Honey For Acne Treatment.

Up until I turned 27 (and got married), I had clear skin. Soft, lovely, clear skin. But once I had the ring on my finger, my hormones went crazy and my skin started to break out.

Ugh! Adult acne!

I guess my body figured that since I had found a guy to partner with for life, it no longer needed to be clear. So them came about five years of various treatments to get rid of it...

• Regular facials
• Acupuncture
• Birth control pills
• Various products (Pro Activ, peels, over-the-counter stuff)
  

Nothing worked well. Then, about two months ago, I saw an episode of the Martha show. And on it were recommendations for herbal treatments. One of the treatments was honey, and it was used for healing cuts and scrapes. It draws the impurities in the area up, healing it much more quickly.

"I wonder if that would work on acne?" I asked myself.

Off to the Google I went... Typing in "honey for acne." And I found that many people use honey to treat acne. And not just by eating it.

One recommendation was to apply a tablespoon of honey directly to your skin, and letting it sit there for about 15 minutes. Then you rinse it off, and your skin will be soft.

The next recommendation I liked was to mix 3 tablespoons of honey with 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon...



You then dab this mixture onto your spots each night before bed.

From what I have experienced by using these two techniques for the past month, I am of the opinion that they work very well for my skin. Very well.

My skin is in much better shape than it has been in a long time. And this is with me doing hot yoga every day on sweaty-wet yoga mats and towels.

Amazing!

A nice all-natural remedy for my acne!

Bikram Yoga Challenge: Day 60/60.

I am done.

DONE!

I now know what it is like to do 60 consecutive days of Bikram yoga. And as much as I would like to go another straight 40 days, making it a full 100 days, I won't. There are so many things I need to do in the next week that I will need some time off from practicing. In fact, the next time I know I will definitely be able to get into the studio will be next Friday.

That's a whole EIGHT days!!!!

But I think my body could use the rest for now. And my mind will be plenty busy... With a house closing, bridal dress shopping, a new job to dally with, painters to accommodate and many furniture deliveries. There are a great many things to do in the next few days.

But, now to cover what I gained from this 60-day challenge...

• I lost, collectively, 9.5 inches from my body. Some from the bust, some from the waist, thighs, hips and calves. Today when I went to Anthropologie to try on a dress, I had to go down a size from what I normally wear. SQUEE! Hadn't realized I had toned up that much. And yes, I still have an ass... Just a much tighter one.
  
• I have seen much progress in Eagle pose (wrapping both legs on both sides), Toe Stand (I can almost lift my hands off the floor - this is huge progress), Awkward (I can go all the way down and up in the third part without leaning orward - so good for those thighs!) and Locust pose.
• My balance is far, far better than it ever has been. And my back appears to be much, much stronger.
• I know that I can make it through back-to-back double sessions.

This was a tough challenge. Undeniably. And if I had been working a full-time job, I don't know that I could have gone a full 60 days. As it was, I had to pull a lot of doubles in the second half of my challenge... Because I went away on weekend trips. Doubles can take a lot out of you, especially when you do them back-to-back.

I feel good with my progress in the challenge. And I am now ready to move back into a regular practice, combined with a working life. I expect I will be able to maintain my progress. Fingers crossed!

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 59/60

I have nothing to write about today's class. Other than it was tough in the front-side compressions and spine-strengthening poses.

I connected with one of the studio directors last week about why I seem to have developed these problems (nausea and tough breathing) at the end of my 60-day challenge. She told me that as you do this yoga, it stirs things up in your body.

"The only way to get rid of it is to continue to power through it," she said.

Another odd thing that I have noticed lately is the amount of sweating I am doing in class. I sweat buckets now. Never had quite this much sweat in class. But it drips from my mat when I roll it up at the end of the session. And there is a pool on the ground where my mat was... Also, I sweat so much that there now appears to be a soapy foam on my towel and mat, along with the sweat.

I don't think my washing machine is getting all the soap out of my towel when I wash it each night... And when the sweat gets going in class, I see smears of bubbly foam forming.

Does anyone else have this problem?

Eww!

Anyway... Tomorrow is DAY 60! YAY! I will be doing a re-cap of what has changed for me in the 60-day challenge.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 57/60 & 58/60.

Yay!

My last back-to-back sessions were today. Now I just have two singles left: one tomorrow and one Thursday. Then, I am done with this 60-day challenge.

HOORAY!

I would LOVE to make this a 100-day challenge... But it just ain't gonna happen. If I didn't have a a trip this weekend and a house closing next week, I could continue. But there would be far, far too many double sessions needed.

And I am so over back-to-back doubles.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 55/60 & 56/60.

Had to do another back-to-back today. And I will be doing it again tomorrow. Then, I shall be all caught up from missing class on Saturday and Sunday.

The back-to-backs aren't too bad. Though, I typically have a rough time in one of the classes. On Friday it was the first class. Today it was the second class. But that's the risk you run when doing direct back-to-backs... Your body has a rough time, either when it is warming up with the first class or trying to endure in the second class.

Today, the main problem was with my hydration. In the second class, I had too much water in my belly... So front-side compressions sucked.

But I am almost there. Only four more classes to go. And then no more doubles for a while.

Healthy Dish For The Weak: Garden Zucchini Saute.

While at our friends' house in Port Stanley, Ontario this weekend, I got to pilfer my friend S's backyard garden. She generously gave me two MONSTER zucchinis from her over-flowing garden...



These suckers are so big! She uses some amazing fertilizer, which is how they got so big. And I leave for Arizona on Friday morning, so The Husband and I will be having this summer veggie every night for supper. Tonight, I decided to make a saute...



That's half of one of the zucchinis, fresh corn that I scraped off two cobs, one clove of minced garlic and a quarter of a chopped onion. It's going to be thrown over some pasta and paired with a roasted chicken.

Numerology - Year 9 & Newly Engaged.

A reader, Miss K, has sent in a question regarding numerology and picking a wedding date...

I know you are very into numerology so I wanted some advice I just got engaged! yippee! but I just started my personal year 9, and it has me a little freaked out. Should I be? its doesn't seem to be the best number.

Also advice on picking a good date?

First off, congrats on getting engaged! Such an exciting time for you... This kind of happy makes a gal's skin glow. So enjoy it as long as you can!

