i've been an avid practicer of yoga for many years now. i started in February of my senior year of high school with a yoga dvd for weight loss, a mat from Target, and not a pair of yoga pants to my name. i stuck with it. every night, i'd come home from my little after school job and say hi to my family and then promptly head to my room, shut my door, dim the lights, and retreat into 45 minutes of vinyasa. i noticed right away that my back, which is constantly a source of tension (thanks, big boobs), felt less tense, more relaxed, and straighter. i noticed that i was sleeping better. and most importantly, i noticed that i liked doing yoga!
it's been five years since then, and wow...how far i've come! i worked my way up though a bunch of dvds and before i knew it, was practicing at a fairly advanced level. i always struggled with some of the really advanced balancing poses and handstands.. as i'm 5'8", lanky, and leggy (although i'm skinny, it's a whole lot of body to hold up there!), but i was getting stronger and stronger. the back half of college left little time for serious practice, although i did my best to squeeze at least a session or two in a week, even if it meant doing it in my little day room in delta gamma.
i moved to manhattan in july of '09 and i ventured into bikram yoga, aka "hot yoga," and each time i went, it was the most challenging 90 minutes of my life, but i was pleasantly surprised that my abilities as a strong yoga practicer had not left me. after a few months, i started doing the Tracy Anderson Method religiously, and was VERY pleased with the results there, but last weekend, i really had the itch to take a yoga class.
The Standard Hotel in the meatpacking district had recently begun advertising their yoga sessions, and i thought..why not? the standard is infamous for great views and all around chicness, so i thought hell.. why not? i signed up, threw my mat and favorite lululemon sports bra into my tote bag, and hauled my ass down there after work on a beautiful, sunny tuesday evening. and my goodness...it was the two hours i didn't know i needed! Sabina, the instructor, was sweet, knowledgeable, funny, and 100% amazing, and when i walked out of that room, i was a whole new woman! i was, again, pleasantly surprised at how well i was able to keep up with some of the more advanced poses, and it renewed my faith in yoga.
when you practice with someone like Sabina..who pushes you and gets the best out of you, and helps you really connect to who you are.. yoga is the most healing ritual possible. i almost forgot how incredible that mind-body connection can be, and how important it is to your well-being. i'm thoroughly addicted now, and can't wait to go back next tuesday.
oh, and the unbelievable setting doesn't hurt either.... doing sun salutations with the sun setting over the hudson in front of me and the new york skyline behind me? life doesn't get much better. high point!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
she's not broken, she's just a baby
i believe...
-8 hours or more of sleep, every night.
-drinking 64 ounces of fresh water a day.
-sweat every day. ( www.lululemon.com agrees)
-doing what you can, when you can, how you can, and not apologizing for it.
-the healing powers of dark chocolate and fresh flowers.
-that being a wino does not equal being a lush. wine is way more sophisticated than vodka...right? we'll go with that.
-in the small luxuries of life. silk night slips, cashmere socks, 450 thread count sheets, and christian louboutin heels.
-that life is a marathon, not a sprint...so pace yourself accordingly. but never slow down. life keeps moving, even if you stop, so it's not worth it.
-in power walks. alone or with a good friend. they're great for some alone time, or some "catching up" time.
-that as we get older, we don't change, we just become more clearly ourselves.
-that if you're going through hell...keep going.
-in the old saying.."pick your battles." some people and situations are just not worth our energy!
-that most days, a handful of beautifully colored pastel french macaroons from kee's chocolates solve all my problems, even if only for a few minutes.
-that women should always look out for each other. we are not each other's competition, we are each other's friends. we are all cut from the same cloth. bitchiness and pettiness from one woman to another is weakness, not strength.
-in being feminine, and still being able to fit in with the boys club. don't compromise who you are to get anywhere in life.
-that if you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space.
-in no regrets. go confidently through life. make choices and accept the consequences boldly.
live with intention. walk to the edge. listen hard. practice wellness. play with abandon. laugh. choose with no regret. continue to learn. truly appreciate your friends. live as if this is all there is.
-8 hours or more of sleep, every night.
-drinking 64 ounces of fresh water a day.
-sweat every day. ( www.lululemon.com agrees)
-doing what you can, when you can, how you can, and not apologizing for it.
