MAJOR Dilemma

I've got a Holiday problem..... I LOVE eggnog. It's extremely delicious. And it's only available at this particular time of year. Hence, the reason I purchased a 2 LITRE carton!!


Having indulged myself with a multitude of Christmas delights, I am REALLY feeling the bulge and I'd like to get all of this stuff out of my house ASAP.


:My Dilemma:

Should I scarf it down... knowingly full well that I'll be increasing my calorie intake even more, which will lead to even MORE bulge to deal with??

-OR-

Shall I dump it.... deny myself the final few remaining portions, sadly say 'Adieu, until next year' and take control my cravings??


Heart or head?


As my very wise father would say....

"It goes to waste, whether you eat it or not......."

Bah..... It's Christmas....... what's one more jog around the block??

Bottom's up!!

'Tis the Season!

Today I went to the Christmas Market downtown and had some very yummy snacks!! To mention a few.... a Bavarian Smokie, a salty Pretzel with mustard, and a Chocolate Fondue Fruit Cup!! So delicious!! There was a booth offering ciabatta bread smothered with a very stinky cheese ... I did not sample any of that!

Santa was there, and a giant Nutcracker. And a fast moving carousel with a child that wanted nothing more than to get off of it!! Scented soaps, slippers, coffees, roasted nuts, and Christmas tree ornaments.

It was raining, but not too chilly..... AND because it was during the week, admission was $2!! Overall a very fun way to spend an hour or two!!

(Baked apples...)

Are you all geared up for Christmas? Less than a week to go!!

I must admit that I've kinda wimped out on my Christmas giving this year. I mailed cards, and sent a few gifts, and that's about it. Until I have children of my own, I think I will save up my dollars. I'd much rather surprise someone and send them a gift during the year.... or spoil them on their birthday.

Spending too much money at Christmas is ANTI-Christmas.

Ho-ho-ho!!!

Merry Christmas everyone! Now, go be with people you LOVE!!!

Time FLIES!!

3 months since I last posted.... REALLY?

I guess that MUST mean I've been busy??? Well, luckily I have been!

Hmmm.... let's see..... where should I start?

Yoga..... I'm up to 6 regular classes, very soon to be 8! The support and trust I've been shown has been extremely wonderful! I'm surrounded by amazing yogi friends who've helped me grown and expand further than I could have imagined! I once had a fear that I'd lose part of the passion I feel for yoga when I started teaching. Thankfully, I was wrong to think that! It is so very different and awesome! I was meant to share this passion with others, indeed!!

Photography..... I've been approached by a woman who has 'the horrible predicament of too many jobs on her hands' and she's asked me to apprentice under her. Uhh.... YEAH! This is a very new endeavor, not really anything else to report on this yet..... stay tuned though!

CIRCUS!.... I've joined the Big Top!! Well, not really. BUT I've been taking TRAPEZE lessons, with the hopes that I will graduate up to the Aerial Hoop very soon! I've only had 3 lessons so far. The only thing I can brag about are the blisters on my palms! I need to build up a lot more forearm strength and callouses before any sort of tricky stunts can be attempted. Right now, I'd say I'm at the kindergarten level...... maybe even lower than that!! Perseverance.... and lower belly strength..... those things will help me out considerably!!

This summer has been a challenging one, primarily because I've been adjusting to the fact that my Stinky moved away..... (my one and only sister and BEST person in the world!!) It's been one of the biggest transitions in my life learning to cope without our daily interactions. But who can argue with love??!! She's happy and that's all that matters! And she's going to take me on a killer tour when I visit!! And so to add to the emotions of her leaving, I also moved in to her apartment when she went south. Moving is such a stressful operation at the best of times. It took a while for this place to feel like MY home, rather than hers, but after moving my things around 3 or 4 times, I am finally happy with the layout!!



So................. with that, I think I can say I've officially updated my blog. Unfortunately it's a very simple posting, not much imagination, no photos......

I promise... more to come! (Always!!)

xo

Wisdom From Yoga..... For Life

Finally I can tell you about this most recent project I've been a part of!!! My wonderful and beautiful friend Andrea has had a vision of creating a book based on inspiring words of wisdom from different yoga teachers in the community. And now, her vision has become reality!! She approached me in March and asked me if I'd be on board to capture her Gurus on camera. Of course!

So now the book is available online, for viewing as well as for purchasing. It is our hope that YYoga will soon promote the book within the studios.

Here's the link that will take you to the preview site.....

http://www.blurb.com/books/2314116


Congrats Andrea! You can do anything when you put your mind to it!!!

Here are a few samples that you'll find in the book........

Pro/ 'kras/ ti/ 'nay/ shun

In psychology, procrastination refers to the act of replacing high-priority actions with tasks of low-priority, and thus putting off important tasks to a later time.

Etymology

From Latin prōcrāstinātiō, from prōcrāstinō (“procrastinate”), from prō + crāstinus (“of tomorrow”) < crās (“tomorrow”).

Pronunciation

/pɹəʊˌkɹæstɪˈneɪʃən/

Noun

procrastination (plural procrastinations)

1. The act of postponing, delaying or putting off, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness.  

"Procrastination is the thief of time."

I'm moving in 1.5 days.........

Calm seas do not make for skilled sailors....

What a wonderful, and very true quote. This was posted on a billboard outside a church near my house. This church often has very interesting quotes. I wonder who is in charge of choosing which ones get used. Probably a very thoughtful, deep person.

