Galleries - Anne Watson

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The Ingredients

The Food

The Drinks

The Action

Hi! I’m Anne.

I have always seen the world through the lens of a culinary enthusiast, so it makes sense that I fell in love with capturing images of my passion in action from a young age. I am so grateful for the success I have found in the food world as a photographer and I hope you enjoy visiting my site as you spend a little time seeing the world through my eyes.

I am excited to share my perspective with you, not only through my photographs, but also my experience styling food, creating recipes, and ultimately where it all started for me – cooking.

Learn More About Anne

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@annewatsonphoto

annewatsonphoto

Only a few weeks left of Blood Orange Season here in California, so I'm filling my belly with these incredible fruits! 🍊 As amazing in savory dishes as they are in sweet recipes, this ...

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Apr 13

Only a few weeks left of Blood Orange Season here in California, so I'm filling my belly with these incredible fruits! 🍊 As amazing in savory dishes as they are in sweet recipes, this versatile citrus is one of my all-time favorites. I love baking them into pancakes & muffins, cooking them down into a simple syrup for cocktails, chopping them up into a citrusy salsa, or just peeling one & stuffing it into my face!

What's your favorite way to cook with blood oranges? 😋

annewatsonphoto

Weather rages. Fires rage. The oceans rage. Volcanoes rage... And from all of these, great natural transformation emerges. ⁣
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As a Reiki practitioner I believe deeply that we are not ...

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Apr 12

Weather rages. Fires rage. The oceans rage. Volcanoes rage... And from all of these, great natural transformation emerges. ⁣
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As a Reiki practitioner I believe deeply that we are not merely observers of nature, but are an integral energetic part of it. We are microcosms of the greater natural landscape & therefore it seems only natural to me that we experience rage. I've found that the key is not to suppress it, nor to express it in a way that negatively affects other living beings through our actions or words - but to allow it to pass through us & then release it. Just as the Earth releases tension along her tectonic plates, we must release our rage in order to let go of its heavy vibrations & make room for higher energies to flow -- After all, great mountains are formed from raging earthquakes.⁣
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Today I'm reflecting on the feelings of rage - and its underlying cause, fear - that I see all around us in the world today, much of which is related to grief. On an individual level, I can share that rage played a powerful, transformative part of my personal awakening during Tim's cancer journey. For me it was early on, shortly after he was diagnosed that my rage emerged while I grieved the life I knew we'd never have again. One morning after a deep meditation I found myself on my knees pounding the earth, eyes wide & raging against the darkness. I yelled, I cried, I prayed & I allowed it all to flow through me. Then I felt my energy shift - I'd released the darkness & the underlying fears, and it had transformed me. After that, there was no more rage nor fear - only unconditional love.⁣
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This is why I honor Russell's rage that he's felt at times recently during his grieving process. I bought him a heavy bag & boxing gloves and I take joy in watching him release his fears as they're punched into that bag - raging against the cancer that he witnessed taking his dad's body from us - knowing that his rage is not destructive, it's transformational as he becomes a stronger, clearer, wiser being. ⁣
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annewatsonphoto

Springtime days are warming up & I don't know about you, but I'm feeling ready to head outside for a picnic this weekend 🧺 ☀️ 🌸 Our team over at @thefamilythrive recently ...

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Apr 10

Springtime days are warming up & I don't know about you, but I'm feeling ready to head outside for a picnic this weekend 🧺 ☀️ 🌸 Our team over at @thefamilythrive recently shared this recipe for a easy-to-make, picnic-perfect healthy cabbage slaw, which I admit I absolutely devoured after I shot it! ha ha. (Perks of the job, right?!) I love using @go_raw sprouted pepitas in this recipe for a crunchy nutritional boost. ⁣
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Be sure to stay tuned to @thefamilythrive feed as we are entering our Beta Launch phase of the business next month - there is some seriously exciting stuff coming your way from our Family Thrive team! And meantime, feel free to hit the "save" button on this post to keep the recipe handy. Happy Spring, everyone! 🌼🌻🌸🌺⁣
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Zesty Cabbage Slaw ⁣
Recipe by @chefcathy ⁣
#RDApproved by @alexiahallrd ⁣
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INGREDIENTS:⁣
Slaw:⁣
🔸1 green cabbage, core removed 🔸1 napa cabbage  🔸¼ cup green onion, green part only 🔸½ cup cilantro  🔸2 watermelon radishes 🔸¼ cup toasted pepitas 🔸1 TBSP minced red serrano pepper (optional) 🔸1 TBSP celery seeds (optional) ⁣
Dressing:⁣
🔹1 cup @PrimalKitchenFoods mayo 🔹¼ cup unseasoned rice vinegar,  🔹2 tablespoons yuzu juice (substitute: 1 TBSP each lemon juice & lime juice). ⁣
DIRECTIONS:⁣
1️⃣In a glass bowl, mix mayo, rice vinegar & yuzu juice. Add a pinch of salt and set aside. ⁣
2️⃣Using a sharp knife, finely shred both cabbages and put in a large glass bowl. Dice the green onion, julienne the radish & add both to the bowl. Chop the cilantro, stems, and all & add to the mix.⁣
3️⃣Toss the slaw mix with the dressing, coating all of the ingredients, and add in the toasted pepitas. You can add celery seed for added crunch, & red serrano pepper for a little kick.⁣
4️⃣Chill for 30 minutes. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves & enjoy! 😌⁣

