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Balance – The basics of flower design and more, with expert Amy Balsters

 

Amy’s greatest joy in her floral work is to use her years of formal training, vast industry experience, unique visual aesthetic and passionate sourcing of the best materials to bring each of her clients’ vision to life. She accomplishes this through listening to clients needs and we have that first hand experience as she recently created the florals for a recent event (see below, as they are STUNNING!).

Her studio mantra is “nature first” as she takes great care to design within the seasons and uses locally grown flowers whenever possible. Hence, why we took an immediate attraction to her and her work.

We had a chance to talk candidly with Amy about balance and how she manages her thriving career and busy life.

Name:

Amy Balsters, Amy Nicole Floral
What is your definition of balance?
My definition of balance is recognizing that balance doesn’t mean I do a little bit of everything. Rather, I make conscientious decisions and commitments and recognize that I can’t do it all and the sooner I accept that, the more peace I have. I have to let my “yes” be “yes” and my “no” be “no” when dealing with home life, work life and personal life and sticking to my convictions, remaining present and practicing gratitude have played a major role in me practicing balance.
First thing that you do when you wake up, is? 
First thing I do when I wake up is snuggle my toddler. We have a ritual where he climbs into our bed and we cuddle for awhile which usually turns in to some kind of fun rough housing. I love this part of my day as I am often busy and unable to play while I am working a lot of the day but we get to connect first thing and I think it helps keeps us more connected and secure throughout the day.

Last thing that you do before you goto bed, is? 

The last thing I do before I go to sleep is usually deep breathing to relax my body and prayer. I like to fall asleep in a place of gratitude and replaying the day with the mind set that whatever it was that I did, it was enough and tomorrow will have enough troubles of it’s own. For so long I would l fall asleep concerned that I didn’t do enough that day and living in scarcity is so damaging to getting real rest.

How do you balance life + keep wellness top-of-mind? 
I think balance is a moving target, each day, I pray for wisdom to work towards the things that matter the most in that day and trust that it is enough. I practice the art of letting my “yes” be “yes” and my “no” be “no” when dealing with home life, work life and personal life and sticking to my convictions, remaining present and practicing gratitude have played a major role in me practicing balance.
Favorite flower? 
My favorite flower changes with the seasons, I love bulb flowers, lilacs and frittilaria in the spring, I love English garden roses in the summer, I love all the berries and rich toned textural greenery that comes in the fall and I love the branches and muted tones that arrive in winter. There is so much beauty in every season and as a florist, I get the pleasure of seeing that up close and allowing the seasons to be my main sources of inspiration.
How do you create a balanced arrangement? 
Balance in an arrangement is a critical component of a successful design. There is visual balance and physical balance and both are something I consider greatly when I approach a design. There is a cause and effect function happening so when placing flowers, I stay present and aware that when I place one flower or branch, it has a an effect on everything else. I work in a lot of diagonal patterns to keep an asymmetrical and natural feel but everything should feel visually balanced. I also consider color greatly and how each color in the design is affecting everything else. When components of the design are blending well and the eye moves throughout the design effortlessly, I know I have typically achieved balance in that piece.
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Defining Balance: Q & A with wellness expert, Mona Dan

If you suffer from chronic pain or health issues, you’ve probably considered (or been told to consider) acupuncture or even something more basic as in Chinese Medicine. Eastern alternative medicine is  a healing medicine, merged together with the wisdom of the east and the knowledge of the west, offered for those seeking out wellness, healing and longevity. *Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years. In a session, the “needle” is used to stimulate specific, powerful sites (acupoints) along meridian lines, which is though to promote healing throughout the body’s various systems and realign “balance” within the body. Acupuncture has been successfully used to treat pain, PTSD, arthritis, chronic stress, addiction, insomnia, digestive disorders and much more.

VIE HEALING was created by Mona Dan: Acupuncturist, herbalist, tea lover, traveler, mama, holistic lifestyle leader, and passionate health educator. VIE HEALING represents a holistic lifestyle that goes far beyond health fads, juicing and quick fixes.

We had the opportunity to sit down with Mona to talk about balance and how she achieves it daily.

Name: 

Mona Andoot Dan

What is your definition of Balance? 

Balance for me is feeling at peace with whats expected of me and what i’m doing. Living in the moment, feeling present but excited about the future!

First thing you do when you wake up, is? 

Snuggling and bonding for 15 minutes with my son Zac, without thinking about what the say ahead has in store or will require of me.

Last thing you do before you go to sleep, is?

Shower or bath. Every. Single. Night.

How do you balance life + keep wellness top-of-mind?

Through incorporating my rituals: my supplements keep my nervous system chill, and i always slow down for tea in the morning and evening and evening and baths. These self-care habits keep me in check throughout the day.

What are your tips/advice for people to create balance in their life?

