And she is on her way to a nervous breakdown.  Kidding.  Sort of.

Between traveling, getting sick, moving, preparing our rental, taekwondo tournaments and normal and not so normal life stuff like going to the grocery or vacuuming, (we may or may not have just vacuumed for the first time since we moved a month ago)  I feel like I’ve lost my groove.  Lost any sort of semblance to a routine.  Lost most of my motivation.  Lost any sanity (assuming I ever had it).

This past weekend, was our first much needed weekend to relax a bit.  Life has been a whirlwind and it was nice to land back in Kansas California. That’s not to say I didn’t have a wonderful time in Vegas. In fact, it couldn’t have been better.  My grandparents, Cirque Du Soleil’s Kà, Eric Clapton, a king size bed, wonderful meals, Brent, the boys, and a landing a jump kick to someone’s head made it a memorable weekend indeed.

I ended up with a first place in forms and a third place in sparring.

Caught in the middle of a jump front kick.

Showing respect.

This was from my first match.   She fell  and I had to take a knee.  While I was kneeling, I glanced over at the score.  It was 2 (me) to 4 (her).  One more point and she would win and I’d be out of the competition completely.   I also knew that there was only about 15 seconds or so left so which meant I had to kick her in the head for 2 points to tie and go to “sudden death” or jump kick her to the head for 3 points. I made up my mind to try and land a jump kick to her head .  It was the only way I could win.  Never mind, that I had never landed one in class much less at a tournament but I thought what the heck!  Why not try?  At worst, I’m going to miss and she’ll win.  At this point ,she was winning anyway.

We shook hands and then the judge called “spar!”  A few seconds later, I felt my foot hit her head at the top of my jump!  I was shocked!  I guess the practicing in the garage paid off.

A different match.

The match I lost…

…and I wonder why.  Giving her my head to kick???  Geez.

I started off good and was up 3 (me) to 0 (her) but then she scored a kick to my head for 2 points followed by a kick to the chest for 1 point tying the score.  Then, she got two more points winning the match. It wouldn’t be honest to say I didn’t care but I will say winning isn’t the reason I do taekwondo.  I do it for fun…

…and friends!

…and to be with my kids!

…and to be with my love!

(The kids and Brent decided not to compete this weekend.)

Oh yeah…remember how I mentioned wearing yoga pants on the strip???  What could be better than yoga pants?

My dobok!

I’m sure Vegas has seen stranger things.

(P.S. I updated my other blog if you want to see more pictures of our trip.)

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

If you enjoyed this post please Subscribe to the RSS Feed.

or

Sign up to have posts emailed to your inbox.

The post Girl on the Go appeared first on Girl Heroes.

This weekend Brent and I took off for Vegas for the day.
Again

6:45 AM : Left the house

By 8 AM: we made it to the Mojave Desert.

Noon: Arrived at the classy Sante Fe Station for the tournament.

2 PM: I competed.

I fell and…

…got this.

I got first place in both of my events.

I was really happy.

But what’s even better…

…is being with my love

and…

…making new friends!

I met these girls last week in AZ and they are a nice group of gals!

3 PM: Hit the road.

We spent all of 3 hours in Vegas.

(We party hard.)

I didn’t gamble one cent.  If I wasn’t such a tight wad so frugal…

…I would have played “Kitty Glitter”.

5 PM: Stopped at the Mad Greek in Baker where things got a little “craaaazy“.

Check out this feast for two.

I was so excited about the tabouleh that I got choked on the first bite.

I have” mad” skillz and I “saved my own life” by pulling this out of my own throat.
(I know.  Yes, the picture in your head is as it sounds.  Yuck. )
Seriously, Mad Greek, you might want to DICE THE PARSLEY!

6:PM : The sun begins to set.

Nothing as beautiful as Greek statues, sunsets, and gas stations.

9:PM : Arrived home and decided to hell with getting old.

Forever young.

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

If you enjoyed this post please Subscribe to the RSS Feed.

or

Sign up to have posts emailed to your inbox.

The post Forever young. appeared first on Girl Heroes.

Source

It has been one of “those weeks”.  I’ve felt stuck in tiny room with one only one window that’s covered thick with grime.

I know there is a beautiful world out there but my Windex bottle is empty.  Dammit.

I could ramble and muse on (and on and on) about my feelings but, honestly, it’s rather tiresome.  Instead, I’m choosing to think about the things for which I’m grateful.  Things like family, sunsets, handmade quilts, and kettlebells.  Here are some happy pictures from last week’s trip to Arizona.

At the Chinese Cultural Center with two young men (whose wierdo mother insists on matching outfits despite the older turning 10 next week).

Exploring the Asian grocery.

Loved looking through the freezer.  I’ll spare you the fresh fish counter.

The Koi pond.  (Don’t worry this fish has nothing to do with the market.)

Desert sunsets.

Meeting up with Averie and Madeline.

Digital exhibit at the Arizona Science Center.

GG and I under my new “handmade by gram” Amy Butler quilt.  I LOVE it!  Thank you Gram!

Meow Cow worried that daddy got lost in Starbucks.

“His and hers” kettlebells (and nunchucks) stashed under the seat.

300 kettlebell swings at the rest stop.

100 more at Cabazon.  That’s me by the back leg.

Every time I go into “the bronto” I always wish I could live in it.
I would be fun (and good exercise) to hang a ladder or a rope from his nostril so I could climb up and slide down his throat into my bed.

Anyone else love the dinosaur scene in Pee Wee’s Big Adventure?

Found the perfect place for some split squats.

I think this is my first Saturday post ever.  I know there wasn’t much about food or fitness.
I just wanted to say hi and let you know I’ve been thinking of you.  Really I have.
I never expected blogging to become such an important part of my life.

Now it’s time to go clean that window.

Source

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

The post Windex. appeared first on Girl Heroes.