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Where do you Yoga/Beach/Spa/Getaway?: The Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas Edition

The Ritz-Carlton is claiming punch pin after punch pin on our dream yoga vacation map. We've heard great things about their St. Thomas location, it's Motion Studio and the complementary daily yoga class but let's be honest, you had me at...

Zumba at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas
In addition to introductory and intermediate yoga classes available to guests through out the week, The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas now offers Zumba classes in the resort’s Motion Studio. Combining Latin rhythms with easy to follow moves, Zumba is an exhilarating program designed to energize, burn calories and inspire you to love your workout. Morning and afternoon classes are available throughout the week, and one class per day is included complimentary with the resort fee. Our instructor tailors the music selections to blend hip hop, Greek, Arabic, salsa and a number of other styles to create an hour-long class that has become the most popular fitness class at the resort.

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Where do you Yoga/Beach/Spa/Getaway?

Our lives get complicated and we go to Yoga. Because on the mat, everything is simple.

In fact we go to yoga no matter what but this week we've decided it's time. Time to get away. To a place where we only ever have to use one of three required verbal ques for all of our communications.

1)"Yes, I would like a complimentary smoothie."

2)"Could you tie up my Bikini before I go for a swim?"

3) "Is it time for ocean view yoga yet?"

Today we looked into the Ritz Carlton Puerto Rico where the Spa Director IS the Yoga Instructor. We think this will require even less effort to get our needs met and LOOK at these pictures!!! I took one of the most intense yoga classes of my LIFE at the Ritz Carlton Georgetown (and you know, the Ritz, is well, the Ritz. So EVERYTHING tends toward AMAZING) In shopping for this vacation specifically, we are looking deeply into the theory behind the yoga program and or spa treatments. We've shared some of what we learned about The R-C Puerto Rico and their yoga program below.

Yoga Practice
Hatha Yoga Practice for all levels of experience. Classes include centering, breath-work (pranayama), warm-ups, postures (asanans), relaxation, and closing meditation. You are guided to move at your own pace, honoring your body's needs in each and every movement. Improve strength, endurance, and flexibility. Develop physical, mental, and emotional balance. Practice is based on loving-kindness, compassion, self-acceptance, and non-judgment.

Increase Energy – Reduce Stress Wellness Consultation
Tap Into Your Unlimited Source of Perfect Health and Well-being. Ayurveda (Science of Life), Yoga’s sister science, is a system based on natural healing through strengthening the body, mind and spirit and allowing the body's own natural healing mechanisms to work to their fullest potential. The daily routine is called the Dinacharya. This daily routine is one of the best things we can do to stay in balance, prevent disease and is considered a stronger healing force than any other curative medicine. The reason for this is that the healthy and happy state is the most natural state.

Kimberly Rossi, 500 RYT
Kimberly has been teaching fitness for over 18 years in leading health clubs and recognized spas across the US and in Europe . Her expertise has been working with all levels of experience, making things easy to follow, safe, and comfortable for the beginner, and leading those with experience to their edge, creating a deeper, more meaningful practice. She is a 500 hour Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance and a Certified Yoga Teacher and Ayurvedic Consultant by Kripalu Center for Health. She is currently the Spa Director for The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan

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Hopping into EVERYTHING with Havaianas

Fishing. Bike Riding. Yoga. Babysitting. Walking in the woods. My Havaianas are taking me everywhere this spring. Not since the days of living in the Indonesian archipelago or vacationing in Colorado have I so deliriously dipped into every whisper of adventure that nuzzled my ear. After 20 miles on the bike yesterday my bum is exhausted but my feet are (still) adorably adorned with these toe feathers.

This season the "Slim Peacock" is populating the pages of yoga catalogues and flip flopping all over the mulch on the play ground. (You should see how adorable they are on the seven year old girl who I babysit for.) For women's sandals (or kid's) the easiest, chic-est way to go toe to toe with adventure this summer is to go Havaianas.

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Products in this post were provided at no cost for editorial review.

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LOVE the New LOFT

Girls!!!! I have moved out of my little Chapel Hill writer's apartment and into the most amazing flat just a few short miles down the road. My Internet took a few weeks to find the new location so please forgive my absence.

