Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my Dad's Birthday! For those of you who don't know, my Dad is pretty awesome! Here are some of the things I love about him:

• He is super funny! A total character, I am telling you.
• He is a great cook - ask my Mom, he has dinner on the table when she gets home (lucky!).
• With the above stated, he will cook outside on the grill in the dead of winter!
• He knows a little about everything - which makes him a perfect candidate to be a Jeopardy contestant.
• He is very creative - makes all kinds of things, my dollhouse when I was a kid, birdhouses, little holiday decorations, "Stanley's Cup" (sorry Mom, had to mention it).
• He can talk to just about anyone and find something in common.
• He always has supported what ever it is I choose to do, even if I end up quitting in the end.
• He is always there to talk, listen or just shoot the shit and I love that.

I could go on forever. Dad, you are my hero, the best man I know and I wish you all the best on your Birthday!

Jack!

I had to share these photos of my "nephew" Jack. My sister Emily decided to get him a cool cut for the summer and apparently he loves it and now sleeps with her since he is not so hot all the time. I saw these photos last night and was laughing so hard I was crying. If you know my sister Emily and know how freakin funny she is you would say, "of course she would give him a Lion cut, just for the laughs". She said it was worth the cut just to hear my Dad's reaction to him when they got home from the "salon", she said she had not heard him laugh that hard in a long time, that made me happy! On a side note, Sasha (my Aunt Mary's orphaned cat now living at my parents house) saw Jack and hissed because she did not recognize him at all.

Without further ado, here's Jack....

Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...

Fabulous Finds {local edition}

Today the Babe and I went to Hayes Valley to meet up with Jadin for a late lunch/brunch. There were a couple new restaurants in her hood that she wanted to check out so we decided on an Italian place called Cafe Altano, it was wonderful. So many choices on the menu it was hard to decide. After lunch we decided to walk around a bit and window shop. There are so many cute little stores to look in but my favorite was Miette Patisserie & Confiserie, I had been to the one at the Ferry Plaza but this one was like a Fairy Land - pink, vintage floral wallpaper, great apothecary glass jars filled with candy and cute girls behind the counter ready to help. Oh, and a licorice section! They scored an A+ in my book because they also sell Maltesers! I bought some fun stuff there including some hard coffee candies in a tin (I am a sucker for tins) and some butterscotch flavored drops by the same company (made in Holland, can't read the rest). Next time you are in Hayes Valley you have to stop by this place, it is incredible. They also host parties! How fun would it be to have a candy tasting party? How fun would it be to be invited to a candy tasting party? ha ha!

My Own Backyard

"If I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own back yard"

-Dorothy Gale (Wizard of Oz)

I love discovering new places anywhere in the world really, but especially in my own backyard. Yesterday I had to go to the Headlands Institute to check out some future meeting space for work (I love this part of my job). I made the meeting at 3 so I could walk around afterwards and explore a little before heading home to the city. I had been to Point Bonita before but never across the little lagoon and it was amazing. The weather yesterday afternoon was typical Bay Area summer weather, cold, foggy and windy out there on the coast, but so beautiful at the same time.

Here are some things I saw on my little solo adventure:

Point Bonita LighthouseBattery Mendel - I creeped myself out exploring this place alone, it's weird.

On my last photo stop to try and get a photo of the fog covered Golden Gate Bridge this little guy greeted me as I got out of my car and he let me take his photo. Look at his cute little teeth!

Our Golden Girl wearing a fog stole to keep her warm during this cold summer.

I picked the Babe up on the way back home and we went to dinner at Little Nepal in our neighborhood, we were happy to see it was somewhat crowded too, I love this place and had not been since Angela took me here for my birthday a couple years ago.
Such a nice second part of the day it was. I feel lucky to live in such a great place, I am bummed I don't spend more time discovering the rest of my back yard.

Why Don't You?...Maltese Kat Style

That was fast, here is mine! I could have gone on for pages and pages - but these are HOT on my list right now. I am no Sarah Jessica Parker, but I hope you still enjoy it!

Why Don't You?
The Maltese Kat shares her tips for a fun and fabulous life.

• Eat dinner at the table at least 5 days a week. No distractions, just dinner and conversation. If you are alone, even better...just enjoy your meal in silence. Either way, you will digest better sitting at the table.
  
