Riot and Frolic

a mostly ballroom dance, but also a bunch of other stuff, blog

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about

I own and rock people’s faces off teaching ballroom dancing at Dancers Studio in St. Paul, MN. My husband and I compete professionally in American style and wrangle eight children in our spare time. I’ve been teaching and competing in ballroom dancing for over 25 years and have lots of opinions on it. I am an expert by any means, but there are quite a few dancers who are better than me and I have a solid knowledge of basic technique, so suck it.

Month: September 2011

  • A Hard Day’s Night

      11 Good Morning Good Morning It would make more sense if I had used "A Hard Day's Night," wouldn't it?  But what fun would that be?  Plus, I like this song better.   As promised, I'll give you a run-down of my day.  This seems pretty self-important of me, but I actually took note…

  • Slacker

    I'm still alive, Auntie! It's been forever and a day (okay, a week) since I last wrote a post. I know you've been waiting on the edge of your seats for the latest and greatest news from the Brattiest. After my last note to y'all, the G, ladies, and I drove out to The Cleve…

  • Obvious Things to Do

    I have often heard people remark, "I don't know how you do it."  I'm assuming they're talking about juggling three little ladies, marriage, dancing, working in an official capacity, and writing all about it.  Not about my confidence in walking out of the house with no makeup, my hair in the ever stylish I-just-woke-up bouffant,…

  • Not Seven

    But Six.  Six Layer Bars.  Because nuts ruin good desserts.  Just ask me.  Or my dad.  In other words, experts agree that nuts are lame.  Need a sugar fix with an added health benefit of some coconut?  Give yourself ten minutes and wallah! Yes, I said it: "health benefit of coconut" and "wallah."  Take that.…

  • List of Last Week’s Labors of Love

    – French bread that looks and tastes the part.   Bonus: after a trip out to my great auntie's, some swanky new baguette pans with which to experiment.  More bread adventures next week! – a fun new crochet project.  I am probably going to run out of my pretty yarn before I am done.  "Dye…

  • Pinterest Project- Knot Quite

    Oh man, puns are the best.  The French were wrong. I have short hair. Can't you tell?   I've been growing out my hair since… forever.  Well, since someone told me I need to have long hair to dance.  Three guesses on who that was.  Hint: it wasn't the G.  And if you just read…

  • Request for Thread

    Well, request for yarn.  Yarny goodness.   I love yarn.  Yarny yarny yarn.  Down it goes, down into my basket…  Of yarn.    Some nicey-nice (today's post is sponsored by the letter "Y") lady asked me if I would craft something for a benefit's silent auction.  The benefit is for this great group- Beyond Ballroom…

  • Request for Bread

    No, I'm not asking for money.  Again.  I actually received a request (from an awesome lady) to write about making bread.  Like the kind with dough.  That you make with flour.    I laughed when she asked me because I've been trying to make french bread for a couple months and have been failing at it.…

  • List of Last Week’s Labors of Love

    – the nicest freakin' forecast of all time.  You must read the descriptions.  Maybe they could have checked out the thesaurus for "sunny," or maybe they were trying to make me laugh. – the next best place to find a laugh: The Happy Place.  The best responses to misspellings on Facebook: hilarious! – a new…

  • Pinterest Project- Twofer

    No, no.  Not this guy… What?  You don't watch 30 Rock?  Get on the wagon.  That show is up there with, in chronological order, Alias (isn't it time for a little marathon?), The Office (season 7 is now on DVD…  and I don't own it… hint, hint), Arrested Development (yeah, that movie is never going to happen), and…