Monday, February 21, 2011
Hey my lovelies!
Boy have I been busy, busy, busy these past few weeks. (And getting busier by the day...)
Taking care of the 3 twins, creating dance madness, planning a master class with Taylor Moore (happening tomorrow), taking on a new fit class (I will give more details soon...PROMISE!), and somehow managing to maintain the rest of my life has definitely kept me on the go. Fortunately, I love everything about my jobs, so busy typically doesn't stress me out.
I will be honest, last week I was feeling plain funky. Not sure what was going on, but I definitely needed some ME TIME!
Luckily, 'me time' was on my agenda; Saturday afternoon at 2:30 to be exact.
And so the story begins...
A few weeks ago I entered a contest that was posted on facebook.
owner of Dancing Dogs Yoga, asked facebookers to post a picture of yourself in your favorite yoga pose and you would be entered in to win a FREE pass to a master yoga class.
Well... I LOVE contests, am always down for free classes, and I happened to have a picture like that...
Me in yoga pose.
Long story short: I WON!!!!
I was beyond excited. I have never practiced yoga on the regular, but have always loved taking classes.
To top my excitement and send me off to cloud nine... I won a free pass to a 'Chocolate Covered Yoga Master Class'.
Totally what I needed (and looked forward to!) after being so busy for the last few weeks.
So... Saturday afternoon I grabbed my hot pink yoga mat and my sister, Erin, (I bought Erin a pass to the class for her 22nd birthday because I thought she might enjoy some 'me time' too.) and we headed to DDY!
Upon arrival, I found myself a little nervous for 2 reasons.
1. I haven't actually taken a yoga class since... high school?
(Although I was familiar with most of the terms Shelley used, thanks to Tony from P90X. ; ) )
2. Erin and I were the youngest members of the class.
I think Shelley could tell (maybe by the terrified look on Erin's face or by my shaking nervous hands...) that we felt a baby bit uncomfortable.
Shelley wasted no time and quickly eased our nerves simply by her presence.
She asked everyone to introduce themselves, tell how long (or how not long) we had practiced yoga, and share our favorite food.
Such a simple way to make each member of the class feel comfortable.
Throughout the class she gave smooth flowing directions, had an encouraging teaching style, and she has such a wonderful relaxing voice. She is amazing and the class was unbelievably powerful.
Here is the best explanation of the class:
(Taken from the 'Chocolate Covered Yoga Master Class' Event page on facebook.)
"We began our practice with a heart opening sequence designed to lift our hearts and our spirits before exploring the more subtle energies of the body.
Each of the chakras are directly tied to our emotional, mental and physical well-being. Balanced chakras produce healthy and balanced individuals, and blocked chakras often cause distress, disease and unrest.
We explored the chakras as never before as we went on a chocolate-covered journey into asana, mantra, meditation and of course, chocolate! We took each chakra, one by one, and explored it using asana to find the energy center, and mantra and meditation to balance it, moving energy through the body, finding time for chocolate along the way."
Now let me tell you about that chocolate we found time for along the way....
The chocolate was made by this woman:
Juila Lungin
of Chocoveda.
"Chocoveda inspires self-indulgence in sacred practices of love, meditation and positive thinking, such that balance is achieved."
(Taken from the Chocoveda website.)
The chocolate was delicious!!!
During the class I chose to only take a bite of each of the 7 truffles, so I could bring some home for Kev and Kami to enjoy. They were very appreciative and surprised that I was kind enough to even think about sharing my sacred chocolate.
And this is the box each of us received.
"All natural, dairy-free, 70% dark vegan chocolate truffles. Seven flavors correlating to each of the seven energy centers with beautiful yantra designs on each truffles. Flavors include chai, tangerine, ginger/lemongrass, green tea, peppermint, pomegranate, and honey/vanilla."
(Again, taken from the Chocoveda website.)
Flavors of the chocolate truffles:
Each box came with this Chakra Meditation Guide:
Shelley guided us through each chakra with great explanation. Once a chakra was discussed, we explored it using asana (a body position; yoga pose) to find the energy center, then mantra (while in pose) and meditation to balance it. Then came the best part... After awakening our bodies and our truffle we mindfully bit in! Slowly absorbing the individual flavor and texture of the truffle. Mmm... Unbelievable!
I left class feeling balanced, free of stress, and revived. It was amazing! Erin and I both loved the entire class and enjoyed meeting a few new yogis! I definitely need to begin practicing yoga asap! Thank you Shelley and Dancing Dogs Yoga!
And... After visiting the Chocoveda website I may have to invest in this box soon...
