And, we’re baack….

Back from the country. SUCH good times.

Neck hurts, though, from falling so AWKWARDLY to sleep in the car on the LONG drive home. I’m lucky Josh-O and I are married because if we were just boyfriend and girlfriend? He’d probably dump me because of the way I was sleeping in the car. Mouth open, head bobbing, likely snoring, likely drooling…. I was like an 80-year-old man…. VERY. ATTRACTIVE.

Anyhoot! I’d be seriously depressed right now (being back in the city) if I didn’t know I was going away next weekend for another WHOLE WEEK in the country. This time, we’re going to a cottage with MY side of the family. My parents — It’sgrandma and Papa’shere — rented a cottage for the whole family: me and mine, my sis, her hubby and their son, and my brother and his wife, and ALL FIVE OF THE DOGS (my poor kitties have to stay at home, but we have a LOVERLY cat sitter for them). It’s going to be A BLAST.

Too bad, though, that Josh and I aren’t bringing the telescope because that was one of the highlights of this week! But, I’ll be busy enough basking in MO COUNTRY GLORY.

Who knew I liked country so much? I wonder if I like country music, too? Nah…. Not so much. Although — tangent — I really like Big Brother‘s idea of Britney Spears reinventing herself as a country singer…. Not a bad idea, huh? Too bad it was, indeed, “NOT IN THE NEWS.” A-ny-way. Sorry non-Big-Brother-watchers.

So, yes, we’re back. And, it’s nice. Although I truly LOVED looking out my window onto a sea of green. Nothing but green and hay bales and cows in the backyard and hummingbirds and the sounds of crickets….

crickets…crickets…crickets…ribbit…MOO…meoww…crickets…tweet…LOVE.

And, yoga in the morning! I learned so much by fitting my yoga practice into EVERY MORNING. And, there’s no reason I can’t set my alarm and do it every day in the city, too. It made such a difference to my mood, and to how I ate. I felt SO GOOD in my body! REALLY good. Like, buzzed. Realized, also, how BAD I feel when I eat such CARP as chai-tea lattes and muffins for breakfast. Yes, yoga in the morning. Every morning. A must. And, maybe a little in the afternoon, when I get super tired and my mood starts to crack and I want to dive into the pantry head first.

Yes, the country was total bliss. But, there’s something about being back under my own roof, watching my own TV, sitting MY ARSE on my own couch. KITTY KISSES! OH, HOW I MISSED!

Yes. Lots learned in the country. Well-being. Is attainable. YES YES.

Ohhhhmmmmm. Namaste….

This has really been a beautiful vacation. Josh and I have both totally slooowwwed down. And, I’ve been taking good advantage of the gorj natural setting here to contemplate, exercise and, as discussed at Cheaty Kitchen yesterday, EAT WELL! Yay!

Doing LOTS of yoga…with RASCAL…. I love my pink mat. Seriously. I have about five yoga mats of all different colours. This one’s my fave. This one is home….

I feel really great. A little hungry (for lack of whole food in the kitchen), but better than I’ve felt in a long time physically and emotionally. Great to have another pair of hands to help me with the kids so I can have some space and time to recupe, relax and re-centre. Awesome. And, great to have a pool to jump into to swim my ARSE off (literally). Only problem with swimming, for me, is that I ALWAYS have to stop to save the drowning bugs…. I can’t swim peacefully knowing that some creature right next to me is fighting for its life — insect or FROG or whatever….

Ribbit….

Other than swimming, I’ve been walking the country road a lot. Check how LOVERLY….

Butterflies! There are tons here. Mostly monarchs. Beautiful monarch butterflies. Monkey’s obsessed with “princesses, fairies and butterflies,” ahem. So, this pic is for her — even though poor beautiful monarch looks more like a moth thanks to my brillers pic-taking!

Other than walking gorj country road, we’ve been occupying ourselves with crafts….

PIPE-CLEANER DAY…. Monkey made this for me. Isn’t it GORJ??

Sight-seeing (these are classic pics of Rascal)….

