Inspiration: Yoga

Source: meditationtemptation.tumblr.com via Shannon on Pinterest

Source: tumblr.com via Shannon on Pinteres

Source: liliezencoach.tumblr.com via Shannon on Pinterest

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by life? Not just overwhelmed by work or by relationships, but just by everything? Feel burnt out and crabby and useless?

 That is how I have been feeling lately. It seems like every time you turn around and every time you finish one thing... another pops up, either by email or by text or by request of loved ones. You want to do them all but you just feel so overwhelmed and like you have not had time to just rest? Not meaning sleep... meaning resting in yourself, resting in time and thought. 

Lately, I have realized that when I do yoga or meditate.. this is exactly what I need.. time not only for myself but to dwell in myself and in my life. It has been a comfort and a creative relaxing outlet.

 Take from this time and space what you need. Love yourself, love your life. 

Source: thefancy.com via Shannon on Pinterest

February: Eliminate Dairy

So, first thing I wanted to say is.... I am officially coffee free! So as far as I am concerned... it looks like this focus by month resolution guideline has been working for me! I am really excited because I am no longer getting the 2pm slump or the withdrawal headaches when I don't have time to grab coffee in the morning. And I have to say... no headaches=happier more productive Shannon. So yay!

Next, Beginning in a VERY VERY short time.. it looks like I am going to have to give up dairy. My doctor has told me before that I am lactose intolerant.. and I just couldn't handle it. I mean... no cheese!? I am ok with no milk.. i do not drink it already (and sadly I am allergic to soy milk too)... But. Cheese is a totally different story. I LOVE cheese. It makes me so sad to know that I am not going to be able to eat it anymore. I do have to say... I WILL occasionally eat pizza. I just cannot give it up forever. It is just going to be only once a month at the most. I think this whole process will help me to realize that i feel much better without it.. and IF I feel a ton better.. maybe I will give it up completely. But I do not want to be unrealistic and say that I will never ever eat cheese ever again. But I am going to try to limit it to the smallest amount possible.

Also, I wanted to give a little update... I am realizing that as I feel better.. there is a chance I will add next month's goal into this month as well. If i am feeling better all the time.. I am going to try to do the working out thing starting this month too.. then I will just have to move everything up a month. BUT... we will see!

Wish me luck!

New Year's Resolutions!

Hi All-

So I realized that I never wrote about my new year's resolutions. Usually every year I think of a ton of resolutions and usually either forget about them or give up before February is even here. So, after talking to people about it and hearing suggestions, I decided instead to take my friend Ashley's advice and instead dedicate each month to something in particular. That way... after doing it for 30 days... it hopefully becomes a habit and therefore easier to do.

So...

January: This month I have been focusing on cutting down on coffee.. for the first week.. I was having headaches and gave in and drank coffee on the weekend. But, since that one day that I gave in, I have not let myself do it again. So.. I have been coffee free for over two weeks now! And the headaches have stopped! I have not given up caffeine completly but I am certainly on my way!

February: In February I am going to try to cut down dramatically on my diary intake... I have been told I am lactose intolerant but it is hard to give up pizza! So.. in january I have already started to give up cheese and other dairy products in meals that cheese is just an added ingrediant and not a main item. It has actually made me feel a lot better and is making me think that maybe pizza will be my only dairy food that I will ever eat! :)

March: In March I am going to make it my mission to work out at least three days a week. Now, if you know me well.. you know that I HATE working out. I really do not enjoy going to the gym, not because I don't like to work out but because I never know what to do and I get really bored doing the same things over and over again. So... My plan in march is to create a dynamic work out regimine so I will stay interested in get fit for spring/summer!

April: In April I plan on starting a jounral, right now... every single thing I think, I feel like I have to tell my husband, so I am constantly barraging him with text messages and emails. Or talking his ear off when he is trying to study/sleep/watch tv/ drive... you name it.. i am bugging him during it. SO.. I will need to start a jounral to talk get the senseless stuff out and to be able to gather my thoughts by myself.

