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.