Simply Yogini

friday favorites

2012-01-27T07:59:00.000-08:00

It's Friday! We are enjoying every minute of everyday here. I will have to say being a mom is my new favorite of all time. Casey and I are giddy in parenthood and can't believe how much joy has entered into our lives, this past week has been truly amazing. Easton is doing great! I remember when I was pregnant that I would just laugh out of the blue, I had a feeling he was a funny little guy and that is exactly right. From the ooohs and ahhhs to the smiles that he makes has us giggling all the time. I am still writing a post about his birth story which I will post soon. I have found some great friday favorites for you to enjoy!

My favorite baby brand Aden and Anais
During my P&P time (yes I call it my Pump and Pinterest time) I have found this and this
Love this post from Walk Slowly Live Widly about Bamboo Magazine
Casey found Trunk Club - hand selected outfits shipped to your door, perfect for the guy who doesn't like to shop
40 yummy party appetizers from Southern Living
Best black bean burgers from Daily Garnish
Enjoying Post Punk Kitchen recipes
Valentines Day ideas from BHG

Here are some favorite pictures from our first week! Easton is enjoying his Grandparents visiting.

My friday favorite

2012-01-20T17:48:00.000-08:00

My Friday favorite of all time - Easton James Stopperan arrived 1/18/2012 at 1:10am. Weighing 6 lbs 10 ounces and 19 inches long. We are all doing well and back home.

honoring soul

2012-01-10T02:52:00.000-08:00

It's early in the morning here -The sun is still sleeping while the full moon hides behind the clouds. I was really hoping to get a glimpse of the moon, but it's been hiding from us all night. Listening to Bon Iver and drinking my Yogi Raseberry Leaf Tea. My little tea tag this morning says, "Appreciate yourself and honor your soul." Which is so fitting at this time in our lives. My body and soul have been through an amazing journey in 9 months, which I am trying to encapsulate and keep in a pocket of my mind forever. Casey and I decided last night to take a little break from Facebook and Blogging until Baby E is born. I know many of you are anxious for his arrival and we love and appreciate that so much! We've decided to take sometime to appreciate ourselves and honor our souls by taking a break from talking about when he will arrive and just let it happen. We will let you know when he makes his entrance, until then we are going to enjoy our time together. Thank you again for your love and support!

XO

inspired

2012-01-07T05:18:00.000-08:00

I found a video this morning that is inspiring and wanted to share with you. I love practicing yoga on my own (it's been a while for a full practice) but soon I hope to get back into my full practice. When I talk about practicing on your own, I usually step into a conversation where someone says,"BUT what do I do?" That's the joy of it - you let your body, mind and spirit take you and guide you through a practice. If you've taken a few yoga classes before you know a couple of poses that you can practice. That's why it's called a yoga practice, it's time for you to connect with your mind, body and spirit to become one. Practicing on your own can be entertaining too! Do you know how many times I have just started laughing at myself, or fall or even stick a pose better than ever and just smile because it made me happy. It's the pure joy doing something all to yourself

Enjoy**

friday favorites

2012-01-06T08:18:00.000-08:00

Hello Friday - I can't believe you are already here this week. Excited to write friday favorites this morning not knowing if it will be my last one for a couple weeks or not. My appointment with my midwife went really well yesterday. Baby E is doing great and is very happy and we got the go to wait for his arrival naturally so that made Casey and I very happy.

Here are some awesome friday favorites for you to enjoy!
The Vetiver station on Pandora is amazing
Very cool camera simulator
Watched Forks over Knives documentary last night which was awesome!
We also watched over break Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead which we great too
Very cute desktop, ipad or iphone wallpaper
Found a new blog The Happy Hippie Homemaker who has some great baby advice
Vegan Benedict from The Kind Life - looks oh so yummy
Great nutritional post from lululemon
Fascinated by watching this painting be created

Enjoy your weekend and be open to new possibilities!

40 weeks

2012-01-05T05:14:00.000-08:00

Today I am 40 weeks pregnant and it's the estimated due date of baby E's arrival. Even though due dates are really called guess dates (because only 5% of babies actually arrive on their due date) I will always have this date etched into my thoughts as the day I might meet our little one.

Today he is the size of a small pumpkin - it's hard to say how much he weighs or the length that he may be as every newborn is different. He is developed and in the right position, now we wait patiently for his arrival. My Doula mentioned to me that with your first baby the average arrival time is around 41 weeks and a day so anytime in the next week I hope to write a little post to you about his arrival. Until then I am enjoying his little heel pushes as I am sure he is running out of room in there. He gets the hiccups once a day and at night moves around a lot, I believe trying to get comfortable just like me. I can't believe 40 weeks have gone by so fast, this pregnancy has been a true journey for me that I will always cherish and love forever.

Now we wait for him to decide when the time is right to enter into the world. We have a 40 week check up today to make sure he is doing okay. As long as he is healthy and doing great we will wait for his arrival naturally. Until then I've been working from home and trying to take time out of my day to take walks with Brody, practice my Hypnobabies, take pictures and enjoy these moments.

Will update you soon, thank you everyone for your love, support and patience!

xo

good bye 2011 ~ welcome 2012

2012-01-01T08:57:00.000-08:00

Wow 2011 was such an amazing year! Growing, learning, loving, opening, living, heartfelt, passionate, laughter and many many belly laughs

It all started out with a trip to a beach town called Cape San Blas were we ran on the beach like kids

Springtime welcomed swimming, hiking and many runs

May brought the surprise of finding out we were pregnant

and a hard time of losing a part of my heart my grandma Ca

Summertime brought many special days at the pool, relaxing on the deck, hanging out with friends and family, hiking, town square parades and concerts, outdoor dinners and a very fun vacation

We also found out that we are having a boy

and then made this little video about the experience

In the fall we took a little trip to Savannah and the Blue Ridge Mountains

and Iowa

November brought our Mom's here for our Baby Shower and we finished the Nursery

December we finished our birthing classes and crossed off our baby checklist in case baby E decided to come early (which he didn't) so we continued on with celebrating Christmas with my dad and little sister who visited us from Iowa.

2011 was an amazing year! Thank you for reading and supporting my blog, I can't wait to unfold new stories and experiences in 2012!

Belly shots from 2011

and some favorites from 2010

friday favorites

2011-12-30T10:47:00.000-08:00

Excited to support my cousin Tony on Kickstarter
Watched Fat Sick and Nearly Dead and loved it!
Now thinking about buying this Breville
Atlanta Yogi Choice Awards
Interview with Neesha Zollinger an Aunsuara Certified Yoga Instructor
Love this package design
Tory's New Years Playlist
2011 Top 10 highlights from Tiny Buddha
Reminiscing on visiting Frank Loyd Wright's homes in college especially this one, a very special man showed us through his home. He was and still is the current owner of this home where he worked with Frank Loyd Wright to help design it. It was a special time for me and I hope he is doing well.

Some fun friday favorites of mine from last week

Enjoy your Friday!

39 weeks

2011-12-29T17:36:00.000-08:00

We are almost there and awaiting Baby E's arrival! As you can see I have grown out of my fleeces and coats so I had to bundle up for our hike. We had our 39 week checkup today and everything is looking good! We will be meeting our boy sometime soon.

friday favorites

2011-12-23T07:04:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday! Many fun friday favorites for you today. I re-organized my google reader this week and cleaned up some blogs that no longer exist, but found some new blogs that I am so excited to share.

heraura
Paper Morning
Going Home to Roost
Elle Keeps Moving
Bakerella
Eat Live Run
and don't forget the Homemade Grits has moved to Lesley Graham
Loving Ask Dr. Sears
8 fun ways to wrap a present
The beauty department Brows 101

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

38 weeks

2011-12-21T15:40:00.000-08:00

I am 38 weeks pregnant with 2-3 weeks to go!! Due date is the 5th of January but you never know when he will arrive. I can't believe we'll be meeting our little boy soon. I've received a lot of questions regarding my pregnancy so I thought I would post some questions and answers.

Q - What advice would you give to someone who just received the good news?
A - Every birth and every baby is different, take time to be present with your own pregnancy and plan for the birth experience you would like as there are so many options.

Q - What is your favorite maternity jean?
A - I really like Pea in the Pod Mavi or Citizens for Humanity. The Mavi jeans are more flexible throughout pregnancy.

Q - Where do you go for advice?
A - I started out asking my friends for advice on registering, birthing options, etc. But I realized soon that researching on my own about the birthing options was best for me. I read...read...read about birthing options and feel that I carved out the birth plan that I really want and made it my own. As for registering - Friend's advice is a must! As far as pregnancy advice - I have the nursing station saved in my contact list. As much as I would like to say I go to a website, I feel the best advice I get is from my nurses.

Q - Do you have a Midwife or Doctor?
A - I found a practice that has four midwives that rotate. I have met with all of them and feel that they are personable and spend more time with me during my appointments. I feel that they are more like talking to a mom or an aunt. The practice does have OBs as well but I prefer the personal attention I get with my midwives.

Q - What is your favorite thing about being pregnant?
A - I love the process of it. Pregnancy is the most amazing process I've gone through in life. Biologically it's an amazing process that our bodies and babies go through, I am so fascinated by it. Spiritually, for nine months I've been able to connect with this little guy who I get to meet very soon. It's a pretty special process.

