Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Gears are turning.
Rambled by Mandy at Wednesday, December 29, 2010 4 additional ramblings
Labels: Innner Thoughts
Friday, December 24, 2010
Merry Christmas to all!
Rambled by Mandy at Friday, December 24, 2010 0 additional ramblings
Labels: Christmas
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Holiday Dance Classic 2010
Rambled by Mandy at Tuesday, December 14, 2010 0 additional ramblings
Labels: dance
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Inside my head
I haven't been to church in two months. That's right two months. And it's been spotty before then. It's bad.
I have neglected my calling and assumed that others would pick up my slack.
Thomas and I have been taking turns being sick- and I can't send him to nursery. Kevin works all night long and only makes it to church if he is teaching Elders Quorum. He's sleeping, so he can't be with Thomas. So that leaves me to be home with him.
I feel like a bad Member and a bad mother.
I worry that Thomas hasn't had a routine as far as church goes. And with him beginning Sunbeams in January- I freak out that it will all be so foreign to him that he will be naughty. I don't want the reputation of having a bad kid. Or be labled as a bad Mom.
And after all this time of just disappearing and leaving the music in Relief Society to the pianist and who knows who else to lead it- I am ashamed to show my face. I'm convinced in my head, that others will be thinking, "Oh! Look who decided to show up and do her job!"
I want to be there. Things keep creeping up so I can't be there. Every Saturday night, I hope that either Thomas or I will be okay so we can go so I don't get a sub. Then every Sunday we aren't well.
I don't want Thomas to miss out on these precious moments. I want him to love church and know how to behave while there. I feel I am to blame for his shortcomings in this arena.
When will it get better? How do I fill in the blank? Do I send him with a runny nose? How do I go back and accept the possible negative thoughts as I try to do my job?
Rambled by Mandy at Tuesday, November 30, 2010 4 additional ramblings
Labels: Innner Thoughts
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Pictures from the showcase
Rambled by Mandy at Sunday, November 07, 2010 0 additional ramblings
Labels: dance
I Dream of Jeannie
Only got partial on the dress rehearsal- and even less in the actual show. But here they both are anyway.
Rambled by Mandy at Sunday, November 07, 2010 0 additional ramblings
Labels: dance
Last Breath
Here is Tom and I in our Broadway/WCS/ECS medley. One of my favorite dances!
Rambled by Mandy at Sunday, November 07, 2010 0 additional ramblings
Labels: dance
Passionata Showdance
Brett and I put this together based on the performance in Burn the Floor. I've always wanted to do this dance since I saw it 10 years ago. I'm happy with it.
Rambled by Mandy at Sunday, November 07, 2010 1 additional ramblings
Labels: dance
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Dance Showcase
BallroomUtah Dance Studio
Dance Showcase
“Dancing Through the Decades”
Saturday, November 6, 2010
5:00- 6:00 PM
Admission $10.00. All profits go to the dance scholarship fund which provides dance lessons to children of the Salt Lake City community who might not otherwise have the opportunity to explore this healthy, creative activity.
BallroomUtah Dance Studio
3030 South Main Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84115 801.916.4716 dance@BallroomUtah.com www.BallroomUtah.com
Rambled by Mandy at Tuesday, October 26, 2010 0 additional ramblings
Labels: dance
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Minestrone Soup
One of the best recipes I've ever come across. Really! I got it here. I get a lot of the best food ideas from Our Best Bites. They ROCK!
But I've made a few alterations to this recipe to fit what my family likes.
I fell in love with this soup- and it is easy to make. Especially since I've started using my dried veggies from my food storage. It's a great way to use up the zucchini that seem to be everywhere.
I also bought zucchini in bulk, chopped it into the appropriate sizes, put it on a tray and froze it. Into a giant freezer bag and can pull out the amount of zucchini that I need for the soup anytime I want.
I also keep Italian sausage in the freezer for this recipe too.
Instead of adding the 4 cups of water with the 1 can of beef broth, I make it 4 cans of beef broth and 1 cup of water. This makes sure it has lots of flavor. It was too bland with the 4 c. water.
You can use all fresh ingredients or canned or frozen if you choose. It's easy to adapt.
It's fun to throw in some small pasta at the end too.
This soup is great for these cooler days and makes you feel at home.
Let me know if you try it!
