Makeup with Pilates

Imagine: Legs straightened, mascara in hand,
and location was the bathroom...

My parents and I are kind of obsessed with Pilates. And by obsessed, I mean that we are all instructors so we teach, take and talk about Pilates classes all the time! Recently, I've been trying to find a way to modify advanced exercises so that I can teach them in full classes! A full class is about 5-7 people. But I want to make it so that they are working toward something even better!

Well this morning I was getting ready for work. I'm used to being alone in the morning, but this morning C was late to school and both of my parents were up and about. But... since I'm used to being alone I left the bathroom door wide open while I was putting on my make up. And no... I wasn't just putting on my make up. I was trying to figure out the best modification for an exercise.

So as I was putting on my mascara, I was standing in front of the sink with my back to the door. I had my legs turned out and my feet about three feet apart. I had my arms extended out toward the side walls. With a very controlled motion, I was twisting slowly from side to side... Mascara in hand!

Little did I know that my Dad had walked downstairs and was watching me! I was caught and their was no way to hide it!

He asked what I was doing. My answer: Putting on my make up. He laughed and I had to follow up with what I was really doing....

Playing Pilates!

The Royal Toe

My Dad stubbed his toe. He probably broke it too and so his toe turned purple. This is how I found out...

K and I had crashed Mom and Dad's date again. We all went wine tasting at Whole Foods and then out to dinner. As soon as we sat down, this is what Dad announced.

A Knight in purple

"I figured out what to call your middle toe."

"What?" ... my first response.

"The royal toe!"

I stared questioningly.

"Because my middle toe is purple!"

Yes,  my dad was taking the color of royalty, the color that kings, knights and other royalty wore in the past, and was using it to name his toe.

He added at the end... "Instead of the middle finger, its the middle toe!"

Winter Diets vs. Summer Diets

Summer is around the corner and spring break season is already here! Granted, I don't get a spring break for the first time ever, but that doesn't mean bathing suit season isn't in the back of everybody's mind. Seasons are changing and so are diets, fitness schedules and tans.

I have now been graduated for a little over a year. In college it used to be a New Year's Resolution to eat salads and start going to the gym. Every year. But let's be realistic, everyone was just trying to get in a better body condition for Spring Break. This year has been different for two different reasons. The first is I actually found a work out routine that I love and so I don't have to force myself to show up at the gyms and debate the entire way there if I can just skip that day's work out. (I will probably talk more about this next Sunday) And the other reason is, now that I am not having my diet controlled by whatever the sorority fed me, I am easily eating healthier and what my body needs, when it needs it.

Summer Diet

The sorority was putting forth a nice effort to serve healthy food. But it is still different from what I chose to eat when I am on my own or at home. Plus, I've always hated that low fat or low carb diet. If I eat low fat then I get hungry again so quickly and end up eating three times as much as I would have just eaten the fat in the first place. The fat is what keeps you full! (Again a good topic for a future post)

I'm not talking about fat free today, instead want to talk about how the way people eat changes throughout the year... Or at least in my family's case. All winter I have been all about chicken soup, minestrone, chili, hot ham and cheese sandwiches and warm drinks... although lattes are a part of my diet year round. Everything has to do with my warmth. Fresh cut vegetables are just not appealing this time of the year.

It's not that I don't like vegetables. I love avocados, celery, tomatoes and other fresh fruits and vegies. Wintertime just means I want them all cooked and served to me warm.

This week, however, things changed. My mom was making her fresh vegetable juice, which usually has no appeal to me, and I found myself stealing the celery she cut up. I even wanted a glass of the juice! Of course, she didn't share though. But it has been that way all week. I found myself craving salads, celery and avocados for the first time this year. The temperature is changing and I'm pretty sure my body's needs are too!

I used to think people changed their diets so that they could attempt a six pack for the summer... And by six pack I mean both kinds. But now my opinion has changed. I think that as the seasons change, our bodies have different needs, if you listen to your body you can see that there is a reason for your craving.

Winter Diet

Example: I am a huge chocolate craver. Did you know chocolate is high in magnesium? I started taking magnesium supplements and my chocolate intake went way down!

It's the same for everyday diets. And now the time has come for my summer diets! I am over eating salads that are full of mostly lettuce, no matter what the season... Ever since my braces, junior year of college, I decided that they just take too long to chew. But I like salads made from tons of veggies! And one of my favorite summer foods are avocados!... In every way shape and form! Guacamole or just freshly cut avocados with a sliced tomato, are both amazing!

Good thing I crave fresh food in the summer... Now I can eat the nutrition my body craves and have room for six packs ;)

To read more about my diet, visit my Mom's blog: http://sixhungrykids.blogspot.com

Whispers to Squawking

Sorry I haven't written in a while. The last post was a rush and things never slowed down. I've been super busy. I started teaching more regular hours of Pilates, played driver for my younger siblings the week Mom and Dad went to Vegas (for business I guess), went apartment hunting and am now shopping for the apartment. Bottom line... I have not been in the mood to blog, and I have done way too much Google-ing... a little for the Oscars, but mostly for furniture.

Throughout all my busy-ness, Sweetie, the Hahns Macaw, keeps her same routine. I can never seem to walk out the door on time in the morning. It's always a rush. It would be nice to one day be able to stroll to my car, but no. That's right, I run out the door as fast as I can without spilling my latte.

Sweetie (Left) and Nikki (Right)

The entire time, from the moment I finish making my latte, through putting on my coat, slipping on my shoes, searching through my purse for my keys and until I finally find the last place I set my phone, Sweetie whispers to me.

"Goodbye. Goodbye. Goodbye. Goodbye. Goodbye."

Yes. Constantly whispers it over and over again dozens of times.

That is, until I walk out and shut the door. Then, she, as well as Nikki who decides to join in, switch their tone of voice.

"SQUAWK! SQUAWK! SQUAWK, SQUAWK! SQUAWK!"

Smart birds, but I don't know if they quite get the point of whispering.