Friday, October 31, 2014

Just a Quote for Halloween

My precious little Carrie as Peter Pan
"When you come to the edge of all the light you have and must take a step into the darkness of the unknown, believe that one of two things will happen to you: either there will be something solid for you to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly."
~ Patrick Overton

Thursday, October 30, 2014

There's something happening here...


Lately I've been...

practicing yoga instead of blogging in the morning.

reading yoga homework instead of friend's blogs.

preparing to teach my 4-minute section of a 20-minute group project next week.

realizing that four minutes isn't a whole lot of time, but in some ways it feels like forever. I do know how to say, "Inhale and extend your right leg behind you" so why do I stumble on that?!?! ~sigh~

knowing that my jittery nerves are normal and that the people I'm presenting to don't mind if I stumble.

loving my classmates who attend yoga teacher training with me. We are building such a wonderful and interesting bond within our group.

planning a private yoga class for a few local friends as part of my graduation package.

drawing mandalas and really loving the process!

singing Sanskrit chants in my mind {ok...and in my car and in the shower...}

learning that I love learning about yoga. My 200-hour certification will be done on December 21st and I want more. Just like they said I would...

reminding myself that just because I totally dig yoga doesn't mean that everyone I know is open to it (bummer).

feeling so grateful for my yoga practice.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Secret Recipes and Blueberry Surprise Cake

A sweet local friend who reads my blog {Hi Sue} read my post about my sister's friend who keeps her famous brownie recipe a secret. Sue graciously sent me her brownie recipe to try and it's now my go-to recipe when there's a brownie craving in our family. Yummy!!!




Along with the brownie recipe, Sue also included a family recipe for a blueberry surprise cake. She told of a time when she was a little girl, and how she helped her great aunt, Helen, in the kitchen. Helen was a fantastic baker, and very secretive with her methods. She must have been very fond of Sue, because not only did she share baking tips with her young niece, but she also shared her recipe for blueberry surprise cake, much to Sue's grandmother's surprise.




I had a chance to make the blueberry surprise cake last weekend and OhMyGoodness it is YUMMY! I asked Sue if I could share her story and she graciously said yes, and she encouraged me to share her aunt Helen's secret recipe as well. "Isn't that what cooking is about?" reasoned Sue, "nurturing the ones we love?" Well, yes, I think so!




Doug loved this blueberry surprise cake, and so did my coworkers. Many thanks to Sue for sharing the recipe with me, and to Aunt Helen, who may be looking down from above watching me type her secret recipe for all the internet to see. :o)







Aunt Helen's Blueberry Surprise Cake
3 c. sifted cake flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 c. sugar
1/2 lb. (2 sticks) butter
2 eggs, beaten
1 c. sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla
1 can blueberry pie filling
Topping:
1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
6 t. butter

Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and sugar in a bowl. Cut butter into dry ingredients until it resembles a coarse meal. Add beaten eggs, sour cream and vanilla and stir until well mixed.

Spread half of the cake batter into a greased 9x13" cake pan. Top with pie filling, spreading in the middle but not all the way to the edge. Top with remaining cake batter. The batter is thick, so you'll want to dollop it by small spoonfuls on top of the blueberry pie filling and use a wet knife to spread it so that all of the pie filling is covered. {I put a scant "half" on the bottom, and saved a little more batter for the top.}

Combine topping ingredients in a small bowl and sprinkle on top of cake. Bake at 375° for about 40 minutes until top of cake is golden brown.

Thank Heaven for Aunt Helen and Sue.

Friday, October 24, 2014

Just a Quote for Friday

my mom's strawberry wind chime ~ now hanging in my craft room


"Every moment of our life can be
the beginning of great things."

~ Juan Mascaro, Translator's Introduction to the 1962 Edition, Bhagavad Gita

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Yoga Journal - Old School Craft

Yo - guess what?! I crafted!
:o)

Ok, well, I crafted back in August and am just now blogging about it. :o)

When my yoga teacher training started, I took some time and covered a basic composition notebook to use for my note taking in class. I had a couple of large sheets of pretty paper I'd purchased years ago, so I busted those out, trimmed them to size, spread some Yes! paste and loved the results.

