Go Ahead…Get Your Own Garden Started…

I have not enjoyed a salad as much as I did last night, ever!! Why, you ask? Fresh spinach leaves from my garden is the answer! Now, when you buy spinach in the grocery store, the leaves are dark green, tough and kind of thick. Well, the gorgeous green leaves I picked were light and fluffy, with nothing tough about them, and the taste was unbelievable! I wish everyone had access to a garden for their veggies, I know it would get my clients to eat more vegetables on a daily basis. No pesticides, and for several months, it gets us outside for some vitamin D and exercise as we plan, plant, care for and harvest these beauties for ourselves and our families and friends.

This is the first year I’m really delving into a full vegetable garden. I began with a small herb garden last year, and a few eggplant and broccoli plants that my chickens ate. This year, I have really expanded my efforts in the realm of the green thumb, and I think it seems to be pretty green! Spinach, kale, a few kinds of beans, squash, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, eggplant, beets, radishes, brussel sprouts, tomatoes, cucumbers, swiss chard, lettuce, oh my!! I also have the added benefit of time…I am an early riser, which is a perfect time to get out there, and being self-employed I am able to work my schedule a bit to fit my needs in this department…plus a husband who supports what I do and when I do it. Though, where there is a will there is a way…anyone can plant a few cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce plants in order to indulge in yummy, crisp salads throughout the summer months..go ahead, give it a whirl!! You’ll be hooked once you taste the difference, and feel the difference with healthier eating.

Are you ready to B. Well?

Toad-ally Eliminating the Weeds…

As I work daily to overhaul the earth where my gardens are going, and those small ones I began last year are expanding, there is so much connection between what I am doing with my hands in the dirt and what I have done over the last ten years in my life. Ten years ago in February, I left my now ex-husband, and the divorce was finalized (by a judge named Romeo) in August. The changes, choices, challenges and blessings since I made that life changing decision have been most amazing!
I began to take notice of how my environment and those in it affected my attitude, my actions and my happiness…and then I started changing how I reacted to those same things. I weeded out the toxic people, those who only brought negative energy, stress and selfishness with them. People can be like some herbs, invasive, and they need to be contained or weeded out. I did not want negative anything in my life, not that I can completely avoid all possible negativity, but the way I deal with it makes a world of difference! I refuse to let these things get me riled up; in one ear, out the other, on with planting my positivity. I recently explained this process I went through to my best friend, and new husband (of not quite one month) that this was a process that took my time, effort, energy and aggravation, but has allowed my to become peaceful, calm and joyful. It is like my own brand of lavender, chamomile and spearmint relaxing me and pepping me up on a daily basis.
I have wanted to begin a garden for many years. I started small last year with a simple herb garden, and this year I have expanded to more gardens, more herbs, veggies and flowers. I have a lovely Faerie Garden, and the beginnings of a water garden contained within the rock wall my hubby and I began last week. Now, since last season I have made an enormous jump from a small herb garden to all I have going on this year, but I can handle it. I am in a place of truly being happy in all parts of my life. There are still dreams and goals I have not finished or even started yet, but I have great intent, I manifest daily, I do not do anything I don’t love to do, and the closest people in my life are the ones that I can count on and simply enjoy.
My weeds are under control…and I think I have a new friend, a cute toad visited my water garden (that does not have any plants yet), so hopefully he will be back as it grows!

★Blessings on this ever so beautiful day♥

New Beginnings!

It is 18 days to Ostara, more commonly known as the Spring Equinox, or even more so…the first day of Spring!!! The bulbs are creeping up through the soil, tiny buds are emerging on shrubs and tree branches…close your eyes, and just imagine all the green that is in store for us…mmmmmmm…

Now, even though I absolutely love a massive snow storm, shoveling and all, I am so looking forward to this Spring. A time of new beginnings, fertility and abundance! My impending nuptials may be adding to the excitement, but I can certainly overlook the disappointment of the snow storms this year in order to see the hares running around, my herbs blooming, veggies growing and warmth in the air! I have so many plans for the turn of the seasons!

