FLIP + CHING

We Made It To Labor Day

Posted on September 2, 2019 by Ching under Health, Zumba.

I taught my final outdoor water class today at South YMCA. This year as been the best year for me for water classes. First, I picked up some extra classes, so instead of teaching only one Aqua Zumba class like last year (and only during the summer), I’ve actually been teaching an average of four Aqua Zumba classes each week. In the peak of summer, I was actually teaching five water classes.

I always like learning new things so I was super excited to have the opportunity to teach Water Walk this year. I really didn’t want to teach it at first but there was no one else available so I took a couple of classes and shadowed another instructor a couple of times and then I jumped right in. I still prefer teaching Aqua Zumba but I’m happy that I can now add Water Walk to my repertoire.

Another cool thing is that I’ve had some friends visit my water classes, which I appreciate so much. My friend Stephanie came out to South YMCA a couple of times. I love it when Stephanie comes to take class because she really knows what she’s doing and it’s fun to watch her do the exercises in the water. I also like getting her feedback. She knows her stuff so it helps me get better.

Brynden got to shadow me a few times before summer was over. She completed her Aqua Zumba training at ZINCON this year so she’s now licensed to teach the format. She’s been doing a few songs in class and I look forward to her teaching her own Aqua Zumba classes. She’s going to be great!

Now that outdoor water classes have wrapped, here’s my Aqua Zumba schedule going forward:

Sunday 10:30 – 11:15 AM at South YMCA
Sunday 12:00 – 1:00 PM at North YMCA (we are taking a break during the month of September, though)
Thursday 5:45 – 6:45 PM at Genesis West Central
Saturday 8:45 – 9:45 AM at VASA Fitness

If you’ve never tried Aqua Zumba before, I highly recommend you do. It is an amazing workout and one that’s not as impacting on knees and joints. I hope to see you at the pool sometime!

1 Comment

Anniversary Grub

Posted on September 2, 2019 by Ching under Food and Drink.

Brian and I spent the eve of our 17th wedding anniversary at the movies. We went to see Hobbs and Shaw. I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

I also enjoyed watching Brian eat his flatbread pizza which they conveniently forgot to slice for him. Always wanting to do things the hard way, Brian didn’t go back for a knife and slice the pizza. He just picked the whole thing up and started eating it.

On the day of our actual anniversary, we didn’t have any major plans. I still had to teach my regular Saturday morning Aqua Zumba and Zumba classes. So after my last class, we had lunch at Wichita Brewing Co — one of our most favorite places to eat pizza — and then stopped by Edgemoor Park to see how the Hot as Hades Pickleball Tournament was going.

I had a couple of raspberry arnies, my favorite drink at WBC, so I was a bit woozy. LOL. I think being dehydrated from my workouts didn’t help matters any.

After staying at the park for a bit, we went home to get cleaned up for our anniversary dinner in Netwon. I wanted to take Brian to the Italian restaurant that I discovered when I went to Newton with the Zumba girls on 4th of July.

Before dinner we made a side trip to Buhler to look at sunflowers. Unfortunately, the sunflowers hadn’t bloomed yet so we didn’t actually get to see any sunflowers that night. On the plus side, at least we know where the farm is now.

Dinner that night was at Genova Italian Restaurant in Newton. I’m just realizing it now but Brian wore his olive green Wicked Brew shirt earlier that day and then also his olive green, short-sleeved Express button down shirt that night. You’d like olive green was his favorite color. He does have a lot of army green, camo stuff.

Here are some pictures of our food. Pictured above is the delicious bread that they serve. It’s my absolute favorite thing about Genova. It is so good with the oil and vinegar they serve along with it. The best part is that it’s pretty much “all you can eat” when it comes to their bread. They give you as much as you want and they even give you fresh ones to take home if you ask.

Brian had the meat ravioli which he said was very good. I had the chicken parmigiana with spaghetti.

We shared a slice of tiramisu for dessert. It was yummy!

We didn’t do anything too spectacular this year for our anniversary because 17 isn’t really one of the milestone ones. Besides, we celebrate our marriage everyday that we’re together. And, realistically speaking, we had two big trips this year already (Costa Rica and ZINCON) and we have another one coming up so we were both totally fine with not having an anniversary getaway.

However, it’s been at least a couple of months since our last couples massage so I think we’re about due for one of those. Anyway, this month has been a blast… Actually, this life has been a blast. I feel super blessed that I get to share it with someone as wonderful, thoughtful, caring, and kind as Brian. I look forward to everyday that we get to spend together.

Until next time. GNG.

Comment on This

Wichita Corporate Challenge

Posted on September 1, 2019 by Ching under Events, Hobbies.

We didn’t do so hot on the Wichita Corporate Challenge this year but I got to play pickleball and had a ton of fun!

I got to hang out with these fabulous people (from left: Jeremy, Frank, Tara, and Abby; below: my partner, Chris) for an afternoon, met some people from Pickleball Connection in real life, and made some new friends.

One of the players I met at the event that day invited me to be on her team for a pickleball league at Chicken N Pickle. It just so happened that my Wednesday night Aqua Zumba class was ending and I would have Wednesday nights free. Anyway, the stars aligned because I’d not found a league that worked with my schedule until then. I decided to join at the very moment and now we’re on a team together. I am super excited to play in my first ever pickleball league. I hope it helps me improve my game. If nothing else, at least I’ll have something to do on Wednesday nights.

I just love how Pickleball Connection brings people together.

Speaking of Pickleball Connection, it’s amazing to me how a group we started on January 19 with just a handful of people has grown to almost 500. It’s actually much bigger than the Wichita Zumba group now. How awesome is that?

Comment on This

Taco Fest with the Dills

Posted on August 31, 2019 by Ching under Food and Drink.

Just a few pics from Taco Fest a few weeks ago.

It was a lot of fun but the lines were long and plentiful. There were long lines at every taco shop/stand. Good thing we were smart and we decided to divide and conquer. I can’t remember if it was Mama Dill or Jay who came up with the plan.

We basically decided to split up and each take a line and then order the five tacos each (technically the maximum you can order but somehow Mama Dill was able to get ten tacos at this one shop because they let her) and then we were all supposed to meet up and trade so, in essence, this allowed us to try five different tacos without having to wait in five lines. Work smarter, not harder. LOL.

So, the tacos were cheap but the drinks were super expensive. Even water cost a lot so you might as well have a margarita.

Not having been to Taco Fest before, I really didn’t know what to expect. It was ridiculous. I have to say if it wasn’t for Jay, Becca, and Mama Dill, it would have been a bust. They made it fun.

I can’t believe people are willing to pay to get in to the event and walk for miles to get in (there wasn’t any parking nearby because everyone and their uncle was there) and stand in crazy long lines to buy tacos and pay exorbitant amounts of money for mediocre beer and margaritas. Now that I’ve been, I probably wouldn’t go again.

At least we had good music and good company.

Afterward, Jay bough everyone ice cream from Flavors — formerly College Hill Creamery. I didn’t even know they changed their name until that day. We took a group photo which I wanted to post here but I can’t find it. I think we must have taken it on someone else’s phone.

Anyway, we had a ton of fun hanging out with the Dills. We always have such a great time no matter where we are. Until next time. GNG.