Dogster.com or Dogs in the 21st century

28 02 2008

It used to be us canines would live out in the backyard sad and forgotten or out in the farmyard or just hanging out waiting for a pat on the head or scrap of food.  I am happy to be a dog in the 21st century with my own website.  Yes, you heard it…my own website.  Dogster.com is for us technically savvy pooches and we keep in touch with friends, have a blog, and just cruise around and look at the other cute pooches.  If you are a dog or love dogs, check it out.

the site for dog lovers

and of course if you must…

www.catster.combug in rug


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , ,
Categories : Chihuahua

Cookies!

18 02 2008

I love cookies…I admit that. If you know me, you know that though I am a dance and fitness mommy for several wonderful folks, I love cookies. Now let me clarify…I do not love just any cookies. Like most in my generation, I love homemade cookies or fresh cookies. Why? (when Oreos are so good?) It’s like cookies this…they evoke thoughts of times when neighbors sent cookies to welcome you into the neighborhood. Times when money was scarce (non-existent) but there was sugar flour, eggs love and time so the gift was something from the kitchen that said “you are special”…”you rock”…”I love you” ….”I want to get to know you” (enough to mess up my kitchen, watch the oven, and give you cookies I want to eat myself)

Weirdly, this blog entry is not about that…it is about cookies someone has given to me! Not me personally….friend mommy crazy redhead…but me the BUSINESSWOMAN…wow!!! These cookies were thank you cookies from an organization/individual and from a customer who I went a wee bit out of my way to assist…(and both in one week!)

In both cases I did a little driving out of my way at a very busy time to drop off a forgotten costume piece for a child and then in the other case, picked up a costume a bit early that was needed for a Christmas Parade. Neither was a huge inconvenience but the payoff was Yummy….for the child I was repaid with scrumptious chocolate chip muffin style cookies with a reeses mini peanut butter cup in the middle…slurp!!! In the other case, the dropped off goody was soft melt in your mouth sugar cookies from a local bakery….gone in a flash!

Now this may sound like a description of how much I like cookies but it is not…It is a reminder that we often will not give the gift of time or just plain cannot give that gift…but when we do, the payoff is GREAT….it is cookies…in the form of a kind word, an appreciative smile, and a new friend or if you are very lucky….you’ll get COOKIES!!!!


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , ,
Categories : Life lessons, Women in Business

Pattern for Harem pants

13 02 2008

Enjoy this pattern that I have found is the easiest one to start with for harem pants that can go under costumes, as character pants for ren faires, and great for class wear in Belly Dance.  Click on the picture to print and expand to view…just two pieces sewn together and you can make to fit you exactly…the best thing is, you do not have to be an amazing seamstress…this is super simple.

Harem Pant Picture

Costume Tip from the Sheikhani Dance Troupe of Colorado Springs (thanks)

Easy Harem Pants

Materials:

  • Measure the length from your hip to the floor and add 3 inches. Multiply this number by 2 (to have enough fabric for both legs!). Then divide by 36 to find the number of yards of fabric to purchase. A 45 inch wide fabric will make “normal” harem pants; wider fabric will make the pants correspondingly fuller.
  • Purchase 1 inch wide elastic for the hip casing, and 1/2 inch wide elastic for the ankle casings.

Cutting Directions:

  • Cut the fabric length in half. Lay the two pieces of fabric on top of each other, right sides up; if the fabric has nap or a one way design, be sure that the direction is maintained (i.e., don’t put the “bottom” edge of one piece on the “top” edge of the other piece). Now fold the 2 layers of fabric in half lengthwise. You now have 4 layers of fabric, with 4 selvage edges together (see drawing).
  • Starting about 8 inches in from the selvage edges, cut a crotch about 10 inches deep (see drawing).

Sewing:

  • Fold each leg in half, right sides together. Sew the inside seams of each leg piece.
  • Put the two leg pieces together, with the right sides of the fabric together. Sew the crotch seam.
  • Turn under a 1.25 inch casing on the hip edge, and a 3/4 inch casing on each ankle edge; stitch.
  • Insert elastic and stitch the elastic ends. Finish off the casings. You’re done!

Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: , ,
Categories : Belly Dance

Moussaka good for Middle Eastern Dinner or Greek night!

11 02 2008

moussaka1.jpgMoussaka
   
   2 large eggplants, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch slices
   1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
   2 pounds ground beef or lamb
   1 large onion, finely chopped
   2 garlic cloves, minced
   2/3 cup dry red wine
   1 8-oz. can tomato sauce
   1/4 cup fresh parsley, minced
   1/2 tsp. dried oregano
   1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
   Salt and pepper to taste
   1 egg, beaten
   1/3 cup butter
   1/3 cup flour
   2 cups milk
   2 eggs, beaten
   2/3 cup fresh Parmesan cheese, grated
   
   Brush eggplant slices with olive oil and brown on both sides in a large skillet. Place browned eggplant slices on paper towels to drain. Brown ground beef or lamb in the same skillet and add onion and garlic. Add red wine, tomato sauce, parsley, oregano, cinnamon and salt and pepper and allow to simmer for over low-heat 15 minutes. Add 1 beaten egg to mixture and mix well. In a separate pan, melt butter and add flour and milk and stir until mixture starts to thicken. Add remaining 2 beaten eggs to mixture. In a 13 x 9 inch baking dish, place half the eggplant slices along the bottom. Pour meat mixture over eggplant. Place the other half of the eggplant slices over meat mixture and top with butter, flour and egg mixture. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and more ground cinnamon if desired. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Allow to cool slightly before slicing and serving.
   
   The Skinny: Use lean beef or lamb, your favorite egg substitute and low fat milk.
   


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , ,
Categories : Fun Stuff, Recipes

Great and Easy Almond Graham cookie bars

11 02 2008

Graham Cracker Cookies

1 box honey grahams
2 ¾ oz sliced almonds
1 stick margarine
1 stick butter
½ c sugar
1t vanilla 
Break grahams on perforation.  Place grahams sides touching on 15×10 cookie sheet.  Sprinkle almonds on grahams, spread around evenly. Boil margarine, butter, sugar and vanilla for 2 minutes.  Gently spoon mixture on grahams and nuts. Bake at 350 deg for approx 10 minutes. While baking, ready a sheet of foil or wax paper on which to cool bars.  Remove immediately when out of oven. Notes:  I use non-stick spray on the wax paper.  Also, using 1 of each butter and margarine helps because using only butter the cookies have a tendency to burn quickly.  I use one batch of butter/margarine mix per cookie sheet.

Shared by a student last Christmas…they ship well and I did not mess them up!


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , ,
Categories : Fun Stuff, Recipes

Uniquely Chi

11 02 2008

So you think you might want to own a Chihuahua?  When I saw the movie Legally Blonde, I fell in love with that cute dog with big ears.  I had never owned a full blooded dog myself.  As a bleeding heart liberal type personage, my push-over heart had normally been won over by the stray dog that appeared out of nowhere and stayed and stayed and stayed and then voila, we had a dog, always a cute little mutt…

Since my life was hectic as a single mom, a dog was out of the question these last few years, but there was always the little furry voice in the back of my head saying, don’t you want someone at home who loves you unconditionally, is warm and furry, and will keep you company on cold and hot nights?  OK, I am a pet person…I love hamsters, kitties, snakes, fish, turtles, raccoons, bunnies…but I was working day and night and night and day and a pet to care for was out of the question.  I could barely care for my children and myself.  With marriage came options to have more of everything so I looked for a little Chihuahua to adopt.  I found one after much searching and calling around that needed a home.  Once adopted, the uniqueness of the breed began to unfold…sitting elvis

Now there are things you should know about these critters that are unique to them.  They do not love everyone…they love their owner and tolerate a few more folks. Though I am sure there are exceptions to the rule, this is true is most cases.  They are burrowers…when I cover my guy with blankets (his name is Elvis, by the way) onlookers freak out but Chihuahua’s are moles in doggie disguise.  They look to get under blankets and snuggle against you.  This is very endearing, but be careful not to sit on that wrinkled blanket lying on the couch because you may squish your pet.  They make small poops…woohoo…this is a good thing for someone like myself who is squeamish about picking up bodily excretions.  They are not child lovers…I am sure that they can be trained or raised to be more tolerant but they do not have much patience with large faces in their face or being lugged about by one arm. 

I love my Chi, but have already learned much about how unique he is.  His name is Elvis and he is in the building. (to stay)


Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: , ,
Categories : Chihuahua

Finding a teacher

11 02 2008

In the course of my 32 years as an instructor of dance, students come and go…some stay a month, a year and some for a decade or more becoming more like family.  I hear stories from students that “overstay” with a teacher because of fear to move on, or fear of hurting feelings, or even veiled threats of being ostracized  by the other dance sisters.  The important thing in life and in art is to grow and be nurtured.  Once this is not happening then move on and be generous with praise and love for where you have been.

To find an instructor, you have the normal means…friends, phone book, or the Internet.  Once you have identified a few that are conveniently located for you then call or email and ask if you may visit a class.  Do not watch, but participate so that you may grasp the “feel” of the class, studio, and instructor. (sometimes there is a fee but better this than registration for the unknown)  If the instructor/studio will not let you participate or watch, be wary…why?  I personally will not allow watching but it is for the comfort of the paying students…I love to have interested dancers take my class to get the feel of my particular (or is that peculiar) personality and technique that is uniquely mine.

One more thing to research besides the obvious do you like this instructor, can they relate to you, can I afford the fee,  the physical studio, space to dance, etc. is “do they want you to perform?”…and “do I want to perform” or even “are there opportunities to perform if I want to?”  I often hear of “pay to play” types of studios meaning the dancer pays to perform even a booking where the instructor is being paid.  Set your comfort level with performing, do I want to, am I ready, do I have talent to offer that would be appreciated.  There are so many facets to this topic but set your expectations up front so that down the road, when you are ready to perform, you know what is available through your studio and troupe.


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : Belly Dance

Baby Day or Diety in her own mind

1 02 2008

The call comes from my son that they are in Labor last evening and so I will be a grandmother for the second time in just a few months and I am wonderfully excited but sad that life takes our children to places too far away to do the duty of doting grandmother, a role I have wanted to play for some time. My daughter, who has made me an official Grandmother by having the beautiful Brooke just two months ago, and I reminisce about the old days of having babies. (at this point I rant…no more Ms. Nice Grandmama so leave now if you must)

1 month and I stick my tongue outI must rant here in my blog about the many doctors, in their arrogance who think they know more about your body than you do. I have 4 children but literally have delivered 8 times…more experience than necessary but I do know a bit about what it is like and what I am like during this physical extreme. On my last child, I had an anesthesiologist that was “on call” at the hospital I delivered. I requested half the normal medication that she would give as I had done this only 14 months before with the delivery of my beautiful boy child and learned a bit from a professional anesthesiologist who took the time to tell me what to expect and ask how I responded to meds….and so I requested the same very low dose and she and I went to “words” over what would work for me. Of course, since she was a deity in her own mind, she gave me the higher dose, which did exactly what I told her it would…stopped my contractions…then of course, another drug to start them again and more money added to the hospital bill….is this a ploy by the hospital? Is she just an ignorant insensitive money hungry medical doctor? Who knows? But I say to you, if you read this…stand up for your rights…the hospital, doctor, unseen labs will bill you….you are the consumer, you have rights…you have a voice (and the purse strings)….do not put your life and pain in another’s hands completely, especially a stranger because they do not care. What should have been a wonderful memory now is tainted by a complete stranger who dismissed me with the padding of her bank account…


Comments : Leave a Comment »

Categories : Family