take a tour.

it's the night before christmas eve and dc is quiet. other than teaching yoga and hanging out with my family, i've been laying pretty low myself which gives me the time to explore all the bits and pieces of the internet that i am usually too busy writing emails and color toning photos to see.

if you are interested, you too can see what i've been looking at (i recommend viewing everything set to this musician's soundtrack): first go see the pictures of the year at the nytimes~some amazing images in there (one of my favorites is the one of the three tibetan monks) then decompress from all the bloodiness by going here to find out how to make a midwestern cheeseball and learn about a restaurant that demands to be known in portland (is it silly to visit a city just because i want to see these women cooking?). then look at these photographs and cry a bit because you were not alive to be a part of paris in the 1960's. if you want more, see what the ladies at wishstudio are up to--those online creative retreats look pretty inspiring. i esp love hanna's post about her new years ritual. i have done something a bit like that and have decided to do it again in those precious days between xmas and new years, which of course i will post here. a nice way to finish the tour is to peak into the journals of this lady and dream about traveling to somewhere warm next year for the holidays.

many thanks to the ladies at instaboner for the constant supply of hipness and inspiration. happiest days to all of you!!

day seven: sing out

day six: wonderland

day five: rita and hammoud are beautiful together.

like a movie star!

hammoud gets ready.

cake designed by cake love and oh so good.


it was a cloudy day with bits and pieces of light.





paola, from italy, is such an alive person.


this was the lovely union of rita from hungary and hammoud from syria in oakton, va. i already knew rita from our yoga teacher training and just thought she was the coolest lady. then i got the privilege of photographing their small and precious ceremony the day before thanksgiving. i felt like family right away and enjoyed myself so much. on days like these, i really feel like i have the best job ever.

day five: the icaro of the boa.

Icaro of the Boa from Ryan Wylie on Vimeo.

here is a photo montage set to one of the icaros (sacred healing songs) that my friend ryan made. it's sung by a very cool shaman named vladimiro who lives outside of iquitos and used to be a high school teacher. he is the only shaman we met on our recording journey who sings in quechua. his wife also accompanies him for a lot of the songs adding a lot of feminine goodness. he told us that to him the boa was a good symbol, one of purification and not to be afraid.

day four part II: avalanche

day four: nice work erik dean

day three: happy day.

strong warriors getting ready for the party.

oh i just have a few minutes to spare here. it's been such a spectacular birthday filled with so much life. there have been a lot of smiles and tears and good food and great connections and human moments. i feel so in my life and so grateful and excited to keep going with it and seeing what else happens. this next year will be one of love, fun and ahimsa (non-violence) and of course, more travels. thank you to everyone for your greetings and presence and presents today--you've been amazing and i feel so loved and inspired and well-outfitted for this life with your friendship.

day two: happy holiday from mdr

last week, my friends in middle distance runner were recording some music at this church/art space called convergence and they asked me to take some pictures. i felt cool to have friends who are rock stars yet could still tastefully decorate for the holidays.

erik +

steve +

jay too +

words +

music = this.

day one: going acro

new and improved!

this picture makes me think of miami vice

thank you to everyone who has been shouting out lately and telling me that they dig the lovers manifesto. i really love it too but i've been so busy photographing dogs and teaching cat/cow pose that i haven't posted as much as i've wanted to. it's sort of how the people you love the most tend to be neglected when you have taken on too much~because you know in your heart that they will sustain your absence.

but i have been writing delicious posts in my head of all the things i've done and seen in these past weeks that i want to share with you. they involve traveling and weddings and acroyoga and dogs that paint and so many other sweet things. my birthday gift to you all is a posting a day for the next week. they may be short and sweet but there will be 7 in 7 days just cuz i love you all so much and i need to spend more time talking about that.