Holidays

It was a great weekend with the families. We brought our babies with us and they really enjoyed the extra space to run around. Heidi and Ollie particularly liked these grassy reeds that they were allowed to shred and pounce on and mince to pieces.

Even ol' Coug seemed perky and appreciative of all the festivities. Here he is showing off his uber relaxation. Can you believe that belly?!

And, once home again, we set up our own little Christmas tree. I was so excited to be able to have one of these beautiful rosemary bushes! I've been admiring them for years. Daniel named him Harold. I have to admit, I was a bit nervous for Harold because Oliver LOVES to chew on plants. But, I was hoping since Harold tasted a little spicier than most plants that Oliver wouldn't appreciate that. Sure enough, as Oliver bit Harold and made a sour face, I felt at peace knowing that we would enjoy our little Christmas tree all through December!

Joie De Vivre

I don't really know how to pronounce it but this is my favorite tea when the chilly weather sets in: Genmaicha. Mmmm. My german girlfriend introduced it to me (without even really knowing it) after she had gotten a few bags of it from her sister in New York. Its really earthy and nutty and, mmm, perfect.

Brewing in my french press. If you don't own one I highly recommend it because it makes a little task like this so much fun! And its great for teas and coffee. :)

My steaming cup and a little people-watching out my window. :) Perks of being in the city.

In spirit of: GRATITUDE

So, I accidentally came across this book in my library called Treasury of Spiritual Wisdom: A Collection of 10,000 Inspirational Quotations By Andy Zubko. I loved the thoughts that were in it and I decided to buy it for myself. In 10,000 quotes you can probably imagine that it covers a huge range of topics. I wanted to start blogging some of them once a week and I was trying to decide on a day that would be really nice for a little uplift. I figure, since many people do something on the weekend to renew their faith or spiritual awareness and mid-week we often feel a little forgetful or soggy, that Wednesday was the perfect day for a little reminder and a boost.

I plan on randomly opening the book to a topic each week and seeing where we land. Quite fitting that I just opened to....

GRATITUDE

We are, thankfully, again, in the season where we take time to draw our awareness to those things we are grateful for, to give show others our appreciations and to conciously create conditions to be thankful for in each moment of our days.

Now, given the "tough economic times" these days, it is really easy to understand how folks could feel a little like their list of desires is a lot longer than their list of things to be grateful for.

And following that thought...a little divine interjection for me and you. So, as I was thinking of how grateful I am to have been able to visit, this year with my husband, Plymouth, Massachusettes, the Mayflower II, and Plymouth Plantation and learn more about our history, I decided to search for a photo of the Mayflower. While posting it here on the blog I accidentally stuck it in the middle of the word GRATITUDE, which made, ATITUDE. I've heard, before, the phrase "attitude of gratitude," and this moment here caught my attention and reminded me of that in a stunning way. Is it not so true, the difference between fulfillment and not is really in our attitude? Having something to be grateful for is really a mindset, not a specific state of having (for lack of a better phrase). If nothing else, each one of us could pause and become thankful for the state of being on earth, a spirit in a living body, able to experience a lifetime's worth of human experiences. How fabulous of a gift?! So, cheers to sharing that gift with all of you. I am grateful for that.



When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilage it is to be alive--to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love...
- Marcus Aurelius

None is more impoverished than the one who has no gratitude...Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy...
-Fred Van Amburgh

Seeing a glass half empty is resentment; seeing it half full is gratitude...
-Anonymous

If the only prayer you say in your entire life is "Thank You," that will suffice...
-Meister Eckhart

There is an inherent law of mind that we increase whatever we praise. The whole of creation responds to praise and is glad. Animal trainers pet and reward their charges with delicacies for acts of obedience; children grow with joy and gladness when they are praised. Even vegetation grows better for those who love it...
- Charles Fillmore

Most people don't realize the good they had until they lose it, and by then it's too late...
-Anonymous

Praise expands everything. People, plants, children, animals, even inanimate things, respond to praise. I cannot tell you how, but try it for yourself. If you want more of anything, praise and give thanks and you shal have it...
- Sue Sikking

It is impossible to be negative while we are giving thanks...
-Donald Curtis

Some people complain because God put thorns on roses, while others praise Him for putting roses among thorns...
- Anonymous

Wise Woman...

I wish you a beautiful weekend!

Making up costumes...

