Before the end of the day...

Furniture Redos

2014-08-21T13:31:00.000-05:00

Aubusson Blue with Paris Grey wash

& Gold Leaf application

Before & After

May seem like a rather strong color but this is for my Healing Room and I wanted fun colors!

This was for my niece's room

This was quite a process (wish this was a better photograph). Painted all over Paris Grey, details in Florence, including stencils. All over wash of French Linen and then waxed with Clear Wax with Silver added to the wax. It has a beautiful soft iridescent finish. Most importantly Sydney loves it!

A long discussion was had about the condition of the top of the vanity before we started. Since this is a pre-teen's room, subject to possible abuse (just being realistic), we decided to leave the veneer as is for now. Her taste are very likely to change and we can do it next time around.

This was our project (among others) while my crazy sister Claire visited Texas. Previously I had painted two matching stand alone cabinets for my parent's dining room in Paris Grey. They liked them so much, they wanted their kitchen painted as well. Took us a few days but we knocked it out. After painting, the cabinets were then protected with a matte finish poly.

Wow, how did this get in here? Harlow and my brand new grandson, Taj!

I wanted something else fun for my healing room.

This old blah piece was begging for something to take it out of it's misery. Barcelona Orange with Clear wax mixed with Aubusson Blue. Inside lid, Napoleonic Blue. Inside cabinet a custom mix of Napoleonic Blue and Emperor's Silk to make a dark plum. Stenciled in Napoleonic Blue. Still shopping for fun hardware.

You're next Baby!

Last note: There is a LOT of opinion and discussion about painting furniture and restoring old pieces. From my perspective, and for my own pieces, I make that decision on a piece by piece basis. If it's worth restoring, then I believe in restoring it. If on the other hand it is simply old, not superior quality and not a valuable antique then I have no problem having a little fun with it. I don't do this for a business, I do it for fun! And as my sweet husband says, "It's better than hanging out in bars."

Some Furniture Pieces I'm Loving Right Now!

2014-07-09T12:22:00.000-05:00

These are my pieces I am looking at doing next

(more in the garage, sorry Jess)

Looking for unusual colors for my healing room!

I'm drooling over this one!!

Go bold or go home!

I'd write letters at this desk anytime!

This would go so well with my existing furniture

I already painted in my Master Bedroom

Loving this teal tint!

Lavender and Luckenbach

2013-06-09T20:48:00.000-05:00

Beautiful Texas Lavender

Today was a perfect day! Beautiful skies full of big fluffy white clouds turning to thunderclouds and the glorious smell of rain off and on throughout the day. Put the top down on the car, up again, down again, up again. Sounds bad...far from it. It really was perfect. Finally after years of poor planning, I and a sweet friend of mine made it to the Blanco Lavender Festival. EVERYTHING smells good there! We just loved all of the vendors that take such pride in their homemade soaps, lotions, sprays, candles; you name it. After a bit of roaming around smelling and touching everything and about a thousand "Oh look at this", we decided to run up the road a bit and actually go to a couple of the lavender farms.

Road to lavender fields

Lavender Fields

Mmmmm, smells amazing!!

I want one of EVERYTHING!!!

In addition to the beautiful lavender there was a gorgeous peach orchard on the same property. June is beginning of peach season here in Texas. With all of the rain this spring, along with all of the beautiful wildflowers, we are due to have incredible peach crops! I can't wait to start making peach preserves. Peach with Pecans, Peach with Amaretto, Peach with Contreau, Peach with anything!!

These trees are loaded with peaches!!!

On a whim, we headed off to a favorite spot to have a few ice cold beers. Just west of Blanco is the world famous Luckenbach Texas. At Luckenbach you will always find a "picker's circle"! Folks just show up with whatever instrument they play, sit in a circle and play whatever music strikes their fancy. Today was a collection of many guitars, banjos, violins, a mandolin and believe it or not, a cello! It's an incredible experience where everyone is friends and you never know who you're going to meet and what part of the world they are from. Pretty unique and very cool.

About 25 pickers today!

Each one takes turns playing his or her own song, most of them originals. Everyone else chimes in singing learning the words as they go and playing their instruments along with the star of the circle. If you've got an instrument, just show up sit down and join in. You will find yourself shocked and very impressed by the amount of talent!

Texas is awesome!! It's no wonder there are so many people that move here so they can call it home too!

Color Filled World

2013-06-08T20:38:00.000-05:00

Hello my name is Leslie and I AM a Pinterest stalker. There, fine, I said it. It is not an addiction I plan to seek help for. How could I? I get awesome ideas from there. Well I think they are! This one I love! Duh, it's pretty cool, who wouldn't?

So here's the scoop.... I just happened to have a whole bunch of crayons sitting in a box and some canvases I haven't used (other Pinterest ideas that maybe didn't work out so great). I ordered a heat gun on Amazon! Love it! Got out ye old blow dryer, Exacto knives and covered my table with the roll of Christmas paper that if I have to look at one more year...you get it.

I used the knives to cut a slit in the paper around the crayons to remove it because I'm not looking to start a fire. Put all the groups of colors together blues, greens, reds, etc. As a side note; it gets a little warm in the area, don't set your crayons to close to your project.

