In the very near future, I will be launching a blog for my yoga company, Luscious Yoga, LLC. It will be packed with goodies and tidbits about the yogic lifestyle, philosophy, poses, clothes and gear. Stay tuned for the launch, and in the meantime, check out the Luscious Yoga site. If you are in the metro Atlanta area, I encourage you to come and take a class!

I don’t know about you, but I have had it with winter. These past few months have been brutal: rainy, snowy, gray and bitterly cold. Now that March is here, I can sense spring on the horizon. The temperature is warming up a little, the trees have buds and the daffodils are starting to poke their heads up. All of these little signs are making me crave summer even more; I long for the days when I can leave the house in flip-flops and leave my jackets at home. Unfortunately, we still have a few more months before shorts and tank tops will be appropriate, so I’m at least getting in a summery mindset. I created an iTunes playlist with songs that evoke summer for me. I hope you enjoy it – preferably with a piña colada.

I’ve never been an especially outdoorsy person. I like the idea of fresh air and sunshine, but aside from the occasional hike or walk in the park, I tend to stay indoors. I’m a homebody, and I’ve become accustomed to my comfy bed, climate-controlled house, luxurious bathroom, etc. I’m just not the type for roughing it.

However, I’m really making an effort to become an outdoor enthusiast. It’s good for the body, good for the mind, good for the spirit, and if I can get my husband to join me, I think it will be good for our relationship. I’d like to amp up the frequency of our hikes, as well as go canoeing, white-water rafting (I did this in Bali and it was one of the most fun experiences of my life), biking and more. I already have an SUV and a bike rack, so it’s simply a matter of finding the time when the weather is good. I even recently agreed to go camping, something that I’ve never been interested in doing. Roughing it overnight in the great outdoors doesn’t seem like it would be fun, but I’m willing to give it a shot — as long as we can stop by REI first and stock up on lots of cushy gear.

Number one on my shopping list: a pair of good trail shoes, like the Adidas Kanadia. They’re cute, rugged and my favorite sports apparel brand!

I’m a size 9 if anyone wants to send a pair my way!

I get a kick out of Christmas music. Even after years in retail, being forced to listen to Windham Hill’s Christmas music on an endless loop, I still enjoy it. It’s festive, and can remind you of the spirit of the season, even when you’re stuck in traffic. My taste in Christmas music spans from classic to pop to New Age to traditional. I even still like the Windham Hill Christmas sampler that’s left over from my Barnes and Noble days. BUT. There are some “Christmas” songs I cannot stand. These are my top 3:

Dan Fogelberg, Same Old Lang Syne. What is this song? This isn’t Christmas music, so why do I hear it every year? Just because the song is set on Christmas Eve, doesn’t make it a holiday tune. It’s not even festive. Seriously, take a minute to google the lyrics. In it, Dan runs into his old flame at the grocery store. They want to catch up, but all the bars are closed, so they buy a six-pack of beer and drink it in the car. It turns out that they are both unhappy and unfulfilled in their lives. Then the girl goes back to her husband and the life she loathes. Cheerful.

Paul McCartney, Wonderful Christmas Time. Arg. This songs makes me grind my teeth. First of all, it’s completely inescapable. I hear it more than any other song on the radio every December. Yes, McCartney is a legend. Yes, he is an amazing songwriter. But this song sucks. It has about 4 lines that just keep repeating, with each verse reminding us that we’re having a wonderful Christmas time, ad nauseum. You know what makes for a wonderful Christmas time? Not hearing this song.

Newsong, Christmas Shoes. Honestly, does anyone like this song? It’s horrible. Basically, a cranky guy in line at a store helps a poor urchin buy shoes for the urchin’s dying mother so that she’ll look pretty for Jesus (who, as we all know, is pretty strict about footwear in Heaven). As others have pointed out, this guy gets a kick out of being reminded of the true spirit of Christmas, all thanks to some poor kid’s dying mother. It’s complete drivel, and Rich over at FourFour has a great commentary on this song. He says it better than I could, so just read his opinion.

But, lest you think I’m a total Grinch, let me close with one of the cutest renditions of one of my favorites:

So, there you have it. What are your favorite (and least favorite!) holiday songs?

How pretty is Pure Food and Wine in New York? I want to go to NYC just to eat there. In the absence of that, I ordered some crackers and cereal from the takeaway service. Hopefully, those will arrive this week.

Morocco Method hair products. These pure, vegan, raw products are supposed to detox, thicken and regrow hair. I just started the system, and I’m hoping it works for me. I learned about it from Kristen’s Raw, and she’s recommending it!

Dr. Alkaitis skin care. Another pure, vegan, raw line. I’m using the purifying cleanser and the day and night creams. If they work, I’ll probably try more products in the line. My skin does feel extra soft; I’m hoping it clears up and the dry patch on my nose goes away. 

Ani Phyo’s Raw Food Desserts. I just got this book and can’t wait to make the Vanilla Cacao Crunch Ice Mylk, Chocolate Chip Cheezecake Swirl and Lemon Pudding Filled Coconut Cupcakes with Shaved Coconut Topping.

Navitas Naturals raw powders and superfoods. High quality maca, lucuma, cacao, chia and more. As soon as I have some extra money, I’m placing an order. 

Raw Natural Beauty mascara. I’m in the market for new mascara, and I just discovered this line. I’m still comparative shopping, but this looks promising.