Presents, Poinsettas & Puerto Rico!

... and pinecones!  These are a few of my favorite things this holiday, and since last years post was a bit snarky (for lack of a better word) this years will focus on JOY (noun) \joi\  defined as a state of happiness or felicity; bliss; a source or cause of delight; the emotion evoked by well-being, success or good fortune, or by the prospect of possessing what one desires

A few weeks ago I got a GREAT deal on airfare from my work - so my son and I took off for Puerto Rico at the last minute. It was a whirlwind, but that made it extra exciting! It was: relaxing, tropical, warm, and the resort was decked out for Christmas with beautiful trees, lights, gold and silver reindeers...and tons of poinsettas!  We befriended a sweet stray island dog and had so much fun!

Midnight Mass - a tradition I loved and used to do every year. There's something about being in a warm church on a dark and cold night. But I skipped it again this year, the exhaustion from all the running around prevailed, and the cold and dark actually didn't sound so good (so, the JOY that would have come from going was replaced with guilt from not going)

Les Miserables - one of my FAVE Broadway shows ever - opened today on Christmas. To say I have been waiting for this movie for months now would be an understatement.  Plus, I love going to the movies on a Holidays...it reminds me of being young, my cousins and I would go after Thanksgiving dinner, and I'd always be shocked that they'd get popcorn after we just stuffed ourselves?!

Merry Christmas - and since it's the season of JOY- here are some words of wisdom from Peggy Sullivan to help create more JOY in
your life. And a few Christmas-y pics that I like. Feliz Navidad!

• Let go of where you 'think' you should be in your life
• Move on from what you 'could have' accomplished by now
• When a negative thought moves into your head, let it keep moving
   (this makes more room for the positive thoughts)
• Choose to slow down
• Find joy even in the most mundane tasks
• Look up and actually "see" the sky; truely "feel" the breeze on your skin

Happy Thanksgiving

I must say, although Halloween is my FAVE holiday, Thanksgiving comes in a close second. Turkey (and all the other great sides), 4 days off work, seeing all the family and getting ready for Christmas and winter. My dad’s b-day dinner at Cracker Barrel.  And just tradition in general.  Started off the wkend Tues with the Tilles Park Holiday lights. A good old fashioned sleigh ride thru the park with my little guy + free food and Santa ... and the best hot chocolate and red velvet cake! I did have to pretty much FORCE Alex to stand here with Santa, cause "I'm too old for that, mom - you're embarrassing me!"

So, yay for old traditions - and new ones! Baking cookies with the family (girls only). An old tradition which is a bit re-newed as this year my aunt and cousins are included with myself, mom and sis!  Bring on the sugar and flour! This year I want to make these Linzer cookies (so pretty) not sure how hard they will be but I'm gonna try them. and I want to try decorating w/ icing this year (vs just sprinkles) See that beautiful dove cookie below. I hope mine will turn out 1/2 way as perfect...

Christmas music starting ... ahhhh. Going to the movies on Friday (this year will prob be “Lincoln”)  decorating, shopping, cleaning... and did I say 4 DAYS OFF WORK! So, HAPPY THANKSGIVING... and here is a great vintage TG poster from one of my faves, Charlie Brown.

Calming-Relaxing

So, yesterday I finally went to my appt with Ro (the Jin Shin Jyutsu lady) for some reason, I thought she would be Asian! (and plz note-this is in NO way against Asians - my ex and my son are part Korean) But she was a quiet older woman with a sweet, calm personality...kinda like your fave Aunt. She started off with questions - what am I happy with, sad about, want to change, etc...I told her all this stuff while crying (I am a HUGE cryer) and apologizing numerous times for crying (another of my wonderful traits - being overly sorry/sensitive) sigh. So then she mixed 5 different flower remedies to match my needs. I have gotten flower remedies before in a liquid form, but she told me I could choose between that or a cream!?  Then I had to decide which one to do (another quality, over-thinking/worrying)  does one work better, last longer, does it really absorb into your skin .... after these questions being repeated like 2 times ... I ended up picking the cream. Next - my fave part...relaxing and getting the Jin Shin Jyutsu! I have never gotten this, but it reminds me of Reiki and I have done other types of energy balancing before.  Again it is only light touching (not massage) so I wondered how fidgety I would be and if my mind would wander, but NO!  It took a few minutes for me to relax and then a second where I noticed there was no backgrd music (yikes-silence) but that quickly went away and it was super relaxing and I felt So CALM!  If you live in STL, you should definitely try her.  I am really glad I went, and Ro made me feel great. 
So, TGIF and yay for October - my fave month!  My son turns 11 tomorrow and we are going horseback riding.  It's autumn, chilly outside and Halloween is in the air. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend

