Last week I was in tears because I was laid off along with half the company and was screwed out of all my unused vacation pay. The job market is utterly depressing. Market value for my profession is dropping although technical skill set is increasing. And I sooo do not want to go back to 9-5. So after a few days of feeling sorry for myself, I decided to turn things around. I've always dreamed being a PT SAHM and leaving my desk to follow my dream dance career...so I decided I WILL make it happen! And it's happening...I can't believe it. I get to take my kid to school almost everyday (I rarely get to do that) and line up all the dance gigs I want. I would've waited years to do this had I not been laid off.

Blessings....they so often come disguised!

I see many people in my boat. Laid off, sick of their desk jobs, want to work PT and maintain their same income and lifestyle. I know we are not all in the same field, but if you cannot find the opportunities you want...try creating them! Market your skills to the companies/people that will need you, and you may be in for a pleasant surprise. Life is too short not to go after your dreams!

There's tons of kids books on Obama that go into his family history. I saw some at Target.

I would check Ebay. I've ordered my long lost favorites like Tiki Tiki Tembo and some kids books from the Philippines.

I commuted everyday via metro which was about 45 min. I drove a couple times at 6am, which took about 30min, and at 8:30am about 40 min. It was a pretty smooth ride at those times. If you are traveling the beltway, I think McLean would be a slightly shorter distance to SS.

GRADUALLY decrease portion size of your meals and increase the intensity or length of your workouts.

Little, healthy snacks or brisk walks in between meals will help your metabolism stay up.

Loosen up your body. Especially "problem" areas where muscles are so tight, it is hard for fat to escape. Yoga!

My sister gave up soda and lost 10 pounds in a month.

I am also curious, what is MUFA?

The easiest workout video I've done is Denise Austin's Blast the Pounds, Walk It Off (I think that is what its called). It would bore me to tears now after years of Zumba, but it did serve its purpose when I was just getting back into shape. It's just a lot of brisk walking in place, with interval sprints.

I also like Dance and Be Fit: Samba, It's a very, very easy Brazilian dance workout.

as for the booty shakin...you can't think too much on that one. You kind of just have to let your hips go and try to shake as fast as you can. It WILL feel weird and silly...but it is great for your glutes! I've shaken lots of nasty jigglies off my butt. The more you do it, the better you get...one day you will feel like Tina Turner in the Rollin on the River video : )

Anonymous wrote:Hi Zumba mama - I checked out your site and do not find it intimidating at all - looks like fun- however, I just joined a gym and was sooooo excited they offer Zumba since all my foreign friends love and swear by it and have truly lost weight by it and are addicted. When I went to the class (BTW - I am fit and thin) I was VERY intimidated and walked away - all I saw was very fast butt shaking and it looked like intense salsa, one day I will have to try though.

aww...I'm sorry you had a bad experience. I know the first class can be intimidating if you're brand new. The more you go, the more you pick up....it definitely is a challenge and learning the steps may take a few classes to get the hang of it. Usually, the instructor will use the same routines for several weeks, so that newbies have a chance to build familiarity with the steps. I have seen some classes that are pretty intense and others that are very easy. Over the last 2 years, I've come to simplify my choreography a lot, to not intimidate the newbies.

I used to be step-aerobics queen in the 90s and then after 10 years I tried a class and was so lost. My muscles had forgotten all the moves...and I ended up walking out too. But I'm sure if I could get up to speed if I kept trying.

Salsa tip - it's 3 steps. (1) Step forward with your right foot. (2) Step in place with your left foot. (3) Bring your right foot back into place. Repeat on other side going back: (1) Step back with the left foot, (2) in place with the right foot, (3) bring the left foot back. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Once you get the feet down, sway your hips into the forward and back movements.

I will be holding a basic steps workshop in June to go over everything without the music!

After the park I'm looking for jobs. Then after I go grocery shopping, I'm looking for more jobs. I'll grill in the backyard and then start pumping out resumes.

Yes, I admit I haven't spent a lot of time finessing my website...so little time. However, since I was laid off today, it looks like I'll have time to vamp it up. sigh.

The page about Beto, the Latin guy, is the creator of Zumba...so all those are press photos. I had to include a page about him since he began the whole Zumba movement.

But on my homepage and classes page, there are some overweight people and older people. I guess I should put more, but most overweight people probably don't want their photos online Maybe I should put my before and after photo.

Yes that's me in the "I heart Zumba " : )

thnx! I just emailed the one from CL.!

Earlier this week, a lady emailed me to sign up for my class. She asked for the location/hours/etc. So I sent her a link to my website that has all my info on it. Then she emailed me back to say that it looked too intimidating and that she was 30 pounds overweight. So then I told her most of the people in class are overweight, and I was 50 pounds overweight when I first started Zumba. That is why people come to Zumba...to lose weight! I tried to reassure her and told her I had students that are 100-200 lbs overweight. But she never wrote back or came to class. And now I wish I would've given her the info without the link to my site. : (
I am wondering how many people that go to my site get intimidated!

Do you think my site is intimidating? www.zumbadistrict.com

Anonymous wrote:Yikes, and you have to invest in all of that equipment! Lacrosse can get expensive

that's what I said! I've never played Lacrosse, so all this is new to me!

oh it's one of the enrichment activities they offer at school (after school). He didn't like the soccer : ( so is giving Lacrosse a try.

Edible Arrangements! It is soo yummy and its fun to look at before it gets devoured.