My Favorite Things: 5 Holistic Valentine's Day Treats

Welcome to My Favorite Things! Each month, we highlight products to help you create a holistic lifestyle that inspires and nurtures you, so that you can be happier and feel supported.

Most of us know that Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and the race is on to find that perfect gift for your loved one or the perfect way to say "I love you" to yourself! Whoever you're appreciating today, consider ditching the traditional roses, stuffed animals and other gifts that can end up as clutter. Instead, try these holistic, innovative products to help you enjoy this day of love. 


Rose Cardamom Infused Chocolates

Sometimes traditions become outdated and can cause clutter, but others are too good not to keep. Chocolate for Valentine's Day is one tradition we'll never complain about.

But! Indulging doesn't mean we have to harm the environment or our bodies. Wei of Chocolate candies are organic, vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, Paleo-friendly and fair trade! They're also infused with Lotus Wei flower essences (our favorite) and 100% delicious. What more can you ask for from chocolate?

I have one (or two, sometimes more) of these chocolates every day! Wei Love is one of my favorites and highly recommended.

Available at: Wei of Chocolate


Venus Yantra Mandala

Valentine's Day gifts don't have to be fleeting, like flowers or chocolate, though both are wonderful options. Loving and supportive art can also be a fantastic way to express yourself!

The Venus Yantra Mandala, associated with the feminine planet, Venus, can assist in relationships and harmonize an imbalance of Earth element. I have the Venus yantra in my bedroom, in the Relationship area to cultivate love and harmony in my relationships. The Venus yantra is also an amazing addition for self-love, which is the most important kind! Valentine's Day isn't just for lovers!

Available at: Holistic Spaces


Rose Quartz 

One of my favorite feng shui adjustments for love and compassion is the placement of rose quartz crystals. If you're seeking a relationship, adding rose quartz to the Relationship area of your bedroom can be a powerful adjustment. And, you guessed it...this is a feng shui adjustment that I have in my bedroom!

Rose quartz can also help to support an existing relationship and can be a wonderful way to encourage and deepen self-love! We can't pour from an empty cup, so it's important to fill our own cups and nurture our relationships with ourselves first!

Available at: Holistic Spaces


Relationship Mandalas

Mandalas of any kind are a beautiful gift for almost any occasion, but my friend and yantra teacher, Mavis Gewant, can take these meaningful pieces of art to a new level!

Mavis offers personal, hand-crafted mandalas based on the combined energy patterns of each person in the relationship. A relationship mandala isn't just a stunning gift; it's also a unique representation of your relationship!

Available at: Sacred Mother Arts


Deluxe Perfume Making Kit

Perfume is another traditional Valentine's Day gift most of us can appreciate. I really love this perfume making kit from The Scentarium, because it offers the chance to create your very own, bespoke smell!

I went to a workshop at Sue's showroom and had so much fun figuring out my scent personality and smelling all the diferent potions. This home kit is the perfect way to have the same experience with your partner at home (or just you!). The best part? The custom scents they've created contain no chemicals!

Available at: Scenterprises



4 Questions for Anjie Cho from Musings Off the Mat

featured this month on Musings Off the Mat, by Ferina Natasya

Okay, here’s something you need to know. If you want to find me I’m usually doing my research and reading at the library near my home. I just love that physical feel of holding a book, smelling the pages etc. Or I hang around Kinokuniya (Borders at Wheelock Place, oh how i miss you so!).

So at one time i actually chanced upon this book 108 Ways to Create Holistic Spaces: Feng Shui and Green Design for Healing and Organic Homes. Ok… not really familiar with Feng Shui (the only connection i have to Feng Shui is my amethyst bracelet – a gift from Mommy dearest who bought it from a Feng Shui expert). But green design, organic homes and healing just awakens all my mind antenna and these are topics that my curiosity thrives upon.

The author of the book, Anjie Cho is the Founder of Holistic Spaces – integrating beauty, spirituality and green design. I like that in Anjie’s work, she creates balance in designing spaces with understanding of sustainability, practice of Feng Shui and creating spaces that is supportive and thriving for that individual.

For me, i thought IKEA was my one stop and only place for all things i need in my room – and don’t get me wrong, i still do that but i just leveled up (haha!) the home decor game because not only i feel investing in a good furniture but having a piece that creates an inviting and a place that inspires me will always uplift my mood but more importantly i see myself thrive very differently. That simple tweak/s around our house so as to boost our moods etc could just be the key to having a great day, week or life! 

Anjie, Thank you so much for this interview! I love that you mix green design, spirituality and beauty, what was the reason for this?

I have a holistic approach to everything in life. I’ve found that, when things begin to interconnect, I’ve truly found something meaningful, and when your design is inspired by spirituality and meaning, we find true beauty. It’s easy to make something look pretty—more challenging to create something that resonates and supports you.

Ooo, that’s a great thought! What do you think all three (green design, spirituality, beauty) have in common?

They all seek to create harmony. Green design looks to connect our individual lives to the environment as a whole. Spirituality shows us there’s more than what we can visually see. Beauty makes us smile and cry, and inspires connection.

Harmony. I agree. Ok, (apologies if i sound like an ignorant twart!) is it just woo­woo or does Feng Shui really have an affect to our lives? 

