to plan, to plan

(2010- from my portfoilio)


I was going to complain about my 9th chemo...but this set things in the right direction even though I am not 100% yet...

"From The Secret Daily Teachings

When a big change occurs in your life it forces you to change direction. Sometimes the new path may not be easy, but you can be absolutely certain that there is magnificence for you on the new path. You can be absolutely certain that the new path contains things that you could not have experienced otherwise.

When we look back at a negative event that occurred in the past, we often see how in fact it transformed our life. We see how that event directed us toward a life that we would not change for anything."

I really wouldn't change my life for anything...cancer or no cancer.

cool quote

"How you treat me is your karma. How I react is mine."



Do you agree with this? (i do <3)


love me,
the globetrotting gamine

peoples opinions

"You should never let others opinions define who you are.

They don't know you well enough.

This doesn't mean that what other people have to say is not valuable, but you must realize that it is purely their opinion and not necessarily true for you."

-James Van Praagh

enhance your life: the universe

"If you are on the path you are meant to be on, everything falls into place;

the Universe is telling you that. If you are not on your right path, you will experience

roadblocks all along the way, and this is also the Universe

telling you to stop, look and ask if this is where you are supposed to be."

-Dolores North as told to James Van Praagh

enhance your life: like attracts like

"Many of you have been around people whose attitude is self-defeating and depressing. These people are not very popular,because their negative attitude pushes others away. At the same time, they tend to draw into their lives other like-minded victims who have the same fearful mentality. You know the expression: misery loves company. How can anyone succeed in life when surrounded by negative energy? With such a dismal outlook on life, victims always feel as though they have been dealt a bad hand.

...if individuals, despite their situations, do not seek a world past the one they know and attempt to learn the skills to understand and become aware of their true selves, they will continue to live in these adverse and restricted conditions."

-James Van Praagh

Ghosts Among Us

enhance your life: love vs. fear

"If we define our reality by measuring the world with our senses, our environment, and what we have been taught, we believe that only what we perceive around us is real. The truth is that life on earth is a temporary illusion. In fact, everything in the physical world is transitory. The only true constant is love-- the power that creates and expands. Love knows no judgement or criticism; love just is.

It is the characteristics of love that draw people and situations to us. When we do something out of love, we create more love, but when we do something for the sake of money or fame, for instance, we may get those things, but our hearts and souls will be left empty. When we live with love, it affects us with positive characteristics such as joy, happiness, compassion, and laughter."

-James Van Praagh

about life situations

"All of our life situations happen in order for us to learn. These experiences are actually gifts for the soul. The gist wrappings may not be what we would like or what we had expected, but the contents are uniquely designed just for us. The Universe is perfect. A soul goes through life's most common and challenging emotional lessons in its quest for understanding and to move forward in its development."

-James Van Praagh

just when the caterpillar thought the world was over...

(photo taken by me...somewhere in new york)

it became a butterfly :)

incredible oheka castle views

yes.

wow.

love me,

the globetrotting gamine

hello, oheka castle

(me, in front of my future home!!)

i have to say...

new york is a magical place...

i know this because my grandparents

and great grandparents

and their families and friends

wouldn't have settled here if it wasn't...

oheka castle?

proof positive!

i don't know if i'd like to have a huge party

like a wedding or shower or baptism here

but i would like to live here...

truly,

new york has it all <3

love me

the globetrotting gamine

enhance your life: money

"We have all known or heard about people who have great fortunes at their disposal.

Yet these millionaires are some of the most unhappy and unfulfilled people on earth.

Just having money doesn't necessarily mean you have wealth.

Money is a material object.

Being wealthy is an attitude."

-James Van Praagh

Unfinished Business

happy 2nd birthday!

a few weeks ago

we celebrated

my greatest baby friend's

2nd birthday (already?!)

how cute is it when kids

jump around on trampoline beds?

look! he caught air!!

so great he is!

and you can just tell that he's thinking...

haha!