For the moment of truth. I just started melting the colors over the canvas. My original plan was to have a splatter effect but I was having too much fun making puddles, and then making them slide on the canvas! I alternated back and forth between the blow dryer and the heat gun for different results.

One is never enough!

I like it better this direction

I've started a couple of others, but I'm still playing with them. Here is a preview.

I think I see a whale in there!

Have a color filled day!!

"Know thyself" & “To thine own self be true.”

2013-01-21T18:10:00.000-06:00

My beautiful daughter has Nosce te ipsum written around her wrist. It is Latin and means "Know Thyself" It's perfect and inspiring!

“To thine own self be true.” Also a favorite of mine, is spoken by Polonius in Hamlet. It means "Do not deceive yourself". To deceive yourself (kid yourself, lie to yourself) is sometimes easier than deceiving other people.

The full quote is:

to thine own self be true,

and it must follow, as the night the day,

Thou canst not then be false to any man

This implies that so long as you do not deceive yourself then you will not be tempted to deceive other people.

There is a shade of difference between not being true and knowing oneself and deceiving oneself.

As Polonius is so full of words, it is natural that the things he says be considered 'just a lot of words'. Polonius might not know the depth of his own words but Shakespeare did and it is up to us to get to it.

Think of this, how many lies have you told yourself over the years?? You're not tall enough/too tall, you're overweight, your nose is too big, you're not good enough, you're not smart enough... Lies, all lies I tell you!!

Each of us is created beautiful and perfect, just as we should be. I’m realizing no matter what other people say, do, or think about us, it is our opinions of ourselves that really matter. Maybe it's time to retrain our thoughts, "Know Thyself". Maybe everyone else around us knows that we are amazing but we don't know it about ourselves. Take ownership of your own greatness!!

Ultimately the question we need to ask ourselves is: Am I being completely truthful with myself? I have said countless times over the years "If we could just spend five minutes outside of ourselves and see ourselves the way others do, we would instantly realize how amazing we really are". This seems especially true for women. We are ridiculously hard on ourselves. Retrain your thoughts!! What if you were kinder to yourself? What if you complimented yourself, your great and perfect self? How instantly would your life change?

Fortunately, I am blessed with amazing people in life who do not hesitate to point out when I am deceiving myself and NOT deceiving them. They came to me in many different and beautiful ways. They are "my people", my personal cheering squad and I encourage you to carefully select "your people" too. If you want to be happy and positive then surround yourself with happy and positive people. If you want to make healthy choices then surround yourself with people that make healthy choices. Erase negativity from your life and watch your life evolve into a life filled with positive thoughts and deeds everyday. Seriously, who wants to be around negativity? Be the person you want to be around. Let go of the stories/lies you have told yourself in the past. Instead be kind to yourself. Be truthful with yourself about your greatness, own it and live it! And here's an idea; the next time someone compliments you, just say thank you. Don't argue with them, let their sweetness wash over you. Let it sink in, it's a part of you, a truth about you, just own it!

Could you start now? Right now. It is never too late! I challenge you to make a list of all of the super awesome things about yourself! Have fun with it, and remember "Know Thyself" and "To thine own self be true".

Namaste~

Day of the Dead ~ Día de los Muertos

2012-11-02T19:30:00.000-05:00

Celebrating the lives of the ones we love and miss.

Of course those of you that know me best know that I truly believe that all of our loved ones are around us all of the time. When I need help with math, I ask for Granddaddy Shane's help. When I am looking for the perfect earrings or trinket to wear I ask for my Grandmother Viola's help, Hiking and outdoors activities (or when I am trying to remember a bad word in Spanish) my Granddaddy Mark, extra special prayers I ask for my Grandmother Marie's assistance in getting the word to the Big Guy. I especially like the company of our sweetest friend Gordon while I'm in the kitchen cooking for my family and when things are loud and crazy with my girlfriends I know Robin is right by my side! Unfortunately, there are many more and we deeply love them all. That is part of life. Enjoy each day we have with the living and celebrate the lives of those that have passed.

I hope this day reminds us all to remember the beautiful souls we have each been blessed with to share our lives.

The following is just a brief history of the tradition of Day of the Dead:

Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de los Muertos) is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and around the world in other cultures. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it is a national holiday, and all banks are closed. The celebration takes place on November 1 and 2, in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts. They also leave possessions of the deceased.

Scholars trace the origins of the modern Mexican holiday to indigenous observances dating back hundreds of years and to an Aztec festival dedicated to the goddess Mictecacihuatl. The holiday has spread throughout the world: In Brazil, Dia de Finados is a public holiday that many Brazilians celebrate by visiting cemeteries and churches. In Spain, there are festivals and parades, and, at the end of the day, people gather at cemeteries and pray for their dead loved ones. Similar observances occur elsewhere in Europe, and similarly themed celebrations appear in many Asian and African cultures. (source: Wikipedia)

A week with Harlow Michele

2012-10-25T14:52:00.001-05:00

This was fun! Put Harlow in a pumpkin!

Her Great-Granddaddy is smitten!

