And we’re off! To host our very first Wild Precious Life retreat. We’re humbled by the group of incredible women who are coming with us on this first adventure to the healing and inspiring desert. We’ll be retreating with them and away from computers, phones and the outside world for a few days but we’ll be back towards the end of next week to regale you with tales and pictures!!
Have a fantastic week, everyone. And remember to live your one wild and precious life wildly and preciously!!
Ojai Rancho Inn; dinner with the “third Firestone Sister,” Trisha at Deer Lodge; scenes from Deer Lodge; Knead Bakery; the Farmer and the Cook Organic Market; Meditation Mount; Modern Folk Living boutique; and at the top of the Cozy Dell Trail.
Ojai has always been a place that holds a lot of intrigue as it is known by many as “the happy valley.” Once years ago, when Mary and Napper were there for a weekend visit, they witnessed a fender bender on the main street and then watched as the drivers got out of their cars, inspected the damage and hugged. It’s true.
When our great friend (also dubbed the third Firestone Sister) Trisha, invited us to come up to explore Ojai for 24 hours, we were thrilled to delve deeper into the happy valley. After about an hour and a half drive from LA, we arrived at the Ojai Rancho Inn, a red roadside motel that has been given new life by the achingly hip and cool Kenny and Chris of Shelter Social Club. All three Firestone Sisters has a girl crush on Kenny who checked us in and determined we wanted her to take us shopping and be our friend. Ojai Rancho Inn is a great affordable option right in the heart of Ojai. It is around the corner for the luxe Ojai Valley Inn where rooms go for six times the price. The rooms at Ojai Rancho are clean and gussied up with cool tie dyed curtains, aztec like art and bedspreads and ceramic pendants. They are not fancy but they are perfectly suited for a few nights in town. One note is that if you are troubled by noise, the Inn is right on the main road so utilize your white noise app on your iPhone! And bring your own toiletries. There is a pool on property and there are plans to convert an old room to a sexy cool pool bar and hang out spot– can’t wait to see!!
For dinner we had burgers to kale salad to fried chicken to bread pudding at the Deer Lodge which has been around since the 1930s. New owners Pamela and Tom have given the Deer Lodge wings again by offering a new menu that embraces the local, organic, healthy thing while also offering the old faves like mac and cheese and burgers. Live music is a regular thing here and the mix of clientele is great for people watching.
Knead Bakery is a MUST for breakfast. The charming family who owns the bakery are smart and sweet and inspiring — having given up their high powered jobs in the “real world” and settled in Ojai to run this adorable, divine bakery. We loved everything we put into our mouths here. Literally everything. We wish it was round the corner in LA…
Meditation Mount is a short drive up a hill and is a tranquil and gorgeous setting for strolling and well, meditating. The Farmer and the Cook, a crunchy cool organic grocery/cafe great for exotic local fruits and smoothies. Papa Lennon’s next door serves tasty salads and pizza.
For shopping, there are only two stores you need to hit — Modern Folk Living which sells everything from fabulous Matta dresses to yoga mats, and Hattie’s which sells lovely refined casual women’s clothing.
If you’re up for a hike, the Cozy Dell Trail was picturesque and offers views of the Ojai valley and surrounding mountains.
All in all, it was a lovely 24 hours in Ojai! We shall return for further explorations. xoxoxo
Dara Ettinger Harmony necklace, $99
MinkPink white lace dress, $88
White Sundry pineapple tank, $68
White French Connection blazer, $218
Mara Hoffman white lattice dress, on sale for $218
As the temperature climbs, wearing white is not only attractive physically, but apparently psychologically! At lunch with a new friend yesterday, the waiter was about to crawl into her lap he seemed so taken with her. When I remarked upon his clear smitten vibe, she revealed that it was probably the white dress she was wearing. Every time she wears it, or all white for that matter, people seemed to fall all over her. And according to some psychologists, wearing white can make others feel that you are more trustworthy, “good,” pure, angelic, radiant, and so on!! Why not?
Loved this article. Are you changing your world? And most importantly are you happy doing it? If not, it’s not worth it!! If so, keep it up. If you’re feeling apathetic, directionless or unsure of how you even want to begin to change your world, now is the perfect time to sit with yourself. Meditate, sign up for that therapy or healing session you’ve been thinking about, get involved with a new class or group that sounds intriguing, dig deep and jump in– take action!! The time is now. Not tomorrow, not next week, next month, next year– no more excuses. You owe it to yourself. Take a deep breath and go…
xoxoxo
Lu and I in Ojai (more to come on our awesome 24 hours in Ojai next week); a sweaty me and Napper at Will Rogers last weekend.
Hellooo! Reporting from the last trimester. Past 7 months and still feeling really good, albeit more exhausted here and there. I have to say I do believe that continuing my exercise “routine” throughout pregnancy has really helped me mentally, emotionally and physically stay feeling good. Before I was pregnant I exercised probably 6-7 days a week– hiking, yoga, a short jog, a MDR pilates class. There was a part of me that wanted to just keep on keeping on during pregnancy- in all facets.
HOWEVER, a lovely thing happens during pregnancy- I don’t know if it’s hormones, or chemicals being released compliments of pregnancy, or just a shift that allows the unimportant events/obligations/social acquaintances to naturally fall away, but I have really found myself so much more calm, focused (on the right stuff, mostly!), and relaxed. Ok, back to how this applies to exercise– in the first trimester, according to my lovely pre-natal yoga teacher Patti Quintero at Yoga Works, you really need to back off exercise and slow down as the baby needs your “chi” (energy) so much in those first few months. This was easy advice to follow as I was pretty wiped out in the first trimester.
In the second trimester, you can ramp up your routine which I did attending several of my hardcore regular Vinyasa flow yoga classes at Yoga Works and Yoga Hop in Santa Monica, jogging, hiking and going to the regular MDR (kick your ass!) pilates classes. I’d say I was exercising on average 5 days a week. In the yoga classes, I would follow the class and make modifications for pregnancy – no deep twists, no crunches, no poses where you lie on your belly– and if something felt too rigorous, I would back off.
And then a few weeks ago, my low back started hurting and I was getting more fatigued in general. My incredible friend and acupuncturist, Gianna, told me to back off exercise and take it to 3-4 days a week. This was echoed by the pre-natal physical therapist I have seen twice in the last week. So, I’m listening to them and listening to my body. As it was explained to me, a chemical released in a pregnant woman called relaxin, relaxes all the ligaments (to make way for baby), causing certain muscles- especially around your abdomen to work harder to keep things in place. Therefore, we want to be more gentle with ourselves as working out too much can cause strain and unnecessary fatigue/soreness on the muscles. No thanks!
So my current routine is yoga and hiking or walking 3-4 days a week, lots of stretching and more rest and relaxation than usual– I am embracing it and really trying to let go of my type A thoughts and urges that rest and relaxation equal laziness, and that I am going to turn into a house.
Pregnancy has truly been the greatest gift in self awareness, self love, acceptance and expansion — in every way. Does that sound gushy? Oh my!
What are you other pregnant mamas doing, not doing during pregnancy?
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