Robin Lim won CNN Hero of the Year!! Congratulations, Robin!

Thanks to everyone who voted.

Boulder.

I just got back from a great trip to Boulder. I had to get Mosey and bring her back to L.A., so I decided to make a little vacation out of my time there. The days were filled with friends and visiting my favorite spots, with of course, loads of food and drink.
Boulder is so beautiful this time of year. Well, it is really always beautiful there. But, the crisp (freezing) winters just make the holidays feel that much more special.

 The vastness of the Rockies never cease to blow me away. And, having the access to them makes me so grateful.

 Oh, Frasca. It was so incredible to be back there. The exquisite food, friendly service, mind-blowing wine and cocktails. I do miss it there. Thanks B & D, Alli, Matt, Ben, Jared, and everyone. xo

Pizzeria Locale and Caffe are holding their own next door, making it quite easy to visit one, if not all of the Frasca family, in one day.

 Boxcar coffee. Vaj makes some of the best coffee I have ever had. He opened up a beautiful shop, along with Cured, a fantastic cheese, meat, and gourmet market. It's hard to resist going there everyday. Both shops are just lovely.

(I am SO bad at this blogging thing... I was drinking my cappuccino and eating my biscotti, when I remembered that I have been meaning to write about this place for months. Slow process. Hence why everything is halfway finished.)

 I cannot resist chicken liver. I may not eat pork, beef, and a few other things because they aren't entirely in line with my Ayurvedic constitution, but chicken liver, I just cannot have enough of. Pizzeria Basta made one that was so rich and creamy. I didn't want the little pot to end. Served with the exact amount needed of house-made focaccia. I had chicken liver twice while I was in Boulder; once at Frasca too. Both restaurants did an excellent representation of one of my favorite dishes.
Photo by Matthew Ward

Oak. My last night in Boulder, Oak had their first night back after a devastating fire. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and they really came back in full force. Adding a beautiful second dining room, state of the art kitchen, and don't even get me started on the bar. Bryan Dayton, a true cocktail genius and co-owner of the restaurant, never ceases to impress. His cocktails are a true work of art. And, I'm not the only one who thinks so. Just ask GQ.

A friend introduced me to Bonobo a few years ago. I liked his music, but never really got into him until six months ago.  I don't know where the album is named after, but found it fitting to take with me to the black sands of southwest Bali. I also had the pleasure of going to one of his DJ sets back in October, at El Cid in Los Angeles.

This album is incredible. Good for any hour of the day, with a wide variety. I think anyone could find at least one song that they like.

"Yoga is not passive. We have to participate in life. To do this well we can work on ourselves." 

- T.K.V. Desikachar

Photo taken by Nadine Joy Coghlan, Balian Beach, Bali.

Dream like state: this was taken from my porch in Ubud.

Bumi Sehat: a pre-natal clinic that we were able to teach yoga at for the women. Robin Lim, the woman behind the clinic, is absolutely remarkable and has dedicated her life to helping others. You can vote for her on CNN for the hero of the year. CNN would donate $250,000 to her so that she could open another clinic. Please check it out and vote for Robin.

Yellow Flower Cafe in Penestanan. My favorite hideaway.
"Walk" by Dave Paco kept me company and put many of my struggles to shame.

Penestanan and Ubud.

I will be forever grateful for my time in Bali. It opened worlds to me: about myself, this life, yoga, the body, nature...

Words are escaping me. Maybe someday I'll be able to explain myself, but for now, all I can express is gratitude and an effort to live authentically.

I get to do my Sun Salutations looking at this every morning.

Just walking back to my room after yoga...

Happy Thanksgiving...

A little late, but I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving. Even though I didn't have a traditional dinner, the saag paneer and mojito were delicious.

I know, tons of photos of the sunset. But they are just unreal.

door to door.

"When we are attentive to our actions we are not prisoners to our habits." - T.K.V. Desikachar

It only gets better.

Fresh coconut water :) It weighs about 15 pounds.

At Balian Beach, the sands are black. It's hard to tell here, but they are straight black. It is so beautiful, so different.

I have found a favorite spot for meals, at a warung on the beach. We had a group dinner there the other night: Gado Gado, which is steamed veggies, hard boiled egg, and a peanut sauce, this one has fried tofu; veggies with lots of garlic and butter; and a to-die-for curry with tempe and rice. The Balinese seem to use MSG in about everything, so no wonder it tastes so good.

hello, Bali.

I know I have been quite negligent of my blog for awhile now. With all the moving and change that has been going on, I have not found much free-time. 

Now, in Bali, about to begin my yoga teacher training. I will try and keep this updated to share adventures and beauty.

View from my patio

This is the friend I found when I looked over the wall of my open-air bathroom.

keep driving

One of my favorite things to do with Matthew is go on a drive. It's a time for me to ignore everything I have to do and pretend like we are escaping.

In Boulder, we have the beautiful mountains and loads of farmland. He asks me, where do you want to go? And I am either in the mood to look at the endless Rockies or the horses, cows, barns, and American land.
Summer is leaving very quickly here. It is crisp and cool during the day; you can feel autumn.

Yesterday, we drove through farmland and came across what seemed to be a never-ending field of sunflowers. Sadly, you can see them starting to wilt. In the background, is one of our many fourteeners...

break me down

I have too much on my mind, and I feel totally exhausted mentally and emotionally. Am I taking on too much at once?

 Yesterday, was one of those really good days.

1. I didn't have to work.

2. I was productive - booked all my hotels for Bali and cleaned my apartment.

3. Made an outrageously good smoothie: fresh peach, strawberries, blueberries, raw almond butter, and honey.

4. Found some amazing smelling bar soap - I haven't used it yet, but if I am as in love with it then, as I am now, I will tell you more about it.

5. Bought some cheeses from the new cheese store down the street, Cured. It really does deserve its own post, but I will do so once the coffee side of it is open - this dude makes the best espresso I have had in Colorado.

6. Walked around town all day! It is cooling down here, and the weather has just been perfect this past weekend.

7. Went to yoga.

8. Had pizza with Matthew at Pizzeria Locale, Frasca's sister restaurant.

9. Watched a movie and drank rosé.


Pretty good, no?

The almonds were spiced with herbs de provence, and I swear, they are the best almonds I have ever had.

love, perfected.

Over the weekend, one of my closest friends got married in Carbondale, Colorado. I could've stayed there forever. It was so so beautiful.

Congratulations, Laine and Cam. Love you.

Matthew, thanks for your help with the photos... and for putting up with me.