Loving her GG

She's completely organic and fits perfect in the vegetable sink

Meeting her Uncle Shane for the first time

Bath-time in Lolli's kitchen sink

Swinging with Momma

Momma Tickling

Playing the same piano her Great-Great-Great Grand Mother played on

On her way home at the airport :(

Healing Touch ~ What is it and How does it work??

2012-05-12T10:57:00.000-05:00

Healing Touch ~ What is it?

Healing Touch is an energy therapy in which practitioners consciously use their hands in a heart-centered and intentional way to support and facilitate physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health.

Healing Touch is a biofield (magnetic field around the body) therapy that is an energy-based approach to health and healing.

Healing Touch uses the gift of touch to influence the human energy system, specifically the energy field that surrounds the body, and the energy centers that control the flow from the energy field to the physical body.

These non-invasive techniques employ the hands to clear, energize, and balance the human and environmental energy fields, thus affecting physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. It is based on a heart-centered, caring relationship in which the practitioner and client come together energetically to facilitate the client's health and healing.

The goal of Healing Touch is to restore balance and harmonies in the energy system, placing the client in a position to self heal.

What do the experts say about Healing Touch?

"IN A FEW DECADES SCIENTISTS HAVE GONE FROM A CONVICTION THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS ENERGY FIELDS IN AND AROUND THE HUMAN BODY TO AN ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY THAT THEY EXIST."

-James Oschman Ph.D.
Energy Medicine, The Scientific Basis, 2000.

Healing Touch Research has been conducted in a wide variety of settings and with a number of different problems and situations including:

Cancer
Cardio-vascular disease
Death and dying
Endocrine/Immune function
Pain
Patient satisfaction and experience
Psychotherapy/Psychology
Post operative recovery
Stress
These studies demonstrate that there is support in favor of considering Healing Touch for providing integrative care and that patients assess it highly. Healing Touch research has been supported and/or funded by hospitals, universities, colleges, professional organizations, private foundations, and the National Institutes of Health, Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

How does Energy Healing work?

Many theoretical frameworks on how energy medicine works exist in the literature of quantum physics and holistic healing. However, while the exact physics mechanisms can not be definitively described at this time, the cumulative results of numerous related studies on energy medicine and consciousness indicate strong support that "something is happening" and that recipients respond positively to energy therapies such as Healing Touch.

Over the years, researchers have developed ways to measure the energy field. Theoretically, by correcting any defects in the energy field, energy therapy practices may facilitate healing of the body, mind and spirit.

Energy therapies focus on removing energy congestion that form in our energy fields (aura) and energy centers (chakras). Once these imbalances and disturbances are cleared, the energy channels resume their task of integrating the body, mind and soul to restore health and promote healing. It may also help to prevent future issues by restoring balance to energy field disturbances, which could later result in illness if left unbalanced.

To gain a deeper understanding of the science supporting energy healing, please refer to the many books, journal articles and research findings written on this subject. Scientific evidence does exist that supports the premise that energy healing is effective. However, an experience is worth a thousand words, so the receiving of a Healing Touch treatment can do more to understand this phenomena than all the writings in the world.

What are the benefits of Healing Touch?

NON INVASIVE
Healing Touch is done without the use of invasive procedures such as injections, inserting tubes, medication or surgery.
EFFECTIVE
Research has shown that Healing Touch facilitates the relaxation response and enhances the healing process.
NON TOXIC
Medications can cause side effects and must be monitored. Healing Touch restores balance and harmony to our natural biofield without the use of pharmaceuticals.
ECONOMICAL
Healing touch does not require the use of equipment or substances and can be done in any setting. An open heart, a set of hands and a willing spirit is all that is needed.

What to Expect from a Healing Touch Treatment

Healing Touch is a gentle, biofield (energy field) therapy that often facilitates a deep sense of calm and relaxation in the body-mind-spirit.

The treatment is typically administered while the client lies on a massage table with their clothes on. With your permission, the practitioner uses his/her hands to assess your biofield and proceeds to clear and balance it as needed using either off body touch (near body but no direct contact) or a gentle (still) touch over various areas of the body.

On occasion, one may experience an acceleration of the healing process and his/her symptoms may intensify for a brief time. When this happens, the recovery period of the illness is usually reduced.

What are some of the specific uses and facts about Healing Touch?

Healing Touch has been used in wound healing, pain management, stress management, before and after surgery and chemotherapy, and support and assistance in the dying process. Healing Touch is appropriate for all ages and states of health and/or illness.

Healing Touch Can Help You With:

Pain Control
Neck and Back Problems
Anxiety Reduction
Skin Problems
Wound and Fracture Healing
Premenstrual Syndrome
Multiple Sclerosis
HIV or A.I.D.S.
Hypertension
Heart and Lung Disease
Pre/Post Surgical Procedures
Headaches/Migraines
Autoimmune Disorders
Diabetes
Cancer
Grief Management
Arthritis
Rehabilitation
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
General Well Being
Disease Prevention
Spiritual Enhancement

Facts on Healing Touch:

In 1995, 41% if the population of the USA used one or more of the alternative healing methods to either complement or substitute for traditional medical techniques.
Hands-on touch modalities are used by more that 30,000 nurses in hospitals each year, and that the procedures are documented as legitimate medical techniques.

