This weekend was stressful, muddy, silly, sleepy, relaxing, wet and FUN! Essentially all seven dwarves mixed into one. It started on Friday when I left work early to pack, pick up Jenna and drive the 2.5 hours north for a show (with troupe #2) at a home-grown electronic music festival. When we pulled up and the girl handing out laminates asked what she should write on ours I knew we were in trouble.

It turned out to be a very unorganized raver camp out. We set up the rig, not on the stage as was promised, but in front of it…in the MUD. We performed for a group of high/drunk/whoknowswhatelse kids who couldn’t have been over 22. And found out the next morning (after we’d paid for a hotel) that our second performance was canceled because they couldn’t pay us our full rate. I think most of us were pretty relieved to just go home after that wreck of a show.

Anny, Jenna and I took advantage of the day off to shop Eastern Market – I bought eggs, flowers for mom, hen & chicks, and a tiny basil plant for my herb garden. Then I spent the rest of the day on the couch, watching Weeds and napping with the pup.

At night Irina and I unloaded the rig and then walked a few blocks through the rain to dance our buns off with Cheryl for her 30th birthday. I figured it was the perfect occasion for a kooky side-bun and blue liner.

(Maybelline Color Tattoo shadow gets the dance party approval :)

+ Rehearsing a new duo lyra routine. It’s so pretty with lots of spinning – can’t wait to show you guys!

+ Serious lip stain addiction. I always have 4-5 Just Bitten stains in my bag at one time.

+ New skully sweater from Gypsy Warrior

+ New leo (and the palest lady in town)

+ Coming home to a very spazzy Piglet

I spent Saturday night drinking Joan Collins at the local comedy club. Previously, my only experience with live comedy had been at an amateur night while on a super lame date, so I didn’t have high expectations. I felt more hopeful when we showed up and the place was packed. The show ended up being an improve battle with a bunch of different games and audience participation. It was HILARIOUS. By the time the show was over my sides were hurting from laughing so much and we even stayed for the late night show where the performers pretty much drink and do whatever improv they want.

On Sunday Cheryl and I decided to expand our circus abilities by taking an acro class. I, being the smallest of the group, had the terrifying privileged of climbing on top of a six person pyramid, which then crawled forward as I held on for dear life! After class we did a super quick aerial practice. The next morning I woke up with sore everything, which is a rare occurrence, so I know I worked hard.

+ Killing my sugar craving with pancakes (which stemmed from a dream where I ate 15 cupcakes)
+ Painting my nails bright blue sparkles
+ Seeing Chronicle (which was surprisingly good)
+ Family dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant
+ My mom schooling dad on how to use Facebook
+ Vegan coconut avocado and chocolate peanut butter ice cream
+ Editing outfit photos
+ And flying with my hard working, enthusiastic, inspiring students. I’m always thrilled (jumping around, clapping and cheering like a total nut) when they struggle to get on the apparatus and then manage to complete a really difficult, scary, painful trick. It’s like going through that challenge again myself and being so excited to finally get a trick.

There was a very sleepy marathon hula hooper, a bed of nails, snake charming, tap dancing, burlesque, a breakdance battle, and a very sneaky magician…

Visit Red Riding Photography for lots more photos!

Friday, after a full day of circus work and play I ran home for a quick nap, changed clothes and headed back downtown to meet Mandy for The Detroit Burlesque Company Presents “Teased to Meet You.” Irina was parked in front of the stage the whole night and took all these fantastic photos.

Michael Dallas stole the show with his nerdy, sexy striptease. The crowd lost their minds as he loosened his tie and slinked out of his suspenders. There was also a crazy cat lady skit and a sing-a-long to ‘Sweet Transvestite.’ It’s inspiring to watch such talented performers and I’m always thrilled to be part of this big, crazy circus community.

Mandy and I got all fancy on Friday for dinner in Mexicantown (complete with a rockn’ mariachi band serenade) and the Wonderland DVD release party, a local sideshow type production based on Alice in Wonderland. We set up the camera and as Thriller came on, had a little dance party and took outfit photos.

When we arrived at the theater for the screening there was a line down the block, so we sat in the car for a bit to keep warm,  critiquing the outfits and poor shoes choices of the guests. It was NOT the weather for heels as you can see by our combat boots. Irina even showed up in a floor length gown with combat boots too!

