day 24 + 25: little olive + the dancing warrior

Day 24 was an interesting one.  I was dog sitting my "niece" and doing yoga with little baby Olive was hysterical.  Thank God it was a restorative practice because it was difficult to get anything done.  Any time I would lay down olive would lick my face and any time I was in a seated cross legged position she would sit in my lap.   Not to mention when I would lye down she would lay on my tummy.  I couldn't be mad.. I could only laugh.  As you can see in the photo above, she has really mastered downward facing dog. 

Day 25 I was back in my apartment in my zen zone.  I felt great, I felt strong... I practiced some crow.  My right wrist is still feeling a little weak.  I'm not sure if I should wrap it or just keep trying to build strength.  I would love any suggestions if you have any!

Be well everyone! 

Join Adriene on Day 25 of The 30 Days of Yoga journey! Dancing Warrior Yoga Sequence. Dance break! Don't decide where it ends! This day 25 yoga practice invites you to work on organic movement and creating a full body experience - that is true to you. No yoga robots!

day 23: freedom + forgiveness

The painting above was originally a tattoo design for a little yogi friend of mine, Joanna.  Last summer when I was back home visiting I took one of her classes (which kicked my ass in the best way) and then after we spent the afternoon in the North End catching up on life, talking about my illustrations, her yoga, and what it was like for her moving out of NYC and back to Boston.  She has really built a beautiful life for herself in back home.   She teaches yoga and lives in one of the coolest neighborhoods in Boston.  I think she was the first person to help me see that you don't HAVE to stay in NY to find this "career fulfillment."  I know that seems a little obvious but when you're in it you feel it's the only option.  She definitely opened my eyes a bit.

If you are in the Boston area and want to take a class from my friend Joanna, she teaches at North End Yoga + South Boston Yoga.  Her classes are fantastic.  I sweat so much she needed to bring me a towel in the middle of teaching.  I really loved her class.  When I go to visit I'll have to make a pit stop in the city.  Her website is joannabenevides.com

So I think the wild flowers above are a nice little symbol of freedom for this practice. I really love this watercolor.. especially with the piles of snow outside, it's a reminder of spring.  As always, Adriene leads a relaxing and empowering practice in day 23.  I don't want it to end!  I have a feeling this yoga challenge will quickly become my new "series on Netflix that I just watch on repeat." BUT she does have other videos that I am very excited to dive into.  

Take care, be well, and happy Sunday!

Join Adriene on Day 23 of The 30 Days of Yoga journey! Freedom & Forgiveness. Power Yoga! MEET YOUR EDGE! (Don't Panic) Day 23 is not the power yoga you are used to. Rather, this sequence invites us to find power and strength through acceptance, forgiveness and letting go.

@yeswilliamsburg instagram takeover

Today I took over @yeswilliamsburg's Instagram account and I am loving it.  I am doing what I love which is sharing what inspires me. This time it's with a larger audience than my own.   Very cool!

Every restaurant and every shop in Williamsburg has such a cool vibe and is so visually stimulating.  All I do when I'm here is take pictures.  So far I've taken everyone to Bakeri, my most favorite and adorable coffee and bake shop, my bestie Sadah's apartment that she let's me go crazy and style and decorate however I want, GANT Rugger Williasmburg, my proudest moment in my Visual Marketing career, and Sprout Home, where I get my flower crowns and love to look at all of their trinkets, plants, and home decor!  There are so many other places I could share as well but I only have 3 more posts left! 

Above is a photo of my fire escape from when I lived here.  I loved setting it up with all of my plants and pillows.  I would have a beer and watch TV through my window while I sketched.  It was heaven.   I miss it.  But one thing I definitely don't miss are the sounds of Bedford at night... I do not miss that. 

