Style Secrets

Style is something that everyone, especially women,seem to be paying attention to these days. Rachel Zoe,Amanda Brooks,Lauren Santo Domingo,Hanneli Mustaparta,Kate Young..the list keeps going on and on.

However I’d like to focus on one aspect of style which you doesn’t require you to buy clothes/accessories,books,lose weight,cut your hair,try a certain Chanel nail polish..etc.

Style,I feel, is the rudimentary basis of who you are.How you channel yourself through life.How you identify yourself, interact with people, react and act in situations.It’s more than the way you walk or shimmy, the gestures you make when talking, the pace you set in your daily life.

It really doesn’t matter so much what you are wearing, but your mood and personality,individualism and spirt which truly make you stand out. I find myself smiling so much, full of positive energy, literally glowing with happiness. This really does make you stand out, even if that’s not your goal, which is exactly how I feel.

The most vital thing about you and your style is to share it with others. Perhaps that’s why I’ve found the traditionally “stylish” people I’ve met or seen around so uninspiring.Their look and personality is geared mainly on themselves, they won’t open themselves up, and if something starts to chip away at them, they become a wreck.

Who cares what weight you are? Whether your jeans are black, skinny,secondhand or flared? If what contains your belongings is a canvas bag or a Chanel tote? It doesn’t matter at all…what matters is you.

Love you!

Tsunami!

What an eventful evening ! going for my evening stroll around 8:30,I passed a lady on a corner screeching into her phone: “a 9.8 earthquake hit Japan and you betta get your boat outa da harbor tonite!!!” I figured it would be ok to continue with my walk…got home, and sure enough, so much damage to Japan and a surefire tsunami warning for here (Hawai’i) expected between 2 and 3 am.

Then the horns. Those loud tsunami warning horns which blare for minutes, chill you to the bone and certainly scare the dickens out of children and animals.They sounded every hour from 9 pm to 3 am. Plus two of my neighbors are firemen,so they were shuttling off in their huge SUVs between here and their stations it seemed all night long. One had evacuees on his lawn, and the dogs in this neighborhood were really unsettled.

Thankfully I live a few miles up from the beach, and out of the inundation zone, but so many were evacuated. Thankfully there don’t seem to be any casualties on this island,but it is hard to get the thorough information even now.

On a culinary note, have been making pesto alla Tajna (me) quite often.It’s delicious with steamed asparagus,brussel spouts,cauliflower,broccoli, and roasted quinoa with avocado.

-two cups lightly chopped basil

-half a cup roasted nuts,walnuts are healthiest but macadamias are the local ones and yummiest for me

-half a cup olive oil

-big tablespoon of miso

combine all these into a blender/food processor, pulse until ready.

Prayers and positive energy to all in Japan.

Second Sickness Week

It’s amazing how easily you can get sick! I’m becoming quite the pro at it…I thought it would only happen this easily traveling on planes,between several countries in a week,no, you can get sick at home. Here’s the checklist:

watch a movie that really is disturbing,accurate,and true to life..something which keeps your thoughts going,making you feel guilty for having such a cushioned and easy existence.In my case, it was Julia starring the amazing Vanessa Redgrave,Jane Fonda,and Meryl Streep the creep. WOW !

OK, now that you’ve only slept four hours, your nose is running,throat sore,sinuses congested, take some Umcka cold care, cherry is the best flavor.Sleep a lot.Drink a lot of tea..especially Tulsi Sweet Rose,Licorice, and Throat Coat. Fall asleep at odd hours,forget to do the dishes,but make sure to fit in some exercise. Even if your nose is running in downward dog, do it anyway..

well now since I’m on second week being sick, I can effectively rule out hiking (steep trails and low energy are not a wise combination) but can get all my paintings for the exhibit done.Just have to remember…now signing off for a nice hot bath, a nap and possibly some painting.

yawn

Cherry Cough Syrup Musings

Well here I am sick again,first time this year. Torrents of vog from the island of Hawai’i and being blown in, my throat is killing me,my Carl Sagan book makes me nod off…and I think I’ve had too much cherry cough syrup.Why is there alcohol in that stuff? One thing that people often miss or neglect when they are sick is sunlight..I was just sitting in the sun, it was nice..however I had to put on citronella as it is mosquito season. Being sick,as well as having been only awake an hour,I managed to drowsily squirt citronella right in my eye.I think most of it got on my eyelid luckily.

I wanted to make pesto today,so in my feverish stupor I got out the miso,olive oil,macadamia nuts…but no pesto! too bad! I roasted the nuts anyway and ate them while taking a nice hot bath.Yes,sickness does indulge you to do unusual things.

The WORST part of being sick is that Arun Gandhi,grandson of Mohandas, is here giving several talks each day!!! I’m too ill to make it..and I JUST saw “Gandhi” last weekend,so what better person to appreciate than me?

Oh woe is me! just joking! at least it isn’t fatal…I think.

Back to my sunny patch of grass.