The Barefoot Dancer

i LOVE the sun i HATE wearing shoes "A day I don't dance is a day I don't live."

[thebarefootdancer]

Goal-Making

It’s September again. Time for a new year. New goals and aspirations. To be read as one paragraph-

(Jer 29:11) “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” (2 Chron 15:7) “But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” (Mat 17:20) “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.'” (Prov 19:21) “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” (Prov 16:9) “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” (1Cor 3:5-7) So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything but only God gives the growth. (Prov 3:6) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Rom 12:2) “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Ps 33:11) “But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.”

[thebarefootdancer]

2015 Stand-out Brands

I’m not a youtuber so “favorites” doesn’t feel totally appropriate. For the make-up version of this round up click here. 

1. Athleta- #danceteacher. Even the giant reusable bag was a stand-out useful thing.

Can we talk about Target for a second? This is the one Minnesota thing that I’ve completely assimilated to. I go there multiple times a week and always seem to find things I ‘need.’ Freaking wonderland- ok moving on to what I loved from Target.

2. Merona Mens flannel shirt in Red/Navy from Target- This is the softest one. I SWEAR its softer than the other colors. No nothings wrong with me...

3. Merona Knitted Poncho- perfect date-night sweater. Easy and comfortable with leggings. 

4. Mossimo Supply Co Betty Sweater Foldover Boots- day-in, day-out. Kind-of a grungier look, but still can look casually “done.” Great way to dress down an outfit for a low-key date or event.

Ok moving on from Target...

5. Erin Condren Life Planner- lets not say more.

6. Etsy Sticker Shops- To go with the ECLP obsession. Top of the top: Scribble Prints Co., Vintage Gypsy Road. Its like a weekly art project.

7. Alex & Ani- My parents moved this year so for some reason this brand seems to have powerfully connected me to home and helped me be at peace with the geographical journey life has taken me. They have so many New-England themed coin bangles.

8. Kate Spade- Discovered their 75% off Surprise Sales. Yup.

9. Express Portofino Shirts- solid colored, collared button down, professional wear. They are often on sale for 50% or BOGO 50%. I think I have 5 colors. Can’t go wrong.

10. Tiger balm- to save me from my career. 

[thebarefootdancer]

What I accomplished in the year AFTER college

a little late but heres the most recent update.

- I auditioned for 3 different dance companies

- I played True American... on a party-boat

- I signed my first lease

- I was fired from my 1st "grown-up" job because the non-profit expected me to be more "experienced"

- I lost faith in my strengths, abilities, and qualifications

- I applied through a temp-agency

- I performed in Psalm 139

- I took class at Zenon

- I met someone who really challenges my ideas about life, dance, and choreography

- I roomed with a fabulously warm and trusting roommate <3

- I returned to American Girl

- I taught dance at 3 different studio locations

- I learned a little bit of tap (something I never thought I'd do)

- I took a workshop with a professional dance company

- I realized my way of being faithful "counts" too

Well that was fun. Lets do it again next year. Here are my previous annual iterations of this post. 

Senior Year

Junior Year

Sophomore Year

[thebarefootdancer]

Psalm 56:3

[thebarefootdancer]

Eph 16-19:

I pray that, according to the riches of His Glory, He may grant that you may be

Strengthened in your

Inner Being with power through His Spirit, and that Christ may 

Dwell in your 

Hearts through 

Faith as you are being 

Rooted and 

Grounded in 

LOVE. 

I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, what is

Breadth and 

Length and 

Height and 

Depth, and to know His

LOVE. 

[worshipgifs]

[bhgfood]

Cheddar & Bacon Loaf: Layer a basic baguette with bacon, butter, and cheddar cheese

[thebarefootdancer]

yummm

[meganvsshark]

[thebarefootdancer]

the fog

[thebarefootdancer]

I love dance because

Why do you want to dance? Why do you love dance? What about dance to you love/need? What are you willing to give up to dance, and what are you not? What are you willing to take on for dance, and what are you not? Are you willing to ever quit? What would then take the place of that passion? What would your life look like with out it? And with other things instead? 

