holler.

You have to figure out a way to be happy without a partner, without a date, without sex, without a response to that text or a "like" on a Facebook picture or a flirty exchange on GChat.

- chiara atik 

really great article. 

i work out.

[image via the reading eagle]

here. and i'm in the best shape of my life and it's only getting better. because it's a lifestyle thing not a diet thing. so get out there and be good to yourself and i promise you will reap the benefits. learning to love yourself inside and out is a daily practice and you totally deserve it.

what i want wednesday

i mean, what blogger doesn't want these?

tune in tuesday

Alabama Shakes - ALWAYS ALRIGHT from Brian Havens on Vimeo.

i watched sliver linings playbook this weekend (loved it) and discovered this song (love it). i'm no stranger to the shakes but this one almost got past me! i dare you not to dance when you hear it.

twenty nine

[birthday selfie]

is the new black, says my best friend..and that totally works for me.

 i laid 28 to rest last night on my mat with sun salutations, gratitude and reflection for probably the most challenging year of my life.  

so, as a little birthday treat dear readers, here's five things i  bet you didn't know about me:

1. i still wear my retainer when i sleep.
2. i whistle all the time, like my dad.
3. sometimes on saturday night at 7pm i'll try to catch the lawrence welk show on pbs. i love it. i used to dance with my grandmother to it when i was little and wear her high heels.
4. i've always wanted to be just like my older cousin christina, because she's the coolest. still is.
5. i took voice lessons for four years.

weekend wonders

so, these are out of order. but i figure you're just happy to actually see some action on the blog and aren't picky about how my weekend shook out ;) it was amazingly gorgeous outside all weekend long and i think i spent about 24 hours of it outside and maybe, officially  became a mountain biker? it was a big weekend for birthdays and mountain biking; we hit up swatara state park to ride for libby's birthday on saturday and enjoyed the Duryea Downhill race with BAMBA friends on sunday (check out the entire Gravity East Series here, amazing!). cory had a birthday too and we celebrated it cinco de mayo style and played life-sized jenga (SO fun!). and last but not least, breakfast burritos (from melanie's organic farm bakery) and puppies made my sunday at the downhill race over-the-top awesome, after a long run with lady friends on neversink mountain of course. here's to many more happy weekends!

* oh yeah, the icing in my hair? that's the only proof i made two, three-layer carrot cakes with cinnamon cream cheese icing this weekend. they were a hit, obviously. who knew may babies loved carrot cake!?

friday fuel