  
• Carry a compact/packable shopping bag in your purse or car at all times in case you stop on the way home for groceries (or whatever, really).
  
  
• Write in a journal at least 3 times a week. It is like therapy. Just you, your favorite pen and journal. You will learn incredible amounts of interesting things about yourself. Need someone to just listen and not give you their opinion? Have a secret you a dieing to release? Write it down, you will feel incredible. Just think how fun it will be to look back when you are 80! I have learned many lessons by writing in a journal.
  
  
• Use coupons for as much as you can! There is no shame in my game, I scour the Internet for them all the time. I am not brand loyal so I have probably saved hundreds of dollars this year so far.
  
  
• If you don't like what's in the store, MAKE IT YOURSELF. Nothing is as satisfying as making something yourself whether it be a meal, a blanket or a scarf. If you don't know how to make it, take a class or ask someone to teach you.
  
  
• Trade when possible. You teach someone something, they teach you something. You babysit for them, they cat sit (in my case) for you. I love trading - I owe Ali over at Lostfoot a trade and she is in Scotland (Ali, I have not forgotten).
  
  
• Pass your already read books on...are you really going to read them again?
  
  
• Drink a TON of water each day. Your entire body will perform a lot better for a lot longer when its well moisturized.
  
  
• Read blogs! Learn about other people, try their recipes and ideas. You never know what you might pick up and incorporate into your everyday life. I am constantly inspired by the blogs I read.
  
  
• Get together with your girlfriends for a weekend at least once a year. The time together is amazing, rejuvenating and priceless.
  
  
• Take time for yourself even if you don't think you need it. Do something for yourself each day even if you have to lock yourself in the bathroom to have some time alone in silence to clear your head and check in with yourself. Tell yourself you are fabulous, thank your eyes for seeing you through another day, thank you hands for working, thank your feet for carrying you around.

Why Don't You?...

While cleaning out my desk the other day I found a page clipped from the March issue of Harper's Bazaar and thought I would share. I tried to scan it and attach as a photo, but it's too small to read. Here it is, enjoy!
WHY DON’T YOU…?
Sarah Jessica Parker shares her tips for a chic and gracious life.

• Try, for every 20 e-mails you send, to write a letter, an old-fashioned letter, and post it. Remember how it felt to receive an actual letter or postcard in the mail?

• Keep a bucket filled with candy. Cheap, good candy. From butterscotch hard candies to Bulls-Eyes to spice drops. Pretty cheap per pound, low calorie, and great late at night while working or staying up too late reading or watching television. It will scratch the itch.

• Use your local library. So few people do anymore. And if you are a parent, introduce your children to their neighborhood library. It will give them a real sense of independence to have their own library card and enjoy borrowing books.

• Empty out your purse twice a week, tossing all coins into a mason jar, an old coffee can, or a strange-shaped and not particularly practical porcelain jar. It’s wonderfully surprising to discover what can accumulate. You can give the money to charity (always feels good), and it’s grand to do in the spring when charities are not on people’s minds.

• Cook or bake something outrageous that you are convinced will be impossible. The advantage of this endeavor is that it can actually get you cooking more meals at home. Once you are triumphant with the absurdly difficult, a meal for yourself or your family will seem like a cakewalk (so to say). And it can be a great money saver.

• Walk more. It simply feels great. And for those who have an “allergy” to working out, it’s a great way to get the blood moving. If you are feeling extra adventurous, try putting some speed into that walk.

• Read the editorial page of your local paper. It introduces you to opinion and can be terrifically provocative and perhaps a great motivating force for you to get involved in your community, regardless of your political ideology.

• Get eight hours of sleep, though I never do.

What would you put on your "Why Don't You?... " list? I am thinking about mine and if I ever finish it, I will share it here.

Tongue Tied

Last night on my way home from work I stopped at the local grocery to pick up a few things so I could make dinner the next couple nights at home. I got to the produce section and there she was, Katita Waldo of San Francisco Ballet. My stomach did a little flip flop, I did not see her face but knew it was her by the body and the hair. I had seen her speak at a Pointe of View lecture in 2008 and thought she was super cool, great sense of humor and so deeply talented and a trait I love...animated! Well, I was just standing there with my jaw down to my naval staring at her, willing her to turn around so I could say something. Inner voice: come on, turn around, I know who you are, you are incredible, we shook hands once remember? Wait...what am I going to say? I should go into another aisle and rehearse something, oh come on, turn around!

