Video Games I love

Hello Friends,
So, this post is all about video games. I play video games every night. All of my games are Kinect video games, so I use them for exercise. Here is a list of my top ones:

1. Zumba
I love all of the Zumba video games for Kinect. The Zumba video games, like any Zumba DVD's or a live Zumba class are very high energy. They are a lot of fun to do and a great way to burn calories. Usually I burn at least 200 calories each workout, sometimes more. The best part is, you dance and you don't even realize you're working out. Also, Zumba throws in moves from classic Latin dances and usually touches on a variety of all different types of dances. If you've never tried Zumba before, you should give it a try and see what you think.

2. Just Dance
Just Dance is great. I dance with several dance video games, that are all basically the same format: you dance with an avatar and the more accurate your moves are the better score you get. The thing that I like the best about Just Dance is you do simply that - just dance. It does have a star scoring system like all the others, but the stars are off to the side where you can't see them, and your score doesn't matter as much. Just Dance doesn't focus as much on accuracy of moves or how many stars you get, it is more focused on fun. That's why it ranks above the others, because while the others are fun, some of the fun is sucked out of them by focusing on stars and accuracy. Also, you can customize your playlists and create a 40 minute routine, a 20 minute routine and a 10 minute routine. So, if your looking to have the most fun, Just Dance is right for you.

3. Dance Central
Dance Central is much like the others in that you have to follow the avatar and then get points based on the accuracy of your moves. Dance Central is slightly more complex than Just Dance. When you start a dance there is a spotlight under your avatar giving you feedback on the accuracy of your moves. Also, off to the side is a boom box that keeps up with the stars that you have earned. Underneath the boom box is your score. Inside the boom box is a 1X, 2X, 3X or 4X, which means your score is either normal, double, triple or quadruple the points that you are warning based on the accuracy of your moves. At the end of your dance it shows you your stars, score, the accuracy of your moves and how many jewels you earned for getting a flawless or an almost on your spotlight. There are also "flash cards" off to the left of the screen that show you which moves are coming up. If you get really good at a particular dance or level, eventually it the "no flash card" option is unlocked and you can choose to play without "flash cards." The great thing about Dance Central is it challenges you in several ways. First, some of the more complex dances are locked. In order to unlock them you must do good on some of the other dances to be able to play the more complex ones. This can be a challenge in it of itself, because some of the dances you have to do several times in order to get a high enough score to get another dance unlocked. There are also challenges that have to be unlocked and then the challenges usually mash-up several songs together, so you have to be prepared for the challenge to change moves quite frequently. Also on Dance Central there are different levels offered for each dance. So, each dance offers a easy, medium and hard level. On one of the versions a beginner level is also offered. The dances are also offered from easiest to hardest, so you can choose dances based on your skill level. Also, they offer pre-made playlists so you can just keep dancing, instead of having to stop in between each song. So there are many facets and complexities to Dance Central, which makes it an interesting game to play and it is never boring.


4. Country Dance
This one is for all those Country music fans out there. I like this one for the sheer fact that it is a country themed one. However, I wish this one had some features that the others have. This one does not have levels like Dance Central has and came become boring very quickly, because it is the same dance over and over again. This dance also keeps up with accuracy of moves much like the others do and will give you bullet points to show you the percentage of how accurate each move was. I also, wish this game had the option of making a playlist. I hope that they create other versions of these games, just to give the first one more variety. If you’re looking for a simplistic game, this one is for you. Just realize that this game will not offer a lot of challenge.

Well, that’s it! That’s all of my video games for this list. I hope you enjoyed this list. Drop me a comment and let me know which ones are your favorite.

Happy Gaming,
Destiny

Fun Freebie Friday!

Hello All,
It's time for another Fun Freebie Friday! So, are you ready to make big changes in your life, but not sure where to start? Well, this freebie is for you! I have created a worksheet and some guidli es for helping you make a roadmap for whatever goal you want to achieve. Whether it is weight loss or just transforming your life, you can plug in what you want into my free roadmap worksheet and you will have a plan to get you on your way to a better life. So what are you waiting for? Subscribe to my blog and get your free roadmap today!

Keep Transforming,
Destiny

WONDERful Wednesday

Hey! Hey!
It's time for another WONDERful Wednesday! Today's question is:

What is something you spent money on that was truly life changing?

So, my answer is really simple: therapy. I have recently, within the past year started seeing a therapist who has worked wonders with me. She has helped me work through many of my issues. I am eternally grateful to her and can't thank her enough. So, drop me a comment and let me know the answer to my question.

Have a WONDERful Wednesday!
Destiny

How to have a self-care Sunday!

Hello All,
Today we are talking about a Self-Care Sunday. There are many ways you can do this, but I am going to tell you how I do mine and you can choose how you want to do yours based on my tips.

