Earrings!

So, I am always trying to find something new and creative to do and recently I went to walmart and purchased a $4.00 kit and $5.00 3-in-1 tool in order to make earrings. I'm super excited about this because now, if I can figure out how to do it, I can make my own earrings for my belly dance costumes, or to just wear. And if I get really good, I can make earrings and sell them on the side for some extra cash. There is a Farmer's Market my troupe performs at in town, so maybe I could start there. Anyway I'm excited about this new venture and hopefully will have pics up soon of my efforts. In the mean time I'm still working on my stories. I've almost completed another first draft, which a collections of poems woven through a story of a seventeen year old girl. I'm probably going to self-publish it, so I'll keep you updated on my progress. Until next time, I hope you all have a wonderful and productive day. :)

Belly Fun!

So the last few months have been crazy! I've found a new job which I should be starting any day now and I have spending a lot more time with my niece and nephew, which I love. Also, I've been practicing and preparing for Cairo. No I'm not going to Egypt, but I am going to the Southern California Belly Dance event with my troupe. In between we've been performing at small gigs I have another one coming up this Sunday that I'm not ready for. But if you want to see what our troupe is all about, I have a small video here of us performing earlier this month. The gorgeous girl in yellow is my sis and I'm the one in black behind her. See if you can count how many times I mess up, lol.

Thirty Day Shred

So I've decided to hop onto the thirty day shred band wagon, along with some of my fellow blogging buddies. Yesterday was day one.  I wasn't planning on starting it.  I actually went to a cardio kickboxing class at the gym and then went to belly dance practice for an hour. When I got home around 9:30 P.M. I should have done my normal relaxing routing, but I felt I needed to do more.  So I pulled out the shred.

I did level one...but since I can't find my other three pound weight, I did level one with eight pound weights instead.  Wow is all I have to say.  With the eight pound weights I could see exactly which muscles I workout regularly and which need a little more attention.  Even the with the eight pound weights, I didn't feel the slightest burn in my biceps and I completed the back rows with no problem.  The squat with arm raise...yeah by the second set I was alternating two reps of side lunges with no arm movement with two reps with arm movement because my shoulders burned like crazy.  But hey, I figure heavier weight, faster results. :) I'm really trying to push myself through this.

As for measurements--I wish I had a measuring tape, but I don't. So all I have to go on is my weight and the way my clothes fit. I'll update you every week on my weight...The 26th is when I move onto level two. Let's hope I'm still going strong. ;p

In the meantime I hope all have a fantabulous day. ;p

IT'S HERE!!!!!

So yesterday I finally recieved my books and study guide for my AFAA primary group certification.  I've already read the first chapter and filled out the first section of my study guide.  I'm so excited, I can't wait for March 5 the day I go and get tested. The only thing I'm a little nervous about is the time.  Apparently, most people sign up at least thirty days before the day of the test, while I only have twenty days to study and catch up.  So we'll see if I can fit in all the studying I need to get done before hand.

I've also read that it's a good idea to pick out and practice the moves you're going to perform the day of the test, along with what you're going to say. If you're an instructor already, they recommend you perform the routine you normally do with your classes.  Eep! I don't know if that means I should have whole routine down or not....I don't know. This is so exciting and nerve racking at the same time.

Oh, and if I pass, I'll probably get one more aerobic certification, than I thought I'd try for a personal trainer certification.  But that probably won't be until the end of this year, or the beginning of next.  Right now I just want to get this certification and find a job.  When I get comfortable then I'll sign up to be a personal trainer.

Yeah, so that's all for today.  I hope you all have a fantabulous day.

Awkward Touch!!!!!!

Okay so this doesn't really have anything to do with anything.  Just feel like being silly.

Kicking Butt in Kickboxing!!

Today was the second day I have taken the bag kickboxing class at my gym and all I can say is OH...MY...GOD!  No matter if there are enough bags for the class or not, the instructor makes sure anyone who shows up feels the burn.  Last Wednesday we did Tabata drills.  For those who don't know what those are, it's a six minute interval where you go all out for twenty seconds and rest for ten seconds.  We did one Tabata drill for our upper body and, after some free weights, we did another Tabata drill for our lower body and finished with lower body resistance.

This week, because there were too many people in the class to use Tabata with the bags, we did a circuit.  This circuit included four different stations, two on the bags and two working either cardio or strength, for 45 seconds.  We did two complete rounds, after doing two minute drills working our hands for four rounds.  Our instructor finished the class up with: some defensive slides, jumping jacks, forward and backward runs, burpees and abs.  This doesn't include our warm up.

By the end of her class, if you're not dripping in sweat then you're not working hard enough.  Needless to say, this class is  becoming a staple in my weekly regiment.  Oh, and just a little warning.  If you take a kickboxing class, bag or no bag, never tell a guy who trains in any form of martial arts that you do it too.  My b/f is an MMA fighter and laughs every time a girl tells him she trains too because she takes kickboxing or Tae-Bo classes.  They're designed as aerobic workouts, not real fighting techniques.

 Sorry, but I had to throw my two cents in there. Too many people think they can defend themselves because they've taken these classes, when that's not what they are designed for at all.

Til my next post, I hope you have a fantabulous day.

I Did It!!!

I'm super excited!  You know how before I wrote that I was thinking about signing up for a Primary Group Certification so I could lead an aerobics class?  Well I totally signed up for it today!  I was going through the website, researching and whatnot, when I suddenly I was like "what the hell". So three weeks from now, hopefully I will be writing another blog telling you how I passed the certification and am ready to whip other workout peeps into shape.

Now all that's left to do is sign up for my CPR Certification. Oh and find a vehicle I can drive out to the workshop, but that's going to be easy peasy.  So yay for me! If I finish my children's book now I'll have another thing to celebrate.  :)

Hope you guys have a fantabulous day!