Art of the day

I want to escape in the world of George Oommen.  These beautiful pieces are inspired by Kerala, India.

 

Song of the day

ohhh so warm and good!

Love.

In my recent trip I was overwhelmed by the love of my friends.  And there was such a flow, such a smoothness.  Realizing this I became aware of how much time this particular group has spent together, in New York, in Ithaca in traveling and vacations.   So today is not specifically about love from one friend to another, more so love within a family created over time a family that you create.  My dear friend Denise wrote some blissful words that I want to share with y'all speaking directly upon this.  Thank you Denise for sharing. 

She wrote:

Another, and not any other, vacation in the sun.  Lagoon water sun dried in my hair, sand rubbing me, hugging me gently.  
Heart, most importantly, open & joyous, inviting & curious.
Possibilities expanding.  
Love, I'm surrounded by a tremendous degree of it, and tenderness.
Positively abundant persons questing for pleasure & beauty.  In their embrace there is only: yes & right & you don't say & nods & open arms.
All-stars.

You belong among the wildflower
You belong somewhere you feel free

I find peace in knowing that I'm in company of positive vibrations
rippling and surrounding me outwards
experiencing connections with life
collecting moments, divine, short lived, & fleeting.

A seeker of joy & connection & cosmic mystery & perplexing beauty
willing to say goodbye as much as hello
that is part of us

so much love
from caverns to lagoons to oceans to the sky above

And I said:

Somewhere along the history of ancient civilizations and centuries past we sat together in a field and discussed clouds and dreams.  And we knew we would meet again. And we have.

You know what I LOVE! Is lucky shoes at great prices (I can't believe I just said that, sounds like a advertising jingle!).  And they are on sale at checkout!  OK, I'll cool it on the shoes but I just love summer feet gear!

These are on sale at Madewell!  if I save $2 a day I can have them in 1.5 months!

Do you think they will still be there?

If I were a...

I would escape in these carpets to cover my floors.  I would rub my bare feet over them and exfoliate in their lush textures and colors. These beauties, such works of art.

via ebay

via ebay

via  Luke Irwin

via ebay

via esalerugs

via Anthropologie

via ABC Carpet

via ABC Carpet

and every rug here and here and here (faint)!

I have returned from Paradise.  I feel reborn and refreshed and full of gratitude.     I want to share a few things I thought about in my time in the sun and under the ocean standing on it's floor, pulled along the coral and sand.

In my reflections I made a list of things I thought necessary in an environment to make it nourishing and  fill my heart with love.  They are:  friends, family, vegetables, yoga, independent cinema, the ocean, nature, love, health, like-minded folk, inspiration and creativity and warmth (this is in utmost ideal situation).

I also made a list of that which I consider strengths of mine:  compassion, diplomatic, good listener, dreamer, love kids ages 3-6 (all ages at that), patient, creative, photography (a constant internal struggle).

Lastly, I wrote this:  happiness is now.  Stop searching and desiring.  All that we need to create change we already have.  Be now.  Accept.  Let your strengths intersect and start from there.  Be.

Perhaps you too can practice with these questions.  Make a list see what you find.

I am off to Akumal, Mexico for the week friends.  I wish I could take you there.  In the meantime, let the sand and water wash over you ...

all via

Be well and we will meet on the other side.  Bless.

"They say to me in their awakening, 'You and the world you live in are but a grain of sand upon the infinite shore of an infinite sea.'  
  And in my dream I say to them, "I am the infinite sea, and all the worlds are but grains of sand upon my shore.' "  Kahil Gibran

I am loving the work of Brendan George Ko right now.  Such a visceral memory recalled in them, I can feel the sun and colors and water.  How do we remember and see in our minds what was once experienced?  Here is how.

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Do you have compassion for yourself?  There were a few articles in the times recently that focused on self-compassion.  Surprisingly, they found that sometimes people who find is easier to give and be compassionate with others have a very hard time doing the same for themselves. Ugh, we are our own worst enemies! I took this test and it surprised me (and didn't). I have such a hard time saying no to other and a harder time saying yes to myself.  20-12 is the year of change though!

On another note, I read this article in The Guardian about the psychological affects of Birdsong.  Makes me want to get out of this city!

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My parents have a very large window in their dining room on Cape Cod.  Outside the window is an array of bird feeders and a birdbath.  This is only of my favorite things to do when I visit-- drink my coffee, grab the bird book to know what I am looking at and watch and listen to the birds.  Such pure joy and peace.


"Birds chirp when things are safe, and go quite when there's danger.  So for thousands of years birdsong has been a subtle background signal that tell us, unconsciously, that we're safe" via Aesthetics of Joy.

PS:  If we are talking about love today, I LOVE this bag from ASOS! Yes please, thank you.

I have such torment over my hair!  I have to accept I will never be one of those women with perfect hair.  I will forever look like I just stepped out of bed. Recently I have wanted to get my hair cut short and colored blond again.  Though, I was looking through old photos from my time in London and remembered how much I didn't like my short hair. AHH! TELL ME WHAT TO DO!  If I were a...I would have the perfect haircut/color for me!

