This moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. A tradition started by Soulemama.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Bringing back the balance

I have always felt connected to the moon, and the magic she holds.  The full moon always feels special to me and brings me a sense of calm whenever I spend time under her.  Even the week of the full moon, I usually feel overall calmer and more relaxed.  This week though has felt different for me.  It has felt hurried, stressful, and just overall crazy.  So, I wanted to do something special during this full moon to bring balance back to myself and my body.  I am enrolled in Moondaughter's Aphrodite workshop right now, and we are learning on how to use the phases of the moon in different ways. Yesterday she posted a recipe for a bath soak she likes to call her love soak blend.  I decided this would be a good way to treat myself and let go of all the negative energy that my body was carrying from the past few days.  Here is her recipe:

3/4 Organic sea salt

A handful of pink Himalayan salt

Handful dried rose petals

Handful dried lavender buds
4-5 petals of dry pink hibiscus

6 drops Ylang Ylang oil

6 drops Geranium oil

1-2 drops vanilla essential oil

And mix altogether!

I was all out of vanilla essential oil, so I just scraped a whole vanilla bean and added that.  The smell is out of this world!

I filled the bath and the scent was so powerful it

immediately began to relax me, also the pink hibiscus petals turned the water a beautiful shade of pink.  I breathed in, put on my favorite bath time playlist, and pictured all the negative energy leaving my body.

It was just what I needed, a felt like a new person after.  So much more relaxed and lighter, it really felt like the burdens of the few days before were gone.  With cheeks still pink from my bath I went outside and spent some time with lady luna.  She was extra beautiful, with almost an orange hue.

I ended the night feeling much more grounded than I had all week, and it made me feel like I was ready to face the challenges of what the next few days hold.  On top of that I slept like a baby last night. 

How do you spend time bringing back the balance to your life?  Does the moon hold special power for you? 

Also, KV of Aquarius Nation has posted her full moon reports over on Roots and Feathers, go check them out.  She has amazing insight for each sign in the zodiac.

A story about a boy..

A boy who was born with reddish hair, and freckles on this day 37 years ago.   A boy who I met when I was 15, and he was 17.

A boy who gives himself to others freely, and puts others happiness before his own. 

A boy who makes everyone around him feel special and can make you laugh harder than anyone else. 

A boy who changed my life in the best way possible, and makes the world a better place just by being in it.  

Happy 37th (!!) birthday my love, thank you for being you.  The sun shines a little brighter with you in the world. 

Happy Weekending!

Currently obsessed with this band, and this song is perfect for the weekend! Enjoy, and I hope you all have a beautiful weekend wherever you are. 

Winner!

Happy Friday all!  So, I took all your names and wrote them down on as slip of paper and then put them in to my favorite hat.   We waited until sunset and then I had my hubby close his eyes and pick, to be fair.  The winner he pulled is....

MEGGS of Live Well and Breathe!

Congratulations to you, I hope you enjoy it!  Email me at Hollie27@cox.net with your address and I will send out your package next week. 

This moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. A tradition started by Soulemama.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Pinspiring....

I love Pinterest, so much.  I think pretty much every other person that has ever used it is in love as well. It is such a wonderful place to find inspiration and I love having everything I want to remember in one place.  Here are some of my favorite pins that have been reminding me of the Spring time goodness headed our way: 

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Follow me here, and leave a link to your boards so I can follow you back.  Happy Springtime!

                                           

Welcome Spring, and a giveaway!

Happy Spring Equinox to everyone!  This is the start of my favorite season, time to welcome back more daylight, warmer temperatures, and the rebirth of all the wonderful flora and fauna.  Time to celebrate the earth and all her magic that she bestows on us. Since this is my favorite season, I thought I would host my first ever giveaway here.  This little giveaway includes a piece of citrine from one of my favorite local shops, a little affirmation card from the wonderful artist Suzanne L Vinson of Silvertreeart, and a beautiful necklace with a gorgeous piece of ocean Jasper.  To enter leave a comment below, and for one more entry follow my blog on Bloglovin. Just leave a comment below letting me know you did.   I will pick a winner this Friday!!

Must see....

Have you heard of this adaptation of Wuthering Heights by UK director Andrea Arnold?  It looks gorgeous and haunting. It also features an unreleased song from Mumford & Sons called "The Enemy" It looks like it just got released on DVD and streaming services in the US very recently.  I am adding it to my must watch list asap.  There is no way I can pass up one of my favorite books and one of my favorite bands being featured together.

