Bailey Van Tassel

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07 May 2019
Gardening, Gratitude

5 Tips for Loving Where You Live

I explained all my fears about raising kids in Orange County, CA to them. The materialist culture, the pressure, the money, and on and on. The two men in suits nodded in agreement. Most of my business meetings pre-kids started like this. In the get-to-know-you part of the agenda I’d talk about being raised on a little hobby farm and wanting to leave the OC before I had kids. And now here we are, a couple years later, a one and a half year old in tow, and one on the way. Still in Orange County, CA.

 

At the end of that meeting, one of the men whom I respect greatly said this: “Don’t worry so much about where you live. You raise your kids in your backyard”.

 

While that didn’t completely squash my prejudices, it hit me like it needed to. He’s right, that we as parents raise our kids and showcase to them what being our version of human is.  While I can argue about the pervasiveness of culture, we are where we are, and it’s been my attitude that needs to adjust, not our zip code.

 

So, that is one of the reasons I work so hard to garden. It’s one little thing I can do in our backyard (ok it’s really our front yard) that brings us down to earth. It’s one little thing I am so passionate about that goes beyond me. It’s an example I can set about dedication, perseverance, nature, food, health, selflessness, and so on. It’s about caring for something that can be inconvenient, but deeply rewarding.

It’s about loving the soil you stand in, now.

If you’re like me, and find yourself feeling less than in love with where you live, I have some tips. I work at these daily. I have found with 100% certainty that when I started gardening I felt a lot more content, because I was connecting with something that brought me joy and brought me back to the roots I have elsewhere. That effort is worth all the peace in my heart. It’s a lot easier than you think.

5 tips for loving where you live:

  1. Find a passion-based outlet

    When you’re happy, it doesn’t matter where you are. With a hobby and outlet to do something you love, life gets a lot lighter. Gardening for me is a huge passion. I love the process, and I love that I found a way to make it happen right outside my door. It gives me a sense of purpose that is tied to my local environment and pushes me to seek out resources here locally. I now have a whole network of local garden lovers!

    I also love cooking, reading, and being active, so find ways to do that too via cooking classes, finding a cool gym, etc.

  2. Find your people

    There are people EVERYWHERE that share your passions. There will be other people who share your values, life-views, and lifestyle. Church, the coffee shop, social media, work, are all good places to connect with people and get a sense for who “gets you”. Don’t shy away from those people. Lean in to them! Make time for them! Let them breath life into your life.

    One of my girlfriends and I used to say, “I want more life in my life!” and we meant that we need to do things with people that bring us up, not down. That excite us, inspire us, and help us feel like ourselves. Seek people out who need that too and SCHEDULE them into your days.

  3. Go to places that help you feel at-home and inspired

    There are a few places here in Orange County that help me feel like I belong. The Ecology Center (their farm stand is amazing), any garden center, the Irvine farmer’s market, Centennial Farm, and my own backyard when my friends are in it. I seek out opportunities to visit these places, and to fill my own home up with loving energy.

  4. Create your you space

    If you don’t feel at home in your actual home, it’s your fault. Sorry, but that’s the truth sister. Bring your design style into your home, build a garden outside, plant a ton of herbs in pots on your kitchen windowsill, paint something with a stencil – whatever it takes! I do not have that beautiful beachy California eclectic style that you want all So Cal houses to have, so my house is not all Cali chic cool. I have a photo of a Highlander bull in my living room. Deal with it.

  5. Keep the dream alive

    So you want to leave someday? I get it. I DEEPLY get this down into the marrow of my bones. I have wide open spaces in my future, a place for my kids to run free and catch salamanders in a creek. I want something else, but the timing isn’t right for us. So for now, the only thing keeping me from loving this place, is me.

    I keep my dreams alive with an entire Pinterest board of my “vision”. I have bookmarks in my Instagram and I meditate about my perfect life and home and town and place. My husband and I check out new cities and talk often about the ideal set up for us. When the time is right, it will happen. Our place will appear – even if that means it’s still right here in Orange County. Trust trust trust (yes, I’m talking to myself as much as I’m talking to you).

