As Kermit says, "It's not easy being Green"

I am super excited about this post because of all the new amazing things I learned.

I was invited by Brenda Ruiz of Hello Houston! Media to attend an event at Ruggles Green- City Centre that would showcase what they were doing to help the environment and just why they have the "green" in Ruggles Green.

To start off the night was Lydia Smith, Ruggles' Green Liaison. She gave us a quick background about Ruggles and introduced to us Federico Marques, The Green Guy.  Now, Mr. Marques has one interesting background!!  With previous positions at Bayer and NAFTA, this patent carrying, invention toting "Green Guy" was just what the industry needed. His extensive background is what helped Houston Open up it's first Certified "Green" Restaurant, Ruggles Green, in 2008 at 2311 W. Alabama. Opening just a few years later, Ruggles Green- City Centre boasts the titles of "Greenest Restaurant in Texas" and "3rd Greenest Restaurant in the Nation".  But that's not all! Ruggles Green was not satisfied with being just "one of" the Green Restaurants.

So, through much work and determination, it led them to the current construction of Sugar Land's very own Ruggles Green, set to open late August, with a Grand Opening in September. So, what's so special about the Sugar Land location? I'm so glad you asked! It will be the greenest restaurant in the world. That's right, WORLD! How you ask? (Seriously loving these questions!) Well, a restaurant's "green" factor is based on a point system set-up by the Green Restaurant Association. The association takes into account several things:

1. Water Efficiency
2. Waste Reduction and Recycling
3. Sustainable Furnishings and Building Materials
4. Sustainable Food
5. Energy
6. Disposables
7. Chemical and Pollution Reduction 

Each category is a way to earn points.  The more points you accumulate the higher the rating you will receive. Currently, Ruggles Green- City Centre has a 4-star rating.  However, the Sugar Land location is set to have a 5-star rating. Yup, FIVE star. Do you know how many other Green restaurants have a 5-star rating? No? That's probably because NO OTHER RESTAURANT has it!! Can you tell I am excited about it?? Some of the ways this will be accomplished is from having Energy efficient dish washers, rain water collectors to irrigate the herb gardens out on the patio, low-flow toilets, HE A/C units, and Federico's baby and research project, LED lights, which will be used to light the restaurant. This is just a taste of what great steps the Ruggles Green management is taking to ensure a pleasant experience with the smallest possible carbon footprint.

But that's still not all!!! Ruggles Green also boasts a very friendly menu, as in: gluten-free friendly, vegetarian friendly, and dairy-free friendly. Lydia ordered for us to try the High-Protein Hempenadas, Ruggles Green Margherita Pizza, Fresh Vegetable Pizza, House-made Organic Chickpea Hummus and finished off with the delicious Hemp Brownies (which sadly I did not get a picture of).

Ruggles Green Margherita Pizza

Fresh Vegetable Pizza

High-protein Hempenadas

House-made Organic Chick Pea Hummus with Plantains

Now tell me, aren't your tastebuds BEGGING for you to take them there for your next meal? If not, I don't think you looked closely enough at the pictures, take a look again, I will wait... doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo... Ok, hungry yet? Good. Since every item on the menu boasts natural ingredients (as in nitrate free, preservative ffree, antibiotic free and no HFC) I personally and happily go to Ruggles Green- City Centre at least 2 or 3 times a month, and considering my family only eats out about 5 times a month, those are some good odds! So, listen to those singing taste buds and head on over!!! You might just run into me at the City Centre location.  Afterall, I have been a regular since 2009 ;)

Can I have a hug with that?

I learned many, many things in yoga teacher training (YTT) and I like to think that all of it resonated with me and made me a better person, teacher, wife, mother, sister and friend.  I was truly blown away at how much I GREW (not physically sadly, I'm still a short 5'4").   I honestly was not expecting that much inner reflection to happen, but I am so glad it did. It helped me to realize how closed off I had been making myself and it also helped me to realize why.  But those stories are for a different time and day.  For now, I want to share how I learned to survive.

