I want to like it, but I don't

Yoga, that is.

I love the idea of it.  I love the idea of the tranquility of it. I love the idea of the mind-body connection - the meditative aspect of it. I like the idea of stretching and strength in one fun little package.  I like the idea of increased flexibility, because honestly I have the flexibility of a hippopotamus.

I love the idea of a few friends heading off to where ever (the beach? a park?) mats in tow and busting out some yoga-doings with Mother Nature herself, then heading off to an eco-friendly, chill vibe, organic coffee shop for lattes (ok, the last part was me day dreaming of my favorite coffee shop.  Really, if you're ever in Hali you have to check them out.)

My problem with yoga?  I can't shut my darn head off to really reap the benefits.  I'm good for about 8.3 seconds then my mind wanders to all the things I could be doing instead:  scrub the floor, alphabetize my book shelf, walk the dog (I don't have a dog), watch paint dry....as "they" say: an idle mind is a dangerous thing.

I don't relax well: either physically or mentally.  Massage therapists hate me because I can't just relax and let go.  My chiropractor loves me for the same reason, I can't/don't just let go and give in to the process.

I want to like yoga.  I really do.  After several attempts I just don't. I want to be one of those yoga people, with the fun outfits and my funky mat and get my yoga on.  My attempts at  yoga, however, go a little something like what is decribed here.

I know a lot of people love yoga, and seem to reap the full realm of benefits from it. And it is those people I am slightly envious of.  Around here it almost seems to be the going trend.  Its like an elite club of yoga doing, red wine sipping, and sushi eating.  Ok, the sushi I'm down with but the rest not so much. I wonder if there is a sushi eating club around?  I should look into that.  Perhaps I could start my own club?!

So there you go, I've said it:  I really don't like yoga.  I really want to like it, but I don't.

And really, I guess its OK that I don't.  In the grand scheme of things I doubt my dying thought is going to be "dammit, I wish I had done more yoga."

I think I may have created a monster

A monster in me that is. 

The Body Shop.  Oh, how I have refound my love for it.  I used to be all over their stuff when I was in my early teens.  Then for whatever reason (likely because the nearest one to me was over 2hrs away) I fell away from it.  Just last week my love was been rekindled. 

I popped in to pick something up to help with a crazy sunburn I had.  Turns out they have a crazy promotion on right now:  buy 1 get one 50%, buy 2 get 1 free, buy 3 get 2 free.  So you see what has happened here right?

Oh, I totally bought 3 got 2 free!  I walked out of there with $80 worth of stuff and only paid $30 for it. Score!  Bonus, if you have one of their loyalty cards you get an additional 10% off. 

Anyway, my real reason for this bringing this up: I have been struggling lately to find skin care products that don't make my face freak out.  So far it seems their Aloe line is just the ticket.  So far so good.

Oh, and their Vitamin E Body Lotion is also fantastic.

Added bonus:  I love that they're against testing on animals.  They are pushing against sex trafficking.  I like that their products have less chemical stuff in them than others.  No, they're not totally chemical free, but they have less of it than other stuff does.  The shampoo I bought has no silicones, no sulphates, no colorants and no parabens. Every little bit helps right? Oh, and they've been handing out samples of their Vitamin E Moisture Cream too!

So yeah, I went in that initial time last week, then again a few days later, and again just yesterday.  Overall I've saved over $100 on all the stuff I bought.  Thankfully I'm off all next week and am therefore out of the city so I can slow down on keeping The Body Shop in business!

Anyway, enough rambling about their stuff that I really am in love with....

I got a promotion at work!  Yay!  I have officially left supervisor land and have joined the ranks of the managers! Yipee!!  And its funny, I had some of the other managers on Facebook (they added me when I first started working there) however somewhere along the way some of them deleted me.  No big.  I don't put too much stock into who I'm friends with and who I'm not on Facebook.  Yesterday after the announcement came out suddenly the friend requests from the deleters came flying in.  So now that I'm officially a manager I'm good enough to appear on your friends list again?  Oh, I see how it works.

What else...??

I'm off all next week.  I'm sure you'll all be rivetted with that news.  Heading home to the parentals for a few days then I'm off to NB on Friday at some point for a weekend with Nancy and to take in the U2 concert! Pretty excited!  Here's hoping the weather cooperates and is nice but not too hot and doesn't pour rain. Fingers crossed!

My favorite color is green...

I've had this post sitting in "draft" for quite awhile now.  Why I never got around to posting it I don't know.

My favorite color is green.  Green grass. Green trees.  Green.

