5 Things to do Before the New Year

When a new year rolls around, we are given a blank slate, a fresh start, a new beginning. It is the perfect time to think about all of the experiences (good & bad) you've accumulated within the last year so you can use them to your advantage. Reevaluate your year up to now, and implement changes to benefit your life.

What to Do on the Autumnal Equinox

I am so excited for fall as the Autumnal Equinox will soon be upon us (or spring equinox if you're in the southern hemisphere!) This year, it occurs on Thursday, September 22, 2016. I couldn't remember 100% exactly what an Equinox is, so I did a little research to refresh my memory. If you need a refresher yourself, check out the text below for a small explanation. If not, scroll on down for some advice on how you can bring in the new season, as this is a time for change and balance.

Valentine's Day: Love Yourself

Valentine's Day is a day to celebrate and show the love to everyone. But to do that, you must first love yourself. You are the most important person in your life, so pamper yourself, you deserve it.  I challenge you to take some time, not just today but everyday, to sit & reflect on how

Hello, June

The Oriole sings in the greening grove 
As if he were half-way waiting, 
The rosebuds peep from their hoods of green, 
Timid, and hesitating. 
The rain comes down in a torrent sweep 
And the nights smell warm and pinety, 
The garden thrives, but the tender shoots 
Are yellow-green and tiny. 
Then a flash of sun on a waiting hill, 
Streams laugh that erst were quiet, 
The sky smiles down with a dazzling blue 
And the woods run mad with riot.

Summer in the South

❈  Laurence Dunbar ❈

Spring Fever

Spring has finally arrived! The Spring Equinox marks the first day of spring. I am so happy to start seeing the beautiful flowers blooming everywhere, and for warmer weather to arrive. Spring represents renewal, and it is wonderful to see near the beginning of a new year. We are very lucky this year because not only is there a New Moon on the Spring Equinox, but a Solar Eclipse as well! This is a perfect representation of a new beginning. Have a beautiful Spring season, and enjoy all of the beauty nature has to offer!

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Thrifted Dress & Thunderbird Belt

Lucca + Lily Necklace
The Wanderful Soul Amethyst Ring

The Boho Trader Silver Ring

❀

How to Start the New Year Off Right

2014 has come and gone more quickly than I would have expected, leaving hardly any time to reflect on the things I've done, and wanted to do. With this in mind, it got me to thinking, all of the things that I didn't do because I was too afraid or didn't have the time to do doesn't matter anymore. That was the past, and now it's a new year, opening us up to endless possibilities. We create our future and the life we want to lead.

So to start this new year off right, there are four simple things that we must do:

1. Make the time. 
   It's not up to if we have enough time, it's up to if we want to make time. More often than not, we say that we don't have the time to accomplish some of our resolutions, but in reality, we don't make the time. If we truly want something, we'll go out and get it.
2. Live in the present, and forget the past.
   (unless of course you are reminiscing on wonderful memories)
   Don't stress about the future, and don't dwell on the past, live in the now.
3. Let go of fear.
   One of the main reasons why we don't do what we really want to do is because of fear. It is okay to be scared at times, but never let it hold you back from doing something completely amazing that could change your life and your future experiences for the better.
4. Let in love.
   Every person on this planet has to have at least one person that loves them. Show others love, and it will only bring more love and happiness into your life.

Follow these simple steps, and you're setting yourself up to one great year filled with so much joy and lots of opportunities! If you're ever faced with something you're too afraid to try, just think about how long we are here on this earth, and that should remind you that we can't afford to waste time or be afraid when happiness is the final reward.

Have a wonderful 2015
❀ Riah ❀

Be thankful...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Let's be thankful for more than our material possessions this year, and even more than good food and good company.

Be thankful that you are alive on this beautiful earth. Be thankful that you are able to experience this wonderful day, and cherish those memories. Be thankful that you are able to live on past today to create new experiences and memories that you will hold onto for the rest of your life.

