1. I'd really like hot food that i didn't prepare right now.

2. fuck is the word you'd most often hear me say if I stubbed my toe.

3. Possession is one of my favorite songs by sarah mclachlan.

4. a lot of people heart Captain Jack Sparrow.

5. Marshmallows and fire go together like tea and honey.

6. one day it's freezing, the next day it's really warm, then it's freezing, then it's really warm and on and on.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going out with b, tomorrow my plans include a reiki workshop and an imbolc celebration and Sunday, I want to catch a nia class!

13 things about the throat chakra

header courtesy of
jenny.


1. the throat chakra is the fifth chakra. it is associated with sound, creative self-expression, speech, communication, speaking one's truth. it is the chakra of balanced expression. it's mission statement is "i express. i listen. i communicate."

2. the throat chakra is associated the throat, neck, ears, jaw, mouth, teeth, gums, tongue and thyroid.

3. lack of expression, an inability to express oneself, feelings of stagnation, refraining from expressing one's needs, holding on to unexpressed anger are issues of an imbalanced throat chakra.

4. signs your throat chakra may be imbalanced-if you find it difficult to express yourself, you can't find the right words to describe your thoughts or feelings, you say things you later regret, you don't feel inspired by your work or have a tendency to be manipulative, you find yourself telling white lies, you often have sore throats or suffer from neck or shoulder pain, have upper respiratory illnesses, dental problems or suffer from TMJ.

5. when we are balanced in our throat chakra we are balanced in our expression. we can speak our truth. we can communicate effectively, have confidence in our ablity to express ourselves and our beliefs.

6. people that possess strong throat chakras are constantly looking for the truth, trust their inspirations, express themselves in a straight-forward way and positively motivate others.

7. activities to balance imbalanced expression-greet others in a positive manner, write thank-you letters, breath before you speak and while you are listening, drink flavorful hot teas and sing in the shower. wear blue, especially around your neck.

8. other ways to balance imbalanced expression include saying cancel every time you find yourself saying something negative, learn a new language, write letters to those with whom you want to connect or closure with, create and recite a positive mantra or slogan for yourself, practice expressing yourself in an artistic way.

9. other activities to promote and maintain a balanced throat chakra include singing, journaling, dancing and drumming.

10. yoga poses for balancing the throat chakra include shoulderstand, fish, and bridge pose.

11. drink a glass of peppermint water to open up expression and refresh this chakra. peppermint clears the throat of mucus and clears away psychic debris. add one drop of peppermint oil to a glass of spring water. make sure it is a pure essential oil, not a fragrance oil. this is good to do right before making a speech or having an important talk with someone.

12. chant the vowel a (long a as in late) to activate and balance the throat chakra. chant twice a day for three minutes.

13. affirmations associated with the throat chakra-

i use the power of words to make the world a better place.

every day it becomes easier to express what i think and feel.

i am able to hear the voice of my soul.

i am able and willing to speak my truth.

to participate in T13, go here.

quickies

Llewellyn's Witches' Spell-a-day Almanac by various contributors

this year i decided to read it straight through all at once, rather than month by month. i like this year's collection much better than last year's. the theme this year is history, which informs many of the rituals. also, many of the rituals are simple meditations. and a lot of them can be used at any time or year. not too many of them are so specific to the day and year, although there are some that take into consideration eclipses and the year of the ox. i foresee that i will use more of these than years past. not too many of require a lot of materials, which i really like.

Chakra Cleansing by Doreen Virtue

this was a little book but packed with information. she goes into detail about what the chakras are, the association of each and what the imbalances are. she gives several methods of how to balance and clear them. there is also a cd in the back of the book with two chakra clearing meditations, one for the morning and one for the evening. i haven't tried it yet but i plan to. one thing she talks about that i wasn't familiar with before i read this were the ear chakras. she lists them as one of the major chakra points for a total of 8 as opposed to the more commonly stated seven major chakra points.

Bridal Bargains by Denise and Alan Fields

this book was very informative and covers everything. it really is the book the wedding industrial complex doesn't want you to read. there is good info whether you are wanting a traditional or nontraditional wedding. some of it didn't apply to me but it was entertaining just to read about all the ways the wedding industry scams people. i was surprised actually. so if you are getting married and don't want to spend the average 26K, pick up this book.

