Cherry Blossom Soup

10 Minute Challenge (Still time!)

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Tue, 22 May 2012 01:36:20 +0000

Last Thursday I posted on this blog about my excitement over seeing so clearly how simple conscious acts of joy can literally change our lives. Creating an extraordinary moment for ourselves or someone else can change the landscape of an entire day. Doing this every day can change the whole week. Before you know it, your weeks and months and years are looking and feeling more vibrant than ever before.

10 minutes is all I ask.

In fact, I posed a challenge. I asked folks to spend just ten minutes focusing on someone they loved and creating a short Love List or card for that person. AND then mailing it. For everyone who emailed me to tell me they did this, I sent a copy of my ebook, Present Perfect, which is full of ideas for imaginative and impactful gifts that are fun to give.

For those of you who haven't yet taken me up on this, I want to remind you of this challenge.

As a little inspiration, check out this great note I received from one of the people who did take me up on it!

Moments before I saw your email, I was just exploring my present low level of enthusiasm for life. I responded immediately to your gentle 10 minutes challenge by writing a note to a wonderful friend, & have it ready to mail when I walk to my mailbox in the next few moments. In writing to her about how her friendship charms my life, it was like taking a drink from her well of love. My thirst was quenched, thanks to your challenge. Hugs, Barbara Wirth

Other people have also told me how energized they felt by dropping that card or note in the mailbox. Try it. You'll like it.

Don't forget to email me to receive your free book!

Been there; done that? (No siree!)

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:29:50 +0000

I want to tell you something I'm really jazzed about. But this comes with a warning: be aware of the "been-there-done-that" squirrel chatter that will probably arise.

I've been watching lately how that ole chuttering in my head (chatter + muttering) can lull me into thinking that I should just as well take a nap or go watch Mad Men because I've heard — and tried— all this stuff before.

But that's what I'm so excited about! This week I'm seeing so clearly that all that chuttery squabble in my head is the only thing keeping me from having the life I want — all the time.

Last night I was really energized last night after spending an hour with Estra Roell and Kathleen Martin on their Blog Talk Radio Show, Coach Cafe. During our conversation, I shared eight really simple ways to get more joy outta life — and all of them were things to do in ten minutes or less. While I was on the show, I was feeling in my bones how these practices have truly saved my life. Even though the squirrel talk in my head was saying, "blah, blah, blah. There's nothing special to any of this," my real self knew better. My real self could feel the cumulative effects of creating extraordinary moments one by one.

And that's what I want to share with you. I want you to really get it that we can change our lives in minutes. It doesn't take a lot of effort or time. It doesn't take losing weight or having that dreamy lover or controlling the household chaos. It simply means setting the intention, right here, this moment, to create one extraordinary moment and then watch what happens. That's it.

If you listen to the Blog Talk Radio interview, below, you can hear all eight ideas I present. And I encourage you to do so! But here's one to get you started, right now. Promise me that you wil cover your ears with your hands when squirrel mind tells you that you've done this before. Promise me that you will pretend this is a brand new idea you're hearing for the first time. Promise me you will actually set a timer and DO THIS. And that you will pay attention to the sensations in your body and the thoughts in your head before, during, and after.

Okay. Ready? Think about someone in your life who could use a pick-me-up. Maybe it is a close friend or relative. Maybe it is a co-worker or someone in your babysitting co-op. Set the timer for 10 minutes and in that time, I want you to find a piece of paper, a postcard, or greeting card. And I want you to focus on that person and think about a few things you really appreciate about them. In 10 minutes or less you should be able to make a small Love List telling this person a few things that are really lovable about who they are. And then you will mail this list. Immediately.

I don't care what chuttering is going on in your head. I just bet that you created a stand-out moment in your day. And the best part? That person you sent the Love List to? They get to have an extraordinary moment, too! (Thanks to you.)

If you email me and tell me what you experienced, I will happily send you a copy of my ebook, Present Perfect: 127 Creative, No-to-low Cost, Wow-'em Gifts They'll Never Forget. Already have it? You'll get a free 10-minute boost coaching call.

Cheers,

Sherry

P.S. If the flash isn't working on your system, you can click here to listen to the radio show from last night.

Listen to Sherry Richert Belul with Coach Cafe on Blog Talk Radio (5/16/12)

Illustration © Can Stock Photo Inc. / amck2008

Make Mom a Love List. NOW. It's FREE. She'll cry happy tears.

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:56:44 +0000

I have the greatest mom EVER.

You know how I keep talking about making Love Lists? Well, I made the very first one for her when she turned 50.

And I just want to remind you that Mother's Day is coming up quickly.

You've GOT to make this gift for your mom if you haven't yet. For heaven's sake, it is absolutely FREE and she will cry happy tears. So will you. DO IT. You'll both be glad forever.

Did I say it is free? It is. All you need is an hour of your time to make your mom feel really really happy.Get your free video and download about presentation of the Love List by clicking here.

If you've already made your mom a Love List, will you leave a comment about it below or email me and tell me about it?

Plant a yes.

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:01:11 +0000

In the spirit of Amy Krouse Rosenthal's work,16 bloggers set out to "Plant a Kiss" in the world on April 29. We each did something we thought would spread a little extra joy, color, connection, poetry, or magic in the world. Then we watched to see what would happen!

Today all of us are posting about that experience. My thoughts are below. Click here to visit the Plant a Kiss page, where you can link to all participating bloggers. For every blog you visit and comment on, your name will be tossed into a hat for a chance to win one of many amazing prizes such as online writing, photography, or dream-building classes; coaching sessions; artwork; or jewelry.

Plant a Yes

The clock is ticking and I’ve got to write a post about Plant a Kiss Day. But where to start?

I could write about the awesome Bubble Flash Mob we organized here in San Francisco that still has me giddy from all that sunshine, happy strangers, and bubbles of all shapes and sizes. I could write about how much it means to me to be connected to these 15 other spirited women writers whom I admire and am inspired by. I could write about the pure joy of helping promote Amy Krouse Rosenthal, who has given so freely of her creativity and zest for life. I could write about how tickled I’ve been at every tweet or Facebook post in which I see some stranger talking about how they celebrated Plant a Kiss Day, a holiday that didn’t even exist a month ago.

But I think the story that really wants to be told is what it means to pay attention to the places inside of us that shout, or sometimes simply whisper, yes.

Plant a Kiss Day, for me, has been about that yes. Over and over again.

A couple months ago, I happened to read somewhere that Amy Krouse Rosenthal was looking for some folks who might be willing to help promote her new book, Plant a Kiss.

Raising my hand for this was a no brainer. I've been a big fan of Amy's ever since I read Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life and then discovered her inspiring missions in the world, joyful gatherings, and moving short films. I love Amy’s down-to-earth, quirky style. This seemed like a great chance to give back to someone who’s got great juju and who serves in so many ways.

When Amy’s book arrived in the mail, I was delighted by the simplicity and whimsy. I loved the message of planting something good and sharing it with others. But … the truth is, I didn’t really know how I could help Amy promote her book. Writing a blog post or posting on Facebook were possibilities, but they seemed so uninspired. So, not knowing what to do, I set the book aside and hoped that inspiration would drop in.

Weeks passed. And whenever I saw the book on my shelf, I would feel a little guilty. Why wasn’t I doing anything to promote her book like I promised?

And then, seemingly out of nowhere, one day, the idea dropped in: Plant a Kiss Day. I could create a day inspired by Amy’s book, get some great bloggers to celebrate that day, and then have a blog party in which we share what we experienced. This wasn’t something I thought up. It was just an idea given to me by life. It was this tiny moving Ferris wheel in my chest.

I was nervous to ask Amy about the idea, but I did.

And she said, “Yes.” And from there, from responding to that one quiet little idea that dropped in, a whole avalanche of yesses happened.

It turned out that Amy's birthday was around the corner, on 4/29 — what a perfect day for the event! Yes!
My niece and I love flash mobs — what about a Plant a Kiss Bubble Flash Mob? Yes! Yes!
All the great bloggers I invited to participate said, sure!
All the folks we asked to publicize the event said you bet!
I asked my beau to be the bubble man, making big bubbles in the park. "Of course!"

In the very short amount of time between when that little idea dropped in until now, it feels like the yesses just kept piling up. With each yes, it felt like my spirit got more and more buoyed. Not only was I feeling that little Ferris wheel in me, I was riding it, round and round, with glee.

At one point yesterday, I was standing in the midst of a crowd of really happy people at the Plant a Kiss Bubble Flash Mob, and a cameraman for the local news pulled me aside to interview me. After the interview, he said, “I want to thank you for this. Most of the time I am sent on assignments that are really grim and depressing. It feels so good to be able to cover something that brings such joy in the world.” And all I could say was, “Yes, yes, yes.”

Our days are fleeting. It is easy to get caught up in everyday routines and feel like one day is just like the next. But when we listen to those yesses inside us, when we let ourselves follow their luminescent threads, it changes everything. It’s like someone planted a kiss inside us and we breathe into it, making it grow.

Note, if you aren't able to leave a comment on this blog because you don't have a Facebook account, simply email your comment to me and I'll post it for you. And of course that will count toward the drawing!

