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What Yoga Practice Should I Do?

A regular yoga practice offers many benefits;  increased strength, better coordination and balance, flexibility, stress relief and much more. There are various styles of Yoga and everyone can practice in a way that suits their individual ability and needs. I've written up a brief summary of a few common styles typically found in yoga studios to help you determine which type may be right for you. There are many more styles that you may encounter at a Yoga studio or gym, however from my experience these are the more common styles.

Ashtanga

Ashtanga yoga is a physical and athletic yoga
If your looking to break a sweat, burn a lot of calories and bulk up your muscles this practice is for you! You'll spend your practice in Ashtanga focusing on 6 series of different postures. The focus is on breathing (as in all yoga), and concentrating on fixed gaze points while you go through the six postures at a non-stop pace. This is a great practice because the series is repetitive and can easily be done at home. 

Hatha

a meditative, blended style yoga
Hatha Yoga focuses on self-transformation and keeping the mind still by bringing attention to your breath while moving through each pose. A blend of styles where the instructor decides on the sequence of different poses. Poses can be held long or for a short amount of time. There may be chanting and meditation as well.

Power

Power Yoga is a fast paced rigorous workout. Poses not only increase flexibility but strength and endurance. Based off of Ashantga poses that are sequenced to warm you up and encourage heat. I love this yoga practice as it very cardio and help keep me in shape.

Bikram

If you can't take the heat get out of the Bikram Yoga class? Joking aside, when you take a Bikram yoga class, expect to sweat. Sweat helps toxins move out of your body, so each class pushes temperatures of 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

This allows fresh blood and oxygen to circulate and keep your body's immune system running efficiently. A series of 26 slightly modified traditional hatha postures to allow proper function of every bodily system.

 

Iyengar

A supportive, restorative yoga
This form of yoga is one of my favorites. Very relaxing and really focuses on the correct position of each pose. With Iyengar yoga you'll hold poses for a longer time while paying close attention to your muscle alignment. Another fun part of Iyengar is the use of props. Belts, blankets, blocks, chairs, cushions and ropes help obtain the proper skeletal alignment and accommodate for any injuries or other imbalances. Props help support you into the proper pose.

Just Getting Started?

If your just getting started with yoga you will definitely need a yoga mat.  I recommend the thicker mats from Gaiam. The thicker the mat the less pressure you'll have against the ground and the more comfortable you'll feel during class.  Your knees, ankle and other pointy bones will be happier.  I've tried all kinds of mats and I recommend this mat for the best cushion.

I also recommend this yoga bag, seriously the easiest bag to fit your mat in. 

Be sure to save with this 20% off coupon during the Gaiam summer sale! You'll find all kinds of great yoga accessories from Gaiam.

Enjoy discovering your yoga practice! xoxo Carol

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you eventually purchase something you see here. All items and companies are shared because I seriously love, and frequently use myself. This post is not sponsored.

Summer Collection 2014 Photo Shoot

New summer items are almost here! This weekend I had such a great time at the photo shoot for the new Calypte Collection  pieces that will be launching over the next week.  My beautiful friend from arlington blue photography modeled the summer collection and I wanted to share are a few photos with you from the shoot. Enjoy!!

I'm excited to launch the new pieces, they are all soo pretty and perfect for summer!  I post on Instagram or Facebook when the pieces are available so choose your social media of choice and follow the shop there!

♥ Carol

Calypte Collection Summer Collection

www.calyptecollection.com

Calypte Collection is launching new items as part of our summer collection! I'm excited to launch new items in the next couple of weeks as well as a photo shoot this weekend!

My wonderful and beautiful friend is modeling the new pieces. She can be found online here and her awesome photography can be found here. If you're in LA area definitely check out her work!

I'll be posting behind the scene pics from the photo shoot on Instagram. If you're not already following our Facebook page come on over, this is where new sales and items are posted first. 

