free bird ME

"Get a little ink, do a little yoga." ~Britt

I plan on blogging all about my recent trip to the Wanderlust Festival in Austin soon! But I'm going to fast forward to the last few hours of the trip when I decided to pull the trigger on getting my first tattoo. I should sorta back up though because anyone who knows me well, knows that I have never been a fan of tattoos. Mostly in the sense that I am a chicken and have the smallest pain tolerance. I also never really understood why someone would want to put a permanent mark on their body, that would most likely be painful. I mean, it's a needle! I have also never been attracted to men who had them and I felt like girls who did just looked "less feminine" (whatever the hell that means). I was ignoring that maybe, just maybe, these "marks" may have a special meaning. Something so special that only the person enduring them would fully understand.

A few months ago, I met my girlfriend at a wine lounge here in SF.

I was telling her how 2013 has been my best year in a LONG time, possibly ever. I wanted to remember it somehow, so a small tattoo would do the trick. And it did. :) It's been my best year not because I was swooped off my feet by some sexy, rich, dude who flew me all over the world. It has been my best year because I decided it would be. Really, I did. I put this post-it on my fridge last January, basically engraving into my head that this was going to be MY BEST YEAR YET. I added my favorite bible verse as a reminder too. I have looked at this every single day, and really created this "best year" on my own.

It was my least anxious, letting go of judgements and expectations, free spirited, time to enjoy this beautiful city, kind of year. And I want to forever remember it. I'm 28 and fully on my own. Not depending on anyone for my happiness or for anything at all. Just being totally about ME and doing whatever it is that makes ME happy. It has been an eye opening year, definitely full of [mostly] happy tears and a much more open mind. For that I am beyond grateful.

I felt like Austin was the perfect place to do it. I was with my best friend who I have known since the age of 5. I was in a brand new city that I fell absolutely in love with. I just finished a renewing yoga/meditation retreat. My mind my clear and my heart was open and set on getting a small bird on my inside wrist. 

I have always thought of myself as a "free bird" and my friends have always implied that I was... in many different ways. ;) The timing was absolutely perfect and I'll never, ever forget it. I will say, it hurt me. A LOT. I am probably a wimp and I'm OK with that. But it really really hurt, and although it only took him less than 30 seconds, I can't imagine myself doing it again. But then again, I never thought I would be getting a tattoo. Or teaching the tattoo artist about the benefits of yoga and actually demonstrating postures inside the parlor.

What a beautiful end to a beautiful weekend in none other than Austin, Texas!

"Free bird Jackie"..... I like it. A lot. :)

Take Care of this Moment

Take care of this moment. Like really good care of this moment. It's the only for sure thing we have. The past is the past and can never be changed. The future can, but the future isn't here yet. All we have is this exact moment. I went for a beautiful walk this afternoon by myself. It's the end of November, it was nearly 70 degrees, I was in a tank top. Ahhhh this is paradise. And I get to live here. :) But as I was walking I was paying attention to each and every moment. The sound of the runners feet passing by me, the smell of the salt water, the feel of the wind messing up my hair. I paid attention to my breath and just the way it felt to expand my lungs and then breathe it all out, just to make room for the next one. Some would call this a walking meditation and I would agree. It was just about being fully conscious and present in that current moment. Nothing else matters, time doesn't mean a thing. 

There is nothing lacking.

Everything you need, you already are. 

I am alive, I am healthy, I am happy.

after yoga smoothie :)

I absolutely love coming home and making a green smoothie after I practice. I was out of spinach tonight so I just fished around in my fridge and threw something together. Now, I'm hooked on this one, it was so delish! 

I tossed in a handful of organic strawberries* and poured in enough almond milk to cover them up. I blend all that together first to get the blender going, adding a little water if it gets stuck. Then I added a whole banana and dumped in a bunch of chia seeds. Bananas are VERY good for us after we work out because of it's high content of potassium which we lose during sweating. It also brings our energy levels back up, and refuels us, due to it's carbohydrate and protein contents!

Again, I never make exact measurements, I just go with taste and how much I'm looking to eat. IE: sometimes I toss in more spinach if I haven't had my greens for that day. I definitely forgot to add honey in this but will next time. ENJOY!

*Strawberries are one of the foods that harbor the greatest amount of pesticides because they lack a skin, and they have all those grooves that collect junk. So always always always buy them organic.