MAUI WOWIE

Its been about a week since I've been in Maui, and a week that I've been here in Tulum. Not a bad way to start off summer! 

I spent so much time in my life visualizing myself traveling to tropical destinations, laying lazily in the sand, soaking up the sun, grazing my hand against oversized leaves and looking up at puffy clouds in the sky. But it wasn't until I started believing that I deserved to live this life that I dreamed of that I actually found myself doing just that. 

I hadn't been to Hawaii for almost 10 years, or on a family vacation for about that long either. Growing up, my family used to go to Hawaii, more specifically, Maui, every summer. Its amazing how many memories can flood back into the forefront of your mind when you go back to a once familiar place, isn't it?

Upon arriving, while eating mahimahi tacos, looking out into the ocean, I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me. It was like I couldnt finish my meal quickly enough, and I had to get going so I could check my emails or didn't I have a meeting I needed to go to? I was in a bit of a frenzy with out a schedule, feeling like I wasn't being productive, or like I was somehow wasting time (don't even get my started on the reality of time!). Its funny how engrained in our society it is to associate busyness with success. 

Like, hello!!! Success is sitting and eating lunch with my family, in Hawaii, overlooking the ocean. Duh! 

All it takes is a little awareness and a shift in one's perspective to truly turn any situation or circumstance into one of appreciation, growth and accomplishment. 

After a day or so, it became second nature to release my to-do's and read and write and walk down the beach instead of getting caught up in the whirlwind... you know the one. 

I read an entire book that week! I haven't done that in ages!! I had the space to nearly complete my 1 Giant Mind teacher training! (woo!!) I worked out every morning, and got my family incredibly hooked on the bulletproof coffee that I made. Here are the ingredients:

- Coffee 

- Ghee, 1 heaping tablespoon

- Coconut Oil, 1 heaping tablespoon

- Vital Proteins Collagen Powder

- Four Sigmatic Cordycepts (I usually throw in a ton of their products, but this is the only one I brought with me to Hawaii! I love their coffee, and reishi and hot cocoa too! They also have Match if you don't drink coffee!!)

- Moon Juice Beauty Dust

- Vanilla, a dash

- Cinnamon, to taste 

- Almond Milk (or whatever is your fave), a splash

Blend & enjoy!! 

Besides relaxing, getting some work done, and walking through the village, I also taught a workshop at the Maui Yoga Shala. However, I was honestly so in the moment I didn't even take ANY photos!! It was so fun to meet some of my hawaiin babes in person, and to share my favorite thing in the world - juicy yoga and deep meditation!  

We dressed up, took photos, ate hula pie, and drank hibiscus margaritas. It was pretty perfect. Here are some more photos with links to these cute outfits!! xoxo

TOP // SHORTS

The mustard set is from Tobi.com and the dress on the right is a super old Free People linen sundress. The jewelry is from By Chari! 

in love with this shirt I got from Amazon! Less than $20!! 

Bathing suit is from Spiritual Gangster! 

My beautiful bestie, Laina! She is an incredible and talented life coach and I highly recommend you check her out. CHECK IT!

Also, hiiiiii, obsessed with these PANTS!! TOP is so cute, ribbed, and super comfy. (always) I wear it as a sports bra/ bikini top/ out and about. 

Stay tuned for my Tulum post!

Also, if you ever have any requests for blog content, always feel free to message or email me! 

Sending lots and lots and LOTS of love! Mahalo!!

Bi-coastal and self-sufficient

I love the power of the mind. I set my intention to be bicoastal this year, and manifested 3 trips to the East Coast in the first 3 months of the year. I'm telling you, get clear on what you want, believe that its yours, and then leave room for the Universe to work its wonderful magic. 

Those 3 trips have been some of the most transformative and reaffirming trips I've ever taken. All three were work related, the first was the 1 Giant Mind meditation teacher training, the 2nd one I was in 2 separate shoots with 2 big brands, and the third was with Clairol for my first ever meet and greet. 

They provided me with the space to look at my life from a new perspective. To evaluate my habits, the unconscious ones especially, to look at who I am and what I am doing in comparison to who I want to be, and what I want my life to look like. 

It is easy to get stuck in patterns and loops because they have become habitual. Habits are formed to make our lives easier, unless they are detrimental and keep you stuck where you are instead of propelling you to where you want to be! If you're ever feeling stuck, find a way to take a few days to yourself, away from the norms of your schedule and life, to reassess the actions you take on a daily basis. Its easier to get a clear view when you're a little farther away. 

