Zum-baaaa

Recently I've become mildly obsessed with Zumba, a latin dance inspired workout class. Okay, considering I was dancing in the middle of a Mexican restaurant last weekend I would say I've become VERY obsessed.

Matt thinks I'm crazy but is really happy to see me so happy. AND my gym usage has more than doubled since our club in Lakeville has started offering Zumba classes. It has gotten so popular that the group class on Sunday nights had to be moved into the gym. This was the first time that has ever been done in Minnesota. And the one on Wednesdays has gotten so big that they have to hand out wrist bands to the first 100 people.

If you haven't heard of Zumba yet, check out this video done that aired on the Today Show introducing Zumba a few years ago.

Okay, so why am I so into Zumba you ask? Honestly it's one of the most exhilarating, wonderful, freeing experiences that I've ever had! After a long hard day/week/whatever I enter Zumba class, start moving to the music and immediately feel this incredible overwhelming joy. I actually almost cried one day because I was so happy to be in Zumba, releasing all my stress and just dancing to the music. There is no pressure, no need to make your dance steps perfect, you just have fun and move!

And besides the incredible high and exhilarating feeling it produces, it's a kick-butt workout! Awbria, my rockin Zumba instructor at Lifetime told us in class last night that you can burn up to 1000 calories in an hour of Zumba. Many of you have read my previous post on 99 minutes on the stair monster well in 60 minutes of Zumba I sweat even more and it's a heck of a lot more fun! It seriously doesn't even feel like a workout!

I'm even considering trying to become a Zumba instructor and do it as a side job! Yes, I love it that much!

My favorite song right now that we dance to is by Shakira and it was the official song for the 2010 World Cup. I think it's called "Waka Waka This is Africa" or something similar. Here's a video of some people doing Zumba to that song. It's the closest one I could find to the routine that we do in class.

So seriously, if you like a great workout and love to move, this class will change your life! Go check it out now!

Zumba!

A fish tale

After much anticipation, I finally made it up to my in-laws new cabin on Lake of the Woods in Canada. It was a day that Matt had been waiting a long, LONG time for. Seriously, pretty much since the first day we met he's talked about wanting to get me up to Canada. I really do believe that if it hadn't been February when we got engaged that he would have wanted to propose up there.

The Lake of the Woods area has such special meaning and memories for Mattie as it was the place him and his family vacationed at for most of his remembered life. That, coupled with the fact that Matt is such a huge nature guy makes the Sioux Narrows area pretty much heaven on earth.

So you can imagine his excitement when his parents purchased a rustic little cabin on half of an island on Lake of the Woods. I'm still not quite sure if who's lifelong dream it really was, Matt's dad's or his? (It's probably a little of both!)

Since the purchase, all of the Leibrocks have been anxiously waiting for the snow to melt so that they could go up there! Matt went up first with his family over Memorial Day weekend but due to an insane schedule at work, I wasn't able to go. But I finally did get my chance just a couple of weeks ago! And I do have to admit that despite my hesitation over the 6 1/2 hour drive, it's definitely worth it!

And as it turns out, I'm OBSESSED with fishing! That's all I wanted to do the whole time.

Gripping the seat in anticipation as we headed out to the secret walleye spot

Matt was definitely in his element

The biggest fish I ever caught! Now I know what some of you fisherman are thinking, that's tiny! But when you're used to catcing Blue Gill and Crappies this guy is gigantic. And no, I still won't hold it even with a steel glove on! : )

Now that's a good lookin live well!

Honestly, I could have fished all day if they would have let me!

And my first Northern! Okay, so maybe that was the biggest fish I've ever caught...

We did do other things besides fish, like decorate Matt's side of the room with teeny bopper posters. We even covered his pillow in Justin Bieber stickers. He's a Belieber!

Hehe! The best part about it was the Matt didn't know that Grace and I did that. And when he ended up coming in for bed the generator was off so the whole cabin was dark and so he slept the whole night wondering what those sticky things were on his pillow! Hahahahahaha

I've also got a bunch of really great scenery pictures that I took with my old school Nikon. But since it's an 35mm camera I have to upload the pics from a cd. But stay tuned!