My cool mom and dad (the two on the right) looking snazzy in their costumes. So cute, they really did put in a good effort this year. No grumpy scrooges this year for Halloween! So Daniel and I were invited to a costume party on Halloween this year, and D was pretty excited to dress up but I really wasnt feeling it after the move. I just wanted to sleep for days...well, I wanted to go see everyone but I wanted to skip the costume party...unless mine could be my pajamas. :) D wouldnt have it, and neither would my mom. I had absolutely no creative energy....scratch that, energy left at all so I was lucky when my sister decided that she needed help designing her mermaid costume and we were going to do that at JoAnns.

She was hoping to be more of a of grunge-type, barnacle encrusted, natural sort of mermaid. It was actually fun!

We found a really great green stretchy velour (?) type fabric that we could wrap around her waist and cut into strips to tie at the side - looking like seaweed! Super easy too! Then we took two different sheer, tulle-type fabrics in taupe and brown colours and layered and tied them over a tank top to make her upper body and fins in the back.

The colors were less sparkly than the turquoise bright ones that Ariel or other disney mermaids wear but they ended up being really beautiful together...kind of the opposite of what she expected. We found little gold/pearlescent shell-looking chips and decided to use elmers glue to put them all over her body and face to look like barnacles. It was such a neat idea and really fun. And those turned out to be the most noticed and appreciated part of the costume on Halloween. A little bit of hot glue, an old ring, a few saftey pins and some sea shells and we were done! Super cute idea for anyone wanting a homemade, cheap, creative costume!

The best part was that after she wore it on the 30th she was kind enough to let her lazy sister wear it for our Halloween party!

While Kendra and I were at looking at fabrics at JoAnn's D was running around looking for idea for his own costume. He would pop up enthusiastically, show us an idea and dart off again to find more goodies. He was really cute and I was, again, impressed with his creativity. His Batman costume was born from a childsize Batman mask he found at JoAnns. He also decided to buy this really great shiny black material to make the rest of the face mask and his cape...he sewed it all himself too. Check out how creative he was with his underarmour underwear and tshirt, a belt, his bike pants, and (the best part) his little black work shoes. :) So cute! He had so much fun. And everyone wanted a picture with Batman :) Superheros are always a great way to go. Everyone loves them!

My first walk in our new neighborhood...

The first Saturday we were in our apartment I decided to take a walk through the mall to see what kind of businesses and people were in the area. I am really suprised by the treasures I am finding around this city. There seem to be a lot of unique, creative people with good ideas who are sharing a lot with the community. I found an organic co-op about 7 minutes away (by foot!!! so exciting to be able to walk places!) and I bought Daniel and I some Kombucha to balance out our stressed and pressed little bodies. It was delicious and fun to be able to suprise him with that. :)

I also found a cute vintage shop with lots of jewelry called Vintique and took an hour or so to talk with the owner and play with the jewelry. So many really cool pieces. I found these earings and I knew we were meant to be together as soon as I saw them! Ha, ok, so seriously, I never buy gold. I used to love it when I was younger...when I had these gold skinny hoops that I wore everywhere. So when I loved these, I thought, doesnt happen very often! Unfortunately the really nice consignment shop down the way from me was closing but I did get a great deal from it. I found this winter white sweater and bronze purse... and they were 75% off!

The Place We Call Home...

"Lincoln Park" as Daniel calls it. It's really Bronson Park but Lincoln spoke here 4 years before he became president. How amazing to imagine him giving a talk here in the park. History is so romantic! Do you ever feel enchanted by such things? The holidays are starting here! Last week all the flags were changed and the trees were decorated with lights...those really great LED ones...so sparkly and pretty!
Walking mall and Kalamzoo Valley Museum, all right out our door!

Thats me in our window!

Hugging a sweet LuLu B :)

My super orange kitchen. Its interesting that we picked this place considering I feel orange is really best left to pumpkins and squash.

The free-standing "closet" my sweet and handy husband built for me...since we only have ONE tiny working closet.

These are photos from the day or two after moving in...not much decorating had been accomplished yet. Those fine little touches that I love to spend time on hadnt happened yet. But it was a great start!

A New Home...Another New Home

With Daniel's new relocation to "Kzoo" we had to find a new home. We've never lived in the downtown of anywhere, so we are super excited! We love our new home :)

The market! Right outside our door!
A beautiful park and the place where all the festivals are held in the summer!

The Art of Living...

"I like to think that in France there is a sixth sense a French sense.

There is a certain something about the French and the style in which they live that creates a unique ambience.

Their success lies in their inherent ability to blend all the senses, which makes for a life that is filled with emotion and a life which is forever stimulated.