As you numerology and being in a Year 9... The Year 9 comes at the end of a cycle. Which means change. And getting engaged is part of that change. What changes in a Year 9 tends to be a big part of what comes in the next 9 year cycle. Some of these changes could be good or bad... Depending on how you react to change.

For example, I entered into a Year 9 in April. And I have a lot of change in my life this year... A move to a foreign country... Re-starting my career in that new country... Buying a house for the first time... Having to switch to government health care and a much higher tax rate... If I were a pessimistic person, I could view these changes as stressful and a burden. Leaving my familiar patterns, friends and career in Boston was hard. But I decided that the move and changes should be viewed as an adventure.

I think the Year 9 will be all about adapting to the idea of sharing your life with your fiance. I recommend that once you are in your Year 1, which is the start of the new cycle, that you get married.

As for how to pick a date to get married... I say go with your favorite time of year or with what is conducive to the type of wedding you want. I had a friend who really wanted to get married at a vineyard, for example. And the best time of year for her to do that was late Summer. But it also depends on the availability of the places you are looking at...

I hope this helps. A Year 9 is exciting! Change is good!

Elmo Beer Pong.

We wanted to play beer pong. We didn't have any ping pong balls. So we took one of the little boys' Elmo dolls... Sawed out the eyes on a cutting board... And used those...



Sometimes, there has to be a sacrifice at these parties. Even if it makes little children, and Sweet Baby Jesus, cry.

UPDATE:
We abused poor Elmo for nothing. As we started to play, it turns out the eyes didn't bounce like we thought they would. So much death and destruction for nothing.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 53/60 & 54/60.

Did two classes. They were kind of back-to-back, in the sense that they were the first two classes of the day, but there was an hour and a half between them.

I wasn't sure I was gonna make it to the second class though. My forward bending and stomach compressions were really giving me a hard time in the class. I couldn't do any of the spine-strengthening poses. The entire floor series made me feel like I wanted to vomit... The only two exceptions were doing Fixed Firm and Camel. Those poses felt great. In fact, the standing series mostly felt great, as did the temperature and the humidity in the room.

Once that first class was over, I felt great. Really great. And I was able to return for the second class easily. I did have some of the same compression problems as with the first class, but the floor series was much better than in the first class.

Coming back for class two was a good thing. Especially when I got a nice little chuckle in the middle of it. I noticed a message on the flip-side of my water bottle's label...



"NO YOGA. NO PEACE. KNOW YOGA. KNOW PEACE."

Incredibly true!

I'm off to London, Ontario for the weekend. Back to class on Monday. Only six days left in the 60-day!

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 51/60 & 52/60.

For the second time this week, I walked all the way to the Bikram studio (a whole eight minutes away) and realized I had forgotten my clothes.

Well, I actually had remembered my clothes. But only one set. I forgot to pack a second set, as I was planning to pull a back-to-back today. I realized it as I was signing in for my first class...

"Shit!" I said to the front desk attendant and the two teachers standing there. "I forgot my second set of clothes for my second class!"

"You were gonna pull a double?" asked one of the teachers?

"Yeah," I confirmed. "And I hate wearing the same set in the second class because I worry I will smell funky and disturb the other people around me."

"That's okay," said the other teacher. "Just hop in the shower and rinse your clothes out. You'll be fine."

I hadn't even thought of that! And I so should have, seeing as that is what I do with my practice clothes when I travel and take classes at foreign studios.

It worked brilliantly. I had two great back-to-back classes today. The only problem I had was with compression postures. Every time I did them today, I felt like puking. But everything else was great.

Two more tomorrow. And then I head out to London, Ontario to visit friends for the weekend.

Alexander McQueen Riding Boots.

Moving to Canada has certainly curtailed my shopping desires.

Sure, there are FABULOUS stores here in Toronto. It is, in fact, a much better shopping city than Boston. (Except for when it comes to jeans.) But I am much more selective about what I buy now. Much, much more selective.

This is because of the following:

• The sales tax on each item I buy here in Toronto is 13%. We have a 5% tax in Canada and the province of Ontario (where I live) has an additional 8% tax. It makes shopping much more expensive, especially when you buy high ticket items. (Want to spend $1000 on boots? It's $130 in taxes on top of that.)
• I am not working and don't need fancy clothes and shoes. (Though that will be changing towards the end of August. But more on that later.)
• I don't have a Canadian credit card. And I have a limit on how much I am allowed to spend on my debit card each day.

So shopping in Canada is unattractive. And trying to shop the Internet in Canada is even more unattractive...

See, I spotted these fabulous Alexander McQueen Leather Riding boots yesterday on Net-A-Porter.



Fabulous, right? The skull on the zipper... The "swoop" of the zipper across the top pf the foot... The not-too-high heel... They are divine. And expensive... $1300 expensive.

But... When I pretended that I had the cash to buy them, and put them in my cart to see what it would cost to have them shipped up here to Canada, I got a shock... The cost skyrockets to over $1500.



Taxes and duties make it more expensive. Much more expensive. And, I need to point out, that this price isn't in Canadian dollars... It is in U.S. dollars. In Canadian currency, the total cost would be $1658.

I will keep "living the dream" for these boots. But there is no way in hell I will buy them.

Traveling To Europe: How To Pack.

A reader (Miss Ali) sent in a question that I thought would be useful for all of us who are developing a wanderlust and booking travel plans that takes us away for more than just a few days...

Hi Missus Boston! I currently saw your video on traveling to Europe and found it EXTREMLEY helpful! Thanks for that but I was hoping you could help me out a bit.. So, I leave in about 2 weeks for London, Paris & Rome... I will be there for 12 days (technically 10 because of traveling).... and i'm wondering a couple of things..
1st, where did you find your carry on luggage... how much time before your trip did you start packing.. did you bring anything back from your trip if so how did that fit in your carry on? Also any other feedback that you can give to me would be very helpful as it is my first time traveling for more then a week and over seas! THank you sooo much! I appreciate it :)

London, Paris and Rome??? Ali, you lucky, LUCKY girl!!!! Rome, by far, is my favorite European city. Paris is my friend Frogger's favorite. And London... It is nice.

