pura vida

Mindful Mamas pre-natal workshop with Laurel Hicks

2012-02-11T12:17:00.003-05:00

Last weekend I attended my first module (of 3) of pre- + post-natal teacher training with Laurel Hicks. Laurel is a yoga teacher and doula from Canada who is absolutely fascinating. Literally after 8 hours on Friday and 10-5 Sat/Sunday I was completed amped on learning and wished that the weekend wasn't coming to an end. Every night I went home to Joe and yapped his ear off with all of my new knowledge [poor guy]. Now I realize I am not pregnant and while I would like to have children in the next year or two I also have very little tangible knowledge of the prenatal and birthing process. Besides the graphic comments that new mothers/mamas-to-be post on Facebook I realized I didn't have a full understanding of this stage of life. Well let me be perfectly honest, this weekend was eye + heart opening. There is so much misinformation and horror stories floating around out there that anyone would rightfully be freaked out about such a life changing event. Since we didn't move until October I missed the first module in September (but will make up in June) so Laurel recommended we watch the movie "The Business of Being Born" by Ricki Lake (yes, the Ricki Lake). Wow. Just, wow. Joe and I watched the documentary last weekend and both of us were shocked at how wrong we were about what we thought we knew. The movie streams free on Netflix and if you ever have a chance to watch it I highly recommend you take the time and check it out. Warning: it is very (VERY) graphic. Watching a birth, even that of a stranger, is so beautiful it can't even be put in to words. During our weekend workshop we discussed healthy yoga sequences for mamas-to-be along with issues that come along with pregnancy, how to deal with different health situations in a class setting, and natural child birth versus interventions. I know individuals that will turn their backs the minute these discussions arise, people tense up in conversation as if religion/politics/money/whatever are being discussed. But to be honest it made me want to have children even more. I've always wanted to be a mom but talking about pregnancy and birth in a setting with people who believe it is beautiful was wonderful and reassuring.

Me and my "belly" before our pre-natal class.

Chy-wan-prash

2012-02-11T11:41:00.002-05:00

During our Ayurvedic lesson a few weeks ago I mentioned my on going battle with heartburn and vowed to try a few different natural methods to ease the pain. Last week my teacher's father gifted me with a jar of chy-wan-prash. It is a mushy spread that tastes something like a tangy ginger snap cookie with a bite of clove. Wikipedia describes it as:

a jam-like mixture of herbs, spices, and other ingredientsfrom the Ayurvedic tradition. It is widely used in India due to health benefits.It is said that Chyawan Rishi was the first to prepare this tonic, hence thename chyawanprash. The first historically documented formula for chywanprash isfound in Charaka Samhita, the ancient Ayurvedic treatise. It is abrown-colored, sticky paste with the consistency of jam and a sweet/sour/spicytaste. It can be eaten directly or mixed in warm milk or water. It can be usedlike any other jam, spread onto crackers or bread. The main ingredient is amla(also known as Indian gooseberry), which is rich in Vitamin C (445 mg/100g). About20g of amla contains the Dietary Reference Intake of Vitamin C. Anti-agingbenefits claimed due to chyawanprash can be due to the anti-oxidant effect ofVitamin C. Another claimed benefit is improved immunity towards diseases likethe common cold, which may also be due to high Vitamin C content.

Call me crazy but after two spoonfuls a day my heart burn has lessened. I realize it looks pretty rank and I've made everyone who comes over try a little bit but it is honestly not bad. I look forward to to my morning and evening treat to my body.

Shit New Yorkers Say

2012-01-22T23:16:00.003-05:00

and something to lighten the mood.

my mind is racing

2012-01-22T23:13:00.000-05:00

Welp, I think I figured it out. A little bit at least. So before the holidays my sister moved to Philadelphia and while it is totally awesome to have her so close by I also feel a little panicked and protective of her. This city is completely out of control. It seems every single day there are friends of friends being robbed, assaulted, shot, whatever, I'm a little overwhelmed. A lot overwhelmed. Friends of friends are getting hurt and I'm not really able to process living this way. Never have I had to have my guard up to this extent. Living in South Florida was always a little sketchy. People were so transient, even more so than New York, but you didn't exactly have to be scared that someone was going to approach you with a gun or beat you senseless. Petty crime is really the extent of daily issues in southern NJ. The truth is that New York was probably the safest place that I've ever lived. Most people have a perception of the city based on shows like Law & Order and Sex & the City but honestly it was more the latter with an extra look over the shoulder every now and then. Obviously living in a place like Manhattan came with crazies and don't misunderstand me, there were definitely tragedies that took place while I was there. I've had friends that were robbed or mugged but not with the degree of violence that you see in Philly. But for the population and concentration of people that lived there I never really felt unsafe. The subways were always busy and you could toggle between that and the bus easily, there was never a question of if it was "too late to be there". The city was a playground and we could traipse around at all hours minimal concern that we were putting ourselves in danger. I could walk in my neighborhood and not be scared that it was dark and I was texting or talking on the telephone. Central Park was always busy with people running, biking or walking their dogs. One night last winter when we had over a foot of snow J and I took Shooter for a 3 mile walk in CP around midnight. Not only were we ok, there were photographers out capturing the pure beauty of the still night. I've waited for 5 years to move to Philadelphia and living here has made life a hell of a lot easier but I'm not adapting well to the violent statistics. What has been difficult is understanding why there isn't more talk or movement toward fixing these issues. Are people content living among dangerous situations and not "seeing something & saying something" if it means they can keep a low profile and not have retaliation among them? This is crazy to me. Why is it tolerated?

I'm sorry if I'm rambling and sound a little mad but I cannot wrap my head around it.

this and that

2012-01-21T00:44:00.001-05:00

During many of my recent teacher training (TT) classes Shiya, our teacher, has reiterated that we should journal since we are being exposed to vast amounts of new information along with an intense physical practice. It can be incredibly overwhelming. Many people will have certain emotions surface, ones that you many not even realize are being suppressed, as the layers of the onion are peeled back during this healing practice. For most people that have taken a real yoga class (I'm not talking about one at a gym) you have heard a teacher say here and there how certain poses can bring up emotion. Camel, pigeon and many of the heart and hip opening postures can release waves of memories and emotions that are stored in these areas of our body in the form of tension. I've heard many stories of people that have breakdowns or break throughs in these restorative postures and a great teacher will tell you to embrace and recognize these emotions. It is healthy to experience the good with the bad, the dark and light. I haven't had a specific instance where I've been overcome with emotion during my practice (besides really enjoying a nice heart opener) but I must admit that I'm feeling ultra sensitive lately and I'm not able to put my finger on it. [No, I'm not pregnant.] It's no surprise that my personality tends to get down and it's typically in the privacy of my own home around the people that I'm closest too. Yoga has helped balance out my mind in ways that I can't even explain. But it's not even the negative emotions that even out, my highs aren't as erratic. I just feel level and in control. What has been bothering me is a fear of something happening to my family. I don't know why it's so upsetting and weighing on my mind so much. Since moving here I've spent so much time with my sister and the rest of my family in NJ that I can't imagine a day without them. Joe will inevitably have to start traveling for work again at some point and having him home every day for the last three years has been beyond amazing. What I guess I'm gathering from all of this is that I'm so overwhelmed with happiness to see my family regularly that I can't imagine a day without them. These are terrible thoughts and somehow they are hung up in my mind. Everything is just going so well it's almost like I'm waiting for the bottom to fall out. I know I know, this contradicts my early post about trying to be present but I also want to be honest about how I'm feeling during this experience. Hopefully the fears in my mind will subside.

Other than that our classes are pretty awesome, we meditate for 15 minutes followed by 60 minutes of vinyasa flow and then lectures. So far we've touched on basic anatomy, chanting, yogic tradition and Ayurveda (which has been my favorite by far). Today I went running for the first time in a long time and ended the day with a 2 hour restorative practice. It was wonderful and healing. More later, tonight I'm resting.

shit yogis say

2012-01-20T23:18:00.000-05:00

I know this is late (so late) but I've delayed logging on to an actual computer to embed the video. Enjoy my fellow yogis....... Namaste, mutha f*ckas.

17. Water - log roll at South Seas, day after our wedding in Captiva.

2012-01-17T21:50:00.001-05:00

16. "morning"

2012-01-16T23:19:00.001-05:00

Our old apartment in NYC.

15. "happiness"

2012-01-16T23:17:00.001-05:00

I love that smile.

14. "something you're reading"

2012-01-16T23:16:00.001-05:00

13. "in your bag"

2012-01-16T23:14:00.001-05:00

Old anthro wallet, l'occitane hand cream, Rx raybans, VS lipgloss, strawberry rosebuds, shooter's bone, jivamukti yoga book

12. "close-up"

2012-01-16T23:12:00.001-05:00

11. "where you sleep"

2012-01-16T23:10:00.001-05:00

10. "childhood"

2012-01-16T23:09:00.001-05:00

Hanging with dad on my 5th birthday. Not much has changed in this picture, he's still my hero.

Day 9 - "daily routine" inversions!

2012-01-16T23:07:00.001-05:00

Cures wrinkles.....

Day 8 - "your sky" our rehearsal dinner, Captiva 8/4/11

2012-01-16T23:05:00.001-05:00

Be present.

2012-01-10T22:33:00.000-05:00

Someone pinch me. Is this really my life?

For years, and years, I feel like transition had become the norm. And I'm not talking about daily life changing and moving in fast forward. I'm talking bad roommates (with a few good), terrible jobs (ones that leave you crying and sleepless day after day), and missing friends and family while being engulfed in the center of the universe (NYC). After college I expected to move to DC and work on campaigns just as I had trained for in college. I loved it and thrived on the grassroots efforts. That didn't work out, something felt wrong about the decision and at the last moment I declined a job offer and didn't move. For a year I lived at home with my family and worked two jobs while trying to figure out what the future would hold, although not really sure what direction I wanted to go. Eventually after being pushed by my mom I made a decision and moved to New York City. I held three jobs and six apartments in the five years that I lived there. I always put in 110% to my positions but nothing ever felt exactly right. I forced career paths that didn't interest me or that clashed with my personality and allowed beyond emotionally unhealthy work environments to continue because I was making great money. Fast forward to 2011 and I'm engaged to the love of my life, married to the love of my life, living in a new city that is jammed packed with family and friends and attending a yoga teacher training program at a studio that blows my mind.

Still waiting for someone to pinch me....... Can this actually last?

I tend to worry about the future. A lot. Like, a lot a lot. Often I let it ruin my present moment or happiness with worry that it will be taken away or willing the next step to come faster. So this year I'm going to try and be more present. I have a long road ahead of me but I really want to enjoy all of the fantastic moments of this journey. I'm making dreams come true with the love of my life by my side. Life is wonderful.

-------------------------------------------

This week in class we learned a chant that I have not been able to get out of my head. I find myself humming the words to myself all day.

Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu

May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may thethoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to thathappiness and to that freedom for all.

Day 7 - "favorite" picture on the fridge #photoaday

2012-01-07T21:23:00.001-05:00

Day 6 - "makes you smile" #photoaday

2012-01-06T15:52:00.001-05:00

Day 5 - "something you wore."

2012-01-05T20:45:00.003-05:00

Day 4 - "letterbox." Sisterhood dinner. #YITS

2012-01-05T20:45:00.001-05:00

Day 3 - "something you adore"

2012-01-03T14:06:00.001-05:00

Day 3 - "something you adore", my wedding gift from Joe. He had my favorite photo of us in NYC commissioned.

Day 2 - b'fast, 1/2/12

2012-01-02T11:24:00.001-05:00

2012....

2012-01-02T10:02:00.001-05:00

I've been sick at home with the flu since the day after Christmas, only venturing out for minor adventures. [Even with a cold a girl needs some fresh air!] Teacher training starts Friday and I want to conserve all of my energy so I'm at the top of my game for the big weekend. I'm going to start this January off with a photo a day challenge [not as difficult as Bikram but a challenge none the less]. Above is a picture of me on 1/1/2012 at the Mummer's parade. I wish I could Mummer's strut my way through life.....

Never let the things you want make you forget the things you have.

2011-12-21T11:09:00.000-05:00

Gift from the Sea

2011-12-19T10:32:00.001-05:00

This year for my birthday my mom gave me the 50th anniversary edition of Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. The book was not only a favorite of my Nan but it was written in Captiva, FL, where Joe and I were married. Every night before bed I read a handful of pages and soak in all of the wonderful, simple lessons. Every now and then I believe that it is important to remind yourself that all of the distractions in this world are just that, distractions and clutter. Nothing more.

