Jen's #11- Sponsor a child in need.

I have secretly always wanted to sponsor a child. I felt like I was never naive to the fact that the opportunities that we have in this country are unlike so many other countries. Things like having water at our disposal anytime we need it would be like winning the lottery to some people. I don't know why it has taken me so long to do this....but then again I know exactly why. It is easy to put off because I was always waiting to make MORE money in order to give. What I am making is never enough. But like they say "the more you make, the more you spend" and "more money, more problems" - I believe this to be true. I was in a relationship with someone for a few years that had no respect for money and always looking outside himself to make himself happy. I realize that I was just as guilty of this and became even worse when I let his self destructive ways be a catalyst to my own. I buried myself in credit card debt a couple of times...I could never save a dollar without it burning a hole in my pocket and I also thought that "thing" I so desperately wanted would make me happy. It was a temporary high just like any other "fix" that people can get addicted to. 

I have changed my perspective and finally began to fully poke my head out of that destructive hole I was in for so long. In the church service I was in these past few weeks, they have been doing a series called "Ten-Ten-Eighty" It is all about finances. Giving 10% of what you make back (or tithing), 10% to yourself and living off 80% of what you make. I heard this quote by Martin Luther King Jr about a month ago- "It is always the right time to do the right thing" and that has stuck in my head since I heard it. Especially in this past weeks service when that is exactly what they were talking about. Seizing the opportunity and take advantage of what we are given. So many of us keep waiting for something to happen before we do what we know is right. No time like now! 

 Here is my girl!!! Isn't she the cutest!? Her name is Flavia and she lives in Uganda. I couldn't bear to decide who to pick so you can do a search on Compassion International for gender, country,...all different things. I searched for a girl with my birth date and she was the one! She is 7 years old, and lives with her mother and a few other siblings. Her father died but it doesn't say when or how. Her household duties are washing clothes and carrying water. Her hobbies are playing with dolls, jump rope and story telling. Her mom is a peasant farmer and makes around $12 a month. 

I get my packet in about 2 weeks and I can start writing to her and we can be the best of pen pals! I have to say I am super excited! I give $38 a month to sponsor her and I can already tell, it is the best money I have ever spent! I hope my money helps her continue in school and discover how many opportunities there are for her. I get a little teary eyed thinking of what this young girl has dealt with already in her short life. Not even knowing too much, I DO know she has lost her father and they live off of $12 a month for a family of 5. I hope I get to meet her one day and as a side note- this girl is going to have some sweet jewelry! She will definitely be voted best accessorized in her area of Kigumba!

I have to say, it feels amazing and that $38 a month is just as much of a gift to me as it is to her. The satisfaction knowing I am making a difference, feels 100 times better then spending that money at.....the bar. 

It is so easy to be selfish. It is so easy to get stuck in our own little world and be fooled again and again by what we think will make us happy. I think happiness lies in balance. Give and take. We live in a world with a lot of takers. I am willing to bet the givers know happiness while the takers stay lost.

 This quote from this past Sunday's service sums it up for me-

"To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away"

Lovey, Jen

Liz's #93 - Hike to the Top of Lone Mountain

Hello!

I've hung out around Lone Mountain growing up before there was any houses, a park, streets, even the beltway. I never actually stepped foot on the actual mountain. It's always been something in the back of my head to accomplish. So what better time then this year!

Lone Mountain is 537 feet to the top. Without really scoping out the scene, Jen and I just dove right in. We started on the side that looked "easier", which was quite a walk to get to. There is a car path that doesn't require you to have a Jeep or some other kind of vehicle that can handle off-road terraine. So my Mustang could have made it just fine (next time).

Once we got up to a certain point we realized that there was a "trail" that would be a little easier than the path that we were on. So we jumped on that, which made it a little easier.

I am a smoker, for the time being, so I was taking many little breaks to make sure my lungs didn't explode. That would have been bad, because Jen would have had to carry me to the top and I'm sure she wouldn't have been excited for that. But I was trying to look like I was just admiring the scenary. ha!

