Be Grateful this Holiday Season

Hi lovely,

 

This time of year can prove to be quite stressful for the majority of people, from shopping for presents to stocking up on food. We sometimes get lost in the real meaning of Thanksgiving. Thus, we end up taking things for granted. We even get greedy at times, when in reality, we might have everything we need right in front of us. There is a lot more to celebrating the Holidays than what is perceived. While the major things to be happy and thankful for are our health and ability to work, we can expand beyond that and delve deeper into the true meaning of the Holiday Season. Let us all take a step back this year and for many years to come during the Holiday season to really get back into the authentic holiday spirit that encourages unity and peace for us and our loved ones.

 

1) If you have family and friends who love you, be thankful.

Love is something so dear it should be a privilege for all. The simple pleasures can actually bring us closer together during the holidays. We get caught up during the year as we go to work, school, take care of our family, spend time with friends, and pay the bills. This cycle of busy work makes us forget the real meaning of family: spending quality time together. Sitting around the table with your loved ones is a perfect start to create that unity with each family member. We can go around the table to express what gives us meaning in life, while relishing the aroma of the scrumptious holiday pumpkin pie baking in the oven. There are many lovely stories or poems to read during the Holidays including singing hymns that are lyrically joyful that will put a smile on everyone’s face from your baby sister to your grandma. These intimate conversations will generate affirmative interminable memories that can easily be preserved and treasured for future generations to come.  

2) If you live under a roof, take a moment to be thankful for that.

Having somewhere to live means the world to people who do not. On this holiday season remember the meaning of your home, your sanctuary: a form of shelter to which you can go to at anytime. Having a home is your protection; it is something to appreciate on this holiday season, let alone on a daily basis.  This fortification can supply you with a refrigerator to store food, a faucet for clean water, and a bathroom so that you can take care of your hygiene and take showers. The next time you finish taking a shower, say thank you for the ability to be able to shower in clean water. Having a roof over your head means that you have some place to sleep, and this is another privilege to be honored by. Being grateful is as simple as it seems. It is the opportunity for all of us to truly appreciate and value all that we have, at this present moment in time.  

3) If you use any form of technology, be thankful as this genius invention helps us stay in closer contact with our loved ones.

Technology is precisely at our fingertips where we can conveniently scoop out information by “googling” any question imaginable. 50 years ago that was only a dream. Let us take a step back to fully appreciate the fact that the Internet invariably offers us solutions to which we would be lost without. We are often on the Internet, either on Facebook or some other social network. In reality the Internet provides us with so much more than viewing someone’s updated status; we find quick tips on healthy eating, how to fix things, etc. We use it to our disposal, so the next time you send an email to your friend or Skype chat with your grandmother, say thank you for this astounding capability.

4) If you are celebrating Thanksgiving as well as the whole holiday season, be grateful for the American history that has endowed us with the freedom that we continue to have to this day.

Our forefathers brilliantly demonstrate that by having almost nothing, we can actually realize that we have everything we need. There is a fine line between the two. Our progressive forefathers commenced a new tradition of sharing food and time with all people. So on a day like today, it is only the beginning the holiday season, which exemplifies Thanksgiving in a new light. The liberation of women and slaves as well as the enhancement of civil rights continues to flourish. Let us be thankful for the progress for peace, the ultimate goal. Happy Thanksgiving <3

XOXO Lusciously Levi

Click here for more self-love tips*

 

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!

February Favorites

Hey lovely,

February is the month of love (technically every day is the day of love but according to the greeting card company, we get an extra large dose of it on Valentine's Day), so that being said, here are my February Favorites! 

Favorite breakfast:

 homemade banana oatmeal pancakes, to perfection!

There are those wonderful Sundays where you have some family time with brunch or whatever meal you choose to share these memories with. I found and improvised an amazing and healthy homemade pancake recipe that is so quick to make, it's super exciting! Here it is:

- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 banana
- 4 eggs
- pinch sea salt
- 3 tablespoons coconut flakes
- 1 Tablespoon flax seeds

*This serves about 2 people, so if you want to make them for your whole family or group of friends, double the portion size.

