Friday, December 4, 2009

New Christmas Traditions N' Trees


What's old, odd or just looks and feels wrong is ripe for a new tradition. Many people have started their own holiday traditions, with a new focus on friends as family and what 's old is new again. As families shrink, divorce, move or divide their time in several places at one time (depending on odd or even weeks). And as children grow up, some scatter to far flung places or like most return home and stay for an undisclosed amount of time.

The more common new tradition is friends bringing their traditions together and creating something totally new and why this is happening is because they are "there" for each other. Traditions have become, well, a little upside-down, yet totally creative and a way to mix things up for effects, emotional experiences of sharing, caring and love during the holidays. I love, love, love Christmas, for me, it's magical, it's intense sharing, emotional, fun, activity filled, parties, family, friends, clients, gifts, surprises, very spiritual as it builds and memory lasting when it's gone.

The History of the Upside-Down Fir Tree: It's really not new at all: According to the Christmas Archives, "In the 7th century a monk from Crediton, Devonshire, went to Germany to teach the Word of God. He did many good works there, and spent much time in Thuringia, an area which was to become the cradle of the Christmas Decoration Industry. Legend has it that he used the triangular shape of the Fir Tree to describe the Holy Trinity of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The converted people began to revere the Fir tree as God's Tree, as they had previously revered the Oak. By the 12th century it was being hung, upside-down, from ceilings at Christmastime in Central Europe, as a symbol of Christianity."

In December 2007 these upside-down trees were all the rage, the prestigious Hammacher Schlemmer (image above) holiday supply company, which has been in business over 150 years, couldn't keep their seven-foot tall pre-lit upside-down Christmas tree in stock. It costs $600 U.S. with a lifetime guarantee. This gives you an idea of how popular this latest trend in Christmas tree and decorations have become.

This year as I searched the Internet their are quite a few sites that have everything listed about Christmas trees, history, most unusual trees, new colors in trees, most expensive, tallest, most lights, least lights etc. and for fun do search it's really exciting here's some examples:

Colored Trees from Treetopia Colorful Christmas Trees. If you really love Christmas and live in celebration, of trees, all year long with colored trees you could have it all. Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter trees to match any and all decor in this case, no matter where you live. Great for shop owners to decorate and display with handmade goods all year. Consult your designer for more ideas!









The Hanging Cordless Lighted
Tree is a perfect idea for additional trees in your house. In the guest room, converted attic space or limited living spaces like studio apartments, condo's and even the office or studio space and kids rooms too. Very cool!






















I really like this Tuxedo Tree in the right setting and decorations it's very modern looking and chic. This would be great in a very formal December Wedding reception room, celebrity/corporate party/promotion for the holidays, hotel lobby as well as high rises in the city. Stunningly Gorgeous!























The great thing about adding new traditions is that if you try it, and you don't like it, you can always change it again next year. Then there's always the decision of selecting an artificial tree for the surreal effects of lights, decorations, colors, dimensions and wow factors. They can be put up earlier and taken down later in the season. Easy to tuck/pack away in storage.
They're so simple to purchase with lights and decorations in most cases.

Or the traditional selections and effects of a real tree like this one.






















The wonderful thing about real live trees is the smell of the forest in your own home. The sense of nature spreading it's branches out to you in all it's decorated glory. The downside is the short lifespan unless you use a potted tree that you can bring in for the season and put back outside afterwords. It's everything you've grown to love in a real tree including the pine needles. Hearts desire!


Another thought is using an existing Living Landscape Tree like this:
















The benefits to this is no moving indoors or back out, great fresh smell, looks great and can be lit
with a fantastic wow factor and it lives on. Magical!
















Then there's the true iFantasy Computer/Flat Screen or Click Tree (my name for this) that lives forever in your mind. Just click to set up, click to take down, easy to store in your Christmas folder on your computer. Simple to redesign, change light colors, background for different effects, add music, snow gently falling, a gold star on top or laser beams or whatever your hearts
desire. Techno dreams!

















