HoLLa: Update on Life vol.9

happy saturday all!

can i tell you how freakin’ glad i am that this past week is over?
seriously – i am so obviously not ready for the hustle & bustle of the *holiday season* because one week of two b-day parties, a dinner party, halloween, & pms nearly took me out.
sigh

but it’s a new week & i woke up with the ability to breathe outta both nostrils (praise be!) – so life is def lookin’ up!

so what’s new?
well i think i covered the major happenings with my bajillion of photos i posted throughout the week. although i did spare ya’ll on dumb supper photos – which was great!
(me on the way – testing out camera settings on myself – heh)
and to fill ya in – dumb supper is a dinner eaten in silence where you reverse the courses (dessert first, main course, then salad) in honor of your ancestors & those who have passed. it is held in the evening of the day of the dead (or all saints day – depending on your beliefs) when the veil between the living & the dead is at its thinnest.
(a fun spooky photo of us @ dinner – see the plates full of food – those are our offerings of food for our ancestors & those who have passed – you take a little bit from your plate for each course for the ancestor plate.)
we also had a séance after dinner which is always fun – if you’re into that sort of thing – which i so am!
we had some interesting voices come through via the ghost box & i got some amazing orb photos.

moving along…
i am still kickin’ it on the jillian michaels 30 day shred – can ya believe that today is day 27 & this coming tuesday i will be done (with this part at least) ??? it blows my mind how fast this all went – and fyi – this workout kicks ass & truly works!
(yup – me showing off my mini-muscle! may not look like much but it is more muscle than this chick has ever had & i am pretty stinkin’ proud of the definition!)

i didn’t lose this week on w8 watchers – but i didn’t gain either – so i consider that super success after the food-a-palooza that happened last week. seriously, i think i ate non-stop from saturday – wednesday!
tsk! tsk!

i have my prescrition evaluation on tuesday – yay (insert extreme sarcasm). i am tryin not to be a debbie downer about it all but it still pisses me right the fuck off. but maybe this experience will be different than the last? who knows? hence why i am tryin to be positive…

well folks… that’s all I got!
happy saturday & lotsa bloggy love! so happy to see some of my faves back to bloggin!!!

♥cyn♥

wanna know more about my weight loss journey, weight watchers, and/or my quest to complete jillian michaels 30 day shred?
check out my diet blog -- misadventures of a chunky goddess.

homage: the sage cauldron

Blog-dom!

So it’s been quite some time since I have posted anything remotely related to Goddess Group and/or my Pagan-esque ways.
And well…
It’s time!

***A little fyi – I have hyperlinked some of the terms in an effort to save time by extensive explanantions. Plus I am far from an expert about anything and certainly do not want to give false information – and in this realm – the information is VAST. So I have linked to a website I think best describes what I am talking about even in a round about way -- we are a pretty liberal group and tend to do things in a more casual way – but these websites will give you a general idea.

I am a very lucky gal…
Not only do I get to congregate with a group (our ah-may-zing Goddess Group) of awesome like-minded women where we can be ourselves and discuss whatever topics we like without being given a disapproving side eye – but the group and the metaphysical shop where Goddess Group is held is the brilliant original idea by my best friend Angela (and I gotta give props to her hubby James too).
Yeah – how cool is that?
For those who are not Pagan – trust me, finding like-minded people is hard enough – but a place to hang, talk, purchase magical/metaphysical items, and just be is far and few between!
The Sage Cauldron (link to their website – please check them out.) is all that and more…

You ever walk into somewhere and just feel all cozy & homey?
That’s how I felt the first time I stepped foot in their shop.
(love her coolio ecclectic corkboard – recognize any babies on there? yup, that would be Skylar!)
The smells of herbs, handpoured oils, & incense and the overall aura is just (for a lack of a better word) pure goodness.
Added to the goodness is Goddess Group of course and the classes they offer – I am currently in the midst of a tarot class – plus I have taken classes on herbal magic, candle magic, how to build an altar, and moon magic.

So last night at Goddess Group we had a semi-formal Full Moon Circle as it was the Hunter’s Moon and all.
(here is the moon – although I never have good luck getting good moon shots…)

We made our altar in celebration of the fall – each of bringing decorations as well as personal item to charge with the positive energy of the circle
(here is the altar – and yes, that little blue book is my Weight Watcher weigh-in record – I need all the positive energy I can get!)
(here are some fun photos I took – a little swirly to protect the identity of my fellow goddesses.)
I also took some random photos throughout our evening in hopes of possible catching some orbs -- which I have during previous events held at The Sage Cauldron. And last night was no exception. I had many more photos but they include my goddesses and well, I am not the type to ever post photos without someone’s permission.
(you can see the orbs varried throughout the photo – this area, which is where we conduct Goddess Group, is typically where I get some of the best orb photos in the shop.)
(this photo was actually taken before we cast the circle and invited spirits to join us.)

