Karen Biko is Jazzed!!

I remember when Hubba Bubba first came out.  I remember how excited I was to find a gum that you could blow bubbles with and it wouldn’t stick to your face once it popped!  It was all the rage and I was hooked.  I loved blowing bubbles.  The cracking and popping of gum could be heard resonating around the community.  Okay, so maybe I’m dating myself…but I can still blow those bubbles.

The other day when we were at the store, my daughters picked out a pack of hubba bubba.  So I bought my own pack of the gum…I was going to show them a thing or two.  Poor Sidney was still struggling trying to figure out how to make a bubble in the first place.  She kept trying to do it with regular gum.  Well that just wouldn’t do.

So Bubble blowing 101.  Driving in the car you could see all three of us blowing bubbles and bopping to tunes on the radio.  First you got to make that gum nice and flat, press it against your teeth, push your tongue through and blow.  I think the girls were impressed at how big mom could blow a bubble.  It wasn’t long before even Sidney caught on.

I even taught them how to blow a bubble within a bubble…no easy feat, but something I recalled from earlier days.  A few days later when Bill joined in, I was very pleased to see that even he could not compete with my bubble blowing abilities.

So I am happy with our little trip down memory lane.  Now when the teachers ask the girls what they did this summer they can both answer that they learned how to blow awesome bubbles!!

I’m pretty Jazzed about that!!

Last weekend I took Saturday and made it mine.  I felt that there were no pressing issues that I HAD to deal with and that I could take a day to do something.  It started out small with a hose hanger for the side of the house.  Right above where weeds were continually growing.

Katelin pitched in and although she didn’t want to get her hands into the dirt, she did clean off the front step.  Taking down the chairs, and hosing out all the cobwebs and stuff that collects in the corners.

Meanwhile I decided to build a little garden under that hose.  So I got out the tools and soon enough I was pulling out grass and weeds, and dealing with the mess.  I mixed up what dirt what there, with my own compost that had been cooking all last year and through the winter…  and now I had a little patch of dirt.

I decided to go shopping.  I had been reluctant to buy many plants because we are living thin, and I felt that it was an extravigance that I just shouldn’t do.  But I had a gift certificate, and some clear ideas of what I was looking for.

One of those was a rose that I had at our house in Riverbend…I dearly miss it.  But as I walked the greenhouse isles, finding all sorts of treasures, I didn’t find my rose.  So I bought a substitute.  An Adelaide Rose (which I feel was appropriate because Gramma’s sister was Adelaide).

I felt giddy as I came home with my plants.  I had forgotten how much I loved that feeling.  Another hour and everything was in place.  I took my lawn chair and sat at the side of my house and smiled.

I even started working on my new gardening journal (which I will go into more detail another time).  I was so energized that I went into the back yard and started working on the half completed back garden.

Once it was cleaned up I knew another trip to the greenhouse was in store.  So Sunday morning that is just what I did.  This time I went to another place and guess what I found!!??  My rose!  All these years I had thought it was called a Daphne Rose, but I found out that it is actually a Morden Hoodless Ruby!

I’m so pleased that I actually planted her in the back yard, because now when I sit out I can look at her and look at her.  She smells wonderful, and she makes me smile.  A part of me will always call her Daphne.

I’m pretty Jazzed about that…

Things are going on in my life right now that frustrate me and bring me down.  In the last seven years we have been working steadily in Real Estate.  We understand that there are ups and downs in all markets.  We set up good cash-flowing properties that we work very hard to maintain.  We found areas that there was need and worked to fill them.  But things don’t always turn out how you expect.  We’ve dealt with tenants who are dirty, who don’t pay, and are down right disrespectful.

But a new bully has appeared to us in our Real Estate.  The Banks.  When the market was good they offered us mortgages galore, and we got them, realizing that markets could change, but feeling that if the property paid for itself, then there would be no issues.  Then the market changed, Real Estate prices have dropped and everyone has seen this across the world it seems.  Quite often, depending on when people purchased, values have declined enough that they are near or even below what the original mortgages value.  Again we understand this, it’s part of the cycle and we have a couple properties like this, but the difference is that the property still pays for itself.

What we didn’t realize is that in their panic some of the banks are now calling many of their loans due.  This leaves the owners of the property in a position where they must now sell the property, and pay back the bank the difference between what it is sold for and what they owe.  If this is a personal residence then it leaves the owners with only a couple options, to file for Bankruptcy or use whatever savings they have.  In an investors situation it creates a domino effect where they must now sell any properties with equity in them to pay out the banks.  This is the situation we are currently caught in.

In between being angry and feeling like I’m on a sinking ship with only a bucket to bail, I turn my head to the light, to the positive things, to the reasons why I won’t let this new setback drag me too far down.

