yes to yoga.

Wow, my whole body is in pain!  Since we have been back from Florida, we have been getting up extra early to do a nice yoga work out. 

I luv yoga.  If you've never tired it, you should!  It is great for your entire body and will really work your core.  I always find that when I am actively doing yoga, my balance and posture are better and my energy is higher.

I would luv to tell you that this picture is me.  It's not :)  This is Shaina... an amazing soul *Muah!

Here's the problem... I am not a morning person.  Trust me, when that alarm is going off the absolute last thing I am excited about is jumping out of bed to exercise.  I am always the one to snuggle under the blankets with the pugs and beg for 10 more minutes...  I will be planking in my slumber, thank you very much! 

 Side note: umm could the pugs take up any more of the bed?!  Must be nice...

Once I get up, I am instantly happy that I did.  Yoga is a great way to start the day.  It gets the blood flowing and I as a result feel like I have so much more energy through out the day! 

I luv that Jams and I are doing it together.  It gives me that added motivation!  Jams likes it too because I am so much happier in the morning... I have been making him breakfast every day! :)

welcome, haters.

What is with people who are so against being happy and healthy?!  I totally understand that everyone has choices, remember lifestyle changes?  But come on.  To be SO closed minded that the thought of even just trying something that is better for you - and the planet! might just "make you sick" - come on.  I am not a confrontational person and trust me, I am not one to push my beliefs onto anyone else.  But, the fact that you clicked on this link was simply your choice so now that you're here, let's talk about it - I'm intrigued too! :)

Let's start with this... what is it about the word "Vegetables" that makes people cringe?  I just don't get it!  As soon as you add this word to anything, people are quick to shy away and turn down food... no matter how freaking hungry they are!  What the heck!

Case in point.  We shot a music video last Saturday (for Jams new song "Luvin' U" featuring ME!) and usually when we do shoots or events, we run to Costco and pick up platters to feed the crew for the day.  Easy Peasy.  Well, this particular day, I decided to make my chicken salad and stir-fry to promote the VEGness!   Everyone was eating it up... pun intended ;)  Later in the night, the stir-fry was referred to as vegetable stir-fry and instantly there was hesitation on eating it.  "Eh, I'm not that hungry" - really.  Well why don't you just go eat some stir-fry.  Let me show you what it looks like.  After close inspection, not only did this person eat it, they actually went back for seconds and before I knew it, the stir-fry was gone.  

Side note: I used gardien chicken and no one knew the difference.  Hehehee... take that meat eaters!!!  Just kidding :) I guess from now on we just need to omit the word "vegetable" from our phrasing.  When something is wonderfully yummy AND good for you, it should be a win-win!  Come on peeps!

On the flip, I'll be real.  Don't think I'm getting off on salads, because I'm not.  I have never been a huge vegetable person.  I was the kid at the dinner table feeding my dog the peas and slipping my grandma my unwanted green beans when my parents weren't looking.  I was the one who spit my asparagus into my napkin while pretending to wipe my face.  You might be thinking to yourself, well why in God's name would you become vegan then?  It's just weird, and coming from someone who doesn't like vegetables, it doesn't add up - so what gives?  Why the switch?

Well, let me explain something to you my sweet friends.  I didn't decide to be a vegetarian or go vegan so I could sit here and tell you why it's awesome.  Nor did I do it to be 'right' and instill my beliefs on you.  I stopped eating meat simply because it wasn't good for me.  What was hard for me was giving up dairy (my FAVORITE food in the whole entire world is cheese).  The reason I made the change was because I was overweight, wanted to lose weight and nothing else worked.  To fulfill my crazy cheese cravings, I figured out ways to make vegetables in a way that appealed to me.  Where I didn't feel like I was sacrificing flavor and substance.  Now that I replaced those 'bad things' with healthier choices, I am able to eat whatever I want and my weight stays the same.  Once I made the switch I started researching more and that just reconfirmed the decisions I had made... and those things I learned keep me strong everyday. 

Oh! Sorry haters, let's get back to you.  I get it.  I created a lifestyle that allows me to eat amazing food that is good for me and good for the planet.  Not only am I happy about all of it, I share it with you to help open your eyes to make the world we live in a better place - and you never know, you might be happier too believing in something.  But the fact of the matter is that you haters go out of your way to hate so much it just proves that you are paying attention.  I don't care if we're on the same team or not.  Keep listening and keep hating.  This is the beauty of life - each of us get to make our own decisions and believe in what ever we want!  My question to you is why hate when we can luv?  I am the change I want to see in the World and you can be too.  This place is full enough of ugly, negative people.  If you're wondering what your purpose is, take another breath and realize you're alive - and smile... that's purpose enough for me :)

breathe.