Sweet and Spicy Pecans

2011-12-18T17:02:00.000-05:00

I just made these nuts [via FoodNetwork.com] and WOW. They are amazing, definitely a repeat recipe.

Ingredients

1large egg white

2cups unsalted pecan halves

2cups unsalted roasted cashews

1/2 cup sugar

1tablespoon ground cumin

3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1teaspoon ground cinnamon

Kosher salt

Directions

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Beat the egg white with 1tablespoon water in a large bowl until foamy. Add the nuts, sugar, cumin,cayenne, cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon salt and mix well. Spread the mixture on aparchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until the nuts are mostly dry but stillslightly sticky, about 40 minutes.

Remove the nuts from the oven and stir. Reduce thetemperature to 200 degrees F. Return the nuts to the oven and bake until crisp,about 30 more minutes. Stir to loosen the nuts from the baking sheet; coolcompletely on the sheet.

How to Live in New York City

2011-12-15T11:21:00.001-05:00

This pretty much sums up the last 5 years of my life.

via Thought Catalogue

Move here when you’re 18 or 22, maybe even 24. Come from somewhere else-the north, south, west, Xanadu- and come to realize that everyone living in New York is a transplant. Even the ones who grew up on the Upper East Side end up moving into a place downtown, which, as you’ll soon discover, is like moving to a different city.

Discover the cruel and bizarre world of New York City real estate. End up spending an obscene amount of money on something called a broker’s fee, first and last month’s rent and a security deposit. Cry a little bit in the leasing office but remind yourself that you’re so happy to be here.

Picture hearing a man playing the saxophone outside your bedroom window. End up hearing a lot of sirens instead. Figure it’s okay because it’s New York and you’re still so happy to be here.

Go out to bars in the Lower East Side because the Internet told you so. Fall in love with a bar called, Max Fish, and always stay out till four in the morning. Eat a falafel and have someone pay for a cab back to your apartment. Watch the sun start to rise while going over the Williamsburg Bridge and feel like your life is becoming some kind of movie.

Eat bad pizza but trick yourself into believing it’s good because it’s made in New York. Do the same thing with bagels and sex.

Meet people who will be your best friends for three or four months. They’ll help you transition into city life and take you to weird bars in Murray Hill. It will be like the blind leading the blind but once you get a firm grasp on things, you can stop returning their phone calls.

Watch your life in New York go through phases. Spend a summer in Fort Greene with a lover and get to know the neighborhood and its rhythms. Once the fling ends, forget the blocks, parks and restaurants ever existed and don’t return unless you have to.

Encounter a lot of people crying in public. Watch an NYU student cry in Think Coffee, a business woman in midtown sob into her cellphone, an old man whimper on a stoop in Greenpoint. At first, it will feel very jarring but, like everything else, it will become normal. Have your first public cry in front of a Bank of America. Cry so hard and don’t care if people are watching you. You pay good money to be able to cry in public.

Work long hours at a thankless job. Always be one step away from financial destitution. Marvel at how expensive New York is, how when you walk out the door, $20.00 immediately gets deleted from your wallet. Understand that even though no one has any money, everyone is privileged to live in New York City.

Go home for the holidays and run into old friends from high school. When you tell them that you live in New York, watch their eyes widen. They’ll say, “Oh my god, New York? That’s so crazy. I’m so jealous!” Have a blasé attitude about it but deep down inside, know they have good reason to be jealous.

Go home and feel relieved to be away from the energy of the city, that punishing 4:00 a.m. last call. Spend the first two days eating and sleeping, getting back to normal. Spend the last two days feeling anxious and ready to get back to your real home. Realize this city has you by the balls and isn’t going to let you go.

Someday you might grow tired of it all though. You might start crying in public more often than you’d like, have a bad break-up and want to pack it all up.
Certain moments of living in the city will always stick out to you. Buying plums from a fruit vendor on 34th street and eating three of them on a long walk, the day you spent in bed with your best friend watching Tyra Banks, the amazing rooftop party you attended on a sweltering hot day in July. These memories might seem insignificant but they were all moments when you looked around the city and felt like you were a part of it all.

When you leave the city, you probably won’t come back. Eventually your life in New York will seem so far away and sometimes you’ll even wonder if it really happened. Don’t worry. It did.

my gratitude is simple this week

2011-12-14T11:27:00.003-05:00

Today my little pup, Shooter Jennings, has to go in for hip surgery. Two Thursdays ago he jumped off the couch and yelped, followed by a limp on his back left leg. This has happened before and I was told that he just needed to work it out and if he was ok after a few days to let it go. No big deal it could just a kink. Well after a week he was still only using it to stabilize himself. After visiting a new vet, reviewing x-rays and a thorough discussion we set up an appointment with a highly recommended surgeon. Yesterday a meeting with the surgeon concluded with leaving Shooter at the surgery center and scheduling surgery for today. I felt so bad handing him over, knowing that he wouldn't be coming home with us last night let alone two more days. The doctor advised that it is most likely one of two things, 1) FHO (Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO) is a surgical procedure that removes the femoral head and neck from the femur) or 2) a fracture in his femoral head growth plate. The first option has a quick recovery with physical therapy. The second requires a few months of cage rest which breaks my heart. We won't know exactly what the outcome is until he is in surgery but we are confident with the team that is taking care of him. Both J and I were in unison that we needed to do whatever would get our boy back to his normal, healthy self. I know it wasn't my fault but I feel terrible that it was on my watch. I'm very aware that to many this is just a pet with a bum hip but I love him so much. He is a member of our family and he means the world to me. Please send prayers and good vibes, a Christmas miracle for out little man.

1.] I'm grateful to live in a country that has wonderful medical care, even for pets.

2.] I'm grateful for my husbands job that gives us the ability to fix our babe.

3.] I'm grateful for the Thanksgiving/Christmas/NYE holiday season. It feels great to give to others and enjoy time together.

4.] I'm grateful to have a washer and dryer in our apartment. After over 5 years without it I am in pure laundry heaven.

5.] I'm grateful for my warm, cozy bed. At the end of a long day it is just what I need.

gratitude thursday 12/8/11

2011-12-08T11:28:00.001-05:00

1.] I'm grateful for Sons of Anarchy, and sitting down once a week to watch my favorite show with my hubby.

2.] I'm grateful for Shanti Yoga Shala, my yoga studio. For the first time ever I found a studio where I learn and grow next to some really rad teachers.

3.] I'm grateful for Shooter Jennings (my puppy's namesake). His music is the soundtrack to my life.

4.] I'm grateful for Florida. Moving to a new state brought me together with some of my best friends in a setting that is truly magical.

5.] I'm grateful to live in a city that is walkable. I love to go out and explore on foot!

Tomorrow I'm headed to Florida for Melissa's 30th birthday, a few days in the sunshine state with some of my favorite people. Since I start yoga teacher training the first week in January and all of my weekends will be occupied until June I'm going to really take in this time with friends. It'll be my last visit for a while. Friday night we're going to dinner in Mizner park and then headed to The Wishing Well, a college bar where we were frequent customers. And by frequent I mean we lived there. So many people are planning to attend, it will be a wonderful reunion to celebrate Mel! Saturday it is supposed to rain so if we can't hit up the beach Christie and I may go Shooting with her boyfriend Matt. He is a big gun guy, he loves the outdoors and loves to hunt. The day will be up in the air but there is no doubt that we will have fun even it's just hanging out. Saturday night we are going to dinner at The Whale's Rib in Deerfield Beach. The Rib is hands down one of the best seafood bars I've ever been to, pure heaven on a plate. Sunday the entire crew is headed to Miami for the Eagles/Dolphins game. The weekend is no doubt going to be a marathon of good times. I'll update with pictures as we go! Cheers to good times and good friends!

dear santa......

2011-12-01T13:46:00.001-05:00

I'm jonesing for dark velvet and bells and layers of lace... courtesy of Free People and my new favorite brand Novella Royale.

You’ll find out as you set out after your dreams that most people don’t really want you to transcend the situation you were born into. Perhaps they’re scared for you, perhaps they don’t believe in you, or perhaps they’re just nasty, negative naysayers. Whichever it is, I advise you to stop sharing your dreams with people who try to hold you back. Because, if you’re the kind of person who senses there’s something out there for you beyond whatever it is you’re expected to do, if you want to be extraordinary, you will not get there by hanging around a bunch of people who tell you you’re not extraordinary. Instead, you will probably become as ordinary as they expect you to be. We have a saying in New York: when you’re the most happening person at the party, it’s time to leave. Kelly Cutrone

gratitude tuesday, or almost thursday. whatever.

2011-11-30T22:34:00.001-05:00

I blame missing my gratitude Tuesday on my iPhone and it's inability to remind me of the day, sorry ya'll!

1.] I'm grateful for my mom, she is the epitome of strength and grace under fire.

2.] I'm grateful for my dad, we are two of a kind and his humor makes my days brighter.

3.] I'm grateful for my brother. He has grown to be such a sweet man, not boy, and shows me how to keep it simple.

4.] I'm grateful for my sister, she has such an old soul but still lets me be a big sister to her.

5.] I'm grateful for fall beach days. The photo below says enough.

My weekend in the Midwest

2011-11-27T20:38:00.001-05:00

Driving home in an RV from a very disappointing Penn State game in Madison, WI. Good times but I'm definitely not a midwestern gal, give me the South any day.

View of the sunrise.

Drivers.

Rest stop somewhere near South Bend

Home for the weekend.

Big Joe truck driver

Das boot in Madison

Our sleeping "shelf"

Mandy & I geared out

Nittany lion

This & that

2011-11-23T22:37:00.001-05:00

“@TOMS: "When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around." - Willie Nelson”

gratitude

2011-11-22T21:48:00.001-05:00

grat·i·tude /'gratəˌt(y)o͞od/

Noun: Thequality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

This morning I read the below article regarding gratitude and the positive effects that it can have on your life. I've decided that I will do exactly what it instructs, once a week I will list five things for which I am grateful. Tuesday seems like a pretty good day since it's early in the week and positive pick-me-ups are good for all. Here goes:

1.] I'm grateful for yoga. Starting in the new year I will be attending a 200hr teacher training at my new studio where, for the first time, I feel at home.

2.] I'm grateful for this time off. Shooter gets to spend more time with his mommy and I can dote on my husband.

3.] I'm grateful for my health. I'm strong and everyday that I can get up and be active is a great day.

4.] I'm grateful for honest friends who love me for me, in all my gypsy-ness.

5.] I'm grateful for being blessed with the most loving husband on Earth. Seriously.

A Serving of Gratitude May Save the Day

By JOHN TIERNEY

Published: November 21, 2011

The most psychologically correct holiday of the year is uponus.

Thanksgiving may be the holiday from hell for nutritionists,and it produces plenty of war stories for psychiatrists dealing with drunkenfamily meltdowns. But it has recently become the favorite feast ofpsychologists studying the consequences of giving thanks. Cultivating an“attitude of gratitude” has been linked to better health, sounder sleep, lessanxiety and depression, higher long-term satisfaction with life and kinderbehavior toward others, including romantic partners. A new study shows thatfeeling grateful makes people less likely to turn aggressive when provoked,which helps explain why so many brothers-in-law survive Thanksgiving withoutserious injury.

But what if you’re not the grateful sort? I sought guidancefrom the psychologists who have made gratitude a hot research topic. Here’stheir advice for getting into the holiday spirit — or at least getting throughdinner Thursday:

Start with “gratitudelite.” That’s the term used by Robert A. Emmons, of the University ofCalifornia, Davis, for the technique used in his pioneering experiments heconducted along with Michael E. McCullough of the University of Miami. Theyinstructed people to keep a journal listing five things for which they feltgrateful, like a friend’s generosity, something they’d learned, a sunset they’denjoyed.

The gratitude journal was brief — just one sentence for eachof the five things — and done only once a week, but after two months there weresignificant effects. Compared with a control group, the people keeping thegratitude journal were more optimistic and felt happier. They reported fewerphysical problems and spent more time working out.

Further benefits were observed in a study of polio survivorsand other people with neuromuscular problems. The ones who kept a gratitudejournal reported feeling happier and more optimistic than those in a controlgroup, and these reports were corroborated by observations from their spouses.These grateful people also fell asleep more quickly at night, slept longer andwoke up feeling more refreshed.

“If you want to sleep more soundly, count blessings, notsheep,” Dr. Emmons advises in “Thanks!” his book on gratitude research.

