#tsgnwarkansas

Lake House Lovely à la Laura Ozturk Interiors

If all this pandemic-related housebound time has you dreaming of redecorating or compulsively house hunting like us, then you will just love our recent interview with Fayetteville-based designer Laura Bullock-Ozturk of Laura Ozturk Interiors. She just finished the most out-of-this-world lake house retreat that is inspired by all things peace and water. We asked Laura to take us on a little tour of this project and give us some insight into what it’s like to live locally these days. Enjoy the view!

The Scout Guide: Tell us about this lake house!

Laura Ozturk: Having recently completed my dream project at a friend’s stunning lake house in Hot Springs, I am beyond grateful to the clients in trusting me to guide them through the design process. Transforming ideas to fruition while witnessing the joy of my clients with the outcome is always exciting, but what I really loved about this particular project was the client indulging me with carte blanche to implement custom-built features throughout their home. Although no attention to detail was spared, the space is sophisticated yet calm because of the subtle mix of neutral color palettes and patterns with the focus of course gravitating towards the water.

This Gabriel Scott lighting fixture was featured on the cover of a recent issue of Architectural Digest, and it takes center stage in the kitchen of the lake house designed by Laura Ozturk.

TSG: Where did you begin this project?

LO: Like most designers, I share my inspiration pieces on social media, and upon posting a photo of this gorgeous Gabriel Scott light fixture, the client immediately reached out to me and said, “I have to have this.” Once we discussed implementing this jewel-like statement piece into their kitchen, the design process continued from there. Because the clients have such an appreciation for timeless design blended with intricate details, collaborating with them in achieving their ultimate vision was exhilarating from beginning to end.

Ceiling detail in the house’s entryway is designed to evoke the feeling of waves in the ocean. 

TSG: Besides that light, what are some of your other favorite features?

LO: Inspired by the family’s love for the ocean, the entire house was designed to have a Malibu feel to it which was achieved by adding finishing touches such as the undulating ceiling detail in the entryway that mimics the waves of the ocean. Each space has a subtle nod to the ocean rolling throughout the house with this particular entryway showcasing yet another exceptional ceiling detail.

TSG: What is your favorite room in the house?

LO: The dark and moody ambience of the primary bedroom is my favorite because everything in it was custom made from the incredible ceiling detail that closely mirrors the geometric shapes of the statement lighting in the kitchen to the Venetian plaster walls and gorgeous floor to ceiling drapery. The room is immersed in serene colors and layered textures that remain harmonious to the ocean-inspired vision for the house.

(Above) The sitting room that leads onto the master bedroom at the Laura Ozturk-designed Hot Springs lake house. (Below) Another room evokes the peacefulness of the lake with neutral tones, statement light fixtures and the layering of textures. 

TSG: How does this house reflect your style as a designer?

LO: A neutral palette is my signature style because I prefer the textures and accessories to provide the special finishing touches while allowing color to be present in small doses and with pieces that are easily replaceable. My style philosophy is to layer materials and textures rather than filling the room with accessories because I find that the furniture, the cabinetry and the unique one of a kind details in the room are what make a modern, yet livable space with a wow factor that isn’t overwhelming to the eye. I love that you can really see this throughout the lake house in the photos I shared here.

TSG: What’s your business up to right now?

LO: Currently, I am working on a beautiful new construction home in the Blessings, a country club community in the heart of Fayetteville. We are creating moody, elevated spaces for a fun young couple with a keen eye for details. One of which is a 16-foot arched entry door with an incredible barrel ceiling detail created by a Manhattan Steel Door Co., also local to NWA.

TSG: What’s your biggest challenge personally and/or professionally?

LO: My greatest challenge during this time has been navigating around delays for materials, product and furnishing. With many of our factories shutting down due to Covid-19, this has by far been the most challenging to manage the scheduling of our projects. Luckily, our clients have been understanding as we are all traversing through this new territory together.

TSG: What’s bringing you joy right now?

LO: In lieu of the what is happening in the world, I am beyond grateful that our projects are thriving. With people spending time at home now more than ever, the influx of business has been wonderful. Clients are excited to improve their spaces and embrace our new normal. We have expanded into new regions and heading to the West Coast for our next adventure!

