Saturday, January 14, 2017

the last five days

Five days of clarity or no drinking wine.  I chose to take some time off before my trip to detox. And being totally honest--to look better in my bikini.  Heading to Cartagena next week and I know that I will be sporting a bikini and a sarong for a good portion of the trip.  Why wouldn't I?  Gorgeous weather, the beach and a cabana boy if all goes right.
In those five days, I have learned that I do enjoy cooking at my house, some recipes sound good but are not executed well and that whole foods changed their carrot cake.  I am super bummed about the last one.  I do not know why they would alter that recipe.  Yet, they did and it is a poor substitute for the original.
I have made roasted beets and potatoes.  Both of those turned out well.  I partnered the potatoes with store bought green chile.  I always crave chile when it is cold.  I guess Santa Fe did speak to me on many levels.  I dream about the chile there.  I attempted roasted eggplant which was a disaster.  I have pan fried it before which has worked.  This method did not work for me.  Granted it was sort of an afterthought.  I cut the eggplant in half, then quartered and threw salt on it with olive oil.  Some.  I definitely did not put any love into it. I put it on a roasting dish and forgot about it.  When I went to flip the eggplant I recognized my mistake.  It was a soggy mess.
Many salads, some homemade sandwiches and of course, roasted chicken.  I cheated and bought that too.  Overall, it has been a sleep induced week.  I've caught up on sleep, bought shoes and done more TRX classes. I am sad that the studio I found is closing after this month due to landlord wishes and tenant needs.  I have found that I really enjoy the resistance training and full body work out that ensues.  Unfortunately, I have not found many options in Denver to support my desire.  If only I had found the studio in Santa Fe.  I would be buff. 
I suppose I could find a trainer.  I think that is my next purchase of the year.  A healthy lifestyle change supported by exercise.  Must find a trainer that I respect and who will challenge me.  There are options at the gym I am a member of.  I haven't been inspired by what I have seen in that department.  My experience is limited so I could research it more to truly form an opinion.  There is a girl that I believe would push me to my limit.  However, she is on maternity leave for the next three months. 
I arranged a pedicure which is always a necessity in my life.  Fantastic calf massage.  That is why I like pedicures.  Not so much for the painted toes.  I prefer that massage work.  It is such a treat!
Matt and I did a yoga class together.  It feels more natural now.  The language, cadence and rhythm of the class.  Eventually, I should focus on teaching only and not practice alongside.  However, I do enjoy feeling how my flow works.  If the transition is forced or organic.  After our class, Matt told me it was his favorite.  I realized that I designed the class to reach a posture and incorporated a build up to that end which truly worked.  As always, I started with many sun As and sun B's.  I prefer this way to warm up the core and feel that it works the best.  I do appreciate my astanga background.  Maybe I will find a class while in Columbia. I think Cody would be interested too.
Heading to Barre with Shannon.  She is my favorite instructor.  Always a challenging sequence and great music.  I love it!
Outside of that, I do have a few more days of preparation before getting my stamp.  It is time!  I think I might be able to do one of two more this year.  Why not?
Til then, enjoy your day.  Make the most of it!

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

more thoughts on resolutions and interesting cues

2017 brings more decisions about cooking at home.  I think back on the last year and consider how much money I spent on take-out, dining out, etc.  It's more convenient to pick up a salad then actually assemble it myself. 
Last night after work I went to a yoga class.  It was a new instructor for me and I didn't know what to expect.  Her credentials suggested that she was highly sought after in the metro area.  I'll admit.  I was excited.  I arrived ten minutes early and watched as the class began to fill up.  She had some music playing until the class began. She started class by speaking of intentions and how great it was to show up on your mat.  Normal.  All things that I have experienced and expected. 
She did point out the importance of breath and how that should be the focus of the class.  Clearly, I appreciated that as I have found fewer instructors, here, cueing breath and breathing.  If you aren't focusing on the breath in yoga, it is just an aroebics  class.  Breath is essential.
We do a few breath with movement exercises and then she moves on with modified chataranga.  At this point, I was like--wtf?  wtf is this modification?  It was a new one for me and one that I didn't particularly like.  I was hoping for more of vinyasa sequence with sun A's and sun B's.
As there was no music to distract me, I became more bored.  I was surprised at how many people were attending this class.  Actually liked her class.  I kept looking at my phone to see when the torture would be over.  She had interesting cues.  She referred to the breathing as yogic.  Seemed childlike to me and then my all-time favorite cue--bring your nipple to your thigh.
That completely stopped me.  Like the time I was in Siem Reap and the instructor said--relax.  relax your private parts.....wtf?
I reached out to my mentor last night to see if she had ever used that particular cue.  Her response said it all.   She laughed.  See I am not crazy when it comes to cueing and or recognizing inappropriate silly cues in classes.  Thankfully it ended and I made my way out of the studio.  Today, I will return to Barre classes and pray for upbeat music.
I did resolve to enjoy my kitchen more.  Use it.  Update some of my cookery and utilize my apartment.  I could invite friends over as opposed to dining out and being forced to endure bad service.  My last two experiences support that claim.  The first I had a snarky server.  I can overlook that as the food was great.  However, when her manager came over to open a bottle of bubbles and did not know the correct wine service, that was it.  I love wine service.  I love that aspect of dining even it is with a screw cap.  I still prefer the appropriate sequence.
So, yes, more dining at home.  With the holidays over, I have more friends available to entertain.  Perhaps after Columbia, I will make an effort to entertain once or twice a month.  Maybe more.  I do believe that I would enjoy using my space to have people over.
Off to run errands, stay warm and work out.  Columbia is in two weeks.  I cannot wait!