Don’t confuse gratitude with indebtedness. Sure, you may feelobliged to return a favor, but that’s not gratitude, at least not the waypsychologists define it. Indebtedness is more of a negative feeling and doesn’tyield the same benefits as gratitude, which inclines you to be nice to anyone,not just a benefactor.

In an experiment at Northeastern University, Monica Bartlettand David DeSteno sabotaged each participant’s computer and arranged foranother student to fix it. Afterward, the students who had been helped werelikelier to volunteer to help someone else — a complete stranger — with anunrelated task. Gratitude promoted good karma. And if it works with strangers....

Try it on yourfamily. No matter how dysfunctional your family, gratitude can still work,says Sonja Lyubomirsky of the University of California, Riverside.

“Do one small and unobtrusive thoughtful or generous thingfor each member of your family on Thanksgiving,” she advises. “Say thank youfor every thoughtful or kind gesture. Express your admiration for someone’sskills or talents — wielding that kitchen knife so masterfully, for example.And truly listen, even when your grandfather is boring you again with the sameWorld War II story.”

Don’t counterattack.If you’re bracing for insults on Thursday, consider a recent experiment at theUniversity of Kentucky. After turning in a piece of writing, some studentsreceived praise for it while others got a scathing evaluation: “This is one ofthe worst essays I’ve ever read!”

Then each student played a computer game against the personwho’d done the evaluation. The winner of the game could administer a blast ofwhite noise to the loser. Not surprisingly, the insulted essayists retaliatedagainst their critics by subjecting them to especially loud blasts — muchlouder than the noise administered by the students who’d gotten positiveevaluations.

But there was an exception to this trend among a subgroup ofthe students: the ones who had been instructed to write essays about things forwhich they were grateful. After that exercise in counting their blessings, theyweren’t bothered by the nasty criticism — or at least they didn’t feelcompelled to amp up the noise against their critics.

“Gratitude is more than just feeling good,” says NathanDeWall, who led the study at Kentucky. “It helps people become less aggressiveby enhancing their empathy. “It’s an equal-opportunity emotion. Anyone canexperience it and benefit from it, even the most crotchety uncle at theThanksgiving dinner table.”

Share the feeling. Whydoes gratitude do so much good? “More than other emotion, gratitude is theemotion of friendship,” Dr. McCullough says. “It is part of a psychologicalsystem that causes people to raise their estimates of how much value they holdin the eyes of another person. Gratitude is what happens when someone doessomething that causes you to realize that you matter more to that person thanyou thought you did.”

Try a gratitudevisit. This exercise, recommended by Martin Seligman of the University ofPennsylvania, begins with writing a 300-word letter to someone who changed yourlife for the better. Be specific about what the person did and how it affectedyou. Deliver it in person, preferably without telling the person in advancewhat the visit is about. When you get there, read the whole thing slowly to yourbenefactor. “You will be happier and less depressed one month from now,” Dr.Seligman guarantees in his book “Flourish.”

Contemplate a higherpower. Religious individuals don’t necessarily act with more gratitude in aspecific situation, but thinking about religion can cause people to feel andact more gratefully, as demonstrated in experiments by Jo-Ann Tsang andcolleagues at Baylor University. Other research shows that praying can increasegratitude.

Go for deep gratitude. Once you’ve learned to count yourblessings, Dr. Emmons says, you can think bigger.

“As a culture, we have lost a deep sense of gratefulnessabout the freedoms we enjoy, a lack of gratitude toward those who lost theirlives in the fight for freedom, a lack of gratitude for all the materialadvantages we have,” he says. “The focus of Thanksgiving should be a reflectionof how our lives have been made so much more comfortable by the sacrifices ofthose who have come before us.”

And if that seems too daunting, you can least tell yourself—

Hey, it could alwaysbe worse. When your relatives force you to look at photos on their phones,be thankful they no longer have access to a slide projector. When your auntexpounds on politics, rejoice inwardly that she does not hold elected office.Instead of focusing on the dry, tasteless turkey on your plate, be grateful thesix-hour roasting process killed any toxic bacteria.

Is that too much of a stretch? When all else fails, rememberthe Monty Python mantra of the Black Plague victim: “I’m not dead.” It’s all amatter of perspective.

My childhood idol

2011-11-05T12:43:00.001-04:00

Mr. Banks: Just a moment, Mary Poppins. What is the meaning of this outrage?

Mary Poppins: I beg your pardon?

Mr. Banks: Will you be good enough to explain all this?

Mary Poppins: First of all, I would like to make one thing quite clear.

Mr. Banks: Yes?

Mary Poppins: I never explain anything.

words of wisdom

2011-10-31T12:58:00.001-04:00

"Humility is the best defense against humiliation."

I'm just going to say it.....

2011-10-31T11:59:00.001-04:00

Well kiddos, here goes...I am going to attend yoga teacher training. I'm not quite sure where and I'm not quite sure when, but I'm going to do it. The wedding is over (wonderful but thank gawd, that was a lot of planning) and we are finally moved and settled in our apartment so this is the perfect time to grab the bull by the horns and just go for it. I've been slowly but surely making my way through the Philly yoga studios to find my groove and get back in shape. The last few months (post-wedding) have been such a whirlwind of wonderful life changes that I set aside care of my physical body to enjoy it all. I. am. SO. out. of. shape. it's not even funny. But I'm going to change this. I love yoga and the feeling I carry with me through the day after a wonderful class. I want to give this to others. I would be lying if I said there isn't a bit (more like a lot) of fear following this decision. Where will I attend training? What if I'm not a good teacher? What if I fail? Yikes! I haven't taken on something like this in a very long time but I'm psyching myself up and trying to keep the most positive attitude possible. I finally admitted these fears to J last night over dinner and he was so supportive. Seriously, his patience with my constant journey are unreal. I felt that if I put it out there I wouldn't be able to walk away from the decision. Sometimes you just have to take a chance and pursue your dreams.

Anyway, a few years ago I started this blog to track my 30-day Bikram yoga challenge and here I am with this grand statement of wanting to teach yoga. Life has really come full circle and you can't even plan for it. I remember taking my first yoga class in college, it was a 1 credit gym elective, and how much fun I had learning the different postures, Sanskrit phrases, and the history of the Bhagavad Gita. At the time I was dating a super conservative guy (read: uptight) who told me not to talk about it when his mom came to visit because she didn't like "new age shit". Somehow I allowed this persons opinions to shape what I enjoyed, mixed with not having enough confidence at the time created a poor combo and I didn't pursue my yoga practice further. But I still forced any captive audience to watch my stellar headstand.

I plan to document my new adventure here, a continued virtual collage of all that I learn and love. And if anyone has any good advice I'm open to info!

Namaste

Leap and the net will appear. John Burroughs (a magnet my mom gave me years ago)

Getting lost will help you find yourself

2011-10-21T18:12:00.001-04:00

Turn, turn, turn

2011-10-05T21:13:00.001-04:00

To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven

A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together

At home enjoying my new incense from West End Garage in Cape May. If you are ever in the area stop over and browse the amazing booths full of antiques, crafts, art, there is something for everyone. I could literally spend hours in there. I spent a good part of this week at home with family. While my visit wasn't due to a positive event I believe spending time with people that you love can be so therapeutic. My family are my best friends and the adult relationships that I've developed with each of them over the years is priceless. As time passes I realize that I would rather spend time just hanging out with them over most other things. We laugh and cry together (and laugh until we cry) and will always make it thru to the other side with the love and support that surrounds us. I am blessed.

Well we're here......

2011-10-02T09:58:00.001-04:00

Still unpacking, finally have cable and internet, I cannot wait to not spend a large portion of my day setting up home.

Land of the free, home of the brave

2011-09-11T10:15:00.003-04:00

10 years ago I spent my first September in New York and watched the skyline change forever. This year I spend my last. I love this city and it's people.

We're hitched!

2011-08-08T11:09:00.001-04:00

The wedding night!

Now enjoying some much needed relaxation in Key West.

this time next week....

2011-07-30T07:21:00.002-04:00

I will be waking up as a Mrs.

via 13:13, our wedding photographers!

my heart goes out to the people of Norway

2011-07-23T16:19:00.001-04:00

"This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness." Dalai Lama

‘You Look Great’ and Other Lies

2011-07-23T15:36:00.002-04:00

I am terrible [TERRIBLE] at knowing what to say when someone is sick. In my eyes I come off as awkward and default to praying for the person. I guess maybe I'm posting this more as a reference for myself......

By BRUCE FEILER via the NYTimes

MY friend sat down and ordered a stiff drink. I didn’t think of her as the stiff-drink kind. An hour later, after our spouses drifted off into conversation, she leaned over the table. “I need your help,” she said. “My sister has a brain tumor. I don’t know what to do.”

Three years ago this month, I learned that I had a seven-inch osteosarcoma in my left femur. Put more directly: I had bone cancer. That diagnosis led me down a dark year that included nine months of chemotherapy and a 15-hour surgery to reconstruct my left leg.

At the time, my wife, Linda, and I were the parents of 3-year-old identical twin girls, and we were often overwhelmed with the everyday challenges of having a sick dad, a working mom and two preschoolers. We survived with help from many people. Our siblings organized an online casserole club, so friends could buy us dinner through a meal service. Grandparents rotated in and out of our basement. My high school classmates made a video at our reunion.

But as my friend’s query suggested, some gestures were more helpful than others, and a few were downright annoying. So at the risk of offending some well-meaning people, here are Six Things You Should Never Say to a Friend (or Relative or Colleague) Who’s Sick. And Four Things You Can Always Say.

First, the Nevers.

1. WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP? Most patients I know grow to hate this ubiquitous, if heartfelt question because it puts the burden back on them. As Doug Ulman, the chief executive of Livestrong and a three-time cancer survivor, explained: “The patient is never going to tell you. They don’t want to feel vulnerable.” Instead, just do something for the patient. And the more mundane the better, because those are the tasks that add up. Want to be really helpful? Clean out my fridge, replace my light bulbs, unpot my dead plants, change my oil.

2. MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU. In my experience, some people think about you, which is nice. Others pray for you, which is equally comforting. But the majority of people who say they’re sending “thoughts and prayers” are just falling back on a mindless cliché. It’s time to retire this hackneyed expression to the final resting place of platitudes, alongside “I’m stepping down to spend more time with my family,” or “It’s not you, it’s me.”

3. DID YOU TRY THAT MANGO COLONIC I RECOMMENDED? I was stunned by the number of friends and strangers alike who inundated me with tips for miracle tonics, Chinese herbs or Swedish visualization exercises. At times, my in-box was like a Grand Ole Opry lineup of 1940s Appalachian black-magic potions. “If you put tumeric under your fingernails, and pepper on your neck, and take a grapefruit shower, you’ll feel better. It cured my Uncle Louie.”

Even worse, the recommenders follow up! Jennifer Goodman Linn, a former marketing executive who’s survived seven recurrences of a sarcoma and is compiling a book, “I Know You Mean Well, but ...,” was approached recently at a store.

“You don’t know me, but you’re friends with my wife,” the man said, before asking Ms. Linn why she wasn’t wearing the kabbalah bracelet they bought her in Israel.

4. EVERYTHING WILL BE O.K. Unsure what to say, many well-wishers fall back on chirpy feel-goodisms. But these banalities are more often designed to allay the fears of the caregiver than those of the patient. As one friend who recently had brain surgery complained: “I got a lot of ‘chin ups,’ ‘you’re going to get better.’ I kept thinking: You haven’t seen the scans. That’s not what the doctor is saying.” The simple truth is, unless you’re a medical professional, resist playing Nostradamus.

5. HOW ARE WE TODAY? Every adult patient I know complains about being infantilized. The writer Letty Cottin Pogrebin, who had breast cancer, is working on a book, “How to Be a Friend to a Friend Who’s Sick.” It includes a list of “no-no’s” that treat ailing grown-ups like children. When the adult patient has living parents, as I did, many mothers in particular fall back on old patterns, from overstepping their boundaries to making bologna sandwiches when the patient hasn’t eaten them since childhood. “Just because someone is dealing with a physical illness,” Mr. Ulman said, “doesn’t diminish their mental capacity.”

6. YOU LOOK GREAT. Nice try, but patients can see right through this chestnut. We know we’re gaunt, our hair is falling out in clumps, our colostomy bag needs emptying. The only thing this hollow expression conveys is that you’re focusing on how we appear. “When people comment on my appearance,” Ms. Linn said, “it reminds me that I don’t look good.”

Next time you want to compliment a patient’s appearance, keep this in mind: Vanity is the only part of the human anatomy that is immune to cancer.

