Patreon!

Just a quick update!
I've been studying and working so much! My Shamanic Apprenticeship is almost up and I've learned an incredible amount. There is more learning, seeing and experiencing to do.. I can't wait. This life is so beautiful, even when something unexpected pops up.

I opened a Patreon account if anyone would like to check it out! I have special tiers set up that you can get monthly dowsing sessions (with rods or pendulum) or Tarot sessions on a video chat.

Click here to check it out!

I'll be cross-posting here, as well, so anything public on Patreon can be seen here on the blog.

A Forced Cleansing

It's 2018.
I've been M.I.A here since January of 2017! Amazing how we can let time fly isn't it? All we have to do is ask it to slow down.

2017 was full of challenges and stress. It was a year long test that ended with our house catching fire. It didn't burn down, thank goodness, but we have a long way to go before we can move back in. The smoke damage is beyond what I could have ever imagined, everything is rusted and melted, everything is black, everything smells. Fire is so powerful and seeing what it can do in such a short period of time is truly awe-inspiring. I thank Spirit every single day for waking me up before the smoke took total control of our home. We made it out. The animals made it out. We made it.
I struggled the first few days after the fire, asking what I had done wrong to bring about such incredible destructive power. After sitting with that thought for a few days I realized that I was wrong. I have done something right. I woke up to a voice in my head that said "WAKE UP!" and within 1-2 minutes we were out of the house and safe and as we were shutting the door behind us the flames were taking over our dining room. It was quite a powerful thing to see.

I was woken.
I have done something right and the Universe knew that I needed this fire, as odd as that may sound. Fire is cleansing. Fire takes the old away and offers a fresh start if you're willing to let yourself rise out of the ashes like the great Phoenix.
It pains us to let go of the physical representation of the memories we've made together and it's hard to let go of things. It's saying goodbye to your old life and saying hello to something new. Sometimes new is scary but, if you're willing to accept it, it can help you grow in so many ways.

As a family we are closer and loving harder and it's been so wonderful.
As individuals, we are finding ways to cope with our new life paths.

I can't speak for my Joe and my Olivia, as their journey's are theirs and not mine to share, but my life journey has taken off once again and I'm so incredibly grateful.

I've been accepted as an Apprentice to further my Shamanic journey, my soul's purpose that I've known my whole life, but was always a little nervous to jump off the cliff. I've jumped and I can feel the Universe and Spirit soaring with me. My intention for this journey is not only to further myself in the world of healing and true love, but to help everyone around me further themselves and their life paths, as well. I can't wait to share this journey with you all.

Changes are happening and I'm inviting my readers to change with me. We can heal together, we can love together, we can breathe together and we can keep our fires going inside of our hearts and find our soul reason for being here on this plane in this lifetime.

Much love to you all<3

Remember the only way to truly do, is to be.

☆☾☆☾☆

New Year's Goals

As always, with a new year comes new goals. I've been feeling much more productive in the last month, partly thanks to an attitude adjustment and partly thanks to a gorgeous Mookaite Jasper pendant I now where. Mookaite Jasper is a motivating stone and I swear it works; the magic produced by the Earth is really something. 

Living in Georgia adds to my productive feeling, I have the ability to start seeds extra early. So of course I've gotten some onion, artichoke, pomegranate and flower seeds in some little seed starting pots.

That simple 45 minute activity perked me up! I was in a mini funk last summer and fall because I wasn't able to really plant much because of our move and unpacking, Joe's company bought up a bunch of smaller companies so he was working 10-12 hour days 6 days a week for 3 months, my random work schedule, etc.. It all just added up and I couldn't spend as much time outside planting and doing what brings me meditative peace. This year, however, will be different; we have much more time to enjoy those things. 

So what exactly does the rest of the year look like for me? Well, honestly, a lot of hard work and a lot of 'I don't know' but, I can try and break down my monthly goals to build up to my ultimate goal of having enough of an overflow of fruits, vegetables and eggs that I'm able to successfully support myself on just my small farm. January's goals are pretty simple, some are fun and some are just normal things that I'm trying to do to keep up with adulthood. I've hooked up with Angie and Karen's Monthly Goals link-up again to do just that!

