ZUMBA FITNESS PARTY

As a ballroom and latin dance enthusiast, I have attended Zumba classes all over Houston.   Zumba is a fusion of Latin and International music with a fun and effective workout system.  It's an exhilarating, effective, easy to follow, calorie-burning workout!  It's so much fun it's not exercise!

To save money on gym membership and Zumba classes, I have decided to become certified to teach Zumba fitness.  Effective April 13, 2012, I will be teaching the following types of Zumba classes at various fitness facilities in Houston, so stay tuned for dates and times.

AQUA ZUMBA

Known as the Zumba "pool party, " the Aqua Zumba program gives new meaning to the idea of an invigorating workout.  Splashing, stretching, twisting, even shouting, laughing, hooting and hollering are often heard during an Aqua Zumba class.  Integrating the Zumba formula and philosophy with traditional aqua fitness disciplines, the Aqua Zumba class blends it all together into a safe, challenging, water-based workout that's cardio-conditioning, body-toning, and most of all, exhilarating beyond belief.

ZUMBA GOLD

Zumba Gold targets the largest growing segment of the population: the older adult.  It takes the Zumba formula and modifies the moves and pacing to suit the needs of the active older participant, as well as the deconditioned participant.  What stays the same are all the elements the Zumba Fitness-Party is known for: the party-like atmospher, the zesty Latin music and the sheer vibrance of each class.  And that's exactly what active older adults want.  They want camaraderie, excitement and fitness as a regular part of their weekly schedule.  On the go and ready for adventure, this new wave of retiring baby boomers account for 28 percent of the population and 40 percent of total consumer demand - spending two trillion dollars in goods and services every year.  With Americans over the age of 65 expected to double to an astounding 70 million by the year 2040, one in four Americans will be an older adult.

Research from the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity shows that dancing for the senior population "... can improve aerobic power, lower-body muscular endurance, strength, flexibility, balance, agility and gait speed for older males and females."  This means, for active older adults, Zumba Gold is the perfect fit.  It's a dance-fitness class that feels friendly and, most of all, FUN!

PHOTOGRAPHY

I began writing this Blog to express my passion for food and travel.  I noticed, however, that it is gradually morphing into something other than what it was originally intended for.  But that's ok; after all, the bottom line is: this Blog is an expression of all things I truly enjoy, and I do have varied interests.

One of my hobbies is photography.  I appreciate a good work of art... and if it evokes my emotion, then the photographer has done his/her job!

As a celebration that is central to most cultures, a wedding is full of rites, customs, costumes, and festivities.  Therefore, it is an absolute must that they are  captured by a skilled photographer.

One of the services we provide here is excellent and inexpensive photography.  Since this is merely a hobby, we charge a minuscule amount that's truly unheard of! So don't spend thousands of dollars for your wedding photos and we'll take care of this for you.  Just enjoy a milestone.

If you have an event and need a photographer, please do not hesitate to let us know.  Please e-mail the writer and have fun at your wedding!  Here are a few samples of our photography. 

KICK UP YOUR HEELS!

Dancing can be magical and transforming.  It can breathe new life into a tired soul; make a spirit soar; unleash locked-away creativity; inspire new romances or rekindled old ones; trigger long forgotten memories; and turn sadness into joy, if only during the dance.


On a more physical level, dancing can give you a great mind-body workout.  Researches are learning that regular physical activity in general can keep your body, including your brain healthy as you age.  Exercise increases the level of brain chemicals that encourage nerve cells to grow, and dancing that requires you to remember dance steps and sequences boosts brain power by improving memory skills.


Benefits Abound

• strengthen bones and muscles without hurting your joints
• tone your entire body
• improve your posture and balance, which can prevent falls
• increase your stamina and flexibility
• reduce stress and tension
• build confidence
• provide opportunities to meet people; and
• ward off illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, osteoporosis, and depression.

So if you're tired of the treadmill and looking for a fun way to stay fit and healthy, it might be time to kick up your heels!

