For Tiffany ;)

My favorite blogger, Laura, from A Diary of Little Things and Curiousities, asked these questions of her readers, and this was my response:

I don't claim to know much, but this much I know to be true:

Hardest lesson:
I am not super woman. I do not have super powers. It is not up to me to make sure everyone is happy. I tend to be an idealist and would have an elaborate illustration of what a particular event looked like (i.e. birthdays, dates, trips, anything that could possibly get hyped) and when things didn't live up to my hype or go EXACTLY as planned, I would be crushed. (Not something I am proud of) But I've learned to not focus on the exact details, but more on the people I'm spending these occasions with and the beautiful memories we are making. It was hard for me to relax, but once I did, life tasted all the more sweeter.

If I could go back & teach my former self one thing, I would say this:
"Everyone has their own insecurities, they hardly have time to notice yours. So Little C, be yourself, be genuine, be honest, but above all else - Be Love"

Best Advice:
Happiness is a choice, not always an easy one, but it's there for you anytime you want it. - My mom

Standards of Measuring my Life:
I strive to live my life with a deep thirst and hunger. A thirst and hunger for life, adventure, curiosity, joy, love, and light. Every day I strive to feel alive. Sometimes that feeling comes from sharing a delicious meal with loved ones, feeling the sun's rays on my skin, exploring a new part of town, getting lost in a book, art that inspires the soul, or that deep connection in serving and loving another life and expecting nothing in return.  I try to live my life according to this simple mantra: Love God, Love Others.

Love Love Love

Oh just something to happy up your Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning!




Via Yes & Yes

kaleidoscope experience

For some people, it's an a-ha moment, but for me, I think of them as kaleidoscope experiences...something shifts and when the shift happens, there's a beautiful burst of color.  I love when this happens in my own life, but I also love seeing it in others....

I remember distinctly remember the first time I heard Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours".  At that time, I was not much of a fan, and I remember friends pulling a "Sam" (Natalie Portman's character in Garden State), exclaiming how great the song was.  As the song played, it was upbeat and sweet, but the line, "It's our God-forsaken right to be loved" just did not sit right with me...It felt really negative.  I liked the song, but it wasn't my favorite.  

Fast-forward to a few weeks ago.  At the Cafe Gratitude opening, Jason played "I'm Yours".  This time, it really struck me.  Instead of the line, "It's our God-forsaken right to be loved"to "It's our God-intended right to be Love".  BINGO!  Needless to say, I now LOVE the song!  What struck me is not only that there is no longer negativity associated with the word "God", but how the song shifted from being a "consumer" of love to giving love... I've wondered what has happened in his world, what kaleidoscope experiences has he had to make that shift?  Maybe that shift is not really as big as I'm making it out to be.

It's just something that I've been seeing lately...despite all the bad that's in the world, I really feel like there is a lot of good right now too.  Maybe it's just that, that is where my focus is on... I hear about terrible tragedies every day, but I also hear about inspiring people who are working to make a difference or who are living their lives in peace and striving to live out their "God-intended right to be Love" in their everyday lives.  And that's where it's at...

Lately

weheartit.com

I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.
-Agatha Christie


via 7upKels


This quote seemed most appropriate these last few days. 


 Self-doubt slowly snuck in and decided to stay awhile.  I am at an incredible place where I can create my world and my life, but sometimes it can be scary and overwhelming....lately I've been asking a lot of questions...who am I? who do I want to be? where do I want to go? How do I get there?? where do i live?? 


These growing pains are inevitable, but I know that at the heart of it, I am happy to be alive.


In this moment, I am thankful for friends and rich conversation.  Conversation that reminds me:

yesandyes.org

This is AWESOME

I loved this and I think you all should too.






Thank you to the teachers who have inspired me.


via Yum & Yuk

The Vegan Diaries

For the past few months, without even realizing it, my diet has become more & more "vegan".  About 3 weeks ago, I started consciously thinking about making the switch.  Everywhere I turned for information only affirmed my decision.  I'm not a "crazy PETA person", but the more I read about farming, not only did it make me sad, but also sickened me that, that was what I was putting into my body.  Dairy/Meat farming is NOT a sustainable way of living...According to Bittman (read on), the meat industry emits more greenhouse gases per year than transportation!

I was a little apprehensive about getting proper nutrition, and being a newbie, I emailed my favorite blogger, Sarah Von, from Yes and Yes!, for help.  (She does this awesome monthly hook-up, where you can ask for help and her awesome readers respond)  And I was inspired by all the information and resources they sent me.

Another blog, Yum & Yuk, is always posting tidbits from Mark Bittman about food.  And lucky for me, as I was perusing the bookshelves at the library yesterday, I came across his book, Food Matters.  I quickly devoured it (pun definitely intended). I also recommend it to anyone & everyone who is health conscious in the least...actually even if they aren't (Everyone READ it!).  He doesn't advocate for veganism, but a diet with less meat, dairy products, & processed foods, a completely realistic view of food for everyone.  Pick it up! It will be good for you!

So needless to say, I'm vegan...*for the most part.  I've cut out dairy & meat products for about the past 2 weeks, and I can't even begin to tell you how good I feel.  I have tons of energy and my face is even clearer!  I'm having a blast preparing new recipes and getting creative in the kitchen.  So be ready for more "Vegan Diaries".  I will be posting my favorite recipes & creations!  Also, if any of you have any tips or recipes to share, I will GLADLY accept them!



*What I mean by "for the most part" is that 90% or more of my meals are going to be solely made up of plants.  This leaves 2 meals a week that I can "relax" a bit, for which I will save for eating out.  When eating out, it's impossible to control what I'm putting into my body.  Even if I think I'm ordering vegan, I won't really truly know. I won't always take these 2 "free passes", but this way I won't feel like I'm "cheating" either.

P.S. I should also give a shoutout to Cafe Gratitude.  I sealed the deal after eating their insanely delicious  "I Am Adored".  Vegan food CAN be delicious!

Hurray!

I am finished with Winter Quarter 2011!! They say this is/was the toughest quarter in my program and now I'm on the other side! Aaaaaaaalright!

I'm also super proud of myself today because I did something new and completely intimidating.  I'm constantly raving about yoga, but I have actually never been to a "real" class.  (I watch/do live streaming classes from yogisanonymous.com) Lately, I've realized I need/want to take my practice to the next level, and to do that, I'm going to need a live teacher.  I've been meaning to check out a studio in my area, but I needed that extra motivation.  On Saturday I decided this was the week and tonight was the night!

Not only was the studio new, but so was the class for me - yin yoga, a slow, deep stretch.  I learned tonight that I practice a lot of yang yoga, and in order to go deeper within my practice I need yin too.  How perfect! The whole reason I wanted to check out the studio in the first place and this just happened to be the class that fit easiest into my schedule!

I enjoyed the class, very playful.  I felt super good on my mat!  The space was also inviting and inspiring.  They have a lobby area downstairs with quotes painted on the walls and the studio upstairs is painted with calming, neutral colors & has neat light fixtures.

So I guess from now on, on Tuesday nights, you know where to find me!  I'm going back to the studio on Friday for a vinyasa class, and I'm looking to sign up for monthly unlimited, so excited!