Fine Tuning: The Staves - The Motherlode

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  © Text & Photos - Annika - All The Live Long Day (unless otherwise stated).

Happy Holidays, Y'All!

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Fine Tuning: The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping

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Christmas Baking with Russell from London Eats

My guest today (and the last one before I start inflicting holiday shots on you) is Russell, who normally blogs at London Eats. Russell is one of the few bloggers I have actually met in person, albeit only for a very short moment (see below). I like his blog because he regularly tries exciting recipes, usually gives interesting back stories about the food and takes super-delicious-looking (spell: A.M.A.Z.I.N.G) photographs. I am feeling very fortunate about the fact that he agreed to fill some space over here while I'm away.
***

Hi folks! My name is Russell, and I’m the guy behind the London Eats food blog. I’m a keen cook with a passion for travel, food and ideally, combing these two interests.

When I saw that Annika was off on holiday and asked whether I would like to do a guest post while she was off exploring the new and exotic, and I jumped at the chance. When I was still a baby blogger with very few posts, Annika fostered my baking habits – we arranged a clandestine handover of a Herman friendship cake via Twitter on a street corner in the centre of London, and Herman has since done the tour round my friends. So today, I am returning the favour!

 

I thought I would share with you a little of the thought process that I put into a blog post, and explain the lengths that I have gone to in this case to get hold of those kitchen essentials.

 

Basically, I get very excited around Christmas time, and I absolutely love to make Christmas biscuits. I put this down to early years spent in Germany when my father worked near Hamburg. I literally cannot get enough of those spicy little German Lebkuchen. As a small child, my favourite were the gingerbread Pfeffernüsse with the brittle white icing. They were strictly rationed, but I used to sneak them whenever I could. Later, once we moved back to Scotland, we would make special trips to the delicatessen in my grandmother’s town to get hold of German festive bakes as the owner was German, and back then, the stuff was hard to get hold of.

 

Fast forward many, many years (although not too many) and each Christmas I like to make lots of different types of biscuits. I probably make far more than I could ever hope to eat. What I like about the baking process (which may be due to the fact I’m a guy) is understanding what is happening in the dough during baking, what works and why it works, and the various techniques that you use and need to master to make some of the more spectacular cookies. I’ve amazing how you can take the same five ingredients and end up with either a light bread, a dense, chewy cookie, a crisp biscuit or something fanciful and elaborate. Funny as it sounds, I feel the baking at this time of year is equal parts science and art, with the heightened pressure to make it delicious, as you’re presenting baked goods that in some cases go to the core of someone’s childhood. Get those biscuits wrong and they’ll never forgive you (or at least make no bones about telling you that their grandmother made them better).

 

Festive baking also allows you to look into the culture of a country, and you very quickly notice the nutty, spicy baking of Northern Europe, compared to the fruited, honey-sweetened treats of Southern Europe, while Britain falls somewhere in between (mincemeat tarts, which contain no meat, just dried fruits). Over the years, I’ve turned my hand to German cinnamon stars, Lebkuchen and Stollen, Dutch Christmas wreaths and speculaas biscuits, Italian Pannetone, traditional British sugar plums and even created my own white spiced almond horchata, which was pleasant when drunk chilled and outstanding when warm with a dash of rum.

 

Last year, this all culminated in an attempt to cover the Twelve Days of Christmas Baking, where I thought I could easily tackle twelve recipes in the run up to Christmas. The research was fun – looking at traditional recipes and exploring new flavours. As time passed, the pressure to complete everything before Christmas Day grew, and I had not quite appreciated that the lack of daylight after about half past three in winter makes it rather tricky to take good photographs of biscuits. However, I managed to make it at the very last moment. I vowed never to do something so insane again, but I will of course be doing it this year too. Anyway, as part of last year’s process to select the bakes to make the final twelve, I needed come very special ingredients, and its fair to say that my Christmas kitchen shenanigans went to a whole new level when I discovered the world of novelty raising agents. I’ll wager that is a phrase you never thought you’d read here, eh? In part, I just wanted to try baking with something very novel and just a wee bit hard to get hold of. Yes, I’m a little determined and stubborn too.