Learn to dance Salsa, Cha-cha, Bachata, Swing, Merengue, Jive, Jitterbug, Tango, Hustle, Foxtrot and Waltz while having the time of your life!  For social and competition, all ages and levels welcome.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

with son, Lester, near the
Buckingham Palace

Double-Decker

Not the Hunger Games, mind you, but the Games of the XXX Olympiad, that is! Scheduled to take place in London, England, UK from 27 July to 12 August 2012, what better timing than now to write about London, undoubtedly the most popular city in the world this summer.
No trip to London is ever complete without seeing the Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace, our first stop.  Buckingham Palace was built in 1702 by the Duke of Buckingham as his London home.  Buckingham Palace serves as both the office and London residence of Her Majesty The Queen, as well as the administrative headquarters of the Royal Household.  It is one of the few working royal palaces remaining in the world today.

Big Ben

Next stop was the EDF Energy London Eye.  High atop London Eye, we saw breathtaking views of London from high above the River Thames, Big Ben towering above the Houses of Parliament and St. James Park as it swept down to Buckingham Palace.  A standard ticket experience on the London Eye lasts for about 30 minutes, the time it takes for the London Eye to revolve completely.  

An exhibit at the
British Museum

River Thames

Son, Lloyd at
the British Museum

The River Thames is famous throughout the world for its history, its culture and its amazing variety of wildlife, archaeology and scenery.  As a culture buff, I wouldn't dare leave London without first checking out The British Museum, considered to be one of the world's greatest museums of human history and culture.  Its permanent collection, numbering some eight million works, is amongst the finest, most comprehensive, and largest in existence and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its beginnings to the present.

London Eye

The London Underground, colloquially called the Tube, is a rapid transit system in the UK, serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex.  Here is where I've seen the most beautiful, exotic-looking people in the world, such an eclectic blend of Anglo, African, Indian, Asian and Middle Eastern races.

A stop at a London Pub

If you were to ask me to go to London again, I'd say "yes" in a New York minute!

We had lunch at a Filipino restaurant

A view of the London Eye, Big Ben and
River Thames
at night

Photos by Lester Del Valle.

MOTHER FLEA

Lester took this pic of Candy, his wife,
at a Cambridge alley.

My son, Lloyd and I visited my oldest son, Lester, while he was stationed in the UK in September of 2009.  Lester took us to Cambridge, home to the University of Cambridge and its 31 Colleges.  It's a wonderful and intriguing place, a destination to discover, and it boasts spectacular architecture in the shape of colleges, chapels, churches and courtyards combined with green parks, wide open spaces and the River Cam, which winds through its heart.

We rode on this bus to and from
Cambridge

The highlight of our visit to Cambridge is its flea market, the mother of all flea markets in my humble opinion.  Home to countless stalls from Monday to Saturday, selling fruits and veggies - much of which is organic, fresh produce, books, clothes, fresh fish, flowers and general bric-a-brac.  Crowds can often be found gathered around the stalls, particularly during the weekend. Close to the Holy Trinity Church, on Sunday the square hosts a large arts and crafts fair, including a number of antique stalls. Open: Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 16:00; Sunday - 10:30 to 16:00.

Lester loves their freshly-squeezed OJ

Traders have been selling their wares here for many centuries, from the Middle Ages onwards. Located on the western side of the city and next to the main University of Cambridge campus, Market Square is easy to find and stands alongside the City Council and the Arts Theatre, being close to the Corn Exchange. 

Lloyd and I love these freshly-
baked breads

Sited only a short stroll to the north is the ever-popular All Saints Gardens Market on St. John's Street, which is to be found close to the Round Church Visitor Centre and the All Saints Passage. Nearby attractions include the ADC Theatre and various eateries, such as Pizza Express. If you are driving here and looking for somewhere to leave your car, then you may like to make use of the Park Street Car Park, just around the corner from Round Church Street.    


The famous Cambridge Beer Festival in May is now firmly on the calendar for lovers of real ale, with cheddar cheese, pickles and other traditional British edible goodies to try.     