Floating (swimming lessons are reeeeeeeally paying off, as you can see…erg blerg beglerg)……

She’s floating in her baby brother’s floatie. HE, on the other hand, is a total FISH in the water!

Connecting with cows RIGHT in the backyard….

Love…. We definitely shared a moment together, me and “Cowy”…. Beautiful, beautiful animal….

So, that’s it! Tomorrow, we’re supposed to go to a fair. With rides. Those rides that they rent. Rent-a-rides. That I would NEVER go on. I’m KIND of a little bit hoping it gets rained out. But, also kind of not — because it’s, like, the biggest event of the year for the peeps here…. And, because the Monkey’s really looking forward to the merry-go-round….

Home on Sunday…. Missing Minden BE-YOND. Can’t even tell you. They REALLY need a pet over here. I mean, cows and frogs are awesome and everything? But, you can’t go to bed with ‘em…. And, they don’t make the skin of your nose raw with their KISSES…!

OH! GARSH! WAH! MISS!

The last time I went to Ottawa, Ontario, was when I was in University. I went to visit my friend Jill, aka ERRRRNA (shout. out.), who was enrolled in the Journalism program at Carlton University there. She lives in Bermuda now (I love saying that one of my besties lives in Bermuda — have you noticed that?). Yes, Erna lives in Bermuda. My friend Erna lives in Bermuda….

Anyway, my friend Erna, who lives in Bermuda, went to university in Ottawa, and I visited her. Actually, I ran away from home to Ottawa for a weekend because I was a SERIOUSLY MESSED UP TEENAGER (may-hay-hay-jor kudos to it’sgrandma and papa’shere for putting up with me!). We had SO much fun dancing at the clubs there, hanging out in the Architecture building — where we got to secretly watch some cute Architecture student shave (it’s like ER in there the way they work all night long) — and sipping coffee at the Artist’s Cafe….

I really must get a picture of Erna in Bermuda for you. She’s getting married next year. And, I’m GOING. Cannot wait. A-NY-WAY. I digress.

Back to my friend in Bermuda Ottawa.

After all these years…. I returned to Ottawa today. And, I brought my cheaty little family.

Ottawa’s about an hour from our (the father-in-law’s) country house. So, we decided to be spontaneous and take a trip there today. Totally unplanned. And, what an adventure it was!

It’s as beautiful as I remember. The architecture! The architecture! I took lots of pictures for you. Ottawa’s the capital of Canada, for those of you who don’t know. So, it’s filled with GORJ government buildings. The monkey, of course, insisted that they were all castles with princesses and fairies and butterflies in them — and, of course, she was all over that…. Check it!

If you look closely, you might be able to see poor little rascal leaning his lil head out the side of the stroller — screaming for me. MAJOR case of mommy-itis today….

This is the BIG PARLIAMENT BUILDING where everything happens. We took a tour here….

…but it was a French tour — and we weren’t ALLOWED to ask any questions in English….

Here’s a look inside the Parliament Building…. It’s totals stunners GORJ….

Oh…, the ceilings….

…the ceilings…

…the ceilings…!

The House of Commons….

The Senate….

That would be monkey thinking she’s waiting in line to sit on the Queen’s throne…ahem.

It got a little challenging to contain my monkeys during the French tour. Notice one sitting beside the French tour guide (OUTSIDE the roped off area…), and one crawling toward said French tour guide…. No one seemed to mind….

The Princess’s library…….

Magnificent….

We went all the way up to the clock tower, of course. And, it was magnificent…. Check this view….

We finished off the tour in the memorial room for soldiers lost at war….

“In Flanders Fields,” by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army.

We finished the day visiting Josh’s friend and then heading out to a diner. Meet the monkey’s new obsession — erm…, “Whitey”….

We tried VERY hard to get the monkey to name Whitey something OTHER than Whitey — Creampuff, Snowflake (that was Josh’s suggestion), even Powder Puff. But, no. Whitey it is. I hope no one, erm, takes it the wrong way. All day, the monkey went up to EVERYONE saying, “Hello! This is WHITEY”! Hee. So cute. Both monkeys had a great day.