A brief twist of her long neck and we were face to face...her; beautiful, tall, bird like...me; sweating a little, short (in comparison) and tree stump like. Before I could even think about it a noise came out of my mouth that sort of sounded like, "Hiiieeeeegh". Inner voice: Great. Fabulous. Sounds good Katie. Now walk away, just walk away and don't say anything anymore to anyone, period. Silly, she is just a person, come on now. Now walk away. But wait, she said "Hi" back. Oh my God, this is incredible I thought, now end it, now walk away. But I can't. I look at the greens trying to make a decision, she continued shopping but left her little basket at the produce section and came back to drop things in it. Kale or Swiss Chard? Swiss Chard...crap, I can't get the damn soaking wet Swiss Chard in the plastic bag so I am shoving it in there, shaking the bag hoping for one small gift from gravity allowing my greens to sink into the bag. Not happening. In the mean time I have completely covered the front of my shirt with water droplets from my brief wrestling match with the defiant but pretty leafy greens. She drops another thing into her cart and strolls away. I have to be done with this by the time she comes back, I look like an idiot. In that moment, the Swiss Chard gave in and decided to take shelter from my shaking and settle into the bag, finally. Now walk away. I wonder for a brief moment, what does a ballet dancer eat during the off season. I bet it's still super healthy. Now walk away. I tell myself do not under any circumstance look into her basket, it will only make you feel bad. It will make you think you should not get the eggs, cheese and turkey bacon (that I covered with my bag of greens, just in case she looked) in the bottom of your basket. Now walk away. DO NOT LOOK. I tried not to, but I did and guess what...big surprise, I felt bad. I finally walked away.

I looked back and she was helping an eldery man who dropped onions on the floor, then I heard him asking her about what onions are best and she was so sweet telling him what onions she used for salads and what onions she cooked. Ugh, I should have said something other than "Hiiieeeeegh", which seemed to repeat through my head the rest of the night.

Folks, I don't really get star struck very often. Having years of ballet classes under my belt allowed this to happen. I know how hard they work, I know how long the road is to get where they are when they join a company, I have nothing but admiration for them.

I also have the ability to turn into a total marshmallow around them.

Fabulous Find

I super love these! I would love to stash these in my purse for impromptu celebrations!
They can be found here - four books for $6.

The Letter

After finding out last night I have not in fact had insomnia waking me up for the past 4-6 months, it is just the incredibly loud neighbors upstairs that had been waking me every night, I wrote the following letter and called the landlord. Hope it all pans out. Can you believe I had to call them at 2:40 AM this morning? I can't EVEN tell you how upset I was waking up at 12:15 AM, 1:30 AM and then the icing on the cake 2:40 AM to loud banging and furniture moving.

July 20, 2009

XXXXXXX and Roommates
XXXXXXXXX Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

Dear XXXXXX and Roommates at XXXXXXXX,

We have been neighbors for a few years now and feel that we have been very patient with the moving in and out of roommates and the noise level coming from your flat but feel at this time we need to make some suggestions for noise reduction. We have spoken to you about wearing shoes in your apartment and thank you for keeping that to a minimum.

We live beneath you and have been in this flat for about 10 years now. We take pride in our home and it is a place we love to come at the end of the day however, the noise pollution has gotten to the point of it interrupting our sleep at night (hence my call to you at 2:40 AM this morning). This has been going on for long before this morning. You must know that we can hear everything that goes on in your flat; conversations, walking around, shoes hitting the floor when removed, your kitchen table and chairs being moved, etc. It is not that we hear the sound; we can also feel it rattle throughout our flat. Your kitchen and dining room (or 3rd bedroom) is above our bedroom and unfortunately that is where the majority of the disturbance is coming from. The rest is from the back bedroom in the north west corner of the house (above our living room).

I have phoned the landlords (XXXX and XXXXX) and they are aware of the suggestions I am making here and I hope we can come to some sort of agreement to make this situation work for all of us.

