How to label yoga mats and blocks

If you take your own mat and blocks to yoga classes, you may have noticed that labeling yoga equipment isn't easy. Sharpies tend to wear off leaving you with little black imprints on your hands/feet.  So the other day I experimented with an embossing technique for foam and found that it works on yoga gear!  Here's the process:

1) Find a rubber stamp that you want to use for labeling. (I chose a big block H that I happened to have on hand.) 
 

2)  Use a heat gun to warm a corner of the foam block or yoga mat for about 30 seconds until the area starts to get a little shiny. (Heat guns are available at most crafting stores or online for about $20.)

3) Press the rubber stamp--without ink-- firmly into the area that you just warmed with the heat gun and hold there for about 30 seconds.

4) Voila.  Your equipment is marked.  This technique also works on yoga mats, though the results aren't quite as crisp because the mats are textured.

Simple Joys | Mexican Grocery Stores

One of my favorite activities is shopping in ethnic markets.  The best part is that things that are staples for one culture are exotic to us. And, the pricing reflects it.  Here are things that are worth the trip if you have a Mexican market nearby:

Spices - Mexican cuisine uses a lot of spices...and they are priced much more affordable than they are in generic US grocery stores.  Look for an endcap or wall with packages displayed like this one.

Chilies - Though grocery stores often carry chilies, the selection and freshness is typically much better at a Mexican market.  Look for fresh chiles in the produce section and also the dried variety for experimenting with salsas, making posole, etc.

Tortillas - if your Mexican market has a bakery section you can typically get tortillas while they are still hot.  Even if they don't, they may have fresh tortillas brought in each day--check to see if they are in a different location than the packaged variety.

Pastries - Mexican pastries are typically less sweet than  American donuts and oooooh sooo delicious.  Here are a few popular ones to try:

Marranitos - these are the 'pig-shaped' cookies that are similar to our gingerbread men though thicker and with a hint of anise.  When fresh, they are soft, but day-old get crispy.  Both are delicious.

Empanadas - similar to a 'turnover' these handpies are filled with apple, pineapple, pumpkin, cream cheese and a variety of other fillings.  Download a translation app on your phone to find out exactly what the ones you choose are filled with as you shop, or let yourself be surprised.

Orejas - named after the Spanish word for 'ears' these flaky spiraled pastries are  lightly sweet, crispy and go well with coffee.

Conchas - named after the Spanish word for seashell, these big domed rolls are lightly sweet with a dusting of white or pink sugar on the top.

Churros - the closest thing to our American donuts, these rod shaped pastries are deep fried and dusted with sugar and cinnamon.   They are sometimes filled with cream, custard, or milk candy and nice to serve with coffee or tea.


Canned beans - There is a wide variety of canned beans like fava, pigeon peas, garbanzos, and refried black worth checking into.

Marinated meats - yes, I'm vegetarian, but if you are a carnivore, I have it on good authority (my husband, the fajita expert) that fajita marinada (beef) or pechuga marinada (chicken) are highly delicious.  You will pay more per pound than doing it yourself, but apparently it is worth the investment.

Mexican dairy - Mexican sour cream or crema is more liquid than American sour cream and is drizzled over beans, tacos, enchiladas or just about anything you would like to eat it on.  There are also a number of fresh white cheeses that are light and crumble well across food.

Cookware - Mexican markets are the best place to find a cast iron flat griddle to use for heating tortillas (they get slightly crispy on the outside and taste far better than microwave), cooking fajitas, making pancakes or whatever you want to use it for.  Other things to look for are lemon squeezers and pestle and mortars.

Hot chocolate.  Mexican hot chocolate is sold in bars and spiced with a bit of cinnamon.  Look for the Abuelita brand (made by Nestle) or Ibarra.  The result is far more delicious than the powder.  To make it you simply put heated milk and the required amount of chocolate in a blender and blend it.  (There are usually English directions on the box.)

Candles.  There are tons of candles in glass usually with saints on the side but often there are plain ones too.  These candles can burn safely because they are enclosed, and are great to purchase around the holidays.

One of the things I love about this man...

