Where's the fun? I'll tell you!

If you checked out my post here then you already know that exercise is not much fun for me.

But hold the phone - I think I've found the answer to enjoying myself while getting a workout.

Can you say Hip Hop Hustle??

What's the first thing that comes to your mind.

The 1970's Do The Hustle song?

The children's show called Hip Hop Harry?

It's a man dressed in a big bear costume with a rap outfit.

Disturbing, I know.

Well, this class was totally and completely fun!

This cool chick gave me the info and we checked it out together.

The music had a great beat.

It got my body moving.

I found my inner "sexy" and rolled with it.

(Sorry to the Ladies who had to watch.)

It brought back the Darlene of the 1970's and 80's when I was lovin' dancing, disco and the sweet moves I used on the dance flo.

From body rolls to the usual grapevine....

from shakin' your derrier to free style....

it's ALL good!

Oh, Disco Darlene....where are you?

Found....at the Hip Hop Hustle class - LBC.

That stands for Long Beach City in case you were wondering.

If you're here locally, you should try it.

Contact me if you want more details.

Let's boogie together!

Miscellany Monday

Here we go....

#1

Why can't I get a simple blog button to work on my blog?

I'm not a complete idiot.  I know how to work a computer.

You know - the basics seem pretty basic.

So, why can't I figure out these simple blog things?

Monday frustration will turn into good once I've had my coffee.

OMgoodness....it worked!
Don't quite know how but I like it!

#2

I'm having a bit of a mom funk lately.

Girls not getting along.

Realizing I'm not the greatest wife, mother, cook or housekeeper.
Nothing that a little coffee won't cure.
I think I need to switch to the real stuff....decaf ain't cuttin it anymore.

#3

#3 fixes #2 because Saturday was the B-E-S-T day I've had in a while.

Went out with this chick and did some damage while shopping.

I ended up with 4 dresses, a jean jacket, 2 pair of summer capris, 1 cardigan, 4 shirts, 1 adorable lightweight jacket, an outfit with leggings (yep - that's what I said) and 2 pairs of snazzy sandals!

I went W-A-Y out of my comfort zone and shopped for a some stuff that actually looks good on me!

#4
Went to a blues festival with some friends.
Thanks!
It was a good day.
I realized that my life now is much different that BC (before children).
No more just sitting enjoying the music and sipping on a beverage of choice.
My kids saw a lot of stuff that was out of the ordinary.
Lots of tattoos, tank tops, volumptous-ness, smokin' and tokin' kind a folks.
Yeah - that happens.

#5
Only 4 weeks until summer.
CANNOT WAIT for silly times and fun in the sun!

#6
I'm madly in love with my husband.

That makes for a great day!

Flash back friday...

Look out!

You probably won't even recognize me.

That's me on the right with my big Sis.

I think this was taken in 1981...almost 30 years ago.

Big hair.

Big eye brows.

Big cheeks.

What I mean by that is that my skin had collagen.

I need some of that.

Any ideas....please do tell!

This picture was taken just before we went out partying.

Oh, yeah....the good 'ole days.

Now my idea of partying is being in my jammies by 7pm!

And, the winner is.....

Sugar Nugget was just crowned Little Miss Southern California USA.

We are too proud for words!

First, let me say that at rehearsal on Saturday, she didn't even want to go on stage without someone walking with her.

I told her that she would have to walk on by herself at the pageant the next day.  She did it!

She danced a jazz dance for the talent competition.

Great smiles.

Good moves.

She had a private interview - behind closed doors - with 7 judges.

She strutted her stuff in her casual wear.

A bathing suit, cover up, towel/bag and of course, these flipflops.

She was elegant and graceful while modeling her full-length gown.

She competed and won the title!

Here's the moment when she was crowned.

She is now commited to a year-long rein.

The court will contribute their time, effort and passion to 5 wonderful charities.

It's going to be a great year of learning to give back to the community.

Great job you sweet thing!
We love you!

8 year old perspective

Check out the picture that Sugar Nugget took recently.

While I wasn't looking, of course.

I looked at it and laughed.

Have you ever thought about a kid's perspective?

This is what they see.

Take an eyeful of that everyday!!

Mothers Day - a blast

Ah, me lords and me ladies, let me tell you about the best mother's day.
Most Mother's Days in the past have been enjoyable.

This year was a total and complete blast!

On Saturday, we went to Medieval Times.

I had soooo much fun that I vowed to spend all future Mother's Days

at some type of live performance.

A few refreshments while waiting for the doors to open.
Shirley Temples with extra cherries are a crowd pleaser...

We were a hootin' and hollerin' during the show.
Our characther was the Green Knight and he was the evil charachter.
We loved the evil!!

