Peace, Love, & Inspiration

Like all of you, if someone asked me to watch a 25 minute You Tube clip, I would probably apologize & say I was too busy. Or pretend to have watched it & just give it a thumbs up on Facebook. Yet sometimes ideas & messages come from the most unusual sources, making us step outside of our comfort zone for a reason.

One of the students I've assisted at North Shore Community College is a man in his mid-thirties who has not led an easy life. Drug addiction, homelessness, & incarceration are just a few of the challenges he has tackled. His toughness is apparent on the exterior. However, after getting to know him over the past year, I am reminded that it is what's on the inside that truly counts. He has taught me much & continues to be a source of inspiration, knowing that it is never too late to fulfill your goals & dreams. True philosophers & messengers don't always have a halo.

With all of his problems, he still dreams of a world where people are kind to one another & where the power of positive thinking leaves us limitless in what we can achieve. Imagine lessening violent crime by collectively sending out positive thoughts & love into the universe. Or changing your future for the better because you choose to look on the positive side with love in your heart instead of letting negative emotions overtake you.

You've all heard the expression, "You get what you give". Isn't it time to give out good vibes & receive good vibes in return? Just think of all we can accomplish together!

Please consider checking out this beautifully produced video entitled, 2012 - A Message of Hope, recommended by my enlightened student & friend. You won't believe how powerful our hearts are until you watch this. Yes, it is definitely worth 25 minutes of your life. Consider it your meditation for the week. The energy you devote to it will make our world a better place because the power of love & positive thoughts is unstoppable.

Are You Having Fun Yet? A "Yummers" Adventure

We're all so busy. Running here, running there. Sometimes the passing weeks feel like one big errand. Time to get some fun into your life & remember why we're here. Trust me - it's not for food shopping, paying bills, & transporting kids.

Last weekend, I allowed myself to be spoiled. My family & I went on an adventure to find the best chocolate on the North Shore. No errands, just a cocoa quest with a $5 limit at each location. We started at adorable & delicious Pride's Crossing Confections in Beverly (we highly recommend the turtles & salted dark chocolate caramels) then drove to luscious Turtle Alley in Gloucester. Their motto was especially appealing..."Life is short. Sin a little." And sin we did. We started with the King (appropriate for our quest, we thought) - a peanut butter cup filled with bacon, smoked salt, & chopped peanuts. Wow! And even though it wasn't chocolate, we had to try the fleur de sel ancho chile caramel (gooey caramel with a little spice & heat at the end). So good we had to go overbudget here & buy several more to bring home. What are you waiting for? Grab your coat & go!

Next we decided to walk off some of the calories & explore Bear Skin Neck in Rockport. We were excited to find banana Turkish Taffy at the Country Store. Remember these? You slam the taffy on the counter (with the wrapper on!) & it breaks into smaller pieces. What a great way to relieve stress & connect with the child in you! I knew I was on this quest for a reason.

After the candy, we needed some real food, of course. That's when Top Dog caught our eye. My husband had the Shaggy Dog (a hot dog with BBQ & coleslaw), my son the Golden Retriever (one topped with mac & cheese!), and I had the Bad Dog (one with bacon, cheese, & grilled onions). I really liked being "bad." Delish & definitely worth a road trip!

After more shop perusing, Tuck's Candies was next with us sampling their light & airy Swiss chocolates. Mmmmm! Then on the way home, we made one last stop at Nichols Candies in Gloucester, with their chocolate covered honeycomb chips & Needhams being just what we needed to help us tackle the challenges of the week ahead. The Needhams are thin caramel discs topped with chocolate & jimmies. Yummers!

Just like the great kids' book with the same name, our day was truly Yummers! My son thought I lost my mind suggesting this unique crusade, but he loved it. My husband is used to my crazy ideas & helped come up with the stops. Isn't it time for your own Yummers adventure? Just a small bite of a few chocolates at each location - it 's fun to share & compare. I don't think we truly discovered one favorite - we might just have to go again to be sure, adding in some new locations along the way! Or maybe we'll try ice cream next. So much to choose from & so little time. Now these are errands I can get used to! Enjoy!