Beautiful much?

It's what I'm always telling my husband... if I had a make-up artist and hair stylist... I would be beautiful too!

Our Californian Adventure

We have passes to the Big D (Disneyland) and we NEVER go in August. We don't go in August because it's crowded, HOT and crowded! But this year as we sit at home trying to think of things to do for "free" I was so happy to see our "paid for" passes were open for the last two weeks of summer.

So we went today! And boy was it an adventure. Just getting the kids out of bed and ready to leave in an hour was amazing. We have really embraced the lazy days of summer this year and sleep in until 8 or 9am. I KNOW! Sad but true. All of this about to end in a few short weeks when the drudgery of school life starts again. I'm not sure if I'm looking forward to it or not (another post).

Okay so we arrive in fifteen minutes (I know don't hate me).. I guess the one bonus I can find in living where I do now (okay, maybe more then one but not many). Well the Big D has moved their "parking check-in booths" (not sure what else to call them) and they re-route you through the "old parking lot" (soon to be the new attractions at California Adventure) and into another parking lot BEHIND Downtown Disney.

Okay some background. We go to the Big D about 7-9 times a year, never at night and only until about 3pm on WEEKDAYS. We have never NEVER been to Downtown Disney (FREE). Well even though Downtown Disney is FREE it requires that you spend money since it is an outdoor shopping mall. I think we will be giving the ol' Downtown D a try soon.

So I ask the NICE Disney employee how do we get to the park form here? Is there a tram? She said NO and that you can walk to the right and through Downtown Disney and that there was an option to use the monorail. The monorail is ANOTHER thing we have never used. Okay I said and then we park. And we start walking with the mass herds of people (hoping that someone knows where we are going). We walked and walked and walked and walked...... I saw the monorail (or I think I did) but there was a huge line (to honor things to come) and that wasn't until we had been walking a long time. So I thought it can't be much further. And so we walked and walked and walked.

Finally we get there! And I see the DARN tram pull up in the regular spot. So now I'm mad and wondering if I could have parked in the same parking lot I always did anyway.... so was Disney playing a sick joke on us and only a few had to "hike" to the Big D. Now my pass includes parking (which cost money) but I can only image people that paid $20 or something to park and had to do that trek. Then it hits me... maybe they want people to be sucked into the shops down Downtown Disney and it must be a marketing ploy! I don't know but I wasn't happy and the kids were already complaining that their feet hurt (NICE). You should have seen me dragging them out there!

So we started off doing our usual rides (again, we do not come in AUG). And the lines weren't that bad but it was hard to walk due to the crowds of people.. and I'm not sure why they weren't on the rides. I'm all no nonsense... its one ride to the next in an orderly proximity manner and only take a breather for the bathroom. We even eat in line or walking. I'm very efficient and probably the reason I like going with just the kids. I'm in charge and I can "control" our next move. Funny but true.

Because walked 2 1/2 miles to the park I splurged and enjoyed the following. Things we ate:

Banana

Pickle

Cheetos

Doritos

Churros

Pineapple

Pickle

Pirates Booty

Frozen Banana

Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwich

Mickey Mouse Cookies and Cream Sandwich (I didn't get a bite of this one though)

YUM. But I figured when I walked the 2 1/2 miles back to the car that I might have burned off one of those items above.

We recently started going on the "wet" rides. They talk about the "bonding" that takes place when strangers are placed in high stress or catastrophic events. Well, lets just say I "bonded" with the other adults on the Bear Grizzly Ride while we were praying that the boat wouldn't turn down river on our next drop so that we wouldn't "get wet". Though we all knowing went on the ride knowing we would "get wet". There were four adults on our boat and we were all "oh no, please turn" praying. Too funny.

What an amazing day! I've very grateful!

change...

We start our practice where we are and look toward a certain goal. Then we choose the steps that will lead us toward realizing that goal and will then gradually bring us back into our everyday life. But our daily practice does not return us to the exact place we started. The practice has changed us.

I don't know where I got this... but it moves me.

Quiet the mind...

