Zumba Cruise

Now that I am nearly recovered after returning from the first ever #ZUMBACRUISE I am reflecting at what an amazing opportunity it was. Everything happens for a reason. When the original round of sign ups came about, I was not able to go. I was teaching school and I couldn't just take a week off. But things happen and a new job with flexible vacation time made the possibility an option, and 2 months before the ship was to set sail, someone dropped out of the cabin my the bestie was in an they were looking to fill it!

The week prior to setting sail was stressful. A huge storm bringing nearly 3 feet of snow was going to miss Maine but hit Maryland where we were supposed to fly through. After a few hours on the phone and 3 changes in flights were were on our way. The airport was a ghost town as we were the only flight leaving from the terminal. We boarded and were on our way with a 45 min layover in chicago we were worried about making our connecting flight in time... but we did. Landing in Fort Lauderdale and waiting patiently at the baggage claim for our bags to come... except... they weren't and we hear our names paged to the baggage claim office... Great... BUT to our surprise our luggage was there already (how we don't know).

Off to our first stop at A's cousins house. We crashed for the night and woke up the following morning where we decided we would go for a run as neighbors looked at us crazy being in shorts and tank-tops. We might be on vacation but it doesn't mean we weren't gonna get our sweat on. Before long we were off shopping and then to a local bar to watch the Patriots game followed by more shopping.

The next day was cruise day. We slept in a little and then were off to the ship. We checked in quickly and then sat in a "holding" area for a few hours were many selfies with new friends were taken.
We boarded the ship and after dropping off our carryon bags at our rooms we went to explore. We were able to see the top decks of the ship before they got closed off to finish loading the speakers and staging. We did a few classes and had dinner while watching the coast guard us out to sea. We went to the opening show and someone (not me) won a diamond necklace... for being herself... ;) We even went back for the second show that night.

The following days were filled with classes, classes and more classes. On day 3 we visited Haiti where we laid out in the sun and did some shopping. Day 4 we were part of the LIVE taping of ZIN 62 before getting off the ship to visit Jamaica. We did some shopping and got back on the ship. We crashed our ZINS class and headed to listen to a seminar- which unfortunately didn't happen- so we decided to go to the casino. Again the stars must have aligned because the casino was pretty empty and then all of a sudden here comes Beto!

Day 5 brought a chance to share my zumba story on camera. They told me that they would be in contact because they would like to share it. I hope they do. Not because its great, but maybe it would show someone that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. That you can take charge of your life and become a healthier, happier person.

camera man, me, interviewer, photographer

I am beyond thankful for this experience and everything that has happened that lead up to it. It was what I needed to be inspired and get pumped to bring new choreography into my classes. Being around people who share a common interest and passion is sometimes what you need to get recharged and inspired. I got to see and talk to so many ZES and ZIN that I admire and respect. But the best part... spending it with someone who continues to inspire me on a daily basis. Someone who I am proud to call my best friend... even if we ended many days like the photo below... ;)

 

PS- this was the day my up said I did 150+ floors...  

and a total of over 120,000 steps taken the 5 days on the cruise!

Hello 2016

525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear. 525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year?

2015 was filled with highs and lows; heartache and joy, and new friends, adventures and traditions. It was a chance to learn and grow and become a better me.

I did things that I never thought I would ever do, like going on a roller coaster that went 120 miles per hour - ok just going on "real" roller coasters in general. I went on 2 "road" trips, one to NY and the other to Ohio. I also got to go to my cousins wedding in California and see family that I haven't seen in some cases 20 years and meet cousins I have never got to meet. I decided to "take a break" from teaching and "take a chance" in a new job (which I LOVE 95% of the time). I started teaching more classes... many many more classes including Bokwa. I got to touch the dugout at Fenway Park as I cheered on my friends running the race. I gained 2 baby cousins. I got to stand up and witness a friend say "I do" and avoid catching the bouquet. I got pre-approved to buy a house and told that I had "the best credit of a 20 something year old" she had ever seen. I strengthened my friendships with some of the best friends around and made new friends along the way. 

As we move into the New Year many people will make goals. It is important keep them reasonable. 

Here are mine.

1. Say good bye to the 200's again. I could blame it on stress, not working out as hard or as much, but when it comes down to it, part of me didn't care anymore. I wasn't in the zone or in my happy place and it showed. But there aren't any excuses. It happened. It's over and I have to move on.

2. Make time for friends. I admit it. I am very type A. I enjoy working and being creative and getting stuff done. But I also enjoy just relaxing with no cares in the world, even if its just sitting in a car and having a conversations... ;) or road trips with the music going. Just having time to relax and have no cares is an amazing feeling.

3. Continue looking for a house. I have been working very hard at saving money to get my own house and I am confident that 2016 is going to bring me closer to these dreams.

