My Three Favorite Words

My three favorite words are “Effort”, “Honor” and “Foundation”. A life built upon these words can only be a positive one. Add to this “Hope”, “Gratefulness”, “Love”, “Grace” and “Courage” and our lives not only are positive but inspiring to those around us.

In life we can choose to be the flame or the mirror that reflects the flame, both are important and both take effort. Be mindful of our choices. To be positive is a choice just as much as being pessimistic is a choice. Choose to be positive and practice it and it will become second nature.

Those around us that are negative are choosing to be. They will have many accuses but the bottom line remains the same, this is their choice. They would rather see the glass half empty than half full, because seeing it half full takes effort. Pray for them and aim your smiles at them for they need it the most.

With a strong foundation we can build anything on top of it. Over time things may “Fall off” but the foundation will be there waiting for you to rebuild. This is as true in a yoga practice as it is in life. Take your time and build from the earth up and reach for the stars!

Honor what does it mean? According to “Webster” it means: “A person of superior standing; A keen sense of ethical conduct; To live up to or fulfill the terms of commitment.” Add to this, keep your promises! Honor is also enjoying our “Rights” and always balancing it with “Responsibility”. Too many people want all sorts of rights but neglect their responsibility.

Always forgive. With forgiveness remember to forget after learning from the situation. To do this takes the rest of my favorite words courage, grace, love, gratefulness and hope!

Choose to enjoy the rest of the day!
Namaste.

Wow What a Weekend!!!!!

My family and friends spent the weekend at Letchworth State Park here in upstate New York camping in cabins. Everything was perfect, weather, company, conversation and the food! What a great feeling it is to get back to nature and to slow yourself down and consentrate on the things that are truly important in life - time with loved ones! Here are some photos enjoy!

"It is not the years in our life that matter rather it is the life in our years!" Truly words to live by.

Namaste!

Greece Summer of 2008

This past August 2008 Mike and I took our family to Greece. We all had an amazing time and can't wait to go back. Here are some of the photos. I hope you enjoy them!

Monastery in northern Greece.

At a Chapel in the village.

This is my husband Michael's family in Greece.

Mike and I at his Aunt and Uncle's home. Michael's cousin's and us at the Monastery.

Skiathos Village where the movie "Mama Mia" was filmed.

Love

“Love” is an incredible power. As I look at my weekend, I have been blessed to see so many angles of love. I look at family and friends and how we were all gathered to celebrate my son’s birthday. Then I look outside and see such beautiful weather and how that lifts the spirit. I also see how “Love” can help us overcome our fears.

In my last posting I spoke of trying to muster up the courage to give back to others or pay it forward. It is something I have been struggling with for sometime. At mass today I believe I had a break through. Today was the day that we renew our Stewardship at St. Joseph’s church. As I was signing up again for the things that I normally do, I had this thought – YOGA! Since I am a Yoga teacher I thought that I could use this talent to give to others that wouldn’t have a chance to take class. After mass I spoke to Father Jim and he thinks it may work. I will have to keep you all posted on this new journey and let you know how it unfolds. I believe my “LOVE” of yoga brought me to this point of extending myself to others.

Meanwhile the weather here in upstate NEW YORK has been spectacular! On Friday my niece Isabelle and I had fun creating art out of nature that we found in the neighborhood. We collaged with leaves, flowers, pea pods, seeds and branches onto wax paper then ironed it to create window art and book marks. They looked beautiful! And boy did we have fun.

The following day we celebrated my son’s 12th birthday at the park. Early in the day his friends came and played football and had lunch. Later that afternoon the family showed up and we had dinner, a bonfire and powerful conversations. How fun it is to spend the entire day outdoors in the fresh air with those you love! Talk about restoring our youthfulness!

Let me leave you with these words from Lydia M Child (1802-1880).
The cure for all the ills and wrongs, the cares, the sorrows and crimes of humanity, all lie in that one word "LOVE." It is the Divine Vitality that produces and restores life. To each and every one of us it gives the power of working miracles, if we will.

There is so Much to Say but I Still Have to Vacuum so I'll Make it quick!

Welcome to my life! These past couple of days have been busy – and I know you all can relate to that!

Yesterday, after bringing my son to his soccer game I ran downtown to a yoga class that was held in a photography studio in a beautiful loft. The purpose of this particular class was to raise money for a friend/yoga teacher who will be going to Cambodia to help children in the orphanages there. Talk about extraordinary!

