Exciting Art News!

My ATC's are in the Art Chix's top 10 gallery!!! How exciting!!! :)

http://www.artchixstudio.com/shop/gallery_top10.html listed as Kimberly Minardi there.

I have a few new pieces I'll be adding to my "stuff I've made" album on Face Book. Check it out (and friend me at): www.facebook.com/narah.arrington.minardi

Going Vegetarian

This is actually a message I sent to someone who asked for advice on going vegetarian and since I've had this question before, I thought I'd post it. 

I didn't go veg all at once (but my final 'no more meat ever' moment came after reading a Buddist monk's booklet that put every argument for not eating meat all in once place). I cut out red meat, still ate fish and seafood and occasionally had turkey (sub from subway). Then cut out seafood, and after reading the booklet, none at all.

Arm yourself with nutritional info so people who give you a hard time about "not getting enough protien" can be educated. Beans, nuts, dairy and eggs (though I went a while without even eating those), provide plenty of protein. If you are worried about getting enough, just write everything down to keep a tally. Peanut butter/almond butter + fruit is a really yummy snack. It is easy to add walnuts and a little shredded cheese to salads. 


I really like the Quorn brand meat subs- they are meat (obviously) and soy free. I can't eat a lot of soy due to a thyroid condition and most people shouldn't make it thier primary source of protein due to its plant estrogens. Too much is not so good, even though it's reputation as a "health food" makes it seems that way. The quorn brand also goes through a fermentation process, which is good for digestion.   I add the grounds to marinara for pasta dishes. Quorn chick'n tenders are good in stir frys of all kinds. and there are plenty of "beans and rice" versions out there- red beans and rice, black beans and rice, chick peas and quinoa with sauteed veggies + garlic, oregano, little salt, pepper to taste, hummas + sauteed veggies + pasta + cumin, corriander, black pepper, garlic, little salt (super yummy).


I'm also eating gluten free since wheat gives me sinus inflammation and who knows what else is becoming inflamed. So I eat brown rice pastas- Tinkyada is excellent! There is a corn and quinoa pasta from Ancient Harvest that is good, though I eat it in smaller quantities since I think corn is an issue, though a much smaller one, for me too. Also, you need to attend to this pasta when cooking more- stir often- or it doesn't cook evenly. When cutting calories or watching inflammatory-causing foods, carbs, especially pastas and rice, etc. are not helpful. Whole grains are better than refined, but still I try to be careful about watching portions.


Love these cookbooks: Vegetarian (Ultimate Recipes)... available used on amazon and



Basically, any lasting change usually happens when you get well educated on the matter and ease into it. Make small, easier to handle changes and it goes more smoothly.

Subscribe to this blog if you like it, Please.

I'm going to make this post short so people checking at the very last minute still can see the info on the new beginner's bellydance class starting tonight. (Previous entry...)

So, if you read this blog regularly, go ahead and subscribe! I know I mentioned that I may switch, but I still haven't looked to see if I just need to know more about blogspot before I make the move. I'm already preparing to move our household, so that's enough for me right now. :)

The description is a little crowded over there, but the button's near the top on the left side. Beeeee one uv us... one of us, one of us, one of us... ok, that's creepy, so I'll stop now.

Future blog posts: "how I became a vegetarian and how you can too if you're interested", "what I wish I'd known or done differently when I was pregnant even though I read a ton of books" and some pics of a few altered book pages I've done lately.

Join us Wednesday for new Beginner Belly Dance classes!

A Beginner's Belly Dance Class will begin May 5th at the Northern WV Performing Arts Academy 6:30-7:30pm.

Participants in this class will learn basic posture and fundamental technique of the ancient art of belly dance. Each class begins with a yoga warm-up and continues with a fun and thorough breakdown of basic movements, which set the foundation for this beautiful and empowering art form. Narah will often guide students through a series of movements and combinations, keeping the energy up and teaching them how all the basic movements make a dance. No experience necessary!

