2012, It's Been Swell.

I have been reflecting on 2012 for the entire month of December, and it's hard to believe the final day of the year is before us. We are in the thick of it. 2012 has been quite the year...

1. We celebrated New Year's 2012 with many of our friends from Qi. Haha this picture looks like I am grabbing myself...

2. Costa Rica yoga Retreat in April. Talk about breaking open my heart... This retreat was a fantastic vacation, but more than that - it was an incredible learning experience. I placed things that no longer served me into the fire (self-doubt and negativity) and discovered a sense of strength and confidence I have always had deep within. Meditation every morning for 30 minutes, practicing yoga with a beautiful view of the Pacific, surfing lessons, everyday dips in the ocean, and new friendships. I cannot wait for this coming April to reunite with friends and go deeper intto my practice. One of the highlights was definitely the deep-sea fishing trip a few of us took (thank you, Sherry!) The funny thing about this fishing trip - it was just as heartfelt and eye opening as the yoga. We caught (and released) huge swordfish that day. Each catch was a conversation, a new layer of self revealed for all of us.

3. I said goodbye to Justin as he began his new career at University of Florida. Goodbyes really suck. This was actually the SAME DAY that I left for my retreat. Talk about transitions. Thankfully, we got through it and I was stronger than I ever could have imagined!

4. Hiked a Colorado 14er (and shared a tent) with Natalie and Chad.

5. I watched one of my best friends, Merissa, marry the love of her life, Jeremy, in Michigan in July. It was so nice to see Justin on this trip! I was also fortunate enough to meet Miss Addison, Ashley and Alejandro's daughter, who turns one in January!!

6. Had a wonderful goodbye party with our Colorado friends!! I miss everyone so much!!

7. I moved to Florida in August (leaving my design job and my yoga teaching position - {hard to call that a job!} behind me) - Justin and I finally reunited and moved into our downtown apartment in the heart of Gainesville.

8. This fall... we went to a UF football game, kayaked on Lake Walburg, visited local breweries, walked the Gainesville-Hawthorne trail, Halloween Horror Nights, and many more adventures!

9. We rented out our Colorado home prior to the big move. Renting out your home is a strange thing, but we are happy with our decision.

10. On the way to Florida, we stopped in Columbia, Missouri; Nashville, Tennessee; Birmingham, Alabama; and Auburn, Alabama. We were able to visit family and friends on the trek to Florida as well as take a few days off of driving here and there!

11. In Florida, I began teaching yoga for 3 different groups - Alter Ego Fitness, Gainesville Area Rowing, and The Jam (the third one being no more). UF yoga classes begin in January! I have really enjoyed sharing yoga with new people in a new place this season. I learn something every single class, and I am thankful for each experience!

12. The past 6 months have been full of a lot of general reflection on where I am and where I might want to be in life! While working a non-stressful job, I have had a great deal of time to think. I am so thankful for this time. I am not completely ready to share with the world the changes I have in mind for myself in the coming year. As time progresses, I may share more, but currently I am keeping this side of myself private so I may really focus and meditate on all of my ideas!!

13. My Grandma's 90th Birthday Party in October! She's still got it! She was the queen of the party!

14. Our trip to Charleston in November. An absolutely dreamy city! We met Justin's Aunt Faye there as well as Amelia and her fiance! We will be heading back in May 2013 when Amelia ties the knot!

15. I witnessed my sister-in-law marry her fiance Coley in a beautiful ceremony in Auburn. This was a really fun wedding! We were lucky enough to stay in an Auburn mansion with family! I designed the guestbook and ceremony programs for the wedding. This was a really fun time in December! Kind of like an early Christmas...

16. We have been fortunate enough to visit with both sides of the family NUMEROUS times throughout the fall and winter! We have visited with Justin's Grandad in Georgia at least three times not counting seeing him at the wedding this month! I was able to stay with my Grandmother on North Hutchison Island for a weekend. I love staying with her - she has the best stories! I was able to see my mother twice in the fall and my sisters a few more times than that! We saw Justin's parents, sister, and Auburn grandparents a number of times throughout the past few months.

As I reflect, I can tell you I am so very thankful for all the friendships in my life. They are literally the fuel that keeps me going - my friendships keep me positive, keep me inspired, keep me smiling! With all of my geographic moves in life, I have met so many amazing people! And I have been lucky enough to still have such great friends from every facet of life so far. There must be a reason for all of the wonderfulness in life, that comes in the form of good, no, great friends :) 

Last but not least, I am so happy and thankful for my husband. He really is my rock, my strength... I am grateful for the laughter we share and look forward to our future together.

