Salvation Army Christmas Moments

There's one thing I have to do every Christmas; volunteer for the SALVATION ARMY. Whether it's wrapping presents for children, preparing meals, or ringing the bells for the red kettle I so much enjoy being part of a the SALVATION ARMY. Every Christmas season I'm touched by people's stories about how the SALVATION ARMY helped them in their time of need. 

Last week when I got on the city bus the woman driver asked me where I needed to go. I replied the "SALVATION ARMY." I was her only passenger and for several minutes she spoke of  a difficult time her mother, sister, and she experienced while living in Dallas. It was the SALVATION ARMY that provided her family with comforts. She was delighted that she was dropping me off at the SALVATION ARMY building and mentioned that she always donates money to the SALVATION ARMY because of how kind they were to her many years ago.

The following day was one of the coldest days of the year. I volunteered to be a bell ringer that evening outside a  local supermarket. Every few minutes a person or people would appear and place money in the kettle. Where did they come from? The parking lot was empty.  Christmas miracles aren't uncommon and that evening felt as if it was touched by the angeles.

Merry Christmas! December 25, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Swedish Bakery Moments in Sweden

The Swedes are quite the bakers. Their pastries aren't overloaded with sugar. A visit to Sweden must include an early morning indulgence of a pastry and cup of coffee, preferably a cappucino. While recently spending time in Malmo in southern Sweden I made a visit to a neighborhood bakery called Gateau and had an extraordinary kanelbullar (cinnamon roll) with a delightful cup of cappucino. My visit to Gateau Bakery was one of the best bakery moments of my entire life. Sitting in a cozy bakery near the sea and having my very first authentic kanelbullar (cinnamon roll) and sampling other pastries that were displayed on the counter for sampling by the kind staff which was a sweet moment indeed.

                                               Famous Kanelbullar; Swedish Cinnamon Rolls

   

In life it's wonderful to be left with moments of pleasant experiences we've had. As I sit in my tiny studio apartment during the darkest days of the year I'm reflecting on that early warm November day in Malmo, Sweden at the bakery. I'm inspired now to make a homemade bash of Swedish cardamon/cinnamon rolls and warm the hearts of the people I'll bring these pastries to this month.

Stress B Gone

I think life has been stressful for people even 1,000 years but in today's modern age almost everyone seems to be multi tasking and in a hurry to get to somewhere.  These are stressful times we're in and that's why I feel that people should take moments away from their responsibilites and just "let go" and do something rewarding for themselves like watching a pleasant movie or taking a walk through a lovely park.

I had a friend who once said to me "You know,  you really don't like responsibilities, don't get me wrong you're a responsbile person but you like to shy away from responsibilities." Well...
maybe there was a time in my life when I shyed away from responsibilities but there's a time for everything and now my time has arrived for being loaded with responsibilities and stress!

Stress will often be in our lives in one form or another, the stress of a job, health issues, family problems, financial challenges....the list goes on. For those times in life when life isn't so overloaded with stress and deadlines, rejoice because it's your time to enjoy those sweet moments of calmness and happiness. I've learned never to judge because a person can have everything running smoothly in their life and then suddenly everything falls apart. I've seen this happen to quite a few people, myself included. So....embrace those beautiful stress free moments in life, they're a gift.

Stress Be Gone; here are some ways to de-stress;

use some stress be gone oil or lotion
get a theraputic massage
go on a walk
read a good book
watch an uplifting movie
enjoy a comedy play
take a yoga class
go on a day trip
take a vacation

Dog Moments

DOGS are a Treasure!

I love dogs, always have. Yesterday I got a visit from a friends dog named Joe. Oh, how much fun I had with that adorable dog. When my friend pulled into the parking lot and Joe got out of the car I yelled out his name "JOE" and within seconds he ran up the stairs and into my arms.

I gave him food and water and he was very thankful. I'm thankful for dogs like Joe who bring sunshine into the lives of people. That unconditional love and devotion from a dog is why they're often called "Man's Best Friend."

If you need to brighten your day just meet up with a dog and have sweet dog moments! The world really is a more beautiful place because of DOGS!

                                               My dear friend, JOE

Just One Carefree Summer Day!

Did you ever have a best summer of your life that you never forgot or a summer where you just felt absolutely carefree? Today is the last day of August and I feel as if summer has just swept itself from under my feet. All throughout the cold winter I dreamed of a magical place like the Swiss Alps to spend my summer but that was just a dream that didn't come true. This summer was filled with lots of anxiety and responsibility everyday except yesterday when I was given one carefree summer day.

