Happy and Grateful

The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.-Oprah

Moving forward {literally}.

I want to tell you the truth. This week has been a some kind of crazy whirlwind.
I am finishing up my master's degree. After 7 or so years of college, I am sooooooo happy to be at this point in my life. Yes, I still am confused about what I want to be when I grow up. However, I am glad to be getting my librarian wings.

 At the very least, I have now have {official societal} permission to get a cat, have a bun and be a super nerd! If only, I could get paid to do just that! Today, I am approaching what I hope will be my last days of graduate work{but who knows}.

Naturally, there is a little of fear of flying. This economy is not stellar and there are hundred fears that stalk the mind. I will attend to those later. Now is the time to celebrate! Right now, I am happy and grateful.

What's making you happy today?

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

P.S. Pose of the day: happy baby.


Cheers,

Small Pleasures: Tea Time

Tea...is a religion of the art of life. -Okakura

A couple of years ago, I worked at a jewelery shop. It was a small but lovely place ran by a husband and wife. Not only did they work at the shop but their apartment was right above it. So there was bit of stir-craziness circulating around the shop at times. Needless to say, things got a little crazy. However, no matter what S., my boss would make me a cup of tea in the afternoon. This ritual got embedded in my head and heart. Now, life feels a little "off " without a cup of tea.

These days, I am loving some black tea in the mornings. Usually it's English or Irish breakfast bags steeped for 5 minutes and touch of non-dairy creamer. If I am feeling ambitious I might have some loose black tea. For my afternoon cup(s), I am drinking white or green tea {loose teas}. They have less caffeine and taste great when flavored with fruit bits. If you are not a tea person, I hope you'll give it a wee chance! There is something in the ritual of waiting for kettle to boil and the tea to steep that makes the process quite lovely.

How to Brew the Perfect Cup of Tea {garnished from years of experience and tidbits over the years}

Bring fresh water to a rolling boil for oolong, black and herbal infusions.
For white, green and some oolongs bring the water to an almost boiling point.
With a teaspoon, measure one teaspoon of loose tea for each cup of tea desired.
Pour water over tea and let steep. Take strainer or bag out and let it cool to your desired temperature.
Savor and enjoy.

Some suggested steep times:
white teas-3 to 8 minutes *I do eight but I think otherwise the flavor is faint.
green teas-1 to 3 minutes *For a pure green tea, I step for a minute. Longer and it is too grassy.
oolong teas-1 to 5 minutes *3 minutes but you should to check the label.
black teas-3 to 5 minutes *5 and no longer. Otherwise, it gets bitter, in my opinion.
herbals infusion-3 to 5 minutes *I love rooibos, red tea/bush tea steeped for 7 minutes with honey and lemon.


Do you drink tea, if so what is your current favorite?


P.S. I am loving the tea shop in my neighborhood.
P.S.S. After sipping a cup, I love to curl up reading this blog.

Finding the Flow

Love is never lost. If not reciprocated, it will flow back and soften and purify the heart.-Washington Irving

I am a firm believer in creating simple moments of grace even in the midst of great sadness, uncertainty and/or dreary weather. Life can assault my perspective, that's a truth. After days of grey skies, I know that I need a little sun and bit of rest.

The truth is if I let myself, I can easily be overcome with negativity and lounge in that place for unknown amounts times. I don't think there is anything wrong with negative emotions but that is never a place I want to stay. Negativity can light you on fire, if you let it. If am to be set on fire, by anything, I want it to be by love.

Below are some things I like to do find flow and kindle my heart.
Kindling List
-Make a cup of strong tea.
-Do some yoga. A gentle flow routine or a nice restorative practice can do wonders for the spirits.
-Admit I am deeply disappointed to my self or another person.
-Take a steamy shower or hot bath. Works wonders.
-Go for a walk or run.
-Read Pride and Prejudice. It's my go-to comfort book.Austen's wit always makes me laugh and remember that I, too am a witty and wonderful woman.
-Take one more small step in the direction of your dreams. Send out a query, return a call, etc.
-Call up a friend, who will let me vent my "true" feelings and not try to fix me.
-Water my plants.
-Do my mending.{Can you tell I love to tend! I can't help}
-Give to someone in need. Give money, time, stuff, etc.Paying attention to other's can create a ripple effect. One thing I love to do is let people out of side streets. I know that it is a pain to wait for the traffic to pass and it can create a ripple effect. The people behind you and in front of you are more likely to follow suit. Think about how your small acts of kindness counter the casually cruelty in the world. It's amazing.
-Sit on my zafu or towel(whatever you use) and follow my breath for 5 minutes.