So, here's to the friends, the husbands, the people that keep us all up and smiling. I raise my glass to you, I am forever grateful for you.
Everyone - please stay safe this New Year's Eve.
Love to all, may your 2013 be filled with love, success, and dreams that become a reality!!

Where oh where?

Phew!!!
2012: Where oh where have you gone?

Justin's sister is getting married next weekend! I am thankful I have the 95 programs printed, just need to fold all of them on Thursday once we get to Auburn! I cannot wait to share the wedding with you here!

We are still obsessing over spaghetti squash! When in doubt, make spaghetti squash for dinner! This is our go-to item when we are about to head out of town and we don't want to waste any food!

I started at a new gym and I love it! Seriously, this place is kicking my asana! I am so sore in my shoulders and back from Friday's intense work out! I am trying to prepare myself for another booty-kicking session tomorrow afternoon! Wish me luck! ;)

I stayed with my grandmother this weekend! One on one girl time, family is truly the most precious thing! All of the stories we share, it makes my heart melt thinking about our fun conversations!

Holiday Blog Swap update! I have been paired with Kira from Rain or Shine and will be sending her gift out tomorrow during lunch! Cannot wait to see what she thinks ;)

We are halfway through our 50+ holiday card addressing/writing in this moment! Hopefully to finish them all by tomorrow night at the very latest! Justin is stuffing and licking envelopes; we have a great assembly line working here!

My sister, Diana, leaves for Israel tomorrow, while Nicole, my youngest sister, leaves towards the end of this week. Sooo incredibly excited for them both. Please pray with me that they will be safe and sound in the beautiful country that is Israel!


Back to holiday card writing...
Have a fantastic week, my friends.


*Above photograph taken while heading down to my grandmother's house in South Florida.

Hello, December.

Can you believe December is here?
Quite honestly, I am unsure as to what to talk about today!
Do you ever have writer's or creativity block?!

Now that I think about it, we have a good deal of stuff going on these days.

I am finishing holiday shopping this morning. Phew!
I cannot wait to share what I found for the wonderful women in my life after I give them out!

My sister-in-law ties the knot in 2 weeks.
I have designed and completed the wedding programs, I am just awaiting her final review. I also drew up her guestbook (tree for guests to stamp their fingerprints and sign their names). I will share both of those projects after the wedding!

I am trying out a new gym this month beginning Monday.
The classes are Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays - 3 weeks on, 1 week off. I am assuming (and hoping!) lots of HIIT will be involved.

Speaking of HIIT, I am currently obsessed with these YouTube videos.
My husband, my mother-in-law, and hopefully my rowers I am teaching yoga to are all participating in these workouts. We literally pull the YouTube video on the TV and workout for about 10 minutes per video. High-Intensity Interval Training ROCKS!

Neiman Marcus + Target Collab is available today here!!
Loving these high/low collaborations! It definitely makes the fancy stuff with the high price tag more accessible for myself and many others!! You shouldn't have to pay an arm and a leg for high fashion! Click here to check it out! My favorite is this Lela Rose dress! Hello, Gorgeous!!

I will be participating in a Blog Swap with The {Blessed} Life.
While reading my best friend Ashley's post this morning, I learned about this super cool swap. Now that December is officially here, we are reminded the holidays are fast approaching! Why not mix in a little gift swapping with other bloggers? This should be fun, people! Head over here to participate and join in on the Swap! 

Happy Weekend!

*Above image is my own - taken along the Charleston bay back in November.

7 Reasons to Take the Stairs

7. Warm up your body!

6. Shock your body.

5. Burn extra calories.

4. If you take the stairs every day, think about how many steps that adds up to in a week, a year!

3. Inspire others in your environment to get moving!

2. Get your heart rate up.

1. Why the heck not?

How will YOU get moving today?

{Weekend in a Nutshell}

My mama's new neighborhood... All decorated for the holidays!

Justin checking on the turkey as it smokes in The Green Egg on a gorgeous South Florida "fall" afternoon. Yummiest. Turkey. Ever!

My sister and her pup, Peanut!! I decided to take a few fun photos right before we went inside to eat!

More of D and P in the sunshine...

Nail night / Saturday night. I hadn't painted my nails in a while and loved how they turned out!

All of us in super different footwear on Thanksgiving Day. I am in my Vivo Barefoot minimalist sneakers at the top ;)

Hope you had an awesome holiday!!

{XO}

The Shoplift Drops Tomorrow!

