30 Days: Update three

Not to self: Eat before hot yoga (but apparently two hours before, to be safe). Had a bit of a queasy, weakling class last night that left be a bit panicky and now nervous to go back. I think eight hours without food, burning that many calories, is not a good combo. My bad.

On another note, I’ve completed seven straight days of yoga! Woot! I took off two pounds last week and my skin feels super clear. However, I’m still antsy as all hell during the last 20 minutes of class. It’s my goal this second week to try to let go of my impatience with my practice (it’s just so damn HOT). P.S. Didn’t that sound all official – “my practice.” I’m getting so yogi hippie.

Things I Wanted to Buy This Week But Couldn’t:

• Rad, matte fuchsia pink nail polish for $5.
• The Gratitude Journal app (which apparently Oprah swears by) that I read about on Mashable. Yes, I’ve cut myself off from iPhone apps too.
• A nifty salsa pot I saw at Trader Joe’s. It’s a pot full of all the herbs you need to make salsa!
• A $39 Pilates class on Groupon (yes, I’ve cut myself off from Groupon too).

I swear I’ll post about something else here soon.

Currently Feeling: Desperate for some summer weather – we’ve been drowning here in Seattle this past month.
Currently Anticipating: Starting a new book – I’m a little burnt out on the one I’m reading, but it’s a 500-pager, so taking awhile to finish!
Currently Loving: Caprese pasta with basil from my urban garden!

30 Days: Update two

Men are stinky. Like really, really stinky. I’m going to open a yoga studio that has women’s only classes cause man if it isn’t bad enough to be stuck in a room like sardines that you can’t breath in cause it’s 95 degrees plus, then it’s absolute hell to have to smell some big dude’s body odor for that hour, praying his sweat doesn’t drip on you, and OH.MY.GOD. did I tell you he FARTED. Like huge. Like next to me and then said, “Sorry!” and the class was silent. I don’t know who I felt more sorry for, me or that guy.

P.S. I’m never eating garlic fries at a baseball game again.

P.P.S. Money saved these last two days because I’m against CONSUMERISM and can’t buy anything:

• $59 on a yoga towel with special grippers on the bottom, so it sticks to your mat. I WANT!!
• $13.99 on the “Away We Go” soundtrack, which is my fav movie of 2009 and features music from Alexi Murdoch. One song came on my Pandora station yesterday, and I was all…”Oh my God, his voice is amazing. I need this soudtrack IMMEDIATELY cause then I’d be all calm, soothed and relaxed thinking about how life is great every day!”
• $69 on Tom’s (again). God damn these things. They just released the cutest wedges ever this week, which is much more my style than flats. AND they benefit starving children in Africa.

Currently Feeling: A little groggy from my 6am class today. I always think it’s a good idea to go home and go back to bed, but then I just feel groggy.
Currently Anticipating: SUPER fun weekend ahead – trying out Lark restaurant with the girls tonight, then heading to SAM Remix for Picasso/Warhol/Kurt Cobain exhibits. Tomorrow is a high school throwback kegger, and Paolo‘s wedding reception. Then Sunday a Mariner’s game! Woot!
Currently Needing: More yoga shorts, not pants. Man the pants are hot and stick to me. Love ‘em to lounge in, but not for hot yoga.

30 Days

Hello June.

I’m starting you out by doing a challenge because, well, sometimes I’m a little crazy, but mostly I like to consistently challenge myself. So, I will be giving up my most beloved Sassy Fit for just one month to embark on finding my inner yogi.

A local yoga studio in Seattle, Urban Yoga Spa, is doing a 30-day yoga challenge in June. Basically, you can sign up to commit to three different levels. Level one is 20 days of yoga in June. Level two is 30 days. And level three is 30 days AND declaring one thing to give up during the challenge.

I’m going big or going home – level three all the way baby!

SO, I Jeanna Barrett, do hereby declare to give up…

CONSUMERISM

for the month of June.

Here’s the deal – I buy stuff. A lot of stuff. Like ice cream makers, and onion savers. And magazines. And eyeshadows, lip glosses and nail polish. Dresses to go out in, new leggings and boots, big earrings and dozens of bangles. Actually, more clothing, accessories and shoes than you could possibly imagine. I buy new furniture, water bottles, paintings, games, books, smelly soaps and wine glasses. I buy fancy candles, frames for my desk, Orchid plants…any little trinket “they” (people out to get me) put near the checkout stands. Sometimes when I’m bored, I’ll go to Ross or Target and just look for stuff to buy. Stuff, stuff, stuff.

Quite frankly, it’s embarrassing.

I thought about giving up consumerism for Lent. That never happened for one reason or the other. I continued to buy – then just before I received word on the yoga challenge, I read this post on Dooce.com about a woman who drew pictures of all the things she bought, every day, and posted them to her blog (eventually creating a book). A record in over consumption, I suppose.

Boy do I over consume.

So I’m detoxing – my wallet and my mind.

Today I’ve already saved:

• $12.95 on a Jack Johnson CD I thought I had to buy at Starbucks this morning (But I didn’t!)
• $48 + shipping on a pair of Tom’s I still feel like I can’t live without (God dammit they’re cute!)

That’s roughly ~ $70 richer. Seventy dollars that I’m transferring over to my savings. This is going to add up quick.

And tonight’s my first (hot-ish) Power Vinyasa class.

Wish me luck.

(And join me if you want!! Even if you’re a day or two late… leave a comment letting me know you’re on board, and I’ll create a little badge for your blog.)

Currently Feeling:A little nervous for my first class tonight – a Power Vinyasa to current pop and rock-n-roll music. I’m easing myself into HOT yoga (this one is at 95 degrees).
Currently Anticipating: Gathering all the photos from this weekend to share with you – SO much crazy fun.
Currently Loving: My new yoga bag that carries that mat on the bottom (hey – I bought it yesterday BEFORE June 1!)