Wishing you a sun soaked weekend

Photo taken by me

Wishing all of you beautiful souls a wonderful weekend.  May it be filled with something or someone you love.  I am off with some of my best girls for a weekend of sunshine and friendship in Palm Springs.  Sending some California sun to all of you! xo

Pieces of earth

I have always loved stones and rocks, any kind of little piece of nature.  When I was a kid my mom said I had little collections everywhere, and my pockets always had something collected in them from the day.  Things have not changed much since then and I still collect pieces when we are out exploring, especially if it is somewhere we have never been before.  I find it comforting to keep little pieces of nature around me, and have them tucked into little corners of our house.  When I joined the Apothecary Circle last year I never expected to learn so much about stones, crystals, and the properties they possess.   I have learned so much, and find it so interesting that the stones that I have always gravitated towards turn out to have properties that are important to me.  I love how this community has taught me and continues to teach me about so many different things.  So, now I have even started an even larger stone collection of my own, and will continue to add new ones that I am drawn to.  One of my favorites has always been Citrine, and I found a gorgeous chunk of it on our weekend adventure last week. 

Through my friend Ginger's blog East 80 I have learned so many things about stones and crystals.  She is a geology student and has started a series on her blog called the crystal guide series.  I seriously recommend hopping over there are checking out some of her guides to different stones.  According to her blog citrines metaphysical properties are:

-Develops clear lines of thought, essentially clearing the fog in your mind. Helpful with communication especially in debates or arguments.

-Will not hold negative energy.  Needs no cleansing. 

-"Can help to dispense with the fundamental level of fear"

-Shines light on hope and brings lightness to heavy situations. Use if you are in need of a good laugh.

-JOYFUL STONE, releases anger as well as fear.

-Like jade, citrine is associated with wealth.  Keep a stone in your piggy bank, or wherever you keep your money. 

Looks like I need to make sure to keep a piece of citrine close at all times, and I am definitely going to add a small piece inside my wallet.  What are some of you favorite stones or crystals?

Make sure to check out Gingers blog East 80 to learn more from an expert and also check out her beautiful Etsy shop here.

Also the Apothecary Circle is open for Spring registration right now until the Spring Equinox.  Feel free to use the coupon code on the right side of my blog for 15% off.  I cannot recommend this course enough, it is a life changer.

Refreshed and ready

This past weekend was one of those ones that left me feeling refreshed and ready to start this new week.  It was the perfect combo of adventuring and quiet.  On Saturday one of my best girls and myself made a little day trip out to a magical little part of San Diego.  It is so rural and feels so far away from the normal hustle and bustle, even though it is only about a 30 minute drive. It is gorgeous out there, and we have discovered some really cool shops along the way.

This little place is called Trumpers Fruit & Honey Shack, and it is so great.  We discovered it a few months back on another day of adventure, and now it has become our favorite place to get honey.  We have driven out here many times to just pick up our favorites.  They have about 15 different varieties of honey from local keepers. So, so good. 

This little place is called Crossroads Treasures and this was our first visit here.  We actually tried to stop here once before, but they were closed.  I am so happy they were open this time, so much goodness in this little shop.  The owner was so knowledgable, and had actually mined some of these gorgeous stones and crystals herself.  

These Rose Quartz pieces were GIANT!  I mean they must have each weighed 30 pounds.  So beautiful, I really wanted to take one home.  Because honestly, we could all use some more love filled energy surrounding us.

These gorgeous wings are from a local turkey.  Turkeys actually run wild in this part of San Diego County, and you can see gangs of them up here frequently. 

This view is from San Pasqual Valley and it actually just a couple miles from where we live.  It is shocking how green and gorgeous everything is here this year.  The rain gods have been good to us this season.  Saturday was wonderful and spent in great company.

Sunday started off with sleeping in and a quiet cup of my favorite tea, just the way I like it.  My husband and I agreed that we were going to be home bound Sunday.  Sometimes you need a day at home spent in your pajamas, with the hustle and bustle of the world far away outside your door.

As I was walking around our backyard that morning, I discovered this large rosemary bush that I never even knew was there.  Score!  Seriously, I have no idea how I never noticed, but I am so excited she is there waiting for us. I see a fresh rosemary tincture in my future. 