Anyways, I wanted to share this post for a few reasons: 

1. To share some of the photos I took on my most recent trip to NY (I have so many unshared photos, I have to start getting more organized about getting them out into the world!)

& 2. To share the tools I use to take my own photos on the road. 

I have had to learn how to be self sufficient, mostly because I don't like relying on other people to make my visions a reality. I believe that I am capable of bringing those visions to life. And I spend a lot of time on my own, and do not have a personal photographer, but do like to capture the moment. 

Here are the tools I use to capture my photos

1. TRIPOD:

This is the tripod that I use. Its super basic, very lightweight and definitely gets the job done!! 

2. TRIPOD FOR IPHONE: 

When I don't feel like setting up my camera, I just throw my phone on a tripod, put the video on selfie mode and then screen grab from the videos when I'm done!

3. WIRELESS REMOTE: 

This is my secret for capturing all my images myself. Literally all you do is plug one of the pieces into the camera and then program them to be on the same channel, press the button and go! I usually just dance around the camera, taking hundreds of photos until I think I've captured my vision.

CHEAPER OPTION:

4. THE EXACT CAMERA I USE aka Sony a5100: 

There are a few newer versions of this camera now, but this is the one I use. I love that it has wi-fi and I can easily transfer the images to my phone right away. Also comes in white, and is less than $500!!! 

5. MY FAVORITE LENS FOR BLURRY BACKGROUND aka an f1.8 lens: 

This lens is easily my go to. Less than $300, it is such a steal for gorgeous photos. 

6. THE LENS I USED TO TAKE THESE PHOTOS:  

This lens is a bit more expensive, but has incredible quality and more range when capturing images! I use this one for close quarters as the lens above is a crop sensor, which means its super zoomed in!

I can't wait to see the photos that you create!! Hope this was helpful, my sweet loves!

NEW YORK IN REVIEW

Well its been less than a week and I'm back on the east coast. 

Before my mind moves too far forward I just wanted to recap on my last trip to NYC! Mostly because I made these cute collages on the plane and wanted to share them. 

Obviously the first thing I did was seek out matcha, and lucky for me, my favorite brand Matchaful  just opened their first location in Dumbo! 

Most of you know by now that I went to Brooklyn to participate in the 1 Giant Mind Meditation Teacher Training Course. (Feel free to check out my diary entries under the Musings tab to read the more intimate details of my experience) This was our beautiful set that we lived on for 10 days!

We filmed at Be Electric Studios in Williamsburg. Heres some of our amazing (talented, conscious, loving... I could go on) trainees. We were good students!

Our whole group fell in love with each other, and I fell in love with my new favorite human on this earth, Jonni Pollard. Please check him out if you haven't already. I'm his #1 fan. 

Although we were inside filming most of the day, we did find time to take some cute shots in the streets. Its New York! You know I had to. AND I actually felt comfortable riding the subway, which I feel like is an accomplishment, so I'm just going to go ahead and pat myself on the back for that one. 

On our day off, Caley and I got brunch, popped into a few stores (cute items pictured above), baked ourselves in an infrared sauna (check out Higher Dose if you're ever in NY) and then ate some more. 

We even went out one night! One of our group members is the founder of The Big Quiet, a mass meditation group. We got to experience the amazing event in person. It was magical. 

The trip went by so quickly, but I did my best to enjoy every minute of it. And now I'll be able to remember it forever because I wrote a blog post on it. 

VAMOS A LA PLAYA

Tulum is unlike any other city I've been to in Mexico. Its a bohemian heaven. Its laid back cool, understated chic, and picture purrrrfect around every corner. 

Aside from the fact that I'm a little OCD when it comes to packing, this is also my  FOURTH trip to Tulum! 

Here are my must haves and can't do withouts:

- Bug Spray & Afterbite : Admittedly, not the MOST glamorous way to start off this post, but I'm only doing this because I really care about you and your well-being, and there's nothing worse than looking like you've come down with a case of the chicken pox when you're taking those candid bikini selfies, am I right? Citronella oils + candles are a more wholistic approach to keeping mosquitos at bay, and *PRO TIP* drink a ton of tonic water & mosquitos wont even want to come near you. In a good way of course. (The quinine in it keeps them away!)

Also pictured is my Travel Companion Kit from Saje Wellness, Salt & Stone sunscreen & chapstick. 

- Sun Hat : I love big, straw hats for shading my face when I'm reading by the ocean. I actually  just got a very convenient for travel sun hat from L*Space Swim that rolls up (see here, or a less expensive version here), so you don't have to wear it through the airport / awkwardly on the airplane. Functional + Fashionable is a winning combination. 