I’m so grateful for many things in my life:

I have a husband who adores me and is my strength

I have two beautiful girls that I love so much

My husband makes me laugh even when we are down

I have family around me who love me

I have friends who support me when I’m sad

My daughter got 100% on her math test

I love the Jazzercise classes I’m running

I get to explore the passion of painting

I have and have had great mentors in my life

There is a little stash of chocolate bars just for me

I have a clear vision of where I want to be

I understand I have the power to change my life

∞∞∞ Karen Biko is Jazzed About This … sort of ∞∞∞

I’m so proud of myself.  I’ve been teaching Jazzercise non-stop on the weekdays for the last two weeks.  Last Thursday and Friday I actually taught two classes each day!  I was not sure if my body would hold out, but I feel like I’ve come through with flying colours.  I am teaching every day this week also, but it’s just not as heavy duty as I’ve been going.

I’m amazed at what my body can go through.  Of course I did relax a bit this weekend (except for decluttering, and some painting).  All in all, the sun is shinning today, and I feel great after teaching a class this morning.

Did I tell you that I LOVE Jazzercise!!

I found this article in Woman’s Day that mentions Jazzercise.  If you haven’t tried it, you should at least once.  Bring a friend!

Woman’s Day Article

∞∞∞ Karen Biko is Jazzed About This ∞∞∞

I was going to declutter my house.  Then I realized how much I like to write, so I figured why not invite others to declutter their houses with me.  I figured that if I got enough people motivated that it would keep me on track too.  So the 31 Days to Declutter Challenge was born.

And man has it grown.  I guess that is what happens when my creative mind gets working.  I can take something simple like cleaning my house and envision it being this amazing thing that invigorates people to getting their houses in order.  The response I’ve gotten so far has been great.  There is only a few more days before I start this event, and I’ve had so many people join in and my excitement is growing.

The internet is such a vast plane.  There are so many things you can do here, and that excites me and just gets that creative mind going again.  I’ve made the blog for the Challenge, I’ve created a Facebook fanpage for the Challenge…it Tweets, and Links, and does things that only Bill knows how to set up.  It’s really just become a creature of it’s own.

31 Days to Declutter Challenge

∞∞∞∞and that’s What Karen Biko is Jazzed about for This week of April 2010∞∞∞∞

For a couple of weeks I’ve been spying little bits of green showing up in my garden…mostly of course weeds, but little gifts coming out of the earth.  Today I took the time to look a bit closer, and was so excited as I did my spring walk in the garden.

So it’s official.  Spring is here in Calgary, and my favorite of the day???

Wooly Thyme

∞∞∞∞and that’s What Karen Biko is Jazzed about for This week of April 2010∞∞∞∞

I have to tell you about this sale that I’ve been attending for probably over 20 years (really, can it be that long?)  I have so much pottery that I don’t go as often as I used to, but I do like to go at least once a year.  Fairview Studios teaches pottery lessons, and every year they have two sales.  The summer event is coming up on Saturday May 1st.  This is a great sale.  The prices are reasonable, and the selection is excellent, but you have to understand how it all works.

It starts at 9:00 (the doors open then).  I always go early, because there is a lineup to get in.  For years people show up with boxes and bags and wait in line .  Even during the cold winter months people will be lined up outside.  At 9 the doors open and wave of shoppers flood the room.  You have to move quickly, and if you see something you like pick it up, because if you pass it by it will likely not be there when you return.  It’s hilarious.  You will see people with armloads of pottery balancing and teetering around the room.  Funny thing that I’ve never heard anything break at these sales.  I can get in find my treasures (7 – 12 peices) and be checking out within 10 minutes…but I’m a veteran.

One friend I introduced to the sale came the next year with a suitcase on wheels!  Another friend was thinking she would only buy one piece because pottery is so expensive…she walked out with several.  Both are now addicted to the sale.

I’m not sure if I’m going this year, but it is a great place to buy gifts.

Annual Spring Pottery Sale

Saturday May 1st

9:00 to noon

Canyon Meadows Community Centre

848 Cantabrian Dr. S.W.

Free admission – Door Prize

Fairview Studios Site

∞∞∞∞and that’s What Karen Biko is Jazzed about for This week of April 2010∞∞∞∞

I’ve just had a most satisfying lunch.  Today Bill and I were invited out to the restaurant “Kefi”.  It’s a Greek restaurant on McLeod Trail.  We were delighted with imported Greek sparkling water, white wine, and an appetizer that I could have eaten all day.

We sat in the comfortable corner booth (I love sitting in a booth, it’s the only way to go!!), and all responsibilities and cares were taken away as Stef ordered my lunch for me.  I had mussels…I haven’t had them for years, and they were scrumptious.  Garlic and butter, so wonderful, good thing I’m not meeting with anyone this afternoon other than this computer screen now.  Bill had the lamb, and of course like any married couple we sampled each other’s food.  Both were excellent.

