I’m up to my eyeballs in yoga. The yoga studio I’m going to, YogAslyum, is simply amazing. They have really created an atmosphere where people want to be, enjoy the workout, and are fully supported by the instructors as well as the other classmates. Can I do this super hard pose? YES YOU CAN! And they all smile while they tell you that you can do it too.

After attending the vinyasa classes for two weeks, I finally felt up to the power yoga class — which was taught by my very first yoga instructor when I began yoga 13 years ago. That was yesterday, and this morning my glutes were killing me! Then, my husband told me to go to the 10 a.m. yoga class today, rather than the 5 p.m. vinyasa class. Well, the 10 a.m. class is called Strength and Wellness. It focuses on my upper body and core, and I almost died. Especially when I got to the class at 10 a.m. and was all set to do my normal 75 minute class, then go about the rest of my day. However, at about 10:10 a.m. I was informed that I had just committed myself to 120 minutes of the hardest class on the schedule, AND it was taught by THE YOGA NAZI (her words, not mine).

Of course, I left my water bottle in my car, and I was dying of thirst while I downward dogged and did dolphin push-ups and then one legged dolphin push-ups for two hours straight. The whole time I could see my car from the window and wished that I’d brought my water bottle into the class with me.

Note to self: NEVER LEAVE YOUR WATER BOTTLE IN THE CAR AGAIN.

I made it though. I made it through the entire class and I did not die. And I can’t believe it, but I think I’m going back next week Sunday. Here’s the thing about yoga. It’s great conditioning for the body, and afterwards you might feel sore, the best remedy for the after-yoga soreness is more yoga. It becomes a cycle. You do yoga, if you hurt the next day, you do more yoga for relief, and on it goes.

It’s a wonderful yoga studio though! If you are in the area, I highly recommend it.

Today I painted using my new paints that I got for Christmas. I wasn’t feeling too creative, so I copied Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh. I think it would have turned out better with oil paints, rather than acrylic, but I’m still pleased with it. I put away all of my paints and cleaned the brushes before I realized that I forgot a star. Maybe I’ll add it later.

Zoe painted too. That kid can paint horses better than anyone I know!

Good morning Menomonee Falls!

It's a snow day, and you'd think I would have slept in, but instead I was outside at 7 a.m. to clear my driveway. Thankfully, I have a snowblower. Or are they called snow throwers now? When did that happen? Anyhow, my driveway. What a chore that was. The bottom was about three feet deep, and I had to be creative to get it all out of the way -- only so the snowplow can push it all back the next time it goes by. It really is the only complaint I have about where I live.

What are your plans for the day? Are you going to work? Are you staying home? I'm going to catch up on my Netflix DVD's, bead some jewelry I've been meaning to get to, and maybe read a book.

Today is the Holiday Pig Out at work, where everyone brings in loads of food and then we spend all day eating it. I never do good at these kinds of events, mostly because of the chips. I LOVE CHIPS!!! But, I’m very particular about my chips. I prefer Lays, the plain kind, I won’t eat any of the snazzy flavored chips. Since I’ve already thwarted my Weight Watcher efforts this week with the Mint Meltaways that arrived on Monday from my very most favorite vendor — because every year they send the Mint Meltaways – I’m not looking forward to today. HOWEVER, by some stroke of luck I was the second person to sign up for something to bring on the sign up sheet, and I choose chips. One big bag of snazzy flavored sour cream and onion potato chips.

BLECH.

This will keep me from standing in the lunchroom all day shoveling chips in my mouth.

Now, if I could only come up with a plan to get rid of those freaking Mint Meltaways….. and the English Butter Toffee … and the cookies…..

What nerve. I mean, seriously, to take a newspaper is extremely juvenile.

What they probably didn't know is that my husband gets up for work very early in the morning. He saw the paper in the box, and like a good husband, he left it for me. He works for the Journal so it's not like he won't have an opportunity to get another copy. By the time I was ready to leave for work, the newspaper was gone, and I'm sure they thought I'd blame the carrier -- which I did at first. Sorry Newspaper Carrier!

