New Year, New Goals!!

I was super busy these past two months, but I managed to get some things off this list!  In December, I went on a cruise to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands care of one of Royal Caribbean's oldest ships, The Grandeur of the Seas, passengers included.  Not exactly a party ship, but I did get to relax.  Needless to say, when we arrived at the first port in Haiti, we were dying to get off that ship.  

That's where I did the Dragon's Breath Zip Line, the world's longest zip line over water at a 1/2 a mile long.  I'm afraid of heights so the scariest part was standing at the platform waiting for them to snap us to the line and release us.  Once we were released, you just sit back and enjoy the view.  I think it was kinda pricey for just one trip down, but it was definitely a must do!

Meanwhile on the ship, we took a sushi making class and I must say, that was some damn good sushi!  In the class of about twenty, the couple next to me had to be straight out of a Disney movie with all their made up baby words. 

  Wife: Awww, I made a messy wessy. 

Husband: That's okay honey bunny, just wipey wipey.  

Are you for real?  I thought I was being punked.  After five bellinis and a plate full of sushi I was FAT GIRL WASTED! LOL

I'm counting this as my cooking class, so...whatever! LOL

I have about 5 things on the list that are on-going projects, but hopefully I can get a lot done on my next vacay.  I'm still trying to figure out what will be my solo trip, but right now it's looking like Detroit to visit Hitsville since my mom doesn't want to come with me.  Who doesn't want to visit Hitsville?!!?!

The List
(In no particular order)

Take a solo vacation
Visit Hitsville USA
Visit Times Square
Pay off one credit card (Paid them all off!!)
Go White Water Rafting
Visit the White House
Take a picture with the President
Meet New Edition
Perform a song with a live band
Swim with dolphins
Go sailing
Go Jet Skiing
Go snorkeling
Go Ziplining
Paint a room in my house
Attend the Roots Picnic
Buy a stock
Read the entire Bible
Ride a Segway
Learn how to speak conversational Twi
Learn how to make Groundnut Stew
Take a cooking class
Cook a live lobster
Complete a short story and pursue publishing
Plant a garden
Meet De La Soul
Run a mile without stopping
Take a yoga class
Work out 5 days a week consistently
Ride a bike...again
Lose 50 lbs
Start to journal again
Actively blog
Get a tattoo
Actually do a project I pinned from Pinterest
Start an emergency savings account
Learn how to crotchet/cross-stitch again
Learn how to sew
Learn to play the piano...again
Take a pottery class

Rollin' on the River: The BEST Time EVER!!!

So yesterday I faced my fears of the Loch Ness Monster and set out on the James for White Water Rafting.  Okay so the water is brown, but we had picture perfect weather and water temps. Before I left, I told my mom where I was going.  She dropped her bag, gave me a big hug and kiss and told me she loved me. You know, just in case I didn't make it back.  LOL  I set out for a bite to eat (my last meal?) and made my way to River Outfitters.

Once I arrived, I checked in and got my gear; a helmet and life jacket,  Wetsuits were optional, but the struggle was real trying to roll that thing up this body!  Once dressed, we took a scary shuttle ride along this narrow path on the edge of the James to the Reedy Creek section.  The guide gave us some instructions on how not to die and we were split into groups for one of three boats.  I was teamed up with the coolest group of people, Renee, Debbie, Ben, and Jennifer.

We pretty much drifted with the current until we needed to maneuver around rocks or get through waves.  The waves were crazy in some spots, but the bigger the better for me.  There were casualties.  Ben fell right out the boat Matrix style!  Now that was exciting and scary at the same time.  Our guide Charles kept yelling paddling instructions at us, while yelling at Ben to "GET IN THE BOAT!" which looked impossible at my fitness level.  Plus it was up to us ladies to pull him back on the boat!  Once we made it safely to the rocks for snacks we all fell out laughing. 

 The trip ended up on 14th Street where the shuttle met us to take us back to the shop for a cold beer.  Overall, I had an awesome time.  I will definitely spend more time on the James next year.  It really opened my eyes to so many things I've been missing out on.  Plus I get to check white water rafting off my list!  Next month, ziplining!    

