"life is no brief candle"

"I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.

I want to be thoroughly used up when I die. For the harder I work the more I live.

I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me, it is a sort of splendid torch which I've got to hold up for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations."

- George Bernard Shaw

At the end of every yoga class, they read a quote and play Tibetan singing bowls (as the tinny reverberations fill the studio space, I like to act like my spaceship is about to take off) - this was the quote from a class earlier this week and it left me with a huge smile on my face.

I'm in that sweet spot of time where I'm still interested in doing some sort of physical activity today - so I better pounce on it before it disappates as it is wont to do. But before I head out for my run (read: walk), I wanted to leave you with something for your weekend. I'm running, pampering myself, visiting the Met for the first time in far too long, and that's just today's plans!

xoxo

If only I had a kitchen with counters.

I'd like to take this opportunity to let a skeleton out: I have an addiction. I have to do it a few times a week, and doing it that frequently has caused me to build up a tolerance. The worst part? I have no desire to quit, no 12-step programs I'm entering or diaries I'm setting up to monitor myself.

I'm addicted to walking. I'm addicted to walking distances no sane person walks voluntarily, especially not in the middle of what could go down as the hottest month in New York City in recorded history. Walking home from friends' apartments 40 blocks away has turned into me walking home from yoga on a regular basis. For anyone who's counting, that's 88 blocks, or just shy of 4.5 miles. But though I sometimes give myself blisters or even draw a little blood, you won't find me powerwalking; in fact, I have been known to pop into stores here and there whenever something catches my eye.

The other day, I found myself in Fish's Eddy, a kitchenware/restaurant supply store in Union Square. I simply perused (probably unconsciously avoiding beginning my trek) and left emptyhanded, but for the rest of the week I couldn't get this beauty out of my mind:

Entirely unnecessary, maybe, but let me tell you - glasses of chilled water have never poured so beautifully or deliciously as they did after tonight's crazy yoga class.

When I went back in to satisfy my week-long longing, I also carried this mug around the store the whole time, but left without it; I may have to go back for it (on sale, so really I'm practically making money) and also I probably need the bowl, for the big salads that are the only things I want to eat during this hottest-month-ever. (Or, if my roommate gets his hands on it, "cereal bowl". For reference, it's 56oz. We don't play around.)

Keep me away! Or, just visit yourself and pick me something up while you're at it. Don't even get me started on the coasters...

Too Long, But Here Now!

Boo, I was hoping to have this NOT be "something I just did while I was in London to remember all the stuff I did there" because while I certainly want to do that (not that you'd know it by my failure to post the second half of Spring Break, or my trip to Paris, or anything else I ever did) I also like to think I do interesting things here in humble little New York City as well. So - if I haven't lost you all by now - better late than never!

Since I've been back stateside, I've been keeping myself busy as a new renter, a busy little intern bee back at Cooper Union, and as a surprisingly (to myself) devoted yogi. I've abandoned Bikram and its steamy studios (and hefty price tags) for NYC's Yoga to the People. I've made their power vinyasa classes on St. Marks Place my second home, but they also offer two other studios with hot power vinyasa and even Bikram... but we'll see if I ever make it there. I've actually started to embrace my time spent in downward dog, which is huge. Best of all, the St. Marks classes are donation-based (in college-speak: "free", except when the teacher is cute and then I toss a few bucks in).

I'm loving my routine, even though (/because) it's keeping me super busy; my next goal is to carve out some time to spend here (and at the blog linked above as well). I was inspired to come back when I saw this commercial; it's so good (my favorite song, and not just because it's from Iceland) and I wanted to share it with y'all!

*My computer isn't doing so hot these days, and I can't tell if it's making the video skip near the beginning or if it's actually like that, but either way I think it's perfect.

Talk to you all soon! xoxo