An Artful Life

I want to be crafty. I have ideas of crafty things I could do, I see things in the store and I think "I could make that," I have things I want to create and do to make our apartment more cozy.The problem is, I hardly have time to make our bed in the morning, and I never seem to wash the dishes before we completely run out.

So when the weekend rolls around, and we finally have a break from working long hours, there are always things around the house that we need to get done, plans I need to make for my friends wedding, socializing with everyone who wants to see us, and of course spending some quality time with my hubby. So, as much as I'd like to, I've yet to have the motivation and time to be crafty at the same moment.

However, I've recently discovered the blog An Artful Life, by Shona, she seems like such an awesome lady! She has a book out called "The ArtisticMother," it's all about being a busy mom and finding your creative side at the same time. I figure that if she can do it, so can I! Or maybe I can start to find my creative side with the help of this book at least :-) If I do purchase it, I'll let you guys know if it helps me to get more in touch with my creative side.

Warm Weather Would Be A Treasure

Sorry guys, I didn't take these pictures, I borrowed them from my sisters facebook. I don't know where she got them, or I'd post a link with them. Anyway, enjoy!

Anyone else ready for summer?

The Triple Filter Test

I think it's fair to say that gossip is a favorite pastime for a lot of people. I know do it sometimes, especially when I feel "poisoned" by something I've heard and don't want to keep it inside. Lately, however, I've been thinking more and more about the effects of such ways of thinking, and speaking. We are probably all familiar with one version or another of the "Feathers in the Wind" story, so instead of sharing that, I'd like to share a story I just heard a few days ago...

In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom.

One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance who ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students?"
"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell me I'd like you to pass a little test. It’s called the Triple Filter Test."
"Triple filter?"
"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my student let's take a moment to filter what you're going to say. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"
"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and..."
"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's true or not. Now let's try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?"
"No, on the contrary..."
"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, even though you're not certain it's true?"
The man shrugged, a little embarrassed.
Socrates continued. "You may still pass the test though,because there is a third filter - the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?"
"No, not really..."
"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?"
The man was defeated and ashamed.
This is one of the reason Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem.

As I said, gossip is something I struggle with from time to time, however, I am trying to filter that way of communicating out of my life. I mean, how great would it be if we all asked ourselves these questions, and used these filters, before we either shared or listened?

Curious Coincidences are a Treasure

I found a blog that has a ton of fascinating stuff! One of the coolest things I've found I'd like to share with you all. God has left us lots of little hints to help us know what foods will help us, and what they'll help us with:

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. See the pupil, iris and radiating lines? And guess what, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to, and functioning, of the eyes!

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are a profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.

Avocados, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them)

Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23 % sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.

Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys

Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.

Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries

Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of females and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

Onions look like the body's cells. Research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous radicals from the body.

To find more foods from "Gods Pharmacy" check out this website, and if you're in the mood for learning some more fun and interesting facts, check out the World of Mysteries blog.

Festivals are a Treasure

During this past week (February 7-13) as you may have noticed, I have been absent from my blogs. The reason is because I was in St. George for the American College Theatre Festival (ACTF). It is a festival for students in all sorts of categories in the theatre departments, anything from acting, to directing, to makeup design, to costume design and play writing. (Play writes can have ten-minute plays, one-acts and full-length plays submitted).

Over the course of the year, different judges attend every show put on by every college in the nation. They then nominate the students they feel did the best, those students then go to the festival and compete in the category they were nominated for.

I submitted a ten-minute play I had written, and it was one of the six selected to go and compete in our regional competition. There were quite a few plays submitted, and only 6 were chosen. Then the judges choose two to become semi-finalists, and their plays will be considered to go to the final national competition. Only 4 ten-minute plays total, out of all the regions, will make it to the final competition. I'm not sure how many regions there are, but I know there are at least 8 (we're region 8 :)

A side note, I was the only female play write out of the six in my region. I just thought that was interesting.

During the week I met with my director, stage manager, and dramaturg. We then cast my play, and had rehearsals all week. Then, on Saturday, all six were performed for the judges.

I did a lot of editing, and cutting to make it fit in the ten-minute limit, and to become completely happy with it. I feel I have learned a lot as a writer, I was able to make my play stronger, and I did my very best.

My play is a comedy, and it is very stylized. The crowd seemed to have liked my play, (they laughed and cheered a lot) and the judges said nice things, and gave me good feedback; however I am not one of the semi-finalists.

This past week got my fire burning, and I am looking forward to writing more plays! My passion for writing has been rekindled, and I have many ideas for plays and stories!

I plan on expanding my play, "The Play," into a one-act and getting it published. Perhaps I will write and tell you a little more about my play, if that is something you would be interested in?

Sun Safe Swimwear is a Treasure

I was shopping in Target the other day, and noticed it was stocked with bathing suits. That can only mean one thing, summer is on its way! (thank goodness).

I have a pretty cute suit, however its not only getting old, but it also exposes a lot of my back, shoulders, and chest -which is where the sun likes to get me. After reading on eHow I learned that 65-90 percent of the nearly 54,000 melanomas diagnosed each year are caused by excessive sun exposure. And, most skin cancers can be prevented if people protect themselves from the sun by wearing adequate sunscreen and clothing. Time for a new suit? I think yes.