 

Bear with me while I do the “science bit” as I assure you it gets more interesting (crafty/handmade) after this. All these festive bakes are traditional, so it is only natural that you have some very odd ingredients in there. The two culprits in my case are Pottasche (the name in German, which I use) and baker’s ammonia.

 

To prove the point, I made Aachener printen with baking powder and with Pottasche. The result? Those with baking powder were hard, and softened only very slightly after two months. Made with the (correct) Pottasche, however, they puff up in the oven and become porous, then become perfectly soft. Dip them in chocolate and you’re in for a treat.

 

The other magic dust I’ve become a little bit obsessed about is baker’s ammonia (also known as sal volatile or ammonium carbonate). But the price for the most wonderful names goes to Sweden, where it’s called hjortronsalt (“deer antler salt”). This stuff used to be made from the ash of ground up deer antler, and you do have to wonder how anyone would think that this was a good idea? I mean, would you trust someone that offered you a cake ingredient based on cat fur? Exactly. However, someone did have this idea, and it has a most magical effect on baked goods. They are incredibly light, and you’ll get lift like you’ve never experienced. But all this goodness comes with a slight drawback, for baker’s ammonia smells of exactly that – the sharp, piercing smell of ammonia. This means two very terrible things. First, you can’t eat the cookie dough. I’ve tried, and it tastes like strong soap. Second, when you bake the cookies, you’ll get a waft of ammonia fumes from the oven during baking. You’ll want to be aware of this so that you don’t make your eyes water. However, this stink is a sign that the ammonia is doing its thing, as it breaks down into water and gas. The heat drives off the ammonia, leaving tasty biscuits behind. I’ve made Icelandic air cookies which start 3-4mm thick, and end up an inch in height, and it makes Swedish dream cookies which are dreamily light and crisp. If you see baker’s ammonia, buy it, seal it in a jam jar (that stink!) and experiment in the kitchen.

 

So there you have it. A novelty ingredient in the baking cupboard, and I was looking for new things to make with it. Baker’s ammonia is essential for making a number of cookies and it doesn’t have a perfect substitute. You’ll get quite far with baking powder, but sometimes, it’s not quite enough. Indeed, I’ve become a little obsessed with finding recipes that use the stuff, and I was enthralled last year when I came across the German Springerle cookie. Frankly, I was rather amazed that I had never come across them before. You start with a thick dough made from whipped eggs, sugar, aniseed and flour, with a little dash of baker’s ammonia. The dough is very stiff, but pliable enough to be rolled out and shaped. This is where the fun starts, as you don’t just use a cookie cutter. Instead, you use presses. Yes, it turns out that there is a whole would of wooden presses out there, from festive scenes, fairytale motifs, fruit, nuts, animals...you name it, there is a press out there for it! And with that, a blog post was born, and an obsession kicked in – I had to get the moulds, and I have to make Springerle.

I though the name Springerle means “little springer” or “little jumper” given that during baking, they jump into the air. However, it is actually close to “little knight” and they can be traced back to medieval times. When most people could not read, they could still understand a story embossed on the top of a biscuit, and at a time when aromatic spices were a rare luxury, they would have been very fancy little treats indeed.

As I already had the baker’s ammonia (which you can buy in central London from Scandinavian Kitchen), all I had to do to fulfil this Germanic baking fantasy was to get hold of the presses. My appetite for these cookies had been whetted last year, so I’ve had my eyes open for the last twelve months. I’ve looked at markets in London. Nothing. I’ve looked at flea markets in Brussels and Amsterdam (nix), trawled a bazaar in Barcelona (nada). I thought I found one in a shop in Paris, but the pattern was terrible (dommage!). Then I discovered that Springerle seem to be big news in America (having been blessed by Martha herself). So when I spent two weeks over there on holiday recently, I went to just about each and every specialist cookshop that I could. New York might be the city where you can get anything, but not proper Springerle moulds (but, it turns out, you can buy a lot of other kitchen implements on the way). I did find a patterned rolling pin, but the design was not sharp, and it cost seventy dollars. For a rolling pin! I was ready to give us and try to source them from Germany, when I found the website for House on the Hill. I’m a modern guy, but the idea of buying them online never occurred to me. And here, you have a completely free choice in just about anything that you could possibly want. I’ve picked out a pine cone, and acorn, plus some random patterns. They might have taken two weeks to cross the ocean, but it was worth it when they arrived!

