X-Pole Presents - Michigan Dance & Air Festival

This past weekend I had a blast spending time with my pole peeps at The Michigan Dance & Air festival.

The workshops were great, the showcase and competition were amazing, and I met some wonderful people involved in the pole community.

Seriously BRAV-FRICKIN -O to those of you who put on this event and made it fab. Miss Charley Crystal  you are awesome.

The classes I chose to take were with Karol and David. Originally the workshops I signed up to take with Karol were supposed to be with Leigh Ann Reilly. She was unable to attend for whatever reason so Karol stepped in/was asked to fill in for her. 

Karol Helms is dear to me because she, Leigh Ann, Alethea, and Felix are the ones who got me inspired to start pole. You Tube videos were/are my secret obsession and have been since 2007. It wasn't till 2011 that I actually took a class, but by that point I was already well aware of the typical pole lingo and list of pros.

I personally learn most from watching, and if it wasn't for these ladies posting their accomplishments, fails, and tutorials I would not have found such a powerful form of expression. So I just wanted to say (If any of these women read this blog by some chance).... Thank You. Thank you for not giving a shit about what others thought at the time and posting the videos to share with the world.

I can now proudly say up to this point in my pole career, I have had the chance to take classes with....

(click on the name and it will take you to their page and or bio)

David Owen

Hes so flexy it blows my mind.

Also, this is my first pic with a pole pro that doesn't make me look like a damn giant.

check out the video below I took of his awesomeness in Michigan.

Karol Helms

Still Miss Sexy to me.

This one below is from Midwest 2012.  I have an Issue asking people for pics with me because I feel like its  gotta be annoying to somebody that gets asked that question all the time. I forgot to ask her for a pic  in Michigan but Im sure Ill see her again at Midwest.

Heres the video I took of her fierce little self in  Michigan.

Estee Zakar

Her abs are insane just like her warm-ups. Took this workshop with her at the Great Midwest Pole Dance Comp/Convention last year.

Alethea Austin

Owner of the new Chrome Bar in Tennessee.

I feel like I know these people even before I meet them being that I have been taking lessons from their videos for so long. So It makes it super hard when you actually meet them in real life to know that they have no clue who the hell you are. I can say "I watch your videos!" or something along those lines. I feel like that statement could translate to them as " im a creepy stalker". So just know im not...or am I. MUAHHH HA HA HA.

Someday I hope to have somebody come up to me and say the same.I wont stop trying until I get there. One year down many to go.

Heres a few  pics /videos from the past weekend.

This was sick!

JD Boyz

Thank you David for helping me clean up my lines!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Bad Kitty Brazil Pole Fit shorts.

I take donations size Medium please...lol

My most recent pole inspiration 

Miss Nadia Shariff 

This Petite ball of fire can do some amazing things with a cube.

Aerial Amy

She is STUNING. Check out her blog !

She was put on the spot to demonstrate how to do a booty pop. NAILED IT!

Michelle Mynx 

My friends from Indiana along with our modern day burlesque queen.

Please notice Teresa's got Michelle's bra strap in her mouth......love these ladies.

Charley,myself ,and the one and only Joel Lessig

Shadow

aka: Caelma Duffy

This brought me to tears.

Gorgeous and powerful

Needless to say after taking those workshops I mentioned earlier my body now looks like it was attacked by a pack of angry wolves . that just so happened to be carrying baseball bats.

My next adventure will be at the Venus Pole Festival in Merrillville Indiana April 27th and 28th.

Nadia,Aerial Amy ,and Kelly Yvonne will be offering workshops! YEAHHHH!

Here is the Link. See you there!

Venus Pole Fest

A MIRACLE...

Happy Sunday!

If you all remember a while back last year I was going to enter a pole competition and I chickened out. Ring a bell?  If not click below.

yep im a coward

I decided this year I was going to face my fears and just submit being that the semi finals are being held at my home studio Studio Venus  . We are holding the elite division semi finals and I am NOT elite...however I figured I had nothing to loose other than my dignity.

Long behold after submitting this garbage video of huge mistakes and awkwardness...

I EFFIN MADE IT TO THE SEMI FINALS!

I know its hard to believe after seeing the train wreck of a video so here is the link to the competition page.  My name is right there at the bottom for proof....

Venus Pole Festival elite competitors

I am going into this knowing I will not win and honestly its not even possible. I just dont wanna look like an ass hole compared to the awesome ( deserving ) competitors.The mandatory compulsory moves were there in my video so im guessing thats the only reason I made it. Or maybe its like American Idol where they purposely put through the worst singers to go in front of the judges for a laugh?
 Anyway I am pumped to meet these amazing women and to take some workshops with Nadia Sharif, Aerial Amy, and Kelly Yvonne.

Hey..whats the worst thing that can happen right??

Hells Yeah!

Ok most of you know I am a huge fan of Cleo so it should be no surprise that I am PUMPED about this! I also was told by Cleo herself (on facebook )she will be in the US this summer and thats even better!

FINALLY! Some new hot pole wear. I cant wait to get my hands on some of these!

Cleo has been busy as FUCK  hell!

Its hard to find stuff thats not the typical black shorts and sports bra.

Rockin fitness wear link!!!

( Save me a pair of mediums ok people? ) 

NEW DVD! 

I will be adding this to my collection as well!

check out the video below.

I cant wait!

