Love is Enough

"Sometimes love can save your life more than food...like water" -Dave Matthews

The smile from a stranger, a hug from a friend, a call from a long distance family or friend, and a hand squeeze from a loved one...

The power of a loving gesture can make the sun shine on a cloudy day and make a sunny day brighter.

Share LoVE you just don't know when someone around you needs it :)

Thank you to my husband, family and ALL my girlfriends who have stood by me as I made a career change listened to me hem and ha over the future :)

Positivity, Vibrancy, Grace, and LoVE

This week has been a wonderful one. From work to friends to gym to yoga. However, it has not been without the thought of loss.

My dear friend who lost her father years ago told me that loss creeps up on you when you are least expecting it...I now realize it more like hits you like a freight train.

Between the anniversary of my Grandpa's passing, a friend losing her granddad, a friend losing her sister, and my sister losing an old friend it has been a week of constant reflection, remembrance, and change.

Tuesday was the anniversary of my Grandpa's passing. What wise man he was. His eyes always smiling almost laughing. He had the most wonderful stories and his love was abundant. I can't help but smiling and laughing when I think of him. He was a positive man to the end. This loss was prepared for. I was able to say goodbye
Remembering him on this anniversary, made me change my entire outlook of the week...positivity and laughter are a fabulous combination for the soul and those around you!

This remembrance opened a loss that was never prepared for.

A loss of a friend who changed my life as I know it. If it weren't for him who knows where I would be living and the woman I would have become. He was the fork in the road that defined my life after college, my adult life, the life I now know. Eleven years of friendship: college, 2 jobs in California, a little over a year as roommates. Not a day that goes by he is not missed. Yesterday his name was mentioned in conversation. I will not lie that my heart skipped a beat. But as I spoke about him and his life which was lived full of love, gentle loving kindness, and compassion. He gave love and he loved every aspect of his life. His life was cut short but what an abundant life it was.

As February approaches the month of love, I vow to spend all 29 days loving every aspect and living as those who are close to me have passed on full of positive and laughter (my Grandpa), full of LoVE (my dear friend), full of vibrancy (my Nana) and full of grace and forgiveness (my Grandma).

Love and Light,
Stephanie

Dancing in the Rain

I love the rain. It is the one time I slow down mentally and physically. Living in California we don't get these days often. So when they come, I cherish every moment even if it stops mid day.

I love the rain :) it washes away all the old and brings in newness.

Email Diet

Email is overused. Email is to those of us in the busy world what a lazy boy is to a couch potato and what candy is to a kid...a deathly combination of laziness and addiction.

What happened to the phone? And for that matter what happened to face to face meetings?

It's not even in the work world but transfer into our personal lives. When did we become so busy the only time I find to talk to anyone is on my commute from studio to office, office to home, home to studio.


In an effort of my housewife campaign I am dedicated to being wife of the year and first stop...trying to disconnect from work when I am not at work (I am bit addicted).

Steps to Email Weight Less and Liberation...
1. Removed work account from iPhone and iPad...wow I can breathe now!
2. Immediate delete an email that asks a question which can be answered with a pop into the office or over the phone (and has no CYA need)
3. Rather than responding to 13 different emails from the person ... condense ... that way when they respond to me I don't get 13 back :) just one.

Day 10 into the email diet and I am already feeling lighter and can see my inbox getting thinner daily :)

And I am so much happier when I come to work as I have no clue what has happened in Australia and Europe while I was sleeping (uninterrupted)

I dare you to try it...even if it is for a day. Disconnect from work for a night, weekend...you too feel the lightness I do.

Love and Light,
Stephanie

Turn Your Life Upside Down

Why do we go upside down in yoga and why do we fear at times the action of being upside down?

Why do you see students (oh way me) go straight to child's pose and feel the energy in the room shift a bit when the teacher mentions headstand or handstand?

Where is the child like enthusiasm we all once had for trying new things for taking a risk for being resilient and trusting ourselves?

