Don't Worry ... Be HAPPY!

I love this quote by Gordon B. Hinckley from his book, "Standing for Something":

"My plea is that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life, we 'accentuate the positive'. I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still our voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment and endorse virtue and effort."

(image from hopelesslyflawed.com)

I believe there is a way to be happy no matter our circumstances. I visited today with a bent-over, old homeless lady named Paula. When I say "bent over" I mean that she could not even lift her head high enough for me to see into her face. She was dragging a small suitcase on wheels which contained all of her possessions. But Paula had a lilt in her voice. Paula did not carry a dark cloud, but rather, just being in her presence made me feel more grateful.

(image from istockphoto.com)

My circumstances my pale in comparison to Paula's, but I still have things that are hard for me. And so it is for each of us. It's my quest to have an aura of light around me, as Paula does, regardless of my current circumstance. I hope to always "accentuate the positive" and to "more fully enjoy the sunlight".

success

We planted our grapes a year ago, and this year we got 5 big clumps of juicy, yummy grapes.

It totally amazes me that something plump and delicious can grow in the desert!

The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses.

~Hanna Rion

Do you have a green thumb? Any great gardening tips for me?

reporting in

Business first:

The winner of Loa's Mind & Body Sculpting DVD

is

Melissa at Write it in Lipstick!!!

So, we're about half way through the year and I thought I should report on some of my new years resolutions ...

I'm still working on copying all of our family videos to DVDs. This week I'm going to try to do 2 a day. I have about a million to go.

My exercise routine has become just that - a routine. I read and implemented Loa's All Health's Breaking Loose ... additionally, one of my new best friends is Jillian Michaels. We visit every morning - at least, she talks, and I do what she says. Making great progress in that area.

I've taken action on putting together a TV show mini pilot and hope to make a connection soon to get it to the right people to pitch it to networks. It's all recorded and in the process of being edited. Yay for a great team!

We cleaned out our garage and had a HUGE sale, raking in several hundred dollars. Success all-around on that one!

Still more resolutions that are in their infant stages.

How are you doing? Do you remember your New Years Resolutions? Have they morphed through the months?

chicago

I spent a couple of days in Chicago last week. I had very little time to absorb the Chicago experience ... so (besides the all-day workshop) this is what I did:

I loved my hotel bed ... even the pillows were labled: hard and soft. Other than the power going out for 3 or 4 minutes, my hotel stay was lovely. The storm that knocked out the power put on a great show for me as I fell asleep.

I'm no dummy ... I ordered in Chicago-style pizza with my favorite topping - olives.

Just before the storm hit, this gorgeous cardinal flew into my window, then stood dazed on the power box below. We don't have cardinals in Vegas.

My main aim to experience Chicago as fully as possible in just a few hours was to down a real Chicago-Dog while in Chicago. This I did, despite the fact that I eat hardly any meat. And yes - I paid for it with stomach pains the next day. But I have to say, the combo of all those condiments: delish! Especially the surprise bite of a whole jalepeno that is strategically hidden below everything else.

My plane was delayed, so I found an empty terminal and took a seat. Directly in front of me was an empty row with this pair of shoes. Was this "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" or what? I wondered about the person without shoes and where she was flying to - hoping it's someplace nice like Mexico where barefeet will serve her well :)

CHICAGO: "Perhaps the most typically American place in America."

James Bryce 1888

a penny saved

So, we used to have a cute glass milk jar that we'd dump our change and loose bills in at the end of every day. This is money we'd save up for use at the end of the year. We called it our "Christmas Jar". Well, that worked quite well for a few years till a couple of family members got wise and began to regularly draw on those funds. So ... I'm guessing the guilty parties won't be reading this post because I'll show you a few of my favorite little hiding places:

This is similar to our orignal Christmas Jar ... just smaller ... but it's a little too obvious, so I camaflauge it amongst other cool bookshelf decorations:

This would be easy to dip from, but it's on the highest shelf and so unless one is 7 feet tall, he wouldn't be able to see that it contains mula.

I've also made use of the many pieces of pottery my kids made when in grade school ... So everyone in the family thinks I'm proudly displaying their childhood art, when in reality, I'm a secret cash hoarder.

Hooray!

Reminder: Giving away Loa's Mind & Body Sculpting DVD don't forget to enter!

HOORAY FOR BOOKS!

I love reading.

I used to be a fiction-only girl.

But I'm branching out.

When we got married my husband had the great idea for us to write down every single book we read. So I've now got a notebook filled and on to my 2nd notebook.

Before I give you my list of good-reads, let me just say that I have to wonder how some books ever made it on to the "Classics" list.

(Thank you for letting me vent. I've been trying to read the top 100 classics, and some of them are horrendous!)

Here are some suggestions for a good read:

Orson Scott Card's Women of Genesis Series

PG Wodehouse's Jeeves & Wooster Series

The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle (non-fiction)

The Peacegiver by James Farrell (amazing book!)

Lloyd C. Douglas' The Robe (actually, all 3 of his books are incredible)

Heart of The West by O. Henry (selection of his short stories)

Truly, I could go on and on. But I'll stop there for now.

What books do you recommend?

play

Play energizes us and enlivens us. It eases our burdens. It renews our natural sense of optimism and opens us up to new possibilities.

Stuart Brown, MD

I grew up in a game-playing family.

From Capture-the-Flag to Rook; from Scum to Stinky Sardines ...

Games are fun!

Here's my list of this month's favorite games of mine:

Ticket to Ride

Speed Scrabble

Scum

Nertz

LieBrary

Are you a game player?