Laura can be reached by phone at 479.387.1800 or by email at [email protected]. Contact her to schedule a consultation to talk about those remodel dreams you’ve been having, or the dream lake house she just inspired you to build!

Photos: Laura Ozturk Interiors

RED, WHITE, BLUE (AND YOU!)

The Fourth of July is filled to the brim with family gatherings, good food, stars & stripes, and bursts of fireworks! Summer is officially here (and so are the sizzling temperatures) so we’ve rounded up versions of our favorite red, white, blue (and you!) looks and loves to celebrate Americana and summertime! 

RIFFRAFF

Nothing says summer more than red and white gingham from Riffraff! We love the tie-front and feminine ruffle detail along the neckline and bottom of the Marlee top paired with the full coverage, mid-rise Chelsea swim bottom for a fun summer look (style tip: to add some blue, the top looks super cute on its own worn with high waisted denim!). This look can take you from the lake to a picnic lunch!

OZARK BEER CO.

Introducing Ozark Pilsner. . .summer’s companion in a can! Load your coolers, stock your fridges and light those backyard fires. . .available statewide this week and in the Ozark Beer Co. taproom in downtown Rogers, Arkansas. 

THE BLONDE KITCHEN

I scream, you scream, we all scream for this 4th of July Ice Cream Sunday Toppings Board created by The Blonde Kitchen. DM to order!

HUGO’S

It wouldn’t be officially summer unless you’ve had a sizzling jalapeño cheeseburger and your favorite cold craft beer from Hugo’s. Order a six-pack of both for carry out/curbside pickup or grab a seat inside and cool down with socially distanced dine in service – Hugo’s is located on Block Avenue just off the Historic Fayetteville Square.

IN MOTION

Sparks will fly with this red hot, all-American look from In Motion. You can shop In Motion online, in store or with curbside pickup all summer long.

ALEXANDER BAKING CO.

Did someone say Mini Ice Cream Cakes? Satisfy your sweet tooth by preordering Fourth of July inspired sweets from downtown Rogers’ Alexander Baking Co. Select from cakes, decorated sugar cookies and our favorite – DIY cookie decorating kits.

FRESH HARVEST

When berry season hits, this tart Berry and Crème Tart is a must. Thanks to Fresh Harvest, this happens to be an EASY recipe that looks really difficult! And the final results are beautiful and will impress at any gathering – especially on the Fourth of July! 

SEMI-CHARMED WIFE

Sparks will fly when you wear these beautiful vintage Chanel button earrings reincarnated by jewelry artisan Donna Moll of locally-owned Semi-Charmed Wife. DM to order!

THE FARMER’S TABLE CAFE

A healthy seasonal summer salad that we can’t get enough of! Features locally-grown radishes, strawberries, blueberries, candy onion and leafy greens. You can order online as a curbside takeout option or be served on the outdoor patio at The Farmer’s Table Cafe.

SCOUTED: Father’s Day Favorites

Celebrate dad while supporting local with these unique finds for the father figure in your life. From curated gift boxes (for the adventurist, grill master, foodie and beyond) to locally-made small batch bourbon, we’re sharing some of our favorites that will make him smile! Remember to Shop Local!!

City Supply

Curated limited-quantity gift sets from the Father’s Day Collection. . .each one especially created for whether he loves the outdoors, appreciates a fine whiskey or is a sports enthusiast, City Supply has got dad covered!

Fox Trail Distillery

Crafted from a few hand selected deeply charred White Oak Barrels, aged 14 years, non-chill filtered and bottled at cask strength, O’Highlands XIV Straight Bourbon Whiskey (limited release!) is the product of Fox Trail’s journey as a local small-batch maker. There will never be another quite like it! Available only at the distillery retail store and The Bar at Fox Trail.

Blakeman’s Fine Jewelry

A timeless masterpiece: The Rolex GMT-Master II in white gold, 40mm case, Meteorite dial, Oyster bracelet. Its combination of peerless functionality, robustness and instantly recognizable aesthetics is especially appealing to the world traveller (we absolutely love the two-colour blue and red bidirectional rotatable 24-hour graduated bezel!).

