Charlotte Blake

:: Lifestyle ::

What does it mean to you to be quirky and what do you love about it?
It means that sometimes people just look at you, pause for half a second, then laugh their butt off. I love that I come across as this calm, shy, serious, put-together, grounded woman. Which I guess I am, but once I get comfortable, my silly/quirky/bouncy side comes out. And this side is FUN. I love finding my fellow quirksters — you know, those who look at me and laugh and say “Ummm, I didn’t know you were funny?!?!” and then we laugh some more and maybe have a tiny dance party.

What’s a secret, unusual talent that you have?
So I actually have a photographic memory when it comes to maps. I can look at a map once or twice and remember how to get around a new city, or wherever I am traveling. I like to have competitions with the GPS — Who can get me around faster and easier? I almost always win.

:: Quest ::

Where do you find your mojo?
In dance class. And if not in dance class, by dancing alone in my apartment, or on the street, or in a park, or wherever. Even when I lived in the tiniest apartment ever in Brooklyn, I would put on fun music and dance, dance, dance. Dance is ultimately what fuels, heals, and energizes my life. Everything I do is a dance.

Explain one experiment you’ve done that changed your life:
It’s silly BUT, I experimented with online dating. It took about 5 years to figure out a good groove but, I experimented with how to integrate that kind of dating into my life without getting depleted (or feeling like I was wasting my time.) I let go of my attachment to outcome and I began experimenting with just using the online service to meet new, sometimes cool, people I figured out the rules that worked for me: only 1-hour first dates, 1 drink, and no kissing. One evening, when I realized I’d just spent 3 hours with someone, had 2 drinks, and let him kiss me on the cheek, I knew I was in trouble. And so, I decided to marry him. Our wedding is in October. :-)

What’s your favorite recent discovery for…
Your home: Baby’s Breath EVERYWHERE. In vases, mason jars, old wine bottles, sometimes my hair. Baby’s Breath is so adorable.
Your body: Snow Shoeing and Cross Country Skiing! I thought I hated XC skiing. But you just have to know not to wear a thousand layers so you’re not sweating like a pig. (Of course some Vermont friends had to teach me that one.) I am looking forward to truly embracing NorthEast winters from now on.
Your belly: Homemade Kale Chips!
Your soul: Self-Care Fridays. This can include: sleeping in, dance class, acupuncture, wine with a friend, dinner out, massage, solo Pilates class, afternoon nap, movie, the list goes on. It’s my new favorite day. It’s how I can stay 100% present in my business, relationship, life, etc.
Music: It’s not recent but I gotta say it… Bruce Springsteen, always and forever. <3 Writing: Blueprinting out my monthly business tasks. Sitting down and writing down exactly what I need to do in a month = more hours of restful sleep.
Art: I am constantly floored by what my fiance, Stephen Shaheen, creates out of stone, paper, and random found objects. He is my biggest inspiration in the art world right now, for sure.

:: Mission ::

How do you celebrate the deliciousness of being quirky?
By laughing, a lot. And by surrounding myself by people who not only make me laugh (a lot) but whom also laugh at my silly jokes.

What is your #1 tip for a fellow quirkster?
Have dance parties daily, walk around your home naked, eat Kale chips.

About: Charlotte believes there is a time and place for the simplicity of movement to inspire greater clarity, change, and balance. A personal trainer and Pilates teacher, Charlotte focuses her work on leading women into more confident and healthy lives. She loves working with women of all shapes and sizes, guiding them toward their physical dreams and goals. Charlotte is also honored to be a practitioner who focuses on working with the pre/post-natal community.

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