Yoga is the practice of quieting the mind. ~Patanjali, translated from Sanskrit

What the???

I just have one question... why don't the other guys do it?

Courage

Success is never found.

Failure is never fatal.

Courage is the only thing.

-Winston Churchill

Coach?

Okay, I admit it. I don't know much about designer hand bags. Never had one.. and probably never will. However, this is a yummy hand bag by Coach. And funny that my current bag looks like a "Coach" knock-off from Target. I guess I didn't know I had "fancy" taste until now (just not a fancy wallet).

Team Jacob

Happy Friday

The Secret

All is coming....

Do your practice and all is coming (Sri K Patthabi Jois)

Productivity

17 things you should stop doing.

1. Check Multiple Email Boxes — Get a program that will show
   you all your email in one place or filter by individual accounts.
   Apple Mail and several other products do this.
2. Watching Commercials — Use Tivo to skip them. Use Netflix
   and just skip television all together. Buy the shows you want to watch
   off iTunes. If you had a friend who spent 20% to 30% of your time
   trying to sell you things you didn’t really need, would you put up with
   it? (If you have a friend in network marketing, you may have already experienced this.)
3. Losing Telephone Numbers — Your cell phone should sync with
   your computer. We are past the days where a phone only held 25
   numbers. If someone calls, take the few seconds to record their name
   in your phone, so it will be transferred next time you sync your
   computer.

Check it out here.

Yoga is 99% practice and 1% knowledge. ~Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois

Inspirational Quote

Life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it.

John Maxwell

How cool!

I found this on my celeb gossip blog www.imnotobsessed.com.

Enjoy!

New new love...

Okay, I didn't get the iphone. I really need to stay with the same provider and AT&T was not going to cut it. Sooooo... after much thought and some tears I got the Blackberry. YEAH. Love it. I'm still going to get the ipod touch to feed my apple addiction but it just made sense to get the Blackberry. It's pretty! And it's pink. What more could a girl ask for!

Hallelujah Whole Foods!

Hallelujah!!! I found my grocery store! It was AMAZING! Am I the only one who gets excited over a great grocery store?

Today

Today I did the following....

1) got out of bed too late (kids have been going to bed later because of summer)

2) glared at hubby after he came home from his bike ride (I haven't done yoga in four days!)

3) made everyone breakfast

4) shoved kids in car for shopping trip

5) went to go buy bar stools and they only had one... now I need to travel for the second

6) went to Target and got two items on my fifteen item list... kids fought and begged and cried the whole time so we left

7) came home because someone had to pee

8) tried out second grocery store in the area (Trader Joe's)... but god help me I can't get my brand of hummus anywhere! Why can't I find a grocery store that has everything I need?

9) came home feed up and exhausted... and can't believe I have 7.5 more weeks of this!

10) feed kids lunch and put on the TV and started to read my 100+ blogs because I just got my Internet back up last night.

11) fixed sprinklers (I think)

12) laundry and dishes

What I should have done:

1) vacuumed... but the crappy carpet has clogged my vacuum and needs to be taken apart (or something) and only hubby can do it. I just might go buy another one.

2) mopped... but the mop isn't here... at other house.

3) got everything I need at Target (well, I really don't need all of it)

4) started planning for my vegetable garden on the side of the house (but need hubby for planter bed)

5) set up the router for my hubby's computer

6) let the kids slip and slide

7) got orders out

8) bank

Today's another day... but tomorrow I clean the old house (which I'm dreading) and I need to go to Costco. Pray that I'm able to go to yoga tonight and that all will be right with the world again.

6th Picture

This photo was from last year... our favorite activity. We go to the beach in the morning and have breakfast at our favorite little shack. Then the kids go down to the beach and get a little wet and sandy.

If you want to play along, here are the rules:

1) Go to your photo folders
2) Select the sixth file folder
3) Open it and select the sixth photo in that file folder
4) Write a story for that picture, post it

Surrender...

Today I surrender... I surrender to my emotions, to my fears and to my hopes... and most importantly I surrender to myself.

