Jamba With Me

I thought about yoga this morning, but I was a bit wrecked after my return last night, and I would have had to cram it in before heading to the Valley for MY TATTOO, and it just didn't make sense.

SO when I woke up, and decided no bendy, I needed food. And my kitchen is sorely lacking in that department. Of all things, my body decided it really wanted a smoothie, something I probably haven't had since last summer. Must be the 90 degree weather we were graced with yesterday. (Do you hear my sarcasm? If you've been reading my blog long enough, you can read the dripping sarcasm.)

I thought to myself, "Yes, I'll drive for a smoothie."

And then I thought, "Are you freaking kidding me, dude? Jamba is seriously less than a mile away."

Yes, it's a dangerous quest, involving going under the freeway, trekking through the land of many, many flirtatious bums, but dammit, I WANTED A SMOOTHIE.

So I went on a morning stroll.

No yoga, but an AP for me.

Happy Saturday!

"We've come too far to give up who we are..."

Of course you've already heard this song, and if you haven't, you've pretty much been living under a rock the last couple of weeks. Sorry, is that mean? Guess Bitch Taylor woke up today.

Anyway, it's fucking awesome.

It's Tattoo Day, and the Buff's birthday party is tonight, and I'm in a glorious mood and I just want to DANCE!

Deep and True Changes

I went home at lunch and read.

I know, right? I don't make any goals, then I go and do something productive. Go me.

I'm really enjoying my yoga book, even though I'm barely into it. It's just...a good read. It's not written on some spiritual, esoteric plane I can't access, and I feel like at some points the author is speaking directly to me.

Which, you know, the best self-help is like that. Heh.

I came across a section today that just grabbed me so hard, I had to reread it at least three times.

Let's recap.

"The reason it is so difficult for us to change is that we focus too much on the microcosmic steps, or the "program", and not enough on changing the perspective that landed us where we are in the first place. Deep and true changes come from the inside out, not the other way around.  

We can try all different kinds of techniques to transform ourselves, but unless we address the underlying structure, we are just moving the pieces around. We haven't made any lasting changes just by saying affirmations, or going on a diet, or superficially altering our habits. We've addressed the symptoms without going to the root. 

Affirmations change the thoughts but not the thinker. Diets change the eating patterns but not the eater. Willpower holds the negative actions in check for a little while but does not ultimately change the doer. If you only change what you do, all you get are temporary alterations to your actions. Shift your inner viewpoint, though, and your world transforms."

WHAT HAVE I BEEN TALKING ABOUT ALL WEEK?

I've been talking about trying to inflict artificial and arbitrary changes on myself in attempt to become this new person. I've been talking about trying to force myself to change from the outside in. I've been talking about shoving myself into little boxes, compartmentalizing, fragmenting, trying to be something I'm not by parceling out my personality and attempting to put the pieces of it back together.

Geeze, Baron. Get right to a girl's core, why dontcha?

And this, too:

"The physical aspect of power yoga will transform your body---of that there is no doubt. And who doesn't want a more powerful and peaceful body? The real question is do you just want a more powerful and peaceful body, or do you want a more powerful and peaceful life?"

We all know what I want. I know where to find it.

I can't wait to get to the yoga studio.

Analytical

Via the rather handy dandy Google Analytics site (program? tool? thingy?), I can now tell you that as of today my blog has had over 500 unique viewers.

THAT'S LIKE A LOT. I AM SO PROUD.

After Los Angeles, (and I'm sure the majority of visits are probably, well, me, on various devices), most of my daily (not unique) visitors come from New York, San Francisco, Durham and Santa Barbara (HI BIFF!). Some from Australia, Canada and France too!

The most visitors I've ever seen on my blog at one time was five, and I felt oh so popular. I wanted to throw a party for all of us.

People spend an average of four minutes on my site, which isn't too bad, actually! They visit two pages on average, and 18% of the people who come to my blog are new visitors. My "bounce rate" is only 65%, which is the percentage of visits where people left directly from the main page, so almost nearly half of people (in Taylor troll math) click on at least one post.

Overall, I think I'm doing pretty well for just over a year of blogging. I really need to start focus on expanding my readership by reading more blogs myself, and commenting, so I become more a part of the lifestyle blogging community. That's really how I will start to get more readers, more feedback, and improve my content!

I also think I might reward myself by purchasing some ad space on some big blogs in a few months---after I get my long-awaited raise, of course. 'Cause ads are definitely not in my budget.


If you're a regular reader of my blog, and you like what I'm dishing out, I'd love it if you shared my site with any friends you think would enjoy it too! Or if you have a blog or site of your own, you could advertise Freak Out In Color by linking this button below:

But if you want to advertise on my site, it won't cost you a dime---send me an email at freakoutincolor@gmail.com and we'll chat.

Love you all, my freakish little readers!

xoxo

TK and Tree

Switch Flip

I am feeling so much better today.

I knew I would. I knew I just needed the fresh new week to hit and I'd get my mojo back, my juju, my strength and smile.

Bad Taylor is gone, Good Taylor is back. Funny how it's so simply felt.

I had a healthy breakfast, and leftover salad for lunch, and I'll hit yoga tonight during my cleaning shift, and all will be well! I feel positive and powerful and prepared to face the week. I'm filled with love for myself instead of hate, I'm sending that love out into the world, and I choose to be happy today.

Progress. It's all about progress.

Feline Freak

Welcome to my brain, Freakettes.

WW Recap 4/27- 5/2: Psh.

I could say things.

I have things to say.

I dunno. I could ramble and make words and whine but I'm just tired. And I don't really care.

Also, I don't care to weigh in. 

Goals?

1) Go to yoga, if I can. (Restorative, and I'm definitely going today. I feel much better.)
2) Keep reading. (Really enjoying the book I'm reading.)
3) Deep clean my apartment. (Ehhh.)
4) Make a recipe. (Ehhh.)
5) Stick to my Screen Free Week goals. (Ehhh.)

Goals? Ehhh, it's nonsense.

1) Go to yoga.
2) Keep reading. 
3) Eat well. 
4) Have fun.
5) Get my tattooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

A Complaint

An Open Letter To My Neighbors:

Who, in their right mind, cooks at eleven at night?

And if you're going to cook at eleven at night, you cook something simple, am I right? You cook something easy and cheap, mac and cheese, anything equally light. You cook something basic, not smelling delicious, not smelling so decadent I could start a fight.

Okay. I'll stop rhyming.

BUT SERIOUSLY SOMEONE IS COOKING AND IT SMELLS FUCKING DELICIOUS AND I WANT TO EAT IT.

I should just go to bed.

But I am distracted by watching Reese Witherspoon get arrested over and over and over again.

This is BEYOND.

The smells. The cooking. The audacity of it.

This is AMERICA.

Thirsty Thursday

Y'ALL.

I WENT OUT.

It's my Coworker BFF's birthday on Sunday, so a few of us went out to celebrate!

I enjoyed:

• Mac Daddy Daiquiris(Pour one out for Chris Kelly)
• Buffalo Deviled Eggs (too spicy for me)
• Fried Brussel Sprouts with Smoked Goat Cheese
• Chicken Liver Mousse On Toast

It was all DELICIOUS. Even the liver. 

I drank and ate and chatted and came home and everything was lovely.

Happy Birthday, Coworker BFF!

Progress

Not perfection.