annewatsonphoto

11 years ago today I married my best friend and it was, and will always be, the greatest decision I ever made ❤️ And while this may be the first time I'm celebrating our anniversary with only...

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Apr 9

11 years ago today I married my best friend and it was, and will always be, the greatest decision I ever made ❤️ And while this may be the first time I'm celebrating our anniversary with only one of us here in physical form, I still feel Tim's energetic presence right here with me & in many ways (which may seem odd to some, I know) I actually feel closer to him than I ever have before.⁣
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Today I can't stop smiling -- how LUCKY am I that I got to marry such an adventurous, loyal, loving, brilliant, witty, beautiful soul? Happy 11th anniversary, Tim. Love you 💕

annewatsonphoto

Good-afternoon, Honey 🐝🍯☀️🌸🌺 ⁣
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I love taking a teaspoon of raw local honey each morning to help prevent seasonal allergies.⁣
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What's your favorite way ...

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Apr 7

Good-afternoon, Honey 🐝🍯☀️🌸🌺 ⁣
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I love taking a teaspoon of raw local honey each morning to help prevent seasonal allergies.⁣
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What's your favorite way to use honey? And do you have any favorite farms or brands you love? ⁣

annewatsonphoto

Who are you? ⁣
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Have you ever meditated on this question? 🤔 So many of us spend the majority of our lives running around like chickens with our heads cut off, listening to the ...

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Apr 5

Who are you? ⁣
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Have you ever meditated on this question? 🤔 So many of us spend the majority of our lives running around like chickens with our heads cut off, listening to the incessant voice of our minds telling us what we "like" & "don't like," and then searching desperately outside of ourselves for things that will appease the mind in an effort to make the constant chatter of our thoughts stop driving us crazy. We try to define who we are by what we do, what we wear, who we associate with - the external decisions we make day after day. And it never works. The mind will always find the next problem & you find yourself in a state of constant need & desire for more, instead of satisfaction or fulfillment. ⁣
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But, if you take time to look deeper you will find that you are not those thoughts. You are the one who is listening to those thoughts. René Descartes' once said, "I think, therefore I am." I disagree. Instead, I believe: You are, therefore you hear your thoughts. ⁣
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You are the consciousness that dwells within & observes all things that enter your awareness through your five senses & your mind. And that eternal consciousness (which you may call the soul, Ātman, inner being, divine energy, the Self, or a number of other terms) - THAT is who you are. Connect with that realization -- that you are not the voice of the mind, you are the one who hears it. Use this as your starting point for defining who you are, and a world of infinite freedom & stillness awaits. #MeditationMonday⁣

annewatsonphoto

This is how we do Easter Eggs on The Watson Ranch 🐓🌸🌺🌼 Raising hens of various breeds who lay naturally-colored eggs with shells of every shade imaginable always makes this mama's job...

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Apr 2

This is how we do Easter Eggs on The Watson Ranch 🐓🌸🌺🌼 Raising hens of various breeds who lay naturally-colored eggs with shells of every shade imaginable always makes this mama's job easier at Easter-time - no egg dye kits required!🥚😃 ⁣
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Wishing you all a beautiful Easter Weekend! 💗⁣

annewatsonphoto

Have you ever pondered the difference between "peace" and "happiness" and then paused to consider which one you seek? 🤔 ⁣
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I've meditated on this quite a bit ...

