joyeux

photo by my lovely sister  

{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.

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

Inspired by SouleMama

becoming

On Monday at the blog of the amazing Kris Carr, she and some of her team revealed their desires for the coming year.

I love this exercise and I think it builds on my post from last week.

I can already feel the power of this upcoming year. I know it will be so transformative-- there is truly the potential for boundless personal growth, new beginnings, abundance and healing.

I encourage you to sit and meditate over these questions. It's not too soon to get an action plan going for the upcoming year. I've never been one for clichéd resolutions but a few open-ended desires cultivate awareness and allow for expansive personal development.

※ ※ ※ ※

My three core desired feelings are: 

Nurtured

Energetic

Inspired

What I'm doing in 2013 to feel that way: Making time for myself first. Cultivating & nurturing my budding spirituality by adding yoga and meditation practices into my life. Creating a living spaces that allows flow rather than stagnancy.

What I'm doing this week: Clearing out my living space-- eliminating all the meaningless shit weighing me down.

What I'm no longer doing: Overextending myself and undervaluing my own capabilities and worth.

What about you? What do you want to cultivate in 2013?

recipe: vegan triple coconut blueberry muffins

Do you want to know what I love about blogging? 

It urges me to slow down and be more conscious of my daily activities (and of course, to take plenty of pictures). Even though the ins and outs of my days can be stressful, chaotic even, I'm reminded to notice the beauty of the simple things.

We would have made these muffins anyway. But this time, rather than instantly devouring them, we're lingering over the aroma and appreciating the gorgeous golden crust. 

After all, the beauty of the little things are what create the memories.

Makes 1 dozen

1 1/2 cups flour (whole wheat pastry flour or 3/4 c whole wheat flour & 3/4 c unbleached all-purpose flour)
1/2 sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/3 c coconut oil, liquid
1 TBSP ground flaxseed + 3 TBSP warm water
3/4 c coconut milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 c shredded, unsweetened coconut
3/4 c blueberries (fresh or frozen)
1 tsp lemon zest (optional)

Preheat oven to 400.

In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder and lemon zest (if using).

Combine ground flax and 3 TBSP water in a small dish (your flax "egg").
In a medium bowl, mix together coconut oil, coconut milk, vanilla extract and flax egg.

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until combined.
(Be careful not to over-mix though or your muffins will be very dense.)

Mix in coconut and blueberries until evenly distributed. 

Bake 15-20 or until golden brown. Let cool in muffin tin 5 minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack.

Thanks for the reminder.

You know how sometimes life tries to get you to slow down. And the longer you go on, the harder it tries, until finally you're on your ass with life standing over you saying "What now?!"

Goodness. This past week month has been a bit like that. It just seemed like everything was coming to a head and even the simplest, most basic tasks were just too much.

So the Universe, in her infinite wisdom, kindly handed me a bout of mastitis that forced me to stay in bed, cycling between feeling freezing cold and sweltering hot, sleeping for about 20 out of the 24 hours. A slap in the face if there ever was one to not just slow down but STOP.

Only now, my to-do list is massive, but hey, I'm rested!

But I realized something while I was lying in bed. I've let myself go. I have truly failed myself. There was a time, not terribly long ago when I was making myself a priority; exercising, tending to my own needs, etc. Yet somewhere along the line, I lost sight of how important I am.

And it's easy to feel overwhelmed when you're neglecting yourself. Easy to feel resentful when you tend to everybody's needs but your own.

I've never done this before but I've read of other people doing this: I have chosen a word for 2013. A word to guide me and focus on throughout the year. A word to keep me in tune with my goals. I encourage you to do the same. My word:

Nurture

Here's to taking care of me. 

{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.

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

Inspired by SouleMama

Small Business Saturday

In honor of Small Business Saturday, I want to share a handful of my favorite small businesses with you. 

I love that when you buy from a small business, you are directly helping out real live people and their families. It's a wonderful feeling knowing that you are actively supporting someone's livelihood and dream and of course, your gifts will be unique and thoughtful rather than just another "thing". 

taproot is a quarterly (ad-free!) magazine filled with inspiring stories, poetry, photography and so much more. In their words it is 'by and for people living fully and digging deeper'.

Hip Mountain Mama is the awesome, ecologically conscious purveyor of "Funky Style for Free Spirits" 

{use code 'thankful' for 15% off through Monday}

Laura Emily's good earth living is a selection of beautiful, holistically-minded e-courses ranging from a year-long Apothecary Circle to a week of one-on-one focus meant to cultivate balance during the holiday season. She is also donating 15% of her proceeds to raise $5000 by December 31st to provide water to the developing world.