May: In May, I want to start a daily yoga practice. I think that with the habit formed of daily jounraling, it will be easier to fit this time into my day, maybe before or after writing. I want to be able to stretch and center myself before I start a day of work and I think it will also help me with my stress levels.

June: In June I want to take more pictures! I am taking a photography class this month (january) with Erik and hopefully I will take the advanced class after I finish the beginners. So, by June, I hope I will be more skilled and learn how to take better pictures so I can document our lives. In addition to this... I want to make photo albums of all the pictures we already have. It is so funny to look back and see picutres of Erik and I when we first started dating.. we looked so young.. and I want to keep them safe and in a chronological order so some day I can show my babies.

July: In July, I want to start training for a marathon with Erik. Little steps, but hopefully by July, I will be in better shape because I have been working out three days a week since March! I want to train to be able to run a 5k or 10k by December! Erik is such a great runner and I just have suc a mental block against it. SO I want to capture that fear and instead use it as fuel. I can do this!!

August: In August, I want to try convince myself to cook 3-5 nights a week. I think summertime is some of the best times to get creative in the kitchen and release your inner chef! I want to make berry salads and bbq and fish dishes! I cannot wait to walk up and down the aisles at the farmers market and just get creative with dinner.

September: September is our wedding anniversary month! So this month I want to work with Erik to start a tradition for our anniversary. My parents go on vacation every year for theirs and while I know that we do not have enough money for that, I know we could figure out a tradition of our own. Now, while that will not take an entire month.. I also want to use this month to get to know my husband even better. If its question game or just long walks or finding a new hobby togther (like he does want to start brewing our own beer...), I just want to spend my time focused on him and our life together.

October: In October I want to get more in touch with the world. I want to read the newspaper everyday, watch the news, brush up on the economist (hopefully my dad will let me read his subscription when he is done), check out finance magazines and read nonfiction about our political and economic climate. I think it is very important to be in touch with what is going on around you and I have let that passion slip for the last couple of years.



I need more time to think about November and December... for some reason nothing else is coming to me! So... I must think about it some more and then update the list as it becomes more clear to me. Maybe it will be something that comes up over the next couple of months after I get through a few of these resolutions!

What are you new year's resolutions!?

For the love of Tea...

So, one of my new years resolutions was to try and quit coffee addiction. While I love the taste of coffee, I have decided that the amount in excess that I was drinking is just not good for my body... especially my teeth.

So.. I made the resolution that I should only drink coffee on the weekends, because it was at work that I was over doing it.

I have switched to Tea!

And I am realzing a new world out there...

tea is so good and it is so fun to try different kinds, and I have realized that it actually makes me feel more energized and I do not crash after it wears off.. So, Does anyone have any suggestions about teas they love??

I am going to try loose leaf tea next! I'll let you know how it goes!

New Year, New Plans!

I grabbed this picture from another blog I was reading..

My Kind Of Crazy.

I think heading into the New Year, it is especially important to remember all we have already. When you are trying to make 2012 the best year it can be... make sure to be thankful for everything you already have, because people, we are the lucky ones.

Happy New Year and God Bless! :)

p.s. don't drink and drive!

25 before 25

so... I just had my half birthday.. so I am 24 1/2. This has made me think a lot about when I was younger and what I thought I would have done or who I would be when I was 25. Now, some things have happened that I didn't expect, such as getting married at 23 or having to go back to school, but both are an amazing blessing to me. But there are some things that I realize I really want to do before I turn 25. Nothing too large because I do only have 6 months and I want to be realisitic. While i wish I could put, buy a house, get a dog, or go on a european vacation... I know all those things are out of our reach right now. So I need to focus on smaller milestones and life pleasures, so I can give myself some stuff to do but not feel dissapointed by making myself adhere to dreams bigger than our bank account.

So here goes... 25 before 25...  & before 26 for Erik.. haha ;)

• Learn to play chess
• train for a 10K or half marathon- Or at least exercise 3-4 days a week (lose 10 pds?)
• GRADUATE!
• spend a few weekends at the beach
• clean out my closet and drawers
• learn to knit
• create a home with Erik
• create a successful book club
• find and refubish a dresser for our soemday bedroom
• start to learn a language.. maybe French or Spanish
•  create my own signiture scent using essential oils

what kind of things do you wanna do long term??

