journey

       Image taken by Alex Mendoza

Wednesday night I had yoga and while slipping away into my breathing, the word journey flew into my mind. I knew within the first couple of breaths that journey was my intention.  Throughout the class I was extremely present, with glimpses of what journey meant to me.  My intuition for quite some time has been telling me to get ready for a journey, preparing my soul for change, new adventure, opening my heart to possibilities, being free, letting go.  I wasn't sure when this door would start to open.  Do we ever know?  As I am writing this a dear friend sent along this email - God closes doors no man can open and God opens doors no man can close.  Yesterday during work I received some news, that a door would be closing.  But to me, this is a door opening for me.  Yesterday I truly realized how appropriate my intention was for me this week.  I will be starting a new journey soon, I will be following my heart.  I am not sure where I will be or what I will be doing, but I do know that I will listen loud to my inner wisdom and only follow my heart.  I will of course let you know more about my journey, but until then remember to journey.  Journey by being present today, or taking time to day dream about what your heart desires.  Journey to a place you love or doing something you enjoy.  Journey to a new adventure, or trying something for the first time.  Journey with a friend, love one while talking over the phone.   

~Enjoy your journey!

hanalei dreaming

I found this image today on Startlike - A while back I selected The Great Outdoors category for my homepage and every morning I have a new image.  This morning this was my image, the pier in Hanalei, Hawaii.  Casey and I visited here almost four years ago for our honeymoon.  We spent one evening watching the sunset from the pier, it's one of our favorite places in the world.  After 8 days in Hanalei we felt as we had lived there for years, we knew the locals and what restaurants we liked.  We had our daily routine figured out and felt at home.  We are planning on going back for an anniversary one of these years.  I was very surprised when I opened up my browser this morning and saw this image.  It instantly drew me back to the night we sat there and watched the beautiful sunset. 

Why we loved Hanalei?

• The cute one lane bridges we had to cross to get to our condo
• The quaint, private, unplugged condo at Hanalei Colony Resort 
• Swimming and sunsets at Ke'e Beach 
• Hiking the Hanakapi'ai Trail on the Na Pali Coast 
• A full tour of the island in one of these with the doors off
• Yummy food and live music here 
• A beautiful visit from a Monk seal one day on our beach
• Romantic dinner here

1. Our view from our lanai at the resort, 2. View from the helicopter ride, 3. Casey and I at dinner, 4.Me standing at Hanakapiai falls, 5. Sunset at Hanalei Pier

.

                                   
~ Thinking of Hanalei

stick out my chin and grin

The sun will come out tomorrow.  This song is embedded into my brain and comes to mind at least a couple times a week. When I was little, I wore an Annie wig, dress and walked around the house pretending I was her.  I tried out for the Annie musical in my hometown theater, but didn't make it.  I guess my dream of standing on stage singing the sun will come out tomorrow still lives.  I used to sing it so much at home that Casey now cannot listen to one note from that song.  It's the song for my day today.  The sun isn't out and I've been a little stressed out with work.  Having smile for my intention this week has been a hard one.  I find that when I am stressed out, I don't remember to smile.  It's the little things that do make me smile and have helped me through the week.  Notes from friends, sweet IM's from Casey, music suggestions, funny videos, or just me tripping or spilling things, which makes me laugh at myself because I do these things all the time.  Do you laugh at yourself?  Did you wish you were Annie growing up? What makes you laugh or smile when you are having a tough week?

I hope that I can pass a smile from me to you with one of these:

• This song
• This t-shirt company
• Love this picture
• His simplicity
• This beautiful place to camp in Oregon
• I'm ready for one of these 
• This funny video Casey showed me last night

 ~ Smile

saturday night live

        Casey in the parking garage across from the Tabernacle 
Last night we enjoyed an amazing show at the Tabernacle here in Atlanta.  We went to see the band Phoenix and saw much more.  Phoenix was amazing live, I love their music but when a band plays well live I love their music 100 times more.  I posted a little clip below of what I filmed last night at the show.  Two Door Cinema Club from Dublin, Ireland played their first show in America last night as the opening act.  Also standing about 9 feet behind us was Owen Wilson.  I was a little star struck because I love the Wilson brothers.  He's in town shooting a movie called Hall Pass with Christina Applegate.  It was a fun, crazy and live night!

