It's About Time You Love Your Body

I'm human.  And I'm a woman.  And I live in a society obsessed with attaining the unattainable when it comes to our bodies. This is a trifecta that ferments any bud of self-acceptance that is trying to blossom into the mentality of most women.  
In the back of our minds we know all the magazines have been photo-shopped and retouched.  But we still think it's reality and we are less than if we don't look a certain way. We all obsess over clothing sizes, flat bellies, and back fat.  We agonize over out thighs fitting in to our "skinny jeans" and sigh, if not cuss out, the scale when it doesn't rest at the poundage we think we should have.
And we don't.  Because we can't. 
And so we obsess. 
We agonize. 
We compare ruthlessly, diet endlessly, negative self-talk unknowingly. 
I am sick of it.  I don't want to be distracted or tainted by this any more.  And moreover, I do not want my daughter feeling anything less than perfect and healthy.  Because she is. God help us that we continue this vicious cycle for any more generations. 

I recently got hooked on this website www.thedailylove.com .  Today that had a wonderful article by a guest blogger that inspired me.  I hope you all take a chance to read this article:  http://thedailylove.com/fall-in-love-with-your-body-now/ .
And then follow the link to this http://www.bodyheart.org/ website for an uplifting, positive body image, video montage. 
Let's do this, ladies!!!!

forever and yesterday

My dad.  It's been six months since he passed.  One moment I think about him, and his life, and it seems like just yesterday since I held his hand as he passed on in to the light.  Then, the next moment I think about him, and his life. and it feels like a lifetime ago.  Like oil and water, these two time frames don't combine.  Six months later and they still rest uneasy in my spirit.  And, as it turns out, of the subsequent feelings that come along with loosing a parent don't mix either. Sadness sinks and faith rises to the top. But if you whisk it, beat it, emulsify it-it becomes somewhat cohesive.  And it's called the emotions of loosing a parent: sadness, relief, pain, love, peace, un-resolve...you get the picture.
In this moment I feel like the oil.  Sadness sinking, clinging to my breath, the bitterness of our relationship pulling me down.  Not so much that I feel the bitterness any more, but for the loss of a father I had and for the father I needed. Again, like oil and water.  What I needed and who he was did not mix well.  And, for that, I am sad.  Our relationship never cohesive.  Separated.  Did not mix well.

I have this tiny picture on my dresser, yellowed with age.  It is of him and his two brothers on a beach somewhere, my grandpa walking in the background of the picture.  It is pure, simple, black and white, wallet size, washed with light.  I love this picture.  I love how happy all three look, even though they had a very abusive childhood.  It's this perplexing dichotomy of pain and joy, knowing the history of their painful childhood but seeing such joy in their smiles.  I love how dapper my grandpa looks in his fedora, gazing at his children. Even though he suffered the heartache of loosing all 5 of his 6 children-my dad being the only survivor to live beyond him-the love he had in his heart for them was palpable in this picture.  Today when I was dusting off my dresser and stared at this picture I thought to myself, "wow-they are all in heaven together right now, living the dream of  pure happiness and joy, peace and light".

And peace came, like warm oil, atoning my spirit.  Love is the emulsifier-moreover, the stabilizer-that makes love and bitterness, pain and joy, forever and yesterday, cohesive.

And so I accept this sadness, accept that time is warped when it comes to human emotion, and accept that life does not always give us what we need because sometimes that is exactly what we need.  But I know that peace calms sadness, and so I search for that tonight.  I catalog through my memory the good memories I had of and with my dad and let it soften the surface of my pain.

i miss you dad, and i love you very much.

Get Gorgeous, from the inside out!!!

 I recently devoured this book, "You Are What You Eat".  It basically echoed everything I believe about nutrition and eating, but it also had some amazing scientific facts and nutritional guidelines that have helped me understand further how to obtain and sustain my optimal health.  I HIGHLY recommend purchasing a copy for yourself, as it is both a wonderful reference guide and read!  My brother in law and I are huge fans of the book "Eat to Live", but I feel like this book is a bit easier to digest and offers daily food guidelines that are easier to digest long term.  While "Eat to Live" is pretty extreme, this book "You Are What You Eat" is a "living foods" diet plan, is inspirational and motivational!!!