Beautiful, spontaneous, adventurous day.

We all did.

Hope you’re enjoying the week! Miss you! xo Haley-O

Here we are in the country! Loving it. Relaxing when the monkeys let me, which is actually not very much now that I think of it…. But, missing…a little someone….

Wish you were here!

I actually took two naps today. TWO. With the Rascal. Which reminds me…. Why does his head get sweaty like this EVERY time he has a nap?

You can ALWAYS tell where Rascal’s slept on a bed because he leaves a YUGE wet spot the size of a wee blond head on the bed…. Why?

After second nap, baggy-eyed, I went and VIDEO BLOGGED the winners of the Conair Infiniti Nano Silver Hair Straightener contest over at Goodies. I’ll wait here while you go check it.

Back yet? I know. Josh did THE WORST job of scanning the positively EDENIC setting here. It is ridiculously GORJ here, and he gives you the SIDE OF THE HOUSE? Nice work, Josh-O, nice work. Anyhoot, here are some pics to give you a better idea of where/how we’re spending our time….

Grey skies…. But, acres and acres of land before us…. Luscious land, rolling hills, hay bales, corn fields. Is there anything better? Which reminds me, I do NOT miss my Starbucks. That meditation workshop I went to the other day FULLY cured my addiction, I’M TELLING YOU!

Penis lamps….

Apparently, this is a SERIOUS antique. But, I don’t care. PENIS. It’s a frikkin penis. Every time I walk into my bedroom I see it and think…”penis.”

Scrabble…. I was first. Check my letters…. How would you start the board with these letters?

I went with this:

Pretty good…?

Other than Scrabble, I’m doing lots of yoga and reading, walking on country roads with Josh-O and the monkeys and eating freshly-picked corn. I’m looking forward to tomorrow because it’s supposed to be sunny, and I can’t wait to throw on my maternity bathing suit (BWAH!) and swim.

What you up do?

Love! xo Haley-O

Seeking, seeking lately. Sanity, freedom, peace, INSANITY, health, authenticity….

I hardly saw my little monkeys today (relatively speaking) because I was busy seeking, and it’sgrandma agreed to take them for the afternoon while I went to a workshop of sorts….

It was a meditation workshop.

Whodat? Huh? Me? Who? Whodat? MEDITATING? Isn’t the yoga enough? And the goddess totem? Ahem. Now, what? MEDITATING?

Yes.

And, it was WILD.

I’m still registering everything that happened. So, I’m not getting fancy here today…. I’m also extraordinarily drained and just staring. I don’t think I’ve blinked since I started writing this…. So, I’ll just tell you thirteen things I learned at my meditation workshop…

1. I learned that the body has a BRILLERS innate wisdom that one can tap into through meditation….

2. Felt sensation of blocked energy in stomach, throat, back, then in right foot and toe….

3. I got nauseous, face got hot, soles of feet got freezing….

4. Pins and needles everywhere….

5. Couldn’t take it anymore…until….

6. WHOOSH! Release. Relief. Ahhhh….

7. Light, airy….

8. Eyes bigger, brighter than EVER….

9. Could see clearly….

10. Can I do this meditating on my own now?

11. Supposed to do it twice a day. Can I?

12. Will I?

13. Will sleep well tonight, they say……

IF MY MONKEYS LET ME sleep…. Try 5am in the morning: BOTH OF THEM! IN MY BED. It’s amazing how one can ACTUALLY sleep suspended in the air. Because that was me. Basically, suspended in the air. Body LITERALLY half off the bed. “Levitation” I think they call it? Mind you, I wasn’t sleeping. Couldn’t sleep. Because was half off bed. Suspended-like.

But, I’m going to enjoy this sleep tonight…. And, I’m going to try to develop a meditation practice. Because what happened today was REAL. And, probably life changing.

Soooo, you thought it was FUNNY that I bought myself a crystal “goddess” totem, did you…?

