Remembering Debbie Ford

I’ve been re-living my past memories of my experiences with Debbie Ford since she recently departed this world. I am still processing all I learned and experienced from the role she had in my life. The memories keep bubbling up. I’m still in shock that she left us so soon.

As we graduated from her intense two-year coach training, she handed each of us a certificate and a stone with the word “integrity” imprinted in it. I take my integrity stone very seriously.

All of us practice the fine art of diplomacy in this “do I look fat in this dress?” world. It’s an art form to be honest without hurting another or yourself. Discernment and diplomacy are a trial and error art form that only come from experience and practice.

 Debbie taught me to be honest with myself and to myself. One of the hugest concepts she taught that stuck with me most is to pay attention to the advice we give others because it’s probably the advice we need to most hear ourselves.That even scared me from giving advice at all…and the times I found myself slipping and giving advice….she was right….every time….it was exactly what I needed to be doing as well.

It’s going to take quite a while to process Debbie’s influence on my life...and that she is no longer physically with us. She still will always exist in spirit and memories. She taught me so much…..in her courses, between the lines of things she said and did…and just by observing how she chose to be in this world.

Love and peace to you, Debbie Ford.

Evolution of the Slow Cooker

I want to publicly express my gratitude to my dear friend, Carolyn for her awesome Christmas gift! She gave me a generous gift card to the only large store in my local area...Walmart! This caused me to go down the Walmart aisles with a whole new attitude. What creative item can I find that reflects the cool, artsy being Carolyn is?


I've had a crock pot in the 80s and gave up on it, turning it into a beeswax melting device for my artwork. But I wondered if they'd evolved since the 80s since they're still on the market today. I got a Dummies book about slow cookers and researched how they've evolved.


I am LOVING slow cookers! I am on a strict diet and can't eat out around here, so to have one of these in my home allows me to do quick prep in the morning, go do all the work I have to do and by evening it's like a magic chef created a meal designed just for me!



I so highly recommend slow cookers for anyone with little time,who work hard and love to end their day with a nice, hot, gourmet meal.


Forever thank you, Carolyn! Your gift was life changing and the coolest ever!

Healthy Marketing?!!!

This book is quite a fascinating view on how marketing has shifted with the times and the old school marketing of talking at a customer is no longer the way to run a business. It's all about community, listening, sharing and supporting.
The first 3/4 of this book point out in detail the many ways we've been used to experiencing marketing and how manipulative it's been. It has actually caused this world to become ill in many ways that are pointed out. The last 1/4 of the book is Lynn Serafinn's solution to a better, more human way to market.
I found it hard to put this book down because it put in words many of the things about marketing that have made me cringe over the years. Healthy marketing! What a concept!
Whether you are a consumer, client, student, customer or business owner...this book speaks to the way marketing effects us all.

Being Honest About What We Ingest

I have not yet read this book, but just watching videos about it and reading the reviews, it looks like a very healthy approach to not just finding a cure for cancer, but eradicating it. I used to be one of those consumers who just trusted that since a product was sold in stores it was safe. Fortunately, I hang out with people who know better. There are companies out there who don't seem to care if the ingredients in their products can cause terminal diseases and health issues. Products like hair dyes, BPA in food storage containers, unsafe cookware, cosmetics, shampoos, cleaning products, produce chemicals, etc are all suspect. We truly need to be reading labels and paying attention to what's in/on products, what they're packaged in and what's in our environment. I'm so glad people are starting to be open and honest about this and pray that companies will soon as well.

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Current Double Retro

Recycling at it's best!!!!

Adding Some Flavor to Life's Recipe

Even though the Zumba licensing procedure list told us the day will be loaded and to get plenty of sleep the night before...I didn't sleep a second the whole night. My mind filled with visions of running into this guy on my way to the car in the dark of the morning. Fortunately, he wasn't around when I left for the long drive to Zumba training class. 

After the long drive, blurry-eyed and not fully awake....I entered the room that was filled with all types, ages, and backgrounds of future Zumba instructors preparing for a loaded day of learning physically, intellectually and emotionally how to live and teach the Zumba lifestyle.

Zumba is very cool because it has guidelines, but encourages each of us to bring our own flavor to it...from how we dress to how we choreograph and teach to the type of music we choose. The room was filled with diverse flavors, making the perfect Zumba marinade.

     Here is one of our course helpers striking a pose for the camera. Everyone there was so friendly!

Then the day began. There were lectures, demos, workouts, steps and combinations to learn, improvising, working with groups and partners, Power Points and finally...

 ...licensing! I've done a ton of certifications in various venues and have to say that this was the first one that participants were smiling during and after the whole event.

I had to do a little celebration salsa with our instructor, April. She has the nickname of "Smiles" because hers is magical and contagious. Her energy and talent blew me away! Though it was a loaded day and I made it through on no sleep whatsover... I came home inspired to be a part of a very cool and creative Zumbaworld.

Expressing Your True Self

Once upon a time, way long ago, I turned 40. Suddenly the clothing I was wearing made no sense to wear any longer. It felt inappropriate. My outfits were bringing a message I didn't want to convey any longer. I shifted what I wore to a more inappropriate style instead. 

How we choose to dress is such a personal thing. The word appropriate is such a confining word.  Who is that invisible "they" who sit in a big meeting room and decide what is right for all of us?

These Advanced Style women truly live their personal message in how they dress. I just love what Lina Piolplyte and Ari Seth Cohen have done to celebrate the ladies who know how to celebrate life and show it in their fashion choices and life attitude! 

Check out their blog http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com/ and book too...

Don't let "they" sit in their office and decide what you're going to wear!