There are teams of medical doctors and nurses combining medical skills WITH hands-on and energy techniques in MOST major cities of the United States.

The world's first Touch Research Institute has been founded at the University of Miami's Medical School to further explore and document the benefits of touch therapy.

Documented studies have already shown that with hands-on work:

• Surgical wounds and sutures heal faster
• Burns clear up significantly sooner
• Circulation and breathing improve post surgically
• Premature infants have enhanced growth rate

What about traditional approaches to health care?

Healing Touch compliments traditional approaches to health and healing. It is not a substitute for them.

Note: Healing Touch is being taught to Hospital Nursing Staffs around the world and is part of the curriculum in eighty universities across the US and abroad, including:

Harvard University

Duke University

The University of New Mexico

Endorsements & Accreditations

AHNA/CHNA Endorsement

Healing Touch Program has been peer-reviewed, and is endorsed by American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA). We are proud to be one of approximately 10 programs endorsed by AHNA. We are also endorsed by the Canadian Holistic Nurses Association (CHNA).

NCBTMB Endorsement

Healing Touch Program is approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) as a continuing education provider under Category A. Provider Number 150588-00

ANCC Accreditation

Healing Touch Program is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s COA.

Healing Touch Program is very excited to announce that we are now an accredited provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

ANCC is the world's largest and most prestigious nurse credentialing organization, and a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association (ANA). HTP is the first Energy Medicine education provider to achieve this status. We acknowledge the instructors and practitioners that make our program outstanding and thank you for all that you do.

How is Healing Touch Learned?

Since 1990, Healing Touch Program (HTP) has proudly granted practitioner certification to individuals who exhibit the professionalism, discipline and dedication required to meet the established criteria. The requirements are rigorous and are designed to instill knowledge, skill and confidence in the practitioner. The Healing Touch Certified Practitioner (HTCP) credential is recognized in Energy Medicine and allopathic medicine as a significant professional accomplishment.

People around the world and from all walks of life pursue the HTCP credential. Some are already professionally aligned with health care, others are interested in becoming aligned with health care and some find that their passion to do valuable work with others is fulfilled by doing Healing Touch. Many who receive the HTCP credential use it in a private practice setting as well as in another service profession.

Do I have to remove my clothes for a Healing Touch Session?

Healing Touch is non-invasive and may be done sitting or reclining. It takes approximately an hour. The only clothing removed is socks and shoes. The entire session lasts about an hour and fifteen minutes with brief discussions before and after the session.

For more information or to set an appointment:

Leslie M. Shurbet

Healing Touch Practitioner

210.618.7434

lesliemichele@gvtc.com

2012-05-11T15:44:00.000-05:00

So who do you think you are.....

2012-04-30T12:04:00.000-05:00

Hank thinks he's a turtle

I am my soul in a body. What I mean by that is, I believe we are souls in this particular body for this time. Well that's just real interesting Leslie...so what, you say? Maybe think of this for a bit. We are always so busy trying to find the next greatest thing. New car, bigger house, just the right shoes, the best whatever (insert your thing here). Our souls are just about love. Just love. Nothing else. Just love.

Try this for a day, and see if you still feel you need all those "things". Really, what the heck, you've got NOTHING to lose. Instead of getting mad at the other driver that is determined to take your life with his, he may have just received an urgent call about a loved one in distress, you don't know~ send him love. The grumpy waitress at lunch, give her love; really look at her heart and hold it in yours. Is that career her life's desire or is she working to send her child to college to have a better life than her own, you don't know ~ send her love. The guy at the convenience store, send him love, the poor guy has to listen to people gripe about gas prices all day which clearly he has no control over. He's in a job that he could be in fear of being held up at gun point at any time, you don't know ~ send him love. Leave a surprise note in someone's desk about something you value about them ~ send them love. I personally don't believe the panhandler on the corner is Jesus, but I do know he needs love and just in case I'm wrong I'm sending it to him ;-)

The list could go on and on but you get the idea.

Be the light. Be the light throughout the day for yourself and for others around you. That light is the soul, get out of the way and let it radiate. It grows as you share it. The world is full of songs, poems, books and quotes about love — and this is good — but what it needs most is deeds that express love. So true.

Or does this turtle think he's Hank?

So maybe try this 'sharing love' thing for a day. Sit in your awareness of how you feel. Do you feel a little better? Did you bring a smile to someone's face (I personally love the challenge, some are harder than others). How do you think you made them feel just for that moment? I guarantee you made a difference and you will probably never know how much, but doesn't your heart feel a little lighter for it? You have great value and it's worth it!

So while my dog might think he's a turtle, Bless his heart, I know I am my soul. I am here to love.

Love and Light,

LeslieMichele

Botanicals

2012-03-14T04:05:00.000-05:00

The last of my collection of photos from the

Botanicals from Balboa Park

Love the color!

Wow!

Kinda freaky

Sigh...

Super cool in an alien sort of way

Namaste ~ LeslieMichele

Balboa Park ~ Trip to San Diego

2012-03-06T09:12:00.000-06:00

My beautiful trip to Southern California included Balboa Park in San Diego.

