The Haven

Do you have your 7-day candle ?  How about your list of things to bring into the new year?  I did a post on resolutions last year so I won't bore you with a repeat post. I hope you all have at least one thing you want to carry over into 2012.  I know it was a rough year for a lot of us, but tomorrow is a brand new day! So, remember the lessons learned along the way and make some happy plans for a good year to come.  Happy New Year my friends! ~Heathen

The best, most exciting part of the Holiday season is here...Christmas Eve is tomorrow!  It's time for last minute wrapping and baking, organizing the gifts under the tree just so, tucking away the unused decorations and settling in with some yummy cocoa and holiday movies.  It's time for visiting with friends and family, enjoying all the decorations and hard work that was put into this Holiday.  The anticipation and good cheer abound!  Take a little pride in all you've accomplished and don't worry about the things that didn't get done.  Be merry and enjoy the Holiday in whatever way you choose to celebrate! ~Heathen

Yule, also known as the Winter Solstice, is the longest night of the year.  After the Solstice, the days begin to grow longer again as the Sun begins its return.  Yule is a time for introspection and planning of the future as well as a celebration of the rebirth of the Sun. Customs and Activities: caroling burning the Yule log (or candle) kissing under the mistletoe baking sweets Colors: red, green, gold, white, silver, yellow, orange Decorations: Yule log (or candle) evergreen boughs or wreaths holly & mistletoe candles clove studded fruit poinsettias stars stags Foods: pork or poultry dishes fruits & nuts ginger tea cookies eggnog cider Scents of the season: pine cedar rosemary sage peppermint cinnamon

Join me for a moment in a wonderful fairy tale land. A magical place where it only snows from December to January. The holidays are frosted in white sparkling snow and the air itself glitters with tiny falling snowflakes.  The scents of pine, rosemary, and peppermint linger everywhere in the cold, crisp air.  Everything is decorated and twinkles both day and night.  Happy people bustle about preparing for the celebrations ahead.  It's a place for scarves and mittens, thick sweaters and knit caps, hot chocolate and spiced cider. The various holidays are celebrated with joy and the new year begins. And just like that...the snow is gone.  Leaving everything clean and refreshed, ready to embrace the quiet time and patiently await the return of the Sun. May your days be merry and bright! ~Heathen

The decorations are up, the gifts are bought, wrapped and under the tree.  All that's left to do is plan the meal and clean.  I can't believe I'm almost done!  This time last week, the tree wasn't even decorated yet.  Well, I have had help from the family so I can't take the credit.  Every day when I got home from work more decorating had been done, what a nice surprise! We are fast approaching crunch time, only 9 days left!  Less than that if you have company coming to stay!!  You can find my original crunch time post  here , but if you've got company staying with you, there are a few extra things to be done. Sleeping Arrangements - Where are you going to put those guests?  If you happen to have a guest room, this step is already done!  If not, you can always make a place in any extra room you may have (think den, office, craft room, etc.).  If at all possible, provide a bit of privacy for your guests, then just clear some spac...

As I'm sure you've noticed by now, I've added a twinkly version of Carol of the Bells to my site for this festive season.  Since not everyone enjoys music on the blogs they visit, the player is at the very bottom of the page and can be paused so the music doesn't play. Photo found  on Tumblr here. This, I think, begs the question...do you prefer music, sound effects, or nothing at all when you visit a blog?  While on my visits around blog land, I've heard seasonal songs, favorite songs, wind chimes, and crackling fires. I like the idea of the ambient sounds vs. songs you hear on the radio, but that's just me.  I chose this version of the popular carol because there are no lyrics and it's more of a background sound. So, tell me what you prefer!  Music, sounds, or nothing at all? ~Heathen

Better Homes and Gardens Happy December and welcome to the Holiday Season! I don't know about you, but I just love this big fat Christmas tree.  I tried to put my artificial tree in my big cauldron as a "container", but the tree stand is just too big.  So, for this year at least, the stand is once again covered by a tree skirt. I've seen, and implemented a lot of great decorating ideas this year.  The tree isn't decorated yet, but should be by the end of this weekend.  I honestly haven't decided if I'm going to get new ornaments or not this year.  Do you ever get tired of your ornaments too? If all goes well I'll have some decorating photos for you next week.  But for now it's time to start getting some gifts to put under the tree! ~ Heathen

