Welcome to my Hazy Meadow

Remove a splinter easily by applying a paste of baking soda and water, then waiting several minutes for the splinter to pop out of the skin. I found this awesome info on this site 

Ive always wondered how people successfully did headstands without getting a headache or falling over backwards. Ive been able to do a headstand on and off for a few months now, but never could I hold the pose longer than 40 seconds. However, after doing day 21 of the yoga challenge we just did, I was able to get into the pose and stay there for a while. She showed us the proper way to ease into it and it really helped. After a few searches for headstand poses I began to wonder. Why do so many people crave to do headstands and are there any benefits to doing them? I have compiled here a list of the benefits of doing headstands. This information is from multiple sites that are sited at the bottom of the post.    Improves bloodflow in brain Helps to increase the ability to focus Shoulders and arms Helps you to adapt to stress Aids in the improvement of digestion Builds  a strong core

I now follow Kino yoga on youtube. She is very flexible almost like a contortionist.  Realistically speaking I do not see myself making it to that level before I get 100 years old. But I will be learning from her videos and attempting some of the poses. Here is a very do-able yoga poses that help strengthen the core.

  I could not just walk past these cute little things and not grab a few. They are tiny little apples. I am not sure what kind they are. I found them on the ground under the tree during my walk to work Wednesday. If anyone knows what they are, comment and let me know. I'd love some feedback.

So yesterday afternoon I decided to do the workout by +ZuzkaLight that I just recently posted. I did it  for an hour then did about 15 minutes of yoga afterwards. I woke this morning so sore OMG.  I feel like i've been hit by a car. No pain no gain right? However, this amount of soreness has my body feeling like today wasn't an off day. lol. First mistake was not stretching before working out. The second possible mistake was not drinking some sort of shake that was going to bring some sort restoration to my muscles or something. I have some Whey powder and some Creatine powder in my pantry. I am going to try one of those as my post workout snack tomorrow and I will be sure to let you guys know how it is, what kind it is and how to use it. If anyone has any advice on how to soothe sore muscles please comment with how.

Its that time of year again! Cozy sweaters, cute boots, fireplaces, scarves, cooler temperatures, and DRY SKIN! The cold, dry air just chaps your right on up. That is why weatherizing your skin is crucial at the beginning of the season along with routine maintenance. I searched the web high and low for the best information that  I could find on this subject. Here I have compiled a list of ways to aid in the weatherizing process.   Stay fully hydrated with water Use warm water instead of hot water to trap moisture in the face when washing it Try using a PH balanced facial wash Gently exfoliate your face ( I do it weekly) Use a moisturizer Try to maintain a low-stress lifestyle. When you feel good, you look good Try finding a natural, oil based chap stick. Maybe one that has a little cocoa or shea butter (tip to get ride of pesky dry lips: exfoliate them by brushing lips with a soft tooth brush and warm water, then apply chap stick.) Moisturize with a cream whil...

DID YOU KNOW THAT GINGER IS FROM THE SAME PLANT FAMILY AS TURMERIC! They both have amazing health benefits.    Source of reference

Source: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/497647827548523434/

Today's porch garden harvest!! Arugula, Ukrainian Purple Tomatoes, Baby Bell Peppers, A few ghost peppers, Cheyennes, horn peppers, and a few jalapenos. 

Yesterdays Ghost pepper harvest from my garden. One of the worlds hottest peppers.

Purple Cow Peas are black eyed peas with purple pods

  I got the seed for this avocado out of an organic avocado from my local grocery store. I started it by sticking 4 toothpicks into the widest parts of the pit so that it can be suspended over a glass of distilled water, pointy side up. Keep the fat bottom submerged and the top with fresh air. Change water every other day. Waited patiently until it sprouted open at the bottom and the top (usually about 3-6 weeks). Pinch off the first two leaves, more will grow back in about 2 weeks along with more roots.  Then I placed it in an organic seed starting soil mix until it grew leaves. After that I transplanted it into this pot with organic vegetable garden soil that I purchased from my local garden center. I found more info for you guys to grow your own on this site . The second one is peppermint. I bought this as a baby 1 year ago from my local nursery and kept it up in a pot with organic soil.

 Just a little inspiration for your next grilled bratwurst meal. Hot Cayenne Peppers!!! Not only are they awesome because of the kick their spice gives your food. They have plenty of health benefits. here are a few that I found on this site . Boosting energy and stamina. Cleansing and detoxification. Improvement of circulation. Strengthens the heart. Relief of sinus and chest congestion. Treatment of ulcers in the stomach. Reduce inflammation. Pain relief. Relief of leg cramps. Rich in calcium and potassium. Make sure that you remove the seeds. They aren't good for you

HERE IS THE FINAL DAY!!!! Thank you very much for participating in my challenge.

