Thank You So Much!

Merry Christmas! Thank You so much to all of you for taking the time to visit my blog and also for letting me into your lives. It really means a lot to me.

I hope that  today and everyday brings you happiness, peace, and love.
May your holiday season be bright with smiles and warm with happiness.

I'm off on a short break. I look forward to catching up with you next week or so! xx                                 

Holidays In the Air

 A sneak peak inside my house.                                                         

Home sweet home.

I used tree trimmings from a Christmas tree, a few colourful Christmas balls...all gracefully placed in a silver plate that I already had for years.

A "golden key" for keeping evil spirits away, and opening your inner door.                                  

We are almost to Christmas. Ahh, the delights of Christmas...time for mistletoe kisses and togetherness, beautifully wrapped presents, twinkle lights, Santa gifts, kids' giggles, anticipation of the incredible excitement of Christmas morning!

I still have some gifts to wrap, menu to plan and cookies to bake.
I think I'm the only one that goes out on Xmas Eve to get the last minute stuff. I'm afraid I have way too much to do and not enough time.     

I've been slowly getting into the holiday spirit, but finally my Christmas decoration has been completed. My home already feels much cozier and warmer.
This fireplace suits the minimalist look and sits comfortably in a traditionally decorated room. I love my fireplace. It is personalized with my favourite Christmas ornaments and a few family photos that retain happy memories to me.

Ah, the fascination of fire! An open fire addresses a primitive psychological need, even a spiritual one, I'd rather say.
The word focus actually derives from the Latin word,  focus = fire.
And its contemporary sense conveys its fundamental importance.
Fireplaces always have been the centre of a home, and a spot of family gathering.

I am so hard-pressed that I need an excuse to just sit and do nothing.
Offensively called being lazy!
On cold, dark winter days sitting by a blazing fire has always been one of my favourite pleasures of life.

Just letting thoughts quietly rise to the surface- in an atmosphere that reflects tranquility and graceful simplicity- is thoroughly healing.
The warm glow of flames {a source of pleasure for me}burning brightly in a hearth is enough to make me want to curl up on my sofa and relax.
My slippers, a good book, a cup of coffee and cake can only enhance an afternoon by the fireplace.

Beautifully burning logs! But if you believe in witches then remember, not to burn elm as you may just conjure up some unwanted visitors!
All I wish for is my loved ones.

What is your special wish this Christmas, or your favourite present to receive? xx

Dressed Up for Christmas + Have a Great Weekend!

Very sophisticated and feminine black dresses.

A gorgeous ruffled dress. Would be flattering on everyone.

 

A lovely Christmas Tree by Nautica.
                                                                                            

I'm excited about this weekend because I am actually in visiting my mom.
One of the reasons I love visiting her is the wonderful food she cooks and the divine smell of fresh baked bread.
What are you up to this weekend? What's your favourite thing you look forward to on weekends, my dears?

Have a wonderful, festive weekend! xx                                                                

Obligation To Future Generations

For a living planet.

In a world of emerging common markets, of international trade and relations, of global interdependence and air and sea pollution the need for safeguarding earth is an obvious one.
It is also about the obligation we have to our children.

Today the threats to our environment are even clear to see. We live in a world where climate change, deforestation, holes in the ozone layer and air pollution are growing sources of concern.
Finding a solution as individuals and as nations against the environmental crisis has never been  greater.

I'm passionate and concerned about the environment. Apart from health care and education, this is what I talk about with my friends and family and what keeps me up at night. xx

(WWF cards).

Snowy Scenery

Snowy Night In The Woods.

                                  

I 'd like to share this very beautiful poem. By far one of my all time favourite works of poetry, by Robert Frost.

Its calm imagery creates a vivid mental picture. It reminds me of how I feel on cold, snowy nights watching the soft snow slowly fall...Oh, how I love the woods draped in snow! xx

Stopping By the Woods On a Snowy Evening. 

By Robert Frost.

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village, though;

He will not see me here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think is queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound's the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep...

A Christmas Tree in the Bedroom? Why Not!

A Christmas tree in the bedroom? Why not!

Simple and cozy coffee table.

