Just Sit with It!

Jeff was getting ready to run an errand, the boys were decompressing, and I decided I needed to write a post before going into the Christmas festivities. I asked Jeff what my topic should be. He said, "Surviving the holidays!" Ha! But actually, he's right. How to survive the holidays...that's a good one...

My youngest is on the healing side of 36 hours of lethargy and vomiting, but thanks to good ol' ginger ale, he's on the upswing. Just the thing we needed to start our holiday season, to be sure. Here's hoping we've all had this bug before and can skate through the holidays unscathed.

So instead of "surviving" the holidays, I brought my focus back to yoga. What would a yogini do? Hmmmm....what about sitting with the feelings and gently recognizing them for what they are and giving thanks to be able to put a name on the feelings and move on. There's nothing more than the present. The past is gone, and the future is yet to be, so I can be here and now and know that I am guided and protected and happy...even in the sadness, I am contented.

One of the hardest things to learn in yoga (it's a never ending practice--no perfection) is to sit still and breathe. Meditating on or just the act of acknowledging a feeling and breathing into the moment can dispel the enormity of the emotion. Dani Shapiro, author of Devotion,  deals with just this topic: finding calm amidst the confusion and hustle and bustle of everyday life. Finding that inner calm can be one of the most daunting tasks ever known (at least that's how it seems to me.) I am grateful to be reminded of the necessity of calm in order to survive the holidays. Using her experiences as this reminder, I think I will re-familiarize myself with some of my favorite meditations from Rod Stryker.

So maybe, just for today, I will "Sit with it" when I feel anxiety, depression, worry, fill-in-the-blank decides to visit my psyche. Maybe this can be a reminder for me. Just these three words. This might just be the New Year's resolution I've been looking for. The New Year is going to be amazing...I just know it, I can feel it. May you feel all your blessings and enjoy this holiday season!

The Price of Perfection

I have been unable to put into words what I've been feeling these past few weeks, but I think I’m starting to understand something about myself: how important it is  to NOT be perfect. I have struggled with perfectionism all of my life. I have striven to do the best and be the best at everything I do. If I put my mind to it, I can achieve it has been a worn-out mantra in my life--and possibly the root cause of my chronic pain.

Well in the past three or so years, I've not been able to keep up with that level of perfectionism.  It has a price, and it’s being paid in pockets of pain, samskaras, within my body and mind. In fact, a couple of months ago, my therapist said to me, “You are having a hard time learning how to be human!” When he put it that way, I could see the absurdity of it. Yes, I was having a hard time learning how to play the fool, learning to accept defeat with my National Boards, learning how to let go of the insignificant day-to-day stuff that we all seem to pack into a day, learning it's OK not to have all the answers. But what I’m finding, if I’m patient and try not to force situations to unfold the way I expect them to, is unexpected gifts unfold all the time. I'm not talking about the material gifts, but the gifts of the mind, body, friendships, and most importantly, gifts of the heart.

In my post Compartmentalizing Feelings I talked about being able to be present with every interaction I can. As a teacher, a traveling one at that, I meet many people. If I slow down enough to really give every person I meet my full attention, I find that there are beautiful gifts to be found in each one of these people. To deny myself this gift is a shame. I often get harried when I experience interruptions in my day and may not be able to give a person my full attention because of a time crunch or a deadline. And unfortunately, if my behavior, as a result of these interruptions, is not a reflection of my soul (inner guide, spirit, fill-in-the-blank...), this will affect how I live my life day-to-day. And in essence, be stored in my body and mind to be dealt with at a later time...this I will try to be more aware of as it happens.

Case in Point:
As I was finishing up this blog post, Jeff was putting dinner on the table. I just needed five more minutes, but already we were an hour late getting to the table on time. So I turned off my computer, and said, "Jeff, I've been working on this post for two weeks now, but I can't post it 'cause it's not P_____. Ah, the P word. I actually caught myself saying it, and decided that, perfect or not, this needed to be posted. Regardless of the imperfections. Which I'm sure are many....alas, it is OK, just as it is. Namaste.

My Asteroids

One of my favorite holidays has always been Thanksgiving. I especially love the day after even more. Jeff and I take the kids to his parents' house, go to Camelot Tree Farm, cut down our own tree, return home to start Christmatizing. I then have a turkey sandwich with lots of cranberries, a glass of egg nog (without the cheer), and then finish with the decorating.  We then turn off all the inside lights, save the Christmas tree and outside lights, and admire the beauty. We then pick up our children. When we turn down our street, and they begin to see the twinkling lights, their excitement turns to squeals. Magical! We are blessed to have huge windows in our old old house, so the sight is breath taking. This will all happen (I hope) according to plan this afternoon, but if the past couple of days is any indication of how today will turn out, I'm in for a ride!

It started early Wednesday morning. My depression took on a new low. Menopause sucks! Sucks, I tell you!!! It seems no matter what I did to try to put some light into my day, my mood kept getting sadder and darker as the day progressed. I had been preparing food all day to have Thanksgiving at my parents' house. This year, my lovely sister and her family spent it with us (she's from GA, so having her there was a real treat) along with Jeff's parents. Therefore, we all needed to be sure we had enough food, so the preparation would be taking me all day.

It was around 7:00 Wednesday night when I realized I had forgotten to pick up my hormone replacements from the pharmacy on Monday. I had been two days without it. (Now before anyone gets on my case about taking hormones, this is not estrogen. It's a bio-identical progesterone made from plants, and though there is no long-term studies about the risks of getting cancer from this bio-identical, not taking it would mean disaster for my family, my friends, my co-workers, and me...no fun!) So anyway, I realized this too late. The pharmacy was closed. Well then I started crying, and Jeff agreed I needed to figure out a way to get a hold of my pharmacist. I called their after hours hotline, and got a call from the pharmacist an hour later. While waiting for the call, I made my gluten-free pie crusts. I cannot understate the difficulty of making these pie crusts--they don't stick together, and what I had was a crumbling mess. Of course this didn't help my mood, and I cried even harder trying to press the crusts into the pie plates. Eventually I got it to work, and to be honest, it was the best pie crust I've ever had. Bar none! Tear-soaked and all!

Finally the pharmacist called and I explained my situation. I told him Jeff could meet him out at the clinic to pick up the medicine since he was on that side of town at the kids' karate class. He hesitated a few seconds, and I lost it--the crying started up again. Hearing my distress, he said he'd go out there and pick up the meds and drop them off at my house!!! Well, the blubbering increased. I knew there was a reason I liked this pharmacist more than any others in town. When he arrived, I threw my arms around him and said, "You've no idea what this means to me!"  And he gently said, "I think I do." Amazingly, he charged me only for the price of the prescriptions and nothing more.