Being upside or "inverted" in a posture (asana) reverses the gravity in our body, instead of everything pulling down to our toes it is now being pulled to our head. A fresh supply of blood to our brain, a relief for our feet. It sheds new light in the way we see things literally and figuratively. Inverted postures improve our health and self confidence and reduce anxiety...so why wouldn't you want to go upside down?!

I've been practicing yoga for 9.5 years now. I started at Yoga Fit in Hermosa, next it was Bikram in Manhattan Beach. 2 years later moved to Newport and practiced at Yoga Works. Then joined Equinox and  fell in love with the teachers. Three years ago I  was introduced to Core Power Yoga by a dear friend.

With every studio change, style change, teacher change I fall in love with my practice all over again. I've learned new postures, conquered arm balances, and have fallen in love with the philosophy of yoga. But in the 9.5 years I am still afraid to go upside down away from the wall! What if I topple into the mirror, the person in front of me, break something, hurt my neck? When am I going to learn to trust myself...

This year I am going to conquer the fear of being upside down ... so if you see my leg flirting with the ceiling ...you know it's coming ... it's got to ... this will be it ... my leap of faith for the year!

This Cat can do it ... why can't I?!

I mean how amazing does all of this sound, free in the middle of the room within the confines of my teal mat?!

Step One - Conquer on my mat

Step Two - Conquer on my SUP board

Love and Light,
Stephanie

Winds of Change

One of my dearest friends and I were having the conversation last week about change.

Why are we so afraid of change?

We are creatures of habit.

We hate it when our routine changes; someone takes our spin bike; someone takes your spot where you always put your mat in yoga class and now you are forced to be in the front or the back; a family member suggested doing something different for a holiday than has been done for years past; a move; a new job; a new boss; etc.

I have a love/hate relationship with change. I crave change and fear it at the same time. I enjoy leaping but am afraid of where the leap of faith will take me.

Change makes us stronger. It makes us more well-rounded. It makes us fall in love with "normal" all over again. We find new things we love.

And in the end we end up falling in love with the new norm.

Now leap...(you know it looks like fun!)

Love and Light,
Stephanie

What's SUP Y'all

Last week we decided to make a large purchase ... we got SUP boards (at wholesale, this girl does not buy retail :)). Some of you know, I have never been on a SUP board so this was a risky purchase but figured we could sell them on craigslist if all failed.

Saturday the sun trying to come out, a little cooler, but the water was mostly calm. I hopped on the board and we made our way out of China Cove and around the little island. I loved it. (For the record Derek fell, I stayed dry).

Today we decided to go out ... the morning started off sunny and then as we (Derek) carry the boards down to the water the clouds and wind roll in. At this point we are still going to go. 2 hours later, choppy seas, a few boats who dislike paddle boards speeding up to create a large wake .... we make it back into China Cove, both dry, white frozen feet. My arms feel like my legs normally do after a half marathon. WORTH IT.

These past two days on the water have been quiet and peaceful. The nature is fabulous. And the views better (I am a peeping Tom ... love to see how those on the water live :))

Can't wait for Saturday and to get my yoga on while on the board :)  (that is not me below in the photo as we have not taken out our camera yet so stay tuned!)

Monday Monday

"Every other day, every other day,
Every other day of the week is fine, yeah
But whenever Monday comes, but whenever Monday comes
You can find me cryin' all of the time

Monday Monday, ..." ~The Mamas and The Papas


I love the weekend. I don't even mind Tuesday. Wednesday is hump-day I am halfway there. Thursdays is little Friday. And Friday well it's Friday...the start of a 2 day break and over-seeing an International business Fridays are lovely for me...no one calls. I get caught up. But...MONDAY, I strongly dislike. (For example, this morning my lactaid went bad on the sell by date! I left my phone and wedding rings in the house, upon running back in to get them I then left my coffee. Third time is a charm...by the time I got to the gym I was sweating and ready to call it a day)

Sunday evenings are perfect. I teach an amazing class. My husband and I make the most delicious dinner and hang out listening to music. 


