Tag: jungle of life

Beach Breath

On By AngeliaIn Love and Light42 Comments

Yeah, I got it. That’s what good clean beach air will do (two weeks in a row). Yeah!

This week you can find me training in Milwaukee, Wisconsin near Port Washington. Located about one mile from Lake Michigan. How sweet is that?

It is much colder than Texas, not that you could tell any of the natives that – wearing shorts and no jackets – but for me…. brrrrrrr. Especially at the lake. I now understand why they sit in their cars instead of on the actual beach. Ha.

But hey, the view from the car is just as nice. My iPhone pictures do not do the blue justice. It’s incredible!

The trip started out meeting my dear friend in person Mr. Lance of Jungle of Life blog. His entire family is adorable, sweet, and kind with just enough silly to keep lunch very interesting (Jakob) haha. The warm and inviting hospitality, and delicious meal (yeah Wisconsin bratwurst) inside their incredibly gorgeous home nestled in a cul-de-sac surrounded with trees, countryside, and good-sized yard. Nice! I traveled the back roads (totally my bad Lance) to get there. Turns out the back roads took me past picturesque farms. So pretty!

Driving from west Milwaukee back to Northwest Milwaukee and seeing the sights along the way (Miller Park stadium, Milwaukee zoo, and Olympic training site), I felt I really got to know the town. I haven’t met a single person that has been impolite. I love the beauty here. I love that spring is just starting and I get to see all the trees in bloom again.

My training has been great! I am really trying to focus and use the things I don’t know. There is a LOT that is very remedial for me but focusing on the new stuff is keeping me fresh. I am a believer in over training. It doesn’t hurt a company in any way. In the last two years, some new formats and procedures have been implemented (for the better). I am LOVING the new technology. Just blows me away. This company is so hi-tech and cutting edge, all for the sake of their clients, it makes me giddy.

My partner in crime, aka the other trainee, is from California. We have so many similarities it’s not even funny. We both have Nikon D3000 cameras, significant others named Jason, black labs, baseball fans, and about the same age. I am pretty sure I forgot half-dozen other coincidences. I love it!

Tomorrow I will meet another online friend, this one from many years ago (4). She and I were challenge buddies on ediets and have kept in touch. I can’t wait to see her in person after all this time. I really do wish I had brought my camera to capture the lake and all the meet ups!

I thought I would have more time in my hotel room to catch up on reading and writing, but not really, seems like the time is just flying by. I don’t get it. Where does it go? It couldn’t possibly be the TV (with cable) in my room front and center. Naaahh…. But I did catch the news for the first time in weeks months many, many months.

Sydney and Jason are surviving, or thriving, if you consider the movie date, Wal-Mart sushi feast, and then Jason getting a meal cooked for him by an almost sixteen year old tonight. Hey Sydney….neat-O-burrito!

I’m gonna wrap this non-post up. My blogster friends….I hope you are well. Please know I am thinking of you all. I appreciate your support during this transition time of travel.

The Fine Art of Car Dancing

On By AngeliaIn In the lives of children, Life is what you make it., Love and Light39 Comments

I’ve been car dancing for as long as I can remember. Maybe I got a little more free with my moves when tinted windows became popular. I guess I thought I was semi-hidden until someone I knew saw me and never let me live it down. Eventually, I just didn’t care anymore. I busted my moves, cut my rug, and mashed those potatoes – in the car, in the grocery aisles, on the sidewalks. If the mood struck, I was DANCING.

Of course the fine art of car dancing is no fun alone, so I taught Sydney. And we didn’t just dance there but everywhere. It wasn’t too long ago we were getting down in the doorway of Pappasitos, waiting for Jason to pull the car around. Laughter bubbled over and who knows? Maybe it infected the restaurant patrons and staff. I’m sure it made a good show, or laugh. Or to them we might be The Crazies, as in the movie we recently watched.

Here is the thing, I have two little girls that are going to be my step daughters. The tradition has to be passed. We are a family of car dancers. They will teach their children, and those children theirs. I started training them last summer in the parking lot of Tom Thumb.

Let me tell ya, it didn’t take long. These kids are naturals. Imagine my delight when Lance from Jungle of Life emailed me about a special project to participate in – an International day of car dancing – brought to you by Katie from The Levity Project. If any of you were around for our mall Laugh fest it’s the same Katie, and the same Levity Project.

Our assignment – to jig it up car dancing all day and video 15-30 seconds of it. A-ha! Our mad skills would be recognized. Our greatness recorded. It was like making it to the Olympics after training all summer. Go team car dancing USA. I have to tell you, it was crazy cool. Contenders for a medal? I’ll let you decide.

I have a full length video of our car dancing day that is just not ready for release (unless you want a DVD mailed). What is ready is the official -GLOBAL- video just released today that includes our segment (3:14) that we sent in.

Great job done by ALL participants from all over the WORLD. I was stunned by the movement of this passion and where it ended up. Lance always includes a note that we are ALL CONNECTED, especially when we do a project of this kind. His post is here. Katie’s post is here.

Funny thing is, one of my GOOD friends is in this video from Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. I was so surprised and happy to see her grooving away. I met her a few years ago in person with a group of online ladies in Ohio. We all met on a thirty-something Ediets message board together. Who she knows from the Levity Project? I have no idea. But TRULY, it is a small world and we are ALL connected.

What an honor to be part of this event. I can’t even describe how proud it makes me to know such a life giving group of individuals seeking out ways to touch others with love and laughter.

Get ready to smile, laugh, and don’t forget – DANCE. Please share this video with everyone you know to brighten their day.

If you have trouble viewing please click

    here

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Blog 4 Cause

On By AngeliaIn Better to be a blessing, Blog on with your bad self6 Comments

I have an important post that needs your attention.

In honor of October breast cancer awareness month, a group of bloggers have contributed to an e-book. This e-book is free to receive, however a donation is greatly appreciated.

This e-book was labored over with great love and care by Lance JUNGLE OF LIFE and by Joanna FITNESS AND SPICE.

What an honor to be able to contribute a favorite post to this cause, and be featured in this e-book. I can’t remember how I met Lance but his contagious optimism and exuberant outlook on life is very dear and meaningful to me.

In my very short blogging career, I have encountered so much opportunity to explore, learn, be and now give to LIFE itself. It just doesn’t get any better than this!

Please honor their hard work for this cause. Click on the link to visit BLOG 4 CAUSE. It will take you to the SUSAN G. KOMEN BLOG-4-CAUSE.

You can donate there, or just find out how to get the e-book. Over 150 amazing blog posts are featured, many are blogs  I personally read, that uplift and inspire me every day, not to mention make me laugh, think and most importantly DO.

Do this today, you won’t regret it. And please spread the word and pass these links along.

Humbly, I thank you.