Yummy breakfasts made by handsome husbands are always best!

Spent some time on Sunday afternoon under this pepper tree we have in our backyard.  I love sitting under it this time of year especially.  There are so many bees buzzing around collecting their nectar.  Something about their buzzing calms me, and relaxes me.  

This was one wonderful weekend, and I wish they were all just like this.  I hope you had a wonderful weekend as well!

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. A tradition started by Soulemama.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

The world offers itself to your imagination

Photo taken by me

“You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
call to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting –
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.”
― Mary Oliver

Cozy corners

Thank you all so very much for you words of love and support yesterday.  Feeling much better today, with a brighter outlook.  I know it is going to take a lot of time and work to let this heartache go, but I am never going to stop trying.
Now, onto something a bit more cheery around here.  I thought once every couple weeks I would introduce a little part of my home that is my favorite.  A little spot that holds some special things that mean the world to me. Introducing cozy corners....

This little corner is actually in our entryway.  The red cabinet is a vintage piece from the early 1900's from Ethan Allen.  It was actually used as a dry sink when it was created.  You would have a basin and a pitcher of water for washing up. Oh how times have changed, modern plumbing I love you!  This piece belonged to my husbands grandparents, and his grandma Ina Belle painted it this gorgeous color before she passed.  It holds a lot of memories for us, especially my husband.
We use it for our record player and to hold some of our favorite albums, we also have some of our favorite art pieces hanging over it.  Now onto some of the pieces it holds:

This little owl light is actually a Scentsy warmer, but I just use it as a cute little lamp. It gives off the warmest glow.  These three books I keep close because they are some of my favorites.  The vintage polaroid was actually purchased from Katelyn of Gypsy Moth Sol from an online garage sale. 

I kind of have a thing for beautiful winged critters.  This is a Darwin butterfly and I found her from Bugs Under Glass.  The most important thing is that all their pieces are ethically made, and harvested.  

This piece is one of my favorites we have in our house.  The quote is one of my faves, by my favorite poet of all time Mary Oliver.  Her words speak right to my soul, and the artist Katie Daisy just makes the most beautiful art.

This piece is hands down one of the most awesome things I have ever purchased from Etsy.  It is a custom painting I had made for my husband last month for our 14th(!!) anniversary. The shop is called NewspaperBalloon, and the artist Ariel is so amazing.  She was so spot on in capturing us, and two of our girls.  I couldn't be happier, and highly recommend her!

This piece is from Marisol Spoon, and I seriously wish I could own every single piece she makes.  I just love her.

These last two pieces are tiny, but I love them.  The top is a picture of a vintage Brownie camera that I would love to own.  I got the print here.  The last picture on the bottom is of Shakespeare & Co. in Paris.  I have dreamed of visiting this bookstore and Paris since I was a teenager.  I got the print here.  

I hope you enjoyed this very first cozy corner post.  I love seeing other peoples homes and their pieces that they treasure, and I hope you do too!

On heartbreak and trying to let go

You know to be honest most days the feeling of loss is hidden from even me, but then something happens and it opens right back up without warning.  I don't know where it comes from or what triggers it, but there I am feeling that oh so familiar feeling of hopelessness.  It literally leaves me feeling shattered into a million pieces feeling lost and just so, so broken.  It happened this morning, I woke up and felt it looming.  Maybe it stems from a dream I can't recall from the night before, where the baby I know we are meant to have appears.  Maybe it stemmed from another friend telling me she has another little one on the way.  I never know.  Seven years it has been since the start.  It started being filled with excitement, then as time went on and nothing happened that turned to concern, and finally heartbreak.  The worst part is doctors tell you everything is normal, and they have no answers.   You keep trying, nothing happens.  You always feel like you are at square one, and just when I feel like I have moved on from it and let it go, I wake up feeling like I do today.   On the verge of tears for no reason is just what today will be.  I will try to tell myself that tomorrow will be better, and most likely it will be.  That is until the next time it decides to show up and remind me that there is a hole in my heart.  Letting go is my main focus this year when it comes to our struggles with fertility.  I am trying to let my idea of what this part of my life would be like change into something else, but for today I will let the tears come when they need to.

This moment...

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. A tradition started by Soulemama

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.