HEARTBREAKER BANQUET

This week is one that I won't forget.  James and I were so honored to be invited by Minnetonka to attend the Heartbreaker Banquet, a private festival at Willie Nelson's ranch.  The moment I read the email invite my heart burst open with excitement and disbelief!  I'm soooo happy that James had already taken off work b/c we were planning to attend The Renegade Fair in austin, but were a bit unsure if we really wanted to go this year, so our plans became wide open for this immediately.  I knew it would come and go so fast, and be a distant memory, so I soaked in as much as I could throughout the day.

The ranch was so beautiful, built like an old western town.  All of the sponsors of the event had their booths inside the old buildings, and were all giving away free stuff.  Everything was free except the food cart venders.  I got to drink free homeade moonshine all day from Midnight Moon, a company that handmakes their moonshine with fresh fruit... my favorite was the blueberry basil one... mmmmm... 

James and I felt so honored b/c we were considered VIP since we were invited guests of one of the sponsors, and we got to hang out in the back area with all the bands and people putting it on.  I was hoping to see Willie walking around back there, but that didn't happen...  Of course, we didn't know anyone, so we just hung out by ourselves, but it was still way cool to be able to do that, and to watch all the bands from the porch of the old saloon.

It was so nice to meet the gals from Minnetonka in person... they are wayyyy sweet!  We were hoping to get together and have drinks with them once their work was done, but by that time Willie was on stage and of course that took priority for everyone.  Ive seen him live several times, but it was soooo cool to see him play in his own home environment.  Such a different experience.  Such an honor.  I didn't get any great photos of him playing b/c all I had was my phone... You weren't allowed to bring a real camera unless you were press. 

Another fun thing that happened was an impromtu photoshoot for Minnetonka!  All of a sudden they came up to me and asked if they could take some photos of me around the ranch.  I was super excited and also I was soooooo nervous b/c there were so many people around.  Im not used to taking my photos in front of anyone!  But I got my brave on and just went for it.  They should be on the Minnetonka blog sometime, eeek!  They also shot their upcoming lookbook their with Natalie and Dylana Suarez, I can't wait to see it.  I'm kicking myself for not introducing myself to them now.  They were a few feet in front of us backstage and I couldn't work up my silly nerves to talk to them.  The girls from Minnetonka told me we were going to have drinks later that night with them and the Suarez girls, so I thought Id still have a chance to meet them, but then of course the time and night got away from us all.  It was still nice to see them in person, they are just as beautiful! 

It was such a great night, one I will never forget. 

PIECES OF HOME // LIFE LATELY

My boy brought me home some pretties flowers... Flowers always make me happy!

It got cold enough to have a few more fires in the fireplace...

James made quite a few french press coffees... soo good.  And isn't his bedhead the cutest?

I traded my friend Marissa for this amazing wall hanging.  It feels right at home in my nest...

We got my parents shed moved over to our house... Things are becoming final.

Ive been re-reading my north nodes, and reading James... Always so fascinating.

Delilah's long lost lover found her... now we have two longhorns skulls!  (a sweet gift from our neighbor)

All of these stones were gifted to me within 24 hours!!! Hard to believe...

I have found Violet snuggled in bed so many times this week.... she is just so damn cute!

Always enjoying snuggles from this little girl...

These are a few of the happenings in between all of my custom orders, hours in the studio, hours editing photos for lookbooks and hemming pants and preparing for a festival tomorrow!  Its been a very good week, along with a few emotional ups and downs, naturally.  I'm so looking forward tomorrow and I am just PRAYING my moontime does not come tomorrow morning and knock me down... which I think is what is going to happen.  But I have my fingers crossed!!!

Anyone going to the Heartbreaker Banquet tomorrow??????

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

I simply love capturing things that bring me joy in a photo.  And can you believe how those Novella Royale bells compliment the blanket I recently thrifted???  Amazing.

MAKING HEALTHY CHOICES

I am trying to make some healthier choices in my day to day routine.  Once again I have found myself in a rut of old habits and its time to turn the wheel.  Here are a few things Ive been trying to do lately to help that...  Starting with breakfast.  I am a fried egg junkie.  Period.  I realized the other day that I had eaten fried eggs for breakfast for almost a month straight.  I decided to start mixing it up again with one of my other favorites that I have let fallen to second, yogurt, berries & granola.  I need to learn to switch it up more often... but I get so into my habits... especially with food.

