Be Beautiful, Keep Warm

Hallie of HalPal28 on Etsy crafts some adorable and super warm stuff. She's local, too!

Today's giveaway comes from the lovely and talented Hallie from this Etsy shop. She features hand-knit hats, scarves, and headbands that have been knit on Chicago buses. Adorable!

For the Winter Extravaganza, Hallie's offering a custom gray and chartreuse earwarmer. Perfect timing for this giveaway: we're seeing flurries in the Chicago area today!

Wonderfully inspired knits.

Here's Hallie's description of how she was inspired to make it:

The pencil sharpener in the photo was the inspiration for this vintage treasure. My grandfather recently let me dig through boxes of his things, looking for treasures. I found this magnificent old chartreuse and steel pencil sharpener, with led marks all over it. After a few days of staring at it on the shelf, I realized I had colors of yarn that matched it perfectly. I ran to my yarn chest and then held them up to the pencil sharpener, and to my delight, they were identical. 

Talk about awesome crafting inspiration!

See below to win this earwarmer.

Here's what Hallie has to say about her shop: 

Everything in my shop is hand-knit by me, all around the city of Chicago. I knit on the bus, I knit on the El, I knit on benches by the river or blankets on the beach. I try to waste almost nothing-- finding a way to reuse even the tiniest scraps of yarn, recycle vintage buttons, and package knits in paper from grocery bags or leftover muslin from window curtains. 

I am inspired by color-- especially slightly unusual color combinations. I'm also inspired by the people who wear my creations. I love the idea of people I don't know in places I've never been to wearing things that I knit. I'm hoping to someday unexpectedly run into someone wearing something I made. 

Hallie's incredible shop also features hats for men, women and babies!

Hallie will be staying local this holiday season. She's excited to experience the city of Chicago in all its dazzle and delight.

As she says, "There's so much light, spirit, and good food!" She'll be dabbling in craft shows, selling her creations in a few stores, and visiting The Elmhurst Art Museum, which now carries a few of her things.

Hallie's goal for the new year is to find a way to sell handmade items in person and meet her customers more often. 

To win the gorgeous gray and chartreuse earwarmer above, please:

• Leave a comment below with a story about how you survive the winter's cold.
• Check out Hallie's etsy shop and tell a friend about her beautiful handmade knits.
• Heart HalPal28 on etsy. If you buy something from her shop, you'll get five entries into this contest!

Also note that Hallie is offering 10% off to all Alive in the Fire readers. Just enter "YOGA2010" as a coupon code when you check out. Thanks, Hallie!
Reminder: if you click "follow" on the blog or tell a friend to follow it, you'll double your chances of winning!

 

Congrats to Shuling, who won the Water Bobble from Healthy Green Goods. Enjoy!

On the Go

Can't wait to be on the beach! First three photos via this dreamy blog.

Friday the Hubs and I leave for Puerto Rico! We're getting away from the cold and clouds and snow piles.

We're leavin' on a jet plane.

We'll be staying here. I can't wait for the party in white on a private island. Hoping we can sneak off for a sushi date + massage at the spa sometime, too. Oh, and don't forget the kayaking adventure in a bio-luminescent bay!


Dreamy happy travelers on the go. I'll be posting and thinking of you from afar. Keep your eye out for beachy posts and more giveaway fun, perhaps even from a Puerto Rico vendor or two. Ooh la la!

We'll be all smiles on the road.

Check out this sexy swimwear. Wish I had a new suit for Puerto Rico!

Finally, an exciting announcement! 

We've got a winner for the "some like it hot" yoga towel...

Congrats to Kirsten @ Bikram Yoga Journey. Enjoy your sarcastic towel!

Bikram Yoga Teacher Training Spring 2011 Dates Announced!

Yep, that's the Boss and Elvis.

This just in: Bikram Yoga Teacher Training Spring 2011 session dates and location announced!

April 17th to June 18th, 2011

@ the Radisson Hotel in Los Angeles

More info on Bikram's site. Details on what it takes to become a teacher here. 


Are you going?

Get ready for some serious Bikram love.

Find Your Peace

All photos are frames taken  from the film. Wondrous!

