A French Canadian Love Affair

"Montreal, Montreal, Montreal" This beautiful and culturally vibrant city has been calling my name since my last visit there in summer of 2009. Whispering nightly in my dreams yearning for another French love affair with the island city. I couldn't resit any longer and finally decided to give in to the temptation. The last 2 weeks in April I spent wandering around the city, exploring side streets, visiting museums, listening to live jazz, and tasting as much food as possible. Renewing my love affair with a city that combines the best of American and European lifestyles. Indulging all of my senses...classic architecture, modern art, and handsome men delighted my eyes; fresh baked croissants, coffee roasting, and spring blossoms tickled my nose; hot chocolate, innovative vegetarian cuisine, and excellent wine tempted my taste buds; all different types of jazz, street musicians, and college graduates performing classical music pleased my ears; and new forms of dance with partners to twirl me around satisfied my touch. I was fascinated and enthralled with the myriad of cultures that I engaged with and absolutely loved hearing the French language on a daily basis. Many say that the French Canadian French language is a bit more harsh, but I just fell in love with it. This is one city that I would welcome the opportunity to live in if it ever arose. The culture, the language, the landscape, the music, the food, the clothes, and the gorgeous men. What more can a girl ask for?
I was blessed with good luck throughout my stay there and had the opportunity to see old friends and make new ones. Merci/Thank you Montreal for a wonderful two week fling.

Winter Escapades

Yet again I have passed too much time without writing about my latest adventures. After yoga training last fall I decided to embark on another bold quest...attempting to pass the winter in New Hampshire. Growing up and living most of my life in warm climates made this an intense challenge, and to my surprise, it wasn't that bad. That is until the official day of Spring began and it snowed. OK, I thought I had made it, but this was not fun anymore. So I realized that I can deal with winter for about 3 months and after that I am just not a happy camper.

Things I did to pass the time...well to name a few: learned how to bake and decorate giant gourmet fortune cookies with a new and upcoming company; spent a holiday weekend in NYC bonding with my cousin while we acted like kids in Dylan's Candy shop, sang "Feliz Navidad" in public at Rockefeller center, and sampled cannoli's in Little Italy, cupcakes at Magnolia, and Liege waffles at the Christmas market; spent a day with fellow yogi's completing 108 sun salutations to raise money for fuel and food for local families; house sat a quaint waterfront home; completed 5 solid days of dance training in Boston; visited my best friend and her new baby in Louisiana which included a stay at a plantation home in Mississippi; and enjoyed the local nightlife with my new friends. Not bad for one long winter in New Hampshire.

Next and current adventure...explore Montreal.

Living Yoga

On October 19 I was back in my little Versa again, riding solo, on to the next adventure and yet again filled with apprehension and curiosity. The next month I was going to be attending the 200 hour yoga teacher training at Kripalu Institute in the beautiful and serene Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts. Little did I know of the transformations that were about to take place and the community of angels that I was going to be surrounded with for the rest of my life.

The training is a one month intensive and my days went somewhat like this: 6:30 am - 8 am yoga class, breakfast in silence, workshops from 10 - 11:30, lunch/study/nap and/or dance class, 1:30 - 4 workshops, 4:15 - 6 yoga class, dinner, 8 - 9:30 workshop, then trying to sleep in my dorm room of 22 women. Crazy, hectic schedule...and believe it or not, I LOVED it! OK, well my face did not express loving kindness when I was going to the morning yoga, but my spirit was quite happy. I sang, danced, drummed, laughed, cried, hurt, hugged, and felt fully alive. I did things during this training that pushed me way pass my comfort zone. And at the same time I was simple allowed to be me...yes, the wild, crazy, free spirit that I am was finally able to let loose with no judgement, only pure love and truth. What an awesome way to live.

I met some of the most amazing people there and will always be grateful for these angels of love and light. We constantly provided support to each other during this physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually challenging time in our lives. And we each held space for each other, with 100% love and kindness. If the whole world could live like that, wow, it would be a beautiful world.

So I am now an officially certified yoga teacher, which still seems unreal. It is amazing how we can truly make anything happen by having faith and taking a risk of letting go and adventuring into the unknown. I still don't know what is next for me on this journey, but what I do know is that I am happy to be a part of it and am grateful for it all. Namaste!

Rainbows, Reggae, and Remembering

Five and a half weeks back in the land of rainbows and reggae filled me up with a plethora of love and light. What a blessing it was to go back to Maui and leave with 100% certainty that Maui will always be my home. Whether I am there physically or not Maui will always have a place in my heart and soul, and will always be there for me. I had an amazing time, and was finally able to heal old wounds and close another chapter of my life. Maui welcomed me right back unconditionally and with forgiveness that despite the constant love and beauty she surrounded me with I still managed to complain. But she understood what I did not, and opened her arms back to me with love and grace. My Maui ohana welcomed me back into their homes and their hearts as well, and allowed me the opportunity to make some money to pay for the trip, stay in their homes, and appreciate their true friendship. How beautiful is that!

