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Girlfriends ~ Inspiration ~ Silver Jewelry Treasures

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Very Pinteresting

January 27th, 2012 · Bonnie's Posts


Dear Blogoshere,

I know. It’s Friday.  It’s my day to write something, but here’s the thing.  I am deeply entrenched in another site at the moment.  Every time I sit down at my computer to tap on the keyboard I decide I better just take a quick look at Pinterest first.  You know, just to see what’s new out there, (and there is always something new) and then before I know it the day has whipped past me faster than a bee stung stallion.

If you have explored Pinterest then your head is nodding in agreement.  You too are familiar with how you can plan to have a “quick” look and then all of a sudden your spouse is locking the front door, turning out all the lights and going to bed without you while you sit, twelve hours later, bleary eyed in front of your computer with your pyjamas still on and your hair un-brushed from the morning.  Where did the day go?  Looking on the bright side, at least you don’t have to get into your pyjamas and take your make up off.

If you haven’t experienced Pinterest yet then let me tell you what you are missing! I’m only letting you in on this site so you too will fall into the grip of its addiction you will want to join and thereby learn all of its wonders and even share your own ingenuity with others.  The more the merrier! Mua ha ha! (– that’s how I write an evil laugh if you were unsure)

So what is it?

No, but seriously, direct from the site itself:

Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard.

Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favourite recipes. Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to (get distracted and lose multiple hours in a day) discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.

Who wouldn’t want to learn how to create a cool scarf out of a mans t-shirt (don’t laugh it’s your birthday and/or Christmas gift – and you’re gonna love it!), discover different and interesting ways to arrange family photos on a wall, create beautiful center pieces with dollar store items, peruse photos of really amazing homes to steal decorating ideas from, find a humorous picture that you know all of your Facebook friends will want you to share (except you rarely visit Facebook anymore), be inspired by some very fit folks, learn amazing and simple new recipes and find clever Halloween costume ideas?  I haven’t even touched on fashion and beauty tips, or art, or books or design, music and gardening. Aaargh! There are so many categories to explore and boards to examine! I don’t have time for this blogging thing at the moment.  I’m sorry but I really have to go. By all means, come and join me on the other side site if you’d like.  Follow my pins and I’ll follow yours and we’ll all be the better for it.  Heh, heh, heh (that’s how I write crazy person laugh)

I may, or may not, be back next week.  “What’s that John? You want me to make you dinner, not just repin it?…”

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Reincarnation…

January 25th, 2012 · Tracy's Posts

I recently connected with an older gentleman who openly talked to me about his life during World War II. I’m guessing he had to be in his mid 80′s, still a very handsome and charming man, a Fighter Pilot. He was a great story teller. I laughed at the look on his face when he told me he was given an axe not a gun, saying they either didn’t think he was worthy or there was a shortage! (He looked not only worthy but capable even decades later!) He bragged about how good he was at video games with flight simulator. He had all the moves the young kids couldn’t possibly know without the real experience of flying as he did in his day. He then paused in mid sentence trying graciously to hold back tears, apologizing for his moment of weakness, as his eyes welled up when the memory of his best friend came forth. His best friend didn’t make it home. I could have stood for hours listening to him relive moments in his past, but his wife subliminally beckoned his return and he didn’t want to keep his love waiting too long. As he spoke I could feel the love he felt for her, having met her in such an unsettled time. He still did not take his love for granted. His eyes were kind and heart was full.

There are only two times in life that I can think of when we seriously think we may never see our partner again. War and Surgery. War unfortunately involves both in many cases. He was fortunate to return but not without loss. War is not kind to love or friendship.

My recent two part post, Past Lives and Past Lives…part two was a story based on my experience with regression. Regression is a method of hypnosis which leads you into a meditative state where you are guided to explore possible past lives. I don’t know if I believe I was regressed or not. Not only was it 18 years ago, I could come up with a romantic story while standing in line at the coffee shop let alone in a relaxed hypnotic state of mind. It’s just who I am.

Do you ever wonder what lies deep beneath the surface of who you are? Do you think it’s simply genetics with a little learned behaviour thrown in for good measure, or is there much more to it than that? Are you open to the possibility of having lived past lives? Do you believe in reincarnation? Do you think it is possible under the right guidance to go back to see what was? I have always been intrigued by the possibility of reincarnation, perhaps because I don’t believe that this could possibly be it, it can’t be that simple…can it?

Watch this video and tell me what you think? It has to make you question who you are.

The photo I used from above I found while searching for a photo that would remind me of the man I spoke with, it is of Edward Butch O’Hara. If you want to read a story which I found interesting click on the name. You never know what you will find on the net. Love it!

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Bathroom Reno

January 23rd, 2012 · Jacquie's Posts, Tossed Salad

No, this is not my finished bathroom. This is what is known as an inspiration photo, if you will. An image one can dream about and one day hope to realize after slogging for endless months through wafting and settling drywall dust, itchy tile mortar and stacks upon stacks of accumulating bills. This should be ‘The End Result‘.

