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Saturday, July 23, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Summer Playlist
Rolling In the Deep, Adele
You Should Be Dancing, Bee Gees
Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It), Beyoncé
Meet Me Halfway, Black Eyed Peas
I Gotta Feeling, Black Eyed Peas
Shut Up, Black Eyed Peas
My Humps, Black Eyed Peas
Waiting for a Star to Fall, Boy Meets Girl
Come On Eileen, Dexy's Midnight Runners & Kevin Rowland
Lose Yourself, Eminem
Low, (feat. T-Pain) Flo Rida
Cool, Gwen Stefani
Become You, Indigo Girls
Tightrope, (feat. Big Boi) Janelle Monáe
On the Floor, (feat. Pitbull) Jennifer Lopez
Just Another Day, Jon Secada
Sexy Back, Justin Timberlake
Teenage Dream, Katy Perry
I Run to You, Lady Antebellum
Bad Romance, Lady GaGa
Born This Way, Lady GaGa
Telephone, Lady GaGa
Are You Gonna Go My Way, Lenny Kravitz
Ray Of Light, Madonna
4 Minutes, (feat. Justin Timberlake & Timbaland) Madonna
Lose Control, (Featuring Ciara & Fat Man Scoop) Missy Elliott featuring Ciara & Fat Man Scoop
Raise Your Glass, P!nk
Go All the Way, The Raspberries
Disturbia Rihanna
S&M, Rihanna
Only Girl (In the World), Rihanna
Suerte (Whenever, Wherever), Shakira
Goodnight Moon, Shivaree
Rapper's Delight, The Sugarhill Gang
It's My Life, Talk Talk
Hey, Soul Sister, Train
It's a Beautiful Day, U2
It's Not My Time, 3 Doors Down
You Should Be Dancing, Bee Gees
Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It), Beyoncé
Meet Me Halfway, Black Eyed Peas
I Gotta Feeling, Black Eyed Peas
Shut Up, Black Eyed Peas
My Humps, Black Eyed Peas
Waiting for a Star to Fall, Boy Meets Girl
Come On Eileen, Dexy's Midnight Runners & Kevin Rowland
Lose Yourself, Eminem
Low, (feat. T-Pain) Flo Rida
Cool, Gwen Stefani
Become You, Indigo Girls
Tightrope, (feat. Big Boi) Janelle Monáe
On the Floor, (feat. Pitbull) Jennifer Lopez
Just Another Day, Jon Secada
Sexy Back, Justin Timberlake
Teenage Dream, Katy Perry
I Run to You, Lady Antebellum
Bad Romance, Lady GaGa
Born This Way, Lady GaGa
Telephone, Lady GaGa
Are You Gonna Go My Way, Lenny Kravitz
Ray Of Light, Madonna
4 Minutes, (feat. Justin Timberlake & Timbaland) Madonna
Lose Control, (Featuring Ciara & Fat Man Scoop) Missy Elliott featuring Ciara & Fat Man Scoop
Raise Your Glass, P!nk
Go All the Way, The Raspberries
Disturbia Rihanna
S&M, Rihanna
Only Girl (In the World), Rihanna
Suerte (Whenever, Wherever), Shakira
Goodnight Moon, Shivaree
Rapper's Delight, The Sugarhill Gang
It's My Life, Talk Talk
Hey, Soul Sister, Train
It's a Beautiful Day, U2
It's Not My Time, 3 Doors Down
Friday, July 8, 2011
108 Blessings: A List of Gratitude
Thanks to Spoiled Yogi for this! I read her list and decided that it was just what I needed to do as well.
I have been in a funk and desperately trying to make my way out of it...so counting my blessings seems like a great way to open to gratitude, compassion, and love, rather than to shut down and bow under the pressure of negativity, anxiety, and fear.
In no particular order...I am grateful for:
1. Where I am at this very moment.
2. This house...my home and retreat.
3. My job.
4. My partner.
5. My family.
6. My friends.
7. Riley and Maddie.
8. This blog.
9. Treadmills.
10. My gardens...the rain garden, the Peace garden, and the little veggie patch.
11. My kitchen...where I am able to create delicious things.
12. Yogaglo.
13. My yoga practice...however sparse it may seem to, some times, be...I have grown it so much over the past two years.
14. My health.
15. My 47th birthday weekend.
16. Sitting on the back patio and just listening to the neighborhood sounds.
17. Free airplane tickets.
18. Yoga Journal, Clean Eating, Spirituality & Health magazines.
19. Cake.
20. Chocolate.
21. Fresh pineapple.
22. My caprice salad with an amazing baguette and olives.
23. iPad, iPod, iPhone.
