Progress With Zumba

So have I totally met all of my goals? No.
Have I tried really hard? Yes.

So to prove how hard I have been working - here are some of the important things I have taken care of over the past week:

• Went to Kohl's; purchased new workout clothes (You can't expect me to wear last year's yoga pants to workout in the comfort of my own home.)
• Perfected my workout drink (Crystal Light Lemonade, Tea, and Sugar Free Raspberry Syrup)
• Total Calories burned on these activities: No idea.

Okay, I did more. I tested out  Zumba Fitness 2. Last week I just tried the low intensity songs one at a time. I was up to three songs and was pretty impressed with myself. Then, a friend asked if I had gone through a full class yet. 

And so this morning, with the Wii remote strapped to my side, I finished my very first, low-intensity, short class. The fact that I am still able to type means I survived (just barely). 

Things I have learned thus far:

• The workout clothes are not making it any easy to get through the Wii Zumba class. However, I do feel a little better about wearing them.
• If you do not have any type of rhythm, you can fake it. (I got the Zumba Master award today and there was  no way I was keeping up with all the beats.)
• My kids are going to hold me accountable. When I skipped the other day, both Son and Daughter made it a point to ask why I was not doing Zumba. Who knew that a six and four year old would be my accountability partners?

So my goals are pretty much the same for this upcoming week. Even if I have not lost any weight or I don't feel anymore fit, if I am still standing and able to move, I will be happy. 

Time to Get Serious

Last week, my sister became engaged. Yippee for here - not so yippee for me. This weekend we went shopping to look at dresses. Every single one she put on was amazing.  On the other hand, trying on bridesmaid dresses was not as much fun.

It isn't the choice of dress. My sister has got great taste. It wasn't that I ate some bad Indian food before we went in. Here's the thing - - I think it may be time to take Weight Watchers seriously. I have been starting eating the right way every Monday for about two months and oddly enough, eating well one day a week is just not going to cut it. (Surprising, right?)

So I am pretty sure that I have until the end of August to get myself together and actually look presentable walking down the aisle. 

So here's the plan:

• Weight Watchers strictly - NO CHEATING
• Just Dance 3 or my Zumba workout with the Wii at least 3 days a week
• YRG (Yoga for Real Guys) LOL with Husband at least three mornings a week

You know that Starbucks and I have had a bit of a love/hate relationship for many years. I think it may be time to say goodbye to my frequent enjoyment of Iced, Venti, Nonfat, Chai Tea. Today, I chose a Trenta Black Tea (with no sweetener) instead. Maybe once a week I can do a Chai, but honestly, this could be a large part of the problem. 

Okay, fine. It was also the Banana Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake too. I admit it.

So we will see how it goes. I thought about taking before and after photos but I swear, the thought of before pictures absolutely chills me to the bone. I am afraid that seeing a photo up close and personal to my own cellulite may not motivate me. It may paralyze me!

So here I go --- another goal to add to the mix but one that will be well worth it!

Photo by: Broken Piggy Bank's photo stream on Flickr.

Seriously - Never Worked a Day in Her Life?

Okay, you know that I am not interested in turning my blog into any type of political platform. I just want to write, review books, and be funny. However, I just can't let this one go.

Just updated my Facebook status and I figured I better post it here as well:

Hey Hillary Rosen, there is a reason I chose to stay home with my kids. Reason number one? So they do not grow up and end up like you.

Are you freaking kidding me?

And as a side note: Mom - Thanks for all that you did to stay home with me. You have left a legacy that I hope I am carrying on to my kids. You worked every day really hard. Sometimes you got paid for it and other times you did not. Either way, thanks for giving up part of yourself and the opportunity at a career to stay home with us.

And by the way - I hope that you are now enjoying the fact that you stayed home with us and now still enjoy the luxury of an amazing career. Apparently you can bake your cake and eat it too.

Okay, that's all. I am putting the soapbox away.

Field Trip to Saguaro National Park

So today over 100 first graders and a few parents and teachers ventured out into the Saguaro National Park.  Believe it or not, it was really fun and very, very interesting. (The rangers were sometimes more entertaining than the scenery.)

So, since I am "Back in the Saddle Again" I wrote an article about it. I haven't written for Examiner in about a year or two, so this is a serious step in the right direction. Check it out and be sure to leave a comment.

(I have to point out that Son is the photographer on all of the photos included in the article and slideshow!)

Take a Trip to Saguaro National Park: a Tucson frugal family fun adventure

Back In The Saddle Again

Today I was daydreaming about my perfect job. I would be able to spend time reading and reviewing new books. I would write in my blog and include they hysterical things that happen during the day instead of being lazy and just posting them to Facebook. I would be able to work on my ebooks and have at least one published by the end of May.

In an ideal world, right . . .

Then I realized. This is my life. I do get to spend time reading new books and reviewing them. ( I currently have 5 loaded onto the Nook that I need to read and review.) I can write for the blog and keep it up to date. I can even spend time writing the books!!!

It has completely changed my perspective. At my fingertips I have the tools to make all of this happen. Now, I just need to get things moving in the right direction.

So to keep myself motivated, I am posting the picture I have on my desk for a source of inspiration. This is a small house on Coronado Island. When I was young and naive I made a promise to B that  after publishing my first book, we would buy a tiny little house on the island and retire. We'll see how that turns out but for now, I am back in the saddle again.

Fresh Start: God's Invitation to a Great Life by Doug Fields

It doesn’t matter how old you are, how long you have been a Christian, or where you are in your life, Fresh Start: God's Invitation to a Great Life applies to you. This God-centered approach to making a change works in so many different situations. He always comes back to the idea that God loves you and His plans are always a lot better that we realize.

Everyone likes the idea of a fresh start when things aren’t going as expected and I am no different. In fact, that was part of my interest in the book. I was pleasantly surprised to read a book that held truths with practical applications that was coated in his sense of humor. While you want to take the topic and yourself seriously, be brings out a laugh in the most unexpected way

As I read, it was a lot like having a conversation with a friend that you really trust. He doesn’t mind keeping the mood light at times but when it comes to asking you tough questions, he goes for it. Instead of feeling put out by the difficult topics and self-reflection, the way he presented everything made me feel comfortable with the introspection. Wait till he talks about pride. You can’t help but see yourself on the pages, despite your best efforts. It made me think.

Anyone would benefit from this book. I think that if you are lacking in direction and you can’t figure out where to start, this book is a great resource. It unveils things you may not have considered before. The best part of the direction and advice is that fact that he supports everything in the Word.

** A complementary copy of this book was provided to me by Booksneeze.