Plant a Kiss Day was created to celebrate the message and spirit behind Amy Krouse Rosenthal's work and the whimsical book she created, Plant a Kiss, which is beautifully illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. "In this gentle tale about hope, kindness, and sharing, see how one small acts blooms into something grander than anyone ever could have imagined." Plant a Kiss is not just for kids; it's the little bit of magic and hope we all long for, no matter what our age. Order the book on Amazon.

Images © Amy Krouse Rosenthal/Peter H. Reynolds & © Can Stock Photo Inc./jadimages

Participate in Plant a Kiss Day on 4/29

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 23:17:59 +0000

I'm always on the lookout for people who are dedicated to making life feel extraordinary. Enter, Amy Krouse Rosenthal.

On her website, Amy humbly describes herself as "someone who likes to make things." What I want to add is that what she makes is amazing books, inspiring missions in the world, joyful gatherings, and moving short films. What she makes is — people happy. What she makes is — the seemingly ordinary turn absolutely extraordinary.

I've been a big fan of Amy's ever since I read Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life.

Recently, when I read Amy's whimsical new book, Plant a Kiss, which is beautifully illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, it inspired me to want to create a day dedicated to small acts of kindness and joy, which reap big results. If you watch the video below, you'll see why!

As you know from yesterday's post, my Plant a Kiss Day activity is organizing a Bubble Blowing Flash Mob in the park.

Here are some simple things YOU can do if you want to participate in Plant a Kiss Day:

stash a few love notes, flowers, or pinwheels out in the world for strangers to find
leave artwork in a drab public restroom
make music in a public space
invite people to dance with you at a park
send anonymous love notes to people you know
create a Love List and mail it the old fashioned way
bake cookies for clerks at your local stores
pay for someone's lunch or coffee while in line at the cafe
Hand out bubbles or small toys to children in the park
Join in Amy Krouse Rosenthal's Texting Mission.
Do anything at all, for even the shortest amount of time, that plants the seed of joy.

And then, on May 1, visit our Plant a Kiss Blog Hop Party where 15 bloggers will be sharing their experiences of Plant a Kiss Day and giving away tons of amazing prizes! You can win any of a number of classes, books, artwork, jewelry, or coaching sessions simply by visiting and commenting on the 15 blogs in the hop.

Ready, set, Plant a kiss!

P.S. If the video is not displaying properly, because heck, who knows if it will, you can watch it on YouTube by clicking here.

Bubble Flash Mob in SF for Plant a Kiss Day!

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:39:24 +0000

In celebration of Plant a Kiss Day, I'm gathering some folks to blow bubbles in Dolores Park at 11:11 on Sunday the 29th. Join us?

If you're not local, create your own Plant a Kiss activity or event. It can be as simple as playing guitar in the park, leaving flowers or artwork in a drab public restroom, or texting "I love you" to someone in your life.

Joy is a practice. Let's start now.

Reinventing Time and Balance (Guest Post by Marney Makridakis)

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 23:56:34 +0000

From Sherry: Today's post is a guest post written by Marney K. Makridakis. I love what she has to say about accepting all the parts of ourselves. Yes!

This morning I starting reading Marney's book, "Creating Time: Using Creativity to Reinvent the Clock and Reclaim Your Life." I'm someone who is always racing against the clock and feeling as if there isn't enough time. I'm truly looking forward to using Marney's tips and tools to change the way I view time. Down the road, I'll share some of my favorite ideas from her book. But for now, here's what Marney has to say about balance ...

Reinventing Time and Balance

By Marney K. Makridakis

One of the most prevalent comments I’ve heard about time is the idea that we need to “balance our time” to live a more “balanced” life. I think the concept of balance is, sadly, often misunderstood. We often feel that if we are focused and disciplined, upbeat and positive, loving and generous, healthy and energetic…then we will be “balanced people.” And if the pie chart of our daily life has just the right ratios of work, life, family, health, spirituality, and service, then our time will be “balanced.”

The problem with striving for balance is that most people’s understanding of this state swerves away from what balance actually is! Balance is not about walking around with a bunch of “positive,” happy qualities; it’s about walking the tightrope between the poles within us and the circumstances outside of us. True balance, ironically, means that we accept the parts of ourselves that can be pretty lopsided. Balance means we can embrace and love the most topsy-turvy parts because they offer gifts for full, authentic living.

Even though we measure time in a linear way, time is and always will be asymmetrical. One moment is not like another, just as each day is different and each tide that rolls in is different from the next. This is why it is impossible to “balance our time” by some objective pie-chart formula in a time management book. Exploring nonlinear, asymmetrical time allows us to move in tandem with an inherently lopsided time and thus regain our relative balance. If we stop constantly measuring ourselves against the standards of linear time, we can accept ourselves more fully. New possibilities emerge as we tango with tenacity and disco with uncertainty.

***

Marney K. Makridakis is the author of Creating Time. She founded the Artella online community for creators of all kinds and the print magazine Artella. A popular speaker and workshop leader, she created the ARTbundance approach of self-discovery through art. She lives in Dallas, Texas. Visit her online.

This excerpt is based on the book Creating Time: Using Creativity to Reinvent the Clock and Reclaim Your Life ©2012 by Marney Makridakis. Published with permission of New World Library http://www.newworldlibrary.com

15 Minute breakfast talk on celebration.

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:08:47 +0000

I loved my Blog Talk breakfast talk with Cyrus Webb this morn! Our conversation about creating moments of celebration was so energizing for me.

But even more so, I am grateful for his genuine warmth and energy; he reminded me of what a gift it is to be 100% present with someone. What a great way to start my day!

Here's a link to the 15-minute segment ... If you listen in, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Paradise lost & found on Pinterest.

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 22:28:12 +0000

This morning I was having an online conversation with my friend, Laurie Wagner. I had posted on Facebook that I had stumbled into Pinterest and couldn't get out. Laurie commented back about Pinterest being "the land of possibility."

Aint that the truth.

I want to go THERE. I want to see THAT. I want to be HER. I want to wear THAT. And then I look up from the computer, and the bed is unmade and yesterday's coffee mug is still in my bedroom, half-filled with stale coffee. Where's the Art Deco glassware? Where's that amazing spiral staircase? Where's the girl with the fishnet stockings?

It might be easy to fall into a place of scarcity and discontent around comparing the beautiful world that I just created on Pinterest with the reality of my apartment on Mission Street. But my conversation with Laurie led me to someplace alive and abundant. I saw that there is a way to love who we are in our imagination — without comparing it to our real lives and making it seem like we've failed in some way.

When I'm fantasizing about my Pinterest life and I'm lost in rich velvet, my real life looks like shabby cotton. But when I can tell the truth about that, when I can weave both worlds together, they become real to me. They both become my life.

And then it struck me that "Telling True Stories" is the bridge. When I am sharing the truth, like Laurie and I were doing this morning, there is room for everything to exist and to be beautiful in its own way. It is all just a part of this rollicking, wondrous, mysterious life I have. It's multi-layered and crazy collage and it's full of wild dents and flowering, bumpy things. It's like some unique new fabric blend.

Laurie's ability to engage in these kinds of conversations is one of the things I love most about her. She always seeks what is true, not what is classically beautiful. But then, like some word-wrangling magician, she holds the truth up for us to see — and it is more brilliant than diamonds.

This week, Laurie is launching her new online writing class, Telling True Stories, and you can bet I'll be there. I'm dedicated to seeking, revealing, and falling in love with my own truth. And I'm also committed to feeding the part of me who wants to feel creative and self-expressive, without the need for approval or results.

Laurie tells me that folks can sign up throughout this week. If you wanna join in the conversation around the virtual firepit, sign up now. $135. Five weeks of touching in with who you really are. Who doesn't deserve that? Hope to see you there!

xo
Sherry

P.S. If you're reading this via email, click here to comment. I realize that not everyone is on Facebook and I apologize for the FB-only comments. The blog was getting spammed left and right and this solved that problem for the moment. Until I figure out something else, if you aren't on FB and want to comment, simply email me your comment and I'll post it for all to see and appreciate!

Seeing anew.

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 22:34:38 +0000

I'm leading a six-week class called "Talk Yourself into the Life You Want: Scarcity to Abundance." Today, when doing some research for the class, I stumbled across this quote. I really loved it and wanted to share it with you.

“If the stars should appear but one night every thousand years how man would marvel and adore.”

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Artwork copyright iStock Photo

Wishing for what we have.

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 22:05:24 +0000

SIMPLY CELEBRATE NEWSLETTER MARCH 2012

When my son, Kayne, was three years old and it was his birthday, I told him to close his eyes and make a wish before he blew out the candles on the cake.

He did.

And when he opened his eyes, I whispered, "What did you wish for?" And he said, "A birthday cake."

Wishing for what we have. How brilliant. I will never forget how powerful that moment was for me.

I've been leading a class called "Talk Yourself into the Life You Want: Turning Scarcity into Abundance." The most recent class was all about "wishing for what you have," based on that teaching from my son.

Hopefully someday you'll take the class with me. But in the meantime, I wanted to share this one exercise in hopes that you'll love it as much as I do.