I'd love to hear about a must-play game!

Tell me what you play.

Surely all God’s people…like to play.

John Muir

in honor of FATHER'S DAY

He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.

~Clarence Budington Kelland

The words that a father speaks to his children in the privacy of home are not heard by the world, but, as in whispering-galleries, they are clearly heard at the end and by posterity.

~Jean Paul Richter

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

to my Dad, my Husband, my Father in Law, my Sons

and all of you wonderful men out there!

Summer YUM

Yes, summer is great for running around, vacations, swimming, and sunbathing. But I'd be lying if I didn't fess up that one of my favorite things about summer is seasonal food!

(True - food is one of my favorite things about every time of year ... but we won't talk about that right now.)

It helps me to think it's all good for me since I'm using fresh fruit :)

And so ... I think tomorrow I'll try this recipe for English Trifle

And next week I'm going to make these Ice Cream Sandwiches

Here's to a few months of Summer Yum!

ka..Ka...KA...BOOM!!!

It always happens in chunks, doesn't it?

One thing goes wrong, then everything seems to fall apart. I wonder why that is ...

Anyway, after reading this quote by C.S. Lewis, I am just excited as can be to see what's around the bend!

"When things go wrong, you'll find they usually go on getting worse for some time; but when things once start going right they often go on getting beter and better."

Just to fill you in, it all started with one little car crash. I think things are about to start going right ... cross your fingers for me!

Carousels & Daisies

School just got out last week here in Nevada ... I know, late - isn't it!

So as we've been talking in our family about things we'll be doing I remembered this great quote by Nadine Stair:

“If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies.”

There will always be dishes to wash, jobs to work, floors to scrub. And while we, in our family, will work to make sure those things get done, our emphasis this summer will be on daisies and merry-go-rounds.

What are your summer plans?

Mind & Body Sculpting DVD giveaway!!!

CHECK THIS OUT:

I know this says that registration needs to be in by the 10th of June, but this is so neat that if you're interested, contact Loa and see if she can get you in ... (I bet she can!)

The Ultimate Women's Wellness Retreat Big Bear, California July 14-17, Thursday-Sunday Register by June 10th To register for The Ultimate Women's Wellness and Spa Retreat: Contact Loa at 818) 399-5345 or gotoloa.com Escape into the gorgeous secluded scenes of Big Bear, California and refresh your body, mind, and spirit. Let us take care of you. Forums: *Releasing food and other attachments, "Let go and find your beautiful life" by Steven Kalas,M.Th. *Creating a lean strong body, "The thin you wants out" power point and *How to make up YOUR face with Loa Blasucci Whole, organic, superfood meals and power snacks including smoothies, wheat grass, and other delights. . Included in your stay: a one-hour spa-style massage herbal foot-soak treatment Mind & Body Sculpting classes yoga and deep stretching meditation, nature walks and relaxation. Faces change. Cosmetics change. Stay on the cutting edge of new products and techniques as Loa shares celebrity cosmetic secrets from 30 years as a makeup artist in Hollywood. Redesign your makeup; create a flawless finish. The pines are lovely this time of year and the comforts of our spacious and private cabin await. Return home energized, feeling powerful, looking beautiful. Register by June 10th Limited space. Rooms booked on a first come first serve basis. Single Occupancy $1,385 Shared Occupancy $1,150 Now for the giveaway: Loa's unique ALL HEALTH'S BREAKING LOOSE DVD is out and she's giving one away here on my blog. To enter, just leave a comment.

Children Get Older

And I'm getting older, too.

image source

Stevie Nicks always makes me nostalgic, but especially lately, since my 18-year-old son is pretty much done with high school. How does time fly like this?!

Color

"Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky."

- Rabindranath Tagore

{Image via Google Images}

What a terrible name for such a delicious food and gorgeous color.

Come on! Egg-plant?!

Last week they were on sale at our grocery store and we bought half a dozen and made some delicious eggplant parmesan. Interestingly enough, last week I also bought an eggplant long-sleeved shirt from the Gap. Eggplant on the brain.

Here's a recipe similar to what we made and a few pieces I wouldn't mind wearing this summer that are (drum roll)... Eggplant!

Kind of pricy for a tee shirt, but I like the details.

Gorgeous dress, and modest, too :)

I practically live in skirts, and this one's on sale!

And if you haven't already seen it, take a look at Hermione Granger's... oops, I mean Emma Watson's spread in Teen Vogue. Notice a recurring color ;)?

I usually try to post about things that are a little more meaningful to me than clothing, but I really just can't help it. I am craving this color!

What colors do you crave?

Make a Wish Monday

{Brad and me on our honeymoon in the Bahamas about twenty-seven years ago}

It's been too long since I've posted "Make a Wish Monday".

I am feeling a little behind on everything... kind of reminds me of how I felt in high school math. So this week, I wish for...

A few hours alone with my husband,

not talking about bills, car repairs, insurance issues, kids (I still love you guys, just need some me and Dad time), or any of the other little stresses that take up so much precious time.

What do you wish for?

what are little boys made of ...

“A boy is a magical creature - you can lock him out of your workshop, but you can't lock him out of your heart.”

Allan Beck

"If I have a monument in this world, it is my son."

Author: Maya Angelou

“There comes a time in every rightly constructed boy's life that he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure”

Mark Twain

"Build me a son, whose heart will be clear, whose goals will be high, a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men, one who will learn to laugh, yet never forget to weep, one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past."

Author: unknown

I love my boys.