two thousan eleven.

it's been quite the year here on this little space. my home away from home. because that's exactly what it's all happening has been for me. a home. a place to create and dream and explore and offer up every last ounce of grateful energy.

i'm beyond thankful to have discovered this so-called blogging universe. in a way, it's saved me. you know what i mean? it's allowed me to tap into gratitude and - if you can believe it - become a happier, more self-aware person, noticing every single thing that is important. it's helped me truly discover the things and people i don't want to {and sometimes can't fathom} live without.

i owe so much to your eyeballs for taking the time to read. thank you, from the bottom of my heart. i'm inspired by you more than you could possibly know.  i can only hope i've had a fraction of a positive influence on your lives, just a sliver of what you've given me.

i want to share a few lessons learned this year. a moment of reflection, if you will, bare with me.

every single thing happens for a reason. believe in that. even when it's hard to see, remind yourself in that very moment, that you'll make sense of it later, i promise.

keep your friends close. create an army for yourself. yes, you heard me, an army. your best pals... ready to check-in on you or fight for you at any second of the day.

let love in. no matter how scary that seems, just let it. resist how badly your mind and body shy away from it, it's time. it's always time to love.

discover something you're passionate about and dive in head first. let it consume you because you realize that maybe you're a better person with this newfound passion in your life.

stand up for who you are {it's taken me a while to grasp this one, and it's a constant work in progress}. make sure that no matter what happens to you on a superficial level, that at the core of you, you know who you are and what you stand for. we all want to find our own voice and power, so constantly strive to locate it.

i hope twenty twelve comes with more learning and risk-taking and leaps. leap with me, will you? bright eyes for bright futures ahead.

big hugs and open hearts as you ring in the new year, my dears.

{photos 1, 2, 3}.

beaut.

meet my new friend, the newest addition to my haven.

isn't she the most amazing hand-crafted beaut you've ever seen?

i think so.

may this sweet hummingbird be a daily reminder to see the beauty in everything and bring out the best in myself and others. thank you, s. {s, as in sister}.

folk love.

i love songs that make you feel.



first heard this one when a dear friend sent me this video. it's the soundtrack. then a sub played it during class the other night.

my favorite part. 3 min 30 sec. m-e-l-t.

it'll get ya, i know it.

on the mark.

it's no secret that i love my jewels (exhibit a, b, and c to name a few}. dainty gems, really. i don't know what it is, but something about a delicate piece of jewelry makes my heart flutter.

the latest is a gift from a dear, accompanied by a note to interpret the meaning of this on the mark necklace.                 {thank you!!}

it's a great layering piece and a reminder that wherever we are in life, we are moving forward... towards a place that is right for us. we continue to gravitate to the so-called bullseye of life to achieve that on the mark feeling where things are just as they should be. they feel right. in essence, we move towards love, always.

also, just a little favorite i dug up. last year i was so in love with this quote i gave it to my six a.m. yoga teacher to read to the class. i like that memory.

don't want to forget this one until next year. 

x to the o. 

sweet nothings.

dolls, just wanted to stop in and show you the newest wrist addition.

rose is a rose is a rose...

i think by now we know rose - a name coined by these gals - is a name that's stuck. and how perfectly fitting that they now represent the i wear my best friends on my wrist phenomenon. because, well, they are practically family.

the best part is the inside. it reads... sweet nothings.

oh, whisper me sweet nothings, will you? i'll love you forever.

thank you times a million trillion for the sweetest gift. ms. spade wins again.

lazy daisy.

i love my sister.

that's all.

i'm so thankful for holidays at home. merry christmas, my loves. 

laugh out loud.

do you ever go shopping with the clear intention of purchasing gifts for other people and {accidentally} come out with just a little something for yourself? that you neeeeeeeded, of course.

somehow i always justify.

my thought process went... i love kate spade. oh! these are so colorful. look at these cute sayings. they're on sale? only $12? i was sold in a matter of seconds.

smile at a stranger.

take a chance.

dance til dawn.

meet the kate spade coasters. i've been coaster-less since i moved to my apartment nearly two years ago.

can i tell you how many times i've heard, do you have a coaster? nope.

well, now. i. do. so there.

pick your fancy.