Flavors include wild strawberry, gorgeous guava, and pink grapefruit.
YES, PLEASE!
Hope you have been able to enjoy some of this beautiful low country weather! Until next time... Namaste.
- Megan
Monday, February 14, 2011
Such a great song!
Be my... Valentine!
xo - Meg
Happy Valentine's Day!
Well... I think the only thing missing from my last post was 50 tons of glitter and chocolates raining down from the ceiling as you looked at cute pictures and read sweet quotes. Haha. But I do hope you all enjoyed my image filled, commercialized post about Valentine's Day!
Now that today is actually the big day, I figured I would share my absolute favorite part about Valentine's Day...
In 270 A.D., marriage had been outlawed by the emperor of Rome, Claudius II. Claudius issued this decree because he thought that married men made bad soldiers since they were reluctant to be torn away from their families in the case of war. Claudius had also outlawed Christianity in this time period because he wished to be praised as the one supreme god, the Emperor of Rome.
Valentine was the bishop of Interamna during this period of oppression. Valentine thought that the decrees of Rome were wrong. He believed that people should be free to love God and to marry. Valentine invited the young couples of the area to come to him. When they came, Valentine secretly performed services of matrimony and united the couples.
Valentine was eventually caught and was brought before the emperor. The emperor saw that Valentine had conviction and drive that was unsurpassed among his men. Claudius tried and tried to persuade Valentine to leave Christianity, serve the Roman empire and the Roman gods. In exchange, Claudius would pardon him and make him one of his allies. St. Valentine held to his faith and did not renounce Christ. Because of this, the emperor sentenced him to a three-part execution. First, Valentine would be beaten, then stoned, and then finally, decapitated. Valentine died on February 14th, 270 A.D.
While in prison, waiting for his sentence to be carried out, Valentine was comforted by the jailer's daughter, the blind Asterius. During the course of Valentine's prison stay, a miracle occurred and Asterius regained her sight. Valentine sent her a final farewell note. He signed his last note, "From Your Valentine."
When I attended St. Peter's Catholic School, we would watch the video of St. Valentine on Valentine's Day every year (Do they still show it???). I always looked forward to that part of the day because it is such a beautiful story...
Enjoy your Valentine's Day! (Maybe with wine AND chocolates... I know I will!)
- Meg
Saturday, February 12, 2011
With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I thought I'd share some Valentine's Day quotes, a few pictures of my Valentine's, and whatever else comes to mind...
Anyone can catch your eye, but it takes someone special to catch your heart. - Author Unknown
When love is not madness, it is not love. - Pedro Calderon de la Barca
Love: The irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired. - Robert Frost
Love is a canvas furnished by nature and embroidered by imagination. - Voltaire
For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul. - Judy Garlan
And my most favorite...
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous;
love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly;
it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails...But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7,13
My sweet Valentine's...
Daddy and Kami
Caitlin, Erin, and Megan
In the cookies of life, sisters are the chocolate chips. ~Author Unknown
Bella and Kami
It is as grandmothers that our mothers come into the fullness of their grace.
-- Christopher Morley
-- Christopher Morley
Uncle Bryon and Kami
The love of a family is life's greatest blessing.
We are planning to go see this movie tomorrow afternoon/evening...
Followed by a Valentine's Day dinner... somewhere to be determined.
Hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day (...weekend)!
- Megan
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Hello to YOU! I hope this post finds you well, warm, and happy.
This week has been simply... simple. Not plain in any way, just simple. And simple is always welcome in our life, especially with a 2 year old diva running wild around the house. I decided to (quickly) do this post on a few of our meals this week. Typically, I do not plan meals by the week and if I do, I usually do not follow through and actually cook said planned meals. However, this week something magical has happened to me and I have actually planned AND COOKED some delicious food! (Whoo-hoo! Go me!)
Monday started out yucky and wet, but somehow sweet Kami and I made it to the store for our dinner ingredients. I only planned 3 meals for this week (Before you ask... Yes, we do eat dinner every night and yes, there are more than 3 nights in one week.) because I wasn't really sure how this planning thing was gonna go... Actually I wasn't sure if we would make it past Monday... But here it is Thursday and we are going strong!
I found all 3 recipes here.
Kamdyn decided we should have fish on Monday, so we did. : ) We enjoyed Garlic Alfredo Tilapia with broccoli and Steamfresh pasta.
(This picture is from the allrecipes.com site.)
I did not cook the above meal, but our fish looked similar to that fish! It was so YUMMY and super easy to make!
