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




Wednesday, April 23, 2014

The Sling Diaries, Vol. IV // Everything Shines: Adventure


"I'd like to repeat the advice that I gave you before, in that I think you really should make a radical change in your lifestyle and begin to boldly do things which you may previously never have thought of doing, or been too hesitant to attempt. So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun." - Jon Krakauer, Into The Wild

To us, life is either a grand adventure or nothing at all. We feel called to the outskirts, to the daring, to the roads less traveled and walked upon. Something inside of us beckons to be awakened, to see the sun and trees anew each day. Through seeking adventure, the sleepy soul currents within our body fade and we find ourselves alert and awake, experiencing life in our most vibrant state. Adventure is defined as an unusual or exciting, typically hazardous, experience or event. With confidence I can say that every life-defining moment has come after the willingness to dive into the great lake of unknown, where the heart can soar and burst free into something we could not have foreseen. Whether it has been through how we chose to bring Luna into this world, or how we continually choose to pave our own way in parental society, or how we have abandoned the status quo in terms of spirituality, health and economy; our family has been formed from one adventure to the next, and we hope for this to never change!    

Adventure is where the soul takes shape. It brings out a richness in life that no amount of security or comfort can replace. As parents we are given the most exciting and vital opportunity for influencing a life, and it doesn't matter what we say to our children, it's what we do that will make the most impact. Luna will look to us and follow our lead in action, and it's for this reason that we are seeking adventure! In doing so, we hope she will come to feel vibrant and awake, comfortable in her own skin, her spirit and her path. To question everything brought before her, to go boldly where her spirit calls, and to listen ultimately to her heart, especially in those times when it speaks in a different tone than most. As individuals and together as one, Oscar and I are looking to abandon our false senses of security and to truly live in adventure. To not hold back, to go for the daring, the courageous, the brave. And to teach Luna to do the same. 

We know the road ahead will always be an adventure with you, our sweet little moon! We are grateful and humbled for this opportunity to walk the green earth together, to witness the bright sky, purple flowers in bloom. To experience love, the unusual and exciting, hazardous and wonderful, adventure called life! Thank you Sakura Bloom for this wonderful opportunity to reflect and document over the past six months. Being a part of the Sling Diaries has shaped my first year as a mother in such a special way. We are grateful to all of those who have followed along and helped shape our journey. May the adventure continue infinitely! 



















































This post was part of the Sling Diaries. I am wearing Luna in a simple linen sling in Lavender.