Click here to enjoy my video

~Enjoy your Sunday

spoonful of joy

A couple week ago I visited and blogged about Bella Cucina, while I was there I picked up a local magazine called Edible Metro & Mountains.  Within this magazine I found the article below, which is tacked in front of me at my desk.  I read through it almost everyday, it makes me smile with joy every time.  I thought I would share this heartfelt beautifully written article with you. 

5 Things Cooking Has Taught Me About Life
BY VIRGINIA WILLIS 

1Faith Faith is as simple as believing that if you mix that flour, sugar and butter together with a few other things you will have a delicious dessert. Faith is expecting that if proper technique is followed and good ingredients are used, that the result will be tasty. I wear a bracelet that reads “When You Have Faith Anything Is Possible.” A business colleague saw it once and commented, “I didn’t know you were so religious.” It’s not really just about that kind of faith. Faith is believing in many things, including yourself and your ability.

2Seasoning As a cooking teacher I caution my students to “season as they go.” In cooking if all the salt is added at the beginning of cooking it will not taste right, and if it is all added at the end it will be equally incorrect. Seasoning food is a constant process and the most important is to season before serving. Every now and then we need to assess and make adjustments.

3Laissez Faire Sometimes cooking is as much about knowing when to stir the pot as to not. Try to flip that fish filet before it’s ready and it will simply tear. Simply leaving something alone to cook will allow it to develop and grow, while worrying over it and stirring too much will not allow for searing or even perhaps turn things to mush. Leave it be. Pay attention, but let it be.

4Patience Anyone who has burned his or her mouth tasting something before it cools enough knows the importance of patience. Remove a steak from the grill and cut into it before it has rested? The juices run all over the board and the steak is dry and tough. Even direr is to cut a cake or a loaf of bread before it cools sufficiently and it crumbles. Open the door too often to check on cooking and it just ceases to cook because all the heat has escaped. Patience is a key ingredient.

5Dedication Something that makes me madder than anything is when I burn something. It’s absolutely the most stupid idiotic thing to do in the kitchen and it’s usually a result of not being dedicated, by not paying attention. Being dedicated means doing something the right way and following through. The truth is sometimes it is incredibly tempting to not be dedicated and to take a short cut, but in reality it’s much easier to do things right to begin with rather than try to fix a mistake. Great ingredients aren’t enough. Making a great base to a dish is not enough. Cooking a dish until it’s just right is not enough. It takes all these things; it takes real dedication.

For the full article click here

~Enjoy your weekend and smile

smile

       Brody smiling after digging in the garden

Happy Earth Day!  Today is one of my favorite days, even though we should celebrate this beautiful amazing earth everyday.  I woke up, stepped outside and yelled Happy Earth Day!  

This week's intention is smile.  Its something I can easily forget to do if I'm having a bad day.  Usually during a hard pose in yoga, my teacher Becky will say, "now raise the corners of your lip and this should help you enjoy this pose."  I love it! Its very true in our everyday life too.  I have many hard days when my life pose is difficult, and if I can remember to smile it will make it easier.   If there could only be a little voice saying, "Now curve up the corners of your mouth", but instead of the voice I have you.  All of you bloggers, commenters and friends out there do make me smile everyday.  I truly enjoy reading your blogs and thank you oh so very much for reading mine.  I have two friends that I email back and forth with daily.  They do not know each other, but I met them both in Colorado.  They both grew up on the east coast and both have parents from Europe.  Little do they know, they both send me songs weekly and sometimes daily.  They both read my blog and email me their responses.  I love them both dearly and can't wait for the day when they can meet.   Here are a couple songs that my connected soul sisters have sent me this week.

Nancy has sent me this and this song.  She also sent me this and I hope she decides to buy it for herself.  She would look vibrantly beautiful in it. 

Cathy has sent me this song which is also another reason for my intention this week.  This song truly makes me smile.  My imagination drifts away during this song.  She also sent me this video which is very fitting for Earth Day.  She also shared this piece of art with me that we will go see next time I visit.

Oh and this picture makes me smile instantly.
 

~Thank you all for making me smile

rough day

Sorry for the short blog post today.  Its been a rough day at the office, and a busy night with Yoga. Hopefully I'll be able to post more this week.  My good friend Nancy sent along this song, which is helping cheer me up (thank you Nancy). Oh how I would love to put on my traveling shoes!  Someday soon, I feel the energy circling its way around.

