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!

Wow guys, it's already been 3 weeks since I last posted... I kept meaning to turn on my computer and put a post into action, but it seemed like there was always something else calling my name (or an excuse not to complete a post). I just got so concerned that I wasn't going to be posting at the right time of day, or that I wasn't following any kind of schedule, that I just ended up not posting at all. Silly, right?

Fear not, as I settle back into some kind of normalcy + routine, my posts shall too.

Just to give you an idea of what we've been up to around here (because we have been up to a lot), here are a few updates!

We were pretty busy putting the finishing touches on our apartment and preparing for what I will fondly remember as the month of house guests. I will share photos of our apartment later this week! I'm excited to share our completed spaces with you. It has been a lot of fun collecting pieces that reflect our personal styles to fill our home with.

My parents came to visit from YYZ (it was their first time in Boston). We did some touristy things like visited Fenway Park, and ventured to the North End for a little (or rather large) pre-dinner snack from Mike's Pastry. I can't say I've ever waited in line for a cannoli before, but these guys were well worth the wait!

As someone who always lived within 40 minutes of their whole family, the whole moving away thing has been sort of different (who knew it was so hard to make friends at 25?)... So it was really nice to have family in town for a few days. This is my parents on the tourist trolley. It was rainy that day and I didn't snap too many photos.

Pedro and I roasted our first turkey and hosted our first (Canadian) Thanksgiving - and somehow, we actually managed to pull it off. The turkey was tasty and even had some bacon on top to make it extra juicy (thanks for the tips G-Ramz).

After my parent's left, a family friend of ours, Marina, stopped by Boston on the east coast leg of her adventures. We had a blast exploring the city, and indulging in lots of delicious eats (our visit to James Hook & Co. for lobster rolls and chowda was definitely a highlight)!

We meandered around Cambridge, spent an afternoon at the Boston Common, spent too much money on Newbury Street, stayed out late in Allston, and went to Church in Fenway (hehe.. for brunch silly! Try the truffle fries, yum)! And we stopped by the Kate Spade Saturday 30% off sale at the Prudential Center last weekend, and scored some serious goodies.

My yoga space is not complete, but is certainly functioning! I still need to purchase some props, candles, some plants and maybe a find a little buddha for the space - but it's really nice to have a designated area to practice. My new Manduka Pro Lite mat arrived a couple of weeks ago, and I love it. Every time I unroll it, it makes me smile. #Soulmat indeed!

AND THEN!!! Sunday was Pedro's 28th birthday! We celebrated on Saturday with his brother, Daniel, and his sister, Laura, was with us via Skype. I baked my first cake from scratch (it was a brigadeiro cake at Pedro's request), and it sort of turned out.. haha.. I used a recipe from the internet that called for far too many eggs. But that's one thing off my list of goals for this year!

Pedro and I then went to see Boston ska veterans, Big D & the Kids Table, play Operation Ivy's, "Energy", at Brighton Music Hall. It was a lot of fun.

Sunday was Pedro's actual birthday. We had brunch at Deep Ellum in Allston, and spent a quiet afternoon at home watching Thelma & Louise, and chatting with family members via Skype + Facetime. I gave Pedro a homemade card (with a badly drawn version of a photo from our e-shoot), a new wallet, and an awesome Fred Perry polo.

We found out some big news regarding our upcoming honeymoon, but that's another post, for another day when we have more concrete plans.

So yes, while I've been away from the blog, I have certainly been busy. And while with the upcoming holidays, our travel plans, work, yoga, life, etc, it certainly doesn't look like things are going to slow down - I promise to be around here a lot more often. Whether it be at 10:30 AM, 7 PM, or 2 in the morning.

Peace + love until next time,

Alex