I do this simple exercise every once in a while to remind myself of the abundance in my life. I make a wish list. And everything on the wish list is something I already have.

All you need to do is set a timer for three minutes. Then just write what you wish for. Think about the people in your life, things you can see, things you love, things on your shelves or in your closet, whatever.

Here are a few examples from one of my lists:

I wish for a funny, smart, lovable son.
I wish for the sound of the nightingale.
I wish for the ability to see the color purple.
I wish for my breath, in and out, one more moment of life.
I wish for the ability to write words on paper.
I wish for the ability to stand up and walk on my own.
I wish for the taste of an apple, juicy and sweet.
I wish for the sound of a meditation bell in the middle of the day.
I wish for the memory of a warm hug from someone I love.
I wish for the beauty of a tall tree, with many branches.
I wish for the feeling of rain on my face.

Your turn. Get out a timer or the alarm on your phone. Set it for three minutes. (Or even ONE minute!). Then write. Watch how you feel.

P.S. I'd love to hear your thoughts after you try this exercise. If you're reading this via email, click here. Otherwise, if you're live on the blog page, just scroll down and you can comment. I'm sorry that only Facebook users can comment right now. I was getting tons of spam and this was one way to easily solve it. If you're not a FB user, I'm happy to post your comment for you, if you email me.

Get Outta Your Smarty-pants Head!

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 20:40:24 +0000

A couple weeks ago I told you about an upcoming writing class that my friend, Laurie Wagner, is launching. The online class is called Telling True Stories and it is about what happens when we "get out of our smarty pants heads" and tell our stories in true, simple, and honest ways.

I spent 15 minutes on the phone with Laurie recently, talking to her about what it means to "tell true stories." That quote (above) about getting out of our smarty-pants heads was one of my favorites from the conversation. But there are lots more gems.

If you're interested in this online class, or just want to get a chance to think about telling true stories, check this short audio out.The class begins on April 9 and runs through May 11. Cost is just $135. I'd trust anything Laurie offers; I've taken lots of her in-person classes and love what she's all about.

Listen to a 15-minute conversation with Laurie Wagner about Telling True Stories here:

You are missing some Flash content that should appear here! Perhaps your browser cannot display it, or maybe it did not initialize correctly.

To download, right-click this link.

If this audio is not showing, click here to acess the blog directly.

Laurie Wagner is a writer, teacher and coach who uses her experience working with thousands of writers over the years to nurture herself as an artist and a teacher, and to help other budding and experienced writers do the same. She is the author of Living Happily Ever After: Couples Talk about Long Time Love and Expectations: Women Talk About Becoming a Mother. She teaches classes in Alameda, in Berkeley, and online through her website.

Laurie's newest offering, Telling True Stories, starts on April 9th. Registration is open now. Through weekly writing assignments, inspirational interviews with well-known writers, and a supportive community to share your work with, this five-week e-course is your own virtual writing studio where you can write the stories that are knocking at your soul’s door. Cost $135.

Photos copyright Laurie Wagner

Look out!

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 19:03:56 +0000

I just sent a free gift to folks on my mailing list.

It's a list of 50 Quick pik-me-ups to lift your energy in less than 10 minutes. If you aren't on my mailing list, you can download that quickie list here.

I just peeked and the first thing on that list is "Walk over to the window. Look at the sky. Breathe deeply. Repeat."

I realized that I'd been sitting in front of a computer for the last two hours.

So this is just a wee nudge, to myself and to you, to remember that there is a whole world living and breathing outside of the World Wide Web.

There are spider webs. And cloud wisps. And bird calls. There are store clerks and plastic jars of bubbles and red mittens. There is poetry. Carousals. Violins. There are people we love, just waiting to laugh with us. Don't forget.

Happy Saturday.

Photo copyright Sherry Richert Belul, 2012.

Telling True Stories (Guest post by Laurie Wagner)

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 11:59:15 +0000

I invited my good friend and amazing writing teacher, Laurie Wagner, to write a guest post for this blog. It is most simple to describe Laurie as a writing teacher — like I just did — but the truth is, she's really just as much a "freedom coach" or "tell it like it is!" coach. Laurie helps people (including me!) find more freedom in their lives — in what we write, but also how we speak, see, and live — deep down into our bones. Laurie is introducing a new ecourse on April 9.—Sherry

Telling True Stores (By Laurie Wagner)

When it comes to telling true stories, there are a number of ways in. One surefire way is to write what you know. What that means is, don’t go looking for a better story out there than the one you’re living.

Write what you know means writing about the things that are going on in your life right now: what you’re learning from your marriage, the conversation you had with your best friend, the incident with your teenager, what another mother from school said to you on the playground last week, a friendship that’s gone south, something you’ve recently come to understand about your parents. Write what you know invites you to tell the truth about your experience from that very simple human place.

So often writers feel that there is some better story out there, something more fascinating for people to read, or that they need to fancy themselves up to be interesting. They doubt that their own lives will be interesting enough. But we forget that we’re just human beings trying to make connections with each other – what better way to do that than to talk about something that is true.

The other totally important thing about writing what you know is that there’s an aliveness to it because it’s part of the current of your life. There’s actual energy there because it’s happening, which makes writing so much easier. It doesn’t have to come from your head, but can come from the realness of what you are experiencing now.

So consider writing about the things that are on your mind today, the stories and scenes and moments that are pushing through you now. Don’t doubt their value in the world of writing.

An easy writing assignment to get people talking about something true: Make a list of things we’d know about you if we really knew you. Start each line with, “If you really knew me…” and keep going, see what comes out of you. You might surprise yourself, you might even learn something true about yourself.

*****

Photos copyright Laurie Wagner

Joy is a practice. Emphasis on the word "practice."

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:18:19 +0000

SIMPLY CELEBRATE FEBRUARY 2012 NEWSLETTER (LEAP DAY!)

I was invited by the folks at Delivering Happiness to present an "Inspire Talk" at their upcoming meeting in San Francisco. I am not a speaker. In fact, I have a deep fear of speaking in front of groups. But the talks are only about ten minutes each, so I thought it would be a great way to try stepping into my fear in the hopes of stepping through it.

I decided that the topic of my talk would be "Joy is a practice:10 simple ways to bring joy into everyday life." Since my days are pretty much dedicated to a variety of practices I have, I thought this would be an easy topic. (Ha. Can you hear the ominous music?)

I had a grand time creating the PowerPoint slides around all these ways that I have learned to practice joy in daily life. I just kept adding slides and enjoying the creative process. I sent it off on my deadline, Sunday evening.

And then ... I realized that I had made the presentation way too long. Too many topics. There would be no way to make it at all personal — so it would be this laundry list. Ho hum. About as inspiring as a dead fish. Panic. Panic. Queasy. Fear. I imagined myself up there in front of everyone, sounding like a fool, trying to get through all those slides in the short amount of time.

I was filled with dread and anxiety about my talk about joy. (And, yes, the irony was lost on me while I was lost in monkey mind).

But thanks to a wonderful practice I have of consulting with my inner mentor, I realized what was happening. I saw that it was hilarious, actually, that I would be suffering so much over a talk about "joy" to be held at a "Delivering Happiness" event. Suddenly it was clear to me that all I needed to do was show up and tell the truth about my process of preparing for the presentation.

A rush of freedom flooded in. It was authentic joy from not having to BE something. Not having to present and be all tidy and pretty.

It could be funny. I could be real and just say that I was overly enthusiastic and created too many topics and I turned all my joy into terror. Kinda ironic. Kinda funny. I could just skip over a bunch of slides. Skip topics. So what. Be messy. I could put Cardboard Sherry and all her standards away and just show up as perfectly-flawed ME!

And you know what? In realizing that I could be honest and didn't have to present a perfect talk, I could share my REAL inspiration about joy — which is all about being with what is true in the moment and accepting myself and not having to live up to some manufactured ideal. (That practice hadn't even been on the list!)

The icing on the cake is that life gave me a story to share that was so much more interesting than a laundry list of ways that I practice joy in everyday life.

***

When I did my Inspire Talk last night, people were right there with me. It was real and true and I didn't have to "be" anything except present in the moment.

This was a true leap for me. And a very joyful one.

xo,

Sherry

Leap Day!

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 22:12:21 +0000

Tomorrow is Leap Day. And I can't help but think, "What is the biggest leap I want to take in my life?"

It's this: I want to take the leap and trust completely that I can be exactly who I am in the world.

I've written before about the ways I slip into "Cardboard Sherry" when no one's looking. How I try to present myself. How I tone myself down so I don't make others uncomfortable.

From an early age it was really important to me to feel liked. So I became a self-taught chameleon. Little by litte over the past couple decades I've been unlearning those color-changing skills.

I'm inspired by Leap Day to put some extra spring in my self-expression shoes. No. Wait. Make that "some extra spring in my Fluevogs." I gotta be me.

So what about YOU? What leap feels like it is waiting to happen in your life? This day only comes around once every four years. How about making magic of it and choosing to play catch up to a part of yourself you know is already alive and kicking?

I'd love to hear if you have a leap to proclaim!