Just a quick note to wish all my US friends a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Enjoy the day with family and friends! ~ Heathen

Ack!  Thanksgiving is THIS WEEK! If this is how you feel today, here's what to do: First, take a deep breath.  This is not a test and you will not be graded. Decide what food & drinks you're going to serve, from appetizers to dessert.  But have backup options just in case! Make a shopping list.  Don't forget to include some candles and flowers if you don't have those on hand, and remember the roasting pan if you're cooking a whole turkey. Not much of a cook?  Have each guest bring a dish for a pot-luck style meal. Go to the grocery store TODAY, the pickings will already be sparse so you don't want to wait any longer.  This is the reason for the backup options. If you haven't already, arrange your Fall decorations where they will be appreciated by your guests. Really clean your kitchen and main/guest bathroom (the guest room too if you're having overnight company).  The rest of the house can get a cursory tidy & sweep. Anything that c...

If you follow my blog, you know I recently suffered a nasty back pain episode.  And I know, from reading all of your blogs, that a lot of you deal with some type of pain on a fairly regular basis.  So I want to share with you 2 things I found that have helped me become (nearly) pain free.  I only say nearly because I'm still working through it, but it's down to just a few twinges throughout the day.  This is a big deal since 3 months ago I could barely walk! Now I, like a lot of people, don't have health insurance so getting bounced around by a bunch of doctors and specialists was out of the question.  Add to that my low opinion of western medicine and our current healthcare system and you find me searching the web for anything and everything that might possibly relieve the pain. After much trial and error (all free advice I might add), I stumbled upon something that finally made sense to me... http://www.movelikeachild.com/ This guy and his "program" are n...

Halloween is nearly upon us.  The Great Pumpkin is set to arrive, the witches are preparing to fly, and the black cats...well, they're a bit indifferent to the whole thing.  They are cats after all! The veil is getting quite thin so it's time to get the Jack o' Lanterns and candles set up to protect your home from unwanted ghosties, don your costumes to blend in, and don't forget the treats to appease all manner of creatures who will soon be knocking at your door! Rake and burn the leaves, and gather the firewood.  Mulch the gardens, sweep the front steps, and bring the herbs in to dry.  Shutter the windows, there's a chill in the air! Fill the cauldron with freshly harvested vegetables and herbs and set it to simmer.  Stock the pantry with canned goods from the garden and get started on the candle making.  Bring out the blankets and clean out the hearth.  Remember, don't clear those cobwebs until after All Hallows Eve, that spider may be someone yo...

So a couple weekends ago my daughter decided she wanted to play around with Photoshop.  She took a picture that I found on Google to use as a desktop background and just started playing around.  With a little bit of instruction from me, she made a completely different picture.  Then she had the great idea of posting both pictures and seeing who could spot all the differences.  Admit it, you still like playing those. There are a total of 11 changes to the original picture (besides the obvious color change).  You'll probably want to click on the pics to see them better.  Just list the ones you find in your comments. original new version Happy hunting! Disclaimer: This is not my photo.  I found it on Google image search and I have no idea who it belongs to.  If this is your picture, please feel free to contact me and I will update this post with the proper credits.

Lately, beginning back in September, my daughter and I have taken to watching the complete WB/CW show Supernatural.  What's not to like?  It dark, spooky, uncomplicated, with a bit of comedy, and of course there's the eye candy. I figure it's a pretty perfect bit of evening entertainment during the month of October.  Since we don't always have time to settle in and watch a 2-hour movie during the week, this T.V. show fits the bill! What are you watching right now? ~ Heathen

It's here, it's here, it's finally here!  That's right, October has finally arrived!  And to top it off, we actually got cooler weather here in Florida this weekend.  This will be short and sweet my lovelies since I am very busy today.  Not only is it the first day of Halloween season (officially), but it's also my daughter's birthday.  I'll be back soon with more Halloween posts for you! ~ Heathen

Sorry, my lovelies, for being away for so long.  I've been dealing with a back injury.  Nothing life threatening, but it has stopped me from doing just about everything besides going to work every day.  I'm recovering (slowly) but I still can't sit for very long. So...I just want to let you all know I'm still alive and I will have much to share soon.  After all, Halloween is just around the corner!  I'll try to make the rounds and pop in to your blogs as I can. Okay, my sitting time is up so I'll be going now.  Happy thoughts! ~ Heathen