Jin Shin Jyutsu - a Healing Touch

WOW - did I really not post anything in August OR September?! I guess not. A recent post I did was for BACH flower remedies...and then I see this in the newsletter from a place in St. Louis that I love...The Center for Mind, Body & Spirit. I was supposed to do this today, but canceled since I have a super bad cold. Read below to see how wonderful it sounds. I love any and all type of energy work. Re-scheduling ASAP!   http://deeplisteningenergywork.abmp.com/

Ro Rinderknecht has been studying and practicing Jin Shin Jyutsu since 2005, as well as Healing Touch and other energy therapy techniques.  She has also received specialty training for post traumatic stress disorder.  She utilizes the BACH flower remedies to help the emotional issues that are currently surfacing and the art of Jin Shin Jyutsu for deep rest and relaxation for the mind, body and spirit.  Ro has helped hundred of clients in her private practice and with patients and their families through Alternative Hospice using these therapies.
During a Bach Flower Session, Ro works with each client as the facilitator to help them discover the emotional issue that is creating discomfort within the body, mind and emotional self.  Once the client becomes aware of the emotion or emotions that need attention, she helps the client select the Bach Essence(s) that can help restore the balance and return the body, mind and emotions to oneness.  Each client receives a Bach Flower Remedy bottle specifically created for their needs which can help return the body, mind and emotions to a healthy balance.  Clear, concise instructions regarding the use of the Bach Flower Remedy are given.
Jin Shin Jyutsu is a practice that deeply relaxes the body, so the body can become quiet and find peace within;  this allows the body to heal itself.  During a Jin Shin Jyutsu Session,  Ro works by lightly touching and holding (but not massaging) two specific points on the body at the same time. This allows the energy to flow in its proper patterns and to strengthen the body and the organs.  Ro's hands are like jumper cables, causing the energy to flow from one point to the other.  A person's life force is re-energized and recharged similarly to jumper cables attached to the battery of a car.  Ro is the facilitator and the client is the Healer.

these are a few of my favourite things this summer...

☀The 4th of July (Independence Day)  In STL it has been SUPER hot and really dry. So for safety reasons ... NO personal fireworks could be lit off this year. sigh. I love buying fireworks and lighting them off - then going to see a huge display somewhere.  Last yr I paid $10 for a "chinese lantern" and everyone said "waste of money...don't get it" and HA! it was the COOLEST of all.  I even thought about getting some anyway and lighting them off.  Cause you know, starting your neighbors roof on fire, or the cops catching you and you paying $500....well, maybe it's NOT worth it.  ESP when you look at the wild fires now in Colorado. TERRIBLE.  So, the 4th was sorta a bummer as I saw NO fireworks this yr and missed (1 of my) FAVE bands HEART. They played for FREE at our downtown fair. God knows how those bands can play in the heat. I DID get to go to a cute house in the woods on a lake, and despite the sweltering heat, it was pretty fun.

☀Gavin DeGraw CD - SWEETER.  I LOVE this whole entire Cd.  Well, all 10 songs.  Come on, he couldn’t have found another 2-3 songs?  10 songs is not enough and I’m always disapointed when bands come out with only 10 songs on a new album. BUT, besides that...it's a definite 10

☀Rufus Wainwright's new CD!!! This pretty much says it all ... "Rufus Wainwright's new album  
Out of the Game is widely being hailed as the Canadian singer's pop masterpiece, and boasts a distinct '70s-influenced yacht rock vibe that could have come straight out of Laurel Canyon."
By Laura Ferreiro

☀Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen - ahhhh, that wonderful escape you get from a really, really GOOD book. The ones you can't put down, and the closer you get to the end - the slower you (try) to read. Cause you just can't imagine the story ending and people you "know" and love (and hate) ending.  If you like circus life or elephants...and a great love story - then read this book.

☀The Book of Mormon [HELLO, we would like to share with you this....MOST AMAZING MUSICAL]  It's coming to St Louis to the Fabulous Fox next season and is the biggest.thing.ever. Trey Parker and Matt Stone - the South Park guys teamed up with the Avenue Q guy Robert Lopez & created THIS musical.