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Mar 29

Have you ever pondered the difference between "peace" and "happiness" and then paused to consider which one you seek? 🤔 ⁣
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I've meditated on this quite a bit over the past year & one thing that has become very clear to me is that peace is an inner state of being, whereas happiness is a feeling.⁣
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Can you have happiness without inner peace? Yes, I believe you can. But happiness comes as a result of something or someone in the outside world affecting your heart. So if you feel happiness without inner peace, when the happy feelings leave you are left with a void -- an inner state that is out of balance, blocked-up & unfulfilled. And you will spend the rest of your life continuing to chase those outside stimuli just for another taste of that yummy, "happy" feeling again.⁣
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Peace, though, is deeper. Peace is not an emotion, it is a state of being. To me, I've found peace to be an entirely inner experience - what I call my "inside world" that cannot be affected by the outside stimuli. Regardless of the emotions triggered by someone or something in the outside world, my inner world can remain peaceful -- true stillness. Peace is like the Sun 🌞 - it shines no matter what the weather appears to be doing. Weather is an illusion -- a cloud covering the sun doesn't mean the sun has stopped shining. So, just as it's possible to feel happy & at peace, it's ALSO possible to feel sad, angry, disappointed, frustrated, and all of the other "heavy" emotions while still being at peace. ⁣
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So I encourage you to ponder this if you will: Feelings come & go, including happiness. But, peace remains. And that underlying peaceful stillness to me is a sacred presence, the emanation of Being, the Good that has no opposite. #SeekPeace⁣

annewatsonphoto

Springtime is here, so bring on the Asparagus! 🙌🏼 Did you know that this beautiful vegetable is a member of the lily family? Not only is it as delicious as it is gorgeous, but it's also an ...

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Mar 25

Springtime is here, so bring on the Asparagus! 🙌🏼 Did you know that this beautiful vegetable is a member of the lily family? Not only is it as delicious as it is gorgeous, but it's also an excellent source of essential vitamins & minerals, especially folate and vitamins A, C & K. And the purple variety is particularly full of health-boosting antioxidants. I love mine simply roasted in olive oil & sea salt.

Do you have a favorite asparagus recipe? 🤔 Share below in the comments ⬇️

annewatsonphoto

It's #NationalChiaDay! These little nutrient-dense seeds are a superfood worthy of celebration 🎉 Loaded with protein, fiber, omega-3's, omega-6's, magnesium & calcium, they ...

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Mar 23

It's #NationalChiaDay! These little nutrient-dense seeds are a superfood worthy of celebration 🎉 Loaded with protein, fiber, omega-3's, omega-6's, magnesium & calcium, they really pack a healthy punch in a tiny package. I'm obsessed with the below recipe for Chia Cauliflower Hash Browns that was developed by the talented Chef Andrew Johnson @forage.whitaker for our team at @thefamilythrive - SO delicious, low-carb, and crazy-good for you!⁣ 😋⁣
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How do you like to use chia seeds - do you have any favorite recipes? Let me know below in the comments.⁣
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CHIA CAULIFLOWER HASH BROWNS ⁣⁣
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INGREDIENTS:⁣⁣
✔️1 ¼ lb (5 cups) cauliflower, riced⁣⁣
✔️1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil⁣⁣
✔️1 tablespoon chia seeds⁣⁣
✔️3 scallions, green and white parts, minced⁣.⁣
✔️2 small handfuls of fresh parsley, minced⁣⁣
✔️1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste⁣⁣
✔️¼ teaspoon ground black pepper⁣⁣
✔️¼ teaspoon dried chili powder⁣⁣
✔️¼ teaspoon dried garlic powder⁣⁣
✔️2 large organic eggs, lightly beaten⁣⁣
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DIRECTIONS: ⁣⁣
1️⃣In a large saucepan add 1/2 cup water & bring to boil over high heat, add cauliflower. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer until the cauliflower is tender about 10-12 minutes. Drain well and allow to cool.⁣⁣
2️⃣ Preheat the oven to 475°. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.⁣⁣
3️⃣ In a large bowl add: cauliflower, chia seeds, scallions, parsley, eggs, and spices and stir until well combined. Set aside 15 minutes (or up to 24 hours in the refrigerator) to allow chia seeds to gel set. ⁣⁣
4️⃣ Drop the mixture onto the prepared baking sheets using a ¼-cup dry measuring cup, then flatten the mixture and round into 2 - 3inch diameter patties. Bake the patties for 12-15 minutes, flip over each patty with a spatula, then bake until golden brown, about 6-8 minutes more. Serve warm.⁣
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annewatsonphoto

Have you ever stopped to ponder the nature of your heart & what a beautiful, perfect instrument it is?

