I really wanted to do it, worked my butt off to put in document-able hours, studied more, read more, practiced more, taught more, and I even did a Raw & Vegan Foods Cooking Demonstration for members of my teacher training class. It was my service to the others in my program to help show them how easy it is to make simple, easy, delicious raw vegan foods and incorporate these choices into their lives. After the Raw Foods Presentation, I graduated from my 500 Hour Program and applied with Yoga Alliance. Yoga Alliance takes awhile to process applications, but my letter and new card just came in the mail! So I’m Official!!! I now have my 500 Hours and am registered with Yoga Alliance at the highest level! This has been a decade in the making of daily practice, commitment to yoga, and to teaching yoga and inspiring others. I am so proud I finally have this milestone that I can check off my list! I’m glad you all enjoyed yesterday’s post on Vegan Protein and all the Info & Charts I posted about plant-based protein sources and how this relates to me training for fitness competitions. Most of you seem to be at a place of peace regarding protein and most of you don’t seem too stressed about it. However, not everyone trusts that they are “getting enough” and some of you said you’re driving yourself a little nuts “making sure you’re getting enough” and that it’s all a bit of a source of stress for you. I mentioned that I don’t count or stress, and why, and what I’m doing differently now that I’m training. I’m really glad you guys enjoyed the Protein Post and thanks to everyone who chimed in and shared your path. And thanks to readers who de-lurked or commented for the first time and also to new readers. Thanks for finding my blog and reading! If you’re curious, about the Other Protein Comments, you can Click Here Here’s a Couple I Found Interesting: From Lindsey@Sound Eats If you’re curious, about the Other Protein Comments, you can Click Here Today I cracked open the mail and the Toothpaste I won in Tess’ Give Away was waiting for me Along with the toothpaste, Tess sent the most amazing handmade toy for Skylar! A tiny bag filled with even tinier little wooden handmade pieces of food! Tess must have fine-motor coordination that rivals Picasso’s because the attention to detail on these very, very tiny pieces is amazing! Complete with tiny green threads for carrot stems. Play Vegetables, A Chocolate Bar, and Coconut Oil. Tess knows me and our fave foods around here very well! Tess, I cannot thank you enough and Skylar loves it! She’s thrilled and all the Barbies are very happily devouring the Vegan Coconut Oil Chocolate that Skylar’s been making for them with all the play coconut oil..haha! What else was in the mail? A Pink Sports Bra from Handful It came in a mesh bag and has removable inserts. Which I promptly removed because they were making the sports bra too tight and bulky looking on my frame. Why Wear Handful? I asked you guys yesterday and everyone said to post pictures of me wearing it, so hear you go! No rude comments, please. If you feel the need to write something rude, please stop and realize I am a real person with feelings and do not click send on your email or comment. Thank you. Front View Side View Verdict: Snug but not too snug. I had tried a large which was too loose and the medium is definitely snug, but I went for a 3 mile run in it, did yoga in it, and everything stayed in place. The bra definitely lives up to it’s word of Flattering, Not Flattening, and if you need a little extra oomph, the removable pads would be perfect. The only drawbacks are the straps are not adjustable, but I’m almost 5’11” and they worked for me, and the straps are thin. Meaning if you are really busty, all the weight is just being distributed on thin straps. Fabric is super soft and the pink is a really pretty shade of pink despite my lighting making things look a little orange…whoops! Overall, definitely Two Thumbs Up! Thanks, Handful! I tried a Date Heart Thrive Skylar wanted in on the Cute Food but said, Mommy, Water Please! But in the End, Seemed to Enjoy the Heart Thrive. Some flavors are much more dry than others, dated seemed very dry whereas apricot was not nearly as dry. Green Food was Kale, Tomatoes, Cukes Dressed with my latest dressing creation: Vegan Slaw Horseradish Relish Dressing Dessert for Scott and Skylar were a few Cinnamon Hermits from Newman’s Own Organics that I reviewed in This Post Oh these smelled so good. Molasses and cinnamon and Grandma’s Kitchen smells. And they were so moist and chewy looking