First question... I bought my carry-on (the Alexander McQueen Hero upright) at a Japanese department store in NYC back in January. I recommend hard-shell cases, as opposed to soft-shell cases, for carry-on purposes as there can be no disagreement with airline officials as to whether or not your bag will meet in the carry-on maximum allowances. This may seem like an odd thing to recommend... But on this very trip to Europe in April, British Airways refused to allow Frogger to bring her carry-on suitcase on board and forced her to check it. Their view was that it was slightly too large to fit in their carry-on spaces. They then turned to me and my bag and tried to do the same thing. I then went to their carry-on space tester and showed them that it did in fact meet their requirements. They then shut-up.

As for the second question... In my mind, I started packing for the trip as soon as I booked it back in January. But about a week before hand, I started jotting down a specific day plan. I drew out what cities I would be in, what the weather would probably be like, and what I wanted to wear. I then thought about what I could repeat, since I would be going to multiple cities and would only have to worry about Frogger minding my lack of wardrobe creativity. Bringing a small bottle of liquid detergent, which allowed me to wash clothes in the sinks of my hotel bathrooms, was useful in allowing me to pack less.

I brought back very little from Europe. I spent all of my money on the experiences I had while I was there... Like going out to restaurants, day trips, kick ass cocktails. Don't get me wrong... I would have LOVED to have done some damage at Balenciaga and Hermes... But the Euro to USD was not going to make it worthwhile.

Here is what I recommend packing:

• Pajamas
• Toiletries
• 2 pairs of jeans (yes, only 2)
• 3 dresses (preferably ones that you can ball up in your suitcase)
• 1 nice blazer
• 1 nice pair of flats
• 1 pair of cute heels
• sneakers (though you can wear these on the plane)
• 7 tee shirts
• 4 blouses
• 2 camisoles
• Plenty of underwear
• 1 Cardigan
• 1 large purse (Since you get one carry-on and a personal item to take on board. The large purse is your personal item.)

If you leave in less than two weeks, I recommend you begin making your list and doing a packing dry-run now. This will help ensure that you have everything you need, from toiletries to underwear, and that you don't need to go and buy anything else last minute.

Have a great time! And I recommend you hit the bar at the top left-side of the Spanish Steps (when you are looking up at them) in Rome, and the Plaza Athenee in Paris.

Blackboard Paint For The Office.

I have less than two weeks till I am officially a homeowner. (Yay!)

We won't be moving in right away... We need to have a few of the rooms painted. And we are having them done professionally, as I do not trust myself to paint over a chocolate brown color (in the mastersuite - it's very bachelor like) and my office (formerly a boy's room with night sky blue EVERYWHERE, including on the ceiling).

I am going with a light blue in the mastersuite and anteroom. And in the bedroom, there will be a grayish-light purple color. But, I am thinking about adding something fun to my office...

A wall with blackboard paint!



I realize this may be something you only see in houses with families... But I think it is fun for an office. And very useful too.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 50/60.

"That is an EFF-ing lie!"

That is what I wanted to scream at the teacher this afternoon when she blatantly lied to us...

"Balancing stick is only a 10-second posture," she tried to mislead us.

I know better, however. I know it is NOT a 10-second posture. Craig Villani told us so at his training session in Boston last Fall.

"Teacher will tell you this posture is only 10-seconds," he said. "That is a lie. It is longer than that."

But despite the lie and wanting to fall out of it, I stayed in Balancing Stick the whole time. But between this morning's class and this afternoon's class, my arms are so exhausted. I can barely hold them up at shoulder height now.

I believe an Epsom salt bath is needed, STAT!

Two classes tomorrow, again. Only 10 classes left to do between now and next Thursday.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 49/60.

I am still fighting off a cough that seems to want set into my body. I had a nice, flemy coughing attack right before Tortoise pose.

Hmm... What a way to start your day: Creeky body thrown into a (nicely) heated room. Moving, stretching, compressing the body. Vertigo... Coughs...

Yes, it was a tough class 49. But I feel great now that it is over. And I am ready for class 50 later this afternoon.

Yes, I am a masochist.

Snoods - A "Must-Have" For The Colder Season.

One of the reasons I wanted to move from the Southwest, where I grew up, to the Northeast was because I wanted seasons. I wanted leaves changing color and falling. I wanted to get excited over flowers blooming. I wanted contrasting Summers and Winters. I wanted actual Springs and Autumns.

I also wanted the seasonal wardrobes and excuse for additional clothes that came along with all of this.

Now that I am in Toronto, I finding the weather to be slightly warmer than Boston. But I fully expect it to be insanely cold come Fall and Winter. And I will be in the market for some pieces that provide extra warmth. Like the "snood."



Part scarf, part hood... This is a chic piece. And I LOVE it!

I am hoping more designers come out with pieces... But for now, I am partial to the Burberry charcoal one.



Looks so cozy!

Vegas, Anyone?

Well... The rumor turned out to be true.

I heard a few weeks back that Bikram was maybe going to move the Fall session of Teacher Training from Palm Springs to Las Vegas. And if he did, this would mean that the dates for Fall Teacher Training may be changed again.

Originally, we were set to go to training from early September through early November. That would have been difficult for me... As I am moving into a new place in early August, and then would be taking off for two months without really getting settled. But then, from my understanding, the hotel in Palm Springs changed the dates for Teacher Training... And it was pushed back to start six weeks later. Mid-October through Mid-December.

This worked well for me. It would give me more time to settle into my new place and commit to some things in early October that I wasn't able to before with the old dates.

Well, now the dates for Teacher Training have changed again... Along with the location. And these dates do not work for me. Training now begins October 4th and runs through early November.

As much fun as it would be to go to Vegas for 9 weeks, it is looking like I will 99% NOT be going to Teacher Training this Fall.

(Pause for "boos".)

It's not just that I can't un-commit myself from the stuff in early October. I also am having a problem with financing. With the new house we bought (yes... I know... I haven't written about the house... But I was waiting till we got closer to the closing date!), a few unexpected expenses have come up. And the money I had saved for Teacher Training is needed for these expenses.

So, in order to go to Teacher Training, I would have to put it on my American Express card.

And even though I would LOVE collecting all the SkyMiles points on the $10k+ it would cost me for Teacher Training... I can NOT reason with myself paying an 18% interest rate on that amount.

