It's pretty amazing to me, how somebody can find art in ways like Terry Border, how in his case he manages to tell "the secret life of everyday objects", gives them life in ways that we cannot imagine...
Here are some of his pieces (the captions on the pieces are by me, not by him!).
the Trojan Horse
mani pedi walking ready!
taking a dip into the color pool!
hot tea tub
Dragon
watch out for Zombies
don't be a jerk
the drama is mine!
Are those very unique an awesome? Hope you enjoyed them as much as I did... Have a wonderful weekend!
It's been a while since I've given an award and there are so many wonderful blogs that I have the pleasure to read (when I have the chance) that I feel right now it's the right time to come up with something extra special.
I hope you out there feel the same way too, because I mean it from the heart.
The people and blogs I want to honor today are:
1. Joan @ Gods Little People... I really don't remember when I found you and your blog, but I've been a faithful follower ever since, your words touch my heart and soul, and although we are so far away geographically speaking, I feel very close to you because of the love we share for all Gods Little People...
2. Wild Magnolia is a blog that I have been following for a while, Randi is going through some major changes in her life, but still her posts are very nice, nice images that make me realize that we are all going through something and having a little space to talk about it's a blessing, you have an awesome blog and even though I don't know you personally I know you are a great girl, keep up the good spirit and God Bless!
3. Kat @ Heart 2 Heart is being following my blog and leaving amazing comments for a while, I have been reading her blog for a while as well, although just very recently I am an official follower of hers. Thanks Kat for the bringing your insight and specially your love for God and your family into my life.
4. Sitka and his Mom Andrea are wonderful bloggers @ All Gods Creatures, I love their blog and I am grateful to her and all her comments on mine, thanks for coming every now and then.
5. Caroline @ Absolutely Unique has a wonderful blog, even though I am not much into fashion the pictures she posts are so glamorous and unique that just looking at them makes me feel pretty stylish, she obviously has great taste and I live that part of life's fashion through her blog!!!
6. The blog "50 iglesias en 50 semanas" (which translated to english means: "50 churches in 50 weeks") is a blog that belong to somebody very close to me from blood and life, she is my first cousin more like my sister. She started this blog as a woman that desires to be a mom, and in this little space she is being sharing her pilgrimage of visiting 50 churches in 50 weeks. As she explains herself in her own space: Being that the churches are the house of God, I made the purpose to visit 50 of his houses in 50 consecutive weeks (I hope!), pray to him and ask that he sends my husband and me the baby that we long for so much.
Today I want to give her this award because I love her and I pray with her that soon her wish to be a mother and have a bigger family with her husband comes true. (unfortunately the blog is in Spanish for those English speakers!)
7. Maggie @ *Moonstruck has such a great blog, she always has great and interesting topics. Sometimes when I don't get many comments in a couple of days and I get kind of down, she is there with a nice word, thanks for your friendship and your blog!
8. Last one but definitely not least, my favorite blogger, man, husband, friend and "my muse", Mark @ First Time (he is probably going to think this is such a girlie award with birdies and all, but oh well!). He is the reason why I ever started blogging in the first place and now I can't stop, but for him, I will go to the moon and back, and his blog will always be my #1. I love you babe!!!
Now, as far as the award goes, you can do whatever you want with it; post it on your blog, not post it, print it, frame it, delete it, pass it along or just smile when you read about it. All I want to accomplish with this is to tell people how much I enjoy their blogs and that they share their life and thoughts with me, we are all miles away but with this blessing that is the internet we are so close in this big blogger family.
On my post yesterday I talked about going forward, about changing for the best when change is required but also remembering what's really important in life (God and family to me is on top of the list).
But there's all sort of ways to move forward and one fine example is the remarkable story about the Crafton Family that sailed the world all together as a family, they sailed 30,000 miles in 83 months (that's 7 years), exploring life at sea and in so many wonderfully remote (and not so remote) places.
picture from The Washington Post
If you would like to read their story click here. My favorite part of the whole article is when they talked about Vanuatu;
"Vanuatu, where the people owned the least and smiled the most, was one of their favorite (destinations). They stayed three months. "They are the happiest people in the world," Tom says. "It reinforced everything we believed about putting time with the family over this blind pursuit of material things."
Vanuatu girl (image from www.lizasreef.com)
And that is probably one of the things I love the most about traveling, to see other people's realities of the world and realize that some times when we are completely immerse in our reality is just our own reality and what we make of it, when we feel our life is meaningless or too complicated, think about people living in the streets, in the middle of the jungle, or even trying to survive an abusive relationship...
So traveling, if you manage to open your soul to see others reality is a very good reality check- If you don't believe me, then you must really read the article about the Crafton family journey.
