Back to Bikram

so it's been well over a year since i have willingly walked into a 106 degree heated yoga studio. i am going back TODAY at 4pm. i won't lie, i am nervous. actually, I am more hoping i don't pass out. it's seriously a mental game to stay calm throughout the entire 90 mins and 26 postures. it may sound like self-inflicted torture, but it honestly was one of the best workouts i ever did try. and i try a lot. i get bored veryyyy easily and am always looking to add a little something on to my normal routine.

if you ever want to challenge yourself and feel amazing immediately post-workout ... i highly encourage you to try it out. make sure you are well hydrated and go on a slightly empty stomach - fruit, yogurt and nuts a couple hours before should be fine. otherwise, you will feel uncomfortable.

and if you get hooked and are looking to purchase a yoga mat specifically for bikram, check these out. i bought one and LOVE it: BREATHE!

back to december.

taylor swift. she's never been a favorite of mine. i will admit she's an extremely talented little songwriter/singer for her generation, though. ugh, i just can't help that i find her irritating and her songs are normally 'hit or miss' with me. maybe it's because i can't relate to her - most (if not all) her songs are about her personal life and it's been a while since i was her age believing in fairy tales (haha, sigh). with that said, i think "back to december" is one of her best songs. maybe it's the video i like or maybe it's because i know she's singing about hottie jake gyllenhaal. you knowww, i would really like to see him date a non-hollywood gal. he seems (because i'm his best friend and all) like such a good + humble guy who is always getting dumped! how no female has snatched him up already is BEYOND me!! anyhoot, take a trip 'back to december' below ...

google.

this company seriously never ceases to amaze me. an efficient, easy {it's an html code you copy/paste; it doesn't get easier than that} translator widget that can literally translate an entire web page into whatever language your readers speak+read? seriously? talk about making a BIG world into a small, intimate one where people all over the globe can read a blog in their native language. i love it! try it out {below}; it might blow you away too.

the cove.

it won best documentary at last year's oscars, and one year later ... over 20,000 dolphins are still being slaughtered in taiji, japan during the "drive" months of september-march. i was a little late to the party and just saw the movie this past week. if you haven't seen The Cove, i strongly encourage you to rent it or netflix it. it will make you re-think ever stepping foot in *any* facility that holds animals in captivity for human entertainment. it's an astounding billion dollar industry at the cost of destroying the ecosystem. i won't even go into the bloodbath that happens to the dolphins that aren't "chosen" for show - the film does a vivid job at depicting that. i've always felt there isn't anything more tragic than ignorance ... this beautifully done film will have you on your edge and angry at the inhumane ways our own kind treats other inhabitants of earth. it uncovers one of the world's dirtiest little secrets. if you're anything like me, when the film is over you'll run to your laptop and research the organizations who were behind the film and continue to fight for this cause. here are the people that are giving japan's fishermen one huge migraine (day in and day out) until the slaughtering stops; i tip my hat to them:

- oceanic preservation society
- save japan dolphins (an earth institute project)

choose to be an activist, not an INactivist.


speaking of OSCAR (and on a much lighter note), i can't wait for the following at tonight's show ...

* watching james franco co-host. yummy.
* the fashion highs & lows.
* seeing what natalie portman wears + watching (fingers crossed) her accept her golden man for the role she was born to play.
* seeing a Black Swan sweep, in general. is winona ryder even nominated for her small role? she certainly plays "crazy" well, in my opinion.
* seeing a smoking hot SINGLE sandra bullock strut her stuff on the red carpet. i love her and despite winning for her role in The Blind Side last year, it was a rough time for her a few weeks after. i hope she steps out looking just fabulous.
* and finally, as far as the men go, i always enjoy the following: johnny depp, brad pitt, javier bardem (i hope he wins for Biutiful. i haven't even SEEN the movie, but the trailer was enough to tell me he rocked it. when does he not? he should win.), matt damon, and george clooney.

the love shop.

i am a HUGE fan of framed quotes. they give such a modern look to any room, and nine outta ten times they are meant to be inspirational. who doesn't need a little bit of that hanging on any given (bedroom, kitchen, home office, work office, etc) wall? recently i came across this ADORABLE etsy shop {link below} with some really fresh designs. i already have a tiffany blue + white version of "keep calm and carry on" and would love to add more fun quotes:

The LOVE Shop.

cute, huh?

wants.

in no particular order:

* to kick butt on march 8th. (it's an important date in my life right now and i need good vibes. please send some my way. thanks in advance!)

* flowerbomb by viktor & rolf. i have been crushing on this scent forever. when i asked for it as a christmas gift, i was told "how bad do you really love it, babe? you don't think it's way TOO sweet?" sigh, i'm just gonna have to buy it for myself.

* a really good camera. like one of those SLR ones. i am really bad in this department, but i love taking photos, so i think it's about time i get myself a big girl camera.

* to really (i mean, REALLY) clean out all my closets + drawers. and to get rid of stuff i know i don't want. it might look pretty IN my closet, but i really need to have a serious convo with myself and ask whether i'm ever going to wear that again. and along with the cleaning (which i will donate all), i am NOT going to re-purchase just to fill the newly empty spaces. i have been on this "simplify my life" kick recently ... i already started by (this might be TMI) throwing away every single underwear i own. minus my hanky panky thongs; those cost a pretty penny and i love them. i am a big fan of renewing this particular drawer about 2-3 times a year. i throw everything away (haha, these are not donated ya'll) and then buy just a handful of brand new ones. it's refreshing, for real. next, i have been wearing barely-there makeup. i have switched to tinted moisturizer over my favorite NARS liquid foundation (which i love, by the way) and wear just the basics -- this too, has been refreshing. all in all, i think i'm becoming a minimalist. not sure when it happened, but it did. 2011 is all about simple and organized.

* i desperately want a weekend getaway to a nice resort where ALL i do is eat, drink, lounge by a pool with my True Blood books (which i have sadly abandoned due to lack of free time) and get spa treatments.

honestly, none of these things are out of reach or unrealistic. hopefully i'll get to cross them off sooner than later ...

love thyself.

"Later that day I got to thinking about relationships. There are those that open you up to something new and exotic, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far back from where you started, and those that bring you back. But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous. {Carrie Bradshaw}


Happy Valentine's Day ♥