Love is the only gold.

My day, while seemingly uneventful, included holiday travel planning (hey-o who's road tripping to Canada in a couple weeks, and then headed for Brazil), mala making, lists upon lists (and checking them twice), decorating, meditation + so much love.

The prompt for Day 2 of #12DaysofDarling was, you guessed it, gold or silver! I constantly want to guild the whole world, so the holidays are an excuse for me to wrap my life up in gold.

It's certainly the season for glitz + glamour, and I'm the first to admit, it can be so easy to get caught up in the pageantry of it all. However, we must not lose sight of what is truly important. We should remember, always, that love is the very core of everything. Love is all there is.

Allow your open heart to be a guiding force during this, and every season.

I'm making a conscious effort to make this holiday a mindful one, and I hope you will join me.

Peace + love,

Alex

Why hello there friends. It's always too long between posts, isn't it? If you've been following along with me on Instagram (I'm @photolexx), you know that the holidays have been in full swing around our little home (YASSSS for crossing another thing off my 26 before 27 list - decorate for the holidays).

I've decided that this year, I'm going to participate in Darling Magazine's, "#12DaysofDarling" winter photo challenge. I thought it would be a fun way to challenge myself and make some pretty pictures.

I have been using Instagram as a blogging outlet, because I find it so easy. However, with the app's latest update, there is a noticeable shift moving away from text heavy posts. I guess that means it's time to take my content back to where it was originally meant to be read/seen/shared - this space! This little experiment in posting will have me "micro-blogging" on YYZ to BOS, instead of on Instagram. Shifting the medium to make it work for me (and I like the sounds of that).

Today's challenge was to photograph what makes you merry. You can see my photo above.

May your days be merry and bright. What makes you merry? For me - it's light!

This season is all about creating the warmth + light that is lacking from these long, cold, winer nights. So I am finding ways to shine a light in the dark.

Waking up an hour earlier to bask in the morning glow with my coffee. Lighting candles for my evening practice, and sparking a fire with warm vinyasa flows. Using an off camera flash + bounce for photos (as seen here), because let's be honest - my apartment gets 0% light these days.

So this is me reminding you to make this holiday a mindful one. Keep your yoga + meditation practice (if you have one) consistent. Take lots of deep breaths full of cold air, and warm hugs from close friends. Cherish small moments of calm amidst the chaos.

Be present, spread love, and shop small.

Pssst... speaking of shopping small - stay tuned for my yogi gift guide up on Mass Musings and YYZ to BOS next week!