What a Difference a Year Makes

It's been almost an entire year since I started this blog. I had actually forgotten I even had it. Since my very first post I have had so many things in my life change and grow. 1st I bought a house!! :) How exciting! 24 years old and a home owner, and I did it all on my own. That was a major accomplishment for me. BUT, its been about 4 months and the excitement has waned and the bills and pressure have piled up. BUT lets not get into all that. I really can't complain.

I have more exciting news though. Several months back I discovered a very interesting form of exercise and dance that I've fallen in love with. I stumbled upon a video of this while reading someone's raw food blog. The girl had posted a video of her favorite hobby and I was so amazed that I decided I NEEDED to learn what she could do. Since that day, I have become addicted to... pole dancing! :)
And NO, its not Stripping! They are 2 completely different things.

First I was addicted to watching the YouTube videos of girls pole dancing and then i gave in and purchased myself a pole, and now i am addicted to the act of pole dancing. it is such an amazing workout and it is incredibly awesome at boosting your self esteem and confidence. I have practiced non-stop for a little less then 2 months and I am completely smitten. hehe! I practice and practice every chance I get and have really progressed quickly. I am able to do moves that many girls have taken months and months to learn!

Lil Letters

Dear toes,

I promise to keep you warm when it get cold outside, to dip you in the occasional stream or puddle, and to try not to damage you too much when I have the urge to stand one the tipy tipy point of you. Thank you for being so adorably cute.

Dear Kindle,
I love you for who you are. A lovely piece of technology that allows me to carry my entire collection of books in a tiny micro mini device rather than 10 different 3-5lb books at a time in my book bag. Thank you for sparing my back (and possibly even the planet).

Dear Five Finger Shoes,
Thank you for being so awesome!! You really do pull in some strange comments from the random passers.

Dear "Blossoming" Painting,
I fell in love with you the second I saw you. Your beautiful colors and textures drew me in immediately. Thank you for calling to me and filling me with inspiration. I really am proud to call you my very first piece of purchased art. I will love you forever.

Dear Farmer's Market,
Thank you for allowing such wonderful people to come together every Saturday to sell me the most amazingly beautiful and nourishing foods. My body thanks you the most!

24 Things that have Inspired Me for my 24th Birthday

So I was reading the blog The Raw Reform created by this fantastic Raw Foodie, Angela Stokes Monarch and she had posted her "31 of the things, people and resources which have most inspired me into a more blissful and enjoyable journey here since my birth on Earth" for her 31st birthday. I thought this was a great idea and since I just had my 24th birthday on the 12th of this month, I thought I'd share my 24 things. Here goes:

1. Skinny Bitch (not because I liked the book, but because it caused me the begin my veg journey)
2. Walk Slowly, Live Wildly (Sara Jensen is the most inspiring woman & her life style is parallel to many of my dreams)
3. Dr. Joel Fuhrman author of Eat to Live
4. Tori Amos
5. My 2009 Road Trip to the Western National Parks
6. The Master Cleanse (this is amazing! My body is detoxing and I'm getting out all of the gunk)
7. The Raw Mom Summit (this got my into learning about raw foods)
8. Ani Phyo author of The Raw Food Kitchen (I'm actually going to work though her entire book)
9. Daniel my boyfriend (he should really be closer to the top. he loves me for who I am and allows me to be me. He is here for me while I am figuring out who I am and he encourages any thing I think I need to do and experience. Ive never felt more free and comfortable in my own skin)
10. My puppies Molly and Buttons (they have given me the gift of unconditional love)
11. The book The Continuum Concept by Jean Liedloff (this should be required reading for the world)
12. My cat Milo. He was the very first animal that was truly my own. I loved him more than anything at the time, and then I lost him. He died before he reached 1 year
13. The book Stitch and Bitch: The Happy Hooker (because crocheting has been passed along my family for generations and this book made me fall in love completely)
14. My journals (I have kept all of my journals since I was a child. It has taught me a lot about myself, looking back)
15. Going to college at LSU
16. learning to cook vegetarian food and learning about nutrition has completely changed my goals and passions in life. I'm obsessed with veg cook books!
17. Cafe Bamboo!! the first vegetarian restaurant in New Orleans!!! Ek!!! I Love You, Cafe Bamboo!
18. All raw food book authors! I love you too!
19. Our Daily Bread shopping center and cafe in BR, very vegan and organic friendly!!
20. Whole Foods for being available to me for all my organic needs
21. Beyonce.... corny I know, but she is such a powerhouse and strong woman role model. Love it!
22. The North Shore Lakefront. Has been my comfort place for a very long time (Java, playground, cemetery, trail head... endless memories there)
23. Zion National Park, made me want to be a ranger or work more in nature.
24. The internet and other peoples blogs, because I have been able to learn so much more about life and the world than I could have ever imagined