After you place and mix all of the ingredients in the blender, leave the batter in the blender for a few minutes, (the longer you leave it in, the more time it has to get a thicker consistency as it eventually absorbs all of the goodness of the ingredients into one luscious blob more or less). Then time for the flipping (get out your handy dandy: spatula) I like to use coconut oil on the pan. When they are done, you can eat them like that or top it off with fruits (I like grapes or strawberries) and butter or sour-cream. Have them with a cup of green tea with lemon, it is truly the best breakfast/brunch idea!

Favorite show: 

Three's Company 

This classic TV show is super funny, creative, family oriented, and silly with a purpose. These great actors play so well together as well as with the words in an intelligent manner that just creates a great sense of joy and unity in addition to the constant laughter! What was awesome was the fact that on Antenna TV they had a marathon of Three's Company all day on Valentine's Day. Can you feel the love?


Favorite movie

Out-of-Towners (1970) 

This hilarious comedy film (starring Jack Lemmon) is perfect for any family get together. This couple goes on a journey throughout the film and through all of the hurdles and challenges, they stick together. It is a great message, as the only thing we can rely on is the people we love to get somewhere in life. Two is better than one, and that daily support, inspiration and devotion to one another is what drives us all to achieve greatness.

Favorite Quote:

"Fall in love with taking care of yourself. Mind. Body. Spirit."- Anonymous

I saw this quote somewhere and don't know the original author, but it makes sense. The most important task for us all is to truly and honestly fall in love with ourselves, our lives, and our journeys. Each so special and so different, we owe it to ourselves to respect our truth on a daily basis. That means, focus on the good in your life, make choices that feed your heart and soul, and don't necessarily be molded by traditions or concepts that you grew up with within society. Formulate your own authentic way of living life so that it makes you calm and at peace within yourself.  
 
Favorite moment:

 The 2015 Oscars

Lady Gaga sang Julie Andrews songs from the Sound of Music and it was so overwhelmingly perfect. Her voice is powerfully angelic and her performance was a shock to many. It was just such a beautiful moment.

Favorite tea:

Red Clover Tea 

Love this tea. It is yummy and good for you. I usually drink it with a little sweet something like my homemade truffles or pancakes.

Favorite dessert:

Chocolate Truffles

This awesome dessert is not only raw, it is healthy, delicious, and the first dessert I made myself! All that you need is a great blender, a good freezer, some simple ingredients, and some love :) Here are the ingredients: 

- 1 cup of walnuts

- 3 Tablespoons of raw cacao powder

- 1 teaspoon coconut oil

- 4 Tablespoons coconut flakes (shredded and unsweetened)

- 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt

- 4-5 dates

- cinnamon * (optional) 

Mix all of the ingredients in the blender. Put the dates in first and then the walnuts, then the rest of the ingredients and mix until sticky. Form little balls and put in freezer. In a few hours you will have a delicious treat that is amazingly tasty!

Style your Success Contributor

Hi lovely!

Happy Monday! I want to share my new articles with you all that I am currently writing for "Style your Success" so I will be posting the links below as soon as they are officially published. This is a great site that welcomes success as confidence, positivity, and gratitude. Enjoy and let me know if you want me to write about something different as well!

My first article was inspired by Valentine's Day. On this particular day many people begin to feel uptight and tense about the whole idea of love. Rest assured, "love day" is occurring every single day, so this article will help you understand love in a more realistic manner--> How to Live with Love

My second article is about incorporating some healthy and tasty smoothies into your daily lifestyle. Check out these amazingly delicious recipes--> 3 Super Smoothies







XOXO-Lusciously Levi

Welcome 2015!

Welcome 2015! It's a new year, a new light and sense of love that we can all feel. However, in society, that typically means that there is a lot that people seem to desire to change about themselves at the drop of a coin. There are recurrent resolutions circulating throughout and that seems to uncover an uncanny idea that people are just not satisfied with themselves.