laugh out loud.

santa clause is coming to town.

so this mariah carey tune has become one of my all time faves this season. 

santa claus is coming to town, but a way cooler version. it's mariah'ed.

meet my sisters, my pseudo sissies. i'm the middle child, smack dab in the middle age wise. we tend to make up dance routines, lots of them. it started when we were little c.a.p.a dancers and just this past summer we really stepped up our game again.

unstoppable.

make sure you give our latest a watch. it makes me smile so big and laugh out loud every play. i'd recommend blowing it up to full screen. just sayin'...

i hope it inspires you to dance like no one is watching this holiday season. 

so thankful for my sistergalpals. xoxo.

gingham.

have i told you about my obsession with gingham?

wear it and you'll melt my heart. no questions asked.

*dedicated pinterest board, obvi.

caitlin and vix.

we used to think we were models.

the hours spent dressing up... hair and makeup, outfit changes, overalls, matching lavender j.crew flip flops and bathing suits. these were our biggest worries. and boys. we had secret code names for just about every one of them.

i'm so thankful for kate.

we've been friends since the awkward teenage years, the best years. when school dances are the events of the season. when driving the red mercedes without a license around the block {or to longs drugs store... once! shhh!} was the most rebellious thing we ever did. when many-a-friday night were spent making up routines to classics like who let the dogs out? see, big nerds.

some of the best kind of friends are the ones who know us as our most dorky selves. the ones that could fill up a book with memories and inside jokes. that's us.

love you to the moon,
vix.

sail away with me.

poor december, i've been neglecting thee.

'tis that season. lots to be thankful for, though.

dahlias. a saturday afternoon farmers market treat. and better yet, they match a rather festive apartment i know of.

i learned they represent dignity, elegance, and forever thine. yes, please.

ornaments. hand-crafted sailboat ones. a precious, favorite holiday treat.

immediately upon opening, the david gray song played in my head.

sail away with me

what will be will be

i wanna hold you now

...and something to leave you giggling. 

guess who!?

courage.

i've had this necklace for as long as i can remember.

one side reads courage. and the other side has a simple, snow-capped mountain and sun. to me, it symbolizes the courage to climb any mountain. 

here i go again...all about the symbols. mom got it for me at a local party store, most likely in elementary school when i needed courage to stay through the night at sleepovers and strength to stand up to a mean girl or two. because, well, that's just part of growing up.

i still wear this necklace. quite often, as of late. it's been with me to college and traveling. first days on the job, heartbreak, and big presentations.

it occurred to me that i'll never stop needing courage... in every phase of life. we could all stand to channel a little extra, don't you think? here's to being courageous! rawr.

shine.

are you ever afraid to shine? like, really shine?

i learned that i am, but i don't want to be anymore.

i think there are many things that hold us back...

fear. doubt. vulnerability. to name just three.

but, see, in the end we all just want to be shining. and buzzing. and exist as nothing but utter lightness. sometimes we just can't take that high, but i want to take it. let's.

*found here.

december.

how'd it get to be december already?

oh, but we're always saying that, aren't we? such is life.

well, i must confess, time got away from me. i skipped right over november without even hanging my favorite calendar.

so, i must make it up to you here...

november.

december.

that's all for today.

happy friday, loves! may you live in skyscraper dreams and find some sweetness this weekend. xoxo.

gentleman.

he walks on the outside, closest to the street. always, no matter what.

they'd be en route to anywhere, really. saturday morning coffee. dinner reservations. or just a sunday stroll, and he'd be there without thinking twice. sometimes he'd carefully take her hand and, never skipping a beat, gracefully glide her to the inside where he could protect her. you know, just. in. case. in case something scary happened in the middle of that road.

it was what she loved most about him. his need to protect her. and, his good 'ol fashion manners.

he was a gentleman in every sense of the word. doors, they were his specialty. ladies first he'd silently whisper.

this all came effortlessly to him as if it was in his genetic makeup. he must have read the handbook, she thought to herself. or maybe it was that angel of a mother, caring father, or sisters three. {because somewhere behind every polite man is a good woman, yes?}

or maybe, he just really loved her.

