a bit of fun ~

thanks to those who read my LONG post... i just get concerned about self-care... it wasn't meant to be preachy, just thought provoking... i have been known to stop my walks for months at a time... but i try to get going again... anyway - 

'one person's crazyness 

is another person's reality.'

~ tim burton

have you ever heard of woot shirts? every day there is a new one - the one for the day is $10 with free shipping -  and they are so fun and creative... it's about all em wears, and the boys are on board with them too... (i am not selling these or advertising for anyone... we just love them and i know sometimes you can be racking your brain for creative-type gifts...)

this is a family favorite - 'donut panic' ... 

how about 'zombie candy corn'?
went into the city yesterday and it was great... fao schwartz, macy's herald square, rockefeller center... 

we also saw a sign for ~

that is for over the break...
off to get some things done - tempus fugit (boy, oh boy, does it!)

the greatest gift of all ~

'self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin 

as self-neglecting.'

~william shakespeare

right, you've heard this quote from me before... and we are revisiting, but with a different slant... 


because we really do need to have this talk ~


the other day, akilah started a convo about health, citing the need to take care of one's physical self... too too true... whether one is very overweight, struggling with an extra 10 lbs, or even underweight - you have a need to care for yourself... let's take it a step further - how is the health of your mind and spirit? because they are all connected... 


like you, i can rattle off what size jeans i was able to wear or what weight i was at different milestones in my life ... but you know what made me really sad? (and i swear i keep these opinions to myself because i was an anorexic teenager - got myself down to 69 lbs at age 14 by eating 1/4 cup of cottage cheese -measured- for breakfast and dividing a can of string beans between lunch and dinner... i have no recollection of about 9 months during that time... and i absolutely cringe at what i put my family through...) my daughter passed her road test yesterday - she got her license, a really exciting milestone, right? but she was in a bit of a funk because she felt that her face looked fat in her picture... and i felt so sad... emily happens to have a chronic illness that requires her to be on a number of meds, one of which is prednisone... and that can make one's face fuller... she was actually crying on the car ride home... 

this happened right after i had read akilah's post in the morning... so we came up with a plan... a 3 month goal... to start doing the treadmill... getting exercise will be good for her physically but will also trigger the production of endorphins - good for her mental health... but that is 2 sides of the triangle... and maybe that time will free her mind for a bit - good for the soul... 

how many times do you avoid the camera because you aren't happy with the way you look in pictures? have you considered that your kids/friends/family may really wish someday that they had pictures of you? or do you have pictures where you miss the joy of the occasion and focus only upon what you feel is a 'bad' picture of you? life is waaaay to short for this... 
so let's go back to those who are very overweight, a bit overweight or underweight... each person struggles... even the person at the right weight may be struggling... we are talking about wellness... not cat walk ready... if you exercise, you get toned... you may have curves, but they will be the right kind... 


society has imposed almost unattainable definitions of beauty... can we see it for what it is? can we decide that health is more important than the size of your clothes?


in the mental realm we have destructive, negative thoughts - the very overweight may feel that they are too far gone to make a change, it may just feel too daunting... the struggling with 10-15 lbers may be so tired of having weight be an issue that they just want to throw in the towel and forget it... and the underweight may be fearful of gaining... clothing is shown on rail thin models... all unhealthy thoughts... some people may feel disgusted by themselves, some may not look in the mirror when naked or even clothed, some have made serious suggestions to apparel stores to consider putting dimmer switches in the dressing rooms (truth), some feel revolted at themselves because of what they may have or have not eaten... and none of them like themselves... 


spiritually healthy? no way!


where is the self-love, the self-acceptance?


how about understanding that as we age, our bodies change? maya angelou has a great one on that... i hit about 42 and my body decided that it was really just time to shake things up a bit... i had (kind of) figured out a way to maintain (for the most part) my weight... and then ~ well, i guess my body figured things had gotten too predictable... that i had a system for a good number of years (and through the births of 3 children) and it was just getting BOOORING... and you know how i talk about opportunities for growth through challenge, right? i got one!
where is the desire to just be healthy for health's sake - for your sake... which in turn benefits those you love...


what if, most of the time, you try your best? not because it is a new year's resolution, not because a reunion is coming up & not because you have a 6 month goal to be able to wear shorts or a bathing suit next summer... 


