cheers!

i'm signing off a little early for the weekend, because tomorrow, simon and i are heading to colorado to celebrate new year's eve with my family. we're going to bake a kransekake, play cards, and drink lots of champagne (of course).

simon is also going to experience his first raucous norwegian party, complete with pickled herring and akkevit, a strong type of scandinavian schnapps! (bless his heart.)

here's wishing you a very happy, healthy, joyful new year! can't wait to share 2011 with you. xo.

(photo credit: marie bee)

year in review.

2010, you've been very good to me. i'm almost a little sad to say goodbye, because you've been so exciting & transformative. but i also know that 2011 will bring its own gifts and adventures, so i am ready.

a little recap of this year. in 2010 i:

• visited new york city four times.
• also visited providence, seattle, portland, chicago, san diego, martha's vineyard, and new zealand.
• baked a lot of pies. and also made norwegian boller.
• took a flower arranging class.
• quit my job.
• spent a month at kripalu and became a yoga teacher.
• got married!
• changed my name.
• made a mouth-watering roasted rack of lamb.
• opened an etsy store.
• read a lot of books.
• welcomed my first official photography client.
• started teaching yoga at soni yoga studio.
• became an auntie for the second time.
• got pulled on stage at a comedy club.
• went parasailing!
• celebrated love, blog readers, getting older, and summer.
• fell in love with brussels sprouts.
• learned about patience.
• learned how to knit.

and to ring in the new year, here are some things i hope to do in 2011 and beyond:

• teach more yoga classes. (completed - ongoing)
• go camping.
• publish a magazine article. (completed, 5/12/11)
• celebrate my 30th birthday. (completed 2/24/11)
• knit a pair of socks.
• spend a day at walden pond.
• bake sea salt brownies. (completed 1/10/11)
• read 'the help'. (completed 2/28/11)
• sew a yarn/knitting bucket. (completed 1/19/11)
• dress up and go to a jazz club. (completed 2/12/11)
• read a whole book in one day. (completed 1/24/11)
• bake simon a chocolate peanut butter cake. (completed 2/3/11)
• watch twin peaks on dvd.
• continue to grow as a photographer. (completed - ongoing.)

now, tell me, what are some of your new years' goals? i'd love to hear! xo.

(photo credit: lawa)

scarves, snow and a new friend.

last week i had the pleasure of meeting up with hanna from ever green knits. she recently completed a beautiful "vermont shawl" and asked me to photograph it. despite the fact that it was a freezing day, (and even snowed a little) we had tons of fun.

here are a couple of my favorites:

hanna's hair was beautifully braided, and i love the contrast of the pink scarf against her jacket. she also made a green one, which we decided would look lovely against this old, rustic barn.

i love the little snow flakes. what a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. thank you, hanna!

p.s. if you're interested in my photography or styling services, please feel free to send me an email to naturallynina [at] gmail.com. my rates are very reasonable and i love working with bloggers, artists, etsy-sellers and entrepreneurs. :)

christmas.

as i'm writing this, there are big white flakes falling through the sky. hurray! what a perfect end to a fun weekend. how were your holidays?

our christmas weekend was filled with games, 1000 piece puzzles, stuffed bellies, tears from laughing so hard, and lots of thoughtful gifts.

we started our mornings with coffee and scones, (and i decided to be festive by painting my nails with glitter.) we even tried a spicy egg-nog flavored coffee in honor of the holiday, but alas, my coffee snobbery got in the way. in fact, it was so disappointing, i threw it out and made a whole second pot of (normal) coffee.

simon's mother had decorated their house beautifully, and we played christmas tunes all day long. we also sat by the roaring fire and sipped wine. love.

and aside from all the festivities, we managed to squeeze in a quick knitting lesson for me. i am starting small, but it's so addictive. (i'm curious, do you knit?)

all in all, it was a lovely holiday, and i am a happy girl. now it's time to gear up for the next holiday... new years! xo.

give love.