Someone had the brilliant idea to plop a bench at what seemed like that middle point. I could and do see myself hanging out on this bench when I just need peace and quiet and maybe some time to think. It would be the perfect spot for that. Although, the natural dirty thought went through my head too and I wonder how many other people had that same thought and actually made it a reality. Lucky bastards!

This seemed to be the halfway point. 

Making sure my legs weren't going to fall off or my muscles weren't going to pop out.

We finally made it to the top! Jen made it there well before me. To be honest, I did have a thought or two that I wasn't going to make it. My next thoughts were I need to stick to going to the gym. And then the thought about it is on my list to quit smoking by hypnosis, so I need to start saving for that!

There is a little American flag at the top of the mountain that people wrote their names on, which is a little wrong, but ok! Naturally, some people have to deface things, so there is graffiti. Nothing cool even. Just random nothingness. I mean, come on people, if you're going to graffiti something at least be good at it, number one, and number two, make it something good!

We hung out up there for a little bit. I caught my breath and my lungs got a break. Took a couple more pictures:

I don't know if you can read that, but it says, "My folks house is somewhere in this box."

"There is my car"

Had to get a Wolak shot! Sports bras double for water bottle holders.

On the way down, we passed a guy that was carrying a baby. You read that right, he was carrying a BABY! in one of those things that people carry babies in that straps around you to hold the baby in the front. Make sense? This baby had to have been days, maybe weeks old. It was crazy. He had his dog, I'm assuming his wife and some other lady with him. Classic stuff! ha. We tried to get a picture of him, but it would have been too obvious.

We found a trail that would take us to the bottom of the mountain far better than the way we got up. Going down was harder than going up (hehe). On the way down you have to worry about slipping and rolling all the way down the mountain. Round trip it took us about an hour and a half. I was thinking it had taken 3 hours round trip, but I was way off.

There's a little cave on the side of Lone Mountain as well, so we walked up there to check it out. I haven't been there since I was a teenager. I remember it smelling less like urine then, but it has been years.

Again, with the uninteresting graffiti! People obviously hang out here; there's broken glass, candle wax, urine.

Overall, it was great. It's not too hard to get to the top. If anything is more of a walk up a steep hill, or mountain in this case. I would love to do it again when it starts staying warm at night. I think the Las Vegas lights would look amazing from up there. It may be my new go-to spot to get away from the world, instead of Mt. Charleston, when I want to clear my head.

Here's a link to some more information on Lone Mountain http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=HGS505-050. Seeing as Las Vegas really isn't the place filled with trails and things of that nature to do, that don't require an hour drive or more to get to, this was fun!

Ok, I've wrote enough. I'm outtie!

~liz

**********************************************************************************

Jen here! I just have to say I am so happy Liz had this on her list. I loved doing this and even though I almost fell on my booty a couple of times, I have enough cushion to bounce right back up. It was a great workout, a beautiful day and felt great to be out in nature! Looking at this mountain or when we were starting it, I really didn't think we could make it to the top. But it is amazing what can happen when you take one step at a time....eventually you are there! At one point I thought we had made it to the top but when I got to the "top"I saw there was a whole other peak we had to go up that was hiding behind the other one. I was PISSED.........BUT once I got up to the actual highest peak, it was well worth it. The view was a million times better and the feeling of being up that high and knowing we actually climbed it was amazo! 

I would like to take a second to thank the man above for giving me the perfect cup holder in between my lovely bossoms. Note to self- bring a backpack next time!