Finding a few activities that can take 1-20 min a day that reminds them of the little things in life they enjoy!

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Female Founder: Nikki Bostwick, Founder / Editor-in-Chief of The Fullest Magazine 

Name:
Nikki Bostwick, Founder / Editor-in-Chief of The Fullest Magazine
What are you most passionate about (what excites you the most – content)?
I love content that has me stretching my mind — rethinking my current beliefs and keeping me open to new possibilities and ways of thinking. This is just as important when speaking about or reading up on health and wellness, as it is on politics.
What inspired you to create The Fullest?
The Fullest was created out of a need to share content that inspires readers to stay balanced, consistent, and live a well-rounded life. We want to empower others to be more mindful of the media they consume. I noticed that most platforms were filled with click bait headlines, branded content not aligned with their mission or the interests of their audience, and meaningless information that filled up the precious space in our heads. The Fullest was created in an attempt to bring integrity back to media by producing intentional content with a holistic approach to everyday topics.
What does your typical Beauty Routine look like?
I am big on face oil right now. It has truly changed my skin from the inside out. In the morning I use a hot washcloth to exfoliate my skin, and an oil based serum to hydrate prior to applying makeup. I use Vapour Makeup for foundation, cheek stain, and mascara. And in the evening I take my makeup off by using an oil cleanser, wiping it all off with a hot wash cloth. Lastly, I apply the oil serum again and keep it on for the night.
A big part of my routine is also taking salt baths — pink salt, baking soda, and a few drops of essential oils. I aim to do this a couple times per week, but especially after flying to help me unwind, de-puff, and detox from the airplane radiation!
What motivates you on a daily basis?
I’m motivated from an internal desire to continue learning, growing, and striving towards living a more full, well-rounded life. I am inspired by my husband, my family, and our team at The Fullest. I’m motivated to continue tapping into our creativity to produce genuine content.
How do you balance life and keep wellness top-of-mind?
Wellness is just a part of my day to day life. It’s a priority for me. I know that in order to feel great about myself and have the energy I need to spend time with my loved ones and run a business, I need to take good care of myself. That includes setting aside time to go on daily walks, practice yoga, and do acupuncture to help my stress levels and overall energy. Wellness is what keeps me balanced and enables me to live a full life.
Biggest pregnancy craving?
Organic raspberries and blueberries. I basically smell them at the store and leave with boxes of each. It’s a craving that has stuck with me from the beginning. My body is definitely getting in those antioxidants!
 What was the last book you read?
I read Your Baby, Your Way by Jennifer Margulis. It was a comprehensive look at the protocols behind pregnancy and childbirth. I loved it because it empowers us to make our own decisions regardless of what is routine in our hospitals and our culture. I highly recommend it to anyone planning to give birth or raise children!
Perfect day… is?
My answer to this question is always changing. As a pregnant woman, I would say my perfect day is a long morning walk by the beach with my husband and our dog, a pilates class, relaxing with a book, and ending the night with a salt bath. There’s nothing sweeter than taking time to relax!
When you need to destress what is your go to?
The first thing I do is listen to Kundalini mantras. That puts me back into a place where I can reconnect with myself and move from a place of fear, judgement, and anxiety to a sense of being supported by the universe and knowing that things will work out the way they are supposed to.
What is your favorite room in your home?
I love our living room because it’s a great big room where our kitchen, dining room, living room, and patio is connected. It’s nice because you can do your own thing but still be in each other’s company — whether it’s just my husband and I, or with our family and friends.
Favorite Interview?
Diane Sawyer and Whitney Houston. It was intense, genuine, and refreshing. And where we learned the term “show me the receipts.” (Which always comes in handy.)
Where does your inspiration come from?
It’s something internal that is alive within myself, and amplified when I go to a contemporary art museum, travel, learn about ancient rituals and healing modalities, and mostly when I see others protesting for their basic rights as individuals all across the world.
First thing you do when you wake up, is?
Drink two cups of room temperature water and take the dog out!
Last thing you do before you go to sleep, is?
Read a few pages of my book without falling asleep. I’m getting better at this!
Any tips/advice for people looking to start their own business that you’ve learned along the way?
It can be a hard, lonely road. It looks glamorous, but it’s also taxing, tests your confidence, involves many late nights, losing sleep over decisions that can make or break your company and all your hard work, and affect others that have taken a chance by coming to work for you and alongside you. The list goes on and on.
That being said however, it is also the most fulfilling and rewarding experience. It’s inspiring to see others jump along to join and support you in going after your vision — to have the opportunity to create something that might outlive you. And to tap into your creativity and learn more about yourself than you would ever have known. My advice is to surround yourself with people who genuinely want the best for you, who believe in you, and who will be there for you to bounce ideas off of. Go for it. Because its better to try than wonder “what if?”.
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