Namaste November
Halloween, you’ll always be one of my very favorite holidays. Any situation where I’m surrounded by chocolate is very happy, indeed, but wearing a costume and partying with friends and family is a bonus, too 😉
I had a blast hanging out with my hibachi chef and sushi roll:
(It’s basically impossible to get Liv to smile at a self-timer)
We really lucked out with our costumes. I made Liv’s, including her ginger and wasabi headband (will post a how-to on the Family page soon!), the Pilot borrowed his chef hat and jacket from Kyle, and I picked up his chef pants and my tunic at a thrift shop. Skidoosh.
Bella even liked her costume!
That is a lie. Look at that stink eye.
She quickly forgot the she hated me as soon as we leashed her up to go trick-or-treating with all of us.
We walked around my dad’s side of the family’s neighborhood and they do up Halloween pretty fiercely. Many of the houses have elaborate light decorations, haunted houses and food, so it’s a lot of fun to walk around and see everything. At one point, a zombie mannequin with sparkly lights attached to it zip-lined across the street last night (Liv was cuddled up in the mei tai and missed it- spooky stuff!). Pure Halloween moment.
We sat on my cousins’ front porch for a while chatting with everyone and saying “Happy Halloween” to the trick-or-treaters. I thought we would come home, sit on the porch with the Pilot, drinking wine and passing out candy, but when we got back to our neighborhood, it was black. Most of the lights were out, not a trick-or-treater to be seen. Guess it happens pretty early around here, because the bucket of candy I left on the porch was nearly empty.
Wine on the couch instead:
Now we’re in November, which I have to say, I’m a little biased about. It’s my birthday month, my 7 year date-iversary with the Pilot (whoa), and the start of the holiday season. I love the holidays so much, but it can definitely be a hectic time. It’s so important to stay present and truly enjoy all of the moments that make up the holiday season, instead of waiting for a specified date (like Thanksgiving or Christmas) to be thankful for everything that surrounds you. So, I thought it would be a great time for a yoga challenge since I’m endeavoring to create more time to practice yoga in my current fitness routine.
I teamed up with a friend at Challenge Loop to make the challenge even more interactive and fun. You can read all of the details here, join the challenge, download the free app, and check-in: leave a comment using the app, or even better, add a picture. The goal is to get in at least 10 minutes a day of yoga practice. If you’re just beginning, you can check out this post, and here are some ideas on ways to “Om at home.” I really truly love yoga and think it would be exciting to add a little more “Namaste” in our November: sharing light and kindness with others while remaining focused and present.
Are you joining in? Leave a comment on this post and let me know! At the end of the month, I’ll pick a random participant (the more you check-in, the more chances you’ll have to win) to receive a $100 lululemon gift card and a batch of custom macaroons. (<—sponsored by us, not an outside company)
What was your favorite Halloween moment? Mine was when I put on Livi’s shrimp onesie and started gasping at it.
See ya later on the fashion page <3
xoxo
Gina
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Love the idea of Namaste November! I don’t think I can officially join but I am definitely trying to practice more this month.
Awesome – I love the family-theme Halloween costumes!
Hard to believe it’s already November. It *seems* like the Holidays are a ways away but I know time tends to spend up like crazy so I need to get started.
November will be off to a good start for me though – I’m tackling a full hour of Yoga in the gym tonight – just in time for your challenge!!
I’m joining! I’ve definitely ramped up my yoga practice this fall. Love it!
Yay for Namaste!! I’m in for this challenge for sure!! We could all use a little more “om”
this time of year 🙂 Plus, who can pass up the chance to win some killer Macaroons??
Yes I am participating! Heading to my first yoga class tonite in weeks! I desperately need it!
Cute costumes! Wish I could join namaste November but in recovering from a c section 🙂 I had it on oct 23 🙂 love your website!
I am joining in! I kicked off my yoga fitness in October and am hooked! I’ve found that incorporating yoga into my routine has really centered my mind in preparation for a busy holiday season!
I’ll join! I’ve fallen off the yoga train recently, and I need to get back on. It helps my running…and my sanity!
Yay! I’m in! I’ve been amping up my running, but miss my yoga and I know my tight muscles will thank me for it!
Gina, I would like to know if you have been reading my mind? 😉 lol.
I am doing a yoga teacher training in January, and yet since I signed up for it my practice has not been as consistent as usual (oh, life). While I still mentally practice what I have learned through yoga, getting back into some runners lunges and warriors would be delish. This is the PERFECT way to get back into my practice before January. Thank you sooooooooo much for being soooooooo awesome. 🙂
Hey Challenge Participants…Here are some great Yoga downloads from the Kripalu website:
http://www.kripalu.org/article/649/
Good luck!
I’m going to participate. I need some “OMMM” in my life!
Any plans for a November calendar? Please, oh please! 🙂
I’m Joining the Namaste November Challenge! I’m excited!
I adore the family costume! Liv’s little sushi outfit is such a great idea!
I also love the idea of the Namaste November challenge! I’ve been trying to incorporate more yoga into my life, so I AM IN!
