Dance Like No One’s Watching

Posted on by
Reply

This year marks the 30 year anniversary of my hometown dance studio. I’m so thankful to Renee for the bright spot she provided during those awkward junior high and early high school years. I’m also incredibly thankful to my parents for the financial sacrifice they made so that I could participate in dance. I didn’t become a professional dancer or anything of the like, but I had the rare opportunity to be part of something that I loved. My only regret was quitting dance too early.
So when Renee contacted her alumni for a reunion dance at this year’s recital, I jumped at the chance. After the initial euphoric state of denial wore off, I quickly regretted this decision because I recently (and by recently I mean 5 months ago) had a baby. Translation = I’m not at my healthiest body shape to put it nicely. I also haven’t performed a choreographed dance in AGES. AGES. I watched the video and freaked out because everything looked complicated. Throwing your arms around, shaking your booty and acting a fool is TOTALLY different from learning a dance. Oh my God, what was I thinking signing up for this? I’m going to look like a crazy fool in front of so many people. OH NO!!!!
I did my best to learn the steps but just to cover myself, I let my dance teacher know that it was quite possible that I may truly suck. When in doubt, self-deprecate. To which she kindly reminded me that we would be having fun. Right. Fun.
I’m guessing she must have sensed apprehension from others since she recently posted this quote. Dance from your heart and love your music and the audience will love you in return. Here’s to dancing like no one is watching or maybe just loving it no matter what because it’s fun.

299702_10151478813214269_1549186822_n

Oh yeah, that’s me in the top right hand corner. I totally didn’t make that blurry on purpose. Promise.

Best Mommy Ever: Girl’s Trip

Posted on by
Reply

536990_10200259352261270_502509630_n

When I was getting ready for my girl’s trip to Sedona, my husband and I were going over the details. The plan is that I will leave on a Thursday night and He mentions that he has off on Friday. Of course I decide to kid around with him. So, I leave for the weekend and you take the day off. To which he turns to me and says, I’m taking the day off so I can take care of Eli. Oh, right. The 4 month old baby isn’t going to take care of himself. Best. Mommy. Ever.

Thank God one of us thinks things through.

What I did on my Spring Break

Posted on by
Reply

There is a certain sadness that overcame me in the years after I left college. No more fall and spring semesters, winter break, spring break, summer vacation. Except for my short stints with an educational travel company, those markings of time vanished when I joined the ranks of the corporate world. No more papers and essays and yet I was envious when people referred to their summer break plans or their recent Spring Break Ski Trip. But now it’s back, with my daughter in a new Pre-K and soon to be in Kindergarten, we have begun marking time by the school calendar again.
So on our first Spring Break we went to San Antonio and this is what we did.

We went fishing.

DSC_3482

We didn’t catch a thing or rather my father in law caught a fish but as luck would have it, we lost the only fish we caught. Big hole in the basket or miracle catfish. I think miracle catfish. On a side note, I’m not sure what has happened, but I’ve lost all skill when it comes to fishing. I guess it’s better this way because I really spend more of my time entertaining my 5-year-old.

We caught up with my husband’s high school friend’s. I love these people though I didn’t grow up with them from second grade. I love their bonds and their willingness to open themselves up to others. And between us all, there are enough kids to field a soccer team.

297050_10151512436970295_1538122614_n

We went hiking and camping. This is what happens when you bring along a too expensive camera so instead of asking someone to take the picture you use a rock as a tripod.

DSC_3507

or this

DSC_3508

3rd time’s a charm.

DSC_3509

That little striped bundle you see is our 3 month old. I got an overly priced wrap that people in Guatemala use to carry their kids around all day. That wrap though overly priced and sometimes daunting to put on is well worth it. My back was loving it until I fell asleep on the hard ground that night. No wrap exists that will make your back feel better as you try to sleep on the hard ground.

Before we got to the camp site, their were two pictures that inspired this post.

Beware Coyotes…

DSC_3497

I know it’s probably offensive to someone somewhere, but how could I not take a picture of this? I grew up in a small town. Coyotes, fences and ranches are no shock, but never in my life have I seen a warning to coyotes. Never. I’m just glad I saw this in the light of day what with my irrational fear of country roads at night and all.

And then there was the man on a unicycle riding down the road with us.

DSC_3505

I wouldn’t say it’s a 5 line freeway, but it’s not exactly the road less travelled either. Again, I grew up in a small town where there are plenty of roads for unicycle riding and yet, I never witnessed it.

How can I person not look forward to Spring Break from here on out?

Staying at Home….Now What

Posted on by
4

I recently made the decision to quit my job and stay at home.  This means it’s baby and 5-year-old time, 24-7.  TWENTY FOUR SEVEN, PEOPLE.  24-7.

