11.21.17

imperfectly

11.5.17

the ocean in a drop

8.9.17

found

6.8.17

editing hell

5.1.16

 

gratitude 

 

one of my students gave this handmade gift to me, along with a wonderful note.  i feel so lucky to do what i do.

4.5.16

shankh mudra

I did some yoga with my hands today.  Here's what I know about Shankh, or shell, Mudra:

"The Shell Mudra drives away every kind of problem in the throat.  if you practice it regularly, especially if you sing "OM" as you do it, you can improve your voice.  It also has a very calming effect and leads to collection in silence." - Gertrud Hirshi 

This mudra resembles a conch shell - which is blown to signal the opening of ceremonies at many Hindu temples.  So you can think of it as opening our own temple doors, letting out your inner light or voice.  

To manifest this mudra wrap the four fingers of your right hand around your left thumb.  The right thumb extends upward and gently presses into your left middle finger.  Hold both hands in front of your sternum.  You can practice this mudra as often and as long as you'd like.  Or to treat a specific malady of the throat practice this 3 times daily for 15 minutes.

12.10.15

orange dreamcicle smoothie

This smoothie is super yummy and a nice balance of protein, natural carbs, and healthy fat.  Give it a try - you will not regret it!

Ingredients:
1 small banana
1 tangerine (or any other citrus variety)
1 cup lowfat greek yogurt
1/2 scoop Vega One Protein vanilla protein powder
1/4 cup almond milk
1 - 2 tbsp of melted coconut oil
water as needed for consistency
Blend and enjoy!

xx, m*

11.4.15

love letter

11.2.15

 

breakfast

9.16.15

stephanie comes to denver day

If you stick your hand in our booth, you might not get it back.

9.8.15

  

matching kayak blisters = love

7.17.15

fairy tale eggplant on point

6.29.15

prithvi mudra

Prithvi mudra increases the element of earth in the body.  this mudra invigorates the tissues of the body; bones, cartilage, skin, hair, nails, muscles, tendons, etc.  It increases vitality, strength and physical well-being.  It can help with chronic fatigue, weight-loss, osteoporosis, cartilage degeneration, week muscles, skin disorders, brittle nails, thinning hair, hyperthyroidism and more.  It can lead to feelings of well-being and physical radiance reducing all physical weaknesses.

To manifest this mudra gently press the tip of the ring finger into the thumb.  All other fingers extend.  Practice for up to 30 minutes.  Namaste bitches, xx.

5.18.15

raindrops on peonies

still raining.

4.22.15

happy earth day everyday!

john arrived today and we celebrated earth day by planting new native plants in the garden, watering our emerging lawn, making mojitos with mint from the front beds, and opening up one of the compost tubs to harvest some dirt.  

thank you mother earth, for water, for air, for plants, for pollinators, for supporting us all and for taking all the waste and turning it into soil.  xx

11.4.14

goals

i've been consistently working on this and i think i'm making progress.

8.13.14

happy 20 months!

already looking forward to two years. xx

8.9.14

seeds of change.  or coriander.

change change change change.  that is the name of the game.  
seasons, weather, light, people, moods, ideas, beliefs.
the things that don't bend, break.  the things that don't change are overthrown.  there is no space in this world for that which cannot evolve.  

i felt like i'd gotten pretty comfortable with that fact.  death, life, evolution.  but then a big one came again, ruffled my feathers a bit,  ripped me from what i'd been clinging to and revealed to me the places i'd started to stagnate.  it's always a beneficial thing once you get through it - but fuck is it a difficult process.

so here's an update - it's been a while.  i no longer live in costa rica, residing instead in the small and absurdly charming town of lafayette, colorado.  it's the opposite side of the rockies from where i am from and grew up - which is strange.  to be on the wrong side of such a forceful landmark, in such a wild land.  

i struggled trying to get back in the swing of things - society wise.  after being off the grid, out of the country, and gypsying around it was really uncomfortable to deal with the normalcy of traffic and workweeks, and answering phones.  i never thought about this when i set out on my journey - the diffculty of returning.  i got an office job.  i quit it two weeks later.  i no longer fit in an office.  apparently after you go out to see how big the world is you can no longer shrink back into your former dimensions.  i've stood on the edge of too many cliffs overlooking too many spectacular views.  i couldn't sit at a desk and stare at a screen again.

this realization was terrifying.  along with the realization that there isn't much in the photo industry going on around here - comparatively.  not feeling ready to start shooting weddings and family portraits i turned to my other skills.  so now i teach yoga and i work on a farm. 

as with everything in life there is both good and bad and it's a tradeoff.  we have a lovely home, but i miss our costa rican home.  i have a garden.  i've hardly left town all summer.  my family is close.  my friends are far away.  i work outside.  i make a fraction of what i once did.  you get the picture - let's focus on the good because there is alot of that:

life is lovely.  i live with the person i love the most. we have our costa rican dog, who makes me happy everyday and our good spirits. i am back in my mountains - where i feel most at home and most alive and i've been exploring them all summer, probably more than i ever have.  i eat nothing but delicious, organic locally grown vegetables.  i see my dad all the time.  i have regular yoga students again and am going through the uniquely, rewarding process of building a relationship with them.  i am working on some big projects to be unfolding over the next year or so.

life - in other words - is moving right along.

i miss you.  

i found this quote today.  it seemed fitting.

"for a seed to achieve its greatest expression, it must come completely undone.  the shell cracks, its insides come out and everything changes.  to someone who doesn't understand growth, it would look like complete destruction."

~cynthia occelli

8.8.14

dreamcather

8.7.14

or are you just happy to see me?