I get into bed and immediately angst sets in. Butterflies start fluttering. I can't fall asleep and it gets worse as I tell myself the alarm will go off at 6 am for my legs workout with the trainer. I love my early Monday mornings...if it could stop there I'd be happy. I have coffee, head to the trainer, and I sing out loud as I drive to work.  


I'm still smiling as I get into my office pour some more coffee or tea and turn on the computer. Then Monday sets in...emails load up  (this is when it is bad to oversee International as they are 12 to 24 hrs ahead so by 9 am my inbox has 200 NEW emails). And every Monday morning there is a fire. How does something always go wrong Sunday/Sunday night? 


So here we are again Monday. I can't wait to teach Barre and go home to my hubby and cook dinner and say hello to Tuesday! I love Tuesday, I even like Tuesday when Monday is a national holiday. I just do not like Monday (even when it is a national holiday because it means you have to go to work the next day).


Sorry Monday...

Anyone out there love Monday? If so please shed some light on this gal with the Monday blues! 

Vitamix Envy

I am envious of all Vitamix (http://vitamix.com/) owners juicing away. I launched my third wife campaign (1. To be a stay at home housewife and 2. Join the CSA delivery again ). The vitamix campaign is by far a losing one on my end. So I thought by making constant visits to Nektar (http://www.nekterjuicebar.com/) and even one day before tennis dragging him along with me would give me a lead in this campaign. Clearly not.

So this past week I have polled friends especially after seeing my friend Katie Osumi's blog (http://goodniteirene.com/) and her new favorite juice recipe she used in her new vitamix!

After polling it was final ... I would try to juice in my new KitchenAid blender using Katie's recipe.

Outcome: Derek turned his nose up but he did with the juice too. I loved it. It has more fiber than juice and looks like I will be cutting up veggies and fruit each Sunday and preparing my juicy smoothie each evening to grab and go before the early morning work out. (and if you let the ice melts it becomes more juice than smoothie)

What you need:
-Ice Cubes
-Water
-1 to 2 leaves of Kale
-1 TB ginger (freshly grated)
-Half an apple
-10 cubes of pineapple
(Katie also added bananas but mine were not ripe yet)

Blend and pour! Enjoy friends! 

Fitness Resolutions are Ageless

I speak to my Granny about every other week. She is amazing. She is up to date on college football (mainly Clemson), watches DWTS, and knows the most random gossip.

Tonight she asks me what I do these days to work out and what classes I am teaching because she wants to get into shape. I couldn't help but giggle to think of her in Barre tucking and lifting or running a half marathon. But it made me smile ear to ear that at her age she is thinking about getting back into shape.

She wants to start walking (mind you she uses a walker). It is freezing right now in the mountains of NC so she decided she should walk the halls of the nursing home; although she said that the halls are quite boring and the other gals who do that walk are very slow. More power to Granny if she starts power walking down the hall and passing her slow girlfriends.

If Granny can find a way to get back into shape this late in life...there is no excuse why you can't start now!

Ahhh how she makes me smile!!!

San Telmo Market & Graffiti Buenos Aires Argentina

"Known for its bohemian charm, and slightly run down historic appeal, San Telmo is the neighborhood of Arts and Antiques, Tango and timelessness. San Telmo is energy-filled, quaint and funky on any day of the week, but on Sundays it truly comes to life. Centered around the Antiques Fair in Plaza Dorrego, and stretching down the cobblestone Calle Defensa, a Sunday visit to San Telmo is a highlight for visitors to Buenos Aires."


After reading a few travelers books and some not all recommended we walk through we decided to take the tourist bait. We arrived after 13+hours of flying around 11am to BA. Had lunch and while we waited for our room decided to walk down to the San Telmo market. (We were staying at Intercontinental but the neighborhood is not the safest. We recommend to stay at the Park Hyatt-splurge it's worth it and we wish we had). 


The market was like any other flee market in a foreign country. Did it have charm ... in its own way yes. I would recommend this one over the leather market on Florida street (gross). Different parts of the market had more charm than others. And somehow we missed the tango dancing... I blame that on the fact we had just arrived. This was the one thing I wanted to see! 

