Our Little Garden

Tonight when Trevor and I made dinner, we had a lot of extra cans. I had bought some potting mix and seeds a while ago and had been waiting for us to use some canned food. So tonight, we ended up using six cans and we got to start a little container garden.

My goal is to one day be competently self-sufficient. This come in little steps. First, I learned how to make my own tortillas (never buying those again). Second, I learned how to make my own bread, (never buying that again). And now, I'm starting my own little garden.

In the coming weeks, hopefully I'll have a little dwarf citrus tree. Google those things. They are awesome. They don't need anything bigger than a 5 gallon pot at full maturity and can be indoors or outdoors. Heck yes! I want to get an orange, lime and lemon tree. Never have to buy those again. I'm growing my own cilantro and hopefully won't have to buy that again for a long time. Hello tasty Mexican food!

Anyway! So, tonight, we planted seeds of squash, garden beans, tomatoes, corn, rosemary and cilantro. These all are seeds and all in cans. Once they sprout and I know they'll live, then I'll buy some larger containers. I'm super excited to have this learning experience of growing some of my own food. If this goes well, I'll do more. It's always a learning experience, that's what's fun about it.

 Aren't they cute with their little bows?! I had to dress them up a little bit. On the back I wrote the date I planted them (today 2/23) and how many days until they should sprout. This way I can kind of keep track on when I should be seeing life from them. This has been such a fun night to spend with Trevor. We cooked homemade burritos, Spanish rice and guacamole. He's been a babe and done the dishes twice for me today! I hope everyone had had a wonderful and restful Sunday, now onto a new week!

I'll update you more as my garden grows. :)

- SamiMae

My Yoga Journey has Begun!

I just got done doing some yoga today. WOW! Even better than before. This is really neat. I feel like a lot of times, we as humans, will pick up a new hobby or something, do it for a little bit and then give up or stop doing it.

I was wondering if that'd happen to me with yoga. The more I do it, the more I can see how it becomes a lifestyle. I like to exercise in my own home, often by myself. Not only is this great exercise, but it's peaceful. It tones and stretches your body.

Today, after I straightened my little apartment, I got out my mat and turned on my yoga music on my app. On my pinterest yoga board, I've pinned quite a few sequences that I've wanted to try. Today, I tried another one. This one was like magic!

I didn't create this, I got it off of Pinterest, click here for original source.

Cute bunnies, huh?! I liked this sequence. It had rhythm to it and it flowed nicely. I like that it recommended 10 second hold in each pose, and do this sequence 6 times. I did it 6 times. I was thinking about stopping after 3-4 sequences. But I kept going. I'm glad I did. 

Remember having to run miles in grade school? Remember how the middle part of the mile seemed to drag and you wanted to die? But then, somehow you found strength and the end of the mile was pretty easy, or you were able to press through without feeling like you were gonna die? That's kind of how this was. I was getting a bit tired from the downward dog pose. (That's always been one of my least favorite, but it's now working it's way up the ranks.). 

So, start in mountain pose, then move into a forward fold. I found as I worked through the sequences, I was able to stretch more and more into that forward fold. I bent my knees a bit and I was able to put my face to my knees. I don't remember the last time I could do that!

From this pose, it's easy to move into the downward dog. Hold that pose! I know the arms get tired! Then move into the warrior pose. The warrior pose is in here twice so we can alternate legs. When you are in downward dog and moving into warrior pose, lunge your knee forward first, then move your torso up into the warrior pose. Then, it's easy to get back into downward dog. Then warrior again, then downward dog again. Getting tired? Well now we have a restorative pose.  

The Child's pose is a great one! Relax your whole body and spine. It may feel like you are bowing to something, but yoga is not a religion, it's a science! After the child's pose, it's easy to move into the upward dog, lean forward onto your chest and them push up into upward dog. Then downward dog, forward fold, and mountain pose again. 

Then do it again, 5 more times! After about 3 repeats, I had it memorized. I didn't have to look at my tablet and I was able to just keep going. That's when the magic happened! There is a flow of energy and peace. Clear your mind while you do yoga! It's something that's hard to describe, but give it a shot.