Live your dream friends, no matter where you are, make it happen.

 

TAGS:centennial farmsecology centergardeningorange county
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Hi I’m Bailey

Hi I’m Bailey

Teaching you how to grow veggies in any space while show you how to live a garden-inspired life.

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This podcast interview with @boochcraft CEO, Todd Kent, was epic! They’re truly setting the standard for sustainability and organic beverages, in the face of a lot of greenwashing. 

You MUST listen to this. 

Linked in bio and wherever you listen to podcasts🎙️. 

Big thanks to my friends over at @eartheasy for partnering on this episode. They’re another incredible company doing great things for humanity and the planet.
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This podcast interview with @boochcraft CEO, Todd Kent, was epic! They’re truly setting the standard for sustainability and organic beverages, in the face of a lot of greenwashing.

You MUST listen to this.

Linked in bio and wherever you listen to podcasts🎙️.

Big thanks to my friends over at @eartheasy for partnering on this episode. They’re another incredible company doing great things for humanity and the planet.

1 day ago
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What’s holding you back? We have more doubt in ourselves than in any teachers. But people actually *do* change - we can create micro habits that turn into major moves. Or even take giant leaps of faith that reconfigure our lives. 

I’ve done it. I’ve made the big moves and taken the chances and acted on instinct. 

Because my hope was greater than my fear. What I wanted for my future outweighed the discomfort in being in the middle. In the cocoon. 

So, what does your butterfly moment look like, and what’s keep you from allowing the transformation? 

Snag a seat in my live training, Do It Down To Earth. It’s a masterclass in building an authentic brand that will monetize on Instagram and beyond. 

Link in bio. DM me with questions. Take the leap. I’ve got you!
•
Follow

What’s holding you back? We have more doubt in ourselves than in any teachers. But people actually *do* change – we can create micro habits that turn into major moves. Or even take giant leaps of faith that reconfigure our lives.

I’ve done it. I’ve made the big moves and taken the chances and acted on instinct.

Because my hope was greater than my fear. What I wanted for my future outweighed the discomfort in being in the middle. In the cocoon.

So, what does your butterfly moment look like, and what’s keep you from allowing the transformation?

Snag a seat in my live training, Do It Down To Earth. It’s a masterclass in building an authentic brand that will monetize on Instagram and beyond.

Link in bio. DM me with questions. Take the leap. I’ve got you!

1 day ago
View on Instagram |
2/4
👋🏼HERE is what I did:
I picked a niche that I was passionate about and could talk about everyday. It was something I had an abundance of information and experience on. 

I showed up authentically, and purposefully to inspire and educate. To relate to others. To be social. I had a plan based on years in the marketing and brand-building hotel business. 

At 3,500 followers my first brand deal came in. They specifically wanted to work with a mother and organic gardener. Jackpot! After that, I made a media kit and then starting pitching brands. They kept saying yes. 

I invested in a retreat to learn how to take my brand to the next level, and then was invited to be a coach at the next retreat. And then another and another, all teaching women to build an online brand. 

It 8x’d my income the first year. And then life happened: a global pandemic, a move, a late term pregnancy loss, sick kids, etc. BUT GUESS WHAT? 

It didn’t really matter. I could dial my business up or down. 

So I started incorporating other business components:
🌸A membership/subscription 
🌸Merch collaborations 
🌸Modeling for brands 
🌸My own digital Products 
🌸Workshops 
🌸online seminars/masterclasses. 

What I did was build a BRAND. Not just an income stream. 

A brand is flexible and resilient and can be multifaceted. A brand tells a story. A brand is built to last. 

This year, thanks to my brand, my biggest dream since childhood is coming true. 🤫 I haven’t shared it yet, so you’ll have to be patient to find out! 

