saturday SPLURGE breakfast...

enjoyed on this beautiful, blustery MONDAY!

we were out and about all weekend, which left me here, on this monday morning with a messy house, backed-up laundry and a craving for a hot {sweet} breakfast.

G and i were both up with our angel-faced early riser around 7. i made coffee and asked him if he wanted (my all-time favorite go-to hot breakfast item) pancakes.

he said "na. BUT, babe, the cook offshore (from New Orleans) made this awesome stuffed french toast with cream cheese and raspberry jelly...oh man, you should make that!"

i quickly did the mental ingredient check in my mind (eggs, check, milk, check, bread, check, cream cheese, check, raspberry jam, check!)

i reached deep into my virtual cookbook (google) and found the perfect recipe.

Raspberry & Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast:

Ingredients

• 8 slices oatnut bread
• 1/2 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam
• 5 eggs, beaten
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
• 1 tablespoon butter

my modifications were: honey wheat bread instead of oatnut, vanilla SOY milk instead of regular milk (which we don't drink), 1 teaspoon of VANILLA extract instead of almond extract and of course, i sprinkled some cinnamon in the batter for good measure.

Directions

1. Spread 4 slices oatnut bread on one side with cream cheese. Spread remaining 4 slices on one side with raspberry jam. Press cream cheese slices together with jam slices, forming sandwiches.

2. In a medium, shallow bowl, beat together the eggs, milk and almond extract.

3. Melt butter in a large, heavy skillet over medium high heat. Dip sandwiches in the egg mixture to coat. Place in the skillet, and cook on both sides until golden brown.

 perfectly paired with {strong} brewed Starbucks Pike Place roast.

 delicious alone, or with a sprinkle of powdered sugar and drizzle of maple syrup!

yep, it's extra cardio for me tonight, but it was worth EVERY flavor-filled bite.

 Kai enjoyed his breakfast, too (mashed banana, then bottle).

he loves to touch our face while he eats, it's a comfort thing for him, i think.

{love}

now he's down for his morning nap, and it's dishes, laundry and bathroom-cleanin' time for me!

{praying to hear some good news this week regarding my interview last week

AND

for G's work to pick up!}

but regardless of work, phone calls and paychecks

i am constantly reminded that

we are in good hands.

HIS hands.

so i am {choosing} joy.

it's gonna be a good week.

purse-hooks, planks and red-heads.

another good weekend

full of family & friends....

love

&

laughter.

 saturday night i got to escape for a couple hours with some of my favorites

(sarah, heather & nanny...and wine and cheese!)

we listened to live music and shared a couple of bottles of wine and great conversation at Roxy Wine Bar downtown Kennewick. it is a great little place that offers a comfortable yet trendy environment.

(i left baby boy in good hands with Daddy and Grandma G).

i couldn't help but notice how much my stamina for the night life has been greatly compromised by motherhood. i hadn't been "out" for a year and four months and as i sat there i felt like an old shell of myself.

tired.

older. wiser.

{happier}

 yes, this is a PURSE HOOK.

sarah proudly busted this out of her purse (as i was kicking my bag under the table and letting it slide across the dirty bar floor...) and illustrated a genuine benefit of a seemingly ridiculous knick-knack. classic.

Plank Pose (Kai likes yoga, too!)

Kai has been really enjoying plank pose as of late.

he is taking the crawling business more serious with each day (boo!)

and we are cracking up over all of his efforts at movement.

he scoots on his tummy, rolls himself to where he wants to go,

but the plank has definitely been his fave...

Kai was born with a head full of fuzzy blondish hair.

we were SURE he would be a tow-head as we both most definitely were....

but with each day that Kai grew, his hair turned slowly from blonde

to blond(ish)

to {strawberry}.

his eyelashes and eybrows are invisible

until light is reflected onto them

and they are most definitley

blonde with the slightest tint of

{orange}.

my, how we love our busy growing little redhead.

whose giant gummy grin and big baby blues

has {brightened} our life.

 Kai and his five-year-old cousin Cole

 (who is trying to stretch Kai's chubby cheeks into a smile).

