Thursday, September 22, 2016

You're Invited!


Hello beautiful world! It is absolutely an amazing time on our planet right now as we shift into a new season of life. I am enjoying watching the little bit of change in leaf color we get here in Southern California and can feel my spirit embracing this season in a whole new way. Along with the trees, I am also changing my leaves, shedding old skin and preparing to bare it all in the winter. This is a beautiful time of peeling back the layers and as we go through this process it is so important that we nurture our physical vessels that are carrying us through this life.

Many of you have heard me speaking highly of Purium and the superfoods my family has been taking since earlier this year. I know lots of people are wanting to learn more and so I would like to invite all of you to please join me tomorrow morning as we gather to share in the magic of healing superfoods. I will be opening up about my personal story with Purium, talking about the products we love and use daily, answering questions and guiding those who are interested through the process of placing an order. And everyone who attends will receive a code for $50 off their first purchase! If this is all new to you, check out this post to learn a little more.

In addition to sharing about this amazing opportunity to increase your health, I will also be speaking briefly on a simple way in which you can utilize Purium's referral program in order to bring more wealth into your lives as well. It really is a holistic experience on all levels and I am so excited as always to share more tomorrow.


You can join by computer or phone via the info below. If you join by phone, I recommend downloading the Zoom app (it's free) so you can join in the video aspect of the call, which is a really fun element. Please feel free to invite your friends & community that might be interested, too!


Topic: Getting Started With Purium!

Time: Sep 23, 2016 10:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/448602918

Or iPhone one-tap (US Toll): +14086380968,448602918# or +16465588656,448602918#

Or Telephone: Dial: +1 408 638 0968 (US Toll) or +1 646 558 8656 (US Toll)

Meeting ID: 448 602 918

International numbers available: https://zoom.us/zoomconference?m=HvbnzyBovp01RPRXVAMXhfTEAYceFUJI



So much love and can't wait to see you all tomorrow!

Bigs hugs,
Ashley

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Getting Started With Purium

Hello beautiful friends! If you've been curious about Purium and this incredible superfoods nutrition, or want a better idea of what it's all about, check out this new video! It really breaks it all down for you. This is about so much more than weight loss or any type of food fad. This is about DEEP, plant based, cellular nutrition. The most potent and environmentally sustainable nutrition on the planet. Contact me for $50 off your first order!! The daily core three nutrition and transformations I've done have truly been life changing. So excited to share it with you all!!




And here's a little glimpse into the business side of things, for those looking to get their products paid for or make an extra stream of income!

Saturday, July 30, 2016

New Moon Transformation :: Welcome & Getting Started!

Over the past few days we've received such an amazing response over this new moon superfoods transformation. Truly incredible!  My life has shifted in such powerful ways since I incorporated this daily nutritional support into my life and it is such a blessing to be able to share it with you all! We want to make sure you all get the information needed to join us, but realize we likely won't have time to connect with everyone individually before the new moon. So instead, we have arranged a little virtual gathering in order to welcome everyone and share all the details you need to get started! We'll be gathering via a Zoom video conference call tomorrow, July 31st at 4:00pm PST. You can find the link below to join us by phone or computer. The line will be muted so don't worry if you need to join with loud kids in the background! We can't wait to meet you and get started on this healing journey together! So much love to you all.

Ashley Castro is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: New Moon Transformation - Welcome & Getting Started!
Time: Jul 31, 2016 4:00 PM (GMT-7:00) Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/372697665

Or iPhone one-tap (US Toll):  +16465588656,372697665# or +14086380968,372697665#

Or Telephone:
    Dial: +1 646 558 8656 (US Toll) or +1 408 638 0968 (US Toll)
    Meeting ID: 372 697 665
    International numbers available: https://zoom.us/zoomconference?m=ThH7Y4Ga_mope2UMysrFJqzqMK5CkfWH

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

New Moon Superfood Transformation

The New Moon is the perfect time to set goals, work towards your intentions and recharge your body mentally and physically. It is so easy to get caught up in the busyness of everyday life and forget to care of YOU. When you take care of yourself, and your mind and body are properly nourished, you thrive and the people around you thrive as well. Most of us need people behind us, coaching us on, supporting us through temptations and daily struggles. We invite you to put yourself first and join this New Moon Superfood Transformation where we will all receive the support we need to make the transformations we are calling in!

reduce pain & inflammation throughout your body
lose 5-20 lbs 
increase your energy
boost mental clarity
improve your quality of sleep
shed fat & build muscle
break addictions to caffeine, alcohol, sugar and processed foods

If any of that is something you have been wanting then join us! You deserve it! Now the details!

