Need something to smile about?

Well now you will!!!

Take a look-see:

Not gonna lie, I started to dance/well up/smile from ear to ear as this video was playing!

I love the creativity and love that is shown in this video!

Definitely needed to share this wonderful video.

I hope I am as creative for my wedding ...

Whenever that may be.

=-D

{p.s. it's my 4 year anniversary with my boyfriend and I'm doing a series on my blog of reasons why I love him. Come stop by whenever you would like...}

The FACT is, iM not sure I like kids

I know that is BLASPHEMOUS to say as a woman. BUT there are times I wonder, DO I even like kids? I must, I mean there are five of us in my family. I GREW up watching kids, playing with them, working in a children’s portrait studio, studying human development, working with them in the foster care system. So I MUST like kids, right?

It would only make sense…I have two almost three nieces that I ADORE and spoil. Two CRAZY little girls who are [fun/hilarious/cute/ annoying/girlie/loud/full of energy]. Two little girls who entertain me while making me crazy. BUT i love them, more than i ever thought I could.

My friends have kids that I pick up and cuddle and smooch and love.

And then there were these three little boys. Technically my cousins, but so much younger that they seem more like distant relatives.

I offered {on a whim at my sister’s wedding to watch them for a weekend}.

My aunt was desperate for a weekend away, it had been YEARS. So I agreed. Flew to CA. Stayed for the weekend.

PROOF I like Kids, I was caught with them all the time at the wedding. iM the fun one!

doesn't it look like iM having fun? AND I was, for the most part.

Then reality set in. These kids don't know me. They were hard work. They screamed, and kicked, and missed their parents. And that is when I wondered, DO I EVEN LIKE KIDS? I mean I had fun with these little guys. They also drove me crazy. I hated waking up at 5:30am, on a Saturday. I loathed having to wrangle all three of them at church alone. I was disgusted helping one of them clean up after wetting themselves for the 5th time. I don’t like to whip butts or play cars or clean up dog poop. SO WHAT was I doing here?

I talked with a friend who said: I guess we know you aren’t ready to have babies
And the ladies at church made jokes about this being the best birth control

And I laughed. Then I wondered, is something wrong with me?

but I kept telling myself: I LOVE KIDS. And then I realized, I don’t LOVE KIDS, I love kids that I KNOW. That I spend a lot of time with. That I know their rules, and if I can put them in time out, or smack their little hands, or their favorite games to play, or songs to sing.

I love kids that I KNOW.

Don't get me wrong, I had a great time with my cousins. They tricked me into letting them watch X Men, Sorry Brenda…and we made pizza’s and we had a lovely time.

When it was over, I was ready to get headed back to my single life. Where I can sleep in if I want. Where I can stay up late if I want. Where I control my schedule. Where I can spend time with the kids I love on my own terms: in two hour blocks, in their house or at the park.

So when I saw my dear friend Paula, and her SUPER cute daughter Izzie, I picked her up kissed her cheeks and handed her right back. To her mom, where she belonged.

it wil be my turn. and When it is, I will LOVE being a mom. I will enjoy the craziness of it all. When it is my turn, they will be MY KIDS, and I will love them.
Someday

Until then I will love the kids I know, spend more time with my cousins and tolerate the neighbor kids.

and for now, iM ok with that.

♥ Single Girl

Rain...

Just had to share this one.....Fantastic!

With one pair of hands you can do so much...with many you can achieve greatness!

Introducing Yvonne

NAME: Yvonne

LOCATION: Scotland, Australia, New Zealand (for 16 months), then who knows…
AGE: 30 but I get asked for ID all the time…. quite nice really ☺

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN BLOGING FOR:
Since Feb/March 09, so still fairly new and learning as I go along. It’s been great to learn a new skill. I have 2 blogs http://safespacecoaching.blogspot.com & http://quote-ching.blogspot.com.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU MOST:
Seeing people being independent and in action in life. Also great quotes and being asked thought provoking questions. Being coached by my fabulous coach Nancy in the U.S.A.

WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME:
Read lots and lots. I have one coaching book a month, a fiction book, a business book, a spiritual book (like learning about different views on the world). Reading blogs. I have them all lined up on Bloglovin’ and like to sit with a glass of wine or a new flavoured tea and soak up the words!

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS BLOG:
I had visited it before and then was invited to contribute. Marie from Art from My Heart recommended me to Carly. Thanks Marie.
I think it’s a great idea, bringing lots of inspirational women together to create a sense of independence!

DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE DISH:
I do adore cooking and eating out. I love a good risotto.

YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE TO SPEND TIME:
Anywhere as long as my husband is around. We have been married 8 years on Monday and I still get excited when he walks into the room.