Forget the silliness of new year’s resolutions, and resolve to make your dreams and desires a reality. Manifestation is not just for the ‘enlightened’, but for us all. Take a few minutes each morning or evening before bed and manifest. Sit quietly, close your eyes, breathe deeply and picture in your mind’s eye the very results of your desires come to fruition. Picture the gorgeous garden you would love to create; the beautiful relationship you want in your whether it is with someone already present, or someone new; the job of your dreams; the numbers increasing in your checking account; the completion of a project; anything. Anything is truly possible if you work to believe in it!

Prepare. Prepare to make the new beginning of this new season one of love, peace and joy in your life. Remember, you can only make things happen in your own life, and by doing so, others may see that they can do the same in their own. If you want to help someone, do so by setting a positive example. When you are happy, people want to know how and why in order to become happy themselves. When they ask, tell them…if they don’t ask, don’t worry, they are watching and learning.

Have a joyful day!

★♥Blessings,

Christina

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Is it really almost December?!

Unbelievable! That is how I feel. To think December is upon us, and 2012 is just around the corner…many years ago, I can remember commenting on how quickly the previous year had passed me by, and an older woman told me, “Just wait, as you get older, each year goes even quicker!”. Well, she was certainly correct. We ramble along in with our daily lives, and then < poof > the month has passed! I, and I know I am probably the only one I know here in Connecticut, am hoping for a very merry & WHITE Christmas! Yes, we had a lot of snow in those few snow storms last year, and yes, I probably shoveled more snow than anyone most of us know (truly), but I loved it!!!!

Most of the people I know and encounter have grown up in New England, so you know what, get over it! Listening to the whining about the cold and snow, one would think we used to be tropical, and suddenly Mother Nature cursed us with snow! We actually used to get much more snow when I was younger, and the past bunch of years (not including last winter) we did not get very much at all. If you live in New England, learn to properly, and most inportantly, confidently drive in the snow. Get awesome snow tires for your car, drive slowly, and for those of you in 4-wheel drive SUV’s and trucks, remember that it is 4-wheel drive and NOT 4-wheel stop…you should not be speeding past everyone else in the cars on the road! Ok, that is my CT people have forgotten how to drive and whine way too much on a daily basis about the weather (which is fairly normal for New England) rant

I look at this time of year as a time to think more about other people as we make and find cool individual gifts for those we love. Time to get the wood stove (or fireplace) into gear, to cozy up to the warmth with our loves, both human and feline/canine. Time to make hearty soups, drink lots of hot tea, bundle up in comfy sweaters, and watch the flakes fall through the window! As with any other time of the year, it is more worthwhile to look at the things we enjoy of the season instead of complaining for three months! We are happier when we are positive, and those around us are happier with that positive influence. A negative attitude is just as contagious; so do not be the one to spread the darkness, enjoy and keep others in the light with you!

There is so much to be grateful in all of our lives, as I hope many of you thought about over Thanks-giving…enjoy yourself, and enjoy the beauty of everything around you!!

Blessings~

Christina

Thanksgiving…or Gimme, gimmee!

The holiday season is upon us, and we begin next week with Thanksgiving, or even more commonly, Turkey Day!!! I think it is important that we all take the time, now, to appreciate what we do have in our lives…the people, the feelings, the things, no matter how big or small, and especially this lovely earth under our socks and non-open toe shoes!
To often are we too be heard complaining about what we do not have, and that is simply useless. Be thankful for what we do have, send positive thoughts to our goals and things we would like to enhance our lives, and make it happen. No, it is not an overnight occurrence, but it is mighty gratifying when it does happen! Over the past ten years I have truly become a glass half full girl! No, I do not necessarily have a lot, possession-wise, although I am not really a gadget-need everything under the sun girl. My savings account certainly isn’t busting at it’s seams…but I realize that I do have a lot. I actually have a job that I love…I took the risks, hope, dream, and manifest daily, and still struggle to grow, but i LOVE it! I have a lot of family to love, and receive love from, I have a loving partner that can drive me insane (as men do) just as well as he can give the most amazing hugs, I have friends I can count on, animals who love me like crazy, and I have so much to give in return! That is what I am thankful for, well, that and the fact that I realize it all.
Many of us do not realize all the good around us, and drudge on day after day muttering and moaning about the missing ‘items’ in life. CUT IT OUT. That is all I have to say.
Enjoy your turkey!!!

