Wednesday, November 12, 2008

So showcase is coming up again! Im only doing 1 dance this time - the west coast swing with nathan. If you would like to come again either contact me or the studio directly to get tickets. There is a slim chance that i may not make one of the shows since Evan is coming home that week (most likley - the navy can change the dates) and I am not missing his homecoming for anything.
But I did get him tickets to be there - so hopfully he will be!!! Info below:

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The U & Me Dance Showcase “Rhythm in Motion” is coming soon! Featuring 25+ performances in Cha Cha, Swing, Tango, Theatre Arts and more! Come see your resident Dance Stars strut their stuff and fly through the air with . A great show for your children, friends, family, neighbors and generally anyone who enjoys a good performance.


This year includes student shows Friday Evening and a Saturday Matinee.
There will also be a Professional Show featuring Dance Professionals from Seattle, Vancouver and of course, U & Me’s own fantastic instructors – Mary Simler Evans, Joel Simler and Seattle Star Ball Show Dance Champions Nathan Simler and Lecie McNees!

Tickets go on sale Friday, October 10th! Purchase before Thanksgiving and save!

Friday Evening Show: December 5th at 8pm – Reserved seating starting at $12
Saturday Matinee Show: December 6th at 2pm – General Admission – starting at $8
Saturday Pro Show: December 6th at 8pm – Reserved seating starting at $15

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Do you look too young?

Many of you know I have complained that I look younger than my age. One time, when I was 23, married, and getting my masters degree, I was carded buying a rated R movie at Walmart (supertroopers - yep - supertroopers). I am consistently carded to buy any kind of alcohol. Whenever I sit down at a bar, I automatically grab my I.D. out, as I watch the bartender approach with that usual suspicious look in their eye. This is aggravating for me now, as I work a professional job, and occasionally I am asked if I am an intern. I know you don't feel bad for me. I know. I'm sure when I'm 'older' I will appreciate this more, but now - not so much. Well one of my sites that I watch through GOOGLEREADER led me to this nice site - with tips on how to long older. Enjoy!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Hello Rebound!!!



Apparently there is a rumor that Jen Anniston is dating Gerard Butler! Well in my opinion he is the most gorgeous man alive and she could have worse rebound guys! GO JEN!

Monday, August 25, 2008

Hello Ladezzzz

My name is Ben - and I'm your dream come true...
Ben

Bedroom/office




OKay so this room is still a work in progress but it has come sooooooo far!

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The stuff on the couch is a cd collection that still needs work!
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I put the mirror up on the wall! Im so handy...

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Litter Box

My fat cat, "The Sweetpea", is very particular about the litter box. She will not use it if it has a lid on it. I think its because she's big, and feels like she can't move in the litter box. However, I like to have a lid - because it helps keep the litter mess to a minimum. I also must admit that I prefer to empty the box every other day. So last night I decided I just need a bigger box. Thinking that a bigger box = more space for the sweets = more litter = easy every other day cleanup. So I went online looking for a bigger box. Instead, I saw some ideas for homemade boxes. EUREKA! So today I made my first homemade litter box which is essentially a 20 gal plastic container with a hole cut out of the side with box cutters. I'm also planning on switching to a wheat versus a clay litter. Im hoping this will also cut down on the smell and tracking. I'll let ya know how it goes! Check out the pics...

Homemade litter box!

Here is a pic of the old box with the cover next to the new box...

old and new litter box



I took my first argentine tango private lesson today with MARY. It was great. Mary is a great teacher and keeps things moving along quite nicely. Of course I struggled with those key technique points which make A Tango different from my strength in rhythm dancing. After a couple years of "settle into your hips" - to cut that out felt almost impossible. I plan on taking some more lessons in this over time but Im sure it will be slow going. I Loved it though!

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Tupperware


BEFORE

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AFTER

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Junk Drawer



BEFORE

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AFTER

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The beauty of this one is I finally found the cats nail clippers... they were not too thrilled though!


OKAY Here is an update - I used old check boxes as containers so its a little better!

junk drawer

Laundry Room




BEFORE

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AFTER

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YAY ME - I learned how to fold a fitted sheet properly - finally - after 27 years

Declutter!!!






Hello again! I have been MIA lately, but Im getting back online to show of my latest de-cluttering efforts while Evan is deployed. Hopefully, with my new furniture, and my decluttering he will still recognize his house when he comes home! My decluttering was inspired by a fellow blogger, the Organizing Queen, who is hosted an August Decluttering challange! I don't know if Ill be able to do enough to qualify - but Im giving it my best shot!!!! Enjoy!!!

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

FOUR


Evan and I have now been married for FOUR years! YAY! Here are some pics of us through the ages ;)...