What an adorable family (and family theme!) My niece was born in Japan and her favorite food is sushi…I think she would have LOVED to be a sushi roll for Halloween!!!
I’m totally joining in the yoga challenge. Stretching is something that I skimp out on all the time, even though I know how important it is. I’ve only done yoga a few times, but feel so good after I’m done. It’s definitely something that I want to incorporate more of!
i definitely plan on joining!!! this is a great idea to do right before the holidays!!!
Love this idea! I’m game for the challenge – I need a little more yoga in my life and 10 minutes a day definitely seems doable 🙂
Adorable costumes! Very inventive.
Last night I attempted the Monday HIIT/Steady workout and loved it! I don’t have an HR monitor though, so I was wondering if you would mind posting general speeds on a treadmill, so I can get an idea if I am in the right ballpark? I never know if I am truly recovering or just speeding up and slowing down…
(i.e. sprint at 8-9 recover at a 45, etc.) Thanks!!
So in on this Namaste challenge. 🙂 Already got my namaste on at 5:30 this morning!
Love the sushi roll!
I would love to join the yoga challenge! I just made it through a morning sickness filled first trimester and yoga is just what I need!
Challenge accepted! More yoga in my life is such a positive goal for this busy time of year! I noticed that the Challenge app is only for iPhone, can you still participate if you don’t have an iPhone?
yep, via the website 🙂
Can’t wait to participate in the challenge, I need more yoga in my life 🙂
I love all your costumes! We had a low-key night, but we got some amazing pictures of our puppy in her penguin costume. I die.
Yeah for Namaste November!! I was just thinking how I wanted
to spend a little more time doing yoga during the week! Always makes
me feel great! I’m in 🙂
I had two favorite Halloween moments when two different neighbors presented my son, Peter, with Halloween treat baskets they made just for him. Their thoughtfulness brought tears to my eyes and made me feel so fortunate to live among people who care about him so much. In our neighborhood, I am simply known as “Peter’s Mom” ha ha
I love this challenge & it comes at the perfect time of the year! I agree that this is a great way to be able to slow down & be mindful. I’m looking forward to it!
Hi Gina! I hope you had a great Halloween. I can’t wait until we have some little kiddies of our own to dress up and take trick or treating. I will definitely be incorporating more yoga in my life this month, especially before the holidays! I suffered with anxiety last year around the holidays so I’m hoping regular yoga practice will help with that 🙂
I’ll join you for namaste November! I always say I need more yoga in my life. I also have a November birthday (the 19th)!
My favorite Halloween moment was watching my kids hand out candy to trick-or-treaters! So cute.
I am so so so in for this! Crazy excited about it too! My mat has been a little neglected lately and daily practice is just what the doctor ordered! Yay!
Great reason to get back into yoga!! I am a pilates girl too so I think I will count that 🙂
Hmm, I LOVE the idea of this challenge, but I have physical therapy stretches I’m supposed to do everyday already, so I don’t think I can commit to doing yoga every day on top of that. Is it cool to play along even if we know we’ll only officially yoga 2x a week or so?
I have never done yoga but am up for the challenge since this is a fun but stressful season. Favorite halloween moment was when my 5-year old son, dressed as a lumberjack told us he was “freezing his axe off”.
I joined the challenge!! I have a 30 day Groupon to CorePower Yoga – I’m excited to be motivated to actually use it!
Does anyone have suggestions for a good short yoga video or podcast for beginners?
A namaste challenge is perfect. It’ll give me a little time to center myself and think about what I’m thankful for each day!
Love this idea!!
I am definitely on board and on my way to a lunch hour yoga class at work!!
The family halloween portrait is priceless. THat was a great costume idea!!
And I think I’ll take the namaste challenge. I think that sounds like a good one.
I’m in! I’ll probably do most of my yoga at home but I am excited about the motivation to make it an everyday thing!
Your family costumes are too cute!!! I’m down with Namaste November, sounds like a great idea.
Challenge accepted!!! Hopefully this will be a fun way to get back on track!!
I joined the challenge! It sounds like fun! I’m always looking for some motivation to get more yoga in my life!
Happy date-iversary to you and the Pilot! Me and my boyfriend’s 6-year anniversary (crazy!) is this month too!
Namaste! I definitely need some “om” in my life as I’m job hunting and hope to find a job this month!
I am in! Love this challenge.
I am with you, November is the calm before the storm, yet everyones still on a fall/pre-Christmas kick so its a happy time! And I am joining in, I am going to attend my first Barr class this month and I am sooooo excited!
Love your lil sushami!!!
I am definitely joining in! Great idea!
Awww I love your family outfit, Liv’s the cutest sushi roll ever! 🙂 Definitely joining in the Namaste November challenge (I usually do some yoga in the morning, but would love to do more in the afternoon/evening as by then the calmness has long gone!)
I am definitely joining this challenge
Fun challenge idea, Gina! Love the idea of yoga, especially pre-holidays when centering, zen, being in the moment, not getting too caught up in everything around us, and all that good stuff is always a welcome reminder!
I am in! To get more entries do we check in on this post or elsewhere?
yes to the yoga!