I placed a piece of wax paper between the cover and the book page until the paste dried to keep them from sticking together.

And I attached a couple of strands of ribbon to use as bookmarks by punching a hole in the top of the front cover and threading them through.

Truth be told, the ribbons kind of get in the way and aren't as handy as I thought they'd be, but I think they look pretty.

I'm 10 weeks in to a 19 week program and this book is almost full of yummy yoga notes. How can I ever go back to using a plain ol' composition notebook for volume two? Can't. Time to bring out the Yes! paste again...

Monday, October 20, 2014

This Weekend's Color Dash 5k

"I've always wanted to do a color dash," she said.
"Not me," I replied.

"It looks like so much fun," she said.
"What's in the colored powder that they throw at you?" I asked. "Is it safe to breathe? Will it wash out of our clothes?"


"I won't be able to wear my contacts because of that powder," I told her. "I won't be able to see."
"I'll drive," she retorted. "You won't have to see."


Carrie caught me in a weak moment back in July, and I had barely agreed to participate in this color dash when she quickly purchased tickets for this event. For the past three months we have gently fussed about this - me resisting and Carrie convincing me that we'd have fun.

And for the most part, it was fun. Just being able to hang out with my girl was fun, participating in an event to benefit Down Syndrome awareness was a worthy cause, the weather was beautiful (though a tad on the warm side), and up until the end when one of the powder-throwers tossed a handful of blue powder smack in Carrie's face (why?!?!?) it was a different kind of fun to participate in something like a color dash.

{photo taken before the dash began, pre-powdered faces}

"In the long run, I think you had more fun that I did," she said.
"Probably," I replied. "And we can check this off our bucket list because I wouldn't do it again."

And at last, we agreed.

Friday, October 17, 2014

Just a Quote for Friday

"We are all mortal until the first kiss and the second glass of wine."

~ Eduardo Galeano

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Sedona Rocks

Happy Thursday, blog friends.
I mentioned in my Monday post that Carrie and I had made a little trip to Sedona over the weekend and that I'd share some photos later in the week. Turns out that I didn't take a whole lot of photos that day, other than of a bunch of cairns along the trail at Crescent Moon Park.

The purpose of our trip that day was, well, first just to be in Sedona - it's our favorite place in Arizona. And second, so that Carrie could take some photos of me doing yoga poses with red rocks as our backdrop. {I used one in yesterday's post.} I'm not sure how many of the yoga photos I'll share, I suppose I'll do that here and there, but I don't want to make a spectacle of my yoga self so I'll be discrete.


The number of cairns stacked along this trail is mesmerizing - photos don't do the vibe justice.

Combine the magical feel of the cairns with the stunning scenery of Sedona, and you have yourself a fantastic afternoon and a beautiful stroll!

I seriously want to go back again this weekend...







Thanks, Sedona. We'll see you again soon...

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

10 Yoga Myths and Misconceptions

I'm using my blog to document part of my yoga teacher training and also as a means to collect written pieces for my final graduation package. This post contains information inspired by the yoga survey I posted on my blog a couple of months ago. Thanks to all who took the time to participate in that survey!
~ photo by Carrie in Sedona last weekend ~

