Travel & Journal Notes
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A Holiday Reset
Slaying it like Santa! The end of year always rushes in with much festive fervor and glorious good tidings. It’s easy to get caught up in the season of yummy sugar cookies, delicious treats, and raising glasses of holiday cheer! Still recovering from all the Halloween candy and a Thanksgiving feast; my waistline is not…
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Cape Town, South Africa
Garden Route and Karoo road trip. I’d always dreamed of Africa. So when the big five-oh-my-how-did-this-happen came knocking on my door, I knew I had to jump at the chance to check it off my bucket list. This was going to be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure with wildlife, wine, wilderness, and waves. The first no-brainer was…
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Finding Your Tribe
Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving island style. Fall festivals, community events, and family gatherings are upon us this month. If you are on Hatteras Island, perhaps you are celebrating Thanksgiving or even a Friendsgiving with your ‘island’ tribe. Like the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag sharing their first harvest feast, it’s a time to come together and show…
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Hatteras Island, Outer Banks NC
Small island life, protected nature reserves, coastal communities, and wide open beaches. It was a leap of faith—and dreams of finding an island home—that brought our family to the Outer Banks. In 2019, we chose to put down roots on Hatteras Island, drawn by its natural beauty, slower pace, and strong sense of place. My…
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Nature’s Rhythms
Changing seasons and shifting needs. There are many ways nature and our environment can influence our health and wellbeing. Fall brings us Mother Nature and her spectacular show of many colors. Spending time outside, we can observe and align with natural rhythms found in changing seasons, lunar cycles and tides, and shifting daylight hours. And…
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Breathwork 1
Breath awareness, belly breathing, managing your breath, and making it count. Breathing is as easy as 1-2-3. And the great news is you already know how to do it! Part 1 of this guide introduces breathwork and gives you simple breathwork exercises you can use in everyday situations or for those moments when you need…
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Breathwork 2
Pranayama and yogic breath, box breathing, ratio breathing, humming bee breath, the vagus nerve, and focusing your senses. Part 2 of this guide introduces yogic breathing techniques which beginners can use to further develop their breathwork and yoga practice. Many ancient traditions, including yoga from India, and martial arts from China, have practiced breath and…
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Breathwork 3
Breathwork superpowers, ujjayi breath, stepped breathing, alternate nostril breathing, energy work, and advanced breathwork. Now you’ve been introduced to a few simple and effective breathwork practices, you may be curious to explore more advanced breathwork techniques. If you are new to breathwork or have any medical concerns, always check with your primary care provider. Part…
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Retreat Your Way
Rest, Recharge and Rewild. Labor Day weekend marks the end of summer and also signals the unofficial start of the month-long ‘local’ summer here on Hatteras Island. Activities begin to slow down, kids are back in school, and the pressures of the tourist season ease off, residents can reclaim the joys of small island living…
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Shake It Up
Watermelon summer high. Getting through the peak of busy season, I try not to bite off more than I can chew—unless it’s watermelon! With the merry-go-round of visitors, outdoor events, beach days, music concerts, camps, and cookouts, it’s easy to start feeling the heat. Staying hydrated, being realistic on how much you can achieve, and…
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Get Glowing
Cultivating confidence and shine. Summer on Hatteras Island is in full swing with families on vacation, and I love that everyone is enjoying beach time at its best. Seeing the beach yoga posts, I sun-salute all the early morning yogis for a truly wonderful way to embrace the day. I pass joggers and dog walkers,…
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Going The Distance
Taking one small step at a time. We’re halfway through the year already, and there’s no slowing down! So what can we do to keep going on Hatteras Island and stay motivated? Spring’s action brought us Blackbeard’s Revenge 100 ultramarathon, cycle tours speeding to the end of Hatteras and back, and hikers completing their Outer…