I’m the brand coordinator for Summerland, meaning I run all of their behind the scenes operations from my lovely home office. The past three months have been wild and extremely busy, which is amazing, but odd considering the times we’re living in. There’s always something to finish, even on days off. So yesterday I decided to take a well-deserved breather and enjoy a chill morning. I had the house to myself to do what I pleased, and while my goal was to be productive, I still wanted to find time to focus on my chill. I started the morning by folding some laundry that I’d put on hold for a couple of days. I then poured myself a cup of coffee and ate a delicious homemade cookie, took a couple of bong rips, and settled into my favorite way to start the day! I followed up my ideal start with a Zoom chat that included some of my best friends, who all used to live around the corner, but now live out of state. It was a happy morning fueled by this great hybrid.

“The rest of my body didn't really feel the high yet, but I could tell a moment of relaxation was about to present itself.”

Hybrids are my typical go-to, since I tend to get a little weird with a pure indica or sativa. Though nowadays it seems almost all strains are hybrids and have characteristics of both, so I went at this Ember Valley's Ice Ice Valley Hybrid with confidence, even though it’s a new brand to me. Well, suffice to say it seems I’ve found a new favorite flower that could be good for so many things! Ember Valley is based in Shasta County, California, and they grow their beautiful flower indoors. From what I‘ve read, everything they make offers a consistent experience across the board, so you can expect an elevated experience from inhalation to effects.

When I filled the bowl of my Land Yacht bong with this beautiful, freshly ground flower, it was the earthy, woodsy, and even nutty aromas that initially had me excited to lean into this chill. I grabbed my hemp wick, lit up, and took an expansive inhale to clear the double chamber. Maybe it was from passing through the icy water that filled the bottom of my bong, but wow was it a smooth and refreshing smoke. The earthy notes that were present in its scent really came through in the taste. It was still woodsy, and maybe even a little sweet. The taste was not as strong as the aroma, but I enjoyed the dainty mouth feel. This Ice Ice Valley hybrid had me stoked for the next bowl to follow, which was equally fantastic.

As I continued on my Zoom chat, eating breakfast with my friends, my eyes started to get heavy almost immediately. Sometimes that feeling is the worst and not wanted, but it was honestly a welcomed and pleasant feeling on such a day off. My eyes didn't feel dry, or too much pressure, they just felt a little stoney. Euphoric. The rest of my body didn't really feel the high yet, but I could tell a moment of relaxation was about to present itself. I settled down into my cozy desk chair and took another huge rip. Lets just say I was happy as a clam with a smile on my face to match. I was already over the moon to see all of my friends, and this flower just made it better, as I’m sure it would most things. This is a solid go-to for a mood boost any day of the week.

“As my high continued to grow, I chose to practice balance poses and get in a gentle flow. ”

My call ended, as all good things unfortunately must, so I decided to get a little yoga practice in. When practicing yoga or meditation, there is a method called a box breath. This exercise is used to help connect you to your breath and focus on relaxation, while ultimately clearing your mind. To do this you count your breaths: inhale 4 counts, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold again for 4 counts, repeat. Since I practice this often, my box breath is a little higher in count, and with this flower, I felt like my breath went beyond its normal count boundary. This new sense of calm made my high light and fluffy, and very subtle in my limbs and aura. I was floating on a cloud. As my high continued to grow, I chose to practice balance poses and get in a gentle flow. I felt grounded, euphoric, and my life force and energy were connected from my fingertips to the soles of my feet.

This high didn’t last a terribly long time, and when it faded it left me relaxed, euphoric, and ready to keep going through my day. Overall, this flower is fantastic and very versatile when smoked. It is a perfect go-to for hiking adventures to The Eastern Sierras, social distanced hangouts with friends, lounging in the backyard with my cat, or even running errands and getting stuff done. I’m glad I was introduced to this brand, and it was a very pleasant day getting lost in the Ice Ice Valley!