the times they are a changin'

it's true! the times they are a changing and I'm long, long, long, long, long over due for a little blog evolving.  so it's official...I'm closing up shop here and moving on over to the wonderful world of tumblr :).  it's been real, this blog gave me a space to ground myself in all the simple pleasures of life, to meet some incredible people, and let's be honest, it even acted as a therapist through a particularly difficult break-up :). 'nuff said.  But in the name of lifetime learning and evolution, it's onward for me.  Come check me out here instead - http://beatuyisallaround.tumblr.com/

Here's to never losing sight of the beauty that is truly all around!

true

i wish that when i was in my twenties i wasn’t always so worried about how i looked, how i measured up compared to other women my age, whether my clothes were good enough, etc. as soon as i got the courage to really go my own way — and it did take a while — the happier i became.

lynn yaeger

what is fun for me lately?

I took a class tonight about having fun. Sounds kind of cheesy but i actually provided some good questions for reflection. I'm too good and putting off what's fun for what needs to get done and so I appreciate being asked to answer the question, What is Fun for you lately? Not a lot of surprises here, these are the things that usually work my way into my long neglected simple pleasure lists - a good reminder of what to work towards intentionally building into my life on a more regular basis...

1) taking cool pictures
 2) adventure car-ing and stopping for whatever piques my interest
3) Drinking chai tea
4) going to Funky coffee shops
5) yoga
6) blogging
7) trying new, cool things
8) learning new, cool things
9) exploring new cities
10) exploring old places and finding something new
11) finding the perfect gift for someone
12) reading up on yoga teacher training programs
13) watching parenthood
14) reading up on Masters in Public Health programs
15) listening to Dave Brubeck
16) coming across an inspiring quote or passage in a book
17) hearing someone's inspirational life story and then feeling like I could do the same thing
18) getting a facial
19) going for a leisurely walk in our neighborhood
20) mentally pinning cool home decoration ideas
21) organizing stuff
22) making lists
23) lifting weights
24) reading about Buddhism

unapologetic honesty, gracefully

It's the first year in a long while that I didn't carve out time for a New Year's resolution blogging/journaling sesh. I just wasn't feeling it this year - it's not that I don't have a million and one thoughts swirling around between my ears, it's just that I've been working them out in my head a bit more and then trying to take direct action on these thoughts instead of writing about them. It wasn't until this weekend that I had the urge to get something out in writing, but even then I don't really have any strong desire to get into the nitty-gritty, I'm more excited about getting my New Year's thoughts out quickly and concisely this year. I do have a couple of concrete NY resolutions... 1) To be a little less high-maintenance when it comes to getting ready in the morning - that translates into less time applying make-up and wrestling with the hair dryer and straightener to manage my frizzy hair and to just embrace it :). 2) Complete a 30 day yoga challenge - yep, 30 consecutive days of yoga - as a way of determining whether I truly want to get certified to teach yoga and of course, for FUN - you all know how much I heart yoga :). But most of all, this year, I want to work on being unapologetically honest, in a graceful way. Interpret that as you'd like, for me it means being less afraid of being more authentically me - not in an obnoxious, in your face way but in a humbly yet confident way that helps me to share myself and my life more genuinely with others.

Our first married Thanksgiving and other random rambling

I'm experiencing a little bit of deja vu right now - Joe and I are at the airport waiting to board a flight home for Thanksgiving - Joe's off grabbing a beer and I'm finally giving my blog some long over due TLC and I can't help but think about how last year at this time, we were sitting at the airport working on, what else? WEDDING stuff :). I am so thankful that we are just enjoying married life these days and not furiously planning our wedding day.

Thanksgiving, is without a doubt, my very favorite holiday and I feel so lucky that Joe, my hubby of 4 months as of TODAY - shares my love of feasting on yummy food and gushing gratitude! We were definitely meant to be folks, I'm telling you the number of times we express silly gratitudes to each other almost makes ME sick to my stomach :). This year we get to spend Thanksgiving with BOTH of our families - at the SAME TIME! It goes without saying that this is a pretty special occasion. That's right Mom and Dad Farber, Mom and Dad Bielecki, Sister Sledge (Jess), Sissy Clare, Sissy Tara and brother Mike - ooooh and my adorable Grandma and Grandpa, of course - all at one table! I have to get all my gushiness out here so I can keep it calm and cool tomorrow and not overwhelm people :). Here's to remembering to take deep breaths tomorrow amidst the cooking and feasting to truly take in what a cool thing it will be to have this group of people all together.

Two side notes...

1) I'm pretty sure I seriously sprained my ankle running the Big Sur half marathon this past weekend - I'm limping around like a true gimp - I guess that's what you get for running 13.1 miles in one go. Thanksgiving is serving as a good reminder for me to be thankful for the health that I do have instead of dwelling on how my ankle is limiting me - I may be trading in my beloved hometown runs and hikes for movies over the next few days and will be doing my best to be grateful for the forced rest :). Grateful for a long list of good movies out in the theaters now - Lincoln, Rise of the Guardians, Skyfall, Argo, Life of Pi - thank you bum ankle for forcing a movie marathon on me :).

2) I'm experiencing a little bit of deja vu right now - Joe and I are at the airport waiting to board a flight home for Thanksgiving - Joe's off grabbing a beer and I'm finally giving my blog some long over due TLC and I can't help but think about how last year at this time, we were sitting at the airport working on, what else? WEDDING stuff :). I am so thankful that we are just enjoying married life these days and not furiously planning our wedding day.

Happy, happy Turkey gobbling y'all!

can someone please invent...

...a machine that allows me to update my blog mentally? so much to share, so little time. While I'm waiting for that to happen, here are a couple of pictures of a wonderful weekend celebrating one of my favorite friend's in Tahoe :).

i sometimes forget how happy yoga makes me...

I finally got back to my morning lululemon yoga class after a 6+ month absence this past Sunday. And I had to share because it just made me so happy -- just so truly and genuinely happy. There is something about the stretching, the deep breathing, the cheesy inspirational one liners, the quiet, the space, the intention setting, and the collectively healthy and positive vibe in a community of people practicing yoga that moves me. I tried really hard to be present through all the crazy wedding awesomeness of the last year but with sooooo much fun and emotional stuff happening, it was hard. Sunday's class helped me to regain a piece of that solitary yet communal space where I can be present and it just made me happy and I just had to share.