Q - How do you stay so positive during your pregnancy
A - I stay pretty positive with life in general. I feel that we have this one life to live why live it with our heads down. Look up, smile and enjoy the view while we are on this amazing journey. Even though pregnancy can be uncomfortable at times it's a process in life that I've opened up to so I can enjoy the ride. Finding what helps those uncomfortable times helps too. First trimester for me it was mac and cheese and sprite as it got me through my morning sickness. Second trimester, a good pair of maternity jeans as my body was changing so much. Third trimester, showers and baths with epsom salt and lavender have helped my back while my growing belly has grown bigger and bigger. Also my chiropractor is specialized in prenatal care. She takes time with me and helps me feel great about my body and pregnancy.

Q - What are you most excited to do after being pregnant?
A - RUN and hot yoga!

Q - What foods are you most excited to eat again?
A - I am excited for Sushi, Turkey Tom sandwich from Jimmy Johns and not to have to ask the waiter is your cheese pasteurized?

Q - Are you worried about anything?
A - Maternity jeans don't have zippers - so when I fit back into my jeans (friends) please let me know if my barn door is open as I have not been used to zipping up for about 7 months

Q - Do you see anyone else about your pregnancy other than your Midwife or Doctor?
A - YES - I have a Doula who is amazingly helpful and is always there for me if I have questions. I see a Chiropractor once a week to help with the adjustment of my body and in the latter part of my third trimester she helped get Baby E moved around to the correct position. He was lying sideways across my belly which was giving me back pain. It was also time for him to start moving to a head down position. She helped him move into the correct position and adjusted my body to support him. I also have seen a massage therapist who has helped release some muscle tightness and has helped me relax and stay in tune with my body. We took a 6-week Hypnobabies birthing class which taught us about self hypnosis, relaxation through birthing, health, pregnancy, birthing options, caring for the mom, relax cue's for the dad and taking care of baby after he is born.

Q - What has been the most surprising thing you've learned (Question was for Casey)
A - Casey said that the most surprising thing he's learned is how much is happening biologically inside a woman's body.

Feel free to email me or leave a comment if you have questions. This has been such an amazing experience for me and I'll continue to update you on our progress!

happy holiday's

2011-12-20T09:00:00.000-08:00

From our family to yours Happy Holiday's!

Enjoy every moment, live, love and laugh!

Love
A,B,C and Baby E

saturday morning

2011-12-17T07:24:00.000-08:00

Good Morning! We're making a list and checking it twice this morning ~ getting ready for our family to come into town in a week. We are so excited and cannot wait!

Of course there is some Pinteresting going on as well!

Enjoy your Saturday

friday favorites

2011-12-16T06:16:00.000-08:00

Yes that's me in the picture above holding my first canister of film....

Wow I am 37 weeks and considered full-term. We are patiently waiting the biggest surprise of our lives! Everything is looking good and baby E will be surprising us anytime in the next 4 weeks. We can't wait to meet him and hold him in our arms. This weekend we plan on enjoying the three of us as it will soon be four. Hiking, relaxing by the firepit, cooking, dancing in the kitchen and much more. What are you up to this weekend?

Coconut oil moisture treatment perfect for winter time
Winter Solstice coming up next week - what do you plan on doing for it?
Love these earrings from Shop Bop
Pinterest favs for the week... 1 2 3 4 5
Jillian Harris ~ one sweater worn three ways
Chocolate candy cookies from Bakerella
Gift guide for the student
Flying wish paper ~ Casey's mom bought us these and I love them. Perfect for family gatherings around the holidays
Enter to win 2 tickets to the Caribbean Yoga Conference
Winter running love list from lululemon
Don't forget about other this holiday season ~ find a Toys for Totes donation center near you!

Have an awesome weekend and don't forget to live through your inner child spirit!

pack my bags...

2011-12-13T10:31:00.000-08:00

Okay I'll admit it...I am obsessed with Pinterest. It's my little getaway when I need a break from work or looking for inspiration. My favorite board is "pack my bags". I'm always planning my next vacation while I am on my current vacation. You could call me a bit of a gypsy, seeker, pioneer, traveler...I'm always intrigued by new places, faces and experiences. I know that in a couple of weeks I am going to meet a new face and experience something new for the first time and I cannot wait BUT, I'm still craving vacation planning. I can't wait to plan our first little family vacation. In the meantime - are you on Pinterest? What is your favorite board that you've created? Leave a comment and let me know if you're a Pinterester.

friday favorites

2011-12-09T08:09:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday! - I am 36 weeks this week and can't believe I'll be considered full-term next week, although I want him to take his time and bake as much as he can. I took the day off yesterday to finish up Christmas shopping and to pack my hospital bag. I can't believe how real and quick Christmas and Baby E's arrival is coming. Here are some friday favs for you to enjoy! Have a great weekend and remember to laugh!

Love this! 12 ways to tie a scarf

My "what to wear" on Pinterest is really getting me in the shopping mood for after pregnancy
Love these monogrammed tote bags
Yummy holiday giveaways' from Jillian
Holiday warehouse sale at Prana
Watched Ride The Divide last weekend and was so inspired!
Wanderlust announcing their dates for next year!
Having fun with Shopbob's wishlist

First red cup of the year - very yummy :)

Happy Holidays!

12 Gift Ideas for the Yogi

2011-12-05T09:13:00.000-08:00

12 gifts that will make your Yogi jump for joy!!

1. Yoga Classes: find one near the yogi you love and buy a package for them

2. Yoga Journal Subscription

3. Mats: Every yogi needs a new yoga mat

4. The Gear: Oh there are so many places... lululemon, prana, athleta, be present, spiritual gangster

6. Retreats, Conferences and Training's: Yoga Journal, Omega, Baron Baptiste, Yoga Works

7. Mat Bag

8. Books: Anatomy of Yoga, Light on Yoga, Journey into Power, Jivamukti Yoga

9. Tea Traveler from Libre

10. Essential Oils with Aura Cacia

11. Mat Cleaner

12. Yoga Jewelry from Energy Muse

friday favorites

2011-12-02T06:11:00.000-08:00

Yay! It's Friday. What are you up to this weekend? ME, well we have the Marietta Pilgrimage tour, it will be our 4th year in a row going to see these beautiful homes. We have dinner and brunch planned with friends and a list of Christmas presents to shop for. On top of that we have our hospital tour, to make sure we know where to park etc. on the big day. Here are some friday favs for you to enjoy!

Colorful gloves at J.Crew
Cozy and cute sweaters from Athleta
My favorite scent Vetiver by Elizabeth W
Urban decay Naked palette
Loving the band Vetiver
Sundance gift guide
Wrapped and delivered for free from Serena and Lilly
Enjoying this Hot Apple Cider tea from The Republic of Tea
I have an obsession with coffee mugs
I absolutely love this Tahoe Ski Resort art print
My favorite place

Have an awesome weekend! If it's snowing in your neck of the woods, PLEASE go outside ~ make a snowball ~ and throw it in the air for me!

Let it snow!

welcome december ~ 35 weeks

2011-12-01T10:24:00.000-08:00

It's December 1st and I am 35 weeks pregnant! I can't believe how fast everything is moving right now. I feel like I am on a train that isn't stopping anywhere, it's just moving quickly but I am enjoying every minute of the ride.

december favorites
I am craving snow right now! Everywhere I've lived besides GA usually has snow on the ground by now. Last night I caught up on my craving by watching Warren Miller's Wintervention which instantly made me crave some powder time
I really want to cozy up in this sweater from Anthro right now
This is the month of scarves for me! I'm trying to be very creative with my wardrobe right now this and this scarf will help style it up
Loving Jillian Harris's gift guides
Holiday Makeup glittery eye tutorial
Yummy holiday deserts from Sunset
Feel like November skidded by to fast? Here are some ways to savor it
12 days of cookies from Food Network
I love this - Otters hold hands when they sleep so they don't float away from each other
OPI Red just in time for Christmas
Love love love this message from Dr. Wayne Dyer

week 35 and 35 days to go

I am really enjoying my third trimester. Baby E is moving around so much and we're creating a stronger bond every single day. Casey and I have installed the car seats, the nursery is ready, I am nesting and organizing like crazy. Last on my list is to pack my hospital bag and continue to practice my patience and relaxation techniques. I have been going to my chiropractor and have a prenatal massage today which has helped me feel wonderful. My midwife says everything looks great and we are on our way for a healthy birth! We only have two birthing classes left and we have learned so much. In the meantime we are enjoying holiday traditions, dinner with friends, holiday shopping and walks with Brody in the cool Georgia air.

things I am realizing
I can't see my feet unless I bend way over
*see*

I wish I would have went to the chiropractor my entire pregnancy
My exercises have went from me staying in shape to getting ready for the birthing of baby E
The end of this amazing experience of being pregnant is coming to an end and it's been so awesome
I am glad I've lived every moment in the present during this process
I crave and want to make Christmas cookies every single day
My mommy friends are so amazing and supportive at giving me advice and being there for my silly questions
I laugh more now than I've laughed before - I think baby E has our sense of humors
I am more clumsy now than my usual clumsy self
People will open doors for me and let me go in front of them in lines at the grocery store just because of my belly ~ we should always be this nice
Strangers will tilt their head and give a happy, comforting smile with memory gazed eyes
I can't wait to hold our little boy in my arms

Some bloopers

Enjoy December to the fullest as it's a month filled with faith, grace, joy, love and happiness. Everything is possible, trust the process of life and enjoy every minute of it!

shop local ~ friday favorites

2011-11-25T10:09:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to shop Small Business Saturday! Below are some of my favorite shops for friday favs, enjoy!

