Manduka's Black Mat Friday - Last Day

Last day to check out Manduka’s Black(Mat) Friday Sale! 20% off their most joyful gear for the yogis on your list when you spend $125 (sorry, no kits). Just use checkout code FRIDAY at www.Manduka.com

monday meditation

Here is a beautiful Monday meditation to help you through your day


The Blissology Project: Monday Meditation from blissology on Vimeo.

weekend recap

Our weekend was filled with family, fun and lots of laughs.  Tony and Jaime our cousins from Florida came to visit us for Thanksgiving and stayed through the weekend.  We gave them a full tour of Atlanta from Vinings to Buckhead, Midtown, Virgina Highlands, Little 5 Points, Olympic Park, Midtown West and back to Marietta Square.  Our house felt so empty when they left yesterday - their energy was contagious and full of life and spirit.  They are an amazing couple who we cherish and love so much.  Casey and Tony are first cousins and have been laughing and telling stories together for a long time.  Jaime and I have only hung out a couple of times but quickly bonded.  The joy of sitting there watching Casey and Tony tell family stories, jokes, movie ideas, and family history was touching.  They are both so passionate about their family and lives.  Jaime and I are lucky girls and both realized that we have a lot in common.  Our energy flowed and a great connection evolved which brought lots of amazing conversations.  We miss them so much and hope to plan a trip with them soon. 

friday favorites

I hope you all have had a great Thanksgiving and are enjoying time with family and friends.  Our cousins Tony and Jaime drove up from Florida to enjoy Thanksgiving with us.  Yesterday we ran the Marietta Gobble Jog 5k and enjoyed the rest of the day cooking, eating and ended the day sitting by the fire on the back deck.  Here are some Friday favs to enjoy!
 
I am thankful for people like this - who help pick up the plastic beaches.  I would love to help out on my next trip to California
  These fashionABLE scarfs are beautiful with a great cause
Manduka is doing a great promotion today - 10% off your purchase + 10% of proceeds bring clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations! Manduka supports charity: water, $20 gives someone clean water for 20 years, click on the Manduka banner on the left side of my blog and use PROMO code WATER at checkout
Fun educational videos to watch at Seventh Generation
Loving this Holiday Book Drive at Anthropologie
Great bags at peace4you
Loving this bracelet from Brooklyn Thread

Enjoy your weekend!

weekend recap

There is something about having friends or family in our house that makes it feel full of love.  I always tell Casey when our bedrooms upstairs are occupied I feel that the house is happy.  There is this feeling of  love and comfort that fills up my heart.  We had such a great time with Alex and Nell.  We hiked, laughed, ate, told stories, reflected on life and society, most of all had a great time.  They are an amazing couple with such a strong connection.  Their energy is still here with us and I truly miss their presence.  I hope to take a trip out to Colorado soon and stay with them a night.

In the meantime I am getting ready for our next guests to arrive!  I'm just loving this November, it's been filled with so much love.  Our cousins Tony and Jaime who just got married in August are coming to visit us for Thanksgiving.  They will be arriving tomorrow and I'm so excited to spend more time with Jaime as we've only met once.  We are excited to show them Atlanta!  They drove through here once on their big move from Washington to Florida and we were only able to spend about two hours with them.  It will be so nice to spend Thanksgiving with family. 

friday favorites

Today is finally here - I've been so excited like a kid at Christmas.  We have friends visiting us from Colorado this weekend, it's a much needed visit I think for the both of us!  Alex and Nell are two amazing souls that we can't wait to have in our presence this weekend.   Their energy is warm, full of light and happiness.  When Alex started his blog I was inspired by his writing, photography and creativity.  He inspired me to jump into the blogosphere and try it out.  He and Casey have been friends since they were little and every time they are together the room is filled with great conversations and lots of laughs.  Lots of cameras will be out and many photos to share with you after the weekend.  Here are some Friday favorites to help start your weekend. 