 

I’ve now made a batch of Springerle using my presses, and as you can see, they have turned out very well indeed! However, I’ll be a little naughty and keep you waiting to see the full post as it’s going to be one of my Twelve Days series for 2012, where I will also share my experiences in using the presses and how to get a good print. If you just can’t resist the urge to get baking or want to order your own presses, then I recommend the website House on the Hill for all your moulding needs, or even just to peruse and suggest to your nearest and dearest for gift ideas.

 

All well and good, but I feel that as a nod to Annika, I should make some more practical ideas for those that are keen to inject a bit more creativity into making Springerle. So what can you do if you don’t have the time, money or patience to hunt down a mould or buy one online? I’ve done a bit of thinking, and there are actually lots of workarounds. Most obviously, there are cookie cutters out there that will press some sort of design into your dough. Easy but a little boring. Far more exciting would be to go to London’s Camden Passage near Angel tube station, where you can pick up vintage printing blocks from one of the little open air stalls. After a good clean when you get home, you can use them to stamp retro patterns into your biscuits, allowing you to literally eat your words! Another idea is to rummage around for anything with a pattern – old coins, dominos, buttons – and use them to press designs into the dough. Or get even more creative and track down bits of lace that you can press onto the dough. Just run a rolling pin over the top, and get very unique patterns. This would also work with deep-veined leaves from the garden. There are pretty much no limits, provided you find something that has enough texture.

I see now that I’ve gone on far too long, but I hope you’ve enjoyed my first attempt as a guest blogger. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and happy baking!

 

Russell

Fine Tuning: Emmy the Great & Tim Wheeler - Home For The Holidays

 

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    © Text & Photos - Annika - All The Live Long Day (unless otherwise stated).

Christmas Down Under with Fiona from Life In Brief

Today you get a very festive post from my friend Fiona, who normally blogs at Life In Brief. It is December, so even for the most hardened Grinch it will no longer be easy to dodge the baubles. Due to me being away for a whole chunk of the run-up and going away again for Christmas itself to see my folks in Germany, I won't have much time to get my home all spruced up this year. But the cold days and dark nights will still help get me in the mood.

 

Now, Fiona has recently moved from greyish Britain to sunny Australia and is definitely facing a green Christmas. Here, she shares how she is planning to gear up for a holly, jolly time despite it being the middle of summer.

 

 

***

 

Given that Annika has trotted off Down Under, and I myself am a Brit newly residing in Australia, I thought I’d share some of my thoughts about celebrating the holidays when it’s… well… pretty darn hot! I grew up in Australia, and have spent a Christmas there as an adult, but I still find it hard to shake the feeling off that it’s simply wrong to be so sunny on Christmas Day! So I’ve come up with a little list of tips and ideas which incorporate Northern Hemisphere Winter Traditions along with a couple of ideas which really celebrate the concept of a hot Christmas.

Decorate!

This might seem like a no-brainer, but my first thought about this first Christmas in our home in Perth was “let’s just forget about it”.  A big evergreen seems a bit out of place, and we’ve no fireplace for hanging stockings, and listening to White Christmas seems a bit odd when it’s 40 degrees outside! So I’m planning to decorate the house in a way which is Christmassy, but not like something off a greetings card!

These baubles from Toast (ironically, a British-based store!) look great without a massive Norwegian pine to dangle from!

source: toast

Watch the Sun Rise (or Set) on the Beach

Start some traditions that people celebrating Christmas in the cold, wet Northern Hemisphere can't! I'm planning to watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean on New Year's Eve at the beach. It's not Times Square, but it's not a bad alternative!

source: Constance Hotels

Christmas Dinner with a Twist 

I'm already planning our holiday menus, trying to think of ways to incorporate the parts of a British Christmas dinner, as that's what my husband and I both and love, but also making it 'suitable' for a hot Aussie day! Honey roast pork just screams Christmas to me, but instead of serving it with a full plate of roast vegetables, maybe a pear salad will stop you from falling into a sweaty food coma in the summer heat!

Similarly, I'm excited about making up some fun holiday cocktails, as I will definitely be feeling the loss of mulled wine and hot toddys! I'm thinking something light and fresh, but still a little spicy, to remind me of hiding from the cold in a pub! This Amaro Cobbler, as served at New York's Botanica, might be a good option.

source: Time Out

At the end of the day, to me the holidays are all about getting to celebrate with friends and family. I'll be doing both: hiding away with my husband on the Western Australian south coast for Christmas, and then throwing a party for friends at New Years. In essence it's the same as I'd be doing if I still lived in London!

What ever you're up to this Christmas, enjoy!

Illustrating with Michelle from Creature Type

Please all give a warm welcome to Michelle, who usually blogs at Creature Type about illustration, fashion and the things she gets up to in her life. I am honored to have Michelle here while I am away, especially because this is her first ever guest post, and she is writing it for my blog! High Five! 
Michelle is a graphic designer and showcases her cute illustrations on her blog and in her shop. For today, she is letting us have a peek at her creative process. You will see the end result is gorgeous!
So without further ado, over to this gal:

Hello, All The Live Long Day readers! My name is Michelle and I blog at Creature Type. I’m an illustrator, graphic designer, fashion enthusiast, and part time painting instructor from St. Louis, Missouri!

Annika has always been super sweet to me and when she asked if I’d like to guest post while she was away, I happily agreed! I thought I’d share a little making-of sneak peek for one of my illustrations.

My workspace set up is pretty modest right now and I’m always all about using modest tools. I love to sketch and do lineart with pens and ink and then digitally manipulate, so simple tools are perfectly fine to get the job done. The only thing I’m picky about is my beloved Japanese brush pens. I think they’re intended for watercolor use because you can fill them with water and use them to quickly work without constantly dipping--I love using them for ink!

I've been trying to make some cute, simple, winter and Christmas themed drawings lately for a holiday craft show next month, so that’s what this sketch is for! I had a pretty clear idea of what I wanted to draw, so I just made a straight forward pencil sketch in a sketchbook that has thick paper--perfect for inking in.

I draw my final lines in ink over my pencil sketch and erase them later. My style is usually to work quickly on pieces and hammer out my ideas. If they turn out badly, I prefer to just make a new version rather than toil away on a single image for too long.

I either scan or take a high resolution photo of my lineart, depending on how important it is to maintain the quality of the original image. Lately I've just been taking photos of my work because I mess with it digitally enough that I don’t need the super clarity of a scanned image initially.

I use my Wacom tablet and Adobe Photoshop to modify lineart, play with colors, etc. I complete images from sketch to final piece on Photoshop, too, but I find that I have an easier time sketching and have a steadier hand inking with pen and paper.

And here’s my final piece! :)

You can check out more of my work and follow my weekly/monthly illustration projects on Creature Type! Thanks for reading, everyone!

xo Michelle

1st December is World Aids Day

Check out in what simple ways you could make a difference to people who are affected by HIV or AIDS.

Fine Tuning: Elliott Brood - Lindsay

 

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© Text & Photos - Annika - All The Live Long Day (unless otherwise stated).    

Good Blogging with Sarah from Well And Cheaply

 

Your friendly Guest Poster for today is the wonderful Sarah from Well And Cheaply. We were kinda "introduced" by my friend Amy. I have not known Sarah very long, but in the few weeks I have been reading her blog, she has impressed me big time. Not only is she a talented writer, she also manages to build an amazing community on her blog, with a lovely atmosphere of interesting conversation and exchange.