~ may the road rise to meet you, may the wind always be at your back, may the sunshine warm upon your face, may the rains fall softly upon your fields..... {irish blessing}

southern spring

 I am amazed every spring how many trees, bushes, and vines flower here in Georgia.  It's amazingly green and I sometimes forget how spring and summer here is like living in a forest.  During the winter we can see our neighbors houses and every spring our backyard blooms within a week to the point that we can no longer see our neighbors.  Casey and I were sitting outside Sunday and were once again (this happens every year) shocked at the coverage we have in our backyard.  As we were relaxing and enjoying a spring night we had our first glimpse of summer...lightning bugs.  Beautiful peaceful lights flickering in and out of the woods.  Instantly, memories came streaming into my head, thinking back to childhood.  Running around barefoot in the cool grass trying to catch what we thought was Tinkerbell.  It also meant that summer was coming and we would be free.  This time I thought WAIT.....summer?  Didn't spring just start?  I am enjoying the dry air before the humidity kicks in.  Plus I don't have a summer of freedom, I have to work.... Instantly I woke from my day dream as reality came sprinting into my head.  I love to still day dream about the summers of freedom, peaceful sky lit by lighting bugs and running around barefoot.  It's amazing all of those little folders of memories kept so deep in our heads.  One site, smell or sound can bring you back oh so quickly.

~ what is your summer of freedom memory?

saturday sweetness

         our hike last Saturday - Keown Falls Trail

I hope you had a great week, may these Saturday morning favorites find their way to you with a smile!

• Enjoying this band right now
• Found this adorable shop yesterday, I'm looking forward to shopping around
• I would love to enjoy dinner with my friends under one of these 
• Loving this on Etsy
• Cutest baby store, would love to shop here someday :)
• This video is so tender and sweet
• Found this Etsy this morning 
• My new favorite coffee which I found at one of my favorite restaurants

My house is oh so very quiet this morning, I can only hear the birds outside.  Casey and Brody sleeping upstairs.  The room I'm sitting in feels so empty, we moved furniture out of different rooms hoping to make the house feel clear of clutter for our showings this weekend.  We took down all of our personal pictures, which does make me a bit sad.  I am hoping it won't be long for our next journey to start.  I was extremely inspired by Boho Girl's post this morning. 

~Enjoy your weekend and remember to take a moment within your weekend to just be!

be

          blurry day

In yoga last night Becky (yoga instructor, guru, mentor) said something that stuck in my mind.  As we were in a pose she said, "You may be able to stretch further or you may not.  Where you are is where you need to be."  Is this the same for life?  Where I am right now is where I am supposed to be? What if I don't want to be where I am?  I've been going through a challenge this week with my energy, and present being.  I don't think I've said anything before, but our house has been for sale for 2 years this month.  2 years!  When Casey lost his job two years ago, we put our house up for sale thinking we would be moving back West.  Now Casey works for this very cool ultra flexible company based in Colorado that let's him work from home.  It's a challenge everyday trusting where we are is where we are supposed to be.  Our house will sell when its time for us to move on, some days I am upset at this fact and some days I am blessed by this fact.  This journey for us has been amazing, we've bonded, met amazing friends, traveled the South and have grown so much as individuals.  It's truly been a blessing, but there are days when I think, am I really supposed to be here right now?  I would love to explore another region, take another adventure, come back West where I feel grounded.  All I can do is take a deep breath, have faith and trust the path of life.  Even though some days it's harder to trust this path than others.  I am very thankful for this experience and when that day does come I will be sad to leave, so at this time I will enjoy the present and just be. 

~enjoy where you are today

new cookbook

Last week I went to my first book signing, Giada De Laurentiis one of my favorite chefs.  I truly enjoy her show Giada at Home, and have tried many recipes from her other cookbooks.  I had the opportunity to meet her and have her sign my new cookbook.  I am so excited to start cooking, many pages of delicious recipes. I tried this one first and wow was it good.

