Flying

I'm traveling today.  3:30am alarm and I still find myself loving the process... Well, maybe not the 2 hour delay once we boarded the flight... That was pretty sucky, but life is what you make of it.  I'm headed to New York City for a weekend of bliss.  It's a birthday gathering for one of my yoga clients, turned amazing life-long friend.  I'm writing somewhere above the air as we speak.  Dog is asleep and I'm happy that I have creative time to think and write and not be bothered by a cell phone.  Here's to a fun weekend in NYC with girlfriends, yoga, dogs, art gallery openings, walks in the park, dinner parties, and of course mucho vino.  Stay tuned for more.  This traveling/fair trade/yoga teacher (me) feels inspired to write once again and the feeling is good.

My BF is Preggers

On my drive to LA yesterday I received a call.  Having missed one of my best friends last couple of attempts to connect I was happy that I had time to chat.  There was this feeling, I can't describe but sometimes you just know.  I was telling her about how I was traveling to Atwater Village to meet up with friends and go to The Greek theater to see the English artist David Gray and then get on a plane at 6am fly to New York City for a weekend of fun.  "I wish I had your life," she exclaimed.  I laughed and said, "it always appears better than what it seems..." Then I said something along the lines of tell me the news.  I could feel it.  Good friends are connected - even when miles away.  She paused and said, "I'm pregnant!"  I screamed over the phone with excitement.  Really, this gal has had the worst shit happen to her and she stayed positive.  After beating cancer at the age of 30, she is happy, healthy, working an incredible job, married to her true love and now finally having a baby.  It anyone deserves all these blessings, it is my dear friend.  She has a heart of gold and has had her share of hardships.  I could not be happier... Christine is preggers!!!! Due mid-March, auntie Katie is ready to love and welcome this little pices baby into the world.

Dinner parties to deaths...

We never know what life has in store.  Last night I was having the time of my life at a dinner party in Los Angeles.  This morning I awoke in Atwater Village to a sunny day.  Took my dog for a walk.  Made some amazing maca and cacao infused coffee and sat down at the computer to get in a little non-profit fair trade work before an afternoon of more fun with friends and thrift store shopping.  I turned on my computer, feeling happy and alive and then I heard.  I cried.  I am so sad.  A friend I grew up with just passed away.  She was 35 and leaves a husband and two kids behind.  Wow.  Life is so precious.  Life is good, yet it can throw the hardest curve ball when you least expect it.  From total happiness to tears.  That is the wildness of this untamed life we live.  We can not control what happens to us all the time.  Somethings are just not seen.  Sipping the maca cacao espresso magic (through subtle tears), I'm trying to find some balance where I can see the good and hold the heartbreak at the same time.  We never know what life has in store... 

(high school photos - Becky is in the bottom right, I'm the bottom left)

Happy in LA

I've traveled the world and there is something about LA that gets me... Or I get it.  The city makes me smile.  There is an energy in the air, an excitement so to speak.  Life.  Culture.  Diversity.  Always something to do.  Great thrift stores.  Groovy bars.  Hot men ;)

Wanting to live in this area for some time, I'm finally sub-letting a place on the east side.  It's hot as hell up here, not like the cool ocean air I'm used to.  Yet, I don't mind.  Even took the dog for a walk today.  Heading off to a dinner party with friends I've made in Atwater.  I'm one happy gal... Yes, for some reason I can not explain - I Love LA!  (Photo taken at an outdoor summer concert in downtown Los Angeles.)

Cooking School in Chiang Mai

I recently returned from a trip East where I took a cooking course.  It was my favorite part of the holiday.  I love cooking and as I get older, I seem to enjoy it more.  Being in Thailand with locals who took me to the food markets to buy items fresh was heaven to me.  I learned a lot in a one day cooking course.  I also ate like a queen!  From homemade pesto to soup to sticky rice to curry dishes, I made it all and enjoyed the party of flavors.  So inspired after leaving the culinary school with a cookbook,  I went to the market in Chaing Mai and bought my own special spices and herbs.  They are now with me state-side.  Happy and ready to be and artist in the kitchen - all I need is a wok and a hungry boyfriend to cook for.  :)

The Float Market

I've always heard that when in Thailand the Float Market is one of the places to visit.  My friends are right... I went.  I saw.  I shopped.  Drank some amazing fresh coconut water.  As an avid traveler, I recommend this to all who explore Thailand.  Before transportation is what it is today, the float market was a primary form of enterprise for the locals.  Thailand has many canals and rivers where trade was and still exists.  I was fortunate to see the oldest operating float market in Thailand, about 1.5 hours out of Bangkok.  It's busy.  It's beautiful.  The food and shopping are amazing!  Locals take you on a private paddle for 150 baht, which is $5 and worth every penny.  I've always heard when in Thailnd the Float Market is a place to visit... happy to say I can now agree.

Beautiful Bangkok

Yesterday my feet hit the ground for the first time in Asia.  Yes, this is true.  While I have traveled extensively, beautiful Thailand is new to me.  Bangkok is the location.  Not only are most locals very friendly, but beauty can be found all around the city.  I find when traveling, it's often what you make it.  You can choose the see the average or you can choose to see the good... to find the wonderful.  I side with the latter. For example: My taxi driver shared his afternoon fuzzy fruit snack with me.  The lady who gave me a 1-hour foot massage for $8 is my new bestie, and the flowers featured in the photo below cost me less than $1.  It's the little things in life that make me smile.  Also, getting gorgeous flowers and a foot massage for under $10 bucks helps!  Oh how I'm excited to explore Beautiful Bangkok...

Life

Over the last year my life has been in a series of high and lows.  I've traveled to Egypt, Mexico, Democratic Republic of Congo, and I leave next week for Thailand.  Life...
I've lost things that hurt more than I knew grieving could ache.  Yet in deep pain and sickness, I've also gained a wonderful non-profit helping women.  Yoga and Fair Trade have become my personal mission.  It seems lately that I'm in a constant state of busy, maybe busy is the new normal?   Yet, I don't want to lose myself while helping others.  Balance is the key to Life.  As I look to my 35th birthday next week - I am happy and yet feel alone.  I am working and yet know there is so much more I could do.  I am me.  Living this life one day at a time - grateful for what I have yet knowing the best is yet to come...

Releasing in YOGA

I had a lady softly cry today during final relaxation.  As the teacher, watching others release - it moved me.  I often find myself moved to tears in savasana but seldom do I see others do the same.  As I taught my gentle yoga class today, I was inspired.
I'm on this earth to help others find peace.
Today, I watched the most subtle, beautiful awakening where the breath, heart, and soul connected.  I'm so happy that I get to teach yoga in this lifetime.
To more times of releasing in yoga...  after all aren't we to leave feeling a little lighter?