with raisin pieces and molasses and coarse sugar. As I said in This Post, when I opened the Ginger Hermits for Scott and Skylar, I rarely miss gluten-containing foods, but this is one I would have loved to try, but didn’t. Not worth the 2 weeks of belly pain, joint inflammation, headaches, and moodiness I would experience though. One bite is never worth that. For Dessert, I ate some Raw Vegan Coconut Oil Chocolate Followed up with Coconut Oil & Five Spice Popcorn Five Spice is perfect with the laundry list of Other Toppings I’ve been smothering my kernels in! Yoga Today is Bakasana (Crane Pose) You must lean way forward in bakasana after you’ve made a little shelf with your elbows and triceps. You need to feel like you’re about to face-plant and then, only then, will you know you’re far enough forward. If you don’t have that feeling, it means that your butt will weigh you down and you’ll never lift off. Your center of gravity needs to be forward to get your butt and hips airborne. The only way to accomplish that is to keep leaning forward. The worst thing that can happen? You fall. All of 6 inches or so. No biggie, you get up and try again! Gym & Weights Workout Today (since you told me yesterday you were curious to see what I’m doing, here was my Full Body Workout that I did today) I did 3 sets of 15 Reps Each: Squats with a Smith Machine Bent Over Barbell Rows Stiff Leg Deads super setted with Seated Calf Raises Incline DB Press super setted with Lunges (Pulse Lunges he calls them, I just call them a lunge) Standing Military Press super setted with Abduction leg lifts (for the outer thigh) Previous to that I went for a 2.5 mile run, just to get my cardio going a little. And I always do 20-30 mins of yoga stretching, abs/crunches, daily. I did this before I was training for fitness competitions, too. I just didn’t want to bore you with it, but since you asked for the details there you go. Tip of the Day: Did you Check and see Who Won the Cuisinart Food Processor in Stainless Steel Give Away? Click Here to See Who Won This Beauty! Questions 1. I hate dry food. I mean, I hate it! I like to have a little food with a big pool of sauce! I’ll take some lettuce with my dressing or as my mom used to tell me when I was a kid, are you going to eat fries too, or just the ketchup? Can you handle Dry Food? Do you over-apply your condiments and sauces? Scott actually prefers things dry and I think his logic is terribly flawed…haha! 2. Do you watch the Real Housewives? I only tape about 2 or 3 shows per week, and watch 20 mins, tops, of tv per day. But I am excited about the RHW of NYC tonight. I used to watch Survivor back in the day, but don’t anymore. And what happened to Jackie Warner’s Workout? Why did they take that off the air? And I watch Kendra too but maybe my DVR was acting up because I don’t have a fresh episode from her this week? However, Patty the Millionaire Matchmaker has kept me laughing, as usual. What are your Fave TV shows? 3. My session today with the trainer was awesome and I am really, really committed to pursuing the path of fitness competitions now. As I said at the top of the post, I have been pursuing yoga for the past decade and it’s what grounds me, roots me, gives me strength, both internally as well as physical strength, and now that I have my RYT-500, it’s time for a new adventure! Trying out and Training for Fitness Competitions is my latest huge Goal. I always am working on something new in life, I cannot stagnate. I always need “a project”. Blogging goals: Shorter Posts but I have alot to say and I don’t know if this will really happen..haha!Less time on my Computer Less time devoted to Blogging/The Blogosphere In General because as much as I love it, it’s not just writing the posts that go into running a blog. See This Post if you missed What Blogging Really Entails. It’s all the other things besides just writing my posts that take alot! All the Bloggers, you know what I mean! Other Goals Include: More Sleep More Protein Training/Gym Sessions Working Out A Lot and Getting Stronger More LaughterMore time in the outdoors More time just being a mom and not feeling rushed onto the next thing, task, activity More time in my kitchen creating things More time reading books & magazines More time with my Family having happy, loving, fun times! What are your goals??? Do you plan them out or not? I don’t normally write lists like I just did, but I always have a mental tally of what I would like to try next or areas to work on. How about you? Stay Tuned For Another Goal/Thing I am Working On…