Loving this Bohary bag by Rubyzaar
I don't have an iPhone but I wish I could use the MINDBODY Yoga App for the iPhone and iPod Touch.  It uses your GPS and tells you all of the yoga classes available in your area
Following Mr. and Mrs. Globe Trot's blog - I am amazed by amazing people who can pick up and go
Would love to join Krishna Das
Loving Shantala music
These moonboots make me smile or remember these neon ski jackets?  I guess I should have kept mine.
Nataly Dawn's album is on Itunes
Loving this Pure Style Home blog I discovered in the December issue of Better Homes and Garden
Adoring Pamela Susan's blog
I am so inspired by the Titans of Yoga trailer - cannot wait to watch this
Thinking Global Girlfriend will be my site for Christmas Shopping this year
Dreaming about little retreats to this bed and breakfast or a floating lodge
Looking for a new mat, thinking Manduka is the way to go, loving their blog too
I will do a Surf and Yoga retreat someday

here and now

I've been thinking a lot today about being present and at what time am I most present with myself.  I realize as I learn more about myself I am happier in the moment, so how can I be in the moment more?  When am I present, what am I doing?  I noticed that when I'm in nature, cooking, taking pictures and doing yoga I am the most present with myself.  Of course I have times when my mind shifts and drifts but most of the time I am present while doing these activities.  I've realized that here and now is the truth, we can ponder about the past and wish about the future but here right now is the true moment.  Life is happening right now as you are reading this and you're present.  Stop.....Listen.....Realize this moment.  Being in the present moment is powerful and soothing, you're able to experience pure joy at this time.  You can live in the past all you want, but realize it's done and gone.  You can live in the future all you want but realize unless you have a genie bottle you probably aren't able to predict the future, so why waste the energy.  Remember that phrase "Don't Worry Be Happy" and how it was printed on everything in the late 80's, it's funny that this comes to mind when I think be present.  I can hear it now, Bobby McFerrin's voice singing Don't Worry Be Happy now....ooooh..ooooh....There is simplicity about the present moment - for me it brings true bliss and happiness.  So enjoy this moment right now and don't worry be happy...

If I haven't told you yet, I am working on my 365 project as it has really helped me stay in the present moment.  Follow me in my journey of photography, I have my camera with me at all times to help capture these moments.  Today I decided to play around outside with my self-timer.  I ended up playing for about an hour - it was pure bliss.  Here are some of my here and now moments captured.  I think Brody enjoyed it too!

Reduce - Reuse - Recycle

Tomorrow is America Recycle's Day - about four years ago Casey and I started to recycle.  We bought Rubbermaid containers from Home Depot and labeled each one - glass, plastic, cardboard, aluminum, paper etc.  We made it a goal to start and we've never stopped.  Check out this great blog Recycle Your Day that gives great tips on how to recycle and why. 

{image via Recycle Your Day}

friday favorites

Love Bloglovin
I can't decide which handmade colectibles wreaths I like, maybe this one - rosette wreath
Keeping an eye on NOLA Eats a new blog I found over the weekend - love New Orleans food!
Ruche offers some cute Eco Friendly clothing
If I could only take my engagement photos over - I would have Simply Bloom take them
I didn't realize the great prices at the Whole Foods Market online.  I stopped by the store yesterday and their meals for 2 and 4 are pretty affordable.  If I didn't have my family traditions and our menu planned I would try this out  
I received my yearly holiday food catalog from Amanda Colonies Meat Shop & Smokehouse.  I grew up about 30 minutes from the Amanda Colonies and would usually have a tradition of summer sausage and cheese plate for the holiday's.  This might be a good gift idea for my family back in Iowa, since I don't eat meat
I can't wait to watch this documentary that Michael Franti of the band Spearhead made. It’s called I Know I’m Not Alone.
Ok - this restaurant that I found called Ubuntu is the perfect most place I've ever found, I am planning a trip right now - and the chef has a blog
Giveaways!
There are so many great giveaway's going on this week - these are my favorites
Wild and Precious is doing a  Justin Boots giveaway!  I would love to add these boots to my wardrobe this winter.
M Loves M is doing a Perricone MD wrinkle cream giveaway
The Kind Life Organic Crib Matress giveaway
By Hand Giveaways has a great list of giveaways 

Thanksgiving - right around the corner

Thanksgiving is right around the corner - are you ready?  I am just starting to get ready, thinking about our guests coming into town, the menu for the day, and traditions.   Here are some ideas, pictures, recipes, outfits and music that I've been pulling together for my Thanksgiving ideas.  Maybe it will help you in someway, ENJOY!