It is a must see for everyone!

The architecture is stunning.

It's a peaceful place.

And of course the weather is perfect.

Succulents galore.

Our destination ~ The incredible Botanical Gardens

It is a "must see" and one of the most photographed places in the park. It was built for the 1915-16 Exposition along with the adjacent lily pond (too early for the lily pads) Note to self: Go back when they are in bloom. Each lily pad will grow to several feet wide! It is one of the largest lath structures in the world and made from redwood. Truly a sight to behold!

Inside shot, looking up. It's huge, and makes you a little dizzy!

The real attraction of course is the flowers!

And they are amazing!

And beautiful!

They don't even look real, so pretty!

And my beautiful Sweetpea, Elise Nicole!!

I can't wait to go back in May for the arrival of Sweetpea II, hit some more Farmers Markets, more meditating on the beach, and maybe make it back to Balboa Park!!

Namaste ~ LeslieMichele

Local Farmers Market

2012-03-05T11:49:00.000-06:00

Hurray, A Local Farmers Market!!

Freshly made crepes, tamales and many more goodies to enjoy while you shop

After my recent trip to Southern California I absolutely had to find a farmers market near home. My daughter and I were so spoiled being able to go to a different farmers market everyday in SoCal and choose what we wanted to have for our meals each day. What a treat it was! So I got home and have been on a mission. There are a few in the San Antonio, and New Braunfels area. I started with San Antonio. Much to my joy and relief I found The Quarry Farmers & Ranchers Market! It is in the parking lot of The Quarry Market situated adjacent to Whole Paycheck (this is what we call Whole Foods Market). In it I found quite a selection of vendors (be sure to check them out HERE). Live music, wonderful organic fresh vegetables, fruits, pecans, beautiful live plants, gorgeous orchids, fresh pesto, granola, decadent pastries and earthy breads and the most wonderful beef filet! There is plenty more here, those are just the items that caught my eye on my first visit. Oh yes, I will be returning!

One of the things I love most about Farmers Markets is the friendly people you meet! There is such a pride in what they do. They are full of helpful hints for preparation and tons information. You know exactly what you are getting and where it came from!

This Miss Patty, she's silly and fun!

This darling lady that helps take the fear out of owning your very own miraculously beautiful orchid.

Just the sweetest couple ever!

Don't go home without there delicious Basil & Parmesan Pesto and Roasted Garlic and Sun-Dried Tomato!! YUM.

Beautiful variety of Granolas!

Take a quick trip to France!

Bring home gorgeous & rustic Baguettes and Sweet Brioche

My beautiful bounty for the day!

Black Radishes! They are huge and so beautiful!

A little more bite than your normal radish and I can't wait to experiment with them. Be sure to check out my favorite Radish Soup & Radish Dip on my other blog The Chef In My Head

Fresh Beets, one of my favorite things!

Check out my favorite beet recipe on my other blog The Chef In My Head

Most unusual new veggie for me....Kohlrabi!

Kind of a cross between a cabbage (kohl) and rabi (turnip)

Aren't these beautiful! Elise and I bought these multiple times in California.

I just love the sweetness of these when they are roasted or grilled!

So when you are in the area, please don't miss this market! They are there every Sunday 9am - 1pm rain or shine! I can't wait to see what they have as the weather continues to warm and things really get growing! Maybe tomatoes, peppers, strawberries......the list of possibilities is endless!

Namaste ~ LeslieMichele

Farmers Market Love

2012-02-20T13:40:00.000-06:00

Oceanside Farmers Market

So I am simply loving my trip to sunny southern California! My grand-baby girl (due in May) is getting bigger by the minute and my daughter is doing really well with her pregnancy, she looks beautiful! We have been walking about 4 miles a day along the ocean. I think I have never seen so many strollers and soooo many cute pups! I'm sure I am driving everyone here in California crazy with my "Good Mornin" each time I pass someone. It's just the Texan in me, no apologies here.

We have had a wonderful time hitting all of the Farmers Markets! They are in different areas (all near by) so there is access to fresh eggs, fresh fruits (beautiful blood oranges), lovely ultra fresh veggies and the most beautiful fresh flowers, bunches and bunches of them. The last farmers market we went to had fantastic fresh fish, lots of variety. So tonight, we will be having John Dorie fish from Australia with cremini mushrooms and green onions with some kind of brown butter sauce I will make up in my head. To go with that we found gorgeous golden beets that we will roast and the tops will be sauteed with garlic and green onions......yum. All of these goodies came from the Del Mar Farmers Market.

Strawberries, OMG, the strawberries! Fields and fields of them everywhere!!! They are delicious and of course, super fresh!!

Carlsbad Farmers Market Goodies!

(the asparagus was fabulous!!!!)

Namaste ~ LeslieMichele

Days 3 & 4 ~ Baby Tab Blanket

2012-02-05T13:04:00.000-06:00

Day 3 ~

We are getting down to crunch time before EliseNicole and I leave for San Diego for go put this precious baby's room together. So excited, so much to do, so much to pack and ship, so much laundry to do before we leave... Just a tad overwhelming.

