UBC Day 4 - Advice

Something I pride myself on is being a really good listener.  I have always been able to put my friends at ease so they can open up to me.  Sometimes all someone needs is for someone to listen.  They are not necessarily looking for advice or a solution to whatever problem they are having at the time.  I have been asked for advice from time to time and make it very clear that all I am doing is giving my opinion...what I would do or what I think if I were in the same situation.

When I opened up my email last night and read the prompts for today's blog post, I thought

Should I take the easy question and write a boring post about my first job at a pediatricians office?

How exciting of a post can you write about being hired to scan archived charts onto a computer?

I could always impress anyone who reads it by how I became the "Copy Machine Whisperer"...

The last prompt was something about if an cover story/article was written about my family/me, what magazine would I want it to be in and why...I do not feel like I am that interesting enough to really have an article written...lol!

So I have decided to tackle the first prompt of offering one piece of advice on a subject or activity that I am really good at.  The first thing that comes to mind is actually my mom's voice.  Listening to her talk about how clumsy our whole family is...how my sister can trip over her own feet...while standing still (true story...I witnessed it happen once).  While my mom and my sisters are all three very artistic, my mom is very proud of the fact that I am a dancer.  I have loved to dance since I was a very little girl!  My mom put me in my first dance class at the age of six.

Almost three years ago I took my first Zumba class and within four months I became a licensed instructor!  My mom tells people that I am intimidating to watch and she is not sure how I can move the way I do.  Naturally, my first instinct for this prompt is to tell people why they should not be afraid to try Zumba.  It is not one piece of advice but a few pieces all lumped together

• DO NOT be afraid of mirrors in the classroom.  I can tell you from personal experience that no one is watching you BUT you.  As an instructor I look around at my students and if I can tell that it looks like someone is having difficulty trying to do a step, I know how to modify and simplify so they can keep going and not get discouraged and come back for more!
• DO ask your instructor questions!  We learn so much during our trainings that if we do not use it, we will lose it!  Ask us to help break down a step that you just cannot get!  There is not a single instructor out there around the world that will tell a student no they cannot help them.
• DO NOT stand in the back...especially if there are mirrors or if there is no stage.  I will tell you why.  If you stand in the back of a crowded class and there is no stage...you will not be able to see the instructor and you will only get frustrated.  If you stand in the back and there are mirrors, you cannot see yourself (when I first started, I was shoved in the front by the instructor.  I was not only able to watch her but watch myself to make sure I was doing something close to what she was doing).  Being able to watch yourself move will keep you moving.  If you stand in the back and the class is practically empty, I get a little nervous.  I like to think that I have good hygiene but if there are only a couple of people in the class and they stand in the back, you can bet that I will be sneaking in armpit sniffs whenever possible to make sure I do not smell.  I am not saying you have to be front row center...but get pretty close!  Chances are, front row center is already taken and we are all possessive of our spots!
• DO come back.  Practice makes perfect.  Just like any other workout, you have to keep going in order to see results...and just so you know...my best friend lost something like 20 pounds by watching what she ate and doing Zumba.
• Last, but not least, THERE IS NO RIGHT WAY TO ZUMBA!  You can have a dozen instructors with the same music and same choreography and every single instructor will look different.  As long as you are moving and having fun, that is all we care about!  We want you to work up a sweat and leave with a smile on your face!  I told by someone once that she took a Zumba class ONCE at her university.  The instructor singled her out and told her that she was (and I quote...hence the quotation marks) "...doing it wrong."  Rest assured that if I could, I would have gone to that instructor's class, done everything wrong and then called them out!  I wish I would have known about her experience after it had happened.  Should this ever happen to you (and I pray that it will not...and every instructor I have ever told this too has been thoroughly appalled), I want you to do the following for me...REPORT IT TO ZUMBA HOME OFFICE!  If you do not know the instructor's full name, you can click on "Find an Instructor" or "Find a Class" at Zumba.com.  Once you have your instructor's name, there is a contact link (I think it is at the bottom of the website) and you just have to click your way through and pick the proper category.  At the very least, if enough people report these instructors, they will be informed...but if no one says anything then these instructors will never learn!