4. Learn my limits. I don't want to burn my candle at both ends and thus burn out my candle. 

5. Sing. I have enjoyed being back at church and signing and I want to continue this. 

6. Read a book- or at least finish the one that my niece let me borrow to read in August...

7. Stay on top of laundry. You laugh but when teaching classes nearly everyday of the week- that means most days I go through 2 outfits and that is a lot of laundry. So not only do I want to keep on top of doing laundry, it means putting it away too.

8. Attempt to get up on skis. This is going to take great effort. I am going to have to drop some pounds and strengthen my arms. 

9. Run a 5k in under 35 mins. That would mean that means I am going to have to do a few things. I'm going to have to get my mile closer to 11 mins (the best one I've done was 12:12) and I'm going to have to keep running. Gah. Make it a habit right?

10. Try something new. I don't know what this will be but I don't want to limit myself by fears.

When you write your goals you are more likely to achieve them. I also want to be mindful not to already blow number 4... 

Happy New Year. May it be filled with joy, happiness, love, family, friends and wonderful memories. <3

#truth

Truth. There is so much truth in this image that came across my newsfeed and I've thought about it a lot in the nearly 2 months that I have had the image saved on my desktop.

1. My body isn't perfect.
In fact I would say its far from it. I have loose skin and rolls. I have childhood scars from falling off my bike or that one on my knee when I was at my Godmothers house and landed on one of those Nurf Gun toys with the spikes. And then there are my scars from surgery. They go from my elbow to my armpits. But those scars, I like those scars. The remind me of where I was and how far I have come. They keep me going and keep me from throwing in the towel.

2. I don't walk with confidence.
OMG especially in heels. I have no grace in them whatsoever. But in all seriousness, this used to be true. I would say that I would walk with my head down. I avoided eye contact. If I couldn't see you, you couldn't see me right? I am working hard at this. Being proud of who I am. It's something I continue to work on.

3. I get into fights with my parents and friends.
Oh my do I ever. I am strong willed, stubborn and opinionated. I will stand up for what I believe in. I will fight for what I want and what is right, but I have also learned that not every fight is a fights that I'm willing to "die on the battle field for" sometimes I need to just let it go, which is easier said than done.

4. Some nights I'd rather be by myself than out partying.
Isn't this the truth. I very much enjoy quiet evenings, to myself, alone in my room watching Netflix, reading a book or working on a craft. My daily life can be loud and busy and sometimes I just need to come home to a quiet space. 

5. I cry over the smallest things sometimes.
Yes. I am an emotional person. I wear my heart on my sleeve and things that shouldn't bother me do.

6. There are days that I get through with forced smiles and fake laughs.
There are days I would rather dig my eye out with a spoon instead of doing what I'm doing. Meetings that could have happened over an email, or meetings that don't have structure and conflict with my type A personality. Or now, when I know that I have put weight back on and continue to struggle to take it off again.

7. Sometimes I try to convince myself that things are okay when they're not.
Or vice versa. Things are ok and I am convinced they are not.

8. I'm not ugly but I'm not beautiful.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Healthy knows no size. Healthy is beautiful.

9. I don't look as good in real life as I do in pictures.
I've learned (thank you A) how to pose in pictures to make myself appear thinner. And pictures I don't like... I get rid of... ;) 

10. There are some nights that I cry myself to sleep.
I'm not where I thought I would be at this point in my life and when I have to much time to think, I get down. I try to stay constantly busy and not have down time, but there are some nights I wish things were different and I wonder what is going to happen next. I am happy with my jobs, my family and my friends. I wouldn't change what I'm doing and where I am at. I know it's part of the plan, but sometimes I just wonder- what is next?

11. I constantly think I'm not good enough.
All the time. I am always thinking I could be better, do more. I didn't try hard enough. There is always doubt and even though I have been told that "I am a star" {Reiki}, sometimes it's hard to believe it.

12. I'm imperfect, but I'm perfectly me.
'I'm not a perfect girl , my hair doesn't always stay in place. I spill a lot of things and I am pretty clumsy! But when I think about it & take a step back, I remember how amazing my life truly is & that maybe... I like being Imperfect"

Days 19, 20 & 21

Today is day twenty one of a 21 day challenge that I am taking part of with GPF. I have decided that as part of this challenge I am going to blog about my goals and how my day turned out.

I slacked off the last few days. Not in everything I have been doing, but in writing my blog posts. I haven't been home, so I haven't been able to sit down at my laptop.

Friday was a long day of training. I sat through a suicide prevention training. It was a hard subject and sitting through it was painful, really. I can't stand sitting all day. My evening finished off with dinner and a wonderful walk by the river, before having a "sleepover" and catch up time with the niece. I can't believe everything that had happened since I saw her Sunday.... Oh high school.

