San Jose Museum of Art

Today's iPhone Polaroid

One Of My Favorite Routines From Mia Michaels

So powerful. No matter how many times I see it, it still blows me away.

It's Finally Autumn In The Wine Country

It's such a beautiful day here in Northern California. The vines are beginning to turn. Who says there is no autumn color in California?

Today's iPhone Polaroid

Lola danced today.

You can enter my $100 Target Gift Card contest by dancing today for just five minutes. Find out how here!

Keep On Dancing

Today I Danced Around My Kitchen

time of day - evening
for how long - 20 minutes
mood before - 6
mood after - 7.5
(mood scale in left column under the clock)

Have you danced today?

Don't forget to enter the Keep On Dancing $100 Target Gift Card Contest!

So You Think You Can Dance - Top 20

First of all I thought Monday nights introduction show was spectacular. I replayed the intro dance with all 20 dancers several times. I loved it!

Tonight's show was good - but not quite as great as Monday night. It's probably because Monday night everyone was dancing in their own genre. Sad to see that Billy Bell is gone because of illness. He's one spectacular dancer. It looks like Noelle might be gone too from a knee injury. I completely disagreed with Russell being in the bottom 2 guys tonight. He is amazing. I love to watch him dance. It's too early to make any predictions. They all are so good. Probably my favorites after the first two nights are Bianca, Russell and Jacob (that young man can seriously leap!)

What is with Nigel Lythgoe and that empty chair for Paula Abdul...can you say trying too hard? Seemed pretty pathetic!

Missing Mia's choreography. Her routines are always among the best.

$100 Target Gift Card Contest

Don't forget to enter the Keep On Dancing $100 Target Gift Card Contest!

It's easy and you can enter once a day.

Just click here for the details.

iPods For The Future

Imagine an iPod that comes in the form of a musical bracelet, complete with a multi-touch track pad, wireless earbuds, and an audio-oriented navigation system.

See more

We're Having A Dance Party!

...and having a great time. Come join us!

Update

I am so inspired by the comments of all the women who have joined me in dancing around their kitchens, backyards, offices by themselves and with their kids. Thank you, thank you. You encourage me to go dance...so I did...

Today I danced around my kitchen

time of day - late afternoon

for how long - 20 minutes

mood before - 6

mood after - 7.5

(the mood scale is in the left column under the clock)

Be sure to check out the comments of the other women dancing. They are terrific!

Today's iPhone Polaroids

First Family Official Portrait

What a wonderful photograph of the Obamas by Annie Leibovitz.

Keep On Dancing

A number of women who have entered the Keep On Dancing $100 Target Gift Card Contest have commented about dancing while cleaning. So today I decided to try it. I discovered I do a mean salsa with a broom. And what I can do with a dish towel while dancing...well it's pure Martha Graham if I do say so myself.

Today I Danced While Cleaning The Kitchen

time of day - morning
for how long - 15 minutes
mood before - 5.5
mood after - 7
(mood scale in left column under the clock)

Have you danced today?

Don't forget to enter the Keep On Dancing $100 Target Gift Card Contest!

Boost In Brain Function Seen In First-Time Internet Users After Just 1 Week

Very cool research out of UCLA on internet searching and older adults brain function.

Keep On Dancing

Today I Danced Around My Kitchen

time of day - evening
for how long - 20 minutes
mood before - 6
mood after - 7.5
(mood scale in left column under the clock)

Have you danced today?

Don't forget to enter the Keep On Dancing $100 Target Gift Card Contest!

The Keep On Dancing $100 Target Gift Card Contest

Win a $100 Target Gift Card

All you have to do to enter is dance around your house, office, back yard etc. for at least 5 minutes. Leave a comment with how long you danced, what your mood was before (see mood scale below the clock in the left column) and what your mood was after.

I will draw a name from the comments on Wednesday November 4th. You can enter once a day until the drawing.

Update

Wow...thanks to all who are joining in. You are inspiring me. Don't forget to include your mood before and after (mood scale under the clock to the left.) and don't forget you can enter once a day!

So You Think You Can Dance

Top Twenty Picked...including a married couple and 3 tap dancers.

