P90X

So as many of you know, Nick and I have been on the "off and on" roller coaster ride of the famous P90X. You may of seen those info-mercials that promise huge results in as little as 90 days. Then you are "wow"ed by those transformation pictures that blow your mind and make you think...maybe...just maybe you can have that change too. Well, we started it over a year ago, and after months or rounds of this program, which we believe very highly of, we have learned three important things-which of course seem to be three principles that thread through any successful life. We are still trying to master these simple but near impossible concepts and the better we do the better our results come even through out the whole of our lives.
One: consistency! This is powerful! We start off strong and then....well, life happens...days and then weeks pass and we have found ourselves several times wiping the dust off these videos and starting over again. This is where the on and off part of our healthy roller coaster comes in. But as is true in every aspect of our lives, when we are consistent, and try our hardest to have a "daily" attitude, we make gains that help us get even closer to our short and long term goals.
Two: Goals! We have found that when we just do something, to go through the motions as it were, not having a goal or a desired end result, we miss out on several essential helps: motivation, destination, and commitment. Goals help us measure our success and push us to achieve more. Goals give us guide lines and help us work out the details on how to truly reach them. Goals are ...awesome and they bring a strtength and power into our lives needed to accomplish anything we set our minds to!
Three: Give 100% and push to the max. This sounds funny but it connects into the ever powerful concept of living in the present and giving your all in the moment that you are living. Talk about a way to actually reach your potential in not just the physical aspect but in your whole life. What a full life we would be living if this was truly followed. Give and push yourself to reach the best you can be. This often times is hard to do when life and the world seems to be pushing against you as well, but we have found that when we are consistent with this concept, results are fast and powerful.
I seem to be over using the word powerful, but I think it is the best word to describe the feeling felt when these concepts are in full action because it's the feeling that comes when you take your own life by your hands and instead of allowing the circumstances in your life to act on you you are acting for yourself! You are in charge and are your full agent of choice, choosing to act rather then be acted upon...that is power. So we are not perfect, and we are still learning and struggling, but as we look back on this year, there is a slim smile of satisfaction on the growth we have achieved so far.

So tell me, what is the power that comes from food. Besides the basic response of how it gives us energy to survive, live and grow...lets be honest, we are FAR from that basic definition in our evolved world. In the culture that I am engulfed in, food has become more than a basic eat and live relationship. Food is a power, a presence, a life, an existence and even to some a God. Not only are there food and options for food everywhere you go from bookstores/libraries, gas stations/pit-stops, fast food chains, restaurants, but I even get offered food from the empanedas lady who sells them in the wal-mart parking lot. We must not forget the ever beloved food network and channel, where we are able to watch how to cook, cook offs, cake offs, cupcake wars and not to leave out the awesome competitions of the iron chef and chopped. Food finds its way into every social event no matter how big or small. I don't think there is a place where you can escape the temptations and seductions of this basic energy source. We have not even swam the deep waters of food and its connection to our mental and emotional state. Thoughts that run though my head, "I am (fill in the blank with any emotion-I choose sad)I need chocolate, ice cream...something salty, greasy or fat". Or "I did really well today, I need a reward...Mimi's cafe is still open..." Or, "lets do something fun...what restaurant do you want to try next?" Or "date night...zupas!" (that was just yesterday). Half the fun of traveling to new places comes from trying different foods! When Nick and I went to Aruba it could simply be summarized as beach and food (gelato-ice cream really). So I ask, what is it about food that makes it so influential, so interesting, so important to us. I believe that if some alien came form another planet and saw how we treated food...I would have to wonder at the report they would write after their visit. When people move to the neighborhood they give food, someone dies, they give food, births, they give food, sickness, they give food. Food seems to be a main staple of our express of charity. But it is SOOOOO good! So everyone, whether or not you agree with this post about food-it doesn't matter because in a few minutes I am sure you will start to crave something and then try as hard as you can to make, get, or buy that fulfilling food. I will just wish everyone happy eating...and if you have any good reciepes...please share them.