I had the most amazing conversation with the most beautiful person inside and out today. She said that I was strong. And I don't feel strong right now... I feel like a whiner... complaining about things that don't really matter, wanting things that are materialistic and mourning something that should mean so little in my life.

I can't even put my finger on the experience that our short conversation had but it is as if she looked into my soul... and I let her. She'll never know what a profound effect her words had on me.

And I will never be able to put into words my gratitude. Thank you, Amy.

Just FUN

Sometimes you just need a good laugh in this world! Doesn't it make you happy! Got this over at Stretch Marks.

Get your lemonade here...

"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade"

Unknown Author

Okay, so what if nobody is buying the lemonade? I've reached a frustration point with this damn economy and I'm ready to throw myself down and let out a good scream. My husband makes a living off his phone ringing... and it's not ringing. I make a living off of selling luxury handmade items... and they aren't selling.... not a surprise there... but I thought we had reached the bottom of the trough.. but this last month has been a whole new low (for both me and my husband and we are in completely separate industries).

I have my teaching credential and yet I can't get a job... California is laying off more teachers again this year and MY kids summer school was cancelled! Yet our taxes keep rising.

I find myself thinking... if it gets worse then this I don't know how we will make it. If it wasn't for what little money we have saved up I would be in a nutty bin with worry. This is the greatest country in the world.. what the heck is happening?

Will we ever reach the bottom of this failing economy? Will we be able to sell our lemonade again?

New iphone

New iphone!! YEAH!! Now all I need to do is get one! I'm going to wait until next week and hope that they don't run out! Do you think they will run out? I hope not. This will surely be my new obsession.

And guess what! I'm packing...... and packing.... and packing. Just did a run to the Good Will and not done yet.

This is what I should be doing...

So this is what I should be doing right now....

But instead I'm:

• Reading all 200 of my blogs on reader
• Sighing and staring at the wall
• Eating
• Watching TV
• Doing errands that I hate
• Cleaning (which I really hate)
• Doing work that doesn't need to be done
• Obsessing on what NEEDS to be done

I must admit that I did clean out my filling cabinet two days ago. And I did get more storage boxes at Staples. And I did register the kids for school. BUT I'm not packing.

Suddenly I have a overwhelming feeling of dread and apprehension. What if we don't like our neighbors? We've discovered that one of our neighbors has a rock band in his garage... Need I say more? What if I don't like our new community? What if I don't like our new grocery store? What if Target is too far away? Do I have to change the kids doctors? We are only moving 25 minutes away... but we have lived in this area for over TEN years... I don't like change! You probably figured that out by now.

I have tremendous guilt in pulling my kids out of their school and familiarity. My son was kissing his wall last night saying "I love this house" and my daughter has trouble making friends and has finally gotten a BFF... now all that is changing.

I could only imagine how great my anxiety would be if we were still moving across the country... but right now... 25 minutes feels like across the country. I'm not being reasonable.. I know!

Please pray that I find the "will power" to pack some boxes.... soon....

My New Journey...

has begun. I've been feeling a little "unsatisfied" with my yoga classes lately. I kept thinking that maybe it was me progressing past the skill level of the class or it was the instructor themselves... had they changed their classes in some way? What had changed?

I had a very bad class last week with a instructor I had been going to for a very long time. We did a series of hip openers the whole class and then the ending rest pose was about a minute (if that) and I left feeling "anxiety" and "anger". I felt so bad ALL DAY... I just wanted to go to bed and have the day be over. I did some research and talked with a few people and found that hip openers tend to bring up emotions because we hold a lot of our emotions in our hips. I'm fine with releasing my emotions but not if they go right back into my hips.. otherwise, I would just prefer they stay there. Why ruin my day?

A few days later, I went to my Ashtanga class and all was right with the world again. And then it hit me... its not the instructors... its not my skill level... its ME. My inner teacher was speaking to me and telling me what I need... I need to change my practice and do what "feels" good to me.. not go to six classes a week in an obsessive manner... I need to listen to my body and do what "feels" right to me. Whether that be going into "child pose" because I've had enough or only practicing with certain instructors and BEGIN to grow my home practice (which I've very apprehensive about). So I decided to add a pilates class once a week to strengthen my core and changed my schedule a bit.

