A New Year...Snow Days, Words and New Beginnings

~*::The stream behind my home...can you see the snow falling?::*~

The snow was gently falling that day.  The stream had frozen over and everything was covered with a generous, prisitine fluffy blanket.  It was on this snowy day that I picked the words that will symbolize my year to come.  I know that I'm only supposed to pick one, but they just kept on coming at me, fast and furious.

So I give you my Words of 2010...

Fun

Fearless

Fruitful

Forward

Each one symbolizes an aspect of me that I have to work on or a part that I need to support.

Fun...to play more and enjoy more of what life has to offer.  With working a full time job and having my own business, I feel that I sometimes (ok, more often than not) neglect that happy part of me that wants to be a kid and make snow angels.  I need to be more like that little girl that so desperately just wants to laugh and be free to run with the wind in her hair.  This year, I will have fun.

Fearless...to keep those nasty naysayers at bay that lurk deep down inside and love to make oscar worthy cameo appearances just when I think that I can do anything.  Most often, they win and I keep wondering if anyone got the license plate of the bus that just hit me!  Even today, I have doubts about what will happen later in the day (a llittle secret that I can reveal at another, more appropriate time).  Am I good enough to sell myself and my abilities to the highest bidder?  This year, I will be fearless.

Fruitful...the word of 2009 was bloom.  I spent the whole year growing and learning, unfurling my petals so that the world could see the potential inside.  This year, I need to take that beautiful bloom and let it turn into the ripe fruit that will allow me to reap the harvest of life.  Even  as the blossom is beautiful, it will not sustain and nourish.  It is only the fruit of that sweetly scented blossom that can satisfy the body, mind and spirit.  This year, I will be frutiful.

Forward...this is the year for momentum.  Many lessons have been learned in the past year...some difficult and others just as reaffirmations.  Yet, each on has let me create motion, forward motion, to fulfilling my soul destiny.  I am not there yet.  That is ok.  But, the puzzle pieces that have started to come together last year are now making a picture that has some clarity, some direction.  That direction is forward.

Beyond Reason

I am being pushed beyond reason.  Obstacles are in my path, impeding my steps "forward".  Funny how the Universe, in all its wisdom, trips you up so that you can see the right way to go.  I have found that of late, I am staring at my long lost wishes of that "certain job", or promotion, or whatever fancy thing that I thought life would bring me...I am staring in amazement because even though I wanted it, thought that I deserved it, felt that it was the right way to go...now is completly and utterly the worst thing that could have ever happened!

I too have been asking for signs, for answers to the foggy questions and prayers that are murmured in times of great dissatisfaction and distress.   Yes, they are coming to show me the way...out the door.  Things are being so shaken up that it is almost, comical.  Silly, really.  All reasons to see the light...lets say a "gentle" forced hand that is to lead you along your truest path.  Are you uncomfortable yet? No?  Well lets see what else can be thrown your way before you concede to your right way, your right livelihood.  Let's see how much more you can handle before the floodgates come crashing down and you are drawn away from all that makes you feel entrenched in dissastisfaction.  What else can you handle, before you say ...enough!

My gentle friends, our time is coming.  We are near to being ready for the courage of a breakthrough.

Are you ready?

Contracts

So I told my story

and I raised their hearts

without knowing

of the spirit moving through me

I spoke candidly

without fear

or contention

letting my experinces

guide me

to let them know

my Truth

I have long thought

that I would be able

to Inspire those around me

with words from heaven

passed through me

by the power of the spirit

it is my callling

one that I now see

that I must start to

fulfill

this is my contract

that has been sealed

in the heavens

where my soul danced

with God

Inspired Life Lesson # I stopped Counting...take a breather

~*::{Our Darling Sophie, snuggled up and undercover}::*~

It's been a while since my last Inspired Life Lesson installment...things have been so crazy around here this summer. But, when I saw Sophie snuggled up under the covers, her head barely sticking out, I just had to do a post about it!

