Tuesday's Treasures

You know what they say - birds of a feather......a few fun finds on Etsy! Click on the shop name under the photo.

Wild Spirits

June and Ivy

Black Baroque

Roots Jewelry

Monday Musings

Peace to each manly soul that sleepeth;
Rest to each faithful eye that weepeth...
~Thomas Moore

Reflections

"It's never too late to be who you might have been." ~ George Eliot

Saturday Simplify

Pay attention to the taste, smell, and texture of every bite for an entire meal. 

via corenutrition

Friday Food Feature

Great Spring Drink - refreshing especially with fresh spring Strawberries!

Strawberry Margarita

2 Large Strawberries

juice of a quarter of lime

1 small spoonful of powdered sugar

2 oz of tequila

dashes of strawberry syrup

Prepare in a blender with crushed ice, pour into a cocktail or highball glass with salted rim.

Thinking Green

Clothing Donations for Veterans

 Memorial Day is on Monday. We should show appreciation for Veterans each and every day and make sure they are well cared for.  Apparently, the Vietnam Veterans association will come to your house and pick up clothing and other household goods, which are sold to privately owned thrift stores. 68% of all the proceeds go to Vietnam Veterans and their families. Click on the caption under the photo to be taken to their website and lend a hand.

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

Old Red Barn by Denise Dion-Sullivan

Tuesday's Treasure

“I paint with shapes.”
—Alexander Calder

I love mobiles and found a few on Etsy that are colorful and "Calder-like".  Check them out  by clicking on the link below the photo.

The Wonderland Studio

Firth Mobiles

Skysetter Designs

Monday Musings - clever marketing

Reflections

When solving problems, dig at the roots instead of just hacking at the leaves. ~Anthony J. D'Angelo

Saturday Simplify

Don't let your fear swallow you. Label it. Observe it. Take control of it.

Friday Food Feature

Fun Food Sculptures

Check out "Fun Food Sculptures" for a bit of the unusual. Click on the caption under the photo to be taken to the website.

Thinking Green

 I am in the process of going through my bookshelves, doing a bit or sorting and creating some space. When I have books I no longer want I usually donate to the local library or church for their book sales. I recently read about a international program that collects books in good condition for literary projects around the world. Visit the International Book Project for more information and recycle those books!

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

photo by Denise Dion-Sullivan

Tuesday's Treasure

Tracey Capone Photography is a shop on Etsy with a wonderful selection of fine art photography from places and architecture from around the world. I love the Paris selections pictured below (that bike would be in front of my blue doorway). Click on the caption under each photo to be taken to her shop.

Blue door in Montmartre

Bicyclette

Monday Musings

Most of the time I still feel like I'm in my thirties, at least mentally speaking. My outlook on life continues to be one of excitedly anticipating new experiences and adventures in living. Now that I have completed school and my boys are mostly on their own, I am looking forward to the next phase of life. That is until last month when I had a physical set back that reminded me I am not in my thirties. I was bedridden for about a week or so because of problems with my lower back and sacrum. I have had chronic problems in my lower back since I was 16 and diagnosed with scoliosis. It's not severe but enough to warrant going to DO's, Chiropractors and massage therapists most of my life. It was for the most part, manageable, until five years ago when I fell down a flight of stairs and fractured my pelvis. This certainly didn't help!  As a result I often feel like a human barometer. When the weather changes, I feel it in my knee (have had surgery for sports injury) and in my lower back.  I don't like taking medication and had to take plenty last month due to severe (and excruciating) muscle spasms in my back. It was not a fun experience. 

While resting in bed and frankly, quite frustrated,  I started researching what I could do to take charge of this part of my life. I had tried traditional yoga on and off for the last five years, but found many of the postures difficult because of certain physical limitations.  While googling "therapeutic yoga" I stumbled across "Viniyoga".  There was a DVD available on Amazon that was designed to strengthen the sacrum and lower back.  Needless to say I quickly placed my order,  which arrived in a few days.   It has truly been a life saver!!

I started practicing this program daily and in less than a month feel better than I have in years. I perform the exercises first thing in the morning (often before morning coffee - big deal for me). It only takes 25 minutes so it is quick and a wonderful way to wake up. Gary Kraftsow guides the therapeutic yoga practice on the DVD. He is the founder, director and senior Teacher of American Viniyoga Institute's Teacher and Therapist Trainings. The DVD features short and simple therapeutic yoga postures which are designed to alleviate low back, sacrum and hip pain. It contains thorough and simple instruction on how to safely practice the postures, and includes three complete therapeutic practices which are presented in a class-like format with Gary verbally guiding you through each posture.  You can find the DVD on Amazon, Pranamaya,  or by visiting the Viniyoga website. I've included this link to a YouTube video  which is a short introduction to the practice. If you have any sort of back or upper body issues (there's one for the upper body as well), I strongly recommend you check out these DVD's.