Up and down...life is like that

So here it is...another flat tire. This is twice in one month. The first one could have been deadly. I was driving on the express way, going 60 mph talking to my handsome hubby. The one light-which I have never seen red, turned red-causing me to stop and as my light turned green I ended my conversation with nick and tried to climb to my original speed...then bang, my car pulled to the right, both hands were on the wheel as I gained control. Lucky, I had two hands and that I was at a low speed, or it could have ended not as nicely. Nick was surprised at the phone call he received with only a few second interlude. So I am on the side of the express way...teacher slacks and all...trying to change my tire. Laughable really. I know I had done it at some young women or relief society event a few times in my life...right? Well, God is in the details of our lives. As the sun lowered and darkness seemed to spread as quickly as my stress and panic; here came a truck with a couple in it, the husband who happens to work at discount tires. Five minutes and the dirty deed was done. My lovely friend and visiting teacher companion came to my aid and followed me home as I drove my big car over the weakening donut. Well a similar scene was played yesterday and today. My back tire, I guess, felt neglected and wanted attention, negative attention, so it too went flat. This time it picked up a lonely nail and became intimate friends with it. A horrible hole resulted. SO God sent me another guy, who works at the Saint Sophia Church who changed the tire (I didn't even try). Then my beautiful school Secretary followed me to the tire store, and my Principal drove be back to pick up my car with its new tire. What would I do with out the kindness of strangers and the powerful women in my life?

So in the ended I have felt a little flat this week. School work is getting Nick stressed, and worried. I have more issues with my bank and school is getting me down as well as the need for the change that I am hoping for. What a spiritual high from General Conference-then comes the trials...and they are not bad trials, they are just all at once it seems. But we have so many blessings...I thank heavenly father for them everyday in Spanish in our couple prayers. Exciting things are happening...and these little bumps in the road will flatten us at times, but God always sends us ways to get back up on our feet again.

SO I thought that I would update with a few fun photos from...February. Yep that is right, March is almost over and I am giving you February. Should I feel guilty...no...life is what I make of it and right now I am making...will with all the spare time that I allow myself to have, updates on our lives in moments, snap-shots or spotlights (reason for the new title change). Some fun moments: Seuss Day! So as you can tell from the pictures I as thing one. What a blast! All my students dressed up in their favorite book character and for a week we held "specials" where we were able to give extra care to our students. I taught all the students several songs from Seussical the Musical, which they performed that Friday. Rock stars, they all want to be rock stars-American Idol what have you done? So it was a loud performance-maybe not all in the same key...but...they were cute. Nick even celebrated by letting me read to him his first Seuss book. I am sure he has read or have had read some Seuss book before now, but he claims he hasn't. So he even got into the spirit-"couldn't help it when my wife is running around all in red with blue hair". Another fun moment came in Valentine's Day. We ate at Braza Grill. Okay, let me just say that Nick and I have been trying to eat healthy as of late and trying to prevent the genetic diseases that are seemingly awaiting us sometime down the road. We are veggie and fruit 'aholics' and are eating meat sparingly. So...here comes the night of all you can eat MEAT! The night started off wonderfully with a live acoustic guitar player and a fruity drink...then it went all down hill from there. Nick and I pride ourselves at never discriminating against anyone or thing-meat included this life motto and we dare each other to never turn the stick to red. You can imagine the end of the night. If not, let me help you. We were sweating, sweating meat and we were so scared to move from our seats when we were done, in fear of a digestion eruption, so we stayed there, eyes closed, telling out stomachs to let all the consumed food to pass through. As we finally got up, and thanked our host, he gave us one look and with his look of concern asked if we found everything to be okay, "We found it to be a little too good". What a night! Why do we put ourselves through this? Was it really worth the pain, sweat, tears and pounds. Well...that is still to be determined. After we left the restaurant we looked at each other and could not stop laughing...we looked ridiculous, so then we decided to dance off the meat outside of our favorite store, Barnes and Nobles. We giggled the whole time as we danced or more like waddled like stuff turkeys.
I had to put this picture in of Boston eating my chicken! IT made my week. This is a rooster that Nick had collected when he was in his collecting chickens phase (hence the reason we have the theme of roosters in our kitchen-not by choice but by necessity, where else were we to put all those rooster?)One thing that we dislike about being away from family is missing our nieces and nephews growing up. Seeing this picture made me not only laugh and realize I have one of the cutest nieces in the world, but that in little ways I can still be in their lives. So there you go, an update on some fun moments. More to come...sooner then later.
Nick and

life has flown by...

So here's a few pictures that I figured out how to post from my phone. . We don't have the internet at home in attempt to save money. So blogging has become difficult as a result. If anyone has figured out how to blog from their phones please let me know. So here is a fall picture stating that the season was too short and is missed. ..plus its my favorite season so why shouldn't it be spotlightes? Then one picture represents the Christmas season. Then the other is for me ready to make a huge change in my life in several areas in my life. So enjoy. More to come. ..hopefully.