Rambled by Mandy at Thursday, October 14, 2010 0 additional ramblings
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
You mean I can eat my food storage?!?!
At the beginning of this year, Kevin told me that he felt really strongly that we needed to get our food storage up to par. It's been a lot of hard work, and a lot of money- but we now feel happy with where our food storage is and know we will be blessed for following the Prophet's counsel.
Now what? How on Earth do I use it? My Mother in Law bought all of us daughters a wonderful book. It's I Can't Believe It's Food Storage by Crystal Godfrey. You can also check out her website here. It's a step by step guide how to use your food storage. Powdered milk, powdered eggs, wheat, dried beans, dried fruits and vegetables not to mention how to build your three month and one year supply. It's been great!
In one month, I have used half of a # 10 can of hard red wheat! Couldn't believe it. And guess what? My family likes it!!!
It wasn't just Crystal's book that jump started me. I went with my Mother in Law to a Stake activity where they had Cary Ruggles come and demonstrate how to use wheat. His approach isn't grinding the wheat and using flour- rather, using the wheat kernel. His booklet is called Discover Wheat and Other Grains.
I totally had a Ratatouille moment. You know where the food critic takes a bite of the Ratatouille and he is transported back to his childhood. Yeah- that was me. Samples of a creamy wheat berry porridge was being passed around. I thought, this looks familiar. I took a bite, and all of the sudden I was sitting at the kitchen table in Meadow, Utah with my Step Mom, Connie eating this porridge. It was delishious!
I have since been going nuts with my recipe books. I have added wheat berries to my taco soup, meatloaf, two types of cookies, peach crisp and ham fried rice. Not to mention the morning cereal with honey and almond extract. Yum!
I wanted to share this one recipe with you because it rocks! It's from I Can't Believe It's Food Storage.
First of all, to cook the wheat berries:
1 c. wheat
2 c. water
dash of salt
I measure my wheat into a pyrex cup then fill it up with water. I stir it around and the foreign bits like pieces of the wheat stalk will float to the top. Get rid of those and rinse the wheat.
Put wheat and new water and salt into a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for an hour. Drain and cool. Store in the fridge.
Gourmet Banana Nut Cookies
These cookies are moist like a pumpkin cookie.
2/3 c. brown sugar
1/3 c. white sugar
2/3 c. shortening
2 eggs (2 T. dry powdered eggs + 1/4 c. water)
1 t. vanilla
Beat well together
1 c. mashed bananas plus 1/4 c. water
3/4 c. wheat berries
Blended in blender for 4-5 minutes
2 c. flour
2 t. baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 t. baking soda
Mixed in separate bowl
Alternate adding banana mixture and flour mixture into sugar mixture until well incorporated.
Add 3/4 c. chocolate chips and walnuts if desired.
Refrigerate for one to two hours.
Drop by rounded teaspoons onto lightly greased baking sheets.
Bake at 350 for about 10-12 minutes.
Cool on rack. Makes 4-5 dozen cookies.
A plain white or a cream cheese frosting is great on these!
Let me know if you try these cookies or if you use your food storage in any other way! I am dying to know how others utilize their food storage.
Much love!
Rambled by Mandy at Tuesday, October 12, 2010 1 additional ramblings
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Airbrush Open House
Rambled by Mandy at Tuesday, September 21, 2010 0 additional ramblings
Monday, September 13, 2010
Guardian Angels
I was coming home from a dance promotion in Park City with two gals from the studio; on I-80 West Bound around 8:30 when I saw slowing ahead of me, I began breaking, when my passenger realized that the cars in front of me were drastically slowing, not merely breaking slightly. She told me later that she had been having the impression for a few days to watch the cars in front of her no matter what. I slowed down rapidly and looked in my rear view mirror. I saw the Jeep's headlights coming up much too quickly and was certain that it was going to hit me. I braced for it.
I saw the headlights swerving slightly and then at the last second the jeep swerved into the fast lane, nearly hitting my side view mirror, and slammed his breaks on. The tires were screeching as he was trying to break. The car fishtailed and he tried to gain control but over corrected. The Jeep swerved abruptly to the left and into the embankment and then rolled into East Bound traffic. My passenger called 911 immediately. The Dispatcher said they would send units immediately.
The driver of the Jeep was going much too fast and lost control of the vehicle only after trying to break for the slow down.
