Mad Love for Yoga

I am flattered to be called a Yogini.  Not that it happens often but my sweet faced friend at the front desk of hauteyoga Queen Anne said it and I can't wipe the sly smile off my face.


Alyssa, (sweet faced friend) got me thinking.  I am at this studio with all these other people at 6 o'clock on a Friday night and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.  Then I started wondering how everyone else felt and why they were there.  As my mind wandered the instructors voice came into my thoughts and I started listening to what she was saying..."Everyone is here for different reasons..."

Weird.  I was just thinking that.

So why do I go to yoga?

Well I go for a couple reasons...

1. I have to fit into my NYE dress tomorrow.
2. I am in a much better mood after I sweat.
3. I was excited to see what poses and transitions we'd be attempting.
4. I read Leah's (the instructor) theme:


"Join me today at 6pm for an hour of Power! Find the space that is being created in you for something new to emerge. Let's focus on renewing for the new year!"

The other yoga peeps might have been in there for very different or similar reasons but we were all together.

2012 Goals!

What are the best NYE goals you've heard?

We have all heard the, "I want to lose 5/10/15 pounds in the new year."

I am going to get a bit more specific this year.

I am going to write everything down in detail.

For example, instead of:

1. Plan more trips.

I wrote:

1. Visit friends in California in February.

Be clear & concise on what you want in the new year & not just for resolutions,

but what you'd like in your job, your relationship, your friendships, etc.

1. Improve my friendships

Enhance that statement with:

1. Follow through with plans and answer the phone more.

You could even start right now, right this second.

Instead of 'waiting til Monday,' why not start making small changes?

Change is the only thing we can count on, it is constant, it can't be stopped.

Embrace it!

VEGAN PEPPERMINT BARK!

SO EASY IT WILL BLOW YOUR REINDEER OFF THE ROOF!

• 3/4 CUP VEGAN CHOCOLATE CHIPS
• 1/2 TSP PEPPERMINT EXTRACT
• 10 DROPS RED FOOD COLOR
• RED SPRINKLES

MICROWAVE CHOCOLATES FOR 1:30.  STIR. ADD PEPPERMINT. STIR. SPREAD OVER WAX PAPER. ADD FOOD COLOR ALL OVER SPREAD OUT CHOCOLATE. ADD RED SPRINKLES. PUT IN FRIDGE FOR 10-15 MINUTES. BREAK INTO PIECES.


ENJOY!

Salmon n' Veggie Cous Cous!

• 1 box of Near East, Original Plain Cous Cous
• Palm sized amount of salmon (already cooked/buy some from Trader Joe's/Costco)
• 2 Cups of Water
• 1 TBSP Vegan Butter (Earth Balance soy free)
• 3 pinches (depending on how much cheese you like) of Vegan Mozzarella Cheese (Daiya)
• Some carrots, broccoli & snap peas cut up (add as much or as little as you like)
• 1/2 of a lemon to squeeze
• Pepper (as much as you want)
• Mrs. Dash' no sodium spicy seasoning salt (2-3 shakes)

It's my first time "making" cous cous.  It's the easiest thing I've ever done and I was so intimidated until I read the back of the box.

• Bring water to a boil.  Add vegan butter and whole case of NEAR EAST, ORIGINAL PLAIN, COUS COUS.  Cover with top for 5 minutes.  Add salmon.  Then steam (if you'd like), and throw in some carrots, broccoli and snapped peas.  I squeezed some lemon juice, 5-10 shakes of pepper and Mrs. Dash' no sodium spicy seasoning.  A couple pinches of vegan mozzarella cheese.  Stirred it all up and BAM! Done!

Try it, it takes about 10 minutes, it's healthy and it tastes freakin' delish!  Best of all, this little concoction will probably last a week so I can eat some every day!  I'll probably add some Siracha to spice it up!

A Week in the Life

Monday: Off.
Tuesday: Host for Courtney's company party @ a Wealth Management Firm!
Wednesday: Model for M.S. Walk advertisement, Extra for XBOX commercial!
Thursday: Greeter for Bob Rivers concert at Snoqualmie Casino.
Friday-Sunday: Emcee & Promotional Model for Yamaha @ Convention Center.

BOOM!  I have a whole new respect for people on the mic.

That takes a TON of energy and memorization skills.

Probably one of the funnest jobs I've ever had and worked with the lovely singer/songwriter TIA!

27 Moments of 2011!

The greatest moments in 20ll for me, myself & I:

1. Completing a yoga teacher training course!

2. Seeing Tuscany, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome & Iceland with Alchemy Tours!

3. Receiving an accidental phone call to reveal the ugly truth but in hindsight, receiving the biggest gift.

4. Planning trips, moves & new career paths!

5. Realizing that success doesn't just happen, it takes time, effort and persistence!

6. Getting hired at Clif Bars & Co. to work for their sister company, Luna!

7. Acting for Warner Brothers!

8. Go Go dancing!

 


9. Joining the Saunders for a family reunion in South Dakota!

10. Watching the big tent dress for the Bachelor premiere (what the hell)?

11. Lauren's bachelorette party in Vegas!

12.  Teaching yoga to friends & family.

13. Seeing Sarah Short dance in her Vegas show!

14. Emcee'ing a motorcycle show.

15. Seeing Georgie in San Fransisco with Kel!

16. Working a 3 week event for Ghirardhelli!

 17. Going to Leavenworth with Steffy!

18. Becoming friends with Natalie while on a golf tournament in Friday Harbor!

19. Doing voiceovers for the video game, "Let's Cheer!"

20. Seeing Kasi Jones perform in Fremont! 

 

21. Taking Winky to her first DMB concert at the Gorge!

22. First annual wolf party at Kinkle fairy's.

23. Creating vegan desserts!

24. Being able to count on Selima Berisha & Ashleigh Hairston!

25. Making really quality friends in 2011.

 
 

 

26. Molly Johnston & Kelly Stovin.

27.

After looking through the last 12 months of pictures, I realized how much has happened and how much  has changed.  I didn't include all memories of 2011 because not all of the images are good.  It's important to see what 2011 has brought you and what you've brought to 2011.  What will 2012 look like for you?  I'm going to write down everything I'd like to accomplish in 2012 and while I'm at it I am going to bless and release the negative and positives of 2011.

Happy Almost 2012!!!

Get what you want out of 2012 & leave 2011 in the past!

10 Cures for Winter Blues

If you live in Seattle or a place that gets cold in the winter time, then you might be familiar with the winter blues.  In this state of mind, we start to hibernate, drink more coffee and cancel plans to avoid facing the breath sucking cold air.  We start planning vacations to places where there's sunshine and mai tai's.

If you experience the

lack of energy and motivation

I do around December, keep reading.

I'm practicing the power of 'I Wills' this winter:

1.  I will go to more hot yoga.

2.  I will drink hot water with lemon.

3.  I will wear a hood.

4.  I will plan a trip to Hawaii.

5.  I will eat (slurp) soup with Siracha for added internal heat.

6.  I will wear warm clothes while driving.

7.  I will jump on the bed to increase my heart rate.

8.  I will think of things that

make me smile.

9.  I will daydream (not heat inducing but fun).

10.  I will make a fire.

After I complete my ten steps to survive this winter, I will create 10 more.