How Acro Yoga Changed My Life.

I got to fly. That is how it changed my life. I'm learning to live without fear. Letting someone base you and put you up in the air is very scary, but developing trust with my yoga buds was amazing and fun. We did some wild things. Google Acro Yoga if you want to know more. 

So the first part of training was Acro Yoga/Partner Yoga. I definitely feel closer to our group of trainees. The second part of training we learned about Chakras. Bla bla bla. I'm not sure how I feel about Chakras and all those colors. We'll see if it resonates in me later.

Happy New Year to all the Jews! Back to Baltimore for a few days off with the family. 

Allow myself to introduce myself.

September 27, 2008. 1:30-8:30pm 

I leave the house at 12:40 to give myself plenty of time to walk to the train, ride the train, walk to the studio. I got there a half an hour early, so I went to Urban Outfitters to waste a few minutes. 1:10, I walk to the studio and decide to take the stairs up 4 flights. When I got to the top, my heart was pounding and I thought to myself, what the hell am I doing here/ this is way over my head. I go into the office and the girl at the desk tells me there are a few other people there. I was the third person there. I unroll my mat and get situated. I take deep breaths to calm my beating heart and racing mind. The room fills up over the next 20 minutes. All women, except for two men. 

 

Eventually 4 women come to the front of the room and lead us in a meditation and chant. It really helped me relax. I was sitting next to one of the guys in class and his Om's are so deep, it resonates in me and I love it. 

For the next 4 hours, we talk about our stories. How did we get involved in yoga. Why are we doing the training. Do you have any pets. What is your sign. Some people shed tears, Many people laughed. I went 2nd and of course I became extremely nervous, but calmed down after a few minutes. After our lengthy intros, we had a lunch break around 5. I got to talk to a few girls in the program who caught my interest during the intros. 

Next came our binders. They all have a quote and photo on the front, mine has a bird and it says "I am free from fear no matter what the challenge," which is something I'm working on. Fear. I've been afraid of so many things in my life and it's time to not be afraid and to finally live free. We got paired up with one or two other people who have the same binder picture as us. These people became our yoga buddies. Someone to call when you're lost or confused or do not know where training is that day. They also became our practice partners in class when we practice teaching. After going over the binders and hearing a reading we were taught how to teach sun salutations.

I thought this part of the training was lacking. We got in our pairs and practice teaching sun salutations. It felt awkward to teach. It also felt awkward to be the student learning from a new teacher. When I went home I studied my Ashtanga Yoga Practice Manual which has very good directions on how to do sun salutes. I think that along with this training, I will be doing a lot of researching and studying on my own because I want to truly understand every aspect of yoga and sometimes in class I feel like it very one sided. I want all sides. 

rockband at 2am.

imagine you're asleep at 2am. and you hear what you think is a very loud party, with lots of people and a band! imagine you're me and you go upstairs to tell them to knock it off, only to see another neighbor about to do the same thing. we knock on the door a few times and they couldn't hear us. so i pushed the door open... to see a room full of dudes, playing rock band very loudly, drinking brewskies. no party, no babes. just some boys and rockband. damn. they turned it off and i went back to bed. i just can't stop thinking about how funny it is that a room full of dudes, drinking brewskies, playing rockband, sounded like a full fledged party. hmpf!

Pesto Pinenut Puppy Surprise.

Well. Actually. There were no puppies harmed in the making of this delicious breakfast. 

Here's what you do: Crack an egg into a hot pan. I break the yolk because that's how I like, but not necessary. After the egg is about half way done, sprinkle some pine nuts on top. Now here comes the big one, now put two spoonfuls of pesto (homemade or not) onto the egg. Now fold the egg in half! Let the pesto and nuts warm up and the rest of the egg cook. Put onto plate and enjoy.

Pesto Pinenut Puppy Surprise!!!

VOTE OR DIE!!! (for obama of course!!!)

Based on the Philly LOVE scultpure, found around Penn's Landing. 

She thinks we made the guest bed for her...

awww, my cute little pig!

Sugar update.

I've been doing really well on not eating sugary sugary things, but on Friday night, Boyfriend and I drank Vanilla Vodka and Cokes and I ate candy at the bar. I'm doing well, despite the quick relapse. It was worth it. hah. I finally figured out a way to make my coffee taste good, some agave nectar and silk creamer! woo woo. 

Bathroom Wall Revisited.

Plaster is set. Just needs a paint job.

43rd and Chestnut

on a dumpster. 

northernlibertiesband.com?

check her out.

jp is making hip satchels. exactly what i wanted and needed. so i bought one. you should check out her handmade goods on etsy.com. her seller name is jpmarquardt. 

Things I want to learn how to make:

A Messenger Bag that has a spot to hold my yoga mat... I'm a city girl now and I need to be able to just carry one bag and not a bag and a mat and a water bottle, etc. 

I'd also like to make a hip bag (it's kind of like a glorified fanny pack).  They are kind of trendy for all the bike kids, but I want it for when I nanny. I can put my phone, wallet and keys in it when I take the baby for a walk, etc.  Sometimes maybe some gum and tampons. 

Anyone know good resources for learning these skills? I know how to sew. I made a bag once (using a sewing machine!!) in Santa Cruz under the direction of my awesome roomie Josie. Need to start researching!

Choose Your Future, Choose Life.

This is what you see when you walk into my apartment! We also got a Dark Knight poster that says, 'Why so serious?' but we don't have a frame for it yet. 
My dad got me this awesome lamp!!! Isn't it adorable?

My Pig.

The pig enjoying her 88 cent zebra bone that will be demolished within 24 hours. (correction: was destroyed within 20 minutes)

Renovation

My bathroom had a leak and now looks like this. That hole goes from ceiling to floor. We got a new pipe, the leak is gone and soon the hole will be as well. I hope our lungs aren't growing mold spores. Ah, the beauty of old apartments...

#2

maybe for my birthday?? alchemy goods.com. i'll be 25 on november 1st!!! 

Shopping wish list.

Sug Sug Suga.

I'm a sugar addict. There I said it. I'm totally addicted. So I decided that on September 1, 2008 I would cut out refined sugar as much as I can. So no candy or cookies or cake or muffins, etc. I'm still eating fruit sugars such as pectin and fructose. And will occasionally dabble in organic cane or agave or honey, but i'm still not eating sweets. It feels good to be in control of my habit. I still crave candy bars whenever I walk by a Rite Aid, but i'm getting this under control for good! For good!!!!!!!!!!

Sneak Peek.

This is the view from our bedroom of our tiny kitchen. Asher says it's very functional. I think it's very cute, albeit very small.