Yoga, Pie and the taste of Puerto Rico

This week I taught my last Wed night yoga class @ 24 hour fitness. It was bitter sweet to know that after almost 5 years of teaching this class, I would not be coming back. My class is full of amazing people and I will miss seeing them on a weekly basis. They have been a part of my life in more ways than just through yoga. We have done things outside of the gym and I consider some of them my dear friends. 

Haws surprised me by showing up after my class ended with a camera to take pictures of me and some of my students. My students really made me feel special by giving me a thank you card and some gifts. I hope this was not goodbye, but that I will continue to still see some of them. Many of them have come a long way in the last few years... I hope they will continue with their yoga practice.

Some long time students.

Striking a pose.

Thurs night, due to some of my clients getting ill, I got off early enough to actually make dinner! I was so excited because I have been wanting to try this recipe that I saw on my favorite gluten free website, Karina's Kitchen. We are big fans of sweet potatoes around here and this sweet potato shepherds pie was delicious! You have to try it. The spices are such a great mix and the only thing I changed is I used the 96/4 extra lean ground beef from trader joe's in place of the angus beef.

Friday night our friends Rebecca and Paul took us out to the only Puerto Rican restaurant in So. Cal. It also has mexican food... but we weren't aloud to go there. We had to get a taste of what is to come when we go on our trip.

This cuisine was not exactly "up my alley" considering most of the food is fried, but I was able to find something close to healthy and try some of the fried fare as well. I haven't eaten stuff like this in almost 15 years!!! It really didn't seem as greasy as you would think and Rebecca said it was because it was fried in olive oil. That makes it healthy right? 

Kind of blurry... but the name of the restaurant is "Senor Big Ed". The owner was the former owner of the Green Burrito.

This dish is a mexican-puerto rican blend. The plantains (banana looking food) tasted kind of like french fries. My favorite was the Puerto Rican "Tamale" called Pasteles (made with plantains and yucca instead of corn meal) and the rice and beans. 

I love when restaurants display big pictures of their food in the windows, it really draws me in :)

Happy Birthday Lindsey!

Happy Birthday to "sweet Lindsey". Or shall I say, "lala luscious"?? No I shan't!!! 

Lindsey turned the big... ummm... 2-0 today. In her honor, the girls got together for a nice dinner out in Laguna Beach. The view was great and the company and conversation was even better. It is crazy to think I was only 12 when I met this dear friend. We have been though a lot together... man how time flies!

Lindsey takes the cake!

The girls together once again.

Lindsey shared with us a little secret she has been hiding... she is so sneaky!

This is the tomb of a fly that kept landing on our table. He didn't stand a chance against Chelsea!

Sundays are for...

catching up on my blog...? Well, at least that is one things I am trying to do today. 

On Haws' birthday, we shared the celebration by honoring his parents for their 25th anniversary by throwing them a surprise party. Noelle and her boys along with Jared and Thor (we missed you Sarah! Work stinks) flew into town to be a part of the surprise. The night was full of activity. I think the workers at Claim Jumper were wondering if we were ever going to leave. It was a lot of fun and our parents were genuinely surprised. I on the other hand... was surprised by how much Thor has grown since I last saw him. When I first saw him from behind on Haws' lap, I thought he was little Jesse who is almost 2 years older than him! As the evening went on I saw why he has grown so much. That boy has a healthy appetite! I was amazed by what a good eater he was and he was so good at the table. Here are some pics from the evening. For some reason, I spaced and didn't even get a picture of the happy couple together! 

Most of the clan

Jesse showing off his teeth.

Thor trying to take Wade's menu to  see what's for dinner

He decided on napkin... yum yum!

"Oh yeah... it's my birthday too!"

Jonathan helping to blow out the candle

He is a tasty looking kid.

cha cha cha cha changes

After teaching a Wed night yoga class for the past 4 years... it was time to make a change. Although I love teaching the class and the students are awesome (some even came to our wedding), I decided to hand the class over to someone else so that I could accept the "calling" of serving in the Young Womens Presidency in the our ward (our church congregation). We have youth activities every Wed night, so I had to pick Yoga or the Youth. I figured I have put in my time with the yoga... time to mix things up! I am really excited about being able to work with the girls. I am over the 12 and 13 year olds, which should be interesting. One added bonus is that Haws is over the 14 and 15 year old boys... so we actually get to see each other more while we attend the activities. Sorry to any of you who took the Wed night yoga class... you will just have to come to one of my other classes :)

I was serving in the Primary with the 9 and 10 year olds. I am going to miss that little bunch of kids and I am especially going to miss serving with Kirsten. She made our "challenging class" so much easier to handle and we had a lot of fun in the process.

