Lightly-Lemoned Pasta.

We were supposed to have company coming over this evening. So after my late-afternoon Bikram class, I rushed home to throw together a quick dinner.

And what's faster to make than angel hair pasta? (Other than sandwiches and microwaved dishes...) Angel hair pasta with a little lemon juice, a dash of cream and chives...



We topped it with a hard-shaved goat cheese.

We gobbled the dinner down quickly. But our company never showed. Oh well. Another recipe to keep in my collection for "Quick After-Work Dinners."

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 30/60.

"Whoa... Halfway there..."

Ah... The Fall of 1986 is coming back to me now. Living in (West) Germany. Listening to the one radio station we got in English. (We lived on a military base.) Bon Jovi was on the scene. And "Livin' On A Prayer" was a big hit.

But I digress...

Today, indeed, marks the halfway point in my 60-day challenge. YAY! Only 30 more days to go!

(Unless I decide to do a 100-day challenge. Then I have 70 days left. EEP!)

Class today was taught by Nikki. And it seems like it is always in her classes where I make the most progress. Today's big feat: I put my head on my knee in Standing Head To Knee pose.

YAY!

That is phenomenal progress for me. PHENOMENAL.

I'll be in the 4pm tomorrow.

Dream: Westward Cat, Teaching Bikram.

My nocturnal activity has been vivid again lately. Last night, I had two separate dreams...

In the first, I saw a beetle crawling across the floor in my house. I was freaked out and following the little creature move from one side of the room to the other. Eventually, my Mum pointed at it and said, "It's so cute." And that's when it transformed into a ginger tabby cat. The cat stood up on it's hind legs and began pointing its paws in one direction.

"It's pointing West," I noted. "What's in the West?"

That is all I remember from that dream.

In the second dream, I was teaching Bikram yoga. I was new at it. And my class was full of people. As I was guiding people with the dialogue, I kept getting stopped by practitioners. They wanted to know more about how to do a pose, or what it helped cure. They wanted the knowledge I had. I felt bad for some of the students in class, who were visibly frustrated by the continuous interruptions. One told me, after class, "You needs to just tell them to talk to you after class. The disruptions are unfair to the rest."

That's when I woke up from that dream. Here are my interpretations...

Dream One: Beetles represent a destructive influences on values and beliefs. Depending on the relationship with your mother, she represents the nurturing of character. The cat represents independence, creativity and femininity. The direction of "West" represents growth and opportunity.

I think I have been in a mood of self-induced negativity in recent months. ("Oh, I can't do anything now. I have to wait. I have to wait till I move before I look for work. Oh, I am going to Teacher Training, I can' work before then. I don't want to write a book about this because it has been done before, and badly. Who am I to think that I can approve upon it?")

This dream was a confirmation that I need to go to Teacher Training in the Fall. All things creative are flowing through me, I just need to realize that they are there. Going to Teacher Training is going to help open up that creativity.

Dream Two: Dreaming of being a teacher (if you are not one already) represents sharing your knowledge. (Pretty obvious.) Yoga represents harmony and control of the mind-body connection. Being interrupted in a dream represents being side-tracked.

This dream was my subconscious telling me to tell everything that is distracting me from focusing to "shut the hell up." I have information to share. My mind wants me to share it. But I keep getting side-tracked. I need shut-out the distractions.

I Am Too Good For Diet Coke.

I can't go back. Now that I have tasted and had easier access to Coke Zero than most men have to Paris Hilton's underwear (ZING!), I really can't go back to drinking Diet Coke.

Diet Pepsi? I can handle that. It is sweet. Still refreshing. But Diet Coke? It doesn't even TRY to hide the chemical nastiness that is its flavor!

While out for brunch today, I had two choices: Coke or Diet Coke. Since I prefer to not indulge in caloric drinks (and I wasn't in the mood for water), I went with this...



Next time, I will go with sparkling water. I am far, far too good for Diet Coke.

The Cupcake Shoppe In Toronto.

Simply put... "Yum."

The Sun was shining earlier today in Toronto. So I decided to walk almost three miles (up a slight hill) to a cupcake shop I have been dying to try.

It is called "The Cupcake Shoppe."

They only serve cupcakes. And they kick ass! Perfect in size (not too big, not too small) and totally delicious. They come in only yellow cake, chocolate cake or marble cake. (Simplicity!) I bought a half dozen in assorted frosting flavors, as that is where the flavor is in them.

And since I did 90 minutes of hot yoga AND walked almost three miles, I decided to eat two today.



Yellow cake with blue vanilla frosting.



Yellow cake with chocolate butter cream frosting.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 29/60.

Another great teacher (Paul) in today's class!

I, however, was a train wreck. Paul even noted it. When in the warm-up and balancing poses, I kept falling all over the place.

"You've been hit by the yoga truck today," he said to me.

I laughed... It was true. But he appreciated my determination to get back into the poses. Even after I pushed my butt all the way back in the first part of Awkward pose and stumbled backwards, after losing my balance.

Can you imagine?!?!

I've never had that happen before in that pose. I've fallen backwards out of Triangle, after pushing my bent leg's knee all the way back. But the first part of Awkward?

Oh I have so much work to do in the next 30 days. After tomorrow's class, I am halfway through! Only 31 classes left!

Vogue: The September Issue.

I don't know what it is... But lately, I am not as in to fashion glossies as I have been in the past six years.

I found myself picking one up at the local bookstore... Weighing it in my hand... Reading the cover stories... Then putting it back on the shelf.

"What's the point?" I asked myself. "It's just the same crap from a previous issue... Re-worked."

And that is the truth of a lot of fashion and beauty magazines. You get the same stories, just re-massaged to look like new content.

There are a few exceptions though... One of them being Vogue's September issue.

The September issue is the biggest one of the year, and always mark the start of the new fashion season. It runs close to a thousand pages. And even though they are mostly ads, they are FAB ads. I love the September issue of Vogue. And I am not the only one. It's so beloved that its story was made into a documentary.

And with that, I give you The September Issue trailer...



Excited yet?

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 28/60.

GREAT CLASS!

This was the fullest class I had seen in the Bloor studio since I arrived over a month ago. It makes sense, though, that people would want to spend a Sunday afternoon sweating out their weekend indulgences.

There was a very good energy in the class. And good energy makes for a great practice. Also, we had a strong teacher... Alex.

(I know! I don't normally like to name teachers here... But she was very good.)

I have only two more classes, and then I will be halfway through the challenge. But for now, I have 32 days left.

Home Style: Multiple Living Areas.

I'm not a fan of formal dining. Don't get me wrong... I like a nice dinner out where we have to dress up somewhat fancy... But not that often. And dining rooms in homes?

FORGET IT!

Dining rooms are some of the most ignored rooms in the entire house. They either collect crap... Or you have to struggle to make an effort to eat at them. They're wasted space.

So in our permanent place here in Toronto, I have decided that even though there is a room big enough for formal dining and formal living... I will not have a dining room.

Nope. No way. The kitchen will have a table, and that is enough. So what am I gonna do with the extra space???

I'm gonna have multiple living areas!!!!



Yes, another ghetto-style drawing. But work with me here.

