Brooke & Todd Day 3

Surrounded by lifelong friendships, the gorgeous, generous, joyful couple tied the knot.

Majestic Redwoods and the sweeping ocean breeze served as the perfect foreshadowing of Brooke and Todd’s bond; deeply rooted and crisp and vibrant.

The room was overwhelmed with laughter, dancing, and unconditional love.

Brooke & Todd Day 2

A casual gathering of friends;
Coffee, laughter, and catching up.
A intimate stroll down memory lane alongside 200 of your closest friends...
I love a destination wedding.
The cliffs along Half Moon Bay seduce me into a midday walk before dancing the night away.

Brooke & Todd Day 1

It started in Napa with Jeff, Bevin, and Lee;
Indulging in wine, food, and laughter.
Two hours later we’re sailed into Half Moon Bay;
I love a lodge.
I adore my friends––they are my family.
We’re gathered here to celebrate the joining of two extraordinary people:
Brooke Kivowitz and Todd Cooper; #CooperIsAKeeper
I’m surrendering to this moment;
Receiving everything that comes my direction with light and gratitude;
Sharing our joy with Brooke and Todd as they embark on this new course––together, forever in laughter, love, creativity, health, and success.
Life is good.

NorCal Day 5

Time to get Sideways!

Sitting in traffic is not fun;

Picking up friends at the airport and heading to Napa for a day of wine and delicious food …

A lot more fun.

Adventure awaits those who release expectations and enjoy the fertile, rich winding road!

NorCal Day 4

Yoga,

Mani / pedi,

Movie,

Massage,

I’m really having a hard time relaxing …

NorCal Day 3

Lazy, do nothing day;
You know you’re spoiled when yoga is the only thing on your list.
It’s okay to relax on vacation;
Release the need to control.
Be present and enjoy a stress-free, sunny day.

NorCal Day 2

Yoga,
Video shoot,
Coffee,
Sports massage with acupuncture,
Shopping,
Movie,
Dinner,
Nightcap in the hot tub;
Life is great!

NorCal Day 1

Family and food;
Movies galore!
The house is full of laughter.
Stress free vacation from LA.

Dawn

The morning light wakes my soul;
A new opportunity to live my best life.
The fears and failures of yesterday erased;
Replaced with the power of the present:
Today is the only thing that matters.

Times Up

Whoever thought of a timed survey online,

Never had to deal with poor Internet connections.

I had faster speeds and ability from my dial-up connection in 1995!

#OverIt

Full Circle

The moment the student becomes the teacher.
I was confronted with my sixteen-year-old self today in the form of a student with a ton of passion and anger; unable to contain their emotion and ready to react without thinking it through.
He hates me now, but one day he’ll thank me—and maybe he’ll forgive me, too.

Shoot Me!

A last minute gig presented itself;

I cherish every opportunity to perform, so naturally I said yes!

Hours on set pretending;

Just like summer camp, I play the role of an eager actor.

Lights, camera, action: shoot me.

Six Word Essay on Early Morning Yoga

My soul awakes; eyes wide shut.

Fast!

As a dancer who has struggled with body issues my entire life, I have no problem depriving myself of food.
But tell me that I have to fast for 5 hours before a doctors appointment, and I act as if I’m going to starve!
I need food, fast!

Children's Birthday Party

Too much cheese,
Sparkling wine;
The second day of saturated animal fats;
And twenty four-year-olds screaming in a bounce house: welcome to 40!

Wine & Cheese

Dairy, you’re not on my diet—and my body will reject you—but with the perfect balance of crackers and a crisp bold wine, I’ll be FINE.
Fat
Irritable
Nauseated
Emotional

For Amusement;

Buy a ticket to Six Flags Magic Mountain;
Invite your GBF (gay best friend);
Drink (heavily) in the parking lot before entering the park;
Scream your face off on the death defying rollercoasters!

Hi!ves

The itchy crawling bumps that travel my body are an indicator that I might be stressed;
How could I not see this coming?
Editing my second book, preparing to return to the stage with LA Opera, hustling to save money (to replenish my 40th Birthday World Tour), and trying to be the best caregiver I can to my sister and husband; both struggling with chronic pain.
No wonder I have hives!
A deep breath, a smile, and the acknowledgment, “This, too, shall pass.”
I don’t have to address every situation, task, or plan, today.
I just need to be present and focus on what’s in front of me: NOW.