DSC_3389

Ok, not really.  They sleep for 12 of those 24.  Actually, the baby sleeps even more than that when you include naps and car rides.  Oh, and the 5-year-old is in pre-K through May, so it’s not quite 24-7.  Actually, I’m really just sitting around catching up on all sorts of awesome TV.  I think I read somewhere that this will eventually change.  There will be loads and loads and more loads of laundry to do.  There’s also the dogs  that have to be fed, the shower I have to squeeze in at some point, dinner to be made, general cleaning, deep cleaning, special cleaning, pick up and drop offs, places to volunteer, gardening to do, household projects, diapers to change, groceries, obligatory Target visits, exercise, the list goes on.  Right?  All the while, I’m still trying to be me.  I think I need a nap now.

As crazy as that all sounds, I’m hoping to find some time for fun because it doesn’t matter if you work or stay at home or don’t have kids.  If you’re not having fun, then you’re not having fun people.  What’s the point, if there is no joy?

That’s right, we did the Harlem Shake.

Today’s Obsession – Forestbound Bags

Posted on by
Reply

Bags….yes, please.

Vintage, one of a kind, durable bags….get out of my way because I want one now, please.

No thanks to today’s Fab, I am now obsessed with Forestbound bags.

bag1594824_large bag_4161612_large

Squeee! Right?  These bags are created with salvaged historical textiles.  What’s not to love?  Apparently I’m not the only one in love because the majority are sold out.  Boo.  But here’s to obsessing over gorgeous handmade, vintage bags.  Cheers :)

Late to the Game – Raw Denim

Posted on by
Reply

My Google Reader is out of control…thousands and thousands of unread blog posts. I love these blogs and the bloggers that write these posts. They inspire me. They help feed me and my family. They are my constant companion when I have exhausted Facebook and Twitter. These posts are my source for news, trends, food, and miscellaneous knowledge. But I fell behind in my reading and now I’m overwhelmed. So I’m catching up, one amazing blog post after another, and I’m a little late to the game on a few things. And by few things, I mean a lot. We elected a new president and new TV seasons have begun!  The holidays came and went. I missed the entire elf on a shelf trends for this year. I didn’t cook a single new recipe until February.  I’m not even sure what DIY thing to start first.  And that’s not all, there’s this new/old trend in denim called raw denim or dry denim.

Not for the first time and most likely not for the last, I turn to my husband the other night and say, “I’m reading about this crazy thing called raw denim.” To which he responds, oh yeah, like it’s old news. How  does this always happen?  That man is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to current events.  But the question is, am I really that behind? Did I give up on the world during my pregnancy,  or maybe I was too focused on stretchy fabric to worry about raw denim.

I stumbled upon raw denim when reading a past entry of one of my many favorite bloggers. The writer was given a pair of raw denim jeans to wear for 6 months, because, crazy, that’s what you do with raw denim. You wear it for 6 months before washing. Sometimes you wear it forever before washing. What? My husband read that your raw denim jeans have the same level of bacteria as everyday denim that is washed more often. How is that possible? Don’t they get smelly?

I’m not sure how I feel about this raw denim thing, but some things are clear….

  1. I can see the appeal by the pics of these people’s jeans. Great looking jeans with a finish that is unique to the wearer. Don’t you just want to be this mom and own those jeans?  But that’s the beauty, you can’t.  Those are her jeans and look the way they do because of her.  The pressure!  What if I get a pair of raw denim jeans and they end up looking terrible.  Is that possible? There are more where these came from if you care to see people in jeans worn for two months straight.

wpid-b7-cs-2-ashley-2013-02-12-11-58.jpg

2. The washing – when you do wash them, it seems a bit complicated. Do I have time for complicated in my life? But then again you only do it every few months or never….that might appeal to my sense of lazy. The jeans below haven’t been washed in 15 years. That’s pretty easy, right?  Oh and apparently, the smelly concern?  Nothing a little febreeze and fresh air won’t fix.  Or so they say.

wpid-denim-fade-11-2013-02-12-11-58.jpg

3. There is no way I can justify my last ever, until they fall apart, purchase of jeans until I shed some of this baby weight.  What else can I say.

4. Saves money, space, time, the environment if you only own one pair. There’s something about raw denim production and how the low impact on the environment - if you’re into that sort of thing. Minimalism and saving the environment are totally overrated. Get rid of clutter and have a cleaner earth, whatevs….crazy hipsters.

 

 

Food Glorious Food – Brussels Sprouts

Posted on by
Reply

My husband and I belong to a local produce co-op.  We joined up after a very disappointing visit to the downtown Farmer’s Market.  What can I say, when I go to a Farmers Market, I want to see fruits and vegetables that didn’t come from a grocery store.  Sure it’s beautiful and shiny, but I didn’t drive downtown to buy stuff I could have bought at the local grocery store a mile away.  I’m convinced we went on the wrong day.

