holy hot yoga (posted by Christina)

One of the many great things I missed about New York City... YOGA! There is a nonprofit company that has became very well known in the city called, "Yoga To The People." I use to be a frequent yoga goer at the one on St. Marks when I lived there. Since it is a nonprofit company they do suggest a donation. $5 is pretty average and it gets you a yoga class, for $2 you can borrow a mat and for another $2 you get a fresh towel. Its truly a great deal and an amazingly calming experience taught by passionate instructors! The day that this photo was taken I had experienced hot yoga for the very first time with one of my besties, Jacky!  It is called Vinyasa and the room was 105 DEGREES! Yes that's right, by the time I left this class I was drenched from head to toe! It was amazing though and I would definitely do it again. I would recommend one little tip- lose the makeup and don't worry about drinking cold water, it will be room temperature when you leave! ;-) 

Also for those of you that also like PILATES a good friend of ours started "Pilates on the Beach!" Were so so so ready for the weather to warm up and hit the beach at 7:30am for an early morning workout! So if you live in or around the Ocean City area or vacation here you should definitely check her out! To visit her site go to, http://www.pilatesonthebeachocmd.com   

and her Facebook is http://www.facebook.com/BeachPilates

See you on the beach XX

Juice, Juice JUICE (posted by Christina)

"Juicing" is apparently the new rage in NYC. My friends Jacky and Jimmy that I stayed with for a short period of time, introduced me to a new trend or should I say a healthy way of life! As a couple they have decided to improve their lives and learned about what juicing can do to help their body. Did you know that as an adults we should be having 3 servings of fruit and 4 servings of vegetables each day? I know that I don't!!! Well not anymore, this thing called "Juicing" is pretty fabulous! The concept is to intake all your daily fruits and veggies by just drinking them. My friends went out and purchased a juicer, I've done a little research and found that they range in price from about $80- to top of the line $400. The next step is to hit the grocery store, selecting only the finest fruits and veggies. They prefer organic, for the fact that if they are trying to better themselves why would they choose to intake pesticides and chemicals. The following ingredients makes their favorite recipe:

* 4 small Granny Smith apples (cut in half)
* 3 medium sized whole carrots (just peel and cut off the ends)
* 4 celery sticks

This recipe will make 2 full 16 oz glasses (you can also find other recipes online!)

The next step is to turn on the juicier and place each item in the juicing tube, using the push down tool, also be sure to have the container at the spout to catch all the liquid that your fruits and veggies are about to make. Then 1-2-3 you are done! Pour into your glass and enjoy, I know I am!

Falafel anyone? (posted by Christina)

Oh my gosh, I have been re-introduced to my old favorite food, falafel! My friends Jacky and Jimmy that I stayed with in Hoboken, NJ told me about the best falafel place and that I should go. Its called "Mamouns Falafel" which was established in 1971 and was written up in the book, "1000 Places to See Before You Die in the USA and Canada," by Patricia Schultz. It is absolutely amazing, but funny enough I found out they had 2 other locations in the city and literally was taken back in time, remembering eating falafel for the very first time when I was a freshman in college at the same place (but at their Saint Marks location)!!! Falafel is made up of chick peas that have been smashed up with spices and then deep fried. I prefer mine as a sandwich which is served in a pita with lettuce, tomato, onions and tahini sauce. Tahini sauce (which I'm addicted too) is made of: tahini (which is ground sesame seeds made into a paste), crushed garlic, salt, olive oil, lemon juice and finely chopped parsley. If you have never experienced falafel I really recommend doing so! You can enjoy it at either a Middle Eastern restaurant or you can actually make it at home. They sell falafel packets in the organic isle in the grocery store! Eat up :-) ... O0o0o and I forgot to mention, they make the best Mint Lemonade- refreshing, add it to your summertime drink list!

a NEW season brings FRESH, NEW inventory!! :)

My excitement continues to grow as the new season quickly approaches us. So many new companies, lines, products, ideas, creations, things to do, events to throw, oh and of course, kids to raise! ;) A few new lines I am bursting at the seams about includes...

Eco Kids- we picked up the *all natural finger paint, molding dough, and glue

Another is Chew Beads- looks just a like a stylish necklace but is perfect for teething babies who like to chew on everything! I cannot wait to wear mine this summer on the beach, it will be perfect.

Look how cute this dress is!! Veronica M. is amazing. The fabric is so comfy & beautiful. We have a few other styles coming in too. Yay!

