tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26070869277198227372024-02-07T00:15:37.398-05:00Club TAOS... Try Anything Once, SistaAshliAGMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13522532870450723804noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607086927719822737.post-52804015579093551002011-09-26T11:44:00.003-04:002011-12-01T15:49:04.852-05:00Activity # 11 – Go ApeSaturday, September 24th, 2011<br />
9:00am<br />
Rock Creek, MD <br />
Cost: $60.50 per person<br />
www.goape.com <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnsbxmj4wuKxSgwaEP_UZwgUnX1ZSwA4__yzI-QQw-JfTZkQxV6xLJp7wY9DHilWAEr6Kvdikmq11dWZBlXYjhtSsMboZu93Zrm1qORDT0g9RB9tw0QRraPZgyHnYTnrsyLAleHab5iXP/s1600/go+ape+group.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681205829010492242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnsbxmj4wuKxSgwaEP_UZwgUnX1ZSwA4__yzI-QQw-JfTZkQxV6xLJp7wY9DHilWAEr6Kvdikmq11dWZBlXYjhtSsMboZu93Zrm1qORDT0g9RB9tw0QRraPZgyHnYTnrsyLAleHab5iXP/s400/go+ape+group.jpg" style="display: block; height: 329px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer, Shana, Keith, Ashli & Kristin after Going Ape.</td></tr>
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This activity was definitely our most exciting so far. <br />
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The Go Ape website says it all: “It’s not in the dictionary, but if it was, Go Ape would be described as a ‘treetop adventure’. We take one lush, green forest and a healthy dose of breathtaking scenery; blend with a smattering of treetop high wires, tricky crossings (using ladders, walkways, bridges and tunnels made of wood, rope and super-strong wire) and wind-in-your-face zip lines; finished off with a mega dose of people in search of their inner Tarzan. We then equip people with harnesses, pulleys and carabiners, give them a 30 minute safety briefing and training and let them loose into the forest canopy, free to fly on zip lines and swing through the trees. Of course, instructors are always on hand, regularly patrolling the forests (not in monkey suits unfortunately!)</div>
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The result is spectacular. The Go Ape outdoor adventure experience gets the adrenalin pumping, gets people out of their comfort zones ….”</div>
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This TAOS adventure not only tested each of us on many levels but also left us ready to do it all again. A special thank you to Keith, our wonderful instructor – we will be back soon!<br />
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Check out our GoApe slideshow: <br />
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<br /></div>shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16330033721833386687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607086927719822737.post-28318496661248195922011-08-05T21:00:00.063-04:002011-12-01T11:51:57.654-05:00TAOS Activity #10 - Bikram Yoga<div style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69gPeZ9uMSD1oluo2PvfPvC9QbIbFlH5-4LTy9jaeBompaYqBXIcJqvBkTiKr7U1xvW71s2QeWvY4Yxt3BD4CFoyto7hWIvtY8acQImmfRBNopcfdZ3O2zFphpyL0hiB_8ux0VLMVCxA/s1600/born+2+dance+group.JPG"> </a></span></div><table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInwKtmGBdVXmHP67nm-xDWKHO-gig8i4sH9XtxrE5bU-Hyh6h-bZ1VkbNV63OWgOwx4K5BYhmJz-a9NfrC1BRt2QnS2rjRJ_6emPZI8ea0dkLZESMiYSstx1I5DA4-PkBXwCOCdgTHlFN/s1600/Bikram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInwKtmGBdVXmHP67nm-xDWKHO-gig8i4sH9XtxrE5bU-Hyh6h-bZ1VkbNV63OWgOwx4K5BYhmJz-a9NfrC1BRt2QnS2rjRJ_6emPZI8ea0dkLZESMiYSstx1I5DA4-PkBXwCOCdgTHlFN/s320/Bikram.jpg" width="320" height="232" border="0" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:small;">BEFORE...</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:small;">August 3, 2011</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:small;">6:00-7:30 PM</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:small;">Reston Bikram Yoga</span></div><div 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mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}</style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size:small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size:small;"><span>As if it hadn’t been hot enough all summer in DC, Club TAOS decided to embark on a 108 degree adventure – inside.<span> </span>From the Reston Bikram Yoga web site, they offer 48 “Bikram Yoga” classes per week. Classes are for <b>all levels </b><i>(uh huh, sure they are).</i></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:small;"><span><i> </i> </span></span><br /><span style="font-size:small;"> </span><span style="font-size:small;"><span>Earlier in the day, two TAOS sistas were instant messaging about the evening’s event.<span> </span>So that you understand the tone set for the activity that evening, this was their IM exchange:</span></span><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:small;"><span>Ashli George: I just got a sharp pain in my lower back. What is happening to us? Yoga better fix this.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:small;"><span>shana_spiess: oh no!!!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></div><span style="font-size:small;"> </span><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:small;"><span>Ashli George: Just call me Ash Savasana</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:small;"><span>shana_spiess: and Summer has a headache</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:small;"><span>shana_spiess: Summer Savasana</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:small;"><span>Ashli George: and Kristin is already scared and working outside all day w/ camp and will be exhausted</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:small;"><span>shana_spiess: the <b><i>Savasana Sistas </i></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></div><span style="font-size:small;"> </span><span style="font-size:small;"><span>Their web site goes on to say: You do not need to sign-up for a series in advance; simply show up a few minutes before any of our classes. *They should have added: And by showing up a few minutes early, you had better be silent and in your om happy, peaceful place (a what?) and have your game face on because this is dead serious. (It was so painfully silent in the class and those way high on the “all levels” skill set were in various, awkward positions prepping for the class to begin.<span> </span>Some very silly and juvenile TAOS members (or member typing this blog entry) could hardly hold back the giggles.<span> </span>If it weren’t for the airless, stifling, painfully hot – OMG I can’t breathe -108 degree room, laughter would have ensued.)</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:small;"> </span><span style="font-size:small;"><span>As you yogi friends reading this may already know, Bikram Yoga is a series of 26-postures completed in an order specifically designed to provide “optimal health and longevity” – assuming you don’t pass out and die in the first class. <span> </span>(Sorry, we really try to refer from using words like “dead” and “die” when figuratively describing events – those words have been over-used already in this post and until other words come to mind to adequately describe this situation, they shall remain in this post.) The class was 90 minutes <s>of hell</s> long, and typically done in a room about 105 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit to warm up the whole body, to work the body deep into muscles, tendons and ligaments and change/regenerate the body from the inside out. <span> </span>Our bodies must have been worked to the core since the temp reading in our room was 108.<span> </span>I. Can’t. Breathe.<span> </span>Adding insult to injury (thank goodness <i>that</i> hadn’t happened yet), Club TAOS members were separated.<span> </span>Really?<span> </span>The room was jammed pack and we – being “on time” – we moved around, placed apart, causing much disturbance to those student who had situated their mats, towels, water and puddles of sweat around them already.<span> </span>“Hi, we’re so new… clearly first timers… giggle, giggle… Could we be more disruptive?”</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:small;"> </span><span style="font-size:small;"><span>To make a long, painful 90 minutes short, we all survived – some of us, barely.<span> </span>Instead of our typical social outing afterward, we sat at a picnic table cooling off in the 90 degree fresh air.<span> </span>We discussed the following moments, quotes and memorable events of the class that we did not want to forget:</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:small;"> </span><ul><li><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span>“Massage the colon” – In 35+ years we had never heard such a phrase.<span> </span>It was said three times during class.<span> </span>We’re still not sure that our colons were properly massaged and no sista had fessed up to any post-colon-massaging relief.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span>Puddles – We had never seen sweat accumulate in such large, splashy puddles by one human being as they did in Bikram yoga.<span> </span>It was as if we were just wetting ourselves the entire class.<span> </span>The dripping never lessened, the puddles never ceased.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span>Men in Undies - Men wore what appeared to be underwear briefs to class.<span> </span>Such a distraction.<span> </span>Please wear clothing.<span> </span>(Although 10 minutes in to the class, we wished we were nearly naked as well.<span> </span>So. Damn. Hot.)</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span>“Your goal is to stay in the room” – Stay in the room?<span> </span>Easy peasy we thought.<span> </span>Thirty minutes in to class, this was no joke.<span> </span>As one sista felt light headed and was about to walk out of the class for air, the instructor advised her <i>sit down</i> and just breathe, as walking and getting to cooler air would just make it worse.<span> </span>From fear of actually passing out by walking or thinking this was actually sound advice, our sista sat down in her puddle to <i>breathe.<span> </span></i>Impressively, she was able to rejoin the class!</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span>“First timer, back row” – Another sista was referred to in this manner and given a polite criticism… now that is just plain wrong. <i>First timer, back row</i>? Sheesh.</span></span></li></ul><span style="font-size:small;"> </span> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:small;"><span>The last thing one should know about this particular yoga session was that the orange juice machine for fresh squeezed OJ is to be operated by a yogi staff member only, and even at that, she/he needs to be well-trained.<span> </span>There is a cup situated at the dispenser spout for excess “discharge” from the previous fresh squeezed drink that was made.<span> </span>One is not to drink the “discharge”.<span> </span>(More hilarity ensued from this word usage in Activity #10 from TAOS sistas… stay tuned for that blog post.<span> </span>It’s so worth the laughter. Ok, it’s funny to <i>us</i>.)<br /><br /></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:small;"><span>In summary, this outing was, eh…. Just what Club TAOS is all about: Trying Anything Once.<span> </span>Emphasis on the <b>once</b> in this case.<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-size:small;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span style="font-size:x-small;">PS: Our instructor was a total <i>Bikram bitch</i>.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span style="font-size:x-small;">After.... </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4Hk2yXt746_BIUKf1Fz5ewbk1lvA_5uwuy-BFF3M-StKyt2P0wMvFFiT4T4pTQunhyphenhyphenbbjkH20lvRzLE-medcJjB8BR6mFMrPj70dOsYiCQcRHvxBNr7ehZdwhjaRhEi55D77msd9ZjNj/s1600/Bikram+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4Hk2yXt746_BIUKf1Fz5ewbk1lvA_5uwuy-BFF3M-StKyt2P0wMvFFiT4T4pTQunhyphenhyphenbbjkH20lvRzLE-medcJjB8BR6mFMrPj70dOsYiCQcRHvxBNr7ehZdwhjaRhEi55D77msd9ZjNj/s320/Bikram+2.jpg" width="320" height="232" border="0" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:small;"><span><span style="font-size:x-small;"> </span><br /></span></span></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table>AshliAGMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13522532870450723804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607086927719822737.post-78973791416984547032011-02-15T10:45:00.007-05:002011-08-15T07:03:24.135-04:00TAOS Activity #8 - Exotic Dance Class<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69gPeZ9uMSD1oluo2PvfPvC9QbIbFlH5-4LTy9jaeBompaYqBXIcJqvBkTiKr7U1xvW71s2QeWvY4Yxt3BD4CFoyto7hWIvtY8acQImmfRBNopcfdZ3O2zFphpyL0hiB_8ux0VLMVCxA/s1600/born+2+dance+group.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 334px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69gPeZ9uMSD1oluo2PvfPvC9QbIbFlH5-4LTy9jaeBompaYqBXIcJqvBkTiKr7U1xvW71s2QeWvY4Yxt3BD4CFoyto7hWIvtY8acQImmfRBNopcfdZ3O2zFphpyL0hiB_8ux0VLMVCxA/s400/born+2+dance+group.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640401278150770994" border="0" /></a>
<br /><div>Sunday, February 13, 2011</div><div>1:00-2:30 PM
<br />Born 2 Dance Studio
<br />Vienna, VA</div><div></div><div>
<br />One TAOS Member attempts to cover for her sista, who is VERY behind in blogging about this activity. "Due to the nature of this activity, photos may or may not be posted. The description and review of this activity is forever stored in our hearts and minds. It has been nearly 7 months since this outing and we have yet to document this Club TAOS experience. Sometimes, there are just no words. Or photos."