Waiting in line 

She is just as sweet as she is on TV

~ Enjoy!

simple treasures

The weekend was relaxing, fresh and full of sunshine.   Casey and I adventured ITP.  Atlantans say OTP (outside the perimeter) and ITP (inside the perimeter), perimeter meaning I-285.  It was one of those days where we had nothing planned, but happened to stumble upon quaint treasures, spring blooms and cute bungalows along tree lined streets.  One of the treasures we found was Bella Cucina a cute Italian kitchen store in the Virgina Highlands area of Atlanta.  I fell in love with the white dishware, yummy samples, homemade pesto's and passion to celebrate the art of food.  I am now following their blog here.  It's amazing to feel the passion of someone following their heart.  You can feel it throughout the store!

   
~ Enjoy your Monday!

saturday favs

Good Morning!  We are enjoying our morning coffee and planning our hike for today.   Enjoy some of my Saturday morning favorites!

• Watched Giada At Home episode At the Getty this morning.  I want to make all of those recipes!
• I would love for my whole house to look like this store in Atlanta
• Love these bags
• My friend Nancy just bought this and I think I want to order this book too!
• Nancy also sent me this song, which is perfect for a Saturday morning

~Enjoy your spring Saturday!

equality

     photo credit: from funniez.com

Last night in yoga we practiced balancing.  We moved into dancer pose {natarajasana} balancing on our left leg, holding our right foot, leaning forward with our left hand letting our body shift forward.  Should look like this:

After standing in this position we came into mountain pose.  Standing straight with our hands at heart center, here we closed our eyes and felt our imbalances.  In yoga we work on one side of the body and then work on the other for the same amount of time,  to equal out the body.  Something hit me last night when we were in this pose.  Standing tall in mountain pose with my eyes closed I realized that this is the same pose we encounter in life daily.  How do we create equality in our everyday balancing poses?  Last night this lesson came to me from two different sources.  One from yoga practice and the other from The Buddha documentary on PBS.  As Siddhartha once heard a teacher say "if you wind the string too tight it will break and if you have the string too loose, there will be no music".  At this moment Siddhartha realized life must be neither strict or nor undisciplined.  This all made sense to me.  To balance on one leg too long I will continue to be imbalanced.  This will not change, unless I change to balance on my other foot.  Equaling out my imbalances.  Which is why I chose equality for my intention this week.  Equality's definition means - The state or quality of being equal.

I continue to try and balance out work and life. I'm realizing its not something that will happen on its own.  Its something that I have to work on.  Balance on my work foot and then switch and balance on my life foot, creating equality; but its not that easy.  I spoke to a friend this morning, she has two beautiful children.  She juggles work, motherhood, being a wife, her hobbies, fitness, health and faith.  How many feet do we need to have to create this work-life balance?  How do we do it?  Buddha explains, "The first step is to know, understand and realize the four noble truths. See life as it really is. When one understands this, the wish to find a way to be happy whether in living or in dying is generated." He recommended that persons find out for themselves - that this is the only way to wake, by seeing for yourself.  Understanding that life is challenging we will suffer, we will rejoice and it's okay.  It's a part of life.  Understanding this and knowing this will help us stay truthful to ourselves which will help us create our own equality.  As I go into this day, remembering all that I've learned I will remember to work hard but also enjoy my relationships, family, hobbies, passions, faith, love and life.  Knowing it's my change from one foot to another every day that will help me become equal, centered inside.  Knowing that this is not something that just happens over night, this will be a balancing act through life.

~Enjoy your balancing act as it's you

she who inspires me

   picture taken in Aliki,Greece

 So many ladies out there inspire me everyday!  Its amazing to feel strong connections with these ladies as I read their blog.  I may not know them personally, but feel that I'm connected through words.  I also want to thank my readers as today is my 50th post on Simply Yogini!

I thought that today I would list out the ladies who've inspired me with new thoughts, finds, or simply make me smile, or laugh out loud while reading.

