Zumba - Day Eight

Day Eight

Today starts with me thinking about when I should do Zumba.  When I catch myself thinking like that it usually means I don't want to do it really otherwise I wouldn't be thinking about it, I would just do it!  So, after I put Bubs down for his morning kip, I hop on the computer.  Then I hear it!  Zumba music!  Liam has decided HE wants to Zumba.  I'm starting to think that he is my personal trainer.  I mean, Rick has given up, he'd rather work, so my new Zumba buddy is my 2 year old son.

As Liam and I are Zumba-ing away, Rick walks in (he only had a small job on this morning), looks at us, looks at the TV and then flops on the lounge. 

Me: "Do I look as retarded as I feel doing this move?"
Rick: "Yep"  He's over it.  Gee thanks.

Well, it is done for another day and I am thinking, will I continue this after the 10 days?  How long does it take for a good habit to form?  Only two more workouts before measurement time!

I haven't heard much from you lately . . . methinks it's only me and Liam now.  We'll soldier on!

xxx BNF

Zumba - Day Seven

Day Seven

As my facebook friends would already know, my 2 year old son Liam surprised me yesterday.  Liam knows how to use the DVD player (he is very careful with the DVDs so we let him- despite the old bit of drool or fingerprints!!).  I was on my computer when I heard the Zumba music playing and was surprised to see that Liam had put it on despite the pile of Bob the Builder, Playschool and Toy Story 3 DVDs sitting there.  And not only that, he was doing ALL the moves!  I was sooo impressed.  He continued his routine as I skyped my sister in Berlin, Germany.  At first I thought he was doing the Beginners but later realised that it was the ADVANCED one.  Way to go Son!  Hahaha, infact, as I am typing this, Liam has put the DVD on again!!  Hahaha, he's put on the Abs, Buns & Thighs and is just sitting on the couch (slightly miffed as to why Beto and Natalie are lying on their backs on the floor and not jumping around- oh well, he's going with it!). He is as crazed as I am.

I have failed you the last couple of days with not only NOT doing the Zumba Challenge but not even updating you!  House guests and then ferral kids is the excuse reason.  So today, inspired by my 2 year old, I thought I would do the Advanced session hoping to make up for 2 days of not doing it.  Boyoboy, Advanced is hard (for me anyway!).   Liam ran circles around me - no really, he did!  As I was doing the moves, Liam was literally running in a circle around me!

Me: "LIAM! Stop that or you are going to get hurt!"
Liam: "hahahahahahahahaha- aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh" as he goes flying across the room from my leg kick (part of routine- I was watching the DVD not Liam!)
Me: "LIAM!  Are you ok?!"
Liam: "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA" gets up and continues to jump around my legs, run in circles and grab my legs trying to run UNDER me! 

This continues several times!!  Eventually he gives up and Zumbas to the side of me.  Fun workout!

Liam has now given up on the Abs, Buns & Thighs and has now gone to Beginners.  Strange child.

Do you have children?  What funny foibles do they have?  I love hearing what other people's kids get up to - I'm comforted to know that there are other crazy kids out there too!

Have you been Zumbaring?  How do you feel?

I feel great apart from the ferral kid situation where I have had reduced sleep and have comfort eaten (stacks of christmas chocolates in our fridge!!)- I have noticed that when I have eaten chocolate, I don't feel so spritely a couple of hours later.

I would love to hear from you!

xxx BNF

Zumba- Day Five (What happened?!)

?!?!?!


I can't even bring myself to put the Zumba graphic up as there was no Zumba!

Here are my excuses the facts:
1. Brother-in-law and his wife came and stayed with us for 2 nights
2. Queen sized mattress was in middle of loungeroom floor (my dancefloor!)
3. Rick's decided to go to work today and tomorrow (probably to get out of doing Zumba!) and kids are underfoot
4. Kids are now watching their favourite retro Playschool (80's, gotta love it) and the Zumba DVD just doesn't cut it against Noni and Bonita & Co.

Will I Zumba today?  Hopefully- I must admit I have a new distraction today.  On Monday my friend R, lined up in the Spotlight sale queues to get me a brand new sewing machine.  I haven't opened it yet as my in-laws arrived just after R delivered it.  We are off to Spotlight again today to pick up some accessories.  Sew excited (sorry, couldn't help myself!)  More later about that . . . .

How are you going?  Your comments and emails have kept me motivated, we are over halfway now!!

xxx BNF

I've Got Knits!