Shortly after, Jeff and the kids arrived home. My oldest son said to me, "Dad told me about what's wrong. I'm so sorry about your asteroids." Well that snapped me out of it as only children can do! I laughed and laughed (and some crying mixed into that--I've had lots of practice). We had to explain that it was my hormones that were off kilter, and the hormone is called estrogen. Estrogen, asteroids....hmmmm....made sense to him.

So now as I sit here, Jeff is busily bringing up the decorations preparing for our day. I do know that today will be a wonderful day filled with beauty and love. I am so glad that I have a sense of humor about all this--warped as it may be. My wish for all of you is to have a safe, peaceful, and tear-free holiday. Cheers!

Final Reflections on Youthful Glow

It amazes me that no matter how many times I show up for my yoga practice, I experience something new with each pose if I'm mindful during the process. This is especially true for the poses I do on a daily basis. I've been doing the sequence from the Master Class section of Yoga Journal for a couple of weeks now and I notice different sensations in my body, I am very aware of what my mind is doing, and how I feel afterwards.

A couple of the times I did this sequence, I was unable to get into a relaxed supported shoulder stand. I adjusted and readjusted to hit that sweet spot, but nothing worked, and I left the practice feeling frustrated. However, a few days before that, it seemed that the supported shoulder stand was effortless. I did not keep track of the time I was in the posture, but I would guess it was between five and seven minutes. And I felt so light and free when I came out of the pose.

My biggest hangup with doing yoga is my expectations of my practice. I "expect" that I'll feel better after yoga, that my muscles will soften and respond, that my mind will remain peaceful throughout my practice. What I find frustrating is that when these "expectations" do not turn out as I want them to, I become disappointed. So, what I continually work on is to just be with my body, my thoughts, and allow my practice to unfold as it should. If I can remember the saying, all in good time, that helps me to put my practice into perspective.  So when I have days where my practice doesn't leave me feeling better or freer, I just need to remember, that maybe just showing up for my yoga practice is enough. I also think when my practice becomes more challenging, I may actually be experiencing new levels of deepening into the stretch, and my body is trying to make the adjustments needed so that my body will be safe.

For all those who celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope your day is filled with many blessings. Namaste.

More Reflections on Youthful Glow

In my previous post on Youthful Glow I shared each pose that Yoga Journal had published in its Master Class section of the periodical. Now, I'm just going to share my feelings after each day of practice rather than going into each individual asana.

Sunday I was stiff! I had taken Saturday off due to the fact we were running around, and quite frankly did not make the effort to take 15 minutes out of my busy day. What I noticed is that my shoulders stiffened again. I tried to remain optimistic by reassuring myself that this is a process: some good days, some days where I need to practice more self love. Sunday was one of those days.

Monday I felt sooooo good that I practiced the sequence again in the evening! Too much of a good thing? I don't think so. It just reaffirmed what I felt on Sunday: some days good, some days challenging.

Tuesday OK, so today I squirmed in the Supported Shoulderstand with a chair. For some reason, my lower back did not like the chair today. My cushion either wasn't positioned right, or I may just have had one of those more challenging day.

But overall I have to say! My upper back pain is not so intense as it has been. I can sit at the computer for longer stretches now without having to take physical breaks. I really do love this sequence!

Reflections on "Youthful Glow" from Yoga Journal

In the November 2012 issue of "Yoga Journal" Leigh Ferrara along with Desiree Rumbaugh share a sequence in the "Master Class" section of the magazine. As a person who has dealt with chronic pain much of my life, this sequence looked like it held some sound possibilities to incorporate into my daily yoga practice.

The area of my body that is most affected by pain is my upper back and shoulders. and this sequence focuses on opening the heart center and releasing tension in the shoulder region.

So three days ago, I started the following sequence:

Sequence: Prasarita Padottanasana: Wide-Legged Standing Forward Bend, variation

Chair Twist

Chair Shoulder Stretch

Dhanurasana: Bow Pose

Salamba Sarvangasana: Supported Shoulderstand, with a chair

Click on this link: Youthful Glow and you will be taken to the Yoga Journal website where you can read the article and see the poses. You will see how the pose is supposed to look. Make sure you are physically able to do these asanas before trying these. Be gentle as you proceed...


OK, now my reflections:
When I started this sequence on Wednesday, I noticed that my back was quite stiff. I was able to clumsily get into chair positions and notice that my tightness started to soften, but only a bit. My upper back cracked and I had an endorphin rush. It felt as if I were in a chiropractor's office and she was adjusting my upper back. AAAAHHHHHH.

On Thursday morning, I felt a sensation in my shoulders during the Chair Shoulder Stretch that felt oddly painful. I backed out of it slightly and tried breathing into my shoulder tightness. I stayed for only two minutes (maybe less--we tend to expand time when we are in uncomfortable situations.)  But I got up feeling a bit better than I did on Wednesday.

This morning, Friday, I noticed something completely different. My shoulders no longer had the pain in the chair shoulder stretch. It felt as if I had been doing this posture for months, but it had only been three days! I also varied the supported shoulderstand with a chair, by gently lifting my legs off the back of the chair and held them at a 90 degree angle to the floor. I was able to get into a deep relaxation in that posture. However, one thing I did not expect: I was feeling my emotions without panicking. I have been dealing with some uncomfortable emotions for a while, and it felt completely safe today to feel those feelings. So this is what is meant by having an open heart. I do not have any expectations for the day, and that right there is freeing.

So for those of you who struggle with upper back pain and tension, I suggest you try this. I am thrilled I found this sequence. I will continue in the next few weeks documenting my reflections of this sequence. I am very optimistic for some very positive results!

The Booker Award

I received this award from my hubby, Jeff Whelan, who had received it from a fellow author. This award is passed around from author to author (or to other bloggers) so that they, too, can share their top five books. Of course, in his very eloquent way of writing, Jeff beautifully detailed why each book was so important to him and what he was able to take away with him. To try to emulate him would be fruitless, so I'll just have to do it the way I know how...here goes!

For me, the merit of a book depends on how long it stays with me. For example, when I read a book, I give it all of my attention; however, a good book will suck me in and not let go--even if it has been years since I read it. Jeff had asked me to recall the books I read recently that I insisted he read at a future date. I remember telling him that, but I don't remember the books. So even though the books were good, it did not have any lasting impact on me. In essence, I have to look at how a book makes me think outside my comfort zone, forces me to view other realities, challenges my own ideals, and all around makes a difference in my life. I would also be remiss not to mention that I am a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing. I look for substance in the books that will stimulate deep and thoughtful discussions with my students.

That being said, I had a difficult time narrowing my choices down to just five (well actually, I took some liberties and made two sets of trilogies into just "2 books"--forgive me, I just couldn't pick one without the others.) So, after having slept on it, this is what I have come up with!

1. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt. This book centers around a family, The Tucks, who accidently discovered a fountain of youth and the ramifications of never being able to die. Prior to reading this book, I pose the question to my students: "Who would like to be able to live forever?" The answer I receive more times than not is "yes". It is interesting to see that idea challenged as the read the book.

2.  The Giver by Lois Lowry. This book focuses on a Dystopian or possibly Utopian (you will have to be the judge) society where rules are of the utmost important and adhered to in order to maintain order in this community. Everything on the surface of this community looks perfect. This has been a tremendous book to share with my students. For example, a society without pain? That sounds fantastic, right? Hmmmm....makes one think a bit deeper about that...hopefully a reader will come away with a sense of the necessities of hardship and pain in order to promote healthy growth.

3. Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness: book 1: The Knife of Never Letting Go, book 2: The Ask and the Answer, book 3: Monsters of Men. This is probably one of the most unusual series I've ever had the pleasure to read. Instantly, I was hooked. Patrick Ness has invented this Dystopian society where people can hear your every thought--at least the thoughts of the men. Women's thoughts, however, are never heard. The way Patrick Ness shows us the struggle of these men is beyond description. You are, without a doubt, pulled into these novels, and its grip far-reaching and long-lasting--I still remember them in such vivid detail.

4. His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman: book 1: The Golden Compass, book 2:The Subtle Knife, book 3: The Amber Spyglass. The first book takes place in an alternate reality (maybe even a parallel universe to ours). People have daemons which are physical manifestation of their souls that are part of them. (Note to parents: I didn't understand the heart wrenching pain that people went through when their daemons were taken away from them until I became a parent and I had to leave my first born with a sitter while I went back to work.) Now, if you've seen the Golden Compass movie--I'm sorry--that was a horrible depiction of the book. They had such a wonderful opportunity to create a masterpiece, but failed miserably! So put all of your thoughts about the movie away, and enjoy the book.

5. And my all time favorite book, without a doubt is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. In my opinion, there has never been a book that has explored society with such depth that I walked away from it feeling exhausted and exhilarated at the same time. The emotional, intellectual, and moral themes are so abundant in this book that scholars have spent years researching it. I have read it at least seven times, and I come away with something new EVERY time! What I really love about it is sharing this with my students. So many of them have come away with a deeper appreciation and understanding of life back in the 30s, that it has contributed greatly to their knowledge of the depression, oppression, racism, and humanity in general. This book has often been one that my students remember vividly in the passing years.

So there you have it! My five most favorite of all time. And now it's time to pass the torch. Here are the five people I have chosen to pass this award to:

1. Jen Vincent and Kellee Moye at Teach Mentor Texts
2. Roz and Patty at http://roz-patty.com/
3. Lindsey Mead at http://www.adesignsovast.com/
4. Kathryn Markolf at http://goodliferoad.com/
5. Susan Buchanan http://susancbuchanan.blogspot.co.uk/

 Please do not feel obligated to do this--only participate if you have time and inspiration to...this is just for fun! Enjoy!

A Blog with a Twist

I recently had the privilege of reading a book penned by co-authors Rosalind Burgess and Patricia Obermeier Neuman, called The Disappearance of Mavis Woodstock (a Val & Kit Mystery Series). I found myself glued to my Kindle, and when I wasn't, sneaking back to just read a page or two. It was over before I was ready for it to be, but they have another book in their Val & Kit book called The Murder of Susan Reed. I really suggest you check them out! Click on their names to direct you to their blog and their books! Enjoy!!!

Four Months Gluten Free!

I find it absolutely unbelievable that I've seen such benefit from becoming gluten free. The biggest plus, of course, is that my pain goes from non-existent to manageable. I have not had a huge flare up for over four weeks, even with gardening! That is just huge.

What it makes me wonder is how much of our diets affect who we are, how we feel, how we behave, and how we view the world around us. I have found that the world looks a bit brighter, even on bad days, than it did four months ago when I was in the throes of unmanageable pain. The medication that I take for managing my pain has decreased, and my hope is that the longer I'm on this diet, I will be able to cut it out of my life once and for all.

I look at the future with rose-colored glasses when I feel this good, which worries my hubby, since I crash when I have a flare-up. But I do believe with a positive attitude, my need for medication will be a thing of the past. (Jeff, if you're reading this: Don't worry, I'll take my medication so that I'm nice to be around!)

The only thing I miss on occasion is being able to go to a restaurant and order anything off the regular menu without a thought of what I'm putting in my body. I guess the up-side of this is that I am practicing being more mindful which of course brings me back to the present.

Note to everyone who is reading this: Please know I don't live this positively all the time , but it is my intention to catch myself when my mind goes in a bad neighborhood without backup, so I can calmly bring myself back to center and focus what is around me. I hope you all are taking the time to enjoy October and the beautiful leaves and their brilliance of colors. Namaste.

My First Addition to the Toothsome Story Game

 I get tagged to add FIVE WORDS ONLY to this ongoing story, I added my words here at this post, link my post to http://allaboutlemon.com/toothsome-story-game/ like so, then tag one other blogger to add their five words. My addition is the bottom line, along with the optional picture contributors can also add. I tag Martha Bourke!

Once upon a Toothsome Day,

a truck full of donuts

pulled up at Al’s house,

leaking glazed all bran crullers

which delighted all the birds.

Al however was rather perturbed.

The birds stole Al’s car

And made a fast getaway

Another Great Review of Space Orville

It seems lately that blessings keep pouring in--especially for my hubby, Jeff. He is getting wonderful feedback on his book Space Orville, and recently got another fabulous review! This one I had to shout out from the rooftops!

Enjoy your beautiful week, Everyone! Namaste.

Compartmentalizing Feelings

It seems that when I have time to blog, I go on a frenzy and blog all the time. But since school started up again, my teaching job and home responsibilities of course have become my priority. So I finally decided that I needed to blog about different parts of my life that are separate, but also make up who I am. Who we all are.

More often than not, I have not been able to compartmentalize my life: Family, work, friends, etc... If one area of my life was off, my entire being would be down the toilet. But yoga has helped me to be able to differentiate what is important at the current time: my family, my friends, my work, and my alone time. If one area is suffering, I try to remember that the people I am with at the moment (including myself) are the most important people in that given time and space. To not devote my all to those people would be cheating myself out of a wonderful experience. Each person that comes into my life has been put there for a reason. I do not believe in coincidences or accidents. The good and bad all have a purpose. How we choose to deal with each situation is up to us.

Again, I bring this all back to yoga. When I find myself in the middle of a maelstrom inside my head, I have to physically stop myself and breathe--and to do it well, I need to find a quiet place to close my eyes and breathe in healing energy, then as I exhale, remove all the negative thoughts and the weights that are on my shoulders. This mindfulness is vital if I am to stay centered within my day. Mantra for the day:  I will enjoy every encounter I have today and be present with all of my being. Namaste.

