Morning after

Good morning hotties!

Just to get this one out of the way, I openly admit I am still reeling in the aftermath of Lost.  I know plenty of people don’t watch this show, and I know even more people who watch the show will not be satisfied with the way it ended, but for the past six years, Lost has appealed to all of the literary sensibilities in me and although I’m still processing everything, I’m happy to say I believe it was worth it.

Confession: I don’t even have a TV in my house, but I make room in my life for that show.  And now it’s over.

It’s a strange thing to look back at the course of a television show and not only see where the show has gone, but where you’ve gone with it.  How much has changed over the past six years.  How, when my roommate my freshman year of college sat me down and made me watch my first episode of Lost, was I supposed to know that I had actually just seen the first episode of something I would become so mentally and emotionally invested in?  I had no idea.

(I have to admit, in the last fifteen minutes of the episode, I was sitting in lotus position with my palms open to the sky, receptive to what was coming.  Yes.  I am THAT MUCH of a geek.)

And now I have a buttload of writing to finish!  It’s finals week right now.  By tomorrow at midnight I hope to have completed writing a total of at least 75 pages spread over five different papers.  I’m soooo close.  So sorry my content as of late has been, well, less than exciting, but I promise once I’m done with finals Hottie will be back to tell you about being Hot.  Because I’d rather talk about that.

Here’s some Music Monday for ya’ll!  This is one of my yoga/warm up playlists – it always makes me want to move and open up.

Everybody, celebrate the return of Gaga to my weekly playlist.  Hah.  Also, look fast, you’ll catch my favorite song from the Broadway musical rendition of The Lion King.  We used to warm up to “He Lives In You” in my dance class in high school.  It always makes me smile for that reason.

With yoga in mind, I am setting an intention, not just for today, but for my week: Openness and availability to receive what the universe has to offer.

I’m not usually the type of personality to set an intention or goal but this seems like the right kind of week for it.  And hey, just because I don’t “usually” do something, doesn’t mean I can’t try it.

But seriously.  How am I supposed to concentrate on my papers when I have LOST on the brain?  And what am I supposed to do now?  Haha I have no TV shows I like!  What TV shows to you watch? Are you more into mindless television (reality TV, etc) or do you like shows that make you think?  When I used to have a TV I would watch anything and everything – Law and Order, Food Network, America’s Next Top Model, MTV shows, prime time dramas and sitcoms … Now when I go somewhere that has a TV it feels almost foreign to me!  I’m so unaccustomed to sitting in front of a TV just watching a show, I always feel really unproductive.  It’s so weird, especially since I used to love lovelovelove TV.

Anyway, being the morning after, I’m feeling like I need a little bit of catharsis and detox.  Therefore, I forewent my usual morning oatmral (which they totally eat on Lost) and instead went for a smoothie which I  an claim draws on thematic food elements from Lost.

Green monster, not Smoke Monster

Post-Lost Green Monster

• 1 banana
• 1/2 mango
• 2 large leaves swiss chard
• peanut butter!!
• almond milk
• cinnamon

Ok.  I’m officially just writing to procrastinate.  Off to … write some more.

Have a fabbity fab week, babies!  I’ll be back soon!

Weekend Reading

Hey hey hotties!  I hope you’re all having a positively fabulous weekend!  I’ve been busy busy busy reading, but when I procrastinate, guess what I do?  I read more.  Here are some articles that have recently caught my eye out on the web!

What Does A Healthy Body Look Like? from That’s Fit
Lisa Edelstein: “I Don’t Eat For Entertainment!” in Prevention Magazine
How To Spring Clean Your Life from EpicSelf
iDifferent on TrueSlant by Dreena Burton
Mangoes and Smoke: A LOST Series Finale Menu from TheKitchn
Kim Kardashian Cried, Prayed, and Was Embarassed Because of Her Big Boobs from SkinnyVSCurvy.com
Alfalfa Sprouts recalled after at least 22 ill from Associated Press (Eep!  Good thing I’m learning to sprout myself…or not!)
Grown-Up Cyclists Need Helmets, Too from New York Times
Vitamin D: Why You Are Probably NOT Getting Enough and How That Is Making You Sick from Huffington Post
15 Most Bizarre Diets In History from Women’s Health
Top Ways To Learn Pilates from About.Com

What are you reading now?

