alissalastres-blog

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Finally placing some wedding photos around the house! Just in time for our one year anniversary next week ☺️ #marriage #september2015 #weddingphotos #oops #theinstagramlab #homedecor

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Doug suggested we walk downtown for dinner last night... little did I know there were about 100 "poke-stops" along the way😒 Good news, we made friends with all the other couples on the Pokemon hunt 😂 Bad news.. the walk wasn't far enough to finish incubating his egg 🐣 #datenight #downtowneaston #pokemon #gottacatchemall #theinstagramlab #walkedfordays

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Fresh flowers from the farmers market💐☺️ #home #flowers #theinstagramlab #sunroom #homedecor #positivevibes

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I walked into the yoga studio feeling pretty stressed and a little grumpy. I wasn't being present all morning and I couldn't get past my to-do list-- planning for a day of hosting friends and family and wanting the house + the cooking + the cleaning to be ready in time. I contemplated not going, but I knew I needed it. The instructor began by speaking about gratitude. She explained the mantra of the people of Costa Rica, as she spent time there recently. "Pura Vida" or pure life. Her elaboration of this is what hit me. She said that the people of Costa Rica operate on this mindset that "it could always be worse." No matter how bad you think things are, there are people in this world struggling more than you. So choose to spend less time ruminating over all of the misfortunes, the bad, and the stressful and focus instead on the good, the beautiful, and the love. It was definitely I message I needed to be reminded of. Suddenly stressing about a clean house turned into gratitude that Doug and I have so many loved ones who we could gather with on a summer afternoon. Suddenly the rainy forecast is insignificant with the knowledge that we have a home we could invite people into to stay dry. My stress seemed silly in the face of all I have to be grateful for. It's such a reality check to spend a few moments being grateful every day and to consciously allow for this mindset shift 💛

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We spent months tearing down green floral wallpaper. We had a folding table with two chairs in this space since we moved in. Doug spent a whole day putting up a shiplap wall that I dreamed up after watching fixer upper. & finally our dining room is ready and the wait was well worth it 💛 .... except now I need an area rug and some kind of buffet table but ... patience is a virtue, right? #home #homedecor #diningroom #shiplap #theinstagramlab #fixerupper #homeowners

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I think sometimes we forget that we're allowed to change our minds. We go to college, we pursue a career.. And then we think we are stuck. We believe that because we invested all of this time in one area, one field, or one industry that this is where we need to remain forever. It's terrifying to think about changing it up. Even in our businesses. We started with one idea and we feel like we need to hold so tightly to that original vision that we get scared to incorporate new visions or change things up entirely. The reality is that we are ALWAYS evolving and growing in our personal lives. So, why shouldn't our professional lives have that same space to grow? Trust the magic of new beginnings. Be okay with starting over. Don't feel like you need to continue your current daily grind if this daily grind isn't lighting you up inside. Baby steps. First, let your ideas start holding some weight. Write them down. Say them out loud. Then, well.. just wait and see.

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Meet Irene! She is a lifestyle and journalistic photographer who is passionate about capturing both the adventures and the beautifully mundane of every day life. She has a real talent for bringing out the authentic light in her clients. It was such a pleasure chatting with her and helping her recognize exactly how much of herself and her passions she can put into her business. Totally go check out her work ☺️@irenetolsma

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Such a relaxing weekend at the beach ☀️ #summer #beach #happiness #theinstagramlab #positivevibes

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I am always amazed at how much more fulfilling and bright my days are when I choose to greet more people with a smile & a genuine "how are you." Choosing kindness doesn't just bring light into the day of the people around you, but it ultimately brings more light in your own heart as well. It's easy to forget this when we get swept away living in our phones or in our minds. But when we do this we miss prime opportunities to form genuine connections with others. So choose to be present. Choose kindness. & throw it around like confetti 🎉

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Home sweet home 💛 • #home #homedecor #theinstagramlab #love #positivevibes

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Some wise words 🔥

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After traveling around Europe a couple of times in college, I realized there was so much here in the US that I'd never seen (I hadn't been west of Harrisburg, PA until like 3 years ago 😕). So, when I met Doug we decided that we were setting a lifelong goal to visit all 50 states (either together or with others) & he already had a jump start. The summer after we met we traveled to California + Colorado in two separate trips, one month apart. The first time I saw the Rocky Mountains my jaw dropped. This year I went out to Arizona with a girlfriend for one of the Wanderlust festivals. At the end of our trip, we went to Sedona to see ... this. Nothing beats being blown away by the insane amount of beauty in this world..🌎 #travel #wanderlust #mindfulness #happiness #positivevibes #theinstagramlab #traveldiaries

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It took me years of digging deeper within to really get a hold of my authentic identity. It was always there, but I didn't quite understand it. I knew certain things. I knew I loved helping people, so I studied psychology and counseling. I knew I loved exploring theory and I've always been an over-thinker...I try to understand the most confusing parts of the human experience just for fun. So, I had a handle on my passions, but I never quite understood what I was meant for. My purpose. When I found yoga, I was introduced to the most vulnerable parts of myself. I got to know who I was without all of my thoughts clouding the needs of my soul. I gained so much more clarity in my journey. With every single day that it's hard...with every night that I go to bed ready to just let go of my dreams and settle for what's easier, comes a morning with a renewed connection to my reason for pushing forward. I've decided to own my journey. Have you?

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Meet Hannah (and her husband Andrew)! Hannah is a wellness consultant and is passionate about educating others on how essential oils can benefit the mind, body & spirit. She was so fun to chat with as we explored her business ideas and current strategies. I really enjoyed helping her quiet any limiting beliefs she was carrying by reviewing together all the success she has achieved so quickly! We also strategized on ways she could integrate her authentic identity into her work. Check her out on instagram @ivyandtwineessentials her feed is both educational and super pretty😍

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This is definitely a lot easier said than done. But, I think the first step is in truly understanding what makes us all unique. Consider your passions and purpose. Reflect on what brings you to life and lights you up inside. Think about who you are when you feel the most comfortable. Once you have that clarity, it becomes easier to live in alignment with your authenticity every day.

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Sometimes on stressful days, I like to close the evening by rolling out my yoga mat + plugging in this diffuser with my lavender essential oil + moving through a basic vinyasa flow. I notice that as soon as I begin linking my breath to my movement, I get out of my head and into my body-- allowing a calming energy to wash over me. I think we all need something that allows us to re-center and find mental clarity after a day where we are pulled in ten directions (mentally or physically). Think about what brings you inner peace. What produces this calming energy? Are you doing it enough?

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This is something I've always wondered. How many people have unique ideas or business plans that never go further than a fun strategy session at the dinner table? How many people have dreams that they've been quietly holding onto for years? What separates the people who decide to go for it from those who choose not to act? I know there's something; there's a different kind of spirit that is drawn to dream chasing. Someone who looks tradition in the face and says, nope- not for me. Someone who enjoys unpredictability and pushes through failure. Someone with an entrepreneurial spirit. So if you're riding your dream chasing journey, know that it's definitely the path less traveled. In those days of self-doubt, seek solace in knowing that while you're going for it, everyone else keeps waiting for the 'right time.'