Seasons Bliss Portal
WELCOME TO YOUR MONTHLY DOSE OF SEASONAL INSPIRATION!
Grab a cup of tea and settle in as we explore simple, creative ways to live with the seasons. From DIY projects and handmade health and wellness to practical self-sufficiency, foraging, organic gardening, canning, and non-toxic home rituals.
The Great January Reset – A Strategy for Makers & Homesteaders
January isn’t lazy, it’s strategic. If you live a seasonal life, you already know this. After the long stretch of garden harvests,
The Coziest Pear Pie Recipe (with a Thick Filling)
There’s something about pears that feels softer, slower… a little more comforting than apples. Where apple pie has that bright, tart bite,
Make Your Own Natural Vapour Rub
This vapour rub has been a staple in my home for over 15 years. After spending time in New Zealand, I learned
The Wolf Supermoon
Snuggle up and bask in the enchanting glow of the Wolf Moon as we indulge in a traditional tale, a legend that
Handmade Earrings Are Live – Shop Online!
I’m excited to share that my handmade in Penticton hypoallergenic earrings are now available on my online shop! These pieces are
Creative Visualization: Build Your Dreams Like a Snowman
Are you ready for a deep-bliss session? Welcome back to Oceans Bliss Portal! Let's dive into it bliss feet first! After spending
Earth to Chalah
Imagine a world where your imagination has no limits, where daydreaming and visualizing are not only accepted but encouraged! This is the
February
Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar Recipe
There’s something deeply satisfying about bottling a batch of homemade apple cider vinegar. Today I’m finally bottling the vinegar I made during
DIY Space Saving Mini Greenhouses
If you’re anything like me, seed-starting season begins with excitement… and ends with every sunny windowsill completely taken over. Welcome back to
A Valentine’s High Tea Tradition (Simple, Sweet & Made to Share)
There’s something special about slowing down and setting a table just because it’s February. There’s something special about traditions. And this high
Wildcrafted Pine Resin Salve Recipe
Walking mountain trails, you’ll often see golden resin pooled along a scar in the bark. That’s a trees band aid, its way
Valentines Day Love Eagles
Today I'm celebrating the spirit of commitment and loyalty on this very special day of love with a very special couple. Welcome
Calling All Retailers!
Calling All Retailers: Stock Our Seasonal Earrings & Nature Prints! Are you looking to add unique, handcrafted products to your store? Well,
Aphrodite’s Rock in Cyprus: Unlocking Love’s Magic
Visiting the birthplace of Aphrodite on Cyprus is not only a magical experience, but it can also be a catalyst for finding
The Dalai Lamas Residence: A Tale of the Power of Prayer
Get ready to embark on a journey through one of the most memorable moments of my life! Welcome back to Oceans Bliss
March
My Natural Cleaning Cupboard (and the Recipes I Use Most)
Spring cleaning is a seasonal ritual that I love! Every spring I open the windows, let the fresh air in, and do
Wildcrafted Natural Pine Cleaner Recipe
Every spring I have the same ritual. As soon as the air starts to soften and the windows finally open again, I
Harvest to Jar: A Canning Yield Guide (Printable PDF)
Every year it happens! You bring home a box of peaches. Or you pull ten pounds of carrots from the garden. And
Easy DIY Soil pH Test Using Red Cabbage
Before planting season begins, it helps to understand one simple thing about your soil: pH. Soil pH affects how easily plants can
Take the Road Less Travelled
Hi Friends, I want to share a personal story with you about the road less traveled. Have you ever read 'The Road
Bliss Hotspot – Ibiza in the Spring
"Señoras y Señores this is your pilot speaking. We are now approaching Ibiza, and I wanted to personally welcome you to this
April
Wild Dandelion Hand Butter for Hardworking Hands
Making your own hand cream is one of the easiest steps into a more self-sufficient life. I started making my own products
Dandelion Honey Gummies & Easy Foraged Herbal Gummy Recipes
Simple, foraged, and actually worth making. There’s something satisfying about turning backyard “weeds” into something your family will grab like candy. These
Dandelion Season: Making Two Simple Infused Oils for Skincare and Food
Dandelions are a very easy place to start making your own oil stash! Because having a few simple infused oils on hand
Wild Violet Syrup: A Little Bit of Spring Magic in a Jar
There’s a short window each spring when the ground wakes up and offers one of its most delicate gifts....wild violets. You’ll find
Super Simple DIY Dishwasher Tabs (That Actually Work)
There’s something deeply satisfying about making your own cleaning staples, especially when they’re simple, effective, and free from all the extra fillers.