The energy in the studio was exciting and blissful at the same time. You just felt honored to be there and helping in this way! Such commitment, passion and selflessness is contagious! It makes us really think about all our own blessings and how to pay it forward! In my mind I keep thinking about my #7 from my “Chocolate” list from the other evening. “Bring your life to life, stop planning, start doing!” Strong and great words to live by yet a little scary too. I know I need to do something and I will, right now I am just working on mustering up the courage. All is coming I am sure! What do you think?

Anyway today – Thursday as you know is my public market day and today my friends Kathy A., Kathy D. and Cindy all came too! We had a great time! While I was there I ran into some of my preschool yoga students and how sweet they are! They just make you smile – you just can’t help yourself!!!!

As always the sights and sounds inspire me. Today the color was purple! Concord grapes with their wonderful fragrance stood out along with the shinny skins of the eggplants! The vendors were happy due to the fact it is beautiful out and not chilly like it was last week. What a great day and I think my friends will venture again with me on Thursday!

Well I must get the vacuuming done so I can play in the studio for a while before the kids come home and my “Mom’s Taxi Service” gears up to go to basketball practices and yoga class!

Choose to have an amazing day doing the ordinary things! “Count your blessings not your worries!” (Dove Chocolate saying – don’t you just love them!)

Namaste!

Chocolate!!!!!

With every negative there is a positive. I love chocolate, chocolate in large quantities is fattening. Eating Dove chocolate is inspiring and fattening! It makes me happy while eating and sad when it is all gone. See positive and negative!

You are probably wondering, “Where is Joan today?” Well I am enjoying my Dove chocolate, feeling the results of the sugar and reading the messages inside the wrappers, which is inspiring a new body of work for my “Treasured Lockets”. Below is a list of some new phrases that I am capturing in my art and will be unveiling in the next couple of weeks.

So sit back, grab a bag of chocolates and enjoy!

1. You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.
2. Slow down and enjoy what you have.
3. Create peace for yourself.
4. True love lasts forever!
5. Break the mold and be extraordinary
6. Success is the sum of many small efforts.
7. Bring your life to life, stop planning, start doing!
Namaste!

Treasured Lockets

My “Treasured Lockets” are truly a labor of love. All lockets will include inspirational sayings, original artwork, photographs and most will include a heart and house. The heart for me represents all kinds of love. The house represents home and family. Both are very dear to me.

All of the handwriting is my grandma’s from letters written to my mom in the 1960’s. I have often been asked “How could you part with these letters?” My answer is simple. These letters express love and they are better shared and passed forward than collecting dust, hidden in a box somewhere. I guess when push comes to shove I just want to pass this good karma forward!

These lockets are created with great care and love. I start by letting my energy flow over boxes of material. Some boxes include antiqued photographs, other boxes include handwritten letters and other vintage material including old books, maps, silk, ribbon, paper and stamps. I then focus on what I want to say and build the original collage around that theme.

Next I fit the original artwork between cut flat glass, however I do use beveled glass from time to time. I wrap the charm with copper tape and then solder using lead free silver solder. Jump rings are added at this time too. The charm is ready for polishing and assembly.

Most pieces are sold for the buyer to add to a charm bracelet or a leather cord or military chain. Sometime I create compositions that will include numerous "Treasured Lockets", pearls, gemstones, silver chain and fine silver charms, that I also create, into a one of a kind bracelet or necklace.

Come and visit my etsy site http://www.nicholsforpennies.etsy.com/ to view these lockets and to read about the fun ingredients that goes into them. I would love any feed back you have to give.

Note: I do accept custom orders for "Treasured Lockets." They do make a great gift!

Thank you for stopping by!
Namaste!

Where does the word yoga come from?

Where does the word yoga come from? The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit word yui meaning “yoke” or “union”. Yoga is the practice of uniting mind, body and spirit to achieve balance. This is accomplished through meditation and physical practices. There are many forms of Hatha Yoga.

Here is a very short list of some that are popular here in the States:“Ashtanga” – heat building sequences also referred to as “Power Yoga” and can be compared to “Vinyasa” yoga which links poses together;“Kundalini” focuses on energy through out the body, using deep rhythmic breathing, and chanting;“Iyengar” which concentrates on alignment and relies heavily on props is wonderful when just learning the poses and if you have back problems;“Bikram” which is a series of the same 26 poses done in a very hot room also referred to as “Hot Yoga”, must be in very good condition and bring water and towel to class.