Offbeat Bride: Taffeta-Free Alternatives for the Independent Bride by Ariel Meadow Stallings

i loved loved loved this one! it's partly a memoir and partly a book of tips. it's full of anecdotes from other brides and ariel's story. i loved reading about her raver campout wedding. there were lots of good ideas and suggestions. i also love how ariel describes herself and her book as a cheerleader. she is very supportive of everyone and very spirited in encouraging others to remain authentic to themselves whether that is a white wedding with a few twists or a full-on unconventional parade.

how to get better in two days

saturday was our engagement dinner where our two families would meet. wednesday was the day i accompanied foi to the courthouse where her name would officially be changed and then go with her to get her new driver's license and social security card. tuesday was the day our new president was inaugurated. monday was the day we started working with the throat chakra in my yoga class.

i am really digging these chakra-based yoga classes that S is leading. i love chakra work. i got the chakra deck for christmas from V and i started working with that at the beginning of january. i felt sluggish and mildly depressed. working with the root chakra helped me get grounded and stir up my energy and vitality. i felt a marked difference. and the first day of S's throat chakra class i felt a huge difference by the end of class. i even did the om, shanti chant at the end, which i never do because i feel too shy or uncertain, although i love listening to everyone around me.

i skipped class on tuesday night because i had invited a couple of friends over to watch the inauguration. i was very excited about that. i love having people over and preparing the goodies. i also love taking pictures of food when it's all assembled for gatherings.



awesome monday. check.
awesome tuesday. check.
so i was sorely disappointed when i woke up wednesday morning with a chest cough and a slightly sore throat. but i still had an awesome time wednesday with foi and izzy on our appointed activities. but when i got home i busted out all my home remedies and got to work because i had two days to get better. i did not want to be sick on saturday for the dinner. and i have to say that i was the most diligent i have ever been when i am sick. i am really good at taking care of other people and administering remedies. but when it comes to myself i slack a bit. i try to take care not to get sick but when i do get sick i do the bare minimum. take zicam. drink odwalla's echinacea drinks. take some nyquil and hope for the best. and usually in five days or so i am better. i didn't have five days. i wanted to wake up friday and be better. so thursday i spent all day taking care of myself and friday i woke up and felt all better.

in case you are interested, this is what i did:

wednesday evening i took a hot bath with epsom salts and tea tree oil and vick's vapor rub on my chest. i projected the word healing onto the bath water and onto my body in honor of masaru emoto's water experiments. i thought it couldn't hurt and most likely will help. i meditated in the bath focusing on the water healing me.

i drank one odwalla echinacea wellness drink.

i took some zicam.

i drank thyme tea. 1 tsp of thyme from the kitchen cupboard, steep for ten minutes, sweeten with honey. it's good for colds and coughs.

i poured boiling water over 4 chamomile tea bags, held a towel over my head and breathed in the steam.

i brewed really strong peppermint tea and gargled with it throughout the evening until i went to bed. peppermint is good for colds, flus, congestion and sore throats.

i ate pasta with two cloves of fresh garlic minced and sprinkled on uncooked. the allicin fights microbes in the back of the throat, which i definitely needed.

after my bath i did a short session of restorative yoga making sure to do cobra, fish and bridge.

then i went to bed early.

on thursday, i did the following:

i did two short rounds of restorative yoga, one in the morning and one after my bath. my book said to do cobra, fish and bridge twice a day if you feel a cold coming on. i started with legs-up-the-wall, did cat/cow, some neck and shoulder rolls, cobra, fish, wide-legged forward bend, pigeon, bridge and a supine spinal twist then savasana. i hit all the immunity spots, heart-openers, hip-openers, inversions and twists.

i drank echinacea tea with honey throughout the day, for a total of 4 cups.

i took homeopathic elder blackberry tablets every three hours.

i used the zicam swabs every 4 hours.

i gargled with a tea tree oil rinse every couple of hours. 1 cup of water with 3-6 drops of tea tree oil.

i drank one odwalla echinacea wellness drink.

i took another hot bath with epsom salts, tea tree oil and vick's on my chest. i again projected the word healing onto the water and onto my body and meditated on my mantra i am healed.

i went to bed early again and took 2 nyquil tablets.

and when i woke up friday morning i felt great. no cough, no sore throat. but i continued to drink echinacea tea and take my homeopathic tablets and nyquil at bedtime just to be on the safe side.

so when the cold, blistery saturday came, b and i were well. however, my dad was not. he called me to tell me he couldn't make it because he had strep throat. but everyone else (my stepmom and sister, b's brother and brother's wife, parents) came and a good time was had by all.