One day we were discussing how being a yoga teacher can sometimes mean that we will be confidants for our students.  How you react to this is very important. Sometimes the student may just need an open ear, and other times something as simple as a hug. One quote that our amazing YTT teacher read us really struck a cord...

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“We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.”

—Virginia Satir, family therapist

I realized at that moment that one of the reasons I had been having such a hard time dealing with my own emotions, my families emotions and my baby's emotions was that I was not putting enough weight on the importance of touch. It's something so simple. 

For example, when you first get married, you are so happy and excited and want to spend every second cuddled up on the couch next to that person snuggling.  Then as time goes on, you still feel the same way, but you allow yourself to make other things priorities. Suddenly the cuddling doesn't happen as often. You realize you aren't holding hands as much. Before you know it, you realize you have been living two parallel lives under one roof. And even though you sneak a quick hello kiss or goodnight kiss as you each tuck away in bed for the evening, the amount of actual physical contact you experience is minimal. This is why so many seemingly happy couples can end up in unhappy marriages. 

To take it to a personal level, giving yourself that mental hug of approval on a daily basis does wonders for the soul. Often we forget to show that love we have for others to ourselves from fear of becoming "vain" or "self centered" (but what good is taking care of someone else if you don't even take care of yourself?) 

Or even just hugging your parents or loved ones when saying hello instead of a quick peck on the cheek. Little personal interactions like this can be so powerful to not only your emotional health but your mental health as well. I like to imagine little protons and electrons transferring between our bodies, creating happy positive energy with each hug.

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So, I propose that you go and write down how you feel, at this moment. Then for the rest of the week aim to get 12 hugs a day in and see how you feel at the end of each of those days. And I don't mean 12 "awkward I really don't want to be doing this" hugs. I mean 12 "if I don't do this I am going to be dead so I am holding on for dear life" hugs, even if its just for a second. Do this for a week writing down how you feel at the end of each day and let me know what you think... 

+s & -s,

<3 T

Hi Pillow, It's me, Tania. I miss you...

Dear Pillow,

Oh how I have missed thee!  These past few weeks I know I have been neglecting you, but I promise it won't always be this way. I am not avoiding you, I swear! Ramadan and trying to find ways to get the word out about Mind, Body, & Soul Yoga have led me to working late nights and early mornings rises. I promise once Ramadan is over I will begin to "sleep in". We will once again snuggle cozily listening to the faint hum of the baby monitor as Zaki snoozes away... until his 6AM wake ups of course.

Please do not take our time apart personally. My skin misses you MORE than you can ever imagine!! Its gone crazy, not knowing what to do with itself from lack of sleep. And oh what beautiful sleep!!! You always know JUST the right way to regenerate my skin and keep it dewy fresh.

Please pillow, just give me one more chance. The moon sighting is in just two weeks... I promise I'll be back then. I love your smooth Egyptian Cottony wonderfulness...

Until we meet again,

<3 T

Arch Nemesis #1: The Cartwheel

Hi there. My name is Tania, I'm 29 and I can't do a cartwheel.

I know, I'm a yoga instructor who can't do a cartwheel, how lame is that? It's so embarassing to see 6 year olds running around watching someone else do it and on their FIRST TRY master it. FIRST TRY!!!

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And here I am, 29 years old and the best i can do is a miniature donkey kick up into the air... at best. Hee. Haw. :(

Now, don't get me wrong, I have some killer core muscle. My core can defo hold me up. My arms are toned and can happily be in plank, down dog, etc for a while without serious dying (just a minor death, no biggie ;) ). But ask me to do a cartwheel and its like watching a one year old trying to walk for the first time. Sad thing is that it is like that EVERY time.

