21- Day Meditation Experience Days: 7-11

Welp. Unfortunately a little thing called " Life" happened. I was down and out with allergies/migraines, just yuck, for a few days so I missed a few of the 21 day meditation challenge. No biggie. I will pick up at Day 12! Be back shortly. Carry on! :)

Xo,
Annie

Cooking with Annie!

Today on "Cooking with Annie" we will be making yummy Chicken Avocado Burritos.

But first I must YouTube "how to chop cilantro"
Don't judge.

Oh wait...I need to catch up on Jenna Marbles!!!
No Annie. Focus.

Back to cooking.

Place your oil and fajita chicken in the pan.
I personally added a little more seasoning with Tony's and black pepper.

Not in original recipe but I added this next step in.
Throw in your chopped onions and bell peppers.

Meanwhile, as  your chicken mix is simmering, get your rice started.

Dice or chop or slice or however you choose, your avocado.

Mix the chicken mix, avocado, cilantro and cheese in a bowl.

Spread a thin layer of sour cream on your tortilla.

Place a good portion of your filling in the middle of your tortilla and roll it up!

Cook your pre-burrito in a skillet with a little oil on med-high heat.
Flip to your desire of crispiness.

Ta Da!
Your DELICIOUS Burrito!
Sided with Black Beans, Spanish rice, a dollop of Sour Cream & a Lime wedge.

*Added Bonus*

To top your meal off pair it with  a red wine. One of my faves is the {Yellow Tail Shiraz}. Enjoy!

Xo,
Annie

Nailed it!

I decided I was due for a trip to the nail shop.

I'm always pinning stuff from Pinterest so off of my "nail board" I chose this nail look.

I think Eva from Silver Nail's did a FABULOUS job!! #nailedit

Xo,
Annie

3 Meditations to Calm Your Mind and Help You Fall Asleep

1.Recapitulation

Recapitulation, as taught by Deepak Chopra, is the act of reviewing your day from start to finish each evening just before falling asleep. This guided visualization can help you relax and even develop witnessing awareness—the fifth level of consciousness, known as Cosmic consciousness. It can also help cultivate lucid dreaming.

TO DO THIS:

- Sit upright in your bed just before turning out the lights.
- Close your eyes and go back to the moment you woke earlier that    morning.
- Review everything that you experienced from the time you woke up all the way to the present moment.
- Try to stay in a place of just observing your day rather than judging or evaluating your experiences.

The recapitulation process should only take a minute or two. Don’t stop along the way and “hang out” in anything that happened along the way.

2.Yoga Nidra

Yoga Nidra is a powerful technique where you learn to relax consciously. The word yoga means union and the word nidra means sleep. It’s referred to as the state of dynamic sleep, where one remains aware. In Yoga Nidra, you’re accessing the state between waking and dreaming where your brainwaves enter the alpha brainwave pattern and you experience a deep state of relaxation. The Yoga Nidra process is one that takes you through a sensory experience of relaxing your entire physical body one area at a time, while bringing awareness to sensation. The duration of Yoga Nidra can range anywhere from 10 minutes up to 90 minutes, depending on the amount of time you have and your preferred level of exploration.

TO DO THIS:

There are Yoga Nidra scripts that you can record in your own voice on your smartphone or tablet and play back for yourself as you prepare for rest. Check out  http://jenniferreisyoga.com/ for examples. If you prefer to use a pre-recorded audio, there is a CD you can purchase called Deep Relaxation - Divine Sleep Yoga Nidra that has a track for insomnia called Put Me to Sleep. There are also numerous free audios you can find online for Yoga Nidra. 

3.Om Agasthi Shahina (Ōm Ah-gah´-stee Shah-ee´-nah)

This mantra-based sleep meditation can be highly effective for those who have overactive minds and have difficulty falling asleep.  

