Positive Quotes

I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” 

— Albert Einstein,

I don't do a formal meditation each morning.  But, I love opening my computer and having a wealth of information at my fingertips.  I also buy magazines such as Flow, Calm and Breathe.  These magazines are full of posters of inspirations, which I like to put places I can read and be reminded of positive quotes.  Reading positive quotes helps you feel positive and makes reaching goals easy.  The weight watchers meeting I attend also ends with a quote to sum up the meeting.  Use a journal to write these quotes down, and go back to and read them when you are feeling the need.

Goal Setting 2018: Write it Down

 Rule #2:  Write down your goals.  Use planners, calendars, vision boards, write on the side of books, travel journals, weight loss journals, letters to yourself, letters to others, messages in a bottle.  You get the idea.  Not only write them down, but later re-read what you wrote.

 I am always surprised at my accomplishments, because I don't always celebrate them.  Acknowledge your accomplishments and give yourself an healthy reward system to celebrate your goals you made happen.

The biggest one is "let go".  Let go of what is holding yourself back.  What keeps you from making something you dreamed of your whole life happen.  Face your fears.  Embrace your freedom. Forgive yourself.  Be your own best friend.  Think positive thoughts and act on them and everything else negative, let them go!!!

Goal Setting Tips for 2018

Rule #1:  Don't be hard on yourself.  This is a picture of the Advent Calendar from Trader Joe's.  It was full of delicious chocolates and tea.  Even though I am on Weight Watchers I felt having a small treat each day would be fine.  But, look what happens, no matter how good what is behind the door, if you don't have the time or the focus days go by without taking the time for yourself.  The same happens when you set goals.  Then a week in, you beat yourself up and probably quit.  I am going to boast for a bit, but in 2017 I rocked most of my goals for the year.  My work, travel and weight saw the most success.  Hope you join me here as we set new goals and intentions going into the new year!

Meeting Molly Hatch

 As I rise this morning, I don't have to look far to see the pieces of Molly Hatch ceramics I have purchased at Anthropology.  A Make Do Vase and a big ben ring holder happen to be within eye shot as I write this.  I have followed the ceramic artist on the internet and was excited to see this installation unfold:https://www.newarkmuseum.org/repertoire-molly-hatch

 I was even more excited to see it in person with a tour and presentation with Molly Hatch, herself.

 I found the Ballentine Housewww://newarkmuseum.org/ballentine-house  at the Newark Museum to be a Victorian Wonderland of the decorative Arts

 Was so happy I was able to see the rooms all decorated for Christmas

 But, the biggest treat was we had a high tea and were treated to cinnamon tea presented by https://www.harney.com/?utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=Harney_FSM&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=FB-TEA-HP-20-SHIP-1C  We even were treated to a tin to take home.  Can't wait to have my tea this morning in a forget-me-not tea cup I purchased.

The food was a delight surrounded by kindred spirits and exhibits of their tea pot and cup collections.

The presentation with Molly Hatch about her new book "A Passion For China" and by Mr. Harney about Harney and Sons teas all flowed together  and made a fine tribute to China for bringing us ultimately the dishes we eat on and tea that we sip.

Meeting Molly Hatch was a thrill and sharing tea with kindred spirits was a true Christmas gift.  I made sure to get a signed copy for my daughter.  She is engaged to  be married in 2018 and I have the perfect dishes picked out to give to her this Christmas along with the book.

Joyeaux Noel at April Cornell

 Please join us as we celebrate a French Christmas at April Cornell on December 9th from noon-3pm.  We will have Kathryn Gordon bring her sweet treats and Ellen Karchar from Pleasant Valley Lavender selling hand picked lavender gifts. Please like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/oceangrovestore/https://www.facebook.com/oceangrovestore/ to see all of our events.

Making a list and checking it twice

  Did you know about April Cornell 's simple  and free downloads?  Just go here: https://www.aprilcornell.com/prod_detail_list/notepads and click on the pdf file and print!!!  

Open 8-Late visit and life on Bleeker Street

What I think is great about Art, is how it represents what is going on in our lives, but it makes light of it.  Everyday there is something in the news closing or some business being bought for billions of dollars. The news is a true juxtaposition of our economics today.  What is sad is seeing the shape of Main Street shopping or the best example is Bleeker Street in New York City.  This is a great article:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/31/fashion/bleecker-street-shopping-empty-storefronts.html.  At the same time I visited an Art Installation by Lucy Sparrow that was also featured in the New York Times.  I have been following her since her first Installation in London three years ago called "Corner Store".  I have written a lot about my dream of owning my own store one day, and how long it took me to finally make a leap of faith.  I was so excited to meet Lucy Sparrow and she was right under the  vinyl record covers she made out of felt.  Which I "felt" was really ironic, since our store turned into all of our inventory made out of recycled vinyl records.  So, I was lucky when I visited 8 'til Late located in the Meat Packing District of New York city in the Highline building.  She is only there one more week until June 30. Just read this article today June 22nd and she is CLOSED!!!!  There was a line when I left, and a friend went later in the day and waited twenty minutes to get in.  There is the installation in back and then the store is in front with everything in a Convenience Store  made out of felt.

 If there was line....it would go in front of the window and everyone would be taking pictures.

 Unless you see it for yourself it is hard to imagine these are all felt.

 I think this sign you get the feel of the felt and stitching.

 There were people buying boxes full.....you can see the mustard was almost sold out this morning

 I think this is brilliant.....

 When it is all together like this, it is very reminiscent of Andy Warhol

 Yes, and here is Lucy Sparrows with an Andy Warhol album cover........again brilliant!!!

 Lucy Sparrows is sweet and fun to meet.  Happy and eager to take pictures.  She actually wrapped everything I bought and I don't even want to unwrap it to take a picture.

 Her famous stuffed banana on the register.....should read up to find more to this story.  Wishing I had asked about the felt lottery....Is it a contest????

And the cutest of all is a felt mouse drowning in the bucket of felt mop water.