What did Mia do to her hair?

Sugar/Flour Free Thursday

As always on Thursdays. I'm hungry and reading recipes....

Anna at Chef Wanabe says "If life gives you lemons...bake delicious lemon bread." She has one yummy looking recipe. Can't wait to try it.

Now This Is Cool

Keep On Dancing

Today I Danced Around My Kitchen

time of day - evening
for how long - 20 minutes
mood before - 6.5
mood after - 7.5
(mood scale in left column under the clock)

Have you danced today?

Don't forget to enter the Keep On Dancing $100 Target Gift Card Contest!

Today's iPhone Polaroid

I love these Halloween cakes from my favorite wine country bakery Michelle Marie's. The ghost cake is draped with fondant and is a buttermilk cream cake filled with whipped chocolate ganache. The pumpkin cake is a pumpkin walnut cake draped with marzipan.

Chocolate Wednesday

It's Chocolate Wednesday (which just happens to fall between Junk Free Tuesdays and Thursdays - no sugar, flour or junk food). Above are just a few of the chocolates for sale at the Venetian in Las Vegas. I passed these beauties several times each day. They were located near the elevator that I took be to and from my hotel room.

Five Things That Put A Shimmy In My Spirit Today

When I was younger I always thought that it was the really big things that made one happy. Now I think it's the little daily things. So I asked myself ...what five things are putting a shimmy in my spirit today?

1. Playing with Lola - Did I ever mention that she smiles and laughs? Play keep away with a favorite toy and she is in heaven. When she smiles...I smile.

2. Laughing With Richard - When you first meet Richard he seems a bit shy, but he's funny...really funny and makes me laugh every day.

3. I got to say thank you to someone who gave me inspiration...Renee at Cutie Bootie Cakes. She gave a great speech at SITScation this past weekend.

4. I learned something new....how to make a picture story with the Whirrl iPhone App.

5. And of course Dancing Around my Kitchen!

What has put a shimmy in your spirit today?

Keep On Dancing

Today I Danced Around My Kitchen

time of day - morning
for how long - 30 minutes
mood before - 6
mood after - 7
(mood scale in left column under the clock)

We Have A Winner For The Yellow Tulips Inspiration Contest

Drew a comment from my mixing bowl this morning and the winner is PK at Room Remix. She wins the above image as a 16 inch by 16 inch canvas wrapped print with her favorite quote. Thanks to all of you who entered.

Click here to go to original contest post.

Update

PK has chosen the quote Choose to be happy, it's a way of being wise. I think that's a perfect quote for the tulips. The yellow just says happy to me.

It's Sugar/Flour Free Tuesday...

and I'm craving cheescake from the Venetian!

Sunday Morning Walk Along the Vegas Strip

Sunday morning I went out to photograph and walk....a la creatively fit...in Las Vegas, along the strip. I posted some of those iPhone polaroids on the Creatively Fit Blog.

iPhone Polaroids From the Las Vegas Venetian Hotel

What I loved about this hallway at the Venetian is how grand and Italian it is and then at the end you see Vegas (the casino).
Lovely statues around the hotel pool garden.
There were soooooo many yummy and tempting deserts and chocolate to choose from. I will post more on Chocolate Wednesday.
They have a lovely Venetian canal.
The ceiling had the most beautiful sky painted on it.
And of course gondoliers who sang passionate songs.

The Venetian was like a small city and my room was pure luxury. But the best part of the SITScation weekend in Vegas was by far the generous, friendly, fun group of women bloggers who attended.

Keep On Dancing

I Danced Saturday Night at SITScation in Las Vegas

time of day - evening
for how long - ??
mood before - 7
mood after - 8.5
(mood scale in left column under the clock)

Sunday Morning in Vegas

Having a wonderful time at SITScation. Such a terrific and friendly group of women bloggers. I am off this morning to take some photos around Las Vegas before checking out. Back later.

The Venetian, Las Vegas

Talk about great rooms...My room is bigger than the cottage I live in. What a treat! Time to change and head on down to the SITS party. I am sure I will get lost again. This place is huge!