So what do patients like to hear? Here are four suggestions.

1. DON’T WRITE ME BACK. All patients get overwhelmed with the burden of keeping everyone informed, coddled and feeling appreciated. Social networking, while offering some relief, often increases the expectation of round-the-clock updates.

To get around this problem, I appointed a “minister of information,” whose job it was to disseminate news, deflect queries and generally be polite when I didn’t have the energy or inclination to be. But you can do your part, too: If you do drop off a fruitcake or take the dog for a walk, insist the patient not write you a thank-you note. Chicken soup is not a wedding gift; it shouldn’t come with added stress.

2. I SHOULD BE GOING NOW. You’ll never go wrong by uttering these five words while visiting someone who’s sick. As Ms. Pogrebin observes of such visits, don’t overstay your welcome. She recommends 20 minutes, even less if the patient is tired or in pain. And while you’re there, wash a few dishes or tidy up the room. And take out the trash when you leave.

3. WOULD YOU LIKE SOME GOSSIP? One surefire tip: a slight change of topic goes a long way. Patients are often sick of talking about their illness. We have to do that with our doctors, nurses and insurance henchmen. By all means, follow the lead of the individual, but sometimes ignoring the elephant in the room is just the right medicine. Even someone recovering from surgery has an opinion about the starlet’s affair, the underdog in the playoffs or the big election around the corner.

4. I LOVE YOU. When all else fails, simple, direct emotion is the most powerful gift you can give a loved one going through pain. It doesn’t need to be ornamented. It just needs to be real. “I’m sorry you have to go through this.” “I hate to see you suffer.” “You mean a lot to me.” The fact that so few of us do this makes it even more meaningful.

Not long ago, I reached out to my friend’s sister, Amy, who had endured three surgeries in the previous six months for a tumor in the thalamus. She was undergoing physical therapy and had just returned to work. What most annoyed her, I wondered?

“I liked having the family around,” she said, referring to her six siblings and their five spouses. “But I had a lot of issues with my room seeming like a party and my not being in a place where I could be down if I wanted.”

The most helpful tip she got? “People reminded me that I had a free ‘No’ clause whenever I needed it. Especially as someone who tends to please, that was helpful.”

So in the end, what would she say to someone like her sister who leaned over and asked for advice?

“Fully embrace the vulnerability of the situation,” she said. “I would never have gotten through it if I hadn’t allowed people in.”

That even included a new boyfriend, who became so intimately involved in her recovery that she allowed him access to her innermost self. The two became engaged in the I.C.U. and plan to marry next year.

Bruce Feiler’s memoir, “The Council of Dads: A Story of Family, Friendship and Learning How to Live,” has just been published in paperback.

it's not where you've been, it's where you're going

2011-07-23T14:58:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was my last day at SS+K. While I will miss many of the people that I've come to adore I am beyond stoked for the adventure ahead. In less than 2 weeks J and I will be getting married in Captiva and spending some very anticipated (and relaxing) time in Key West. After our return from Florida we have some big changes coming our way. Big changes! When the apartment lease ends in September we've decided to move to Philadelphia! I've been in NY for 5 years and have watched most of my friends come and go and move on to better (it's hard to be bigger outside of NYC). I never thought I would be the last to leave the island but while I am quite comfortable in my life here I would love to be closer to family and friends. It is just wonderful that we have the ability to be in a smaller city and yet so close to home for the both of us (J from PA and me from South Jersey). For a long time I agreed and even humored the joke that if you left the city you would fall of the face of the earth, and sometimes I even still fear that I will not be satisfied/happy outside of this place that I've come to call home. Ever since I can remember I've been fascinated by Philadelphia, the vibe, the history, the sports teams that I love more than anything. There is something special about it. So over the next two months I will be searching for apartments and trying to prepare us for a change of address. Along with this task I will be trying to get my yoga practice in shape so I can prepare for a teacher training program sometime in the next few months. Since I will also have more free time than I've had since a summer during college I plan to jam in as much volunteer work as possible. I plan to take full advantage of this opportunity. Stay tuned for more of the craziness to come.......

unstoppable

2011-07-19T09:45:00.003-04:00

While watching the ESPYs last week I was blown away by Anthony Robles, the young man that was honored with the Jimmy V Award. To say it was well deserved is an understatement. Below is a poem that was written by him and read during his acceptance speech. I suggest you also read this Sports Illustrated article if you are ever in need of inspiration. With heart and drive you can do great things.

"Every soul who comes to earth
with a leg or two at birth
must wrestle his opponents knowing it's not what is,
it's what can be that measures worth.
Make it hard, just make it possible
and through pain I'll not complain.
My spirit is unconquerable,
fearless I will face each foe, for I know I am capable.
I don't care what's probable,
through blood, sweat, and tears, I am unstoppable." -Anthony Robles

make time for yoga. no excuses.

2011-07-14T20:53:00.001-04:00

via the Lululemon blog:

wan·der·lust: [n.] a strong desire to travel. This pretty much sums up my state of mind about 99% of the time, so when the opportunity to combine,
yoga, travel and social media at Wanderlust Festival arose, I was first to volunteer.

I’m a little ashamed to say that in the month leading up to the festival, yoga was lacking in my life. Work was busy, the weather was wet and excuses were plentiful. I was literally counting down the days until I could escape to my mat and find some sunshine and peace.

Getting to my first class at Wanderlust was hectic to say the least. I was running on 2 hours of sleep, there was torrential rain, thunder, lightning and crowds of people everywhere. Despite the less than ideal conditions, I was determined to unroll my mat, begin my practice and be present in the moment.

As I walked out of the tent after a powerful class with the legendary Sean Corne, I couldn’t help but laugh at my boost of motivation. Where had this drive been for the last month or so? Why was this class any different than my ones at home? Four days of handstands, backbends, vinyasa flows and meaningful insights reminded me why I fell in love with yoga and how integral it is in my life. It’s my time for expression and reflection. It’s my place to feel strong and to relax.

Though at times getting to class can seem like a hassle or even a stressor in itself, we need to remind ourselves that it’s always worth the effort. My biggest takeaway from Wanderlust was that I don’t need to wander to find time for my practice. I just need to roll out my mat.

Change of Time

2011-07-13T17:53:00.002-04:00

This song always makes me feel better after a rough day....

I had a dream last night
I dreamt that I was swimming
And the stars up above
Directionless and drifting
Somewhere in the dark
Were the sirens and the thunder
And around me as I swam
The drifters who'd gone under

Time, Love
Time, Love
Time, Love
It's only a change of time

I had a dream last night
And rusting far below me
Battered hulls and broken hardships
Leviathan and lonely
I was thirsty so I drank
And though it was salt water
There was something about the way
It tasted so familiar

The black clouds I'm hanging
This anchor I'm dragging
The sails of memory rip open in silence
We cut through the lowlands
All hands through the saltlands
The white caps of memory
Confusing and violent

I had a dream last night
And when I opened my eyes
Your shoulder blade, your spine
Were shorelines in the moonlight
New worlds for the weary
New lands for the living
I could make it if I tried
I closed my eyes I kept on swimming

BKB

2011-07-10T19:18:00.001-04:00

Here are a few pictures from my trip to Brooklyn Boulders yesterday morning. I've been climbing with ropes before but this was my first time bouldering, or shorter climbs without a rope. It was exhilarating to know that even though you may only be 15-20 feet in the air it is up to you and your strength to stay on the wall. I'm addicted.....

Rain over me

2011-07-08T17:26:00.001-04:00

or just over the East River, with a rainbow. Taken yesterday from my office cafe.

lately

2011-07-08T10:43:00.005-04:00

The lovely new header photo is compliments of my sweet cousin Melissa. She is so very talented and this gorgeous shot was taken over the 4th of July weekend in Cape May Point at their local summer bazaar. The weekend would have only been better if I was not out of commission with a terrible cold and cranky as all hell. My apologies for anyone that was subjected to my wrath.

P.S. my profile image is also compliments of her :-)

i need this, i want this

2011-07-06T10:59:00.000-04:00

oh baby, oh baby

friday inspiration board

2011-07-01T13:49:00.003-04:00

lovely pics via they all hate us

In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you. --Deepak Chopra

2011-07-01T11:02:00.002-04:00

can't wait to be home

"This could be the start of something big."

2011-06-30T14:34:00.002-04:00

Bruce Springsteen's Eulogy for Clarence Clemons

By ROLLING STONE

JUNE 29, 2011 1:35 PM ET

Bruce Springsteen has released the text of the eulogy that he delivered at the funeral of Clarence Clemons on June 21st at Royal Poinciana Chapel in Palm Beach, Florida. He also performed an acoustic version of "10th Avenue Freeze-Out" and ended the ceremony by performing "You're A Friend Of Mine" with Jackson Browne and members of The E Street Band. "This is a slightly revised version of the eulogy I delivered for Clarence at his memorial," says Springsteen. "I’d like to thank all our fans and friends who have comforted us over the past difficult weeks."

I’ve been sitting here listening to everyone talk about Clarence and staring at that photo of the two of us right there. It’s a picture of Scooter and The Big Man, people who we were sometimes. As you can see in this particular photo, Clarence is admiring his muscles and I’m pretending to be nonchalant while leaning upon him. I leaned on Clarence a lot; I made a career out of it in some ways.

Those of us who shared Clarence’s life, shared with him his love and his confusion. Though "C" mellowed with age, he was always a wild and unpredictable ride. Today I see his sons Nicky, Chuck, Christopher and Jarod sitting here and I see in them the reflection of a lot of C’s qualities. I see his light, his darkness, his sweetness, his roughness, his gentleness, his anger, his brilliance, his handsomeness, and his goodness. But, as you boys know your pop was a not a day at the beach. "C" lived a life where he did what he wanted to do and he let the chips, human and otherwise, fall where they may. Like a lot of us your pop was capable of great magic and also of making quite an amazing mess. This was just the nature of your daddy and my beautiful friend. Clarence’s unconditional love, which was very real, came with a lot of conditions. Your pop was a major project and always a work in progress. "C" never approached anything linearly, life never proceeded in a straight line. He never went A… B…. C…. D. It was always A… J…. C…. Z… Q… I….! That was the way Clarence lived and made his way through the world. I know that can lead to a lot of confusion and hurt, but your father also carried a lot of love with him, and I know he loved each of you very very dearly.

It took a village to take care of Clarence Clemons. Tina, I’m so glad you’re here. Thank you for taking care of my friend, for loving him. Victoria, you’ve been a loving, kind and caring wife to Clarence and you made a huge difference in his life at a time when the going was not always easy. To all of "C’s" vast support network, names too numerous to mention, you know who you are and we thank you. Your rewards await you at the pearly gates. My pal was a tough act but he brought things into your life that were unique and when he turned on that love light, it illuminated your world. I was lucky enough to stand in that light for almost 40 years, near Clarence’s heart, in the Temple of Soul.

So a little bit of history: from the early days when Clarence and I traveled together, we’d pull up to the evenings lodgings and within minutes "C" would transform his room into a world of his own. Out came the colored scarves to be draped over the lamps, the scented candles, the incense, the patchouli oil, the herbs, the music, the day would be banished, entertainment would come and go, and Clarence the Shaman would reign and work his magic night, after night. Clarence’s ability to enjoy Clarence was incredible. By 69, he’d had a good run, because he’d already lived about 10 lives, 690 years in the life of an average man. Every night, in every place, the magic came flying out of C’s suitcase. As soon as success allowed, his dressing room would take on the same trappings as his hotel room until a visit there was like a trip to a sovereign nation that had just struck huge oil reserves. "C" always knew how to live. Long before Prince was out of his diapers, an air of raunchy mysticism ruled in the Big Man’s world. I’d wander in from my dressing room, which contained several fine couches and some athletic lockers, and wonder what I was doing wrong! Somewhere along the way all of this was christened the Temple of Soul; and "C" presided smilingly over its secrets, and its pleasures. Being allowed admittance to the Temple’s wonders was a lovely thing.

As a young child my son Sam became enchanted with the Big Man… no surprise. To a child Clarence was a towering fairy tale figure, out of some very exotic storybook. He was a dreadlocked giant, with great hands and a deep mellifluous voice sugared with kindness and regard. And… to Sammy, who was just a little white boy, he was deeply and mysteriously black. In Sammy’s eyes, "C" must have appeared as all of the African continent, shot through with American cool, rolled into one welcoming and loving figure. So… Sammy decided to pass on my work shirts and became fascinated by Clarence’s suits and his royal robes. He declined a seat in dad’s van and opted for "C’s" stretch limousine, sitting by his side on the slow cruise to the show. He decided dinner in front of the hometown locker just wouldn’t do, and he’d saunter up the hall and disappear into the Temple of Soul.

