Happy Halloween and What I Know For Sure

Happy Halloween.  Today is going to be filled with three classroom parties, one parade, approximately 342 pieces of candy, possibly a few tears and a few laughs.  Even though there is lots of hoopla today, this Halloween season has seemed a little bit more mellow than other years.  Maybe it's because we've been busy with a million other things and life has been sort of stressful the past couple weeks.  Maybe it's because the older kids are getting older and less into the idea of dressing up and trick-or-treating.  I don't dig stress and kids growing out of cute stages, but I totally dig a little more mellowness.

But I am still getting into the season a little bit.  We carved pumpkins last week and Wade was so excited.  Peyton, my tween who is officially going to be a teenager this Sunday (What?!?!?), wasn't as excited.  He chose watching college football over carving.  So, the other day while the older kids were at school and Wade was doing a craft, I carved Peyton's neglected pumpkin.  I took my time, designed a goofy grin and gave the pumpkin ears and eyebrows.  I should have been cleaning the kitchen, doing laundry, replying to emails, organizing and managing the lives of my family.  But nope, I was carving a badass pumpkin.  

What I know for sure this week is that taking holidays down a notch isn't such a bad thing and neither is carving a pumpkin at my own pace just for the fun of it.  

Hope you all have a delightful, somewhat mellow Halloween filled with lots of candy and a few laughs.

Here's what else I know for sure:

• Pumpkins make great canvases. Wade and I had so much fun painting pumpkins the other day. And then we threw glitter all over them.  So.much.fun.

• On of my new favorite shows is Marry Me.  I accidentally watched it one night and it is fu-uuuuunny. Love it.

• I miss falling asleep to the Roosevelt's every night.  I finally finished the Ken Burns PBS documentary and I miss it.  That family is fascinating. 

• Sending a card in the mail is a lost art.  I am lucky to have a friend who still sends them just when I need them.  She writes notes and sends quotes that I love.  

• Football season is over for my boys and I sort of miss that too.  I love having more time, but I miss cheering them on and watching them play.

• I am going to buy Amy Poehler's new book Yes Please this weekend because I love her.  Click here to listen to a wonderful interview with her about her new book and click here for an fun review of the book.

What do YOU know for sure this week, right now?  Share what you know here or over on my Facebook page.

Come play with me on Instagram. Click here.

Dance Fever, A Cautionary Tale (31 Days of Dance)

I'm almost done with my 31 Days of Dance challenge and my kitchen dancing videos haven't exactly gone viral.  I may not be a YouTube celebrity just yet, but I realize fame takes time.  And maybe it's not about being famous at all...maybe it's about being in love with dancing and life. It is actually a lesson I learned early on in life from Nan. 

Nan was one of my dance teachers in the early 1980s.  She was young, tall and skinny.  Her hair was yellow blond, like straw, awesome looking straw.  She was the epitome of coolness in my 8-year-old mind.  Her walk, her leg warmers, her attitude.  Her sweatshirts were over the shoulder and ripped just like the ones in Flashdance and this was before Flashdance had even come out!  Nan was the shit.  

We all knew that she was made for more than teaching little kids a few dance moves in tiny dance studio in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  When she told me and the other girls that she was heading to California to try and make it as a dancer, we all nodded in "of course you are, it's where you belong because you are so damn cool" solidarity.

After she left town, I used to daydream about the gigs Nan was getting.  I just knew that one day I would turn on Solid Gold and she would be dancing behind Marilyn McCoo and I could not wait.  

I wasn't just any old student in the studio to Nan.  She and I had danced a duet in the recital the year before.  None of the other girls had done that.  I got the pleasure of rehearsing one-on-one with her and learning from her.  In the dance number I played the role of Nan's inner child and it involved an impressive lift like the one in the movie Dirty Dancing (and this was waaay before Dirty Dancing had even come out).  We practiced and practiced.  I would go to the studio after school and work on learning to trust that she wouldn't drop me and making sure my legs were straight.  I'll never forget the first day I nailed the lift and of course the performance on stage...I felt like I was flying.  There I was dancing with the coolest chick in town to the Eagles' song "Witchy Woman" and she was lifting me in the air and spinning me to this lyric "ooooh, witchy woman,  see how high she can flyyyyyy."  We were the shit.  I felt a little bit famous.


