Zumba line-up (Intense Work-out)

Zumba Line-Up (Intense Work-out)
Lj Schroeder


Starting today I'll be posting my Zumba line-up on here because I'm having a hard time searching for the old ones in my Facebook wall. Here, it is easier to look for them via tabs or history. Anyhow, this week's Zumba line-up is more intense, faster and a bit difficult but totally worth it!


Again you might want to modify some moves/steps as I find some of them challenging. Also if this is your first attempt on Zumba, do some basic movements or warm-up exercises before you start to prevent injuries or consult with your physician if you have serious medical conditions. 


I wish I could say that I'm a professional Zumba instructor/expert, but I'd be lying. :) All videos are from youtube.


1. Cha-cha/footwork - Save the Last Dance (Watch for the guy in white shirt, he seems to be having soo much fun!)

2. Fast/emphasis on the belly - Tootsie Roll (This is really tricky! The hip rolling and the foot work are kinda fast.)

3. Full body/cardio - Move Like Jagger (Watch the old lady, she's my motivation on this video.)

4. Cardio - Sexy and I Know It (Again look out for granny! :))

5.  Full body work-out/super fast moves - Walk It Out (Something to make you sweat profusely and make your heart beat faster.)

6. Stretch - Sweet Dreams (Easy movements.) 

7. Booty/hips/stretch - Just a Dream (I like this but if you prefer a slower cool down, try the last video.)

8.  Stretch/cool down - One In a Million (There are a few tricky steps like the split, but you can tweak them.)

Have fun and be healthy!

Colors of February LJ Schroeder

Colors of February

(Violet Cabbage Flowers, Bloody Oranges, Nasty Rashes, Pastel Skies)

LJ Schroeder

(Violet Cabbage Flowers)

One my fave things to do- admiring God's wonderful, colorful, sometimes intriguing creations. They are a mirror of how creative our Maker is.

(Blood Orange and Strawberries)

For the first time, I had blood (moro) oranges c/o of our friend Katie and my fave fruit, strawberries as desserts for breakfast.

  

(Side Effects of Sulfa- Rashes)

Turned out I was allergic to the UTI meds that the doc prescribed to me. I developed burning rashes all over my arms, legs and chest. Not to mention terrible headaches and fever. Not a pleasant experience. 

 

(Indulgence - Early Evening Skies.)

The best shot I was able to take. We were running late for our mid-term exams, so while we were ordering dinner from In & Out I snapped this at the parking area. 

The Little Wonders In Our Not (Yet) So Wonderful Backyard

(My blank canvass. Wait 'til I turn it into a master piece or a haven whichever is doable.)

The Little Wonders In Our Not (Yet) So Wonderful Backyard

Lj Schroeder

Growing-up in our grandparents' house with a huge yard abounding in trees (star apples, coconuts, guava, mangoes, aratiles, avocado, jackfruit, bananas etc.) stirred my love for nature and the outdoors. My cousins and I had more than enough ground to explore during our curious, energetic years. I remember searching for house spiders inside our kweba (cave) for an insect match, catching fireflies at night and peaking inside our little hands to see if they do light up or sneaking after dragonflies or butterflies to check their colors or when I was stung by a family of bees while picking star apples one afternoon. Ouch!

When I moved to the metropolis- Manila from the province- Bicol one of the things I knew I was going to miss were the trees in our yard. But God answered my silent longings by allowing me to work in a company with a dormitory that was located in a more province-like part of the metro, surrounded by old trees mostly mangoes and star apples to my delight.

Quite the opposite happened when I, once again, relocated to the US and settled down with my husband in a beautiful valley called Rancho Cucamonga. Most neighborhoods here don't have much land area but majority of them have pretty flowers or a well-maintained yard. My husband however, is not really into gardening (I love him still) resulting in the present condition of our yard. Not that it's bad or ignored or trashed. There's just not much in there, yet I can see the potential. Or probably I just have too much spare time while I'm waiting for my elusive Green Card. (That's another post.) Anyway, it doesn't mean there's no beauty in an (almost) blank canvass or in this case backyard, right?