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<br />While the statement above is true, I've been guilted into writing the real blog from this event... yes, we are documenting this AND yes, there are pictures! :-)
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<br />Here's the activity description copied from the <a href="http://born2dancestudio.com/index.html">Born 2 Dance</a> Studio website:
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<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Make this Valentine's Day one to remember as you surprise him with the most sensual of dances, drawing from the repertoire of Exotic Dance movements and concepts you will learn in this workshop. </span> <span style="font-style: italic;">The workshop is designed for any woman who wants to revive her femininity and express her sensuality--all in a classy and graceful manner. Specifically, the workshop will teach striptease, sensual dancing, seductive catwalk and floor movements. </span> <span style="font-style: italic;">No prior dance experience required. Guaranteed to be an intense workout! </span> <span style="font-style: italic;"> </span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Recommended attire: Comfortable workout clothes. High heels optional. </span>
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<br />We were all a little nervous/hesitant about this activity... while it's one thing to dance around in your bedroom (whether in front of someone special or alone), it's something completely different doing this in front of other people, led by an instructor, and surrounded by mirrors. But, in the spirit of TAOS, we went into the studio open-minded, joined the eight other participants and our instructor (Michelle) and promptly donned our high heels.
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<br />Blogger's note: We were dressed in workout clothes and relatively standard high heels - well, 2 of us wore leopard print peep toes... but a couple of girls in the class who were obviously regular attendees had on acrylic heels with lights in the soles that illuminated whenever their feet tapped the floor... yes, we were a little intimidated. Another participant wore glamorous jewelry and full make-up for the class...
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<br />The class began with a warm-up to loosen our necks, hips, shoulders... then we started learning the choreography. Right away, we felt at ease and were even smiling at ourselves in the mirrors as we imitated the moves demonstrated by Michelle. She was a great instructor with an obvious amount of "professional" dancing experience. She made us feel comfortable doing these exotic dance movements and our inhibitions quickly faded away. One TAOS member was so impressed with herself that she commented several times, "I'm actually pretty good at this!" As the class continued and our exotic dance movements progressed into a full-fledged "routine", we occasionally giggled and felt mildly ridiculous, but enjoyed ourselves much more than we anticipated! Near the end of the workshop, Instructor Michelle, asked all the participants if we planned to perform our routine for anyone special for Valentine's Day, the TAOS members all responded "OMG, NO!" However, my suspicion is that more than one of us DID perform our newly learned exotic dance for her husband... mums the word on who did what!
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<br />Below is the description of the routine e-mailed to us by Instructor Michelle following the workshop... just in case we needed to refer to our "notes". Again, the language and description of the movements caused us to giggle, but we also realized that this type of dancing IS serious business and a lot harder than you would think! Yes, we really are mature 30-somethings! (ha!) Maybe our "followers" would want to try it out for themselves... enjoy!
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<br /><p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Dance incorporating a chair/sofa</span></p> <p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Valentine’s Day </span></p> <p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Entrance - sexy walk, using arms and eye contact – 8 count <i>(can be more if you are in a large room)</i></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Pose when you get half way across floor (hold for 4 counts <i>looking at him</i>)</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Continue walking to the chair</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">When you are directly in front of it - do a quick pivot turn so your bootie faces the chair (move it around - this is the first time the person in the chair will be gazing at your bod - work it. And if <i>you have a big men’s shirt on, this is a nice time to move it around and show bootie shorts, a thong, whatever) When you are finished; turn head and look behind at him (over your shoulder) </i></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Continue walking and make a full circle and a 1/2 around the chair; until you are standing behind it - 8 count or more </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Put right hand (big gesture) on back of chair/on person in the chair; then put left hand (big gesture) up</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Plie behind chair (you could rub your hands on person’s shoulders and down his arms as you plie and come up) 4 or 8 counts</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Continue walking clockwise ½ way around the chair, right arm can graze the side of chair/person, as you move past - 4 or 8 count </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Stop in front of chair facing chair/person</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Move hips side-to-side and touch self (head, next, chest hips, etc. while moving)</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><i>If person in the chair has knees together legs closed – bend over, arch back, and place hands inside the person’s knees and gently push them apart</i></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Turn body slightly left and to the side as you lift and place your right foot up on the chair in btwn the person’s open legs and put your right arm on person's shoulder or around back of the neck</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Hip Roll with right leg on the chair – slow 8 count </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">(Balance on his shoulders, as necessary) Lift foot off of chair and place it back down on the floor </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Walk around the chair in the opposite direction until you are in front of person again</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Note whether or not his legs are still open (if not, slink down and push them open again) </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Turn body to face sideways and sit on person’s left leg and place right hand on chair or around the back of next </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Arch to the back as far as you feel comfortable, raising your left leg up with a pointed toe – 4 count</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Push yourself back up; or pull against back of chair/his arm to get back up - 4 count</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><i>Move into floor work:</i></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Put both hands on seat btwn his legs and turn body to face him, knee down and go to floor and sit with right knee bent and left knee bent the opposite way on the floor. (Alternative: Slide off of his leg on to the floor and turn around and sit with your right knee bent and left knee bent the opposite way on the floor) </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Stretch right arm (Big gesture) on floor toward chair, then the left arm (big gesture) lift hips off of the floor leaning toward chair and sit back down; lift hips again</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">stretch both arms out on floor reaching toward chair and now head, slide hands and "drag" them back toward body</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">With left hand stroke inner right thigh, use left hand to push leg out into straight or bent leg (yoga pigeon pose, if you have the flexibility)</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Use left hand to pick left leg up and bend it in front of you, foot on the floor and looking at person in chair</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Lean back on both hands on the floor and lift the other leg and put right foot on the floor next to the left</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Shimmy back to floor, or just lay down and straighten legs on the floor<span> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">While lying on your back on the floor – bend knees and lift legs into the air, cross ankles with legs straight and toes pointed (Optional "money shot" lift booties in the air a few inches and hold - 2 to 4 counts)</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Bend right leg and rub it up and down against the left leg straightened behind it (cricket) and reverse (4 counts on each leg)</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Uncross ankles and put big toes together side by side (legs are straight and toes are pointed) Begin single leg circles with right leg and then alternate using left leg (Keep the leg not making circular motion straight in the air with toes pointed). 4 circles on each leg.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Cross ankles again and swing both legs (bent and together) back and forth like a pendulum 4 swings in both directions<span> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Uncross ankles and put big toes together side by side (legs are straight and toes are pointed), slide both hands up the leg from thighs to ankles.<span> </span>Use hands to open both legs wide in a “V” and do a peek-a-boo with head thru the legs </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Optional: Open and close legs 4 times (do not use momentum – slowly open and close them)</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Lower both feet to a flat position on the floor, knees are bent and facing the ceiling, legs are apart… Lift the pelvis and hips off of the floor – 4 count; lower them back down to the floor - 4 count</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Lift up – 1 count; lower 1 count; repeat 3 times and leave pelvis and hips in up position on the 3<sup>rd</sup> repetition </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Do a circle with the hips in the air – optional: repeat</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Lower pelvis and hips to the floor and straighten your left leg down on the floor (leave the right in bent position) hands are flat on the floor near hips</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Arch back and lift upper body off the floor so you are in a seated position with bent knees, move them around to the left and kneel </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Options for getting up:
<br />Use his chair for support – bend right knee and push up, then left</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Crawl closer to his chair and use his legs to help push your up <span> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">(You can lean over and give him a kiss and end your dance here)</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Or you can add a lap dance:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Move in close to the person's body and step over legs – first with right leg, then left </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Tease with your hips – side-to-side just slightly above the person's lap </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Lower yourself down further (sit on the person if you want) – do circular rotations with your chest - <span> </span>8 circles clockwise</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Lift <span> </span>up (off lap) and touch the top of the person's head, shoulders, chest, etc.<span> </span>(BREATHE) <span> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Lower yourself down again (sit on the person if you want) – do circular rotations with your chest - in the opposite direction – 8 circles </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">With each hand firmly on the person's shoulders/back of chair</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Step right leg back over the person's leg and push yourself off and bring your left leg up and over the person's other leg… </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Walk backwards using sexy arms – 8 count</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">(You can end the dance here)</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Or, add the strip tease with large men’s shirt/robe (Recommend rayon/blend rather than 100% cotton, only the last button in the front is closed, sleeves are rolled to be about ¾ on your arms):</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Facing the chair move holding the collar/buttons area of shirt in each hand, moving it around – to take it off:<span> </span>Slide your right arm over to your left (Inside the shirt) and move your left arm out of the left sleeve; next move in a circle, when back is facing the chair use your left hand to move the right arm out of the right sleeve; when you eventually face the chair both arms are “free” inside shirt.<span> </span>Begin to turn the shirt around from the inside so the back of shirt is now facing front.<span> </span>Optional – put shirt in move and use both hands to unsnap your bra – toss it towards chair… </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Let go of shirt and move hips in a circle until shirt hits the ground.<span> </span>Optional: step the left foot out of the shirt on the floor, then “kick” the shirt with right foot</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">You can end dance by walking over to shirt, arch back as you bend over to pick it up – bring it up sexy.<span> </span>Then stand up, throw shirt over your shoulder, wink and walk away.
