Gratitude for All Places

{ The garden and view from my friends' land }

On this last trip out to British Columbia, I felt my desire to live in nature reach epic heights. The idea of waking up to the sounds of the river and birds, spending my days surrounded by greenery and vegetation, and welcoming nights with a fire at sunset, makes my heart happy.

Though I really do want to live outside of the city, my time away has also encouraged me to be incredibly grateful for the aspects of urban life that I love. Coffee shops a short walk away, friends and family all around me, and a super cute neighbourhood to call home. When it comes to where you live, what are you grateful for?

{ A picturesque garden gate }

{ I could see this from the sink while washing dishes }

{ Gigantic butterflies were everywhere }

{ I love chickens... }

{ Fresh eggs everyday, delicious! }

{ Sun sets over the greenhouse }

Mango Mint Green Smoothie Recipe

A delicious Mango Mint Green Smoothie

Starting my mornings off with green smoothies is an obsession of mine. Not only do they taste DELICIOUS, but they also start the day off right with raw, superfood goodness. I'm in the habit of getting inspired by recipes, and then creating my own version based on my preferences and what I have in the house (or garden!) This Mango Mint Green Smoothie was based on a refreshing concoction I tried at Jupiter in Tofino, BC.

• 1 handful leafy greens ( I used spinach & pea sprouts)
• 3/4 cup frozen organic mango
• 1/4 organic banana
• 1/3 cup coconut milk
• 3/4 cup water
• 2-3 tbsp chia seeds
• 10-15 fresh mint leaves
• Sweetener to taste (I used coconut tree sap, but honey, dates, raisins & maple syrup are also good choices)
• Optional: hemp hearts, flax seeds, spirulina

Blend all, and enjoy! Happy sipping.

Make your own, and have fun with the recipe!

July's Full Moon is Here! How to Celebrate

The full moon rising over a volcano lagoon in Nicaragua

I never did pay much attention to how the moon's cycles affected me, growing up. Although I always loved the silvery white light it emanated, I didn't think of how the moon could affect me. In fact, for quite some time, I refused to believe that such seemingly insignificant transitions could affect the earth, or its inhabitants, in any way.

Then, a couple years ago, I started to pay attention. I began to notice how my emotions and energy were consistently affected by 'la luna'. The moon's phases also show themselves outwardly, regulating women's menstrual cycles and the oceans, while farmers have planted according to the moon's pull for centuries.

Now, I always make sure to honour the phases of the moon as a means to connecting with something larger than myself. Each moon phase holds a different energy and significance, with the auspicious full moon being the most celebrated. Tomorrow marks July's full moon, and to celebrate, here is a breakdown of how you can get in touch with it's power:

• The evening prior to a full moon - Recharging Night - Get your body, as well as any crystals, food, oils, lotions, or any other substances that interact with your body in direct moonlight. Try to spend at least 2 hours under this moon if you can, to maximize it's recharging power.
• The full moon: Releasing Night - An important night to take advantage of, and a powerful time to release any blocks you're ready to get rid of (emotional wounds, anger, sorrow, patterns). Do this aloud or on paper by saying "I am willing to release __________, and I ask that all patterns of __________ be released instantly. Thank you."

* According to Doreen Virtue, pHD

Water and the moon have been intrinsically linked for millennia

This full moon took place while I was in Nicaragua in April

My Summer Collection is Coming!

I've been super busy working on my summer crystal collection called Elementals, and I'm so excited to unveil it at the beginning of July! Elementals is extremely inspired by the forces of nature - earth, air, wind and fire - while the name itself refers to the spirits of nature. I chose to shoot the collection's photos in picturesque Tofino, on the west coast of Canada.  Here's a very sneak peak of what to expect when the Elementals launches:

{ Model: Shauna of Connekt - Photo by Krista of Social City Networking - Edits & Necklaces by Waves of Fire }

Do you feel worthy of connection?

{ Admiring the vista }

Sometimes I put pressure on myself to connect with Nature in the way that I want to. I read epic stories of adventure, of spiritual connection, and of rebirth, that take place amongst the trees and ocean, and I want that for myself. 


On a muddy hike out to a secluded beach last Friday, I sat at the ocean, meditating, hoping to connect. And what the wind's whispers reminded me of, was that I am connection itself. I am a part of the land, I am a part of the waves, and really, I am a part of nature. Instead of pushing to feel worthy enough to be a part of nature’s epic party, I can now surrender to the fact that the trees and the creatures are, like the Native peoples before us have said, my brothers and sisters - we can never be separated. 

{ Muddy boots and lounging legs resting mid-hike }

{ The secluded beach we hiked out to }

{ Age-old trees near the ocean }

{ Traversing pathways before heading back }

Organic Eats & Delicious Treats

{ The delicious salad we made with freshly picked organic veggies and edible flowers! }

I absolutely adore the feeling of picking fresh organic food from the garden, and making a meal from it. I’d never had the experience until last summer, when my partner and I grew our first garden, and now I’m hooked! There’s something incredibly magical about being so connected to what’s on your plate.

While our plants this year are still in their infancy, the sunny valleys of British Columbia are already bursting with ready-to-eat veggies. I took advantage of this while staying with friends last week, and made an epic meal with edibles I’d never heard of. I looked into a few of the plants in our meal, and found that they're surprisingly nutritious.  

{ My friends' incredibly beautiful garden. }

{ Mallow - Mallow is great for inflammation, and when made into tea,
it is very soothing for sore throats and coughs. }

{ Chickweed - Chickweed is high in iron, chlorophyll, calcium, manganese, and a host of other minerals. When applied as a poultice, it’s great for bacterial infections. }

{ Viola - High in vitamin C and antioxidants,
viola contains a substance that neutralizes free radicals. }

Sobbing on a bathroom floor

{ Inspecting an ancient fallen tree } 

I recently found myself sobbing on a strange bathroom floor, totally entranced by the emotions that were finally pouring out of me. For too long I have been stuffing away emotion, beginning in my teen years when I used to forcefully tell myself “STOP!” whenever I sensed tears. This fear of unhappy emotion inevitably lead to a numbness that encompassed not just the icky stuff, but the good stuff as well.

After a walk in an ancient forest, and a lower-chakra stimulating tea, I realized how profoundly scared I still am of feeling. That’s what lead me to the shedding of tears in that bathroom. And that’s what lead me to this discovery: “In order to feel love, I have to feel my pain.” 

{ Fun fact: This is where they filmed an instalment of Star Wars }

{ The view from under the canopy }

{ Taking a moment to connect }

{ Beautiful rings resting on a giant }

{ Journeying off the path }

{ Mocassins on an impromtu pathway }

Photos 1, 5, 7 & 8 by Sara Rose McKenna of Social City Networking.