'this is my cake!'

love love love

our little friend!

love me,

the globetrotting gamine

oh, man...and drool

southern living has really turned me on to wanting this...help me, lord. i have to stop reading magazines.

how beautifully inspiring are these photos?

they almost make me want to put this pool in my backyard.

almost.

not in this house :)

what do you think?

love me,

the globetrotting gamine

Enhance Your Life via Kimora Lee Simmons

One of my favorite indulgences is going to the public library.
Reasons:

• I can pick up as many books as I want and not spend a fortune.
• I don't feel bad if I don't read one of the books I have picked up
• Every writer needs to read A LOT= library
• um, summer heat and air-conditioned library. Enough said.

so i picked up Kimora Lee Simmons' book Fabulosity because, let's face it- the woman's made it. She's freaking awesome! And her life lessons: inspirational.

What intrigued me about this book the most was this part...

The Fabulosity "tough-soft woman-warrior"way

1. If you have one good friend in life, you're lucky. You don't have to have ten and don't tell everyone your business. Women can't always be trusted. They will screw you over, take your stuff, and go behind your back. You hear it all the time from women, how their friends or even their sisters betrayed them! I have a few friends that I've known forever, a couple from high school and from early modeling years, and that's about it.
2. Cut off dead boughs. Saw off old friendships and ties that hold you back. Such as people who think you've gotten too big for your boots, have sold out, or that you're snobby for moving to a new neighborhood. If they're not going to celebrate your success and push you higher with their applause, ditch 'em. You don't need bad energy bringing you down!
3. Walk toward your fears. Just like that girl in the junior high cafeteria, sometimes you have to turn and face the thing you're frightened of. I was scared to get on a plane and go halfway around the world with my kids recently, even though I used to travel nonstop. I had gotten out of the practice and was anxious about all that could go wrong. (same thing with cartwheels: used to be great at 'em, but now too scared to try even one!) It's crazy. So I made myself get on the plane and go without thinking about it, because to let silly fears hold me back would have been weak.
4. Put out positivity. I definitely practice the discipline of being positive. To everyone who walks in the office. I give a hug or say something like, "You look great today!" It's  a preventative measure to kind of fill the air with good vibes, like creating a positive force field and putting out what you want to get back. Because God knows somewhere somebody is saying something negative about you, and that affects you even if you don't hear or see it.
5. Hold your tongue. The mean words you say will hurt everyone and the effect of putting out negativity does take a toll on you. Just stop it! Bite your own tongue and be one less negative energy in the universe. If you don't have something good to say, try to shut up. And if you don't have a genuine smile to give, fake one.

It turns out that the past couple of years have been huge years in my life. I'd done what I'd never thought I would do- like believe in myself enough to self-publish, to travel to places I never thought I'd go to (though I'd always wanted to go), and say good-bye to people who's life goal was to make other people miserable by trying to administer control over them somehow.

The truth of the matter is, the only person who controls your life is you. Moreover, the only person RESPONSIBLE for YOUR life is YOU.

Not your mother, father, husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, friends...you!

When you don't own up to anything, and you don't claim responsibility for your own actions you really have no room to grow. I am so happy that I learned the lessons these last few years have taught me- I wouldn't be where I am right now.

Loving my life and pushing to live it and make it better.

So what if you have to cut out the negative energies in your life? If you would rather be nasty and icky vibe-d, that's fine.

But no one deserves abuse. And everyone deserves happiness.

my dream house...

i have a problem. i can't for the life of me imagine what my dream house would look like...

(taken from here)

victorian? yes, i love this one.

(taken from here)

villa in tuscany? yes, i love this, too.

(taken from here)

log cabin in the woods? Sigh.

then there's the matter of the property size itself...

of course, my library:

then, the kitchen

our backyard:

mmm- bedroom:

living room:

foyer:

bathroom:

(these taken from here)

ah, yes. just those alone would give me a lifetime of work to do.

bring it on.

what would your dream house look like?

10 hobbies- then and now

• scrapbooking
• cooking
• collecting vintage postcards
• photography
• writing
• organizing offices
• creating inspiration notebooks
• blogging
• wine and cigars
• travelling

hobbies, then:

• tae kwon do
• reading
• creating inspiration notebooks
• journaling
• all things cinema
• all things leros, greece
• daydreaming about the future
• piano
• organizing family photos
• ballet

eh. somethings don't change.

m.i.a. renewal

being m.i.a. from a few avenues in my life seem to give me a new perspective on people, situations, routines...

for example: many people will have comments about you whether or not you do something.

do it anyway- wait, wasn't there a poem like this...?