I've always being a firm believer that you could be totally alone in a deserted island as well as on the 3rd floor of an apartment building in the middle of NY city (or any big city in the world). Our reality is what we make of it and our spirit it not filled up by money, we don't need a bank account to be happy, and although we need it to survive in society, we really don't need it to make the best out of our lives (if you don't believe me, just ask anybody in Vanuatu!).
But anyway, this is not really a self help or wisdom blog, it's just a place to pen down some ideas and random thought about anything that catches my heart.
Hope any of this catches your heart of at least your interest. Have a wonderful day!!!
When facing obstacles in life, sometimes it is hard to find smooth ground again. We let our mind wonder about the worst possible scenarios which makes the jumping of those obstacles more exhausting...
Right now, me and my husband are going through some major changes and sacrifices might need to be done, and that's when I can't help but thinking about that specially moment on our wedding day when I said in front of him, my family and specially God something like this:
"I promise to love you through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles we may face together..."
And then I found this beautiful quote by one of my favorite writers Paulo Coelho.
"When there is no turning back, we should concern ourselves only with the best way of going forward"
Isn't this a nice way to put things into perspective? So, if we require to change, let's change in the best possible way, if something is over, let's start something much better and accept only the best possible scenarios.
My dad has a friend that always said "Don't take a single step back, even if it's to gain impulse". We need to always try to move forward without looking back, we are way too concerned with what was and what will be.
There's also the famous quote "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is mystery, today is a gift, that's why it's called the present" and that present if given to us by God and he and only he can manage it or take it away when he feels it's the right time.
So, today more than ever, we need to be grateful for those obstacles that make us realize that we need the best attitude to move forward, to let the little voice in our head be our cheerleader instead of letting it drag us into depression, we need to be close to our loved ones and remind them that they have our support 100%, our commitment and love every day.
But mostly we need to let God work in his mysterious ways so our moving will always be forward...
My weekend was pretty smooth, no hard turns or sudden movements, just chilling, the weather was rainy but still super hot.
I forgot to mention that last Thursday we visited the new Cayman Motor Museum, a private museum with a very special and valuable car collection. The owner Mr. Andreas Ugland has this amazing collection and was kind enough to share it with the world, here are some of the most amazing cars he has.
nice spread of Ferrari
1954 Rolls-Royce
the original 1966 Batmovil
my favorite, Mustang
Bentley previously owned by Elton John
"tailor made" Rolls-Royce Limousine for the owner
Aren't those cars amazing? The whole place is very nice, very well set up and with very nice memorabilia and decoration! If you are every in Cayman, it's a no miss, a 100% worth the visit!
If you are into superstitions I guess today is a good day for you, but if you are into positive thinking and being thankful (like myself), than today is an even better day..
But there's many people out there thinking that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day, so today I decided to write 13 reason why I think is the opposite and it's a lucky day.
1. TGIF!!! (do I need to say more? don't think so).
2. We are all seeing another day, we are alive.
3. You are reading this on a computer, iphone or anything else, so you are lucky to have any of those devices.
4. You are reading this so you are blessed with the knowledge of reading.
5. For us here in the Cayman Islands, it's already Friday the 13th, 2010 and so far so good with the Hurricanes this season.
6. I have a eye doctor appointment, I was lucky to get the only spot available today (when I called just yesterday).
7. You are lucky that last year I did another post about today's date, so if you would like more facts about this particular date, just click here.
8. Friday is lucky, because it introduces Sat. & Sunday.
9. For me it's just like that song "Lucky I'm in love with my best friend" because it applies to me, I have a wonderful husband who is also my best friend... and I am sure, for some reading this, this is also true and a huge blessing.
10. Today is the only Friday the 13th in 2010, last year we had one on the months of Feb. March & November, so makes the most out of it.
11. FACT: On a Friday 13th, 1939, Igor Secorsky invented the helicopter, 71 years later in 2010 we were lucky to celebrate our 1 year marriage anniversary with our first helicopter ride!
12. We are lucky that today we are having at least 2 meals, when there's some many people out there not having the same luck.
13. And the last but not least reason why today is a lucky day would be; Sunday is the 15th, so being that we get paid on the 15th & 30th of every month, we are getting paid today instead, woo-hoo!
Blessings of luck today, tomorrow and always for all!!!!
When I first saw you last Friday, it was destiny, I just knew I wanted you... You were the tallest of them all and very quiet, just what I was looking for.
Now you are here and I'm sleeping in so much better by your side during this summer hot months, even my husband seems to enjoy my "little crush" with you!
