change is good~new blog

Sometimes we just need to make a change~big or small. We just need to act, do something different. I've been playing with the idea of changing this blog for a long while now, and I decided today was the day. Instead of recreating this blog, I decided to create a new one on wordpress. You can now find me here. I hope you stop by, and if you do, please leave a comment because I'd love to hear from you!

Peace, Love, Lipstick, & Namaste'
Leslie

p.s. Not sure if I will continue to write on this blog or not. I'm just going to see what happens...

may favorites

May 2011 Favorites:

Loreal Elnett Satin Hair Spray

(Love this stuff! It doesn't leave my hair sticky or stiff & brushes out easily.)

Benefit Coralista Blush

(If you are going to splurge on one blush, this is the one. It is my all-time favorite coral blush. Beautiful!)

Acuvue 1-Day Contact Lenses
(I've worn contacts for years. I've always worn the disposable ones you are only supposed to wear about 2 weeks; however, for the past few years, I've gone through right eye contacts twice as fast as left eye because they always seemed to get an annoying film over them. I recently switched to 1 a day contacts, and although a bit more expensive, they are SO worth it. I haven't had any right eye problems since I switched! Should have made this switch a long time ago!)



Half-Moon Posture (Ardha Chandrasana)-photo from Yogajournal.com
This is one of my all time favorite poses. The sense of expansion and lightness I feel in this pose is like no other! Love it!)

*Pink & Purple Feather Hair Extensions*

*anything Turquoise*

*MC Yogi station on Pandora*

And last, but certainly not least:

*Instructing Power Flow Yoga again regularly at a groovy new studio in town: Yoga Sol*

Feel free to share your May favorites! I'd love to hear what you are loving these days!

Peace, Love, Lipstick, & Namaste

Leslie

june yoga journal cover

I am loving the June issue of Yoga Journal

~the topic of women and leadership is a favorite of mine!

If you are interested in seeing a bit of the cover ladies speak,

check out the live magazine.

Peace, Love, Lipstick, & Namaste

Leslie

challenging power yoga sequence

Here is a yoga sequence from the class I taught yesterday:

Begin warming up with a series of sun salutations.

Once warm, continue on with this challenging power yoga sequence--

*hold pose 5 breaths before moving on to the next posture.

*Downward facing dog* (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

Lift right leg and swing through

*Warrior 1* (Virabhadrasana I)

*Warrior 2* (Virabhadrasana II)

*Reverse Warrior 2* (Urdva Virabhadrasana II)

*Extended Side Angle* (Parksvakonasana)

Inhale back up to Warrior 2

Straighten front leg and prepare for Triangle

*Triangle* (Utthita Trikonasana)

*Pyramid* (Parsvottanasana)

*Standing Split* (Urdhva Prasarita Eka Padasana)

*High Lunge*

*Revolved Side Angle Pose* (Parivrtta Parsvakonasana)

*Low Lunge with both arms resting on inside of right leg-lower upper body down*

*One legged King Pigeon* (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana)

*Downward facing dog*

Lift left leg and repeat all on other side

Don't forget to breathe, breathe, breathe!

Peace, Love, Lipstick, & Namaste'

Leslie

newest favorite smoothie recipe

Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter Green Smoothie

1 banana

1 1/2 cups soy or almond milk

2 heaping tablespoons dark chocolate cocoa powder

1 tablespoon agave nectar

1 teaspoon natural peanut butter

1 big handful of organic spinach

2 cups ice

Put it all in the blender and blend!

Enjoy!

Peace, Love, Lipstick, & Namaste

Leslie

get your flow on sunday!

I'll be spending part of my Sunday with Gabrielle Bernstein and Latham Thomas
getting my flow on...

What will you be doing?

LOVE me some ustream!

Peace,

Leslie

letter to your future self

Tomorrow night my group of almost 300 Senior students will be walking across the stage and receiving their diplomas. This week has been incredibly busy with many exciting Senior activities. It has been a pleasure and honor to watch these students grow and evolve over the past three years!

At one of the activities, a group of students gathered for a small reunion. The teachers who hosted this gathering had a box full of letters the students had written as elementary school students. These letters were addressed to "My future Self," and had been sealed since the time they wrote them.

