Nature Play

Today I wanted to share some pictures and links to some recent inspiration. Although I don't have children, I love being with them, helping them explore their surroundings, and helping them to stay curious! In high school I participated in a preschool program working with little ones, I worked in a preschool afterwards for almost 10 years, I've worked summer camps, I've been a nanny and now I work part time as an in-home behavioral therapist. I rarely talk about this side of me. Honestly, it's because I don't consider this my job. I love it, but creating and repurposing is what I am passionate about. It is more on path with where I am in life and where I'm working on steering my future. However, to supplement income I started babysitting for a family friend many months back.

As I started doing this they were also in the process of diagnosing him with what they thought to be autism. To shorten the story, I was offered a job with the company that was going to be working with him at home!! After 6 months, my little 2 year old friend has come so far! From not speaking to having a vocabulary of about 100 words and learning how to communicate with the world around him. It has been amazing to witness his growth and I could go on about him, about going gluten free and how that helped him most of all...but I will stop there!

Back to my inspiration!

From LIttleAcornsToMightyOaks

A while back I had saved this pin here that talks about the importance of heuristic play. Heuristic play is the idea of exposing babies, toddlers and children to natural objects from the world around them. By putting multiple items together in a basket they are able to explore the properties of these objects at their own pace and as they select each item themselves. I love finding ways to use nature and natural objects found around the house to engage and this sounded great!

Laura's Nature Keepsake Jar

A couple of weeks ago I was on a favorite blog of mine, Roots and Feathers run by the beautiful Laura. She was sharing this Nature Keepsake Jar DIY that is so cool!! She had made a jar full of things native to Texas for her friend and her newborn baby boy, so sweet! Go read more by following the above link! :)

So, I decided that my little friend needed some more heuristic play. He needed a basket to explore, pronto! I ended up using a vintage basket made to carry casserole dishes as my starting point. REPURPOSING, it's my middle name! I gathered items I had around my home and from outside. A mesquite pod from the tree, some colored feathers from my craft supplies, some thin leather strips, rocks, a slice of agate, a cob of corn... It was fun putting together! I definitely focused on sensory when I chose what I included. Since this was going to be for someone who can be sensitive to textures, sounds, etc. I wanted to make sure to stimulate his senses without turning him off from exploring the basket. His favorite item, a seashell! 

Nature, you are so magical! You teach me something whenever I stop to be still in your presence. One day, I will share some snapshots of my home. I have pieces of nature all around. Sticks, rocks, feathers, bones, shells, beach glass. I don't think my husband and I have come home without finding something to bring back with us. If you're inspired to share how nature plays a role in your life, please do!

Lemon and Backyard Herb Stuffed Mushrooms!

Hi there!

Sharing a recipe I put together last night. I was at the store and decided to buy some mushrooms which I don't buy too often. My plan was to saute them with tons of lemon and garlic! Yum! There is more of a recipe to it really, but I didn't end up making them so I will share it another time. I wanted to use my dehydrator for something so I decided to cut up a few pieces of GF bread and then sent them off to dehydrate for a couple hours. Voila!

After, I food processed the breadcrumbs to my liking then added:

I eyeballed about 1 1/2 T Olive Oil

Half of a juicy lemon, about 1 T

1 T Herbs (I picked some Oregano, thyme, and rosemary)

A little Sea Salt and pepper

Then I washed and de-stemmed the 9 mushrooms. 

Set them in a loaf pan, rubbed them with olive oil and began stuffing!

It has been so hot here that I decided to just broil them on low for about 6 minutes.. If you could I'd probably suggest baking them instead. Say, 375 for about 10 minutes?! I'm no chef, but I love to experiment in the kitchen!

A snapshot while making the stuffing :)

Not the prettiest picture, but I didn't decide to share this until after I tasted them!

Please let me know if you decide to try these! Or if you have a recipe you'd like to share. I'm always looking for new ideas in the kitchen. 

Happy Monday! <3

An Offering

If you are reading this and you like what you see here on my blog, let me know! I'd love to offer a space for YOU to share a button from your own blog or store right here! I don't have many followers yet and I haven't been blogging regularly since I created this space. My intention is to start! To start writing here in this space. I want to share, I want to meet you, I want to release and work on myself...  I want to practice doing that through written/typed words here in this space.

Sunset from my backyard. Sharing it because all posts look better with pictures! :)

I recently received my birth chart from Aquarius Nation and one of the patterns I keep noticing is that I should write. A lot more than I do! It isn't easy for me to do this, which is exactly why it would benefit me! Looking forward to my adventures in writing and sharing with YOU!
XO

Virtual Sale! (NOW CLOSED)

This sale is no longer going on, thank you!

All items between $1 and $5 before shipping!!!

Prices drop as you scroll :)

Letting go to make space. Please check out the photos and comment if you are interested in any of the items. I am not trying to make money off of these items, just make back what I paid for them and send them to someone who could use them. All items are previously owned and were thrifted by me or gifted to me and now I am letting them go.

Clothes are mostly size small

Scroll to bottom for some art/home decor items <3

All prices listed include shipping. I will do a BIG DISCOUNT when multiple items are purchased together. <3 Like I said, before I estimated shipping the items are really only costing you $1-$5 each.

If interested please comment with e-mail. I will be checking my udpates regularly.

Will bill via Paypal!