- After 10 PM please be mindful of the noise level
- When opening and closing basement door do not slam – this is a common stairwell and everything echoes throughout, we believe your trash or recycling is in the stairwell because we often hear things being tossed into a bin (mainly glass jars and/or bottles).
- Please place things on the floor instead of dropping or tossing them
- Addition of felt backings to the bottom of kitchen table and chairs would help tremendously
- Keep in mind, everything that makes a noise on your floor reverberates down into our place

We don’t need an apology; we would just like the problem to be resolved with respect and mindfulness of the issue and appropriate changes made to eliminate the noise pollution so we can all live here and be happy and healthy.
Thank you,

Katie and XXXX XXXXXX

CC: XXXXXXXXXX(landlord)

Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...

Weekend at Home

Mellow weekend here, stayed home, walked around our neighborhood and got rid of a LOT of stuff laying around. I don't know about you, but I have trouble staying on top of the sheer amount of papers that come in the mail. I have a shredder and try to get rid of it on a daily basis but geeze, it gets out of control fast! I no longer get too many catalogs at home because they just get recycled, but it's the other stuff that comes in envelopes that has to be opened, credit card offers, magazine offers, car warranty offers, just a lot of crap if you ask me. Now that I am up to date and cleaned out, I am going to call each company that I get something from and kindly ask them to stop.

Saturday, I vacuumed everything that could be vacuumed around the house - crown molding, walls, mattress, carpet, wood floor, new rug, you name it, it was vacuumed. Poor BayLee hid most of the day. My allergies were kept at bay by wearing a mask the entire time, I swear I am going to invest in a good one, the one I have cuts into my face. Most of you know, I am allergic to a lot of things and all of those get stirred up when I move things around at home no matter how long it has been since the last time I vacuumed. We laid the new rug down Saturday night and love it! BayLee finally came out of hiding right before it was time for bed, so we gave him some playtime and put toys on him. He kept that mouse on his head for over 5 minutes, he just sat there looking stoic.

Sunday, slept in until about 8 and then did a couple loads of wash in my hand cranked washer - workout for my arm, loaded it into the spinner and hung it outside to dry. As much as I love my eco-wash system here, I would love a washer and dryer one day but will have to move to get it since we don't have hook ups here although, I have found a portable one that connects to the kitchen sink (like the old dishwashers) that I am thinking about. I just hate the laundry mat, there is no parking, it is always crowded and kind of grosses me out however, it's the only place I can do my bedding and bath stuff. The Babe and I went for a walk on the main shopping street in our neighborhood, got some bagels, cat litter and some other stuff we needed. It was super sunny and warm today, so nice for a change here in the city. We came home, made lunch and I took a 2 hour nap on the couch.

What a nice weekend it was. We didn't use the car (I even forgot where I parked it Friday afternoon after work, ha ha!) and walked to get our errands done, I love it.

Life is good.

Orange Rug

My new rug with quality control officer giving it a once over.

Cost Cutter Tip - check Ebay for name brand items after they leave the pages of your favorite catalogs. I got this rug for 1/4 the original listed price (last year in the Pottery Barn catalog) and it is brand new (came in the original packaging, sealed with cleaning instructions included and I got free shipping FedEx). Some companies have outlet stores and when things don't move they put the items on Ebay or their employees buy them and list them, not sure how it all works but the person I bought this from only sold Pottery Barn items.
Another great place is overstock.com, they have great stuff for a fraction of the regular retail asking price.

Rugs are expensive and the Babe and I settled on one for the winter to keep our feet warm but a rag rug is not good in our living space, moves too much and was too large but for $40 at Ikea, it worked for the winter. I am super excited that we finally got a real nice hand tufted wool rug! Can't wait to clean my floors and lay it down this weekend!

I miss Domino Magazine

I know I mentioned it back in February when the announcement went out that Domino magazine was no longer, but honestly I miss it. I am trying to make some small changes in my apartment, move things around, freshen up, etc. and I could really use some inspiration. Yes, there are other magazines and I have them believe me but there is nothing like Domino. When searching for my favorite photos from the magazine, I found this:

Domino Magazine's Manifesto:
- Home Should Make You Happy!
- We swear by the 3 R's: repaint, repaper, reupholster
- Steal ideas from other people's houses
- Even the insides of the closets & cabinets can be beautiful
- It's ok to NOT BE finished
- TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS--ALWAYS!
- A chandelier is as timeless as a black dress
- Renters need not be second class citizens
- Sometimes your mistakes become your greatest inspirations
- DON'T BE AFRAID TO MIX STYLES (Louis XIV & Eero Saarinen should hangout more often)

- When traveling--skip the snapshot & buy something unique for the coffee table
- HAVE FUN!