"People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.



If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.


If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.


If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.


What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.


If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.


The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.


Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.


In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

-Mother Teresa"
 
Mother Teresa was an awesome inspiration.
 
I fee as if the last line says it all- everything is between  you and God- or you and your psyche- or you and your universe. It was never between you and them.
 
Don't let other people bring you down- they will usually do so because their life isn't going right or they have turmoil unknown to you. After all, misery loves company.
 
I have found when you get rid of the misery- you find everything you could have ever hoped for- including a peaceful and much happier life.
 
So thanks, for being out there somewhere and reading this. I promise I will have more interesting posts soon ;)
 
Much Love,
the globetrotting gamine

mary baker eddy library

the mary baker eddy (details here) is amazing. upon first sight, this is what i saw...

wall of peace

beautiful architecture

words floating about (like in my head!)

where i could have sat to write for hours

word fountain

i can't wait to read more about her. my book list is ever-growing.

hopefully, it won't grow legs and kick me in the arse ;)

any more ideas on great books to read?

great googly moogly

i am so sorry i've been MIA. i haven't forgotten any of you guys <3
life has been a little crazy this past month...and you know the feeling where it is about to get crazier?
i have that. i'm qute sure that 2011 is going to be a whirlwind from here on out.

there have been so many secret projects/ideas floating around my head...
and so many fun things to share...aside from my usual craziness of cooking, organizing, scrapbooking and most recently, publishing my books and knitting.

me and the girls were discussing it: we want to do EVERYTHING-- but there is not 72 hours in one day, as we'd like there to be. well, as we NEED there to be.

there are to-do lists everywhere and they seem to grow legs and follow me around. i have given up trying to keep up with them and have taken great pleasure in at least marking items off of them- whichever ones they are.

i have been trying to stick to my 'kind diet' diet...and i do as much as i can but i've found that being raised in my family- it's kind of hard. seems as if when i'm home i am more pone to being vegan/vegetarian than i would be if i was still living with my family. of course, when my blood sugar drops- watch out!

imagine my happiness when i discovered an article about Alicia Silverstone in Redbook magazine! yay yay!

she's just amazing---and she's expecting. yay!
 of course, she talks about some of my fave food- bok choy, kale and collards. yum in the tum.

i have not done my monthly lists, (sorry) but am in the works of my may list...maybe it'll be more of  a seasonal thing. i like that idea best.

hopefully, the weather will get warmer and we can (egads!) start being a wee bit more productive.

in the meantime:

writing more books/stories, ideas, lists...

here i am!

spending time with pup and family...

knitting...

and generally just getting things done.

what have y'all been up to?

inspiration: hungry girl

i don't know if i've ever sung her praises on this blog, but i love hungry girl.

LOVE!

here are some A.M. recipes to help provide me with enough nutrition to keep self publishing and completing items on my to-do list:

Get ready, AM chewers. We're giving you a basic egg-scramble recipe (no pan or spatula needed!) and five SIMPLE ways to change it up.




The Easiest Egg Breakfast Ever...






The Egg Mug Classic


PER SERVING (entire mug): 95 calories, 2g fat, 490mg sodium, 3g carbs, 0g fiber, 2g sugars, 14.5g protein -- PointsPlus™ value 2*






Ingredients:


1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters Original)


One wedge The Laughing Cow Light Original Swiss cheese, cut into pieces














Directions:


Spray a large microwave-safe mug lightly with nonstick spray. Add egg substitute and cheese and stir. Microwave for about a minute. Stir gently, and then microwave for another 30 - 45 seconds, until scramble is just set. Stir and enjoy!






MAKES 1 SERVING














And Now, Variations on a Theme...






Egg Mug Florentine


PER SERVING (entire mug): 107 calories, 2g fat, 575mg sodium, 5g carbs, <0.5g fiber, 2.5g sugars, 15g protein -- PointsPlus™ value 2*






Ingredients:


1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters Original)


One wedge The Laughing Cow Light Original Swiss cheese, cut into pieces


1/2 cup chopped fresh spinach


1 tsp. Dijonnaise


1 tsp. plain fat-free yogurt


Squirt of lemon juice






Directions:


To make your sauce, stir to combine Dijonnaise, yogurt, and lemon juice in a small dish. Set aside.






