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 2012

  • What I’m Doing Right Now

    I'm un-macramé-ing.  I'm un-knotting.  I'm undoing.   I started a friendship bracelet a few days ago. 1 inch of wonderful I wore pants for the sole reason of having a nice anchor for the safety pin.  (Many days I like donning a skirt because it's just like wearing a big blanket.) For some reason, I…

  • On Not Owning a Television, #@@&#!@

    I don't own a t.v. I do have a computer and the interwebs. I stream shows I like from Netflix (thanks, Nicey-Nice Lady!) and [gasp] occasionally stream new episodes illegally. I generally do not read or listen to the news, see commercials, or watch movie previews. My conversations are… interesting because of this. Not having…

  • List of Last Week’s Labors of Love

    – going to bore your eyes out with a picture-less post.  I don't have my USB cable FOR SOME REASON [cough, cough].   – hospitality from, like, everybody.  Sometimes I'm just in awe because people are so nice to our family and I'm all, like, suspicious, "Why do you like us?"  Is it that we…

  • On Not Owning a Television

    I don't own a t.v. I do have a computer and the interwebs. I stream shows I like from Netflix (thanks, Nicey-Nice Lady!) and [gasp] occasionally stream new episodes illegally. I generally do not read or listen to the news, see commercials, or watch movie previews. My life is better because of this. The products…

  • How Not To Make A Meal Plan

    This is not a post about meal planning.  It's a post about not meal planning. Despite my good intentions and a chalkboard clearly labeled "MENU", I have purged my meal-planning diet and fallen into a nasty "what the heeeelll is in this here kitchen?" habit at meal times.   Then that stupid Pinterest website shows…

  • List of Last Week’s Labors of Love

    – writing *huh* and *hug* have two very different connotations that spell-check  cannot save you from.  #gladIedited #metime #austinburgrules – I want a shirt with the word "coach" on the back.  I feel like people (especially random ones on the street) would really respect my authority that way. – why haven't I tried screenprinting?  It…

  • An Insult To Amateurs

    I went to a competition. My dresses, however, did not come with me. Yes.  I packed up all my bags, the little ladies' bags, Gordon's dance gear, my dance gear, and piled it all together in my bedroom with my dresses hanging above the pile on the door. We got up in the morning.  We…

  • Crochet Your Eyes Out

    In honor of National Crochet Day, here's some patterns and loveliness to make all you hookers* drool. * – because in crochet you use a hook, not needles (like in knitting); "crocheters" sounds stupid; not like Lafayette in True Blood calling everyone "hookers" as an odd term of endearment; it's funny; [sigh]  - Larksfoot pattern from…

  • List of Last Week’s Labors of Love – Better Late Than Never Version

    – harassment from my dear readers about writing a post.  Oh, darlings, I didn't think you cared!  Mmmmwah! – apology: I'm sorry.  I skipped one post when we were competing two weekends ago and man, it was a slippery slope.  Monday came and went while we drove back across the Midwest, and now it's 8…