Can't answer all of them tonight but here's a start to the first few...

I love dance because it exercises every part of me

I love dance because it breathes the whole body

I love dance because it's emotional

I love dance because it's personal, subjective

I love dance because it's general, interpretable

I love dance that makes you think

I love dance because every movement is SO intentional, purposeful.

I love dance because it's about sharing with others

I love dance because it's about service to others

I love dance because it teaches

I love dance because it's conceptual

I love editing dance, technically, choreographically, and conceptually.

I love sharing dance performatively,

I love witnessing dance.

I love writing about the impact movement has in our lives.

I love using dance to learn about the body.

How do you want to be in dance? If taking class/teaching isn't enough now, why would you expect it to be enough in 40 years?

[jackrogersusa]

[thebarefootdancer]

so much soft!

[thebarefootdancer]

American Girl Lamentations?

Recently this article has swept Facebook by storm. Take a moment to read so that the following post makes more sense.

I recognize that I hold a rather unpopular opinion about this article. It's too EASY to blame it on the merge with Mattel, but I think the company's change in focus came about for reasons that are much more complex. In fact, the author points out the problem American Girl is trying to solve exactly,

"My parents offered to buy me Kirsten, the one who looked like me, but she had, in my 9-year-old opinion, a boring story."

As a consumer and former employee of American Girl I see that the company is trying to make it's brand more relatable to it's audience. There is NOTHING wrong with that. I think the author of this article should be ashamed for belittling problems that GOTY's (girl of the year) stories tackle including bullying & homelessness (Chrissa,) environmentalism (Lanie,) Self-esteem (McKenna,) and budget cuts (Saige.) (Also WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM with Saige's name?! Gwyneth Paltrow has a kid named Apple... APPLE!!!) If not those, what are the more "serious" issues of today that AG could feature? Perhaps one day there will be a 9/11 doll, or a Hurricane Katrina doll, or a doll with homosexual parents. Just because the GTOY dolls' issues don't represent moments in history that seem as serious as slavery and revolution, doesn't mean they aren't as REAL.

These characters are meant to empower girls to change the world they actually live in. As far as I'm concerned the message of American Girl has always been the same. The point IS that you can make the world better just by being YOU. That is a message I'm willing to endorse whether it comes tied in a bonnet and corset or sneaks & a skateboard.

[thebarefootdancer]

Bloglovin

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/12415809/?claim=3aygkfhyc5y">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

[thebarefootdancer]

"If I were a girl thats how I would want to look."

So one of my coworkers (male, gay) shares this with me in the middle of our shift yesterday referring to a picture of KimK in a bathing suit. (Google it if you've lived under a rock for the past 10 years.) I honestly couldn't decide whether I should punch him or educate him first. So, like a good little minnesota-adoptee, I did neither, said "oh really?" and tried to pay him as little attention as possible for the rest of our shift. But later, once I had sorted out my anger, I organized what would have been my lesson plan if I had been rational enough to give it in the moment. Some of it rhymes. but not with regularity. Enjoy.

"Dude. I didn't want to make a big deal at work, but I was really offended by your socially uneducated comment about KimK at work today.

Let me be clear:

Women in this country have worked, are working, and will always fight

for the RIGHT to want to look like no one but themselves. As long as the cosmetic, celebrity, and media industries job is to make us feel ugly and insufficient, learning to love our physical selves becomes more and more the mission of female adolescence. The only woman I wanna look like is whatever I look like when I am happy and healthy.When my orange, oil-slicked skin balloons out around the seams of clothing that cant contain fantastical and insatiable dreams of this strangely constructed conception of perfection, that's the day I'll know I've gone plastic. I'll know I'm made more of manufactured polymers and recycled tabloids, than carbon, oxygen, and water.