TO DO THIS:

Repeat the mantra Om Agasthi Shahina— pronounced Ōm Ah-gah´-stee Shah-ee´-nah—silently to yourself. There is no need to synchronize the mantra with your breath; just breathe normally. If your mind drifts away to thoughts, bring your attention back to the repetition of the mantra. At some point, you’ll likely doze off into a restful slumber.

Xo,

Annie

21- Day Meditation Experience: Day 6

Day 6 - Gratitude Is in the Present

“Just be, right now, here; and breathe. Begin to trust the magic of yourself.” ― Nikki Rowe

In today’s meditation, we will discover how gratitude makes the present moment fully alive, awake, and enriched. We will learn how every instant of our life is a unique gift and that when we are awake to this special value of the Now, we step into a state of grace. 

So much of our cultural conditioning pulls us out of the present moment, striving for an impossible ideal in the future. Somewhere outside this present time, we hope to have what we currently lack, or look like what we think we should look like, and feel the happiness we don’t feel now. But this assumes that the present is inherently lacking, and the present is all we ever know. Practicing gratitude turns this around so that we find our completeness in the present moment.

CENTERING THOUGHT:

Every moment is filled with grace.

SANSKRIT MANTRA:

Samprati Hum

The present moment is my true self.

JOURNAL:

1. At this very moment, stop and look around you, being as present as possible. Describe your experience.

-The movie "Run All Night" is playing on the TV.

-I hear the lawn service outside

-I feel like I need to brush my teeth after eating that omelette with onion. Lol.

2. List three things that often take you out of the present moment, such as minor distractions, interruptions by other people, overwork, fatigue, or old memories.

-anxiety

-lack of self confidence

3. Now, write down ways you can minimize these things that distract you from being in the present moment.

-continue practicing my meditations

-continue practicing gratitude and grace

-any moment I can serve another person, take that opportunity

Xo,

Annie

Crafting: the good, bad & the ugly

I'm a TO DO list girl 100 %. So, using an app on my phone, I did a little pre-game 'mapping it out' plan

After shopping in Walmart for 2 hours, taking things in and out of the basket SEVERAL times....I decided on the 3 drawer rolling storage cabby ($17), and small trays/tubs ($10 ish) to place in the drawers.


Top drawer- My basic everyday crafting supplies



Middle drawer- Craft accessories



Bottom drawer- All of my papers


Not done yet but I have made HUGE progress. :)


Xo,
Annie

21- Day Meditation Experience: Day 5

Day 5 - Gratitude Awakens the True Self

“The road to happiness starts with a deep breath and an awareness of the many blessings tied to that single breath.” ― Richelle E. Goodrich

We might think that to live in grace requires us to pursue a devout lifestyle and retreat from the world. However, we have learned that grace abides in all things, all places, and all times. If we go beyond our changing personalities to connect with our essential self, we contact this ever-present grace and can live this state of grace even in the everyday world.

Our true self is peaceful, but not inert. It is intelligent, powerful, and intimately involved in our every wish and dream. The true self has the creative power and intelligence to direct and manifest your life's journey. When you step into and participate with life from this level, you are always grateful and find grace everywhere.

CENTERING THOUGHT:

My true self is always grateful.

SANSKRIT MANTRA:

Kritajna Hum

I am gratitude.

JOURNAL:

1. Write down ways you can live and speak your truth more often.

Staying true to who I am. Surround myself with positivity. Be aware of who I let in my inner circle.

2. Of your many selves – work self, family self, public self, intimate self – which one needs to come forward more often?

Intimate self

3. Once you know which self needs to come forward more, note some ways to make this happen.

Simple. EXPRESS it. And do not conform. :)

Xo,

Annie

Gotta love a good detox bath! I sure do!

DETOX BATH

I stumbled upon this one on good ol Pinterest. I suffer with anxiety and am always seeking out alternative treatments other than a pill. So you know how Pinterest is....you start looking up one particular subject and some how venture off further. Lol. Well I didn't detour too far off. I mean it has lavender in it. That's good for anxiety. So there.

