Mama Mia!

Here it is folks! May! May Day! May Day! This month is notoriously crazy in my family with end of the year parties, Mother's Day and birthdays that we used to have just one big party and celebrate everyone at once.  These days, I am not getting away with this simple tactic….I had a kid. And his birthday is in May too! Good grief.

Rather than being my usual stick in the mud self, I've decided that I am ready to enjoy the work and celebration that goes around all the events of this month. So…I'm preparing for my Granny's 90th (!) birthday blow out, the in-laws coming to visit, celebrating my Father in law's birthday, Mother's Day, my birthday, my son's birthday and the end of the school year celebration. Phew! This isn't even the whole deal either…there are other family members and friends who fit into all of  this May-hem.

When I was younger, this month really stressed me out bc I could not afford to just buy everyone a thoughtful gift. What that meant was that I had to use my creative side and come up with something to make. This was costly in time. I never felt like I had enough of that either! It was very much a lack mentality. Well, I'm over that way of thinking! No, I don't have an abundance of cash flow or free time. In fact, I probably have less! But something has shifted in me.  The role of Motherhood has helped me to step up to a new plate. Starting to see that problems are not a dead end but an invitation to think differently. And a big piece of all of this is time management. If I ever wanted to get anything done with a child in the house (showered, work outs, playtime, dinner, projects), then I had to lily pad my way across to the goal. This means that I can take small steps towards whatever I'm focusing on and had to be at peace with leaving it unfinished until the next little bit of time came along.

The best advice the airlines ever gave me was to "put on your oxygen mask first before putting it on your child…". This little thought has helped me to be the best Mom I know how to be. As of late, this means waking up before the household so I can dive into a yoga practice and shower.  Being a night owl, never thought this ideal would work for me. But here I am, waking before the sun to put my oxygen mask on!  Having a child has put life in a whole new perspective and I am forever thankful for the life changes it has brought. For this, I look forward to celebrating my son and all the May folks- we are all someones little "game changer".

Juice, it does the body good!

Wait. You thought it was milk you say? Well….as time and research has shown- no, milk is not building stronger bones. Crazy! Dairy actually causes the body to become more acidic. When this happens, the body then has to neutralize it with calcium to create a balanced pH. If you eat loads of dark leafy greens, you're golden! But do you? Daily? When I came to this understanding, was aghast at our usual choices of fare throughout the day.

So how do we get all of these necessary nutrients into our daily diets? Juice is one answer!  Thanks to a client who did not have time to research juicers,  I was put to the task of digging through the multitudes of considerations when it comes to choosing a juicer. I stumbled upon the site discountjuicers.com where this wacky fella made videos to compare all the different types of juicers out there. After spending more time than I care to admit watching them, I've come to some conclusions which may help you in choosing your best juicer.

First of all, what will get you juicing? Easy and fast clean up? Then maybe just a common juicer appliance like the Breville is your path. Want the most nutrients out of your fruits and veggies? Then go for a slow grinding/mastecating type of juicer like the Champion or Green Star. Somewhere in the middle? Definitely go for the Omega Vert. The juicers you can buy in any department store are the most affordable route but you are sacrificing a lot of wasted juice and the fact that it uses a high speed grating type of action, you lose some of the nutritional benefits. The most nutritional route will cost a pretty penny but if you, like me, want the most benefit out of your efforts- then go for the masticating type of juicers. And the one I suggest for those who are just starting out but are serious about juicing, Omega Vert or something like it is your pick.

You can decide to go nuts and go on a juice fast to set your body back to its healthiest state. Sometimes watching others go through such ordeals helps you to solidify your resolve. So, I'd suggest you watch "Sick, Fat and Nearly Dead" on Netflix. Cheery huh? It is an amazing transformation documentary type of film and was once again reminded of the healing quality of whole foods. And if that is too extreme, just juice as often as you feel! Ideally, in my home, I'd like to have a juice at 4:00 every day…happy hour if you will. It is the best pick me up to surf you to dinner! I read that juicing is not to be a meal replacement but rather, a multi vitamin. However you want to juice it I say! And with the local produce starting to come into season, this is a great time to admire the beauty that nourishes our bodies. Happy juicing everyone :)

Love! Love! Love! Kale, beet, carrot, ginger, parsley, apple, cucumber, celery…usually everything in the crisper! The "Kitchen Sink" juice if you will :)

Forever in and of my heart <3

There are so many topics I want to cover in this blog: yoga, food, camping, movement…play! Having a really hard time settling on just one. When I bounced this conumdrum on my sister, she suggested I write about our Dad. Of course! He is the springboard of all of these things in my life.

Not everyone gets to have a Father like mine. I mean, his nickname is "Butch"! Hahaha! When I first crossed paths with him, he was my Mother's midwife(husband) in a basement apartment in Boulder, CO.. The immediate bond is still palpable. During this poignant time, he was regularly practicing yoga and eating a vegetarian diet. This helped to create the healthy backdrop that has forever been  part of my story.

Throughout my childhood, we were taken camping at least 1-2 times a year. Now that I am a parent and adult, my appreciation has grown for these experiences! He had to plan, shop, pull out the gear, pack it up, load onto the car, get us in the car, drive there (are we there yet?), park, hike to the spot (my pack is too heavy!), unload, set up, make us dinner, clean…phew! I'm too tired to even finish his endless list of responsibilities on these excursions! But, he was always lighthearted, knowledgable  and had many great stories to share. Much of this is credited to his Native American Boy Scout leader who taught him to tread lightly and mindfully through nature. Along with all the details to have a clean and safe camping experience. The main imprints I carry are preparedness and reverence while in the woods and wherever you live.

My love for dance came out of the many hours I sat and listened to my Dad play his keyboards. He has been in numerous bands, taught piano, self recorded, wrote music…our house was lively! I always wanted to participate as a kid but did not have the desire to practice an instrument. Finally, in high school, discovered that I was completely comfortable making a fool of myself on the dance floor. Each time I braved the dance floor, it got easier. Now it is how I disappear into joyful abandonment.

As mentioned before, Dad was a practicing yogi and vegetarian when I was born. Over the years, it shifted for him with the constant needs of parenting and work obligations. But, the kitchen was always full of his masterful creations! Having a  couple of buddies who also were "foodies" helped to create some of the most memorable meals I've ever had. Thanks to these menfolk, my kitchen can be quite artful. Only, I can't ever decide if my diet wants to be Parisian or Vegan! Pulled between the decadence and healthy is my (and everyone else's) dilemma…. this topic will definitely be one of my posts in the future.

All in all, guess you can say that I think my Pops is swell :) What an impact we can have on each other's lives! Definitely something to keep mindful of when living with my husband and son in the day to day. Sure, there's daily stresses and to do lists but they can be fun if you let it.

Yes!

Just can't help it… I LOVE Valentine's Day! Throughout my life there have been some amazing Valentine's: my Dad setting up a candle lit breakfast with love poems for each of us, glittered shoeboxes filled with classmate's cards and treats, carnation sales at my high school, flowers from boyfriends….a marriage proposal. Ah! Cupid has me all a flutter. Each year that this loving holiday comes around I find myself falling deeper in love with it. Why? I know it puts undue stress on partners and is a great day for Hallmark. I've really thought/felt through it and realized that on this day, hearts are just a little more open than usual. Appreciation and gratitude are being expressed. And really, for me, that is the crux of it! It's not about the reception of material goods, but the open state we're allowed to be in on this day of amore. And I can't express my love enough for my family, friends, husband, community….planet. Happy Valentine's Day!