34th birthday month & gratitude

It's hard to believe my 34th birthday month is already coming to a close and Thanksgiving is TOMORROW! I am filled with gratitude that my sweet husband & I now have the space that will allow us to host my family (around 17 people) for our Thanksgiving celebration. I've made "gratitude" bookmarks for everyone attending, and we will be reflecting on the past year and writing at least 3 things we are thankful for. Then, we will share them before we eat. Here are a few photos of my many birthday celebrations & some shots of getting ready for tomorrow's festivities:

We had a yummy free (well mine was free) dinner at the restaurant Blue.Sweet husband actually found out he had walking pneumonia that day, but he still looks as good as ever!

2nd Birthday dinner celebration with my Sweet Mama

Gratitude bookmarks for the familyHope you have a wonderful holiday filled with gratitude, laughter & love!

Namaste'

Leslie

yoga cues to take off the mat

These are some cues I use throughout my yoga classes. They very difinitely have just as much use off the mat as on...

*When feeling most challenged, use your breath to help you remain calm

*Inhale-let, Exhale-go, Inhaling-let, Exhaling-go

*Equally balance your effort with your surrender

*Notice places that do not need to be working, and allow those places to relax and soften

*Breathe deeply

*Check in with your body

*Look at the space between your thumbs and visualize the direction you want to go in life, now take two steps in that direction

*Tune in to your body's wisdom

*Allow yourself to let go of doing, and just be

*Your stronger than you know

*Be compassionate with yourself

*As you breathe in, invite in anything you may need more of in your life right now (compassion, strength, health, wellness, etc.), just breathe it in, then exhale and trust

*Listen to your body

*Tune in to your strength and feel it fully

*Allow yourself to be grounded, rooted, and centered

*Open to stillness

May we know truth.
May we speak in truth.
May we live our truth.

Namaste'
Leslie

choosing joy

To tell the truth, being a postive & joyful person is a lot of hard work. I completely and whole-heartedly believe it takes a lot less courage and a lot less work to be a Negative Nelly, so to speak. Don't get me wrong, I have days when I feel down, and there are many times when I slip into negativity--Lord knows, I am no where close to perfect (and thankfully I'm so over trying to be) but overall, I would consider myself a very positive person whose intention is to always see the positve in myself, my life, and others. This is because I do the hard work and I make the choice. I consciously choose to contradict every negative thought about myself or others with a positive one. I consciously choose to celebrate the little things in life as well as the big ones. I consciously choose to see the opportunities in the challenges. I consciously choose to trust life. I consciously choose to give thanks every chance I get. I consciously choose to practice yoga and take care of myself. I choose my attitude, outlook, and approach to life on a daily basis. It is very hard work. But, it's oh-so-very worth it.

Do the work. Be courageous. Choose joy.

Namaste'
Leslie

loving kindness

May you be free from danger

May you be happy

May you be healthy

May you live with ease

Namaste'

Leslie

love 3 day weekends

This weekend was a 3 day weekend, and it is always amazing to me how much difference that extra day makes! Love it! And, I get another one next weekend because I'm taking Friday off for a personal day--I always try to take a day off around my birthday to spend some extra time reflecting on the year and thinking about the direction I want to go in the upcoming year. Not getting older, only getting better. :) Here are a few photos from this weekend.

This is a shot of my new black bow ring. Couldn't resist... This is my cute new hat (Charlotte Russe) and matching scarf (Marshalls). Love me some pink!

Went to the King's Daughters Festival. Didn't buy a thing, but did get a cute bag.

Sipped some Adam Puchta wine.

Got cozy by the fire.

Did some knitting with a loom.

Breakfast at Panera

with my Sweet Husband.

Shallac-ed my nails. (Love this beautiful, rich color: Fedora w/ Hot Chilis over the top).

Now I'm at home listening to George Winston's Autumn cd, blogging, smelling a yummy chicken in the oven, and loving life.

Hope you had a great weekend, too!

Namaste'

Leslie

yummy hot chocolate recipe

So, it really hasn't been all that chilly around here this week, but after our trip to Hy-Vee tonight (why are grocery stores always so darn cold?), I was craving some hot chocolate. My mom has a wonderful hot chocolate mix recipe, so I whipped some up tonight. Just fyi...this recipe makes a huge amount, so beware and use a gigantic bowl to mix it in. It's great to give away for little holiday gifts.

Holiday Hot Chocolate Mix
*1 box dry milk that makes 8-10 quarts
*1 lb powdered sugar
*1 box of chocolate milk mix
*8 oz. low-fat nondairy creamer
*marshmallows or whip cream to top

Add hot water to a 3-4 heeping spoonfuls of mix. Stir. Marshmallows or whip cream to top.
Enjoy!

Namaste'
Leslie

leslie time

I'm sitting at Panera Bread enjoying a bagel, cup of coffee & some Leslie-time. I've been at a counseling conference since Sunday (counselors have such good energy!), and this morning I woke up and knew a little alone time was in order. The conference has been great. I've gone to sessions covering overindulgent children, using love and logic, suicide prevention and assessment, and personality theory. The final keynote speaker is this morning at 9:45 a.m., then I'll be heading back home. When I was teaching, I never felt like I could take the time to get away and go to professional development opportunities. Although it is hard to get away, I now understand the importance of going to these types of events. It's so good to be around other professionals and learn from them. I've also enjoyed connecting with some of my girl co-worker friends. Girl-time is another necessity for the soul!

