Infographics!

I'm back again! This time I wanted to share with you some of my favorite infographic's. I love these things so much! It's such a fun way to get information! It can be serious or something funny and witty! I hope you learn something new and have a good laugh or two while doing it!

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This post could go on forever, but I just wanted to share a few infographics that I thought were interesting to say the least.  I look forward to making my own infographic one day! All infographics were found via google. Next post coming soon!

Until next time~

Zumba!

Love Love Love Love Love. I've been asking myself for the last 3 weeks: "Where has this been my entire life?!?" It is exercise in disguise for sure! I take classes 3 times a week at my dance studio and I also have the Zumba Exhilarate DVD set. I can not go through a day without doing it. It is incredibly fun and effective. I can feel my core strength improving and my legs are getting more toned. The thing I like the most about Zumba is that it gives me the same intensity as running on the treadmill or elliptical for an hour, I sweat just as much as I do at the gym, but the difference is....THIS IS SO MUCH FUN! You don't need to be an excellent dancer to catch on and you don't have to get the moves right in order for it to be effective, the key to Zumba is DON'T STOP MOVING! If you find yourself off with the moves, make up your own and you'll still get an amazing workout.

Now, for some facts about Zumba. This fitness "party" was created by Colombian dancer and choreographer Alberto "Beto" Perez during the 1990s.  Zumba incorporates dance and aerobic elements. Hip-hop, soca, salsa, merengue, bollywood and belly dancing are all a part of the Zumba experience. A lot of different celebrities have praised Zumba for it's effectiveness and entertainment values. You're going to get a lot of core work, leg work, arm work and glute work.  It really is a complete and full body workout.

My favorite Zumba instructors from the DVD are Tanya Beardsley and Gina Grant. I'm excited to get home and put in my DVD and get instructions from these 2 amazing women. They seriously make an intense 45 minute workout seem like it's 10 minutes. The music is amazing and it really gets you moving and you'll find yourself smiling the entire time. What is there not to love? Losing weight and having fun...sounds like a win-win situation to me!

What are you waiting for? Join the Zumba party! Check it out!

Until next time~

Are You...Living Life Happily? Part 1

Wow...wow...wow! This last week has been BEYOND amazing for me! I don't think I could have asked for a better week. I hate that this only happens about once a year around Christmas time, but i'm so grateful for these amazing people who I have in my life right now. My girls from Japan are here and they are lovely and fun as usual. Emiko is what I like to call a "wild child" she's always ready for a party and she is never tired. She's the only girl I know who can jump off a 13 hour flight into another time zone and emerge from the plane with flawless hair and make up! She's always on "GO" and I love that about her. Katsumi is my "quiet-reserved-sweet-girl" she is the total opposite of Emiko which is why I think they get a long so well. She's a thinker rather than a person who just jumps into things. She's our little voice of reason. She's tiny but she has such a huge heart and once you're her friend she will lay down her life for you. She always wants to make sure you are taken care of before she takes care of herself. Miyako is my little "balanced-mature-girl" she is the only one out of us girls who is in a long-term, healthy relationship. Her boyfriend means the world to her and she means the world to him. They are sincerely the sweetest couple...ever. Miyako really balances all of us out. She's not a wild girl, she's not quiet...she's in the middle. She is the go to girl for relationship and life advice and I don't know where I would be without her friendship!

My party girls! Kind of wasted! LOL

For the last week we have been going non-stop partying and we've been eating...A LOT! lol. We've indulged in alcohol more than we probably should, but we don't drink and drive and we don't drink often so it's fine to let lose every once in awhile! We like to experiment with new foods and new clubs so this week has been quite an adventure. It's Miya's first visit to the States so we've had fun showing her all the hot spots and enjoying her reactions of amazement at every new thing we introduce her to. She has fallen in love with my home and I'm so happy! 

Drinking and having fun! 

I guess a downside to my week would have to be that on Wednesday me and the girls went bowling and there was this little boy. I think he was about 5 or 6 years old. I was talking to Emi and all of a sudden I heard "hey, lady" I turned around and this little boy threw his bowling ball as hard as he could on my foot. It took everything in me not to cry or hit the kid. I don't think I've experienced pain like that since I injured my back 5 years ago. The first feeling after pain was panic. I'm a dancer and feet are important for dancing. I went to the hospital and after 3 hours I was told that I had 2 broken toes. As a nurse I knew right away that for broken toes you can't really do anything about it but tape the toes to the toe next to it and wear hard soled shoes. I've been pretty much in complete agony, but I'm not going to let it stop my fun that's for sure!

