February - May Update! (Take 2)

Where have I been?

Hi everyone! Man, it’s been a long time I know, but I am back and I have to tell you all, what I’ve been up to!

March: For starters I got engaged! Yes, that’s right. FINALLY, some one has taken me on for the rest of theirs lives.  

Jadah proposed to me on March 27th at the place where we first met.  Ain’t he Romantical!

(Pic from Brides on Tour in Greensboro, NC April 2011)

Also I was so consumed with me hair. I love being natural.  A freedom I never knew was so rewarding and challenging at the same time.

    

April: Oh yeah and Planning for a wedding is NO joke! OMG so much work!!!!

( My wedding office and files)

  

So many things to decide on... Caterers, Flowers, and VENUES OH MY!

Thanks to my MOM and my TWIN am I only able to manage anything!

 

So Ladies and Gents, You can imagine how busy I’ve been and there are so many more things I have had going on. I DON’T want to bore you with all the pics, so I will leave you with this for now. Just know that I am back and I plan on entertaining you with some great experiences has they arrive and I have something in the works for you that I am keeping on wraps for now!! Stay tuned!

Know Your Dance Partner

I was inspired to write this Blog by a book I just finished reading, called the “Ideal Wife” by 
Jacquelin Thomas. Jacquelin Thomas is a 
Christian Fiction Writer of Romance, who resides in North Carolina. I totally recommend her books! But I bet you are wondering, “what does this have to do with Dancing?”  Just you read and see. 

The Ideal Wife by Jacquelin Thomas is in short a book about a young christian woman named Jana who married a very wealthy and seemingly christian man named Lawrence. They married after only a short time of dating and she hardly knew anything about her new husband’s lifestyle. 

Jana was a student in Bible College until she got married and Lawrence was a "Dancer". BUT, not just any kind of "Dancer". Lawrence was into Swinging and Jana had no clue until a very unlikely incident unraveled itself to the point where Jana was put into harms ways by the very man who promised to love and protect her. You HAVE to read the book to find out the rest. ( See link below.)

This brings me to the topic of, "Know Your Dance Partner."

The Salsa World is still a rather small community, where we all for the most part know one another. However, we should still have a good idea of who our partner is and practice safety on the DANCE floor to ensure a happy and healthy dance experience.  Consider the following DANCE “healthniques!” 

Knowing you Partner

• It is advisable to have an idea of your potential next dance partner’s style and dance level, before the next song begins. (So ladies here is my plug-in to “It’s okay to ask Men to Dance!”) One way to do this is to observe the reactions of his previous dance partners while dancing and after the song is over. 

• Is he attentive to his partner or checking out other women?
• Is she making faces as if she’d rather be having a tooth pulled?

OR

• Is he making eye contact with her and making her feel like she is only one on the dance floor?
• Is she smiling from ear to ear and styling sexier than ever? 

Lastly, notice how they end the song.

• is she avoiding eye contact and running for her life?

OR 

• did he dip her deeper than the ocean floor?

To be continued in Part II.........

Check out Jacquelin Thomas' website!
http://www.jacquelinthomas.com/index.htm

End of the Month Poetry Moment!

CAN'T BREATHE

Oh my God,
I can't breathe!
He's every where I go.
I hear him in my ear.
I look around and he's
In my face. Jesus!
Help me get out of this
Place, into an quiet
Space, where I can
Breathe.

(Inhale)

Ahh...

Now that's better.
To be Enslaved and
Submitted, Committed to
Your Voice, your breath to
My ear, to your chest.
The sound I hear of freedom
rings loud and clear, let
All and the angels hear,
You Speak,
Oh my, how sweet the sound,
Your sound. To feel the
Pounds drop, my load becomes
Lite, and in your light I am
Found.....
Breathing.

BY: Jamila Puentes 1/30/11

Mankind can drain you and leave you feeling claustrophobic. It's not until you enter into God's presence and allow him to recharge your batteries, that you can truly breathe and found light in HIM. He is the God of Peace and He has given unto us the Spirit Power, Love, and a Sound Mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)

Stress Relief 101- Strategies to Relaxing and Stress Relief
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccAnFV-qjKM

Beat It!

So, as apart of my New Year's Life Style Change I am saying good bye to Gilad and hello to Michael!  Take a look at us get our groove on!

Happy New Year!

What a wonderful ending to the 2010 year and a great entrance into the New Year I had on yesterday and Today.

On December 31, 2010 It began with a family 'come one come all' breakfast at my mom’s house.  She invited all her 9 other brothers and sisters along with their spouses to all join in and cook breakfast together. Here is a peek at all the fun and love we shared to end the 2010 year.

                                   

 

                 

That same night Jadah and I headed over to my cousin Rocky’s house, as has become the tradition on New Year’s Eve. We get together with friends there and have such an awesome time fellowshipping. The favorite activites of the night include Rock Band, Phase 10, and the new house favorite

 “Michael Jackson: The Experience!”

                         

Thank you God to an end of a great year and the beginning of an even better and prosperous year.  I love you Father for all that the you have provided for me. Amen

Naughty or Nice?

Naughty: Salsa Hater

OR

Nice: Salsa Lover

Which are you?

Naughty: Salsa Haters are those of us who brutally critique our fellow salseros y salseras for the better or for the worse.

                        “What do I mean?”

Well, glad you asked.