Anyways, I'll be posting away into the night so follow along on @yeswilliamsburg + @thecrabandthemoon!

day 16 + 17: ocean breath + a boost of happy

Mercury is in retrograde people.  Which means nothing is right in the world.  A bit dramatic... yes... but somewhat accurate. Mercury rules over communication so when it's in retrograde, up is down, left is right, I have zero balance, and my brain is like scrambled eggs.  These past few days have been.. not good, to keep it simple. Lots of anxiety and frustration.  I have to say that my time on my little mat is the only time when I can really let go of it all. 

I can't say that these videos have completely erased the bad energy but they have really calmed me down and helped me to find my breath when I feel a little panic-y.  

In day 16 Adriene talks about ocean sounds through your breath.  When you achieve it it is so relaxing.  The images that flooded my mind of course were the photos I took down by the water over Thanksgiving at my family's home in Boston.  Calm and blue.  Such a relaxing image.  I also held my side plank on both sides!  Super exciting.  I don't think I've ever done that.  Small victory for the day.

Day 17 really grounded me and calmed me this morning before I headed into work.  I went to bed early last night but woke up at midnight and mind was racing, stressing, and I couldn't fall back to sleep.  I was really glad that I managed to woke up early this morning to partake in day 17.   I feel a lot better... my mind clearer. 

Join Adriene on Day 16 of The 30 Days of Yoga journey! Easy Breezy Beautiful Yoga. Experiment going at your practice with and easy breezy beautiful attitude. Today, check in, don't push, keep it soft and easy. Ahhh, the art of noticing!

Join Adriene on Day 17 of The 30 Days of Yoga journey! Forget your troubles come on get happy! Hop on the mat for Happiness Boosting Yoga. Day 17 Yoga practice invites you to awaken the chakras and energetic channels of the body, or the nadis.

Enjoy + be well.

interior inspirations: stick pose

Today we had a snow day in New York so I got to wake up and start my day with the lovely Adriene.  I really do love waking up early and doing my yoga before going to work, but lately I can't seem to get in bed early enough to not wake up late and be in a complete rush in the morning! Today was definitely a healthy balance of work and yoga.   Everyday should be like that.

Day 12 and lucky day 13 were all about realigning the spine and building endurance.  We sat in stick pose for a second so of course my brain went right to my new stick decor!  Sounds weird.. but it looks great!  I've got branches on the brain!  I love when my yoga practice can relate back to my art and design work.  Keeps me inspired.   

Join Adriene on Day 12 of The 30 Days of Yoga journey! Yoga For Spinal Health. This Day 12 practice promotes a happy and healthy support system. Seek balance as you stabilize the core musculature of the spine. Find a sense of ease as you strengthen the buttocks & legs and find support from within - that lasts.

Join Adriene on Day 13 of The 30 Days of Yoga journey! Endurance and Ease! Find the mustard for your (yoga) pretzel in this fun full body sequence. Lucky Day 13 invites you to fly like an eagle aiming for full breaths and eventual exquisite ease.

inspiring sundays

Today I found some inspiration on Franklin Street in Greenpoint.  Sadah and I had the most adorable brunch and then walked around.  We hit up People of 2morrow, Home of the Brave, a few other cute home decor shops.  The store designs were all just as beautiful as the product.  Makes me excited for the day that I have a whole house to design instead of just one room. 

I also got closer to finishing my frame wall.  Very excited about that.  I think I need maybe three more and my collection will be complete!

So the shopping therapy was taken care and now we take care of the mind and body...

Join Adriene on Day 10 of The 30 Days of Yoga journey! 10 min Sun Salutation Practice! Get used to moving with the breath. Practice this in the morning to set the tone for your day! This Day 10 Sun Salutation sequence is great if you are on the go and should feel awesome after 9 days of an amazing 30 Day Yoga journey!

Join Adriene on Day 11 of The 30 Days of Yoga journey! Lions, Lizards and Dogs, OH MY! This full body at home yoga practice is a healthy boost to both body and MIND. Day 11 balances and strengthens your Shakti energy. Shakti is considered the essential energy to live a healthy and vibrant life.