hello friends! are you all ready for christmas? in our house, the cookies are baked and we are getting our bags packed to drive to maine. i'm signing off for a few days, but i will see you again next week!

in the meantime, enjoy this song. it's one of my favorites, and love that it was recently referred to as a "yogi christmas song".

here's wishing you the the happiest of holidays! xo.

p.s. thank you, heather. :)

snow and gift wrapping.

hello friends!

yesterday it snowed in boston and i couldn't be happier. i love white christmases, and the forecast looks promising. today, simon and i are spending the day lounging, crafting, reading and wrapping. :) we're also going for a walk, because walks are my favorite.

in the meantime, here is an easy little craft project i did the other day.

instructions: cut felt into holly shaped leaves, glue it to fun construction paper, (or directly to your wrapping paper), adorn with ribbon and bells, and voila! you have a sweet little gift. (in this case, for one of simon's family dogs.)

happy tuesday!

party time.

this weekend simon and i are going to a wedding... and i am so ridiculously excited, i can barely sleep. two of our best friends are getting married and we are going to dress to the nines! (i am going to attempt this updo. wish me luck.)

have a lovely weekend! drink some champagne too! xo.

p.s. one week until christmas eve. woohoo! :)

(photo credit: casey baudoin)

special visitors.

this week has been busy, but in the best possible way. i've had visitors from near (providence) and far (norway) and it's been so refreshing. i love the kinds of friendships that fill me up with inspiration and laughter, (not to mention, give me an excuse to take a lot of photos).

first, christine and her gorgeous, seven-week-old son came to visit. i don't think i've ever met such a good baby! he was incredibly mellow and smiley, and christine is such a natural mama. we walked around beacon hill and talked for hours about writing, marriage and babies. it was so lovely.

hello gorgeous.

sigh. meeting baby vijay did not help my baby fever. jeez! :)

p.s. christine gave me the cutest holiday gift! a handmade camera strap. i am so in love. (photo by christine too.)

then, two norwegian friends came to visit and we walked around the city all bundled up in the freezing cold. christmas lights were everywhere, they ate clam chowder, and we had a blast catching up. (and i got to speak norwegian, hurray!)

finally, today we took a quick walk around the harvard campus and spent an hour in the harvard coop. they walked out with their hands full (literally) with books... my kind of peeps.

thank you, everyone for coming! i love visitors. xo.

green and red.

all i want for christmas is permission to keep all of our holiday decorations on display until next year. what do you say, simon? :)

p.s. this is my new favorite holiday song. thank you, lynette, for sharing it with me.

p.p.s. the second photo is from a shop window. those gorgeous candlesticks aren't mine... yet. :)

happiness is...

over the weekend, simon surprised me with an early christmas present. seeing as i am the most impatient person in the world when it comes to exciting things like holiday gifts, i took this as a sign that a) he knows me all too well and b) it was going to be good.

and i was right. :)

i unwrapped a dvd of the 1952 mickey mouse christmas film that i used to watch when i was a little girl. have you guys ever seen it? it's a classic!

as we snuggled up to watch it, i felt like i was transported back in time. and yet, there i was with my husband. wow, when did i become a grown-up? nevertheless, we laughed like little kids and then fell asleep.

it was the perfect holiday "date night" and a sweet way for us to kick off our first christmas as husband and wife.

so, tell me, do you have any little, quirky holiday traditions from your childhood that you now share with your significant other?