Babies, I love all your amazing comments!  I love when my cell phone buzzes to tell me I have a comment from some amazing person who has done me the pleasure of gracing my blog with their presence!  I have been especially fond of hearing how all of you came up with your blog names and where you like to shop for your groceries.  My biggest obsession in life is how everybody is so different – it amazes me and mystifies me and every day I am struck breathless at least once by how incredibly dynamic our world is because of this, and I feel so lucky that I get to connect with so many different people from places I might never even get to go just because I write a blog.  What a wondrous world.

Also, I got the greatest search engine hit of all time.  Someone Googled “Lady Gaga likes hummus” and found MY blog.  Whaaaaaaaaaat?  This cracks me up!

Oh, before I forget, Averie has a seriously awesome Naturally Nutty giveaway going down right now and Michelle is giving away an incredible Aurorae package.  I happen to be a fan of Aurorae myself, so go go go enter!

La la la. I  have more reading and lots of writing to get to, and I would like to have the majority of it done before the (sniff) Final Episode of Lost (sob).  Yes, that entire thing is a proper noun.  It’s an event.  I am stocking up on chocolate and hot pepper, which both stimulate endorphins, to counteract the extreme cloud of sadness about to eat me alive.  Ohhhh yeah baby.

I’ll end this sufficiently inane post now.  Catch ya later.

Four Eyes

A little bit of Fashion Friday for ya’ll!

Look what someone I like a lot bought for me … how freaking cute are they?

I am all about accessories.  (They’re red and black&white checkerboard)  I never wear my glasses though!  But these are so awesome I’ll just have to wear them.

Random: I went into Whole Foods today and I simultaneously experienced extreme repetitive foodgasms as I was entirely overwhelmed by the availability of product.  How does anyone go inthere and come out alive?  I left without buying anything.

Where do you shop for your groceries? Do you ever go to Whole Foods/other “higher end” national stores?  What is your favorite thing to buy at the grocery store and what are your necessary buys?  Since I don’t drive and I am on a budget I usually just shop at my local grocery store – like I said I was totally overwhelmed with the selection at Whole Foods and ran out!  I love to buy fun chocolate I see and also whatever produce is fresh and awesome looking.  I was wandering through a farmer’s market today and drooling over how great everything smelled.

If you haven’t yet added to the discussion on how you decided to name your blog what it is (if you’re a blogger), go check it out!  I’m really enjoying everybody’s responses – I know it was a long process for me to get to Happy Healthy Hottie and I wonder if I’m going to come to want to be known as something else in the future?

Song of the moment: Beyonce “Why Don’t You Love Me”

Have a fantastical weekend Hotties!

Hot Stuff: NuNaturals NuStevia product review!

Holy cannoli.

First of all, I have no idea where my brain is this week.  From Tuesday at sundown until tonight was the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, which meant my plans for the week were completely derailed.  I simply forgot about it!  Even though it’s in my BlackBerry scheduler AND my iCal calendar.  Seriously…whereismymind?

One note about Shavuot – it’s customary on this holiday to eat DAIRY.  Well, what is a lactose- and casein-free girl to do?  I know, eat things with tehina!  Like in my Vegetable Fettucini a la Vodka!  Yes, that was my sneaky not so sneaky way of trying to tell you that I added a page for my recipes on the site.  I’ve only posted three recipes so far, but I’m sure there was even a time where Martha Stewart only had three recipes to her name, so everyone’s gotta start somewhere!