American Estates

For the all-American dad: Built as a tribute intended to pay respect to our country and its symbols, the Old Glory American Flag wall art is true to the official standards of the American flag, maintaining proper ratios and sizing for all elements. Each flag is built with careful attention to detail and features the handsome character of hand-selected, rough-sawn white oak and cherry wood. These flags are sealed with a 0% VOC oil and wax finish and are truly made to be a lasting statement piece sure to spark conversation.  

Dandy Roll

Dandy Roll is here to help you pick out the perfect gift because they know shopping can be a little challenging right now. From gift box ideas for dad or creating your own customized gift box, gift bag, and card. Dandy Roll is offering free shipping, curbside pick up and local delivery.

Linden’s Jewelry 

Hand made sterling silver money clip with a place for engraving. The design is fashioned after a classic vintage Tiffany & Co. money clip. In stock in silver and can also be custom made in gold.

Walker Brothers

Filson fabulous! The coveted and classic Filson Original Briefcase is built with Filson’s signature rugged twill, an industrial-strength water-repellent fabric that resists wear and abrasion for years of dependable service. A gift that will last forever!

Honeycomb Kitchen Shop

HKS Father’s Day Cooking Collection includes all the top cooking and grilling essentials! We especially love this Finex 12" Cast Iron Grill Pan for dad! FINEX is a small team of Portland based craftspeople, cooks and designers dedicated to crafting cookware that will stand the test of time. All products are made in the USA and feature polished, easy-to-release cook surface, thicker castings to optimize searing techniques to seal in flavors, and ergonomic spring handles that temper heat for an easier grip while cooking.

Oli + Meg

Bikes, on the rocks! An 11oz old fashioned glass to pair perfectly with your favorite lowland or cocktail (cheers to Bentonville!). These sturdy glasses will surely be crowd pleasers.

David Adams Fine Jewelry

This Swiss Army Infantry Vintage Mechanical Chronograph is a comfortable-to-wear men’s wrist watch that offers its owner precise timekeeping. The dial is colored in white. The black leather strap provides great fit. Some of the features implemented in this analog timepiece are alarm, backlight or electro luminescent, date, multiple time zones, stopwatch, and timer.

The Dotted Pig

Whether your dad is Mr. Groomed (shown), Mr. Smooth, Mr. Perfect, Mr. Hipster or Mr. Manly, The Dotted Pig has you covered with this line of masculine grooming products. Discover the woody and citrus combination of Cedarwood and Lemongrass fragrances – great gift for a masculine man, a large 200g Triple Milled bar ensures high-quality and lasting fragrance.

Mertins Eye & Optical

For the dad who says he wants nothing but deserves the world, KREWE sunglasses from Mertins Eye & Optical make the perfect gift. Call for an appointment to shop safely or for curbside pickup: 479-442-8400.

By Request for Men

We are all getting used to this new “normal," so make your Father’s Day gift something he can use everyday! Pair these Tommy Bahama, soft cotton, machine washable shorts with a 100% cotton – Made in the USA – Coastal Cotton pocket tee, and he will be relaxing in style.

Markham & Fitz

Just add bourbon (or your spirit of choice)! Markham & Fitz has put together an infusion kit for dad to make his own chocolate bourbon (or other cacao-alcohol infusion of choice) at home! This gift provides (1) quart-size jar for steeping, (1) 8 oz bag of our freshly roasted Nicaraguan cacao nibs, and (1) handmade ceramic low ball glass to enjoy your chocolate bourbon or homemade cocktail (also includes a special recipe card with instructions).

Cheers at the OPO

The ultimate gift: a Father’s Day Brunch experience at Cheers at the OPO! Make reservations (9am–3pm) for dad and the entire fam for Dad’s Day Sunday Brunch, June 21st (insider tip: order the crab cakes, above, and request an outdoor patio table!).

James + James

This customizable Steel and Wood Corner Desk from James+James would make a great gift for Dad! It’s built by hand at their newly located wood-shop and showroom in Downtown Springdale. The L-Shaped Desk features two shelves, a solid hardwood top with all knots filled in for a smooth surface, and brushed steel bases.