*love this photo.

happy holidays.

i know it's late, but i needed to stop in and tell you just this one thing.

i am in holiday heaven at the moment.

to the point where i'm getting all mushy and nostalgic for no reason other than the fact that this is my very first christmas tree ever on. my. own. like, not at my parents house.

i'm all grown up. funny how that happens.

she's magical, isn't she?

thank you, bob. you're the only christmas tree lot i've ever known.

there may or may not be five bushels of mistletoe hanging about my humble abode. i love mistletoe. any excuse for a showing of love, really.

it's going to be a great holiday season, if you know what i mean. wink! kiss!

there's no place like home.

planes, trains, and automobiles. that's what's been happening at it's all happening this past week, dolls.

i'm so glad to be home.

you know you're in the right city when no matter how much fun you're having, your heart yearns for home just a little bit. you secretly think to yourself, ________'s got nothin' on my home sweet home.

how dorothy-esque of me. and click...click...click...go the ruby slippers.

some highlights...

saw williamsburg for the first time. such a hipster-y gem. thank you to my dear friend, dyl, for always being up for an adventure. great catch up time. also, {finally!} got to meet the one and only mrs. daily dubes. she is the sweeeeetest. go on, see for yourself.

...and onward we go to embrace yet another week. let's make it a good one, shall we?

sweater personality.

a few weeks ago i spotted this heart sweater on a cup a jo! love me some cup of jo. she is one of the very first bloggers i ever followed, and she's still a daily go-to read.

anyhow, within seconds of seeing the post i clicked on the link to purchase this j.crew heart sweater. it's me summed up in one little knit. i can tell it's going to be a holiday fave.

thank you, darling jo!

give me a g.

i'm having a little love affair.

...with a little place called catbird. brooklyn-based. {if i'm lucky, i just might get to make an in-person visit this very weekend!}

two words: stackable rings. obsessed. {does this sound familiar?}

see, dolls, this is just the beginning of the stack. it all starts with love. then comes a g for me. i'll be adding letters forever and ever for my someday lover and my someday babies {ohhh, the very thought of that just gives me butterflies}. there's something so subtle and sweet about a lower-case initial, don't you think?

thank you, catbird, for making my day today. you're the sweetest.

i did receive a little note from the owner, leigh. see, i told her that i did a little boyfriend consulting for two of my bestest gal pals' loves who both received these precious rings as birthday gifts. 

can i get a b + a. and, a d+l? i admire both of your relationships oh-so-much and am beyond happy and thankful to do as much boyfriend consulting as possible.

{big hugs}. xo, g.

thanksgiving.

thanksgiving is it's all happening's favorite holiday... since, well... we are in the business of giving thanks as much as we possibly can.

i don't want this looooong weekend to end. not just yet.

the sheer exhaustion has set in. words are escaping me. i'll leave you with photos instead.

just a few things {among many} to be thankful for these past five days.

precious baby cousins. sissies napping. first-time six a.m. black friday shopping adventures. best friend visitors. christmastime in union square. life-size justin beiber.

sending love and gratitude. the end.

sunshine.

i received the niiiiicest compliment from one of my faves the other day. honestly, i can't stop thinking about it.

gina, this song reminds me of you.

ready, play.



i've got sunshine on a cloudy day.
when it's cold outside i've got the month of may.

{gasp! to think i resemble sunshine. could it be true? only on my good days, maybe. and that's a big maybe.}

you know what the funny part is?

i once made up the silliest dance to this song. i've got this vivid memory - age eight, most likely - standing in the entry-way of our house {aka my stage, let's be honest} with "my girl" playing on the stereo. the sweet moves consisted of innocent swaying hips and hands crossed over my heart with maybe a slow four-count turn in there. simple, but clearly my best independent work at that age.

i bet i can still break the dance out for you if you want.

gosh, this made my day. thank you. xoxo.

good people find each other.

we drove home from a quick, delicious sushi dinner at one of our all time favorite spots. we hadn't gone out in a quite some time. just him and i. father, daughter {he says he's never wanted a son, but i can't help but not believe that}.

i was trying to articulate this quote i heard that i just can't stop daydreaming about. it also fascinates me to imagine what my dad may have been like in his twenties.