Three Months Gluten-Free!

I can't believe it...I just can't believe it. Here I am, 3 months gluten-free, and I have never felt better in my life! My joints hurt NO MORE! I mean it! It's amazing. My muscles don't cry nearly as much, though I do continue to take my medicine, but the pain is more of a reminder where I have been, not knocking loudly on my door.

For any of you out there who have hesitated, thinking this kind of diet change will be impossible, let me tell you this: You WILL no doubt have challenging days, but if you can make it through the first month, I know you will feel better. I am HAPPY! Not just content, happy! That for me is huge.

I have been baking bread to my heart's content and developing new recipes all the time. I have found that I really am the gourmet! So much fun to experiment, that even my kids and hubby have to admit that what they taste is pretty darn tasty indeed!

Update on Space Orville

My husband, Jeff Whelan, has been marketing his eBook Space Orville, and has quite a few reviews on Amazon that are really amazing. Check out his blog and this wonderful review. 

My Delicious Chicken Salad Recipe

A week ago a cast member of the play I'm in, "The Dining Room" (by A.R. Gurney), brought in some wonderful home-grown vegetables along with some oregano and Thai Basil. Wanting to use the basil right away, but having nothing to use it for, I found a small glass jar (4 oz.) and filled it with extra virgin Olive oil. I then cleaned the basil, muddled it a bit, and stirred it into the olive oil. I then put it in the refrigerator. (You can keep this infusion for a week.) The olive oil will solidify, this is fine. When you want to use it, simply scoop out a tablespoon or two and set on the counter for 15 minutes (if you're in a hurry, you can stir it until it melts.)

OK, that part out of the way, here's the delicious recipe I created--thought there may be a few of you who have these ingredients on hand and may want to try!

Ingredients

1-2 teaspoons of fresh dill seed (or weed) --I got this directly from my garden
1 Fage yogurt (Greek yogurt with honey--you will add the honey since it acts as an emulsifier)
2 teaspoons sugar
1 scant teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon lemon juice (freshly squeezed if you have it)
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 heaping tablespoon of the olive oil infusion (described in first paragraph--I pulled out some of the Thai basil leaves and added them to the salad)

2 cups poached chicken cut in bite-sized cubes
1 large cucumber thinly sliced
1 small onion sliced in 1/2 rings
handful of red grapes, halved
1/2 cup chopped pecans (I toasted mine for 2 minutes in the toaster oven and they were perfect)


Mix the first 7 ingredients well. Add the remaining ingredients except the pecans.
Refrigerate for several hours. Toast pecans just before serving and sprinkle over top of salad.
Enjoy!

Youthful Yogini is Now 1 Year Old!

I just realized this morning as I was on hold with my vision care insurance company that it has been one year since I've started this blog, Youthful Yogini. This has given me a "hard" copy of my journey since last year.

It seems so often in life that we go by, day by day, on autopilot. Our morning rituals before heading out the door, working our allotted time, and then heading off for errands, or whatnot, before we go home and start the evening rituals. This blog, however, has enabled me to stop and examine certain situations and reflect on them. If I felt they had a good lesson, then I blogged about it. For example, my post on Weaving Imperfection into Life helped me to put the remodeling of my bathroom into perspective.

I also looked back and saw indications that I hadn't managed my pain before it got out of control. This prompted me to put together my Tips for Managing Chronic Pain. This continues to be my reminder that all is not out of control, and just by a little tweaking (or a lot, depending on the day), I can begin to get my pain under control. In that link you will find "recipes" to help make homemade hotpacks and coldpacks.

This blog has also opened up a new world to me: Indie Authors! My husband, Jeff Whelan, published his first book, a YA humorous science fiction novel, called Space Orville. Jeff started tweeting to promote his book, and in doing so, mentioned my blog to other indie authors. In the process I met some wonderful indie authors; one of whom, Martha Bourke, has become a good friend. I also had the pleasure to interview Kristie Haigwood whose story was a page turner as well.

I am amazed at how much I have learned throughout this year and how much I have enjoyed blogging. Initially I thought I would blog only about yoga, but as it turns out, we are more than just the sum of our parts. Wouldn't you agree?

Baby's First Bath

This morning I was clicking through Elephant Journal when I came across this beautifully innocent video of Baby's First Bath. You just have to take a look. Brought tears to my eyes it did...

It reminded me of when I used to bath my boys in our bathroom sink (on a smaller scale than what is shown here.) They absolutely loved the running water and floating in the sink. This is such a peaceful video that you will feel so relaxed when you are finished watching it! Namaste.

Body Lotion: Excellent and Cheap!

I have had dry skin for as long as I can remember and have had to lotion my body after every bath or shower. I have used many different products, and have found that there is not a big difference between the expensive and moderately priced brands. I have found a way to make my skin very soft with just two simple ingredients. First I find a cheap lotion at the Dollar Store that contains urea in it. This ingredient helps to eat away at the red bumps I have on the back of my arms. The second ingredient is PURE (not extra virgin) olive oil.

Here's what I do:  First I create a circle of lotion in the palm of my hand with a hollow in the middle. I then carefully fill in the hollow with the olive oil. The reason I do this is because when I rub my hands together the oil doesn't run down my arms. This method seems to work best.

I then lotion my entire body with the lotion/olive oil mixture. You can add or decrease the amount of olive oil. If you add too much, you might find that your skin is a bit slick. Since mine is dry, it soaks it right up. Then if you are so bold, mix and match some of your favorite essential oils by added just a few drops to the mixture. You may have to make sure you are not allergic to any of the oils first. I found out the hard way with ylang ylang. My favorite combination is a woody sandalwood and sweet orange.

Try it! You'll like it!

Paper Beads made into Earrings!

A week or so ago, I posted a picture showing the beads I made from magazines! Well, now I've made them into earrings. They are really cool. I've added a diamond glaze to them so they actually have the texture of plastic. Makes them more durable for sure.  Check them out at my site! http://www.etsy.com/shop/YouthfulYogini

Art Game: All About Lemon

Visit Dolly at http://allaboutlemon.com/art-game/ to add your flair! Post to your own blog and let Dolly know. She'll do the rest!!!

Hangin' on Tight!

A Funny Thing Happened...

I just had to share this so I won't forget it. Last week my family and I went to Wisconsin Dells for a few days to spend at the water park. There, they have this terrific candy store called Goody Goody Gumdrop where there was an abundance of all types of candy. So what does my youngest son want? A Hershey's bar.


Me: D____!   Stop petting your chocolate!
D____:       I'm not petting it.
Me:          Then what do you call that?
D____:       Stroking!

