31 Days of Giving

 I've been lax in my posts but I have been gathering bags and bags of clothing and toys to give to others and to donate to the Kidney Foundation. Every free day is spent gathering and giving. Getting the kids involved is a feat-but their toys are going to good homes!
  I'm also giving of my time on Tuesdays and Thursdays through the month of December. I'm offering free open studio time at my new art studio located at 825 Union Rd Gastonia, NC 28054-I'm in the Visual Arts building and offer classes from knitting to journaling to painting. I also have a monthly woman's circle starting back up in January. And yoga and meditation weekly. It's my favorite place ever right now!

I'm going to enjoy the giving of the season. This came to me last night after the 10th toy commercial in a row followed by a chorus of "That's what I want for Christmas!" I've failed my children in this area, they're so hungry for materialistic goods, and things being advertised to them and they've lost their sense of what it truly means. There is a beautiful JOY in the giving of an item to someone else. So in order to remind my family and myself  of the TRUE meaning of the season. I will give something away everyday. And I'll post about it here. It may be a tutorial, a recipe, a book to a child, something of mine that will bring JOY to someone else. And I'd like to invite you to do the same!I'd really like to make this a community event- so let me know if you want to join me in 31 Days of Giving and I'll create a blogroll that we can all visit and see how everyone else is giving!

Yoga, Giving, and Dreadlocks...

I created this poster with the Calm-o-matic

I LOVE yoga. LOVE. But when most people think of yoga, they think of pretty ladies, super bendy in spandexy stuff, with no sweat, all serene like...

What's really happening, to me at least, is work. I'm practicing to make my body stronger, my mind smoother, and my soul more open. Yoga isn't just asanas and chanting, it's getting into you, being quiet and centered. And listening. To you. Deep down inside where you forget there is a voice. I am constantly practicing and trying to hear my rhythm to sync up with the universe...that's my goal. Meditation is more yoga than poses. It's posing your mind and stilling your heart. I do love a physical challenge. And i feel exhilarated when I conquer a pose that I thought was impossible for someone like me. But the true yogic feeling comes after my practice. When I sit and be still, and just BE. That connection I make with myself is like no other...and I find true bliss.

There's another way that I find bliss. Giving. I did this last year, and I feel like it's time to start again! Starting December 1, I will begin to go through my belongings, and give all of the things away that are no longer useful or productive in my life. It makes me feel wonderful knowing that the things that I once loved will now be loved by another. I also want to use this time to give of myself in service. I like to help out at women's shelters and donate my time to animal shelters as well. Giving of your items, time and love are all equally important, and i feel like this season need more love and more self sacrifice, than more buying and stress. If you'd like to join me in 31 Days of Giving, leave a comment below and I'll add a link to your blog...we'll follow each other in service and love!

Two years ago at this time, this is what I looked like...and so many different people commented on my appearance, spitting the word 'hippie' like an insult constantly, that I cut my hair off...and now, of course, I regret it. I think what I am going to do is wait until my hair has a bit more length(it's only about 4 inches right now) maybe chin length, I'm going to re-dread it, and add extensions to the ends for length.

I did this before and you can see a tiny tutorial here. Never again will I let others dictate my appearance! I'm a lot stronger and way more sure of myself now, thank goodness! When I start to redread, i'll post plenty of tutorials and lessons here on the blog.

My weekend coffee fueled babble-thon should probably come to a close...I hope y'all know how much I appreciate being listened too, and i love community! Please feel free to email me with any comments or questions... happysappytrees@gmail.com

~Namaskar~

Anastasia

Day 16 of Giving!

Feel free to share this any way you want!!!

Day 11 of Giving!

I have another awesome book to giveaway!!! This one has ideas and projects to spark your creativity. Kaleidoscope has some amazing photo's and great ideas throughout! All you have to do to get a chance to win is leave a comment here telling me how your 31 days of giving is going. I'll let Bama pick a name out of the bowl Friday and tell you who the winner is then. Good Luck!

DAY 7 of GIVING!!

Day 3 and 4 (And why I'm doing this)

For those of you that don't know, I am the proud mama of 4 kids and I pay the bills by bartending in the evenings, sometimes until 3 or 4 in the morning. Thus- my weekends are insanely hectic. Which is why I didn't post Sat. or Sun. That being said...I was giving!

 On Saturday, we gathered all of our winter items that were too small and took them to the Salvation Army homeless shelter downtown. On Sunday, we made a donation to the Gaston Arts Council(who could use plenty more donations, yo) AND got to see The Nutcracker ballet...I took my 5 year old and he LOVED it! I don't have any pictures, but I will post day 5 later today.

 The point of doing this is to ensure that I teach my children and remind myself, that Christmas should not be so damn materialistic...My oldest honestly wanted an iPAD2 and an iPHONE "and thats all mom" he already has games, gaming things, a computer, iPOD touch and a cell phone...why on earth would he even think he needed anything else and WHY would he think I would spend 1000 bux on just him this holiday?!? Because of MATERIALISM. Because I haven't done my job keeping them sheltered from commercialism. I allow too much TV and I indulge in too many name brands. I'm a sucker for packaging. The funny thing is, I don't care where my clothing or home items are from. But if my children want something, I've started buckling and buying it for them. I need help. I desperately want to get back to basics and help them see life can be fun without all of the technology, commercials, names, status.  Any body out there have any hints or tips?!? They would be greatly appreciated.

Day 2 of Giving

My amazingly creative best friend Farrah is doing some awesome art projects this winter. She put out a call for any used book or magazines, and so I'm giving her my well read and loved ReadyMade Magazines. I've been collecting them since 2005 and they were my favorites ever. This may not seem like a big GIVE to some of you, but I can assure you I have moved these back and forth across the state and written notes to myself when I loaned them out. I loved these magazines! But I feel like Farrah will now be able to put them to better use. (And maybe I can borrow an article now and then). So maybe y'all can give an object that means something dear to your creative self to another creative soul. Give the Love!