I Heart Denver - Denver, Colorado
Peppercorn - Boulder, Colorado
Hand in Pocket - Atlanta, GA
Bella Cucina, Atlanta, GA
Star Provisions, Atlanta, GA

Doddlebugz, Marietta, GA
Gatewood Hall - Blue Ridge, GA
Nourish Natural Bath Products - Savannah, GA
Boulder Bookstore - Boulder, CO
Take the Pledge Patagonia's Common Threads
Don't forget about Etsy

Fort Collins Food Coop - Fort Collins, CO
The Chicken and the Egg - Marietta, GA
Willie Rae's - Marietta, GA
JCT Kitchen - Atlanta, GA
The Kitchen - Boulder, CO
The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse - Boulder, CO
Cool River Coffeehouse - Breckenridge, CO
Vendetta's - Vail, CO
Early Girls Eatery - Asheville, NC
Bongo Java - Nashville, TN

give thanks

2011-11-24T04:59:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I hope you have a wonderful day where ever you may be

Sending many thank you's to all of you!

sneak peak

2011-11-22T09:07:00.000-08:00

Did you know 3 is my lucky number? Honestly I have no idea why. When I was younger my friend Jodi picked 4 as her number so I picked 3. We'll it ends up the 33 weeks was not my lucky week. I caught a nasty cold that has now lasted over a week; colds and pregnancy do not go well together. It's been a hard week but we are getting through it. We've been working hard on Baby E's nursery; here is a little sneak peak for you to enjoy!

Couple more things to knock off of our to-do list, other than that we will enjoy the holiday's and patiently wait for our little boy's arrival.

friday favorites

2011-11-18T05:45:00.000-08:00

One of my all time favorite photos above of my Great Grandmother Mercedes and my Grandma Ca. Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy these friday favs.

LEIF shop from my friend Leah
Loving all the kids outdoor gear from LL Bean especially this sled
Would love to eat at this table
Gotta love Jillian Harris
Jillian's Wednesday Wonders - Loving the Hunter Boots
Vintage camera nightlights
Love this little story
An Ayurvedic Thanksgiving
Gift Guide from lululemon
Don't forget to elf yourself this year
Remember to include Manduka on your gift list this year
Yummy winter cider cravings

under the weather

2011-11-15T08:20:00.000-08:00

We are all feeling a bit under the weather today except for Baby E - he is moving and a shaken. I am enjoying some hot water with lemon and honey to sooth my throat. There is not much I can do but rest and try these natural remedies. My Doula has given me some great suggestions like eating powerhouse foods like garlic, onions and mushrooms. Raw is the best but these can be harsh. Trying raw onion on a green salad or mixed into chicken or egg salad. Tabbouleh which is full of good stuff like Vitamin C and Phytochemicals. I hope that one of these works soon. In the meantime I am curled up in bed trying to relax.

Have a great day and hopefully you do not have this cold...

friday favorites

2011-11-11T06:16:00.000-08:00

Naya Renew Your Shoes 5-Day Challenge
7 ways to say Thanks!
The making of Karen Jess Jewelry
Enjoying browsing through Orla Kiely
Love this video by Cut Brooklyn
Ummmm super yum? yes I think so
Love this hallway
Comfy shoes right now are a must - loving these
Love this comfy look
Such a helpful baby post from Daily Garnish regarding the Moby and Ergo Carriers

Last weekend was my baby shower and WOW it was amazing. My girlfriend Leah who hosted did such a fabulous job, I couldn't thank her enough for everything. Both Casey's and my mom flew into town for the occasion which was so special for us. It's not too often we get to spend time with both of our moms who are so amazing and thoughtful. We both really enjoyed having them here together. We enjoyed much laughter, tears and anticipation for baby E to come along. It was so nice to see all of my girlfriends in one room at the shower. I have met some amazing girls in the past 5 years of living in Atlanta and to have them all here at once meant the world to me. This weekend we have dear friends coming into town with their baby Aiden and 7 year old Jake! It's going to be another fun filled weekend. Can't Wait!

What do you have planned this weekend?

friday favorites

2011-11-04T04:12:00.000-07:00

Love these Chicago favs from Tory Burch
Just joined the United Yogis Yoga Community
Absolutely love this video of a Yoga Flash Mob by Yoga Stage
Your Southern Peach turned me to Project Gadabout
Yummy Pumpkin Bread
Loving A Sense of Design
November wallpapers from Escape Artist

We have a weekend full of fun! The future Grandma's are in town for my baby shower so we have a weekend full of Baby E!

Enjoy your weekend

welcome november

2011-11-01T11:39:00.000-07:00

Yay! It's November - A time for Family Traditions, Yummy Food (yes I've been craving Thanksgiving dinner my entire pregnancy) and Casey's Birthday! What is on your agenda this month?

Casey will be jogging and I will be walking the Gobble Jog - our little family tradition
Loving all of the Thanksgiving ideas on Pinterest
Countdown to Thanksgiving with Martha
I am so excited to finally participate in the Thanksgiving Pants
Spiced Tea Cranberry Sauce - Made this for the first time last year and can't wait to have it again!
Whole Foods guide to Thanksgiving
Thinking a Farm to Table dinner at the Martyn House would be fun

Enjoy planning for the holidays!!

friday favorites

2011-10-28T12:00:00.000-07:00

A friday favorite video for you

Love like a Sunset from Casey Stopperan on Vimeo.

Love the video and the message
Think we are moving here
This Halloween costume made me laugh
Just unpacked from Room6 - Bleubird is doing a giveaway today too!
Love this post about Bainbridge Island
Decor8 Calm and Casual
Yummy fall soups

Enjoy your weekend!

Week 30

2011-10-28T10:34:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe it's week 30 of my pregnancy!

Where am I now?
Baby - Around 3lbs. and 16 inches long, size of a cabbage
Workout - Getting less and less, but trying to keep it up. Walks with Brody, Squats, Lunges and some Yoga
Eating - Not craving as strongly as before but still craving Thanksgiving Dinner (not too much longer)
Energy - I am tired! I don't sleep much as I am getting more and more uncomfortable. My commute is getting harder PLUS it's Q4 and work is BUSY!!
Amazement - I am amazed every single day that I am going through this amazing experience. Every move he makes sends a smile to my face
Balance - NONE I actually fell in our driveway last weekend (which was a bit scary) but everything is okay. I can't believe how much my balance has changed. I am still trying to do Tree Pose once a day to keep it up
Nursery - We receive the furniture on Monday! I cannot wait. We've been working so hard to get the room ready, cleaned and set up for baby E
Books - I am loving the Baby Book , Casey is reading the Birth Partner and we are both reading Baby Wise along with all of our materials for class
Baby Ready - We had no idea all of the checklists and to-do's before baby E arrives. It has kept us very busy but it's so exciting getting ready for him to arrive
Class - We searched and searched for the perfect birthing class, finally found it and was able to get in the next session. We have 6 weeks of an amazing class!
Doula - We found our Doula! Took a lot of research, some interviews but we found the perfect one!

Anything else to update you on? I have my 30 week appt today, so may add some updates this weekend.

friday favorites

2011-10-21T07:53:00.000-07:00

Oh this little girl inspires me
A friend at work showed me Kickstarter this week - very cool!
Bonlook - try them on
Loving Fossils new handbag collection
Found a new site - foodgawker
mela and roam
Getting lost in Annette Tatum's site

I am 29 weeks pregnant this week - I can't believe I have 11 weeks left; this is all flying by too fast. As I reach my third trimester the baby will grow three times the size that he is right now. Some things are getting harder to do, like put on boots, take off boots, put on socks, bend over, shave my legs and sit for long periods of time. Some things are new and amazing, like feeling his elbows and knees move around my belly, connecting with him during my morning meditation and a little knock that he gave me the other day. Casey and I were talking about the energy we will need to find when he is here and we are up at 3am with 2 hours of sleep. I told Casey we need a sign above his door that says "Parent Like A Champion Today" just like the Notre Dame sign that hangs outside of the tunnel that the players walk through and touch before every game that says "Play Like A Champion Today".

Case surprised me with the sign below which made me laugh so hard; I do end up touching it every morning.

It's been a week full of belly laughs - here is another picture I thought you would enjoy. My girlfriend had a photo booth at her wedding which, by the way, is one of the most fun things I've ever done. I really want to put a photo booth in my basement. Somehow this picture came out - we thought it looked like a new sitcom and Casey's brother designed our sitcom's poster.

Enjoy laughter this weekend!

double weekend update

2011-10-17T14:53:00.000-07:00

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! We've had two very busy, fun and relaxing weekends.