So while I am in the process of converting our small piece of land into something exciting, I captured a few little things of beauty or interest in our soon-to-be WONDERFUL backyard. That's the goal. :)

(A tiny, wild yellow flower amidst our almost dying grass.)

(Frequent visits from hummingbirds.)

(A rare appearance by a blue bird. I don't know what type of bird.)

(Not ours, but they've crossed the fence- our neighbor's lemons.)

(More colors and life come spring! My new flowers-primrose survived winter. Yay!)

(Herbs- parsley, sweet basil and mint. My sweet basil are not looking too good right now though. :()

Stir Fry Chicken and Asparagus

Lately I've been trying a few recipes from the inter-net. One of our new faves is this chicken recipe I copied from the Food Network with a few modifications.

STIR FRY CHICKEN AND ASPARAGUS

Ingredients:

2 pcs medium size chicken breasts, cut into bite size

1 bundle fresh asparagus (cut into 1 inch length)

1 cup sliced white mushrooms (Optional. We tried this once and it added more flavor. I highly suggest adding this!)

2 tbsp minced spring onions/shallots

2-3 tbsp vegetable oil

2 cloves minced garlic or garlic powder

1 tbsp minced ginger or ginger powder

1 tsp sugar (Optional. If you like additional taste.)

1/2 cup sherry

2 tbsp soy sauce

salt for seasoning (You can also omit this if you are in a low sodium diet.)

1/2 cup water or chicken broth (If you wish to make it saucier/tastier.)

corn starch (The original recipe calls for this if you want to coat the chicken or prefer the sauce to be thicker. I omitted this and the recipe still turned out nicely.)

black pepper

Procedure:

1. Mix ginger (if powdered), garlic (if powdered), sugar, sherry, soy sauce, salt and marinate the chicken in the mixture for 20-30 mins. Set aside.

2. Heat pan and put 2 tbsp of oil and stir fry asparagus, then mix mushrooms and spring onions. Remove from pan after 2-3 mins (don't overcook).

3. Use the same pan and add the remaining oil. Sautee ginger and garlic if you prefer the minced/real ones. Stir fry marinated chicken until it's cooked/golden brown.

4. Add water or chicken broth if you prefer for more sauce, simmer. Then add cooked veggies.

5. Season with black pepper. Serve with rice. Enjoy!

Serves 2.

The Calm After The Storm

(picture c/o Yahoo.com and Reuters)

(I originally wrote this article back in October of 2009 as a reflection after the devastating Typhoon Ondoy hit the Philippines. Good Housekeeping magazine Philippines published it in their Jan/Feb 2010 issue under the Blessings section.)

The Calm After the Storm
by Lj T. Schroeder

Life in the Philippines will not be complete without typhoons. I lived most of my life in one of the most typhoon prone areas in the country- Bicol Region.

My family and I have experienced first-hand many traumatic typhoon days. I have witnessed and accumulated countless typhoon stories and anecdotes. Floods, deaths, missing loved ones, injuries, ruined communities, powerless, waterless and sometimes sleepless nights are typical.

We've cooked and ate local birds that have been victims themselves of the violent weather that sought refuge in our nipa (coconut leaves) roofs. I can clearly remember our usual menu after a typhoon, if not the ever reliable sardines with langka (jackfruit) in (gata) coconut milk, its young lubi-lubi (deadly nightshade) leaves in gata. One of the good things that happens after a storm is, you need not climb coconut trees to get fruits, because they are scattered everywhere. And firewood abound too!

We’ve known what it's like to line up for relief goods. We’ve experienced staying with relatives whose house were sturdier. We've taken turns fetching water from the community pump (poso). We had to time our baths and learn how to re-use water and other essentials. For weeks, sometimes months everyone would be busy drying, cleaning, fixing and re-building things.

I was in second grade when Typhoon Sisang hit Bicol. Once daylight came, the first thing I saw was the blue-painted roof of our neighbor’s house in the main road. There was water, debris, uprooted trees and garbage everywhere. The trees looked like they’ve been stripped, that is if they are still standing. Electric lines were cut off and will not work for months. We couldn't watch the sole television station in the region.

