Author: happyshanti

We are strongly influenced by the rhythms and energy of the earth. The following is from the lovely and luminous Shakti Sunfire.

Full Moon in Cancer Asks : Slow down. Balance. Receive. Where falls the next soft step?

The Cancer Full Moon on January 15-16 speaks to the power of your emotions. Feelings are your indicators. Feelings show you that you are on the right path. Feelings demonstrate what is true for you. You create music, art and writing from the passion of your feelings. Cancer rules feelings. Cancer is about your soul power. You are being asked to pull up your personal power. Allowing your feelings to guide you because your feelings are your truth. Being balanced in your male and female energy will empower you.”

Today was one of those days to bake something. I went back and forth and settled on soft pretzel tots. Drew loves pretzels and there is nothing like a freshly baked, warm pretzel. Yum. These are also bite sized – all the better! The recipe is super easy and quick (approximately 20 minutes not including the time spent waiting for the dough to rise, which took about 50 min). I subbed Himalayan salt for the kosher salt and did not use an egg bath and they still turned out delicious. I will defiantly be making these again.

Let us greet this Wednesday with one of my favorite poems by e.e. cummings. Introduced to me by my fabulous junior year English teacher Ms. McCarthy, this has stuck with me through the thick and the thin. I find it appropriate for this week (as my attempts to focus my research ideas into a meaningful topic continue) and presume it will remain appropriate in the weeks to come. Keep following that dream and trust in yourself. Everything you have done up to this point has brought you to exactly the point you are at right now. You are fully prepared to be exactly where you are and where you will be going. Honor the past and welcome the future with open arms. 

dive for dreams – e.e.cummings

dive for dreams
or a slogan may topple you
(trees are their roots
and wind is wind) 
trust your heart
if the seas catch fire
(and live by love
though the stars walk backward) 
honour the past
but welcome the future
(and dance your death
away at the wedding) 
never mind a world
with its villains or heroes
(for good likes girls
and tomorrow and the earth) 
in spite of everything
which breathes and moves, since Doom
(with white longest hands
neating each crease)
will smooth entirely our minds 
-before leaving my room
i turn, and (stooping
through the morning) kiss
this pillow, dear
where our heads lived and were. 

This website is amazing. Funny, sad, poignant, disturbing, etc. I have gone about half way down the page and feel connected to humanity. Its interesting what we find when we take the time to just ask someone how they are doing and a few questions about themselves. A practice of being more open is one I am vowing to take for the rest of the year. 

http://www.humansofnewyork.com/

I thought I was an expert at moving. By the time I turned 23 I had lived in eight different places throughout Northern VA (with a small stint in Philadelphia sprinkled in for good measure). Moving was no big deal. Pack things up, load them into a truck, drive/deliver, unload and unpack. A nice dinner at the end of it all. Bing. bang. done.

Was it easy? No. But when the whole family is chipping in each step of the way (and when you are really only responsible for packing up *your* things from a household of 7), the saying “many hands makes light work” becomes a reality.

Was it fun? At times. Call me what you will, but there is true satisfaction to be found in placing perfectly folded linens, clothes, knick-knacks, etc. in a box just so. That Sam Cooke playlist makes the packing experience a dancing delight and final satisfaction (set to, perhaps, a righteous babe chick-rock playlist) comes when unpacking and marveling in how the box was packed like the most epic game of Tetris – ever. *Sigh*

Was it hot? Always. I guess it makes sense to move in the summer. School is out, people are on vacation, and those trying to lose weight can look forward to a day in which you sweat out 5 gallons of water and then, even though you are staying hydrated, the stores of fat inside your body begin to liquefy and come out through your pores because it is SO. darn. hot. A win-win for everyone. (I love air-conditioning. I love fans. I am so thankful to have access to both. End of paragraph).

But this time it was different. I did not have my family to help me. Drew was working and I took care of most everything on my own.

Was it easy? No. I have a whole new respect for my mother who packed up our entire house-hold over 5 times when we were growing up. She was working with two-plus bedroom homes. I was working with a one-bedroom apartment. She made it all happen in the same amount of time (or less), while working, with no complaints. Mom, you are an angel. Much respect.

Was it fun. At times. Especially when Analisse and Mary helped out. And when my dad drove down with my sisters, the cat, and the turtle to help me get settled in. And when I rediscovered that righteous babe chick rock playlist. I eagerly look forward to the karaoke invitations which I *know* my neighbors will be extending my way soon….that rendition of  Alanis Morissette’s “Hand in My Pocket” was on-point.

Was it hot? OF COURSE. We moved from DC to North Carolina during the heat of the summer. I need not say any more.

