I started thinking the other day about how I've lived in the Philippines for two years, but haven't written many posts about it. So I thought I'd put together a little post with some photos from around my neighborhood. 

It's kind of hard to call it a neighborhood - more like a clump of jungle dotted with houses - but there's lots of beautiful flora and fauna and misty mountains. 

For those who aren't familiar, I live in Puerto Galera on Oriental Mindoro island. If you look at the map you'll see a town called Calapan to the right of the big "Philippines" text. Puerto Galera is about an hour away from Calapan. 

Today's been a gorgeous day with blue skies and a refreshing breeze. A nice change from the rain downpours and cooler temps we've had. I know 70 (F) isn't cold to most people, but once you've acclimated to tropical temps, it seems like full blown winter. There were days when I walked around the house in a sweater and sarong, which I made into a scarf. Socks too! #tropicalislandproblems

Most days, though, are spent in flip flops and shorts. 

My favorite part about this apartment...the view.

Lots of open space and coconut trees. The dirt road leads to a paved road that winds around and down, down, down.

Someone's building a house at the very tippy top of the mountain.

Down the road from the apartment. A panoramic view of some of our neighbors. Plus, Stewie nosing around.

On the left side of the road is a picturesque meadow with a wooden fence, climbing vines, and wildflowers. And Stewie again.

A little shack that fell apart during one of the typhoons. Someone still manages the garden.

Hazy mountains.

The leaves close when you touch them.

Mother Nature lets me know how much she loves me.

On the walk back I see the goat gang. With Stewie beside me there's no way they'll let me pet them. 

Here they come a runnin'! That's Little Mama in the front there and her baby Freddy right behind. Freddy is actually female, but when I named her I didn't know that. By the way, these are not my goats, but I named some of them. :) That one in the back likes to try and head butt Stewie.

And last, but not least, my favorite sassy goat, Big Mama. She just had three precious babies!

Fact: Sleep is a high priority for me.

When the alarm was part of my life and I had to be at work at 8 a.m., I'd carefully calculate how long it would take me to get ready, how long it would take me to drive to work, and what I could and couldn't do in the space between the two to guarantee the maximum amount of sleep I could get. Getting an extra 30 minutes of sleep meant more to me than eating breakfast at home or curling my hair.

Even in college, when other students were staying up late to finish projects, I made sure projects were completed ahead of time just so I could get a good night's sleep. 

With work, life, kids, hobbies, and all that thinking, thinking, thinking it's understandable why it can be hard to fall and stay asleep. Especially for that coveted eight hours. But sleep, a good sleep, is uber important to our health. Forgoing those nightly z's can lead to fatigue, memory issues, mood swings, and a slower metabolism...just to name a few. 

In order to get a deep, restful sleep it helps to set up nightly rituals about an hour before bedtime. Once your body gets into the routine it will know when it's time to wind down and get some shut eye. Try out a some, or all of these easy pre-bedtime rituals to help you get to dreamland and stay awhile. 

Dream, or sleep pillows have been used for centuries to help enhance dreams and bring peaceful sleep. Our ancestors used them to ward off evil, bring good dreams, predict the future, and even bring lovers into their lives. 

You can buy one (check Etsy) or create one (here's a tutorial) by stitching your own fabric and filling it with sleep-inducing herbs. And for a bit of magick, recite this charm as you sew your last stitches:

restful sleep come to me
release me from anxiety
as i stitch, this spell is done
as i will it, let it harm none

Herbs that blend well for a peaceful night's sleep:

• balsam fir needles
  
• catnip
  
• chamomile
  
• lavender
  
• hops
  
• lemon balm
  
• linden
  
• rose petals
  
• thyme
  
• rosemary
  
• marjoram
  

Not only will the calming herbs help you drift off to sleep, the simple act of sipping a cup of tea before bedtime will calm your mind and send a signal that it's time to get ready for bed. Blend your own sleepytime herbs to steep and sip or peruse the market for teas like Celestial Seasonings and Yogi for bedtime blends.

Okay, you don't literally have to unplug your electronic devices, but you definitely need to shut off those tablet, phone, and computer screens. These type of screens emit blue spectrum light, which tells the brain to stop secreting melatonin (a hormone that helps regulate sleep). Instead, read a book or write in a journal. 

I notice that when I haven't worked out in awhile, my sleep satisfaction declines. On the days I do workout, I'm pooped by the end of the night and ready to practically fall into bed. This technically isn't a bedtime ritual, as you shouldn't workout an hour before going to bed (it'll just ramp you up), but schedule in some exercise a few hours before going to sleep and it will help you drift off much more easily.

As a side note, I've found that light stretching before bed eases anxiety and calms the mind/body.

There's nothing a warm bath can't cure. Even a hot shower before bed can ease muscles and relax the mind. If you're taking a shower, imagine the water rinsing off all the worries and tension of the day. Light a candle or incense for a bit of aromatherapy. 

For a luxurious, dream-time bath, fill a muslin bag with a mixture of: 

• 1 cup epsom salt 
  
• 2 cups sea salt
  
• 1/2 cup baking soda
  
• 10 drops lavender essential oil
  
• 2 parts chamomile flowers
  
• 1 part lemon balm
  
• 1 part catnip

Fill the tub and put the salt mixture into the water. You can even place a few of the chamomile flowers directly into the water. Then immerse yourself in the bath, take a few calming breaths, and let any stress and negativity leave your body. When you get out, imagine all the negativity draining with the bath water.

I don't think wishes are just for kids - they're dreams after all - and one should never give up her dreams. 

You can wish on just about anything. Sometimes I stir wishes and good intentions into my hot chocolate, and I still wish on shooting stars and birthday candles. Lately, I've been enchanted with making wish bottles and stuffing magical words inside. 

I got the idea from Free People...have you seen their wishing bottles? Pretty, but $58? No thanks! It's much more personal when you make your own. Plus, it's super easy!

The basics:

• clean glass bottle (any size will do)
  
• candle
  
• whatever you want to put inside
  

First, fill your bottle with whatever makes your heart sing: feathers, keys, glitter, jewelry, stones, crystals. I filled mine with pink stars, pink glitter, and these tiny shells I found on the beach the other day.

I didn't put as much glitter in this wish bottle as I did my first one. The more you put in and shake, the more it will cover the bottle. For this one I wanted the contents to be visible.

Next you'll put in your magic words. These can be wishes, poetry, intentions, favorite songs that mean something to you...whatever you like! I wrote mine on a scrap of paper, rolled it up, and stuffed it inside the bottle.

Now seal it up by dripping candle wax over the bottle. I recommend doing this outside ;)

And there you go! Voila! Easy peasy, right?

I placed mine on my altar next to a collection of crystals and my Buddha oil burner. They're beautiful little additions. You could even make a mini wish bottle and tie it around your neck.

So go for it, darling! Make those wishes come true. And send me a pic if you make your own or if you've already made a wish bottle. I'd love to see!

Much love xx