BY POPULAR DEMAND

I spent all this morning moving around the order of the playlist so that it would be just right. I've had this group of music on my computer as a playlist called Yoga (generic I know) for some time now. Really, I was born to do this. If only making the perfect playlist for any occasion was a profession... Here is my play list for you to enjoy as you practice yoga or calmly drive to the Atlanta airport:

Brighter then the Sun by Aqualung

Angelica by Lamb

Breathe extended version mix by Telepopmusik

Wonder When by Bonabo & Andreya Triana

Again with the Subtitles by Yppah (thats happy backwards)

Island Groove by Mickey Heart

Life in Technicolor (Instrumental) by Coldplay

The Subtitles that Count by Yppah

May All Beings by Earthrise Soundsystem

Never Mess With Sunday by Yppah

Ashes by Karsh Kale (not on the mix in class as my computer and iPod were in cahoots)

Any Day Now by Jon and Roy

Anything You Synthesize by The American Dollar

Buddha's Lullaby by Manose (the perfect Savasana)

Three Little Birds by Bob Marley and the Wailers (for packing your mat and leaving)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZdC_WxvDRs

The Karsh Kale song is the bomb! I can't believe it didn't make it to class! During Savasana I replayed part of Buddha's Lullaby to make up for the lack of content. Now I see where I went wrong. I hope you enjoy this beautiful music as much as I think my brave yoga participants did:)

Namaste friends.

the Henna hair dye experiment

Top 5 New Years Resolutions (according to about.com)

1. Spend more time with friends and family

2. Fit in fitness

3. Tame the bulge

4. Quite smoking

5. Enjoy life more

I guess mine fell under number 5. What my resolution was really about was being a more genuine person, a better version of Laraine, a larger expression so to say. I'm not an ego maniac I just think, hey, I'm trying my best to be me, isn't that enough? Mantra for this year: I am enough.

Okay, so this might seem counter intelligent but, I dyed my hair. I hear you saying, "if you are enough, then why cover it up with chemical processes?"

That is valid but, since I have been stripping my natural hair color for years now in favor of sunny blonde highlights (insert head bobble), it's time to get back to my roots so to say.

Yes, this post really is just about hair dye, and girly-ness, sorry

So, here is what happened. My loving cousin, who is a total glamazon, was using henna hair dye. She bought it in blocks and loved it until it really started to get a little too vibrant. She offered it to me for my eyebrows (but that is another blog all together). So I took it. I signed my husband to help (bad idea).

Henna hair dye, at least the kind I used, came from a store that sells beauty products so fresh they have expiration dates. I'm not sure I can say but since I have nothing to complain: I used Caca Rouge Mama from LUSH. Big fan of their massage bars too;) prrrrrrrrr

SO, what happens is the dye comes in a bar. A chunk if you will. Sorta looks like some tasty chocolate, only not! We boiled some water and put the brick in to dissolve into a muddy paste. This is a super messy product. My hair is course and thick so unlike conventional dyes I really could have never done it myself just too much mess for one person. My sweet Army Ranger of a husband played stylist for the afternoon (he may have found his next vocation). The process is like putting mud on your head to dry and leaving it there for quite a long time. I left mine on for about 3 hours. My glamazon cousin left hers on overnight!

Overall successful experiment until I parted my hair the following day to discover we missed a spot! WHAT! this probably had to do with the thickness of the henna mud and that I let my husband do it (what was I thinking?) So, I just mixed up the little bit I had left and slapped it on the spot. 2 hours later, you'd never know. This dye is really forgiving, sheer, transparent and gentle on the locks. I've had it on for over a month and yes, it has faded but, looks better. The red was seriously vibrant in the beginning.

You can look at the Lush site for directions if you are interested: http://www.lushusa.com/shop/products/hair/henna-hair-dyes/caca-rouge-mama

Living imperfectly with great delight

The impending move of the pod is drifting into our consciousness. Holy moly, this is really going to happen, like soon! I am certainly not the first Army wife to have this feeling, probably not the last. Phelan has no idea what this all means, luckily. For me it means a push to organize the home goods into their respectful rooms, closets, places they belong(shakes head). Ya right! I live with 16 month old devastator who leaves no rock unturned, no beauty product unopened. On top of being confused as to how our second car will make it to port to be barged to the west coast, I decided to add yoga teaching training on the fire. Sometimes I have to just embrace the imperfection.

I'm actually so SO excited about yoga training this coming weekend I could burst. I have a million questions. My asanas have been practiced with a greater commitment, which is a quality I like to see in myself. Prodded, nudged, pushed (a little) and actually having the time and funds to do this is a blessing. My friends are amazing people and without them I wouldn't be doing this. I'm not sure where this is leading but it feels good. The people I will meet and sunshine I have to share is the reason. I'll make sure to let you know how it all goes. My intention is for this to be a meaningful experience, to set a wind in the sail.