*Sigh... the struggles of life.  I always used to say, I feel bad for those people who have a hard time with day to day life.  I believe that sickness is created in the mind and that as long as you have the strength to over power it, you're all good.  Well, recently, I was finding myself to be one of these people who got too much in my head and found myself having an internal war.  "Stop the negativity!"  "This not you!"  "Um! Be Happy!"  I quickly discovered that just like everyone else, I am human and have lots of emotions - that often are left neglected.

When you start to feel like a complete crazy person, the last thing you want to do is talk to the people you luv about it.  Then they think you're crazy and next thing you know, you're in the nut house surrounded by a lot more crazy people.  This was the point that I had gotten to... which is really scary. 

It took me four hundred and sixty eight days to determine that I was unhappy with the way my life was going.  I talk about making lifestyle changes and doing really awesome things.  But, I have lacked emphasis on doing things for yourself.  Eating healthy makes me happy because I know that I am doing good for my body.  Of course I luv my friends and family and they make me happy!  But, I have to think about the whole picture... this is a quote I often reflect back to... one of my favs!!!

"There is no point in being gorgeous if your life is a mess. End your co-dependent relationships, quit your dead end job and ditch your toxic friends. This is your life!”-Skinny Bitch 

That being said, I would like to welcome you to my new journey.  I have been pressing the play button and hummed along to what I thought was the soundtrack to my life (of course, pausing when appropriate).  Now, it's time to make my own music... and dance!!!  I am a believer that you can have it all and that the only person holding you back is yourself.  Consider me to be the girl grabbing life by the bull horns... Until next time ;)

a new year. a new blog.

Well, it only seems appropriate to begin my first official blog at the start of a brand new year!  I'm not sure how this journey will go but I am very excited to be able to share my life with my family and friends - near and far! and anyone else interested in what I'm up to over here in beautiful Southern California.

As I sit here with the sunshine beating into the room, I feel spoiled! and also very sad for all my friends that are experiencing the heart of winter in upstate New York.  Since I moved to California five years ago, each "winter" has been bliss!  I hate to brag, but I hope all of you know, my door is always open if you need a little vaca from the cold.

Last year was amazing... I discovered the luv of my life, Kenjamin - or Jams, had been in front of me for quite some time.  Yes, a best friend turned luver!  Ah, I knew the moment I saw this picture :)

Him being a very talented artist and master of many different trades and me as the "master communicator" we have proven to be an unbeatable team.  We embraced our unity and combined our powers throughout the year and did various photo shoots, music videos, fashion shows, events - the sky has been the limit!  And don't you worry, there is much much more to were we will be going with all of that...Nothing but Greatness!

Our pug, Potato, who is now three, had five little puppies - the runt being the only girl of the litter and therefore, my new best friend Peanut.  She has proven herself to be a tiny ball of fire with a little personality of her own.  She luvs to play and cause a bit of mischief but how can you be mad at that little face...

My personal accomplishment of the year was quitting smoking.  A dirty, dirty habit that I forever blame myself for.  That being said, a slight shout out to all my friends in High School that believed me when I told them it was the cool thing to do... I am so sorry!  Much of the year was adjusting my lifestyle to be a non-smoker and to this day, I have not had one drag (Yay me!).  Hopefully throughout my posts, you smokers out there will be inspired to want to stop... believe me, you can't even begin to imagine how much time is wasted while smoking!

My passion in life is food.  I have been vegetarian, pescitarian and I am now vegan.  Changing the way I eat has in turn changed me for the better.  I feel very fortunate to have the support from those around me.  I am very thankful that Jams has joined me on the veg team (more on that to come!).  It has made cooking easier and much more enjoyable when we can sit down and actually have the same thing on our plate!  I have to say, there's nothing I luv more than the challenge of having our meat-eater friends over for dinner and serving them veg food!  They are very quick to tell their opinion, but when they eat the food I cook them, they always enjoy it!  Stay tuned for some amazing recipes and food pictures! 

Now, I'm off to enjoy the beautiful outdoors :)