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he loves me so....


Graduation


Evan and Cindy


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Cevan

Friday, July 18, 2008

OMG SERIOUSLY?!?!


Im am so excited about THIS. YEAH! My favorite book series is coming to TV! YYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

popped!!!


I am IN LOVE with these potato chips and cannot stop eating them...Im just sayin...

I especially love the salt and pepper flavor. And they are better for you than regular chips as well as the diet detective can tell you here. However, they are probably not as good for me personally since I have NO SELF CONTROL when it comes to these chips! It has nothing to do with emotional eating I swear! They are just DANG GOOD!

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Confessions of an emotional eater


I just read an interesting article post about emotional overeating and how to stop. While reading it, I realized that I have been kidding myself when Ive denied being an emotional eater myself. This is because I think of emotional eating as overeating when you are depressed or sad as a comfort mechanism. Which, in my own defense, is usually how it is described in most articles I've read regarding emotional eating.

I had my last day at my old job last night and went out for a celebratory drink with my coworkers. I ate a ton of food. Dinner, a sugary drink, and an entire brownie sundae BY MYSELF (hell no I don't share my sweets). Then after reading this article today, I have concluded that yes I AM an emotional over eater, BUT I overeat when I am HAPPY - not when I'm depressed. I overeat when I'm out with friends...I'm usually having fun and happy. I overeat at parties. I overeat on vacation. etc. I do not overeat when I'm sad - actually I eat very little, but what I do eat is not so healthy - ya know like chips and beer for dinner :( .And that's it. AND I tend to be very inactive when I'm sad as well. I also eat sweets a lot at night because I feel like it defines me as a southerner. "a true southerner eats a sweet with every meal y'all" That isn't a sad feeling to me - that's a proud, happy feeling.

SOOO... I guess this has opened my eyes a little. As I am trying to lose fat and gain muscles currently, hopefully this realization will help me over the next few months in my endeavor to become a hott wife for when Evan comes home!

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Happy 4th of July!!!


Yep here I am - up WAAAYYYY too late at night doing what? Talking to you! Or am I talking to myself? Or to the computer? Maybe all three. I know I know Im DEEP.

So the fourth of July was pretty cool. I hung out with John and Jess and all of their out-of-towner friends for the night. I ate a gazillion of Jess's stuffed mushrooms, which I can NEVER get enough of when Im over there. I actually got to hang a lil with Zoe their baby girl who seems to always be in bed already when I come over (do I work until that late at night? (UHM YES YES I do) And I got my first Zoe MUAH kiss which was pretty cool since I have a knack for making most children cry. No fireworks though since Burlington had their fireworks the week before apparently during its berry dairy day. Probably better in the long run since I would have missed Evan terribly. I love to watch the fireworks each year. I have always found that watching them with Evan is incredibly romantic and makes me feel safe and loved and part of a family. So to watch them when he is away is complete and utter torture for me.

Today I had some friends from work over to have my Chicken Parmesan, which is the only thing I can make decently. Of course tonight it didnt seem to turn out quite right. It was too spicy and the sauce was kinda runny. I dont know - I was disappointed. Dawn and Carolyn said it was good, but I wasnt convinced since they didnt eat all of it. sigh - maybe next time. I always want to be a better cook, but I dont really find it interesting to learn about cooking. That doesnt really go together.

This week is my final week at my second job. It hasnt really been a good fit for me these past two months, and my old boss has offered for me to come back full time. Im very happy about that! I will have a slightly different schedule than before and will be working wed evening instead of morning. Im actually looking forward to the new schedule! BUT I still have to get through two more days at the other place before I start that. I feel kinda bad leaving some of my new co-workers, but I will be soooooo much happier going back 'home' to Evergreen!

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

driving

I am SOOOO happy that KOMO 4 news has been talking extensively about how it is ILLEGAL to drive in the left hand lane without being in the process of passing. This has been such a pet peeve of ev and mine since moving the the northwest. Obviously this was a noticeable thing in Florida but WHOA. When we moved here 2 years ago it was amazing how much people do that up here. Also, noone seems to drive the speed limit, but slightly below the speed limit. I dont understand it. Of course you may think this is a dumb way for the state to get money out of us...but no its a way to enforce correct driving habits. Be happy you dont have to retake your driving test every 5 years. Alot of people need it!

getting off my butt

so Ev has been gone about 1 month now and I am finally coming outta my funk. The first week he was gone was showcase so I was very busy that week taking care of dance stuff. The showcase went great. My rumba was voted into the pro show. If you see the blog below I have some video posted!!! I was very intimidated however during the pro show as ANOTHER student rumba was voted in and it was amazing. Then they wanted my baby rumba to FOLLOW them. It freaked me out...but I made it through.