I LOVE this idea! Why not take some time this weekend and write a letter to your future self?

Seal it and plan on opening it in 5 or 6 years.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Even if you don't have a graduation, find a reason to celebrate!

Peace, Love, Lipstick, & Namaste'

Leslie

heart chakra & yoga

Tomorrow afternoon I will be teaching my weekly Power Flow Yoga class at Yoga Sol. The theme is going to be focused on opening the heart chakra. The fourth chakra, or heart chakra, is the center of the human energy system and is connected with love (all kinds--not just romantic), compassion, & spirituality. It opens us to experience love for ourselves and others, and lets us feel compassion, joy and peace. If we allow our hearts to open and express love, this will permeate every area of our lives and enrich our relationships (including our relationship with ourself) in ways we can't even imagine.

Here are some affirmations to help us strengthen the heart chakra:
I am love.
I deserve love.

I am compassionate with myself and others.

I am able to express love in my life fully.

I am open to love in my life.

Here are some yoga poses to help us open our hearts:

*camel pose*
*fish pose*

*low crescent lunge*

*cobra*

all you need is love...

Peace, Love, Lipstick, & Namaste'
Leslie

*picture from picturedepot.com*

prom & living the spiral

Last night my sweet husband and I attended prom--it's my 6th one.

I must say, while we were there, it seemed to be a hit. Most of the kids were dancing and genuinely having a good time. (Some of the proms I've been to that hasn't been the case.)

My sweet husband and I even snuck in a slow dance before leaving.

Here are some pictures from the evening: Dinner before at Tellers.

Having a little fun with pocketbooth app.

Today I'm off to a seminar on living the spiral:

http://darlingyoga.com/events-and-workshops/living-the-spiral-seminar/

Not exactly sure what to expect, but it sounds very interesting!

Should be a good time.

Enjoy your weekend.

Slow dance with your sweetheart!

Peace, Love, Lipstick, & Namaste'

Leslie

zumba & getting out of your comfort zone

One of the items on my May Intentions list is to try out a Zumba class. I've been meaning to do this for a while now, and since there is a Zumba class at the new yoga studio where I'm teaching, I figured NOW is the time!
Once I wrote that intention down on paper, I knew I'd make it happen.

(WRITE DOWN YOUR INTENTIONS & GOALS & YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO DO THEM!)

Zumba was loads of fun and immediately sent me back to my floor aerobics teaching days...

with a Latin dancing twist! So glad I went!

I believe it is so important to make a conscious effort to grow and learn and evolve.
One way to do this is to step out of your comfort zone and try new things!

What is it that you've been meaning to do for a while now?

What is something you'd like to learn more about?

What is something you'd like to learn how to do?

NOW is the time to act. No excuses...just action. It's that simple.

It can be something as small as going to a zumba class. No room for self-judgement...

just your inner guide. Shhhh.....listen....she IS there!

Once you know what you want to do,

BE WILLING.

WRITE YOUR INTENTION DOWN.

THEN, DO IT!

Peace, Love, Lipstick, & Namaste'

Leslie

mom's day

Although I'm not a mother,

I have no doubt it has to be the hardest job on earth.

Some say little baby souls choose their parents,

and I must have been a wise baby soul because

I chose a wonderful momma.

She taught me to be a

strong

independent

kind

creative

thoughtful

passionate

&

loving

woman.

For this, I will forever be grateful.

Thank you, Mom.

I love you.

XOXO,

Leslie

on inspiration

Living an inspired (i.e. in-spirit) life takes conscious effort. I don't wake up every morning feeling connected and full of spirit energy--that's for sure. I make small choices throughout my day to incorporate and invite in as much inspiration as possible. Some days it's easier than others. And, small choices do add up and can make a BIG difference.

Here are a few things that keep me living in in-spirit:

*prayer*

*expressing gratitude*

*practicing yoga*

*teaching yoga*

*listening to Hayhouse Radio*

*listening to inspiring podcasts*

*not watching the news--especially before bed*

*listening to inspiring music*

*reading inspirational books*

*avoiding negativity and violence--in word, thought, and action*

*making a conscious effort to invite in love, peace, & joy*

Add a little sprinkle of inspiration in each and every day!