Tomorrow is the last day of the challenge!!!! How do you all feel? Honestly I feel a difference in my ability to get into some poses. Warrior used to be a pain in the ass but, now I can do it without a struggle.(I do still feel the burn) Anyway in this video we will be doing yoga for better sleep

We'll be testing our balance in this one. +Erin Motz will be teaching us how to do dancer poses. We'll be stretching out our quads and hamstrings.

You know that strip of tissue that goes down from your hip to your knee. That's your IT band. That is our target are for this video. The IT bands get tight sometimes if  you do a lot of sitting, running or just don't exercise much.

Sitting in a cubical all day is no fun for your joints. Most of us spend our days sitting down at work, home, school, or wherever. Take this time to workout that body and get your blood flowing.

In this video she shows us a non-stop yoga flow that consists of traditional sun salutations. She take it easy on us in this one.

In this video she shows us her favorite stretches for when she first wakes up in the morning. This routine gets you going without breaking a sweat. 

If you like a little challenge, here is something for you. Zuzka Light has a few 3 minute yoga challenges. This is one of them. It is challenging and gets your blood flowing. Its only 3 minutes long so you cant use the excuse that you don't have time to work out.

Today she shows us how to relieve tension in our upper back and neck. This routine is sure to refresh your upper body and relieve some of that tightness in your neck.

This meal is perfect for people who have a love for spicy. The sauce was hot enough to make you sweat but not to the point that your mouth is on fire without a glass of milk. It definitely is not mild so if you cant handle heat this is not the meal for you.  The tomato sauce has the perfect amount of spice thanks to the Trinidad Scorpion Pepper that I let simmer in it 3 minutes (CAUTION: These peppers are extremely hot, use with care).  I used 4 types of peppers in the chicken, one being the newly harvested Lemon Drop Pepper.  I was excited to use that particular pepper because it is a rare strain. It definitely is not something that you will find in your local market. All of the peppers used in this recipe are from my home garden.    Ingredients 5 Chicken Breast Cutlets 1 Fresh Jalapeno, 1 Cow Horn Pepper, 2 Baby Bell Peppers, 2 Cayenne Peppers, Ghost Pepper, Trinidad Scorpion Pepper,and 1 Lemon Drop Pepper ( I know that some of these peppers are goi...

Here is a quick 3 minute yoga challenge. This is the Flying Burpees Yoga Challenge that I found on www.zuzkalight.com. I completely works out the core and helps get your nice and toned. Take just 3 minutes out of your day and challenge yourself. 

Today we are doing a restorative yoga flow! Use a towel if you don't have a yoga strap for this routine. She will be showing us how to create length is the whole body through stretching out the legs and lower back.

This is a recipe that my grandmother taught me. It is very simple and very delicious. The meal doesn't cost a lot to make therefore, it is definitely a full, home-cooked meal that you can make on a budget. The beef, tomatoes, and Worcestershire sauce create an amazingly robust and flavorful au jus. I use the left over sauce for the pasta I usually make the following day for lunch. This meal feeds 2-3, but of course, all you have to do is double the amount of ingredients when you need to make more. I would suggest that you use a fairly wide pot to cook this because it is going to fill up a skillet as soon as you add the tomatoes. For those of you who want to use fresh tomatoes, you will need to dice up enough tomatoes to equal the same amount as two standard sized canned tomatoes.    Ingredients: 2 regular size cans of Diced Tomatoes Rice Broccoli Spears 1lb of ground beef Worcestershire sauce Oregano Salt & Pepper Garlic Powder   Directions: ...

I was referred to www.zuzkalight.com from a friend. They suggested I check her out when I told them that I am looking for a exercise routine for women that builds muscle and isn't for losing weight. Her body is so toned and she is in great shape. Some of the areas I want to work on are my arms and legs. I want to gain mass and since gaining weight from eating more food doesn't seem to be working, maybe it will with exercise to go along with it. She has routines on youtube and they are routines that actually work. After this yoga challenge is over, I will be posting her 30 day challenge. By the end of it your arms, legs and abs will look amazing. 

Today we are doing headstands!!  Make sure that you listen to your body with this workout.

Today we are working on our shoulders. She will be giving us poses for core strength and shoulders that will help us tackle the headstands that she will be showing us tomorrow with confidence. Handstand Prep!!!