I want to apologize for that lack of images in this post. It's a personal post and something I just need to materialize and put "out there."
So here goes..
Every year around this time, I "resolve" to eat healthier, work out more, be more conscious of my words and actions, and give more to others. This will be the first year. instead of goals, I'm going to try to set an intention. To do this, I will choose a word and focus on every aspect of that word as it relates to my life throughout the year: How do I use this to affect my mind? How do I use this word to affect my body? How will this improve my soul and my spirit? How do I use this word to positively affect others?
Over the course of the past three years since I've moved to Florida though, a lot has changed. This past year has yielded a lot of ups and downs, as most years do. Taking my business (Sailor's Omen) more seriously, the company's growth this past year was 22%! Pinterest followers went from 60 people to over 400, Instagram followers nearly doubled, and I had the opportunity to meet and work with a bunch of amazing local talent! My partner Alex and I are homeowners and landlords and I have been fortunate to work for some of my favorite companies (REI and Anthropologie). However, my health has begun to suffer. The focus on my work and my job has left me malnourished, static to the point of muscle atrophy and weight gain and disconnected from my closest relationships. The balance between work and personal life is generously off-kilter.
Could there be a single word that I could weave during 2015 to manipulate myself into being more productive, more creative, more conscious, etc? I've thought a long time about what could affect all that. Something that would encompass all my resolutions. I was finally able to decide my 2015 intention word: RECONNECT.
How will I use it to affect my mind? Being more mindful of where my life's center is, the word 'reconnect' will remind me to think of all aspects of life and re-evaluate the importance of the task at hand in respect to all the other tasks I need to being a pleasant, positive and functioning being. Too often I ignore not being centered, and before I know it I'm breaking down emotionally and tucking myself away for a week or more. Working a 40-hour week, running every aspect of my own business, tending to a relationship with my partner, tending to myself and cultivating new and existing friendships sometimes allows tasks and responsibilities to pile up, looking more like a mountain than a nice rolling hills. I can use "reconnect" as a mantra: to remind myself that I am capable of great things, that my connection to life runs deep, to take my time, prioritize, and make sure to connect with each task with everything I have.
How will I use it to affect my body? The more stationary I become, the more my body hurts. Sitting behind a desk for 40 hours a week, then going home and laying on the couch just doesn't make my body feel good - especially when I know how good and strong it can feel. Chest pains occur when I eat too much sugar in processed foods. The eczema on my right leg flares up when I've had had too little water to drink, ingested too many carbs and too much salt. Personal hygiene has always been a downfall for me. Not necessarily in a dirty kind of way, but in a personal touch kind of way. I always feel better after I floss my teeth, shape my eyebrows, shave my legs, paint my nails, etc. Remembering to reconnect with ALL of my body, check in at least once a week to perk up any tiny touches that might get left behind.
How will this improve my soul and my spirit? To slow down and be aware of where my mind is wandering. Not believing all my thoughts - seeing my consciousness as a cog in a much larger universal system. Taking on everything one piece at a time, to connect with people and projects, I will increase my own compassion and expression, spreading love, peace and understanding through the universe.
How do I use this word to positively affect others? Just see everything above. Imagine if I were to accomplish all this. Repeatedly. To acquire a deeper connection with those I come into contact with. To have a stronger integrity and to love with compassion. To give more than receive. To improve the world (hopefully) by filling it with love and good deeds.
I've grown too far away from my innate truth. It is my duty to reconnect with myself and others this year, or however long it takes to balance and align. I must find the time to listen and hear what people are saying. To not come to such quick judgments and find the courage to stand up for justice.
Thanks for taking the time to read, if you did. Please hold me accountable for this, whenever and however you see fit. Remember to spread love and compassion, and take the time to listen and understand every angle. The world isn't as monotone as it can seem sometimes. Smell the roses. Appreciate the colors. RECONNECT WITH THE UNIVERSE.
