Bittersweet

 

Eka Pada Raja Kapotasana - One-legged King Pigeon Pose

All of a sudden, out of nowhere it feels like the beginning of the the end (of Summer break). The reclusive weeks in the chic bug-out are dwindling down to mere days. 

Open

 

OPEN up your energy. 

Less zealous

Taking NOTES from the MEN (who have fewer options and less zealous marketing). 

1. Pockets! - Perhaps even forgo a purse. 😱

2. Dresses and skirts (while they so contentedly stick with pants and shorts). 

3. Fewer colors. 

4. SMALLER CLOSETS. 

5. Denim.

 

Peppy steppy

Walk about the neighborhood. 

Clothing as KOSHA - SHEATH 

More PEP in my STEP this AM thanks to the husband who scooped up and brought back with him a small assemblage of attire from my main closet at home whilst there on a work day (I am on a month-long uninterrupted ‘reclusive’ vaycay). I didn’t realize how fatigued I was of my pathetic selection of duds (it is ASPEN, after all,) until I donned a neon swimsuit, gingham dress, silky cardi, pink suede sneakers and got a NEW LEASE ON LIFE!

Unfortunately? But powerfully! Clothing acts as a sheath - energetic layer - which can be used to our advantage (or disadvantage). 

P.S. The procuring of such items was made possible by strategic, color-coded closet organization (and periodic paring down,) allowing myself to plainly explain and my husband to effortlessly locate the 10 or so sought-after items in mere minutes via FaceTime. 🛍️ 

Purchase less, create more ✌️

SuperCareGiverHeroStar 🌟

 

Utthita Eka Padasana -  Standing Balance, One Leg Raised

As I watched another woman caregiving today (I had a few hours away from my own supportive duties,) it stopped me dead in my tracks how important, beautiful, and fulfilling it is - the work of caring for others. On my end, rearing my children nonstop has felt demanding and intolerable as of late, but the image of this smiling lady pushing a grinning older gentleman in his wheelchair on our wooded path was just what I needed to startle me back into recognizing our shared guardian superstardom. 🌟 

Present parent, calm kids 🎁 

Beacon

 

Light bright beacon of artistic imagination. 

I have leaned heavily into the Mother role - which has physically manifested family-friendly, practical, durable, colorful, grounding and compounding clothes, foods and shelters. But there is a lighter, brighter, ASCETIC aspect of myself I’m turning more and more towards (without eschewing my foremost family-first ethos).

🍯

 

Sweet books, sweet dreams.

Attract more bees with honey. 

Our neighbor. 

Fairytale

What would a Waldorf Fairy do??

Looking to Rudolph STEINER (WALDORF Education) for deeper meaning - for ESSENCE and SIGNIFICANCE (the most PROFOUND I have ever found!) - in consideration, selection and implementation of desired surface changes (food, clothing, shelter). 

My real-life fairie. 

Best of Aspen

 

Blue Cookie Muncher Ice Cream 

PARADISE BAKERY, Aspen

 

💚🌳En route to the muncher 🍨 💙

Rad

You know you’re having a pretty RAD summer when you’d rather PLAY in that lame purple bikini AGAIN (and be seen in it!) than stop to go SHOPPING.  

My Armoire

 

As a former clothing COLLECTOR (hoarder-squirrel 🐿️!) this is a new frontier for me —

Wear your SEASONAL (shop once quarterly max) wardrobe so much that there is no question as to whether you love and keep the clothing longer OR, NO QUALMS, they’ve fulfilled their destiny and you don’t! 

Mountain Mama Summer Wardrobe, as of Late July:

💚keep 💛this is its last season ❤️already out the door  💙hmmm🧐

💛Silver espadrilles - wearing through

❤️Black river shoes (pictured above) - stretched from last Summer, already said See Ya (poubelle)

💛Flip-flops - maintaining

💛Crazy Crocs - worse for wear, as used for all hikes and most bikes

💛Purple bandana bikini - hanging on for dear life

💛White & Blue One piece - yellowing at edges 

💙Tomato soup cashmere sweater - soft as ever, maybe showing age?

💛Skull Sweater - last hurrah 

💚Prairie skirt (pictured) - good to go 😅 

💚2x Shorts - just fine 

💚Taupe linen pants - surprisingly great

💚Flowered cross-body bag (pictured) - still fresh 

💛Rose tote - wilting

💙2x Camisoles and 2x T’s - washing well

💚Sweats - new this trip :)

💚PJ’s - beddable 

💚Silk Dress - unfortunately unworn since childcare disappeared into thin air 🌬️ 

💚Shiny amethyst long cardigan - keeper

💚💜Jewels - lovely and sentimental as ever.💕 

The forced Capsule Collection that comes inherently with travel is blissful. My dear friend says all of her belongings (ALL!?) would “fit into an armoire”. What a beautiful image and, sigh, dare I say, Holy Grail, in these excessive times. 

