Holiday Fun: How to create memories with your loved ones

Pretty Pink Roses

Hi Lovely, 

Happy Holidays and a very Happy New Year to you are yours! For many we quickly begin to think how to implement resolutions to the New Year and in essence, we look forward to create a better version of ourselves. Here are my thoughts:


New Year's Resolutions--> Change the idea of making new years resolutions once a year and make it a once a day kind of thing where you have the power to change the way you live, think, and work on your truth at your own beautiful pace. Also choose to fall in love with moments more than rushing to get somewhere away from appreciating the NOW.

 　

Unwrapping Presents

This year Christmas day falls on a full moon which hasn't happened for 38 years! What does that mean? If you recall feeling extra emotional whether happy or sad, take it in and breathe. The full moon gives us ample opportunity to appreciate the moment, expand on our individual growth, and learn how to be better, kinder people to ourselves and our fellow humans. It is a time to be grateful. Plus it was around 80 degrees in NY and my grandma flew in from Florida so we say she brought over the warm weather.

When you get together with your grandparents or any family members over the Holidays, here are some tips on how to have fun and make some sweet memories while bonding together:

-Make a homemade soup (my mom makes Russian borscht and my grandma absolutely loved it!)

Sweet Homemade Desserts

- Watch Classic Movies (check out the Turner Classic Movies Channel, my grandma's favorite) (CBS usually has annual I Love Lucy episodes on Dec. 23rd at 8pm)

- Watch old comedy movies (Funny Farm, Foul Play, Seems like old times)

- Get out the karaoke! I love karaoke but I never thought my grandma would love it too. So I printed out the lyrics for her to sing along and we started singing her favorite songs from the movie Al Jolson (April Showers, Anniversary Song)


Have a great year, keep an open heart to your emotions, and get your sweets ready with some bubbly!

XOXO Lusciously Levi
Click here to visit my Health and Wellness Website for healthy recipes and self-love tips!

Wrapping up the Summer with a September Super Moon Poem

There's just something about that bright round moon
Feeling its' full presence from midnight to late afternoon
Shining down upon your overwhelming heart
Encouraging your joyful laugh or tearful cry; the full moon evokes it all, tearing you apart

This is not a bad thing, being exposed to how you feel
For hiding any ounce of your truth is like apologizing for being real
The summer sky holds memories and much more
What are we willing to surrender to, as we feel opened or closed, looking for a loosely hinged door

Just know how ever lonely you feel when you look up
So many others follow in your footsteps, we are all one, waiting for our close up
Searching, finding meaning, understanding others, and oh the feeling
Breaking all the rules for a while; temporarily protected by what we're concealing

This is the journey that must be taken
To unravel each layer of frustration, to feel your inner soul slowly awaken
From the pain and confusion of the past
So that it will smoothly fade away, not ever needing to stand by or last

The super full moon is a powerful force that shakes us to our core
Instilling thoughts and concepts that govern our actions; wild they may be, unable to ignore  
The moral of it all is to feel your feelings and let them come and go
Like the rapid waves of the ocean; its' sole purpose is to remain steady in the moment, as only then will you begin to grow

XOXO Lusciously Levi

Image Credit: http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/files/2013/06/supermoon-may5-2012-x.jpg

Passover, Good Friday, a Full Moon, oh my!

Happy Spring lovely! 

We are currently in the beginning of April, where just last night we had some light drizzles during the eve of Passover and Good Friday, which just so happened to coincide on the same day! This coming weekend is Easter, and today we have a Blood Moon (specific type of Full Moon) with a total Lunar Eclipse! Here is the definition of pure unity with so many wonderful events all occurring at once; enjoy them all with gratitude and acceptance.   

Spring has sprung/Passover/Good Friday/Easter/Lunar Eclipse/Full Moon

Springtime is a beautiful period of renewal, where you get a chance to re-energize yourself as a whole. Love yourself, your journey, your experiences, and your path. With the April showers which bring the May flowers, it is truly a sight to enjoy. 