what if right now, you realize that your body is an engine? that if you give it the fuel it really needs then you feel better, think clearer... enjoy life more... 


what if you think about this - we eat to live, not live to eat... (once told to me by my uncle, a professor of nutrition at purdue - practical people my relatives!)


how about you set yourself some realistic goals? 


and how about, if you have a free day and eat whatever you like every now and then, you don't beat yourself up about it... i know a woman who runs so she can have her ice cream each night... there are people who give themselves a day off once a week... whatever works for you... 


it's not about dieting, remember? it's about health... dieting makes people think of deprivation... being healthy shouldn't... whole wheat over white? chicken over beef? low-fat products over full fat? some vegetarian substitutes? maybe parking your car further away from a store? days when it is raining don't count... this one is easy for me, i have a suburban and only like pull-throughs... pretty simple really... it's a matter of habit and execution of the plan... 


if you get outside for 10 minutes a day you will get yourself the natural vitamin d that your body needs (it increases the absorption of calcium and phosphorus **important**), you will also get some fresh air, and some exercise... you will feel better... you may even feel at peace taking in what nature has to offer... 


if you set exercising for 30 minutes 3x/week as a goal, you may be so pleased you will do more... you may look forward to 'your' time (and get a little grumpy when you cannot get it)... away from the noise, the shoulda's, the laundry!


you may come up with some great ideas that in the busyness of our days you might have never had... 


i love to walk outside - and i love walking outside in winter more than in summer (not a heat person)... i have walked in the negative temps... but the point is, getting outside for a walk connects you to what the weather is, where the seasons are at... noticing leaves changing, snowflakes falling, first daffodil bulbs, birds chirping from nests... 


we live in such a climate controlled world that i think it throws our eating out of whack as well... fruits and certain veggies grow in the summer because that is what our bodies need at that time of year... lighter foods! we eat heavier foods in the summer when we live in a.c. controlled homes & workplaces... the heavier foods are there for a reason as well... 
things are just a bit off kilter... 


kiss (keep it simple stupid) principle applies... 


do some people eat for comfort? you bet... wouldn't it be nice, if other stress relievers could be found? a walk around the block maybe?


you would be caring for yourself - showing yourself some love... you deserve it, you know... 


how about that being a resolution this year? being good to yourself? your whole self... 


something new you want to learn or read? great... maybe you can listen to an audio book while you walk... 


so don't forget to care for yourself... and ~

'don't forget to love yourself'

~ soren kierkegaard

 like i tell my kids, you are the only you there is... applies to adults too - we just forget sometimes... 

one day, one moment at a time

started drizzling today, but we hit the christmas tree farm near our home...  the kids had more fun looking at the baby trees then they did looking at one for our house! charlie brown trees hit a soft spot in our house!

'how often has the christmas tree

afforded me the greatest glee!

oh christmas tree, oh christmas tree!

much pleasure though can'st give me.'

get in touch with your senses this season - smell, touch, see, hear & taste all of the wonders of the time... allowing yourself to be in touch with the 'present moment blessed moment'...

'something good will happen to me today'

i read on a post somewhere in blogland that one should say this each morning... like a mantra... if you think about it logically, naturally it will come true... there are no surprises or miracles here... 
it's just a matter of seeing it! for surely, no matter what kind of day you have, something good does happen!
even on your most drawn out, dragged down day - something good happens... and if you cannot find it, then just remember - you helped the trees today just by breathing! you had a positive impact upon the environment and that is good for you... or in the craziness of the season with people as distracted as they are, you made it home safe and sound at the end of the day... at some point though, someone must have made you smile, or been kind... did they hold the door for you? did you hold the door for them?

'in the depths of winter i finally learned

there was in me an invincible summer.'

~ albert camus

'winterberries' was inspired by gorgeous silvered ivory glass by cindy gimbrone... it has been combined with copper, brass and sterling chain... like berries on a vine in winter, the headpins wrap around fibers and ribbon... a free form cluster hangs within a domed etched copper disc... 

'our life is composed greatly from dreams, 

from the unconscious,

and they must be brought into connection

with action.'