Well I find it to be a quite innovative idea! One Christmas tree in the living room. 

Another one in the bedroom for adding some sweetness and warmth to our festive nights!

The effect is of restrained sumptuousness...a sense of playfulness.

                           

I think it doesn't look a lot like Christmas in my home, and the Christmas decoration has not been completed yet I'm afraid. (Photo below). Any suggestions? xx

                                               

Winter Awards

The other day to my unexpected surprise I received four awards!
Teresha, Marlie and Me over at:  http://marlieandmommy.blogspot.com/ gave me these two lovely awards! Thank you, thank you, thank you, Teresha.
She is a gorgeous lady, and her blog is very interesting! Go! and check it out if you haven't already.

The" Heartfelt Blogger Award "didn't come with any rules; but I'm interpreting it as a recognition for those who leave heartfelt comments.                                  
The other one, the "Kreativ Blogger" award came with some rules.
The rules for accepting this honour are that I have to:

*Share 7 things that you don't already know about me.
* Name 7 other blogs to receive this award.
* Leave a comment on each of the blogs I nominated.
* Thank the person who gave me the award.
                                         
Seven Things You Don't Already Know About Me:

1. I am a big movie fan.
2. I love biking and long-distance walks.
3. I hate dusk.( Dusk could easily swallow me up!).
4. I'm not a night owl at least I'm trying not to be.
5. I cannot sleep without the TV on.
6. I love to eat too much. (too bad!).
7. My moto is:" Keep walking".

Well, I'm giving the "Heartfelt Blogger Award", and the "Kreativ Blogger" award to these seven blogs below.
You know, it wasn't easy to choose among all those great blogs I follow.
So here it goes...

* Traci, 38 and Growing over at: http://38andgrowing.blogspot.com/
* Bob, Plain Ole Bob over at: http://plainolebob2.blogspot.com/
* Tracie, Stir-Fry Awesomeness over at:http://stirfryawesomeness.blogspot.com/                                           
* Polly, The 5th Sister over at: http://the5thsister.blogspot.com/
* Nevine, Dreams, Deliriums, and Other Mind Talk over at: http:nevine-sultan.blogspot.com
* Deborah, The Peach Tart over at: http://thepeachtart.blogspot.com/
* Kelly, Speaking From The Crib, over at: http://speakingfromthecrib.blogspot.com/
These blogging-friends have such inspirational blogs!

Please pay them all a visit!

                                      

I also got this lovely "Circle of Friends Award" from Trac, one of my new blogging-friends,
over at: http://livinginhighcotten.blogspot.com/
Trac is such a sweet lady and her blog is so lovely.
                                         
Go, now! and visit her if you haven't already. Trac, Thank you so much.

The rules for this award are:

Grab the award, post it on your blog along with 5 things you love to do and 5 others you want to recognize.

So here it goes...

1. Cooking: I love to cook and try cooking simple recipes.

 (I love everything about holidays, especially the cookies that I make and give out to neighbors.)

2. Scrap-booking: I like scrap-booking  but I rarely have the time.

 (Christmas cards is one thing I really enjoy getting to do.)

3. Photography: That's my passion! What I started out as part of a hobby has become more of an obsession!

4. Shopping: I do enjoy shopping. Who doesn't.
  (I am not a buyer kind of a person, so I don't tend to buy a lot stuff but when I do it's good quality.

5. Travelling: Another passion! I love to travel a lot, but not anytime. I love exploring countries, cities, places.
   But I always want to travel back home.

Ok, it's really hard to choose just 5 but here it goes...

* Traci, 38 and Growing over at:  http://38andgrowing.blogspot.com/

* Teresha, Marlie and Me over at:  http://marlieandmommy.blogspot.com/

* Blue Violet, A Nut in a Shell over at:  http://www.anutinanutshell.blogspot.com/  

* Erin, The Mother Load  over at: http://abbyandizzysmom.blogspot.com/

* Lynette, A Work in Progress, over at: http://creativemoments-lynette.blogspot.com/

Please check out their lovely blogs immediately!!

I also got the following wonderful award, The Adorable Blog"award from Wenn, over at: http://wenn-experiences.blogspot.com/

Many thanks to you, Wenn! Her blog is full of travel experiences and beautiful photos

Please pay her a visit!