The first seating area (at the top of the drawing) consists of a console, an ottoman (instead of a coffee table), a love seat and a couch. It is more a "lounging" area. You come home at the end of the day, throw yourself on the couch, pick up a magazine and put your feet on the huge leather ottoman.

The second seating area will consist of a fancier sofa, a second console - behind the sofa (to help divide up the room), coffee table, huge buffet cabinet and two chairs. It's a more formal area.

The colors of all the pieces marry together. We're using different fabrics in both areas... But the colors are in the same family. And the rugs under each area are the same, just different sizes. So everything ties together.

I see myself spending many hours reading and playing board games in here. Or having company over for tea. I can't to move in and have actual pictures to share.

It's Yummy "Canexican!"

I am from Arizona. So I grew up eating Mexican food. Also, there's the fact that my father happens to be of Mexican descent, and we grew up celebrating Mexican cuisine very regularly.

So, in short, I am a Mexican food snob. (And funny enough, I consider Taco Bell to be very delicious Mexican food.) While living in NYC, there were a few stellar Mexican places. (Including easily accessible Taco Bells.) In Boston, there wasn't shit. (Okay, Casa Romero was halfway decent. But everything else was not very good. And there were damn near no Taco Bells. And, no, Anna's Taquiria or the Burrito Cart Guy were not legitimate.) And since Canada is much further away from Mexico, I didn't hold much hope for the potential for Mexican cuisine.

Though, I do have a Taco Bell five minutes (walking) from me here. So that should have been a clue to me how Canadian Mexican food (or, "Canexican") would fair.

The Husband and I decided, for date night dinner,to try this place in our neighborhood...

La Mexicana.



The place was nearly empty, despite its kick ass location in Yorkville. And right after we say down and placed our order, they brought us what they referred to as "nachos"...



These aren't "nachos." They are tortilla chips. They brought them with two salsas. One "mild" and one "spicy." I tested the "mild" one and almost vomited. I picked up the bowl and inspected it more closely.



After a few sniffs, I figured out what it was... It was CANNED TOMATO SOUP with some spices!

I LOATHE canned tomato soup. So, after this, I didn't hold much hope for the place. But then I tried the spicy salsa. And it was amazing. Perfectly spicy.

Then came our margaritas...



These KICKED ASS! They made them with REAL FRUIT. And they had actual tequila in them!

Quite quickly, our food arrived...



Very good. The burritos, though petite, had real shredded beef in them. And I feared that the enchiladas were doused in more canned tomato soup... But I was wrong. They were legit.

Canexican food rocks!

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 27/60.

"Daaaamn!"

That's my thought as soon as I get to the studio and see who is going to be teaching the 11am class. It's the tough teacher. The one who, although he has good dialogue delivery, loves to hold the poses for a really long time.

Painfully long.

Of course, before class, I am assuming that it is just me who knows how tough this teacher can be. I told him the first time I had him that I was planning on going to teacher training in the fall. And he spent the rest of the class pushing me. Which was a great thing... But I was in so much pain during and after the class. And I felt that today was not the day to be pushed. I wasn't hydrated well enough. And my calves are a but sore.

So I struggled through the class. And it wasn't bad. But my body could tell the poses were being held longer. And the teacher's delivery had a lot of intensity to it. Just when you thought he would say, "Change!" He would not.

Cruelty.

But, again, I thought it was just me. It was not though, I soon discovered.

After class, one girl came up to me in the locker room to tell me, "That was a tough class! I haven't practiced since Tuesday. It was painful! I thought the poses would never end!"

I laughed and told her that this particular teacher likes to hold them a long time.

I was glad to know it wasn't just me thinking this.

Only 33 days left!

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 26/60.

"Try to imagine this is effortless," said the Bikram teacher.

Even if I used my wildest, craziest "imagination skillz," this would have been tough in today's class. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad class. I was well-hydrated. I didn't feel sick at any point. The heat and humidity were at an enjoyable setting. But even with all of this, I couldn't easily imagine everything I was doing as effortless.

No. See, I was in a class with almost all teachers. Teachers with beautiful practices. Teachers who made every posture look effortless. Effortless and beautiful.

Bitches.

KIDDING! But seeing their stunning Bow poses out of the corner of my eyes did make it difficult for me.

Who are we kidding? This is hot yoga. It's not effortless. Some days, it takes a huge effort just to get to class. The whole thing is effort FULL.

Only 34 days to go.

We Will Have Words, God.

"Man! Gen X-ers are in total mourning this week!"

This is what The Husband said to me after he walked through door this evening, and I told him Michael Jackson had died. We had earlier in the day communicated about Farrah Fawcett's death. And we both noted Ed McMahon's death earlier this week.

Charlie's Angels and the red bathing suit poster... Star Search (and nights where we were allowed to stay up and watch The Tonight Show)... And now, the man who gave us some kick ass music (only pre-1992, everything after that was "crap") and encouraged us to experiment with 80s fashion.

God, if you take out any of the following anytime soon, we will have to have words...

• Any of the New Kids On The Block
• Michael J. Fox
• Bill Cosby
• Larry Bird
• Mr. T
• Richard Dean Anderson
• Angela Lansbury
• Pac Man or Ms. Pac Man

(Me pumping fist...) "We will have words God. We will have words."

Home Style: PB Teen Nesting Tables.

This temporary apartment is getting old.

Don't get me wrong... I am grateful we had a place to live temporarily when we first moved up here. But now I am aching (hard core) for my stuff.

I would love to have more than two sets of Birkam clothes. I would love to have access to all of my jeans, not just four pairs. DVDs... Books... My kitchen stuff!

I miss it all!

But, with a move into a more permanent place in August, I will (again) have my own home office. I will be using the same pieces from my previous, small, home office in Boston. But I will have much, much more space in the new one. And I will need some additional pieces. And here is what I am thinking...



This is my ghetto drawn-out floor plan of my new office. It has two closets with built-in shelving, as well as a bathroom off of it. It has one tiny window and a slanted ceiling... As it is at the top-front of the place and that's where the roof slants down.

I will have my purple fainting sofa, my huge desk, my custom purple chair, a trunk I bought at the Evil Empire tag sale six years ago (painted grey), my two black bookshelves and these...



Nesting tables from PB Teen!

Only, they don't come in black. So I will have to spray paint them black. I am going to use them in place of a coffee table.

Decorating is so much fun!

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 25/60.

Not much to report on today's class. It was tough, as I went first thing in the morning. And when I start my day by rolling out of bed and heading directly to the Bikram studio, it makes for a "creaky" practice.

My bones "snap, crackle and pop!" I can't seem to go deeply into back bends. My balance sucks. But damn! My focus rocks. No fidgeting.

My mind must still have been asleep.

Almost halfway through the challenge. Almost.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 24/60.

I have been doing Triangle wrong.

Funny enough, though, the way I had been doing it was the way a teacher once told me to do it. And it was always "off" for me. But a newish teacher last year told me to do it that way. (And when a teacher tells me to do something, I do it.)

The teacher told us in class (last year), "When you do Triangle, focus your weight on your bent leg. You should be able to lift your straight leg's foot off the ground and balance almost."

So that is how I did the pose. And since then, I stopped getting compliments on my Triangle. Even though I had always gotten them before in class.

Today, I was corrected. One of the studio directors clarified how the pose should be done, and it made complete sense.