The whole point of this crazy and beautiful journey called life is to live in the present moment and savor each scent, each soul, and each experience. Sure we can actively grow to be better people and choose better habits, but this should already be happening on a daily basis, as it is a lifestyle choice. Although, if we so desperately choose to focus on that material aspect (chasing after money, working out 24/7 to fit a desirable size, obsessing over competing or comparing any aspect of our lives with others), we eventually loose sight of the real meaning of life.

Therefore, the glorious New Year is not about sole resolutions but about living life presently, fully, with joy and gratitude. This kind of living is done from your heart. At the root of it all, a quote that clearly resonates with that idea is as follows:

"You don't have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body"  - C. S. Lewis

This may be a daunting thought at first, after we have tried for so long to fit in and follow society blindly, and adapt to certain traditions that may not define us at all. We have a tendency to complain, to argue, to prove our points, to be upset that nothing seems perfect. If we were to stop doing that and to learn to be grounded, caring, supportive, and kind, we would turn around our unhappiness and enjoy our lives more fully. We would be able to love and share that love with people around us, spreading that positive energy. We would be able to honestly express our hearts, free our souls, and accept all that we are --> Divine Love

La Vida Es Amor

Life is love. This is a fact. Yet sometimes, you must go through an experience or two to make yourself realize this simple fact. Maybe you just don't understand people around you. Sometimes people around you don't seem to understand you. Maybe this is a time of transition in humanity. As humans, we begin to feel certain things and reemerge as beings that are desperately searching for that universal sense of love.

Love is the higher intelligence 

I have come to some understandings about love, over time, as it is not something that is taboo or egotistically based. It is not a romantic obsession or a desiring illusion. On the contrary, if you really know who you are, you will figure out that you are love. You are all that is pure. It might sound silly, but hey, love was never made to be complicated. We just made it like that with all these rules and formulas to what is preferred within society. But really, love is all around us, if we can slow down enough to see it, feel it, live it, and breathe it.

Love is not materialistic and does not feel like a competition or make you feel like a victim or hero. It just is..

Each time you remember the truth of who you are, you truly bring more light into the world.

Know the difference between those who feed your ego and those who feed your soul -- examples--If a person wants to be your friend to gain something from you, they are not feeding your soul. If people around you only want to be popular and do things that might not resonate with you, they are not interested in feeding your soul. That is ok, but that does not mean you have to continue to actively spend your time with them. Let them find their way. Life is a voyage that is homeward bound and home is where the heart is. So the journey is getting in touch with what the heart needs to feel opened, loved, connected, and supported

Sometimes I still have no understanding of anything or anyone. Sometimes I get lost around people. But then I think of what gives me meaning, my family, my true friends, and positive energy. We all tend to forget what truly matters in this beautiful world, which is loving your life and family each and every day. So on this lovely holiday season, let's get back to remembering that true meaning of life, by fully expressing our hearts.

**Instead of making more resolutions, let's all try to focus more on the inner you and then you will be balanced. Just learn to be here, now, in the present moment, as a true gift to us. Eat less processed foods, stay away from alcohol, don't smoke, eat nutritious foods (greens, veggies, fruits), respect your body in a way that makes you feel like you deserve all that you are.**

**Love life every day physically and spiritually. What does this mean? Basically, don't force things on you. Either that be a certain career, certain people, etc. Go with the flow more, and simply love people for who they are. We are all trying to be our best selves, but we are on different levels., so we need to accept all as is, and this is OK. How do you physically love life: Enjoy taking your walk or working out, enjoy eating your meals, enjoy spending time with loved ones; the basis is priority. Now spiritually: We all desperately want to find meaning in life at some point or another. Meaning equals pure joy, happiness, contentment, and utter satisfaction. That requires going on an inward journey to the Self. Uncover the true depths of your soul and find what makes you feel free, what makes your soul burst with light and energy. It's all about your true expression of your divine authenticity. So go on and find yourself, for you will then understand the meaning of life. 

