Monthly Challenge - SpainTalk - Siesta

This photo was taken in the middle of the day in Ferrol.

No, there was not a zombie apocalypse.  

In Ferrol, and most of Spain nearly all businesses are closed in the afternoon, roughly between 1400-1630, depending on the business.

For me, as someone who loves afternoon naps, the schedule really works for me.

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Monthly Challenge - SpainTalk - Autumn

In Hawaii, we do not generally have an autumn period.  It´s either summer or spring.  

Always generally warm, unless the occassional storm comes along.

My surrounding provided a reminder what season it was - autumn.  

The colder, crisp air, the brown leaves which has covered the streets, my breath as my exhale would create a fog.

Yes, its cold outside. 

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Monthly Challenge - SpainTalk - Churros con chocolate.

Churros con chocolate.

Many people have tried to duplicate it, but the best is here in Spain.

I've had churros con chocolate in California 

(the churros were just enormous and overpowered the chocolate).

Needless to say, when in Spain - go eat some churros con chocolate (nom nom nommmmm)

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Monthly Challenge - TechTalk - Downgrading from Windows 8 to Windows 7.

For those of you that have been using computers for some time, you should remember the dreaded blue screen of death.

The blue screen is back - along with a sad emoticon face.  

Considering the fact that I use my computer for basic computing, media and photo storage I am rather surprised to be receiving this error roughly 2-3 times a day, which requires a computer restart.

Windows 8 - nice try.  I will download again once a service pack has been released.

#EPICFAIL

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Monthly Challenge - SpainTalk - M

Magic.  Medicine.  Mirror.  Monument.  Max.

There are many words that start with M.

Why did I choose this picture?

Funny story actually, I went to a local pub to have a drink with friends (gin and tonic - to be more specific).

M in the U.S. = male

M in Spain = Mujer

This was the sign on the bathroom.

I'll leave the rest to your imagination.

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Monthly Challenge - PicTalk - I said, "Brrrr, it's cold in here!"

I said, "Brrr! It's cold in here, there must be some toros in the atmosphere!"

Ha ha, anyone guess that movie?!

Today was a pretty cool day, I  took a walk around 9am and thought I was going to freeze to death.

5 hours later, it was sunny (not warm), but a lot nicer and manageable!

Whew! Made it before the midnight deadline!

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Monthly Challenge - SpainTalk - Popcorm

Wow.  I went to go see the movie SkyFall and it was my first movie in Spain.

This was not the first time I've watched a movie overseas.  I remember watching Midnight in Paris last year when I was in Paris, watching Bridget Jones' Diary in New Zealand, Harry Potter in Guatemala (the last movie on opening day) as well as a movie in Australia - which I can't remember the name, but I remember a catch phrase from the movie - "Lower your eyes!" I recall watching that movie with Andi.  What was that movie?!  This movie was the first however, that I watched completely in Spanish - without subtitles.  The Harry Potter movie had Spanish subtitles but the vocals were in English.

The picture today is of popcorn!

Wow!  This is the biggest popcorn container I have ever seen at a movie theater - so of course, I had to have it!  YUM - and I washed it down with a large orange Fanta.  =]

The movie BTW was rather blah, I wouldn't recommend it - It is definitely a rental!

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Monthly Challenge - SpainTalk - Breakfast

Good morning,

Today, I decided to blog about my breakfast.  YUM!

While I usually have oatmeal or cereal for breakfast, today I was just craving a big breakfast.

Yes, I brought SPAM all the way from Hawaii!  =]

Have an awesome day!

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Monthly Challenge - SpainTalk - Yogurt

Yes, I know I look crazy.

Yes, I am putting yogurt in my hair (my scalp actually).

The water here in Spain is quite hard.  How can water be hard?!  o_O

My skin is very dry here in Spain and my scalp is taking a beating!  

It's snowing.  

Funny thing is my scalp feels great since my yogurt treatment.  

Maybe I'll have to take a bath in yogurt  (^___^)

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Monthly Challenge - SpainTalk - Cafe

Cutting it close today, its almost midnight!

The pictures today are of coffee.

I love the cafe here in Ferrol (and in Europe - in general).

Today, I had 2 coffees.  yum.

Note to self: no coffee before class - apparently, I speak too fast.

Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.

Monthly Challenge - SpainTalk - Keyboard

For most of us, typing is second nature.  Typing is a part of our daily lives - for most of us anyways.

While the keyboard below may look like a typical keyboard (which it is typical - for Spain), this keyboard is tricky.  For example, to use the @ sign, you will have to press Control + Alt + 2 (whereas with my computer it is only Shift + 2).

They numbers and letters are pretty much the same, it is the addition of the symbols and special characters like ñ that makes the Spanish keyboard different for Americans.

This is probably why, I love phones without a physical keyboard, on my iPhone, I have 4 keyboards, English, Spanish, French and Emoji.

For those of you trying to type in another language with auto-correct, you know it will drive you bananas.

Ha.  Sorry so short, class starts in 3 minutes.  Ciao!

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Monthly Challenge - SpainTalk - Potatoes

Last night, I went to dinner with Joana and David along with Stefania, Pili, Miguel and Saul.  

While I forgot to take a group picture of everyone - I did manage to take a picture of our dinner.

Surprisingly, I am getting accustomed to eating potatoes, but I do crave rice once in a while.  Actually, in regards to food - the only kind of food I am craving is spicy food.

Have an awesome Sunday!  =] 

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Monthly Challenge - SpainTalk - Street

Calle Naturalista López Seoane.

Rolls off the tongue doesn't it?!  Well, that is the name of the street where I live, it is a pretty short street, but it is near everything really.  The university is nearby and the place where I work is about 5 minutes away.

Actually, I need to start taking pictures with my camera.  I am starting to just use my iPhone for nearly all of my pictures.