Fun Goals:

•   Read 2 books
•   Do my barre dvd 3 times a week
•   Save an extra $250 for longevity items - I will explain what this is and more importantly why in detail later, but these items would be bottled spring water/canned food/dehydrated foods/etc.
•   Plant Amaryllis bulbs
•   Start at least 50 more onion seeds and 3-4 types (15-20 each) of flower seeds
•   Go to the Georgia Guidestones

House Goals:

•   Finish cleaning out the last closet of my stuff at the farmhouse
•   Buy two invisible books shelves for my bedroom
•   Hang invisible shelf in living room
•   Take donation boxes to church
•   Get previous owners couch out of the house! THIS WAS AN OCTOBER GOAL, UGH WHYYY DO I SUCK!?
•   Buy enough hangers to hang all my clothes and then actually hang them
•   Get empty unpacked boxes out of the office and into the fire pit

 Blog/Work Goals:

•  Blog 1 time a week - 1 time? That's not hard! For me it's nearly impossible, but once I get in the habit of posting I will continue with no problem.
•  Take inventory of what SK Body Shop stuff I have left and revamp my company to integrate it with the farm
•  Start planning what markets/festivals I'll be working this spring and summer

Add your goals to the link up here!

12 Days of Christmas Swap Reveal

Wow, it's already January 4th!! I meant to have this up days ago. Christmas and New Year's flew by. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season! I, personally, had a blast. Christmas Eve was at my parent's house, Christmas was at my house, both days were in the low 70s and gorgeous. For New Years we rang in 2017 with all our neighbors at Casa Banana (HUGE rental home/vacation family home/wedding venue/prime fishing spot for all of us that live here that one of the neighbors owns at the end of our street.)  

☾☆☾☆☾☆☾☆☾☆☾☆☾☆☾☆☾☆☾☆☾☆☾☆☾☆☾☆☾☆☾☆☾☆☾☆☾☆☾☆☾☆☾☆☾☆☾☆

Another awesome thing that happened in December was the last 12 Days of Christmas Swap put on by Angie and Beth. My partner was the wonderful Erika from Cat Eyes and Skinny Jeans.

I was so excited when I opened the box! Right on top was a pink princess stocking for Olivia, that she immediately took out and started asking if she could open her presents :) Erika didn't have to get anything for her, but she did and it was all very well received and very much loved! 

I wasn't able to get a picture of the LaLaLoopsy toy that she got because it was open and already meeting other dolls in Olivia's room within 30 seconds, but that's okay! I also can't find the Christmas themed coloring book she got Olivia that we have both enjoyed coloring. It's amazing though, I feel like I've seen that book daily for the last 2.5 weeks and when I want to take a picture I can't find it.

This is after the first 4 days of opening :) How cute are all the ways she wrapped everything?! Boxes, bags and wrapping paper!

First let me say, I love deer and I love this super cute, soft deer ornament! Olivia got the milk and cookies one :)

I love Julep polish and I love this color Erika picked out.

I love sweets. I really, really do and this Rudolph Mix had a great variety and was so good. I'm definitely going to be buying more soon. It's from Target if you want some, too!

As I said earlier, I love deer and this mug is perfect; it's so pretty. I've used it a lot already and can't wait to use it for the Chocolate Peppermint (yum!) mug cake.

During our email exchange getting to know each other, Erika asked what holiday movies I like but don't own. I didn't know and basically just said we love anything family friendly. And ya know what, I'm shocked we don't already own Prancer! We enjoyed a nice little family movie night at home watching it over winter break.  

 

Look at these!! Non-GMO (super important to me and very kind of Erika to find) spruce and poinsettia seeds! I've been wanting to add some smaller, bushier trees to our landscape and the spruce seeds are perfect. I also LOVE poinsettias and this gives me a reason to start growing them early in late summer and enjoy them all next fall and winter. 