You can also check out Dr.McKeith's website here http://www.youarewhatyoueat.com/  but I HIGHLY recommend purchasing a copy for yourself and really use it as a reference and guideline.  It has great lists inside to help you get started.  I PROMISE you, if you detox and follow this nutrition plan you will find yourself more healthy, more energetic, and feeling better than ever from the inside out!

The Flu Fighter

The Flu.  I thought I escaped it's nasty grip this year.  But alas, yesterday it hit me.  Out of no where, crept in and knocked me off my feet.  No matter how many times I verbally affirmed my health and wellness, "I am strong.  I am healthy. I am not going to get sick."-over and over again, I found myself bed ridden with a fever, aches, and chills, the whole 9 yards-the mac daddy of flu symptoms..
Being the homeopathic proactive person I am, in the middle of the night when I could muster up enough strength to get out of my bed, I chopped up a clove of raw garlic and threw it in a cup of Gypsy Cold Care Herbal Tea.  I also stuck a clove of straight-up raw garlic in my mouth and intermittently chewed down on it to release it's medicinal benefits.  Crazy? Yes.  Spicy? Definitely.  Pungent? Most certainly.  But it works.
I'm not 100% today, but I do think that the garlic works wonders.  Every time.  I believe in it.  And so that is why I'm sharing this flu fighter with you.

My medicine cabinet:

green onion

 garlic

 ginger

 white miso paste

 Broth of Wellness:
3 c water
2 Tbs White Miso Paste
2 stalks of green onion
3-4 cloves of garlic
1 stem of raw ginger

It's definitely spicy and you will inevitably sweat.  But it's a power house of natural anti-septic for your body.  And it doesn't leave you all cracked out feeling like Nyquil or some of that other junk does.
Hope this helps you in the future if the flu decided to pay your body a little visit.

Be Happy BeHealthy

Birthday Week Bliss

I turn 30 this week.  And I'm stoked about it.  

I love getting older. I'm not claiming to know it all and certainly don't have it all figured out by any stretch of the imagination.  But, there is a freedom in feeling comfortable in your own skin and realizing trying to please everyone is a never-ending battle.  

So, this week, I'm going to take the time to celebrate the things about me that make me me.  I am going to surround myself with the people I love most, and if they don't live close, I'll write them a good old-fashioned letter or give them a call.  I am going to find those peaceful moments in solitude that ground my spirit. I am going to pursue my passions, find those moments that bring me joy, embrace the good and the bad and the change that comes from it.   I am going to set my intentions to celebrate this life God's blessed me with.

One thing I tell my daughter as we reflect on our day or plan for the next, is "make every day the best day ever".  

And that's what I intend to do.  

Life is short.

Celebrate every day.

Music I've been LOVING: The Civil Wars

~harmonic heaven and acoustic bliss, enchanting arrangements, lyrical genius~ 

Pinterest Picks

(you can check out my board  here http://pinterest.com/missmollyjoy/) 

I love these pictures.  All are very different, but they each brought different emotions:

Laughter 

Peace

 Everything.  (There are no words)

I remember watching this day on the news.  I followed this story the entire time.  It was gut-wrenching.  Her daughter is the same age as my daughter-I could not imagine going through what she went through, but at the same time, I could totally identify her will to live, to thrive, and to see her daughter again.  The look on her face says a million words.  And her sister, in the background (the amazing, Lisa Ling).  I could completely identify with her every emotion as well.  What a beautiful, inspiring story.

Alright, bloggers and readers.  Go celebrate your life.  Make today the best day ever!

Thoughts for Thursday:

Some wise and inspiring words for all of us. . . 

Believe.  

And Believe in Love. 

Because when it all comes down, Love is the most important thing that ever was and ever will be.  

my mamma done gone and told me....

A few years ago, during some major life changes and struggles, my mom gave me this clipping from the newspaper.  It spoke to me and continues to resonate in me.  It was unlike my mom to give something of such sentiment.  She's not the most sentimental person at all, really, which made it even more precious to me because she knows that I am.  

I hope it resonates with you.  And if it doesn't now, maybe it will later.

