Hi, my name is... And I'm an Acrophobic!

...And proud of it!! I don't care to get over my fear of heights, which better explained is a fear of falling from heights. Maybe it's knowing I'm not the most graceful person to begin with that add insult to injury. Maybe it has something to do with falling out of a high chair at 2 years old and breaking my collarbone?? Either way... It's prevalent, and I'm not interested in changing it! I can be high if I have to be, but don't get me anywhere near the ledge. Some people thrive on these experiences, such as jumping out of planes or off of buildings, but there's no desire in me. Now, I have flown in a FA18 Hornet as the speed of sound and plummeting toward the earth without a hitch... However, the difference maker is that I had about 0 chance of actually falling out! 

You could pay me enough to do the following type of job... I would beg on a street corner if it was this job or nothing. I truly cannot even watch this in full. 

For those of you who love views like this,

you've got to help me understand??! No fear of falling to your death... and having that time on the way down to anticipate it?! No thanks!! 

A goal or two...
Stay on solid ground!!! ;)

Heights-inspired fashion...High Heels, of course!

And, this would totally be me!! ha ha...

And, at your local Macy's...

Steve Madden's HIGH heels with fringe! 129 bucks... and here it is! 

Jack + Sydney Bristow

For the Friday prior to Valentine's Day, we are going to continue with our switch-up week! This focuses on a non-romantic relationship, but one full of love and one of my favorite TV duos of all time. Quite possibly my favorite "relationship" to watch on all of TV... It's just the father-daughter kind!

I decided in the middle of what proved to be a hard week to re-watch Alias, and I remembered why I loved it so much the first time (or two times!) I've seen it... It's a complicated, loving, misunderstood, awkward, challenging, protective father-daughter relationship, and it's just so fun to watch! I can relate to all these adjectives in some type of relationship I have with a family member or friend... Take a look at some of the best story lines through another fan's online capture, and I encourage you to watch or re-watch with me!!

I really miss this show! Anyone with me?

J.J. Abrams, I'm not sure how you can outdo yourself from this series...

Life is just a...

So, another bit of a switch up (or abbreviated version)... Today's post is all about cherries. A favorite.

Health Benefits...

Top benefits to your health include:

• Reducing belly fat (wahoo!). 
• Reducing risk of stroke.
• Reducing risk of gout. 
• Reducing effects of arthritis.
• Reducing soreness post-workout. 
• Increasing ease of sleep. 

How can you say no to that?!? For the specific details, click here!

Cherry Blossom-inspired Fashion...

Not so good...to great!!

And, at your local Macy's...

Some pretty cute shoes available!! Design is cherry blossom-inspired... 

Yours for 70 bucks here!

One last thing... 

I thought these up my head and thought it was genius until I googled it... I wasn't the first genius to figure this out... 

Chocolate Chip Cherry Cookies!! I would make this recipe (link) without the nuts. 

SWITCH UP!!

Every once in awhile, I'll do a switch up and focus on something other than learning new things and getting creative with it... Today, it's a...

Anyone remember the wonderfully creative show, Bewitched?!? I loved it as a kid, and I still enjoy it periodically... Endora was amazing, Darrin - a little crazy, and Samantha - just perfect, in a witch-y kind of way. I mean, even Nicole Kidman and Will Farrell had to do a throwback!!

So, what were all the rumors about Elizabeth Montgomery (Samantha Stephens) not speaking about the show any longer after the close of filming?

This is all I could find on interesting facts... 

• Montgomery received five Emmy and four Golden Globe nominations for her role on Bewitched.
• The show added to the increasing popularity of the name Samantha. It was first recorded in 18th century New England of unknown etymology, and, while relatively rare until 1958, has remained consistently popular since 1965 due chiefly to Montgomery's character.
• 'Elizabeth Montgomery didn't get along with Dick York, who played her husband Darrin Stephens,' says biographer Herbie Pilato. He was in love with her but she was married to the show's producer and it became very uncomfortable for her. He was addicted to painkillers and kept missing episodes until finally they had to replace him with Dick Sargent.
• 'Elizabeth also had great battles with Hollywood veteran Agnes Moorehead, who played her mother. Agnes was very fond of Dick York and didn't want to see him go. She reduced his replacement to tears on occasion.
• 'Elizabeth tired of Bewitched and tried to quit after the fifth season but ABC offered her so much money she couldn't refuse. But you can see by the final season that she's plodding through each episode bra-less - as a nod to women's liberation - and didn't want to be there.
• 'When her contract was up ABC offered her another fortune to stay but she turned it down. After eight seasons she'd had enough. She wanted to get away from Samantha Stephens as far as she could. She sought out challenging roles, playing a sexual assault victim in A Case Of Rape and an axe killer in The Legend Of Lizzie Borden.'
• Montgomery lined a wall of her home with photos from all her movies - but none from Bewitched.
• Samantha Stephens' trademark nose-twitch was inspired by a quirk of Montgomery's: 'She used to twitch her nose when she was frustrated,' said her husband, Bewitched producer Bill Asher - though doubtless not accompanied by a xylophone sound effect.
• Though she wearied of Bewitched Montgomery had the last laugh: she owned 20 percent of the show and made millions from residuals.

