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.

In Like a Lion and Out Like a Lamb

"In Like a Lion and Out Like a Lamb" where did that saying come from? I bet it was not anyone here in upstate New York! As the month of March is almost over I was thinking of that very saying on our walk this morning as we all froze. March around here is in like a lion at the beginning, middle and end. We might get a day or two that is sweet like a lamb but that is not the norm. What do you do keep your spirits high when the weather is low? Well here is what I do.

I try to enjoy it and remember that this to will pass. I like to drink lots of hot drinks like tea and coffee. And when my schedule allows I love to snuggle down with a good book on a rainy day and catch a cat nap too. I keep my sweaters handy along with my winter coat and boots. This way I will be warm when I have to run about. This is the one month that my family is home more often, basketball had ended and baseball hasn't really begun and our schedules are less hectic. Dinners altogether are a joy and I try to light candles for that special touch.

I like March because it does move a little slower than the other months and I can spend more time with my family. March use to depress me because of the weather but now I look at it as a chance to catch up, relax and enjoy before the spring and summer seasons hit with their flurry of activity. So what if it is gloomy we can make our own sunshine through the smiles we share.

Enjoy these last few moments of March, as with all moments - they are precious!
Om shanti.
Namaste.

If Not Now, When?

If not now, when? Wow, what a motivating phrase don’t you think? And a phrase that goes well with “Spring”, effort and new beginnings. It is a question we should ask ourselves often to keep us on track.

I have been thinking about doing a triathlon for about a year and I have always been able to come up with some excuse to avoid the work and in essence the gain that comes with hard work. So I decided to do it this year and have been training to the best of my ability for a month now. The race will be in June and I am excited. It is hard work but I feel stronger and I keep asking myself, “If not now, when?” I am not getting any younger. This is the question I ask myself every morning at 5:00am when the alarm goes off, and you know what? I get up and I am happy.

How can this help us with our everyday thinking? Well it helps us be present, set goals, work towards our goals, and procrastinate less. It also makes us take responsibility for our actions or lack of actions. We can always come up the excuses not do something but if we choose that then we really have relinquished our right to complain. Everyone will say I have no time but really we do if we set our priorities differently – again effort!

We can use this train of thought to even get the mundane things done like laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping and cooking. Since it is the first day of spring we can use this thought “If not now, when?” and begin to tackle our spring cleaning! It may not be our favorite thing to do but it sure is great once it is done and everything is where it should be – life is so much easier then don’t you think? So let’s throw open the windows, string the clothesline outside, fill the buckets and get to work!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, that you choose to be more productive during your day and that you root for Syracuse University during “March Madness!”
Namaste.

When Irish Eyes are Smiling then you Know the Soda Bread is Great!

This is my favorit Irish soda bread recipe because there are no caraway seeds and raisens. I got this recipe from Marhta StewartLiving Magazine back in 2003. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! My kids love it with Irish butter warm from the oven. I will be baking this along with "Shamrock" sugar cookies today. Another favorit of ours that I will be preparing today is my Grandma's coleslaw recipe - her kids didn't like cooked cabage so she made that instead and it is awesome.

Ingredients
Serves 4 to 6
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 cup whole-wheat graham flour
2 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 2/3 cups buttermilk

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Whisk together the flours, salt, baking soda, and baking powder in a large bowl. With a pastry blender or your fingertips, blend in butter until it resembles small peas. Add buttermilk all at once; stir with a fork until mixture holds together.
In the bowl, pat the dough into a domeshaped loaf about 7 inches in diameter. Lift out dough; transfer to lined sheet.
Lightly dust top of loaf with flour. Cut a 3/4-inch-deep cross in top, reaching almost all the way to edges. Bake, rotating sheet halfway through, until deep golden brown and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Namaste.

I am So Excited!!!!!!!

Have you ever asked yourself “I wonder what I will be doing in a year or two from now?” Or have you ever said, “I can’t believe I am doing this, a year ago I would have thought this was impossible”? Well over my life I have said both from time to time and today I am happy to say a dream has come true. As of this week my jewelry is being sold at Craft Company #6 here in Rochester, NY http://www.craftcompany.com/ .

Craft Company #6 is a beautifully restored firehouse in downtown Rochester, NY that specializes in USA handmade arts and crafts of the highest caliber. I have been a customer for years there and even had my bridal registry there 15 years ago – that was when I was a graphic designer. I left my full time position when I had my first son and after I had my second son I was itching to get back into something creative that I could do at home. That is when I started my journey into jewelry designing, beginning with the art of traditionally hand knotting pearls on silk. Once I got proficient at that I wanted to learn how to forge metal and it has been a wonderful adventure ever since!

This adventure took me to the Clothesline Art Festival at the Memorial Art Gallery which is a juried show here in Rochester and now to Craft Company #6. I have to say I am over the moon! Everyone there has been very kind and encouraging and I don’t think I have stopped smiling all week. Take a ride downtown to 785 University Ave. in Rochester or if you are out of the area check out their website http://www.craftcompany.com/ .

Remember in the words of Walt Disney, “If you can dream it, you can do it!”
Namaste.