Connecting the Inbetween

When I started this blog I was really searching for something. I wanted to look for, and highlight the joy and the light in my life. After I graduated from college in 2010 I felt quite lost. I didn’t know what direction I wanted my life to go in, but I knew I didn’t want to be ordinary. I didn’t want to mold myself into the stereotypical 20 something. I wanted to do more. Learn more. See more. But I didn’t have a direction.

I spent the next 3 years trying to find what would make me happy. I looked for that mostly outside of myself. I had many amazing experiences. I went to music festivals, and travelled, and partied. I really partied. And I loved it. But you can’t live your life for those moments alone. There has to be life in the inbetween. I have spent the greater part of the last 2 years or so learning how to live in the inbetween moments. The time inbwtween what I used to see as the BIG stuff or the IMPORTANT stuff. Learning how to appreciate the present moment for what it is. To be mindful. To be loving. To be open. To do what I love whenever I possibly can. To love those around me no matter what. To appreciate my body, and take care of it. To connect to others. To embrace spirituality, and my connectedness to every one and thing and bit of energy and light around me.

I still want to live an extraordinary life. I still want to see the world. I still want to change the world. But I also want to BE HERE NOW.

I started this blog a long time ago, and never really maintained it or kept up with it or updated it, but I am hoping that this is now the time I can start to share things that are truly happy, and blissful. That I am doing because they speak to my soul, and resonate in the place in me that is greatness and love and connects me to that same place in you.

Kaskade Redux; Enhance Your Energy and Vibrate Higher

Kaskade recently went across America on the “It’s You, It’s Me Redux Tour” promising to take us back to the early house music that we all ache for. The music that got me into house music, and edm. The deep house that makes your heart beat faster, and your stomach tighten because you can’t believe how in tune with your emotion every beat and lyric is. The music that often felt like it came from a mystical place beyond our realm. Playing small intimate shows which sold out in seconds every time, we went back ten years. Pre-Vegas residencies, pre-celebrity DJ’s, from “It’s You It’s Me to “Love Mysterious” and into “Dynasty” with some select tracks off of his “Fire and Ice” album, those small incredibly lucky crowds got a once in a lifetime experience. I wasn’t lucky enough to get tickets, but Kaskade has released a video on Youtube of 100 minutes of the 3 hour San Diego show as well as the download on Soundcloud. Words can’t express what this music has meant to me, but if you take a listen I think you’ll feel it to.

https://soundcloud.com/kaskade/kaskade-live-from-san-diego

Tuesday Tunes with Zedd

This is one of those songs that you hear played every time you step onto the dance floor. I still love it, and scream to it each time. You just can’t hate on a song about a crazy powerful love!

5 Things I Am Doing Today to Be Healthier and Happier

1. Today I visited the chiropractor for the first time. I used a Groupon deal to go to The Joint in Long Beach. They have very affordable deals for the entire family, and a beautiful brand new office. I was in and out quickly even without an appointment. My neck and shoulders immediately felt better. Dr. Keenan explained everything he was doing making it a great learning experience. I had no idea that a chiropractor could help treat such a wide range of issues.
2. I am sipping on green tea with fresh ginger. This drink speeds metabolism, is full of antioxidants, is great for your cholesterol all while keeping skin looking young!
3. CTFO! (Chill the F*ck Out!). This term comes from the amazing and highly recommended book Chill Out and Get Healthy by Aimee E. Raupp. By taking a few minutes to meditate or sit outside in the sun, relax, and write in my journal or read a book I help my body de-stress making the rest of my day better and more productive. ME time is so important, and I make time for it everyday!
4. Cooking an Organic Dinner. I am preparing an entirely organic dinner of wild salmon, quinoa, and grilled zucchini, squash, and peppers. Organic foods have been proven to have more nutrients than their non organic counterparts, and are also free of the dangerous pesticides that non organic produce is sprayed with. I love making organic meals for my fiance. It makes me feel like I am taking great care of him!
5. Walking my dog. Animals are so special. and truly give 100% to us for their entire lives. I love my dog, and she loves me back. She deserves fresh air and sunshine, and a little cardio. Taking a long walk keeps us both heart healthy!