I think the MEDIAS BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION AGAINST WOMEN:
is the whole weight debate and the fact that girls as young as six are developing eating disorders on a bid to look like airbrushed perfection! It’s all manipulated people!! You are gorgeous just as you are…

As for THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE IVE EVER BEEN GIVEN, my mum and dad have always told me that I can do, be or have anything I want in life. They believe in me 100% and never doubt me.

Garlic Hummus

I love Hummus and I love making it. I have finally figured out how to make it the way I like it.

I like my hummus thick, like paste. You can then spread it on sandwiches and tortillas, which is exactly what I do with it sometimes.
It is easy to make, good for you, and soooooooooooooo tasty, yummmmmmm!!

You will need:
1 can of garbanzo beans (chick peas)
2-4 tablespoons of Tahini (ground sesame seeds)
2-4 tablespoons of extra virgin Olive Oil
4 cloves of garlic (this is really personal, I LOVE garlic, 6 or 7 cloves for me, I make this so it burns my nose sometimes when I eat it and I make sure I don't have to go anywhere for awhile or not, if I am feeling like a rebel)
1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground Black Pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground Cumin
1 lemon- juice
2 Green Onions sliced

Rinse and drain the garbanzo beans (if you like your hummus runnier, you save this drained off water and add to the hummus when you mix it.)
Add beans to your food processor bowl and then add all the other ingredients.
Pulse the processor until you like the consistency. I prefer it to be completely creamed. No chunks.
Place into a covered bowl and serve chilled with a drizzle of olive oil and some chopped green onions.
I like to eat this with tortilla chips but it is also very good with crackers, pretzels, or vegetables too, like celery, carrots, cauliflower and broccoli.
And like I said spread on bread and on an avocado sandwich. It also makes a really great spread for flour tortillas wraps, instead of mayo or dressing.
I have a few variations on this.

An Eclipse is a-Comin'

Okay... we’re into the next of the Eclipses. On Wednesday 22 July at 03.35 in London (which I think is Wednesday 22 July at 12.35 in Sydney and Tuesday 21 July at 22:35 in New York) we have a New Moon Solar Eclipse. Not only will it be beautiful as a Total Eclipse of the Sun – if you happen to be in China to see it when it happyhaps – but it’s also a looooong solar eclipse. Over six minutes, yeah baby. Watch You Tube for safe viewings! And backing music! And cooing and gasping from lookers-on!

As an astrologer, Eclipses aren’t just gorgeous to look at (safely through your rear view mirror wearing protective goggles) they are also incredible cosmic events that show where opportunity for change and the chance to close doors and take a leap of faith are being ushered in. While human beans aren’t great fans of change, there are times when just knowing that a gut feeling stirring in your waters has a kernel of truth in – and a touch of Cosmic Support – maybe the extra boost of courage we need to fly. And New Moon Eclipses are magical times to make wishes for New Starts…

The How To… By Candlelight?

Sometimes recognising Our Truth and What We Need to Change is as simple as taking a bit of time out to just sit and chew over a feeling until it gets brave enough to say it in words. I once read an article by Nicki Michaels, an astrologer and life coach, in which she suggested to a client that they ask themselves, “What was I born to manifest?” and then to see what emerged from the subconscious. We so often ask for what we want (a darling pair of Vivienne Westwood sunglasses, George Clooney, a boss with a sense of humour…) rather than remembering what it is we really need (an hour a day to exercise our bodies, the courage to say no without getting defensive, George Clooney). Did I just say George Clooney?

So as we come into a marvellous portal for change, what we really need is to focus our minds as we ask for some Cosmic support. As a freelance journo, I once had the overwhelming privilege of interviewing a white witch. We spoke on the phone and then as she was visiting a town near me a few weeks later I went along to meet her. The energy field around this woman was awesome – I mean from about a metre away, there was a force-field booming, ‘Stand Back! This is my space. Did you hear me?! I said this is my space…!’ Incredible. One of the tips she gave me was to strengthen a request to the Universe by burning a yellow candle to Mercury, the planet of communication, on a Wednesday (Wednesday being His day, yasee).

And so. This coming Wednesday is not only a Mercury Day, but is also a big kahuna of a New Moon Eclipse. So it’s time to grab some Cosmic fairy dust! Find yourself 10 minutes. Sit in the glow of a shiny yellow candle to (a) focus the grey cells and (b) bank some face time with the ears of destiny… then ask, listen, and then get ready to act. All great things to you. And warmth, peace, and humour too.

