It's official...now what?

Trainer Julie ROCKED!

Well I did it!  I didn't really give myself much "thinking time" as the class was only about a week out when I began looking into the idea.

So...now what?  Well I do know I will be utilizing this training here at the park.  But that is only about 4, maybe 5, months out of the year.  Luckily I don't have to think about the rest of the year until closer to April.  There is so much "stuff" swimming in my head right now that I've definitely got to take some time to sort through it.  Zumba Fitness provides soooo much more than just a license to teach their classes.  They really have a great network and support system for instructors.

The training was a BLAST!!  Trainer Julie was awesome.  She had the attitude, the style and the humor to make the day just fly by.  Really, I could take a class from her ANY day.  Oh, and did I mention she has SEVEN (7) children!!  Yeah, you should see her abs....

Who's ready??

Seriously, if are not in the Port Isabel, TX area and want some totally exhilarating FUN fitness, check out the Zumba website to find a studio near you!

Fun fact I found out....Running for 12 miles in 4 hours can burn about the same amount of calories in 1 hour of Zumba.  I kid you not.  

NO A/C!!

Well even though the south Texas temperatures have been in the high 90's and we have been without a/c for a little over 24 hours....Ginger is not complaining.  Ginger is an indoor cat and boy is she in HEAVEN!  I feel so blessed to have a well behaved adult cat that will stay when I tell her to (most of the time), come when I call her (with the aid of food) and lounge outside in the chair next to me without fighting to get down (NO bribing required!)


The a/c should be fixed sometime today (fingers, toes crossed and prayers have been said).  I will be sure and snap some photo's of the progress and share it with you!  In the mean time I am thankful for the cloudy, hazy day that helps keep the RV from becoming an aluminum oven!  God is good!

Have been considering getting my Zumba license.  Still weighing the cost vs. benefits.

Costs:
$270 for 1 day course and 1 yr license
$30 mo if I want license to last more than 1 yr

Benefits:
Use the name Zumba
Access to Music & Choreo
Jumping on the fitness wave!

This list is just the beginning and I will probably be adding as I find/learn more things!

Should I do it?  Give me your opinion and don't forget to tell me WHY!

Today's Inspiration

Today's inspiration should make my husband happy.  You see I am a clutterer...not so much a hoarder, I can get rid of things.  But instead of putting things where they belong, they lay where they land.  I know I'm not the only one and I have a very good reason for this.  If I put it away, I will forget to use it, forget I have it...like having my gym bag out is a visual reminder that I need to go to the gym.  Having my Avon books out reminds me that an order deadline is coming up soon and I need to make phone calls, send emails and get my order ready to submit.  I leave a pile of sewing next to the kitchen table, where the machine is, so that once I get "enough" to sew I can spend and afternoon doing it.  Ok so the pile has been there well over a month....!?  I have magazine's I need to finish reading.  Crochet projects half done....because if I put it away I won't have that visual reminder to finish it.  Makes sense right?  But in the mean time....I have piles EVERYWHERE!

So after getting my Zumba shot in the butt this morning this is what I plan to do this afternoon.  Let the pile attack begin!

If you have any tips and techniques PLEASE, yes I am begging, share them with me!

Learning about Blogging

While I slave away, my "co-worker" has bailed on me.

Go figure.





So I've been reading about some SEO (search engine optimization, yes I had to look it up) techniques from The North Carolina Cowgirl.  Professional SEO Consultant and a blogger that I found through one of my favorite blogs Peanut Butter Fingers, who also posted some good tips on her blog.

So I started working with Pic Monkey yesterday. (That's where the little conversation bubbles have come from.)  It is super easy to load a pic and get it just right for posting.  And can be done from ANY computer, which is a plus for me.  If you look at the Peanut Butter Fingers link you can see some of what can be done with this site.  It is free...but the cooler stuff requires membership.  Free is fine for me now.


So then I tried to learn how to add a "Pin It" button on my site.  That took a couple of days to get the hang of it and I'm still wondering a bit....?

I guess after I publish this I'll find out if it worked!

The last thing I've done so far is to add a XML Sitemap.  I definitely had to look that up too and see what it was all about but I did find out how to do it here.  This is one of those things that I still don't know a lot about and I'm not sure how to judge if it is working or not.  It is basically supposed to allow the search engines to bring up more that your last 26 posts. (See I didn't even know that was the case, but I guess it is with blogger.)  So there you go.  I hope this helps!

Today's Inspiration

Yes, it really is a madness!