(Sadly there is no video of my dance with Nan, but here is a performance of the classic hit Witchy Woman by the Eagles.)

When we got the news that Nan was going to compete on my second favorite dance show ever (second only to Solid Gold), Dance Fever, I was beyond excited.  I was so proud of my duet partner.  She was on TV, she was really, truly going to be famous!


(This isn't Nan's Dance Fever clip, but I did watch a lot of old episodes last night looking for hers.)

My family popped popcorn and watched Nan's episode together.  She danced to one of my favorite songs "Electricity" from one of my favorite albums ever made Midnight Star's No Parking On the Dance Floor.  Nan and her dancing partner were electric indeed that night, but sadly they didn't win the $50,000.  They were beat by some high stepping, folksy couple from Dallas if I remember correctly.


(One of the best songs from my childhood. Dance to this now!)


A few months later Nan showed up back at our tiny little dance studio in Kalamazoo.  She looked thinner and angrier than before she had left for California.  She didn't tell us stories of palm trees and opportunities.  She didn't show us pictures of her with celebrities or hanging out in Beverly Hills.  Instead she stood in a corner and smoked, every now and then she'd remind us to point our toes.

I left that dance studio after my mom got in a fight with the owner just like on Dance Moms (and this was waaaaay before that show came out).  I'm not sure whatever happened to Nan.  But I learned a few things from her.  I learned to never expect fame to come easy. I watched Nan and even in my young mind I understood that you could be the coolest chick in town and not go home with the cash prize on a dance competition shows judged by celebrities like Dick Van Patten. I learned that Dick Van Patten made a better TV dad (on Eight is Enough) than a dance judge.  I learned that bitterness and disappointment don't look so cool.  I learned that sometimes you dance just because you love it.  It's not about cash prizes, validation or videos going viral. You practice the lift, you compete on the shows, you go for your dreams, you post your videos on YouTube for the joy and the fun of it all. 


If you do want to catch some of my kitchen dancing, just for fun...click here.

Here are a few dances from the past few weeks of 31 Days of Dance that I've been doing this month all montaged up:


A little #TBT & #31DaysofDancing on Instagram:

#TBT #31daysofdance edition--I used to dance to Tina Turner's song "Better Be Good To Me" before going out or after a break up in my early 20s. It was my theme song for dating and life.

A video posted by Angela Youngblood (@jumpingwithmyfingerscrossed) on Oct 10, 2014 at 5:34am PDT

DIY Artemis Costume (A Halloween Pinterest Poser Challenge)

In a world full of inappropriate Halloween costumes for girls and women, I was particularly pleased when Lucy informed me she wanted to be Artemis, the Goddess associated with protecting chastity and purity.  I mean right?  

Last year I encouraged Lucy to pay homage to strong, interesting women from the past like my favorite Frida Kahlo or Amelia Earhart.  She wasn't feeling it and decided to be a pirate.  This year, I didn't encourage or suggest anything, Lucy came to me on her own and asked if she could be a goddess.  She has been obsessed with mythology since reading all the Percy Jackson books this past summer.  

I asked her why she liked Artemis and she said because "she is sort of really strong on her own and doesn't need men and she protects children and hunts animals and kills anyone that sees her naked."  Wow.  That led to a conversation about what feminism is and how women don't have to dislike men to be pro-woman and pro-equal rights and equal pay.  It.Was.Fascinating.  We talked about beauty and self-respect and modesty.  

It was one of those conversations if you planned it, it wouldn't have worked out, it would have been weird and uncomfortable.  This was one of those spontaneous you better put down the iPhone and pay attention because there's a real connection happening kinds of conversations.  

I was feeling very proud and possibly a bit cocky, like I was a pretty great mom until I saw her face when I told her I was going to "make her the best Artemis costume ever."  All the excitement and energy she had turned into frustration and disappointment.  "You? You are going to make it?," she asked.  "Can't we buy one? Please?"

"Ye of little faith, I will show you," I said matter-of-factly in a bad Scottish/Irish accent for no reason other than I love accents.  "You are going to be one fierce Artemis, I promise."  I promised matter-of-factly in a bad accent without a plan or any extra costume making/buying money.  