It was a special evening with a lot of positive energy – as always.

I am so fortunate to have my friend, Angela Lou, Goddess Group, and The Sage Cauldron!
(Ange & I taken 10/7/2011 – our nite out & about!)

Oooh – and next Tuesday for Goddess Group, we are going on a ghost hunt to a local cemetary.
Cool Beans!!!

Blessed be…
♥cyn♥

HoLLa: Update on Life vol. 5

Happy Monday Blogdom!

So it’s been a few days since I wrote on here – been really busy with life, the whole weight watcher/gym thing, having margaritas, spending an entire day bickering/brawling with Bri (grrrrr!), being a mommy to a ridiculously energetic two year old and two teenagers & all while being completely fabulous (snicker).
Cause that’s how I roll ya know…

Okay I gotta few questions to toss out there…
1. Why is that there are xmas trees in Walmart already? Saw them with my own eyes yesterday. Skylar thought they were wonderous – I nearly puked.
2. Why do you always run into someone you haven’t seen in a bazillion years that one time you decide to make a quick dash to pick up milk looking like medusa in ratty(ish) yoga pants & flip flops?
3. Why do some people always seem to look a gift horse in the mouth? Seriously – you are being given something out of the kindness of someone’s heart & you are going to question and critique it? Ah-friggen-may-zing!
4. Why do *old* people feel compelled to show me their bodily issues? I love my grandmother – but I do NOT need to see that *foot thing* you got going on. Wish I was making this one up. Ew!
5. Why do some people not realize that their child is a menace to society and it is not a phase? You have possible serial killer on your hands & it should be addressed.
6. And finally… why is it that some people do not realize that the problem is them? If your family, friends, and co-workers ALL have issue with you – I am guessing it is you?
Any insight is greatly appreciated!

So a little boo-boo update:
Remember this?
Skylar vs. bannister – bannister wins!

Then it progressed to this…
Swollen & freakin’ me out because she actually look different. :)
Then a nice bruise… if bruises are your thing and all?
Finally this is where we are at today.
SO much better. Swelling gone – leaving a nice yellowish bruise.
But still a very sore subject. If I ask her what happened she does this weird eye blinky thing and then makes a fake cry. Obviously she just cannot speak of such things…

So to end on a good note: I start tarot class with Angela @ her shop this week!!!!OMGosh so excited.
I have been wanting to take this class since early this year – just with my job & life it never worked out. But now it does and I am making it a priority.
May sound silly to some? But I have always wanted to really learn how to read cards!

And finally – I think I am finally ready to have my tubes tied. We know we don’t want to have more babies – but choosing not to and being physically unable has been something I have oddly struggled with? I have been two times since Skylar was born to see my ob/gyn (a peach of a woman) about it and both times she told me I wasn’t ready.
I am ready now and with being out of work and Skylar not being quite so dependent on me – the time is right.
I am a bit leery about the procedure and all – any input out there?

Time to seize the day – we have had incredible weather here the past week or so – which is rumored to end this coming weekend. Gonna take Miss Sky outside and maybe to the park?
Toodles!
♥cyn♥

How to Spend a Saturday...

HaPPy SaTuRdaY!

With the boys gone – Brian, myself, and Miss Skylar decided to head out for the day…
Hunter is on a six day trip with his best friend to upstate New York – I am still in disbelief that I allowed him to go. But his friend is a good kid with a nice family and I need to loosen the umbilical cord a bit.
Peyton is off helping his Dad move – poor kid got the sh*t-end of the stick on this deal, but he said at least he would get a take-out dinner outta the deal. Heh!

So we decided to venture to Pagan Pride Day and check it out…





It was fun enough, a gorgeous locale, and the people were amazingly nice. I do have to say that while there were plenty of vendors and lots to see and choose from there wasn’t anything there minus a few items that my friend Angela doesn’t sell in her shop. Aren’t I lucky to be privy to somewhere so cool?