Website I quote from is here: LINK. 

Pretty sad to read the story of the show's discourse as well as the story of Elizabeth Montgomery's life, seemingly an endless search for happiness. On a lighter note and with some positive quips: an interview with "Tabitha" here: LINK.  

Then, here are ten VERY INTERESTING FACTS. Click here. 

But beyond speculation and sad stories, the show produces a lot of good memories for lots of people. 

Pretty as a...

How pretty is this little guy?!?! The colors are just brilliant... I've got plenty of pictures for this post, just because the brilliance of this bird is quite overwhelming!!!

Personal Background...

With peacocks?! Well, as a kid, I saw plenty when my cousins and I visited Ellen Trout Zoo... They are beautiful, and we learned quickly that they really can fly (at least up in the trees)! Imagine four little cousins screaming, screeching, and 'awww'ing... I was impressed. Take a look at a still shot of one flying. Must take some strength to get that kind of tail all neatly tucked in for take-off!

And we all liked their voices. While on that topic...
When my twin nieces were born and were in ICU for a time, there was another baby in there that had the peacock call down perfectly! Amazing skills!!

And, I always liked them, even though some people think they are mean... Let me tell you who is mean in my book... Birds with long necks. Geese (they chase kids and hiss) and ostriches (my all-time phobia)... So, no... I'm staying away from all long-necked birds. In my opinion, their brains are too far away from their bodies to be able to have good common sense quickly enough!

A few fun facts on our bird of brilliance... 

Male peafowl is called peacock while female is called peahen.

They are one of the largest flying birds. Their length (including tail) can reach 5 feet. They can weigh between 8-13 pounds.

They are omnivores (eat both plants and animals). They like to eat insects, arthropods, amphibians, flowers, seeds…

Their main predators are tigers, leopards, mongoose… When they sense a danger, they fly and hide in the trees. They spend nights on trees for the same reason.

Family of peafowl is called "bevy".

Group of peafowl is called "party".

Beautiful and colorful tails are characteristic only for the males.

Colors of the tail will look different every time you change the angle of looking because of the reflection of the light. Tail feathers have eye-like spots, surrounded with red, green, gold and red feathers.

Tail makes 60% of peacock's total length.

Peahen chooses its partner by the length, width and coloration of the tail.

Peacocks are polygamous (mate with more than one female) and usually form a harem that consists of 2-5 females. Left alone peacocks are very sad and heart-broken.

Although very beautiful, peacocks produce unpleasant sounds.

Females lay 3-5 eggs. Young birds will hatch after 28 days.

One day old baby peafowl can walk, eat and drink without assistance.

Peafowl live up to 20 years both in the wild and in the captivity.

For more click here! Great facts from a great website! The facts above are taken straight from their educational page.

And just for fun... 

Are these not the cutest!?! If you have a child, this should be Halloween 2015!!!

And for you... This ring. Love it by Heidi Daus here. Just had to include. 

A goal... (or two)!

Go to Ellen Trout zoo... SO FUN. STILL.

Peacock-inspired fashion... 

Ladies, just you wait... Here it comes!! These will knock your socks off.. From best to worst in my opinion!

Naomi Campbell rocking this dress! Love it (above).

Call me crazy (maybe?!) but I really love this one too (above)...

Ummm no...(above)

And a really, really big NO... No, just no... Dress, no. Hair, no.

And just for fun below...

And, at your local Macy's...

Yes, please!!! My birthday's coming up... Hints right here below... Love this. And you can buy it here!

Looking up...

The Bible says that God cares for the "birds of the air" (arguable for our peacock friends?? ha)... But because we know this, how much more will He care for us?! Even when things are bleak, this life is much more of a blink, and if we know Him and have accepted His offer on the cross, we've got an eternity of bliss and joy...

For more on the passage, click here.

Raindrops keeping falling on my head...

Rihanna sang about them; Julie Andrews had a talking one; and there's all kinds of superstitions about them being open inside... It's all about UMBRELLAS today!