Peace, Love, Lipstick, & Namaste'

Leslie

weekend in review

*attended YogaSol staff meeting--can't wait to start teaching again on Tuesday*

*got pink & purple feather hair extensions--more to come this summer*

*ate dinner on the patio at Flatbranch*

*paid bills*

*did yoga*

*Barnes & Noble artist date*

*purchased gift for Mom's day*

*planted flowers*

*planted herb garden--basil, lavender, lemon balm, oregano, mint, and rosemary*

*hosted chocolate pancake, sausage, & scrambled egg brunch for parents-in-law*

*cleaned house*

*sipped mocha at Starbucks while reading and making lists*

*meditated*

*watched Oprah--going to miss her show terribly*

*viewed youtube videos*

*cooked home-made pizza for dinner*

*devoured kale chips*

*enjoyed fresh flowers*

*completed AFAA CEU on Life Coaching*

Had a fabulous weekend!

Hope you did, too.

Peace, Love, Lipstick, & Namaste'

Leslie

may meditation challenge

Overall, the April Attitude of Gratitude challenge went well. I definitely believe one of the secrets to happiness is living with a spirit of gratitude!

If you're up for another challenge, here's the challenge for the month of May:

For at least 5 minutes a day
MEDITATE.

It's only 5 minutes.

We can do anything for 5 minutes, right?

There are all types of meditations:

You can focus on just riding the waves of your breath.

You can count each breath to keep your mind focused and clear.

You can focus on a phrase or mantra:

Inhale "Let"

Exhale "Go"

You can do a loving kindness meditation where you focus on these four phrases as you start by thinking about yourself, then move on to someone you love, & then the challenging part...thinking about someone who you don't particularly like:

"May I (you) be free from fear."

"May I (you) be happy."

"May I (you) be healthy."

"May I (you) live with ease."

If you have trouble clearing your mind, move first! Do some sun salutations, take a walk, dance!

Your mind will most definitely resist this process--especially since most of us are very addicted to thinking. It will tell you you can't do it. It will tell you you don't have time. It will tell you there are other more important things you need to be doing. It will start projecting into the future or clinging to the past. When you find yourself thinking, just name it in:

"Thinking" and return to your breath.

If you think you can't do it, watch the documentary Dhamma Brothers. It will inspire you. It's only five minutes, but it will make a huge difference in the quality of your days and nights!

Set your alarm for five minutes and give it a try!

Peace, Love, Lipstick,

& Namaste'

Leslie

april favorites

Here is my list of favorites for the month of April:

LUSH Karma perfume
LOVE this smell & so does my Sweet Husband!

MAC Costa Chic Lipstick
It's a beautiful, bright coral color that is perfect for spring & summer!

MAC Club Eyeshadow
This photo does not do it justice. It is the coolest eyeshadow color EVER-seriously.

It's a beautiful green color that blends out to brown.

You can quickly put on this one color and it looks like you spent hours on your eyes!

Neti Pot
This is most definitely not the sexiest favorite on my list, but it is a must have.

I am not sure how I ever survived before using a Neti pot regularly.

Every time I use this I am once again amazed at how much easier it is to breathe.

*walks with pups*
*glasses of water with fresh lime and lemon*
*listening to Hay House Radio*
*Ujjayi breathing*
*Anjaneyasana*

What are some of your April favorites?
Peace, Love, Lipstick, & Namaste'
Leslie

on putting that baggage down

While I love a beautiful piece of luggage as much as the next Diva girl, there is some baggage I just don't wanna carry. No matter how wonderful and loving and gracious our parents were as we grew up, we all acquire baggage. It's just a part of life. This baggage isn't like a gorgeous Louis Vuitton filled with inspiring beauty; this baggage is down-right ugly and filled with crap. It feels oh. so. heavy. to carry on a daily basis. It slows us down. It keeps us stagnant. It casts a dark shadow on our lives. Yet, sometimes we do everything in our power to keep on carrying it. We fill it with anger. We fill it with fear. We make up excuses as to why we need to keep it around. We hold on tight to it, as if we would have to go naked without its contents. We believe it is a part of us, and that we wouldn't be "ourselves" without it.