I've experienced the most amazing transformation the past two days... I've been doing a smaller class with one of my fav instructors and been getting a lot of one on one attention. I've done things the past two days that have amazed me.... Hand Stands, Head Stands, Scorpion poses WITHOUT the wall.

My Crow Pose (see pic above) ROCKED! All I have to do is listen to myself... now if I could get my husband and kids to listen to me!

Tag your it!

I've been tagged by my BFF Erica of Baby Bee's Boutique.

The rules: List Six Unimportant Things that Make you Happy.

1.  Yoga - It might be unimportant to some but to me it's the air I breath.  So I guess it doesn't count but it still my number 1.  Some days its only my time on the mat that keeps me sane.  I don't know what I would do without it.  There are days I feel bliss, strength, release and the simple joy of living in the moment.

2.  Music - could you live without it?  I guess.  But I love it when a song takes you to a different place or brings up memories from your past or wishes for your future.

3.  My favorite Jeans - I have this old ratty pair of jeans and they fit just right.  

4.  Ice Cream - the simple joy of eating ice cream with your kids and enjoying every bite.

5.  Swimming - something I haven't done in a long time... but I enjoy laying in the water and letting the water carry my weight.

6.  The Beach - The sound of the waves.. the sand in my toes... the sweet breeze and the warm sand.

I'm going to tag my blogging BFF Jennifer at The Trendy Spot.

Which Team are you on?

I use to be on Team Edward....  The book had me swooning over the "perfect man" that Edward embodied.  However, I found my like (lust) for him wavering towards the end of the series because I found his character a bit "controlling" but it's a book people!! I read it for entertainment!  When I saw that they had chosen Robert Pattinson for the roll it didn't go with the image in my head of the "perfect man" but Rob isn't too hard on the eyes.  I see from the photo below that he has been working out for the last scene in New Moon... but still I wasn't swooning when I saw this photo below.   (and I think they might have done a little bit of airbrushing.. I'm just saying!)

But now I think I'm on Team Jacob after seeing this photo below... Need I say more!  Yum.  I was NOT a Jacob fan in the book.. I found his undying love for Bella irritating and was very angry that she kissed him in the book.  How could she do that to Edward?  AGAIN, I'm talking about my feelings from the book.   I was sad that New Moon wouldn't have much Edward... and we would be stuck with Jacob.  Sorry, long haired Jacob didn't do anything for me in the first movie.  BUT now.. I'm looking forward to this Big Bad Wolf.    

When it comes to hotness... Taylor Lautner wins hands down!  Which team are you on?

Tiny House

Just when we thought we would have to live in one of these!!!  102 sq ft!!!  We found a great house!  In a great neighborhood!!  With a great school!  It is older but was recently renovated and will do just nicely!

Lets back up a bit... On Saturday we were licking our wounds after two houses had fallen through.  We thought we would have to scale back and go to a much much smaller home.  We looked at some that were 1000-1200 sq ft... man, they were small.... so when we got back in the car after looking at one that we could "live" with.. my husband asked if I wanted to see one in another city.  

Back story on this house:

He had seen a sign but had only called the owner.  Keep in mind that he hadn't seen it and I was very apprehensive about looking at it because he had indicated that I might NOT like the neighborhood.. and trust me I had seen some neighborhoods that HE liked but I would NOT live in...  I admit it.. I'm a bit of a neighborhood snob, and an appliance snob, and a carpet snob... etc... etc... got the point!  

Anyway, We pulled up and they were still doing some work on the front and the neighborhood was okay... and we had just caught the owners as they were leaving... again fate... and we quickly went through the house and checked out all the work they had done.  The whole time I'm thinking this is way out of our price range... I WISH I had spent more time looking.  As we were leaving I told him it was nice but we can't afford it.  He told me the price and I started laughing hysterically.  No way!  We put in an offer that night after driving back by to make sure it wasn't a "mirage".  They don't have any other offers but I won't let my self breath until I sign on the dotted line.  But its perfect for us!

