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Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Freecycle Rocks

My local yoga studio, Studio Gaia, has a clothing rack in the entry way which is a "Freecycle" rack. There's a little sign that says "free to a good home" above it. For the past 3 months I've just kind of browsed it and not had any luck. But last month I found this gem:


It works as a yoga top, or I can wear it to work, or even salsa dancing! I also found a gray zipped "yoga" hoodie by Green Apple. Come to think of it, I also found a tie-dyed tank top for yoga. I hit the motherload!  I'm currently taking Yoga Teacher Training for my 200 hr RYT at Studio Gaia. What a transformative experience this has been for me. We attend classes one weekend a month for 10 months. Not only are we learning about yoga asanas, meditations, chakras, we are also learning about nutrition, ayurveda, Thai yoga massage and much more! I hope to eventually be able to offer yoga to kids and young families. In fact, I'm teaching my first yoga class this weekend on a camping trip that several families from our church are attending. So far I have one student! That's OK, it's a start. The journey of a lifetime begins with a single step.

How about you? Do you have any experience with Freecycle at all?
I have donated a few items to the rack. The owner of the studio informed me that at the end of each month the clothing items that are not claimed are taken to a local church. Yay!
It's fast. It's frugal. It's fashion. Have a great week!

Monday, April 6, 2015

The Dance

I've always loved dancing. Mom enrolled me in ballet/tap/jazz as a girl and I stuck with it a few years. But ballroom/social dancing always looked infinitely more cool to me. My first taste of that was as a 16 yr old at my first prom when our high school band director asked me to dance and he effortlessly led me in my first swing dance ever. I was hooked. Later I dated a German man who was quite good at ballroom dancing. What fun we had! After professional school (when i had my life back) ballroom dancing lessons were available at the local university. My husband and I tried it out without much success. Then Dancing With The Stars came on television and reignited my interest.

Years later (January 2014) my friend B called and said "we're going salsa dancing". I joined the crowd that night and my life has been forever changed. The $5 lesson was fun and we learned so much in only an hour. The teacher was starting up a new beginner session that month.  I started taking lessons and have learned so much and have made some very cool friends along the way. There was a core group of students who kept progressing through Salsa I, Salsa II, Salsa III, then eventually Rueda. We even took part in the International Rueda Flash Mob day on March 28, 2015!! We were on TV and in the newspaper!

Alas, our teacher is leaving the area. I'm so grateful to him for all I've learned and for the new circle of friends I have because of his classes. I know this is not goodbye, rather a 'see you later'. A new creative vein has been tapped in my brain and I feel so lucky for this awakening.

Awakening

Percussive rhythms of my youth
Are awakening
Left brain gives way to right
Order and expression marry
In beautiful silent communication
Listening with fingertips, eyes and hips
Salsa, Cha Cha, Merengue, Rueda
The Dance is infinite
Joyful gratitude abounds.


Thanks for the memories K.

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Fine Frugal Jewelry or My Mom Gifts Me GREAT Jewelry!

Hello all! Sorry I've been gone so long. Let's make up for lost time!!! While deciding what jewelry to put on the other morning with my outfit, I reflected on the fact that I don't have a lot of 'fine' jewelry. I tend to purchase costume jewelry for myself at resale shops/thrift stores. That way, I can have more variety at a lower price. The fine pieces I do have usually are gifted from either my mother or my husband. I have received some great pieces from my mom over the last 30 years. Feast your eyes:


This silver and pearl ring with a few diamond accents is awesome.
I wear it both for work and dressing up.

This gold and marquis garnet ring is a classic piece I get a lot of wear out of.
I wear it at work and for dressing up. Garnet is my birthstone. Yay Mom!

This garnet is great for casual. It has a more modern look than the ring above. 

This Y shaped gold necklace came from Mom in the late 90's. Love it! Great for work/casual/dress-up.

This infinity necklace was a recent gift from Mom. I love it! Great for work/dressing up.

Mom worked at a jewelry store during my high school/college years. I think some of the rings came from there. It was a great little  jewelry shop in the old downtown of my home town. A place where you were personally greeted upon entering. The jeweler could repair just about anything. They were an authorized "Add-a pearl" dealer. My Aunt started me an add-a-pearl necklace when I was a girl. I cherish that necklace.

Having family members gift you great jewelry is a frugal and fashionable way to accessorize any outfit. Plus the sentimental value is priceless. Yay for Moms with great taste in jewelry! Thanks Mom you're the best!

What about you all? Do you have family members/friends that seem to always hit the nail on the head when it comes to gifts of jewelry? Please share in the comments below. I love to hear from viewers!
Have a great week everyone!