{use code 'COMMUNITY' for 30% off her courses}

I hope these give you some great ideas! 

Remember etsy is full of great shops and gorgeous vintage and handmade items too.

{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.

Inspired by SouleMama

the long haul

I've really been struggling this past week or so. Everything I have been working on within myself has been challenged and negative emotions are continually bubbling up. It's a conscious effort not to let myself be dragged down and enveloped by them.

Among many others, there is one particular situation that has been testing me the hardest and it has the potential to become permanent, or at the very least, long term. It's incredibly difficult to stay committed when there are many aspects of it that are in such complete opposition to how I need and want things to be. And the way I my envision my family seems to be falling apart. {{Not my family~just the vision.}}

But then part of me says to carry on ... and to let go of control and judgement ... to let go of the "what-ifs" and "if-onlys"and accept what is.

I am sincerely trying to disengage from it all and recognize that everything is as it should be for this moment. I have the notion that there are amazing lessons to be learned if I would just let these experiences wash over me rather than pick them apart.

And so, I am here.

the spirit of the season

Like every year before, the holidays have once again snuck up on me. It always seems that one day the air is just becoming crisp and the leaves are a fire of colors. Then suddenly the world goes gray and asleep and winter's cold, dark embrace clutches our very bones.

Embracing the spirit of the season takes on a deeper meaning when you think beyond the consumerism and hustle and bustle typically associated with this time of year. With the impending hurriedness of the coming weeks, I thought it would be a good time to remind both you and myself to make time for, well, ourselves.

Now is the time to turn inward. Move slowly. Nourish and replenish body and soul. Rest.
Just as we cycle between sleep and wakefulness, so we cycle with the seasons. Allow yourself to mindfully process the previous year so you can recover and make space for the coming one.

Take a moment, if you will, step back from it all and b r e a t h e.

100 list {part three}

A list of things I hope to accomplish in my time on this planet {in no particular order}:

51. shave my head
52. live to 114 years old (yep, I'm serious. It would be the year 2100.)
53. reach 100 blog followers
54. find my tribe
55. view a TED talk live
56. sell something on etsy
57. read Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom in its entirety
58. go to a nude beach
59. go just one month without spending any money
60. hike the full 2650 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail

do tell... what's on your list?

recipe: my mama's salsa

In a blender or food processor, combine

1 large onion, roughly chopped
26 oz. container of tomatoes with their juices (I like the kind in aseptic boxes because they are BPA free.)
1 bunch of fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
2-8 jalapeños--adjust to desired level of spiciness (could also use jarred pickled jalapeño slices)
salt to taste

a glorious weekend

(I'm a bit late posting our costume photos so they're getting thrown into this post.)

Flo (my MIL), Richard Simmons (yours truly), a froggy & Pocahontas.

my gorgeous girl 

silly henry boy

Sporting Mama's wig!

nap time

Cracking open geodes and found this lovely {tiny} quartz inside.

a thoughtful note from a dear aunt

prayers in the wind

Tea for Mama during nap time. This gorgeous mug is from here.

yummy vegan pizza for dinner

Hoping your weekend was exquisite!

recipe: vegan banana oat cookies

You guys, these are seriously some of the best cookies I've ever had. They are so moist and flavorful and healthy! Whole grains, no added fat, vegan, chocolate. I'm not gonna lie, we ate them for breakfast. 

This makes about 3 dozen cookies.

2 cups regular oats

1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp salt

1 TBSP cinnamon

1 1/2 cups mashed very ripe banana (about 3 large bananas)

1/2 cup maple syrup

1 cup peanut or almond butter

2 tsp vanilla extract

2/3 cup dried goji berries

1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. 

In a large bowl, combine banana, syrup, nut butter and vanilla. Add goji berries and stir to combine.

In a separate bowl, stir together oats, flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.

Add half the dry ingredients to the wet and stir to combine.  Add remaining dry ingredients and stir until completely incorporated. Add chocolate chips and stir again.

Using a spoon, scoop onto a cookie sheet, leaving about an inch between each cookie.

Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Let them cool on the cookie sheet about 5 minutes before placing on a cooling rack.

Don't feel guilty if these don't make it past the end of the day. I'm almost certain they won't around here!

and a little sunshine for your day!

stepping out of the shadows

I don't stand out.

