Monday, October 31, 2011

OH GLORIOUS CHANGE

Hello,  It's the one who does not know how to insert pictures into my blog, who is just out here winging it.  I really do not know the purpose of blogging everyday just to prove I can do it.  There is so much I need to learn.  I learn from other peoples blogs so maybe when I learn how to put relevance and content into this blog it will make sense.

Relevance for me is what is now.  Right now I am waiting for a neighbor to come over to help me with my computer.  I am looking out the picture window of my apartment at the wonder and splendor change.  If anyone thinks nothing ever changes just look out the window in Autumn and it is not subtle it is in your face bright glorious change of colors in red, wine, gold, orange, so incredible!!!

I love that I can have my face in a computer screen and out the window gazing at the trees, sky, nature.  Do people ever change?  Or is it just reflected in nature?  I know changes occur but is it deep and lasting or is it all based on thought?  The idea of change and just when I think maybe I have changed my ways up it pops and oops......what happenned?

Nature teaches me that change does happen naturally and in its own time so I know my computer skills will change if I keep at it.  








Sunday, October 30, 2011

Admire the Unexpected

I heard on the radio today that the number one problem people have is their appearance or the appearance of others.  Shows like How Do I Look and What Not To Wear are hits.  I think if you want to look "nice" or "board room ready" go to Ann Taylor's or Talbot's, look at their mannequins and wear that. 

I have two examples of what I mean by dressing with a flair and creating their own unique look.  One is my ballet friend Erin.  I met up with her wearing a pea green knit cloche with a rose embellishment; a white cropped tank top with her bare midriff peaking out just right; long black yoga pants; and a creme full length to the ground light weight sweater over all, with clogs.  Okay, where did she wear this?   Walking  her dog in the park along the river.  Love

Anyone can look correct. " Love your outfit" usually means you fit in perfectly.  I am talking about taking off the rack clothes and wearing them in unexpected ways and unexpected places.  This is the art of it all. 

My second example is Ali who works at a fashion boutique I visit.  She will take  basic items and make it her own.  A tailored vintage jacket with a mickey mouse tee shirt.  .  I asked her how she chooses her pieces and she told me she never likes to wear what's "in".  Immediately I related to that.  For example I began wearing feather earrings two years ago and now that they are everywhere I will give them a rest.

Originality is the fun of dressing and celebrating the differences within us all in our expression lets us learn to appreciate the unexpected....or not.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Buddhist Training

Steve Jobs had the Buddhist training.  I just learned this and so it goes he would choose alternative methods of healing.  All my friends go nuts when I try to heal myself naturally.  I have had hits and misses with taking the reigns but nothing as serious as cancer.

Right now I have a red spot on my nose that has been there for as long as I can remember.  Maybe 20 years?  I just cover it with Erase and end of story.  Well....no.....it crusts over and then I get scared and try to figure out how to heal it.  Every one tells me to go to a dermatologist. I instead go to the net and try apple cider and think ......wow it worked....well not all the way so a friend tells me New Zealand honey heals all .....so now I am back to the honey.  Maybe because my mother did not believe in going to doctors so there go I.

Also I have a metallic taste in my mouth that has been there for a few months now.  I already know everyone will freak saying ...get to a conventional doctor.  When all else fails I go to the Oriental College of Medicine so I may be on my way there soon.

A health, fit, and fashion blog needs to be honest if nothing else.  For me I cannot stand blogs that regurgitate information that to me is conventional (duh).  Example:  Check with your doctor.  Well hello my doctor is myself.  So I am checking in with myself.

Buddhist teachings are for me precious.  I think because it teaches to take responsibility for yourself and not give your intelligence away.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Craaaazy Talk

Too crazy.  I am wanting to do too much too soon.  I need to take a computer class to learn the basics.

Health, fitness, and fashion is about challenging myself to do something new.  Don't know why I thought I could learn about using this computer, blogging and taking pics I could just do without taking a class or having a teacher.  I like the idea of just jumping in but then reality sets in and even when taking yoga classes the first step is to:  find a teacher.

I like to learn things on my own whenever possible.l  I am far from conventional.  My nature is to go off the beaten path.  This is why I applaud Andrew Wiel for stepping up to say Steve Jobs alternative choices for healing his cancer were not necessarily wrong.  No one knows and just because the medical research with the most financial backing as in everything else carries the loudest voice.  So I like to listen to the softer voices that feel right to me.

