photo of the day: day 1

Taking and posting a photo of the day each day for 30 days shouldn't be that hard right? Apparently, it has proven challenging so far for me as here is a picture of the sun setting, pretty much my last chance to get anything worthy of an interesting photograph. But hey, I did it, and it's pretty (for an iPhone shot). You might not know this but I'm up for iPhone photographer of the year. Okay no I'm not, but I do love to throw that out there at least 4 times a day :)

photo of the day: day 1. This is Chinaman's Peak in Canmore. I have been spending quite a bit of time out here lately. I am very contented nestled in amongst the mountains, tracing the sun as it make its way across the open sky, watching fat flakes fall in the shadow of a street lamp from the comfort of indoors, slip sliding up the icy river bed or hanging with my friends, the trees in the forest. It is a lovely, peaceful and serene place to spend my days, though that could have something to do with the company I'm keeping...

Day 1 and I will say it again.. life is good and I'm grateful.

30 day challenge(s)

It would seem as though I like 30 day challenges. To be honest, I don't think I've made it to 30 days before.. but that's besides the point. Well... Okay, okay, I guess setting a 30 day challenge and not making it to 30 days would be considered a fail but that word doesn't exist in my vocabulary. The point of a 30 day challenge is to incorporate something new into my life, try it out, modify if necessary, add, take away and settle it into my way of being if I do so choose.

So, the latest and greatest of 30 day(ish) challenges? I have two ideas... The first is to meditate every day for at least 20 minutes. I love meditating. I have been meditating for a couple of years now, though never regularly. I used to struggle with the idea as it seemed like impossible to get my mind to "turn off". It wasn't until one meditation class that the instructor said a few simple words that changed my whole way of thinking about meditating. She said "don't try to control your thoughts, just observe them". I left that class feeling incredible. I sat for 35 minutes and simply listened. I felt so in touch with my being. Since then I've enjoyed opportunities to listen and learn more about myself when there is nothing else in the way.

I've been doing a lot of reading about spirituality, mindfulness, meditation, peace, etc. lately and I've found some wonderful websites full of insight and wisdom regarding these topics. One particular website talked about 30 days of meditation and that got my wheels turning. So today is day one. Kristian is embarking on the journey with me and is already a seasoned meditator. I'm excited to see the further knowledge and understanding that unfolds. I'll keep you updated..

The second 30 day challenge is a photo challenge. I'm going to post a pic-a-day to see what's going on with life. I definitely fell off the blog wagon for a few weeks so it's one way to start that up again and I love to use my blog as a journal since I can't keep a journal to save my life. So pic one coming up later (by midnight at the latest!).

WOO HOO! Happy day!

who are you?

I have officially finished my first Master's course, woo hoo. I am now 2 weeks into my second course - Theories of Personality. So fun. I get to delve into why people are the way they are. I do that all the time in random places like grocery store line-ups and sidewalks, now I am adding to my repertoire. Awesome.

I thought I'd share the Personality Questionnaire with you cause it was SO interesting and SO bang on who I am. I now have to write a 10 page academic paper on my results - analyzing MY personality. So fun!

So if you're intersted here's what you do:
Complete the following link: http://similarminds.com/jung.html
Once you obtain your four letter code, go to the following link and click on the “face” and the “arrows” just below the title of the page. http://www.personalitypage.com/

stuff I like - part 1

I have the tendency to get very attached to things. I think it has something to do with being the baby of the family and about as sensitive as a little flower. Aw. Anyways, there are so many things that I have that I love and cherish.

One of those things is my reusable mug. At first, I bought it because my sister likes me to be enviro-girl and I like to make her happy. It didn't take long for me to practically attach the mug to my hip. I use it every day for my coffee, if I forget it at home I turn the car around to get it. When I make my espresso at home I now drink it out of my to-go mug so it stays warm for at least 3 hours and I get to enjoy every sip slowly.

When I went to Hawaii my mug came on board with me so I could get a much needed coffee at 5 in the morning in L.A. and at 4 in the morning in San Fran on the way home. Every single morning on our trip we went to Starbucks to get delicious coffee (I swear Starbucks tastes better in Hawaii).

One day I took it whale watching and sipped my latte as I watched 40,000 pound beasts throw themselves out of the water - wicked. Anyways, on the way back I went into a lavish bathroom and left it sitting on the edge outside.. I didn't realize until the next morning when I headed out for coffee. To me it was gone. I was sad, but you know what? I knew I'd get over it... Eventually.. My knight in shining armour insisted we drive back to Lahaina and check to see if it was there. I doubted it but always like my man to be the hero so I agreed. Sure enough it was sitting there waiting patiently in the 10-minute parking zone. I guess I thought for sure someone would pick it up but when in retrospect, why would someone want a well-used mug that recently survived a tumble down the stairs?

I'm sorry for leaving you mug. I cherish you even more now that you had an overnight adventure in the big bad woods of a Hawaiian pier.

Birthday Mama!!!

I want to wish the happiest of happy birthdays to the most wonderful Mama in the entire universe. I couldn't love you any more Mom. You are perfect. Thank you for everything, everything, everything you have done for me... you know how much that is. I love you so much and can't wait to pop a bottle of Asti or two or three tonight with the family. You are the brightest shining light to all around you. Thank you.

TIESTO!!!

I am completely mesmerized and obsessed with Tiesto & Tegan and Sara's song "feel it in my bones". Yesterday K2 bought tickets to see Tiesto on April 16th in Calgary....!!! I am telepathically connecting to Tegan and Sara and telling them to make a special appearance at the concert so we can GET DOWN to this song. It worked when I telepathically connected to Dave Matthews

LYRICS THAT ROCK MY WORLD

Blow by blow
I didn't see it coming
Blow by blow
Sucker Punched

Rushes in
Here to stay
Rushes in
You are here to stay

What rushes into my heart and my skull
I can't control
Think about it
Feel it in my bones
What rushes into my heart and my skull
I can't control

I feel you in my bones
You're knocking at my windows
You're slow to letting me go
And I know this feeling also
This feeling in my bones

Left hook
I didn't see it coming
Left hook
You've got dead aim

Rushes out
Run away
Rushes out
You always run away

What rushes into my heart and my skull
I can't control
Think about it
Feel it in my bones
What rushes into my heart and my skull
I can't control

I feel you in my bones
You're knocking at my windows
You're slow to letting me go
And I know this feeling also

This feeling in my bones

I take a breath
Take a breath
With me blow by blow
Take a break
Take a break
From you you are here to stay
I take my heart out of my chest
I just don't need it anymore
Take my head out of the game
I just don't need it anymore

I feel you in my bones
You're knocking at my windows
You're slow to letting me go
And I know this feeling also
This feeling in my bones

coco

You know something I've always wanted to do? Give myself a facial while sauteing my onions...

Well now I can.. and I do! What is better than using the oil you ingest on your skin? I have recently been introduced to the wonders of coconut oil. This stuff is so freaking awesome. I've been using it since before I went to Hawaii, it was one of the first things I bought at the grocery store in Hawaii and I have used it every day since returning. I was super worried about my skin peeling when coming back from a humid environment to the super dry air of the Rockies and was also worried cause my skin reacts when I detox from milk (inevitable on vacation I have decided). So every night and sometimes in the mornings I smother myself in coconut oil and my skin looks better than it ever has, I swear. I love highly recommending products and this one is a definite must - like Birkenstocks!