Goodbye Left Ovary

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A week from today (Oct. 22. 2015) I will be saying goodbye to my left ovary and both fallopian tubes. I love my little ovary and I'm not fond of having to loose it. I have to admit that I'm scared shitless! I'm sure all is going to go well, but there is always that slight chance for the unexpected. The unexpected discovery that there is more going on than the benign cyst. The unexpected chance that I wake up to find that I had a full hysterectomy and that I have, should I even say it, CANCER. Even worse, for my family in particular, is the unexpected chance my untimely death for some unexpected reason. I can't say for sure that that outcome would be the worst for me because the Promise Land could be wonderful and I would be at peace.

So just I case, I feel like I need to take stock of the life I've lived so far. I have had a great life. First, I have a loving, wonderful Mother. I draw all my strength from the lessons she has taught me. I have two great and very supportive sisters. We depend on each other and are secure in the knowledge that we will always be there for each other.

I've always followed my heart and have always played it safe with practical decision making. I've had my pick of men and have found true love. Rick is my knight in shining armor. I have grown and become a better person because of him. The family that we have made together has been both challenging and rewarding. The challenge was to try and have a family at all. After six years of failed attempts, we turned to adoption and were blessed with two beautiful boys.

Adam, I couldn't be prouder of you. We have so many similarities it's as if you came from my body. You also follow your heart and the creative spirit is strong in you. You are so lucky that you have tapped into that at such a young age. May you always be lucky and create the life that will make you happy.

Benjamin, you are a shining star. Your energy is infectious and your talents are many. You make me happy when you walk in the room and the affection you give is like no other. You will be great at what ever you decide to focus on. I am very proud of you as well and couldn’t picture my life without you in it.

Overall I've lived a pretty fulfilled life. I've worked hard, played hard and loved passionately. And let's not forget the GREAT friendships I've made along the way. I have no regrets and would do it a lover again. A big thanks to all my friends and family that helped make my life so rich and filled with love. I am fulfilled…

Note: Today is Oct 30, one day after my surgery. All went well and I feel thankful and free from that pre-op anxiety. I’m grateful that it has given me the opportunity to review the life I’ve lived so far and am looking forward to the rest of it. Today is the beginning of the rest of my life :-)

Our Common Goals

As I once again contemplate the end of a year and what it all means, I'm observing my life as a "package". It has been a year of change. My 14 yr old graduated from middle school and began high school. My 10 yr old is finally one of the "big boys" at school being that it's his last year in elementary and I returned to school and got certified in web development. Having crossed over from print design to web, I decided to put my home design business aside and work out of the house at GLC in Northbrook, IL. I'm discovering that GLC has a great group of clients who are also evolving from print to online products. A perfect fit for me! My husband is as wonderful and supportive as ever and open to new challenges. 

Our house is also part of this life "package". As our family continues to morph into our ever changing lives, I've found that our living space has to morph along with us. It's time to rethink the space and look at it as if we are moving in to it all over again with our current needs in mind. It's time to refocus our lives as well as our businesses and reshape the space to make us more productive. Whether it's our personal/family life or our businesses, the beginning of a new year is the perfect time to straighten our brand. 

I've always had a good sense about what's wrong with this picture. Especially when it comes to issues other than my own. This year it's time to take look at my life "package" from the outside looking in and ask: 

1. What's come up this year that's doesn't seem to fit anymore? 
2. What's the best way to address this, given our current circumstance. 
3. What's the cost and how much will I loose if I wait? 
4. Once I take the leap, what will I gain? 
5. Will I be happy? 

Isn't that the REAL goal? HAPPINESS. I know exactly what I'm going to do at our house! We should all take that look at our life "package", our brand, our businesses, and move forward, investing in our common goal. 

Have a "Happy", Happy New Year!

Take it From the Guinea Pig

Hello my friends. I have found blogging to be a self-revealing experience, giving stage to my multifaceted personality. I especially like looking back to see who I was on any particular blogging day. I'm either the "Creative Spirit", with the need to plug into creative projects in order to keep me sane and life interesting. Or I'm the "life coach". That's the side of me who dispenses advice, whether you listen or not. At times I'm also the "Beauty Queen", imparting beauty advice whether you like/need it or not. And finally (so far), I am the self-healing, organic Whole Foods hustler. That's the hat I'm wearing for this occasion.

