mamaroots

the past

I need to do a disclaimer: read to your own desire or not but I was moved by an event that I wanted to share because it was pretty big for me.  The disclaimer is that this is pretty new-agey.  As long as I have known my good friend Lisa I have wanted to get a past life or as the School of Metaphysics calls it an Intuitive Reading done.  Lisa and knew each other in college, but became close when we happened to work together post college.  I love and trust my friend dearly and finally after several years of talking about it, about a month ago I went ahead and had a reading done.

I was not sure what to expect, but when I got the reading back it really did bring me to tears and as my wise women say it leveled me!  I won't go into the details but it was shocking how much it struck a cord with me.  I jokingly told hubby I was the queen of England- but it was actually a girl in the 1600's in Southern Europe that left her home at a very young age to serve and be a companion to an elderly aunt- nothing too glamorous, but it energized me to hear and feel.  I know that I think for me that there is a distinct reason that I like certain colors, songs, animals, etc. . .I feel it comes from the past. 

When hubby heard it, in his honesty that I have always admired in him he said well I am not sure how much I buy into it, but none of doesn't sound like you- he said he thinks that creation, spirituality and life has lots of voices and each of us hears the voice we need to.

So all of this is a round about way of wanting to share- it was an amazing experience.  It also explains for me also why I felt so affected about a month ago with watching an older movie "Girl with a Pearl Earring" - the story (based on novel that is completely a fictional account of the painting) was so affecting.  I did not know why but after getting my reading there were some similarities between Griet's story and my past life reading- except for the stunning Artist Vermeer!  I can remember studying this painting in my Art History courses and it stood out, but the fiction story reached in an yanked on my spirit.  To hear the similarities made it all that much more concrete for me.  Not to mention the need I have in most old houses to see or know if there was a servants/maids quarters!

I listen to my reading almost everyday and am still processing it.  A neat aspect is that you can actually ask some questions if you are looking for special significance towards a specific event or aspect of your current life.  It was so helpful to ask some of the questions and then answers I received.

Thanks for reading and if you were ever curious or thought about it, I highly recommend the School of Metaphysics for a reading.  I really feel like I am at the tip of the iceburg for learning more about my past to grow into my future.  Have a great Thursday!

drawing . . .

I drew the name for the winner of the Herbal Roots May edition by Luna Farms and then went out to take a picture of some more dandelions- Nina is the winner - I blew some happy wishes to you all today! 

Thanks for your comments, I really enjoyed reading them!  Don't worry you will have another chance to win an Issue of Herbal Roots in June!  Be on the look out for the mamaroots critters on Kristine's site for the give-away! 

Enjoy the dandelions!

Art Tuesday

Yesterday after school we indulged in our favorite snack mmmmm popcorn.  I think the boys and I make popcorn after school at least once a week.  I always manage to burn popcorn in the microwave and grew up popping it on the stove, it just stuck!  I wanted to share with you our favorite way of eating it!  After a fresh popped bowl- you know when it is still popping as you pour it in the bowl- add:

pinch of salt    Bragg's Raw Liquid Amino (tastes like soy sauce)   Nutritional Yeast

ohhh it is sooo good!  The Braggs is something we incorporated into our house about 3 years ago- don't even get me started on the Raw Apple Cider Vinegar- that is a whole blog post on its own!

Once we were settled in with our snack, I browsed through Lotta Jansdotter's new Simple Sewing for Baby- it is a craft addicts dream.  I love her style and fell in love with the "book buddies" I think it is the first thing I am going to make from it.  As you can imagine we have piles of books throughout our house and it is my mission this summer to coordinate it a bit better and make a fun reading nook. 

After making our painting boards, Jasper and I decided to start experimenting with the wet on wet watercolor method of Waldorf painting.  With just 3 colors of the Stockmar paints I splurged on we set to work.  I started off with just a yellow swirl to see where it took me, and Jasper started of with a yellow spot also.  We each went a different direction, but I looked up and was wowed by his free form dragon.  We had a blast.  I also splurged and got a really nice jar set from Birch Leaf Designs- it is gorgeous!  Plus the jars are nice and big and I just put the paint in the fridge to use again- right next to the Olives!