(photo credit: 625lineas)

holiday gift guide: ideas for your hilarious dad.

my dad is often referred to as the "cutest man ever." (seriously. and not just by my mother.) i'm not sure if it's his santa cheeks, the newsboy hat he wears every day, or his ridiculous dance moves. either way, i'm proud to call him my father.

he's traveled all over the world, inspires me to be a better photographer, knows more about music than anyone i've ever met, and best of all, still makes my mother laugh. pappa, this one is for you. :)

here are some ideas for our dads, (even though they probably already have everything).

from left to right, top to bottom:

decoded - this is an amazing book written by jay-z about the cultural art form of rap. it's getting rave reviews. dad, when you're done with it, can i borrow it? available from amazon. ($19)

coffee of the month club - like father, like daughter. this is the gift that keeps on giving! imagine all that fair-trade, organic coffee arriving on your doorstep. heaven, i tell you. available from grounds for change. ($62.95 for three months)

mad men dvd - it's true. he not-so-subtly hinted that he wants this dvd. "nina, you know what i'd love for christmas?" but it's okay. the man's got good taste. available from amazon. ($31)

a bottle of scotch - staying true to the mad men theme, this scotch (well, really, any scotch) would be great for sipping with his friends. this one is available here. ($60)

plain white t's cd - keeping him young, this new album is called "wonders of the younger." he's always looking for new music, and this album is fresh out of the recording studio.

a fancy bike lamp - he loves biking, and it's very dark in norway. enough said. (see, dad, i care about your safety.) available from night gear. ($45)

a gorgeous norwegian-esque print for his office - he loves art, wandering through museums, and would be thrilled that you supported an independent artist. this 8 x11.5 shed print is available from tush tush. ($15)

paul smith handkerchiefs - if you can get past the grossness factor, handkerchiefs are pretty cool. (and very good for the environment.) since he always carries one (and yes, uses it) why not treat him to a couple that aren't plain white. available here. ($45)

a circuit board key ring - for keeping track of all of his keys, and because he likes computers, a lot. available from violets new vintage. ($6)

now, since we know how hard it is to buy stuff for dad... what did you get yours? i'd love to hear. xo.

wowza.

friends and readers, you guys are the beez neez.

all of your thoughtful, sweet, wise comments yesterday lifted me right up. i am blown away, and can't tell you how much it means to me. i love this little posse we have formed. we're like entrepreneurial warriors!

many of you pointed out that i am paving the way for our (future) children to do what they love, take risks, be courageous, and be themselves. i really took this to heart.

thank you, thank you, thank you.

i'll be back later today with another installment of the holiday gift guide. in the meantime, consider this post a giant hug from me to you. :) xo.

p.s. since i'm the kind of girl who frequently cries happy tears, this print is right up my alley. it's available here from laura amiss.

reflecting.

as this year comes to a close, and i'm hitting the six month mark since i quit my full-time job, i've been doing a lot of thinking. i would be lying if i said the transition hasn't had its ups and downs.

some days, i just wish it would be easier. even as i make progress (i'm now teaching an average of two-three yoga classes a week) and good things happen (students coming up to me after class and telling me they loved it) it still feels altogether too slow. i'm impatient. and uncomfortable. and worried about failing at every moment.

i try to remind myself that being outside of my comfort zone is a good thing; it's where growth happens. but sometimes people say (unintentionally) hurtful things, and my self esteem plummets. the other day i was referred to as someone who "doesn't work." my heart ached. "maybe it's true," i thought. maybe this is how the world views me?

as a friend once told me, it's easy to dismiss "work" that can't be measured in titles, raises, and promotions. a lot of people don't understand why i wouldn't want to have a "career" in the way that they do.

but the good news is i love teaching yoga. i'm just crossing my fingers for more yoga classes in the new year, and perhaps another job too.

so, my dear readers, i'd love to hear if any of you have any thoughts to share on this subject. freelancers, moms, artists, and fellow yoga teachers... have you experienced similar things? how do you deal with people who aren't supportive of your life choices?

p.s. while i'm on this subject, i'm happy to announce that i now teach yoga at soni yoga studio in burlington. i have a regular class on wednesdays, at 10 a.m. and will be subbing often too. please come join me, and say hello! :) beginners welcome.