This year try something new for the holidays adding a new twist to your traditions. Change a color scheme, lights, circle of friends. Try staying home for the holidays, especially if you haven't done if before and even if the thought of something new makes you feel a little uneasy, do it anyway! You never know what you'll learn about yourself or others in the process.


Sometimes it's that one thing you dare to try that has such impact on you...and everyone else in the room, that you're so glad you did. Because it was an instant success and will live on in you just as you light up the room literally for others!














And you can look back at 2009 and say a new tradition was born this year, a spark, a light, a fire, and that new tradition was you seeing things differently. A thought, a wish, a desire...your thoughts become things. New Christmas Traditions, Trees and Things are Awesome! Become
Enlightened this Christmas season and see the magic happen through your interactions with others around you!

What new tradition are you adding this year?

Are you seeing things differently this season?

Friday, November 27, 2009

Just For Today...Give Thanks...Be Grateful!


As you look closely at this picture you can see more than just a peaceful country Thanksgiving setting. Faces emerge from the tops of trees, buildings start to resemble wise animals, reflections present in the lakes and streams and smiling faces appear out of nowhere. Is this art, illusion or the spirit of the holiday season?


Whatever you do this weekend to kick off the last remaining days of November and start the month of December.
Remember To Give Thanks For All That Surrounds Us. There's more than you realize except it all.

Today as you make your favorite or new turkey: meat pies, casseroles, quiches, soups, sandwiches etc. using the powers that be (
Internet for ideas)...give thanks.

Today while at work and it's not so busy or working half day or a full very busy day (retail madness)...give thanks.

Today as you put the warrior shopper to the test at a chance to get the best deals and knock out a great portion of your gift list. Being in the steady stream of crowds...
give thanks.

Today as you visit with family and friends and either you or they are from out of town...
give thanks.

Just for today whether you are alone or not, have a job, searching for one or loosing a job. With a childlike innocence and a pureness of heart...give thanks, give thanks, give thanks...just for today and feel your heart soar!

Have a wonderful weekend!

image flickr

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!



Thanksgiving/Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the forth Thursday of the month of November in the U.S. and has been an annual tradition since 1863. It didn't become a federal holiday until 1941.

In Canada it's on the second Monday in October, the Canadian holiday is to give thanks at the close of the harvest season. Although the original act of Parliament references God and the holiday is celebrated in churches, the holiday is also celebrated in a secular manner. On January 31, 1957, the Canadian Parliament proclaimed: " A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed...to be observed on the 2ND Monday in October."

The First Thanksgiving was celebrated to give thanks to God for helping the pilgrims survive the brutal winter. The first feast lasted three days providing enough food for 53 pilgrims and 90 Indians. The traditional Thanksgiving menu often features turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie. Americans may eat these foods on modern day Thanksgiving, but the first feast didn't consist of these items. First feast turkey was any type of fowl that the pilgrims hunted.

Pumpkin pie wasn't on the menu because there were no ovens for baking, but they did have boiled pumpkin. Cranberries weren't introduced at this time. Due to the diminishing supply of flour there was no bread of any kind. The foods included in the first feast included duck, geese, venison, fish, lobster, clams, swan, berries, dried fruit, pumpkin, squash, and many more vegetables.


Traditional Celebrations are: foods of the season, giving thanks, vacation and travel, parades, shopping, football and feasting. The secular Thanksgiving holiday also coincides with the start of the four week Advent season before Christmas in the Western Christian church calendars. However you choose to celebrate this holiday may you be well and stay safe and be thankful for another day.

I'm thankful for everyone I've met along the blog way and I give "Thanks" to you for returning to read, rest and comment here. Many blessings to you all Cheers!



Thanksgiving Prayer
For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Images Wiki and Flikr

Saturday, November 21, 2009

I Give Thanks For The Thanksgiving Planner




How do you organize a festive event? For me it's using lists to guarantee my plan works out. I love using lists for every project, event, assignment etc. It keeps the stresses out-of-sight and I enjoy the tasks. It's a great way to keep track of the people, places, and things related to the task. The internet, iPhones apps and the fact that most people have a way of being reached quicker than snail mail is an advantage to say the least. By now you know how much technology has helped us get things done faster for everything you're trying to locate.