Here is the simple, good news:
We can CHOOSE at any moment to put our baggage down.

It is just that simple. We can send our parents, past lovers, friends, etc. light and love and forgiveness, and then set the bag down and MOVE ON. And, anytime we feel the baggage trying to roll back into our lives, (and I can guarantee it will at some point or another) we can make a conscious choice to stop it and simply refuse to pick it back up. While others may have filled our baggage full, we are the ones who have control of whether or not we carry it.

That, my friends, is personal power & responsibility

& we ALL have it.

What do you need to set down today?

Peace, Love, Lipstick

& Namaste,

Leslie

partner yoga & comment love

Tonight my sweet husband and I did some partner yoga after I led him through a short private session. If you're interested, check out this short demo of partner yoga.

Also, I wanted to let you know how much it means to me to get comments from readers. Please feel free to post a comment when you stop by. I so appreciate comment love!

Wishing you a wonderful week!

Peace, Love, Lipstick, & Namaste'
Leslie

yoga workshop & lovely ladies of inspiration

I just got back into town from a two day intensive yoga assists workshop with Gina Caputo at Kansas Siddhi Yoga. It was a wonderful two days of learning. When I get back home from yoga teacher training workshops, my mind is always spinning with ideas and inspiration and a sense of being humbled, yet very empowered. I cannot wait to teach my next class!

If you ever have a chance to take a class or training with Gina, I highly recommend it. She is inspiring & tough as nails, but with a great sense of humor & a huge heart. She is now also added to my list of women who inspire me. Here's my current list of lovely lady inspiration:

Kris Carr
Gabrielle Bernstein
Seane Corn
Oprah
Madonna
Kimberly Wilson
Louise Hay
Cheryl Richardson

I think it's so important to recognize those who are your sources of inspiration, so you can begin to grow and learn and transform--particularly focusing in on the characteristics in that person you admire. What rational risks did she take to get where she is? What feeling does she evoke in you when you're in her presence or simply observing her? How can you give a similar feeling to others? How can you be fully yourself, yet integrate some of what you've learned fom her?

Who inspires you?

Peace, Love, Lipstick,
& Namaste'
Leslie

*photo from Kansas Siddhi Yoga website

shedding perfectionism

Perfectionism is not a prerequisite to anything besides pain.

I consider myself a recovering perfectionist. I know I am not alone with this constant battle, and many women, in particular, are right there with me. I come from a long line of perfectionistic women--some of whom still announce the title proudly. Here are some reasons perfectionism is a sure road to pain and disappointment and definitely worth the time and effort to let the title go:

Perfectionism can stop us from starting.

People who strive for perfection often will not attempt something because they feel like they can't do whatever it is perfectly. Many missed opportunities and experiences can go by in life for those who set perfection as their standard. Sadly, this means opportunities to grow and learn and transform and move in the direction of your dreams can be passed by.

Perfectionism can stop us from finishing.

Many times projects go unfinished because the perfectionist's perception is that she is not living up to her own unrealistic standards. The false notion is that not finishing something is better than finishing the project and it not being perfect.

There is NO such thing as perfection.

Striving for perfection will always be a let down because it simply does not exist. No matter what you do or how you do it, it will never be perfect, so you're setting yourself up to feel unworthy, not good enough, and constantly falling short. We all know (in our heads) that perfection doesn't exist, but we need that shift of knowing to move to our hearts, so we can let it go!

How do we make that shift to the heart knowing?

Radical Self-Love, Self-Compassion, & Self Acceptance

When you feel the perfectionistic voice sneaking into your head, make a conscious decision to shift your thinking. Imagine that you are talking to your best friend:

What would you say to her in the situation? How would you support and encourage her? How would you help her see her strengths and be more compassionate with herself?

Here's to shedding perfectionism, one self-loving thought at a time!