Injury Pity Party

Ouch right? Imagine how life would be like if this could happen just from turning a corner while walking in your house. Well no need...this has happened 4 times to me over the past week.

The picture above shows a very painful condition that I unfortunately have apparently due to being skinny and being born this way.

The past few weeks it has been acting up and I have done nothing pole related since January 6th. I cant handle it.

This is how my wine dependency started it went down...

January 6th life was good. I submitted my video to the online round for the  Midwest Regional elite division pole competition. Im not thrilled with it however it has the compulsory moves required and at least I had the balls  courage this time to submit a video.

And here starts the pitty party that I typically keep to my self but, for the the love of god I have to get this off my chest!

The next day I woke up and it was instantly like my body had aged 50 years.

I knew this was not my typical after workout soreness...this was something much worse. So I went to my Dr and long story short I have to gain more muscle in my legs to help stabilize my knee caps. I lost alot of muscle mass the past year that I have been doing pole because I have not used any weights just my own body. I thought being lean was great however gaining  weight was suggested by my Dr to help with joint support .Ill start weight lifting again soon as my knees are not quite as painful.Maybe physical therapy and plenty of ice/heat will help as well.

  So in conclusion my knee caps have all the sudden decided to make my life hell and are apparently trying to talk my hips into becoming a part of their plan to put me 6 feet under as they too are now aching for no reason. .

Oh on a semi-positive note my 45 mm chrome x-pert X pole came in the mail.!!!

Its perfect! 

 However I cannot use it due to fear of my knee popping out and passing out due to the pain.So I just sit and look at it, cry into my glass of wine, and hope that its all a bad dream.

I think I may try knitting,chess,or get a rascal scooter to make my quality of life better.

OK OK...

 I know its not the the end of the world but seriously its painful and not fair.

Stretching hurts, I have no internet at home, I cant use my pole, and Im sooo sad.

Positives:

#1. I have been wearing lotion every day because there is now no fear that I will slip off the pole. and fall 9 feet to my death.

#2. I can get a cane and use it as a weapon.

and

#3. Its a good reason to buy a good pair of gym shoes for work with better support. I love shoes.

I have alot of topics I want to cover and will soon as I have internet at home. thanks for listening to me whine my ass off. wahh

<3 linz

thanks raccoon.

Movember

Ah yes Happy Movember! Yes I said Movember not November.

Here is the link below.

What the hell is Movember?

I had no clue until my female soul mate friend Ann told me about it.Cancer is a bitch sucks so click below to donate.

Donate and kick cancer in the balls

Get involved!

Election day sale!

Its election day 2012! My vote is in and I hope yours is too.

I seriously hope not....

 I found a great sale going on for pole fitness wear in honor of election day. I LOVE this brand!

Zweet sport has a great selection of awesome pole fitness stuff. I love their Jaco Combo shorts Medium weight. I wear a size 4-6 and a size medium is perfect. 

Coupon code is : ELECTIONDAY2012

click here for Zweet pole fitness wear sale!

Progress

Happy Sunday!

Ok so I know I promised a video in my last blog entry but I lied.  I was never able to make it happen. I was going to put together a video similar to those " shit people say" videos on you tube that involves pole but,

life got in the way a bit. Awkward silence, disapointed sigh, eye roll etc......

The title of this post is "Progress" however its not pole related. Please refer back to my first entry and you will see this blog is about pole, barrel racing, and my house progress. So here are a few photos I have taken from April 2012 to present of our new come construction. We started building our 2500 sq foot ranch with full basement in April 2012 and are hoping to be in end of this month.So that means we will be in in sometime in December because anything a contractor tells you regarding a time frame is a dirty lie. Add at least a week to whatever they tell you.  This comes to mind...

I wish you weren't a liar! Will Ferrell on SNL was pure genius.

The picture above was taken about the end of 4/12.  I was hoping to just fill  the hole with water and make a swimming pool but my husband thought putting a house there would be more practical better.

beginning of May...ish..yep Mayish.

Fast forward to end of May. 

Me by the soon to be fireplace. Sweet scrubs

Spare bedroom walls 6/12

Fast forward to June. This is the back of the house. Its much larger than the front being that our house is curved.

End of June/July

Exterior color for the house was by far the hardest decision to make. We went with LP Smartside. It took be 2 weeks to narrow it down to 2 colors. The color we chose looks green/grey/or tan depending on the lighting.

siding

Anderson windows and front of the house 

 Unstained front door ( Therma Tru )

Part of the back of the house

stone in the front 8/12

stone on the back porch pillars.The pillars will be wrapped in  a white aluminium column.

view of front yard 9/12

living room 9/12

entry/staircase 9/12

 This is part of the whole house speaker system. This was the hubbys idea along with the whole house vacuum system

Ah yes our hardwood. After being sent 100 boxes of the wrong stuff we had to wait an extra 2 weeks for the right stuff to be shipped from California.Its Ark brand Maple woo. The color is Kahlua. 

 tile

stairs going in

garage door

Island 11-2-12

 This is part of  the kitchen.We went with Kraftmaid cabinets in white. the Island is dark for some contrast.Hardwood was a no brainier in the kitchen being that it is wayyyyy cheaper than our tile and im cheap something that can be refinished.

The cabinet style

These are our Faucets for the bathrooms. Delta Dryden.

More to come! Feel free to ask any questions about materials so far.