24. Music!
25. Tracking my workouts.
26. Air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter.
27. Our firepit on the patio in October.
28. Good wine.
29. Going to wine tastings with Cathy.
30. My office.
31. Walks through the neighborhood.
32. Feeling good.
33. My cellphone.
34. Being able to touch base with friends and family though teh interwebs!
35. Being able to visit family and friends in person.
36. My travels.
37. Comfortable shoes.
38. Laughing at awful commercials.
39. Friday night dinner and a movie with my partner.
40. Weekends we spend doing yardwork and hanging out.
41. My spiritual practice.
42. The beach.
43. The ocean.
44. Snorkeling.
45. Photography.
46. Going to the farm market.
47. Planting things.
48. My car...transportation is great!
49. Learning about my body and what works for me (like probiotics! not eating tons of sugar!).
50. Have I said, "comfortable shoes"?
51. Pajamma like clothing...NOT pajamma jeans.
52. Humingbirds.
53. Bees
54. Polar bears.
55. Dolphins.
56. Horses.
57. The perfect little black dress.
58. Giving presents.
59. Hiking and camping.
60. Yoga retreats.
61. Pedicures and manicures.
62. Massage (both giving and receiving).
63. Huge, hilarious, belly laughs.
64. Earl Grey tea.
65. Coffee with organic sugar and So Delicious Coconut Vanilla Coffee Creamer.
66. Grater's ice cream.
67. Watermelon, cantaloupe, grapes, berries, apples, cherries...
68. Cathy's spaghetti.
69. Organic veggies.
70. Being green...
71. Mosquito repellant.
72. Incense.
73. The smell of fresh citrus!
74. Grilled cheese sandwiches.
75. Sunny days with cool breezes.
76. Fridays.
77. Saturdays.
78. Holidays.
79. Malas as a meditation tool.
80. My spiritual altar.
81. The awesome Kroger with the great organic section that is just up the street from my office.
82. My body as it is right now...at this very moment.
83. Jillian Michaels' podcasts.
84. BPA free cans.
85. Organic, free-trade coffee.
86. Black grapes.
87. People who keep their word.
88. Magical movies.
89. Floating in a pool.
90. Kittens.
91. Moisturizer.
92. Airplanes and good airfares.
93. Recognition when I've done a good job.
94. House plants.
95. Trees.
96. The light at late afternoon.
97. Illustrator, photoshop, inDesign!
98. Fires in a fire pit.
99. Roasting marshmallows.
100. Making Christmas fudge for presents.
101. 30 Rock, Community, Parks & Recreation, Happy Endings, shows that make me laugh.
102. Slow dancing.
103. A very cool room, cool pillows, and comfy bed for sleeping.
104. Being able to say, "I'm sorry."
105. Forgiveness.
106. Small moments of JOY in an otherwise dull day.
107. Fun dinner parties with friends.
108. Knowing that it's never too late to make things better.
I have been in a funk and desperately trying to make my way out of it...so counting my blessings seems like a great way to open to gratitude, compassion, and love, rather than to shut down and bow under the pressure of negativity, anxiety, and fear.
In no particular order...I am grateful for:
1. Where I am at this very moment.
2. This house...my home and retreat.
3. My job.
4. My partner.
5. My family.
6. My friends.
7. Riley and Maddie.
8. This blog.
9. Treadmills.
10. My gardens...the rain garden, the Peace garden, and the little veggie patch.
11. My kitchen...where I am able to create delicious things.
12. Yogaglo.
13. My yoga practice...however sparse it may seem to, some times, be...I have grown it so much over the past two years.
14. My health.
15. My 47th birthday weekend.
16. Sitting on the back patio and just listening to the neighborhood sounds.
17. Free airplane tickets.
18. Yoga Journal, Clean Eating, Spirituality & Health magazines.
19. Cake.
20. Chocolate.
21. Fresh pineapple.
22. My caprice salad with an amazing baguette and olives.
23. iPad, iPod, iPhone.
