Halloween Countdown: Porch Deco.

With only 44 days till Halloween....  time to consider decorations as this year I will actually be in a neighborhood instead of sitting out in rural acreage! 




As Thadd and I will be pirates, our skeleton will make the trip to NOLA from Roswell. Here "she" is a Donner Party victim..

I really like this site with a TUTORIAL for a GRIM 

But likely with my little porch,

will do treasure chest, skeleton, netting, and a bottle of rum!

Just don't say it!

This is my mantra...

that I don't heed.

I seem to have

the same problem

 as Thumper...

My New Work Studio!

While in Roswell, I am fortunate to occupy the Roswell Movie Studios Wardrobe room.  I just finished setting it up; we designed and built the clothing area, shelving, and the dressing room. 

So when you are wondering where I am.. visualize me at my desk working on Studio business, blogging, writing, or creating magnificent things in this awesome, did I say BIG, studio!

Pictured is all our costuming wardrobe stock (mostly period), my Yes2Years inventory, supplies, and current projects.

This is start of Thadd's Halloween Pirate jacket!

This is start of my Halloween Pirate outfit!

The Bucket List... the important things..

I LOVE THIS PIC!

It is the opt-out of "working on your bucket list"... that is, unless you are sitting on that island beach with this bucket by your side!

All joking aside,  I want to share with you  LifeHack.org's post "The Ultimate Bucket List: 60 Things You Should Do Before You Die". This list is compilation of rewarding experiences;  things which, when mastered, are life changing. Most of the items on the list fit into that PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT bucket list category, such as these two:
Master your Emotions
A definite requirement for my list, as I am often quick to comment.. and not in a positive way, which has gotten me in trouble more than a few times. Working on it!
Acquire Conflict Resolution Skills.
Another skill I lack, as running from conflict is much easier.  What I need is "the ability to resolve disagreements rationally and settle disputes amicably".

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lifehack's list differs from lists full of  EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCES, like the number 1 activity on every one's bucket list of  "JUMP OUT OF AN AIRPLANE".... (what?  that IS on my list!)...  Consider:

a 2014 study published in Psychological Science, found that "while extraordinary experiences of the type crammed into bucket lists may be pleasurable in the moment, they can leave us socially worse off in the long run."  

WHY?

Experts believe that for true satisfaction, we need to have more "meaningful connections with other people" and less "inward-looking acts"  that may possibly lead to "feelings of isolation and disconnection".

HMMMM.

So, need to go back to the basics of WHAT is a Bucket List, and ask yourself, "IF I know I will die tomorrow, what would I do today?" Specifically,  IF you had only 24 hours to live, would you spend that time:

1. getting a tattoo
2. dying your hair purple
3. paint each of your toenails a different color
4. swallow a goldfish whole
5. ....

You get the picture.  Back to the drawing board... let's add to our Bucket Lists the commandment to: 

CHOOSE to populate your list with things

that REALLY MATTER to you!

... like a bucket of beer..

How many Aphrodisiac foods do YOU enjoy?

aph·ro·dis·i·ac

ˌafrəˈdizēˌak,afrəˈdēzēˌak/

• noun: a food, drink, or drug that stimulates sexual desire.

1. • adjective: a thing that causes excitement.

     
     

       
     

     From a previous post, you may have noticed that I LOVE OYSTERS- especially the oysters from the Gulf Coast..... I just love the taste...  BUT perhaps there is some 'behind the scenes' encouragement?  I certainly would not mind having them served THIS WAY:   
   • 
     

   All kidding aside, I was intrigued reading this list of other aphrodisiacs from a Reader's Digest post, surprisingly most of the food I like to eat (HMMMMmmmm again.....).  How many of these foods do you enjoy?