{adorable}

Cole has THE most kissable, adorable freckles sprinkled across his nose.

I'm hoping that Kai sprouts some of his own...

we will be going through TONS of sunscreen this summer with these boys!

"There is more, much more, to being a redhead than the color of one’s hair."
G. Adam Stanislav, red-haired photographer

"Of course, part of the problem with redheads is that there aren't enough of them.

They make up just two percent of the population.

So they're pretty extraordinary.

Redheads are too numerous to be ignored, too rare to be accepted."
Grant McCracken, author, lecturer, anthropologist

friday night LIKES

early morning yoga in a room full of sunshine.
a long brisk walk. just me and honey (like old times).
2 long naps (kai, not me...(i WISH!).
a successful interview for a job i WANT.
{finally} feeling pretty in dress clothes (that FIT!)
dinner with my mama.
wine and hot tub. {with G}.
bathtub bubbles and giggles.
sleepy time snuggles.
sweet baby breath on my shoulder.
the trusting grip of tiny soft little hands on my neck.
little smiles in sound slumber {good dreams}
couch cuddles and pay-per-view.

crawling into a warm bed on a cold night...

feeling blessed, hopeful and loved.

burn-out prevention (3 tips):

if you are going to dedicate an hour or two of your day to getting a workout in, you want to do everything possible to make it worthwhile.

i know that my gym-time changed BIG TIME after becoming a Mommy. i now have a LIMIT on the time i can spend at the gym. gone are the days of spontaneously being able to catch a fun class with a friend at a moments notice. gone are the days when G and i can hit up the gym together (sad!).

but guess what happened? Whitney learned how to get the job done and NOT waste time!

this doesn't go without saying there aren't days i just DREAD getting a workout in. most days i ANTICIPATE my gym time, and really look forward to a good sweaty, calorie burnin' sesh...but there's this unfortunate thing that creeps up on even the best of gymrats called "burn-out."

we've all experienced burn-out in one way or another, some of us a day or two, some of us weeks or (hopefully not!) months.  you know, the kind of days where we drag our feet about going to the gym, and then when we {finally} get there we shuffle around like a lost puppy, not really wanting to do anything, just "appearing" to exercise, but not really doing anything at all.

wherever you may be in your motivation cycle, here are few suggestions to get out--or help you avoid that inevitably approaching "rut":

1. go out and buy some new workout gear (that's right, GO!). maybe shoes are your thing, maybe you want some new running or yoga pants, a new bright-colored sports bra or some new tank tops or sweatshirts. it sounds silly but don't you remember how excited you were as a little kid to wear your "new" clothes to school? well, buying workout clothes to wear to the gym has the same effect (well it does for me, anyway!). a few months back i found that i needed some non-stinky "gym" shoes as my New Balance running shoes were dirty and gross from being worn outside so much. so (spurred on by the fabulously firm booty commercials, of course) i went and bought a pair of Reebok Toning shoes, (which i LOVE btw) and was definitely excited to try em' out in classes and on the cardio machines at the gym!

2. get out of your comfort zone and try something new. odds are, you are in a rut because you are doing the same stuff every day. challenge yourself to take a new class, break out that bicycle thats sitting in your garage, meet up with a friend once a week to do a fun workout dvd, sign up for a city-league team, go for a hike or start lap swimming. you could even sign up for a 5K, half-marathon or maybe even a triathalon and start training with a group of people with common goals for accountability! sometimes you just need something to work toward...

3. supplement yourself! check out Advocare or (my personal favorite) Bodybuilding.com (cheaper than ANYWHERE else!) for products that can enhance your fitness goals. i am a HUGE fan of pre and post workout supplements (energy boosting sups like Adovcare's SPARK for a pre-workout boost and a good low-cal protein shake for post workout recovery). do some research and find a few products that will assist you in getting even closer to where you want to be. i often find that if i'm going to invest money into my fitness regime, i'm opt to be more dedicated with my training and diet...

also making sure that you are eating several healthy meals and snacks throughout the day, drinking LOTS of water and getting enough sleep are {simple} but KEY ingredients to reaching your fitness goals, whatever they may be.

bad, lazy, self-loathing days will happen to all of us. expect them. prepare for them.

what matters most is our ability to OVERCOME.

the road to reaching your goals will undoubtedly be littered with MANY tempting parking spots threatening to sideline your ambition and progress.

don't park.