By joining the CalypteCollection email list you will receive exclusive shop coupons and be the first notified about member only sales and more!

Have a wonderful day! 

Carol

DIY: Modern Inpirational Quote Art

A well placed inspirational quote can really put a smile on my face whether I'm having a good or not so good day. This artsy DIY is so easy and will only take about an hour of your time (not including dry time). Easily personalized and perfect for any room needing a few inspirational words. Here we go!

Step 1: Gather Materials

(All items from purchased at Michaels)

• 1-2 sheets of tissue paper
• Mod lodge
• Foam Paint brush 
• Small paint brush 
• Acrylic paint (I used black)

Step 2: Apply Mod Podge

Here we are using mod podge as our adhesive for the next step of applying tissue paper. 

Using your foam brush apply a thin coat of mod podge to the blank canvas board. Make sure your coat is an even thin layer. Apply to the sides as well.

Step 3: Placing the  Tissue Paper

Gently place the tissue paper over the canvas with enough paper to cover the sides of the board.

Step 4: Pressing the Paper

Using your foam brush gently press the paper to the board removing any bubbles and creating a smooth finish. Be extra careful to not rip the damp paper.

Step 5: Sealing 

With an extra gentle hand, apply a thin even coat of mod podge to the top of the tissue paper to seal the paper to the canvas and create a shiny top coat.

Step 6: Hand Write Your Message

Using your acrylic paint and a thin paint brush hand write your inspirational quote. This would look beautiful with calligraphy handwriting. I recommend practicing first on a scrap piece of paper before writing on your canvas.  Stencils or letter stickers would also work well here. Play around with font shape and size. Have fun!

Step 7: Apply Final Coat of Sealant

Apply a final coat of mod podge over your quote (after it has dried) to provide a shiny top coat and keep everything in place.

Step 8: Display!!

 After everything has dried, I would wait 24 hours just to be safe, and then hang in your favorite place. I've used mine to decorate my workspace where I make all my jewelry orders. You can visit my jewelry shop Calypte Collection here. I love having inspirational quotes in a place where I do my work. This DIY would also be great for many area in your home, mantels, tabletops, anywhere!

How about you? What's your favorite inspirational quote? Let us know in the comments below!

Enjoy,

~Carol

p.s. I just saw this similar post for a lettered vase diy from, A Fabulous Fete I love it! It's so pretty and such a clever idea. 

Happy Earthday!

Happy earthday everyone! I'm so glad that we have a holiday that reminds us to be kind to our planet, to use and reuse as much as we can.

There are many ways to indulge in what the world has to offer and still be an earth friendly participant. Here at Calypte Collection we love nature and the planet and want to help as we can to keep things green. 

All of our leather jewelry is Eco friendly in that the colors are achieved using non harmful dyes free of lead and other nasty chemicals. 

Also, your jewelry pieces are carefully and lovingly wrapped in biodegradable, recycleable materials as much as possible. 

Have a wonderful and beautiful earthday!

xoxo,

Carol@calyptecollection

Flash Sale! Leather Knot Friendship Bracelet

Happy Friday!

Start out your day with a positive outlook. Here is a really great word art printable to keep a smile on your face all through the weekend. 

Enjoy!

xx,

Carol

DIY: Copper Spike Black Crystal Earrings

Click here to find these earrings in my Etsy shop!

The simplest ideas are always my favorite. They're over in a pinch, who doesn't love immediate satisfaction! For this project, I used a Swarovski crystal and an edgy copper spike for some fun earrings that can be worn when you want to dress up or dress down.  This is a great beginner DIY project if your new to jewelry making.

Lets Get Started

Step 1: Gather materials. For one earring- 2 jewelry pliers (I used curved chain-nose pliers and chain-nose pliers), 2 small silver jump rings (5mm), 1 small metal spike bead, 1 silver ear wire and 1 crystal owlet bead

Step 2: Gently open jump ring using your 2 jewelry pliers and a light twisting motion. Attach one end of the crystal to the loop of the earwire  

Step 3: Open the second jump ring and attach the metal spike to the open end of the crystal. 