-the healing powers of dark chocolate and fresh flowers.
-that being a wino does not equal being a lush. wine is way more sophisticated than vodka...right? we'll go with that.
-in the small luxuries of life. silk night slips, cashmere socks, 450 thread count sheets, and christian louboutin heels.
-that life is a marathon, not a sprint...so pace yourself accordingly. but never slow down. life keeps moving, even if you stop, so it's not worth it.
-in power walks. alone or with a good friend. they're great for some alone time, or some "catching up" time.
-that as we get older, we don't change, we just become more clearly ourselves.
-that if you're going through hell...keep going.
-in the old saying.."pick your battles." some people and situations are just not worth our energy!
-that most days, a handful of beautifully colored pastel french macaroons from kee's chocolates solve all my problems, even if only for a few minutes.
-that women should always look out for each other. we are not each other's competition, we are each other's friends. we are all cut from the same cloth. bitchiness and pettiness from one woman to another is weakness, not strength.
-in being feminine, and still being able to fit in with the boys club. don't compromise who you are to get anywhere in life.
-that if you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space.
-in no regrets. go confidently through life. make choices and accept the consequences boldly.
live with intention. walk to the edge. listen hard. practice wellness. play with abandon. laugh. choose with no regret. continue to learn. truly appreciate your friends. live as if this is all there is.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
the best i ever had..
there are a lot of aspects of my life in which i am NOT lazy. my apartment is a fifth floor walk-up, i haul ass everywhere in manhattan...i only take the subway if there is a major time constraint or if it's like 30 blocks or more, i work out every. single. day. however...there are some times in my day that i am lazy to the core. and i fully admit it.
my laziness sparks a love of multi-tasking items. the most recent being a delightful little creation from NARS called The Multiple in Orgasm. It's a make-up solid, used for lips, cheeks, and eyes. Orgasm is probably one of the most universally flattering shades of make-up ever made, and this make-up stick is no exception.
my laziness sparks a love of multi-tasking items. the most recent being a delightful little creation from NARS called The Multiple in Orgasm. It's a make-up solid, used for lips, cheeks, and eyes. Orgasm is probably one of the most universally flattering shades of make-up ever made, and this make-up stick is no exception.
i've been a NARS Orgasm lover since i first discovered it during my senior year of high school. and now that it comes in a solid, i love it even more. a quick swipe on each of my cheek bones, followed by light blending with my fingertips leaves a perfect, rosy sheen that highlights my face beautifully and leaves me looked flushed and warm. two very gentle swipes to my brow bones, just below my eye brows, and i'm looking ready for my day, all in under 30 seconds.
i throw it in my purse, clutch, or work bag every day and apply it to my lips throughout the day, giving my lips a pink hue that looks natural and not forced. it's perfection in a little solid make-up stick.
now, be forewarned, applying it as a blush/highlighter takes fineness and practice. if you apply haphazardly, you will instantly look like a clown. if you have a heavy hand with make-up.. carefully dabbing the stick along your cheeks will be enough until you are able to control yourself with the swiping motion. and blending with fingertips is CLUTCH!
this little thing makes me not even a little bit ashamed of my laziness. it makes me proud.
Monday, April 12, 2010
a tribute to beautiful, unique, effortless women.
some women just have that je ne sais quoi... they look beautiful at all times of the day...whether they're out to get coffee and a newspaper, headed to the office, out to dinner, or out for a late night stroll with their lover. their beauty isn't marked by a perfect face or flawless make-up... it's just that certain something. they're effortless, they're casual, they're individual, they're comfortable in their own skin. but above all, they are real. flaws and all...
...and the ultimate..Lauren Hutton.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Going green? ...trying!
the month of april is earth month, or "go-green" month, or reduce your carbon footprint month..or whatever you want to call it. april is the month where all of our magazines focus on ways to be more environmentally friendly, and remind us that we only have this one planet to live on, and we have to do our best to keep her healthy and happy. every april, i think about the things i do to be green, and the things i should be doing. this year is no different!!
things i DO to be green:
1. mta junkie: i live in manhattan, specifically downtown manhattan, and i have no car! yay for me!! gone are the days of my gas guzzling jeep...i am now a devotee of the public trans system. i take the subway to get uptown and then back downtown, and i take a shuttle van service (my company's version of public trans) to and from work, and let me tell you...i walk my booty off!!! i only hop in a cab if: i'm looking at a 30+ block trip and the appropriate subways aren't running due to repairs, or it's 3:15 a.m. and i'd like to continue living my life and not end up dead in the stairwell of the Houston St. 1 Station. but other than those specific times.. either my legs or my mta card gets a workout when it's time to leave SoHo, the W.Village, or Tribeca!
