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. :)

in the glow.

here are some pictures i've taken lately... the summer light makes photography so much fun.

we spent lots of time on the water this weekend... and i got a hundred new freckles.

if we had a stoop, i would be copying this whole scene... so sweetly messy, don't you think? :)

we savored the sunset on the dock with the dogs. heaven.

it's true what they say: the grass is greener (in maine).

simon water skied like a champ and didn't tease me (too much) for wimping out.

sometimes simon likes to draw. on this particular evening, he was designing a piece of furniture for our condo. so handy...

we also spent a fanciful and delicious evening at a new french restaurant in our neighborhood. we've decided we want to become regulars. bon appétit!

i hope you all had a wonderful (long) weekend too. 

two thousand and ten.

i am really excited about 2010. it's the year i'll walk down the aisle, become mrs. simon, and also become a yoga teacher. huzzah!

but for now, simon and i are both sick; i burst into tears late last night because i felt so sorry for myself (and decided the best solution to all of my troubles was to take them out on simon who had just arrived from the airport); and last but not least, our condo is cluttered in reminders that christmas is over. wah.

it's a good thing we have lots of red wine and a steak dinner to look forward to later. :)

happy new year!

(photo credit: jordan blanchard)

choosing all over again.

this is christine. she is a blog friend, as well as the wife of one of simon's old college acquaintances. (small world.)

she and her husband, vijay, recently had a hindu wedding ceremony in india (two years after their first wedding in the united states) and when i saw the photos my eyes teared up.

i simply adore the idea of couples honoring and celebrating their unique mix of heritages and religious traditions, and well... i am also utterly in love with india and hinduism. needless to say, the combination made my heart melt.

here is what christine had to say:

"your wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event. you choose the one you want to spend your life with, don the white dress, proceed down the aisle and say your "i do's"....

and then the real fun begins; pick up your underwear, clean your dishes, pull your weight around here, do I have to ask you again?!? you know, the typical everyday life of a happily married couple."

"but what if you could do it all over again? i had that chance a few days ago when vijay and I fulfilled a two-year dream of celebrating our marriage with a hindu ceremony. (...)"

"and so, with my vows, I recommitted myself to my husband, the man I have built a life with over the past two years.

as I looked into his eyes, and listened to him repeat his vows, i realized that i am as every bit as in love with him as I was the first time around."

"as we were walking away after the ceremony, he leaned in and whispered...'if I had to do it all over again, I would choose you. i will always choose you'".

aren't these photographs gorgeous? a stunning bride and a magical concept. thank you, christine, for letting me share this. i am so happy for you two!

for the original post and more from the lovely christine, please visit her blog lavender and limes.

our christmas in photos.

how was your christmas? (or if you don't celebrate, how was your weekend?)
i have missed you all and am happy to be back... although i am always bummed when christmas is over. sigh.

it's a good thing that 2010 is just around the corner! i love an excuse to celebrate.

the rents.

today my darling parents arrive from norway! they are two of the most positive, energetic people you'll ever know. and they also love happy hour. this is why we get along so well.

this photograph was taken in 1974 right after they got married. i could stare at it all day. they look so happy, don't they?

creative idea of the day.

turn a vintage brooch or old piece of jewelry into a magnet. how sweet!

for instructions, visit the country living website.

inhale, exhale.

excerpt from my yoga teacher training application:

"about six months ago, i lost a close family member in a tragic accident. through the grieving process, i thought deeply about how i want to live my life and realized that among other things, it includes teaching yoga. simply put, i have learned that there is no better time to follow my dreams than the present moment."

ladies and gentlemen, yesterday i found out i was accepted to the kripalu teaching program! i haven't yet ironed out the details of when i'll be going, but i am giddy with excitement. thanks for all your encouragement along the way.

champagne for everyone!

(photo credit: the spiritual health)

not your granny's bunting.

it seems that bunting is all the rage. and i can see why! isn't it fun?

here's a fabulous step-by-step tutorial made by the lovely erin.

(photos and bunting by wunderlust)

happy weekend!

my top ten favorite things, at the moment:

1. dog shows like the dog whisperer and it's me or the dog.

2. washing my face the second i get home from work instead of right before bed.

3. chilly mornings.

4. playing scrabble with simon on our iphones all day long.

5. looking forward to the end of the october when my best friend will visit!

6. being able to say things like: "our kids are going to be wicked cute."

7. smoothies.

8. roasted and salted sunflower kernels.

9. amazing marriage advice from joanna's blog.

10. the rare occasion when my golf swing rocks.

have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

(photo credit: yuli.bow)

my weekend!

on saturday we were by the ocean in maine and suddenly my love uttered those four little words: "will you marry me?" yes! (of course.)

being the genius that he is, simon planned the surprise perfectly and it truly was the best day of my life. both sets of parents were nearby and enveloped us in hugs. and then we celebrated with champagne.

we are so excited, and i'm already calling him my "fancy".