My beautiful heart

There are times when my heart and head are in disagreement , at odds with one another . My mind makes logical decisions but my Heart, my sweet and brave heart make choices based IN love .

Which one do I follow? Which one is the correct one ? The thinking  logical mind or the wild, carefree ,bursting at the seams heart ? 

Today , right here and right now , on my current journey , I listen to my heart and only my heart.. For she is the one filled with compassion , passion, trust and faith.. She is the one that has hope for something better , she is the one that guides me in the darkest of times and heals me. She is without walls or barriers , she is the purest of pure .. And is oh so vulnerable . 

My beautiful heart. 

How I Stay Balanced With thinkThin® / City Yoga Chicago

This post is a sponsored conversation for thinkThin®. All opinions are my own. 

Photo Credit: Instagram/WomensForum

Yoga has been an important part of my life for over 10 years now. It keeps me grounded, focused and calm. It is an important part of my balanced lifestyle and is an integral part of my mind, body and spirit routine.

My goal is to live each day with intention. I am mindful about the foods I eat, getting enough exercise and keeping a positive mindset. I have a very active lifestyle.  I teach multiple corporate yoga classes weekly, am training for a half marathon, am a Girl Scout Leader and volunteer with cancer patients: all while being a single mom of three. With this schedule, it’s important to me to focus on championing weight wellness by eating things that nourish my body and keep me full.

Beautiful moves!

I recently attended a Sunrise Yoga Event in Chicago taught by Andrea Metcalf. It was such a wonderful way to start my morning while being surrounded by amazing, beautiful and empowered women! Nutrition and wellness are important to me and thinkThin® provided us with breakfast for the event. The thinkThin® bars are high in protein, low in sugar and great for women who care about quality like I do. We even got to try the thinkThin Oatmeal®, which is high in fiber and protein, non-GMO and only 200 calories per serving. Their products are great for my active lifestyle as I can throw one in my bag and go on about my day .

Yoga centers us and brings us back to the present. By starting my day and week at the Sunrise Yoga Event hosted by thinkThin® and Womensforum.com, I was given a jumpstart on a positive and productive week. With each sun salutation, through my breath I became centered and grounded in purpose. Each asana was not just a pose but a metaphor for where I was in my life at that point, and through each one I exhaled and let go of what no longer served me. Each of us is unique and amazing, and when we quiet the mind and reconnect with ourselves, we are able to live our life at its fullest.

Start each day with a positive mind, open heart and thinkPositive!

Andrea Metcalf, myself, and fellow Chicago blogger Jasmine!

A yogi makes the front page of The Chicago Tribune

I woke up with the strongest desire to be at the beach . To plant my feet on the earth and feel the sun on my face . I made a detour before teaching my class so that I could spend some time at the lakefront , reflecting and sneaking in a short yoga practice .  I knew it wouldn't be the easiest to achieve as I would have my two youngest children with me, yet I also knew that they would enjoy playing at the beach . 

They played in the water and in the sand while I sat in solitude and did a short yoga practice . And slowly I began to feel at ease , reconnected to the divine . The water brings me peace , calms me in a way that nothing else can . It's these moments that make me appreciate living  just  blocks away from Lake Michigan .

A gentleman approached and asked if he could photograph the kids and I for an article he was working on and said to just keep doing what we were and to ignore him . As I once again got lost in my practice and my children played , he snapped away and captured my soul .much to my surprise  I woke up the next day to see ME on the front page of the Chicago Tribune . 

Humble , grateful and thankful . 

-A

I love LOVE

I love LOVE, to love others, to be loved. It's a beautiful, mystical, empowering thing. LOVE gives us confidence, character and puts a smile on our face. It gives us Hope. It gives us Strength. Love Heals.

A year ago I came across an article written by an amazing and beautiful soul named Bryonie . Her words resonated with me so deeply, on a soul-ular level that it's as if I had written them myself.  Every word comes from a open and vulnerable heart and THAT is pure beauty.

With my 45th Birthday Approaching, her piece on How to Love a Leo is perfect.

 I AM imperfectly perfect and am grounded in this beautiful truth.  I continue to to grow and evolve daily, as each moment contains a beautiful lesson.  I do not apologize for who I am nor choose to change as I am living authentically . In this beautiful space, my heart is alive.

It is through heart ache, that we know what it means to Love.
and in this, my Heart Roars.

