confessions of a girly weekend*

schmoopy, canon digital rebel xti

I've been feeling extremely relaxed lately, so when talk of a girly weekend were in the making, I purposely didn't make any plans to be anywhere (with the exception of an island pedicure one day). Before the girls came, I burned some sage, incense and lit all the candles I had in every nook and cranny of our home. I also put a mix of daisies and dahlia's in bottles here and there. I let down our sheer curtains that separate our kitchen from our living room, turned soft ambient music on and was ready for a spa retreat.

I was hoping it would set the tone for the remainder of our time and it did indeed. It seems all of my sweet friends here and across the globe are going through huge shifts in their lives. Our minds are running so fast with brilliant ideas that it takes creating a space like this to quiet our souls and center ourselves.

Schmoopy was staying the weekend and we were blessed with the presence of a chic mermaid for one night. The three of us cuddled, ate a delicious huge salad, drank fresh veggie juice and chatted until the wee hours of the morning. What I love about the women in my life is that their hearts and minds are so juicy. Each moment spent with them is a lesson learned and a chance to grow a little wiser. We all come from various backgrounds but find ourselves on similar journeys with our creativity, sensitivity, motivation and yearning to balance it all gently and gracefully.

I don't remember a time when I've been surrounded by this many like-minded souls in person and in spirit across the world. It can be overwhelming for me sometimes. In a good way. I needed the last few days to marinate and digest all the wisdom that was shared. It's all good, juicy stuff...but it takes time to find its place in my heart.

One amazing thing that I will share that came out of this weekend is a confirmation that I am in a really healthy space with my fertility journey. Schmoopy is four months pregnant and being around her and her lovely swelling belly felt more comforting than anything. It gave me hope. None of those messy emotions surfaced. I just feel so centered and sure that I will be a mother soon. My thoughts were more directed to her and if she was alright. I also recognized that I am in a space of such gratefulness in regards to all the other things birthing in my life that I am focusing on what I do have, not what I don't have right now. This feels freeing.

Tomorrow I leave to spend a few days with my family in Northern California. This is yet another very important tribe in my life that I am looking forward to nurturing. Now that we're all getting older, I am loving the friendships that are blossoming with my parents and sisters. I love how the dynamics are folding into harmony as we all come into our own at different stages in our lives.

Here are a few fun portraits from the weekend. I am sure I will post more on flickr when I return (click for larger view).


me & mermie snuggling and chatting on my couch, taken by schmoops



schmoopy playing in the ocean, canon digital rebel xti