So I was one lucky girl to win a sweet giveaway from Ms. Averie – yes, NuNaturals stevia products!  Since I’m a major sweet tooth but trying very hard to limit my sugar intake these days, stevia has been something I’ve wanted to try but couldn’t find the room in my budget to branch out to.  So imagine my thrill when a huge box arrived on my doorstep carrying not only the promised vanilla drops and stevia packets, but also the NuNaturals NuStevia baking blend!  My #1 form of procrastination/stress relief is to create bakery confections in my kitchen, so thank you NuNaturals for making all my sugar-free pastry dreams come true!

First of all, when I opened the package to find not just the drops and the packets, but the baking blend as well, I literally squealed in delight.  I scared my cats.  I’ve never heard myself make that noise.  Then I opened this giant envelope to find a wonderful and informative letter from the company, telling me about their products, and a huge packet of creative and fun recipes for suggestions on how to use the Stevia.

I have to say I was impressed.  I like to see when a company is proud of their product and interested in promoting its benefits.  And this is a great product.

Now, I must confess that I haven’t yet had the time to devote to finding a recipe I would like to test out my precious NuStevia baking blend on (no offense to all the fabulous recipes they sent me, but I like to make my own stuff up), but I have had a chance to give both the vanilla drops and the packets a spin, and I am a happy girl!

The other day I used half a packet of the powder in my coffee, and it was the perfect amount of sweet for me – I actually like my coffee bitter, but some bold roasts have a little too much of a burnt taste for me, so somehow this stevia adds the perfect, minimal touch of sweetness to my coffee without making me feel like I’m sipping simply syrup.

By far, though, my favorite product is the vanilla drops.  I can guarantee you that when these run out I will be droppin some of my squeezed tight dollas on this stuff.  One drop is absolutely perfect for an Ilana-sweet cup of coffee, and three drops mixed into a tablespoon full of peanut butter makes me a really happy girl.

Oh yeah, and using it in chocolate butter also makes me a really happy girl.  Katie, from one chocolate-covered hottie to another, DAAAAAYYMMMN GURL!  In case you were wondering, hotties, chocolate butter takes less than three minutes to make and tastes like a chocolate truffle on a spoon…which is basically what it is.  Excuse the awful picture of my half-eaten jar of it (I just had to keep taste-testing to make sure the RIGHT balance between bitter and sweet was used).  Just try it.

chocolate butter and boysenberry jam on an organic whole wheat waffle

(Side note – this post is taking me a million years to write because I keep getting distracted by having a personal dance party in my mirror to Lady Gaga.  Just thought you needed to know.)

Something to talk about: Two of my best friends, kind of inspired by me, are thinking about starting their own blogs.  Of course, both of them are having difficulties deciding on a name for their blog.  As you may or may not know, I actually blogged for nearly six months before I landed on the blogdentity of Happy Healthy Hottie (yes I am corny as hell).  I totally feel their pain as they toss around different names for their future creative spaces.  I mean, the title of any creative work is supposed to identify, in some respect, the essence of the piece (I guess I am considering a blog to be a “creative piece” in and of itself).  My question is, how did you come upon the name for your blog? When you started blogging, did you have a clear sense of what you wanted to achieve through your blog, or has their been evolution and development in that area as you continue?  Looking back, if you could, would you want to change your blog name, or does it still reflect your core goals for your blog?  How has your blog changed since you started?  What I love is how I’ve learned so much from reading various blogs over the past few years, and the most valuable lesson I’ve been able to take is how change is good, and that change is possible ANY time.  I was nervous about scrapping my original project for a new one, but I couldn’t be happier with where Happy Healthy Hottie has been going, so I know I took the right step to start a new blog.  Tell me about yours!!

Anyway, I’m off to catch up on Glee and Lost and try to pretend that Lost doesn’t end in three days (I’m tearing up right now thinking about it — this is going to be a rough separation).  Have a goodnight hotties!

Guest post at Dairy Free Betty!