To all my US friends and followers, have a wonderful holiday. Enjoy and be safe! ~ Heathen

I just want to say thank you to Vanessa over at A Fanciful Twist for hosting another Mad Tea Party!  Based on all the participation and comments, everyone had a great time. Also, I want to thank all my friends (new and old) for the wonderful comments.  I enjoyed visiting everyone's parties, even if I didn't comment on all of them. So...THANK YOU! ~ Heathen

Welcome party goers!  If you've just found my site, I'm very pleased to meet you.  Please feel free to wander around a bit.  For my contribution to today's Mad Tea Party I've created a digital collage...Tea in the Garden. click to enlarge It was inspired by this... I hope you all enjoy.  I'll be blog-hopping around to check out all your Tea Party posts today.  To follow along with the madness, click here and visit A Fanciful Twist for more partiers! Thanks to Vanessa for hosting her annual Mad Tea Party!

The Summer Solstice, also known as Litha or Midsummer, is the longest day of the year.  After the Solstice the nights gradually begin to grow longer again.  Litha is a fire festival and a classic time for magic of all types. Customs and Activities: spend the day outside wear the colors of the Sun lighting a blaze (or candles) on Midsummer's Eve and maintaining it until midnight brings luck and blessings to the home Colors: red, orange, yellow, green, and white Decorations: sunflowers bees lanterns or twinkle lights wreath of ivy with yellow & red flowers or ribbon intertwined Foods:  due to the Summer heat in FL, I like to serve a light meal that doesn't require the oven. summer veggies grilled meat, poultry, or fish Sangria anything lemony or citrus Spellworkings: love divination protection inspiration any fairy magic

To all the Dad's out there in Blogland and the great wide world! Enjoy your special day!

Next Sunday, June 19th, is known in the U.S. and a lot of other places around the world as Father's Day.  Every year on the 3rd Sunday of June we honor our fathers or father figures. So what do you give the man who has everything or wants nothing (and doesn't need a tie)?  That all depends on the man in question.  In my experience, most men don't really like the spectacle of receiving gifts in front of other people.  It seems to makes them feel awkward.  So instead of wrapping up a pretty gift, consider doing something for or with the man of honor. Host a backyard barbecue for the family and you've got a nice Father's Day for both Dad and Hubby.  Give Hubby the weekend off from that honey-do list and let him spend his time on the computer, or in front of ESPN, or whatever it is he likes to do.  Take your Dad out to breakfast, just the two of you. If you don't live nearby, send him a book you read or CD you listened to that you think he would enjo...

We all know about the horrible economy and we're all feeling it's effects on our wallets.  For a lot of us, this means skipping the traditional Summer vacation.  So instead of leaving home, try taking a vacation from something you normally do.  Things like television, your computer, the news, or driving.  Sound too hard?  What about taking a vacation from the things you don't really like such as complaining, whining, demanding, or judging.  Don't get defensive, we all do these things. Or... take a vacation from work but stay local and pretend to be a tourist.  Do all the things someone visiting your town would do on vacation!  A lot of times you can even get discounts on the "touristy" things if you're a local, it never hurts to check. The point is, don't skip your vacation...we all need them.  But you don't have to spend a fortune or uproot the family to do it.  Enjoy your Summer Vacation! ~ Heathen Living Life Seasonally

Finding inspiration can sometimes be a daunting task.  So what to do when you simply have no new ideas?  First, you have to realize and accept that these things cannot be forced.  In fact, the harder you try, the less you'll get.  Sounds counter-intuitive right?  But it's not.  The truth is, a lack of inspiration mainly stems from an overload of information.  Your mind needs time to process, and most of us are going/doing/thinking way too fast for that to happen.  You have to slow down and stop, just for a bit, and essentially "re-boot" your mind.  Haven't you noticed that some of your best ideas pop into your head while doing something routine or absolutely nothing? Consider these examples: Newton was loafing under an apple tree when he saw an apple fall and got the idea of gravity.  Galileo was sitting and watching a great swinging lamp which triggered the idea of a swinging pendulum as a means to measure time.  And Watt was ju...

