Feeling the LOVE!

Today is my birthday!

Last year at this time I wrote about how due to my illness I finally had to let go and allow people to help me and throw me a birthday bash. After years of throwing my own party and feeling like I needed to do all the work, I suddenly realized in one of my darkest periods that I needed to allow the love and abundance to come to me. For all the manifesting work I do, sometimes I can be stubborn and insist on doing all the work. But I have realized over the last year that the Universe wants to do more work and wants me to do less work on manifesting and intention work. So I am practicing allowing myself to receive and not be in constant work mode.

Well I am happy to say that this birthday has been one wonderful moment after another. I could not have asked for a better day than today! I have been truly blessed by all the birthday love, phone calls, gifts, flowers and kind words I have experienced today. I woke up this morning at the time of my birth and make an intention for the up coming year. I intend for this next year to be one of the best years of my life.

I spent the morning writing and setting intentions for the up coming year. I went to a very cozy book store / cafe and just allowed myself the time and space to do what ever I wanted with the rest of the day. I had a wonderful tarot reading from my soul sister Rose who is my very good psychic friend. She confirmed all the thoughts and intentions I set this morning without even realizing what I had put on my list. It gave me the warm and fuzzes. I am not resting before dinner with my wonderful aunties and then off to cocktails with two of my best girlfriends from middle school! We have not see each other in over 15 years and yet, out of the blue both ladies contacted me and asked what I was doing this evening. It is a mini reunion and I could not have asked for a better day to see everyone.

One final note, last night I was talking with my father about what my life was like this time last year. I could barely walk and thought I might be permanently disabled. I was either asleep or crying most of the time and I was scared about my future. Deep down all I could think or feel was that I just wanted to get better so I could make candles. This motivated me every moment while I was in rehab and trying to walk again. To see where I am now as compared to last year all I can think is how grateful I am to be alive and healthy. I still have spine issues that are going to be with me for the rest of my life. But I just am grateful for what health I have been able to work on bringing back and I feel better than I have in a long time. I truly believe that one part miracle, one part gratitude and one part hard work has saved my life and allowed me to continue to make my candles and bring joy into this world.

Keep Calm

This is my new theme. I bought this poster a few weeks ago and I have it up at my studio. I love looking at it if I am stressed or just as a reminder that I should keep on being happy! Pressure Press in my new hero. These posters come in wonderful colors and look as good in person as they do in their photographs. I bought the orange one but am thinking about getting a few more in various colors.

Today I attempted to get to my studio which is normally a 15 minute drive but after an hour I gave up. Working in the industrial area I see a lot of trucks. I am ok with trucks but if you add all the people who took a Friday off work, over sized trucks with giant yachts on them and cement trucks, plus all the people going from Lake Washington to the Puget Sound. Well what was once a 15 min drive took well over an hour. So I am back home and taking care of myself in other ways. I am having a cup of tea and cleaning my room. This actually makes me happier than if I was at the studio so it all balances out.

This morning I had coffee with a very dear friend of mine, Jennifer Worick. It has been ages since I last saw her and it was wonderful to catch with her life. She is finishing up a craft book that will have a project that she designed with Odessa's Herbals help. My first shout out in a book! I love it. I will keep everyone posted when the book is published.

I have been planning my road trip route to New York for next month. I have started to stock pile supplies and prepare for making candles in a new place. I will be taking my time to drive out there since I already have a long list of friends I want to visit with between Seattle and New York! I am so excited to open up my East Coast Store and start meeting with new clients.

Could not have asked for a better weekend!

This weekend was pure heaven! I spent Saturday at my favorite place on Earth. My adopted aunt Reni's house. (see above photo's)
I grew up going to her house as a child and loved it. The best part about this weekend was that she had bought another house, her weekend home, and it was right on the sound. Hence the photo of the dog in front of the water. So we went from one house to the beach house where we spent the day swimming in the Sound, drinking cocktails on her porch and just laughing. The dog in the above photo is not Ahmi but Reni's border collie Tess.

It was so great to visit and even better to go swimming. I even got cold and had to wear a hoodie later in the day! The heat wave that hit last week has just finally started to end. It is still hot but nothing like last week. I used to pride myself on being really pale but this year I am tan. It is a little bit of a shock every time I look in the mirror but I would rather spend time outside walking than being bed ridden again!

Speaking of my health, everything is GREAT! I am off all nerve medications and pain killers. I am able to do 10 hour days again and the best part? My life is truly in balance for once. I can't remember being this happy in a long time. I am truly happy and everyday something magical and exciting happens! I work, I spend time taking care of myself, I spend time with loved ones and I get to decide what I do each and everyday. My body is growing stronger everyday and I am able to return to a more normal life with every week. I feel like I am glowing from love for life. So cheesy yet so true!

I am starting to prepare for the Holiday orders which came in last week and I will be very busy this fall!