Keep your fingers crossed for us!!

And get this!  When we got home we were offered the smaller home I talked about previously.  AND we so "thanks but NO thanks"!  HA!!!!

New Moon Trailer

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON trailer in HD

I loved the books and I'm interested in seeing what they do with the second movie.  New Moon was not my favorite books so I was nervous and the first movie was "cheesy" in parts... BUT it looks like the second movie is going to be GREAT!

Come take a ride...

on my roller coaster.....

Well, we received news last night that the "bigger" home is not available after all (couldn't they had told us before we made an offer).  SO, that means we placed on offer on the "smaller" home this morning.  And that was my favorite anyway from the very beginning.  They do have another offer on the table so cross your fingers big time for us!

But its no biggie either way.  We still have a few months to find a new home.  I have faith that we will find the right one for us.  

And by the way, the thought of packing in three weeks almost gave me a panic attack this morning.  Why do I hate moving so much!!!

The search is on...

We have officially started the search for a new home last week.  We saw about ten houses last week and were very disappointed with whats in our price range.  Most of them were "filthy" and my husbands throat closed the minute we walked in.  He is allergic to cats and other small rodents... (Oh, I mean animals).... Some had the strangest smell and because of my "carpet fetish" I was afraid to walk on their dirty carpet because it would soil MY shoes.  YUCK.

We haven't given up hope.  We found one we liked on Thursday but it was gone by Friday.  We waited to see two on Sunday and they were great but each had their positive and negatives.  Both homes are in a new school so we would need to move the kids next year.  But I guess that's okay... still a very good school and bigger.  

One of the homes that we liked had a odd layout, very clean, great bathrooms, NOT my dream kitchen, okay neighborhood and the garage was very small (my husband must have room for his stuff)... but in our price range.  The other was HUGE, had my dream kitchen, great neighborhood but had older carpet and was a little bit out of our price range.    

We made an offer on the larger home and we might hear back today... the smaller one will accept offers until Sunday so we will submit one if we don't get the first.  The smaller home actually emailed me to see if we were interested... I think he likes us!  How could you not!  We are such nice normal people!   

Right after we made the offer on the larger home I woke up with a sense of dread that we wouldn't get it and that we should have offered on the smaller home.

So... I'm a bit stressed over all this and slept very little last night (or for the last week).  I just hope we make the right decision and find a great new home.. where ever it might be...  Keep your fingers crossed for us!  

Balanced Yogi

I'm a Balanced Yogi!

A Balanced Yogi You love your friends unconditionally and accept them for who they are no matter what their yoga style preference, religious beliefs, or spending habits. You focus on the good in people and would never try to change them. Almost everyone feels comfortable in your presence. You live your yoga. You are an inspiration to yoga students everywhere!

Take the Yoga Journal Yoga Snob Quiz!

The Light...

"Travel light, live light, spread the light, be the light."

I had the most amazing yoga practice today.  We shared our energy with ourselves and then the whole room and I found it spiritual and uplifting.  When I saw this quote it reminded of my experience today.  We are not alone and if only we reached out to others more often we would fell the "light".

I'm going through some major changes right now in my life... things I can't share now but things that take up all my thoughts and keep me up at night.  Not bad things... just changes that are coming... changes that are needed to clean house and my soul.  I look forward to the "purge" if you will... because it sure does look beautiful down the road, even though the journey may be rocky at some points.  

Or you might say I finally see the "light" at the end of the tunnel.  So go forward and travel light, spread the light and be the light to everyone you love.

Wild Thing

My absolute favorite yoga pose is called the "Wild Thing".  It feels as if I'm about to fly... its such a freeing pose!

Here is how to do it.

Truffles and more Truffles....

Recently me and my daughter went to the mall (just the two of us) to get a few things.   Things I could buy on-line if I wanted... but it would be fun to have some mother/daughter time.

I asked her if she wanted to go to Godiva or See's.  She chose Godiva! YES.  I rarely give my children sweets or candy... but when I do... I give them the good stuff.  So I like to think that I've refined my children's palettes to enjoy the finer things in life.  LIKE Godiva vs... Hershey's (Yuck).

