APRIL GOALS

I want to try something new. I'm going to set a few goals for the month ahead. Hopefully it will inspire someone, and if anything it will motivate me to be diligent about making things happen.

1. Limit Social Media

 

I've come to the realization that I spend too much time looking at other people's "highlights" on social media and it's affecting the way that I view my life. Having said that, I'm going to limit myself to checking my Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. I'm not going to stop using them all together but I am going to be more mindful of the time that I spend on them. I plan on removing the apps from my phone and using my iPad for my social media time. I know this is going to be difficult for me, but I really think that it will be beneficial!  

2. Quiet Time With God

 

 I want to be more consistent with my time spent in the word and worshipping. Every time I spend time with Him I feel so refreshed and restored, but a lot of times I find myself too tired or too lazy to dig deeper into scripture and really make my time with Him productive and meaningful.

3. Spend More Quality Time With My Sister

 

Growing up I always wished that I had an older sibling, especially when I was in High School. I want to be more intentional about spending time with her and really being someone that she can look up to and rely on.

4. Pouring Into My Students

 

I don't have very many days left with my precious little 6th graders. I plan on giving them everything I have in these last couple of months. I want to have lots of fun, inspire them more than ever, and just make sure that they know how special they are. 

5. ZUMBA TO THE MAX

I leave for Hawaii in less than 60 days. I plan on working my booty off (hopefully literally) up until we get on the plane. I hope to have AT LEAST one new song/routine each week. 

6. Embracing the Beauty of the Little Joys in Life

 

Sometimes when life gets busy and hectic it becomes easier to overlook the little positive things in life and get overwhelmed with the negative. I plan on journaling 2-3 things each day that are positive, inspiring, uplifting, or even just ordinary moments that were a blessing.

At the end of the month I'll let you know how I do with these goals!

What goals do you hope to achieve this month??

I hope you have a wonderful Friday!! <3 

Training Day: Zumba Style.

I am an OFFICIAL ZUMBA INSTRUCTOR!!!! WOOOHOOOOO!!!! Last Saturday was my Zumba training day in Ardmore, Oklahoma. I knew that I was in for a full day of shaking it, but I really had no idea what was coming my way...

I got there at 8AM where we checked in and received our manuals and DVD's. I was really lucky to have hit it off with a sweet lady from the very beginning. It was way more fun having a buddy to share this experience with!

While I anxiously awaited to get things started, I snacked on these coffee almonds and Svelte protein shake. FYI- the almonds are THE BOMB. A handful of them are equivalent to a cup of coffee and they held me over until lunchtime!! I was a little skeptical about trying the protein shake for the first time, but I loved it. Definitely my new favorite.

We started off the day with an hour of master class. It was basically an amped up version of a regular Zumba class. My instructor was outstanding. She had this explosive energy and evident passion for what she did. You could tell that she had been doing this for awhile, but she still showed so much excitement towards it- truly inspiring. 

An hour of dancing went by SUPER fast and we had a quick break where I drank a ton of water and tried to mop up my sweat. (gross, I know, but seriously… it was BAD.)

Next we gathered around a PowerPoint presentation over some basics of Zumba. This didn't last very long at all- This lady probably had more energy than anyone I had ever met and I could totally tell she was all about the practical application, which was good with me! I needed the practice.

We then went into essentially a dance tutorial where she taught us ALL about merengue and salsa until 12:00! By this point…. I'm just going to be honest with you… I WAS DYING!!! My hips hurt, my feet hurt, everything was hurting. I wasn't complaining though, I was having a blast and learning a TON!

After a 30 minute lunch break and about 30 minutes of discussion, we jumped right back into more dancing. We learned all the fundamentals of cumbia and reggaeton, creating choreography, song structure, and instructing your class. Let me just tell ya- I HAVE NEVER DANCED SO MUCH IN MY LIFE. By the end of this day, I wasn't sure if I was going to make it out the door without passing out. We danced from about 1 all the way up until 4:30 with a few quick breaks. Protein bars and water got me through the afternoon. I would really like to know how many calories I burned throughout the day, because I know it had to be A LOT! 