I love my new Lasko 52" pedestal oscillating tower fan, it's awesome and makes my summer nights, much more enjoyable, now this is a healthy one of a kind summer crush, don't you think?!? LOL
"Time is the best teacher, unfortunately it kills all its students".
I think I might never get used to death, but I'm not talking about my own death, but the death of a family member, a friend or even an acquaintance.
Yesterday I found out that somebody that I knew passed away, and although I haven't seen him in years I can't help but feel sadden by the news and specially to imagine what his family is going through in this difficult time. Because that is the part I dread the most, thinking when the time of loosing somebody close to me is going to come.
But, don't get me wrong I am not scared of death or myself dying, is more about spending life without the people I love so much, but I guess part of that love is to rejoice when they are finally passing to a better life close to God. It is still hard to accept it.
So, I wonder, what will happen to my blog when I am gone? If it stays here for years after I am gone, I wonder what people will think about my life, about what I liked, if they will have things in common with me? Sometimes when I browse around blogs that have not being updated in months, perhaps years, I wonder where the person is and if they are still alive, maybe if I leave a comment, it will never reach the author cause it's long gone...
So, what about my email account? My passwords? Should I write them down and keep them in a safe box with access only with a lawyer after I am gone? But what for? so people can see the remaining balance on my paypal account, which is probably less than a $100 us? Or so they can see all my past Amazon orders and what my wish list contained? Where do all these stuff ends up?
photo taken by me at a cemetery near Buffalo, NY
Anybody out there has any idea about any of this?
My grandfather always used to say, "The end of world is when you die", well, I am not sure, cause he died when I was 10 and the world is still around...
Anyway, just some food for thought... Have a wonderful alive Wednesday!!!
Ever heard the phrase: "Dogs have family, cats have staff"???
Well, it's probably a pretty accurate statement (most of the time), but lately I've feel like our dogs act more like felines in this aspect.
To me at times, it feels like we are here to pet them, love them, feed them and walk them on their own terms and schedule... I wonder if while we are at work, they have some sort of contact with a cat that has been given them tips on how to handle us?
And I wonder if this is the cat they have been hanging out with...
I hope not, cause he looks kinda' serious, uh?
So even though Ditto looks very innocent, I think deep down when he stares at us, he is secretly trying to mind control us...
see what I mean???
And Sheba acts all girlie and innocent as well, but deep inside we know she is just playing us with her charms so we do what she wants, when she wants it...
who can resist her???
As you can imagine it's hard to see that very thin line between family and staff, but at the end of the day it's all worth the walks, the food, the petting, the taking them to the vet because they also give us so much love and happiness that pays up like nothing else.
So, if you have a furry companion of any sort and you sometimes feel like I do, well, think of it as a blessing or just play dumb! LOL
It was a good weekend. Saturday was a very hot day, in the afternoon our outdoor thermometer measured about 110F at 4pm, so imagine how hot it was at noon. We stayed in most of the day and only went out to get some groceries and new snorkel gear.
When we came back from our vacation in Mexico almost 2 weeks ago, one of our bags never made it back, it contained our snorkel gear, some coffee, my husbands underwater camera with lots of pictures and a pair of flip flops. At this point we are trying to process full payment with American Airlines for all of our stuff and starting to look for new gear. Because we are such avid divers/snorkelers, both me and my husband, have gear for both, Saturday we went to Divers Supply, which is were we usually get our stuff, but they were very low on stock, so we decided to wait until the get more product in.
So yesterday when we went to the beach, I used a "backup" mask and snorkel (but no fins) to do some snorkeling, it was pretty hard work because the water was kind of choppy and it took a lot of me to actually manage to get down and stay down to try and take picture, so here's the best shot from all the ones I took.
Then my husband went out snorkeling for a longer time and find this beautiful treasure
Isn't it pretty? It's one of those conch shells that if you get close enough, you can hear the ocean... for real, just click below and you'll see (well, more like, you'll hear!).
See, it's just a matter of believing and it happens, for those who are far from the ocean I hope you enjoyed the little symphony and those who are close to it, remember to never take it for granted, as the ocean song is a very soothing and relaxing one.
So, my idea is to enjoy the weekend, get some rest, charge batteries and maybe if the weather permits it go for a dive or spend some time at the beach... What are your ideas for the weekend?
A friend of mine shared the following chart on Facebook and when I saw it couldn't help but laugh for every time I've told my husband something like;
"Could you please go to the closet and get me a teal top that is hanging there? Of course he can't find it or comes back asking me, do you mean the blue one???"
Well, if you have ever encounter any problem in the past communicating to the opposite sex about colors, just refer to the chart featured below*... LOL!
You never know, it might come in handy* for when you are looking for your Maraschino lipstick, LOL!!!