So, to start I usually get up about 6:30 on both Saturday and Sunday. Now, for those of you that like to sleep in on the weekends may feel like getting up at 6:30 is a bit much, but from my experience getting up earlier makes me feel more productive. So I start with that and then I do so e yoga. Usually I'll do between 20 to 30 minutes of yoga to get me calm and focused on Sunday morning. If you've never tried this, it is well worth it. Next usually I'll do a meditation and then some more spiritual stuff, like read a devotional, the Bible or say a prayer. Now if your not particularly spiritual or religious, you can just do something that works for you. That's it! That's my whole routine. That's usually about an hour and a half of my day. Now, if that seems a little long to you or you can't seem to fit that in, of course you can shorten the routine and do what fits for you. Anyway, this is a great way to start your day and a great way to take some weekly self-care!

Now I realize that you all are seeing this on a Monday, so what I am urging everyone to do is this coming Sunday, try it and drop me a comment and let me know how it went.

Take Self-Care!
Destiny

Fun Freebie Friday

Hello All,
It's another Fun Freebie Friday! This one is for all of my teachers out there. So, if you are a teacher you know that you have students that just do weird things. And you wonder...why do they do that? If you wrote it down, you might be able to see a pattern and figure out what they were doing it for. I have mad a chart to do exactly that. At the top of the chart you will see A, B, C. That stands for antecedent (what happened before to behavior occurred), behavior (behavior displayed) and consequence (consequence administered). After keeping up with this for a few days you will be able to figure out exactly why your student is doing what they are doing and meet those needs. It is also useful if you want to use it for your own kids. If you want it just sign up for my blog and I'll send it your way.

Happy Teaching!
Destiny

WONDERful Wednesday!

Hello,
Today's WONDERful Wednesday question is:

What is your greatest strength?

We as human beings always have so many strengths, but they ususally get down played because we are so busy looking at the negatives in ourselves. My greatest strength I feel is the ability to stay quiet and listen and observe. A lot of people have always told me that I am a great listener. Recently I posted about being an introvert. Being an introvert can come in handy because the quieter you are, the more you learn about people. It's a great way to figure someone out. As you get better at figuring people out you can know rather quickly if someone is a good fit for you or not. It is a great quality to have, especially if someone comes to you to talk about something that is important, they will know that you are always listening. What's your answers to the question? Drop a comment below and let me know.

Thanks,
Destiny

Introverts

Hello All,
Today's post is about introverts. This is a topic I know something about, because I am one. I feel as an introvert, you get misunderstood. A lot of people mistake my quietness for coldness. They assume I am mean or am not friendly, simply because I am quiet and do not interact with others as readily as an extrovert does. I feel this is an unfair categorization. I feel if you just give me a chance or talk to me you will find out I am none of those things. Sometimes I prefer it if other people approach me, rather than the other way around, because it takes pressure off of me to partake in an awkward conversation. If you approach me and talk to me you will find an easy-going person, that just wants a friend. I find this is the case with most introverts. I also find that a kind word and a warm smile goes a long way towards helping an introvert come out of their shell. So, the next time you run into someone that doesn't seem very warm, offer a hello and see if the person surprises you. Are you an extrovert or an introvert. Drop me a comment and let me know.

Always be a friend,
Destiny

FUN FREEBIE FRIDAY!

Hello All!
Today is another Fun Freebie Friday! Today's freebie is for those of you who have kids out there. Do you have a hard time getting your kids ready in the morning or getting them to follow a schedule? A good thing to help is a picture schedule. They will know exactly what is coming up next and exactly what they have to do each day. With this free printable you can put it where they can see it and know what is coming next each day. If you want to get really fancy you can laminate it and put Velcro on it and they can take each card off as they have completed each task. Just subscribe to my blog and you'll get it!

Happy Scheduling,
Destiny

WONDERful Wednesday!

Hello Friends!
It's time for another WONDERful Wednesday! Today's question is:

Did you use your time wisely today?

I ask this question because I have had a hard time managing my time lately. Just recently I have come up with a system of making a schedule and setting alarms and that has been working out nicely. I feel like I stay more focused if I know I only have a certain amount of time to do something. So, in answer to my question: Yes, I feel like I used my time wisely today because I have gotten so much done today. I am still working on time management, but getting there. Drop me a comment and answer my question. Also, let me know what your time management issues are.

Keep on going!
Destiny

Travel Bucket List

Hello Folks!
Today I thought I would talk about my travel bucket list. There are so many places I have been to and there are so many places I have never been to that I would love to travel to. Although there are many on my travel bucket list these are the too 5 places I would like to travel to:

1. Paris, France
Paris has always fascinated me even as a little girl. I am not sure what it is that draws me to Paris. Perhaps it's the Eiffel Tower, the city's most iconic landmark. The cool thing about the Eiffel Tower is that there is a restaurant on the first floor. I can't imagine how beautiful the view would be from there! Paris is exciting and I hope to go someday.

2. London, England
I think most Americans are fascinated with English or British people. I also have this fascination. I don't know what it is about English or British people, maybe it's the accent. I realize that usually it is rainy and dreary here, but I know it is a lovely city. I would like to go here on New Year's Eve when they have the special New Year's Eve celebration at Big Ben. I think it would be a cool thing to see.

3. Italy
I think Rome would be the obvious city choice, but I definitely want to see the Leaning Tower of  Pisa if I were ever to go there. Italy is one of my picks, definitely for the food! Amazing brick oven pizza, gelato and the best pasta dishes around! Yum! Count me in!

