty of sacrifices, aches and pains.  Additionally, if you do become a professional dancer, there's the challenge of making it big, finding jobs, working for next to no money and all before you get to be too old (and in ballet that can sometimes be as young as your early thirties.)  That's to say, it is often a short-lived career with a lot of potential for injury and it's usually not one that will make you rich. 

For all these reasons and more, many professional dancers find careers and jobs in other fields.  I myself found that I needed to leave the professional dance world and live as a "normal" person for a while.  I went to college and got a job in commercial production and basically turned my back on ballet completely....But I missed it. 

I had to find a way to make dance a part of my life again, but not my whole life.  That may sound simple, but it really is a difficult task, at least it was for me.  The nature of the work and the business basically requires that you give it your all.  You suffer for your art.  Dance always has to come first and family, friends, money and your well being are often put to the back burner.  But I think I have finally reached a point in my life where I've found the right balance. 

I have a good job that keeps me from going broke on dancer's wages.  I have a fantastic home life with my boy.  And I have time to see my friends, go places and do all the fun things I want to do.  But I managed to find little ways to keep dance as part of my life.  This blog is one of them.  I also teach occasionally on the weekends, I take class and I perform now and then with my friends and in situations that are usually just for fun and with no long term commitments.  I work at a dance-wear store one Saturday a month.  I make tutus for little ballerinas and I contribute to another dance blog called DIY Dancer. 

Dance will always be a huge part of my life and makes up a great deal of who I am and what I'm passionate about--but it's not all I am and I think that's pretty cool.

click to enlarge!

So, if you're still with me, I am planning a new serious of Camp Ballet posts that feature women who have danced and/or still dance, but have also found careers and jobs in other avenues.  It's called Dancing Through Life and I hope it shows how diverse dancers can be and the ways in which dance can be a part of every life in some way or another.   I hope to feature everyone from the amateurishly to the professional and I would especially love to find other bloggers who are interested in sharing their dance backgrounds (I know you're out there!) 

If you're interested in being featured please let me know by emailing me or leaving a comment below.  And I hope you enjoy this new series! 

kisses,

Gidget