*Disclaimer: Might not come in handy if person you are experimenting problem communicating with, is color blind, contact an eye doctor for further details.
While in Mexico this past July I had the chance to spend some time with my friend Claudia's new puppy; Nimbe, her name means Moon Light in Nahuatl which is the language of the Aztecs.
I forgot how great is to have a puppy around, their smell, their energy, how much they move, how playful they are and how amazing it is that everything around them is a new experience, a new discovery.
It was so great to hold her, feel her breathing and feel her energy all over her entire body, it filled me up with love!
She has so much energy and a wonderful attitude, she loves to play and already was showing signs of a very strong personality.
I hope both my friend Claudia and her find a happy life together, full of love and friendship.. miss them both so much, can't wait to see them again!!!
Last night we had a "rainbow dinner" with as many colors as possible... well there's always room for improvement but I think we did pretty good this time.
RED
image from healthtipswebsite.com
GREEN
image from gourmentsleuth.com
YELLOW
image from thestrokefoundation.com
Orange
image from saltyspoon.com
WHITE
image from soonwei.com
All the ingredients together (plus in our case last night some sirloin to mesh it all) in a delicious rice bowl stir fry.
I am not a vegetarian but I love veggies, so I consider myself a omnivore as I enjoy both, a good plate of greens as well as some red meat at times. Besides, to me a vegetarian is not the exact opposite of a carnivore as many people that eat meat also like and eat plenty of vegetables. I think that the key is to have a good balance and eat what your body absorbs and enjoys without over indulging, right?
So, in our case last night, our dinner was a healthy and beautiful way to fill up our bodies with vitamins, minerals and colors, yummy!
I had a wonderful weekend and now it's time to get back to work and make the best out of the day, have a great Monday and find happiness in all that you do today!
Ever had an encounter with a real giant? I have, and here's the video to prove it.
Swimming with Whale Sharks was one of the highlights of our trip to Mexico, we visited Holbox Island and took the tour, although we didn't see as many as I saw 7 yrs ago when I first visited the island, this second time saw lots of dolphins and jumping mantas, so it was worth the day.
If you are ever in the Yucatan Peninsula and it's between June to Sept. go and look for this wonderful gentle giants, it's an encounter like no other.
I've been invited to be a guest blogger on the OneTravel blog and it's such an honor to be part of somebody else's space and being able to contribute to a different audience.
image from http://onetravel.wordpress.com/
So, are you still here? What are you waiting for? Just click here and head that way...
I hope you enjoy my article as well as many other wonderful ones that you'll find on the OneTravel blog... see ya'!
The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving. Oliver Wendell Holmes
After 2 weeks of "fun in the sun", relaxing and not worrying about anything I was back to work on Monday but started feeling this horrible spasms on my lower back. The day went by and it just got worse to the point that I ended at the ER around 11pm, saw the doctor, did some test and just sent me home to rest for two days.
Yesterday and today I've been home trying to get rid of the pain, resting and hoping to go back to work soon...
Then yesterday we got some pretty bad news that the government of the Islands after more than 13 years of service from my husband, has decided not to renew his contract, so now it's off to look for a new opportunity which we need and soon.
So with this pain and the fact that I know my husband is going through a very difficult time I am having a hard time. I am praying to God that once again he shows us that he is in charge, He has always giving me so much that not once I have felt abandoned, I know this times are not the exception, so please if you are reading this add us to your daily prayers because every little bit helps.
When was the last time you sat at a park and just watched the world go by?
During our 2 weeks in Mexico we spent 1 day/1 night in the beautiful colonial town of Valladolid in Yucatan. In the afternoon of the day we got there (and after we visited some cenotes in the area), we sat in the park to just enjoy the afternoon and watch the town come alive.
It was a pretty busy afternoon there (and probably a very typical one), some people were on a hurry, either coming or going but definitely with their own agenda.
There were lots of people selling things and specially food, but others like us, just enjoying the afternoon while sitting place under the shade of some wonderful trees.
While I was there I couldn't help but thinking about how wonderful it is that there's still places in this world where people have time to just sit at the park, enjoy the beautiful afternoon and see the world go by.
Meanwhile there's people in this world that are constantly and always on the run without taking time to sit and just see the world go by... Maybe there's even people out there that have never ever sat at a park at all...
Well I am happy to think that I did it*, ( at least while on vacation), just sat on the park and watched the world go by without a single worry on my mind, but now it's back to work for me.
I am full of energy and hoping to dive right into what I do, sell lots of art and enjoy every minute of my day.
Have a wonderful week!
*Do try this at least once on your life, I highly recommend it