A Cute Little Addition!

So, today was a bit random and fun. 2 days ago I go the idea in my head that I wanted a cute little stud in my nose. I had been reading this blog that I LOVE called Walk Slowly, Live Wildly and the author actually has a nose ring. I think some how I got the idea ingrained in my head that I wanted one as well. And what do you know, 2 days later I find myself pacing the waiting area of a Tattoo/Piercing Parlor with the biggest grin on my face. The funny thing is that I've had a larger tattoo done and my belly button pierced before, but the idea of a needle going all the way through my face terrifies me! Ek! But, after talking to the piercer, Henry, for a bit before the procedure and the having him walk me through it as it was happening, the whole thing was a piece of cake!! There was a slight prick for 1/2 a second and then it was over. It didn't hurt while the needle was sitting in my nose or while he was putting the rhinestone stud in. Even after the entire thing, I couldn't even tell that I had done anything to my nose. It was a great experience!!

Its been about 6 hours later and now its a tiny bit sore, but I wouldn't say it really hurts or is uncomfortable. I'm so happy!! I feel like a bit more of my personality is available for all to see and enjoy! I know the general population actually has a negative reaction to facial piercing but I personally think that nose piercings with the teeny tiny studs are so incredibly cute! My brothers girlfriend, Paula, had come along with me today to be my support during the piercing. She left me the sweetest comment on my Facebook wall afterward saying, "I love your face!" How adorable is that? I know it made my day that much better! :)

But on another note... I started the Master Cleanse today. I drank the herbal laxative tea last night and kick started the whole process this morning. Today I've been sipping on my lemonade concoction and haven't really had any cravings for anything besides Taco Bell's bean burrito. I should have given in when I was craving one a few days ago because now I want it that much more. Will power!! I hope I have some (will power, that is... not the bean burrito).
Well, tomorrow I guess I'll give the specifics about the whole process of this cleanse and the recipe for the lemonade. It really is not very hard, if you start at the right time. The first time I tried it out (only for 6 days) I never had a craving or felt hungry or dizzy. I felt fantastic, energetic and clean!! I think this time I'm a off to a bad start. I want some Taco Bell!

How Exciting!

Basically this blog is to keep me from stopping. To keep me fresh and alive. I feel that if I have this blog I will be more inclined to actually do more interesting and exciting things so that I will have more interesting and exciting things to write about. It is sort of my pass to access all of the exciting roller coasters rather than riding the same old boring tea cups over and over again. Ha! I'm so corny, but you get the idea.

So, I guess what this blog will be about is what is happening in my life. Like recently I returned from a 4 week road trip throughout the west visiting all of the western national parks. Very fun, very random, and very spontaneous. So most likely this blog will be about my adventures. Next stop in Rachel Adventure Land could quite possibly be Yosemite. I just submitted my application to go work in the park and with many fingers and toes crossed hopefully I'll get to experience that natural and glorious wonderland.

Also, because I am very interested in the vegetarian and raw food life styles, there will probably be many many posts about yummy food, great recipes, and lots of experimentation. I am actually starting the infamous Master Cleanse tomorrow. Whether you've heard about the cleanse through the celeb hype or whether you've actually read up a bit on it, you'll get my first hand experience with the entire thing. Maybe blogging about it will make it easier for me to stay on track.

I hope this little intro was not too boring. I'm just keeping it short and sweet.

Hello world! My name is Rachel and I'm ready to discover the possibilities. ;)