Lovey, Jen

Jen's #7- Go back to Hip Hop Class

 I used to live for this class. Every Tues, Weds and Thurs I would schedule my life around it. I have danced since I was in 2nd grade, mainly Jazz ...never really got into Ballet, although I did try Lyrical, which my friend Kelly and I still reminisce about our Teal dresses dancing to "Saved the Best for Last" by Vanessa Williams. Corny.....wayyyyy corny. So "Jazz hands" it was all throughout my childhood- even a little into high school when I was on the "dance team"....that is, until around junior year when I gave up on school and everything related to school. Ok, lets not go there. (Chemistry- I hate you). Anyway, I stopped going to this class because .....of so many reasons that I will sum it up to one- I totally lost myself. Lost myself in drama, in someone else. I forgot what made me happy. 

Ingrid usually teaches this class (I LOVE her) but Joey was subbing for her (I LOVE him too). He is as big of a Janet Jackson fan as me, so that coupled with the fact he comes up with some sick choreography makes him a winner in my book. This man can move his hips better than me any day! It hurts to say that, but its true. 

The last time I took this class (its at Las Vegas Athletic Club) was I'm thinking about a year and half ago. I was SUPER DUPER nervous to go back. I knew I would be kinda lost after not dancing that long...So the whole nervousness and fear
came out of facing the fact that I was going to be a little rusty. I kept putting it off because I didn't want to face how much I might suck, really. I mean, truthfully, isn't everything more fun when you are REALLY good at it!? haha

I was right. I was out of it. I couldn't get the counts down in my head. I was speeding everything up, I was sloppy. I was confused. I was frustrated. I was already exhausted from working out in the morning then hiking with Liz AND I just started dealing with another head cold (do I have your sympathy yet!?) 

What I DO know is that I am so happy that I went. And as I am writing this a week after I went to the initial class, I have gone back the following Tues, Weds and Thurs....like old times! I look forward to it just like I did back then...it is so much fun and such a great workout. I totally forgot how much I miss dance....even if I do feel like I have the coordination of a drunk Giraffe right now. I know I will definitely get my dancing feet back and prepare me for my change of career into a Go-Go dancer....bahahaha! 

 So dance, dance like its your last, last night of your life,

Jen Dub

Liz's #95 - Play a Whole Round of Golf

Hello! It's Liz again. Excited?!

Most of my friends play golf. I never have. Miniature golf, yes. Grown up golf, no.

My friend Jamie called, well text me that her and her dad were going to play a round at the Las Vegas Golf Club (http://www.lasvegasgc.com/layout9.asp?id=211&page=4385) and asked if I wanted to join. So of course I had to say yes. Not only is this #95 on my list, but also on the list is to say yes to every invitation, within reason. I thought that I would just go, hang out on the golf cart most of the time and maybe hit a ball here and there. So I didn't really dress for the occasion, mainly my shoes. Jamie's dad, Carter, offered me a pair of shoes, but her mom told me the shoes I had on would be fine. The manager let me use a set of golf clubs and hooked it up with some balls and tees. And we were off!!

It was a little windy that day. Otherwise, it was a beautiful January afternoon, somewhere in the 70 degrees. They gave me a lot of good pointers. How to hold my posture, how to swing, where to look, and so on. The basic fundamentals of golf. It was going surprisingly well for me. I didn't hold anybody up much.

Action shot!

Setting it up!

We played a whole 18 rounds. Well, I sat out 4 or 5 of the holes because two other gentlemen joined us and I didn't want to hold them up.

I'm really good at rolling the ball far. I think I got that stupid ball off the ground twice, by mistake. So next time I go I think I should spend a little time in the driving range working on getting the ball in the air first. I need to learn a happy medium for my strength when putting. It's either too much or too little.

I had great teachers: Jamie, Carter, Joe, and Jerry. Carter and Jamie both agree that I'm somewhat of a natural, seeing as I can actually hit the ball. I guess there are quite a few people that can't even do that. They encouraged me to give golf another go. Which I would totally do, sometime before summer naturally. My ass isn't going to be hanging out, golfing in 100+ degree weather. haha.

I even had some sips out of Jamie's beer and had to confess that it didn't suck. I think it was the whole golf thing though. They kind of go hand-in-hand.