The Adorable Blog award goes to...

* Trac, Welcome to Our World over at:  http://livinginhighcotten.blogspot.com/

* Willoughby, This Stop Willoughby over at: http://thisstopwilloughby.blogspot.com/

* Rae, Weather Vane over at:  http://myweathervane.blogspot.com/                             

* Misalyn, My Scraps and Patches in Al Ain over at:  http://myscrapsandpatches.blogspot.com/

* Alice in Wonderland over at: :http://thewondersofalice.blogspot.com/

* Mary, Shaking the tree over at:  http://marymaryrc.blogspot.com/

                                            

Pay them all a visit! Their blogs are just great!

                                                       

My dears, thank you for being so fabulous blogging-friends. I hope you're having a wonderful, blissful Festive Season! xx                                                                           

Life Options

One of my all-time favourite quote is from American poet, Carl Sandburg.
He said. "Time is the coin of life. It's the only coin you have, and only you can
determine how it will be spent."

I avail myself of the opportunity to refer to the Emotional Energy.
We must be careful judicious in how we spend it. Dealing with life's challenges
it can easily drain our reserves. Don't you think? xx                             

Buy, Buy, Buy!

Consumer society shrieks at us to buy. As a matter of fact I'd really love to have this pretty coat.

Put the blame on Fashion!

Hello, my sweet blogging-friends. Thank you so much for sharing your so interesting weekend plans.

I've really had a busy, exciting weekend. Despite the bad weather I decided to go to support a good friend exhibiting his paintings this month. I was totally impressed and proud for my friend's art presence.

Well I love minimalism in general, I particularly love minimalist interior design when it comes to decorating my kitchen.

It's not about living in an empty house. Not at all. It's about applying standards as a way of fighting against a consumer  society that continually shrieks at us to buy. Buy, buy, buy!

                                   

Though I keep saying to myself: Keep off the improvident purchase.Turn a deaf ear to buy. Go th-rifting...I can't help but often find myself thinking of how it might just be hard to not buy things during the festive season; it does get hard to have self-control with stuff like this...

Are you a big consumer? xx

Have a Wonderful Weekend

Busy weekend coming up since I am not going to be home tomorrow until Sunday night.
What are your plans for the weekend, my sweets?

Hope you have a great one!

Just the cutest photo ever to sweeten up your day! xx                                             

Nexus

Let's chat about blogging today, sharing our thoughts, views and ideas.                                 

Blog: contruction of the term "Web log" = Blog.

I started this blog  to share the things that are
really special to me, to share the things I love. When I first started up my blog I had no idea what it would be like, and what type of people would be visiting.

But I'm so happy I have "met" some great bloggers along the way I would have otherwise never met.

My objective  is to make people have a good time reading my blog. I don't set myself unrealistic targets. I cannot  imagine being able to post daily, posting two or three posts a day, because I know I'll get kind of bored, or trapped into spending way too many hours in front of the computer.
                                   
My posts are always spontaneous with a variety of subjects, and I don't feel I "ought" to-by no means.
If I'm not happy about my post I don't post it.
                                  
Actually, I think blogging is an amateur process which may lead to important discussions by sharing creative ideas. Blogging may also make people laugh or may build strong relationships between people worlwide; It's absolutely amazing how we're all connected, inspiring and supporting one another.

I have to admit that sometimes I'm a bit chaotic. It's pretty easy for time to slip away without getting much done. Then I realize that my personal and professorial life has taken a hit, and alas, my work and some of my interests have been affected. Ah, time goes by so fast before you even know it.
                                  
Anyway, I started blogging after analyzing my experiences,
personal life, spare time, and style of life.
So here I am!

Nexus means connection; and I think it's the word most fitted for use in describing blogging. xx                              

It's Great to Be Able to Giggle!

It's great to be able to giggle at life's little oddities.

Laughter help us live longer. Don't you think? Ya-ya sisters are really awesome!
I got this from a friend." Share the smiles" she said. Handle every stressful situation like a dog. Pee on it and walk away!"
Enjoy! xx