Today I want address this dreaded flu season and what I do about it. I am not a pill taker so most of my remedies or dietary supplements are in liquid form or tiny pellets. Please note that there are conditions in which you wouldn't want to hype up your immune system, such as illnesses presumably caused by an overactive immune system called "autoimmune diseases." Also please follow the package directions at all times.

First order of importance is PREVENTION:

• Of course, washing your hands constantly is #1. It's also not enough to have a hand sanitizer in your purse. You have to use it for it to work. On my holiday cruise, to help keep illness "at bay", not only were there hand sanitizer dispensers at the entrance of all facilities where people gathered, there was also a staff member standing at the restaurant entrances pumping it when you walked in and walked out. I know dispensers are more of a common theme in many stores and office buildings, but there is something about paying a person to stand there making sure you use it that hits home.
• During flu season, start adding some drops of Astragalus, a liquid dietary supplement, into your water, teas and juices. Amongst other things Astragalus is used to protect and support the immune system, for preventing colds and upper respiratory infections.

If you do come down with a cold or flu:

• Super Lysine in liquid form is the one to take. It's a complex of Echinacea and shiitake extracts. Both powerful system strength boosters, but what makes this one special is that it has Lysine. So if you are prone to getting cold sores, the Lysine is there to help suppress them. Genius isn't it! Please note that this one also contains goldenseal, which can be troublesome for those who are allergic to rag weed. In this case use the herbal remedy on it's own. Two weeks is the maximum time you should take Echinacea. So save it for when you need it.
• Of course you should also drink lots of liquids, organic preferably. Kick it up a notch by mixing in a packet Emergen-C.
• One remedy that's on the top of my list is, ready for this one, Oscillococcinum by Boiron. (Try saying that three times fast.) This Homeopathic medicine comes as tiny pellets taken sublingually and is a MUST for any time you start feeling weak and fluish.
• The last of my artillery of remedies is a new discovery on my end. Sovereign Silver. It's another immune support liquid dietary supplement. What's great about this one is that it also comes as a nasal spray. For me it's nothing short of a miracle for sinus infections. If the antibiotics don't work, spray one to two pumps in each nostril as soon as you feel the familiar ache and before you know it your feeling your old self again!

All these products are found at Whole Foods (of course). You can also look up your oun remedies in the health book I consider to be my health bible, Prescription for Nutritional Healing. To find out more specifics on these products click on their names and it will take you to the links. Please know that I'm not a doctor or trained specialist, but only the genie pig. So, see your doctor when you feel the necessity. Until a cure is found for the common cold or flu there is not much they could do but treat the symptoms. These products treat the body! As for your mind… Well let's leave that for when I'm wearing a different hat.

Stay well!

Celebrating in Style!

Well, I did it. It took 8 months of planning and lots of shopping. But the day finally came and went. My 50th birthday party in NY!

It's hard to predict the factors in life that will stir and motivate you into action until you cross its path. Recently, for me, it was my 50th birthday. No matter what anyone says it is a big deal. In my opinion, having lived ½ a decade, grants me a pass to voice my thoughts on life, love and angels. (As if I've needed a reason.) How liberating is that!

Deciding where I wanted to be and with whom was first on my agenda. So sharing this day with family, childhood friends and the friends made in those first career building years in NYC, was a no-brainer. 50 years was reason enough to celebrate my first boyfriends, my first jobs, and all those wonderful, amazing people that have a share in all my life's first endeavors. From playing red light green light on the streets of Brooklyn, to receiving my hairdressers license from Sarah J Hale Vocational High School. Which lead me to my first eye-opening career, working at Colette Hair Design, on the Upper East Side. All the while continuing my education at School of Visual Arts and moving into my first apartment on 13th street between A & B, on the Lower East Side. Upon graduating with a BFA, I went on to the graphic design industry with a focus on printed publications. Yes "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Ugly Betty" both resinate with me!

So many memories in, what seems, such a short time. I have a lot to celebrate and be thankful for. I am happy where I am today. I have a wonderfully, understand husband, 2 beautiful adopted boys and I'm owner of my own company, small as it may be, IC Design Studio LTD. I think, in order to keep momentum, it's key to tackle life's' challenges as soon as they arise.

Now, as I reflect on that special nights celebration, I am moved to tears and feel truly blessed to have been surrounded and still have such loving angels in my life. One of the most important life lessons I've found is to always surround myself with pure, honest and loving people. Weed out the bad energy and keep in touch with those that have helped me along the way. For these are your angels on earth.

