Embracing Spirit

In order to grow we must first remove what it is in the way. Patanjali, creator of the Yoga Sutra, wrote about how the practice of Yoga contains 8 “limbs”. The Yamas and the Niyamas are the first two limbs and help guide us to being the best version of ourselves. The yamas are guidelines for how to operate in society, while the niyamas show how to elevate our inner being. Suacha is the second…

I’ve been making sourdough bread for about six months and have mastered a few of the discard recipes like banana muffins, waffles, English muffins and crackers. If you aren’t sure what I am talking about the “discard” is the stuff you would throw away when feeding your starter—I keep mine in a jar in the fridge so when I get the push to bake something, I have extra for some fun recipes. I am a…

Looking at this picture it looks like an average playground, right? A place where moms and dads take their little kids to play outside and learn to socialize. For most kids this is a place to squeal and run around with other kids that you don’t even know. Funny how kids can just jump right in where there is no judgment or shame or the tricky navigating that takes place as people begin to age and…

“Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” —Eleanor Brownn Over the years I have become a master at self care and what I once thought of as purely selfish or saved for the elite has long since diminished. When I had my great “wakeup” I realized that self-care is…

We have all heard it before, but I am hear to tell you there is so much truth to it. For years and years I have struggled with the effects of fibromyalgia and I have learned the more I move, the less I hurt. Many people who live with fibromyalgia—me included—would probably rather lay on a heating bad and hope the exhausting pain goes away, but the reality is movement will in fact make you feel…

I have permission from this man’s family to share a little of his story. I no longer work with him because of the pandemic moving him out of this facility but it was a great experience for me and we worked together for three years. His injury occurred when he was just 12 years old coming home from a family ski weekend in the mountains. An oncoming vehicle struck his family’s car and he was…

How can we maintain our strength and equilibrium in the face of our greatest challenge? Each morning I sit and read something with the intent to be inspired or at the minimum give me something to ponder throughout the day. This morning I reached for my Yoga 365 book and today’s passage was so aligned with a video I created yesterday talking about the mindful ways we can bring an added element to…

Comparison is the thief of joy.Theodore Roosevelt As human beings we are likely to have had a few times in our life where we longed for the greener grass that others seem to have. We might even spend some of our time filled with envy wishing that our experience is different than it is and that others have it better than we do. When I was a young mom I spent way too many days comparing myself…

It always marvels me just how adaptable we as humans can be. What initially may feel like a huge hurdle soon becomes a seamlessly easy routine. I’ve experienced this so much over my adult life without ever really connecting the dots that I have indeed adapted to situations that initially felt so overwhelming. New jobs, divorce, selling a home, retirement, and illness are all examples of…

Ever since I shared some sourdough discard crackers over on my instagram I have had a zillion questions about them. If you haven’t jumped into the sourdough craze you are definitely missing out. I will admit that at first it seemed like a LOT of work and time, but it really isn’t. I mean how much time do we spend mindlessly scrolling when we could spend a tiny bit of time eliminating garbage from…

Wait a minute. I chose the word vulnerability for 2023 and I thought I was done with being exposed emotionally, having to ask for help and all that other stuff that is so hard for me. Oh, how I was ever wrong. I left 2023 feeling pretty good about my progress in learning to be a little more exposed and willing to ask and receive help. Little did I know that I was all just practice for the BIG…

I am a tad late to the sourdough frenzy but now that I am all in, it’s been so fun. I have never been a big sandwich or bread eater so it’s more of a hobby than a homestead mission, though that could easily happen. My loaves may not be the perfection instagram bread making people get, but they taste delicious and work for my family. Why bake/eat sourdough? More digestive benefits than you could…

These make fantastic little valentine gifts for your loved ones as well as you. These are packed with powerful essential oils and rose quartz. Plus, I add a few rose petals for the pretty sake. Give, get and share other people in your life.♥️ Rose: Opens the heart chakra and allows you to feel unconditional love. Creates a sense of well-being and calmness while awakening your ability for…

I am an old pro when it comes to crutches and my beautifully flawed hip that I was born with has done her job. Monday I say farewell to her and welcome a new hip joint. This will be my fourth hip surgery on my left hip and I am ready to be without pain. My mindset is good and my peacefulness comes knowing that my surgeon is super skilled and compassionate. I am grateful for all the love and…

“Disappointment is a stepping stone to resilience. It toughens you up and prepares you for the challenges that lie ahead.”Michelle Obama Disappointment is such a strange thing. In my mind I know that all disappointments lead to some sort of lesson or growth, if we can choose to look for it. It may be that we learn our own value, how to walk away, or even deep acceptance. Regardless of the…

Since I am a newer sourdough fanatic I have quite a bit of extra sourdough. Honestly I try not to eat the whole loaf in a couple days so I usually have a quarter of loaf hanging around and found the perfect use of stale sourdough.. CROUTONS! I love adding these to salad or soup! They are so easy and so good! INGREDIENTS 6-8 cups cubed sourdough bread (at least one day old, or sliced and dried;…