Guest Post: I Feel Like a Warm, Red Autumn

Happy Fall Week! I’m honored to be guest posting on Melissa’s fabulous blog. As a way of introduction, I’m a dancer who blogs about travel, body image, dance and food. I just moved from California to the Washington D.C. area, where I’m teaching at Washington Ballet’s ballet school, and I’m thrilled to be spending my first fall in this beautiful state. Because I have issues taking a good picture of myself, that’s my selfie, above (I think it’s appropriate for the topic at hand)…

Red

My childhood home had a large Japanese maple tree in the front yard. In the fall, it would explode with the deepest, richest, reddest leaves in the neighborhood. Even though earthy orange and golden yellow are the signature colors of the season, I’ve always associated red with fall because of that magnificent tree.

Red is the perfect color. It’s passionate, eye catching, sophisticated, bold, and incites a feeling of strength. Cloaked in red, a woman tells those around her she’s isn’t afraid to be noticed and isn’t afraid of her inner and outer beauty. In the fall, when the Earth is filled with this glorious color, my world is taken over by its wonderful energy, and I can’t help but feel empowered by it.

As Marilyn Monroe once said, “I feel like a warm, red Autumn.” I couldn’t have said it better myself. With love and a big mug of apple cider…

*Be sure to follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest…

–By Tiffany from Dancing Branflakes

[Photos from my Fall Pinterest page, aka my shameless addiction]

Dream Vacation: World’s largest pool

The end of the summer? Not quite, especially if you live in the good old Midwest. It’s going to be another scorcher today, with temps topping well above 90 degrees! I don’t know about you, but I’m dying to take a dip in the world’s largest pool. Located in Chile as part of the San Alfonso del Mar Resort, this mammoth pool has it all: more than 3,000 feet in length, covers 20 acres and contains 250,000 cubic meters of water. Maybe I can beam myself there if I just close my eyes… xoxo

P.S. 10 cool pools and 7 ways to beat the heat.

[Via Huffington Post]

S’mores ice cream

The summer is winding down (my mom and sister go back to work tomorrow, and I get back into my normal work routine…), so I couldn’t help but post these delicious treats. Nothing says summer quite like s’mores. And adding ice cream to the mix? I’m sold…

How are you celebrating the end of summer, friends? xoxo

P.S. Look for Back-To-School Week in a couple weeks! :)

[Via Food52]

Found: 7 ways to beat the heat

As Nelly once said, “It’s getting hot in herrre.” And it is. Literally. The sweltering summer heat has finally arrived, and we’re under a heat advisory for the next couple days. I stepped outside this morning, only to be greeted by a fiery-hot blast of air. You know what that means, don’t you? There’s only one thing to do: Conserve all your energy and find ways to stay cool. To help you in your search, here are seven ways to beat the heat…

Dip in the pool (here are 12 modern pools…).

Drink a sweet treat, like watermelon punch.

Slip into something light and breezy.

Put your feet up and let the cool air tickle your toes.

Curl up on the couch with a good movie (Netflix is offering a one-month free trial).

Let a melting popsicle run down your chin (here are four more popsicle recipes).

And…enjoy a cool summer supper, like the one my mom made last night. It was absolutely delicious!

Your turn, friends: How do you beat the heat during the summer? Any cool (pun intended…) tips and tricks? What’s your weather like these days? Do you like hot weather, or not so much? Here’s to staying cool… xoxo

[Top photo from LIFE magazine, via Pinterest]