I just discovered this amazing video via YogaDork. Ever wonder what happens when a bunch of New York yogis decide to get together with the collective intention of creating more peace and happiness in the world?

Well, here you are.

Choreography and creative vision by Molly Lehman. Revery Media New York City. Song by Trevor Hall.

A pregnant woman practices on a rooftop. Two commuters stretch out before their train arrives.  A ballerina-like yogi does backbends by the water. This little film is full of beauty.

Reminder: Giveaways!

I love you, Hubs! Photo by my talented cousin Joelle.


What a beautiful weekend we had!

Lovely conversation, knitting, hot cider, bunny cuddle time, a Christmas tree adventure, family gathered around the table to feast, a snowy photo shoot with the cousins, and more. It was all kinds of amazing.

I'll be posting again soon (a review of Bikram Yoga Minneapolis, photos galore, and an introduction to our bunny, Norah!)... but in the meantime, just wanted to remind you that these two giveaways will be ending soon.

Check out this post to win a water bobble, and this one for an incredible hot yoga towel.

Remember if you follow the blog or get a friend to do so, you'll double your chances of winning.

Win! Win! Win!

Black Friday Giveaway: Some Like it Hot

Happy Black Friday!

Where are you celebrating a day of shopping, relaxing and working off your feast at Bikram?

Here's what I've got to work off from yesterday. Whew!

I am so excited to take class at Bikram Yoga Minneapolis with my cousin Joelle and our friend Matt this afternoon. Woohoo first timers!

In case you're a little nervous to try the yoga today, here are some reasons why you should rest easy and get fired up for class:

• You'll sweat out all the toxins and feel lighter and tighter after class.
• You will leave the studio feeling exhilarated, rejuvenated and invigorated.
• In class you will sweat, laugh, and challenge yourself to your fullest potential.
• Reduce stress of the holidays by taking 90 minutes for yourself.
• It's never too late to try again.
• If you can, you must!

Now for the Black Friday giveaway! Today's item comes from Yoga with Style: a hilarious and high-quality hot yoga towel...

Humor in the heat, my favorite.

This Baktuli high-performance sport and yoga towel will give you power and energy in class. It's a 100% Turkish cotton terry towel featuring Microban for anti-microbial protection. This towel is super absorbent and offers great grip and durability. Machine washable. Can be used in the studio, home or at the beach. Designed in Canada; made in Turkey. A wondrous find and free to one winner (valued at over $45)!

This site's got an awesomely diverse shop with clothing, bags, blankets, gifts, jewelry, mats & more!

To win the hot towel, please:

• Leave a comment below about your craziest experience in the heat, and where you wish you could travel to this winter for some sunshine and warm weather.
• Check out the Yoga with Style blog and comment on their 12 Days of Breathing post (consider participating, too!).
• Add Yoga with Style on Facebook and Twitter.
• Enjoy the heat in class today!

Please note: domestic winners only.

Brrrrr. It's chilly out! About ten degrees here in Minnesota.

Bundle up out there! See you at the studio for some holiday heat.

Happy Turkey Day!

Hope you're enjoying the day. Lots of love from Minnesota!

More giveaways tomorrow. Leave your comments, yogis!

The bird.

The Thanksgiving banquet.

The window.

The kid's table.

The Aunt and the squash.

The Uncle and the carving.

The yard.

The Cuz and the bunny, Agatha.

The snow. Can you find the bunny here?

The bliss.

More tomorrow about a class at Bikram Yoga Minneapolis!

Let the Extravaganza Begin!

Win free stuff!

Alright yogis, here we go. Today you can win a Water Bobble water purifier from Healthy Green Goods in Evanston. You can also utilize a 20% off coupon at BellaPoshPillows.

Water Bobbles offer an on-the-go filtering system for your water before, during, and after yoga class. Simply attach a filter to the bottle you own, or check out the company's 13.5 oz, 18 oz, or 34 oz bottle. They also have adorable baby bottles available. 

Drink clean, fresh water. Spend less. Be BPA free!

You can also learn more by reading these reviews from Esquire and The New York Times about Water Bobble.