I would golf again for sure. If anything, I'd defnitely be someone's golf cart driver for the day. I'm pretty easily amused that way and I wouldn't charge that much. Definitely looking forward to my next game of golf and hoping that the next time I'll see my ball flying in the air.

~liz, signing off. or should I say, Mrs. Tiger Woods ya'll!!!

Jen's #21 & LIz's #11 - Go to a Crazy Psychic Place

The Wagon!

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So, I have seen psychics before but never from those random places you see in a shopping center or like our chosen psychic, Ms. Laurie, in a wagon on Freemont Street. Always when I pass one or even see the vans with psychic's advertisement, I always wondered if going in these "random" places were any different from the psychics that ....well, don't.....say, have a wagon. My reading was after Liz's and turned out, had soundtrack and special lighting!! Just as she was starting my reading, the Freemont Street light show came on. So as I was trying to hear over the pounding music, she began to tell me that my aura colors where blue and white. Blue means that I remain calm and collected at all times, love to help others and sensitive. White means I am very honest, pure and attract honest people around me. I would agree with all the above except the calm quality but maybe I have gotten better at that. I have a picture that hangs above my bed that says "Keep Calm and Carry On" just to remind myself....because there was a time in my life, not too long ago, that I was everything BUT calm.  As she did in Liz's reading, her cell phone rang once and she picked it up. I have to say this has never been done to me in a reading before. She informed the person on the other line that there was milk in the fridge, tell him that he will be ok and she will be home shortly. I am guessing this was not a professional call.  Its all a blur now but what I do remember is- she did tell me that she sees me being my best at profession in medical field, art or computers. Doesn't that seem all across the board!? I can see medical for Massage Therapy, art because I am crafty and make jewelry but computers? Then Liz reminded me that I sell my jewelry online so there ya go! It all makes sense! haha. She then told me I have been in 2 big relationships that I put a lot of time and effort too. Especially my last one that I tried too hard at and it wore me out. AMEN to that! She told me I will meet someone in the mid summer and will be married by age of 32. She said I will have 2 to 3 kids. I have a strong exterior and are very strong minded but I am very sensitive on the inside. I like to help others and very reliable. She said I am a good person and have a big heart. In my past life I lived in Germany and I was a doctor or a nurse. I left my profession to start a family but I was always striving for this medal that I never achieved because I left my profession too early. That is why in this life, I have to work or I feel useless. She sees me owning 1 or 2 businesses and doing very well in my life and that I am on the right track. She sees me living a long life until my mid 80's. I really can't think of anything else that she said and to tell you the truth, a lot of things she was right on. I can't tell if my future predictions are right yet but what I can tell you, I wouldn't complain in they came true! I have always wanted to run my own business, I always wanted 3 (or 4) kids, always wanted to live a long life and oh yeah, always wanted to meet a nice man and walk down the aisle one day. I already felt like I was on the right path but it is nice to hear from a random psychic in a wagon.  As I have had about 10 readings from psychics in the past, after my wagon encounter this is what I believe of psychics. I believe we all know our own truth and we decide what I future is and what we are capable of. The problem is we either don't want to face the truth or we don't believe in ourselves. If a "psychic" tells you that you are going to be super successful and have everything you dreamed of, you walk away with a different outlook on yourself and give off a different energy then you did when you walked in doubting yourself and being glum about your future. They give proof to what your thoughts and the energy behind those thoughts can create. I had a psychic tell me something in July that I DID NOT want to hear. It haunted me up until recently. It wasn't super tragic BUT it was a tragedy on some level for me. I was convinced it was going to happen because he said it. It was always in the back on my mind. I believe that reading, not just in of itself but definitely one of the factors, kept me from seeing beyond what he predicted. It is amazing what can happen when we believe. I don't think great things happen to those that never believed it could. That is my opinion and I am sticking to it! I am my OWN psychic....I predict I am going to eat an apple right now, finish my cup of coffee and kick some a** in kickboxing tonight! Lovey, Jen ******************************************************* I've been to my fair share of psychics. All kinds of psychics: One lady talked about your guardian angels; one tarot card reader was a friend's (at the time) mom; one lady, Laura, was the sister of a lady I used to work with, and she was amazing; one lady lives in Florida on did the reading over the