If you are in BA on a Sunday, I would recommend a quick walk-through you may not buy anything but there are some good views. And if you can sit down for coffee and watch the tango dancers...my one regret as we did not.

Even in Argentina the like the Chik-Fil-A slogan

A piece of art in San Telmo

The other interesting thing we learned upon arriving is that the graffiti is EVERYWHERE some is bad but the majority is amazing. You can take a graffiti walking tour or just keep your eyes open it's basically on every other building!

Resolutions

Will you keep yours this year? Do you keep it every year? Have you stopped making them? Do they last for a week, a month?

Every yoga class I teach I ask the students to set an intention for their practice. We are taught in yoga to be mindful, listen to our bodies, and honor our bodies. Never do more than your body and mind can handle. Stop and listen - what do you need today. You would never try to do a handstand with a broken arm (unless you have mastered the one arm hand stand) so don't set your year goal to be something you can't accomplish.

Just as class starts now the year begins! What do you need? And how are you going to make this year be the year resolutions/goals are kept and met?

Happy New Year's!!!!

What Motivates You?

Competitive and want to out do the person next to you? Jeans got too tight? Your best friend/husband is doing it? The old lady down the street just kicked your butt?

Whatever it is we are all motivated by something different and this could change daily. 

This morning I was teaching my normal Boot Camp at Pacific Club with the average age being 55, no I am not kidding. Now their husbands come to class. They inspire me. One lady is in her early 60's and works out 6 days a week (and has been for 20+years). She spins, she does Yoga, Barre, Boot Camp, Runs, and walks. And her dedicated most amazing husband is 90% of the time in tow. They do headstands and handstands in yoga (against the wall but heck sometimes a 20 something has the fear). Every time they grace me with their presence I am inspired. Class always ends with the well now I have to wash my hair. That is the work out I want..I have to wash my hair at the end and I want what they have...they push themselves. They never "cheat" through the move. So today I put down the whistle (that is my voice) and decided I would work out along side of them, (it was our last 8am class together before the class moves to 615a because the club feels it should be geared towards the younger and male population...you should have heard the complaints from these ladies to the manager, I just love them!).

Afterwards, with an inspired glow, I met my athletically born husband for a tennis match...and finally I showed him where those swings have been hiding :) Now my motivation came from the 2 college age girls next to us ... they were blonds so my husbands eyes were hanging out the socket...I played my best match yet against him since we've been dating in 3 years...the old high school player in me came back out.

It's always something different...I am a pitta, a perfectionist, and way to competitive...don't think about spinning faster next to me I will kill myself before I left you go faster! But as a pitta I am also motivated by the vatas and kaphas around me who know when to back it off and rest.

I wonder what it will be tomorrow?!

Happy New Year...hopefully you are not just motivated by the date 1st of January but find motivation to move all year long.

xoxo

PS - if you want to know what Dosha you are take the quiz here: http://www.whatsyourdosha.com/

My Campaign

I am off this week. Two weeks a year (one around 4th of July and one around Christmas) I get to live the house wife life. Although I am not working I am still working...just on the job that I love, teaching. I teach 13 classes this week which compared to full time teachers this is a light load (you 4 a day teachers, I admire...the most I had done to now was 3 in one day...that 4th class does a number on your voice box, body, and mind).

However, what I have learned is that I am not attached to email, a fire is not happening that needs to be put out immediately. I have been rewarded through the inspiration of the students in my class and my fellow teachers. I have been able to visit the grocery store mid day on a week day and have gotten to work out in daylight! Full time teaching I have learned is just as hard as being in an office (at times harder) but after 10 years chained to a desk and the clock this other side has been rewarding in so many ways.

I am on a campaign to be a full time teacher and stay at home wife. It started on Monday after 4 classes which in between 2 I had time to grocery shop and put supper on the stove. After the 4th all I had to add was the fish (Cioppino recipe to come this week). Tuesday I taught 2 classes and put a pork loin in the crock pot before the 2nd one (Rosemary stuffed garlic pork loin recipe to come). So today I decided to pull out the big guns and make the meal he had been asking for: Braided Spaghetti Bread. (I also made half pork/beef meatballs and broccoli). So ladies if your man is tired of eating gluten free, fat free, and like a rabbit then splurge on this (and be armed with a good workout the next morning).

