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

The Ultimate 2015 Summer Playlist

Hi lovely!

Now that summer is coming to a close, let us wrap up with all the beautifully emotional experiences that we have had with a connection to music. Music feeds the soul, helps release the stress, and essentially provides one with some sort of outlet for expression; it enhances one's ability to feel when in any given mood and evokes  a sense of truthfulness, which in essence, brings forth clarity within yourself. This unique bunch is a classic mix of oldies and pop with the utmost appreciation placed on the combination of lyrics, melodies, and overall sound. So here it is! 

My Ultimate Summer 2015 Playlist

Oldies:

Tom Jones: Man who knows too much
Tom Jones: You Know Me
Robbie Williams: Supreme
Boney M: One Way Ticket
Boney M. Sunny
Harry Nilsson: Without You
Chris Thompson: If you Remember Me
BLUE SWEDE: LONELY SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Air Supply: Goodbye
5000 Volts - I'm On Fire
The Rubettes: Sugar Baby Love  
The Turtles: Happy together
The Partridge Family: I think I love you 
Marie Laforet: Roman d'Amour  
Earth and fire - Memories
Jane Birkin: Orang Outan 
Slade: My Oh My 
Florent Pagny: L'air Du Temps
Al Jolson: LIZA (TILL THE CLOUDS'LL ROLL AWAY)
Uriah Heep: Easy Livin'
Tony Orlando: Tie a yellow ribbon 'round ol' Oak tree 
Three Dog Night: Eli's Coming 




Pop: Zedd: Beautiful Now
Selena Gomez: Good For You 
Tori Kelly: I was made for Loving you
Tori Kelly: It shouldve been US
Tori Kelly: All in my Head
R5: Can't say I'm in love
R5: I know you got away
R5: Lightning strikes
R5: Heart made up on you
R5: Pass me by
Pia Mia: Do it again
Hilary Duff: Tattoo
Russian Red - Fuerteventura 
Girls aloud: The promise
Bridgit Mendler: Top of the World  
Elle King: Ex's & Oh's



Enjoy :) and comment what your favorite summer songs are!

XOXO Lusciously Levi

Ballet Barre Workout Preview

Hi lovely,

Now that summer is in full swing and we are in the intense heat of mid-August, our minds can get a bit off balance and our bodies might soon follow too especially if we are not taking care of that internal mind/body/soul trinity connection. To help get you more on a relaxed wavelength I have decided to begin doing ballet workout barre exercises. Here is a short preview of what kind of combinations will pop up from time to time. The goal is to do these exercises repeatedly both on the right side and then on the left side in order to gain a sense of communication within your body as well as muscle strength and flexibility. Let me know if you have additional ideas about the combinations!


Ballet Barre Workout Preview

XOXO- Lusciously Levi <3

June Favorites

Hey lovely! 

Summer is officially upon us, can you feel it? We have sun, rain, and everything in between with the unpredictability of the weather. So many wonderful things this month, so let's get started!

Favorite combination of moments: 


Here we go folks: On June 21, 2015 we have Father's Day, the first official day of summer, and the summer solstice (in the northern hemisphere) which creates the longest day of the year because the sun is at its highest northernmost point in the sky. The solstice marks the onset of summer, and basically it means the "midnight sun"; that is, the sun is able to shine on earth all day (at noon the sun appears to be at its highest elevation or altitude above the horizon, occurring at the moment the earth’s tilt toward the sun is at a maximum).* This noontime position changes very minimally for the days directly preceding and following the summer solstice. I think it was the latest sunset of summer, at around 9pm: fun in the sun all day, literally! Solstice means "sun stands still", so we here on earth feel as though we are a bit woozy (reminisce if you were feeling drunk Father's Day weekend without any alcohol in your system!)

 
* http://www.srh.noaa.gov/abq/?n=clifeatures_summersolstice

Favorite song(s): 

This one is great and inspired all by my amazingly musical loving dad (which works great, since it's Father's Day as well!) First off I gotta say YouTube is totally awesome. Once you finish listening to a particular song, YouTube follows it up automatically with a similarly themed song that was previously played. Highly sensitive and specific, it really is superb. The first song that I am in love with is called: "Torneró"(1974) by the Italian group I Santo California . The second song is "Ti amo" (1977) by Italian singer Umberto Tozzi. The third is: "Mamma Maria" (1982) by Ricchi e Poveri. I see there is an Italian theme going on. Take a listen to these and let me know what you think.