Blue Ridge
Two weekends ago we traveled up to Blue Ridge, GA to enjoy the apple orchard, Blue Ridge art festival, visited some friends, shopped around town and enjoyed nature as much as possible.

Savannah
Last weekend we traveled to Savannah, GA to meet up with our friends Jay and Vanessa from Colorado who now live in Wilmington, NC. Jay and Casey have been friends since they were in elementary school; Vanessa and I have gotten to know each other over the years. Vanessa is 5 weeks ahead of me in her pregnancy so it made for a fun weekend and much needed girl time to chat about pregnancy and books we are reading, we tried not to waddle too much, resting our feet often and ate some wonderful southern food. I think the girls and the guys both had some great conversations about becoming a moms and dads. It's great to have a couple to relate to.

This was our second time visiting Savannah and I must say, visiting in October was much more enjoyable than June. The weather was perfect this time around. I found many favorite shops and restaurants to share with you!

Casey took me to Circa 1875 for a little romantic celebration. He surprised me with dinner in the wine cellar. The food was spectacular, the ambiance inviting, cozy and romantic
Hueys for some Beignets
Mercer House Tour
Garibali's for an amazing dinner and oh so yummy dessert
Nourish - where I found this and these
Savannah Bee Company for some honey tasting
The Paris Market
Shopped at One Fish Two Fish
Zunzi's for lunch which was so yummy
Lulu's Chocolate Bar - for a late night chocolate snack

friday favorites

2011-10-14T12:35:00.000-07:00

Hello! Last weekend in the mountains (picture above) was relaxing and refreshing. Much laughter surrounded the fire at night and the calm sounds of nature soothed our souls. Nothing better than good friends, good food and nature. We are off to Savannah this weekend to enjoy a little getaway. Have a beautiful weekend!

Love this idea
Welcome Home wreath from Homemade Grits
Halloween Handbook from Jillian
How cute is this picture
Fall wish lists from Urban Grace
One workout I miss very much is my spin class - I can't wait to jump back on the bike. Here is a great list of good spins studios around from lululemon
Petunia Pickle giveaway

friday favorites

2011-10-07T15:12:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! I am 27 weeks this week heading into my 3rd trimester. I can't believe how fast my 2nd trimester went. Our little boy is growing - now 2 pounds and around 14 1/2" long. We are headed up to the mountains this weekend to enjoy the Apple Orchards, Pumpkin Patch, Hiking and Mountain energy. Here are some favs for you to enjoy! Have a great weekend.

This girl just inspired me - love Jillian Harris
Saw Wicked this week at The Fox Theater
Yoga poses for Thanksgiving
Yummy Turkish Coffee
Loving everything about this guest post from Simply Bon Vivant
Would love this Mason Jar Blender Jar for my smoothies
8 ways to embrace the 70's style at home
Ruffle front wool coat
We are heading up to the mountains this weekend I think I'll be making these without the rum of course
Headed to the apple orchard tomorrow - thinking I will make these Caramel Apples

welcome october

2011-10-01T05:11:00.000-07:00

Yay! October is here... one of my favorite months!

All of the pictures above I've found on Pinterest
1. Carmel Filled Apples from Lilyshop
2. Apple Candles from Katie Brown
3. Apple Cider from Ruche
4. Pumpkin Wreath from The High Heeled Hostess
5. Chalkboard Pumpkin from Jillian Harris
6. Harvest Decor from Jillian Harris

This month is filled with fall traditions for Casey and I. Every October we head up to the Blue Ridge Mountains for our pumpkin search, a hike and of course the apple orchard for apple butter, apples and fried apple pie!!

What are your fall traditions?

Enjoy October!

friday favorites

2011-09-30T03:50:00.000-07:00

There are days that I really wish the Dry Bar was near
Craving an adventure like this but realizing I have my own adventure approaching in 97 days!
How gorgeous is Full On Oregon - planning a trip now!
Green Eggs and Ham?
Pumpkin Spice Pancakes are on my list to make this weekend
Baby Home portable cribs
Craving Rosebud's butternut squash soup
Cute Fall Look from Polyvore
New blog found - Kelly Hicks

We have an exciting weekend ahead ~ date night tonight, wedding of two great friends tomorrow and meeting with a Dula on Sunday! What are you up to this weekend? I can't believe tomorrow is the 1st of October!

friday favorites

2011-09-23T05:47:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! I am off to Iowa after a bit of work this morning for a good weekend back in my home state. Here are some Friday Favs for you to enjoy! Hope you have a fantastic weekend.

Free CD giveaway of Govindas and Radha's light inside you
One of my fav girls at work turned me to this site
Love the name and love the products - Buddha Nose
Elizabeth Mitchell - You are my little bird makes me smile
I have been pinning like crazy and can't wait to do this
YUM Thinking about these Apple Turnovers
Cannot wait to be here this weekend!
Last year the Yoga Journal Conference was a blast - hope that everyone going this year has an amazing time! On my list of things to do for 2012!!!!

Have a blast of a weekend!

25 Weeks = 6 Months

2011-09-21T08:17:00.000-07:00

We are in awe that I'm 6 months pregnant. I can't believe how fast time flies and before you know it we'll be holding our little boy. This week he is the size of an eggplant - love how they use examples of food.

I am getting ready to take my last flight for a long time - back to Iowa! We will be celebrating my grandma's life at her memorial in her hometown. I also get to see my dad and little sister for the first time since we found out we were pregnant. It will be a fun filled weekend with family, Iowa food (baby will love!) and of course some Iowa Football! I will make sure I post friday favs from the airport before I take off! Until then...have an amazingly positive day!

my pregnancy favorites

2011-09-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

Palmer's skin therapy oil - Perfect for stretch mark prevention
Water --Water--Water - which I drink in this cup to keep track of my ounces
Maternity Jeans! These saved my wardrobe issues, my favorites are ~ Citizens of Humanity and Mavi Slim Fit to wear with boots for the fall
The Belly Belt - which worked really well on my shorts throughout the summer. I don't have the combo kit, my friend Cathy let me borrow the belt part which works great!
Since hitting my 2nd trimester my skin has been very itchy from the hormonal changes. I have tried using exfoliants, scrubs, loofah's, shea butter, oils, lotions etc. I have finally found some products that help me get through the day:
Aura Cacia Grapeseed Oil - I've used this on my skin for the past 6 years and love it!
Earth Therapeutics Loofah - I use this loofah in the shower to refresh my skin
Burt's Bee's Citrus Facial Scrub - This is one of the best facial scrubs I've tried
I stopped by the Nature's Garden booth at the Marietta Farmers Market and met the owner who makes the BEST Whipped Shea Body Butters - I have this one and use it every single morning and night
It took me a while to find the right prenatals. After trying a series of different prenatals from Whole Foods and the doctor's office I feel that I've finally found the right ones for me. Just a little warning for those of you expecting or trying, some prenatals that are colored are dyed with artificial colors; yellow 6, blue 1 and red 40. One of the sample vitamins I received from the doctor included red 40. I understand that many of our foods nowadays are dyed with artificial colors and in small amounts it's not bad for you. BUT still - It's a prenatal for a reason, nutrients for the momma and baby. It just blew me away that these prenatals were dyed with artificial colors. It took me my first trimester to research and find the right vitamins for me. I absolutely love what I take now:
Garden Of Life RAW prenatal
I also take Garden Of Life Oceans Mom DHA
Books - that I am reading right now:
On Becoming Baby Wise
HypnoBirthing - The Mongon Method

Can't wait to share more as I move on from my second trimester to my third.

friday favorites

2011-09-16T04:37:00.000-07:00

{photo credit: Casey - taken in Greece}

This video makes me laugh and smile
I cannot wait to visit Mercier Orchards here in a couple of weeks!
Found this site How Does She? Love it!
The fall issue of Southern Flourish has arrived
I want to jump into this video
Cute new arrivals from Ruche that my belly is dreaming about :)
Love Gabrielle Bernstein
I'm a born and raised Iowa girl and am so excited for the Iowa City Yoga Festival - just wish I could be there, maybe next year.
Scarf Lovin
~Perfect scarf for Fall!
~ String Theory
~Vintage Inspired Blooms
~Iowa Hawkeye Game Day
~Hollyhock Mustard

:: Pregnancy Favorites coming soon....

friday favorites

2011-09-10T04:52:00.000-07:00

My #1 favorite today is my cousin Brady's Birthday - Happy 40th Birthday Brady!
Wow Hotel Yountville is beautiful ~ maybe an anniversary someday
Loving Softspoken shop
Having fun Pinning
Love this nursery style
Lost Plantations of the South - would love to find one of these
Found a new blog this week Meet Virginia
How cute is her post
Cannot wait to visit Nourish in October
Pumpkins

pregnancy

2011-09-08T14:13:00.000-07:00

I am 23 weeks along and can't believe I am half way there. We've been so busy registering, designing the nursery and reading up on parenting. So far this experience has been eye opening with heart filled love. NOT counting the 5 weeks during the first trimester that I felt like I was stuck on a boat and couldn't get off. I haven't blogged much on pregnancy and I am not sure why, hopefully I can catch up because I have so much to tell you!