I was stoked when Sarah agreed to write something for my blog while I'm out gallivanting, and when she asked what the post should be about, I naturally suggested she tell us her secrets of how to be a fantastic blogger. Luckily, Sarah obliged. And here we go:

Hello All the Live Long Day readers! My name is Sarah and I blog over at Well and Cheaply. I'm so happy to guest post for Annika while she's enjoying her vacation. Ahhh yay vacation! Annika sweetly suggested that I write a guest post about blogging (I know, totally meta) since I have a lot of interaction with my readers. So I thought I'd give it a shot. I'm not an expert or full time blogger or even have that many followers, but I've been blogging since November of 2008- which is so crazy to me! So I guess I've learned some things along the way. Let me try to tell you about them in a somewhat organized manner. 

First off, although I've been blogging since 2008, this is my second blog.  I started Well and Cheaply in May after deciding to take my first blog down.  To make a long story short, by using my first and last name, I lost some privacy on that blog.  I work at a school and students ended up finding it.  Although I had never written anything inappropriate, I just didn't feel comfortable knowing that they were reading it, so I took it down and eventually started fresh with a new blog using just my first name.  By doing this, I lost some old readers because I didn't have a link up on my old blog leading to the new one, but it was a good lesson to learn.  So my first suggestion is to really think about what you are putting out on the internet when you blog and decide how you want to do it.  By using my first name only, if you google me, my blog does not come up.  A lot of readers know my first and last name (in real life and virtual friends) but they have respected my privacy by not mentioning it on my blog. 

Although I sort of learned my lesson the hard way, starting a brand new blog after almost four years of blogging was really invigorating and refreshing! I definitely recommend it if you're feeling like blogging is becoming a little stale for you. When I initially took my old blog down, I was really turned off about sharing my life online.  But after a few months of not blogging and really thinking about how to share what I wanted and keep other things private, I realized how much joy blogging brings to my life. Writing is a great way for me to sort through my feelings and personal issues and connecting with readers makes it all the more valuable, which is why it's so different from just writing in a personal journal every day. So when I made the choice to start a new blog, I knew it was the right one, and it was really exciting to think about exactly where I wanted my new blog to go. Which brings me to what I blog about.  

I love writing about deeper issues and label those posts under my "things I'm afraid to tell you" category. These blog posts are the most fulfilling for me as a writer, but I'm not sure how much my audience likes them. On certain posts I will get an amazing response in  the comments, but others not so much. I have a feeling though that these posts might not always provoke comments. They're either talking about heavier things that readers might not want to share, or do not leave room for a response. I think that mostly, readers will read these posts and think, "I liked that," but not necessarily comment.  It's hit or miss with the comments on these posts, but I write them because I enjoy it - it keeps me more sane, helps me work through my own issues and I usually will have at least one person write that they enjoyed the post and that always means a lot to me. 

The most interaction I usually get with my readers is when I pose a question at the end of a blog post asking them to weigh in.  These posts are usually about lighter subjects and I enjoy writing them just as much as I enjoy writing about the heavier things.  Two very highly commented past posts of mine include a vlog about what's in my make up bag and a post I did where I wrote about sleeping better without my husband and asked if readers slept better alone. I think if you write about a topic that a lot of people can form a quick opinion on, they will most likely comment on it, and then a really good discussion can get started in the comments.  

To come up with good blog post ideas like that, I try to pay attention to fun conversations I've had with friends.  This post about Clair Huxtable was totally one of them.  Usually if it's good friend conversation material, it's going to be a good blog topic, because isn't reading people's blogs like talking to a friend anyway? 

When it comes to comments I have two rules of thumb. The first is to try and not get obsessed with them (this is easier said then done) and the second is to try and interact with my blog commenters as much as possible. This one is really easy.  I try to reply to almost all of my comments, even if it's just to say "thanks!" and find that this makes making new blog pals super easy and rewarding.  I know Annika because she's commented on my blog! 