Braided Spaghetti Bread
1. Spaghetti (brown rice preferred)
2. Pizza Dough (if you can use the wheat from Trader Joes try it otherwise use Pillsbury)
3. Sauce
4. Diced Mozzarella
5. Parmesan Cheese
6. Parsley
7. Egg White
8. Garlic Powder
9. Flour
*Preheat Oven to 350

• Begin by cooking your spaghetti
• Roll your dough out onto parchment paper (put down flour to keep it from being too sticky)
• Let Spaghetti cool
• Put cooked spaghetti onto the rolled out dough (in the center only)
• Layer on sauce (can add sausage or use meat sauce)
• Layer on diced mozzarella 
• Cut slits along the side then "braid" it closed...right over left, left over right 

• Wet top of bread with egg white and then sprinkle parmesan cheese, parsley, and garlic powder
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes 

• Slice in 2 inch slices and SERVE 

Please add a green it will make you feel better :) 

I have to admit I had a slice and afterwards did not feel carbed-out! 

If you are in favor of me winning the campaign a little woo hoo response will be helpful! :) 

Traditions Made and Kept. Cookies Eaten, Presents Unwrapped...Now What?

Derek and our spent our first Christmas together as husband and wife. My parents moved to Hong Kong so  we were spared the fight of who we were spending Christmas with. I was terribly sad, in 31 years of my life...this would be the first Christmas I spent away from my family...I had had a good run of it. This also meant that I am stuck in my ways...that not only is my personality but being a home body and having such a close relationship with my family this was so hard.

Luckily, I have the most understanding husband who came from a family with traditions but luckily those traditions either worked with mine or did not compete. (Yes I am the oldest child so I am quite bossy when it comes to how things will be done and I cry easily so to not agree could start waterworks :))

On Christmas Eve we went to his parent's house for dinner with his family. Luckily they cook crab legs each Christmas Eve...it is not traditional Italian fish sauce but I got crab legs (and somehow in my parents apartment in HK the fish sauce tradition lived in on their two burner stove top!). We came home to our house that evening and opening the PJ's we got each other which was another family tradition of ours on Christmas Eve.

The next morning, I woke up to Derek in a Santa hat brewing coffee and making eggs! I felt like I was at home. My mom always had breakfast in the oven (egg and sausage casserole) and coffee on...after presents Daddy was in charge of the bacon. We opened our stockings (another important family tradition of mine) and gifts. We had a yummy breakfast and then made our way back down south for gift opening with his family.

Although my family was in HK we managed to open gifts together via Skype on Christmas Even (their Christmas day) and hopefully this won't become a yearly tradition but I'd be ok if it happened every few years :)

Christmas evening we went to see a move just like both of us grew up doing on Christmas day.

After you get married and merge families you have to think about what traditions you want to carry on to your kids...we'd talk about it the year before so this was one easy marriage transition.

So now the cookies are eaten and presents all unwrapped...what do we do now? We have the week off so I am still enjoying the decorations (I've cut the cookies out of the diet now) and looking back we had the perfect first Christmas just us!



Ahh the Christmas blues...until next year!

Where Have Those Muscles Been?

I have tried everything from spinning, running, training, TRX, yoga, Pilates, Barre, swimming, tennis, etc. Each exercise makes me sore about 8 times out of 10. Never have I felt what I have felt this week after a total of 12 hours of training and taking Barre classes.

Now begins my obsession with Ballet. I never did ballet growing up, it was too girly and frankly boys were not in class so I had no interest. I'd rather do sports that I could flirt with the boys and show off :)

This week I have trained with my trainer and done Barre class many many many times. Parts of my body hurt I never new existed. Each night I went home ready to crawl into bed...

Meraki Barre allows the teaches to infuse their creativity to each and every class. Although there is a format to class, the music and moves change...so does your body.

