Inspired Life Lesson #1

Today is my first installment of Inspired Life Lessons...little things that you can do for yourself that will make you happier, more fulfilled and, hopefully, more inspired by the glorious world around us. Usually I will have one assignment for you to do each week that will be posted each Sunday. Some things will be simple questions that you need to answer (ok, they might not be that simple) in order for you to better understand yourself. Other things will be tasks that help you to see the real you, and other entries will be just for fun!

I hope that you will join me on this journey, as I too will be participating :) If you want to play along, leave me a comment and I will add you to the link list. Let's see how many will get up the gumption to take a good hard look at themselves!

So, here we are at Week #1.....

Your assignment is two fold this week

1. Turn the radio off in your car for one whole week and be silent on your way to and from work (or groceries, or getting the kids...however your life is positioned). You will be amazed what you can hear when you don't have a million things bombarding your brain, filling it with angst and fear.

2. Bring life into your home. Buy a plant from your local grocery store or go pick some wildflowers...anything that helps you to bring the outside in.

I look forward to hearing from all of you!

Inspired Life Lessons Week #2

Inspired Life Lessons Week #3

Inspired Life Lessons Week #4

Inspired Life Lessons Week #5

Couldn't Get This Out of My Head

This song woke me up out of a dead sleep the other day. It simply wouldn't stop coming...so I got up and wrote it down. I even have the melody in my head...one day I just might have enough courage to sing it for you :)

Close To Your Heart

Chorus:

So what if I want you

and I decide to haunt you

Like the shadows on the wall

and you begin to fall

So what if I need you

But my love bleeds you

Like the dry desert sands

While you're holding my hand

Close to your heart

Never knowing what to do

when life takes over for you

Growing in and out of love

with nowhere to go...

Supposing we met yesterday

filled with hope and destiny

How will I become

all that you need?

Chorus

I am open and I believe

We were still meant to be

Frozen here in time

Every mountain I must climb

Just to get next to you

Hoping for a chance

But the writings on the wall

And I begin to fall...

Chorus

So what if you need me

And finally you see me

Standing here by the wall

with nothing at all...

but love in my heart

as I'm holding your hand

Close to my heart

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Lyrics by Kasia Blue 2009

Textures of the Zoo~ and a Contest Too!

#1

#2

#3 (plus, do you see anything else in this picture

...look closely)

#4

#5

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After a rather humid day at the Buffalo Zoo with my 6 year old, I sat down to look at all of the pictures that I had taken during the trip. Many were conventional ~ like giraffes, monkeys and a posing toucan ~ and others just made me go Wow, what a textured and tactile world we live in!

So, in the spirit of having a little fun, we're going to play a guessing game. If you can guess what each of the pictures represent you will have a chance to win a free Chrysanthemum ring from my Poetica Studio on Etsy. Please submit all of your entries as a comment on this post. If multiple people guess correctly, then a drawing will be held to determine the winner. Entries must be submitted by June 3, 2009. Winner will be announced on June 4th right here on my blog.

Have fun and good luck!!!! Some of them are hard because they may not be exactly what you might think :)

Feature Me ~ Again!

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My Delia Earrings have been featured today as the Item of the Day at Emmaline Bride, a bridal marketplace for all things handmade. Please visit them for more beautiful goodies!

Two in one day...so exciting :)

Feature Me!

Thanks to Reana from PapierBlue and the creator of a great new blog called wnyetsy for featuring my Never Promised You a Rose Garden bracelet from Poetica Studio shop today! Click here to visit my feature post and to see other great artists from around Western New York: http://wnyetsy.blogspot.com/2009/05/romantic-bohemian-gypsy-jewelry-by.html

How cool is that?

Inspire Me Mondays...Holiday

Holidays....things to Inspire you for the upcoming season.

I'm Inspired By:
The Wind in my Hair

Hues of Purple and Blue Abloom Everywhere

The Fresh Flavors Grown by Your Own Hands

Beauty and Abundance

Childlike play

The Promise of Cool Waters on a Hot Day

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Have a fun filled, flavorful and Inspiring Memorial Day!

Silence

Silence

fills my ears

empty and hollow

down the corridor

I hear you

rapping gently

on my window pane

I will not let you in

for you are strong

and I am weak

in the silence

of my heart

leading me astray

through the door

that surrenders

all reason

I will stay here

where I prefer

in Silence

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Picture is courtesy of http://www.pbase.com/, Prose by Kasia Blue

The Wrecking Ball

I am being battered by a wrecking ball

directed by the hand of God

my walls are being shattered

my firmaments released

My supports no longer hold me

high to the heavens

but subject me to my knees

face forward

in the mud

It is as if I am being ripped

uplifted from my roots...again

exposed and violated

by the swiftness of humility

Take that arrogant heart

you will learn to tremble

you will sob and pant

until you are empty

of your own destruction

only then can I make you

whole again

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Wrecking ball picture courtesy of www.dpreview.com