2. reuse: i admit it, i often forget my reusable bags when i go to the grocery store. the grocery store is so often a trip of "hmm..i should stop at the gourmet garage and get some snacks." rarely do i plan those trips out. and in turn, i am often left with a lot of plastic bags. instead of just throwing them away.. i use them as garbage bags. now, i know..they still eventually end up in the garbage trucks, but it's better than putting them inside another plastic garbage bag and throwing that away. ...i try here, people. i try.
3. eco chic: my hair salon is eco-friendly, powered 100% by wind, and they use sustainable products. and can i just express how amazingly refreshing it is to walk in there? all the skylights with the natural sunlight filtering in, the light bamboo wood of the chairs and floors... it's so light and airy, i immediately feel more beautiful. and they use Davines products... and you should too. check it out, all of their products smell great and work like a charm!
http://www.davines.com
4. let there be light: i do my best to turn every light off that i'm not using, i unplug all of my appliances until i'm using them, and i use those weird, yet effective, light bulbs that last longer and use less energy. and i don't use my AC unless it's 100 degrees and unbearable! you'll never find me complaining about hot hot heat outside. i'm a big believer in an open window and a good, small but powerful fan. i think living in the sweltering heat of delta gamma conditioned me. either way... my carbon footprint is lower...and so is my electric bill. everyone wins.
things i SHOULD be doing to be more green...
1. remember those damn reusable bags. end of story.
2. getting dirty..and clean: use more eco-friendly cleaning supplies. like seventh generation.
3. rare and bloody: eat less red meat. now..i'm not saying that i'm hoovering an 8 oz. filet on a daily basis, or even a weekly basis.. but i admit i indulge occasionally. and while it IS a great source of iron, especially for a girl who doesn't always win with the anemia game.. i know, as does everyone who's read "Skinny Bitch," that the delicious hunk of almost rare meat that sits on my plate probably didn't get to me in the most humane and eco-friendly way. it's a temptation i have to learn to avoid.
4. shower power: i don't take baths anymore...except for the occasional indulgence, which IS green..but i do stand in the shower and bask in the glory of the uber-hot water way more than i should. i need to be more conscious of how much water i'm wasting by just standing there, letting the water warm me up, and instead..turn the water off, get out, and put warm clothes on. less water consumption = good.
5. recycle: i'm a magazine whore. i openly admit it. i subscribe to a lot of them, get a million catalogs in the mail, and i love it. i am an avid collector of my issues of Vogue and Bazaar, but i have to say that Marie Claire, Women's Health, and Runner's World usually end up getting thrown away eventually. I should recycle all that paper. i'll work on it. i promsie. really.
okay, have a great Sunday!!! the sun is shining here in nyc, and i'm off to brunch with my girls in a few hours...hopefully followed by an afternoon of delightful reading by the river. i just can't resist.
xx
things i DO to be green:
1. mta junkie: i live in manhattan, specifically downtown manhattan, and i have no car! yay for me!! gone are the days of my gas guzzling jeep...i am now a devotee of the public trans system. i take the subway to get uptown and then back downtown, and i take a shuttle van service (my company's version of public trans) to and from work, and let me tell you...i walk my booty off!!! i only hop in a cab if: i'm looking at a 30+ block trip and the appropriate subways aren't running due to repairs, or it's 3:15 a.m. and i'd like to continue living my life and not end up dead in the stairwell of the Houston St. 1 Station. but other than those specific times.. either my legs or my mta card gets a workout when it's time to leave SoHo, the W.Village, or Tribeca!
2. reuse: i admit it, i often forget my reusable bags when i go to the grocery store. the grocery store is so often a trip of "hmm..i should stop at the gourmet garage and get some snacks." rarely do i plan those trips out. and in turn, i am often left with a lot of plastic bags. instead of just throwing them away.. i use them as garbage bags. now, i know..they still eventually end up in the garbage trucks, but it's better than putting them inside another plastic garbage bag and throwing that away. ...i try here, people. i try.
