I've made a decision...

Well, after mulling it over for a while, I've come to the conclusion that my days of belly dancing are coming to an end.  Although I'm not a "pro" dancer, only a "hobbyist", it's time to let this part of my life go.  I think part of it has to do with my move to Maine.  When I originally started dancing in Virginia, I danced with my friends.  Here, I'm not as involved in the dance community and it has made my passion for it dwindle.  For 4 years I've danced, but the energy is gone from it. I also feel like I gave up other things when I started to dance, and now those things are working their way back into my life.  I'm evolving and finding new paths to follow.  Life is a journey, and all journeys involves change.  Sometimes for the worse, and sometimes for the better.  Which will this be?  Who knows... but I'm willing to give it a shot and see where the new roads take me.  

Mother's Day Tea Party LOs

Here's the LOs I made from the pics we took before the Tea Party today.  I used:

Bracket Album by Marcie Mariziali, Alabaster Box (http://alabasterboxca.blogspot.com)

Green background paper from Citrus Berry Kit @ A Work in Progress (http://vicki20.blogspot.com)

Celebrate the Arts Through Song

Layout of last night's Kindergarden Concert...

 All papers and elements from www.theshabbyprincess.com  (Sweet Serenity Kit)

Attitude

Papers, frame, and gold ribbons (transformed in PSE6) from

www.theshabbyprincess.com (Dinner Party Kit)

"Attitude" gel sticker letters from

2008 NSD Grab bag by

Rina Kroes

www.scrapbook-elements.com

Daffodils...

The beauty of Spring come in many colors... even those that are artificially created.                                          

Kit Papers and Brads from TheShabbyPrincess.com (Sweet Serenity Kit)

Opaque Daffodils by:  ME!!

33:45!!!

That's my 5K time for today!!!  It's definitely easier to run outside in the sunshine!  I can hardly believe I took almost 3 minutes off my time.  Woo-Hoo!! 

My first digital LO

Simple.  I'm definitely digging this!  I used a video tutorial from TheShabbyShoppe.com and the kit pieces were from TheShabbyPrincess.com (Vintage Florals)

ran 5k today

Well, in prep for my first official 5k race on sunday, May 4th, I ran the full 5k today on the treadmill at a 0.5% incline.  It was pretty slow going as I was only averaging about 5 mph, but I did it.  I finished without stopping.  At one point I had to take it down to 4.5 mph for about 45 seconds, but then I brought it back up again.  My time was 36:36.  I'm hoping to actually do it faster on Sunday when I am surrounded by all those people and can feel the energy and excitement.  I just hope I'm not hurting too much tomorrow, because I'm running the actual 5k course tomorrow to get a feel for it.  Then Saturday is yoga to stretch out all these tired muscles.  I just wish Mike was home to give me a victory rub-down after the race.  I guess I'll just have to settle for a nice hot bath instead.  LOL!!

Long time, no post!

Damn, it's been a hell of a long time since I updated this thing!!  But, now that I have figured out to get back into this blog, I'm planning to start use it again.  I'm switching to digital scrapping as I don't have the space to pull out all of my supplies.  Maybe when I move to Florida I'll be able to paper-scrap again.  Who knows??  I might just switch permanently.  LOL!!  We'll se how well I adjust to digital artistry.

Dance Goals for 2007

From the head of a "student" dancer...
GwynCara’s BellyDance Goals for 2007

Hello Bhuzzers!!
(and anyone else who happens to come across my little corner of cyber space)


- Continue Advanced classes with Chelydra

- Try to get my body into the best shape it’s ever been in. I want to lose this extra weight stored in my core area (abs, back, etc…) I’m a classic apple. All my weight is in my middle section, from the shoulders to the top of my hips. I’d like to trim it down. Even if I don’t have an “hourglass” when I’m done, I want it flat, and no “muffin tops”!

- I’d like to start training myself for competitions. My dance sisters in the troupe (Gypsy Spirit) are planning to compete in some East Coast competitions this coming year, but I just don’t feel like I’m ready for that level yet. I’m shooting for November 2008 at a comp in New Jersey (For the life of me, I can’t remember which one it is right now).

- I want to expand my repertoire of dance skills, especially my zill playing. I realize this is going to take practice every day. I suppose I should make myself a pair of “Mufflers” for my zills so I don’t drive my family crazy. LOL!!

- I want to work on my improvisational skills as well. It's always good to know "what to do" when you "Just don't know what to do!" (And that happens to me quite a bit!) I suppose I should work on my choreographies as well. I'd really like to have a couple of "dance sets" put together. Things that I can polish up and really work with for haflas and such. Not that I've danced much in haflas, but I promised Chelydra that I would dance at the 2007 Beach Blanket Beledi in Nags Head, NC. After seeing some of the dancers this past year, I've got my work cut out for me!

- I will continually remind myself that I have only been dancing for 2 years, and I'm not ever going to be a BDSS. I will strive to be the best dancer, mother, wife, and Jazzercise teacher that I can be and let my spirit shine every day!

Time for an Update

Yeah, yeah, I know...

I have the best of intentions when I start keeping a journal. I really do. It's just that life always seems to get in the way. First it was soccer, Jazzercise certification, and Mike's Chief's Initiation. September and October brought the return of bellydance performances. November was the end of the soccer season but the start of a Tribal Fusion dance class. Now it's time to get ready for the holiday season. I've eaten way too many cookies lately! My friend, Veronica, at Jazzercise had a habit of bringing in cookies and candy and when you've just finished class and your body is screaming for food, it was just too easy to grab the candy. I don't have to worry about that anymore though, because the Navy has sent her and her hubby back to San Diego. I'm gonna miss her!!! She was a little ray of mexican sunshine in my morning classes!

Let's see, what else is going on?