1. Oh, I am so tired of the ding-dong everchanging weather. pick a temperature and stick with it!

2. this is the year of changes, big and little.

3. During reading, I can't hear you if you try to speak to me. and if you poke me that probably won't register either.

4. people that say they hope obama fails and that tuesday was the saddest day ever and give it some time and we will have another scandal; are you kidding me???

5. Right now I'd like to be getting a massage.

6. my computer is my favorite gadget.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to eating some indian food, tomorrow my plans include a family engagement dinner and Sunday, I want to veg!

chibi-vampire vol 1

by Yuna Kagesaki

i have been reading this series a bit out of order. when i went to the library i mistakenly picked up the first in the novel series thinking it was the first in the manga series. so i read vol 2 of the manga before vol 1. when i went back to the library this week i found vol 1 and picked up 4 and 5 because they didn't have 3.
i pretty much already knew what happened in the first manga because the second volume had a summary at the beginning but it was fun to read the actual events that happened. the first volume introduces us to karin, the abnormal vampire. we get some more glimpses into her family life, discover that she has to pay the electric bill. we are also introduced to kenta usui. he is a new student at school and from their very first meeting things just don't go well. they first meet after she's fallen down the steps of the school. she has to go to the school nurse and when she goes back to class she finds kenta in her seat. she freaks and runs out of class. then when she goes to work after school, her boss tells her to get some napkins. while she's in the backroom trying to get them from the top shelf (she's only 4'11) kenta is interviewing for a position. he's hired on the spot and he accompanies the manager to the backroom for a uniform only to have karin fall on his head as she comes toppling off the ladder. and that's pretty much how it goes. every time kenta tries to speak to karin she is immediately running off or tripping over herself. in the meantime he discovers her biting a man in the park and witnesses one of her massive nosebleeds then sees her bite his mother. he doesn't know what to think about karin or understand why she's always running off.

i am really enjoying this series. it is really funny. i find myself laughing out loud a lot. the drawings are very evocative. and the poor girl is always embarrassed. the sections are even entitled 1st embarrassment, 2nd embarrassment, etc. if you like vampires, comedy and manga, go check this out. :)

more tips for winter wellness

the days may slowly be getting longer since the winter solstice, but we are still in the midst of winter and have a couple more months of cold before it is truly warm. cold weather can throw our bodies out of balance and weaken our immune system. with that in mind here are some more tips to maintain balance in bodies and boost our immune systems through these remaining winter months.

the cold weather and lack of sunshine have a way of sapping our energy reserves. getting up in the morning is hard enough on its own but leaving a warm, snuggly bed is doubly hard when it is cold. most people use caffeine as a way to give them an energy boost but that can compromise your immune system. caffeine stresses the adrenal glands, which are located above the kidneys and support immune function and energy. cold weather compromises the kidneys, the body's source of energy and vitality. to support the immune system try drinking herbal tea instead. nettle tea is a good one try next time you are feeling the afternoon slump. it is a gentle energizer. in the morning time try some ginger tea. it has a spicy kick that will wake you up and it also supports the immune system.

heart-opening yoga poses are another way to keep colds at bay. they stimulate blood flow to the thymus, which is located behind the sternum. the thymus is responsible for the growth of T-cells, the immune system's frontline. do cobra, fish and bridge pose daily for cold prevention. if you feel a cold coming on do them twice daily. it only takes five minutes to do and could make all the difference between getting sick and staying well.

this next tip is easy. eat mushrooms. i personally don't like them but it seems that most people do so i include this one for you. eating mushrooms supercharges the immune system by increasing the number of white blood cells in the bloodstream. eat them fresh or dried or take medicinal mushroom supplements.

try a neti pot. it's a traditional indian pot used to rinse the sinus passages. my friend autumn was just regaling the glories of this little pot during her stay last month. she said it really works and she uses it all the time. the neti pot helps clear the sinuses of excess mucus and viruses. the nose is the main entryway for colds, which makes this little pot so useful. there was also a study done that found people with a cold that rinsed their nasal passages regularly got better faster, took less medication and they prevented future colds better than those that didn't. neti pots are sold locally at central market and spiral diner. rinse twice daily for cold/flu prevention.