Fayettechill

Has dad ever told you to ‘put a lid on it’? Well, here’s your chance to do it right back! The Hoff at Fayettechill is a palm fiber hat with hand-stitched yarn on the sides and a subtle felt-backed patch for a style to take from the river to the farmer's market.

KT Produce

The Fresh Box from KT Produce is a great way to put together a great grilling experience for dad! Pick a protein or two and season or marinate it along with the veggies. Call by 1:00 and you can pick up your box same day or get next day delivery!

Big Box Karaoke

DADS LIKE TO KARAOKE TOO! Book a Karaoke Room with your dad and let him get down with his bad self this weekend. Maybe the only gift he needs is time with the mic to belt out all the tunes he wants. BBK has 70,000+ songs, so we're sure he can find something to sing.

Alexander Baking Co.

If your dad’s your sweetheart then this is the gift of gifts: preorder Father’s Day Cookie Sets that include 2 regular size decorated sugar cookies (approx. 3.5″ -4″) in a giftable box. Insider tip: you can also preorder Mini Ice Cream Cakes!

Up Close & Personal with Interior Designer Lee Anne Stelte from Whiteline Designs

Lee Anne Stelte from Whiteline Designs was born in California, is half Hawaiian but considers herself a Northwest Arkansan. She’s been living here for 25 years, working as an artist and designer in the Fayetteville and Bentonville metropolitan areas. With Whiteline Designs, she designs residential new construction homes and renovations, commercial, and hospitality projects and so much more using her unique artist’s eye and ability to understand exactly what her clients want. Lee Anne also curates key design elements such as original art, unique accessories and specialty lighting available to order on her e-commerce site Whiteline Home Collection.

THE SCOUT GUIDE: What’s your career path?

LEE ANNE STELTE: Well I would not say it was a straight path, definitely more of a meandering path. I started a wholesale company after working as a graphic artist at age 23, then I began painting wood products that were in such demand at the time that I found myself on the QVC! But when my products started being copied by major companies and made in China, I knew I needed to do something new. I started painting murals. I was being hired to paint giant murals in huge homes in the tonier neighborhoods of Northwest Arkansas. As I developed relationships with developers and homeowners, I began providing design advice and quickly realized I had something. That’s when my design business was born!

TSG: Can you remember the very first time you realized your passion for design?

LAS: When I was in fourth grade, my teacher asked the class to take out a large piece of paper and fold it in half to create a folder for our math work. I don’t care about math and never did, but I still remember creating that folder. Everything was fresh and blank, and I set to work with my colored pencils drawing a pattern of geometric shapes in different shades of blue. I loved that folder so much. And then my teacher came by and praised my folder, and I remember having the best feeling. Getting noticed for designing something beautiful? I was hooked. My path lead me to college where I studied graphic arts/design.

TSG: Where did the name of your business come from?

LAS: At the time, I couldn’t think of a name, but I knew I wanted to represent something clean...clean lines and I wanted the word white. One day, on a long road trip driving back from Texas, I kept following this long white line for hours and hours, as it guided me back to Arkansas. After staring at the line for so long, it came to me—Whiteline Designs!

TSG: Is there a higher purpose you serve through your passion and business?

LAS: It’s true that most of my clients wind up crying at one point during our work together. They cry because they are moving into a dream house, or leaving a dream house, or for any number of reasons. Change is hard. I really feel like I’m a bit of a therapist when I work with my residential clients. To redesign a house or build a new house is a huge undertaking, and I’m just there to make that process go smoother. It’s an honor that my clients entrust me with that. We almost always become friends and the work really is a labor of love.

It’s funny because sometimes my clients need me to really take the reins on a design project, but other times they have it all picked out but what they need from me is validation and, of course, execution. I can enhance their vision, but their instinct and their own eye is wonderful. I like to think of it like I take people’s dreams and bring them to life. If it weren’t for other people’s dreams, I wouldn’t have a job.

TSG: What is a little known fact about you and/or your business?

LAS: One thing I don’t talk about too much because I spend so much time designing these gorgeous luxury homes is that I actually live in a small quaint cottage! Years ago, I lived in a southern style plantation home on an estate like setting with my former husband, and we even rented it out as a wedding venue at times. But now I’ve downsized to a tiny cottage and I find it to be very refreshing.