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<br /></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Ix4gXlgD6elg7vE0HZLsYjFpW25YLig7dTC-le2EzUygd-7xECf_kPaiYrmGlq6grdbZWXyNORsLMwNRFqisTx5voAbJiMcKJQNzDxrMorFl64FUF9oA7raV_KR2QJ1IPsvgk5boVWo/s1600/summer.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 115px; height: 154px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Ix4gXlgD6elg7vE0HZLsYjFpW25YLig7dTC-le2EzUygd-7xECf_kPaiYrmGlq6grdbZWXyNORsLMwNRFqisTx5voAbJiMcKJQNzDxrMorFl64FUF9oA7raV_KR2QJ1IPsvgk5boVWo/s200/summer.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640403651644427458" border="0" /></a></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKXAXhmdWYXVF8sV-9396GyVXxcwpfold5jc45Ok1q9fK3y5hxSQHioo-gKqXOemp_BigXFh7uZXXymn0jxiBpkYI4iXx0aD_Z47NCQ7TExidE2omukqM083X-95xq89B6RgzAIZ1-SA/s1600/shana.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKXAXhmdWYXVF8sV-9396GyVXxcwpfold5jc45Ok1q9fK3y5hxSQHioo-gKqXOemp_BigXFh7uZXXymn0jxiBpkYI4iXx0aD_Z47NCQ7TExidE2omukqM083X-95xq89B6RgzAIZ1-SA/s200/shana.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640403648090295058" border="0" /></a></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zXTlehvBg-mX-Be2sN0_uYbkJred6IpPNcbOOTwXZ7K63YuFCauqvM0ME6m-8N36liRLEMWPWsaPZlAUZdT2heECRhegGGe-VdO7jAobZk8ighldMQ09fd8VC0_jK8LrYXlbr-hysSE/s1600/kristin+dance.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 90px; height: 154px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zXTlehvBg-mX-Be2sN0_uYbkJred6IpPNcbOOTwXZ7K63YuFCauqvM0ME6m-8N36liRLEMWPWsaPZlAUZdT2heECRhegGGe-VdO7jAobZk8ighldMQ09fd8VC0_jK8LrYXlbr-hysSE/s200/kristin+dance.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640403642747813618" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQRv8cNjhEWyHqzhTEZo8QSqlqeVEHjm5Wlz7ktgs8fVavRLIPGfbDuJTKna1Rd0LBUh6tUAi2VUIDp5yhi2PW9edGXCMJxSMp4M0RHEHKxEvXhFYbA1klZ-C0yi0YvpSRzrtgraA9V4/s1600/ashli.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 95px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQRv8cNjhEWyHqzhTEZo8QSqlqeVEHjm5Wlz7ktgs8fVavRLIPGfbDuJTKna1Rd0LBUh6tUAi2VUIDp5yhi2PW9edGXCMJxSMp4M0RHEHKxEvXhFYbA1klZ-C0yi0YvpSRzrtgraA9V4/s200/ashli.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640403636088024562" border="0" /></a></div>AshliAGMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13522532870450723804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607086927719822737.post-87417683872396185802010-11-30T11:02:00.000-05:002011-03-10T11:49:36.888-05:00TAOS Activity #7 - Adult Cupcakes Demo and Wine Tasting<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><br /></u></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNKLAWJCyqnlrheuqXj2rvVF69ribtvwNe2EhMhyKbJU4wKttQDq_0-RPKBWIx61feaQ5d8WozBsPdfMBZH32jRi9sXU4C-2KO9kxS4MjULQAR50HFqlQY5d8Ifeuc6sxBDp5Ion0yAjR/s1600/IMG_2125.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNKLAWJCyqnlrheuqXj2rvVF69ribtvwNe2EhMhyKbJU4wKttQDq_0-RPKBWIx61feaQ5d8WozBsPdfMBZH32jRi9sXU4C-2KO9kxS4MjULQAR50HFqlQY5d8Ifeuc6sxBDp5Ion0yAjR/s320/IMG_2125.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582490004696112242" /></a><div><div><div>Tuesday, November 30, 2010</div><div>6:30 - 9:30pm<br />Open Kitchen<br />7115 Leesburg Pike #107<br />Falls Church, VA 22043</div><div><br />From the website:<br />"Join Open Kitchen for this delicious demonstration class where Chef Matt will delight and surprise you with a variety of “adult” cupcakes, from his famous Guinness Cupcakes to Red Velvet Chocolate Port Cupcakes. You’ll learn how easy and joyful it is to bake delicious cupcakes from scratch. Once these scrumptious treats are baked and frosted, our Wine Expert Andy Hoyle will step in and share his recommendations for pairing them with an assortment of white, red, and sparkling wines. You will learn which cupcakes pair best with certain wines and why." </div><div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhtR_B0nUpp9o56_a0umDDh4E8qIggLAQ1jb-aDq47fYQ0FB7wjs-gPG74elvIUrW5cVRhpEWq9iBsw2oX6sYfbRl2vLGGs_C0NZwOL_bbTTog77jDlUQhzc343zRny1bflyAl0S2OGbE/s320/use+this.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 233px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582490795760630034" />This activity was not as hands on as previous ones, but with the holidays right around the corner this demo sounded too fun to pass up. We arrived at Open Kitchen and took our seats at the bar which had an excellent view of the </div><div>kitchen. We enjoyed a small appetizer plate of meats and cheeses while the handsome Chef Matt demonstrated how to make the first cupcakes on the menu, Blueberry Lemon Cupcakes with Meyer Lemon Chardonnay Frosting. After he was finished with the demonstration, wine expert Andy explained why he chose each wine to go with the cupcakes. We got to taste each of the cupcakes on the menu and the wines together…and each “taste” of wine was a very generous portion! Wine Expert Andy ended each explanation by saying, “Enjoy…and have fun with it!” in his cheerful southern accent.<br />The cupcakes tasted better as we drank more wine…was this the reason for the generous pours? </div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNsdiyUWdoRNkzmnfOTA-WRkUY52j4P6ch1qDt5hTCsMotKYW26N7zIESeywQvznbXM_peyhOt7tao8AD0MpoVWomi4XsBoZDTb18Q-9mdcRQ7SxGA-yi2PnMgATwBBjf76HdIaRfznWwZ/s320/IMG_2124.JPG" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582491105841089874" /><div><br />Menu:<br /><br />Blueberry-Lemon Cupcakes with Meyer Lemon Chardonnay Frosting paired with Osborne Pedro Ximenez Sherry, Santa Maria, Spain<br /><br />White Chocolate Cupcakes Topped with Fresh Strawberries and Basil paired with Segura Viudas, Aria Pinot Noir Brut, Cava Spain<br /><br />Lemon-Macadamia Cupcakes with Rosemary paired with Sauvignon Blanc, Vermonte, Casablanca Valley, Chile<br /><br />Dark Chocolate and Chipotle Cupcakes with Candied Orange Peel paired with Banfi Rosa Regale, Strevi, Italy<br /><br />Red Velvet Chocolate Port Cupcakes paired with Terra d’Oro Zinfandel Port, Amador County, CA<br /><br />Guinness Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting paired with Guinness Beer<br /><br />We enjoyed this activity even though it was a demonstration instead of a hands-on class. I doubt if we will ever make these “adult” cupcakes on our own but it was fun to learn about the wine pairings. Chef Matt was so handsome and fun that some of us are considering signing up for his soufflé class!</div></div></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWUfP960K-LzDiXytajgYLQ_tRMWtY_SFl5kDnKs2u-JKCg9894Ohbl_8-6JWbjc8F4lcxOfeZGLy5OAo2Fr_kjLr6oMjyMYjreEBY3QFu4qvl4U2rGBIUcJ288NsMq3VJzHkta8HwgoM1/s1600/group.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWUfP960K-LzDiXytajgYLQ_tRMWtY_SFl5kDnKs2u-JKCg9894Ohbl_8-6JWbjc8F4lcxOfeZGLy5OAo2Fr_kjLr6oMjyMYjreEBY3QFu4qvl4U2rGBIUcJ288NsMq3VJzHkta8HwgoM1/s400/group.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582492057889008290" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Summerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17648617896553700374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607086927719822737.post-26168974037332693412010-10-20T14:35:00.000-04:002011-01-10T21:40:46.356-05:00Activity #6 - Cheerleading!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIhDC_-4qg_93dOfz1q2x7APe3ndCDmCHev6Ir49Dg611i1IVh78t_pyxK9KWN802AXKq9C2JVMtbmdDh_PD8WqYdGoDmB_cfq2LCUVQ7nCgzKdFTQX2_oPRthQuC63KxM32g_YpxqG1b/s1600/cheer2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540614597734905650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIhDC_-4qg_93dOfz1q2x7APe3ndCDmCHev6Ir49Dg611i1IVh78t_pyxK9KWN802AXKq9C2JVMtbmdDh_PD8WqYdGoDmB_cfq2LCUVQ7nCgzKdFTQX2_oPRthQuC63KxM32g_YpxqG1b/s320/cheer2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: right; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">October 18, 2010</span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Oakton, VA<br />
Cost: approx $45 a person included session & lite fare afterwards</span></span></div><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://foxybodyfitness.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span">http://foxybodyfitness.com</span></a></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://cupcakesactually.com/" style="color: #3d74a5; text-decoration: none;"></a></span>Once a Cheerleader, Always a Cheerleader….<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Some of us were thinking that we all might have a similar learning curve on this activity since it had been 15-20 years since the former cheerleaders in the club actually cheered. This was NOT the case. Some members excelled….. so, RAH RAH RAH Kristin & Summer!!!!</span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">To others (okay – maybe just OTHER) the onl</span></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">y spirit they were able to capture was the spirit of Club <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">TAOS</st1:place></st1:city>… by stepping out of their</span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> comfort zone to TRY ANYTHING ONCE.</span></span></span></span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This activity was our first at-home activity and we had </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Christie from FoxyBodyFitness come to Shana’s house to instruct us. Christie’s company specializes in at-home personal training but Christie was kind enough to customize an hour session for us which focused on cheering. </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Christie was perfect –she had even created a <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">TAOS</st1:place></st1:city> cheer for us to learn!