What is it?
A 30-90 day superfood transformation using organic, non-GMO living foods filled with phytonutrients.
This program is safe for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.
This program has proven results and will give you the tools to maintain a healthy lifestyle for good. But, if you are not satisfied there is a 60 day money back guarantee. Yay!

What do you need to do?
Get in touch with me asap to set up your FREE health consultation over the phone. We will identify your goals and set up your personalized plan. And I have a $50 gift card for you to use on your program!

Once you join we will add you to a private Facebook group. There you will have support, inspiration and guidance from life & health coaches as you journey through your transformation.

How it works
•Aug 2-6 add in Superfoods without altering other parts of daily diet
•Aug 7-10 pre-cleanse. No sugar, alcohol, caffeine or processed food
•Aug 11-20 this is the 10-day accelerated cleanse. This really gets your body rollin' towards fantastic results! (No juicing or starving, still eating!)
•Aug 21-31 and onward Core 3. This is daily nutrition for long-term results and clean nutrition. Whole foods plus superfood nutrition.

This outline is totally flexible based on your personal needs and schedule. Anyone can join at anytime throughout the month.

This transformation is life changing, the power and gift of plants astounding. Cannot wait for you to experience the magic yourself! 
I started incorporating these superfoods into my life a little over six months ago after feeling like I need more support as a busy mom of two. That decision to give to myself completely changed my life! Physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually ~ I have transformed on all levels and it all started with giving to my body in this simple way. 
I want to share a few videos to get everyone familiar with the company and some of the products we'll be using. This will all be tailored to your personal needs, so please reach out to schedule your free health consultation and receive $50 off your order. So much LOVE to you all! 

You can get in touch through the link below to schedule your consultation or contact me via homeinthehive@gmail.com. So much love to you all!! 


https://www.facebook.com/events/556045144583585/

Art by Katherine Skaggs


Thursday, July 7, 2016

YouTube in the Hive!

I've been talking about it for years and today it actually happened. I broke through all my limiting ideas & beliefs about why it wasn't the right time or why I wasn't prepared enough and started our family's YouTube channel! This first video is just a bit of a "hello" and introduction. Hope you enjoy and would love to hear more feedback on what type of content you'd like me to cover. So much love to you all!!


Wednesday, June 15, 2016

The Quest For Self Sustainability


Long before I met Oscar or became a mother, I knew that a non-conventional life was the one for me. During my early teenage years I quickly realized that I had no desire for formal education or a normal 9-5 job. I was people-oriented and artistic and desired a life filled only with things I felt passionate about, including (or should I say, especially) how I would earn income and sustain myself as an adult. 

After graduating high school early I pursued many different endeavors that I felt interested in, that would give me skills I could utilize for life and that I saw potential for sustaining myself on. Independence has always been important to me and so I desired to eventually be my own boss. I first became a licensed cosmetologist and started working towards owning a salon. During cosmetology school I worked in sales and retail and at one point my sister and I started a boutique shop in our garage. Then I became a barista and got involved in the health food industry, eventually developing a desire to possibly open my own cafe one day. I developed a deep love for plant medicine and holistic body care and started crafting & selling my products locally. I was always very involved in the local music scene and thought one point about running a venue. I studied photography and my first Etsy shop was for selling prints of my work. I became certified in CPR and started working as a nanny. I moved to Santa Cruz to pursue off grid homesteading. I went back to school to pursue child development with the dream of opening my own homeschooling program. I made a little business creating succulent arrangements. I led urban gardening workshops. Crafted jewelry. Made stencils & did spray paintings onto clothing & canvas bags. Did recycled book binding. And the list goes on! 

I share all of this to make one point... This has always been in my heart. I have always been tuned in to the frequency of self sustainability and the desire for it has been long pulsing. When I met Oscar and we started a family there was no question in our minds that this is what we desired for ourselves and our children. The ability to be at home with our girls together and to sustain ourselves off activities we feel passionate about and where we are using the gifts God gave us, this is the heart of our desire. 

We were introduced to the more "serious" blogging world during pregnancy with our first daughter and quickly realized that technology and advancements in business models had opened up a whole new world of income producing activities. Our plan was to invest in our etsy shop, blog and  recording music, eventually having those both turn into full time businesses and then get on the road. But as we started seeing we were on our way towards having a full blown business, one that would require all of our time and for us to be settled somewhere in order to run and manage it, we realized how much work and time it took and that it wouldn't easily sustain us on the road. Eventually we would like to settle somewhere and perhaps have some stable business we create, but for now we are interested in traveling with our family and working on our own time, so homesteading and settling isn't really on the table right now. And once it is in our sights, we know we will need a good chunk of money to invest in that endeavor. So we were needing something different.  