June brings the beginning of Summer.  The weather is warming towards hot and the kids are home from school.  It's the perfect time for outdoor fun!  Not only will you enjoy the healing rays of the sun (don't forget the sunscreen!), but the fresh air and sunshine will help burn off the extra energy kids seem to have in the summer. Make a Summer playlist for your music player and take it with you. Head to the beach, lake, or pool for some water fun. Spend the day at the park and have a picnic lunch. Create sidewalk art with chalk on your driveway or porch. Go for a walk around your neighborhood. Go to a baseball game. Plant a vegetable garden. Visit a local street fair or farmer's market. Chase butterflies, frogs, lizards, and fireflies (please don't try to keep them). If your town still has one, go to a drive-in movie. Go camping and sleep outside; even if it's only in your own back yard. Even if you don't have small children, you can still enjoy the ...

Okay, I know spring cleaning season is over (for most of us).  But if, like me, you've left a few things undone, now is the time.  The Summer Solstice is nearly upon us!  It's time to finish the spring cleaning and get your house ready for the summer months.  Here are a few ideas to get you started: Spruce up your porch, deck, or patio for outdoor lounging and entertaining. Get your grill ready for evening and weekend barbecues. Start saving your empty jars to use as luminaries. If you live in the north, remove the storm windows/doors and replace the screens. Air out the house before it gets too hot and sticky. Change the filter for your air conditioner and make sure it's working properly. Clean your fans. Pack away any remaining cold weather clothes and blankets; donate those you no longer want or need. Bring out the shorts, skirts, t-shirts, flip-flops, and lightweight blankets. I know, it seems like a lot of work.  But trust me, you'll appreciate...

That's right...it's time for a Mad Tea Party!  The whimsical Vanessa over at A Fanciful Twist is hosting another Mad Tea Party this month.  If you don't already know about this, you can find all the info here . I wasn't around for the previous festivities, but I do plan on participating this year.  I just love her blog and her parties!  Not quite sure what I'll be doing, but I wouldn't tell you anyway. *wink* So, if you haven't already, head on over and sign up to join.  Look forward to seeing you for tea! ~ Heathen

...to all us Moms out there.  Enjoy your special day any way you like! ~ Heathen

image found on Starbucks.com Have you seen this yet?  Starbucks has a new drink on it's menu...the Mocha Coconut Frappuccino!  This thing is bliss in a cup.  And , they have the coconut flavored syrup so you can add it to any of your favorite Starbucks drinks!  How about adding a shot of it to their Orange Mango Smoothie?  As the barista said "It's like toes in the sand!" Personally I LOVE coconut and there really hasn't been a signature flavor for the warmer months of the year.  There's the Pumpkin Spice starting in October, the Egg Nog starts in November, and of course the Peppermint and Gingerbread for the Holidays.  But nothing for Spring and Summer.  Well now there is and I'm doing a little happy dance about it! As it turns out, they actually tried adding this flavor to their menu several years ago and it didn't last.  But enough people missed it that they finally brought it back.  I know a lot of you are Starbucks junkies as...

Also known as May Day, Beltane is a time for love, union, growth, abundance and fertility.  This month marks the peak of Spring and is time to prepare for the warm months ahead. Beltane is one of the in-between times of the year, it's still Spring but you can feel the lazy days of Summer in the air.  Here are a few things that symbolize this time of year for me: brightly colored wild flowers ferns and ivy embedded candles (the kind with flower petals in the wax) wind chimes cloudless blue skies freshly mowed grass sun dried laundry When changing your decorations for this turn of the wheel, put away the eggs and pastels of Ostara and bring out bursts of color and pretty garden themed decorations.  Hang baskets or cones of flowers from doorknobs, put wind chimes and sun catchers in windows.  Start that windowsill herb garden you've always wanted.  You get the idea here. found at Michaels.com As always, have fun with it and make it personal! ...

Which do I celebrate?  I saw this type of question a lot around the Holidays last year.  Yule or Christmas, then of course there's the current holiday Ostara or Easter, and let's not leave out Samhain or Halloween.  You get the idea. My question is, why choose?  Very few of us grew up celebrating Yule, Ostara, Samhain or had any idea about the wheel of the year.  When we were kids Spring meant Easter eggs, chocolate bunnies, and lots of candy; Fall brought costumes, going out at night, and more candy; Winter was all about Christmas, Santa Claus, presents, and of course...candy.  There were family traditions that were followed year after year, passed down through the generations and some new ones thrown in occasionally.  These are the things that stuck with us as we became adults and started our own families.  So why should we turn our backs on all those good memories and traditions just because we've chosen a different path for ourselves? I sa...