Peace, Love, Lipstick,

& Namaste'

Leslie

music & the soul

Jodi Picoult is probably my favorite contemporary fiction author. Her books always make me think about moral and ethical dilemmas. They are entertaining, and when I want a page-turner, she is always the author I reach for. I am currently reading her most recent book, Sing You Home. One of the characters is a music therapist. Here is a very interesting snippet from the book that as soon as I read, I wanted to share: "Some cognitive scientists believe human response to music provides evidence that we are more than just flesh and blood-that we also have souls. Their thinking is as follows: All reactions to external stimuli can be traced back to an evolutionary rationale. You pull your hand away from fire to avoid physical harm. You get butterflies before an important speech because the adrenaline running through your veins has caused a physiological fight-or-flight response. But there is no evolutionary context within which people's response to music makes sense--the tapping of a foot, the urge to sing along or get up and dance, there's just no survival benefit to these activities. For this reason, some believe that our response to music is proof that there's more to us than just biological and physiological mechanics--that the only way to be moved by the spirit, so to speak, is to have one in the first place." Peace, Love, Lipstick, & Namaste' Leslie

weekend in review

*All ready for The Little Black Dress charity event benefiting the local women's shelter.**At the event with my co-worker girlfriends.* *Our tulips finally bloomed. Yay spring!* *Veggies getting ready to be grilled.* *Spent the day with my good friend Tara. We talked for 8 hours straight--seriously. So wish she still lived in MO.*

*Late dinner with family at Chevy's.*

*Planted flowers in 4 pots and on top of our rain barrel. Only 2 more pots to go. Pictures to come.*

*Made chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast.*

*Grocery shopped--got lots of yummy fruits & veggies.*

*Read while sipping a grande, non-fat, no-whip, mocha in a for-here mug at Starbucks.*

It was truly divine. Hope yours was, too!

Peace, Love, Lipstick,

& Namaste'

Leslie

yoga at home sequence

I just finished an at-home yoga practice & it. was. divine. It was one of those practices where I turned the music on and just let my body lead. It always feels so good to silence the mind monster--even if just for a short time. I turned on my Le Spa Sonique cd, and just let go.

For those of you interested, here is the sequence I practiced today:

Start in Mountain Pose

3 1/2 Sun Salutations

Sun Salutation A--4Xs

Sun Salutation B--4Xs

Standing in Mountain

Inhale arms up

Exhale forward fold

Inhale extend half way up

Exhale forward fold

Inhale to plank Exhale lower slowly

Inhale Cobra Exhale Down Dog

(Now for the standing sequence--hold each pose 3 breaths)

From Down dog move into Warrior 1-hold

On the 4th exhale, move into Warrior 2-hold

On the 4th exhale, move into reverse Warrior-hold

On the 4th exhale, move into extended side angle-hold

On the 4th exhale, move into pyramid with hands on the floor on the outside of front leg, or on leg if you need to modify-hold

On the 4th Inhale, move into standing split-hold

On the 4th Exhale, move into crescent lunge (with back knee down or up--you choose)-hold

On the 4th Exhale, revolve the crescent lunge--hold

On the 4th Exhale, come back to center and move into pigeon pose-hold

On the 4th Exhale, move into Down Dog

(Repeat entire sequence on the other side)

Come into sitting for Wide Angle Seated Forward Bend-hold

Come onto back for Supine Spinal Twist-hold

Then, do other side Savasana for at least five minutes

Come up to sitting cross legged, hands at heart center.

Breathe as you focus on the following four phrases:

May you be free of fear.

May you be happy.

May you be healthy.

May you live with ease.

Namaste'

Leslie

weekend in review

*major grocery shopping excursion w/ Sweet Husband*

*yummy fajita dinner at friends' house*

*house cleaning*

*hosted good friends & their two little girls for the weekend*

*went on a picnic*

*shopping trip where I picked up this*

*reading this while sipping a mocha at Starbucks*

*BBQ at home*

*chocolate pancake breakfast*

*long walk while listening to this podcast*

*planted these*

*afternoon nap*

*bookstore browsing at Barnes & Noble*

*home-made ham & pineapple pizza*

Love weekends!

Peace, Love, Lipstick,

& Namaste'

Leslie

shifting

The end of my day at work today was hard. Being the receiver and then bearer of bad news doesn't sit well with my soul. I left feeling tired and drained. Then, I decided I was going to shift my stinkin' thinkin', and kick Negative Nelly to the curb--where she belongs!