 In love and Deep Gratitude.
-A

(a little snippet from the post is below, please click on one of the links  to read the full post )

"She is stubborn—but she is kind and her compassion reaches to the far corners of the earth. In her heart, she holds it all; the joy and the sorrow, the laughter and the tears. As much as she wants you to wrap your arms around her and be held, she also needs long moments to hold herself, for a Leo feels so deeply at times she wonders if it is a blessing or a curse.

So to love a Leo, you must first love yourself; let the space in your togetherness be like the sea and in her rhythm, you will learn the meaning of a heart roar."

Read the rest Here

Brightstar and Buffalo

I am grateful for social media. I have met some of the most beautiful, compassionate and talented people through Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. It's amazing to meet like minded souls that are in other states or other parts of the world , yet be able to close the gap and connect through the internet.

I met Natalie on Instagram. She is the creative force behind Brightstar and Buffalo. The website drew me in immediately, not for what she was selling but for the comfort the site brought to my heart and soul. Such beauty on every web page and filled with powerful intention and purpose. The pieces on Brightstar and Buffalo speak to the yogi in me, the earthy girl that craves to be adorned in pieces that speak to my heart and remind me to live in love and light.

I received the Solar Union dvAra Wall Hanging and was so pleased with the detail and craftmanship. It is made with recycled metals and beautiful sari yarn and hangs where I can see it every morning. It is in my Sacred Space, the place in my home that settles me and brings me so much comfort and peace.  I love being surrounded by beautiful things, and this piece speaks to my heart.

My children are in LOVE with the hand made mala necklaces that Brightstar and Buffalo makes. They are whimsical and beautiful yet help children become focused and balanced . Each mala focuses on one of the Chakras and is made from recycled pine with hand etching and hung on an organic hemp cord. The children's malas are one of my absolute favorite items that Natalie offers.

Take some time to stop by her Instagram Page  and say hello and check out the Website  and get lost in its pure beauty , I promise you'll be captivated as something will speak to your soul. 

In Love and Light

-A

I Got Lost

July 1st, 2015 - journal entry

I have been anxious for a few weeks. This is a new feeling for me, the uneasiness, the lack of sleep, my mind constantly racing. I am human and one little detour off of my path,one day of not taking care of ME, made me lose my way. 

 I have always been so grounded, faithful, patient and full of gratitude. Knowing and allowing the universe to guide my way and allowing my heart to know what it is that fuels me.

 For the last couple of months I have been bombarded with 3 deaths in the family which meant lots of last minute travel, a diagnosis for my son that blind sided me and financial repercussions from my divorce that I wasn't expecting. I started wondering where we would be living next year instead of just being grateful for where we are living now. I worried about my son day and night and worried about my finances.  What else did I do? I  stopped my daily routine. My routine of reading, writing in my journal, creating art, meditating and practicing Yoga and I got lost in day to day life. I stopped hanging with my "tribe", those women that support me and fuel me.  I stopped living in the present and allowed stressing over the past and worrying about the future to take control. I let worry, fear, stress, anger, insecurity and  uncertainty become the primary forces in my day to day routine. Racing through each day without focus and intention, without gratitude, without love left me empty.

I am thankful for those in my "tribe" that notice when I get quiet. That hear my silence and come to get me and pull me up for air. Reinforcing to me that I know what to do, that the power is within ME to get back to that place and space of beauty, gratitude and abundance in my life. 

We are all the same and divinely connected to one another and that , to me, is one of the most amazing things ever. The knowing that we are not alone. The ability of placing our hand over our heart and feeling the beat of our own heart, yet also the heartbeat of others.Being Present. Being Connected. Deep Gratitude.

I found my way back, I am Present. I have my routine of Self-Care that grounds and guides me and allows me to Just Be.  Although we all may get lost at times, the most important part is finding our way back.

In love and gratitude.

-A 

Avon Walk Chicago 2015 / Reebok

I was so extremely grateful to be asked to teach yoga again this year at the Reebok wellness tent for the Avon Walk Chicago.

There is something truly magical about the day, the intense energy of love abound. I have walked for many years, for friends and family and it has been a goal of mine to always stay involved. To continue to help raise funds and awareness for Breast Cancer prevention is a passion it is a cause that is dear to my heart.

I taught 4 classes this year for Reebok, and although it was chilly out, each class was full . I met women walking for women in their family, women walking for themselves, first time walkers, volunteers and even had some of the youth crew (who i fell in love with ) stop by. Yoga unites the body and mind, and that is exactly what these ladies needed after walking 26.2 miles . We talked, laughed and even shed some tears as the ladies unwound with me and allowed their hearts to be exposed.