This week at work is also only a four day week, so I will only be working two days (although I know they will be two days with four days of work crammed in!) I scheduled a massage Thursday night to kick off my 3-day weekend. I'm feeling just a wee bit spoiled...but it is my birthday month!

How can you grow, learn, & take care of yourself this month? Don't just think about it! Do it.

Namaste'
Leslie

prana flow

Tonight I attended an incredibly yummy 90 minute prana flow yoga class with Gina Caputo from Kansas Siddhi Yoga. If you ever get a chance to take a class with Gina, I highly recommend it. Seriously, I left the yoga studio feeling completely fluid--like the muscles and bones had left my body and I was all water and skin. It was an incredible feeling--like I was floating on earth. It was also so nice to really let go and have permission to let my body move as it wanted. Our bodies absolutely talk to us....if only we would always listen.

Namaste'
Leslie

my newest love

Hot baths--I must admit, I have never considered myself a bath lover. In the past I've enjoyed them occasionally throughout the colder months, but they have always been something I could live without. In our last house, we didn't have a bathtub in the master bathroom (the one I used) so I rarely took them. Now we have a nice, big jetted tub, and I have fallen completely head over heels for hot baths. I have even started getting creative and making my own yummy scented bath fizzies (more on this in a future post) to make my bath time even more luxurious. There is nothing to melt the stress away like a hot bath, the smell of lavender, and candles lit. Truly divine.

Take a little time and pamper yourself, too. You deserve it!

Namaste'
Leslie

nov. intentions

(I am almost embarrassed to admit that I go to Starbucks so much the baristas there now start making my drink (grande', decaf, nonfat, no-whip mocha in a for-here mug) as soon as they see me walk in. And, a few weeks ago, one very talented barista even made me a heart!)

I love the month of November just as much, if not more than, October! Between my Birthday on the 17th (yes, I am a total Scorpio) and one of my favorite holidays, Thanksgiving--which we are able to host this year because with our new home, we now have enough room--it is a month I always look forward to!

Here are my intentions for my birthday month:

*fully enjoy my birthday month--celebrate my life daily
*host Thanksgiving dinner for the first time ever
*continue planning time with girlfriends
*go to a Yoga workshop
*go to Missouri School Counselors Association Conference
*finish knitting hot pink slippers
*get creative--make stamped cards to put on the table for Thanksgiving, start another hat, finish knitting J's scarf
*revise and update my 35 by 35 list
*get a massage
*take a personal day from work to reflect, create, and savor life
*listen more, try to fix less
*keep a daily gratitude journal (always oh so much to be thankful for!)
*practice really paying attention and being mindful as much as possible

What are your intentions for November? I'd encourage you to write them down. I truly believe that the act of writing down goals, dreams, and intentions really does help you make them come true!

Namaste'
Leslie

weekend in photos

Love the pocketbooth iphone app!

This is Sweet Husband's fake photo smile.
GameDay was in town.

Must admit, I didn't even know what GameDay was until last Wednesday...

Fun fall shots at one of my favorite parks.

Hope you had a good one, too!

Namaste'
Leslie

yogathought

"Tension is who you think you should be.

Relaxation is who you are."

--Chinese Proverb

Namaste'

Leslie

fall soup & wine tasting party

I love fall & home-made soup & entertaining. This weekend we put the three together and had a fall soup & wine tasting housewarming party. Here are a few photos from the evening:

I made Sweet Potato and Corn soup (I don't really like sweet potatoes, but this soup is YUMMY. It's also super healthy). My sweet husband made Winter Squash and Bacon soup (not so healthy--but very, very good). And, my step-dad made white chicken chili (Thanks, Tim). The soups were all a big hit. I also printed the recipes for each of the soups on fall colored card-stock, so those who wanted could leave with a recipe. Hosting a gathering can be a lot of fun. Choose a theme and go for it!

Namaste'

Leslie

10.10.10 favorites

Photo above: Picture of me last weekend right before eating my favorite big breakfast. Here are some of my other favorites:

Favorite movies: Love Actually, Pretty Woman, Little Miss Sunshine

Favorite sitcoms: Sex & The City, Ally McBeal, Modern Family

Favorite big breakfast: eggs (over medium), sausage, hashbrowns & biscuits & gravy

Favorite foods: sushi, mashed potatoes, pizza w/ pineapple, mushroom, & canadian bacon

Favorite Starbucks drink: Grande' Decaf, non-fat, no-whip mocha, in a for here mug

Favorite books: East of Eden, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Little Engine That Could

Favorite yoga poses: Triangle, Downward Facing Dog, & Tree pose

Favorite flowers: orchids, gerbera daisies, & zenias

Favorite musical artists: Madonna, Dido, Nora Jones, Coldplay, Jack Johnson, Nick Drake...um, too many to list

Favorite things about fall: fall clothes, mums, apple cider, bonfires, yummy home-made soups

Need to brighten your day? Make a list of your favorites!

Namaste'
Leslie

hot pink slippers

I love learning.

Tonight I am going to learn how to knit hot pink slippers.

I think it's so important to stretch ourselves, and no matter what our age, continue to learn, grow and challenge ourselves.

What do you want to learn? What step can you take to move yourself in that direction?

Namaste'
Leslie