phone; I've had a tarot reading done over the phone, as well; and finally, Ms. Laurie in her comfy wagon on Freemont Street. I don't live my life by what a psychic says. Usually when I seek them out is when I'm at a crossroads in my life and I can't seem to make a decision or I want to see if I'm on the right track. I feel that you have to take your "reading" with a grain of salt, if you will, for the most part. We are all blessed with this thing called "free will" and have the ability to change the future with every decision that we make. So knowing the future doesn't necessarily mean that's the way it's going to turn out. That's how I feel anyway. With that being said, this is what she had to say about me: ·         I’m genuinely a good person - truth ·         I’m going to live to my late 80s/early 90s - sounds like a good age to me ·         I have two breaks in my life line. So I’ve had two near death experiences. Once when I was a child and once about 4 years ago. – partially true.  I almost drowned when I was a kid learning how to swim. I thought I could swim from the 4’ to the 3’ without hanging on to the wall. So I let go of the wall and just sank to the bottom of the pool. When my head came above water I yelled for my sister who got the attention of the lifeguard who came to save me. I still remember his face. And I’m an awesome swimmer now. But I can’t think of what happened 4ish years ago that would be considered near death. ·         My aura colors are lavender and yellow – yellow is my favorite color so it's only natural that it's part of my aura. Right?! I don’t remember what she said they mean, but google says that lavender is “Imagination, visionary, daydreamer, etheric” and yellow means, “awakening, inspiration, intelligence and action shared, creative, playful, optimistic, easy-going.” ·         I’m an old soul. I’ve lived 5 lives so far and have 3 to go.  – I believe it and I've been told this many times. ·         I was Egyptian in my previous life. I loved a man from Africa and it was forbidden. I committed suicide at the age of 28 because we couldn’t be together. So since I wasn’t satisfied in love in my last life I’m looking for my soul-mate in this life. She said “it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.” So that’s encouraging, thanks! Ha. – I do feel like I am looking for a soul mate. ·         I’ve had 3 disappointing relationships. There’s only been one relationship where I really loved the guy and really tried my hardest to make it work. Almost had a nervous breakdown, but didn’t.  – truth ·         I’m trying to do 5 things at once, and I shouldn’t do that – truth ·         Don’t go into a partner “business” because I don’t like being told what to do – yeah, I definitely don't take too well to being told what to do. ·         I’m going to meet a man in March who I’ll feel sorry for at first and want to help and then I’ll end up liking him. Then I’ll meet another guy in July that is 100% career minded and that’s #1 – both don’t really seem like “good” options to me ·         Someone from my past is going to try to come back to me and it’d be best if I let this go – we’ll see about this. I’ll let you know. ·         I should go into a career involving real estate or something in law – what I’m going to school for is somewhat law related. Real estate? No, thank you. ·         Within two years, 24 months, I’ll be moving out of the area, changing careers and happy in love – good news! ·         I’m working on building up my self-esteem and being more youthful and to keep doing this – truth! ·         Not to worry about if I’m saying the “wrong” thing to someone because a person should love me for who I am 100% in any relationship- truth. I do worry about saying the wrong thing or coming across wrong. So from here on out, filter is OFF! ·         The man I end up with is not someone I currently know. He is going to be someone I’m going to meet – sorry fellas. haha ·         The friends I have in my life now I’ve known for 10yrs or more, but it doesn’t hurt to meet and make new friends – which is true. My good friends I’ve known for a very long time. But I do also want to make new friends this year! ·         I’m going to get a letter from a family member that they are disappointed in me, and then a month later, or so, get an apology – interesting ·         March 18, 19 and 20 are going to be lucky days for me. Nothing substantial, but they’ll be good days – something to look forward to, I guess ·         I lost a family member within the last 10 years (which is pretty broad, eh) but he is around me helping me – which is good to know. Matt better be hanging out with me!! ·         This year is going to be better than the previous couple years – thank you baby jesus! All-in-all, it was a good reading. She did answer her phone, for what seemed like a personal call, about 3 times throughout my reading and then repeated verbatim what she previously said. She was dead on with most things, but naturally I can't say if the future things she said are true. So we'll just have to wait and see. She's reasonably priced; $10 for palm reading, $20 for tarot, and $40 for tarot, palm, aura, and reencarnation reading. The reading wasn't that long, I think it was maybe 15 minutes or so, which is a little disappointing. I'm glad that I walked out of her wagon with no bad news!