I told her she could pick out any chocolate in the case... and she picked a yummy white chocolate piece.  I love dark chocolate so I went for the "extra dark chocolate truffle".  OMG... I've been dreaming about that little truffle since that day.  I must have more!  It wasn't too sweet and it didn't make me sick afterwards... it was a truffly yummy perfection.

I just discovered that you can buy Godiva chocolate on-line... this could be dangerous.

Sprinkles and 26.8 gms FAT

I've just come down from a 2 week eating fest (both for my birthday and Mother's Day).   So for my birthday we went to my new favorite hang out Wahoo's Fish Taco. Let me just say.... I could eat blackened fish tacos every day!  Because I had such a "healthy" dinner I suggested (demanded) that we go get my favorite naughty treat!

It was Sprinkles for a Red Velvet Cupcake.  Lately I've been going home and checking the caloric and fat content of my favorite restaurants so I can make healthier choices... well, I hope I didn't just ruin my favorite treat by finding out that a Red Velvet Cupcake (just one) has 26.8 grams of fat.  Now come on!!! Why not just round off to 27 grams of fat.  But the bright side is that it's less then 500 calories.  NOT bad.

Amount per Serving
Calories 497 Calories from Fat 241
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 26.8g	41%
Saturated Fat  16g	80%
Cholesterol 104mg	35%
Sodium 412mg	17%
Total Carbohydrate 61.5g	20%
Dietary Fiber  1g	4%
Sugars  45g
Protein 6g	12%

---

Est. Percent of Calories from:

Fat 48.5%     Carbs 49.5%

Protein 4.8%

What's Up With Me....

• Been spending lots of time at the beach... we've considered moving to one of my favorite small towns at the beach... but I've realized that the cost of living there isn't a risk I want to take right now... the last thing we need to do is worry about money... so this week my dream of ocean waves outside my door has died... but the "waves" are still only a short drive away.  And who knows... maybe in the future.
• Went to the most amazing little beach lagoon on mother's day... hope to post pictures soon.  I have like 500 photos sitting in my camera right now.  Bad... very bad of me.
• LOST season finale is tonight!!!! I can't wait!!!!!  Enjoyed the finale of Scrubs... going to miss that show.  With all the season finales going on... I realize summer is coming and with that.. a very lonely TIVO.
• Watched Benjamin Button... didn't see it when it came out at the theaters because I was afraid it would be a tear jerker... but I was pleasantly surprised by the story line and after watching it... I must say its one of the best movies I've seen in a very very very long time.
• We are going to make a paper chain today to countdown the final six weeks of school... can't wait summer is almost here.
• Have lots of anxiety on finding a place to live by August so that we can move before kids start school.
• My baby is turning six... can you tell I'm crying?  We are taking him to Disneyland tomorrow to celebrate.  Wish me luck that we don't all get the swine flu and die!  I'm already a germaphobe... so a bottle of "magic soup" will be used frequently.
• Practice has been amazing since Sunday... last week sucked... I can't put my finger on it but I think I might be getting "bored" with the lower level classes.  I need to start a home practice but I'm apprehensive....
• Can't wait to de-clutter and revitalize and redecorate this summer.
• My Hand Stand totally ROCKS now!
• Started reading this cool "demon" book... the City of Bone Mortal Instruments series.  Not sure what to think yet... I thought it was going to be a vampire book and it's not... but it keep my attention more then another book I finally put down because it was so stupid.
  
• Decided to not get the iphone right now because it might (MIGHT) be coming to Verizon and I don't want to switch to AT&T.  We get terrible signal where we live so it wouldn't work anyway... maybe we will move to a more "signal" friendly place this summer... because I'm "this" close to breaking down and getting the itouch.  So this means I got "nothing" for mothers day OR my birthday.  Do I sound bitter?  because I am.   

That's all I've got for the last two weeks...  

Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured. - B.K.S. Iyengar

Bike Race

The kids were on some type of military apparatus at a local bike race last weekend.

