All Hallow's Eve!

I absolutely love Halloween! 

Here is a little routine to get you in the spirit!

This is from last dance season. 

"The Time Warp" Teen Musical Theater Company.

I love em!!

Oops!

I apologize for missing both Football Fandom days this week! 

I promise I will be better about it next week!

I am crazy busy over here!!

Check back tomorrow and I will be right on track!

Happy Birthday to Me! No, wait, Mommy!

Sorry folks, no Wedding Wednesday today. 

Instead... 

Happy Birthday to Mommy & Me!

Hawaii December 2009.

For those of you that don't know, I share my birthday with my Mom. It is such a fantastic way to celebrate. 

Every year I share my Mom with about 200 other kids and this is one thing I don't have to share with them! (selfish much?) And if you know both of us, this explains "oh so much" about us! We sound exactly alike on the phone (scary), we both have insane ideas about choreography and costumes, and we both seem to think our jokes are pretty funny. Perhaps sharing a birthday makes us at just alike. Who knows! 

Happy Birthday Mommy! I wouldn't want it any other way!! I LOVE YOU!

She dressed in a student's costume for a special birthday. Geek! 

Birfday Cake!

Only 2 more days until my real birthday! But I have been celebrating all month!

This weekend we watched the OU game (sad) and had a little get together! It was a blast. 

Stud Muffin made me a cake to beat all cakes! 

Yes, I know that the icing is coming off. The strawberries dripped. 

Who cares! It tasted SO GOOD!! When I tell you he MADE the cake, I mean it. He did the entire thing from scratch. No box mix here! Mmmmmm.....

Speaking of cakes. The first weekend of October my future mother in law made me a cake!

Man, it tasted so good!! Mmm, Mmm, Mmm! 

This cake was also my present! The bottom two tiers were hat boxes with a gift in them! And... all those pink envelopes... individually wrapped hot cocoa packets! My ultimate favorite! 

Of course you may remember that my future Mother In-Law always get crazy creative with gifts! 

And just in case you were wondering if I was going to eat cake on Wednesday or skip the calories...

LET THEM EAT CAKE!

Stuffed Peppers

I am still cooking! 

And everyone is still alive! 

Today we make stuffed peppers.

What you will need:

• 1 pound ground beef or turkey
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup uncooked white rice
• 1 cup water
• 4 bell peppers any color.
• 2 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/2 to 1 cup grated cheddar Cheese (optional)

You want to begin by pre-heating your oven to 350 degrees.

Then cook your rice according to the package directions.

Cook your meat. I used ground turkey.

As your meat is browning add the onion to the skillet.

Cut the tops off your peppers and hallow them out nicely. 

Arrange peppers in a baking dish. You may need to grease you pan.

In a bowl, mix the browned beef, cooked rice, 1 can tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.

 Spoon an equal amount of the mixture into each hollowed pepper.

Mix the remaining tomato sauce and Italian seasoning in a bowl.

Pour over the stuffed peppers.

Bake in pre-heated oven about 30 minutes or until heated through. 

Boomer Birthdays!

I am turning 30 on Wednesday. 

I keep telling everyone that I am turning 29 again but I have decided to just embrace the new number. 

With that being said, I have been posting old embarrassing photos of myself all month. 

Because today is a big day for the Oklahoma Sooners, I thought I would relate the two!

Daddy & I tailgating in 2008.

Here is where the Sooners where on some of my big birthdays.

1980, the year I was born, the Sooners played Iowa State on October 25. Result W. 

Final record in 1980:  Finshed #3 with 2 Losses. 

(note:  they beat Missouri this year as well!)

1985, October 26 again W against Iowa State.

Finished #1 1985 with 1 Loss to Miami at home! Yikes!

1990, October 27, (my actual 10th birthday) 

We lost to Colorado in Boulder. :(

Now, remember this was 2 years after we lost Barry and had all sorts of issues! 

With that in mind:  We finished 1990 #17 in the AP Poll!! Nice! Only 3 Losses! That's better than last year!

1996, Not such a sweet 16 for a football fan! 

We only won 3 games all season. UGH! OUCH! PAIN!

But... we did beat Texas in OT! 

Thank you John Blake at least you beat Texas!

1999, October 27, my 19th birthday. 

First year of college, Bob Stoops first year at OU! 

We beat Oklahoma State on my BDAY! WOOO!!!

We went 8-5 that year. Which was a big step up from years past!

Game Day with the Kappas in 2000!

2000, October 28, my 20th birthday!

We beat Nebraska to take over the #1 spot!! 

Finished #1 in the BCS with a win over FSU at the Orange Bowl!
OH YEAH!!! 

10 years ago!! Let's do it again Sooners!!