So who took it? I'm positive that it wasn't anyone from my neighborhood, that makes no sense. I'll bet it was a passerby who felt the need for news.

To whoever you are: Thanks bunches! Next time, feel free to drive up to the corner and buy your own copy.

My husband’s birthday is over, I think he managed pretty well, especially taking into account the big-0 at the end of his age now. I love my birthday, and while I might have to stop and think about how old I am, because quite honestly, I still feel like a 25 year old trying to figure out how life as an adult works, I have no problem with my age. Nor getting older. On the other hand, my husband is my polar opposite. He gets edgy around his birthday every year. In fact, about a month ago he declared that his birthday was NOT happening this year. No saying Happy Birthday either.

Cake and presents were still welcome.

Well, as luck would have it, his birthday was the day of our daughter’s school Christmas concert. I suggested we go out to dinner afterwards to celebrate his birthday, and he was fine with that. And then the guest list grew, and grew, and when all was said and done there were 16 of us, including his mom and step-dad who drove 250 miles to surprise him.

I think it turned out well. It had everything someone who didn’t want to celebrate their birthday (but maybe just a little bit did) should have: presents (a Cuisinart food processor, and tickets to see Frank Caliendo in January), cards (some with money inside!), cake (chocolate covered cheesecake), candles (a 4 and a 0, you figure out the order), suprise guests (his mom and step-dad), food and drinks (we went out to dinner), NO CLEAN UP! (That last part was really about me.)

Okay, I should probably explain the food processor as a gift. HE ASKED FOR IT! And he was specific too. I want a food processor, and it has to say Cuisinart on the front of it. He’s the only guy I know that wants kitchen gadgets instead of sporting equipment for gifts. And I appreciate that — when he gets going in the kitchen he’s makes some pretty tasty meals. Me? I’m all about using as few dishes as possible and getting the meal out quickly. Efficiency, that’s got to count for something.

Like I've said before, I love the Lush store which is located in Macy's at Mayfair Mall. Today I purchased some soaps and lotions for Christmas gifts and was treated to a complimentary chair massage. What's not to love about that? The massage therapist, who is also named Kimberly, works for Healing Hands Therapy Center, LLC, located in Wauwatosa. She found knots in my back and neck that I didn't even know were there; it was wonderful! Stop in at Lush next week Saturday, I believe that Healing Hands will be there again.

The Happy Elf is playing at First Stage Children's Theater, on Saturday afternoon I attended the show with my husband and daughter. WE LOVED IT! The music and lyrics are by Harry Connick Jr., bringing a jazzy and bluesy feel to the show. We fell in love with Eubie and all of the elves. The show is playing through December 18th, and First Stage's website provided the following synopsis:

There's no such thing as an unhappy elf, so when Eubie finds himself in Bluesville, his elf-ness is put to the test as he is determined to make the naughty town smile in time for Christmas. Eubie's enthusiasm will not be denied as he embarks on his quest to raise a Christmas Tree in the Town Square. This heart-warming holiday musical from Harry Connick, Jr. warmly captures the joy of the season.

The Happy Elf (a holiday special in cartoon) will also be playing on NBC on December 2nd, according to www.thehappyelf.com. Of course, I still recommend seeing the theater performance, of all the First Stage shows I've seen, this was by far the best show.

I know it's been a while since I updated, but I am still on my alphabetical wine odyssey. Here were my choices for D, E and F, again, all three wines were purchased from Sendik's in Brookfield. I'm pretty sure the people in the wine department think that I am crazy, yet they still offer suggestions based on the next letter in the alphabet.

Dogajolo Dry Red Table Wine, 2006, Tuscany, Italy. I didn't write down the price, but it's most likely between the $15-20 range. Don't be afraid of an Italian red table wine, they are some of the best wines you'll find. This was a red blend of 80% sangiovese and 20% cabernet sauvignon. I am trying to stay away from wines that I've had before, but it wasn't until I got it home that I realized that I'd had this wine. It was a dark ruby color; I could smell floral and fruity; the taste was dry, which is what you'll get with a sangiovese and a cabernet. Overall, it was okay, I felt it was young and could have shelved it a year or two.