Lately I've been doing two videos a night.  That's just how I function... I'm in my zone and I want to keep going.  Day 10 was nice and is why I love these videos so much.  They are challenging but they also allow you to relax and not feel like you have to have this crazy difficult work out everyday.  It's nice.  I also just think she's hysterical.  

I hope some of you have tried these videos or at the very least they have inspired you to get out and move around in your own way.  One of my best friends, who was also a yoga instructor, would always encourage me to just simply move around a little.  It doesn't take much to release stress and make your body feel good.   

I hope everyone has a wonderful week.

day 5 + 6 + i found my crow

And by crow I mean my crow pose in yoga and not my original raven painting.  Trying to be a little witty here combining my yoga practice with my painting practice. And yes that's my Treasure Troll top knot and belly button.  Anyways, I am SO excited because, like I said, I found my crow again and I held it for a whole 10 seconds!  It's the small victories on this feel good inside and out new years resolution challenge.  Tonight I completed days 5 and 6 of the 30 days of yoga and I feel great!  I will of course leave the videos for you to follow along as well.  But first!  I want to share my very special surprise from today... it felt a little like Christmas..

My dear friend Kat finished my wall tapestry!  This is her first woven tapestry and I absolutely love it.  I have big plans for this guy.  One of which is that he will hang from a branch from my home town on the wall next to my bed.  When he is finally complete I will of course show him off! For now he's just hanging out on some antlers.  So excited!!

I hope you are getting inspired either through these little yoga videos or through learning about new and beautiful ways to make your home feel cozy!  Part of feeling good in the mind and body is feeling good in your space!  Maybe that will be my mantra.  Keep my mind, body and space clean and feeling good.

With that being said, I'm going to light some sage and cook a little dinner!

Namaste. (prayer hands emoji)

Join Adriene on Day 5 of The 30 Days of Yoga journey! Feel Alive Flow! This practice will help you shake off the blues to feel revitalized and fresh again! Use this Day 5 practice to check in with the breath. Let the breath be the soundtrack to this practice.

Join Adriene on Day 6 of The 30 Days of Yoga journey! Six Pack Abs! Yogi style. This is a shorter practice to tone the abdominals in a mindful way that feels fun and supportive! Also, almost everyone wants more core strength and tone abdominals. You asked for it!

day 3 + 4 of cleaning out the nonsense

Today was all about relaxation.  It was a rainy Sunday morning so I decided to go for two videos! Woooaahh.  I know crazy.  Two whole 30 min videos. 

It got me in the mood to cook some healthy eats and then paint some cats. Meow!

Join Adriene on Day 3 of The 30 Days of Yoga journey! Forget What You Know About Yoga! It is so easy to slip into automatic pilot. For today's sequence, come into a beginners mind. (Bonus if you are a beginner and totally new to yoga!)

Join Adriene on Day 4 of The 30 Days of Yoga journey! Stretch and strengthen your back with the power of the breath! Use this Day 4 practice to awaken the spine and meet your edge. Tone arms, legs, core and stay connected to subtle body movement with the breath.

the crafternoon

I must say, the crafternoon was a success! We had such a great time, everyone made a little something, and no one burned the place down (though we had a few close calls).  And I got to keep a few creations like my new ombre phases of the moon friendship bracelet by Liz Wong, and a woven snuggly tapestry (still in the works) by Miss Kat Dawe.  My painter's pallet cheese plate was definitely the star of the show.  I must point out that I did arrange the cheese and treats by color.  So please take note! 

Everyone did such a great job.  The projects were as follows:

• Kat: woven tapestry
• Miranda: experimented with watercolors
• Lauren: friendship bracelets 
• Liz: friendship bracelets and a manicure
• Emily: pom pom banner
• Me: handmade valentine's day cards and had a little too much champagne

This was the first formal crafternoon and it certainly won't be the last! 