{{unless, of course you are buying yourself new running shoes!}}

5 rules for a BALANCED approach to a better bod:

i've received several emails/fb messages with questions pertaining to workouts, clean eating and weight loss.

i thought that i'd consolidate several of people's inquiries into a basic 5-point post, serving as possible motivation for you and a good reminder for me!

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1. feeling the urge to chuck the scale off of a high rise building? do it! the number on the scale is SO, SO, SO not the way to judge progress. you are really going for losing INCHES not POUNDS. and when you lose inches, everything is "tightening" up, which means you are building MUSCLE, and muscle weighs more than jiggly fat...so screw the scale!!! judge your weight-loss/muscle gain and toning progress on how your clothes fit! if your larger sized clothes are getting baggy, GOOD! if you need to cinch up your belt to hold your pants up, GOOD! if you can finally pull those skinny jeans up, GOOD! be fair and honest with yourself and don't get wrapped up in a number on the scale. it's false advertising. i can personally say that my clothes fit BEST and i looked the best NOT at my lowest weight. you can reach a certain number on a scale, but still be flabby and soft, so please don't torture yourself trying to reach a certain number

2. don't deny yourself what you want. not eating will only set you back further, and make you cranky and irritable. crash diets result in crash binging. portion control and several small meals a day (pack a food bag in advance to assure healthy-choice availability!) are KEY in weight loss. if you have a sweet tooth, have a little sweet snack. the trick is satisfying that sweet tooth with "healthy" sugars like peanut butter on celery, sugarfree jello, a few m&ms with trail mix or dried fruit or sweet potato or cooked baby carrots drizzled with sugarfree maple syrup. don't beat yourself up if you need a sweet treat. small indulgences will not hinder you!

3. whatever you do, DON'T fall into a routine. you HAVE to mix it up. i see this happen all the time in the gym. you see the SAME chick on the SAME machine (treadmill, eliptical, stepper...) FIVE days a week. if you want to START or KEEP seeing results, you need to keep your body OUT of it's comfort zone--and doing the same thing each day is comfortable and familiar. {shock} your body by using different muscles! so...take a new class at the gym, get outside and run or cycle for a change, or even mix it up with a fun new DVD! switching things up every so often will also keep you from getting burned out, which is most people's demise when they set out with lofty fitness goals.

4. don't forget about the obvious but neccessary small things: drink LOTS of water. change up your ipod playlist often to push you through plateaus. stretch. replenish your body post workout with a good protein shake or bar. invest in some good cross-trainers (and a good sports bra!).

5. set goals for yourself. WRITE THEM DOWN and PUT THEM WHERE YOU CAN SEE THEM! i don't know what it about writing your goals down, but that accountablility is often much more effective than just "telling" friends and family. i like to write my goals down and keep them taped just above my bedside table and/or the side of my fridge. and don't just set fitness goals, set a couple of  "fun" goals like reading for pleasure or picking up a new hobby.

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it's all about maintaining a healthy balance...

my vow to QUIT plastic (for good!)

i know i already blogged today, but there is a pressing issue weighing heavy on my mind.

the wind blew like mad today, and i live across from an acre or so of large, old beautiful trees...

which now are decked out in plastic bags, like a Christmas tree would be in ornaments.

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 it breaks my heart, seeing nature marred by garbage.

there are plastic bags EVERYWHERE.

in trees. in fields. on the roadside. in the river. in our oceans. on playgrounds...

it's depressing and gross.

and i feel guilty.

i can't believe how many plastic bags just one grocery trip to WalMart or Safeway can yield. i keep them and use them as garbage basket liners, lunch bags and Honey's poopy bags for walks, but still aquire WAY too many....

i even have a few cloth totes in my pantry, just sitting there....

waiting to be used, and used and used again.

sometimes i ask for paper, but not enough.

this is going to STOP.