While in Washington DC, John and I went through the Air and Space Museum.  The walk had been long and the visual input intense (it is really overwhelming to go from Wright Brothers to Skylab in the space of a few feet), so we bought ice cream bars from a vendor and sat down for a minute.  We found a shady spot just outside a multi-story window where we could see the display of rockets.

As we sat talking, our conversation went deep (as frequently happens with us because we both think a lot....maybe too much...but I digress).  Anyway, I told John how interesting it was to me the things we know about God outside of any scriptural text simply through creation.  For example, relationship is part of the structure.  Mothers and fathers have children and there are strong bonds in those relationships.  Also, the 'man in the moon' is smiling.  (I think that is a kindness on God's part.  Can you imagine if the moon was scowling at us all the time?)  You should probably note that John raised an eyebrow on that point.

Then I said, and God is big.  

John replied, that isn't necessarily so. 

What?! Of course He has to be big.  Remember the flannel board image of hands holding a globe? He actually had to make all of this.  

Again with the raised eyebrow, John held his hand out to indicate the huge building we were sitting next to with the rockets, then motioned to himself and me.

Oh.

I'm not sure why, but one of the things I love about John is that he often has thoughts that never would have occurred to me.  And as it turns out, I like being surprised by ideas.

What to see when in DC...

John joined me in DC after my meetings were done last week.  Neither of us had been before and we wanted to explore.  Our friend, Gary--who moved to the area a few years ago--was an awesome tour guide.  If you are planning a trip to DC and have never done it before, these were our favorites.

1) Smithsonian.  The Smithsonian is a series of buildings on "the Mall" (the wide open area that runs from the White House to Capitol Hill with the monuments flanking it. All of the museums are free and it would take days to fully see them all.  However, the Air & Space Museum and the Museum of American History were definite favorites...even if you only spend a couple of hours in each.  It was especially surreal to go through the Wright Brothers exhibit then walk through SpaceLab.  If only Orville and Wilbur could have imagined where their flight would lead in less than 100 years.

2) The Memorials.  I found the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial incredibly moving.  In fact, most of the memorials we saw were emotionally connecting in their own way. There is something about reading the words people spoke carved into stone and contemplating their role in history that goes beyond honoring.  Some how it makes you feel part.

3) Gatsby's Tavern and the Alexandria Ghost tour.  George and Martha Washington used to take their meals at Gatsby's because of the delicious food. (In fact, Martha didn't even have a kitchen built into their home in Alexandria.)  I can attest that the food is still very delicious and it is something to walk across the same wooden floors George did and to sit on chairs that have no metal. We did the ghost tour through Alexandria.  It was a great way to walk and hear the history of old town. (They do actually abandon you in the graveyard of Christ Church as promised.)

Of course more than the touristy things that we did, the best part was getting to see and catch up with Gary.  We've missed him and it was fun to see him in his new life.  (And he and John were total goofballs!)

Gary introduced us to his cousin Susan. Susan's dedication to simplifying the non-essential to focus on the essential is inspiring.  I am very glad I had the opportunity to get to know her.  Her joy for life is infectious and we had a lot of fun.

Getting away for the weekend was wonderful.  If you ever decide you need a weekend away, DC is a great place to escape to.

Friendly wildlife

This weekend when we were in DC, we discovered how friendly the squirrels were.  I had some raw almonds in my purse and we had so much fun feeding them as we traveled between memorials on the Mall.

To give context, John and I have a bird feeder in our backyard, and it doesn't bother us that the squirrels come and feed there too. For years--when our dogs were younger and faster--the squirrels seemed to delight in teasing them. And our dogs (shelties, who are working dogs) loved the mission of keeping these dreaded enemies away from our property.

John even got to feed a black squirrel...something I had never seen before.

In working with sugar gliders, I've heard it explained that having a relationship with a wild animal isn't about whether or not they 'like you', it is about trust.  An animal who trusts you, will interact with you.  I think it is way cool that the squirrels on the Mall have learned to trust humans.

Happily Ever After

I find I write about marriage a lot because there is a big gap between what we are taught culturally and the reality of it.  In our Christian communities it is an especially wide gap because there is a lot of implied perfection that creates unreal expectations.