Imagine a day that feels like the pages of a fairytale? The universe provided that one special day for me yesterday and for that I feel truly blessed.

Enjoy the remaining days of your summer and may you have lots of sweet carefree days!

Just One Carefree Summer Day

Just One Carefree Summer Day with my boyfriend came at last at the end of August with the rise of the sun over a freshwater Great Lake in Grand Haven. A morning swim in pure water and a walk on the sugary sand beach before sitting on the beach chair with perfectly brewed cup of coffee in hand. Seagulls by my side and views of the sparkling lake, pier, and bright red lighthouse. A stroll down Washington Street for an indulgance of lavendar macaroons and handmade chocolate at Patricia's. Am I in France?

Holland's calling (in Michigan that is). My boyfriend and I take a short drive on highway 131 past blueberry farms before entering the gates of Nelis' Dutch Village, a fairytale setting of amusement rides, canals, Dutch folk dancing, farm animals, specialty shops, and much more. We feel Dutch all day and don't leave until the gates begin to close.

The day's not over yet. A few bites of Edam cheese as we drive to the city of Grand Rapids to have Indian food. We arrive, the owner shakes our hand and we sit down at a table. Unusual to have the whole restaurant to ouselves but today is my day of serendipity. We order our food and watch an Indian show while we wait. The food is prepared from scratch and brought to us 15 minutes later.Such delicious, flavorful, and spicey Indian dishes and the owner has become our new friend and gives us complimentary masala chai. He encourages us to visit India soon.

A late August day when summer is slowly coming to a close but my one carefree summer day has been blissful from dawn until dusk. It's a gift from the universe to have this one captivating carefree summer day filled with love, laughter, and a grand old time.

The Soap that Cured my Poison Ivy

Have you ever had poison ivy? If not consider yourself very blessed because posion ivy is a real nusanice. Being outdoors is the name of the game for me and I sometimes forget that "mother nature" is not always on my side. Such was the case early last week when an annoying itcy rash appeared on my leg and spread like fire. I was in agony, absolute agony. The swelling on the back of my right leg was so painful I could hardly bend or walk. I was cursed with poison ivy!

Remedies for healing poison ivy? I tried everything; apple cider vinegar, baking soda, bananna peels, calamine lotion, oatmeal, tricalm ointment, witch hazel....oh my gosh nothing helped cure the agony. I was ready to see a doctor until my thoughtfu boyfriend insisted that there wasa a cure for drying up the posion ivy rash. The miracle was a soap called FELS- NAPTHA. Just one application took the swelling away and itching away. Another application the following day practically cleared the posion ivy rash altogether. Unlike all the other products I used that were useless, FELS -NAPTHA only cost .97 cents at WALMART and it worked.

Purex FELS -NAPTHA has been around for over 100 years. No need to have uncomfortable poison ivy moments like I did but should you ever encounter irritating poison ivy don't delay, head to WALMART and get extraordianry FELS -NAPTHA made by Purex.

Thank you PUREX!

www.purex.com

Hammock Moments

Last year I got a hammock for my birthday but I didn't get to enjoy it very much. Today made up for those lost days on a hammock. I took a walk in the verdant woods and found the perfect place to hang my hammock near the lake and harmonize with nature. Now I'm hooked. I plan on having plenty of "hammock moments" in the upcoming days because hammocking really melts the stresses away and brings relaxation to the body and mind.

Who do we thank for hammocks?

Historically the credit points to the Mayan people of Central America. 

Cupcake Moments

Americans have a fascination with cupcakes. There are so many flavors of cupcakes to choose from and one can enjoy a cupcake in different sizes too. Cupcakes are glorious. They're fun to make and they make a wonderful gift. In fact yesterday I was gifted made from scratch cupcakes from my co-worker who happens to be an expert baker. She had promised to make some cupcakes for me for my birthday and I just couldn't decide what flavor to ask for. Finally we came up with the idea of a key lime cupcake batter with raspberry frosting. Oh my gosh....one bite of Angie's cupcake and I was in cupcake heaven.

Who invented the cupcake? Amelia Simmons shared the recipe in her 1796 cookbook "American Eatery." Cupcake Moments are some of the very best moments in life so have a cupcake or two.

Some flavor ideas:

Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes
Black Forest Cherry Cupcakes
Brownie Batter Cupcakes
Carmel Apple Cupcakes
Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes
Kahlua Cupcakes
Key Lime Cupcakes
Lemon Cupcakes
Peanut Butter & Jelly Cupcakes
S'More Cupcakes
Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes
Vanillla Cupcakes

Being Careful...Helps Decrease Accidents!