Love ya'll!
Lusciously Levi

Fall 2014 roundup

Hi Lovely! 

The fall is in full gear and that means that there is a new breeze out on the horizon. A more mellow, calm, and peaceful sentiment surrounds you if you truly tune in and focus on it. In addition, today, stop thinking about all of the things that are not right and try to limit your complaining. Smile, dance around, listen to your choice of music, and engage in goodness. 

I have written a few articles that were recently published and if you are looking for extra stress relief advice, here are the 2 links:

How to communicate effectively and calmly   (the article is on page 119*)
Tips To Calm Your Nerves When Faced With Stressful Situations

On a nice fall weekend we had some girl time and played Scrabble. Great for the brain, great for socializing :)

We are heading into the 70's, still towards the end of September!

For today's lunch here is a nice recipe:

1 tspoon Ketchup
Dash of Turmeric powder
1 tbsp Olive oil (optional)
2 handfuls of mixed greens
Steamed veggies: string beans, broccoli, carrots
Main dish- chicken cutlets (organic white meat) and cooked onion

Verse of the Week!

Hey everyone! I will be starting something new and exciting, reading and discussing Bible verses! I hope you will all join me on this fun way of learning and growing as people and as spiritual beings. I invite all the curious souls to take this journey as well to find about more about yourself, your life, and your potentiality.






Proverbs 28:6 
 "Better is the poor that walketh in the uprightness,
than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich."


This week let us learn about the message of goodness and honesty. Money and material possessions sometimes take priority in our lives. While money is an important asset as we need it to survive, constantly putting emphasis on that and not family is not the right thing to do. An  honest soul is much more worthy than a dishonest soul but one who has lots of money. We must try to do good on a daily basis, and through this goodness we get the love and spiritual satisfaction of life. Money is not a means to an end. Focus on one another and the love that can be shared!

So in the comment section of the blog post, let me know what is your favorite verse and why! Or just comment on the verse I chose and let me know if you agree and why or why not.

Have a great week and be kind to the people you come in contact with*







                       New Verse of the week! 9/5/13

"As water reflects a face so a man's heart reflects the man". Proverbs 27:19

This verse seems to say that your heart is reflected in how you live your life. Although your heart is inside, if you are kind in your life and help one another this will be seem on the outward. I think this verse is beautifully written and sounds eloquent and peaceful. 

This verse simply reminds us that to be clean and pure and individuals, we must think about our actions. Since our actions are conducted by the heart initially, we can make decisions based on that aspect. A good heart determines character. So, let us all think a bit harder and help a bit longer. Call your grandparents or parents and ask them what you can do to help them. Be a kind soul.

What do you guys think? Do you have a favorite verse of the week? Comment bellow! 

Verse of the week is the following for 11/24/13

 "Do not hate your kinsfolk in your heart"

Lev 19:17

In this verse, how can you relate? I believe that we sometimes get angry with some people. Either they do not understand us, do not respect us, or do not make us feel good. We can pray for these people and pray for the feeling to subside. Through this process we must adopt a method of forgiveness. This part takes more practice but in time, we would get hurt less and feel more happy with ourselves and the people who do not match with our spiritual needs. By doing this we take that emotional baggage of negativity and transform our minds and spirits to only be in a positive state. This is the ultimate goal: to accept life, pray for clarity, hate less, and love yourself! 

July joy with nature, desserts, family, and fun

Welcome July! It is warm, humid, and sunny. While we typically expect the sun to be shining all month long, we have been experiencing some cloudiness and thunderstorms occasionally. Still, we should enjoy it because some seasons are lacking in rain.While the rain is commencing fairly often, the weather in terms of temperature is great. It mostly stays in the upper 80's and even enters the 90's, so that is not so bad.
 