Passover is a sacred Holiday that falls on early spring, giving us all an extra opportunity for powerful and individual growth within spirituality (Spirituality just means personal transformation, which will be expanded on in an upcoming blog post)*, which is usually celebrated for one week (7 consecutive days). It commemorates the emancipation of the Jewish people from slavery in ancient Egypt. Aside from both the freedom and survival aspects of the history of Passover, which were one of the biggest challenges the Jewish people had to face, today we can call it a spring celebration, because we have the opportunity to sit down together in better times with family. A Spring Celebration happens with the traditional "Seder", which means order. The family themed dinner is just that, an ordered set of meals that provide us with a living and breathing family dynamic. Passover is then the story of family, experiencing every aspect of family. We have the freedom to be more peaceful today. We must be aware of the history and the events, so that we can understand what it means to be free, and to mend the history so that it will not repeat itself. We mend this by continuing our journey of freedom, by freeing ourselves from ego, jealousy, fame, anger, authority, isolation, frustration, annoyance, pettiness, etc. This Holy Holiday is helping us recognize the importance of a simple family dinner. What does it mean to be with family? As Michael J Fox so eloquently put it, "Family is not an important thing. It is everything." Family is true love. Until we all realize this, history will seem like it is repeating itself. History is powerful in that way. It is here to directly teach us all that we can be better people simply by loving and caring for our family and fellow people, because that is the essence of life.   

April 4, 2015 Full Moon Lunar Eclipse

The full moon is upon us once again and some terms that come to mind are the following: reflection, calmness, and acceptance. In these moments you don't have to respond or coerce anything to happen.What you can do is simply honor the moment with the people around you and make the most of it. Freely be opened to it and truly respect your own unique and individual journey. The significance of it all is to continue to be present and accept your whole self, all the while allowing everything that you are feeling to enter your soul and let it pass through without controlling or answering to it. It may be aggression, tears, or laughter. Whatever the feeling, it is all OK and healing at the same time if you simply listen to them, let them go, and focus on the gratitude and strength that come from it all. In addition, be in the alignment with the ever present flowing energies of the universe. This means trust your heart now in a way that puts you in a centered state. This action can make you free from all the pressure you are feeling, as it echoes to us all that we are love.

The ultimate message is simple. We have a seemingly magical occurrence of so many Holy events that all combine effortlessly to one- Unity. This joins us all, and gives us an opportunity to focus on learning to spend time with our loved ones, caring for one another, respecting each other, honoring one another, and treating each other as we would want to be treated, with pure love from the heart. Have a Blessed Holiday week everyone!

XOXO Lusciously Levi 

March Favorites

It is coming to a completion of March, and I have some cool new Favorites of the Month, enjoy! 

Favorite Snack:

Snacks are great especially when you have a busy schedule and you need to contain your energy! I love either a quick smoothie or some red tea with lemon, raisins, and sunflower seed butter. MM mm good! 

Favorite Movie:

 National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985) starring Chevy Chase. This is a hilarious movie, which is in a series but the second one is the funniest one, as this family goes on a vacation road trip type thing. Great for some family time.

Favorite Song:

My oh My by Slade (1983) is a rock song ballad and it is one of the best songs I have heard. It is super powerful and inspiring all at once. Have a listen when you get a chance :)

Favorite Moment:

Like every month a full moon and new moon both arrive unexpectedly as it may seem at times. This particular month seemed somewhat intense. Usually when there is a full moon, people feel more aggressive, emotional, creative, and powerful. I decided to Google "March Full Moon" to find out more since I realized that on this day or a little before or after, people around me including myself were getting more nervous, angry, and unable to have peaceful interactions and conversations with each other. It seemed bizarre at first because how accurate it was. When I read more I learned that something happens during the full moon to all of us. We get an opportunity to be in the present moment, truly accepting how we feel, whether that be happy or sad. There is this sense of rush of emotions flooding your body which is hard to contain in a peaceful manner. When you feel an intense feeling like this, best thing to do is to fully accept it and invite all of what you are feeling. Once you do that, you let it go and just breathe it out. It can be confusing but also healing if we are truly ready for growth and love. Funny thing, it also snowed on both the full moon and new moon.

The new moon (March 20, 2015) also has that similar power, and plus, it was the same day as the equinox solar eclipse and first day of spring, as well as the emergence of the first sign: Aries. Call it what you wish: rebirth, a new beginning, a close to old endings, but just know that this is the process of transformation. It is emotionally challenging yet completely rewarding and releasing once we fully get in touch with our hurt, pain, and most deepest feelings.