Embrace the Wonderfully Wild
This is a mini early (early, early) spring shoot that Admyar Photography and I shot last October, featuring our tried and true white Boho Buddha v.2 necklace, the tan Cascade earrings, white Mahina bracelets and the brand new Mahina necklace. I thought I'd release it, because for some reason Florida is resisting winter. This past weekend it was sunny and 80 degrees! Here's to a wonderfully wild "winter"!
Be sure to check out the team:
Photography:
Hair & Makeup:
Michelle "Chel" Dorminey
Model:
Tatijana "TJ" Rose
Jewelry:
Gulf Coast Camping Excursion pt.2
Saturday afternoon we packed up camp and headed south toward St. George Island State Park, located on the western tip of St. George Island, a barrier island very similar to the Outer Banks off the coast of North Carolina.
This time of year with temperature difference between the warm Gulf waters and the cool humid air, its common for a dense fog to hang around the island. As we approached the bridge, it was easy to tell we were going to have a unique camping experience. The fog single-handedly contributed a moody atmosphere, and the lack of people on an obviously summer tourist town made the island feel abandoned.
We checked in at the park then immediately went to explore. We walked along the beach for some time, then realizing it was getting late and we were getting chilled, we turned back to the camp site. The fog had been so thick it looked like both of us had recently taken a shower!
It was the night of a full moon. A large red beacon on the horizon, we couldn't resist trying to capture the magnificent display. Needless to say, we failed, but I posted the attempts anyway. The next day we spent the last few moments admiring the grassy dune landscape and headed home.
We expected to have a good time but were pleasantly surprised when our little last minute weekend journey turned into a true vacation, gave us lasting memories and created some wanderlust for down the road.
Gulf Coast Camping Excursion pt.1
About a week ago I had gotten a notice that the Old City Farmer's Market I regularly table at was going to be cancelled this past weekend. After the joy created from our Thanksgiving camping getaway, I got online right away and quickly planned a last-minute camping trip. This time we would drive just over three hours and spend Friday night northwest of Tallahassee in Florida Caverns State Park, and Saturday night along the Gulf at St. George Island State Park.
We arrived at the Florida Caverns State Park at the perfect time, as 100 children boarded two school buses and left the park. Alex and I immediately signed up for the cave tour and were fortunate enough to get a private tour of one of Florida's natural features!
The tour lasted just shy of an hour and we visited about eight or nine rooms that showed off a bunch of formations such as stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, and more. Our State Park Ranger guide was knowledgeable and pretty cool to talk with. We learned the cave was originally excavated by the Civilian Conservation Corps during Roosevelt's presidential term. There were still remnants of nails and trail markings that helped them to shape the cave floor to allow visitors and navigate in near pitch black conditions.
Toward the end of the tour, one of the rooms was lit with different colored lights, which I renamed the "grateful dead room." I wasn't a fan of the novelty during our walk around the room, but I have to admit it made for some really neat photos.
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| Walking down to the entrance of the cave |
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| Fall leaves!! |
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| Did you know that it takes 100 years to form just one cubic inch of a cave formation?!? |
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| Marveling at the cave formations. Yes, we're dorks. |
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| "The Greatful Dead Room" |
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| Stalactites, stalagmites, cave curtains and more in the "Greatful Dead Room" |
At the end of the tour, we headed to our campsite. Since we booked so late, the only sites left were next to the "equestrian area." I'm really surprised by how great these somewhat-secluded primitive sites were. There were three next to each other with small foot trails connecting each of them. It would be great for a small group for the weekend that just wants to get away. I highly recommend it!
The rest of the day we took a nice hike around some beautiful native trees, sinkholes and a tunnel cave. Living in the northern part of the sub-tropics, we had a blast kicking up leaves and actually utilizing our heavier duty trekking boots. We swam in a nearby spring named "Blue Hole," and cooked a healthy dinner over an open fire.
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| Great campsite near the equestrian stables. |
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| Starting the heat for our dinner |
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| Dinner! Steamed squash, zucchini, mushrooms, bell peppers and onions. |
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| Had a visitor during dinner. Still haven't found out what kind of arachnid he is. Maybe a wolf spider? |
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| Leaves! Fall! Boots! |
Check out Thursday's post for Part 2 of our Gulf Coast Camping Excursion!
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