TSG: What’s the best design advice you have for us?

LAS: It’s ok to have a negative space. You don’t have to feel like you need to fill every single surface and corner in your home. I also have a thing about lighting. I tell all of my clients they need to put all their lighting on dimmers so they can control the ambience.There’s nothing like dimming those lights for a family dinner, just like when you’re in a perfectly lit restaurant and the lights go down.

TSG: What are some of your favorite ways to live locally here in NWA? Favorite places to be outside, eat, play and shop?

LAS: Now that I’m a new empty nester and living in a small place in Bentonville just walking distance from the square, I’m having a lot of fun exploring the city in my down time. I moved here for the arts community and Crystal Bridges. Honestly, I barely do anything outside of the square. My go-to place for meeting clients is Blake St. House or Pressroom in Bentonville. I ride my bike everywhere, including the market. Since I’ve moved here, I’ve stopped going to big supermarkets. And I love the Walmart Neighborhood Market on the square. (I know it’s not a small business, but it is local!) It has more than what you’d think, like really good olives, wine and sparkling water.

photos: Meredith Mashburn Photography

She works, she teaches, she entertains, and a million more things that probably go unnoticed. Sunday, May 10th is Mother's Day and we want to help you find ways to treat her right while supporting local!

ZUZU’S PETALS & GIFTS

The Fun Mom Kit — DIY Floral Design is the perfect Mother's Day activity! This ZuZu’s Petals & Gifts kit includes flower food, a vase, snips, tape, greenery, filler, and fresh blooms-- everything you need to assemble a beautiful centerpiece for Mother's Day Brunch! Instructions will be posted on ZuZu’s Instagram stories, and they will send a how-to sheet with each box as well! Local delivery and curbside pickup available.

SCRIBBLES BY SAV

Mama’s everywhere deserve it all so these fun-loving Mother’s Day cards and gift ideas created and curated by Scribbles by Sav are the perfect way to give art and spread love. This 4x8 card is printed on glossy high quality photo paper and comes with an envelope and can also be framed. View the entire Scribbles by Sav Mother’s Day Collection and order the Mother’s Day Card here.

BY REQUEST

Pamper mom this Mother’s Day for a Mom’s Day In! By Request has new bath sets from Lizush Natural Bath & Body Care that are made with all natural ingredients and made by women. The sets include: lavender soap bar, lavender body oil, facial clay mask, bath bomb, shower steamer, soy candle, natural lip balm, face towel and loofah — all at an amazing value! To create a self care set for your mom, call By Request at 479.442.7525.

CITY SUPPLY

The Best Mom Ever gift set includes a lovestruck best mom ever candle (smells like a bouquet of flowers, your biggest cheerleader, chief memory maker, and the warmest hugs), Pink House Alchemy vanilla bean syrup, and a 3x3 resin and wood picture frame. You can also curate your very own custom gift set for mom at City Supply online (curbside pickup or shipping available).

DAVID ADAMS FINE JEWELRY

“From the heart to the hand, as if your child wrote their name for the very first time.” All Mother’s Rings from David Adams Fine Jewelry are made to order and carved by hand so matching lettering will vary, all rings have a satin finish once completed. Each ring can contain 14-20 characters based on finger size. A faceted birthstone may also be added to any Mother’s Ring you are having created. Since Mother’s Rings are hand carved, you are not limited to just names being carved on the ring. Popular options are birth dates, initials, or “woo pig sooie”. Call David Adams at 479.444.7778 to custom order.

ALEXANDER BAKING CO.

The Baking Bundle by Alexander Baking Co. is the perfect gift for Mother’s Day! This bundle will include 6 decorated sugar cookies, spring flowers, a Mother’s Day card and a tray of frozen Take & Bake cinnamon rolls. Flowers provided by Flower to Da People. The baking bundle along with other items can be preordered online here.