I love it!! Below is one of my favorite homes that the magazine featured, it always keeps me inspired when looking to give my place a face lift. It is Amanda Peet's home, does anyone remember the show called Jack and Jill? Angela, I know you used to watch it because we would compare notes. It was on back in 1999-2001, Amanda Peet played Jack. Her career took off from there, but that is when I first took notice and then when I saw her house, WOW, great style, recycled items, nothing too matchy and colorful! Enjoy!

Isn't it lovely? I just love the eclectic, bohemian, vintage, lived in feel. Her daughter's room is super cute! Now, if I could mix her home interior style with Ralph Lauren's double RL ranch in CO, I would be all set!

PS - I know I posted about orange paint a while back, which the Babe nixed, but I did get a fabulous orange rug instead - compromise is the key to a happy marriage. I am laying it out this weekend after I clean the floors and move some things around a bit.

All photos from Domino Magazine.

Happy Birthday Grandpa

Thank you for being in my dream last night. I am sure they have wireless now up there so you able to read my blog and keep up with me as an adult.
I miss picking up fallen crab apples in the backyard with you, Ernie Harwell on the radio in the background. I always tried to sneak throwing them in the alley instead of the bucket, I don't know why, but it was more fun to throw them and try to hit a dumpster. Maybe you knew that, but never said anything because perhaps I was working on my pitching arm!
I miss playing bumper pool in your basement, but am glad you taught me how because we have a table here at work that I can play on.
I miss trying to sneak into your candy jar and grab a handful of spicettes or Kraft Carmel's without making a sound, that lid was noisy!
I miss the funny noises you used to make and your sayings, "fat cat skilly rat".
I miss you Grandpa. You were the only Grandpa I ever knew and were taken away too soon, before we really got to know each other.
Do you have Sanders Carmel Cake and Rays Vanilla ice cream in Heaven? I sure hope so!

I Heart Weekends Away

What a nice weekend away!
I couldn't update yesterday because I will still on the beach in my mind.

Santa Cruz was awesome, the weather was terrific, a little overcast Saturday morning, but it cleared up pretty fast and ended up being hot and sunny the rest of the weekend.

When we got to the hotel, the room was full of surprises and some of my favorite things. I wondered why my sales contact was asking me what I liked a while back when I was booking for my boss - nice touch, non chocolate candy, corn nuts, champagne, fashion magazines and a pink photo album to keep my photos from the weekend in - oh, and a big Mylar Happy Birthday balloon!Our room had a balcony that was right on the beach! We sat there at night and in the morning while enjoying our time of the day appropriate beverage (coffee or wine). We listened to the Loverboy concert from there on Friday night instead of dealing with crowds of people, it was so fun, singing, dancing and air guitaring up there.
Saturday we slept in a bit and then went walking on the Pier to get some lunch and walk around and saw these guys hanging out so we stopped for a while.

We decided to go to the Boardwalk and check out the rides and maybe get some dessert. We were intrigued by the "fried Twinkie" concept but when we decided to share one, we were bummed and disappointed, it was not so good and sort of cold in the middle like it had been frozen. Good thing we didn't each get one.We walked around for a couple hours checking things out, people watching and playing games in the arcade and then went back to the hotel to rest before dinner. We ended up taking a almost 3 hour nap, got up at 7:30 and went to dinner at the newly reopened super nice restaurant at the hotel called Aquarius. We had great cocktails to start and each got appetizers (their menu is layed out as "hook", "line" and "sinker" - for appetizers, soup/salad, entree). Tim had a roasted Romaine salad which was fabulous and I had the "chowda" - not like a typical clam chowder, it was little clams in their shells steamed in a broth that was spicy and not creamy like you would imagine. My entree was superb, one of the best I have had in a very long time. I had halibut that was on top of the this shmoo made from cooking cauliflower with butter until it fell apart (2 hours the manager told us) and then blended and piped into a stripe on the plate and a little ball of spring peas that had been chopped up with mint. It was deeeeelish! For dessert we had coffee and split their plate of ice cream sandwiches, which were phenomenal along with the Caramel sauce.Sunday morning we woke up and took our time packing up and checking out. Then we went to the lighthouse and Santa Cruz surfing museum before heading home. BayLee was a very good boy over the weekend and gave us an ear full when we get home as usual.

Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...

Off for the Weekend!

Tim and I are headed out around Noon today to have a pita lunch (free meal coupon for me!) at Daphne's and ice cream (free coupon for me!) at Baskin Robbins. I am the queen of the free coupons for my Birthday, ha ha!

After lunch, we are driving down the coast to Santa Cruz to stay on the beach for the weekend. Here is a non-exhaustive list of what we have planned:

• Meeting my sales rep at the hotel (only met over the phone for work) for drinks
• Free Loverboy concert at the Boardwalk - HILARIOUS ("every body's workin for the weekend...")
• Picnic dinner in our hotel room while playing Uno or chess.
• Roller coasters, cotton candy and something fried I am sure - never had a funnel cake birthday cake!
• Laying by the pool or on the beach Saturday (please pray for sun and heat)
• Nice dinner on the ocean Saturday night (dinner from my parents for our anniversary back in May)

I am sure that more fun will find us! I am excited to get out of the city for the weekend! Gotta run, pack, shower and take all my calls - ha ha!

...1...Blastoff!

Today is my Birthday!
Here is my #1 day gift from Wendy - I took it home with me yesterday and opened it up this morning. Thanks Wendy for a fun week, I love that my Birthday is treated like Hanukkah for 5 days! It's awesome.
Here is what was inside - fuzzy photo, my camera battery was almost dead this morning.

• Gift Card for Whole Foods Market for picnic supplies for tonight in our hotel room!
• The World's Smallest Birthday Card! (see fabulous find local edition post for more info.)

Yeah for Birthdays!

...2 (4)

Wendy, so funny, put a 4 on countdown day 2 we had a good laugh!

She also gave me #1 to open tomorrow while I am off work (insert cheerleader jump here).

I already hung it on my wall in my office, I super love it!

Cancer Traits

This is the most right on description of me as a Cancer that I have ever read. Found here.

Cancer or Karka (June 22 - July 22) Cancer is ruled by the Moon and the fourth zodiac sign. It is the most empathetic sign symbolized by the crab. People born under this sign are often over sensitive and concerned with expressing emotions than getting involved in superficial conversations. They can be moody, drawing into the protective shell if things around them get too intense. Cancer rules the stomach, diaphragm, peristalsis, the pancreas, gastric vein, upperlobes of the liver, thoracic duct, chymification, and the serum of the blood. They can be good journalists, writers or politicians with a retentive memory, particularly for emotionally laden events. They are also full of suspicion and lack of faith in others. However once they develop faith, they are most loyal and always ready to cooperate. Cancerians are not easy to understand, for their moods often fluctuates from sweet to cranky. They can be untidy, sulky, devious, moody, and inclined to self-pity because of an inferiority complex. Cancer people are very fond of food and are usually hearty eaters. The ideal seek partners for Cancerians are Scorpio and Capricorn.

That One Thing

You know when there is that one thing you have meant to buy yourself for what seems like forever? That one thing that will make your life so much better? That one thing Sara told you was so fabulous 3 years ago and you had to get one but never did? That one thing that you have gone online and looked at, picked out the right color and put in your shopping cart but just never purchased? That one thing that you have seen in stores, touched, and thought to yourself, next time I am here I will get it? That one thing that may have seemed too expensive for what it was, but also seemed the like the answer to some of your wishes? That one thing you just couldn't justify splurging on for yourself?

Well, I got that one thing from my parents for my Birthday and I can't EVEN tell you how excited I am to try it out. It is a Yogitoes skidless yoga towel to go over my mat during my practice. I am constantly sliding all over the place because my palms and feet sweat like crazy. The bonus is, they got me the one that is a double whammy for me - turquoise (one of my favorite colors and the color of the fifth chakra - my throat/thyroid) and it has Ganesha on it, remover of obstacles who I adore! Funny thing is I have been looking at this necklace with him on it too and the other day one of my coworkers left a little Ganesha tin on my desk. Maybe he knows I need him right now so he has decided to make his presence known (via presents, ha!). I am trying to get rid of stuff in my life that has no purpose or meaning, you know stuff that is just stuff. Seems like I am always doing that, I know. I have come to realize that I am my biggest obstacle, my friend Jadin is notorious for reminding me that I need to get over myself first and foremost and I love her for it. Can you believe that Amazon.com also used paper that matched the gift, could have been just a coincidence, but it was wrapped in dark turquoise paper with a gold ribbon around it!