Imagine, Your Most Favorite Salsa Performer. They can do no wrong. He or she can hit perfectly and emphasize every beat of the music, with not only foot work or styling, but with facials and attitude. Stunts by any other dull in comparison. The slightest smirk and head jerk send tingles down your spine and tears of inspiration to your heart.  The standard is so high here that no one can do what they do and more over if some one is caught trying to imitate them, they are looked down upon as a "wanna be."

Common sayings used by a Salsa Hater or those in the Salsa Haters club are, but not limited to:

“What are they dancing on, 1½?” 

“His pants are too tight to do that move.”

“Hollywood just walked in.” 

“If you are not Superstar Status please don’t dance on the Carpet.” 

*******************************************************

Nice: Salsa Lovers are those of us who feel that Anyone and Everyone has something to offer to the Art Form. They are the ones on the side of the dance floor admiring others dancing and even from time to time, applaude you after you have finished dancing to a song. Salsa lovers are pure at heart and compliment everyone. They are enthusiastic and excited about the Salsa world at all cost. 

Common sayings used by a Salsa Lover are, but not limited to:

"Wow she's FIERCE!"

"He is a sexy awesome dancer!"

"Oh My Gosh she's Amazing!"

"His Foot work is Killer!"

"Girlfriend is BAD!


So, what will it be? 
Are you a Naughty Salsa Hater or a Nice Salsa Lover?

The Ugly Copa!

Ugly

 

We all had a Blast this past weekend!

Picture it with me… On a cold winters night it all began with the 2^nd Annual “Ugly Christmas Sweater Party/ Contest!” Hosted by non other than “MY BUDDY” Jessica Soule! There were Sweaters with Lights, Balls, Christmas Trees, Ginger Bread Men, Charlie Brown and you guessed it… THEY WERE ALL UGLY! The participants stopped at nothing to win. They adorned their ugly sweaters with surprise lighted necklaces, Santa stuck in the chimney Hats, Reindeer Antlers and even one cute desperada wore two ugly Christmas sweaters so you had TWICE the ugly front and back!  The Winners were:

Melinda with “Santa Stuck in the Chimney Hat” and

 Shirley “I’m too Cute for my Christmas Sweater to be Ugly!”

We ended the night with a Spectacular Home Made Ugly Christmas Sweater Photo Shoot.” The pictures speak louder than words!

Copa 

On an even Colder and Rainier Winters Night we all went to the Black and White Copa Night Party, Hosted by the Cobo Brothers. “Could ya Feel the Heat?!” The Mint Restaurant was Beautiful and Elegant. Salseros and Salseras came out to warm up their winters night on the dance floor. Everyone was dressed in their best and was either a Diva or a Div”o”! There were Performances to boot. And let me tell you I get warmed up just thinking about the Tango performed by Elder and Luisa. It was creative, sassy and endearing. P! Con! TE! (Picante).  What a fan-tablous weekend and a wonder to have shared it with my friends and my baby (he was looking real cute in his all black on Saturday night)!

 HYPERLINK "http://www.themintrestaurant.com/"  INCLUDEPICTURE "http://www.ncsalsa.com/images/TheMint.jpg" \* MERGEFORTINET 

The Heat was On!

Mambo Dinamico’s Tuesday Night Social

Last night at the “MD” Social was so much fun! Everyone kept the place Hot and Toasty. I love to see all the “Old Heads” back on the floor. It reminds me of when I first came to the Salsa Scene. The energy was great and the Bachatas were Ultra Steamy!  I was upset with myself because the one night I did not have my camera, people were hitting the floor. Literally! From Magnificent and M&M “Abajo, Abajo, Abajo” to Jla and Jorge… and we can’t forget the PARTS I & II! Man it was crazy in there. And I made sure to get a piece of the action. I got my ‘Rengue on with Mr. Mambo in the Hat and Ladies did he work it out. Dancing holds No age back. And thanks to my Dominican Connection, the Bachata was on point!  

Mambo Dinamico Social will be happening every Tuesday through the rest of the year!

“This is not the time to stay warm and cozy on the Couch! Come out and Feel the Heat on the DANCE floor!”

Christmas Cheer

Merry Christmas Everyone!

This is my favorite time of the year as I am sure it is for most of you. I can't tell you how delighted I was this past Saturday when the Snow began to fall!  Here's praying for a white Christmas!

I have my Christmas Tree up and has I was decorating it, warm memories and pleasant thoughts flooded my memory. It's the process of life to get older but dag bum tonight, I wish I were younger and at my mom's house. With my brother and myself putting up the tree together and my dad downstairs getting the fire place going. My mom would be scurrying through the house finding ornaments and other decor to adorn the tree or to add Merry Spunk to the house.

Shout out to my Rooms! Christmas Roomies 2008! Has to be my best Christmas tree memory as an adult.

Love ya Rooms!

Beginner's Class Tonight @ Infuzion!

Hi Everyone,

I am so excited about my Beginner’s Class tonight at Infuzion!
This is Class #2 and I am ready to mold the Minds, Body and Feet
To move to the Mambo Beat!

Class time is at 7pm. It’s not too late to sign up. So come on out!
We will do a Review of the basic steps and move on to the Right and Left Turns!
Come learn the basics and be ready to Step it up in the New Year!

Infuzion

3400-A8 Westgate dr.

Durham, NC., 27707

919-402-9449