Have a beautiful day, and cherish every moment!

❀

A Simple Halloween

Happy Halloween wonderful wanderers! 

Tonight I'll be staying home with my boyfriend & pup for a simple Halloween. We'll be cooking some delicious steak and watching scary movies all night. Whatever your plans are, I hope you all stay safe and enjoy the night!

Here are some ideas for you if you're up for a staying in for a Halloween simple night like me:

• Pass out candy to Trick-or-Treaters
• Watch classic scary movies all night
• Eat your favorite candies/snacks
• Bake some festive goodies
• Read scary stories
• Have a marshmallow roast
• Carve or decorate pumpkins for fall

Any simple activities you like to do on Halloween that I missed?
Share them in the comments below!

Once again, have a wonderful night & stay safe!

☽ ❂ ☾

National Cat Day | October 29, 2014

Happy National Cat Day to all of you cat lovers out there! I am personally more of a dog person, but I always appreciate a beautiful and sweet little kitty. This is a shot of Nigel, a cat I met while staying at the Sage Hill Inn Above Onion Creek bed and breakfast. He was such a sweet boy, and surprisingly, he was also a wonderful trail guide!

I hope you enjoy this special day, and do something nice with your cat!

❀

First Day of Fall | September 23, 2014

Today marks the first day of fall this year which means today is also the autumnal equinox. This equinox roughly marks the halfway point until the winter solstice which is in December. 

An equinox is usually known by the fact that the day and night are exactly 12 hours each. But actually, most people will not see the full 12 hours of sunup and sundown. This is mostly because the world is not flat, and trees/hills/mountains obstruct our view. 

In some places you may not even notice any type of change in the weather until October or November. But, the mark of the seasons is determined by the relative position of the earth to the sun and not when it starts "feeling" cooler. 

Since fall brings about change, it would be a good idea to try and change your lifestyle if you have unhealthy habits. Cleanse your body of negativity by taking a swim outdoors, and reflect on what positivity you'd like to bring into your life to better yourself. 

So get ready for some positive change & sweater weather because fall is finally here!

❀

Don't (tell me I can't) Wear White After Labor Day

For my many years it has been known as a fashion crime to wear white after labor day. But nowadays, it doesn't really seem like this "crime" is all that bad anymore. But before I say my few words about wearing white after labor day, lets talk about the question that we've all searched recently.

Why can't I wear white after Labor Day?

The simple answer is, because Labor Day is seen as the end of summer, and the beginning of fall, and you only wear white in the summer to repel the suns rays. (But actually, the first day of fall lands on the 23rd of September this year) The weather and the leaves are beginning to change, so there is no need to keep cool from the summer's heat in an outfit with white as the primary color. (I beg to differ if you live in Texas) Since this is the case, more darker colors come into style, and white loses its place in fall fashion. In the earlier years of fashion, you were a little silly for trying to wear white during the fall.

What about now?

Now, fashion is changing. You see a lot of vintage inspired clothing coming into fashion, and a lot of the beautiful lace you see falls into this category. I think if you accessorize with just the right fall shades, you can rock the white look. Or if your daring enough (like Coco Chanel who wore white year round) you can just wear whatever you want, whenever you want. ☺

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 The Wanderful Soul Headband & Bangles

Kelsey's Feathers Necklace

American Eagle Boots

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First Day of Summer | June 21, 2014

Saturday, June 21 is the first day of summer this year. As some of you know, this day is also the summer solstice, or Midsummer Day, in the northern hemisphere. The summer solstice is the day that we see the most sunlight during the whole year. The timing of the solstice depends on when the Sun reaches its farthest point north of the equator, and it is calculated to be around 6:51 A.M. EDT.