"Your weight should be evenly distributed in both legs," she said. "You should be getting your entire straight leg foot and toes on the ground. You're like a triangle, everything is distributed evenly."

And BAM! My body makes sense of the pose.

"Oh duh!" it says in response to the dialogue. "I get it!"

You can't stop progress.

Only 36 days left to go!

Fountain Coke Zero.

One edge that I will give to foreign countries over the U.S. is their access to Coke Zero.

(Shh... Be quiet and read... Because when I talk about Coke Zero, it is important!)

When I went to London last year, I could get Coke Zero at restaurants. And that SHOCKED me. I had only ever seen it in random grocery store aisles. Then, when I went to Italy, I saw that they had it all the little cafes and ice cream shops. And this rocked my world, because I love this stuff. I experienced the same thing in Paris, Amsterdam and even Bruges a few months ago...

Getting Coke Zero was easier than getting herpes from Paris Hilton!

But in the States? I could only get it at the grocery store. In bottle or can form. Never at restaurants. Boo!!!

Now that I am living in Toronto, I am in Coke Zero heaven. I can get this stuff ANYWHERE. And not just in bottle or can form. I can get it at restaurants from a FOUNTAIN!



Hooray!

I LOVE pop from a fountain. It's still got a carbonated KICK, but it is easier to drink. In fact, the three things I drink the most here are coconut water, plain water and Coke Zero.

I don't even need coffee because of the easy CZ access.

Sorry Starbucks.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 23/60.

I hesitate to write this... But I feel like I have a completely different body than I had 23 days ago.

But, I do.

Not only have my husband and I both noticed my body tightening and trimming... But today, another practitioner noticed too!

"You can totally tell your body is trimming down," she said.

And then my heart soared!

You may not understand it... But I have done 30-day Bikram challenges in the past. And while my body did change a little, it has never changed this much. My ass is smaller. You can see my abs starting to get definition on the sides. My arms and calves are much more slender and tight.

And my thighs? Well, let's just say that coming out of the third part of Awkward is much smoother. In fact, I can keep my back against the "imaginary wall" when coming out. I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT!

It means my inner thighs are working hard and being developed. SQUEE!

Also, I can tell my body has changed because of how I carry myself. I walk with grace now. When I sit, it feels different. My legs feel more relaxed and my hips are much more open. And I often find myself standing still and just balancing on one leg for no reason.

I feel lithe.

I have seven days left in the 30-day. And I am completely ready to go for the full 60.

Pasta Americana.

I may be living in Canada now, but I was craving an American staple today: BACON.

And while I know that Canadians do eat bacon (Peameal or Back Bacon anyone?), I consider bacon to be a very American thing.

So, to satiate my craving, I decided to make Pasta Americana for dinner.



Bacon, onions, garlic, tomatoes and farfalle pasta.

It was delicious and quick.

Hmm... Bacon...

How Do You Nourish Your Soul?

I am working on something this week...

And I now have a question for you all... "How do you nourish your soul?"

As for myself, lately I seem to be using Bikram yoga and sunshine. But I wondered what all could be considered ways of nourishing the soul... And what exactly it means? Does it mean that you are doing something that makes you feel good, guilt-free? Does it require that you help others?

Thoughts?

OHIP Success!

Hallelujah!

It only took three attempts (I initially tried twice my first week in Canada), but today I was able to finally register for my Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) card. This is the program that allows me to access the province's health care system. And it is not easy to register for if you are moving to Canada for the first time.

In order to register, I had to provide:

1. Identification (Easy enough. I have a passport.)
2. Residency Status (Easy as well. I have my Canadian permanent resident card.)
3. Proof of Ontario address. (PROBLEM!)

The problem with the third item is that there are only a few items they are willing to accept as proof of address. They include:

1. Employment pay stub (I am funemployed. So no can-do.)
2. Home telephone or cable bills with my name and address on them. (We are in temporary housing till August. So can't go with this.)
3. Ontario Drivers License (I still have an Arizona drivers license. And the state of Arizona DMV system is a douche bag of a system. They make it difficult to transfer for your license to a foreign country. So when I do finally get a car, I will have to re-sit the driving test.)
4. Bank account statement, with name and address on it.

The last option is what I went with... But I had to wait till my bank shipped me my paper statement. And that took a full month. So, the process itself wasn't a pain... But meeting the criteria for the system's application process was a pain in the ass.

But now I am good to go. My coverage begins in late August. (It takes 60 days for it to go into effect.)

Picture Of The Day: How Canadians Strike.

A garbage workers strike has hit us here in Toronto. That means garbage will not be picked up. And that means that even when you are walking down the street and are looking for a place to dump your empty coffee cup, you will be shit out of luck.

But, at least they were kind enough to give us warning that they are striking...



I find this, actually, very nice of them. This morning, the workers went around my street taping signs to every garbage can. They then wrapped the openings up so that you couldn't easily get anything into it.

No one wants garbage rotting on the street if the strike goes quite a while. I don't think you would see this kind of strike "pre-work" being done in most U.S. cities.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 22/60.

Lesson learned:

During the summertime, do not bother wearing lotion on legs. It makes for slippery and glistening limbs in a Bikram class. And that equals DISASTER.

Before class even started, when I was just laying around on my mat, I began to sweat so much that my legs had an amazing shine time them. They looks fantastic in the light... But I knew that meant that my grip would be damn near "useless" in some poses.

Bow pose? I couldn't kick my leg up far without it slipping right out of my hand. With Toe Stand, my foot kept sliding off of my leg. On a positive note, though, the wrapping in Eagle pose was much easier.

There's the silver lining.

Tomorrow is day 23/60. Only 8 days till I am done with the 30-day. And only 38 days till I am done with the 60-day.

Money Corner: Reader Pic.

It seems like a lot of people appreciated the Feng Shui "Money Corner" piece I did last week.

One reader's mum liked the idea so much, they sent me a picture of their money corner...



This one is so much more gorgeous than mine! When I get into my permanent home in August, I am so kicking my "Money Corner" up a notch... Or 11. Just like this one.

I really recommend everyone put one in their home, office, business... Whatever you have.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 21/60.

Okay.... I forgot to write up yesterday's class! Ahh! In my defense, it was a very busy day. And I have one thing from yesterday's class to note:

Just get to class. Your practice will evolve if you just show up.

I was exhausted yesterday. And I actually contemplated skipping the class, and just doubling-up again later this week. But The Husband wasn't having any of it...

"What's the point of doing this challenge if you're just going to keep skipping days and doubling up on others?" he asked.

"Ah... Touche," I thought.

So off to class I went. And it wasn't bad. Once I got there, my attitude changed. I got through class. It wasn't my best... But it was far from my worst.

So, I only have nine days left in the 30-day challenge... And 39 days left in the 60-day. Yay!

Frederic Fekkai Salon Color.

I have made a decision. I will not cut my hair for the rest of the year.

Why?

I want to see how long I can get it in the next six months. I want ridiculously long hair. Long, thick, full hair.

So, since I won't be getting my hair cut, I also won't be getting it colored professionally. I can easily handle coloring it myself. I only get a single-process of dark brown to cover my stray white, grey, red and blonde hairs. So I can do it myself. Especially using this...