Saturday was an early morning after not sleeping much. I had a FULL aqua class at 7 and then it was time to get ready for work in Augusta with our social media journalism interns. I am continuously amazed as how much knowledge they have and how well they come together and work from all over the state. I got to sneak in a quick nap before heading to the "Drag Me to Hell" show. It's always a great time when the GPF family gets together to do something outside of the gym. The best part of the evening was before the show and the conversation that happened. =D I'm so blessed.

This morning was church and getting ready for the Fall Festival at church. I came home and got ready for the Football game to fall asleep on the couch. Opps. Now I'm up, enjoying the game and getting ready to head to the gym to teach class and do my dreaded burpees.

Although this 21 day challenge didn't go {weight wise} the way I would have wanted it, I wouldn't change it. I have made daily measurable goals, stepped out of my comfort zone, and given the opportunity to reflect on the process. Life's an adventure, and I'm ready for the next one.

Day 18: Sunshine & Rain

Today is day eighteen of a 21 day challenge that I am taking part of with GPF. I have decided that as part of this challenge I am going to blog about my goals and how my day turned out.

Day 18: Find the sunshine in the rain. 

The weather today was a little dreary. Misting most of the morning. My morning started early,having a breakfast with a friend who was in town. Following that it was off the the Department of Corrections. Yes I had to report there is morning at 9am... for a meeting. We chatted about our trip to the Family Justice Center last month- This is such a great project and I am happy to be working on it. 

No rest for the weary, I no sooner finished that meeting and it was off to make it in time for my next meeting(s). For once, the technology on my end was super and I was able to see everything that was happening. I can't say the same thing for the Portland Office- they kept coming in and out. I then had a grou of kids show up to take part in a discussion with a representative of the state. They voiced what was happening that was working well, or what they felt they could be done better. I found that they did a great job and from that meeting, although it wasn't "mine" I took away things to work with them on.

After taking a few kids home,it was off to class. Bokwa was great, again and then burpees with Lou. Those, not so great. They suck. BLAH. Then Zumba 30/30 where my new people from last week returned and brought a friend- yeah!

On the way home, I wasn't able to come down my road. I don't know what happened but there were fire trucks, rescues and police everywhere. I hope it wasn't an accident and if it was, I pray for them.

I'm hoping to call it an early evening as I am exhausted and have a long day tomorrow. I'm still smiling and definitely have found the sun shine through the rain.

Day 17: #nailedit

Today is day seventeen of a 21 day challenge that I am taking part of with GPF. I have decided that as part of this challenge I am going to blog about my goals and how my day turned out.

Day 17: Todays goal was to not blow an important meeting I had today.

After not sleeping all night {not joking, I saw 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00... then fell asleep until 6:00} it was up and at 'em. Off to Walmart to get supplies for work then to take a special delivery to a special friend. Only to realized I had forgotten all my workout clothes! Ahhh! So after the delivery I ran home to grab them then to the office to prep for this meeting.

I fully anticipated having the meeting with the visiting company with my boss and another coworker, only to be told last minuet that my boss wasn't coming and that it was pretty much me. {AHH, I was already stressed} BUT the meeting went AWESOME and I was asked to consult and present as part of their panel. {EKKK!}

Following the meeting it was time to get ready for class. My class at the Y continues to grow and I had several new people {which makes me excited}. This was followed by 70 burpees. It continues to get harder and harder, but again, my wonderful video gal did 5 in support of my after I was done. Then it was time to head off to board. I got to skype for a few mins with my little niece before I had to drive, but if things couldn't have been planned any better, I got a call from Margaret and following her call my cousin in California gave me a call.

After advisory board, dinner and an errand for work, I am finally settling down for the night. I am looking forward to crashing and crashing hard.

Sweaty Selfie Day 17- post zumba and burpees, and I forgot a hair tie... blah

Day 16: Me Day

Today is day sixteen of a 21 day challenge that I am taking part of with GPF. I have decided that as part of this challenge I am going to blog about my goals and how my day turned out.

Day 16: Take a "me day" I was going to sub for Auburn School Dept but I haven't really taken any time for me lately. The scale is going up. A and I both know that my body hates me and doesn't like the workouts I'm doing and even though i am trying to eat what I need to in order to continue to workout and loose I'm not. Its frustrating because I lost 7 pounds last time. But even though I have been upset about the number on the scale I have been so beyond happy with and about other things.

I stayed in bed for a while this morning and enjoyed just relaxing. It was nice not to have to be anywhere or do anything. Before long I was up. I decided that I would clean and do some laundry. Before long it was time to head out to Zumba Kids. That class is a lot of fun and continues to grow. I only wish that I didn't have to feel like I was rushing to get to my Tuesday night 5:30 class, but such is life. 5:30 was a BLAST as always and from there on out my night continued to go great.

In all the rushing and not having to do burpees... I forgot to take a sweatie selfie =D so here is an image of how I am ending my day... and remember... Love yourself!