I went walking this morning, looked up, RUSHED to get a photo.
Beautiful sunrise!
The sun is shinning.
It makes all the difference in our mood, UNTIL we listen to the news reports, which are grim.
Still the warmth of the sun gives us HOPE.
Wishing you all a special day!
A friend of mine sent me a picture of this Buddha Board. She knows I have been practicing drawing, but also focused on a zen lifestyle.
Founder and CEO, Eric Thrall, created the Buddha Board to give children and adults a fun, relaxing and quick way to “be creative” and “in the moment.” With the Buddha Board, you draw with water, within 10 minutes your drawing fades away. So, you don’t have to be perfect, instead you are FREE to be as creative as you like.
This would make a great gift. Also, be wonderful at the office. We have a candy jar and employees come by for a treat. I bet if we had a Buddha Board by the candy jar, people would enjoy being creative.
When I was young, we all had an “Etch A Sketch.” We LOVED drawing, even though it was a bit cumbersome to use, we enjoyed it. The Buddha Board is modern and allows for more freedom in drawing and a lot easier to use. I’m excited about this, I want to try it out!
How do you remember YOUR weight lifting routines? I’ve been working out with a personal trainer. When we’re going through a routine, I think I’ll remember everything he taught me.
Then I get to the gym on my own…
NOPE, NO MEMORY – I think, “How did he do that, what size weight, did I bend up or down?” You get the idea.
So, I smartened up, after each session, I started doing quick stick drawings.
Guess what, I’m becoming a PRO.
AND I have a start of a new exercise book!
SPECIAL NOTE: Never tell your trainer you don’t like a certain exercise. WHY?? Because he will MAKE YOU DO the exercise you HATE every single time, i.e., planks!
The talk of the town in Chicago this week is the newly opened “21c Museum Hotel.” It’s an elegant boutique hotel, which has a small contemporary art museum. The art gallery features some thought provoking pieces.
I found this art piece interesting called, ‘The Police State,” by Sebastian Errazuriz, his take on the three world leaders. There were other interesting pieces, but since the museum is so small, I’ll let you visit to see the rest.
The Reception desk said that 21c Museum Hotels have quite a few other locations, you can visit their website to see where. Condé Nast Traveler has written about this hotel chain, so worth a visit. Now, I am inspired by art, need to go to the Art Institute.
I was at the Post Office this week mailing a package. I was almost done with my transaction when I asked for some stamps. GUESS WHAT — the Post Mistress brought out these stamps for Lunar New Year! She asked, “Would you like these?” Why, of course!
I believe the Year of the Rat starts off the 12 zodiac signs. If that is true, looking at the sheet of stamps, it appears the Post Office has their next 11 stamps set up for the next 11 years. We will see.
This illustration of the Rat is really beautiful. Personally, I think it looks more like a jaguar than a rat. However, as I keep looking at it, this rat clearly has a magical look.
I realize I am a little late, but better late than never!
Wishing you ALL a Happy Lunar New Year!
Who says you have to have a boyfriend to get flowers and chocolates?
I just took care of it myself.
DONE – I am happy and got what I wanted!
Wishing you ALL a special Valentine’s Day… like mine!
Go all out, make it special!
I’ve always enjoyed doing puzzles. When my children were little we had a few favorite Disney puzzles that were about 35 pieces. Super easy, but just enough pieces to put some effort into making them without getting bored or tired.
For a few years now, I have been looking for a good puzzle, nothing caught my attention. This Christmas though, I found this puzzle by accident. I immediately liked it. Exotic travels, super colorful, and it looks like a group of stamps put together.
I started my puzzle with such excitement.
THEN THE LET DOWN… turns out this puzzle is an oversized shaped 24 x 30. As I was making the puzzle my pieces were not going to fit on my table. My table is 24 inches long, I need 30.
So, I started investigating puzzle tables. I didn’t even know they existed. However, do I really want a big table? Where would I store it when I’m not making a puzzle?
I don’t have the answers yet, BUT I do want to make my puzzle!
Not sure where to start… Rome, Hong Kong, Egypt, Bahamas?
My puzzle — HOW WILL IT GET DONE? I need a puzzle expert!
Time to visit Chicago. Look how beautiful the view is. We’ve had a mild winter (knock on wood); however, that is about to change. Temperatures have dropped and tomorrow we are supposed to have snow.
When I see this view I think Harry Potter is going to be flying by soon.
A perfect view to spark a writer’s creative thoughts!
Imagine in July when the Blue Angels are flying by. It’s spectacular!
Can you tell I am getting ready for Spring?
Tara Lazar, children’s book author, came up with a great way to start every new year. It’s called, “STORYSTORM.” The concept is simple, it’s free and all that is required is that anyone who signs up for “STORYSTORM” comes up with 30 book ideas in 31 days.
Good news, this is stress free, because you are not held accountable for showing anyone your 30 ideas. You are the only one that knows if you did it or not. However, by signing up, you can join the discussions on Facebook, read posts by other authors, agents, editors, etc.
Lazar only does this in January. Last January, I found out about it, but it was at the end of the month, so I missed the boat. This year though, I am right on time.
Let the story ideas BEGIN…
I was at Macy’s the other day looking for a gift. Look what I came across, a Santa Mailbox. They even had the note paper, quick and easy.
In my Junk folder I saw an email about Certified Santa Mail. REALLY, what a way to make money off of children’s wishes. When we were little, I admit, it was fun to write a letter to Santa hoping we would get our red bicycle or new radio, whatever it might be. However, it was simple and innocent, our letters were written on lined paper that we used for school homework.
Now, there are all sorts of websites with specialized Santa care packages, certified letters, etc. I’m smiling at that, because a young child does not even know what a certified letter is or means, so these company’s are selling to the parents WHO play the role of Santa.
Anyhow, just for “giggles,” I was tempted to write a letter to Santa and put it in the mailbox.
DEAR SANTA,
ARE YOU REALLY ALL MIGHTY AND POWERFUL ABLE TO MAKE ANY WISH COME TRUE? HOW OLD IS RUDOLPH NOW? YOUR SANTA SUIT IS LOOKING A LITTLE WORN AND YOUR SLEIGH WAS SQUEAKY LAST YEAR.
I’VE TALKED TO MY FRIENDS, WE ARE WILLING TO MAKE A DONATION, SO YOU CAN HAVE A NEW SUIT. MY FRIEND SALLY SUGGESTED STARTING A “GO FUNDME” CAMPAIGN FOR YOU (SANTA NEEDS A NEW SUIT AND MONEY TO FIX HIS SLEIGH).
WHERE SHOULD WE SEND THE $$$$ THAT IS DONATED?
CONTACT ME AT — SANTANEEDSHELP@GMAIL.COM
__________________________________
All joking aside, I bet people would donate to that fund and the next photo would be of the crook drinking a margarita in the Bahamas wearing a Santa hat. Ho, ho, ho —
Brilliant Viewpoint 