A couple of months ago, after spending time with someone close to us who is divorced, I asked John if he thought 'happily ever after' really existed.  His response surprised me:  Happily-ever-after is there for everyone, but you have to work your ass off for it.

Definitely not a line we are told in the fairy tales.  We all know how those stories go...the hero and heroine work through terrible perils to be together.  Fighting dragons, slaying giants, pursuing the truth in a world of deceit.  But then, when they finally embrace...when there is one last magical kiss...the story ends in an orchestral crescendo.  Except in real life, it doesn't. The story goes on.  And there are still more dragons, giants and deceit waiting in the wings.  And I'm pretty sure someone should be honest about that which is why I'm saying it here.

Every couple is completely unique.  And I actually think that the work each couple has to do to stay together is unique.  I read Mary Burleson's post about being married 50+ years.  She said for her there was a shift when she learned to stop blaming.  When I asked John what he thought the work was, he paused and said..."I am third."  [There is a billboard campaign in our area called "I am second."  It is people telling their stories about how they put God first in their lives.  John said in marriage, he had to learn to put himself third.] The work is infinite in variety and can sometimes be about simply allowing yourself to be open enough to let people in. (It is hard to be married when your spouse has an 18" guardrail around the heart.)

The dragons, giants and deceit are probably infinite in variety too, but the one lie that always deals the death blow for a marriage is the "I married the wrong person" lie.  The truth is we all married the wrong person.  We thought we knew who we were marrying but after a few years we discover the catastrophic flaws.  The ones our spouse doesn't admit even to themselves (and often are completely blind to).  We have our own catastrophic flaws...but if we see them at all, they are too painful to admit.  So we look away.  And we pin our lack of happily-ever-after on the things our spouse lacks. And the story we write in our head casts our spouse in a different role. That of dragon or giant. And we either pull out our sword and fight or look desperately for a way of escape.

If the work is different for every person, the one thing that is common is the need for telling a true story. We need complete naked honesty not only in our dealings with our spouse, but also in our prayers and in the stories we tell ourselves. God can do the work it takes to gearshift a couple beyond a crisis and into the next level, but He seems to have little use in doing that in a way that lets us keep our illusions about ourselves. AW Tozer captures the thought well in his Pursuit of God.   

If the longing after God is strong enough within him, he will want to do something about the matter. [Note, I think the longing for love can also be inserted here as often they are one and the same.] First of all, he should put away all defense and make no attempt to excuse himself either in his own eyes or before the Lord.  Whoever defends himself will have himself for his defense and he will have no other.  but let him come defenseless before the Lord and he will have for his defender no less than God Himself. Let the inquiring Christian trample underfoot every slippery trick of his deceitful heart and insist upon frank and open relations with the Lord.  Then he should remember that this is holy business.  No careless or casual dealings will suffice.  Let him come to God fully determined to be heard.

I've written many posts in this love series about grappling in my own heart in standing on the sidelines as couples we've loved split apart. About how John and I hit the wall and had to make a decision.  Oddly enough, our initial decision wasn't even for each other; it was about following God and what we believed He asked us to do. I can now say without flinching that God is in the business of resurrection, but He doesn't wave a fairy godmother's wand.  Apparently brokenness and honesty are the ticket for entry. (They also hurt like hell and require sweat equity.)

Whether a couple stays or whether they go...and I know many times there is no choice for one of the spouses...this commitment to honesty and letting God uncover weakness in you is key. You can do all the things the world says to do to get "happily ever after"--advice which is usually delivered with a healthy dose of chutzpah...and wind up in exactly the same place you were before. (Like our friend who in her new life still doesn't seem to have found what she left her marriage for.)

Surrender is counter-intuitive.  But when we are fighting the wrong enemy it is the only successful move.

Adventures real and imagined...

On our recent trip to New Mexico we got to explore "the woods"--a place where John and Troy used to run and play when they were boys.  We found the remnants of an old tree fort.  While John couldn't say for sure if the boards were the ones he had placed, it was certainly the same tree that was the hideout in all of the imagined battles fought in the woods.