get at least 30 minutes of exercise daily. i know this is a tricky one because who feels motivated to exercise when it's frigid cold? not me. but 30 minutes of moderate exercise will actually prime your immune system. you get the blood moving, which speeds up the circulation of white blood cells. just don't overdo it because overexertion lowers the immune system. so go for that walk, try a few yoga poses or whatever it is that you enjoy. for half an hour. :)

stay hydrated. drink lots of water and use a humidifier. germs stay airborne longer when the air is dry, which is one reason colds and flus run rampant during this time of the year. but if the air is moist, the germ-infused droplets are too heavy to float and fall to the ground, making you less likely to inhale the little buggers.

de-stress. stress is an enemy of the immune system. try meditating for ten minutes a day, which has shown to dramatically reduce stress. try some yoga. i know i say it often and am huge advocate for it, but it has been proven to reduce cortisol, the stress hormone, in the body. just even one session of yoga will do it. and most importantly, don't forget to have fun and surround yourself with your loved ones. all stress busters. so plan an evening with some friends or your loved one doing something that you, well, love. :)

chibi-vampire: the novel

by Tohru Kai
i picked this up because i thought it was the first volume of the manga. the first few pages were drawings so i was fooled for a few pages until i hit text. it turns out that there is a chibi-vampire novel series along with the manga. and the novel volumes fall in between each volume of manga, so it isn't re-telling what has already happened. this was a bit darker than what i've read in the manga. girls are being kidnapped on the way to school, are drugged, molested while they are unconscious and then dropped off with a thousand yen left in their pocketbooks.
karin has another one of her attacks and ends up biting a stranger in the park. unbeknownst to her it's a rich, well-known stranger. anju, karin's sister, comes to clean up karin's mess as usual but only part of his memory is erased. he doesn't remember the bite but he remembers being hugged by a strange girl. after that good things start happening to him (which is an after-effect of karin's bite) and he is determined to find this mystery girl. however, the only thing he can remember is her school uniform. so the search begins. . .

i found the novel to be darker than the manga but i still liked it. it was also a quick read. i am really enjoying the manga so far and the novels just enhance the experience.

1. Enough with the winter.

2. trying to plan the wedding causes me to be conflicted. sometimes i just want to elope.

3. I've been craving bicycles and sugar.

4. b makes me laugh.

5. I wish I could go to someplace warm next week.

6. moving, friends, my goals has been on my mind lately.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hanging out with mercredi, tomorrow my plans include nothing in particular and Sunday, I want to go to the fair!

13 random things from my week

(T13 header courtesy of jenny)

1. b and i saw gran torino today. it was pretty good and much funnier than i expected it to be.

2. this weekend we saw bride wars. cute, light-hearted fare. not the best movie ever made but made for an enjoyable time out.

3. bought a 1 month unlimited pass at the yoga studio i frequent. my goal is to go at least five times a week. this week i have gone twice already to S's class. she has two more this week, which i plan on attending, plus i want to check out NIA on friday.

4. i read my 6th book today, which means i am completely on track with my monthly reading goals.

5. staying on track with my goals made at new year's too.

6. i did yoga this morning for a good hour AND went for a run this evening with b.

7. i am pretty sore from all this vigorous activity. did i not mention S's classes are challenging and thoroughly ass-kicking?

8. i think we may have a prospective buyer for the house.

9. i still go to bed at 2am and wake up around 11 or 12. still on theatre time, but i still set my 3 alarms everyday with the hopes of getting back to a non-nocturnal routine.

10. i made my first VT recipe this week. it was an indian-inspired dish, very spicy and flavorful. definitely will make again.

11. i am struggling with the 365 day challenge. i really hate taking pictures of myself.

12. i had a really awesome time hanging out with girlfriends on sunday. i hope to see them again soon.

13. blew through the first season of veronica mars with b.

chibi-vampire vol 2

by Yuna Kagesaki, #1 for the manga challenge.

karin is a vampire, but an unusual one. karin doesn't suck blood from people. her body doesn't need blood, it produces too much of it. she injects her blood into people; she's a blood injector. about once a month her blood reach high levels and if she doesn't bite someone right away she has gushing, profusive nosebleeds and experiences anemic symptoms. karin is clumsy, constantly tripping and falling. she is constantly embarrassed about something, which doesn't help her blood problem. karin is from a family of traditional vampires, vampires who can't go out in the day, are repulsed by garlic, have an affinity for bats and can erase people's minds. her family consider her a bit of a freak. she is also responsible for the electric bill since she is the only one who needs to use the lights.

there is a new transfer student at her school, kenta usui. for some reason her blood levels spike tremendously whenever he is around. she is constantly trying to avoid him but is difficult to do since they not only go to school together but work at the same restaurant after school. kenta is suspicious of karin. he saw her biting his mother and now she is acting strange. he's also seen her in the arms of a businessman. he's not sure whether she's a vampire or a prostitute. karin is trying to avoid kenta, but kenta is keen on following her to find out her secret.

i haven't read manga in a very long time but was excited to get back into it with this challenge. i forgot how imaginative the stories are and how beautiful the drawings can be. i loved this manga and am eager to read more of this series. it's a fun, comedic story that reads very fast.