So, today's Pinterest Poser Challenge* is an inexpensive DIY Fierce Artemis Costume.  After scouring Pinterest and YouTube, I put a costume together and I'm actually super excited about how it turned out.  And I'm even more excited because Lucy loves it.  

*In an attempt at not being a Pinterest Poser,** every week I detail a new project/idea/recipe inspired by Pinterest.
**My definition of a Pinterest Poser is someone who is all pins and no substance.

Supplies needed for this costume:
Fake leaves- $1.79 from Michael's
Gold spray paint- $3 from Michael's
Thick-ish gold wire- $2 from Michael's
Very thin, fishing wire thin, gold wire- $1.50 from Michael's
Gold Ribbon- $1 from Michael's
White sheet
Bow
Safety Pins

Step one- The Crown
1. I used my trusty snowman scissors to cut the leaves off the branch. 

2. Lucy and I spray painted both sides of the leaves.

3. While the leaves are drying, measure the thick-ish wire around the chosen goddess' head and use wire cutters to make it the right size.  Wrap the thin wire around the open ends to hold it together.

4. Then thread the thin wire through two sides of the leaves and wrap them around the crown.  Secure the thin wire by wrapping the edges around the back of the crown.  Use as many leaves or as little as you like. 

Step Two-- The Sheet/Dress
1. Wrap around the body and safety pin it together.  Use the extra and twist into a rope and drape over the shoulder and pin to the back.  

2.  Honestly, do whatever you can and pin wherever you can to make it look like a dress.  I watched tutorials and ended up doing my own thing.  And each time I did it on Lucy, I did it differently.  Just make sure the pins are secure, everything is covered and the sheet isn't too long and your goddess won't trip while trick-or-treating.

Step Three- The Belt
1. Tie gold ribbon around the waist. Done.

Step Four- The Armband
1. wrap the extra thick-ish gold band around her arm several times.  Then use the wire cutters to bend the ends so they won't scrap or scratch or pinch your goddess.

Step Five- Admire Your Work
1. Stand your goddess in front of a mirror and tell her "I told you I'd make you a fierce Artemis."  Yeah, go ahead and gloat for a minute.  And then just be so happy that she's happy.

 We accessorized with plastic weaponry we happened to have around our house-- a bow, a dagger.  

What are your kids dressing up as this Halloween?  Did you make their costumes? 

Have you made anything inspired by Pinterest lately?  Let me know in the comments or over on my Facebook page. 

Come follow me on Pinterest (click here).

Here are some of the Pinterest projects I've done/made/attempted.

Taking Pictures of Your Kids- click here

Gluten Free Pretzels- click here

Cinnamon Sugar Doughballs- click here

Painted Lockers- click here

Melted Beads- DIY Suncatcher- click here

Tissue Paper Pom Pom Garland-- click here

A Delightfully Simple Birthday Party--click here
Make An Awesome Omelet--click here
Outdoor Lights Inspired by the show Parenthood- click here
Herb Garden with Chalkboard Pots- click here
Backyard Graffiti Art with kids- click here

Happiness Notecards- click here

Gluten Free Rainbow Cake- click here

Fruit Roll-Up Fortune Cookies- click here

Make Your Own Magnets- click here

DIY Painted Clay Necklace- click here

Dixie Cup Lights- click here

DIY Ornaments-click here

Gluten Free Clay- click here

Make Your Own Stamps- click here
Birthday Shirt- click here

Gluten Free Pop Tarts- click here
Front Porch Kid Art Display- click here
Door turned into Table- click here

Summer Wish List Chalkboard-click here

Peanut Butter Nutella Cookie Sandwiches-click here

Painted Mason Jar Vases-click here

Cinco de Mayo Paper Flowers- click here

Earth Day Cupcakes- Click here
Nail Art-click here

Homemade Photo Booth Fun- click here

Fake Bangs- click here

DIY Subway Art- click here

Furniture Painting and Bench/Chest Makeover- click here

Thanksgiving-y Project/Gratitude/Holiday Countdown- click here
The Smoothie-click here

The Free Printable Turned Artwork in a Boring Hallway- click here

The chalk board-click here
Seven Layer Dip in Individual Cups (my favorite so far!)-click here
The pumpkin address-click hereThe Kitchen Dancing Sign--click here

There's Hope

"How are you?," I asked a woman at church on Sunday morning.