One of the gifts from my girls!

Part of another gift! It was a Harajuku Lovers file set! 

So after the whole broken toes ordeal, we spent so time at my house relaxing because I was in so much pain i couldn't even think about going out dancing or walking...anywhere. I knew that Yuta, his parents and Miya's VVIP Christmas gift was flying in on Saturday so I wanted to be rested enough to show them a good time. Oh yeah, Miya's VVIP Christmas gift was her boyfriend! Yuta and I decided to split the airfare cost to fly him out here for a few weeks. It was such a surprise to Miya. I knew that she was missing him a lot because they haven't really gone a day without seeing each other since they started dating 5 years ago. I'm glad we were able to keep it a secret from her. The look on her face when she saw him was PRICELESS! I wish I had my camera because I should have gotten a picture of it. I'm glad that she was happy and I'm glad that I was a part of both their first trips to the States. 
I'm going to leave it here for now. This is only part 1. I congratulate you if you were able to read this all the way through. I'll try to post part 2 within the next few days. It's kind of hard with so many people visiting, I have to spend time with my friends and my lovely family. This is my favorite part of the year and with 2011 coming to an end and a possible move to Japan in 2012 for 6 months to a year. I think that next year is going to be a year that I will never forget. Next post will highlight changes in me and Yuta's relationship...anticipate it :) 

Are You...Refreshed?

Omg...what an awesome weekend I have had! I'm feeling so much better about life in general and it's all thanks to the time I spent with my girls this weekend. Sarah, Marcy, Alicia and Kelly...my girls. We try to get together at least once every month and have what we call a "girls' weekend". We haven't been able to do it in awhile because we have all been so busy, but since I took a break from dance this term...my weekends are free <3 I want to relive every moment of this weekend over, but I know that next weekend is going to be even more awesome because my girls from Japan will be here on Friday. It's my 3 best girl friends from Japan. I met them when I stayed in Japan the summer of 2002 and it was like an instant connection. Emiko, Katsumi and Miyako <3333 I can't wait! These girls know how to party and when we all get together it's pure madness! I love them and it's Miyako's first trip to the States so we're going to make it extra special for her.  I'm spending a week with them...just us girls and then Yuta arrives on December 17th...just in time for Christmas. This holiday season is going to be the best. My house is going to be full of the people that I love...the people that love me unconditionally...flaws and all. My other parents...my best friends from here and my best friends from Japan. How could it not be perfection. Anyway, I'll fill you in on what we do after they get here. I just had to write it here because i'm so excited that they are actually coming to visit me! :) Back to this weekend....
So Friday I worked all day and Kelly called and told me that they had prepared a surprise "girls weekend" for me since I seem to be really down lately. I wasn't excited to go at first because I was tired from work, but I didn't want to be selfish so I agreed. We went to this cute karaoke bar where they serve the best sushi. I have never been anywhere cleaner. The sushi is so fresh, and I haven't found a place like it. We decided to do a private room, but it didn't stay private for long. Some guys who were on their way to their private room, saw Alicia come into our room while Marcy and I were singing and dancing to "Breaka Shaka" lolol....we finished dancing and the hostess came into the room with 4 bottles of sake. She said it was from the guys in room 308. We stared at each other because we didn't know what to do. We decided to accept the sake, but we were curious so we went down to room 308 and thanked the guys for the sake. They wanted to us to stay in their room but since the sake, most of our personal items were in our room and plus we had already started....Kelly decided that we should invite them to our room. The boys agreed and we partied in our room for hours. I exchanged numbers with one of the guys...his name was Jian...his eyes were gorgeous...really...they were bright and looked honest. We left the karaoke bar and decided to go clubbin!
We went to a club inside one of our biggest casinos here and danced and of course had more drinks. Talked to some more guys and just had fun! The cab brought us back to my house and as soon as we hit the door we were stumbling in and tearing off our jackets and shoes and stumbling for any flat surface to lay down on. I made it all the way to my bed, but the other girls didn't make it as far as the guest rooms. I had someone sleep  against the closet, another one sleep on the stairs and another one on the floor by my bed. I'm sure we looked a mess, but it was worth the horrible hangover we had on Saturday!
I would write about Saturday but it was pretty much the same thing...lots of drinking...lots of party and lots of being the social butterflies that we are! I don't expect anyone to have read this far. This entry was basically just for the purpose of looking back on the last few days and realizing how truly blessed I am to have such amazing friends that would do anything to see me smile!
Until next time....Party!

<3