come away with me to santa barbara for four days of tranquility, where you will indulge in rejuvenating yoga, nourishing food, and unlimited solace at white lotus foundation.

Price Includes:

• yoga classes for all levels in a supportive and nurturing environment
• all meals provided (breakfast, lunch, dinner and light snacks)
• cozy yurts with beautiful balinese beds for deep slumber
• 40 acres of hiking trails, waterfalls, natural pools & flowing creek
• free time for lounging, napping, exploring, and reading
• guided meditation in a modern-day hopi

when it comes to art, i am inspired by unique, fun and quirky pieces that embellish reality with flights of fancy. fafi comes up with charming characters who represent a wide range of feminine mystique. she quickly stole my heart when i first laid eyes on her work a couple of years ago and continues to fascinate me.

i was introduced to the work of SARK about 10 years ago. she is a brave soul with an extremely colorful imagination and a rare innocence that remains intact in the midst of adventure. her books explore an assortment of topics including love, intimacy, travel, art, friendships, pleasure, healing, age, fear, solitude, and a hundred other things that her visionary mind concocts. you can find her website and books (eat mangoes naked, inspiration sandwich, living juicy) here.

“because of your smile, you make life more beautiful.”

this quote, by thich nhat hanh, is currently on my calendar for the month of march. reading it last week brought a smile to my face as i thought of all the people who brighten up my world each and every day. life would not be the same without those souls who bring so much pleasure to the things/places/actions that may otherwise seem rather ordinary. i am steadily grateful for the big ol’ hearts that graciously support me and unconditionally love the person that i am.

image via jennifershesaid

photos via pandora

One by one, I skim the titles of neatly aligned books that sit patiently upon my shelves aspiring to be my next whim. My ever-changing mood influences my decision, but in the end I pick up the one that contains a customized message begging to be delivered, a tender story that my heart is now ready to embrace, or a long-kept secret that finally feels safe in my hands. The Last Summer was given to me as a gift about a year ago and last week was the first time the cover caught my attention for more than a split second. The enthralling novel exceeded every one of my expectations, keeping me wide awake into the wee hours of the morning.

Books are like people: neither can be judged by the cover, each one shelters a memoir waiting to be heard, and they both want to be selected as someone’s favorite. Some dazzle like diamonds on the outside but prove to be lifeless and desolate on the inside. Then we find a precious gem, unpolished and easily overlooked, that takes us by surprise with its rare, enchanting beauty. Things are not always as they appear. The real treasure lies quietly buried underneath a facade that deceives a careless glance.

so excited to see this movie.

this song celebrates the extraordinary beauty living inside each of us, magnifying the significance of individualism and eccentricity. in a world full of mundane predictability, our idiosyncrasies and colorful character make life a little more charming.

every person that shows up in our life has come to visit for one reason or another. we can not always consciously know why we have been blessed with a particular presence, nor can we predict how the experience will unfold, but we can rest assured that there is a purpose for each and every soul that crosses our path. relationships force us to see within ourselves things we do not want to examine, things we avoid at all costs because of the pain it carries. i’ll be the first to admit that i have often acted out of fear, running from one place to another trying to find a way out. but the only times that i truly learn and grow are the times i stay present in the midst of intensity until i fully understand the message that is being delivered to me. no matter how many hard lessons i am presented or challenging tests i endure, there is always another teacher just around the corner to remind me how far i have come and how much more i have to learn.

life is a journey of tough battles that are resolved only through patience, care and absolute attention. many philosophies teach us that we can be free of suffering and sadness if we detach ourselves from all desires. i believe this is true. i am not, however, convinced that it is the path i want to take. i want to feel the intoxicating laughter rise from my belly, the cleansing tears stream down my face, the overwhelming love hidden deep inside that comes pouring out of me in the most unexpected moments, the exquisite pain of loss, the organic desires that refuse to be tamed, and the wondrous smile I can not hold back when i am pleasantly surprised by life. passion is much more interesting to me than indifference. so for now, i shamelessly choose joy and pain. it is a package deal. we can not have one without the other.

(photo via weheartit)

someone recently asked me where i go when i want to get away from it all. the first thing that came to mind was a quiet place out in nature surrounded by lush, green trees and fresh air, without a soul in sight. these mental images of my sweet escape have not changed much since i was a little girl. the wide-open spaces represent freedom and room to breathe. the trees encourage continual growth and necessary patience. the silence contains answers to questions i have not yet asked. the solitude gives me strength that can only be found within.

since leaving town for a few days is not always possible, i have learned through the years that finding this “happy place” on a daily basis is essential to my well-being. running away when things become challenging is not exactly the path to peace, nor will it bring me true comfort. what i want does not dwell in far away places. it is found in the company i keep when i am alone. a serene external environment does, however, help keep my internal environment free of pollution, so i surround myself only with those things and people of pure beauty.

even though i have a nest i call home that allows me to rest my bones in peace, it is nice to know that there is always a magical place awaiting my arrival, where time disappears and illusion is stripped of all its glory. i just planned my next get-away for a quiet retreat in the mountains, which is where my soul always encounters the tranquility it desires.

(photos via we heart it)