Sowing the Seeds of Love

Speaking to two dear friends about dealing with an insurmountable fear of losing the attention, love and affection of a relationship, I realized that so many of us search to fill ourselves with other people, fill ourselves with tending to others needs, wants, desires, dreams, and wrapping ourselves in someone else's perspective, instead of tending to ourselves.

If my life is a garden, who should tend to it? No one else but I can know best how fruitful I wish it to be. Yet so many of us expect for others to water our garden of dreams, destiny, love, accomplishments, and memories. Most who seek someone to tend to their garden are not aware of the unintentional neglect they are allowing, and often slowly realize that their garden needs the love and care of the owner.  Submitting to the fear of not tending to our own needs,  expecting others to provide that care, leads to flowers wilting, leaves falling. It is is easy and often we blame those we thought were responsible for its growth, leading to weeds flourishing in our garden.  Rarely are we happy to see our garden left in disrepair, but only we are at fault and only can we clean the debris, rid the weeds, and start over. Should others weather bad winds and harsh frost, helping hands we can provide, but never should we be someone else's gardener.

We also must respect the gardens that surround us. Only the owner can ever truly feel, see and know their garden, no matter how much they wish for others to commit to its care. With love we can teach each other how to enjoy each blossom, but who are we to tell anyone which seeds to plant? In a relationship, there is no room for growing happiness when two people commit themselves to tending two gardens.  In the end it is within our own garden were we can find our own happiness, and learn to admire the breadth of beautiful gardens that exist around us.

Santacon 2011: Sea Of Santas

For those who label Santacon a mere a pub crawl, its a full fun filled "convention" of Santas with wonderful holiday themed costumes and many sites that don't involve a beer, raising money and gathering items for the less fortunate. Want to rest for a beer? A list provided of watering holes donating profits to charity is provided.

Bob Dylan Once Said

"People seldom do what they believe in. They do what is convenient, then repent."

(Thanks to the lovely Lady MacManus for originally posting)

Too Dirty To Fail? by Lisa Jackson

Op-Ed - LA TIMES
House Republicans' assault on our environmental laws must be stopped.
October 21, 2011|By Lisa P. Jackson

The Four Corners power plant in New Mexico, which operates 24 hours a day, spews tons of invisible toxic pollutants into the air, including nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and mercury, according to studies. (Jerry McBride / The Durango Herald)

Americans must once again stand up for their right to clean air and clean water.

Since the beginning of this year, Republicans in the House have averaged roughly a vote every day the chamber has been in session to undermine the Environmental Protection Agency and our nation's environmental laws. They have picked up the pace recently — just last week they voted to stop the EPA's efforts to limit mercury and other hazardous pollutants from cement plants, boilers and incinerators — and it appears their campaign will continue for the foreseeable future. (CLICK TO CONTINUE READING)

OCCUPIED

To be seen by many one must get on a really big stage.

I agree that Wall St. is the best stage for such a display of severe discontent; rapidly growing wealth disparity, vast tidal waves of unemployment and foreclosures, the ever increasing profits of large corporations and banks in times of turmoil, various Government officials' constant blame game and media antics leading to Government inaction, leading back to the scene of major crimes committed against the lower and middle class, Wall St.

Watch (at times) live independent coverage here:

globalrevolution on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free

LEE CAMP: THE TRUTH ABOUT OCCUPY WALL STREET : MOMENT OF CLARITY

DEAD CAT BOUNCE

Come support their new album release!!

An Afternoon PSA

No matter his/her status, sex, religion, color, or any other preference or adjective...Please treat one another as rare works of art, not mass produced merchandise.

-lainey.

Gota De Luz Giveaway Winner

A big thanks to fellow Etsy-er Linda Pruitt for entering the contest and sharing with us about her recommended charitable organization, Portland Strides. She wins a Gota De Luz bracelet, and proceeds from the sales of the Gota De Luz bracelet during the entire month of May will help raise funds to donate to her walk this year, a walk sponsored by The American Cancer Society to raise awareness of and to help fight breast cancer.

We also send a warm hug to Linda, a cancer survivor herself. To help sponsor Linda's walk, please check out her Portland Strides profile and help become a drop of light in someone's life.

And be sure to check out Linda's Etsy Shop!

What's On Your Plate?

Saw this documentary on Discovery's Planet Earth Channel (my new favorite channel!) featuring two young girls looking for answers about the food they eat and where it comes from. Focused around their neighborhood of the Lower East Side, this doc features a lot of information for local New Yorkers, and raises questions anyone in the US should be asking about their food.

Contest Extended: Piruli Jewelry Spring Giveaway!

Spring is a time for renewal, new beginnings, and time to plant a new seed. In February I spoke of loving thy neighbor for Valentine's day by volunteering or helping a charitable organization. For this contest lets plant seeds through learning something new from each other, while being charitable in the process.

To participate in this spring giveaway, please:

1.post a comment in reply to this post and nominate your favorite non-profit, charitable organization.
2.Please provide a little tidbit about why you are nominating this organization, and what their mission is. The final date to submit your entry will be on April 30th, 2010.