• Oysters- confirmed.
• Chili Peppers - living in NM also, renown for the Hatch Red & Green Chili, of course!
• Avocados- also a staple for standard west coast cuisine.
• Chocolate- all my close friends know that I don't go a day without a bite of chocolate!
• Bananas- I am a regular monkey- even wrote a paper on bananas in college!
• Honey- well here I am not a big eater- hubby is though!
• Coffee- I drop the ball here also as I am a green tea drinker.  The report indicates it is the caffeine in coffee that ups the heart rate.
• Watermelon- well depends on if there is room in the fridge.
• Pine Nuts- also a product of New Mexico, however I don't eat so strike 3?
• Arugula- nope.
• Olive Oil- no, not regularly.
• Figs- ah, the food of the Garden of Eden.  I didn't know they had that section at my grocery.. Nope.
• Strawberries.  Yep!  Love!
• Artichokes-  Nope.
• Chai Tea- YES!  Has more calories the way I like it than my standard cup of green tea, so don't have it regularly.
• Pomegranate- have had, but not regularly.  Too hard to eat!
• Cherries- when in season, always grab a sackful!
• Pumpkin seeds- these are fun to toast up from our Jack-O-Lanterns.
• Whipped Cream- hmmmm...  are you suppose to eat it?

How did you do? 

I counted that I regularly eat 10 of these 19 aphrodisiac foods!

YEP, the SPARKS are flying!

Let's talk about "Bucket Lists"...

Since the release of "The Bucket List" in 2007, a craze emerged with people intently making their own bucket lists.  And it has taken many forms.. not just things that one wants to do before they die, but almost becoming a list of what one wants to be like.. a reminder that life is short and you should simply take care of yourself and do THINGS!

I have  created a "bucket list" on my Pinterest site and also have "the exit plan" board, but reviewing these boards, I seem to focus on vacations and retirement future, which technically are those things that you do when you get around to and have more time, more money, more....   well you get the idea.

Here are some "definitions" of Bucket List that I found across the web:

•  it is a list of all the goals you want to achieve, dreams you want to fulfill and life experiences you desire to experience before you die.
• A bucket list is a list of things you want to do before you die. The term comes from the saying 'kick the bucket'
• A "Bucket List" is a list of things to do before kicking the proverbial bucket, and it's unique to each individual
• A bucket list is a list of everything that you want to be, do, have, and experience in life.

Well, you get the idea.

But if you are a list-maker or feel like your list is not achievable,  take this idea and CATEGORIZE your Bucket List (thank you to DaringtoLiveFully.com for their list ideas):

1. TRAVEL Bucket List
2. ADVENTURE Bucket List
3. FITNESS Bucket List
4. SPORTS Bucket List
5. MUSIC Bucket List
6. HOBBIES Bucket List
7. ENTERTAINMENT Bucket List
8. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT Bucket List
9. EDUCATION Buycket List
10. FINANCIAL Bucket List
11. RELATIONSHIP Bucket List
12. LIFESTYLE Bucket List
13. SPIRITUALITY Bucket List
14. CONTRIBUTIONS Bucket List
15. VOCATION Bucket List
16. FOOD Bucket List
17. JUST FOR FUN Bucket List
18. SUMMER Bucket List

WAIT.. isn't this what PINTEREST is for?

I think the challenge is to take your pins, your list, your dreams... and seek to DO!  Pick one thing maybe each month, or focus on ONE to achieve each year.. whatever your comfort level is, as a we all run the gamble of 'kicking the bucket' today or tomorrow, and while making the list is the first step, the real satisfaction will venturing out and DOING.

I challenge you.  I challenge myself. 

Pick something off your list and get it  done before the end of SEPTEMBER!

Emancipate Yourself... Continuously.

Bob Marley wrote a song that included the inspirational words from a speech by Marcus Garvey:

"We are going to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery because whilst others might free the body, none but ourselves can free the mind. Mind is your only ruler, sovereign. The man who is not able to develop and use his mind is bound to be the slave of the other man who uses his mind; use your intelligence to work out the real things of life. The time you waste in levity, in non-essentials, if you use it properly you will be able to guarantee to your posterity a condition better than you inherited from your forefathers."

What does this mean?

Emancipation = Independence. Liberation. Release.

Mental = Psychological. Spiritual. Intellectual.

Slavery = Bondage. Captivity. Subjugation.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Emancipation from Mental Slavery

=

Spiritual Release.

Intellectual Independence. 

Psychological Liberation.

How does one achieve this?

NOT being stagnate. NOT conforming to the status quo.

LEARN & SEEK new knowledge, insights, ideas...  continually do a MENTAL UPGRADE.

Start today; instead of passively watching a sitcom or TV drama, grab a book and store up some knowledge!

You are born with a FREE mind... and YOU hold the key.. UNLOCK IT!