Oh and I almost forgot, I paid off 3 credit cards last week!!!  Woohoo!  Check that one off too!

The List

(In no particular order)

Take a solo vacation
Visit Hitsville USA
Visit Times Square
Pay off one credit card
Go White Water Rafting
Visit the White House
Take a picture with the President
Meet New Edition
Perform a song with a live band
Swim with dolphins
Go sailing
Go Jet Skiing
Go snorkeling
Go Ziplining
Paint a room in my house
Attend the Roots Picnic
Buy a stock
Read the entire Bible
Ride a Segway
Learn how to speak conversational Twi
Learn how to make Groundnut Stew
Take a cooking class
Cook a live lobster
Complete a short story and pursue publishing
Plant a garden
Meet De La Soul
Run a mile without stopping
Take a yoga class
Work out 5 days a week consistently
Ride a bike...again
Lose 50 lbs
Start to journal again
Actively blog
Get a tattoo
Actually do a project I pinned from Pinterest
Start an emergency savings account
Learn how to crotchet/cross-stitch again
Learn how to sew
Learn to play the piano...again
Take a pottery class

Home Improvements

After moving into a house last month, there were several different projects I wanted to jump start asap.  Our beloved Aaliyah spent her evenings rubbing her body up and down the hallway and left her "shadow" to remember her by.  I couldn't look at that a moment longer.

Operation Paint began two weeks ago.  I first had to wash all the walls with TSP solution, then prep with painters tape.  If I had the money, I would've paid for someone to prep.  That was actually the hardest part of the job for me.  

It's my first paint job and I made a few lot of rookie mistakes, but the end result is so pretty.  The Mr. actually sat down at the dining room table to eat his lunch so he could supervise/clown me as I worked.  I shut that down quickly though.  Here are the pics.  The color is Almond something by Valspar.  

The lighting is different in the living room area so it appears brighter.  Next up is the kitchen and hallway, then complimentary colors for the bedrooms.  I hope to be done before my vacation in December. 

I can scratch painting a room off my 40 by 40 list!  Next up is White Water Rafting.  This should be interesting.  Why am I scared of this live lobster though?  Smh

The List
(In no particular order)

Take a solo vacation
Visit Hitsville USA
Visit Times Square
Pay off one credit card
Go White Water Rafting
Visit the White House
Take a picture with the President
Meet New Edition
Perform a song with a live band
Swim with dolphins
Go sailing
Go Jet Skiing
Go snorkeling
Go Ziplining
Paint a room in my house
Attend the Roots Picnic
Buy a stock
Read the entire Bible
Ride a Segway
Learn how to speak conversational Twi
Learn how to make Groundnut Stew
Take a cooking class
Cook a live lobster
Complete a short story and pursue publishing
Plant a garden
Meet De La Soul
Run a mile without stopping
Take a yoga class
Work out 5 days a week consistently
Ride a bike...again
Lose 50 lbs
Start to journal again
Actively blog
Get a tattoo
Actually do a project I pinned from Pinterest
Start an emergency savings account
Learn how to crotchet/cross-stitch again
Learn how to sew
Learn to play the piano...again
Take a pottery class

Forty by 40: Attacking the List

Finding Love Again: 331 Days till Forty

 

 

   

 

Things are moving along on my Forty by 40 list in a surprising way.  I wanted to tackle the hardest items first so that I wouldn't find myself scrambling on June 1st, 2016.  Believe it or not, my biggest challenge is losing 50lbs.  I've been chasing that dream for 20 years now never reaching the mark.  I lost the most in 2012 with 40lbs down, but as soon as my birthday arrived, the turn up was real. 

     With a deadline, I now have to find that focus and discipline I've been lacking all these years.  I do have some incentives; a cruise in December (gotta look good in all those pics), and expanding our family.  I want to be in good health in my forties period.  So I decided to try to eat clean and get rid of the junk from my diet. 