Here are a few ideas to help with this shift

(you may need to utilize a few of these to get Ms. Nelly totally gone):

*take a walk*

*read inspiring blogs*

*do yoga*

*create a gratitude list*

*pet your pups*

*take three deep, full, present, relaxing breaths*

*write in your journal*

*meditate*

*kiss your spouse--a good, long, juicy one or at least get a good hug!*

*listen to fun, feel-good music (maybe even bust out in dance, if your body desires!)*

*read through a list of positive affirmations*

*watch something funny (nothing's as good for the soul as laughter)*

*walk bare-foot in the grass (maybe even do a cartwheel if you're feeling courageous!)*

Little actions and shifts in perspective, can make a BIG difference!

Peace, Love, Lipstick, &

Namaste'

Leslie

a few spring break photos

New hair with highlights Vision Board

Expect Miracles t-shirt

Lunch in KC

Peace, Love, Lipstick

& Namaste'

Leslie

spring break 2011 in review

*overnight trip to KC w/ Sweet husband & good friends*

*trip to St. Louis w/ Sweet husband and met up with good friends*

*hosted spring break soiree' w/ girlfriends*

*watched Kris Carr and Garbrielle Bernstein's Crazy Sexy Miracles lecture via ustream*

*dinner on patio at Flatbranch*

*long walk w/ the pups*

*Barnes & Noble browsing*

*Target shopping trip*

*designed and got "expect miracles" t-shirt made*

*Spring Cleaning*

*closet organizing*

*sushi & pad thai at Kampai w/ Sweet Husband*

*reading & mocha sipping at Starbucks*

*typed up loads of yogathoughts for upcoming yoga classes*

*made yummy pasta dinner*

*lunch at Bangkok Gardens & hung out downtown*

*made new vision board*

*got new do...lots of blonde highlights added to my hair*

Peace, Love, Lipstick

& Namaste'

Leslie

april attitude of gratitude challenge

I thoroughly enjoyed the March Movement Challenge and found it to be a really rewarding, yet do-able discipline. Knowing that I only had to move 20 minutes a day (we can do anything for 20 minutes, right?) the pressure of needing to work out for hours and the excuse of "not having enough time" both went right out the door. Most days I exceeeded the 20 minutes, too. How did it go for you? With the closing of March, I've decided to create a new challenge for the month of April (although I do plan to keep the movement going!) The April challenge is below. Please feel free to join me!

April Attitude of Gratitude Challenge

Each day during the month of April find 5 things (people, places, experiences, etc.) that you are thankful for and write them down! You can keep a gratitude journal and write them in it throughout the day or at night before bed. You can get a gratitude partner and e-mail or text your list to him or her throughout the day. You can have family dinners and share your list with each other at that time--get the kids involved, no matter how young they are! Also, begin and end your day by saying, "Thank You" and feeling the true abundance in your life. Feeling like you're living in lack is much more difficult to do when you live with a spirit of gratitude. Fight your lack-loving ego, and pour some gratitude gravy all over it! I know it's not April just yet, but here's my gratitude list for today: 1. Spring Break 2011 2. Thoroughly enjoying an evening last night with some girlfriends 3. Watching the Crazy Sexy Miracles lecture with Kris Carr and Gabrielle Bernstein 4. Enjoying my morning cup of decaf coffee 5. Smelling a yummy lemon scented candle burning in the kitchen Yes, life is full! What are you thankful for today? Peace, Love, Lipstick, & Namaste' Leslie

march favorites

March is quickly coming to a close, so I thought I'd share some of my favorites from this month.

First, Revlon Soft Nude lipstick.

It's the perfect nude color, feels great on my lips, and the price is right!

Revlon Peach Petal Lipgloss

Love this lipgloss, and it goes perfectly over the Soft Nude lipstick. Loving this book! Wondering why I didn't write it myself! Found this non-sudsing shampoo/conditioner at Sally's Beauty Supply. It's sulfate free, has argon oil in it, and is made specifically for curly hair. I love how my hair feels after using it! I think I just might be giving up traditional shampoo! A co-worker introduced me to this Aveda Comforting Tea, and I fell instantly in love. Initially on the palette it tastes like many other teas, however at the very end of the tasting experience you get a shot of sweetness that I cannot really describe. It just might be the perfect tea. (The price is a little high, but I talked myself into buying it by thinking about it being less than $1.00 per cup!)I am also loving this Burt's Bees Citrus facial Scrub. I leave it in the shower and use it to exfoliate my face regularly. It's gentle, yet gets the job done! Love me some Burt's Bees!