Was it worth it? YES!! We are HERE! Orientation is on Friday and school starts MONDAY! Eight years ago I didn’t even know if I would finish school and now I am going to be a graduate student studying something I am passionate about. I am excited, nervous, eager, anxious, and curious. I want to make a difference, contribute intellectually to the field of psychology, meet new people, create a flourishing life for us here and rock this grad-school experience out!

I am SO GRATEFUL that Drew’s company helped us by providing a moving service. I am also thankful that it took two weeks for our things to arrive. I never knew how productive one could be sitting in a house with nothing but a cup of coffee, a cat, a camping chair, and research articles to keep you company. Grad school- watch out- my reading over these last several weeks have been largely un-distracted and my only source of entertainment- I am ready for you.

And in the end, despite all of my excitement for new beginnings, school, new dwellings, etc., it is Drew I am most thankful for. He is the greatest husband. Ever. He gave up a great job at a great company, surrounded by people he loved, to leave all of his friends and come here to North Carolina with me so I could follow my dream. He is postponing his dream of having a family to support me while go through this for the next 5 or so years. He has been unfailingly patient and caring when listening to me express my insecurities, fears, excitements, and hopes. I am so so lucky to have him and I know that whatever happens in this new phase of life, as long as I have him and we are together, every little thing will be alright.

Here’s to new beginnings!!

This has been one fast moving month. Weddings, funerals, loss of job, temporary job, car repairs, packing, finding a new home, moving, comforting confused kitties, etc.

Needless to say, I needed some sort of creative outlet.

My paints have all been packed away, I decided it was time to return to the realm of graphic design and whip up some moving announcements. I have had good luck using Vistaprint in the past to print photo books and decided to use their services again to print the cards I designed. I really like that they let you use your own designs (rather than just choose from pre-set options), not to mention the quality has always been great and the price can’t be beat 😉

I used MS Paint to free-hand and upload the design.

The text was modeled after other Word Art cards I have seen in the past. Simple and sweet. 

The final touch was an address stamp added to the envelope. Jessica from Twisty Twig designed it and was kind enough to rush order it to make sure we received it in time. We don’t know exactly where the next few years will take us, but we know we will be staying in North Carolina and thought this was fitting 🙂

I might try to take on design projects more often in the future – it was a really fun project 🙂

This weekend was BUSY! Following a lovely Fourth of July weekend which included tea time in celebration of my grandmothers birthday, a visit from Drew’s dear friend Rink, San Antonio native, 4th festivities at the lake in Montclair, and the beautiful wedding of my cousin Brendan (pictures to come soon!), Drew and I spent  Sunday-Tuesday driving down to Charlotte, around the city and suburbs, and back on a quest to find a new place to live. At the end, with about 1,200 miles driven in three days and little sleep, I am happy to report our journey was a success!

We found an amazing realtor over the internet who was amazing and showed us around the city to over 12 different homes. Seriously, this woman, Jennifer McNeill who works for Coldwell Banker in the Arboretum (Matthews) location was a saint. I was fishing in the dark for months, looking up homes/apartments on Craigslist, Apartment Finder, Hotpads, etc. and contacting dozens of different places to no avail with no response. It was becoming discouraging, disheartening, and was making our whole move incredibly stressful. Jen saw a comment I sent through a website and contacted me back, saying she knew how difficult it was to move to a new city and did not want us to have to do so blind. She sent suggestions, booked appointments, and played the ever patient role of tour guide as we drove through the eastern surrounding areas of the city. Karma, be GREAT to this woman, for she spent over 6 hours with us out of the goodness of her heart, making little to no commission, all with a kind and cheery attitude. THANK YOU JEN! If any of you readers are in the Charlotte area, look this woman up – she is amazing and her services should certainly be utilized!

We viewed over 12 homes, with 11 of them proving unlivable (either due to the area being dangerous, the homes having been smoked in, or from lack of care leading to less than desirable living spaces). Fortunately, persistence payed off and we found a new place to call home in the Charlotte area. The pieces are coming together and we couldn’t be more excited as this next chapter in our lives unfolds. More to come in the future, but for now, I leave you with a opening preview of our new home ❤

M

Look to this day!
For it is life, the very life of life.
In its brief course
Lie all the verities and realities of your existence.
The bliss of growth,
The glory of action,
The splendour of achievement
Are but experiences of time.

For yesterday is but a dream
And tomorrow is only a vision;
And today well-lived, makes
Yesterday a dream of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well therefore to this day;
Such is the salutation to the ever-new dawn!
~ Kalidasa

Spoken, written, and/or sung sayings to bring us through the week.