Explosions and Implosions

So, I had what Chris describes as an implosion last week. I got so sick of all the useless junk in the way, and was feeling overloaded with responsibility, so I got out the giant Costco box of giant black trash bags and started filling them up with my clothes that I never wear, scarves, my belly dancing stuff (haven't had classes in almost 2 months due to everyone being at belly dance camp, and then our leader being out for back surgery), jewelry, and all the other stuff of mine that's been laying around in the way for months and I don't use it any more. Incidentally, it's all still in trash bags, including my jewelry. I am just overwhelmed by all the stuff we have accumulated, and feeling pressured to try to sell things we don't use/need any more because we need money, but people aren't buying stuff much these days, and I just want the JUNK GONE, and my life simplified! I'd like to load it all up in the truck and take it down to Goodwill and be done with it. I've sorted through a lot of this stuff at least 3 times now, and I'm sick of it! Why do I feel the need to hold on to stuff that just weighs me down? I need some validation that it's ok to just give it away to someone who might need it more than I obviously don't need it! I feel an explosion coming on.

Halloween

This year, I decided we would have a family theme to our costumes.

Chris pouted a bit, but in the end he was a good sport as always.

Here we are! The crayon box, the pretty crayons, and the art work!

Crock Pot Chicken and Purple Potatoes

I got a bag of baby potatoes at Costco last week with Red, Gold, and purple potatoes. YES! Purple potatoes! They look almost black on the outside, but they are a shockingly deep purple on the inside.

Anyway, I tossed a chicken in the crock pot with some spices, carrots from Chris's parent's garden, and these neato potatoes.

Here are the results before and after 2 hours on high and 6 hours on low heat. And how they looked cut up on a plate.

Belly Dancing!

Belly dancing is becoming a larger part of my life. Here are a couple pictures of outfits I've put together.

I made the red top from a shirt I got at Goodwill and altered to fit me. I made the blue hip scarf and got the Coin belt from a vendor at the County Fair this year. It's hard to tell, but I'm wearing panel pants that flutter out when I turn, and the red top has shiny red dots on it.

The blue and silver one is Chris' favorite, and the black and gold is my favorite. Which one is your favorite?

Something about Family

It occured to me recently that although this site is primarily about me, my family is a large part of my life and I would like to put more about them here.




This is a picture of Emmaly playing in a box. She loves to climb in and out of boxes, close herself in and shout "Where's Emmy?! Where did Emmy go?!".





This is a picture of Grandpa Wood playing with Hannah in the backyard of their home here in Port Angeles. "Dapa" as Emmaly calls him, loves our girls a ton, and we all see a side of him we didn't know was there when he plays with Emmaly and Hannah.

Breaking Out Of the Shell

Everyone has at least one. Even if you don't think you do, I bet if you dig deep enough you'll find yours. Barriers, limits on life, a comfort zone, a shell. Whatever you call it, I've found another one in my life, and I'm trying to break out of it.
I have started taking belly dancing classes. That's right. Belly dancing! And I am having the time of my life! The other ladies that come regularly are strong, encouraging, and fun to be around which has made it easier for me to forget about my body image issues--at least for a short while.
For those of you who think that belly dancing is just about shaking your body around to make the coins ring, you're seriously mistaken. Real belly dancing is a SERIOUS workout! It's all about controlling the muscles in your abdomen, back, legs, buttocks, chest, arms...well, pretty much every muscle! In order to produce the sinuous, fluid movements of the dance, you have to know exactly what each muscle is doing and be able to tell it where to go and what to do without thinking about it. That's what gives the illusion that it is easy.
I figure I might be performance worthy in a few years, but in the mean-time it is a great way to get moving, get out of the house, get away from the kids, and break out of that shell!
The instructor has already asked me to help her make video segments on how to do the basic individual dance moves, and create a blog for our little group.
Anyone in the Port Angeles/Sequim area: Hapy's Oasis meets Tuesdays at 7PM at the Sequim Senior Center. Classes are $4 each or $15/month. Bring your water bottle and come join us!

Our new home

We finally did it! It's been a long search, and some battle with banks, but we have bought a house! Now, we are finally moved in and mostly settled...well, settled enough to have the computer up and running... At any rate, I'm running out of things to say, and my one-year-old is calling me from the other room, so I must sign off.