I'm cheating on you

Dear Blogger
I've loved blogging on you. It has been a form of self expression and discovery. A place to vent my frustrations, or share my joys. To laugh with others and at myself. To meet new friends and deepen relationships with others. I've kept in touch with loved ones far away, and connected people I never knew were so close by.

But, blogger, I'm cheating on you. There's someone - somewhere - else. And it's name is facebook.

I know. Many of you are cringing right now. You hard core tried and true bloggers, you. But just as many of you are nodding and agreeing with me, so I DON'T CARE. I'm saying it right here, right now: I'm in love with somewhere else. I've been spending my online time at www.facebook.com. OK?

There, I said it. That's where I've been. It's not you, it's me.

No, that's not true. It is you. You're too needy. You take up waaaay too much of my time. The photo uploading, the formatting, the links and the html; it's all too much. You're complicated, and I need to be free right now. I need easy, simple.

And that's not all. You make me feel guilty when I don't read and comment on all our commenters. I feel inadequate when nobody leave us any comments. I can't keep up with your needs any more. Your demands.

I hope we can still be friends, though.

Gypsy Thumbs Up

Flowy skirt - check. Armful of bangles, check. Rings for each finger, check. Head scarf, check. And, most importantly, my artistic mojo, CHECK!

I'm hitting the road to be a part of the 7gypsies Gypsy Caravan in Manhattan Beach this weekend.


I'm so excited. I get to be one of 4 Gypsy Girls at this fun event sponsored by one of my favorite product lines, for retailers who sell the line. I get to assist some fabulous and talented paper artists as they teach their projects, then I get to take home all the loot to make my own!







This is so right up my alley. Thanks, Sheri, for getting my foot in the door. And thanks, honey, for taking the day off work so I can feed my habit and fantasize, just for one day, that I'm a gypsy and I travel the country spreading love and art.

Wha'happened?

I know, I completely dropped my blog cold. Stone cold. It wasn't intentional. I didn't plan it. It was a combination of things. I started feeling like I was spending a lot of time on the computer - to my family's detriment - and I realized the blog was the main culprit. So, I made it a test. A "what would happen if...?" test. What would happened if I stopped the blogging? Would I miss it? Would I be missed? Would the world come to an end? And, most importantly, would my family notice and benefit?


Well, it's been a little over a month and I have learned the following:

Stopping blogging was a humongous relief. At first. Then it was a pull at my heartstrings for all those whose blogs I had grown to love. I wouldn't say I missed blogging, per se. The people, yes; the act of blogging, no. It was more like a guilt for feeling like a quitter. But was my life adversely affected? No. In fact, quite the contrary. I have been getting MORE family time, more done at home, and less sibling rivalry and boyful destruction. (As I type, the boys are back to their "mommy's on the computer" antics of throwing items and causing a ruckus)

But my phone calls are mostly returned, my countertops are generally cleaner. My bed is made. My laundry is...well, my laundry is perpetually either not put away or not washed. That battle we'll never win. Of course, give a girl some extra time and the universe will find a way to fill it. Long story very short: I've been researching the pros and cons of the drug Ritalin and how it may help or hurt my child. There, I said it.

I was extremely touched that Rhea reached out to me on more than one occasion to make sure I was OK. And several moms at school who regularly read me have said "what's up with your blog?" That was nice to know. That I wasn't just writing in a vacuum. And YES, all is well. I'm just playing with balance. I had to go waaaay the the other way for a litte while to get the perspective. Now, I'll work on finding the happy medium.


Thanks for reading.

Feeding the Creative Bug

My creative (p)ART(ner), Colleen, and I got together last week to fuel our creative souls. They were very very hungry after a long dry spell.

We started with a bunch of blank canvases. (so cute)



Made a very big mess on my dining room table.


Out of the chaos comes creativity. It's part of the process!

And, voila! Satisfaction for the sides of ourselves that needed a little mommy time-out to fly,

fantasize,

reminisce,

and appreciate.

the BCGs

This post is dedicated to my awesome climbing partners, Janine and Sheri.

We have such a great group of women at our climbing gym right now. And I dig 'em all. But this trio - this trifecta* - has kind of become a core unit. Perhaps it's because we've been doing this ridiculous (in a good way) Jillian Michaels 30-day program together (thanks, Sheri, my pants fit a lot better lately!)

...but my abs still don't look like this

Or because we are the three climb-addicted enough to participate in the summer climbing competition series.

The SF one was my favorite because of the DJ....

*and because we found out we placed first (Sheri), second (J9) and third (me) overall!!! Hence, the trifecta. Here's Janine, chalking up for a power move...

Among us she's the reigning queen of the overhanging sections.

Nice!

This is Sheri gearing up for one of her signature static/power/controlled maneuvers.

She's also great at reading her routes and taking her time.

I'm pretty good at the balancey stuff.

Now, if I was just a few inches taller....!hello, do you see a handhold anywhere in sight?

But however well (or not) we do, we motivate and encourage each other. We learn from and support one another. We get each others' a**es to the gym on the days we'd be otherwise tempted to skip it.


Janine calls us her BCGs: Best Climbing Girls. That works for me.

Where Am I?

I was transported in space and time yesterday to a strange land far far away.

I felt like I was on the set of Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Or as if I'd taken a step through the looking glass.

But, (sadly...) no. It was just the first annual "Handcar Regatta" in Santa Rosa, CA.

Entrants were required to manufacture a human-powered rail-ready car, and participate in time trials to determine the winner.


I've never been to Burning Man but have had enough friends who've gone and seen enough pictures to know that this was a close micro-version of it.

It was a feast for the eyes.

And food for the soul.

And it's always fun to be transported back in time.

Dip it Good

I had some GFs over the other night and served this dip with an orzo salad. They were yummy together, and everyone asked for this recipe so here it is. It's from the March issue of Cooking Light. Enjoy!

Artichoke, Leek, and Goat Cheese Dip with Garlic Pita Chips

A small amount of raw leek rounds out the dip's flavor, imparting a mild onion taste without the bite.

Dip: 1/2 cup plain fat-free yogurt

3 ounces goat cheese, softened

1/4 cup sliced leek (note: I always soak my leeks - and onions - in icy water for about 15 minutes; it helps reduce the bite-y after taste. pat 'em dry before incorporating them!)

2 (6.5-ounce) jars artichoke hearts, rinsed and drained

1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated fresh pecorino Romano cheese

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Dash of kosher salt

Chips: 6 (6-inch) whole wheat pitas

Cooking spray

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1. To prepare dip, combine yogurt and goat cheese in a food processor; process until smooth. Add leek and artichoke; process until finely chopped, scraping sides. Add pecorino Romano, juice, pepper, and dash of salt; pulse until blended. Cover and chill 2 hours.

2. Preheat oven to 350°.
3. To prepare chips, cut each pita into 8 wedges. Arrange pita wedges in a single layer on a baking sheet; lightly coat with cooking spray. Sprinkle evenly with 1/2 teaspoon salt and garlic powder. Bake at 350° for 14 minutes or until toasted. Cool completely. Serve with dip.

Yield: 12 servings (serving size: 4 chips and about 2 1/2 tablespoons dip)CALORIES 118 (29% from fat); FAT 3.8g (sat 2.3g,mono 0.9g,poly 0.3g); IRON 0.8mg; CHOLESTEROL 10mg; CALCIUM 83mg; CARBOHYDRATE 16.1g; SODIUM 420mg; PROTEIN 6.2g; FIBER 2.4g Cooking Light, MARCH 2008