Spray a large microwave-safe mug lightly with nonstick spray. Add just the spinach and microwave for 30 seconds. Blot excess liquid from spinach. Add egg substitute and cheese and stir. Microwave for about a minute. Stir gently, and then microwave for another 30 - 45 seconds, until scramble is just set. Stir, top with sauce, and enjoy!






MAKES 1 SERVING










Egg Mug Burger-rama


PER SERVING (entire mug): 175 calories, 0.5g fat, 995mg sodium, 14g carbs, 4g fiber, 6g sugars, 30g protein -- PointsPlus™ value 4*


























Ingredients:


1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters Original)


One slice fat-free American cheese, chopped


One Boca Original Meatless Burger (Vegan)


1 tbsp. ketchup






Directions:


Microwave Boca patty for 1 minute, and then chop into pieces. Spray a large microwave-safe mug lightly with nonstick spray. Add egg substitute, chopped Boca patty, and cheese, and stir. Microwave for about a minute. Stir gently, and then microwave for another 30 - 45 seconds, until scramble is just set. Stir, top with ketchup, and enjoy!






MAKES 1 SERVING














Egg McMuggin'


PER SERVING (entire mug): 174 calories, 3.25g fat, 1,081mg sodium, 9g carbs, 1g fiber, 2.5g sugars, 25g protein -- PointsPlus™ value 4*






Ingredients:


1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters Original)


One wedge The Laughing Cow Light Original Swiss cheese, cut into pieces


1 1/2 oz. (about 3 slices) extra-lean ham, chopped


One-half slice light bread (40 - 45 calories and at least 2g fiber per slice)


1 tbsp. shredded fat-free cheddar cheese






Directions:


Toast bread and cut into cubes. Spray a large microwave-safe mug lightly with nonstick spray. Add bread cubes, egg substitute, cheese wedge pieces, and ham, and stir. Microwave for about a minute. Stir gently, and then top with shredded cheese. Microwave for another 30 - 45 seconds, until scramble is just set. Stir and enjoy!






MAKES 1 SERVING










Egg Mug Lorraine


PER SERVING (entire mug): 128 calories, 4g fat, 730mg sodium, 3.5g carbs, 0g fiber, 2g sugars, 17.5g protein -- PointsPlus™ value 3*


























Ingredients:


1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters Original)


One wedge The Laughing Cow Light Original Swiss cheese, cut into pieces


1 tbsp. precooked real crumbled bacon (like the kind by Oscar Mayer)


1 tsp. dried minced onion


1/2 tsp. Dijonnaise






Directions:


Spray a large microwave-safe mug lightly with nonstick spray. Add all ingredients and stir. Microwave for about a minute. Stir gently, and then microwave for another 30 - 45 seconds, until scramble is just set. Stir and enjoy!






MAKES 1 SERVING










Egg Mug Mexicali


PER SERVING (entire mug): 116 calories, 0.5g fat, 579mg sodium, 5.5g carbs, 1.5g fiber, 1.5g sugars, 21.5g protein -- PointsPlus™ value 3*






Ingredients:


1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters Original)


1/4 cup frozen ground-beef-style soy crumbles (like the ones by Boca and Morningstar Farms)


2 tbsp. shredded fat-free cheddar cheese


1 tbsp. salsa






Directions:


Spray a large microwave-safe mug lightly with nonstick spray. Add egg substitute, soy crumbles, and cheese, and stir. Microwave for about a minute. Stir gently, and then microwave for another 30 - 45 seconds, until scramble is just set. Stir, top with salsa, and enjoy!






MAKES 1 SERVING





i'll be completing the egg mug classic, but with organic cheese...
while i go through e-mails, and books for ideas on EVERYTHING...
 
don't forget to check out my bookshop, here! 25% off today on 'Where Did All the Cookies Go?" and 'A Coincidence Away'....and last day of free shipping on lulu.com (code: ground)!!
 
happy monday greetings to all- hope you don't get snowed in on this first day of spring!