Nourishment.

nour·ish·ment

ˈnəriSHmənt,ˈnə-riSH-/

noun

1. the food or other substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition.

   "tubers from which plants obtain nourishment"

   
   

   

   
   

   

The things that nourish me the most are....

1. Yoga

2. Fresh vegetables

3. Salt water + Surf sessions

4. Music

5. Good Friends

I am especially grateful that my friend Kat made it down this weekend and we got to spend some quality time together. My heart is feeling stronger after just a few hours reconnecting with my dear friend. 

Christmas Eve Brunch

Christmas Eve Brunch.  

I had a few of my favorite people over so that I could express my love for them through nurturing them and filling their bellies with delicious food! It, of course (and as always), turned into a [hip hop and soul] dance party. 

Have I mentioned lately how grateful I am for good friends, good food and dancing? Because I am!

Marie, home from Med school, and me...sipping hot tea <3 br="">

My beautiful dance partner and wonderful friend, HAYLEY HUFF!

I cooked up quite the spread....

Cailin Callahan

www.cailincallahan.blogspot.com

Celebration Time.

Me and one of my besties, Bridget. I was so grateful to have a full night of fun with her (she JUST had a baby so she doesn't have much free time!)

Darren....my dancing partner. He twirled me, dipped me, and spun me across the dance floor like I've never been twirled before. So. Much. Fun.

Busted Heels From Too Much Dancing ..... Priceless.

MY FEET AND LEGS ARE ACHING AND I CANT STOP SMILING. 

Last night my friends Joe and Samantha tied the knot in Stone Harbor. The wedding was at the teeny-tiny church in town, and the reception was held at the shwanky Reeds across the street. I'm not a huge fan of the Church, but I absolutely adored Mother Susan, who officiated the wedding. I'm actually hoping to get back and attend one of her services sometime. She was such a light. I sang Ben Harpers "Forever" as Sammy walked down the aisle, and thanks to the church being so tiny (there was no room left!), I had the best seat in the house as I had to sit up front in the seat that I was in for singing. Samantha looked straight out of a fairytale, and pure happiness was radiating out from her so bright that it was blinding. She got a bit weepy when she was reciting her vows and when Mother Susan acknowledged the deceased. Sam's father passed away just a few months ago, and the pain of it all is still so fresh. I cried a few tears for her too, and I suppose some for myself as well, knowing that my Dad wouldn't be at my wedding either. Okay, enough sappiness.... 

After the short but sweet ceremony we headed across the street to The Reeds. It's over-the-top-definitely-not-your-typical-south-jersey hotel and restaurant. We had cocktail hour in the lounge with lots of delicious appetizers and, I of course, sipped a really stiff...club soda! Lately I feel like my life exists solely in the yoga studio. The only people that I see are ones that come to my classes, and the only interactions outside of the studio are with people FROM the studio usually regarding some activity or such OF the studio. So, IT WAS SO AMAZING to be OUT and ABOUT, and DRESSED UP, connecting with good friends that I don't see often enough. Also at the wedding was Darren. He's become a good friend and we've been casually seeing each other for a bit now. Let me tell you something about Darren...the mans got moves. In a dance-off, he would give Justin Timberlake a run for his money. So, no sooner that we were sent to our seats, we were on dance floor!! I was grateful for the two shitty songs that the DJ played, which gave us a chance to sit down and scarf down our (delicious but now cold!) dinner that had been waiting for us as we danced, danced, danced. We danced until they kicked us out...and then we walked across the street to Freds Tavern and danced until 2am and the music went off and the lights came on. Hell, I even danced ON the bar. Both my heels busted open, and my legs today are cursing at me for shaking it so hard. I always dance, but it was that much better because I had an epic dance partner. Darren has set the bar pretty high for a tango-partner thats for sure! 

Today I am exhausted, but the kind of full-body-exhausted that feels-oh-so-good. Another celebration of love, another beautiful evening!

The Katie's Birthdays

Katie, Me, Katie, Annelise, Alex

Assisted backbends??

Dance party blurrrrr

Today was Katie Yoa and Katie Boz's birthdays! We celebrated with an epic (booze free) potluck at my houses after yin, which was filled with delicious food, wonderful company and an epic dance party playlist (follow me on Spotify!). Boom. Such a great night! Every photo taken was totally blurry and completely random, which summed up the evening perfectly!

Friendsgiving

Samantha, Me, Kaitlin and Bridget

What started out as a glorified kegger turned into a most glorious gathering...

