In case any one hasn’t seen my multiple tweets on Twitter (follow me @thedailycookie) about the insanity that is the August heat in Southern California, I’ll tell you now, it’s hot!

For the past week, I’ve been grumbling under my breath every time I step foot in my car.  The black leather seats in black makes the temperature seemingly 10 degrees hotter and when I sit down, I have to careful not to burn my toosh if I’m wearing a skirt.

This is a far cry from the first August I spent in San Francisco – I had just returned from an internship in LA where 90-degree was then thought to be “gorgeous” and not sweltering.  The temps in SF were 55 and overcast and I nearly cried, wondering why the heck I moved here in the first place. But I just had to make do until the Indian summer rolled around.

Now, I can’t figure out which scenario I’d rather be in – hot in Orange County or frigid in San Francisco (although I hear it’s a wonderful 75 degrees up north right now).

Maybe during the week, the heat has been unbearable, but here in the weekend, I’ve been at my cousin’s house in Huntington Beach where the breeze from the beach helps and she’s got a pool in the backyard.

While I miss nearly everything else in San Francisco, I think sunbathing poolside with a drink in hand is much nicer than being bundled up in sweaters and scarves in the middle of August.  This is one thing I think I can get used to

How are the hot August nights where you are?  What do you do to beat the heat?

I first moved up to San Francisco in 2002 when I decided to attend San Francisco State University to complete my Journalism degree.

In those first couple of years, my address changed quite a few times – about 5 within 4 years.  I had gotten very used to diligently calling my banks and updating all of my accounts with my new contact information every time I landed in new digs.

But before I moved back to Orange County, I lived with my boyfriend in the same house for over 3 years so I guess I forgot what a hassle it was.

Today, I spent a good chunk of the morning trying to call my banks (and call them back after getting disconnected), call the insurance company, update addresses, verify who I was (noting to the  person on the other end that I was a “Miss” and certainly not a “Mr.” – can you not tell from my voice??), and obtain bank routing numbers for my newly set up direct deposit.  Did you know that you have to be transferred to another department to get that information?  Bizarre isn’t it?  Yes, I thought so too.

My only solace in this is that if I forgot one or two credit card folks, the Boyfriend still resides at our old address to help me pick up the slack.  And I’m thinking there’s going to be a lot of things I’m going to realize I missed in the next few weeks.

Note to self for next time – PLAN ahead.  It’s really too bad because I totally knew better.

That’s the end of Day 1.. hopefully next time we chat I won’t be as tired, or as crazy.  ‘Night y’all..

xo, Lilan

Happy Monday!

I’ve decided to re-vamp this section to chronicle my new adventure – a new job, relocating woes, and getting re-acquainted with a town I grew up in.

I’m sure life in sunny Orange County will be a much different experience for me now as an adult versus the know-it-all young 20-something I was when I left it for the San Francisco city-life nearly 8 years ago.

With my first Monday back in the swing of things, I can already tell, this is going to be an interesting ride!

xo, Lilan

It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve started practicing yoga and I’m feeling pretty good about the classes, the poses and how it makes my body feel.  When I first started, it felt like I was just doing a bunch of breathing exercises and stretches but afterward, I could feel a soreness in my body helping me realize that it was an effective workout for my core, arms and legs as well.

I think I’m always going to want to work on my yoga but knowing that I might not always have time to go out to the YogaWorks studio to practice 3 times a week, Irina Ovsiannikov, an instructor from the Westside studio in New York City, shared with me some poses that I can do right from my home or office.

1. Goodbye Carpel Tunnel Wrist Release

What It Does: helps relieve carpal tunnel syndrome, tension in the wrists and palms.
How to Do it: Extend the right arm straight out in front of you. With the left hand and grasp the right top of the hand and gently press the hand toward your chest keeping your arm stretched forward. Hold for 5-8 breaths. Try to keep your spine lifted your chest open. Repeat with the left hard.

2. Stress-Free Forward Bend

What It Does: releases lower back and hip tension. Also stretches the back of the legs and helps relieve stress when the hip is higher then the heart.

How to Do it: Face away from your table and bring your hips on to the edge of the table top. Step your feet wide apart (hip distance or wider) and bend your knees, make sure you feel stable support from your table.

Take a full breath in and as you exhale bring your torso down toward the floor. Take hold of the opposite elbows and relax your head in between your upper arms. Take 8-10 breaths here. at the end of breaths, slowly roll up to an upright position one vertebra at a time.

3. Be a Friend to Your Feet and Back Stretch

What It Does: helps relieve lower back and hip pain associated with sitting in the office chair for a prologed period of time. Soothes the heels and feet from walking/wearing high heels or tight shoes.

How to Do it: Sit straight in the middle of your chair, both feet on the floor. Bring your right ankle on top of your left knee and flex your right foot. Keep your foot flexed thru the whole stretch. Take a deep breath in and as you exhale slowly tilt your chest forward in the direction of your right foot. Hold for 8 breaths, close your eyes if comfortable. Switch sides.

4. Detox Spinal Twist

What it Does: Twisting detoxifies the body. It also helps relieve back pain and discomfort and helps relieve shoulder tension. This is great after a night out.

How to Do it: Sit straight on your chair, both feet on the floor. Take a breath in and as you exhale twist your body to the right first. Bring your right hand behind you, hold the back or side of your chair and bring your left hand on to the right knee. Let your head follow. Hold for 5 breaths, come back to center and then repeat the same twist to the left.

5. Mid-Day Pick Me Up Seated Stretch

What it Does: carpal tunnel syndrome relief, expands the chest for more optimal breathing, helps revive you mid-day when feeling sleepy

How to Do it: Sit up straight on your chair with both feet on the floor. Inhale both arms overhead and interlace your fingertips. Turn your palms toward the sky, keeping your fingers interlaced and breathe for 5 breaths. Think of length in the torso as you breathe, and soften your front ribs, reach for the sky. repeat a few times a day as necessary.

These have been really good poses to help me stretch my arms and legs after hours of sitting on the days where I don’t go to a class.  It supplements my workouts nicely since my in-class experience helps to focus more on my core.

Do you think you’ll try these yoga poses in the office?  I work from home most of the time right now so I don’t have to worry about co-workers gawking 

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