DIY: Herbs

I've always wanted to have my own garden of herbs and vegetables, but my brother seems to have more of a green thumb than I do-- plus, I don't have a backyard and my apartment is small. When I came across this idea on Camille Styles, I immediately fell in love with the creativity behind the project. Plus, it doesn't take up space, which in an apartment is sometimes a huge factor.

From Claire,
{All you need}
old wooden board (I used a piece of painted wood I found by a torn down home)
mason jars
pipe clamps
triangle ring hangers
stainless hanging wire
picture hanger
chalkboard paint & chalk
brush
hammer, nails and screwdriver
herbs

{Instructions}
Space mason jars evenly on wooden board, and mark placement with a pencil in order to design and measure around.
Tape off rectangles on board, and paint with chalkboard paint as pictured above. This way, you can switch out herbs and change their labels accordingly.
Secure pipe clamps to wooden board by hammering a nail through the small holes in the pipe clamp.
On back of board, nail in ring hangers and tie on hanging wire.
Plant herbs in mason jars.
Place mason jars into pipe clamps and tighten with a screwdriver.
Nail picture hanger into the wall, and hang your herb display!

Twist

If you have a little time in the morning, this sequence is great for waking up your spine and muscles. Click here to check it out.

Thank you, Yoga Journal.

Beautiful Country Retreat

I dream to have a house exactly like this one day... I love rustic, simple furniture and exposed beams are probably one of my favorite things in a house. And the garden, need I say more? I love everything about this! What do you think? Love it or not so much?

all images via dustjacket attic

Allowing yourself to melt...

In life there are times when we want to walk away from something. It's either too hard, too painful, or it brings up something inside of us that we may not wish to see. In my yoga study right now, we are learning about the 8 limbs of yoga and within those limbs are many parts of yoga. One being the Yamas, which are the 5 moral restraints, and the other being the Niyamas which are the 5 observances. While I was reading about these 10 things, I realized that you could almost equate them to the 10 Commandments for yogis. Within these 10 moral codes, lies a lot of wisdom, but one that has really been resonating within me is the third one in the list of Niyamas, which is Tapas. Tapas is the word referring to "Austerity." The word "tapas" comes from the Sanskrit verb "tap" which means to "burn." The traditional interpretation of tapas is "fiery discipline." I was thinking about this in my own life last night as we were all sitting around, sweating after a good yoga practice. I think I actually sweat more than most people, but either way, I was dripping. As I sat there, I felt so rinsed, so cleansed, almost as if everything-- every toxin, every discouraging thought, everything that I tell myself that might be of disservice to me seemed to have literally "burned" out of me. In my life, there have been many instances when I have quit something because I felt it had gotten too hard, the pressure was too great, or I thought I just couldn't do it. I made up all these stories in my head, and before I could allow myself to really get through the hard part and melt away my doubt, I quit. In my yoga practice, it shows up when I get scared about teaching, or think I can't do a pose or get shaky and don't want to dig deeper, but when I let all of those surface feelings and doubts melt away, I can get to the other side through consistency, practice and allowing myself to melt into the process of something new, instead of fighting it. My mom read a quote to me over the weekend and I have no idea where it was from, but it talked about doubt and how when you doubt yourself then you know you must be on the verge of something great because usually, doubt comes from a place of fear-- Fear of not succeeding. If I find the actual quote, I will definitely let you all know. It was good!

But, I just wanted to share my thoughts on this... I think sometimes moving through the fire, allowing yourself to melt and be renewed can be one of the best things in life. It opens us up to something new, and burns away old patterns of thinking, only leaving us with what is real and the reality is, that we are all capable of getting what we want, receiving, awakening and really becoming our true selves and living from our core. Sometimes we just have to go through things that hurt, that are painful and really aren't all that pleasant to get there, but that's okay. Learning to stay in the fire and to keep going when all you want to do is quit, is far better than never learning that you can reach your goal.

I hope all of you have a great evening!
And this week... keep working towards your goal to what you want most in your life- reach for it!