 
Myth #1 - I can’t do yoga because I’m not flexible.
Everyone has varying degrees of flexibility. Years of sedentary habits and lack of stretching will result in some tight muscles and you’re right, you just might not be flexible. Yet.
Now let's make one thing clear: the goal of yoga is not to be able to bend yourself into a pretzel shape. The goal of yoga is to begin to move your body in ways that are new and different – to stretch and release your muscles of tension and years of not being challenged. I think I need to write a whole blog post on the benefits of stretching, but I will just say that if you are not flexible, yoga is exactly what your body is craving!
Myth #2 - I can’t do yoga because I’m not strong.
Guess what? Strength does not happen all by itself. When the heaviest thing you ever lift is a gallon of milk, it makes sense that your body isn’t prepared to support you in a full handstand. But how awesome is it that yoga doesn’t expect you to be able to do that?! Oh sure, if you practice long enough you might do a handstand one day, that is, if that’s what you want. But how about we just start with building enough strength so that your muscles can support your spine the way they were designed to do? Just like flexibility, yoga will build strength in ways you can’t even imagine.
Myth #3 - I might pass gas in yoga class.
I read a blog post recently that was titled something like, “What to expect when you go to yoga” and the very first item on the list was “You will fart.” I could hardly believe my eyes because that is totally not true. Does it happen sometimes? Sure – you are twisting and moving and human. It happens sometimes but not often (like, hardly ever), and certainly not enough to be the very first item on the list of things to expect when you go to a yoga class. If this is on your list of stuff to worry about – trust me – cross it off!
Myth #4 - I’m embarrassed/afraid I can’t keep up in yoga class.
Here’s the thing about this life: we are all beginners at something. No one starts anything as an expert. That person on the mat next to you doing the advanced version of the pose you are struggling with? They started out just like you! Yoga teaches us acceptance and appreciation for what our own bodies allow. Yoga is not a competition! The more you can hold that thought the better you’ll feel when your time on the yoga mat is done - I promise you this. Keep your eyes and thoughts on your own mat, and be grateful for everything revealed to you there!
Myth #5 - I can’t do yoga because I have arthritis/fibromyalgia/an injury.
You absolutely can do yoga if you have arthritis/fibromyalgia/an injury, but you should do so with caution and with the right teacher. And I believe that yoga is definitely an avenue to help overcome those issues. Obviously, you won't be signing up for an intermediate class or a hot vinyasa format, but there are plenty of other types of yoga to choose from! I would recommend yin yoga, or a gentle yoga class (restorative is good but is a very passive practice). Rather than spending a lot of time explaining, I found a couple of informative articles that I'll link to. Here’s a link to a great article on dealing with fibromyalgia and chronic pain. And here’s a great article on the benefits of yoga for folks with arthritis.

Myth #6 - Yoga is a great workout.
Now, I’m not saying that yoga isn’t a great workout because it certainly can be, but yoga is not only about that. Depending on the teacher and the class you land in, you may notice some sore muscles the following day, but the benefits of yoga go way beyond just a workout for your body.

Yoga teaches us to focus on how we are breathing, what our attitudes look like, to pay attention to posture and alignment, and how to take the right action at the right time. Holding yoga poses and breathing through them teaches us to breathe through stressful situations off the mat. Focusing on our breath means we aren’t focusing on a stressful work situation. Yoga teaches us to know our bodies, mind our thoughts, and to honor our limitations with gratitude.

If you want to tone your body and build strength, yoga can - and will - help you with that! I’m just hoping you will discover more benefits from yoga than a toned bottom.
 
Myth #7 - I don’t have a yoga mat.
Most studios have mats that you can borrow or rent, but I’d recommend that you invest in your own mat. Having your own mat will encourage you to roll it out at home, plus you always know whose feet have been on it. ;o)
Myth #8 - I don’t have cute yoga clothes.
For real? Now you are just being silly. Show up in comfortable clothing that is easy to move in and you’re all set.

Myth #9 - Yoga is a religion {or it's against my religion}.
Yoga has been practiced on the planet before Christianity even existed, and was practiced as a way to enable the body to be able to sit comfortably in meditation (read: prayer) for hours at a time. Yoga connects us to body, mind and spirit by bringing our attention inward. However you relate to your own spirituality, yoga honors that and can deepen your spiritual connection. And even though we practice yoga in group settings and allow yoga teachers to lead our practice, it still remains a very personal experience. Yoga is for everyone and knows no religious boundaries.