I actually have some exciting news, but I think I am going to save it for another blog post...

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Monthly Challenge - SpainTalk - Windows

I've been talking about Windows recently and this particular blog is about Windows - not the computer, not the operating system, not the phone - just plain windows.

My room is pretty cool because the whole wall is composed of windows.

The sun rises and wakes me up in the morning - if it is not covered by clouds.

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Monthly Challenge - SpainTalk - Parque Municipal Raíña Sofía

This is my first monthly challenge in quite some time and considering that I haven't posted many pictures about my daily life and Ferrol - voila! The opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.

The monthly challenge for this month - take a picture DAILY and blog about it.  Pretty simple, right?!  It actually isn't that hard, it just requires a good 10-20 minutes.

Ok, over the next month, I'll be able to share with you my life: work, home, play, Ferrol, food (of course!).  

Well, today I was walking around Ferrol with my friend Ale after lunch and we ended up at Parque Municipal Raíña Sofía.  While it is a small park, I found it quite refreshing, the crisp cool air, the brown leaves, really reminds me of Autumn.

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Monthly Challenge - INSANITY - Update

Hey guys,

Sorry I haven't updated my blog in a while, internet here is BOO! and I'm pretty much using my phone to tether and access the internet.

I've lost some weight since I started Insanity - and I am probably one of rare people who is not happy about it. I have stuck to the work out, but not strictly with the food, and I have lot a lot of muscle.  I may have more definition in the abdominal section, but I've lost about 1.5" to 2" around my thighs.  As a cyclist, my thighs are calves are very important and I feel like they are shrinking.

I do plan on continuing on with the program, but I will start supplementing with abdominal exercises.  Insanity is great, but I feel like it doesn't target the lower abdominal.

Will post more pictures on Monday!

Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.

Monthly Challenge - INSANITY - Day 15

Sorry for the delay on this post, I'm in Long Beach.  Ha!

I am still sticking to the regiment of working out - still haven't followed the diet 100% (maybe 30%).  Can't visit family and not eat NOM NOM food.  Though, I have been quite disciplined and eat healthier options for breakfast and lunch (while they are all at work).

This post is for the Fit Test this past Monday.  I didn't have a chance to post it, so here it is, nor did I have a chance to take a picture.  

No worries, i'll take one next Monday! I'll try anyways - its a long weekend!

I've actually improved a lot - based on the Insanity testing.  

Move	Fit Test – 1 May 7	Fit Test – 2 May 21
SWITCH KICKS	88	102
POWER JACYK	50	58
POWER KNEES	80	96
POWER JUMPS	30	35
GLOBE JUMPS	9	12
SUICIDE JUMPS	17	20
PUSH-UP JACKS	20	29
LOW PLANK OBLIQUE	46	60
WEIGHT	150.6	148.4

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Monthly Challenge - INSANITY - Day 8

Day 1

Alright...

It is the start of the 2nd week and to be honest, it hasn't been that hard.  If you're in shape and use to boot camp type workouts, this isn't too bad.

The format of each workout, is in 3 sets - each increasing in speed and therefore difficulty.  After the first 3 sets, you stretch, then a final 3 sets of different exercises.  If you're use to working out 2-3 hours (cycling or running) this will target different sets of muscles.  For me, my calves and lower back have been the most sore.

This week I've actually lost 3 pounds - something I didn't want to do, I guess I have to increase my caloric intake.

I haven't been following the diet, because generally I eat pretty healthy, my diet at home consists of chicken breast, rice, eggs, yogurt, nuts, cereal and fruits.

Day 8

Yes, I take my pictures before my work out at 7am and I'm really not that photogenic when I am half awake trying to set up a dumb camera on a timer and getting my shot in the picture.

If you have any questions about the work-out, let me know.

Shoot me an email or post them in the comments below.

The next fit test is next Monday - the time of my next update.

Starting in 2 weeks, I will start incorporating night yoga classes to increase my flexibility.

Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.

Monthly Challenge - INSANITY - Day 1

Hey everyone,

I know, I know... what is INSANITY?  Considering I was suppose to do a monthly challenge by being a vegetarian?!  I was a vegetarian for a good week, then I though I wanted to be in shape for the summer season... Which will require a lot of working out and a lot of protein, so... I will continue on the vegetarian challenge another month.

INSANITY work out is a 60 day challenge that is more or less bootcamp style workout that incorporates MIT (Maximum Interval Training).  

To read more about INSANITY... CLICK HERE...

Yup, I will be blogging about my experience with INSANITY over the next 60 days... giving you updates hopefully at least twice a week (I'll be posting a picture - once a week!).  If you're thinking about starting this program and have any questions - let me know!?

The first day is a Fit Test... Here are my results as well as a picture of me - taken about an hour ago.

The test itself wasn't very hard - but if you're not use to doing bootcamp style workouts - it will be painful. The Fit test utilizes a lot of quads (squats, burpees, etc.)

Well thanks for reading and wish me luck!

Day 1

MOVE	Fit Test – May 7
SWITCH KICKS	88
POWER JACYK	50
POWER KNEES	80
POWER JUMPS	30
GLOBE JUMPS	9
SUICIDE JUMPS	17
PUSH-UP JACKS	20
LOW PLANS OBLIQUE	46
WEIGHT	150.6

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Monthly Challenge - May Preview

This idea for next month's monthly challenge came to me while I was eating.  

Most of my diet consist of a dish (some sort of meat) and rice.  It dawned on me that I was really craving some broccoli - then it hit me.

Why not try being a vegetarian for a month!?

That is exactly what I will be doing for the month of May.  If you have any vegetarian recipes - please feel free to post them in the comments or shoot me an email!

Wish me luck!  I haven't been a vegetarian in ages!

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.