Archive

Author Archives: Lauren

Cloud Nine

Water is, and always has been, a major part of my life.  I’m not sure whether it’s growing up on Lake Erie or my being a water sign, but there are few things I find as soothing as I do water.  As I considered this word, and all it means to me personally, I wanted. but wasn’t sure how, to acknowledge the global water crisis thats going on.  As I thought about it my day was filled with other obligations.  After work, I rushed downtown to see a friend’s fabulous play but before arriving, I shamelessly stopped into the Aveda store to refresh my make-up.  And as it turns out, as part of Earth Month, the store is offering $5 manicures to support Clean Ocean Action.  I wasn’t familiar with this group before, but it seems its mission is to improve New York and New Jersey’s coast.  A worthy cause, for sure, however I am also cognizant that we’re facing a lager crisis and each of us ought to personally consider where we go from here.

 

Our friend Deke is someone who brings music into the lives of his friends in many forms.  I’ve been turned onto countless bands, attended amazing concerts and danced my way through many nights thanks to him.  Today, we are thrilled to share with you an original track  that he created to assist us all in calming our minds, observing our thoughts and connecting to our breath.  In addition to the YouTube below (which also showcases Deke’s photography prowess), you can download the mp3 here.

photo via here

So sit up tall.  Feel your shoulders in line with your hips.  Let your head and neck be an extension of your spine.  Bring your attention to your inhale, letting the breath fill your stomach like a balloon.  Then release the breath as you focus on the exhale.  Close your eyes, maintain your attention on the breath and release your mind to the music.

If you notice along the way that you’ve gotten caught up in your thoughts, it’s okay.  Don’t judge yourself; just bring your attention back to your breath.

LBH (let’s be honest), some days are simply better than others.  It’s just how it goes.  So from the fake-it-til-you-make-it school of thought, I thought I’d share my three step solution for coping with the inevitable.

1.  Headphones to blast anything your little heart desires.

2.  Stylin’ shades to hide behind.

3.  And a swipe of lipstick as you walk out the door.

I can’t promise your problems will disappear but you’re likely to look and feel better while making your way through them.   Godspeed to you.

Urbanears headphones/Jeremy Scott x Linda Farrow sunglasses/lips via here

I could not be more happy to be part of this particular pair.

Lauren and I (Sister Disco) circa 1990-ish. Lauren was an ostrich in a school play. I felt proud. I still do.

Growing up, the end of every school year was met with a trip to Cedar Point Amusement Park.  Though the rides were the obvious attraction, my friends and I would also entertain ourselves by seeing who could spot the highest number of “twinkies” aka couples who wore matching outfits.  This was quite a common practice among some of the park guests, and one which initiated for me so many unanswered questions.  Who purchased the outfits?  Was one member of the pair presented with a few options from which to choose?  How far into the relationship was it before the idea was broached?  To this day, I have no answers for you, only memories of some seriously decked out duos.

When couples dress the same

Click through images for source info

For the bulk of 2011, I stewed in the idea of starting an online store.  It’s a project I’ve since put on the back burner (pun, yay!) but I just came across the photos I took while I was working on it.

I’ve never been much of a photographer but I was attracted to the prospect of honing my skills as part of the process.  I’d recently gotten a little digital camera, so that was a start.  On a flight somewhere, while flipping through the Sky Mall catalogue, I came across a Tabletop Photo Studio and thought to myself, “well, perfect, I definitely need this!”  And then I did what I imagined no person every really did with an item seen in Sky Mall magazine: I actually ordered it.

I soon found myself fully equipped with an extremely modest product inventory, a teeny digital camera, and a miniature tabletop photo studio, which as it turned out took up much more space in my little NYC apartment than the catalogue picture ever let on.

I spent many hours playing with the product positions, testing out the lighting and trying to make some sense of the various settings on my camera.  Though I was enjoying myself, all in all, I thought the photos I was producing were complete crap.

I started doubting whether there was any point in continuing to work to realize the overall concept.  It started to feel like maybe this wasn’t meant to be my thing.  And slowly the stuff I’d purchased to play around with was making me feel claustrophobic in my own home.

So I began to pack away the products, and to figure out once-and-for-all how in the heck that inflatable photo studio fits back into its space-saving case.  When Christmas came around this year, before heading out to shop, I went back to the merchandise and began to parse items give as gifts.

And though, as of now, the whole concept was just a fling, I quite enjoy looking at these pictures.  The tagline for the store was to include the notion that “everything has a lifespan.”  Now the same concept applicable to the project itself.

As we mentioned yesterday, our brother, Teddy, graduated from college over the weekend with a degree in Fine Arts.  In addition to his musical prowess* (listen here and here), he is also an incredible artist.  He recently put together a site featuring his work and we’re excited to share some of it here with you today.  We love it!

*You may also remember the playlist Teddy put together for us awhile back.  Listen again!

Right there, in the middle of the spectrum, lies this fresh, lucky, tone of prosperity. Its abundance can leave us sick or envious to say the least. Yet, we cannot deny the stature it gives our old colorful friend, Roy Biv.

Photo by Oleg Gordienko

Though we typically associate its complement on the color wheel with matters of the heart, not so, says the study of our energy centers.  Green is the color associated with our heart chakra.  Its most basic function is to love and be loved.  In balance.  Just as its color sits in the middle of the rainbow.


8

About two years ago, I fell in love with greens. I am talking collard greens, spinach, and KALE (sweet, sweet kale). It was then that I started to drink green smoothies. I know the concept might sound yucky to some of you, but trust me, you can’t even taste the greens. Lucky for us, we are coming up on smoothie making season. Here is my favorite recipe:

Green Means Go Smoothie!
1 tablespoon finely ground flax seed
1-2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut flakes (unsweetened shredded would work too)
2 cups spinach
1/2 a banana
a handful of frozen, organic blackberries
1 cup milk (I use almond, soy or coconut)
1 cup ice

On my way to pick up some lunch today, I saw two friends run into each other on the street and go in for a pretty amazing high five.  It got me thinking about a spin on the classic high five that my brother and I developed, taking the five a little higher, straight to the middle of your forehead.

As it turns out, it hurts pretty badly when you both go in for this enthusiastic, head butt variation.  Nevertheless, the whole thing dials the smile up a notch.  So along that same vein, I thought I’d take another twist on the high five and stop to take note of five things I’m thoroughly enjoying of late:

1. Warm weather.  It’s mid-March and gorgeous in New York.  Despite the totally manageable winter we had here, there’s nothing better than these* first signs of warmer days to come!

Photo via here

2. Morning coffee.  I fall into the category of people who get excited about their morning cup of coffee as they fall asleep the night before.  It’s a good part of my day and simply makes me happy.

3. Guided meditations.  I’m loving my new iPhone for many reasons, not the least of which is the guided meditation podcasts I’ve been downloading.  My favorites come from here, here and here.

Photo via here

4. Secret messages.  I’m such a fan of this little trio offering creative ways to keep secret reminders or messages around your neck, your finger or on this awesome thumb drive.

*
5. Lucky penny.  I’m a bit superstitious and am always on the look out for lucky pennies on the street.  I only pick them up if they are heads up.  I found one today on my way back from getting lunch.

*

*