#68 Cleanse

 There's a lot of conflicting information when it comes to health and fitness. But more so than any specific scientific information behind whether or not "cleansing" is good for you, the idea of cleansing has always been appealing to me. I am one of those people that continually strive to be "healthy", but usually succumb to pizza or french fries if they are in front of me. When you hear people who are successful at weightless or healthy lifestyles say "If I can do it, anyone can", I often think those words should be reserved for when I am able to say that... maybe then they'd be true. I haven't gone so far as to "yo-yo" diet, or to try every fad on the market, but I would say I have definitely thrown out the phrase "Ok, this is my last day of eating whatever the hell I want. Tomorrow I will eat healthy" more times than I'd like to admit. To avoid this blog turning into an entry entirely about my lack of self control for foods I love and my ongoing need to get in as best shape as I can (let's not forget the career choice I have chosen for myself... but that's a whole can of worms for an entirely different kind of blog. This particular goal is for health and motivation), I have taken up "juicing". It's day 4, and so far I feel great. I have a juicer, a ton of fruits and veggies, and surprisingly, a pretty strong sense of will power, thus far. My juicing is a bit altered. Because I have also taken up Muay Thai (which will tie into goal #70 here pretty soon!), and have been committed to a more rigorous fitness regimen, the idea of consuming solely juice for 10 days seemed a bit unrealistic. So my juicing is more of an introduction to clean eating. I juice in the morning and the afternoon, then I will eat grilled chicken and a vegetable for dinner. No cheese (What?!?!!?) No Coffee (WHAT??!?!!?!!*(&!)*^#(!). And absolutely no grains or processed sugar. And no Wine *sigh*.

This is what I've learned thus far:

• It's a good thing I like beets, because you get a ton of juice out of them and it makes your beverage a really awesome color. 
• Juicing is messy and requires a ton of clean up, but you can make enough juice to last two or three meals in one go, which is nice. 
• Thank God I live in LA because there are a bunch of places that offer fresh juiced beverages. "The Liquid Garden" from the Oaks and the Juice Bar in the Farmers Market at the Grove have been my favorite so far. You can also go to Whole Foods - they have a juice bar as well. 
• Caffeine Headaches... no joke. 
• And finally, if I make it through these 10 days of juicing/clean eating, it will definitely be a successful introduction to how I hope to live about 90% of the time. I have already come to terms with the fact that I love food and life too much to not enjoy it. No coffee or Wine? Forget it! But if I can adopt this way of life for the majority of the time, I'm sure I will be happy with the results for my body and for my health. And then maybe, I too will be able to say, "If I can do it... anyone can."

#72: Get a tattoo

I had wanted one for awhile, but couldn't bring myself to get one for two reasons: 1) my fear of commitment (I'm sure you can apply that to a multitude of things, but in this case I am referring specifically to something on my body that I can't wake up and wash off when I felt it no longer belonged. I had a tongue ring for two years that I took out of my mouth in a bathroom of an Olive Garden and tossed in the trash when I had decided I was over it). And 2) the age old "...but I want to be an actress. I can't have that, it'll limit my cast ability".

Well, I have officially aged into the "F*** it" phase of my life. I ain't getting any younger, and honestly feel like anything - within reason - can be worked around. The only way you'd ever even see it is if I was naked or in a bathing suit - neither of which I intend to do on camera. And if I'm successful enough to where it matters? Derma Blend my friend. That, or a really kick ass body double.

But most important? I love it. I really just... love it.

Today, I like the rain.

Rain is always hit and miss with me. But today, I am actually excited. Mostly because I get to wear these for their practical purpose.

#56 Get My Own Place and Decorate It

I guess it's fair to say that 2011 was a year of transition for me. Although I would also say that about 2010... and even for 2009. In fact, I think it's pretty fair to say that since I returned from China at the tail end of 2008 and moved to Los Angeles the beginning of 2009, that these last three years have been one transition after another. A lot of big changes happened in my life - some for the better and some definitely for the worst. Of course it's all relative, but for me the past 3 years, I very rarely found myself in a place where I felt I had a handle on the things going on around me. I would try to put my focus on the things that I did, but ultimately I was being faced with all those "adult" things that everyone eventually faces in their life - Loss being one the greatest. I also had some wonderful good happen, and those shouldn't be overshadowed. I fell in love. I moved to LA. I took the next step towards what I am planning on being the setup for the rest of my life. I found my voice as an artist. I am in the process of owning that voice. But just as much as all of that, I've suffered through a lot of loss. Loss of said relationship. Loss of my Grandfather. Loss of confidence in my direction. And constantly in a flux of feeling like I'm not entirely sure how to get myself out of the ruts I find myself in. What I do have going for me, is an openness for whatever comes next and the assurance that, no matter how crappy a day I may be having, that I'm still on the road to where I want to be. In the words of the great Shanley, "I guess this is something I just gotta exist through".