,

A few months ago I found my Pilates classes becoming mundane and I wanted to add spice to class. Let me tell you, there is nothing like a little spice when you see a grown athletic man pushing 200 holding a Magic Circle in his hands in first position releve! And grunting. That's when you know you've hit it...the hidden muscles. Wait until next day for your muscles to scream at you...and then pat yourself on the back.

Back to Reality

I am back. Still have not found the time to post about the trip but don't worry there will be a 14 day series about all of our travels! I will leave out the days that include airport transfers as they were not fun for us nor you :)

We landed on Friday and I had to come straight back into the office for a meeting. EEK. All I could think about was my warm cozy fluffy bed but somehow had to stay awake so I could kick jet lag (lost that battle).

So after work I went straight to spin, how hard could it be?, it was only a 30 minute class and I walked the entire time I was away. Ha ha ha. Joke was on me but I made it. Then went Saturday and Sunday. By Monday I was walking funny but I was BACK!

Who knew that one week back it feels like we never left, back to the routine. Work-out, work, teach, see friends, host party. And now 7 days later it is a gorgeous day and I get a text from my husband saying "rather be in Punta" as if I wasn't already day dreaming about summer!

I love vacation and I love travel but I need money to do both, hence work :). However, I do need to find time to sit back, relax, and take mini vacations. As much as I love my routine, I end up doing too much, forgetting it is ok to say NO (I was told yesterday that "no" is a complete sentence...it does not need an explanation...how perfect is that for the busy holiday season?).

So when you find yourself in your routine running around, wondering why you are tired, holding the to-do list in your hand, and dreaming about your next vacation.. take the time to laugh, put your feet up, and just be still! And maybe you'll get the courage say NO to the next function that threatens to deplete your last free minutes!

Ahh the Honeymoon

We have moved to country número dos! And I have traveled and I like a lot places but very few have gotten the ... I would pack my family up (or back in the day just me) and move to a new country. Well Uruguay gets this endorsement. We rented a car and I drove because oddly enough I'm the only one who can drive a stick shift. Easiest country to get around (with a GPS of course). Anyhow, stay tuned, when I'm back that first week will be focused on these two south american countries we will have spent 15 days in!
And if you know of a company wanting to send someone to Punta del Este, one of us will do it!
Swimmingly yours,

The Coffee Shop

In the states we have one or two on every corner. Some offer strong coffee others you have to ask for a double shot.

Here in Buenos Aires they are every corner but all unique. They are coffee houses. Places to meet, to watch, to enjoy each others company and not to plug in because they wifi and ignore the company you are with.

Find me one of these in the states with waiter, STRONG coffee, and to die for baked goods. The people watching is to die for, more than gals wearing yoga clothes or men dressed in suits all looking down hoping the line goes fast because they are off to the next thing. Not here, there is dancing, laughing, talking, smiling, and most of all enjoying the present. Something we can all take away from the Argentians...enjoy the moment with those around you.

Happy Monday from Argentina! Now off for a strong coffee and people watching.

Gratitude

November is the month of thanksgiving and gratitude. We forever look to what we are thankful on the outside: family, friends, health, etc. My challenge that I have been giving my classes this past week and through the balance of the month is finding inward gratitude...what are you thankful about yourself: strengths and weaknesses. What makes you, YOU? Focus on those characteristics this month and find appreciation and gratitude from within.

Some shamanic traditions in parts of Africa and the Oceanic societies attend to health and well-being through what is called "cradling work", a four-part practice in staying connected to the good, true, and beautiful aspects of one's nature. In cradling work we lie on our back and place both hands over our heart (in many cultures hands symbolize healing). Silently, we acknowledge the character qualities that we appreciate about ourselves, we acknowledge our strengths, we acknowledge the contributions that have been made and continue to be made, and we acknowledge the love given and the love received. - Angeles Arrien in "The Four-Fold Way"

Use the rest of the month to focus on all the things you love about you!!! Have gratitude to yourself ~ you deserve it.