I flat-out refuse to use a credit card to pay for training. I used a credit card to finance my move to NYC 10 years ago... And it took me five years to pay that off. I will not do it again.

So... Since the dates don't work and it is looking like I won't have the cash to pay for training, I am taking this as a sign that this is not the time to be going.

I will now be working hard to raise the cash for Spring training, and hoping that the wedding I am in next June will not conflict with the dates for then. Otherwise... Fall 2010 training it is!!!!

If All You Have To Do Is Whine, Just Shut The Hell Up.

I'm not big on whiners. I have a very strict philosophy (which I learned through my own personal experience):

"Don't whine and complain about something unless you are willing to do something to change it. Otherwise, keep your fucking thoughts to yourself."

Aggressive? No. Bitchy? Absolutely!

But it is something I learned back when I lived in NYC and was working at The Evil Empire. I would spend hours working on bridal projects for some of the biggest BITCH-TASTIC brides on Manhattan's Upper East Side. I had an evil plotting colleague whose middle name was "Commission Stealing Sabotage." Our CEO was going through an investigation (which you all may or may not know about), so I constantly feared for my job. I was working long hours to problem solve and would then go home at the end of the day and eat mindlessly while watching TV.

And, of course, I would whine. To my lovely boss (who to this day was one of my best professional mentors)... To my boyfriend (now husband - GOD! Am I lucky he still wanted to propose and marry me after that!)... To my friends (who I never saw, because I was so busy at work)...

But you know what? I never did anything about my situation EXCEPT whine. And after I left the job and moved to Boston, I realized what a waste of energy it was to whine about it all. To whine about it, and then to come home at 8pm at night and emotionally eat.

And that brings me to my point...

I can not handle it when all people do is complain. I get that it can be overwhelming and scary to stand up for yourself and/or take action. But if all you have on your daily agenda is to complain when people disagree with you, then perhaps you shouldn't get out of bed and come into work.

Just stay home. Save the jobs and opportunities for people who are going to fix things and TRY to make changes. Not just sit around and complain...

And gain 10 pounds from eating the entire bag of Cool Ranch Doritos without realizing it.

Busy, Busy Girl!

I know... I know... I've been slagging lately with the content on here. Please forgive me. But it has been a busy month.

The same day I was slated to start an freelance SEO project, I got offered a second SEO project by a former co-worker. So I had to do two at the same time, while using ghetto-tastic free tools.

Yay!

I got both jobs done, and received stellar reviews from each company. So it was worth all the hard work I put into them.

On top of the SEO projects, I had to go and visit my in-laws one weekend... Meet with another company about SEO... Find a painter for the permanent place we are moving into next month... And keep up with my Bikram challenge.

It may not sound like it was a lot. But trust me, it was.

Now, I am prepping for a meeting with one of the companies this afternoon. But I will begin writing more again, starting tonight. I promise!

Washing Bikram Yoga Clothes.

"I smell so bad," I think to myself.

Really, I want to say it out loud to myself. I am half-way through my Bikram class. I am laying on my stomach, on my mat. And everything smells like mildewed clothes. My towel... My shorts... My top...

I am excellent when it comes to caring for my Bikram practice clothes and towels. They get washed immediately after each class. I throw in baking soda and strong detergent. I was with hot water.

The clothes come out of the dryer smelling great. But once I have been sweating in them for an hour, the smell comes back.

Eww!

This is because I have only two pairs of Bikram practice clothes and towels. So each set gets worn every other day, if not every day - when I do a double. (I can't wear dirty clothes to class. I have to change into a clean set when I do doubles.)

And since I am doing a 60-day challenge, they are holding up very well. They are in excellent shape, except for the smell that appears after I have been percolating in class for a while. So today, after class, I decided to add a step to my clothes washing regime...



A soak and rinse in water with tea tree oil.

It seems to have freshened things up. Prior to washing the clothes with the regular detergent and baking soda, the smell was mostly gone. And they came out of the dryer smelling very clean.

Fingers crossed that this works, please. I don't want to buy new Bikram clothes when the sets I have are perfectly fine... Mostly.

If I had access to my full wardrobe, I would have six sets of practice clothes to go through. I can NOT wait till we move next month and everything is taken out of storage. The next three weeks can't go fast enough for me.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 48/60.

I have nothing to say about today's Bikram class... Other than, "It sucked."

That is all.

Twelve classes left.

Anthropologie Toronto.

Squee!

One of the things I was bummed about before moving to Toronto was learning that my favorite store (Anthropologie) wasn't really here. There was one location... But it was in a part of the city where I would have to drive or take a car to get to.

Boo!

So I figured I would be Anthro-less.

Then I moved here. And I saw that there was a lot of construction of high-rise condos in my neighborhood. One building was going up across the street. And about two weeks ago, the bottom of the building finally had a sign in the windows...



You can't see it well. But it reads that an Anthropologie would be opening soon. And this week, it finally opened.



YAY!!!!

Since I discovered the store nine years ago, while living in NYC, I have gone to it at least weekly. I don't buy anything. I go, look around, and make mental lists of what I think would work in my wardrobe.

Here is what I looked at yesterday...

Summerweight Cardigan



Carambola Shift




A fabulous combo. Perfect for work... And then to transition out to drinks.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 47/60.

Woah. I didn't realize I was at class 47.

I mean, I knew. But when someone asked me earlier today what class I was on, I said, "This was class 46!"

But no, it was not.

Obviously, I am suffering from confusion - likely due to too many classes in the span of less than 24 hours. It's what we yogis/yoginis call "yoga stoned." And I am about to get even more yoga stoned tomorrow... Because I have another set of doubles to do tomorrow.

Eek!

Yep. I missed three days in a row last weekend. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. So I have to pull doubles tomorrow. Only I won't be doing them back-to-back like yesterday. I am going to put a good few hours between the two.

Hopefully they will both be as good as today's class was. The Saturday early AM class's teacher is always fabulous. Everyone who takes her class loves the energy she brings. And we always learn a little more about the proper execution of the poses when we take her class.

It was an excellent way to start the day.

Only 13 classes left. (Unless I decide to do 100. Then it's 53 classes left.)

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 45/60 & 46/60.

I can't recall when I had a shittier class.

I did back-to-back sessions this evening. I had to make up for missing last Sunday's class while in Niagara. And despite hydrating pretty well before the classes, the second one ended up being just awful.