</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">In addition to learning 2 cheers, we learned how to stand and speak terms unfamiliar to some of us such as “just call it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540614736699478722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShsflyeIXzmm4vn-nUe4nG0UB0mLL5eTOoVy1GQnoglIbkljNpENM2KD8Xi38QKorqJ19my6Vz613l-PoxbWOO_aiuqzbEdk_wDgpj9S1GaHv0Zj043FpD76YxBophT8Lt5n8lAAD-26D/s320/cheer.jpg" style="float: right; height: 233px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">We really had a blast – Ashli claimed to never have cheered but was soon teaching the “Victory” move to the hopeless member. Kristin was nominated TAOS Captain because she seemed to bounce right back into her highschool cheerleading days– complete with ponytails… and Summer deserves a big cheer herself for returning to her first post-baby activity with such spirit.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">If our enthusiasm is not obvious to you in the video below, please know that we had it in our hearts…</span></span></span></div></div><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyNOMsyeSOljotEKe_TOqVzQ8W4KbLa3nh3VmSXJ55pC7-P7MUqPShrIfkrJgKT1dXswarx8Xk476OmUG_ntA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
After Christie left, we sat around Shana's kitchen table for some light dinner, drinks, and discussion. We LOVED our cheerleading session and hope to work with Christie again someday!!shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16330033721833386687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607086927719822737.post-50360754268835652252010-07-29T21:18:00.000-04:002010-11-16T21:28:07.052-05:00Activity #5 - Cupcakes, Actually!<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2U3HMA5bgdtrlRADzLQjamyAUM4YagsUI0aXOgciQO4QdRLtzaHZVlzOGpLsggfZkFOqDhg9Iht6uzMf0-DoI0IkHMeVHlrhP66MZs4IgCA31ypKHBzNEShBhTPIk8j6J0EBadFlZxcE/s1600/TAOS+at+Coastal+Flats.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540271150944302130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2U3HMA5bgdtrlRADzLQjamyAUM4YagsUI0aXOgciQO4QdRLtzaHZVlzOGpLsggfZkFOqDhg9Iht6uzMf0-DoI0IkHMeVHlrhP66MZs4IgCA31ypKHBzNEShBhTPIk8j6J0EBadFlZxcE/s400/TAOS+at+Coastal+Flats.jpg" style="float: left; height: 268px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 400px;" /></a></div><br />
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July 28, 2010<br />
Cupcake Tasting ~ Cupcakes, Actually!<br />
Fairfax, VA<br />
Cost: approx $13 per person for cupcakes and bottled water, plus drinks & dinner at Coastal Flats<br />
<a href="http://cupcakesactually.com/">http://cupcakesactually.com/</a><br />
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We switched things up a bit this time... meeting first at Coastal Flats for drinks and dinner and debriefing of the "much ado about nothing" experience at Judy Harris' Cooking School (see Activity #4). We quickly moved onto other topics and simply catching up with one another and revisting summer vacations, etc. While three out of four TAOS members were getting their drink on - and someone was spilling her food and John Daly's on the table - our mama-to-be member "allowed" her sistas to indulge in Labor and Delivery talk. Just what every new mom needs/wants to hear 10 days before she's about to give birth, right?!?! This discussion only lasted so long, as we all realized that we'd digressed WAY too far from our original purpose of meeting (TAOS Activity #5)... and more food and drinks were (perhaps?) spilled and our too young and too full of himself waiter had one too many "cute"anecdotes... SO, we paid our bill and headed down the lane of Fairfax Corner to Cupcakes Actually,<a href="http://cupcakesactually.com/"> </a>where our activity was tasting and evaluating a variety of cupcakes. After a rocking<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBGuN7IbKt6qp-DhAIS8hzdSExBaB2A8BkuWePNHkZiMA2oo0r6wX0ULvCiscbEhNX59xZmzNHBwxgTfkyD7bccvLpMYr0VxvkySef5Id7Cg9Stc8NE49dDVatZTyhiv_J3gRe0ZmugA/s1600/cupcake+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540270470990888578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBGuN7IbKt6qp-DhAIS8hzdSExBaB2A8BkuWePNHkZiMA2oo0r6wX0ULvCiscbEhNX59xZmzNHBwxgTfkyD7bccvLpMYr0VxvkySef5Id7Cg9Stc8NE49dDVatZTyhiv_J3gRe0ZmugA/s200/cupcake+2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 160px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 240px;" /></a>, yet somewhat amusing, start to our evening, we thought this sounded pretty fun and delicious!<br />
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The Cupcakery's website boasts:<br />
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"<span class="homeTag">We are Cupcake Snobs."</span><br />
<span class="homeTag"> </span> <br />
"We are not bashful about our feelings for our cupcake beauties. They are made by our chefs … right in our shop kitchen in bustling Fairfax Corner. These gems aren’t your mom’s cupcakes (no offense to your mom)."<br />
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"Our weekly cupcake lineup features an exquisite variety of gourmet flavors. Our three exclusive signature cupcakes are dipped – lavishly bathed in top-coats of chocolate and caramel. Using personally-crafted recipes using local and premium ingredients, our cupcakes are made fresh from scratch daily."<br />
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This sounded like our kind of place! Indulging in the best of the best - a personal motto for many of us! Also, we had done our pre-activity homework which included: At Cupcakes Actually, we will each select two (yes, two) of their signature cupcakes priced at $3.05-$3.50 each. We will have a set of criteria by which we will conduct our own "tasting" of the cupcakes. Yes, you have to share. Upon selecting your cupcakes, you will need to consider the following:<br />
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1) The first selection should be your no-brainer, go-to cupcake -- something that you would pick without thinking twice. The one cupcake that your tummy must have. (Three words for me: Cuckoo for Coconut!)<br />
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2) The second cupcake will be a selection of something you *think* you would like, but might be a tad out of your comfort zone.<br />
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3) We must all select different cupcakes so there will be discussion. Be prepared to fight for and defend your selection.<br />
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4) You will have a "tasting sheet" for us to conduct our own cupcake tasting. Additionally, we will discuss why we chose the cupcakes we did, any emotions it evokes or fond memories that arise from the flavor, appearance and cupcake name.<br />
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So we walked up to Cupcakes Actually hoping to taste the top 2 cupcakes on our respective lists... there was a line out the door which we took as a good sign! Upon arriving at Cupcakes Actually, we had limited choices of what cupcakes we could purchase - no fighting or defending of choices here! None of the cupcakes featured on their website were available on this night... so with our mission in mind, we purchased a dozen cupcakes - at least one of each kind offered in the bakery and doubled up on a couple flavors in order to complete our dozen. We sat outside on this steamy July night and began to taste and rate our cupcakes - two different cupca<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCmTae_U8MPWUDQcEYYJXQfd3uR_BfrohUkaKUp4JbN5eRyqKsBPx9whigpPtrDo0vvih7Y512P_EzT2qwQQjX-ZStLovASmikeoEMvskdEx3j1fUYox4URCBuXRHtvuMeoVtkFj2gpE/s1600/cupcakes.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540269241092102034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCmTae_U8MPWUDQcEYYJXQfd3uR_BfrohUkaKUp4JbN5eRyqKsBPx9whigpPtrDo0vvih7Y512P_EzT2qwQQjX-ZStLovASmikeoEMvskdEx3j1fUYox4URCBuXRHtvuMeoVtkFj2gpE/s200/cupcakes.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 206px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 289px;" /></a>kes a piece - and then we passed our cupcakes around the table so that we actually tasted 8 different cupcakes! (Sidebar: the other 4 out of the dozen were saved for our husbands - aren't we thoughtful?) We shared our reviews and rating sheet for each one we "taste tested." The clear consensus was that most of the cupcakes were dry... most of the icing was too sweet... and most of us wouldn't spend $3.50 on this kind of dessert again if we had to choose between Cupcakes Actually and Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream right around the corner. There was ONE cupcake that got rave reviews from all the sistas - the flourless chocolate cup<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRytY8G8cZSgQKHkOxk0cJMq_UREK7FMttTD-RAY53Y8CotXqRStaQBON60y97eWcMvT3X_5yX77Lneg824W5D2NkQ1xyChYnRSnYh_vHMoEJHw1jMKfjP6PdIshUsILV2ZOh7KTeKM-M/s1600/cupcake+choc.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540270800199064402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRytY8G8cZSgQKHkOxk0cJMq_UREK7FMttTD-RAY53Y8CotXqRStaQBON60y97eWcMvT3X_5yX77Lneg824W5D2NkQ1xyChYnRSnYh_vHMoEJHw1jMKfjP6PdIshUsILV2ZOh7KTeKM-M/s320/cupcake+choc.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 142px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 213px;" /></a>cake with decadent chocolate icing was delish!<br />