It’s okay. I can take it. I will have you know, though, that I got the idea from a VERY influential yogini…. AND, I will have you know, that I found it at an INSANELY low price at one of my favourite stores that IS NOW CLOSING FOREVER and practically GIVING everything away — like this mug, which I just HAD to buy….

It says, “Heaven knows it’s surely true that Mother’s need a time out, too….

“…Relax, refresh, recharge, renew, revive, and rediscover you!”

There couldn’t be a more perfect mug for me right now….

And, look at this little postcard it came with:

Love it love it love it. Do you love it? I love it so much that I hung it up in my kitchen next to my fave pic of Minden:

Ohhh, stop your laughing at me. I know I’ve gotten a little, shall we say, eccentric lately. But, I AM IN NEED. Am flailing here. In THE OCEAN. Chaotic OCEAN of TODDLER CRAZY.

This Rascal? Gets into EVERYTHING. I can’t take my eyes off him for A SECOND. Am not used to that! Monkey never even crawled!

I’m constantly flailing. So, I’ll try anything to feel grounded. And, these things SPEAK TO ME.

And, you know? A lot of people do really well with two toddlers. I mean, I look at Monkey’s camp teachers and think to myself, “HOW THE HELL DO THEY DO IT? I’D BE PULLING MY HAIR FULLY (AND NOT JUST A LITTLE) OUT AT THE END OF 2.5 HOURS WITH ALL THOSE LITTLE MONKEYS! I CAN BARELY HANDLE TWO! etc., etc..” Then again, camp is only two half-mornings a week……

I just think that I’m the kind of person who needs a lot of downtime. I’m an introvert, you know?

Anyway, I think I’m figuring things out more and more as I go. I need downtime, and the monkey needs RULES RULES RULES, and she needs them spelled and DRAWN out for her. Like this….

And, today was great: monkey obeyed The Rules; Rascal napped in his crib; MONKEY napped in my bed; and I NAPPED in my bed. Awesome. It’s SO because of the GODDESS TOTEM!!!!!!!!! Ahem.

I’m making it work, and honouring my own needs. YES YES YES.

Also Minden helps. He maybe works better than the goddess totem. And, the mug. Every MOMMA should have a MINDEN….

Check his new favourite hideout….

Yes, that would be the Rascal’s change table. I’m such a slob…. CLOSEUP:

CLOSER….

CLOSER CLOSER….

TOO BRIGHT. CLOSER….

TOO BRIGHT STILL. CLOSER STILL….

KISSES!

See? NOT insane. I’m NOT insane. Just…a little eccentric….

If you haven’t already, go NOW and enter CONAIR CONTEST over at GOODIES! Love!

(Monday, July 28th, 2:33 pm)

I’m having the worst birthday ever. I know — it’s not my birthday. It’s the monkey’s. But, it’s SUCKING for me, Gorgeouses!

The monkey is so overtired because she was up all night from the excitement of yesterday’s birthday party and the anticipation of her big day today. She’s already on to the second dress of the day because “I NEED A NEW DRESS, MOOOOOMMA!” Meanwhile, the dress she has on his positively GLAM!

My gosh, I feel so UNDERDRESSED next to my monkey. It’s insanity.

Anyway, they sang “Happy Birthday” to her during our Salsa class, and she screamed “NOOOOO! NOOOO!” — just to give you an idea of how fantastic this day’s been so far.

So, I figure the girl needs a nap this afternoon. I put the TV on — because when do we not LOVE TV? Apparently, TV is not our THANG on our birthday. No, our THANG is hanging onto MOOOMA, scratching MOOOOMA’s lip, choking her with “neck cuddles.”

And, then there’s the Rascal. He must be teething. He’s crying in his crib right now. SCREAMING. Because I can’t take it with the two of them.