During Tim's cancer journey & after his passing last month, our son Russell...

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Mar 22

Have you ever stopped to ponder the nature of your heart & what a beautiful, perfect instrument it is?

During Tim's cancer journey & after his passing last month, our son Russell has come to me many times to talk about his feelings & I've done my best to help him not fear what he's experiencing. Instead I encourage him to see that his heart is divinely designed to feel EVERYTHING that it feels- a range of emotions that vibrate from very low notes all the way up to the highest notes imaginable & everything in between. And, like a piano, many times the heart will play notes in chords- low & high playing alongside each other, which creates a harmony if we allow it to.⁣⁣

So, when Russell & I talk about his feelings, I encourage him to stop labeling them as "good" or "bad," and instead observe that they are simply "comfortable" or "uncomfortable." When we see our feelings this way, we can then open the door to our heart & invite all of them in, because every one of them has something to teach us. Particularly the uncomfortable ones, as they challenge us the most & allow us to grow. For example, I say to Russell when he's afraid to feel sad, "Open the door to your heart & let Sadness in today. Invite him in for a cup of tea. If he makes you cry, that's ok, because it's part of being Human. But, once he's visited, give him a hug, thank him for the lesson & then send him on his way. No emotion is ever meant to move into the house of your heart & stay. The house of your heart is where YOU dwell - And you are the still & peaceful Light who lives there, learning & growing each day."

When you see your feelings as objects, it allows you to open up to them instead of fearing them. So often our nature is to seek out only the comfortable ones & resist the uncomfortable ones. But we are MEANT to feel everything, from low to high, comfortable to uncomfortable. So, when I feel an uncomfortable one coming up, I take a deep breath, center myself & say, "OK, let's see what this one has to teach me," & I ride it like a wave, always returning to the underlying stillness once it passes & finding gratitude for the beautiful instrument my heart is that allows me to learn these lessons.

annewatsonphoto

Tomorrow marks the first day of Spring here in the Northern Hemisphere & I'm feeling ready to lighten things up with some vibrant Springtime colors & flavors 💕🌼🌸⁣⁣⁣
...

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Mar 19

Tomorrow marks the first day of Spring here in the Northern Hemisphere & I'm feeling ready to lighten things up with some vibrant Springtime colors & flavors 💕🌼🌸⁣⁣⁣
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Anyone else want to stick their face into this mezze platter featuring @lamachos baked pita crisps & @majesticgarlic raw sprouted hummus with me?!... YUM 😋 ⁣⁣⁣
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Hello Springtime, it's so lovely to see you again 💛

annewatsonphoto

I'm (sham)rockin' & rollin' into this St. Patrick's Day 🍀, gettin' my green on with this scrumptious Whole Milk Ricotta, Green Pea, Avocado 🥑 & Thai Basil toast ...

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Mar 17

I'm (sham)rockin' & rollin' into this St. Patrick's Day 🍀, gettin' my green on with this scrumptious Whole Milk Ricotta, Green Pea, Avocado 🥑 & Thai Basil toast on @breadartisanbakery sourdough.

Care to join me?! 💚 #toastsforall

annewatsonphoto

Over the last year Russell has gotten used to waking up each day to find me out in the living room (or on the patio in warmer months!) doing the final asanas of my daily yoga practice 🧘‍♀️, ...

