inspirations on a cloudy summer sunday morning

I often get carried away, reading about my favorite artists, musicians and people of letters and culture on wikipedia. it's the ultimate lazy way to obtain knowledge or refresh it, for that matter, on the cluster or group a certain individual ran in as well. all of the collaborators are links right there.

say you want to know more on Twin Peaks, as I did this morning. This leads to Peggy Lipton, the Jewish mod squad actor/model who happened to be married to Quincy Jones, the producer of Thriller. I'm sure you all know how wikipedia works and this is no news to you.

But I'm just saying, the reason I am now listening to the Miles & Quincy live at Montreaux recording is because of this particular morning's ADD pursuit.

Along the way I came across several fascinating interviews with David Lynch (one of which highlightened (or reinforced, rather) just how much of a dunce David Letterman was/is/ most likely will be. 

A story in the New Yorker left me 

Project Submittal

Today is July 1st, and also my first project permit submittal to the City of San Diego building department! I'm excited, because the project is all my own. In actuality, the process of submitting an architectural project is much like going to the DMV. More on this after the appointment!

ill

"no one can survive doing as much as you're doing and at the pace that you're doing it. the stress you're putting on yourself is too overwhelming."

words from a close friends I have to examine more closely these next few days, as I lethargically shuffle around my apartment, at the tail end of a strong bronchitis.

solstice

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Yoga Is My Evening Job

Apparently I'm not nearly the only one who has chosen to practice and teach yoga as a second job.

Today I read this article that talks about the many who train to become yoga teachers as their second or third career.

As for me, maybe one day I'll own my own studio and delve into yoga full time, but for my yoga teaching will continue to coast along, concurrently with my architecture career development.

It's a fantastic balance to being a designer; designers self sacrifice to a fault. We don't sleep, we hardly eat or put ourselves first when a deadline or a project is at stake. Yoga, for me, is the complete opposite end of that destructive spectrum - yoga is about balance, self-nourishment and clarity. Even when you're giving selflessly to your students, the gratifying effects are deep-felt.

So if any of you out there are considering yoga teacher training as a means to deepen your personal practice or an a possible second job, I say go for it.

I was lucky enough to complete my 200 hr training at Prana Yoga Center in La Jolla, CA under the renowned Gerhard Gessner. It's a studio that specializes in Vinyasa Flow yoga and has a very impressive roster of teachers who are part of the training.

Even though this week has been so incredibly busy at the architecture office, I'm putting together a summer outdoors practice schedule. Watch out for the launch of my yoga site, I'm aiming at a June 15 release date!

Today I'm moving to South Park. But for now I'm going to yoga!


The entire loft is stacked high in boxes... Hadley's suspicious & knows somethins up.

I'm back! Almost...

Tonight I'm putting yogurt & honey on my skin, chamomile tea on my eyes and avocado in my hair. Then I'm going to bed at 9. After I shower of course...




I haven't written a thing for the past few months, but it's for happy reasons.

   Reason_1: I'm gone to work as a designer for a wonderful little architecture firm! We work    on alot of residential projects, and the office is on Cedros, in Solana Beach. It's two blocks from the beach in the charming little design district. I'm thrilled, but haven't stopped running around since mid-January.

   Reason_2: I've been teaching 7 yoga classes a week, some during work hours, some before / after work in addition to JLC. Being employed at two different places,  it's needless to say my car looks like I live in it full time. 

So I haven't had much time for much else. I miss Hadley and when I come home at night she gallops toward me through the loft, eagerly slipping on the hardwood. My heart melts and I forget how exhausted I am for a few minutes as we embrace and say hello. 

But I'm not complaining; I am overjoyed and grateful that my opposite dual careers are both starting to take off. I'll begin to retro-document soon, and post, now that I'm starting to adjust to my 80-hour / week work schedule.

New Year's Eve 2013: A Style RETROSPECT

WHAT I WISH I WAS WEARING:

this is my new years eve girl: I really like her attitude!

 

WHAT I ACTUALLY WORE:

// Cluny silk kimono dress

// Anthropologie lace & velour green/yellow/black pumps [a Spanish shoe designer called Anastasia]

// Marc Jacobs evening cross-body purse/clutch

// Teased hair + eyeliner, blush + mascara  [I only wear makeup on super big deal occasions! or when I feel like    getting creative for the sake of an outfit]

My long time tradition of bathroom photos continues... As our celebration was fairly low key compared to the usual big deal I like to make of this annual evening, I snuck a quick photo in the restroom mirror of Craft & Commerce, since we didn't have a camera!

E l e v e n days into the N e w Y e a r

And now on a happier note [and I realize this is a bit late]: Happy happy new year everyone! You may not be aware, but New Year's Eve day and its late night celebration are my Christmas. Well, quite literally actually. 

Since the former USSR was a strictly secular country when I was growing up, New Year's Eve was the most glamorous, cozy and exciting night of the year. The morning of, many women would get facials, take long baths and prepare party food for the evening. The gentlemen, as I recall, would buy champagne, take the kids to the park for a bit, and clean the house for guests. 

I recall multiple years taking a nap around 2pm, and not waking up until 5:30, so I'd be able to stay up later. I'd wake up tingling with excitement, take a bath and put on the new party dress bought for the occasion.  I'd welcome family friends as adults walked around in glamorous dresses and edgy suits, spreading cream table spreads on combined tables. There would be a Christmas tree with a plethora of presents, music, dancing, champagne and I'd get to stay up past 4 in the morning.

So as a keepsake from my childhood, I take waving farewell to the old year and welcoming in the new one really seriously.