Of course, also enchanted was Sam’s dad, from the first time I saw my pal striding out of the shadows of a half empty bar in Asbury Park, a path opening up before him; here comes my brother, here comes my sax man, my inspiration, my partner, my lifelong friend. Standing next to Clarence was like standing next to the baddest ass on the planet. You were proud, you were strong, you were excited and laughing with what might happen, with what together, you might be able to do. You felt like no matter what the day or the night brought, nothing was going to touch you. Clarence could be fragile but he also emanated power and safety, and in some funny way we became each other’s protectors; I think perhaps I protected "C" from a world where it still wasn’t so easy to be big and black. Racism was ever present and over the years together, we saw it. Clarence’s celebrity and size did not make him immune. I think perhaps "C" protected me from a world where it wasn’t always so easy to be an insecure, weird and skinny white boy either. But, standing together we were badass, on any given night, on our turf, some of the baddest asses on the planet. We were united, we were strong, we were righteous, we were unmovable, we were funny, we were corny as hell and as serious as death itself. And we were coming to your town to shake you and to wake you up. Together, we told an older, richer story about the possibilities of friendship that transcended those I’d written in my songs and in my music. Clarence carried it in his heart. It was a story where the Scooter and the Big Man not only busted the city in half, but we kicked ass and remade the city, shaping it into the kind of place where our friendship would not be such an anomaly. And that… that’s what I’m gonna miss. The chance to renew that vow and double down on that story on a nightly basis, because that is something, that is thething that we did together… the two of us. Clarence was big, and he made me feel, and think, and love, and dream big. How big was the Big Man? Too fucking big to die. And that’s just the facts. You can put it on his grave stone, you can tattoo it over your heart. Accept it… it’s the New World.

Clarence doesn’t leave the E Street Band when he dies. He leaves when we die.

So, I’ll miss my friend, his sax, the force of nature his sound was, his glory, his foolishness, his accomplishments, his face, his hands, his humor, his skin, his noise, his confusion, his power, his peace. But his love and his story, the story that he gave me, that he whispered in my ear, that he allowed me to tell… and that he gave to you… is gonna carry on. I’m no mystic, but the undertow, the mystery and power of Clarence and my friendship leads me to believe we must have stood together in other, older times, along other rivers, in other cities, in other fields, doing our modest version of god’s work… work that’s still unfinished. So I won’t say goodbye to my brother, I’ll simply say, see you in the next life, further on up the road, where we will once again pick up that work, and get it done.

Big Man, thank you for your kindness, your strength, your dedication, your work, your story. Thanks for the miracle… and for letting a little white boy slip through the side door of the Temple of Soul.

SO LADIES AND GENTLEMAN… ALWAYS LAST, BUT NEVER LEAST. LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE MASTER OF DISASTER, the BIG KAHUNA, the MAN WITH A PHD IN SAXUAL HEALING, the DUKE OF PADUCAH, the KING OF THE WORLD, LOOK OUT OBAMA! THE NEXT BLACK PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES EVEN THOUGH HE’S DEAD… YOU WISH YOU COULD BE LIKE HIM BUT YOU CAN’T! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE BIGGEST MAN YOU’VE EVER SEEN!... GIVE ME A C-L-A-R-E-N-C-E. WHAT’S THAT SPELL? CLARENCE! WHAT’S THAT SPELL? CLARENCE! WHAT’S THAT SPELL? CLARENCE! … amen.

I’m gonna leave you today with a quote from the Big Man himself, which he shared on the plane ride home from Buffalo, the last show of the last tour. As we celebrated in the front cabin congratulating one another and telling tales of the many epic shows, rocking nights and good times we’d shared, "C" sat quietly, taking it all in, then he raised his glass, smiled and said to all gathered, "This could be the start of something big."

Love you, "C".

Sanibel

2011-06-24T09:25:00.002-04:00

Last weekend J & I flew down to Sanibel to finalize Captiva wedding plans and spend time with my Dad. Both of us grew up visiting family down there and my dad and aunt still own homes in Sanibel. We arrived late Thursday night and made a swing by Miller's Ale House. The Ale House is a giant chain that has locations all over FL and even up in to Philly. Once I realized there was a location nearby we cruised on by for some brews and their AMAZING zingers. I lived off of these delicious buffalo chicken fingers in college and the Ale House was always our go-to place on Sunday nights after Chapter. So many fond Greek memories, this place holds a special spot in my heart. Friday morning we met with our wedding planner and did a final walk through of everything wedding related. The resort was even better looking than I remembered, I cannot wait for the day to get here! After a hair trial and meeting with the florist we headed to lunch at The Mucky Duck on the beach in Captiva. This place is adorable with a great view, fun decor and delicious food (if you go, get the fried grouper sandwich. you won't be disappointed!). The rest of the day was spent hanging with my dad once he arrived and cooling off with cold beer. Friday night Big Sam treated us to dinner at The Green Flash and even though we arrived just before sunset we caught a glimpse of a manatee doing flips out in the water. Something about being near the ocean with all of the wildlife makes me happy and settled inside. My soul just vibes with it. Saturday we got a nice little work out in and stopped by the Lighthouse Cafe for breakfast, followed by a bike ride to the beach. Below you can see pictures of the storm that rolled in over the ocean. After the first lightning strike was spotted over the ocean we jetted back to the house thinking the heaven's were going to open up. No such luck. I should have known better, just a beautifully violent FL summer storm. Northern storms can't hold a candle to the craziness down south. Storms come and go in a heartbeat and it can be raining in your front yard with sunshine in the back. On our final night there we treated my dad to dinner at Traditions on the beach in Sanibel. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone in the area. Our food was outstanding, everything from the soup to the meatballs and lobster ravioli to the veal and mahi-mahi. Beyond the food we laughed harder that night than I have in a long time. The atmosphere was somewhere around the old Windrift dining room with a little BLT band thrown in and plenty of 60+ people shaking it. It was definitely a sight to be seen, especially when Chef Aziz came out to play the bongos. All in all it was a fantastic weekend with two men whom I love dearly.

We're here!
The Mucky Duck

Sanibel bike path
Some serious clouds at Beach Access #1
Pelicans
Bye bye paradise

mid-week pick me up

2011-06-22T17:43:00.004-04:00

Thank you to my dear, dear friend Rebecca for sending me this picture. She is someone who knows what she wants and follows her dreams in the most sweet, polite and determined way. She is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the legal [and political] world. Mark my words.

transitions

2011-06-22T12:40:00.004-04:00

my blogger/twitter/sanity has taken a back seat to wedding planning. i feel like any free time i have i am online researching wedding blogs and trying to make final decisions before the august ceremony. so much talking, talking, talking. i understand now why people wait for 1+ years to plan, it is stressful and consuming. i keep having to remind myself that this is a one time affair and that i need to make the choice that we want instead of what will be easy or cheaper, which is absolutely not the best way to go. my yoga practice has also suffered immensely. instead of yoga i've been supplementing my workouts with running and cycling to work off the stress. every august i participate in the philly livestrong challenge and despite all of the crazy planning i'm very excited for this event. for the 4th year i'm part of the penn medicine/chop team and have started some serious training for the ride (45 miles) and run (10k). over the last few months i've lost almost 15lbs., which is a lot to lose [and not to mention, gain] on my body. for over a year i sort of let myself get lazy and eat poorly and i'm finally on a better/healthier track. and, since the challenge is 2 weeks after the wedding i'll continue my routine through the end of summer and hopefully be permanently out of my bad habits. anyone who knows me is aware that i let stress get the best of me and having this energy outlet is a total life saver. but i am still praying that i can get back in to my yoga routine shortly. i need a vinyasa flow like the deserts need the rain.

namaste peeps.

I love being home....

2011-06-12T20:26:00.001-04:00

Because I get to do things like watching Mob Wives with my sister.

Manhattan in Motion

2011-06-08T17:27:00.001-04:00

Mindrelic - Manhattan in motion from Mindrelic on Vimeo.

where men win glory

2011-06-07T12:17:00.000-04:00

Who among mortal men are you, good friend? Since never before have I seen you in the fighting where men win glory, yet now you have come striding far out in front of all others in your great heart...
--Homer, The Iliad

This is a little delayed but I recently finished the book Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman (by Jon Krakauer) and it was ah-mazing. I blew through it on my commute and my interest never waned. During college I took every class offered on the Middle East and enjoyed learning the history and politics of the region. My mom's family lived in Tehran for a time while my grandfather worked overseas and I've always admired the artifacts that we've had floating around our family from their many adventures. I also love war stories, it doesn't matter what era, I'll take them all. This book opened my eyes to the human error that can occur when you put young people in such a high stress environment, and the cover-ups that came along with the tragic accident. I urge anyone with a slight interest in this story to read the book. Krakauer does a fantastic job of laying out the timeline of facts and events while also keeping the emotion that drove Pat to serve his country. While I am proud to live in the USA and all of the freedom's that we are afforded due to the brave people that protect our country, I can't help but wonder about other situations that may be misconstrued for public propaganda. Anyway, it was a fabulous read and I would highly recommend it if this topic interests you.

I miss my friends a lot

2011-06-03T21:41:00.001-04:00

They are scattered all over the country and not one lives in the same city as me. I'm in major need of some girl time, chats over good wine and food, and solid belly laughs. Soon, but not soon enough :-(

i want

2011-06-01T17:25:00.001-04:00

via Belstaff

fiending like a junkie for these

2011-05-23T13:34:00.004-04:00

Last night while scanning the fashion blogs to score my daily fix I came across the below bag that I need. I NEED. via Mohawk General Store

I also need to snatch up some of these pieces for all of the wedding events to take place this summer. via Sobral

Brought to you by BLEACH BLACK. Do it.

sunny Saturday

2011-05-21T09:13:00.000-04:00

[not gay] post

2011-05-19T15:04:00.001-04:00

caffe

2011-05-18T14:46:00.001-04:00

Sunny Friday

2011-05-06T14:49:00.005-04:00

“The true harvest of my life is intangible - a little star dust caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched.” Henry David Thoreau

happy meditation may

2011-05-04T13:19:00.005-04:00

I'm just beginning my meditation practice but one thing I've realized is how every person has a different perspective of what constitutes mediation. Some people believe that it is a ritualed practice that requires a rigid agenda and discipline. Others (like my teacher) follow the path of belief that if you get 1 minute a day for yourself to meditate you are a blessed and lucky person. My gym only offers one class a month and while I am open to trying different methods and teachings I am also very wary of any cult-like situations. I don't do well in super structured practices because I believe that not everything works for everybody, we all have different needs everyday and what you need at the moment is very situational. While I'm still forming my own beliefs and developing practices that work for me, I also want something that I can incorporate in to my daily life, one that allows me to make my own path.

I am so intrigued by the medical data that has been written about meditation and yoga. Below is some info from the Mayo Clinic website on the benefits, styles of mediation and ways that you can practice meditation in your own life. Namaste friends!

Meditation: A simple, fast way to reduce stress

Meditation can wipe away the day's stress, bringing with it inner peace. See how you can easily learn to practice meditation whenever you need it most.

By Mayo Clinic staff

If stress has you anxious, tense and worried, consider trying meditation. Spending even a few minutes in meditation can restore your calm and inner peace.

Anyone can practice meditation. It's simple and inexpensive, and it doesn't require any special equipment. And you can practice meditation wherever you are — whether you're out for a walk, riding the bus, waiting at the doctor's office or even in the middle of a difficult business meeting.

Understanding meditation

Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years. Meditation originally was meant to help deepen understanding of the sacred and mystical forces of life. These days, meditation is commonly used for relaxation and stress reduction.

Meditation is considered a type of mind-body complementary medicine. Meditation produces a deep state of relaxation and a tranquil mind. During meditation, you focus your attention and eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. This process results in enhanced physical and emotional well-being.

Benefits of meditation

Meditation can give you a sense of calm, peace and balance that benefits both your emotional well-being and your overall health. And these benefits don't end when your meditation session ends. Meditation can help carry you more calmly through your day and can even improve certain medical conditions.

Meditation and emotional well-being
When you meditate, you clear away the information overload that builds up every day and contributes to your stress.