There were a few live performers before the movie started which included the brilliant Satori Circus as Conrad Lee who sang a few songs and got the entire audience to join in on ‘I’m your venus, I’m your fire, your desire!”

Dress: Betsey Johnson
Boots: Olsenboye
Jewelry: Kohls
Fishnets: dance store
Fascinator: Claire’s

Eating massive amounts of cheesy potatoes and tofu chocolate peanut butter pie

 Mom making us big kids popcorn and hot toddies + secret undies from Santa

Loud, silly photo sessions with my cousins

Christmas poppers and goofy hats + my brother laughing so hard he spit water all over the table at Christmas dinner

Getting a little JamBox and a big Hello Kitty for Christmas

Waking up to breakfast in bed + finishing two site designs

Christmas cartoons + floors completely covered in paper

Meeting Pants’ parents at the casino where everyone lost money except me…the non-gambler + drinking too much & downing Taco Bell…a bad combo

Watching Pants get his hair cut at a cool little ’50s style barber shop +  seeing The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (SO GOOD) & getting started on The Girl Who Played With Fire + walking the piglet through big, wet snowflakes

Sunday was the third annual gingerbread house building party at my parent’s.

My sister and I decided we were really only interested in building things to eat…like sandwiches.

So we played with all the kids instead, chasing them around the house, over furniture and under tables.

My mom dug the Lego town out of the basement and we launched little plastic people off a sinking Lego boat.

Slayer made a friend, but only liked her while she had a sticky, slobbery Dorito in her hand.

And he got an early Christmas present, which he wasn’t terribly interested in, so my mom helped him climb inside.

Yesterday was such a fantastic day. I don’t have a house full of people very often, so I was a little nervous inviting 15 friends and family over for brunch, but it couldn’t have gone better! I’m so thankful Pants is a whiz in the kitchen and turned out two pans of bacon, three pans of potatoes, and almost two dozen eggs. I took care of the baking with vegan blueberry muffins and vegan banana walnut waffles, plus we loaded the buffet with all the fixings for bloody marys and mimosas.

[ My sis, me, Piglet and my cousin, Maria ]

[ Piglet needs his Christmas sweater! ]

After stuff our faces and downing a few drinks, Pants and his sister, Jaime, decided they were putting up my tree and decking out my house. I’m fairly indifferent when it comes to decorating, but now that all the lights are strung I’m kind of loving it :)

[ They even put lights in my front window - adorable! ]

We spent the rest of the afternoon with 6 of us + Slayer cozy on my giant couch, drinking, eating peppermint bark (home made by Pants and Maria) and watching Home Alone, Ghost Busters and The Three Amigos.

Yum!

Last week Jessica and I had a little Double Trouble date and hunted down ornaments and holiday decorations.

I ended up covered up in sparkles and bought a bunch of little poinsettias and pine cones to make hats for our holiday show. By the time I was done me, my couch, my coffee table and floor were completely covered in glitter!

The end result turned out pretty fantastic though! On Friday we dressed up as elves and performed at the artists market near my house. High five to Claire’s for once again saving our butts with the candy cane suspenders and striped socks. We had such a great response from everyone at the showthey asked us to come back again in January :) I’ll have pics and video soon!

On Saturday Nicole and I had a nerd lunch and I helped her figured out some blog stuff. So hop over there and say hi :) She’s got mad style and sells vintage on Etsy.

After lunch we stopped at the Rust Belt for a little shopping. Aren’t these magnets so stinkin’ cute??

Sunday Pants was home from visiting his fam, so we went to Christine’s for brunch where I finally killed my craving for waffles.

I was so very happy to have a weekend off. Preparing for a show is a lot of work with putting together costumes and searching for new music, not to mention actual rehearsals. I’ve also been working on four site designs at once, so I feel like I have to use every minute of every day to work through my to-do list. I’m really terrible at taking time off, so Saturday night I decided I was staying in and not working at all. I ordered a whole pizza for myself, painted my nails and watched Christmas movies.

What do you do to turn off your brain and step away from work? I can give out tons of advice on staying motivated and getting ish done, but taking a break….not so much >_<

* You can follow me on Instagram @sillygrrl of course!