A big fat thank you to my work!

One of the perks of working for a large company is definitely the awesome company suites that we have at local sporting events. Since I started working for Thomson Reuters almost two years ago, I've had the good fortune to sit in the company suite at the Metrodome and Xcel Energy Center.

But recently I got to enjoy a Twins game with my co-workers at the new Twins Ballpark!

Check out that view!

As fabulous as the suite was, and it was quite fabulous, we even had the opportunity to rotate and check out the game from the premium dugout seats. We had four tickets behind each dugout and I was so excited that I got to sit behind the visitor's dugout for almost the entire game. It was so hot out that not many of my co-workers wanted to leave the nice air-conditioned suite for too long. But I didn't care if it was 110, I wanted to sit behind the dugout! It was such a thrilling experience to be right in the action! The only thing that could have made it more perfect was if Matt had been there too.

It doesn't get much better than that! Except maybe if Joe Mauer would have been catching.

And no, this was not zoomed in.

I'm not sure how I will ever be able to sit in the upper deck again. Definitely once in a lifetime. Or maybe twice, if I ever get lucky enough to use our company tickets again : )

The boys are back in town

Carson, corson, keerson, carquard or whatever other crazy nickname Matt and his friends come up with, it's always excited when those guys get together.

Believe it or not, Matt's still super close with a lot of his high school buddies and they try and get together as often as they can. But because they are boys, they never take any pictures.

So here are a few pics of the last time Carson was in town and we all went to the Twins game:

The boys, Matt, Mike and Carson grabbing a drink before the game

The quick pic I made them stop for in front of this cool hat/flag thing they had going on

Why is it that boys never take pictures????

So Dak Attack!

One of the best things that Matt and I did all summer was take a weekend trip to South Dakota. We were actually making the 7 hour trek in order to attend my good friend Lindsey’s wedding. Lindsey and Kody are an absolutely wonderful couple and we were honored to be a part of their special day.

The wedding took place in Pierre, South Dakota which if you remember back to 5th grade geography, Pierre is actually the state capitol. However, if you have ever visited Pierre you probably know that it doesn’t seem a whole lot like a traditional state “capitol.” With a population of around 14,000 it’s smaller than most Twin Cities suburbs. But the small town feel really adds to its charm. For example, when we got into town around 9 p.m. on Friday night we had a heck of a time finding a sit down restaurant that was still serving dinner that late!

And although it’s only a day’s drive away from the Cities, in many ways it feels like you’re on the other side of the world. The vast plains, hills and rock formations definitely feel more like the Wild West than the Midwest.

On Saturday morning I miraculously awoke at 5 a.m. feeling super excited and ready to start the day! For any of you who know me, you know that morning is not my best time of day. So to be completely awake at this early hour was needless to say a rarity. After I woke up, I started begging Mattie to get up because I knew that if we hit the road we just might have enough time to explore some of South Dakota’s sites before the wedding. Afterall, we were only 2 hours from the Badlands and 2 ½ hours from the famous Wall Drug. We had already come so far, how could we miss an opportunity to see these places? Besides, when would we be going back to South Dakota????

Anyway, he relented and we had a fabulous adventure!

Here we are at the awesome corn palace in Mitchell!

Honeslty, what was he thinking!

Matt gave him a stern talking to! ; )

Us at the really neat saloon in the 1800s town we visited at 6:30 a.m.! I was worried it wouldn't be open yet but the hours were "daylight to dark" only in South Dakota!

Oh the simple life...

This is NOT funny!

Oh no!

The spectacular Badlands

It was impossible to truly capture their beauty

Yes, the sign really says "BEWARE Rattlesnakes!"



Little video we made driving through the Badlands

Now who could forget the real reason we were in South Dakota, Lindsey and Kody's wedding!!

The absolutely stunny bride and her handsome groom.

Matt and I enjoying the reception. It was a really nice wedding and we couldn't be happier for the new Mr. and Mrs. Karschnik!