The concept of residual income first came in like a flash of lightning. It just made so much sense and opened up a whole new way of thinking and possibility. The easiest way I can explain it would be the example of a musician who writes and records a song once and then makes money off that song for as long as it sells. Most people in the world work dollar for hour jobs. You don't work, you don't get paid. Residual income sets things up so that you can make money beyond the dollar for hour and get paid even while you're not actively working. There are a few ways to earn residual income and after we thoroughly researched all of them, it seemed that network marketing was the simplest and most lucrative option. (Network marketing is just a fancy term for sharing with the people you know.) 

Oscar went back to work full time when we found out we pregnant with our second daughter and over the next year and a half we spent a lot of time looking into different ways of bringing him back home. It was challenging to run a full on business at home alone with two little ones and it was hard to find time for creative projects and Oscar to work on music. We continued to keep network marketing companies in mind and I continued to be exposed to so many through Instagram. It always felt tempting when I would see these posts where people were with their kids on the beach smiling and telling you to direct message them if you want to work from home and make a ton of money, etc. But I never found a company whose products I felt I could support 100%. I knew the business model was real and legit but it just never felt right. Until I met Sarah. 

Sarah and I met on Instagram sometime last year. I was always inspired by her Hawaii dream life and how radiant her and her family were. One day I was feeling extremely desperate for a path to make our dreams of bringing papa home a reality and I felt drawn to Sarah's account. As I scrolled through I landed on every post I needed to that told the most beautiful story of organic superfoods that had healed her family and community and that she was now sharing with others and making a living off of from home. My heart leapt! Not because this was new or foreign, but because it actually felt real and relatable. So genuine and in tune with the energy of my own family. I connected with her immediately that day and started on my journey with Purium a few weeks later. 

The heart behind Purium is driven by love, compassion and a desire for health and wealth for ALL. Their mission is essentially the same as that of our own family and it couldn't feel better to be partnering up with them to spread healing and high vibrating food with our community and the world. My family and I have had our lives changed by these products and that gave us the last green light we needed to start sharing with others. I've been doing the "business" with Purium for about three months now and it has developed me as a person in greater ways than I ever could have imagined. It has also shown to have the greatest potential of any endeavor in terms of financial success! 

And so now I am ready to build a beautiful team of heart centered individuals, who care about their health and the health of others. I'm looking for women (and men!) who are passionate and motivated, clear and determined to reach their goals. There is so much power in our collective intentions and I am truly seeking to connect deeply with others and make our dreams come true! I will personally be investing my time and energy into helping you build the skills you need to deeply transform your life, your limiting beliefs and start running your own business from home. Together we will work arm in arm to daily manifest our goals. I have seen it happen for so many others and now as I am starting to see it happen in my own life, I want to share the magic! Whether it's to bring your loved ones home, travel more, work less, save up for that vacation, or simply do something for yourself that you love, together we can achieve anything! 

If you feel inspired to join me on this new journey, please contact me via Facebook or email homeinthehive@gmail.com. Or click here to learn more. In gratitude, love and light!


Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Water Kefir & Kefir Soda Tutorial

Did you know that your body contains 10x more bacteria cells than it does human ones? This bacteria is the "good" kind and most of it lives in your digestive system. Keeping this bacteria balanced and happy is one of the main components for maintaining good health and a disease free body. Hippocrates said that "All disease begins in the gut". 

In order to have a healthy gut, it must be flourishing with good bacteria. In order for this to occur, we must be feeding it probiotic rich foods and beverages. One of my absolute favorite ways of doing this is through making and drinking water kefir & kefir soda, which you can make at home using water kefir grains.




Water kefir grains are not really grains, but a colony of beneficial bacteria and yeast existing in a symbiotic relationship. They create probiotics and enzymes as they break down the sugar you feed them. This in turn creates a carbonated lacto-fermented beverage which you can drink straight or ferment for a second time with fruit juice or coconut water, which turns it in to a bubbly kefir "soda". The result is a deliciously fizzy and fruity health drink! 


Water kefir grains are incredibly easy to use and a new batch of water kefir can be created every 24-48 hours from the grains. My family and I love experimenting with all different types of flavors for our bubbly kefir soda and encourage everyone to give it a try. Safe for kids and pregnant mama, this is an easy, fun and extremely healthy activity for all to enjoy!

You can buy dehydrated water kefir grains online but I always recommend getting them through someone you know, if possible. I also occasionally have them for sale on Instagram! 