P.S. If you want to read a great article on the Niyamas, check it out here: Yoga Journal

image via pinterest

Vegan Zucchini Bread

Good Wednesday morning my dears! Last week, I made vegan zucchini bread with some strawberry butter and I thought I'd share the recipe. I'd never made any vegan baked goods, but this was surprisingly simple and with the strawberry butter (not vegan), it literally melted in my mouth! Click HERE for the Vegan Zucchini Bread recipe and click HERE for the strawberry butter.

One Week Later

Well hello there everyone! I am sorry for the week long radio silence. I've been out of town celebrating family, friends and birthdays (mine included). I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things and I'm excited for a weekend in town! :) I hope all of you have been great. I'll try to make up for the lack in posting, but for now... I hope all of you are having a great week!

image via pinterest

Rainy Tuesday

Good Tuesday Morning! The rain is coming down and I woke up to the sound of thunder, which I love!

I might just bring out my Hunter rain boots, which haven't been brought out since last spring...

Hope you all have a great day, stay dry! :)
P.S. Later today, I'm making vegan zucchini bread with strawberry butter... I'll try to blog about it later!

Happy Monday!

Hello all! I hope you guys had a great weekend. I can't even describe how awesome, challenging, replenishing, yet exhausting the yoga retreat was. All in all it was a really wonderful experience that really challenged me physically, mentally and emotionally. There were times when I wanted to run away, and there were times when I thought, "I can't do this." But as soon as I stopped focusing on myself and started focusing on the reason I was there, I felt a shift and really let myself relax into it. Sometimes we get into our heads. I used to be really terrible about allowing other people's thoughts and opinions, as well as my own self defeating thoughts make my decisions for me. For the first time, I'm learning to trust myself and do things because I love them... not because I should or shouldn't. So perhaps this week, do something just for you, that you love... and not because of anyone else, only for yourself. :) It sounds selfish, but really it isn't...

As for this Monday, I am getting settled back in and doing lots of laundry. It feels nice to be back in my apartment. But, I leave for Colorado on Wednesday... hitting the ground running again!

Let's get things shakin'...

Hello loves! I can't believe it's already Wednesday! I leave tomorrow for my first yoga retreat weekend! I can't believe it's already here. I'm so excited! :) Bring on the heart openers, hip openers and back bends... I've got to get all of my stuff together--towels, mat, blocks, straps and 2 yoga outfits for every day we're there... pretty crazy, eh? That's a lot of yoga!

Hope you all shake some things up this weekend... And in the mean time... give a listen to a little Grateful Dead and some Good Lovin'! Guaranteed it'll make you wanna dance a little bit. ;)

Notes from the Weekend

Good Morning my dears! I hope you all had a great weekend. Sorry for the no post yesterday, I was traveling back from Arkansas. I went to the NWAFW, and was very pleasantly surprised. It was so well executed, the shows were exciting and it was such a great time. Fueled by cocktails and fashion, how could it not be? You can check out more photos on At Home Arkansas, with front row access with Tulip Louise.

We also had some great food this weekend. We went to one of my favorite places to eat dinner, Greenhouse Grille and the next morning we hit up the Little Bread Co.

I can't even tell you how delicious they both were. I had never been to the Little Bread Co. and now I want to go every single time I'm in Fayetteville. I had "The Sunny Side" which is eggs, avocados and tomatoes....

Does it get much better?

I hope you all had a great weekend and are having a great week!

Power

Yes, let's talk about power. Many of us forget we have power and some of us use our power too much. So what does the balance look like and how do you come from a seat of power without being in your ego?

Well, I was thinking about this earlier today and I think "power" comes from being comfortable with yourself and really owning who you are. Sometimes we find that we have to recognize that we are in fact, powerless to become powerful. These things include changing other people, solving their problems, and controlling their behavior.

It's important to surrender to powerlessness, but it's also important to own your power at the same time. We have the right to set boundaries, say what we need and take care of ourselves and our needs.

