Grace Magazine

Winter Solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year.
It marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

Here is a lovely little poem by Robert Frost.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

A short nap in the middle of the day can reduce stress and invigorate you for the remainder of the day.

Quick napping for 10 to 30 minutes a day can relieve stress on your heart and increase your effectiveness at the office.

Of course, it’s not always possible to nap at work. But no one will miss you if you sneak off to the ladies room for a few minutes. Close your eyes for 5 quiet minutes and try meditating as a substitute.

Instead of reaching for a midday coffee, try the oppositie approach. Shut down for a few.

I enjoy reading my horoscope, especially as written by Jonathan Cainer.

In today’s post, he wrote about feeling like we are talking to ourselves.

Then he asks Virgos (my sign) that if I really were talking to myself, what would I say?

“How honest would you be? Be brave.
Give it a try.”

So, I suggest that we all try talking to ourselves.

Stand in front of a mirror all by yourself. What do you want to say? As Mr. Cainer suggests, be honest and be brave.

I say:

“Self, you are loved. You are beautiful, graceful, kind, intelligent, hard-working and not as fat as you think.”

What do you say?

This meme comes from Joey Moggie and is based on one at Linky Love which is based on one from The Thinking Blog.

I probably won’t do all this correctly, but I’ll try.

Here are the rules according to Joey Moggie:

1. Write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think, sit, read, stop by again or sizzle.

2. Explain why each of these blogs make you think, sit, read, stop by again or sizzle.

3. Link to this Linky Love post so that people can easily find the exact origin of this most popular meme ever.

4. Make sure this counter gets copied, so we all know how popular you are making this meme! (I can’t do this one. Don’t even know how to try.)

Here are the five blogs that make me think:

DeRosaWorld - This site always strives to give you the truth about current events. It features political rants, naughty language, and the occasional cocktail recipe. Pour yourself a drink and read pages and pages of wisdom.

Pumps and Gloss - The sexy ladies at this site offer a music-filled look at pop culture, fashion, sex, and of course, high-heeled pumps and lip gloss.

Celluloide Blonde - The always fascinating musings of a Hollywood screenwriter and author with funs polls, fantasy stories and rants on unfortunate neighbors.

The Clotheshorse - A feel-good site for fashion lovers with tips on shopping, style trends, and all the latest in the world of clothes.

Flypaper - I like that a blog associated with a consumer site, bluefly.com, is ballsy enough to take an irreverant look at the fashion world.

What sites make you think?

Something about September makes me feel like it’s the start of a new year.

Perhaps it’s because my birthday is in September or because school traditionally starts now. Maybe it’s the change of seasons. I don’t know. But September is a time for new beginnings.

What do you want to change?

Start now.

Image by Ciro Marchetti. Check out his work. It’s modern and timeless at the same time.

See - arrange colorful flowers, watch a movie, paint a picture, buy a coloring book and crayons, look through a kaleidoscope, look through a telescope, look through a microscope, look at the moon, wish on a star, gaze into a mirror, wear your glasses, read a book, explore an art exhibit, study your palm…

Hear - listen to music, read aloud, sing in your car, go to a concert, listen to a speech, go to a play, be in an audience, play the harmonica, whistle while you work, put on your iPod, listen to the ocean, put a seashell to your ear…

Taste - suck on a lollypop, suck your thumb, eat pudding, lick an ice cream cone, kiss someone, have a beer, drink a glass of wine, sip tea, eat a peach, take a deep breath by the ocean…

Touch - get a massage, give a massage, hug someone, get your hands dirty, knead dough, mold clay, dig in your garden, pet a cat, run your fingers through your hair, soak in a tub, wrap yourself in silk, bang a drum…

Smell - stop and smell the roses, bake cookies, chop onions, light a scented candle, light a fire, try aromatherapy, spill a little perfume that your mother wore onto a hanky and breathe in the memories…

6th Senses - explore even more ways to relax: meditate, dream, remember, think, plan, hope, fear, desire, marvel, learn, evoke, consider, try, commit, believe, ponder, justify, change.

Feel free to add your own ideas in the comments section.

I just took this quiz I found on Celluloide Blonde.

What Tarot Card Are You?

Here is my result:

You are Strength
Courage, strength, fortitude. Power not arrested in the act of judgement, but passing on to further action, sometimes obstinacy.

This is a card of courage and energy. It represents both the Lion’s hot, roaring energy, and the Maiden’s steadfast will. The innocent Maiden is unafraid, undaunted, and indomitable. In some cards she opens the lion’s mouth, in others she shuts it. Either way, she proves that inner strength is more powerful than raw physical strength. That forces can be controlled and used to score a victory is very close to the message of the Chariot, which might be why, in some decks, it is Justice that is card 8 instead of Strength. With strength you can control not only the situation, but yourself. It is a card about anger and impulse management, about creative answers, leadership and maintaining one’s personal honor. It can also stand for a steadfast friend.

I love tarot cards. The symbols are ancient and truthful. I have several packs of cards at home.

I also enjoy getting my tarot readings from Mystic Games. I usually do “Today and Task” and use the Tarot of Dreams deck by artist Ciro Marchetti. His artwork is stunningly beautiful.

Take the quiz and tell Grace Magazine what card you are.

Concentrating on crossword puzzles can help clear your mind of stress.

By focusing on the word puzzles, you exercise your brain, increase your vocabulary and allow your mind to rest from everyday stresses at the same time.

You can find many free puzzles on the Internet. Try OnlineCrosswords.net. You can play online or try the printable version.

Sarah Brightman singing La Luna

I’ve been listening to a CD called Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone. It’s so soothing and beautiful.

Here is video of Morricone conducting Gabriel’s Oboe from The Mission film score.

It’s one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever.

Enjoy.