The emotional benefits of meditation include:

Gaining a new perspective on stressful situations
Building skills to manage your stress
Increasing self-awareness
Focusing on the present
Reducing negative emotions

Meditation and illness
Meditation also might be useful if you have a medical condition, especially one that may be worsened by stress. While a growing body of scientific research supports the health benefits of meditation, some researchers believe it's not yet possible to draw conclusions about the possible benefits of meditation.

With that in mind, some research suggests that meditation may help such conditions as:

Allergies
Anxiety disorders
Asthma
Binge eating
Cancer
Depression
Fatigue
Heart disease
High blood pressure
Pain
Sleep problems
Substance abuse

Be sure to talk to your health care provider about the pros and cons of using meditation if you have any of these conditions or other health problems. In some cases, meditation can worsen symptoms associated with certain mental health conditions. Meditation isn't a replacement for traditional medical treatment. But it may be a useful addition to your other treatment.

Types of meditation

Meditation is an umbrella term for the many ways to a relaxed state of being. There are many types of meditation and relaxation techniques that have meditation components. All share the same goal of achieving inner peace.

Ways to meditate can include:

Guided meditation. Sometimes called guided imagery or visualization, with this method of meditation you form mental images of places or situations you find relaxing. You try to use as many senses as possible, such as smells, sights, sounds and textures. You may be led through this process by a guide or teacher.
Mantra meditation. In this type of meditation, you silently repeat a calming word, thought or phrase to prevent distracting thoughts.
Mindfulness meditation. This type of meditation is based on being mindful, or having an increased awareness and acceptance of living in the present moment. You broaden your conscious awareness. You focus on what you experience during meditation, such as the flow of your breath. You can observe your thoughts and emotions but let them pass without judgment.
Qi gong. This practice generally combines meditation, relaxation, physical movement and breathing exercises to restore and maintain balance. Qi gong (CHEE-gung) is part of traditional Chinese medicine.
Tai chi. This is a form of gentle Chinese martial arts. In tai chi (TIE-chee), you perform a self-paced series of postures or movements in a slow, graceful manner while practicing deep breathing.
Transcendental meditation. You use a mantra, such as a word, sound or phrase repeatedly silently, to narrow your conscious awareness and eliminate all thoughts from your mind. You focus exclusively on your mantra to achieve a state of perfect stillness and consciousness.
Yoga. You perform a series of postures and controlled breathing exercises to promote a more flexible body and a calm mind. As you move through poses that require balance and concentration, you're encouraged to focus less on your busy day and more on the moment.
Meditation: A simple, fast way to reduce stress
Elements of meditation
Different types of meditation may include different features to help you meditate. These may vary depending on whose guidance you follow or who's teaching a class. Some of the most common features in meditation include:
- Focused attention. Focusing your attention is generally one of the most important elements of meditation. Focusing your attention is what helps free your mind from the many distractions that cause stress and worry. You can focus your attention on such things as a specific object, an image, a mantra, or even your breathing.
- Relaxed breathing. This technique involves deep, even-paced breathing using the diaphragm muscle to expand your lungs. The purpose is to slow your breathing, take in more oxygen, and reduce the use of shoulder, neck and upper chest muscles while breathing so that you breathe more efficiently.
- A quiet setting. If you're a beginner, practicing meditation may be easier if you're in a quiet spot with few distractions — no television, radios or cellphones. As you get more skilled at meditation, you may be able to do it anywhere, especially in high-stress situations where you benefit the most from meditation, such as a traffic jam, a stressful work meeting or a long line at the grocery store.
- A comfortable position. You can practice meditation whether you're sitting, lying down, walking or in other positions or activities. Just try to be comfortable so that you can get the most out of your meditation.
Everyday ways to practice meditation
Don't let the thought of meditating the "right" way add to your stress. Sure, you can attend special meditation centers or group classes led by trained instructors. But you also can practice meditation easily on your own.
And you can make meditation as formal or informal as you like — whatever suits your lifestyle and situation. Some people build meditation into their daily routine. For example, they may start and end each day with an hour of meditation. But all you really need is a few minutes of quality time for meditation.
Here are some ways you can practice meditation on your own, whenever you choose:
- Breathe deeply. This technique is good for beginners because breathing is a natural function. Focus all attention on your breathing. Concentrate on feeling and listening as you inhale and exhale through your nostrils. Breathe deeply and slowly. When your attention wanders, gently return your focus to your breathing.
- Scan your body. When using this technique, focus attention on different parts of your body. Become aware of your body's various sensations, whether that's pain, tension, warmth or relaxation. Combine body scanning with breathing exercises and imagine breathing heat or relaxation into and out of different parts of your body.
- Repeat a mantra. You can create your own mantra, whether it's religious or secular. Examples of religious mantras include the Jesus Prayer in the Christian tradition, the holy name of God in Judaism, or the om mantra of Hinduism, Buddhism and other Eastern religions.
- Walk and meditate. Combining a walk with meditation is an efficient and healthy way to relax. You can use this technique anywhere you're walking — in a tranquil forest, on a city sidewalk or at the mall. When you use this method, slow down the pace of walking so that you can focus on each movement of your legs or feet. Don't focus on a particular destination. Concentrate on your legs and feet, repeating action words in your mind such as lifting, moving and placing as you lift each foot, move your leg forward and place your foot on the ground.
- Engage in prayer. Prayer is the best known and most widely practiced example of meditation. Spoken and written prayers are found in most faith traditions. You can pray using your own words or read prayers written by others. Check the self-help or 12-step-recovery section of your local bookstore for examples. Talk with your rabbi, priest, pastor or other spiritual leader about resources.
- Read and reflect. Many people report that they benefit from reading poems or sacred texts, and taking a few moments to quietly reflect on their meaning. You also can listen to sacred music, spoken words or any music you find relaxing or inspiring. You may want to write your reflections in a journal or discuss them with a friend or spiritual leader.
- Focus your love and gratitude. In this type of meditation, you focus your attention on a sacred object or being, weaving feelings of love and gratitude into your thoughts. You can also close your eyes and use your imagination or gaze at representations of the object.
Building your meditation skills
Don't judge your meditation skills, which may only increase your stress. Meditation takes practice. Keep in mind, for instance, that it's common for your mind to wander during meditation, no matter how long you've been practicing meditation. If you're meditating to calm your mind and your attention wanders, slowly return to the object, sensation or movement you're focusing on.
Experiment, and you'll likely find out what types of meditation work best for you and what you enjoy doing. Adapt meditation to your needs at the moment. Remember, there's no right way or wrong way to meditate. What matters is that meditation helps you with stress reduction and feeling better overall.

a little sartorial celebration

2011-05-03T10:08:00.009-04:00

Not to take away from the all important royal wedding or killing of OBL (finally) but last night was the 2011 Met Gala and I feel the need to pass on what I've been drooling over.

First, the make-up! While my day to day make-up is some black kohl liner and a sheer shade on my lips I am a complete sucker for color on the face (ask Jill about the Hamburglar eyes). the eyes and lips below, uh I can't even.........

Not loving Ashley and Mary-Kate's dresses but they are always adorable.

Stunners

Eva Mendes has moxie.

Tousled hair looks so fabulous with evening wear.

I would pretty much give a limb to wear one of these dresses.

Not loving the look Tay-Tay.

I wish to God I could pull this dress off, or even have a place to wear it.

Skirts on men, sexy.

And for some reason I just really love the long sleeves on this simple pink Michael Kors dress. I don't even like pink and I love this.

50 ways to cope with stress

2011-04-25T14:06:00.001-04:00

via A CUP OF JO

Peter Luger's birthday celebrations

2011-04-21T16:42:00.003-04:00

A few pictures from Joe's birthday dinner at Peter Luger's Steakhouse. It was a massacre of deliciousness.

Some brews.
Giant steak tomatoes and PL sauce.
Bacon!
Steak for 2

The birthday boy as the waiters sang to him

the out-of-this-world sundae with homemade "schlag" (whipped cream). i live and die for this dessert.....

Shooter in The NY Times

2011-04-20T16:31:00.005-04:00

My boo is famous :-) via The New York Times. Joe is the proud (blurry) dad in the background haha.

Birthday celebrations begin

2011-04-19T18:16:00.003-04:00

Headed to dinner to celebrate J's birthday! Going to take plenty of pictures at Peter Luger's and stuff our faces with unhealthy deliciousness :-)

Use your life as a meditation, and all the events in it. Walk in wakefulness, not as one asleep. Move with mindfulness, and do not tarry in doubt and fear, yet reside in permanent splendor in the assurance that you are grandly loved. --N. Walsch

But life without meaning is the torture

2011-04-19T13:41:00.003-04:00

Today I received a promotional e-mail from my favorite charity, LIVESTRONG. It is really amazing how a random blast can have such an impact. The message was simply that Adam Bornstein's, the editor, greatest life lesson was from someone he didn't even know: Don’t be George Gray. I'm not a big poetry person and I can name probably 3 poems that have truly moved me and have been stuck in my soul from year to year. This happens to be one of them. I vow to never be George Gray, I will make my dreams happen and enjoy every breath of life.

George Gray by Edgar Lee Masters

I have studied many times
The marble which was chiseled for me --
A boat with a furled sail at rest in a harbor.
In truth it pictures not my destination
But my life.
For love was offered me and I shrank from its disillusionment;
Sorrow knocked at my door, but I was afraid;
Ambition called to me, but I dreaded the chances.
Yet all the while I hungered for meaning in my life.
And now I know that we must lift the sail
And catch the winds of destiny
Wherever they drive the boat.
To put meaning in one's life may end in madness,
But life without meaning is the torture
Of restlessness and vague desire --
It is a boat longing for the sea and yet afraid.

Sunday on the Hudson

2011-04-17T12:34:00.001-04:00

Happy birthday soulsistah!

2011-04-17T08:17:00.003-04:00

Today is Christie's birthday! Happy birthday bestie, wish I could be there to celebrate and drink tequila and eat dirty mexican food and chill at the beach! Wishing all the best that life has to offer :-)

Longtime oil industry champion now calls BP liars, almost a year after oil spill

2011-04-14T16:23:00.002-04:00

Anyone who knows me is well aware that I live for the ocean and beach. It is where I grew up, where I go for peace, and where I feel home. My dad is an avid fisherman and I can still remember catching my first kingfish in the back bay of 114th street. I can't imagine the devastation that the Gulf is still experiencing, along with the frustration. My heart breaks for the region.

By Bob Marshall, The Times-Picayune

A year after the Deepwater Horizon exploded 60 miles south of his Buras hunting and fishing lodge, Ryan Lambert can distill his opinion of BP and the oil industry down to one word: Liars.

It's an opinion he never thought he'd have.

"The fishing industry has always lived side-by-side with the oil industry down here in Plaquemines Parish, and they've always told us that if anything happened, they would take care of the problem -- they would repair the damages and they would make us whole -- and I believed them," said Lambert, whose Cajun Fishing Adventures Lodge is one of the state's largest.

"Well, they lied. About everything. They didn't take care of the problem, and they're not taking care of us. Guys in my business weren't made whole. A lot of them are starving. And now that the national media is gone, BP couldn't care less.

"I'm sick of it, and I'm telling the whole country about it -- on national TV, in magazines and in front of Congress."

As soon as BP's flood of crude oil began flowing toward the coast last year, Lambert, 52, knew change would rock the business he had spent nearly half his life building into a regional powerhouse.

He expected his income to plummet, and it did; the peak spring-summer season was down 94 percent from his average, a drop he says cost him $1.1 million.

He expected the 22 families that depend on his business for their livelihoods -- a lodge staff of eight, plus 14 guides -- to take a financial wallop, and they did. Only five of the guides were hired in the cleanup effort. The rest were "calling me daily hoping for work -- which I still don't have for them," he said.

He expected the economic hangover to carry into 2011, and it has; his bookings for May and June are down 55 percent from a normal year, and he has nothing beyond that.

But two changes occurred he never saw coming.

First, the help BP said was on the way to repair damages inflicted on businesses and the environment never came, he said.

A trust turned upside-down

That event led to a second unanticipated change: His long trust in the oil industry and skepticism of environmental groups was turned upside-down. He has become a willing volunteer for national green groups, among them the National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Defense Council, Ducks Unlimited, The Green Group and the Izaak Walton league.

In fact, on Sunday he leaves on his second trip to Washington as a guest of the Natural Resources Defense Council to tell his personal story of loss and disappointment.

"Originally, I was using (the spill) as an opportunity to tell them about the real problem we have here: coastal erosion," said Lambert, who has been involved in that cause for years.

"But the bad experiences we've had with all the lies and broken promises in this disaster have really opened my eyes. And I want everyone in the country to know about it ... know you can't trust what (the oil industry) promises you."