** On a health and safety tip, please remember that candles, while beautiful, are still fire. And if you’re likely to doze off in meditation, perhaps put the burning candle in the kitchen sink and lay out some scatter cushions on the floor nearby with a comfort blanket and some toasty slippers. And, if you need to be up at a particular time, an alarm clock... **

IF you want to read some more from me on this week’s Eclipse see: http://doing-it-astrology.blogspot.com

Cool Journals for practically nothing

I think that everyone should journal and I think that they should have a notebook to showcase their thoughts, as if each thought and word is very special, because it is.

I like to buy journals that look great and speak to this need.
If you write a lot this can be a never ending chore of looking for something to emulate how you feel and think. And if you don't write anything, the prospect of finding something that will honor those words can be an intimidating journey.
This project just might be the answer to that. It is a special place where we can write our thoughts down that is our personal space like our home decorated with the things we so love. I can survive my artsy life with out a journal but I choose not too.
And for those of you just starting to put your mind on paper, by embellishing the notebook and making it your own this can be the ritual that gets the ball rolling, a dedication to the process of it.
Another thing these are great for, is gifts for friends and family, they are inexpensive, beautiful, personal, and made from the heart. We always need ways to conserve money in these times and show we care, this is that thoughtful, dynamite looking, and special gift that will keep giving after the wrapping paper is gone.

My daughter Sunnie came up with this wonderful Journal looking for a gift for her friend Aneesha.

Composition Notebook in the size you want- this one is 9 3/4" x 7 1/2"

Photographs of images- Sunnie used ones that her and her friend had take at the local county fair and the one of Aneesha for the inside cover.

Glue sticks or double stick tape

Crafter's Pick Ultimate Glue for heavier pieces

Scissors

Sharpies

Ink Pens

Rub on letters

Assorted stickers

Magazines - Sunnie used Glamour

Card Stock or assorted scrapbook papers

Paper size labels for you printer I use these to print images of my own out and cut them out and use for my stickers

First she used the card stock to cover the label on the front of the journal and glued it in to place. Then she proceeded to cut out the flowers and glue them on the front and then added some words she had cut out from the magazine. You can see that in the top picture. She also added some stickers and more things cut out from magazines that reminded her of Aneesha.

She used the Sharpies and the rub on letters to add more words and write Journal on the card stock.

She then decorated the inside cover with a picture of her friend and more words and images that have meaning for her and her friend.

She also added a personal message to her there.

She added more things to the inside of the back cover to finish off the journal, a very nice touch in my opinion.

I want to make these now.

I have a lot of fortune cookie papers I have been saving for years, some of them have a real nice aging to the paper even. ;-O

I also thought, some of my friends could use one of these as a present, since my funds are a little low.

And what about the giant winter black hole holidays? I am liking this project a lot more.

Well I just had to make one for myself you know. I like green, leaves, nature, and positive affirmations (need positive affirmations). So I thought I will start mine that way.

I also like spirals and everything else you see on this front page here.

And instead of a black composition notebook I used a green one (walmart).

Some Loteria cards I made and copper letters I found. This is so much fun.

I have to go get some more note books.

This is the inside front cover of my journal, I have leaves and more spirals with bits of architectural embellishments here and there. It is starting to look a lot like me now. A little thinner and a lot less gray hair though.

I added a 24" length of ribbon to the back inside cover and glued it right next to the paper. Started at the bottom of the cover and when it was dry, it will fold over the top and down the inside cover. I added this to mark my pages. It is 1/4" wide ribbon.

The back of the cover has some writing and bar codes from the company that makes them, it is my personal opinion but, I didn't think it added much to the over all look of my nifty new journal so I covered it too. I also made a sticker on the label paper with my name and the date and cut that out and "signed" the journal on the back.

TAH-DAH!! Almost too nice to write in eh??? Not...

Fun? You bet ya.

I am hooked and am not going to wait to make Christmas presents, so I started some more for my nieces and nephews. I want to encourage them to write. You never know it might help them get along with their parents. They might even become something special with their writing. I think it is good practice anyway.

You just never know!

This one is for my niece and she loves black and white, skullies, hearts, dice and cherries, likes the little bit darker stuff of life. Thus the theme for this one and I am liking this one too.

I made this Vampire and I love the Statue of liberty so I added those to the inside front cover, that I hope will remind her of me. I am thinking now... maybe I could make her a different one.

I used a red ribbon so it matched the color scheme for the page marker.

And this is the back outside cover. I also finished off some parts of the journals with little clay flowers and spirals I made, a few rhinestones here and there and I am thinking about adding some glitter to them too. I am starting on my next one and I already have the 4th and 5th planned out in my head. I am warning you this could become an addiction. Could? HA!

The stores will be having back to school sales soon too and I am looking forward to that. If you find any interesting composition note books please let me know!

