Trend Tuesday // Gift Guide for the Bookworm

So when I was in high school I had a couple of English teachers that really inspired me to read.  I don't keep up with it nearly as much these days (I really need to invest in this Audible thing) but I still remember the appreciation for the classics these teachers instilled in me.  I've added to intelligent conversations still yet to this day with literary comparisons and my knowledge of literary devices. 😏 I will say, I can't spell or write grammatically correct worth shit though....but that is for another post.

Recently, Literary Book Gifts reached out to me about sharing their product here on the blog and I was hit with a bit of nostalgia upon seeing some of the books they offer printed on their products.  First, when you visit their website you'll see a super streamlined and easy to navigate page.  They offer a wide range of prints on just a few products - men's & women's tees as well as printed totes.  Personally I find this AMAZING because I'm not navigating a ton of items mindlessly!  As mentioned on their about page, the design work is done in house & then professionally printed on the item with care.  I can totally see the detail in the line work of the art.  Each design reminds me of a block print!

Women's Tee Shirts

So first off, I love that the have The Wizard of Oz as a tee shirt! It's also in men's and in a tote bag, which means I love all three!  The best part about these shirts is the variety of colors.  Each design has about 13 colors to choose from from deep blue to khaki to bright pink.  I also love that they include a size chart right on the page + the mention that the shirts run a bit small.  It's attention to detail like this that really shows a company that knows its stuff.  Shop women's tees here.

Printed Tote Bags

If you're looking for a sturdy tote bag, these guys are printed with the same artwork available in the tee shirts and made of 100% polyester.  Featuring boxed corners, these bags are spacious!  They are available in 3 sizes, feature black cotton handles, and a black lining.  While the tee shirts come in a variety of colors you'll only be able to get one color way with these totes.  I think that each tote has been designed in the most striking colorway so you're sure to get the biggest wow factor!  Shop tote bags here.

Men's Tee Shirts

Finally, if you like a little bit of a looser fit or are maybe shopping for a gentleman reader you'll find these classic fit tee shirts in 100% cotton will do the trick.  Again, these guys are available in a variety of colors most offering at least 12 colors.  As mentioned on each men's tee shirt page these seem to fit pretty true to size and are recommended for unisex sizing.  How cool would it be to twin with your book obsessed boo as well this holiday season!  Shop men's tee's here.

So with all of that said, I want to offer you one more thing - you can use the code FIVESIXTEENTHSBLOG20 for 20% off of your order (no minimum)!  This would be so perfect as a thoughtful gift for someone who may have a little bit of everything.

If you'd like to see some more gift lists that are on the blog, click here.  I'm wishing you a very merry holiday season!

What gifts are you giving this year?  

xoxo, Moe

Top Spiritual Practices the Modern Babe Should Get Behind

Over the last few years I've taken it upon myself to develop a spiritual practice.  It's been a priority of mine to dive deeper into my authenticity and outline exactly what I believe & why I believe it.  In fact, I used to not like the term spiritual or spirituality because it leaned too close to religious for my liking.  But as I've grown through a few things in the last year or so I've realized that personal development and spirituality have become almost synonymous for me.  My personal development has been enhanced by my understanding of many woo woo things.

Today I want to share with you three spiritual practices that the modern, self reflective babe should get behind, but I've also got something else to add:

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First things first - the idea of spirituality, witchcraft, crystals, yoga, chakras, herbs, etc is nothing new.  In fact a lot of the things we're doing belonged to people long before we got here, long before we discovered them, and long before we decided they were something to make money from.  So, while you're walking down your own spiritual path be sure that you're not taking other's practices as your own.  A lot of these things do not belong to us.  There is the quick assumption in the new age community that we are entitled to everything when in fact a lot of the practices we are embracing as our own come from groups of people punished for their beliefs, denied their ancestral heritage, and now monopolized on because it is 'cool'.  Witchcraft is cool is not the vibe we're going for here.  Honest personal development, education, reverence, and activism need to be a part of your spiritual path as well. Similar things we openly practice because they are hip now have been annihilated by colonialism. forced assimilation, and generations of practicing in the dark with sacred ritual dying with the last individual of a certain group. You can read a bit more on my thoughts here in my post titled Cultural Appropriation in my Communities.

With that being said, I still think if you're approaching these few things I list below with honesty, authenticity, reverence, and an open mind your life will be changed.  You can embrace mindfulness and enhance your overall wellness by practicing these things & focusing on your personal development.  So, let's get into it....

Diffusing Essential Oils

Essential oils have the power to enhance our overall well being through the way not only scent interacts with our limbic system, but also how their chemical properties can affect our surroundings.  Scent is one of our most powerful senses and working with essential oils can allow us to enhance our emotional balance.  DoTERRA has a whole Emotional Aromatherapy line to start with but I started with the Balance blend to help me feel grounded and focused during meditation.  

Certain essential oils can help us bring in emotions we'd like to feel & counteract emotions we don't want to feel.  Developing this connection can help us to feel more emotionally balanced as we move through our days.  Read more about creating your own diffuser blends in this post.

Reading Tarot for Personal Guidance

My relationship with the Tarot is that the cards are a mirror.  Reading Tarot, for me, doesn't involve any psychic abilities....it is merely a tool to reflect back to me what I may already know and dive deeper into the solutions.  Reading Tarot for yourself can be a way to understand yourself, situations, and your actions regarding those situations.  I think the Tarot and other oracle or affirmation cards (here are some of my favorite decks) can reveal to us what we may not consciously know or confront us with the things we do know but that we have chosen to ignore.

I talk here about how to combine tarot, oracle, and affirmation cards in a reading to get a well rounded message.  You can download a free set of affirmation cards here!

Meditating with Crystals

Just like essential oils certain crystals have certain attributes that can help us with our well being.  Choosing a crystal (much like choosing and essential oil) that fits the emotions you'd like to bring in or the emotions you'd like to counteract can enhance our meditation.  There are also certain crystal journeying meditations that I love to do to explore not only the depths of my mind & imagination but to tap into the meaning of the crystal.  Angel aura quartz is one of the most fascinating crystals for me to meditate with!

This is another way to develop not only your intuition but your visual and emotional libraries.  You'll know which crystals and attributes you connect with and which ones that may be too much for you.  Carnelian is a crystal that I can't connect with in a way that is positive.  It makes me fiery, feisty, and angry....not what I'm going for in my daily life!

If you're a modern babe who'd like to learn more about herself & her spiritually, these three things can really get you started on the right track.  Personal development is something only you can be responsible for so make sure you're doing it responsibly by honoring where certain acts, practices, and rituals come from.

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If you'd like to know more about using essential oils both practically & spiritually, download the free ebook by signing up for the email list above.  You'll get a few emails regarding using essential oils & other woo woo stuff, too.  If you'd like to join others in support of your spiritual journey check out the Live & Create Facebook group here.

How do you honor yourself & your practices?  In what way do you connect with your spirituality?

xoxo, Moe