Making Beads

Every now and then I get restless and need to create. I love making jewelry, but had taken a hiatus when my kids were very young. It seems I get a bit more time to myself these days, and my interest has picked up again.

I started making beads from magazines. What fun! I'm not that good at it yet, but I feel with practice, I'll be making quite a bit of beads. I am looking at magazines in a different way than I did before. I like the pages that have multiple colors on them so I can create colorful beads. Here are a few of the beads I've made (they still need to be glazed, but for now, this is the rough version.): Link to a great website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnTWQ77g1Y4


With accent beads, I know these will be fun. They are so colorful, it's hard to get a sense what they are really like. After I've glazed them, I will take a pic, then again after I've created jewelry. (Hey at least it didn't cost me anything to do!)

Enjoy your weekend, all!!!

Handmade Jewelry

Hey All!
I am so excited! I just put my jewelry (earrings for the time being) on Etsy. I had thought about doing eBay years ago, but the process is so very frustrating.

Please check it out and give me your feedback. I have not put a banner up yet because inspiration hasn't struck yet, but at least the earrings are there.

Very exciting! Enjoy your day!

Art Game: I'm Gonna Getcha!

I'm Gonna Getcha!

Hey! Try this out! It's a blast!Visit Dolly at http://allaboutlemon.com/art-game/ to add your flair! Post to your own blog and let Dolly know. She'll do the rest!!!

Gratitude with a Capital G

My hubby, Jeff Whelan, got it right when he spoke about Gratitude in his blog post. There is so much in our lives that we really need to stop and take notice of such as the big three: a roof over our heads, food on the table, clothes on our backs, but there are more profound things that need so much nurturing, that we sometimes forget about them in our busy lives: LOVE for our families, friends, co-workers (yes, co-workers) especially those who try our patience at every turn; RELAXATION is not to be overlooked, and I'm not referring to plopping oneself in front of the TV to zone out for an hour or so. I am referring to silence, meditation, and glancing quietly inward to regain our footing; FUN is something we rarely afford ourselves since we are so busy. For example, just today we all went out to the pool and had a wonderful time. My two boys were off playing and Jeff and I were able to talk! Imagine that! Well, that didn't last long, and our two boys came over and started carrying us through the water. I haven't had someone carry me in the water in years! It was wonderful. I am so pleased that I took the chance to observe and relish this joyful moment.

There are so many other things, people, places in our lives that need our gratitude. When we offer up gratitude, huge amounts of abundance comes our way. Enjoy the ride that is our lives! Namaste.

Homemade Gluten-Free Bread!

For four weeks, I struggled trying to make gluten-free bread. Instead of having dense, but holey loaves, these could have easily broken windows. Last week and this week, I finally got it right! I am posting a recipe that is a combination of recipes. Some recipes claimed to do one thing, but I found another. So this is a hodge-podge of recipes that I guess I'll call my own!  If you have any questions, please post. I'll do the best I can to answer them, as I'm new to this as well. Enjoy!

Flour Mix

1 cup brown rice or sorghum flour

½ cup teff flour

½ cup garbanzo bean flour

2/3 cup tapioca starch

1/3 cup potato starch or corn starch

2 tsp xanthum gum

Scant T sugar

¾ tsp baking soda

Other Ingredients

2 oz. sour dough starter (substitute flour with gluten free flour)

2 XL eggs or 3 small

10.5 oz lukewarm tap water

1.9 oz. vegetable oil

¾ scant tsp. apple cider vinegar

Scant 1/8 tsp dry instant yeast

1 ½ tsp salt (last ingredient to be added)

Putting it all together

•  Using a standing mixer with whisk attachment, at a medium/low setting beat the starter with water, eggs, oil, vinegar, and yeast.
• Add flour mixture and beat for 2 min. Add salt beat 1 more min.
• Remove whisk, and cover bowl with plastic wrap. Move to warm place for 1 ½ hours.
• After it has risen, beat it again for 3 minutes.
• Transfer to 9x5 prepared loaf pan (greased) and place pan in plastic container that is large enough to   hold pan and cover it.
• Allow to rise for another 1 ½ hours.
• Set oven to 375º and place bottom of broiler pan in lowest rack in oven. Heat for 30 minutes.
• Dust dough with rice flour and, using a greased bread knife, cut three diagonal slits across the top of loaf.
•  Just before baking, add a handful of ice cubes or a cup of cold water to the tray and place the loaf immediately into the steaming oven. After 30 minutes, rotate 180º and bake for another 20-30 minutes. If you notice the loaf getting browner than you like, cover the loaf with aluminum foil for the duration of the baking.
• Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
• Carefully, using a butter knife, loosen the bread from the pan. It’s best if you turn the pan on the side and let the steam escape for a few minutes before taking out of the pan. Careful! Steam is REALLY hot.
•  Place bread on cooling wrack.
• Once cooled, use a bread knife to cut loaf. Store in freezer. Your bread will last longer this way, and it really tastes best warm or toasted.

If you use a bread machine, stop by this link for helpful tips!

Sparklers, Anyone?

Hope everyone had a happy 4th of July! 
Visit Dolly at http://allaboutlemon.com/art-game/ to add your flair! Post to your own blog and let Dolly know. She'll do the rest!!!

Sparklers, Anyone?

Kristie Haigwood, Indie Author

When I started this blog, I thought that it would just be about yoga. Seems that I've expanded my horizons, so to speak. Honestly, this has been such an exciting adventure. Kristie Haigwood shared with me (as you'll see in a moment) that her characters demand that their stories are told. Well, I guess that's what's happening here. I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would be so interested in learning more about indie authors. My best guess is I've seen how much work my hubby, Jeff, has put into marketing Space Orville and I guess it got me to thinking: Are all indie authors this driven? So my exploration began. I truly intend to keep up these interviews as often as I can (or as often as indies will let me!)




So it is my pleasure to introduce Kristie Haigwood to you all! Enjoy!!!

http://www.amazon.com/K.-S.-Haigwood/e/B007Q1UCZ4

I finished your book Save My Soul last month and really enjoyed it. Please give a synopsis of the book. I am really very bad at summarizing anything, especially my own books. I feel like I'm not explaining enough so you will understand what the story is about. It took me 4 hours just to write the blurb for Save My Soul. LOL. I'm not joking, I over explain, over exaggerate things and it's really hard for me to squeeze a whole book's worth of events into a couple of paragraphs. So, I will share my blurb and a review from a reader with you if you don't mind.