Also: It's day 3 in 30 days of yoga!  I'll post the video in a separate post.

a happy mind: day 1

The theme of this past month, as I headed into the new year, was a happy mind.  A happy mind for me means finding time for myself to clear my head of all the stresses of my everyday.  It helps me and allows me to be more productive, more creative, and most importantly a pleasant person.  Yoga gets me there every time.

Since I can't afford to take classes at a yoga studio right now I have been doing yoga in my own little studio apartment!  Tonight I came across Yoga With Adriene and her 30 Days of Yoga.  I figured I would try it out and I wanted to share what I'm currently practicing with you! She is adorable and I love her teaching style, but what really caught my eye was the quality of her videos and the background decor.  It's nothing crazy or fabulous, it's just relatable, simple, clean, and aesthetically pleasing (which is hard to find in "homemade" yoga videos).  As a creative person I appreciate that. 

If you would like to join me on my 30 Days of Yoga journey please do! I do have to warn you though, my 30 days may be scattered (I take days off here and there).  

My new years resolution is to feel good all over and so why not start at the top!  A happy mind is a healthy mind.  

Join Adriene on Day 1 of The 30 Days of Yoga journey! Ease into your 30 day experience with an open mind, kindness and curiosity. Use this DAY 1 practice to take stock, check in with the body and mind. Begin the practice of slowing down, noticing, stretching and moving with ease.

interior inspirations: the perfect corner

For a few years I've dreamt of having a space where I can sit and drink my tea and sketch by a window... possibly in a beautiful chair.  I also pictured this happening as snow is falling outside the window and I'm wearing a cozy sweater.  Yes.. I know I'm crazy.  But!  I finally have my little nook.  And I love it so much. My space is still being pieced together but it's definitely getting there.   

throwback thursday: paper dolls

It's strange when you identify with certain words so much that when you see them it's as if you're reading your name.  I perk up every time I read the words "paper doll." My name was taken from a 1980's soap opera called Paper Dolls, my first blog was The Life of a Paper Doll, and my personal Instagram still remains @paperdoll_ta.  

Yesterday I received an email from my favorite local kitchenware store, Fishs Eddy, with the subject title "Paper Dolls Box #2 [small size]" and I got SO excited.  For those of you who are not familiar with Fishs Eddy it is a kitchenware company run by Syracuse alum (woo!) in the Flatiron district of NYC.  Their store's interior is a little piece of upstate NY countryside heaven.  You can find everything from archival plates, to quirky dinnerware, to classic table settings.  It's such a great shop.  My DG sorority sister and best friend introduced me to it when I first moved to the big city.  

What I love about Fishs Eddy is the story behind it because.. if you can guess.. I can relate to it so well!  The owners were wandering through the small towns that make up upstate New York and stumbled into Fishs Eddy.  This little town is where they discovered a barn filled with dishes and bowls and platters!  And they got to take home all of it!   When they brought everything back to their apartment in NYC the seedling of Fishs Eddy started to sprout!

While attending Syracuse University you found yourself doing a lot of wandering through backroads and small towns.  My friends and I would make a point to find cool little undiscovered (to us) streets and antique stores to run around and get lost in.  This company reminds me of that moment in my life.

Fishs Eddy has been collaborating with illustrators and artists for years. This particular project, Paper Doll Box #2 [small size], is something that designer Todd Oldham brought to the table. The funny thing about this scenario is that Todd didn't actually draw these dolls, he discovered them at a flea market in Ft. Worth Texas! You can read his story any more on the Fishs Eddy blog! These girls and boys are now printed on a tray, a glass and a pillow which make up the collection. Go to fishseddy.com to shop it!

All photos are from fishseddy.com

gift giving: lovewild design

A few months ago I met Sierra of Lovewild Design at the Artists & Fleas in Brooklyn. Her shop just jumped out at me. She really created her own little world down to every last detail. Everything from her products to the dress she was wearing to the milkmaid braid in her hair, she fully embodied her brand. It's people like Sierra who inspire me the most when trying to build my own brand.