 Let's not forget one of the most important things in July, Independence Day. July 4th is a day that celebrates America as a nation, with liberty. This freedom must be celebrated respectfully with our friends and family. It is a great thing to be able to appreciate each other and our nation as united as can be. We struggle with this daily, within our community and within our friends. Let us take this time to just love one another and form stronger bonds to maintain peace and serenity.

The lovely July brings upon some nature for us all to enjoy. Seriously, everywhere you turn try to find some flowers or trees. They will be there, full of luscious scents that brighten up your day. The flowers that I took pictures of consisted of a mixture of red, yellow, orange, and pink. They were just gorgeous!

As the flowers are continuing to bloom vivaciously in July, and the showers soon followed within the same month, it is diverging from the traditional idea that (from the famous Al Jolson's song) "April showers bring the flowers that bloom in May". The sky does some magical things as the sunset lingers above us post rainstorm. First of all, the clouds seem so puffy and fluffy like silk clouds filled with cotton balls that are ever so light to the touch. Looks like you can easily float on top of it.

 Here are two pictures that I took right before the storm. You can see the sky appears to be under some pressure from the dark and heavy filled clouds.
When the weather takes a break from the rain and thunder, it is always fun to get together with your friends and have a girls night. It is a time to celebrate yourself with your girlfriends. It is a time to reflect on the week, how hard you worked, and how you deserve to enjoy yourself. Pamper yourself generally to boost your self esteem and love yourself.

Spend some time putting on face masks that act as a pore cleaner. Pick some cute nail polish and listen to music that lifts your spirits. Have a ball and enjoy all that you are ladies! It is always wise to use the products that are high quality in health. Try not to use any artificial ingredients as those products will ruin your pores and overall health. Look for organic when possible.

When we get down to it, food is good! It tastes even better in the summertime doesn't it? So, here is a bit of the food that I compiled from my home. Here we all eat and enjoy the food and are blessed to have food on our table every day. The people in our house are very creative when it comes to food and cooking. Once person will make a yummy chicken salad and chicken cutlets, while the other will want the french fries and peaches.

Another great meal would be one of the flavors from the great Chobani Greek yogurts and apples or eggs with a slice of bread with butter. Coconut oil is great for everyone. You can take one tablespoon of it daily and use it on your skin before you go out into the bright sun.

Either way you look at it, there's lots of yummy and healthy food to go around. 
When Grandpa comes over on typical Sundays, we also celebrate in style.

We get some great chocolate desserts and freeze then right before serving them. We also make a big Russian salad that is traditional for a family dinner.










Grandpa's Birthday!
Grandpa's birthday is in July so we got him a nice present with Russian chocolates and a nice handwritten card.
We always try and do nice things for birthdays especially for our close family. It is a celebration of life, love, family, and peace. In addition the whole "its the thought that counts" scenario, we try and get presents that can be used on a daily basis. Otherwise what really is the reason to get someone presents that you know and they know that they simply will not use? So, my mom's idea was to get a nice Italian black shirt and a pedometer, which basically collects calories as you walk throughout the day.

It's really great for everyone, especially my grandpa, because he loves to walk and this is an added bonus to having his long and consistent walks.Gives an extra motivation factor, if you will. Plus, it is light, little, and simple. So I would suggest you get this kind of present for someone who is actively fit and working out or exercising. Its a great asset to anyone.

Part of Grandpa's birthday means eating desserts. He loves it and enjoys a piece of sugar every now and again. 
Working out for the Body and Soul

Speaking of working out, everyone should definitely invest in some dumbbells and a trampoline. These things are ideal for any workout and ultimately, you can adjust it to any level you are currently at.

What I have learned that any age you are, there is something for you to do. Jump on the trampoline either like a jump rope with two feet or one after the other. You can go as fast or as slow as you wish. You make the rules. Grab your dumbbells and alter the weights every few exercises you do so that you train your body. Do a few reps of different forms of exercises and rest until you feel the burn.

Ear Candles could be useful if you have trouble hearing, or you want to remove excess toxins.