The week following that I was a COMPLETE bum. Im serious. No working out, no cleaning the house, no studying - completely BUM.

The week after that I started to clean house...

The week after I started working out too...

Currently I am also starting to 're-do' rooms in the house....Im dangerous now baby

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Showcase!!!

Heres what Ive been working on FOREVER...finally coming to fruition...
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Thursday, June 5, 2008

I think this is awesome...

The Obama pound
The Obama pound



There is just something so cute and refreshing about this moment. A marriage doesn't have to be all passion and kisses in my opinion. Friendship is soooo important and it really shows to me when they do the bump.

Friday, May 30, 2008

On the road again...

So I am officially 'in charge' and 'on my own' for the next 6 months. Ev left this morning.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Indiana Jones day


So before Ev leaves for 6 months we are trying to get in as many of the movies he wants to see as we can. Today we went to see the new Indiana Jones movie. It was great! I was really happy that it stayed pretty true to the old movies. Harrison Ford is still incredibly handsome. Interestingly enough, about 20 minutes before the end of the movie...the fire alarm went off. JEEZ! So we all shuffled outside into the surprisingly hot outdoors while they checked out the theater. Im sure some stupid kid hit the alarm, or thought they could get away from smoking pot in the bathroom. I have never left a building for a true fire alarm. I guess that should be a great thing, but Im starting to find it annoying. Anyway, we did get to go back inside to see the rest of the movie. Then we still had not had enough INDIE! We then came home and watched the first Indiana Jones movie and grilled out. It was a great day and I totally have the I.J. theme song stuck in my head. dun dun dun duuuuun! dun da duuunnn... ;)

Friday, May 23, 2008

Its the small things in life...

I get this crazy sense of accomplishment and elation when I can successfully open the clothes dryer door, throw in an extra garment, and successfully close the door quick enough to where the dryer never stops running. happy sigh.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Tulip fest


We went to tulip fest this year. It was beautiful. The weather was beautiful. Such a great day.
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How do I feel about Chiropractors...

Well Im going to channel Italy for this answer. I have a mixed opinion about chiropractic care. Obviously being a Physical Therapist (which is a PROFESSION by the way - not a random group of treatments...NOT just exercising a person) I think and have seen quality chiropractics help people quite a bit and have worked in conjunction with several. Ive also personally seen and heard horror stories about discal damage and fractures caused by adjustments. IMO you are taking quite a bit of risk when you place you body in the hands of a 'non-quality' Chiro. Much more risk than standard care provided by a physical therapist. Here is a nice site which runs down reason NOT to become a chiropractor, with a link to US news and world report labeling chiropractor as 'the most overrated career'. If your going to see a chiropractor, be wary of being put on a long term plan (unnecessary), and research them beforehand. If your ever uncomfortable with a treatment (it hurts; im getting worse-not better) SPEAK UP or change healthcare professionals. That goes for Physical therapy care as well. ;)

Glow Stick madness...


My friend Jim is my long distance dance partner in crime from Pensacola Florida. I miss dancing with him! But he will be coming up in august to go to a conference - so we will be getting our dance on again soon...and I will probably take him to my studio where the other followers will attempt to steal him again...

This is a link to my friend Jim's website where he has proposed an intellectually stimulating question..."Can you blend glowsticks?" Well, check out his site to find out HERE

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Dad


My birth father, Roy McPherson, passed away from a heart attack on sunday night. Some of you know he had been having heart problems, and I saw him about 6 weeks ago during his last scare in the hospital. Unfortunately, he could not be saved again. My parents divorced when I was very young, so he was not a big part of my life, but he was always there, always in touch, always wanting me to be happy. Some part of me regrets not knowing him better, having more memories of him and I together, but I know thats just the way life turned out. He was a good person, and seemed to give too much of himself, but then again thats what made him who he was. Ive decided not to go to his funeral and I feel okay about that decision. I know my dad would have understood.

Monday, April 14, 2008

BodyBugg

Evan is having a new fun time with a cool gadget we got him called The BodyBugg. Its this arm strap he wears which calculates exactly how many calories he has burned in the day, minutes of activity, steps walked, etc. He uses a computer program and enters in his caloric intake for the day as well. From this info he knows not only if he is eating the correct balance of food, but the correct amount in relation to his activity. They use this tool on the biggest loser. He has used it for 1 week and has already lost 2 lbs. (I know it doesn't seem like a lot so far, but 2 lbs was his goal and he met it for the week) I personally think the BodyBugg is SUPER COOL! I really want one for myself but we will be waiting on me. They cost around $300. So far I think its a great investment. We will keep you updated on his weight loss using the BodyBugg!