Our school which also served as an evacuation site was not spared from the strong winds and torrential rain. We held classes for almost an entire school year in our teachers’ homes or under the leafless mango tree or at the rice storage building (tambobong) that felt like hell at noon time. We all sweat from the heat! People couldn’t make ice candy, ice water, (dirty) ice cream or run electric fans because there was no power supply. During those days generators were rare.

I forget what typhoon it was, but days before Christmas our province was hit again. Most of our kabarangays (villagers) had already set-up Christmas trees and decors for the merriest season of the year. When the typhoon passed, chaos and destruction were all that was left. We spent candle lit, gloomy, silent nights during the holidays.

But in spite of the hardships and struggles, I also recall that those were the times when I appreciated togetherness, quietness and simplicity the most. The moon and stars became more visible at night without the lights, minus the trees that oftentimes block our views or the TV that steals our attention away.

Those were the moments when we spent more time together in front of a siga (bonfire), or chatting and playing with the neighbors, singing songs or praying in the altar.

Storms teach us numerous things. They bring out the best or the worst in us- the real us.A calamity in whatever form or intensity reveals what we are capable of being and doing. They allow us to appreciate blessings, family and life. They make us realize how powerful nature is, and even more, its Creator.

We’ve learned to move on, to adapt, to make the most of our situation, to rely on one another, to give up certain things, to go back to basics, to start from scratch, to be stronger, to have faith, to wait and hope for better days and most of all to be prepared for the next storm life will bring us. :)

Beautiful Day :) Lj Schroeder

Beautiful Day

Waking up to snow-covered mountains...

Driving home with double rainbows in the freeway...

I can't even capture them with justice...

And golden sunset skies amidst the rain.

What lovely sights!

What beautiful creations!

What an awesome Creator!

Reminds me of this song from Phil Wickham.

Dios Mabalos! by Lj Schroeder

(Pictures c/o Arleth G. Photography, unless otherwise stated)

Dios Mabalos!*

Lj Schroeder

In time for Thanksgiving, (although long overdue) here is my shout out and thumbs-up to the talented group of vendors/suppliers/contacts that we've had the privilege of working with when John and I tied the knot last Sept. 25.

I've accrued tons of lessons while preparing for our California garden wedding which I'm planning to share in another post. One of the many things I've realized is how ginormous the work, expense, time and hands (or heads) you need in order to make an average-sized traditional matrimony as less stressful yet memorable as possible. That's why these people/companies are heaven sent to me and John and we owe them a lot for helping make our day truly special.

Hooray to...

Denise and the rest of the Wingdingz company for the SUPERB job of re-creating jist of our love story through our caricatures, the highlight of our wedding invitation. Most of the people who saw our invites were amazed at how excellent Denise's team is! Funny, personal, unique, creative, cool were just some of the compliments we've heard from them. Before I left for the US, I was able to request Wingdingz to rush two copies of wedding posters and produce an on-line version of our wedding invite. That was very accommodating of them!

Ate Laila Papa Ramos and her company of hard-working sewers for the beautiful dresses I wore. She is the heart and hands behind my ivory wedding dress for the ceremony and my cream-colored evening dress for the reception. Her creations are flattering, comfortable and a work of art. She is willing to work within your budget without compromising your idea and deliver the products on time! One of the most generous and easy-to-work with woman that I know of. She not only did three of my gowns, but she had the time to make my Ma's dress, my veil and the rest of of our ceremonial stuff. Love you Ate Lai!

Puni Malolos for our give-aways and decors (sadly, I wasn't able to use the aisle decors because my Mom who was supposed to bring them to the US was denied of the US tourist visa). Anyhow, from the very start I've always wanted to incorporate parts of the Filipino culture to our wedding. Because one, I am proud of my heritage and two, I want to be a blessing to my country especially our small/medium enterprises. I decided to have a local product (butterfly ref magnet made from puni leaf) as our wedding give-away and a bird on a stick (also made from puni) as our aisle decors. Although I was satisfied with the quality, ease of transaction, price and time of delivery some of the butterflies' colors were a little off from the red/blue combination that I originally ordered. That said, I won't still have them any other way.