MOTHER OF THE YEAR. Go ahead, naysayers, SUE ME! I’ve given up today. I’m giving myself permission to suck for a bit. And, you know what? Karma’s a byotch because I just made a GRAVE business mistake because I was JUST trying to juggle the two DEMANDING kids while responding to a VERY IMPORTANT email. A perfect illustration of how important it is to be PRESENT in everything you do. Multitasking just DOESN’T WORK when you’re a work-at-home mom.

Sighhh, I should listen to myself…. Sometimes, it’s just hard to hear over the whining and the screaming.

He’s stopped crying. And, she’s calm. Maybe we’ll play with her CARAZAY new doll house. Check this thing…. Have you SEEN this thing?

I hate letting Rascal cry. But, I’ve tried everything to settle him down this afternoon — at the expense of my business and my sanity.

Head is throbbing. Could cry. Sometimes it’s just too much….

…Which is why I bought myself this little crystal “goddess” totem that I’m supposed to just hold on to when I need to centre myself and tap into my “inner wisdom.” Like NOW. Yoga on the go….

Tonight we have a birthday party for the monkey. A family one replete with MANY MORE GIFTS with which to spoil our little monkey EVEN MORE….

She’s doing and getting everything she wants today. Like every day! But, it’s a little too much with the screaming Rascal and my lack of sleep. He was up thrice last night. THRICE!

Anyway, I just needed this little writing break. And, it’s as effective (if not more) as my little goddess totem. Thanks for listening. Back to SLAVERY partying…sigh….

(2:39pm)

Rascal is sound asleep.

Monkey and I are playing with this Groovy Girl now (she got it for her birthday from one of her little friends!):

Monkey’s decided to call her “Lizzie.” Does she even know a Lizzie? No. And, I’m feeling a lot calmer. Amazing — the power of the written word to cleanse, release, centre, restore…. I use this journal to reflect on my MOST personal, unbloggable stuff (apparently, I do have boundaries…!):

Isn’t it pretty? (Actually, it looks like arse in pictures. Much prettier — SPARKLES, of course — in person.) If you don’t write in a journal, Gorgeouses, you should really try it. It’s SO enriching and therapeutic.

Okay, back to mothering….

Wish me luck!

(2:43pm)

We’re having a cookie party.

Because MOMMA needs cookies…and because the birthday girl needs MORE TREATS today…ahem!

Happy Birthday, my crazy, cheaty little Love! I love you BEYOND. Like crazy. INFINITY….

Have you entered the CONAIR HAIR STRAIGHTENER CONTEST over at GOODIES!? And, try my yummy KALE CHIPS over at KITCHEN! Check it!

I’ve been trying to write this post for, like, the past two hours. And, I tried late this afternoon. But, I just couldn’t do it. First, because I’m so dang tired; and, second, because I’m so dang faklempt!

Three! She’s three years old tomorrow (Monday)! My little baby! My first baby! She’s THREE! That’s not even TODDLER anymore! That’s full-fledged LITTLE GIRL!

Gulp.

Three, Gorgeouses….

I feel it in my heart.

And a little bit in my esophagus. Yeah, feeling a little vomitous. I think it’s all that sun I got at the Monkey’s birthday party today AT A FARM! Gorgeouses, it was FANTASTIC. PHENOMENAL. Best PARTY EVER. Best party ever, of course, because it was OUR party, but also because I love me some HAPPY farm animals!

Baaaaaaa! I loved this little guy. And, he loved my popcorn kernels….

And, some BACKYARDIGANS BIRTHDAY CAKE! Hollaaahhh!

And, some birthday party hayrides….

And, some Monkey enjoying her birthday hayride….

Do not talk to me about the dress she’s wearing (for the past 3 days) DO NOT TALK TO ME. Ahem.

And, of course, some MOI enjoying the BREEZY lovely hayride….

And, some Monkey LOVING her birthday pony ride with it’sgrandma andIamNOTresponsibleforthatDRESS….

Just, O MY GARSH FAKLEMPT. I feel like crying!