i'm breaking out my cloth totes, especially after doing some research on the horrible effects that plastic bags have on our earth:

Here are some facts (found here) about the environmental impact of plastic bags:

• Plastic bags cause over 100,000 sea turtle and other marine animal deaths every year when animals mistaken them for food
• The manufacture of plastic bags add tons of carbon emissions into the air annually
• Between 500 billion and 1 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide each year
• Approximately 60 - 100 million barrels of oil are required to make the world’s plastic bags each year
• Most plastic bags take over 400 years to biodegrade. Some figures indicate that plastic bags could take over 1000 years to break down. (I guess nobody will live long enough to find out!). This means not one plastic bag has ever naturally biodegraded.
• China uses around 3 billion plastic bags each day!

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i don't know about you but just reading this makes me NEVER want to use plastic bags for shopping AGAIN!

i found a really great website called reuseit.com dedicated to all things "reusable." they have a great selection of {fun} and even cute reusable grocery bags and totes.

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i know i'm going to put mine to use (and purchase a few more for those big trips to the store!)

i also know i'm just one person...

but i'm not going to let that stop me.

we often underestimate the power of one.

we continue to act in harmful ways because "what difference am i gonna make anyway?"

Well, it takes EACH of us to make a difference for ALL of us.

If everyone in the U.S. reused a paper grocery bag, even for just one shopping trip this year, we'd save millions of trees.

If everyone recycled just ONE additional plastic bottle this year, we'd reduce the plastic in our landfills by 200 million pounds.

If each of us simply kept our tires properly inflated this year, nationwide gasoline use would drop by millions of barrels.

If every American home replaced just one old-style light bulb with a compact fluorescent bulb, that would be like taking a million cars off the road for a year.

If every American paid his or her bills online instead of by mail, we'd save 16.5 million trees and eliminate the equivalent of 56,000 garbage trucks full of solid waste.

If each of us simply turned our water heaters down to 120F we would prevent tons of CO2 emissions per year.

If each of us simply reduced our computer default margin to .75" on all sides of our documents, we would save 6 million trees and eliminate 1.5 billion pounds of greenhouse gases per year.

*statistics from the book "1: How many people does it take to make a difference?"

i'm GLAD the wind blew today.

 it brought me a wake-up call.

A few of "Mommy's" favorites...

 this picture cracks me up.

it looks like he's taking it of himself. i love how his cute little toes are all spread out!!

today i'm gonna share a few of the current baby products i "can't live without."

and then a couple random things G and i currently can't get enough of...

 two words: sound machine.

Kai has been taking AWESOME naps (2-3 hour morning AND afternoon nap!). i'm sure it's a combination of the fact that he's growing like a weed and has been fighting a cold, but i attest some of it to this wonderful, affordable noise drowning device that G randomly brought home from WalMart a few months ago (for HIM, not Kai). we barely used it because we prefer sleeping with fan noise. i discovered it in G's bedside table a few weeks ago and since then, Kai has been napping to the soothing sounds of a lazy mountain stream. at night he sleeps with his humidifier on, which is pretty loud, so i felt he could benefit from having a little bit of noise during naptime as well...and he does. it is also soothing for us as we hear it on our end of the baby monitor!

Elmo walker!

 Kai goes CRAZY in this thing! i can't believe how GOOD he's gotten in it.

he can walk forward AND backward, get in and out of cramped quarters, back out of dead ends and even build up enough momentum to get up onto carpeted areas. he LOVES to walk holding our hands, and has gotten to where he barely relies on us for balance, and i attest it all to the walker. Lately, Kai has gotten to use it in the garage when i'm up to my neck in laundry AND outside on the back patio (when it's sunny and there aren't 50 mph wind gusts!)

 ok so your probably thinking "why the heck is THAT on here?"

 this Culligan water bottle cooler/heater has been the BEST investment. we initially opted for the bottle cooler because we were going through a LOT of plastic water bottles and i didn't feel good about it. i was pregnant at the time and unable to drink our tap water because we have a softener in it and it's not reccommended. SO instead of going through packs of bottles, we decided to go with the BIG bottles that get delivered to you (affordably!). when we purchased this i had no intention of EVER bottle feeding. but now that i am, i am even MORE glad that we switched over to Culligan. why? because i don't have to use a dang bottle warmer, the microwave or the old "run the bottle under hot faucet water" methods to warm Kai's bottles...i simply mix a couple ounces of the HOT water with the 4-6 ounces of the COLD water and it's perfect. AND good, clean filtered water to boot! it's also been handy to make tea, oatmeal and even Top Ramen. i know, some of you would probably not want something like that standing in your kitchen but we found a good spot for it and have never regretted our decision.