There are so many things about pregnancy that I wasn't expecting:

Core strength ~ Gone...Yoga is becoming harder and harder for me. Sun Salutations make me laugh now - I used to love them and now they are really challenging for me. I could not believe how much core strength I use in Yoga and my everyday life.

Push ~ I am the type of person that will push myself hard in practice, it's different now. At first I would push myself to do the same poses or physical activities that I used to do. I have to hold back and truly listen to my body. I have to train my brain all over again and remember to relax, hold back a bit and not push myself to the next level. By doing this I've learned more life lessons than just physical practice.

Baby moves ~ Before I was pregnant I thought a baby moving would feel more alien like. Not at all, it's the most amazing tumbling, nudging feeling I've every felt before. He moves at certain times of the day and every move makes me smile.

Growing ~ Seeing my belly grow at first was really hard for me. My body was going through so many changes at once, it felt like going through awkward puberty all over again but all in two months. I finally woke up one morning and felt great about my growing belly. I recommend taking the plunge and buying maternity jeans that make you feel good instead of wearing uncomfortable tight non maternity jeans.

Hunger/Cravings ~ These are fun, just ask Casey. The first part of my second trimester I had some crazy cravings and they would come on quickly. I didnt' realize that cravings as a pregnant lady are not like cravings when you are not pregnant. Usually I could talk myself out of my cravings but now there is not a chance. I am better now than I was in the first part of my second trimester but I still do crave anything you could buy at a ballgame or bake sale.

Fun Drives ~ My drives to work and home from work have turned from long agonizing annoying traffic drives to fun talks with my baby boy. We talk about everything which makes time fly. He loves Cafe Del Mar channel on Pandora - he moves and kicks every time this channel is on in our car.

Planning ~ Here comes Angie the wedding planner again. Folders, lists, pictures, registries and nesting. When I planned my wedding everything was planned down to a T. I didn't kick into planning mode until week 18 or so which was surprising to me. I kept thinking to myself, wow did Angie the planner disappear? Maybe because we are having a boy and most boys are not planners? Is it because that is all I do at work? So many thoughts entered my head, but one trip to Babies R Us and I realized YIKES it's time to plan. For all of you planning or expecting Mom's out there that need a little help with what to register for - send me an email. I have a great spreadsheet that I created that I feel is helpful and might help you out. I felt that Babies R Us registry list was way to long and many of the other sites out there were helpful but I was just not sure how much to get. I consulted many of my mommy friends and constructed my own list. There ya go, Angie the planner is back in her mode.

Nesting ~ Yes nesting is a true statement. Casey and I are in a 100% nesting mode, from cleaning out every room, taking things to Goodwill, to rearranging the house to open up the third bedroom into the nursery. We are ordering the furniture this weekend and have already set up his closet. I am washing the first load of clothes tonight so I can hang them up. I never thought hanging these little pieces of clothing could be so enjoyable. I better enjoy this now :) I am sure in 6 months I will not be saying the same thing. I can almost guarantee that I will post something about laundry and I will have to point back to this post.

About our Boy ~ He is 11 1/2 inches and almost a pound right now. We have a name, but only sharing with family..you'll find out in 4 months. His spirit is joyful and fun - he already makes me smile everyday.

More to come - the more we experience...

friday favorites

2011-09-02T06:15:00.000-07:00

Yoga Aid Challenge
Be Open - Tune into Spirit
Ask Yoga Today
I miss running so much - I sometimes dream about going for a really long run. My Dr. said it's okay for me to run 3 miles or so, but it just hasn't felt good for me since I found out I was pregnant. BUT I still enjoy reading lululemon's ask a runner
Great post from Prana about Veganism
Labor Day Yoga Events - may hit your town
September Wallpapers from Escape Artist
Build your own photobooth for parties ~ these are a few of my favorites 1. Bleubird 2. Smilebooth Hitched
Discovered the salvagehouse on Etsy today and LOVE

Have an awesome Labor Day weekend!!!

hello september

2011-09-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

I love welcoming in September because it means Fall is getting closer!

friday favorites

2011-08-26T04:35:00.000-07:00

Love this dresser idea from Daily Garnish

The next book on my list to read is Fierce Medicine by Ann Forrest

9 best yoga vacations

Love this article from Well and Good NYC

If you are in NYC please take one of these classes! Alanna Kaivalya one of my favorite teachers. She is teaching a couple workshops in the next month. She is absolutely amazing!

Loving this OM infographic from Prana
Love this post from Nest Egg
How to make a Summer Sangria {maybe next summer for me}
Oh my gosh this makes me smile
Farmageddon check for local viewings
Craving this week: French Onion Dip and Baked Ruffles

What are you up to this weekend? We are nursery shopping and registering, can't wait to start sharing the nursery with you.

Have a great weekend!

friday favorites

2011-08-19T04:14:00.000-07:00

Hawaiian photography workshop with Simply Bloom

Awesome article about our cousin Brady

Craft Coffee is on my list to try after Baby S. is born

Top 10 beer gardens for my NYC friends

Pocket Guide

Guatemala Escape to Shape teacher training with my good friend Leah Cullis

Ohhhh these look sooo good

This market looks amazing

Tory Burch playlist

Thought I would throw in my favorite cravings.....

We are headed to Charlotte, NC to spend the weekend with friends! Have a great one...

It's a.......

2011-08-14T07:24:00.000-07:00

We had our 19 week ultrasound on Thursday to find out the baby's gender. Casey and I did not want to find out at the doctor's office so we had them seal it away in an envelope. After our appointment we drove to a local bakery and handed them the results. We asked them to bake a simple white cake with pink or blue icing in the middle, icing color depended on the gender results in the envelope. The ladies at the bakery were so excited about this little project of theirs. Friday afternoon Case drove to the bakery to pick up our cake which sat on our countertop for about two hours. We wanted to cut the cake, but we were waiting for the right moment. FINALLY that moment came along and it was time to cut the cake. We stood there with the knife in hand shaking with excitement to find out if our little baby was a boy or a girl. The rest of the story below!

We couldn't be happier! It's amazing to know we will have a little boy arriving in January. I can't wait to meet him!

saturday morning favorites

2011-08-13T04:35:00.000-07:00

Good Morning Yogini's!

Here are some saturday morning favs for this week.

New Paula Deen furniture at my favorite shop Gatewood Hall
I can't wait to know the gender of the baby I love Matilda Jane Clothing
Zee Avi's new album
What is your yoga style?
We ate here last night and loved it!
Carrie Prince jewelry
Loving Spearmint Baby

It's a very busy day for me - bridal shower, BBQ and shopping!

Have a great weekend

friday favorites

2011-08-11T23:34:00.000-07:00

due to a very late night launching a very big project friday favorites will continue as saturday morning favorites ....

sunrise walks

2011-08-06T04:50:00.000-07:00

It's Saturday and for some reason my body wants to stay on a schedule and wake up at the same time I wake up during the week. I was hoping for an extra hour or so... Brody and I decided to take a walk and enjoy the sunrise over the Georgia pines this morning. As I write this post our little Southern Bell Pepper (size of the baby from the baby center update this week) is just a moving. We are 18 weeks and the baby center update said I would feel the baby moving and I sure can!

Enjoy your Saturday!

friday favorites

2011-08-05T08:02:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday everyone! How was your week? Mine a bit crazy, I have a huge project going on at work and lots of baby research. There is so much to research out there, many friends have said you don't need everything but the essentials. Even within the essentials there is still a ton to research. Those of you that have had babies, if you would send me a note on your favorite essential. I would love to hear. Here are some friday favorites for you to enjoy! Have an amazing weekend.

7 Chakras Infographic from Prana
Summer/Fall Vacation Opportunities for Yoga Teachers
Couldn't say it better Tiny Wisdom: Judging by First Impressions
Love these short films Move ~ Eat ~ Learn
Botanical Paint from Boho Girl
My amazing friend Cathy always sends me music, these are her favorites for the week Lykki li and Adele
Cute cards from My Little Buffalo
Fun owl pillows from Rain Rain Rain
Summer Satya Designs

vacation part 3

2011-08-03T13:51:00.000-07:00

Part 3: Lake Tahoe, Drive Back, Half Moon Bay

Our drive from Yosemite to Lake Tahoe was amazing. We circled through the valley of Yosemite to see a couple of waterfalls we hadn't seen the day before. We drove through the rest of the park and over the pass into farmland of California. I will have to tell you, every single farm we drove by during our whole trip, all of the cows were grass fed roaming around in a large field surrounded by rolling hills and snow-capped mountains. I can honestly agree with the "Happy Cows are from California" commercials. We drove over a pass and into Nevada which instantly became a semi-desert landscape. We soon saw the pass that we would be driving over to enter into Tahoe, we had gone from semi-desert into beautiful pine mountains filled with snow-caps. We arrived at my parents timeshare on the shore of South Lake Tahoe.

We spent time riding the Gondola to the top of Heavenly ski area. My brother, Casey and I hiked some of the open blue trails. The views of the lake from the Gondola were breath taking. I now understand those stickers "Keep Tahoe Blue". The lake was a blue I hadn't seen in a lake before, amazingly beautiful. There was still snow on the mountains from their record breaking snowfalls last winter.