My great friends John and Bridget own the Whitebriar in Avalon. They needed to empty out the kegs now that the season is over so they decided to invite a few friends over. Then the idea came up to do a Friendsgiving Feast, which was brilliant! John provided the turkey and the rest of us (all 25!) pitched in by bringing something as well. You all know that I love a good potluck, and this takes the cake as one of the biggest and best I've been to. Bridget set the table at the Whitebriar as if we were sitting down for a real thanksgiving dinner. The fireplace was going, everyone was dressed up, and you could feel the love. I felt a bit emotional at one point in the evening (gah, what's new there!?) because my friends love me so so much, and I, them. Despite going away for months at a time every year, we always pick up exactly where we left off...we love each other just as much if not more when we reunite...and despite the changes (Samantha and joe get married next week, Brian and Kaitlin got married last month, and john and Bridget had a baby two months ago) we are all growing together. So for this, I am THANKFUL. What better way to celebrate a holiday rooted in gratitude than with your beautiful friends?!

Bad Bitch Birthday

My friend Adena is one bad ass bitch. I love her, and despite NOT wanting to go out AT ALL, I rallied to make it for her 30th birthday thrown down. The party was "thrift store" themed, with everyone's outfits from the thrift shop, costing no more than $20 (for $1, $25, 10cents, etc). There was even a runway show and an awards ceremony for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd as well as "smelliest costume", "most inappropriate use of children's clothing" and things of this nature. It was a hoot. As with all of adenas parties, it was all about the food and dancing. An epic spread of delectable deliciousness and a perfect, booty-popping playlist. After a long night it was nice to have a fun, carefree, fun filled, dance-yourself-clean-and-stop-crying time with awesome people. Boom.

AJW.

Andrew and I met ten years ago in Sea Isle City...and we've been friends ever since. He was six years older than me, living in a house on 42nd street with ten kids, all of whom just graduated college. Andy was your typical frat boy who drove a big gas guzzling Denali, loved to party, and worked selling time shares in Atlantic City. Despite being total opposites we became fast friends. We went fishing together, consumed stone crab claws like they were going out of style, soaked up sun on the beach and drank green tea with honey as we sat on his couch and watched movies. He quickly became a part of my family, finding a special space in the heart of both my mom and dad. Andy can be summed up by the phrase, "Work Hard, Play Hard". When he moved to Texas to get into real estate I cried for days, so sad to see him go. But he has built an empire down there, which is no branching out across the US. He is sharp, motivated and a mover and shaker. We don't see each other as often as I would like, but we always pick up where we left off...slipping into our pattern of being on the boat, eating seafood at Mikes, and sipping green tea....

He had some business in Philly this week so he popped down for a 24 hour visit which was just what the doctor ordered. I woke up with a smile on my face this morning, feeling as content as I always do every being in the presence of such a great friend....

Tea for Me.

Kelly, hard at work.

The delicious, candida-friendly spread.

I looked at my friend the other day and started to cry. "Whats wrong, Cailin?", he said. And I responded, "I just want someone to make me tea...". Well, Kelly not only made me tea - but she made me dinner. With three small kids and a very busy life, she managed to make it to my workshop and then prepare me the most deeeeelicious (candida-friendly) spread. She used Gwenyth Paltrows amazing cookbook, "It's All Good" (I definitely need to add this one to my repertoire). She was texting me throughout the day asking "Can you have this? And how about this?", and as I continually apologized, she continually reassured me that it was NO problem and that she was super excited to cook for us. After the workshop we headed back to her house, tucked her kids into bed and enjoyed a peaceful dinner filled with conversation, conversation, and conversation. To cap off the evening...she made me tea. It was so nice to just sit and receive, and I went to bed last night feeling so incredibly grateful for my amazing friend and delicious meal. I woke up this morning feeling nourished - physically and emotionally. Sometimes all you need is someone to make you a cuppa tea....(or a kickass dinner!).

Fancy Meals and Fancy Friends.

momma and me.

andrew and tam.

I'm a simple gal, who loves fancy things. I appreciate a fancy, expensive meal- and some fancy, expensive champagne. Tonight we had a 10pm reservation at the swanky Diving Horse restaurant in Avalon. It's one of my favorite restaurants in the US. Two of the servers there, Lauren and Nate, have been my favorites since day 1, and I always appreciate their love and insight for the menu. After months of rice and curry, it felt good to get dressed up, throw on some heels and sip some fancy booze with my amazing friends...

Recap: Food with Friends

Food food food and more food with friends friends and more friends. Sunday night brad and Rochelle made mom and me an outstanding pork dinner.....pork loin with roasted squash and potatoes, with a delicious au jus....washed down with champagne, obviously, and then topped off with homemade caramels dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with sea salt. Boom.

Monday night Jim and Eileen bourgeois took mom and me to Red Sky Cafe for some kickass mexican, and all agreed that I won-- the shrimp and scallop fajitas were unbelievably delicious! It was great to hang out and catch up, and to enjoy some bubbles and beer along with chips and salsa.