6 weeks/$60 + $5 registration fee.

Register with the NWVPAA:
Stop by the studio Monday-Thursday 5:00-8:00pm, or mail a check (made payable to PAA) to:
Northern WV Performing Arts Academy
950 Parkway Dr.
Morgantown, WV 26501

For registration questions, call 304-292-3119 or Email performingartsacademyllc@hotmail.com

Direct friends to www.TribalBellyDance.net/classes

Now, that was fun!!!

So, here it is! The mystery project I was working on to wear at the WVU Belly Dance Hafla last night!  I can't really convey how happy it made me to make this, but it's good stuff to feel that way! :) I would like to make more... we'll see with my current priorities on the to-do list. One is something for Blackstone Raid and the next is a wheel chair bag for my Dad (well, it's really for my Mom too, since she'll be the one putting stuff in it.)  This necklace was part of my "recycling project" for Earth Day.  I used a string from a choli that used to be a sari.  I think I already said that in the last post.  *shrug* Anyway, the base of the pendant is a scrap of raw silk and the collage is under a piece of mica.  I LOVE this quote.  I really like Martha Graham quotes.  She really seems a soulful dancer from reading them.  Bellydance is one of those things that is part of me- all of me- so stirring quotes like this one really resonate with me.

So, the performance last night was really really fun!  I was extra nervous because I was performing a choreography with my students first and my head has been in such a weird space this week that I was worried I'd mess up and throw them all off.  It was the first time they performed this choreography and one student's first bellydance performance ever! So, I was also more nervous because they were nervous.  My palms were sweaty, my belly did flip flops- even after all the Hyland's Nerve Tonic.  Good thing I took it though, because it really takes the edge off. 

Despite the nerves, I had SO MUCH FUN!!!  When I was turning, everyone seemed to be turning in the right place, and no one fell (not that I expected them to, but that's a hallmark of a good performance.  :)  Then they were there on the side while I did my solo numbers and it was extra fun interacting with them. Can't wait to see the video!  It really is a treat to be there when students have their first or 100th performance!  I am blessed and also reminded of the transient nature of things since 2 of these students are graduating and moving fairly soon (though I definitely get to "keep" one through August- yay!)  Another is moving in about a week!! It really makes me think about the impermanence of Morgantown, especially.  So many people are either going to the University or are employed through grant based employers that they come, stay a while and then go.  This time, it is a bit more sad for me, especially since Angelo's best little tot friend goes with one of my moving students.  Another set of my and Angelo's friends will be moving in the next year and a half and last year about this time, the same thing happened.  Both of these sets of friends came to Morgantown for the university.  We're about to put down even deeper roots here.  We've loved living here the last (almost) 8 years- it's really a great fit overall for us here-  but this part, especially as Angelo is getting older and more social, is hard for me. 

So, that made going out to eat with some students (3 performers and one who thankfully is sticking around as far as I know) after the Hafla extra special. Special in a "hey that's great- I didn't plan on it and got some extra time" kind of way; In a bonding, not-so-every-day-but-casual-and-spontaneous way.   It's good- made me extra happy. :)

In Angelo news- he said he wanted to "go to his new house".  Umm... we are looking at new houses, but haven't talked much to him about how we were getting a new house.  They are such little sponges, especially this observant little guy, that it is very possible that it only took me telling him once that we would be living in a new house and then all our other talk about getting the house ready to sell, etc. gave him the clues he needed to know he was getting a new house.  (We will still be in Morgantown, just in another area of town.)  This seemed to be fairly out of the blue, though and it makes me think that he picked it out of one of our heads.  He's done that a lot. A whole lot- repeats verbatim what I've ONLY said in my head the moment before.  Again, this little guy just amazes me. Whether he was using a natural gift of intelligence or mind reading powers, he blows me away all the time.  It is such a gift to be a Mother and see the world through his eyes and see him grow.  