The final thing I'd like to share about blogging is my experience with advertising.  It is my personal goal to be able to have sponsors on Well and Cheaply some day, but until I have a higher number of monthly page views I'm not going to even attempt it.  (My goal is 10,000 page views a month to start advertising, right now I'm almost at 6,000 in case you were wondering).  Since my blog is important to me, I justify spending some money every month advertising on other blogs that I love to read.  My experience has been that it always brings more readers to my blog.  However my two very favorite places to advertise with are Sometimes Sweet and Little Chief Honey Bee because they include organic link shout outs in their advertising price. So along with having an ad in their side bar, they will mention you once or twice in a blog post.  These link shout outs are what always bring me the most clicks and usually bring me long term followers.  Of all the blogs I've advertised on, they are the only ones that I've found that include this with their advertising and it has been the most worthwhile for me.  And since I love these blogs anyway, and the bloggers behind them, it's always exciting to be mentioned on them, even if I paid for it.  I think I have a similar readership to both of those blogs so it's a really great way for me to get my writing out to more readers every month. 

So I think those are the big things that I've learned over the years!  I'd love to hear about your own blogging experiences in the comments - do you have any tricks up your sleeves? And if you have any questions, ask in the comments too!  I'll try my best to answer them, or at least just say hello. 

Thanks for reading and thanks Annika for having me as your guest!

xo Sarah

Chai with Vanessa from Nifty Thrifty Things

 

My guest poster for today is Vanessa from Nifty Thrifty Things. You should definitely check out her blog. Vanessa is a graphic designer, and that absolutely shows in her elegant blog design and her eye for all things beautiful. She regularly posts recipes, craft tutorials, and floral inspiration and takes gorgeous photos to boot, and all of this with a focus on being frugal.   Vanessa was kind enough to share one of her recipes. This one is for a chai tea concentrate, which will be wonderful to use during the colder  days here in the Northern Hemisphere. Chai is one of my favourite drinks in winter, and after trying Vanessa's recipe I can vouch for it's yumminess. It tasted like I imagine a spice market in India would smell.   But I'll let her tell you about it herself...

***

When my mom and I meet up for our (almost) weekly crafting dates, we usually start off the day with a nice and warm cup of chai with steamed milk. It helps us get in the mood for crafting, and during winter, warm up from the cold outside.

While the store brand mix is already pretty delicious, it can get a little pricey and we decided to make our own chai tea mix.

Best decision ever! The homemade chai tea is DELICIOUS!

{chai concentrate}

• PREP: 5 mins
• COOK: 60 mins
• READY IN: 1 hr 5 mins

a delicious, spice infused tea! Yum!

INGREDIENTS

·     4 1/2 cups water

·     10 pods cardamom

·     1/2 — 1 tsp. ground pepper

·     1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

·     3 sticks cinnamon

·     5 pods star anise

·     10 seeds pimento

·     1 vanilla bean

·     1 stalk lemongrass

·     4 in. ginger

·     2 tbsp. brown sugar or honey

·     10 bags black tea

        

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Bring the water to a boil.
2. Add the spices and tea bags and boil at a low temperature for about 1 hour.
3. Remove the pan from the heat and strain the concentrate through a sieve.
4. Add the brown sugar or honey and stir to combine.
5. Allow the mixture to cool before filling it in little bottles or jars.
6.  Mix 1 part of the concentrate with 1 part of milk.
7. NOTES: Personally I prefer my chai latte with steamed low-fat milk. But you can use regular milk, almond milk, soy milk. Serve your chai hot or on ice. Also, play around with the ingredients to get it perfect for your liking. Stronger, weaker, more spicy.

© www.niftythriftythings.com

Fine Tuning: The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow

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© Text & Photos - Annika - All The Live Long Day (unless otherwise stated).