Blurb -

Kendra Larkin had everything going in the right direction. Her life was seemingly perfect, and she wouldn't have changed a thing about it. Unfortunately, the course of her life was about to be forever altered. A tragic rappelling accident lands her on Dr. Adam Chamberlain's operating table.
She agrees to a deal proposed by a guardian angel to help save the soul of the man who is both her doctor and soulmate. If she is successful, she gets to keep her life. However, she later learns that it isn't just her life that's in jeopardy, but her soul as well.
Even with the help of her handsome guardian angel, Rhyan, it seems there is no happy ending in sight. Torn between her newly discovered love of Rhyan, and the undeniable attraction she has for Adam, Kendra finds herself at a crossroad. With Adam's steadfast rejection of God, and his guardian demon conspiring against her, she fears her soul may already be lost.
Will she find a way to overcome the evil her life is suddenly burdened with? Or will Adam's guardian demon win both their souls and make Kendra his own personal puppet in Hell?

Review - by M Medler "Ella"

Save My Soul is classed as a romance. I think that is wrong. I think this novel creates its own genre. I'll call it `action romance' for lack of a better description.
Kendra Larkin has a problem: She's just had an accident that should kill her. But she's too young to die, so she feels pressured to make a deal with an angel who can save her life. The trouble is, you can't trust just any odd angel and there are some little details Coen has omitted to mention in the heat of the moment.
The events begin to unravel at break-neck speed and Kendra struggles to make sense of life with a guardian angel by her side and at the same time her own feelings towards her angel, Rhyan, dashing nurse Mason and the object of the task she's been given - Dr. Adam Chamberlain, M.D.
I have to say, whenever I see mentions of angels, I worry. To me, religion is a private thing and I don't enjoy having God and Christianity shoved down my throat. I needn't have worried. Despite being full of angels from about page two onwards, Kristie Haigwood makes the storyline so real and its characters so well-defined, that it feels perfectly natural to have a guardian angel read your thoughts, talk to you incessantly and even pop in and out of existence when you least expect it.
There are so many twists and turns, you'll be pointing down the wrong path more times than not. Kendra doesn't know her mind and you'll be living her emotions and rooting for her every step of the way. You might even recognize some of her predicaments, though you might not be able to deal with them with quite as much humor and light-hearted absurdity as she does. The scenes in which Kendra tries to make the models of her photography business look more camera-friendly are the funniest I've read in many months.
I can't imagine there would be anybody that wouldn't enjoy reading this book. It is funny, exciting, fast, sexy, grown up and playful all at the same time. For me it was a wonderful find, a fantastic experience. If I was searching for a read perfectly suited to myself, I couldn't have found anything better.

Where did you get your ideas for the book? For some reason I always feel like I sound like a crazy person every time somebody asks me that question. I promise I'm not crazy; I just have very interesting friends. I don't sit around and daydream about what I'm going to write about next. I can't, it's impossible for me. Call it my muse or call it the voices in my head, but they are very real to me and they tell me what to write. I'm up to 47 voices, er...characters right now. It gets pretty crowded in my head sometimes. But hey, if I can write a novel in 21 days, then a week later turn around and write another novel in 28 days, it really doesn't bother me who thinks I'm crazy.

When did you become interested in writing? June of 2010 an idea kept playing around in my head. I would wake up thinking about it, couldn't sleep because of it, so I finally sat down and wrote a paragraph. That paragraph turned into a chapter, and that chapter turned into a book. Okay, so I never went to college, and had never even dreamed of writing a book, but now here I had one (a very rough one, but with a lot of potential, I might add). I sent it out to 57 different agents and was turned down by every one of them. I can laugh about it now. My writing has improved considerably over the last 2 years, and 5 more books. That first book is actually a series and it will be published very soon. Save My Soul was actually the 4th book I wrote.

Are you the kind of writer that needs to outline your work first or do you just sit down and start writing and let the ideas come? I sit down and start writing, and with very little sleep or food, I never correct anything until after I am finished. Writing a book is just as exciting to me as reading one for the very first time. I know it may sound strange coming from a writer, but I have no idea how the book will end, what will happen in the next chapter or even the next sentence for that matter. Like I said before, my characters tell me what to write and then I write it. Kendra was a very aggressive character. I hardly slept at all. She wanted me writing constantly. Mitch and Ciera were the same way for Forbidden Touch. I was very tired for 2 months straight. I think I slept for a whole 24 hours after finishing Forbidden Touch.

You seem very comfortable writing about the paranormal genre. Why do you think that is? 

The Paranormal world has always interested me. I had a ghost in my house when I was little. I thought for the longest that the old man was my guardian angel, but sadly it wasn't the case. I found out later on in my life that he had lived in my house before my family had moved in. He had taken his own life in the back bedroom of my house; my bedroom. LOL. Don't worry, he never tried to hurt me, but all too often I would wake in the middle of the night to find him staring at me. I was the only one to ever see him. Most kids would freak out about something like that, but I have never been normal, so I guess I am an exception to the rule. Besides, I was 3 when we moved in and 10 when we moved out. I guess I thought that it was normal for every house to have a ghost. *shrugs shoulders* As a young teen I took up reading as my hobby. I read Christopher Pike's young adult suspense novels. I was hooked. Over the years as vampires, witches, angels and other paranormal things crept into the land of words, I leeched on with a passion that cannot, and will not, ever be explained. I love the written word. I love fiction, and if you throw something in there that will make me believe there is more out there than the mundane life we all have to deal with to survive, then I'm all for it. OK, here's my two cents: We all need to believe there is something more out there! At least, in my opinion!!!

You have a new book out called Forbidden Touch. Tell me about that book? Is it similar to Save My Soul or a completely different genre? 

Same genre, different paranormal creatures altogether. Vampires this time instead of angels and demons, and again I will share the blurb and a review from a reader. You really don't want me to attempt summarizing. :o)

Ciera has to break the ultimate vampire law to save Mitch, her mortal soulmate, from a terrible fate. Dane, the vampire who would do anything to win her affection, is responsible for Mitch being framed for murder. A fast chain of events is set in motion, which leads to the soulmates being torn apart and Ciera to lose her heart to the one person she has always despised, Dane. She finds herself completely in love with both men. But a rogue vampire puts them all in grave danger. Can she keep them both? Or will she have to accept one lover’s sacrifice, to save the other?