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All in all, it was a fun, low-key event filled with laughter-induced sugar highs! Wonder what will be next for Activity #6? Stay tuned...KDMKelsohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00477847876215700098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607086927719822737.post-52906733746681002052010-06-08T23:00:00.004-04:002010-07-27T15:14:28.778-04:00Activity # 4 – Herbs & Edible Flowers Cooking Class<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTZZnghkF-zFeyeprATfeN4iE17HSQSth8fbWl-Otu6cKE3gh0hDc5A4oWOn2P-vPiek8ZDvnkxuUHT8oyiqXo_4aeS-dL0G9CkURh6bv_bSWfkmmgt7sQFCXu4VYtvOVkjhJed_L9asT/s1600/daqs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498587960073253026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 233px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTZZnghkF-zFeyeprATfeN4iE17HSQSth8fbWl-Otu6cKE3gh0hDc5A4oWOn2P-vPiek8ZDvnkxuUHT8oyiqXo_4aeS-dL0G9CkURh6bv_bSWfkmmgt7sQFCXu4VYtvOVkjhJed_L9asT/s320/daqs.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div>Tuesday, June 8<br />Judy Harris Cooking School<br />Alexandria, VA<br />Cost: $65 per person, included dinner on premises<br />http://www.judyharris.com/<br /><br /><strong>New TAOS rule: While on premises of an activity, please refrain from mentioning that there is a blog.</strong><br /><br />From the Judy Harris Cooking School website: "Everyone raves about our herb classes. Spring is the perfect time to explore growing, cooking and decorating with fresh herbs from your garden, pots, or market! Students visit our garden and pick a variety of fragrant herbs and colorful edible flowers. We will prepare and serve a light spring dinner. Explore how to start or enhance your herb garden, selecting the best varieties, discover top local herb markets, fun cooking techniques, pretty presentations and much more. Take home five popular herbs and a practical herb-growing guide."<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOq0W65AXSjRbHKEMMt2Odx75e0ljAKUT7fIKoiTY-j_NdVUe-4dIMNOprGf5ExonaAXWDYvcck89C6XY4RHZAVQImLzpFediJ4Uck2xiogZ5Fg_VYdOsfmdQqp1-W_YWyq2a-sLJvmLZ/s1600/garden.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498587559453595346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 233px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOq0W65AXSjRbHKEMMt2Odx75e0ljAKUT7fIKoiTY-j_NdVUe-4dIMNOprGf5ExonaAXWDYvcck89C6XY4RHZAVQImLzpFediJ4Uck2xiogZ5Fg_VYdOsfmdQqp1-W_YWyq2a-sLJvmLZ/s320/garden.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Those of us who had never been to a cooking class might have expected a large kitchen and were a bit surprised when we pulled up to the modest home of Judy Harris. However, Judy greeted us with a warm welcome (as did Inge, the lovely assistant) and directed us to wash our hands and take a seat so that we co<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACSlaC0y_d8hpWlt6knkD8f5iZnK-ID9P3QC2Adhgp3zCY6RZcyu1YCar3GWDFQ7vY0RafFCTBGl0xngwRvfs_czrJgT5A0GDoXGuv8jwPlWTAU6S01x9wk3MhNaVOzRFM39qKXkw8WtL/s1600/shana+with+basket.jpg"></a>uld get started. A look around the kitchen let us know that Judy wasn’t one for fancy or flashy modern cooking appliances - except, of course, for the prized Vitamix 5000.<br /><br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDhsccJUdA4ckIoZlnC3reVgpg34rCLfz1Xi_2dVNBtc8avqf7poKReh_Sm7y1eDiHh4Mp9AeL8i4Wxnq1WxUXhQXaR7jcbbkrO_oRd29-NrR2EsbQolSj3I31EJtzlN_Rio6e2vtpMlz/s1600/shana+with+basket.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498666277051913106" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 146px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDhsccJUdA4ckIoZlnC3reVgpg34rCLfz1Xi_2dVNBtc8avqf7poKReh_Sm7y1eDiHh4Mp9AeL8i4Wxnq1WxUXhQXaR7jcbbkrO_oRd29-NrR2EsbQolSj3I31EJtzlN_Rio6e2vtpMlz/s200/shana+with+basket.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>The class began with some explanation about herbs and then a stroll through Judy’s herb garden, carefully cultivated over the past few decades. We spent a lot of time in this garden learning how to smell herbs, grow them and use them. Hmmm…did we see another kind of “herb” in the very back of her garden? We would not have been surprised given Judy’s “retro” (polite way of saying stuck in 1970)<br />lifestyle. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NM-aHFdnR1HGYXTECY47BTATlbJqaI18-E5x2kdkMh6m9fwSg0N2yyQeA1U-JaIbOOtp-CMX8CwaS6aL6chiVkZuP9VzUDePjX9buznMIfWe47iqZrzjHa3XtwSn-HpiOnzoblXHQ0PQ/s1600/garden2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498587767214950962" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 233px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NM-aHFdnR1HGYXTECY47BTATlbJqaI18-E5x2kdkMh6m9fwSg0N2yyQeA1U-JaIbOOtp-CMX8CwaS6aL6chiVkZuP9VzUDePjX9buznMIfWe47iqZrzjHa3XtwSn-HpiOnzoblXHQ0PQ/s320/garden2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The first recipe to make and enjoy was the banana mint daiquiris. How deliciously different… and the class certainly got a bit louder from this point on. We divided into groups to make the rest of the recipes and made the wise decision of including our new friend Ruth so that we didn’t have to work quite as hard. Ruth was fun and knew everybody that was anybody in the DC metropolitan area.<br /><br />Our group had the apple muffins and the sage butter. The other group had the lovage soup. You might think that is a typo – it’s not – it is lovage and if you have never tried it, you probably never will. We prepared our recipes in the food processor and did not get to use the prized Vitamix 5000 - that was for the lovage soup group.<br /><br />Judy’s somewhat small kitchen got much smaller and louder during the cooking time. The groups were trying to quickly prepare their recipes with little instruction on empty stomachs after <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsecqwamrCZ6rQgThULrEWHG1E-7F83U0ROUdRuMXWOw67eJXuJTAZQFbkOPQMY9jgUxaP8U81JQq5EoT9CofmHJmwMZxLV813l1qp74ZE8f278JUITG2qAo9t2ERjfnKJdCR2Fuej7Kh/s1600/Kristinshanasummer+muffins.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498588281224407106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 233px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsecqwamrCZ6rQgThULrEWHG1E-7F83U0ROUdRuMXWOw67eJXuJTAZQFbkOPQMY9jgUxaP8U81JQq5EoT9CofmHJmwMZxLV813l1qp74ZE8f278JUITG2qAo9t2ERjfnKJdCR2Fuej7Kh/s320/Kristinshanasummer+muffins.jpg" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498588458566654482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 233px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCzB3ijO9IuHVwVaccfJbdZ7ImpkbO3jWecyCQJDZn1QS8mqx-2roJYJLWX6GxmOiZ4hYVlV3grb23-3e1_gBwbFn6tyZQjvadB3jIpPDbmZw5Q2jXLtnLwrfNbCYd0FD9ynfRMi-S0Ak/s320/Summer+measuring.jpg" border="0" />a daiquiri. This part of the class reminded us of 7th grade Home Economics - Judy would not let anyone talk while she was talking, and told us we were measuring the flour wrong because we did not “fluff” it first. It quickly got much later and was pitch dark by the time the lemon-thyme chicken was thrown onto the grill. Some students appeared a bit cranky – maybe even one or two members of TAOS - but eventually we all sat down to a delicious meal in Judy’s 1970s decorated dining room. When we say delicious, we mean it! Dessert was rosemary sorbet made in an interesting antique ice cream machine…definitely a 1972 original model! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPqf73scYJlUyYZ-Fg06Ahu9bB2OEyKgF4_s5T9k9H9vW2W-AYGBKDLl8uU7N4CL7l012kbLdvpb_CfQhSTn5SZybiAAaA6Pl1iuNR65FuXWPqyLJ8KH07AX3SVVTme3g_HKtaSLWSu1f/s1600/busy+group.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498588557398843874" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 233px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPqf73scYJlUyYZ-Fg06Ahu9bB2OEyKgF4_s5T9k9H9vW2W-AYGBKDLl8uU7N4CL7l012kbLdvpb_CfQhSTn5SZybiAAaA6Pl1iuNR65FuXWPqyLJ8KH07AX3SVVTme3g_HKtaSLWSu1f/s320/busy+group.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It seemed as though we had all been through a lot to prepare this meal together and it showed. We spent dinner time getting to know each other even more and at some point we spilled the beans on the blog. Judy (& Ruth) quickly wanted all of the club & website information “this is going to be on the internet!!!??" Uh oh. We tried to remain politely tightlipped and said our goodbyes. This was a great activity – a wonderful adventure & certainly a night we will never forget.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498587278044498834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 233px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgPj2FQMEmfK0VRPam5QGeKpk4mGzA1za0do0o2UPuMqOmwHX2bdNpvESUpuRfF6HbzhqAJcY5rC5mjz5v0mbu0bbH5LYcgDfz-eM8ypQNKLk8daLrqVHPb1hhPI2TvDIRML61HA5-AUG/s320/herb+group.