So I graduate in 2 weeks....

If I can get through these next two weeks and pass all my finals... I will graduate!!

I will finally be done with school, and it will be such an amazing experience because this time.. I have a job to lookforward to when I graduate. It has been a super trying couple of years and it feels so good to be able to know that I will graduate and have a job and be able to support my family of two.

ALSO....

I will finally have free timeeee! As most of you know, I have been working and goiong to school for the past couple of years and it will be the first time in forever that I will just be working! I am so excited I might cry...

BUT...

These are my plans for my free time...

*Blog more!

*take more weekend adventrues

*learn to knit

*read for pleasure

*watch movies

*explore Portland

*hopefully decorate a new home or apartment

*paint my fingernails

*get a massage

*craft

*spend more time with Erik, family, and friends

*travel!!!- Austin at least!

* drink tea

*drink beer

* finally pat myself on the back for a job well done.

AMEN.

Weekend Adventures: Austin, TX

Did I ever tell you that Erik and I are going to Austin, TX next month??

We are going to celebrate my graduation and the end of his term!

I am sooo excited I might explode.

Has anyone been there? Suggestions??

i love this song

"Home" - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

I was listening to Pandora radio at work and this song came on... it just made me feel breezy and light and made me smile.

I think everyone can use music like that.

I love it.

Check out the muzak video. :)

Pinterest!

I know I am a million years behind.. but have you guys seen Pinterest!?

Since I had been feeling uninspired for awhile, my friends Ashley and Amanda pointed out Pintrest to me.

Remember when we were yuounger and cut everything out of magazines and pasted them into notebooks??

Its exactly like that! But with online inspiration!

AMAZING!!

Follow me on Pinterest!

Summer To Do List...

Its FINALLY Summer in Oregon! 

  

So now it is time to sit down with the husband and make a summer to do list!

*Concerts at the Zoo

*Late Night Walks in the warm weather

*Drinkin cocktails out of mason jars

*Beach Trips

*huevos rancheros

*picnics outside

*resturant hunting in Portland

*Drinking summer seasonals

*Attempt to surf in Pacific City

*Hike Neakahnie Mountain

*summer reading lists

*floating on a lake in an innertube

*more bocce and croquet

*CAMPING, CAMPING, CAMPING!

*Visit Alaska

*start an exercise routine

*BBQs

*Wine tasting

What are your ideas for summer???

Weekend Adventure: Gearhart, OR

Erik and I got really lucky and got to have a 4 day weekend over the fourth! So on Thursday night when I got off work, we headed down to the beach in Gearhart, Or! It is so beautiful and quiet there. We build a bonfire and drank some wine on the beach the first night and just got to chat and be a couple. It is so nice to have time to just be with the person you love! 

The next day we went to Moe's for lunch then played Bochee on the beach. It was super fun! We set up camp and just relaxed on the beach. It was pretty amazing weather for the Oregon coast, getting to about 70 in the afternoon.

Then, our friends Amanda and Tyler came down and we had another bonfire and just chatted.. (after the boys had to figure out how to get in the beach house since I accidentally locked the keys inside.. oops). Then the next morning we got some yummy breakfast at the Mcmenamins Sandtrap then headed into Seaside for the parade, some arcade gaming, and some beers.

All in All... AMAZING WEEKEND. Wish I was there now...

wish i was here...

I want to go camping so badly...

Where do you wish you were today??

Play Along with Olivia Here...

Books for Summer...

Here are some books I really want to read this summer...

Any other suggestions!?

I love summer reading. It is the best feeling ever to just relax in the sun and read. 

I love summer! 

Mmmm. Wing Sauce...

So, I do not eat a lot of meat. I basically only eat fish... and buffalo wings... And I have recently come to realize that it is actually because I am insanely obsessed with the taste of wing sauce. So... I am going to do an experiment... If I buy veggie chicken strips... then cover them in either Buffalo Wild Wings Spicy Garlic Sauce... or Fire on the Mountain Buffalo Lime Cilantro.. will they be as good? I'll lectha know how it goes...