You learn very little from smooth sailing... it's the bumps along the way that really give you life's lessons! The bumps may not be fun at the time, but looking back, a person can probably smile and say... "it darned well was worth it!!"

It's Been Too Long....

Dress Rehearsals & Dance Recitals, the Stanley Cup Finals, Photography Projects, De-Cluttering my Home, Watching Game of Thrones, Softball, Picking up Extra Shifts..... all reasons why I've been M.I.A.

And now........... here I am!!!

Haha... with actually not much to say at all.... but feeling like I'd like to close up this gap between writing and not writing.... and back to writing again.

The sun was out yesterday and it was glorious! I'm hoping there's more Sun on the menu today. How brilliant that would be! Poor Vancouver has been struggling to get its summer off the ground. It's been a heavy haul.... I know it's coming though! Very soon I will hear complaints of it being 'too friggin' hot'..... can't WAIT!!



I'm going to wear my shades today, no matter what!

The Power of Positive Thinking!!

This quote found me yesterday. It's one I like, and it gets me every time.....

Live the life you love; love the life you live. Yes. Amazing! So powerful, and so true.

Hey all.... go on out there are have a good day! :)

The Thzoooo!!

It's been THREE weeks! Finally, the Zoo Pics!


The funniest-lookin' animals at the Zoo! THREE of us on a two-seater! :)



Hippo




3 Peachies




Me with a Bird of Prey!!



This is Hagrid



Hagrid again




How wonderful to be born with this amazing pattern on your skin!!




Melts my heart!




Lion Feeding Show: Mallie or Callie, one of them.




Sweetie getting a snack too




She's so curvy! I love how her back end makes the shape of a heart!




Do these guys look like they'd have English accents?




Mmm.... carrot!!




I can't really blame him.... we were dawdling and they were wanting to close!!



Shadow




Little boy on the shuttle through Bear Country

The Zoo!! (the full post is on its way!!)

I went to the Zoo last week! I've been wanting to post my photos, yet somehow life keeps getting in the way and other things have been taking priority!

Here's a teaser..... such a FACE!

More photos will come.... ASAP!

Softball!!

New/Used cleats.... stretching out the new glove..... guess who's playing Softball this year!!??

What a Way to Cure a Sweet Tooth!

I was craving something sweet last night. Hmmm.... that NEVER happens! I didn't want to go to the store, so I concocted a yummy experience with what I had at home... and it was DEE-lish!!

Cooked apples + mango, with some brown sugar + honey
Muesli + raisins
Topped with Greek yogurt

Mmmmm!!!

Ta-Da!!

Yay! Here's the book, in PRINT! There are some really great photos! Erin & Jason did an awesome job compiling and preparing this project! I'm so happy to have been a part of it!

You can buy your own copy online at:
http://www.cargoh.com/


You can check out the short video clip here on the TIEV website:
http://www.thisiseastvan.com/

Medicinal Purposes Only....

**Caution: Content in this post may be deemed inappropriate to some blog readers**

Hello Y'all....

For those of you that know me well.... you will understand this 'complex' and 'delicate' situation I've got.... related to... my bowels.

Hey, I'm an open individual. I can share my problems (and hopefully my solutions) with the world. If I can help ONE person to not have to go through what I go through on a regular basis (don't mind the pun) then my job here on Earth has maybe been fulfilled.

"Constipation"

This is the word of the day. And it's MY word of the day much too often. Ugh.

I like to say that "I have a hard time letting things go. I hold on to crap.... and.... literally.... I hold on to crap." Lovely.

If you weren't in the category of 'those that know me well' at the beginning of this post.... well, you are now!!

SO!? Why is today's post centred around this delightful topic? Coffee. I'm crossing my fingers that this simple, age-old remedy will rise above all other failed concoctions, massages, altered diets, and cleanses... and have me singing from the Porcelain Throne... daily... if not more!

I've never been a coffee drinker. I've always been proud to say I'm a morning person, and I can be quite cheerful in the AMs without needing to rely on a cuppa Black Magic. I detest the stuff. However, my sis graciously donated an adorable little 4cup coffee pot. I love it and I love making my coffee! With a dollop of cream and a spoonful (maybe 2) of sugar.... this experiment might be drinkable after all.

I'm on Day 2.

So far, so good! If you know what I mean!

Cats on CATNIP!

I'm like a mother who doesn't give her kids sugar. Rarely do I hand out the catnip. Auntie Stinky came over and thought it would be fun to 'treat' them with with some drunkenness. It was great, until 'birthday party tummy-ache' ensued. Luckily my swift, split-second response was able to direct Carly's puke to the floor, rather than the carpet.

Never a dull moment.

Make It! Show

This is where 'my' book 'This Is East Van' is going to be released. Check out the show... it looks pretty cool!

Croatian Cultural Centre
3250 Commercial Dr
Fri, Apr 15: 4-9pm
Sat, Apr 16: 11-6pm
Sun, Apr 17: 11-5pm

$5 @ the door

Book Release!

The book with my FIRST published photo will be released to the public April 15th!


Here's how you can get your hands on a copy of your very own:

1 - The book's big premiere will be April 15-17 at the MAKE IT! Show being held at the Croatian Cultural Center, Vancouver

makeitproductions.com
2 - As of April 15th the book will be available for purchase online at cargoh.com

Copies of the book are $35.00 each. Proceeds from the book will be donated to an East Van arts organization voted on by the book's contributors. The chosen organization will be announced on the website on April 15th and at the MAKE IT! Show.

thisiseastvan.com