Two for Two

Lord have mercy. I ACTUALLY took a 2 hour nap this afternoon. I wish it were just that easy everyday.
However, I think I know what did it - perhaps that 2 hour Zumbathon I participated in today. Holy Moly!

The point of the Zumbathon (besides burning an amazing amount of calories) was for participants to donate items to the victims of the tornadoes - specifically the families in Tuscaloosa. I realize that you guys probably don't hear about the devastation anymore.. but entire communities have been wiped out. One of the Zumba instructors actually lives in Tuscaloosa and teaches in Birmingham. He wanted to do something special. He got together with a local church and found out what was needed: diapers, food, basic needs stuff.

That's all you had to do - bring some items to donate and he was taking those items straight to the church in Tuscaloosa. In turn, if you travel to any of these areas, you will see lines of families waiting for their basic needs - still.

Here is what we were able to pull together from the "Birmingham Zumba" community -

So sorry the picture is blurry - but I was walking when I took this.

At any rate - 15 instructors got together and took turns leading a dance. We had an absolute blast!

The group started out small - and by the end of the first 1/2 hour - the room was packed.

I snuck a quick break in order to snap this picture.

The videos did not come out so clear - I was too far away.. sorry.

It was nice to see my personal instructors there, and my friend Cristina (who helped pull the whole thing together.)  We all had a magnificent time- and WHAT A WORK OUT!

For whatever reason, I always flush when I exercise, so my face is pink pink pink. Here I am - yucky, sweaty - and on my way home!

Did I mention - the hounds tooth ribbon? If you follow SEC Football - you will know that the legendary Bear Bryant (Alabama Football) always wore a hounds tooth hat. That has always been the official "print" of the folks that are big fans of Alabama football. The hounds tooth ribbon is the symbol for the Tornado Victims of Alabama.  Everyone at the Zumbathon was given one to wear.

God bless those families.



Zumba!

It's time for Zumba! Literally!
I have pre-written this, but it is going to post while I am in my Zumba class!

I always talk about how much fun it is, and I HIGHLY recommend it. I was thrilled to be able to find a video on YOUTUBE that features my actual instructors, Cristina and Ashita. (Cristina and I are actually friends now.. and I have to say - she is truly an amazing dancer!)

I really would love for one of you - someone who is not active at all - to give one of these classes a try, no matter where you live. I attend the Y in Shelby County (Pelham Branch) south of Birmingham. The first video shows the very room I take classes in.



Here is one of the special Zumba events that were offered!



They also offer Zumba for kids! (Again.. my friend/instructor Cristina!)


This is great - another video I found with our sweet friend Ivan. (He did a great fundraiser for the American Heart Association - Party Hearty!) Anyway.. here is a great video!



Okay - enjoy the others and you will see why I am addicted! :-) All of the dances are pretty much the same with the same songs across the world! So we are all learning the same stuff!







This is great - Zumba even made professional videos that are hilarious:




Have you ever tried Zumba? Are you WILLING to try?? Let me know!

My a Photo/Video journey of my day

Before you proceed - you have to watch this video... then look at the pictures. You will get the joke... I hope.

Soo.. my friend Laura is soooo crafty... she is showing me her goodies...

This is all of the fabric (and she made a little flower) that she plans to use to create her unborn - Veda Jane's - new crib stuff. (Comforter, the bottom/skirt.. etc.) Very simple, very classic, very Laura.

Today was her 26th birthday - so our office manager, Paige, bought chocolate cupcakes!

The tops were rings - so she has a birthday ring!

THEN - I have to share my new wallet/purse. Big enough to be a clutch, small enough to work as a billfold..

Got it for $4 at TARGET - MARKED DOWN FROM $20!!

Soo.. prepping for my party weekend (birthday coming up.) I bought this hat to wear.

What's in THIS bag will be revealed tomorrow night. It's the dress for the 'Little Red Dress' party my magazine sponsor is throwing tomorrow night!!

:-( He is packed and ready to go.

I found the PERFECT red lipstick. It's name? Ruby Star!

I spent the morning talking to a group of students at Xcell Academy, a Paul Mitchell Partner School - they will be helping us tomorrow for National Wear Red Day.

So... it snowed here. Nope - did not know that was going to happen.. clearly...


The students got a little taste of Zumba (that's my instructor - the one I said was the crazy-energetic Colombian!!)



Now.. how to:




It is now after 6pm - I have to be up at 3am to be ready by 4am to be at Xcell.. (that's where we are going LIVE with CBS 42!) I will be going nonstop from 3am until 8pm.. and unfortunately.. it's the last night with my hubby..

BUT - I believe he is planning on going to the Little Red Dress Party with me tomorrow night!!

Okay.. see you LATE tomorrow...

Just another day.. another dollar!

Today was the day of the BIG Go Red For Women Connection Event.. this is me (with very little sleep) about to head to the event

My coworkers - Laura, Paige, Aaron & Jamie

They were handling registration

This little person is Kalee Dionne - she is actually the morning Meteorologist on CBS 42

Kalee is an amazing volunteer for us!

Kalee with Aaron (our VP of Development)

This woman shared her story with us - She Goes Red for her granddaughter (who has already had 2 open heart surgeries.)

PJ is one of my volunteer spokespeople and survivor. (Her story is in the video below)

This lady drove all of the way from Jackson Mississippi to share her story. Her husband dropped dead from a heart attack at 46.. she has 4 daughter and does not want them to ever have to suffer.

This woman was 25 when she had a double bypass/heart attack. 15 years later - she sits right here, hoping to be selected as one of our national spokespeople.