No, these things won't cure me or put money in my bank account but they are spiritual well from which to draw. Sometimes, I need to draw from my reserves when I am overwhelmed or defeated. If  I make a practice of drawing from my well, I can tap into my sense flow. Eventually, I hope the water will move from my mouth to nourish my whole body.

What do you do to get flowing?

P.S. Have you been to Rachel Maddox's blog. The woman is a genius! Go there and soak up her words.
P.S.S. Have I mentioned, how much I love this blog. I really do!

Returning to the Mat

Your sacred space is where you can find yourself over and over again.
— Joseph Campbell

This happens every time. I get really into my yoga practice and then nothing. It's like I've never heard of yoga.
Then my body starts reminding me of what I am forgetting. First, it starts in overeating here and there. Then my anxiety starts rearing its ugly head and before you know it, I'm a basket case.

 Before, I go any further, I want to clarify. I don't think yoga makes your life perfect or takes away your problems. First of all, I think of yoga as bodily prayer. Secondly, like mental or verbal prayer, things may or may nor improve but you can still feel a deep peace in the midst of the storm. Tragically, I really don't have the theological skills to elaborate. It's just a feeling that I know when it rises up in me.

Essentially, I think yoga(or bodily prayer)really helps me be mindful of my emotions and be less reactive. It gives me the space to breathe and heal. Life is hard, at times. I carry a lot of stress and emotions in my body. My hope is that my yoga mat{and a cup of tea} will allow me space to recover from my day, when needed. Moreover, I hope that some way that bodily prayer will mix with my emotional prayer and water my heart. Or at the very least, I hope it will provide small port of refuge in the storm.

pose of the day: camel

What's your hope for today?

A Little(Dress) Romance: the Simpson.

I am completely smitten with the the simpson's dress shop on etsy. It is not my usual cup of tea. I am a super structured black dress lover but lately I seem to etsy stalking this shop. It must be the change of season, that has me adoring simple, flowy dresses.

The simpson is actually L. Wang, a China based designer. She is super humble. When I was corresponding with her about her dresses, she described herself as your average designer. I disagree.Her dresses are like the poetry she infuses in her product descriptions. Here are two of my favorite dresses(an sweet little ditty) from her shop.

 

oh, was a time, like a clean, new taste
smiling eyes before me, inches from my face
wash my love, wash my love -L.Wang +

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I love the idea of super comfy breathable fashion this spring. Now, if only my wallet could match my ambitions. What are you excited to wear this spring?

{At Last} Friday

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Truthfully, Fridays always make me giddy. It must be my inner preschooler!! I think that was the day in elementary school we got to rice krispie treats, right? I use to love those...

Today is really exciting because it's two holidays in one.

*Today is Earth Day! Check out these tips on being a wee bit earth friendlier.

*Today is Good Friday, too. Thus, Sunday is Easter{if that floats your raft}.For Easter, it might be fun to make these.

* I am not quite sure what I want to do this Easter. I know there are things that people usually do but not sure if I want to do those things.  So, I'm going take my finger off Sunday and let it unfold organically. 

This weekend...

*The truth is I have a cookbook that I am desperately waiting to devour and a bed that misses me.
*I kinda want to be outrageous:eat oranges, drink tea{this looks good} and look at fashion magazines or blogs in bed on Saturday.
*Homework, my constant companion, is always awaiting me, for a few more weeks.
*Maybe, I'll venture to the farmer's market because I want to make this.
*Listening to some music is always a good weekend activity.
* Maybe, I'll pop into a yoga class.
*Or it's possible I'll just skip it all and just paint my toes.

What are your weekend plans? I hope that whatever you do, it's lovely.

P.S. Isn't this super?

Poetry on a Thursday

April is National Poetry Month but everyday is full of poetry. Personally, I love poetry and hope to share more of it on this blog. 
April is all about nature, new beginnings and life. I could not think of a better poet to than Mary Oliver to capture the essence of these days. Enjoy!

First Happenings by Mary Oliver

A morning-glory morning with its usual glory, dawn particularly startling with citrons and mauves, petunias in the garden flashing their tender signals of gratitude. The sunflowers creak in their grass-colored dresses. Cosmos, the four o’clocks, the sweet alyssum nod to the roses who so very politely nod back.