Once you get your grains, here's how to proceed:

ACTIVATING DEHYDRATED WATER KEFIR GRAINS

1. Heat 4 cups water.
2. Pour into glass jar.
3. Dissolve 1⁄4 cup cane sugar in the water.
4. Cool to room temperature.
5. Empty bag of dehydrated water kefir grains into cooled sugar water.
6. Cover with a coffee filter or cloth secured by a rubber band.
7. Keep at room temperature for 3-5 days.
8. After 5 days grains should be plump and translucent. They are now ready to make water kefir. Strain the sugar water off and discard it.



MAKING WATER KEFIR & KEFIR SODA

1. Heat 4 cups water. To make larger batches, use up to 8 cups water.
2. Pour into glass jar.
3. Dissolve 1⁄4 cup cane sugar per quart (4 cups) of water.
4. Cool to room temperature. Add water kefir grains.
6. Cover with a coffee filter or paper towel secured by a rubber band
7. Keep at room temperature for 24-48 hours.
8. After culturing is complete, prepare a new batch of sugar water, (steps 1-4 above).
9. Use a strainer to separate kefir grains from the finished water kefir.
10. Place kefir grains in the new batch of sugar water.
11. The finished water kefir is now ready to consume or flavor and carbonate through a second ferment. To do this, simply use a mason jar or flip top bottle. Add 1 part fruit juice for every 3 parts kefir water. Apple juice is a great basic. We also enjoy strawberry, cranberry, any berry really :), ginger & lemon and watermelon. So many options to play with! Cover and leave on the counter for 3 days then refrigerate and consume within one week.





Have fun and don't be afraid to experiment with your flavors! Hope you all enjoy this delicious and nourishing beverage. With love from the hive! 

  

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Creamy Almond Butter Salad Dressing, Dipping Sauce & Marinade // Vegan Recipe

This is our family's favorite dressing (dip, marinade, everything!) and I make a big batch of it every week. It's so yummy we usually enjoy it on salads, as a stir fry sauce, spring roll dip, marinade for tempeh or tofu, you name it! It tastes great with just about anything and you can experiment with the ratios to make it thicker or more watery, depending on your preference for texture and zing. 





 To make this simple yet delicious sauce, simply whisk or blend together: 


The juice of one lemon, equal parts tamari (can substitute for bragg's liquid aminos), and water (so, same amounts of lemon, water & tamari), a big tablespoon almond butter, a few pinches of garlic powder, and a dash of maple syrup. Increase amounts of everything for bigger batches.




Hope you enjoy sweet friends! Be sure to let us know if you try it. :)

Sunday, April 24, 2016

Welcome Back! // Sakura Bloom Giveaway

Hello friends! It's been two years since a post has been made here. Many factors have contributed to my lack of blogging ~ being a new parent, investing more time on Instagram, but most of all it just comes down to ideas. Ideas that I created that have blocked my blogging flow. Not being satisfied with the layout, feeling that I needed to re-do everything, have a professional logo, fancy new family photos, make it better, make it more, and on it goes.

 

How often do we limit ourselves as a result of our beliefs? I know I've done this a lot in my life and when I see the opportunity to expand in this area, I want to take it! This blog is the perfect platform for me to practice this expansion. I've spent the past two years talking about how I'll get back to blogging as soon as _______ (fill in the blank with a laundry list of excuses). Well, a few weeks ago I realized that this excuse making had to stop and that if the desire to share through here was there, that's all I needed!


Yes, this space is in need of an update and I would love to give it a fancy makeover. But none of that needs to stop me from starting to share from here again. And so here we are! Exactly two years since our last post. And boy does it make me want to celebrate! There's so much I want to say and share and I'm excited for this new start. In honor of this rebirth, I've partnered up with a company that truly changed my life in order to bring you all a celebration giveaway!



We discovered Sakura Bloom when I was pregnant with our first daughter. Through their company we were introduced to the world of baby wearing, breastfeeding and to an online community of mom's that was unlike anything I had experienced in my years of online activity. The support and friendships that we gained through this company and by participing in The Sling Diaries were monumental. Not only in my life as a mother but also as a family with a passion to reach the masses with a message of love and positivity.


Baby (and toddler) wearing has been such an integral part of our journey and I'm so happy to be able to spread that joy. We've been wearing our girls in these slings since Luna was three months old, and she still asks to be worn in them! It's one of our favorite ways to connect, soothe fussiness, be mobile with them and hands free.





And now to spread the love! For a chance to receive one of these amazing slings for your family, simply leave a comment below and include your Instagram name (if applicable). The winner will be able to choose any silk or linen sling from Sakura Bloom. For extra entries, visit our Instagram feed and follow the instructions there. Winner will be announced on Friday, 4/29. We hope you enjoy, sweet friends!

With lots of love,

Ashley and the Castro family