Tuesday afternoon my friend and fellow yogi Becky took me to Jon and Pattys for a delicious veggie burger (really though, there constantly-changing veggie burger is outta this world!). And then Tuesday night I was fed by the culinary extraordinaire, Bill Young, and his beautiful sous chef (and girlfriend) Megan. He did a roasted pork loin stuffed with cornbread, roasted garlic, sage, and apples. He served the pork with roasted fennel and parsnips, and with homemade mashed potatoes that had fresh horseradish root grated into it!! Boom friggin' Boom. And the surprising treat was the gravy. I hate gravy....actually, I loathe gravy. It makes me gag. I don't know why, but I've just always despised it. Anywho, I'm finally starting to come around a bit, and the gravy that bill made is officially responsible for making me a gravy-loving convert. John and Bridget were also there to enjoy the delicious meal, and we sipped on cider and bourbon, Chablis, and an aged stout.

Last night ( Wednesday ) was a super fun evening of yoga, followed up by brews and bar food at the tried and true Tilton with the whole crew....Nicole, pammy, Erika, paisley, Brandon, and Jason.

Tonight is crossfit, dinner with my darling Rob, and then I'm giving a massage. The evening will end at the Dead Dog Saloon for some chips and beer. Damn, I'm gonna miss this town, these friends, and all this good food when I'm gone.... Thanks to everyone who has been feeding me this week!!!

HAM on Thanksgiving...

This will be my first Thanksgiving without my Dad. I miss the shit outta him. I think of him all day, every day...when I'm happy, sad, busy, tired... -- always. And as sad as I am today, wishing that he was here, that sadness is trumped by overwhelming gratitude. You know that feeling, like when you're throat tightens and your heart feels like it's taking up your whole chest? It's truly overwhelming. I've cried a few times today, but the tears were because I just feel so grateful that the energy had to move somewhere, somehow. My life has been so bountiful, and every day I encounter and experience more beautiful moments than I can count. I have the most outstanding, fucking powerful and amazing friends and I'm not sure what I did to deserve them, but I thank the universe for them every day. Hugging them and loving them, telling them how much I appreciate them - it still doesn't seem to do justice to the love and respect that I hold in my heart for them. So THANK YOU to everyone that lifts me up...you've had a heavy load to help me carry this year with the loss of my Dad, and I couldn't have done it without you all. 

I'm grateful for Brookie and Lorraine, for our adventures and our friendship. I'm grateful for nights at the Dead Dog with Johnny DiGenni, and taco nights with Bill and Megan. I'm grateful for YOGA: for my practice, for my ability to teach and share, to the ZEN DEN which has become a home for me and has created a beautiful family for me, and I am grateful for Ari Green for loving me and believing in me, even on days when I didn't love or believe in myself. I'm grateful for Adam Green and his goofy text messages and emojicons, and his constant stoke. I'm grateful for my friend Rob, and his love and enthusiasm for my kitchen creations. I'm grateful for Meg McD and her pure love. I'm grateful for fucking Twilight, cause I love that shit: the books, the soundtracks, the movies. It's an odd addiction, which can't quite be explained, but goddamn it's good. I'm grateful for my Colorado adventures with my beautiful Coloradians Kelsea, Ryan and Emily. I'm grateful for my spiritual family in Encinitas: Gray, Breezie, Jak, Ev, Rachael, Nicole, Liz, Lauren.... it doesn't matter how much time passes, or how many miles separate us, their constant love is felt always. I'm grateful for Living Well...for Donny who has fixed my knee, to Crit Chris Sam and Ryan who have pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me to realize how fucking powerful I really am. I'm grateful for the crazy CrossFitters that I've become friends with, who I've sweat with and complained with as we challenge our bodies and our minds. Through Living Well I've met Penny and Lou, who always fill me up with laughter. I'm grateful for Toni...who has fed my Mom, Dad and myself all summer...who has kept our wine rack full...and who has spoiled my Mom when my Mom wouldn't do so herself. I'm grateful for Joe and Lori King who have taken care of us before Dad passed, and continue to do so today, we couldn't do it without them and I don't think that they'll ever know how we much love them. I'm grateful for my best friend Julisa, who may live across the country but she's never too far because she lives in my heart. I'm grateful for Gina, for her love of cupcakes and bunnies, for her epic crafting and epic friendship. I'm grateful for our weekly Family Dinners with Brad and Ro...we have shared so many meals around the dinner table, so many laughs, and a fair bit of tears. I'm grateful for my cousin Tierney and her bootylicious backside -- she always knows how to make me laugh, and shes one of the few who got to experience the back bay with my Dad and me. I'm grateful for Adena and Erika and Pammy...my dance partners, my friends, my support, my drinking buddies - they always know what I need and they take me in all of my forms. I'm so very grateful for Chris Paisley who I love fiercely - he has been my rock since day one: he is the person that I can always turn to, no matter what. Chris holds space for my sadness, my anger, my drunkenness, my happiness and my fears...and he does so without judgement and never asks for anything in return. I'm grateful for my Mom, who has shown me what it means to truly be a partner. She has shown me devotion, love, patience and perseverance through lifes darkest moments. She is the strongest woman that I have ever met, a true warrior. I have never seen anyone love another the way that my Dad loved her, it was a beautiful thing to witness every day. And finally, I'm grateful for my Dad. He was the most important person in my world. He was the inspiration for everything I've done...everywhere that I've traveled, everything I've accomplished, everything I've experienced in this lifetime has been fueled by him and in devotion to him. Making him proud has made me happier than any human being could be. It's been quite an adjustment losing my best friend, but I still am inspired by him and aspire to enjoy EACH.AND.EVERY.DAY to it's height and it's depth. Thank you Dad for lighting this fire within me for adventure and for sucking down each and every drop of nectar of this beautiful life. 