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Mar 15

Over the last year Russell has gotten used to waking up each day to find me out in the living room (or on the patio in warmer months!) doing the final asanas of my daily yoga practice 🧘‍♀️, and we've created a little tradition as a result. I invite him to stand with me on my mat as I close each practice, and we say this mantra together: I am centered in gratitude for this day & for all of its lessons that I accept without preference. I am grounded in Mother Earth & rooted to her strength, respecting all nature. And I am attuned to my Highest Self, the Divine Light that resides within me & connects me to God, the oneness, the universal consciousness that connects all living beings in Love. ⁣
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I have had many reasons to turn to anger over the last 18 months while my husband Tim battled terminal stomach cancer - to feel that life is "unfair" or that somehow things weren't unfolding in a way that I wanted. And trust me, in the early days after Tim's diagnosis, I did. I screamed at the heavens, I clawed at the earth, I pounded the walls & cried until it hurt. ⁣
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Until finally something clicked. I began to open my heart to the fact that none of this - not one single part - is under my command. I am not in control. None of us are. And there is profound freedom in that surrender -- To opening up to the fact that the universe has been around for 13.8 billion years & I just showed up 42 years ago. It never checked in with me before I showed up, and it sure as heck isn't checking in with me now to make sure I'm happy with how things are going! The universe is going to unfold in accordance to forces beyond my control, and when you awaken to this you can start to truly feel gratitude for everything. Because everything - and I mean EVERYTHING - every joy, every hardship, every laugh, every tear, everything we resist, and everything we cling to - is a gift. Because each moment that enters your awareness is an opportunity to grow closer to the ultimate freedom of consciousness. And how can you call that anything but a gift? 🙏 ⁣
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#Mantra #Yoga #Meditation #Spirituality #Namaste⁣

annewatsonphoto

Flashing it back this Friday to 1980... when I was two years old and took a "cinnamon roll" recipe a bit too literally 🤣😂🥲 #HowIRoll

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Mar 12

Flashing it back this Friday to 1980... when I was two years old and took a "cinnamon roll" recipe a bit too literally 🤣😂🥲 #HowIRoll

annewatsonphoto

Isn't it fun how food can transport us to another place & time in an instant? It's raining & cold here in Southern California today, but just the sight of these luscious tropical ...

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Mar 10

Isn't it fun how food can transport us to another place & time in an instant? It's raining & cold here in Southern California today, but just the sight of these luscious tropical fruits is giving me all the warm & sunny beach vibes!🍊🍇🍉 ⠀
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In these final weeks of Winter, I thought we could all use a bit of sunshine today☀️ #MotherNature

annewatsonphoto

This is my mantra 🙌🏼⠀
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Tim's cancer journey taught me so much about life, and one of the most important lessons I learned along the way was that every single moment is a gift ...

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Mar 8

This is my mantra 🙌🏼⠀
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Tim's cancer journey taught me so much about life, and one of the most important lessons I learned along the way was that every single moment is a gift from the universe & that even the hardest moments are an opportunity for growth. Every moment offers a chance to shift our perspective, to open our hearts instead of running away in fear, and to raise the collective vibration -- to SERVE LIFE.⠀
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And how beautiful would this world be if we could all live by this mantra?⠀
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This is what a life of service means to me: Touching each moment that passes before us with love, raising it just a little, and then allowing it to pass so the next moment can enter our awareness... and so on, and so on... just making the world a better place, while we are here, simply by being in it.⠀
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#Mantra #Yoga #Meditation #Spirituality

annewatsonphoto

I'm feeling more passionate than ever about my involvement with @thefamilythrive 💛, our soon-to-launch online platform for parents that offers an integrated & expert-backed approach to ...

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Mar 5

I'm feeling more passionate than ever about my involvement with @thefamilythrive 💛, our soon-to-launch online platform for parents that offers an integrated & expert-backed approach to total family wellness. Aka, a treasure trove of valuable information that will help ALL families thrive & be the healthiest they can be! 🙏⠀
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Included will be some really incredible recipes by our The Family Thrive chefs that are packed with tons of flavor AND health benefits, like this delicious Roasted Beet Poke by @chefcathy.⠀
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Visit @thefamilythrive's page for the full recipe (you'll find it listed in the Feb 18th post) - and please feel free to give us a 'follow' while you're there!⠀
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#TheFamilyThrive #TogetherWeThrive #FamilyHealth⠀
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annewatsonphoto

"The first wealth is health." -Ralph Waldo Emerson.⠀
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I am so inspired by the vibrancy of Mother Nature and the healing power of whole, unprocessed foods. All of this amazing ...

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Mar 4

"The first wealth is health." -Ralph Waldo Emerson.⠀
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I am so inspired by the vibrancy of Mother Nature and the healing power of whole, unprocessed foods. All of this amazing produce came from my friends at @macielfamilyorganicfarm - so stunning! 😍⠀
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What is your favorite fruit or vegetable to eat this time of year? 🥬🍊🥦🍎🥒🍇🥑

annewatsonphoto

Hello again, dear friends. Thank you for your beautiful outpouring of love & support during this time of transition for Russell & me as we adjust to our new normal here on The Watson Ranch ...

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Mar 2