We enjoyed renting a boat and checking out the lake - my family used to boat the Mississippi when I was little, it was what we did on the weekends. To be back in a boat with my family was very reminiscent. Seeing the lake from the water was amazing, at depths of 30 feet you could see the bottom of the lake which resembled the color of the Caribbean. I was anxious to jump in, until I felt the 56 degrees water and decided that might not be as enjoyable as I thought.

We enjoyed great meals, laughs, family memories, walks on the beach, sunsets and old family movies. It was such a good part of the trip.

{vacation favorites}
Heavenly Gondola Ride
Chart House
Lake Tahoe - Keep Tahoe Blue
Emerald Bay
Eagle Lake Hike
Kayaking and Boating the lake
Family!

Our Drive Back
After driving through Sacramento we ran into some traffic. The interstate was backed up and we were both getting hungry. We saw that UC Davis was to the right of us, so thought why not were on a road trip. Driving into town we saw the UC Davis Robert Mondavi institute for wine and food science; why didn't I know about this major when I was in college? They had vines growing on campus, beautiful buildings, bike trails and more. We drove into the cute town of Davis and stumbled upon the restaurant Delta of Venus which served Vegetarian and Vegan sandwiches, yerba matte and other healthy foods. The vibe reminded me of Boulder, CO which was an awesome pit stop while ditching the traffic jam we were waiting on. We got to Half Moon Bay checked into our hotel and ran straight for the beach. It was so nice to see the ocean. We met friends from Colorado at Half Moon Bay Brewery for dinner and great catch up conversation. The next morning our plane took off at 6am so it was an early to bed kind of night.

{half moon bay favorites}
Sirens - a very cute store in Pacifica
Half Moon Bay Brewery
Seeing our friends

And that's a wrap!

Oh August

2011-08-01T11:14:00.000-07:00

Not to dis August - but it's so hot here in Georgia and our mountain souls are craving the fall. The smell of pumpkin and cinnamon ~ yummy. August is a hard month for me - all of the activities we normally do are usually put to rest until September. The pool and inside activities are what we look for. I have a couple of new projects in mind that I am going to try, the sunburst project that I included in my friday favorites last week & starting to work on the baby's room, which will be fun. So as much as I want the heat to pass quickly, I will enjoy it, embrace it and enjoy the projects inside for awhile.

So without further ado, Welcome August!

friday favorites

2011-07-30T06:44:00.000-07:00

Oh is it Saturday already? I completely forgot to send out my friday favs. Enjoy!

Wanderlust Kick Off
Loving Ahpeele designs on Etsy
Thinking about ordering a few of these
Yummy Chakra Sprays
Casey mom found this idea and I love it!
Found this cute site Project Nursery - starting to get some ideas
Someone special who follows my blog sent me Daily Garnish to follow, Loving it!
Wish I would have seen this list of things to do in San Francisco a couple weeks ago
Would love to be sitting in one of these Yellow Leaf Hammocks relaxing in my backyard
Even though I don't work at lululemon anymore I still use their goal setting techniques. It's almost been a year since we opened up the shop here in Marietta. I usually set goals throughout the year, but I haven't sat down to go through the formal goal writing in a long time. I think it's time!

Have an awesome weekend, do something you did as a kid. Run through a sprinkler, sit on the stoop and enjoy a popsicle, go for a bike ride, just have fun.....

vacation part 2

2011-07-28T12:57:00.000-07:00

Part 2: Yosemite National Park

I absolutely love nature and visiting different parks, hikes, mountains etc. BUT Yosemite took my breath away more than any other park has ever done. Every corner we turned was a new waterfall pouring out of the rocks. The terrain was unique and different each way I looked, from domes to peaks Yosemite has everything.

{vacation favorites}

Sentinel Dome ~ This was our first hike and WOW from the top we could see Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, El Capitan and the High Sierra Peaks. At the top stands the famous Ansel Adams Jeffrey Pine tree that is no longer alive but still there. If you visit, please do this hike it's absolutely amazing.

Tenaya Lodge ~ We stayed here and had such a great time. We arrived with a beautiful bottle of champagne from the hotel staff to help us celebrate our 5th anniversary. Casey enjoyed a glass while I toasted without, it was so special. The staff was great, the restaurants had wonderful food and the views were amazing. I spent some time at the spa getting the prenatal massage which was so nice and relaxing.

Mariposa Grove ~ Full of an amazing grove of Sequoia trees. I have always had a deep connection with trees, I think their process of patient growth, and sustainability through the seasons is a perfect example of life in general. We can all learn from their example

NEXT~
Part 3: Lake Tahoe, Drive Back and Half Moon Bay

vacation part 1

2011-07-26T08:22:00.000-07:00

drove 873 miles in 8 days

Casey and I took a vacation for our 5th anniversary last week which was exactly what we needed at the perfect time. We traveled to San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Yosemite, Lake Tahoe and Half Moon Bay.

Part 1: San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley

{vacation favorites} Oakland
Pizzaiolo ~ great environment, bocce ball, backyard movies, amazing staff, yummy pizza, salads, the wine list looked great but I couldn't drink :)

Market Hall ~ I would shop here every Saturday morning if I could. We tasted cheese, salsa, bread, olive oil, carmel and dessert. Love love love this place.

Fentons Creamery ~ Yummy! I haven't been able to eat ice cream in years, but for some reason being pregnant I'm able to digest it. So I dove in and had the coffee and cookie flavor, it was sooo good.

{vacation favorites} Berkeley
The Cheese Board Collective ~ We didn't make it here this time, but it's one of my favorites

La Note Restaurant ~ yummy breakfast

Teance ~ didn't get to visit but it's on my list for next time

{vacation favorites} San Francisco
elizabeth W ~ fun fragrances, the original store with all products made up the street

The Bush Man ~ Always fun entertainment

Sushirrito ~ One of my co-workers referred me to this restaurant. The line was too long and I was so hungry so we didn't wait, but she said it's one of the best. If you go let me know what you think

Out the Door ~ Yummy Vietnamese food

Chinatown ~

COMING SOON~
Part 2: Yosemite
Part 3: Lake Tahoe and Half Moon Bay

hello little apple

2011-07-25T08:20:00.000-07:00

I've been holding out and not telling you our little secret. We are now 16 weeks pregnant and enjoying our little new adventure. The first trimester was full of motion sickness bands, ginger ale, dizziness and realization of what morning sickness is. It was not just the morning for me, more like 24/7 sickness. Once I hit 12 weeks I started feeling better, by the time I hit 14 weeks I started feeling more like me again minus the belly starting to stretch. I have so much to tell you about practicing yoga while pregnant, trying to stay healthy, cravings and much more. Can't wait to share more with you soon!

Have a great day!

friday favorites - on vacation

2011-07-22T14:16:00.001-07:00

I'm out of the office on vacation. friday favorites will return soon.... until then I will leave you with one of my favorite photos from our vacation so far.

Namaste

friday favorites

2011-07-15T03:43:00.000-07:00

Mug Hugs
31 Bits
Love this
Video of John Friend discussing the roots of Anusara
Summer Hats
Lace + Crochet
Love this image signifies summer fun
Do you think Jeep will ever bring back the Alpina Wagoneer? I've always wanted one.
Loving OvejaNegra
DK General Store
I am now obsessed with Lensbaby - really want to try these

Have a wonderful weekend!

5 years ago

2011-07-14T04:31:00.000-07:00

5 years ago we stood in front of Long's Peak with our family and friends surrounding us while we said our vows in marriage. I can't believe how fast 5 years has gone by. I look at all of the memories we've created and it brings a smile, laughter and joy to my heart. Thank you Casey for an amazing 5 years!

Our Wedding

Our First Dance

Honeymoon

Celebrating our 3rd Anniversary in Greece

Love ya Case! Many more amazing years to come.

morning

2011-07-13T04:52:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love morning - the birds are singing, our one rooster is saying Cock-a-doodle-do, Brody and I hang out after our walk and the house is so quiet and peaceful. The coffee is brewing, the incense is burning, it's time to start the day.

Have a great morning!

friday favorites

2011-07-08T13:40:00.000-07:00

Love her voice
A cute He Said, She Said post by Your Southern Peach
Yummy citrus margarita from homemade grits
Are you headed to Wanderlust? Check out lululemon's 10 must-haves
Wild and Precious Giveaway
Jam of the week from Yoganonmymous
Loving their photos of France
Thinking I may order some of Beki Wilson's designs

Have a great weekend!

July 4th Weekend

2011-07-07T04:12:00.000-07:00

A little late on our weekend recap - hope you had a great 4th! We enjoyed the long weekend, we sat by the pool, watched the Marietta parade, visited with friends, and watched movies during our summer showers.