(pic c/o Puni Malolos)

Our wonderful photographers- wife and husband duo Arleth and Mario Guttierez (they're not Filipinos but Latinos.) I've always dreamt of having a pre-nup photo session and when John and I first met Arleth she was on my side. :) I knew then that they were meant to be our photographers! Having them was one of the best decisions we've made for our wedding vendor's list. They are a joy and a blessing to work with because they understand the stress and the process of long-distance planning and having a bi-racial wedding. Mario even volunteered to carry boxes of drinks and other stuff for us and Arleth gave us an irresistible deal. Muchas gracias chica!

Arleth's cousin Ally for my hair and make-up both for the pre-nup session and the wedding ceremony. She's a talented, hard-working, very flexible single-mom who has so much potential in this field. At first I was a bit worried that my eye-make-up for the pre-nup shoot was too heavy. But they looked amazing on the pics! How I wish I could have curly hair everyday (or maybe not). :)

Lastly, our floral supplier/arranger Carol's Secret Garden. I was contemplating on doing our flowers by myself, but my concerned in-laws and friends won't let me have more to-do things in my list. So I didn't really expect anything phenomenal from CSG for fear of being disappointed despite seeing some pictures of their previous works. The day of our wedding came, I was so relieved that they considered some of my ideas (twigs, succulents, berries, hydrangeas) in the arrangements.

The rest of our vendors either did a so-so job or a not-so-good job. :( That's another thing I've learned not just from our own wedding but from the dozens of weddings I've hosted/performed at/helped/coordinated/attended.

No wedding is free from imperfections/mishaps/drama (some planners or couples are just good at letting them slip away.) Instead of dwelling on the negative I'd rather choose to see and be grateful for the positive- the helpful people, affordable deals, the memories and the reason we're having a wedding in the first place... to spend the rest of our lives together, 'til death do us part. 

* God will repay you in Bicol dialect.

Favored and Blessed by Lj Salceda Schroeder

(1st and 2nd pic c/o Arleth Gutierrez, 3rd pic c/o of Dede Neufeld)

Favored and Blessed

Lj Salceda Schroeder

(Reflections on my last night as a single woman. I used part of this in my wedding vows and acknowledgments for the reception. )

My Ma never fails to remind me that I am a favored and blessed woman. I wish I could say that I've always believed her pronouncements but I'd be lying. Don't get me wrong, those are beautiful, heart-warming declarations that I would love to hear all the time, but those are also difficult words to digest and hold onto during tough days.

Not this time though. Today more than ever those words are alive. I've never felt or seen them as clear and as true than this moment.

I am a favored and blessed woman!

I am marrying the answer to my Ma's prayers. The man I've learned and still is learning to love, to know and to stand by with. I am in a country where some people could only dream of living. I am warmly welcomed in homes and by people I'm not even related to.

My loved ones and friends may not be here to witness and celebrate with us on our wedding day, but what a comfort and a joy to be surrounded by the most loving, supportive new family. I am overwhelmed by their generosity and all the names that I now have to remember. :) They are all wonderful and I can't wait to spend some time and get to know them more. I thank the Lord for their lives.

Being favored and blessed doesn't exempt one from hardships and pain.

For the two years that John and I have been together, we've faced many challenging, scary and seemingly insurmountable circumstances. The struggles of a long-distance relationship, the paperwork, the expenses, unemployment, settling in the US, wedding preparations... And the adventures did not stop since I came here. On my second week in California, John's car was burglarized, his wallet was taken, my identity was stolen, his second wallet got lost that we had to call a friend to pay for our meal, my Ma's visa application was denied- twice and I'm sure there will be plenty more to come....

It hasn't been an easy journey, but we made it this far. Being favored and blessed doesn't mean the absence of problems or the abundance in material things. It's not the presence of people you love or the comfort of a place you once called home. IT IS knowing we have God and He's got our back and everything else covered. He who made possible for John and I to meet and to be together will also be the One who will carry us through.

Love ♥ On-line

(our wedding invite cover c/o Wingdingz)

Love ♥ On-line

Lj T. Salceda

I have been meaning to write something... a lot of things actually.