I AM grateful beyond measure to both Avon and Reebok, for allowing me to be a part of this amazing program.  Here are a few photos from the day.

In Love and Wellness,
-A

NFL Draft 2015 Chicago

There were NFL Draft signs around Chicago for weeks on end yet it quite never clicked with me that the draft was actually IN Chicago .  I didn't put 1+1 together until the city started setting up staging and the NFL zone which was visible out my window . My first thoughts were 1. To take my kids to explore a little and 2. To leave town .

I've exposed my kids to college football and we always watch the Super Bowl together so I knew that my kids would enjoy exploring a little. Leaving town, that was a natural reflex for many reasons , one being to avoid the huge crowds and traffic in my back yard.

Being a yogi, we did what we do best and found a couple of our favorite teams and did a little yoga . The little guy especially loved climbing inside of the helmets and running through them while my girls tried to name all of the teams represented . No crowds, no hassle and something new and exciting in the city.

And then I left town .. And enjoyed 3 days alone : thinking ,healing and allowing myself to Just Be.

Avoiding love.

..Avoidance doesn't give you resolution. 

For a couple of months I've been avoiding a situation in order to shut it out of my mind , to numb my heart from feeling pain. I knew it wouldn't work l but I pushed through with trying my best to not think about the situation , to allow my heart to go on hiatus . 

 What happened instead is that I felt disconnected , lost , unsure and cold. This is not me, yet it's what happened when I avoided my feelings , when I avoided dealing with matters of the heart. 

 

The universe is funny in a way.. Showing you everything that you want and need , allowing every cell in your body to feel alive again, then in one instant taking it from you. A cruel trick ? Or simply a lesson on patience , faith and trust ? Or maybe it's all something that happened in my mind but didn't happen in reality ? The questions, the thoughts are all overwhelming and make me scream and cry and question it all .. And go numb. My heart goes numb yet again. Because when it's numb I don't have to wonder about anything, and when it's numb I can't hurt... Yet when it's numb, I can't love . I can't love . 

And more than anything in this world , I want love . I want to love with every ounce of my being, so hard that I can't breathe, nor sleep.. Because then I know I'm alive and thriving, not merely surviving . I want to love out loud and quietly , I want to love hard and in the gentlest of ways. I want to love with compassion, trust and faith. I want to love with complete vulnerability . I want to love you, simply and without a doubt, just you. But today and everyday until then,  I protect my heart from the unknown . 

Holding Space

I've learned so much in the past few months . I feel like i've grown in leaps and bounds...my head and heart have opened. I've learned to forgive and to let go, I've learned how to love unconditionally . I've learned how to " HOLD SPACE". I'm learning each and every day how to JUST BE. There is power in strength in holding space versus desperation in waiting for something to happen, they are not one in the same.


Holding Space
What it means to me is:

Letting Go of Judgement
not judging another persons actions and instead allowing them to evolve at their own time and pace without feeling the need to comment,criticize or judge.

Opening Your Heart
Allowing your heart to be open and remain open while holding space. Speaking , Doing and Being from a place of unconditional Love.

Allowing things to JUST BE
Allowing the other person to go through the experience without trying to control the outcome. Not giving input or pushing things in one direction or another, simply being there for them with no expectation. Trusting the process.

Holding space for another person is a beautiful thing, it takes strength, courage, patience , trust and faith.  It is the intention to allow things to unfold just as they may.

Many situations can require holding space for another : birth, death, healing, divorce, end of a job or relationship or many other life changes. The key is to allow yourself and the other person to Just Be and to trust the process. 

In Peace and Love,
-A

How to Get Started Using Essential Oils

We have been using essential oils in our home for some time now. Mainly because I have never liked medication, the idea of covering up an issue versus dealing with it head on. I stopped taking most over the counter medications after the birth of my last child, so almost 6 years ago.

Essential Oils have helped us with so many things in our home, from headaches, allergies, stomach aches, stress and the list goes on. I am thankful to BlackDoctor.org who reached out to me to write an article for them . Click on the link below to read.


Daily Uses For Essential Oils | BlackDoctor

In Love and Health
-A

I choose happiness

I look at this picture of myself and I see a different woman than I was a few years ago . I see a woman that has transitioned to a place of peace, love and joy.. A woman that has let go of fear, uncertainty and doubt. I am always growing , that's a fact . Yet for so many years I hid parts of myself , because of fear of what others  would think . I knew that I did not fit into any box and that I needed to follow a different path , to follow my heart .

