Eliza invited me over for lunch yesterday and I thought it a great excuse to pack up my Zumba things so she could also experience the fun and excitement that Zumba has to offer.
We had a glorious lunch followed by some tastebud tantalising cupcakes. And since we’d eaten so well, and all had a food-baby, we decided it was time to set up the equipment so we could ZUMBA (and work off our lunch)!!
Eliza showed such chutzpah in jumping right in there and following the instructor to “keep her green”. And then Eliza’s cousin joined the party and shook what her mamma gave her! Even Eliza’s 3 year old nephew got involved! So after a few routines/classes, we were all smiling from ear to ear and “shaking our thangs”! The ladies have now said that they will just have to go out and buy themselves a copy of the game and a Wii/Xbox/Playstation in order to continue the fun. I’d say that the Zumba Party was a success! Wouldn’t you?
Thanks again Eliza for having me over! Next time you’re coming to me, but be prepared to shake it some more!!
Hugs & Kisses
Jessica Giggles
PS…
If you don’t already know, this is part of a one month challenge with other Girl Guiders, and I need your help to win… Please head on over to Zumba Fitness SA’s Facebook page, like it and say that I referred you. The more referrals I have, the more points I am awarded. And the more points I am awarded, the higher my chance of winning the challenge and getting to keep my Wii and Zumba game.
What’s in it for you? The chance to win spot prizes as well as the chance to win your own Wii and copy of Zumba! So go on! Give a gal a fighting chance…
With TomTom’s user-friendly menu design, planning your route could not be easier. There are a few ways to do it, so here’s how to get where you’re going!
Can you believe I have been Zumba-ing for almost 2 weeks already?! Time flies when you’re getting fit!
I must say that after doing quite a few of the classes or routines, my co-ordination and fitness seems to have improved. When I did my first class, I was completely aware that I wasn’t doing the moves properly and that irritated the perfectionist in me. And the twenty minute routine felt like a life time! I am super happy to say that my fitness does seem to be getting better as I am not as out of breath. And my co-ord seems to be getting better too as my lady is green* which means I must be doing it right…
Now as this is part of a one month challenge, I need your help to win… The more referrals I have on Zumba Fitness SA’s Facebook page, the more points I am awarded. And the more points I am awarded, the higher my chance of winning the challenge and getting to keep my Wii and Zumba game. So this is what you need to do… Head on over to the Zumba Fitness SA Facebook page, like the page, and then tell them that I referred you.
And what’s in it for you? As a follower of the Zumba Fitness SA page, you stand the chance to win spot prizes as well as the main prize of your own Wii, Zumba game, and other Zumba goodies. Go on! Give a gal a fighting chance…
Hugs & Kisses
Jessica Giggles
*If you are doing the moves incorrectly, the instructor lady is a pinky red. If you’re almost there but not quite, the lady turns orange. And if you’re doing it perfectly, she turns green.
It is listed as “Vanilla Panna Cotta with Berries” on their dessert menu and is priced at *R34.00 per portion. It is described as cooked cream with vanilla berries.
My Thoughts
My first bite of the panna cotta alone left me wanting more. Usually it is decadently sweet and creamy but this version was quite tasteless. When paired with the berry coulis served on the side however, the dessert took on a different taste altogether. The berries sweetened the deal while also leaving you with a tang that tickled your tastebuds. It is the perfect size for those that ate too much during main course, and just sweet enough for those who aren’t big dessert eaters.
A big hug and thank you to Twistygirl who awarded me this:
I have received this award before. And feel privileged to have received it again, a year down the line.
5 random facts about me…
1. My shoe size has changed recently. I’m not quite sure whether I’m just getting old or whether it’s because it’s winter and my feet have shrunk…
2. I am a terribly cheap date… One sip of wine and I’m completely toasted!
3. I have a competitive personality which I think stems from being the youngest of four kids.
4. I am fanatic about spelling and grammar. Correct spelling and grammar is so ingrained in me that I can’t read a menu without picking up mistakes.
5. My sweet tooth rules me. I will eat condensed milk out of the can to satisfy Miss Tooth!
Yesterday I tweeted how my sweet tooth was feeling very unloved and that I needed to find a new dessert to try… Angel from The Cupcake Lady came tweeting to my rescue and let me in on a little secret… She had a few too many Snickers Caramel Cheesecake cupcakes and would I like to take 6. Really?! Why would she even need to ask?!
The first bite of these bad boys sent me to Sweet Tooth Heaven! A base of biscuits with a smooth cheesecake mixture placed on top is where the “mouthgasm” starts. Add to this a topping of a melted Snickers bar and a smattering of crushed biscuit and you’ll be led to a very happy ending. There is only one word for them…GASTRONOMIC!
Hugs & Kisses
Jessica Giggles
PS: If you would like to order your own batch of cupcakes, get in touch with Angel by visiting her site.