And now it is time to go to work. At my desk I look out over the flutter petals, little fires. Each one fresh and almost but not quite replicable.

Consider wearing such a satisfying body! Consider being, with your entire self, such a quiet prayer!

---M. Oliver, New and Selected Poems:Volume 2.

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P.S. I was recently featured over at CluelessCurl. It is a wonderful blog about eco-living and you should hop and say hi to Maggi.

Small Pleasures

Image via Wikipedia

Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal.  It's a way to live.  -Unknown

Today was far busier than I anticipated. However, it was a day full of little pleasures.
Nothing fancy just simple things that give light to an ordinary day.

Just Small Pleasures like:
Having lunch at my favorite restaurant with my favorite co-worker.
A cup of iced spiced chia tea.
Trying a new recipe.
Doing a wee bit of yoga while my laundry was in.
The sun peeking it's head out for a moment in the early afternoon. Sunshine  always makes me smile.
This breathing exercise was quite helpful in giving me a little energy. Well, that and a cup of tea.
Hanging out with R. and going through his old books. I love used books that are free!!
Lastly, my little brother(who's not so little)turned 24 today. Gulp...we're getting old!!

What small pleasures are you grateful for today?

pic via wikipedia

Y.I.O.M Meditating on the Range

 Lately the kitchen is calling me. For me, cooking is a meditative practice. There is a flow to cooking that places you firmly in the moment.  If/when you don't pay attention to what you are cooking, you can rush things done, over-season something, or burn a few pots, etc. When you pay attention to what is at hand you can be amazed at what you can make.

When I eat well and prepare my food with love, my whole body philosophy seems to improve. I think for too, long I have thought the body as something to be tamed, to be controlled and put in its place. That is if, I thought of my body at all.

A by-product of yoga is that it makes us consider our body and what we put in it. Our bodies nor our food are things we should be whipping into shape or order. When we do this our bodies and what we put in them become a place of shame and guilt.  I don't think you can share yourself fully in the world when you are burden with those type of emotions about your very own being.

So, I challenge myself and you(if you want) to go to the kitchen and cook from the heart, go to the mat and sit with it for a bit. See what happens. I don't think this means you will find yourself perfect but maybe you will consider gently redirecting some of your thoughts about your body and your food.

What are  your thoughts on food and your body?


 P.S. I recently tried this recipe and loved it.

Focusing

Image by KizzieFK via FlickrIn theory unplugging seems easy. In practice, not so much but that's okay.
After this exercise, I really don't the problem is devices but more in how we use them. It is the mindlessness of it all that does me in.  It is the consuming and not being/creating that makes me feel so blah!

That said, I liked the feel of this (semi-unplugged) way of living. I like not watching other people live but picking my own life up and embodying me. You see, I don't want to hurrying after conversations, I want to be apart of them. I don't want to talk or read about baking bread, I want to bake the bread.  I don't want to read about being mindful, I want to take out my zafu and sit.

If I am honest, underneath this mindlessness techno consumption may be deep anxiety, a fear of missing out, of being left out, etc. It may be true. Surely, I can not do everything that is offered. I must pick and chose where I focus my time and attention. I will miss out on some things or conversations. However, if I are always paying attention to things and conversations, I may miss out on my life.

Anyway, this is just food for thought, something I am chewing on...or rather something that is chewing on me. It needs to mediate in me...before I know what this all about. I hope you all have a beautiful Monday.

P.S. Have you listened to this podcast  from the New Yorker? I think I am in love!
P.S.S.Have you been here, here or here ...it's quite lovely.

pic credit or click photo.

Y.I.O.M. Simplicity and Mindfulness

Image by bitzcelt via FlickrThe ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.  ~Hans Hofmann


This weekend, I am hoping for simplicity. I hope to do a couple of hours of yoga and writing each day, walk, eat simple meals and stay as unplugged as possible(minus the school related stuff).

I  feel there is a lot I must get done in the upcoming months. That sort of pressure can be hard on your mind. Lately, I have been so scattered unless I intentionally make to time to come back to the present.

I believe our life speaks to us. It tells us what we need to know. However, it is not usually through a burning bush{that would be really convenient and cool) that we come to ourselves. Rather, it is in our ability to cultivate our attention to what is.The miracle is this moment. I think on some level, mindfulness and any path go hand-in-hand. They{mindfulness and  your path} are lovers and they need time to frolic. To me, simplicity feels like the natural by-product of the two lovers.