I've been kayaking for a long time, never fearing water until last week when my kayak tipped over. After a nice swim in Torch Lake I decided to rent a kayak. Rather than wear a lifejacket I opted for a floating device seat instead. The water was pretty calm, there were no boats around and I was enjoying my paddling until I tried adjusting my floating device seat and tipped over unexpectedly. I fell into the water and my sunglasees sunk. The kayak was filled with water and I held on tight to the floating device, kayak, and paddle as I swam towards a dock in the distance to safety.

Once I got to the dock it took 20 minutes to empty out the water from the kayak and get it to function again. The sun was getting brighter and I really needed my sunglasses but they were way at the bottom of the water. Nobody was around but I managed to get back on the kayak and paddle my way back to the shop where I had rented the kayak.

I had a minor cut on my leg and was a bit shaken up from the ordeal but what I learned from this experience is to be more cautious when on water. From now I'm on opting for a life jacket because no matter how experienced of a kayaker I might be, accidents do happen. I'm thankful that I got out of this situation alive and that I've had more moments to live life from this experience. 

It's so important to be careful because this helps decrease accidents!

Be Safe in All Tasks!

Caring Makes all the Difference!!!!!!

You never know what's going on in people's lives unless they specifically tell you. Such is the case of one of my co-workers. I'll refer to her by first initial which is K.  I assumed that all was well in K's life; she has a home, a husband, lovely children, she's confident, and full of creative ideas. However, recently I was stunned to hear that she's  facing health issues and financial challenges. She shared this with  somebody on our team and within minutes two employees took a money collection for her. The following day my close friend brought her an affordable housing application and explained to her how her family could be eligible for a good place to live at a low cost.

Today K was in such happy spirits. She shared with me that her doctor is really looking after her and making certain that she doesn't have to pay for any of her expensive medications or office visits. K was also touched by the outpour of caring co-workers that contributed money to help her during her finanicial difficulties. I could see in her eyes that she was enouraged and hopeful.Life isn't easy. At one point all of us have to face some sort of difficulty whether it be the death of a loved one, divorce, loss of job, health issues. the stress of being homeless or having to move again and again. I myself have had my share of difficult times but it was my faith in GOD and having a few kind loving friends that helped me endure. My heart goes out to K and all the people in this world who are faced with challenges. It's somehow easier to bear those challenges when you're surrounded by people who care and help. CARING MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE!

I shall always try to be mindful of other's needs and do my best to care and help whenever I can.The world is a better place when we care and help each other!

Valley of the Cows!

Everyone has a favorite animal. What's your favorite animal? For me it's a cow or better yet a herd of cows. I've spent a lot of time traveling alone and it was always a herd of cows that befriended me and put a smile on my face. Even now I feel a deep connection with COWS. They must know I'm fond of them because whenever I call out to them they appear without any fear.

A couple of weeks ago I made my birthday wish come true by spending a day in the countryside. The weather was glorious with sunny blue skies....the kind of weather that cows like to graze on grass. I came towards the fence calling out to them and within seconds a whole herd of them came right to the fence to greet me. It was the "Valley of the Cows." Such intelligent and friendly cows with big eyes. What a present to have them all within arms reach of me.

I'm very grateful for COWS!

Cows provide us with milk which means lots of dairy treats for non-vegans.
Cows are intelligent.
Cows are good looking creatures.
Cows brighten the landscape.
Cows make cute "MOO" sounds.
Cows are social animals, they naturally form large herds.
Cows do not bite grass, instead they curl their tongue around it.
Cows have an excellent sense of smell.
Cows have terrific memories.
Cows are sacred in India. There are strict rules to protect them from harm.

The Chocolatier in Greektown:Leonidas

Greektown, Toronto, Ontario Canada

On the 12th of June I was able to spend by birthday in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with my boyfriend. It was a special treat to break away from responsibilities and explore fascinating Toronto. In that short trip we were able to try Hungarian, Indian, Japanese,and Portuguese cuisine but my favorite moments were in Greektown on Danforth when we entered the Leonidas Chocolatier.My thoughtful boyfriend asked me to choose which chocolates I'd like for my birthday gift and the girl behind the counter placed them in a golden box with a ribbon. Ironically Leonidas was founded in 1913 by a Greek-American man named Leonidas Kestidies in Brussels, Belgium. Today Leonidas Chocolatier shoppes can be found in 50 countries including the one on Danforth Street in Toronto's Greektown.Some of the best moments in life are "eating chocolates, especially when they're LEONIDAS of Belgium. Have a chocolate and brighten your moments!

