new chapter.

So, I'm headed off the rock. Venturing out into the unknown.

I got accepted into the master's program of social work at the University of South Florida. I'm off to use my brain!

I'm excited but nervous of course, I've been here for 3 years and just now feel completely in the swing of things. But, I think that's how I work. As soon as it gets comfy cozy I get the itch to leave again.

Friday is my last class at La Paz, and I'm going out with a bang. All of our stuff is packed and I've left out my craziest sports bra I aquired through a clothing sway. Its black, huge, and says "VICTORIOUS'' in rainbow neon letters across the bottom. Sporty and intense.

Here's my playlist for class:




I've made it special for all of my homies that have supported me and done yoga with me through the years.
Then, we're having a yoga party with my family's special recipe "om" cake.

Adios amigos!!!! Hasta Pronto. Te Amoooo

today is tuesday

Green Tara Mantra

So, I was enjoying my morning, relaxing and tuning into "Spirit Science" videos on Youtube. I found one about crystals, and wanted to delve deeper into a topic I honestly know little about.



A few years ago, when I graduated from my yoga teacher training, my mom gave me a necklace with a white crystal on it. I had never worn a crystal before, and considered it kind of quirky. It was quartz. I'm familiar with quartz because of our local beach in Sarasota, Fl. Siesta Key is home to the drum circle on Sunday nights, a gathering of individuals who light a fire and dance around playing drums well into the evening. These individuals are lawyers, doctors, businessmen, and regular joes. I grew up going to the drum circle, and loved it. Anyways, they gathered on Siesta Key because our sand is made of quartz and it said to have great healing powers. It is powder fine, always cool to the touch, and blindingly white. We were married in that sand.

So, I combined the two charms on one necklace. The other, is a ribbon like silver ring with a mantra inscribed along the inside/outside: the green tara mantra.





"Oṃ Tāre Tuttāre Ture Svāhā / Om Tare Tuttare Ture Svaha"





I wore it for awhile, especcially after my teacher training but haven't worn it in a very long time.


After going over the meaning of the words, and connecting it to my own life, I am so glad I found it again. I am putting it back on, and this re-discovery will be the inspiration for meditation. I had been practicing more and more mindful meditation, but lacked a true aim in my search. This is it. It all flows together.


I had posted a clip of a video awhile back of a speaker discussing the aims of living and how one must not solely wish for spiritual enlightenment for themselves, but practice including others. The point was that one can not truly be on a higher level when you consciously know that others are suffering.





I feel rejuvinated, and I'm ready to lead class today!





The focus: How can the practice of yoga enhance your own spiritual, mental, and physical well being, and how can that also effect others?

laundry soap home made

I wrote the title like that because that's how they translate things like that to English. Spanish language rules put the noun before the adjective, so it comes out like that sometimes in English. For example, on menus, you'll usually see "hamburgers home made." It isn't that big of a difference of course, it just makes me smile every time I see it.
So, here's a recipe for home made laundry detergent. I just bought laundry detergent today and tried to go for a balance between cheap, environmentally friendly, sensitive skin approved, and not with a giant plastic bottle. If only that were easy here... I chose Purex because it didn't have sulphates, it was in a post-consumer recycled bottle, and it used bio-degradable ingredients.
But this seems so much better and fun! Plus, I'll get to brag about making my own laundry bubbles.

Here's the link: http://vegan.sheknows.com/2012/03/20/homemade-laundry-soap/