you were never a jerk, were you dad? i asked.
well, no.
why do you think you weren't?
and he answered: that's just not how i was raised.

then it hit me.

my dad is the one of the most genuine and kind souls you'll ever meet. at least to his daughters two and wifey one. he'd do anything for us. anything to know that we are content. he aims to please his girlies three.

they say daughters look for a man exactly like their daddies. only the lucky ones, i guess.

well, lucky me.

as we were just about home i said, it's tough out there, dad.
i know it is, hunny. you've got to go through the bad to find the good.

and, just like that, i got it.

good people find each other. i need not worry because i will find someone with the same honorable qualities that he has. because i come from such an upstanding father, my standards are high and they will be met.

it was your birthday this past weekend. happy birthday. i believe with my whole heart, you're the best dad out there.

{i think we should live by this and this}.

love chooses us.

what would you say to the twenty six year old girl who's never been in love? in deep, real, all-consuming, healthy love.

would you tell her to open her heart and make a little room for someone else?

i would.

but, see, this girl, she peels her heart open each and every day. one back bend... one smile... one hug at a time.

i have faith in her, though, i really do.

i'd also tell her to read this ny times article all the way through to the end for a modern take on big, epic, fairy-tale love story.

and to remember, love chooses us.

{you're my happy place: here and here. article spotted on a cup of jo}.

heart mobile.

so one of my dear friends sent me the dearest thing in the mail. you may remember her as having a really great love story {and, you know i'm a sucker for love stories}. she's also a gifted elementary school teacher... absolutely one of her life callings.

i'm calling it a heart mobile.

paper hearts sewn together on a single string. it makes me really happy. it's hanging smack dab in the middle of my apartment. for everyone to see. and to serve as a sweet reminder in the delicacy of love.

i'm so thankful to be back in touch. you know what amazes me? no matter how many years pass, the deep bonds you form with someone at some point throughout your life, they remain. bonds don't break. so, always choose your friends wisely.

together forever

never apart

maybe in distance

but never at heart

may the hearts serve as a symbol for good friends in far away places.

minnie.

it's time for an honorary, dedicated post. oh how i love these. words about my most beautiful well-deserving friends.

have you met my friend minnie?

yes, that's her name. and coincidentally she is also tiny in physique. it's so symbolic.

we go wayyyy back to the lulu days. you may know that she is an excellent gift giver, cd-mix-maker, and card surpriser. she loves celebrating life and has a knack for finding inspiration. she's also one of the tribal beauties.

oh, she's one of a kind, this girl.

minnie wants the absolute best for me.

it's as simple and as easy as that. the older i get, the more i see how incredibly rare and unique it is to find this quality in others. she is the most unselfish person i've ever met. ever.

she genuinely wants her bestest friends to have all the love and happiness in the world. you can feel it in every ounce of her being. in every word. in every action.

when i search her email address in my inbox, eighty emails appear in the history of our gmail communication. i'd say that seventy five of those notes are her just dropping me a line... hey geans, you'll love this: ______. hope you're having a great day! fill in that blank with inspirational quotes, thoughts, wisdom, videos, pictures, recipes, and more. she just wants to spread a little joy right on over to me.

i hope she knows how much those inbox treats mean to me. how comforting it is to have friends who know you so well.

she's so filled up to the brim with love and happiness that it overflows onto others. isn't that the best thing in the whole wide world to be known for?

see, i told you she's one of a kind.

someday we're going to take our coffee-yoga-running-veggie-wine-free-spirit-loving-selves and adventure around the world.

you just wait.

{you may say i'm a dreamer, one of her all time favorite pics}.

boy crazy.

i love my boy friends. notice the space { _ } between the b and the f. and take note of the plural s. my friends that are boys.

i am oh-so-grateful for the circle of gentlemen that surround me. my little army. i don't know if they even know it -  and i'm certain most of them don't stop in much to it's all happening - but i sure do love them.

you walk me home. you call to check in. you rest your head on my shoulder. we link arms, and you wrap me in a hug just when i need it.

you are pure comfort. and you make me immensely happy. 

so, thank you. thank you for the cheek kisses.

what a lucky gal i am.

shake it out.

oh florence, i heart thee.



the chorus gets me at my core. it makes me want to be utterly beautiful. to have wings for arms and to throw my head back in freedom.