My "tree fort" wasn't exactly a tree.  It was usually a field with wildflowers...either the one behind my house or the one beside the playground (when I was lucky enough to get to wander off down there and wasn't coerced by some PE teacher into having to play kickball).  One of the things about writers, is that they usually have some story going on in their head. So, as I wandered the story was written behind my eyes instead of on paper.  (I'm relatively sure that writers are hard-wired from birth. Maybe Floyd can back me up on this.)

The thing is that most all kids imagine.  They spend time in a world that is as it could be.  One where they are a hero.  And in our childhood imaginings the good guys always win.

Early childhood experts believe there is significance to this imaginary play. Just like baby tigers play at hunting to learn how to do it for real, the imaginary play of children trains them for the world ahead. It makes me curious though why the stories of our childhood imagining (and in fact the center of all fiction) involves conflict.  The good guys fight the bad guys.

It is as if that reality is written on our souls.  And in all of our imagining we want the good guys to win.

The Apostle Paul writes a letter to the Ephesians that says: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

There really is a war going on...good vs. evil.  An invisible one where we can't see the players, but we see the evidence...everything from ugly words between family members to full scale genocide. Fighting on the side of good requires unusual weapons:  courage, hope, love and sacrifice.  It requires an inordinate amount of strength.

I don't know what is discouraging you today, but keep in mind, when you were in the tree fort, you never let the bad guys win.

My week as a yogi | Last day

I hadn't actually made a plan for my last day as a yogi, so it was serendipity that both Yoga Journal and Vegetarian Times arrived in my mailbox yesterday.

VT had a ton of recipes for the dehydrator. Soooooo....I hoped on my beach cruiser this morning and cycled to the Chinese market for supplies stopping by the little lake on the way back and sitting myself on a park bench to read through YJ.

The afternoon was spent making a variety of fruit and vegetable 'chips' that are still in process.

And I have to say, I'm sad it is over.  It would be an unbelievable luxury to live life as a yogi every day.  Luckily there are many things I've tried this week that I get to keep with me. That's the beautiful part about 'living a week as...'

My Week as a Yogi | Day Five - Sunrise Yoga

For me, there is nothing better than yoga outdoors.  So this morning, I scrambled out of bed to make it to Arbor Hills before the sun rose. By the time I was at the best viewpoint, I was fully awake and got to go through sun salutations literally in time to meet the sun.

From my vantage point, I could hear the Tollway traffic, but couldn't see it. It was an odd juxtaposition between the audible reminder of my usual mornings and hearing the sounds of how the natural world sort of wakes up slowly.

I took a blanket so I could sit in meditation, but mostly it turned out to be a string of disjointed prayers for different people in my life and a deep sense of gratitude for the beauty of the world and for the time to simply enjoy it.

Tonight, I get to go to a class at my normal yoga studio.  Now that I've 'test driven' a couple of others, I've found there's really not a better fit for me.  Not to sound too 'yogi' but the energy feels nicer.  When people talk about the 'energy' of a place, they are usually talking about the way it makes them feel.  And Rescue Yoga feels comfortable and welcoming. So somehow, I just have to figure out the schedule stuff.

My Week as a Yogi | Day Four - Russian Banya

So far, I've focused most of my week with yoga at studios, but today, my yoga was at home so that my friend, Vicki and I could go experience a Russian banya.

I wasn't really sure what to expect--so I was glad Vicki was up for the adventure. We went into the Banya, gave our phones, keys and wallets to the man at the desk who locked them in the safebox that corresponded to the locker we were assigned.  He then handed us a robe, shoes, a lock for the lockers and towels and showed us around.

Vicki and I decided we were in for the whole experience, so we signed up for a Venik treatment.  (At the time we had no idea what that meant except that it was authentic.)  We did a lower heat dry sauna first, then switched to the steam sauna. (Which the man had infused with peppermint oil just for us.) Then we went to the Russian sauna.  The Russian sauna is heated with wood. And it is really hot. The idea with the Russian sauna is that you open your pores and sweat out any toxins, then you dunk in a pool of ice water to close them again. (Literal ice water if you are in Russia, but here, just a big tank that is 42 degrees.)