~After Awhile~
After awhile you learn
the subtle difference between
holding a hand and chaining a soul
and you learn that love doesn’t mean possession
and company doesn’t mean security.
And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts
and presents aren’t promises and you begin to accept
your defeats with your head up and your eyes ahead
with the grace of an adult not the grief of a child.
And you learn to build your roads today
because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans
and futures have ways of falling down in mid-flight.
After awhile you learn that even sunshine
burns if you get too much so you plant your
own garden and decorate your own soul
instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure
that you really are strong
and you really do have worth
and you learn
and you learn…

Best. Day. Of. My. Life.

Ella.  Sweet Ella Bella.  Today is her birthday and the best day of my life.  She adorns the walls of my heart with pure joy and decorates the depths of my soul with delight.  Nothing is more fulfilling or brings me more contentment than being her mother. 
She furthers my belief in God, as I watch her grow and blossom in to this amazing person.  She is a constant miracle unfolding, a continuous gift unwrapping. 

I love you, my sweet Ella bo Bella.  You are the joy and light of my life. 

Songs 4 Saturday

Some songs that played during my hike yesterday and put a skip in my step.
Enjoy.
Skip along on your Saturday!

Props on Products

 So, my skin decided to totally freak out about a year ago.  I know I was under a lot of stress and big life changes.  But, come on.  Adult acne?  Are you kidding me?  I never had any acne growing up.  A few pimples here and there once a month, but nothing that would even consider to be a "situation".  

Well, about a year ago, my skin developed a "situation".  Not cool.  NOT COOL.  My occasional monthly break out here or there turned in to chronic break outs.  When I got a facial the esthetician told me it wasn't "acne", but in my opinion, it in the neighborhood.

After many products bought in hopes of being the wonder elixir, I found the gold ladies.  No, not literal gold, but after just a week of using these products, I could definitely see results.  I have even had comments from friends saying how my skin looks so much better.  You know those annoying Proactive commercials-ya, that's basically me except better (I've heard horrible stuff about that product I was scared to even try-like that your skin gets addicted to it, it dries it out like the grand canyon, and that it stinks super bad).  I am one happy camper with the following products. 

They are a line made in Hungary and I was introduced to them at the Spa I work at.  These ladies swore by them.  Being a product junkie and putting all my trust in the rave reviews of my co-workers, I gave it a try.  And I LOVE.  My skin has not felt better or responded more positively to a product.  

All the products are organic, made from their own bio-dynamic farm in Hungary, are hand made from cold pressed herbs, fruits, seeds, pulps, and peels.  These amazing products smell so delicious and fresh, you literally want to taste them!  You can read more about the products here http://www.eminenceorganics.com/page/index.php?nid=3 .  or come check out the products in person where I work at Soul to Soul Spa and Foot bar ( www.soultosoulspa.com ). 

Here are some of the products I love and swear by:

Eucalyptus Cleansing Concentrate

Description: Deep Cleansing & Balancing

Skin Type: Oily to combination skin types

Key Ingredients:
• Eucalyptus: antiseptic, calming and restorative agent Soap Base (free of Sodium Lauryl Sulphate): cleanses and softens
• Camphor: assists in relieving tightness or irritation
• Lavender: calming and restorative agent

Herbal Spot Serum

Description: High Potency Blemish Gel

Skin Type: Seborreic, oily, acne and blemished skin types

Key Ingredients:
• Horsetail: reduces swelling, calms inflammation
• Rosehip: Vitamin-C rich, calming
• Willow Bark: phyto-estrogens, anti-inflammatory
• Walnut Leaves: astringent, tightening
• Bioflavonoids: enrich, nourish and moisturize the skin
• Anise: calms irritations
• Biocomplex™: an antioxidant booster of Vitamin A, Vitamin C Ester, Vitamin E, Coenzyme Q10, Alpha Lipoic Acid

There is a treatment for EVERY skin type, skin situation, or skin need.  These products are amazing!  Visit the website and then come check them out for yourself and I'll assist you in finding the product best for you!  It will change your skin!  

