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These are the 5 Reiki principles ingrained in the amazing healing technique, but they have become goals that I set for myself every morning.

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Just for today, I will not be angry.
It’s not a matter of never getting angry, but rather, when anger creeps in try to deal with it accordingly and then let it go.

Just for today, I will not worry.
Again, there is no way to absolutely avoid worrying, but rather than worry about what happened before or what will happen next, be present and let the worry pass.

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Just for today, I will be grateful.
Be grateful for simple things and as well as the things in the larger scheme of life. Even difficult things can give way to things such as thanks, forgiveness, smiles, good words or gratitude — all things that worth being grateful for.

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Just for today, I will do my work honestly.
Believe in the work being done and do that work respectfully. Life should be lived honorably and with a head held high.

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Just for today, I will be kind to every living thing.
Bring loving-kindness into every personal encounter. Treat things as you would treat people, and as you would like to be treated in return.

images via Little Garden

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My newest obsession? Braids! I am seriously willing to pay someone to teach me how to braid hair — I never learned to braid at all (on myself or on others) and they have been popping up all over.

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This crown braid is particularly amazing! Can someone do my hair like this adorable little girl? The tutorial came from a new favorite inspiration blog The Drifter and The Gypsy along with two photo shoots (Apples and Frolicking) showing off the crown braid on the cutest girls in the world!

If you’re in need of a good online tool for decompressing after a stressful day, need an escape during work or if you’re looking for an excuse to filter through an entire blog archive, Unhappy Hipsters is the answers to all your prayers. It is the perfect combination of  contemporary design and snarky (read: downright hilarious) quotes about the plight of the modern day hipster. Enjoy!

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The flowers began to wither under the rigorous interrogation.

Read the rest of this entry »

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I used to call Sesame Street YaYaz, I’m still not sure why but I think it had to do with how young I was when I started watching it. (I probably couldn’t pronounce Sesame as an 18 month old!) It was my favorite show as a kid a it still holds a significant place in my heart and in the heart of my entire family. My recent online obsession is the Sesame Street gangs’ tweets — they are absolutely hilarious and I really feel like they highlight what is so special about Sesame Street and all of Jim Henson’s creations. The humor used is smart and clever so that adults can truly appreciate it and at the same time the characters are so cute and adorable that kids just fall in love!

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• Big Bird: It’s hard for me to type these tweets. Keyboards aren’t made for those of us with wings.

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• Grover: Today I thought of something very clever to tweet about. This is it.

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• Bert has more than 368 bottle caps in his highly-treasured collection. #sesamefacts

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• Elmo: Someone just told Elmo yesterday was Talk in the Third Person Day. Elmo doesn’t know what that is but it sounds fun. Can Elmo play?

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• Cookie Monster: Me had philosophical moment: what if there no such thing as cookies? What would dat make me? Dis stuff keep me up at night.

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• Big Bird: Maria made me a new cross-stitch pillow for my home. It says “Nest Sweet Nest” on it.

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• Grover: Today I am feeling a bit fuzzy. And a little blue. But then, I am always Fuzzy and Blue!

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• Cookie Monster: Sometimes Moon look like giant cookie. Must look into joining space program.

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• Grover: Did you hear? There is a monster at the end of this Tweet! I am so afraid! But we are almost done and the only monster here is…me!

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  • Grover: Oh, I am so embarrassed!

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I’ve been seeing images of this amazing stop motion video by ithyle everywhere (I finally took the link from Oh Joy!) and I absolutely adore it! Look for the tree and the white roses, it’s my favorite part! You can view the video here.

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I am in the process of sprucing up/redecorating/reorganizing my apartment and specifically my living room. The pièce de résistance is the new white couch that I bought that is just a total cozy, light, bright oasis of comfort. I got a lot of flack for buying a white couch but it is as beautiful as I envisioned, and triple coated with scotch guard, and makes me happy every time I see it and sit on it!

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The one thing the white wonder is missing is some flourishes that give it that little bit of flair! Throw pillows seem to be the way to go, and I absolutely love this picture from Apartment #34 (originally on this swedish blog). I like the mismatched colors, styles, sizes and textures. I think I have new item to add to my search list (along with Buddhas, cute candles/candle holders and berets) for thrift stores, antique shops and flea markets!