I use my iPhone (I call it iCamera) to take pictures of ideas, recipes, decorations and things I see while I'm out, leading up to events. This way I have a preplan and can narrow it down as the time gets closer. Snaps really define the description of things and use less words which eliminates confusion. I am so in love with my iPhone (another post awaits) because it's truly everything in one and is only limited by my imagination for other uses.

Planning Thanksgiving dinner for a small family gathering or a large crowd can be intimidating, especially if you've never hosted a feast before. I reviewed lots of sources available on the web. There is no way that you wouldn't find a solution for your situation. Recipe sites, food blogs, television/Internet specials are dedicated to helping. So you'll have a great time making sure that your dinner goes off without a hitch, your guests will become stuffed turkey's and everyone will rave about the festive occasion you presented. So here are some tips:

First, make the guest list a.k.a. head count and what dishes your guests will bring. The first thing you'll need to know when planning your guest list is how many people are coming and if they have any dietary requirements.






















Once you've received r.s.v.p.'s, check to make sure you have enough of table settings (silverware, plates, glasses) and room at the table or tables. If this requires space planning it's easier to work it out on paper beforehand. When your guests confirm they'll be there it'll help determine if you should have a sit down meal, a pot luck dinner, a buffet, etc. Let your guests bring some of the dishes.



Second,
select a theme for decorations and plan activities. Decide on colors, place cards, games to play and the prizes for the games. Decorative things like leaves, pine cones, acorns, and other naturals can be gathered outside, so plan some time for a nature walk two days before your dinner to collect these items. Martha Stewart is a great idea source for things like this and clever ways of using nature to decorate.


Third, make your menu lists. Make two separate menu lists, one will include everything that's being served, including any dishes other guests are bringing. The other list should be only the foods your serving. Record a detailed list of everything, this way you won't leave anything out and you won't forget to put items out on Thanksgiving Day.























Forth
, now you can complete your shopping lists for non-perishables, decorations and perishables. When you buy Non Perishables, and decorations don't wait for the last minute! This is what creates stress. You'll have enough grocery shopping to do just before Thanksgiving Day. So buy anything that won't spoil in advance and put those items aside to assure no one eats them before the big day.

Decorations or party favors, you should shop early for too. Because you'll be very busy when the big day comes so you don't want to be running around looking for decorations and stuff at the last minute.

Fifth, buy your perishables and the rest of the food several days before Thanksgiving. If you're buying a frozen turkey, allow time to thaw. Make room in your refrigerator because you'll need room for all the goodies! Hit the store either very early in the day or late in the day to avoid the crowds and long lines at peak shopping times.

Sixth, decorate, make seating arrangement/plan and set the table/tables two days before. Always set your table/buffet area in advance and not on Thanksgiving day. This way you'll have time to make sure everything is in it's place. This is also the time to decorate and add all the final touches.

Seventh, baking the day before Thanksgiving is the best time to do it. Bake your pies, breads and cakes. You can also cook certain items the day before Thanksgiving like mashed potatoes or casseroles. Making it simply ahead allows for just a warm up on Thanksgiving day.

Eighth, seize Thanksgiving Day! Cook your turkey and enjoy the aroma as it fills your home. While it's cooking you can start setting out certain foods and keep an eye on your menu and the time, so you don't forget anything! Great advice from Colin Cowie who always suggests before any gathering, schedule in a little nap. This way you welcome your guests looking fab and feeling relaxed.

When your guests arrive welcome them, relax, and enjoy yourself and when someone offers to help...let them. I purchase reusable containers to be sure everyone leaves with a leftovers. As all this planning is going on be sure to pour yourself a glass of wine, and relax! You have a plan and you'll do a fabulous job!


What are your plans for Thanksgiving are you traveling or staying home?