I was in Sephora this afternoon, picking up bubble bath, when I discovered this. I had no idea Frederic Fekkai made a hair-coloring kit. Is this a new product? I love that it comes with a proper coloring paint brush and and a mixing bowl. That's fantastic!

The next time I get ready to color my hair (which will be at the end of July), I will definitely be giving this a try. But I wanted to see if anyone else had tried it themselves in the meantime... Thoughts?

Picture Of The Day: I Must Live My Dream.

I've spent quite a bit of time in the past few weeks browsing at furniture and textiles. Just for fun.

But none of the browsing was quite as much fun as it was today. For I found something that I just fell madly in LOVE with...



Star Wars bedding from Pottery Barn Kids.

When I was a little girl, my brothers and I had Star Wars sheets. (In fact, I think my Mum might still have them at the house in Arizona.) I loved them. And as soon as I saw these, I knew I had to have them. So I snapped a photo and ran back to the apartment to show The Husband.

And that is where my fantasy ended.

"This bedding look fantastic in our new bedroom," I inform him.

"No," he says. And that's all he says. Till I prod him.

"We're not having a Star Wars themed bedroom," he said.

And the way he said it sounded so final. I will have to work harder on convincing him. I must live my dream.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 20/60.

Holy wow! I am a THIRD of the way through my challenge. And time is flying!

That is good, because I want to DIE in today's 11am class. Just DIE!

I should have known that it was gonna be a tough class when I walked into the room five minutes before we started and found a woman still lying on the floor from the 9am class. I walked past her to set up my mat on the beautiful chocolate wood floor. Then she spoke...

"Excuse me," she said. "I can't get up. Could you go refill my water bottle for me?"

"Absolutely," I told her. I ran back to the locker room and filled it for her. I almost dumped my packet of Emergen-C into it... But I didn't want to make a big deal out of her exhaustion. I've done that kind of thing in the past, and was made to feel bad for making a big deal out of nothing.

I returned her bottle to her a few seconds later and told her to let me know if she needed anything else.

She stayed on the floor till the teacher walked in and turned on the lights for the start of the 11am class. She had to be helped out of the room. I think seeing her in that shape set the rest of us in the room up for a mentally challenging class.

We all sucked.

Our collective energy was totally off balance. We were in pain. We were falling out of postures in the FLOOR SERIES. We were pathetic.

I know tomorrow will be better. I am hitting the 9am class and I won't have to worry about anything throwing me off mentally before I start.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 19/60.

My thighs! Oh my thighs!

I had another break-through in class today. In Dhanurasana (Bow Pose), the front of my legs burned. In the first set, I thought it was pain from kicking my legs up higher than I ever have before in the pose. In the second set, though, I realized it wasn't really pain. It was my quad muscles getting stretched out more than they have in that pose.

Little progressions every day. I definitely have bounced back and am having good classes again. First wall of the challenge has been broken down.

Only 41 classes to go!

iPhone 3GS Heaven!

FINALLY!

After two years of craving one, I finally am the proud owner of an iPhone. An iPhone 3GS.



Yay!

This thing kicks ass! I bought a fun Paul Frank skin for it too...



Monkey!

Now, to begin playing with the voice recorder and downloading aps!

Bikram Yoga: I Better Still Have An Ass When I Am Done.

Wow!

I think living in Toronto is very good for me. Very good. Why? Well, since moving here, I have lost the following:

• 1.5 inches on each calf muscle
• .5 of an inch on my thighs
• .5 of an inch on my hips
• 1.5 inches on my waist

Let me be clear: I am not trying to lose weight. But I have wanted to tone more from Bikram. And holy hell, it is working! And fast!

I noticed it earlier this week while in class. I was standing in front of the mirror in the studio, preparing for Pranayama breathing, and I noticed my thighs.

My inner thighs looked tighter. And that's when I traced down my legs and noticed my calves. They were definitely smaller. And my belly... It's flatter than it was before.

And The Husband has noticed too. In particular, he has noticed my arms. They are toning into nice streamlined limbs.

All of this in 21 fairly consecutive Bikram classes.

Holy shit, people. This stuff works.

I have practiced for over four years... And it wasn't until I committed (mentally) to improving my Bikram practice (because of Teacher Training) did my body start listening and sharpening up. It's not like I eat any differently. The only thing I have changed is my mental attitude and my frequency of practice. I still eat all the same things I did before I moved here.

All I can say, though, is that I still better have an ass when this 60-day challenge is done.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 18/60.

Holy shit!

Two big progressions today in my practice:

1. I was able to balance on my fingertips in Toe Stand.
2. I was able to wrap my left leg around my right in Eagle.

I did the last one for about 10 seconds only... But it was wrapped! You can't stop progress!

Forty-two classes left!

Skinny Jeans, I Want You On My Ass.

I went on record a few years back as hating skinny jeans. Now? I take it back. I take it all back.

I want skinny jeans. And even though (as one reader pointed out) I will be spending most of my Fall season hanging out in the shortest of short shorts and belly-baring yoga tops, I will want some skinny jeans. ESPECIALLY after spending part of my Fall season in yoga clothes.

For, I will have the best looking bum and thighs in the world. The BEST.

I specifically have my eye on Paige Premium Denim's Hidden Hills in the Dark Resin Rinse.



Yum. Perfection.

Set it Up: Feng Shui Money Corner.

Ever worry about money? If you don't, what the hell is wrong with you?

Kidding. Of course.

I wouldn't say that I "worry" about money. It's more that I think about it each day. Specifically when I wake up in the morning to see The Husband leave to work. I left the nine-to-five world five months ago... And in order to keep myself sane about not being a significant contributor to our monthly income (as I was before), I have turned to an ancient chinese system for advice.

I have created a "money corner" in our residence.



In Feng Shui, a "money corner" (also known as "prosperity corner") is the back left corner of any room in your house. You find it by standing in the entrance of that room, looking into it. The far left corner is the area you want to set up to attract money and prosperity.

Feng Shui Recommendations:

• Keep the corner tidy. Untidy corner means untidy finances.
• Put a live plant in the corner that GROWS UPWARD. Like bamboo. You want upward-growing energy in this area. Make sure to take special care of the plant.
• Add coins to this corner. As you can see above, I neatly stacked some loose change around my bamboo plant. I am manifesting the idea of "having an abundance" in this area.
• Put something purple or green in the area. These are colors of "wealth."

This all may seem silly... But I believe in the law of attraction. And this "money corner" idea has worked for me for the past three years. Even when we were in Boston. It works.

In fact, it's working for me today. :) It's making me feel completely at ease with not having a conventional job right now.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 17/60.

Back on track!

Banged out two classes today, and now I am back on track with the 60-day challenge. Class number two was about as bad as the first one.

The warm-up series killed me. My back-bending in Half Moon is all over the place lately. Either I go all the way back, or only partially. Today was less than "partially." On a positive note, my Eagle pose in the warm-up series is really coming along. Wrapping my right leg around my left is super easy. And now the left leg wrapping around the right is almost there. It gets closer every day. I am sure I will have it by the time the 60-day finishes.

Yay!

Now, off for my fourth shower today. Only 43 classes left.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 16/60.

I have to pull a double today to make up for missing class on Saturday. I went to my first class this morning at 9am. Here is what my body was saying to me in class:

"Lady, what the HELL are you thinking? I ain't doing shit! Bite me!"