Have fun!

Marie Segal 7/09

My New Normal

I remember when the smell of fresh cut grass reminded me of home. When the sound of baseball cleats on cement was the sound of my summer, and waking up in the morning to remove the box fans from the windows and close up the house for the day was the usual.

I spent my formative year in the small town of Dublin, CA. My parents relocated almost 5 years ago. Since their move I have been back to visit a few times, but spent our trip sitting at my grandfather’s house, in a Marriott hotel, or were just there for a quick 2 day trip.

I went back. For a week surrounding my sister’s wedding.
It was exactly the same, but not how I remembered it at all.

The streets seemed to have shrunk. The roads were shorter. There was more traffic, taller buildings, more development and a city I barely recognized.

Yet it felt safe, familiar, almost like home. All the fundraisers I completed as a class officer BUILT a new sports complex at the high school. My house was painted, re-landscaped and completely different- but the memories came flooding back.

Sitting in the pool all summer.

Looking for bones in the cow graveyard.

Collecting newts in the street after a big rain.

Watching Baseball game after baseball game

Tping our neighbors house and being busted by undercover cops

The places I worked

the Lucky turned Albertson's turned Lucky Grocery store

Bagel Bakery

The night i mastered the stick shift

Johnny's Doughnuts

Parties at Cory's house

Rolling through stop signs

It was nice to be back.

After being crammed in a hotel room for a week surrounded by wedding stuff [invitations/pictures/Sheppard’s hooks/hanging balls/candy jars/dresses/presents],making it through the baseball game, the play, the BBQ, rehersal dinner and the wedding: I was ready to go home.

To MY HOME. Back to Utah, to my new normal.

Landing in Salt Lake was like being home. When I moved out here to complete my education, I never thought I would stay. I never thought I would have a UT state drivers license. I never thought this would become my home.


Maybe it is because it was HERE that I gained confidence in myself- came into my own as a person.

IT might be that it was in Utah I made my lifelong friends. The ones I will always keep.

It was here that I fell in love & had my heart broken.

It was this place that tested my spirit, challenged me to grow.

While living here I finished my schooling, started my career, spent years learning who I am.

So as I drove my little sister home I rolled down the window of my car. I followed the gentle curve of the road and breathed deeply the smells of my new home. Wet hay. Fresh rain. Cow manure.

I smiled, knowing that home is where your family is. And finally, I am ok knowing this my home, and I like it here.

♥ Single Girl

R.I.P. Michael Jackson

I attended my very first music concert in 1981. I was 12 years old and in the 7th grade. I had been in Hamilton, TX. visiting my Grandmother. It must have been a Sunday morning, because that's when she got a copy of the Dallas Morning News. I saw an ad in the newspaper for the Jackson 5 Triumph tour featuring Michael Jackson.
I don't know why this particular concert struck me as something I wanted to do. By the time I hit Junior High and started to get into music, the Jackson 5's were fading into pop culture memory. Michael had just recorded his Off the Wall album but it hadn't been released yet.They were at a moment in time where one of the the biggest bands of the 1960s and 70s was about to be eclipsed by baby brother and forever make them a footnote in his bio.
But, the ad hit a chord in me and I told my Mom I really wanted to go. Not much more was said about it but a couple of days before the show my Dad came to me and held out 2 tickets. He had a hotel room in Dallas and we were going. Just the two of us. (Note that $10.50 price on the ticket!)

I remember the show being exciting and electric. Michael was definitely the star of the show.
This was the set list:

Intro/"Can You Feel It"
"Things I Do for You"
"Off the Wall"
"Ben"
"This Place Hotel"
"She's Out of My Life"
Movie And Rap, Including Excerpts of:
"I Want You Back"/"Never Can Say Goodbye"/"Got to Be There"
Medley: "I Want You Back"/"ABC"/"The Love You Save""I'll Be There""Rock With You"
"Lovely One"
"Working Day and Night"
"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"
"Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)"
You could tell he was on his way to bigger and better things and this concert was to launch him into the stratosphere. This was before we found out he slept in an air chamber. Before the purchase of the Elephant Man remains. Before the monkey companion. Before Macaulay Culkin and Emmanuel Lewis were his best friends.
This was when Michael Jackson just looked like a star. The biggest star in the world. I have had him on my mind a lot this week. Thinking back to this show and a man with such talent and promise could become so lonely and twisted. My heart goes out to him and his children and family. I know he is in a better place and I hope he is happy now.
He's probably teaching the angels how to moonwalk and serenading Jesus. "Mama say ma sa, Ma ma coo sa"
Cynthia Smoot/Dallas, Texas