 

I love a good quick read. I'm looking forward to reading this one by the fire on the few cold days that are coming up. Yes, I said cold. It's going to be in the 30s for two days.

And last but not least, this yummy candle. It smells like winter and I love the little design on the labels. Once it's all burned I'll be adding a new wick and some more wax and scents because it really is a nice little candle container.

Thank you so so much Erika! I love everything!

A really late goals update!

I'm talking LATE goals update. I was supposed to do this the first week of November😐
I've been busy..and not with my goals.

Alright let's see how this panned out....

Fun Goals:

•   Be tasters at the Madison Chili Cook-Off Yes, it was awesome!
  
•   Go to Trick or Treat in our downtown area. No but we finally found a neighborhood to trick or treat in! It only took 3 years.
•   Take Olivia to a pumpkin patch  No, but got some awesome pumpkins!
•   Do my barre dvd once a day Big NO
•   Save an extra $250  Yes, already spent on Christmas gifts.
•   Dig up new garden area and cover with cardboard and compost (this is technically a "house" goal but I consider it fun!)  No :( Work is killing all my free time.
•   Stock the freezer with fresh homemade pumpkin butter (Olivia's favorite thing) YES
•   Go to the Georgia Guidestones  No, again, work - boo.
•   Go to a fall festival Yes!

House Goals:

•   Clean out the last closet at the farmhouse (I still have an overflowing closet full of my stuff over there..Sorry mom!) I got most of it out, so I'm counting this one as a win.
•   Buy and hang invisible book shelves in bedroom Nope.
•   Pack and take donation boxes We donated food, but we are still packing toys/clothes.
•   Organize desk and Stella Kenton supplies Nope
•   Get couch out of the house! This should really be number 1. The people that used to own our house asked if we wanted to keep a couch and we said no, but they left it anyways. It's not a nice couch. It's not dirty or anything, it's just really old and ugly and just feels ehhh, plus it's taking up a lot of space. NO AHH
•   Unpack 1 box a week!! With my work and Olivia's school/after-school schedule and Joe's crazy long hours (converting a bunch of smaller companies they just bought) has made it difficult for us to get our house where we'd like it to be in a timely fashion. YES
•   Get Joe to move more of his tools to the shed. He insists on keeping them in his office for some reason and it's making me slightly batty. He moved some out and now he just has to organize the rest!

 Blog/Work Goals:

•  Blog 2 times a week NOPE
•  Start making products again and start advertising Stella Kenton again  NOPE
•  Start putting together a giveaway NOPE
  
  
  Got 8/19 done. Not that great but at least it wasn't 0/19!

12 Days of Christmas Swap!

Posting a quick update on the next swap I'm in with the Chaotic Goddess Swap ladies! Plus, it's a nice little distraction to what is happening in our crazy, hectic, political world.

I did this one last year and it is so fun! You and your partner each get a minimum of 12 gifts for each other to be opened each day before Christmas. Sign ups are open until Monday November 14, come join us!! 

Sign up here!

Swapoween Show Off

This year's Swapoween with all the awesome blogger ladies was great! It was a little different because we had an odd number sign up, so we had two partners! I sent a package to Rebecca and Beverly sent a package to me. 

I LOVE it all!

When I opened the box I thought the pumpkin was real! It looks great and is so cute mixed in with all my other decorations. I got my all time favorite candy, the mini Twizzlers, and some delicious Lindt pumpkin truffles and caramel filled Ghirardelli chocolate. I got some fall themed note paper, which is perfect because I am a list maker and some fall printed tissues!

I also got a delicious smelling Cinnamon Coffee candle, a beautiful stamped out pumpkin candle holder and some spiced potpourri shaped like little pumpkins. 

Thank you so much Miss Beverly, I love it all!!! 

The next Swap is the 12 Days of Christmas Swap! Come join us - sign ups start November 7.