Thanksgiving 2011.

Mom and Dad, Thanksgiving 2011.

Dad's famous "plate" photo hahaha. Thanksgiving 2011.

So with all of that gratitude expressed, I have one more thing to be grateful for: Thanksgiving Eve. Sometimes you need to just go out to dance it out and drink it out with good friends, and last night was that night. I drank my body weight in dirty martinis and shook my booty on the dance floor all night with my great friends Erika, Pam, Paisley and Brandon. I woke up in their guest bed this morning with my boots still on and laced up, and with a wicked headache. Erika and I stopped at Starbucks our way to get my car, and despite brushing my teeth 10x I tried to refrain from breathing...vodka was coming out of my pores and Erika and I both looked like we had been through the ringer. Coffees in hand, Erika turned to me and said sometimes you need to go "HAM". I responded with a "Huh?", and she said "HARD AS MOTHERFUCKERS". So cheers to going hard as motherfuckers on Thanksgiving Eve, cause it's just what I needed. Insanely hungover, cappuccino in hand, U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday " blaring through my speakers, I couldn't help but laugh as I drove home. HAM on Thanksgiving, overflowing with Gratitude....

Ham on thanksgiving.

Good Times. Good Friends.

After teaching two classes, I met Erika, Pam, Brandon, Paisley and Luther at  Living Well for some crossfit.

Sweaty and buzzed, we crossed the street and joined Adena and Luther for some dancing madness.

Spent the day on Essex in Margate, soaking up this October sun.

Adam Green, one of my favorite people in the world, telling a hysterical story about his epic wipe-out in AC last week. 

Beautiful Day.

Thank You Universe

Guinness with Friends.

My favorite people in the circle...even the Croce Girls made it down from Villanova!

BROOKE BROOKE BROOKE - my powerful and amazing Brooke, who has taken her physical practice to a whole new level. Look at that perfect bind! 

Lunch at my fave 1st Street Cafe with the beautiful, epic, kind-soul HAYLEY HUFF .

Just wanted to say Thank You to the Universe for...
- booze
- good friends
- food
- yoga, and
- my momma

Rough week but beautiful day. Finding the gratitude. Trusting and being patient. One day at a time.

A few good laughs.

A few good laughs do the soul well. Taught back to back classes and then headed to the Dead Dog for taco night. Bill (the owner/bartender/chef-extraordinaire) made a new hot sauce this week with Biker Billy and Poblano peppers, carrots and fresh herbs. It was outstanding. The bar was full when I arrived but it began to empty out and I was left surrounded by great friends. Megan and Tully, John and Bridget, Megan A and Bill, Timmy Nugent, Johhny DiGenni, Meg McD, and Mark. It had been a sad day for me, so I kept to sipping club soda in an effort to keep the tears at bay, but everyone else was pretty tuned up and my stomach hurts this morning from all of last nights laughter. Mayhem.

Birthday Girl.

Hipstamic app on iPhone for all the hipsters out there....Ha. Me, enjoying my signature cocktail before heading out for dinner.

Leave it to us, all EIGHT of us, to only take 4 f*ing pictures on my amaazzzing day-after-Birthday celebration!! As if my actual birthday celebrations weren't enough, all of my beloved friends (and yoga students) planned a beautiful dinner for me on the 4th at Cafe Vola's in Atlantic City. This institution-of-a-restaurant is old school Italian. It is on an unassuming street, in a basement of an unassuming house. Yep, a basement. With only one little sign to assure you that you were indeed headed into an eatery. We ate and ate and ate, and then we ate a little bit more. We consumed gallons of red wine, giggled like crazy, and enjoyed yet another evening in one anothers company. Thank you so much to Bridget, Rochelle, Kylee, Coleen, Megan, Kaitlin, and Samantha for making "my day" a very special day.

Rochelle, sipping on a "Cailin" at Bridgets house before we head out....

Kylee and I, RED WINE.

Bridget and I, stained lips from red wine and full bellies. Life is good.