{ This Moment }

I was looking for inspiration for today's post and was scrolling down my list of blogs I follow. I landed at SouleMama and discovered { this moment }. I hope you enjoy and if your a new to this site , "the welcome mat is out & the door is wide open".

{this moment} ~ A Friday ritual . A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, visit SouleMama and leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. 

A case of the Monday's

I had a hard time getting out of bed this morning. I set the alarm for 5:00 a.m hoping to get up and start a new exercise plan for the the month. Not till 6:00 a.m did I pop open my eyes and groan, my husband says "it's a Monday". Now I realize why I love Fridays so much, for me it's the end of the work/school week and into a different flow. Mondays are the jump right into the ocean and navigate, explore, do until you can surface and relax on the island for the weekend (metaphorically speaking). With that being said hello to a new week and a glorious start to summer.


Casa de Sol y Luna has been bustling these days or should I say the past few weeks. The kids will all be out of school in a week and half and I seriously don't know what were going to do over the break. A lot of home improvement projects have been going on to create a backyard oasis for all the summer fun and relaxation. There finally is a resemblance of a garden. later post with pics will follow.

On a more personal note June for me is going to be a month of rebirth and spiritual overhaul so to say. I have a confession to make about my sobriety from alcohol that almost made it to four months. High stress modes and bi-polar resurgence has led me to grab the bottle and try to drink down the insanity.  Sometimes we fall off the wagon and bump our head to realize that the new path we were traveling is really worth the  journey.

I've recently discovered two new souls in which I can connect to and are a new source of motivation and inspiration. I really can't recall how I came across Erin Stutland and the Say It, Sweat It, Get It Challenge but I'm up for the challenge that starts today! The other beautiful lady who's vlog always has a great message right when I need it is Spirit Junkie Gabrielle Bernstein. Maybe these ladies  have something you need in your life right now.

May love and light fill your week and new month with blessings. I'm looking forward to transformation on the highest level.

Checking In

 So here's a post of miscellany. Just stopping in to say hello to everyone. The past three weeks has been a mixed bag of nuts. I've been suffering from muscle strain in my neck and shoulders from a workout obviously gone wrong. The garden is still a dry un- mowed un- plowed plot of grass. An addition of two extra children for the week has kept me on my toes, I forgot what it was like to have a baby even though my last child is 3 1/2 yrs old. I did get the chance to sneak away to the beach for a Mother's Day weekend getaway, which I hopefully get around to posting before the nostalgia has left me in a fog. Here's hoping everyone has a memorable weekend full of rest and adventures. Signing off to plop down in bed and have magical Full Flower Moon dreams.

Back to business as usual come Monday

Finally the time has come that the older 3 children are back in school, so long spring break ( in my head singing hallelujah!). Time to get back into a more scheduled routine starting with outdoor chores early in the morning. For breakfast I had a Banana Berry Blast,and also learned that black skinned frozen banana's can give your system a cleaning. Not the greatest thing to say while sharing a yummy recipe but I'm sharing useful info as well.

Recipe:

1 1/2 cup almond milk, 1 frozen banana, 1 cup frozen mixed berries, throw in the blender and blend away. I call it a blast because it is so thick and chilled and I got a brain freeze.

Early morning chores this morning include cleaning and filling the pool. Mid 80 degrees weather at the beginning of the week followed by mid 90's in the middle , sounds good to me. Oh how I love being a California girl.

And here is my lovely garden or shall I say my garden plot. Yes I know it is almost May and this should be dug and sprouting by now, better late than never! We had 2 days with spouts of rain so hopefully it was enough to soften the soil. And so this garden story begins.

I'm off to put on my crocs and sunglasses and get down to some much needed yard work.

Happy Earth Day

Go outside and love our Universal Mother

(image source unknown)

~* GREEN BLESSINGS *~

Mojito's in the Morning

I promise you can have this drink in the morning or anytime of the day and have full energy without the hangover. The smell of ginger, mint , and lime as it goes through the juicer is so refreshing.

Here's all you need for your mojito. Juice or blend and enjoy!

Iv'e added juicing and smoothies into my health and fitness regimen and look forward to sharing them with you, it really makes a difference.

 Salud!

