Give Me a Thousand Kisses

Tuesday, February 14, 2017 No tags Permalink

Come and let us live my Dear,
Let us love and never fear,
What the sourest Fathers say:
Brightest Sol that dies today
Lives again as blithe tomorrow,
But if we dark sons of sorrow
Set; o then, how long a Night
Shuts the Eyes of our short light!
Then let amorous kisses dwell
On our lips, begin to tell
A Thousand, and a Hundred, score
An Hundred, and a Thousand more,
Till another Thousand smother
That, and that wipe off another.
Thus at last when we have numb’red
Many a Thousand, many a Hundred;
We’ll confound the reckoning quite,
And lose ourselves in wild delight:
While our joys so multiply,
As shall mock the envious eye.

-Richard Crashaw

Crashaw’s English translation is from the 1600s, but the original was Latin and written about 54 B.C.  I’m not usually for ancient poetry, but I read about a piece of jewelry that was engraved “Da mi basia mille” — Give me a thousand kisses, and I looked up the origin of that phrase. Simply lovely. 💗

What’s What

Monday, February 13, 2017 No tags Permalink

What I’m Reading: The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking “Appropriate to Denmark’s climate (and our winter), hygge is about hunkering down: It’s all candles, blazing fires, warm blankets and fuzzy slippers, reading nooks (called hyggekrog), comfortable pants (hyggebukser), wollen socks (hyggesokker) and tea.” Although, in my opinion the only comfortable parts are no pants at all.  😉

What I’m Watching: I’ve been binge watching, er, catching up on Outlander.  I was hesitant to start watching it because I thought I wouldn’t like it, but I’m thoroughly sucked in now.    I love history, but I must admit I don’t know much about the history of Scotland.  This show is beautifully done, from the casting, to the costumes, to the cinematography.  And Scotland looks like a beautiful, lush country. I’m almost done with series two and can’t wait until series three comes out sometime this year.

What I’m Listening To: I was sad to hear of Al Jarreau’s death this weekend.  I immediately thought of him singing the Moonlighting theme.  I had this as a 45 record!

What I’m Wearing: Distressed jeans, ivory tee shirt, a long blush cardigan, and a floral scarf  I’m pretending it’s spring today! 🌷
What I’m Eating: I did my lunch prep for the week yesterday, so I’m having a sesame chicken bowl with broccoli and sugar peas.  Yum!

What I’m Enjoying: The beautiful sunshine today.☀️

What I’m Sniffing: I bought a new candle this weekend and it smells wonderful.  Patchouli and amber, light on the the patchouli.

 

Before There Was You {Poetry}

Tuesday, February 7, 2017 No tags Permalink


When I use to look above
all I saw was sky;
and every song that I would sing
I sung not knowing why.
All I felt and all I thought
was only just because;
never was it ever you,
until it was all there was.

-Lang Leav

I Needed That Laugh!

Monday, February 6, 2017 No tags Permalink

I saw this and I laughed so hard! My workouts aren’t quite this bad, but some days, I really wonder. Basically, I have to not care at all how weird I look when I do certain rather unusual moves. But there are a few that even I won’t do in public. Like…frog pumps. 😉

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i love you much(most beautiful darling) {poetry}

Tuesday, January 31, 2017 No tags Permalink

i love you much(most beautiful darling)

more than anyone on the earth and i
like you better than everything in the sky

-sunlight and singing welcome your coming

although winter may be everywhere
with such a silence and such a darkness
no one can quite begin to guess

(except my life)the true time of year-

and if what calls itself a world should have
the luck to hear such singing(or glimpse such sunlight as will leap higher than high through gayer than gayest someone’s heart at your each nearness)

everyone certainly would(my most beautiful darling)

believe in nothing but love

-ee cummings

In the Name of Religion

Monday, January 30, 2017 No tags Permalink


This photo was taken several years ago at a Christmas party. I call this dear woman “Mama” although she is not my mother. She was born and raised in Iran and is a Muslim. According to our President, she is a terrorist, and would not be allowed into the United States today. Ironically, she embodies more of what we would consider “Christian” values than most anyone I’ve ever know. Compassion, kindness, and charity towards all. Muslims are being made to answer for Muslims everywhere.  But stop and think if Christians were held to the same.  History is full of atrocities committed by Christians for Christ, against not just other religions but against Christian themselves. Let’s take a look at some of them, shall we? The Central African Republic Genocide, the Native American Cultural Cleansing,the Spanish Inquisiton, and nearly everything that the Westboro Baptist Church does.

