wedding bells.

let's talk about how much fun the bachlorette party, rehearsal, and wedding of my future brother and sister in law was...

SO FUN!

the proof is in the pictures.

congrats macain and jesse!

it was a beautiful day and i wish you all the best in your marriage!

love you both so much!

celeb couple crush.

along with the rest of the world, i'm obsessed with the royal couple.

(via)

like obsessed.

as in i'll buy the 'people magazine royal baby special' obsessed. 

kate is such a classy, foxy, adorable momma.

gah so perfect- congrats!

gaining a sis.

celebrated this little beauty this past weekend.

the bachelorette shennanigans were way too fun.

although i'm not technically married into the family yet, jesse already seems like my sis.

so lucky to have met her and i'm truly so lucky to be able to have her as my future sister-in-law.

can't wait to have children, girls nights, christmas mornings, and all things family with you sis. 

congrats on your wedding this weekend.

cannot wait!!!

summer salads.

headed home at the end of this week for a FEW WEEKS!

obviously excited (i mean, do i ever use capitals?)

looking forward to our overflowing backyard garden.

fruits, veggies, and herbs. 

oh my!

i seriously cannot wait.

do you think it would be overkill to have a themed garden backyard party every night that i am home?

i could switch it up and do some brunches too.

all are welcome.

a few summer salad inspirations that i am planning on making at home.

avocado + tangerine.

citrus salad.

quinoa + green bean.

chopped vegetable + watermelon.

i know you mouth is watering now.
any favorite summer salad recipes that i need to know about?
don't be shy, please share.

humans.

for the past few months now, i have been contemplating and looking into public photography as a way to document my time and feelings about san francisco and its people.

my experience with the population at san francisco general hospital and the various community sites that i have worked in have peaked my interest in giving the marginalized and homeless population a voice and a face.

i have a dream to go out and document this population in their natural day-to-day environment while maintaing my own safety and gathering small life lessons, histories, and quotes from the people.

humans of new york is a very similar concept to what i dream of doing.

super interesting, huh?

imperfections.

sometimes i like to just sit down and paint.

sunday was one of those days.

we call her 'sunday imperfection.'

i really like her.

when i got done, i sat back and almost found my yogi self in her.

being able to have time for creativity is the greatest.

it's rare that i have those weekend hours to just have a cup of tea or iced coffee, stretch out in my comfies, and create a painting or art project.

someday i'm gonna take up ceramics.

i think i need to quit making that statement about the future and just take one already.

"emily, if you don't make time for something, you are not making it a priority." (repeat, repeat, repeat)

enjoy your wednesday my friends.

now let's both go out and try something that we've been wanting to do for a while.

ready, go.

cleanse.

in efforts to detoxify (and lets be honest- lose a few pounds) i am cleansing this week in a not-so-big way.

this coming weekend i will be heading down south for my future sister's (my boyfriends, brothers fiancé- sounds really distant but i feel like we are already family) bachelorette party. the thought of laying next to a bunch of super cute, skinny girls makes me cringe but i have been working hard in the gym, getting outdoors, eating my greens, and soaking up the sun to instill some confidence in my physical self. to bolster these measures, i am supercharging my health this week with a daily cleanse, yoga, and good ol' fashion extra healthy eating.

because i got a great deal at a local juicery, i will be supplementing some bought fresh pressed juices with my homemade smoothies and meals. green juice is the staple of the detox then meals are filled in with alkaline, dark green veggies, raw fruits, and wholesome fibers. hoping that this reenergizes me and 

helps me feel more comfortable when it comes to bikini time.

green juice ingredients:

1 cucumber

3 celery stalks

3 kale leaves

1 apple

1/3 c. parsley sprigs

1/2 lemon

feed all ingredients into a juicer and remove solids or blend all ingredients but substitute fresh pressed apple juice for the apple and add coconut water. 

link up love:
secrets to a successful cleanse.
healthy green smoothie.
detox smoothies.
cleansing tips. 

happy cleansing!

(ps i'll let you know how i feel in the coming week!)

yogi in the making.

"Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured."

 B.K.S. Lyengar

in hopes of persuading you to partake in one of my passions, i write to you as a yoga enthusiast.

there is quite simply nothing that i am loving more than yoga these days.

vinyasa flow, power, restorative, antigravity, yoga-pilates fusion.

i have found it to be not only physically demanding, but emotionally renewing and holistically healing.

there is no other time during the day when i am able to feel both strong and relaxed at the same time.

my true obsession is antigravity.

this aerial yoga class allows you to passively and actively stretch beyond your typical capacity while  acrobatically exercising in a renewing restorative class.

if hanging by your feet in an inversion doesn't get your blood flowing, i don't know what will.

(via)

i am so hooked.

find a studio, try a few classes, figure out the types you like, and soak up the powerful relaxation that comes from yoga.

i dare you.

lessons i'm learning.

1. there is a reason why people are where they are in their life- take time to ask about it.

2. let the world tell you no- try until you have exhausted all else.

3. if something is a priority in your life you will make time for it- if not, you are choosing to not make it a priority.

4. surrounding yourself with others that differ from you will allow you to grow- comfortability comes in facing the unknown.

5. personal time is more valuable than the world makes it out to be- reconnect with your reality.

6. taking time to 'just be' is the best time you can take.

I think we realize a little more 'something' about ourselves each time we extend ourselves to others. take time to do it this week.