Yoga again. And again and again and again… fish pose illustration by Astrid Parker Kirschenbaum.
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| Matsyasana with a block (Supported Fish Pose) | Yoga Illustration |
Patrick’s Birthday Brunch is this weekend and when hosting at home I am perennially attempting to err on the side of ‘welcoming, proper preparation’ versus mass-life-overhaul-take-over-obsession.
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| Gomukhasana - Cow Face Pose forward fold Double Threaded Needle Bind holding opposite feet. |
Summer break with four kiddos at home is feeling impossible today.
Some days you just have to put your ‘costume’ on and go through the motions.
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| Stepping forward from (three legged) downward dog. Low Lunge hands framing front foot. |
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| Pinecone, berry, acorn, leaf etc. animals, mermaids, gnomes, boats, lawnmowers and more… |
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| Rainy Day or !Too Hot Day! - Paint 🎨 |
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| 🛎️ Order Up! Ceaseless meal service. |
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| Dot Cakes by Goldie. |
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| Mid-pool session siesta. |
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| Buckle Up! |
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| Dried Flowers, some pressed into clay. |
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| Dried Bouquet. |
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| Dried Rose Petals |
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| 🌞 Sun Tea 🫖 Red Berry, Rooibos, Earl Gray. |
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| Rocky Mountain Highlights. |
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| & Plunge. |
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| Vrksasana - Tree Pose With bébés - lots of them! DIY - with your flair and forté! |
Permission to have the best time ever momming and house-making (in a world often convincing us to outsource our divine gifts). 🎁
Infinite body, mind, and spirit benefits (and abundant monetary savings) to be had by executing your family life, yourself, your way!
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| Sukhasana - Seated Stretch |
Endless work - but worth it, yogini mommy.
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| Parivrtta Upavistha Konasana - Revolved Seated Angle Pose |
(This) Summertime it is all about the Family time - and I am here for it.
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| Lolasana - Pendant Pose Hang out like a pendant this Summer. 🏅I sure am 😉😎 |
Dear self,
I know you like to frolic in the sun all summer basking in your freedom - but perhaps you could squeeze in just a few asanas for just a splash of at-home practice? 🍊
Sincerely,
Yours Truly
PS: Your daughter says to spend more time on your backgrounds and to make your drawings crazier (like you used to).
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| Matsya Kridasana - Flapping Fish Pose |
You can only do so much alone: release your pride, reach out to your network.
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| Ardha Dhanurasana - Half Bow Pose 🏹 and chiiiiill Iced coffee, chocolate milk bottles and popsicles at our convenience. 🧋🍼🍦 |
What shall we do today Kampers? Life is good when you are your own Kounselor; No forms, no packing lists, no weather updates, no transportation issues, no allergies, no early mornings, no problemo.
At 🍒 Kamp Kirschenbaum 🍒 there are no rules (except be polite!)
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| Kamper Ash is a careful builder. |
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| Kamper Lélé refinishes furniture. |
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| Crochet Kampers Opal, Pansy and Ocean. |
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| Parivrtta Sukhasana - Revolved Easy Pose Easy pose is not easy, but over time and with practice, a bit easier. |
Daydreaming about a dramatic life change? What is it you are imaginably missing? We live in opportune times, but moving city, house or school may be an exaggeration despite its prevalence.
Perhaps you miss your hometown — go and visit! You likely also crave connection, so invite the neighbors for an aperitif. Has house hunting become an obsession? Maybe clear out some furniture, add color or create an outdoor living space. Is the kids’ school bogging you down and your booking tours at other shiny options? Well, that’s what Summer vacation (vacate!) is for: take a break!
Pinpoint your longing and use creativity and resourcefulness to fulfill it in your immediate situation and surroundings. Because, let’s face it, the kids don’t want to ‘move’.
& then see if you feel the same way come Fall…
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| Homemaker-Asana |
Anytime I am away from the home on other business for the day, I am always relieved to return to the fold; for family-life is where my passions, priorities and talents lay.
But, of course, I wouldn’t know about home-making's high ranking if I didn’t flee in the first place 😉 …
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| Sirsasana ~ Headstand variation To safeguard my neck, I typically headstand with tripod arms. |
When I was growing up, the day school ended my family and I flew (fled?) to the French Riviera and returned to the USA only after the school supplies had - much to my dismay - run out at the American stores. Summer was not filled with planned activities or camps or playdates but with open-ended European road trips and unhurried, unstructured, seemingly endless days chez nous en Provence. 🪻🪻🪻
With my four petites being ages 3-13, it is likely not prudent to emulate this relaxed, improvisational, détendue, and highly unAmerican protocol, but I am going to give it a shot. I will let you know how it goes...
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| Sirsasana - Headstand variation Loving red-white-blue (plus pink). |
In preparation - or was it the opposite? - for this Summer I said sayonara to my week-daily sunrise yoga, I eschewed all camps for the kiddos, we bought only one-way airplane tickets, and I haven’t sought out a single sitter. Naturally, I am becoming petrified and beginning to panic as school winds its way down (4 kids - 10 year spread - 75 straight days!), but this weekend is going so well I think it’s going to be the best Summer yet!!! 💙🤍❤️ ✌️🤞😎😎😎😎😎🤞✌️❤️🤍💙
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| Zesty, starry, shiny, peppery, salty, coppery, green, energetic, soft, pink, calm, blue... Mom Vibes - to infinity and beyond!!! |
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| Not pictured: Stormy Day Dinner was chicken tortilla soup (from a dear school-mom-friend's Boulder CO soup company) with plenty of Astrid's home-baked vanilla pound cake (new fave) with fresh CO cow whipped cream. |
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| Virabhadrasana II - Warrior 2 |
__ Candles on my cake.
We have closed ‘Birthday Season’ (until next October) in the Kirschenbaum home. A huge EXHALE for a mother who decorates and celebrates (6 human stars and a sparkle pup) in fantastical excess. 💐
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| Prasarita Padottanasana III - Wide Legged Forward Fold C |
What was the cherry (peak) and what was the pit (valley) of your day? We use this as our analogy since our last name is “Kirschenbaum”, German for Cherry Tree. 🍒
When our family has been apart for the day’s working hours conquering the world, we dine together at sunset while comparing notes, but when the weekend has been seemingly endless hours of “mom”, “MOM”, “dad”, “DAD”, why not serve the children separately?
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| Chaturanga Dandasana Strong arms for pouring, whisking, flipping, serving, clearing… |
Creating resourcefully for everyday tranquility.
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| Batter, Dressing. |
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| Infinite granola iterations. |
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| Pancakes.🥞 BUTTER. |
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Constructive Rest Pose Knees together, feet apart. Deeply relaxing - like a self hug. 💞 |
Just as your food should be nourishing, your rest should be deliberate. 🫛
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| Green Goddess Dressing, Flower Blossom Cookies, Nut Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates, Mamachi’s Tomato sauce has carrots and cream, Homemade Food makes your fridge beautiful. |
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| Garnish with your garden flowers (lilac here). |
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| Diver Pose (Drinking Bird Pose) 🦅 |
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Just keep COOKing (in silence for effortless enlightenment). Spring goddess salad, chocolate pots, homemade ‘perfect bars’ plus oats, three berry muffins, classic stuffed bell peppers. 💚🤍❤️ |
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| EN-JOY |
