Movie: I AM

Asking myself lately, "What's wrong with our world?" and "What can we do about it? I came across a movie that wonders the same thing and gives us answers. What I call a modern-day saint, Tom Shadyac makes a movie, giving our global unhappiness the attention it deserves. What society is slowly beginning to see is we are not happier by having more stuff or being number one as we are taught but by connections; real connections that give us those good feeling vibes. We, at the core of our hearts are meant to love and be good to each other. Somewhere along the way, we have lost this way of living and it has shown up in our culture in negative ways. It's time for a turn around in our society and for those good feeling vibes to start flowing. And with inspiring movies such as this one and small steps taken by each one of us, it will lead to big leaps in mankind heading towards happiness.

Movie: I AM by Tom Shadyac

National Prayer Day 5/2

The magic created by touching our palms together in symbolic gesture of prayer can be felt throughout the world, when done in good intention. As we pray, we whisper in God's ear our deepest desires, our thanks, our heartfelt yearnings, our wishes and feelings of gratitude for the blessings we have. As I've prayed, I've felt closest to God in solitude, not where you would think but when driving, as I appear to be talking to myself but really it's not to myself but to God. I don't get a verbal answer, although I wish I did but I do have a sense of calm that comes over me, along with clarity. I feel that connection no only when driving but when meditiating and gardening. Prayer can happen anywhere, at anytime but on a special day, such as today, I feel miracles can happen of healing and restoration, as groups gather to pray together. Praying in private can take place anywhere but I feel prayers are especaially magnified, when working with the earth. The miracles that happen during the springtime show us that any seeds we plant in God's ear can blossom, as flowers almost miraculously come to be. Take a little time out to do a soul gardening and to be in communtion with God, if you believe, prayers are heard and miracles can happen.

Springtime Seed Sowing

It's hard to believe that something as beautiful as these ranunculus were once a gnarly bulb. Have you ever really looked at a flower bulb? It's knobby, dry and doesn't look like much but with some dirt, love, sunshine and rain, it becomes a beauty. It's hard to believe but we still have patches of snow in the yard and the other day, in the corner of my eye, I saw the daffodils beginning to push forth through the earth. It's a miraculous time of year. And as with our deepest desires, we must plant the seed first in our minds and give it the love to watch it grow. Make some time for yourself this weekend to give some thought to what kind of seeds you are planting, in your mind and garden. Give your seeds love and watch them grow all around in your life. Enjoy your weekend and all of the springtime holidays!

Meditate On It

There are days and there are days...where nothing goes quite right, no matter how hard you try. And it leaves you dazed, confused and mentally drained. And when moments like that occur, I find meditation to be quite helpful. When the mind is on overdrive, the quiet space made among the jumbled thoughts-makes room for open wide spaces, where clarity of mind enters in. As your thoughts swirl in your mind, take your first deep breath through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Your thoughts are still there, it's okay, repeat the breathing process. They will soon evaporate and fall into the background, along with the ticking clock. Make sure you are sitting comfortably and are relaxed, that you are not too hot and not too cold. I usually set a timer for twenty minutes, I find that time works great to get me to a place where my mind is at peace. Take another deep breath in, have your eyes closed and allow it to flow and release it on the exhale through the mouth. You want your belly to be moving, deep inhales and exhales. Let the breathing be your focus. Your thoughts will slowly resemble clouds rolling through the night sky, part of the scene but not the big picture as the more you inhale and exhale, the clouds go away and you begin to see some bright stars being the flickers of insight, to your dilema. As your jumbled mind begins to relax with your breaths, allow those random thoughts to come in, some of them are keys to your happiness.

Love One Another

The only thing that I don't particularly like about Valentine's Day is that it only happens once a year. In the cold and snowiness of winter, hearts adorn everything and we're encouraged to celebrate our love with our partner, not that we have to be encouraged but it does plant the seed for celebrating love. This is the night for just the two of you, to really connect. I was thinking about this throughout the day. The specialness of really honoring love, with the extra attention to detail,  the flowers, candles, the special dinner and the tokens that show our appreciation. And I thought to myself, Valentine's Day needs to be once a month! Crazy? Maybe or maybe not. Although we definitely have our special moments, I want to make an occasion of really honoring my husband ala Valentine's Day fashion, with all the bells and whistles. Join me as Valentine's Day becomes a monthly celebration of love. Every fourteenth, let's be crazy in love! Let's enjoy and connect with the love in our lives and let them know how much we truly honor, cherish and are grateful for them. Happy Love Day!

