March Newsletter
Hello amazing woman!
I hope this newsletter will give you a little break from the busyness, and provide some things to help you pause, and take a little pocket of time for yourself.
As always I hope this little newsletter inspires you, informs you and supports you.
Scroll down for my yummy recipe, simple self-care practices, a breathing practice and a long guided relaxation to press pause. Plus some inspiration - a book, podcast, nature and seasonal inspiration, a poem, art to visit & a new kids trail too.
Also I’ll share some exciting NEW upcoming opportunities for us to come together too - a fun, relaxed creative evening to celebrate the Spring at the glorious Bluebird Bakery in Acomb (it could also be a brilliant Mothers Day gift - to your mum or for YOU), and also I’m opening the waiting list for this years Wild Wellbeing Day Retreats too (taking place in June).
I’m sending this newsletter on the first of the March, which is the start of ‘meterological spring’. This is different to the spring season associated with the vernal (spring) equinox, called ‘astronomical spring’ which occurs on 20th March. Whichever way you look at it, it’s definitely feeling more Spring like right now. And I love it! Blossom, daffodils and my Camelia are all coming into bloom in my garden, along with unfurling young green leaves and copious vibrant bird song outside my window as I write this. March is the month we make the transition from winter into spring. We move from the dark half of the year into the light. After the upcoming spring equinox , the daylight will be longer than the night for the next 6 months. I am so happy that the world is coming alive again, nature is waking up from it’s winter rest.
I always feel that this is a month of new beginnings, of being reborn. Winter was a season of curling up inside your chrysalis, and spring is the season of emerging as something new. I love to tap into the wisdom of natures cycles, and knowing that the light of the equinox is now coming and longer days are ahead brings me both joy and hope.
And wishing you a lovely March and transition to spring (whichever version you go by!), and looking forward to seeing you soon I hope
Susan x
Don’t forget you can also join me on my Instagram and Facebook pages too:
A simple monthly recipe
Spring lemon risotto
A recipe by the very talented Rosie Ramsden. Not only a writer of recipe books and gorgeous food stylist, but also a talented artist too. Here’s her super easy, almost no stirring, easy & relaxed oven-baked lemon risotto recipe. I like to top mine with some sauteed garlicky mushrooms for extra yum! Serves 4
50g unsalted butter
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 onion very finely chopped
1 stick of celery, very finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
300g risotto rice
175ml white wine or vermouth
juice of 2 lemons and finely grated zest of 1 lemon
750ml vegetable stock
a sprig of fresh rosemary, plus extra to garnish
100g Parmesan cheese, grated
Prehat the oven to 150°C/fan 130°C
~ Melt half of the butter with the olive oil in an ovenproof frying pan over a medium-low heat.
~ Add the shallots and celery, season, then fry covered, for 10 minutes until soft. ~ Add the garlic and nutmeg and fry for another minute or two before stirring in the rice. Coat the rice in the buttery vegetables and fry for about 5 minutes, until almost translucent.
~ Pour over the wine and turn up the heat. Let the wine bubble for a few minutes until it has evaporated and been absorbed by the rice. (Pause the recipe here if needed.)
~ Stir in the lemon juice and zest and season well.
~ Add the stock to the pan with the rosemary, then cover with a lid or foil and transfer to the oven - alternatively you can move the risotto to a warmed ovenproof dish, and cover with foil. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the rice is just tender.
~ Take the pan from the oven, remove the lid or foil and grate the Parmesan on top of the risotto. Turn the oven setting to a medium grill and slide the pan or dish underneath, uncovered. Grill for 5-10 minutes, until golden and bubbling.
~ Season again if you need to, and serve with an extra rosemary sprig.
Some things I’m loving right now & you might like too…
This month my inspiration to click on, comes to you in the form of mainly nature, art and inspiring creative women - some of my favourite things.
A podcast about Gaza by The Guilty Feminist.
An amazing book that will blow your mind about nature.
Meet the Snooks! A fun sculpture trail created for kids in York - starts this weekend.
There is SO much good stuff going on in London feminist art wise. I’m planning a visit to see all of these…. Women in Revolt at The Tate Modern, Barbara Kruger at The Serpentine, and The Cult of Beauty at The Welcome Trust. It’s going to be a busy day!
Brilliant poet Hollie McNish is coming to York in May! Here’s a short read about the books that influenced her.
Clover Stroud on the emotional resonance of jewellery. And here’s some jewellery I’ve created and just put online!
2 minute self-care.
A morning smile
For all you cranky morning people (or is that just me?). This one is even shorter than two minutes!
Each morning when you wake up, while you are still lying in bed under the covers, smile for thirty seconds. Smiling relaxes your nervous system and helps to set you up for your day.
press pause
Here’s a guided relaxation to help you to find and to grow your inner strength as a mother.
Listen to this track anytime you need a boost to your confidence and tap into your inner wisdom and have more trust in yourself.