*Blueberry Mango Green Smoothies* (YUM!)

*Pigeon Pose* (Can't get enough of this hip-opener this month)

*Black Eyed Peas Pandora Station* (For when I feel like dancing--or even when I don't.)

Last, but not least:

*SPRING BREAK*

I'm on it now, and enjoying it thoroughly!

Feel free to share some of your favorites for the month of March!

Peace, Love, Lipstick,

& Namaste,

Leslie

i'm back and yoga flow sequence

Tonight I subbed a yoga class, and it felt oh-so good. I cannot explain how teaching yoga makes me feel beyond it's like I'm returning home every time I teach. I'm present. I'm alive. I'm full of energy. I'm calm. I'm focused. I'm relaxed. I'm out of my head and in my body. It's amazing! I have been on a year long yoga teaching sabbatical (although I taught quite a bit subbing classes and in the school where I work during this time "off"), and while I know it was good for me to take this mini-break, I am more than ready to begin teaching regularly again! I am also thrilled that I will be instructing at a fabulous studio here in town that has just the vibe and energy I want to be a part of. April 19 is the exciting start date, and I know lots of good things are to come! For all you yoginis out there, I thought I'd share a flow that will get you nice and heated: Inhale to chair pose Exhale sink deeper into chair Inhale to your tippy toes (while in chair)--I always give this as an option, not a requirement Exhale feet go flat as you foward fold into uttanasana Inhale half way up and out extending the spine long Exhale to plank and slowly lower on the exhale Inhale cobra or updog Exhale downdog Inhale while in downdog Exhale walk or hop feet to hands Inhale half way up and out extending the spine long Exhale forward fold into uttanasana (Repeat 5-10 times to get nice and heated from the inside out!) Keep going with the flow! More to follow... Peace, Love, Lipstick, & Namaste' Leslie

my breakfast & smoothie recipe

I love home-made fruit smoothies! This one is probably my all-time favorite. I usually just eyeball the ingredients, but here's my estimate of everything that goes into this smoothie. Delish!

Blueberry Mango Green Smoothie
1 cup mango
1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries
2 cups organic spinach
1 1/2 cups vanilla soy milk
1 cup crushed ice
1 tablespoon agave nectar

(I buy a big bag of frozen mango at Sam's Club; however, I find it becomes really hard to blend if I leave it frozen, so I usually thaw the mango out. I do leave the blueberries frozen. Sometimes I also add 1/2 an avocado if I want it extra smooth. I also just use a cheap blender I bought at Wal-Mart. It's a Hamilton Beach one that has a spout which can dispense the smoothie, as long as it's not too thick. We used to have a nice Cuisinart blender, but it actually broke while I was making one of these. The Hamilton Beach one works wonderfully and the price is definitely right.)

Hope you have a great day! And, if you have smoothie recipes you love, please share!

Peace, Love, Lipstick,
& Namaste'

birthday celebration

Last night we celebrated my Sweet Husband's 38th birthday.

We had a great time.We ate a lot of sushi.

It's one of our favorite celebration foods.

And, we got a free dessert for his birthday!

Mango icecream! Yum!

Peace, Love, Lipstick,

& Namaste'

Leslie

family time

I am truly blessed with a wonderful family. Yesterday we had our annual March birthday celebration. I believe there are 6 people in my family with March birthdays, so we get together each year to celebrate them all at once. The star of the celebration is always my Grandpa, who just turned 87 years old! He and my Grandma are my marriage role-models. Such a cute couple. Love them both so much!

Other than family time, I spent the weekend doing yoga, breakfast out with Sweet Husband, reading and mocha sipping at Starbucks, and dinner out with Sweet Husband. Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

Peace, Love, Lipstick,

& Namaste,

Leslie

holy hip openers!