~ anais nin

'the interweaving' are textured, torched and colored copper woven with sterling wire around recycled banana fiber... i thought the purples were quite dreamy looking... i chose turquoise for its healing properties - and really, lapis seemed too obvious... i like the serenity of the green with the purples/pinks/blues... 

be on the lookout!

something good will happen to you today - 

just perfect -

when my son was young, i had nurses in my home 12 hours a day... naturally we became very close and would give each other gifts... there was one nurse who taught me the most wonderful lesson... she would give one perfect thing... and it wasn't necessarily big, it was always so thoughtful and 'just right'... i had always made people gifts, but somehow thought it was never enough... but she shone a light on the whole gift-giving dynamic for me... and i will be forever grateful... 
in this blogging world we become close to people... and all around us we see people sending off gifts to each other - a very generous group that loves to share... nurturing & supportive... i recently did a swap with cindy... and what she sent took me right back to that nurse... don't we want our gifts to be reflective of thought, of something personal and meaningful? well, cindy didn't have anything available in a shop... and i thought she just HAD  to... 

wordy block earrings

and now she does... what is really neat is that she explores so many different media... handcarved stamps, jewelry, polymer clay, felting, etc...  i really encourage you to take a look - and ask her to make more! i can see those printings on canvas turning into a version of prayer flags when strung along a string...
i am going to share a wonderful quote from her etsy shop - alchemy of life...


"You must understand the whole of life,
not just one little part of it.
That is why you must read,
that is why you must look at the skies,
that is why you must sing,
and dance,
and write poems,
and suffer,
and understand,
for all that is life."
J. Krishnamurti


best luck cindy on your new journey!

be still

'courage doesn't always roar. 

sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end

of the day saying, 

'i will try again tomorrow.''

~ mary ann radmacher

it's there if you listen earrings... calming, empowering... wear your affirmation to grow quiet and listen to your inner voice...

'listen' is set in resin with a concave surface as one has to turn inside and dig deep at times... the paper was left unprotected and so is a bit darker - also reflecting quietude... 

'voice' has been preserved with some dried seeds... seeds to remind you of your potential for growth and of opportunity... use of faceted african opal (which is just so very beautiful), vintaj brass and bezels from objects and elements... 

this can be an overwhelming time of year... while joyous, it also places upon many extra demands created by heightened expectations... it can be hard to get through the day and when the day passes you merely feel like you have one less to accomplish your goals... take a moment, be still, breathe... enjoy what the holiday season really means to you & set aside all else for just a bit... 

mission accomplished!

'always do what you are afraid to do.'

~ ralph waldo emerson

it all started here... with the making of a bezel from copper pipe and sheet... and then, a trip to my grandparents' home...when erin issued her challenge - 'inspired by hardware stores' - i knew i wanted in... my first thought was of my dad and grandfather... sir fix-a-lots for sure... so i went in search of something interesting...

 

what i found was these - hold-tite numbering tacks made in 1948... i knew they would fit beautifully in the bezel... for which pipe and solder fit the challenge already!

in preparation for the resin, i also made some headpins... they seem to be all over the place and were perfect for my love of words... i had such a hard time ripping a page out of a book, really... but i did copy them and put them back in it!

ice resin takes 3 days to cure... that means by tomorrow night these will all be done... i have things i want to try with them, but still have to wait... 

what couldn't wait was my entry for erin - the deadline was midnight tonight and the daylight only really lasts until about 4pm for photographing... 

this necklace really became about my grandparents... i was so happy that my first object put into resin was the number 40... they were married in 1940 and without them, none of us would have been here... i was really lucky to have grown up 2 blocks from them - because of this they are/were indescribable anchors... the weight of the pendant is, i think, reflective of this... certainly i would not be who i am today without them... it would have been very easy to go vintage/soft on this... 

but because of the people they are/were, it just didn't fit... what worked were strong colors and stones with healing properties... the fabric of life as woven daily thru joys and trials... a wrapped ring connector to symbolize that as we go through things together we become ever more closely joined... they were ethical & practical people who taught me so much... liberal in their thinking, fair minded... my grandmother took me to register to vote the day i turned 18 yrs old, embedding in me the importance of that privilege... my grandfather called himself my taxi driver... for after he retired, it was often my abba that i called when i needed a ride or was sick at school... i was constantly at their house as it felt just as much home to me as where my nuclear family was... gram helped me make my freshman prom dress and a prairie skirt... and the engineer who graduated from m.i.t. baked... it was in their home that holiday memories were cast in stone... and  where ideas were discussed, never gossip... 

thanks, erin, for this great opportunity...