blueberry-lime muffins



Blueberry-lime muffins I made from the 500 cupcakes book. They turned out yummy! The lime gives it a different twist. I like to have them for breakfast. Pop them in the microwave for 20 sec. is just like they came out of the oven!

RECIPE
1/2 cup (1 stick) margarine, softened (I used butter)
1 cup superfine sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup fat-free milk (I use soy milk)
2 cups self-rising flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 tbsp. grated lime zest

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place 18 paper baking cups in muffin pans.

Combine the margarine and sugar with an electric mixer until soft and creamy. Add the eggs slowly and mix well. Beat in the vanilla and milk.

Sift the flour and baking powder and stir into the batter until just combined. Fold in blueberries and lime zest.

Spoon the mixture into the cups. Bake for 20 min. Remove pans from the oven and cool for 5 min. Then remove cupcakes and cool on a rack.

Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

CLASSES

All classes are on the normal schedule this week.

Hallmark Class
REMINDER: This Thursday, 4/24, is the last day of the spring session. We'll have 1-week break. The summer 8-week session begins May 8th.

Love Your Summer Workout

Summer is almost here! The only problem with hot weather is that, well, it's so darn hot outside. Here are five tips on working out in hot weather.

1. Adjust your body temperature
Hop into a cold shower before your workout. A German study this year found that a pre-exercise cooldown improves performance in the heat -- probably because it lowers your heart rate as well as core and skin temperatures. Too chicken to try it? Even just cooling your neck or head with an ice pack may make a difference.

2. Cool down with essential oils
Dabbing a few drops of peppermint or eucalyptus oil on the back of your neck and at your temples just before your workout provides a cooling effect and also opens up your nasal passages, so you can breathe a little easier when the air is humid, says Minna Lessig, creator of the Tank Top Arms, Bikini Belly, Boy Shorts Bottom DVD. In fact, research has found that athletes who sniffed peppermint during their workout ran faster, had greater grip strength, and could do more push-ups than those who didn't.

3. Practice random acts of fitness
Sneak in little bits of exercise with some summer-friendly activities. For example: Washing the car for 30 minutes burns about 100 calories for a 140-pound woman; gardening burns 128. Other options: throwing a Frisbee, walking the dog, playing a game of volleyball (all about 100 calories), mowing the lawn (176 calories), biking around the neighborhood (192 calories), or hula-hooping, which burns about 50 calories in just 10 minutes.

4. Protect your head
A mesh visor is a great way to shield your face from the sun while still allowing excess heat to escape from your head. One good option: the Nike Feather Light Visor ($18, nike.com), which has a Dri-Fit terry sweatband to move moisture away from the skin and mesh insets to keep cool breezes flowing. If you're biking, consider one of the new helmets that have deep vents to provide breezy airflow, such as Specialized's new Decibel bike helmet ($170, specialized.com) and Giro Pneumo ($145, giro.com).

5. Refuel with fruit
They're more than 80 percent water, so fruits such as grapes, watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew are a tasty way to replenish fluids and boost your energy post-workout, says Leslie Bonci, RD, director of sports medicine nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Keep 'em frozen for a refreshing treat. Other good options: Smoothies, frozen yogurt, or Jell-O with fruit chunks. "They provide the perfect mix of carbs and fluid and they're easily digestible in the summer heat," explains Bonci. If you've lost a lot of salt (hint: your clothes have white sweat stains after a workout), replace sodium by drinking V8 or a sports drink.

from "fitness" magazine

CLASS CHANGES THIS WEEK!

Hallmark ZUMBA
No class this Thursday. We're having class Tuesday 4/15 @ 5:30pm.

On Thursday I'll be participating in the RedLine benefit fashion show.


KC Metropolitan Dance Theatre
There will be a sub this Saturday, 4/19.

I'll be getting all four of my wisdom teeth out on Friday. So I'll be in bed with a swollen face :(

Relay For Life® of UMKC, MO

The event was cancelled due to the awful weather. It's April already... why is it still cold and snowy?

I was looking forward to it. But relieved when I got the call that it was cancelled. Doing ZUMBA @ 2:30am in 40 degree weather was going to be, uh... interesting.

Relay For Life® of UMKC, MO

April 11th-12th (6:00 PM - 6:00 AM)
at UMKC Swinney

Relay For Life®, the American Cancer Society's signature event, is a fun-filled overnight experience designed to bring together those who have been touched by cancer. Relay participants help raise money and awareness to support the American Cancer Society in its lifesaving mission to eliminate cancer as a major health issue. During Relay For Life ® events, teams of people gather at parks and take turns walking or running laps. The events are held overnight to represent the fact that cancer never sleeps.

At 2:30am on Saturday the 12th I'll be having a ZUMBA session to keep participants motivated to continue the relay until 6am. I'm super excited to be involved in this community event.

If you want to be a part of the fight against cancer, please donate or sign up today for the Relay For Life of UMKC, MO.