The Meditation Bible

by Madonna Gauding

this is a great guide for anyone who meditates or is interested in meditating. the first part of the book is about meditation itself. it gives an intro, answers the questions how to meditate and why. the second part is the directory of the 140 meditations separated into eight sections.

1. calming and centring
2. living mindfully
3. healing body, mind and spirit
4. get moving
5. love and compassion
6. problem-solving
7. manifesting your dreams
8. connecting to the divine

the meditations themselves are fairly simple and only consist of a few steps. there are inspiring photos and a little intro for each meditation. there are meditations for when you are grieving, hurting, angry or jealous. there are meditations to promote health when you are ill, meditations to help you find solutions to difficult problems. there are meditations for self-love and appreciating one's body. there are moving meditations that will transform regular activities such as running, swimming or walking. there are meditations that focus on nature such as lying out beneath the stars or examining an autumn leaf. there are meditations to cultivate patience and compassion in the place of anger and judgment, to overcome addictions to food and alcohol, to release emotional baggage and to reconnect with the divine.

a book of creative meditations for all aspects of life with the intention of promoting inner peace and calmness, stress relief and positive growth.

1. It's January; which makes me feel like anything is possible.

2. warmth is what I crave most right now.

3. Cork and wine go together like graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows.

4. hot tea is so nourishing.

5. Let us dare to dream.

6. sanctuary is my home.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to yoga and dinner with girlfriends, tomorrow my plans include more girlfriend time and Sunday, I want to have more fun with girlfriends at our meeting!

trashcans and chocolate

we made a bonfire in the backyard. we have let our shredding stack pile up up and up. we just had too much stuff and there was no way we were going to sit down and shred it. there were three bags of it so we had the brilliant idea to just burn it. it was a lot of fun. and perhaps very illegal. our friend SV came over for dinner and we told her about our bonfire idea. she was totally down. she even had s'more ingredients in her car left over from her trip to NM. so we busted out the prosecco, had the water hose and fire extinguisher handy, and then set out to build our fire and roast marshmallows.

mme, mlle, miss, ms., mrs.

life is strange. i know i am older and thus so are my friends but when i bear witness to friends experiencing those mile markers of life, it's strange.
it's strange to be in the midst of a mile marker myself.
i visited a friend today who is due any minute to give birth to a baby girl. she only just found out a few months ago so she was a bit unprepared. i just found out today that she and her boyfriend married a couple of weeks ago at the jp. they were already planning on getting married but were going to wait until she finished nursing school. they decided to do it now so they can reap the tax benefits now as opposed to later.
i've known this woman since high school. we were roommates in college. we've been through a lot together.
yet it's still strange to be experiencing these markers of life.
don't get me wrong because i am excited about my own personal marker but i still find it odd at times.
it's fun to read books, look at websites and brainstorm for our crazy fun party that will be (hopefully) one-of-a-kind. and ya, i consider myself a feminist but i plan on changing my name because b's is way cooler than mine.
the lifelong thing, i don't find that odd. i find that exciting and comforting.
the word wife applied to me, i find that at times odd and other times not so much.
but the thing that really trips me up?
mrs.
that word.
i really don't like that word.
i always check the ms. box.
but mrs.?
i find that scary and i really can't say why.
can i still be ms. once i'm a madame?

self-portraits

i am doing it.
the 365 day challenge.

time for an immunity boost

everyone knows that winter is not only the season of cold weather but also the season of colds and the flu. it's important to keep our immune system at its most efficient. but i think that is especially so in texas where the weather is so wonky. one minute it's below fifty, the next it's 80 degrees and full sunshine, then the next it's cold with freezing rain and icicles everywhere to show for it.

so we all know that one way to stay warm is to get our blood moving (i.e. exercise) but when it's cold the last thing we want to do is move. and yet, one of the best ways to boost our immunity is to move in order to increase the circulation of lymph.

