My House Smells Divine

Brewin' up a batch of chai today. Plan on keeping some and giving out the rest. 

Sure do love this stuff!

Got a Heart of Stone? Watch This

Nevermind the cheezy cheese commentator, just watch this lovely video about love. A most unlikely but beautiful love.

Funky Reggae

 Had to add this one. LOVE Natural Mystic by Bob Marley. Reading about the Rastafaris today. Interesting peoples and belief system..

 


 A little funky Reggae for your pleasure...
 (I was at this show!)

Just For Today

For today, for what it's worth, life is good.

Have a great weekend, all.

Cuteness Overload

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

 My mother loved this song and sang it to me when I was a child. That and My Favorite Things. I wouldn't mind seeing Ms. Jones coming here to the Bay in April. Nope, wouldn't mind at all.

Memories, Sweet Memories

Missing my grandmother today, my lovely, warm, Italian grandmother. So what better way to go through pictures than to have Dean Martin playing in the background. Ah, nothing like my grammy and her delicious Italian cooking. I am so proud of my Italian and Irish heritage. I am looking forward to one day doing an ancestral search.

Ah, in the meantime, sway along with me and maka some anti pasto tonight!

The Purity of Laughter

The Perfect Bedtime Story, In French

A most delightful little French child tells of a most harrowing-yet-hopeful tale. Listen, enjoy, pray your future children are as cute as she is. :)

Do Re Mi

Purely delightful.

Multifarious Me

And beautiful Krisha to guide you to sleep...

Giving Thanks

Here's a little something I wrote last year about the Holiday Season, and well, I still feel this way so I thought I'd share it again. :)

Happy Thanksgiving to all - friend, foe, those I know, and those whom I do not. May we all have somewhere to be and have someone to love.

Love to all

***

This is the time of year when my very soul is enlivened by the delicious scents of cinnamon and pumpkin spice, when apple cobblers and pumpkin pies are baked in our homes, when cozy boots, sweaters, and scarves clothe us all, when Halloween, Thanksgiving (my most beloved holiday) and Christmas impend their promised magic, when luscious wreathes adorn inviting doors, pumpkins are carved and their seeds baked, and Christmas music fills the air. The weather cools promising snow angels and icicles for many, when geese leave for winter, when children giggle as they whisper their greatest of wishes to Jolly St. Nic, when homes are warmed by blazing fires, when candlelight flickers and glows in windowsills, when families walk under the night sky to enjoy the neighborhood's lights, when friends stop in to enjoy a glass of mulled wine or spiced cider, when family visits from afar, and when stockings are hung by the chimney with care. When New York City is jiving with rosy-cheeked ice skaters, when Salt Lake City bustles with excited reverence while it's lighted Temple is a beacon in the nights, when choirs raise their voices in joy and praise, when parents become suddenly secretive so as to hide their family's gifts, when life ~ even if just for a while ~ is cheerful and sweet. When we lay aside our cares and worries, when we create with gladness in our hearts the very magic the season is intended for, when we come home and warm the chill from our fingertips, when we watch a little longer the the giddy playing of bundled children outside, when we sip our cocoa and slowly savor the marshmallows just that much more, when pieces of candy canes stick to content children's smiling cheeks, and when we relax in our warmed homes while our children play in the golden and rusty leaves outside. When Halloween begs us to give a trick or a treat, when Thanksgiving reminds us what is really important, when Christmas brings it's resounding joy. When we bring glad tidings to those less fortunate than ourselves.

Oh how I wish this were so year 'round, oh how I wish. Until such a time, I will hold tightly to my season, to the cheer in which my soul so delights!

NieNie on the Today Show

Our beloved Stephanie Nielson is on the Today Show today. Please enjoy, and then go hug your loved ones!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Being Thankful

This post is a bit early this year, but, once again, Stephanie Nielson has inspired me this morning with this post.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, my favorite, favorite, favorite. The main reason for this is because there is absolutely no greed involved at any time during the celebration. It is all about the opposite of greed - being thankful. Oh how I love that!

So if I may, I would love to list that which I am so very grateful for - from the important to the not-so-important:

* My husband, through thick and thin
* Our girls, for the joy they bring
* Our home, which keeps us warm
* Our car, 'cause she's trusty
* My job, it puts dinner on the table
* My mind, it keeps me entertained ;)
* The Internet, it keeps me connected
* Seasons, for keeping life interesting
* Autumn, for the coziness it brings
* Change, for the learning
* Hardship, to better appreciate the good
* Friends, with whom to enjoy life
* My cats! No explanation necessary
* Our good country, for opportunity and safety
* Our wonderful president, for his ability and strength
* Comedy, for cheering me on sad days
* Hope, for teaching me to have it

Really, there is much more. So many little things throughout the day that make me smile for feel comforted. Since I was a small girl I have always counted my blessings. And not out of guilt or requirement or fear, but really just because I have always been blessed with the understanding that I need to be grateful for what I have. Perhaps it came out of poverty, or loss, but whatever the reason, one more thing that I am grateful for is a time where everyone gives thanks. It doesn't matter to whom, some it's to their god, for others like me it's to my family, but either way, it is a really warm feeling to know that at least for one day, people across our great country are thankful all at once.