So, life has been pretty busy lately! New jobs, new routine, lots of weekend road trips and family visits... Phew!! And now the holidays are upon us!! I do have some exciting news to share with you. The Shoplift is dropping tomorrow (Monday) morning!! Read on to find out how you can be a part of this new trendsetter community and maybe help a fellow blogger out! Feel free to leave comments if you have any questions for me!! Read on, my friends! I have been working as a user of a new social media site called The Shoplift. If you like fashion and shopping, you will love this site! What is it? The Shoplift is a site that allows you to create your own shoppe or store with items you wish to by. You can "Shoplift" your favorite Louboutins, a car, a necklace from Etsy, gear from Ebay, Christmas/Hanukkah presents, whatever!! Your shop is place that helps you save items you see when purusing the internet, and you can always revisit those items via The Sho plift if you want to. The purpose of The Shoplift... To help change WHO is creating the trends... in fashion and beyond! The places that we shop currently help shape the trends, but the founder and CEO of The Shoplift created the site because he believes the newest trends should be discovered and created by US. More than anything, I want you to check out the site and see how you like it! I have been one of the first users for about 3 months now, and the site is finally going live tomorrow morning (November 19th) around 8am EST. The more people I can get signed up and most importantly, to follow me, the greater chance I have to win this competition against the other interns! ;) Winning this means getting possible leads for internships and jobs in NYC and beyond in the fashion industry!! It also means being in the running to receive a bonus from the company! Please sign up and follow my shoppe, "::Illuminated:: by Robyn" beginning Monday morning... How to Sign Up: 1. Go to the website: http://theshoplift.com/ 2. Click sign up and go through the steps including confirming your email address. 3. Follow me by clicking Menu, Follow, then clicking Recommended or Popular to find me. Then click the arrow below my shop images and once it is illuminated, it means you are following me!! 4. Enjoy the site and try it out, what have you got to lose?! Please INVITE YOUR FRIENDS TO THIS EVENT if you believe they would be interested in the site or if they just want to help a girl out!! THANK YOU, FRIENDS!!

Oh, How Pinteresting!

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Beat, Beat, Beat

You know that feeling when you sleep through your alarm?

That feeling when your heart starts beating a mile a minute in your chest?

That's what happened to me this morning.

I was supposed to be at the gym teaching yoga at 6:45AM.

But low and behold, I overslept... By half an hour!!

I freaked.

How is this possible?

I have never missed a morning class to teach EVER.

Threw on whatever clothing could pass for "yoga clothing" and ran out the door to the gym.

I arrived.

Ran in and spoke with the girl at the front desk asking if students had come and if they were still there. She said three people had come and she didn't think they were still around.

I ran to the back studio too be sure and sure enough the room was pitch black.

But wait just a moment, I thought to myself, do I see someone in tree pose in the dark?

Sure enough, somebody was inside!

So, I entered, wondering if I was there on the wrong day and if another teacher was teaching? Nope, it was definitely Thursday!

In the dark, I saw a girl at the front of the room with her mat in front of two others, positioned as though she was probably teaching.

I spoke softly... "Are you teaching class?"

The girl answered "Yes, when I noticed the teacher wasn't here, I decided to try it out."

At first I wanted to take over immediately.

Then I decided I needed to chill out; it wasn't my place.

So, I asked where she was at in teaching and she said balancing poses. I told her to finish her segment so that everyone had completed poses on each side.

While she finished, I went over to the music player and plugged in my i-Phone.

And then I taught the last 30 minutes of class...Drawing the students back in starting with a focus on pranayama and Sun A into a balancing sequence and then onto the floor for
paschimottanasa, janushirasana, supine twist, etc.

In the end, before we said "Namaste" and while we were in seated meditation, I thanked  Christin for teaching in my place and told her she was on the right path if she wanted to teach yoga one day. She did a great job describing tree when I was in the room. I was impressed and thankful that she was able to "help me."

In addition, I also apologized to the students for not being there for them!

I felt like an idiot all morning, but I keep telling myself now...

We are only human.

We are not perfect.

We make mistakes. 

And if it is not our intention to make mistakes...

And we are able to try to right our wrongs...

Then we are that much better in this world! 

Quite honestly I am so grateful Christin was able to teach, and she approached me afterwards and said she has done it for other teachers that have not shown up at all...

Eek! I hate that I have contributed to her list of "no-show yoga instructors!"

She also asked if I was still teaching Saturdays because she likes my teaching style. She is hoping to become a yoga teacher one day... 

I am lucky no one got hurt while she was teaching, etc., etc., or else I would have been responsible.

Here's to being thankful for others...

Oh, How Pinteresting!!

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I made this Monday with spaghetti squash in lieu of pasta. So goood!

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