Zumba

I can't dance. And I don't mean it in one of those 'I secretly think I can dance, I just want to sound humble' ways. I seriously cannot dance. At all. While I wish I could bust a move, it doesn't bother me. I've come to terms with my lack of ability.

I first heard of Zumba a few years ago, but I never really looked into it. As fun as it looked, I knew it was pointless to try because I'm so terrible at dancing. For me, it's no fun to try and try to do something, but still be terrible.

Well, my aunt had really gotten into it and one of my old roommates started posting about it and how it helped her lose weight and how fun it was.

I became intrigued.

Before spending money on something I wasn't sure I would like, I searched online to see what it was about. I ended up finding a video on YouTube and I LOVED dancing to it (I would post a link, but it seems to have been removed). It wasn't an official Zumba video, it was just a Zumba class someone had recorded and posted. That was when I decided I wanted to buy a set and have more variety in my workouts.

Here is a link to the exact set I bought off Amazon. Here are the contents:

• 7 DVDs
• Step-by-Step
• Activate
• Ripped
• Exhilarate
• Rush
• Mix
• Fitness-Concert
• Two 1lb. toner sticks
• Zlife magazine subscription flyer
• Program guide (in English and Spanish)
• Intro
• Training tips and techniques
• Weekly workout planner
• Your training zone
• Total body stretch
• 10-day accelerated fat loss program
• Testimonials

I used it for a while, but I kept getting frustrated because I wasn't picking up the moves as quickly as I had hoped. I knew it wouldn't be something I picked up right away, but I thought I would get it faster than I was. I stopped using it all together.

A few weeks ago, some Shaklee friends decided to have an online Zumba party. I got really excited to go, especially because I heard it's better with people. We all stood in front of our laptops and danced to the video we were watching. We could hear each other, but couldn't see each other (for which I am grateful...I was a mess). It was so fun being with other people, and I got really excited to start using my Zumba DVDs again.

Unfortunately, I haven't been to an online Zumba party since (now they do more than just Zumba, and I definitely will go again once I get my insomnia under control). I plan on using my DVDs to start doing something again once I get over this sickness (I've been sick for over 2 weeks).

Have you tried Zumba? What's your favorite style of dance? Mine is Reggaeton!

XOXO

Jen

Currently

My lovely friend, Kristen (from Couple of Cloyds), posted this on her blog and I decided I wanted to do it too. Enjoy!

Currently...

READING - Sarah's Key (suggested to me by my fantastic friend, Kristian)

LISTENING - PTX Volume 3 by Pentatonix, of course ;) (my ear buds are in and my volume is all the way up). Also, here is a picture of all my PTX CD's (I couldn't be more excited to own them all, and I took a super artsy-fartsy picture on the logs in the woods behind my house)

THINKING - About what I'm buying / making for Christmas presents. I have started making one, but I need to hurry and finish it so I can get to other presents. I also need to get the ones I'm buying ordered so they're here in time.

SMELLING - Caramel Pumpkin Swirl from Bath & Body Works (it's almost out and that makes me sad)

WISHING - I could get over this sickness! I've been sick for over 2 weeks now. I went to Urgent Care last week and got some antibiotics, but they've only helped a little. I still have a cough and my nose is stuffy / runny at the same time. At least I sound like myself again and can sing along to music (...kinda haha)

WEARING - Pajamas *shorts and a t-shirt* (don't judge me! I'm writing this the night before I post it)

LOVING - The package I received from my best friend (Samantha) yesterday! I lost my grandma to lung cancer (I've blogged about that before), and I had a decal made with her name on it (from Coyote Creations). Sami took that and used it as inspiration for some embroidery on a scarf. She also sent me a couple other things (her ma makes the bears, and the pillow is a Christmas present from....last year?). Here is a picture of the decal and a collage of the contents of the package she sent me...I'll give you one guess for my favorite color ;)

 

WANTING - To be with all my friends. Quality Time is one of my top love languages, so being with the people I love means a lot to me. I have moved away and graduated from all my friends, so I'm lonely. I need some time with them to make me feel like me again.

NEEDING - To do my Duolingo lesson of the day. I just started using the app again (I feel terrible for not touching it for months...and I can't remember a thing), and I need to keep with it in order to be better with my German. My ultimate goal is to be fluent, and the only way that will happen is if I practice every day.

FEELING - Nostalgic. I know I'm not old, but it's crazy to me to think that I'm actually 26 and graduated from college. It's even crazier to see what all my friends are doing, compared to what I'm doing. I find myself constantly thinking about life when I was younger and wanting to be with those people again. And wondering how my life would be had I made a couple different choices.


