Declutter based on emotion

As I mentioned in my last post, I have been getting rid of anything that does not please me. Clothes, friends, habits, books - you name it and if it doesn't compliment my compelling vision for "my self" - it is being donated or otherwise kicked to the curb.

Energetically, possessions hold memories. What I was doing when I wore a certain sweater, an inscription on the first page of a book, a vase given to me along with a bouquet of flowers that wilted along with a relationship. All of these send me messages of my past that I no longer want to have in the present. 

And I can honestly say that it has been absolutely freeing to get rid of all of these things. I am wealthier without them.

Apparently I am right on trend. A recent article in my Whole Living Magazine advises, "Consider how each possession makes you feel. Don't keep things with negative energy, like gifts from people you had a falling out with, photos from unhappy times or failed relationships, unfinished projects, clothes that are too small, or medicines from an old ailment. Make room for things that have a positive association. And if you have to mull over whether to toss a particular item, you probably don't need it."

Green Roofs

I was walking the pooch in my beautiful neighborhood recently, and I began to notice a trend. More and more houses had plants growing on top of them.  Not only did it improve the aesthetics of their homes, but practically, it makes great sense. Naturally, someone thought to give this type of garden an official name: "Green Roofs."

Green roofs are basically a contained green space on top of a human-made structure. In my opinion, they are completely the way forward. Check out all the benefits:

• Increased savings on heating and cooling energy costs. A 6-inch green roof reduces heat gains by 95% and heat losses by 26% compared to a conventional roof.

• Green roofs reduce the "urban heat island effect" -- the phenomenon of metropolitan areas being significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas, due to the heat-reflecting nature of concrete and other man-made materials and the release of heat from air-conditioning systems and machinery.

• Some wildlife can be sustained by green roofs. In densely populated areas, beneficial insects, birds, bees and butterflies can be attracted to green roofs.

• Rooftop agriculture can help mitigate the negative impacts of urban sprawl, ensure heightened food security, and engage communities in the food production process.

• Rooftop community gardens can help meet nutritional requirements and reduce household expenditures on food, while creating accessible meeting places and activity areas that can increase social interaction and community cohesion.

Read more.

Nappin' in the Sunshine

Oil changes every 3,000?

I always heard from my dad that if I didn't get an oil change every 3,000 miles, my car would likely blow up and I would have no one to blame by myself.

Years later, the 3,000 mile rule is turning out to be a myth! I just found a list of the top 20 most popular cars in the United States from 2000 to the present and their manufacturer's recommended mileage between oil changes. Check it out. Turns out my car, a Honda Civic, only needs to be serviced every 7,500 miles!

A Treehouse, a Cottage, and a Painted Garden

I went on a walk the other day around my beau's neighborhood of Del Mar. Around every corner, it seemed like there were new treasures waiting to be discovered. Here are a few that I managed to capture before the sun fell on the coast.

Introducing the Superior Pooch

The time has come to introduce the love of my life  - Sir Parker Darlington III.

Cuter than cute my little puppy is tiny in body but enormous in spirit. I never knew I could love something so much. All 5.6 pounds of him.

Healthy Egg Salad Sandwich

This weekend I think I perfected the art of making a yummy egg salad sandwich, with way less fat and calories than usual.

Free-range, organic-fed eggs are a staple for me since I don't really like to eat a whole lot of meat but still need a lot of protein to fuel my physical activities. I hard-boil about 6 every Sunday, and use them either for breakfast or for a quick snack.

I like my eggs a little overcooked, so I let them boil for a good 10 minutes. Then I diced two up in a medium bowl - and threw in some pickle relish with mustard, salt and pepper (to taste). I completely left out the mayo in favor of the healthier ingredients.

Then I halved ripe, sweet cherry tomatoes for an extra veggie kick. The last step was to spread my concoction onto whole wheat toast and layer with crisp romaine leaves.

The result: it was divine.

Travel Yoga Mat

I could not be more excited about this Manduka yoga mat that I got at my studio last night. It's biodegradable, costs just $36, weighs less than 2 lbs., and folded to fit inside my purse. Best of all - it is super sticky. I didn't slide ANYWHERE - even when breaking a sweat.

Although it is really thin - I think it will be perfect to put on top of my fatter yoga mat during my practice - which is starting to flake in places. 

The thicker yoga mats are much too cumbersome to take with you on vacation if you like to pack light - so I am loving the idea of being a fully prepared nomadic yogi. And this is small enough that it will be easy to wash.

Check it out here.

Healthy Shopping on a Budget

5 Ways to Save Money While Buying Healthy Food


1. Buy Frozen Fish. Make sure to check the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch list for recommended types of fish. Get a Pocket Seafood Watch Guide here.

2. Buy vegetables in season. You can find a seasonal ingredient map of the United States here.

3. Buy spices and grain in bulk. You always save money when you can avoid packing material costs - and it is better for the environment.

4. Buy berries and fruits frozen. They are flash frozen directly after being picked so they retain most of their nutritional value.