Jen's #58 and Liz's #33 - Try Acupuncture

Jen here! I have always wanted to try Acupuncture. Right after massage school, in my never ending quest to find what really made me tick, I researched Acupuncture schools. Never even getting a treatment, I was convinced that is what I wanted to do....that is how I roll. Never got a massage?.....naturally I go to Massage Therapy School. Never lived on my own?....move to Las Vegas. I guess I tend to be go-with-your-emotions-not-your-head kind of girl. Anyway, I eventually got away from my Acupuncture school obsession and settled going to Esthetician school (never getting a facial, of course). So needless to say, I was pretty damn excited to try this!

Liz and I started off by filling out simple paperwork and then we had a joint consultation with Dr. Lee (of Lee's Oriental Medicine). Basically he asked why we were there and even though I had no serious pressing issues, I DO have a slipped disk in my low back that happened about 5 years ago. Every now and then it acts up, about once a year I can't walk or stand up straight for 2 days or if I am really active coupled with not stretching, I get a burning sensation in my left butt cheek. To some this might sound like a pleasant feeling but its not. So we decided that be the focus of this treatment.

We went into a room where he took my blood pressure (which was perfect, thank you) and then told me to take off my shoes and stand up. This is where he proceeded to lift up my shirt in the back, pull down my pants enough to grab my underwear and basically give me a wedgie. (I was wearing those boy short kind of panties, ok?!) He exposes most of my left butt check and starts....well, punching it. I wasn't sure what was going on but went with it. He went down my leg a little bit to ask where the pain goes, then came back up to my butt check and just started straight up, punching it... again! After a few more jabs to my lady lumps, he told me to lay face down on the table where he proceeds to stick these suction cup thingys on me. I have definitely seen these before...he said it was to increase circulation to the area.

I know it looks gross. Like I have utters. 

He lets those chill for about 10 minutes then brings the needles out. They didn't hurt at all going in and he seemed really impressed that I wasn't scared. haha. He connected some kind of electrodes to the needles, which made them vibrate and tingle....it was a pretty cool feeling! Surprisingly, it was really relaxing. I probably could have taken a little napper if I let myself! After about 20 minutes, he took them out (which surprisingly I could feel more then when they went in) and slapped a patch on my butt! He said it was 99% herbal and will help relax the muscle. It felt cold, soothing and was even entertaining when later on I took kickboxing and it came out the bottom of my pants because I forgot I had it on! 

All in all, I would try it again. I didn't really notice a HUGE change in the burning sensation as I went to work the next day BUT I know this is something that won't cure it in one session. 

Look at all those needles in my butt!

'Til next time!....Lovey, Jen
******************************************************

Yo, yo, yo... Liz on the board now! How's it going?! Good! I'm good too, thanks.

So, I too have always wondering about acupuncture. I never did it because I always thought that it was super pricey, which some places are.