One of the biggest changes occurred right after I came back from Europe when my current residence was, unfortunately, being sold and it meant finding a new place to call home. I loved where I lived. I loved my roommates (they were indeed the best). And as much as I had talked about wanting my own place, financially that seemed like a very scary thing (did I mention loss of income and stability in the list above?). I had just decided to blow what little savings I had left on a trip to Europe. No regrets... but not exactly putting me in the best spot to put down deposits on a place that would also be higher in rent, no doubt. But, I took it as a sign that it was just time to make that step. To branch out, even relocate a bit. And wouldn't you know it, I'm talking less than a couple of weeks before I have to be out of my place, I find a spot in a vintage building in a great neighborhood in Hollywood, in my price range, and they take pets. I was able to paint it before I moved in (something I've never had time to do), and decided the only furniture I would be taking with me was my bookshelves and my mattresses. Everything else I wanted to furnish from second hand furniture - craigslist, flea markets, thrift stores. I wanted to create my own little nook, with unique pieces that would make Anthropologie jealous (and for a fraction of the cost).

I've been here 2 months and it's slowly, but surely coming together. I have a bed frame and a couch, a couple of nightstands that need painting and sanding. I'm still on the lookout for a desk and I need to buy material so I can make curtains and pillows for the couch. I found a great lamp at goodwill for $7. It's all coming together, and it's slowly staring to feel like the place I envisioned having when I always said I'd move out to LA. Just me, a studio apartment with a view of the Hollywood Sign, and a pug. So I guess it all comes around the way it's supposed to, even if the road you took to get there had a few more bumps than the shocks on your car were ready for.

#47 Take a photo in a red phone booth

... and yet another post that corresponds with the ones below. Went to England during my European excursion and got my photo in the iconic red phone booth! Of course we got photos with the other iconic spots around London: the Globe, Tower of London, London Bridge, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, West End, every pub we passed on the street etc... but none that made me so happy as this. Well... our recreation of the Abbey Road cover was pretty awesome as well. So that gets honorable mention. Cheers :)

#22 Have a Conversation in French

This ties into the post below. Spent 7 days in France and, since I was the only one of us that spoke even a lick of French, found myself doing most of the conversing and loving it! I actually remembered more than I thought I did... although now it's as good as gone again. But I found that speaking the language really does change your experience there. People were helpful, nothing but nice, and man... can the French DRESS. Every morning I had a "cafe creme" and a "tarte de pomme" from the bakery down the street. We spent every day walking the streets of Paris, Monte Marte, and Seresne. Made the trip out to Versailles and even made sure to hit Disney Paris so I could get one step closer to another item on my list. 4 down... 1 to go.

Paris, Je t'aime.

#11: Visit France, #14: Visit England, #18 Visit Spain

I am way over due for updating this blog... I'll try to fit in as much as I can. I went to Europe in September for 3 weeks and in doing so checked off quite a few of my items. It was an incredible experience... 21 days with 2 of my best girlfriends seeing several sites and countries that I'd dreamed of seeing for as long as I can remember. Funny, I lived in China for a year... visited Beijing, Japan, the Philippines, and Thailand... all of which were trips that were just a "why the hell not" sort of experience. I love traveling, and if the opportunity came, I took it. But Europe was something I'd built up as being the one place I'd wanted to see and therefor was almost "special" in some way. I kept saving it for something... wanting to experience it when I was able to experience it in the utmost - some "magical" way. Particularly France, since I purposely took French for 2 years in college and considered majoring in communications just so I could move there, and Spain since that is where my family comes from. But I realized, I was holding out for something unspecific. For the idea of something that may or may not ever really come. The best time to go is when you can... and just like with most things in life, waiting for the "right" time.. holding out for that "perfect" moment, it just means you're letting opportunity pass you by. I've always been the type to just take advantage of opportunity when it comes my way. I don't regret being that way... it's awarded me some amazing experiences and people to come into my life. And I will say, I've been Lucky. But I'm making it a goal to try and seek out things I want as well - go after things with a bit more ambition. It may still be somewhat impulsive, but when I decided I wanted to go to Europe before the year's end, I was determined to make it happen. And it did. And in the words of the great Galinda (Galinda, with a Ga):, "I couldn't be happier" with the decision.