5. Buy cheap wine. In blind taste tests, cheap wine usually ranks right alongside its more expensive competitors.

Read more.

Shopping Diet

A recent article by The New York Times described the latest craze sweeping the nation: Shopping Diets.

Among the more popular diets is one in which you only wear six items of clothing (or less) for a month. 

I find this thought completely terrifying - and apparently I am not the only one. When I discussed this around the water cooler at work, all the ladies seemed to agree that this was a fabulous idea - but no one seemed to muster up the courage to actually try it.

How would you manage to dress for work, athletic activities, and weekends with only six items in your wardrobe? My head positively spins just thinking about it - leaving me to believe I may not be ready to tackle that challenge head-on.

One that I could get behind as a baby step is one in which you abstain from buying clothing for a predetermined period of time. Some brave souls pledged to do it for a year.

My friend Senta actually did a year-long shopping diet before it was the "cool thing" to do - and with the money she saved she went on a bare-bones trip around the world. That thought helps me to have motivation and resolve.

At any rate - until I pay off the mountain of credit card debt I currently have, I shouldn't be buying anything other than the bare essentials. I can say with all honesty though it is making me appreciate what I have, and take delight in things I overlooked when I was consuming more - so for that I am grateful.

Cutting Back Is Totally "In"

The results of The Harris Poll of 2,227 adults surveyed online between June 14 and 21, 2010 by Harris Interactive show conclusively that the majority of Americans are rethinking the way they live their lives - and the way they spend their money. Pretty interesting stuff - the highlights:

Almost half of Americans (48%) say they are brown bagging lunch instead of purchasing it to save money.

Two in five U.S. adults each say they have switched to refillable water bottles instead of purchasing bottles of water (39%).

Four in ten adults are going to the hairdresser less often (38%).

Three in ten U.S. adults (31%) have cancelled one or more magazine subscriptions and just under one in five(17%) have cancelled a newspaper subscription.

One in five Americans (22%) have cancelled or cut back cable television service.

One in five Americans (22%) have stopped purchasing coffee in the morning.

12% have begun carpooling or using mass transit (but this is not applicable to 48% of Americans who may not be working or may not have the ability to carpool or use mass transit).

Phone service has also changed as 15% have cancelled their landline service and are only using cell phones. Cell phone usage is also changing as 15% say they have changed or cancelled cell service to save money.

See the full report here.

Choose Your Food, Choose Yourself

"Food is never just food. It's also a way of getting at something else: who we are, who we have been and who we want to be."

- Molly Wizenberg

Sigg water bottle

I bought a Sigg reusable water bottle a year ago - and haven't looked back since. With all of the recent research indicating that plastic leeches into our drinking water and causes cancer, plus all of the environmental damage done by both plastic production and disposal - having a metal reusable water container just makes sense.

I have noticed that since I always have it with me, I also drink a lot more water than I did before.

My only recommendation: get one with a finger loop in the top instead of a plastic dispenser. They get heavy to lug around, and are awkward and slippery - so the loop helps it stay in hand. Plus I noticed that the dispenser didn't give me enough liquid at one time. You can never take in too much water - so I prefer to be able to guzzle at will.

This bottle holds one liter of water - and costs less than $10. Foxy!

Yoga for Everyday Ailments

I recently began subscribing to Yoga Journal (and I love it). As a new-subscriber gift, they sent me a small booklet of different yoga poses that are natural remedies for everyday ailments. The asanas are common – but it is nice to know what health benefits each one has, and what specific condition each one targets.

1. Common Cold: Downward-Facing Dog. The pose encourages blood flow to the sinuses. Other recommended poses: Supported Bridge Pose, Legs-Up-The-Wall Pose, and Supported Goddess Pose.

2. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Cobra Pose. Combating mild to moderate CTS symptoms is primarily a matter of counteracting the repetitive motions that created them. That means stretching the upper back, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, and wrists. Ideally, 30 min. per day is enough to stretch those areas, preferably in two 15 min. intervals.

3. Computer Vision Syndrome: Corpse Pose. A recent study showed that nearly 90 percent of employees who work with computers for longer than 3 hours at a stretch experience blurred vision and stinging, dry eyes. Placing a sandbag over the eyes in Savasana helps relax the eye muscles in the head area.

4. Insomnia: Standing Forward Bend. According to the National Sleep Foundation, fewer than half of Americans sleep long enough or well enough. Sleep deprivation weakens the immune system, increases irritability, and worse – accelerates the aging process. Most sleep problems are attributed to stress. Before bedtime, try winding down with uttanasana, a calming pose.

5. Headache: Legs-Up-The-Wall Pose. Rounded shoulders, a curved upper back, and a head pitched forward slightly can all add up to muscle tension that causes head pain. In fact UC Davis Medical Center says that 75 percent of all headaches are caused by bad posture. Holding Legs-Up-The-Wall pose for 5 min. can help bring the spine back into alignment.

Free Museum Admission

Every Tuesday, at least one museum in San Diego's Balboa Park has free admission. For a complete calendar go here.