I've just come to accept it as a fact of my life. I'm 29 and I can't do a cartwheel. So what?! I will keep trying but I won't lose too much sleep over it. I will continue to rock my yoga workouts, and try and overcome the fear of falling.  Yes, the sole reason I am unable to do a cartwheel is because I instantly envision myself falling head first, breaking my neck and dying. And I bet you know why... "Stop doing that! You will break your neck child!" Yup, although she may not believe it, those warnings/threats have always stuck with me. You see mom, I WAS listening... and now I am 29 and cartwheel-less. 

However,  I will continue to try.  Asking people during teacher trainings or talking to friends when we are in a studio.  Just getting a practice in here and there, always determined that "today" maybe the day.  That's how I accomplished crow (also difficult do to the "breaking your neck syndrome") and maybe one day I will be able to say, "Hi. I my name is Tania. And even though I am 40, I can FINALLY do a cartwheel!"

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Dreams & donkey kicks,

<3 T

Mint Cacao Lover

Mint... Chocolate.... and Spinach????

So, a few weeks back, my friend Casi took me to a super awesome place called Roots Juice. I have only been that one time, but since then I have been OBSESSIVELY dreaming about the smoothie I had!!! So, I set out to re-make it. This smoothie is perfect because it combines so many DELICIOUS ingredients with spinach, which to a faster trying to get more nutrients into my diet than my stomach can handle, is a true blessing. The added bonus is that the mint in this drink is great for settling your stomach. This is perfect when you chow down a huge meal after a day of fasting.  You get a dessert, stomach settler and nutrient packed drink all in one!!!

Now, since this recipe calls for spinach and mint, which some blenders may not be able to chop up as well as my Vitamix, I recommend adding those first to the liquid and blending them for a few minutes until almost disappeared and then blending in the rest. This should help prevent you from getting a weird texture out of it.

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Mint Cacao Lover

1 to 1.5 cups Organic Almond Milk
2 cups Organic Spinach, fresh with stems
1/2 cup Mint leaves, fresh
.5 to 1 T Spirulina
1 Banana, medium, peeled
1/2 Avocado, medium, peeled
3 Medjool Dates
1/4 cup Cacao Nibs
1/2 cup Ice

Place ingredients in blender in order listed above. Blend to a yummy goodness! (If you have a Vitamix, blend on "Frozen Dessert" setting).  Happy Blending!

mint chocolatey goodness,

<3 T

Zoe you think you can't cook?

Are there days you JUST DON'T want to step foot in the kitchen? Me too... 

And that's why I just had to tell you about such an AWESOME restaurant that I am falling in love with, more and more each day. It's called Zoe's Kitchen. So far they are only located in the South and in Arizona (sorry everyone else because you are REALLY missing out!). Houston Metropolitan area has 6 locations, so I can pretty much depend on being able to get it when I want.

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 So anyways, you are probably wondering WHY I am talking about them so much. Well, here is the thing... most restaurants can boast healthy options and fresh eating and their menu will definitely reflect it. But then you decide to bring your munchkins with you and you are bombarded with options like pizza, mac and cheese, spaghetti and meatballs or chicken fingers with fries. Whaaaa?!?!?!!? Are you serious? Sometimes I get very frustrated with the idea some restaurants have of "they are just kids". It's super important for us parents to establish healthy eating habits in our kids, so we should be paying extra special attention to what they eat!

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And that's where Zoe's Kitchen definitely has us covered! With kid options such as fresh fruit cup, GRILLED chicken fingers, GRILLED turkey and cheese and no sign ANYWHERE of fried food on the menu, its a mothers delight! Our children look to us to guide them in the right direction until they are old enough to make their own choices.  So, knowing that I have a healthy, quick and inexpensive option on days that cooking a meal is the LAST thing on my list definitely makes me feel like I am doing a better job being a parent. I know my little man's body, brain, stomach, and taste development thank me now and will continue to thank me as he grows (high fat, high carb foods are addictive and can lead to serious side-effect, so its definitely a road you want to avoid.)