Personal Background

I love them... Do I have one when I need one? Nope, not always, but I think they add a touch of style (or they can) to your rainy day outfit. Why not have an umbrella with your favorite team, your favorite neon, or an obnoxious pattern?! You don't have to see it all day anyway. And, it's functional, of course. It serves a distinct purpose. I love the water, but I hate being wet and cold, so these babies are my friends!

Sometimes, you have to just let yourself be a kid in the rain though!!

So, a little history...

Top 8 facts from the history of the umbrella! And for more, click here.
1. From Latin word umbra, meaning shade
2. Started in China, 11th century BC (wow!) made out of a stick and leaves arranged around the top
3. Parasol comes from the Latin papare (prepare) and sol (sun) -- sun shade!
4. In Egypt in 1200 BC, fair skin was seen as more royal, so parasols protected your reputation
5. In the middle ages, umbrellas declined in use, though popular by the Pope in the 12th century (trendsetter-- popularity came back)
6. Showed up in England in the Restoration period (before that seen as frivolous)
7. King of Batam once presented Prince Rupert with a gift of two umbrellas (who died shortly after this and the kingdom of Batam began to decline); this event likely explaining the superstition of opening umbrellas inside
8. In 1786, Jon Beale designed the first canopy umbrella just after umbrellas were seen as more functional and a protector of weather again

Umbrella, ella, ella, ella... eh eh eh... (You know you want to sing!)

So, apparently, there's a record-breaking umbrella dance we should all see that is talked about here!!
And a video of the dance here!

A goal... (or two)

Not to forget my umbrella on those rainy days! And to pick a bright umbrella upon my next purchase! On those rainy days, I'm convinced I need a more cheerful color - like yellow!!

Umbrella-inspired fashion...

Good job, Burberry! Some use of color, though I suggest even brighter next time! ha!

And, at your local Macy's...

Pretty cute; pretty bright! For more, click here. Note: It's on sale!

Looking up...

Maybe there will be times when an umbrella is not enough, or we just don't have one with us! There was a time when those disciples of Christ were looking all around in quite a storm, yet their Savior was sound asleep... He knew He was in charge, and He knew beyond His circumstance that things would be okay because God is in control. No umbrella needed... Read more here!

Ring around the...

Ring around the rosie... moon?! What?!

I went out on a camping adventure (aka Church Retreat) this past weekend waaaaaay out in the country, and I saw something I had NEVER, EVER seen in 30 some odd years. A ring around the moon!! Several of us marveled at it, and others said "Oh yeah, that is formed by ice reflecting the light from up in the upper stratosphere." Wow, somehow missed that one! I tried and tried to take a picture, but it wouldn't show up on my camera phone... However, someone somewhere captured one just like it... See below!

Personal Background...and a little history...

You just got it... My history with it has been all of two days! Pretty cool though! Apparently, some show a bit of a rainbow in the ring of light. Pretty beautiful.

The Science Behind It...

I can't explain it, but I'll let the Farmer's Almanac do so below!! And for the full information from their site, click here!

"While stargazing, have you ever noticed a large circular band of light surrounding the moon? If so, you have seen a lunar halo.

A lunar halo is caused by the refraction, reflection, and dispersion of light through ice particles suspended within thin, wispy, high altitude cirrus or cirrostratus clouds. As light passes through these hexagon-shaped ice crystals, it is bent at a 22 degree angle, creating a halo 22 degrees in radius (or 44 degrees in diameter). A double halo, sometimes with spokes, may be seen on rare occasions when light reflects off water or ice.

The prism effect of light passing through these six-sided ice crystals separates the light into its various colors, resulting in a halo tinged with very pale rainbow colors with red on the inside and blue on the outside. The phenomenon of a lunar halo is similar to a rainbow produced by sunlight and rain falling between your eye and the sun.

Weather lore says a lunar halo is the precursor of impending unsettled weather, especially during the winter months. This is often proved true, as cirrus and cirrostratus clouds generally precede rain and storm systems.

Lunar halos are, in fact, actually fairly common. So watch the night sky — and keep the umbrella handy."

By golly, they were right too... We got lots of rain the next day, which made for a very muddy couple of hikes with my fellow church friends! Worth it!!

A goal... (or two)

Look up more at night... How could I have missed this!?!

Lunar-inspired fashion...

Apparently, this is a "moon dress" on the runway... Sleek!

And, at your local Macy's...

How sweet is this? I want to get these for my nieces!! (On sale for $33)

Looking up...

Check out verse three in this chapter of Psalms by clicking here. Let's not forget the Creator of the heavens... And then let the peace of knowing who is in control cover us this week...