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PS: I will have a Sedona, Arizona recap by the end of the week — PROMISE!

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It’s March 1st and it’s time to take a look back at the road I set out for back in January. That means it’s time to check in on my progress with my New Year’s resolutions.

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1. Wear high heels
I made it through January, I believe I wore high heels at least 6 out of the 7 days a week. It was great, until the snow started at the end of the month into February. Because of that I have adjusted this resolution, which I was telling myself was to wear high heels EVERYDAY, to attempt to wear high heels whenever possible and appropriate. It really is a great confidence boost and a great workout, especially downtown on those cobblestone streets!

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2. Find a man who buys me flowers
Still working on it. Maybe I should hire some help! Accepting hydrangeas at all times!

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3. Add to my collection of Buddhas
I haven’t added to my collection but I have a few Buddha’s that I am interested in purchasing including this Buddha candle and this adorable fuchsia Buddha pillow.

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4. Concentrate, meditate, negotiate
A huge change has occurred in my life with the discovery of Reiki, the ancient Japanese spiritual healing method. It has renewed my faith that health and happiness is an active, hands-on, extreme sport, not a passive waiting game. I have been sharing Reiki with everyone who is interested and writing a lot about my experience both here on my blog and privately. I think the best lesson I have learned while meditating is the beauty of personal mantras. I share a few more common mantras every so often here and here, but I have come up with a few that really help me center myself when times are tough. I AM A STAR THAT SHINES GRACEFULLY.

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5. Buy a proper vacuum
Done! I didn’t buy it per se, I got another hand-me-down, but much lighter, vacuum from my parents and it works great! In addition to regular vacuuming I also lint brush my new couch, which is white and collects a lot of hair and fuzz, on a weekly basis!

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6. Floss
Still hate it, but doing it everyday and….yeah, it’s just flossing — nothing too fabulous to report here!

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I am starting to take a more active approach to my health and happiness. Doctors, some forms of therapy and even my yoga practice has become a more passive experience to becoming healthier and more fulfilled. In an effort to take control I have started going to Lisa Levine, an incredible Reiki master, for both Reiki and breath work. Lisa is helping me unlock my highest self, the person inside all of us that can help us get through the rough times and who shines though during the easy, breezy moments of life. Lisa is also an incredibly talented artist, above is some of her work from her site. You can also buy t-shirts with her art!

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I’m going for Reiki 1 training this weekend so I will be able work on my own healing and begin to share my knowledge with other people. I am so excited!

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Reiki (pronounced Ray-Key) is an ancient laying-on of hands healing technique that uses the life force energy to heal, balancing the subtle energies within our bodies. Reiki addresses physical, emotional, mental and spiritual imbalances. The Reiki practitioner serves as a vessel that supplies healing energies where they are most needed by flowing out of the practitioner’s body through the palms of the hands and sent through to the recipient.

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I have a blue wall in my bedroom (it was supposed to turn out navy blue, but it actually more closely what I call “painter’s tape blue” ICKY!) that has been looking uglier than usual lately. Low and behold, I was struck with a brilliant idea. I am going to repaint the wall with chalkboard paint, they now make it in all colors and hopefully the blue they have will dry and look much darker than my current color, and use the wall for inspiration, ideas, doodles and little pieces of happiness.

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Above are some chalkboard inspirations from one my all time favorite movies 500 Days of Summer and the Coldplay video for their song Strawberry Swing.

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I learned in yoga part of the essence of yogic philosophy is ingrained in the concept of “Attention without Tension”. I was immediately struck by how poignant that thinking is for my life, and probably for many people. Usually when there is something I have to pay a lot of attention to I very tense, I even get tension headaches. But this way of looking at it helps lift that weight. I feel like I can now apply the same level of attention but release the sense of impending doom/tension that gets the better of me.

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Arnold Patrick Martin’s ‘Ring Tension’, above, is a beautiful piece the exemplifies, to me, this idea of how tension and attention can, and should, work together rather than being diametric and opposing opposites in our lives! know I have to apply a lot of attention to, I get very tense of me. Phew!