This all happened off a brand I built authentically for four years. 

So, if this is your dream too, I got you. 

I wanted to quit my 9-5, and did. 
I wanted to be home with my kids, and did. 
I wanted to contribute to our income (ahem, Orange County, CA is the most expensive, and I did. 
I wanted to stay ME, and I have. 

So once a year I pull back the curtain and share EVERYTHING so that you can do this too. 
I have a starter download for you right now to get going and then my starts in October!!! 

Comment PATH and I’ll send you a 6 Tips for Starting TODAY! 

Send this post any of your friends starting a business or ready to monetize their efforts here on IG.
•
Follow

👋🏼HERE is what I did:
I picked a niche that I was passionate about and could talk about everyday. It was something I had an abundance of information and experience on.

I showed up authentically, and purposefully to inspire and educate. To relate to others. To be social. I had a plan based on years in the marketing and brand-building hotel business.

At 3,500 followers my first brand deal came in. They specifically wanted to work with a mother and organic gardener. Jackpot! After that, I made a media kit and then starting pitching brands. They kept saying yes.

I invested in a retreat to learn how to take my brand to the next level, and then was invited to be a coach at the next retreat. And then another and another, all teaching women to build an online brand.

It 8x’d my income the first year. And then life happened: a global pandemic, a move, a late term pregnancy loss, sick kids, etc. BUT GUESS WHAT?

It didn’t really matter. I could dial my business up or down.

So I started incorporating other business components:
🌸A membership/subscription
🌸Merch collaborations
🌸Modeling for brands
🌸My own digital Products
🌸Workshops
🌸online seminars/masterclasses.

What I did was build a BRAND. Not just an income stream.

A brand is flexible and resilient and can be multifaceted. A brand tells a story. A brand is built to last.

This year, thanks to my brand, my biggest dream since childhood is coming true. 🤫 I haven’t shared it yet, so you’ll have to be patient to find out!

This all happened off a brand I built authentically for four years.

So, if this is your dream too, I got you.

I wanted to quit my 9-5, and did.
I wanted to be home with my kids, and did.
I wanted to contribute to our income (ahem, Orange County, CA is the most expensive, and I did.
I wanted to stay ME, and I have.

So once a year I pull back the curtain and share EVERYTHING so that you can do this too.
I have a starter download for you right now to get going and then my class starts in October!!!

Comment PATH and I’ll send you a 6 Tips for Starting TODAY!

Send this post any of your friends starting a business or ready to monetize their efforts here on IG.

2 days ago
View on Instagram |
3/4
When mom goes down, she has to actually stay up. So here’s something that is so good for clearing and breaking up funk in your chest. 

A tulsi and thyme steam. 

Just heat water and herbs in a pot to a good simmer (boiling could get too hot), then release the steam while you place your fave over it, and under a towel (to keep it in). Breath it in as long as feels good. Usually a couple of minutes while the steam lasts for me. 

Watch it smooth your body and calm your soul. 

Tulsi: anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and has antioxidants. Also smells heavenly. 

Thyme: has natural expectorant properties that are also soothing. 

Also: be smart & don’t burn yourself or your children with hot steam. 

#herbalism #growyourown #crunchymama #naturalwellness
•
Follow

When mom goes down, she has to actually stay up. So here’s something that is so good for clearing and breaking up funk in your chest.

A tulsi and thyme steam.

Just heat water and herbs in a pot to a good simmer (boiling could get too hot), then release the steam while you place your fave over it, and under a towel (to keep it in). Breath it in as long as feels good. Usually a couple of minutes while the steam lasts for me.

Watch it smooth your body and calm your soul.

Tulsi: anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and has antioxidants. Also smells heavenly.

Thyme: has natural expectorant properties that are also soothing.

Also: be smart & don’t burn yourself or your children with hot steam.

#herbalism #growyourown #crunchymama #naturalwellness

4 days ago
View on Instagram |
4/4

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