Yoga’d…and Blessed

16 Sunday Sep 2012

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accidents, friends, friendship, hockey, jewelry, people, relationships, Silpada, Starbucks, yoga

OK, first of all, fivenineteen is officially THREE! Three years old!! The (my?) official birthday was Saturday September 15. 9/15. WOW…I never realized how that’s an exact mirror image of 5/19. Where is that Twilight Zone music? Honestly, that’s just a beautiful accident (or was it?). Absolutely was not intended….but I love it and I laugh how I just noticed that this year. Thank you to my followers – old and new – and to everyone out there who stumbled in here by accident! Welcome to my big ol’ ball of random!

This weekend reminded me how blessed I am to have incredible women in my life. Great friends – old and new – and my Mom.

Yesterday was all about getting the girls together and playing in jewelry! Many of you know that I am a Silpada Designs representative, representing an incredible line of .925 sterling silver jewelry, handcrafted with semi-precious stones. I’ve been a fan of the jewelry for around 6-7 years – I’d purchased pieces at home shopping parties or for fundraisers – and never thought I’d give direct selling on my own a try…but I started doing this nearly two years ago and I love it! It’s easy to share what you love when you love what you represent! I love sharing how .925 sterling (92.5% silver + 7.5% copper & zinc for strength – pure silver is too soft on its own for jewelry) is the highest grade of sterling silver there is. It’s the same grade that Tiffany’s uses in their jewelry, and believe me Silpada’s price points are nowhere near Tiffany’s!

I tried something totally different and fun, for I had my jewelry on display at a restaurant inside a hotel where my team meets monthly…a combination of current pieces plus a lot of retired pieces marked down, gift boxed and priced to move! In the process I had a lot of people stop by while I was setting up – even the executive chef stopped by to introduce himself and snap a pic of a necklace to see if his wife wanted one for herself! It just ‘feels’ good in there – the restaurant staff is so gracious and accommodating…believe me when you get 20 of us jewelry reps together at a big table for meetings and throw in wine and munchies we can get a little rowdy! Those meetings are a fun way to blow off steam from the workday, or for those who are stay at home Moms to get out of the house for a few hours for some adult time with girlfriends!

It was fun seeing friends of mine meet one another for the first time, plus having everyone meet my Mom! Heck, even my Mom – who has the most exquisite taste in fine gold jewelry – is starting to take a shine (no pun intended) to sterling silver! Plus the mixed metal look (combining gold and silver) is super hot right now and I think it’s a trend that will continue far into the future.

So we had fun playing with jewelry, and it was both fun and nice to have a lot of my retired, discounted pieces find new homes. I never thought I’d have “too much jewelry,” but after doing this for a couple of years my jewelry box has really grown, enough to where it was time to scale back and streamline.

And this morning…drum roll…Yours Truly got her butt out of bed early! Meaning, an 8am meetup! For carpooling to yoga! Now, I’ve probably posted way too much in here about how I’m not a morning person, especially on the weekends. While I feel I’m wasting the day when I sleep in until 10:30 or so on a Saturday or Sunday, I listen to my body’s rhythms. It needs it and I’m not going to fight it off.

When I knew I was going to take a sabbatical from hockey (starting this fall season – and wow, looks like the NHL is doing the same with the lockout – ugh) I entertained ideas of what I’d do with this new, freed up spare time (and money). Try yoga again – or try working out with a trainer? Revisit trying to learn Norwegian again for a someday-someday trip to the arctic? So far the personal training is underway – 5 sessions done so far with B’s weekly ass kickings and I’m slowly rediscovering muscles that were long dormant. My hamstrings and triceps are still on fire from last Thursday’s workout!

So to add fuel to that fire, I joined my dear friend D and her friend K for what I like to call “drop in yoga.” [kinda like drop in / pickup hockey, ha ha.] D recently moved to Austin, TX for a wonderful job opportunity, and her amazing energy just seems to swoop in whenever it’s needed. Here she was in town for a few days, with a spontaneous invitation for me to join her and K for a free, open house yoga session at Lila. D is probably one of the few (well, more than a few) who can motivate me to wake up, meet at a Starbucks and whisk me away in the morning for something beautiful, new and fun. That and the 5Ks that P inspired me to start doing a few years ago with her. Yep, those two take the prize.