Favorite Stress Reliever:

A Bath! After a good workout or when you just feel sore take a bath! It is amazing. Just lay there in the warmth and enjoy it for 10-20minutes. Make your own scented bath salts too! This is a wonderful way to get fully relaxed, with a sense of aromatherapy. You can mix herbs, oils, and salts according to your current desired scent. I like using: Epsom Salt, a Lavender scent (Dead Sea Mineral Bath Salts), and a dash of baking soda. These ingredients make a luxurious and detoxing homemade bath experience!

June, Summer, Full Moon

June welcomes summer! Enjoy the beautiful nature.

INTERESTING FACT: We all know that the full moon comes around every month. This month, interestingly, on Sunday, this particular Supermoon will be closest to the earth than any other typical full moon night.

Welcome Summer! The days are longer and the sun shines brighter. In essence, this is a time for rejuvenation. Energy is at its' high. We can do lots of things that can brighten up our day. First, get a notebook and begin making small goals that are reachable. 

-Like, laundry this weekend, planting flowers on the windowsill, or learning a new craft such as learning a new language or an instrument. It could be baby steps, but any movement forward is the right direction to take! You can organize your house and begin a new and healthy lifestyle. Yoga every other day, watching YouTube videos on how to do yoga. Call up your parents and grandparents and chat with them. Talk about the weather, the family, or old memories. Set aside some quality time to spend with your loved ones. This will fulfill your heart and soul. Make a difference. Take your kids or friends to a local community shelter or anything that gives you the option of helping others.

Summer is a time for a new thought process. Whatever stress you went through or are going through, transition to a new way of thinking. It may be hard at first, but healthy in the long run. Think positively, and do not attack people. Do not put down the people that really love you and care for you. Yes there may be misunderstandings or communication gaps every so often, but keep your head up high and stay happy! We owe it to ourselves to maintain that vigilance and vigor and strength to keep us grounded and sane at the end of the day.

A nice and healthy lunch today consists of 1 cup of green tea, an organic green apple, and sunflower seeds! This is a great lunch that is light, just right for summer.

The fireworks commenced Friday evening, the first of the season, it's official! Fireworks are always fun and thrilling, and they have a way of bringing people together to essentially unite them. Welcome Summer!

After the supermoon of 2013, the sunset was sublime! The clouds were spread apart and the sunset had a gorgeous red/orange lighting. Great way to end a weekend.

Pineapple is such an attractive fruit wouldn't you agree? Not is it only tropical, but it has great health benefits as well. It is so colorful one would think it is as sweet as candy. Well, it may be as sweet as candy, but it is very healthy nonetheless. It has immense qualities such as aiding indigestion and minimizing sinuses. It also has large amounts of manganese crucial for overall bone density and health. Bromelain may very well be one of the main sources of nutrition. Bromelian breaks down protein and this is a vital part in the whole process of digestion. It also acts as an anti-inflammatory fruit. So go buy yourself some fresh pineapple and enjoy it in your smoothie or after a big meal!

June also brings sibling graduation! ~6/23/13

Celebrations and food go hand in hand. Dinner time is cheese pizza, olives from Greece, and some orange juice.

After dinner there's dessert! Apple strudels and La Moure ( old fashioned Cake of love) with a glass of whole milk.

One morning at 5am I was awakened (6/25/13) by this beautiful full moon! It was simply beautiful and not so usual at this time (when the sun typically begins to rise).

The weather looks like its going to be cloudy the whole week, no tanning this week folks! It will still be warm so you can still go out for a walk or jog and enjoy it without getting too hot.

The Saturday sky is clear and lusciously appealing! Even in the evening the sun is still shining bright and the sky is like a baby blue color.

My sister's yummy snack, PB&J time. Then strawberry Haagen Dazs ice-cream. The ultimate weekend indulgence at it's finest!

Fruits Galore, summertime is a time for tropical and juicy fruits! Pineapple cut and ready from the fridge.

For today's dinner we have some salad with sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, and garlic with a drop of olive oil. Since the strawberries from the farmers market are so delicious everyone wants to eat them quickly, with dinner and with breakfast! 6/30/13~