DauNae.com

A new life adventure for me – Coaching Soccer!

Having played since I was 8 years old, soccer has been a very important part of my life and played a role in forming who I am today.

While contemplating playing co-rec this fall I thought, why not look into coaching this fall instead?  So I went to work on applying to
some high schools in the area, and having never coached before, I was looking for assistant positions primarily.

As the weeks rolled on by, the end of July loomed close, narrowing my chances,  I figured this might not happen for me right now in my life. 

Ring!  Ring!  Ring! 
Then at the end of the month I received a call! 

I interviewed for an opportunity at a local High School as the girls 9th grade team B coach.  I slept on it and talked to my boss and then said yes!  It is a crazy time commitment and I am not even going to pretend it is not.   However, I am enjoying this adventure.  Seriously, I look at this as an adventure because I am learning so much while taking on this role.  I have to be an example to the girls in so many ways.  The planning of practices, putting together line-ups, and keeping the fun there is a whole job and a difficult one at that.   Each of the girls brings something to the team and to my world as well.  I am taking this in and just letting every day be its own and when this adventure is said and done I will have to take time to reflect on its entirety.  Goal!!

I thought I would send an update that I am back to my yoga practice.

This Fall I will be giving some time to different yoga studios in the metro area.  I want to check out different locations so that I can find a place where  I feel it will be best to
work on my skills more long term. 

Yoga came into my life as a more serious activity in the past 2 years and it has been a great way
for me to be quiet and just breathe!

I am currently checking out sessions at the Sigh Yoga studio in Minneapolis for the next month. 
So far I have enjoyed the space and the fun Friday Happy Hour yoga was unique.
I am looking forward to taking time to focus on my yoga practice;
taking the time for myself….so needed!

(Picture I took from the Northshore last fall & when I look at it, it makes me think of peace & calm)

The first half of this year has been a whirlwind

There has been so much happening.  Living on my own, having a ton of fun with my friends, starting a dinner club, and sports have begun.  I realize that I had focused on finding my own place and made it happen.  I wanted to find new ways to enjoy my friends and started the dinner club.  I love being active so softball and volleyball are underway.  The big area for me is the career focus.  I just made a transition within my company that will be a fresh change but as always, I am focused on learning and growing.  That is the game plan for the next part of the year. 

  The Italy trip had to be cancelled. 

Which means I have to remove my awesome countdown widget.  But have NO fear… I will find something else to use the countdown clock for because I am a fan of it.

So I took a look at the list below with goals I have for the new year and I am slacking a little bit here.  I did work on my snowboarding but not as much as I had hoped and some of it was the weather; too cold or too warm.  However, looks like I need to start getting to those items because it’s already April.

Amazing how fast time can fly by when you least expect it to.

………….soon to come – info on my ‘new’ place.

2009 was a fun-filled year with lots of personal challenges but I learned so much about me.
As I look back at the last year and think of the goals I have accomplished, I am very pleased.  I Did my 5k, I did learn to snowboard and am getting better everytime, I went skydiving, I have done some cooking but the bigger thing on that is that I have expanded my palet.  I have been really good about trying new foods and I find it really fun.  I bought my own car, and am working on paying off some debts and getting my feet back on the ground.  I traveled to California and did a small trip to the North Shore as well.  Many great memories with my friends new and old.  Have had some of the old love and lost moments in there too. All in all, I feel that 2009 left a huge mark on my heart and who I am.

2010 is here and it came in with a blow but I needed that to be reminded about my goals and if you know me, I always have something I am working on or want to accomplish. 
So for this year I am working on:

Run a 10K

Sing a solo at a karoke bar

Volunteer work (I am looking at animal shelters)

Continue my snowboarding (need a helmet – getting that good)

Practicing Yoga  (I am loving it and considering getting certified someday)

Blogging & Web Knowledge (I want to learn how to run my sites even better & educate myself)

I am sure I will find more things to try and accomplish that will happen upon me.  For example the big one right now is the trip to Italy I am taking with a friend of mine.  We are super excited. 
Girls Trip to Italy baby! 
You can follow along with the countdown clock on the left column.  I am chomping at the bit and have a nervous excitement about it all.  You will be posted on that adventure of course! 

An outing with my nieces! Started our adventure out with lunch at SmashBurger, enjoying burgers and a yummy malt – three straws please!!

Then it was downtown to see Mary Poppins at the Orpheum Theatre.

The best moment was jammin down 1st Ave while listening to Mylie Cyrus’ version of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. I was seriously shouting the words with them and laughing on the inside. Show was great and I am glad I had the day with them and had some memories made.
Lunch: $20 * 3 Tickets to Mary Poppins: $240 * Day together: Priceless

It is SO important to take time with friends to laugh and dance!  This was our 2nd annual Downtown adventure and we had a fabulous time.  We stayed at The Hotel Ivy, Dinner at Masa’s and hit up 5 clubs.  Crashed with pizza delivery in the room.  It was a “Good – Good – Night!”

I can’t believe I am approaching my 8th and final wedding this year.  
If you count that up and divide it out (April – August) it averages to 1.5 wedding events per month.  CrAzY !!!!

So, it has been a fun time with family and friends (new and old) but people keep asking me when the wedding season will be ending for me – because of my age group I imagine.  I never know how to answer that question.  I do have a large family with many cousins in all ages from 40’s to 4 months and that leads to many weddings over time. Plus, I have friends in many age ranges and stages of life – some on their 2nd weddings. 

However, if you have wondered where I have been from April to August – I have been celebrating with some adult beverages and Chicken Dance Moves

So, I have talked about doing this for about 3 years and decided that this was the year for the leap! Went on June 25th with 4 other people.  We were supposed to jump in the morning but the weather was not good so we killed time in Amery and then kept checking back.  We got lucky and the weather cleared up and were able to jump in the evening.  It all happened so fast from the time we arrived to getting on the plane.
Next thing I knew I was sitting on the edge of a plane about to fall out…..

13,000 Feet – 120MPH Free Fall

Thanks to those who joined in my adventure and those who supported me!

I am actually a little afraid of heights but funnily enough jumping from an airplane isn’t really a heights thing as much as you would think.

I did my first 5k run on April 25th with my friends Kylie, Jody, and Naomi. We also met up with Tim that day too (thanks for taking our picture btw) .  We did the Minneapolis Get in Gear Run and there were a ton of people.  It was a tad cold out but we all managed.  Kylie and Jody did the 10k because they are rockstar runners!  I had only been training up to 2 miles of running so the fact that I ran the entire thing without stopping was awesome and I was super proud of myself…still am!