I believe in love and passion and kindness . I believe in taking care of myself and others - mind , body and spirit . I believe in compassion and taking care of the Environment. I believe that it is my job to teach all of this to my children so that they know how to live their lives in such away that they continue to shine bright from within. 

This beautiful journey of life offers twists and turns and takes us to the darkest depths in order to expose the most beautiful gifts and blessings . I AM grateful for it all and continue to strive to live authentically with divine guidance . 

Many years ago as I sat in my uncertainty and fear... Today I choose happiness .

In Peace and Love

-A

Just Be

My grandmother was one of the most special people in my life. She was so much more than my grandmother, she was a mother and friend, a soul mate of sorts as she and I were on the same spiritual path of living authentically yet she left her body before she achieved what she wanted.

My grandmother was the first person to tell me that I was a good mother, a good wife, a good person. Many people say these things about people, but how often do you actually tell this TO the person? She molded me into the woman that I am today. A woman of strength, dignity and compassion. A woman who is deeply spiritual and lives from the heart. She taught me the power of LOVE.

She was one of the most amazing people that I have met in my lifetime. I miss our daily talks and her funny sayings that I find myself sharing with my own children . She sends me messages at times to let me know that she is here...her body is gone, yet her spirit lives on inside of me, and inside of my children and in those to follow.

Anyone that knows me , knows how important the words JUST BE are to me. They are the words on my license plate, a painting in my home and they are tattooed on my wrist. These were the words of my dear grandmother, Margaret , words that she instilled in me when I was confused or hurting or torn with indecisiveness. She would say, "Angel, JUST BE, let things happen as they should" .

So many times during the past few years of transition in my life, I have turned to these words to comfort me. They soothe my soul as only words from a loved one can. The words alone, let me know that everything will turn out as it should and that the ability to JUST BE is the most authentic and loving thing I can do for myself and for those that I love.

Somehow this beautiful song showed up today ...and it tore my heart wide open and  allowed love to completely flow over me.

In Peace and Love,
A

I am here

I can feel it coming. A huge change .
It's like my body knows what my mind can't comprehend.
My mind over thinks, while my body just Feels.

I've been feeling unsettled , uneasy, can't sleep through the night. My mind is continuously going.
So here at 3 am I sit. My mat called me, to get out of my head and into my body. To allow my body to flow and move until my head was clear. To release, to let go, to be vulnerable. To cry.

To cry and cry some more. Tears heal, so does laughter but tonight (it's actually morning) I cried.

I listen, as the Universe knows exactly what I need. What I need to forgive, to heal ,to let go , to be Free.
It's uncertainty that's gotten to me. Uncertainty causes anxiety. I don't do anxiety so I graciously sit in silence and allow it to manifest and release it. I LET IT GO! you see, anxiety, fear and all that comes with it...aren't allowed here because they don't allow me to live to my fullest potential. They keep us stuck...stuck in deep, unhappy place which doesn't allow for growth.

So I do all the things that pull me out..that allow me to breathe again , that give me hope again, that take me back to that deep place of freedom and love.

Yoga.
Calming Essential Oils.
Meditation.
Journaling.

and little by little, it all makes sense as difficult times lead to breakthroughs. Trust and Faith lead to calmness of the mind. Yoga practice on my mat reconnects me mind, body and spirit and once again I feel free.

Maybe it was just getting rid of the old to make way for the new just taking guidance from Nature.  It's Spring Equinox,the first day of Spring. A time when Earth cleanses and releases all of the cold and snow, to welcome Spring and new beginnings.  A time when things regain balance and light and dark are equal today.

I am here.
alive and well
grateful and blessed
humble and compassionate
living each day fully
I am allowing myself the freedom to
Just Be.

-A

Mind, Body & Spirit

Mind, Body & Spirit / City Yoga Chicago

This post is a sponsored conversation for thinkThin and Womensforum.com

Being a busy, working mom of three, I am always on the lookout for ways to make my day run a little smoother while maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle. Women’s wellness is extremely important to me, which incorporates taking care of myself,  body, mind and spirit.  I like to thinkPositive!

Body:
I make an effort to move my body in some way each and every day. Whether it’s a quick lakefront run, spending some quality time in the gym, indulging in a yoga class taught by a friend, or exercising at home, championing weight wellness is part of my daily routine.