Ughhhhh, this beaut is made by Charles Albert. Incredible, stunning pieces that he hand crafts!

Another new section we are starting to expand in this year is Pilates/yoga gear. This summer we will be attending Pilates on the Beach with Kelly Hughes Roberts which we are thrilled about!! What could be better than Pilates on the BEACH?!?!! Can we all just say ahhhhhhhh together ;) Check out her site and plan to join...it's going to be pretty amazing ;) http://www.pilatesonthebeachocmd.com/

We picked up these amazing tights GOGO by Therafirm, that stimulates better circulation in your legs, plus we have super cute mat straps on their way too! Can't wait to rock it in the mornings with Kelly!

Goodness we have so many great things on their way!! Writing this just made me even more excited!!! At least I get to see all the goods as they come in; Christina will be back soon!! Thank goodness!  Be sure to stop in on March 16th as we kick off the new season and of course, celebrate St. Patty's weekend! Here's to warm weather and a fresh new start... <3

every ending has a beginning (part 3 posted by Christina)

I was SO over it!!!! I did not want to be the small fish in the big sea anymore, I wanted to be the BIG fish! The one that is a household name,  one that loves her job, and doesn't dread going to her job. This is when I decided to make a huge move and leave the big city. At this point in my life I had felt like I was destined to do something great, that leaving was the best decision for me, but that was not what others thought! My mother, my father and even my best friend Jenny (aka my business partner) tried to talk me out of moving back home! ...Oh yes I said it, I wanted to move back home (I never thought I would say that, I was for certain that I was never going to move back to Ocean City, Maryland). But you know the saying, “Never Say Never!” Once I was 100% about moving back home I gave my Interior Design job my 2 weeks notice and I started blowing Jenny up about starting a business! That we were meant to do so much more, that we were too talented to let it all go to waste. We would talk and talk and talk about what we could do and offer to our home town area for hours upon hours. At the end of August 2010, I moved back home and into my mothers house with my two sisters. It felt like high school all over again (hehe)! But soon enough everything just started falling into place. It was actually quite bazaar how it fell like a puzzle, fate - that's the only word I can use to describe what happened. And just like that our lives started changing so fast and the secrets were starting to pile up, hiding our future endeavors from our family and friends. At the end of the day we had to ask ourselves, “What do we have to loose?” So that's where my ending became my beginning!

where it all begins (part 2 posted by Christina)

New York City--- that’s where it all begins. I had a big decision to make as a young adult, where did I want to go to college? I debated between Manhattan and California, I weighted my pros and cons and decided if you can make it New York you can make it anywhere, so off I went! I studied Interior Design at the New York School of Interior Design and graduated with a Bachelor in Fine Arts. 

Living in Manhattan for 6 years really molded me into who I am today. I was never a fashionista, I grew up wearing t-shirts, jeans, uggs and bikinis. I developed my fashion sense in New York and learned that I love baggy pieces, that I am simple and easy, yet geometric. That I love solids especially black (all designers love black) and I cant leave out my stripes! Yet I do try to expand my horizons and add a little color and pattern into my wardrobe. My personal style is also reflected in my interiors. I was able to learn about different cultures, foods (and wow do I love food, my credit cards sure showed that)!  The city also allowed me to come out of my shell, to become social and to be bold! I met so many different kinds of people and personalities along the way that taught me a lot as well! Its definitely a city that never sleeps, a life that is truly for the young, but it is a life that you can get too caught up in and a life that can be quite draining! Always fighting to be the big fish in a small sea. Which is what leads me into my next chapter, the move back home to Ocean City, Maryland.

oh the love(hate) of pinterest

Ok, can I just say I love pinterest!! BUT I can't help but chuckle when I see these clips of "picture perfect" rooms. When I first started scanning the site, pinning and having my heart set on transforming my house overnight into these beautiful creations I had found, I was convinced this was possible. After a week of scrubbing, steaming, organizing, and rearranging- I came to the realization that with two small children and a husband who likes to get dirty, this it is almost IMpossible for me to do! ;) Within two days of being "finished" it looked as if a tornado had ripped through my house, again.

Now where as I would love for my living room to look more like this....

the reality is this (courtesy of a friend of twins, labelled "I give up")....

So.... I have come to terms with the fact that as of now my house my may not "look" the way I would like it to, but it is full of Love, Fun and tons of Laughter. I think I can except this for a few more years until my children (and husband ;) grow a bit and help me keep the house clean and in order. In the meantime, I'll continue to pin my "dream house" on my boards, and think of it as my hope chest! <3