Un-sunny California

Well, it has been possibly a week since I last blogged. Been gearing up for family engagements in San Diego and Washington DC. So much going on and I can barely keep up with all the activity at the moment (Henry too, is keeping me on my toes as well, where does all this energy come from)?

We are in un-sunny San Diego til Monday night for my niece Norah's First Communion. Since we arrived on Tuesday, it has been NON STOP doing! And I'm exhausted! Not complaining, but at the moment I am doing whatever I can to hold my eyelids up!
Will be back on schedule this coming week, if not before, as I might be able to squeeze a few more sessions on the computer here before we head home. Hoping the sun will come out as well as this overcast weather makes me very sleepy.
Stay Tuned blogger buddies!

It's Raining, it's pouring....

Well it's not quite pouring or at least for now. But it has been raining off and on for what seems like weeks. It's been chilly and at times really quite cold, enough to want to put the HEAT on.


I've been drinking cup loads of THIS.











So with this funny weather, comes outdoor play with our frog boots on as well as more indoor play. We have been keeping busy with baking, art projects and running laps in the basement. Thank GOD for our basement. We turn up the tunes, throw balls and jump off my Pilates equipment. SO fun! I must admit, I am exhausted.

BROWNIES- Yum!
(I hesitated this, but then I thought..what the hell)

Mouth Full of batter.

Park-time in our Froggy Wellies

Art Time-painting a box for Daddy (an egg carton)
Note Elmo sitting with Hen. He is all sorted with his "smock" and paint brush too!
Henry is wearing his gorgeous little handmade smock from our Aussie friend Jodi, it 's from
www.chickpea.com.au

More Painting (I'm loving the color! Too
bad my digital is broken..resorting to the blackberry)

Opps! We somehow got a hold of "King" from Cars

So all in all. We've been having fun despite the bizarro weather. But I must add that at least our water levels are up around here..(Colorado is known for droughts and fires).
Next week, we will be in San Diego. Can't wait! Norah, my niece is having her first Communion. After the ceremony (not sure what it's called as I wasn't raised Catholic, even though I was baptized one), we are going to the Hotel Del for Lunch!




Will be a week of some fun festivities, wrapped with a little biz with Commandos, too!

Yoga and Pilates

On twitter, I got an update to an informational website on Yoga. The topic was "What is the difference between Yoga and Pilates?" I decided to check it out not only as a Pilates teacher but also an avid Yoga student. The person asking the question was curious as to the differences as well as looking to gain flexibility. She wanted to know which was the better choice. Yoga? or Pilates?
I think that IS a great question to ask, but I was so so annoyed by a few of the answers that were given. As a student of both disciplines, I feel one should answer with the facts, not based on complete opinions. Before peeps can make an educated answer they must know both topics (and perhaps those few who annoyed me, haven't studied Pilates, which, hell, it is a site dedicated to yoga info any how). By all means, I can't say that I am an 'expert' in either discipline, but i do have some experience in both (yoga for 13 years, Pilates for 15 years).
So I decided to "comment" and provide a few more facts (and a little opinion) on how both disciplines can be applied to her question.."Which one can make you more flexible"... My stance is both yoga AND Pilates can help you get flexible. So I write out my suggestion and press "post." A new page then opens and tells me I must be "logged on." What? I search the site looking to register or logon. Can't find it. So, to cool my frustration, I decided I would post it on my blog (and it is one long comment....I'm now off the salt box, sorry)!