I stretched a bit before, and then meditated for a few minutes after. This is a great exercise. You can change it up every day, or keep doing what you'd like. I love yoga because it's so customizable. I don't have to run the same track or do the same weights or whatever. I can do any kind of sequence I want, for how long I want. I'm starting to see results of my yoga practice. It's awesome. 

Afterwards, you don't feel like eating junk food. I'm not a fan of bananas, and that sounded very appealing to me after my yoga session. It took about 30 minutes from the start of stretching to the end of meditation. Give yoga a try and catch the magic! It's worth it! I think i'm going to stick with it!

I've learned this phrase below. It's true. You don't have to have perfect technique. I sure don't! HA! 

Try something new today!

- SamiMae 

Yoga Is Fun!!

So, the last few weeks, I've been doing a few minutes of yoga everyday with a handy little app on my tablet. I've almost done all the free sessions that are available. I've read a bit online about yoga. I've just felt where I've never taken a class, I really can't do it on my own. Well, then I started researching it on Pinterest. If utilized properly, Pinterest can be pretty powerful. Hahaha. It's true. I've found so many answers and dinners on Pinterest than any recipe book.

I started searching yoga sequences. Today, I did one. I did the second to last session on my tablet, then I put on some yoga music (from another app) and followed a yoga sequence that was posted on Pinterest. Afterwards, I spent a few minutes meditating. Wow! I see what all the hype is about.

I want a form of exercise that is more that just running, which I actually quite enjoy doing. I just don't like running in the freezing cold weather. I've also been walking to campus with a huge laptop and thick textbook in my backpack. So, I've been experiencing some back/shoulder/neck pain as well. I did some yoga and meditation, and I feel so relaxed.

By the end of my short little yoga session, I was sweating. It was a good workout. My arms have never been very strong, but there are a lot of yoga poses that can strengthen your arms. My legs have always pretty strong, but the muscles are so tight, I can't stretch very far or well...at all. My muscles are so tight, but I've been gently pushing myself to become more flexible.

I have a goal to keep doing yoga, to gain flexibility in my legs and strengthen my core this year. I've always has a "few extra pounds" on my body. I didn't really lose my baby fat, until the last year. Jezz, I know. Even in my senior year, I still had chubby cheeks.

One thing I'm thankful for, is my experience in marching band. I did two years of it and I learned discipline and endurance. I know what it feels like to be so exhausted that you feel like you can't move, and then have to "take it back again" for the millionth time.  Even 4+ years later, those lessons are still with me. So, when I'm doing a yoga pose, or even just a plank that is really wearing me down, I just hold it longer.

I found this on Pinterest and smiled. I know exactly how this feels and it's my past experience with this feeling that keeps me going on. I found that planks really work the core. No, not the planks that were popular a few years ago, were you just lay flat. The kind of plank I'm talking about is when you put your elbows and hands on the ground, keep your body straight and push on your toes. 

Hold this for a minute. Feel the burn. There are lots of varieties. This also strengthens your arms as well. I love being able to work out in my own little apartment. Want to see the sequence I did today? I was kind of clumsy my first time, but I can feel its going to get better. 

(I got this off of Pinterest, not my own design). Give it a shot! 

This, was fun. It tested my flexibility and I really worked on my breathing technique, well until about half way, because then I was pretty tired. Once I get familiar with the different poses, my practice will go a lot smoother. 

While doing research on yoga, I found this website called Yoga Basics. If you're interested in learning more about yoga. Give it a look. There is a ton of material! I found it helpful. 

Afterwards, I meditated. Simply, that's quieting the mind for a few minutes. We spend so much time in a loud environment, with so many things calling for our attention along with the stresses of life. It's important to meditate and quite our mind for a little bit each day. I could tell a difference afterwards. 

Anyway, yoga has some amazing benefits and I've decided to go on a journey that I don't think I'll regret. :) 

Try something new today.

- SamiMae