Weekly Inspiration

                                                                                                                   

The big secret in life is that there is no big secret.  Whatever your goal, you can get there if you’re willing to work.

Energy is the essence of life.  Every day you decide how you’re going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, and by maintaining focus.

                                                                                                                     ~Oprah Winfrey

You’ve probably noticed that on Mondays I like to feed you a quote.  I do this with one purpose in mind and that is to encourage you to keep on your journey.  As Oprah says above, maintain focus and be willing to work hard for the things you want in life.

On Vacation

Dear friends,

I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth. I am on a well deserved vacation with my family.  I’ll be back soon with more interesting posts.

See ya soon!

Weekly Inspiration

 

H2O: two parts Heart and one part Obsession. ~Author Unknown

China’s Perfect Image

Like millions around the world, I watched the opening ceremonies for the 2008 Olympics last Friday. I knew it would be spectacular.  Although I have some issues with China’s policies, I wanted to watch the US team walk into the Birds Nest so I could cheer for them in my living room.  It was nothing short of spectacular.  It exceeded my expectations, it was…so perfect.

So a few days later all kinds of things began to surface; from the computer generated fireworks display at the beginning of the ceremony to the lip-synching Lin Miaoke (right).  China has gone to great lengths to present to the world a perfect image of itself; even that of its children.  I searched everywhere to find a photo of the child who did the actual singing.  I was curious to know what the Chinese consider unattractive.  When I saw Yang Peiyi’s (left) face I could find no flaw in her. Can you?  When Yang Peiyi was asked by a Chinese television reporter if she had any regrets over the opening ceremony, Peiyi responded that just having her voice used for the opening ceremony was an honor. 

——————–

Under pressure from the highest levels of the ruling Communist Party to find the perfect face and voice, the ceremony’s production team concluded the only solution was to use two girls instead of one. Miaoke, a third grader, was judged cute and appealing but “not suitable” as a singer. Another girl, Yang Peiyi, 7, was judged the best singer but not as cute. So when Miaoke opened her mouth to sing, the voice that was actually heard was a recording of Peiyi.

And it is unclear if Miaoke even knew.

“The reason was for the national interest,” explained Chen Qigang, general music designer of the opening ceremonies, who revealed the deception during a Sunday radio interview. “The child on camera should be flawless in image, internal feeling and expression.”

To read the New York Times article in its entirety, click here.

Weekly Inspiration

 

 

The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be the beginning.
                                                                                                                   ~Ivy Baker Priest

Jo Wood Organics Amka Soy Candle

 

Yeah.  I’ll admit it.  I’m a sucker for beautiful packaging.  It comes from my arts background and I just can’t help it.  But the one good thing about Jo Wood Organics is that not only is the packaging beautiful, it is also sustainable.  That aside, the fragrance from this candle is pure energy and sponteneity.

 The Amka candle is so alluring. Iranian rose otto, Egyptian jasmine and fresh top notes of neroli and bergamot, green mandarin and sweet orange add a fresh, vibrant layer, and the whole combination is grounded in a soft, spicy base of cedarwood. Can’t you just smell it?

Wanting to make everything in her and her family’s life organic, Jo Wood found it hard to find skin care products that were completely chemical free and luxurious, so she decided to make them herself.  Jo Wood is married to none other than Ronnie Wood, legendary guitarist for the Rolling Stones. 

You can purchase Jo Wood products here

99% organic - 100% natural ingredients
Ecocert

 

Weekly Inspiration

 

A weed is no more than a flower in disguise.

                                     ~James Russell Lowell

A Pot Full of Sunshine

My son and I planted sunflower seeds earlier this summer.  We got our first sunflower yesterday.  As we planted them he asked me if we would have a pot full of sunshine when we were done and I said yes. 

Children have a wonderful way of observing life.  They do this without fear or hesitation.  When I took a look at the face of our very first sunflower, I was captivated by the deep orange rim and brilliant gold.  She really looked like a radiant sun.

Happy Friday Everyone!

Sustainable Luxury

 

I love handcrafted jewelry.  In fact, I am addicted to unusual rings, especially stackables.  I don’t care if they come from a garage sale and are acrylic or from a high-end store.  But lately I have been thinking about sustainability in jewelry.  We already know about organic products for our bodies and have plenty of information for greening our homes.  I’m a Taurus and true to my sign, I covet luxurious things.  I am concerned about leaving a smaller footprint on this planet so I’ve made a commitment to find sustainable jewelry.

Jennifer Dawes is a jewelry designer from Norther California who creates beautiful sustainable jewelry from recycled gold and conflict free semi-precious stones.  She recently launched Sustainably Beautiful a socially and environmentally responsible line of jewelry.  According to Jennifer, “I want to add something to this world, not take it away. Becoming a mother has been the most profoundly meaningful and spiritual experience I have ever come to know. It has changed the way I perceive our future and how important it is to the commitment to a socially and environmentally responsible lifestyle.”

Thank you Jennifer! You are right on point.

For more information on this beautiful line of jewelry visit Dawes Design

Weekly Inspiration

The world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but love.
                                                                                                 ~William Sloane Coffin