Tag: Photography

June moments

Can you believe today is the last day of June and the half-year is gone by?

Being at home has proportioned me with tiny pleasures that before were reserved only for the weekends.

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ENJOYING – I’m spending lots of time in my backyard. I enjoy looking at the flowers and the insects that visit them, like butterflies and dragonflies. Lots of birds visiting my yard as well. We have a birdbath and I love watching them playing in the water.

 

 

CREATING – My creativity is low right now, I’m not sure what is going on, but I don’t have any enthusiasm to be in my art room. I managed to make a notebook and few art cards this month.

 

BAKING – I’m testing new recipes for both baking and cooking. Up to know they have been a success, like this apple cake.

 

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READING – I’m reading a lot, all kinds of books. The library in my city has a great collection of books: old and new. I like to read 2 books at the same time, one fiction and another one non-fiction or poetry.

 

 

FOCUSING – On tiny things. Observing details that generally we are too busy to see and be grateful that I have the opportunity to be a witness of the magical nature around me.

 

 

Wishing you a lovely July!

“Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” Buddha

 

 

My journaling practice

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Hello,

I’ve been away from this space for several months because of health issues. I’m back now, I miss this space where I can share my thoughts with you. I’m still recovering, so I’m planning to post once a week and I wish my posts can inspire you. My posts will be about my journaling practice, art journal, books I’m reading, my garden…, beautiful things around me.

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Why do I journal?

I’ve been journaling, almost every day, since 2013. Generally, I write 2 to 3 pages in the morning before starting the daily chores. I need to lay down my thoughts on the pages of my notebook to understand my feelings, to answer questions that are floating in my mind and to discern between what is really important to me and the other stuff that I must let go.

I didn’t start to journal without any guidance, I read lots of books about journaling and writing until I settle down with my journaling style.  Here, here and here are three books that I keep on my desk as a reference and inspiration for my journaling.

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My Journaling style

It isn’t easy to transform our thoughts into written words, at least for me. I need silence and a pleasant environment, so I go down to my studio taking with me a cup of tea.  I light one or two candles and I warm my wrists with essential oil.  I take few deep breaths and I’m ready to open my notebook and decorate the pages. I use lots of washi tape and clips from magazines.

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As inspiration, I use Oracle/Tarot cards or poems/quotes, generally from Rumi and Hafiz or any book I’ve close by.

I believe that our minds keep secret messages from us and writing is a way to discover these messages. I’m always surprised with the messages that come up while I’m writing.

Hope you enjoyed to know a little bit of my journaling practice.

Elizabeth

winsome fruit

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We love pomegranate in my home, we all like to eat it, but hubby is the only one that likes to open this winsome fruit and remove the edible seeds.

The season of pomegranate here in my city lasts from November to January, during this period we eat one or two per evening.

The legend says that in each fruit there is one seed that came directly from heaven, and it’s good luck to the person that eats it. Others say that it was pomegranate, not apple, that Eve offered to Adam.

There are many stories about this fruit, but what I know for sure is that it is delicious and healthy, each seed is loaded with antioxidants and vitamins.

 

Nurturing Thursday # 13

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“Nourishing yourself in a way that helps you blossom in the direction

you want to go is attainable, and you are worth the effort. “

Deborah Day

It’s cold around here, I’m glad I don’t have to go to work this week. This means I can be cozy indoors without the hush to go out early morning.

Few things I’m doing to nourish myself this week:

  • Sleeping and sleeping
  • Lots of art journal pages
  • Eating warm and health food
  • Going out in the afternoon to take photos, it’s cold but it’s pretty out there
  • Knitting a scarf for myself
  • Reading and writing
  • Drinking lots of tea
  • Watching movies with hubby and kids in the evenings

And you? how are you nourishing yourself this week?

Happy New Year!

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Nurturing Thursday # 12

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“Stop focusing on how stressed you are,

and remember how blessed you are. ”

Unknown

This week could have been a crazy one. Too many things to do, here are few of them:

  • gifts wrapping
  • two potluck lunches (this means, hours cooking)
  • doctor appointment for one of the kids
  • hairdressing appointment for me
  • Pick up packages at the post office

I was getting stressed before the week started, how could I have time to do everything that needs to be done and still be a full day in the office?

Monday morning I made a list of all the chores for this week. At the end of the list, I wrote:

” You control your rhythm, nothing can steal your inner peace without your permission.”

I’m taking easy, step by step,  and more than 1/2 of the list is already checked. The best thing to do, when the stress starts to take over, is to slow down and do something unrelated to the stressed situation. This week I’m having lots of ‘me time’: journaling, reading, watching the snow or simply stopping and admiring the lights around me.  Everything is ok!

Happy Solstice to you!

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