Simple Ways to Cultivate Mindfulness
1. Have a mindfulness reminder. Something that reminds you to breathe every time you hear it. Say, your phone or twitter notification. When the reminder happens, take a deep breathe and then proceed.
2. Eat in silence. Taste and chew your food.This is soooooo hard for me.
3. Do a short walking meditation from one room to the next.
4. Take breath rounds. Meaning inhale/exhale 3 times for 3 secs.Or whatever number feels good to you. I've been told 6 has some good relaxation rewards.
5. Try to refrain from immediately jumping on the your devices when you wake. Instead of grabbing your phone. Think of 3-5 things/people that you are grateful for. Or try centering prayer in the morning.
6. Single task it. Do one thing for x number of minutes. {Thanks Jamie R for reminding me of that!}
7. Take a walk/run ipod free. Hear and notice what is unfolding.
8. Ask yourself why, I mean why are you running around like a crazy woman? What is underneath all this franticness? Usually, you find a pocket of fear tucked there. Explore it without judgement. Some great resources on the subject are Pema Chodron or Tara Brach.


I hope everyone has a lovely weekend.

P.S. Did you see this great post about creating your own yoga space?
P.S.S. Pose of the day: savasana. The ultimate resting pose.


Please click on the photo for credit info.

Homemade Life: Multi-Purpose Cleaner

When I got my first apartment, one of my friends, made me some multi-purpose cleaner. Almost  five years later, I'm still in love with this recipe. There is nothing like the scent of lemon and/ or eucalyptus{my favorite scents} to lift your spirits. Plus, making your cleaner is inexpensive and you won't be inhaling all those toxic fumes that most traditional commercial cleaners project.

Multi-Purpose Cleaner: Mix 2 Tbs vinegar, 2 teaspoons borax, 2 cups hot water. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil.

You can either mix this all in a sturdy spray bottle or let the mixture cool and pour it into your bottle.

To use: Spray on surface and wipe. Let set for tough stains.

What do you think about homemade cleaners?



P.S. Are you liking the new look of this place? Me, too. I have Lindsey of Scenic Glory to thank for this loveliness. We are still working out some things. So be patient and enjoy

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Who's afraid of some quiet?

Never be afraid to sit awhile and think. ~Lorraine Hansberry

Lately, I've been practicing unplugging. I think, I mentioned this is in a post. Anyway, it's not the most natural thing in the world for me. I'm humoring myself and doing certain activities unplugged. Such as:

It is is funny, I never realized how noisy life can be or how I was/am choosing chatter/noise. No judgement, just an observation.

What is the role of quiet in your life?

Y.I.O.M: With Just A Little Time

I use to feel really pedestrian and guilty about my little itty bitty daily yoga practice.

I mean come on! It was barely anything. I guess mainly I felt jealous because I wanted to

devote hours each day to the home/practice. There is nothing wrong with that but that never really fit my schedule. So, instead of feeling bad, I decided to give myself some options.

the main thing that kept me from my mat was I did not have a collection of poses to go to when I only had limited time.

So, I got a wonderful book by Cyndi Lee. It is called Om Yoga Today: a Guide for 5, 15, 40, 60 and 90 Minutes. This worked for me because I love Lee's teaching style, simple and soulful and it would not allow me the excuse of having to reorragne things to get to the t.v or computer.

you see, for the longest time, I had a super early work schedule and could really only spare five minutes in the morning.At that time, I had not considered an evening practice and really needed some mat time to combat the stress of my job. This book gave a go-to practice for those five minutes. It is amazing how five simple mintues of nourishing intention can set the tempo for your day.

Now if I am crunched for time, I do one of a few sun salutations, one of Lee's shorter sequences or just a collection of poses I feel called to do(or all three). Some days a Amen or Om may be all I can give. I'm okay with that because the act of self-care overides the restrictions of time, usually.

When you are crunched for time, how do you pratice yoga? 

P.S. I'm being brave and trying to post daily(M-F) for a bit.

A Voice To Call My Own

Image by poonomo via Flickr

And the poem, I think, is only your voice speaking."
— Virginia Woolf (The Waves)

I've been wading in my thoughts about voice, trying to pull them down to earth.