On my actual 21st birthday we lost our first game of 2001 to Nebraska. 

BOO!!!

With my precious lil before a game! 

In 2005 we beat Nebraska the weekend of my birthday!! 

Yippee!!! 

But we still had a rough season, opening with a loss to TCU at home. :(

So Sooners! I want to feel this again!! 

#1 in the BCS in January! 

After the 2000 National Title Game! BOOMER!

Anyone recognize the vest? Oh, yeah, I was wearing it a few weekends ago apple picking! Ha! 

Media Frenzy

Welcome to Football Fandom!

 My twice weekly rant about college footbal and most importantly... The Sooners!

I have already expressed my opinion on being ranked #1 in the BCS this week. So, we will move on from that. 

The media must really want to create some sort of mind game with the Sooners and the Tigers this week. Have you heard all the chatter? They are talking streaks and one is sure to end tomorrow in Columbus. 

The first may not be a streak yet but if the Sooners don't come out with a W on Saturday it will sure start to look like one. What is this you ask? The curse of #1 and Gameday! The last two #1 teams, Alabama & Ohio State, lost when College Gameday came to town. Both these games were away games for the team holding the top spot and the home team walked away with the win. Ahhhh..... the stress! 

Streak (or curse) two:  Missouri is 0-7 against Bob Stoops. I prefer for this to be the streak that continues. Only one Oklahoma coach has lost twice to Missouri and that is Barry Switzer who is 14-2 against the Tigers. Sooners should be the dominate team! However, we all know that the Sooners are like Jekyll and Hyde this season. No telling what they will look like on Saturday! 

I have a birthday request Sooners. Don't screw this up! Beat the freakin' Tigers on Saturday and allow me to have a stress free day. I like games like Iowa State last week. Let's do it again!

BOOMER!

In other news:  

Did you see the Kings of Leon drummer last week on Game Day? Fabulous! Fabulous!

One More Week!

My birthday is just one week away! 

Luckily my birthday is close to Halloween...

 So today I am posting the very scary pictures from my senior year of high school! 

We spent almost every summer of high school dancing in L.A. Such great times! 

Whitney, Caroline & Courtney dancing at Encore Nationals in L.A.
July 1998.

My brother was a freshman my senior year. We had a great time together!!

First Day of School.
August 1998.

I would say that I missed out on about 75% of the parties in high school because I was either busy or grounded. (Yes, grounded) So when I did get out of the house it was always a great time. 

This particular night we came up with some crazy scheme of how I was going to break up with someone. 

Bad idea, girls. Bad.

Off to Allen's Hawaiian Party.
August 1998.

I was only a cheerleader for one year. My senior year. I had a blast during football season. 

Whitney & Loni @ the Homecoming Game.
October 1998.

I clearly had my hair cut between these pictures. Not sure it looks so hot. 

Whitney, Cara, Meredith, Holly & Kim on Senior Night.
November 1998.

Dance Conventions were always my favorite. My senior year we did a routine called "Amen" and normally beat the pants off everyone. Really. We did. 

Whitney, Melanie & Rachel.
West Coast Dance Explosion in Dallas.
November 1998.

Like I said, I had a blast cheering during football season. I was pretty much over it by basketball season though. They play way too many games! 

On the bus with the drill team girls to basketball playoffs.
February 1999.

I liked to be different. Shocker! So I always designed my own prom dresses and did my own hair. This year, I actually had my hair done for prom. I remember asking to look just like this. She did just as I asked. Why did I want to look this way? 

Whitney & Courtney at Ardmore High School Prom.
April 1999.

I had a great time during senior week at school. My classmates were great fun.

At Skateland for Senior Skate!
May 1999.

We had a lil party before graduation with Jessie & Bridger. Such good times. Looks like my friends bought out Harold's in this pic!  

Summer, Jessie, Whitney, Thomas, Meghann, Bridger, Courtney & Erin.
May 1999.

My whole family came to the party. Look at the Crazy Lady's pants! 

Uncle Stan, Aunt Tracy, Daddy, Cody, Mommy, Papa, Whitney, Mimi & Gege!
May 1999.

Clearly there were some fashion faux pas in this post. Let's look past that! 

And for my friends in this post... I look worse than all of you so no getting angry! 

Registry Madness

Welcome to Wedding Wednesdays! 

My one day a week to gush (or complain) about all things wedding!

Today we tackle the registry process! 

I really thought this would be quite simple. Then I started to research it and was overwhelmed. I have heard two conflicting opinions on this from several different people. 

Opinion 1:

Only register at about two places. Keep it very simple and easy. One high end and one low end.

Opinion 2:

Register at several places with several different price ranges. 