Overall, this was an amazing experience. I came back with so much more knowledge about Zumba and instructing my classes. The one thing that I love so much about Zumba is no matter how stressed or tired or irritated or whatever the case may be before Zumba class- once the music comes on and you start dancing, nothing else matters. You feel the beat, you're brain is focused on the moves, your body is tuned into the music, and your entire self is fixated on the motion and melody. I absolutely love that. I'm not thinking about all the things that I need to get done before tomorrow. I'm not thinking about the stuff that stresses me out. I'm not planning anything or multi-tasking. I'm not focused on anything other than the music and the moves. Something about that is so magical to me. 

My advice to whoever is reading this is to go find something that inspires you and DO IT. It may take some time to find whatever it is, but if you keep looking, you will find it. Once you have it, no one can take it from you. Bottle it up and enjoy it. :)

Snow Day Favorites

Looking out my window there's a blanket of snow and I am currently curled up with my sweet Piper enjoying my day out of school. I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to blog about some of my favorite things since I missed last Friday!

Here we go…

First on the list this week- I have found my new go-to healthy snack! I've always been a little nervous when it comes to hummus. I've had it a couple of times at a friend's house, but never really been sure about it. I mean it's mashed up chick peas after all… BUT I have finally gotten up enough courage to commit and buy some. The verdict is in- I like it... I like it A LOT. This flavor is especially delicious with pretzel crisps.

This color reminds me of sand… and I so desperately wish to be on a beach, covered in sand, so this is my color recommendation of the week! Chinchilly- by Essie.

LARABARS! I have heard so many great things about these all natural bars. So last week I got a handful of different flavors to try and I am happy to report that they are wonderful. This one happens to be my favorite. Coconut Cream Pie and Chocolate Chip come in close second!

I've been doing some online shopping in attempt to get everything I need for my upcoming Hawaii trip! I just about died over this bag so I had to add it to the shopping cart. This will be my carry on for the trip and then I'm thinking of using it as a gym bag for when I get back! So cute and it was on sale! SCORE!

I got this cute little journal from Target! In my quiet time I love writing down thoughts, verses, or little ways that God speaks to me to look back on. This journal is perfect to stick in my purse or carry in my bag with my Bible. 

Something about drinking chocolate milk brings me so much joy. It makes me feel like a little kid again just enjoying some chocolatey goodness in a box. This is my all time favorite kind!! I'm a sucker for some choco milk!

Chacos are by far my favorite pair of shoes like, EVER. (said like Taylor Swift) It pains me every fall to pack them away. I bought this pair last month and cannot wait to take them on my trip! They are by far the most comfortable shoes I have ever put on my feet. 

Lastly, I have a cute little jam for you to enjoy. I love this band because they aren't very well known. They have a relaxed, fun, and loving sound. This song always puts me in a good mood! It's adorable!
Avalanche City: Love Love Love

Stay warm today, friends!!

J

Life Lessons: What Does It Mean to Be Content?

I learn little life lessons just about everyday… Examples: If you put a package of Emergen-C in sprite- It WILL explode. A little goes a long way. Something as simple as a smile can totally make someone's day. AND hitting the snooze button DOES NOT pause time. These are all great, but sometimes I have break-through life lessons that change everything...

It's only 56 days into this new year and God is revealing lots of exciting things... Throughout my life, there has always been this thought in the back of my mind: "Once _______ happens, my life will finally be perfect." NO…. NO NO NO. God has revealed to me through many experiences that HE IS ALL THAT I NEED!!! It's so simple, yet outrageously meaningful…. BE CONTENT. Those two words have changed how I look at my life. I'm learning to be perfectly content with where I am. The EXACT day, place, time, season, with myself, relationship status, EVERYTHING…. This is God's plan. God's timing. This is where I am meant to be. It is truly a beautiful, wonderful thing. 

The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 7:17: "Don't be wishing that you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God's place for you. Live and obey and love and believe RIGHT THERE. God, NOT your marital status, defines you." 
Do you see the beauty in that, friends?

