Nina Fleurina

Nina Fleurina - the cutest little Claremont boutique :)  I was going through some of my pics and I realized I haven't shared these yet!  I've been enjoying the spring weather and I'm really in the shopping mood.  Watch out world - I'm on the loose!  I'm getting ready for a girl's weekend and planning my outfits... so fun and a nice diversion from all this work that's been keeping a stranglehold on me.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nina-Fleurina/184373008252805?ref=ts

Nina Fleurina has fabulous soaps, chocolates, candles and perfume

Fabulous candles

Cute clothes, too!

And in other unrelated shopping news..

J.Crew

More J.Crew

Joe's

Hmmm.... Can't remember where I got this :) 

That's all the excitement for now... Latersssss

XOXO

Andrea

Spring Fitness

Spring forward for the time change!  Ummm, heck YES!  One of my favorite things in the world is the spring time change... Long evenings, walking the dogs, warm sunsets at 7pm :)  FAVE

Hope you're using the daylight savings as an excuse to get outside in the evenings and be active.  Although I really struggle during the winter months to move my butt off the couch during the dark evenings, somehow spring motivates me to get back on track.  It seems easier this time of year, and not only because of the threat of shorts and swimsuits!

So enjoy the sunshine and use this opportunity to enjoy the beautiful outdoors :)  Get out of your gym rut and mix up your routine.  Remember you can mix up your walks with short jog intervals, lunges, stretching, a few pushups thrown in to jumpstart that heart rate and boost your calorie burn.

Get after it!
XOXO Andrea

Hippie Healing

How did I get sick again?
Even though you're eating right, working out, trying to get a little sleep... You might still get sick.  Bummer.  Here's the scenario: you are feeling a little under the weather, so you starting taking Advil Cold and Sinus... But then later that night you can't sleep, so you take some Nyquil.  The next morning you still feel like hell, so you pop some Vit. C.  Before you know it you're down for the count.  In bed with a box of Kleenex and the remote control.

Last week that was me... but luckily I called my friend Shanel and she pointed me down to the local Henry's market and the herb section.  Here's the rundown:


Oregano Oil capsules - 2 every 4 hours
Elderberry extract - use in tea alternating 2 hours with the oregano oil capsules
Multi-vitamin + extra Vit. C in the a.m.
Pro-Biotics - a.m.

This sounds like a lot, but compared to taking Advil/Tylenol/Nyquil/Nasal Spray etc, it works for me.

Another important part to the recovery is the Neti-Pot.  I have the squirt bottle version, but I've heard great things about the original Neti-Pot as well.  Irrigating the sinuses is really important to the healing process.  You need to get rid of the bacteria - as gross as it it! 
 
So hopefully you won't find yourself hugging the Kleenex box and watching re-runs of When Harry Met Sally, but if you do, try the natural healing method and let me know how it goes.  As for me, I was feeling amazingly better after a day and a half of the health regimen.  Pretty awesome :)

Be Well!
XOXO
Andrea

Owning It!

I just got home from a great evening with my friend Lisa... We talked about getting older ;)  getting wiser (!) and making choices we are proud of.  I drove home with a smile on my face thinking about my life :)
Lisa and I both believe that we have choices in life, and our decisions create our futures.  We hope to spread this sense of responsibility to our students and loved ones through our lives and examples.

I started thinking about my life and the path I've chosen.  I took a little inventory and I'm still working on it.  I want to make sure that I don't have any regrets!  So far, I have a few.  I have ignored my own intuition in the past, but I'm doing so much better these days :)  The more true I am to myself, the more successful I have been in following the right path.  Knowing who I am, the TRUE me, is an ever evolving process. 

I want to encourage you to be honest with yourself.  If there is a situation in your life you're struggling through... I'm guessing you already know the solution.  Be brave enough to do what you know needs to be done.  Be honest with yourself about your strengths and give yourself credit.  Be courageous and admit what needs to change. 

Your internal dialogue is incredibly valuable and powerful.  When I don't work out (this is my personal dialogue today), I often think, "I didn't have time today".  Instead, I try to correct myself and say, "I didn't choose to work out today".  See the difference?  I chose to eat today, chose to spend time with a friend, chose to write this blog, even!  But I didn't choose (yet) to exercise.  It's a daily practice of taking ownership of my actions.  When I change my internal dialogue, I change my whole point of view!  I want to own all of me, not just the good stuff.  It seems more authentic...

What do you think about internal dialogue?  Valuable?  Or is it new-age nonsense?

XOXO
Andrea

Can I really lose 2 sizes by next month?!

