{Photo taken by Carol Watson in Mexico}
June 2nd was Cam + My 2nd Anniversary! I know most people tend to make definite plans (flowers, fancy resteraunt, etc), but Cam and I aren't like most people... We spent our anniversary refusing to get out of our pajamas! We set up the big tv in our room, bought our favourite snacks (in advance) and spent the whole day being relaxed and playing video games! Cam played guitar for a few hours while I did my favourite blog trolling as well (you know, our favourite things to do seperately but in the same room haha!). That's the kind of anniversary we both wanted, and I don't care what anyone thinks a "proper" anniversary should be.


{Photo taken by Carol Watson in Mexico}
We live together with our little kitten Dread Pirate Squishy Face, who we consider to be our fuzzy cat daughter. Of course we have stressful times (usually about budgeting! We always complain that being adults is hard. :) Hahaha!), but we have such open communication with eachother that I can't remember any time conflicts weren't resolved within an hour!


{At a diner in Texas}
We're eachother's best friends, and I know I can tell Cam anything, even if he doesn't necessarily agree with my opinion.


{Toga party!! Oh that's right, we're in matching coloured toga's. ♥ Makes you feel sickly sweet doesn't it?}
We are independent and do things apart from eachother all the time, but I know when I'm away Cam misses me, and vice versa. Scorpio + Capricorn = ♥



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As I mentioned in Thrifty Thursday, I will be changing my post schedule a little bit. Starting today, weekends will no longer have "scheduled" posts. That doesn't mean I won't ever post on those days, but I do need some more time to get inspired, to explore, and to fill this blog with photos and content for you! :)

New Posting Schedule
Mo. Free Write & Outfit posts (once I get a better camera)
Tu. Personal style & beauty
We. Fitness, health, and yoga (mostly Bikram hot yoga)
Th. Thrift adventures & DIY

I'm working hard to get our shop up as soon as I can. I'm trying to save up my pennies (which Canada finally printed the last of, p.s.) to get a nice camera for outfit posts I'd like to feature on the blog. We're always on a budget, so getting the shop up is top priority for moving forward with P+L. Make sure to check back for awesome thrifted clothing, accessories, shoes, and housewares. Pirate's a bit jealous I posted a photo of another cat on Wednesday's post, so you better believe there's a cuteness overload photo post in the works! Have a lovely weekend everyone. xoxo.

I couldn't decide how to choose a city to travel to first for my thrifting adventures, so I threw all the cities in a bucket (the hello kitty bucket pictured in my first post actually haha) and drew them at random!

Thrifting Adventure #1: Delta, BC
(P+L Coast & Mountains Tour 2012)

{Original photo by Oggie Dog}
Do you live near Delta, BC? We're coming your way!! Let us know of any thrift/vintage/handmade shops, markets, or visitor spots! So far on the list is Penny Savers Thrift Shop, George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, and of course a stop in at Bikram Yoga (I want to be sure to try other teachers and studios once in a while to take me out of my element. As a yogini I want to be sure I can practice anywhere without intense anxiety. This is a big challenge for me!!).

Thrifting Tips & Tricks

{Original photo by Kevin K}

Every week I will post 2 tips or tricks I've picked up about thrifting! Have a tip of your own you'd like to share? E-mail thriftingATpirateandlilac.com or comment below!

Tip #1: Keep A List Of Needs & Wants
I get inspiration at the weirdest times (walking down the street, standing in the supermarket line, mid-sentence while in a conversation with friends, etc) so I tend to carry a small notebook in my purse to jot down notes. I also keep a list of specific items or outfit ideas I'd like to thrift for. This comes in handy for those scatterbrain days when I just can't seem to keep my focus! You can get as specific or as vague as you like. Sometimes I go right into the fabric I have in mind, or small details I'd like to keep an eye out for, other times I leave it vague and open to many options like "patterned shirt to pair with solid navy blazer and heels".
Tip #2: Go Often
This may seem basic, but it's really really true. Stock in thrift stores is always changing, but that's one of the best part of shopping at these stores, in my opinion. You never know when someone might decide to clean out their closet and donate / sell / consign.

Thrift Rescue 101

{Original photo by Normanack}

Just because an item needs a bit of TLC doesn't mean you should leave it behind! If you are really in love with an item, but it has a small stain, tear, or is missing a button, you can rescue it with a few simple skills! We'll be posting rescue tips every week!

The Fabric Refresher You Can Drink!
Every so often on your thrifting adventures, you may spot an item that you just HAVE to have... until you get close enough to smell it. Before considering it a lost cause, try the tip every Mad Men era house wife would be proud to share: pour some vodka into a spray bottle and spray away (no, that doesn't mean stand in front of the garment and spray in the direction of your mouth). When the vodka evaporates, it will take the offending smell with it. This is also a handy trick to cut down on dry cleaning bills. The vodka wont do anything to clean the fabric itself, but for smells it works great! I picked this tip up from working in the costume department for film. Honestly the type of vodka you use is irrelevant, so many people opt for the cheapest they can find. If you have something a bit better tasting, make sure to throw on your best Draper outfit (whether it be Betty or Don is completely up to you) and make a Vodka Gimlet! Much classier than drinking from a spray bottle. ;)

I've been thinking of changing my posting schedule. What, already? I promise this decision will stick! These first 2 weeks have been a great trial period, but I definitely need to fine tune my writing schedule so I have time for family, friends, yoga, and adventures! Hold tight, I'll be announcing the change tomorrow! I'm loving hearing your comments, so keep them coming! Help me get to 50 likes on facebook! Make sure to recommend our blog to your friends! I swear I'm not shouting!