24. Music!
25. Tracking my workouts.
26. Air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter.
27. Our firepit on the patio in October.
28. Good wine.
29. Going to wine tastings with Cathy.
30. My office.
31. Walks through the neighborhood.
32. Feeling good.
33. My cellphone.
34. Being able to touch base with friends and family though teh interwebs!
35. Being able to visit family and friends in person.
36. My travels.
37. Comfortable shoes.
38. Laughing at awful commercials.
39. Friday night dinner and a movie with my partner.
40. Weekends we spend doing yardwork and hanging out.
41. My spiritual practice.
42. The beach.
43. The ocean.
44. Snorkeling.
45. Photography.
46. Going to the farm market.
47. Planting things.
48. My car...transportation is great!
49. Learning about my body and what works for me (like probiotics! not eating tons of sugar!).
50. Have I said, "comfortable shoes"?
51. Pajamma like clothing...NOT pajamma jeans.
52. Humingbirds.
53. Bees
54. Polar bears.
55. Dolphins.
56. Horses.
57. The perfect little black dress.
58. Giving presents.
59. Hiking and camping.
60. Yoga retreats.
61. Pedicures and manicures.
62. Massage (both giving and receiving).
63. Huge, hilarious, belly laughs.
64. Earl Grey tea.
65. Coffee with organic sugar and So Delicious Coconut Vanilla Coffee Creamer.
66. Grater's ice cream.
67. Watermelon, cantaloupe, grapes, berries, apples, cherries...
68. Cathy's spaghetti.
69. Organic veggies.
70. Being green...
71. Mosquito repellant.
72. Incense.
73. The smell of fresh citrus!
74. Grilled cheese sandwiches.
75. Sunny days with cool breezes.
76. Fridays.
77. Saturdays.
78. Holidays.
79. Malas as a meditation tool.
80. My spiritual altar.
81. The awesome Kroger with the great organic section that is just up the street from my office.
82. My body as it is right now...at this very moment.
83. Jillian Michaels' podcasts.
84. BPA free cans.
85. Organic, free-trade coffee.
86. Black grapes.
87. People who keep their word.
88. Magical movies.
89. Floating in a pool.
90. Kittens.
91. Moisturizer.
92. Airplanes and good airfares.
93. Recognition when I've done a good job.
94. House plants.
95. Trees.
96. The light at late afternoon.
97. Illustrator, photoshop, inDesign!
98. Fires in a fire pit.
99. Roasting marshmallows.
100. Making Christmas fudge for presents.
101. 30 Rock, Community, Parks & Recreation, Happy Endings, shows that make me laugh.
102. Slow dancing.
103. A very cool room, cool pillows, and comfy bed for sleeping.
104. Being able to say, "I'm sorry."
105. Forgiveness.
106. Small moments of JOY in an otherwise dull day.
107. Fun dinner parties with friends.
108. Knowing that it's never too late to make things better.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Begin Again
I've written about this before but thought I would post again...on beginning again.
A new moon rises tonight...an auspicious time for new beginnings. If you've been working on something and have hit a point where everything has ground to a halt, now is the time to renew, start over, begin again.
I don't know if it's still on sale but about 3 or 4 months ago, I bought a Yoga Journal special edition called Yoga for Weight Loss (by the way, a fantastic magazine that I read cover to cover, several times!). Anyway, amoung all the great columns and features, there was one article that really stood out for me. Titled, Begin Again, by Phillip Moffitt (pps 114-117), it explores the practice of starting over through meditation and being present.
I feel like, to really change my life, I have to embrace beginning again...it is consistency that is going to erase old habits and replace them with healthy ones. What helps me, when I've gone off track, is to pause, notice that I've gone off track and begin a meditation practice with the mantra, "Just start over.."
I've written, in my last 2 posts, about my struggle to stay on track during the month of June. That time proved to be difficult and, yes, I've had a minor setback, but it's nothing I can't turn around.
It's July! A new month of getting my walk on in the mornings! I enjoy them so much and am excited by the prospect of getting back to my walks. Though I didn't make it to the Greenhills Pioneer walk this morning (puppy drama - see my Facebook page for the backstory), I intend to go for a 5k walk of my own today (or treadmill if it rains). And I already have a race schedule set up for the rest of the year. The next one is the Lady Distance Classic (a 10k) in August.
These races serve as such a huge motivation for me to keep up with my exercise regimen. I like the competition and the race SWAG, and the whole ritual of it all...it keeps me motivated. So I will be training throughout July for my August race. I can get back to tracking on my favorite exercise website, Daily Mile...bet I can add 25 more donuts to my balance before August 1st.
Another way I'm going to begin again; I'm going to start taking Probiotics again. I gave them a 2 month trial and got good results but, for whatever reason, stopped taking them after that (maybe it was that I simply ran out). At any rate, will pick up a new bottle and start taking them again. I think my digestion is so much better and it helps me to keep my diet clean.
Foodwise, I'd like to keep it fresh, cold, juicy, and bright for the summer...so lots of salads, fruits, cold dinners and lunches...simple, fresh, local, and organic, that's how I want to eat. Oh, and lots of color...all the colors of the rainbow means that you are getting really essential vitamins and minerals.
And finally, I think, I am looking forward to renewing my yoga and meditation practice. I think, it is essential that at the end of a workday, instead of rushing home to cook dinner...I should slow down and take a deliberate pause to do yoga and/or meditate...to break with all the anxiety of work BEFORE I prepare dinner...to yoga.
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