you time

Everyone deserves a little time for themselves. It’s not always easy to find it, however if we plan to keep it moving forward, every so often, we must slow down, take a few moments, and breathe. 

I don’t know what happens to our sense of well being as we get caught up in the day to day! We wake up and the next thing you know, it’s time to lay down to sleep only to repeat when the sun rises again. It is essential to our overall wellness to not only take a few moments each day to focus on breath but also to schedule longer breaks to focus on the care of mind, body, soul and spirit. So why don’t we DO IT?

Well this past Friday, I did do it, taking myself for a much needed soak in a whirlpool (I set the jets on the lowest speed so there was no noise as I cuddled up in the corner and closed my eyes, warm and cool water bubbling gently around me) followed by a delicious massage (yes, I was holding major tension) then a sit down in the relax room with floor to ceiling windows -- the better to watch the sailboats go by! 

As I got in my car to drive home not even the traffic could shake the calm in my body and soul as I remembered that I used to take time for a massage once a month; my next appointment is already on the books!

I’ve said it before, it’s worth repeating…take time for you as you do you and be you, and as you do…

keep your peepers open!®

#metime #inspiration #motivation #mindfulness #breathe #spa #doyou #bodyandsoul #rejuvenation #keepyourpeepersopen #peepthis

younger

I am approaching a big birthday and as I embrace stepping into the next decade of my life, I’m very aware of some changes I must make right now if I want to live to 103! A friend of mine suggested I read a book called, Younger by Sara Gottfried, another posted the book The Supple Body by Sara Black on her FB page after noting some major changes in her body by practicing the exercises (I guess the Sara’s have it going on when it comes to taking good care of ourselves). Anyway, I purchased both because I like the tactile feel of a book in my hands, did a quick scan through them, took the health quiz in Younger, and discovered I am in below average health, aging moderately fast!!! I was none too pleased as I am NOT below or just average!!! However, I was only 2 points below the average range. With just a few minor changes, I could move up to average, so of course my goal is to rise to and stay in the excellent category, though some of my past behaviors may prevent that; I haven’t touched a cig for 17 years, but it doesn’t matter. The fact that I smoked in my lifetime makes a difference. I remain optimistic.

Being very in tune with my body, I was more than aware of the high level of acidity in my system due to me straying and staying off the reservation over the past several months when it comes to eating. I got some advice about juice fasts from that same friend who told me about Younger. She has done and suggested I try a micro fast, which surprisingly was quite doable especially since I was on deadline for a project which kept my attention off my salty snack addiction. A few days later, I wondered if I could make it through a second try without having something to preoccupy my thoughts; happy to report that I was successful (love the cold pressed beet juice I found by Blue Print) and woke this morning feeling more energetic, lighter than I have in awhile.  

So if you need a quick pick me up or your body is feeling off because your eating is off and you need directions back to the reservation, look into a micro juice fast…it’s 18 hours and for part of the time, you should be getting in your 6 - 8 hours of sleep! Caution - Read up on juice fasts because it’s not about drinking any kind of juice, consult your doctor if you have health issues, drinking water is a must, and don’t run out to buy a juicer just yet however, be prepared to pay for the right kind of juices, they can be pricey. Good luck, make it colorful, and…

keep your peepers open!®

ps - started reading Younger and found that it tackles one thing per week food being the first; will read both books cover to cover this week to help me develop a plan for change leading up to my October celebration.

#juicefast #motivation #inspiration #younger #thesupplebody #livinglonger #bigbirthdaywishes #lifechanges #healthyeating #planforchange #keepyourpeepersopen #peepthis #queensareborninoctober

chaos?

There is nothing like the deadline of a submission to either douse or ignite creativity. Fortunately, the latter visited me when I found out the deadline for a juried exhibition had been extended, giving me time to finish a second piece (in a series of I don’t know how many that address issues affecting women) for consideration. 

I’m not used to working with a specific theme when creating my goddess or paper doll collages (see my gallery). I sit down to the table and either nothing happens and I get up OR they show up to guide me in the creative process until a figure with her message is complete. I wondered if this new creation would seem contrived since it felt like the cart before the horse choosing a topic for a piece beforehand. It was a slow go at the start. I constantly looked at the first piece, comparing, figuring if it should somehow be in conversation with what I was working on until I realized the link was established when I decided to use black and white as the backdrop for each piece and because these images are about women’s issues. Immediately the spell that has always visited me when the time is right to create inhabited my being, taking me to that place of divine focus; the image forming beneath my fingers knew how she wanted to look in order to convey her message. As I worked, a third piece began speaking (see a section of her above; the actual piece is much larger). While flipping through magazines to do what I call a “pull” to find more pictures to work into the collages, I spotted a page that sparked an idea for another issue to address, then conceptualized and have almost finished a fourth image. 

I’m in creative clutter and chaos meaning tiny pieces of cuttings are all over the floor along with magazines and torn out pages. With this state comes a glowing flow which releases worry about anything and makes me more productive in my other day-to-day dealings. I’m truly in my element doing what is intended and let me say, there is only true bliss found here, so as I continue…

keep your peepers open!®

#flowandglow #creativechaos  #creativity #creativespark #collage #collageart #womensissues #submission # deadlines #blogher #wearewomenwriting #inspiration #motivation #bliss #keepyourpeepersopen #peepthis

cake by the ocean

Well actually it was cake and cupcakes by the bay on Friday when my niece got married and became #newlyschezz and I gained a nephew in law!

Planning a wedding, like any event, is a series of conversations that involve many people and a multitude of decisions; conversations sparked with emotions that run a spectrum of the extremes; conversations marked with changes, disagreements and compromises; conversations that all share the same vision...a most perfect wedding day for two people who have chosen to join hands and walk a path together. And the planning, right up to the day of, for this wedding was no different.

However, whatever didn't go right before the I do's was long forgotten this past Friday evening when all in attendance and those who couldn't be there surrounded two people in love with love as they indeed joined hands to begin the next path on their life journeys. As I watched and listened, tears in check because this is the aunt with a camera in hand, for a fleeting moment I saw a baby in her diaper sporting the red high top Converse sneakers I had sent after she was born; time passes way too quickly.

Wishing the newly wedded a lifetime filled with #schezzmoments of #schezzblissandlove!

keep your peepers open!®

#keepyourpeepersopen #peepthis #theygotmarried #thinkimarriedyou #schezzlove #faithisaschezz #weddingplanning #marriage #wedding