It Begins

The story behind the blog.

Family Tree

Mother Earth

Plant-Based Beauty

Spiritual Exploration

Liberated Traveler

Reflections

  • Anderson Japanese Gardens

    Last week I took a trip up to Rockford to visit the Anderson Japanese Gardens. I arrived shortly after they opened and was welcomed to a peaceful corner of the city. I love the combination of stone, water, and plants which make up a quintessential Japanese garden. This creates a sensory treat with the smell of junipers, sounds of water trickling, sight of tranquility and humankind embedded in nature, and touch of cool pockets in the shade. This is definitely a place to go slow, and have a seat to reflect.

  • Being Edwin’s Momma

    So much of the change I have found in myself is grounded in the fact that I am Edwin’s momma.  A huge part of my life’s purpose is to be the best mom for him that I can be and I continually find myself wanting to be better.  I want to be full of love and good so he will hopefully find the same for himself. Here are some current goals I’m working on to be the mom he needs:

    -Try to be better about focusing my attention on the moment rather than not being present.

    -Eat a healthy diet and provide those opportunities for him.

    -Continue to find healthy ways to reconnect when I am feeling lost.

    -Reduce alcohol consumption so this is not a major part of who I am (perhaps eliminate).

    -Make choices that align with my values.

  • ,

    Hygge

    I first learned of the term Hygge ( hyoo-guh) right before traveling to Scandinavia for our honeymoon. Winters can be kind of rough here, so this way of living made perfect sense to me. I’ve decided to make this way of living not just in winter months, but at all times of year because we need good atmosphere always.

    Denmark is a country that is often rated one of the happiest countries in the world. When visiting Scandinavia, we embraced their culture, and attempted to bring it home with us.

    Hygge is a concept that has recently gained popularity. According to Meik Wiking, the author of The Little Book of Hygge, this phenomena is “about an atmosphere and an experience rather than about things.” According to his book, there are ten elements to help achieve this feeling of home and comfort. Let’s take a look.

    Credit: Meik Wiking-The Little Book of Hygge

    So, how do we do this? It is important to find pleasure in little experiences – to notice these moments. My husband and I have created a Hygge advent calendar in the past so we can enjoy something special and unique together each day. We also try to create a home filled with memories of experiences and fill it with life by adding beautiful houseplant creations. Some things you may want to try to include:

    1. Light candles at dinner.
    2. Put on those fuzzy socks when you are around the house.
    3. Plan special meals and eat slowly. Enjoy the act of cooking and eating.
    4. Create a little book nook with pillows and blankets. Make time to read.
    5. Enjoy a warm beverage such as tea, coffee, or hot cocoa when the sun goes down.
    6. Avoid reaching for your phone when you have down time.
    7. Try to stay connected to others. Zoom, Facetime, recipe exchange, virtual bookclub, etc.
    8. Go outside when you can. According to cold cultures, there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. Enjoy time outside during daylight by going for a hike, playing in the snow, or sitting by a bonfire.

  • It Begins

    I’ve reached a part of my life that has remnants of the old me, but has these new, exciting pieces that I didn’t even know were part of who I am. This blog is a place for me to delve into those elements and share with others.

    The name “Feet to the Earth” is rooted in the idea of the power of us connecting to our planet. There are some that believe having your bare feet on the ground sends electrons from the Earth through you and can bring new energy. I believe there is power in being connected to this world in a variety of ways. This blog will explore those ways and allow me to stop and connect.

    Family Tree: I am so blessed for the family in my life. They are truly the reason I am able to have this life so full of love. I look forward to documenting my connections with them.

    Plant-Based Beauty: Moving to a whole-food, plant-based diet is a choice I have made that speaks to my values. I want to spread the message and share my three reasons for making this life change: health, animals, and climate.

    Liberated Traveler: This was my first real blogging identity. It is still part of who I am, but not the only side of me. Connection is ever-present in travel and it provides such a rich opportunity to open perspectives. The idea of “Feet to Earth” is so much more powerful when our feet find new places to connect.

    Mother Earth: As I have gotten older, I have realized the power of nature. When in the awe of sights like the fjords in Norway, seeing humpback whales in Iceland, or hiking in the Alps, I have felt spiritual connections and peace. Although those are grand examples, even sitting by a lake brings clarity and calmness. I hope to explore more ways I can connect with nature through meditation and yoga as well as finding local healing places.

    Hygge: Ever since I have learned about this Danish way of living, I look for ways I can make my life more cozy and improve my well-being. Hygge has truly helped me enjoy small pleasures in life.

    While starting this blog, I was introduced to a song by Avicci I hadn’t heard before, “The Nights”. Listening to the lyrics, I was overwhelmed with emotion because this is my dad.

    “He said, ‘One day, you’ll leave this world behind
    So live a life you will remember”.

    My dad has told me countless times how this life is short, so enjoy it. I want for this to be something I pass on to Edwin with all my heart. I hope by keeping my feet to the Earth, I will work to stay connected and live in this moment.

    I dedicate this blog to my dad and will be forever grateful for all of the love and wisdom he has given me.

  • Whole-Food, Plant-Based Day 1

    Whole-Food, Plant-Based Day 1: Let’s start where it all started for me. This is kind of embarrassing to admit, but my change in mind all stems from Zac Efron. I was watching the Sardinia episode of his Down to Earth series and in this episode they discuss Blue Zones. These are places in the world where there is a high concentration of centenarians. Scientists have studied the diets and have found that they are mostly whole-food, plant-based. The information I learned from this episode seemed to be opposite of everything I knew about the “importance” of protein from meat.

    Research: High-intake of protein=higher risk of cancer (especially protein that comes from meat). When you are young and growing, protein is important. When you are past middle age, it is best to slow down the cellular process. Otherwise, too many may lead to mutated cells of cancer. Protein from meat pushes the accelerator on almost every age-related disease.

    Resource: “Down to Earth with Zac Efron-Sardinia” (Netflix)

    Recipe: Lentil Bolognese-When I first switched to being a pescatarian, I didn’t understand how anything could reach the flavor levels of some of my favorite, slow-cooked meals. I just needed to be educated on what provides that rich, umami flavor I love in those dishes. Here is an example of one recipe that pulls off all of the flavor of one of my favorite dishes while also providing a healthy source of protein, fiber, iron, and so much more! (https://rainbowplantlife.com/10-ingredient-vegan-red…/…)

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