 Kai's Skip Hop diaper bag BACKPACK.

I LOVE this thing (DESPITE comments from certain friends ((ahem, JACOB NEIGHBORS)) that i look like i'm walking to the bus stop...). it is just so much more convenient to strap the bag to my back and be handsfree than having to try to keep it up on my shoulder...and it has tons of room for everything i could need for a quick trip to the store or a weekend get-away.

i cope with my guilt from not being able to breastfeed anymore by giving Kai organic formula and rice cereal. it's more money, but obviously best for him. i've tried a couple of other "organic" brands, which messed with his tummy. Earth's Best has by FAR been the best. I have been buying it off of Amazon in bulk at a dicounted rate, too!

warm and cozy booties!!

my Grandma actually bought these from at a cute little shop in Joseph, OR for Jude, and we have been lucky to have them for Kai to wear. He will NOT keep socks OR shoes on and we have (cold!) hardwood floors so he has definitely benefitted from these booties, which have grippers on the feet (for all of his "walker" time) and comfortable elastic around the ankle. Check out how much use we've gotten out of the brown pair--he has literally worn through the bottoms!

No, we are not feeding Kai green Jello.

But G and i have been enjoying Sugar-Free Jello as a low-calorie, sugarless dessert alternative! super easy to mix up and great to have on hand when you are craving something sweet! i made this batch with 2 cups of water and 2 cups of club soda...but you can also use 7-up or orange juice. you can add some additional sustenance to it by throwing in some sliced bananas, pineapple, apples or berries...

FLEECE SHEETS.

we got these from G's mom and i just threw them on a few days ago....when i crawled into bed i honestly felt like i was being wrapped in soft warm towels straight from the dryer. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...

Clearing out my camera! (February thus far...)

did you miss me??

i took a day off. sometime over this lovely long weekend i caught the plague of death and needed to take a day to recoupe (SLEEP!).

well, i'm back.

and back in style!

since Kai went down i've been teaching myself how to do some cool tricks with my blog. it's fun! i found a really cool "how-to" blog post about how to personalize your blog...if you are like me and kinda new to the game, check it out, it's WAY helpful.

anyway, my camera is back-logged with pictures that i have been meaning to include in blog-posts, and i feel like i just need to clean them out so tonight, i'm featuring snap-shots of the last couple of weeks. very random, but that sums up my life as of late.

busy and random:

Look how BIG he's getting!!!!! {tear}

another nap on the giraffe.

 we have LOVED this giraffe. it's like a flat stuffed animal that is SO super soft and cuddly. when Kai was a newborn he napped on Mr. Giraffe on the couch. when i transitioned him into his crib, i put the giraffe in there to make it more familiar to him (i know, i know i have lots of "stuff" in his crib...so sue me, i think he's comfortable and i check on him lots!). it worked well because he sleeps in his crib like a CHAMP. these cute little animal pillows are my new go-to baby shower gift (you can find em' on Amazon!)

 having {fun} with Uncle Mikey!

 I HATE keeping clothes on my baby.

 that was one great advantage of Kai being born in the middle of the summer....minimum coverage. i think babies should get to have "naked play time" at least once every day (not including bath time!). just imagine having a huge, uncomfortable diaper strapped inbetween your legs all day. yuck! Kai LOVES getting to kick around with his clothes off (and the heat turned UP!). yes, he pees, ofcourse he pees...but it's not hard to clean up and it's totally worth his smiles and joyful babbles.