And here was what I said to my body... "Well, fuck you body! Yes you will!"

And thus began the fight between my body's exhaustion and my English Bulldog determination. They battled it out all during class. But I made it through. And now, I have a lot of energy.

I am actually looking forward to class 17 at 4pm. But this is what happens when you do a Bikram Yoga Challenge. Right around the halfway point, your body fights you. And it is a struggle to get through class without running screaming from the class, kicking every person in your way as you run out.

You are on emotional overload. It's all internal, as proven by the fact that after class I felt like I could run a mile. And I don't run.

Well, only for kick ass shoe sales. And then it's more of a sprint. Just like The Bolt.

Only 43 classes left!

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 15/60.

As of today, I am 25% done with my 60 day challenge.

Woohoo!

Not much to report about today's class... But I am noticing body start to tighten up. My thighs are trimming. And my arms are looking really good.

Imagine what Teacher Training will do to my body!

Only 45 days to go in the challenge!

Arby's - It Was Meant To Be.

For two years, The Husband and I both worked in Downtown Crossing (Boston). His office was three blocks away from mine. Yet, we never commuted to work together (he would take the subway, I would either ride the bus or walk). And we only ate lunch together ONCE in the two years.

We would see each other in the mornings and the evenings, at home, despite our close proximity all day.

Now, here in Toronto, my husband works downtown. Near the Eaton Centre. We live in Yorkville, a few subway stops up from the Centre. I do my thing during the day. He does his work and world-domination thing.

We will never see each other during the day. Or so I thought...

This morning, I did my usual routine of grabbing coffee and going for a walk in Queen's Park. (When it is sunny out, I love hanging in the park and writing.) About halfway through a story arc I was writing out, I got a craving for an Arby's roast beef sandwich.

Random, I know. But this whole Bikram 60-day challenge thing combined with vegetarianism has been tough. Actually, impossible. I am craving beef like MAD lately. So I wondered, "Where is there an Arby's nearby?" And of course, a mall food court popped into my head.

So off to the Eaton Centre I went. Once there, I went directly to Arby's to get my sandwich and pop. I ate it quickly, as I was starving and hadn't eaten anything yet today. I threw my trash away and started to leave.

Walking towards the escalators, I saw someone going up them. Someone dressed in a navy pinstripe suit and light blue dress shirt, with dark brown hair.

"HUMAN!" I called out.

The Husband turned around, looked down at me, and smiled. He hopped on the "Down" escalator to head back towards me.

I held up my pop cup and said, "I was craving Arby's. So I cam down here to get some."

He laughed and help up his paper sack. "I was craving Arby's too."

We sat down at a table for him to finish his lunch. We had ordered the exact same thing.

"It's funny," I pointed out, "We are nowhere near each other during the day now. But yet, we randomly ran into each other for lunch. We never did that in Boston, and it's much smaller."

He pointed out that it was even more random, as he never goes to Arby's and usually eats lunch about 11:30am. It was 12:30pm when we met up.

It was meant to be. Arby's was meant to be.

Stella McCartney Oversized Chunky Knit Cape.

Twice a week I get an update from Net-a-Porter specific to me. It tells me what is new and available. And yesterday, I spotted something that I loved...



Stella McCartney Oversized Chunky Knit Cape

Skinny jeans... Boots... Long-sleeved tee... What a perfect Fall outfit!

But when I clicked on it to see what the cost was and what materials it was made of, I saw that it was listed as "SOLD OUT."

Sold out?

How is that possible? It JUST came into stock with them! What the hell?

Picture Of the Day: Front Yard Garden.

I took a walk through the neighborhood I will be living near in August this afternoon.

Up and down the streets... Looking at old Victorians and red-bricked town homes. The streets were quiet and there was lots of green from trees, bushes and gardens. It was beautiful and serene. And that's when I noticed an odd patch of front garden...



It was a vegetable garden! Right off the street, in some one's front yard! And they were growing Swiss chard, radishes and corn (according to the planter labels).

I found this odd because the garden was right off the street, out in the open. Any person or animal could come by and steal from it.

People in Canada are very trusting.

Calories Burned In Bikram - An Update.

For the past few weeks, I have been meaning to wear my Polar Heart Rate Monitor to a Bikram class here in Toronto. I wanted to see if the change in home studio affected the number of calories I burn in a class. But I kept forgetting to pack my strap and watch in my bag for Bikram.

I finally remembered today though! And the magical number was...



Exactly 715 calories! I burned 715 calories in 90 minutes of hot, sweaty Bikram yoga.

I so don't feel guilty about the Mochachino I have for breakfast now.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 14/60.

Yes, still behind a day. But that is okay. I will pull a double, likely, on Wednesday.

After today's class, which was so freaking humid - my mat kept making "squish" sounds, I noticed a callus forming under my chin.

Too many Locust poses!

I need major exfoliation STAT!

Only 46 more classes to go.

Picture Of The Day: Radiohead Kid Dracula.

About 11 years ago, I was a resident assistant (RA) at the University of Arizona. Each RA was responsible for putting on a few events each semester. I wasn't really into planning something elaborate... So I would always take the easy way out.

Usually, I showed movies. And one evening, I showed Dark Side of the Rainbow. It's The Wizard of Oz set to Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. It was trippy how well the two pieces synced up together.

I hadn't thought about that creative mash again until this afternoon when I was walking around the city and saw these...



They are flyers for various events at a nearby school. And two of them involve movies synced with entire albums... Alice In Wonderland with Pink Floyd's The Wall... And Nosferatu synced with Radiohead's Kid A.

I am tempted to go see the Radiohead Kid Dracula one.

"Can I Have A Blow Job?"

I've lived in big metropolitan areas for 10 years now. Between the craziness (which I loved) of NYC and the emotional coldness of Boston, I can pretty much take anything in stride.

Toronto... You can't throw anything in my path that I can't handle.

Not even a pan handler sitting on the side walk near the Bikram yoga studio I go to on Bloor Street who randomly asks me...

"Can I have a blow job?"

Because this type of behaviour doesn't shock me, I don't even miss a beat with my simple response of...

"No. No you may not."

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 13/60.

I missed yesterday's class. So I will have to double-up again sometime this month. No biggie.

Today's class was awesome though. The teacher, a new one for me, delivered great dialogue. Good dialogue makes the energy in a practice really surge. It makes me want to stand taller, focus more precise that I have, fidget less and really be fearless with my postures.

God, I really hope I am at least half as good with my dialogue when I become a Bikram teacher. It would be great to know I am inspiring students to further their practice and heal their bodies.

Only 47 classes to go! Piece of (cheese)cake!

UR2 SEXY.

So, the neighborhood we are currently staying in seems to have a lot of really, ridiculously nice cars driving around it. On a daily basis, I see:

• Lamborghinis
• Maseratis
• Porsches
• Ferraris

Lots of sports cars. Sports cars driven by men who blast pop music and look to be about 65 years old.

The other day, I saw a car that made me laugh though. The guy driving it was at least in his 60s. He was wearing an open-collared button-down shirt with a gold necklace. He had his sunglasses on and his hair slicked back. The pop music was blaring in his cherry red corvette. But it wasn't all this that made me laugh. It was his license plate...