Ambience permeates every aspect of French life, whether it be in private places or public places."

- Vicki Archer, FRENCH ESSENCE

I really loved who gracefully Vicki Archer described the passion French people have for developing the art of living. As I have fallen in love with French cooking, style, and cities while reading books on the French, there is one thing I have come to desire to understand, to create and embody in my life more than all the others...and that is the ambience she describes.

Have you ever experienced this?

How do you cultivate your art of living...?

Feelin' Loco for Local

Lately I have been feeling a deeper passion for locally produced goods. When we came home from Europe I made sure I hit the local farmers market as soon as it rolled around to quench my hunger. That wasnt too unusual for me but what has followed in the last few weeks has been a suprise. In the past Ive been satisified by buying my fresh summer produce from a farmers market in Oakland County but this year I had to get out and explore a little more. Amazingly enough, or rather, without trying very hard, I've run into soooo many people starting home-based businesses based on their passions which has just made my heart burst with excitement! I love watching people follow their dreams and harvesting their gifts to share with the world. It's a concept I hope will continue to spread! The whole idea does so much good for everyone. The business owner being more in touch with what "makes them tick" every day becomes supercharged into their highest effectiveness and level of happiness. Of course, we, the consumers, reap the benefits of more passionate, ethical, loving business owners and business practices, and, then, so does the economy.

Now, it's important to me to recognize that local doesnt have to mean, well, for instance, in my case, just Oakland County. It can mean all of Michigan, or, as my girlfriend said, "I'd rather buy my avacado from Florida than Mexico. I think of that as local. It doesn't even occur to me that we would be considered separate." It challenged my thinking! So, the next question is...how far is local to you?

If you are, at all, interested in some fabulous businesses popping up around Michigan (and one extra in Florida) here are just some of the ones I've personally run into and found to be led by fabulous people aspiring to loving and fabulous things for this country and its folks! Most of these are food or household products related because that's what I have been attracting the most, it seems.

OAKLAND COUNTY - ORGANIC FARMS

Shephards Farm

A very sweet little family raising a few organic chickens, a cow and a pig. Their gardens are full of fresh veggies and a few beautiful flowers. Oh, and they work really hard to split wood and have that available for us too! The best part is how flexible they are! They are open from sun up to sun down Monday-Sunday! Hmm, just for an idea, I picked up fresh garlic, red onions, butternut, acorn and spagetti squashes, a personal watermelon, a few green peppers, and some tomatoes. Delicious! http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M31698

Rocky Gardens CSA

Finding myself on an organic farm off Ormond Road on my way south from Davisburg was not something I'd planned yesterday. However, I was delighted nontheless! Especially when I met the lady owner, Diane, who was super helpful and generous. She offered us a tour of the gardens on her cute go cart and helped me to pick out some BEAUTIFUL bunches of kale (3 kinds!), basil, tomatoes, peppers, squash, and cauliflour. It was truely inspiring to see her gardens and know how they were raised. Amazing! Since its a CSA = Community Supported Agriculture, locals buy up "shares" and recieve pounds and pounds of fresh, seasonal, organic produce multiple times per month which leaves not so much for us happenstance, wanderin' folk. I got my fill but call ahead if you plan to "pop by" to see what extras she has. Or, if you like to sign up for a share, check out the website and stop by to meet the family and see the gardens. You will know for sure if you want to participate. Its a working farm, meaning each share owner puts in a handful of hours on the farm each month. I think its well worth it. A great way to connect, support a great family, and valuable principles that are hard to come by these days! http://www.homeandgardensite.com/rocky_gardens.htm

GENESEE COUNTY - 100% NATURAL CARE PRODUCTS

Fiddlebumps Apothecary - Davison MI

As if the name wasn't cool enough! This lovely lady, Miss Holly Slawter, has worked super hard to source completely natural ingredients (ie. non-synthetic, non-toxic, and no petrochemicals) her lines of Bath, Spa, Baby, Mens, Balms, and Cleaning Products. Things like, shea butter and hempseed oil for bases, essential oils like Tea Tree and eucalyptus, and natural herbs like lavendar and calendula made these special treats filled with lots of love and care! I was impressed! I saw her at the Kensington Organic Harvest Market and she is supposed to visit the Clarkston Farmers Market every Saturday from 8-1. Check her out in Clarkston or on the web @ http://fiddlebump.com/default.aspx.

