How Awesome?!

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April 3, 2012
Personal & Interior Style
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A mentor/teacher/doctor of mine recently told me that in order to be fully happy, I cannot “want” anything.  So, let’s just call this a list of things that I think are awesome.

This whole nail art thing keeps going and going. Just when you think you have seen it all, you haven’t. This website gives you tutorials on how to achieve the fun looks below. They make it look effortless, yet I can assure you, it takes some skillz.

I have been wearing hot pink lipstick lately and I intend to keep it up. It is so fun!

This picture does not do these amazing neon pants justice. You know when you try on an item and you NEVER forget it? That is what these pants are to me; I can’t stop thinking about them. You can buy these and other amazing printed jeans at Anthropolgie.

Yeah, this woman might look like a bug, but I love the color blocking trend. I have started to mix and match all the bold colors in my closet. It makes getting ready surprisingly easier!

Since I first saw this phenomenal video, I have been listening to Santigold’s Unstoppable over and over. What this dancing guy does is, well, awesome. It almost brought tears to my eyes!

Picturesque

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April 2, 2012
Pictures
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Happy April! Every week we ask some of our friends and family to send us a picture that they took and tell us a little bit about that picture. Here are this week’s photos:

Andrew – Cleveland, Ohio

I snapped this picture while I was producing an album for Groovesmith.  And took the next picture of Lake Erie in Huron, Ohio.

Nadine (Mom) – Ana Maria, Florida

Lauren and I started this puzzle when we were in Florida with my mom a few weeks ago.  It was just as I left it when I returned this week.

Aaron – New York, New York

Taken while studying.

Farrell – Brooklyn, New York

Is this for real?! I saw this dog walker the other day and had to take a picture.

 

One Word, Two Ways: Water

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March 31, 2012
One Word, Two Ways
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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.

 

Music to Your Ears: Deke

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March 30, 2012
Holistic Living, Music
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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.

see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil

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March 29, 2012
Personal & Interior Style
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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

Spick-and-Span

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March 28, 2012
Holistic Living
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“I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

Calm - Installation by Regine Ramseier

I have always had an affinity for cleanliness. I can remember cleaning up my room and folding all my clothes by the time I was five years old. I loved order, and still do. Every morning when I wake up, I make my bed. Every night before I go to sleep, I tidy up my room. These are practices allow me to start and end my day with a clean environment, inside and out.

In the meditation that I practice, there is an emphasis on internal cleaning. At the end of the work day, you are supposed to imagine all the impressions of the day being removed from your heart.

“All of our experiences—actions and reactions, thoughts and emotions—leave impressions. These impressions, called samskaras, accumulate over time, influencing our view of reality and consequently our behaviour. As habit patterns emerge and solidify, we continue to react in the present as we have in the past, setting the blueprint for future action. In this way we become, in a real sense, slaves to our past experience.” (Found here.)

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And while we are on the topic of cleaning, when I was in Cleveland this past week, I helped my mom do some of her spring cleaning – or more specifically, cleaning out her closets. The end result was SO gratifying. Here are the pictures to prove it:

Check out these related links:

Here is a checklist for spring cleaning from Martha Stewart.

Also, here is an article from the New York Times about how removing clutter can improve your health.

Picturesque

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March 26, 2012
Pictures
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Every week we ask some of our friends and family to send us a picture they took. Here are this week’s photos:

Ted – Rio  de Jeneiro, Brazil

A friend that I met on an airplane sent me this when he was in Rio. My band’s name is LIVIN. Check us out.

Farrell – Brooklyn, NY

This is a brand that I stumbled upon this weekend. The name of the brand is literally “Stop Using Water While Using Me.”  I think its a brilliant message.

John – Boise, Idaho

Sun Araw playing at the Treefort Music Festival.

Dave – Denver, Coloado

Shooting gats.

Teddy – Boise, Idaho

Eating candy and drinking wine before our show at the Treefort Music Festival.

Scott – Avon, Ohio

Carlos laying on the couch.

One Word, Two Ways: Pair

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March 24, 2012
One Word, Two Ways
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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

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