Hey hotties!  I don’t have a post planned today but I wanted to let you know that my first guest post ever is up at Dairy Free Betty!  Check it out!  I shared my recipe for Vegetable Fettucini a la Vodka, which is my  veganized, gluten-free, and high raw take on the Italian favorite.  Thanks, Jess!

It’s raining today and my favorite Tuesday morning yoga-in-the-park was cancelled, but I’m thinking about hitting up Yoga to the People for the first time, since I’m craving some vinyasa in my life.  Also, it is finally finals week – cannot wait for summer break already (I know, everyone else is already done.  Welcome to my life)!

If you want to see my progress on my 60 Day Challenge (today is day 2!), I’m updating the page daily with my workouts and notes about them.  You know, if you care

Jam of the morning: Mary J Blige – Family Affair (remember this one?)

Hottie Tip: Next time you catch yourself walking and your eyes are looking down, look up!  Pick a focal point straight ahead, gaze at it, and draw your shoulders down your back to straighten your posture as you walk.  You’ll feel instantly more confident!

Have a fabulous day, all you hotties!

Happy Monday!

Hi Hotties! Monday is here again – aaand I’m lookin’ at a whole week of fun.  For me.

Sooo… Remember Saturday night when I said I wouldn’t play too hard because I had a big day planned for Sunday?

Well, let’s just say, I left my house for Manhattan at 11pm.  I should have known better.

I had a fabulous night playing with my BFF for her birthday (Happy Birthday I love you!), but we didn’t make it home until the sun had already risen, so … that squashed my Sunday plans a bit.  I decided to make Sunday my last “rest” day and now it’s Monday mornin’ and we’re up and at em!

This is the list I am jammin’ to this morning while I take care of bix around the house:

Surprisingly, Gaga-free?  But I do have some Queen and Bowie up there so I guess that makes up for it.

On today’s workout roster, I have a bike ride and an hour of Pilates planned!  Since I don’t have proper running shoes and I’ve injured my ankles in the past without enough support, I’m going to start out on the bike until such time that I can invest in a pair (and ohh I saw a gorgeous pair the other day in the window at Foot Locker)..  Of course, my main concern is shoes.

Do you have a favorite pair of shoes? These are mine:

I took these with me to Thailand, and they’ve survived quite nicely since.  I wear them just about every day right now.  What’s yours?

What music are you listening to today?

Something to think about for the week - Each one of us deserves somebody who loves us honestly and wholly.  Love should never make you question your own self-worth.

Have a faaaabulous Monday and week, Hotties!

Weekend Update!

Hi hotties! How’s everyone’s weekend going?  I hope you all had some gor-geous weather like I did!  I got to spend the afternoon watching my kitty cats rulling around and playing in my green grass in the backyard!  I can’t complain.

Thank you all so much for your words of encouragement on my challenge and your words of advice on running!  Don’t worry about me “pushing myself” or being too hard on myself – I was always picked last in gym class in elementary school so I don’t expect much out of myself in the beginning.  I’m going to first learn what I am capable of before I start to try to amp it up – I definitely don’t want to set really high expectations, force myself through it, and end up hurting myself or anything like that!  My body is my power and my strength and I don’t want to jeopardize that!

I’ve added a page to the blog to track my progress on the challenge!  As the days go by, I will be updating with my exercise journal as well as probably my food journal (but don’t quote me on that – sometimes I love recording what I eat and sometimes it just stresses me out).

Also, you may have noticed I changed up the layout around here.  I loved the green, but, well, it felt like something I would have made when I was thirteen!  I’m much more fond of this simple, white and blue version, even if it is vaguely minimalist.  It’s easier on my old-lady eyes.  The photo in the header is from a trip to St John in the US Virgin Islands in 2008.

Oh, by the way, have you hugged a fat today?  Or in my case, kissed one?

Here’s my opinion on fat in our diet and society, taken from my comment on Katie‘s blog post about fat!