Today's iPhone Polaroid

I'm at the tiny Charles Schultz (yes the peanuts Charles Schultz) Sonoma County airport waiting for my flight, drinking a latte. Today's polaroid is of that first latte of my trip.

Auction for Spirit Jump

Before I head to the airport I wanted to tell you about a great organization and an auction to help them raise money. Spirit Jump is a grassroots non-profit organization with the mission to provide hope and comfort to those battling cancer. SITS is having an auction with 100% of money raised going to Spirit Jump.

I have donated one of our canvas wrapped prints. To bid on our print or any of the other pieces go here and just leave a comment (at the bottom of each item where it says roll call) with your bid amount.

Keep On Dancing

Today I Danced Around My Kitchen

time of day - evening
for how long - 30 minutes
mood before - 6
mood after - 7
(mood scale in left column under the clock)

Almost Packed

Nearly ready to go. I'm getting lots of "tweets" that many of the SITS bloggers are there and ready to party. Sounds like it is going to be a fun weekend with some very talented and playful women bloggers.

WHAT?!!!

I just read that choreographer Mia Michaels has resigned from So You Think You Can Dance! Too bad, she's a great choreographer and has been terrific for the show! I wonder what that is about. The season has already started...why all the sudden drama? What? No Contract? It feels particularly strange since she was so positively featured last night.

Update

I just read that she had a 5 year contract. Since this is season #6 maybe her contract is up. Also she said she was resigning from U.S. SYTYCD. Maybe she will be on the new UK show or the Canadian version.

So You Think You Can Dance

Last night were the Las Vegas finals for So You Think You Can Dance. They are down to 38 dancers and boy are they great! Next week they choose the Top 20. It's going to be a great season.

It's Sugar/Flour Free Thursday

No sugar, flour and I am already craving a chocolate croissant. Oh well it's almost Margarita Friday. (Do margaritas qualify as junk food? I know wine doesn't. It's a health food...especially those reds!)

Paris 15th World Chocolate Fair Fashion Show

A chocolate fashion show in Paris for Chocolate Wednesday

Great songs for Friday Night's SITScation Party

Tonight at the Twitter Party, one topic of conversation will be "must play" music at Friday night's party. Here's a list of 10 that I like to "shimmy to" while dancing around my kitchen.

Wang Dang Doodle - Angela Strehli

Say Hey- Michael Franti

I'm Yours - Jason Mraz

In These Shoes - Bette Midler

I Feel It All - Feist

Dancing With Myself - Nouvelle Vogue

Shake, Rattle and Roll - Big Joe Turner

Respect - Aretha Franklin

Let The Good Times Roll - Delbert McClinton

Mercy - Duffy

SITScation - Las Vegas

This weekend I am heading to the SITScation conference in Las Vegas. If you don't know about The Secret Is In The Sauce - it's a group of hip and sassy bloggers who are very supportive of each other. This weekend I get to meet them for the first time (and because I am neither very hip nor sassy, I will try my best to keep up with them).

Tonight there is going to be a Twitter Party and in order to participate I started my own Twitter page. I must say I never thought I would be a tweeter...but then I never thought I would be a blogger either and here I am nearly 400 posts later. I just ran out and bought a twitter book. I'm going to try and read at least the basic parts before tonight's party so I have some idea of what I am doing.

Come on by and join us. (You don't have to be going to Las Vegas) I hear there are going to be prizes! Info is here...

Today's iPhone Polaroid

California had one heck of a storm yesterday. Today it is beginning to clear and the clouds are moving away.

It's Chocolate Wednesday (which falls between Sugar/Flour Free Tuesday and Thursday)

I just found a White Chocolate Pomegranate Cupcakes recipe at Cupcake Rehab. I love her logo image. Conquering the world one cupcake at a time...looks good to me.

Wow - Three Great Blogs

I just read 3 blogs this morning that lifted my heart right up...out the window...floating like a bundle of balloons. Thank you...

Tabitha at I Choose Bliss

Krissy at Thinking of Blue

Tricia at Thought Threads

Tricia is celebrating her 100th post by giving away one of my 16 inch canvas wrapped prints! How cool is that? Thanks Tricia. I'm honored.