HONEYCOMB KITCHEN SHOP

We can all agree, mothers are pretty amazing! Brunch is also pretty amazing. We can’t think of a better way to show mom how much we love her during this time of social distancing than by taking this Honeycomb Kitchen Shop ONLINE cooking class (Thursday, May 7 at 6:30pm) via Zoom! In this HKS class, they are partnering with The Food Conservancy NWA and local chef Heather Artripe of Ozark Natural Foods. Heather will be using fresh ingredients from The Food Conservancy gathered from local NWA farmers! Each participant will get a Brunch Cooking Kit containing all the necessary ingredients to cook your very own brunch right in your own kitchen. Reserve your Brunch Cooking Kit here!

SASSAFRAS SPRINGS VINEYARD

There’s no better way to say Happy Mother’s Day than treating mom to one of Sassafras Springs Vineyard’s custom made gift boxes. Choose between the $55 Sassy Box which includes one bottle of your wine choice from the SSV Collection or upgrade to the $65 Sassy Deluxe Box by choosing two bottles of wine. Orders must be placed by Thursday, May 7 at 5pm and pick-up will be available Saturday, May 9, between 11am - 7pm. To order, please call 479.419.4999 or go online here.

BENTONVILLE BODEGA

Bentonville Bodega is committed to helping you celebrate Mother’s Day while supporting local! Options include: a grazing board cheese sampler box by Sweet Freedom Cheese (shown above), a cinnamon roll brunch kit from Briar Rose Bakery, a picnic package, and a curated butcher box from Pressroom. Browse all things local at Bentonville Bodega and shop the most unique Mother’s Day cards and gift wrap kits from Shindig Paperie.

RIFFRAFF

This t-shirt is perfect for your cool mom, your cool mom friend, or your cool mom self! Features a soft washed blue fabric printed with black and ivory ink. Perfect for wearing comfy + oversized...for relaxing or chasing after kiddos. Order this cool tee online here and be sure to check out Riffraff’s extra special Mini & Me collection.

BLAKE STREET HOUSE

Blake Street House has partnered with Samantha’s Garden for a Floral Workshop for Moms that will teach the basics of centerpiece design. This class will teach you the five principle steps of centerpiece design and includes premium flowers, ribbon and paper to make the Mother’s Day card. The virtual class will be held on Saturday, May 9 and floral kit orders must be placed by 3pm on Thursday, May 7. The Mother’s Day Workshop Kit is completely sustainable and can be delivered to you Friday, May 8th the day, before the workshop, in preparation for the class.

BLAKEMAN’S FINE JEWELRY

We love the special meaning behind gifting personalized birthstone jewelry to Mom! Inspired by a mamas love, these My Story by Jackie Cohen stackable rings available at Blakeman’s Fine Jewelry are at the top of our wish list and are sure to become heirloom pieces! 

FRECKLED HEN FARMHOUSE

Build your own Mother’s Day Basket with our farm-chic friends at the Freckled Hen Farmhouse. Go online and select your fave gifts for mom (we especially love the Farmhouse Poppy popcorn, Farmer’s Market backpack and World’s Best Mom candle. If you spend over $50, you will receive a complimentary basket with filler & ribbon. At checkout, include a gift note if you will be sending it to your recipient. Freckled Hen will make sure your note is included with the basket! Curbside pickup, local delivery and worldwide shipping available (orders of $75+ will receive free domestic shipping). 

PIGMINT

Every four years we get to experience an additional day on our calendar and 2020 is one of those years. How exciting is it to think about having an extra 24 hours to play with?! Did you know that leap year also coincides with the Summer Olympics and the presidential election in the United States? All three of those things happen the same year, every four years. That’s a lot of excitement and a lot to look forward to!

Each leap year, I can’t help but to reminisce over the last four years and how things have changed for me from leap year to leap year. Four years may not seem like a big deal, but a lot can happen in those 48 months to move your life in a completely different direction.

Four years ago, I was still a new yoga teacher (check out my splits from 4 years ago!!). I had only received my yoga teaching certification 18 months prior and was still trying to figure what I had to offer and who I wanted to be in the world of yoga. Things hadn’t gone so great thus far. I was turned down to teach at the first studio I applied to and honestly, the entire experience left me pretty dejected. So, I took some time to regroup and re-focus. That’s when I found Instagram. I followed all things yoga and loved the yoga challenges that were being held by various amazing yogis every single month. Not only did doing that help me advance my practice, it brought me into a head space to truly appreciate yoga for what it is: a practice of true self exploration. I immersed myself in self practice for about a year and came out on the other side a new woman. I began teaching again and truly developed my voice, sharpened my teaching skills, and learned what it was I had to offer the world: power yoga.