 {superman!}

 i love to snuggle his soft warm skin...

 we spent the weekend in Portland for my sis-in-law's baby shower a few weeks ago and we ate a delicious, trendy little place downtown (thanks Mollie for the reccomendation!) called Papa Haydn's. Kai was SUCH a good boy while we enjoyed dinner, drinks and of course, dessert.

 *avocado has become my "go-to" on-the-go snack for Kai. i just pack it whole in his backpack and then cut it in half and feed it to him right out of the skin there in the restaurant. he loves it and i love it because it is quick prep and easy clean-up!

 i'm still {trying} to take better care of my skin

 (still no tanning bed time this year...not to say i haven't been tempted...SO.PALE.). My sister-in-law Sarah instructed me to scrub, then moisturize my face with this Mary Kay combo (TimeWise). my face felt amazing. i could count the sleep i'd logged the previous night on one hand, but after rejuvenating my skin with this stuff, i felt invigorated and better prepared to tackle the day. i even put mascara on! (that doesn't happen very much...)

Sarah also let me in on a little secret i'll share with you as well. she buys this stuff NOT from a Mary Kay consultant, but off of EBAY....and she pays a quarter (or less!) of the price. so skincare CAN be affordable...

 isn't this pretty??!

 i've been spicing up my salads lately with avocado, boiled egg and a new dressing recipe that is soooooo good (and great for you as well!) it's a combo of olive oil, lemon juice and garlic. it's light and flavorful and a definite favorite of a self-proclaimed dressing snob such as myself...

 each day it gets harder and harder to get a good picture of baby boy because he is NEVER still. here he is with auntie Kelley, who we were SO happy to get to spend a little bit of time with this weekend!

Squash face.

Kai's new obnoxious dinner time habit is taking a large bite and kind of letting it squish out of his lips and then WIPE his hands all over his face...smearing whatever it may be EVERYWHERE. good thing that bathtime follows close behind...

and there you have the majority of my back-pics.

 it feels good to know that when i sit down for tomorrow blogging session, i have a clean slate to work from.

we are still praying for Gary's work to pick up, and for me to have some kind of direction about going back....i've had a few interviews and have had a job offer that is pending until i get news about a previous interview. i don't know if i'll be going back full time or part time, but i'm going back. i'm trying not to drag my feet about it, just because it'll be hard to leave my little guy.

i came home after an interview i recently had for a full-time position (for a job i would typically LOVE) and immediately swooped Kai up, held him close and bawled, because i couldn't bear the thought of leaving him for 40 hours a week. i know that Mommies do it all the time, but MAN i'm having a hard time with even the possiblity of it. Maybe once i find a good daycare solution i'll feel better...?

now i'm pretty much just praying for direction and for God to open doors and lead me to where HE wants me....because that is all that matters.

but until then, i'm soaking up every single {messy} moment.

Saturday Night Haiku

long day for mommy...

empty glass of wine, full heart.

sleep like a baby.

{prayerfully} holding a bad hand...

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and thankful heart.

Colossians 4:2

Too often my prayers sound more like shopping lists than conversations. I need am going to change this.

I rattle off all of the things I need, and don't take adequate time to thank, love and praise.

I get discouraged when I pray and pray...

and then wait...

and wait.

Too often we pray when we "need" something, and when that prayer goes unanswered, we fold.

Don't fold too soon.

Don't give up on God.

He is sufficient.

And odds are, someone's got a worse hand than you...and would love to have your hand.

{Thank God in every circumstance}

And there are always more cards in the "Dealer's" deck.

If you fold too soon you may miss out on that {one} card that could save you.

Don't be tricked into quitting.

When you've got a bad hand, God's got something in store for you.

Something new.

Something good.

So don't fold.

With Jesus, you can conquer a bad hand.

Strength can grow out of our weakness if we allow God to transform our reality and be the author and creator of our future.

So hang in there.

Don't fold...

Because life's best hand is nothing compared to Jesus.

Don't be afraid, for I am with you.

Don't be discouraged, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you.

I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

on living with {intention}

you.

me.

{we} have the power to literally make or break someone else's day...

and often do so, unknowingly with the smallest of gestures (or lack of).