I've done different detox baths but this was the 1st with the ingredient: hydrogen peroxide. Nervous at first, but then I thought, "Cool, something new, and it's going to work GREAT!" (<<Did you catch that positive thinking, 'thoughts become things' statement right there?) Lol. Hey...I'm becoming more optimistic and that's definitely not a bad thing. ;) So here goes nothing. I felt if nothing else I would be free of any kind of infection after this bath.... :/

I LOVE the ginger ingredient in any detox bath. You can actually FEEL it working in moments. Gives you reassurance you're not just wasting your time on another diy detox bath.....

I, personally, have never used it for a hangover or cold/flu. I just like to clear my body of daily toxins that build up. For me it's kinda like giving my body a fine tune up.

I will take this side effect ANY day if it means it cleaned out my system somewhat. Maybe it's a mind game to think, "Awww....I'm toxin free." Whether it's in your head or not, I think it's a win win. I just took my bath and I feel GREAT! Chugging my ice water now. Goodnight!

Xo,
Annie

21- Day Meditation Experience: Day 4

Day 4 - Grace Is Replying

“The more you are grateful for what you have, the more can live fully in the present.” ― Dana Arcuri 

In today's meditation, we explore how gratitude engages us in the evolutionary flow of life. When we offer the world our gratitude, grace responds and completes the circle. Our inner and outer worlds merge into one harmonious flow of existence.

As we use our gratitude to join this awakening of joy and beauty around us, we also find that our life becomes easier, more fun, and more meaningful. This nurturing power of grace comes from the source of Being which sustains everyone and everything in the universe. As human beings we can consciously choose to step into this flow of grace to enrich and elevate our lives.

CENTERING THOUGHT
Grace is flowing back to me.

SANSKRIT MANTRA
Twam Eva Mata
The universe is our mother.

JOURNAL:

1. Describe an experience or situation that solved itself or became better on its own after you changed your attitude toward it.

When I simply surrendered to it. Let it just BE. It's amazing how the universe knows exactly what its doing. Fighting it only makes it worse.

2. Write down any signs of grace that have come to you recently, such as an unexpected kindness or moment of joy, a sense of perfection, or a feeling of belonging.

Kindness and love from my Grandma. I received a sense of true value and importance to my family. I've always played my role but it became clearer to me this past week.

3. Cutting back on duties and demands to spend more time connecting with those you love is a wonderful way to invigorate your energy. Write down three ways you can renew your energy by appreciating what’s around you. For example, you could take a quiet walk amid the trees, view an art exhibit, or catch up with a dear friend.

1. Simply STOP what I'm doing and give a loved one attention they deserve.
2. I would like for my boyfriend and I to visit the Museum of Fine Arts together, soon.
3. I want to simply start taking short walks outside. Even if its simply around the apartment complex. Observe nature more. Feel the sun on my face and wind through my hair.

Xo,
Annie

Attitude of Gratitude tips

Pics are missing....sorry...

I got this off of a really cool website called www.unstuck.com

#1 Reminder: Your problem that feels sooo big may be nothing compared to what another may be facing.

#2 I actually did this for almost a year. I loved being held accountable everyday to be thankful for something, anything. I wrote 3 things I was grateful for daily.

#3 For me, this one works wonders with people. A clashing personality, a non comforming mindset, etc. Instead of dwelling on the negative trait, turn your attention to a positive one. :)

#4 This makes me think of the quote, "Don't mistake my meekness for weakness." Being humble is one of the best qualities a person can have. I practice this daily.

#5 This is one I need to work on. ALOT. I spend most of my day focusing on my mood, staying positive, managing anxiety.... that I forget to get out of my own head. I forget that doing #5 actually turns your mood around to the better.

# 6- This one works very well for me. I tell myself that something GOOD will come from this trial.

#7 WOW! Huge challenge. Can you do it? I wonder if I truly can.....

#8 "Fake it til you make it" works well in this situation.

#9 This has actually been on my mind alot lately. Putting it on the TO DO list.

Xo,
Annie