Internacionallllllllllll............

Ever since I was young, I have always been so fascinated with languages and other cultures. I remember in 6th grade, I took Spanish and just fell in love with the Latin culture. I took some beginner German in college, became fascinated with Africa in another college and majored in Spanish at my last college :). So I thought today I would pick top 10 places I'd like to visit in my lifetime.



10. Germany

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I have some relatives (my uncle John) who is German, one of my dad's friend's is German and a couple of people in my Yoga Teacher Training are German. I think they're history is so interesting and I love the language. I took 2 semesters of German, so basically, I know how to say "My cats name is Leggett". Very important to know when traveling. The German food I've had is delicious, the country seems like it'd be beautiful and I love the language - so it's on my list 

9. France

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I don't really mean Paris, although I'd like to go, I mean more like the French Country Side. When I watch House Hunters International and they have people buying homes in rural France, it always looks so quaint and beautiful. I imagine that the food is amazing. 

8. New Zealand

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The fact that most of the reasons I want to go to these places is because I saw something on tv might be sad, BUT, where else am I going to see these places, so forgive me if everything starts with, "I saw this on ________". 

So, I saw this on America's Next Top Model - don't judge - and NZ looked GORGEOUS. Then, a friend in yoga teacher training just went to New Zealand and to hear her describe it sounded amazing. I know not a thing about this country. So I can't really say why I want to go there other than it looks real perty... 

7. Greece

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One of my FB friends visited Greece, Santorini specifically, so that peaked my interest and then of course, Mamma Mia with Meryl Streep :)

Enough said. 

6. Chile

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My major in college was Spanish and we studied South America. The entire continent is fascinating to me, but Chile specifically withe variety if terrain is very appealing. There are mountains, beaches, and a desert in spite if it being a little bitty country (at least in width). 

5. Italia (if only I could say it so you can hear my Italian accent)

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ahhh, it reminds me of Vegas. just kidding

I've been to Milan, Genoa and Rome. Love, love and love. So, now I'd like to go to Venice, Naples, Sicily, and any other town I'm leaving out because Italy just seems like the most awesome place on earth ever. 

now we're going to get into the good ones. 

4. India

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I love the music, Bollywood, philosophy, lots of things about India. Every time I tell someone I want to go to India, they look at me weird and tell me how crowded and dirty it is. And maybe I'll go there and not like it. But I'm still drawn to it and still want to go. It just seems like such a wonderful place rich in history. I'm not looking to have a tropical vacation in Cozumel, I want to explore a different culture than my own. 

3. Indonesia

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I know this is started to look like Eat, Pray, Love but I think there is a reason people are attracted to these countries! I want to visit Indonesia for very similar reasons to wanting to visit India. 

2. Africa

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I can't really narrow down a spot. I have been to Tunisia, but what I will say is that Northern Africa isn't as interesting to me as central and south Africa. Obviously, I'm going to Rwanda in August, so I get to appease this a little bit. But I'd also like to go to Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Africa, Uganda, Ghana, etc etc etc. I hope I'll be able to do that. 

and finally....

drum roll.....

1. MACHU PICCHU

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What is most attractive to me about Peru/MP is the history. It's ancient and I've heard that there is an amazing energy up there that no one could ever imagine without being there to feel/see it. It's been a desire I've had for a very long time so I hope at some point in my life, I'll be able to do it. 

Where would you like to visit? 

Namaste y'all!

We got lots to talk about

Ok, so I'm back from a little hiatus. My bad! When I got to Denver, I was able to write a blog post because we were snowed in, but after that... no computer or phone for several days. It was kind of nice, even though most of the time, I was gambling in a casino :)

I have SSSSSOOOOO much to write about that I think I'll have blog posts for days. Some subjects that I will discuss and things you can look forward to -

1. Colorado University - Jane had to work one morning, so James & I walked around the University on a snowy morning and took lots of pics. It's a BEAUTIFUL campus

me with Ralphie the buffalo

2. Rock'n'Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon review - if you haven't read a million reviews already, I'm going to do one and this one will be a lot different than what others had to say. All I can say is people are crazy. 

3. Las Vegas, the Matts Style - 

I have better pics than this but they're on my camera & this was on my phone

 Depending on how detailed I get with details, I may dedicate a post to the different games we played as well as the different casinos we visited. It was SO MUCH FUN. Remember how I said I wasn't sure what I was going to do since I didn't drink or gamble? Well, I still didn't drink because I don't, but I gambled my face off. We did not leave the strip except to go to the old strip. 

4. My total RnR half marathon meltdown. 

Well, I didn't have a meltdown at all, but the time for my half was so bad that I don't even want to post it. I mean, it was bad. In my defense, I have bought and sold a house in the last month, gone to Richmond for a wedding and spent 4 days in CO before racing, even still... it's bad. 

So, as you can see, there is a lot to talk about and once I get my pics up and all of that, I can begin. In the meantime, in case you didn't know, the Clemson Tigers won the ACC Championship for the first time since 1991. Some people are saying rude things about it like that it's about time since we haven't won in 20 years or that the ACC is a weak conference so we shouldn't be proud of it. And what I have to say is this. Kiss it because I'm excited about it. Maybe we don't win every year or maybe our conference isn't the toughest (in football because that's about the only sport we're not one of the best) but that doesn't take away from the fact that the Clemson Tigers are 2011 ACC Champs and we get to go to a BCS bowl and our school gets a LOT of money which will only help our football program. So all I have to say is....