(photo credit: ismay ozga)

scenes from new york.

as you know, last weekend simon and i drove to new york city. it was one of those perfect weekends. the air was crisp, the streets were lined with christmas trees, and i walked arm in arm through the village with some of my best friends in the world.

this was the view from our hotel. that being said, we stayed up until the wee hours of the night talking to our friends over glasses of wine, so we barely saw it. (in retrospect, this may be why i came down with a cold, but it was so worth it.)

even though i lived in new york city for many years, i still feel like a tourist every time. but i love that some things never change, like the subways and the metro cards. (i also love my fingerless gloves even though they're not practical when it's freezing outside.)

we visited rockefeller center and saw the giant tree! we also saw the saks 5th avenue christmas display (above) which was really cool.

and last but not least, here are some pictures of my friends. they might kill me for posting these... but they're so cute, aren't they? :)

i feel so lucky to live so close to the city, and have friends that make us french-style pastis cocktails, take us to fabulous restaurants, and make us laugh. simon and i are still smiling. xo.

under the weather.

... and under a pile of blankets.

hello friends! how was your weekend? new york city was pure bliss, but i seem to have caught a nasty little cold. so i'm going to make tea, read my book, and be back tomorrow (with pictures). xo.

(photo credit: tom tom)

big apple.

today simon and i are off to new york for the weekend. i am so excited; i packed my walking shoes! (p.s. i know it's probably not going to snow, but it would be so nice if it did. hint hint, weather gods.)

have a wonderful weekend, everyone! i'll see you back here next week for more holiday posts and other goodies. xo.

(photo credit: alexandra kob)

holiday gift guide: ideas for your amazing mom.

today's gift guide is dedicated to my incredible mama. not only is she the tiniest little thing and can get away with wearing extra small in everything, but she is the most positive, spirited, loving, and confident woman i've ever known.

here are a few ideas for our unstoppable mothers:

from left to right, top to bottom:

woven merino blanket - woven on a vintage industrial loom in a rich brown and white, this blanket is sure to keep her warm on cold, norwegian winter nights! available from river farm ($350)

bookmark set - so she never loses her place again, treat her to these bright, fun bookmarks from abby trys again ($9)

wrinkled brown leather shoulder bag - this perfectly textured leather bag is ideal for bringing her necessities with her when she's running around town. available from restless general store ($16 - what a steal!)

yarn bucket - a handy place to keep her knitting or crocheting, this cotton canvas bucket is both sweet and practical. available from inklore. ($36)

major pettigrew's last stand - a story about a widower's fight to keep his greedy relatives from selling a valuable family heirloom, this book has been described as "an enjoyable traipse through the english countryside." available from amazon ($16.50)

nouveau necklace - simple, stunning and wonderful for every-day wear. available from shop clementine ($29)

little bow brooches - a great stocking stuffer, these sweet little brooches add a special touch of color to her jacket, purse or hat. available from little love. ($5)

salt bowl in navy - as seen in the wall street journal, this cute little salt dish is great for keeping by the stove, so she can add a dash of salt to her minestrone soup. available from raedunn. ($38)

paris calendar - she's a planner, a calendar addict and an adventurous traveler, so let her ring in the new year with this gorgeous calendar made by little brown pen. ($22)

i must confess, i spent an inordinate amount of time creating this gift guide... hours that i probably should have spent actually holiday shopping instead of pretending to ... oh well! mama, i love you!

happy december!

today i'm taking a little break from gift guides to share my new favorite song. i heard it on the radio in the car yesterday and immediately started humming along.

now that i am teaching yoga more regularly, (more on that soon), i've been having so much fun building playlists and coming up with songs that are yoga-appropriate, while still not being too new agey. *

mind you, the video is odd. but i still like the song, so here you go!

junip - always from city slang on vimeo.