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The Good

Wednesday, January 25, 2017 No tags Permalink

We need to remember that even in these difficult times, there is still good in the world. Seek it out. Share it. Be the good. While we can’t change the entire world, we can affect our own little corner, one act of kindness at a time.

“Document the moments you feel most in love with yourself—what you’re wearing, who you’re around, what you’re doing. Recreate and repeat.” ~ Warsan Shire

25 Self Care Ideas for Bad Days

Monday, January 23, 2017 No tags Permalink

As much as we would like it to be, there’s no such thing as clear weather, calm seas, and smooth sailing forever, no matter how hard we wish for it. The fact is, life is hard work–for all of us.

The next time your life gets hard and you feel like chucking in the towel it definitely helps to remember that there are others out there having a rough go as well. And that they are surviving.

But how do they go about it? Surviving, that is?

Two words for you.

Self care.

Yeah, self-care. Something a lot of us suck at for a majority of the time, but something that is oh-so critical to surviving and thriving.

The second takeaway is this. A bunch of ideas for self-care that will help you cope when life gets hard.

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Hygge

Thursday, January 19, 2017 No tags Permalink

It’s one of those mornings when the world outside is gray, bleak, and frigid. But it’s OK because I’m inside, drinking freshly-brewed tea by candlelight, my slipper-clad feet curled up underneath a fluffy blanket . Instead of battling the elements, engaging with my inbox or arranging my schedule for the day, I’m experiencing a moment of hygge: a phenomenon first documented in 18th-century Denmark that’s been crucial to Danes ever since.

Hygge (pronounced hue-gah) is a Danish word that defies a literal translation but can be described as a feeling or mood that comes taking genuine pleasure in making ordinary, every day moments more meaningful, beautiful or special. Whether it’s making coffee a verb by creating a ritual of making it then lingering over a cup to a cozy evening in with loved ones, to the simple act of lighting a candle with every meal. Hygge is being aware of a good moment whether it’s simple or special.

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Reclaim the Truth

Monday, January 16, 2017 No tags Permalink

I started reading Brené Brown’s books after I watched one of her TED Talks.  I’m currently reading The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are. I’ve read more than my fair share of “self-help” literature, so I can assert with conviction that this book is not a  self-help book. Instead, it’s a revelation book. Each chapter triggered numerous “ah-ha!” moments for me, because Dr. Brown goes a step (or two, or five) beyond the common way of looking at or framing an issue to show the interconnectedness of elements that stall or sabotage our efforts to live a more satisfying life. Instead of the “that doesn’t quite resonate” vibe I often get from self-help books, Dr. Brown’s perspectives ring true, and she re-labels certain attitudes and experiences in a way that’s both startling and, importantly, hopeful. She gleans her insights from her research centered on living a “wholehearted” life, which grew out of her previous  study of “shame.” The results that Dr. Brown presents in this brief, easily-readable book are nothing short of fascinating, and they function not as a how-to manual for quickly fixing an out-of-balance life, but as a set of powerful tools with which to cultivate a richer, more fully engaged and connected life.

Each day we face a barrage of images and messages from society and the media telling us who, what, and how we should be. We are led to believe that if we could only look perfect and lead perfect lives, we’d no longer feel inadequate. So most of us perform, please, and perfect, all the while thinking, What if I can’t keep all of these balls in the air? Why isn’t everyone else working harder and living up to my expectations? What will people think if I fail or give up? When can I stop proving myself?

In The Gifts of Imperfection, Brené Brown  shares what she’s learned from a decade of research on the power of Wholehearted Living–a way of engaging with the world from a place of worthiness.
In her ten guideposts, Brown engages our minds, hearts, and spirits as she explores how we can cultivate the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough, and to go to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am sometimes afraid, but I am also brave. And, yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable, but that doesn’t change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.

This is the kind of book that I buy several copies and hand out to everyone that I know and love.  <3

Self-loving

Friday, January 6, 2017 No tags Permalink

“When I loved myself enough, I began leaving whatever wasn’t healthy. This meant people, jobs, my own beliefs and habits – anything that kept me small.

My judgement called it disloyal. Now I see it as self-loving.”

― Kim McMillen

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In Life

Thursday, January 5, 2017 No tags Permalink


I think that learning to roll with life’s changes has been the #1 most important life skill I’ve ever acquired. Life is full of changes. That’s a given. Being able to cope with, and even thrive upon those changes is essential.