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Day 1 - Denver

So this is what's going on right now

It's snowing!!!!!!

Being from South Carolina, this doesn't happen often so it's kind of fun! And it's Jane's birthday! So we're going to make pancakes and drink hot chocolate. And play with this little booger butt

LOLA BEANZZZZZZ

Yesterday, when Jane picked us up from the airport, we decided to tour Denver, since the rest of the time will be in Longmont/Boulder. Denver was interesting, a lot different than I thought. 

1) it's near the mountains but not in them. It's super flat here.

This was me trying to take a pic while Jane drove - but they looked so pretty!

2) I know Denver is a big city, but I guess in my mind, I was thinking it'd be like, quaint or something. But, it's just a big city. 

Larimer Street at a little cafe with some delish desserts

the German Christmas Fair! It was super German

I like the little domes in the background

the Capitol building and my husband's ear

a statue& I have no idea what it signify's. I'm thinking it's a wild west thing

the Civic Center - they were getting the tree lighting ceremony ready

Occupy Denver - it was going to be in the teens and snowing this night, so bless them

driving out of Denver - pretty neat - but see how flat

So that was our experience. And then we got to play with Lola more. 

Broncos stadium

she likes James a lot

Boulder to Vegas

I am about to take a trip and I am SUPER excited.

First place on the agenda,

Boulder, CO


I am visiting my friend, Jane, who left me about 6 months ago which was DEVASTATING. I love my friend Jane!!!! and she is gone :(. Work hasn't been the same without her. So I'm excited to see her and this little buddy -

this pic makes me laugh out loud - she is so funny. FYI, that's Lola and you should definitely meet her

Things to do in Boulder - 

Hike - Seems like Jane does a lot of hiking. Lots of her posts involved her, her husband and Lola hiking. 

Yoga 

Obviously, CO is pretty progressive when it comes to sustainable living and that attracts a lot of yogis!! So I'd love to take a yoga class out there and see what it's like. 

Lola doing downward facing dog

Festivals 

Jane has been to a lot of festivals and it looks like fun. Now that it's late November/early December, I don't know how many there will be, but I'm hoping!

Next stop on the trip -

Las Vegas

Rock N Roll Vegas

I am running a HALF MARATHON ON SUNDAY. My blog is typically about running but I've had so much going on for the past couple of months, I haven't talked about running at all. Actually, I haven't even been running so this time will be interesting. It's going to be slow!! But really, I don't care because I just want to enjoy life and sometimes, that means I won't be running my fastest race. If I finish, if I enjoy my first visit to Vegas and if I get a t shirt, I'm happy. 

Other things to do in Vegas - 

Gamble 

All of the NCAA Division I Conference Championships are this week and I will be able to bet on some games. I've never done this, but I'm excited to do it. I am actually terrible at picking games, so this won't be great, but oh well. I'll miss the Pac 12 conference championship game because it's friday. The big ones are obviously the ACC and SEC champsionships, both of which are happening upon my arrival as well as the Big 10 Championship game. Woot Woot. 

My husband also loves three card. I've never played but i'm sure I will. 

Shopping

this looks amazing... is this really what it's like??

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The Hoover Dam

Everyone keeps telling me to go there and since I don't like to drink, I don't like to gamble and don't have money to shop, maybe this is what I'll do. 

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I'll do my best to blog as I go, take lots of pics and hopefully keep you entertained. If not, I'll be back December 7th. 

Also, thank you to Jane for letting me use pics from her blog. 

Yoga Thursday

That's a silly title. I can't think of anything else. I was thinking yogic Thursday and a Thursday yogi but those don't really make sense, so we'll just go with that!

This is my shirt today -

How fun is that!!!! I got it at the expo from the Savannah Yoga Center. Now we just need to make one for Greenville!!! 

Sunday after the race, I decided to go and visit the Savannah Yoga Center to take a class.

This is the class I took - 

Flow Yoga Level 1 & 2

Yoga

Daily Classes

for continuing beginnersThis class is for students well practiced in Level 1 poses seeking to expand, refine and develop their yoga practice at more subtle levels. This class continues to focus on the basic alignment of the standing poses and introduces a broader range of sitting poses, twists, forward and back extensions and inversions.

What I will say is that I was grateful that I found a yoga place and grateful they had a class I could attend. The studio was 2.1 miles from the hotel and I walked there which was nice to do early on a Sunday morning. As I continued to walk, I realized this was taking longer than expected, so I did some speed walking too! I got in a little workout. They were nice when I arrived, sweating from how fast I had to go, and I got a discount for being an RnR runner!!

The class itself was ok. The teacher talked A LOT and it reminded me of what Karen always says, you don't have to go through every single movement and tell every single thing they need to be doing and thinking about, just pick one or two things and observe. I wish he would've done that more BUT I think I was also in a beginner class. Many times, I usually feel like I need to be in the beginner class because I don't think of myself as intermediate, but this was very very very beginner.

I left there feeling a little looser and a little better - not as much pain and soreness from the race and that was my goal, so I got exactly what I needed. Next time I visit, I will go there again - maybe just try a different class.

As I was walking back from class, I was thinking about how I just felt like I was at home in Savannah. It's a place I've only been twice but it feels so comfortable. It is SO beautiful and I took some pictures along the way.

Forsyth Park

the fountain in Forsyth park - this is where the race ended

the church - it is beautiful on the inside

I couldn't get the whole view with my phone

just a random street but it's so beautiful, I had to take a picture

I get to go to yoga tonight at 5:30 and I'm super excited!