This book is literally sucking me into it's pages. I haven't been able to put it down. Who says we can't take mental-massaging breaks at work? It isn't written somewhere, right?

"Imagine slipping into the back of a preschool class during one of the free times when the children can immerse themselves in anything they want to do. If you look carefully, you'll see that each child is revealing something special about what he or she is instinctively great at and feels most excited about or satisfied in doing."

Can you imagine living your life every day the way that you lived it as a pre-schooler?

Finger painting, playing in what you visualize to be your dream house with your best friends, eating imaginary Gourmet (or very ridiculously thought up) food, and playing, playing, playing.

Spontaneity and freedom and imagination at every turn of your head. The possibilities are endless when your a child because you are experiencing your "firsts." You have yet to experience the, "You're wrong!" OR "No, not like that- don't you listen?" OR "Are you kidding? That is impossible."

We don't believe in the impossible because everything in front of us is real and we see exactly what we believe we see. There hasn't been anyone to shield our eyes, blindfold what's in plain view, or attempt to taint our innocence. We take the world for what it is.

ABOVE: Marina Makaron Moscow
I remember working at Philly Fashion Week last year, going through thousands of garments and assigning models as we got ready for the runway shows. One of the featured designers, Marina Makaron Moscow has an amazing collection of scarves, tunics, dresses, and so on created in beautiful silks/satins that will flow over the body in the most perfectly pleasing and pleasurable manner. Not only are these extremely soft and flattering, but they are also striking in their bright colors and intricate designs. Unlike any scarf that you may have seen, these designs are extremely unique and will be considered one-of-a-kind for most American consumers, as she is a Russia-based designer, working her way to the states.
Check out the rest of the collection and Designer's success secrets on her site:
http://www.mmmakaron.com/english.html





Feeling sleepy and not extremely imaginative, I wonder what I could create out of this cubicle. Definitely a fort. A refrigerator with endless amounts of my favorite foods. A pop-out closet with vintage accessories and costumes and clothing for every mood and occasion. A record player with an unlimited playlist of the BEST music from the beginning of the 1950's to today...



I could go on forever.



The beauty of the imagination is that it has NO limits. The limits are also what we imagine. So, why limit ourselves to such dull and non-inspiring things? Dive deep into your inspiration and see how you may surprise yourself to do something today that you may not have done yesterday, simply because it didn't seem realistic, or grown-up of you.
Hey, grown-ups can imagine too.

As I saw goodbye for those going to their new schools- now home, learning environment, dining area, and recreational site- I try and envision myself stepping off the plane and arriving in another country. New air. New people. New buildings. Leave behind any worries and open my arms to something fresh and beautiful.

A book that I have been reading on and off all summer has been a slap in the face as a reminder that if I want to get what I want, I need to step my game up NOW.

The Other 90%, by Robert K. Cooper is not a typical story of success, rather a necessary tool to massage your mind and soul; a reminder that you CAN do what you love and create natural success; and what you project outward is reflected from within.

Though we tend to neglect the truth of our connectedness to the world and all its inhabitants, it truly is the key to creating success. "Caring is the glue," he states, "that holds all this together and enables people to shine."

Rather than constantly being so determined to one-up your neighbor, get the better grade, cut someone off on the road or in line, look prettier than your ex's new lover, and so on, decide that all of that doesn't matter. RUN YOUR OWN RACE. If we want to excel, we must not only use what we've been given- with the absence of competitive nature- but we must also reach beyond those human qualities to our personal, greatest potentials. Cheer the others on, let others see your light, and let them know WHAT YOU SEE IN THEIRS.

Maybe where young but that doesn't make us last

Counting down the days until everyone heads back to their new lives.
It's amazing how as we grow, we adapt to so many different environments and how quickly those worlds that at one point seemed so far from one another and so disconnected suddenly collide. Previous to my college experience, I wondered what my life would be like when I returned home; if things would start to look and feel different; if my friends would change simultaneously with my shift in surroundings. Well, things definitely changed and there was no good or bad, because those adjectives are really meaningless. But now, I have found that each of those worlds were really one all along. It's just our perception of where we are at a given point and where we think we will be headed next.

Currently sitting on a bed of a favorite girl's house in a small town in PA. It amazes me how I can go a place so many times, travel the same road over and over, and still find something different about the path that I took.

So, back to transitions and worlds colliding and BLAHBLAHBLAH.
Leaving for another country in one month and a handle or two of days. I always wonder what new "firsts" I'll experience each year. So far I have put color in my hair and cut it shorter than I've ever had it, commuted to school, and lots of other non-thrilling things. I am imagining right now what I'll be adding to the list as I hop onto a plane to go to another country. I guess that is something more prolific than learning to count to ten in French.


Cheesey Tempeh Sammies
Ingredients:

• Your choice of Tempeh (I prefer the grainy ones for this recipe in particular)
• Rice/Soy cheese
• Sunflower Bread
• Hummus/Favorite Spread
• Sprouts

Take the Tempeh and cut into two sections, and then in halves (width-wise) so that you have four thin squares. Cook Tempeh on a skillet or griddle until golden brown and remove, adding slices of cheese to each and sandwiching them together (this recipe makes two sandwiches). Sunflower bread can be spread with hummus, pesto, or your favorite condiment. Place sprouts on top, then cheesey tempeh, then close with other piece of sunflower bread.

Simple, easy peezy, and enjoyable.

And I Told You To Be Patient

And I Told You To Be Fine

I Told You To Be Balanced

I Told You To Be Kind

Closing time. Until we meet again.