2011-07-01T13:32:00.000-07:00

Matchbook Magazine
Spiritual Gangster Freedom Sale
Casey's favorite this week Dear Photograph
Canon Camera Lens Mugs
Mountain Pose Yoga Festival at Copper Mountain
Dark/Lux summer styles
How to wear your lululemon cool racerback
Video highlights from Wanderlust Vermont
Healthy recipes for your 4th of July
How cute are these Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Yummy festive pretzels
New July wallpapers from Escape Artist

friday favorites

2011-06-24T03:58:00.000-07:00

Absolutely love Zee Avi
My friend Heather told me about an awesome site Well + Good NYC
Best dish scrubbies ever - I've had mine for over a year now!
This years speakers at Celebrate Your Life look amazing!
Found this new blog this week and loving it
She's adorable and amazing
Baptiste Power Flow Immersion at YJC!
Watched one of my favorite movies last night... what do you think it is? Click here to find out
Catching up on videos from the Hanuman Festival

welcome summer

2011-06-21T15:18:00.000-07:00

Summer is officially here! How are you welcoming in this new season? Brody and I woke up early this morning to head out on our morning walk. The sun was shinning bright, birds were singing and the summer heat was tip toeing in. While walking I remembered how summers were in Colorado and how different they are here in Georgia. I love the brisk mornings in Colorado, but I also enjoy the slightly hot but not too hot mornings in Georgia. No matter where you are summer is a happy time to welcome in. Enjoy!

happy father's day

2011-06-19T06:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day to all Dad's out there!!!

friday favorites

2011-06-17T04:19:00.001-07:00

These cookies from Everyday Musings look sooo good
This image of a Mason Jar Dispenser speaks summer!
I had no idea that The Open Mind Center existed and it's just a city away, I'll have to plan a visit.
Old Navy's Get Active Yoga Tour hits Atlanta this weekend!
3 fruits that won't give you a sugar spike
The meaning of 108 beads on a mala
Would love to learn to felt soap like *e*
Love this bungalow on Folly Beach
Love this quote "Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love." ~Rumi

Enjoy your weekend!

intertwined

2011-06-11T15:42:00.000-07:00

When Casey and I met seven years ago one of our first conversations was about our parents and how they grew up in Iowa. My mom grew up about an hour south of Casey's parents but their high schools played each other in sports. We knew that my uncle and mom were in high school the same time as Casey's parents. I always envisioned that they were all at a football game together without knowing each other.

As Casey and I were going through my grandma's keepsakes last week we found an old football program from 1967 which displayed both of our parent's high school football team rosters. As my eyes scrolled down the page I saw my uncle's name "Jim Roling" on the left and my eyes scrolled over to the right I immediately saw Casey's dad's name Bill Stopperan. I screamed out, "I knew it!". I knew they had to have played each other and I was so happy to be holding a program that my grandma held while watching this game back in 1967. I also think its funny that whomever was holding this program drew beards on the coach's faces.

Ever since Casey and I met we've realized how intertwined our lives are. It reminds me everyday to live in the moment and enjoy the little surprises that come your way. I just had to share this fun and amazing story with you.

Namaste!

friday favorites

2011-06-10T15:04:00.000-07:00

Love these prayer flags on etsy
The Daybook makes me smile
One of my favorite yoga spots Ember Yoga
Hiked here last weekend and loved it
Just found Organic Avenue - so cool!
A good food blog A Girl & Her Mutt
Great post on Pranayama tips and techniques

Enjoy your weekend!

Where is Simply Yogini?

2011-06-07T15:15:00.000-07:00

Where have I been you might ask? The month of May was full of ups and downs and many twists and turns. Sometimes when going through the turns of life it's best to unplug and take the time to reflect without technology. As much as I love writing and blogging I needed to take a step back to walk through this phase in life. Casey and I lost two very important people in our lives within five days of each other. Both of our Grandmas who meant so much to us. Both very strong women from Iowa who raised their families with lots of love and the value of family first. I want to take this time to celebrate their lives as they both lived very happy lives filled with much love and laughter. We both would do anything to go back in time to Iowa to spend an afternoon with our grandmas just one more time.

Lessons we've learned from our Grandmas
- Family is most important
- Always sing and dance
- Be proud of who you are and stay true to yourself
- Washing dishes can be fun
- Remember to play
- Swim like a fish
- Play with the pots and pans
- Make houses out of sheets
- How to make a great meatloaf
- Always sing Happy Birthday
- It's okay to have Saltines and Peanut Butter for breakfast
- Rubbing our backs helps us fall asleep
- Accept people for who they are
- Hold hands and give them a squeeze
- Eat chocolate chips cookies when their warm
- Laugh often
- Play cards
- Enjoy the simple things
- Volunteer
- Keep in touch with loved ones
- Butterfly kisses
- Fill your home with love
.......so many more

We will miss their smiles, laughs and loving hearts. May we pass on these lessons and traditions to our loved ones.

Much love - Angie and Casey

friday favorites

2011-05-06T13:28:00.000-07:00

The art of Tea Tasting
Customize your necklace with Satya
Cute Shimmery Sandals at Anthro
Aida Coronado...cute cute cute
Shelter for The South disaster relief for tornado victims of AL
Loving this post from Because It's Awesome
Perfect pretzel for a ballpark weekend
Fun new May wallpapers from Escape Artist
Cool new website from my friend Cathy: The Cool Hunter
Very funny doggy video

What are you up to this weekend?

friday favorites

2011-04-29T04:19:00.000-07:00

How to make Fresh Wasabi

Anusara Grand Circle with John Friend
Love this families fun photos
Fascinated by the Underwater Project - would love to try this someday
Gold coin necklaces by Emerson Made
I love this idea - The Green Bus Project brought by I love Yoga
Inman Park Festival
Summer Tips from Jonathan Adler
Mesmerized by Episode 1 of On The Road with Solitaire by Sweetgrass Production

friday favorites

2011-04-22T04:34:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth Day - Here are some Earthy Favorites for you to enjoy!

Real Time Farms
Picnic for Earth Day
Energy Regenerations Day
Lush solid shampoos
Preserve razors
Reusable gift wrap
Use reusable produce bags instead of the plastic ones at the grocery store. These ones Rock!
Recycled Sailboat Sail totes and pillows
Love the nature of beauty site
Are you wondering how to celebrate Earth Day? Check out Earth Day Network
Clay dyed Earth Day t-shirt
Hug a Tree - Tree Hugger T-Shirt

Warrior II

2011-04-17T10:15:00.000-07:00

Warrior II
Virabhadrasana II
veer-ah-bah-DRAHS-anna

virabhadra = the name of a fierce mythical warrior.

Stand in Tadasana, extend one leg forward with your feet about 4 ft. apart. Raise your arms parallel to the floor with your hands facing down. Turn your back foot out at an angle, exhale and bend your front knee opening your hip. Keep the front knee bent and the thigh parallel to the floor. Make sure the front knee is over the middle toe on the front foot. Don't lean the torso over the front thigh, keep each side equally long and align the shoulders over the pelvis. Tuck the tailbone slightly. Look over your front arm with a warrior gaze. Quickly look back at your back arm, making sure your front and back arm align. Stay for 30 seconds to a minute. Breathe and repeat on the other side.

flowcharts and yoga

2011-04-16T05:39:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know I've worked in Marketing for about 10 years and love the creation of different flowcharts. I stumbled upon this flowchart today and thought WOW how can I fit two things that I love in one place... this is it; Flowcharts and Yoga! Check this out! Alison put together the History of Yoga into this beautiful flowchart. For a larger view click here

friday favorites

2011-04-15T04:05:00.000-07:00

friday favorites

2011-04-08T04:34:00.000-07:00

Dreaming about St. Barth
Would love to try A Perfume Organic
Stumbled onto Weardrobe which is awesome!
These tours from Adventure Life look amazing
I'm thinking about painting my kitchen blue - inspired by the Blue and White. Any suggestions on a good blue for the kitchen?
Found a new blog this week Because It's Awesome
Southern Flourish new Spring issue is here
28 Yoga poses you can do in the office

Dancing into April

2011-04-03T18:11:00.000-07:00

Dancers Pose

Natarajasana

not-ah-raj-AHS-anna

From a standing position, bring your left arm up and roll your right hand open so your hand is facing up. Bend your right knee bringing your foot to reach your hand. Grab the inside of your right foot pointing your thumb up. Set your gaze and continue to breathe. When you feel balanced, inhale, stand tall, extend your left arm in front of you and lean forward keeping your chest higher than your hips. Extend your back leg as much as you can...and continue breathing. Switch sides, breathe, keep a gentle gaze and enjoy!

Saturday Scenes

2011-04-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

friday favorites

2011-04-01T04:45:00.000-07:00

Loving this post
Beauty Balimalas the Shiva Rea Collection
Greek Mac & Cheese
Flowing through EST Magazine
Drooling over Spool No.72
Love the daybook!
Talent Search at Yoga Journal vote your favorite
Give someone the gift of Yoga Today
Eco Eggs Easter Coloring Kit

grip & stick, thin & thick - yoga mat review

2011-03-26T09:37:00.000-07:00

"Your yoga mat is a place to invite in stress and meet it head-on, to rewire your mind on a daily basis. All the ingredients you need are there: the challenges, the resistance, the doubts, the frustrations, the fears, the possibilities. You challenge yourself on a physical level and the mental resistances rush right up to the surface. At those moments, you have a choice: You can either break down or break through." Baron Baptiste

For the past couple of months I've been testing out different Yoga Mats in different Yoga classes and reviewing them within my own practice. From Anusara to Vinaysa to Hot yoga I've tried them all. If you have any questions please feel free to email me, I would love to help you choose the right yoga mat.