I just did some more xmas shopping. I even got some presents for Mike. He's so difficult to buy for. Oh, speaking of xmas presents...

Here's my present!! A brand spankin' new 2007 Honda Odyssey EX!! We drove it off the lot with only 6 miles on the odometer. I finally have a vehicle that I truly love! It's such a smooth riding van. I love all the features, and it's even in a color that I've always wanted. Metallic Midnight Blue! WOO-HOO!!

PPD Performance for Gypsy Spirit

Here's a few of the pics of Gypsy Spirit dancing at the 5th Annual Pagan Pride Day Festival in Va Beach, VA. Saturday, September 23, 2006

Zahara as Pele

Rehanna as Bast

GwynCara as Arianrhod

Teleiia as a Maened (priestess of Dionysus)

Habibta as Minoan Snake Goddess

Kalista as Isis

Okay, Okay...

Yes, I'm finally getting around to update this. I have been so focused over the last 2 months that I haven't had time to think for myself very often. Here is what's been going on:

The kids are done with soccer for the season. YEAH!!

I had my dance recital and all went well. I am also now dancing again with the Gypsy Spirit middle eastern dance troupe.

My SIL, Shelley, got married in June and we were in the wedding.

I am now certified to teach Jazzercise!!! That has been the biggest accomplishment!

The above picture is me teaching a Jazzercise routine on the 4th of July. ( I was caught in mid-plie.)

This was all of the instructors doing the Stretch/Ending routine. I look so odd not being in a red shirt. Oh well. Maybe next year!

Taught my first routine

As most of you know, I'm training to be a Jazzercise Instructor. Well, after practicing for the last couple of weeks, I finally got up the courage to teach a routine at Jazzercise. I was so nervous, but I did really well. I am even going to be doing another one tomorrow. Today's routine was Axel F, by Bass Frog. (Think back to the movie Beverly Hills Cop. I think it was the theme song.) Tomorrow I'm going to do one called Mama Mia. Who knows... maybe I'll teach a new routine each day until I go through all 9 routines. It'll definitely help with the audition in June to know that I've already done all the routines in front of the classes that I will eventually be teaching.

Other updates: I got my hair cut on Tuesday. Here's what it looked like before. Not too bad, but it was just kind of limp and didn't look very good unless I really spent so time doing it.

This is the "After". Much, much better.

Let's see, is there anything else going on in my life? Actually, yes. I decided to stop selling PartyLite Candles. Now, don't get me wrong... PartyLite has the best candles on the planet, and is a terrific company to be with, but I just really got tired of sales. Here and now, let me make this public: I will no longer be in any direct sales company. I have found that the most fun I have in any given day is when I am dancing. I'm just going to concentrate on getting certified in June and I'll continue with my belly dancing as well. Speaking of which, here is a pic of me in my new belly dance outfit that I ordered from MoonDance Belly Dance.

Ari's soccer pics

Here's some pictures from Ari's 1st game.

Here's Mike holding the "Go Purple Bashers!" sign that Manda made for Ari's team.

New pics of the girls

I had Tiff and Manda's hair cut today. Here's Tiff:

And here's Manda:

Ari and I will be getting our's cut next week.

Which sports car are you?

I got this from my friend, Kim's, blog: Creative Chaos.

I'm a Ford Mustang!

You're an American classic -- fast, strong, and bold. You're not snobby or pretentious, but you have what it takes to give anyone a run for their money.

"Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

American Pride

I just got an email entitled: "I Love This Comeback" and the email subject was Proud to be an American. Usually, I just delete these types of emails. You know the ones... it's someone's "true" story or anecdote about something that happened to someone they know, and has been forwarded to everyone on the planet atleast twice. Any way, I'm starting to ramble. My point is, whether or not the above mentioned email is true, I liked it. So here you go:


One of my sons serves in the military. He is still stateside, here in California. He called me yesterday to let me know how warm and welcoming people were to him, and his troops. Everywhere he goes, telling me how people shake their hands, and thank them for being willing to serve, and fight, for not only our own freedoms but so that others may have them also.

But he also told me about an incident in the grocery store he stopped at yesterday, on his way home from the base. He said that ahead of several people in front of him stood a woman dressed in a burkha. He said when she got to the cashier she loudly remarked about the U.S. flag lapel pin the cashier wore on her smock. The cashier reached up and touched the pin, and said proudly," Yes, I always wear it and probably always will."

The woman in the burkha then asked the cashier when she was going to stop bombing her countrymen, explaining that she was Iraqi. A gentleman standing behind my son stepped forward, putting his arm around my son's shoulders, and nodding towards my son, said in a calm and gentle voice to the Iraqi woman:

"Lady, hundreds of thousands of men and women like this young man have fought and died so that YOU could stand here, in MY country and accuse a check-out cashier of bombing YOUR countrymen. It is my belief that had you been this outspoken in YOUR own country, we wouldn't need to be there today. But, hey, if you have now learned how to speak out so loudly and clearly, I'll gladly buy you a ticket and pay your way back to Iraq so you can straighten
out the mess in YOUR country that you are obviously here in MY country to avoid"
Everyone within hearing distance cheered!

Some new Layouts

Here's some of the LOs I created while I was at SDV (Scrapper's Dream Vacation) this past weekend.

Time for an update

Soccer has taken over! Here's some pics of Ari at her first couple of practices.


Ari loves to pick up the ball and carry it to where she wants it before she kicks it. LOL!!

For those of you that asked for an update about "the date"... It was fine. Unfortunately, she is no longer dating the boy. She broke up with him because he was being a jerk to somebody (not to Amanda), and she didn't like that. The very next day, she was asked out by another boy. She's definitely popular. I'm going to have to keep an eye on her as she gets older. OY!