My hips are tight. As much as I'd like for them to be all loosey-goosey, they are most definitely not. I've come to accept rather than judge my tight hips, and with that acceptance, I continue to work to open and release them. I'll never forget the first time I heard the beloved Power Yoga instructor Bryan Kest say the hips are "huge storage depots for stress." I thought: What??? The hips aren't a part of my body where I typically thought about stress being stored. However, he's so right: It's there. It's most definitely there. Today I decided to devote my practice to clearing that stress and opening my hips. So, I just completed this practice: http://www.yogajournal.com/video/64and holy hip openers do I feel good!

Do you practice yoga with any on-line resources? I haven't done too much exploring of on-line options. Do share!

Peace, Love, Lipstick,
& Namaste'
Leslie

self-compassion: go easy on yourself

I believe self-compassion is one of the keys to unlocking a healthy, happy life. With that being said, I continue to have to work on a daily basis to keep my type A personality in check and treat myself compassionately. Here is a short New York Times article that once again reiterates the importance of going easy on ourselves:

http://nyti.ms/foOHha

I love the idea of writing a letter of support to yourself! And, we all know, I am a big believer in writing and reciting affirmations/mantras. Over time, these little changes can make a big difference!

Another resource that has helped me tremendously on this self-compassion journey is Tara Brach's book Radical Acceptance. I read it just over five years ago, and it really changed my life. Tara Brach is fabulous, and she also has a podcast where she lectures on topics such as mindfulness, self-acceptance, living in the present, etc. Definitely check her out if you are interested!

Hope you're having a self-compassionate weekend!

Peace, Love, Lipstick,
& Namaste'
Leslie

march morning sequence

This morning I decided to do a gentle yoga practice. So, I headed to www.yogajournal.com and picked out this video to try:

www.yogajournal.com/video/99

It was exactly what I needed.

peace, love, lipstick,
& Namaste'

march intentions

*March Movement Challenge*

*Keep a daily food, exercise & mantra journal*

*Have a fun weekend getaway with my Sweet Husband and a Friend Couple*

*Be healthy (no more sickness)*

*Spend at least 15 minutes reading inspirational literature at least 4X a week*

*Work on AFFA CECs*

*Get my locks trimmed*

*Get a pedicure*

*Attend nephew's 2nd Birthday Party*

*Organize closet & get out spring clothes-Yay!*

*Thoroughly enjoy spring break*

What are your intentions for the month of March?

Namaste'

Leslie

the march movement challenge

I've decided during the month of March I am going to challenge myself (and all others who would like to join me) to move each day. There was not a lot of movement in my life during the month of Feb., and my body & mind are feeling it! So, here's the challenge:

Move a minimum of 20 minutes every day in March:

Walk

Run

Ride a Bike

Do Yoga

Lift Weights

Dance

Stretch

Just get your body moving!

It will thank you!

Peace, Love, Lipstick,

& Namaste'

Leslie

*photo from thelandbirdsofsoutheastbrazil.com

feb 2011 favorites

Sadly, between the blizzard and illness, I've spent much of February laying at home in bed or on the sofa. However, I did venture out a few times and was able to enjoy the following favorites:

I started reading this book, and I'm enjoying it so far!

Saw this movie with my Sweet Husband at a very cool, little independent theater in town.

Loved it! (Hope it wins an award or two tomorrow night on the Oscars!)

OCC Lip Tar--very interesting lip product. Vegan and cruelty free--gotta love that. The color is "Hush." It is a perfect nude-pink color and very pigmented.
Sebastian Potion Nine--I have used this stuff for years, and I still love it.

It leaves my hair feeling soft, conditioned, and very healthy looking.

I was able to get my hands on this Urban Decay Naked palette on ebay. It has 12 beautiful, highly pigmented colors. Also cruetly free-which I love.
A few other favorites include:

*a z pack to aid my recovery*

*Sara Bareilles Pandora Station*

*Homemade vegetable & ground turkey soup:
1 can chicken broth
1 can beef broth
5 cans diced tomatoes
2 cans corn
1 cup chopped carrots
2 cups chopped potatoes
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped red pepper
1/2 head of cabbage chopped
1 small onion chopped
1 lb. ground turkey

-Just brown the turkey, add all the other ingredients, and cook for an hour or two on medium/high heat.

Hope you've had a great month. I'm definitely looking forward to welcoming in the month of March!

Namaste'

Leslie