Super Simple Small-Batch Sauerkraut (That Actually Gets Eaten)
This is the kind of recipe that easily becomes part of your routine. No fuss or no fancy tools... just cabbage, salt,
Preserving the Past: The Magic of Growing Heirloom Varieties
In our garden, we only grow organic, non-GMO heirloom varieties. If you’ve ever stepped into a garden like this, you can hear
Wild Okanagan Sunflowers: Why you need to go for a walk in the mountains this spring!
Picture this: rolling hills shimmering in golden blankets, valleys overflowing with wild sunflowers—the sweet scent of arrowleaf balsamroot dancing in the breeze!
Spring Digital Image Downloads
I'm so excited to introduce a new product today, with a special spring price tag of only 5$ each! Digital image downloads
Wall Art Size Guides
Discover the perfect wall art size with my new guides! They are handy visuals to help you measure your space and find
My Photography Story
My photography story started over twenty years ago. It all began when I bought my first film camera in Bali followed by
Eagle Supermodel Glows Under the Pink Supermoon
Come on and join me today to witness an amazing show of wildlife style and coastal beauty! Welcome back to Oceans Bliss
The Secret Balinese Garden
A new month, a new life highlight. My life highlight no4. Welcome back to Oceans Bliss Portal! Today, I want to share
May
Canning Beans, Lentils & Chickpeas: A High-Protein Pantry Guide for Easy Summer Living
Spring is my favourite time to build a pantry of pressure-canned beans, lentils, and chickpeas before summer heat arrives. The kitchen is
Turning Spring Radishes into Hot Pink Pantry Pickles
Spring radishes are one of those garden surprises, you plant, forget, and suddenly there they are: crisp, peppery little bright pink bulbs
The Ultimate Slow-Simmered Vegetarian Baked Beans Recipe
There’s something deeply satisfying about a pot of baked beans slowly bubbling away on the stove. The kind of meal that fills
5-Minute Sage Remedies & Culinary Uses: A Simple Home Guide
Our Secret Mountain Remedy: Sage! Here in the Okanagan, we’re practically surrounded by wild sage. Every year as the hills dry in
Spring Canned Pickled Cabbage (For Easy Summer Salads)
I love having this stocked for summer salad bowls, grain bowls, sandwiches, and simple grazing plates. It brings instant brightness to almost
Lilac Sugar Body Scrub – From Winter Skin to Summer Glow
There’s a small window every spring where lilacs are in full bloom and if you know all the magical benefits, you don’t
How to Build A Greenhouse for Under $400
For under $400, we built a greenhouse and garden beds, filled them with soil, and planted seeds! Here, I'm going to share
Clearing the Air: Smudging Your Creative Space
As a creative person, my studio is a sanctuary for ideas to flow and my imagination to run free. But sometimes my
A Gift! Apple Blossom Bliss Image Download!
Mother's Day Weekend Gift for YOU! To celebrate Mamas, I’m sharing apple blossom bliss with you through an INSTANT DIGITAL DOWNLOAD of
Get Ready for Summer: Digital Image Downloads
I'm so excited to upload new images to my Boutique Image Library today! With a special spring price tag of only 5$
The Road Less Travelled
When I look back at my life, it reminds me of the poem by Robert Frost - "The Road Not Taken". It
June
DIY Tinted Lip Balm: The Perfect Nourishing Formula with Natural Tints & Herbal Infusions
I started making my own tinted lip balm after noticing that some store-bought glosses were irritating my eyes and honestly, the cost
My Sweet Pea Process – A Flower That Brings Back Memories + My Growing Tips
Sweet peas are my favourite flower to grow every single year. Not just because they’re beautiful, although they are. And not just
Best Streak Free Window Cleaner Recipe
If you're looking for an easy way to save money, reduce plastic waste, and become a little more self-sufficient, making your own
All Natural Homemade Bug Spray That Works!