Dr. Lee was such a cutie. I couldn't help but giggle at some of the things he said sometimes and sometimes giggle because I had no idea what he was saying. I'm horrible with accents and he is Korean. This place is more of a medical acupuncture place. So this wasn't necessarily the best place for someone like me who doesn't really have any medical problems. There was a short list of medical "issues" he could address, which consisted mainly of joint pain, injuries and so on. So I went for the things that weren't really medical: anxiety/nervousness, insomnia, depression... Am I depressed? Three weeks out of 4, no. Do I have insomnia? No. My sleep schedule just sucks so I'm up usually until 3a.m. Do I suffer from anxiety/nervousness? Well, don't we all to some extent. Come on!

After hanging out with Jen for a little bit in her room, seeing those suction cups go on, (Boy, in person it looks crazy. haha. I thought her skin was going to burst like a pimple. But I've heard of it before from my mom, who has also had it done) Dr. Lee took me to another room to start "poking" me. He first put pressure on Solar Plexis Chakra. This does NOT feel good at all. I've had this done before with my mom's yoga master, Danielle. It feels like he is touching my spine through the front of my body. But, he told me that's where I hold a lot of stress.  

One went into my forehead.

There's one on the crown of my head.

A couple went into my legs through my jeans. They were too tight for him to pull up. I wish you could have heard/seen him laugh about that.

One into the hand and one into my arm.

Ahh.. You can see them better in my head here.

Relaxed!

As Jen said, you feel them coming out more than going in and he was pretty amazed that we weren't scared of the needles. Hello, we both have tattoos that were visable that day. hahaha. I'm pretty sure he said the one on top of my head bled a little when he took it out, but he took care of that with a cotton ball and pressure. I'm not exactly sure what he did to me, as I don't feel any different. But overall cool experience! I'd recommend it.

Til next time, keep it real! ~liz

Liz's #72 - Take a Kickboxing Class

I've always had a lame, and somewhat illogical, anxiety/fear of gyms. I always seem to think that everyone, yes EVERYONE, is watching me and judging what I'm doing. I know, I know..... illogical, right?! Sometimes, in the past, this anxiety has prevented me from even going into a gym, let alone take a class. So this accomplishment wasn't just about taking a kickboxing class, it was about facing my fear and "punching" it right in the face. If my fear had a face, it got punched - and kicked and jabbed.

I was under the impression that kickboxing was going to be hitting and kicking punching bags (as I said in the video), so I thought the bag was going to beat ME up, instead of me beating it up. I knew that my coordination and technique were going to be way off, and the video proves it!

I did pretty well keeping up with the choreography: punch, punch, jab; up, up, punch, jab,and so on. Then the instructor starting throwing in combinnations of 6 or 7: punch, punch, shift, shift, punch, jab; punch, punch, jab, knee, side kick, punch. Ummm, what?! Yeah, had a hard time with those. So when those popped in there I just bounced in place, maybe throwing in a punch or a kick here and there for good measure.

At the end we did things that I'm used to: lunges, tricep dips and abs. The real fun came at the end when we were finally punching the bags. I put that good ol' Liz angry face on and concentrated on who's face I was punching and went to town. I hope that those people who's faces were on that bag felt a little sting in their face! haha!

The face of exhaustion and determination

Overall, I really liked the class, more than I thought I would. I wish it was a little closer to where I live because I would take it more often. It was around 60 minutes, I burned around 700ish calories. The only real uncomfortable part was when I was bouncing around and realizing that my wobbly bits were bouncing around as well; uncomfortable. But didn't take much to change my focus from that back to what I was doing, "oh yeah - punch, punch, jab, kick." I wish I had a heart rate monitor on, but I still need to pick one up. Needless to say, I was excited to get home and grub on a healthy din din. The instructor, Andrea , was awesome, very helpful and very motivating. She even said I have pretty knees. haha! Jen was right next to me, kicking ass and throwing me motivating smiles when I looked at her in confusion.

This is after the class, but that's pretty much how my looks were to her and that lovely motivating smile she sent back. haha!!

"I survived kickboxing 2011"

~liz
BOXING WAS DONE AT BOE BOXING on Tropicana and Spencer!