Feng Shui is definitely “woo­woo” but also affects our lives! Much like many things in my life, I followed what the universe presented, and it led me to Feng Shui. Before that, I was like most people, “What is this woo­woo stuff?!?” But I’ve incorporated Feng Shui philosophy into my life and never looked back. I have created a unique career for myself, study all the things that I love, and help others along the way. I am where I am now, because of Feng Shui. 

How can I (on a low budget, financially­-struggling-­not­-complaining-­though blogger doesn’t earn much :p) change or improve the environment of my space? 

For more Focus: I have a focus spray on my website that’s my favorite to use at my office when I need extra support.

This formula no.2 FOCUS is a blend of rosemary, cedarwood, frankincense and other essential oils with carnelian crystals for clarity, precision and direction.

  • Rosemary supports mental precision
  • Cedarwood is grounding
  • Frankincense provides meditative focus
  • 18 pieces of carnelian in each bottle for grounding and stabilization

In this day and age, we could probably all use a little more focus, and especially as a blogger, the Focus spray can help you create more centered, meaningful and effective posts. 

You can also use a 3” round mirror fastened to the ceiling right above your head when you sit to channel and focus your qi. The mirrored side faces down. 

For more Abundance: I carry a piece of tumbled citrine in my wallet.

The Abundance area of the Feng Shui bagua map is related to wealth, prosperity, and self ­worth. Citrine is particularly effective at generating and attracting the same things! This natural crystal supports abundance especially well when placed in the corresponding area of the feng shui bagua map in the bedroom, desk, home or office.

Citrine is invigorating and promotes joy too. You can also carry the stone with you, in your wallet, to attract more wealth.

Set of 3: Make it triple effective by placing one stone in each of the abundance areas of your bedroom, your desk and inside your wallet/pocket. 

For more Love: If you’re lonely and looking for companionship, activate the Relationship area of your bedroom. The bedroom represents you and also your future partner. One powerful adjustment (and one of the easiest) is to place two pieces of rose quartz in the Relationship area, the back right corner, of your bedroom.

Rose quartz heals the heart chakra, which encourages emotional healing, so even if you’re already in a relationship, they can promote trust and harmony. You might also consider placing the rose quartz in the opposite area, the self­ Knowledge and cultivation area (that’s the back left). When placed here, rose quartz can help learn to love and appreciate yourself, and we’ve all heard that’s the first step to attracting real love! 

Thank you so much Anjie for the first part of the interview. Look out for Part 2 of the interview with Anjie Cho. In the meantime, I’m sure you can learn a lot more from her at www.anjiecho.com and www.holisticspaces.com or her very own podcast channel. While at it, don’t forget to check out MOTM Wellness Podcast too! 

I resonated so much to her book, her site and the things she does. It’s like I’m a stalker or girl­fan from Asia that can’t get enough of the kind of work she does. Like these beautiful mandalas (10% of the proceeds from each Holistic Spaces Mandala will be donated to support Tibetan refugee children at Bon Shen Ling’s Menri Monastery in Dolanji, India), aromatherapy mists for your space and items for space clearing like mirrors or sage. That reminds me i need to sage my room this month, it’s my birthday month!

I guess it is only apt that I share this interview with you after my podcast on Spaces (While at it, subscribe please!). I mean regardless of what you believe in, i guess it is a common understanding (i may be wrong) to always do space clearing when you first step into your new home. I remember when we moved to our new home, I see my dad recite prayers in all corners of the home so as to ward of evil etc. Eventually we all want to guard our space and create space that allows us to feel at home, feel intune with ourselves and enjoy experiencing that area day in and day out. 

Image credit and courtesy of: Anjie Cho, Holistic Spaces


Connect to Mother Earth with Feng Shui

featured this week on Over the Moon 

In feng shui and other eastern philosophies, the yin side of the earth element is connected to maternal, feminine and receptive energies.

On the feng shui bagua map, the Relationship area is connected to this maternal element which also relates to your primary partnership, the south-west direction, the abdomen, spleen, internal organs and is symbolized by square shapes, the color pink, and soft, loose sand or soil.

To locate this area in your bedroom, stand in the doorway while looking into the room. The relationship/mother area is the furthest corner back on the right side of the room.

Below are some feng shui adjustments to strengthen mother earth energy to support and nourish you. These adjustments can be done in your bedroom for the best results.

Add the element of fire to your space with red accents. Fire produces and creates earth. The flames of a fire create ashes which turn into earth. Just a little bit of red goes a long way!

Rose quartz is a healing and nurturing natural crystal that also supports self-love. This is a wonderful crystal that you can place in the Relationship area of your bedroom to support you.

Heavy objects such as statues also characterize the earth element. If you have a deity statue that you love, or even a heavy stone, this is great in any area of your bedroom to provide stability and contribute to the earth element.

Cultivate more nature in your bedroom or home with indoor plants. Plants relate to the element of wood, which can balance earth. The strong roots of a tree can overcome any stubborn hard earth. Plants also encourage kindness and the color are healing. 

Finally, to strengthen your mother earth energy, be open and receptive to embrace what comes to you through your environment, both positive and negative. Sometimes inaction and observation is the best reaction.

Take some time this month and honor the mother earth in you with some feng shui! 

 by Anjie Cho