Sometimes our little animal friends are more in tune to what is going on around us than we give them credit for. We sometimes forget that they are naturally intuitive creatures that sense things and changes, just as we do. The only real difference is that they pay attention to their instincts without question or reason, while we humans make up every preconceived notion as to why we shouldn't trust ourselves or the messages that we get.

So, here's the lesson from Sophie...take a breather. Snuggle up under the covers and grab a great book and a cup of tea. Or better yet, meditate and see what comes to you in your stillness. You never know what neat things you may find.

Inspire Me Mondays...the weight of water

~*::{From my garden}::*~

The flowers are falling

heavy from

God's tears

encumbered by the

weight of water

they are no longer

held up

by resisitance

their stalks bent

their faces turned

downward

as if in deep

prayer

I suppose

it is fitting

that the flowers

are a reflection

of a heavy heart

kneeling on the

soggy ground

waiting for the sun

to come and dry

its tears

Today

I am held up

by the weight

of water

for after the floods

come rebirth

and renewal

new sprouts of grass

stand up with vigor

flowers turn their faces

to the sun

able to breathe

once again

The Heart of a Fake Rose

~*::{The Heart of a Fake Rose}::*~

I sat there

transfixed
knowing that I
could have
should have
been the one
up on stage

Funny how life
directs
the symphony
sometimes
the cacophony
of our concert
our heart wrenching
ballade
our soul stirring
song
that is slightly
off key

I am faced
by my flat notes
my opportunities
squandered
all for the love of
nothing
that has made me feel
inadequate
and sad
that I have not
taken all
that had been
set before me

I have left my meal
half eaten
yet my soul
still hungers
my wine is spilled
on the tablecloth
stains of lust
and denial
and I am
parched

How has this
become my
circumstance
From where
do I lay
my next step
that leads me
from
myself

Inspired Life Lesson #8...Happiness

~*::{From my overgrown and unweeded garden}::*~

.....................................................................................................

Today I reached out for happiness

and it hurt me

I went to pick it up

to move it someplace nicer

and it poked me so hard

I thought that I might bleed

Although it still hurts

it only chipped a nail

and left my finger tender

I'm not sure if it was a good sign

that when I went for it

it bit me

Metaphorically speaking

many would have a field day with this

I think that it means that

I must reach for my happiness

even if it hurts me

I must move my happiness

to a nicer place

even if it is full of challenges

Where do you keep your happiness?

Inspire Me Mondays...The Other Side of the Fence

Sometimes we're on the other side of the fence. We are looking in and over, straining to get a view of what seems to be a mystery. Many times the fence is too high, the slats too close together, the hole just a little too small to get a clear picture. Yet we keep on looking for a little snippet of the unknown.

Isn't life that way sometimes? We keep looking on to the next thing, trying to solve the mystery, while forgetting about what we are doing in the here and now. I myself, have been just that person standing on my tippie toes waiting for the magical to appear.

It has been a battle to live in the now. My nature normally doesn't allow it, as I have always lived lifetimes ahead of what I was ready for. Although, I have been trying :)

The pictures above were taken at Seaworld on our recent trip to Florida. All of these beauties were behind a fence of some kind.

Funny how things pan out on the other side...this time, they were beautiful.

Inspired Life Lesson #7...Messages & a Worthy Cause

~*::{Clematis from My Garden}::*~


This week's lesson has to do with asking and receiving. With asking and being open to the messages that have been given to you. This week, ask the questions ...and wait for the answers to come. Be aware of the little signs and signals that give you clues to what is coming your way. Be open to the messages that you get, some may be big and others as subtle as a breeze. Open your mind and heart to all of the possibilities and your deepest desires will be answered. Also, be open to the possibility that what you think that you want and what is best for you are not one in the same. And, last but not least, be very careful what you wish for :)

~*::{Reflections from last week}::*~

In lieu of my normal reflections of last week, I ask youto consider taking part in a wonderful project that has been sponsored by the Etsy community. It's called Etsy Project Embrace where the participating artisans on Etsy dodnate a part or all of their proceeds on selected items in their shops (simply click here and search for etsyprojectembrace). I am one of those participating artisans and have two lovely ladies that my participation is dedicated to...my Mother in Law Barbara and my Darling Graciel's Mother, Mama Wood. They are both in the throes of this disease, one fighting valiantly and the other saying her last good-byes.