now why is that important you may ask? as lymph moves through the body it picks up bacteria and viruses and filters them out of the body by the lymph nodes. lymph moves by muscular contraction so a good way to increase its circulation is with a little bit of yoga.

gravity is another factor. anytime the head is below the heart lymph moves toward the respiratory organs where the germs enter. once the body is righted again, gravity drains the lymph through the lymph nodes for cleansing. yoga also increases blood circulation and oxygen flow which are also important for immune function.

inversions, heart-openers, twists and hip openers are all good for the immunity.

inversions let gravity take care of the work; heart-openers stimulate the t-cell producing thymus gland which happens to be the main component of the immune system;

twists and hip openers stimulate the spleen and lymph nodes-the secondary organs of the immune system. and don't wait until after you're sick!

inversions: headstand, shoulderstand, plow, legs-up-the-wall, downward-facing dog, wide-legged forward bend
heart-openers: cobra, fish, bridge, camel
twists: half lord of the fishes, revolved abdomen pose
hip-openers: bound angle, pigeon

a regular daily practice of even just a few of the poses can help keep sickness at bay. stay in each pose for at least two minutes for maximum benefit.

altared:

bridezillas, bewilderment, big love, breakups, and what women really think about contemporary weddings
edited by Colleen Curran

this is a great collection of essays written by women writers. i really enjoyed all of them and found some of them especially illuminating. there was a full range of experiences captured. one commonality i did notice was that a lot of the authors referenced princess diana's wedding. i didn't realize how huge of an impact her wedding had on women, but then again she married the year i was born. and i already knew that modern weddings were insanely expensive but i didn't realize that the wedding industry WAS an industry. a multi-billion dollar industry.

some of my favorite essays include the pictorial with typewriter text that chronicles the author's lackluster relationship history, starting with a drawing of princess diana and the date of her wedding that she watched on tv with her sister at age six; the author who called herself a wedding junkie, watched princess diana's wedding at age four and as an adult vowed to attend every wedding she was invited to no matter how far away or how distant she had become from the bride; the woman who started indiebride.com in her quest to rebel against the industry; the indian muslim woman who grew up in both cultures and was groomed from a young age for an arranged marriage at 19; the couple on the survivor-like honeymoon.

there's also the story of the woman engaged at age 35 who decides it would be best to try getting pregnant while they are planning for the wedding because it could take up to a year to conceive and she suddenly felt like she was losing time. she thought if they started now then by the time she was walking down the aisle she would be about three month's along. the author got more than she bargained for, she got pregnant immediately and was six month's along by the time she got married, her dress didn't really fit, she was exhausted, felt bloated but she finally started to enjoy herself at the end of the day.

there were so many great essays, there is no way i could cover them all. some of them had some great thought-provoking tidbits. such as the wedding day is just one day. the wedding industry tries to instill in you that it is supposed to be the happiest day of your life and if it isn't you're a failure.

i would like to share a passage from the essay 'happily ever after' by dani shapiro.

"2. The Engagement. Having been twice married was the strangest thing about me, a major glitch on my C.V. It was very hard to explain, even to myself. I had had two white weddings. Two engagement parties. I had gone shopping for two designer gowns. I had spent a lot of time dreaming about the wedding day and not nearly enough thinking about the marriage."

and that got me thinking. i have never particularly spent a lot of time thinking about weddings in general. and as a child i never thought about getting married at all, never dreamed about some big fancy wedding. as a child i thought marriage was stupid, a recipe for heartbreak. as an adult i spent most of my time thinking that i would never get married, that i didn't really want to. and then somewhere along the line my thinking changed and i saw it as a remote possibility. and now here i am engaged.
but what i did spend a lot of time thinking about growing up was indeed marriage itself. not a big wedding day. but what constitutes a marriage. what makes a marriage last. and these are the things that b and i talk about. have been talking about.
and we both subscribe to the 'it's just a day' philosophy.

and that makes me feel good.

year in review

at the beginning of the year i set some goals. the main theme was introducing some structure into my life which was sorely lacking.

so in review, here are the things i did accomplish:

for the most part i was very successful at establishing and maintaining a morning routine. at the beginning of the year i would wake up an hour before i had to go to work and meditate for 20 minutes, would do yoga for 20 minutes, then get ready for work. that was all fine and well until i got out of training and had to start my regular shift at 7am so i had to start getting up at 5am instead of 6. so my routine whittled down to getting up and just doing my sun salutions for 10-15 minutes. i started going to a yoga studio once a week and doing yoga at home a few times a week. i maintained a regular meditation practice in the evenings.

