100 Happy Days

When I first saw the idea on the web about 100 Happy Days I was immediately interested!  But, I was hesitant. Not sure why, though after the mail I received today I figure I'd start! 

Day 1: New Purse!

I love Kate Spade. And I love new purses!  Needless to say when I finally received my birthday present I was stoked!  Jodi, Ian and my sibling in laws did a great job, dontcha think??

#100happydays #day1

Migraineville. Population: Me

I had such a great plan for this weekend!  Matt was out of town, I was house sitting for my parents, my brother and sister in law were away in Vegas - this was going to be a 'get shit-done' kind of weekend! Plans included washing all of my comforters and duvets using mom and dad's oversize washer.  Sunday I was going home so it was going to be a grocery shopping day/weekly meal planning day and laundry, oh SO MUCH laundry day.  I wanted to have everything fresh and start this new week on the right foot.

Until, Friday after work came.  I had been feeling a little off all day and brushed it off because it was a really long week filled with meetings, training, and stressful situations.  Since nothing was going on that evening, I was planning to take it easy (spring cleaning could start Saturday) and go to bed at a reasonable time.

EXCEPT, I couldn't sleep.  Too much on my mind, my body was sore from god knows what, and I've been stressed out which means my mind wanders.  Java was up a few times in the night too, so low and behold, no sleep for Lisa.  Saturday morning I could barely get out of bed, and I finally did only because I had promised a Kijiji buyer I'd meet her in the am as she was buying my textbook. As I came home my stomach was all over the place.  My head started hurting so badly that I couldn't make it out of bed.  Took some headache medication and went to bed.  Then again, tossed and turned all week.  Finally at 4:30 I got out of bed to take more medication. I've tried having an Epsom salt bath, Advil, drinking water, drinking caffeine, more sleep, though nothing is kicking this headache.  Around 6 pm tonight, when I took Java out, I finally felt I could get up without the nauseous feeling anymore.

 So, today, no spring cleaning has gotten done.  My weekend fell to the mercy of one hell of a wicked headache.  I'm frustrated and grumpy about it, but I guess it's my body telling me I need to slow down.

What do you do when your headaches get so bad? What natural/non natural remedies help you? If you get them often, what do you do to mitigate these damn things?

UPDATE - I'm Almost Thirty!

In one week I turn thirty!  THIRTY!  Can you believe it?
This past year I've really thought about this list and tried to figure out how to accomplish everything.  What I've realized is that some of these goals were a lot more challenging and time consuming than others.  So here's the update of what I've accomplished, and what I still have yet to do - though looking at the list my thirties should be a ton of fun :)

Cooking/Baking:

Host a big dinner party for friends and prepare the meal myself  My brother and I made Thanksgiving dinner!  I'd like to do another big dinner though 

Make my own wine

Learn how to bbq steaks without overcooking - this I practiced, and I think I'm getting pretty close!

Take a cooking class

Make recipes out of all the cookbooks I’ve never cooked out of - instead of doing this one, I've been utilizing Pinterest a lot!  I've made pretty much everything I've pinned too!

Health/Fitness:

Run a 10K - BAM - did this in Anaheim in January - ran the Tinkerbell 10k through disneyland and had an amazing time!

Complete a ½ marathon - I'm registered for the Seawheeze Half this summer!

Certified YTT 200 hrs completed

Get yoga photos taken of me somewhere tropical

Get my rock hard abs back ;)

Travel:

Visit at least 3 new cities - I went to Mexico this past November and visited Talum, Playa del Carmen and Puerto Mueralos, I went to LA/Anaheim/Huntington Beach - ok so I've visited LA/Anaheim before but I was 10, so I don't really remember, and I also went to Gimli, Manitoba

Go to at least one new country

See at least 2 NHL hockey games in 2 different cities I have not seen games in (so far I've only seen games in Vancouver and Edmonton)  Went to an Anaheim Ducks game in January

Take a trip with just my girlfriends

Go on a hiking trip that lasts longer than a day

Go zip lining - this was completed in Mexico!

