So awhile back, I'm watching Big Bang Theory, and they had a surprise murder mystery party. I have never desired to attend a murder mystery, but suddenly a SURPRISE murder mystery seemed like the funnest idea EVER. Mama Bel's birthday was coming up, and so I started spinning the idea in my head. I ran it by a few other Twirlies and it was set! The theme of a Disney princess murder mystery seemed like a no brainer thanks to Fat Princess (aka AJ). I realized I couldn't make it a surprise for everyone since the attendees needed to wear costumes and read up on their characters. So, I decided that only Bel would be surprised.
I had NO idea how much work one of these parties would be. I purchased the kit from a website, but I had to print out almost 100 pages of documents, then cut everything up and place them into envelopes. It took me hours. Don't get me wrong, it was a ton of fun and so worth it once the party started!
I arrived at Bel's house dressed as some kind of modern punk ballerina Snow White. I had Rita dressed as a fairy, Ellen dressed as an Eminem'ed out Rap-unzel and Jade as Hansel. Bel was thoroughly confused. We just told her that "all would be revealed shortly." As people began to arrive, Bel started to guess who they were. It was awesome. Diana (Red Riding Hood) and Kim (Jasmine) kindly provided Bel with a yellow dress, as her character was Belle from Beauty and the Beast. She was dancing around, guessing whether she was a can-can girl or Cinderella. Sean Michael played Prince Charming, the ultimate host of the evening, and the person aaaaaaalllll the princesses wanted to get with. AJ starred as Cinderella (aka Cindy), the princess who went missing, and cuing the beginning of our murder mystery.
We let Bel in on the secret, gave her some information about her character and away we went!
If you don't want to know who "dies" and how the rest of the party plays out, please don't read past here. I'm going to post photos of the event. I want to wish Bel a very, very happy birthday (today is her actual birthday). She has done so much for me, and I was happy to be able to be part of a fun night in her honor. Thank you to Ellen for picking up the beautiful cake! I also want to thank everyone who came to the party. It was difficult because you have to get a number of guests, then assign characters. And each one plays a role, so we did a little juggling in the last couple of days, and had a few attendees who didn't get an official character. But I felt like the entire thing came together well, moved along at a pretty good pace and that, in the end, everyone had a really fun time.
So, happy, happy birthday, Mama Bel!! Enjoy a photo journal of our evening:
This blog blossomed in 2010 to chronicle my adventures in pole dance after weight loss surgery. Although I am pole dancing less these days, I still hike and do yoga. I sometimes still have to remind myself that the size of my body doesn't dictate my worth. I believe living a life full of gratitude and joy helps lead to a true mind, body and spirit connection. You have the power to manifest your best life!
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Monday, May 19, 2014
Chunky Girl Comics at Big Wow Comicfest 2014
I attended Big Wow Comicfest with the ladies of Chunky Girl Comics on Saturday, May 16. What a fun event!!!! As usual, it seems like a picture is worth a thousand words, so I will tell the story with photos!
My flyer |
Damion Poitier |
Prom Date! |
Sunday, May 18, 2014
May 2014 Blog Hop: Pole and Social Culture
This month's blog hop is about social culture and pole. You can read our instructions HERE, but there are so many amazing quotes that Sheena found that I want to paste them in below so you don't miss them:
In the last few years, the popularity of pole dancing has grown in leaps and bounds, not to mention bumps and grinds. via the Huffington Post
It’s a sport that’s gaining popularity globally as a fitness
trend – with ambitions for inclusion in the Olympics – but it still has
an image problem. via the Guardian
There are terms a pole-dancing judge just doesn’t use at the
World Pole Sports Championships. ”Spatchcock,” for instance. That’s what
pole dancers usually call the maneuver Liza Szabo worked into her
routine….. the old name wouldn’t do for this venue. Here, her move was
officially the “FM10,” and for good reason: The meet’s organizers want
to reform pole dancing into a sport respectable enough to go to the
Olympics. via The Wall Street Journal
I have been trying to piece together the history of modern pole dance. My fourth post on the topic can be read HERE (and you can follow the links back to see posts one through three). Speaking of strippers...do you think we need to sanitize pole in order for it truly become mainstream? You can check out that post HERE (and again, follow the links back to other posts that may be relevant). I think part of the process is allowing men into pole studios. I know many women feel like they need a safe place (and I think having women-only classes is fine, but women-only studios excludes a ton of people who also want to be able to express themselves through pole dance).
Pole dance means so much to me. I am learning to get in touch with my emotions and my body. I have met so many amazing people, and have had so many awesome opportunities present themselves thanks to pole. Whether it is ever truly accepted in the mainstream, I do not care. I will forever be grateful to pole dance for the fun times over the last four and a half years (and look forward to many more to come!).
In the last few years, the popularity of pole dancing has grown in leaps and bounds, not to mention bumps and grinds. via the Huffington Post
What
was once a dance that was synonymous with strip clubs, pole art has
become an underground community that is finding its way into mainstream
dance, fitness, art and culture. via the LA Times
This
wasn’t a disco. It was no country club either. These women — and yes,
men, too — have moves that are better than Jagger. The best of the best
in the art and sport of pole dancing showed their stuff on Saturday, Day
2 of the third-annual Midwest Pole Dancing Competition and Convention,
which drew 400 to 500 people to the Tinley Park Convention Center. via The SunTimes
Clad
in knee-high leather boots, spandex shorts and a sports bra, Xiao Yan
struck a pose two feet off the ground, her head glistening with sweat
and her arms straining as she suspended herself from a vertical pole.
via The New York Times
Pole dance is a form of performance
art, historically associated with strip clubs and dance clubs, which
combines dance and acrobatics centered around a vertical pole. via Wikipedia
These are our statistics
According to United Pole Artist, these are some of our pole dance statistics as of 2012. (we can’t substantiate these numbers at this time, fyi.)- Number of Pole Dancers in the world: 180,000 (Provided by Bad Kitty Exotic Wear)
- Number of Pole Dancing Studios in the world: 1,200
- Number of Active Pole Dancing Countries: 70
- Number of Pole Dancing Studios in the US: 571 (Updated 5/23/12)
- First Pole Dancing Studio in the World to Open: 1994, by Fawnia Deitrich.
I have been trying to piece together the history of modern pole dance. My fourth post on the topic can be read HERE (and you can follow the links back to see posts one through three). Speaking of strippers...do you think we need to sanitize pole in order for it truly become mainstream? You can check out that post HERE (and again, follow the links back to other posts that may be relevant). I think part of the process is allowing men into pole studios. I know many women feel like they need a safe place (and I think having women-only classes is fine, but women-only studios excludes a ton of people who also want to be able to express themselves through pole dance).
Pole dance means so much to me. I am learning to get in touch with my emotions and my body. I have met so many amazing people, and have had so many awesome opportunities present themselves thanks to pole. Whether it is ever truly accepted in the mainstream, I do not care. I will forever be grateful to pole dance for the fun times over the last four and a half years (and look forward to many more to come!).
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