Prose by Kasia Blue

Calling All Angels

I wish all my Angels

to come to my aid

in my darkest hour

when my soul is weary

and broken

from crying

Iwish all my Angels

to hold my hand

and comfort my soul

when it is in despiar

I wish all my Angels

to be at my side

for I need their love

their wings

to fly

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These photos were taken at Blessed Trinity RC Church on Leroy Ave, in Buffalo, NY. PLease do not use them without permission :)

Inspire Me Mondays...color

I am in love with color. Especially blue. In all forms. Cerulean, Ceylon, Cornflower, Midnight, Holly, Aquamarine, Sapphire... shall I really go on? Blue has always been my favorite, even when I tried to change it to green, I eventually went back to blue. Although I have taken on a small penchant for orange and yellow as of late. Little wee doses of warmth in my otherwise muted, blue world.

So for this installment of Inspire Me Mondays, here are some pictures of colors that make my heart sing. I hope you love them too!

The Evolution of Kasia Blue

I am coming out of my skin. The skin that has withered away, that has restricted me from shining. It has pulled at my soul, causing me to stretch and contort into the most uncomfortable positions as of late. So much so, that when I look into the mirror, I do not recognize the person staring back at me in amazement.

I feel as if I could just rip it off and release the pink , shiny new skin to the world. Expose my true self in all my glory, with out all the preconceived notions of today. But, wait I must. I know that my skin is yet too fragile, and must be protected from the harshness of unadulterated light. If I shed it too soon, I will burn.

I am a creature in transition. My lines are blurred, waiting for the focus button to work and sharpen the picture..just so I can see clearly. Inside I am ready, outside I am too fresh and raw.

Soon, I will shine.

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This picture was taken by my lovely Sarah on her Communion Day...how very fitting, don't you think?

Inspire Me Mondays...a few days late

My lovely friend Graciel who authors a very inspiring and soul stirring blog, Evenstar-Art, decided to start a a weekly post about what inspires her soul to sing. Since I'm usually up for a little adventure, I decided to join in on the fun! If you would like to join us as well, just click on the link for Inspire Me Mondays and read on from there. Your soul will be glad that you did.

For my first installment, I have a few pictures of the outside facade from Holy Trinity RC Church. The architecture of this Roaring 20's built Church is simply mesmerizing. In fact, as we were taking a bazillion pictures today, the time just seemed to melt away...like we were in a different life.

I will be posting the pictures that I have taken in installments, grouped together where theme, color and function seem fit. I hope that you love them as much as I loved taking them. And, if you get a chance to see the Church, take your camera and plan to stay a while...you won't regret it!

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All pictures taken with permission by KasiaBlue copyright 2009

Wednesday Spotlight ~ Craving Orange at Cafe Lola

Cafe Lola...Tableside


















When was the last time that you craved orange? The color, the flavor, the texture? If you're looking to get a quick fix for all of your senses, then my suggestion is a stop at Cafe Lola on Third Street in Niagara Falls, NY. Owned by my friend Michael, this inspired little slice of orange heaven is sure to tempt your tastebuds!

Sweet Potato Fries


















Michael is a fine fellow that decided that not being able to live his dream, his passion was not an option any longer. Throwing caution to the wind, with a dream and a plan in his hand, he ventured off from the "security" of a regular job and literally took the plunge (although some might have thought that his better bet would be to go over the Falls in a barrel). I'm sure that anyone that stops by for a decadent, yet affordable treat, will be glad that he kept his head in the clouds and his dreams firmly planted on the ground.
Fried Boursin with Raspberry Coulis


















From Sweet Potato Fries that are out of this world, to fried Bousin Cheese with raspberry coulis and Portabello Mushroom Paninis, Cafe Lola's Menu has a little (or a lot) or something for everyone! Even your wee ones can get a special treat from the kids menu with maybe a Gelato or Italian Ice for a sweet ending to a fine meal.

Stop by Cafe Lola for Lunch (Monday ~ Saturday) and Dinner (Thursday ~ Saturday) and let Michael know that I sent you!

Handmade...With Love

For My Darling Sarah....

The above picture is all about my little girl Sarah. In honor of her First Holy Communion this Sunday, I decided to make her some items that she could cherish for the rest of her life. Her veil is hand stitched to her halo headband, and the lace is absolutely exquisite. I hope that the pictures can capture how pretty it really is.

Her rosary is also handmade, the stones picked out by her...rose quartz (for eternal love), amethyst (for a higher connection to God), and kyanite (for connection to the Holy Spirit). I couldn't have done it better myself.

Lastly, the pendant is a picture of The Black Madonna or Our Lady of Czestochowa (which just happens to be the name of our Church). The golden icon is from Poland and was given to my Mother by my Father many years ago.

I know that I will cry tomorrow...I just won't be able to help myself, with her all dressed in white like an angel. The Bell Choir that I direct will also be playing for this occassion. If we do well, I just might post a little video of us...but we'll see how that goes :)

*~*~*~*~I Love You Sarah, my sweet little girl~*~*~*~*