I am not sure if you have heard of or come across the blog entitled Tales from the Table. If not, you are missing out! If you have a love of food like I do, your tastebuds will be tantalised and teased when reading his posts…
The author is based in the Western Cape and describes himself as a food lover not a foodie (see his About Me page for why). His posts are written to perfection with a balanced mix of honesty, humour and charm. The only thing I can fault is that his sweet tooth is not as sweet as mine…
Take a look for yourself! You’ll become a fan, I promise…
So Sunday afternoon I headed on over to the Crowne Plaza in Rosebank to meet with the Zumba Fitness SA representative and my seven challengers (the seven Girl Guide reviewers also chosen to take part in this one month challenge). We were all given a Wii console and a copy of the Zumba Fitness game and the rules of the challenge were explained. I was super excited to get home, set everything up and getting Zumba-ing…
The set up was quick and it wasn’t too long before I was busy with my first tutorial. And then last night I did my first class… Now I did know that I was unfit, but GOSH! After what felt like a lifetime, I had only actually done about 10 minutes. So by the end of the class, my calves were shouting at me, I was out of breath and sweaty, but I was grinning from ear to ear! I do feel a bit uncoordinated but I know this will change with a little bit more practice.
Now to the part where you come in… The more referrals I have on Zumba Fitness SA’s Facebook page, the more points I am awarded. And the more points I am awarded, the higher my chance of winning the challenge and getting to keep my Wii and Zumba game. So this is what you need to do… Head on over to the Zumba Fitness SA Facebook page, like the page, and then tell them that I referred you.
And what’s in it for you? As a follower of the Zumba Fitness SA page, you stand the chance to win spot prizes as well as the big prize of your own Wii, Zumba game, and other Zumba goodies. And If I win in the end, you’ll all be invited to Zumba with me! So go on…what are you waiting for?!
Saturday morning I got pampered and relaxed at my monthly session. That afternoon I dragged Gary off to Hartebeesport so I could put the TomTom I have for review to the test. We took a leisurely drive there and decided to go over the Dam Wall as I hadn’t been there for a while (if ever). I am quite surprised I managed to get the shot as we were driving at the time (we couldn’t stop as there were a queue of cars behind us).
We then stopped at a little Portuguese restaurant for lunch where the owner/manager thought lunch is best served/digested while listening to Britney Spears. Worse than the chosen music though was the fact that the dessert menu held absolutely no appeal to my sweet tooth. It was a sad afternoon indeed!
Saturday evening I decided I needed to try out the Swiss Inn restaurant in Fourways as I have had fondue cravings for weeks. I should have left those cravings be as the fondue was really not tasty. It was so vile that I just had to tweet about it…
I left feeling disappointed and hungry…
Sunday morning came around too quickly and I got myself ready to go to the Market on Main which is part of the Arts on Main development programme. The market is open every Sunday from 10am until 3pm and it sells food (olives, soup, breads, etc) on the bottom level, and design/art stuff (vintage clothing, ceramic bowls, etc) on the top level. It isn’t the same size as the Rosebank Rooftop Market so don’t be disappointed when you rock up and see only about 30 stalls – it’s still growing but these select stalls will guarantee to thrill you.
We had a quick chocolate croissant and something hot to drink at The Canteen which is a little restaurant found in the courtyard outside the market. I really loved this dilapidated old armchair and loved the light effect.
After purchasing a few things at the market, we decided to take a walk down the road to see more of the Arts on Main development. I really love how these old shoes have been given a different use just by adding some plants. These were spotted nailed to the walls in the courtyard at the 12 Decades Hotel.
We then went up to the 12 Decades Hotel to see a few of the rooms. If you haven’t heard of this hotel before then you are missing out! Each of the 12 rooms depicts a decade of Johannesburg’s history. Each room was decorated by a prominent South African design team and were asked to interpret the decade in their décor. The first decade is 1886-1896, and the last is 1996-2006. It would have been awesome to see all 12 but unfortunately there were guests in most of the rooms.
We then went up to the hotel’s roof for a view of the city and to see the rooftop bar. The roof is in the process of being “greened” with plants, flowers and other décor. I’m looking forward to going back soon so I can see the finished product.
This gorgeous metal skyline of Johannesburg was spotted as we were walking back to the market…
And this next pic I entitled “Super-tubing in the city”…
It was a great weekend… I saw parts of my city I haven’t seen before. I saw the city through my CrossProcess photography app. I saw the city and thought how much I would have loved to see it in it’s heyday…
What is Zumba you ask? It’s the only Latin-inspired dance-fitness program that excites, burns calories, is effective and addictive.
Zumba was born in the ’90′s when Alberto “Beto” Perez, a fitness instructor, dashed off to teach an aerobics class only to realise that he’d forgotten the traditional aerobics music. He had to improvise using his own mixed tapes (we’re in the ’90′s here remember) that he had in his backpack (salsa and merengue music that he’d grown up with). On the spot he created a new type of dance-fitness programme that focused on letting the music move you. His class loved it! Their bodies were filled with energy and their faces plastered with smiles! On that fateful day, the Zumba Fitness-Party was born.
And now you may be wondering, “what’s with the history lesson?!” Well… GirlGuides has picked me (along with 7 other GirlGuide reviewers) to take part in a one-month challenge with Zumba. I will be given a copy of the game along with a Wii (both on loan of course) for one month. And should I generate the most hype and excitement, I’ll get to keep both! I’d say this challenge has been accepted…with a CAPITAL A!!
Hugs & Kisses
Jessica Giggles
PS: If you want to learn more about Zumba, view the YouTube video below. And if you want to get your body moving and shaking, get yourself a copy of the Zumba game, or head on over to your nearest Virgin Active (just check their timetables first).
