“There is a pleasure in the pathless woods, There is a rapture on the lonely shore, There is society, where none intrudes, By the deep sea, and music in it’s roar; I love not man the less, but nature more.” Childe Harold

I’ve just returned from an amazing four day camping trip amongst the most magnificent Redwood trees and river in Big Sur. It’s breathtaking, relaxing, majestic and even better yet, work-free! If you’ve never been to Big Sur, just hours south of San Francisco, put it on your bucket list… Andy and I literally moved here, to California, just to be closer. Gone is the $400, four-hour flight from Chicago’s Midway Airport! We live a mere two hours away now and call it our “home away from home”.

Stump-yoga!

Camping is one of my favorites things to do and it’s funny because I didn’t grow up tent camping with my parents like most kids too. Every summer I went to sleep-over Girl Scout’s Camp for weeks at a time, but we stayed in tented cabins on cots and it really wasn’t “roughing” it, if you know what I mean. But it was awesome! My parents thought they were getting rid of me, and I thought YES, I’m getting rid of them! There were eight girls per tent and we would would stay up late, sneak into the kitchen and steal food (they clearly weren’t feeding us enough) and listen to someone’s Walkman, our “contraband” in the 80s. I miss those days but camping is better now that I’m grown for there’s wine, gourmet food and copious sticks of s’mores every night… obvious reasons!

That’s 4 marshmallows for Andy’s one s’more!

By the way, the prepared foil packets that I created for our trip were a HUGE success. Andy was impressed, to say the least, and he created some extra foils with all of the extra veggies I brought. Chef’s wife done good. They were the easiest things to make and if you didn’t read my last blog, check it out. We made desserts, side dishes and quick lunches using the foiling method.

Foil packets cooking.

Finished product!

This broccolini with almonds was my favorite foil by far!

Since we both work so much, we always take it easy on camping getaways. We rediscovered the game Uno on this trip, had lunch at Nepenthe, visited the Bixby Bridge and played ping-pong table at the nearby Fernwood Tap. If you haven’t been to Nepenthe, check it out for it’s scenic views and cool atmosphere- not for it’s overpriced food and drinks. Also, we didn’t get to go there this time but we love the ridiculousness of the Henry Miller Library, author of “The Tropic of Cancer.” It’s hard to put it into words but I think a witch runs it.” Very neat,” as my ma would say.

Bixby Bridge. (Pretty good pic by your’s truly!)

Nepenthe.

Fernwood Tap.

So this vision we had of moving to California became a real one two years ago this October, and we haven’t regretted the decision to pick up our lives, leave amazing jobs, restaurants, theatre and solid, old friends… even if it was hard to leave the best city in America. Yes, that’s Chicago I’m talking about people. And I’ve been to all the other “big” ones (London, Rome, LA, New York City, Boston, Munich, blah, blah, blah) and it’s still the greatest city and will always be “my” city. I became a yoga teacher there, met my love and life-partner, met some best friends along the way, (yes you Jean Ann, Lauren and Anne-Marie) and even became a “city girl”, something I’d always dreamt of.

Instead of just talking about it, I made a vision board using a piece of construction paper and glued together a collage of pictures, sayings, positive affirmations and future goals; moving to California just happened to be one of them! Vision boards have a powerful presence in your life if you hang them up in a spot you always have to look at, day after day. I think they can be used for dreaming and achieving at the same time, kind of like an action board, if you will. What you pinned on your board six months ago may be something you’re no longer interested in, but it’s so fun to look back each year like a diary, and reflect. My current vision board I created on New Year’s Day, instead of the traditional resolutions that everyone forgets within the first month, I thought I’d go this route instead.

There’s a picture of my Gram and a girl dropping back from standing into a backbend, two things I love most and need to do/see more of. I also have reminders and affirmations from “be the most positive person I know” and “eat more protein” to “hike more” and “practice pranayama.” Day trips are something I enjoy and Andy and I have done more of those this year than ever before; I’m planning on adding weekend getaways to my next board in hopes of trips to San Fran, Napa, San Diego and my favorite, Mt. Shasta! There’s nothing like a retreat up to Shasta for the sites, townsfolk, hikes, skinny-dipping and plethora of yoga-ish book stores.

Oh! Speaking of yoga books, you HAVE to read “Happy Yoga” by Steve Ross. Talk about a fun escape from the never-ending list of yoga books out there filled with jargon! And if you’ve lost your yoga sparkle or glow, this book will get you re-hooked and re-dedicated to your practice. Steve owns a popular studio near L.A. and is the host of “Inhale” on the TV station Oxygen. I wouldn’t know this because I don’t have cable, but it’s suppose to be a great series. His writing style is right to the point, no beating around the bush folks. He tells you why you should be concerned about everything and anything that goes in and out of your mouth, food, thought and speech, why the practice of “happy” yoga is yoga in it’s truest form and why you really have nothing to worry about. Really? Yes, really.

Steve covers plenty of topics in this book, but I love his takes on wanting love versus loving, his tips of experiencing your inherent state, loving your food and how to go on living without eating meat. You didn’t think the animals really want you to eat them did you now?! Most of the book talks about inner yoga and taking your practice off the mat and into the world and how you CAN change your world. He’s brilliant- you should check it out- and it’s a quick read; you’ll have your highlighter out most of the time, drawing attention to things you can and will take away!

And while we’re talking books, anyone out there have a book club I can join? Not a serious one though, wine and cheese are preferred.   I’m reading this terrific mystery right now set in the early 1900’s. It’s called “The Forgotten Garden” and it’s written by Kate Morton. I found it at a bar that had a lending library in it… I kid you not! If you like spell-binding mysteries that jump from year to year, this one is for you! Poor Andy. He had to drag me away from it this weekend while we were camping. It’s that good. But I love books. The more pages, the better!

I should have been a librarian. Maybe in my next life. Oh wait, libraries will all be defunct by then huh? That’s a sad day to think about… it’s why I hate those Kindle’s! I love the sight, smell and taste of an old library and I’ve still got my original CLAN card (that’s Rhode Island for library card) to this day! Let me rant for one more second please… I cannot stand the fact that Oprah puts her book club sticker on all the classics! You are ruining the covers lady! I’m sure some people see her name and automatically think it’s a good book, a must-read, but come on! You’re ruining it for the rest of us intelligent book-worms who don’t need Oprah’s thumb’s-up on every book we browse past. Okay. Put a fork in me, I’m done.

Speaking of forks, I’m making spaghetti squash for dinner tonight since I’m still in vacation mode and don’t want to put a whole lot of effort into cooking. I’m calling it a Mexican-style squash and stuffing it with black beans, yellow corn, heirloom tomatoes, chiles, onions, cilantro and avocado. Easy peesy. Just cook the squash for 30 minutes and then add in the stuffing for 10 minutes more.

Gotta go jump on my scooter and head to teach Ashtanga yoga at Harmony House! Check your mirror’s people!!!

My scoot at Christmas-time! How can ya miss me?!