How awful?

I had to sit out a lot of sets. And I haven't had to do that in a really, really long time.

What was the problem? Not quite sure. But the first class was really hot for me. But I powered through and did well. But by the time we got to Half Moon in the second class, my body decided it was "done."

DONE!

At least until 9am tomorrow, when I go to class 44. Which means I will have done three classes in the span of 18 hours.

I really should have planned this better.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 44/60.

"Stand up on your toes... Maximum... Like a ballerina."

I never took dance lessons. Well, there were about two weeks of Jazz Dance lessons when I was nine and on holiday at my grandparents house in Phoenix. But they shortly ended when I moved back to West Germany with Dad and older brother... While Mum and my younger siblings stayed to take care of my sick grandfather.

But other than those two weeks, I never took dance lessons growing up. So I don't know what it's like to train to be a ballerina, and dance "en pointe." Having been a ballerina might come in handy in my Bikram practice. Specifically in the second part of Awkward pose.

This is the one area of the practice I have not ever progressed in... First part, third part - I kick ass at those. Second part? It's shit. I can come up way high on my tippy toes. But then comes the part where you have to sit down... And I just can not sit.

At least, not with my toes up high and my back straight against the "imaginary wall."

Today's practice was great. The temperature, dialogue, focus... It was all great. The only thing that wasn't great was the second part of Awkward pose.

Perhaps I should extend my challenge to 100 days, in hopes of making additional progress in Awkward's second part?

If I don't extend it... There's only 14 classes left. (Tomorrow, I do another back-to-back.)

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 43/60.

"Where did this balance and focus come from?"

That was what I wondered all throughout today's Bikram class. For I, the one who never fails to fidget and fall out of poses, had incredible balance and determined focus in today's 90 minutes of hot yoga.

I was able to hold Bow Pulling pose nearly the entire time. Only once did I fall out. Normally. I fall out on both sides during both sets. I kick really high and come down low. And then when I try to straighten my held leg more, it slips out of my hand. And then I fall forward. Or to the side.

One time, I fell on my face. That was a few years ago though. I've learned how to fall since then.

But today, Bow pose was great. As were all of my poses. Especially Eagle.

Yep... The "Sleeping Eagle" pose is really helping me master class Eagle.

Only 17 classes left!!!

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 42/60.

I haven't been back to Bikram since Friday's double session. I know, I know...

"BAD MISSUS!"

I was away for the weekend, and intended to get back in yesterday. But I got caught up with something and ended up not being up to going in yesterday.

I thought today's class would be really painful. But surprisingly, it went very well. Sure, my balance was off a little... As usual. But my Eagle pose kicked ASS!

I was able to wrap my leg on BOTH sides!

This is excellent progress. I was able to wrap and then drop down deeply into a seated position. SQUEE!!!

It must be all the practice I am getting in my sleep.

I have two days worth of doubles to do this week. Looking like double-day may be Friday and Sunday. But I now have 18 classes left.

Garurasana While Sleeping.

It must be all the Bikram I have been doing. But I find myself waking up in odd positions while laying in bed at night.

Sounds scandalous... But it's not. I assure you.

In the past week, I have woken up to find myself wrapped up in full Garurasana pose (also known as "Eagle"). And when I write, "Full Garurasana pose," I mean it. I am laying on my right side, with my left leg wrapped around my right leg. And my arms? Yep, they are twisted up, with the palms in "prayer" and tucked under my right cheek.

Does this happen to anyone else? Does their body practice Bikram poses while sleeping?

Jimmy Choo Hunter Wellies - SOLD OUT?!?!

Boo!!!

I guess this gets chalked up to another instance where if I wait too long to decide on something, and I miss out, it is just not meant to be.

Yesterday, the Jimmy Choo Hunter Wellies became available on Net-A-Porter. And then they promptly became sold out.



It just wasn't meant to be for me. Besides, I love my original Hunters I scored earlier this year for super cheap. So I don't need new fancy designer ones.

Even though, I do want them.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 39/60, 40/60 & 41/60.

I have done a shit load of Bikram in the past 48 hours. It culminated this afternoon with my very first back-to-back session.

Yep. That's right. I not only did I pill a double today... But I did the back-to-back. One right after the other. The first ran from 4pm to 5:35pm. The second ran from 6pm to 7:35pm. Between classes I chugged a coconut water, re-filled my bottle with Emergen-C and water, showered, cleaned off my mat, changed into clean practice clothes and grabbed a fresh towel.

Even though I hydrated well before the sessions, drank electrolytes through both of them and had coconut water... I still felt knocked out after Pranayama in the second class.

"Oh my God!" I thought to myself. "My arms are about to fall the fuck off."

But a I continued to focus on my breathing. And I pulled off a better set of Standing Bow in the second class than I had in the first class. Overall, the second class was just as good as the first one. But it was painful in places. And I drank through my water much more quickly the second time around. By the time we were in Fixed Firm, I had none left.

Note: For future back-to-back sessions, bring an extra bottle of water to the second one.

Only 19 classes left! I had to double-up today because I will be in Niagara-On-the-Lake this weekend. I will have to double-up sometime next week to make up for the other class I will miss this weekend.

I don't know that I will be doing a back-to-back though.

Emma Watson: HP & Half-Blood Prince Premiere.

Oh Emma... You put the rest of us to shame with your style!



This was taken at the NYC premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Why does it look so effortless on her? She is wearing the clothes (instead of them wearing her) and she looks fantastic!

If I tried to wear something even remotely similar, it would look too contrived.

I guess it's all in the attitude, yes? If you think you're comfortable and stylish, you will be.

Healthy Dish For The Week: Guacamole.

I don't understand. How the hell is it possible that I have never posted the recipe for kick-ass guacamole on this blog?

Well, as one reader pointed out today, I have not. Shame on me!

This reader asked for my recipe (through Twitter) because they had tried to make guacamole using a mix recently, and it tasted badly. My reaction to that was...

"They make a mix for guacamole???? EWW!!!!"

How does that even work? Wait, I don't want to know! But I feel awful if people out there think guacamole is so exotic to make that you can short-cut by doing it with a mix.

