blog

Wishcasting Wednesday

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:11:00 +0100

I follow Jamie Ridler's blog on a weekly basis. I have been reading Wishcasting Wednesday for a month now but never participated until today. Each Wednesday, Jamie posts a question or a prompt on her blog and her readers write the answers to her question on their blog.

Jamie asks this week, "What do you give yourself permission for?"

So, I, Anna, wish myself to give permission to:

Write with an open heart about my own life experiences without censoring myself.

Do whatever makes ME happy.

Do nothing on my days off.

Not do the housework and let the dust settle and the laundry pile up for some much needed "ME" time.

I always feel that I do not have time to do what matters to me the most because of work commitments, household chores, errands, weekend travel, and other life matters. I have a to-do list of fun things that never seems to get crossed off. For awhile, I long to read a book for the entire day, write, or to do something creative. I give myself permission to do what makes me happy.

{image: Jamie Ridler}

DIY Postcards

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 02:18:52 +0100

I mentioned in a previous blog posting that I am infusing creative time in my schedule. In January, I made Valentine cards. When I saw iHanna was having a Postcard swap, I emailed her in a heartbeat. I made ten postcards and since Valentine's Day was coming up, I made them all into a Valentine theme. I love the significance of Valentine's Day but do not necessarily agree that it is a one day holiday. Instead, we can make everyday Valentine's Day. I know that I probably sound cheesy but we do not need to wait until February 14th to tell our significant others, family members, or friends that we love them. We could do that any day. Enough of my rambling.

Back to the postcards, I made ten Valentine postcards and mailed it to all ten recipients a few days ago. I hope my recipients like it. To me making those postcards is an exercise in creativity. As I said before, creativity is lacking in my life and this is one way I can re-awaken my right brain since she has been dormant for 15 years.

I enjoyed making my DIY postcards (see picture above). and I cannot wait to attack my next project which is Art Journaling Love Letters with Connie Hozvicka.

{image: personal collection}

My Creative Time

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:09:12 +0100

I noticed last year that I had difficulty being creative and writing about my feelings and thoughts. Had I become a robot? Am I walking around unconscious of my world and who I am? Was I losing my mind? Yes, I was losing my mind - my right brain to be exact. The right brain houses the intuitive center, focuses on images and processes ideas simultaneously, no sense of time and much more. You can read more about the right brain versus left brain here.

Losing my creativity or not allowing it in my life is a complete no-no for me. This year, 2010, I promised myself that I would stimulate my right brain more by enjoying my hobbies such as paper crafts: greeting cards, making postcards, rubber stamping, etc. I loved making greeting cards so much that I am making it my ritual at least once a week. My creative time is my source of inspiration and it is "ME" time!

And I am doing just that. I went to a greeting card/rubber stamping meet-up and made the Valentine cards above, just in time for Valentine's Day. Although, I am not giving away what I made. It's for me to keep.

And I also joined iHanns's postcard swap. I have had so much fun decorating and creating ten postcards to be given away to people all over the world. As soon as I finish my postcards , I will post them on my blog so check back soon.

BYW

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:35:55 +0100

I am taking this fantastic e-course by Holly Becker, author of Decor8 and Leslie S., author of A Creative Mint. The inspiration board posting from last Friday was a homework assignment.

I can't believe it is week 4 already. I am learning a lot about blog content, blog ideas, and photography, especially photography. If you are a BYW student, please leave me a comment and say hi! I would love to meet all of my classmates.

Inspiration Board

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:18:29 +0100

The picture above is my inspiration for my blog inside of my Dream journal. A picture speaks a thousand words so I wanted to explain my thoughts behind the pictures. My blog is about health and wellness so I hoped I capture this theme in my inspiration board.

Statue of Liberty: I live in NY so it is only appropriate that I placed this landmark on my inspiration board. Not only does Lady Liberty signify freedom, but I love the history behind the Statue and what she represents for New Yorkers.

Clouds: I am a daydreamer and have always been. When I was 9 years old, I would stare out the window in school and looked at how the clouds moved and dream about what I would do with my life. There is just something fascinating about clouds. To me, clouds mean there is a Universal power within all of us.

"Discover"- I have always been curious and adventurous so there is always something to discover about life and myself as I live my life authentically.

Pool on the beach: This picture reminds me of serenity and peace.

Plant and starfish: I love nature and the prettiness of the colors of this picture.

"Start living your Dreams Today"- Whatever you wish to accomplish can be done.

"Develop a more Meaningful Life" - My word for the year is Awareness. I live in the present moment as I strive to live my life authentically.

Clouds and trees: More clouds. I love trees because it reminds me of the living being inside of us. Each part of the tree contains a part of the human body. Roots of the trees is equivalent to the nerve endings. Branches is equivalent to our arms.

