whole-istic living...

lucile prache drawings found via {frolic!}

i feel like i've been mighty neglectful around these here parts lately. well... truthfully, i'm not home as much as i used to. over the years i wildly abandoned any shred of a healthy lifestyle and now, in the words of lesley graham, i am rebuilding my temple. i normally don't like to discuss health and nutrition because i find it to be an incredibly sensitive topic. i just feel like i should 'splain why i've been a little absent and it's because i've turned my focus toward restoring a healthy lifestyle. i promise i won't turn this into a soapbox for diets and fitness or anything preachy and crazy! working on balancing all aspects of my life, so i promise i'll be more present :) thanks for listening to me explain myself.

think pink...

today i'm uniting with 100 other bloggers in celebrating Polo Ralph Lauren's philanthropic milestone, the 10th anniversary of the Pink Pony Campaign! Ralph Lauren and Polo Ralph Lauren have been dedicated to the fight against Breast Cancer for over 20 years, specifically addressing the needs of the medically underserved bringing quality cancer care, access to cancer care, and early detection for those who need it most.

the organization has already raised 40 million dollars and has expanded to include other forms of cancer as well. i hope you y'all will join us in supporting Pink Pony and the fight against cancer!

{♥here are some ways you can contribute♥}:

*you can check out the Charity Buzz auction that runs from october 1st to october 21st HERE, so start bidding! 100% of the proceeds from the auction will go to the Pink Pony Fund.

*you can also text PINKPONY to 501501 to automatically donate $10 or simply tell everyone you know to help out!

*you can also show your support by shopping here, where a portion of the proceeds benefits cancer care and prevention all throughout the year.

and check out these other lovely bloggers who are showing their pink pony pride this month! thank you Ralph Lauren, for all that you do.

AND THANK YOU BLAYNE BEACHAM, the talented photographer who snapped these photos for me on a hot hot hot day in georgia.

fitness...

oh we meet again. it has been a loooong time since my fanny has stepped into a gym. and while i prefer taking classes or walking around the park, sometimes it really is more convenient to bite the bullet and join the masses in a gym. besides, i have a few sweet little somethings in my closet that i want to break out, the moment the temperature warms up. the worst part of spring is putting on a pair of short shorts and realizing you should have been workin' on your fitness a long time ago. no ma'am and no thank you.

wish me luck that i actually wake up to the smell of coffee, programed to brew at 7:30, and hoof it to the gym. ouch.

merce cunningham...

today i am grateful for...

attending an open class at merce cunningham dance studio.

the space literally took my breath away. the studio is nestled in the west village, on the 9th floor overlooking the sprawling manhattan skyline and the hudson river. natural light pours in from massive arched windows, illuminating the room, and the whole space is awash in white.

quirky little details abound. floral molding echoes the lines of the room. exit signs are carved into the walls, preserved next to its modern red, glowing counterparts.

the rawness of the space is complimented by loads of potted house plants. even natural elements like shells, river stones, and feathers are intertwined with brochures and pamphlets on tables around the studio.

the class itself was far more advanced than i expected, but i didn't mind. a man in the corner played an african drum set while the instructor called out positions, and 8-count rhythms. sinewy-limbed ballerinas in leotards and messy buns and bandaged feet. faces always relaxed yet composed. hands just so. and a really natural, poetic energy flowed from the dancers. i couldn't follow all of the steps(or most of them, for that matter) but i was happy to observe. and i would most definitely give it a go, again.

merce was such a gift to the art of dance. he was one of the names we studied in my 20th century art history class. isadora duncan. martha graham. and merce cunningham and the black mountain college.

a glass counter filled with memorabilia and memories of merce. books of his quirky drawings. and a compendium of letters to merce from fellow dancers and admirers. he passed away in july of this summer, having changed avant garde dance forever.

afterwards i wandered into my local bookshop and literally stumbled upon this little book on the $1 cart. and it made me smile.