Howdy Readers! The Yummy Yogini got a fancy new makeover this week thanks to my yoga student and webguy Jimmy Crow. He is phenomenal at designing websites, among other things, where is I am not! I’ve known Jimmy for years when he first stepped into my Ashtanga class in Chicago not knowing what he was in store for… he was visiting from Texas (p.s. I love when that happens!) He hung in there and even brought his girlfriend Kitty back the next week and I think they’ve both been practicing pretty daily since then. That’s the wonderful world of yoga my friends!
I have two other stories to tell you while I’m thinking about it… short ones, no worries! Tuesday Andy and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary and we didn’t really have anything planned but last minute I was like “We should get sushi at our favorite BYOB place and bring the UNO cards with,” and that is what we did. But I was scheduled to teach so I didn’t actually think the plan would go through unless I could find a yoga sub. This process alone is a pain in the ass. You call, email and text people asking if they can sub and you either hear nothing or no one is willing to do it.

But Tuesday was different! I decided to call one of the yoga subs at Kennedy Club Fitness where I teach to see if she would want to do it. I knew she wasn’t really an email person so I took a chance and made the call. Before I tell you how it turned out, let me tell you that I have only really ever met this woman a few times, and I haven’t ever taken her class so I don’t really know her well at all. I just know when I see her, she makes me smile because she has an eccentric way about her and I love the funky way she dresses.

So I’m like “Hi Moyra, it’s Niccola…” blah, blah blah.. and she says she can do it. I’m as happy as a clam (Rhode Island lingo here) and then we start chatting and she tells me she follows my blog, she forwards her favorites to her daughter in Australia, she feels like she knows me and that she’s really enjoying reading my stuff! Talk about feeling happier than ever with these nice words from this sweet woman. I love writing this blog and getting personal and putting myself out there and I am so glad to hear it’s appreciated! So thanks Moyra, you totally made my whole month!

The second story I have for you is another goodie! Most of you know that I dog-sit and dog-walk too in addition to teaching yoga full time and I swear the best company are animals! Or so I thought! I went to meet a new client this week who has two large, strong dogs who he has trouble walking because he suffers from extreme back pain. So I go over there and meet him and his pooches and get their leashes ready and just when I think I’m out the door, he says, “Would you mind if I walk with you?”

No one has ever asked me this… ever! Usually it’s just me, the dogs and NPR on my headphones. I obviously love to talk and I love strangers and meeting new people, hence why I was a wonderful journalist and waitress if you ask me! So I’m like “Sure David, that’d be great!” and we proceed to walk around the neighborhood. Turns out this guy is a retired professor from Texas A&M (only one of the most prestigious schools) and the most interesting fella in the Nickel Cities! We have walked together five times now and the conversation has yet to run dry and we talk about everything from current events to our favorite local restaurant. Watch out Andy!

Coupla Lovas.

Speaking of Andy, we really had a nice Labor Day Weekend celebrating our anniversary. Everyone laughs when I tell them we’ve only been married for three years. “That’s it?” they all say, “But haven’t you been together for years?” Yep, 11 of them to be exact but we waited a little bit longer to get married just like we’re doing with waiting on having kiddos! September is California Wine Month so we thought we’d celebrate that too! First we headed to Laetitia for our favorite Brut Rose Champagne and then we headed over to Kynsi, one of our wine club’s, for some more pink stuff, this time the Barn Owl Blush. It’s a yummy, dry rose and I can’t get enough of it! We brought a lovely picnic as usual and we even made our own salsa to eat with chips… easy peesy to make… check it out below!

Shall We Salsa? -makes 2.4 liters or two medium tupperware sized bowls 

Ingredients:

-18 tomatoes (from my garden!)

-1 white onion, chopped

-1 head garlic, minced

-1 small Habanero pepper

-1 bunch cilantro

Directions:

1. Using a large pan or cast iron, place the whole tomatoes in and let grill on medium high heat. They should start to lightly char.

2. While you’re waiting, chop up the onion, garlic and pepper.

3. Place them in the large pan and stir in with the tomatoes.

4. When everything has browned nicely, take it off the heat and add the mixture to your blender or Kitchen Aid. Mix well.

5. Place in airtight containers to store and enjoy!

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My book recommendation for you this week is the best non-fiction book you’ll ever read! Imagine having billions of dollars, 3 homes, 2 NYC apartments, and more… but instead you live in a secluded hospital room for over 20 years… and get this… you’re not even sick!

Don’t forget! Check out the all new www.niccolayoga.com today!