a couple years ago I visited a lavender farm that was absolutely full of sweet little Buzzing Bees
I brought home several jars of Wildflower honey finding the taste to be quite unique
I don't use honey very often in my cooking so this winter I decided to
break out those old jars and use them in a recipe for honey wine
if I can name three things I deeply enjoy in my home life it is candles
books and delicious warm drinks so this was a fitting way to spend a
winter afternoon and pay homage to the coming spring foreign
to last week and chat about the guidelines I follow in order to spend mindfully throughout
my day as Luke and I are currently attempting to stay on a budget and plan for future family
firstly when it comes to decorating your home I keep in mind this perspective
when I'm tempted to impulsively spend on household items or add clutter to my space
the best most peaceful and loving environment is cultivated with good memories a lot of love
friendship and laughter a home that nurtures these things is all that is really needed I
find the same applies to clothing no amount of New pieces will disguise the soul that isn't
thriving and seeking joy in the everyday an open heart a positive outlook and kind words
are what make people beautiful items while practical and useful cannot offer this to us
if I wish to impulsively spend I write down the item I'm considering and if possible walk away
I give myself a couple days to think about if I really want it and very often my feelings change
and I realize that my inclination was simply coming from a place that wasn't as mindful
thank you
When shopping I ask myself is there an alternative to this item I can use or make at home I find this
question helpful in regards to buying storage containers and more practical home items often
I have boxes or things laying about the house that I can repurpose if only I consider my options
in regards to clothes I try to mend and fix what I already have often on websites
like thredup and secondhand shops I can keep an eye out for brands that I
like for example several of my dresses are from a company that I don't often support
directly but pop up on thrifting websites regularly I also have some very nice boots
I take in for repairs sometimes it makes a huge difference in my spending foreign
as you know I buy thrifted items when possible my local shops are always overflowing and more
than happy for someone to take something away as I peruse items I often stop to wonder if
what I'm adding to my home would make it feel cluttered or add significant extra stress in
regards to cleaning it helps me keep what I buy to a minimum of course I value having home with
items that are special to me I'm certainly not a minimalist my love of vintage items and art
supplies would not allow it but I do try to keep surfaces clear so that I can tidy easily
I find developing a meditative or spiritual practice always helps me disconnect in a healthy
way from material things and remember that only the essentials I really needed for a full life
I also try to be aware of how advertisements instill a scarcity mindset in me insinuating
that I need an item to be happier fulfilled this is not true and once I'm aware I find
myself naturally shifting my habits and reflecting on my own insecurities
and resolving those in ways other than consumerism while it might take initially
some self-restraint and dedication I find the benefits are overwhelmingly positive
I have been pleasantly surprised by how simple and easy it has been to make this need I think
the challenging part as always in a house with a lot of pets is to make sure everything stays clean
and no cat paws touch everything because I have such a curious cat and she has a tendency to get
into anything I do so thankfully it all worked out and we are gonna get some Mead but it was
really fun to make and the honey that I used is local honey comes from all the wildflowers
in the area and I just love the taste of it so I'm very excited to see how it turns out I only
have about 27 26 days to wait now until it is ready to put in the bottles and I have created
my label because fairy nectar I think is the very appropriate term for this type of drink it is so
delicious I tend to get an upset stomach if I have you know any substantial amount of a drink so I
I'm just going to have a very small amount and I think that is how this sort of drink is meant to
be enjoyed anyway just in very small little cups as a dessert as you can see there has been a bees
and Beeswax theme to this video I have received quite a few beeswax candles lately you may not
know this if you have bought beeswax candles at the store that are mixed with other waxes
but when you get completely natural 100 beeswax the smell of the candles is so delicious you do
not need any added scent because it just fills your home with just this amazing amazing Aroma I
hope you enjoyed these little tips that I shared about mindful spending and how I like to think
about my budget it has been a year of so many changes budget wise with finally being able to
get a home and so we have had a lot more to think about and so it has been a good challenge but a
challenge nonetheless to rethink everything about our spending and do our best to economize where we
can and live within our means as much as possible I definitely rely on my Etsy shop in order to
keep creating these videos so I definitely appreciate every one of you who has supported
my shop there's never any obligation but there is much appreciation so thank you for me I find
it to be extremely helpful to grow in awareness of advert advertising and how so much large-scale
advertising Works in order to create insecurities in ourselves I think this is true for everyone but
I could see how it can be extra intense for women because there is so much clothing and cosmetics
advertisements that often send messages that make you feel like you need these products in order to
feel better about yourself or be more acceptable to others I find as well it is helpful to journal
about my spending habits and things like that I think I remember when I was much younger that I
would sometimes have this feeling that if I had this one piece of clothing it would just make me
feel so much better and that feeling was always short term because all it took was a couple days
weeks months later to go into another store and see another item that I was just sure was going
to make all the difference I think we do fall into that cycle quite easily of thing thinking
that these physical things will somehow ameliorate feelings inside and as far as I know it has never
made a lasting impact the only things that have led to more long-term fulfillments is working on
my own confidence and my own self-esteem I think developing those feelings come from within and to
develop a practice of meditation or even your own spirituality if you are a spiritual person and if
not just more grounding of yourself and really wondering where your feelings come from what
can you do that is not related to simply giving in to consumeristic tendencies that can nurture
you I find for me getting a lot more involved in my community getting a passionate about projects
that I have in mind you know reforestation projects conservation projects and being part
of those things and volunteering really makes an enormous difference of course personally my more
spiritual life is extremely important to me and I do always say that reticently because I know
that not everyone is inclined in that direction and not everyone has any interest in developing
that so I simply share that from my perspective it has always been extremely helpful but if that
is not for you I know that grounding meditation and focus exercises it can help in getting in
touch with your feelings your inner thoughts and sometimes that can be a little bit alarming it's
almost like it might stir up a lot of feelings to spend time with a lot of things that you have
brushed under the rug for many years I know for me really facing my tendency towards anxiousness
and stress made those feelings come up and feel more difficult to handle in the short term but in
the long term I've learned coping mechanisms and strategies to change my thinking and become a lot
more positive and peaceful and grounded while I deeply value so many physical things in my life
I'd love to go to thrift shops I love candles I love books I don't need them and I'm always
making sure that if I'm receiving something I can make plans to give something as well especially
within my own Community I am sending you so much love I have such exciting news and it's really
hard not to talk about it so I will see you very soon next week in about six or seven days I will
share the news and it is just gonna be the most amazing thing if you have a guess of what it is
do share it down below because I do want to talk about it even though I can't so stay tuned I'm
sending all of you my love sending well wishes for a lovely week and I will see you soon goodbye