I think this post has been on the tip of my heart for a while. I have been struggling

with devoloping and honoring my authentic writing voice. I know that when my writing is flowing

that I am as I need to be.  

When it is flowing not then maybe I am trying too,

hard to be who I don't need to be.

Voice is what gives words and sounds to our heart.

However, when I am worried about affirmation, about standing alone, 

I usually tuck in my voice and just say "the right things". 

There is nothing wrong with saying the "right things" but when they are not spoken with the passion

of real voice, they are empty things.

How do you go about owning your voice?

P.S. Speaking of voice, Tara of Wise Living Blog, is laucnhing a wonderful e-course, called Playing it Big. It's about women stepping up and owning their voice. Registration closes Monday(today).

Yoga Training Wheels

The thing is I've always assumed I was a complicated girl(and I am)
but lately I am quite content with work, friends, school and yoga.
My life really does not seem to want anything else. I know because I've tried.

I guess that is where this whole idea of organic flow comes to me. When I try to make things happen
they may or may not happen but the flow is off. It is like when you push/fake yourself into a yoga pose.
Yeah, it "looks" okay but you are really not one with the pose, it is not flowing out of you.

For simplicity sake, I've decided to try and refrain from push/faking into poses. First of all, you can hurt yourself and second, you are worried while in the pose versus experiencing it. This kind of behavior complicates things a lot more than it should. I want to go as far as I can go into a pose with my whole heart. There are sometimes, that will not be beautiful but it will be organic.

I say this because there is a pose(headstand) that I really want to push myself into but I know that it is not organic to me, right now. It is not a pose I really have the strength to do and I can honor that. I can modify or do the strength building work... However, my ego is saying, I need to push into this pose to be a great yogini.

Since, I've decided not to push/fake into this pose...it is everywhere haunting me like a ghost. Everyone is talking about, asking me if I want to do it. Yes, I want to do it but I can't. Yes, this may be a mixture of fear(i'm weird about my neck), stubbornness and skill limitation but mainly I am not ready to take my training wheels off with this pose. Where I am right now is fine. It's simple and organic and I kinda want to stay here for a few moments.

Pose of the Day:handstand against the wall or not.  There is nothing like dangling in the air to get your blood flowing. Use the wall as a prop, if you fear falling or if you just want to...

Here's hoping for a simply divine weekend {rocking training wheels, when needed} for us all.
L

Reading List

When all else fails a list will do the job.

The thing is I don't have writer's block.
I just can't seem to get my words to gel.

I guess this is because recently, I finished a book of haiku by Sonia Sanchez.
Now, I just want everything to be three lines or less...
Hehe! If only life was so simple, right.

Thought I would list some books I am attempting to put my nose in lately.
1. Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde. Lorde's writing hits the bones.Great "radical" feminist prose that knock your socks off! This book is a collection of her most popular essays. It includes such gem as "Poetry is not a Luxury" and The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House".

2. Yoga Abs by Judith Lasater. Great book about core strength. One thing I love about this book is that the goal is achieve strength not tightness. There is a big difference in the two, I think.

3. Currently, rereading "Kiss Me, I'm Single:An Ode to the Solo Life". I am still spinning my wheels about what I desire in life. More and more, I feel very much ambivalent about coupling. This book is all about celebrating singleness(but not in an obnoxious way) but in an affirming and empowering way.

pose of the day: legs against the wall.

What are you reading these day?

P.S. Love this picture of a lamp, I snapped at my friend B's house the other day.

Organic Space

You cannot do yoga.  Yoga is your natural state.  ~Sharon Gannon

The past few weeks have been quite hectic.
However, these past few days have been slow. I've had time to catch up on reading, do some chores,hang out, yoga with t., email, etc. It's feels good. Life is starting to get an sense of organicness to it.

I think we all have a organic space in our life that we must cultivate.As May Sarton called it, " a bedrock of truth," a place to stand(even if it's temporarily). You kinda have to dig for it sometimes, bring it to light and dust it off. I feel like I am being pruned for that. Or maybe this season of chaotic quietness is the foundation, the bedrock. My friend R. said I am being liberated. He may be onto something. I think everyday we make a wild rowing towards the person we want to be.

 Regardless, I am moving towards, myself and an organic spaciousness. I've had to learn a lot about myself these past few years and I am still learning a lot. It is good to be surrounded by friends, to have some sort of routine and be opening to life. Everyday is an adventure. Everyday is a chance to practice living in my organic space.