Ever since I increased my healthy fat in my diet, the “flab” on my body has melted away. Methinks they should change the name of the blubbery deposits on the body from “fat” to something else..can we just call it blubber? Because fat in food – good fats, that is, not trans fats, the processed chemical fats that kill us – are so good for you, but we’ve been indoctrinated to stigmatize things like nuts and avocados because of their high fat content while eating highly processed, made-only-of-chemicals-that-will-make-you-sick foods is “okay” because the “fat” content on the label is low. No thanks. My roommate has a tendency to buy those things that are “reduced fat” and “less fat than the original!” because she thinks they’re healthier, but I can’t stand seeing them in my fridge!

Yay for fats!

My favorite sources of fat are peanut butter, avocado, coconut oil, and tehina!  What are yours?

I’m off to play in the city for my BFF’s twenty-third birthday, but I won’t play too hard because tomorrow is Day 1 of my Challenge, and I’m gonna get it started off right!  I’ll be back soon with a new favorite product review and some other fun stuff!

Later!

Challenge

Hey hey, ya’ll!

(Now I feel like saying, “I’m Paula Deen and today we’re makin’ the most buttery rich pie crust you’ve ever seen…with two whole sticks of buttahh!”)

Yesterday, the fabulous twins behind a favorite blog of mine, Pure2Raw, posted about a 60 day challenge they’re embarking upon.  Check out what they’re challenging themselves with – super intense from this lazy bum’s point of view!  I’ve been developing a plan in my mind for, well, for lack of better word, training, I guess, so this was a well-timed post for me to read!  I figured I’d hop on and be a follower, and besides who doesn’t want stuff to stick in their sidebar?  Basically I want to incorporate more yoga and cardio into my purely-Pilates fitness routine.  I love Pilates, and it absolutely never bores me, but there are so many other things out there that I need to try!

So here’s my plan:

I currently practice Pilates for an hour a day 4-5 days a week.  I intend to maintain this schedule.  In addition, I intend to add an hour of yoga practice twice a week, and an hour of cardio (either biking or running) twice a week. I really want to build up both my knowledge of yoga and my stamina for cardio, especially on the bike.  So the schedule would go something like this:

Sunday: Pilates+Cardio
Monday: Pilates
Tuesday: Yoga+Pilates
Wednesday: Pilates+Cardio
Thursday: Pilates
Friday: Yoga
Saturday: Rest day

I’m not saying it will always be *exactly* like that – I’ll work it around my schedule – but that’s the basic idea.  Six active days, some more active than others, and one day of rest.

I’ve spent much of today scouring the web for information about free yoga classes around New York, because while I’d love to be a member at any one of the amazing studios within easy travel distance for me, I just cannot afford it.  Frankly, even paying for unlimited monthly mat classes at my Pilates studio is expensive on my extraordinarily limited budget, but I believe it’s worth it.

On the other hand, there are so many community-based yoga efforts around the city and I really think it’s amazing.  I fell in love with doing outdoor yoga in New York City, which I know for most practicers of yoga must sound like the most absurd thing.  The noise, all the people, all the possibilities of distraction, but I have to confess: Living in the city as long as I have, sounds of cars and construction and the subway have become white noise to me.  When I go visit my Mom and Dad in their silent suburbs, I can never sleep because it’s so quiet, or the crickets bug me!  In fact, there is construction going on right at the park where I’ve been going to yoga, and as soon as I hear the drill, I become still inside.

And since these sixty days of my challenge happen to coincide with, well, my summer break, I anticipate that I will actually be able to commit to this challenge.  I say this, because I totally don’t have the kind of personality that takes on specific challenges with goals in mind, I usually just “do.”  Guess that’s why it’s called a challenge.

I begin this Sunday, bright and early with Pilates in the morning taught by my favorite instructor.  Sounds like a good kick-off to the challenge to me!

for posterity's sake, a photo of me looking pseudo-hardcore

What is one thing you are not doing right now that you want to try to incorporate into your life? I especially want to start riding my bike more often.  I am a professional public transportation user, I do not have my driver’s license, but when the weather is nice I don’t want to go underground.  I don’t think I’ll be riding my bike all the way to Manhattan *just* yet but I want to push my limits and extend my stamina.  I mean, hey, some people train themselves to ride a hundred miles.  I can train myself to go at least 20.  What do you want to do more of?