Originally I had not intended on writing about Zumba for my advice BUT these are important points to stress to our students.  If we do not help them feel comfortable and confident in class, then they will not come back and I know it breaks my heart to know that people stop going.  I also encourage everyone to take classes from other instructors!  Like I said, every instructor is different and can offer you a different perspective!  I know I love taking classes because it takes the pressure off of me to be on top of my game and if I mess up or forget steps...no one is watching me!

Until next time!

UBC Day 3 - Book Review

My mom got me a NOOK Color for my birthday last year.  I love it.  I have to admit though that most of the time, I was using it for Netflix.  I did not have my Wii set up and my DVD player was packed away (which, by the way, does not work anymore...will not open and I cannot find the dang remote)...PLUS my dresser was in my closet and my TV was being used in the living room (until the 60 inch was purchased).

On to today's post!  I have never been into reading comic books.  I like movies based on comic books...Spiderman...Superman...Batman...well some time ago, I do not remember how I came across her but I found Blake Northcott on Twitter.  Seriously the coolest chick ever and was temporarily BANNED from Twitter!  How cool is that?!?  Here is the link to her Facebook page...and her website!

Anyway, Blake is a writer.  I remember seeing her posting about the reviews about her book and where it was on the Amazon charts.  I was dinking around on my Nook looking for books to sample and I decided to check out her book "Vs. Reality"...I bought it...and I LOVED IT!

Vs. Reality by Blake Northcott...READ IT NOW!

The main character Donovan Cole wants to be more than some loser who cannot win a single fight.  His best friend takes him out for a supposed night on the town.  He sees a girl sitting at the bar and has absolutely no idea that this girl is about to change his life!  When she asks him to leave with her out the back, he willingly goes.  Once outside, the two are confronted and when it seems this girl's life is in danger, Donovan suddenly transforms.  He becomes how he dreams himself...tall, muscles, strong...even tattooed.  She takes him to her place and explains what has happened to him.  He is becoming real life super hero!

Now this book is not just about how glamorous it is to be a super hero...they do not just go around beating up bad guys...there is no Bat Signal...they are just normal people like us right?!  I could go on and on but I would give it all away and I would not want to spoil it for you!  I swear that you will NOT regret purchasing this book/ebook.  Here is the link to purchase it on Amazon...I cannot find it on the Barnes & Noble website...but I bought it from the "Shop" icon on my NOOK.

Please, if you read it let me know what you think by leaving me a comment here AND if you like it or even love it...tell Blake herself!  I did...on Twitter...and she responded!  I love her and I cannot wait to purchase "Relapse" as soon as I am done writing this post!

Until next time!

UBC Day 2 - Admiration

While I only wrote my Day 1 post a few hours ago, I have found that I cannot sleep right now (which really sucks since my alarm will be going off in about four and a half hours) so I thought I might go ahead and get Day 2 done!

Today, the prompt is to write about someone I admire and why I admire them.  If there is not a specific person that I admire then I can write about certain qualities that people have that I admire.

I admire a lot of people for a lot of different reasons so when it comes down to it, I find qualities and characteristics that I admire instead of trying to narrow it down to one person.

I admire people with public speaking skills.  I admire that specific skill mainly because I do not!  You provide me with music and choreography (or I can come up with my own), and I can dance in front of a few people or a crowd of hundreds!  The second you place a microphone in my hand and tell me to just say something as simple as, "Hello, my name is Myranda." I will look at you like you have lost your mind and I will get cotton mouth and I will freeze.  I remember being at "A" school to become an Aviation Maintenance Technician for the Coast Guard.  My class had 20 people when we started...by the time we got through the first month or so and entered into the second phase we had about 15 or 16 people.  Every week someone was assigned to give a presentation on an assigned topic.  When it was my turn to give my presentation, I had known these guys for over three months and I was giving a presentation about emergency exits in the different aircraft that the Coast Guard had.  Even though these guys were my friends and like family, I struggled with it...really bad dry mouth and stuttering.  Totally does not make sense because not even an hour later we were all outside on break and I could talk or tell a story to all those guys and it would not phase me.  I do not get it.

