On the first day of 2015 I want to thank all of you for your support of me and Honey Lemon Tea over the past year. I have learned with each of you and I am looking forward to gaining even more from our time together this year.
Soon I will be offering a blog update and sharing some changes that I have in the works. However, for now, I’m just stopping in to wish you: joy, prosperity, peace, love and all the best that God has to offer in 2015!
Love,
“Republic of Yoga fosters self-discovery,
renewal and creativity through the
ancient system of Hatha yoga.”
Do you take enough time to reflect on “you”? This is the question I asked myself several months ago when I visited Republic of Yoga in Cary, NC. I was asked to come to a class and experience all they have to offer and within the first minutes of class, this question resounded in my head. As I sat on the floor with my eyes closed, breathing and focusing inward, as directed by Nicole Nichols (founder, co-owner and yoga instructor), I realized that it had been entirely too long since I took time to look within and tune out the world around me.
Nicole Nichols,
Founder
For those of you unfamiliar with this yoga studio it was founded by the talented Nicole Nichols, who has over 18 years of experience teaching yoga in New York and around the world. She now shares her passion for life and yoga practice with others in Cary, North Carolina. The studio focuses on the practice of:
“Hatha yoga in the flowing Vinyasa style
where breath and movement synchronize, like meditation in motion.”
Prior to visiting her studio I had practiced yoga in the past but on a very limited basis. So, I was quite nervous about accepting the offer to attend a class. However, any concerns that I had were soon put to rest. Upon entering the studio I immediately noticed how Nicole greeted students by name and with a warm smile. Her bright and welcoming demeanor is contagious and helped to put me more at ease.
Moving on the the class itself, Nicole’s level of experience is evident in the ease and competence she exhibits when teaching. There were yogis there with various levels of experience which can be intimidating. However, I found that the Nicole gave clear instructions that I was able to follow. Where I was lacking she offered me encouragement and extra instruction without disturbing the overall “flow” of practice. She was equally attentive to other members of the course as well. Not only was Nicole encouraging but every one there helped add to the overall atmosphere of calm energy and support.
Although I felt at ease and fully supported in my endeavors, I still found the course to be physically challenging. I felt a positive pressure to reach further and make demands on my body that I didn’t it was think capable of. When it was all said and done, I was reminded me that it’s absolutely necessary to push yourself because we are much more capable than we allow ourselves to believe. Also, to reach higher levels of achievement you have to take advantage of all aspects of your being (body, mind and spirit). I left the studio feeling motivated to dedicate more time to reflecting on me so that I can answer my initial question in the affirmative.
Top: Article showing Nicole teaching yoga in Time Square
Bottom: Studio interior, Republic of Yoga
If you are ever in the Cary, NC area consider stopping in at Republic of Yoga (yep, they have drop-in classes and your first one is free)! They offer a wide range of classes to fit your schedule and practice level, a welcoming environment, professional instruction and a beautiful space for you to challenge yourself from the inside out.
Thanks Nicole & Republic of Yoga!
I have an appreciation for all of the local areas that influenced my growth and development. I still live near one of those areas and it holds a special place in my heart. My college years were spent nestled in the, small in size but large in heart, Carrboro/Chapel Hill area of N.C. My family and friends cherish the time we spent there and always appreciated those moments when we gathered in our favorite local eateries to root for the home team (TAR-HEELS!). This area was good to me and I love opportunities to return the favor. So, it’s my pleasure to invite you to an inaugural weekend of events to benefit local nonprofits entitled: The Not So Normal 5K + Weekend!
EVENT DETAILS
The Not So Normal 5K + Weekend, is a three-day event (September 12-14), presented by the blog Mom in Chapel Hill. This event celebrates community and with a little music and exercise thrown in! “Why isn’t it a normal 5K?”, you ask. Great question! I’m sure the idea of having a 5K to raise money for some great causes is not new to many of you. However, I bet that you haven’t seen one quite like this one. The organizers of this event have elected to donate the proceeds of the race equally to The ArtsCenter and the N.C.Children’s Hospital. However, if you have a nonprofit organization that tugs at your heart-strings, the organizers have also given participants great flexibility in how they want to get involved. You are allowed to form your own team and select a nonprofit organization of your choice to support. Most importantly, 100% of the money your team raises will go directly to that organization.
What else is so special about this event? Well, beyond the 5K itself, this is a weekend is chock full of activities for the entire family to enjoy. A complete list of events is as follows:
Friday and Saturday Night (Sept. 12 and 13): Kids’ parties each night, babysitting options, restaurant specials, comedy shows, outdoor movie and a Carrboro Art Walk, “Meet the Merchants.”
Sunday Morning (Sept. 14):
Obviously, this event is anything but “normal”. In fact, I would call it extraordinary and I encourage you to come out, have fun and give back to some worthy nonprofit organizations. For the Carrboro/Chapel Hill area of N.C. September 12-14 will be a weekend of fun, family, community and philanthropy!
P.S. As an added bonus, take $5 off race registration when you use the coupon code BLOGGER14! The coupon code expires Aug. 15, so go ahead and register! Be sure to put the name of my blog in the referral box when you sign up.
GIVEAWAY TIME!
The generous sponsors of this event have given me two tickets for the outdoor concert to be held on Sunday Night (Sept. 14). One of my lucky readers will have a chance to win this pair of tickets to the closing concert hosted by 94.7 QDQ and starring country music hearthrob Frankie Ballard!
Rules:
Plead read all of the conditions below before entering the giveaway. To enter you must send an email to hltgiveaways@gmail.com and answer the following question: “What is your favorite charitable organization and why?”
You must enter by Thursday, August 29, 2014 at 11:59(EST). This giveaway is open to legal residents (18 years of age and older) of the US only. Only one entry is allowed per person. A winner will be randomly chosen on Friday, August 22, 2014 and be contacted by me directly via email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. I have represented the sponsor with the expectation they will fulfill their prize and in a timely manner. The product offered for the giveaway is free of charge, no purchase necessary. My opinions are my own and were not influenced by any form of compensation. Facebook, Twitter and Google+ are in no way associated with this giveaway. To receive the concert tickets the winner will have to provide their full name, mailing address and email address to myself and the event sponsors. I do not share or sell information and will use any information only for the purpose of contacting the winner.
Good luck!
So, this post is all about our foodie weekend. We decided to “have a ball” and eat whatever we wanted. We absolutely love good food, especially food made with fresh ingredients. We have no regrets and wanted to show the highlights…enjoy!
From Café Monte French Restaurant and Bistro:
Mussels and Frites (white wine, butter, tomato)
From the Wolfgang Puck Pizza Bar:
House-Made Lamb Sausage Pizza with roasted peppers, goat cheese & roasted eggplant
Roasted Turkey with herbed ricotta, roasted peppers, spinach & garlic aoli
Peach & blackberry cobbler topped with vanilla ice cream
From Bricktop’s:
Deviled Eggs and Sugar Bacon (topped with a little habanero hot sauce)
Baby Back Ribs
From Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen:
Grilled Salmon with Whipped Sweet Potatoes and Collard Greens
Grilled Chicken with Macaroni & Cheese and Collard Greens
Yummy, huh?
Honey Lemon Tea 