We dined, with great conversation, in great comfort, ate our meal in leisure, and drank wine out of small tumblers (the Greek way).  It was all in all a very satisfying time.   If you have a chance you should check out Kefi.  I hear it’s packed at night, but the lunchtime crowd is small and comfortable.

Of course our experience is heightened because the man in charge of our lunch was Stefanos Lukas, and when you have someone like that on your side, ordering everything in Greek, how can you go wrong.

Thank you Stef!!!

Kefi       11-9250 MacLeod Trail Southeast, (403) 452-5334

∞∞∞∞and that’s What Karen Biko is Jazzed about for This week of April 2010∞∞∞∞

Here we go again I thought, another one of those parties where you go and get introduced to another product and then you get your chequebook  out and buy stuff.  I was prepared for that.  I understand the social marketing aspect, I understand social proof, I understand we all end up buying something to help our friends. It’s sort of a ritual these days as more and more of these parties seem to constantly appear.  What I wasn’t prepared for was how much fun I had.

Times are tough right now for many people and Bill and I have been cutting back, saving our pennies, and going without many things.  So when my friend Bonnie invited me to this party, initially I thought, I cannot afford to just go buying jewelry, but then I decided maybe it was time for me to go and just do something for me. It looks like things are turning around and I do love jewelry!

So I committed and waited for the day to come, several times debating whether I made the correct decision. Finally event day was here and now there was no turning back. So not only did Bonnie have a great spread of treats for us to munch on, but the display of Jewelry hit the right spot as well.  After so long without it, I was in the mood to shop.

The Jewelry is Lia Sophia, and is new in Canada.  Our presenter Sharryll was personable, relaxed, and very excited about this line, after seeing it, I understood why!  She showed us the versatility of the pieces, and I was pleased to find that not only were they well made, but they were beautiful.  Using crystal, shells, wood, and semi-precious stones, the jewelry is not only sophisticated but fun too.  I found myself with some hard decisions on what final pieces to buy…there was so much to choose from!

That was not the only surprise for me.   I actually had fun at the party.  I’m not sure if it’s because I’m an entrepreneur, and networking has become just a part of what I do, but I enjoyed meeting the other ladies.  I enjoy finding out what people do and hearing about them.  I even met a fellow artist at the party.  She had put out her brochures about an upcoming show she is having, it’s today, so I think I will swing by it to see.

So I came to a decision.  These “parties” can be a good thing.  An opportunity to get out and meet people, share ideas, and grow.  Not to mention SHOPPING!  So yes, I will go to other events like this, and yes, I’ve booked a Lia Sophia party at my house (July) and yes, I will meet more new fun people.  Let me know if you want to come and shop…

I had such a good time at the party I still feel energized a few days later, and I can’t wait for my order to come in.  I’ve added a link to Sharryll’s webpage under Shopping, so go and take a look.  I think you will agree that the Jewelry is beautiful.

Lia Sophia Website

∞∞∞∞and that’s What Karen Biko is Jazzed about for This week of April 2010∞∞∞∞

Tonight I came home from a Jazzercise Regional Meeting and I started to reflect on my Jazzercise “history”.  It almost seems like strange territory for me that I’ve embraced this venture of becoming a Jazzercise instructor so quickly.  Well, maybe not so quickly.  I started Jazzercise many years ago, and really liked this dance-based workout.  For years I would attend different classes, and then I would move, or become lazy and stop going.  I would go to classes with friends or family, and it was always easier to talk ourselves out of going rather than talking ourselves into going.

But I always came back.  I would try other workouts or programs, but mostly would find them boring, and easy to pass by.  Heck, the couch looked comfy!  But last year I started again, and realized how much I truly loved it.  This time I didn’t rely on a buddy to get me there, it was all me.  I tried different Jazzercise classes around me, and started to really get into it.

Then it happened.  Several of the instructors suggested that I had the moves and should consider teaching.  At first I just thought it was a joke, but then I started thinking about it.  There was a real need for Subs here in Calgary, so maybe this is something I should give a try…at the very least I could see if I had what it takes.  I had nothing to lose, so I started training.

Before long I became a certified Jazzercise Instructor.  Now what?  I didn’t intend this to become a main focus in my life, but it sure has.  I have come to realize that I actually have a real passion for Jazzercise. So much so, that I want everyone to share in my passion. I mean if money was no issue, and I had all I needed; I’d be running around the world and opening Jazzercise Centres wherever I could.  I love it that much.

I understand that it’s not for everyone…but I really think that it’s worth a try. I’m just that passionate about it! I get excited when I learn new routines and get to show them to my students.  I love that my class is growing…slowly, but we are really having fun.  I love the music, I love the dance, and I love performing and out of nowhere, I have found I love the camaraderie.  Jazzercise is great, but as my class continues to grow I have found some new friends and I’ve found a new motivation to keep going, my students.

∞∞∞∞and that’s What Karen Biko is Jazzed about for This week of April 2010∞∞∞∞