Lambert said the bad experiences didn't start immediately. Like many charter and marina operators, he received a quick $5,000 check from BP in the first weeks of the disaster. That was hardly enough to make up for the losses at his idled 14,000-square-foot operation, but Lambert was encouraged when President Barack Obama got BP to put up $20 billion to establish the Gulf Coast Claims Facility.

Tired of jumping through hoops

Since then, he said, things have gone all downhill.

He paid his accountant $7,000 to supply financial records proving his losses would total $1.1 million, but received checks for only $211,000.

"In order to apply for payment, you had to keep your business open so you could help mitigate the final cost, so that meant I had to keep staff and pay operating expenses through the end of the year," Lambert said. "But after all that, I'm still out $904,000 in lost income."

He said he was told he should apply again to be made whole.

"Well, I'm tired of re-applying, because it never does any good," he said. "I'm tired of paying my CPA. Now I'm paying a lawyer."

He plans to file suit.

Lambert, vice president of the Louisiana Charter Boat Association, said his anger deepens when he thinks about the estimated 600 other charter captains in the state. He said the only members who have settled up with BP are those who took a flat $25,000 "quick payment" from claims administrator Kenneth Feinberg.

"The only ones who took that were guys who had no other choice because of their situation," he said. "They had house notes or boat notes or medical expenses and no business coming in. Well, now that money is gone, and they still don't have any business -- and they're just screwed.

"I don't know of any of the guys who have been made whole like they promised."

Long-term concerns

Lambert said his suffering pales next to his colleagues, because he owns his property and has other business interests to help pay bills. That's not the case for most charter fishers, he said.

"They're independent contractors who work by themselves," he said. "Everyone talks about the ones who made a killing in the cleanup, but not all of them got those jobs. Only five of my 14 guides were hired."

Lambert is also worried about the long-term effects on the ecosystem that provides his livelihood. He suffered through the leanest speckled trout winter ever, seeing only three of the fish brought to his cleaning tables from spots that traditionally produce daily limits of 25 fish in the cold-weather months. And while speck fishing has improved this spring, he said he has seen none of the small trout representing last year's spawning class, which entered the estuaries when oil was coming ashore.

State fisheries biologists said tests to determine the effects on last year's spawning class were not complete, and ongoing tissue samples of fish from the affected areas have shown no signs of hydrocarbon contamination or other ill effects from the spill.

Lambert wishes the rest of the country was convinced of that.

"The attitude outside this area is that everything here is contaminated," he said. "I've done something like 15 TV shows since the spill, and the guys doing the shows tell me people ask them, 'Why are you going fishing down there -- you can't eat the fish.'

"The only out-of-state bookings I'm getting are old customers who just want to show their support."

That new business has dried up, even after Lambert's Cajun Fishing Adventures was named one of the top five fishing lodges in the nation by Sportsfishing magazine.

Even the thrill of that honor was tarnished by BP, he said.

"BP had the audacity to put that on their website, like it was a positive thing showing the Gulf Coast was coming back -- thanks to all their efforts," Lambert said. "That just made me crazy.

"What we people should know is that all the millions they spent on those TV and newspaper ads about making things right is a lie.

"And what people in this state should ask themselves is: If a giant like BP isn't making us whole, what do they think is going to happen when the smaller fish in that business have an accident?"

That was a question Lambert said he never asked himself before last April. Now, he said, he thinks he knows the answer.

summatime + satadays

2011-04-14T12:10:00.005-04:00

These pictures comes via Saturdays Surf NYC. My mouth is watering and I'm jonesing for summer BBQs.........

Also, I feel like I don't have a lot to say lately so I'm supplementing with photographs.

Hellllooooo iPhone

2011-04-13T16:34:00.002-04:00

I'm loving my new iPhone 4 for Verizon but I am in need of some serious advice. I'm rough on my phones and I currently have it in a monster of a case that is pretty much indestructible (I believe the website said that it was tested by the US Dept. of Defense and it can withstand some sort of windstorm?). So people out there, what is a solid case that can withstand a random bump and a careless (among gadgets, that is) lifestyle while still looking rad????

I'd appreciate any and all info. Grazie!

Old Stone Farm House

2011-04-11T21:51:00.001-04:00

While cleaning up tonight I found the menu from my favorite restaurant on St. Thomas. If you ever have a chance to visit the islands this is the one place you MUST go to. The staff was lovely, checking out the butchers block was rad, and the food was out of this world. All in all a fabulous evening and many visits to come.

Lazy Sunday

2011-04-10T18:47:00.001-04:00

I miss my bestie

2011-04-08T14:46:00.001-04:00

quick update

2011-04-05T16:48:00.001-04:00

Tonight I'm attending my very first meditation class. I couldn't be more stoked and nervous, and I think this is long overdue.

I get it now

2011-04-03T11:23:00.002-04:00

Yesterday my mom and I went wedding dress shopping, and I finally get it. I'm obsessed with my dress! It is the perfect balance between boho, simple, comfortable, with a chic fashion edge while still looking like a bride. I've never felt more beautiful than when I put it on and I couldn't stop smiling yesterday. I get it now, and I think the tides are turning for me.

On another note, I also purchased my first iPhone so I can keep up with my blog on he reg.

it is a good day

2011-04-01T12:21:00.002-04:00

For the first time in a long time, I am debt free. I paid off my credit cards today :-) Bucket list item, check!

yoga before the sunrise

2011-03-30T11:42:00.004-04:00

I don't feel like myself. Lately I have no motivation to do anything other than what is required. Last night I went to bed at 9:30pm, without eating dinner because I just felt miserable and exhausted (from doing nothing). So this morning I dragged myself out of bed at 6:00am to a vinyasa class with the hopes that it would snap me out of my funk. I worked my butt off and enjoyed the flow, at one point even getting myself into side crow pose which I've never accomplished before. Usually I leave and feel totally pumped and in love with the world. Today's class definitely was a step in the right direction but I'm still not feeling 100%. All I know is that there are so many happy things going on around me and yet I feel like I can barely get through a day without tears. What is going on and who have I become?!

"When it is dark enough, you can see the stars." Persian Proverb

taking a time out

2011-03-25T15:36:00.003-04:00

I'm heading to Maryland this weekend to hang out with a few of my friends from home. I need to relax and decompress and give Joe a break from listening to my tears. I'm stoked to see familiar faces, do some rock climbing and hopefully massacre a few of these suckers.

Hoping to come back refreshed and with a new attitude.

XXX

lost

2011-03-22T15:02:00.002-04:00

I feel lost lately. Everything is happening so fast and while I'm more excited than ever to marry Joe the wedding process has proved to be not fun so far. Our date is scheduled for August 5th in Captiva, FL and I couldn't dream of a better place if I tried. All is well and good. Then we get in to the invite process. But what about this group, and that group, and we can't forget about these people. Soon enough I spend all my time worrying about how to fit everyone in to the reception that was originally planned to be small and intimate. I feel bad leaving people out but there is no other way to be able to include the ones that we really want there. And then there is the extra events, showers, bachelorette parties, blah blah blah. "This date clashes with that event." "I'm already busy with this so I can't do that." I'm having a very hard time trying to accommodate everyone and on top of that I have to hear complaints from each and every person about what is planned. And the only complaints I don't hear are from the people that seem to have fallen off the face of the Earth. I've gone out of my way to try and make sure that I want my friends to not be overwhelmed with this, that I've been there and I've purchased the ugly dresses and poured money in to people that don't even talk to me anymore and lost friendships over things that to me seemed so silly at the time. I realize I sound like a rambling mess but how are you supposed to deal with the position of trying to satisfy each and every person for a day that is supposed to be "your day"? That is all I've heard since the engagement, "it's your day, you do whatever you want!" Then why are other people calling me to complain about what I want? They are supposed to be my friends and here I am pit in the middle of their squabble of how to throw a party because "they don't like it". Nothing fancy, nothing big just a simple get together of the people I hold closest. Why is that so hard to do? And I'm also tired of hearing, "don't let it get to you!" It's hard to "not let it get to me" when I get calls or messages each and every day of people complaining about how they don't like the plans. Well you know what, you don't have to come. I'm tired of trying to make everyone feel happy and welcome and comfortable. I guess that is the end of my rant but I've been in a very sour mood recently and I feel absolutely alone on this one.

sunsets and sand dollars

2011-02-25T10:09:00.003-05:00

I have been so absent in the twitter/blogger-verse recently, yikes. Tonight J and I are flying to Florida to scout destination wedding locations in Sanibel and Captiva on the Gulf Coast. Both of us grew up visiting the islands and my dad has a house there so we figured it would be the best location for a destination wedding. In our very first conversation J commented on my sand dollar tattoo and said that it reminded him of Sanibel. It was one of those screech to a halt moments. Sanibel?! You know Sanibel?? So what better a place to have our ceremony and reception, somewhere that we can enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings with our loved ones. And while I may live in the most exciting city on Earth, I am a beach bum at heart and I will forever have sand in my toes.

ladies and gentleman, the lovely garance dore

2011-02-18T16:36:00.004-05:00

A NYTimes article on one of my favorite bloggers, Garance Dore.

Sharing a Profession and Much More

GARANCE DORÉ, a French street-fashion blogger and illustrator, experienced the sort of shutter-quick rise that only seemed possible a few years ago, when fashion blogs were in their infancy.

Three years after starting her blog, found at garancedore.fr, where she posted images of stylish young women on Paris streets, French Vogue’s Web site named her one of “40 Women of the Decade,” alongside Angelina Jolie and Lady Gaga. She was commissioned to shoot fashion spreads for French Elle and ad campaigns for Moschino.

Before long, Ms. Doré (above) was embraced as Paris’s answer to the Sartorialist, the popular blog that often showcases fashion on New York streets.

That comparison has grown more complicated now that Ms. Doré, who is 35, has moved from Paris to New York. Would she be encroaching on the Sartorialist’s home turf? Yes, but only if you count moving in together in Greenwich Village.

As fashion insiders know, Ms. Doré and Scott Schuman, the man behind the Sartorialist, are the Bogart and Bacall of the fashion blogosphere. They began dating three years ago, synchronizing their frequent-flier plans for fashion weeks in Milan or London, and photo shoots in places like Stockholm, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires.

Now, they’re making it official. Ms. Doré said she received her visa last month and she’s setting up a life with her lover, mentor and (kind of) rival in a loft on East 10th Street.

“I wanted to be with Scott,” said Ms. Doré on a recent afternoon, at a Pain Quotidien near her home. Despite a grisly sleet storm, she looked elegant, armored against the weather in a Band of Outsiders double-breasted wool jacket, her neck bundled with a heavy gray Sarti scarf.

“But,” she added with a smile, “the idea of following the person I love, it’s easy to say that when the person you loves lives in New York. I don’t know if I’d say the same if the person I love lives in a little village in Italy.”

Love may be blind, but the move involved a degree of professional uncertainty, even risk. Her blog was as much a style diary of her life in the 11th Arrondissement and her artfully dressed friends, as it was about street fashion. Would her loyal readers still follow if she blogged from New York?

In some ways it would be just another move. “I never felt at home in Paris,” said Ms. Doré, who grew up in Ajaccio, on Corsica, a seaside playground for the yachting class. Her father, a chef of Italian descent, and her mother, a fashion-obsessive who was Algerian, ran a restaurant that counted Brigitte Bardot and Princess Stéphanie of Monaco as customers.

After studying communications at Aix-en-Provence, she tried her hand at public relations for films. What she really wanted to be, however, was a fashion illustrator.

To show off her work, she started her blog and adopted Doré as a nom de blog, after the 19th-century French artist Gustave Doré, and filled it with playful minimalist sketches of stylish friends sporting the latest looks. Those were the days before anyone thought of blogging as a business. “You would feel a little ashamed saying you have a blog,” she recalled, “like, you have no life.”

But her blog quickly caught on among French fashion disciples — and eventually, advertisers. She and her then-boyfriend, a rock musician, decided on taking an extended trip to Paris to network and ended up settling in the city. Then one day, a friend suggested she take a camera to Paris Fashion Week and snap photos of fashionable people milling around for the blog. “I loved it,” she said. “You had the feeling you were in the center of everything.”

It was at those tents that she met Mr. Schuman. He was smitten. “I would look at her blog, see the pictures, and I could tell she had the eye,” Mr. Schuman said. “If she had the right equipment, she could be a great photographer.” So he gave her his backup camera: a professional-grade Canon EOS 5D with a 50mm f1.4 lens.