* i actually don't mind new agey music in moderation.

holiday gift guide: ideas for your best friend.

she's fiercely loyal, gracious, laid back, and an amazing listener. not to mention that she sends you hilarious photos from her phone. here are some ideas for your beautiful best friend:

from left to right, top to bottom:

the frankies spuntino cookbook - recipes originating from the famous brick-walled restaurant in brooklyn's carroll gardens, this cook book is filled with ideas for italian american comfort food. yummers! available from amazon. ($16)

wrist worms - perfect for keeping her hands warm (and stylish) while she texts you. made by sandra juto ($49)

twin sailboat prints - she loves all things nautical, so why not give her these gorgeous pieces of art to hang in her dining room? you can gaze at them together as you munch on cheesecake on saturday evenings. made by dolangleman ($60)

painted vintage birds - i love these little guys. wouldn't they be darling hanging from her christmas tree or around her house during the rest of the year? available from cox & cox. ($55)

id bracelet - a nod to the past, these cool id bracelets are making a comeback. give one as a token of your friendship. available from madewell. ($28)

heirloom recipe box - no more bookmarked recipes on her computer! send her a special recipe box made by local craftsmen from locally salvaged hardwood. for an extra special touch, include a few of your favorite recipes. made by rifle. ($125)

blue bag - this purse is described as the perfect companion for jumping in the car with your friend and heading off on an adventure. oh those crocheted embellishments... be still my heart. available at modcloth. ($85)

sweet little zipper pouch - she's the most organized person you know, so treat her to this pretty little pouch. she can use it as a pencil or make-up case, and so much more. available from sammade. ($14)

marfuga olive oil - for the foodie side of her, this olive oil will rock her taste buds. perfect for dipping into crusty breads. available at williams sonoma. ($39)

i'm not going to lie... i want a lot of these things myself! happy shopping!

holiday gift guide: ideas for your hunky husband.

good morning friends!

i'm so excited for today! it's time to kick off this year's holiday gift guide with selections for your guy who brings you coffee in the morning, changes poopy diapers, rubs your feet at night, and makes you laugh until your stomach hurts.

from left to right, top to bottom:

the colbert christmas special - i bought this dvd for simon several christmases ago, and we've made it a tradition to watch it every year while we decorate the christmas tree. it's funny and features musical guests such as feist, john legend, willie nelson, elvis costello and toby keith. (even jon stewart makes a cameo!) available on amazon. ($10)

gorgeous navy blue duffel bag - perfect for those weekend getaways, or for hauling his sports gear around. available at madewell. ($148)

new cedar brown wallet - simple and slim, perfect for his credit cards, a metro card and some cash. available from scabby robot. ($30)

"you the man" mug - because it's true. and because after all these years, you still feel bad that he sips coffee out of a floral mug that you've had since the fifth grade. available from lenny mud. ($16)

vintage coffee decanter - keeping up with the coffee theme, this is a decadent way to make coffee on those lazy sunday mornings while you're flipping through the new york times and munching on fresh scones. available from inmyigloo, ($14) or search for vintage coffee decanter on etsy or ebay.

classic stanley thermos - durable and keeps things hot. enough said. available at urban outfitters. ($48)

john varvatos cologne, vintage edition - rugged, smoky, leathery, woodsy, classic... like a fall day in a rustic cabin. humina humina! available here or in your local department store. ($78)

first edition or vintage book - he's loves reading, so why not treat him to one of this favorite books old-school style? search your local used books store, or scour through etsy or ebay. don't forget to write a romantic inscription on the inside cover. kurt vonnegut's slaughter house five is available here. ($10)

stylish camera strap - so he looks good when he's snapping photos of you on vacation, and stands out among the crowd of dads at the school play. originally available at the classic strap company. ($30) if sold out, alternatives are here, here and here.

so, now tell me... what are you planning on giving the man in your life? please feel free to add suggestions in the comments section! can't wait to hear. xo.

i love this time of year.

hello friends! how was your thanksgiving? ours was lovely... we drove up to maine, spent time with our family, practiced a little yoga, ate a lot, watched movies, snuggled with our nieces and decorated our house for christmas! (we don't waste any time.)

here are a few snapshots from the weekend:

we took a little walk around kennebunkport and stopped into this adorable coffee shop for peppermint mochas.

have you ever seen such a cute to-go cup?