8,789 words of wisdom.

i've had this book on my shelf for years, traveling with me from one living space to the next. it's one of those great, quick, pick-me-up-and-read-a page-or-two kind. most likely purchased at anthropologie.

well, i haven't opened it in ages, but tonight i randomly flipped to page two hundred and sixty six. and, low and behold, lie none other than a few simple words of wisdom to share.

tell people only what needs to be done, not how 

you are part of a big world and even bigger universe 

you may regret what you say but never what you do not say 

difficulty strengthens the mind as labor does the body 

laughter and crying sound the same in all languages 

a journey begins with a single step, and a road map 

all cats look alike in the dark 

don't weight yourself every day 

good posture means better health 

a drop of ink may make a million think  

remind friends of their own worth 

life has a certain responsibility code 

there are some qualities in life that cease to exist once we realize they are happening 

learn to let go

bolded ones are my fave. happy monday, my lovers. may we have weeks full of wisdom.

positive relationships.

i heard something pretty amazing bright and early this morning.

cheat on your fears.
break up with your doubts. 
get engaged to your faith,
and marry your dreams.

i sure do hope you break up with those fears this weekend, dolls. life is too short to stay in a bad relationship. xoxo.

i always will.

she had a thing for sleeve tattoos. of all things {said with an eye roll, emphasis on the all} the ink just melted her.

what was it about his armful of stories?

maybe it was the façade of a hard exterior shell that he portrayed, but really underneath it all, he was as kind as they come. 

the first time they met she asked him, what's the meaning of that one there?

but it took him until the third time they saw each other for him to give into her curious heart. to tell her his stories from past lives. dreams and memories and roads well-traveled.

though he might not admit it to many, he knew on that first encounter she'd have a mark on his arm someday. she'd be part of his story. and, so would two beautiful babies they would together bring into this world.

all of their names are transcribed side by side on his arm. because they will forever be connected. like ink, family is permanent.

ahhhh, she finally realized. that's the reason that arm of yours is so sexy. the sweet hidden meanings behind the "badass."

i love you, she thought. i always will.

*{oh max, you get me every time}

throwback.

i think it's time to get back to my roots. some good 'ol fashion five-things-a-day-i-am-thankful-for fun. it was, after all, what started this sacred space.

sometimes it's nice to revisit why things begin. and, to reflect on how some things never change.

one.
sarah and vinnie on alice ninety seven point three in the mornings. i mean every. single. day. of. the. week. monday. through. friday. they don't know it, but they are my dear pals. that's the funny thing about radio. you talk, hoping people are there to listen. well, i have been for over eleven years {wow that makes me feel old!}. thank you for the breaking news stories, celebrity trash, and crude sense of humor, all of which make me laugh out loud. starting the day would not be the same without you. you are pure comfort.

two.
discovery of feet up the wall pose. also known as viparita karani...and a godsend for digestion. give it a try. keep things a-movin'. it's my new obsession.

three.
fresh air. it's an uncharacteristically warm, crisp, and dry night for november that makes for a delicious open window breeze. i like it.

four.
quotes during practice that are right on.
said during half split or ardha hanumanasana {gosh i love sanskrit, don't you?}.

those who can't seem to find stillness, need to be still the most.

this is so true.

five.
friday night lights. i can't believe it took me so long to discover this gem of a show, but i'm so glad i did. currently i'm mid-series and loving every minute of high school football and love triangles.

{surrendering forward fold found among my pins}

if you could see my heart.

new discovery! my favorite band has a song called hummingbird! 

hold out your hand
yours is the only one that i dare to land

fall.

i heart fall. i really do.

and, i want to soak up every moment {especially the sunny weekend days}.

taking all of the vibrant, earthy tones and crisp, fresh air i can get.

happy halloween!

dive.

i'm distracted this month.

can you tell?

writing is hit or miss these days, dolls. i've been a bit of a miss lately, but i'd much rather be a hit.  just like how i would in real life. and, i do believe the way in which we feel about how we write is a direct reflection of how we feel about ourselves. no wonder i've been down and out.

such is life. with the highs must come the lows.

i'm waiting for something instead of diving in with reckless abandon.

i heard one of those right on statements tonight to share with you.

what you put up with, you end up with.

let's follow our own bliss. and dive right in.