Stepping into your own power requires that you let go of anything outside of yourself, and only look inward. You learn to own your power essentially by letting go of all the things that you think defines your life and instead define yourself from the core of who you are... not by the job, relationship, how much money you make or what your social status might be in life. All of that is ever-changing and as soon as we get wrapped up into those things we essentially become a slave to them and we become powerless in our own lives. For a long time, I couldn't have a relationship. Yes, I dated, but I couldn't give of myself fully because I needed to "have" myself first and not get caught up in defining myself in any other way. That way once I did decide to have a relationship... I wouldn't risk losing myself in it so much, because it wouldn't become defining. Does that make sense? If you let go of the outside, you can ebb and flow better on the inside. Letting things pass through you without letting them "make or break you."

This way you can step into something, enjoy it, and let it go...

When you release there isn't a sense of gripping onto anything or holding on when it might not be working for you anymore.

Through stepping into your own power, you can essentially give more of yourself, devote yourself, and love others more because you still have yourself, while giving. Therefore, you can benefit yourself and others without being selfish and without losing who you are!

Anyway, I just wanted to share that with all of you! We should all come into ourselves and radiate... let go and be powerful!



image via metaphysicalheart

Spring Showers

Hello all! It's rainy weather here in the South, from Houston all the way to Arkansas. I've been trying to figure out what to bring for the NWAFW, and I seemed to have packed everything I own (almost).

I love these two rainy day looks. They are both so chic and simple!

images via notetosarah and modernhephburn

Enough Said.

Happy Tuesday! I hope the week is treating all of you well. I recently started taking Green Magma in the morning and in the evening and I can't tell you how much it has changed my energy levels. Not to mention that it is also great for hair, skin, nails, digestion, liver function, immunity, everything!

Green Magma is available in your natural foods store. If you live in Fayetteville, Arkansas you can find it at Ozark Natural Foods, if you live in a city where there's a Whole Foods, you can find it there or at your Natural Grocers.

I definitely suggest trying it! I mix mine in a mango flavor Good Belly juice!

{March Happenings...}

Hi all! So, I hardly ever share personal photos and I'm not really sure why. I thought I would give you all a little bit of "real" life. I am currently loving all the signs of spring. Warmer weather, flowers everywhere + floral pants I found this weekend {Zara}.

The salad I made has Kale, spinach and other greens, tangerines, apples, pine nuts, avocados and purple onion. I put lemon all over it, and used lemon olive oil and balsalmic for the dressing. I must say, it was delicious!

Happy Monday! Enjoy the day! :)

PS this weekend Northwest Arkansas is having their first fashion week. It's going to be wonderful! I'm so excited. Check it out here: NWA Fashion Week.

Going for It...

As many of you know from reading this blog, I fell in love with yoga last April when I began going to Yoga Ananda, here in Houston. Since walking into class that day, I had no idea how much my life would be impacted for the better in doing this practice. It is something that I believe in, it's something that is never perfect and it's something that brings you to your core. There is no room for ego in this practice, only you. In February, I started think about doing a teacher training with YA, but I wasn't quite sure. I had a weird end of the year last year (but, also good and a blessing in many ways), and the beginning of this year very much set into motion a time for a massive healing within my family. As I thought about all the reasons why I shouldn't do the teacher training program, I realized that none of them had to do with me. I say that only because, I think that sometimes we are influenced by getting caught up into what we should do for others, which is a very great and a wonderful thing at times, but I've noticed that it's also good to set boundaries and allow people to be supportive of what is best for you. Often times you find that all the people you were running around doing things for, turn out to be the most supportive. In life you give and you take. You receive and you give out. In doing things for yourself, it allows for you to do more things for others and be there for others. So, this weekend do something for yourself, just because you want to!

I hope you all are enjoying the day and thanks for stopping by the blog! :)

P.S. I'll keep you updated on how the teacher training is going throughout the process!

Simple Enough?

This sounds really simple, doesn't it? But for some reason, I often times feel like this is one of the hardest concepts. It's almost as if as soon as everything gets clear, something comes up and it's like wait a second.... I was going this way and now I am going that way. All in all, I guess that's what keeps things interesting and makes life fun.

I hope all you do something that makes you happy today.

I am so glad it's March. I feel spring approaching and it's lovely. :)

image via vogueandcoffeetumblr