Single ladies, don't feel excluded, everyone's been there and it's a wonderful time to connect with the most important person in your life right now, you. It's the time to honor yourself. Take the time to enjoy your own company. You are great and make the night all about you! Cook yourself a wonderful dinner, light the candles, buy yourself some flowers and don't forget the chocolate...

New Year Wishes

A new year! A fresh slate, a new beginning full of hopes, dreams and wishes. I love the air of mystery as the new year begins, fresh and full of promise. I love hanging up a new calender and opening up a fresh planner, where the pages still stick together. What will the months reveal as the year moves on? Hopefully all good but if there are any clouds, I try to remember that eventually the sun does comes out. And if there is rain, magical rainbows appear shortly after. I think it's important to take some time and make some wishes as the new year begins. What are your deepest wishes? Dare to wish on them and believe that will happen for you! Happy new year all, may it be the year that sparkles and the year that is ten times better than the year you said to yourself, "That was a great year!" Happy-happy 2013!

In Memory of Connecticut Angels

I started to write about a popcorn recipe and tried to make it light hearted and it just felt wrong because inside and out, I am crying a river of tears. This blog is about sharing a recipe with you, some deeper thoughts sprinkled throughout and maybe an inspiring idea to make your space happier, for goodness sake this blog has the word happiness in the title. But I feel far from, very far from it. I'm so sad that those little kids didn't get to experience life. In a essence they were, now are, angels. At the same time, I'm angry, why did it have to happen and as many times, as I go through my thoughts, I can't make peace with any of them. We are all crying, inside and out and my prayers go out to the families and God, I wish that there was a magic eraser that could take away their pain and just bring their babies back. There is a light to this darkness, there just has to be, and I hope that it comes very soon because we need it, after such a heart-wrenching heartbreak. We pray for you and with you, that you may find peace in your hearts one day.

Autumn Walk Push Pin Board

As I've been going on my walks with Daisy, my eyes are drawn to the beautiful leaves, each one unique, at the same time, each one perfect, like us. We are perfect in our own unique way. And it's time to reflect on your own uniqueness. There is no one in this world quite like you. Sure maybe close, but they don't love like you, laugh like you or smile the way you do. And maybe you haven't thought about your own unique qualities in a while and as the leaves show us, we are all special and all shine in our own way. And as autumn is a natural time, to hibernate like the bears, it's a time to go inwards and to give life some thought. Are you shining as the bright as the bright light that you really are?

I can't help but bring some leaves home from our walks and I am so in love with them and appreciate the beauty that they give my mornings and evenings. They needed to be embraced and my solution was to display them on a board. Although they won't last too long, they would survive a dinner party to be admired. If you have a mantle or a buffet table, you could easily lean it against the wall bringing the season indoors, in a matter of minutes! I found these great rustic push pins at a garage sale but you could always add some glam to this, by using shiny gold push pins. If you have a black and white theme in your living room, you could silver push pins. Have fun pinning and shining bright! ;)

Random Acts of Kindness: Floral Bouquet

Today is a day that changed our lives forever. I was in the city, to the day, eleven years ago. The morning was beautiful, the sun was shining and it was warm, the hustle and bustle was no different than any other day. Until I got to class, and all the TVs were on, and the towers were falling. Everyone was in tears and in disbelief. After the initial shock was over, a unity fell over the city and a new kindness took over. I would say there was a slower pace, possibly from shock and also because people were more vulnerable. There was a bond that was invisible. Everyone was nicer to each other. And in todays' memory, do something nice for someone, that is unexpected. Getting coffee? Have a dollar or two left over? Leave it for the next person that comes up to the counter. Driving down a road with a toll? Pay for the car in back of you also. I would do that occasionally when I would drive down the Garden State Parkway and I will never forget the day my toll got paid! It made me feel so good, this random act of kindness. It left me with a happy feeling all day long. Have a surplus of tomatoes from your garden? See if you neighbor would like some. Smile at a stranger, give someone a compliment today that maybe you wouldn't have normally. Make someone smile. Haven't seen mom in a while? Stop by with flowers and a big hug! Or stop by and give flowers to someone who has made you a better person. They will really appreciate it. And all of these random acts of kindness don't have to end today, this can be just the beginning!