Will you be hosting Thanksgiving?

images

associatedcontent.com

Friday, November 13, 2009

The Eyes Have It All Figured Out

I am absolutely fascinated with the magnetism of people's eyes. I've wanted to blog about this subject for a while. There is no way to leave your eyes out of anything. They're a part of us all from birth to death. Be it good bad or indifferent. I know intuitively, you wake up each day so very grateful that they are part of who you are. Our eyes are the windows to our souls.

The most beautiful feature of every living creature on this God given earth are their eyes. And one of the reasons I became a licensed Aesthetician/Estheticisan and work as a make-up artist, for print work, special occasion and photography is because of the color effects within the eyes their self-possession.




Mystery is the key that entices us to open doors
...
the eyes have it!





You can't work with people and not love looking into their fabulous eyes in any line of work you do. They're what I call "Eye Communication/Language" and we still haven't figured out how to decipher all the codes. Every piece of information about our eyes is still so foreign to us like: what a sparkle means as apposed to a wink?








The Human eye is a diverse, unique and fascinating part of the human anatomy. Scientists say that no two humans have the same eye color. This just blows me away! There are not only very different colors in the human eye but also many different eye color variations of those colors.


The iris is a membrane in the eye, responsible for controlling the diameter and size of the pupil and the amount of light reaching the retina.

"Eye color" is the color of the iris, which can be green, blue, or brown. In some cases it can be hazel (light brown). In response to the amount of light entering the eye, muscles attached to the iris expand or contract the aperture at the center of the iris, known as
the pupil. The larger the pupil, the more light can enter.

Three main elements with the iris contribute to it's color: the melanin content of the iris pigment epithelium, the melanin content within the iris stroma, and the cellular density of the iris stroma. In eyes of all colors, the iris pigment epithelium contains the black pigment, eumelanin.

Color variations among different irises are typically attributed to the melanin content within the iris stroma. This density of cells within the stroma affects how much light is absorbed by the underlying pigment epithelium.



For fun stand near your brightest window (natural light) and grab a magnifying hand mirror and just look into one of your eyes. Look at all the colors involved in the whole star-burst iris of your eye then look into the other.

Now be amazed you truly are one of a kind in both of your eyes! Make a note and check the wheel and charts below to get to know a bit more about how you color and attract the world around you.
Now I C U.

Here's an eye color wheel of all the variations of eye colors and a definition of the the ranges: 1. Bright 2. Muted 3. Light 4. Dark 5. Soft 6. Clear Image
















Eye color is a polygenic phenotypic character and is determined by the amount and type of pigments in the eye's iris. The genetics of eye color are complicated and eye color is determined by multiple genes.

Some of the eye color genes include a green
/blue, brown, and brown/blue. The once thought view that blue eye color is a simple recessive trait has been shown to be wrong. The genetics of eye color are so complex that almost any parent-child combination of eye colors can produce any eye color.


Colors range from the most common color of brown, to the least common color green. Rare genetic mutations can even lead to unusual eye colors: black, red, or the appearance of violet.

To learn more on the specifics of individual eye colors and the background of countries eye color traits, check out
Wikipedia.















In European populations, children are most commonly born with unpigmented (blue) eyes. As the child develops, melanocytes, cells found within the iris of human eyes (as well as skin and hair follicles) slowly begin to produce melanin. Because melanocyte cells continually produce pigment, eye color, in theory, can be changed. It can change through various stages of life also.

My eyes are green and change between olive green, and gray with a star-burst in the center that's light yellow and gold with flecks of blue. Similar to the this photo.

image




Lighting both indoors and out, make-up, skin tones, clothing and time of year influence our eye colors. In my experience, colors of the interiors of your home also affect the colors of your eyes. Protect your eyes from sun, salt, wind and cold and select frames that enhance your eye color and face shape. All eyes are beautiful and can never be replaced enjoy the colors you reflect through the iris of your eyes and the mystery contained within.

What colors are in the iris of your eyes?