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Happy 2017

Ringing in the new year in style....with some bubbly.  Best way to start off the year.   And thinking of how to maneuver it.  With kindness.
Yes, seems simple but it is the most honest way to start the year. I observed a lack of compassion and harsh judgment last night.  People make rash judgments without even knowing the other person they are tearing apart.  It made me sad and reaffirmed that I want to be kind.
My friend, Sharleen, got married last night in the Bahamas.  At one point this past year, I thought I would be able to attend.  I looked at flights and considered homestays.  Until I switched jobs and that no longer was an option.  I did contact Shar and convey my well wishes.  I met her in 2008 in Chile while on my six month venture.  I am sure that I have mentioned her multiple times on my blog.  I visited her and her friends in 2010 and then we went to Cuba in 2014.  She is a like minded travel junkie.  Kind, compassionate and gracious. I hope she visits me sometime in the States. 
Her photos looked pretty freaking amazing, too.  I saw a few from their day on social media.  Gorgeous!  I am hoping to research a little more of Columbia before departing in two weeks.  It would be nice to have some sort of game plan.  In my life, I have always been a little more aloof when it comes to concrete itineraries.  I buy tickets and go from there.  This time, it would be nice to have a little more structure.  It will be the first time I travel with Cody and so I don't know her particular style yet.  When I vacation with Shari, Sara Jo or the Goddess I know there will be great food and many drinks involved.  They all know that I prefer to day drink.  I think Cody will be a little more adventurous with night time activities.  She is a connector, too.
We will fly in and out of Bogota with a few days in Cartagena and Medellin.  If not both of those cities, at least, Cartagena for sure.  I have heard many great things of that city and who doesn't enjoy a little beach time? 
Speaking of travel....maybe another passport stamp will be in my future.  Europe keeps calling.  I have a friend in Morocco currently.  His posts inspire me to make the commitment to a European adventure this year as well.  Los Angeles will occur in February. Then, I have some free time to breathe or maybe head to the Valley for some yoga and a spring training game.  We will see.  I could be enchanted again.  I do so love visiting Santa Fe.
Or head to Oz to see my "cousin" Emma and nephew, Mason.  I am excited for the potential of travel this year.  My older sister is supposed to celebrate my birthday with me.   I want her to either travel to Denver or meet me in Las Vegas or Texas.  In Texas, we could see her bestie from childhood in Houston or maybe Austin.  I loved Austin the one time I visited.  I could definitely do another go there.  Check out new restaurants and see friends.  Maybe I could convince Michaela to meet me in San Francisco.  I have not visited that city in a while.  I always love it!
I want to make an effort to take better care of myself.  Hire a trainer.  I have been thinking about it for a few months.  I don't know if I will contract an independent trainer or consider one of the options from my gym.  I go back and forth with enjoying the gym and having a difficult time going.  I am not in love with the classes or quite a few of the instructors.  I miss the yoga scene in Phoenix for example.  Great music, challenging sequences and consistently great.  I should make the best of my situation here since I love being in Denver.  I will make an honest effort to find a studio that I enjoy. 
Returning to kindness....I think that is my best option for a resolution.  That goes hand in hand with compassion which I also find lacking in the current state of affairs.  Enjoy your day and whatever comes your way.  Smile and be fierce!