Happy May! Is anyone else feeling as blessed to be in this new month as me? Seriously April was like the dark cloud that I could not pull myself out of. I love me some personal growth as much as the next human but man!!! It's hard. No amount of affirmations or energy cleansing prepare you for what's in-store as when you really are moving thought something.

Happily and Hopefully I am on the other side. If anyone else out there is struggling right not, hold on, you are so close and the love and light on the other side is there. You will be there. It will come.

And it is so much easier for me to say this now of course because when you are in it.....you are trying to survive. You don't recognize yourself, you don't think like you normally do, you have an idea of it but you can't hold on to it for long. Your light is shaded. Like a cloud overcasting your whole graduation BBQ, your whole world. You go though the motions but half-hearted. In your core you want to try but there is a resistance that doesn't allow you too. #motherfuckingego

You know what I think, what I believe really propelled me forward the most? Being immersed/connected to nature this weekend and specifically the ranging water. Witnessing and being aware of this tide that is turning and feeling the push to set it free. I kept thinking how powerful water is to wedge its way, to make the flow for us to follow. Sometimes we get caught up on some rocks but then another seasons melt or rainstorm allow the reeds to free and to float on happily again. #thisisme

We are so much more connected to nature than we know.

Best part - I see it in my kids too. They connected with their elements and a new balance has been restored to the space (at least until they come from from school 😆)

That’s what this month is about, stagnant energies shifting. Like I have been feeling this spring time need to cleanse and clear out not just my closets and drawers but I have been doing lots of energy clearing. Detoxifying from the idea, beliefs and judgements that have been holding me back from my becoming the person I'd like to.

Is this process fun & easy? No Way man, it hurts. Feeling strong emotions, which are the things that tend to come up are never "easy" to deal with. I have learned though that each emotion has a lesson within it and by allowing for that lesson to emerge, that's where we grow from.

How are you to know that you are not allowing full acceptance of your spouse if you don't feel what it's like when you don't have it? When we are stuck holding onto beliefs that no longer sever your vision of the future.

I've learned that my ability to process these ebbs and flows of emotion is not exactly quick. For me, it can take a couple days: I go like this.... feeling unsettled (my clue that something is starting to emerge), asking the universe what it is, realizing what is bothering me, feeling the hurt (release the emotions😭), realizing the lesson (how i can grow), get grounded and forgive myself (repeat as needed), re-energize with movement/nature/spirituality practices allow for my new existence to emerge, feel better. #itsaprocess

As tough as it is, I am thankful for this season of growth and renewal. During April I really was able to get clear on my "growth pattern" and as it continues in May... well Its not usually one and done. I may need a lesson repeated a couple times #imonlyhuman #ineedpractice

The good news? The Universe has my greatest god in mind. I take comfort in knowing that. That even if its hard, it will end. there is always a rainbow after the darkest clouds, just like a lotus flower grows out of the muckiest mud. This too shall pass and I will be better for it. I trust and surrender to thee process. No sense in fighting the current of life, I'll only get soar arms. #gowiththeflow

and let's move on to the fun stuff!

it's gtc time again

And this year in addition to launching 15 new Products!!! Arbonne is also announcing a new CEO Tyler Whitehead and honoring our keynote speaker and master of leadership John Maxwell. After reading his books "Developing the Leader Within you" and "Leadershift" I am really looking forward to hearing John speak live. Maybe he wont be as exciting as Rachel Hollis but WOW! Arbonne gets the top dogs in leadership and development for us to learn and grow with.

and of course arbonne gets the excitement up with some teasers. What do you think they could be?

And Here’s what they were!

but that's not all

Arbonne Announced:

PINEAPPLE FIZZ!!!! Slightly excited and its so delish too, like pineapple juice but not as sweet.

Coffee Protein Powder AND Blood Orange Fizz are permanent flavors!!! Again, not at all excited about these - NOT OMG the coffee is my morning #mughug's saving grace and its no secret how much I love the fizz.