In reality…this is what I have…

At least it’s not still this…

We have the mini slate wall tiles up too!

I know it might be better to wait until everything is completed and have a big reveal instead of just showing the work in progress, but, I thought if I have to live through this mess then I’m taking you all with me. If I have to wait, you’ll have to wait. It’s torture (I exaggerate and apologize to those who have experienced real torture). We’re getting some professional help with certain things, like the tiling and some of the drywall, but most of it we’re doing ourselves so progress is slow as molasses. Luckily we have a backup bathroom or two upstairs or things would have gone really ugly fast.

So, I have to keep looking at my vision board photo of my future bathroom to remind myself it’s all worth it (and much as I complain, I do love a good, creative project).

Til next time,

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Svaha Sunday Series ~ Aurora Borealis

January 22nd, 2012 · Bonnie's Posts, Svaha Spirit Series~Sunday

Few things take our breath away so easily, so seamlessly as images of our world. Sit back for the next two minutes and let the spectacle of our cosmos fill your senses. The deep emotional relationship we feel to our planet is evident. (Quoted directly from KarmaTube – they said it so perfectly!)

Aurora Borealis in Finnish Lapland 2011 from Flatlight Films on Vimeo.

Happy Sunday everyone!

Svaha!

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Are You Injured…Again?

January 20th, 2012 · Bonnie's Posts


Bonnie: “Did you just hurt yourself?”

John:  “No…a little bit.”

Bonnie:  “Are you bleeding?

John:  “No.”

Bonnie:  “Why is there blood dripping off of your hand?”

John:  “What? Oh…nothing.”

Bonnie:  “Do you want me to get you a bandage or a towel or something?”

John:  “No, I’m fine.”

The above conversation has happened more than once.  The end result can range anywhere from a sliver in his finger to a hospital emergency room visit.  I never know which way it is going to go in the beginning.  I have to become a stealth spy.  I can’t rush right over to look because he gets annoyed and tries to hide the injury even more.  He once hid a swollen infected thumb from me for days before I dragged him, kicking and screaming, to a doctor’s office.  (That injury resulted in a hospital stay…while we were on vacation in Mexico)  True, there have been some false alarms, like the time the white of one of his eyes went entirely red because a blood vessel burst and I rushed him to see the doctor who said “A blood vessel has burst. Leave it alone, it will heal on its own.” Still, it was his eye! Some things should have a professional opinion!

Anyway, back to the scene of the injury.  I have to be sly and sneaky in my approach.  I let him think he is walking past me without being noticed.  I pretend to be studying something in my hand.  I have learned to scan his whole body for evidence of injury without lifting my head and actually looking in his direction.  Then, when I can’t discern anything out of the ordinary, I go into full Nancy Drew mode and start looking for clues at the site of his last job.  What tools was he using?  Which tool looks as though it’s been dropped in mid use?  Are those droplets of blood or just wood stain?

I should also admit that I’m always mad at this point.  I’m mad at him for not being honest about what he has done to himself, I’m mad that he’s gone and hurt himself again, and I’m mad that I’m imagining the worse when it could be nothing at all or I’m imagining it’s nothing too serious when he could be passed out on the floor of the bathroom from loss of blood.  I’m mad because I just don’t know what’s really happened and I’m mad because I don’t really want to know.  I get queasy at the sight of blood and for some reason when someone I love hurts themselves…I feel it…physically.  I take it on.  If they stub their toe, my toe throbs for them, if they bang their thumb with a hammer, my thumb will ache all the way to my shoulder.  All of this just makes me cranky and, come to think of it, snarly.  What happened to sympathetic you ask?  Well that comes a little later, after I have a handle on the extent of the injury and I know what I’m dealing with.

So it’s:

  1. Accusing
  2. Sly and sneaky
  3. Angry
  4. Queasy
  5. Cranky
  6. Snarly
  7. Sympathetic

In that order.

Ok, so I’m starting to understand why he isn’t as forthcoming as I’d like him to be when he first hurts himself.   I imagine his thought process probably goes something like this:

  1. Ouch! I’ve hurt myself. (I’m keeping it G rated)
  2. Damn, I’m bleeding.
  3. Don’t let her see.
  4. Deny. Deny. Deny
  5. You can’t see my injury if I sneak by you.
  6. Oh, oh. I’m in trouble now.
  7. Why, sure you can rub my back and fetch me things because you feel sorry that I hurt myself.

So there you have it.  This is what happens in our house when John hurts himself; which, by the way, happens too frequently in my opinion.   C’mon man! I love the skin you’re in.  Please stop carving puncturing burning ripping slashing breaking hurting yourself.  What’s yours is mine remember.  :)

 

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Past Lives…part two.

January 18th, 2012 · Tracy's Posts

Past Lives…part one. (last weeks post)

Past Lives…part two.

