This is where I spent my weekend!

These are the Blue Ridge Mountains in Asheville, NC.  This image was taken while driving down the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway.  I have lots of thoughts roaming around inside my head trying to compose themselves into an inspiring blog post.  But, they are just swirling around and I am finding it difficult to find the words that describe the experience I just had.  Let me sum it all up briefly by saying, it was a magical!

My friend and I went with no agenda, no plans, no schedule.  We just felt called by the mountains.  Listening and trusting our hearts to guide us, we simply did one thing at a time.  We visited the downtown shops, drove down scenic roads, meditated on top of a mountain, practiced Reiki, ate incredibly sumptuous vegan food, attended a hot yoga class, and conversed about transformation and strength.

We created and allowed balance within ourselves and brought it home with us.  It is beautiful!

How about you?  Where do you go when you need to refresh and renew yourself?  When is the last time you allowed yourself to experience it?  I think it may be time for a vacation!

In Love & Blessings,

Jeniffer 

This afternoon I am sitting outside working on editing my book. I came across a passage I had written that mirrored a conversation I just had with a friend. We were talking about the meaning of the phrase “living in the moment.” Since it seems important that I share(and remember) this message, I thought I’d share it with you too.

“You are still working on knowing yourself, trusting yourself and believing in yourself. Know that this is okay. It’s okay! It’s okay to be exactly where you are. In fact where you are is perfect. Accept that. As you are not judged, do not judge yourself. Forgive yourself. Accept yourself exactly where you are. You have spent your life in past minded thinking. Be in the present. This is where YOU really are. It is perfect exactly as it is and you are perfect exactly as you are in the present. You are still learning and that is okay.” -me

Funny how these same lessons keep coming back in our lives. Sometimes it is hard to believe that I wrote this all in the first place.

May each moment of your day be beautiful!

Love & Blessings,
Jeniffer

My family and I spent the weekend camping and enjoying an outdoor festival of music and art.  Out in fields of grass, we listened to live music, danced, hula hooped and made crafts.  It was a fantastic way to reconnect with nature, each other and our Creative Selves.  

I think we all could use to play like this more often!!!  

 

Continue reading “Playtime!” »

I recently revamped this zucchini bread recipe to bring to Easter dinner. It was so YUMMY that I made it again for a pot luck this past weekend. It keeps disappearing so quickly I’m starting to think I need to double the recipe and keep a few loaves for myself

As with all of my recipes this contains no milk or eggs (or meat, but meat bread would just be really gross anyway.) If you want to use eggs feel free, I’m sure it’s just as yummy.

Continue reading “Zucchini Bread (veganized)” »

Yesterday I hosted my second “Gathering.” It was absolutely fantastic! We shared conversation about building community (text below). MaStar Healers facilitated a crystal bowl meditation that left everyone speechless – for a few minutes anyway. Then we ate a smorgasbord of fresh fruits and vegetables and home made zucchini bread. I’ll share the bread recipe for you later in the week Right now I’d like to share my talk on Building Spiritual Community because I believe it is important for us all no matter where we are in our personal journey.

Continue reading “Building Community” »

Hello lovely readers! 

As artists I know that sometimes we get a little shy when it comes to sharing our work.  Critiques and editorial sessions can be an artist’s worst nightmare.  Too often we focus on all the work that needs to be done and the changes that need to be made.  Instead we should focus on the positive feedback first.  Acknowledge the achievement and progress we have already made.  

If we can see the good in anything right where it is, mistakes and all, then we can let it unfold into it’s full magnificence. 

This is the process I am currently going through with my book.  I am carefully reading through each page with a fine tooth comb…  in other words, I hired an editor.  Luckily I am blessed to have a close friend who is a professional writer & editor.  Three cheers for Melissa Goslin Collins!  Hip hip hooray!  Her knowledge, gentle guidance and sense of humor is making this part of the process a lot less daunting.    

I am happy to report that Melissa has read through the entire manuscript and has given me some incredibly positive feedback.  Yay!!!! She told me that laughter, tears and inspiration all found her within these pages.  I’d say it’s a good sign to keep moving forward!

Continue reading “Positive Feedback” »

I’m keeping things short and sweet today.  I just read this beautifully inspiring poem and just had to share it with you.  To all my friends both near and far, may these words help to guide you forward on your own Journey.  

Love & Blessings on this beautiful day!

-Jeniffer

The Journey

by Mary Oliver

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice –
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
“Mend my life!” Continue reading “Poetic Inspiration” »

This past weekend I held the first of my new Sunday Gatherings.  These community building events combine spiritual awareness, meditation and creative activity.  For me it is fulfilling a role I have felt called to for some time now.  I am opening doors both physically and mentally as I invite people into my home and my heart.  

 

The theme of our first Gathering was appropriately, “New Beginnings: Starting Right Where You Are.”  My deepest gratitude to everyone who attended for helping me nurture this new beginning in my life.  For those of you who were unable to attend in person, I would like to share a portion of my talk with you here.  

Continue reading “New Beginnings” »

Last night I held the first of my new “Journal Journey” workshops at my home studio. A great BIG thank you to everyone who joined in the introspective fun!

We had such a great time with this project, I just had to share with you.

I titled this workshop “Me, Myeslf & I.” Through it we explored the various aspects of our personalities, the emotions attached to them and how we can find balance in our lives. Right off the bat it was obvious that everyone was getting deeply into the process. The room fell silent as these women created themselves onto the page. Continue reading “Journal Project: Me, Myself & I” »

Do you ever have those days where you keep forgetting what day it is?  Every day this week has been like that for me.  Then just now I realized, “Wow, it’s Friday!  How did that happen?  And what did I do this week?”  So in an attempt to clarify this for myself I thought I would share my crazy wonderful week with you

Continue reading “Where to begin?” »