This is Off the Script

I went to a new YMCA in St. Paul on 875 Arcade St. It was unique in that it had an indoor playground for children equipped with a jungle gym, stationary climbing truck and playground set inside a semi enclosed glass wall and doors.  Perfect for a parent who wants to walk around the indoor track ten million times all the while watching their little ones in the indoor playground.

On top of that the track also circles a basketball court on the first floor so that you could watch your middle/high school kid take on the world of B-ball.  You could even call them out from above "Heyyyy Johnny or Heyyy Sasha." (Or what have you).

Happy New Year

Remembering my year in 2014

I did yoga today.  You know what yoga is; downward dog and plank's pose that goes along with stretching every muscle in your body.  But today our Teacher told us to meditate take two long breaths and along with it think of two things that happened every month this year.  Those things could have been things like successes or challenges.  "Its important to reflect and take time to give yourself achknowledement for what you have done throughout the year." she said.

This is a list of my 24 things that happened to me throughout 2014
Breath in, Breath out

1.      Went to eat at my favorite restaurant Ocean (an Asian restaurant) three times

2.      Raced some people on the side roads

3.      someone passed

4.      Zahdi came to United States

5.      spent more time outside sitting on porch people-watching

6.      bought new used car by myself including loan etc

7.      found out my brother was moving out

8.      grandma passed on, I miss her tremendously

9.      helped someone

10.  read a big gigantic book called Little Friend by Donna Tartt

11.  read another big book called The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

12.  helped a friend get a job at a hospital

13.  went to Duluth

14.  Lost my $400 damage deposit to a woman who is a bad landlord and got it back by being assertive.

15.  Went to gym 12 times in a month

16.  Did some things I planned in October

17.  Helped My mom

18.  Said some heartbreaking words to people that I regret

19.  Took some people with disabilities to countless amounts of plays and outings

20.  Got recognized

21.  Lost two jobs

22.  Gained two jobs

23.  Found out that I am somewhat stubborn

24.  Enjoyed December holiday this year more than I have in the past 15 years.

 

Worded or Wordless

More YMCA.  After becoming dizzy from circling making many rounds around the track, I partook in some treadmill walking.  You know this is a virtual age when you realize that there are more touch screen features on certain YMCA machines than others (particularly St. Paul YMCA's vs. New Hope).  While walking on the treadmill, I realized I could watch my favorite sitcom, plug in my I-pod, see my facebook updates or watch a youtube clip from the touch screen.  I chose searching You tube clips, and to my favor I found a rather nice one about a couple who shares their home and their cooking ideas with the world in a video channel called Adventures to the Tar Pit on Youtube.  

Well after having my fill of fantasizing about the tar pit's family version of chocolate chip cookies, I moved on to explore another video clip.  This one is called Toy Hunting.  It introduced some new girly toys that are currently on the market for kids.  And when I say introduce I mean that a young woman literally walks around a department's toy store aisle and picks up toys and describes them to the lesser known audience.  Toys like Briar Beauty Barbie (got enough B's in that name) And a miniature doll called Adopt Me, amongst other dolls.  Now as much as I may like the idea of dolls I couldn't help think of the toys from my childhood

Sally secrets

PJ sparkles

Pillow People

Pound Puppies

Pipe Works

Lite Brite

Popales

Ragedy Anne and Andy

Toys of the 80's and 90's

Down the Twirly, Swirly List of Decadent Recipes.

Down the twirly, swirly list of decadent recipes.

http://www.cakespy.com/  by Jessie Oleson Moore writes a very cute site, the writer finds herself to be a detective seeking sweetness in everyday life.  She puts little cartoon smiley faces on most of her  desserts giving real emotion to your favorite dessert.  Here are the surprises that I found today and desserts I never heard of: and a few that I may or may not ever try including chocolate avocado pie, mini coconut pancakes, breakfast nainamo bars. 

www.wednesdaychef.typepad.com  Here is a great dessert blog by Luisa Weiss.  Much of Weiss desserts are from Berlin and one dessert recipe is called Yotam Ottolenghi's Raspberry Meringue Roulade dessert. Luisa also has desserts recipes like Dimply Plum cake and Better Than Robert Redford.  I love the fact that she includes the Robert Redford dessert because I have written many stories on the beloved cake including My Momma Makes it Better documenting my experiences with the cake. I guess its more than the name of the cake that attracts me.  There is also a Ukrainian Honey Cake recipe on her site as well.  Overall the blog is very nice.   I love how the writer decides she's going to go about the art of baking  I've been struck by the baking bug that shows up so reliably each year when the sticky, swollen days of summer come.