(Which I am told from another dancer who was approximately 5 miles in front of us that another driver was cutting off cars and swerving in and out of traffic- Most likely causing the need for abrupt stopping.)
If anything had gone any other way- I would have been involved in that accident. If my friend hadn't noticed how quickly the cars were stopping I couldn have hit the car in front of me, and then the jeep would have smashed into me too, or if I had tried to change lanes, I could have done what the jeep did- It was a miracle that we were okay.
My heart and condolences go to the family of the firefighter who was killed.
Rambled by Mandy at Monday, September 13, 2010 1 additional ramblings
Friday, September 10, 2010
New way of thinking...
So I will be honest and tell you that I stole this line from a friend's facebook update. He is going through a scary time with his infant daughter and who knows if she will make it. His post was this:
"It is funny how we are so backwards in our thinking. I keep trying to tell my Heavenly Father how big my problems are. I have changed that and I have started telling my problems how big my Heavenly Father is."
This gave me a feeling of shouting, "Yeah! You tell 'em!" Just a feeling of encouragement from above. That no problem is too big for my Heavenly Father- and together we WILL kick your butt!
I'm gonna start telling my problems to watch out cause I have a Big Brother watching my back!
Rambled by Mandy at Friday, September 10, 2010 0 additional ramblings
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Who moved my cheese?!
Rambled by Mandy at Sunday, September 05, 2010 3 additional ramblings
Labels: Innner Thoughts
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
The eyes have it.
So- Lasik in the morning. Excited but scared. I find myself having that feeling about a lot of things in life latey. Some change is good and all change is inevitable. I guess I just need to buckle up for the ride.
I was thinking about it today- after having had to wear my glasses for a week and being annoyed by them...
I WILL NEVER HAVE TO WEAR GLASSES EVER AGAIN AFTER 8 AM TOMORROW! EVER!
I don't know what it will be like to wake up in the morning and be able to see. I'm super excited about it. It certainly will be something else.
Rambled by Mandy at Tuesday, August 31, 2010 2 additional ramblings
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Cha Cha Silver Pro/Am
This cha cha was fun and sassy! We nailed it! We were very happy with how we presented it.
Rambled by Mandy at Tuesday, August 24, 2010 0 additional ramblings
Labels: dance
Samba Silver Pro/Am
I love the Samba. We put together a few steps in a difficult progression- but we made it work.
Rambled by Mandy at Tuesday, August 24, 2010 0 additional ramblings
Labels: dance
Rumba Silver Pro/Am
This dance and routine was by far my favorite! The feeling of the Rumba is so smooth. You can't help but love it.
Rambled by Mandy at Tuesday, August 24, 2010 0 additional ramblings
Labels: dance
Paso Doble Silver Pro/Am
"Show me your Paso Doble!" - Strictly Ballroom
Rambled by Mandy at Tuesday, August 24, 2010 0 additional ramblings
Labels: dance
Jive Silver Pro/Am
I felt this jive would never end! We went through our routine 3 times! This is not my favorite dance, but it was Phil's. He loved the routine I put together for us. I'm happy with how it turned out, though you can see me losing steam towards the end...
Rambled by Mandy at Tuesday, August 24, 2010 0 additional ramblings
Labels: dance
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Vegas Baby!
Getting ready to go to the Green Valley Resort and Casino for the Nevada Star Ball next week.
Why is it that I always forget how much work goes into getting ready to go to competition?
Anyone know of any kid friendly shows to go see while out there? We have an 11 year old going and I would like to keep things PG rated for myself as well. Open to any suggestions.
Rambled by Mandy at Thursday, August 12, 2010 0 additional ramblings
Labels: dance
Monday, August 9, 2010
National Dance Day Performance
My student, Phil, and I rechoreographed the end of the Eclipse Waltz for a performance at the studio we did for National Dance Day. It was fun. We redid the entire ending in about 20 minutes. I'm pleased with how it turned out. I hope you do to.
Rambled by Mandy at Monday, August 09, 2010 2 additional ramblings
Labels: dance
Friday, July 30, 2010
Bronze Beauty
I burn, I peel, I freckle. Rinse & Repeat.
I've had several people comment on how pastey white I was.
It was and always has been a blow to my self esteem.
I've tried a ton of sunless tanners and felt like an Oompa Loompa.
Being in the Ballroom World- this simply doesn't fly.