Love this Indian influenced fabric and hand picked ribbons!

This day I devoted my meditation completely to my daughter and our grand daughter due in May! Sewing this Tab Baby Blanket (you can find the instructions HERE), making 6 different quiches (thank you Melissa!), 36 Lemon Curd filled cupcakes and a bazillion blueberry and lemon poppy seed muffins all for her baby shower. You can find the quiche recipes on my other blog The Chef In My Head.

One trillion pins, just go ahead and count them.

Any-who, it was a great day. It appears when you devote yourself to someone else and their happiness (my gift), that your legs and feet don't hurt quite so much from standing on tile for hours (God bless my Gelpro Mat). Seriously, taking the focus off of yourself and putting the focus entirely on someone else makes a huge difference.

Day 4 ~ Also my birthday!

When we were originally looking at the calendar months ago and choosing a date for EliseNicole's shower, when asked, I deliberately aimed for my birthday. I wanted the focus off of me and it was a perfect opportunity to shamelessly use my daughter for that purpose. I recognize this now as a symptom of something else larger I really need to work on. It now appears blindingly clear that when you set your heart to give, the Universe conspires to give back to you whether you are prepared for it or not.

Miss Jane's beautiful home

Dear friends of ours (a mother and her daughter) gave EliseNicole a beautiful baby shower. Miss Jane's home was lovely, full of light and beautiful colors chosen just for EliseNicole. Her daughter was the angel that helped me with the preparation for the quiches to be served. They both worked so hard with all the preparations and it was absolutely perfect!

Terrible pic of amazing avocado, gruyere cheese,

spinach, goat cheese quiche

Lemon Curd filled cupcakes with lemon cream cheese frosting

Blueberry and Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

EliseNicole's baby shower was perfect! So many loving family and friends came to share a day celebrating this "little tiny baby's" arrival!

Beautiful new Mommy!

Precious china antique baby with tiny crocheted layette

This baby girl is starting off her fabulous shoe collection right!

She doesn't know it yet, but she comes from

a long family history of shoe loving girls!

Thank you again to all of the special people in our lives, you are a gift to us each day!

Namaste ~ LeslieMichele

2012-02-02T19:57:00.000-06:00

29 gifts...Day 1

2012-02-01T20:17:00.000-06:00

Please go get this book & read it!!

My sweet friend H. loaned this book to me and I am racing through it! It is such a beautiful story, well here's the scoop:

About the Book
One month after her wedding day, thirty-three-year-old Cami Walker was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and the life she knew changed forever. Cami was soon in and out of L.A.’s emergency rooms with alarming frequency as she battled the neurological condition that left her barely able to walk and put enormous stress on her marriage. Each day brought new negative thoughts:
I’m going to end up in a wheelchair. Mark’s probably going to leave me.
My life is over. Why did this have to happen to me?

Then, as a remedy for her condition, Cami received an uncommon prescription from a friend, an African medicine woman named Mbali Creazzo: Give away 29 gifts in 29 days.

“By giving,” Mbali told her, “you are focusing on what you have to offer others, inviting more abundance into your life.” The gifts, she said, could be anything, but their giving had to be both authentic and mindful. At least one gift needed to be something she felt was scarce in her life.

Cami was amazed by what unfolded during her month-long journey.

29 Gifts is Cami’s poignant and unforgettable story of embracing the natural process of giving and receiving. Many of her gifts were simple—a phone call, spare change, even a Kleenex. Yet the acts of kindness were transformative. By Day 29, not only had her health and happiness turned around, but she had also embarked on creating a worldwide giving movement.

The book also includes personal essays from others whose lives changed for the better by giving, plus pages for the reader to record their own journey. More than a memoir, 29 Gifts offers inspiring lessons on how a simple daily practice of altruism can dramatically alter your outlook on the world.

Believe me that was so much better than I could have described.

Be sure to check out Cami's website HERE

So today, I began. I gathered fresh eggs from "the girls", painted a wooden tray, filled it with raffia grass, added a couple of paper flowers, these beautiful eggs and took it to my sweet neighbor. She was so surprised as it was "out of the blue" as they say. I appreciate her very much as she is such a dear sweet friend (and a little crazy) and I love her!

Much to my surprise, she sent me home with fresh dill and cilantro from her sister's garden!

I want to see what will happen in my life if I really commit and focus my energy on giving for 29 days.What space will it create in my life for new and unexpected things to occur? What shifts will I see in my thinking and behavior as a result? What impact will my gifts have on others? These are just a few of the questions I have.

Today was different. More joyful and lighter! And I can't wait for tomorrow!! Oh, and the punch line....If I miss a day, I commit to starting all over again. Yikes! I just typed that out loud!!

Abundant Happiness ~ Namaste

LeslieMichele

Buddy ~ You're going down!!!

2012-01-13T09:56:00.000-06:00

Pretty, you say? Rat bastard, I say!!!

This is what I found diving in my koi pond this morning!!! ERRRRR It appears I still have all of our koi but all of our goldfish are gone!!

So now I am bundling up, parka, hats (yes more than one), extra socks, you name it because of course it is only 31 degrees outside and I'm dealing with this stinking slimy, no good scavenger!! Yes, he left a slime coating on the top of the pond because he's FILTHY!!