Camping season, garden season, hiking season, and long evenings outside are finally here. Unfortunately, mosquitoes and other biting insects tend to show
Seasonal Homemade Tea Blends from The Garden
One of the easiest ways to start self sufficient seasonal living is by making your own homemade tea blends. If you can
Natural Produce Washing Guide: Understanding Pesticides & Organic Produce
Living in the mountains of British Columbia surrounded by orchards gave me a very different perspective on food growing up. As a
Small Batch Magical Strawberry & Rose Jam
A soft floral preserve inspired by early summer gardens, wild roses, and fresh strawberries. There’s something almost magical about strawberry season arriving
Low Sugar Canning: Creating Beautiful Flavour Beyond Just Sugar
I’m a canner through and through. My shelves are lined with jams, preserves, syrups, pickles, sauces, and slow-cooked seasonal creations. But at
Ready, Set, Can! How to Prepare Your Jars for the Season
Let's get our jars ready for canning season! Before I start canning, I go through all of my jars and this is
Our First Big Sale!
Now until June 30, 2025, enjoy 20% off all seasonal handmade earrings! It’s our first big sale, and stock is limited (I
Why I Can on an Outdoor Cooking Stove
Am I crazy canner or is this the best thing ever? I started canning on an outdoor camping stove when our kitchen’s
The Art of Giving Back
When life gives your daughter lemons, you help her make Okanagan fruit necklaces! Then you send them on a mission trip to
Okanagan Markets: Then and Now
Looking at this old photo from 20 years ago brings back so many memories. A market in Okanagan Falls, the fee was
Frame a 12 x 18″ Fine Art Print With Me
Framing one of my 12x18” fine art prints is a straightforward process. Whether you prefer to visit a local frame shop or
Grow Your Own Bliss
From the very first time I stepped into my garden, I felt a profound connection with the living world around me. Each
Purple Peruvian Heirloom Potatoes
I love potatoes. Mashed, fried, or baked, they always impress me. But nothing could prepare me for the potato revelation that awaited
Jamming under the Strawberry SuperMoon
Are you a fellow jam and canning enthusiast? Get ready to embrace your inner canning spirit and join me on this canning
Bliss to Table
Today, let's give a blissful shout-out to pizza as I walk your taste buds on a journey of vibrant, real, and healthy
Reflecting on our Roots
Going back to my roots has been an extraordinary adventure, a long journey filled with many profound revelations uncover the hidden gems
Markets and Magic in Florianopolis Brazil
This month's highlight No6, takes us to the vibrant outdoor markets of Brazil, where I discovered a world of fresh fruits, vegetables,
July
A Childhood Built on Books, Not Screens
Some of my handmade collections are created simply because they're beautiful. Others are created because they carry a piece of who we are.
Fresh Aloe Vera Spray Recipe (Made with Just a Few Natural Ingredients)
There's something satisfying about making skincare from a plant you've got in your house! No mystery ingredients and definitely no bright artificial colours,
Christmas in July! Start your handmade canning gift baskets now!
