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