3. eco chic: my hair salon is eco-friendly, powered 100% by wind, and they use sustainable products. and can i just express how amazingly refreshing it is to walk in there? all the skylights with the natural sunlight filtering in, the light bamboo wood of the chairs and floors... it's so light and airy, i immediately feel more beautiful. and they use Davines products... and you should too. check it out, all of their products smell great and work like a charm!
http://www.davines.com
4. let there be light: i do my best to turn every light off that i'm not using, i unplug all of my appliances until i'm using them, and i use those weird, yet effective, light bulbs that last longer and use less energy. and i don't use my AC unless it's 100 degrees and unbearable! you'll never find me complaining about hot hot heat outside. i'm a big believer in an open window and a good, small but powerful fan. i think living in the sweltering heat of delta gamma conditioned me. either way... my carbon footprint is lower...and so is my electric bill. everyone wins.
things i SHOULD be doing to be more green...
1. remember those damn reusable bags. end of story.
2. getting dirty..and clean: use more eco-friendly cleaning supplies. like seventh generation.
3. rare and bloody: eat less red meat. now..i'm not saying that i'm hoovering an 8 oz. filet on a daily basis, or even a weekly basis.. but i admit i indulge occasionally. and while it IS a great source of iron, especially for a girl who doesn't always win with the anemia game.. i know, as does everyone who's read "Skinny Bitch," that the delicious hunk of almost rare meat that sits on my plate probably didn't get to me in the most humane and eco-friendly way. it's a temptation i have to learn to avoid.
4. shower power: i don't take baths anymore...except for the occasional indulgence, which IS green..but i do stand in the shower and bask in the glory of the uber-hot water way more than i should. i need to be more conscious of how much water i'm wasting by just standing there, letting the water warm me up, and instead..turn the water off, get out, and put warm clothes on. less water consumption = good.
5. recycle: i'm a magazine whore. i openly admit it. i subscribe to a lot of them, get a million catalogs in the mail, and i love it. i am an avid collector of my issues of Vogue and Bazaar, but i have to say that Marie Claire, Women's Health, and Runner's World usually end up getting thrown away eventually. I should recycle all that paper. i'll work on it. i promsie. really.
okay, have a great Sunday!!! the sun is shining here in nyc, and i'm off to brunch with my girls in a few hours...hopefully followed by an afternoon of delightful reading by the river. i just can't resist.
xx
Saturday, April 10, 2010
New York, full of Kings and Queens
i've decided to give this a shot. i need to archive my life more appropriately, i think. so here goes.
after a week of insanely gorgeous weather in manhattan, things are finally back to seasonal temperatures. sadly! on wednesday, it was 92 degrees in central park! but i have honestly never enjoyed 92 degrees more. it wasn't overly humid, there was a nice breeze..it was really great. for lunch, brian and eric and i went down to the Hudson and ate lunch riverside, strategically arranging our clothes for some tanning, and really soaking up the gift of summer weather in april. we thoroughly enjoyed it.
it's still sunny and cloudless today, but it's about 60 degrees. but that's all right. i'll take it. i had a really good workout this morning, and i'm off for brunch and then to the strand for some a new book.
i know i'm a clotheshorse, but buying a new book makes me as happy as buying a new purse or a new dress. true story.
xx
http://www.strandbooks.com
after a week of insanely gorgeous weather in manhattan, things are finally back to seasonal temperatures. sadly! on wednesday, it was 92 degrees in central park! but i have honestly never enjoyed 92 degrees more. it wasn't overly humid, there was a nice breeze..it was really great. for lunch, brian and eric and i went down to the Hudson and ate lunch riverside, strategically arranging our clothes for some tanning, and really soaking up the gift of summer weather in april. we thoroughly enjoyed it.
it's still sunny and cloudless today, but it's about 60 degrees. but that's all right. i'll take it. i had a really good workout this morning, and i'm off for brunch and then to the strand for some a new book.
i know i'm a clotheshorse, but buying a new book makes me as happy as buying a new purse or a new dress. true story.
xx
http://www.strandbooks.com
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