Ms. Doré was both touched and skeptical. “It’s either the most beautiful moment of my life,” she recalled, “or it’s just stupid, and he’s really trying to seduce me.”

Whatever it was, a relationship soon blossomed. There were shades of Henry Higgins. Mr. Schuman, eight years her senior, was an international brand name in fashion, while she was relatively unknown outside of France. “I spent a lot of time trying to get her into shows, introduce her to people,” Mr. Schuman said.

Before long, Ms. Doré starting building a loyal readership abroad (she introduced an English version of the blog in 2008). Some blog posts showed Bill Cunningham-esque photo spreads of fashionable young women, strolling along the Seine. Others were humorous ruminations of her life, say, her addiction to “Gossip Girl.”

Mr. Schuman, meanwhile, purposely stayed in the background, so that Ms. Doré’s blog could blossom without interference. He didn’t even link to her site. It was her chatty, personal tone that helped her connect with readers as much as her eye as a fashion arbiter, he said. “So many women I meet say, ‘Oh, my God, I feel like I know Garance, she’s my girlfriend,” Mr. Schuman said.

Surprisingly, there’s little competition between the two professionally. “We don’t have the same way of working,” Ms. Doré said. “Scott is really like a hunter. He really likes to go out and walk in the street.” She prefers to shoot her friends (albeit, well dressed). The two will sometimes share a single camera on a trip, to avoid lugging two.

Since her move, the blog has taken on a hint of New York grittiness, although traffic is still growing, she said. One recent post, for example, showed the fashionable writer Stephanie LaCava effortlessly skipping across the grimy curbside snow piles of SoHo in Hunter rubber boots.

For Fashion Week, the couple plans to hit as many shows as possible. After the hubbub, they hope to work on their new loft, in a prewar building. The walls are still bare; one of the first pieces they plan to hang is a black-and-white photograph by August Sander from Cologne, Germany, in 1926. The photo, a gift from Ms. Doré, depicts a dapper gentleman in a bowler and topcoat. Mr. Schuman cited it as an inspiration for the Sartorialist.

Nevertheless, she said, the apartment (and New York itself) is now shared turf.

“I don’t make sacrifices,” she said of her move. “There is no, ‘I leave everything for my man.’ I just do things when they make me feel good and they feel right."

homegirl is getting hitched

2011-02-15T16:57:00.007-05:00

JoePa proposed to me on Saturday and I couldn't have been more surprised! My face actually hurt from smiling and laughing so much. The day was full of wonderfulness, I ran my first 5K in almost 4 years (26 minutes no less!) that morning in Riverside park and then we headed south with the pup (who threw up on me twice no less). We then went to one of my favorite places on Earth, St. Pete's beach in Cape May Point to "take pictures for the apartment". None of this seemed off to me because we always visit the beach on our trips home and I take advantage of any off season weekend at the beach. It could only have been more special if we celebrated with our families....oh, wait! He then dragged me by the hand to Congress Hall where both of our families were sipping champagne and cocktails and cheering for us on our entrance. What a whirlwind and what a fantastic turn of events. Sadly my brother wasn't able to share in the celebration because he was on vacation. Apparently this was all planned for two weeks ago and the ring was "delayed" in the mail due to the snow storm. Can you imagine the stress that put on Joe?! Well he pulled it off without me even having a clue so kudos to you sir. And to think, we were going down to the shore to "babysit my mom's pets". Apparently was also why my father had been avoiding my calls all week! I even resorted to texting him and telling him to call me because I missed him so much. Below are a few pictures from the day, it has been such a surreal few days I've barely had a chance to catch my breath and enjoy the moment. I couldn't be happier to share each and every one of them with Joey :-) (that was so sappy I almost threw up in my mouth hehe)

old habits die hard

2011-02-09T23:02:00.002-05:00

I still wear ck one everyday.

Sweet Home Cape May County

2011-02-04T17:26:00.008-05:00

This post comes via Velvet Cupcakes, a blog written by Kate my adorable buddy from home. I was supposed to go home for the weekend but my mom has come down with a bad cold so the trip has been postponed. When I read this my heart melted and I wished that instead of sitting at my desk I would be driving south on the Parkway. Read on and enjoy my friends:

Sweet Home Cape May County

As I mentioned in my last post, I am going home this weekend to Cape May County, NJ. There is no where on the planet I would rather be. I often take quiet a verbal beating when I tell people where I am from, but I know those people don't really understand, they don't know the real NJ. Here are a few of the reasons why I love my home more than anywhere else in the world.

1. During the winter you can lay in the streets for hours without concern of an oncoming car.

2. The winter is a quiet time for locals only, a time when you go to visit the ocean to say hi and make sure it knows how much it is missed.

3. At home people speak slower, drink more coffee, and understand the beauty of the rainy summer day.

4. September is a gift and we understand that.

5. The locals all have a certain camaraderie when we are attacked by shoobies come June.

6. Cape May County has some amazing memories for me; friendships, days at the beach, parties, high school, my family.

7. I love that I didn't go to private school and wear my black and orange proud!!

8. The quiet of winter, after December until April you could hear a pin drop outside.

9. We grow up with a respect for nature.

10. You will never run across someone who doesn't know how to swim.

in all seriousness

2011-02-03T14:58:00.005-05:00

Countdown to St. Thomas: 33 days. Besides the fact that this vacation is beyond needed I'm stoked to be away for a full week with J and the family in the Caribbean. I love the islands more than I could ever write in words, they pull at my heartstrings. Along with this love also comes added internalized stress with the fact that I will be in a bathing suit. In pictures. After 6 months of hibernating under layers and layers. I go back and forth and back and forth with liking the fact that my body has filled out in certain places but not yet all that comfortable with the extra 10-15lbs that have accumulated over the last few years. If I was a few inches taller it may land a bit more evenly but at the moment I feel like a butterball turkey. I don't mind a little Buddha belly sometimes and I think it's better to look healthy and fit than not, neither end of the spectrum is particularly attractive in my eyes. Plus, I have a massively hard time resisting food. Last summer I pretty much hid at my mom's pool and made limited public bathing suit appearances, missing out on mucho time with friends. While I may not be in bikini shape just yet [I've been putting in some serious hours at Reebok aka "The Club" according to J haha] I've decided to try and watch what I've been eating to make the process more effective. One thing that I absolutely cannot skimp on though is my coffee. And I'm not talking "Double Ristretto Venti Nonfat Organic Chocolate Brownie Frappuccino Extra Hot with Foam and Whipped Cream Upside Down Double Blended" crap. I'm talking delicious, perfectly make bold coffee with half and half, and maybe a little sugar if I'm feeling wild. My new office is down near the seaport and there is a little coffee place that I love love love to visit [[until I drop $4+ on a small-ish cup, gah!]], Jack's Stir Brew at 222 Front Street. They have two other locations but this one happens to be the most convenient for me so I pop in every now and then. The atmosphere is quaint and the coffee is delish (if you happen to wander in try the Mountie: triple ristretto, maple syrup, steamed milk, cinnamon). So end to my story, I will give up sugar (for the interim) and cut back on processed food but I will NOT allow my daily coffee to suffer with skim milk. It's my vice and I'm sticking to it.

Oh, look out you rock n rollers

2011-01-29T11:22:00.003-05:00

MY first full week of work is done and I'm flying high. The position is supporting three partners of a boutique marketing agency, one being the president who happens to be one of the most dynamic and high-energy individuals I've ever met and another is so brilliant and connected in Washington I feel like I've looped back around to my campaign days (crossing party lines like never before). I've yet to meet the third who was described to me as self-contained and works out of another city. Riding the subway home on Thursday I had a revelation, I assumed my feelings and reactions that have been formed over the last 3 years at the law firm were similar to what would develop in an abusive relationship. I'm used to people completely blowing up, referring to people as inadequate/stupid/idiotic, throwing things (paper, pens, office equipment, etc.) and generally just being mean and nasty. So when little things go wrong or don't go as planned I flinch and wait for the explosion. This place is not so. I'm learning to recondition myself and regain the confidence that was lost and battered in the work place. During and after college I spent so much time networking and schmoozing and campaigning that I loved to be in social situations. I could hold my own with any crowd and this place will be the one that brings me back to that point. The week was crazy trying to catch up with the work left behind from the last assistant and also helping out at home since Joe is even busier than I am at the moment. I'm so stoked to get in to the gym today and work out all of my stressers, SWEAT IT OUT!!!! Also, being able to wear whatever I want to work is killer, for the first time in a long time I can actually be myself. Not everyone dresses up but (as creepy as it sounds) I'm totally digging one girls style, like all out edge. I love when people aren't afraid to take risks and mix & match. While I love being able to layer layer layer for winter the gross weather that we've had here in NY has made me less than stoked to wear the fun stuff, I'm all about comfort in crappy weather.

Yesterday another girl at my new office and I were going back and forth on compliments of each others jewelry and we realized that we share a love of antique and vintage pieces. She introduced me to store, Doyle & Doyle, where she and her fiance purchased her ring that is circa 1905. I think that there is something wonderful and special about wearing a piece that someone loved and wore so long ago.

It's NYC Restaurant Week and while I'm not taking advantage of it J and I have reservations at Max Brenner tomorrow and will give a full report back on the banana split waffle deliciousness that I'm dying to try.

This week I received the following jewelry and I'm amped to rock it. PS - I would totally order from both places again, their service was impeccable.

compliments of Sunday Creek via etsy

with Shooter's name obvi

(not so) full disclosure

2011-01-21T13:35:00.003-05:00

So this week I started my new job. It is vastly different than my previous (corporate law, midtown, ugly suits vs. creative, seaport, some serious fashion going on here). The first day I was just sort of tossed in to the work and have managed to hold my own so far, albeit slowly and with lots of stress. My bosses are awesome, some of the coolest guys around and the office is filled with young people. And did I mention that we have a SICK view. I mean really, really amazing. Anyway, I can't get in to too much detail but I wanted to update my blog because I have been pretty tuned out lately. Earlier in the week Joe and I joined the Reebok Sports Club in our neighborhood. If you've ever had the luxury to play here you know that I feel completely spoiled. I plan on luxuriating all weekend at the gym, with classes and equipment and healthy food galore.

Only my sister will get the Bobby Trendy reference!

fashion friday

2011-01-14T15:42:00.005-05:00

Some weekend inspiration via they all hate us & Style by Kling (my current obsession).

pura vida

Mindful Mamas pre-natal workshop with Laurel Hicks

Chy-wan-prash

Shit New Yorkers Say

my mind is racing

this and that

shit yogis say

17. Water - log roll at South Seas, day after our wedding in Captiva.

16. "morning"

15. "happiness"

14. "something you're reading"

13. "in your bag"

12. "close-up"

11. "where you sleep"

10. "childhood"

Day 9 - "daily routine" inversions!

Day 8 - "your sky" our rehearsal dinner, Captiva 8/4/11

Be present.

Day 7 - "favorite" picture on the fridge #photoaday

Day 6 - "makes you smile" #photoaday

Day 5 - "something you wore."

Day 4 - "letterbox." Sisterhood dinner. #YITS

Day 3 - "something you adore"

Day 2 - b'fast, 1/2/12

2012....

Never let the things you want make you forget the things you have.

Gift from the Sea

Sweet and Spicy Pecans

How to Live in New York City

my gratitude is simple this week

gratitude thursday 12/8/11

dear santa......

gratitude tuesday, or almost thursday. whatever.

My weekend in the Midwest

This & that

gratitude

My childhood idol

words of wisdom

I'm just going to say it.....

Getting lost will help you find yourself

Turn, turn, turn

Well we're here......

Land of the free, home of the brave

We're hitched!

this time next week....

my heart goes out to the people of Norway

‘You Look Great’ and Other Lies

By BRUCE FEILER via the NYTimes

it's not where you've been, it's where you're going

unstoppable

make time for yoga. no excuses.

Change of Time

BKB

Rain over me

lately

i need this, i want this

friday inspiration board

In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you. --Deepak Chopra

"This could be the start of something big."

Sanibel

mid-week pick me up

transitions

I love being home....

Manhattan in Motion

where men win glory

I miss my friends a lot

i want

fiending like a junkie for these

sunny Saturday

[not gay] post

caffe

Sunny Friday

happy meditation may

Meditation: A simple, fast way to reduce stress

Meditation can wipe away the day's stress, bringing with it inner peace. See how you can easily learn to practice meditation whenever you need it most.

Understanding meditation

Benefits of meditation

Types of meditation

Meditation: A simple, fast way to reduce stress

Elements of meditation