12 Days of Solstice

I'm still recovering from the energy sink that is releasing something new. Every time I release a new product I always feel drained and it takes me a few weeks to bounce back. In the last month I've released TWO - the 2014 Self Love Planner and the Wheel of Wisdom Oracle Readings and I need some time to kick back and relax. What better way than giving back to all of you?

Because you are all awesome.

Truly. Seriously. The emails you ladies have been sending me, the tweets and facebook messages and blog comments, it has been wonderful.

You make me feel the love.

Love all around. It's pretty awesome. Starting 12/10 I'm going to give something away every day until the Winter Solstice. Sometimes it will be a worksheet for everyone, other days it might be a chance for you to win something just by leaving a comment. No other strings attached.

Remember to bookmark the blog and stop by during those twelve days for gifts, community, and conversation.

Want more Blessing Manifesting? Check out the free monthly challenge, it starts on the 15th!

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This is the End + Being Adrift

I keep thinking "I can't believe this year is almost over." It hasn't really gone my way. It's been a bit of a difficult year, but the last few months have been pretty wonderful creative-wise, and for a creative person, that's such an important thing to have in life. Especially when it comes to having a business that runs on your creativity.

Today I pulled a card for myself from Lucy Cavendish's Oracle of the Mermaids to represent this last bit of the year. What do I have to pay attention to? What message do I need to embrace right now in my life?

Sometimes you have to let yourself drift.

Oh it's so hard to relinquish control. It drives me crazy to even think about letting go even a little bit, but if there's anything I've learned from my anxiety it's that letting go of control is sometimes essential. If only so that you don't stress yourself out and run yourself ragged.

This card teaches us that it's beautiful and humbling to float with the waves and the tides and know that you are safe. So often we think of it as disempowering to let go of control, and sometimes it is, but when we consider all aspects of setting ourselves adrift, of letting go with purpose, and going with the flow, we can examine that to intentionally allow ourselves to do so does give us power.

There is sense in making no effort at all.

Especially after going through a tough or stressful time. Allowing the tides and the waves to set your course can be beautiful and humbling. It can lead you to places that you might not otherwise go.

I think that this is a good reminder for me. I just finished riding this huge wave or creativity and drive and now it feels right to just let myself be. I don't have to force anything, I'm just allowing myself to flow. A moment-by-moment acceptance of what is right now. Allowing myself to be gently moved by the natural energy that's moving all around me.

It's good stuff.

Share this intention with me.

Is there a way that you can add flow to your life? How can you follow the path of least resistance in a way that will nourish you? That's what I want you to think about today.

How are you setting yourself adrift? 

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A Very Blessing Manifesting Thanksgiving

Over here in the States it is officially Thanksgiving Day. A day to be with family and to acknowledge and appreciate the things in your life that you are grateful for.

I am celebrating softly.

I made my favorite green bean casserole. I'm going to re-watch The Hunger Games and spend time reading Catching Fire and then I'm going to sleep in preparation for working this evening at my retail job.

As I said in You Have Permission to be a Scrooge, do what makes you happy. Don't buy into the belief that this has to be a hectic time of rushing around and being stressed out. This is a time of grace and thanksgiving. If you allow it to be, it is a time of beauty and softness and family-ties and appreciation and bounty. How will you celebrate this year?

I wanted to give a (short) list of all of the things that I am grateful for today. I hope that you will share your list here too.

I am grateful for...

The number of amazing women I've met the last few years.

My little cozy apartment that is finally starting to feel like mine.

The drive to get up most days and show up and be here.

My family, a collection of amazing human beings that I gathered myself. :)

The path that led me here to where I am today, no matter how hard and difficult it was.

The number of absolutely amazing books I have read so far this year. They have been wonderful.

You. You reading this right now. Thank you.

"If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough." - Meister Eckhart

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A Collision of Magic & Stardust

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Winter Self Care

For as long as I can remember Autumn and Winter have been my favorite seasons. My childhood is full of wonderful winter memories. In the two houses I lived in growing up, I picked the coldest rooms, the remodeled attic and then basement. It was always freezing in the winter time and I loved it, often keeping my window cracked for even more blissful cold air.

Some of my favorite memories are of being snuggled up with a ton of blankets, a book in my hands, and a hot cup of cocoa. That was bliss to teenage Dominee.

Now I effin' hate winter.

I know, it makes me sad too. It happened gradually. I went from living up north in a state that had those idyllic snowy winters to a southern state where ice is more common than snow and it's really really windy. And brown and bleak looking. And kinda depressing. I'm just not into winter anymore. It used to be all about the magic of snowflakes and snowball fights and holidays. Now I just hate getting out of bed in the morning because it's cold out there and bed is so nice and warm. Ahh, bed. Maybe I'm just getting old.

I have noticed that winter is a time for more self care.

Not only does it make the winter blues go away a little bit, but it also adds another layer to the season. Time for me. I do find ways to enjoy winter even though it's no longer my favorite. I wanted to share with you some winter-specific ways to add self care into your life. ((If you want even more self care info, check out the 2014 Self Love Planner. It just came out today!))

Seek Warmth

All over. Emotionally and physically. Drink warm drinks like tea and hot chocolate and enjoy the time relaxing and sip sip sipping as the warmth seeps into your hands and moves through you. Buy extra warm socks or slippers to wear around the house. I have cow socks. They are awesome. Have a favorite blanket and wrap it around yourself (Neon blue leopard-print for the win!). Curl up on the sofa and watch your favorite childhood movies and enjoy the memories. Make a corn cozie to warm your feet before bed.