Myth #10 - I tried yoga once and I hated it. The end.
Hm. That’s like saying you tried Chinese food one time and hated it – you’ll never try another dish for as long as you live. Maybe you went to a yucky restaurant? Maybe you ordered the wrong dish? Maybe you weren’t with the best company that night?

There are so many different styles of yoga and so many different types of teachers. I feel fortunate that the very first yoga class I ever took was led by a teacher that I immediately felt safe and comfortable with. In hindsight, I’ve had a few teachers that I know would have completely turned me off from yoga had they been my first experience with the practice.

Now, as a seasoned yoga-class-taker, I know that every teacher – no matter what my opinion of their teaching style is – has lessons for me. I try to go into every yoga class with an open mind and heart, ready to receive what is being presented. If I don’t care for the teacher’s style, I just find another teacher next time.

So if you've tried yoga and didn’t like it, I hope you’ll try again and keep trying until you find a class and a teacher that works for you. Oh, I really hope you will…

Monday, October 13, 2014

Our Saturday morning in downtown Phoenix

Monday morning sure rolled around quickly this week, but I'm not complaining. I had one of those weekends that was packed with non-stop cool stuff to be thankful for. I got up at 5:00 a.m. this morning and at 5:15 I received a sweet text from my 23-year old niece in California - just to say good morning and that she loves me. {Hi Brit!} How could I be grumpy on a morning like this?
Doug and I met some friends for breakfast in downtown Phoenix on Saturday morning. We ate at Matt's Big Breakfast (highly recommend!!!) and then after our meal Doug and I strolled around the area to check out the latest wall art. I've blogged about this part of Phoenix before here and here - I love it. These photos were taken around the Roosevelt/3rd Street area within a 10 block radius.
 



This string "art" was random and somewhat lost on Doug (haha), and while not all of the art is really to my taste, I'm always amazed at the creativity of the pieces. Like this next piece - the subject matter is dark, but the vision and the execution - all on the sides of a building?!?! Wow...




♥ ♥

So cool, right? And that was just Saturday morning! Yesterday I spent the day taking a little road trip to Sedona with Carrie. Loved that so much and will have photos of that adventure later in the week.

And with that I'm off to see what this week holds in store.
Have a great one, my friends!

Friday, October 10, 2014

Just a Quote for Friday

{bird's nest in ocotillo cactus}
"Endurance is not just the ability to bear a
hard thing, but to turn it into glory."

~ William Barclay

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Remembering my mom on October 9th.

Can you believe that today is the two-year anniversary of my mom's passing?


The other night I had a sleepless night. I tossed and turned when the lights went out, trying to find a comfortable position but my mind was too busy to allow for that. Thoughts of my mom's passing swirled round and round. In my mind I replayed the five days leading up to her passing. I replayed our conversations, the medications administered, the cassette tape of old church hymns that my stepdad played during her final night - hauntingly familiar from my childhood and a bit unsettling to me, but hopefully of comfort to my mom. God, that was a long night.

I remembered the things we laughed about, the moments that brought tears, the horror of seeing her suffer, the smoke alarm in the hallway screaming just seconds after she passed, calling Doug to say she was gone, choosing flowers for her casket, stitching teal cancer ribbons to wear, writing a speech to give at her services, and feeling so lost and confused for how to proceed with my life without her on the planet to have my back.

I know that in time those memories will not sting so much. I know that I will never forget the details of her passing, but in the past two years since she's been gone I've been able to put into perspective the short amount of time that encompassed her illness and passing. The good times and happy memories far outweigh the painful ones!

For my readers who have been around for a while, you might remember that my mom commented on almost every single post I published. This blog has been such a blessing to me in so many ways, and with my mom's passing I've discovered a new one. The gift of my mom's time and her thoughtful comments continue to bless me anytime I poke around and read old blog posts. And how ironic that there were times when I felt a little embarrassed about her sappy sweet comments (oh, mother...) yet now I read them over and over and hang onto every word.

So today, two years after her passing, I'm paying tribute to her participation in blogland by sharing a few of her comments here in this post. She loved reading my blog, loved reading the comments of my generous blog friends, and loved the opportunity to add her two-cents worth.