So here's the scoop people: Guacamole is RIDICULOUSLY easy to make. And it will take you five minutes to make it. Here is my recipe for two servings worth of guacamole.

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe avocado, peeled and chopped into 1/2-inch chunks
• 1 lemon wedge (or lime wedge, your preference)
• 1 plum tomato (plum tomatoes are smaller and oval shaped, sometimes called "Roma Tomatoes"), diced
• 2 tablespoons chopped red onion, minced
• 5 dashes of Tobasco sauce (you could use a whole jalapeno, though, if you are making a batch for more than two people)
• Dash of salt to taste
• Dash of pepper to taste

You dump the avocado in a big bowl and take either a masher or a fork to get it down to a creamy-but very chunky consistency. Next, you mix in all the rest of the ingredients. And you have your guacamole.



I like to eat mine with tortilla chips that I toast in the oven (because nothing is better with guacamole than warmed tortilla chips) at 375 degree for 3 to 5 minutes.

All of this will take you less than 10 minutes to bring together. No fancy equipment is required. And if you get yourself some organic blue corn tortilla chips (the cholesterol-free kind), you have a pretty healthy snack on your hands here. Avocados are a good fat, and you shouldn't hesitate to eat them.

Now, if only tequila was good for you...

Fall Must-Have: Tory Burch Buckle Boots.

Don't you hate it when designers send you emails announcing their "Pre-Fall Previews"... And then leave you with no information about the pieces you see?

Well, maybe you have no idea what I am talking about... But I expect this kind of behavior from fashion magazines. You see an item styled on a model or in a storyboard within the pages of the mag, and often you only have information telling you who it is by. Sometimes you get pricing info, but often you don't. You then have to go and research, research, research... Till you get the info you are looking for and realize whether or not you can afford the piece.

But designer websites are a whole different story. They should have all the info you need, even if it is just "a preview" of an item that will be coming out later in the season. I should be able to know when it will be available and how much it will cost.

But apparently Tory Burch feels differently. I received an email today regarding their "Fall Preview" collection. And I spotted these...





Gorgeous, gorgeous licorice black buckled calf-high boots. But, no price info.

I don't want to get my heart set on these and then find out (in a few months) that they are priced way beyond my comfortable spending limit.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 38/60.

"I find that on days when I don't come, I get depressed."

That was what one fellow student said to me as we were walking into the studio this afternoon. She had asked me how it was going with my 60-day challenge... And then she told me about how her body is basically craving the heated practice.

"That happens," I told her. "You feel off when you don't come, once you've established a consistent practice."

"Yeah!" she agreed. "I think it's the serotonin I get from practicing. But I am just in a funk on the days that I don't come."

I told her that she should come every day. But that if she couldn't, maybe doing some inverted poses would help her feel better... Like a head stand or shoulder stand. All the blood rushing to the head and then being released when you come out does something good for your mental rejuvenation.

This got me thinking, though, about what will happen when I am done with this 60-day challenge. I have only 22 days left in it. Over the next few weeks, I will have to miss a few days of practice... So I will have to double-up. And then I go away for a small mini-break at the end of July to visit family.

But when I get back, in August, how should I continue with my practice?

I will have 11 weeks from August through October, before Teacher Training begins. I guess I should prep for that.. But how?

Those of you who have aspirations to become Bikram teachers, or those of you who already are, what do you recommend as preparation?

I am looking for ideas!

Holt Renfrew Windows: BLOG!

I like fashion and shopping. Let's not pretend otherwise, please.

Because I love both of these (though I haven't done much of the second in recent months), when The Husband asked me what area I wanted to live near here in Toronto, I said, "Whatever is near the following: Taco Bell, Starbucks, Bikram yoga studio, subway and shopping."

Well, living in Yorkville, we nailed all of those with one stone. And every day I get to walk past one of my favorite places in the world for fashion inspiration (next to Barney's in NYC - gotta respect!)... Holt Renfrew.

Holt Renfrew is a glamorous department store here in Toronto. And by glamorous, I mean, "High fashion. Even higher prices." The first time I went in there, I saw gorgeous models walking around the floor in the latest seasonal pieces from Oscar de la Renta.

"It's moving art!" I thought. And I found myself in love with the place.

Then, today, I fell even more in love with Holt Renfrew. This time, because of their windows.





It's like they designed these just to reach out to me! Me and other bloggers who love to spend hours writing whatever pops into our heads about bags and shoes.

I appreciate their reaching out to new media geeks like myself. They are saying they appreciate bloggers and interactive media nerds who spend hours online... Facebooking, Twittering, Digging, Blogging...

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 37/60.

Our "birth right."

Today's teacher (the rockin' Miss N) reminded us today of something Bikram's most senior teacher (the ageless Emmy) likes to theme us with... And can pretty much be summed up by:

The flexibility you achieve in Bikram is your birth right. You were born flexible. You lost it as aged. Now you must find it and use it for your health.

I remind The Husband every day that "Flexibility is the key to longevity." I do this as I watch him sit on the floor with his back against the wall and his legs out in front of him. He has very tight hamstrings.

I, on the other hand, can not only touch my toes by bending forward... But come closer every day to touching them by bending backwards. It is clear that, God forbid any accidents, I will live longer than The Husband. Much, naturally, longer.

Every day that I go to class (and this is consecutive day 37 in a row), I am closer to achieving my birth right.

What about you?

Only 23 days left!!!!

Healthy Dish For The Weak: Veggie-Chicken Soba Stirfry.

"We're gonna eat more veggies," I informed The Husband this weekend.

With me going away for two months later this year, I need to be diligent about making sure he is getting his daily veggies. If you left the man to fend for himself, he would exist on cereal bars, cereal and hot dogs.

He does eat at Subway Sandwiches quite a bit, which would provide him with some veggies. But not enough. So the plan is to get as many into him as possible between now and the time I leave.

So tonight, I made him eat something I promised him I would never make him eat... Broccoli.



But, as you can see, I made it in a stir-fried noodle dish and combined it with a few other veggies, as well as chicken. The chicken was marinated (all day) in grated ginger, Mirin and Tamari sauce. The soba noodles (made from buckwheat) took three minutes to boil. The chicken (sauteed first, alone) and the veggies (sauteed second, alone) took about 15 minutes to get done. But dinner was easy and quick. And everything mixed together covered up the nasty broccoli taste.