CBS 42 came out to cover some of the stories

Marcia with CW21 passing out goodies

The "team"

Laura, me and Jamie - taking a moment to BREATHE.

Laura is going to have a baby - this is Veda Jane (waiting to be born!) Laura goes red for her!

The one in the chair is my intern. She stopped by with some of her friends.

Just us - relaxing..

Later - I popped over to the Party Hearty - a Zumba charity event to benefit Go Red For Women. It was put together by my Zumba friends/instructors.

PJ and her husband joined in on the fun!

ZUMBA!

Meg giving the rundown on Zumba

Zumba is a national partner with Go Red For Women

Each year gets better and better!



PJ sharing her story







Remember me telling you about my SUPER energetic Colombian instructor? That's her with the bandanna on the left.. her side kick next to her is my other instructor. Cristina & Ashita)



Where ever you live - please try to find a Zumba class or a Go Red Connection event!

My new brand of Crack

There are a few things you need to know about me:

1. I am hyper. Seriously.

2. I used to be a pretty serious dancer (waaay back in the day.)

3. I am hyper.. oh yeah.. I mentioned that.

4. I am ever so slightly a stereotype (30 something and in need of losing weight.)

5. And I am hyper.

If you have been following my blog, you know I have been dabbling here in there in getting active.  You know how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE dancing.

Did the Flamenco thing - $60 for one class a week per month was a bit more than I wanted to spend. PLUS - I was only getting one good hour of exercise.

Did the personal training thing - yes it was free (thank God for my amazing hook up and mad promoting skillz) - but regular exercise makes me want to slice my wrists.

Then there was ballroom dancing- and yes, I thought I was onto something there. BUT that little introductory offer was not what was up. Turns out it was $300 for 5 classes... per time. Oh H-E-L-L TO THE N-O.

NOW.. God answered another prayer. Yes.. yes.. it was God for me. Deal with it. ;-)

One of the membership directors at the Y came by the AHA office and offered up the sweetest deal known to mankind. Waive the activation fee of ($87) and you could get 1/2 off the membership for the year. Which would have been awesome.. but in my world... procrastination is my middle name. I waited.. and the deadline passed. But I had weighed out my options, studied the group fitness schedules like I was studying for the College Placement Exam.. and gave the M.D. a call. She said she would waive the fee - but I would have to pay the regular monthly fees. DONE. So for $54 dollars a month I have a city wide pass (did I mention there are like 8 AMAZING Ys here.)

Soo.. I did my homework - printed all of the gym group fitness schedules - and highlighted all of the dance-oriented workout classes.

Again, in perfect Nicole fashion - I procrastinated for 2 weeks. THEN - on Saturday.. with news that sent me through the roof - I got up and took off to take my very first ZUMBA class.

Frightened like the new kid in a new school - I was driving up and down Pelham Parkway looking for the Y. Where is it? Where is it? Called my sister to call them.. finally found it and damn it, if I was not 10 minutes late for class. How horrible is that?

The only good thing - it did not allot me a lot of time to get nervous.. I ran into the gym and asked, "I need to know two things.. One, where is the bathroom and two, where is Zumba?" The girl smiled, and could clearly see I was out of breath and said, "Behind me are the bathrooms.. and behind you is Zumba." I smiled and took off. Literally - that class was like a Latin bullet! Consider it my first hit of crack.. we were moving 90-to nothing, a mix of Bollywood, hip hop, salsa, and African tribal. I was out of breath, pink faced with my heart racing! IT WAS AWESOME. The music was contagious and I knew right then and there I made the right decision.

Then Sunday rolled around and I thought.. hmmm.. the only class is right when mass is happening, and I made a promise to myself to head back to church. (I have not been to mass since Easter..)

So instead I went to church. But I thanked God for pushing me to join this gym (Did I mention - NO CONTRACTS!!!) (PS - you will never believe what the priest was talking about - our GIFTS/TALENTS. The same thing I heard the Sunday before at the church of our friend! Is God trying to tell me something??)

Anyway - today I did NOT feel good. So much so, I called in sick.. possible ear infection.. meds.. slept.. whatever. After lots of rest, I woke up feeling a lot better. The egyptian asked, "Hey - you going to one of those classes tonight?"

Ahh.. not going to be able to get out of this one. "Oh yeah... I am." (lazy me.)

Sooo.. at 6:45 I headed and check out another class.. thinking I would not like it - Body Jam.

Au contraire my dears - this class is my own special brand of heroin!! First of all, it kicked my a$$. Seriously. Stomped Zumba into the ground. It was definitely a mix of hip hop, latin, modern/contemporary dance on crack. Which means it was FAST. We were doing turns and jumping while we were turning.. and it was non-stop for one hour. NON STOP. When I got home, I pulled my hair down and it was completely soaked.

WHAT A WORK OUT. My body feels.. dare I say it??? At peace.

I think for someone as high strung as I, as hyper active as I, as spastic as I - this is what I need.

Granted I was the chubby chick in the back of the room.. and yes, my legs wanted to say no during the 50th times we did certain moves.. but I have to brag for just a second. When it came to the really complicated combinations that truly incorporated dance moves - I rocked it out! Others girls (the skinny bitches as I like to call them. And yes, I too, hope to return to being one of those skinny bitches) they were tripping all over themselves.. and might I add - had N-O rhythm. *insert giggle*

Ahhh.. I have found another great place to be. And I think for $54 a month - and I can take a class just like this 7 days a week - all year.. no contract.. uh.. yeah. I have a winner!

Sooo... with that being said. Dare I.. or dare I.. take a before pic and maybe monthly do a little check in. Hmm.. maybe it is too soon for that. But guys..

I think I found it!