atimetodance's Profile

mns2000- I have never given the differences in the skies too much thought. I will have to look up more next time I cross over the pond! Those pictures are just so gorgous. In the photos the skies look painted on. It makes me feel happy to look at them :)

It looks like though hot, you are having beautiful weather. I love the clouds above San Miniato. It almost doesn't look real. Have a wonderful time!

I was born in Florence and my mother never fails to remind me how hard it was to push my stroller through the streets. There is one long stairway in particular, very close to the Ponte Vecchio on the Santo Spirito side, that led up to our street. I get constant reminders of her labors when we walk by it.

My grandma gave me this sage advice: in a pinch, start sauteeing some onions, from the smell, they'll think you've been slaving away in the kitchen all day. While my onions work their magic, I cram everything in the bedroom, vacuum, and do a quick wipedown of the bathroom. Pasta and salad are always a good, quick meal that you can prepare while you chat with your guests.

lostinprojection said "I am, after all, "throwing away money" renting every month, working my tail off just to live here. Must be nice to be a talented, privileged dancer!"

That is just the kind of comment that shows a lack of knowledge of what it's really like to dance for a living.

I am not a professional dancer but I know several of them and can tell you that the life of a professional ballet dancer is one of the hardest ones there is. You give up a normal childhood to train and shape your body from an early age. Rehearsals are long ang grueling, and even if your career's not cut short early by injury, you will have to retire in your 30s or 40s because no body can do all that in middle age. Twenty-two might seem young to you but she is already in the middle of her career. I would call that more of a textbook definition of "working my tail off" than my own office job.

Ms. Curry made it into ABT, one of the most prestigious and talented ballet companies in the world, which means she is both extremely talented and even more hard-working. Yes, she is lucky to have help from her parents, but it makes me happy to know that some dancers can achieve financial success. Many others are working just as hard but just scraping by without even health insurance or a reliable income.

Fabulous advice. I disagree with the commenter that said she was OCD. I have read plenty of organizational advice by people who are OCD and they are generally painfully specific about how your filing systems should be set up and how inadequate you are. These are realistic steps you can take-- you don't have to do them all at once, but try integrating the principles into your life. I am a cluttered person by nature but have been striving towards these principals in a realistic way for the past two years and have seen real progress in the way I live. The book that really inspired me (and is along the lines of this post) is called Scaling Down by Judi Culbertson and Marj Decker.

Flat Stanley! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_Stanley
A colleague of mine has taken Flat Stanley with her on every business trip for the past 5 years for her grandson.

Every Ikea wood chair I've ever owned has eventually started falling apart. Make sure to use wood glue and some extra screws when you assemble it.

I'm going to clean up the area above my kitchen cabinets. It's currently cluttered with boxes and unused appliances. I'd like to put some decorative elements up there and would appreciate any ideas.

I don't think I would be able to get up if it were not for my nice husband who makes sure I wake up on time every morning. I might have to look into the light on a timer for the days he's out of town.