I had been teaching for two years following that revelation when I was approached by lululemon to become a yoga ambassador. This was exciting! But I didn’t really know how this relationship would show up in my day to day life in a way that was meaningful to me. I got the opportunity soon after that to attend the 2018 lululemon Ambassador Summit at their headquarters in Vancouver. This is an annual meeting where lululemon invites 100 top ambassadors from around the world for a long weekend of self exploration, education, and purpose setting. Well, I found my answer during that meeting and my purpose hit me like a ton of bricks: diversity and representation in yoga. (Thank you lululemon!) A few months later, I opened ELXR Yoga Lounge with a very lofty mission in mind: make yoga in NWA inclusive and welcoming for everyone. Eighteen months later, EYL is booming and I can proudly say, we have the most diverse studio I’ve ever seen in my 12 years of being a yogi.

All this being said, leap year is the perfect time to reflect on a deeper level than you did during the new year. It’s the time to examine your accomplishments and your failures, not only in wellness, but in your life. What do you need to work on? What do you need to change? What’s not working for you? What has helped you soar? What has made you happy?

After you read this, can you commit to 5 minutes of self-examination and reflection of the last four year? Get comfy. Put on socks and maybe a light sweater. Grab a pillow and take a seat either on your couch or floor. Use the pillow to get comfy. Close your eyes and start to deepen your breath. Breath in through your nose for a slow count of four and out for an equal count of four. Keep repeating this breath. As you do so, let your mind start to naturally reflect on the past 4 years WITHOUT attaching judgement to what comes up. Don’t seek answers. They will come to you with honest reflection over time. After 5 minutes, slowly open your eyes to a new world. Now you’re ready to tackle the next four years until we see our next leap year in 2024!

Xoxo,

Nicole Calhoun, ERYT, PhD

I love the new year. Crisp weather, comfy winter sweaters, new beginnings, and all the possibility in the world. When most people think of the new year, they think of how they want to become healthier in the upcoming year. We make promises to ourselves that we’ll eat healthier, start running again, or get to yoga more often. We start with the full force of our honest intentions behind us. The first week is tough, but we’re energized and willing to work hard. The second week is harder, but we stay motivated. By the third week, we start to lose patience with ourselves and the discouragement starts to creep up in our subconscious. This final week in January is when most of us give up on those New Year’s resolutions to be more healthier, and the biggest reason...the results of our efforts just don’t come quick enough.

Here’s the number one lesson we fail to learn in the new year when making those resolutions: to be patient with ourselves. As a yoga teacher, I come across students daily who are in search of perfection in their yoga practice ASAP. My favorite piece of advice is “Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither will your practice be. You have to learn patience and practice self acceptance and self love along the way.” That’s the only way to build a lasting practice and to keep those New Year’s resolutions the entire year.

I learned this lesson in a big way a few months ago. In September – on my son’s 13th birthday – I was involved in a pretty serious car accident and walked away with a broken hand. For a yoga teacher, this was disastrous. I cried for a week straight after the accident, tackled depression for weeks, and still experience PTSD to this day. But along the way, I made the decision that I was going to work my butt off to get back to where I was before the accident. I had surgery to repair my broken hand and was chomping at the bit to start physical therapy 8 weeks later.

When the time for PT came, I was excited, hopeful, and ready to put in hard work to regain strength and mobility in my hand and wrist. I had 3 rules-listen to my body, be patient, and take my time to properly heal. Over the next 6 weeks, I did just that AND busted my butt in PT. Four months after breaking my hand, I’m relearning to handstand and even though I’m not back 100%, I’m proud of how hard I’ve worked and the progress I’ve made. AND that I did it all while loving myself along the way and practicing patience when it came to my progress and my expectations.

So this is the advice I offer you as we approach the toughest time of the year to hold onto those resolutions: love yourself along the way and practice patience when it comes to progress and expectations. With patience and love, all good things are coming. Happy new year!

Xoxo,

Nicole Calhoun, ERYT, PhD