Today I succumbed to my girlie side and went thrifting at a few local consignment shops.  I found some beautiful pieces but my favorite looks something like this... image found at arhdecor.com It is all white, more shabby/vintage than this one, with less glass and the top shelf is open.  I couldn't find a photo of the actual piece.  But alas, it is out of my price range.  Such a shame, wouldn't that be perfect for displaying seasonal decorations?  I figured I didn't really have a place to put it anyway.  That is until I came home and realized I have the perfect wall for it. *sigh*  Even though I didn't come home with this wonderfully perfect piece, I had so much fun looking through all the beautiful things and getting great ideas.  Definitely not a wasted trip! And after feasting my eyes and daydreaming, I just had to re-watch the new Alice in Wonderland!  If you happen to have Netflix, they've finally added it to the instant streaming....

Those of you who know me personally know that I am not your typical girlie girl.  But for some inexplicable reason this Spring, I am head over heels in love with this... and this... and this... and this color... I don't get it and I can't explain it but I have this crazy urge to move into a cottage, plant a garden, and decorate completely Shabby Chic, claw-foot tub and all! **all photos found on Google Images keyword Shabby Chic**

Warm afternoons and cool nights The smell of orange blossoms Blooming flowers and trees More daylight hours Relaxing rainy days A sense of renewal Farmers markets Butterflies Enjoy the season! ~ Heathen

It's that time of year again...Spring time!  Did you remember to change your clocks last night?  It's hard to realize an hour of your life is just gone, poof, vanished, in the time it takes to set the clock ahead isn't it?  Ah well, Ostara is a time for renewal and change so I suppose it's fitting. This year Ostara, also known as Spring Equinox, Vernal Equinox, and the First Day of Spring, is on Sunday the 20th.  It is a celebration of balance as day and night are once again equal in length on this day. Here are a few customs and activities for this month: Time for a new broom. Get rid of your dirty & dusty broom filled with all the negativity of last year and pick up a new one.  Check your local dollar-type store for the best deal. Start your Spring cleaning.  I'll be doing a post on this later this month. While you're cleaning, sort through your personal items and donate anything that's no longer wanted or needed. Pick or purchase flowers th...

Happy Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras everyone!  Are you wearing your beads? Having some Cajun cuisine?  Did you at least have some coffee with chicory?  Honestly I'm not much of a reveler any more, what with the family and full-time job.  And around here, there's really not much hoopla for Mardi Gras.  Unless of course you want to spend $100 per person (I'm not kidding) to visit the fake Mardi Gras at Universal Studios in Orlando.  So, since I know most of you don't live anywhere near today's celebrations, I'm curious to know how you celebrate Fat Tuesday.  Do you do anything different or special or is it just another Tuesday around your house? Image found on  globusjourneys.com It's funny, I love all things New Orleans, and yet I've never been there.  I always wanted to go for Mardi Gras when I was younger.  Now, I don't think I could stand the throngs of drunken people.  Too many things going on at one time = my brain overloading!...

February is finally over and March has officially arrived.  This month is shaping up to be a busy one as there are quite a few holidays/observances in the coming days.  Mardi Gras Daylight Savings Time (most areas) Saint Patrick's Day Ostara/Spring Equinox While I don't actually "celebrate" all of these, there are a few small fun things that can be done just to recognize the day.  For Mardi Gras, why not listen to a little Zydeco music and make red beans & rice for dinner?  Don't forget the coffee with chicory and some beignets!  Maybe watch a movie that features Mardi Gras or is set in New Orleans, personally I like The Skeleton Key. Daylight Savings Time starts this month and that means it's time to set the clocks ahead one hour (Spring forward, Fall back).  Now I don't like adjusting to getting up an hour earlier in the morning, but it is wonderful to have the extra sunshine in the evenings.  Take advantage of it; go for a walk around y...

