Current Mood in One Word:

Satisfied.

Teeth Cleaning

Peeling off the layer of coffee from the past six months;
A healthy smile is the key to a healthy heart!
Seriously, your oral health care plays a major role in your cardiovascular health!
Say hello to a dentist and enjoy a bright life.
Also, I drink too much coffee!

My Office:

Sitting in the cozy club chair in my study;
The window is open to the gorgeous spring air.
My hands are typing against the keyboard of my MacBook Pro to the happy tune the birds are chirping outside.
Work is so much more enjoyable when you create a peaceful, inspiring environment.

Six Word Essay on Leaf-blowers:

I loath environmentally unfriendly alarm clocks!

Trust The Path:

I’ve been declaring––for years––that I trust my path;
Acknowledging that I have had a brilliant journey; and continue to enjoy the adventures and opportunities that come from faith.
Writing it down in a daily journal and repeating it aloud––often––is only half of the work.
During my morning meditation, I realized how thankful I really am;
How truly fortunate I’ve been.
Not only am I living a version of the dream I’ve had since childhood; but I’m able to understand that, through faith, tenacity, and trust I will continue to find my path.
I’m also ready to honestly step back and surrender to this next chapter in my life.  Turning forty gave me the space to understand that I don't have to push for everything.  I have the permission to release control.
That is authentic trust.

Happy To Be Home:

My puppies snuggled next to me in bed;
My hubby happily side-by-side;
Waking up to coffee and cartoons;
A quick walk to Starbucks before yoga:
Downward dog followed by red light therapy (I’m giving myself 6 months to rejuvenate!);
Studio School BBQ hosted by my friend;
Jump in the pool before binge-watching Netflix:
It’s great to be home!

Back to LA

My time in New England has come to an end;
I need to get back to the land of organic fresh pressed superficiality:
AKA
A diet!
I’ve indulged in fried foods, delicious proteins covered in butter, and more alcohol than my liver can handle.
Now, I need to hit a yoga mat and drink a kale smoothie!

iPhoto–oh–no!

My type-A personality––married with my obsession on being able to pull up a visual aid in the form of a photo from my past––has lead me to create a chronological photo album, which I keep updated (daily) on my iPhone.
Last night, I went to bed syncing my iPhone to my iPhoto account;
This morning, I woke up to a crashed iTunes account and an empty iPhoto library.
PHOTOgetaboutit!
All of my precious memories vanished before my eyes.
If the photos are erased, did the picture really happen?
Yes, and thankfully––after a hard restore to both my iPhone and MacBook Pro––I regained my photo diary.
Which had me questioning my obsession:
Do I really need these photos to remember the brilliant achievements I’ve had in my life?
Honestly, would I ever forget a magnificent moment?
Are these photos a security blanket for my ego?
Yes; probably, and absolutely!
Thank God they’re back.
Time to update these to the Cloud!

An Adventure. . .

Into Boston:
Bar crawl;
Museums;
The Freedom Trail;
Shopping;
and food––a lot of food!
Living in the moment.

Six Word Essay on Sleep:

My rejuvenated body awakens with gratitude.

Quite House:

Sitting in the gorgeous silence;
Stillness awakens my soul;
Creative ideas stir and the volume intensifies.
From the peaceful meditative mindset, I find purpose; and my passion restored.

Monday; Sun_Day!

I have the entire day off;
I’m out of town, which means I don’t feel obligated to “do” anything!
The sun is out and the cooler is full of adult beverages. . .
My Monday just became an extended SUNday!

Tribute:

Talking on stage has never been a challenge for me;
Tonight, I have the privilege of speaking at an event that honors one of the leaders in the dance industry.
Nancy Chippendale’s passion, professionalism, creativity, and personality has impacted the lives of countless dancers, choreographers, and educators.
To open a dance studio that produces artists who will work in the industry, is a challenge; to maintain that legacy for 40 years––is an extraordinary accomplishment.

Morning Light

I woke up to blue skies, birds chirping, and a ray of light shining through the blackout curtains.
With absolutely nothing to do on my Saturday morning, I cozied up in the comfortable guest bed and read from, Chelsea Handler’s new book, “Life Will Be the Death of Me” and laughed my ass off.
It’s rare that I get a “do nothing day” where I actually do NOTHING.
Now, it’s time to hop in the shower and prepare for an evening of dancing, laughing, and indulging in celebratory drinks!
Happy 40th Anniversary Nancy Chippendale!

LAX

Cars backed up with raging drivers;

Passengers running to the terminal;

Airplanes liter the runway;

Where’s everyone going?!

Rain:

I’m bracing for a chilly summer in LA;
I don’t love the idea—after all, I live in Southern California for the sunny, tan, facade—but the mild, grey doom that lurks ahead, gives me something to breathe through.
Besides, Los Angeles is even more beautiful after a thorough washing!