This dress was a gift handed down from a sweet friend. Beautiful crochet detail on bottom of dress. Soft cotton and white lining underneath. Dress is well made and is in great condition! Tag reads Moda International, Small 
Asking $9 includes shipping <3

 

Dress/Shirt was gifted to me by my sister. Thrifted locally here in Joshua Tree, Ca. 
Tag: Xhiliration, X-Sm
Asking $9 includes shipping

This dress was thrifted by me
Tag: Xhiliration X-Sm
Asking $8 Includes shipping

This shirt was a gift and was purchased by her when she was on vacation. Love this top!! Has a couple blue spots on material. Close ups are shown. No tags, Should fit Small
Asking $8 Includes shipping

See small blue spot about mid way down. Center/Left

Beautiful sleeves!! Also see small blue stain on middle back. 

  

Shirt was a hand me down gift from my cousin. Very good condition and comfortable shirt! Great piece.
Tag: Bebe Size Small
 Asking $7 Includes shipping

Love the colors on this top! Thrifted item.
Tag: Lux, Medium
Asking $6 Includes shipping <3

Gifted by a friend. Cute top
Noble U, Small
Asking $5 Includes shipping

Cute thrifted top. Racerback under layer is only on back.. Stops on sides.  Front is not double layered.
Tag: Decree, Small
Asking $5 includes shipping

This pretty dress still has the original tags and the thrifted tag :) Gifted to me by my sister but  I'm not really a pink girl dres I guess.
Tag: LuLumari, Small
Enjoy it for $6.50 includes shipping <3

SOLD <3

This beautiful wall hanging has so much color and good energy to it! I've enjoyed it. Picked in Piooneertown, Ca. Yours for what I paid $5 PLUS SHIPPING. I need to check that still. Please comment if you are interested <3

Artwork by Joshua Tree artist James Hammons. I've enjoyed these in my home and want to send them to someone else. Look up James Hammons to see more of his work <3
Asking $15 for the pair. Includes shipping <3 <3 <3

 Thank you so much for taking a look! Please leave a comment with any questions if you are interested!

I'm still kickin!

Just a little update on what is going on here!

I miss this blog! I miss having a computer at my fingertips to type up these words. I came to the library today and borrowed my husbands computer. At the beginning of the month my computer crashed and we had a change with our internet service. So not internet, no computer and no patience for blogging from my phone. Although, I'm thinking I will have to adapt and start blogging more from it. 

Along with these changes I have felt like some sort of control has left my life. A control I had that now is gone. Part of my daily routine has been disrupted. I had a talk with a friend this week and we were discussing the difference between accepting something and owning something. I accept the things that I might not like in life. Right now I am talking about my computer crashing but there is so much more, deeper acceptances I've made in my life. The choices I've made that have made life more difficult or the situations I have been in and how they have affected me. I accept. 

I also need to own! Own these things, admit them to myself. Admit my shortcomings and the role I play. I own the fact that I am not blogging from my phone. I own the fact that I can work harder than I do. I can't just accept it. By owning it I aim to change the situation at hand. If I don't own up to it, if I just accept it then I won't be able to improve. I won't see that the change is possible. Anyway, I hope I'm not rambling.

I plan on sharing a post from my phone soon. I have been taking pictures of my garden and I'm dying to blog about it! My husband has impressed me this season more than ever before. I am in love with my backyard <3 You will be too when you see the bounty that is growing!! 

Two last things... 

*I'm sad that I haven't been sharing my lists for Moorea Seal's 52 Lists. But I understand and own that it is not because my computer crashed. It's because I haven't had the time or energy to dedicate to sharing from my phone. And I'm okay with that! :) I am participating still, on my own and I just love these lists <3

*Check out the link ----> Desert Spirit. My sister and I had our first desert shoot, well our first shoot period! Our amazingly talented friends Joe+Kathrina photographed everything and wrote about the day on their blog! So go check it out! We are very excited for these photos and to share all the we have been up to!

Spread the love!

Week 11 // My Essentials

A list of my current essentials. With a few of these things being essentials I'm newly incorporating into my life I circled the word accountability! I have the best  intentions, but I don't always follow through, it's true! Lately I have been making some big changes! Some much needed, healthy (but painful) changes. Especially the last 2 weeks. Cleaning out lots of space that does not serve me and introducing so much into that space that does. I liked Moorea Seal's circled word, balance. I definitely need to remember and incorporate balance! I don't even think I wrote that down!! Here's my list!

Thanks for stopping by!

Pictures of My Loves!

Sharing some pictures today. I woke up too early so i've been lying in bed making picture collages, so here you go! Sharing pictures of my dog Bear and some food I've prepared in my kitchen! My kitchen is probably the room I'm in most often.  I love to cook for myself and others. Most of the food I make is vegan, enjoy!

Don't forget to stop by Gypsy Tent Sisters blog to see our weekly finds. We shared a lot of finds!!

Clockwise: Lemon/blueberry cookies, chocolate chip cookies with homemade almond milk,
Homemade tortilla, Homemade Ravioli w/salad, Pasta and local veggies, Daily oatmeal and tea

Bear Love!!! <3

Clockwise: Salad (all veggies from Joshua Tree Farm, Cream of celery soup,
Asian noodle stir fry with marinated tempeh,fried rice with marinated tofu, a vegan quiche,
spanish rice made with homemade broth, burrito of handmade beans, rice and tortilla