My trip to Bicol...
The K1 (Fiancee) Visa Process...
Our Wedding Preparations...
My last few days in the Philippines...

My first week in the US...

And the list goes on...

Where would I begin? So much to write about, so little time. So many things have transpired since my last article. Let me start by responding to one of the most asked questions I've gotten so far.

"i wud like to ask po sana kung anu pong christian site or social network nyo nakilala c mr. john (ur fiance)? thanks po! we miss u n po sa radio" - from a listener." (I would like to ask from what Christian site or social network did you meet your fiance John?)

I'm your avid listener on i.u..just want t0 c0ngratulate u and ur husband t0 be 0n ur upcoming wedding..ur l0ve st0ry inspired me..can l ask what christian site did you meet your future husband? h0pe u can grant my request.thanks. - from an FB friend

A little history first... I was introduced to the on-line community back in 1997 after attending a seminar about the inter-net organized by our municipal library. Thereafter I've been an active netizen- exchanging letters with my on-line penpals, polishing my English vocabulary by writing articles and learning the ins and outs of the virtual universe by perusing various websites.

The inter-net, computer and technology are such wonderful tools! I consider them gifts to humankind. But they can also be abused or misused just like any other gift or tool.

In spite of the advancement in technology and our more "liberal" times, many still view on-line dating or relationships negatively. It is oftentimes synonymous to mail order brides or virtual prostitution and even pornography. Sadly, these things do abound on-line, but I'd rather focus on the benefits of technology like how it brought me and my hubby to-be together. :)

John and I met through a Christian dating site called Christian Dating For Free (CDFF) more than two years ago. Before I go on any further, let me just point out that I'm NOT endorsing this site or any particular dating site or even on-line dating. I am merely answering specific questions from listeners/friends. Each dating site has their own rules, advantages/disadvantages and purpose.

Since I've been on-line for more than a decade now, I've picked-up a number of valuable lessons/pointers that I want to share with those who are or want to try on-line dating/relationship (OLD/R):

1. Be EXTRA cautious. On-line dating definitely has its limitations, as well as benefits. Like in the real world people can lie, betray or deceive you in the virtual world. If you're not mindful, you might end up hurt and broken. Before you give any specific personal info or commit to someone on-line make sure you've met him/her in person, have taken the time to get to know each other and have developed trust with each other.

2. Set rules and boundaries. Early on in my adult life I've decided NOT to date or get involved with guys who are a.) old enough to be my dad (I'm not looking for a replacement of my absentee father), b.) separated/divorced/annulled or c.) have kids. Not to pass judgement on anyone, but those are my personal convictions. I can talk to them or be friends with them but nothing more. :)

Before becoming an official dating couple, I request John to come to the Philippines and see me. He did after months of exchanging IM's and e-mails. (This made me admire him more because it showed how dedicated and committed he was in pursuing me. With very limited resources and time, he booked a trip to Manila and gave in to my request, um more like a demand.) I was able to introduced him to my family and friends and he was able to observe me at work. We were able go out on dates like typical dating couples do. Only then did we become official boyfriend/girlfriend.

3. Don't just date to date. Date with a purpose (of getting to know each other to find out if it will lead to the possibility of marriage.) If it would help to involve your family or friends in your search for a lifetime partner, then let them know so makaliskisan n'yo as we say in Filipino. Ask trusted people to pray for you or for tips from couples who are in the same boat. They might see things from a different perspective, especially if you're too focused with the other person or your feelings for each other.

If after plenty (say 3-5) years of talking on-line and you still have not met his/her family & close friends or you have not seriously discussed settling down and other important topics, evaluate the direction of your relationship or friendship (if this is what you both decide on).

4. Be realistic. Some people succeed in finding love or the right partner on-line, some don't. On-line relationships involve risks, require a lot of hard work, patience, money, time, sacrifice and trust. If you think it's difficult to be with someone you can't see/touch/smell for a long time, think hard because long-distance love is TOUGH and it might not be for you. Your romance might start on-line, but it doesn't mean when you're off-line you should go out with another guy/girl or you will be "skyping" or "yming" for life. Your dynamics will change once you're physically together. Plan, save and do everything you can to make it work.

