Mirror, Mirror On My Wall

The Honeycomb mirror featured in Southern Living magazine

Remember that peacock mirror I was raving about two weeks ago? Almost immediately after posting, I started receiving tips about a very similar mirror that Pier 1 was offering at a much lower price point. It's called the Honeycomb mirror, and it has been featured in numerous blogs and magazines over the past year. The very next day, I started calling every Pier 1 in the Tri-state area to locate a Honeycomb (which was not available for purchase online), only to learn that they were sold out across the entire Northeast. Boooo.

After listening to my sob story that evening, Chris came up with the brilliant idea of calling Pier 1 stores in Indiana, where my parents live. Turns out these mirrors have also been flying off the shelves throughout the Midwest. We managed to snag the very last Honeycomb in Fort Wayne, which my parents graciously picked up and drove to New York last weekend. My dad helped me hang it over our dining table, and here it is!

 

What an exceptional find! It sparkles, it dazzles, and its price tag ($250, on sale for $120!) was just as easy on the eyes. I'm a firm believer in mixing substantial investment pieces with unique bargain finds to complete and personalize a home. I can't help but smile every time I look up and think of my loved ones who constantly indulge my crazy whims and worked together to get that fantastic mirror on my wall.

April Showers

More rain. Feeling under the weather and a bit melodramatic today, so I thought I'd share this video with you. I'm digging Adele's bittersweet sentiments and undeniable talent (she really shouldn't destroy that golden voice with cigarettes), but what really struck me was the intimacy of filming the video in her home. I love how the candid shots lend themselves to the vulnerability of the song and illustrate an honest, lovely sort of imperfection.

Poser

Punta Cana Sirsasana {Image credit: Amy J.}

Yoga has become a huge part of my life this past year. My practice has stretched me physically, mentally, and emotionally in ways I didn't know were possible, and I've reaped rewards far beyond killer triceps and tighter hamstrings.

As a novice, there was a constant temptation to compare myself to other more seasoned yogis in the studio. I'd try desperately to twist and contort my body into the advanced poses they executed with ease. Thoughts of self-doubt would race through my head, and I'd wonder if anyone was watching and ridiculing my form. Oftentimes, it was insecurity, rather than inability, that caused me to topple. It was unnerving, to say the least.

I quickly realized that my negativity was dangerous and could lead to injuries (aka faceplants), or even worse, discouragement. I started letting go of my hang-ups and began trusting my body and intuition. Establishing an honest relationship with myself was crucial, and it allowed me to eventually develop flexibility, balance, strength, and most importantly, confidence.

This was a profound lesson for me. I constantly struggle with high personal expectations and fears of failure, which leads me to be overly self-critical and pessimistic. As I continue to work on myself, I hope to find power to confront my limits, to be resilient when I fall, and have the courage to enjoy my transformation.