Is there anything you have sworn not to eat.. but just can't give up??

P.S. If you live in Portland... Check out Fire On The Mountain.. because it is the best wing place ever!

what i wouldn't give...

I love love love a great view. And I believe that the view of boats or water, from your window, would be one of the most relaxing things in the world. Someday, I would love it if Erik and I lived on the coast, and had a view of the water from our bedroom. I love these rooms and their beautiful views!

Friday!

I am so happy it is Friday today and that it is finally the weekend! I got all my work done for the week so I can actually enjoy it! I am very excited for this weekend because Erik and I have actually planned a lot to do and even if it doesn't all work out, I am just so happy it is sunny today and hopefully the weather will stay nice.

Here are a few things we have planned for this weekend:

* Tonight is the first meeting of my book club! I couldn't be more excited, it has been something I have wanted to do for a looong time and never had the right people to start it with or never really thought I could make the time. But I am so excited with the group that is coming and realized that it is so much easier to make time if you prioritze correctly!

* Tomorrow we are going to a lacrosse game for the team that Erik is helping coach! Finally... I am getting a glimpse of my dream to be a coach's wife.. haha I feel like I am going to have to channel Tami Taylor and wear some coyboy boots and say "hey ya'll" a lot.. Even though Erik is helping coach lacrosse and not football and we are in Oregon not Texas. Oh well. Should still be fun.

* Later in the day tomorrow/tomorrow night, we are going to try to get out to the UFO Festival that Mcmenamins is having in Mcminnville. There is a "Dress your Pet like an alien" contest and live music, and of course beer. Should be a good time.

*Then Sunday, plans aren't exact yet, but if they don't work out... maybe we will just have a day of rest. But if they do work out, hopefully we will get some drinks with friends and have a great afternoon. hopefully the weather will compromise!

I am so happy Spring is FINALLY here in Oregon!

Anyone else have awesome plans for this weekend??

Health

Recently, I have been having a lot of health issues and have had to go to the doctor a few times, and while I am not going to elaborate past that on here.. bascially I have been feeling horrible. My doctor asked me to start keeping a food jounral to see if anything can be alleviated by cutting out any particular food or drink. So I have been doing this for about a week and I have realized that I eat very poorly. I used to be a vegetarian.. well almost, I have always eaten fish. But I stopped doing that about a year ago when Erik and I first moved in together because I didn't want to have to make tw different dinners. But, Erik is great, and told me he doesn't mind eating mostly vegetarian again. So, I am thinking I might need to go back to that. (I will REALLY miss buffalo wings... for some reason they are pretty much the only meat food I love). 

So, here I go. Also, I have been looking into cutting my caffeine intake because I am not sure it makes me feel good and also cutting down on gluten. So, here is an experiment that I am willing to try. First things first, I need to figure out a plan for grocery shopping where I don't just buy everything I think looks good, but instead go in there with my weekly plans set out. And, I need to start eating a better breakfast, exercising, doing yoga, cutting down on alcohol, and setting up a sleep schedule. All of this will come easier once I start work again and have a set time to arrive at work. But I need to start now so that the transition is easier. 

So. Wish. Me. Luck. 

Summer Pepper Salad

 

First off, I must admit that I LOVE bell peppers. I love the way they taste and their texture. So I thought I would share a salad that I made up involving them that I just love! Last night I made it to accompany salmon and rice. 

What you need: 

*2 large bell peppers whichever color you like.. I did red and orange.. chopped into small pieces

*8-10 grape tomatoes.. cut in half or thirds

* 1/4 cup Balsamic Vinegar

* 1/4 cup Olive Oil

*2-3 cloves of fresh garlic depending on how much you like garlic

*1/2 tablespoon dried basil or 3-4 leaves of fresh basil

Mix it all together..

ENJOY!

here is a picture of my salad..

Speaking of Wide Open Spaces...

...or big lights, big city!

I just found out that later this month.. I get to go to Seattle for 2 days and a night to meet my sister, Jessyka! I am so excited! I have been wanting to go on a trip and it will be so fun to hit the town with my sister! I cannot wait!