Thoughts for Thursday:

  

It's been a while since my last post.  I've been super busy finishing my school of massage (I am now a "holistic massage practitioner"), starting a new job that i love ( you can check it out here www.soultosoulspa.com ) planning and throwing my daughter's 6th birthday party, and comforting my daughter through the stomach flu.  My plate's been a little full.
But I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.  I actually feel like I am nearing the end of this tunnel I've been in for a while.  And it feels great.
Here are some quotes that have inspired me along this journey.
I hope they inspire you too.

I Feel It All

With only weeks away, I find myself on the fast track to my 30th birthday. I look forward this new time in my life with a bubbling excitement and promises of hope.  Because when I look back over the past few years I have really waded through some muddy waters, and pulled myself out of some treacherous trenches.  Went through a divorce, but came out the woman I needed to be for both myself and my daughter.  Found my footholds out of sinking sand and fix my eyes on a hopeful horizon.  Lost the physical presence of my dad, and although I am steal skimming the surface of the deep waters that loosing a parent floods ones life with, I appreciate, love, and miss him.  

In the midst of all of this, I really had to dig deep and find confidence, faith, and strength.  I am definitely, positively, without a doubt certain that I don't have it all figured out and know there is still volumes upon volumes to learn from life.  There is definitely still a lot to refine and some ugly inside I need to weed out.   But, I am thankful for all that I've gone through, the good and the bad.  

So, 30's...bring it.  I'm ready for you.

This song I love by an artist I admire with lyrics that move me sums this blog blurb up quite well....

Thoughts for Thursday:

As a mother, there is not greater call to duty then to raise a woman of love, strength, character, influence, joy, passion.  The job description is an endless in length, but equally as endless in fulfillment and satisfaction.  And, as the task is great and sometimes overwhelming, it is important to find people, other mothers, friends, quotes, wisdom and insight to put into my life and practice so I can better raise my daughter. 
What are some inspiring quotes or wisdom you've put in your tool bag along the road of motherhood?

Spring into Sunday

I love Sunday's.  I love how it feels like a clean slate, a new beginning, a brand new start to a new week.  This is the day I map out my week in my planner, start a new diet (if ever so inclined or needed), detox, make new goals in my journal, so on and so forth (you get the picture).

Yes, Sunday-it's the day. (They even wrote a catchy song about it in the 80's.)

With Spring just freshly arriving by stormy and dramatic entrance and the ever amazing "Supermoon" on the eve of the first day of spring, this Sunday beckons to be noticed and noted.  The change of Season, from Winter to Spring, is a natural shift in nature happens today and the Spring Equinox begins. 

The sun rises earlier and sets later, plants sprout, winds soften, new growth everywhere. While I welcome the changes in nature, I also see the need for changes in my own life. And so I want my own life to mirror the changes nature makes.  What a better time than the Spring Equinox, from Winter to Spring. 

And so, today I set my intentions for Spring.  My version of mental and spiritual Spring cleaning. 

Do you have any goals, intentions, changes, or new beginnings you want to make?  I challenge you to write them down and hang them up somewhere to remind yourself of them.  

 ~ Spring Intentions~

~ Teach mu daughter how to be a loving, kind, thoughtful, strong, independent, inspired, truthful, nurturing, respectful woman. 

~Constantly seek inspiration and personal growth.  Pursue that which motivates me and don't let my self-doubt and fear get in the way of my dreams and the goals I want to reach in my life. 

~Refine and hone my yoga practice.  Carry and practice my yoga outside of class as well.  Be healthy and find new ways to move my body. 

~ Love and encourage others, especially close friends and family.  Give back, reciprocate, grow the love.

~New beginnings.  New growth.  New life.  New love.  New joy.  

Thoughts for Thursday:

the situation: and i'm not talkin' 'bout that jersey shore show.

I was awakened this morning by some serious thunder action.  I'm not going to lie,  I'm not a fan of loud noises, much less unpredictable bolts of white hot electricity striking down randomly.  Some enjoy this force of nature.  Me-not so much.  

Anyway, it ended up to be a perfect alarm clock to my day-I needed to wake, have some quiet meditation time, pray, and ground myself.  Without going in to specific details-today was a big day.  I had an appointment that I both feared and found empowering.  (For those of you who know what I'm talking about, this makes sense.  But for those readers that are intentionally aloof, just go with the broad picture I'm trying to paint.)