Round and round we go!

When do we think about carousels? I don't very often, though I know a local church actually decided to put one in their facility... Just different!! There's a movie about carousels, and then, there's always the carousels that just happen to pop up in different places... When is the last time you saw one? Or rode one? (I bet you can guess what my goal is already!!)

Personal Background...

None! Other than riding a few, but probably last time was when I was 10ish?!?

So, a little history...

Top Ten Facts from the history of the carousel:
1. Carosella was the first term used by Italian and Spanish onlookers as Turkish and Arabian folks played games on their horses in the 1100s.
2. French changed these "horse games" to the name "carrousel".
3. Object of the original game was the spear a ring hung in a tree.
4. A Frenchman decided to build a device on a center pole to train young men for this type of game. (You know where this is going!)
5. 1700s were when the first known carousels built for fun arrived on scene.
6. First powered carousels were done so by steam.
7. Gustav Dentzel was the U.S. inventor that introduced the modern carousel to the world in 1860s.
8. This was when other animals were included along with carved horses.
9. Interest in the carousel declined in the Great Depression and peaked again in the 1970s
10. 150 of predicted 4000 original from the American Golden Age still exist.

All information pulled from here!

Fox News also happened to do a story here on top carousels to visit in the U.S.! Thought that was fun!

What's up with the random animals??

A goal... (or two)

RIDE one of these guys!!! 

Maybe a zebra one!

Carousel-inspired fashion...

I don't know about you guys, but I like it! Weird shape of skirt, but I do like it! At least on her!

And, at your local Macy's...

For the normal folks like me, what carousel-inspired items can you find and buy? 
How cute is this cupcake stand?! And under 50 dollars!! Click here for more! 

Looking up...

Since carousels tend to go in circles, I focused on a passage about that. God told Joshua to circle a city seven times and they would overcome it. It's amazing, because we know it wasn't the actual act, but the action of obedience and God's power that took the city down. Here's a verse from this passage, and you can read the whole chapter here!

Joshua 6:15

On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times.

What do you want? You want the moon?

Classic Jimmy Stewart!! 

Who doesn't enjoy It's a Wonderful Life around the December time frame? 

Personal Background...

I am old school... Not old school 70s or 80s, but more like the days of black and white TV - in so many ways! I like classic cars, classic TV (for the most part), and so forth... Jimmy Stewart has acted in a lot of old movies that are true classics, but his (arguably) most notable is my second favorite movie of all time. Who doesn't like watching a story of hitting bottom yet realizing there's mercy, grace, love still available to you? There's purpose beyond what you can see! I love the message. 

And I love the story of love with the husband and wife too... A cute tale of how they came together - and persevered together!

So, a little history...

Jimmy Stewart profile includes:

• First-born
• Born in Pennsylvania
• Faith was a priority
• Middle name: Maitland
• Slid down banisters
• Described as "had a reserved, dignified manner, as well as the distinctive, deliberate way of thinking and speaking"
• Played accordion and piano
• Only son, but had sisters
• Squashed two pennies on the train track by the train that led President Harding's funeral procession; kept in his desk for years
• Boy Scout
• Football player 
• Brick layer and painter of highway lines; musician; cheerleader (on squad); magician's assistant; stagehand
• Princeton grad
• Loved studying architecture
• Art Trouble (1934) (first picture)
• Described as playing "tough but vulnerable" roles as a trademark
• Named producer, Capra (It's a Wonderful Life), as his biggest professional influence
• When drafted, he was 5 lbs under; he went home, ate a ton, and went back and made it in
• Pilot (even before military service); always fascinated with aviation
• After war, became radio personality before going back to acting
• Married Gloria, who had two boys from previous marriage, then they had twin girls
• Passion for wildlife conservation
• Helped Ronald Reagan campaign for presidency
• Experienced loss of parents, stepson, and eventually wife after 45 years of marriage upon her death
• Passed away at 89 in 1997

Quotes from family, fans, and organizations...

"Yet their son Michael says they “were raised with that small-town Christian Presbyterian ethic that nobody owes you a living.  If you have bad breaks, get up and move on.  That was the attitude of both my parents, and it never changed.”"

"In presenting the award, the American Film Institute summed up many aspects of his enduring presence: “In a career of extraordinary range and depth, Jimmy Stewart has come to embody on the screen the very image of the typical American. Whether flying the ocean as Charles Lindbergh, going to Washington as Senator Jefferson Smith, or playing an ordinary man who somehow never got around to leaving his home town, Stewart has captured the essence of American hopes, doubts, and aspirations. His idealism, his determination, his vulnerability, and above all, his basic decency shine through every role he plays…..”"