Here is my little "buddy" ready for his very first bike race!  So proud.

He was a bit worried about the crowd at the start of the race....

Here is my BIG girl who rode the WHOLE course in her age group!  She rocked it!

Pizza

Yes, I made that scrumptious pizza on my brand spanking new pizza stone.  It even tasted good!

Even the kids were in shock and proud of their mom.  I'm definitely not Martha Stewart!  But for one brief moment I felt like it!

Remember?

This morning my son had his Mother's Day Fashion Show at school.  I remembered last night and got out his shirt and bow tie and hung it in his room so I wouldn't forget in the morning.  And I remembered what time to be there and everything went off without a hitch... the reason I'm making such a big deal about this is last year... things were a bit different...

Last year, my daughter had her fashion show and I completely forgot in the morning and to make it worse I dropped her off at school and then came home to a very sad message from my daughter saying that she needed her dress for the fashion show... I grabbed her dress and drove 80 miles an hour back to her school to find her in tears because I didn't "remember".... I have lots of days like that.  But last year... I forgot tons of stuff... I was working 14 hours a day (including weekends) on my business and I was beyond stressed.

So back to today!  I was sitting there watching my son's show and thinking how proud I was of how different I am today then I was a year ago.  And that's a lot coming from me... you see... I'm a bit hard on myself all the time (yes, ALL the time).  So I came home and did some grocery shopping and then decided to go off to Target and get a few things... and on my merry ride home I get a call from the school...

When the phone rang and I saw it was the school and I immediately thought "Oh No, closing school because of the swine flu"....  The lady in the office said "I have your daughter here and she would like to come home"... And I'm thinking "Oh No, she has the swine flu"... and I kind of paused... waiting for her to go on... and then she said "Today is minimum day"...  And then I was like "Thank God she doesn't have the swine flue" and then I thought "Oh NO, I forgot my kids at school"... "again"......

Yeap, just when I was ready to toot my own horn on being so much better at remembering things... I forget again!  So I immediately called my husband (after picking the kids up) and said "see I need the iphone.  because if I had had my iphone it would have texted me and let me know that today was minimum day".

But seriously, do you ever feel like as a mom (with kids in school)  that there are so much to remember.  And as a wife running the household... I often feel so overwhelmed to remember everything.

5 Things...

Pick 5 from the following items you would be willing to live without if you HAD to give up.

1. Computer
2. High Speed Internet
3. Land Line Phone
4. Air Conditioning
5. Clothes Dryer
6. Cell Phone
7. TV
8. Car
9. Microwave
10. Cable or Satellite TV

Can I pick zero?  IF I HAD to pick!  I would chose the following:  land line phone, TV, Cable/Satellite TV,  clothes dryer and microwave.

So basically I would be sitting in my "cool" office surfing the net on my high speed connection looking for new apps for my iphone and watching my favorite shows via my computer... while doing this I would be in my dirty stinky yoga pants and spending more time in the kitchen cooking from scratch.  Or because I kept the car I can drive to get food.

What would you do?

I borrowed this from one of my fav blogs... but I can't remember which one.  :)

Oh BOY!

Huggies Geyser - video powered by Metacafe

99 Things....

See how boring I really am!  Things that I have DONE are in BOLD.  

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii (three times and I'm not loving it..)
5. Watched a meteor shower (I wish!!!)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis (I don't think so)
10. Sang a solo (I have the worst singing voice... this was when I was a kid though)
11. Bungee jumped (Maybe when we go on the Amazing Race one day.. I would rather sky dive then do this!)
12. Visited Paris (one day, sigh)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (sewing)

15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (tomatoes, pumpkins, strawberries, etc...)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (does 5K count?)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice (what about the Venitian.. ha ha.. las vegas baby!)
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke (Oh YEAH!  Grease songs on a ship full of people)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater 
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies 
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason (yesterday, my hubby surprised me with wild flowers)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (arm, wrist, collar bone and toes)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (watched my dad do the killing but I helped prepare)
88. Had chickenpox 
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (nobody you would remember!)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95.Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Yoga Supergran

This is just amazing!  I hope to be just like her!  83 years young.