• IN Photography - Her beautiful wedding photography like this
• Blue Bird Baby - Her clever crafts and amazing weekly finds 
• Her photography, stories and style, gotta love reading Everyday Musings
• I am always inspired everyday by Lululemon and their blog 
• *e* has inspired me to think about trying nuno-ing 
•  a pretty cool life has inspired me with her creativity
• Athleta Chi inspires me everyday with yoga, fitness, and health tips
• Boho Photography - Her sincerity, beaming boho energy, photography, nurturing motherhood, and passion for life
• Decor8 - Her impeccable taste and beautiful decorating ideas
• Lavender and Limes - Her stories while visiting India 
• I look forward to reading Legal Style's blog everyday, her personality shines through her writing
• Naturally Nina - her beautiful soul makes me laugh and inspires me with posts like this
• sf girl by bay - her eye for style and simplicity with images like this
• The Organic Sister - watching her travel through her new journey on the road, a dream of mine.
• Wild and Precious - her truthfulness, style, blog hopping abilities which helped me find a blog like this and inspire me with music like this
• Cheerio Road - who is also the amazing Karen Maezen Miller who wrote the book Hand Wash Cold
• Sara - for being one of my first blogs that I read and who inspired me to start Simply Yogini.  Her story, passion for life, honesty, love, motherly advice, healthy living, and free spirit inspires me daily.  Check her out on Walk Slowly, Live Wildly, Happy Foody, and her new site Happy Janssens
 

~thank you for inspiring me everyday

The Buddha

                      Taken at the San Francisco Japanese Tea Garden 2007

For quite some time I've read about and have been interested in the story of Buddha.  I have little Buddha's scattered around the house and recently my friend gave me a 4 foot Buddha made out of plaster.  I haven't found a spot for it yet, but my dream is for it to sit in a yoga studio someday.  I was reading The Everything Yoga blog this morning and found out that PBS is featuring a two hour documentary on the life of The Buddha tomorrow.  I cannot wait to watch it!  

 "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" ~lao tzu

~ have a blissful day

i love you spring

Its spring in Georgia!  The dogwoods, cherry blossoms, bradford pears and daffodils are all blooming right now.  April is my favorite month in the South, I'm amazed by the plethora of color that blooms here.  Growing up in the Midwest and living in Colorado, we had spring, but not like this.  Driving to work this morning was beautiful, all of the trees budding lime green leaves, colorful flowers, fresh dry clean air and the smell of flora along the roadway.  Do I have to go to work today?  Any way, here are some spring favorites!

This shop I found online
My mother in law sent me this for Easter, and I wore it all day yesterday!
I've sewn before, but I am ready to learn more with this
I would like to eat my cereal from this
I love the way this video is shot, it inspired me
Likes the sound of this band
Inspired by Blue Bird Baby's new post
Watched Extreme Home Makeover last night and was inspired by this little saying they painted on the nursery wall. "and the mama duck whispered Quack Quack Quack! Come my pretty ducklings. its time to take a nap.  Sleep my little babies, now its time to rest wake up in the morning in your warm and cozy nest."
Would like to organize all of my recipes with this
This song makes me so happy!

~have a magical Monday!

happy easter

Yesterday on our hike we saw this beautiful tree.  Enjoy your weekend and happy Easter!

good morning saturday

Saturday morning has started with yoga and a woodpecker.  While I was enjoying my vinyasa mr. woodpecker decided to pound on the side of our house.  It happens every spring, he visits pounds a hole into the side of our house and then we repair it, and he comes back the next year.  I guess its hello again mr. woodpecker, hope all is well.  Now I am packing lunch and snacks for our long drive and hike today.  We're heading up to the mountains to enjoy a full day of hiking and relaxing. Here is a beautiful song to start your Saturday.  Enjoy! 

~have a beautiful and loving day!

happy friday!

Yay its Friday and its going to be a beautiful weekend.  Enjoy and do something you love!

XOXO
~Simply Yogini

do what you love

Over the past 48 hours I have had three conversations with three different people about doing what you love. Looking deep into your heart and realizing that doing what you love brings natural happiness.  These three people I have very strong connections with.  I am amazed by connection and the people that are connected by life through friendship, mentors, companionship, love, bloggers, believers.. I truly feel blessed everyday to have met the people I have met in this lifetime so far.  It's beautiful.

Happiness brings happy finds for today

• This makes me happy, it reminds me of being a child.  Looking up into a blue sky with fluffy clouds dancing in the wind while laying on a grassy hill feeling life at its best.  Listen here
• My friend Nancy just sent me this beautiful song
• I love cooking with herbs, thinking about these
• I would love to plant flowers here
• Thinks it would be fun to visit one of these
• Really really really wants to join these folks 
• Would love to purchase this
• Would like to spruce up my kitchen with one of these
• Loves this Lululemon monthly challenge 
• Inspired by this 

~ Enjoy the day - do something you love!