The St. Louis, Missouri song by JEWEL. On an acoustic tour a few yrs back, she made up an impromtu song about each city she played.  I love her, and a few weeks ago a random guy said to me "hey, you look just like Jewel"  awwwwww, that made me super happy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLctYPM-mgg

Plus, a bunch of small stuff: cold desserts (key lime pie) ♥ peaches (peeled and sliced w/ sugar)  ♥ free seats at The Muny on a lovely summer nite (you know, when it's not a sticky-humid STL nite) ♥ the neighborhood pool (tho I've hardly been down this summer) ♥ my tomato plants (which all said tom. have been eaten by rabbits) ♥ washing the car w/ Alex (good old-fashioned fun) ♥ ice-cream trucks ♥ farmers markets  
♥ daylight til 8-ish!!  And always remember ...

"every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day." ~unknown

Here are a few of my fave pics of 'A' from a few yrs ago (photos: Carey Paul)

Flower Power

I found a whole new meaning to the phrase "flower power"  I love flowers and summer always reminds me of flowers!  Planting them and taking care of them (which pretty much just means watering) is so relaxing and rewarding - and easy.  I also like picking the dead flowers from the live plants (my OCD helps with this)! My grandpa told me years ago that this will help the new flowers flourish, cause the dead ones take nutrients away from the live ones.  And, ahhhh - you always have beautiful, colorful flowers to look at. In your garden, the yard or different pots. Or in a vase inside from flowers you picked in your yard. 2 yrs ago, I started buying more perenials (the flowers that come back every year) and it’s so nice to see them start blooming and think “oh, yeah, I forgot I planted those...”  plus it saves money. A link to Bach's website is below.

Recently I stumbled upon BACH® FLOWER REMEDIES and love the concept. Here is some info. It’s even safe for pets & plants!!

The 7 Bach® Flower Groups

The original Bach® Flower Remedies is a system of 38 flower remedies that correct emotional imbalances - negative emotions are replaced with positive.

The Bach® Flower Remedies are 100% safe and natural and work in conjunction with herbs, homeopathy and medications.  They are safe for everyone, including children, pregnant women, pets, elderly and even plants.

“The cause of all our troubles is self and separateness and this vanishes as soon as Love and the great knowledge of Unity become part of our natures.”   -Dr Edward Bach 

Dr. Bach separated the Bach Flower Remedies into 7 emotional groups.

The groups make it easier for us to separate the Bach Flower Remedies into feelings, such as, fear, despair, loneliness, uncertainty etc. We can ask ourselves, how do I feel? Do I feel fear? What kind of fear? Or I feel despair, what kind of despair?

The Bach Flower Remedies® are so simple to use that no science, no knowledge is necessary apart from the simple method described above.           

Fear.
Uncertainty.
Insufficient interest in present circumstances.
Loneliness.
Over-sensitivity to influences and ideas.
Despondency or Despair.
Over-care for welfare of others.

http://bachflower.com/index.html

WHAT!? Tomorrow is already Lent

So, January & February kinda ran together somehow.  2011:  I didn’t accomplish everything I wanted to last year, hit some bumps in the road, didn’t go on a ‘real’ vacation, had to put my beloved dog (Remy) to sleep in Sept. It was beyond sad, he was a rescue dog & I LUVED him. Wasted more money on stupid tickets!   A few highlights: got to see Tori Amos in Chicago (and no that doesn’t count as a real vaca) haven’t seen her in over 10 yrs. Discovered a famous shine of Our Lady of Guadalupe that I never knew about (anyone who knows me, knows I love the Virgin Mary)  Bonus- we happened to be there on the actual Feast Day of Guadalupe.  AMAZING! Thousands of (mostly) Mexicans paying tribute to Mary, flowers & roses EVERYWHERE. 

I Shot a Gun and I Liked It!  Went to an outdoor shooting range for the 1st time - Bam + Bam = FUN!!  If you've ever wanted to shoot a gun, do it.  Met MV - my 1st relationship since getting divorced. It lasted for 9 months and it was so fun  :))

And remembered .... that there’s always gonna be good AND bad  - and
realized I can do alot more of the ‘hard’ stuff than I thought I could.

Now ... HERE’S TO 2012!!!!  and how the heck is it already Feb 22?  Who's ready for Lent?  I am - mostly cause I like a challenge, and although I'm not overly "religious" I love all my Catholic traditions....and my Buddhist ones :)  Some people think its wrong, but for ME  it's the perfect spiritual balance.  Here's a pic of 2 wonderful Holy and compassionate people. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.  I love the Archbishop's quote: 'He has no army, he cannot command his people with guns and he's not a separatist.' South African anti-apartheid icon Archbishop Desmond Tutu said these words to the Chinese while referring to Tibetan spiritual leader and fellow Nobel laureate the Dalai Lama here on Friday.