Yeah, you better start walking off!

What is that on your beak? Fish scales, better not be!!

I admit he's kinda cool looking, he'll look even better

mounted on my wall!!

The netting I had last year to cover the pond is lining the circumference of the garden because the stinking deer were eating my veggies during the summer. Ahhh, living in the country. So now I am digging through plywood and trying to find something to put over the pond. Ohh happy days. :-[

Yeah Buddy, Bring it!

Namaste, not today, I'll "honor" his dead rotting carcass! ~ LeslieMichele

Oh Crap......Oooo Awesome!

2012-01-12T11:15:00.001-06:00

So I used to have this great little skirt. I could throw it over my yoga shorts, my swimsuit, when I wanted to get comfortable, pretty much all the time I wore it..... UNTIL(wipe away slowly falling tear). Until the one dreaded day that I drop a bit of bleach on it. And seriously, I am not one of those women that can walk the model walk, you know the one, with one hand on one hip the other dangling seductively by my side (I needed the hand down past my left hip to hide the bleach spot). I just can't pull that look off without looking like Quasimodo. Don't think I didn't try though, because seriously I LOVE this skirt. I know...I know, just buy another skirt Leslie you say. Well that's not going to work this time. For one it came from Athleta and for the life of me I have never found the gold it should be lined with for the price, for two they don't have it anymore (yes, of course I considered it) and three I'm saving up to spoil not 1 but 2 sweet grand-babies due in May!!

You look, I can't.

So I am your "Plan B" kinda girl and I was determined to find a way to artistically remedy this mishap. Surely I could find a way to make my ooops look like it was part of the plan. If bleach left one spot, it could leave more.

Oh for God's sake, open your damn eyes, it's HUGE!!!

So I put this old piece of foam board inside it, kinda smoothed it out a bit, poured a bit of bleach into a cup, got out my handy dandy Q-tips and went to work in true zen-like fashion.

Exhibit A

So what do you think...tell the truth...okay you don't really have to. I LOVE IT. Got me a few paisley designs, got me a little flower power, a special bit of OMmmmm and a goovey peace sign just to round things out a bit.

What do ya think???

Find that bleach spot, I triple dog dare ya.

Namaste ~ LeslieMichele

I'm Cheap!

2012-01-11T22:50:00.000-06:00

I love winter, the fuzzy sweaters, scarves, warm soups and hot toddies. But, and isn't there always a "but", I hate laundry, specifically laundry in the winter!! Is it just me, do you also notice the mega amounts of laundry in the winter? It feels like it takes three times as long to finish (insert groan here). More sweaters, sweatshirts, jeans etc. And is it also just me that feels like I am spending a small fortune on laundry detergent? Seriously, when I see 17+ dollars again, for a big container of detergent, I cringe!

So I finally got around to making my own powdered laundry detergent! I know my sister and her friends have been doing this for quite awhile, but I just got around to it. So here you go! It's loads cheaper (pun intended) and it does a great job!

1 4 lb 12 oz box Borax (2.15 kg or 76 oz) found in the detergent isle

1 4 lb box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (1.81 kg) found in the cooking isle

1 box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 55 oz (3 lb 7 oz) found in the detergent isle

3 bars of Fels-naptha soap, found in the detergent isle (you can also use pink Zote soap instead of Fels-naptha)

2 small containers of oxyclean or store brand oxyclean (try to get about 3.5 lbs total (1.58 kg)) found in the detergent isle.

(this is optional, I added it into mine because I'm a freak about white whites)

You should be able to find all of these items at your grocery store.

Start out by grating your Fels-naptha soap just like cheese. You can use a food processor (woohoo!) or just use your hand held grater, what ever you have. Don't worry the Fels-naptha will dissolve in your washer, and yes, even in cold water.

How do I love my food processor...let me count the ways

Toss all ingredients in a 5 gallon bucket lined with a garbage bag. This part makes your whole house smell great. Once everything is mixed, I twisted the bag closed and rolled it around on the floor to mix it up, store soap however you like. I used the empty oxyclean to put a smaller amount in and I used the scoop included to measure the perfect amount for 1 load (2 scoops for heavily soiled loads).

Prettiest pic I ever put on my blog, oh yeah!

This detergent is fairly mild smelling, it is not over powering. If you love a strong scent you may have to add a fabric softener to each load.

Rub-a-dub-dub...laundry detergent in the tub!

This took me all of ten minutes to throw together. And I got to use my favorite food processor (have you seen my other blog? You'll understand). Aaannnnnd, I'm saving a ton of money!

Taa-Daa! I'm Cheap and proud of it!

Namaste ~ LeslieMichele

Flannel Baby Rag Quilt

2012-01-10T09:46:00.002-06:00

Sooo soft and perfect for our new grand-baby girl on the way!!