Cheers,

Sherry

Bubbles of Joy Movement

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:32:09 +0000

Thanks to The Levity Project for creating this beautiful video of bubble joy the world over. It makes me so happy to see all these people creating space in their lives to simply ... well ... blow bubbles together. I love the variety of people and places. That scene in the hospital especially grabs me.

I'm fortunate enough to have recently met one of the Levity Project founders, Ina Lukas, in an online prosperity class we're taking together. Ina has such an uplifting spirit that I can feelt it all the way through cyberspace!

When she told me about the Bubble Project, I couldn't wait to participate. Ian (my beau, not a typo of Ina!) and I ran out at sunrise to a hill near my apartment to blow our bubbles. It was so much fun to chat with the early-morning passers-by and frolicking dogs who stopped to enjoy the bubbles with us.

(Unfortunately, I had the camera set at low, low, low resolution. But it gives it kinda a nice 70's feel, doesn't it?!)

I just found out that every Tuesday night Ina offers free laughing meditation via telephone! I can't wait to attend! Meet me there sometime, okay?!

****

Video copyright The Levity Project. The Levity Project is a social movement creating a more buoyant society through laughter, play, and celebration. Every month they create a new Micro-Movement mission and ask people around the world to film themselves doing the mission. Katie and Ina (co-founders of The Levity Project) dedicate the Bubbles of Joy video to their moms, who both made their transition out of the physical world within a few months of each other this past year. In their honor Katie and Ina celebrate each moment on Earth, as their moms' touching journeys and beautiful spirits remind us all to be here now.

Guest Post: The Missing Link by Suki Haseman

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:49:37 +0000

My dear friend Suki published this piece in her blog recently. I so loved the message about loss, joy, acceptance, and gratitude, that I had to share it with you. Hope it touches you as much as it does me. —Sherry

The Missing Link

Last Sunday I met a friend at the Ferry Building. She took me to Boulette's Larder for beignets for my birthday treat. These are not the large, heavy, plunk down in your stomach concoctions, but rather little crispy pillows with a cloud like interior, finished off with a roll in course grained sugar. They are little bites of heaven. But, I digress.

On my wrist that morning, was a bracelet that I purchased oh so many years ago, perhaps even 30, in Florence in a little shop on the Ponte Vecchio, the Medieval stone bridge that spans the Arno river. In this shop I discovered a bracelet, the one you see in this post. When I put it on that day in Italy, the weight and beauty of the stones and cameos as they circled my wrist felt ageless. It felt just right on my wrist. Just right to take away with me from a shop in Florence located on a bridge, the origin of which dates back to the year 996. I have loved the bracelet with the same intensity for 30 years.

And then, last Sunday, there was the missing link. From the Ferry Building I took BART to the Castro to attend the Gay Buddhist Sangha I belong to. From there I walked to the bus stop where I talked with two young people about the dharma talk, about karma. A whole other topic. When the bus approached I realized that I had my coat and my carry-bag with me, but not my purse. I had left it at the Zen Center. So, back I go and fetch it.

The next bus was 20 minutes out so I wandered over to a store nearby to buy a Valentine card for my granddaughter. As I was paying the clerk said, "oh, you've lost a stone from your bracelet. I looked down and saw an empty gap where the triangular pink stone should be. I must say that my breath stopped for a moment. It can't be! I must have looked stricken because the clerk huried to try to reassure me that perhaps I would be able to find something that would work at a bead store. I doubted that I would actually be able to find a stone with those exact dimensions and likeness but thanked him and left the store.

As I walked down the street I thought of retracing my steps that day but knew it would be impossible. Too many vehicles taken, too many blocks of sidewalks. In that moment I felt sad, but also very surprisingly thankful. While at another time in my life I would have sunk into regret and loss that might have stayed with me for days or weeks, months even, at this time, I was able to recall that day in Florence with great fondness. The sadness and loss I felt was accompanied by gratitude and by joy. I had had a love affair that lasted 30 years. I could let it go.

I did however, watch the sidewalk beneath my feet as I returned to the bus stop. I crossed two streets and as I approached the stop, I saw it. The missing link, the pink stone right there on the concrete a few steps in front of me. I yelled out something like, "oh my gosh!,"picked it up, and proceeded to tell the people waiting for the bus the story and people cheered.

I cheered. It must have fallen out when I was walking to the bus stop the first time. Had I not left my purse at the Zen Center I would have gotten on the bus and gone home. Had the second bus not been 20 minutes out I would not have gone to the store to buy the card where the clerk noticed that the stone was missing. I would not have even known it was gone until later, some time at home when it would have been too late.

I LOVE that it has been returned to me. The stone has an almost imperceptible scratch and a teeny tiny edge chipped away from where it must have hit the sidewalk. I was able to fit it back into it's rightful place and tighten up the brackets that hold it. I love even more that I was able to not only feel the loss of it that day, but the joy of it. The knowledge that my life was not ruined for the loss of it, but overwhelmingly enriched by the experience of it for all of those years. I feel grateful that I am learning that it is possible to hold loss and joy in the same breath. That loss is fleeting. That joy is fleeting. That life is open ended and that I am living it as I live it, one breath, one footstep, one bus stop at a time.

Photo and story copyright Suki Haseman; A Word with a View

Valentine's doesn't have to look like Hallmark.

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:36:44 +0000

Hey there. Happy Valentine's Day.

I just wanted to take a moment to remind you that while chocolates and roses are perfectly lovely, there are a lot more varieties of love than just the flowery-n-sweet kinds.

Let this day be an expression of your own style of love. Let it be the way you feel when your orange tabby curls in your lap and starts to purr. Let it be the way your 11-year-old squirms (but smiles) when you give him a hug on his way out the door. Let it be the sound of your mother's voice, the weight of Grandma's quilt on you late at night, the smell of freshly cut lemons, the warmth of socks just out of the dryer.

Let your style of love be pausing in the grocery store to look the clerk in the eye and wish her a joyful evening. Let it be treating your best friend to a phone call or note, just because. Let it be a home cooked dinner, the whole family gathered 'round, with maybe one circling of "what are we grateful for" shares.

Let your style of love be offering time or patience. Let it be that moment when you choose to turn your attention away from his dirty shoes and to his bright smile. Let it be the way you offer yourself some unprecedented kindness today.

Let Valentine's Day be completely defined by you — full of whimsy or sweetness or laughter or long-distance connections. And let your kisses be for lips you love. But also for the sky, her gnarled hand, his furry snout, that juicy red apple, and her rosy baby cheek.

xo
Sherry

Love Ninja Free Ammo!

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:45:55 +0000

Ready to join in the secret mission of delivering love and delight anonymously to friends and strangers?

Click on this link for a two-page PDF full of great Love Nija ammo!

Once you download the PDF, simply print out the two pages, cut along the dotted lines, jot a thought — or not, then deliver your ninja love like this:

• Via good ole fashioned snail mail
• hidden in someone’s shoe
• left on a door stoop
• taped to a mirror in a home, office, or public place
• slipped on someone’s desk when they’re not there
• stapled to a dollar bill and hung from a tree
• accompanied by a single daisy or sweet edible treat
• any ole way that occurs to you!

Note: if the link above doesn't work, try this: http://www.simplycelebrate.net/get-inspired/498

Choose love.

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:15:52 +0000

I LOVE this art by Leah Pealman! What a great reminder that when we're unsure of what to do or say, all we have to do is check in with ourselves and see what response feels like it is coming from a place of love — for ourselves, for others, for the world. Ahhh.

Check out Leah's other artworks at Dharma Comics.

And come meet her in person at the Love Ninjas Unite event on Sunday, February 12 at the Happiness Institute!

Artwork Copyright Leah Pearlman. Leah Pearlman is a CoCreator of The Happiness Institute, located in San Francisco. The Happiness Institute is an intentional space for sharing, creation collaboration, experimenting, education, expression, and manifestation. It exists to honor and support people coming together to explore what makes them come alive. It is founded on the belief that honoring the wisdom of our own hearts is the surest path to happiness for ourselves and each other. Leah is also author of Dharma Comics, a comic blog in which she draws on life to explore personal and universal truth.

Love Ninjas Unite!

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:37:03 +0000

Join Simply Celebrate and The Happiness Institute on a secret mission to Occupy Valentine's Day. (Wheeeee!)

As Love Ninjas, it's our mission to roam the world secretly — spreading love and delighting friends, family, and strangers alike.

If you're in the Bay Area on Sunday February 12, join us for a couple hours of clever and creative crafting in which we'll make cards and love lists to mail anonymously to folks we know ... and to hide around town for strangers to stumble upon. Card making 1pm-3pm; Ninja delivery fun 3pm-4pm. Takes place at The Happiness Institute at 1720 Market Street in SF.

Other Ninja love ideas are welcome! Hiding treats in trees, blowing bubbles on the street, helping tourists find their way, handing out food to the homeless, hopping in front of someone to pay for their latte ... you name it; we'll ninja it!

Questions? Email Sherry at Sherry@simplycelebrate.net

P.S. If you're not in San Francisco, we encourage you to host your own Love Ninja event in your town. Even a sole ninja can spread a lot of secret joy. Tomorrow I'll be posting a free download to help folks ninja no matter where they are in the world!

Illustration: © Can Stock Photo Inc./prawny

Abundance under my very nose.