G is for Going back to a favorite Post #AtoZChallenge via @trincal

G is for Going back to a favorite post.

My theme this year is Anything Wirter(ly)  

I wrote this post back in December and I love it because it's about my two favorite things:Dancing and Basketball 

We watched the NBA game on December 25th.   Basketball is one of my favorite sports. My alumna high school won the state championship four years in a row, and in the past I would watch every game from the sidelines and wait for my dance team to perform at half time.  Needless to say we were die hard fans. 

When Home Feels like a Revolving Door

   


When home feels like a revolving door its nice to be able to explore food that can be made fast online. I like a few  food blogs in particular because their recipes can be made fast.  A lot of food recipes online will say that they are fast but then they require 20-30 ingredients.  I don't think that is fast.  Or they will say they are fast and then require you to use a food processor or blender which takes 15 minutes to clean.  These food blogs don't put you through that work.  Its my belief that when you can learn to cook easy and fast, you can learn to cook exquisite and great meals too.


www.iamafoodblog.com   Stephanie Le writer of this blog has a coconut almond rice krispie recipe and a 15 minute doughnut recipe. Also a two minute chocolate mug cake recipe.  isn't that the coolest thing ever! In two minutes you could be serving yourself a chocolate cake in a glass. These recipes are easy enough even for me!  

http://weelicious.com/ This is another great blog if your in the habit to search for the ingredients you have and work for their in order to throw together a great meal.

 

Housing Vs the Elements

      

Bung Me my Bits and Bobs

Bees Knees, Belt up and Botch me

      

 

All the Candy You Should be Eating

   

Babbles From my Relative

Marion:(Marion opens her gifts)Candy-hmmmm yummmmmm  Energy in the morning

Marion:I'll have candy instead of cereal tomorrow or candy instead of pop for breakfast

Marion:Reese's Pieces- Yay! Protein

Marion:Hmm what's in this gift?

Brother:Its sea salt

Marion:Oh No! Sea salt is not good for you

Brother:Its a gift card with an endless supply of sea salt in the box

Marion:Oh, that's Terrible!

 

 

 

 

  

Feeling Green in Roseville

Dancing Around the Trees

What did I tell you people... a few days after all the snow melted in Minnesota there would be snow two days later.  It's all good. I'm glad the tall trees give us some shelter. Although the ordinances for having trees in your yard is unbelievable.  I was talking to a neighborhood who said that she had to chop down her lovely fern recently because parts of it had died and she said she was so disappointed because she had moved to that home particularly because she liked the tree, and then she had to pay $2000.00 US to chop it down as well! Chopping down the tree is a chore- I should know because my childhood friend's father chops down trees for a living and let me tell you that the only thing fun about it is hoisting yourself up in the tree by rope and being able to gaze at the streets below.

End of the Year Dancin'

We're wrapping up our Zumba dance year at the YMCA and these were just some of my favorite songs that we danced too....

Wake me up When It's All Over
Ont top of the World
Summer in the City
Addicted to You
Let it Go
We're in the Money
Roar
Eye of the Tiger
Stay Gold
Boom Clap
Ani Estagea
Rumor has it
Bad
Do you believe in Magic
Can't Touch This

Taking the snow in Minnesota to the Ice with the movie Frozen

I'm going to see Frozen at the Xcel, Downtown St. Paul today.  I'm hoping to walk away with a sense of dance on Ice.  I'll fill you in if about my experience and how it correlates with the same Disneyland experience I had as a kid.  Will Elsa be the same character as the movie suggests? Or will she be the same criticized character that people have been talking about?  Will the music  from the movie Frozen be as memorable as the famous youtube clips sang by kids who adore the movie Frozen.