4. Spain
I don't think there is a particular city of interest in Spain, but it's just a place I've always wanted to go. Being that I know a little bit of Spanish, I of course would want to try out my Spanish speaking skills. I think the thing I would like to see the most in Spain is the Flamenco dancers.

5. Ireland
I think Ireland would be a fun place to go. I would love to see step dancers in Ireland. A river cruise would also be cool. Exploring castles in Ireland would be a fun way to pretend to be a prince or princess for the day. Ireland has many attractions and it seems like a great place to go exploring.

This is my list of the top five places I would like to visit someday. Drop me a comment and let me know where you want to go.

Happy Traveling,
Destiny

Fun Freebie Friday!

Hello! Hello!
It's time for a Fun Freebie Friday! Today's freebie will be a 10 day challenge. This challenge is a meditation challenge. Each day you will do a different meditation. I will send you a list of meditations for you to try. This should be easy because there are beau coups on YouTube. Who knows, you may do this challenge and you may want to do more. That's the point of a challenge! You challenge yourself and hopefully get something out of it. If you want the challenge, just sign up for my blog and I will send it your way!

Happy Meditating,
Destiny

WONDERful Wednesday!

Hello,
It's time for another WONDERful Wednesday! Today's question is:

What is your personal affirmation?

My answer to this question is "Be a better person." Eleven years ago I started on my self-improvement journey. My goal has been to change and evolve as a person. I started out just wanting to learn how to stand up for myself and that has taking me on an 11 year journey that has been ever evolving. Currently, I am in the hands of an excellent therapist and she has helped me tremendously on my self-improvement journey and I am continuing to grow and evolve with her in my corner. Drop me a comment and let me know your personal affirmation and your self-improvement story if you wish.

Keep Improving,
Destiny

Should I become a vegan/vegetarian?

Hello All!
Today I wanted to talk about the vegan/vegetarian diet. So about a year ago I was looking to go on a diet. Being that I have been on and off a diet since I was 10 and I have tended to take a long time to lose just 20 pounds, due to my weight fluctuating, I was looking to find something that was going to work and going to help me lose weight consistently each week. So, I took to reading a book we had in our living room called Skinny Bitch. I had no idea this book talked about the vegan diet, I just thought it would have tips in it on how to eat healthier. The book goes in depth into the food industry and how our food is really prepared. I was shocked and after reading the book I was determined to eat better. So, I made the decision to become a vegan. My family however was wary of this decision because they were worried that I would get sick following the vegan diet so, I took to the Internet to see what my options were as far as this diet was concerned. I ran across the term "flexitarian" which is for people who are unsure of the vegan or vegetarian diet or people who are transitioning to one of those diets. Now, it is my understanding that a lot of vegans/vegetarians turn their nose up at this term because they feel if you are going to commit, then you should commit all the way. I understand this viewpoint. After all if I was committed to something and somebody was doing something that seemed halfway or like a shortcut, I too would be upset at their decision to only do it halfway. However, this seemed like the best option for me because I was not sure about the vegan diet and I was unsure if I was going to be able to find all of these foods she described in her book at my local grocery store. Also, I didn't want to pull the rug out from under my feet and go so extreme so quickly and end up having health problems because of it and being that I am a picky eater already I didn't want to commit to something and then I can't eat because I don't like half of the stuff that is required by the diet anyway. "Flexitarian" to me also doesn't necessarily mean I am taking a shortcut, it just means I agree with some of the vegan/vegetarian diet and some of it I don't and I have made the decision just to eat healthier, or as healthy as possible and that's all it was really about in the first place for me to begin with. Anyway, you're probably wondering how I went about making this change and what were the results of the change. Well, first I started with a few small changes, like drinking more water and cutting out sodas, trying Silk and Silk yogurt and going meatless just one day a week. I then began cutting out other things like tea and coffee and now only drink water and Silk. It sounds hard, but once you cut it out, you find that you don't miss it. Anyway, I noticed that going on this diet led me to have more consistent weight loss and I was very happy with the results. On a typical diet I would yo-yo back and forth. The first week would be great because I would lose weight. Then it was a crapshoot after that. Then I would gain the pound I lost back. Then I would loose two pounds. Then I would gain one pound and on and on until a year later I was still struggling to lose just a measly 20 pounds. So, this diet seemed to work for me. Now at this point I have hit a weight loss plateau and have struggled to get the last four pounds or so off before I reach my goal, but I am working on it and I know I will eventually meet my goal. So, is the vegan/vegetarian diet worth it and is it right for me? Well I have had a lot of success with it and I would rather follow it in part, than to not follow it at all, but whether it is right for you or not is entirely up to you, your lifestyle and how you currently eat already. All I can do is give my opinion on it and give you some insight and you can take that information and make an informed decision from there. So, this is my experience. Drop me a comment and let me know if you are a vegan/vegetarian/flexitarian and how do you feel about it or how do you feel about the word "flexitarian" and people who identify as one?

Happy Healthy Eating,
Destiny