Then I found this giveaway over at the Rubber Punkin, it must be fate!

There's a new company called Panga Swimwear, they promote cute and flattering swimwear that is considered to be sun safe. And that's right, the Rubber Punkin is giving one away!

If I win, this is the one I would want, "The Annie," maybe in Black, or Dark Brown.

Go check it out, these suits are a great idea. I may just buy one if I don't win. Let's all try to be safe in the sun... when it finally comes out that is.

Flowers

This post was supposed to go out while I was away during the week, so I apologize for its being a little late.

Valentines Day is approaching. The day is traditionally filled with chocolates, candy, flowers, and a fancy restaurant, right? Well, there are so many flowers out there, I knew there had to be more than the traditional "white daisies mean innocence," "pink roses mean friendship" and "red and white roses together mean unity."

I got to thinking, what do other flowers mean? Then I stumbled across this website, apparently I wasn't the only one with that question. This person did a bunch of research and has developed a list of the bouquets they would make if they were a florist. As you read it you will see that they have something to fit EVERY kind of relationship.

1. We should just be friends:
Rose, leaf: You may hope
Rose, yellow: Joy, friendship
Carnation, striped: Refusal: No; "sorry I can't be with you"

2. I love you for your money:
Alstroemeria: Wealth, prosperity, fortune
Apple blossoms: Good fortune
Hollyhock: Ambition, fruitfulness
Lily: Majesty, wealth
Orange, mock: Deceit
Poppy, yellow: Wealth, success

3. I'm basically like 99% of the other guys out there:
Larkspur: Fickleness
Narcissus: Egotism, conceit, self love, self admiration
Orange, mock: Deceit
Rose, coral: Desire
Tulip: Perfect lover (he gives this part of the bouquet to himself)
Eremurus: Endurance (he may overcompensate with this flower)

4. I'm stalking you:
Asparagus fern: Fascination
Begonia: Beware
Camellia, pink: Longing for you
Dahlia: Instability
Euphorbia: Persistence
Gloxina: Love at first sight
Hyacinth, white: Loveliness
Hyacinth, yellow: Jealousy
Marigold, pot: Grief, despair
Monkshood: Beware, a deadly foe is near, danger
Oleander: Caution
Primrose: I can't live without you
Rhododendron: Danger, caution

5. I screwed up:
Hyacinth, Purple: I am sorry
Snapdragon: Deception
Bittersweet: Truth
Camellia, white: You're adorable
Geranium: Stupidity

6. I'm not so into you:
Lily, yellow: I'm walking on air, false
Orange, mock: Deceit

7. I'm not going to put out:
Hydrangea: Frigidity
Iris, white: Purity
Rose, white: Innocence, purity, secrecy
Acacia: Concealed love, chaste love
Rose, white, dried: Death is preferable to loss of virtue

8. I have an Oedipal Complex:
Carnation, pink: Mother's love
Moss: Maternal love, charity

Giveaways are a Treasure

I'm sure you all remember Appleseed Gifts, I blogged about her before. She is an extremely nice lady, and she has wonderful things in her blog and store. I just won a $10 gift card to her shop! (The first giveaway I've won!) Needless to say, I already spent it... and then some :-)

Ginger, from Appleseed, is doing a giveaway! Head over to her blog and find out how to win this awesome necklace!

Be sure to check back there often, because not only does she have a lot of giveaways, but her blog is full of great ideas, and it is fun to read!

Then you can head over to Jamie's Precious Peas
This is a blog I just discovered today, and it is extremely cute!

And right now she is having a giveaway to win this necklace from Chenzi Jewelri (you can customize it so it says your name!)

I wish you all the best of luck! Happy blogging :-)

Moments

"As happens sometimes, a moment settled and hovered and remained for much more than a moment. And sound stopped and movement stopped for much, much more than a moment. And then, the moment was gone."John Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

I read this quote the other day, and I got to thinking how sometimes we waste our words, we waste our moments. We don't take the time to say what really matters, the things that are really in our hearts, while we have the chance.

And then, that precious moment, that chance, is gone. Can we get it back?

I have friends, and people who are close to me, that instead of talking about what really matters, the things we really and truly feel, the opinions we have and wish to be able to share with the world... They will only talk of superficial things. Do not get me wrong, talking of the superficial can be fun, and important to building a relationship. Of course we cannot only talk of serious, and heavy things. However, the problem occurs when the superficial is all that is discussed, when that's all our moments are made up with.

Why do we waste our moments? Do we have a fear of being looked down upon because of our beliefs, our opinions and our thoughts? Or perhaps it is that we fear those things we hold close to ourselves will somehow be taken away, or cheapened, when others mock, disregard, do not listen, and argue unceasingly with the things we have to share. Sometimes we hold back to spare other peoples feelings, as well as our own. But at what cost?

I challenge us all to sit back, and really listen to what others are trying to express and share with us. I challenge myself, and you, to think of our moments, and how they can become more meaningful. After all, the moments we'll remember most, are not the superficial.

I was simply thinking about this today :-)