Forget Not...

I was inspired last night as I attended the RS meeting to make these for the women I visit teach. I thought that others could use it too, so here it is.

Becoming....a Father

I had no idea that having a baby would make me fall in love with Scott in a whole new way. Look at this first picture (taken the day we took Charlottle home from the hospital), how do I not fall instantly in love with those big hands that are being held by such a comparatively little one? It was love....love at 1st baby!

It has been fun to watch Scott become a father. He loves our little Charlotte and takes such good care of her. He is always trying to make her giggle, and is a champ at getting her to fall asleep (they frequently nap together). She loves him too! She loves playing with his beard and flying "like Superman" in and out of rooms and over his head. I think these two will have a pretty special relationship as the years go by.

I love my little family, they bring me so much joy. Happy Father's Day, Scotty!

Becoming....a better cook: Baked Montana

This is a delicious cousin to the Baked Alaska

Start with pre-made Graham Cracker Crust
(I decided to use the mini tarts...just for fun!)

Add a few real Montana huckleberries....(I happened to still have a handful in my freezer from picking huckleberries at the Cabin this summer)

Add a scoop of Tillamook Mountain Huckleberry Ice-cream (sold at Dan's, Harmon's and Winco)

Cover with a Meringue....(make sure there is no Ice-cream showing)

Put the tarts or pie in the freezer for at least 5 hours

Bake at 500* for about 3-5 min or until the peaks of the Meringue are golden brown

Meringue (will cover 2 pies)
8 egg whites, room temperature
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup sugar

With electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the egg whites and cream of tartar for 2 minutes on medium-high speed. Increase the speed to high and add the sugar in a slow stream until stiff, glossy peaks form.

Must see...

Becoming....a Choreographer

Choreography: the art of designing sequences of movements in which motion, form, or both are specified. The word choreography literally means "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" (circular dance, see choreia) and "γραφή" (writing). A choreographer is one who creates choreographies.

Part of the fun of being a dance teacher is choreographing dances. I spend 10's of hours listening to music, making lists of themes and variations, listening to even more music, experimenting, dancing in my kitchen, changing, editing and redoing. I love this process, it is invigorating and rewarding. Now obviously some choreography that I do (like say for the 3 yr olds) is much more basic. Basic as they may be however, there is a different set of skills (which I am hard working to master) that help you create a dance that is clever, fun and age appropriate. Basic, but not easy.

Time, Space and Energy are the 3 basic elements of dance and choreographers essentially just mess with these to create new motifs and patterns. I am highly convinced that no one has really made up a new dance move in many many years, like 100's. "New Moves" are just old ones reincarnated to different genres, cultures, and themes.

A good dance has a lot of things that contribute to its success; music, movement, technique of dancers, venue, costuming, lighting and more. MUSIC is single handedly my favorite part of the process of creating a dance. The beat, rythmns, nuances, and dynamics inspire movement. Some songs almost beg for moves. I love that Scott is always playing NEW songs for me to hear. He will say "and listen right here....wouldn't it be so cool if..." and then he describe the movement that he visualizes complimenting and augmenting the awesomeness of that part of the song.

Recently, Scott shared these three videos with me. I think they perfectly and amusingly illustrate what a difference the music makes in choreography.

What you are about to see:

1- this video is the original, Thom Yorke of Radiohead is doing his thing. His movements are quirky and strange. My professors at the U of U Modern Dance Department would love his movement choices. I love them! If you have had the privilege of seeing Radio Head live in concert this is what he does the whole time on stage.

2- Same moves different music. Here to Maroon 5, Thom, and his crazy dance moves look just that CRAZY. And not in a good way. He looks ridiculous.

3- Same moves different music again (also better video editing....) and its hilarious. This video looks intentionally funny...like something choreographed for the Senior Men's Dance Company.

crazy, huh? I think so!

So all morning, while my baby napped in the other room I have been working on choreography (aka: dancing like a crazy lady in my kitchen) for our Spring Show to this song by Adele (just released in the US on the 20th). It is going to be our show opener, I am so excited. If I had the money and resources I would love to play around in a bunch of white flour or powder like the "ninja" in the video does. I love the white clouds of powder and the black silhouette. AMAZING....love Adele! Please enjoy!!

Becoming....

I have reflected frequently about what I "want to be when I grow up". What type of skills I do I want to have? What do I want to be known for? What do I want to enjoy? What do I want to do and be? How do I want to live? You would think that I would have some of this figured out already, and yes that is partly true. I have a fabulous husband, a beautiful baby, a partial ownership in a dance studio, a great house. A lot of those things, like being a wife and mother, teacher and homeowner are on my list for sure...However I want to focus my energy on doing those things a little more purposefully. Because it is really easy "just to be", rather than to be improving or "becoming" if you will.

A little side note disclaimer: Any one who knows me well could tell you that I like to succeed. I don't like doing things I am not good at. Even as I write that last sentence I realize how egotistical and cowardly that makes me sound. But its true. I really struggle even trying things that I think I may not be really REALLY good at. For this reason I can tell you quiet honestly that I don't play Volleyball....I either hit the ball into the net or straight up. When I first started learning how to play it didn't come naturally so I gave it up quickly. As an adult I don't participate in pick up games on the beach at Hebgen or with my YW because I am not good at it.

There are a lot of things I don't do because I am afraid of not doing them well, (and to be honest there are a lot of things I will try because I have the confidence that I will simply excel at them). Sometimes I am right...I am terrible at the things I think I will be terrible at and great at the things that I think I will be good at. AND sometimes I am delightfully proven wrong and something I fear trying isn't all that bad. AND much to my dismay often the things that I am or think I am good at don't turn out (like my bundt cake last week of which half stayed in the pan when I attempted to plate it to take it to my neighbor- I was not happy).

Back to the point: There are a lot of things I would like to be, do and try. For starters I want to be a more candid blogger. I want to be honest rather than perfect. I want to be more consistent in my posts because; I really think a blog can be a great Motivator as I share my goals in a forum that cannot be easily erased. It makes me dreadfully nervous that no one will read my blog, but that is precisely the fear I am trying to address. It is okay, right? It doesn't have to be perfect. I don't have to an amazing blogger to keep to it. Because what I want to have this and subsequent posts chronicling my adventures in "becoming" to be is journal and sharing place. Hopefully I can foster my own blogging environment that can laugh at my mistakes, not take myself too seriously and celebrate with myself as I learn new skills.

Some of my Goals: In my frequent thoughts of what I want to become I have come up with a little list of things that I would like to become:

Motivated

Fit

a Gardner

a Cook

Patient (mostly with myself)

a Graphic Designer (reveal: I am looking into online courses so I can actually finish my college degree that I started 10 years ago and I think this is what I want to study)

a better dancer

Organized

Financially self-reliant

Clean and tidy

a monthly temple attender

a student of the scriptures

a reader

a journaler

fashionable

Things I want to try and/or learn:

new recipes

making Baklava

knitting

making my own clothes (at least one item)

composting

painting my fingernails more

a new hairstyle

reupholstering a piece of furniture

making my own baby food

Zumba (believe it or not I have never tried it)

Adobe Photoshop

Capoeira

how to make picture frames and cut mats

This list is a living list, it will grow and change almost for sure, but for now I am excited to get started. To start becoming and start doing....

Charlotte Louise Jacobsen

jan 4 2011

8lbs 1 oz

7:21 am