I am itching head to toe for knitting.  It is like an infestation and I can't knit fast enough.  Problem is the faster I knit the more mistakes I make (the yarn I am using splits very easily).  I don't think I will knit another adult-sized garment for a little while . . . they take too long for gratification!  But then again, crafting something is as much about the journey of creating as it is about the finished product.  If it weren't, then why do we hop onto the next project so quickly?

So my next knitting project is for children.  I am borrowing this book Baby Beanies and hope to make a number of these happy hats soon.  Have you knitted any of these beanies?  Being a beginner, I have just discovered that 10ply yarn is not readily available in Australia.  I've gone on http://www.ravelry.com/ but I am lost and can't seem to find an affordable supplier.  So I will have to adjust two of the beanies to 8 ply methinks.

Then I hope to knit this beautiful number from Harumidori Designs (photograph taken from this website)

Have you knitted anything by Harumidori Designs- her designs look so lovely!

I can't wait to tell you when I get to start these projects and show you my photos!  If you have knitted any of these, please write a comment and tell me what you think or how you went!

xxx BNF

Zumba - Day Four

Day Four

Me: "Rick are you going to Zumba with me or continue napping on the bed?"
Rick: "I vacuumed and mopped the floor, that has to coun-"
Me: "No!  I heard that excuse yesterday about mowing the lawns!"
Rick: "But I mopped with heaps of hip swaying"
Me: "Not buying it, get up!"
Rick: "Alright!!"

And so began day 4 of the Zumba challenge.  Rick likes to play 'hard to Zumba' but he really loves it!  Today, he got really into it!

And so did Dean!

Dean's rubber-necking trying to see the next move on the DVD

Me: "Aww, can you feel it in your legs?!" puff puff
Rick: "No, I'm fit!" smug smug
Me: "Well . . .  I'm co-ordinated!!"

Time to have a shower!  How did your Zumba go today?

xxx BNF

Zumba - Day 3 (christmas post-mortem)

Day 3
I think I better start with my confessions:

1. My Zumba work-out goes for 42 mins (not 1 hr)
2. I didn't Zumba yesterday (Day 2 - Christmas)

I had all good intentions of Zumbaring on Christmas but it was scheduled for after we got back from Forster.  We left rather late and didn't get back until 10.30pm by which stage I was very very tired.  I am not beating myself up for it.  I hardly ate anything despite yesterday being Christmas, the annual eat-yourself-silly-day AND this challenge was to counteract the anticipated gorging which didn't actually happen. So there, rationalised and justified!

I must say though, I am seriously thinking about renaming my Zumba routine to Bumba (as in fatty-boombah) due to the amount of latino-style jiggling that continues on my body long after I've stopped dancing!!  Nevermind, a work in progress.

This is how my Zumba went today:

Me: "Rick honey, you wanna Zumba or are you just going to lie on the couch?"
Rick: "I mowed the lawns this morning, I think that should count towards the Zumba Challenge"
Me: "Ok, but don't look at me, you can watch the chicks on the telly do it"
Rick: "Alright, if I have to!"

And then after the workout I go and give Rick a cuddle:

Rick: "Babe, go and have a shower"
Me: "Do I smell?!"
Rick: "No, you are sticky and I am fresh, don't cross contaminate me!"

Goodness gracious me.

How did you go yesterday?  Anyone putting me to shame?  Keep it up, only 7 more workouts!

Here are my christmas treasures



L-R: one of my gorgeous 'steppies' Matt, Liam, Dean and Rick

I hope you are all enjoying this time-off with your families and friends- eat as much as you like if you are on the Zumba Challenge as it won't stick around.

Ciao

BNF

CHRISTmas - blessings to you

Friday nights we like to catch up with a family that lives near us.  They either come to our place for dinner or we go to theirs.  It is such a lovely evening.  We eat yummy food then read a bible story to the children and sing songs.  All the instruments come out which consist mainly of toy instruments (none are in tune) and make-shift maracas made from containers filled with rice.  We joyously sing "Jesus Loves Me" and "Into My Heart" with as much gusto as we can and laugh and make noise.  This is such a highlight of my week.

I feel like we celebrate Christmas every week!  And really, we do.  Not Santa Claus Christmas and not Shop-til-you-drop Christmas and not "arrgghh we have to go here and here and here on Christmas"-Christmas, we celebrate CHRISTmas - Jesus. 

I was reminded by my friend that although Christmas is about the birth of Jesus, WE get the birthday presents . . . and in fact the presents are often the focus, not the birth of Jesus.



Picture from http://www.lostseed.com/


My prayer this Christmas is that as we give and receive, let us not forget Jesus.

"But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons (& daughters)." Galatians 4:4-5

Merry Christmas and much love,

Fiona (Brave & New!)