Remembering Kansas

It looks like I will be finishing my job up as of Labor Day weekend!  Although I do enjoy meeting all the tourists and helping them find the perfect place to eat, I am really ready to start the next season!  I want to focus on my blog, get my classes in order, take some classes of my own, make a trip to Kansas and visit some friends!  Oh Kansas, how I miss your trees!

I took this picture the day we left to head to Texas, Oct 2011.  I kinda knew it would be our last time there.

I used to walk/run this path by the lake many mornings.

 

This one is looking up at the damn from the overflow stream. 

Yes, I even miss the wildlife!

I miss riding the motorcycle around the lake.

Sunset over Lake Melvern

Homesick much?  Yes and no...but I do miss the landscape!

Today's Inspiration

Yes, this is what I would like to do this morning...but someone beat me to it.

Yurt, Work and Dinner

I found out what a Yurt is today!  It's actually pretty cool and even cooler when you get to do yoga in one...well I take the cooler part back.  In deep south Texas it's nearly 80 as the sun in rising and the Yurt is NOT air conditioned.  But I LOVED every minute of it!!  I was running a bit behind today so the next time, oh and there will be a next time, I will get more pics!

Then I went to the grocery store...probably shouldn't do that on an empty stomach, eh?

How did those get in there??

 I had to work at noon today.  For those of you that don't know, I have been working part time at the Sandpiper Gift Shop.  It is inside the Pearl Resort on the island.  It has given me something to do this summer and a little extra spending money.  My days are numbered though.  Kids are heading back to school and Labor Day is just around the corner.  Almost time for the new season of life!

Yes, those are Tom's wedges....

Really don't need these...need to STOP shopping!

On my way home I pass this little shop right at the corner of my street.  They always have a whimsical saying on their sign.  Today I couldn't help but think that if Jesus liked fishing so much that I doubt he wouldn't have a little of it going on in heaven...catch and release of course. :)

Wasn't Jesus a fisherman?

DINNER!  I decided to pop in for some shrimp...I think I'll marinate it in a citrus sauce until Joe comes home.

We have found that living by the coast does not allow for a very deep or good fresh water resource thus the water that comes from your pipes is quite icky....so this is our daily ritual.  Right at the end of the block, how convenient!

DON'T DRINK THE WATER!

Dinner!!  I found a citrus marinade packet that called for adding only the OJ so that's what I went with for tonight.  Grilled everything up and ta-da!  Joe was a happy man.

It's A New Day!

It is a new day in the life of my blog!  I'm excited but a little nervous. Up until this point nearly all of my blog has been focused on my craft of crochet, now I intend to "open it up" a bit and make this blog about my life...the good, the bad, and the ugly!  I've already started working on a few layout changes, nothing major yet, but eventually I want to do a complete overhaul.  I'm not sure yet what that means.  I don't know if I will stay with blogger....I will probably change my blog title since it currently focuses on crochet.  I'm going to be doing research to learn about different gadgets that make blog life easier.  I want to have more of a plan about blogging since I won't just be waiting until my next craft project is complete in order to post.  Which means there will be a A LOT more posting.  This could mean posting daily!  You wouldn't be able to tell that from looking at my previous posting schedule but I really would like to post more often.  I've been taking a lot of inspiration from the following blogs...in no particular order:

I'd Rather Be Elspeth - I love her transparency in life's joys AND struggles
Peanut Butter Fingers - professional blogger, compared to me, with a real heart for her audience
The Morning Bleat - The life of a gemini silk artist living in Hawaii can be a wild ride!
Princess Farhana: Missives From the Royal Palace - A professional belly dancer and someone I am honored to call a friend.  Sharing her years of knowledge and making you feel like you are sitting right next to her the whole time!

Of course these are just a few.  I follow sooooo many blogs that I am almost embarrassed to admit that I can't always read them all.  This is when I realized that the title of a Post REALLY matters because it has to catch a potential readers eye to be able to qualify as something to be worth our precious time.

But I digress....I do hope that you follow me along in this journey and I do hope that I pick up some new friends along the way as well.  Lets live, love and learn together.  My life is not perfect, but it sure is FABULOUS!

Sharing the Love for the XXXXX Family!

Hello all!!  I am writing today so full of excitement for a very special family!

The Messer Family!

The Messer family consists of Joseph, Elizabeth and little Micah.  Joseph is my husbands son, don't they look alike?!  So I guess you would say that they are my step-son, step-daughter-in-law and step-grandchild.    Wow, that's a lot to write!  This little family means the world to me and I only wish that we could see them more often and spend time watching that little angel grow up!  Fortunately Liz keeps a wonderful blog, you can read it here, so we get to see lots of pictures, video's and read about their daily life, allowing us to feel so much closer than the span of miles would allow us.   Micah is such a miracle baby and due to the circumstances surrounding the miracle of her birth, Liz is no longer able to have children.  But God is using this family in all their pain to be a blessing to others by adopting.  They are soooo excited!  With a little help from her friends Liz has decided to do a fundraiser to help with the adoption expenses.  Liz asked if I was willing to make some items to donate to her fundraiser and of course I said YES!  This post is to show you what I made for her and where I found the patterns.  Once her fundraiser is up and running I will post a link so you can go check things out!