What color eyes are you most attracted to?

meterdown.com

Healthspablog.org

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Farewell...Fall's Foliage


Image source flickr


Fall's foliage is breathtaking and fleeting. Treat your senses and snap some photo's during fall of these spectacular colors from nature's color wheel. Grab your travel mug (filled with your favorite beverage) and get outside. Feel the crunchy leaves under your feel, smell the scents from trees and listen to leaves rush as the wind blows. Give thanks for the beautiful masters of color it really is quite spectacular!

Autumn leaf color is a phenomenon that affects the normal green leaves of the deciduous trees and shrubs which they take on during the few weeks in the autumn season. The colors range from red to yellow and this phenomenon is commonly called fall colors/autumn colors and the term fall foliage means viewing the tree or forest while the leaves undergo the change.

In areas of the U.S. and Canada "leaf peeping" with tourism begins when the colors change and the onset of leaf falling in hopes of scheduling it as such, which has major contributions to economic activities in some of these areas
. Makes perfect sense to me that leaves being this beautiful are: a show of color, can stimulate economy, and they give us so much, as nature does, and don't voice a single request for themselves in return.
In this leaf, the veins are still green while the other tissue is turning red and almost completely changed color.

Three factors influence autumn leaf: color-leaf pigments, length of night, and weather. The timing of color change and leaf fall are regulated by the calendar, with the increasing length of night.

Image

None of the other
environmental influences such as, temperature, rainfall, and food supply invariable as the steady increase length of night during autumn. As days grow shorter, and nights grow longer and cooler, biochemical processes in the leaf begin to paint the landscape with Nature's autumn palette.

A color palette needs pigments, and there are three types that are involved in autumn color:

Chlorophyll, gives leaves their basic green color. It's necessary for photosynthesis, the chemical reaction that enables plants to use sunlight to manufacture sugars for their food. Trees in the temperate zones store these sugars for their winter dormant period.


Carotenoids, produce yellow, orange, and brown colors in corn, carrots, and daffodils, as well as rutabagas, buttercups, and bananas.

Anthocyanins, gives color to cranberries, red apples, concord grapes, blueberries, cherries, strawberries, and plums. They're water soluble and appear in the watery liquid of leaf cells.

Both chlorophyll and carotenoids are present in the chloroplasts of leaf cells throughout the growing season. Most anthocyanins are produced in the autumn, in response to bright light and excess plant sugars within leaf cells.

During the growing season, chlorophyll is continually being produced and broken down and leaves appear green. As night length increases in the autumn, chlorophyll production slows down and then stops and eventually all the chlorophyll is destroyed. The carotenoids and anthocyanins that are present in the leaf are then unmasked and show their colors. The brown color of leaves is not the result of a pigment, but rather cell walls, which may be evident when no coloring pigment is visible.







Image


What a show of brilliance it is and now you can say "Oh boy there goes the chlorophyll for this year!"

A succession of warm, sunny days and cool, crisp but not freezing nights seems to bring about the most spectacular color displays. Lots of sugars are produced in the leaf but the cool nights and the gradual closing of veins going into the leaf prevent these sugars from moving out. These conditions of sugar and lots of light spur production of brilliant anthocyanin pigments, which tint reds, purples, and crimson. Because carotenoids are always present in leaves, the yellow and gold colors remain from year to year.

As the days get shorter and declining intensity of sunlight, leaves begin the processes leading up to their fall. The veins that carry fluids into and out of the leaf gradually close off as a layer of cells forms at the base of each leaf. These clogged veins trap sugars in the leaf and promote production of anthocyanins. Once this separation layer is complete and the connecting tissues are sealed off, the leaf is ready to fall.

What happens to the leaves when they fall?
They decompose and restock the soil with nutrients. Fallen leaves also become food for numerous soil organisms vital in our ecosystem. In nature, nothing goes to waste!








Image source





How do you celebrate the Miracle of fall foliage?

Friday, October 30, 2009

Happy Halloween!!

(image source)

The annual Holiday of Halloween is a treat for young and old and is celebrated on October 31st. The origin of the name Halloween, originally spelled Hallowe’en, is shortened from All Hallows' Evene'en is a shortening of even, which is a shortening of evening. Then ultimately derived from the Old English Eallra Hālgena ǣfen. Currently, known as "Eve of" All Saints' Day, which is November 1st.