Make sure to check back this afternoon- I will be drawing the name for the Herbal Roots giveaway!

Hands On!

The weekend started off so funny on Friday when my boys decided they just could not wait to give me a mama-day present and even though one of my boys goes to a Montessori school and the other an Expressive Arts Public School both of them had hands on love! 

Why is it that a simple piece of construction paper with your childs hand print make you cry?  Was I really the only mama bawling in the car when her children gave her this sweetness- not sure because as soon as I dried my eyes we headed home for some juicy family time all weekend long!

So Jasper and Silas' recipe for a happy mama's day included:

*Help daddy make mama her favorite breakfast- that's right B & G all the way with fresh cantalope and tea!

*Free wagon ride around the house

*8 mile family bike ride to a Twin Lakes park and playing on the playground- mama can still fly down the slide!

*Picking dandelions for Herbal Roots work

*Making mama's favorite dinner, rice balls, miso, seaweed salad, Ume tea, and of course fortune cookies!

*pampering mama with foot massage

How was that for a wonderful spoiled day!  Needless to say I was sleepy and content last night!  I also got to squeeze in some crafting time this weekend which was very timely since it was becoming a mama that really helped me focus my crafting.  It is the roots of mamaroots! 

 

I wanted to share what is on "The Bench" with you a little early this week and also share some fun new with you also.  So what is hanging out on the ol' cobblers bench is:

1- awesome bug and bone specimens brought to the boys all the way from NYC from their rocking aunt, my sis Amanda- they have been sleeping and toting them around.  She got them from a store in NYC called Evolution- my guys would go bonkers there!  Thanks Aunt Mana!

2- dandelions from the yard in prep for doing some work for our Monthly Herbal Roots.  We really love these lessons from and starting this month you will have some fun opportunaties to win a copy of Herbal Roots right here at mamaroots.  If you notice each month she does a sweet cover with the featured herb and critter.  Each month you can visit the Herbal Roots site and have a chance to win a mamaroots wood critter that corresponds with that month!  Hence the other thing on the bench:

3- snakes!  I made one for my boys and then the others are on their way to Kristine- watch for one to be given away this month at the Herbal Roots site!

So to get it all started- leave me a comment between now and Wednesday at noon about what you love about dandelions or a memory of dandelions, or heck just leave a comment and say hi and I will draw a winner that will get a copy of May Herbal Roots- it is all about dandelions!

To teach our children about the natural world around them is such an amazing gift that Kristine is doing!

mother's work

As we head into the Mother's Day lovely weekend I wanted to share with you the pictures of a mama's hard work.  You may remember a few days ago when we discovered our new neighbors that moved into our tree.  Well all of the hard work has paid off and 2 of the 3 little baby robins have emerged!  We are in awe of how beautiful this is in the midst of all of activity that happens in our front yard: soccer matches, wizard battles, biking, and general boy mayhem!

Happy early mama's day to all- have fun being surrounded by love in your own nest!

 

raising the tent

Happy Friday and full moon!  The moon has an ebb and flow that pulls women together.  Last night at The Womb Room my friends and I gathered in honor of our friend Mikayla and her upcoming wedding next week.  We created a Red Tent Bridal Blessingway for her.  Red is the color of blood- blood that we as women share in our ability to create life and at the moment life is brought from our bodies- Red is such an incredible symbolic color for us as women to gather under.  As unpredictable as Missouri weather can be, I decided to set up the space inside as a storm was looming.  I am really truely blessed with these amazing friendships that continue to grow with each other.  We presented beads, words of wisdom, listened to stories of how Mikayla had met her love and ended the evening with do henna on her ankles. 

I feel like there will be many more of these events to come in the future of The Womb Room- something really powerful happens when women gather!  I have raised the tent for birth stories also, but I could see the tent being raised to celebrate first bleeding ceremonies, birth, bridal, blessingways, etc . . .mmm I really don't need an excuse to embrace stories, ritual, and yes my most favorite color in the world- RED!