Steamfresh pastas... AMAZING! I keep stocked on these pasta sides and veggies.
Tuesday: Kevin brought home Subway! No cooking for me today, so my house is now spotless AND we went to Sonic for dessert.
Wednesday morning at 6am I was in kick boxing (at Get Fit) and totally halfway regretted eating a Sonic Blast the night before.
Wednesday nights I teach dance (basically) right after my nanny gig, so I have no time to make dinner and do not get to eat dinner 9:30 or so. This being said, Wednesday mornings I can usually be found making dinner. (I know... It's totally weird, but totally worth it!) Dinner (which was done at 9AM) was Beef Tips and Noodles. This meal was so easy and we all 3 enjoyed it! Kami was proud to eat all of her steak and thanked me for making an "amazing" dinner. (Love that little lady!) Will definitely be making it again soon!
(Again from allrecipes.com)
After devouring dinner around 9 last night, I got to work on dinner for Thursday. (I'm sure by now, you all must think I'm nuts.) Watching the 3 twins from 8:30-4:30ish, then teaching dance from 6-9, make Thursday my longest day of the week So typically on Thursday I try to make a crock-pot meal or Kev and Kami end up going to Pizza Inn (Ewww....).
So... Tonight we will be having Slow Cooker Thai Peanut Pork.
Finally a picture of something I made! : ) I took this picture last night after prepping the meal. It smelled delicious even before being cooked, so I can only imagine what it will taste like... Mmm... I'm ready for dinner now (and it is only 4pm... Sad).
Hope you enjoyed reading about our dinners. : )
I promise to post something of interest either tomorrow or over the weekend.
Anyone have big plans for Valentine's Day???
Peace and Prayers,
Megan
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Someone other than me!
Alright, I started this blog a few months ago (I'm not even sure how long ago...) and promised to keep up. Well... life got in the way and I just plain forgot about this little ol' blog thing.
TAKE 2!
Now in 2011, I suppose I'll give this blogging thing a second chance. (Say a prayer for me!)
This year truly has started out looking very bright. (Thank the Lord!) I told Kevin back in August or September that I really felt like this year would be 'our' year. By that, I mean our year to grow... Grow together, grow as parents, grow in our careers, and so on...
So far, my prediction has been correct. : )
I am currently a nanny for the sweetest (almost) 2 year old twins and being able to bring sweet lady K with me every day is an amazing blessing. I'm pretty sure it is every mother's dream, at some point or another, to get paid to be a mommy... Well that's me, every day. ; ) I am also dancing again!!! Teaching and taking class as often as I can is making me feel 13 again (in spirit, not body... In body I typically have more days where I feel 80, sometimes 90, and not 23). I have no interest in going back to school (YET!) and am perfectly pleased with that decision.
I recently attended Showstoppers dance convention in Myrtle Beach, SC and had a BLAST!!! I had not been to a dance convention since high school (about 5 or 6 years ago...), so I was beyond excited to be there. I took so many amazing classes, met some awesome dancers and choreographers, and bonded with my LCSOPA ladies!
Here are a few pics...
Me with Geo Hubela
Me, Keltie Colleen, and Erin
Me, Taryn Martin, and Taylor Moore
Taylor was my FAVORITE contemporary teacher at the convention and somehow I magically convinced him to come to Beaufort to teach a master class. (GO ME!) He will be here Feb 22 to teach 2 classes and I seriously cannot wait!!! Here's the info for the master classes!
Kevin is starting his business as a dog behaviorist and I am SO unbelievably proud of him! He is so wise and has become such a wonderful teacher aka pack leader. I am anxious to see where this path leads him... Or should I say, where he leads this path. : ) (You may or may not ever get to see Kevin... He's not a fan of pictures. ; ) ) (****EDIT: I remembered I have a GREAT pic of me and Kev, so here it is...)
Sweet Lady K is totally 2 these days! She loves princesses, mommy's make-up, music, movies, and so much more. This little lady is going places! Most days it seems she already knows exactly where those places will be (which makes me feel old). She is wise beyond her years and my goodness has she become a little actress! K is the only 2 year old I know who shouts "expecto patronum!" at the television upon seeing characters she is not fond of... (Seriously hilarious! I'll try to get y'all a video one of these days...) Oh sweet lady K, how I love you.
That's all for today. : ) I do plan on blogging about our weekly meals, how I lost 40 pounds (Gross, but heck YES those suckers are gone!), current books under my coffee table, dance amazing-ness (Yes, I made that word up.), and so much more!
Stick with me people.
Peace, love, and prayers.
- Megan
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