Lucky for us, the first day of summer falls on a Saturday! Here are some fun ways you can celebrate on the first official weekend of summer:

• Go Camping
• Have a barbecue
• Go to the lake/beach/pool
• Have a picnic
• Go on a scenic drive
• Go hiking
• Watch the sunrise/sunset
• End the night with a bonfire

☀

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References:
http://www.almanac.com/content/first-day-summer-summer-solstice

Friday the 13th | June Full Moon

Tonight, there will be a rare occurring full moon in the month of June. This moon is often referred to as the Rose, Strawberry, or Honey Moon. But every so often it is referred to as the Friday the 13th June Moon. This moon has not occurred since 1919, and is predicted to not occur again until 2049.

This moon will occur at precisely 12:11 am EDT on Thursday night (early Friday morning) so make sure you take a look out to experience it!

A lot of superstition revolves around Friday the 13th and the fear of Friday the 13th is rooted in ancient, separate bad-luck associations with the number 13 and the day Friday. The two unlucky entities ultimately combined to make one super unlucky day.

The fear of 13 can be traced to a Norse myth about 12 gods having a dinner party at Valhalla, their heaven. In walked the uninvited 13th guest, the mischievous Loki. Once there, Loki arranged for Hoder, the blind god of darkness, to shoot Balder the Beautiful, the god of joy and gladness, with a mistletoe-tipped arrow.

"Balder died and the whole Earth got dark. The whole Earth mourned. It was a bad, unlucky day," says Dossey, a folklore historian. From that moment on, the number 13 has been considered ominous and foreboding.

☪

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References:
http://www.vox.com/2014/6/12/5801196/tomorrow-is-friday-the-13th-and-a-full-moon-that-wont-happen-again
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/02/0212_040212_friday13.html

June | National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month

Today I discovered that June is National Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Month. Sadly, I found out with the month already a few weeks in, but better late than never! I encourage everyone to try and eat at least 1 fresh fruit or vegetable each day, if you don't already. And if you do, try and eat more. ☺

Eating fresh fruit and vegetables has proven to increase your health significantly, and in the long run can help you live a longer life as well. Heart disease like heart attacks and stroke are reduced, as well as some types of cancers, diabetes, and blood pressure if you eat a diet rich in both fruit and vegetables. Not only do they increase your life expectancy, but you get lots of vitamins and other nutrients as well. So if you're looking for something to eat, grab some snap green beans instead of those chips, or a smoothie instead of that soda. Your body will definitely thank you in the long run!
And of course always try to choose organic. Organic goods are produced by using natural fertilizers to feed soil and plants instead of harmful chemicals. They are not only good for us, but the environment as well because organic farming practices are designed to benefit the environment by reducing pollution, conserving water, and maintaining soil quality.

So remember to eat some more delicious fruit & veggies, not just this month, but regularly to prolong your life.

❀

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References:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/organic-food/art-20043880?pg=2

Flower Moon | May 14, 2014

May marks the month of the Flower Moon. The full moon during May is called the Flower Moon by many native american tribes because of the abundant flowers that are in bloom during this time. The full moon occurs on May 14 this year. Flower Moon is not the only name given to May's full moon. It is also referred to as the Hare Moon, the Corn Planting Moon, and the Milk Moon. But I much prefer Flower Moon, being a flower child born in May. ☺

☽✿☾

{Photography by The Wanderful Soul}

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References: http://fullmoonphases.com/flower-moon/

Earth Day | April 22, 2014

Earth Day is tomorrow, and I thought I would share a few tips of what you can do to help out the environment. We need to make sure we take care of our home planet, so it is just as beautiful in the future for generations to come.♥

More than half of the earth's population lives in the city, and it's these urban environments that are causing harm to our climate and our environment. It's important to learn how to help out, even the smallest things can vastly impact the environment. You can read more, or even donate  to the green initiative through the Earth Day Network.

Here are a few everyday suggestions (that I'm sure you've heard before) that you can do to help alleviate the strain on our climate! Even choosing to do one, can help out a lot!

• Choose a recyclable
  - Switching to reusable water bottles and bags , instead of throwing away plastic ones, can help the environment out a lot. An estimated 2,480,000 tons of plastic bottles and jars were disposed of in 2008 alone. Plastic decomposes extremely slowly, and this form of pollution is the most common found on our beaches.