- Loose, Flowy Pants: I am very into the fact that loose pants are considered trendy right now. I am all about comfort FIRST. So pack your cotton and linen pants for an easy breezy outfit update. Wear with a cute bikini top and you're SET! I bought these off of amazon, and I'm in LOVE. Click here to shop. 

- Bikinis!! : If you didn't know, I am obsessed with bathing suits. Don't know why, but I have always loved them. Some of my favorite styles of the moment are this, this & this. Its kind of insane how pricey they can be for such a little amount of fabric, but they are an investment. A good quality bathing suit is so worth the splurge to avoid camel toes and nip slips at all costs. 

- Scarf / Bandana: This is always a travel must have for me. Great for wrapping yourself up on the plane, or using as a beach cover up, these seemingly simple pieces have a ton of versatility. You can wrap in your hair, or around the strap of your purse for an easy boho update to the simplest of outfits. Johnny Was has an amazing collection of silk scarves. (one is pictured below.)

- Sandals: One of my favorite parts about Tulum is the baby soft white sand. In all honesty, I aim to be barefoot as often as possible, but I recommend some slip on sandals, slides or flip flops. Reduce as much hassle as possible here - life is laid back by the beach! I just splurged on this pair. (pictured above)

You can find the round straw bag here, (I cut the strap off because I'm thrifty like that) and the white bag is admittedly a knock off of a Chloe purse, but I couldn't bring myself to spend $1k on a teeny purse so I bought this off of amazon instead. Find it here. Can you tell by now that I'm heavily reliant on amazon for all of my needs? 

- Light jacket / Sweater: The temperature definitely drops at night, so bring either a light jacket, sweater or a few long sleeve options to layer. 

Anything & everything bohemian flows here. Think kaftans, kimonos, and mumus. Sun dresses, cotton & linen button downs, sarongs and the like. Easy pieces that you can throw over a bathing suit and you're good to go. Even the fancier places are all casual enough to wear flip flops and shorts. 

- Extras: Sunglasses are a must, as the hot sun reflects quite brightly off of the white sand! Sunscreen, lavender oil, journals, crystals and a small purse are some other essentials that help you take advantage of the magic Tulum has to offer. Sunscreen might not be initially thought of as magical, but try to enjoy your vacation when your skin is burnt to a crisp. Then you might feel differently about its magical properties. PS lavender oil is amazing for soothing burns & leaves you feeling like you've just stepped out of a spa. 

Pictured above is a journal I bought from Anthropologie at the beginning of this year, but you can find a similar one here. The book I'm currently reading, Self Observation, is filled with insightful information. Its a little dense if you're not already interested in inner work & meditation, heads up!

If you've been following me for a while, you know how much I love & suggest the 5 Minute Journal. I use mine every day, and often gift them to my friends and loved ones. 

And the cards on the right were pulled from my Goddess Cards deck. Its filled with positive and inspiring messages, and great as an intro deck. It was my first!

I feel so inspired by the color of the ocean, and the sound of the waves, as well as the kindness and hospitality that I always receive here. I like to bring a journal to jot down inspiration whenever it strikes. 

just what you've been looking for

Manifestation. Maybe you have heard of it, but don't know exactly what it means. 

Synchronicity. Its something like that. When everything aligns perfectly, with what feels like no effort, and you're bursting with excitement and receive confirmation that you're doing the right thing at the right time with the right people. You know what I mean, right?

Last May, I got a call from my boyfriend's friend that went something like this, "Does your girlfriend want a free trip to Mexico?"  Like any sane human would, I responded with a resounding Y E S. 

What no one but me (and the universe) knew, was that just a few short days before I had set the intention to attract (or manifest) a tribe of badass, conscious women into my life, and to travel more! Lo and behold, I am invited to an all woman, week long, yoga + manifestation retreat in paradise, aka Tulum aka MANIFESTATION in ACTION BABY! 

It was such a magical, affirming, transformative experience that I decided I wanted to be a part of the very next Soulcation, and HERE WE ARE!! (Can you tell I'm excited?)

Heres a little insight on how Soulcation started from the two innovators themselves,

Laina and Jess.

Initially, this began as a trip for close girlfriends where we could fuse our love for yoga, travel, and self-growth. After we started sharing it with our inner circle, we realized that many of our friends had life-changing shifts as a result of this unique experience that we wanted to bring to others outside of our closest network. 