Reflections

via WOA

When we face problems or disagreements today, we have to arrive at solutions through dialogue. Dialogue is the only appropriate method. One-sided victory is no longer acceptable. We must work to resolve conflicts in a spirit of reconciliation, always keeping others' interests in mind.  ~  Dalai Lama

Saturday Simplify

Perform every action artfully!

by Sofia Perina-Miller

Friday Food Feature - Childhood Memory

I remember saving pennies to visit the local candy store.  These are a few of my favorite candies of childhood - not so healthy but delicious. What are some of yours?

Non Pareils

black licorice Scotties

Yummy, but sticky

sweetie smarties

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

photo by Denise Dion-Sullivan

Tuesday's Treasures

 Powder Blue Bijoux

Facinator's are all the rage since the Royal Wedding. But they have actually been popular millinery, as have hats, in Europe for some time. Fascinators, are an alternative to a hat. They are hair adornments created on a base of  either a comb, clip or band and are usually embellished with lace, feathers, flowers and other lovely bits. I found a few on Etsy I thought were especially beautiful. Click on the caption below each photo to be taken to the shop.

YJ Design

Sheron Rose

Monday Musings

 “When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it—always.” 

Mahatma Gandhi

While reflecting on what has been happening in the world of late, I came upon this quote of Mahatma Gandhi, a man I so greatly admire. Sometimes truly inspired words, like these, give us moment to pause, bring a warmth of reassurance and reaffirmation of our faith.

Reflections ~ Happy Mother's Day

2010 -my mom with my two sons John (left) and Evan (right)

To her whose heart is my heart’s quiet home,
To my first Love, my Mother, on whose knee
I learnt love-lore that is not troublesome;
Whose service is my special dignity,
And she my loadstar while I go and come
And so because you love me, and because
I love you, Mother, I have woven a wreath
Of rhymes wherewith to crown your honored name:
In you not fourscore years can dim the flame
Of love, whose blessed glow transcends the laws
Of time and change and mortal life and death.
Christina Rossetti

Happy Mothers Day Mom! Love you mucho and Glad you're still with us! 

Saturday Simplify

Choose a negative emotion, and be aware each time it arises.  Notice everything about it, including what triggers it and what causes it to fade away. See it for what it is, greet it as an old friend and then let it go!

image via michelart.net

Friday Food Feature - Ingredient Decoder

Ingredient Decoder

I found this information on the Kashi Whole Grain website. It features the names of foods you often find on food labels but can't pronounce and wonder what they are. I found it informative and helpful, especially since I am sensitive to MSG and am presently on a gluten free diet. I hope you find it useful as well. Click on the link below the photo to be taken to their website.

Thinking Green

Bee and Bees on Etsy

It's that time of year again - gardening time. I can't wait to plant and watch the flowers and veggies grow!  Our gardens need bees to pollinate for production and growth. It's important to invite orchard mason bees into your backyard to do the job. They are safe as they rarely sting. Unlike honeybees, these bees don't make hives but seek shelter in narrow openings, such as the hollows of reeds and holes in trees. You can also make your garden more inviting by creating your own bee house with bamboo reeds.  Bamboo reeds are generally inexpensive and can be found at most home garden centers. Just cut a long piece (1/2"-3/4" in diameter) into several 6" lengths using a sharp saw. Then tie them together with waxed twine and place the bundle between tree branches so that it's sheltered. Your flowers, fruits and veggies will thank you! If you would rather buy one visit you can also support handmade and purchase from shops on Etsy. (I purchased the one above on Etsy)

other links:
Make a solitary bee house

Through My Lens - Wordless Wednesday

Red Barn by Denise Dion-Sullivan

Tuesday's Treasure

Keds in gorgeous toile

So perfect for summer! check them out at Keds for Opening Ceremony.

Monday Musings

My apologies for not posting much today but this is the beginning of the 10 day countdown to the end of school!  I am just a bit buried in finals and a term paper. Here's a bit of Calvin and Hobbes humor for all of us! Have a great week!

Reflections

The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have little." ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

Dorothea Lange