My roses will be a lovely addition to tonight's "A Rose, Instead" self care class for the Art Therapy group in Delaware. We'll be using Zoom to meet again this week. They are such a delightful, appreciative group. I'm looking forward to our session!

,My teddy bear in his new brighter, lighter more visible outfit so he can be more easily seen from his second story window! 

There is a global movement to go on a bear hunt and our community is participating!  We are putting bears, sloths, bunnies and big fish - any think that will delight children going on walks with their families - in our windows. 

We're Going on a Bear Hunt is a 1989 children's picture book written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. It encourages children to look for bears in their neighborhoods. Families through out neighborhoods are joining in the fun by placing their special stuffed animals in windows to watch for the children as they go by. 

Our local NextDoor has been very enthusiast about putting stuffed animals in windows and taking walks to see the friendly faces. You might want to consider having neighbors join in your community!

Spent some time last week making masks for health care workers, friends and family. My Olivia the pig fabric panels from a friend were the perfect size, and the pattern I used had pockets to insert the filters. The masks are washable and I sent extra filters. The day I finished them and put them in the mail, I read 50,000 masks had been sent to local  hospitals! Think I'll let the professional take it from here, but  it was gratifying doing my  small part! Hope they'll bring safety and smiles! 

St. Patrick wasn't Irish, he wore blue, not green and there were no snakes.
​But there were vampires and leprechauns and witches. Oh my!

In celebration of St. Patrick's Day, I'm using my alphabet prompts to learn more about all things Irish. I'm only doing one or two topics per letter, even though I can think of many more for some.. Even so, be warned. This will be a long post. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Let's start with something light and fun! Ha!

A is for Abhartach, the Irish Vampire. 
Even though Dracula, the character created by Bram Stoker, is most often associated with Transylvania, in reality he may have been based on an Irish king, Abhartach. He was said to be a dwarf and considered to be evil and feared by all who knew him.
He was a very jealous man and was suspicious of his wife, convinced that she was having an affair. While spying on her from a high castle window, he fell to his death. The entire kingdom was relieved.. They buried him upright, apparently the correct burial position for royalty, and enjoyed a peaceful night's sleep. One. Just one.
Because the next day, he rose from the dead, and demanded that all of his subjects slit their wrists and drain their blood into bowls. Well, you can imagine they were upset, so they traveled to the next village seeking help from another king, Cathan, who came, killed him and buried him once more. 
You guessed it. Up he came, ready for yet another snack.
This continued until Cathan decided to seek help from a saint who explained there was no way to kill someone who was already dead!
His suggestion was to bury him upside down, cover him with thorns and ash branches, and top it off with a huge boulder. As far as we know it worked, and peace returned to the kingdom. He served as inspiration for Stoker's Dracula, and all lived happily ever after!

A banshee is a terrifying, wispy, floating specter with a piercing scream who warns of a coming death in the family. First reports were in Ireland in the 8th century. This alarming figure, usually female, varies in age from a young maiden to an old woman. Some families were reported to have their very own banshee, possibly having been a family member who had passed. They were known for their  keening,  mournful singing and wailing, as they lamented the death of loved ones. 

,​King Lir, Bobd Derg, was left with four motherless children, one daughter and three sons, when his wife Aoibh, the queen, unexpectedly passed away. The king decided to marry Aoife, his wife's sister,

One of my recommendations in the Take the Rose Instead Course - Guaranteed Weight Loss, one beautiful choice at a time, is counting first! instead of drinking one glass of water at a time, count first by filling a pitcher. It is much easier to keep track of how much more you need daily if you can see it.

Mycala knows I love flavored waters! This is one of my birthday presents - a Fruit Infusion Pitcher. It came with a book called Cool Waters which contains "50 refreshing, healthy, homemade thirst quenchers". Everything they recommend is natural and healthy with no sweeteners or processed products in any of the recipes. I can hardly wait to create some recipes with fresh herbs!

The session on water is below, first with the rationale and followed with the action step.

Thank you Mycala! Tomorrow - Strawberry Apple Ginger!

When the body sends a signal that we are thirsty, nothing satisfies like pure clean water!  70 % of our bodies are made of water and replenishing has numerous benefits. Unfortunately, we often wait too long before we hydrate. One study states that if you wait until you are thirsty, you are already becoming dehydrated. 

If you need to be reminded, or would like additional incentive to drink regularly throughout out the day, consider these reasons to drink water. 

• Water flushes impurities out of our systems.
• It helps us maintain a neutral Ph 7, strengthening our immune system.
• It contributes to weight loss by suppressing the appetite. Drink a glass of water 30 minutes before you eat. You'll be amazed how much it fills you up and you'll eat less.
• One of the leading causes of headaches is becoming dehydrated. The glass of water may be as, or even more, beneficial than the pain reliever you are taking to relieve your headache. Next time, take a glass of water first, wait 15 minutes and see if you still need the pill.
• It keeps cells plumb and moisturized, giving a more youthful look.You’ll be less likely to get dry skin, psoriasis, eczema, and even wrinkles.
• Drinking enough water increases your metabolic rate.
• Water has the ability to dilute cancer causing agents and has been credited with reducing bladder and colon cancer.
• I drink a glass of water as soon as I get that “I’m hungry” feeling. Stopping for water fills my stomach and allows me to assess if I really need food, or if there is something else going on. I am committed to drinking water daily but my biggest challenge is that I lose count! So I have a simple solution.
  

Find a beautiful pitcher - something that will make you smile every time you open the refrigerator door. You’ll need a container that can hold eight glasses of water. Fill it with water in the morning, cover, and as the day progresses, you will have a visual indicator of how much more you should be drinking. 