Step 4: Gently twist the jump ring closed and your done. Repeat all steps for the second earring and you're ready to wear!

Easy peasy, right? 

I've created a few more spiked jewelry pieces in my line, you can check them out here and here.  

Please leave me a comment below and let me know if you try these!

Enjoy! 

xx, Carol

I Couldn't Resist!

 
I couldn't NOT post this...Mark Douglasses Handblown glass pendant lights are just so beautiful I had to share. He has so many really cool designs, you can check out an interview with lots more of his work here.  I especially like these pendant lamps of his, there's so much to look at and love, check out his website!

Spikes for Spring

This iteration of the best-selling gunmetal spike necklace is perfect for spring! 

Beautiful emerald green Swarovski crystals amp up the original version. Perhaps wearing this necklace on St. Patricks Day will give you the luck of the Irish.  

Click the link for necklace details: http://www.etsy.com/listing/153591673/spike-necklace-emerald-green-crystal

~Carol

Motivational Hearts-How to Stay Motivated to Workout

I don't know about you but I'm not a big fan of exercise. I mean, I love the results and how great it feels afterwards but the doing, that's the hard part. 

Every few months when I'm in an exercise dry spell, I start to feel extra sluggish and then I start seeing the extra pounds come on and my clothes just not fitting like they used to, then I freak out and go all hard core with my work outs, I may even run. But then the urgency fades and I start telling myself, "eh, I eat really well, it's OK if I just maintain this weight and not workout. I mean I'm a biologist. I work outside a lot and walk around, that's enough right?" 

Any of this brain chatter sound familiar?????

I finally told myself this line of thinking just isn't working. I can't fit into my favorite jeans that I wore all the time last summer. Darn Christmas, New Years, Super Bowl parties etc.....eh-hem, passing blame.

I was listening to the Jillian Michaels podcast, which I find to be hilarious, and very informational, about way more than just fitness. Anyway, she mentioned a rewards calendar that she is doing with her daughter. Every time her daughter did something good she got a sticker on the calendar. After so many stickers comes a fabulous treat. Suddenly, the light bulb went off! I figured I should give this a try with exercise. You know what, it works!!!

For some unknown reason I just can't wait to be able to put another sticker on my calendar. The workout dread talk that used to happen that was oh-so-easy to convince myself not to work out, doesn't really come anymore. All so i can see how many stickers I get on my calendar. The funny things is,  I haven't decided what I want to give myself, I'm just thrilled to see all the stickers! I found these awesome puffy hearts which I think is the perfect way to say that I loved myself that day and was being heart healthy. I think it would be a great idea to find an inspirational quotes calendar to dedicate to your accomplishment sticker journey!

Give it a try!! You could even make it a competition with a roomie or partner. See who can get the most stickers each month. 

Let me know if you give this a try in the comments below, I'd love to hear from you!  If you found this helpful please feel free to share it with your friends!

♥ Carol

Happy Valentines!!

Packing up a sweet gift for a little friend of mine. I told her at Christmas that I would send her rainbow loom rubber bands for books read through February. She did great and now get a fun package from Aunt Carol.

On another note, spending the weekend down in San Diego!!! Gonna have so much fun!

Have a great weekend!

Carol

Organizing Calypte Collection

Hello there! Calypte Collection had a wonderful 2013 and an awesome December. Sales were high and I was super busy making and packaging all your orders. As elated as I was to be so busy, deep down in the depth of my psyche there was this nagging unrest and discomfort. Now here's why. I have to admit I've never been particularly good at organization. I'm a perceiving personality type. You ever take the Myers Brigs personality test? Well I'm an INFP. Which means I'm creative and I like to collect information not organize it. BUT everything can be learned and achieved as long as you work at it right? Your thinking, why is she talking about l this?"  Well, by the end of December my work space was swamped with jewelry supplies,papers needing to be filed and much more. So much that if you didn't know I had work desks you wouldn't believe that I did because you couldn't see them. 