Please support this cause in any way you can...buying items, donating your money or time, or by simply passing this blog post to anyone that might be able to give in any capacity.

In addition to the three items that I have listed in my Kasiablue shop on Etsy, I will donate my proceeds on any item in either of my shops, Kasiablue or Poetica, to this cause when someone mentions "Inspired Life" in the notes to seller portion of their purchase.

Every measure of generosity, monetary or not, is needed to help support all of the brave souls that have and will fight this disease. Thank you for reading my blog and for passing this on to anyone that you can.

xo Kasia

Vacation

All I can say is ...

Thank you God

Thank you my Angels

Thank you for listening to my little cry

of "I need a vacation"

It just goes to show you that they listen

so be very specific in your needs

A vacation I asked for

a vacation I shall receive

Thank you

Thank you

Thank you

~*::{}{}{}{}{}::*

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As I will be taking a brief, and welcome, hiatus I will not be posting much for the week to come...but I will be taking as many pictures as possible :)

So, no weekly lesson...except for enjoying yourself. No Inspire Me Monday...except to say that I am inspired by taking some time to recharge your batteries.

Have a great 4th of July and remember that our freedom is precious...please don't forget to say thanks for all of the liberties that many take for granted.

Inspire Me Mondays...The Wind

~*::{Wind by Hillary Riggs}::*~

The wind is my friend

she dances along

my sunburned skin

with a calming cool hand

The wind is peaceful
soothing my weary soul
swirling natures leaves
making them dance at my feet

The wind is a minx
she blows my hair astray
after many hours trying
for the perfect look

The wind is powerful
mighty, strong and purposeful
as she sways branches
to her unyielding will

The wind is inside of me
swirling and twirling
stirring my pot
lest I overboil

The wind is my friend
she leads me to paths
that are laden with change
with her gentle hand



I love the wind
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The above image is by an artist named Hillary Riggs...I just loved this painting...evocative of my sentiments and with a little color to boot. Please visit http://www.hillaryriggs.com/ for more of her artwork.

Inspired LIfe Lesson #5...Cherish

This weeks life lesson is about cherishing all of the people that are in our lives. Following a week that has left the entertainment industry in mourning, we are reminded that life is acutely short. And although I am not one that will boo-hoo the death of a celebrity, the past few days have been a gentle reminder that we must live our lives to the fullest, everyday...celebrity or not!

Later this week our family will be taking a trip to cherish one of our own...my Mother in Law. Her annual trip north was first planned, then postponed and finally cancelled due to health reasons. So, we decided to pack ourselves up and head south for a bit of the sunshine state, with a trip to visit Mickey before we head back home to the chilly (!) north.

Cherish the ones that you love.

Contact those whom you have neglected to call.

Hug your kids, parents, friends...with meaning.

Smile at a stranger...for you may be the only joy they experience that day.

Live your life without regret.

Love your family.

Love yourself.

~*::{Reflections from last week}::*~

So, did you do something nice for yourself? Believe it or not, so many of us always put that as the last priority. I hope that you fought those urges and just did it!

In efforts to keep along with my self imposed homework, I went shopping for a bathing suit. Now, I'm not so sure that I really treated myself in doing that since all of the "negatives" came flooding back to me as I stared at myself in the dressing room mirror, under unforgiving fluorescent lights. All I can say is...ahhhh, the power of cheese!

