Christmas Vacation

This weekend and next few days have been committed to getting ready for our big Christmas trip.We have been packing, wrapping presents, and getting the house vacation ready. J and I live in one state, but our families live in two other states. We alternate spending Thanksgiving and Christmas with both sets of families. I would like to add that both of our kitties will be making the trip with us again this year. That is always interesting=)

This Christmas we are heading to J's hometown. I will be getting my first pair of snow boots. Although, I have had a white Christmas before in my home state, I've never been in colder weather for this length of time before. 

We are looking forward to spending time with family, enjoying some down time, and Christmas in general!

The epitamy of great Latin dancing...

I'm posting this purely so I can have it to watch over and over again.

Here is Ricarrdo Cocchi & Yulia Zagoruychenko dancing at the 2008 The World Super Stars Dance Festival in Japan:

We Danced Last Night!

Last night, our dance studio had their annual Winter showcase! Below is a picture of me and my parents after I danced my Samba. Since I am a perfectionist, and believe I have a ways to go, I'll save my video for mine and my teacher's eyes only=) I did overcome the fear of dancing a showcase routine. Everyone was surprised when I told them I was nervous since I dance in competitions. For me it was a different type of experience and I'm so glad that I did it. I hope to dance in many more! Last night was the first time I was able to overcome a lot of my nerves and focus on the performance. I still have a ways to go on that..for sure...but last night was a good start.

Here is my video of my hubby and his dance partner dancing their Foxtrot. It's lovely!

Thanksgiving 2009

This year, J and I spent Thanksgiving with my family in my hometown. We had a great time visiting with parents, grandparents, siblings, sister-in-law, aunts, uncles, and cousins.



We got in late Wednesday night. Thanksgiving day, we helped my parents get the lunch ready. J and I were able to help them with a few of the dishes they were making. I also made pumpkin bars for dessert. The recipe for the bars is from the Food Network. I cant take credit for them.

Pumpkin Bars

Recipe courtesy Patty Ronning as adapted by Paula Deen on www.foodnetwork.com

Prep Time: 15 minCook Time: 30 min

Level: Easy

Serves: 48 small bars or 24 larger bars

Ingredients

Bars:

* 4 eggs

* 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar

* 1 cup vegetable oil

* 15-ounce can pumpkin

* 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour

* 2 teaspoons baking powder

* 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

* 1 teaspoon salt

* 1 teaspoon baking soda

Icing:

* 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened

* 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

* 2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Using an electric mixer at medium speed, combine the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin until light and fluffy. Stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and mix at low speed until thoroughly combined and the batter is smooth. Spread the batter into a greased 13 by 10-inch baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting. Cut into bars.

To make the icing: Combine the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the sugar and mix at low speed until combined. Stir in the vanilla and mix again. Spread on cooled pumpkin bars.

J's November Performance!

My hubby, J, performed with his partner at our dance studio's recent anniversary show. The did a beautiful waltz! Enjoy!

Halloween Decor and Visit to the ER

Halloween isn't my favorite holiday. However, J's excitement for getting the house ready for any holiday really rubs off on me. We DO enjoy handing out candy to trick and treaters. It's one of our favorite things we get to do every year. We play music, enjoy food and drink, and greet the kids when they arrive. It's a tradition we REALLY enjoy!=)

Saturday, we decided to carve pumpkins. I had a fundraiser that morning and a football game watch party that afternoon, so we planned to do it that evening. Here are some clips from the day!

Before you get to one picture in particular, I'd like to note the following: 1. Yes, I know how to properly cut a vegetable. 2. It was an accident. I don't even remember moving my hand from it's proper location on the vegetable to where it would have been in danger. I think I was talking to J.

Now, you may proceed=)

**********
That morning, we noticed we had the PERFECT Halloween photo op! One of our little black kitties curled up right behind the pumpkins we had set out for the evening.



Later that evening, J started out little "carving party." He has such a cute smile!=) I love how crazy his hair got!



This is where I had my accident. Before you judge, please re-read the disclaimer above. This picture was taken after we got back from the ER and had my hand stitched up. Not fun.



This is the final product of our decorated front porch. We are just now acquiring fall decorations, and our collection will grow throughout the years. Right now we have our front door decoration and the little pumpkin we placed on our mantel (bottom picture). Next year, we hope to add a few more pieces.

Pure Greatness...

I've dancing in a showcase in December. I have danced in competitions, but I have never danced in a showcase. I'm working through being nervous and trying to put that in the past. Praying and getting in my head and working through the thought processes that occur when I'm nervous have been helping. I'm very sure that God is responsible for that too! I can't do that on my own!

Watching my favorite dancers helps me get more excited than nervous. SO...here are the videos from the amazing latin stars Riccardo Cocchi and Yulia Zagorouitchenko at the 2009 World Super Stars Dance Festival. Bless you lovely people for giving your gift of dance to the world. You are amazing.

Cha Cha


Rumba


Samba


Paso Doble


Jive