Are you into cardio? What’s your favorite type?  I know many of my blog friends love running … how did you get started?  Do you have any tips for a running virgin (me)?

Have a fabulous weekend, all you hotties!

Daydreamer

If I wanted to, I could start a blog detailing all the reasons I love New York City.  From the homeless men with signs that say, “Fuck it, I just want a beer,” to living art instillations in public parks, to the rumble of the train beneath my feet, to the dozens of hotels I’ve used over the years as my personal restrooms, to the aroma of Starbucks wafting from every corner, my history is splashed all across the sidewalks and streets of my hometown.  Every landmark is just a part of my backyard.

Columbus Circle

But, don’t worry, this isn’t a paean in blog form to good old New York.  This is a paean to how wonderful and strange life is!

at Lincoln center

Yesterday, as last week, and as I anticipate I’ll be doing all summer long, I went to yoga in the park.  You don’t understand – I got hooked after last week, and spent all week scouring New York via internet for other yoga classes in the park (it works for me).  Oh, and yes, people, this was my second yoga class ever.  And damn – was it tough.  Not so much physically strenuous, because we practiced Hatha yoga yesterday, with a mind towards restoration and opening the body gently.  But holy cow – it was COLD.  I think it was in the FIFTIES.  Last week it was in the eighties and beautiful.  If there is one thing this hottie cannot stand, it’s the COLD.  I’m hot, cold is the exact opposite.  No. Thank. You.  It was a real test for me – as I sat shivering on my mat before the class started I considered booking it to the nearest Starbucks but I’d already taken my mat  at the front of the group, so I figured I’d give it a shot.  I mean, I trekked all the way to Manhattan, may as well not waste it.

I'm in this picture!

I’m really glad I did end up staying for the whole class.  The yogi who led the session was really incredible, with amazing insights about yoga and the body. Yesterday’s practice actually helped enhance my performance in Pilates later on, so methinks yoga is a permanent mainstay in my physical activity.

After, I had some time to kill so I ended up wandering around the city.  I got hit on by a boy who knows my boyfriend, and upon narrowly escaping him (so creepy, he came up to me and said, “I was watching you doing yoga.” EW) I ran face-first into an old friend from high school whom I haven’t seen in years.  Let me tell you, there is nothing more positively affirming than to see someone you haven’t seen in a long time, and have them tell you that the path you’re on is just “so you!”  My life feels like one big conglomeration of RIGHT right now, and everyone can see it.

LIncoln Center

I ended up at Lincoln Center.

Once upon a time, I truly believed with all my heart that my destiny, my path, would lead me to the hallowed stages of the Metropolitan Operahouse and the New York State Theater.  In fact, there was no doubt in my mind that I was on a straight course right there.  I once was an opera singer, and I was absolutely certain that my adult life, my future, would be spent on stage at the world’s greatest opera houses, lead-soprano style.

How strange, now, to look at these buildings and no longer imagine myself gracing the stage with my presence.  How strange, also, that these feelings are not bittersweet in the least.  I am comfortable that I have let go of that path – comfortable, and happier than I ever have been.

my favorite part of this picture is the guy speeding through talking on the phone. you can see his wedding ring.

I remember when I cried over my rejection from Julliard, even though I’d already convinced myself I didn’t “really” want to go there.  Bullshit, what young aspiring musician doesn’t hope they get into Julliard?  Of course, a year later when I had dropped the music performance program in favor of English at my liberal arts college, trust me, not getting into Julliard suddenly meant nothing.  And tnow, it means nothing.  It’s just a good story, a status symbol of my former skill, that my teachers thought me good enough to apply to Julliard.