Pamper Your Body

Winter and your lovely skin don't always coexist well. Am I the only one that gets really itchy legs? Lotion and moisturizers are your friend. Use them. Especially if you take lots of hot baths like me. If your lips have a tendency to get dry, use lip balm. Protect your body with warm coats and gloves and scarfs. Your body is awesome. Keep it warm and safe.

Embrace the Concept of Hibernation

We might not be able to gorge ourselves on food and then sleep for weeks at a time but there is something to be said for turning your focus inside of yourself and towards your home, that sacred magical place where you lay your head each night. What makes you happy there? What makes it a place you want to come home to each day? Create a cozy atmosphere for yourself and then sit back and enjoy it.

Reconnect With Yourself and Others

One of the cornerstones of self care is Connection With Self. Spending time with yourself, doing the things that you enjoy, and loving every minute of it. Read a good book, spend time drawing or working on a puzzle, or crocheting or one of the many things that you enjoy doing. Reach out and take the time to connect with the people around you in a real way. Spend time in conversation. Real heart-to-heart conversation.

Do What Makes You Happy

At the end of the day, the best self care is the kind that makes you happy. Sit outside and enjoy the cold. Sit by the fire and enjoy the heat. Take lots of photos of your personal Winter Wonderland. Go to sleep early or stay up late watching snowflakes fall in the darkness. Winter is what you make of it!

What is your Winter Self Care Routine?

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Win a free copy of the 2014 Self Love Planner + Workbook

Thanks to everyone who entered! The winners were chosen at random and you can now see them below! Thank you! xoxo

I'm feeling pretty awesome right now. You see, the last few months I've been very busy creating something that I'm over the moon excited about.

The 2014 Self Love Planner Workbook.

It was finished a month before the release date which is November 24th! Mark your calendars! The sales page is already up, newsletters are set to go out, and I'm 95% ready to launch right now. I've never had my shit together like this. It's pretty awesome.

The fear of sucking and not being good enough is fading.

Usually I'm scrambling until the very last minute to get everything done. I'm stressed out and frantic which then leads to overwhelm and a bit of depression. Rarely do I ever really enjoy launching something. And marketing. Ugh marketing. It's never been my favorite thing. This all stems from insecurity and fear that I'm gonna be a big ol' failure. I'm not letting those thoughts hang around this time.

On 11/24 I'm going to give three lucky winners a free copy of my newest thing the 2014 Self Love Planner + Workbook. It's gonna be epic and I hope that you'll love it. 60+ pages o' awesome that you can print out and color on or fill in and save right from your computer! Also, my Self Love Story, What Self Love is, how Self Care can rock your world, and how you can do it easily and sustainably.

My job is to help, encourage, and remind women to love themselves.

This planner is all about encouraging you to make time for yourself every second of every day. I hope you'll purchase a copy for yourself when it comes out. It will be awesome!

To Enter the Give-A-Way:

To enter the give a way just use the Rafflecopter form below. The more ways you enter, the higher your chance of winning will be! Please share and spread the word so this can be the bestest lauch in the history of launchdom! Thanks sweetling!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Is there anything you'd like to see in this year's planner?

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You have permission to be a Scrooge.

You have permission to be a Scrooge. Okay, maybe that's a little harsh because the last thing I want is to see you on the evening news running through a department store yelling "Bah! Humbug!" But - you are allowed not to buy into the holiday cheer. You are allowed to treat the holidays like normal days.You are allowed to celebrate in a soft and quiet way. You are allowed to preserve your energy and not spend it on cooking large dinners, or spending hours shopping, or driving yourself crazy trying to find the perfect gift, or decking the halls with boughs of holly.

You don't have to do anything you don't want to do.

If you want to bake cookies by the dozen, decorate your house like Santa's workshop, and make a Thanksgiving feast that makes Martha Stewart look like an amateur, that's awesome. But it's not a standard that you have to live up to if you don't want to.
Do what makes you happy.

I don't particularly like the holidays.

When I first moved out of my Mom's house, I was so excited to do my own holiday thing, to make my own traditions, and to have a wonderful time doing it. I quickly learned that I liked my Mom doing holiday stuff for me, I didn't care to do it myself! Ha! It became something I was forcing myself to do because that's just how people celebrate holidays, that's what I was supposed to do. It made me unhappy. It stressed me out and I never had much fun, and I tried to, I really did, because it was supposed to be fun. You shouldn't have to try so hard. Over the years even putting up the Christmas tree became a chore. Secret: it hasn't left my closet in two years and I'm okay with that.

The holidays are about enjoyment, love, family, and warm fuzzies.

It doesn't take all the trimmings to get into the holiday spirit. My ideal holiday celebration involves relaxing, watching a few holiday flicks, listening to a bit of Christmas music and consuming hot chocolate. The people I love get gift cards, and they still know that I love them, because I show it all the other days of the year.

Energy is limited, spend it where it needs spending.

Pay attention to where your energy is leading you this holiday season. Don't run yourself ragged trying to be or do it all. Get things done early and don't wait until the last minute. Learn to say no to the things that don't make your heart feel good.

This is a time for celebration. Celebrate.

In your own way, doing your own thing, with the people who make your life awesome. Don't lose the spirit of the holiday because you're stuck on the image of what you or your family expect you to be.

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