Last year I became a full-fledged Dance Mom.
Or at least I finally admitted to myself that I was 😜.
Last year HBear upped her dance classes to a total of 4, SBean was enrolled in 2 dance classes and I was in 1.
This year HBear is in 7 dance classes, 1 vocal class, SBean is in 4 dance classes and I am in 1. Out of those 13 classes, 8 of them were chosen for competition. HBear has 6 and SBean has 2. This past week was dress rehearsal for competition dances. Having 8 routines meant I had to figure my shit out. I’ve always been a good student so last yearI watched the REAL Dance Moms and I took notes.
A Dance Mom’s Guide to Dance Rehearsal:
1. Use multiple garment bags. Organization is key! Making sure each costume is in order of appearance is vital!
2. Don’t put everything loosely into a giant weekender bag. This should have been obvious LOL but apparently it wasn’t. Last year, I thought just having everything with me was good enough but when you have 6 1/2 minutes to change your young daughter’s costume, hairstyle, and make up… You don’t have time to be looking in your bag for her left jazz shoe!
3. Write it down! For each competition/recital/rehearsal, write down the instructions for each outfit. Do not and I repeat DO NOT trust your memory!
4. Screw bobby pins! Hairpins are where it’s at! They come out of buns much quicker and hurt way less being put in! Just remember tears make the mascara run.
5. Try to keep hair and make up supplies separate. It’s no fun when hairnets get wrapped around red lipstick. Just saying.
6. Stock up on extras… Of everything! You have to realize that unless this is the very last recital, you are going to need these items again. Always have extra hairnets, hairspray, baby wipes, hair pins, elastic bands, and tights ready to go!
7. Carry shit you never thought you would ever need like clear nail polish, scissors, tape, safety pins, more safety pins, needle and thread, garbage bags, water, and dental floss… Don’t ask 😂.
8. Make sure you are organized for each event. One competition does not have the same timeline as another and each one, although having the same dancers participating, are on their own, separate entities. Make sure you are packed according to each individual schedule. Don’t worry about the next day, concentrate on getting through each day one at a time.
9. Become one with the iron. Or at least a steamer! Spend time the night or even the week before the event turning tutus upside down so they can reach their maximum fullness, make sure those cotton shirts are crisply ironed and the suspenders are pinned just right so that they don’t fall down on stage and can slip off with the least amount of effort. Make sure all the chiffon is steamed so that your little dancer will feel her best and enjoy the opportunity to the fullest!
10. With that being said know that there is a next time! Put everything back!! This cannot be stressed enough! I know it feels crazy when the kids run off the stage and you quickly have to undress them, pull down their hair, and get it up into a completely different hairstyle in mere minutes but make sure you put back the donut/hairnet you just used. Do not fall into bad habits! Make sure each accessory goes back into it’s labeled bag for next time! Make sure all dance shoes get paired up with it’s partner and held together with elastic bands. Make sure every outfit is turned back inside out and hung up properly on it’s hanger and put back into it’s correct garment bag! You may never want to see that big blue hair bow ever again but you will have to use it again so don’t lose it!
With all of this being said… I totally sucked at our very first dress rehearsal this week. No, I can’t say that I sucked because compared to last year, I was on fire! However, I still made some errors. Small safety pins did not help me keep HBear’s white shirt pinned to her skirt. Getting her hair from a high bun to 2 high buns in 5 minutes was tougher than I thought. One of her buns looked pretty sketchy on stage and I will have to make sure that does not happen for the real thing. Also, apparently my kids did not have enough make up on. I myself am not huge on make up so I thought I laid it on pretty thick. Apparently, they needed more. It’s true! Under the stage lights their little faces look so washed out. Lots of blush and eye make up is needed to see all the emotions that are being displayed across their theatrical little faces. Although make up isn’t my thing, I definitely owe it to the Girls to allow them to soak up all the feelings of being a star and do whatever I can to make sure that they feel like they sparkle.
Dance rehearsal started at 3 and SBean was the first act up on stage. She was so nervous at first, until she got off the stage after her first dance. She was vibrating with excitement and just wanted to get back up there! Being on stage gives her so much confidence, it is an amazing thing to watch.
Ninja picked SBean up around 5 for dinner because she was done but HBear and I were there until after 8 PM. She was exhausted! Mama was too LOL even in her exhaustion I could not wipe the smile off of her face! She truly comes alive under the lights!
We did it! We got through the evening… All 8 routines! Now we only have to get through Kiwanis Festival, The Great Canadian Dance Competition, year-end dress rehearsal, picture day, and 3 year end recitals.
No problem 😳😂.
This week on How Was Your Week, Honey? Ninja and I chat about my surprise 40th Birthday Party! Kids On Social Media, Chris has a beef, a CBD Baby shower? We continue our March Madness 1990’s Movie Bracket & we discuss the dance rehearsal. Check out Ep 113: I’m Not 40 Yet! HERE!
Last week we had the most amazing dinner! I know I say that often but this was really really really good! Then just said it was one of his favourite recipes in the past year! Chicken is one of my favourite meats. It’s so versatile and everybody in the family enjoys it. Pizza is also a favourite of our household’s! In this recipe I combined the 2 and it made for an elegant, easy, and tasty dinner that we can’t wait to put back on our weekly menu in the near future!
Pizza Stuffed Chicken Breast
Adapted from I Heart Nap Time
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
12 slices pepperoni
1/4 cup panic
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon oil
1/2 cup marina sauce
10 basil, chiffoned
Preheat oven to 450.
Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper and lightly spray with oil.
In a bowl, combine the panko and Parmesan. In a second bowl, combine the olive oil and lemon juice. Set aside.
Cut each chicken breast in half, horizontally to create 6 pieces. Cover with a piece of plastic wrap and lightly pound to 1/4″ thickness. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
Lay each piece out and top with 1-2 tablespoons mozzarella cheese, basil and 3-4 slices pepperoni.
Roll each piece up, starting with the smaller edge and then dip into the olive oil mixture and then into the panko mixture.
Place stuffed chicken breast onto the baking sheet, with the seam facing down. Lightly spray the tops with oil. Bake chicken roll ups for 20 minutes.
Remove stuffed chicken breast and then add about 1 Tablespoon of marinara and mozzarella cheese.
Bake chicken roll ups for an additonal 4 to 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the chicken is no longer pink.
I visited Mom this week and painted the new closet doors!
On Friday I went to SBean’s school for family reading in the morning. She loves reading and is getting so goo at it!