at work our breaks were very regimented which was very helpful in getting on a regular eating schedule. that kind of went together with maintaining a regular exercise routine. with regular physical activity and eating schedule i found that i craved sugar less and was cooking more and back to my regular good eating habits. it seemed like everything went together, if i faltered in one area it affected another area. but for the most part i stayed on track and got that structure i was craving and in the process created the lifestyle i have been envisioning for myself since i struck out on my own.

i found a pagan group that meets up once a month and then on the sabbats. it's been really great celebrating with people. i also read a lot of metaphysical books that blew my mind wide open.

and i also managed to write letters on most mondays.

as for the things i didn't get to:

french day never materialized
morning pages didn't stick
didn't work on my story

but all in all i accomplished a great deal of things and made tremendous personal growth. 2008 was a fantastic year, a complete opposite of 2007. and i do have high hopes for 2009, the year of new adventures-moving and getting married.

full book list of 2008

i had set an informal goal for myself at the beginning of the year to read at least 100 books. i didn't keep track or anything and thought i read way less than i did, but amazingly i reached my goal and then some. all i could remember were the dismal months. i didn't even read anything in march! i don't have a list for it anyway. and then there was august where i read only four books. but on average i read ten books a month. there were a couple of spectacular months where my total was 14 and 18. december i fell short at 7. but the total count for 2008 is 113, 7 books shy of a 10 book a month total.

for 2009 i would like to hit 120 and complete a couple of challenges. i miss doing those but i really didn't have the time for them this past year.

i read 2 complete series, discovered and fell in love with new-to-me authors (sonia choquette, cate tiernan, wendy mewes), got to catch up on some old favorites (alice hoffman, joann harris), did a lot of metaphysical reading, discovered a new guilty pleasure (gossip girl), participated in the 24 hour read-a-thon which was deliciously so much fun, read some great biography/memoirs (valerie plame, tori amos). also, i found a new book to recommend to death to everyone: the curious incident of the dog in the night-time by mark haddon. it's stupendously awesome.

without further ado, here's my list. :)