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div>shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16330033721833386687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607086927719822737.post-52827761223672503672010-03-24T16:30:00.030-04:002010-03-26T16:09:59.500-04:00Activity # 3 - Bottling BeerMarch 11, 2010<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>Shenandoah Brewing Company</div><div>Alexandria, VA<br />Cost: $32 per person, included dinner on premises<br /><a href="http://www.shenandoahbrewing.com/">http://www.shenandoahbrewing.com/</a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453031961842057186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 304px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 304px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvoavK9tFKkyxXTehDiUZfub6YlTLt_gXr96TBrjID3o0GemaP06G3UKg5oLLKKXMPnZH2ypnoAtfTymd-T8gl_O8ShJK9Vy5K6KwECoo9ZIl7lDYX8z0L76HnJhG70-R9h_pJKnTzzwA4/s320/group+beer+2bw.bmp" border="0" />From their website: You will make an a<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dDmyT5qRiAuyaX-upRgJGArb2UHcFfF-le3UPxDyu9XsegnkI715xpP2yqt78CdJHPpuU7W1ulbNSXtJ8hS-cQE4TLiK2yilb6gv_Tzt-v6IovhJkj3rMyNxxBq2kGaxTyh4ZhfiWIS1/s1600/group+beer+2bw.bmp"></a>ppointment for bottling at the time you brew. When you come to bottle, your beer will be carbonated and ready to drink. You will put lables on your bottles, wash bottles in your bottle washer and fill the bottles with beer in our automatic fillers. You can sample your own beer while you are bottling. Bottling will take you about 2 hours.<br /><br />Alright, let’s re-write this for them. First, a sentence needs to be added about NOT changing the scheduled beer bottling date. (We had a few things come up including a broken limb.) This place is closed MOST days of the week - making it quite difficult to cancel in advance. Second, we did not get to label our beers on this night because of the condensation. We did get to see how they cute they turned out - misspellings and all! Third, we feel that the term “automatic filler” is perhaps a bit misleading!!! And 2 hours? Ha!</div><br /><div>Since this is was second trip to Shenandoah Brewing Company (See <a href="http://clubtaos.blogspot.com/2010/03/activity-2-making-mixing-brewing-beer.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Activity #2 – Making, Mixing & Brewing Beer</a>), we strolled in like we knew everything, instantly recognizing the lovely beer smell and familiar cafeteria-like lighting! This time we were assigned to Joe. As soon as he opened his mouth we realized he was a bit irritated that we had to reschedule our bottling date… (twice, but who is counting?) However, once he chatted with us a few minutes and noticed Summer’s cast, he kindly waived our no-show fee and became our friend. I guess people have been rescheduling and over-using the broken limb excuse.</div><br /><div>After some brief instruction, we were hard at work – quickly realizing that this bottling process was not going to be as “fun” as brewing the beer. We had 5 cases of beer to sanitize… luckily, there was a user-friendly machine for this and Summer was able to help us push the button. After our bottles were clean, we listened to more instruction from Joe on how to fill and cap our bottles. He described what would happen if we failed to WIPE the bottom (butt) of our beer bottles “it will smell like ___” or how if we didn’t correctly line up the neck of the beer in the filling machine we would be “fighting a losing battle.”</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1gVndYVSwZYO92bFBh-WnjNEFuQVOGb0RQZD2aXHtfGeJEb7tsVhqoDdn95pSFwxyO35gXIjmhqT7D0rTje3LMop9W2cKoPqJBvtxkvGYCjb91oX8SzKd4j6_GSb3ReG-PMRe0Lcriwk/s1600/summer+button.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453033023836417506" style="WIDTH: 169px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 251px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1gVndYVSwZYO92bFBh-WnjNEFuQVOGb0RQZD2aXHtfGeJEb7tsVhqoDdn95pSFwxyO35gXIjmhqT7D0rTje3LMop9W2cKoPqJBvtxkvGYCjb91oX8SzKd4j6_GSb3ReG-PMRe0Lcriwk/s320/summer+button.bmp" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5jhWQsCXLYTDcEvQ2qQVAKQSgakHV5nlnp5EEl7zyE0cScKz61pYBC9aRNi-Mz-rZ-VwR99l3Qx2jfq_cQ1jSa7eLKtWfOW1pam4G4iKkr1h9vwqOG_lHTLKNVjm_ehhhDOUoIKlXjJag/s1600/bottles.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453033393692163362" style="WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 177px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5jhWQsCXLYTDcEvQ2qQVAKQSgakHV5nlnp5EEl7zyE0cScKz61pYBC9aRNi-Mz-rZ-VwR99l3Qx2jfq_cQ1jSa7eLKtWfOW1pam4G4iKkr1h9vwqOG_lHTLKNVjm_ehhhDOUoIKlXjJag/s320/bottles.bmp" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtH7eCQSkO6EF0MBJ359gkbidh81ibOi_3-ab1IdidsS-CmS1pj0jHNVFCYsSNnWcmodY6sfZ3DuI1EX_rrj_gS1qrnxdAwBEfOtV5tF8vqD44efVh0R3aMt2wnH-ME8QJ1jnuJH11YFx/s1600/beer+filler.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453033814171382706" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtH7eCQSkO6EF0MBJ359gkbidh81ibOi_3-ab1IdidsS-CmS1pj0jHNVFCYsSNnWcmodY6sfZ3DuI1EX_rrj_gS1qrnxdAwBEfOtV5tF8vqD44efVh0R3aMt2wnH-ME8QJ1jnuJH11YFx/s320/beer+filler.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>The next few hours were work! We had to individually fill each bottle of beer, and then cap (not easy, clearly a “capping elbow” hazard) and then wipe the butt of the beer. We sampled our beer (thanks Kristin!) while rotating stations (since there were four of us) and soon it seemed completely appropriate for Ashli to turn to Shana and ask loudly <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">“Did you wipe?”</span></strong> after Shana handed her a beer. What? Just hours before we were so lady-like, weren’t we? Here the four of us stood with sticky hands in the back of a terribly lit beer factory asking each other about wiping butts… This must be what this club is all about!<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYc2Fp6Zf68wLBq7t9nU_QugnOilWS2TKJQCVO3npzJV_k4Hi11WHdeBJpS4z7g0wxGewyrnignHifEqdr108lNO8IEKiMEs1tU6BilGLI-Ag4vrYiM4tQqEj2OacsWeP-GM3J7RAem17w/s1600/ashli+capping.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453033213421781506" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYc2Fp6Zf68wLBq7t9nU_QugnOilWS2TKJQCVO3npzJV_k4Hi11WHdeBJpS4z7g0wxGewyrnignHifEqdr108lNO8IEKiMEs1tU6BilGLI-Ag4vrYiM4tQqEj2OacsWeP-GM3J7RAem17w/s320/ashli+capping.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnT95yf99fswdnC3-Y5lTs3-Ora1nDPTZEQw5AUMwocEnw69klJ6FzeAzIBalHTKERhltERyeb0E97uwt8FPykd3tM5b89feF-FAu7dHJT3ycehlDEBWHcbXiukHPQICmRXCzSDT3MmUm5/s1600/shana+and+kristin+beer.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453034209222817650" style="WIDTH: 247px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 171px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnT95yf99fswdnC3-Y5lTs3-Ora1nDPTZEQw5AUMwocEnw69klJ6FzeAzIBalHTKERhltERyeb0E97uwt8FPykd3tM5b89feF-FAu7dHJT3ycehlDEBWHcbXiukHPQICmRXCzSDT3MmUm5/s320/shana+and+kristin+beer.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Joe explained that our beer needed to stay in the bottle for 2 weeks before we drank it so that the carbonation would settle and the full flavor would come through. Our expert opinion was that our beer tasted delicious, but was missing that “nutty” taste… oh, right, it needs to “NUT UP!”<br />After a tired recap - “I liked this activity” - over microwaved chili & sandwiches, we headed home with our 28-29 bottles of beer each to enjoy – and label - at our convenience.<br />We really did enjoy this activity - and most of us have been enjoying the beer too! One of us will need to wait until mid-August...<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2Rreo6TN99B5jetjYnS0QW6wbzatpph8waD-1Wmp9kEBA0HvqGPvsp3Ki2wpen580Z4Hrs86MlD4QAWtDyF531kG8N3vw5zBRV41I6eWxJ73EpR4q47JqezAXtynd3m2xYaaESrxkI-4/s1600/Label+to+use.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453035268361438498" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 152px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2Rreo6TN99B5jetjYnS0QW6wbzatpph8waD-1Wmp9kEBA0HvqGPvsp3Ki2wpen580Z4Hrs86MlD4QAWtDyF531kG8N3vw5zBRV41I6eWxJ73EpR4q47JqezAXtynd3m2xYaaESrxkI-4/s320/Label+to+use.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp21z9Rz6j-dlRYYXhq-YtMj3Pg-Fmb6_Lb9qpXMZUZVBD6dAX4krhj37zmWTNu1c0CKkd-RKtTjNP2s1SoLMGHuGXnUzl2hbC2fhB3b_jBUZcCVh4cL1V5gCPR9WVwZdbswgL3G9F9RVh/s1600/label+on+beer.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453036632652716466" style="WIDTH: 256px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 205px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp21z9Rz6j-dlRYYXhq-YtMj3Pg-Fmb6_Lb9qpXMZUZVBD6dAX4krhj37zmWTNu1c0CKkd-RKtTjNP2s1SoLMGHuGXnUzl2hbC2fhB3b_jBUZcCVh4cL1V5gCPR9WVwZdbswgL3G9F9RVh/s320/label+on+beer.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>shanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16330033721833386687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607086927719822737.post-16880498429606046952010-01-17T22:14:00.012-05:002010-03-18T14:05:48.261-04:00Activity #2 – Making, Mixing & Brewing Beer<div style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif">January 16, 2010<br />Shenandoah Brewing Company<br />Alexandria, VA</div><div style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif">Cost: $50 pp, plus flight of beers and lunch on premises</div><div style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif"><a href="http://www.shenandoahbrewing.com/">http://www.shenandoahbrewing.com/</a><a href="http:///"></a></div><br /><div style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif">Shenandoah Brewing Company is the DC area's one and only brew-on-premise -- a Do-It-Yourself brewery. And it totally rocks. We definitely kicked things up from the somber-December-volunteering event with this gig. With steam kettles, wort chillers, temperature-controlled fermentation and aging rooms, automatic bottle washers and fillers, Club TAOS was totally set to chef up a mean batch (aka 5 cases) of our very own brew: Nutty TAOS Ale (a light nut brown ale… not too girly, not too lame, and tasty enough to impress our husbands – we hope).