Do you remember that song? “Summer, summer, summertime. Time to sit back and unwind.” That was my jam! It always takes me back to summertime growing up in NYC. The epic neighborhood wide water fights, the handball, basketball and football tournaments, trying to catch fireflies at dusk.

This year we’re making new memories.

We just got back from visiting family in Montreal. Here we are enjoying a meal at one of the most popular Thai restaurants! I absolutely loved the presentation of all the food and everything was just as delicious as it looks.

It’s also our first official summer in our home and we’re slowing getting the house together!

My designer and friend, Amy convinced me to go bold or go home with the fabric for our dining room chairs. I hesitated but then I thought, why the heck not, so we went with it! Go bold, or home right? When she sent me the photo of the finished chairs I was blown away!!! Just call me Khaleesi, Mother of Dragons. ???

I’ve also been…

Mothering

I’ve been having a blast hanging out with my little guy! Every time I blink, I swear he grows an inch. This has to be one of my favorite videos of him. It will totally melt your heart and blast some love your way! ???

Gardening + Connecting

I officially have an organic garden! It’s been a dream of mine for a long time. We’ve got brussels sprouts, basil, rosemary, collard greens, butternut squash and more. 🙂 My hubby and I spent weeks creating this little garden and it’s become our little oasis.

It’s seriously one of the things bringing me so much joy right now. Picking fresh herbs, plucking out weeds, watering, watching her grow. Every time I’m there I thank each and every leaf for growing and providing nourishment. Starting a garden was hard work but it has been food for my soul.

As my hubby and I tended and sowed the garden I thought about my ancestors who were slaves who worked the land without respite. At that moment, I felt deep sadness and anger and yet I felt my ancestors looking at me now and smiling because here I was doing this for love and joy. I could feel their connection to the land and the same way the land spoke to them, she spoke to me. That is their gift. Connection to spirit that is in all things that can’t be broken or tainted. An intuitive knowing that can be awakened at any moment that only requires openness and willingness.

When I shared this with my hubby, he shared that he too thought of his ancestors who were slaves and also the Native people of this land. We were both having the experience at the same time. It was a full moment with no words exchanged. A connection that runs so deep even the worst atrocities committed by man cannot break it or erase it.

And that is love.

I feel my ancestors’ love. I know they fought and survived because they knew somewhere down the line there would be joy. No matter how tiny the moment, it was worth it. It kept them alive. It kept them fighting for just one more breath.

I am/we are their living, breathing symbol of joy. And for that I celebrate.

Advocating

There’s so much going on in the world. It’s been weighing on my heart and mind and I’ve committed to make time to write more about it at length.

Most recently the murder of Nia Wilson adds to a growing list of black and brown people who have been murdered/harassed/targeted simply for existing. Eat, Pray, Love writer Elizabeth Gilbert wrote something very poignant about Nia’s murder that I felt compelled to share. It’s worth the read.

Also, watching the children separated from their parents and guardians at the US Mexico border has been heart wrenching. Rather then turn away, it’s spurred me to action. I’ve contacted my representatives and urged them to unite these children with their families, because these children are all our children. If you haven’t already done so, I urge you to download the Resistbot because it makes the process of contacting your representatives seamless.

“Text the word RESIST to Resistbot on Telegram, Messenger, Twitter or to 50409 on SMS^* and Resistbot find out who represents you in Congress, and delivers your message to them in under 2 minutes. No downloads or apps required.”

This is one of those times that I love the power of technology.

Together let’s make a difference.

Creating a Retreat Space

Right next to our garden, is the entrance to my retreat space which will officially open its doors this fall for our first gathering. Since I’ve now put it out there, I better get to work, right?! 😉

It’s going to be a space to envision, create, gather, heal, remember, embody and emerge together. I wanted to show you what the space looks like now because it’s a hot mess lol! But I will say it looks waaaaaay much better than it did just months ago. I can’t take credit here, because my hubby has been working overtime to clear the space and has been in touch with the contractors about the projects that need to be completed.

I’m also showing you this because the before is just as important as the after! If you’re in the NYC area (or are willing to travel) I hope you’ll be able to experience this space in the flesh.

I’ll say this, even though it may not look like it but even with all the mess the space is filled magical energy! #ComingSoon

Birthing The Liberation Sessions

In early 2017, I received the intuitive hit that I was to create a program called the Liberation Sessions. Since then I’ve gotten bits and pieces of exactly what the experience will encompass. Lately, I’m happy to share that the downloads have been flowing, and I’m excited to share it with you. I’m still very much in the creation process but what I can say is that it’s going to be a deep and expansive journey that will not only focus on individual liberation but our collective liberation. If you’re interested, I invite you to join the waitlist over here.

Listening…

To you. Your desires, your challenges, and where you want to grow in your life and leadership. THANK YOU, if you participated! If you haven’t, I’d love to hear from you too. My heart is wide open. No topic is off limits. What you share will inform the experiences I create for us for the remainder of 2018 and in 2019. So if you’d like to contribute, feel free to share a lot or just a little, get uncensored, and tell spellcheck to take a hike. 🙂

Share your thoughts right here.

So, how’s your summer going? I’d love to know.

Sending you love + summertime magic,