Taking responsibility for our own self is the key in my opinion.   I like teachers who encourage me to find out for myself and share in a dialogue of learning choices.  As K. (Krishnamurti) teaches to honor our own intelligence.

It takes patience to learn and to know when to ask for help.  My ego is beginning to second guess this idea of just keep blogging every day......telling me I am nuts and no one else with as little computer experience as I would ever just start blogging.   so I will breathe, breathe, breathe, and remind myself I can delete, delete, delete.

One Speed: Go

I have no idea where this is going to be published?

photo

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Confidence

Way too much I dont know about this computer let alone how to blog.  I am more lost today then last week when I first started.  I just click on all kinds of icons and feeds, and now I think it went to bite me.  I am more confused than ever.

I feel soooo lost.  I am going to have to come up with a way to learn how to do this blogging..  I swear the instructions  that said to just start......sooo inspiring for me last week when I started now I think........meant someone who knows at least grade school computer skills which I do not have. 

What does this have to do with health, fitness and fashion?  When confidence is no where to be found?  There are times when confidence just leaves me and trying to get it back only feels false and then comes the expression "fake it til you make it".....as Joshua on Project Runway said when he was not happy with one of his creations for the runway. 

I like to get inspiration and confidence from what I see in others.  Tonight I will get it from Joshua, Viktor, Anya and Kimberly.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Lets Talk Style

My granddaughter loves fashion.  She wants to be a Next Top Model and loves to practice posing for pictures.  I love fashion.  She lives in Arkansas, I live in Oregon and we only get to see each other once a year. 

I began drawing pictures of what I was going to wear to work the followingt day, taking a picture of the drawing on my phone and sending it to her.  I want to start this fashion blog and send it to her but I have to learn how to set everything up, use a camera, a tripod, etc. which all seems way overwhelming to me right now.

Lets talk fashion.  I  am going to describe my outfits in words that I will be wearing the following day until I can figure out how to photograph them.

I am a risk taker in fashion and like to "feel" some kind of statement for the day.  Like choosing a character in a play for the day that suits me.  Luckily I work in an environment that allows me to be as creative as I would like in my dress.  I like to create a "look" fpr the day but NOT a "costume" look.  So how am I going to style white knee high boots?

Tomorrow I will be wearing white boots that I call my go- go boots because it feels like no one wears white boots but me and that they really stand out as a "fashion no-no".  Therein lies the risk.  With the white boots (on sale at a boutique for $15.00) I add Levi white skinny jeans to elongate my leg line, then add an ooff-white oversize lightweight poncho with hood (from H & M),over that a blue jean jacket accessorized with a faux fur collar added both from H & M..  The vide is a 70's look.  I will add only a pair of stud earrings.

Would anyone but me dare to wear this combo???

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Poser

 "Poser: my life in twenty-three yoga poses" by Claire Dederer is a great book.  One  I highly recommend  for all athletes even if you have never taken a yoga class. .

 I taught yoga classes for 25 years.  My path to teaching yoga was an organic experience. 

I was in awe of  my dance teacher.  My boyfriend at that time said, "You could be her". WHAT???? I was a total beginner I could never be like her.  As I continued to take her class while working on my Bachelors Degree in Social Science I also did some  internships in Physical Education.   I designed and implemented a class and workshop called "Body/Mind/Fitness" and began teaching Hath Yoga classes upon graduation.

Somehow I feel like this blog experience is organic as well.  It started with admiring other blogs....then thought hey could I?  Then startred asking the universe for help choosing a computer and it was blogs that helped me choose my Toshiba laptop.....it is blogs that continue to teach me what icon's to click on each night when I am learning my way. It is like dance class.....frustrating, fun, and I want to hurry up and get it right!!!

I have learned along the way with the yoga teachings that practice is not to seek improvement but to breathe, breathe, breathe, create the space within the body, mind, spirit to, just be. It sounds so cliche but it is wisdom handed down through the ages that cannot be denied...

Can one be an athlete and, just be, without trying to???

Monday, October 24, 2011

Jump In

Wanting to start a fashion blog with little computer experience and no camera  I came across the Penelope Trunk blog.  . WOW!! The girl is  all about  INSPIRATION !!!
.   She says...practice, practice, practice. I feel like I am a pre-ballet student that jumped into the Level Three ballet class by mistake.

