Happy New Year! Welcome to 2014!!

I hope everyone had a safe, happy and fun New Year's Eve last night! 

 

Are you watching all the New Year's festivities on T.V. today? 

 

  

What are your New Year's Day traditions?

 

For the last few years, we've spent New Year's with my sister and her family up in the mountains. This year everyone stayed home and we're watching the New Year's Day Parade and just chillin'.

We're also enjoying the sunshine and the fact that we live in a climate where we're not buried under 3 feet of snow and ice. (Sorry to those of you who are suffering through all the cold and icky stuff - you have my sympathy!)

Arizona Sunset Photo by Paul Hindman

 

 

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, 2014 is looking to be a year of change and I've chosen a 'word' for the year and I wanted to share it with you.

 

Actually, this year's word chose me.

 
This past week, as I was giving thought to how 2014 might shape up and what I wanted, this word popped into my head almost immediately.

(much easier and quicker than last year's word!!)

 

My dad used to say all the time to me,...

"Shelly, keep your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut!" 

 

Yeah - that's always been a really hard one for me. 

 

I'm a bit 'wordy', if you haven't noticed!

So, when this word hit me,
I knew it was for a reason.

And for once, I was ready to listen.

 

 

My word for 2014 is: 

 

Observe:

 

1: to inspect or take note of; to take notice 

2:  to watch carefully, especially with attention to details or behavior for the purpose of arriving at a judgment

3: to make a scientific observation on or of 
(how fitting w/our environmental business!!)

4:  to come to realize or know especially through consideration of noted facts

5: to make observations; to watch
 

 

I would like to observe things more closely this year.

To take things in, to learn, to see, to observe and absorb with my heart and my head, the world around me. 

 

To observe things allows me to grow and learn.

When I observe things, it makes it easier to write about them with an open mind.

Observing my students and listening to their needs makes it easier to teach my jewelry classes and write tutorials.
(Which I still plan to do in 2014)

And, I'm certain that the more I observe things happening in our environmental business and IAQ industry, I will learn and grow in this area as well.

 

 

So, what's on your plate for 2014? 

 

Do you choose a 'word' for the year?

 

Please share your word and reasoning behind it if you do, I'd love to listen!

 

I'm wishing you all a very Happy New Year! 

 

May you and your loved ones be blessed with good health and much happiness in 2014!

 

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Observing the New Year!

Cheers,

~Shel~

*Arizona Sunset photo by Paul Hindman
All other photos by me. :-)

Dia de los Muertos

 

From Black Snow Comics - Via Pinterest

Here in Arizona (and many places around the world) Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a heavily celebrated, three day celebration from October 31st through November 2nd.

 Breaking it down:

October 31st - All Hallows Eve - Young ones make a Children's altar to invite 'Angelitos' (spirits of dead children) to come back for a visit.

 

November 1st - All Saints Day - Altars are made for spirits of the adults who have passed to come back for a visit.

 

November 2nd - All Souls Day - People go to the cemeteries of their relatives and loved ones who have passed and decorate their graves/tombs and leave marigolds, muertos (bread) and sugar skulls (cookies).  Families celebrate their loved ones lives and remember them by saying prayers for the departed and by sharing stories with each other.

*You can find a more thorough explanation on Wikipedia under Dia de los Muertos - summarized by Frances Ann Day (Latina and Latino Voices in Literature (Frances Ann Day), Greenwood Publishing Group, page 72)

 

The decorations and pictures used to symbolize Dia de los Muertos and the Day of the Dead can look a bit morbid or offensive to some people.

 

Here where we live, we're used to seeing many paintings, figurines, sculptures and the like - so it's not offensive or morbid to us.

 

It's honoring those you love through art.

 

Just like any other holiday or celebration.

 

 

 

 

We have many loved ones who have passed on.

 

Family and friends who we miss, but are blessed to have had in our lives.

 

We choose to celebrate their lives by honoring their memories and celebrating their souls.

 

Knowing quite well how much richer our lives are because of them.

 

Believing they are always here, within us, guiding us and helping us as we go through our own lives.

 

Here's to our loved ones.

 

To the Celebration of their lives.

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving

 

 

Wishing all my family and friends in the U.S.

a very warm and wonderful Thanksgiving!

 

Until Next Time,

Peace and Love!

Cheers,

~Shel~