Until tomorrow... xoxo

I never want this blog to become tons of long drawn out stories about personal issues of mine. The only reason I am touching upon weight is because it is an integral part of my bikram yoga journey, and ultimately my happiness.

{This was me (on the right) a year and a half ago... Happy with my weight.}

The Three I's

My sister recently posted some photos on facebook. In it she was wearing a shirt that read "strong is the new skinny". This rang loud and clear to me. There was a time in my life that all I wanted was to be "as skinny as so and so" or would lament "I wish I could just lose a few pounds". My main concern lately is eating properly (and enough!), keeping up hydration to further my practice with BYV, dropping FAT not MUSCLE, and being STRONG. I want to be able to proudly stay in standing bow without falling out at all during class. This requires a tremendous amount of strength and concentration. Skinny doesn't mean anything in the hot room, determination and preperation means everything. After years of being down on myself, I've finally identified why I'm at the weight I'm at, and how to fix it. Doesn't that sound basic? Shouldn't it just be you eat less? Well if it really was that easy, I'd have been skinny months ago, my friend. Insecurity, injury, and inaction have ruled my life for far too long. Thanks to BYV, support from Cameron, and (although unintentional) my sister, I am determined and not scared to bring my readers along for the ride! Make sure to check in every Wednesday for a weigh in, BYV pose of the week & update, as well as recipes, tips & tricks, and health stories.


{Image by Adactio}

Insecurity

Any girl that claims insecurity has never been a problem in her life is either a liar or a robot. Ok this is not completely true, but I know it's fairly true among most people I know. I've let it run my life for many years, and honestly I'm tired of it. What broke me out of my shell, you ask? Try staring at yourself in a 90 minute Bikram Yoga class. Wow those mirrors don't lie. I'm sure some people want to go run and hide, but I honestly fell in love with myself in that room for the first time ever. Not from the very first class of course, but slowly, over time, I began to see who I was inside those determined eyes. I started to see my strengths, my will power, my humility, I learned to accept my clumsiness, and to remember to breathe. Being the type of person that doesn't like to slow down for a minute, forcing myself into savasana a few times a week really helps to reboot my mind and lets my brain shutoff for a while. No more nagging thoughts about what I should or shouldn't be doing, eating, wearing, etc... it's just me... and 20-30 other ridiculously sweaty people going through the same thing! You're alone but you're always in good company at the same time.

How I'm Solving Insecurities:
1. Be less hard on myself
2. Be disciplined and go to yoga weekly to reap the benefits
3. Don't take comments online or in passing too personally (unless they're good comments. Then it's ok to relish every small moment!!)


{Photo by Nadya Peek}

Injury

I'm sure 80% of the population has an injury of some kind, either from something unexpected (like my car accident), or something from their lifestyle (like sports injuries, trouble from past injuries, being a drunk idiot, etc). My injuries (medically) are mostly soft tissue from the impact in the car accident, but I am also on 2 types of medication for anxiety and panic attacks. Yoga has made 1 of those medications a back-up option instead of a daily requirement like it was before I started my practice. Before the car accident I was active. I definitely didn't have a workout routine, but I spent my time running around in the parks playing ultimate frisbee, or walking around the city. After my injuries set in I was advised not to do anything that could reinjure the area that was giving me constant pain. The pain is still there, but I'm working on ways to get around my injuries and heal them properly instead of just ignoring them or using them as an excuse.

How I'm Solving Injury (Eventually)
1. RMT (this I've been lacking lately because of money issues. But I'm scheduling a long overdue appointment this month!!)
2. Bikram hot yoga 3+ times weekly
3. Using Traumeel on both my soft tissue injury around my ribs, as well as sore spots after yoga. Cam and I both have a tube (thanks to the Traumeel rep who kindly offered us samples at last night's product knowledge meeting) and we will be writing our own reviews over time on how it helps us heal, how it helps with pain, etc. Just because we got samples for free doesn't mean we'll be biased, but I've heard many good things both from BYV clients and Whole Foods customers.
4. Continuing to be active, but being aware of my body signals. If I feel sharp pain any time during yoga or turbo fire, I will not try to fight through it and possible reinjure myself. If the pain is just muscle stretching or my own lazyness, I will remind myself to breathe and smile.


{Photo by Dan Perry}

Inactivity

Although my injuries definitely slowed down my activity levels, I know over the past few months my inactivity has been my own causing. I'm no longer anxious and hiding from the world, and although I have constant pain, it has healed enough that I can continue my old activity levels (carefully). Life gets in the way, but we have to be careful not to fall into a rut of excuses. Cam and I are both guilty of this and promised eachother to motivate eachother instead of agreeing with the laziness and excuses (we tend to both stay home if one is not up for yoga instead of coaxing the other one to go. Unless you're sick or injured, you should be in that room!).

How I'm Solving Inactivity:
1. Bikram yoga 3+ times weekly
2. Turbo fire 3+ times weekly (I don't get paid for mentioning TF or BYV. They are the programs I love, and want to show how they work!)
3. No more excuses, only motivation!!
4. Fuel the fire; feed both Cam and I enough healthy calories to sustain active lifestyles.

Wednesday Weigh In

As of today I have 5 pounds to lose until my 1st STGs (short term goal). I have 10 STGs in total so we're at the very beginning! I find I do better with many short term goals and one long term goal rather than just one LTG. Make sure to check back every Wednesday for progress updates!

Created by MyFitnessPal - Free Calorie Counter

Are you an active person? What sort of activities do you like to do? Comment below or on twitter, or facebook!

Until tomorrow... xoxo