As I stand on this 50 year mountaintop (or hill top. Keep in mind that it's not over the hill), I have a beautiful view of the fairies and angels that have been and are still with me. I know they will always be there! For this I thank God and the Universe.

Taking Flight

This morning my husband and I proudly watched as our 11 year old son rode his bike to his first day of middle school. In many ways, I suppose, it's like he's going off to college. Fifth grade was a giant turning point. It was his time to test boundaries and flex his wings.

This past year, one realization has become very clear to me. We, as parents, get the first 10 years of a child's life to plant seeds, we hope, will guide them through life's journeys. During the first years of life your children need you and look up to you as Gods. I know there will be other opportunities to guide, but I suspect those will come few and far between and only when he comes to me for help. We must be vigilant, without being noticed. This is the next parenting skill to master.

For now, the dreaded rolling of the eyes and "I know it all attitude" has raised its ugly head. Funny, I thought I would be immune to such an attitude, being the cool, hip mom that I am. It's all "RANDOM" now. If you haven't heard it yet, it's this new generations "cool word" of the day. Do they even know what the word means? Random: Not expected. Something that is unpredictable, has no pattern or objective. Sounds to me like a good way to get out of using your brain, to figure things out. But what do I know. I'm only THE MOM: Goddess of the allowance.

My Wish for the World

I was at a dinner party the other night and I met someone that has never heard of, nor has never been to a Whole Foods Market. We were jokingly, discussing that given all the preservatives most of us have consumed in life, when we die, our bodies will lay, untouched by decay for an inordinate amount of time. And when we finally do decay, our silicone implants and extra, shiny, white teeth will still be in tact.

I know living a healthy lifestyle doesn't depend on buying your groceries at Whole Foods, but for me, it sure has made it a lot easier. Having been a label reader for decades now, I find comfort shopping at a store I can trust. Although they don't only carry organic products, all foods sold there are natural and have the highest quality. I don't mean to sound like a spokes person for this mega, niche conglomerate (says the Whole Foods slut), and I am well aware of the bad rap they've received in the past. Whatever-r-r, that's business for you. (No offense to the little guys.) However, I'm all for anything that helps people stay aware and responsible for their own health.

The truth of the matter is, there are still far too many people in the world that are oblivious to the consequences of ingesting the toxins that are slowly poisoning their bodies. I know and understand that those chemicals were first added to increase production and feed more people, not to mention make the food industries rich. We were all unaware of the effects pesticides and hormones (click on this one!) were going to have on us, and on the earth, but times have changed. A new day has dawned. Give up the McDonalds fast food chains and the processed foods. There ain't nothing healthy about that!

If everyone shops for only natural & organic whole foods not only will we live healthier, but the food production industries will have to cave. (What can I say, I'm an idealist.) Happily, I have been noticing conventional markets with a growing organic food section. This will make it easier for people to make the right choice.

So as this year comes to a close, my wish for the world is for all people to make choices with eyes wide open, for themselves and for their families.

From my Whole Foods to yours, have a happy and healthy holiday!

Free Your Spirit this Halloween!

Halloween is my favorite holiday. There is a sense of freedom I feel during Halloween like no other. It's an opportunity to step out of my normalcy and free my spirit. This is the hat I'll be wearing this year, as I traditionally pass out a champagne treat to the adults.

Halloween's origins date back 2000 years, to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). Celts believed that on the night before the new year (Nov. 1^st), the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred.

In Mexico Los Dias de los Muertos is a time of remembering and rejoicing. They dress up as ghouls, ghosts, mummies and skeletons and parade through the town. They also create magnificent alters in the cemeteries and bring food for a picnic lunch by a loved ones grave. The monarch butterflies returning from the summer months spent up north, are believed to bring the spirit of those that have died. They are reunited with them on this special day.

I admit that I have a fascination with death. In my view, death is a celebration of a life complete. When some one dies, of course I'm as sad as any other person, but I'm also a bit jealous. Talk about freedom, what can feel freer than to detach from your earthly bounds, to have no form in which to hold and shape you, to fly! In my view there's no escaping the inevitable, so why not accept and get comfortable with the fact, rather than get grossed out in the mortality of it all.

Orbs of energy are our true form and relatively speaking, since time is endless, we are only in our current mortal bodies for a spec of a moment.

So why not celebrate a life complete as well as our time here, all in one lovely night.

Happy Halloween!