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:11:28 +0000

This morning I was in yoga class, watching the instructor demonstrate a beautiful handstand. He looked like he was floating. (I usually have this grimace on my face, willing myself to somehow stay vertical — even with the wall propping me up so solidly!)

During that demonstration, I happened to start focusing on my breath. I noticed that I was able to take these deep, wide breaths and it felt really really good. I was kinda giddy, standing there and breathing while my yoga teacher floated in his handstand. And suddenly the word "abundance" popped into my head. Just like that. Abundance.

I realized that these deep, full breaths certainly were a form of abundance. They were riches at my disposal. Every single breath was a gift. And I know that sounds all trite and new agey. But what the heck, it also happens to be true.

Today, just for a few minutes, could you turn your attention to this idea that your breath is your abundance. That you are truly rich with life? I'm doing it right now. Silly grin on my face.

P.S. Photo copyright istock. That cute girl is not me. But she sure looks happy to be breathing.

Chutzpah & charm all rolled up in one.

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:44:09 +0000

This morning my good friend Suki sent me a link to a movie trailer, along with a simple note that said, "I know you are going to love these women."

The movie is called Advanced Style and is a documentary about stylish seniors in New York. These women are fabulous!

Love 'em? Oh yes. I adore them. I love their color. I love their vitality. I love their style. I love their chutzpah.

Here is my favorite quote from the trailer: "I dress up for the theater of my life everyday."

I was also so inspired reading the comments below the trailer. I feel like we're all hungry for self-expression and that feeling of being truly ALIVE. Just watching this four-minute trailer is a booster shot. Check it out. And be sure and let me know what you think.

P.S. If you're reading this via email, click here to comment . I realize that not everyone is on Facebook and I apologize for the FB-only comments. The blog was getting spammed left and right and this solved that problem for the moment. Until I figure out something else, if you aren't on FB and want to comment, simply email me your comment and I'll post it for all to see and appreciate!

Image copyright Advanced Style

This moment; the truth. Lost and found.

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:34:47 +0000

Ever hear of backlash? It's that conk on the head when we're not looking. It usually comes shortly after a moment of feeling really good and expansive — when like life is opening up.

Yesterday I wrote a post about not being a naturally happy person. About how I don't bemoan that but instead celebrate the fact that I've been given all these tools to create joy. I meant that when I said it.

But today, whoah. It's another story! Give me that happy gene. Please.

I think it is backlash. It's like some evil being rubbed his bony hands together in glee after reading my post. "She thinks she can create joy, eh? Let's see about that! Mwahahaha."

Because today I woke up into this free-floating anxiety and distress like you wouldn't believe. While I was meditating shortly after I awoke, monkey mind was doing its darndest to keep me from focusing on my breath. It was telling me how I need to worry about money. It was telling me how I'm not good enough. It was telling me that I will never accomplish the things I want. It was telling me that my hair is a mess and I'm gaining weight and how I haven't been to yoga class and how I don't eat healthy enough. It was pointing out new wrinkles on my face and in my life. You name it; monkey mind was trying using it to taunt and torment me.

Here's the most evil of its tricks: it wants me to believe that I can't let anyone know about these fears/anxiety. It wants me to believe that I need to present "Cardboard Sherry" as the spokesperson for Simply Celebrate. That she's got to have it all together— with sassy hair and super confidence, with pretty painted nails and a painted on happy face.

No thanks!

I may wish I were that happy gene person. But I'm not. "I yam what I yam," as I said to my son last night in a horrible Popeye impression.

And what I yam in this moment now is someone who is getting a ton of backlash in the form of anxiety, uncertainty, and fear. Well okay. There you go. Now what? I could let it take over my whole day. Or, I could simply turn my attention to what I want in my life. To how I want to live.

This is the real beauty of Simply Celebrate. It's why it is so powerful in my life. Because it isn't about changing anything. It is about choosing to focus on what makes me feel most alive and loving. That's it. It really is that simple. (But not easy!)

So I'm someone who wakes up with anxiety and fear. So what? It doesn't have to keep me from listening to the sound of the rain on the pavement outside. It doesn't have to keep me from savoring the smell of fresh coffee brewing. It doesn't have to keep me from writing a thank you note to the CEO of Success Magazine for inspiring me. It doesn't have to keep me from gently squeezing my tabby cat and delighting in her purr.

Monkey mind's got nothing on the beauty of real life.

P.S. Whoops. Thought I posted this earlier today, in the morn. But I didn't. Oh, well. Here goes ... now!

Illustration © Can Stock Photo Inc. / prawny

Quick question for you. (Please respond!)

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:41:12 +0000

Are you naturally happy or do you work at it?

(There's no right answer!)

Last week I mentioned in a blog post that I am not a naturally optimistic person. I got some notes from folks wondering whether this was really true. And I've been thinking about it a lot. I am optimistic about many, many things. I have a tremendous amount of joy in my life. I have a rich and delightful life. But I am not naturally optimistic. Nor am I naturally happy.

I usually wake up with anxiety. And throughout the day I have tons of monkey mind chatter full of doubt and fear. I'm often lethargic and would love nothing better than to crawl into bed and pull the covers over my head, hiding from the endless karmic list of things to do and be. I've got a tough judge inside my head whom I have to keep a close eye on because he'll tear me to shreds given half a chance.

This whole Simply Celebrate world grew out of my desire to transform anxiety, fear, and depression into something else. I started creating practices for a joyful life eons ago, when I was a kid. It's been a lifelong practice of mine to seek ways "out of the dark room and into the light room" as my teacher, Cheri Huber would say.

So while I wish I were one of those people who was lucky enough to get the "happy gene" and who dances out of bed each morning with a grin on her face, it's okay that I'm not. I got something else. I got the good fortune of learning that optimism can be created. Energy can be created. Joy can be created.

In my life, joy is a practice. And rather than bemoan the fact that it doesn't come naturally, I think I'll practice being grateful that I know where to find it.

I'd love to hear whether you got the happy gene or whether you practice, too!

P.S. If you're reading this via email, click here to comment. I realize that not everyone is on Facebook and I apologize for the FB-only comments. The blog was getting spammed left and right and this solved that problem for the moment. Until I figure out something else, if you aren't on FB and want to comment, simply email me your comment and I'll post it for all to see and appreciate!

PPS: The artwork on this post was created by my son, Kayne. And it is a perfect example of practicing joy. On New Year's Day I made him to watch the sunset with a group of folks. He really didn't want to go. But he brought a book he really liked. And he ate a bunch of raspberries while there, which he loves. He also told some jokes to make everyone laugh. When we got home, he created this "sunset" artwork on the iPad. It truly illustrates the practice of moving from pain to pleasure. Thanks, Kayne!

Look out for that (purring) black cat!

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:35:07 +0000

I've always loved Friday the 13th, ever since the 7th grade when a boy I liked asked me to roller skate at a skate party the evening of Friday the 13th. That one was in January, too! (And when we held hands, I didn't get too sweaty!)

This morning, when I awoke and remembered that it was Friday the 13th, I wondered what kind of fun things would happen today. And I was suddenly reminded of the other morning when I was about to take a short walk to the postal box and said to myself, "Wow, what wonderful things will happen on the way?" As I was walking, I noticed a couple laughing and holding hands. I saw a gorgeous reflection of the sun in a window. I felt grateful for the ability to walk. I saw a woman's whimsical yellow shoes.

I'm not a naturally optimistic person. So I need lots of extra oomphing-up to make the days feel good. The truth is, I spend A LOT of time focused on actively turning my attention to things that make me feel good. Otherwise, it likely I'd fall into depression, anxiety, or worry. That just seems to be a more natural state for me. (I've got an extra special active monkey mind!)

But what's so amazing is that it actually WORKS to consciously look for what is working. It FEELS GOOD to consciously look for what feels good. It is FUN to consciously look for what is fun. And as you might guess, it is like pumping water: once you get going, the stuff just flows.

So lots of folks believe Friday the 13th is a bad luck day. And I bet if they look for it, they'll find lots of dark and gloomy stuff to support that belief. But I encourage you to join my camp.

Can you consider that Friday the 13th is a lucky day for you? Will you look for good things throughout your day to support this belief? Heck, who knows, maybe you'll even ask someone you like to roller skate (holding hands!) today. Then you'll be someone else's good luck for Friday the 13th. And maybe they'll remember it for 35 years, too.

P.S. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Or what good fortune you stumble upon/create today. If you're reading this via email, click here. Otherwise, if you're live on the blog page, just scroll down.

Take me at my word.

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:26:31 +0000

Many of you may have noticed a trend called “one word” over the past few years. Instead of making a long list of resolutions for the new year, folks are choosing just one word, which sums up their intentions for the year.

I want to share my word with you for four reasons: one because I want you to make me keep my word, two because I want to have a word with you about something I need to fess up to, three because I want to put in a good word for something truly important to me, and four, because, in a word, life goes by quickly and our days are priceless.

My word for 2012 is GIFT and here's what I want to ask and share:

1. Make me keep my word: The biggest reason I chose the word gift is that I want my focus for 2012 to be on what I can give to others. I want to use the gifts I have to give back to the world what I'm here to give. And I want to do it in a way that keeps the focus off of "what's in it for me" and on "how can I surprise or delight someone right here, right now?"