And the very last comment she left on my blog, a few days before her passing:

Thanks for loving my blog so much, Mom,
and thanks for the sweet comments you always left for me.
I miss you more than I ever could have imagined I would.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Easy Pumpkin Muffins with a Caramel Center



My sweet grandma writes me letters on occasion, and sometimes she'll include newspaper or magazine articles she's clipped out for me. I love that old-fashioned correspondence - a piece of paper cut and mailed rather than a link within an email message. I feel so fortunate to still have my grandma around to mail me cut out pieces of paper.



Last week I received a little note from her and it included this recipe for pumpkin muffins. I'm including the entire piece of paper here because I love the note she wrote over the Clorox wipes ad! :o)


Being the dutiful granddaughter that I am, I whipped up a batch of these pumpkin muffins over the weekend. I mailed a note of thanks to her, including in my note the mention of a thank you from Doug and my coworkers for the yummy muffin recipe.

PS: Grandma's clipping didn't include information about the publication she got this recipe from so I'm not able to give proper credit. However, I did find the recipe online and you can get your own copy here.

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Team Teal Tuesday ~ What's in a name?

My mom disliked the name given to her at birth so much
that she  had it legally changed from Martha to Marti.
When my mom was born, her parents thoughtfully named her Martha Ruth after both of her grandmothers. Martha was the name of her paternal grandmother, and Ruth was her maternal. I would say that for this reason alone her name should have felt sacred to her - those are strong, traditional, and beautiful names. But I suppose I might feel the same way given the fact that my two grandmothers are/were named Gertrude and Bessie. :o|
In a way I feel sad for my mom – sad that she felt like her name didn’t suit her, that maybe it didn’t sound young enough or hip enough at that time in her life. I don’t really know. All I know is that once my dad was gone for good, everyone started calling her Marti.






In high school she had been known as Marti - "Marti-with-an-i” - so I guess reverting back to that nickname helped her to reconnect with who she had been before - back before she was a young single mother with a whole lot of responsibilities to deal with. Back when she hadn’t had a care in the world and she was happy. Back when she was Marti-with-an-i.
As a young girl in school I wasn’t all that crazy about my name either. There were always two or three Debbie’s in every class, so I always had to be Debbie N. Always with the N. And I didn’t like Deborah back then because that name was only used if I was in trouble. Albeit rare. Cough. I was almost named Vickie. Can you imagine me as Vickie?
My sweet girl was named after her paternal-great-great-grandmother, Carrie, and her paternal grandmother, Rosalind. She has always loved her name and that makes me oh-so-happy.
So I wonder, do you like your given name? Is there a story behind your name or was it one that your parents just liked? Have you ever known someone who went so far as to have their given name legally changed?
I think in Heaven my mom is known as Marti.
Marti with an i.

Friday, October 3, 2014

Not JUST a Quote for Friday

One of my favorite things to post on my blog are my Friday photos and quotes. I've always been fond of inspirational quotes, and when I discovered that I could pair them with a pretty photo and fill up my blogging calendar at least one day a week it was the perfect fit for me.

I know that the quotes I choose don't always resonate with every one of my readers every single week. It would be silly to even try for that. My quotes are chosen based on where I am and what I might be dealing with at the time. The quotes I share are usually personal reminders for myself, but sometimes it's not that deep and I just let the photo guide me. For instance, if a photo evokes feelings of playfulness I might steer my quote in that direction.

But you know the really cool thing about Just a Quote for Friday? The best part for me? It's when someone leaves a comment and says, "I needed this one today!" or "This quote is for ME today!" :o) I love when that happens! I love it because it means that no matter where I am in my journey, no matter what I'm challenged with or trying to focus on, there's someone else out there who can relate.





And when that happens, my "Just a Quote for Friday" becomes not just a quote for that day. It becomes a sweet and simple connection that reminds me I am not alone.

And that's always a really nice feeling.
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