Plus it helps that they have THE BEST chocolate chip cookie (hey, being healthy doesn't mean that you can't enjoy a treat once in a while!)

PS: Zoe's in NO way contacted me for this post. I just love 'em and hope you will too!

cookies & grilled chicken,

<3 T

The Life of a Lunar Calendar Junkie

What's a moon sighting? Who follows a Lunar Calendar? Why are you SO obsessed with sunrise and sunset? 

All VERY legit questions with just as legit answers :)

You see, I am a born and raised Muslim. Some people are a little thrown when I tell them this, which I find interesting, but it is true. This Palestinian/Peruvian wears a head scarf to pray, goes to a mosque, reads the Qu'ran, the whole bit. And I am SO proud of it all! I see and believe that religion is our guide through life. We can lose faith in MANY things: people, our self, the government, the economy, whatever. But the one thing that will actually have you feeling lost is when you lose faith in God. I am a true believer that everything happens for a reason. That the good, the bad, and the ugly are all part of God's plan. I work my hardest to remember this each and everyday and with every trial I am faced with.

So, when the month of Ramadan appears on our Islamic lunar calendar I am utterly excited to unite with my fellow Muslims around the world and throughout Houston for a single cause. It is so rare that something so simple can unite 2+billion people in the world. Its so awe-inspiring to know that I am part of something that is SO much greater than me.

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But, HOW do I do it? How do I NOT eat food or drink water ALL DAY?!?!

It's simple. When you break down any sensation that your body experiences, part of it is psychological. It's all mental associations. So, for example, if it was an ordinary day and I just forgot to eat, you can BET I am obsessing where my next meal will be. I will feel light-headed, shaky, dizzy, the whole deal. BUT, when I wake up in the morning, before sunrise to have my breakfast with my hubby, and we set our intention for the rest of the day, something happens. It's almost like counting down the minutes to the last day of school while you are having your end of the year class party. Everybody around you is in good spirits, you are all talking excitedly and enjoying the last few moments you have together before summer and are slightly bummed KNOWING that once that bell rings you will not see anyone anymore, but at the same time it means freedom!!!

Well, thats how fasting feels to me. It's exciting! I know that the hunger I feel is for a great cause. It reminds me, with each grumble and pang that even though I may know that my next meal and drink of water will be here at sundown, there are so many people out there who do not. It helps me to appreciate how much I have been given and how blessed I am. BUT the best part is, that there are so many muslims around me and all over the world who are doing the EXACT same thing. And even BETTER is that most of us are using this appreciation to do good in our community. To give to those who are less fortunate. Because even though we "feel their pain" throughout the day, we know that ours is only temporary, they may not be so lucky.

So, how does it work? We basically abstain from eating/drinking ANYTHING from sun-up to sun-down. Yes, that even means water. Traditionally, we break our fast with a date and some milk, go pray, then sit to eat as a family. Some people will stay up ALL night until sunrise, eating, playing games, reading the Qu'ran, spending time with family. It's always such a great festive time in our households. Then once sunrise hits (or the call for prayer), eating/drinking stops and the fast begins.

This year I am making an effort to make sure that hubby and I do NOT over eat and that we also STILL get plenty of fluids, fiber, vitamins, all in all a healthy diet.  Usually this is pretty hard to do, as most meals at home tend to be like Thanksgiving ALL. MONTH. LONG. So, what I decided to do was make us smoothies! O.M.G. I LOVE that I am doing this! I went ahead and bought us a Vitamix on Thursday and have  used it 1-2 times a day everyday SINCE! It's AMAZING and I am soooo sad I did not have it sooner! But its ok! I will get over it. The best part though is that I will be posting smoothie recipes that I come up with to help us pack in our veggie/fruit servings! So, keep a look out! For now, I need to go get some shut-eye before I have to wake up to eat breakfast and make us a smoothie!! :)

What is your favorite religious time of the year? Any fun traditions?  Can't wait to hear all about it!

from sunrise to sunset,

<3 T