The White House on the Hill beckons to me.

Almost everyday I pass the white house on the hill. It's such a charming house and it would make a terrific bed and breakfast. I was always curious to know who lives in "the white house on the hill" and now I know; a Catholic priest lives in that house. He has that whole entire house to himself and he deserves it. He's so devoted to his church and the parishioners. The priest even has a walking trail that leads from the side of his house to the church because he's often needed at the church round the clock. What a blessed priest to live in such a glorious white house on the hill.

The White House on the Hill beckons to me:

The white house on the hill beckons to me
sitting by itself away from everything but a 
Catholic Church.

A priest lives there they say and how blessed
he is, for on a bright June day the birds sing their
joyful songs in the verdant shady trees.

The fragrant pink rose bushes fill the 
air with a lovely scent and the blue sky above the 
house brightens everything so very nice.

How I'd like to visit that white house on the hill
and sit on a porch with a cup of tea in hand. Oh 
how that white house on the hill beckons 
to me; for just a moment I wish it were mine.

Summer Stand Up Paddle Boarding Moments!

June 27, 5:40 pm
It's the beginning of summer which means warm weather and longer days for extra activities in the great outdoors. My favorite summer moments are when I'm SUP (stand up paddling). 

Paddle Boarding is a tremendous stress relief and an excellent physical work out. If you have access to a lake give paddle boarding a try. I'm fortunate to be living near one of the freshwater Great Lakes, free of sharks and a paddle boarders paradise. Make time for Paddle Boarding moments!




Benefits of Paddle Boarding:

1) improves balance
2) provides endurance
3) full body workout
4) low impact exercise
4) helps relieves stress
5) connects you with nature

Wisdom from a Spider (Charlotte's Web)

What a precious spider you are sweet Charlotte.......for you befriended a pig who didn't want to die and weaved such lovely words on your web to let that pig named Wilbur live.

Your short time on earth didn't stop you from being a true friend  and your example of selfless love towards another being has won the hearts of adults and children throughout the world.

Thank You Charlotte 

Mother Earth and Father Time (Lyrics from the animated film)

How very special are we

For just a moment to be

Part of life's eternal rhyme

How very special are we

To have on our family tree

Mother Earth and Father Time

After all, what's a life anyway? We're born, we live a little while, we die.

There's so much to learn in E.B. White's classic story "Charlotte's Web" about life and wisdom.

Let's appreciate those moments of life and do our best to make the world a better place.

Moments of "Charlottes Web"

"After all, what's a life anyway? We're born, we live a little while, we die." Charlotte (the spider)

"You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing." Charlotte (the spider)

Charlottes Web by E.B. White

Do you have a favorite film or story that touches your heart in a special way?
If so what is it? 

For me it's Charlotte's Web. I had seen the animated film with my mother when I was a young girl and loved it dearly. Life got busy and I forgot all about it until a few days ago when the words"Charlotte's Web" kept ringing in my ears. I think there was a message I needed to hear loud and clear and so I got onto my laptop and watched "Charlotte's Web" on You Tube. I was fascinated by the story and watched it several times in one sitting. There's so much wisdom in this story brilliantly written by the legendary E.B. White.

Charlotte's Web is a story about animals, friendship, and life. It takes place on a farm, in a barn full of talking animals. The main character a pig named Wilbur is born a runt. The farmer wants to kill the small pig but his daughter Fern begs her father to let the pig live. Fern promises to raise Wilbur. She gives him lots of attention and love and the adorable pig grows into a strong pig. Eventually Wilbur moves to Zuckerman's farm and that's when Wilbur meets the beautiful spider named Charlotte who devotes her life to saving Wilbur from being slaughtered by weaving encouraging words about Wilbur in her web.

I know now why the words "Charlotte's Web" rang in my ears. I needed to gain wisdom from this simple story that has so many life lessons. All life is important whether it's the life of an animal or a human being. Everyone needs a friend, everyone needs love, and the world is a much better place when we have true and genuine friends. Wilbur had a true friend in Charlotte and when she died he looked after her children and grandchildren. Wilbur never forget Charlotte because she was in a class of her own. She was kind and liked helping others.

And so Charlotte's Web has encouraged me to live moments of life being kind, being a friend, and serving others. After all what's life anyway? "we're born, we live a little, we die."