When Im in my unhealthy habit routine I will grab a granola bar and call it lunch, and eat while I am packaging up packages or answering emails.  This. is. no. good.  When Im in my healthy habit state I generally eat some sort of 'pickers' lunch like this depending on what we have on hand, and eat it outside if the weather is nice... with no technology!  I need alot more of this in my life.

Dinner is tricky around our house b/c James and I have very different eating habits and tastes.  I eat alot more pasta and chicken than I would on my own b/c it is what he loves.  I don't mind so much, but I do love the nights where we each cook our own meals... Like this huge chicken salad.  It had apples, almonds, grapes, dried cherries and feta with strawberry balsalmic dressing.  I actually really love making my own dinners. 

Snack time for me is usually a shake.  And I won't lie, I don't make the 'healthiest' of shakes.  There is nothing bad in it, but it is quite fattening Im sure... but I love it, and I don't care.  Usually has almond milk, flax oil, banana, peanut or almond butter, coconut oil, cinnamon, green powder & ice... and just recently I found out about adding curry and pumpkin spice to shakes, so that goes in there too.  Oh, and dates or figs.  So so yummy!!!

Drinking more herbal tea.  Since I got the tea mix from Danmala Teas I am way more excited to make tea than just with my normal tea bags.  This takes it to a whole new dimension.  I just tried this blend called Bohemia and oh my I am in love.  It is sweet and floral, which I actually thought I would not like, but I was blown away with its taste.  It is just right.  And is not ridiculously beautiful?

I tend to wait to use my essential oils until I am in dire need of them... like when Im in the middle of a migraine or really pms-ing.  I have been trying to remember to use my favorite oil blend Clary Calm a few days before I start those feelings and it really helps me when I do.  Another daily self nourishing thing I have been using is LaLaEarth's breast butter for daily and life long breast health.  It is so important to me since I came from a line of women with breast cancer including my mom and grandmother, and lost my mom to it.  This is probably my favorite self nourishing thing I do.  (I'm not sure if its still active, but try using the code ROOTS10 for 10% off anything in her shop)

Another big healthy choice I am trying to make is more quality time with James.  As with any relationship there are ups and downs, ebbs and flows... and with the preparation of selling my parents house, the cold winter months that seem to be dragging on, bouts of moodiness and depression from both of us, work stress, lack of time with friends, lack of exercise and the list probably goes on and on... we have found ourselves in a bit of a slump.  A slump of stagnation.  So we made a joint effort after finally communicating about it to bring back more of our fun things we used to do together, like playing scrabble.  (of course I kicked his ass, but that is besides the point... right?)  And any other little thing we can do or ways we can think of each other...  Relationship and marriage is alot of fun, but also alot of work, and sometimes it is downright scary at how hum drum it can be at times... But we have both learned over the years sometimes you just need to pay more attention, change your routine, put the focus back on each other, list the things you are grateful for, and do the things that feel like 'play' together more often.  Its a constant learning process.

Yoga.  Need I say more?  NO, but I will... I have been doing yoga off and on since I was about 18.  Um... almost 14 years now... but sadly I have never allowed myself a very loooong duration of being fully committed to it.  I take time off, I do it once a week, or once a month, sometimes everyday for a little while, then back to every now and then.  I realized the other day how desperate my body was for movement, and I remember I had this dvd set my friend let me borrow.  (I need to return it soon so I will be getting my own copy soon, its worth it).  This video kicks my butt and is way different than the gentle yoga I do in my local town when I attend class... but I like it b/c it feels more like a real work out.  And since there are so many different dvds that focus on different things you don't get bored.  I get bored easily with doing the same dvd routine over and over again.  With any kind of workout.  I think that is why I never stick with them.  Anyway, I love The Ultimate Yogi, so thank you Marissa for letting me borrow it all this time!  It feels good to be back on the mat.

My biggest personal favorite way of showing myself love is through the bath.  Probably b/c I am a cancer and so connected to water.  When I am in the bathtub I can really think, bliss out, read, write, whatever it is I feel I need to get out or do during that time... I can focus more fully than I can out of the water.  Out of the water I am fidgety, I can't keep myself contained to one space... I can truly relax in the water.  There was a period a little while back when I realized I hadn't taken a bath in what felt like a few months, which is almost unheard of for me.  I realized quickly this might be part of why I was feeling so off.  Water grounds me, and connects me to spirit.  I need my time in water.

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Do you have any old or bad habits you feel like you need to release right now?  What is keeping you from doing so?  Are there things you used to take more time for but now realize they are in your distant past?  How can you resurrect them today?  Remember, it really is a choice.