Every day I have so many opportunities to give — whether it is my time, money, or presence. I'd love it if you could help me stay true to this. Send me a note once in awhile and ask me, "What did you give today?" Ask me, "Who'd you make feel great? Who'd you help? What'd you offer?"

2. Have a word: So what I need to fess up to you is that sometimes this whole Simply Celebrate world gets so confusing to me because it combines practices I love and believe in with business tactics and money-making strategies. I might start out with a focus on something I want to give, but before long, that focus switches to "what's in it for me" in terms of building a mailing list or making a living. Of course this is just a reality that is part of the mix when one is attempting to create a seamless life, but still ... it leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I don't like how it feels when I am focused on getting.

I really do want to make a living doing work I believe in. I know there is a beauty in receiving. But I want my spirit and energy to live in the place of giving. I know from experience that that is the place where I feel the most rich. When I'm focused on myself and what I'm getting, I'm mostly looking around at how shiny and popular other people seem. Then I shrink. I hold back. I feel poor. When I stop looking at what other people have and are and do, and I focus on what I am and have and can give, the world opens up and suddenly everything is shiny and bright. I'm just a part of it all. We're all one big family. That's where I want to live.

3. Put in a good word: This probably won't come as a surprise to you if you know me at all, but I truly believe we need to change the way we view gift giving in our culture. In 2012 I want to continue my campaign to get us all to pay closer attention to the intention and impact of the gifts we give. It is time for a shift from "money talks" to "it is the thought that counts." And I mean that. Those of you who have made Love Lists for people in your life know how much joy can come from these amazing gifts that don't cost a dime. There are so many ways we can give to people in our lives that bring us closer to one another or that help someone see how much they are known and loved. I want you to join me in exploring ways we can give gifts that feel vibrant, alive, and connected.

4. In a word: Life is a gift. I know this sounds trite. But it is also true. Every morning I listen to an audio recording I made reminding me that "You and everyone you love are going to die. It is going to happen sooner than you want or expect. Don't take this day for granted. Find the energy and vitality to truly live it. Find the awareness to be present to what a gift it truly is."

My word for 2012 kind of chose me. I really didn’t think about it so much as let it land on me. On New Year’s Eve, I was reflecting on 2011 and imagining what I wanted for 2012. The word “gift” kept flitting through my mind. Or, to be a little more woo-woo California about it, the word actually seemed to take form in my blood. It felt like it just bloomed in me and spread, like the way cherry blossoms seem to suddenly appear one day after the rains and cover the entire tree.

I encourage you to see if you have your own "one word" waiting in you, ready to be seen and held and brought to life in new ways. Let me know if you find your word — or if it finds you!

I’m fortunate enough to be a part of a delightful collective of women artists who are all choosing one word, writing or creating art from their words, and then celebrating together in the form of a “Wordhop.” I met these gals in a class called “Flying Lessons” taught by Kelly Rae Roberts, who is an amazing and colorful visual artist, entrepreneur, and spirit. You can meet these "Flytribe" women —and learn about their words— by visiting the official Flytribe Wordhop page. Check 'em out. Words may be cheap, but not these — they're rich with creativity and meaning.

May we all stay true to our word!

Happy 2012!

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:18:21 +0000

Life isn't a matter of milestones but of moments.
- Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy

Wishing you a wonderful new year in which you create extraordinary moments for yourself, the people you love, and strangers you pass along the way.

An extraordinary life begins with a single moment of recognized joy and celebration. Begin now.

Happy 2012!

(photo taken 1/2/12 at Ocean Beach, San Francisco)

Merry Merry.

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 05:51:05 +0000

It's Christmas Eve and we just finished the very last details for the Holiday Hoopla event we're hosting for our Ohio clan tomorrow. Wow! It was a lot of work, but also so much FUN. The theme is "Survivor Christmas" and we came up with a bunch of challenges like a scavenger hunt, solving a personalized crossword puzzle, and extreme makeover gingerbread house decorating. Can't wait for the fun!

The above pic is actually from last year, since I haven't yet uploaded any pics from this visit. But anyway, there's no snow this year. (Sigh). So just as well to post last year's pic. :-)

By the time you get this, it'll be Christmas Day. So for those of you who celebrate it, I wish you a wonderful day with your loved ones. For those of you who don't celebrate it, I still wish you a wonderful day — hopefully doing something you love with someone you love.

Sending you all the delights and light of the season.

Sherry

Foto Friday! I need a nap!

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 06:15:23 +0000

In the spirit of Simply Celebrate's mission to help people turn ordinary days into an extraordinary life, I decided to add some color and delight to Fridays by seeking out images that elevate the ordinary.

This week's photo is by Jill Lambert, a wonderful artist I met through an online class. This is a snapshot she took just for fun. I loved it when I saw it and wanted to share it with you. Sometimes during the holiday craziness, don't you just feel like you could keel over?! My suggestion: give yourself the gift of a nap — even if it is just 15 minutes!

Here's an excerpt from Jill's artist's statement: "As a little girl I used to sit in my grandpa’s basement art studio and watch him paint. From early on I was captivated. I realized that working toward my dreams was essential. I hope that when people see my paintings they feel joyful and alive just like I do while creating. My mission as an artist is to share my passion and joy with my viewers and make them feel happy too.

Thanks, Jill, for adding some color and joy to this day!

Photo copyright Jill Lambert

Spend less; give more: Create a hoopla!

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 15:27:23 +0000

I just finished putting the final touches on the invitation for our 2011 Holiday Hoopla, which is an event that my son, his dad, my beau, and I put on for our family in Ohio instead of buying everyone gifts. We've been having such great fun planning the event and I can't wait to see how it goes over this year!

Success Magazine and U.S. News & World Report wrote about our 2010 Holiday Hoopla — You can have this much fun, too!

***

Creating an event is a gift that you can give to a whole group of people at once. And it is something that can be from a group of people, like your immediate family. What you do is create some sort of experience for someone or a group of people you love. The experience can be a dinner party, musical talent show, scavenger hunt, poetry reading, variety show, or dessert bar.

What type of event you do and how elaborate you make it is totally up to you. If you use your imagination and consider the people you're creating this event for, I bet you'll come up with something wonderful. (It's not too late to plan something for this year if you keep it simple, with a real focus on something everyone can share in!)

Last year my San Francisco family wanted to come up with an experience we could create for our extended family whom we visit every year in Ohio. We decided to send out invitations for a Holiday Hoopla, which would be a carnival,variety show, and dinner held in my mom's house. Instead of buying presents for our family, we had a whole lot of fun planning the various carnival booths (including a "Validation Booth" and Alter Ego Photo Booth) and show (magic, kung fu demonstrations, juggling, piano playing, etc.). What made this such a joyful and amazing event is that it was so much fun to plan, so much fun to host, and so much fun to attend.

My 10-year-old son was excited for weeks beforehand. He loved making signs and decorating and brainstorming booths. Our family that attended got to be a part of something that brought us all together in a new, creative way. It was festive and full of vitality. And the memories are ours forever. This coming year, when we host Hoopla 2, we will hand out personalized booklets that include photos from last year's photo booth, as well as all of the "Validations" we wrote for each family member.

I'll tell you what the theme of this year's even is later. (Shhhh ... it is a surprise for my family and I think they read this blog!)

Gifts don't always have to be material objects! What can YOU do to make a gift out of a family gathering?

Be sure and write to tell me about any special gift gatherings you create!

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Click on the links below the covers to read about creating more joy with less money. Both articles mention our 2010 Holiday Hoopla!

How to Live Happily on Less

Modern Family Traditions

Gifts from the 'art.

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:04:07 +0000

In the spirit of my ongoing conversation about gifts with meaning, I want to encourage you to shop on Etsy. If you're not yet familiar with Etsy, it is an online marketplace focused on handmade, artistic, and vintage items. I know lots of incredible women artists who sell their one-of-a-kind artworks and products on this popular site and I love to seek out their treasures.

All of the women I know who sell via Etsy are artists or entrepreneurs who work incredibly hard to make a living doing what they love. These women have huge hearts, soaring spirits, and great talents for bringing beauty into the world.

I know it is late in the game, but please consider supporting women artists this holiday season. Lots of shop owners are taking orders through this weekend, so you still have time to get those last minute unique gifts. You'll have a great time wandering around looking at these online shops!

Below are some pics of random items I've purchased in the last year. Gorgeous, whimsical, and fun — right!? (Disclaimer: I didn't purchase that exact hat, but I LOVE it and I own LOTS of ADS hats!) I've also included a list of some Etsy shop owners whom I know from an online class taught by artist Kelly Rae Roberts. I haven't yet had a chance to check out all of their shops, but I plan to do so SOON — I've seen lots of their work posted in our Facebook Group as it is in-progress and I am so impressed with the mryiad of styles, colors, and textures. These gals are AMAZING.

What could be better than finding affordable, unique, creative gifts and supporting women artists/entrepreneurs at the same time?! Merry, merry!

P.S. If you are the owner of an Etsy shop or you have a favorite Etsy shop, please let us know! Leave a comment and the shop link in the comments so we can support even more fabulous artists!