Our relationship with Christ ultimately DEFINES who we are as a person… Take a minute and let that sink in…

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:11-13 

Having said that, I have compiled a little list for you…

1. CONFIDENCE: Begin praying for God to show you how HE sees you… A lot of times we tend to focus on the negative things about ourselves: "WHY is my hair looking like a rat's nest today?!" "I'm so pale." "I wish I had Carrie Underwood's legs." etc. This is something that I struggle with DAILY. The enemy knows exactly where to sneak in and try to steal, kill, and destroy. DO NOT LET HIM. When we start praying for God to show us how He sees us, we start to realize that He is present and the Holy Spirit is alive and living inside of us. God will start to expose your true beauty in Christ so that you see it clearly. Inside and out.

2. PRAYER: Try changing the way that you pray. Prayer isn't supposed to be formal. It can- but for me, it's a conversation with my one true love. Along with talking to Him we have to LISTEN as well. Sometimes we think praying is all about telling God what we want and need and hoping he brings it to us. However, that is not what praying is for. The sole purpose of prayer is being able to have a deeper intimate relationship with God. In having that deeper relationship you will naturally feel contentment.

3.  JOY- I wrote a blog a couple weeks ago about joy and I am a firm believer that even the tiniest things can bring about joy in your life. A good parking spot, catching the sunset at the perfect moment, a phone call from a friend, time spent reading scripture, someone telling you that they appreciate your efforts, treating yourself to some ice cream, etc. When you start thinking positively and thanking God for the little blessings in your life, your vision becomes clearer. You will notice yourself thinking "WOW! I'm so blessed!" Even from the smallest of things. It's great. 

4. REFLECT: Think about what makes you happy… Now go do that! Do things and be around people that bring joy into your life. So simple, yet so effective. 

5. ELIMINATE: Stop worrying so much. I feel that a lot of times worry comes so easily to me. I'll start to think about something and then shortly after the "what-ifs" start happening and before I know it I am in stress mode. It happens so fast that I don't even realize what I'm doing. I have to take those negative thoughts and remove them completely. The fact of the matter is that life is way too short to worry, and most of the time the stuff that we worry about is stupid! Let God take the pilot's seat. Stop trying to control your life. Sit back and enjoy what He has in store for you! Live in the NOW. Let Him direct your path. Trust Him. Once I remind myself of His sweet promises, I feel so silly and just have to thank Him for being so patient with me.

From what I have learned, being content doesn't mean you have it all together. It doesn't mean you have a "perfect life." It doesn't mean that your life is even remotely what you expected. Being truly content with your life means that you accept everything as a blessing and a chance to grow in your walk with God. The actual definition of the word content means to be "in a state of peaceful happiness" and ultimately YOU are in control of your happiness. Happiness is a choice and you get to choose to be happy and find joy in your life or focus on the negative. Being content is way easier than I think we make it out to be...

I'll end this post with a verse that is very dear to my heart. Putting my hope in these words have gotten me through the hardest times of my life and continue to encourage me to put all of my hope and faith in my Savior, Jesus Christ. 

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." Jeremiah 29:11-12
That's a promise. :)

-J

Gym Bag Essentials

1. Dove Deodorant: As one of my former students once told another student- "Ya gotta have some DEO for ya B.O.!!!" Dove is my favorite kind. It smells great and doesn't contain harmful chemicals.

2. A Cute Bag: Nike has some of the cutest duffle bags. The possibilities are endless!

3. BabyLips: What would one of my "Essentials"posts be without lip balm?! This particular one is called "Quenched" LOVE.IT.

4. Adorable Water Bottle: Drink your H20 in style!

5. Hair Ties: I love how bright these colors are and how they hold my hair securely while I whip my hair back and forth during Zumba!

6. Nike "Double Sport" Headband: I'm really weird about headbands. A lot of the times (especially with cute ones) I will find that headbands do not stay on my weirdly shaped head. This Nike headband however, has a silicone strip on the inside that keeps itself in place no matter the intensity of the workout!

7.Cute Headphones: So you can rock out to your JAMZ!!