Hello June (Summer at Last)

JUNE has finally arrived which means summer is just around the corner. For those of you who dwell in a warm climate, the clear blue skies and sunny days are commonplace but for those that live way up north, half the year is filled with gray skies and cold weather. It's been only about twelve days since everything came into full bloom in northern Michigan.  Now the atmosphere is filled with verdant trees, fragrant lilacs, turquoise waters and baby ducks quacking. Oh, how wonderful it is.

Although the winter months bring a beauty of their own, there's something special about the month of June in North America when days become long and the sunny weather puts people in a happy spirit.It's half past seven in the evening and I'm about to get on my bicycle and ride along the sparkling shores of a fresh water lake. It's moments like this that are sheer bliss. JUNE is here and it's time to take moments to be a little carefree.

HAPPY JUNE.....have some strawberry shortcake!

Stranded without Boredom

Synchronicity seems to appear in my life over and over again. Yesterday after weathering a snow storm I had a long day at work and was anxious to get back home BUT I was stranded. A co-worker promised me a ride home if I didn't mind waiting for her while she was being fit for contact lenses at the optometrist. Thankful that she would give me a ride I waited patiently for her an entire hour only to have her tell me when she finished her appointment "Sorry, I can't give you a ride. I have a conflict." With no phone or wallet on hand I was appreciative that my co-worker at least let me use her phone so that I could call my boyfriend who was working 50 miles away to pick me up. He was suppose to work late and told me to hang tight because he would do his best to pick me up as soon as he could.

Frustrated with my co-worker I politely smiled and thanked her for letting me use her phone and dashed off as fast as I could out of the building I worked in. Where was I to go for one hour? I was stranded. The last place people want to be stranded at is the airport but that's exactly where I headed; to the airport. It was only a ten minute walk and unlike most airports the Traverse City Airport is small and cozy. As soon as I walked through the doors I saw a crackling fireplace and went to sit down next to it and de-stress.Above the fireplace was a plaque and in big letters was written:

BOREDOM IS A MATTER OF CHOICE NOT CIRCUMSTANCE

Boredom, no I wasn't going to be bored while I waited for my boyfriend. In that one hour I walked around the building, did squats, wrote poetry and daydreamed of a warm place to escape from the bitter cold of northwest Michigan. Before I knew it my boyfriend appeared and I was no longed stranded. Synchronicity was right in front of me as I glared into the fireplace. I had been stranded but without boredom.

Sometimes things happen. I did the best with the circumstance that arouse and found that even when you're stranded "BOREDOM IS A MATTER OF CHOICE NOT CIRCUMSTANCE"and one can be productive if they allow themselves to be.

Have you ever been stranded? This morning as I sip on some warm tea I look back at this experience and say "Wow it could have been a lot worse, being stranded at a friendly resort airport actually was kinda fun." 

Bermuda & Banana Bread Moments

A few days ago I was writing my travel blog and the post was about Bermuda; a British territory island with pink sandy beaches. Years back my sweet mother and I took a trip to Bermuda in March during the off season. We got a wonderful deal on our trip and the icing on the cake was that on the day of our departure from Bermuda the airplane was overbooked and because we gave up our seats my mother and I got to spend an entire extra day and night in Bermuda with all expenses paid by the airline. Moments like that are precious.

March is not the most pleasant month for weather in Bermuda. It's not swimming weather but you can still walk along the pink colored sandy beaches and breathe in the air of the Atlantic Ocean breezes. There are plenty of attractions to see and good food to eat too. My mother and I like keeping things simple so we stayed at a small bed and breakfast in a Bermudian local neighborhood and walked a lot or took the bus.

One afternoon while exploring the city of Hamilton we came across a quaint cafe run by a Bermudian woman. We ordered the famous Bermuda fish chowder and it came with a loaf of just baked banana bread. Although the Bermuda fish chowder warmed our chilly bodies the Bermuda banana bread warmed our hearts.

Looking back I'm glad we went to Bermuda off season. In the summer it would have been packed with tourists and the prices would have been out of sight so March really was a good month to be in Bermuda.Today in honor of it being the first day of March I'm thinking of Bermuda and eating homemade banana bread with a cup of heavenly cream tea. I might not be in Bermuda but I feel Bermuda in every bite of my banana bread. Now that's what I call "sweet moments."