Joining the co-op proved somewhat challenging.  As in I had no idea what to do with kale, turnips, chard, daikon radishes and most vegetables that weren’t potatoes, tomatoes or corn.  Don’t even get me started on Brussels Sprouts.  I’ve only eaten one Brussels Sprout in my life and that was only because I was trying to set a good example.  So, what in the world am I supposed to do with all these amazing locally and organically grown, non-grocery store purchased produce?  Enter the inter web.

So many Brussels Sprout recipes to be made and I happened on the most amazing recipe on the first try.  Lucky me or rather thank goodness our co-op provides links to amazing recipes for users such as myself that don’t normally incorporate a variety of vegetables into their diet unless forced to do so.

Food52

Crispy Fried Brussels Sprouts with Honey and Sriracha Lime Sauce  - aka The Best Brussels Sprouts recipe ever.  I made a few adjustments.

Serves 2 to 4

  • 1 pound Brussels sprouts
  • 1 tablespoon sriracha (or to taste)
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • Juice of 1 large lime
  • Salt
  • Vegetable oil for frying – I use olive oil for flash frying
  1. Trim the stem end of the sprouts and gently separate the leaves with your fingers, collecting them in a large bowl. When you reach the heart of the sprout (where it’s tough to pry off the remaining leaves), add the heart to the bowl with the leaves. (I quarter the Brussels Sprouts.  The truth is since this was the first time I was eating Brussels Sprouts, I didn’t want to eat big chunks in the event that I should hate them and be forced to set a good example for our 5-year-old.  Setting a good example has been known to induce my gag reflex.)
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the sriracha, honey and lime juice. Taste and add more sriracha or honey if you like. Set aside.
  3. Set about 2 inches of oil in a large (I can’t do this, I just add enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan – more of a flash fry than a deep fry.  There is something about deep-frying vegetables that seems to defeat the purpose of the vegetable itself.  I still flash fry them until they leaves and hearts are crispy.), heavy pot over medium heat. Heat until a Brussels sprout leaf begins to sizzle and crisp as soon as you add it to the oil. Fry the sprouts in batches, using a screen to protect you from sputtering oil and keeping your face away from the pot as the sprouts cook. Remove the sprouts with a slotted spoon after 30 seconds to a minute, when crisp and brown. Drain them on a double layer of paper towels while you fry the rest of the sprouts.
  4. Once all the sprouts are fried, transfer them to a large bowl and sprinkle them generously with salt. Toss gently to combine. Working quickly, drizzle some of the sauce over the sprouts and toss again to coat lightly. Taste, add more sauce if necessary, and serve immediately, before they wilt!

Thanks to our co-op, food52.com and the contributor for this recipe.  It has completely changed my view of Brussels Sprouts.  Life will never be the same.

Food glorious food – Avocados

Posted on by
6

It’s a new year and I no longer have the pregnancy excuse.  You know, the excuse where you should eat better precisely because you’re pregnant and yet those donuts/chocolate chip cookies/mini bunt cakes/etc are constantly calling your name.  Resistance is futile.  Not to mention, people typically encourage you to eat.  Eat what you want, you deserve it.  And so you think, why not?  Why shouldn’t I eat everything in sight?

Unfortunately the lasting effects are not nearly as gratuitous.  Which means it’s time to start making better food choices.  Not just because there’s some extra weight hanging around, but also because my daughter’s idea of dinner is a fried egg, pirate’s booty and oreos.  It could be worse, right?  So I’ve been on the recipe hunt.  I recently ran across a recipe for Brussel Sprouts with a Honey Srirracha Lime Sauce.  AMAZING!

Now I’m obsessed with avocados.  How can you not with these recipes?

A Green Salad

8383256147_2f58dc432c_o-1

 

Smashed Avocados

tt-1-12

 

Creamy Pasta Verde with Garlic Brown Butter Breadcrumbs

verde-2

Ok, so in excess amounts, these not be totally healthy, but it’s better than fast food.  It has to be….it has avocados in it.

Pregnancy Induced Writing Hiatus

Posted on by
Reply

DSC_3132

It’s amazing how one day turns to another and next thing you know, you are now the mom of two and life as you know has once again drastically changed.  But I can’t blame the pregnancy and subsequent delivery for the writing hiatus. It’s not like there haven’t been any sleepless nights or really early mornings. I certainly could have written then, but that would make me super productive and I like to keep a low profile lest people start to believe I can do it all.

So as I slowly move out of my hiatus, I thought it best to share the top 10 things from this pregnancy.