Review -

A must read paranormal romance! (especially if you love vampires) I would love to start my review with all the spoilers I read during the last chapter, because I just could not believe what happened. I was emotionally worn out when I was finished with a totally unexpected and touching ending. But alas, I do not like to write reviews with spoilers, so here is my no-telling review:
Ciera, a vampire assigned to help solve murders committed by a rogue vampire, has been secretly watching and lusting after, Mitch, a detective working the murders. One of her clever skills is the ability to make herself invisible. As such, she silently watches Mitch nightly, invades his dreams, trying to help him solve the crime. Until one day, Mitch senses her and decides he must have her. After all, he has been with her in his dreams for nights. There is strong chemistry between Ciera and Mitch and you root for them to be together from the very beginning. But Ciera is conflicted knowing that she and Mitch both will die if she gets involved with him, a human.
While is against vampire law to reveal their existence to mortals, Ciera is forced to fully show herself to Mitch and tell him who she is, a vampire, in an effort to save him. When he becomes accused of the very murders he is trying to solve, they go on the run, seeking sanctuary where they could live together without fear of retribution (death) from the Elders.
With the assistance of a witch, they almost reach their destination. Unfortunately, Ciera's brother Dane, who is not her real brother but a vampire friend assigned to watch her, captures her. And another powerful vampire captures Mitch.
Dane is a wonderful character who I disliked in the beginning because he wanted to capture Ciera and seemed like the villain, but then later, I simply fell in love with him within 10 pages. He turned out to be just as captivating and handsome as Mitch. And Ciera who initially rebuffs his advances, soon finds herself falling in love with Dane as well as Mitch. She eventually decides she wants both men in her life and cannot live without either one. I cannot reveal more as there are some major twists and turns in the story. I was almost crying by the end.
I really, really loved this book. It was a great love story and I really hope I see some of the characters in books to come.

Why did you choose the self-publishing route? Had you tried getting your manuscript published the traditional route? I tried traditional with absolutely no luck as I stated before, but I really didn't think I had another option. I didn't know about self-publishing and independent authors 2 years ago. When I did find out about it, and realized how easy it was to do it on my own, I thought, why the hell not? It's my work and all the money and rights to my book will all be mine. So I guess getting turned down by all those agents was actually a blessing in disguise. Everything truly does happen for a reason. I wouldn't have it any other way. Nothing short of the Big 6 could get me to traditional publish, and they would have to have some very deep pockets. My books are my babies, and just handing them over to someone else would make me feel like I have given up on myself and my books. If I can do it on my own, then I will do it on my own.

Please tell me something that is uniquely you. Oh, geez! I find it very difficult to talk about myself. I'm not any better than anyone else in this small world just because I have a few imaginary friends that like to help me write books to entertain people. I don't care if I sell 10 million copies, I will still talk to my readers via twitter and facebook. A few book sales and some change in my pocket will not ever make me better than the awesome people who read and love my books. They make me who I am now and who I will be in the future. I am just me, and that's who I will always be. I don't want to be someone else, and that is something unique about me, because most people dream about being someone other than who they are. I just want to be me.

Where can my readers find your book.

http://www.amazon.com/Forbidden-Touch-ebook/dp/B008DKORNU/ref=la_B007Q1UCZ4_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340989029&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Save-My-Soul-ebook/dp/B007LB76A8 

To follow or contact Kristie, follow one or all of these links!
http://www.kshaigwood.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/kristie.haigwood
http://www.facebook.com/kshaigwood
https://www.facebook.com/forbiddentouch
https://twitter.com/kshaigwood

One Month Gluten Free!

Today is one month gluten free for me! Wow! I am really getting the hang of this. My biggest "wow" is how awake I am. I thought because of my chronic pain I would always be tired--trying to escape, I guess. I stay awake so late now that it's really messing with my days! Once I start teaching again in the fall, I will really have to remedy this situation.

I have also found how to bake bread with gluten-free flour as opposed to using wheat flour. Here's what I've found:

• You do NOT kneed the dough...if you do, which I found out, you get bricks instead of bread. Yuck.
• You use a whisk attachment (I use my standing mixer for this) to mix the dough. It does not have the consistency of regular bread dough, but rather the consistency of banana bread batter.
• After it rises 1 1/2 hours in a warm place, you beat it again and put it in a loaf pan to rise for another 1 1/2 hours. 
• But here's the most interesting piece of information I've found: Put a broiler pan in the oven while preheating 1/2 hour before baking bread. Immediately before putting your bread in the oven, take a cup of cold water and pour in the hot broiler pan. It immediately steams, and you place your bread in the oven and bake. What a glorious loaf I had when I finished! Dense, but holey. YUM!

Although my pain is better, I still use my Tips for Managing Chronic Pain when I need them. But I feel more alert and receptive. I am glad that I trudged through the gluten withdrawal. I do hope that my pain lessens with time.

Enjoy your day, all! Namaste. 

Independent Author Network, Space Orville

I am so proud and in awe of my husband, Jeff Whelan. He received an award from the Independent Author Network (IAN) for the month of July IAN for the most hits to his IAN page. This is not a surprise for me, I always knew once he got his book published nothing would stop him. It now seems to be happening for him (and of course our family). We are truly blessed.

Indie Author Kristie Haigwood

Next week, indie author, Kristie Haigwood, will be featured on my blog. She is the author of Save My Soul and Forbidden Touch. I have read Save My Soul and enjoyed it, and I look forward to reading her next book. Save My Soul is a paranormal love story that is sure to thrill.

3 Weeks (& a day) Gluten Free

OK, so it's been three weeks off gluten and here's my observations:

• I am AWAKE! I'm not tired during the day any longer
• Still have moments of anger that just leave me scratching my head
• No more stomach pain
• Normal bowel movements (TMI, I know!)
• Not hungry between meals--am easily filled up

My biggest concern is perseverating over my inability (at times) to manage angry outbursts. This is not like me. It usually takes quite a bit to get me to explode, but now it's little stuff--really INSIGNIFICANT stuff. Thank God I have a loving family who forgives my foibles. For that I am grateful.

I would love to hear from those of you who have had experience with gluten free diets. Do you experience the same issues? Please share! Enjoy your beautiful day! 

Videos to Improve Balance and Strength

In my last post, Witnessing Change as it Happens,  I touched upon confidence when doing Zumba and other forms of exercise. I have started to take the plunge (hopefully not a face plant!) by practicing arm balances. I remember the first arm balance I ever saw was on the cover of Yoga Journal magazine. It seemed like the most impossible thing I had ever seen. In the magazine, there was this article about arm balances made easy. I was completely mesmerized by the beautiful woman, photographed by Katrine Naleid, who seemed to effortlessly fly into the air. The article talked about relaxing! into the pose. I could only shake my head in awe.

Years later, I am finally able to look at different asanas and see them for what they are. What has changed is my mind, my body yes, but first and foremost, it has definitely been my mind. So today, I really started to try the crow pose. I found it embedded in this video featuring Kathryn Budig. I was amazed at the detailed and slow pace that she instructed her model to move within each posture. It was breathtakingly beautiful. So after really paying close attention to body positioning and precision, I actually floated up into the crow pose! WAAAAAHHHH! OK, so as not to mislead anyone--I held it for a 1/2 second. BUT, it's a start. And true to what Yoga Journal said, it really is all about relaxation. Once I let go, I floated up, but then my lovely ego took over, and I had to sit back. So I am so glad that this pose isn't as daunting as I had initially thought!