Originally we thought we would be going with Opinion 1. There are two stores that we love and thought that it would be great. Unfortunately, the Crazy Lady brought to my attention that neither of those stores exist in Oklahoma. I tried explaining that they can go to Dallas or shop online but that didn't work. I also assured her that I was, of course, going to register at the one home town place that everyone uses. She still thought that we should add another option. Okay. No problem. We can do that. 

So now we are going to be Option 2 people.

Last night, Stud Muffin & I went to a Wedding Party at Crate & Barrel. It was fun! 

First they give you champagne! Love it! And the scanning gun! (Stud Muffin was in charge of that.) Then they give you a book of what they think you might need and set you off on your way. It was great. 

Because it was a store event the had demonstrators everywhere. As many of you know, I am just now learning to cook so having all the people around to demonstrate the kitchen stuff was fabulous! 

When we went to print out our sheet at the end of the day, I entered my name and learned that there is another Whitney Crites getting married in June! So weird. 

As we left, Crate & Barrel gave us a goody bag! Heart-shaped champagne flutes.  Fun! 

It was a good time and now I just need to see if they have posted it online yet for me to survey what Stud Muffin scanned with the gun! There is no telling! 

How did you do your registry? Were there things you wished you had put on your list that you didn't? Things you received that you never use? Do tell.

On Top!

Welcome to Football Fandemonium! My twice a week rantings about all things college football! 

Last week I asked who would be #1 in the BCS poll and NEVER thought it would be
OKLAHOMA!

And in all honesty being number only does one thing for me at this point in the season...

makes me nervous!

The past 2 Saturdays the number 1 team has fallen. 

We play Missouri @ Missouri on Saturday. Not fun for my nervous system.

Sooners, you MUST win every game now. EVERY. SINGLE. GAME. 

Oh the nerves!!

In other news, 

Boise State is ranked 3. 3!!! Over an SEC Team. I think it is BS. Really. Oregon better keep winning as well as Oklahoma because I will die if I have to watch Boise State play for the National Title. Have you seen their schedule?  They don't play anyone! Their big claims to fame this season Va Tech (who was ranked 10 at the time but is currently UN-ranked) and Oregon State (who have lost 3 games this season making them UN-ranked)! Yup, that's right. They haven't played ANYONE! 

I would love to see them finally get to the "big game" and choke! Because I just really do not believe that Oklahoma will be playing in that game either, I think that it would be awesome for an SEC team to KILL THEM!! 

That is my rant for the day!!

BOOMER!!!

Spicy Mango Marinade

Who would have thought that I am starting to love being in the kitchen?!

The goal was to post a new recipe each week, but I realize now that I just don't always have the time for that. So, it's been a while. Oops! 

This week:  Spicy Mango Marinade!

What you will need:

3 oz. fresh mango slices
1/2 cup orange juice
5 garlic cloves, peeled
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
juice from 1/2 lime
1/2 teaspoon each ground cumin, oregano, red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Throw it all in a bowl!

(if you are lucky enough to have better kitchen tools than I do, throw it in a food processor)

Process that stuff until smooth.

(I used a hand blender)

And then marinate your chicken or pork for at least an hour! 

It was oh so good!!!

Football... Dance...

Welcome to Football Fandemonium! My twice a week rantings about all things college football! 

So I really don't have a lot to say about football this week. Why? Because I have been locked in a dance audition since 7am on Thursday morning. 

All I really know is this. I would like Nebraska to beat Texas, regardless of how it makes us look. 

In other news today,

One of my darlings is performing in her first college dance show this weekend!!

Mared to Oatmeal!

And another one of my precious children is auditioning for the OU Pom Squad today!

Break a Leg Smooth!!

Love to you both and last thing...

BOOMER!

Birthday Month Continues!

It's My Birthday Month!!

And I celebrate all month long!

Dancing with my Mommy 20 years ago!
June 1990.

However, it is not just my birthday month...

It's the Crazy Lady's as well!!

Yup, we share a birthday! I was born on my Momma's 24th birthday! It is awesome sharing that day with my mother!! Fun fun fun I say! 

Happy Birthday Month to you Mommy!

Save-The-Dates (part two)

Welcome to Wedding Wednesdays where I gush about every detail of planning my wedding! 

The Save-The-Date cards are out and I am SUPER happy about it!

I only got 3 of them returned to me, so that is good! 

I really liked the way they turned out and I think that Stud Muffin did a fantastic job on the design!

One side of the card was a map of the Florida Keys. My Daddy just loves maps so that was for him.

The other side was a three fold card. One part calendar, one part hotel information and one part "Save-The-Date". The calendar part of the card is perforated and can be ripped off to hang on your fridge. I prefer to look at the entire map though. 