What to plan?
Thanksgiving Start Cider
Epicurious count down to Thanksgiving
My recipes Traditional Thanksgiving Menus
These cute dinner napkins
Jillian Harris's decorating advice

What to wear?
Cute outfits at Shop Ruche
Just found Tulle
Loving these earrings
Have you checked out Ruelala?
Of course Anthropologie

What to make?
J. Crow's Mulled Cider 
12 easy Thanksgiving tips from Sunset Magazine
Bella Cucina Thanksgiving Essentials 6pc Gift Set 
Chili glazed sweet potatoes 
Spiced-Tea Cranberry Sauce 
Green Onion Mashed Potatoes 
Poached Pear, Macadamia, and Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese 
Wine-smoked Turkey 
Pumpkin Streusel Pie

Left over ideas? 
My absolute favorite! Turkey Sandwiches with Shallots, Cranberries, and Blue Cheese

Turkey Enchiladas with Sour Cream 
Cranberry Thumbprints

What to listen to?
Van Morrison - Tupelo Honey
Amos Lee - Arms of a Woman
Sufjan Stevens - Casimir Pulaski Day
Empire of the Sun - Walking on a dream (after meal pick me up)
Priscilla Ahn - Dream
Jerry Garcia and David Grisman playlist 


 Stay in the center of the circle and let all things take their course ~ Lao-Tzu

{all images via sunset magazine, better homes and gardens, anthropologie and shop ruche}

eat - take pictures - walk - eat again

This past weekend we visited New Orleans for our first time; which was more than I had expected.  If you haven't been I encourage you to visit.  It's a unique city with culture beaming on every  corner.

Where we started:
Had dinner and hurricanes at Pat O'Brien's
Enjoyed walking down Bourbon Street
Visited Frenchman Street for live jazz at Apple Barrel and The Spotted Cat
Had my Voodoo Card Reading done
Late night Cafe du Monde for coffee and beignets
Breakfast in Jackson Square
Walked through the French Market
Took pictures around the French Quarters
To-Go Bloody Mary's at Crescent City Brewery
Sat by the Mississippi River
Watched the Street Performers DMS 
Enjoyed yummy Oysters at the Bourbon House
Tried the true taste of New Orleans at Coops Place
While walking back to our hotel we met an amazing volunteer Dan Crary from the New Orleans Food for Life who brightened our day and gave us each a copy of the Bhagavad Gita as it is, The Higher Taste and the Perfection of Yoga.  He educated us on the Food for Life organization and entertained us with his comedy act.  If you're ever in New Orleans take a walk down Decatur Street in the French Quarters, he usually works on the sidewalk near the Walgreen's, he is an amazing individual.
Lunch the next day at Mothers
Visited the amazing WWII museum
Rode on the St. Charles Trolley
Strolled around the Garden District
Walk down Magazine street and stopped in Mignon Faget, a store I've always wanted to visit
Back down to Jackson Square for one last stroll
Freshly brewed beer and one more taste of the yummy NOLA Oysters before we took off
Good bye NOLA we had a blast

~Enjoy your day

friday favorites

It's Friday!  Here are my favorites for the week, I hope you enjoy!

I just received some cd's from Spirit Voyage that I just love!  Loving Silent Moonlight Meditation by Gurunam Singhand and Divine Birth by Snatam Kaur.  They have an amazing selection of Yoga music. 
Would love to be in this picture
I would love to sit and drink tea from this teapot with a good friend
I wish I could attend the Gypsy Picnic tomorrow
This winter sweater would be perfect and cozy
Love watching this video of Phillip Askew
A good friend of mine told me that Penzey's Spice Sunny Paris is amazing and her favorite.  I am anxious to try
Planning on making this stovetop potpourri
Need a gift?  Check out this post from Wild and Precious

~Enjoy your weekend

welcoming November

Our weekend was filled with fun, sun, clear blue skies, and photography! We ended October just right and are now welcoming November.  This past weekend we enjoyed the weather as much as possible, we drove down to L5P (little five points) and walked around enjoyed the arts and culture.  We dropped into Muss and Turners for happy hour before dinner with friends at South City Kitchen.  We sat on our deck and enjoyed the weather, worked on the house a bit and watched the Iowa Hawkeye's win a great game; overall it was a great weekend. 

Now we venture into an exciting month for us - we have family and friends coming to visit, we are visiting a city we've never been to and meeting family next weekend on a surprise trip for Casey's birthday.   We have fun and exciting day trips planned and of course Thanksgiving!

~Enjoy the first day of November, with each leaf that falls may love, light and peace be brought into your life