Zen & Coffee

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Nancy Leftko

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Elina/ADS Hats

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LeissnerArt

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Tiffany Moore

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Stefanie Renee

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ChickpeaStudioArt

Artwork and photos copyright Zen & Coffee, Nancy Leftko, Elina/ADS Hats, LeissnerArt , Tiffany Moore, Stefanie Renee and ChickpeaStudioArt

Talented Artists with Etsy Shops from Kelly Rae Roberts Flying Lessons Class 2011

Ady Alamanza - http://www.adrianaalmanza.etsy.com

Angela DiGiovanni - http://www.etsy.com/shop/AngelaDiGiovanni

Ann Marie - http://www.etsy.com/shop/thatgirldesigns

Artsy Twist - http://www.Etsy.com/shop/aartsytwist

Carol Bray - http://www.etsy.com/shop/brushstrokesandmore

Cindy Jones Lantier - http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/MixedGrillFavorites (inactive)

Christina Fajardo - http://www.etsy.com/shop/ChristinasMagic

Connie Rawlins - http://www.etsy.com/shop/jiffyphoto

Deborah Velásquez-http://www.etsy.com/shop/DeborahVelasquez

Erin Williams- http://www.etsy.com/shop/smaill?ref=si_shop

Helen A Naylor http://www.etsy.com/people/ArtConglomeration

Jacquie Williamson - http://www.etsy.com/shop/JacquieWilliamson

Janet Forrest - http://www.etsy.com/shop/tatterednworn

Jill Lambert - http://www.etsy.com/shop/jillsdream

K Nadine Booth - http://www.etsy.com/people/HiddenGlassStudio

Kanokwalee Pusitanun http://www.kanokwalee.etsy.com

Kathleen McKinnon - http://www.harmonyschoolhouse.etsy.com

Kathy May- http://www.etsy.com/shop/kathymaydesigns

Karie Jorgensen - http://www.etsy.com/shop/NanaMontana?ref=si_shop

Kerrie Bowles - http://www.madeit.com.au/storecatalog.asp?userid=48410

Kim Critzer http://www.etsy.com/shop/3wishesstudio

Laura Warecki (Paper Taxi) - http://www.etsy.com/shop/papertaxi

Lenore Angela - http://www.etsy.com/shop/rarerabbitsdesigns

Lesa Pascavis Smith - http://www.etsy.com/shop/1wingheART?ref=pr_shop

Lisa Michele - http://www.etsy.com/shop/lisamicheleproducts

Lori Leissner-- http://www.etsy.com/shop/LeissnerArt

Lynn Richards-http://www.etsy.com/shop/lynnatblueskies

Margriet Ebben - http://www.etsy.com/shop/MargrietEbben

Michelle Dwyer - http://www.etsy.com/shop/magnetisedbylife

Rachel Payne (Rae)- http://www.etsy.com/shop/bohemianhideaway

Rain Hannah - http://www.etsy.com/shop/honeyandollie

Rhiannon Connelly - http://www.etsy.com/shop/starrybluesky

Rhonda Franks - http://www.etsy.com/shop/moonseazendesignz

Ruth-Mary Smith- http://www.etsy.com/shop/patchworkfamilies

Siobhan Ryan - http://www.etsy.com/shop/Siobhan22

Stacey Chadwick Brown - http://www.etsy.com/shop/staceycbrown

Susan M. Walls-Beverly - http://www.charmingtrinkets.etsy.com

Tina Carlborg - www.http://www.etsy.com/shop/tinalouisephoto?ref=pr_shop

Tracy Bante Yarbrough - http://www.etsy.com/shop/tracyyarbrough

Ursula Smith - http://www.etsy.com/shop/easyscraps

Violet Kelly - http://www.etsy.com/shop/kellymaekreations

Wini Dougall http://www.etsy.com/shop/artlovejoy

Unfashionably happy.

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 02:38:11 +0000

"He who seeks beauty will find it." (Bill Cunningham)

If you haven't seen it yet, rent Bill Cunningham New York. Now. Rent it now! (If you have Netflix, you can download it as an "Instant watch.")

Do you know of Bill Cunningham? He's the genius behind the New York Times Sunday Style section, On the Street. It's that full page of photo after photo of folks on the streets of NYC — maybe they're all wearing faux leopard hats or toting bright red purses or are all in plaid elephant pants. Cunningham also shoots the pics for Evening Hours, a Times column full of socilaites, artists, fundraisers, gala-goers, and the like.

Thank goodness my good friend, Laurie Wagner, insisted the other night that I watch this film immediately. Because it is absolutely filled with beauty. And here's the best part — kind of a spoiler, I suppose— the beauty is not so much in the gorgeous fashions BIll Cunningham chases down and photographs, but the beauty is in his simple joy, in his infectious chuckle, in his devotion to what makes him feel alive.

What I love so much is that Bill lives in a tiny apartment, sleeps on a cot balanced on stacks of books, and repairs his rain poncho with duct tape. He attends lots of high-ticket gala events, but isn't interested in names or celebrity; it's the innovation and creativity he's after. I love that Bill knows — and is esteemed by — all the fashion mavens, yet his daily attire consists of jeans and his signature blue jacket, which was inspired by Parisian street cleaners.

Bill lives simply, eats simply, and dresses simply, yet, he goes out on the streets every day and fills himself with color, lines, and texture. He seeks, and finds, beauty every day in a myriad of unexpected ways — and he discovers it in people from every walk of life. If his wide smile is any indication, Bill is rich beyond measure.

Bill said, "Some people think fashion is a frivolity that should be done away with in the midst of social upheaval and problems that are enormous." But "fashion is the armor to survive the realities of everyday life."

In this film, through his eyes, we get to see fashion as a way to not only survive, but thrive. Fashion is self-expression. It is yet another form of beauty and art — available on the streets, anytime and anywhere, free for the taking to anyone who seeks it.

Photo copyright New York Times

About the film

Foto Friday: The Bee's Knees.

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:22:12 +0000

This week's photo is by Andrea Scher. Andrea is author of Superhero Journal and she's a master at bringing more color and delight to life. I saw the above photo on Andrea's website and immediately knew I wanted to run it on a Foto Friday. There's nothing more ordinary than knees, feet, and hands, right? Wrong! Andrea captured so much love in this photo of her baby, Nico. (In the caption, Andrea wrote, "Nico's edible appendanges." Sigh!) The beauty and simplicity of it makes me want to put my hand on my chest for a moment and just breathe in deeply at the wonder of our lives.

Hopefully this photo will inspire you to take a good look at something in your life that may be going unnoticed. Savor it. Drink it in.

***

Andrea Scher is a photographer, life coach, and writer living in Berkeley, California. Through her e-courses Superhero Photo & Mondo Beyondo and award-winning blog Superhero Journal, Andrea inspires other creative souls to live authentic, colorful and extraordinary lives. She is also the co-author of the book Expressive Photography:The Shutter Sisters' Guide to Shooting from the Heart.

Andrea's photography e-courses, Superhero Photo: The Basics and Elevate the Ordinary are being offered early in 2012. Register for these classes by Sunday night, December 4 to receive a $20 discount!! Be sure to use the coupon code "SUPER11."

Photo copyright Andrea Scher

Spend Less; Give More: Inspired Book Club

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:24:57 +0000

As many of you know, I'm on a mission to make the holidays debt-free and stress-free. One of the ways we can all accomplish this is by giving gifts that have a lot of meaning, but that don't cost a lot of money.

On the home page of Simply Celebrate, I've posted a video about this concept and next to the video is an opt-in box where you can sign up to receive three great gift ideas that are low in cost but high in impact. If you haven't already, I hope you'll sign up for these free ideas.

Today I want to share yet another idea of a great gift that can be energizing and connecting for people in your life. I call it the "Inspired Book Club" and all you have to do is borrow from the library or purchase (new or used) several copies of a book that you really love — or think you'll love. It can be fiction or nonfiction, but my own preference is that this is a nonfiction book about something that really brings you to life. It could be a book about creativity, spirituality, training your brain, bringing more presence to life, finding more joy, etc.

Give a copy of the book to one or more friends, along with a gift certificate you make for the "Inspired Book Club," which is a one-time or ongoing meeting that you'll set up with these same friends — one the phone or in person — to sip some tea and share ideas about the book. You can use your imagination and be as structured or unstructured as you want. A chapter a week? In-person tIme to complete exercises from the book? Making up your own exercises? Anything is possible! The main thing is to connect with people you love about a topic you love.

Need an example of a book for your Inspired Book Club? Well, two days ago I posted an entry by guest writer, Christine Mason Miller. Christine has a new book coming out in mid-December called, Desire to Inspire: Using Creative Passion to Transform the World. Great book for your club, eh? Also, I have personal experience in a book club that used The Artist's Way — it was wonderful to have support while working through the chapters of the book! Another book that I really love and refer to a lot is Cheri Huber's recent book, What You Practice Is What You Have: A Guide to Having the Life You Want.

If you spend just a few minutes thinking about it, I bet you'll easily come up with an inspiring book you want to dive into — and some folks who'd not only benefit from that book, but who'd be supportive and fun in your own Inspired Book Club!