The venik treatment is a type of massage done with a wet broom made of leaves...eucalyptus, birch and/or oak.  Jacob--the massage therapist explained all the benefits, and I know it sounds odd, but it is actually pretty fantastic.  Then once the treatment is finished....yes, you guessed it....ice pool and I screamed like a girl.
Other than that, you basically hang out in a robe in between times of hanging out in the sauna.  We ordered hot tea because we were advised to heat our insides as well as our outsides.  We also had lunch while lounging about in robes (totally decadent) and they had a beet salad--which meant I didn't have to abandon my raw food regimen.

The relaxation sensation is wonderful.  Sort of languid and happy. By happenstance, Vicki and I picked Wednesday which is ladies day. Thursdays are men's days.  (I'm not sure how it works on co-ed days, but I think swimsuits may be sort of optional. Consider yourself warned.)

My Week as a Yogi | Day Three - Raw Food Experiments

You've gotta love Craigslist for being able to find things you want at a price you are willing to pay.  In my case, I got an Excalibur 5-tray Dehydrator so I could kick it up a notch on the raw food cuisine.

After three days of eating this way it is interesting.  For one thing, it is oddly satisfying.  The textures and flavors are varied.  More than that, the food is sooooo pretty.  The colors are vibrant. It looks very gourmet.  But the learning curve is high.  It is a whole new way of thinking so preparation seems to take forever because I have to read the recipes and go step-by-step.

Since it was Tuesday, Nancy and I decided to keep our weekly breakfast date, but instead of our usual Bic's, Nancy popped by my house to be my guinea pig for a full-out raw breakfast.  For the past few days, I've simply done sliced fruit with soaked chia seeds as 'cereal' but this morning I made: raw banana crepes filled with nectarines, kiwi and a bit of cashew cream and campari tomatoes filled with basil and a cashew cheese made in the food processor with lemon juice and garlic.

I mentioned before that 'breads' are made in the dehydrator. Most have the same formula fruit/vegetable base + flax seed meal + water.   The flax seed when mixed with water creates the binding agent much like eggs do in non-vegan cuisine.  Last night, in preparation for Nancy's and my breakfast I blended bananas, flax seed meal and water in my blender and poured it across the dehydrator tray.  It was supposed to go for six hours, but I planned on sleeping, so John used our Christmas light timer so we could 'pull the plug' at the right time.  The result this morning was a crepe like 'bread' that is flexible and sweet.

I also made corn tortillas which are a blend of fresh corn, flax seed meal a few spices and water.

My Week as a Yogi | Day Two - Tree Yoga

September is Yoga month and it isn't unusual to find studios offering free classes on Labor Day.  I've heard a lot about 'tree yoga' recently, and when Heather-the-Hippie-Chick suggested we try it...I was in.

The idea behind TreeYoga is that it is a way to take your yoga practice into nature. And after all, trees are probably the strongest most beautiful stretching partner you can find. (I say this only because John isn't into yoga at all...smile.)

Tree Yoga is the concept of Hal Pruessner--a former Army ranger and marathon runner whose son got him into yoga.  Hal said he was a big believer from his Army days in equipment and that coupled with a childhood spent in trees all gelled together in his brain to come up with the concept.

The 'tree yoga' folks do workshops all over the Metroplex and if you check their website you can probably find them somewhere near you.  If not, you can order your own tree harness at treeyoga.org complete with DVD.

I cannot possibly describe how fun it was. (And yes, a harness is totally on my Christmas list!)

Heather-the-Yogi was able to pose much more elegantly than I was.  Her inverted full lotus was really cool, but our harness was really close to the guy next to us, so we all laughed a lot as we tried not to get wires tangled.

I was able to do the inversions too but the photos aren't EVEN getting posted here.  So awkward!

Since I'm eating raw this week and Heather happens to be doing a cleanse, Bliss fit the bill for lunch.  We had a spicy linguine made from zucchini noodles and red pepper.  And the greek pizza--which was just as awesome as it was on Saturday.  I so have to learn to make it!!!

This time we sat outside.  The patio at Bliss is very pretty and with the gorgeous weather today it was a wonderful place for lunch.