We'll, this is no way to run a business or your life. When things aren't organized and in order there will always be struggle. Trying to find things, loosing something you just had, it's all very frustrating. It will zap time away from all the fun things or everyday things that need to be done. 

So I decided to take January off from the shop and focus on getting my work space and other areas of clutter in my house organized. I made to do lists of all the areas of my house that need decluttering and I tackled the biggest areas first and now I'm working through all the little areas. 

Here is a picture of my new work area. I didn't take a before picture bc it was just too embarrassing. I got the idea for the desk from this fabulous blog by Lia Griffith, shes amazing! Really easy to make with the help of Home Depot, Ikea and Target. I'm working on the decoration of the walls to personalize a little more but it's almost done. So I'll make this my before photo and I'll post the final when I've got all the misc things organized and decor up.  I will be back in production mode with Calypte Collection by the end of February for an amazing 2014. Success feels great! Being organized and efficienct is a wonderful feeling. I didn't know what I was missing!

Are any of you like this? Do you have areas if your house that are super unorganized. If so, make it a goal to work on one section every weekend and work towards a better, clutter free space. You'll love the results!

Have a great day!!

Carol

Happy Turkeyday!

xoxo,

Carol

Thanksgiving Day Menu

Autumn is one of my favorite times of year. I love the cold and colors and the FOOD! Things that make autumn my kind of season are the earthy spices, like clove and cinnamon, hearty veggies like acorn squash and butternut. All the warm colors, reds and orange. It's no surprise to my friends and fam that I like food. It was a huge surprise to me a few years ago when I learned that I am dairy and gluten intolerant. Rain on my parade. Actually it's a blessing in disguise, I've learned (still learning) about REAL food, how to eat healthy, free of chemicals and boxes and enjoy nutrition. Not that I'm always perfect because I do get lazy. 

Here is a Thanksgiving menu that I have created mostly based on this wonderful gluten free blog, Tasty Yummies. Be sure to check it out there are so many great recipe ideas! Click on the photos to view the fabulous blogs were you will find the recipes.

DRINKS 

Spiked Apple Cider

This looks absolutely delicious! Embodies all the things I love about autumn. Yum!


Pumpkin Blinis

This recipe calls for Parmesan cheese. Since I'm dairy free I'll be trying either nutritional yeast or non-dairy parm from my health food store.  I love nutritional yeast I use it on popcorn and many other dishes!

BREADS

Multi-grain Rolls
 

These look like something to curl up to a warm fire with a brick of butter (dairy free of course).

SALADS

Acorn Squash Salad


I've actually made these twice in one week already. So easy and so good. I used red palm oil instead of olive oil and it was delicious. Goat cheese is my weakness so I splurged and then suffered. 

VEGETARIAN MAINS

Butternut Squash Risotto
 

I've got a vegetarian/risotto fanatic in my life so this recipe is perfect!!

Vegetable Pot Pie

The epitome of autumn. Warm veggies, crusty goodness. Yes please!!

MEATY MAINS


Organic Roasted Turkey with Sage Butter


Photo and recipe adapted from this recipe here

I've never cooked a turkey with vegan butter but I would try Earth Balance vegan butter. 

SIDES

Mashed Potatoes

http://www.naturalwellnessgirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/002_Chive-and-Garlic-Mashed-Potatoes_s4x3_lg1.jpg

Green Beans with Caramelized Shallots




Persimmon Cranberry Sauce



Vegan Mushroom Gravy




Mushroom Stuffing
 

 Sweet Potato Casserole

DESERTS

Maple Apple Galette

Crustless Pumpkin Pie

I wish you all a happy thanksgiving! I hope you have a wonderful day, enjoy!

♥ Carol