I wanted to share some red food ideas in case you raise a tent with the women in your community:

Red juice or wine, red peppers, radishes, raspberries, strawberries, definitely Premium Red M & M's- red raspberry almond were pretty tasty, brushetta with goat cheese mixed with cranberries, bruchetta with tomatoes, red pistacios, red velvet cake

It was an empowering day and evening to be surrounded in the light, love, and friendship under a tent of red!  Blessings to a happy and loving marriage to Mikayla!

There are a few more pictures here- I don't have the knack of indoor photography, I know my friend Amy's pics will be beautiful!  Have a wonderful Friday!

8 on 5

  Cinqo de Mayo!  I love a good margarita but the 5th of May is always more than that for me and my hubby!  Today is our 8 year wedding anniversary!  I keep thinking wow 8 years!  When we were planning our wedding years ago and looking at dates, that just worked out great and we figured there would always be a party happening!

 So . . . all this talk about love reminds me of my love of a couple books I have been wanting to share that happen to have a Spanish flare to them.  Spanish is one of the languages we are trying to learn together at our house. Book Fiesta by Pat Mora is a fun bilingual book that of course celebrates books, and then there is the Senor Calavera books by Yuyi Morales- rocks my world!  I adore the illustrations and the fun character of Senor Calavera!  If you enjoy the style of Ana Juan you will really like this surreal, fantastical illustrator/author also!

There is one book for alphabet and one for counting that is just a pure joy.  I enjoy the Day of the Dead culture and these are fantastic books that incorporate this part of their culture.

So here is to Senor Calavera helping me do some counting today, looking forward to my next year with my love and making it 9 on 5!

sweet surprises

I had a juicy weekend with my family.  We coordinated for my sis from NY to come visit with her fella to surprise my dad for his 60th b-day.  It was a full, very fun and loving weekend with everyone.  I loved seeing the look on my dad's face trying to figure out who this dancing gorillas were in the resturant! 

Jasper surprised us this weekend also by deciding it was time for him to start riding his bike all on his own!  Hubby is an avid biker so it was surprising me that Jasper was not doing it yet, but as he watched all his neighborhood buddies peddling around on Saturday he asked for his bike and all on his own hopped on and started peddling- it was a beauty to watch.  I love that he did it all on his own, his own timing, his own way!

The weather is just really starting to become lovely, things are popping, my boys are growing and I am just loving life!  I am really excited to be planning a bridal blessingway for my friend Mikayla this week, we are making a Red Tent for her at The Womb Room- the incredible community of women that grow and support each here continues to make my heart swell!  Happy Monday indeed!

Oh and did I mention that tomorrow is my wedding anniversary?  Eight years with my love- always makes for a fun Cinco de Mayo!

 

Happy May Day!

Happy May Day all!  The boys and I had fun making baskets last night.  Jasper traced and made the cone for our really dear friends that they play with almost everyday that live right next door.  The cone was an awesome easy shape to make and we filled it with wildflowers, seeds, and pixie sticks!  Jasper delivered this super early this morning!

                                   

My crafty friends and I were strolling down memory lane when we got together for my b-day recently about May Day and we did an impromtu name drawing for baskets.  For my friend Amy whose name we drew we used a recycled tin can, punched some holes in the side- Jasper loves hammering lately and we used a hammer and nail, covered the outside in pretty paper, and then used a ribbon for the handle.  We added flowers, seeds, pixie sticks, and I could not resist adding a little wood elf and a poem we wrote to go along:

Once there was a woodland elf

Who said to himself

It's the 1st of May, what shall I do?

Why I'll bring flowers fresh for you.

And when they're done a seed or two.

For summer flowers to see you through!

We actually delivered ours on a fun after bath in jammies ride last night so we could all do it together and I work so early in the morning.  We had fun and can't wait to get home today to see what our May fairy brought us, first though it is Sparky Friday- yummy local organic Ice Cream after school!

I also wanted to give a shout out to my friend Ginny who is managing a new local market and cafe that is opening up today- Cherry Hill Market and Cafe!  Happy May!  More pictures to come!

***Afternoon Update- we came home and had super sweet May Day Basket at our door!  It was so sweet and the boys loved discovering the notepads with their initials, sweet wood animals, and of course diving into the chocolate chip cookies!  The flowers are so perfect on this rainy day!  Thanks May Day Fairy!!