Ethos, 2005, from Chateau Ste. Michelle in Columbia Valley, Washington, $33.99. Cabernet Sauvignon. The color was a dark garnet with heavy legs; nose was jammy; taste was velvety and spicy; the finish was excellent with good tannins. This was probably my favorite so far, Chateau Ste. Michelle has never disappointed me with their wines.

Felsina Chianti Classico, 2001, Italy, $19.99. Sangiovese. The color was a deep burgandy; nose was light. Honestly, I was not impressed with this wine. My overall impression was that this vintage was past its prime.

I do have a bonus wine to share as well, each summer this pinot noir is released and for the past three years I've bought a bottle. It is Sea Smoke Southing, 2006, from Sea Smoke Cellars in Santa Barabara Co., California. $55. The color was garnet; nose was light with slight scents of spice; the taste was silky and cherry; the finish was smooth. Overall it was a great pinot noir, however, I think the 2004 vintage was much better. If you love pinot, be on the lookout for the next release of Sea Smoke around June and July. Don't hesitate, if you think you'll want it then buy it -- it sells out every year.  

Does the five second rule count if you drop a piece of toast on the floor? What if it’s got butter and honey on it and it lands face down? In a house where three people, two dogs and two cats live? And what if you haven’t washed the floor in two weeks?

Don’t worry, I didn’t think it counted either. I tossed the toast — but I really had to think about it first.

The location of the latest photo hunt was the Majestic Cinema in Brookfield. Have you been there? It's my very most favorite Marcus theatre to see a movie in.

Do you know the location in Waukesha County where this photo was taken?

To play either leave a comment with your guess (note: I'll hold all correct comments in moderation as to not spoil the fun), send me an email to kimberly.laczniak@gmail.com, or just play along at home. I'll reveal the location on Wednesday.

I have a busy weekend ahead of me. First up is my daughter’s monthly art class, Mixing with the Masters, at the Milwaukee Art Museum. The parents stay with the kids, so really, it’s an art class for the two of us. The artist we are learning about this month is Joan Miro. I’ve never heard of him, but here is one of his drawings, isn’t it interesting?

The King’s Jester, by Joan Miro

Last month we learned about Mark Rothko. I’m sure you’ve seen his paintings. They are HUGE and look like something anyone could do. I’ve always walked past those types of paintings at the art museum — but it was because I did not understand them. Rothko used color to bring out emotion, and everyone relates emotions to color differently. Here is one of his paintings from the Milwaukee Art Museum:

Green, Red, Blue, by Mark Rothko

Sometimes the parents get to paint or draw their own art too. Want to keep me happy? Hand me some watercolors and an endless supply of watercolor paper. During the last class I painted this. It looks better in person, and I took the photo using my cellphone, but I’m still rather pleased with it.

Some of my daughter's artwork from the classes have turned out fabulous! Here is one of my favorites, again the photo really doesn’t do it justice.

When I was a little girl I took ballet lessons, and right across the street from ballet was a candy store. One day, after ballet, my mom took me to the candy store. I can’t remember what all I got, but I do remember the candy necklace. She told me to put it in my dresser drawer and NOT to tell my little brother about it.

The next day I went to school, came home, and went straight to the hiding place of my candy necklace. What was there? The necklace string and ONE PIECE OF CANDY! I ran to my mom with my candy necklace in my hand and the next thing you know, my little brother is claiming that she told him that he could have ALL BUT ONE PIECE, and she’s saying that she told him he could have JUST ONE PIECE.

Oh the drama.

This weekend he redeemed himself and gave me a candy bracelet, A FULL CANDY BRACELET. WITH A CHARM TOO! Okay, so it’s not a necklace, but I’ll take it. It’s only taken him 30-some years to pay up.

My daughter found the candy bracelet sitting next to my computer and she was all FINDERS KEEPERS! IT’S MINE!! I had to snatch it from her hands because she obviously did not know the Candy Necklace Story. After I told her, she began negotiations with me to share the candy bracelet. SHARE IT? Oh no way my dear. Did you not listen to the story of how I shared the necklace?  I sent my brother a text message to let him know about about negotiations and he replied that he’d give her one on Monday.