For much too long, I've convinced myself that I am just fine blending in, observing, staying quiet or thinking I have nothing to offer.

Lately though I've felt this urge to overcome that part of myself that worries what others may think or say. To just say, "Fuck it!" and be me. Authentic. Who I was always been meant to be .

This journey I am on... I don't know what it means or where it is taking me but it is pulling hard. And in many directions. It can feel chaotic at times but I know that surrounding the chaos is exceptional beauty.

one must have chaos within oneself in order to give birth to a dancing star

friedrich nietzsche

a glorious weekend

We've been enjoying some insanely nice weather. It would be wrong not to soak up every last bit of sunlight when you know that at a moment's notice, the cold and dark will come to stay.

"just because" flowers {and isn't that the best kind?}

looove roasted squash!

How was your weekend?

{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.

Inspired by SouleMama

rediscovering myself

First order of business this morning: I get scared to write. So when I'm absent for days on end, that's likely why. It's not so much that I'm worried about you reading, it's more worry about what will emerge from the depths of me. You see, I'm on a journey. I've fought it for a while. But it finally occurred to me not to fear who I am becoming but to embrace it and not just enjoy the ride but be an active participant. Audacious, I know! So there's that. 

Now, about this journey... this transition. Where to begin?

I was raised in the Mormon church. I seriously questioned those beliefs in my teenage years and formally left the church when I was 20. Ever since, I've generally considered myself atheist/agnostic. In doing so, I neglected anything of spiritual nature, believing that was either nonsense or not a valid use of my time. All the while though, I've felt drawn to the belief that there is something else... something more. I've struggled with the idea that we live-we die-the end. I don't believe there is some man out there beyond that is God. But some kind of collective wisdom of every being, every soul ~woman, animal, rock & tree~ that has ever been... that resonates.

Right now, what I am drawn to most is absorbing information and more so, realizing and acknowledging the power that surrounds me. From crystals, the moon, within, beyond. Embracing my own soul and femininity seems like a good place to start and I'm feeling the pull of all these things. 

Years ago, a shaman friend gifted me two lovely stones, amethyst and quartz, and recently I have started to build a collection. I am beginning a meditation practice and have found that using these powerful crystals enhance and perhaps add focus to the experience.  This gorgeous piece arrived yesterday from Polly's shop and I am in awe. It is absolutely stunning. 

zara. amethyst necklace by polly

Brushing off the cobwebs and realizing I still have a soul has led me on an adventure. There are many more facets to my history, present, and future. I hope to share them with you and overcome my fears of digging deeper. 

a birthday girl!

Over the past weekend we celebrated my daughter's 5th (!!!) turn around the sun. A little bit of the shock has worn off but man! My little baby is a KID! She amazes me at the charming, silly, witty little lady that she is. People comment frequently on how full of personality she is and they're so right. This girl is so vivacious and passionate. It has been so cool to see her grow into who she is.

Each day for the past two weeks she would look at the calendar to countdown how many days until she was five. There was a lot of build up to this birthday! Isn't that how it goes when you're a kid though? 

 Because I get to spend the days with her, my husband has always done bedtime. But every night, after her teeth are brushed and stories are read and she's all tucked in, she says, "Tell mom to snuggle me!"And so I do. Admittedly sometimes begrudgingly. I'm realizing though that those days may be over soon so I'm really trying to make sure I soak it in. One day I'll be the one asking (begging?) her for snuggles.

 We spent the day before her birthday with lunch at Vertical Diner (a vegan restaurant) and at the Natural History Museum of Utah which is such an amazing place. Especially to see artifacts from people who lived right where we do but many many moons ago, it's just awe inspiring. 

 

 We made this cake and spent a lovely Sun Day at home. We like to keep it simple but meaningful. For the past two years, rather than a big party, we've made birthdays be family days. We all agree it's such a pleasant way to spend the day!

The days may be long but the years are without a doubt astonishingly short. The consolation is that I'm her mama and can join her on this journey. 

She makes me laugh; she makes me cry; she made me a mama.

And I love her so.

One day old!

dance

source

Forget your troubles and dance, 

Forget your sorrows and dance,

Forget your sickness and dance, 

Forget your weakness and dance

bob marley

a glorious weekend

:: butternut squash soup for breakfast

:: searching for the perfect pumpkin

:: papa & henry

:: mama & hen

:: bumping along on the hayride

:: my boy