More Snow?

If you live in the Northeast or the South or just about anywhere in the U.S. you know that this has been a brutal winter. Record snowfall, ice storms and deep freezes in places like Georgia and Texas that never get a dusting of snow and ice! Worst of all, it's not over yet! I don't care that the groundhog didn't see his shadow, I can't imagine that Spring is very close at all. I'm bracing for more cold and snow. The good news is I have found something that has helped my dry, rough, cracked hands and uplifted my spirits. Before I disclose the good news, I must be completely transparent about these wonderful products.......I am an independent consultant for Arbonne International which produces these fine and life changing products. The magic hand cream is FC5 Ultra Hydrating Hand Creme coupled with FC5 Skin Conditioning Oil. Arbonne products are pure, vegan, not tested on animals, chemical + preservative free, made without animal by-products and petrochemicals (mineral oil). The essential ingredients in the hand cream are extracts of carrot, kiwi, pumpkin, mango and strawberry. The skin conditioning oil is a blend of essential oils with universal healing and skin repairing properties. No sales pitch here, just another bright moment on a snowy afternoon at my kitchen sink.

Vegetarian anyone?

I'm thinking about not eating any more meat! Kind of unappetizing, isn't it? More later.......

Random Love (A Valentine's Day disclaimer)

How random is it all? Love and all the emotions that go with it. The euphoria, the butterflies in your stomach, the sheer, maddening heartache of being apart from your true love, the pure devotion and intense feelings of wholeness and being complete with another human being. Most of us can relate to these feelings because we've been there once, twice or many more times than that. Did you ever stop to think about the pure randomness of being in love? Not the love you have for your children, parents, friends, dogs or Woody Allen movies but romantic love. Today you are in love with someone who you met on a plane or in college 30 years ago or the brother of your high school track rival or your boss or his boss or the woman who hit your car or the french waiter on the Left Bank or a cute guy on match.com -- you get it, right?
Ponder this - what if you didn't meet your "true love" and met someone else, your boss' secretary or your biology lab partner in college or your second pick on match.com? It's all so random and based on time, place, fate and circumstance. We could be "in love" with a multitude of people , completely by random chance and we wouldn't ever know the person we are "in love" with right now!  Any great stories out there?

Precious moments

So, the husband wasn't supportive of the young mom, and he let her slowly simmer while handling her young children on the plane (not an easy venue, to say the least). He sat back in his barely reclining seat and read his newspaper and let Mom handle everything - the fussy baby and the inquisitive toddler, the toys and the food and questions. Again I felt bad. Bad for him for being just an observer in his children's lives (flashback to Harry Chapin's famous song, "The Cat's In The Cradle"), bad for his relationship with Mom and not bearing his weight as a husband and equal partner in the management of his children, bad for the children whose father seemed more interested in current events than in them. So many lessons here but the most important one I can think of is to relish the fleeting moments we have with our children and our loved ones. Stop and take a moment to embrace and enjoy the moment. It's gone in a heartbeat and you can never get it back. The newspaper, the internet and the television will always be there. The moment will not.

In a blink

I recently sat in front of a young family on a plane to Florida where I soon discovered the parents and two young children were going to visit their grandfather and take a trip to Disney World. As I listened to the sweet voice of what I guessed to be a three-year-old and the fussy cries of an infant, less than one year of age, I was struck and saddened by the growing frustration of the young mother. Her husband was oblivious to her exasperation (that's another observation for another post) and useless in helping her manage her inquisitive toddler. Mommy dearest told the little boy he could not eat until the plane took off, she told him that the pilot would stop the plane and ask him to get off if he used his toy cell phone. She told him that if he didn't stop talking (he said the cutest things in a "phone call" to his grandpa) the trip to Disney World would be cancelled and that they would go right home. I really wasn't worried about Junior. The little boy will grow up just fine and understand his mother's limitations and pet peeves. He will adapt and learn how to keep her calm and how to push her buttons. I was so sad for the mother. That little boy will grow up in a blink and fly away from her nest and she may not ever appreciate that every moment is precious. She should have  fun and laugh with her children, be silly and giggle, hug and kiss them and stop micro managing. Set rules, find teachable moments and just relax and enjoy those babies. My baby (almost 19) left for college this Fall and I can't say I ever regretted a moment of my time with him, at every age and stage. I look forward to his next milestone and my sheer joy in being his mother.

Buddha-ful

I don't know why I love the image of the Buddha so much or when this obsession began. I am sure I am drawn to his smiling face and big belly and the peaceful acceptance he exudes.  He is hopeful and happy and a reminder to just be and not take myself so seriously. He calms me and makes me stop and reflect upon my day and to remember that the world is bigger than me and my issues. The Buddha tells me to slow down and see if I can do something for someone else. You should plan on seeing a happy Buddha pop up from time to time to remind me (and you) to take some time to breathe and think about others and to find peace. You haven't heard the last about Buddha from me.......... Namaste :)