All posts by ali

weird work moments

12/9/2010snapshotsali

This is an odd post to come just after the last one, but since I’ve been extremely remiss and lazy about taking photos and writing blog posts, here it is.

Sometimes I do weird things at work. Case and point…

We were trying to photograph a new movement that I was having trouble executing. This is the photo taken just after I failed miserably. It might be one of those ‘you-had-to-be-there’ moments, but we were laughing hysterically and I love hilarity when it’s captured organically in a photograph.

That’s all I’ve got for now.
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i don’t teach pole dancing…

10/27/2010journal, the "S"ali

When people ask me what I do there is no simple answer. I can’t simply say…”I’m an accountant” or “I’m a flight attendant”. No, I do something so…out there, so beautiful, so special and so unique that I usually cut myself off and answer the what-do-you-do question with, “Well, I teach dance” or “women’s fitness”. And if they really press me, I’ll say “I teach pole dancing”. That answer either freaks people out (like, they want to pray for me), they think it’s super cool (kind-of. but-please-don’t-make-me-try-it) or they’ve heard of it (on the shows of Oprah, Martha Stewart, or Ellen) and want to try it, but (insert reason why they can’t here).

But I’ve been lying. I don’t teach pole dancing.

Sure, I do teach a class in which there are vertical ballet barres around which we fly and up which we climb. I admit, there are poles involved and they are fun, but please…don’t put what I do in a box and call it pole dancing. That makes me sound like maybe I strip for a living, or I teach women to “act sexy”, or to shake their behinds for the pleasure of a male. But that’s not what I do. Oh no. And while not that many people who haven’t already tried one of my classes will sit still and really listen and learn about what I do, the time has come for me to write about it here, where, maybe, somebody will be interested to read and learn.

This past weekend we had our first ever S Factor retreat in San Diego. And boy was it amazing. Like, can’t-put-it-into-words amazing. And beautiful. Yes, so beautiful it hurt a little bit. Like a famous painting you witness in the museum in all it’s beautiful grandness. And one of our retreat attendees wrote about it on her blog. Dr. Lissa Rankin, practicing gynecologist and author of the book What’s Up Down There? Questions You’d Only Ask Your Gynecologist If She Were Your Best Friend, wrote about it perfectly.

So if you really want to begin understanding what I do, click right here to read about it.

No, I don’t teach pole dancing. I teach S Factor.
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a summer weekend in september

9/29/2010goings on, snapshotsali

We didn’t get much of a summer over the summer months, but suddenly in mid-September, we did! It was hot over the weekend (and Monday was a record breaker in LA). Despite the heat, we had a fun weekend, even though neither of us loves the heat. We’re happier in the fog, or the rain, or the shade…

On Saturday we drove down to San Diego county for my friend, Liz’s son Nate’s 2nd birthday party! It was so fun to see Liz, who is soon-to-deliver pregnant with her second child, a baby girl! Nate was the life of the party…he is a flirt with all the little girls, his age and older. It was fun to see him in person since I’ve only watched him grow in photos since meeting him as a baby. What a sweetie. And for his birthday, Liz made the coolest, cutest cupcakes ever! The theme of the party was “animals”, so she created 3 animal cupcakes. Take a look…

Nate got a cool sparkler candle on his cupcake which he was unsure about…

I had a green frog and R had a monkey. Delicious! (Nate had a green frog also, but at the end of the night he wore pink pig frosting all over his shirt. I told you – party animal!)

After the guests left I surprised Liz with a table of baby girl gifts from our college friends. Since we couldn’t get together to give her a baby sprinkle, we sent one from afar. I was able to capture the obligatory pregnant belly photo for y’all. *smile* Isn’t she beautiful?

And here we are together…

On Sunday we went to the Farmer’s Market in Hollywood which has delicious permanent food stands. We enjoyed shawarma wraps for lunch. Here is Mr. K right when I asked him to show me what he thought about his lunch… (He loves it when I do that, can’t you tell?)

Then later in the evening on Sunday we went to my parents new house in Valencia, California. (Oh yeah, did I mention they moved to Southern California? Well, they did and have been here for 3 weeks. They are loving it! Seriously, I’ve never seen them so excited.) They now live about 35 minutes from us, which is nice. Their house is lovely ~ it looks like them and they have a nice little pool in the back yard. I never thought my parents would have a pool. Hmmm, moving closer to us and a pool. I think they’re ready for more grandchildren, what do you think? Until then, we toasted the new house with margaritas…

Happy Fall!
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i love dates and birthdays

9/19/2010life in LA, love, snapshots, the "S"ali

I can often be a homebody. But I am working on changing this as best I can because I always feel happy when I get my arse out of the house and doing things.

So last night R and I went on a movie date. We saw The Town. Mr. Affleck turns out to be a really good director. Who knew? And the acting was really good, too. So I highly recommend it…

After the movie, we went to one of my friend’s birthday party where we hung out with some of the S gals. We had such great conversation and I just adore celebrating the people in my life.

Happy birthday, Ronda!

Rory is so good when all the S gals get together. We can be an overwhelming dose of feminine estrogen, but he handles it well. I heart him. Isn’t he cute?

And last night more than one person told us we make such a cute couple…

Is it ok for me to say I agree?
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operation heart health

9/16/2010life in LA, snapshotsali

It might seem strange that I have high blood pressure since I teach fitness classes, but I do. My best guess is that it’s stress, diet and lack of cardio.

So, last week I took up morning hiking. Runyon Canyon is right behind my house and it’s silly that I’ve lived here almost 4 years and can count the number of times I’ve hiked on one hand. I mean, it’s up the street about 500 yards. But no longer!

Last week I began getting up early and hiking the canyon loop first thing. It’s so nice to get my heart rate up, breathe the fresh air (since I get above the smog), see all the people and their dogs and best of all, to clear my head for the day ahead. I love how happy the dogs are since they don’t have to be on a leash and to smile at the other Angelenos. It gives me a sense of community, which can be hard to come by in LA. I’m starting to recognize some of the other hikers and dogs, which is fun. And at the top of the trail I pause for a few minutes and just gaze out over the vastness that is Los Angeles. To the East, the downtown skyline and to the West, the ocean. I love California, I really do.

On Tuesday morning I took my camera, and even though I was a bit embarrassed to be snapping photos (especially since I was by myself), I captured some good ones stealthily. I even captured a self-portrait looking back toward the Hollywood sign..

up here, everything is clear, whereas down there everything is hazy.

They say it takes 30 days to create a habit, so we’ll see how it goes. I am hoping I can make it at least 4 times per week. I love how awake and fresh these morning walks make me feel. Want to come hike with me?
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Gemini Alley

The Family K