Ride in a hot air balloon – dad and I have our tickets purchased, we just need a morning where it’s not so windy

Go on a completely spontaneous road trip - Java and I decided to randomly go visit Courtney one day and I took him to Sylvan Lake.  Not far but it was spontaneous!

Appreciate and travel to local spots that people from all over the world travel to however we locals take advantage of (glaciers, Kananaskis, Drumheller, etc) - I had the opportunity to do a lot of this this past year, as I took some exchange students to a few lakes around  Edmonton as well as visited Drumheller with them!  I'm trying to do this more and more with every walk/weekend trip, etc.

Education:

Complete my CGA designation - just got my marks back and completed the program!  My application for membership has been completed and signed off by a commissioner of Oaths.  Now I just await my letter approving me as a member :)

Re-learn Spanish - I did practice this with my exchange student, though I've lost sooo much of it!  I really need to practice more

Take a photography class

Other:

Complete my “starry night” puzzle – I’m changing this one since I feel like I’ll never have the patience to complete it, and I’m making a t-shirt quilt instead

Get my nose pierced - done

Get another tattoo- My sister and I had an appointment this past summer that we had to cancel... this is still in the works!

Sponsor a child - I'm pretty sure I did this immediately after I wrote up the blog, and I'm still sponsoring Louisiana.

Be in love with someone who is worthy or be happy being single – not settled with the wrong person like I had been - This played over and over in my head every time I met someone new… probably the reason why I was single for so long.  However, 51 weeks ago I started communicating with the love of my life (we were set up and our mutual friend gave him my number) and 10 months ago I started dating him.   I'm crazy in love with him.

Decorate my house with photography of my travels and photographs that I took myself

Learn how to ride a scooter/motorcycle without crashing into a fence - I'm still terrified to drive a scooter

Make my corkboard out of wine corks from bottles I’ve drank/enjoyed with friends – I’m still collecting! 

Karma Kids Teacher Training

What an amazing weekend!  Over the Remembrance Day long weekend I took part in a kid's yoga teacher training hosted by Lotus Soul, and put on by Karma Kids Yoga Studio.  Karma Kids is based out of New York City and is completely dedicated to teaching kids yoga.  This was their first time doing their teacher training in Canada too!

The 30 hour training was over three vigorous days, filled with running around the studio, jumping like frogs from mat to mat, and playing forgotten childhood games that I haven't thought about in like 15 years.  Kelly, our instructor had an AMAZING presence to her and had us adults giggling and moving around like children all day.  

Me riding the human conveyer belt

The 30 hour training was over three vigorous days, filled with running around the studio, jumping like frogs from mat to mat, and playing forgotten childhood games that I haven't thought about in like 15 years.  Kelly, our instructor had an AMAZING presence to her and had us adults giggling and moving around like children all day.

Partner Yoga - peaceful warriors

We played games, read stories, practiced breathing techniques, stood on our head, arm balances, and practiced our flows all in a kid friendly, exciting environment.  I highly recommend anyone who is interested in teaching children yoga to take this course.  I can't wait to start teaching little kidlets!

Anyone that's interested... the album from this training can be found here.

30 before 30!

Sooooo since leaving Costa Rica I have not updated this blog… so why not restart it with some goals/things I’d like to accomplish.  I saw this on another blog and it inspired me to create my own.  I love to make lists (...and lists and lists) of everything so this was a lot of fun to make!  I turn 30 in just over 2.5 years (HOLY CRAP) so now I have documented lot of fun stuff to look forward to in the next little while :o)  I’d love to see your lists or comments on items you can help me with or join in on! 