I recently watched "No Impact Man" - a documentary about a family as they live for a year making no net impact on the environment.  No electricity. No driving.  No buying new clothes (purchasing used from thrift shops was OK).  Their daughter switched to cloth diapers. Buying locally grown organic produce and meats.  Hand washing clothes and not using detergents.  No more eating out or getting delivery.  As coffee isn't locally grown they cut their coffee consumption.  And the list goes on.  Yes, it was extreme and its not for everyone, however it did spark some thought, which is sparking some change, which I suppose was the purpose of his documentary.

I am of the personal belief many of us can do more to help protect the environment.  I was on the environment committee in high school - I had a hand in jump starting the school's recycling program.  I stayed after school to sort and wash sticky, smelly pop cans so they could be returned for recycling.  I grew up with my parents being composters and having their own vegetable garden.  So its always beens something that has been part of my life.

I recently moved (again), and my two new roommates are fully on board with recycling and composting.  Our plan for next spring is to put in a vegetable garden and get our own composter.  For now, the municipality takes away our compostables, which is a far cry better than dumping them in the garbage.

Anyway, watching the documentary got me thinking about ways I can go greener in my day to day living.   I've pitched the idea of making my own household cleaners to my roomies and they're both excitedly onboard.  Vinegar, baking soda, and lemon are soon to be my best friends.  Not only are they more environmentally friendly they're also kinder to my bank account.  I'm still deciding on making my own shampoos.

Ways to go green(er)....

• choose certified organic:  this means its grown in such a way that preserves the ecosystem.  And if you can get one that is also Fair Trade, even better!
• support local growers.  If you buy locally you reduce your dependance on suppliers that ship food nationwide, reducing the reliance on oil and therefore gas emissions.
• use reusable grocery bags instead of plastic
• use water efficient shower heads and fawcets
• recycle cell phones, digital cameras etc instead of just dumping them in the trash
• use energy saver light bulbs throughout your home. They use less energy and last much longer than regular bulbs.
• when it comes time to replace appliances choose energy efficient
• use homemade cleaners
• once a week eat strictly vegeterian for a day.  Why? Because growing plants is cheaper in terms of energy than animals.
• use a reusable travel mug instead of the paper coffee cups at your favorite coffee shop
• instead of using paper coffee filters switch out for a reusable one.  If you do use paper, remember they're compostable.
• choose bamboo.  Bamboo is a far more sustainable natural resource than wood because it grows quickly.  Look for bamboo bowls and cutting boards.  I have bamboo socks that I love!
• Remove yourself from junk mail lists.
• set your printer to print on both sides of the paper
• turn lights off when you're not in the room
• if you have a dehumidifier use the water to water household plants instead of just dumping it out
• set your computer to "sleep" if there is no activity for 15mins.
• use old towels and sheets as rags around the house
• turn off the tap when brushing your teeth. dont' let the water run.
• choose gas efficient, low emission vehicles. Change air filters often.  Drive the limit.  Driving 10mph over the limit is liking adding fifty cents to the price per gallon of gas.
• Use your dishwasher.  Run a full load whenever possible.  It uses less water than washing the same amount of dishes by hand.
• Wrap your water heater in an insulated blanket to lower its running cost as much as 10%
• Set all your bills to come by email instead of on paper
• plant trees around your yard.  Plant them in places where they'll shade your AC unit

Anyway....this is likely starting to sound preachy.  But its my blog and I'll preach if I want to! haha....yeah.  

I just really believe more can be done to take steps to help preserve what is left of our environment.  Will I ever take it as far as No Impact Man?  No. I like to watch TV. And I like to be able to drive to where I need to go.  There are some creature comforts I'm not willing to give up.  And really, if you think about it many of these things are pretty easy to incorporate into our daily lives, and their initial expense is pretty minimal. 

So there you go.  As I am settling into my new place I am also contemplating ways to live just a little bit greener.

~Be kind to the environment, it is where I keep all my stuff.

I Want to Have Fun Too

But I'm not.  I'm sitting here in my room, by myself instead.

It started off OK.  The roomies (my friend S and her fiance L), and his cousin A were listening to music and having some drinks.  I haven't drank in a LONG time so I was looking forward to a chill night of tunes, bevvies, and chit chat.  S and A decide they want to dance.  Great.  They were having a good time.  Me, I wasn't nearly intoxicated enough to even think of dancing with them.  I humoured them.  Laughed along.  Snapped a few photos for them.  They did shots.  I bowed out as I just don't do shots as a rule. 

And now here I am. 

The reason I've retreated to my room?  I'm too damn self conscious to join in.  There isn't enough booze in the house to make my inhibitions go away enough for me to join them.  

I wish I didn't care so much with everyone else thinks of me.