    Let me just say, I have been eating clean M-F while having the occasional treat for two weeks and I have lost 13 lbs.  I am in awe.  I didn't realize how much junk I was putting into my body.  I have not lifted one arm in any form of cardio or weights, however, but I'm saving money and conquering this diet thing.  I'm learning to love myself more by taking great care and concern over what I consume mentally, physically, and spiritually. 

37lbs till Goal!

 

The Bible Experience: Commuting with Jesus

 

 

 

    I bought my mom The Bible Experience New Testament CD set for Christmas in 2007 and she loved it.  I almost forgot about it till I was trying to figure out how I would tackle reading the entire bible in a year.  I decided this may be the way to go since I have a 50 mile commute to work every day. 

      I have thoroughly enjoyed this work of art.  From the sound effects to the wonderful acting by 400 African American actors and singers, I feel like I'm right there in the story.   Blair Underwood is Jesus and I bout fell out when I heard Samuel L. Jackson as the voice of God.  Now the mind does drift sometimes, but I refuse to move on until I've heard and understood the scriptures.  I'm currently in Acts, having had to repeat Luke and John for better understanding.  When I'm done, I'll purchase the Old Testament and scratch this off my list very soon.

 

 

 

 

    New Edition will be here in 3 weeks.  I have no idea how I will meet them, but I gotta try.  I need to reach out to my friends with contacts and groupie tendencies for this one.  :-)

 

 

Forty By 40!

    Forty By 40!  Forty Things I Want To Do Before I Turn the Big 4-0!

    There are 354 days till June 15, 2016, my 40th birthday.  I'm excited, although I have no plans on rushing this year away at all.  Instead, I am tackling a list of things I want to do before my fortieth. This list includes things I've always wanted to do, things I learned earlier in life, but let it go and some things I said I would NEVER do.

    The point is to actually accomplish these things so I made them realistic enough to do, but challenging enough that it requires stepping out of my comfort zone and getting off my lazy behind.  There are some bonus items added just for fun, but I'm hoping to successfully complete all of them.

The List

(In no particular order)

Visit Hitsville USA
Visit Times Square
Go Ziplining

Pay off one credit card

Go White Water Rafting

Lose 50 lbs

Learn how to make Groundnut Stew

Meet New Edition

Perform a song with a live band

Swim with dolphins

Paint a room in my house

Attend the Roots Picnic

Go Zorbing

Buy a stock

Read the entire Bible

Ride a Segway

Visit the White House

Learn how to speak conversational Twi

Go snorkeling

Take a cooking class

Complete a short story and pursue publishing

Plant a garden

Landscape the front yard

Meet De La Soul

Go sailing

Go Jet Skiing

Cook a live lobster

Take a solo vacation

Run a mile without stopping

Actively blog

Watch every episode of the Cosby Show

Learn to play the piano...again

Memorize the Beatitudes

Start to journal again

Work out 5 days a week consistently

Take a yoga class

Get a tattoo

Take a pottery class

Ride a bike...again

Actually do a project I pinned from Pinterest

Start an emergency savings account

Take a picture with the President

Learn how to crotchet/cross-stitch again

Learn how to sew

     Now I've got to do the research on some of the things I need help with, but other than that, I've got to get cracking.  I'll post pics and reviews each one I complete (or fail).  LOL

Finding Joy- 12/02/14

    

 

     I rarely look at other folk's FB photos or IGs unless something interesting comes through my News Feed.  I have always said I am just not inquisitive.  However, after viewing a page from one of RVA's finest (I won't reveal his name), I think I realized why I don't look.

     I'm never jealous or envious, but I don't like living my life with regrets.  I pride myself in saying everything I've done, I did because I wanted to.  The good, the bad, and the ugly.  So when I saw this IG page, I was very happy for him and his accomplishments, while being keenly aware of the things I wanted to accomplish.   He may have grown up with less opportunities than I had on the other side of the tracks, but with his talents and drive, he is exploring the world.  In his particular industry, he is living out a dream I once had.  All because of his discipline and determination and not my fear.  I remember when people would make fun of his "side gig".  Really?  Little did folks know, he was making ends meet while he pursued his dreams. 