Happy reading!

*** Please read my Affiliate Disclaimer: Sometimes I promote products or services that I think you'll enjoy. Please know that my recommendations are always based on my personal relationships with the product creators. I don't believe in promoting products if I haven't had personal experience with the person/company. Sometimes I will be compensated if you decide to purchase the product I promote. But what is most important to me is that I want everything I promote to be of service to you — that help you feel more alive and vital. Please consider carefully before making any purchases. Is this something that will connect me to myself or the people I love? Is this something that will help me feel more fully expressed?

Guest Post: Everyday Passions by Christine Mason Miller

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:01:17 +0000

Today I am fortunate enough to host a guest post by Christine Mason Miller. Christine is one of the most inspiring women I've ever met. It's not just that she is a fabulous artist and writer — though I love and appreciate her talents— it's that she is a fabulous "liver of life." Christine brings spirit and zest into everything she is and does. In this post, she reveals some of her beliefs about what it means to live life with creative passion. (Hint: you don't need paint and canvas!)

Be sure and read all the way to the end, cuz Christine is offering a free give-away to folks just for commenting on this post! Wheeee!

Everyday Passions

by Christine Mason Miller

I was recently interviewed as part of my Desire to Inspire promotional extravaganza, and one of the questions was how the book would appeal to readers who are not “artists”. Desire to Inspire has nineteen contributors, and while it could be said they are all creative types, their passions and pursuits are not limited to artistic endeavors. I interviewed personal coaches, authors, a graphic designer, a yoga instructor and human rights advocate, a filmmaker, and a magazine editor – women from all over the United States, Canada, India, and New Zealand. My intention was to share the stories of a wide range of experiences, not just those of “artists.”

Answering this question made me realize something that I certainly considered before, but hadn’t actually discussed much before my work on Desire to Inspire, which is that the phrase “creative passion” is less a notion of specifically artistic interests and more a wide open field of possibility. I will refer to an experience I have written about before, which is that 99% of the time I tell someone I am an artist, I receive the same responses – either “I’m not creative at all!” or “I can’t even draw a stick figure!” It is this fascinating consistency that has shaped my definition of “creative passion”, and I have come to embrace the idea that I am on my own quiet crusade to teach others that – actually, you are creative, in countless ways, every day.

Creative passion can, of course, be channeled towards painting or sculpture or music or dance, but it can also be channeled towards our families, our gardens, in our kitchens, and as we run errands. I have certainly felt new creative muscles get flexed with our still young and energetic chocolate lab Tilda, and even in situations when I am struggling in a relationship or trying to manage a long list of household tasks, I know my creative passions are fueling my ability to get things done in an organized – and sometimes even artful - way. My creative passion seeps into almost everything I do, from making houseguests feel welcome to folding laundry.

As innately creative creatures (I’m talking to you, Mr. and Ms. “I’m Not Creative At All!”), we have within us everything we need to fulfill our deep need for meaning and create a life that is in alignment with our most important values and passions. My greatest passions are my family, my art and writing, and travel, and balancing all those takes a great deal of flexibility, adaptability, persistence and – wait for it – creativity. I don’t see these passions competing with one another, but each serving as an integral part of a beautiful whole, and I don’t see the time and effort I put towards one as any more or less of a creative passion than something specifically artistic such as my mixed media artwork.

Creative passion is simply, at its core, the purest light within you – whatever makes your heart sing, and takes you closer to joy. It is the love you have for your children, the way you braid your daughter’s hair, the breakfast you make, the flowers you grow, the students you teach, the customers you help, and the friends you support. These are all acts of creative passion, and each and every one of them matters – to your loved ones, and to the world.

“Being a force of good in the world and honoring my core values is about saying yes to my heart and saying yes to the hearts of those who pass through my life.”

~ Liz Kalloch, Desire to Inspire Contributor

Post a comment below telling us at least one thing that makes your heart sing. Something that inspires you to express your creative passion in daily life. Something that makes you feel like soaring. Everyone who posts a comment will be entered into a drawing to win a free "Your Wings Exist" journal (pictured above) from Christine Mason Miller. ("Your wings exist. All you have to do is FLY.") Be sure and post your comment by Friday, December 2 at 12n PST.

Christine Mason Miller is a Santa Monica-based artist, writer, and explorer. Her next book – Desire to Inspire: Using Creative Passion to Transform the World – is now available at bookstores everywhere and Amazon.com. Follow her adventures at www.christinemasonmiller.com.

Images copyright Christine Mason Miller

Make a gift; get a gift. Celebrating "The New Black Friday"

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 21:22:28 +0000

Make a Love List or other gift for someone today & receive a free copy of my ebook, Present Perfect: 127 creative, one-of-a-kind, no-to-low cost, wow-‘em gifts they’ll never forget.

___________________________

On Wednesday I posted on this blog about The New Black Friday. The Friday after Thanksgiving is typically all about shopping. As part of my movement to create a debt-free, stress-free holiday season, I asked folks to commit to spending at least part of Friday (today!) making a unique gift for someone. Something that doesn't cost a lot, but has a meaningful impact.

Yesterday, when I was making a list of gratitudes, it suddenly dropped in that I wanted to offer some special gratitude to people in the Simply Celebrate community who may have decided to join in this small movement to change the way we view gift giving. To celebrate The New Black Friday, I want to give away copies of my ebook, Present Perfect: 127 creative, one-of-a-kind, no-to-low cost, wow-‘em gifts they’ll never forget. I charge $10 for the ebook, but in gratitude for your support for The New Black Friday, I want you to have it at no cost.

All you have to do is email me and let me know that you spent part of the day today making a Love List or other creative gift for someone and I'll send you the ebook. Just tell me what you made and how it felt to spend the time making something for someone you love.

Actually, let's do this: since it is already mid-day for folks in the East Coast, let's extend The New Black Friday to Saturday, too. If you make a gift for someone today or tomorrow, let me know and I'll email you a copy of the ebook. Email me by 12midnight on November 26, 2011 for the free book!

Remember, you can make a Love List for someone in less than an hour. And its impact on their life and your relationship to them will be tremendous. I encourage you to pick up pen and paper and try it today!

___________________________

Send me an email telling me about the Love List or other gift
you make today or tomorrow and receive "Present Perfect" FREE!

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving full of warm and authentic connections to the people you love. Sending deep gratitude for my own connection to you — online or live, it means so much to me to be in conversation with kindred spirits.

May The New Black Friday offer you at least some small space to connect deeply to someone you love!

All my best,
Sherry

The New Black Friday. Join me?

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 21:00:05 +0000

I'm not against shopping. Or gifts. Or sales. I'm not against buying someone something they'll really love, like a LEGO set or iPod or that new whatzit. I'm not against the thrill of presenting someone with a gaily-wrapped package, filled with something to make them smile.

What I am against is stress and debt and waste and worry. I am against the feeling of "is this enough?" I am against the obligation, the frustration, the exhaustion.

When I say that I want us to do the holidays another way, it doesn't mean we have to make every single gift out of recycled newspapers or that we should forgo all holiday parties. It's that I want us to be conscious of what the real meaning is and how we want to express it. Exphasis on the "we" part. Meaning, our culture and capitalism should not dictate what the next four weeks are like for us. We choose. We create.

Here's an example. I just read a Los Angeles Times article about how some stores are starting their Black Friday sales as early as 10pm on Thanksgiving night. Grrrrrr! Thanksgiving is traditionally the one day that is solely focused on spending quality time with people we love. It's never been associated with shopping (well, beyond those grocery trips) or gifts. I never really liked the idea of Black Friday and the madness of it all, but this new extension onto Thanksgiving just seems wrong. Luring people away from the people they love so they can shop for the people they love? Grrrr again.

So here's what I'm proposing. I want us to create a different way. I want to create The New Black Friday, one in which at least part of the day is devoted to spending time making at least one gift for someone we love. In particular, I want to start a tradition of people spending part of the New Black Friday making a Love List for someone in their life — spouse, child, parent, friend, co-worker, deli-owner, anyone. Chances are, you've heard me talk about the Love List before. If you haven't, please watch this 2-minute video that tells what it is and how to make it. It is absolutely free and is one of the very best gifts you can give or recieve. I can promise you that if you spend one hour on Black Friday making a Love List, it will be the most rewarding and happy hour of your day.

Black Thursday (Thanksgiving's new name) and Black Friday can be what they are. But will you join me in stepping into The New Black Friday, in which part of the day is dedicated to using our creativity and heart to make a gift that doesn't cost a dime — but could transform someone's life?

If you're on board, please let me know by leaving a comment below or by joining the Facebook event page.

Happy Thanksgiving Eve. I'm so very grateful to be connected to you within this spirited community! Lucky, lucky me.

Foto Friday! Sometimes we need a lil fluff in our lives.

sherry@simplycelebrate.net (Sherry Richert Belul) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 21:44:23 +0000

This week's photo is by Bob Kayne and it was taken on his recent trip to Mexico. I LOVE that a simple cotton candy stand can radiate such joy. And I appreciate that Bob saw it and captured the moment — before it got gobbled up! It makes me giddy just looking at it! Thanks, Bob!