iPod tip for fitness instructors

I've been looking for softeare to help edit songs... well I no longer have to... iTunes can do basic things like edit volumes, start and stop times, etc!
Yes!
In iTunes, right click on your music file and select the "Get Info" Tab. Another wndow pops up with 6 tabbed sections, choose the "options" tab and this is where all the magic can be done!

Yay! I love the internet!
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My Nutrition Plan - Part One

I've gained a bit of weight (ok, 10 pounds) since I met Collin and I was a little concerned about it. It seems like since I turned 25, my body gains an average of 5 pounds per year... is this normal? So obviously I've been eating more then my body can burn off. :(
I decided to get a professional's help! I called up a fellow group exercise instructor whom I know has a nutritionist degree and enlisted her help.

Check out my new meal plan (keep in mind this is only phase one!):
Oatmeal 50gr (dry weight)
Chicken breast 4oz (cooked weight)
Skim milk 0.75 cup
Dry cottage cheese 125gr (I recommend mixing it with the yogurt)
Egg whites 3-4
Yogurt non-fat 125gr
Oriental vegetable mix 100gr
Rice (brown rice better choice) 1 cup cooked
Protein powder 1 scoop

This is all the food I'm allowed for a day! (Well, add in fresh veggies like lettuce, peppers, cucumbers, celery, cauliflower, cabbage, mushrooms, spinach, asparagus, green beans Brussels sprouts, comatose, onions, broccoli...) but basically that's all she wants me to eat for the next 4 weeks!

I'm going to get started on this tomorrow... I guess I'd better scarf down those CRAVE cupcakes I got on the weekend TONIGHT!!!
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Interactive LED Coffee Table Demo

Too Cool!

No more condo stress

Today I took the first step to getting some help with my condo situation. I met with a Property Management company representative to evaluate my condo and get the initial paperwork to set up our agreement. It feels *really good* not to have to stress about it anymore... seriously, I think it'll be worth every penny!
And I might even have a tenant lined up for them to screen... A previous neighbor of mine contacted me regarding his friend who's looking for a place . (He's a 60 year old gentleman, building a house in Calgary but it won't be ready for 10-12 months.) We'll see if that pans out though.
My track record with trying to rent this place out hasn't been the greatest... but I think it's cause I was putting the rent up too high!
I guess I've gotta give a little...
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I broke my shoe!

Yesterday as I was teaching my spin class, I heard a loud *click* and thought I broke the pedal of the bike... but when my shoe didn't let go from the clip, I knew I hadn't!
After class I checked my cleat, and I actually broke the hard sole that the cleat is attached to! Now my shoe clicks as I walk. I don't think it's fixable... Booo!
The silver lining... New bike shoes, here I come, YAY :)
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Just an old Video to share

I watched this Animoto short again today... still love it!

Easter Ham!

My first real holiday gathering, and I think my meal went over
very well!
I decided to make a ham (actually, we got a couple of smaller black forest hams), roast potatoes, salad and corn.
It was yummy! And Ione (Collin's Mom) brought over fresh buns and dessert: Apple Crisp and ice cream! It was a perfect meal!

Enjoy the pictures of our evening here.
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OH, those taxes! They get me EVERY year!

Doing taxes is pretty easy... I mean, it is just simple math: addition, subtraction kinda stuff. But what's NOT so simple is finding all the proper paperwork required to fill it out!
I really should seek professional help this year! I have way more items to deal with on my Income Tax now, and I'd really hate to miss some potential deductions, because lord knows, I need all that I can get!

(Yes, I have a rough life!)
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Music editing software?

Does anyone do this, edit music? I really need to start! I have some fitness songs that are VERY LONG, and usually make me go overtime in my classes :( I want to start doing basic clips of music... you know, deleteing a minute from the end of a track. I'm sure it's very easy to do (and I even bet the MAC comes complete with these capabilities) unfortunately I'm still on a PC and don't think I have any software capable of such tasks.

I was googling this today and found Adobe Audition 2... it only comes with a free 30 day trial however. I only want to do *basic* edits though... so, could a free-ware type of this software do the job I'm trying to achieve?
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First time for everything!

I finally sold not one but 2 items from my Etsy store yesterday!!!
(The Turquoise Beaded Drop necklace and the Asymetrical Heart Shell Y-Necklace.)
These are the first items I've sold from my Etsy store since I joined Etsy in October of 2007. I am so excited about this!

I think these two sales have inspired me to get back into my beading! (I need to get cracking though or this urge will pass! It always does!)

YAY for ETSY!
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Major pain!