BERMUDA BANANA BREAD

3 ripe bananas
2 large eggs
4 ounces of butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
2 cups unbleached all purpose flour

Mash the bananas and set aside. Beat butter, eggs, and sugar until fluffy. Add the mashed bananas and chopped walnuts, then slowly pour flour into the mixture with the cinnamon powder and baking powder.

Pour into a buttered loaf pan and bake for about one hour until the top of the loaf is browned. Place a toothpick in the batter to make certain it's completed baked. Let cool for about ten minutes.
Serve warm or room temperature.

BERMUDA AND BANANA BREAD MOMENTS!

Moments of Love (Valentine's Day)

MOMENTS OF LOVE:

On February 14th, you can celebrate "Moments of Love" with those you love most whether it be your romantic partner, parents, siblings, friends or mentors. To love somebody and be loved in return is a beautiful thing. It's nice to have people to share your life journey with.

I myself have had days of being completely alone and days of being surrounded by family and friends. Of all things on this earth the most heartwarming is to have "MOMENTS OF LOVE" because it feels good to care for others and to be cared for.

Be grateful for your "MOMENTS OF LOVE" not just on Valentine's Day but throughout the year.

💖💗💜💚💙💔

Moving Moments!

MOVING....it's something that a lot of people do, including me. Moving can be exciting and exhausting, adventurous and dull, expensive and stressful. Sooner or later most of us have to move to another place.

After years of wanderlust and moving from place to place I ended up in a small resort city on a lake that was suppose to only be a temporary place while I looked after my Mother who has Alzheimers. But those fews months turned into a year and another year......

Four years later, I'm still here because somehow I ended up living in the perfect cozy apartment close to the beach, close to the food market, close to the optometrist, close to the bicycle trail into town, close to my job, and close to my Mother. I got attached to my apartment and my comfortable life even though the wanderlust side of me was still questioning where to go next.  Argentina? Belgium? India? Madagascar? Switzerland? Vietnam? Turkey?

Today is February 1st, 2018 and it's the day I bid farewell to my apartment that I've been so attached to. This afternoon I walked down those all to familiar stairs for the very last time, closed the door behind me and said "Time to move on."

Regrets? not at all. A well traveled British man is renting me his furnished flat on the beach for three months only nine miles away from where I lived. I moved in today and have already accomplished more than I thought I could.  I started a new blog called Kitchen Talk, I'm almost finished with a screenplay, and a career change is now in order. I'm inspired to travel and work abroad, It's time to be adventurous again and get out of my comfort zone.

Yes..MOVING can be emotional and difficult but once the move is made, a new beginning evolves and things begin to fall into place. Eventually the fear of the unknown fizzles and you move on to another place and to a new beginning.

                    I've moved out of my beloved apartment today and into new beginnings!




February 1, 2018

Make a bad day into a good day!

If everyday ran smoothly we'd really be living a "fairytale life" because in reality even a prince or princess has a bad day. Yes, problems are a part of life and eventually every human being is faced with one of life's big stresses.

                                                      Let the simple things make you happy!

One big stress is having to move from your dwelling place no matter if it's a castle or a small studio apartment. In my case it's a small studio that I'm moving from but that small studio apartment has been my little sanctuary for the best four years. I've had all my essentials under one tiny roof; a fireplace to keep me warm on a cold winter's night, a modern kitchen to do all my baking and cooking, my very own bathroom, a corner space to sleep on a queen size bed with a ceiling fan, a small area to exercise, a storage unit, and access to a small backyard. Yes, I've really loved my cozy apartment in a quiet and safe neighborhood.

The emotional and physical stress of having to move has made me catch a cold and even though I wasn't feeling good today I had to go to work. My boyfriend was kind to take me to work and buy me a cup of lemon ginger tea but as soon as I arrived at work the cup of tea came crashing down from where I placed it and spilled all over the floor. Unfortunately there was no place I could go to get another tea. My ears and nose were numb and I had trouble breathing but I did my best to make it through the day. When I came back home I had a pile of things that needed to be done but my head was to foggy to think and I fell into a deep sleep and forgot all about my frustrations.

Sometimes life brings challenges. It's taken me weeks to find a new place to live and I've finally managed to find a temporary place to live for three months and through it all I've had "bad days" but no matter how bad the day may seem there's something good and beautiful in each day that we live whether it's hearing the birds sing, seeing a child smile, getting a call from a friend, finding the perfect parking spot or getting a complimentary cup of coffee at the local market

                                                                   Music  Heals!


In our moments of life they'll be bad days and good days, the most important thing is to be grateful for the good moments that life brings us from day to day.