The randomly selected winning nomination wins two things. The person nominating the organization will receive the new Gota De Luz bracelet (Gota De Luz means Drop of Light) featuring cotton cord, 14k goldfill wire with a stunning faceted rock crystal quartz focal bead, and a donation will be made to the organization nominated by the winner. The donation will consist of a total of all net proceeds from any purchases of a Gota De Luz bracelet made from Piruli Jewelry during the entire month of April. The winner will be announced on May 1st 2010 both on the facebook fanpage for Piruli Jewelry and here.

A few rules: Please note that the organization must be at least a year old, and an official non-profit organization. Any spam, objectionable or obscene content or comments will be deleted immediately and reported if necessary. Remember, lets keep this a positive and enlightening experience.

Love Thy Neighbor...

I always hear some sort of complaint about Valentine's day, "I show my love everyday, I don't need a holiday for it", "its a scam" or just a simple "I hate Valentine's Day". Since this holiday will not be disappearing from our calendars anytime soon, we have an opportunity to make this greeting card holiday into something much more meaningful. Forget the chocolates and flowers, greeting cards and balloons, show your capacity for love to the world around you...

Volunteer Match
American Red Cross
CARE
Habitat for Humanity
The Nourishing Kitchen of NYC
Disney's Give a Day

≈December≈ Piruli Jewelry

≈ Cyber Monday Sale!

Receive 15% off your total purchase
between 12am-11:59 pm EST
on Monday 11/30/2009.
(15% of your purchase will be refunded after payment is finalized through PayPal)

≈ New Items will be added all week long!

≈ The Etsy Jewelry Artist Guild is hosting a St. Jude's Charity Fundraiser sale, visit the eJAG blog for more information at http://www.etsyjewelryartistguild.blogspot.com/ or visit the eJAG shop.

≈Type 'Spanglish Team' in Etsy's front page search bar to discover wonderful team-wide weekend sales.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month Is Almost Over But...

Many of us unemployed folk do not have access, do not qualify for or can afford health insurance. This does not mean that we cannot be screened and tested for life threatening diseases. In many states, residents have access to programs and organizations hosting free screenings for a myriad of diseases, especially cancer. I came across a few websites, not only listing information free screening services for Breast Cancer, but also includes information on events raising money to continue such services.

National Breast Cancer Foundation
Healthy NY Cancer Services Program for NY State
Cancer Vixen Fund
Avon's Breast Health Resource Guide

Etsy Spanglish Team members are curating Pink themed treasuries throughout the month of October, here are a few currently running (treasuries are only active 2-3 days at a time) A few of the items included in these treasuries are donating profits to cancer organizations and research.

BululuStudio's Treasury



GarageInc's Treasury



MissButler's Treasury

A Morning That Changed Our Lives Forever

Remember how angry and upset we felt that morning? How scared? Love rose out of that pain as we held each others hand, even if for a brief moment in the world's time-line. We learned how precious life really is but somehow so quickly forgot to live through that love everyday. To live that lesson learned everyday takes strength, compassion, courage, and hope to display true benevolence and love.

Forum: More Ideas for Shopping/Selling Eco-Friendly...

I was recently asked to contribute to Etsy Spanglish Team member BululuStudio's Blog so I decided to write about 5 ways to Shop Eco-Friendly on Etsy... I came up with five ways easily from my past experiences working and shopping with eco-conscious companies. With that said I am aware I left out a few key elements and I wanted to bring the discussion to an Etsy forum.

Do you have items that are contributing towards a healthier environment? Know of ways that shoppers and sellers can become more conscious of how their purchases/sales affect or help the environment? Etsy shoppers, do you have recommendations for what you want to see more of from sellers?

Since I have posted this in the promotions section of the Forums, I would also love to see eco-friendly shops promote their wares! Come join the discussion here.

Guest Blogger at BululuStudio's Blog

Check out my article on eco-friendly Etsy shopping at BululuStudio's blog. Please feel free to leave any comments or suggestions, we would love to hear from you!

Loving Day Flagship Celebration

I am volunteering between 2-5 and partying till 7 at the Loving Day celebration being held on Sunday June 7th, here are the details, come join the party!

Come celebrate the anniversary of Loving v. Virginia, the Supreme Court case that legalized interracial marriage in the US.

Sunday, June 7th from 3-7pm at Solar 1
East River at 23rd St. in Manhattan

FREE BBQ: all day long
FREE BEER: for the first hour
GET IN FREE: rain or shine
MULTICULTURAL: family friendly

Featuring:
DJ DHUNDEE, Sugarcuts Music (http://www.djdhundee.blogspot.com)
DJ TYLER ASKEW, Rude/MFT (http://www.rudemovements.net/)

Directions:
SUBWAY: 6 train to 23rd, then M23 bus or walk e. past Ave C & FDR. Look for Gulf gas station. Or, L train to 1st Ave: walk N. to 23rd
BY CARr: from south, FDR to 20-23 St. exit. Right on Ave C, right on 23rd almost to Gulf gas station, then service road to Solar 1

RSVP YOUR SPOT: lovingdayparty@gmail.com
LEARN MORE ONLINE: http://www.lovingday.org