     My takeaway from his IG page was not jealousy, or envy.  Just encouragement that if I work hard and paid my dues, I can live out my dreams and have a career I enjoy and the money to enjoy it. 

 

     I was invited to a Vision Board Party where we got a chance to learn from the older ladies and mentor the younger ones.  It was so fun.  I really wanted to create a board that I would actually put up and tackle from now till my 40th bday in less than two years.  I want to go into my next decade with a specific plan of attack.  My goals to accomplish by June 2016:

Learn to meditate and pray more
Visit family more
Get counseling
Finish scrapbooks
Get fit for pregnancy
Join and band & sing
Complete & publish a book
Get 8 hours sleep
Tithe & save
Ride a bike again
Offer protective styling services
Learn Twi
Create and adhere to a budget
Volunteer more
Earn a paralegal degree & start a business

The highlighted goals I have begun as of Dec 1.  I'm on a 30 day detox, I'm turning in at or before 10pm, I enrolled in Paralegal school, and doing daily devotionals/prayers.  My husband gets frustrated with me because I haven't had the discipline to complete my goals in the past.  I told him the only thing worst than forever is never.  So in my mind, I will never see failure unless I totally give up.  The things on this list will bring me joy.  I will have completed something that brought me to a higher level of being Shana.  That is my ultimate goal.  A higher level than me.

It's About to Get Real/ Let's Glow/ No New Shoes

 It's About to Get Real
 

 

I have been on my grind for a month now and I really need a push to get me over the food and foolery that Summer time brings.  My Summers are full of food, festivals, parties, road trips and celebrations.  After losing 40 pounds in 2012, I quickly lost my resolve and gained my weight back after my first girls night out.  I had a great time that night, but it definitely wasn't worth my dreams of great health and a 32 inch waist.
 

I was quite surprised to open an email at work about a new weight loss contest called Lose to Win.  It is company wide with a matching jackpot for all participants.  Let's just say that a jackpot like that is all the motivation I need at this moment.  The money will be split between the top five losers, plus several other prizes for the runner ups.  I, however, will be in the top five.  I refuse to lose. 

My plan: 1200 calorie diet, 1-2 workouts per day, 6-7 days a week, 8 cups water a day, and 1 green smoothie day a week.  I don't mind sharing because I know the secret to winning a weight loss contest is to not quit.  Being the last man standing with consistent weight loss will get you that prize.  Let the trash talk begin!

 

A 5k a Day Keeps the Pounds Away: Let's Glow

 

For a few weeks now, I have been walking three miles during my lunch hour.  Most days I don't feel like doing it, but I always feel awesome when I'm done.  It has prepared me for the races I signed up for this spring.  Plus if anything pops off in the evening and I can't get to the gym at five, I have already gotten in one workout. 
 

I finally tried my first Glow 5k and I had a B-A-L-L!!!  The Color and Glow Run was the best fun I've had in a minute.  We walked around Colonial Downs race track and around the horse stalls while people sprayed paint on us from designated paint zones.  We didn't worry about time and took photos at each stop.  After the 3 miles, we stayed for the dance party with a stage, DJ, and catwalk.  Something must've gone down in the past because we did notice that they were not trying to spray us "sistas".  O_o  Don't be scurred, we came to play! 
 

Yesterday's race was the Glow Run 5k at Richmond International Raceway, but it got rained out and canceled.  After this week of "rest", I am looking forward to getting back on my grind tomorrow.  I need to keep my mind right for the beginning of this weight loss contest.


   Keep on Walking: No New Shoes

The time has come to say goodbye to my beloved gym shoes.  I have apparently worn them way past their expiration date.  I have coupons but cannot decide what shoe to buy.  I don't think this was an issue when I didn't have all these bills and responsibilities.  Making the perfect choice is all too important when you are on a budget.  I think I will just step away from the PC and hit the stores in person.  All I know is, if I don't find something soon, my bare feet will be touching the pavement. 

Till next time...