I'm thinking of changing blogs.  There may be some more research I need to do to make this blog do what I want it to or to be more usefully laid out, but because it isn't totally obvious and I'm a Mom of a 3 year old, a professional bellydance career woman, etc., I just don't quite have the patience to figure all that out.  If it isn't obvious now, I don't know that I'm interested in seeking out any more here.  Typepad seems so nicely laid out and since most people have the same useful categories, I'm thinking that they may be more user friendly.  I'm thinking of a name change for the blog too.  Belly Arts Mama sums it up nicely, but may be a little long.  Anyone have suggestions?  

Tuesday, Funky Tuesday

First, some Angelo cuteness to report- he waved good night to the monsters in the closet last night! :) In other Toddler wackiness- he figured out how to climb the shelves in the refrigerator to get into the freezer for leftover birthday cake!! He was still balancing the cake with one hand when he brought it to us to get him some cake!!! I am amazed and scared at the same time about this new feat.

Funky weather today- not terribly dark, but rainy and a lot of barometric pressure. It make me brain wobble! Weather, high pollen count, etc. have been contributing to general weirdness in classes the last two weeks, at least it is definitely true on my end and we had a concensus in the continuing class last week. Hopefully my new music will help shake us out of it- pun not intended, but appreciated. ;-)

going to practice my set for the WVU Hafla after class in E. Moore Hall tonight since the contractors are working inside today. Will give me a chance to really swing the cane without worrying about hitting my children!!

I've started my art project for the Somerset Studio Halloween challenge. It is going just fine and not much left to do. Feels strange. I'm sure I'll find more to add. I'm liking it a lot so far and have picked out some more vintage Halloween images to make more "stuff" with. Wouldn't it be cool if I got all manic and finished them all tonight! :) The second two would be simple also... Spring has given me a lot more creative energy and motivation, can you tell? I always have plenty of ideas, but am distracted by things like laundry and cooking and organizing belly dance events. Right now, I'm just super motivated to MAKE STUFF! :-) I seem to always want to make stuff, but it seems more of a need right now.

Time to get ready for nap time!

Feeling Wonderful :)

Yesterday, I got lots of art time. More than I normally get at one time. I even started with a trip to the book store and Michael's just to get out of the house. I spent all this art time on one project. One glorious project that I'm so excited about I want to dance. (and I did this morning, but more on that in a minute.) I haven't taken pictures of it because I'm going to be _wearing_ it this weekend at the WVU Spring Hafla. We are celebrating Earth Day by wearing costume pieces made from recycled or re-used materials. I've already deconstructed a skirt I wore in High School and made it into a panel skirt and this mystery project that I made yesterday includes a hand-rolled string/tie from a choli, which used to be a sari. :) I also used some fabric from this choli in a fabric collage last week. It's better that way and I don't have to worry about what to do with it. Beautiful fabric, just not on me. So, this mystery project is a mixed media piece. If you'd like to see it in person, come to the WVU Hafla on Saturday! Show starts at 7:30pm and you get to see bellydancing!!

I also scanned and submitted my Halloween projects to Cloth Paper Scissors last night- ok, technically very early this morning. I'm feeling brave and will be thrilled if they publish my pieces (and mildly crushed if they don't, but let's not focus on that). If Somerset Studio will accept my digital submission of a piece, I think I'll try to get something together to meet their April 15th deadline. Just saw that this morning. :( But, they are calling for something "timeless and elegant" in the vintage Halloween genre. That sounds like less time adding creepy layers to me. Maybe something small like a card...

Then, this morning, I had such a great practice with my little one running around! I didn't pressure myself to have the world's most efficient warm up and then Angelo was excited and dancing with me rather than wanting me to hold him while I danced. I think it's a great sign that he enjoyed the songs so much! :) Hope you can make it to enjoy them with me this weekend at the WVU Hafla! (I'm also teaching a props workshop during the day- veil, cane and basket. So fun!! I've extended the early discount pricing for a couple days, so you can get to the pay pal button here.

Hope you are feeling wonderful too! :)