So before I could walk into the Starbucks at Carillon Point to grab a double-tall nonfat latte, D and K arrived to scoop me up and take me to yoga! Which I have not done in nearly 9 years! In fact, I tried yoga for the first time the same weekend I started learning to play hockey. What an intense Saturday-Sunday that was, pushing myself physically in two different ways I’d never tried before. In fact, I had a third opportunity that fall in 2003 to join a friend for belly dancing lessons but my dance card was full. I like to joke with people that I had a choice between belly dancing and hockey, and hockey won out.

So here we were at Lila (LEE la), which means Divine Play (I learned that from their website). I was so grateful that K had an extra yoga mat for me to borrow – mine is buried deep somewhere in my garage. I was impressed with the studio layout, how friendly everyone was, the beautiful light streaming through the studio – I love the beautiful Madison Park neighborhood in Seattle – and how the instructor took the time to greet each of us newcomers with a handshake, smile and personal welcome before we got started.

Oh man, what a wake up call! The yoga memories of that introductory course nearly nine years ago came flooding back to me. How inflexible I am…or where I actually am somewhat. The poses – so hard to hold after a few cycles of repetition…if you have not tried yoga it is not just sitting and meditating – you work up a sweat! But at the same time re-centering with your inner calm and confidence. Inner glow. And I remember the wise words of my instructor from 9 years ago when I would get frustrated at my lack of flexibility or difficulty holding a pose. “Just give it 10 years,” she said in a soothing voice. Aha! That’s when I learned that yoga really and truly is NOT a quick fix. Rather, it’s a lifelong practice and lifestyle.

It was a wonderful re-centering experience – just what I needed. D and I headed back to the suburbs afterwards and grabbed a late breakfast at The Brief Encounter Cafe in Bellevue – a perfect place for hearty food, nice service and post-yoga sweats and leggings.

And then I went home and took a two-hour nap. I was stunned at how I was back home before noon. So much of the day ahead…with a much-needed nap to celebrate Sunday. And I smile, relishing the amazing friendships I have in my life. Ahhhh, bliss.

Namaste.

No Accidents

18 Sunday Mar 2012

Posted by fivenineteen in Uncategorized

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accidents, baking, Ballard, book, carbohydrates, chocolate, diet, Diet Coke, eating, events, Facebook, frustration, jewelry, luck, nutrition, Pinterest, stress, twitter, wine

I truly believe there are no accidents in life. Things DO happen exactly as they’re supposed to. Sometimes that’s hard for me to fully accept – perhaps there’s a wee or not so wee streak of control freak in me. Sometimes I get frustrated and pouty when things don’t happen WHEN or HOW *I* want them to. Sounds kind of childish. But that stream flows in me and creeps up when I get extra tired and stressed. Kind of sounds like the last few weeks…I’ve re-read a few of my recent posts in here and yowza – I’ve got a lot going on and boiling within me!

So what to do about it? Nothing? Something? Yesterday things unfolded so deliciously, one by one. I’m not Irish but perhaps I got a much-needed dose of St. Patrick’s Day luck. And given so much got crammed into March 17, 2012, it was a good thing the day got started a little (lot?) earlier than usual.

Yep, I got my tired self out of bed, dressed and over into the wonderful Ballard neighborhood of Seattle for a fun mini spa and nutrition seminar at my new friend M’s condo. YES! Another jaunt into the city – this totally refreshes me. I couldn’t believe the snowflakes as I whizzed through Seattle in my car. I met M at a Silpada jewelry party my friend T hosted back in December. M is one of those wonderful souls with warm energy – the type you’re just drawn to! She told me about a line of skin care and nutrition supplements she represents and asked if I would be interested in coming to one of her seminars! Absolutely, I said!

Know when you meet someone and during your conversation they tell you “oh, we should get together and…” …and you never hear from them again? Or you just fall out of contact? Not a big deal – nothing personal – but when someone DOES really, truly reach out to you with a sincere invitation to join them to learn about something they’re so passionate about, well, that energy is contagious!

Even just the journey of driving back into the Ballard neighborhood made me smile. I lived in some adjacent neighborhoods the first half of the 1990s before moving back to the suburbs – my childhood roots. And the only reason I moved was due to my work commute. The company I worked for at that time moved from downtown to the suburbs, which would have made my new commute via bus or car a nightmare. Le Sigh…I often wonder what path my life might have taken had that company not moved. I’d likely still be in the city.

I can’t believe how much Ballard has changed. Tons of new condos and apartments have sprouted up in this formerly somewhat-sleepy slice of Seattle. I laughed as I had forgotten about allowing extra time to find street parking – surprisingly packed on a Saturday morning. Could have easily been a Friday night! I dressed a little over optimistically in khakis, an olive green cashmere tank top and a denim jacket. Damn that was a cold and biting wind as I dashed a few blocks up to M’s condo. I’m glad I threw on a pashmina wrap before leaving the house. Brrrr.

