Roots, Heart and Mind

It’s finally starting to feel like fall. No more heat wave and the mornings and evenings are getting crisp. I’m planting seeds and resetting rhythms as I move through this season.

Gardening has truly become my safe space… it allows me to move slowly and gives me patience. Laying down compost and planting seeds for a fall/winter garden. (And metaphorically too guess)

✨we all need a safe space to breathe

My art and expressing myself creatively has been hard to get to during the week so I’ve dedicated one day during the weekend to do just that. I let everyone in the house know so I can be supported, whatever that looks like in the moment. I’ve been feeling a void lately and realized that not focusing on my art was what that was.

✨ remember what feeds you and gives you purpose, it may fade away but never lose sight of it

Hitting this 2 year postpartum mark has definitely blown away some of the fog and I’m feeling more like myself. I feel lighter and ready to get back to who I know myself to be, but updated cause growth.

1: morning harvest
2: ideas for a bigger project
3: practice sketch
4: a cozy baked potato ( I haven’t made one in so long! Yummy with beef bacon)

Brunch and my bell peppers 🫑
Lamb with eggs
Roasted sweet potatoes
Sprouted grain bread with butter (not pictured)

I’ve really been focusing on trying to get proteins in with my first meal. It really helps with not having cravings for snacks of anything sweet which is helpful because I’m working on lowering and keeping my blood sugar down.

My health shifted after having BikRa due to how I felt physically (10lb and 2oz of baby is a lot to come back from) plus having a little more stress this last school year with important milestones for the kids. All that to say cutting this out and adjusting my focus with food has been great. That coupled with more walking and physical activity.

Putting your wellbeing first will create more balance and give you the peace you need to heal.

A reminder to myself and anyone who needs to hear it.

My baby is only 3 months. I JUST had a baby. My body and mind are still healing.

Don’t rush it if you don’t have to. You are a whole person what spent the past YEAR growing a baby literally! That is some magical ass sh*t🧚🏾‍♀️🧚🏾‍♀️🧚🏾‍♀️
For me that was 10 months inside my body and now outside my body for 3. This little human is alive and growing.
It is ok to slow down.
It is ok to say no.
It is ok to say yes.
It is ok to not know…. Cause *mommy brain is real.
Listen to your body, mind and spirit. You are doing the work.

*I’m sure a lot of people have heard the term “mommy brain” or “pregnancy brain”. Usually used to describe when we have those moments where we are forgetful, foggy or it takes a good minute to process things. Well it’s not just a saying it’s true! Especially for those who choose to breast/chest feed. Did you know that your baby uses your brain cells to make their brain cells? So you are not just fattening up those juicy thighs but that beautiful brain your baby has as well. You must replenish those cells with eating foods that support brain health like real food sources that are rich in omega-3. If it’s poultry, fish or dairy make sure it’s pasture raised or wild caught. If they are grain fed it will be higher in omega-6 which we already have too much of in most cases. If it’s plant based (chia, h**p and flax seeds, walnuts etc) organic when possible.

This week has been tough. My body is taking its time healing and I know it takes a year and a bit to recover from pregnancy and birth, but being honest it messes with me mentally. I’ve never had this much discomfort. Dealing with symphysis p***s disfunction (hella relaxin and I can feel my pelvic bones moving) and pain in my pelvic area I’m not able to move how I want. SO I’ve been planning this bath for like a week and with the new moon things finally aligned……that and I stayed up to like 12:30am to do it and the baby stayed asleep 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾 it was wonderful and I woke up not feeling sore or as achy. What’s even better is having a check in with my family and coming up with a system so that I can do this more often with their help🫶🏾 (that was husband’s idea)

Bath herbs: rose, mugwort, lemon balm, lavender, mullein, chamomile, rosemary: brought to a boil and let simmer
Salt
Sprinkle of rose water and orange blossom water
A good shake of clay and seaweed powder (pictured)
Love of self

So let’s be real right quick…. Untamed bangs and all 😂 2 months ago I gave birth to an amazing 10lb2oz baby who came just as he wanted and not at all how I “planned”(will share more later) This pregnancy was very different, as they all are…. But it was intense. My postpartum journey is following suit, reiterating the lesson of taking things slowly, to be gentle with my body and to not be controlling. The only thing I can control is my perspective and how I apply the knowledge I’ve gained and continue to gain from those around me.

I’ve been loved up on from near and far by friends, family and birth workers. Love equals kind and loving messages, drop offs, in home care, calls, giving me space to heal and adjust, healing modalities and yummy food, running errands, mailing me items for myself and the baby that I needed/wanted etc. etc. I am so blessed, cause this growing and birthing folks isn’t easy. It never is.