8. Antibacterial: I think I could be a little addicted to this stuff. Just a precautionary tool to hold me over until I get home to shower.

9.Cute Nike Tennis Shoes: Nike's are my favorite brand of workout shoe. They're stylish, well made, and are very comfortable.

10. Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes: These are super gentle on my skin and leave me feeling fresh and clean! My top pick for facial cleanser! 

11. Not Your Mother's Mini Hairspray and Dry Shampoo: You never know when you could potentially be dealing with a hair emergency. I always stay prepared. 

12. Luna Bar in Chocolate Peanut Butter. All time favorite flavor. Perfect protein fix for pre or post workout.

13. VS PINK Fresh and Clean Body Mist: I love the smell of this stuff. It's not heavy at all; It is a light scent of freshness- perfect for post-workout! 

What do you have in your gym bag??

P.S. Here's a snapshot from my first Zumba class as an instructor last night!!! I will be blogging about this new adventure soon!

Friday Favorites: V-Day Style

It's FRIDAY!!! Here's my Valentine's edition of Friday Favorites...

1. Dunkin' Donuts... HELLO! All I've wanted this week is a heart sprinkle donut from DD. I'm not even that big of a donut fan, but these just look incredibly delicious!

2. The perfect Valentine nail polish 

Essie: Secret Story.

3. Snail Mail: By the end of the month I've set a goal for myself to send out some snail mail. I LOVE getting cards in the mail that someone hand wrote. I want to make someone's day by letting them know how thankful I am that they are in my life. 

These are adorable cards from Etsy!

4. Valentine Lips- In my previous post I raved about this lip stain. I love the way that it goes on and then lasts all day. This is the perfect color for this day of LOVE!
Revlon Colorburst Lip Stain in Lovesick.

5. A Cute little festive dress. I wore this dress to school! So comfy and casual. (from Old Navy)

6. These adorable cupid-style earrings.

7. Some of my favorite movies demonstrating real men of chivalry… *sigh*

8. What's Valentine's Day without these babies?!?

9. My students today... I am incredibly lucky to have such amazing kids that I get to teach every day. I'm not saying this because they filled my desk with candy and gifts, but because today I really saw how sweet they can be to one another. My heart is happy. I love Valentine's Day.

Enjoy this day of love and remember to tell the people that you care about how much they mean to you!!

From my desk to yours...

-J

How To: My Version of Beach Waves...

I'm a tad obsessed with styling my hair... I have read so many blogs on how to do beach waves. After many trials, I have come up with my own version to share with you!

After I get out of the shower, I brush through my hair. This takes me about 10 seconds. That's the last I see from my brush.

****Best tip I've ever learned****-STOP TOWEL DRYING YOUR HAIR!!!!!!!!!! I use a t-shirt to dry mine. Hair-life changing. Trust me. 

After my hair has dried a little, (using a t-shirt) I work a nickel amount of  Pantene BB cream through my locks. Followed up with a nickel size amount of Not Your Mother's Kinky Moves Curl Defining Hair Cream. I begin to scrunch my hair at this point with my hands. I then grab my diffuser, blow dryer, NYM Sea Salt Spray, & take a seat in front of my mirror. It takes me 15-20 minutes to blow dry... Too long. I know. My hair is long & THICK.

I use my diffuser by scrunching up sections of my hair & holding for a few seconds. Throughout the process I spray in some sea salt spray for texture! (Isn't my little helper cute?!)

After my hair is completely dry I grab my 3/4 inch curling iron & do work. This takes me less than 10 minutes. I search for straggley pieces & wrap them around the barrel of the curling iron leaving the ends out. Don't use the clamp!!

To finish up this look I spray a light layer of Big Sexy Hairspray for some added body! & voila! Done. I'm ready to take these beach waves to the actual beach! :)

Also- somedays my hair REFUSES to have body. (Which kills me.) that's when I reach for my dry shampoo. I think that dry shampoo works better on clean hair, or just-styled hair. I just section my hair off & spray down my roots & then roughly rub it in. That's a sure way to give your hair some oomph! I really like both of these dry shampoos! 

Wishing you the best of hair dayz!!!

-J