Feel free to fill this out and share it with me! :)

XOXO

Jen

NatureBox! (3)

I love blogging (even though I have slowed down tremendously) and getting my thoughts out there. I never expect anything in return, but I like to let companies know I am blogging about them. With my last Naturebox post, I tagged the company in my tweet, and someone from the company actually read it (which I never expected to happen). I wrote about how one of the snacks I chose was too hot for me, and I rated it 1 out of 10. Their Twitter rep reached out to me, followed me, and we had a pleasant conversation in our direct messages.

Basically, he or she felt badly that I didn't like one of the snacks. I was offered a free snack with my next box, along with a $5 credit. I honestly was not expecting that, since I chose the snack I didn't like, but I gladly accepted.

As it turns out, I didn't get the free snack, but I did get the $5 credit, so I really don't care. The free snack I was supposed to get is in my pantry for my next box. I know there are some people who would be mad, but they gave me credit after I chose a snack I disliked. I cannot complain about that. To be honest, I think it's quite silly to get mad about something like that. No one had to reach out to me at all, but someone did. For that, I am grateful. And I'm sure if I would have reached out as soon as I received my box they would have done something, but it's not that important. They were more than gracious last time. Also, I was dealing with multiple people, so it's not anyone's fault.

TL;DR: Naturebox reps are lovely and will help you if there is any problem :)

Now, time for my review of this month's snacks!

Baked Sweet Potato Fries:

This snack contains milk and soy.

I was really excited to try this snack because I have had sweet potato fries made from actual sweet potatoes before. While these smell like sweet potatoes, they don't really taste like them. They're really good when you first start chewing, but then they get kinda gross. And there is a bad aftertaste. They're not what I was expecting, but they're not the worst thing I've tasted.

Here is the Naturebox page for this snack on their website.

This snack expires on January 25, 2015
I give this snack 3/10


Pumpkin Spice Nom Noms:

This snack contains tree nuts (coconuts, almonds), milk, soy, and egg.

These are so soft and chewy! I don't drink coffee (I think it's disgusting), so I never get into the PSL spirit each fall. I decided to try more pumpkin things this year to see what all the hype was about. I'm not mad about these. They taste like a pumpkiny oatmeal ball. The texture is like you took some oatmeal and rolled it into a ball to eat. These are delicious!

The downside to these is there are only 5 in the package.

Here is the Naturebox page for this snack on their website.

These expire on March 24, 2015
I give this snack 8/10


Mocha Almond Bar:

This snack contains tree nuts (almonds, walnuts), peanuts and soy.

Naturebox has certain snacks which are add-on items. Those are snacks that aren't bagged snacks - they come individually wrapped. I love granola bars, so I was excited to have a healthy one for once ;) I paid $1 for this one bar. I see on the website that they also have this in a 5 pack for $5.

I take pictures of my snacks as soon as I get them so I can enjoy them without worrying about eating it all before getting a picture for the blog. Since this came as one, I ate it after I opened it...9 days ago. With other snacks, I taste them again as I blog to make sure I'm describing them as well as I can, and I can't do that with this. I thought about writing things down as I was eating it, but I never did. I'm going to describe this to the best of my abilities because I can't taste it again....my b.

Have you ever tried Nature Valley Sweet and Salty granola bars? This tastes JUST like that, except with chocolate. I know there are different flavors, but I can't think of which one it tastes like. It has the same consistency as those, and is so yummy.

Here is the Naturebox page for this snack on their website.

This expires on June 30, 2015
I give this snack 9/10


The final snack I received is my favorite snack from last time. Instead of writing something new, I'm just going to copy and paste my review from last time:

Watermelon Fruit Chews:

This is my favorite snack. Watermelon has been my favorite fruit like forever, so I was excited to try these. These fruit chews taste just like watermelon fruit snacks. They're amazingly delicious.

This is where I would put the link for this snack on the Naturebox website, but IT ISN'T THERE ANYMORE. THEY DISCONTINUED THIS SNACK (without warning...I think) AND I COULDN'T BE MORE UPSET :( :(

This snack expires on June 19, 2015
I give this snack 10/10


Would you like to try Naturebox? For every box they deliver, they donate one meal through Feeding America to help the millions of Americans who go hungry. I have a personal code that you can enter at checkout if you decide to try! When you enter this code, you automatically get $10 off your first box! :) Go to Naturebox (click the link), choose your plan, enter your information, enter your billing information, and enter the code 4QKM-78A :)

If you can't get the code to work, let me know and I will try and figure something out! Also, if you have any questions, feel free to ask me! :)


Have you tried Naturebox yet? What is your favorite snack?


Click here for my first Naturebox review.
Click here for my second Naturebox review.
Click here for my forth Naturebox review.

XOXO

Jen