Living from the Heart

Today was the first time we chose to have a turkey free Thanksgiving.  By this I mean that there was no turkey prepared, I've personally been turkey free for years.  It was also the first Thanksgiving without our extended family who we missed dearly. We made the decision to be in St. Croix for the holiday this year to accommodate our youngest son who unequivocally wanted to be home for Halloween and Christmas.  However, to his dismay he only fully realized once we arrived that he would be missing Thanksgiving football with his pal Avery, of which he habitually reminds us. We were invited to have dinner with our friends who primarily eat vegetarian.  As we corresponded about the plans for the meal she asked if I was planning on cooking a turkey to which, much to her relief I responded "No!"   After dinner, I asked my husband and boys, "What did you learn from having a turkey free Thanksgiving?" Here are their answers: 1.  WE SAVED A TURKEY...

There is a eclectic little book store here on St. Croix called The Love and Light Books & Inspirations.  I always make it a point to stop in when I am on the island.  The last time I visited I stocked up on reiki charged candles that besides smelling great hopefully help create a positive vibe.  I also got some oil and a book called The Great Pendulum by Petra Sonnenberg. The book teaches how to use pendulums, how to pick the right one for you, along with how to use it properly, and how to discern answers with a "individual code".  For example when it swings left to right it may represent NO to you or it may represent YES.   The book is full of a variety of circle pie charts that have preset questions and each section represents an answer, making it really easy and informative. Many of us don't experiment with pendulums maybe because somewhere our religious upbringing instituted an association with things we can't explain with witchcraft or evil, esp...

 Namaste! I had a bout of writers block but am feeling much better now.  It started out as wanting to just have more experiences to share then there was a moment over summer where I felt as though my life went through a lull and there wasn't a whole lot of interesting things happening.  Netflix may be partly to blame.  I actually researched it a little and found that I'm not the only one who has watched the entirety of an 8 year running show over a couple of months. A couple weeks after my marathon of Grey's Anatomy,  I decided that a trip to Yogaville might be the cure all.  I was in need of some spiritual atmosphere, nature, vegan food, and exercise.  So along with my husband,  my two youngest boys and the two dogs we agreed an adventure was in order.   We rented a quaint 700 sq. ft. cabin and ventured out towards the quiet, yogic community nessled along the James River in Buckingham County, Virginia. On our way! I visited Yogavil...

This is a continuation from the previous blog... After being redirected from our connecting flight in St. Thomas to San Juan, Kim and I decided we had politely been hoodwinked into giving up our seats. "It's because we booked on Expedia." Kim said earlier. I joked with her that it was that very comment that manifested the whole thing. She told me she thought it was because I asked for seats together and thus drawing unwanted attention. We laughed as we retold the story from our own vantage point. The flight went without incident for the most part. A young mother sat across from us with her three small boys. They cried quite a bit, ate snacks, drank Coke, then went spastic. We accurately predicted the latter after the food and beverage service.  They were cute even while driving their mom crazy (her own words). "I have three boys myself, I've been there."  I  reassured her.  We exchanged pleasantries and she told me my boys were all grown up. I'll...

Kim and I have a little inside joke about having adventures. She likes to have experiences she's never had before as do I so it's a great match for traveling. The two of us are both easy going for the most part but sometimes I may be slightly "too nice" as she likes to put it. Case in point, when the Charlotte flight attendant tells us to come with them because the plane has brake issues and she is going to redirect our flight plan through another island.  I just say, "Sure, ok."  Kim meanwhile is reading Heads and Beds, a Reckless Memior of Hotels, Hustles, and So Called Hospitality, she's certain the flight attendant is using "the language". The attendant tells us we have to move quickly for this to work so we jump up slightly bewildered and gather our bags. All attention is on us. She explains we are the only two aboard headed to St. Croix; we are the only two being escorted off, that's for sure, and its nerve-racking.  We follow her t...

Wasting Away Again... Waiting for it to warm up in Virginia is like waiting for the apocalypse.  It is 36 degrees in the middle of May, ridiculous.  I need some warm weather stat. Alas, the time has come and I am returning to my second home in beautiful St. Croix.  With this trip comes the blessing of some much needed 'girl time', family time, and husband time.  My friend Kim will return with me to the island and my mom will follow shortly.  We have lots of plans for beach time, yoga, and a trip to the Captain Morgan's Rum Factory.  I can't remember the last time it was just girls and I'm really excited about it! The following week Rob will bring the boys and we will enjoy a much needed refresher.  The boys were a little reluctant to return so soon, I think it's strange, I mean who wouldn't want to go to a beach where the weather and the water is warm? Right? Lastly, the boys will return to the states and Rob and I will have one week all alone,...

"Hello Starshine, the Earth Says 'Hello'!" I love that line from the remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, it has such a pleasant vibration to it and always makes me smile.  Smiling is something of great importance too, it's something I was having trouble doing over the last couple weeks.  Now that I've worked through the problem and found the solution I'd like to share it in case someone is feeling the same way. I've mentioned before how the transition back to Virginia from St. Croix took a little time and patience.  It was cold for the initial weeks that we've been home and Rob has been working hard and long hours with the upcoming mowing season at hand.  We went from being together all day everyday to spending a considerable amount of time apart.  His support with the boys day to day is certainly missed. Jack of All Trades  The next thing that I struggled with was the change of pace.  Boy things in the states move fast!  People a...

It is Cold! We arrived home about 3 weeks ago and I've pretty much been in hibernation mode.  Fortunately, the first few days back in Virginia the temperature was in the 60's.  I managed to get out and walk my newly adopted grand dog, open my windows to air out the house, and make the rounds to visit my family. Around the third or fourth day the weather took a turn and the temperature dropped into the 20's and 30's with light snow.  That's when things got tough; it's a difficult transition to go from 80's everyday, plenty of sunshine, and an open house with fresh air to cold, dry, wet, and stuffy.  It has taken me a couple weeks to regulate. Staying Well I needed to flow back into my old winter routines which proved a little difficult under the slight seasonal depression I felt coming on so quickly.  I immediately had a profound diet change; gone were the fresh fruits and veggies, the fresh fish, and the need for a cold beer!  I'm now eating sou...

Celebration time, c'mon! This week has many reasons to celebrate; on Monday my honey and I celebrated our 13 year marriage, and my baby boy turned double digits today, we are settled in our new home, we have planted good seeds,  safe travels, and countless blessings.   I can't believe the transformations we have been through in the last 10, I can't believe the transformations I've been through in the last 3 months! There were a lot of good times with cherished family and friends, new and old.  St. Croix is very hospitable, the people on island are all connected if only that we chose St. Croix.  When you find the select few that you can experience this island in all of it's forms, accept each other's uniqueness and individuality, and have a good time...that's when you know you've had a good time! Water The dry season is making it's mark, the roads are dusty, there is a haze in the air somedays, mosquito's are hungry, rain is cherished.  ...