{here}

trust.

needing some trust this week.

channeling that inner cheerleader.

may we find our way.

*inspiration found here and here.

dreamlover, come rescue me.

dear mariah, you make for the perfect monday night recipe.

girlfriends plus mariah carey's greatest hits on repeat plus fake microphones plus dance parties.

this equals pure, unfiltered happiness. it's moments like these that stick with you forever.



your lyrics return to me so easily. i'm instantly transported back to the fifth grade. it's christmas morning and santa brought me my very first "boom box" i just had to have. when you believe - the duet with whitney houston - is on repeat all the live long day. i remember laying on the carpet in front of those giant speakers for hours with the inside CD cover in hand, memorizing the songs word for word. no agenda whatsoever except to get ready for the day's festivities.

m.c., you're a classic who helped define my childhood. the countless hours spent dancing to you in the entry way of my home sweet home are part of my essence. thanks for teaching me to dance like no one is watching.

it's funny. it's reasons like this one that make me realize why i'd ever want to be famous. to inspire. to have an impact on dancing little girlies. but, i guess we don't need fame for that.

dance like no one is watching, my loves. and, sing like no one can hear you.

*dreamlover and hero. two of my all time faves.*

jewels.

i have some pointless, silly, go-ahead-and-skim-it words and pictures to share with you on this lovely sunday eve. oh, just because i feel like it, i guess.

new favorite item... a holder for my beloved jewels. found at none other than, urban outfitters. {on sale!}

what was once a chaotic and scattered mound of jewelry is now perfectly organized and hung up just so.

also a fun weekend purchase... a lion charm necklace. just a little something to channel my inner lion. also reminded me of this beauty of a photo from the jazz days.

i've always had a thing for lions. may this week be filled with strength, courage, and ferocity.

gifts.

i discovered this specific quality that i love in people. consequently, all of my bests have this sweet characteristic {maybe that's what makes them my bests}. it's a rare gift that i'm completely drawn to.

you listen. you make me feel like i could bare my soul to you. and, there is no judgement. just open ears and willing, helpful hearts.

that's all. it's that simple.

and i'm more grateful than a million words on this page could possibly express for my bare-your-soul friends. because, these are the people you need when nothing else makes sense.

t.g.i.f.

*searched for the perfect pair.

the hummingbird.

a bird does not sing because it has the answers; it sings because it has a song. ~maya angelou

i've been dancing this week. like really going for it. have you? i think it's about time you did.

dancing is nature's best medicine. that's what i decided today.

i'm also obsessing over hummingbirds, which consequently happen to be my healing medicine and support at the moment.

i feel like sharing a few highlights, so bare with me, loves, because i don't want to forget this one for my own selfish sake.

the hummingbird sings a vibration of pure joy. it can fly in any direction or hover in one spot.

it conjures love as no other medicine does and its feathers open the heart chakra. without an open and loving heart, you can never taste the nectar and pure bliss of life.

if hummingbird is your personal medicine, you love life and its joys. your presence brings joy to others. you join people together in relationships which bring out the best in them. you know instinctively where beauty abides and, near or far, you journey to your ideal. you move comfortably within a beautiful environment and help others taste the succulent nectar of life.

if hummingbird has flown into your cards, get ready to laugh musically and enjoy creator's many gifts. drop your judgmental attitude and relax. hummingbird will give you a flash of the spirit, darting here, there, and everywhere. get ready for a strange new burst of energy which may send your senses reeling.

the hummingbird is associated with love and joy. its appearance as a power animal is indicative of the sheer delight of living, and of living the bliss of loving. it implies an ability to see beauty in everything and it is concerned with bringing out the best in people and the good in every situation.

  
dance in beauty. embrace what makes you happy. be joyful. count your blessings. open yourself to pleasure.

Source: Sams, Jamie and Carson, David. Medicine Cards (Santa Fe: Bear and Company, 1988).

{if that's not the point of this blog. i don't know what is.}

*birdies found here, here, and here. another tattoo idea in the works, yes?