Being Spiritual with Amy from Fate-Filled Times

For today, I can give you a very special post from my online friend Amy. Amy and I met through a shared love of tea and have since discovered that we also both like cats, nature and Instagram. I love Amy's blog for the inspiration it gives me and for her earnest approach to art, life, and happiness. In her guest post, Amy is sharing with us what being spiritual means to her and gives some helpful hints on how to bring more spirit into your daily life.

Thanks so much!

***

Greetings fellow All The Live Long Day readers! 

My name is Amy and I blog over at Fate-Filled Times. 

Annika and I met through a tea swap online and we've been pals ever since. Annika is beyond sweet* and I am honoured to be a guest blogger while she is away. 

*(Editor's note: you're so kind to say that! x)

Over on my blog, I often write about my life journey with emphasis on art and spirituality. 

Today I'd like to share with you what my spirituality means to me. 

  

For me, feeling spiritual involves:

*feeling connected to something mysterious and greater than myself

*a feeling there is a greater force at work all around me

*someone or something I can pray to and who I know hears me

I tend to call this force The Universe. 

The reason I like to call my beliefs spiritual is I feel free to create the definition of what I believe in rather than following a prescribed path. I believe in so many aspects of all of religions and belief systems! I can see the benefit of many paths, yet none of them individually and exclusively appeal to me. There are many common threads through various beliefs and I like to think we are all connected through these threads, regardless of our chosen beliefs.   

Where Do I Find My Spirituality?

It is important for my psyche and for my heart to have meaningful spiritual moments. I've learned in my life that I feel most connected to the sacred when I am:

*Connected to nature, to the earth, to the sky, to the lakes and oceans, streams, fields, trees, sun and moon.

And

*Expressive in the arts, through writing, blogging, photography, art journaling, painting and creating.

Being in nature and expressing through art and writing unequivocally heal my spirit and connect me to that which is greater than myself.

These are the things that fill me up. These are the places I go when I feel broken down, hollowed out, confused and lost. These are the places where I feel lifted, inspired, connected and content.

These are my pathways to clarity; my spiritual spaces.

Discover what connects you to your spirituality and indulge in it. Treat yourself to adventures, practices, hobbies, spaces and places that are sacred to you.  

Ask Yourself:

Your spirituality can be found anywhere meaningful to you!

Spiritual moments might be felt in:

*a hot bath

*meditation

*yoga practice

*the light of a full moon

*reading the words of Rilke

*the sounds of a church choir

*a newborn baby sleeping in your arms

*the crunch of fall leaves under your boots

*driving in your car with your favourite music

*or any space or place where you feel the most 

connected to yourself, the world and 

that which is sacred to you

Having reminders of these spiritual connections in my home or that I carry with me make a difference in my days and in my energy. 

How can you make your space sacred?

*Cleanse your space with open windows, intention, and maybe even some sage smoke.

*Collect mementos to remind you of your spirituality and place them in your space. Create an altar.

*Create a blessing for your home. Say it out loud. Hang it up.

Since I prefer to be in the company of nature and art, I like to have plants in my home, to bring nature indoors. I also enjoy paintings and stained glass in my space. I have many natural stones and crystals as well as feathers, shells and salt lamps.

How can you carry sacred items with you?

*Carry small sacred items with you with you when you are on the go. You can also carry items in a pouch and keep in your bag/purse or wear them.

*Keep meaningful quotes and notes with you that you can refer to.

*Take photos of sacred symbols, places or people with your phone and look through them on your commute.

I like to wear jewelry with precious and semi precious stones as well as jewelry that has been passed down through my family. I keep a small pouch with me that I can fill with whatever item speaks to me (such as herbs, stones and shells) and I keep it in my bag. I like to wear natural materials that are protective and calming while I am out in the busy world. Oil blends are also nice to wear for the benefit of aromatherapy.

Our spirits can very easily be depleted by all the negative energy and toxic people/spaces. Fuel up on the good stuff as often as you can. 

And, while you are out in the world, remember...

Thanks so much for reading and a special thanks to Annika for hosting me on your wonderful blog.

Take good care of yourself (and your spirit),

Amy

© Amy - Fate-Filled Times