Thanks Mom and Dad, I love it and love your Namaste message in the card, you are two of the coolest parents ever! Wish I would have packed my yoga clothes today so I could take a class after work!

"The Eye"

After speaking to Christina on the phone on Sunday and her telling me the cut on my ankle was because I had "the eye" I decided to take some percautions at work since I already have a nazar (photo above) at home by my front door, I hung one in my office at work.

In Maltese, it is referred to as "l-għajn il-ħażina" (the bad eye) but it means the same across the board.

The evil eye is a belief that the envy elicited by the good luck of fortunate people may result in their misfortune. The perception of the nature of the phenomenon causes, possible protective measures, varies between different cultures.

In some forms, it is the belief that some people can bestow a curse on victims by the malevolent gaze of their magical eye. The most common form, however, attributes the cause to envy, with the envious person casting the evil eye doing so unintentionally. Also the effects on victims vary. Some cultures report afflictions with bad luck; others believe the evil eye can cause disease, wasting away, and even death. In most cultures, the primary victims are thought to be babies and young children, because they are so often praised and commented upon by strangers or by childless women. The late UC Berkeley professor of folklore Alan Dundes has explored the beliefs of many cultures and found a commonality — that the evil caused by the gaze is specifically connected to symptoms of drying, desiccation, withering, and dehydration, that its cure is related to moistness, and that the immunity from the evil eye that fish have in some cultures is related to the fact that they are always wet. His essay "Wet and Dry: The Evil Eye" is a standard text on the subject.

In many forms of the evil eye belief, a person — otherwise not malefic in any way — can harm adults, children, livestock, or a possession, simply by looking at them with envy. The word "evil" can be seen as somewhat misleading in this context, because it suggests that someone has intentionally "cursed" the victim. A better understanding of the term "evil eye" can be gained from the old English word for casting the evil eye, namely "overlooking," implying that the gaze has remained focused on the coveted object, person, or animal for too long.
While some cultures hold that the evil eye is an involuntary jinx cast unintentionally by people unlucky enough to be cursed with the power to bestow it by their gaze, others hold that, while perhaps not strictly voluntary, the power is called forth by the sin of envy.

Belief in the evil eye is strongest in the Middle East, East and West Africa, South Asia, Central Asia, and Europe, especially the Mediterranean region; it has also spread to other areas, including northern Europe, particularly in the Celtic regions, and the Americas, where it was brought by European colonists and Middle Eastern immigrants.

Among those who do not take the evil eye literally, either by reason of the culture in which they were raised or because they simply do not believe in such things, the phrase, "to give someone the evil eye" usually means simply to glare at the person in anger or disgust.

Attempts to ward off the curse of the evil eye have resulted in a number of talismans in many cultures. As a class, they are called "apotropaic" (Greek for "prophylactic" or "protective", literally: "turns away") talismans, meaning that they turn away or turn back harm.
Disks or balls, consisting of concentric blue and white circles (usually, from inside to outside, dark blue, light blue, white, dark blue) representing an evil eye are common apotropaic talismans in the Middle East, found on the prows of Mediterranean boats and elsewhere; in some forms of the folklore, the staring eyes are supposed to bend the malicious gaze back to the sorcerer.

Known as nazar (Turkisg: nazar boncuğu or nazarlık), this talisman is the most frequently seen in Turkey, found in or on houses and vehicles or worn as beads. I saw many of these in Greece, even on the horses! I love it!
A blue eye can also be found on some forms of the hamsa hand, an apotropaic hand-shaped amulet against the evil eye found in the Middle East. The word hamsa, also spelled khamsa and hamesh, means "five" referring to the fingers of the hand. In Jewish culture, the hamsa is called the Hand of Miriam; in Muslim culture, the Hand of Fatima.

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