For the Save-The-Dates we used clear labels to address them. Stud Muffin looked at me like I had 3 heads when I said we had to hire someone to address the real invites. What are your thoughts on calligraphy and invites? Old fashioned & waste of money? Or simply a must? 

Human Polls vs. Computer Polls

It's Tuesday, which means it's Football Day at Dancing Through Life!

BCS Standings will officially be releases next week! Let me madness begin!!

Right now the Top 10 in the AP Poll looks like:

1. Ohio State

2. Oregon

3. Boise State

4. TCU

5. Nebraska

6. Oklahoma

7. Auburn

8. Alabama

9. LSU

10. South Carolina

The Top 10 in the Colley Matrix Computer Poll looks like:

1. LSU

2. Oklahoma

3. TCU

4. Auburn

5. Boise State

6. Missouri

7. Michigan State

8. Ohio State

9. Oklahoma State

10. Oregon

If no one loses this week, the standings in the BCS should be quite interesting. 

Will Ohio State remain at the top?

Will TCU end up at #1?

Where will Oklahoma be?

Hmmm.....

Destination Unkown

Welcome to Wedding Wednesdays! The only day a week that I talk wedding on the blog! 

I am flying today so I thought it was a perfect time to discuss my crazy Life On The Road throughout our entire relationship.

Solo Drive from LA to Oklahoma

When Stud Muffin and I met, I already had plans to go Los Angeles for about 6 weeks. So, we managed to get 3 dates in before I left. We spoke on the phone almost daily while I was gone, but I was unsure how things would be when I got home. But... he waited for me! Yay!

Since then I have been away for weekend only gigs, full tours, 3 month sit down shows and random teaching jobs all over the US & Canada. (I realized on September 15th of this year that it was the first time since about 2006 that I had been in NYC for more than 4 weeks at a time.) I have missed many weddings, cocktail parties and birthdays. Stud Muffin's friends all think I am a ghost. 

I like living on the road. I like airports. I LOVE sleeping on the bus. And if I could, I would ALWAYS travel by train. Stud Muffin knows these things about me and accepts it. (Note: I did not say he likes it.) The fact that he knows how much I enjoy and endures NOT liking me being away is what makes it work. 

This post is full of ramblings.... RAMBLINGS! I need to sleep and get on my plane!

Sunrise in Cali.

New Mexico.

About time!

Welcome to Football Fandemonium! My twice a week rantings about all things college football! 

(Every Tuesday and Friday here at Dancing Through Life)

We did it!! We beat the Longhorns!

I know they stink this year, but you just never know when they will beat you. Good or bad! 

I would like to personally thank Texas for all the penalties you incurred that REALLY helped us out! As you Longhorns are well aware, those are normally OUr mistakes! 

We weren't in Dallas to watch this year but we still had fun!

OU wasn't playing the only big game this weekend either. 

#9 Stanford took on #4 Oregon and while it looked like Stanford was gonna pull off an upset at the beginning... Oregon prevailed. Boo!

#7 Florida played #1 Alabama. 

I really dislike Nick Saban but I don't really like Florida either... so, Alabama won. Boo.

I was really hoping that Tennessee was going to pull off an upset against LSU, it almost happened! But No. Boo. 

What does this mean for the rankings?!

The AP's Top Ten now looks like this:

1- Alabama

2- Ohio State

3-Oregon

4- Boise State

5- TCU

6-Oklahoma

7-Nebraska

8-Auburn

9-Arizona 

10-Utah

Stay tuned for Friday's post. I will tell you exactly what I think about each team in the Top Ten!

And until then, Enjoy Stud Muffin teaching his niece how to make a Longhorns Down sign!

A is for Apple!

Stud Muffin and I just couldn't justify spending tons of money to go to the OU vs. Texas game this weekend but that doesn't mean we sat around and did nothing! 

We went apple picking!

I had never been to an orchard before and it was amazing!

We went with Stud Muffin's Mother, Brother and family. It was a blast! His niece was super cute!

I had absolutely no idea there were so many different kinds of apples either! 

We picked, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Ida Red and my personal favorite Honeycrisp! Oh they are so good!! You can try them while walking around and boy did we!

I also learned that everyone seems to climb the trees while picking!

Fist Stud Muffin got in a tree.

Then his brother.

Then THEIR MOTHER!

 And they finally talked me into climbing a tree. I had a message while up there!!

You weigh your apple bags as you leave and pay. They were 60 cents a pound. Not so bad!

Until you realize you have 66 pounds of apples!! (There were 3 households involved!)

And I will leave you with my favorite pic from the trip!
Stud Muffin's mother insisted he get in the tree with me. Then she got his niece to clap and request a kiss.
Such a great picture!!

Lots more fun was had but I will have to write about it later... I am pooped!!

BOOMER!