"His values: hard work, love of country, love of family, love of community and most of all love of God."

All information taken from here.

A goal... (or two)

Be as real as possible... Keep my priorities in place. Have people say my values reflect ones that match Jimmy's, because those are my priorities! 
Let's just stay big picture!

Since Jimmy had a thing for aviation...

Aviation-inspired fashion...

Take a look! 

And, at your local Macy's...

Ray-Ban Aviators for just over $100... You decide if it's worth it! Click here! 

Looking up...

Proverbs 23:5

Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. 

Love this! Not worth worrying over the material... This verse was lived out a lot in Jimmy Stewart's life as well. Seemed appropriate! Click here for more from the Proverbs. 

Out of the BLUE...

Sapphires continue to be one of my very favorite gemstones, mostly because of their beautiful color. Blue is the theme for today, yet, I'll focus it on sapphires. Even the name of the gem has some pizzazz to it!

Personal Background...

I love blue. I love, love, love BLUE. There's nothing better than a beautiful, clear blue sky - or a blue ocean!! When in Miami on an early morning jog, I took this picture (pre-smart phone, mind you... Go Samsung!), and I have this photo blown up and on my office wall! Why I love it?! So much BLUE!

So, a little history...

People (way, way back 'in the day') thought that the space that the planet sat in was in fact sapphire of sorts! I can see why when we look at how beautiful the colors of the sky can be and their match to this gemstone. In many sapphires, you can see flecks of yellow, red, pink - as we do in sunsets. It is also mentioned that blue is preferred over other colors in 50% of the world's population... I'm not alone in loving the blues! And as far as sapphires, you can find them in various places in the world, including: India, Burma, Ceylon, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Brazil and Africa. Yet, the Kashmir sapphires are touted as the most beautiful color. Those who do mine for sapphires are careful to find the gem and try to cut for best color, apparently. Since the hardness factor is just shy of a diamond (super hard), the professional must use special tools and make the ccut just right. For more, click here.

Pics from a real sapphire...

A sapphire in the rough (from Madagascar):

And the highly loved Kashmir sapphire:

The real deal...

So, one famous sapphire engagement ring that we probably all know is that of Kate Middleton. When Prince William proposed to her in Kenya, he used his mother's ring - this 18 karat (worth half a million) sapphire. Gorgeous! This all from a story broken by CBS news here.

Now, I'm not sure how Wikipedia is, but I thought these facts were interesting as well.. Read and click link here, and let me know if you think this is true!
"Some commentators say Diana selected it because it reminds her of her mother's engagement ring. Leslie Field stated: "She (Diana) had obviously already said she would like a sapphire; she had half a dozen rings and she chose this one purely because she liked it." and "Somebody came up with the story that she immediately went for the biggest, but I asked her and she told me it definitely wasn't the biggest, she simply thought it was very beautiful."
After the divorce of Charles and Diana, the possession of the engagement ring came back to the Prince of Wales. It remained at Kensington Palace. After Diana's death occurred, Charles took the mourning Princes William and Harry to the palace to select mementos from their mother's possessions. Prince Harry selected the engagement ring, whereas Prince William selected Diana's £18,000 yellow gold Cartier Tank Francaise watch. They eventually exchanged mementos. Prince William decided to give Middleton the engagement ring in October 2010. After the announcement of the engagement of the couple, the engagement ring has become popular selling copies of it."

A goal... (or two)

Hmm... buy a ring?? Or how about cleaning up my bedroom (which is blue), so my things strewed about will not detract from the beautiful blue walls!! Yes, that's the right goal...

Sapphire-inspired fashion...

Beautiful hues below! Apparently, Valentino was inspired to do this sapphire blue collection through ceramics... I can see the influence here.

And, at your local Macy's...

For us commoners, some sapphire inspired (priced to own) styles, here! I could have found something cheaper, but look at these (fake, but gorgeous) drop earrings for just 100 bucks... Sorry, but that blue and gold combo caught my eye immediately.

Looking up...

I'm doing BSF, which stands for Bible Study Fellowship (click here for more info), and we are studying the life of Moses right now... Of course, we are talking about the way people (pre-Jesus' act on the cross) worshiped God and made themselves clean before Him. (He always finds a way for us to be near Him, though He is so holy and perfect, our sin creates an issue...) A part of this place of worship that God gave instructions for involved blue materials... I thought "Wow, you love blue too, God!" ha ha... I had other deeper realizations through the passage, but I admit I did think that! Here it is is here in the text!

Exodus 26:1

[ The Tabernacle ] “Make the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim woven into them by a skilled worker.