Any ideas on the below?

My fortune cookie said "Your day will be filled with sunshine and happiness." I do hope it looks like this...

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I hope everyone has a spectacular weekend.  I was fighting a cold but I think I made it through without getting ill.  What happened you ask other then fighting the good fight against the cold?  

*I was very proud in that I made three packages to send off that I have been meaning to for some time.  Placing a parcel in the post has such satisfaction these days I am sure you can agree.  

*I spent some much needed time with a loved friend. It is so important to nurture all relationships, especially ones that are open and willing to be watered. NO use watering a cactus or an already dead plant!!! I have had such troubles in being honest with myself in the past, and I am learning this has affected almost all of my relationships.  I am learning more and more how little myself space I have given myself, to believe in my choices and cherish my voice. I have been so afraid of my own choices, in failing, being misunderstood or being made to feel wrong or unkind. For so long I have let others assume the alpha role, this has been to my fault and also has unfairly put fault unto others.  As I discussed this weekend with said friend, we all have our roles in the communities we belong (be it work, family, friendship, etc) and when these roles shift and chance people's expectations are in shock and the "system" can feel like it is experiencing a mini earthquakes. I am so fortunate/blessed to have love in my life (friends and beyond) that accept these growths and faults and are willing to work through to a deeper place. They inspire me deaily to be better and do better and also to believe in myself. I am not anywhere near yet where I want to be, but I now have an awareness and that is my work. Thank you xoxoxo thank you.

*I also cooked!

I made this yummy garlic soup.  If you are feeling ill, this does the trick:

Additionally, Sunday Ben and I made out own Breakfast sandwiches with basil mayo (our favorite).  I recommend to add sensation to any sandwich.

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Did anyone make it to the National Yoga Championship?  I would love to go one year to observe and learn a few things, yes.  It's an interesting concept, I have yet to wrap my head around or know I want to wrap my head around, but it's just my head!  People can truly do as they wish.  I miss my Bikram practice.  One day I will find my balance.

This week ahead!  All thoughts on MEXICO!  Can't wait! In the meantime I need to get a few things done first. Bring clothing to Salvation Army.  Buy a new piece of glass for a beautiful piece of art Ben got my for Valentines day. Work in my photo projects. My kale gumbo soup!  

More soon....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

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John Steinbeck...
“I believe a strong woman may be stronger than a man, particularly if she happens to have love in her heart. I guess a loving woman is indestructible.” East of Eden (my fav!)


Elizabeth Taylor 

Nick: "To you, everyboy's is a flop. Your husband is a flop, I'm a flop"  Martha (Lizzy:) "You're all flops. I am the Earth Mother, and you are all flops."

Dr. Seuss!

 You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes! You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go.  


I wanted to do so much this weekend, but I feel a cold coming on.  Do you know that feeling, the calm before the storm?  I am taking zinc twice daily and going load up on orange juice.  I will let you know how it goes on the other side.   Bisou bisou and bless! 

To quote my friend Daphne   "YES!"

What make-up do you use?  I remember in college my roommate Lauren used MAC and I thought when I was a real women I too would use MAC!  Well, I do sometimes now.  Though, some of you ladies out there can attest the search for the perfect beautiful pigment is never ending (because those pigments are beautiful).

"
It's great to live by the spirit, to testify day by day for eternity, only what's spiritual in people's minds. But sometimes I'm fed up with my spiritual existence. Instead of forever hovering above I'd like to feel a weight grow in me to end the infinity and to tie me to earth. I'd like, at each step, each gust of wind, to be able to say "Now." Now and now" and no longer "forever" and "for eternity." To sit at an empty place at a card table and be greeted, even by a nod. Every time we participated, it was a pretense. Wrestling with one, allowing a hip to be put out in pretense, catching a fish in pretense, in pretense sitting at tables, drinking and eating in pretense. Having lambs roasted and wine served in the tents out there in the desert, only in pretense. No, I don't have to beget a child or plant a tree but it would be rather nice coming home after a long day to feed the cat, like Philip Marlowe, to have a fever and blackended fingers from the newspaper, to be excited not only by the mind but, at last, by a meal, by the line of a neck by an ear. To lie! Through one's teeth. As you're walking, to feel your bones moving along. At last to guess, instead of always knowing. To be able to say "ah" and "oh" and "hey" instead of "yea" and "amen."
--Wings of Desire (me still my heard, infinity).

I was listening to Karen Dalton, again, while chopping my garlic and veggies last night.  What a voice she has?  What an authentic mood she creates.  Plus, how rad is that pic!



"Let these times show you you're breaking up the lines
leaving all your dreams too far behind
Don't you see, you can't make it without ever even trying
and something is on your mind...

I want to get this for myself and everyone I know with a child.  What a sweet piece of art for a kids room (and mine too, I am still a baby!).