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.

A circle of Women

I pinned this image a long time ago to one of my boards, and it keeps coming back to me.  I love it and every time it comes back to me, I think HELL YES!  I am so lucky to be surrounded by a beautiful tribe of ladies who I love with every fiber of my being. They are my soul sisters.   I was thinking though, how many beautiful souls that are out there that I am connected to even though we have never met.  All the amazing women I have met through blogging or the Apothecary Circle.  These amazing women  hold me up and encourage me even they probably don't know they are.  Could you imagine how amazing this world would be if all the women helped each other instead of the pettiness, jealousy, and backstabbing we all so often see?  I don't know if it is just me, but lately it feels like the world is finding a new sense of kindness when it comes to groups of women.   I hope to hell this is a trend that is really going to start showing itself more.  I am telling you, we would be a force to be reckoned with!

A Soothing soak

Happy hump day to you!  I wanted to share a recipe for bath salts I made last week that turned out pretty great, if I do say so myself.  Over the past 5 years I have suffered from eczema.  Especially on my hands and I also get "hot spots" on my legs.  I would say mine is moderate, but it is painful none the less.   I notice it more of course in the winter, and when the days go from cold to hot or vice versa really quickly.  I wanted to make something that would soothe my skin, but also smelled good.   This mixture definitely did the trick.  I think it would work great for sensitive skin, or if you just want a relaxing soak.

                                        

I don't really measure when I make something new (helpful right?) but I think you could take these ingredients and mix in what you feel is right for you.  So these are really just roundabout measurements.

2-21/2 cups epsom salt

2 cups organic oats

handful of lavender, chamomile, and calendula flowers.

chamomile oil

sweet orange oil

lavender oil
Rosehip seed oil

I took the lavender, chamomile, and calendula and put them in my mini food processor and gave them a quick chop.  I like to leave mine a little on the  thicker, but I think next time I would even grind them a little more.   Dump in a large bowl and add all ingredients.   Mix well and then add essential oils.  I used about 10 drops of each oil.

This made quite a bit, I filled a 20 oz mason jar full, and also gave some to friends to try out.  I would say it made about 25-30 oz total.   I want to open an herbal shop in the future, and I like to use my friends as guinea pigs.  (Thanks Juli-I love you!)

I add about 2-4 oz to the bath depending on how strong I want it.  Just remember any time you are bathing with epsom salts, you want to drink a lot of water before and after your bath.  Those salts suck a lot of toxins out and if you are not careful can dehydrate you.  Also, don't soak for longer than 20 minutes.  Let me know if any of you gorgeous ladies out there try this, I would love to hear what you think.  

Run or Dye

This past weekend, I participated in my first 5K!  It was definitely out of my comfort zone, but I have always wanted to do a 5K.   It was called Run or Dye and they call it the worlds most colorful 5K.  I had no idea what to expect, but it ended up being super fun, and so crazy.  Plus, each race in different cities benefits a different charity.  The one here in San Diego benefitted the American Lung Association.  Upon registration you are given a swag bag filled with all sorts of goodies, including one big pouch of color.  The color they used is corn starch based and is the same color they use in the Holi Festival in India. 

My cousin and I pre race, look at how clean we are!

This was waiting for the race to start and when the color started flying freely in the air.

This was before the pure craziness, in some spots you could not even see the sidewalk at all.

As you go through the course there are color stations marked with big banners in the coordinating color. They have volunteers that throw colors on you as you pass by, and they also have a ton of volunteers cheering you on and giving high fives  you along the way.  

My hair post race, I am glad I followed the directions and put leave in conditioner in my hair.  I am still sporting a sizable green splotch on my scalp.  

Our group post race, we did it!!!  

Post race dance party, it was high energy and a lot of fun!   I highly recommend participating in this if it comes to your town.  It was super fun to do it with a group of family and friends, we had a great time!

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.

Retreat into her pages

This week has felt off, overwhelming.  To much going on, and dealing with unseen circumstances that have left me feeling stressed and empty.  Whenever I feel this way, I tend to retreat into the pages of Mary Oliver poems.  Last night I filled the bath up extra hot and took her in there with me.  Her words speak to all the places in my soul, and I always feel myself breathe easier and I feel more grounded after spending sometime with them.  I thought I would share one of my favorites with you. 

Photo taken by me on our road trip last summer

Sleeping in the Forest

I thought the earth remembered me,
she took me back so tenderly,
arranging her dark skirts, her pockets
full of lichens and seeds.
I slept as never before, a stone on the river bed,
nothing between me and the white fire of the stars
but my thoughts, and they floated light as moths
among the branches of the perfect trees.
All night I heard the small kingdoms
breathing around me, the insects,
and the birds who do their work in the darkness.
All night I rose and fell, as if in water,
grappling with a luminous doom. By morning
I had vanished at least a dozen times
into something better.

Easter beauty

Easter was so wonderful this year, well it really is every year but this one was exceptionally beautiful.   We woke up bright and early and decided to start our morning with a hike at a nearby trail, with some of our good friends who we don't get to see as much as we wish we could.

  

We even ran into the Easter bunny!

It was such an awesome way to kick off the day, and so nice to spend some time with nature.   Being outside and in nature has always been my favorite form of worship.  I feel most like myself when I am outdoors and soaking in all mother nature has to offer us. It makes me not only feel connected more to myself, but to all living things.  

Humankind has not woven the web of life.
We are but one thread within it.
Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.
All things are bound together.
All things connect.

Chief Seattle, 1854

  After our hike, we headed up to our families house about 45 minutes from where we live.   They live in a beautiful part of San Diego County, and I love visiting there.  It is out in the middle of nowhere and it is so peaceful and quiet.  

Not a bad view to wake up to everyday.

The cutest niece and nephew ever.  The brother is pretty handsome too.

Wild Poppies growing on their property.

The egg hunt is on!

The husband making new friends.

It was a beautiful afternoon spent with the people we hold most dear, just how a holiday should be. I hope you all had a happy Easter.  Also, happy April to you all!  I cannot believe a new month is already upon us.