To win, please enter a comment below about how much water you tend to drink before, during & after class; confirm that you are a local Evanston or Chicago resident; and note in your posting that you've added Water Bobble on Twitter and Facebook.

As well, BellaPoshPillows on Etsy is featuring a special coupon for all readers to save 20% off on any item. Check out their shop or their main website for great selection on neck pillows, eye pillows, and more. If 10 readers make a purchase, I will also feature another giveaway from their site!


To save 20%, please enter the coupon code NAMASTE at checkout for either the etsy site or main site. Update as of 12/16/10: please note that BellaPoshPillows is going to be on vacation for a few weeks at the holidays, so you'll want to wait til January to use the coupon. Thanks!

Reduce sinus pressure, puffiness, swelling or migraine pain with these easy-to-use eye and neck pillows. Simply heat them in the microwave or chill them in the refrigerator for relief and relaxation. A great stocking stuffer and must-have item for Mom at the holidays!

Finally, for all you Evanston locals, I encourage you to swing in to Healthy Green Goods on Main Street for some eco-friendly holiday shopping. The owner, Dr. Marny Turvill, is a wonderful source of wisdom when it comes to products that leave a green (or no) footprint on our planet. She's located at 702 Main and can be reached at 847.864.9098.

Healthy Green Goods is one of my favorite bag-free stores. Read another post about it here.

Let's Party

Oh yes, we shall dance.

Sometimes you're just walking along doing what you love and then BAM! it hits you. People are noticing.

Friends, readers, yogis, we've got an awesome little community of 40 here at Alive in the Fire and I couldn't be more grateful. I'm so excited to have you around and I sincerely appreciate your time, attention, and insightful responses on the blog.

I say, let's have a party when we reach 100!

And let's each go out and invite 10 people to follow the blog, and then we can party soon!

Now's a great time to introduce your friends, family, and fellow Bikram addicts to get involved and read along... so much joy (and free stuff) to go around.

As a way to thank you all for your support, I'll be featuring a few followers only giveaways in the next couple of weeks. And all you've got to do to win is add a follower to our happy bunch. Spread the word, and then comment about it (or have your friend do so) on any post so I know what's up.

Pretty soon -- bam! -- we'll be rockin' at 100+. Get to it!

Photos by my beautiful cousin, Joelle.

We Adventure and Encounter Ourselves

These photos and their beautiful picnic ideas brought to you from this lovely blog.

Put some Tresspassers on the stereo. Breathe deep. 

Wrap up in a cardigan, your hands in your pockets. Dig your toes into the sand. Bring friends, table settings, twinkly lights.

We'll set up a beach picnic beneath the Golden Gate.

Or a rooftop celebration in the afternoon, before the sun hides away and the cold comes creeping out.


We're ready for some adventure.

The Winning Starts Wednesday

Ready to win?

Tune in to Alive in the Fire & our Twitter account on Wednesday 11/24 and Black Friday 11/26 to win some awesome items as we kick off the Winter Extravaganza!

Featuring Yoga With Style, and some of the best Etsy sellers and local Evanston shops out there. 

Note: if you follow the blog, the Twitter account, or link to us in a Facebook post, you double your chances of winning!

A Winter Extravaganza

A new header for the winter season. Exciting times here at Alive in the Fire!

Is it snowing yet where you live?

Chicago has yet to see our first big winter storm, but Minnesota got a couple feet recently. The Hubs and I head north to snowy territory on Wednesday afternoon, and I'm excited.

Another reason I'm giddy with joy: it's the season of giving!

Not only in our families and with our friends, but also here at Alive in the Fire. Time to celebrate the year together, drink warm drinks by the fire, and exchange some great gifts. Coming up we've got: a Black Friday hot yoga giveaway you won't want to miss, some manly products for you guy yogis, and other fun surprises. :)

Whether you're braving cold weather or enjoying a California 'winter' and regardless of whether you're a new Bikram student or a recently-graduated #BKTT 2010 teacher, Alive in the Fire's got something under the tree for you.

Stay tuned to win!

Ready for the season of giving? Me too. Photo via acd111's Flickr Photostream.