7.30.2011

little indulgences

Because I'm doing this detox, all week long, I've had smoothies, every morning. Which, I don't mind, because they are so refreshing and yummy, especially during the heat of summer. Peaches, strawberries, bananas, chia seeds and coconut oil - sounds good, right?

I woke up today, and all I wanted was some eggs.


I love eggs, but I've cut down tremendously on how much I eat. According to ayurveda, the yolks are too "hot" for Pittas. But, every once in awhile, I indulge in some farm fresh eggs. Please, do yourself a favor, and buy local, farm eggs. They taste so much better. No, not all eggs are perfectly white. Look how pretty! Brown, white, and light sky blue. And, the yolks are so vibrant.

7.29.2011

A week ago, it would've been a different excuse

I have not been to yoga in three weeks! I took a week off, and one somehow turned into three. Oops! I think it is great though to give yourself a little time off from anything. Then, when you come back to it, you realize how much you love it (or in some cases, hate it).

This morning, I finally got my ass out of bed to go to my favorite yoga class. It's a "Silent Hot" class, which means that it is 26 poses, for an hour and a half.  The room is heated to about 104 degrees. (Very similar to traditional Bikram, but you cannot call it "Bikram Yoga" unless you are a certified teacher by Bikram himself and follow his specific 26 poses in sequence.) The class is "silent", because the instructor only cues the next pose; they do not describe each pose in depth. It is a super intense class, which really challenges you not only physically, but mentally, because the voice in your head is the only one you hear.

I woke up ten minutes early, so I could do my ten minutes of meditation before class. I have been doing this each morning, as a part of my 8-week detox. I forgot to change the hour on my alarm, so I was sitting there, and realized that it had been a pretty long time. I opened my eyes, looked at the clock, and had missed the bus to yoga!!!
You win some, you lose some: I did miss yoga this morning, but I did have one of my best meditations this week.

For someone who has always been intimidated by the thought of meditation, it is much "easier" than I thought. Sitting in silence, listening to your breathe, and trying to let your thoughts pass you by, for ten minutes! Very scary. But, I am enjoying it. We'll see if I'm saying the same thing in a few weeks, when I am up to 30 minutes a day.

7.26.2011

out in the open

You know how I have been desperately trying to save my money lately? Well, I have been doing a really good job, but not a great job. Unfortunately, in order to really really save and not be completely broke after I've put money away, I think I need to be a bit anti-social (when it comes to nightlife). I do not have an easy time going out with a friend for a drink and then going home. No, it usually turns into an escapade of emotions flowing over from one margarita to the next. Yes, I can go out and not drink, but it's just not as much fun! So, I will be spending my nights at home, drinking "Up All Night" - the most delicious chamomile tea blend from LAMILL, which just totally knocks you out. I should do an entire post just on LAMILL. They are incredible.
Anyway, I am finally ready and able to tell you all what I have been saving for (and by "you all" I mean my mother and my two friends who follow this blog): I am going to Bali. That's right. And I am going to complete my yoga teacher training, while I am there. Yes, yes I am! And right before I go to Bali, I am moving from the lovely little Boulder, CO, back to Los Angeles. Yeaaaah! 
Last week, I gave my notice to my boss, at Frasca Food and Wine, where I have spent the last two and a half years totally immersed in the world of fine dining, Italian wine and culture, and Friulian food. Frasca truly became my family, and it will be very difficult to leave them. But, I cannot express how excited I am for this new chapter.
In order to prepare for this training, the teacher suggests an 8-week detox, which includes cutting down a percentage each week of fatty foods, refined sugars, tobacco, alcohol, etc. And, replacing those with more greens, whole grains, etc. So, it will be quite similar to the cleanse I did a few months ago, but much longer and not so intense (I only say that since it's a gradual progression of cutting things out of your diet). I think this will be a great way to cut down on drinking and eating out. Also, smoking. What I am really excited about though is that the detox includes meditation everyday. For the first two weeks, I will cut out 25% of the "vices" and practice 10 minutes of meditation everyday, and progress from there. This is my little meditation setup:

I went to the grocery store today, got some fruits and veggies - only things that I needed to last me until I get paid again. I spent $30. I was estimating that I could do the shopping for $25, so I did pretty good.

I am also going to try and increase how often I do yoga. I am going to try for about 5 times a week. I would also like to go hiking! I have been saying that for months now, but I am actually going to do it. Just you wait and see.

7.21.2011

This is what I have, so I will use it.

Since February, I have been looking for sandals for my dearest friend's wedding this August. The first pair that I had my eye on, was a beautiful wedge by Proenza Schouler. For a mere $800, they could have been mine. But, I held off, knowing that I could find something that I loved just as much and didn't cost me two months worth of groceries.
I have looked for countless hours online and in stores, for the perfect shoe, to go with my Zero + Maria Cornejo dress. From those hours, the months dragged on, and I have since then been put on a very tight budget (which, again, I cannot disclose what I am saving for quite yet). So, I thought of just wearing some great Joie sandals that I bought last year on sale. But, those sandals are worn, and I needed something a bit simpler. So, this morning, I was perusing Gilt, and I found a great, simple little flat sandal for $35 DOLLARS.

Then, I go on to read my horoscope:

There’s a simple principle for keeping your head above water, fiscally speaking, Earn more than you spend. Today’s cosmic influences shine a bright light on where you’ve been falling short of that ideal, and where you may need to trim back. For starters, it’s time to get real about the difference “luxury” and “necessity.” You don’t have to deprive yourself, but if you’ve got champagne tastes on a PBR budget, you need to either scale back a little or find a way to reel in more cash so you can afford the finer things that you crave.
This has been my biggest struggle/project/motto this summer: saving and living within my means.
Therefore, I have been eating out less, and trying to eat what I have bought from the grocery store, before it goes bad! I always buy tons of fruits and veggies, but by the time I get around to eating them, they've gone bad. So, I am letting myself buy a few fruits and veggies at a time, and I am not going to the grocery store, until I finish my perishables. We'll see how long this lasts, but it does mean getting a bit creative in the kitchen. Yesterday, for lunch I had a sammy with celery, buffalo mozzarella, dill, and mayo... I thought it was delicious and simple, just how I like my food. (Maybe not the healthiest thing, but I'll figure that out as time goes on.) 


And, this morning, I made a great smoothie with frozen blueberries and peaches, and a banana that was just  a bit too ripe to eat on it's own. 


I must say, that once I finally get the hang of saving my money, it is kind of fun, and a very rewarding feeling (and bank account). 

7.02.2011

let's try simplicity.

I am on a saving money journey. Boy, is it a journey. Do you remember when I wrote about how beautiful it was to see the woman on the garden tour living within her means? I need to do that, big time. I am saving up for something, that I cannot share at this time, but I will so so soon! And, boy, do I need to SAVE! I don't have too much time either...

Okay, so, let's try simplicity. Let's try to be happy with what we have. Be content. I want to think about what I am spending my money on and be fulfilled with the things around me. 

My biggest expenditure is no doubt about it on food. And drink.
I have really tried to cut down on eating out. That helps a lot. Oh, how I love to eat out. 

Stop.

Right now, saving money is far more important than going out to brunch, lunch, and dinner all in one day (yes, brunch and then lunch). Time to focus on eating healthy, going to yoga, maybe even actually going on a hike (I told myself that I would go on a hike every other week this summer. Yes, it's now July. And, no, I have not gone on one). 

It's about having fun with what you have: trying new outfits with clothes, making new things for lunch before all the veggies go bad, being creative.

Be creative!