UR2 SEXY.

I spotted the car again this afternoon, parked, on our street. I had to take a picture. I wanted, very much, to never forget this.

Picture Of The Day: French Toast.

Living in our temporary apartment here in Toronto leaves me with limited cookery and utensils. I have one small-ish fry pan. A small stock pot. And a glass baking dish. As for cutlery, I have one small paring knife and a dull bread knife.

That's it.

So, I haven't had much of a desire to cook since we got here. Without proper materials to cook with, it makes it impossible to go beyond pasta, pre-made foods and things you can shove in the microwave.

This morning, though, I was finally inspired...



French toast! It was simple enough with the fry pan we have. And the paring knife easily sliced through the fruit.

We're in this apartment for another two months. That means two more months without proper kitchen stuff. I would go buy some stuff, but what's the point when I already have stuff, it's just in storage?

The french toast kicked ass, by the way.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 12/60.

I am a fifth of the way done. Yay!

Man! All I did was lay down my mat in today's noon class, and puddle began forming around me. Before the class even started, my entire body was slick from sweat. The room was very toasty. This was totally different from my previous two classes.

Overall, class 12 was good. I had a different teacher than from my previous classes, and she was really good. She corrected my Bow pose. Well, first she asked me...

"Are you a dancer?"

I laughed. Because, no, I am no dancer. But she was asking because my hips were turning out like a dancer's. As I am going into the pose, my hips stack themselves on top of each other, so that I can get my leg straight and up. And while that is, in fact, the way I am supposed to end in the posture, it's not how I am supposed to go into it.

The hips should be level and pointing down. You should kick back as far as you can on your lifted leg.

Eventually, I will be able to get the hips and leg back up behind me. Doing it this proper way allows for my lifted leg to stay in alignment better. And not have it shooting out like a chicken leg.

Only 48 more classes to go, yo!

Dating Is For Those Who Do Not Fear Failure.

Gosh, I've been married five years now, and I still insist The Husband take me out on a date at least once a week. I bring this up because I was reading over on Jenn's blog about how she hadn't ever been on a real date until last Summer... And that shocked me. Because she is pretty feisty and fearless. And she is girlie. And dating means you get to be very girlie.

To me, dating means you get to take some time getting ready... You pick out an outfit. You are precise with your hair. You wear deodorant. The person picks you up, or you pick them up. You go out in public. You get to know each other. Sometimes there is a kiss good night.

Am I really lame for loving dating?

I don't really understand the whole "hooking up" concept with the young kids today. Does it mean sex? Does it mean kissing? Does it simply mean you met up and hung out? It's very vague. And I guess it is for a reason... To give you some privacy and to protect your feelings.

"Hooking up" - no matter what context it is used in or what it is referring to - is a very casual thing. But saying you "went out on a date" with someone is very clear in intention. You met someone, and one of you suggested an outing or meeting because there is romantic interest. It may work out and turn into something more. It may be a complete failure. And with dating, you have to accept that there will be failures. Some that are complete and total failures.

All throughout college and my first few years in the working world, I went on many dates. Not "meet ups" or "hook ups"... Dates. And 99% of them were failures. Either the guy was awkward, or he wasn't interested in me. Or it was clear that he was just a "player" and I wasn't interested in him. Or he secretly had a girlfriend he didn't tell me about. Or it turned out his parents were second cousins.

A variety of things lead to failure in dating. But that's the point. A date sets the intention for a romantic interlude, and it either works out or it doesn't. But you get to see what is out there in terms of relationships... And then, eventually, one works out long term.

Dating is for the fearless. And I am going to Bikram Yoga Teacher Training in the Fall. So I am clearly fearless.

Except when it comes to clowns. I fucking hate clowns. I would never date a clown.

Picture Of The Day: Crystal Light.

I know... Drinking Crystal Light is soooo "1980s"... But The Husband and I love it. It's low in calories and it is tasty!

But, I really haven't been able to find it in many places here in Toronto. I have searched many grocery stores and drug stores for it, but hadn't found it... Until today.

Today, I walked into a Sobey's Express grocery store about five blocks from the apartment and spotted some of a shelf. But it wasn't the lemonade flavor I love. It was Pineapple-Passion Fruit.

Eww...

I am not a fan of passion fruit. There's nothing "passionate" about a piece of fruit that looks like snot when you cut into it. But it tastes okay. And so does the Crystal Light. But I decided to sway the flavor more towards a direction I like...



Strawberry!

Yum!

Urbana Coffee - Toronto's Best Coffee.

Toronto has a surprising number of solid coffee places. I wrote last week about Lettieri's.... And I still think it's great and all, but now I have a new favorite.

Well, to be truthful, I have two favorites. The other one -which I discovered thanks to Bail and Whale - is JetFuel in Cabbagetown. But Cabbagetown is a bit out of the way for me. So my other usual coffee spot, closer to home, is Urbana Coffee.

Why?

1. The coffee is strong and on the cheaper side. (Not as cheap as JetFuel, where you can get a cappuccino for $2!)
2. They have FREE Wifi!

It's a popular spot for students, as it is close to U of T. But when I went in this afternoon, the place was quiet and not crowded... Likely because school is out. I intend to enjoy the joint for the rest of the summer. It is a great place to sit and write.

And, big score, I spotted quite a few outlets in the place. NICE!

Bikram Yoga Challenge: Day 11/60.

Yesterday's class was tough. Today's was all kinds of awesome!

For some weird reason, I seem to be having mini break-throughs with the following poses:

• Awkward - I can come down further on the second part, with my heels really high. Also, in third part, I am getting better at keeping my back straight when coming out.
• Eagle - It's no problem whatsoever for me to get my right leg wrapped around my left. The left leg around the right is a bit of a struggle too... But It is inching much closer, and it FEELS tighter.
• Cobra - I totally get this pose now. Belly button on the floor. Arms tucked in and down. Back lifting up. Shoulders down. Neck and head relaxed all the way back.
• Locust - I still want to throw up in this pose... But my legs are averaging between 6 to 10 inches off of the ground. This is amazing, seeing as I usually get them maybe one inch off the ground.

And given the time of the month that it is for me, the fact that I had such a great class was even more amazing. Normally, my practice is shit this time of month. But today's was just focused and solid.

Only 49 days left!

Picture Of The Day: Electrolytes!

Before I left for Bikram, I decided to take in some Emergen-C Eectro-Mix.



Ahh! Potassium and magnesium! My wonderful friends!

This is good preparation for a Bikram class. And even though it wasn't hot in tonight's Bikram class, I still worked up a great sweat with the long-held poses. And towards the end of class, I was reminded of how important it is to make sure I am properly hydrated...

A newbie started to cramp up in his limbs. He couldn't sit up. He couldn't move. He was breathing really hard. The teacher ran out of the room and grabbed some Emergen-C, came back and dumped it into his water bottle. She then went on to explain the importance of getting electrolytes into your body before you work out.

"When you cramp up, it's a sign that you don't have enough potassium in you," she said.

As I was leaving the studio, I saw the guy still drinking his Emergen-C and eating a banana.

Hmm... Bananas...

Bikram Yoga Challenge: Day 10/60.

Only 50 more classes to get through.

Only... Fifty...