She was fine with that, but added, “Mom, if it’s accidentally a candy necklace, you can have it.” She's such a sweetheart.

Saturday afternoon my family and I attended the matinee performance of Charlotte's Web at First Stage Children's Theater. The cast that performed was The Radiant cast, and they were amazing! I particularly liked the lamb, and Templeton the rat, oh and the goose too! I would highly recommend this play, which runs through November 16th. There were plenty of open seats, both on the main floor and in the balcony -- I'm sure that you could walk up and purchase last minute tickets if you wished.

Help me out please, I need your advice. As a parent of a seven year old whom, in my opinion, is growing into a very nice young lady, I'm having issues with one of the friends from the neighborhood that my daughter plays with on a fairly regular basis. I won't go into all of the details, nor all of the examples of poor friendship this girl has portrayed, but yesterday, around 4:30 p.m., I believe this friend crossed the line.

Here's what happened. My daughter was practicing her violin, I was in the kitchen, and my husband was in the family room reading a book. The chair where he was sitting is right in the middle of our front window, where he has the vantage point of seeing the driveway and the front door. The neighbor friend, and another girl, walked up to the front door, rang the doorbell, then turned and ran! He shot up from the chair, ran outside, and the girls were already a yard away standing on the corner.

He yelled to them, "What did you want?"

The neighbor friend replied, "To see if Zoe could play."

However, my husband is no dummy, and retorted, "Why did you ring the doorbell and then run? It's not polite."

I don't know what her response was, but she didn't come back, and my husband did not invite her back either.

This girl is pushing my buttons, and more than that, she's reaching the limits of what I'm willing to put up with in a playmate for my daughter. Now, I'm no goody two shoes, however, I have learned from my mistakes. I realize exactly where the route I was going down in my school years took a drastic turn in a different direction. I know which girl pulled me away from my friends and before you know it, DIFFERENT PATH. I don't want this for my kid, specifically today, I don't want her to think that it's ever okay to ring someone's doorbell and then run off. Where does it go from there? Egging homes? Toilet paper in the trees? Grafitti on the driveway?

What do you think? Harmless fun, or not very good behavior for a "friend"? What would you do if your child's usual playmate rang your doorbell and then ran?

The American Girl Doll catalog has arrived at my house, and you might remember what Zoe did to the catalog last year.

You can imagine my concern when she asked me for the black Sharpie marker, right?

“Are you going to draw mustaches and beards on the dolls again?” I asked her.

“Noooooooo.” She told me, while blushing behind the pages of the catalog. “I’m going to circle the things that I want.”

I found her a marker and she started circling the dolls, the cute dresses, and a lot of dogs, cats, and other animals that the dolls now have available.

When Zoe turned six, we took her to the American Girl Doll store in Chicago and let her pick out a doll. She chose Nicki. How often does she play with Nicki? NOT OFTEN ENOUGH. So I felt it was my obligation as a mom to point out to her that she doesn’t even play with Nicki very much. To which she replied, “That’s because I don’t have any time.”

Oh really? Please, do go on….

“I have to go to school, do my homework, watch dad play Mario Galaxy, go to swimming, blah blah blah….”

She didn’t really say blah, blah, blah …. but I was stuck on WATCH DAD PLAY MARIO GALAXY and I lost focus on whatever else she was too busy doing to play with the doll for whom she was circling things for in the catalog.

Her father has been playing Mario Galaxy for weeks now! When I get home from work, the two of them are in the Green Room (that’s what we call our office/computer/game room). He’s flailing the wii-mote all over the place as Mario runs around on the screen, while she sits on the love seat and cheers him on. How many freaking levels are there to Mario Galaxy?  I’d sure like to know, because once that game is over it’ll free up a huge chunk of her time so that she can go back to playing with Nicki (and all of the circled catalog items, apparently).

As a subscriber to First Stage Children's Theater, I've received three complimentary tickets to You Bug Me! for Saturday, October 25th at 7 p.m. I'm unable to use these tickets, therefore I'm offering them to the first person who'd like them. (My email address is in the sidebar.)

