A little late

but it's the thought that counts. My friend Emily from Darling Yoga gave birth at the end of April, and I still haven't given her a congratulations on your new bundle gift. I thought I would knit something. That takes time. I don't have time. So I decided enough was enough, I needed to get something for her little guy already. Knitted gifts would have to come later. Etsy to the rescue. I came across the most perfect onesie from babyb imprinted with my favorite chant: Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu (May all beings be happy and free). And it's organic. I think it's the perfect gift for my yogi and sustainable friends. Etsy is so great for unique gift needs.

Well, no one died on my birthday

Yesterday, on Friday the 13th, I celebrated my 27th birthday. Yes, that's right. On Friday the 13th. I took the day off to limit any catastrophes. I knocked on wood. Threw salt over my shoulder. Anything I could think of to keep all my loved ones and myself safe. And just as a precaution, Jonathan also took the day off.

My birthdays are usually really big letdowns. Maybe it's my high expectations. This year, I had no expectations and tons of fun. Maybe at 27, I've learned to let go.

I went to two yoga classes in the morning, wearing my poser shirt. At my yoga studio, I bought myself a $60 Jade yoga mat as a birthday present to myself. If you're serious about yoga like I am, you need this mat. I got my in orange and, should I ever need it anymore, it matches my yoga towel. I also got myself a birthday chai latte from Starbucks. Mmmmm. The perfect birthday morning.

When I got home, there was a FedEx box waiting for me from my sister Capricious. A while back she had a 100th blog-post giveaway for a really fun and funky tote. She had given me one of her very first tote creations, and I love it. It's a sophisticated, yet fun, black and white tote. I use it primarily to carry my knitting or magazines. So when she posted about her 100th blog-post giveaway being a tote made out of fun and funky pink and green material, I had to have it. So try as I might, I didn't win. Apparently, my excitement and want for the tote resonated with my sister, because I got my very own for my birthday. She spoils me so.

Jonathan gave me an auxilirary cord so I can listen to my iPhone in my car. Yay! I can even listen to Pandora radio too. He also made me my favorite chocolate cupcakes with rainbow chip frosting , which basically meant I had to be in the kitchen directing traffic.

To cap the evening, we ate dinner at The Bristol. I had the salmon and Jonathan had the trout. We both had the lobster mac 'n' cheese, which was heavenly. I decided that since it was my b-day, a drink was in order. So wished my early and mid twenties adieu with a berry caipiroska.

All in all, a good birthday. Hello 27. Nice to meet you.

A noodle kind of weekend

Les Leventhal came to Darling Yoga this weekend. And I was lucky enough to take three of his workshop sessions, starting with Friday night candlelight vinyasa class where I sweated like I didn't know I could. It was amazing, hard, and so much fun. Today, I went to two session: hips and twists, and yoga and recovery. There was more sweating in the first class with pretzel poses that look like fun, and maybe someday I'll get to do, but instead, I just savored what I could do and kept up with my breathing. In the second class, I decided I needed some restoration after such intensity that I'm not quite used to. Although I've made much inroads into my daily practice (yes, I go to yoga daily) in the 7 months that I've been practicing at Darling, I still have miles to go in my strength.

This evening I went to dinner at Blue Koi with some yogis who also went to the workshop, Les, and owners Emily and Victor. I think the highlight was seeing people you've only seen in one environment, and in a certain kind of clothes, in a relaxed, yoga-free atmosphere and street clothes. I was lucky enough to sit by the star, Les, and chat with him throughout dinner about his life and his yoga path.

I'm still really new and young to the yoga crowd, so it was interesting to hear the yogis around the table talk, find out what they eat, and hear insight into their daily lives beyond the mat. I ordered tofu (when in Rome) with a black bean sauce and brown rice. Although I've had tofu before, it's not something that's part of my daily diet. It might be after this. It was so yummy!

If you're ever in San Francisco and want to go to a yoga class taught by a teacher who knows how to embrace the power of yoga while still infusing it with a sense of humor and lightness, look up Les. Or better yet, come take his workshop when he's in town again.

Now I need to get some hand yoga done. My knitting seriously needs some attention.

A poser in the best way

Yesterday I got quite the surprise upon arriving to yoga. I had the case of the Mondays. It had been a rough and long day in my mind, and I wasn't sure yoga was even going to do the trick. When I entered the studio, not too much crossed my mind when Emily (one of the owners of Darling Yoga) popped up from behind the counter with a big grin on her face. I didn't think too much about it, except: She's in a very good mood for a Monday. This is why I need to be a yoga teacher! Instant bliss! So grinned back. I didn't catch on that she was hiding something: "I have a present for you!"

At first I was taken back and confused. "Your sister called, and I know it's going to be your birthday soon. So I have present from your sister and one from me and Victor."

Suddenly, Monday was looking a lot better. Presents! From some of the most amazing and inspiring people in my little circle of life. And then it got better. Check it out:


That's the poster t-shirt I've been eyeing, oh, I'd say half a year. Capricious kept trying to talk me into buying it, but [gulp] it was too pricey for my fugal mindedness—$45! Now it's mine, thanks to her! Now I have something to wear to my yoga workshop on Friday night. I hope "poser" really sets the mood for a candlelight vinyasa class.

Oh, and should you want to pop on by to my apartment, you'll be greeted with some beautiful-smelling incense that Emily and Victor gave me along with a incense holder. Ode to inspiration.

I just hope Jonathan likes it. It's already going to be a great 27th birthday, and it's still more than a week away.