<br /></div><br /><div style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif">While we did all the brewing, Andrew was there to help. And help, he did. It was 10 AM on a sunny, frigid Saturday and we were sipping samples of beer as soon as we got in the door. Helpful. He helped us with the recipe, ingredients, and guidance. But, he left us quite alone a bit too so we had plenty of guidance and knowledge-sharing from the older gentlemen who have been brewing together for nearly 10 years at Shenandoah. The ingredients we used were the same ingredients used by our commercial brewing operation - fresh grains, pellet hops, and yeast appropriate to the beer style.</div><br /><br /><div style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif">Brewing is definitely a social activity. We made a few friends during the 3+ hours it took to brew. They helped us understand that we needed to scrape the bubbles off the sides of the boilers, stir slowly, watch the heat temp and repeat. While this activity was a bit labor intensive, super scientific and a bit stinky at moments, there were several periods of idle time too, making it easy for us to sip, brew, eat, sip, brew, stir, eat… Waiting time can be filled with darts (we did not), foosball (we did not), and checking out the old school beer can collection that lines the bathroom walls (we did – many times). Let’s not forget the time we spent creating our custom labels for our bottles, our little Nutty TAOS Ale.<br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-size:x-small;"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDMkfzY1yWkJLADhg8Jz_9XvNqEvP9C53doo_7DOeCn41Io_lsfmcZtrVu5KKUalIRhSVgFC7F6seZ5qZqv9rOxbaFGqJHckq-MTR_yG5RcRrrXL8ZGpikEkiLA2TEHQ8VfZtu2xyrLpM/s1600-h/IMG_1188.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDMkfzY1yWkJLADhg8Jz_9XvNqEvP9C53doo_7DOeCn41Io_lsfmcZtrVu5KKUalIRhSVgFC7F6seZ5qZqv9rOxbaFGqJHckq-MTR_yG5RcRrrXL8ZGpikEkiLA2TEHQ8VfZtu2xyrLpM/s320/IMG_1188.JPG" border="0" /></a></span><br /></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center;font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;" ><span style="font-size:small;">Enter Chemistry 101: We made alcohol!</span></div><br /><p class="separator" style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0DhMsGat6_EXc0WFj__z4B-lvE1U48kcaH_xw59aZC_Di98UwxxrJFrOULPGbBk9yZPK-Zbf3TJLuBHsm28gZKzxFcUoUkdvBkVBNohPpSQC3w20R9SOrqkk_Z4en2cZYdmTTbAyD1mW/s1600-h/IMG_1169.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0DhMsGat6_EXc0WFj__z4B-lvE1U48kcaH_xw59aZC_Di98UwxxrJFrOULPGbBk9yZPK-Zbf3TJLuBHsm28gZKzxFcUoUkdvBkVBNohPpSQC3w20R9SOrqkk_Z4en2cZYdmTTbAyD1mW/s200/IMG_1169.JPG" width="200" border="0" /></a><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcyJ8Wa22RS6qDhDRKjNV6EjrJi35HwbODscLtPYiHnf_rpGRU0JmjmJMidvJUWO0i5mjcjK-bEuucNOmG06dv9H0-olZxu22SjaU5k9QOLacQqq90AIwgqRjEC33g4VTtuCzkuC2U_by/s1600-h/IMG_1170.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcyJ8Wa22RS6qDhDRKjNV6EjrJi35HwbODscLtPYiHnf_rpGRU0JmjmJMidvJUWO0i5mjcjK-bEuucNOmG06dv9H0-olZxu22SjaU5k9QOLacQqq90AIwgqRjEC33g4VTtuCzkuC2U_by/s200/IMG_1170.JPG" width="200" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxj39zPnZdg_-LWPlEbBI9ei3rFjL7fnuoLdOOBwkLUACeeUjTQjvCQpgFRCIzJXMhNu50RKarJAbvC5Z70opY91nkYi6sS4sJDk_E2sUuY0u9SV3CQ9z_fRgnBGffFQKuIIZhOKj3YbQ5/s1600-h/IMG_1149.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxj39zPnZdg_-LWPlEbBI9ei3rFjL7fnuoLdOOBwkLUACeeUjTQjvCQpgFRCIzJXMhNu50RKarJAbvC5Z70opY91nkYi6sS4sJDk_E2sUuY0u9SV3CQ9z_fRgnBGffFQKuIIZhOKj3YbQ5/s320/IMG_1149.JPG" width="240" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Recipe for a successful Nut Brown Ale<br /><br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450034296413371202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 198px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jQaQwr5EILMfGIcq1HyRZeeUh9oJfW1erBvqjLVlEcpn5uchYIXO8xQfjbGhfezv_2IcDTyBB5MJyCdJFLWb8rtx7dL4QuUYjuWav_ypSNPwRtZCGQVdO43un0epDMwVtnEsP8Y00vA2/s320/group+beer+bw.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div class="separator" style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUJteqgLgHSFGf9HFYwv4YBMQV8dfIoj6VLNKwGVqJ80mslYDIFFKDocWrkyeWR9SEX0Bl8ZIl8jBmBkyjBPWcXylvxKp8dIcVD9HQrIArRXS98cObUnj-H5yLwC7cWI71WhzO9KVLThc/s1600-h/IMG_1193.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUJteqgLgHSFGf9HFYwv4YBMQV8dfIoj6VLNKwGVqJ80mslYDIFFKDocWrkyeWR9SEX0Bl8ZIl8jBmBkyjBPWcXylvxKp8dIcVD9HQrIArRXS98cObUnj-H5yLwC7cWI71WhzO9KVLThc/s200/IMG_1193.JPG" width="200" border="0" /></a> <a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXIra8shWOLdzGE8kXXEfLAwtH6dFija8gXkB2Q-pOEz90js4PQ-L2r5B_QBDukEEl5GYmKthmbwwMLCpOLUAdEsvoylfMj3fgTI84aV0A2te7acfrAu6PHTC8o0JTfx5f7ND3hpsHANF/s1600-h/IMG_1191.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXIra8shWOLdzGE8kXXEfLAwtH6dFija8gXkB2Q-pOEz90js4PQ-L2r5B_QBDukEEl5GYmKthmbwwMLCpOLUAdEsvoylfMj3fgTI84aV0A2te7acfrAu6PHTC8o0JTfx5f7ND3hpsHANF/s200/IMG_1191.JPG" width="200" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Sing along: "Roll out the barrell..." (yes, there is a reason this song exists -- we had to kick our beer down the alley, rolling it to 'stir' it all up!)</div>AshliAGMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13522532870450723804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607086927719822737.post-83014893700268399692009-12-12T22:30:00.002-05:002010-03-15T08:46:32.478-04:00Activity #1 - Giving Back - It's not all about us!<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Club TAOS officially kicked-off with a feel-good activity scheduled two weeks before Christmas. We gathered at Reston Interfaith <a href="http://www.restoninterfaith.org/">www.restoninterfaith.org</a> to sort holiday gifts for the Adopt-a-Family gift drive. Each year, Reston Interfaith works with community members to make the holiday season fulfilling and memorable for our neighbors in need. The Adopt-a-Family gift drive in December ensures that families are well-fed and children receive personalized gifts. <p>The 2009 drive signed up record numbers of families in need, and also received the most donations to date in the history of Reston Interfaith's drives. We wanted to be a part of this community service project and our help was surely needed! There were more than 1,800 gifts to be sorted and distributed to children and their families and senior citizens in the area.<br /></p>Upon arriving, we were giving a fairly lengthy set of instructions (a little annoying - who knew gift sorting was so complicated?) and placed in a room crowded with trash bags full of presents. We were a little overwhelmed - there was obviously a lot to be done... and we quickly realized that our two hours of volunteer time would not even put a dent in this project! Nonetheless, we</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> jumped right in working mostly independently in an attempt to cover more territory. Our tasks involved tearing off wrapping paper, analyzing gifts for age and gender appropriateness, estimating the value of each gift, cross-referencing the gifts to the list of "adopted" children and families, highlighting spreadsheets, re-bagging gifts in new trash bags, labeling them with the adopted family's assigned number, and finally depositing "our work" in the designated spot within Reston Interfaith's office space. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">If it sounds like a lot to do... it was... and after a little more than two hours, we felt pretty good about what we had accomplished "something", but were somewhat deflated that we hadn't done "enough" and didn't leave with the "feel good" in our hearts that we anticipated. Let's face it... it really was work and it wasn't exactly fun. While we tried to imagine how these children would look when they received the gifts we had "inspected" for them, we didn't get to see that child's face light up with joy - and THAT would have been much more satisfying. Still, we reflected on the experience while eating lunch at a bakery down the street and patted ourselves on the back for doing something for others during this "busy time." We said our good-byes as we headed off in separate directions - no doubt running errands and tending to our own mundane list of "to dos" and "to buys"... 'tis the season!<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90S_SaIehaL59hCIDATarPRw_dtmDXb3J2xgtHWdw1Yj4yprqNJwk_cnxc0EJ9T4HFibSds_RtQQ2m9_O6MpAG-VvQS7AZACWXr3RWSUx-oZieiyvyWAfOr_OtopJ7JPjoQkmAkoYkME/s1600-h/reston+interfaith+toy+drive.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 96px; height: 145px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90S_SaIehaL59hCIDATarPRw_dtmDXb3J2xgtHWdw1Yj4yprqNJwk_cnxc0EJ9T4HFibSds_RtQQ2m9_O6MpAG-VvQS7AZACWXr3RWSUx-oZieiyvyWAfOr_OtopJ7JPjoQkmAkoYkME/s200/reston+interfaith+toy+drive.