TrueSmooth Hair Care line that lathers and cleanses and clarifies leaving your hair light and breezy. I'm excited to give this a try especially the new apple cider spray rinse because I've been wanting to try Apple Cider hair rinse (it was recommended to remove all the build-up) and this product makes its so easily convenient #classicarbonne.

The Face Masks that were so popular during holiday time (especially the Charcoal Mask- that was my favorite will all this cloth mask wearing, it REALLY cleaned out my pores) are all now permanently available.

And!!! a limited edition InnerCalm in Pink Lemonade only available if you get the whole set. This is the first year Arbonne has offered the whole set to Preferred Clients AND Consultants, usually it's just for consultants. So AWESOME they are sharing the love. If your a mom and haven't tried the InnerCalm then you are doing yourself a disservice, this makes afternoons SO much more pleasant and allows me to get to sleep easier too..

Get AAALLLLLLL the Pineapple Fizz Recipe Creations

what else is going on?

I have been working on launching an immersion series that would like to offer for anyone looking to "Fill Their Cup" or to even know what that means or how to go about doing it. For me, it wasn't until I immersed myself in learning about what it truly means and when I allowed myself the grace to try several different modalities did I learn what resonated with me the most. Now I feel called to offer the space for others to do the same.

I'm still working on the details but its gonna flow like :

* Hike/Nature walk to our location (outside in nature cuz that huge for connection)

* Welcome and explanation of the event

* Education on "Filling our Cup"

* Tune in - quick meditation

* Movement Practice

* Storytelling with wisdom

* Connection Explanation with discussion

* Shared Meal

* Another form of Cup filling TBD

* Final Blessing & walk back

To experience the best results I want to allow proper time for an immersion to take place. Sure we could probably do a session in 2 hours (maybe I can offer that in the future) but for now, why rush time spent for you? We rarely allow ourselves the breaks from the demands of motherhood, sisterhood, neighborhood, spousehood..... When are you ever by yourself? Doing something to enhance yourself? To strengthen your connection to yourself and our world? This connection is so powerful!! It's bigger than just working out at the gym or talking walking around. This is a venture into your spirit. At least that is what it is for me.

To "Fill My Cup" I need to first find what sort of cup I'm holding and which liquid makes the best tasting punch.

summer is around the corner, here are some recipes you get you going

dill pickle macaroni salad

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups Random dill pickles

3 Carrots, (cut into match sticks

3-5 Stalks Celery, preferably the insides with leaves.

1/2 Yellow Onion, diced

3 Scallions, thinly sliced

Optional — 3 hard boiled eggs, chopped

DRESSING:

1/3 cup dill pickles

1 tbsp dijion mustard

2 Tbsp Nutritional Yeast

1/3 cup EVOO

1/2 tea sea salt

1/2 bunch parsley

HOW TO:

Chop and dice the pickles, celery, onion, carrots,
Prepare macaroni to package directions for al dente (aka- not fully cooked)
Make the dressing (I used an immersion blender)
Gather all ingredients into a large bowl. Mix, chill & serve!

sweet potato-apple sausage patties

Ingredients:
1 Lg Sweet Potato (* if not organic, peel to remove the skin)
1 Lg Apple (* same)

1 lb Sausage (pork or turkey)

How to:

optional Take sausage out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature. I find it easier to incorporate the ingredients this way (and your hands don’t get cold).

1- In food processor, shred the sweet potato then add the apple. Empty contents into a large bowl.

2- Add sausage to the bowl and using hands to fully incorporate the ingredients.

3- Form into patties 1/2 inch thick. Like the size of the inside of your palm.

4- Fry the patties in a cast iron skilled. (Any pan would be fine but I always do mine in cast iron). Sear for 4 minutes until they start to brown and flip. While cooking the meat will release a lot of grease (that’s good) and better for frying. 4 more minutes and place onto a plate. Option to have it lined with paper towel but I like reserving the grease for my pup.