Since Monday night I can barely get out of a chair, or do a flight of stairs! It all started after the Squat track of my STRONG class at WSRC. I don't know what I did wrong (or right) but my thighs are in absolute PAIN since that class! I feel like I haven't worked out in years!!! (that or just raced in 24 hours of Adrenalin again!) It's been a long time since I've been this stiff from a workout... I wonder why? Was it because of the holiday? I don't know if I believe that, cause we did 2 long hikes while we were in Maui, it's not like I sat on the beach drinking Lava Flows* all day. And why is it just my thighs? The rest of my muscles feel great!
Why is my body turning on me???
And how can I get it to STOP?

* A Lava Flow, for those that have never had one, is a mixed cocktail: basically half strawberry daquiri, 1/2 pina colada... YUM!
A must to drink when in Maui, seriously!
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random hilarity: http://gofugyourself.typepad.com/go_fug_yourself/2008/03/fugtify-my-love.html
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New Yoga Clothes

I have been feeling that none of my clothes fit right lately, and since I had Friday off I decided to check out some new stores that I've been meaning to check out: Body Things and LotusWear. (Body Things is mostly dance/fitness wear, and Lotus Wear is like Lululemon, all yoga wear)
I did very well! I found many cool tops from Body Things (all were on sale) and I I found a jacket that fit me! and pair of pants from LotusWear! Woot! I also forgot (DUHHH) that I get a 15% discount (because I am a fitness instructor) from Lululemon.... and I found out on Friday, that I also get 15% off at Body Things AND Lotus Wear!
(I guess being an instructor does have it's benefits!)
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Bitten by the Bug

I think I have just been bitten by the travel bug!
All I can think about is "Where to go next?" It doesn't help the matter that I just got my raise and bonus, so when I returned from Maui I actually had more money in my bank account then I left with! (So in my mind, travelling MAKES you money ;) hehe!)

I'm surfing Flickr viewing other people's vacation photos, and WOW, our world is a beautiful place! Everywhere you go, has something beautiful to offer, seriously... you just have to LOOK to find it!
Like example, check out this picture I found today:
WOW! The water is so brilliant, it almost looks FAKE!

I think I want to do an African Safari someday... Oh my... that's a pretty BIG vacation compared to Maui!! Dream BIG :)

(and for more on my Maui trip, read my UPDATED post here!)
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Back, in full GLOW!

I am back from my week in paradise (Maui) and it was absolutely fantastic! *Please check out my FLICKR page, as I am uploading more pics of Maui every night.* I had over 5GB of data(photos and videos) from my short 8 day vacation... can't even imagine what it would be like after a 2 week trip! ;)

Here's a little itinerary and commentary of what we spent out time doing for those 8 days:
Day 0 - Left Calgary and flew to Maui on Air Canada.. arrived in Maui at ~8pm loca time, got our rental car (convvertible Jeep with GPS navigation) and headed to our Hotel. Had a bit of an "Amazing Race" moment, when we couldn't find our room key (due to our late check in)... but in the end, my inquiring mind prevailed and we finally got into our room, plopped down our bags, and fell fast alsleep!
Day 1 - West Maui Drive/sight seeing - We decided to start our vacation off rather tame, with a drive around West Maui. Such cool sights, and a very interesting road also.
Day 2 - South Maui Hike - We drove south through Makena to the Makena State Park and to the Ahini-Kinau Natural Area Reserve. It was a scortching hot day, and we actually wanted to get to the Kings Highway, but only managed to complete half of the hike, due to the heat!
Day3 - Hana Highway - By far the BEST part of the trip for me!!! I loved this road, so narrow and curvy! I loved the scenery, so green and tropical! I loved the vendors on the side of the road (banana bread and fresh pinapple, YUM!) And when you actually get to Hana... you're in for a treat! Awesome day!
Day 4 - Haleakala Crater - We decided to hike into the crater... wow, what an impressive geological feature! This hike nearly killed us... the hitch-hiking at the end back to our Jeep was priceless!
Day 5 - Beach day and shopping - True relaxation and vacationing... we burnt ourselves pretty bad, was it worth it? Heck yes!
Day 6 - Lahaina and Iao Valley - This was another highlight of Maui for me... too bad Collin wasn't in the mood for any more walking around sight seeing, so I had to explore the valley on my lonesome. Very lush greenery, obviously one of the wetter areas of Maui. A must see!
Day 7 - Fly home to Calgary (Approximately 10 hours flight time). We sat in the airport lounge waiting for our 9:00pm flight, and wow, the Kahului airport has the WORST food avalible on the Island, hands down!!! I couldn't even drink my concerns away, because their Tropical drinks were equally as horrible!!! I DO NOT recommend spending any time at the airport pre-flight (also souveniers/duty free goods were lame there too... way better shopping at the markets around the Island!)