Yoga Anyone?

When I moved back to the Bay Area, I was really excited and glad to reconnect with many friends that I haven't seen in years. Especially friends in the Fremont area. I have known Henry Abuda, now Pastor Henry, and his wife Arleen for many years. We were able to spend time with them again and found that he is a certified teacher for Bikram Yoga, otherwise known as "Hot Yoga". I, being the adventurous one and not really knowing what to expect, decided I could try it and work out before I ate all that yummy food at his house later that evening.
I don't even know how to explain it, but it was HOT. I thought to myself, "If Hell is like this, then we'd better get a move on it." I heard the temperature in the room is usually set around 105 degrees. That means it was like sitting in Arizona without air conditioning on a summer day and just detoxing by breathing. I thought the class was only 60 minutes of twisting your sweat dripping self into different pretzel positions but it was 90 minutes long. I am very proud to say, I made it through the class. Henry is an awesome teacher. A few weeks earlier, I met some of his students praising him when we ran into them at a restaurant. He said I did really well for a first timer and that's because I was mentally strong. He didn't see me fall asleep in my last pose. He probably thought I was meditating. Even so, I'd love to do it again. Yoga anyone?

Back to Blogging

Ok, so I've been challenged to blog again, and maybe like Stan said, my life hasn't been that interesting, but it's more of the fact that I prefer quick info inserts in FB which seem to be more efficient. Ya see, I like efficient. Fastest way to get something done and done well.
So why am I blogging again. Well, even if it's just to talk about one thing for the next three weeks, I'll do that. So I picked my attempt at running a half-marathon. I know it may not seem like much to you, but for this middle aged woman, it's quite the insanity. Why do this insane thing now? Practicing for my bucket list? I don't even run to the grocery store. I'm so bad at running or walking and don't even like it that I would stalk shoppers and wait just for a parking space in the front row.
Grace Sato and I catch up each year together around Christmas time. She told me she was thinking of running the New York marathon in 2011 and I said, "Funny, I was just thinking that I need a change and want to run a marathon." Why don't we do a race together? So, reason #1-Doing something crazy with a friend. If you have something crazy you wanna do, just call me and I'll see if I wanna try it.

Dear Friends and Family,
Last year we were able to take the opportunity to serve as a family on a short missions trip to the Door of Faith Orphanage in La Mision, Baja Mexico during the kid’s Fall Break. Although this year has been tough on us financially being in the real estate business, we still feel that it is important to instill principles of giving of our time and treasures in our family life. The estimate total cost for our family is to participate in this trip with our church is $500. $290 is our registration cost and the rest is for our gas, Mexico insurance, and supplies. If you would like to support us financially, no amount is too small, please make checks out to Ventura Missionary Church and designate it for Kashiwamura Family. Please send it this week by October 9th to: 1876 Rogue River Circle, Ventura, CA 93004. Any excess will go towards supplies and materials for the orphanage. Most of all, we ask for your prayers. Thanks for investing in the Kingdom with us. We’ll keep you posted!

Day 10 - 33.3%

Ok, so here we are at Day 10 and I must say, we have done pretty well considering the temptations and activities that have occurred. This week, I did splurge at the 99Cent Only Store cuz they had deals I couldn't pass up. Glenn went to check at another store to see if they had any more but unfortunately, succumbed to buying potato chips and a bag of Red Vine licorice, which I ate half the bag. Not Good...He got an "F" for yesterday. Here's what I spend $29 on yesterday... So I bought like 10 each of these things since my family can polish the pizza in 2 1/2 days if it was one for each of us and it was better than paying $3.99 at the grocery store.








We made a trip to Arroyo Grande to pick up our freezer just in time. But that trip cost us extra gas money since we had to pull a trailer which kept shorting out our tail fuse and caused us to spend money replacing it - $8.00, still cheaper than renting the trailer since our neighbor let us borrow his for free.
This week we are preparing for a garage sale. We've been saying this for a year now. So we have to make room for the freezer too now.

Day 1 of September No Spending Experiment

Ok, so I got challenged by this Reader's Digest writer and his experiment for a month where his family was committed to spending "nothing". Not even one penny, on anything except gas and some fresh grocery items. He went as far as not even putting money in the parking meter. You either beg, borrow it, or go without...as long as it doesn't come out of your pocket. (Hint, someone else can pay) He gave examples of how his plumbing went out and he had to learn how to fix it himself, or ask a neighbor to help. He had to think of creative ways to get by for the moment and to see how long he would last. So...our family decided to try it.
Ugh, how am I gonna get through this? I like to buy something every day! So...it's gonna be a total mental game for me. I know some of you don't worry about one day of not spending, but me? It's like getting me to the gym...it's gonna take a lot of prayer and will power.
What am I hoping to get out of this? Well, maybe it's to see what we really spend...or maybe it's to realize that we really don't need that thing that we thought we did..or I dunno. So, I'm hoping to blog the every day temptations, struggles and the triumphs of our experiment.
So today, knowing that I would have to do this starting today, what did I do first? Sleep in. I had Glenn drive the kids to school today (which made Nathan late). You see, I have a routine where I drop the kids off, go to the gym, and then I SHOP. Mainly at the 99¢ Only Store. Every day I go there. There's always something to get there. Vegetables, cookies, bread, supplies...it's the hunt for the DEAL that keeps me there. So...I escaped this morning by NOT going there. BUT, I have to go to the gym later that evening. What did I do? I wore my bike shorts and didn't bring a change of shorts so that I wouldn't want to embarass myself at the stores wearing shorts with a butt pad on it. Not that it matters to the bikers, but for me...NOT. You have to realize that the 99¢ Store is next to Trader Joe's and Ralph's and near everything else I shop for...Ross, Barnes and Noble, Michael's. So, goody for me, I passed the test today. I went straight home after the gym.
Glenn then texted me on my way home to ask if he can buy oranges since they were at a fresh fruit stand. NO! I have orange juice. When I picked up Nathan from school, he said he felt like Dippin' Dots and he had his money with him. I said, NO! Remember, no spending. Maybe you can get someone else to get it for you. He wasn't too disappointed. It sparked up a conversation with Kalista on how to make your own cool treats.
Here's my list of wants today or what I forgot to stock up on for the month:
Salt for the water softener. Total estimated cost $15.00
Oranges $5.00
The door of the van needs to be fixed, the hydraulic lift failed so I it won't stay up. Estimated cost? $250. I hope it's still under warranty.
Picture day is Friday for Nathan. Estimated savings $30. People can see him on Facebook this year.

It's All About Nathan...

This was a collage I put together for Nathan. He had an assignment to write about himself. This was really great cuz it gave me a chance to spend some time knowing Nathan even better creatively.

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