Favorite tea: Lemon ginger tea has been a great tea to drink in the summertime. It tastes a bit bitter in the best possible way! If you have a sore throat, or if you just love the combination of tangy flavors, your best bet is lemon ginger tea!

Favorite movie:

How to steal a million (1966) is such a refreshingly smart comedic movie without too much unneeded drama and emotional tension like today's movies possess. Such a lovely movie with Audrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole partnering up in crime and in love. Gather your family and friends and make a night of it.

Favorite quote:

 "We interrupted each other to say the same thing"  

Don't you love being on the same page with someone to the point where you both want to literally interrupt each other to say the exact same thing! So hilariously funny, this quote was coined in the moment of true friendship bonding.

Have a great summer y'all! 

XOXO- Lusciously Levi  

Avocado egg salad delight

Hello lovely!

Here's something new: a great and super quick healthy salad recipe, perfect for any occasion or meal. The combination of these foods is satisfyingly superb. Here are the ingredients:

2 avocados 

7 eggs

2 medium eggplants

5 young leek (green onion)

2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil 

Pinch of salt 

To add to the magnificent flavor of the overall salad, mix it up with a handful of walnuts and a few spoons of cream-cheese to satisfy your palate!

Enjoy

Summer Simplicity

The summer is a time of fun, food, and freedom! There are fireworks, fourth of July, and family time. Here are some pictures and accompanying stories to them:

A scrumptious bowel of oatmeal topped with blueberries.

Time for celebrating grandpas birthday! Here is a quick snapshot of the dinner menu from dessert (chocolate brownie sponge cake) to veggies and pasta!

On an evening summer night it's always fun to drink something warm and tasty. Try making tea out of strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.

Some exotic looking fruit and veggies from a garden: mint, strawberry, and peppers.

A nice salad for lunch consists of the following: grated carrots, cucumber, sliced onions, lettuce, and a handful of almonds!

Homemade baking is a blast. You mix ingredients and formulate something great and fun! Here's the end product of brownie cupcakes with cocoa.

Flowers brighten up anyone's day. Buy some every now and again to smell the goodness of the plants.

A quick lunch is sometimes needed, so get some blueberries, some raw mild cheddar cheese, and a green super smoothie.

When you want a light dinner have a cup of green tea with cucumbers and almonds. Top it all off with coconut oil to give you that luscious sweet flavor. Enjoy!

Blackberries are sweet for summer!

Blackberries are sweet for summer!

Blackberries are a unique kind of fruit that unfortunately does not seem to be too popular within the majority of fruit eaters. Nonetheless, this fruit is juicy and elegant. It is delicious and has the possibility of tasting sweet or sour, depending on how ripe the blackberries are. In addition, the blackberries are high in gallic acid with an added source of anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. This is great for protecting your overall immune system. 

The Blackberries look so unique!

  Blackberries are a great kind of berry to enjoy, health wise. We already know that it tastes delicious when in season , but in addition, blackberries have one of the highest levels of antioxidant. This makes for a great option when choosing which fruit to consume on a daily basis. Blackberries also contain a large amount of Vitamin C and fiber, great for our digestion. Blackberries are also low in calories, so this type of fruit should become more popular!

The best place to get Blackberries are at your local farmers market! Here they are fresh and tasty!

 

  The summertime is the typical season for gathering these succulent blackberries. These berries have immense vitamins and minerals as well. They contain Vitamin A, E, and K. In addition, they also contain magnesium, copper, potassium, and manganese. They also contain some levels of the B-complex group of vitamins. which is essential for every one's overall health. The following vitamins ultimately act as a benefactor in aiding in the body's ability to metabolize proteins, carbs, and fats: niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, and folic acid. So, if you are in the mood for a delicious and nutritious snack, the blackberries will do!

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. 

 

 

Sunday shopping

Sunday is usually food shopping day, so here is a bit of what we bought:

Sour cream
Tomatoes
Peaches
Apricots
Eggs
Grapes
Sour cherries
Milk
Honey due
Banana
A bit of dessert (Russian cheesecake bars with strawberry filling)