Ok, it seriously looks like a milkshake outside my window right now. SO foggy and warm! I kinda like it and find it eerie all at the same time. What does it look like outside your window?
Not too much has been happening since I last talked with you all. Last evening, I had a delicious burger dinner date with my darling Katie. PJ teases us because whenever we have dinner, we meet right after work. In by 5:30, home by 7:30. We usually experience no lines, no waiting, a few screaming children, and great service! Last night was no different. Unfortunately, I forgot my cell phone and couldn't snap a photo of the delish burgers and sweet potato fries that we enjoyed.
We went to Left Bank Burger Bar which is a fairly new ( and excellent!) addition to the Jersey City food scene. Left bank serves strictly appetizers, burgers, cocktails,vino, and craft beer. No muss, no fuss, just delicious food and drinks. They have a decent kids menu that I noticed, too. This burger joint definitely has a cool vibe, but it's laid back and super family friendly. If you were wondering, this is not a picture of my burger, but it looked like the one above. I had a lamb burger (my fave!) with fried goat cheese and some other delicious toppings. Not going to lie, there was not one schmeck of that burger left on the plate when I was done with it! Katie and I also split some killer sweet potato fries. This was my second time at Left Bank, and the experience was just as awesome as the first time. If you haven't been yet, go check it out.
I needed this big sprinkly cookie after that burger. I told PJ that I was craving a cookie, so we took a stroll to the diner around the corner where they have their own bakery. I picked up this little slice of heaven which was actually not little, and was more like the size of my head. Best sugar cookie, ever. Hands down. Dinner, sprinkly cookie, DVR'd American Horror Story, and sleeping by 10= my idea of a perfect Friday night.
Balance is the key to life, so today I made lunch by chopping all the leftover veggies we had in the fridge and tossing them in a bowl. My improved veggie bowl turned out quite good if I do say so myself. I combined carrots, cucumber, celery, red pepper, garbanzo beans, and left over forbidden rice with this yummy lemon basil vinaigrette that I saw on a friend's Facebook wall this week. I think a little chopped red onion would be a delicious addition as well. Next time!
Yesterday was a no yoga, burger, and cookie day. Today has been a sweaty Vinyasa flow with peanut butter toast, bananas, and garbanzo bean salad kind of day. Today my food choices and activity have been centered around what my body WANTS. I used to worry (and let's be honest, still do at times...) that indulging would lead to wanting only burgers and fries for the rest of my days. Despite the occasional fearful thought, my good ol' body has taught me that it will let me know what it needs. Sometimes that's going to be fish and greens, and sometimes its going to be a big, juicy burger. Sometimes I will eat everything on my plate, and sometimes I won't. If I choose a plate of cheesy pasta over the grilled chicken, my jeans will still fit tomorrow. Everyone is different, but for me, flexibility has given me the the gift of freedom, confidence, and happiness.
So let's switch lanes. I told you all the other day that one of my yoga projects was to practice a pick up/jump back. The blocks you see in the above photos are just props, but the actual transition is done without blocks. You literally squish your body through your arms. Awesome. I'd personally be thrilled mastering the block variation. The other day, I did the best pick up/jump back I have ever done. Perfect? Heck, no! A bystander might have thought that it was a sad attempt, but I was so excited about the small improvement!One of my favorite parts of practicing yoga is that I truly experience the feeling of achievement that comes from consistently practicing something. When I'm able to accomplish a pose or transition that I once found impossible, it's so rewarding. I show up, I'm committed, I'm consistent, but I don't push. Challenge yes, push and beat up, no.
Feeling pretty awesome!
And then this happened... ego check! Ouch!
My face flop was quite humbling, and it did sting a little bit! My experience of the pick up/flop back is kind of like life: sometimes you execute perfectly, and sometimes you fall on your face. You get up, brush yourself off, and keep going.
Per the recommendation of a wonderful lady in my life, I've started listening to podcasts by Dr. Brene' Brown, who is a research professor at the University of Houston. Brene' studies vulnerability, courage, worthiness, and shame. I promise that if you listen to her Ted Talks or read her books, you will have a major shift in perspective. I know that I may sound dramatic, but her work is incredibly important and universally relatable.
I mention Brene Brown because the cornerstone of her research lies in having the courage to be vulnerable and real. I try to be as real as I can on this blog because honestly, who wants to come read about how perfect someone's life is? I certainly don't. To me, that sounds boring, plain annoying, and full of bullshit. If I were you, I would want to read about the good, the bad, the tough, the funny, the sad, and the life changing. Whether the experience was positive or negative, I'd want to read about what you learned from it. Real stuff. Right? How often do you read something or look at Facebook or instagram and think, "Wow, that person has the perfect life. I mean, look at those super cute, smoochie, spontaneous, instagram photos! And how do they look like that in their selfie?! I'm doing something wrong, because they are always so positive and happy in their photos and status updates!".
When I started this blog, I definitely put on my "everything is peachy keen" for me hat. While I'm SO thankful for my beautiful life, I have "stuff" just like everyone else does. Sometimes things seem harder than they do at other times. I screw up, and I'd venture to say that we all do! I think sometimes we forget that despite the way someone may seem, Everyone. Has. Stuff. We are all in this together. My goal is to paint a real picture of my amazing moments as well as my face plants. Trust me, there will be faceplants.
Alright ,time to go. I have to address Save-The-Dates and watch House of Cards!
Something to think about (thanks to Valentine L. and Judy G.) :
Smooches,
Sarah
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