Very good question to ask! First I would like to help make a correction to the above comments.. Pilates IS a mental practice and does involve the mind body connection if taught correctly (sometimes Pilates can be taught incorrectly in ways that remind me of people doing nautilus on Pilates equipment..that's a no no. Pilates works on the whole body in conjunction with breath). "Contrology" was originally the name for this system of exercises which Joseph Pilates (1880-1967) was inventor and founder. In fact, Joe utilized yoga philosophies in his teachings. So a large foundation of Pilates comes from yoga. To this day, this "contrology" concept honors alignment, flexibility, circulation, strength and sometimes forgotten by instructors, BREATH. There are 6 principals of Pilates; centering, concentration, control, precision, breath and flow. I started learning mind body connection as a dancer, then as a Pilates student starting in 1994 and then as a yoga student in 1996. For me personally, I honor my yoga practice as it is a means for me to DEEPEN that mind body connection for both my Pilates exercises and yoga asanas. And whatever you are "working on" be it flexibility, strength, or even if you are trying to heal chronic pain, Yoga can help you (as does Pilates). Yoga is a mind body discipline, that takes you through asanas (poses), along with breath. It not only stretches you, but strengthens as well as improves circulation. Like Pilates, Yoga takes deep concentration, in order to help you achieve maximum potential in any given asanas (whether it's a balance pose like the tree or a 'resting' pose like child's pose). I am now a Pilates teacher, but I also still practice Yoga, which I LOVE. I think that both disciplines can give you flexibility (and strength too). They both challenge your inner most physical self, your nervous system, which is your information highway connecting your mind and body. However, I think it is very indicative of who you take from. My advice is to start by taking intro classes to both, but be sure to test the waters in a studio that is specific to the discipline (like a yoga studio or a Pilates studio). Good luck and have fun! Joe Pilates always said, "you are as old as your spine is flexible."

If you haven't already,
http://www.yoga.myinfoweb.org/what-is-the-difference-between-yoga-and-pilates
Let me know what you think too!

DESIGN & LIFESTYLE FRIDAY!

It's OUT OF AFRICA, again! So I am addicted to South African designers. Today, I was perusing some of my fave blogs. One of them, Skinny laMinx, of South Africa, showcased some local Cape Townians goods...Ninon. The Neighbourgoods Market in Cape Town is a gourment foods delight with tradesmen selling all sorts of delights; from the local famer's and wine estates to artisans. Ninon produces handmade delicious SHOES. They are adorable. And I NEED at least 3 pairs of them. I am lamenting a bit at the moment because they seem affordable, but once I would actually ship them to the states, they will cost an arm and a leg and two, I can't be so sure they will ever make it here. Their post system is well....S L O W and you can't be too sure if your mail will ever make it states side. I've learned that when shipping things from SA, if you aren't going through DHL, you MUST ship them through the Royal mail system (which basically means it goes by way of the UK and from there it ships). It is slightly more expensive but you are pretty much guaranteed a quicker delivery. For now, I will just drool, wish and dream wearing them! Any how, see below how yummy they really are!

Oxford Brogue

Morris

Morocco

Bokkie

Looking forward to the weekend. Hanging here in town. Tonight, we go to friends for dinner, shall be fun with all the kiddos together and tomorrow am it's off to the farmers market! Hope you all have a fun weekend!

Friday is tomorrow, REALLY?

Oh hell, is tomorrow really Friday? Not that I am complaining as the weekends are always the two consecutive days I get to be with both my guys (little guy and big guy). The short week has thrown me a bit, and I am exhausted.
Today was an epic day with Hen hen. It was adventures abound. Turn a corner and you'll never know what just hit ya. Perhaps it was the playdoh that trailed through the kitchen or the wrapped gift that was meant for your sister, but your child got a hold of and tore it to bits. Or how about catching your son with your makeup bag and opened lipstick which ended up all over his adorable embroidered bedding....hmmm....doesn't seem like enough action so lets add in the pee stain on the guest bed duvet (sorry guests, I'll be sure to have it drycleaned b/4 you come over for a visit). The doozey is the NO NAP. Yes, my little sleeper of a child DID NOT NAP TODAY! What?
On the flip side, Henry and I had an awesome afternoon at the park with my college friend Jen who is in town for a wedding. We picked her up at her hotel, grabbed a chai and headed to the park for some much needed running around.
My day ended teaching a wonderful group of women cyclists the powers of Pilates (will post what was taught in class soon. Slackin in my Pilates posts at the moment) . Class was a blast! Now off to bed. Buona Notte!