This retreat is different than others because it is a blend of personal development, adventure, relaxation, and health with a few shots of mezcal thrown in. It's also a time to authentically connect to what is likely to be primarily strangers and form lasting bonds and networks that continue on like they would with some of your best childhood friends. And more than anything, it's a chance to truly unwind in paradise and actually take time to focus on yourself. 

This retreat is a direct reflection of both of multifaceted personalities -- our love for play, and our yearning for a grounded life. Having been sorority sisters in New Orleans, we (Laina and Jess) both learned how to incorporate balance and health, yet still, have a little fun along the way.

L: green juice, long beach walks, the Tulum sun rises + sunsets, Miki's yoga classes on the rooftop overlooking the ocean, meditating to the sound of the waves, hanging in the vibe of Habitas + their private beach, planning a vision to manifest in 2018, and cocktails + music at Gitano - my fav mezcal bar in the jungle. 

J: Tulum, of course. It's literally one of the most magical places I've ever been. But at the same time, I'm ready for that magical "Soulcation bliss" that you get from being apart of one of these retreats. It leaves you feeling like you are on top of the world with a whole group of new friends to share it with. 

L: Life. Lol. In all seriousness, it's something that I use all day, every day. It's really about being intentional with who you want to be, how you want to feel, and what you want to do and experience. I believe nothing is off limits and manifesting is a simple process I apply to help me guide and create my life in a way that feels good to me and lights me up. 

J: When I was a child, I fully believed in magic. I would dance with fairies in the forest and pretend to be a queen with the outfit and kingdom to prove it. That fantasy world and imagination faded as I got older, but thankfully, Soulcation puts it right back on the map. It reaffirms this childhood innocence that you can easily make anything you want to come to fruition if you set your mind to it and fully believe in it. It's modern-day magic at its finest!

To me (Miki) this trip is the perfect combination of wellness and relaxation. I personally feel like I thrive when I'm near the ocean, especially when its as magnificent as Tulum is. I'm talking white sand beaches, and turquoise clear waters. The warmth and the sun and the salty sand inspires me to meditate. To look inward and clearly visualize exactly the life I want to be living. 

With us, you will learn the tools on WHAT manifestation is, HOW to implement it into your life. You will learn to identify the beliefs that have been holding you back from achieving your greatest desires. You will learn how to set intentions and how to see them through to physical manifestations. You will have SUPPORT. You will be heard. You will connect with other like minded people who want to better themselves and enjoy life! How great is that?

ALL THE WHILE, you'll be staying at one of the coolest hotels I've ever seen, eating amazing food, enjoying time to yourself, with so many extra goodies and surprises we have in store for you. 

I can't wait to connect, and play and create with all of you shiny souls that join us! 

yoga retreat recap

I had no idea what to expect. My nerves were high, and I was very tempted to recede into my hermit like tendencies. But then every doubt I had in myself completely vanished as I walked through the gorgeous villa that would be our home for the next week. 

Anna and Eranthi of Fykiada Retreats reached out to me about a year ago about leading a group of yogis on a week long retreat. I said yes right away. I never could have expected such a wonderful turn out. The villa was far more magnificent than I have ever dreamed of. Perched atop a mountain over looking the cobalt colored ocean, with 365 degree views, and a turquoise infinity pool, this house was a real life dream. 

Our group of yogis was kind, cool, down to earth, and each person had so much to contribute. We had some who had never practiced yoga before, and others who were mastering their handstands. From lawyers to wine connoisseurs, nurses to social media stars, we had it all. Guest from Tel Aviv, New Zealand, Cypress, London, Los Angeles, Greece and even Canada! We all left with new friends from all over the world. 

We went dancing one night! When in Mykonos...

There were 2 classes a day, morning and evening. Usually morning classes were a little more rigorous with fast paced movements, core work and always Kapalabati (breath of fire), while evening classes were meant to be nourishing, mindful, meaningful. I led a yoga nidra class for the very first time, and I think I have found me new calling. 

We made sure to practice in as many places as we could to fully take advantage of this idyllic setting. 

After yoga, we all gathered for breakfast upstairs. Alexandra Dudley, author of her new book, Land and Sea, flew in from London to feed us delicious & health conscious meals. 

Our beautiful chef, Alex

After breakfast and before our evening yoga session, there was always plenty of time to relax or go explore. Yoga retreats are (in my opinion) not meant to be strict, but a time to nourish yourself. To go slow and just enjoy BEING. I usually indulged in a nap, long meditations, and lots of lounging. Scrabble too. 