And, I am THUPER tired. Like, if I were speaking instead of writing this post? There would be slurring. Drunkard slurring. Yes, tired because it’s been a LONG day, and, FYI, because Rascal’s waking up at 3am every morning…. But, he IS only TEN MONTHS!@#!$!#?! TEN!%&%*$#@!? And, Monkey, of course, woke up at the CRACK of dawn today screaming, “IT’S MY BIRT-DAY PARTY! MY BIRT-DAY PARTY!” CRACK. OF THE DAWN.

Little girl, Gorgeouses. See, no longer a toddler. She KNOWS it’s HER party…. And, tomorrow (Monday) she will know that it’s her ACTUAL birthday…. And, that there are more presents and ANOTHER party…. And, she will wake up at THE CRACK again, foshizzle….

Yes, she’s three years old. She knows things. She hears things. She says “f*ck” with FEELING now…. It’s amazing. It’s CRAZY. It’s wonderful. It’s…emotional….

Faklempt.

I have a little girl. I love her BE-YOND. And, it’s taken me hours to write this post because there ARE NO WORDS. Just like there IS NO SPOON.

And, now that I’ve written to the best of my present ability, I’m going to bed. Because 3am is fast approaching and I’ve a big day of making the Monkey’s birthday the BEST DAY EVER.

Hey, did you know there’s a CONAIR HAIR STRAIGHTENER CONTEST over at GOODIES! Check it!

Part of me thought I shouldn’t tell you….

But, then I thought about what it means to be “authentic,” and about how I want to be as authentic as possible in my life and in this blog. And, so…. I’m telling you….

I had a Starbucks chai today, Gorgeouses!

I c-c-c-couldn’t do it. Couldn’t quit today, as I said I would! Ugh, this shouldn’t be so dang difficult!

But, you see, as I heard today in my fave podcast (which was very obviously a propos), when you try to give something up, THE UNIVERSE TESTS YOU! And, man, did it test me today.

I was all set to teach yoga on a relatively empty stomach. But, then, I drove east when I was supposed to drive west. And, then, when I made a VERY ILLEGAL U-turn to go west again, my purse tipped over. When I went to put everything back (everything being a huge MESS of a lot of things — from diapers to teething toys, Mum Mum wrappers, and PINKBERRY), I started to freak out because WHERE WAS MY WALLET? Did I leave it in the post office? (I’d just done some biz there). It must be at the post office. But, wouldn’t they have run out after me waving my adorable Paul Frank alligator wallet?

My wallet’s disappeared. It’s disappeared. Into thin air. It’s gone. The universe swallowed it. And, now I have to replace all those CARDS that I shouldn’t be walking around with in the first place! How am I going to teach yoga in this tizzy? WEEP!

I B-lined it to the post office.

Was it there?

No.

The universe did. It swallow up wallet.

But, then…, universe spit it back out between my passenger seat and the car door where I found it.

OMIGOSH. YOGA!

And, now I NEE-HEE-HEE-HEEEEED a Starbucks. I have NO WILLPOWER left. I’m all over the place. I need to STOP THINKING ABOUT STARBUCKS and focus on YOGA. Only way to do that?

…’Nother B-line. To Starbucks. I DESERVE IT! BAAAHHH!

I got the dang drink. I chugged it. I went east instead of west. Again. But, I made it to the class right on time. With wallet, and FULL BLOATED Buddha belly in tow….

When I got home, I opened my journal to the list of diet goals I’d written last night. Yup, there was #1 NO CHAI TEA LATTE at the very top. I crossed it out.

I also just crossed out #2 NO EATING ALMOND BUTTER OUT OF THE JAR and #3 NO EATING AFTER DINNER EXCEPT FRUIT OR VEGETABLES — because, in the course of writing this post, I chowed down on almond butter out of the jar, and dinner was 2 hours ago….

BUT, I did manage to achieve my last goal on the list: #4 COOK THE KALE. I cooked the kale, and the kale was GOOD. Even the monkey loved it. Deets on my KALE CHIPS will be over at Cheaty Kitchen when I get around to it. Stay tuned for that!

And, have you seen this?

You should really see this….