Lastly, please enjoy this warming message from the LDS church. Thank you!

You Are The Perfect Gift To The World

The Many Benefits of Yoga

Physiological Benefits of Yoga
* Stable autonomic nervous system equilibrium * Pulse rate decreases * Respiratory rate decreases * Blood Pressure decreases (of special significance for hyporeactors) * Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) increases * EEG - alpha waves increase (theta, delta, and beta waves also increase during various stages of meditation) * EMG activity decreases * Cardiovascular efficiency increases * Respiratory efficiency increases * Gastrointestinal function normalizes * Endocrine function normalizes * Excretory functions improve * Musculoskeletal flexibility and joint range of motion increase * Breath-holding time increases * Joint range of motion increase * Grip strength increases * Eye-hand coordination improves * Dexterity skills improve * Reaction time improves * Posture improves * Strength and resiliency increase * Endurance increases * Energy level increases * Weight normalizes * Sleep improves * Immunity increases * Pain decreases * Steadiness improves * Depth perception improves * Balance improves * Integrated functioning of body parts improves

Psychological Benefits of Yoga
* Somatic and kinesthetic awareness increase * Mood improves and subjective well-being increases * Self-acceptance and self-actualization increase * Social adjustment increases * Anxiety and Depression decrease * Hostility decreases * Concentration improves * Memory improves * Attention improves * Learning efficiency improves * Mood improves * Self-actualization increase * Social skills increases * Well-being increases * Somatic and kinesthetic awareness increase * Self-acceptance increase * Attention improves * Concentration improves * Memory improves * Learning efficiency improves * Symbol coding improves * Depth perception improves * Flicker fusion frequency improves

Biochemical Benefits of Yoga
* Glucose decreases * Sodium decreases * Total cholesterol decreases * Triglycerides decrease * HDL cholesterol increases * LDL cholesterol decreases * VLDL cholesterol decreases * Cholinesterase increases * Catecholamines decrease * ATPase increases * Hematocrit increases * Hemoglobin increases * Lymphocyte count increases * Total white blood cell count decreases * Thyroxin increases * Vitamin C increases * Total serum protein increases

Benefits of Yoga Versus Benefits of Exercise

* Yoga Benefits
o Parasympathetic Nervous System dominates o Subcortical regions of brain dominate o Slow dynamic and static movements o Normalization of muscle tone o Low risk of injuring muscles and ligaments o Low caloric consumption o Effort is minimized, relaxed o Energizing (breathing is natural or controlled) o Balanced activity of opposing muscle groups o Noncompetitive, process-oriented o Awareness is internal (focus is on breath and the infinite) o Limitless possibilities for growth in self-awareness

* Exercise Benefits
o Sympathetic Nervous System dominates o Cortical regions of brain dominate o Rapid forceful movements o Increased muscle tension o Higher risk of injury o Moderate to high caloric consumption o Effort is maximized o Fatiguing (breathing is taxed) o Imbalance activity of opposing groups o Competitive, goal-oriented o Awareness is external (focus is on reaching the toes, reaching the finish line, etc.) o Boredom factor

*Lists borrowed from the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple website.

When There is No Pebble Tossed

Ripple by the Grateful Dead, one of my all-time favorite bands. Needed some Dead today.

Because of One Great Man

Today is the National Day of Non-Violence. This is because it is also the celebration of Gandhi's birth. Two great days in a row: yesterday was Vegetarianism day, and today this. Awesome. Gandhi was my first Hindu inspiration. As previously noted, I feel very connected with all things Indian, but as Indian culture is not very prominent in the States, I hadn't heard of this great man until I was in my teens. Now that I study Hinduism and Indian culture more academically, I have found it to be a pleasure to get to know this man more. The most beautiful part to me is that his message didn't die with him. Through his courage and efforts he is known, and thus his message is known. The UN recognized Gandhi's contribution to the world and has codified this day to be a national day of non-violence. I think he would be most pleased even if it is only one day. It is a start in the right direction.

Wow. Just Wow.

Something this cool couldn't even be imagined by the most creative of (earthly) minds. The Leafy Sea Dragon is my new favorite sea creature. Just fascinating and marvelous. What a beautiful world we live in.

A Message of Love

I absolutely love President Monson. If I could have the chance to sit down and have lunch with him, I would pour my heart out to him and seek his advise.