My first hat for Liz's raffle!!

The Kufi Cap, pattern by Sophia's Crochet, with the Croco Flower, pattern by Bonita Patterns.

Love the little button flower!

2nd hat is the Granny Sun Hat, pattern by Sara McFall.

The Zebra Hat, pattern by Amy.

This is supposed to be a zebra...Joe says it's a pig. I guess it can be whatever you want!

Surplust Hat from Red Heart.

CUTE!

I SEE YOU!  HA!

Well I couldn't just stop at hats...I found a little book with bootie patterns so I made a couple of those to throw in the mix.

Sneakers!

Strawberry buttons!

 We are praying for God's will, patience and wisdom during this new phase of life for the whole family!

Two Words - YARN GIVE-A-WAY

Bernat Mosaic Yarn: Daydream
Gifted By: Bernat
Reviewed By: Jeanette Benoit, Editor for AllFreeCrochet.com

"Mosaic yarn from Bernat is a great yarn to work with. It offers a fabulous self striping look that creates amazing effects. This yarn has a beautiful shade range which is great for garments or home decor.

It is available in a variety of different colors, including my personal favorite, Daydream.  This soft pastel color is perfect for spring and summer patterns, as well as baby blankets.  Use this gorgeous yarn to make an unforgettable baby shower gift for a special friend.  The variety of colors makes it suitable for both baby boys and baby girls.

Not only is this yarn extremely soft and easy to work with but it's also easy to care for, as well.  This 100% acrylic yarn is machine washable and dryable."

Ain't it purty?  Would you like to win some???  Follow this link!

Jane Austen Crochet Shawl in Recycled Yarn

Hello there!  I've been away yet again.  I don't know if it is because blogging is not my strongest point or because I feel like I have nothing to say that anyone cares to read...?!  Either way, it doesn't matter, it's good therapy...LOL

So one thing I did last year was purchase some "recycled" yarn.  If you remember this post showing some of my purchases.  The yarn had been pulled from sweaters found in garage sales or Goodwill or what have you.  They then wound it up and sold it on Ebay...a GREAT FIND!  Well I finally got over the intimidation of how unbelievably small this yarn is, not to mention how I was going to maneuver it with my long skinny fingers!  So I started with this color, kind of a sage green:

85% Silk 15% Cashmere

And a pattern I found on Ravelry: The Jane Austen Shawl by Wendy Lewis  Wendy mentions how she can just imagine Jane wearing this shawl over an empire waist gown.  I can imagine it keeping the chill off of a cool spring evening walk across a flowering pasture.  How fun is it to dream about period events where your creations can come alive!

It was so long I had to block it on the floor!

ECU of pattern!  Too bad I have beige carpet!

As you can see the shawl turned out beautifully!!  Jane Austen is one of my daughter-in-laws favorite authors, if not her most favorite!!  So I thought what a perfect mothers day gift for her.  I know it will be a little late getting to her but I am really excited to share this recycled treasure with her.

Even though the finished product looks NOTHING like it did before it was blocked, it was actually kind of ugly, I liked the result so much that I decided to try another pattern with one of the other yarns...it is about halfway finished and includes beads!  Yeah!  I will have it up for sale on my Etsy site once it is blocked and all purty up.

Thanks for hanging in there to read my sporatic posts!

Still Alive Over Here!

It has been 2 whole months since I've posted in my blog.  One big reason...it's Winter Texan season!!!  For those of you who do not know, I live in an RV park and during the Dec-Mar season the park is FULL of northerners trying to get away from the cold weather...can you blame them?  So I lead several classes, including: Yoga, Aerobics, Strength Training, Belly Dance, Line Dance, Crafts, Wii Competitions and what ever else I can come up with to keep everyone active, mind and body!

So I have been VERY busy with classes!  One of my most time consuming classes is crafts.  I teach it once a week and I typically have to find the project, get supplies, test it out, get enough supplies for everyone and then teach the class. Some are fairly simple but some are soooo time consuming!  This week we made Trellis Necklaces.  So pretty, but cutting out 50 of them was tiring.

I LOVE new ideas, if you have any send them my way!!

Something I've finished in between classes....sorry about the CRAPPY pictures!