One of my favourite Christmas traditions actually starts in the middle of summer. Whenever I'm canning peaches, pickles, jam, salsa, or anything else
Make Your Own DIY Clay Garden Signs (With 100+ Saying Ideas)
Add a Little Personality to Your Garden! One of my favourite little projects for the garden is making handmade clay signs. They're inexpensive,
The Lost Art of Busy Hands
Somewhere along the way, we stopped keeping our hands busy. For generations, busy hands were simply part of everyday life. People knitted by
The Homegrown Watermelon Guide: Growing, Seed Saving & Safety Checks
There are few things that say summer quite like cutting open a homegrown watermelon! The satisfying crack as it splits open, the bright
Before Hair Serums, There Was Rosemary: Recipes for Natural Hair Care
Long before specialty shampoos, expensive serums and endless hair products in big colourful plastic bottles, people turned to herbs growing in their gardens
Growing, Drying, and Storing Your Own Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide
One of the easiest ways to become more self-sufficient is to grow and dry your own herbs. Many common culinary and medicinal herbs
Blueberry Season Is Here: My Favourite Low-Sugar Spiced Blueberry Jam
Every summer I look forward to blueberry season. As soon as the berries are ready, I start thinking about filling a few jars
From Garden to Jar: Homemade Spicy Pickled Cauliflower
There are some vegetables that disappear almost as quickly as I can grow them, and cauliflower is one of them. It always feels
Weightlifting: A Foundation of Preventative Healthcare and Self-Reliance
For most of my life, strength training wasn't part of my routine. I loved hiking, swimming, yoga, gardening, and being outdoors, but lifting
Natural Homemade Sunscreen Recipe
This handmade, chemical-free sunscreen is a recipe I learnt while working in luxury spas in Bali. It uses simple ingredients and is easy
Cast Iron Camping Meals: Bringing Scratch Cooking to the Campfire
Somewhere along the way, camping food became synonymous with processed snacks, instant meals, sugary cereals, and packaged convenience foods. But cooking from scratch
Low-Cost Canning Tips: How to Source Your Canning Fruits and Vegetables
Sourcing the fruits and vegetables for canning can be pricey if you’re not strategic. Here are some low-cost canning tips to help you
Prepare in Advance: Canning for Christmas Gifts
With the canning season in full swing, now is the perfect time to start preparing for Christmas gifts. Canned goods make thoughtful, personalized
Roses and Reflections at the Penticton Rose Garden
Each morning for the past week, I took a stroll through the Penticton rose garden, a calming ritual that started my day. The
Blissful Energy Flow: Organize with Feng Shae!
Happy new month and a big shout-out to Life Highlight No7 - My absolute favourite since it's my favourite number! And we're
August
Sunflower Petal Cream: A Small-Batch Garden-to-Skin Recipe
There’s something I love about using what’s growing in the garden right now. Sunflowers are everywhere at the end of summer, and
DIY Non-Toxic Citrus & Herb Cleaners
Three simple ways to bring the garden into your non-toxic cleaning routine! One of my favourite parts of seasonal living is finding
How to Make Fire Cider + 4 Seasonal Variations
Every fall, I start thinking about the things I want stocked before cold season actually arrives and fire cider is one of
How to Make Mullein Tincture: A Simple Herbal Tradition
This week, wildfire smoke has been settling into our mountain valley again. With evacuations happening nearby and that familiar haze hanging over
Homemade Electrolyte Wellness Shots Recipe
I love making these wellness shots in batches and keeping them in little glass bottles in the fridge, ready to grab before
Mullein Garlic Ear Oil Drops – A Traditional Recipe
Every summer, the hills around my mountain home are dotted with tall stalks of mullein. Mullein especially loves disturbed ground, so you'll
Substituting Sugar in Canning
When it comes to canning, sugar has traditionally been seen as a key player in preserving fruits, maintaining their texture, and enhancing
Stocking Up For Winter: The Benefits of Buying Bulk Pulses & Legumes
As the colder months approach, now is the perfect time to stock your pantry with bulk legumes and pulses. These nutrient-dense staples
Grape Leaves: My Secret Pickling Ingredient
Pickling is one of my favourite ways to preserve the garden’s bounty, and over the years, I’ve picked up a few tricks.
Why You Should Put a Bat House in Your Garden, Homestead or Orchard
If you're looking to give your orchard, garden or homestead a natural boost in pest control, consider putting up a bat house.
Creating a Canning Garden: Your Pantry in the Backyard
For those who love to can, a garden is more than just a source of fresh produce—it's the foundation of a pantry
Get Your Fall Garden Ready
Hello August! It's time to start your seeds for your fall garden, my friends! Getting my greenhouse garden ready for fall is
Love Lock Trestle Bridge in Penticton, B.C.
Nestled in the heart of Penticton, BC, the Kettle Valley Railway (KVR) trail offers one of the most scenic biking experiences around.