Gourmet Europe comes to town in the summer with the busy and bustling French and European Markets on Parkers Piece.  Parkers Piece is the city's bohemian area.  Grab yourself a satisfying bratwurst sausage, a delicious authentic crepe or some delectable Belgian chocolates!

Nowhere else can you see a sign like
this than in Cambridge!

Now that the 2012 Summer Olympics is fast approaching, I dream about being in the UK -- London, Nottinghill and yes -- Cambridge!

.  

OUR HIGH SCHOOL REUNION

Chicago, August 3, 2011

I suppose there are people who thought of high school as their best years ever. Their days were filled with lots of friends they truly enjoyed. People who shared their values and sense of humor. And I guess it's conceivable that after graduation, they decided to never speak to any of these people ever again. Perhaps they lapsed into a temporary coma or moved to an Amish community that forbade modern communication technology. Maybe they were taken hostage or wandered foreign lands with amnesia until a fortuitously dropped coconut bonked back their memory just in time for their high school reunion. For those people, I get it. Go to your high school reunion. See all those wonderful people you loved so well, but, for some reason, have removed completely from your life.

“Why had I come?”  I asked myself.  Why come to learn of fellow students whose lives were train wrecks or sad tales of broken hearts and long-since-buried dreams? Quite the contrary, they are happy where they are in their lives right now.  I discovered that many had silently answered, “Why bother” and went about their summer days as if the hollow high school years had not happened. But I’m glad I did. I am a part of history, a part of who we are right now.   There was so much laughter - I can't even remember when the last time I laughed so hard my tummy hurt.

Whether you were a charter member of the ‘in crowd’ or one who suffered the cruelest rejection by peers, high school likely played a critical role in your social persona. Whether you were the academic excellence award winner or one for whom graduation simply meant a permanent parole from structured education, those were important years.  Career paths and choices were etched into the working lives of many during those school days. For some, the seeds of marriage were planted, while others faced a future of frustration with love and its facsimiles.

Why had I come? There were 3 reasons.          

1.   I wanted to see the connection.  Although my high school days were lackluster in all respects, they were formative.  Yet I had never explored how my pre-grad life connected to my post-grad experiences.  I gained  some unexpected insights into how the weaving of that formative fabric related to the clothes I wear today.

2.   I was curious.  How did my life's story compare to that of others?  How had the drama played out for those fellow grads my poor memory could be coaxed to recall?  For some, the light-hearted teenage comedies had quickly switched to the saddest stories of self-destruction, so I heard.  For others the Cinderella had finally flex her humiliation.  The prince of fame and fortune had arrived with the glass slipper that fit her waiting foot.  She found her fairy tale ending.

3.   I discovered I cared.  The more I thought about it in the weeks leading up to the high school reunion the more undeniable it became.  I hurt for those who daily dealt with tragedy.  I mourned the loss of lives that ended too soon.  I applauded those who doggedly pursued success and found it.  It seemed that there was more reason to hug, or at least shake hands warmly, despite any past insecurities that prevented such displays.

As I left Chicago that night, I felt both fulfilled and fearful. I had walked through history and listened to the echoes from my high school halls. I was beginning to understand their richness and meaning. But I also knew that if there were a next time to meet there would be fewer of us to share the senior chapters of the books that we are writing. There would be more fresh-faced photos on the memorial wall to mourn.  And today we mourn the loss of one of our batchmates, Celestino Nicolas, who left to be with the Lord yesterday.  May he rest in peace.

Why go to your high school reunion? To see yourself comfortably reflected in the eyes that shared your youth. To give the gift of caring and acceptance. That is reason enough.



Kare-Kare



On the lighter side, in a city known as the “Pizza Capital of the World,” it was quite ironic that we didn’t get a chance to taste what the hoopla is all about!  Deep Dish Pizza – that’s right -- Deep Dish Pizza is to Chicago what Kare-Kare is to Philippines.  So folks, I have no recipe on this post, except for photos of some of the delicious foods prepared to us by our hosts, Marielle Reyes, Bessie Nepomuceno and their family.