Yoga

My personal quest to live in the present;

Mind, body, and soul in harmony with the Universe.

Connected Faith in a higher power;

I release fear and invite light.

Trust through meditation, movement, and breath.

Nine. Eleven.

My hope:

The country will once again unite as we did September 12, 2001.

Love, Faith, and finding common ground.

We stand divided; because someone we were taught that it was okay to attack your neighbor for being different or sharing another perspective.

My hope is that we can find our way back to the fundamental core that makes America the land of freedom, opportunity, and equality for ALL.

Searching:

For music on iTunes that doesn’t have an ‘E’ for explicit next to the title is like meeting a teenager who knows what an encyclopedia is; they exist but they’re not very popular.
#INeedCleanMusicForDanceClass

Inner Joy

The giddy tickle in my gut;
An inner smile coats my body.
My breaths are deeper filling my soul and enriching my blood.
The conflicts from my past and the stress of my future disappear in the Present.
Wealth, possessions, obligations, and achievements are insignificant in the light of Joy.

The Op-Ed

An anonymous account of something most rational, educated, evolved citizens know to be true.
The nameless confession is a wakeup call;
Another endless news cycle focusing on “who said it?”
Who cares?
It’s like my grandmothers broken China . . .
We can all point fingers, but the expensive antique plate is still broken on the floor.
Now, how do we fix it?

Travel Day and I Still Found My Mat!

Usually on a travel day I miss out on yoga, which throws me into a manic state of unbalance and a neurotic feeling that I’m not doing enough.
Today I landed in Sacramento with several hours before I have to be at the studio to choreograph; and to my delight there is a CorePOWER yoga on the way!
A quick pop into Starbucks for caffeine and creativity and then I’m headed to get downward dog on a day that I would ordinarily be stuck without my Zen meditation.
I feel at peace.
Would I had I not found time to hit my mat?
Absolutely. Not. Which is of course a problem, but hey––one breath at a time...

Do The Work.

Waking up to a mountain of notes can be overwhelming.
After pouring a cup of coffee, I quickly hike the trail of thoughts, ideas, and changes;
With each switchback, the path continues to unfold and I can see the hardwood surface of my desk.
My computer cursor blinks off of the Word document . . . my manuscript is not going to edit itself.
“I wanted this”, I remind myself of my second book offer.
“You've got big dreams? You want fame? Well, fame costs. And right here's where you start paying in sweat.” to quote Debbie Allen’s character from the movie Fame.
Now, it’s time to do the work!

For My Sister on her Birthday

Her passionate, loyal, loving, opinionated, sometimes wild (but always grounded) disposition is admirable.

A one-of-a-kind character who can have me hysterical for hours with laughter—and on occasion anger—when her tell-it-like-it-is attitude catches me off guard.

I’ve watched her grow from a fearless toddler standing up to bullies on the playground;

To a confident, beautiful mom sharing unconditional love and wisdom with her gorgeous, talented, and intelligent daughter.

Always the defender of the underdog and never afraid to nurioush a stranger’s soul.

She overcame cancer and rose above a coma that kept her in the hospital for months fighting to regain her ability to walk, talk, and (thank God) laugh again.

I don’t always agree with her approach, but I’m always appreciative of her willingness to evolve.

Our bond is thicker than the shared blood that connects us; she is the Ethel to my Lucy—she allows me to steal the spotlight, she keeps me honest, and she’s always up for a crazy adventure!

I love you Shiree. Happy Birthday

Back To Work

A few days off allowed me to recharge;

Maybe, too much downtime…

I sluggishly drag myself back to the studio.

My body aches and I’m feeling uninspired;

The dancers enter and I’m quickly motivated to create.

They’re hungry for syncopated movement, like myself, they’ve spent their childhood working while everyone else watches.

I’m happy to be home;

I miss my family—but ya know—that’s work, too.

Passed Out

9 p.m. I’m a party pooper;

Passed out on the sofa for my sisters birthday.

Mexican food and margaritas left me plump and uncomfortable;

I cuddle up on the couch with my doggies, gut hanging out, I’m happy.

How To Cook In A Vacation Home:

Find the only pot in the house,

Spend twenty minutes searching for the can opener,

Give up and go out to dinner; you’re on vacation.

Morning After... A Night Out at 40

Up by 7 a.m. journaling;

No hangover.

Headed to yoga!

Feeling fabulous and ready for a Saturday full of adventure and creativity!