Needless to say, I did get a bathing suit after pretending to ignore the real size that I needed to wear and the sizes that hung on the "put back" rack. I'm trying not to be so hard on myself (that's an assignment that will be a toughy!), but old habits die hard. The suit is nice...a leopard print top and a black flippy bottom (to disguise the junk in the trunk...ok, who am I fooling?). Guess we all know what assignments will be coming in the near furture, don't we ;~)

Inspire Me Mondays...Berry Red

~*:: The Butterfly Berry ::*~
~*::Inspiration & Designs ::*~

This weekend has been all about the color Red for me. I'm not usually drawn to this color, but somehow it has been the only thing that has gotten my attention. A vibrant punch of color to awake my mind's eye...to inspire some of my creations.

Don't you just love the butterfly berry? It was the first one that I picked on Sunday when we took Daddy (my hubby) to one of his favorite pastimes. We loved it so much that we couldn't eat the berry...it almost seemed, wrong, to eat it.

Inspired Life Lesson #4...and a wish

~*:: Birthday cupcakes for my girls ::*~
~*::Only 2 left from 4 dozen!!! ::*~

This week I would like for you to do something sweet for yourself. It could be buying that super decadent sugar laden foo-foo dessert at your local pastry shope. It could be getting a massage, pedicure, manicure, or facial. It could be just a walk alone in nature. Whichever you choose, make it something that you never (or rarely) do for yourself. You are worth it and with all of the hard work that you did last week decluttering your lives, you just might need it!!!

*******~*::}{::*~*******

~*::{Reflections from last week}::*~

I spent all of last week doing a process called simplification at work. It's meant to make your work experience simpler by streamlining your work flow and storage areas. At first, I thought that I would dread it, but by the time that I was finished I was elated! So much so, that I am going to buy a p-touch ( or p-diddy as we like to call it) machine for home! On the home front though, I have finally taken the steps that I need to "declutter" my finances. It's been a long time coming and I am finally starting to be able to breathe again. I also have started to officially organize my gems and beads (hence the p-diddy). My creative process is affectionately called "beautiful chaos"...need I say more?

And last but not least...

Happy Father's Day to all of the Dad's out there that give their lives to protect, provide and love their families. We love you!

********************

Inspire Me Mondays...words

~*::Inspired Words for Inspired Minds::*~

The picture above captures some of my all time favorite books. Some were given to me as gifts, others purchased upon sound recommendation and intent promises that I would not be disappointed as I sifted through their dog eared pages. If you have not had a chance to peruse these lovely editions, please give them a try this summer. you might be pleasantly surprised how your life just might change :)

From top to bottom:

** A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson**

** Angels 101 by Doreen Virtue**

** Oneness with All Life by Eckhart Tolle**

** The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls**

** Anatomy of the Spirit by Caroline Myss**

** Clean Living Magazine**

What words inspire you?

Inspired Life Lesson #2

Hello All! For this installement of Inspired Life Lessons I would like for you to make a punch list of 5 things that you would llike to do in the next 5 months. I don't mean do the laundry, sleep, eat...I mean, what 5 things, be they tangible or not, would you like to accomplish for yourself. For your own personal growth.

Your own sanity.

Your own satisfaction.

Really think about what would make your life truly satisfying and how these 5 little things would make your ultimate goals a realistic possibility.

.......................................................................................................

If you would like to play along with me, simply comment to this post and I'll add you to the list! Thanks for playing and taking the chance to discover yourself :)

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Messges from last weeks assignement:

Turning off the radio was easy for me...I've been doing it for some time now. The reason that I had you do this was to show you how much more relaxed you would be while being out there in the "crazy" world. I find that I am less stressed behind the wheel when I'm not distracted, or assaulted, by the barrage of misinformation out there. My brain just seems clearer. It's like a little time for yourself that is quite unexpected.

I also purchased some glorious snapdragons in pink, yellow and orange. They were just out of control! I couldn;t resist them. Their shock of bright color was just what I needed.

What did you find?

Nature Walk

This is what it's all about...showing your gals what the beauty that the world has to offer. We could pick out about 7 different types of birds singing, but they were camera shy. The forsestry was so lush again that you could smell the life in the trees. We were even lucky enough to snag a picture of the bunny who has been eating our hot pepper plants. I think the last laugh will be on him though :)

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

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!

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!