We did have a few group excursions and activities planned. One night we had a white party, and DJ Dest played for us while we flowed and boogied. 

My Canadian Queens, Kim & Hilary.

We also ventured to a sick beach club called Alemagou. Definitely coming back here next summer. 

Honestly, I'm still buzzing with gratitude for the wonderful time we had. The connections that were made, the breakthroughs that were had, the honesty, the playfulness, the vulnerability. My intention was to set a tone of authenticity. To allow everyone the space to truly BE themselves. With no judgement and no attachment to whatever would unfold. I really feel proud of myself for staying inspired and connected and just giving this my ALL. It feels so good to accomplish something so grand. And the girls who put this together couldn't have done a better job. Everything went so smoothly and we were all devastated to part ways. UNTIL NEXT TIME MYKONOS. I'll definitely be back. 

My Greek girls Anna & Eranthi. Photo by @ahappycloud

A big thank you to our goodie bag sponsors, Alo Yoga, Saje Wellness and By Brielle Belle! 

Mykonos Town

My favorite thing about travel is intentionally getting lost. Walking with no agenda. So present. Taking everything in. The simplest things like doors and street signs become fascinating when they're foreign and new. 

We walked about 2 miles into town, down a large winding hill, alongside a non-existent sidewalk. The views of the ocean were expansive and the day was warm. Although my shoes (coveted Gucci slides that were once on my vision board and now in my closet) were cute, they are not functional for hours of said getting lost. 

I remembered this restaurant that we ate at last year, and we went on a meandering mission to find it. This might sound a little kookoo, but I literally asked my intuition to guide me through the maze like streets to find it, and what do you know, it was as cute and delicious as I remembered. 

After lunch we walked to the water. 

And then I fell in love with all of the blue and white... 

Ok, just a few more photos: 

Love you all! 

day 1 pt. 1

Our journey began at 3am Saturday morning. Milo had been at SHOREbar until 2, and we left for the airport around 3:45. Needless to say, he didnt sleep, but I wasn't far behind. The excitement and anticipation was too much to keep my eyes closed. 

3 flights and over 30 hours of flying/layovers later we arrived in one of my favorites cities in the world, Mykonos. Our travel was smooth, and although I barely slept, (that 10 hour flight from Philadelphia to Athens was the most brutal part. Milo caught up on all of his sleep, and I was mostly his pillow.) I was so excited just to be there, that I didn't care. 

As soon as we got to Portes, the first thing we did was change into our bathing suits and promptly proceeded to pass out on the sun beds by the pool. There's something about the Mediterranean sun that feels like the warmth of a loved one embracing you. 

The hotel is chic and bohemian. The grounds are natural and sophisticated. The staff is welcoming, accommodating, friendly and kind. Its one of those places you feel like you've seen in a dream, or lived in in a past life. Its located on a hill, a few minutes drive from the airport (such a relief after aforementioned hours of travel) and walking distance to Mykonos town. 

I guess day one we mostly just slept, as these photos were all taken the next day after about 10 hours of naps / sleep. Its funny how travel can take so much energy out of you. But we couldn't have found a better place to recoup from jet lag & lounge. Stay tuned for more photos from our first trip into town. 

My white bathing suit is from Zaful, and Milo's hat is Brixton + his shorts are from Electric & Rose. 

I spent last week embracing the warmth of the desert sun, surrounded by my alo family. Inspiring yogis, new friends, and old. Playing, flipping, and taking an obscene amount of photos. Thank you Alo for putting together such a heart warming, inclusive retreat. #AloinPalmSprings 

Heres a look at a few of the photos I took of some of your favorite Instagram Alo Yogis!

@nwoy & @yoga_ky

@aubrymarie 

@diceyoga holding up @andrew7sealy

our cabana getaway

@gypsetgoddess being a goddess

@yoga_ky

@giseleyoga with the smoldering eyes

the gorgeous @sjanaelise

@actionjacqueline

sweet refuge

Goddess @lamise

my muse @caleyalyssa

@rivkayoga

@kaylala88

@hannahtaha amazing flexibility!

very necessary pool chillin

PHOTO DIARY: Diff Eyewear x SLO

Last week I got invited by DIFF Eyewear to spend a few days on the central coast in one of my favorite towns, San Luis Obispo. We stayed at the iconic Madonna Inn, rode horses and dune buggies, drank wine, and of course, wore the best shades in the game. 

Find out more about how DIFF is making a difference in the world with their Buy One Give One Program.