Don't get me wrong. I'm no crunchy feminist. I read Meg Cabot as a kid. I'm down for The Notebook and a bar of chocolate when I'm upset. I love to wear make-up and get dressed up. I love to party, fruity drink in hand, and be kissed by a man in front of all his friends. But I'd rather see the pride in his eyes gleaming because he's got whoever I AM and not a dutiful student who has subscribed to a prescribed image of how a woman should "want to look," along the way abandoning her dignity and all her Self."

[thebarefootdancer]

What I Accomplished in My Senior Year in of College

- I saw Mumford & Sons perform live

- I presented at a national conference

- I stood up to my ex

- I choreographed a four-part dance about body metaphors

- I interned with a private dance studio

- I reinvested myself in accepting God’s love

- I worked with a guest artist, again

- I did spring break in Florida

- I led a three-week workshop

- I earned distinction in my major

- I performed a solo

- I lost a lot of faith that I’ll ever be married

- I sprained my ankle, again.

- I learned people do the most unintentionally heartbreaking things

- I took a full time job in donor management

- I said a lot of goodbyes

- I graduated

_________________________________________________________________________________ thebarefootdancer: What I Accomplished in My Junior Year of College

- I learned to build and manage a website

- I TAed a class

- I presented at a conference

- I worked with a professional guest artist

- I managed 4 campus jobs

- I found what it is I can live with, and what it is I can’t live without

- I learned he didn’t love me back

-I rediscovered a piece of my faith.

- I learned lots of things about breaking up

- I cried

-I taught a class

-I learned breakups bring out the worst in people

-I watched him change

-I went to my first live concert!

- I felt abandoned and dispensable

-I discovered that when you give a piece of your heart so someone, you don’t ever get it back

- I learned what a real friend is, and who mine are

__________________________________________________________________

thebarefootdancer: What I Accomplished in My Sophomore Year

-I lost my best friend

-I found a balance

-I met Sherry Saterstrom

-I discovered my weight

-I learned to improvise

-I lost my favorite necklace

-I managed 2 campus jobs

-I went to my first sporting event

-I choreographed 4 works

-I studied in Paris, France

-I sprained my ankle

-I learned about the architecture of the foot

-I found someone who loves me back

-I was accepted to a research position exploring a subject I am passionate about.

-I understand my body in a completely different way

[thebarefootdancer]

The Task of A Christian

The following message is for any Christian who has ever given up on his/her self-integrity, and on their potential to care for the world. It is when you give up on yourself that you fall into sin. When you don't believe that you are you and that you are good, it becomes easier to act upon and justify the evil in you. And the more you sin, the less and less you see that you are deserving of God's Love. How arrogant are we to decide that it is our responsibility as human beings, pretentious authors of our own religious texts, to measure our "un-deservedness" of God's Love? And what is deserving? Deserving is when the service offered is equal in magnitude or quality to an anticipated reward. There are matters that concern human worries, actions, and desires, and then there are matters like the magnitude of God's love that we cannot POSSIBLY understand. When we weigh these domains in relationship to each other, it is clear that the answer is, No. No service we understand how to give can earn us a reward beyond our comprehension. They are inherently unequal. And when we are at our most self-abandoned and most sinful, this makes the reward of God's Love almost PAINFULLY present. The task of a Christian on Good Friday is not. easy. We must accept His Love in full knowledge that our sins hurt Jesus, and that He died to ensure that the Love and Forgiveness of the Lord would always be there for us to accept. Acceptance of this Love, then, is the first step away from sin. It is what brings us back to the self-integrity and belief in our own goodness that empowers our good choices, and assures us that we are better than the evil inside us. If accepting Gods Love is what enables us to know this, it is on Good Friday that we are reminded of Jesus who sacrificed himself so we could exist in knowledge of that forever. Oh, what an incredible gesture.

[thebarefootdancer]

Sometimes sadness makes you feel heavy and lifeless, other times you just want to skate over it. touch it lightly, and barely scratch it's surface so you barely have to admit that it is there.

[scarletine-rose]

TrueLife

ya know hashbrowns are really just an excuse to eat french fries in the morning