That's right, I've caught Spring fever.  It's just been so beautiful here for the past week that I can't help myself.  A big "I'm sorry" to all of you still stuck in snow.  It'll melt eventually.  Until then, I've posted a few new art works on my crafts blog Heathen's Hobbies that are all about Spring!  If you've got a minute, hop on over and take a look. Here's my favorite Van Morrison song that just makes me think of Spring... Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! ~ Heathen

I've been reading a lot of your posts about Valentine's Day, and it seems the opinions on this day vary widely.  As for us, we don't really celebrate Valentine's Day in any traditional way.  We definitely don't go out to eat, and we usually don't even exchange gifts or flowers.  To us it just seems like a big waste of hard-earned money.  Once in a while we'll get a box of chocolates to share (cause that's just more fun!), but we know we love each other and don't feel the need to prove it once a year.  That being said, I have absolutely nothing against the traditional means of celebrating today.  It's just not for us. Truthfully, I never even got around to putting out the Valentine's decorations this year.  It seems like it just snuck up on me this year.  What a slacker I've been!  Oh well, I can still put out the pretty flowers if I want to. For those of you going out this evening, have a wonderful time and stay safe.  Happy Valentin...

I don't know what it is, maybe it's simply the promise of Spring, but I'm ready for a complete refreshing of everything.  You know, clean the house, organize closets and drawers, update the wardrobe, buy new beauty products, get a hair cut, start a container garden...the whole shebang!  Is anyone else out there feeling like this? You know, they say that every seven years your body completely renews itself on a cellular level.  Now I don't know if that's true (or who "they" are), but it is a 7th year for me this summer so maybe that has something to do with it.  Or maybe I'm just waking up from my hibernation and itching for Spring to finally arrive.  Either way, I see a cleaning frenzy and a shopping spree in my near future! Have a wonderful weekend! ~ Heathen

I just realized today that I now have 25 lovely followers!  This may not seem like a lot to some of you, but I've only been up and running since August and I was honestly surprised when anyone started following me. So, I wanted to take a quick moment to say Thank You to each and every one of you who pop in regularly to see what I have to say.  And to all you lurkers and stalkers (you know who you are), thank you as well. I've met so many wonderful, crazy, sweet and talented people on here who sometimes seem to share a brain with me.  And I can't wait to meet more of you!  I've gotten so much more from this little blog than I ever expected to and it's all because of you.  Okay, I know I'm gushing, but it really does mean a lot to me. So...thank you all! ~ Heathen

I read a post yesterday by Danni over at The Whimsical Cottage about hibernating and I realized that's exactly what I've been doing lately!  Now that the whirlwind of Holidays is over and packed away, I find myself wanting to do nothing more than curl up in front of the TV whenever I'm home.  Even things I know I should be doing end up taking a back seat.  However, it is that time of year. Winter tends to be a bleak and dreary season outside which inevitably leads to a lot of couch time.  And, let's face it, the Holidays are exhausting! So I say, while we wait for the return of the Sun at Imbolc, let's be lazy!  Revel in being unmotivated and just take it easy for a couple weeks.  Do only what must be done and enjoy a little relaxation.  The wheel will be turning again soon so, as much as possible, do what the current season dictates and hibernate! found on Goggle image search ~ Heathen

Hot chocolate Snuggling Cozy blankets Candlelight The quiet hush of a snowfall Un-frizzy hair Steaming showers Casseroles Nesting Evergreens Curling up with a good book or movie because it's too cold to go out Chunky sweaters and tall boots Scarves Sparkly decorations Hope you're all having a good start to the new year! ~ Heathen

I planned to post this about a week ago, but better late than never. If you haven't done it already, it's time to put away the Holiday decorations.  However, there are a few things that can make the transition into winter very nicely.  Because it's winter, try to use white and silver decorations around the house.  For instance, white flowers with leftover pine or cedar greenery and pine cones.  Or a jar filled with white and silver ornaments or snowflakes.  If you use twinkle or fairy lights around your home, put away the colored ones and string up the clear ones.  Don't forget to change out your candles to white ones too. As far as scents go, I've found that to be a very personal choice.  But I like to use resinous scents during the winter like pine, frankincense, rosemary, and even mint.  Something that smells crisp. If you live in the north and crave a bit of color this time of year, add more winter greens or consider blue.  As we ...