Snow and Rainbows with my Girl!

Snow and Rainbows with my Girl!

Wrapping up winter vacation, my 18 year old (how did that happen?!) daughter and I headed for the snow. I love California! We went from the beach to the snow in 90 minutes. Throughout the day, we experienced rain, hail, snow and 4 beautiful rainbows. The high point was spending the day with my sweet girl. The low point was getting a speeding ticket. Hey, I got excited when I saw snow on top of the mountain! 

Los Padres National Forest

 My daughter took this picture while I was driving. 

Camping in Big Sur!

Camping

If you're lucky, once in a lifetime, you will make a friend as a child and keep that friend forever,  creating new memories as often as possible. My best friend and I have been creating memories together for over 38 years. Luckily, our husbands and children love each other and everyone gets along beautifully! Our tradition is to go camping together every summer. We share a lot of laughs. Like seriously, a lot of laughs! This is our group. Our kids are like cousins and have promised us that no matter how old they get, they won't ever outgrow our annual camping extravaganza! 

We are tent campers. I am now 46 years old and have finally figured out how to not wake up tired, sore and ornery. It's called an Aerobed! Gone are the days of bed rolls, squishy air mattresses and sleeping bags. I now have a blow up bed with a box spring and a headboard. Flannel sheets and a snuggle blanket while camping have changed my life! My BFF made fun of me for being a "glamper." I told her that she can laugh at me all she wants until she breaks her hubby down and heads to Costco for an Aerobed.  It is the best $139.99 I've ever spent! My guy isn't complaining either.

This is the beautiful Highway 1 coast drive! See that bridge? Yes, I drove across it.
So many photo opportunities! I think I have over 300 pictures from the weekend. My daughter snapped this shot of me. 



Margaritas while camping are a must with our group. We actually have Mexican food night and my BFF makes the best carnitas ever!! We really do it up with all of the fixings. Yes. I admit it. We glamp! The best part is that we prep all of the food at home, so all my sweet hubby has to do is work his magic at the campfire. Best campfire food I've ever tasted!

We took a lovely hike to a waterfall. Due to the California drought, it wasn't as big as it once was, but it was still very pretty. It was a nice spot to eat our sandwiches and enjoy the moment.

I am already missing our time together outdoors. The best part about camping is unplugging from all electronics. Spending time together without the distractions of our daily lives. It brings us all back together connecting on a deep and memorable level where we can just let go and be present. 

Rest in Peace, Grandma

It was a very sad day today. The world lost a wonderful woman and I lost my Grandma. She was 98 years old and I feel so blessed that I had her in my life for as long as I did.

I am so grateful that I was able to spend quality time with her in September at my cousins wedding. Didn't she look just fabulous? I helped her get ready. ;)

My sister and I had such a great time with her! We even snuck her a glass of wine. Our dad, aunts and uncles said it wouldn't be a good idea, but she loved it and was grateful. I mean really. She was 98!

Grandma is the last of my grandparents to pass on. I feel sad that my 75 year old father is an orphan. 

Grandma will always hold a special place in my heart and I miss her already. 

Rest in Peace, Grandma. Say hi to Grandpa for me. xo

Enjoying the Sunshine

Hellooooooo! I know I've been pretty quiet lately. Every once in awhile, I need to take a break from social media. Perhaps it's the idea of spending so much time on my computer when the sun is shining so brightly. I think I am susceptible to electronics burnout.  Is there such a thing? I have been enjoying long walks on the beach, spending time outside with my family and sharing yoga at the most beautiful studio ever... the beach! I guess it's a good thing that I live in sunny California. Sending love and positive energy to you all!

Elephant Seals

Every year in January, the Elephant Seals come to the beach in San Simeon, CA for birthing and breeding  season. It is quite a sight! It was an honor to watch these amazing creatures in their natural habitat.

The females do not have trunks like the males do.

The new pups weigh about 70 pounds when they're born. 

These males fought  for dominance over this portion of the beach. They both ended up pretty bloody, but they both seemed fine when the dust (or sand) settled. There was a clear winner though!

The adult males weigh over two tons!

Seals at rest.

 Seals at play? Or perhaps not...

The Green Flash

Ok, so I admit that I have been a little bit obsessed with The Green Flash.

For those of you who haven't heard of it, Green flashes and green rays are optical phenomena that sometimes occur right after sunset or right before sunrise. When the conditions are right, a green spot is visible above the upper rim of the disk of the sun. The green appearance usually lasts for no more than a second or two. Rarely, the green flash can resemble a green ray shooting up from the sunset (or sunrise) point. Green flashes occur because the atmosphere can cause the light from the sun to separate out into different colors. Green flashes are a group of phenomena which stem from slightly different causes, and therefore some types of green flashes are more common than others.

I have been staring at sunsets, all around the world,  for many years looking for The Green Flash. I never saw one until I moved here! 

Maybe it's because I am fortunate to have this amazing view from my house and can watch for it every night. 

Notice in this picture, the green glow around the edges of the sun...

Do you see it? This is the first time I've captured actual green on film. Next time I will keep my finger on the shutter so I can share the actual flash. Yes, I am a total Green Flash Geek and I am proud of it! 

The Start of Something New

Click on photo to watch the interview!