This is a New Play Workshop, and I've included information from the First Stage website to explain what that means, as well as what You Bug Me! is about.

The New Play Workshop features readings by our talented Theater Academy students. Following each performance, there will be an extended talk-back where we welcome and value your input. Your opinions are crucial and we would love to hear what you think about plays being considered for our main stage.

All performances are in the Youth Arts Hall at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center – 325 W. Walnut St.
Tickets may be purchased at the door for $5. Subscribers have received their complimentary tickets to the New Play Workshops in their season ticket materials. Seating is general admission and limited, so please plan on arriving early.

YOU BUG ME!
Saturday, October 25, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Recommended Ages 6+

Pico the fly and Estavan the Earwig are best friends, but their desire to win the Super Soil contest threatens to tear them apart. Laughs abound in this lively new musical set amongst a world of insects.

I still remember the day I realized that my husband-to-be had a down comforter. It was the winter of 1995 and I was experiencing freezing cold nights in my third floor apartment. No amount of plastic on the windows could stop the breeze from seeping through into my bedroom. I had flannel sheets, and a cat, both of which provided some warmth, but he had a down comforter, and let me tell you that was exactly what was missing from my life.

I had always wanted a down comforter, but they only came in white, and my mother wouldn’t allow it due to the fact that it was white. Now, I could have easily bought a duvet to cover it, but you know, I just don’t think they were widely available in the late 80’s and early 90’s. And, I didn’t know about them either. A du-what?

I’ve established that Zoe is allergic to feathers, and I’ve removed all of the feathers from her bedroom, and the rest of the house. However, there’s a big ruffled problem in my room — and that’s the down comforter and let me count, SEVEN feather pillows on my bed. Four of them are mine, three are my husband’s, and quite honestly, he could live with just two. But I need all four.

Anyhow, I obviously need to get rid of them. I’ve only really replaced one or two pillows at a time, allowing the appropriate ‘breaking in’ period that my body needs to get used to sleeping with a different pillow. Now I’ve got to replace every single one of them!

And my comforter too! This’ll be hard as it represents our love story. Sure, it’s not the original comforter — that’s sealed up in a storage bag and placed up high in my closet — but it represents the warmth he brought to my life, and the warmth that I brought his.

Getting rid of our blankie, oh this is going to be struggle.

My daughter, Zoe, was tested for allergies this week, she’s allergic to: mites, trees (pollen), molds, and feathers. We didn’t have her tested for any food allergies, there’s only so much room on a kids back for testing. Yesterday I spent my entire afternoon cleaning and de-allergy-ing her bedroom. I’m still working on the rest of the house.

I had allergy testing done four years ago to see what was causing me to break out in hives. We determined that I’m allergic to Aleve, and I haven’t touched it since. However, I’m also highly allergic to raspberries and shrimp, which I don’t even like and don’t eat, but four years later that is what I’m still quoting as my allergies. Aleve, raspberries, shrimp. But, after Zoe’s testing it was recommended that perhaps I should pull out my testing sheet and see what else there was.

Okay. Here is my list: cats (CATS!!), grass (lovely), molds, hops, rice (RICE!!), navy beans, string beans, waxed beans, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce (WHAT? people can be allergic to lettuce??), onion, coconut (KILL ME NOW!), hazelnut (does that include hazelnut coffee?), pork, whole eggs (if it’s in cake does that count?), allspice, cloves, cantaloupe/muskmelon, crab, and scallops.

It didn’t help that when were at the allergist I was one day into being diagnosed with bronchitis. The nurse was pretty clear with me that bronchitis is what comes after ignoring all of the HEY YOU ARE HAVING ALLERGY SYMPTOMS YOU IDIOT signs.

Really? I guess I never put the two together. Sinus and chest congestion = signs of allergies. I always waited until I was breaking out in hives, AND THEN it meant HEY! ALLERGIES!!! Only then would I take a Benadryl, Allegra, or Pepcid AC and wait to see if my face was going to swell.

Of course, my cat sleeps on my pillow, there is grass all around me outside, and we throw open the windows when it’s nice out, letting all of the pollens in the house. It looks like I have to allergy proof my own bedroom too.