Yoga is.....

Yoga is being flexible

Yoga is creativity

Yoga is love

Yoga is acceptance

Yoga is the unexpected

Yoga is selflessness

Yoga is headstands 

Yoga is compassion

Yoga is satsang

Yoga is ______

Parenting has enlightened me so much as to what yoga is every day.  It's ever changing and it is everything.  

Rediscovering my passion

Oh Spring, how I love you!

My second child is 8 months old and the experience has been tougher, to say the least, this go around.  Two active children now.  The newborn phase (3-4 months) was grueling.  The baby still wakes every two to three hours at night. I work a full time job from home.  My energy levels have been in the dirt. 

However, the sun is out, breezes blowing and Charleston is as gorgeous as ever. 

I am ready.

Ready to get my energy and passions back. 

My children are amazing beings.  They are fun, adorable, smart, active, sweet people.  I love being with them.  So much that I rarely do anything for myself.  I don't really do much away from them.  I haven't even blogged regularly since my first was born four years ago. 

Truth

I am not complaining, seriously, but it is a fact and possibly a problem. 

Today I went outside alone for 30 whole minutes.  I went for a jog.  I listened to MY music.  I grabbed my yoga mat (that had to be DUSTED off..sad) and practiced a quick sequence in the sun.  It was magical and filled my cup.  I felt like Mary instead of Mommy. 

MY MUSIC

I am finding my balance.  I can still cherish my kids every move and tend to what makes me feel like me.  Let's do this mamas.  Take on the world.  Move mountains.

We can not compare.  Can not strive for perfection.  Rather love your children.  Love your spouses. love yourselves.  Love mother earth and all it gives us.  Take small amounts of time to devote to your passions. 

What's in a label? Bathroom Edition

  The key words I look for in a label are

 - Vegan

- No animal testing

- Natural 

Why are these things so important? 

1.  Vegan:  as a vegan or vegetarian, you do not want to eat or use animals in any way.  Their bodies are not for humans to harm or kill.  Using them for dinner, a jacket or filler for face cream is not compassionate to a vegan or vegetarian.  I do the best I can to not support animal products for human use, especially when there are so many alternatives.

2.  No Animal Testing:  I have blogged about this before.  Animal testing is torturing and killing animals for the sake of lipstick, lotions, etc.  Many companies put out amazing and safe products that are NOT tested on animals and they are completely safe for humans.  When you use natural ingredients, you don't have to worry about burns and rashes.  Leave the animals alone, let them be free and stop using chemicals.

3.  Natural:  What you use on your skin is absorbed and also washed down the drain into our Earth.  Lose the chemicals.  Fantastic chemical free products will give you that soft skin or shiny hair and are still safe to use.

Our MONEY is our vote on whether we support or not support animal testing and chemicals.  Cast your vote wisely.

Amazing local made lotion

Lush Hair treatment.  BEST EVER

Lush Body Gel- Soft and yummy

Thanks to brands like Tom's of Maine, Lush Cosmetics, deep steep and Jason my "pampering" can remain cruelty free and safe for the environment.  Of course my homemade deodorant is not tested on animals either (unless you count my husband) :)

*This blog is not sponsored by the above brands.  Just speaking from personal use and love :)

hOMemade Deodorant

OM is where the heart is,

so is homemade :)

I have been making my own deodorant for a while now, just decided to finally log it in the blog. 

I try and make as much stuff homemade as possible

Cleaning products

Lotion

Baked goods

Spice mixes

Deodorant

Making your own product equals knowing exactly what is in it.  Once you find a recipe that works you are golden.  

Deodorant is one of those controversial products.  Let's face it, it HAS to work.  But conventional deodorant/antiperspirant has harmful chemicals even linked to breast cancer in women.  

I have tried natural brands in the past and they just don't hold up to the daily sweat of Charleston's sweltering summer temperatures.  The only kind of natural deodorant that has worked is my homemade version.  It's easy to make and works all day.  I recently even added cornstarch to my recipe as referral from a friend whom states it helps in sweat absorption.  

Recipe: 

1/4 c coconut oil (will even condition your skin)

1/4 c baking soda 

1 Tbsp cornstarch

10-15 drops of tea tree oil (natural disinfectant)

10 drops of lavender oil (for yumminess)

Mix and store either in an airtight container or into an old deodorant tube

This recipe calls for just a little bit of ingredients for a product that contains no chemicals, reused packaging and goes a long way!  

Save money, save the environment and save your skin! 

Peace, Love and Smelly good underarms!

"Let it Go, Let it Goooooo!"

These days I can not say the words "let it go" without singing it.  

Now if I can take Elsa's words to heart!

Before I had a baby I was very active and fit.  I ate well, I tended to myself, practiced yoga regularly and slept.  

After I had a baby, I focused a lot on my "Before" life.  

I would meet new friends and say "oh before I was fit", "before I used to practice yoga all the time",  "if you knew me before....".  I could go on.  

I love my life now, so why do I cling to the "before"? 

 My time is spent at playgrounds, play dates, snuggle time and doing whatever I want for my sweet little toddler.  She is my priority and I love it.  

I have never been bitter about my TIME, more so about my body.  I battled with myself over letting my body get out of shape, how poorly I was eating and for choosing the couch over exercise. 

But this past year has been a game changer.  I have made small changes that have worked for my lifestyle.  

I have an amazing and supportive group of mama friends.  We support each other well on everything. We all started working together to exercise, budget and eat better.  

Budgeting leads to eating at home.  Eating wholesome meals at home leads to weight loss and exercise.  It's been a win win.  

However, I do not have my flat stomach back and that's ok!  I may get it back.  I may not.  At this rate, I am happy to be healthy again and energetic again.  I am giving myself a break and letting that "BEFORE" body goooooo!  