M represents Usana Health Sciences. So much to learn about all of these products! Everything from shampoo to nutritional supplements. I have just scratched the surface and would not do it justice to explain more about it here but boy it is intriguing. M, her neighbor and I had a fun mini spa at her dining room table, trying out a few exfoliating products, cleansers and moisturizers…with wonderful hot towels heated in her slow cooker! I’m so glad I wore a sleeveless top under my jacket. Ahhh, I rubbed extra product onto my forearms and elbows.

I’m taking the plunge and trying their 5-day “reset” program. It’s designed to help your body kick carbohydrate cravings which spike blood sugar. I’m not sure what it’s going to be like for me to replace a meal or two a day with a shake for a few days, but I’m going to give it a try. Two years ago I kicked a 25+ year addiction to Diet Coke cold turkey and I don’t miss it one bit. If I can do that without any bodily freakouts I can try this Reset program for 5 days, right? I’ll likely have more to blog about it once the pack arrives next week. Hmmm! Years ago I tried adjusting my eating to where I only eat carbs at one meal – usually dinner. It DOES make a difference. I’m not as rigid about it now…I occasionally have a sandwich at lunch and today just finished a bagel with cream cheese. Maybe I do need to be more hard core.

Is it just me or is anyone else noticing how many people are hungering (no pun intended) for better health? Or other “health” like a more sustainable planet (recycling and all things Green)? Organic food? Overall wellness and happiness? I swear I’ve sensed this spike up since we flipped the calendar pages to 2012. I wonder what’s going on? Or it is because we’re so much more uber-connected now because of Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and on and on that we can’t help but NOT know what everyone is up to?

I pondered these things as I relished my mini facial (and forearm facial) at M’s place. We chatted for a bit before I left…I think I was still in winding down mode and destressing after another busy work week. But I was sure grateful for a friendly ear!

L invited me over to his place that evening – he wanted to make tacos and watch hockey on TV together. I’d already made plans to see T but I told him I would call after leaving M’s, as L also lives in Ballard. I swung by for a quick hello and visit. He’d been sick this past week and I while I didn’t want to risk catching anything I did want to go see him – would have been silly to be such a short drive away and not drop by. Ahhh…THIS was the fun hanging out with L that I remember. No stress from my townhouse project he’s been helping me with, no me being cranky coming home from work and him hanging out at my place, falling asleep in front of the TV or what have you. He told me how much his web design and photography business is growing and how busy he is. Wonderful! I had to get back into Kirkland for an appointment but as I left he gave me some IKEA shelving he wants to help set up for me in my garage. Says we just need some one by eights and we’re good to go. Hmmm, I think that means a size of plywood but I will let him figure that out for me. He also wants me to join him out on the coast next weekend. He’s doing a photo shoot and the client has given him use of a very nice vacation rental house. You know, I just might go! Good to get out of town for a bit and I’d have my own room and all.

When I got back over the bridge I realized I had about an hour to kill before my appointment at The Woodmark Spa over on Carillon Point. On a whim I called the spa asking if they could take me any earlier. Surprise…they could! Ah, efficiency. And while my spa treatment was more, ahem, maintenance than pampering, it’s always great to see my aesthetician…can’t believe it’s been over 10 years now!

I stopped at the grocery store, grabbed a nice bottle of Pinot Noir and later drove over to Sammamish for a girls night in with T. She was going to try a new brownie recipe, baked with Guinness! How perfect for St. Patrick’s Day! I brought a couple of trays of jewelry for us to play with too and she picked out some amazing new pieces. And damn that Pinot went well with chocolate! That’s some of the ingredients in today’s picture. I feel so blessed to have T in my life – she is such a cherished friend! She even gave me a coupon for a discount on a 2-day workshop about understanding men. Can this topic really be covered in two days? I’m kind of joking here but in a way not really! T has absolutely raved about this and other similar workshops she’s attended. She says it’s not only improved her dating life but also her quality of friendships with women (and men) too! Wow! Sign me up…late April it is.

I slept in till 11am today and savored every moment, remembering my wonderful luck-filled Saturday. I’ve got a late hockey game tonight – last game of our regular season…so a nap might be in order later this afternoon! Meanwhile, I have a new book thanks to my new friend D. Strengths Finder 2.0, by Tom Rath. I can’t wait to discover what’s inside!