Such as...

a genuine smile: i can't quite say that i can TELL when a smile is real, but i CAN say that i can {feel} if it is real. a simple smile can light up a dark place in the soul of another with hope and love. {no words neccessary.}

a GOOD hug: we've all felt a half-hearted hug and hug with emotion behind it. it doesn't have to hurt, but make it real.

a heart-felt compliment: it's the difference between saying "your good at your job" and saying "i just wanted to tell you how great you are at what you do, i admire your work-ethic and passion for what you do."

a courageous helping hand: be "that" person who sees someone who needs help and doesn't think twice. don't be another bystander "pretending" not to see the elderly man in a walker struggle with his groceries, the tired mom straining to pick up dropped keys with baby, coffee and purse in her arms or the hungry homeless man hanging out outside of the gas station. have courage. don't think twice. selflessly put yourself in their shoes, and {love}.

a thank-you note: when you feel gratitude for something someone has done for you, don't let the warm thought pass with out either calling them to tell them or writing them a note. it feels just as good to send those notes as it does to receive them.

a happy greeting: you'd be surprised at how the first impression you give and get can set the tone for the rest of the day (especially if you work in education...your students pick up WAY more than you think, and often times depend on you for strength and hope to get through the day!)

listen: don't just nod your head and think about what you have left on your to-do list. really attend to others. it is quite easy to tell when you are being genuinely received.

conversation: not just "small-talk" and especially not gossip. real, meaningful, deep conversation. the kind that leaves you inspired and invigorated--even if it's just for 20 minutes over lunch.

sometimes in all of the hustle and bustle of this frustrating, wild, beautiful life we forget that even in our smallest, routine actions we can change the course of a day, week or {life} of another.

i want to get intentional with my actions, big and small...

and view those i come in contact with as divine appointments...

and offer my presence as a present to the world around me.

What can {yoga} do for YOU?

Yoga is invigoration in relaxation, freedom in routine, confidence through self-control.

Energy within and energy without.

~Ymber Delecto

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i remember back a few years ago when i was just beginning to explore what {YOGA} was all about.
i was intimidated by the sad indian music, the idea that flexibility was a requirement, the barefeet and the balance poses.

i put off diving into a yoga practice for a long time because i was too afraid to go to my first class.

{thankfully} another cold, gray, rainy Seattle day forced me inside for my workout and i couldn't bear the thought of another second on the dreadmill or elliptical. i needed a change, an awakening, a good class.

i needed yoga, which as luck would have it was offered right there, in my gym, beginning in five minutes.

it was destiny.

i won't lie, i wasn't "hooked" after my first class. i think that yoga is one of those things that, like wine and friendship, get's better with time. if you really apply yourself and listen to your body, you'll sink deeper into your poses and postures with each class, increasing all of the wonderful benefits that yoga offers.

i did yoga once a week for a long time. just once a week, at my gym. never on my own, never really more than once a week....

until i moved out of the city and began researching and practicing yoga and pilates on my own (let's just say that a few years back there was a lack of yoga/pilates classes in the vast expanse of North-Eastern Oregon, where now there are a handful of gyms/studios that have popped up in our area that offer classes, thank goodness!)

the point of this post is:

there are many people out there who stay away from yoga because they don't know what it's about. they think they have to be outrageously flexible and master the advanced poses right away. they think it's just for hippies and Indians. they think it's just for women....i've heard several excuses.

but guess what? it's for EVERYONE! that's whats great about yoga--it can be practiced by all ages, and it's benefits can be reaped by individuals in every walk of life.

yoga stresses focus and self-discipline. you are in charge of your body, so you work as hard as you want to on a class-to-class basis. One day you may want a slower-paced, stretchy class and the next day you may want a challenging, sweat-inducing class. you can press into the postures as deeply as you desire, and challenge your strength and flexibility at your own pace.