Weather Soundtrack- Madness by Muse

I am bundled up at home working on graduate school applications, and I have seen the world outside go from overcast to a hail storm to rain to lightning and thunder to sunshine in about an hour and half. This is the only song that feels appropriate.

“Our Love is Madness”

Exploring Consciousness with Deepak Chopra

I came across this talk by Deepak Chopra, and it really resonated with me. “The healthiest people were those who didn’t spend money that they hadn’t earned, to buy things that they didn’t need, to impress people that they didn’t like,” he says. He talks about the importance of being in the “now.” These days the World runs a mile a minute, and there are things pulling us in every direction. We can hide from each other in our smart phones, and I think we miss out on a lot of human connection. I know I’m not the only one that will play with my phone to avoid awkward situations. It’s a good reminder to live in the now, be present in the moment, and value what is around you.

A Journey to Peace of Mind; Free Yoga In Long Beach, CA

 

                                           

 

A goal for 2013 was to focus on having a healthier mind and body. I began working out more, and wanted to give yoga a try. In Long Beach there is free yoga class overlooking the Ocean everyday, on Ocean and Junipero. This generous class is put on by Trilogy Yoga studio which is a donation only studio on Broadway. I have always wanted to try yoga, but for some reason felt intimidated. This free outdoor class was the perfect stepping stone for me. I have gone a few times, and my passion for the practice of yoga has been ignited. The instructors have all been wonderful. There is someone different each day, and they each put their own spin on the session. I leave each time feeling relaxed, and more in control of my body and emotions. The class also offers a great sense of community. There are usually around 30 people there, and class ends sometimes in a group hug and a collective ohm. There is something in me that craves that connection, quiet, spirituality, and peace. I am doing more research on the practice of yoga, and its teachings. I hope to continue developing my flexibility, strength, breathing, and taking advantage of the amazing community of yogis present here in Long Beach.

Please enjoy this video about Free Yoga on the Bluff taken from Dharma Shatki Yoga Blog

 

2013, The Year of Health and Wellness

2012 was a whirlwind. I had a lot of amazing experiences through travel, music festivals, and fun. I also saw a decline in my physical and mental health. I began to have problems with my arms, and began to feel rundown, tired and anxious. The issues with my arms led to me being put on disability, and required physical therapy. I was newly 25, and that was just not right. I knew I needed to take better care of myself. I began to focus on eating a more healthy diet, and getting more regular exercise. I immediately began to see results. My energy levels soared, and my body felt better than it had in years. I am hoping to build a lifetime of good habits. Here are few things I hope to begin or continue in 2013, and forever…

• Focus my energies towards a positive and healthy lifestyle
• Exercise regularly
• Get outside as much as possible, more hikes and exploring
• Visit new and different places, both locally and internationally (Yosemite, India and South Africa, I am coming for you!)
• Reduce my impact on the planet (recycle, use less plastic, create less waste, re-purpose old items)
• Plant vegetables, and flowers
• Learn to compost
• Read always and often
• Maintain healthy and balanced relationships
• Show and accept love
• Encourage those around me
• Take better care of my skin (Sunscreen!)
• Meditate
• Develop my flexibility and balance

I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar! My take on Tina Fey and Amy Poehler at the Golden Globes.

I am going to preface this by saying that I did not watch the Golden Globes. However, I did watch Tina Fey and Amy Poehler deliver an amazing opening monologue ( I realize that that is incorrect because there were two of them). I LOVED it! It was funny without trying too hard. It dug at celebrities without being super offensive, and they covered so much pop culture in just a few minutes. I love that these women are so themselves, so intelligent, such amazing humorists, and amazing representations of strong women. They are people we can all look up to for achieving success by being great at their craft, not by showing cleavage and playing dumb. Hurrah!

Come Back to Me Sweet Summer

http://vimeo.com/51701105

These ice cold nights make me long for my summer suntan, and dance parties in the sun. I just found this video from SUMMERTRAMP, and it made me miss summer that much more.