Present: We are all gifts.

Woman practicing yoga: Exercise, mediation and serenity. I also enjoy yoga.

Food: Nutritious greens for a healthy body.

"Chart your Own Course": Do want makes you happy.

"Lifestyle": My blog is about lifestyles.

"Stay healthy, stay young": No explanation needed.

"My Look, My Life": My motto for my blog. The look that I want in my blog is representative of my life.

Food, relaxation, women smiling: No explanation needed. This is what I want my life to look like.

Wear RED Day - Show your Support

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:17:50 +0100

The entire month of February is America Heart Month. Today, Friday February 5 is National Wear RED Day. Heart disease is the number one killer in women. The Go Red Movement wants to save women's lives. Show your support by wearing red. It does not have to be a red pants or shirt but a red pin, red tie tac, red dress pin, whatever, just something in your wardrobe that contains the color red. Show your support.

Statistics from the American Heart Association :

3 women die of cardiovascular disease

90 % of women have more than 1 risk factor for developing heart disease in the future

RISK FACTORS:

Age: as women grow older, their risk of heart disease increases as well

Gender: 55,000 women have strokes (much more than men), 60% of total stroke deaths occur in women

Family history: if someone in your immediate family has heart disease, you are more likely to develop heart disease or stroke

Race: Black women have a greater risk of heart disease than Caucasian women

Previous heart attack or stroke: If you have had a heart attack or stroke already, your risk is higher of getting another one; 22% of women from 40-69 who survive a first heart attack or stroke will have another heart attack, stroke or fatal heart disease within 5 years.

February is Love Month

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:35:55 +0100

image found via kindovermatter and originally uploaded by claudia pearson

Well, it is the first day of February. February is National Heart Month and Valentine's Day, my favorite holiday. I love hearts, the colors red and pink and everything about Valentine's Day. The heart is my favorite part of the body. This is where we feel love. I am definitely a romantic at heart. I thought it would be appropriate to concentrate on this month's theme on LOVE.

Everyone wants and needs love. It is the universal medium of exchange. Is there anything more satisfying than being fully present in the moment, with the people that we care about? Make friends with yourself, then spread the love. Bear in mind that time can be love's friend or foe, so make sure you keep your relationship's current. Loving relationships are the music of life. We'd be fools not to learn the tunes.

Intention of the Month

I fill my life with the people I love and those I may love one day. Harmonious relationships are the sweet notes in my existence.

Try it out: Loving out Loud

Loving words reach faster when they are delivered live. This month, pick a person that you haven't spoken to in a while or anyone you want and call or better yet, tell someone that you love them in person or by phone. If you prefer to write, send the mail the old-fashioned way with a stamp. Intimacy levels rise when the connections are live.

Please write how this exercise was for you. What feelings stirred up within you when you told someone that you love them? What did they say to you? How was this experience for you?

Temple of the Soul

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 02:08:41 +0100

Your Body is the Temple of the Soul

image found via kindovermatter and originally uploaded by joy rebel

You are only given one body in this lifetime. Honor it. Whether you are fat, skinny, tall, short, petite, athletic, strong, or weak. Accept it. Imagine your body is a temple and imagine the foods that you put inside your body that nourishes your soul. Embrace your body. Love your body. Be comfortable with your body. Your body is beautiful.

John Holland says it magnificently, "If we could only see through the eyes of the Divine how beautiful we are, we'd know and recognize it for what it truly is - a wondrous temple for the soul."

Food for thought (no pun intended):

How do you see your body?

What are you putting inside your body, your temple?

What kinds of food are you feeding your soul?

How are you honoring your body?

Prostate Cancer Education and Support Program

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:13:59 +0100

Today, there will be a FREE prostate cancer education and support program for patients, spouses of patient, partner, family members, and caregivers. Dr. Michael Stifelman will be leading the discussion of Robotic Surgery.

WHEN: Thursday, January 28, 2010

5;30-7:30 PM

LOCATION: NYU Clinical Cancer Center

160 East 34th Street

(b/w Lexington and Third Avenues)

Room 1121

Tanning beds = Melanoma

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 03:20:13 +0100

I wanted to share my friends' interview on CBS news about his tanning bed and melanoma experience. David was diagnosed with melanoma when he was 27 years old after spending 4-5 days/week in the tanning beds in his early 20's. David was lucky that his physician caught the melanoma in the beginning stage. But David is not safe. He was diagnosed with melanoma again on his calf and recently had basal cell carcinoma on his forehead. And the sad reality of it is David does not use tanning beds anymore and is very careful and protects his skin now when he goes out in the sun. the You can see his interview with Dr. Max Gomez here.