Long weekend over, a new begins

I hope you had a lovely long Memorial day/weekend whether your flags were a flyin high or you had an epic barbecue or pool party with your family and friends. Perhaps you took on this weekend to kick off the summer by heading to the beach for the weekend? We managed to hightail it outta Boulder for three nights to the family ranch. Despite the fact that it was raining, we had a wonderful time (in the mud).

Thank goodness for the frog wellipets (his boots)!

This child LOVES mud and rocks.

Mud, dirt and lightening = BOY HEAVEN

Henry's addiction continues to be Lightening McQueen (oh and let's NOT forget Thomas the train too)...the one in the pic is actually a bubble bath container. He saw it at Tarjay (Target) and HAD to have it. Immediately I took out the bath gel as it not only smelled disgusting, but I did not want to have bubble bath gel all over the house. Hen has taken the back left wheel off (can't see here in the pic). He likes this as it simulates the part in the beginning of the 'Cars' movie where Lightening looses his wheels (they explode as he has ridden around the track numerous times without changing them). Needless to say, Hen loves destroying his cars. He has taken most of the wheels and tires off of his vehicles (remind me to upload a pic of Henry's collection of wheels/tires). We have collected all of them and put them away for a later time when he hits the stage where he'll want to 'fix' all his cars (clever mama).

Needless to say...We are now entering 'toddler defiancy stage.'
Mmm.., loving it (nothing a marguerita can't solve)!

DESIGN& LIFESTYLE FRIDAY!

Where did the week go? Yikes! I am getting us all packed and ready for our weekend up at the RANCH! Oh I can't wait to be there, now, please! An hour 45 min drive won't be bad. Looking forward to R&R!

Today I am posting some fab interiors pics! Enjoy! Hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Weekend!

image from Elle Decor

image is from Living Etc Magazine


this images is from Elle Decoration South Africa

Happy Day Sissy!

It is the 19th of May and my sister Sarah's birthday!

Happy Day to you sissy poo!

For the past 5 years we had been blessed with spending birthdays together as we lived a mere block from each other in San Diego. Then this past September, Dean, Hen and I moved back to Boulder.

boo hoo sissy poo wish I were there to make you cupcakes :(

So sad that I am not there to celebrate you and honor yet another year of your sisterly wisdom!

I have two siblings, a younger brother Robert (aka bubby) and Sarah my OLDER sister who, through her lovingly annoying-ness, to this very day LOVES to tell me what to do!

I really don't mind her unsolicited assvice. Sister's are special b/c you know they'll tell you whatever is on their minds cause they can and regardless we'll always be sisters!

What to do sissy poo? What I am going to do when I have another baby? I'll need you!! You are the best doula (who isn't a doula, but should be)!

Sarah is one of those take charge women who will get you to focus even if they are pulling images outta the sky to get you to concentrate....how about the melting wax image...your cervix is melting like wax? melting, melting. Loved it and well as ya know it worked!

Sarah was the rockstar in there during my delivery, and my honey husband was too, I might add, as I am not sure what I would have done without shoulders to sit on (bizarre image but one day I'll write a post about the delivery of Henry David Kruuse). Any who back to the sissy poo....
There was a point when I was so transfixed on her eyes and so in another world of pain that I completely had an out of body experience. I was there but I wasn't, starring into her eyes as my insides seemed to be rupturing. God the pain. She got me through that delivery, hell she was a cheerleader who got me to believe that I CAN do this thing called motherhood, I CAN! She cheered throughout my pregnancy and post when Henry was just a little newbie. I love my sister!

With all my ups and downs ins and outs and all arounds, your words of sisterly experience and ass-vice is always accepted with an open ear (most usually).
I love you for it

(will never forget you telling me about the birds and the bees as mom is too proper to tell us those things..THANK GOD for older sisters)!


Sister, you hold a big place in my heart and I love you to bits. Despite living in different cities (we can pretend our bums touch...silly sister's), I still rely on you to be there to tell me what to do, when to do it and how, OK? LOVE you love you love you! Happy Day!

Love your sister xoxo