Yoga

I have never felt healthier in my life than when I practiced a hundred days straight of Bikrim yoga. My good friend Ingrid introduced me to hot yoga about four years ago. It took about six months for the benefits to wear off when I had to quit due to schedule conflicts. I really should have reconsidered my priorities then. The benefits being that I had very little stress despite living with several roommates and taking engineering classes at Humboldt State. Oh, and I had a crazy, crazy boss. Yoga pulled me through. Eventually however, the pressure of being a good college student, working full time and trying to demand boundaries from my roommates took its toll.

Later, I went on a fabulous detox diet which included eating a ton of garlic! Yum! Funny, I just realized that the guy I was dating at the time never complained about the garlic but the guy before that totally resented the yoga class. Hot buff girl or stinky garlic girl, take your pick. Perhaps because he was a ocean fisherman that he cared little for smell? Ah well, that is a story for another time. The detox was almost as beneficial as the yoga. I had great skin and no heartburn the whole diet. And I slept really well. Oh, and I had an even crazier boss during the detox. Maybe I was symbolically ridding him from my system.

All this yoga detox thought came about from some recent horrid pictures taken on my Memorial Day wine fest with Portland friends posted by those same friends on my facebook page. Great, now everybody knows that I only post the really flattering pics of myself on my profile (did someone say photoshop?). Granted, it is unfair to judge yourself when the pictures were taken midday without make-up, little sleep and with a slight hangover. But, still! Even under those conditions one cannot hide the love handles spewing over the sides of her skirt. Sigh...

I have been to the gym, like, four whole times this year. So, I am, you know, making an effort to get healthy. Yeah. And, apparently, this thing called "cardio" actually contributes to weight loss. K, whatever. Maybe I could get off the computer for a few minutes a day and practice yoga with my baby. She has already demonstrated her desire to get started.

Isabella showing off downward facing dog.

Here is an additional link to some Bikrim yoga poses: http://www.yoga-108.net/bikram_postures.htm

Found Browsing the Etsy Forums

While working in food service, before my current position as mom (extraordinare), I often experienced similar ridiculous situations in which people tried to argue prices of food for sale. "Um, 45 cents for a donut? Outrage! You should be ashamed of yourself...", "I want the soda for free then!", and "Make that a heavy pour, your tip depends on it" etc. My usual response was to smile and/or use sarcasm.  So, when I watched this youtube montage I laughed out loud because it really hits home with me. 

I am not sure how people learned to be this way. I guess it works for them. I don't have the gall. Even as an exchange student in Thailand ten years ago, where the cultural norm is to haggle over goods, I just paid the extra couple of baht so as to not deal with the stress. Maybe I don't want people to think I am a cheapskate. Not to judge those who do ask for a discount. Just don't be a jerk about not getting your way. And don't make the lowly minimum wage employee feel like they ruined your whole life because they have no control over what the business charges. Please.

On with the show:

Cowboy Wisdom

I listed some cowgirl earrings today and just for fun I looked up some cowboy lingo. I found some great cowboy sayings that I should probably heed. I suggest saying them in your best Old West accent. On to the cowboy wisdom:

Never miss a good chance to shut up.(serious note to self)

Forgive your enemies. It messes with their heads.

Don't corner something meaner than you.

You can never tell which way the pickle's goin' to squirt.(this one is oddly amusing to my dirty, dirty mind!)

Always drink upstream from the herd.

Don't worry about bitin' off more'n you can chew; your mouth is probably a whole lot bigger'n you think.(hahaha!)

Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

Speak your mind, but ride a fast horse.(very good advice for me)

Never drink unless you're alone or with somebody.(okay, if I have to!)

Always take a good look at what you're about to eat. It's not so important to know what it is, but it's good to know what it was.

Don't judge people by their relatives. (please)

The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back in your pocket.(hmm...but that is really no fun)

Don't squat with your spurs on. (lol!)

So, yeah. I had a good chuckle at all of these. Oh, and say you want something from my shop. Well, just mention this post and maybe your fave quote here (or at checkout) and I'll give you 25% off any item. 

Wait, what? You want another baby video?

Well, okay! Here you go:

One Year Later...

Asia Stasch's garden of glorious poppies! I don't think there is a prettier or more peaceful garden in all of Portland.

Here are pictures of Isabella and Auntie Danyel gardening May of 2008. 

Here's Isabella one year later "helping" garden this season. She loves wet dirt. I think she gets that from me. 

Gettin' Tech Savvy

Ooooh, oooh, oooh! Look what I can do! I just posted a video to youtube. Yeah, it is of my child (surprise, surprise) but, I think I am pretty darn cool as a result. Stand in line to pat me on the back. 

Mother's Day Weekend

 

Well, I had a spectacular Mother's Day weekend! After stuffing myself on gourmet french toast for breakfast we spent the entire day just playing and having fun. The gorgeous bouquet of pink and white tulips were hand selected by my fourteen month old and her Dada. I was also surprised with a sweet pink teapot to add to my tea party collection. Sigh, I am loved!

We spent the next day at the beach. Isabella had a great time playing in the waves and sand. She is such an adventurous bug. We got a good start on our summer tans and took some time for a family photo shoot. Great weekend altogether.