Dirndl

 

Dirndl 

Liebe - Love

How do we, as women, find our personal UNIFORM in the current CHAOS of literally unlimited options?

You are yours 💘

 

What’s the next ITERATION of YOU?? Decide as though no one else gives a !&*% — because they don’t!! 💜💕💔

🦂

 

Balasana - Child’s Pose

Sometimes I forget to be kind. (Ingrained Scorpio habits die hard.) So I APOLOGIZE and try to be better. (There has been a marked decrease in my instinctual ‘revenge’ ways.)

A little bit hurt, but a lot more free

 

Paschimottanasana - Seated Forward Fold

It may feel like a loss, but did you wish for lightness? ✨ 

PR

 

Upavistha Konasana - Wide Angle Forward Bend Pose

Put a positive spin on it ALL - leave others feeling better and lighter after your encounter. 

This moment 🥰🍹🍦

 

Prasarita Padottanasana - Wide Legged Forward Bend Pose 

Variation Both Hands On One Ankle

Be. Here. Now. 

one foot two foot red foot blue foot

 

Trikonasana - Triangle Pose

Instructors will most often cue the trikonasana drishti 👁️ upwards to the skyward reaching hand, but I prefer to gaze down when GROUNDing is called for. During TURBULENT times FOCUS on your FOOTING. Literally. 

Solvent 🐚

Buddha Konasana - Butterfly Pose 🦋 

It may feel inopportune (especially in social summer!) but when the appropriate resolve of a weighty decision is OBSCUREd, go inward. Alone time. NO OUTSIDE OPINIONS. Re-cocoon.  

 

Draw the line ✍️

 

Utkatasana - Chair Pose

Kind but firm. Generous but self-respecting. Where is the line? How do you draw it?

Press Pause

 

Vatayasana - Horse Pose

When matters get twisted, turned around, upside-down, fast-forwarded or rewound. Press PAUSE. 

Babies ARE yoga

 

Ananda Balasana - Happy Baby Pose

FYI Kids don’t need yoga class — CHILDREN are our GURUS. 😻🧚‍♀️

Foregone conclusion

 

Padangustasana - Toe Stand Pose

Expect the unexpected. Or surmise that it was entirely anticipated after all. 

💚 Emerald American Lake 🇺🇸

“Crazy”

 

Ardha Chandrasana - Half Moon Backbend, Bikram Yoga

Thank you, yoga, for defying prevailing social norms, values, and traditions. The crazier you are, the more I like you. 🎀 

Liberty 🗽

 

Ardha Chandrasana - Half Moon Pose in hot, Bikram, style Yoga 🧨

Ah, the sweet Liberty of not bothering with our inventive interpretation of what everyone else is supposedly thinking of us.🗽 

 

Bushwhack

 

Bhekasana - Frog Pose 

The more populated your area, the more critical to your survival it is to Bushwhack — to machete your own path !!! (As in, the herd is headed to the slaughterhouse — go your own way.) 😳

Alien 👽

 

Mandukasana - Frog Pose

Most times I have nowhere to be, which makes me practically an alien in this rushy-rushy society. 

🌲 Tada !! 🌳

 

Paschimottanasana Namaskarasana- Reverse Prayer Pose, Reverse Namaste 

Wear what YOU like for your yoga or hike. 

Up the mountain a few 1000 feet 

💙 Swimsuit 💚 Linen 🧡 Crocs. 

❤️🤍💙July 4❤️🤍💙 with PHOTOS

 

⭐️ Star Pose ⭐️

❗️Parade & meet up with everyone I know to stroll

Luncheon at the Club

BBQ & Pool Party with extended family

Boat Ride on opposite town’s side

❓ Fireworks, or in fire country: Laser and Drone Show - visible from home 💥 🛌 

Late night House-party

God bless me — I may just choose 1 ❗️or 2❓ activities to commemorate the USA today 🤩 *

* update — Plan for very little and REALIZE so so much more !! - 

✔️Bike ride to parade with water fight 🔫💦 

✔️Locals ski club party 🎿 

✔️Romantic stroll and - shhh - some shopping 🎩 🤫

✔️Chic adults oyster lunch 🦪 

✔️While children ✔️Nap ✔️Bus ✔️Playground ✔️Bakery Etc.

✔️Family putt-putt ⛳️ 

✔️Quiet mountain and river play ~ nature-made boat races 🍃

✔️Drone show viewing from home 

✔️Movie night 🍿 

All with ease and energy to spare. ✌️ By making SPACE for MAGIC 🪄 

Hoarder

 

Vasisthasana - Side Plank Pose

With toe hold 🫶

Amass new poses not objects. 

Collect stars

 

Dandasana - Staff Pose

Stars not stuff. 

Dirty work

 

Parivrtta Malasana - Revolved Squat Pose

BREAKTHROUGH days feel like Stuck-in-the-mud all day days. 🤎