At the Decatur Celebration





Bessie's Bread



KEY TO MY HEART

If “the key to a man’s heart is through his stomach,” then the key to mine is through my feet. As an art lover, I have always had the wanderlust, the thirst for adventure and culture, and the desire to explore “the beaten paths.”  And what better way to explore than drive 126 miles of lush, tropical terrain overlooking vistas of ahh-inspiring blue water from more than 40 bridges, coral reefs and tidal flats. We can only be in one place - the Florida Keys, an archipelago of 1,700-plus keys, islets and islands.

Our first stop from Miami was Key Largo, the first of the Florida Keys; and passed by the islets of Islamorada, Marathon, and Big Pine Key before finally reaching Key West.  Key West is at the southernmost point and is about 90 miles from Cuba.  After spending a few hours on the road, it was time to let my hair down and embrace the outrageousness of the city.  Strolling down palm-lined streets, I marveled at the old wooden homes restored into fabulous Victorian architecture.  This jewel of a city has also become Ernest Hemingway’s home, where he enjoyed mixing with the hard-working locals at boxing matches and wrestling contests.

But where’s the beach, I wondered?  That was the question that surfaced again and again as we drove down Highway 1.  Somewhere in all that green and blue waters there have to be a few buckets of heavenly sand.  There are, of course; but most of the Keys’ beaches are hidden from the road and tucked away under coconut palms. For a challenge-freak like me, it was fun to hunt down the perfect one.

Snorkeling at Key West

Florida Keys

For most folks, Key West means Old Town’s Duval Street, crowded with shopping and big name bars like Sloppy Joe’s, the Bull & Whistle and Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville.  As the sun dipped low over the Gulf of Mexico, I knew I didn’t want to miss the nightly sunset celebration Key West is famous for.  Crowds filled Mallory Square, once the anchorage of Keys’ pirates.  Today the wharf is the hub for vendors, jugglers, escape artists, gymnasts, psychics and magicians, each holding his own spellbound audiences.

 

No visit to Key West is complete without having a bite of their famous Key Lime Pie, where it was invented in the 19^th century by the local residents known as the “Conchs.”  Tangy and sweet, it is made of key lime juice, egg yolks and sweetened condensed milk and baked in a pie crust.  The dish is named after the small key limes that are naturalized throughout the Florida Keys. 

Once again, I played with the original recipe, naming it Key to My Heart pie.  Since it was calamansi* season, I used calamansi in lieu of the lime, added 2 tbsp. of cream of coconut and topped it with toasted coconut flakes to enhance the tropical flavor.  I also decorated it with slices of dried mangoes for a real show stopper!  How can you go wrong with these ingredients? 

KEY TO MY HEART PIE

Key to My Heart Pie

Ingredients:

Crust
16 graham crackers, crushed

3 tbsp. sugar

1 cube (1/4 lb) margarine or butter

Pie Filling
4 large or extra large egg yolks
1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup fresh calamansi juice

2 tbsp. cream of coconut

2 tsp. grated lime peel, green portion only

 

Whipping Cream for Garnish
1/2 cup whipping cream
2 tsp. granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup toasted coconut flakes (for topping)
8 slices of dried mangoes (for garnish)

INSTRUCTIONS

Crust
Mix the ingredients and press them into a 9" pie plate.  Bake in a preheated 350F oven for 10-12 minutes until lightly browned.  Place on a rack to cool.

Pie Filling


Use an electric mixer and beat the egg yolks until they are thick and turn to a light yellow, don't over mix. Turn the mixer off and add the sweetened condensed milk. Turn speed to low and mix in half of the lime or calamansi juice. Once the juice is incorporated add the other half of the juice and the zest, continue to mix until blended (just a few seconds). Pour the mixture into the pie shell and bake at 350F for 12 minutes. 

Serving
If you are using the whipping cream garnish, prepare the cream. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream and garnish with sliced dried mangoes.  Sprinkle with toasted coconut flakes.

*Calamansi is a citrus fruit native to the Philippines.  It is the equivalent to the lime in western countries.