I felt a tear slowly forge a path down my cheek as her hypnotic voice asked me to move forward in time once again. I didn’t want to move forward, I wasn’t ready to face my fear. I kept looking back, drawn to my past, to him. I grabbed onto a thought that would make my heart beat again. With every ounce of my subconscious strength I held onto the energy of the man who captured my heart. I felt alive again.

He walked toward me, glistening with sweat from working hard in the field. His walk commanded my attention, taking my breath away. In slow motion his strong hands reached out and cupped my jaw on both sides slowly bringing me close enough to feel his breath on my mouth. He stared deep into my soul, taking me to a place I had never been with any man before. Like a tornado he stirred every emotion in my body spinning me out of control with no conscious thought. He had such passion and want in his eyes. Nothing could break through the spiritual connection we were creating in that moment. I would remembered it for eternity.

I heard her soft guiding voice in the distance, muffled like I was hearing it through the wall. She kept repeating the same words over and over. I was lost in my story not wanting to come back up the spiral staircase to reality…she gently repeated “You need to move on, if you don’t you won’t find the answer you are looking for”.

I hesitantly moved forward in time and found myself standing in a familiar spot. I looked towards the tree up on the hill where our son was sitting quietly looking into the vibrant green canopy of leaves that were ready to burst with new life. It was spring again, my favourite season. The breeze was cool this time, fresh subtle fragrance filled the air. The birds were oddly quiet as if they knew what was about to come…

The distant rumble was clearer than any other time. I was waiting for it, anticipated it. I sensed the moment my eyes opened that morning that this was the day. I walked as if in a procession to greet the gentleman who had brought my letters of love in the past. He couldn’t hide his emotions. His eyes told me my heart was about to be shattered into a million pieces. He surely would not have wanted to be the one to deliver this letter, I was thankful it was he who did.

I stoically held my head high as he softly placed the letter in my hand. I closed my eyes to recalled his scent so he could stand next to me and give me his strength. His energy was not within the folded corners. My nose touched the unfamiliar penmanship. His scent, absent. There was nothing. As the tears rolled down my cheeks I opened the handwritten letter to face my biggest fear. I saw words such as brave, strength, respected, sincerely, hero and then I heard his voice faintly whisper the word s-o-r-r-y into my ear.

Our son stood behind me silently with tears flowing down his flush cheeks. We stood with arms wrapped tight around one another, not a word was said. We were all we had left. I felt the presence of his strength circle us as we sobbed silently. I was grateful in that moment to have him in my arms with the same blood pumping through his veins as his father. He would be my forever now.

 

 

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Feng Shui Energy Centers in Your Home

January 16th, 2012 · Jacquie's Posts, Tips

After heading off to bed later than usual last night, I debated whether or not to tuck into the next chapter of my Feng Shui Your Life book or continue on with the really good novel with the embarrassing bodice ripper cover art. Those who know me know I don’t do cheesy literature…unless you’re talking anything from the Twilight series…but I found this book in a thrift store and, because it had an historical reference that intrigued me, I bought it.

I decided to go for the Feng Shui because I’m now getting to the real meaty stuff. The information I was hoping for, like, how to lay out furniture and accessories to bring the best energy into my home and where those energy centers are located. Without trying to explain it here, let’s just say I’m kind of excited by the process.

You basically make a sketch of your home, lay down a 3×3 grid called a Bagua over top of it and see where the energy centers fall. My dining room landed in the money area. I read further to find out how I can fluff up the energy in this room to help the money to flow and found out I could put a little fountain in the corner. This explains why Chinese restaurants usually have fountains (in the more upscale ones) and aquariums somewhere near the entrance. Oh, and add goldfish and your life is golden!

It was cool that my bathrooms are in the creativity centers considering I’ve done very personal mosaics in one and the other is undergoing a reno of my design right now. I also like to read in the tub and get ideas for art projects in there when I’m…thinking. Bathrooms are, apparently, the biggest energy drains of all. To counterbalance this, one must keep the toilet lid down when not in use (duh), make sure all taps are drip free and the bathroom door is closed at all times. We don’t want our money, good fortune, love life or career going down the pipes, now do we? No, we don’t.

Every area of your house corresponds to a different energy center. It’s why you feel more productive doing paperwork in the family room instead of that great new office you just had built upstairs. It’s why a TV in the bedroom interrupts the ‘love’ energy…because the TV is best suited to the ‘family’ or ‘wisdom’ center (depending on the kind of shows you watch).

I’m nowhere near understanding all of this but, like The Secret or The Laws of Attraction, I’m willing to see how I can make it work in my life. I posted yesterday about the 10 Top Tips to Feng Shui Your Home. Even if you don’t think clean windows allow more positive, healthy energy into your house, at the very least you’re left with clean windows!

I’m looking forward to finding a pretty little fountain to plug into the dining room so I can hear the tinkly sound of coins water throughout the day.

(Click on the chart above and it’ll take you to a site called Easy Feng Shui if you want to really understand how the Bagua works)

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