This is another great yoga sequence, featuring  Kino MacGregor, in which she teaches us how to build strength to hold arm balances. I had briefly seen videos featuring Kino before, but never really took the time to WATCH! She is a very graceful yogini who has so much knowledge that I can't wait to learn more from. I hope you get a chance to look at these videos. They are really impressive! Namaste.

Witnessing Change as it Happens

It has been two months since I attended my first Zumba class, and I have to say that I noticed today that I did not need to drink as much water during the class as I normally do--I had water left over! I also noticed that my steps to the dance moves became a bit more refined, my muscles a little stronger, and my confidence growing. Each class has been an exercise in pushing my limits. The first few classes I left huffing and puffing thinking, How is this body of 40+ years going to ever get this right? But amazingly (or maybe not so amazingly), I feel myself growing stronger, shining brighter than before.

A friend of mine who comes with me every week made a comment this morning. "How's your pain since you've been gluten free?" And you know what?! I hadn't thought about it all morning! That is a huge change that I missed because you see, my pain wasn't wrecking havoc on my nerves, joints, and muscles! So I didn't draw my attention to it.

Now as I sit here scanning my body, I notice where the pain normally hits, and the areas seem to be tamped down at the moment. Is it the gluten, is it the barometric pressure, is it that my husband, Jeff Whelan, got  wonderful reviews on Amazon for his book Space Orville? Honestly, I really don't care, but I'm glad that I have a good day that will turn into good days or weeks.

And today we will be celebrating our 16th anniversary with my parents. My beautiful boys are excited because Grammy and Papa are treating them to carnival rides all afternoon--as well as treating all of us to pizza afterwards. I am so glad...today is a GOOD day! Namaste.

Hop Aboard Art Game

Hey! Try this out! It's a blast!Visit Dolly at http://allaboutlemon.com/art-game/ to add your flair! Post to your own blog and let Dolly know. She'll do the rest!!!

Hop Aboard!

16 Beautiful Years!

Today I am happy to say, I've been married to my wonderful husband for 16 years. Even after 16 years of marriage, I still find wonder in our marriage and family. We have cherished all the beautiful moments and endured hard ones, but I can tell you for 100% certainty, that I would not want to share those moments with anyone else.

Our day started with a Dr. Who episode (just discovered Dr. Who about a month ago, and I'm hooked!), followed by a chemistry demonstration at our local library put on by The Discovery Center Museum. We then biked to a park we dubbed "The Labyrinth". They have a labyrinth that my kids and I like to walk (me) and run (the boys). I did, however, spend most of the time in the shade doing my yoga. When we arrived home, my mother-in-law dropped off a sheet cake, some dinner in the fridge, and movie tickets to round it out! Wow!

It was a fabulous day to remember and celebrate our 16 years together. I couldn't have planned it any better! Hope everyone is having a glorious day. Namaste.

Yoga and Housework

It seems since summer vacation is here, my yoga practice has changed a bit. OK, let's be honest--a lot! I now have more time in the morning to settle in with  my cup of coffee and read a chapter or two of a good book, then start my day. (OK, here's where I should tell you that this is not my day EVERY day, but one can dream, right?!)

So tonight, while Jeff, hubbie, and youngest son were off to karate class, my oldest and I were like two white tornadoes and cleaned the house from top to bottom. Not only did it get clean, we had fun. This is where my yoga practice really kicked in for me: I became mindful of what muscles I was using when dusting, stretching to reach the not-so-easy-to-reach spaces, and focusing all my attention to the project at hand. AND because I was having fun with my son, time went by so quickly. I have to tell you, I feel really great. Mindfulness is such a wonderful gift I've received from yoga. Namaste!

P.S. Please check out the fabulous review for Jeff's eBook! I was about blown over!
http://www.amazon.com/Space-Orville-ebook/dp/B006JB722S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340250635&sr=8-1&keywords=space+orville

Just Found a Wonderful Blog!

I was reading one of my favorite blogs, Good Life Road, and I came across this blog: A Design so Vast. Lindsey, the blog's author, is so beautifully honest. After reading it for a few minutes, I knew she was on a great journey.

I enjoy blogs that speak from the heart. And these two really do. I hope you will find their blogs as wonderful as I do!

All About Lemon: Art Game

Hey! Try this out! It's a blast!Visit Dolly at http://allaboutlemon.com/art-game/ to add your flair! Post to your own blog and let Dolly know. She'll do the rest!!!

2 Weeks Gluten Free

Today has been 14 days without gluten. I finally am over (knock on wood) the anger and frustration, and I'm actually feeling pretty good. I've lost 4 pounds just by eating gluten-free foods.

I still am not craving sweets, breads, or sugary treats which is a big deal for me. With that being said, I have to share a link with you all. This is the best chocolate cake I've ever made! It's so easy and wonderfully delicious! http://glutenfreemommy.com/no-frills-chocolate-cake/ This gal has an excellent blog. Give her blog a look-see! Have a great Monday!

Review for Space Orville

We have so much to be grateful for in the Whelan household! Through the hard work of my husband, Jeff, he has truly made a name for himself as a published author! I always knew his book would be received if he could just get it published...unfortunately, publishing houses would not take a chance on him. Their loss for sure. Now because eBooks are all the rave, indie authors have found a format to publish their works. I have never seen Jeff work harder or more energetically as he has now. He is all about promoting his book and it makes me so proud to see him shine!

If you follow this link http://jeffwhelan.wordpress.com/2012/06/17/baby-steps/#comment-366 you will find other links that will take you to interviews with Jeff and one book review. It is truly wonderful! Namaste.

BTW, Happy Father's Day to all the deserving fathers out there! Have a blessed day!

Polka Dots Party Bop

You know the drill! Copy from All About Lemon: Art Game,  Add a picture of your own, post to your blog, then notify Dolly, BEAUTIFUL Dolly!


Poppity-Pop Polka Dots!

9 Days Gluten-Free

OK, so I think I'm getting the hang of this. My anger has subsided dramatically and I think I'm starting to feel like I really WANT to eat gluten free foods. Here's the positives I'm noticing right now:

• I'm not craving sweets or carbs
• Normal bowel movements (OK, more info than you probably wanted, but hey! 46 years has done a number on my colon!)
• I'm starting to understand how to cook gluten free, and I'm excited about learning more.

OK, so here are the negatives:

• I've wasted a lot of money trying to get homemade breads just right--haven't mastered it yet!
• I have to make different meals from my family at times, but it doesn't bother me as much as I thought it would (we still eat together!)
• It seems all I can think about is GF diet!

OK, so slowly, I feel I'm getting into a stride. Tomorrow I'm going to make homemade sourdough bread from the dough starter I started about 4 days ago. I hope it turns out OK! Have a beautiful Wednesday! Namaste.