Happy End of the Year 2012

"The goal in life is to discover that you have always been where you were supposed to be..."
-Aldous Huxley

Just This

"It was only a sunny smile and little it cost in the giving, but like morning light it scattered the night and made the day worth living."-F. Scott Fitzgerald

May Your Souls Sing Out

Let The Music Play On

Do More

Still Feeling It

Hope you are bathed in the afterglow of a wonderful Christmas.  Remember keep celebrating LIFE!

Peace on Earth Good Will Towards Men

Merry Christmas to all  

                      and to all a Good Night!

Happy Holidays from Our Home To Yours

Here's a little flashback to our lives in 1989 when Athena was a year old and Aria was five.

The passage of time is swift isn't it? Cherish each day of the new year.  We wish you many blessings in 2013.

Our Family Xmas Party 2012

Last night was our annual family Christmas party "JINGU Bells" (Jingu is our Japanese family name on our mothers side).  We are fortunate to come from a very big,close knit  family which started with lots of aunts and uncles and many many cousins.   Some of the family live far away now and it makes it more difficult for us all to come together but each year we do try to reunite for our annual holiday party.  We love the combinations of  foods from Japan and also our Texas roots (sushi, Texas chili, tamales and lots of goodies) as well as lots of laughs at the much anticipated "white elephant gift exchange".  Here is a  little slide show made especially for all the family that were not able to attend.  We missed each of you but felt your spirit and hope that you can join us for JINGU Bells 2013.   



           Jingu bells, Jingu bells, Jingu all the way! 

Slideshow design created with Smilebox

What Are The Chances of a White Christmas?

Experiencing a white Christmas in  southern California where I live would be a most unusual occurrence.   I still like the image of being warm and cozy by a fireside with a soft snow falling outside my window.  I'll be in Ohio this Christmas where the possibility of snow is good.  Maybe this year I will be saying:

 "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!!!"

"Oh, the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we've no place to go
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow..."

Happy 40th Birthday to Our Nephew J.R.

 3 yr. old Rex with his daddy Joseph and his mommy Celina

Happy 40th Birthday J!

Wishing you many, many more years of fulfillment and joy!

Dinner with Aaron and Ginny

We were so happy last night to be able to host a family dinner party welcoming Aaron (my cousin's son) and his bride Ginny.  Only a small window of opportunity to get together since they had just arrived from their home in South Africa and only in Southern California for one short week.   It was great to see Aaron again after so many years and it was simply wonderful meeting Ginny who is as beautiful and sweet in the inside as she is on the outside. An all too short reunion but we are so glad we were all able to get together. Here's a little slide show of our evening:

Another scrapbooking design by Smilebox

This Is The Good News

The World did not end today.  Let's put our money into these thoughts for a new Beginning.

Dear Santa

Merry and Bright

Do the Holidays Make You Go Bonk Bonk?

No matter how old you are, an empty Christmas wrapping paper tube is still a fun thing to BONK SOMEONE OVER THE HEAD WITH!

Christmas Cookie Exchange

On Sunday I was invited to a special Christmas Cookie Exchange. It was hosted by four friends Donna, Cindy, Annette and Marisel. We all met when our children attended Carver Elementary school. Together we worked at our children's  school carnivals, in class rooms, running Girl Scout troops, working at Christmas gift sales or whatever fund raisers the PTA was  sponsoring.  As the years passed we spent summers sitting together on softball fields, winters in gyms watching our children play indoor soccer and basketball and helping each other with carpooling, baby-sitting or just being  a friend to lean upon . Our friendships grew strong just as our children grew up.  Sunday was a wonderful reunion of many of the Carver moms. The mascot for the school is a "Cougar". We find it funny now with the new meaning of "cougar" that we have always been the Carver Cougar Moms.  Sunday was a time for all of us to come together once again.  The children are all grown now leading lives of their own, getting married, having babies, living their individual lives.  What a great time we had reminiscing about all the good old days.  Nothing nicer than rekindling warm and wonderful friendships.

Here's a little smilebox which captures some of the fun we had.

This scrapbooking design made with Smilebox

Filling Your Soul With Holiday Wonder

Mike and his mom Christmas 2012

"Be filled with wonder,

Be touched by peace."

Your Personal Vibrations

"I know for sure that appreciating whatever shows up for you in life changes your personal vibration. You radiate and generate more goodness for yourself when you’re aware of all you have and not focusing on your have-nots."-Oprah Winfrey

Filled With Possibilities

"At night, the light glows with a warmth that makes men
seem more fascinating and women more desirable.  The room shimmers.
It's sexy and nuanced...and full of possibilities." -Heather Moore

La Festa di Natale

Every other week I attend a wonderful italian class.  It's an informal gathering of friends who are all bonded by a love of the italian language.  We have alot of fun throughout the year not just in learning italian but also attending concerts, museums and other fun field trips.  Our teacher Luisa is from Sardenia.  This is a picture taken during one of our class sessions. We meet at our friend Judy's home.

top row: Me, Michael, Mitra, our teacher Luisa
bottom ro: Marion, Judy, Isa  (two other classmates not pictured are Barb  Bionda and Bill)

Yesterday we celebrated the last class meeting of 2012 with a little "Festa Italiano" Italian party.  Here is a smilebox of our festivities:

Create your own digital scrapbook

Christmas Time is Near

"Christmas time's for dreaming
Thoughts of long ago…Holidays of childhood,
Memories all aglow."--Alice Kennelly Roberts ("Christmas Time Is…")

How Will You Be Judged

"I am not sure exactly what heaven will be like, but I know that when we die and it comes time for God to judge us, he will not ask,
 'How many good things have you done in your life?' 
rather he will ask,
 'How much love did you put into what you did?" -Mother Teresa 

"Corners of the World" Gift shop, Palos Verdes California

There is a beautiful little gift shop located in Palos Verdes California called "Corners of the World". The owner, Jurgen Kading is a dear friend of mine. He chooses a wonderful assortment of charming gifts from all over the world to fill his store.  It is especially delightful to be in this cozy store during the winter holidays when trees are full of sparkling ornaments and there is a warm glow throughout the interior.  I am trying to support local shops like Corners of the World, buying my Christmas gifts from local vendors.  I hope you are doing the same.  Here are some photos I took on my fun shopping day in Palos Verdes.

When you visit Corners of the World be sure and go upstairs too. There are so many nice things to look at.

Here is Jurgen with me.  He originally is from Germany but has been in the U.S. now for many years and is proud of his American citizenship.  We met in an Italian class a few years ago.  Our mutual love of Italy is a strong bond between we two and the friends we have made in our italian languages classes.

This shop is located in a quaint area called Malaga Cove Plaza just off Palos Verdes Drive high above the hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

My cousin Ann joined me in todays fun shopping adventure.

A few feet away through an arcade walkway we had a lovely lunch in a little cafe in the same area.

Here we are relaxing after a "tough" day of shopping.  What a fun adventure!

Corners of the World is located at:

1 Malaga Cove Plz
Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274

(310) 373-5096

Just off Palos Verdes Drive North. It is located next door to the Palos Verdes Post Office.  If you go you will not be disappointed. It's great shopping if you are looking for speciality gifts, charming imports and unique items.  I felt like a kid in a candy store, with every turn of my glance a multitude of exciting things to gaze upon.