1. Daughters of the Moon: Into the Cold Fire by Lynne Ewing
2. Daughters of the Moon: Night Shade by Lynne Ewing
3. Words in a French Life by Kristin Espinasse
4. The Starter Wife by Gigi Levangie Grazer
5. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Sutterfield
6. Psyche in a Dress by Francesca Lia Block
7. Charmed and Ready by Candace Havens
8. The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold
9. Dusted: an unauthorized guide to Buffy the Vampire Slayer
10. Sixty Million Frenchman Can't Be Wrong by Jean-Benoit and Julie Barlow
11. The Next Thing on My List by Jill Smolinksi
12. The Secret Scroll by Lynne Ewing
13. How to See and Read the Aura by Ted Andrews
14. Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
15. Joss Whedon: The Genius Behind Buffy by Candace Havens
16. Devilish by Maureen Johnson
17. Crystal Therapy by Doreen Virtue
18. Sacred Contracts by Caroline Myss
19. Chakras and their Archetypes by Ambika Wauters
20. Skylight Confessions by Alice Hoffman
21. The Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd
22. Like a Charm by Candace Havens
23. The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier
24. Daughters of the Moon: The Sacrifice by Lynn Ewing
25. Daughters of the Moon: The Lost One by Lynn Ewing
26. The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve
27. Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff
28. Balefire: A Chalice of Wind by Cate Tiernan
29. Handfasting: Pagan Commitment Rituals by Rev. Dr. Kendra Vaughan Hovey
30. The Dive from Clausen Pier by Ann Packer
31. Songs Without Words by Ann Packer
32. Balefire: Circle of Ashes by Cate Tiernan
33. Balefire: Feather of Stone by Cate Tiernan
34. Balefire: Necklace of Water by Cate Tiernan
35. Daughters of the Moon: Moon Demon by Lynn Ewing
36. Daughters of the Moon: Possession by Lynn Ewing
37. Daughters of the Moon: The Talisman by Lynn Ewing
38. Daughters of the Moon: The Prophecy by Lynn Ewing
39. Daughters of the Moon: The Becoming by Lynn Ewing
40. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
41. Oh My Goth by Gena Showalter
42. Sweethearts by Sara Zarr
43. The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron
44. Vampire Diaries: The Awakening by L.J. Smith
45. Vampire Diaries: The Struggle by L.J. Smith
46. Sweep: Book of Shadows by Cate Tiernan
47. Sweep: The Coven by Cate Tiernan
48. Sweep: Blood Witch by Cate Tiernan
49. The Strand Prophecy by J.B.B. Winner
50. Sweep: Dark Magick by Cate Tiernan
51. Sweep: Awakening by Cate Tiernan
52. Sweep: Spellbound by Cate Tiernan
53. Sweep: The Calling by Cate Tiernan
54. Sweep: Changeling by Cate Tiernan
55. Sweep: Strife by Cate Tiernan
56. Sweep: Seeker by Cate Tiernan
57. Sweep: Origins by Cate Tiernan
58. Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
59. Sweep: Eclipse by Cate Tiernan
60. Sweep: Reckoning by Cate Tiernan
61. Sweep: Full Circle by Cate Tiernan
62. Sweep: Night's Child by Cate Tiernan
63. The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coehlo
64. The Third Angel by Alice Hoffman
65. Celebutantes by Amanda Goldberg
66. The Two Marys: The Hidden History of the Mother and Wife of Jesus by Sylvia Browne
67. Five Quarters of an Orange by Joanne Harris
68. Lammas: Celebrating the Fruits of the First Harvest by Anna Franklin
69. Ask Your Guides by Sonia Choquette
70. Fair Game: My Life as a CIA Agent, My Betrayal by the White House by Valerie Plame Wilson
71. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
72. Blowing My Cover: My Life as a CIA Agent by Lindsay Moran
73. Secret Societies by Sylvia Browne
74. Charmed and Deadly by Candace Haven
75. The Four Levels of Healing by Shakti Gawain
76. The Handbook of Chakra Healing by Kalashatra Govinda
77. Diary of a Psychic by Sonia Choquette
78. Diary of an Anorexic Girl by Morgan Menzie
79. The Psychic Pathway by Sonia Choquette
80. True Balance by Sonia Choquette
81. The Answer is Simple. . . Love Yourself, Live Your Spirit by Sonia Choquette
82. Soul Lessons and Soul Purpose by Sonia Choquette
83. Cut by Patricia McCormick
84. Blackbird House by Alice Hoffman
85. Blue Diary by Alice Hoffman
86. Trust Your Vibes by Sonia Choquette
87. Chasing Harry Winston by Laura Weisberger
88. Dirty Girls on Top by Alisa Valdez-Rodriguez
89. Daughters of the Moon: The Final Eclipse by Lynn Ewing
90. Fearless: Betrayed by Francine Pascal
91. gossip girl: you know you love me by Cecily von Ziegesar
92. gossip girl: all i want is everything by Cecily von Ziegesar
93. Tori Amos: Piece by Piece by Tori Amos and Ann Powers
94. The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Klaus
95. Anti-Bride Etiquette Guide: The Rules and How to Bend Them by Carolyn Gerin and Kathleen Hughes
96. Anti-Bride Wedding Planner by Carolyn Gerin and Kathleen Hughes
97. The Everything Weddings on a Budget Book by Barbara Cameron
98. The DIY Wedding: Celebrate Your Day Your Way by Kelly Bare
99. Handfasting and Wedding Rituals by Raven Kaldera and Tannin Schwartzstein
100. gossip girl: because i'm worth it by cecily von ziegesar
101. gossip girl: i like it like that by cecily von ziegesar
102. Don't Sweat the Small Stuff About Money by Richard Carlson
103. Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip-Confessions of a Cynical Waiter by Steve Dublanica
104. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
105. The Five of Cups by Wendy Mewes
106. The Moon Garden by Wendy Mewes
107. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
108. Here's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice by Maureen McCormick
109. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
110. Twilight: The Complete Illustrated Movie Companion by Mark Cotta Vaz
111. Real Simple Weddings by the editors of Real Simple
112. Llewellyn's Witch's Spell-a-Day Almanac

and 113. Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson. as i was going through my reviews i found a review for this book but it didn't make it on any of the lists. perhaps it was the lone book of march?

books read in december

1. The Five of Cups by Wendy Mewes

2. The Moon Garden by Wendy Mewes

3. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

4. Here's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice by Maureen McCormick

5. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

6. Twilight: The Complete Illustrated Movie Companion by Mark Cotta Vaz

7. Real Simple Weddings by the editors of Real Simple

8. Llewellyns' Witch's Spell-a-Day Almanac (been reading this month by month throughtout the year).