Finally settled into the new place, tonight I rest my imagination within the deeply creative pages of the look book for the LOFT Spring 2010 collection and it's AMAZING. Not simply because the models are often shown with artful piles of hair atop their head (mimicking my favorite personal style) but also because it's full of rich pieces - pieces one used to only be able to find at hip boutiques or anthropologie in their earlier days.

The two pieces LOFT sent to accompany the spiral bound book are, aptly, look-defining pieces. Pieces that express a hidden part of your personality and attach it to your appearance like a magnate which draws similarly expressive pieces to you. The gold cuff (featured above) adds an unmistakable Greek goddess strength to any look while the floral scarf welcomes spring in an classic Audrey kind of way. In other words, I ADORE.....

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Pieces mentioned in this post were provided at no cost for editorial review.

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Guest Blogger Sarah Tattoo, Shiseido & NYFW

Sarah Tattoo & Narciso Rodriguez heart Shiseido this winter. Read Sarah's product rave below and check out the face chart from Shiseido artistic director Dick Page.

Products are: Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Cleansing Foam, White Lucent Brightening Refining Softener, and White Lucent Brightening Protective Moisturizer with SPF 16 PA++

Ladies, for years when the question of "what type of skin do you have" has been posed, I'm left agonizing over which box to tick. Is it oily, is it dry, is it sensitive, combination? Yes? Is there a yes to all box to check? Truthfully, my skin is the neon sign flashing all of my stress and worries. It flushes, it pales, but my greatest cause of self consciousness has always been the uneven tone and redness I have never been able to shake. Until now, that is. Shiseido was founded in 1872 (think about that for a moment, ladies, I was STUNNED!) making it one of the oldest and most prestigious beauty companies in the world. After many chapped winters and sleepless nights showing on my face, I've finally begun to soothe and nourish my skin in the way I've always hoped was available. My new year's resolution was to take just that little bit of extra time and consideration for my beauty routine, beginning with the ritual of cleansing. In the morning I wake to the faint fresh blossom scent of my brightening and cleansing foam, thick and luxurious. It's one of the most peaceful moments of my day. After cleansing I use the brightening refining softener, and finish with the SPF for a lightweight layer of moisture and protection. For the evenings I simply don't apply the SPF. It's only been 2 weeks and within the FIRST WEEK I saw a noticeable difference in the ages spots (let's be frank here, ladies), and the redness and uneven patches are really lightening. I'm truly happy with this trio of products and plan on expanding into the others in the series. I'll keep you posted on the improvements. Calm, bright, happy skin, here we come, and a little me time in my day is now a real routine!

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Rodarte & Aveda @ NYFW

“The Rodarte hair look for this season is sleek and shiny—at once free-flowing yet controlled. I was inspired by the idea of a modern, young girl who is strong and capable yet sweet and innocent. The look is young and dreamlike, with handmade metal flowers that make a statement.”
–Odile Gilbert for Aveda

After the Girls from Rodarte chatted up long time supporter Natalie Portman they spoke with Aveda about the inspirations behind their latest look:

Q: What was your inspiration for this look? How did you collaborate with the designer to create the look?
“Kate, Laura, and I wanted to create a hair look with a dreamy, almost childlike feeling. From the front, the hair looks like it is left down, but in back, it is controlled, adorned with metal flowers that look like barrettes. There’s also a Mexican influence on the look, since the Rodarte collection this season is inspired by bordertowns. We wanted to reflect this inspiration with the vintage flower ornaments and shiny, side-parted hair.” –Odile Gilbert for Aveda

Q: What is the inspiration for your collection? What is the look you are capturing?
“Our collection this season explores the idea of sleepwalking. The idea of a dream state, or an in-between state, inspired us.” —Kate Mulleavy of Rodarte

Q: You have made a real effort to “green” your show this season. How do you feel about this accomplishment?
“Laura and I are committed to protecting the environment. Our greatest inspiration comes from the natural landscape that we grew up in, so we are proud to be partnering with a company like Aveda that promotes environmental awareness and responsibility.” —Kate Mulleavy of Rodarte

Photos by Aveda

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