Because my current body has done some amazing things.  

My body has grown and fed a baby

My body carries my sweet angel 

My body acts as  horse for my child to ride

My body gives my child comfort and love

My body chases my child everywhere

My body can run 

My body can still do amazing yoga poses

My body is squishy

My body is mine

My body can do amazing things

Yoga with the TOT

Down Dog with my baby

Local Marathon Training Health Nut

                                                                       Hello Yogis!

      Check out this blog of a local marathon runner!  Anyone can find inspiration out of this one blog.

Mothers

Runners

Juice Lovers 

Conscious eaters

Yogis (it's all yoga)

Please read, follow and send positive vibes to this blogger!

Enjoy!

http://onemarathonboundmama.blogspot.com

One Marathon Bound Mama

All Natural Skincare GIVEAWAY!

HOMEMADE SOAP GIVEAWAY!

Are you looking for an all natural soap that smells great, leaves your skin feeling luxurious, doesn't have harmful ingredients, local vendor and gives back to charity?

I have found a company who does all those things.  A Charleston local woman makes this amazing cold pressed soap with all natural ingredients.  I have the lilac scented which smells like flowers and candy!  It goes on smooth and leaves my skin smelling great and soft as can be!  I LOVE IT!

It is made by a lady who created Lowcountry Skin Care , an organic skin care line.  Not only does she make soap, she also makes skin firming cream and tonor!  She felt that her skincare products should not contain harmful ingredients that can hurt your skin and the environment, so she took her talents and made her own products!!! 

Lowcountry Skin Care also gives back.  They  donate 25% of the price of each product sold to benefit their nephew, Alex, who is waiting for his second liver transplant. He is a special young man to all of us and you can read about his story here: http://www.cotaforalexf.com/ .  

How would you like to try a bar for free?  I have a Lilac Cold pressed soap bar to giveaway to one lucky reader.  All you have to do is the following:

1.  Subscribe to the blog as a follower if you don't already

2.  Check out Lowcountry Skin Care's Etsy page and browse and shop for the holidays!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/LowcountrySkinCare?ref=search_shop_redirect#

3.  Leave a comment below stating you did both those things and tell me what your favorite Lowcountry Skin Care item is.

Thanks for reading and good luck. I will pick a winner on Wednesday December 12th.  Tell your friends.  You don't want to miss this great product!

A Day Without Shoes 2012

 Happy Tom's Annual Day Without Shoes

 

Imagine, NEVER having shoes. As a baby, toddler and adult, you would do all your walking barefoot. You would walk in fields barefoot, on rocks, on roads, long distances. All without comfy and stylish shoes.

There are people in many other countries that do not have shoes and have never had shoes to use. The children walk miles to school and do their chores without shoes and adults work with no shoes. 

If you do not think it's that big of a deal to go without shoes, try it!

Every year, TOMS sponsors a Day Without Shoes...

http://www.onedaywithoutshoes.com/

They encourage you to go without shoes as much as you can for one day. If you have to wear shoes to school or work, you can, but walk to your car without shoes or check the mail barefoot. Try going for a walk without your comfy tennis shoes; see how far you make it.

The purpose isn't to hurt your feet, it is to bring awareness to the need of others. We will continue to wear shoes in our country and there is a way to give to those in need by buying shoes from a company that gives back.

 

Toms has a "ONE FOR ONE" program.  For every pair of Toms you buy, they donate a pair to a child in need!   Toms has given over a million pairs away!

So slip off your Toms and dig in the dirt!

Marvel Cloth Diaper Giveaway!!!

Hey all you Cloth Mamas, who wants to win a newborn/small Marvel Comics cloth diaper?!?!

You are already eco-minded people if you choose to cloth diaper your children, so who wouldn't want to buy your diapers from a local company?!  I love purchasing my diapers from a person whose hard work goes into making it and I know exactly where my money goes and who I support!

My favorite diapers have come from Modified Momma Creations.  MMC is owned and operated by a cloth diapering mom who makes eco conscious choices for her family.  She is very hip and loves making fun and unique eco friendly products for your home and children. Pretty much any diaper pattern you can think of, she will make.  Check out her website and Facebook page to see all the fun patterns to choose from.

My husband is a huge comic book fan, so of course when MMC said they had MARVEL Comics material, we had to order one.  Our baby girl wears a Marvel and a Dallas Cowboys cloth diaper. (Daddy's girl)

Modified Momma Creations makes a beautiful, fun and durable cloth diaper.  The fabric is great quality and the stitching is strong and well done.  As you will see from the picture, she has the comic material in the back (making for an adorable CD booty) and a super soft fabric in the front.  They have snaps that can adjust to size and are easy to put on.  This diaper even has a newborn umbilical cord snap down if needed.  It is a pocket diaper and is easily stuffed. The customer service is excellent and the owner is very easy to talk with about your orders!

So...Who wants to win a Modified Momma Creations Diaper?

This giveaway is for a Marvel Comic Newborn/Small (6-16 pounds) Cloth Diaper

To enter, please do the following:

1.  Follow my blog by clicking "Join this site"

2.  Follow Modified Momma Creations on facebook

3.  Follow Yogi with a Cause on Facebook

4.  Leave a comment below telling me you did these three things AND why you cloth diaper or want to cloth diaper!

The Drawing will end on Wednesday 3/28/2012 at 9pm EST.  The winner will be notified via the blog.

Thanks for reading and have fun checking out Modified Momma Creation's awesome diapers! This blog is not sponsored by Modified Momma Creations or Marvel

Spring Love

Spring has sprung!

Happy Spring