Hula hoops appear in the latest (ever so Bye Bye Birdie reminiscent) music video for She & Him’s “In the Sun”, starting at 2:05.

The following is a clip of Ira Glass discussing improving your craft.

“It takes a while. It’s going to take you a while. It’s normal to take a while. You just have to fight your way through that. Okay? You will be fierce, you will be a warrior, and you will make things that aren’t as good as you know in your heart you want them to be. And you will just make one after another.”

A blog that I’ve been loving lately for bringing new music into my life is “The Music Ninja“.  It’s a music blog that focuses mostly on independent stuff & awesome remixes.  It also doesn’t follow a specific time line as far as currency is concerned.  Old?  New?  All are welcome at the Music Ninja.  It includes the awesome feature of being able to listen to the song on the site pre-download to see if it is truly something you want in your music collection.

Winterglow 2010 from michelle yee on Vimeo.

There was this amazing retreat last weekend, put on by three pretty talented ladies. Winterglow 2010 took place at the Riverstone Retreat Center (near Durham, Ontario). A big thank you to the facilitators: Chris, Danette & Alex.  It was uplifting and incredibly thought provoking.  A lot of writing & colors flowed… & I sang along to some of my favorite bluegrass tunes.

The above photos (in slideshow form) were taken by Michelle Yee, Winterglow participant & Pod Member Extraordinaire.  Music by workshop leader Alex Hickey.

To be honest, I was pretty content with my hoop situation.  My cup runneth over.  I have a variety of diameters & different tubing (for better or for worse, Canada!) so that no matter what the mood – I can grab the one that suits me best in that moment.  But…well, I caught a bug.  A bug for LED hoops.

In reality, after booking a performance – a synapse fired in a certain direction & clicked: An LED hoop.  That’s what this little lady needs.

This little lady also shouldn’t refer to herself in third person cowgirl.

I’m completely pleased with Roy G. Biv & will do a slightly-more official review later on.

For now, some short clips of the newest addition to my hoop zoo.

Roy G. Biv from Allison on Vimeo.

“A surge in Olympic spirit has led to a shortage of hula hoops in Metro Vancouver, with toy stores and wholesalers reporting the plastic rings are flying off the shelves as people snap them up to create Olympic displays.”

Twyla Tharp is an amazing American choreographer who is known for her cross-over ballets, which include both modern dance & ballet techniques.  Her first book was her autobiography “Push Comes to Shove”.

In her second book – “The Creative Habit: Learn It & Use It For Life” – she takes the lessons she has learned from her 35+ year dance career & shares her routines, problem-solving techniques & creativity exercises.  When she is at a creative dead end, she has a long list of exercises to help get her out of the rut.

In her mind, self-sustained creativity is linked to routine, organization, & self knowledge – something that all types can identify with.  No matter what creative pathway you would like to harness, there is always an entrance to get there.

Getting into a “hoop rut” isn’t uncommon & while everyone tackles it differently, this book might give some new insight to your own process of getting back into the swing of things.

I love hooping to a lot of Fatboy Slim, but this song in particular is a consistent favorite – whether I’m getting my groove on – or just need an uplifting start to my day.

So 2010 is upon us.  Have you noticed a difference so far?  I bet you have; I see that glint in your eye & spring in your step.  Of course – the arrival of the New Year also means that in the Northern Hemisphere – it is winter.  & I am cocooning a lot in my personal hoop practice.  Valuing quality over quantity.

The following list is a few of the experience-based hoop resolutions I have for 2010.

Hula Hooping Wishes for 2010

• To hoop on a beach I’ve never been to before
• Have a hoop picnic with my Power Pod
• Give a child their first hoop (Shh, nobody tell Lexi!)
• Purchase a new camera battery = Being able to take more photos & hoop videos.

How about you?  What would you like to explore with your hoop in 2010?

*peeks around corner*

Hi there.

You may or may not have noticed, but I took a little sabbatical.  & while I’m not offering group classes quite yet, I am hoping to start blogging again.

So stick around; there will definitely be sparkly things involved.