Soul Seer

Have you ever come across a person who can see inside your soul?

I met one of these unique people today at the Artisan Market at the Santa Fe Railyard. I stopped to look at the handmade jewelry of Gabriela Silva, and she quickly came over and greeted me. She began telling me about her process, including the harvesting of the rose buds she makes into wrapped beads for many of her pieces -- when I found the most perfect bracelet. Beaded with large polished amethysts and tiny lapis cubes, miniature rosebuds wrapped in steel-blue wire drape from it. As you know, roses are very special to me because of my daughter, so I tried the bracelet on.

Gabriela spread the bracelet over the back of my hand and asked me, "Do you teach, or lecture at all?" Something struck me about that question. I almost answered yes, which is completely untrue -- but oddly, it felt right. She continued, "Many speakers take an amethyst piece like this and drape the heavier part over the palm of their hand while they speak."

The conversation was innocent, but the way she spoke to me -- it was as if she could see something inside me that even I didn't know was there.

Santa Fe Pics a la Carte II

I'm still in Santa Fe with my mom, but I thought I'd stop in and say hello. I am feeling spiritually refreshed after a trip to El Santuario de Chimayo this morning, so I pray my peaceful, happy energy reaches you all through this post.

Here are a few pics from my phone to tide you over until I return and get the photos off of my camera.

The little friar in the courtyard outside our hotel room.

Cool bronze statue in front of the Palace of the Governors.

Adobe, everywhere you look.

Arugula, pear, gorgonzola and candied pecan salad with tart balsamic dressing and a latte from Mangiamo Pronto! cafe on the Alameda.

Santa Fe Pics a la Carte

A windmill/sculpture garden we discovered on the Friday Art Walk on Canyon Road, and the Basilica of St. Francis just off the Plaza.

Writing and Respect

As a professional writer, things like grammar, punctuation and spelling matter to me. I think, actually, that people assume my obsession with proper use of the English language is all because I'm a writer.

They would be wrong.

Sure, proper language use is my job -- but it's also a sign of respect. If I don't care about writing properly, it follows I don't care about my readers. And I do, dear readers, care about you.

I recently took an online course in analysis and critique writing, which was actually just a really great refresher course for me. One of the examples that struck me during the course was a letter from a teenage daughter to her mother, asking for a raise in allowance. The letter, besides being whiny and demanding, was riddled with errors. The professor pointed out that the number of errors reflected a lack of respect for her mother.

We all make mistakes. And while most professional writers have editors, the average person doesn't. Add in the trap of modern text message and social media short-hand, and you have a recipe for letting proper language slip. Heck, my emails to close friends are probably slang-heavy and full of too many ellipses and em-dashes. But when I am writing in this blog, I am reaching a wide audience that includes people that don't know me very well -- and language matters.

Jeremy calls me the grammar police. But to me, correcting myself when I misspell something in a blog or a Facebook post is a sign of respect. Not an act of perfectionism.

If you want to have a positive impact on someone, if you want to let someone know you respect them, and if you want to be respected in return, language matters. The teenage girl in my example above would have had a much greater chance at getting that extra allowance money had she shown her mother respect through her language.

Santa Fe Bound

Tomorrow morning, my mom and I embark on our annual girls' Memorial Day weekend trip. This year we have selected Santa Fe as our destination.

We have actually been there before, but it's been many years since. And we knew this year we had to pick a destination with strong healing and spiritual energy. We debated going to Sedona, or Bainbridge Island, or doing a drive along the Pacific Coast Highway, or going back to Taos (Taos is our default destination) -- but in the end we picked Santa Fe. It's got just the right blend of art, spirit and healing energy.

I plan on blogging while I'm there, but I may not do it every day. So I apologize in advance if I miss a day or two. Hopefully I'll have lots to write about when I return, and will make up for the lack of posts.

We are planning on revisiting El Santuario de Chimayo on this trip as well. We first went there in 2010, when I was almost 9 months pregnant with Scarlett. The chapel is famous for its holy dirt, which is supposed to have miraculous healing powers. Crutches and wheelchairs litter the room with el pocito, a testament to the people who were healed there. The first time I went, I wasn't in any specific need, but I asked for health for myself and my unborn baby. This time I am in need of true healing -- for my broken heart. Though I know God is always with me, this little pilgrimage is my promise to Him that I am actively trying to move forward.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend, everyone!

Date Night

Jeremy and I have had a date night tradition for almost three years. Every Tuesday night, regardless of our moods, our work days or Scarlett's sleep schedule, we have our date night.

When something comes up, or one or both of us is invited somewhere, we automatically know to decline. No checking the calendar, no talking to one another about it. Our Tuesday nights are off limits.

Occasionally something important comes up. Like childbirth. Scarlett was born on a Tuesday night, so obviously we didn't have our date night then. LOL. But other than that, on the rare occasion something really important comes up that interrupts our date night, we talk about it, agree and reschedule.

It's sacred.

We usually rent movies and make dinner together, eating while we watch our flick. Sometimes we'll go out to see a movie or go out to a restaurant, but mostly we stay home together. It's not that different than any other night, other than the intention of it. We both know that Tuesday night is date night.

Date night sounds like such a simple thing. But the effects of it have been far-reaching. It forces us to think about spending time with the other person once a week -- considering what to make for dinner that the other might enjoy, or what movie the other person recently said they wanted to see. It also makes space in our week for time dedicated to our marriage.

Dedicating regular time to anything focuses your energy there. Date night focuses both Jeremy's and my energy positively on our marriage.

Think about it. What could you dedicate time to once a week that would improve your life?

Ambrosia Candy Company

Wow. Today is my day of shameless plugs. I promise I've got more substantial writing scheduled for tomorrow. But for now, let me introduce...

Ambrosia Candy Company!

My super dear friend Della, writer of Householder's Guide to the Galaxy and all around AMAZING foodie, started a candy company that makes wild, lusciously-flavored lollipops. Think Mexican Cocoa, Organic Tangerine and Caramel Apple Martini. She sells these treats at the Superstition Farm Market in Mesa, AZ, but she also takes large custom orders for parties, weddings, showers, etc.

So if you're looking for a unique item for the snack table or goody bags at your big event, get a hold of this amazing lady using the link above and she'll hook you up with lollipop flavors that'll knock your socks off.

PS -- For those of you who attended my baby shower in 2010, Della is the one that put the whole thing together and made most of the food. Last year she made me a cheesecake that made me faint. Really. Jeremy had to catch me after my first bite. And Della's got limoncello steeping for me as my Christmas present this year. Everyone should have a foodie friend!