Like most of my ideas, the execution becomes a little larger than I anticipated. This is certainly no different. While roaming around Pinterest, as I am know to do...alright I am just slightly addicted..I found this cool blanket to make for one of our sweet grand-baby girls on the way. Yes, you read right, there are two of them on the way, both in May. My Daughter EliseNicole and Jess's daughter Amber are both due in May within 3 days of each other. This blanket is for EliseNicole and I once I get the hang of it, or die trying, I will start one for Amber. They better tell me they love them, lying is okay. EliseNicole's baby style is a little different in that she really doesn't like pink. You know the ones, the pinks we refer to as Monkey Bum, or Pepto Bismal or Bubblegum. She's more of the BOHO style and her nursery is planned to ever detail. Natural colors for walls, natural fibers and materials, think of jewel tones of ruby reds, emerald greens, blues of the ocean, sunset golds and you begin to get the idea. No doubt, there will still be pink, it's just not the predominant color sceme. In other words no Princess or Hello Kitty, you get the idea.

The reading nook she is putting together is probably my favorite area of the room. A special area for snuggling in with lots of pillows of all different shapes and sizes, all made from gorgeous fabrics, a favorite old suitcase filled with old children's books and hopefully this *%$# blanket.

See, I don't really sew, problem numero uno. Mind you, I am completely outfitted with all the right equipment, but I am learning by the seat of my pants.

Well, so far ~ so good. Mostly. I had originally planned to fill each stitch and piece of soft cozy fabric with love. Instead, it appears it is filled with every bad word in my repitoure. I'm working on that, I promise. Now that I am getting the hang of things, it is getting much easier. For someone that sews, this would be a piece of cake and really it's not that hard.

Here is my progress so far, I'll get back to you with the final product and HERE at Do It Yourself Divas is the link for the place I got this idea. And mine is going to look JUST LIKE THAT!!

Almost all of the fabric is cut!

Pattern made from Christmas paper

A fabric sandwich

It's coming together!!

Insert music from Friday The 13th movie

And yes, I do believe that hole could eat my hand, eeek!

Chanting (Kirtan)

2011-12-30T23:44:00.000-06:00

Chanting (Kirtan) is a part of the path of Devotional Yoga.

When we see the beauty of our own being we are seeing the beauty of the Being that is the One of which we are all a part. And when we turn towards that One, love is the natural reaction of the heart.

God or Guru is an endless ocean of love truth and presence. First we may hear the distant roar of the crashing waves of the ocean and we're drawn to that sound. As we get closer, we can smell the ocean air and taste the sweet moisture. When we reach the beach and see the ocean for the first time, we're transfixed by the vastness and Beauty. We run and we dive in and enjoy the freedom that comes from this ecstasy. Finally we merge with that ocean of love and somehow find ourselves back on the shore, returning to ourselves so that we can share the experience with others.

Those that have returned have given us these Names of God. These Names are the sound of the surf of that Ocean of Love. They hold the power to help us find our way back to that ocean. We don't have to create anything; we don't have to manufacture any emotions or feelings. We can't make it happen. It already is. All we have to do is Remember. Everyone has their own path to this beach, to the Ocean, but we all wind up in the same place. There is only one...One.

The following is an excerpt from 'Pilgrim of the Heart' audio series by Krishna Das:

"The words of these chants are called the divine names and they come from a place that's deeper than our hearts and our thoughts, deeper than the mind. And so as we sing them they turn us towards ourselves, into ourselves. They bring us in, and as we offer ourselves into the experience, the experience changes us. These chants have no meaning other than the experience that we have by doing them. They come from the Hindu tradition, but it's not about being a Hindu, or believing anything in advance. It's just about doing it, and experiencing. Nothing to join, you just sit down and sing."

Satsang is where people gather together to remember, to turn within and find their own inner path to the One. When we gather together to sing like this we are helping each other find our own paths. We all must travel this path by ourselves because each of us is our own path. All these paths wander on in their own way, but in truth we are all travelling together and until the last of us arrives we will all keep travelling. So let's sing!

Click HERE to listen to this beautiful chanting.

The Om Namah Shivaya mantra or chant consists of six syllables - om, na, mah, shi, vaa, ya. When chanted properly, each syllable activates certain energy centers within our bodies as we meditate.

Listen and close your eyes. Spend a few precious moments with your SELF.

Namaste ~ Leslie
Happy New Year!

Brown paper packages tied up with string....

2011-12-17T13:05:00.001-06:00

Oh come on sing along with me!!!

My Favorite Things

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

Music link

Namaste ~LeslieMichele

PS Claire, thank you for singing along, I know you did!

For The Birds

2011-12-12T12:18:00.000-06:00

For the birds to build their nests!!

This is the latest addition to my newly opened Etsy Shop, Before The End Of The Day. I love these! Hang them a tree or on your balcony. The bright colors will attract the wild birds. They can easily tug a tiny scrap of yarn to take away and build their nests with. Watch for the beautiful pieces of color around your yard in the new nests they build.

Each one is filled with an array of colors

from all of my crochet projects!!

I would love to be a baby bird surrounded by little bursts of color!

I Suggest You Start Barking

2011-12-12T00:20:00.001-06:00

Todd, we are just here to pay the mortgage.

You are in charge of everything else.

Merry Christmas Todd

Little Li'i, Sweet Boy

Hank, newest member of the pack

Hank's favorite place

Todd, really?

Seriously, we need to talk