The mat is a space where we experience our own practice. It's a wonderful healing place which transforms and expands the mind, body and spirit. When I step onto my mat, peace enters my heart, a journey of practices and places. Memories of practices that have expanded my view on life. The mat is a special place where we can retreat, concur fears, breakthrough tough spots, find inner peace and learn how to enjoy the experience.

How do you know which mat is the right mat for you? Are you looking for thick with a lot of grip, or a place to stick? Maybe sweat absorbent for those hot classes where you wish not to slip and slide?

Manduka PROlite®

The Manduka mat is amazing, it's comfortable cushion not too thick and not too thin brings balance to my practice. The grip and stick are perfect which helps me move deeper into poses. Known for it's durability, quality and lifetime guarantee, this mat is light enough to travel with and is a eco-friendly zero waste sustainable mat. I've tried it in Hot and Vinyasa Flow, it was a little bit slippery at first, but once I broke it in I didn't slip one bit.

Jade Harmony Professional

The Jade Harmony mat is made out of open cell, natural rubber which helps you stick to your mat. I've used this mat in Vinyasa Flow, Anusara and Hot classes. I definitely liked using this mat in my Anusara and Flow classes. It even has a good smell to it. Jade Mats are constructed of natural rubber, a renewable resource tapped from rubber trees - containing no PVC or ozone depleting substances.

lululemon The Mat

lululemon The Mat is a great in any Hot Class, Bikram, Hot Power Vinyasa. This mat is extremely absorbent and don't be scared when you see your sweaty outlined body on the mat when you are done with your class. It's easy to clean and fast drying. The Mat has an odor when you first receive it; this odor will stick around for the first few times you use it but will soon fade away. This mat is made from natural rubber with a polyurethane top layer and contains 10% recycled luon (yes luon is what they make their pants out of). It's a thick mat which provides great cushion.

Gaiam Essential

The Gaiam Essential was my first yoga mat, I purchased it at REI about 10 years ago when I started on this journey. I still have it today and it's still in great condition. I love to travel with this mat because it's light, easy to travel with and will fold up into my suitcase. This essential yoga mat is a great beginners mat; great value, lightweight and durable. If you are looking for cushion this might not be the mat for you but when practicing balancing poses this is one of my favorite mats to use. One fun feature about Gaiam is that you can create your own custom mat.

Yogitoes Skidless

I purchased my first Yogitoes when I started taking my first hot classes about 5 years go. I fell in love with my skidless Yogitoes. Fits perfectly on my mat, slide resistant and very absorbent. No need to hand wash this one, just throw it in the washer and tumble dry.

Hugger Mugger

I have not used a Hugger Mugger mat before, but I've had friends that have used them and say their great. The eco-friendly mat has a great selection of comfort, cushion, slide resistance and style.

friday favorites

2011-03-25T11:25:00.000-07:00

picture taken at the Harry Potter Candy Store at Universal

I have been listing to Stereo Moods and RainyMood all week
Going to this on April 10th
Fun Jewelry Accessories
Would love to wear this skirt on a tropical vacation
Cute chicks for Easter gifts
Going to a Stella and Dot party and cannot wait!
LL Bean announces Free Shipping
For all of you Mom's out there great article from Green Kitchen Stories about traveling with a baby
Qwiki is awesome!

I am running on little sleep but

picture taken at Universal

Have a great weekend!

spring to do's

2011-03-23T09:26:00.000-07:00

organize your home
* de-clutter and do a good deed with BHG clean out for kids
* pack away winter sweaters with these
* spring cleaning checklist from Martha

add color inside and out
* add outdoor decorative pillows
* update your favorite room with spring decorating ideas
* purchase new colorful kitchen towels

plant a container garden
* consider an herb garden with basil, oregano, parsley and thyme
* purchase a fun spiral hose
* research how to plant a container garden

take a trip to salvation army
* donate clothes you haven't worn this past year
* donate to the emergency disaster relief plan

plant your favorite color flower
* design a border of flowers
* find the flowers best for your region with the National Garden Association

head to the farmer's market
* find your local farmers market
* attend farm to table events
* plan a yard to table party and invite your neighbors

exercise outside
* Plan a yoga morning on your deck or patio
* Take a hike in nature
* Rent bikes and ride around town

where have I been?

2011-03-21T11:19:00.000-07:00

We've been on vacation in Florida with family and I decided to take a little sabbatical from blogging, work, email etc. We spent our time reading, swimming, golfing, cooking, laughing and enjoying our time together. I'm a little late on friday favorites, here are some favorites from our week off.

Would love to get involved with the Headstand Program
Outstanding in the Field 2011 schedule is now posted!

Enjoying Photography Concentrate
Morning messages fit here
Oh how I love the title of this post but most of all following her journeys in Colorado - helps me feel at home again.
Casey found this picture of the first known surfer photographed in Hawaii in 1890

Found a new jewelry shop and love this

Next weekend I plan spending my time planting my container garden

Found Janey Clothing on St. Patrick's day and hope to place an order soon
Telluride Yoga Festival - If going to a yoga festival is a goal of yours or something you've always wanted to do, this is one I would try to go to.
SF Food Wars - oh how I wish this was in Atlanta

Shop by Intention with Energy Muse
Listening to Patagonia's new music stream
This Green Tea with Lemon and Pomegranate is on my list to make this weekend

Enjoy time with family - it's priceless

friday favorites

2011-03-11T06:44:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday! I have family in town this weekend and can't wait! There is nothing like having a house filled with family, it's such a great feeling. What are you up to this weekend?

Spring Hikes from Backpacker Magazine
Soundwave Bracelets
Ordering Adara Coconut Oil to comfort my dry hands
Thinking about composting
My friend Lizzie told me about Kate Spade's new site which I just love!
Love these Jenny N bags
This makes me want to jump
Could be very creative in this workspace
A good cup of joe would fit perfectly in here
Great visual of Social Media Milestones
Perusing the sharpie showcase is so much fun!

friday favorites

2011-03-04T04:07:00.000-08:00

I've been under the weather all week long - I am ready to rest this weekend. Here are some friday favs for you to enjoy!

international women's day
one of my favorite blogs just launched this site
31 ways to celebrate spring
Yummy bloody mary mix from one of my favorite restaurants
love love love this from Brooklyn Thread
These Wobbly Plates by atellerBB are such great gift ideas
Fun Mardi Gras Celebration at Parish this Saturday
Love these March wallpapers by Escape Artist
Her trip to Costa Rica looked amazing!
Casey found this amazing sideshow of photography

amazing giveaway!

2011-03-01T09:06:00.000-08:00

Zobha, the superior fitness apparel line, is giving away two VIP tickets to the Yoga Journal New York City Conference + a Zobha outfit (approximate retail value of $2,000). To enter, simply “Like” Zobha on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/zobha and tell us why you think you should attend and share with your friends! The top two fans with the most likes and comments will win tickets.

All entries must be made by March 11, 2011 (by 3PM EST).

For more information about the giveaway please follow the link below:

http://blog.zobha.com/index.php/zobha-contest-2/enter-to-win-a-vip-ticket-to-yoga-journal-new-york-city-conference/

Have a great day!

friday favorites

2011-02-25T14:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday! Spring is starting here in Georgia. The trees are starting to bud, bulbs are on the rise and we had our first spring storm last night. The air is dry, the sun shinning and the nights are cool. Love it! Here are some Friday favs for you to enjoy.

Love this dress
A traveling alter for meditation from Satya
I would love to have this Buddha sitting in my yoga room
Would love to go to the 2011 Yoga Games
This Tunic is cute by Zobha
Would love to try these Yogasana Rugs out
This outfit from Anthro and a day of taking pictures is a day dream of mine
Then and Now creative pictures
Top 20 week 40 on Project 365
One of Casey's favorites The United States of Good Beer

Have a wonderful weekend!

little places

2011-02-24T17:04:00.000-08:00

I love little places in a home that are calming and creative. I have a couple spots in my house where I feel most relaxed and where creative juices flow. Do you have a spot? Do share... Here are some dreamy spots that I would love to sit in.

weekend recap

2011-02-22T17:23:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend we flew to visit my family in Arizona. My Grandma Ca who I mentioned in the last post has been in the hospital with pneumonia. We were hoping she would get to go home while we were visiting, but the pneumonia was not getting better. We spent our days sitting with her in the hospital talking, watching old family movies, playing with the ipad, showing her the Talking Tom app, which she loved! Having this time with her was so important to me - she has always been there for me with a huge loving heart. Looking back at family pictures and videos brought up so many good memories that I will always cherish. While looking through a couple boxes I found a letter she gave me when I was going to camp for the first time. She wrote a couple questions for me to answer at camp and included an envelope with a stamp to send back to her. It was such a cute letter, I was amazed that she still had this letter tucked away. Our relationship has always been a special one - I am continuing to keep her in my prayers and hope the pneumonia goes away soon.

While I was there - I was able to take a couple pictures...