Out of the Chrysalis

I don't know what is up with me today I feel a surge and urge to take action in a million different directions. This blog is also being blown by a wind of change, I'm going to put the daily out there and keep it real. I'm often trying to edit and mold according to what others would think or perceive but then what would be the authenticity of my blog. So we will see how this goes and I hope you stick around for the ride. I'm Holly nice to greet you.

3 Ingredient Homemade Chocolate ~ Thrifty Thursday

When I found out that it's possible to make your own chocolate I was super excited. To top it off you only need 3 ingredients to make your pure goodness! To the cabinets I run to see if I have what it takes to create.

  So here are the all natural healthy components needed . 

In a bowl mix 1/4 cup melted coconut oil, 1/4 cup cocoa powder and 2-3 tbsp honey.

All I could find for a mold was my travel doubled egg tray but I later realized this is going to work to my advantage to make egg shaped chocolates for Easter.  Allow chocolate to harden then pop them out. These reminded me of almond joy, probably due to the coconut oil. Enjoy!

Sharing Smoothie Luv

Smoothies and juice have become routine in the morning for me after I workout . This morning I decided to share the love and make one for my hubby also, and yes he loved it.  Think of this as dessert first thing in the morning, it's that delicious!

Simply add 1 cup almond milk, 1 cup strawberries, and 1 banana to the blender and blend.  This makes 1 serving so if you wish to share double the recipe.

~ Have a sweet day ~

Corner View ~ In The Distance

In the distance a couple are strolling the beach barefoot, crazy boys are submerged in cold ocean water, a women is posing for the perfect shot, men are un-afraid to hold hands, a long gaze and gentle embrace are taking place,  brothers are awaiting a wave to splash upon them, ships are sailing the Pacific's sunny salty breeze with a view of the boardwalk and Monterey Mountains. In the distance people are screaming in delight as their senses are peeked by thrill rides. Seagulls are culling for food and water is lapping at sand. In this moment I'm euphoric with all I am surrounded by especially the love radiating from my family as we enjoy our getaway in Santa Cruz .

Corner view is a Wednesday weekly appointment hosted by Francesca, where bloggers from around the globe share their view on a pre-arranged theme.

Introduction to Yogi Cameron's ____the one plan____

Have you ever had a book that you pick up read a few pages put it away for awhile and then  later pick it up again? The same goes for a course of study your so excited to start and then can't follow through with. This is my scenario with Yogi Cameron's the one plan. The off and on with trying to get grounded into this book had nothing to do with it's content, but my own. Until very recently I had my mind clouded often by the influence of alcohol. I wasn't a stumbling drunk or someone who started the day of with it but consumption still consumed me. Why I chose to be toxic in my mind body and spirit I do not know and I will not blame  hereditary alcoholism. There is such a truth I do know and that is  my husband and I have made a commitment to ourselves and children that we will never go back to that which was so blinding. Seems I have gotten of course but it leads me to getting back into the course. I picked up the book again, and now with my new found self I can begin.

Let me introduce you to the one plan. 

Overview

What if you could follow a program that, like in so many other books, helped you get results in only a couple of weeks? As with these other programs, you could lose weight, attract more beneficial relationships, and find a greater state of balance in very little time. But what if, on top of all that, the program helped you create not just a fast change, but a permanent one? What if you had a plan that has all the benefits of a short-term overhaul but with the guidance necessary to ensure that it's the last program you'll ever need?

Over two thousand years ago, the Indian sage Patanjali compiled what we now know as The Yoga Sutras, a concise text that forms the basis of everything we know today about the philosophy of the yogic path. In The One Plan, Yogi Cameron lays out a fifty-two-week structure based on Patanjali's teachings as well as the ancient medical system of Ayurveda; it delivers the proven authenticity of an ancient path but has been adapted to take your life in the modern world into account.

As a practical and accessible guide to help you improve your life, The One Plan will provide you with specific exercises and regimens for crafting an effective daily routine, tips and reminders for becoming truly grounded in that routine, real-life stories and inspiration, practical tools for responding to life's inevitable struggles and setbacks, and even a section on eating the Ayurveda way. By following the One Plan, you will live a life of health, balance, and purpose.

Your commitment to the One Plan may last fifty-two weeks, but the changes you make will last a lifetime.

( overview link)

I started this new journey on Monday March 3rd 2014, and I'm excited to share this new aspect of my spiritual awakening with you. 

Namaste