PARTY TIME!

I am headed down to Ocean City, Maryland for my best friends bachelorette party! I cannot wait to party with her and her friends all weekend!!!

Etsy Love

Wedding Hair!

The countdown has been on for a while but now it's really ON; 50 days until the BIG DAY! I can't believe it.  I am finalizing my look, dress is in, Jimmy Choos are in, earrings are in the work but I haven't quite finalized my hair.  I know I want it up/back...out of my face but, I also want it soft around the front so it doesn't just look like I have my hair back in a bun for yoga class! I am having another hair trial on Tuesday and am loving these looks I found on Pinterest:

I have a lot of hair so thinking this will showcase it while also having it out of my face.  I am also toying with the idea putting a flower in there somewhere, going to be a game time decision but love these looks as well:

What I am most excited about it (aside from marrying Joe) is being able to spend the morning of my wedding with my mom, my five sisters (old and new) and my nine best friends!

Me and my girls in Newport for my bachelorette!

Cheers!

Challenge: Pigeon Pose

Ever since I started practicing yoga my biggest challenge has always been those poses where you have to be still for a while.  Still in the asana, stretching, breathing and quieting your mind.  Before I became a 'yogi' I was an avid runner.  I have done two NYC marathons and one half marathon which I graduated to after playing lacrosse in college.  I have had knee surgery and naturally have 'bad knees'.  Discovering yoga has literally changed my life.  Not only in the practice of asana (the physical practice) but the mental practice.  The other day I tried a new class in Long Island when I was staying with my parents and the teacher brought us into pigeon pose...this pose is my nemesis.  I can never get my leg parallel with the end of the mat because of my knees and I can never get my hip to touch the mat.  This pose is a what the yogi's call a 'hip-opener' and even if you don't have the perfect alignment you can still work to open up that hip.  Lastly, this is one of those poses where you have to get set and sit alone with your breath working the body, opening up.

Pictures below from the Lululemon Blog:

 

Setting up

If you are like me - tight or uneven hips you can place a blanket under the  hip of your bent leg

Adding the forward bend to the pose can help you relax

One of the things that my teacher Mindy always brings up during this pose is the idea of creating space.  Obviously in this pose you are working to create space in your hips, because once settled in the pose, breathing into your hip you are working towards opening up that part of your body.  But, what if you creating space in your hips (which is naturally the most closed off part of women's bodies) can create more space in your life.  It is interesting to think that creating space and opening up part of your physical body can open up your mind and affect your everyday life.  This idea of creating space is so broad.  It can mean creating more time in a day to do what your need or opening up your actual mind to new ideas.  The hips are a place where you store 'stuff';  thoughts, feelings, even ideas or goals so getting into pigeon and opening up those hips can allow you a release that you never even thought possible.  This is what yoga is all about, opening up the physical body and the mind.  The idea of opening up is such a great one, I can't even begin to touch on all it encompasses.  

Namaste!

Freedom Night

July 4th is Independence Day and July 3rd (tonight) is FREEDOM NIGHT.  I actually have no idea if this is even a recognized holiday but, ever since I was little we always called the eve of the 4th Freedom Night.

Tonight Joe and I are playing in a Twilight nine hole golf mixer with our two best friends Maggie & Dave.  Hopefully we will see some red white & blue fireworks!

Images borrowed from Pinterest!

What are you guys doing for Freedom Night?

CHEVRON

I am obsessed with all things chevron these days! My wedding is 80 days away (who's counting) and I am secretly stalking all my favorite wedding blogs for the perfect table setting with a little chevron love! Here is some inspiration:

Borrowed from Style Me Pretty

I also saw some adorable chevron bath suits at the beach over the weekend and this adorable denim dress!

Asos Denim Shift Dress

What is your favorite way to sport the chevron trend?