I am also conscious of what I put into my body as well. I take time to juice, make flavorful meals, as well as incorporate my favorite high protein, low-calorie thinkThin bars, which fit perfectly with my lifestyle. I have been enjoying thinkThin bars for over two years now, and my favorite is the Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Protein Nut Bar (think melted caramel drizzled over nuts-YUM).

Mind and Spirit:
Anything that keeps my home calm and less chaotic keeps my mind at ease.

For me, this includes being prepared for the school day the night before by making the kids’ school lunches and having them lay their clothes out for the next day. I pack their backpacks and sit them by the front door and sometimes prep breakfast as well. All of this helps to make the morning run a little smoother.

I also make sure to incorporate some “quiet” time in our home on a daily basis where no electronics are allowed. We take this time to read, paint, draw, or just rest. Doing these simple things focuses on mindfulness and helps both children and adults reconnect instead of disconnect.

I, like most moms, seem to be running from sun up to sun down. Between drop-offs, after school activities, running errands and teaching several yoga classes per week, I find it difficult to find time for myself. Incorporating five minutes of “me” time throughout the day keeps me connected while maintaining an active lifestyle. Whether it is taking a walk, reading a book or indulging in my favorite thinkThin bar, these little indulgences keep me feeling optimistic and empowered to charge through my day!

Mistakes

We all make mistakes yet how we deal with them is most important . For me , sometimes I want something here and now and loose the concept of patience and faith . I slip up, I make a mistake, I do something that is spur of the moment yet if I'd thought about it, I wouldn't have done it. I AM HUMAN . 

I sit and reflect and learn and know in my heart that things happen when and how they are supposed to. Nothing I do or say will rush things along, at least not with ease . There is power in letting go, in trusting, in having faith and patience .

Thank goodness for mistakes as its how we learn , how we grow and gives us the ability to move forward from a place love. Making time each day to sit quietly allows my thoughts and answers to flow freely. Forgiving , trusting and having faith in all things to come .

There is power in allowing things to Just Be. 

In Love

-A

Anhu Yoga Ambassador

I am so grateful to have been chosen by Anhu to be a Yoga Ambassador. The program was created for passionate Yoga teachers who inspire not only their students but also their extended community. It is truly an honor Anhu and I look forward to representing you this year.

This is an amazing company founded by two mothers and a friend, who wanted to combine fitness and passion. Work hard, Play hard.

You can find some amazing yoga clothing here as well as shop at a local retail store that carries their products, many of which are made in the USA.

Thank you Anhu for my awesome Karma Shoes!

Peace and Love,

Angel

Twin Flame

I came across this today, and it resonated so deeply that I had to sit and let it sink in. I had to feel this in every cell of my body, allow it to penetrate into my core. Knowing that this was written so long ago yet describes what I feel today and everyday is truly divine.

I love you without knowing how or when or from where.
I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no You or I, so intimate that my hand upon my chest is your hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep, Your eyes close.

-Pablo Neruda

I run

Why I run.

Running for me is therapy of sorts.. I don't run a certain distance, I run until my head is clear. I run and laugh, I run and cry, I run to let go. 

Last year I ran 3 half marathons ,a 9k, a 10k, a mud run, a 5k and a Girls on the run 5k with my daughter .. Each race had its unique challenges: extreme temperature , 80 degrees and humid in 

Florida to 30 degrees and rainy in Indianapolis . I ran through Disney, through the Indy 500 speedway, along the lakefront in Chicago as well as through the city streets, I ran through mud, climbed walls and ran thru bubbles, I ran the color run and came out full of laghter and completely tie-dyed.  

I run each race in complete quiet.. No music blasting in my ears, just me , the sky above and the earth below. pure divine connection. I don't run to beat a particular time, I run to finish and to finish without injury. I run for me,I run to Just Be.

Hot chocolate 10k in Chicago

Indianapolis 1/2 marathon

Disney Princess 1/2 marathon 

2015

I don't make resolutions as those are made to be broken, they set you up to feel disappointed or that you didn't achieve your goals. I know what I want more of and definitely know what I want less of in my life.

So in 2015 I want:

More walks in the rain, to watch more sunsets and sun rises, to laugh until it hurts, to stare into my soul mates eyes, more quality time with family and friends, to travel and explore , financial freedom, to allow my children to be children and to be a child again right along with them, time to connect spiritually , to know that everything is going to be alright, to Just Be, to run, more yoga, more delicious food and wine, time with the ones I love . 

Less time restraints and rushed conversations, less texting and emailing, less technology  , less wondering and questioning , less worrying , less meaningless interactions, less stress, less uncertainty...less of the things that no longer serve me.