Tonight's class was challenging in a way that I hadn't experienced before in my practice. First, it wasn't very hot. The temperature seemed to hover around 38 to 39 degrees Celsius. That is just over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Which, for a Bikram class, is cold. And it is distracting when you are used to it feeling much hotter.

But I could get over that. What I couldn't get over, though? The long-held postures!

Oh... My... God... I thought Pranayama breathing would NEVER end. And when we got done with the first set, my shoulders aching... The teacher prompted us to move into Half-Moon. But we stopped her, to our own detriment. And every posture felt really long. Awkward was a nightmare. Standing-Head-to-Knee - I was useless in this pose. Even SAVASANA felt too long. The only pose that felt good to hold a long time, for me, was Camel.

But I am a Camel whore.

Despite it being a tough class, I appreciated it. Not every teacher is the same... Even of the poses always are. So the challenge was, ultimately, a good thing.

Designer Cupcakes!

I am a sucker for cupcakes. I love them. So much, I served them at my wedding in place of a wasteful huge wedding cake.

I went with just yellow cupcakes and lemon frosting. But if I'd had given it any thought, I would have made my cupcakes Louboutin style!!!



Yum! Fashionable cupcakes! Red velvet cake with dark chocolate frosting... Sounds so incredible!

I know what I want for my next b-day! The Louboutin cupcakes and some shoes!

Bikram Yoga Challenge: Day 9/60.

I was bad today. I ate a handful of Crispix cereal about 45 minutes before class. Then, I washed it down with a few swallows of Coke Zero.

It caught up with me, a little, in Locust pose. But other than that, I had a good class. I was properly hydrated. My balance was better. I noticed something odd though. Something I hadn't ever noticed before...

I can hear heart beating, and the blood rushing in and out of it, while in Balancing Stick pose. My arms were perfectly straight, with my biceps glued to my ears. The bicep and the outer ear formed a seal... And then I could hear the thumping and the blood swooshing.

The heart really gets pounding, in that pose. It was very strong.

If you ever doubt you have a heart... Do Balancing Stick pose. Then you will know for sure.

My Staple Beauty Products.

I am not a beauty junkie. I was, at one time, a spa junkie. But I am over that.

Oh don't get me wrong... I still love visiting a spa. But I do not go nearly as often as I did at one point. Two years ago, they knew me by name at Exhale. I went every week for something... Eyebrow waxing... Acupuncture... Pedicure... Facial... Massage...

I do not do that anymore. I keep a lot of my beauty and relaxation habits within the walls of my apartment. Eventually, I will own a home with a glorious master bathroom that is just like a spa's... But for now, I make do with my small apartment bathroom and the following beauty products...

• Head & Shoulders Sensitive Care Shampoo + Conditioner - I wash my hair everyday after Bikram now. Sensitive shampoos are essential. This one gets my hair clean and preps it for conditioning... Which I need a LOT of with my hair's thickness.
• Pantene Pro-V Conditioner - I have used this one for so long. I love it. It works so well with my naturally wavy hair. I use the "Colour Revival" one to help me keep my dyed colour.
• St. Ives Mineral Therapy Body Lotion - I use both the body wash and the body lotion of this. It smells really clean And the body lotion works well. The Husband uses it too, after shaving and on his neck - a really sensitive area.
• Crystal Deodorant - You won't ever catch me using any other kind of deodorant. I only use these crystal rock sticks... And I don't particularly have a favorite brand. They keep you from smelling AND they don't have aluminum in them, which means your white shirts won't develop yellow stains on them. They are not antiperspirants... So you will still sweat, but you won't smell. And really, I think a little (or a lot) of sweating is good for your body.
• Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream - This is, without a doubt, the best hand cream in the world. It is so thick. And it works wonders. I travel with it as well... It will unchap the dryest of hands.
• Bare Minerals Foundation - I've worn mineral make-up for four years now. I will never go back to the liquid stuff. Mineral make-up looks so natural. And it doesn't clog pores.
• NARS "Orgasm" Blush - This, I believe, is on many women's beauty lists. It is a phenomenal colour on most skintones. And it lasts forever. I have had mine for longer that you are probably supposed to have it... (Two years.) But it still works perfectly. Why replace it?
• Fresh Soy Face Cleanser, Rose Marigold Floral Water and Soy Face Cream - I love Fresh's products. They are pricey, but a little goes a long way. So they last you a while. All three of these (cleanser, toner, face cream) smell light, like cucumbers and roses. And my skin isn't left feeling dry and harsh after using them.
• Smith's Rosebud Salve - This little blue tin is amazing. A-mazing! First, the lip balm inside is a magical elixir that really does what it is supposed to when it comes to keeping your lips hydrated. Second, it lasts forever. I have had my little tin since 2005. This is a great buy.

These are the things I need everyday, without fail. Nothing else is needed, but I do have other stuff... Perfume... Eyeshadow... Mascara... Eyeliner... Perfumed body lotion... I also love Epsom salts, but need to go pick some up.

What about you? What are your staples?

Picture Of The Day: Blueberry-Blackberry Juice.

Yum! Antioxidants galore!

While heading out to run some errands this morning, I stopped into the grocery store cafe downstairs and picked up a juice to take with me...



Blueberry-Blackberry juice!

It was really tasty, which surprised me. I didn't think it would taste as sweet as it did. I was expecting a tartness to it... Like with cranberry juice.

I may start getting this in the morning, instead of coffee. It's better for me, and it was cheaper.

Picture Of The Day: Three Wise Monkeys.

About two years ago, I picked up a set of three wise monkeys. They protect me from evil in my home.

"See no evil. Hear no evil. Speak no evil."

While in Bruges in April, I found another set of three wise monkeys at a flea market. A set that was small enough for me to bring in my suitcase to Toronto last month...



They guard my apartment. They face the front door, as the three wise monkeys are supposed to. I found another trio at a store down the street. I am thinking of starting a collection...

Bikram Yoga Challenge: Days 7/60 & 8/60.

Yes... I did a double today. I did the noon class. And then I turned around two and a half hours after the first one ended, and did the 4pm class.

I made damn sure to find some Emergen-C Electro-Mix to drink in the second class though. Got to rehydrate!

The first class I took was really "juicy." I tucked myself into the front left corner of the room and just allowed myself to sweat a huge puddle. A puddle I didn't really notice until it was time for Head-to-Knee-with-Stretching-Pose. When I was walking my hips back and forth, while grabbing my toes, I heard the puddle...

"Squish! Squish! Squish!"

And because the class was full-ish... The people around me heard it too. It made me giggle.

I finished class and showered quickly. Then I ran to the grocery store, picked up watermelon and my Emergen-C and headed back home. I spent the next hour and a half rehydrating.

The second class was tough. Sure, my body was warmed up and limber from the first class. But holy hell, I could not keep my balance in the balancing poses! And I was fidgeting worse than a sinner in church on Sunday!

I should have spaced my two classes out. I should have done the 9am and 4pm. But I just couldn't drag my ass out of bed in time for the 9am.

Tomorrow I will hit the 4pm. I have special projects to do in the morning. Only 52 classes left!

Cabbagetown Garden Tour.

I did not go to Bikram today.

Boo!

Instead, I decided I want to do a double tomorrow. And I wanted to spend a good chunk of the day sleeping in and then exploring a new neighborhood... Cabbagetown.