"Great, I'm really great, how about you?," she smiled when she spoke.

"Wow, you're really great?," I asked.  

"Yes," she replied.  "Really."

"Usually everyone just says 'busy,'" I said.  "I mean everyone is so busy you know? You rarely hear people are great."

We laughed and agreed we were both busy, but she was great.  I loved that.  She told me about her son who I remembered hearing about in a mother's group we were in together years ago.  He was a teenager then, now he's an adult with a real job and a real life.  "It was great watching him grow up and change," she said.  

"Really?," I asked again skeptically   I mean because I hear a lot about teenagers and it isn't all very good.  I am a week away from having an actual legitimate teenager in my house and I'm fearing it like I feared the god awful, dreaded, god don't let it happen "terrible two's" a million years ago.  

The kind woman assured me that she was being truthful and that there were indeed stressful times, but overall she enjoyed her son's teenage years and is now enjoying knowing him, and parenting him, as an adult.  

Huh. What a gift it was running into that kind woman, an old friend, at church and hearing what I needed to hear a week before I have an actual legitimate teenager in my house.  

Here's the thing...I don't know what a household with parents and teenagers looks like that is full of love and understanding and happiness.  I have no basis, no road map, no history to go from.  My home was not that place growing up.  I have a few ideas from shows I watched on TV (i.e. The Cosby Show, Eight Is Enough), but I don't really know.  And honestly, I'm a little nervous.

This past weekend was a busy weekend, like all of our weekends, like our whole life right now.  I am glad that I wasn't too busy to hear my old friend's positivity and encouragement and small message of hope.  

That's the thing about this busy, beautiful, messy life...the messages are there, the moments are there. Messages and moments of hope and positivity and encouragement.  We just can't be too busy with life to notice, to listen, to hold onto.  

It is all going so fast and it is so busy it's easy to get swept up and miss the messages, the moments and the hope and the fun of it all.  My god, I hope I never get too swept up to miss the fun of it all.  

Another message of hope? One of my favorite TV shows, Parenthood. We got caught up on Saturday night and saw a great episode from last Thursday. Here's some great life advice that brought me to tears.  It SO FITS what I'm feeling right now!

It is the last season of Parenthood, but if you aren't watching it you totally should.  The show is good, but the music is even better.  And each week they put out a music list like this on Tumblr that is totally rad and I love.  Click here to follow Parenthood on Tumblr.

Here is my FAVORITE song from the last episode, Vampire Weekend's "Worship You."  It sounds like what is going on in my head right now...

(Click here to watch/listen to the video.)

More Tears and What I Know For Sure

I cried more than normal this week.  I cried over my pants being too tight, the house being too messy, bills being too expensive and my dog being too needy.  I cried because  all the leaves are gone from my favorite tree which means stupid winter is coming.  I cried because I felt stuck in old, impulsive patterns.  I cried because my hormones suck and make me feel crazy.  I cried because I felt powerless and vulnerable and like life is so unfair.

As I sat in the kitchen watching YouTube videos feeling sorry for myself, Cosi my needy best friend/dog started barking out the window.  She thought the coat that Peyton had left on the fence was a person in our back yard and she was sort of freaking out.  I was annoyed.  "It's a coat!," I said.  She kept barking.  "Fine! I'll show you, it's a coat," I reasoned with her and went out the back door.  She followed me out to the yard but was acting funny.  Cosi was circling me, barking.  I started to jog to the coat and that must have made her even more nervous.  The next thing I remember is being on the ground with Wade standing over me.

"Are you okay?," Lucy called from the house.  "Should I call 911?"

"No, I'm okay," I assured her.  Cosi had run so fast in circles she had knocked me over onto the ground and I possibly blacked out for  a few seconds.

I hobbled my old ass into the house and starting crying, again.  I cried with relief because I was okay. But geez, life can change in one minute.  One wound up/scared dog circling you can knock you over and change everything.  I mean what if I had blacked out longer? hit my head on a rock? broken my old ass hips that just graduated from physical therapy?  I cried with relief from all the what ifs' and near misses in life.  

I felt better sort of, like I got perspective, like I dodged a bullet.  Like the bills, my bad budgeting and too-tight pants didn't matter as much.  