Yoga has really helped me get in tune with my body. It has GREATLY increased my flexibility and core strength and has most definitely enhanced my half-marathon training as it's low-impact nature feels great on tight hips and quads that high mileage running inevitably brings. I also have been blessed (and cursed) with a body type that puts on muscle rather easily. However, it can make me appear somewhat "bulky" and Yoga and Pilates is a great counter-exercise to weight lifting as it really lengthens your muscles and gives you a more toned, lean look. In addition to the physical benefits, practicing Yoga has also affirmed how vital is is for me to have "quiet time" at least once a day. Some meditate, I pray. Overall, yoga has taught me a great deal about taking care of my mind, body AND soul. It's not just about getting a work out, it's about working on myself.

wondering what yoga can do for you?

I found an incredibly informative article on all of the Surprising Health Benefits of Yoga. it's lengthy, so allow me to summarize:

Health benefits within: blood pressure, pulse rate, circulation, respiratory, cardiovascular endurance, organs, gastrointestinal, immunity, pain, metabolism.

Health benefits without: aging, posture, strength, energy, weight, sleep, balance, integrated function of the body, body awareness, core-strength, sexuality.

Emotional health benefits: mood, stress reduction, anxiety, depression, self-acceptance, self-control, mind/body connection, positive outlook on life, hostility, concentration, memory, attention, social skills, calmness.

Body chemistry: cholesterol, lymphatic system, glucose, sodium, endocrine functions, triglycerides, red blood cells, vitamin C.

Exercise health benefits: low risk of injury, parasympathetic nervous system, muscle tone, subcortex, reduced oxygen consumption, breathing, balanced workout of opposing muscle groups, non-competitive, joint-range motion, eye/hand coordination, dexterity, reaction time, endurance, depth perception.

Disease prevention: heart disease, osteoporosis, alzheimer's, type II diabetes.

Symptom reduction or alleviation: carpal tunnel, asthma, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, cancer, muscular dystrophy, migraines, scoliosis, chronic bronchitis, epilepsy, sciatica, obsessive compulsive disorder, constipation, allergies, menopause, back pain.

*if you want to read further into these benefits, please visit the article where each of the benefits is explained in greater detail. it's a good one!

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If you are intimidated at the thought of dropping in on a yoga class, there are several good DVD's available out there for at-home yoga practice. However, there is something to be gained by being challenged by an instructor in a class environment.

....i hope that you are inspired to take some time for YOU and explore some of the ways that yoga can invigorate your body, challenge your mind and enhance your life!

Mama's advice & lemonade

in lieu of my sour attitude due to life's current downpour of lemons i've decided to not let them go to waste and to start mixing up my favorite summer beverage. yep, lemonade (which after about 2pm is best enjoyed with a splash or two or three of FIREFLY!!!!)

my Mom's go-to word of advice whenever me or one of my siblings come to her with a complaining, self-loathing, depressed plea for sympathy is, and has been for as long as i can remember:

Go do something for someone else.

Get your mind off of yourself...

i always HATED hearing that. but it's so true. and it really does work.

i often gave this advice to high school students seeking direction within the confines of my counseling office. it was always scary and hard for them to start volunteering or helping somebody out of their "comfort zone," but once they did it, their spirit glowed with a renewed sense of purpose.

what is it about helping others that gives us so much life?

think of the last time you blessed someone. maybe you baked someone cookies, maybe you complimented a stranger, maybe you let someone go ahead of you in the grocery check-out line...

i don't know about you, but in the smallest of kind or thoughtful gestures that i have offered, my heart smiles.

now try to remember a time that someone blessed you (hopefully you don't have to think too hard!). remember how good that felt? like the world is wrapping you in a big embrace and whispering in your ear see, i'm not that bad....

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why do we constanly forget how greatly appreciated such little acts of kindness are?

most likely because we get too consumed with "us." with life. with routine. with "stuff."

ponder what would matter to as you breathed your last breaths. it wouldn't be your money, your car, your 401K, your appearance, your stretch marks (ha!)...it would be people, and what you DID with your life, not what you HAD or BOUGHT.

thank you Mom, for instilling in me the important value of serving.

it's really at the core of living a purposeful life.

and something i know i can do a whole lot more of...

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"The happiest people I know are people who don't even think about being happy. They just think about being good neighbors, good people. And then happiness sort of sneaks in the back window while they are busy doing good. ~ Rabbi Harold Kushner