  1. Same questions, different pregnancy - Regardless of the pregnancy, people ask the same questions.  Some to be expected – how are you feeling, when are you due?  Other questions I wasn’t expecting this go around, but now realize that this is just how it goes – are you having twins?  It happened the first time and shockingly it happened again in this pregnancy.
  2. Clothing matters. During my first pregnancy, I wanted to be prepared (overly) and look cute.  The right dress for the shower, the perfect work clothes, etc.  My first thought way too early on in this pregnancy was, “Stretchy clothes, that’s all I want. Is that too much to ask for?” Followed by my second thought “How early is too early for maternity clothes?”
  3. Dressing properly is no easy task. I can hardly put on shoes without sitting down, but more importantly, when you walk around for half the day with a giant hole in your pants and then proceed to put them on backwards somehow that is a sign that you have arrived. No joke people. Around lunch time one day, I went to a maternity store to try on jeans to see if I could find a second pair of “they might as well be jeggings they’re so stretchy, jeans” to round out my minimalist wardrobe. I tried on several pair, made a decision and proceeded to put my pants back on. When I went to put my phone in my pocket, my hands met with nothingness. Weird. There should be pockets there. Oh, wait the pockets have somehow migrated to my back side. Awesome. Remove pants, and proceed to put them on correctly when I notice a shinning beacon of light pouring through the crotch. I don’t know about you but that’s totally not normal for me. How can this be you ask?  That would be because there is a giant hole in the crotch. Awesome.
  4. You slowly become the baby you’re about to birth. I was up at least once in the middle of the night – luckily not due to hunger. I woke up at the crack of dawn because I could no longer sleep, and I was ready for a nap by 9 am.  That pretty much sounds like the BabyWise schedule if you ask me.
  5. The dreams are just as weird.  There was the shark that had the brain and soul of a good friend’s brother.  My husband fell in love with the Disney character Cinderella (Not the animated version, just to be clear.  The animated version would be weird, right?).  I acquired the ability to breathe fire to protect my family.  When I confessed this last dream to my husband he asked “Like circus act breathe fire or mythological ability to breathe fire?”  Of course the mythological version.  Analyze that Freud.
  6. I still don’t want people touching my belly, but I had no choice.  This time around I was less fierce despite the fire breathing dreams about others touching my belly.  I allowed it at times, but not overly so.  I blame children – my child, other children.  They have no reserve.  They touch what they want to touch, belly included.  And truly, what can be done about this?  Nothing.  Children are much faster than me.  They’re the perfect height.  They don’t ask, they just do.  Kids certainly do not hesitate.  And truly, what can be done?  Yell at them?  Give them a dirty look?  It’s much easier to prevent the hesitant adult.  I didn’t stand a chance against kids.  So I had no choice and mostly gave in when it came to people touching my belly.
  7. It’s just as hard to pick baby names.  It’s even harder when you yet again decide not to find out the sex of the baby.  Double the names to come up with.  I’m surprise that people thought we were holding out on them.  I wish that were the case.  We really had no names that we liked.  Or maybe I should clarify and say we really have no names that I liked.  It’s a good thing we resorted to process of elimination or we might have ended up with Paco.
  8. Clothes, Clothes and more clothing issues - as if the others weren’t enough, I found that most of my previous maternity clothes did not fit.  The wonderful winter jacket (that I still wear even when I’m not pregnant – don’t judge) did not fit.  Not even close to fitting.  How is that possible?  I mean was I really that big?  Don’t answer that.
  9. You wear your food.  Or at least I wore my food.  Not only did crumbs find their way into every nook and cranny, but I suddenly couldn’t drink without spilling on myself.  And did I mention that at one point a co-worker pointing at my chest area, says you have something on you.  That’s right, some chocolate had found its way on my boob, but not where I could see it, only where others could point it out.
  10. Nothing is ever the same.  Things were never the same with the first baby and things are not the same now.  Things weren’t even the same with this pregnancy, and I’m sure as much as I try to find similarities in these kids, they are also different.  Ah, change, the only thing that remains constant.

A New Addition

Posted on by
4

On Saturday, December 1st, at 11:27, we welcomed into the world our second kiddo, Eli Augustus Poetschke.

IMG_1733

The name was not an easy one to come by.  We didn’t find out the sex which meant we had to come up with double the name options.  My husband dutifully came up with his list, but I only managed to delay the process.  You could say I was waiting for a moment of inspiration.

After the third visit from the Birth Certificate lady, we resorted to our go to decision-making tool – process of elimination.  Some day in the future, when choosing a movie or restaurant, the tender memories of how we finally arrived at Eli’s name will come rushing back.  I will be filled with nostalgia and suddenly hug him.

As far as the other details, he weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces and was 21 inches long.  We are at home and doing as well as can be expected with a newborn, 5-year-old and two dogs in residence.

IMG_1724