Every day my Fitness magazine stares me in the face with headlines like:
"Lose 2 Dress Sizes in 4 Weeks!"
"Be a Size Smaller by Summer!"
"New Ways to Target your Trouble Zone!"
etc...
   etc...
        etc...
UM, REALLY???Cause if that was true, wouldn't we have all graduated to children's sizes by now?  What would I be wearing now, a children's size 6?  Come on people!
I used to love Fitness Magazine.  I mean LOVE.  It was the only magazine I had a subscription to for YEARS.  But I'm over it now.  I mean honestly, there are only so many new ways to lose 10 pounds.  There are only so many sizes I can "shed" and only so many odd exercises I can try. 
It's not you, Fitness Magazine...
It's ME
All the bullshit about weight loss plans for your blood type/body type/eating style, strange exercises for that "last stubborn spot", and spending money on workout contraptions.
OVER   IT  
The message is great: Care about your health.
The delivery has changed.  I feel like I'm reading an exercise tabloid. Words like "shocking!"  "amazing!"  plastered across the front of the cover.  sigh.  What happened to all the success stories?  I love those.

I've been through a lot of eating phases and exercise experiments in my time.  I DO think it's good to mix things up.  But maybe I'm just getting old???  I feel like I've heard it all before. 

Right now my grandma and her hubby are here visiting from Oregon.  Grama is 80+ and doing great.  She climbed up to sit by me on the top of the picnic table and have a little chat.  Handed me some homemade dried pears for a snack.  I thought about her garden, canning, fresh apple pies from the tree in the back yard.  The candy drawer for the grandkids to sneak a chocolate out of :)
Such a different kind of life.  Quieter.  Slower.  Peaceful. 

It reminds me to enjoy my family, take my time, take a nap... Work hard, go to bed early, invite others over for dinner and let them help me clean up.
Shop for groceries with the idea that faster is not better, preservatives won't preserve my health, and that I can't eat it at home if I never buy it at the store!

a lil note about exercise:
I'm out of shape!  I had a photo shoot last night and it was SO FUN!  I was jumping around for some shots and the photog said, "Hey, grab a water.  You're out of breath." omg  I was embarrassed.  Guess I need to step up the cardio!  I want to be in a state of functional fitness all the time.  So perhaps it's time for some interval running to kick start things here. 

Nice to be back :)  Hope you're all doing well, working toward being a healthier version of the true you.
XOXO
Andrea

Sorry Pacific Northwest, I know it's raining and all...

While friends and family in Oregon and Washington are in the midst of flooding... I feel a lil guilty enjoying my tan from the past couple days of 80+ degree weather.  My husband and I went camping and it was SO beautiful!  Had the chance to go on lots of long walks, chat with friendly peeps at the campsite, and spend time with the husband.  All together lovely.

One of my fave things about camping is the food planning.  It takes a lot of prep, but is sooo tasty.  A quick peek at the meal list:
Fish tacos
Beer/brown sugar chicken bake
Salsa/chips/guacamole
Scrambled eggs/veggies/hash browns
Taco salad
Cucumber/tomato salad with balsamic vinegar dressing
Smoking Loon pinot noir

I don't know about you, but a couple good hours of walking + sun + good food = a very happy camper indeed.

I hope you find a way to connect with the ones you love, do what energizes you, and feel motivated to accomplish great things in 2011.

XOXO
Andrea

I can't keep a New Year's Resolution!

New Year's Resolutions = Epic Fail
With the New Year, people reflect back on the year, evaluate progress and setbacks, and make plans or goals for the next 12 months.  I'm not a big fan of the New Year Resolution because I'm not awesome at keeping my goals :) But I do believe in taking time to reflect and regroup.

This year I have much to reflect upon... First, I'm thankful for a new position teaching high school English, as well as being given the opportunity to coach basketball again.  It has brought a new meaning to my career, and for that I'm very grateful.

This year has been filled with other challenges as the family business has been stretched and challenged by the unpredictable economy.  In the end, nothing has been as scary as my own imagination.  I have an amazing husband with a versatile skill set.  A real Renaissance man ;) 

My health has been a huge challenge, culminating in a diagnosis of Meniere's disease, a complete lifestyle change, and more uncertainty for the future.  Each year I learn just how much I can take and still bounce back.  I wish I didn't have to learn this lesson, but it is what it is.  I can't change it, only learn to find joy in my life and be thankful for everything I have. 

This year my husband and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary.  It's been an adventure and I'm so happy to have him in my life every day. 

This year:
Not only on January 1st, but every day, I will try to be thankful and reflect back on all my blessings.  My husband calls me pessimistic ;), I like to call it "realistic", but either way, I have been forced to deal with my health issues by focusing on what I have, what I can do, rather than wallowing. 

This year I promise myself to take time to sleep, listen to my body, love my husband and family, and be the best person I know how to be.  I will strive to be excellent where I know how, and pursue excellence in areas I am weak.  I promise to be an encouragement to my husband and show grace to both myself and those around me.  These are not easy tasks, but I am up to the challenge!

Last year when I turned 30, I thought about my life, and I felt proud.  Proud of my accomplishments, education, relationships, and what I have overcome to be the person I am today.  I strive to continue making positive choices I can be proud of. 

As I always say... Hard work + positive choices = a Good Self Esteem!  You can't be proud of it unless you work for it.  I can think of several things I'd like to be proud of, but I have some work to do :)  What do you want to be proud of?

Happy New Year to you and yours,

XOXO
much love
Andrea