Find it here on my FREE Insight Timer page
heart-centred breathing practice
This is a gentle and simple but deeply effective practice that helps to unify breath, heart and mind so that we can operate from a centred place of being. It balances actions from the head and heart.
heart-centred BREATHING
Sit comfortably in an easy and upright position. Let your chest open and shoulders relax. Soften your facial muscles and let your eyes close.
Place your right hand on your lower belly and feel it gently expanding into your palm as you inhale, and receding as you exhale.
Now rest your left hand on your heart. Feel its beat in your palm and listen to its rhythm.
Soften your breath and begin to breathe in time with the beat of your heart.
Inhale for 5-6 beats, pause for 1 beat, exhale for 5-6 beats and pause for 1 beat.
Continue for 5-10 minutes, tuned in to your natural rhythm and enjoy the synchronicity between your heart and your breath. Notice your heart's pace on the in breath and on the out breath.
When you feel ready, close the practice by resting both hands over your heart. Take a few breaths here.
a poem
A poem about the extra day we were given yesterday which I thought so beautiful
Leap... by Donna Ashworth
Without this extra day once every four years, we would eventually lose our seasons as we know them. This day exists solely to keep us in track with the sun and I love that thought. Chasing light to stay right. Whatever you do today, look for the light. And whilst we are doing that perhaps we can take a little leap in the direction of the sun too. Reach for something shiny you've been afraid to feel deserving of. It's all about the light, this life. It's all about staying with the light...
journalling at the turn of the month
Here’s some journalling prompts I like to ask at the turning of a month
~ what's working? what's energising and expansive?
~ what's not working? what's draining and feels constrictive?
~ what do I want less of this month? what do I want more of?
~ what am I no longer available for?
Take these prompts to your journal and see what magic happens
Lets Come Together…
Come and connect, and find some time and space for YOURSELF within the busyness of motherhood. Because you are important….
I have a gorgeous, relaxed and fun creative evening event coming up on 26th March at the gorgeous Bluebird Bakery in Acomb.
I hope you can join me. We’ll be making hand-embossed metal Spring garlands. You’ll have a fun evening out, there will be yummy Bluebird baked goodies and coffee or alcoholic drinks available to buy AND you get to take your garland home with you to hang in your home.
Come solo, with a friend or two, or this could also be a brilliant Mothers Day gift - to your mum or for YOU (or perhaps come together).
The Christmas event I did was so lovely, I hope you can join me for this Spring one.
Super excited for it! All the details and booking are here
These Wild Wellbeing Day Retreats were totally magical last year - so I’m running them again in June. Spend a whole day immersed nature. Including …
~ yoga in the woods
~ forest bathing
~ woodland sauna
~ wood fired hot tub
~ locally grown organic food & drinks
~ gathering around a fire
~ sea swimming (optional)
~ relaxation & reconnection
Drop me an email if you want to go on the waiting list for when booking opens..
An art project you can be part of…
You may have already read bout this on my socials. I’m working on a creative project to celebrate pregnant womens amazing bodies by creating a series of hand-cut collages that YOU can be part of.
I’m looking for inspiration and muses. I want as many amazing women and bumps as possible to feel seen and celebrated by being a part of this project. So I’d love you to upload a photo of your pregnant self that I can add to my library of images to use in the collages.
Head here to find out more and submit an image of your pregnant self too if you’d like to.
York open studios
Also to quickly let you know that I have been selected for York Open Studios this year!
You’ll find me at venue 77, on the weekends of 13th & 14th and 20th & 21st April. I’ll be showing a series of lino prints, and also a new handmade jewellery collection too.
Enjoy March!
That’s it from me! Thank you for reading my newsletter. If you think someone else might enjoy this too, please spread the word and share it too. And of course if you have any feedback, please let me know too.
My next newsletter should land with you in April, which will have some more self-care practices, and hopefully things to inspire you in supportive ways.
Remember, keep nourishing yourself and gathering energy for the growth to come for you this year - Spring is really on it’s way. See what you notice through this glorious seasonal transition.
Love to you all. Thank you for being so magnificent.
Susan x
PS Do drop me an email with any feedback on this new Newsletter, or any suggestions. It’s always lovely to hear from you.
Other things you might find supportive…
For Modern Mothers Podcast
You can also now listen to my podcast. This is a podcast to help mothers and mothers-to-be you thrive physically, mentally and emotionally in the modern world.
You’ll find no BS talks about all aspects of modern motherhood & wellbeing - physical, mental and emotional health, self-care, mindset, pregnancy, work, relationships, birth, cyclical living. This is a podcast to support, inform and empower you to find your own unique way through motherhood. Episodes include:
~ The Truth About Baby Sleep
~ Postnatal Bodies
~ Breastfeeding Myths
~ Self-Care For Mothers
~ Reconnecting with your Menstrual Cycle
Plus there are some guided meditations on there too. Use the link below or simply search for 'for modern mothers' on your preferred podcast platform (Apple Podcasts, iTunes, Google, Spotify, Stitcher etc). ttps://www.formodernmothers.com/podcast
Join me on instagram…