This is my first week with just my family that lives in this home. I’m still in my pj’s, a little funky and need a shower but we homeschooled, we have eaten good food and are in good spirits. I would not be in this space, being able to navigate the unknown of this postpartum journey without my community, good planning and the support of and 🙏🏾✨🙏🏾

Breakfast this morning: papaya with lime and honey and the last of my sea moss feel shaken with almond milk, honey, and spices 🥰 I like to eat the papaya with the seeds. They have so many great benefits for digestion and parasites. Also it’s great to dry them out and use like pepper.
Sea moss with turmeric by

Still here at the top of the 9th. Pushing myself to get things done and balancing that out with naps and supplements. Giving thanks for community 🙏🏾✨🙏🏾

Posted • I will have three pieces featured in this show and I’m so excited!! If you can make it out to support, that would be great✨

Posted • .la Announcing CEREMONIES- our upcoming community exhibit in collaboration with . The show will run for three months and be on the lookout for talks, workshops and other programming showcasing contributing artists.

Come through for the opening reception on Sunday, June 26 from noon to 3 pm which will include artists’ voices, show opening circle, performance and video art.
Ceremony according to the dictionary is defined as: a formal act or series of acts prescribed by ritual, protocol, or convention. 

This exhibit captures the ways that pregnancy, birthwork, and life: including the acts of parenting, activism, spiritual practices, and existing in our bodies are ceremonies in themselves. 

This community exhibit is a collaboration with Birthworkers of Color Collective & Sovern LA to intentionally highlight the work and sacredness of healers, birthworkers, birthing people, and artists. Bringing together various visual and performative mediums, we feature work from 10 local artists: Fei Hernandez, Ever Velasquez, Cindy Bonaparte, Raina Beigler, Jasmine Godinez-Gomez, ThaooAishat Hasati, Udita Upadhyaya, Carneice Colvin, Gabrielle Chen, and Tricia Taper.

Curated by Stevie Merino (), a cultural practitioner, birthworker, parent, and currently in a year of her own spiritual ceremony. Reflecting on two tensions in the United states: 1) how birthwork is often seen as a luxury and accessible only for certain people rather than a traditional practice and 2) how birth is approached as a medical emergency rather than a natural process. She envisioned an offering that would continue the work of dismantling the harmful approaches and offering counter-perspectives through art and community. In the Ceremonies: Pregnancy, Birthwork, and Life show, we present alternatives, the traditions, the advocacy, and the ceremonies that these things are and can truly be.

Yesterdays lunch on the go, on the way to see my amazing chiropractor 🥰
*red leaf lettuce
*cucumber
*carrots
*roasted chicken thighs from the night before
*black olives
*homemade dressing: Dijon mustard, honey, olive oil, and acv.
* a shake off seaweed seasoning with sesame seeds
*season to taste
*toasted date and pecan sourdough bread
(Not pictured: the small ice cream cone I had after getting the kids from school 😉)
Why am a sharing?
Why do you care?
You might not but eating was incredibly hard in my first trimester. I felt horrible so it was more about what didn’t smell and what I could keep down. I love good food and usually love cooking but it was cup of noodles and frozen food from Trader Joe’s for the most part. Things that my kids could help fix (thank goodness for them) because I couldn’t go in the kitchen without getting nauseous….. really I tried and would fail 80% of the time.
✨
Now at 21 weeks I’m able to do more and I’m proud of that. I also want fellow pregnant folks who have it rough in the beginning to know that it can get better and feel more normal at some point 🥰

Round one and two of breakfast🍳
You know that feeling when you eat something….. and your body just instantly feels warmed and nourished? This hit the spot. Also I love a savory breakfast.
*broth made with bone broth, shiitake mushroom, red dates, miso paste and gogi berries
*Jasmine rice
*pasture raised egg
*sauerkraut
*seaweed with sesame seeds

Morning dose of brain food. I’m finally starting to get a flow going on with this pregnancy in my second trimester. My first trimester is always hell on my body but the common symptoms have subsided for the most part. I think one of the things that has really helped though is loading up on healthy fats with omega 3’s. Did you know that in pregnancy your brain shrinks? Not only that but your baby is using your brain cells to build there own during pregnancy and during postpartum if you choose to breast/chest feed.
🤯
It’s extremely important to replace the omega 3’s that are going to be gone regardless so that you can function. Pregnancy/ Mommy brain is a very real thing. It’s best if you can get these in with real food sources. Pasture raised butter and eggs, wild caught fish like salmon or cod etc.
Today I had a ciabatta roll loaded with butter, avocado and fried eggs with a semi t runny yolk (still trying to perfect that)😉 and washed it down with lung support tea with blackstrap molasses for iron ✨