• Simple and effective. I rarely had enough water when I poured one glass at a time! This way I can easily see how much more there is to drink and pace myself.
• You may chose earthen ware pottery, cut glass crystal, a funky modern blown glass - chose a container that delights you as you reach for it. 
• Then use your imagination to make your water even more enticing. Sliced cucumbers and mint, or lemon slices and borage flowers will take it to another level! 

​Being Alive is an Art!  
Barbara Krauss
The Centre for Experiential Living

How delightful to see my starfish story featured in Barbara Kraus's Monday Morsel's this morning!​

Searching for Stars
by Mikell Worley
​
Once upon a time, two experienced treasure hunters gathered their flashlights and headed out into the night to search for crabs on the beach. Instead, they found seven star fish! And so began my Search for the Stars!
You can find stars any time! They are everywhere! Those of us living in the U. S. find them on our beloved Stars and Stripes, and they can be found on flags representing companies, organizations, states and countries around the world!
There are stars throughout museums, and antique stores, in traditional and modern quilt patterns, and mosaics and paintings. You'll find them in tiles on the floor, restaurant walls and the hardware store! The star fruit at the market is obvious, but don't miss the star hidden in the apple if you cut it from side to side instead of through the core! 
Nature is abundant with stars right here on earth! The delicate blue flowers on the herb borage are edible and make a beautiful garnish on a fruit salad or in ice cubes with your favorite summer beverage.
You'll find stars on the shells of turtles, the leaves of the sweet gum tree, on seashells and squash blossoms!
There are the 'stars' that entertain us! There are sports stars, stars of the silver screen, you'll find stars on Broadway, at concerts. There are local unsung heroes, working to make your community and our world a better place to live! They are stars!
And we certainly can't forget the sun! It is the ultimate star, giving life and energy to all of us! Our very existence depends on this miraculous golden orb! 
Searching for stars is wonderful in and of itself, but there is an added bonus! Stars are for making wishes. Use your imagination and makes wishes on every star you see, and then prepare to make all of your wishes come true!
And the most beautiful stars of all?
The stars in the eyes of those you love!
May you have an abundance of stars and may your every wish come true!
Mikell, pronounced Michael, is a coach, writer and an artist, and most of all, a treasure hunter! Her mission is to help others see the beauty, romance and treasures with in, and around them, that are often dismissed or completely overlooked. As a Certified ARTbundanceTM Coach she approaches her clients with compassion, creativity and a gentle, inventive approach. Mikell specialize in working with women (teens through adults) on issues such as self-esteem and self-worth, personality assessment, transforming unexpected life challenges, and beautiful, affirming weight loss.. Visit http://www.mikellshiddentreasures.com to explore your Hidden Treasures!

Love my dress form from Victorian Trading Company! It's been on my wish list for quite some time, and after my recent training in Delaware on self care for caregivers of children with disabilities, I decided to listen to my own advice and treat myself! I set a personal goal, achieved it, and placed  the order! 

The basis of the self care course is my  "A Rose, Instead" six week course. I encourage participants to choose something they love as a symbol to make healthy choices. Roses are my choice!

Years ago I went into the grocery store and picked up a dozen gorgeous roses. As I walked through the store, there were a number of items that enticed me, but I knew they weren't good for me. Avoiding the three 'white powders' (sugar, salt and flour), can be challenging, but the roses made it easier to walk away. I've been bringing home roses, along with fresh fruits and vegetable, instead of empty calories, ever since. 

Like  the roses, my dress form will encourage me to make healthy choices. I'll also be more creative and save money!  My Mother taught me haute couture tailoring and I'm looking forward to revisiting those techniques! I've already cut and fit a custom made unbleached muslin pattern as the basis for creating my garments. 

Do you have symbolic items that remind you to be kinder to yourself? How do you reward yourself for achieving goals? If we combine reminders that we deserve to make healthy choices, along with rewards for achieving goals, we are more likely to give ourselves the care we deserve!

Dragonflies were a recurring theme at last night's training session and
​reminded me of this post from last May.

Vinnie and John came through with the stones and tiles so I'm working on some dragonflies that friends requested. The dragonfly's colors become more intense as it ages, and it can change directions with a moment's notice. I can relate - can you? 

Words are so powerful.
Last night I found this note from one of my participants. It warmed my heart and reminded of how fortunate we are to be able to lift up ourselves, and each other, using 26 little marks!

As I consider the power of words, I'm reminded of one of my favorite insights on resources - a quote taken from an advertisement  to promote local libraries.  

​Roger von Oech, author of A Kick in the Seat of the Pants and A Whack on the Side of the Head, shared his perspective from an advertisement for a library

“At your local library they have these arranged in ways that can make you cry, giggle, love, hate, wonder, ponder, and understand.

It’s astonishing to see what these twenty-six little marks can do. In Shakespeare’s hands they becameHamlet. Mark Twain wound them into Huckleberry Finn. James Joyce twisted them into Ulysses. Gibbon pounded them into The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. John Milton shaped them into Paradise Lost.”

What can you do with these 26 letters to honor yourself? I challenge you to arrange them in a way that will inspire and delight!! Make a gratitude list, write a thank you note to yourself, capture your treasured memories in a journal, write a poem or a song! Be kind with your self talk! Use affirmations. 

If we use our words to inspire and nurture ourselves in the same way we use them to honor others, our entire perspective about who we are and what we can accomplish will change. We will step into a whole new world of miraculous possibilities!
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