Harvesting & Processing Elderberries
Elderberries are in season from August to September, so it’s the perfect time to plan for harvesting and processing these wonderful berries.
Summer Nights
Imagine a perfect day at the beach – the beautiful golden sun, the soft sand under your feet, and the rhythm of
Swimming with the Green Sea Turtle in Maui
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the turquoise waters, I found myself in a moment of
September
Homemade Natural Mascara: Going Back to Simpler Beauty
For thousands of years, people made beauty products from what they had around them. Long before cosmetics and ingredient lists, different cultures
Foraging Rosehips: How to Identify, Harvest & Use This Wild Fall Fruit
I love revisiting the same wild plants throughout the seasons. The roses we enjoyed earlier in the summer have another harvest waiting
Canning Pears for Winter
Pear season is one I really look forward to. We eat a lot of pears in our house, so I usually put
Goldenrod Season: Foraging, Drying + 5 Ways to Use It
Goldenrod always feels like one of the first signs that summer is beginning to wind down. Those tall sprays of yellow start
How I Harvest, Preserve and Use Basil Year Round
If there’s one thing that thrives in my greenhouse, it’s basil. This herb is a powerhouse in my kitchen, and harvest days
Back-To-Bliss Sneak Peek: Fall-o-ween Earrings Coming Soon!
Back to bliss celebration! School year has started up again, we are so excited to start up out homeschooling year, that we
Celebrating Non-Gmo Apples in September
Orchards are heavy with fruit, and apple trees are bending under the weight of this season’s harvest. It’s the perfect time to
Catching Septembers Harvest Supermoon
There’s something magical about waking up before the world does, especially when you’re in a place like Penticton, surrounded by mountains and
My Go-To Natural Garden Routine: Neem Oil Recipe
A little backstory on why I know so much about neem oil—it takes me back to my jungle days in Bali. I
Harnessing Inner Power: Hiking Mount Agung in Bali at Night
September has arrived, and it brings with it the key to ignite my life's highlight No9, a fresh beginning and a new
October
Celebrating Fall Food and Eating Seasonally
Eating seasonally is like syncing up with nature’s rhythm—it just feels right. For a long time, I lived in the tropics on
Winter Potato Math and Storage
This is our winter potato math: Our goal is to grow 75 pounds of potatoes for our family of three, enough to
Storing Root Vegetables for Winter
As the cool weather sets in, it's the perfect time to harvest and store your fall root vegetables for the winter months.
Hunter Moon
2023 was the year of the moon for me. I made it a mission to capture the moon every month, from the
Leave the Leaves
As autumn arrives and the leaves begin to fall, many of us instinctively reach for the rake to tidy up our yards.
New! Satin Poster Paper Prints
Introducing new satin poster paper – a luxurious, budget-friendly option for displaying one of my vibrant nature prints! This satin finish gives
Bali Spirit Under the Stars
As October takes centre stage, I can't help but reflect on the significance of this month in my life. It's a time
November
Leaps of Faith, Your Portals to Change!
Have you ever felt trapped in a stagnant moment, yearning for a spark to reignite your inner fire? Sometimes, life presents us
Fresh off the Bliss Press: New Prints, Prices & Sizes!
Fresh off the press: new prints, expanded sizes, and premium quality materials are here! Whether you’re looking to bring a bit of
December
Naramata Warm Spiced Grape Cider
Every summer, I make fresh grape juice from Naramata grapes and tuck a few jars away for winter. When winter arrives, those
How to Store Root Vegetables for Winter
Every fall I harvest the vegetables that can feed my small family through winter. A root cellar or cold room doesn’t need to
Homemade Elderberry Syrup (Small Batch, No Canning Needed!)
Every August I start gathering and drying elderberries for one of my favourite winter wellness traditions: a quick little batch of homemade
My Iconic Earring Menu Boards
If you've ever visited my stand at a market or craft fair, you've probably noticed a colourful little detail right beside my
Home is Where the Heart Heals
As December kick offs, I find myself reflecting on a journey that led me back to where it all began - home.
The Last Full Moon of 2024
The final full moon of 2024, known as the Cold Moon—set this December morning, marking the end of another year. Its name