That day I purchased a gift for a friend and a gift for myself. The tea vial gift set got the butterflies flapping in my stomach. Had to have them! They're almost too pretty to use, but as you can see from our Instagram I've cracked into them a few times!

Almost all of her products are made of sustainable materials. My favorite items are her plantables, the confetti or letterpress coins that can be planted and turned into wild flowers! Every piece has so much thought put into it. Please check out their website lovewilddesign.com. With the holidays right around the corner these are perfect stocking stuffers or hostess gifts!

occulter

As an artist you need visual stimulation and inspiration to keep the juices flowing. My girl Liz Wong, who has an extremely sharp eye, just introduced me to this site occulter.org that absolutely made my jaw drop. It's so inspiring how perfectly curated their site is. These pieces make me salivate. That crab ring was born in my dreams.

All photos are from occulter.org.

farm + floral

Sunday was such a beautiful day.  The lovely thunderstorm the night before really cooled things off in this sweltering city. The past few weeks have been so crazy with travel and fashion week, a trip out of the city and into farm country was just what I needed to clear my head.  Even if it was just for tea and a scone!  

Great food, beautiful grounds and wild flowers that made my stomach drop.  Stone Barn Farm felt like a little slice of heaven.  I can't wait to go back in the fall for apple picking!  

flora grubb gardens

I am still thinking about my trip to Flora Grubb when I was in San Francisco last week.  Their space was so inspiring and fun.  The first thing I said to the owner was of course...... do you allow pictures.

What made this moment even more perfect was the little coffee shop inside. They had an awesome playlist going.. I had my tea in hand and everything in the world was right.

If you're ever in the area it's a great little place to grab a coffee and walk around for a bit!  They have great things for the home as well.  

If you're not in the area you should visit them from the comfort of your home at floragrubb.com!

commissary

The Line Hotel in Los Angeles' K-Town is my little sliver of heaven in LA. I love everything about the place. The interior design is really cool, the food is SO good and the service is fantastic. The price isn't too bad either.

This time around I was so excited to learn that part owner, Roy Choi, opened a new rooftop restaurant and greenhouse calledCommissary located right on the second floor of hotel. The greenhouse restaurant overlooks the pool and serves clean healthy food in a beautiful setting. I couldn't wait to check it out. Around noon I went to take peek and a nom and found out that they are only serving dinner at the moment. My world for a moment was crushed. I did, however, get some great shots of the interior.

Next time I'm over there it will be at the top of my dinner list.

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metal + crystals + skulls

During my travels to LA I found myself on my favorite block of Abbot Kinney Blvd and in The Juicy Leaf.  I was perusing for cactus and succulents and stumbled up these beautiful pieces of metal, crystal and death.  I've never seen anything like them.  If only I had an extra $2,800 in my pocket.  If only.  

Austrian Crystal Encrusted Skulls.  Makes my heart skip a beat.

You can only find these pieces at The Juicy Leaf or on their website thejuicyleaf.com

tea-toxing

I was recently inspired by some beautiful tea I purchased from Lovewild Design, my Nutribullet and a soar throat.  I made the switch from coffee to tea and now that I have a juicer I wanted to see if there were any tea based detox juices to make.  Sure enough there is!  So I am tea-toxing on this cloudy, cozy and rainy Saturday.  If you have a juicer you should try this recipe. 

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I have to say.. and I say this every time.. ever since I switched to tea I feel so much better.  Tea for some reason makes me feel inspired.   I don't know if it stirs up feelings of nostalgia of being home in the fall or something but it really does make me happy and gets my creative juices flowing.  I want to try some of those actual detox teas that promotes weight loss and healthy digestion.  If anyone has any they would like to recommend please feel free to leave them in the comments section! 

Enjoy your Saturday!

c + m inspiration: 10 fantastic floral moments

Always in need of some floral inspiration.  

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