The food was outstanding.

It included tomatoe bisque (not the best)

Garlic Bread (yummy....who doesn't like delicious white flour carb with garlic?)

1/2 roasted chicken

A rib and 1/2 potatoe

And, an apple turnover!
I'm salivating remembering how scrumptious this baby was!

My kids loved the whole thing.
Thanks to my man for planning this fabulous event!

On Sunday, we spent the day at home.
Breakfast in bed.
Cinnamon rolls, scrambled eggs and bacon.

I'm warning you....looking at this picture may cause indigestion.
Just keeping it real.

Homemade gift bags with fun stuff!

They gave me everything I wanted.

Pool floaties, which they started using at 9 in the morning...in their pj's.

Jewelry

Homemade cards

Sweet Cheeks wrote a beautiful letter to me which brought me to tears.
And, Sugar Nugget gave me a coupon book with some cute stuff inside, like touching a girls' hair in her classroom.

A great day!!

You haven't seen me naked

Don't be scared by the title of my post.
I thought and thought about about using it.
An attention grabber, don't you think?
Too weird? Too rude? TMI for sure.

But, I went for it.


So, I've been asking myself these questions for years...
Do these jeans make my butt look fat?
Do my arms jiggle?
Does my derrier trail behind with it's own rhythmn?
It's always up when the rest of my body is going down.
For me, the answers to these pressing questions was sadly "yes"!

 

Here's the deal, people.

I am NOT (not, not, not, NOT) a workout lover.
Never have been.
My body has been ready to tackle the joys of exercising
but my mind has not.
I know you think that's totally opposite, but's that just my way.

Wanna hear what I did years ago when I decided I wanted to get in shape?

Bought a stability ball to use as my desk chair.

(I didn't really buy it to get in shape but knew that it was helpful.)
So, I sat and sat and sat...and nothing happened.

The ball does not get you into shape in case you were wondering.

It's a great chair, though.

It actually helps you engage your abs while sittin' and bloggin' all day.

It engages your legs, too.

The biggest benefit for me was that I didn't turn into a question mark while my spine turned to mush as I sat all day.

Much better posture - which means better core muscles.

Have you ever noticed how your kids have the best posture?

Straight sitters.

Well, the ball does it for me, too.

Back to the work-out...

I was a dancer in my younger years....and we won't say how many decades have passed since.

The dancing kept me in great shape.

Can't really dance anymore.  Don't know where my mojo went, but it's gone.

Don't get me wrong.  I can cut a rug to any form of disco song.

I just can't jazz dance anymore.

I'll try to do a little jazz move and my girls will look at me like I'm crazy.

They've asked me if I really took dance when I was young.

What?
I was a great dancer back in the day.

Trying to hide behind the hubby during family pictures didn't work.
Check out that hip spread.
Picture taken in Dec. 2007

The other thing I would do is jam and workout to prepare for something big; like my wedding or my high school reunion.

I would do it!

I could always get into shape.

My legs were always the greatest part of my body until...I got older, plus stopped working out.

That's right.  Age did me in.

It happened.

No fitness = flab

No exercise = fat stored as cellulite

Yep - I said it.  I'm flabby and full of the "c" word.

When I voice this complaint to my friends, they always say "you look great (and I know they mean for my age). 

My reply.  A quick thank you and then I say "you haven't seen me naked".

As gross as that sounds, it's kinda true.

I look O.K. in clothes and NOT  O.K. without them.

Eeeeek.

Me no likey.

So I finally have made a commitment to work out 4-5x/week and try to get back into good shape.

I've got her and her that I workout with every now and again.

It's great to have a friend join in....plus, it keeps me accountable.

But mostly I'm working out at home.

In front of the TV while watching The Today Show with Matt, Meridith, Ann and Al.

Just multi-tasking, in typical fashion.

Getting today's top stories.

And squeezin' the begeezies out of my flabbiness.

Workin' up a sweat.

My good friend, Nancy, is a motivator.

A go getter.
A supporter.

And all with a smile on her face.

She's posting great, motivating ideas on working out.

It's definitely helping me stay focused and commited to working out.

So put on your leotard and leg warmers and join in the new revolution...
exercise!

Do you dig exercising??

Pray

Take time to pray today.

I met some amazing woman at her house today.

An invitation to pray in a group.

Matthew 18:20

New American Standard Bible (©1995)

"For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."

 

I prayed for my girls.

 

 

 

I prayed for my husband who is such a man of God with so much character and strength.

 

 

 

I prayed for my family and some wonderful friends.

 

I prayed for myself.

For patience and to be the a good role model for my girls.

To follow Christ in my every move.

 

 

 

 

Don't just pray today.

Pray everyday.

God Bless you!