I admit, I haven't been the most disciplined at reading the Bible, meditating, praying.  I've been busy.  So busy, in fact, that my yoga practice has become sporadic instead of routine.  Life is in transition and I'm just rolling with it.  Convicted and guilt stricken, but roll with me here.

Anyway, back to the thunder storm meditation session...

The abrupt awakening,while the weather was intimidating and dramatic couldn't have been more of a mirror image of the situation.   Nerves and worry billowed through my spirit like the wind that threw the hail on my window.  Doubt and fear stuck my confidence like the thunder that came rolling in and out of the early morning atmosphere.  The anticipation of the situation not only mirrored the weather this morning, but rather, the weather magnified the situation I was battling with inside.

Yesterday I gave a therapeutic massage to a dear friend.  She told me she felt the need to have a morning devotional with her girls and wasn't on any specific devotional routine, so she just chose the Proverbs 15 since it was the 15th of the month.  Remembering this, I chose to start at the same place.  Proverbs 16.  I was craving wisdom and solid ground as the situation I was about to enter at 9 am came closer and closer.

Suddenly, like the break in the thunder, peace and tranquility met me in the sage pages of Proverbs.  And, just like the early morning rid itself from the antagonizing and turbulent thunder storm and torrential downpour (I'm not exaggerating either-you HumCo folk know what I'm sayin'.  It was quite a storm this morning.), a peace came over me and soothed my soul.  The verses I read brought peace and assurance as I thought about the situation I was going to face head on to day. 

And now, hours after, the sun found it's way to grace the day and seem like the storm this morning was another day.  The situation came with great force but dissapated just like this mornings sun. 

Peace.

Serenity.

Truth.

Growth.

Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
   and he will establish your plans.

  The LORD works out everything to its proper end—
   even the wicked for a day of disaster. 

Gracious words are a honeycomb,
   sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

  There is a way that appears to be right,
   but in the end it leads to death.

Tunes for Tuesday

~A Mellow Musical Interlude for you Tuesday~

Thoughts for Thursday:

I'm In Love....with Red Velvet

As most of you know, I love to cook.   But more specifically I love to bake.  And, I am slightly obsessed with cupcakes.  I love experimenting with flavors and perfecting a recipe.  I love finding new concoctions like matcha flavored, or filling a perfect vanilla flavored cupcake with lemon curd.  I love whipping up the most amazing frosting to top off an already perfect baby cake with flavors like brown sugar vanilla, or a rich chocolate ganache, or to spice up a perfect cream cheese frosting with a citrus zest!  I love cupcakes.

Last night I made the ever-amazing Red Velvet!  I love these beautiful and elegant cupcakes.  They are the fanciful cupcake: rich, decadent, and beautiful.  I think the secret to a rich and moist red velvet cake lies somewhere in the buttermilk and sifted cake flour.  Oh, and the un-godly amount of vegetable oil.  The sexy and sumptuous red cake is sharply contrasted with the bright white and equally as bright in flavor with the tangy cream cheese frosting resting gracefully on top.  But anything with cream cheese in it and I'm in love.   Perfection.  It's even more perfect that calories don't count when you find the perfect recipe. (Although the previous sentence is not scientifically proven, I've trained my brain to convince my metabolism of this and I'm pretty sure it works...to a certain degree. But please do not quote me.)

This is the recipe that you write in your cookbook... in ink...possibly laminated as red food dye is unforgiving and hard to tame.  Just remember to choose carefully you who share it with as this cupcake has some serious thunder most will want to steal.

But, I'll share the recipie, only because I think that everyone needs to make this, especially if you're looking for love...in the form of food.

Red Velvet Cupcake Love

Ingredients

Makes 24

• 2 1/2 cups cake flour (not self- rising), sifted
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon red gel-paste food color
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Sift together cake flour, cocoa, and salt.
2. With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, whisk together sugar and oil until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Mix in food color and vanilla.
3. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of buttermilk, and whisking well after each. Stir together the baking soda and vinegar in a small bowl (it will foam and makes you feel like a mad scientist!!!); add mixture to the batter, and mix on medium speed 10 seconds or completely combined.
4. Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 12 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• about 4 cups of confectioners sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon pure madagasgar vanilla extract

Directions

1. Beat butter and cream cheese with a mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce speed to low. Add sugar, 1 cup at a time or until desired consistency is achieved., and then vanilla; mix until smooth. Frosting can be refrigerated for up to 3 days; before using, bring to room temperature, and beat until smooth.