No one takes an Albino Ballroom Dancer seriously!
Then I found Endless Glow.
And I'm thrilled to pieces about it!
I have been airbrushed several times and have never had a bad result.
(the dance pictures you see of me on this blog have the endless glow airbrush)
It is 100% Top notch Professional Grade Product.
I love it so much that I wanted to get in on it.
I am now a Certified Tan Technician.
What this means, is that I can offer you a professional quality Airbrush Tan.
Keep in mind that this is not your regular Spray Tan from a booth
or even a spray tan from a salon.
This IS Amazing!
It IS NOT orange!
It DOES NOT smell funky!
It IS GOOD for your skin!
It IS BRONZE!
It SMELLS LIKE CHOCOLATE AND COCONUT AND VANILLA!
It has FIRMING AGENTS in it!
It is INEXPENSIVE!
It MAKES YOU FEEL like a million bucks!
Would I lie to you?
NO!
Rambled by Mandy at Friday, July 30, 2010 1 additional ramblings
Friday, July 23, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
National Dance Day and Big Buddah
I now realize this shouldn't be The McLachlan Chronicles, but rather Yet Another Dance Related Post. Sorry.
BallroomUtah is celebrating National Dance Day at the studio with group classes and parties all evening. Check out www.BallroomUtah.com for more info.
Or you could even check out Fox 13 this Thursday morning 6-9 AM to see us on Live TV with Big Buddah again. It seems we arrange things with him about every 6 months or so. This will be the first time in our new studio though!
Looking forward to the fun- but not to the early hour.
Rambled by Mandy at Sunday, July 18, 2010 0 additional ramblings
Labels: dance
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
The Tango that didn't quite work out
So I didn't realize that I had the wrong cut of the music at the first performance. So the music keeps going after we finished dancing, and so the end kind of is crappy. Oops. Enjoy anyway! And just a side note- we choreographed this dance the day before the performance... nothing like procrastination eh?
Rambled by Mandy at Tuesday, July 13, 2010 1 additional ramblings
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Videos of some Eclipse performances
This is the group Waltz.
This is the Group Cha Cha
This is the Group Paso Doble
I was only in the Waltz and the Tango which I haven't posted yet. Need better video. But I choreographed all of them.
Rambled by Mandy at Saturday, July 10, 2010 2 additional ramblings
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Dreams fulfilled through dance.
We got to dance in front of the big screens, and boy can I tell you those things are intimidating!
Especially when each theater seats 500 people.
No pressure, right?
We shortened our full length show to just 4 numbers for roughly 10 minutes of dance time.
So here we are as members of the Volturi. a.k.a Vampire Royalty.

I really got into this dance. It was a lot of fun.
And The Cullen Clan dancing a Cha Cha whilst playing Baseball...

Martin and I like to play with each other and the audience when we are EmCee'ing. It's fun.
In Twilight world- you have Team Edward and Team Jacob.
Well, needless to say we now have... Team Martin.
He created this out on the Plaza and some people in the theater were calling out Team Martin after he and I danced the waltz together.
I shyly grabbed the microphone and asked in a timid voice, "What about a Team Mandy?"
...
The crowd went wild! AHH!!! It was amazing. Apparently I have more Team Mandy fans than Edward or Jacob! HAHA!
The crowd was truly amazing and I gave them everything in my performances.
So much so, that I seriously aggrivated a pre-existing neck injury (from dance) and the next day I couldn't lift my chin from my chest.
I only have pictures form inside the theater because of a random Twilight Mom in the audience. I wish we could have had video.
The past several months, I haven't felt fulfilled because I wasn't actually dancing. I felt like I was becoming lost again. Random teachers and students would ask why I wasn't doing little show numbers for events and at parties like some of the other teachers and students. It was because I wasn't asked and had no one to dance with. So I hung out in the background hoping that one day it would be me performing. I live to perform! To get lost in the dance, become someone else and bring the audience along with me for the ride. It's an amazing feeling.
I ran backstage to change for my next number and proclaimed through tears to my team:
Rambled by Mandy at Thursday, July 08, 2010 1 additional ramblings
Performance pics from Eclipse Party on the Plaza
Victoria and Riley plotting...
Rambled by Mandy at Thursday, July 08, 2010 0 additional ramblings













