This is Hannah. She's the best.
I was in Seattle last weekend where I saw some of my girlfriends from Bastyr University, the natural medicine school we all attended. It is like coming home when I am with these ladies.
That empathetic understanding. That desire to continually grow and be healthy mentally, physically and spiritually.
We all know a bit too much about our bodies and we know when something is off. I have been on this kick of talking about my hormones. I find it fascinating that birth control caused crazy anxiety in my life. And now, I feel so much calmer. I tell everyone cause I think it is so cool what being natural can feel like. No one really cares to hear it. They don't think it is as cool as I, but my Bastyr girls! They get it.
We are there for each other. I was due for some girlfriend inspiration, motivation about my what it is I want in my future, and support. So precious.
The two weeks before my trip, I was actually on a paleo detox liver cleanse. Hannah had sent me this great detox powder. I had been trying to normalize my crazy ass hormones after 15 years if birth control, 10 years Mirena IUD. It worked. I feel amazing. I feel like an entire new me. I've already blogged about the beast that was synthetic hormones, so I won't get into it here.
I already eat sugar free, grain free and for the most part dairy free and caffeine free (I'll do those socially) but with the detox I eliminated soy, peanut, and really, really tried to eliminate wine but heck, it was 4th of July.
I feel amazing. I have energy and happiness and you know when you feel good you attract people toward you? Yeah, people! You know I get lonely in the woods, so good people coming into my orbit like moths to a light (or something) is another little blissful heaven.
Maddi picked me up late from the airport and even as a mother of a toddler was willing to go the bar for a midnight glass of wine and sharing of our lives, struggles, dreams, and plans. I love her.
The reunion continued on the next day when Hillary and Hannah meet Maddi and I for lunch and some Cava. Bubbly with my girlfriends on a hot deck in Seattle was soul satisfying, healing even.
The weekend ended up on Vashon Island, hence all the ferry pictures. The air there smells amazing. The community cool and righteous. You know? Like the resident anarchist.
California is healthy but it ain't got nothing on Seattle. Seattle is geared toward allergy free eating. In California, I was surprised that there weren't very many gluten free options. I expected it to be like Seattle. We went to raw food, gluten free, sugar free, dairy free, soy free bakeries. A great passion for a bunch of girls who studied nutrition.
I came to shoot Hannah's engagement photos of her and her kick ass finance, Hans. I will post the pics later. The trip turned out to be refuge, healing, companionship, connection as well as work.
I definitely think more trips to Seattle are in order. Love, love, love my girls.