Happy New Year, beautiful one!

I have been joyfully CRAWLING into 2025 and feeling no guilt about it. The old me would have had 15 new year's resolution goals and expected myself to fly out of the gate with renewed vigor and dedication to improvement and development in all areas of my life.

But no. Not this time.

I’m going to be honest the lead-up to the Holidays this year was INTENSE for me physically and energetically. I learned some difficult lessons about my own boundaries and where I need to prioritize slowing down, taking care of myself, and knowing when I need to say no. So, essentially “walking my talk.”

It manifested as tooth pain and inflammation from dental work that happened a month prior that was unable to fully heal, adrenal fatigue (burn out), and a back injury that kept me from normal life for well over a week.

It’s a difficult lesson, but it’s predictable. If you don’t listen to your body’s limits, she will find a way to stop you somehow. There is a divine balance that will always be honored in the end. You can only force your sweet bod for so long before you get sick, injured, or taken out of the game somehow.

And WINTER is the time for replenishment! In Chinese medicine it's the season of the water element, which governs kidneys (and low back), bones, teeth, ears, and hair (just to name a few things).

It’s the time to rest, replenish and water your roots DEEPLY. This prepares you for the yang needed to burst forth in spring.

So let yourself crawl gently into 2025.

Release the pressure to begin it with a bang. Listen to your inner knowing even if it goes against what society tells you about this time of the year. Look outside and see how the trees are dormant, the animals are conserving their energy, the days are short, the earth is literally sleeping. 

So, fire up that slow cooker, tidy up your space, putz around in your robe and languish in domestic bliss until it’s time for your tub this evening.

But before you do, I have some BEAUTIFUL announcements and super fun upcoming events to share!

1) I’m holding my very FIRST IN-PERSON workshop on 1/22! BEAUTY QI - a restorative facial massage and embodiment workshop. Join me for an immersive evening of relaxation, beauty, and healing. Held at Honey Hollow Farm in New Hope PA.

2) The next LIVE virtual Inner Beauty Circle meetup is 1/15 at 11am EST. It’s a coaching/guidance call. Come with questions! Whatever you're needing support with, whether it's a question about a beauty practice, something you're struggling with around your body image, or anything else, I'm here to support you! Join here. 

3) There is a NEW episode of the Embodied Beauty Podcast: Ep. 37 - Surviving the ‘witching hour’ ~ self-soothe without skin-picking, over-eating, scrolling etc. It’s all about that time of night when your reserves are down and your anxiety is up. I was also recently interviewed on my dear friend Emily Davis’s podcast, Skin Earth Vitality. We had an amazing conversation about Embodied Beauty, and the power of light touch therapies in bodywork and esthetics. 

4) Last but not least I darkened my hair LOL I had to share! I went ALL the way down to my natural roots. My ancestors are smiling, goodbye bleach! For now, at least. It’s just a natural based demi-permanent gloss so I’m sure it will soften and lighten a bit but how fun.

Wrapping you in coziness and beauty.