Be Aware of Yourself!

“Please be responsible for the energy you bring into this room.”

This quote from an unknown author is no joke! I am planning on designing a plaque to go over the door to my waiting room, first project when I return from vacation! I believe that many individuals do not realize the extent of the affect their moods, facial expressions and actions can bring to a place/situation/person. Imagine you are getting ready to go to an appointment, and you are a bit nervous, not quite sure what to wear and what to bring. Your anxiety is growing as you get into your car and begin to drive, as you pull into the parking space you wonder if you should go in or call and cancel for some reason…you feel a stomach ache coming on. You finally drag yourself into the building and up the stairs (because it is much healthier than taking the lazy elevator), a trickle of sweat goes down your back as you turn the doorknob to the office. You open the door and the most miserable person you have ever seen is sitting behind the desk…”What are you here for…”, she barks out…

Now, look at the situation this way ➝ same scenario, BUT, as you open the door and poke your head inside a warm, sincere smile confronts you along with a confident figure extending their hand to you in welcome, “Good morning, it is so nice to meet you!”. Now, which person inside the door would you like to meet? Can you think of a time when you were either of those people  inside  the door? Whether you are at work, going to an appointment, the grocery store, the mall, a restaurant, or even in your own home…be conscious of your presentation. When we are smiling, positive little forces moving through our day, we have a more successful and joyful day, as long as bringing good vibes to other people’s days.

I have been told that there is good energy when people walk into the door at my office, and that truly makes me happy. They feel this before they have even met or seen me, and that had been my goal. When I got the space, the first thing I did was to paint every room, hallway and even the bathroom! I rearranged the furniture and added a few pieces. Gone was the institutional dirty white walls, with the old building smell. I burn a little sage whenever I get in to cleanse the space of negativity, spritz a bit of lavender, and I even send Reiki along before I even arrive! I have taken my responsibility of the energy in my business space very seriously, and the success of it has been gratifying. Of course, I am not in my office all day long every day, so there are other times which I need to check my energy…

I have been on a journey for the past nine or ten years…this journey has been to keep negativity out of my life. I have come to the point where it is very hard to rumple my feathers, and that is because there really are not many things in life that is worth the rumpling, and then all of the ironing afterwards ( I do hate to iron)! If something happens that I can do something about to make the situation better, I work on it. If there is nothing that I can do, then I do not allow myself to worry about it. What is the point if there is nothing I can do about it? I figure that if I concentrate on all the things I want and hope for in my life, putting negative factors by the wayside, I will enjoy the time, the people, the animals, and the places all that much more! Keeping stress and anxiety low keeps me healthier, as my heart will be happier. Avoiding depression keeps me active and able to enjoy each day to the fullest.

Our attitude, our actions, our feelings, can all be influenced and controlled by ourselves and our goals for a peaceful life. There will always be ups and downs and surprises (both good and bad), but how we decide to react makes all the difference. Think on your life and how you go along your daily activities. Are there ways that you could be more positive, ways to put more smiles on your face, and the faces around you? It takes being conscious of your presence, and intentionally reacting without anger or negativity. Turn negatives into positives…there is always a way. This is not an overnight fix…it is a way of life that one needs to choose, and then work towards. I absolutely believe it is worth it…that I am worth it!

Blessed be★

P.S. There is a full moon at 2:57 Saturday afternoon!!