The next day I got a call about a friend whose husband is dying.  What? How? No! I cried because it didn't make sense.  I cried because I felt powerless and vulnerable and like life is so unfair.

Later that same day, I read a status update on Facebook about a friend who got good news that she didn't need chemotherapy for breast cancer. I cried because I felt so happy and hopeful.


What I know for sure this week is that too-tight pants don't matter at all, but good friends and good health and love do matter.  Life is all highs and lows and roller coaster-y.  It's unfair and beautiful and cruel and heartless and random and intentional and hopeful and all kinds of wonderful.  There is so much to be grateful for and so many people to hug and cry for and support and celebrate and love. And some weeks are full of more tears than others, I know that for sure this week.

I cried because I thought it was so sweet that Lucy was trying to watch the solar eclipse with a handmade viewing device.  I remember making something like that to watch a solar eclipse in Mr. McKee's class in 1984.  

Here's What Else I Know For Sure This Week:

• Wade is one cool Pre-K kid.  It was picture day in Pre-K this week and Wade chose his own outfit.  He was so excited.  I told the teachers it was okay for him to wear the sunglasses and he did indeed wear them for the professional pictures. Ha!

• I read an amazing book, a New York Times bestselling book called Rare Bird.  It taught me so much about grief and faith.  I got to write a review of it on Mamalode.  Click here to read it. 

• Art is everywhere.  Wade and I stumbled upon this in a town nearby us.  

• I got paid recently and it felt great.  Here's the video in case you missed it.

• I have thoughts on the whole Renee Zellwegger situation.  Did you see people get all fired up on her possible plastic surgery?  Here's what I think...yup, she looks different. BUT I didn't hear ANYONE say that she might have had the eyelid surgery because her eyelid overhang was giving her headaches and causing vision issues.  I will say it.  Look, Renee and I have the eyelid overhang issue in common, or at least we used to.  I hate my eyelids and they give me headaches, I would have the surgery in a heartbeat if my insurance would cover it and if I wasn't such a wimp about anesthesia.  

• I miss Friday Night Lights.  I may have cried this week because I miss watching my show.  Tim and I are finished with all the seasons and waaaaa, I miss it.  Best.Show.Ever.

What do YOU know for sure this week?  Share all your knowledge here in the comments or over on my Facebook page.


And come play with me on Instagram. Click here to follow me.

Dancing

October is almost over.  And so is my 31 Days of Dance Challenge.  There are nine days left.  You know what I'll be doing for the next nine days.  You should totally join me.  Come on and dance!

Here's a mash-up of some of the dancing from the last 22 days.

(Click here to watch the video.)

Here is some dancing trivia about me.

• I once danced in the middle of a mall to Irene Cara's song "Fame."  I distinctly remember looking into the faces of the scattered onlookers wagging my finger and lip syncing like I was Irena Cara "Remember my name! Remember. Remember."  I was 7 years old.

• I wanted to be a Solid Gold dancer when I grew up.

• I quit my promising dance career when my parents got divorced when I was 12.  I sort of quit everything (band, softball, getting good grades) and listened to cassette tapes of Ratt a lot. Waaaa.

• I never quit dancing everywhere though. Duh.  My room, school dances and then later bars, weddings, kitchens...

• I've never met a dance floor I didn't like.

• At my wedding reception, I skipped the formal wedding party dance where the bridesmaids dance with the groomsmen.  Instead, I dedicated Tina Turner's "Proud Mary" to my bridesmaids and we all danced our hearts out together.

Rocking out on the dance floor at my wedding almost 15 years ago.

• Tim can't dance.  He won't dance.  When I first met him I didn't believe it, but then I saw him try once and we agreed he'd never have to dance again.  We have been together for almost 17 years and he has always supported my dancing, and I have supported his non-dancing.

• Dancing is a release, it is self-expression, it is free, it is free-ing, it is an escape, it is fun, it makes me feel alive.

• One of my favorite all-time things to do is get a dance floor started at an event (i.e. wedding, charity event).  I'm thinking about having cards made up that say "Professional Dance Floor Starter."

Click here to subscribe to my YouTube channel.  

Taking Pictures (A Special Pinterest Poser Challenge)

I am not a professional photographer.  I don't even own or have access to a fancy camera anymore. I don't have enough money to hire professional photographers or the wall space to display that many photos.  BUT I love to take pictures and I don't suck at it.

