Crazy Town has left the building

I have had a crazy week, and I am blaming it on jewelry. I know we are suppose to take ownership for our lives but let me explain. In April, I attended a night called Diva Dialogue and met the most fascinating person, Lesley Cameron. To be in this woman presence is like being with one of your oldest friends. She instantly makes you feel at ease and at peace. She talked about her incredible journey to becoming a healer to the stars. Now you are probably all thinking dread locks and tie dye. But, she is a hip and happening sassy red head with the most intriguing story. Lesley makes healing bracelets and her company was featured at the Golden Globes and 2011 CNN hero awards in the celebrity gift bags. Each piece of jewelry has its own energy, blessing and story. On this night in April she offered her "soul power" bracelet. Soul power in a brief description is about knowing right and wrong. I have been wearing it since I bought it and haven't taken it off. She said that evening that these bracelets become a part of you. "Ha" my skeptical self said. Part of me? Nothing is part of me except my Starbucks Americano. So back to blaming my bad week on jewelry. I wanted to test her theory on energy so I took the bracelet off. The first day I didn't feel any different and wondered if my new friend had sold me some kind of snake oil. Well, by day 5 it was crazy town over here and I had lost my mind. My close friends are nodding their heads in agreement as they are reading this. I couldn't make the full week, by day 6 my bracelets were back on, and so is my head. Crazy town has left the building.

Lesley is a Karma Sister and decided that we need our own bracelet. So, we (she) made the most beautiful piece based on the concept of "simplicity". I wear both of my Essence bracelets everyday... all-day. I admit it, they are a part of me along with my americano.

If you need a boost of Karma sister simplicity, or want to try any of her other 20 bracelets with titles like light, faith, healing, inspiration, soul power, and joy. Whatever energy you need you will find it. She is giving all Karma Sisters a discount of $25.00. Just put in her discount code box KS2011. http://www.essencebracelets.com/

Message of Simplicity
Laughter, Love and Hopefulness….

Simplicity means always travelling close to home. Home is where we are calm, centered and peaceful despite what may be happening in our lives. While appearances can fool us into thinking that we need to be on the lookout for the next impending disaster, all we really need to remember is how to laugh, love and be filled with the promise of a new day. These simple qualities teach us to take it easy when we feel ourselves rise, and help us to disengage from any unnecessary drama we may find ourselves involved with. Simplicity is the choice to see life as it is – not as we would like it to it be, or not like it to be, but as it is. With this simple recognition, we are able to embrace what lies before us with open arms and loving hearts, being guided only by faith, trust and surrender. When we have momentarily lost sight of the truth, simplicity brings forth the clarity to assure us that all of our experiences exist for the sole purpose of teaching us who we really are. Let simplicity lead you back to the gentle understanding that happiness comes not from our lives being perfect, but from our willingness to accept ourselves as we are – as beings of pure perfection.

Granting peace

There is a moment in the Catholic mass that I love.  Now, not being a Catholic I can honestly say that I don't find the one hour of service engaging.  However,  about 3/4 of the way through we get to shake hands with our neighbors and grant them peace.  If you're sitting with family you give a kiss and a small squeeze.   It really is the heart of the service for me.   I was thinking about this in yoga today as we all wished each other Namaste, which means honoring the light in you.  We say this after every class, and occasionally the teacher asks us to turn to each other and offer this yoga blessing to each other.   Why are we saving peace for church and yoga?   We should be sending it out by the truck loads to each other.  What can we do each day to grant more peace?   I have lots of ideas.  How about a wave when someone lets you merge in?    Letting a fellow shopper  in front of you who only has one item.  Buying the car behind you a coffee in the drive thru.  A heartfelt thank you to someone who deserves it.  Forgiveness to yourself...   We are caught up in all the problems of our lives and forgetting about granting each other some peace.  Peace be with you Karma Sisters.

Big girl panties

Big girl panties are hard to find somedays. I lost every big girl pair this week... I have had five days of disruption. My life circumstances seem to be bogging me down. I was losing sight of who I am and where I am going. I spend a few sleepless nights thinking about packing up my life, the girls and moving to some exotic island. Then I got a face-book message today from someone in my life that was once considered my family. Just 4 sentences , 4 sentences that made such a difference. A note to say hello and that I was missed. I needed this message. I have been hurting, and didn't realize it. I was feeling left out and mourning my old life. The new me knows this is crazy as I love my life. Sometimes the old me and new me don't talk. New me says "wake up!". Pity party is over, big girl panties on, head held high, and stepping back on the high road. Four cliches in one long grammar stricken sentence. This must be my new record.

My Kate, and the last days of Elementary

Kate and I were enjoying each others company tonight watching a very slow moving movie. As I pulled out my laptop out to start brainstorming about my blog, I asked Kate if she wanted to "guest" blog, she agreed. So here is our Jr. Karma sister talking about her last days in elementary school. I remember being in her shoes, kings of the hallways after 7 years and now time to move to the bottom of the food chain again at a new school. Lots of new friends, new classrooms and a legacy from two older crazy sisters.


The school year is almost over which means backpacks full of old school work and books you never touched. For Grade 6s all the classes are done because of P.A.T.S (fancy name for final exams). My Grade 6 class is now moving on to Jr. high. Some of my old friends will be going to a different school. There's no work left to do, which means a talent show. All the kids want to show off their singing,dancing or just something really random! Everyones loves the end of the year but the parents. The parents will have friends over to plan party's, even vacations. Parents enjoy the school year while it lasts.

Own who you are.

Own who you are... do it every minute of every day. Why are we compromising who we are for other people? I have a voice in my belly that tells me what is right and wrong. What fits me and what doesn't. It unfortunately has taken a complete life shuffle to learn to listen to me. I was conditioned to not make waves . I didn't speak up when I should have. We are surrounded by catch phrases like peer pressure and keeping the peace. This type of thinking no longer works in this world. Where has it gotten us? Living true to who we are every minute of everyday. What a difference we could all make in this world.

Bullies

Bullies.... it's one of those topics we have as mothers on the playground. The school systems have created entire programs around the prevention of the school yard bully. There will always be one kid who thinks they can push around all the other kids on the monkey bars just because they can. At 43, I find myself now dealing with a bully. How at my age is there someone that can get away with putting people down? Why do they think they can say and do without any recourse? The mother in me is giving bully advice, ignore them, call their mother, or rally the neighborhood for a support group. At my age the only solution is to walk away, let reputation and character carry me through. Its unfortunate, but when someone is so unkind, it shows their character not the character of the victim. Always be careful of those who speak poorly of others, as when you turn your back they will be talking about you. This is not anyone I want to hang out with on the monkey bars.

My Mom Jackie

I took my mom out for dinner tonight. One on one time is rare. Usually we are surrounded by a loud demanding family and unable to get more than one sentence of conversation in. I like my Mom, even when she is crazy. We have many "jackie" ism in our family. Mom threatened to drown the family fish if we didn't clean out the tank in about 1983. We laughed for hours, she wasn't as amused. She can handle mountains of pressure but when she explodes it is like a volcano and then it is over. She is an amazing person. She has beat stage 4 liver cancer, has nicer skin than me and can walk 18 holes at Silver Springs golf course. She wore a pair of high heeled sandals tonight that most of my friends wouldn't attempted. She is a widow, not a whiner. She is talking about going to Florida for four weeks in the spring on her own. She is strong, makes no excuses and lives her life. She is always on the move, and never a green blade of grass under her feet at 74. I am blessed with an incredible gene pool and an incredible mother.