Wednesday; Word:

Rejuvenated;
After a beautiful day off filled with yoga, a massage, and laughter—I’m ready to conquer the day!

Take A Break:

When you have twenty things on your list and forty more thoughts on you mind … .
Step back;
Breathe;
Grab a Starbucks coffee;
Unplug;
Read a book;
And give yourself some “free” time;
When we allow ourselves the space to refuel, our mind runs wiser!

Non-Reactive

The ability to breathe through every circumstance without judging it good or bad;

It is happening now: the present—a gift—so see it for what it is.

When we approach each moment from a positive perspective, we see the truth: every second is a gift and every experience is an opportunity to breath.

TSA PreCheck

Saved me again;

Never ending lines,

I flew right by.

Until:

I forgot to drink my water!

Back around the circle I go…

What a rat race.

Gratitude

Finding the joy in every aspect of life;

Breath is not a guarantee, it’s a blessing.

When the circumstances is less than pleasant, remember it could always be worse;

And in the darkest hour, it can only get brighter.

On The Road; Again

If you told ten-year-old me: “Your dreams will come true; but you’ll have to travel every weekend as part of the job”

No doubt, I would have responded with an enthusiastic thumbs up. After all, traveling is so glamorous.

Forty-one year old me is so grateful that my dreams came true; despite loathing getting on an airplane and living out of a bag.

It’s a small price to pay for following my passion.

Lying In Bed; Working

I might be comfortably resting on my lush pillow-top, king-sized mattress with Pottery Barn Egyptian cotton sheets;
But my mind is working overtime.
The creative process sparks ideas at the most inappropriate time;
But when a great idea is born––you grab your laptop and take notes.
The balance between overachieving and trusting that I can take a break, continue to create a constant power play with my mind.
Tonight, my compulsion to work overpowered my excitement to sleep.

Be Light:

In the darkness, evil thrives;
In light, we shine.

My Birthday Buddy

When I met the man of my dreams I knew we’d spend the rest of our lives side by side:

Laughing,

Loving,

Creating,

Producing,

Evolving,

Sharing adventures,

And… Birthdays, too?!

It was too good to be true!

My buggie’s birthday is only 3 days after mine; which means the party continues all week long!

Anyone who knows and loves a Taurus understands how fabulous this is!

Happy Birthday to my scene partner in life and art; Jeffrey, I love you so much.

A Trip Down Memory Lane

When my mom and stepdad come to town, we always spend a day in the Southbay.

Breakfast at Joes;

A stroll through the Redondo Beach pier;

And—time permitting—a visit with old friends.

Whilst I was standing on the bike path that cuts along the coastline, a flood of childhood memories came rushing back.

Not too long ago, my sister and I built sandcastles, surfed the waves, and spent too much time in the sun!

Yesterday, the cool sea breeze swept past my body and the whirlwind of emotions left a smile on my face.

Gramps Was Right!

My grandpa used to say, “I went to bed young, and I woke up old.”

I would roll my eyes and laugh; only half understanding what he was saying.

With each passing year, I realize his wisdom on a deeper level. I only wish he was still here on earth so that I could thank him properly.

I practice yoga; meditate; read; listen to podcasts; and seek inspiration from every circumstance—in the hope that I may defy the simple truth:

There’s no stopping time!

Be present. Enjoy every moment (even the “bad” ones). And be grateful for every breath.

41

It’s wild to think that forty-one years ago today I entered this world;

I’m sure I was an energetic ball of fire—I still am!

When I close my eyes and gaze back on the brilliant adventures I’ve enjoyed, I feel overwhelmed with gratitude.

I’m living a version of the dreams I held through adolescences; albeit more vibrant and worthy than I could have imagined.

The series of events, obstacles, triumphs, setbacks, and successes have shaped the man I am.

As I look to this 41st year, I’m inspired to continue growing, reaching, loving, laughing, and dreaming!

Yoga with Mom

Side by side on our mats;
My careful eye watching in the mirror to make sure she’s following the flow.
My mom used to drill flashcards to make sure I learned how to spell;
We were shopping buddies––we love a fancy department store––and indulge in a bag of soft, salty pretzels after a delicious day of overspending;
She has been to every show I’ve every performed in, directed, or choreographed;
We’ve traveled together, laughed together, disagree about politics;
But nothing will ever compare to the memory I’ll have of my mom in crow pose!
I was so proud that my mom stepped out of her comfort zone to explore the world of breath, mediation, and presence.
Yoga with mom was magical!

Spago

Delicious conversation;
Savory and sensational cuisine;
Laughter, creative planning, and a cameo by Wolfgang himself!
Let the birthday celebrations begin.

Hump Day:

Time to remember the goals I set for the week;
Let go of the stress thus far;
Smile, because life is short;
And prepare for my 41st Birthday!