But it is strange, how so many of my dreams seem to conglomerate in that cultural center of New York.  I can turn my back on those dreams, keeping the girl I once was close to my heart, because I have new dreams, all with an eye to keep me happy.  Music was not the world for me – I have never been a highly competitive person, and being a performer is first and foremost competition.  I have a new future now.

Cryptic image for the win.  Right? Right.

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.

Henry David Thoreau

And so I shall.

What is your dream? No matter how simple or absurd, I want to know!  And I truly believe that you do have what it takes to achieve your dreams.

Have you ever let go of a dream? What was it?  How do you feel about it now?

And with that, my hotties, I’m off to go chase my dreams.

Motivation Music

Hi Hotties!

(And hi HotBoyfriend; who has proven himself to be quite the internet stalker/sleuth)

It’s Monday once again – raise your hand if that’s your favorite day of the week!  Oh, no one?  Yeah, me neither.  And this Monday was a particularly lame Monday morning – aka caffeine free.  All the coffee in my house is decaf.  I’m trying to pretend like this is a “caffeine detox” but it just blows.  It was also absurdly cold today (in the fifties, instead of in the eighties like last week) … and I didn’t want to leave my house if I didn’t have to (but of course I did).

Times like these call for some serious motivation music.  Each song below was specially selected based on its ability to make me feel like a super-hot winnahhh.  If there seems to be an abundance of Lady Gaga and Beyonce…well… let’s chalk it up to both of them being superhotties, and pretend they aren’t simply the soundtrack to my life, k? K.

awkward cropping I know...someone wanna teach me how to "print screen" on a Mac? thanks!

If you listen to one song off that list, make it “Sexy” by B.E.P.  That’s been my jam for years now.  It always makes me feel good!

Also, I’m still workin’ on the splits…which makes this day 3.  I doubt I’ll post “progress pictures” every day (mostly because it’s a hassle to photograph) but here you go anyway.  Ignore my massive piles of laundry in the background (I really do have an obscene amount of clothing needing to be washed though) and instead focus on my “OMG I KNOW WHY IT’S CALLED A SPLIT” face.

left leg forward...seriously stop looking at my laundry, i know i'm a slob...PS my bedroom and my blog are the same color.

right leg forward...super intense facial expression!

Tomorrow is going to be a big fitness day for me - yoga AND Pilates! I’m super excited.  I’m actually planning on increasing the yoga practice in my life – I got big goals, flexibility and diverse knowledge in fitness are both a part of the big picture!  Can’t wait for yoga, I’ve been dreaming about it since last week.

Speaking of goals, I was working on an application for a job at [insert very-well-known fitness clothing company name here] and on the application, it asked me to state my goals, for one year from now, for three years from now, and for ten years from now.  I was actually floored to admit that not only could I answer these questions, this is actually something I never really think about. I know some people are super into goals and making plans for the future but I’m so frequently present in the here and now (and also terrible at preparing) that I rarely think about “the future.”  I have no idea if this is a good thing or a bad thing.  What do ya’ll think?

What’s your feel-good song du jour? Right now I cannot stop listening to Chillin’ by Wale feat. Gaga!  But in case you were wondering, I haven’t stopped listening to Gaga since about October.

and

Do you set goals? Do you make a conscious effort to set goals and achieve them?  Are they long-term, like “get a job with a secure retirement program,” or are they more short-term, immediate, like, “pass next week’s exam”?  What is currently at the forefront of your mind? Personally, right now I’m trying to find a job in a fitness or health related field, even if it’s working retail in a fitness clothing store.  I’m also finalizing my application to Pilates certification programs and tweaking my resume to be  more conducive to my aspirations in health/fitness education.  I’ve got a few other ideas on the back-burner but I’m not quite ready to share them!  What are some of yours goals?

Alright – this hottie needs to go catch up on her beauty sleep if she actually wants to survive yoga and Pilates tomorrow!  Good night!

PS- Thanks for all the sweet compliments on my HottMama!  I got it from her.  She even got me a shirt that says “I Got It From My Mama.”