THE VOTING IS BACK...

For the best pilates studio in LA. I know most of you have never been to this studio... but I work here, so you know it has to be the best in LA!!! (I work at another one in the OC... so that one is the best in OC :)

If you have the time... please submit your vote. Mention my name in the comment list and I have a chance of earning some cash!!!

Thanks for your support even if you don't do pilates.

We need your votes: John Garey Pilates has been nominated for best Pilates Studio in LA by MyFoxLA's Hotlist

In 2007, you, our amazing customers, voted us #1 Pilates Studio in LA.We have worked passionately to exceed your expectations again this year. Please help us retain our title as the Best Pilates Studio in LA '08. Vote for John Garey Pilates today!It just takes a moment. Here are the steps:Show your support for John Garey Pilates and log into http://myfoxla.cityvoter.com/la-hotlist to check out the "Best Of" nominees- Click on Pilates Studios under the Health and Fitness category. - Click on John Garey Pilates and enter your e-mail address A link will be sent to your e-mail address.- Click on the link, vote for JGP, and give a comment. That's it! Voting begins September 8th. So hurry, vote today and click: http://myfoxla.cityvoter.com/la-hotlistThank you.The John Garey Pilates Team

Chase and Dana's wedding - Newport Beach

I have slacked so much on posting pics from Dana and Chase's wedding that I am almost embarrassed to post them now. I used the excuse that I was waiting for some of the professional pictures to come... but I got those a month ago. I am sorry Dana that it has taken me so long. It was just too much fun around that time that I had no time to blog. Here are some of the pics I was waiting for.

Dana and Chase both looked amazing! I think her dress is my favorite so far.  She looked stunning!

I like this artistic-water picture outside of the Newport Temple.

The reception was held at the Harbor Side Pavilion in Balboa. It was a beautiful reception and the view was so pretty. Here is the Davis clan... all married off and growing.

After their reception they had a lot of traveling to do. They went to San Fran for their honeymoon and then out to New Mexico for their open house out there. Haws and I went with my parents and I hope to post some pics from that trip next. Then the newly weds headed to Missouri to live for the summer while Chase worked out there. Then back to New Mexico to welcome home Chase's brother from his mission and now they are back in Utah. Who knows where their next trip will be. I am hoping it's California!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAWS!

Today my dear husband turned the big 32! In honor of his birthday I am posting one of his favorite things, which I hate, his 70's pervert mustache. Yikes! I don't know if he really loves it or if he loves that I hate it. Either way here it is in all it's glory. 

Happy birthday my beloved husband! Even with the mustache... I know I am a lucky girl!

Labor Day Recipe

This Labor Day we were staying at my parents to house sit and of course... that meant we had to throw a pool party!!! I was busy having too much fun, that the only pictures I took were of the food! I tried a new recipe for mayo-free potato salad and it was a hit!!! The mix of sweet potatoes and red potatoes made this a sweet dish! Plus... I love vinegar, so the combo was right up my alley. Luckily everyone else agreed. I got the recipe from my favorite website again, Karina's Kitchen, Two Potato Salad. Give this one a try!

bodyworlds

Over the holiday weekend... Haws and I went with our friends Rebecca and Paul to go catch the tale end of the Body Worlds Exhibit @ the California Science Center in LA.

We started the night with dinner at The Original Pantry near the Staples Center, Not exactly what I would call "health food"... but it was good, home cooking.

The Exhibit was awesome! If you are going to do it, you have to go to the IMAX movie about the human body first. It was really interesting. It is amazing how our bodies function and gives you a real appreciation for what we have been given.

Unfortunately... you could not take pictures in the exhibit, but the bodies were real cadavers. Kind of gross when you think about it, but cool to see none the less.After the exhibit was over, we were not quite ready to go so we hopped in the hurricane simulator. Paul and Rebecca went first.

Rebecca got a little scared...

Our turn.Haws got a little scared too...

And I was freezing!!Paul tested his strength by pulling up this truck.
Rebecca looked cute trying to do it as well :)