And now we Follow the Wind!

The time had finally come to begin our big adventure! 

On Friday May 24th I officially received my Master of Fine Arts Degree in Dance from Sarah Lawrence College and spent the weekend cleaning and saying goodbye to the city that has been my home for the last 2 years. 

Our first official stop will be in Washington DC where we will be visiting the Memorials, Monuments and the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. I have never been to DC and I'm very excited to see our nation's capital and all of the sites and sounds it has to offer. This first stop will be especially meaningful due to Memorial Weekend. It should be quite special and inspiring.  

Expect updates along the way and we will see you soon on the road! 

Lauren (and Ross)

Follow the wind... a dance film

COMING SOON: 

more information on my upcoming road trip and dance film and how you can help

Follow the wind...

How You Can Help! CLICK HERE

Chicken Stew for the body

Last night I saw LEVY dance from SF and they were AMAZING!!!! The audience sat on the stage and interacted with the dancers. We were encouraged to take photos and video during the show as long as we promised to post them on their Facebook page. If you get the chance to see them DO IT... the piece I saw was called Romp, which is exactly what it was.




Chicken and Lentil Stew 2 servings

1/2 T olive oil
1 leek, white & light green parts sliced (I omitted the leek since I didn't have one...)
1 yellow onion 
1-4 clove(s) garlic
1 - 1 1/2 c carrots, cut into 1/2-inch slices
2 medium parsnips cut into 1/2 inch slices1 c cooked chicken ( I roasted 3 small chicken thighs)
1/2 c dry green (or other) lentils

1/2 t dried thyme
1/4 t dried marjoram
1/4 t dried rosemary

(instead of adding herbs separately I just added 1 tsp of herb de provence spice mix)
2 c chicken (or veggie) stock, hot
1/2 c kale

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the leek & onion, cook until translucent. Stir in the carrots, chicken, lentils, and spices. Add the hot stock. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, add Kale, cover-simmer for about 30 minutes, until the lentils are tender.

I am also baking some french boules found here to go with the stew

Catching up on... it all

Holy cow where has the last 2 months gone...

Therefore a quick update is in order:

We had our winter concert and it went well
I fell in love with this song...

 

I completed my first semester of Grad school only slightly worse for the wear... but done!

Went to the Sheepherder's ball in Boise, and felt extremely out of place. Most of my friends weren't there or occupied by their new husbands children etc.

I was constantly and pleasantly kidnapped by my brother and Debra.

christmas was a smash (my dinner rolls were awesome)

I made it to SLO after a flight cancellation (that's 2 in a row to slo) and detour through LA.

Ross gave me the most beautiful red kitchen aid mixer.

We took a trip to Pollock Pines to see his parents and San Francisco both were awesome and much needed.

I made him homemade pretzels and focaccia pizza for ross among a lot of cookies and other things

I had the most amazing time in SLO as always and it's always so hard to leave... I hate leaving really


Now I'm back in New York, back in classes, and back to the stress, self doubt, and loneliness I's shrouded in. However I have a plan: I want to draw more and find some sort of inspiration to make a dance I actually like and want to make.

Right now everything I do I feel pushed to do even if I don't like it or want to do it. I can already tell this is going to be a struggle and I need to find some peace and inspiration. Hopefully drawing is the key. I've been trying to do it every day. Hopefully I'll finally find some happiness in Yonkers, because it's just getting harder and harder to live here.

Lastly I had to say goodbye to my childhood dog this week, she was unfortunately very old and sick. But she was the best dog in the world and I know she's in a better place.

At least I have my trip to SLO in march where I will be there for Ross's birthday and then my parents will come down for a few days to visit as well. I can't wait to see the ocean and be in the place I love again with people I love.

All the pretty lights

Ross arrived in New York late monday night the week of thanksgiving. As soon as he arrived I got him settled and went to bed... because I had 4 hours of dancing the next morning.  After my classes ending I got home we got some food and then walked to school so I could show him around. 

It was really cool to be able to share my life in New York with him. 

After touring around Yonkers and Bronxville for the afternoon we came back to my house to make "Thanksgiving" dinner. I roasted a chicken, made homemade mashed potatoes, stove top, and biscuits. 

My first ever roast chicken!

Wednesday morning we went into the city to stay for the rest of his trip. We stayed at the doubletree manhattan on 53 and Lexington.