Hooray!

Those are the best healthy dishes. The ones that don't taste healthy.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 36/60.

Temperature in the room today: PERFECT.

I think the teacher doubted that it was hot enough, but he didn't torture us by cranking it up even hotter. It was plenty hot for me, as I had a nice big puddle on my mat towards the end. Whenever I moved around, I got the "Squish!" sound from the water and the towel.

So, either it was plenty hot... Or I didn't half-ass the class today.

We'll never know for sure. But what I do know is that between yesterday's class where I advanced far in Locust pose and today where I maintained my progress, my back muscles are so SORE! All up and down either side of my spine... The upper area to the lower area... Muscle aches!

The pain is good. It means a stronger back. Twenty-four days left!

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 35/60.

Today will henceforth be known as the "HOLY SHIT Locust Pose Day!"

Why?

Because I got my feet way high up today. Because today I understood what it meant when the teacher said, "You're elbows will hurt" when doing the pose. Because today I didn't puke a little into my mouth while doing the posture.

Yesterday, my Locust Pose was shit. Pure shit. I was maybe a few inches off the ground. Today, I couldn't feel the energy of the ground under my feet, calves or lower thighs. I would swear to you that I was a good 14 inches off the ground. And afterward, my elbows hurt so much. So... Much...

Not bad for nearly five years of practice!!!

And I had the tough teacher today too! The one who is (unknowingly) prepping me for Teacher Training in the Fall, as he likes to torture me with the length the poses are held. My thighs are killing after his Awkward series.

Twenty-five days left in the challenge!

I Am Off Sushi Now.

Sushi maki rolls. That is all I eat when I go to sushi places. More specifically, all I will eat are vegetarian avocado rolls or spicy tuna rolls. Anything else does not pass my lips.

The truth is, I do not like sushi. Not really. I find it sketchy. (Just like eating shellfish. SKETCHY! DIRTY! UNCLEAN!)

Growing up in Arizona, a land-locked state, eating sushi never sounded appealing.

"If sushi is raw fish," I would think, "why would you eat it while living in Arizona knowing it is not fresh?"

The I moved to NYC. And I gave it a whirl. I found spicy tuna, and stuck with that. Then I moved to Boston. And for the first two years, I never ate sushi. Boston, I knew, was a seafood town. But not every sushi place is good. And once you have bad sushi, it will put you off the stuff for a long time.

But we found Douzo. And it was fab. We ate there a few times a week. It is the BEST sushi in Boston. All other sushi places suck ass.

For the past six weeks that we have been in Toronto, The Husband has been begging me to go out for sushi for dinner.

"I'm not really in the mood for sushi," I would say. "How do we know it will be good? I know Toronto is on a huge body of water... But can they get all the same fresh fish from the lake to make the sushi?"

He didn't have an answer, but really wanted sushi. So last night, I caved. We went down the street in our trendy neighborhood to one of the sushi places, Sushi Inn. I had searched online for the "best sushi in Toronto Yorkville," and this place had good reviews.

Well, people fucking lied.

The place was cute enough. I ordered my regular two rolls of Spicy Tuna. The Husband had his three rolls: California, Spicy Tuna, Spider.

We both agreed after the first few bites, "It will be hard to top Douzo. This place blows."

I didn't finish my rolls. I left a few rolls on the plate. At one point, I was so skeeved by the texture of the tuna that I pushed it out of the roll with my chopstick. And I smothered the tempura flakes, spicy mayo and avocado left in the roll with wasabi.

The Husband finished off all his rolls on principle. He refuses to waste money. But he concluded, "I think I will be off sushi for a while."

Things just didn't taste as fresh as they did in NYC and Boston. And it really makes me wonder how fresh they are able to get fish here in Toronto. I bought some cod at Whole Foods last week that didn't smell fresh... But I figured since it was Whole Foods that it would be.

Note: No eating fish in Toronto. Not unless it is GUARANTEED fresh. And no sushi. Ever.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 34/60.

Wow. The challenge seems to just be flying by! Once you get past the halfway point, you just slide right until the end.... I guess?

Another solid class this morning. We were a small group, but "a mighty one." Or so the teacher (the same one form yesterday - YAY!) said.

Once again, she gave me some good advice by breaking down the balancing poses for me. I have "wobbly" ankles. And they are most often my downfall in the balancing poses.

"Really ground your big toe into your mat to help you distribute your weigh all over your foot," she told me, specifically.

It helped. Quite a bit. I could feel my legs lock and stabilize more easily in the second set. Things felt lighter once I was stabilized.

Twenty-six days to go!

Summer Nail Polish Trends.

Depending on what part of North America you live in, it may or may not feel like summertime.

Here in Toronto, it's been mild, but very sunny. In Boston, Mother Nature hates that I left... And has been weeping since. In Arizona and California, God has been helping everyone with natural detoxification by keeping it steam-room hot. I've heard it's been unseasonably warm and sunny in Seattle as well.

So since Summer is here (except for you Boston), it is most definitely time to think about pedicures and fashionable colors. Gray, silver and inky purple were all big hits for late Winter into Spring. But now, it's time to energize the colors on our feet!

Here is what I am currently going with on my toes...



I have no idea what the color is called. I went to Holt Renfrew's spa last week in dire need of a pedicure. I wanted a color close to my natural toe nail color. I picked out a light pinkish peach Essie color.

And apparently, I am not the only one loving light colors this season. Rachel Zoe is loving them too. But, OPI is wants you to consider some bright colors (fuchsia, hot pinks, oranges and chakra blues) from their India collection. The younger set, according to Harper's Bazaar, are rocking out with the 1980s day-glo colors of yellow, bright purple and a shocking blue.

So what colors are peeking out of your Gladiator sandals this Summer? Do tell!

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 33/60.

I love going to the Friday 4pm class at the Bloor Studio. There tends to be a fabulous instructor teaching the class. She is fabulous because...

• She keeps the room at a great temperature.
• She is so comfortable with the dialogue and the poses that she is able to break them apart so students get a better understanding of them.

"Do not come down (in Standing Bow) until you see your foot coming up behind your head," she demanded. "This is a back-bending pose. Your back should be arching and then you come down."