I did buy a pretty pendulum – it’s purple and for $3 including a cute little bag -- it was a steal. Also I bought a peacock feather and tulle hat scarf for my yet to be purchased witch hat. I am sucha sucker for peacock feathers and it will be awesome for Halloween or any witch-hat-wearing-occasion.


Skylar was happy just to be outside and in a park…





Pagan Pride behind us we moved along with our day…



*sigh*
I am so very blessed...


**On a side and very sad note -- I learned this week that a guy I went to high school with passed away from a massive heart attack he suffered earlier this month. He was two classes ahead of me but a very likeable and popular guy. Even now 20+ years later the outpouring of saddness and admiration for him is endearing and a true testament to what a wonderful person he was.
It is surreal when someone so vibrant and full of life passes away -- especially at the young age of 42 and so unexpectedly.
Obviously people I went to high school have passed away before -- usually young and accidentally. To have someone die like this is almost unreal. I think even 20+ years later we all still feel invincible and so obviously we aren't.
Life is precious and oh-so-fragile -- Marty's passing is proof of that.
So RIP Marty -- you were ahead of your time and such a class act!

♥cyn♥

30 MORE Days of Blogging -- Day 15

Day 15 - Five websites you visit often or would recommend

I have sites I visit daily without fail -- Facebook, email, news, my bank.

But sites I love to frequent and would recommend?
Well…

Any of the blogs I follow here -- a whole long list on my side bar over to your right! There are such talented, funny, and real folks out there writing blogs on a bevy of subjects. Obviously I read blogs that somehow pertain to something in my life – Mommyhood, photography, Paganism – to name a few. But I think anyone in any given situation would enjoy any of these blogs!

I LOVE some of the free (well semi-free – some functions require a small monthly fee) photo editing sites like Picnik and BeFunky. So much fun!

Etsy -- I ♥ ♥ ♥ Etsy and just recently got turned on to the site. I have heard so much about it but never gave it a whirl. Thanks to blogger and some amazing giveaways – I spend TONS of time there now! If you love custom, handmade, one-of-a-kind items – this is the place for you!

Sparkpeople -- Now I say this hesitantly because I am such a champion for Weight Watchers and it has given me the tools to lose 40+ lbs. and get a renewed lease on life. BUT… this is an amazing FREE site if you would like to track your food and exercise. Did I mention its FREE?!?! And the community there is wonderful – almost as wonderful as Weight Watchers!

Pioneer Woman -- Ree Drummond does it all – no, really she does! I am new to her and her site but she is an amazing photographer, cook, Mom to four kiddos whom she homeschools, wife, gardener, and author. I follow her on Facebook as well and her posts always make me smile!

And there you have it…
Granted this list could change a week, month, or year from now. But as of this moment – these are my internet hiding spots!
Do enjoy!

Blessed Be…
♥Cyn♥

GiVeAwAyS!!!

If you love giveaways as much as I do… please check out Domestic Witch’s Blog. (Borrowed the above pic from her.)

Amazing stuff for free only makes her blog even that much more MAGICKAL!

The latest GiVeAwAy is just wonderful – check out the link!

Blessed Be…
♥Cyn♥

Goddess Gifts...

Tonight is our Yule Celebration and Full Moon Open Circle for The Goddess Group and these are the homemade painted glass ornaments I made for my fellow Goddesses!

So easy to make too...

1. Just take a clear glass ornament in the size of your choice...
2. Pour any color combination (I recommend at least three colors) acrylic paint INSIDE the glass ornament and swirl -- trying to cover as much of the inside of the ornament as you can...
3. This tends to take a decent amount of paint so don't be stingey!
4. Then place the ornament upside down over an appropriate sized paper cup for the remaining paint to drip out and allow this to drip at least 8-12 hours...
5. Once the paint is completely dripped out of the cup stand the ornament right side up and allow to fully dry another 8-12 hours...
6. Place the metal cover and decorate to your liking...
7. VIOLA -- a very easy one-of-a-kind homemade ornament!
   

I made some dark and some light to symbolize the Winter Solstice...
Dark is for tonight being the longest night of the year...
And light for the returning of the light...
Purple, well because I LOVE purple and it is a goddess-esque color!


These are the little personalized tags I made and printed on my computer...




The wrapped finished product...



Domestic Witch I am not...
But I am pretty proud of my homemade -- made from the heart and soul -- gifts!

And this is the one I kept for myself to hand down to my daughter -- the littlest Goddess -- someday...

Yule Blessings...

♥Cyn♥

Bewitched in Salem...