Also along with the inability to speak in public, that has hindered me from singing.  I love to sing but because of my stage fright, I did not pursue singing in the choir when I was in school and now the only people I really sing in front of are my mom and my sisters...it is very rare that anyone outside of those three get to hear me sing for real.

Another quality that I admire are those who can open and speak their mind.  For the most part I am an open book.  You can ask me anything and I will answer you honestly.  However I shut down when I am sad/upset/angry.  I tend to bottle things up and just let them eat away at me...and I am trying to be better.  I want to be able to say what is wrong and have the person I am talking to actually hear me and listen to me.

Another part of today's challenge was to share a resource of any kind.  Well I am going to share an image of a book that I read in 2012 that was the best book I have ever read!

The Pillars of the Earth was an amazing book!  I am a very slow reader so it took me a long time to read this but it was worth it!  I had heard about the book on an extremely random day when I turned on the tv and The Oprah Show was on and it was a book that she was recommending.  A couple of years later, I was watching a commercial for an HBO mini series for the book.  I watched the mini series and decided it was a definite MUST READ!  It takes place in the 12th century and is about the people involved in the building of a church and the politics between the those of high society and those high within the church.

Here is the link to purchase this book for Kindle.
Here is the link to purchase this book for Nook.

Lastly, did you know that January is Artichoke and Asparagus month?  I did not know that!  Well I just wanted to share with you what I do to cook each of these and and how I like them.  I use pretty much the same preparation!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Take asparagus and rinse thoroughly.  Snap the end off so that you are left with the edible portion (holding the asparagus in the middle of the stalk and at the cut end and bending it until it snaps is the best way to make sure that you get rid of the right amount of the woody stalk off and it will be a lot more enjoyable to eat without that part).  I put the asparagus into a gallon size ziplock bag.  Once all the asparagus is in the bag, I spray lightly with a vegetable cooking spray.  I sprinkle some garlic powder and/or onion powder, black pepper and a dash of cayenne pepper (because I like the heat).  I seal the bag and shake and rub the asparagus until each piece is well coated.  Line a baking sheet with foil and spread the asparagus onto the sheet in a single layer.  I sprinkle with a little sea salt and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes depending on the thickness.  Bake until the tips get nice and crisp...may need extra cooking time...I usually start with 5 minute increments.

For artichokes, preheat the oven to 375.  I cut about a half of an inch of the stalk off and then cut it in half.  With kitchen scissors, cut the sharp ends of the artichoke leaves off.  Using a grapefruit spoon (it has the special side that helps to cut the fruit but a regular spoon can be used), scoop out the choke until all of it is gone and I pull all the leaves until no purple ones are left.  Rinse to make sure there are no little bits of the choke left.  Spray lightly with vegetable spray.  Sprinkle with garlic powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper and sea salt.  Line a baking sheet with foil and place the artichokes cut side down.  Bake uncovered for 15 minutes until the leaves get a light brown color.  I then take another sheet of foil and loosely cover the artichokes and continue to bake for at least 10 - 15 minutes or until you can easily insert and remove a paring knife from the artichoke heart.

Now my alarm is going off in less than four hours so...
Until next time!

UBC Day 1 - 2012 Memories

I received my first email for the Ultimate Blog Challenge last night.  Most of the ideas for the Day 1 blog were already covered in a previous post.  It had to do with resolutions and if you make them or break them or set goals.  It mentioned setting a theme word(s) for the year but I find that kind of pointless because I just blog about what I know...which is me!