There is a great energy in the class when she teaches. And today we were 17 strong in the studio... That's the most I have seen in there yet at one time! Not bad for a new studio on a holiday weekend.

This puts me at class 33. Only 27 left.

Emma Watson & Burberry.

Who would have predicted when Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone came out nearly eight years ago that young Emma Watson would some day become a fashion icon?

Well, perhaps some of you could have predicted it. But I never saw it coming. I am such a huge fan of the Harry Potter series that until recently, whenever I looked at Emma Watson, I saw "Hermione Granger"...



Complete with frizzy brown hair and long scholastic witch robes.

Now though, she undeniably a young fashion icon. I don't know that I have ever seen her wear something in public that wasn't reflective of how she carries herself: Elegant, Sophisticated and Youthful. And now, she is bringing that same essence to Burberry's Fall/Winter ad campaign.










I am so tempted to start straightening my wavy hair, begin working the smoky eye and rush out to Holt Renfrew to go crazy in the Burberry section. Also, I am so anti-popped collar... But I will totally be working that look on my trench this year.

She is so divine! Wouldn't you agree?

The Zoe Report.

I'm not the hugest fan of Rachel Zoe's. Her personal style leaves me hungry... For food and a variety in clothing options. (Really? Who only takes in coffee each day and wears caftans all the time?)



But I am excited for this...

The Zoe Report.


Bananas? If I was gonna pick a fruit to describe my excitement... It wouldn't be "bananas." Sure, I get that bananas are "crazy." But I'd go with a more stylish and fun fruit. Like "sour cherries" or "champagne grapes."

No matter though... I have high expectations for this newsletter. It doesn't have to try too hard to be better than GOOP. That is just a disaster.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 32/60.

"You just finished a hot yoga class, didn't you?"

I momentarily pause and try to smell myself. Do I smell like I was just a hot yoga? Or do I just look like I was in a class, with the sweaty hair and dripping yoga mat?

Either way, it is true. I did just finish a hot yoga class. The woman who asked me on the street was correct. I told her so.

"I love doing that," she said to me. "But I really can't handle it getting too hot. Some studios let it get to 106 degrees!"

It surprised me that she used the Fahrenheit temperature grade, rather than the Celsius one... As this is Canada. But she made an excellent point in that some hot yoga studios (not just Bikram ones) do let it get too hot. I've practiced in studios where it was 114 (Fahrenheit) before the class started. And one you get all the bodies in the room, the humidifiers running and the heat going more... It just gets hotter. And more painful. I know we're supposed to be good yogis/inis and not even think about the heat... But it can be a turn-off. ESPECIALLY to new practitioners.

I am a huge advocate of the 105 degree temperature in the class... And even letting it get hotter. BUT there needs to be a greater understanding of the yoga room; how the heat circulates within it and when fresh air needs to be brought in by simply opening the door.

I don't know why, but it seems newer teachers are hesitant to open a door and let fresh air in the room. By the time people are ready to go down in Savasana, a 20-second blast of fresh air from the outside would be energizing for most people. More experienced teachers have no problem opening the door if and when the temperature and humidity are really pushing it and the energy in the room from the practitioners is falling off the charts.

I pledge to my future students that when I become a Bikram teacher, I will not hesitate to open a door or window for a few seconds when needed. But I will commit to keeping the class respectably hot (105 to 110) and humid. But not "Death Valley" hot and "Shitatstic Tampa" humid.

Only 28 days left in the challenge!

Healthy Dish For The Weak: Avocado Salad.

I am trying to detox for a few days. I am, despite daily Bikram classes, downing the mochachinnos left and right. As well as tacos. And I think these are affecting my practice.

So, today, instead of my coffee drink, I started with this...



It's a juice made of carrots, spinach, celery and parsley. And despite being all veggie, it was delicious. It tasted mostly of carrot. It was very good.

Then, for lunch, I went with a gentle chopped avocado salad...



That's a plum tomato and a few leaves of romaine lettuce, a squeeze of lemon and a WHOLE avocado.

Indulgent? Perhaps. But I love avocado. It is a good fat, loaded with potassium, dietary fiber and folate. The salad comes in under 400 calories. And it is delicious.

How To Make Your Ass Look Fatter.

No matter how hard you try, sometimes a girl is just beyond help.



Oh Jessica. You should never be left alone to decide what to wear. Ever. You just can not dress correctly for your figure.

Horizontal stripes? On a tube dress? Egad! The tube dress on you would have been perfectly fine. But you should have chosen a SOLID color!

Don't you know that horizontal stripes on curvy gals makes us look fat??? Stripes hug our every curve, thus accentuating the curves in a bad way... And making our parts stick out further than they actually do.

It's not a difficult concept to grasp by the age of 16: Don't wear horizotnal stripes across your hips and ass.

Burberry Leather Knee-High Boots.

I love heels. But I will confess... I am not one for wearing them too often. Despite hours of balancing on one leg in Bikram, I lack the grace.

And the flexibility in the bottoms of my feet.

So I am always on the hunt for sexy flats. And for Fall, I am craving sexy flat boots. Like these...




Burberry's Leather Knee-High Boots.

Worn with skinny jeans and a fantastic chunky sweater... It's the perfect Fall outfit!

Now to start panhandling for the cash to cover the cost of them...

Bikram Yoga Challenge: 31/60.

I am officially over the hump. Boo-yah! Only 29 days left. Yippee!

And yes, my energy has returned. Like you wouldn't believe.

Class was awesome today. And I had so much energy before the class that I got "Shh!"-ed by someone because another yogi and I were chatting in the room.

(Sorry!)

My goal for the second half of the challenge is to "86" my water drinking in class. Well, maybe not all of it. Just most of it. The Bloor Street studio is just so humid that it is difficult to not want to gulp water down, thus causing me horrible acid reflux in the tummy postures on the floor.

So it will be my goal to get well hydrated before class. No water during class.

None.

Traditional Canada Day Cuisine?

In Canada, July 1st is known as "Canada Day."



It is Canada's birthday. Just like July 4th is the U.S.A.'s birthday.

There are BBQs. Fantastic "Canada Day Sales." Fireworks. Pool parties. Alcoholic drinks pulled from coolers.

Yes, it is just like in the States. Only the domestic beer here is 10 times better.

Canada may lack a national cuisine... But they do have good beer. And domestic wine.