OAKLAND COUNTY - BULK ORGANICS

Organic By The Case

Now this was a woman who's enthusiasm and love for what shes sharing really caught me. Her husband was one of the many people associated with GM's "downsizings" and they took their misfortune as an opportunity to delv deeper into their love - organics! Organic everything! Dry goods, personal care products, cleaning supplies! She explained that for years people would call her up and ask, "where can I buy all natural (x), or organic (y)?" Then she said, "why not take our hobby and turn it into our work? Its a valueable service!" Now Yvette and her husband have created a website where you can purchase all natural, organic bulk goods for competitive prices. In the process they support and supply items like organic whole grain pasta from Eden Organics, a Michigan based company. What a perfect pairing of ideas. Check them out @ http://www.organicbythecase.com/.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY - ORGANIC FARMS

Rainbows End Farm

So, when it comes time for berry picking I often feel a tinge of jealousy and bitterness when my mom comes home with a fresh pint of blueberries or strawberries and I have nothing. Im set on safe farming practices for the health and saftey of the farmers, the earth and myself. I love the Certified Naturally Grown practices as well as the standard Organic practices, and if you've ever heard of such a thing, Biodynamic farming. They are so good for everyone and everything involved. And Im big on concious living. It matters, to me, how I effect the world. So, that said, I have often felt sad that I didnt know where to go to find fresh picked organic or natural berries! Hopefully you will share with me in this when I tell you I was super suprised and a little bit giddy when I came across this You Pick Raspberry Farm in Fowlerville, Michigan! They seek to maintain organic practices and continue improving their soil. So exciting! They are open from dawn 'till dusk during picking season, starting after Labor Day until the harvest runs out. Check out their information on this website and get your buns over there to enjoy some FRESH FALL RASPBERRIES!!! :) For more info visit http://www.rainbowsendfarmberries.com/.

OAKLAND COUNTY - COMPOSTING

The Worms Do It

Have you ever considered making your own fertilizer from all those veggie peels and paper shreds you have around your house? Yay for composting! I know i've considered it a few times but felt a little like it was a bit complicated after reading about the different containers, and churning times, and types of worms. Well, I think there is a simpler answer! Check out how simple these two ladies have made this for us all. I met one of them at the Kensington Organic Harvest Market last Saturday and found their concept to be a really fabulous one. Straight from the words of the owners, here is their message to all of us!

"We are stay-at-home moms in Southeastern Michigan who were upset at the thought of the landfills growing around us. We were looking for a way to reduce our "footprint" on the earth. Worm composting became the perfect solution. We've found by using the worms to eat our household organic garbage the amount of food scraps going into the landfills has been reduced tremendously. Also, using the compost as a natural fertilizer reduced our dependency on chemical additives to our lawns and gardens while maintaining the beauty wanted."

Now who doesnt want to reduce the amount of garbage making toxic waste in our landfills, or have gorgeous vegetable or flower gardens made from homemade (read = free) fertilizer!?! Now, I have to admit in the past, one of my hangups was on whether it would stink like a landfill around my house if I was working on composting. To my suprise, as I checked out their worm bins I realized they didnt stink at all! One of the founders told me she keeps it right in her laundry room where its warm enough for the little guys to do their business and not freeze or fry, and that it never smells! She said, "if it smells..." and I said, "you're doin' somethin' wrong?!" She gave me a big smile and said, "yup! It's really easy. My kids love it! They always want to help out!"

Well, if your interested, here's their virtual spot. They are located in Milford I believe. Another great local with another great idea. :) I'm lovin' it!

Well, last, but surely, in my book, not least of all, is a company that I now consider local, thanks to my girlfriend. This gem isnt one I personally explored beyond what I'm about to share with you. But it sure gets me excited! No more ho-hum winter produce for me!

FLORIDA - FRESH ORGANIC FRUIT- YEAR 'ROUND

Starr Organic Produce

They host avacados, mangos, bananas, valencia oranges, grapefruit, naval oranges, papayas, pinapple juice oranges, murcott tangerines, and honeybells...just to name a few! You can order shipments in frames of 3, 6, 9, and 12 month increments or by the single purchase. They come in 10, 20, 30 lb, etc weights. Each fruit in its season. Kind of like a sweet suprise. Fresh of the *SUNSHINE* laden trees in Florida! Now thats what I call a mini-vacation! :) I'd love to bring that home! If you're as excited as I am, or even a bit curious, check out the EXTREMELY REASONALBE COSTS and fruits listed on their website! http://www.davidorganic.com/cit-fruits.jpg