Halloween Wedding Theme

Invitations / Name Cards designed for a friend's Oct. 31 costume wedding. These were printed on parchment paper then the edges were burned. We rolled them up, tied them with a piece of natural fiber and added a wax stamp with the initial of their last name.

Starting with Tea

I've started off this morning with a strong glass of Apple Cinnamon tea. I knew that I had been slipping with my raw eating and fasting... This morning my weight is up considerably. What to do? Dust myself off and be strong.

I'll have spinach apple juice for lunch. NO peanut butter. NO yogurt. NO cashews. *my weaknesses*

I have three big things coming up that I want to look fantastic for. I must be more strict with eating (not messing around on the weekends) and working out more with weights for the next few weeks.

• I'm a bride's maid in a Halloween wedding and my costume is teeny-tiny
• I'm going to be a promo girl at a car show in Vegas the first part of November
• I'm getting professional photos taken with a local fabricator's car

I want to look extra fit for all of these body baring public events.

I ended up with apple / sweet potato juice for lunch yesterday and was very strong until after class.

I ate 1/4 cup of sugar-free pistachio pudding (so not raw or healthy) and 1/4 cup yogurt.

Sunshine on My Face

5 minutes

Inhale: I am Calm
Exhale: Smile
Hands: Vitaka Mudra

The 5 minute meditation passed quickly again this morning, in fact, I set my timer incorrectly and meditated for a few minutes longer.

Inhaling, I am Calm - Exhaling, I Smile

• The sunshine on my face felt wonderful today.
• I could hear my Feeder Gaurd 'chirping' but I wasn't able to spot him.
• Trixie, my dog, was milling around the entire time. She wanted to be beside me, but wouldn't lay down on the hard surface. *tick*tick*tick*tick* The sound of her little nails hitting the ground as she paced back and forth...
  

I'm becoming more aware of how much I don't smile during the day. I've been trying to keep a soft smile on my face at all times. Sometimes I feel ridiculous, like people may be thinking "What is she smiling about?" but I want them to wonder that. I want them to wonder why I'm smiling and happy all of the time, I like having sunshine on my face.

*yum*yum*

Still water fasting. I'm going until 10 a.m. today and that will make 84 hours total - my goal was 72. Fresh OJ is on the menu this morning! *yummy*

I'm feeling much better than yesterday. I barely have that filmy, gross feeling when I swallow! I'm so happy that I kicked my cold IN THREE DAYS!

I'm calling the restaurant that I'm meeting my friend at to see if they serve a veggie soup. It won't be raw, but at least I won't have to cancel!

*yum*yum* I had 8 0z of mango juice for lunch!

Water Please...

Day 3

Still water fasting. I taught my 6 a.m. aerobics class this morning and could really feel the drain on my energy. I really don't like not being able to put 110% out for my class.

I'm feeling better than yesterday. I still have that filmy, gross feeling when I swallow -- like there's some big slimy lump that just won't go down. Yesteday my nose kept running and running and running (at least one of us is) clear fluid... *at least it wasn't green!*

I'm supposed to have lunch with a very good friend of mine on Friday and am considering canceling since I'll be fasting til this cold clears up. Even if I started transitioning into veggies tomorrow I wouldn't be ready for 'solid' food on Friday.

White Coat

Thirty four hours into my water fast and still feeling the symptoms of a cold ALTHOUGH they are much more mild today!!

My tounge had a b-ewe-tiful white coat on this morning. *ewww*

*sniffle* *sniffle*

I have felt a cold coming on for several days.

At first I thought it was simply allergies, so I continued to eat and hope that the scratchy throat and sniffles would go away.

Alas, this morning I have the makings of a full-blown cold.

I have made up my mind to water fast for at least 24 hours and if I'm still feeling the cold symptoms I will continue to fast until they are gone.

This will be my first water fast.

Respecting the Mountain

5 minutes

Inhale: Breathe In
Exhale: Breathe Out
Hands: Vitaka Mudra

I had decided I was going to climb Camelback Mountain (Echo trail) this morning with or without anyone accompanying me. I had asked a very good friend of mine if she wanted to go hiking with me and she agreed. Although I was happy, I thought she may change her mind, so I extended the invite to another friend and she accepted as well.

All three of us set out together for a quick drive up to Echo Canyon, parked and began our climb to the top of the mountain. I have the ability to stay extremely focused when it comes to physical exertion and quickly pulled away from my two friends, leaving them to work at their own pace. (I ended up climbing alone after all that!)

I made it to the top of the mountain and after regaining my breath and taking in the beautiful views I considered that this would be a wonderful place to meditate. I looked around for a nice flat rock to ground myself on, took a seat, closed my eyes and focused on “Breathe In,” “Breathe Out.” I kept the meditation very simple since there were many climbers and much activity surrounding me. I could feel the texture of the rock beneath my thin shorts. It was very rough and cool on my exposed skin. I found it uncomfortable beneath my bottom but had resolved to immerse myself in the feeling and enjoy the discomfort. I’m not absolutely certain how long I stayed in meditation, but it was long enough to regain calm breathing, a slowed heart rate and an overall sense of peace for the climb back down the mountain. The rocks are very slick and a focused mind is essential to keeping one’s balance.

After meditation I waited several more minutes for my friends to show up and when they never did, I started to think that they might have turned around so I made my way back down the mountain.

As I positioned my foot on one extra slippery rock, I slipped and exclaimed “Holy Moly.” (One of my favorite exclamations.) A hiker behind me said, “Be careful,” and I replied, “Yes, thanks. I don’t need to fall of the mountain, today!” He told me, “The mind is a very powerful tool, don’t even think that for a moment.” We went on to have an amazing conversation the entire descent off the mountain. It included encouragement such as, “Be one with the rocks.” “Let the rocks lead you down their path.” “Follow your instinct and the path will appear.” I truly enjoyed our time together.

I found my friends patiently waiting for me at the trail head… They didn’t make it to the top on Sunday, but are ready to give it another try next weekend.