Maybe Penelope is speaking to those that know alot more about Windows 7 and computer lingo and how to use a camera to take your own photos to post and how to import them into your blog etc. I do not even have words to explain all that I feel I do not know in order to know what I am doing.

Luckily I have been studying ballet for 20 years and know what it means to feel like a clutz and stick with it through tears and ego screaming at me with every excuse imaginable.  I was able to learn how to let that inner voice go and just go on automatic pilot with work and effort and just showing up to class 5 times a week.  I have improved over the years and it is definitely a passion I love as my favorite form of exercise.  I tell myself I am an athlete in training when the body, mind and spirit gets lazy and makes excuses.   Why is the body just naturally lazy??

Just like in ballet class I look for someone to blame for what I consider "too hard" or "not good enough"  Just like I want someone to blame for these lame posts with no pictures and what feels like a major hill to climb just to learn how to use my camera and get a tripod to take my pictures.  So I want to blame Peneolope even though I know her advice is exactly what I need to treat this like I did as a beginning dancer and just SHOW UP and JUMP IN!!

Martha Graham wrote that everyone is god's athlete. That we are all athletes in training.   Whatever you spend most of your time and give energy to is your athletic endeavor of choice.  What is yours?  Do you have more than one?  Do you just jump in?












Sunday, October 23, 2011

A Smile

One of my favorite affirmatios;is ...."A smile is worth a thousand good intentions." ; I thought it would only work if I had someone to smile at but no.......when I smile to myself it somehow feels like it truly is worth a thousand good intentions.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Diet Makeover

J. Krishnamurti is my favorite teacher.  K. died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 94.  Steve Jobs died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 54.  Both men lived what appeared to be healthy, fit lives.

I wonder if anyone knows another when it comes to physical fitness?  When I was pregnant with my first child the doctor asked me if I wanted to take amphetamines.  Being raised not to take even an aspirin unless absolutely necessary I declined.  He told me they would help me not to gain too much weight.  I gained 30 pounds.  I had a healthy happy baby boy.   The weight stayed so I began my "eating just to stay thin" diet which meant afraid to eat anything at all.

Fifteen months later pregnant with my second child I did not wait to be asked.  The drug was an incredible experience giving me an energy I had never known.  I gained very little weight and had a healthy happy baby boy with the easiest delivery.

Six years later pregnant with my third child I demanded more of those please.  I gained little weight again and had a healthy beautiful baby girl.   Hoping to get a refill but denied I remember coming home to lay down on the couch super tired for about a year. 

Somehow I discovered "diet pills" in the health food department at the grocery store and experimented enough to know that only the ones with ephedra actually worked.  The day the FDA banned the herb I considered myself lucky to know how to order them online.

The point is......no one knew.  I appeared to eat green salads and yogurt and was praised
for not eating junk food.

Several years ago I decided to stop the diet pills.  Wanting to be healthy and fit I knew the pills were not about that.  I dont know if my diet makeover is working or not.  Did K. have a healthy diet?  Did Steve Jobs?  It appears we will never know.  And if we did what could we learn?

Friday, October 21, 2011

INSANE

Okay, it's Friday night and I am figuring out this whole posting thing. I vacillate between "this is bunk I need help" to "wow this is fun doing it myself". Craziness sets in with all the options to file it, save it, send it, document it, favorite it, etc etc. and please no... suddenly now thrown into an HTML box???

My neck is hurting and hopefully it is from stress.... fromfiguring out this whole new laptop blogging adventure....I cannot allow myself to even think I may be coming down with a miserable cold.

iNSANITY.....is it denying one kind of reality and hoping for another?

Thursday, October 20, 2011

New Adventures

Notice my ears PERK UP every time I hear about a diet tip.  It came to me just the other day I have been dieting for over 50 years.  I think it began with what was called Metrecal cookies....also a wine and hard boiled egg diet (yes a glass a wine with a hard boiled egg for breakfast)....I have never weighed over 120 pounds on this 5'3 frame and hang out at about 115 pounds yet constantly dieting experimenting with ways to be healthy and get down to 110. 

Need to have my green salad with sunflower seeds and a slice of Dave's bread (plain, no butter) for dinner with dessert of canned pumpkin with sugar free butterscothch pudding powder stirred in with a tablespoon of chopped almonds drowning in coconut milk.

Looking forward to my favorite show Project Runway.  Go Joshua!!!  I like flamboyant.