*this glorious recipe is adapted from the Martha Stewart Cupcake recipe book.

March's Mantra

"No one can depress you.

No one can make you anxious. 

No one can hurt your feelings.  

No one can make you anything other than  what you allow inside."

Easier said than done, I know.  Believe me, I know.

But oh, so true.

I'll be honest, and for those of you who know me it won't come as a surprise but, I tend wear my heart of my sleeve.  I take things personally.  I feel it all-I am easily affected. Shocker, I know.  I can so easily get tossed and tumbled by the crashing waves and  to ride that roller emotional roller coaster we somehow end up on.

I first read this quote about 5 years ago.  I read it during a time in my life when internal strength was hard to come by, and I felt like I was hanging on to that proverbial thread.  

Over the years, it really stuck like glue to the walls of my mind.  It reminds me that I can either be tossed and tumbled by the waves, or pop up on my surf board use that force to get me back to shore.  It challenges me to simply not get on that roller coaster.  

And believe me, this is something I remind myself constantly.  It is a mantra that I still attain to fully grasp and practice.  But a good one, nonetheless.  

And so, I share it with you and hope it might bring encouragement your way.  And I hope it brings you freedom in your thoughts.

Thoughts for Thursday:

My dad loved nature.  He had a deep appreciation for the subtle details while seeing the bigger picture. He always pointed out the subdued shades in sunsets, noted the fog resting peacefully amidst the tree tops on dewy mornings, and sought out new vista points and views.  Camera in hand to capture the moment, pen and paper in pocket to poetically pursue his thoughts, my dad was a slightly less refined and adventurous Thoreau (or so I glorify him to be).

During my young years I remember taking hikes into the nearby forests and nestling among ferns, gazing at trilliums, and hunting for salamanders under fallen Redwood logs.  Growing up, like most children, I lost interest and got annoyed every time he pulled over to gaze at the sunset or take us on another boring family drive into the country on Sunday afternoons when I'd rather be riding my bike or making mud pies with the neighborhood kids.  But now, that he's gone, I appreciate his love of nature. And this, even, an understatement of my feelings toward it all.

Lately, I've been doing a lot of trail hiking.  While being both beneficial to my physical and mental health, it brings me closer to earth.  I feel more grounded.  And, in a funny way, I feel closer to my dad.  And, lately, I've felt his spirit with me.  In the sunrises, the light filtering through the trees-he would have exclaimed over it.  The pussy-willows beginning to bloom and show first signs of spring-he would have poached a branch or two and put it in a vase in front of our big mirror in our dining room.  And the wild daffodils, shouting happiness with their perfect yellow hue-he used to leave bouquet upon bouquet for me and my sister to decorate our home.

Last week, I was on a hike at through the Arcata marsh.  The sun was warm and the wind was cool.  I felt my dad's spirit from the minute I set out on the trail.  The birds were dancing the most beautiful choreographed movements through the air over the pond and everyone stood in silence and awe.  My dad would have been one of the speculating fans, binoculars around his neck and camera in his hand.  I sat and let it all soak in.  The sun was glistening, sparkling like a million diamonds, over the bay.  Tears flooded my eyes as the warmth of his spirit flooded my soul. I have never felt more grounded to the earth yet so connected with the spirit world as I felt my dad next to me, appreciate nature and all its glory.

Rolling In The Deep

I friggin' love Adele. 
True talent. 
This song kicks ass.
Enjoy.

"...Throw your soul through every open door
Count your blessings to find what you look for
Turn my sorrow into treasured gold..."

skimming the surface

while i skim the surface of the deep waters i have been treading as of late, let me just preface this by saying i have never had a deeper appreciation for life since my trip to africa about 10 years ago. a lot has happened, even since my last blog.  so, i'll just pick up where i left off, and let what has happened slowly fuse itself back into my writing and unfold gracefully in this blogspace...or spot, as it is more commonly referred to.