We Had a Blast Doing Girly Things!

This past sunday Cindy, Sue and I went to one of our favorite places - "Mackenzie-Childs" factory on Cauga Lake in upstate New York. We all had a wonderful time chatting away in the car and once we got there, our eyes got their fill of "Eye Candy!" Here are some photos from our day out, see below and to the side. If you live in Rochester I highly recommend this excursion it is only 1 hour and 10 minutes away! Enjoy your day!

Namaste.

Make a Health Choice

A robust, satisfying life doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the nurtured, crafted culmination of a series of sound and conscious decisions. From the work we do, to the food we buy, from what we take on, to what we turn down, our wellness is ultimately determined by the quality of each and every choice. No, they’re not all going to be perfect, nor should they be. They just have to be ones we make mindfully. That’s when the magic happens: Life starts to become something we do, not something we merely leave to chance.

I found this in the March 2008 issue of “body+soul”. I hope you enjoy it and take it to heart!

Getting Back on Track

I am back on track with my early morning Sunday postings! Yeah! This morning, which is also Greek Easter, I got up extra early to bake desserts for my husband’s family Greek Easter celebration that we will go to today. As always, this time of day in our home everything is quiet and baking is a pure pleasure for me. As the house fills with sweet aromas, a smile moves across my face as I sit back with my freshly brewed mug of tea - yes I said tea, that is a whole other story - and think about all the blessings in my life and write.

Gratitude is a powerful mood lifter and the past couple of weeks I have been a little down and I am having a hard time figuring out why. So today I figured I would turn a new leaf and list 10 things I am grateful for. Just in doing this simple exercise I feel as if a breath of fresh air has blown through me. A few of the items on my list today were hugs from my boys; my husband going to an art opening with me last night – which I have to say the exhibit was beautiful – again another story; that the sun is shinning; that computer’s have spell check! And the list goes on.

Another tool I use to help me lift my mood is looking at my “Vision Board” that hangs in my studio. You may be wondering, what is a “Vision Board”? So let me tell you. A “Vision Board” is a collage you make of images and words that help you express what is important in life, helps you set goals for the future and keeps you thinking of positive things you want in your life. You can create it as simply as you want or you can make it very elaborate. Some of the images and words on my board express where I am in my yoga practice and where I would like my practice to take me; it expresses my love of family and the connection I have with my husband; it includes the word “Forgiveness” to remind me to keep it in my life, not only to extend it to others but to forgive myself too; to keep life simple, safe and natural; to grow my mind and encourage my sons to do so to through my examples; to find peace and begin world peace - that is another story, however I feel it needs to begin somewhere so why not here! And this collage expresses direction for my artwork, and the blessing of friendships, ETC…… I truly recommend creating one and keeping it in a spot that you can reflect on it and add to it. Try it out and let me know how it is going.

Well the silence has now been shattered with the giggles of my sons as they play with Charlie our dog. This is my signal to get moving and help them start their day. Make this day extraordinary by doing the ordinary with a huge smile on your face. Take a moment to enjoy the sweet signs of spring.
Namaste!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! Christ has risen. Amen, Amen! Have a beautiful day.

New Creations

I have been working on some exciting projects lately and I wanted to share them with you! My "Treasured Lockets" charm bracelets I am customizing now. I just completed a beautiful bracelet for a friend's daughter's 40th birthday. She was thrilled with it and I have to say what an honor it was creating it and seeing into someone else’s life and know how precious and loved this person is!

I am finishing up an other bracelet this time for a wedding and we are adding a "Treasured Locket" at the end to finish the design. This bracelet is all about friendship and we incorporated the "Something new, something old, something borrowed and something new." Obviously the bracelet is new, I used antiqued pearls that I got out of an antique shop in the Finger Lakes area, I borrowed the photos and copied them to make the "Treasured Locket" and last but not least I added a London Blue Topaz gem. This was a blast to make.

For more information about my "Treasured Lockets" please see my October archive where I give detailed information about my creations.

As always thank you for stopping by! Happy Easter and May God bless you now and always!
Namaste.

My Prayers are with You

I was at a funeral for a young boy yesterday who died in a drunk driving accident. Words are hard to come by at this moment to express my sadness for his family and friends. There are no answers to why. I can only offer my prayers to his family and friends.

As with every moment in life we can learn something. You may wonder what I learned yesterday. Well let me share it with you. Besides the obvious, I learned to hug more, that tears are ok, that family will always be there for you, even when you’re not and that a mother will always be a mother no matter what, it is a love that knows no end. I learned friends will be there ‘til the end and to express your love to those who matter most as often as you can.

During mass two young girls sang “For Good” from “Wicked” and the words from this song rang strong and clear to me. Below are some of the words from this song about friendship.

For Good”
I'VE HEARD IT SAID THAT PEOPLE COME INTO OUR LIVES FOR A REASON, BRINGING SOMETHING WE MUST LEARN, AND WE ARE LED TO THOSE WHO HELP US MOST TO GROW IF WE LET THEM, AND WE HELP THEM IN RETURN WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF I BELIEVE THAT'S TRUE, BUT I KNOW I'M WHO I AM TODAY BECAUSE I KNEW YOU...
WHO CAN SAY IF I'VE BEEN CHANGED FOR THE BETTER? BUT BECAUSE I KNEW YOU I HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR GOOD …

IT WELL MAY BE THAT WE WILL NEVER MEET AGAIN IN THIS LIFETIME, SO LET ME SAY BEFORE WE PART, SO MUCH OF ME IS MADE OF WHAT I LEARNED FROM YOU, YOU'LL BE WITH ME LIKE A HANDPRINT ON MY HEART, AND NOW WHATEVER WAY OUR STORIES END I KNOW YOU HAVE RE-WRITTEN MINE BY BEING MY FRIEND...

These words can be expressed to may in our lives, parents and friends alike. I sent this to my dear friend yesterday on her birthday because she has always been a blessing in my life. And when she wrote me back she said this was the song she listened to on her way to my mom’s funeral. And these words are perfect for my mom too.

Well have a wonderful day, hug someone, listen to a friend, and practice forgiveness.
Om shanti, Namaste.