Illy's POV : Day 6 - Things I Seem to Have Forgotten Along the Way

October 5, 2014

All of a sudden, I have a lot of free time on my hands. I find myself quickly becoming bored. But this isn't just your typical boredom.

I have this insane amount of pent-up energy. I'll go for a run and then do yoga... everyday... and I still want to do something. Anything. I've played the piano until my fingers hurt, read a bunch of books, and listened to every playlist I have over 15 times. A gal can only pace her apartment so much.

So today, my friend Ashley Sherwood (thank you again for the awesome day!!) and I decided to have an adventure! She is an amazing photographer, and I was a human who's had a rough week. It only made sense to take pictures, right?

We ended up in this creepy/beautiful place near where I grew up, and it was probably one of the best days I have had a really long time. I absolutely love fall and this place was stunning. All the leaves were changing, and it was right near the Bluffs (for those who don't know what I'm talking about).

We ended up (mini) hiking up through this forest, and I could not remember the last time I had done something as simple as this. Just, walking in nature.

Yet, here I am, bored at home, when there is an entire world open for adventures. So I made a point of writing down all the things I liked/wanted to do that got lost in the mix of food, drinks, and cigarettes:

1. Hiking/Exploring. This was one of my favourite things to do as a kid. I recently hiked in Yosemite (last summer I believe), but I couldn't tell you how long it had been before then. There has to be places around here I can hike. I miss being outdoors.
2. Climb Trees. I figure, with my new muscle flexibility, this is more of a possibility now...
3. Meet New People (without alcohol even!). A lot of my close friends are now married/with kids, and although I love hanging out with them, it doesn't usually allow for many new outing adventures.
   
   In the past, we would head to a bar or club, get drunk, and meet a bunch of new people. But there has to be a way to do this sans drink. I suppose that is something I can look into, now that I'm not drinking alcohol.
4. Acquire a Green Thumb. I wish I could say I had a way with growing plants, but I don't want to lie to you guys. This is something I will need to work on.  So, most likely my older friends/family would know this, but I have always had this weird dream of owning an apple orchard. Something about seeing the rows of trees as you drive past... It is a weirdly comforting sight for me. One day...
   
   Will I need to learn a lot? Yes. Is it probably for the best if I start with one tree? Most definitely. But, one day, Iliana will own 1 or more apple trees.
5. Finish My Novel Series. I have been working on a series for a couple of years, but they appear to have taken a backseat somewhere along the way. I need to edit the first 2 (I'm on book 3 right now), in preparation to send them to publishers. But I just... stopped writing one day.
   
   That makes me sad, so I will do everything in my power to dedicate time to this again. 

There are more items, but they started to become a bit more personal. It's like I've been given a new battery. I am fully charged, and refuse to waste energy on lame things anymore. 

I think that is all I have for today. I hope you all had a great weekend. :) 

Ashley's POV : Day 4 - Detox/ non- smoking /30 day yoga challenge

Hmmmmmmmm? I don’t know if this can be real but I am actually feeling the benefits from this detox.  Can this be possible after four days? I mean, my skin looks healthier and my hair feels softer and I am finding that I just want to hang out in a quiet setting with as little chaos as possible.  Which is weird because, I generally love chaos !

Well anyways,  Ili and I went out for dinner and then went to David’s Tea for dessert.

Lol Our desserts consisted of flavored tea’s that mimicked the taste of decadent desserts.

 Sighhhhh!

Due to me splurging and having ketchup with my dinner (those who know me, understands that I eat ketchup with my ketchup.) Ili allowed herself to have two percent milk foamed with her tea!  I’m not gonna lie, I was jealous that she had foam and I didn’t.  We went for a drive together and  a good chunk of the beginning of the conversation in the car truly just focused on the “foam” in Iliana’s cup lol! Ya know, like: how it tasted, how her cravings had settled from wanting something sweet……how I wish that I had Iliana’s foam.

 Lol ! Conversations during a detox can easily be summed up by two words ……… that’s right ladies and gentleman “ Food Porn!!!!”.

Oh detox ……where, oh where have my brain cells gone! Oh where or where have you been!

We ended the night at 9:30 pm both exhausted from our emotionally draining week.

For once, I knew what it was like to be one of my pregnant friends on a Friday night!

-No alcohol

- No cigarettes

- Healthy dinner modified to specific guidelines

-Early bedtime

……………………………………..26 days to go! I could really go for a slice of cheese cake :{

Ashley's POV : Day 3 - Detox/ non- smoking /30 day yoga challenge

Shit got real today!

The cravings for nicotine and carbohydrates were less than it has been. I actually had room to breathe today and feel like a functional human being. Except! Those fabulous chemicals in our food and cigarettes almost act as a  shield to those emotions we don’t want to deal with. This process (detox/ non- smoking /30 day yoga challenge)is raw, it really strips you down to the point that you feel naked and everything that you are going through is exposed because you don’t have the strength or your vices to keep them hidden or buried.  Lol and the yoga doesn’t help either because it is literally geared  to have a person purge unwanted emotions or toxins through different postures of the body!

Like, you’re ultimately screwed and have nowhere to hide.

So let me break this to you gently Ashley! ………..On top of being exhausted from the withdrawal process, you now have to deal with what’s going on within a wonkie (yes folks, I said wonkie) frame of mind??!!!!!!

All I have to ask is:

How is this process legal? 

You know, the dictionary reads that a Detox is a “ metabolic process by which toxins are changed into less toxic or more readily excretable substances”

I call bullshit!! This is a goddamn truth serum and now I have to get cozy with my soul.

………………………………27 days to go! This is going to get ugly.