I hope you never got rid of those dusty etched glass vases, they are great for mini bouquets that are just perfect for RAOK! Keep an eye out at garage sales if you are in need of some, they are great to have on hand! To make this bouquet you will need a small vase, a few large green leaves, (I used leaves from a hydrangea bush.) Use the leaves to line the vase, you will only need a few, about three, overlapped, it's just so you don't see the stems. Trim three large orange Celosia to fit the vase, and place them against the edge of the glass. Fill in the rest of the bouquet organically with the purple Gomphrena and Baby's Breath and smaller Celosia if needed. Add water and make someone happy today!

Luck & Gratitude

I've been obsessed with luck ever since I was a little girl. Ladybugs were my most favorite symbol of luck. I loved their polka dots most of all and their little bold red suits of armor. Even today, I get a little bit of a rush when I see one. And can't help think, "Today is going to be a lucky day." And usually it is. But I think what gives luck it's true power is a combination of thought, feelings and gratitude most of all. Horseshoes, spiders in the house, bells ringing all have their place in this thing we call luck, that everyone wants. Finding a penny on heads is great and I have to admit, if found on tails, I will flick it with my shoe until it lands on heads. I'm not flicking a bug away, no, no, it's the master plan to bring more luck into my life, one coin at a time. And with a sigh of relief as that coin finally turns and I pick up my shiny penny, so do my feelings about the day. "It's going to be a good day," I tell myself. Seeing a rainbow brings a feeling of promise that only good is coming. I have to admit it may be hard sometimes, especially when everything feels like it's going wrong. And that's when gratitude comes in to save the day. Being grateful for what you have is a guarantee to open the door for more goodness and luck your way. And many times, it's a matter of perception. switching the way you think about something. As my husband says, when something not so desirable happens, "It could have been worse" and for that, I am grateful, thankful and lucky, that it wasn't.

Praying while Washing the Dishes

I love this pair of (I think) men, praying. I know they are praying because it is the way I would hold my hands together in prayer when I was a little girl. I was drawn to the smiles on their faces, I had to bring them home with me. Growing up with the belief that prayer was a very serious matter, there were no smiles. You prayed for forgiveness, or for a loved ones' health to improve, for a blessing. It was a solemn act, to show your pearly whites was an issue. I will never forget the giggle fit, I had with my friend in church, while praying. (I think I was ten at the time and I don't even know what started it) We could not stop, it was the type of giggle fit that you stopped breathing, and when you did find your breath it was a loud inhale of relief (that everyone heard, and gave you a dirty look for lol). My mom silent, although her lips turned up a little, like she was gonna laugh, the priest didn't. And so the association of smiling with prayer was non-existent. My belly hurt, along with my cheeks, I was happy. I felt connected to God, why was it bad? And so, as I've grown older, I have prayed formally, the way I was taught, (no giggling, serious introspection). And slowly evolving to conversations, less formal, more often, connected meditations to God. And that is what prayer truly is, the connection you have with God. And with today being National Prayer Day, I wanted to share my little hook that hangs rosaries off of it, that lives in the kitchen. A reminder that God is everywhere and every connection is meaningful, even if it is just a few words of gratitude while washing the dishes. That every act that makes you a better person for this world, is an act of prayer, a connection to God.

Reflect, Refresh & Renew

 I found this framed picture of Jesus at a garage sale for an amazing $4. The minute I picked it up, it reminded me of my younger days when I would go to church with my mom and spend most of the days leading up to Easter Sunday, in deep reflection. After so many years, it is almost a habit, that I take this time to reflect and renew. Spring is in the air, flowers are breaking through the dirt, making their transition to beauty. Is it a time for you to look deep inside and possibly reinvent, yourself also?