It's an area of the city with old Victorian homes and beautiful little gardens. It is an area that I would have considered living in permanently, if it weren't for the fact that it is too far from a Bikram studio and a little too far (for my taste) from the subway. But it is a fantastic neighborhood.

The Husband and I were give tickets for a garden tour of the neighborhood today. And the gardens we saw were gorgeous... So gorgeous that we found ourselves collecting ideas for our own garden for when we have a home.

Here are some pictures I took in one garden...

Picture Of The Day: Beef Ball.

I know... I was so exhausted yesterday that I neglected to post a picture. But today's is a good one, so I think it makes up for not having one yesterday.

I give you... Beef Ball!



This was a poster for an event during Toronto Pride Week, which is later this month. I won't be attending this event, but it does sound like it will be a lot of debaucherous fun. I will try to hit a few events during Pride Week though. (It's important to me to show support.)

I wonder if they'll serve steak... Or hamburgers... Or some other beef product?

Oh! Beef jerky!

Coconut Water: And You Thought It Was Only For Yoga...

I love coconut water. I have even referred to myself as a "coconut water snob" in recent weeks. And I am. I totally am.

I have my favorites (Zico Passion Fruit-Flavored Coconut Water), the ones I loathe (anything by Vita Coco) and the one I like enough to drink regularly (O.N.E.) since I can no longer get my favorite now that I am in Canada.

I drink coconut water either before or after a Bikram class. It is superior at helping you hydrate before or after class. Sure, you could put all the chemicals of Gatorade or Vitamin Water into your body to do the trick too... But coconut water is natural and good for you. And it works better. Perfect for hydration. And so, I never imagined it could be used for anything other than that... Till today.

I was reading through this mornings Styles section online and saw an article about coconut cocktails. But instead of using the milky, sweet froth in silly cocktails... It was about how you can use coconut water to create sophisticated cocktails. Like the Morisco Sour.

Hmm... Coconut water and alcohol... Yummy... This "snob" can get on board with this.

I don't recommend drinking this before or just after a Bikram class though.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: Day 6/60.

In this morning's class, I had the same teacher as I did yesterday. This is only the second time since practicing in Toronto that I have had the same teacher twice. I have had different teachers every other time. And I like that. Each teacher brings something different to the same 26 poses when they instruct. This one helped me further my ability to block out my surroundings and just focus.

The ability to focus really came in handy today when a fire alarm went off at the start of Standing Bow, and continued to ring through Standing Separate Leg Head To Knee. I was able to let the loud ringing drift into the background, and produce one of my best Balancing Sticks yet.

Let's see if I can repeat this in tomorrow morning's class. Only 54 classes left!

Christian Louboutin YELLOW Petal Sandals.

It seems like every other boutique in Toronto sells Christian Louboutins. And yes, they are real. This afternoon, I walked past one chain boutique to check out their massive sale on designer shoes. I saw a lot of good stuff, but all of it was priced too high for my taste. But I did see one thing that struck me...

The Christian Louboutin Petal Sandals with YELLOW petals!!!

I had NO IDEA they made these! So tropical! So fun!

So I decided to go online and try to find them. I went directly to the Christian Louboutin website and soon discovered, though, that they came in more than just black, pale pink and black with yellow petals...

You also have cherry...

And shocking pink with black petals...

Gorgeous!

Bikram Yoga Challenge: Day 5/60.

The 4:30pm class today was the fullest it has been since I started practicing in Toronto. I actually had to maneuver myself on my mat during Half Moon pose, just so I wouldn't run into the person next to me.

Nice!

It was a good class. I had lots of energy. And I had a mini-breakthrough on my Standing Bow. I am able to begin straightening my elevated leg. YES!

And now, only 55 days to go!

Picture Of The Day: Canadian Starbucks Cup.

Today's "Picture of the Day" has two talking points. But first... Here is today's picture...



It's a picture of my Grande Starbucks cup.

First, please note that the "The Way I See It" section is written in both English and French.

The second thing I wanted to note is the actual message:

Failure's hard, but success is far more dangerous. If you're successful at the wrong thing, the mix of praise and money and opportunity can lock you in forever.

This is so very true. At least, I know I have experienced it myself. That's how I felt about working in search marketing for the past six years. I was good at it... (And let's be real... It's not rocket science... And people who are bad at it must be complete morons. It's not hard at all.) And it paid really, ridiculously well.

So, when you have something that you are good at and that pays well, you automatically get tied up with it. And you forget to notice, "Hey! I have no passion for this!" You only think, "It pays well, and people tell me I am good at it. It must be my destiny."

"Only if you choose it to be," is what I have learned.

I, however, am choosing another choice.

Doing (Roughly) 99 Bikram Classes...

... In nine weeks. Yeah!

So, I finalized a decision yesterday. This Fall, I will be going to Bikram Yoga Teacher Training.

Surprising?

Well, to some of you it may be. To others, it will not. In fact, when I first started tossing around the idea earlier this year, I had nothing but phenomenal support from people. People that practice with me in Boston, friends, acquaintances... They all had nothing but wonderful and encouraging words.

Then I ran the idea by The Husband, as my going away to Teacher Training would greatly affect him. And he was nothing but encouraging as well. But I was still hesitant to commit to it. Teacher Training is NINE WEEKS in Palm Springs. He could come out and visit me for quick little trips... But was it fair for me to go away and leave him here in Toronto all by himself?

I know, I sound like I sap. And that's pretty much what The Husband told me.

"I am from Toronto. I am 33. I know how to take care of myself," he assured me. "Besides, when will you have this opportunity again? We don't have kids. You're not leaving a job to go. The time to do it is now."

Still, I waited before committing to the idea. I wanted to wait and see what I felt like after I moved to Toronto. Would I have a burning desire to go back to marketing? (An interview earlier this week assured me that I do not want to work full time in digital media. Good people and good company. Just don't want a job where I can't make strategy decisions.) Would I maybe, all of the sudden (again) have a desire to start a family? (Nope.)

But walking into the studio here in Toronto, and chatting with all the different teachers I have had here made realize that I do want to go to Teacher Training. Everyone I mentioned it to has been very encouraging.

"You have a really good practice," they tell me. "The next step is Teacher Training."

Going to Teacher Training isn't just about becoming certified to teach Bikram yoga. It's a yoga boot camp. And it is a phenomenal way to advance your practice. You learn everything... And on top of that, you get certified to teach. You are certified to help people heal.

So, October 18th I leave for Palm Springs. I will be there until December 20th. I will get to experience the insanity and precision that is Bikram Yoga Teacher Training...

• 2 Bikram classes per day, five days a week (with one class on Saturday mornings)
• 1 to 2 hours of studying on my own per day
• 5 to 9 hours of lecture and posture clinic time
• Endless need for showers
• Continuous hydration
• Lack of sleep
• Tens of pages of exact dialogue to memorize
• Anatomy tests
• Bollywood movies late at night
• Exhaustion of all sorts

So much more, I imagine. But it will be fun overall. And rewarding.

I had my medical evaluation yesterday, and got the doctor's approval. I have also submitted my online application. Later this month I will have my teacher recommendation. And then in early July, I will send off my entire packet.

Yay!