I blog about:

• My life
• My experiences
• My dreams
• My obsessions/passions (think Zumba!)
• My pet peeves
• My family

You get the idea.  I blog about myself.  I like to share pictures that I find or videos that I love (now that I have figured out how to actually attach the video instead of just a link).  I also want to thank a specific blogger who I just laugh my ass off at every post...except the few really serious ones (and there really are just a few)...she blogs about herself, her life, her family.  Brittany Gibbons is amazing!  Here is her blog and her Twitter and her Facebook page.  I know she also has a Pinterest account but she does not have the link on her page (not that I looked real hard to find it).

The prompt I chose to write about was this

A year just ended - share what you accomplished or what memories you'll hold on to from 2012

I would have to say that one of my biggest accomplishments was being single.  I have pretty much bounced from relationship to relationship to relationship for the better part of the last decade.  If I ever was single, it only lasted maybe a few weeks or a month but not long.  I am the first to admit that I hate to be alone but using this last year to really try and focus on myself and figuring out who I am and what I want out of my life has led me to figure out what I want in my next relationship.

I would not say that I really dated much this last year but I did go out with a couple of guys.  Nothing serious because I made it very clear that I was NOT looking for a relationship and just wanted to have fun.  Sticking to my word, I hurt some feelings along the way.  Not intentionally because that is not the type of person that I am.  It is not my fault that guys just want to fall in love with me!  I was totally kidding with that last sentence...I could not and will never be that self absorbed!  I do not think that I am God's gift to man...but rest assured that I have met some woman who think that...and a lot of them should not!

As far as memories go for this last year, there are some good and some not so good...do I need to remind you of all the snow that we got last January?

I started hanging out with my co-workers and finally became friends with them and found out that I had been missing out on a TON of fun!

I saw Brad Paisley (and Scotty McCreery and The Band Perry), Lady Antebellum (and Thompson Square and Darius Rucker), and Eric Church (and Kip Moore and Justin Moore) in concert.

I ran in a few 5K runs:  The Color Run, Survivor Mud Run and CMY5K.

I reconnected with some old friends...and an old love...which looks very promising!  I know I have said that I am not looking for a relationship...hell the other night I flat out said several times that I do not feel like I am in a place in my life where I could be in a relationship...I do not feel like I can have a healthy relationship right now.  However not even an hour later I found myself agreeing to try a long distance relationship.  That is a whole other post.

I became one of the first licensed Zumba Sentao instructors in the state of Washington.

I have become more than just acquaintances with some of my local fellow Zumba instructors and become great friends with one instructor that I took a training with almost two years ago!

I have learned how to stand up for myself.  I quit teaching Zumba at a dance studio because the owner of that establishment was refusing to pay me.  I informed the owner that if I did not receive my money by a specific date that I would seek legal action and I have stuck to my word.  I filed with small claims court and because the owner did not pick up the certified mail that contained the papers, I had to get a continuance and because I have not been able to find anyone to serve her with the papers, I have to get another one.  If she did not owe me over $400 I would just drop it but that is a lot of money to someone who is broke!

2012 was filled with a lot of learning experiences and even though it had ups and downs, I am a stronger person for having survived it.  I survived my first full year of being divorced.  I survived severe knee pain.  I survived the passing of my uncle.  I survived the holidays without causing any major blow out fights between my sisters (something I cannot say about 2011...Thanksgiving was bad).

I am working on a new layout for my blog so stick with me hopefully I will have all the kinks out soon enough!

Until next time!

Happy New Year, Welcome 2013

This is going to be very short and sweet!

I did not know if I was actually going to make it to midnight...I know...OLD LADY RIGHT HERE!

I cleaned out my Gmail inbox and spam box.  I deleted messages on Facebook!

(because I figured out how to delete messages)

I sent a few tweets and made a couple status updates.

Got my first email for the Ultimate Blog Challenge...oh yeah because I am doing a blog challenge!

However, the first challenge is a blog I already posted.

I will figure something out though!

31 blog posts in 31 days...

4 times a year!

Now it is time for bed!

Until next time!