Ahhhhhhhh

Just look at this gorgeous mini pool or "spool" (spa/pool).  I want one!  It just makes me all happy inside looking at it.  Why can't I have this in my backyard! 

Do you want the abs? Or what?

I don't watch Biggest Loser... but I love Jillian.  I think she knows what she is doing and she has a very interesting back story.  I'm currently reading her latest book.  And love it!  I've temporarily put a hold on being a vegetarian and I've added back in some low-fat turkey (from the books advice).   I'm shocked to find out that Jillian and I are about the same height and weight.. yet she is ripped!  I want to look like Jillian!

Do you want those abs?  I sure do.  What this clip.

I also have the 30 day shred DVD... but I need to actually start using it!

iphone

Okay, don't laugh at me!  But I just joined the electronic revolution and got an ipod for Christmas... and I think it's the coolest thing ever!  I probably haven't even scratched the surface yet with it!  But I love it.

So this brings me to the iphone!  Do I need it?  NO.  Do I want it?  YES.  It has the coolest ever apps!  It can do your grocery list, a budget and record how much you eat!  AND do yoga!!!  Come one!  That's so awesome!  Now don't laugh at me again!  I'm sure it can do lots more then that.  

So my birthday is coming up in a few weeks and I'm trying to convince my husband why I NEED an iphone!  He isn't buying it!  But I'm thinking I want to go all mac!  When we move I was going to get a lab top... and now I'm thinking a mac.. lab top or desktop because the mac desktop doesn't takes up much more room then a lab top.. minus the mobility... which I wasn't so sure I needed anyway.

So getting back to the iphone... looking for input.  Do you have an iphone?  Do you love it?  What do you love about it?  I know I probably have three readers?? ANYONE?

Grateful

I was thinking today how very grateful I am for the simple things in life.  I have a husband who loves me even though our relationship is far from perfect.  I have two beautiful children who think the moon rises and falls on me, yet I don't feel I deserve it most days.  And I have my health and the ability to do yoga every day in this beautiful place called Earth.

I'm often reminded of a brief conversation I had with a woman in front of a Staples a few years ago.  I was in rush to run in and grab some supplies before nap time.  My daughter and son must have been 3 and 1 at the time.  I apologized to the woman waiting to get in her car while I wrestled the kids from the back seat of my car.

She look at me with such yearning and sadness.  And out of nowhere she told me that her daughter (adult daughter) had recently passed away and that I should cherish every moment I have with my children.  She went on to say that her daughter had been a mom also and how so sad she is that her grandchild will not grow up with a mom.  I was hit at the very core by this moment and even now... many years later I think of that mom and remember how very GRATEFUL I am... for these moments... for these days... for every touch, hug and kiss... because we don't know if they will be taken away tomorrow or the next day.  We must all be grateful for how little or how much time we have on this glorious placed called earth.

I wish that woman knew how much of an impact she has had on my life... that her sorrow touched me and reminds me to always be grateful.

It could happen....

I'm just saying... it could happen.  Though it has NEVER never happened to me!   

Banana Bread

I made the best Chocolate Chip Banana Bread!!!  This has to be the best recipe I've done so far!

Ingredients

·                                 1 cup granulated sugar

·                                 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

·                                 2 large eggs

·                                 3 ripe bananas

·                                 1 tablespoon milk

·                                 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

·                                 2 cups all-purpose flour (1 cup whole wheat and 1 cup all purpose)

·                                 1 teaspoon baking powder

·                                 1 teaspoon baking soda

·                                 1 teaspoon salt

·                                 Handful of Chocolate Chips (if needed)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter a 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan.

Cream the sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

In a small bowl, mash the bananas with a fork. Mix in the milk and cinnamon. In another bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Add the banana mixture to the creamed mixture and stir until combined. Add dry ingredients, mixing just until flour disappears.

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Set aside to cool on a rack for 15 minutes. Remove bread from pan, invert onto rack and cool completely before slicing.