So while I was there I explored some new and old things. I did my first 108 sun salutations just to see if I could do them. Then did them again as a sacrifice to the divine in honor of my gratitude. Some of you may think that sounds funny, but if you have ever done 108 sun salutations in less than an hour you would understand how that is a sacrifice! I visited old favorite locations, like the Aquarium and Komoda's Bakery, as well as new favorite locations like the Kula Farm Stand and Whole Foods Market (which ended up being a major social meeting spot). Thankfully I got out on the water plenty of times too. On a typically beautiful, clear, and amazing Maui day I went stand up paddleboarding with old and new friends. As long as each of us has spent living in Hawaii, we were still awestruck by the majesty of it all. That never goes away, because, yes, Hawaii is magical. Also, went again on my own and then out surfing some small kine waves a couple times too. Boy did it feel nice to be back on the water and enjoying it with good company as well as braving it on my own. Every Saturday I managed to make it to my best friend and her husbands house for their weekly jam session and get together. And, believe it or not I actually played the conga drums on a few songs...and got praise...yes...can you believe it?! I may actually have a knack for playing drums...haha!

Well the list could go on about all the wonderful things I did, the amazing moments spent rekindling with friends, and the intense emotional healing that went on, but that would be a book in itself. So, in a nutshell it was an amazing experience and one that I am fully grateful for. It also made me realize that no matter what happens in life, good or bad, that I will always be thankful and accepting of what is and happy to remember what was. Aloha!

My Return Home

Unbelievably the universe provided another opportunity for healing and growth, and allowed me to return to Maui...two eventful years later. It is mid September and just over a month ago I did not know what I was going to do after Three Mile Island, until Maui called. So now, as I write, I have my back turned to the night time view of Maui's few city lights and the outlines of the West Maui mountains juxtaposed against the curvature of the ocean. I couldn't have asked for anything more. Maui will hold space for me during the next 5 weeks as I reconnect with the island's beauty, culture, majesty, and healing capabilities.

I have only been on the island for about 4 days now and have already walked the south side beach coast twice, sunbathed, napped at Kanaha beach park (where I use to be a windsurfing groupie), cruised Hookipa (another popular surf spot), walked under a double rainbow with a good friend and her beautiful baby boy, and enjoyed a Maui taco baby, yeah! Maui is pretty much the same. Same exact "Groundhog Day" weather, same big trucks blasting reggae, same windy beaches that leave me with sand in every crevice, and even the same hobos hitchin for rides. It is really a strange feeling to be back here with everything so much the same and with my life being completely different. Honestly, I can not describe in words how it feels and can only come up with "It feels weird." But, at the same time, it is a good weird. New life, old life, past, present, it is all part of the same crazy journey that I am happy to be a part of. It is a blessing to be back here in this beautiful time capsule of the world. Can't wait to see what this next month will bring...stay posted...Aloha.

Sun, Beauty and Cobwebs

The sunny warm weather is making its last appearance here in New Hampshire and I must say is going out with a bang...it is about 100 degrees out on this first day of September. Thankfully it was a beautiful New England summer and I was blessed to have spent its entirety on Lake Winnipesaukee. I lived for 10 weeks on a small island known as Three Mile Island without electricity, showers, or normal toilets. The kitchen and main houses of course had electricity, but other than that it was back to the basics! My days usually started with the sun shining its bright golden rays into my cabin about 5 in the morning and then a battle with the cobwebs as I made my short walk to work. My job was to bake fresh breads and desserts three times a day for over 100 people...lots of fun! In between working I might get the chance to sunbathe on the docks, float in the lake, or sail if there was a nice breeze. On my days off I would take advantage of warm showers and flushable toilets, and usually visit family and friends. Spent some days out on the ocean on the family boat, others up in the mountains hiking, and even one set of days in Montreal. I really enjoyed visiting Montreal and loved the fact that it felt like I was in Europe only after a four hour drive. How cool!
Three Mile Island is a place that is difficult to describe, but has this amazing quality to it that most people fall in love with. Families have been going there for generations and everyone feels the magic of the island. I am grateful to have spent another summer there, doing a job that I love, with a strong knit community, and surrounded by total beauty. And to finish the summer off I was invited to attend yoga week again this year. Yoga week consists of 3 hours of yoga postures, breathwork and meditation daily, delicious vegetarian food, and a lovely group of like minded women. The weather held out beautifully this last week and I was able to do some kayaking and stand up paddleboarding. Yoga week reminded me of the beauty and light that is within, as Three Mile Island and Lake Winnipesaukee reminded me of the beauty that is without. Thanks TMI!

Back in the US of A

The culmination of my three month European adventure began a new three month adventure in my home country of the USA. Upon arrival to the states I spent some time catching up in Florida and prepared for my next adventure...an East Coast road trip! My mom and aunt decided to accompany me on my journey from Florida to New Hampshire, which is where I will be working for the summer. We had a great trip up and made quite a few stops along the way...Savannah for the gardens, various wineries for of course the wine, Fredericksburg for the history, Amish country for observing the Amish lifestyle, Mystic for the pizza and seaport, the Cape and Nantucket for New England island culture, Plymouth for the rock, Boston for the city, and NH for the love of it. We explored, walked, laughed, ate well, drank wine, took lots of photos and had just a darn good time. What a great way to welcome me back to my home country! Now I am living on a 43 square acre island on beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee for the summer, baking delicious breads and desserts for all to enjoy. More on that later...