In the afternoon, Heather went out to teach a class and I made a purchase off CraigsList.  But more on that tomorrow when I learn how it all turns out...

My week as a yogi | Day One

The raw food thing is interesting.  Eating at Bliss last night actually helped a lot. We sat at the bar and watched them make the dishes--and suddenly the recipes I'd been reading without really understanding clicked. I got it. 

For the most part, you choose the vegetables based on texture, and flavor with sauces made from ingredients like garlic, olive oil, lemon juice and spices.  "Meats" are created from soaked nuts mixed with spices and "breads" are created from dehydrated seed meals.  (Theoretically, you don't need an expensive dehydrator and can try it in your oven, but I followed the instructions and it was a total disaster.  So, no 'breads' for me this week.)

I'm working from two cookbooks:  Ani Phyo's Raw Food Essentials and Jennifer Cornbleet's Raw Food Made Easy.  So this morning for breakfast, I had diced apples with soaked chia seeds and pumpkin pie spice.  And for lunch, a taco meat made from raw sunflower seeds served in lettuce shells and avocado sauce.  And all of it was surprisingly delicious and much easier than I thought to make.

Tonight, I went to a restorative yoga class at Blue Anjou.  The instructor, Tom, was really good.  I've missed my classes at my normal studio because I haven't been able to make the schedules work. Blue Anjou has a few later options, so I'm test driving their 10 classes for $10 deal this week. Perfect timing for my 'week as a yogi.'  

Tomorrow...tree yoga! I can't wait. 

My Week As...a Yogi

Each year, I take the week of Labor Day off on vacation to live my life as I would if I had no other responsibilities.  In previous years I've lived my life as a novelist, an artist, a stay-at-home-mom (complete with baking and gardening) and last year as an interior designer.

This year, I'm living my "week as" vacation as a yogi. The idea behind it is a full week devoted to aligning mind, body and spirit through healthy food and yoga.

Today is 'Day One' which involves meal planning as I learn this new cuisine and a trip to Whole Foods to get supplies (if you are curious, John is grilling steaks to go along with whatever 'raw' dishes I make this week).

The idea behind 'raw foods' is that food in its natural state is what was designed to feed us.  So, an apple is perfect fuel for the human body.  Heat it and make applesauce and it loses its enzymes.  Pasteurize and put it in a plastic container so it can sit on a grocery store shelf, and it loses more and picks up some of the plastic.  Use chemicals to make a sour apple Jolly Rancher and we've totally lost the plot.

Date night tonight is to an art gallery for the "This is True" exhibit and Blisse...the raw foods cafe in Dallas. (To which Dan-the-Pixel-Man said...'your night to pick...right?')

Shot of Community

I love it that our church is right next door to the liquor store.  (Yes, they were there first.)

I love it that the space is only a church on Sunday mornings and that the rest of the time it is open for community use....yoga, concerts, neighborhood meetings.

But mostly, I love the 'feature' it aspect of the new billboard that went up this morning. Crosspointe offers community.  You can just be you.  And best of all, it is the biggest welcome mat ever.

Lunch with Shannon-of-the-Six

Shannon-of-the-Six and I were the best of friends when she lived in Carrollton, but a move to McKinney, a family of eight and now a move to Waxahache later our day-to-day-I-know-where-everything-is-in-your-kitchen friendship was put on pause.

Shannon's daugher Bri currently has soccer practice near my office every week for the next two months, which means each and every Wednesday...I GET TO HAVE LUNCH WITH SHANNON!!!

As a side note, when I posted this picture to Facebook, a friend commented that I look like Nancy McKeon.  To which I reply that "Jo was always, always my favorite!!!"

Ripples

I think most of the time we believe we live in isolation. We don't realize the effect we have on others.

The quick words said in passing that can completely ruin someone else's day.
The tears shed over another's pain.
The hope lost over someone else's actions.
The faith cost by discontinuity between word and deed.

But just as this works in the negative, it also works in the positive.

The faith brought by someone living out what they truly believe.
The hope restored over someone else's actions.
The joy brought by another's blessings.
The kind words that subtly influence what a person believes about themselves.

We all make ripples.  Make yours the good ones.