I've always loved watching the sunrises and sunsets...they give a deeper meaning to my days.  They are moments where I honor stillness, take the time to set my intentions and pause to remember...

Half way through my 40th year around the Sun, I am finally beginning to feel the inner connection I had as a child.  There is a playfulness to how I approach my time alone...

At the age of 40, I realize that everything in my life has prepared me to be completely present in this moment....to embrace the challenges of being a mama to a little man with autism but not loose myself in the struggles.

At certain points within our lives we are faced with a challenge...the opportunity to continue down our path OR to face ourselves, our true Selves....to make the conscious choice to love ourselves enough to do the work. 

For me, this opportunity came eleven years ago.....

For the majority of my life, I've struggled with boundaries....

It wasn't until I hit rock bottom, during my 30th year, that I realized Boundaries are born from Self Love & Self Respect. It was at this point, that I made the conscious decision to love myself enough to do the work. To face all the heartache and dysfunction I had been running from. I choose to say "enough is enough" is my own crazy shit!

It took several more years of therapy, my first yoga teacher training, and some really bad mistakes to begin to embody Sustainable Boundaries. Ones that are true to myself, yet not rigid, lacking empathy nor the space for connection. Boundaries that enhance my desires of living a connected healthy & happy life. Ones that act as a container when life becomes turbulent and unseemingly out-of-control. My Sustainable Boundaries help to guide me, where I can truly connect with my Creativity, Love, and Radiance.

To continue to embody Sustainable Boundaries, I layer practices where I recognize AND choose to listen to listen to them. In yoga, there are so many opportunities to move in a way that truly honors my body's limitations....there are as equally, if not more, opportunities to not move in a sustainable way. When I mindfully practice "Lord of the Dance" (Dancer/Natarajasana) I respect my lower back by cultivating strong physical boundaries around how deep I choose to take the pose. For me, Dancer is a pose that I can go to the limber extreme without any real pain at the time....it's later that I deal with the consequences. Moving in this mindful way on my mat, intentionally reinforces my Sustainable Boundaries....making the healthy pattern easier to access off of my mat.

If this post resonates with you, I would love to hear how you create Sustainable Boundaries within your life...

photo credit Vanessa Cerday Photography

or Lavender's origin is in the high mountains of Persia and southern France. It is a very hardy plant which can grow on rocky barren soil where few plants can survive and tolerates drastic temperature swings. In Haute Provence, there is a tradition of locals trekking up the mountains during late Summer to harvest the plant during the heat of the day, which is when the essential oil is at it's highest content. The lavender used in most essential oils today is cross of the wild French plant & a Spanish variety and is distilled through steam. This plant is described as having a light floral smell.

Lavender is considered one of the most versatile essential oils because of it's vast application and amazing qualities. We also have lavender in the house for it's ability to calm and stimulate & regenerate the nervous system. Part of anti-anxiety regiment is to diffuse lavender in the afternoon and rub the bottoms of my feet with a few drops at night. My son has sensory issues and we use diluted lavender on his back several times a day to help him calm....I literally don't leave the house without it! In addition to Lavender's calming & soothing qualities it is also a natural antibiotic, antiseptic, sedative and detoxifier. For the Mind & Spirit Lavender helps to cleanse, balance, streghten, stimulate, calm and refresh!

here are some of the ways my family has incorporated Lavender into our lives...

• 2 Tablespoons of coconut oil & 10 drops into a hot bath (adults only)
• place on cottonballs next to the pillow for restful sleep & to help keep any mosquitos away (great for camping)
• place on ribbon strips while enjoying a meal or evening outside to help keep the bugs away and infuse your outdoor living space
• add 1-2 drops to an 8oz glass of lemonade
• add a 1-2 drops to coconut chia pudding
• add 1-2 drops to a cup of white wine & juice of a lemon to stem artichokes
• add 1-2 drops to your dog's bandana to help with bugs
• add 1 drop to a q-tip and place around a tick to remove safely
• add to a salt bath to aide in detoxification...particularly helpful with bug & fire ant bites
• add 1-2 drops to palm and rub through your hair for a gorgeous sheen and aide with dandruff & cradle-cap
• rub on the bottom of the feet at night to calm
• add 1-2 drops to homemade caramel (at the end of the folding process)
• add 1-2 drops to homemade whip cream when it begins to form peaks
• add 1-2 drops to the palms, rub together, close the eyes & cup the face as you breathe in 10-20 slow deliberate breathes
• rub onto the shoulders and temples to relieve stress & muscle tension
• place on the bottom of the feet before meditation or restorative yoga
• apply neat (directly) to skin irritation, abrasion, sunburn or bruise to assist with healing
• add to coconut oil for a body rub & moisturizer
• place on clay diffuser in the car to calm during a long drive or traffic
• use 1-2 drops in lavender shortbread recipe instead of flowers
• place a few drops on wool dryer balls or a wash cloth to infuse your clothes
• use in cloth diaper pale
• place drops on clay diffuser in the bathroom
• add to 10-20 drops to a spray bottle of vinegar to use as eco-friendly and safe for animals & little ones cleaning spray
• 1-2 drops applied to the inside of my dog's ears during a thunderstorm to help calm

this information is from my personal experiences and my references The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood and the Complete Aromatherapy Handbook Essential Oils for Radiant Health by Suzanne Fischer-Rizzi.

to purchase therapeutic grade Lavender, click here.
if you are interested in essential oils, please reach out via the connect tab...or go directly to my essential oils site