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448840307522756674" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKytQcaOTRkOKetq2uX2JAwYSk8iDx0syC5IUDT_qveFYTo_XxPtCNFX9NsJa8K_2Itu3OK2vT8Wepkrp6A4byPdF2CPmvMKQgKE5UO56_HVF0GfsE0i8u_Cb3odg9ZWoqZ05RORtFSQ/s1600-h/reston+interfaith+toy+drive+3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 135px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKytQcaOTRkOKetq2uX2JAwYSk8iDx0syC5IUDT_qveFYTo_XxPtCNFX9NsJa8K_2Itu3OK2vT8Wepkrp6A4byPdF2CPmvMKQgKE5UO56_HVF0GfsE0i8u_Cb3odg9ZWoqZ05RORtFSQ/s200/reston+interfaith+toy+drive+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448840324723307106" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYo1_7T9xymalR4UyfA8FeAygAjp8zpEZfnw_Fl_gh7g7Tlb5S3Thq_mLUjuuqshRlxAB-4YS7lpRdOmNddAgixRbNSDoVGx1dUHN3cgqCcb03CwApsZ4Rws3OLirYSvk4Bj1np7eaSu0/s1600-h/reston+interfaith+toy+drive+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYo1_7T9xymalR4UyfA8FeAygAjp8zpEZfnw_Fl_gh7g7Tlb5S3Thq_mLUjuuqshRlxAB-4YS7lpRdOmNddAgixRbNSDoVGx1dUHN3cgqCcb03CwApsZ4Rws3OLirYSvk4Bj1np7eaSu0/s200/reston+interfaith+toy+drive+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448840316260292434" border="0" /></a>KDMKelsohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00477847876215700098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607086927719822737.post-75500379427152126142009-12-02T09:32:00.000-05:002010-03-12T22:01:01.047-05:00Club TAOS is --<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cashlig%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C02%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><o:smarttagtype name="country-region" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="City" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="place" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="State" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><style>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4sedGX9DGSV4xH963mxkWq3s3Rxwsv6Zj6ZE3ndcuHBP3NSS4b2zHg8KIL3AlwGAfnQiFR3rgcpxWjBG4BaoJSu8n1FuCFk8wZFqBRgpb_31Bk-iCa3BvLNf2n6GgnD5l3unrDkb86dn/s1600-h/IMG_0277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4sedGX9DGSV4xH963mxkWq3s3Rxwsv6Zj6ZE3ndcuHBP3NSS4b2zHg8KIL3AlwGAfnQiFR3rgcpxWjBG4BaoJSu8n1FuCFk8wZFqBRgpb_31Bk-iCa3BvLNf2n6GgnD5l3unrDkb86dn/s320/IMG_0277.JPG" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Ashli, Shana, Kristin, Summer (and some guy on TV)</i></b></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Each month one of the founding members- Ashli, Shana, Kristin, Summer - suggests and plans an activity for the group, which is then documented on this blog. The activity is analyzed based on a set of criteria that was developed by the <b>Dilettantes</b> -- and tweaked to fit Club TAOS requirements.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Selection criteria for activities:</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">• All activities are one-time events that run for a period of no more than four hours </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">• All activities have a registration fee of $50 or less per person</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">• All activities must be active so that participants learn something new</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">• All activities must end with a recap over drinks and food</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Club TAOS Creed, respectfully stolen from the <a href="http://dilettanteclub.blogspot.com/"><b>Dilettante Creed</b></a>: </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">• I will try anything once</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">• I will remain open-minded when trying a new activity</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">• I will be respectful of the activity, the activity leader and other participants</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">• I will approach every activity as the learning opportunity that it is </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">• I will not shy away from any activity no matter how potentially humiliating or painful.</div><br />
<br />
<b>Kristin</b> spent most of her youth with her nose in a book at home, playing piano, or performing in the dance studio. She was a precocious child who interacted better with adults than with children her own age - she was a "born leader" and natural caregiver from an early age. She also added band, color guard, yearbook staff, and "academic" clubs to her repertoire in high school and college. As an adult, Kristin has become more care-free, but still independent-minded. She is a military wife who has moved 6 times in 14 years. Kristin also worked as a retail manager for over 10 years and had little time for "hobbies." After her second child was born in 2004, Kristin left the Lipstick Jungle of retail and has been a stay-at-home Mom. Hobbies have remained out of reach until now.... she resides in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Burke</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">VA</st1:state></st1:place>, with her husband, Mark, and two daughters, Morgan (8 1/2) and Allyson (5).</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><b>Ashli</b> has always wanted to be a ‘star’ but her shyness and lack-of-commitment demeanor has held her back. Appropriately nicknamed “Bulldozer” as a toddler, she spent her early years singing in church, dancing tap, jazz and ballet, taking piano lessons, always try to be as good as her sister in the arts. Her singing seemed to suit her best and her hobby “record” stands at 10 years in various school choral groups. In high school she joined the color guard and proudly doubled as a chorus and band geek for three years. Her sports qualities made her a fearless skier from the age of six, taking on <st1:state w:st="on">Utah</st1:state> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Austria</st1:place></st1:country-region> as an adult. Her passion for travel could have been her career but since she never got paid to travel, Ashli remains proud to have visited 14 countries to date. Then came running… three marathons, numerous 10-milers countless bagels, a marriage proposal at one finish line and the birth of her children forced her to retire from this hobby in 2007. After living in seven homes in the DC area and vowing never to live in NoVA for the rest of her life, Ashli now resides in Oakton, VA with her husband, Tom (aka TG) and children, Thomas (almost 3) and Reagan (10 mos). (Brevity is not Ashli’s strong suit hence she has the longest bio)</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><b>Shana’s </b>childhood allergies to trees and grass kept her short-lived hobbies and interests mostly indoors: piano, ballet, tap, jazz, children’s theatre, tennis, choir, sailing, crafting (to name a few) As an “adult” she has used a variety of excuses NOT to try new things but recently had a life-changing experience that has caused her to change her tune. She enjoys both relaxing on her couch in her pajamas and dressing up for a fun night out. The things that are most important to her are her family and friends, and their health & happiness. Shana resides in <st1:place style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Oakton</st1:city>,<st1:state w:st="on">VA</st1:state></st1:place><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> with her husband Paul and their son Jack (almost 3) and loves birthday and tea parties.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><b>Summer's</b> dilettante past includes sports and activities such as sailing, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, track, yoga, kickboxing, cheerleading, cotillion, piano, ballet, children's theatre and choir. Her career history features highlights such as lifeguarding, hostessing, accounting, marketing & teaching high school. She has also dabbled in sign language and spent a few Christmas breaks handing out hams for Honeybaked. Summer enjoys the gym, movies and good TV shows, and dining out – or in - with husband, friends & wine. Summer recently moved back to the Oakton area from <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Laguna Beach</st1:place></st1:city> with her husband, Jason. She loves the beach and the Christmas season. Her favorite things are her friends and family and her Portuguese Water Dog, Otis.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div>AshliAGMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13522532870450723804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2607086927719822737.post-29111401754745890622009-12-01T21:29:00.002-05:002010-03-15T08:48:25.040-04:00In the beginning...We admit it -- we have all been searching for a THING. Our thing… our book club that will never get off the ground, the scrapbooking club that is – to be blunt - just not our style, the running enthusiasm that existed when we were 25, the theatrics and musical talents that peaked at 16 years old, and while we are quite successful at “wine night”, gossiping, and hosting countless jewelry parties – we were easily inspired.<br /><br />Ashli was the first the catch the <a href="http://dilettanteclub.blogspot.com/">‘dilettante’</a> bug upon learning of the original social club that her neighbor created five years ago. It sounded like the perfect <i>thing </i>for her and she set off to recruit her fellow dilettantes, soon to be her “sistas” in trying anything once. What better place to begin than with her own sister, partner in crime and fearless best friend. Enter, Kristin. Bonus to choosing my sister -- regaining some devoted sister-best friend-time that does not involve a family gathering or child-related event. Not that those are bad things, they are just frequent occurrences that lack anymore than five real sentences exchanged between grown-ups in the room. <br /><br />Now… who else to include in this oh-so-exclusive club? Friends are swell, but sisters are super. Look no further than the daycare moms turned good friends (Ashli + Shana) thanks to the “BFF-ness" that their sons share at ‘school’. Bonus to choosing Shana – she has a sister, too! Brilliant.<br /><br />And, we’re off to <b>Try Anything Once… Sista<i></i></b>.AshliAGMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13522532870450723804noreply@blogger.com0