This is an interview with SLO-TV about my new project! 

Whiz Kids Trivia

A little bit of Whiz Kids trivia for today...

Who remembers what the computer system was named?

On a side note, we all looked so serious in this picture! 

We really meant business. ;)

From my family to yours...

I have been taking some time off to enjoy friends and family this holiday season. I hope and you and yours are happy and healthy. I wish you all the best in the year to come! 

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

May your life be filled with joy and happiness and may each new day bring you moments to cherish.

For those who celebrate, I wish you and yours a Merry Christmas!

Pismo Beach Yoga

SLO TV-Crew Interview

Well, my friends, it's beginning to come together! There have been a lot of changes, as of late. I sold my business, Grass Valley Yoga, when my family and I relocated to the Central Coast. I have missed teaching and so here comes my new business...Pismo Beach Yoga! I am excited to share the beauty of yoga with my community members. Ahhhhh, beach yoga sounds like pure bliss to me.

If you are on Facebook, I invite you to "like" Pismo Beach Yoga. You can also check out my website-in-progress http://www.pismobeachyoga.com. Pismo Beach Yoga can also be found on Instagram!

Thank you so much for your love and support as I embark on this new journey in my ever-changing life.

How I Spent My Day

I have a new obsession and they are called succulents. 

They require very little water, which is great with our current drought in California.

I love to mix it up with cactus varieties!

I was looking for someplace to use the sea glass and sand dollars I've collected.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Whatever the day brings you, I wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Sore Throats at the Beach

My daughter and I woke up with sore throats this morning. My son was sick all last week. I told her that we can either have sore throats at home or at the beach and she chose the beach. That's my girl! On our way to Avila Beach, we stopped at Shell Beach and enjoyed the view. She couldn't resist striking a tree pose! We are back home resting now, but the fresh air and sunshine did wonders for us.

Pismo Beach Yoga

                                                                                                                 Photo courtesy of Dixie Green Sharp

Here I go again! Just when I thought I would be able to relax into the holiday season, I went ahead and launched a new business. Pismo Beach Yoga! If you are a Facebook user, I would really appreciate a "like" for my new page. Here is the link...

Pismo Beach Yoga Facebook Page

Thank you so much for your support!

Exploring!

Such a fun day exploring our new town today with my love! Lots of walking and lots of smiles. 

Happy Beach Dog!

Happy Dyson loving his new yard! He keeps my toes in the sand. As of I needed an excuse! 

The Big Move

Wow, what a journey the last few weeks have been! I know that I have been MIA, but with good reason. My family and I just relocated to the Central Coast. Many of you know that this place holds a special place in my heart. We have been spending a lot of time in the area looking for just the right place to live. After a long search, we found it! We have settled into the Pismo Beach area. Beach girl that I am, I feel so grateful that I can walk there any time. We have an ocean view now, so I can actually see the beautiful sun drop into the ocean each night from my balcony. I pinch myself each time I walk home from the beach, knowing that I get to return the next day.

 I feel so grateful! 

The first of many sunset walks with my happy dog. 

Lava Flow

As the lava flow moves closer and closer to the town of Pahoa, on the Big Island of Hawaii, I have been reflecting on the precious times that I have spent there. The Big Island holds a very special place in my heart. It is my home away from home. Each time I have been there, I have felt the warm embrace of the island. It is said that Pele either loves you or loathes you. People either have incredibly beautiful  experiences on that island or dreadful times. I can say whole heartedly that Pele loves me. She has watched over me each time I was there and I had experiences that could have ended not so well. (I do like my adventures!) Pele calls me back constantly and I know that one day I will settle there to live. For those of you who have been lucky enough to visit her beautiful island, you know what I'm talking about. The rest of you probably think I'm nuts. Let me explain...
Pele is the goddess of fire and volcanos and what she says goes. She is a powerful presence on the island. It is her island; we are just visitors. She has her moods and she spreads her lava at her will. In 1986, she took the town of Kalapana. What was once a beautiful black sand beach town is now a lava field with Uncle Robert's Kava bar to welcome visitors. I walked those lava fields and was saddened and amazed at the fact that not that long ago there was a community there. I met a local who was picking up tourist's trash on the lava fields. I walked the fields for hours helping to pick up litter. What used to be homes, streets and ohana (the Hawaiian word for family), is now miles of hardened lava.
The lovely little town of Pahoa in the Puna district, is currently in jeopardy of becoming the next Kalapana. The lava just entered into the town yesterday. I have been watching the flow for a few months now. Preparations have been made, i.e.: new roads built, evacuation plans, etc. but nothing can be done to stop Pele. She has covered the cemetery and crossed the road into town. Her pace quickens and slows down at her will. I pray for the people of Pahoa. I pray for the little town and all of it's inhabitants. I know that when I return the landscape will be so different. That is the nature of the island.  Madame Pele (as she is referred to) is in charge.

This is the cemetery on the outskirts of town.

Pele taking over open space. The vog is very bad in the area, due to the lava flow. Vog is air pollution caused by the volcano eruption. 

Up close and personal.

Here you can see the lava flow as it heads straight for town. :(

The aerial view

Another aerial view of Pele's destruction.

This is me walking on a trail just outside of Pahoa.