christmas decorations are popping up everywhere and i couldn't be happier. is it just me, or does this fake snow look really good? :) we put our (tiny) tree up yesterday and it makes me ridiculously happy.

the smallest, sweetest little vintage christmas book in the world. i want.

anyway, starting tomorrow, i'll be kicking off a month of holiday-related posts: crafts, gift guides, my favorite holiday traditions and much more. i hope you are all enjoying your weekends! see you soon. xo.

a little gratitude post.

dear christmas, thank gawd you're almost here. i've been waiting for you for, well.... a year.

dear feet, you've taken me so many places and continue to support me in all kinds of awesome yoga poses. i love you.

dear yoga students, thank you for letting me teach you. i have so much fun. p.s. i'm learning just as much as you are.

dear coffee, you rock my world.

dear bestest friends, you know who you are. what would i do without your sweet snail mail, make-up parties, craft dates, noodle heart-to-hearts, phone conversations that last for hours, and all of you just being your fabulous selves?

dear camera, i love having you around. you remind me to really look.

last but not least...

dear husband, thank you for making me laugh every. single. day. you so funny. also, thank you for still writing me little love-notes. i adore that they're getting longer and your hand writing is getting smaller.

dear you, thank you for reading and being a part of my little space on the web. high five.

happy thanksgiving! xo.

(photo credit: indierocket)

a good week.

this week, i...

• taught two yoga classes: one to a group of fabulous ladies who sent me home with banana bread, and one to a beautiful woman who happens to be my sister. (after this class, we partook in some whitewineasana.)

• skyped with a dear friend in germany. it made me just a teeny bit nostalgic for the year that i lived in munich. the holiday markets and snowy roads were incredibly picturesque.

• took a field trip to ikea and stocked up on a ridiculous amount of scandinavian holiday goodies. i swear, i will never tire of pepperkaker (ginger snaps) norwegian mulled wine, and kitschy scandinavian decorations.

• found some new places of inspiration on the web: a beautiful yoga podcast, wee textiles, and an inside garden diary.

• and last but not least, finished this book. highly recommended.

have a nice weekend, everyone!

a special giveaway!

today i am delighted to share this romantic giveaway from fifi du vie. i fell in love with this print a while ago, so imagine my excitement when sweet izabella contacted me about offering it as a giveaway on the blog.

the print reminds me of the sense of adventure i felt when simon and i were traveling around new zealand. there's something so enchanting about having a partner in crime, don't you think?

to enter to win, please visit izabella's shop, and leave a comment below by friday evening, november 19th.

good luck!

baby fever.

oh my goodness. between spending time with my friends' little ones and all the adorable baby things i see on the web... my heart is cooing.

here are a few favorites from my some-day-we'll-have-a-baby-and-i-want-all-these-things collection.


from left to right, top to bottom: vintage model airplane from trampoline, giraffe from anthropologie, norwegian village print from rachael anderson, handmade quilt from bonjour celine, felt hedgehog from sara carr, cloud pillow from lena corwin, solar system mobile from cox & cox, hedgehog baby blanket from pata pri, and book collection from lavender and limes.


xo.

the kindness of strangers.

i stumbled on this adorable note today, and just had to share it. :) if you weren't already in a good mood today, did this cheer you up? love it.

(photo credit: greer chicago)

little things i love.

(snapshot from a gorgeous hike this weekend)

• the smell of pine trees.

• waking up in the morning and immediately putting on soft, thick socks.

• picking simon up from the airport when he's been gone for a few days.

• graham cracker crusts.

• playing holiday music while i clean.

• this nail polish.

• the sound of soup bubbling on the stove.
  

• and last but not least, this inspiring video.
  

what little things made you happy today? i'd love to hear!

xo.

p.s. thank you all for your sweet comments on friday. sadly, the bakery job didn't work out. but i'm fine with it. i spent the weekend cooking, hiking, talking, eating, and lounging. i was also lucky enough to meet fellow blogger, tanya, for brunch. so much fun! in other words, i'm feeling better. :)