5. Pray (a lot!). Ask for the Lord's protection, wisdom and discernment. I don't look for clues or signs when I pray about something or someone. I ask God to confirm what He has already impressed in my heart. I consult the Bible or a man/woman of God if I need additional counsel.

If your on-line or long-distance relationship doesn't work, don't lose heart. People meet in various, crazy, unimaginable ways and places. God is a God of surprises. The important thing is you tried and gave it your best.

Btw, I don't recommend (on-line and even off-line) dating or bf-gf relationships to high-school or college students. I strongly suggest finishing your STUDIES first before pursuing someone or getting involved in a committed relationship. Trust me, it'll be worth the wait! :)

My friend Kuya Kevin Sanders also wrote an interesting article about On-line Relationships.

Calling all singers, composers, and music producers!

picture from this site

What you can do to sell/maximize/hear your songs on-air...
Lj T. Salceda

Every month I (the person in charge of music and CD’s at DZAS) receives an average of two albums from aspiring or professional Christian artist/s or producers. (Not to mention the 3-5 pieces of CD’s I purchase from music stores every other month.) After listening to the entire album, I usually pass them to other staff for further evaluation. What happens majority of the time is - 1. We file them in the music library and totally forget about the album or 2. Play a cut once and forget about it.

I’ve been in the broadcast industry for almost 11 years. Worked as producer and host of musical shows for almost 8 years. I know how to play the guitar since grade school. I’ve performed, joined singing contests and helped organized or promote concerts as long as I can remember. So I know a good song or album when I hear one.

I’m not claiming to be a music expert or a music mogul, nor do I have an album and I have not made anyone popular or rich by playing his/her songs. But I do want to HELP even in my small way. I pray these tips or challenges will motivate and educate those who want to record an album, be played on the radio and impact their audience in a BIG way.

1. Stop copying! How I wish I could tell Filipino Christian artists to stop trying to sound like Hillsong. I have nothing against the group, but there can only be one Hillsong. The rest will become imitations. There is nothing wrong in admiring great artists. But they’ve already made their mark, they’ve paid their dues. You are still building a name, a career, a ministry if you prefer. Be your self, but offer something different. Stand out or you’ll be buried in oblivion or your CD’s in files. Don’t waste time and money. If you’ve already invested, gain valuable lessons or experiences and put them into good use.

2. Excel. It is a fact that most Christian artists, musicians, churches have limited resources, air play, reach and support but it doesn’t mean we will settle for mediocre products or results. Remember, we are representing the King of kings and the Lord of lords. If you think you can’t produce an excellent CD/song, then prepare, train and save some more. Good thing about music is- it doesn’t have an expiration date. Artists on the other hand, might have. If you can't create something different, then offer something excellent!

3. Ask for an expert’s opinion. Sometimes it only takes a meal and transportation or a small LG (love gift) to avail of a music expert’s critique or guidance. We have a lot of talented, experienced and generous music icons, maestros and maestros in the biz. They’ve been there, so they KNOW.

4. Musicians/composers need not sing your own songs. We have our own roles to play and the proper time to play them. If other artists could give your work justice, let them shine by doing it. I have been paid to sing and asked to record songs, but I know in my heart that it’s not my “place in this world.” So I've turned them down. I can carry a tune and I ♥ music but those things don't make me a singer.

5. Know your audience. God is your number one fan/listener, but the fact that you have recorded your songs, submitted them to a radio station and asked the dj/host to play your CD on-air mean you want others to listen to your music too. Or else you would be content singing them to the Lord in the privacy of your comfort room. Make sure your songs are “singable” and radio-friendly. A catchy tune and something that the listener can relate to are what “sell” nowadays. Check the hit charts today, what songs do people listen to? Give the audience something worth their time and money. After all they are the ones that will request for your songs, download or buy your CD's and make them a hit.

Don’t be discouraged when your project are rejected. Don’t hate hosts like me when we don’t play your songs. Evaluate. Ask. Learn. Polish or as we say in print, edit your work.

Denials are not endings. They mean you have to work harder or better or you might just have to wait for the right time. :)