• Choose to recycle-Recycling goods such as paper and plastic helps out immensely as well.  At least 4 billion trees are being cut down each year to supply your paper needs. This causes environmental problems for our climate, as well as the animals who live in those environments.


• Leave your car at home
  -If you're making a quick trip to the corner store, think about walking or biking instead of taking your car. This reduces greenhouse gases which is impacting our environment big time. More radiation is being trapped inside the atmosphere because of these gases, and in turn, the temperature is gradually rising.


• Wash with cold water instead of hot-When you wash your clothes, try using cold water as often as possible. About 90% of the energy consumed by your washer is used to just heat up the water. Washing your clothes in cold water for a year can save enough energy to power an average home for up to two weeks! That sounds pretty awesome to me.


• Close your doors
  -Try to close your doors after you leave any room in your home. This also conserves the energy it takes to cool/heat your whole home.


• Take shorter showers
  -One that I'm sure everyone has heard, is to take shorter showers. The average person uses up about 17.2 gallons of water in one shower alone. Every time your water goes down the drain, it has to go back to get cleaned and treated, which takes a large amount of energy. So choosing to take shorter showers can conserve water and energy.


• Plant a tree
  -Trees absorb carbon dioxide and in return, give us oxygen, which we of course need to survive. They also create homes for the wildlife in your area, and shade for you when you go outside! That just sounds like a win-win to me.


• Donate-Donating funds to help with conservation research is a great way to help out! There are many programs out there researching ways to help better our environment, and they are always in need of funds to help their causes. Here are a few of my favorites:
  World Wildlife FundThe Nature ConservancyOceana

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There you have it! I hope I provided some good information for you all to use when deciding how you want to help out the planet. I sure learned a lot just researching this, and I hope you did too!

❀

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Resources:http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/save-earth-top-ten.htm
http://www.ask.com/question/how-many-trees-are-cut-down-to-make-paper
http://environment.about.com/od/globalwarming/a/greenhouse.htm
http://earth911.com/news/2012/01/27/how-to-save-energy-while-doing-laundry/
http://blog.oregonlive.com/pdxgreen/2010/10/wash_those_long_showers_away_a.html

Tetrad Lunar Eclipse | April 15, 2014

Hi all, I thought I would let you know of a special lunar eclipse that is going to occur tomorrow! In case you didn't already know, on Tuesday, April 15, 2014, a total lunar eclipse will take place.  This eclipse will be the first of a tetrad eclipse, or a series of four lunar eclipses that are spaced about 6 months apart. These four eclipses should be visible to almost everyone living in the United States.

The eclipse on the 15th will be visible in North and South America as well as the Pacific Ocean region, including Australia and New Zealand. If you are in any of these areas, take a look at the times below to know when to look out for the eclipse. It will last about 78 minutes, so plan ahead so you are able to see it!

• Penumbral Eclipse Begins:  04:53:37 UT


• Partial Eclipse Begins:    05:58:19 UT


• Total Eclipse Begins:      07:06:47 UT


• Greatest Eclipse:          07:45:40 UT


• Total Eclipse Ends:        08:24:35 UT


• Partial Eclipse Ends:      09:33:04 UT


• Penumbral Eclipse Ends:    10:37:37 UT

UT is 4 hours ahead of the Eastern time zone, 7 hours ahead of Pacific. Read more at iflscience.

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What is a lunar eclipse?

For those of you who are uncertain as to what exactly a lunar eclipse is, a lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes within Earth's shadow. The Earth's shadow darkens the moon slightly when it begins. Then, the shadow begins to cover part of the moon, turning it a dark red-brown color. Total lunar eclipses can be viewed with the naked eye, unlike solar eclipses.


If any of you get any great shots, feel free to post it on Instagram and tag it to #TheWanderfulSoul to possibly be featured on the IG!

☪