He refuses to wear a bib. Whenever I put one on, he rips it off like he’s Superman…. So, I took off his adorable shirt when I brought out the berry dessert this evening. Which was a good thing because look:

Raspberry. Everywhere. And, yes, those eyes? They KILL ME! Swoon!

In other news, the monkey said “f*ck” today. IN ITS PROPER CONTEXT. She was fixing one of her toys and it slipped out of her hands and she said “f*ck.” She did NOT get that from me. COUGHjoshoCOUUUUGH!

Have a great weekend, Gorgeouses!
And, don’t forget to enter the CONAIR HAIR STRAIGHTENER CONTEST over at GOODIES!

Love! xo Haley-O

You know, if I FINALLY give up my Starbucks Soy No-Water Chai-Tea Latte habit, I could use the money I save ($30+ A WEEK!) for yoga classes NOT AT MY GYM, where I can practice my headstands and handstands and other yummy advanced yoga poses…. Just saying….

I think Starbucks would have to go BANKRUPT for me to quit that horribly terrible drink. OR, I’d have to permanently crazy-glue my lips together…. Although, if I crazy-glued my lips together, there’d be nothing stopping me from snorting it through desperate nostrils. Nothing stopping me from caressing its smooth, ‘licious exterior with my cheek and inhaling its heavenly AROMA. Yummmm….

Seriously, I look at my Buddha belly — and WHAT A BUDDHA BELLY IT IS — and I don’t think anything like “MIRACULOUS! WOMB! BABIES!” No, Gorgeouses, I think “Chai Tea Latte.”

If I FINALLY give up my chai tea latte, I know I could lose the mushy Buddha belly, and twelve other things. CHECK THIS WEEK’S THURSDAY THIRTEEN!

(By the way, you know the worst part? I get emails all the time from people MAD AT ME for introducing them to the CHAI because I’m ALWAYS talking about it — because always trying to QUITIT…. And, I’m, like, EXCUSE ME? Don’t say I didn’t WARN YOU!)

THIRTEEN THINGS I COULD DO IF I QUIT MY CHAI-TEA LATTE ADDICTION

1. LOSE MY BUDDHA BELLY once and for all!

2. I could become a REAL tea connoisseur….

3. I could save money for SO MANY YOGA CLASSES (those things are EXPENSIVE), and start practicing advanced poses like Vrschikasana (Scorpion) again….

4. I could help heal the PLANET: me quitting Starbucks would mean 365+ less STARBUCKS CUPS used a YEAR!

5. I could obsess about OTHER THINGS…, like…philosophy, literature, art….

6. My Rascal might sleep better with less caffeine in his breastmilk!? (I’LLTRYANYTHING!) Seriously, I should call this website CHAITEA MONKEY because my little monkeys are practically MADE of CHAI TEA — if babies ARE what their mothers eat while preggers!

7. I could save TONS OF MONEY to buy a pair of Monkey’s pink sparkly shoes……for MYSELF!

8. I could be a good YOGINI and practice “non-attachment” — relinquishing the sugary-spicy “attachment,” once and for all….

9. No more indigestion, anxiety, mood swings? YES, I attribute ALL these FABULOUS things to that evil sugar-laden CHAIIII….

10. I could start eating a HEALTHY BREAKFAST again (instead of starving until I get to a Starbucks!)….

11. Imagine a life FREE OF STARBUCKS…. I mean, REALLY! I can hardly….

12. I could try out some other tea shops or cafes….?

The Red Tea Box in Toronto…. Soooooo cute!

13. MINDENNNNNNNNN would love it if I quit and used all the money I’d save for a decent cat bed….

Everyone asks me why I have to quit this dang drink. I mean, what’s the big deal? Well, now you know. It’s just too much of a crutch. And, I REALLY want to be healthy and feel great. So, as of RIGHT NOW, I’m going to try to quit — for the 1,235,654,543,909,987th time — WISH ME LUCK!

Oh, and HEY GORGEOUSES! There’s a CONTEST OVER AT GOODIES! CHECK IT!!!