30 things to do before I'm 30

Cooking/Baking:

1. Host a big dinner party for friends and prepare the meal myself
2. Make my own wine
3. Learn how to bbq steaks without overcooking
4. Take a cooking class
5. Make recipes out of all the cookbooks I’ve never cooked out of

Health/Fitness:

6. Run a 10K
7. Complete a ½ marathon
8. Certified YTT 200 hrs completed
9. Get yoga photos taken of me somewhere tropical
10. Get my rock hard abs back ;)

Travel:

11. Visit at least 3 new cities
12. Go to at least one new country
13. See at least 2 NHL hockey games in 2 different cities I have not seen games in (so far I’ve only seen games in Vancouver and Edmonton)
14. Take a trip with just my girlfriends
15. Go on a hiking trip that lasts longer than a day
16. Go zip lining
17. Ride in a hot air balloon
18. Go on a completely spontaneous road trip
19. Appreciate and travel to local spots that people from all over the world travel to however we locals take advantage of (glaciers, Kananaskis, Drumheller, etc)

Education:

20. Complete my CGA designation
21. Re-learn Spanish
22. Take a photography class

Other:

23. Complete my “starry night” puzzle
24. Get my nose pierced
25. Get another tattoo
26. Sponsor a child
27. Be in love with someone who is worthy or be happy being single – not settled with the wrong person like I had been
28. Decorate my house with photography of my travels and photographs that I took myself
29. Learn how to ride a scooter/motorcycle without crashing into a fence
30. Make my corkboard out of wine corks from bottles I’ve drank/enjoyed with friends

Monkeys, chocolate, and waterfalls

Had a really great day today! Took a tour to the jaguar rescue center which was amazing. The center takes in and rehabilitates animals to help them get back into the wild. Howler monkeys, sloths and many other animals surround the place. We were actually able to go into the monkey cage and play with these amazing little animals! They are so cute and cuddly! Then we saw the sloths (they have both 2 and three toed sloths. Some were sleeping but a few were moving around the little area. I'd never seen a sloth move before so this was crazy interesting to see! Heres a photo of a three toed sloth sleeping!


After the sanctuary we learned a little bit if the indigenous culture. We learned how they make chocolate and cocoa butter. As we watched their demo they let us taste the cocoa seed,which is covered in a white edible goo that you suck off. (ok everyone get your heads out of the gutter!) The seed is used for the chocolate and butter so you don't want to eat it. I picked up some vanilla and coconut chocolate to share with my new roommates this week! Sorry court, not you... I think it would melt by the time I get home.
They also explained a little bit of their Bri Bri culture and taught us some of their language. This was all translated terribly poorly by an Italian volunteer named Fabio. Hah.

We had a great lunch with freshly blended pineapple juice... Soo yummy!!

Then went on a wee little hike to a beautiful waterfall. When we got back our driver had fresh pineapple and coconut.. Mm!

The tour was great and now I'm relaxing and getting ready to check out of here tomorrow and head to Samasati and meet my yoga teacher training group. I am not going to lie, I'm so nervous. No matter how many books and articles I've read, and how many times I've practiced yoga, I still don't feel ready. I am excited to learn and absorb as much as I can get out of this training.

What I DO know is that these next two weeks are going to be filled with growth, reflection and a new direction and for that I cannot wait.

Pura vida.

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So much traveling!

Was able to sleep through pretty much the entire flight to Phoenix, which was amazing. Woke up to the captain explaining that we were over the grand canal. So beautiful.




So after my layover in phoenix alongside a 5 hour plan eride beside a 4 year old boy I arrived. After you go through customs it is pure chaos, looking for the driver with your name on his sign. Finally found him and he had some other guy drive me to my hotel. Sketchy to say the least.

The hotel was buzzing with hippies, as they were flying out early morning to a conference best explained as "Using nature to inspire everyday/normal uses".

An early 7am, 5 hour shuttle took me to puerto viejo alongside two older couples from the states, and a fellow from London. Bill, the man from London, is a videographer who has come down to do up a documentary on sloths. The last documentary he made was in regards to pirate fishing off the coast of Africa...sounds like not too shabby of a life.

Now I have arrived in puerto viejo and am anticipating my chocolate facial (the chocolate is locally made) and massage.

Tomorrow I will be doing to an animal sanctuary, a chocolate factory, and a hike to a waterfall. Saturday I will continue on my journey to Samasati, where I will meet up with the rest of my group for yoga training the next day.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone