Along the path...

Are you part of the problem or part of the solution? Anonymous

It is of course possible to dance a prayer. Glade Byron Addams

I found a questionnaire that scores emotional intelligence, something I've been pondering for the past week or so. I found it interesting and wanted to share. What happens if you get a negative score?!? Please rate each item as outlined below according to your life experience. Assign: a "1" score each time you answer "Rarely", a "0.5" score each time you answer "Sometimes", and a "0" score each time you answer "Often" to each item in the questionnaire. Then add up your total EMQ score. Questions: 1. I look to others to validate my decisions before I act on them. 2. I tend to follow rather lead others. 3. Taking responsibility frightens me and so I avoid it. 4. Being on my own makes me feel uncomfortable. 5. I rely on others to make me feel secure. 6. I tend to make snap decisions. 7. I rarely stop and think through what I'm going to do next. 8. I tend to make impulsive decisions. 9. I'm generally an anxious person....

Last night I babysat two nieces while their parents went to a meeting. Adam, Renee and the girls had gone swimming before I came and EL hadn't wanted to get fully dressed again. Clothing and clothing changes are definitely a thorn in her side. At least she is wearing pants in the pictures. (She'll LOVE these shots when she's older and her prom date is coming to pick her up...) The evening began with a make over for all three of us by stylist AJ. Next I painted the girls' toe and fingernails. AJ thought it was pretty cool when I let her paint my fingernails. (Who's the favorite aunt now, Erika?) Bath time came next followed by jammies, giggles and bedtime stories--but I only have pictures from the make over. Aren't we beautiful? AJ and EL, it was so fun hanging out with you. Love yer guts!

Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. Anonymous

Recipe for slow cooker oatmeal, care of Epicurean Aspirations . Oatmeal to go. A simple, healthy crockpot breakfast recipe. Just warm a serving in the microwave and you're good to go. Add to crockpot: 4 cups of water for every 1 cup of steel cut oats Set on low Cook for 3-4 hours. Dress it up as desired with a little milk, cream, dried fruit, fresh fruit, syrup, cinnamon and sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, almond extract, etc.

Kids: they dance before they learn there is anything that isn't music. William Stafford

I am a collector of many things: dust, craft supplies, and recipes to name a few. Recently I stumbled across a new recipe website while searching for a restaurant in Atlanta. What better way to bookmark it than in my blog? I love that you can select a recipe to make in the comfort of your own home based on a main meal ingredient you want to use, the type of dish, preparation method or course. And they are famous to boot! Hmmmm.... Maybe I'll try Dutch Kitchen's Mud Pie or Harry Caray's Chicken Visuvio or Broccoli Salad or Tomato Basil Soup or Blue Willow Inn's Gingerbread with Lemon Sauce or Collard Greens . What's for dinner?

For a while I have been following a blog called Photoshop Disasters . It posts some fairly hilarious and sometimes subtle errors people make when editing or cropping or compositioning their images. (Be aware that sometimes the images turn out a little questionnable.) Occasionally, the disasters are too delightful not to share. The post on 1/19 is such an image. Gotta run!

This week in honor of the Martin Luther King holiday and his "I have a dream" speech , I've been contemplating dreams and what my "dream" speech would be if I were to make one. I'm having trouble deciding on mine. What is your dream ? Your greatest hope ? What do you strive for? P.S. - Wouldn't you agree that years always sound better in scores?

Trip to Chicago for RSNA 2009

Tres Leches Cake (Rathbun's) Equipment: Mixer, 9”x 2 ½ “Single Piece Cake Pan - Yield 1 Cake Cake 2C. Sugar 5 Eggs (Separated) 1/3 C. Milk 1tsp. Vanilla Extract 1C. All Purpose Flour ½ T. Baking Powder ½ tsp. Cream of Tartar Milk Syrup 8oz. Evaporated Milk 14oz. Sweetened Condensed Milk 8oz. Heavy Cream 1tsp. Vanilla Extract 2T. Tequila Procedure: Tres Leches Cake: Preheat Oven 325*/Spray Mold and Paper Sides and Bottom Beat 1 ½ C. sugar and egg yolks until light and fluffy. Combine milk and vanilla extract; sift flour and baking powder together. Alternately fold the milk mixture and flour mixture into the egg yolks until smooth. Reserve. Beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar until soft peaks are achieved. Gradually add the remaining sugar and continue to beat until whites are glossy and firm but not dry. Gently fold the white into the yolk mixture. Pour this batter into the prepared pan and bake for 40-50 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out dry. Pierce cake with f...

The recent earthquake in Haiti and resulting catastrophe has weighed heavy on my heart and mind these past few days, making me wish I were trained in rescue efforts and could do something significant to help. I can't image the changes in the lives of those who were affected by the earthquake--the stress, the sorrow, the disorganization, the fear and limitations of services and protection that they are experiencing. Turning on a faucet for a drink of water, flushing a toilet, turning on a light, opening the fridge, using a telephone, going to a doctor or cooking on a stove have not seemed like such a luxury before. Aside from prayers, the only thing I can think of is some type of financial contribution. There are several places collecting donations for the relief effort. If you are looking for a reputable organization to donate through check here or here . Costco is also accepting donations on behalf of the Red Cross. May the Lord watch over those affected by this disaster and thos...

(Images taken on vacation in Colorado - October 2009)

On Monday night Renee and I hit our first Zumba class, followed closely on the heels of two tribal dance classes a couple of friends and I are taking on Tuesday nights from LaRa Zorn . In Zumba and the classes we worked on our abs. Needless to say there are ab muscles in there somewhere and I've definitely been feeling them since. More abs in tonight's practice? Bring it!

So I've posted several funny passages from a new blog I'm following called My Life Is Average or MLIA for short. It is full of random short stories from people's lives that are ironic, silly, amazing or anything BUT average. Sometimes they make me laugh so hard I cry--so far no hyperventilating. Here is a recent find: Today, I was driving down a road in the middle of nowhere when a car passed me. On the back windshield it said, "Leapfrog?". I passed them, and they passed me again. This continued for about ten minutes until I turned off. As I was turning, the two guys in the car cheered me on. Thanks guys, you just made my life. MLIA

Recently I read an article about weight loss and really liked the acronym for maintaining and improving health: balance. B is for BREATHING Enhance your oxygen delivery system. More oxygen means more physical energy, more mental energy, more emotional energy, and additional fat burning. A is for AWARENESS Listen to your body... it is your best coach. Ex: How do you know if you are drinking enough water or sleeping soundly? Listen to your body. L is for LIQUIDS Drink plenty of pure water each day (8-10 glasses). Water increases your metabolism and is an energizer. Divide your body weight by 2. That is the minimum number in ounces of pure water you should drink each day. A is for ANTIOXIDANTS Supplement your body's natural supply of vitamins and minerals. Joe Dillon suggests taking a high-quality multivitamin/mineral (3 times a day or as directed), extra C (ascorbic acid - 1000 mg 3 times a day with food) and Gamma E Tocopherol (1 time a day, 400 IUs in the...

You may remember the deep sorrow of an earlier post at the turn of the decade. That sorrow has turned to JOY with the mad know-how of a friend at work (thanks, Angela!) . The lost SD card images have been recovered. All safe; all sound. Sigh. In case you are ever caught in a similar bind and need to recover images or files, try this: http://www.snapfiles.com/d ownloads/dlrecuva.html It works super great and is free!

Dancing In The Snow Show Saturday, January 16 6 pm - 11 pm BellyDancing by Thia presents Dancing in the Snow . IT'S FROSTACULAR! This event is at the Organ Loft, 3331 Edison Street (145 East) Salt Lake City Utah. Doors open 6:00 pm, buffet starts at 6:30. It's the first event of the year so lace up your snow boots and don your wollies and join us for fun and frolics. Tickets are $16 and includes crispy snix/snacks, yummy croissant sandwiches, decadent desserts, unlimited soft drinks, (bring your own wine, beer or spirits) tax, gratuity and a Frostacular Show! Tickets may be purchased at the Belly Dancer Boutique, 3345 South 300 West A4 Salt Lake City, Utah 801-466-4337 Monday - Friday 4:00pm-9:30pm, Saturday 9:00am-4:00pm or by contacting Thia at 801-466-4337

A friend called recently to let me know that someone she cared about deeply had passed on. It was something that their family had been waiting for this week--that release from this mortal coil. And it was a blessing. It left me thinking (dangerous, I know), do the people I love and care about know how much they mean to me? Hopefully you do already know, but I plan to multiply my efforts to be more thoughtful and show that I care. Maybe I'll start with extra doggie treats for Cambridge right now. Thanks for stopping by my humble blog. Love you!

So a friend blogged about a giveaway. Naturally I had to check it out and now I'm craving Spring . C Jane is giving away an annual Thanksgiving Pointe family pass this year. I want it. Bad. Here is my post and a link to her blog - here's hoping it's my key to the goods. (If you enter and win, well, at least I've touched greatness...)

I have hitched ropes from steeple to steeple, garlands from window to window, golden chains from star to star, and I dance. Rimbaud

This one brought tears to my eyes. Love it! Recently, my little sister, who is a huge Harry Potter fan, turned 11. Out of boredom, I decided to make her a Hogwarts acceptance letter. I made sure to use official looking paper, and I quoted the letter and the supply list directly from the book. As a final touch, I collected a few feathers and laid them, along with the letter, beside her open window. When she found it, she was screaming the rest of the day. I told my Mom, and she told me to fix it. Today, I left her another letter, telling her that there had been a mistake and that officials would arrive soon to erase her memory. She is now hiding under her bed screaming that she won't let them get her whenever anyone knocks on the door. MLIA

2010! Happy New Year - may this year be full of happiness, world peace, joy, success and all things bright and beautiful. P.S. - Anyone else feeling a little binary today? 01/01/10