For this week's Pinterest Poser Challenge,* I'm sharing a favorite Picture Project and some picture taking tips.  Not because I copied it from Pinterest, more like Pinterest inspired me to do it.  

*In an attempt at not being a Pinterest Poser,** every week I detail a new project/idea/recipe inspired by Pinterest.
**My definition of a Pinterest Poser is someone who is all pins and no substance.

Even though I take a thousand pictures of my family every week, I started a pretty cool picture tradition a few years ago.  When Wade turned one, I decided to take a picture of all the kids in front of the cool barn in our town. The barn is a store that sells rock salt for driveways, propane for grills and a lot of other things.  In fact, it is the same store/barn that Tim used to come to as a kid to buy feed for his family's chickens.  Yo, this barn goes way back with our family.  And now, every year we go back and take a picture there.  

It seemed like a cutesy idea five years ago.   It has grown to be so meaningful to me.  Looking back at how much my kids have changed in the past five years makes my heart explode with love and gratitude and holy shit where does the time go I can't believe they were babies just a few years ago and now at least two of them look like mini adults thoughts.  

Youngbloods at the barn in 2014

Youngbloods at the barn in 2012.

Youngbloods at the barn in 2011.

Youngbloods at the Barn in 2010.

I recently saw a story in The New York Times about a group of sisters that have been photographed every year since 1975.  Click here to look at the pictures, they are so moving.  I hope my kids let me photograph them every year for forever.  

My pictures are not taken with a fancy camera, I probably get the lighting all wrong, but I don't care.  I captured the wobbly knees of baby Wade back in 2010 and JT's curls!, Lucy laughing with wild abandon in 2011 and Peyton looking comfortable in his own skin in 2014.  

The whole photo shoot has gotten a little easier over the years mostly because we aren't worried about Wade crawling or wandering off or crying.  The kids know the quicker they smile, the quicker it will be done.  This year, we went to the barn in between the kids' basketball games and they changed in the minivan.

Tim is my trusty assistant every year.

Here are some of my very impressive kid photo shoot tips that I have learned over the last five years:

If you are wondering what happened to 2013, we didn't go to the barn. What?  How could I have done that?  Ugh.  Never again.  But we did still take pictures and they were still awesome.

Youngbloods and their dog 2013.

Tim was there helping for that one too of course.

Have you made anything inspired by Pinterest lately?  Let me know in the comments or over on my Facebook page. 

Come follow me on Pinterest (click here).

Here are some of the Pinterest projects I've done/made/attempted.

Gluten Free Pretzels- click here

Cinnamon Sugar Doughballs- click here

Painted Lockers- click here

Melted Beads- DIY Suncatcher- click here

Tissue Paper Pom Pom Garland-- click here

A Delightfully Simple Birthday Party--click here
Make An Awesome Omelet--click here
Outdoor Lights Inspired by the show Parenthood- click here
Herb Garden with Chalkboard Pots- click here
Backyard Graffiti Art with kids- click here

Happiness Notecards- click here

Gluten Free Rainbow Cake- click here

Fruit Roll-Up Fortune Cookies- click here

Make Your Own Magnets- click here

DIY Painted Clay Necklace- click here

Dixie Cup Lights- click here

DIY Ornaments-click here

Gluten Free Clay- click here

Make Your Own Stamps- click here
Birthday Shirt- click here

Gluten Free Pop Tarts- click here
Front Porch Kid Art Display- click here
Door turned into Table- click here

Summer Wish List Chalkboard-click here

Peanut Butter Nutella Cookie Sandwiches-click here

Painted Mason Jar Vases-click here

Cinco de Mayo Paper Flowers- click here

Earth Day Cupcakes- Click here
Nail Art-click here

Homemade Photo Booth Fun- click here

Fake Bangs- click here

DIY Subway Art- click here

Furniture Painting and Bench/Chest Makeover- click here

Thanksgiving-y Project/Gratitude/Holiday Countdown- click here
The Smoothie-click here

The Free Printable Turned Artwork in a Boring Hallway- click here

The chalk board-click here
Seven Layer Dip in Individual Cups (my favorite so far!)-click here
The pumpkin address-click hereThe Kitchen Dancing Sign--click here