In the time of pagan festivities Popes Gregory III (731–741) and Gregory IV (827–844) tried to it, with the Christian holiday (All Saints' Day to honor all the saints, known and unknown) by moving it from May 13 to November 1. To take the place of, often by trickery or force

In the 800s, the Church measured the day as starting at sunset, in accordance with Florentine calendar. Although All Saints' Day is now considered to occur one day after Halloween, the two holidays were once celebrated on the same day.








Snap-Apple Night by Daniel Maclise showing a Halloween party in Blarney, Ireland, in 1832. The young children on the right bob for apples. A couple in the center play a variant, which involves retrieving an apple hanging from a string. The couples at left play divination (provide insight into a problem at hand) type of games.

The colors associated with Halloween are black and orange.The associated symbols are the witches, pumpkins, and the jack-o-lantern. Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, wearing costumes and attending costume parties, ghost tours, bonfires, visiting haunted attractions (like Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm aka Knotts Scary Farm and Universal Studios), pranks, telling scary stories, and watching many different types of horror films Just to name a couple like:


Rocky Horror Picture Show




and








Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds"








Halloween
costumes are traditionally monsters such as ghosts, skeletons, witches, and devils. They're said to be used to scare off demons. Costumes are also based on themes other than traditional horror, such as those of characters from television shows, movies, political figures, animals and other pop culture icons.

Costumes today are really just left up to your imagination. If you can think of something original/creative, find someone to construct it for you or make it yourself, you're set for a long time. You'll probably end up with several through the years. I've made at least 10 and purchased several so I have an array to choose from.

Sometimes characters can be slightly out of character too, don't you think?













(image source)


Currently, the history of Halloween has evolved and is so popular in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada. Due to increased American cultural influence, in recent years, imported through exposure to US television and other media. Now trick-or-treating has started to occur among children in many parts of Europe, Saudi Aramco camps of Dhahran, Akaria compounds and Ras Tanura in Saudi Arabia. Who would have thought!

The most significant growth and resistance is in the United Kingdom, where the police have threatened to prosecute parents who allow their children to carry out the "trick" element. In continental Europe, where the commerce-driven importation of Halloween is seen with more skepticism, numerous destructive or illegal "tricks" and police warnings have further raised suspicion about this game and Halloween in general.


Halloween being on a Saturday this year there is a lot of scheduled events and time to gather with friends and family for some great fun. Plus sleep in on Sunday as we fall back in time one hour for daylight savings, is another added bonus.

Here's Five Things You Probably Didn't Know about Halloween listed on the Huffington Post Blog site:

1.Halloween Is The Second Highest Grossing Commercial Holiday After Christmas
2.Harry Houdini Died On October 31, 1926
3.There's A Phobia For That
4.The First Jack-O-Lanterns Weren't Made Out Of Pumpkin

5.One Quarter Of All The Candy Sold Annually Is For Halloween Night


So after all this information on history, movies, costumes and did you knows, what's left? Where there's always food and drinks and lots of goodies too. I went to the Food Network and they have 100 Halloween Recipes listed and treats and drinks. With all this just a click away this is the greatest time to throw a party, barbecue and the added bonfire for marshmallow melting, thrown in for real fun.

Wicked Cupcakes

As you're enjoying all the fun and festivities with friends and family some tonight and some tomorrow night. Making some new traditions and reliving others have a great time! For Halloween eat, drink and be scary! So have you guessed by now, how much I love this holiday?


There's one thing I would like you to watch out for. Don't drink too much when passing out candy to anyone that comes to your door. Sometimes when you open the door there are no words to describe what you'll see and what they'll get. So be cautions have iPhone camera ready when you hear the door bell ring!

Trick-or-Treat
Trick-or-Treat Give Me Something Good to Eat!

(image flickr)

What are your plans for Halloween? Costume Party, Movies, all day amusement park?

A day with family and friends? Do tell!