Avon Parlor

Halloween ! O­ne obvious question about Halloween is, "What does the word itself mean?" The name is actually a shortened version of "All Hallows' Even," the eve of All Hallows' Day. "Hallow" is an Old English word for "holy person," and All Hallows' Day is simply another name for All Saints' Day , the day Catholics commemorate all the saints. At some point, people began referring to All Hallows' Even as "Hallowe'en" and then simply "Halloween." "Happy Halloween" to my Family, Avon friends & Facebook friends! Be Safe!

Awakening ! The ancient wisdom speaks of establishing a strong sense of self that is within us. To be an initiate on the path of self realization requires discipline.  We can learn to understand that there is a higher self within our physical body.  That higher self within will help us develop senses that go beyond our physical mind.  We will realize that energy is immortal, it changes but never dies.  Science confirms. We witness degradation all around us and we contemplate the "whys".  We try to separate ourselves from this energy because it ignites questions we don't have answers to.  But the Ancient Wisdom of times past states to create ANEW you, we can learn to establish an inner sanctuary within ourselves. We can learn to develop a strong sense of self knowing that this inner light within us is our God Source.  It will make us aware of the power within and unlock our creativity.  Simple steps on the path of awakening our consciousness warns of sel

Transformation ! Acceptance is a masterful tool in learning about self development . Life is........you are perfect just the way you are...........live with it...........go with the flow!  We read all these powerful statements and it confuses the process of self actualization.  Just what is self actualization?   The discovery of self is the act of gaining knowledge of your abilities, character and feelings.  So what does this have to do with transformation?  What is it we need to transform and why? Many of us take the easy road with mindless activities that dulls our feelings of usefulness.  In taking this safe road, we become as good as dead and lead life of quiet desperation.  So we ask ourselves--what type of change is most conducive to a fulfilling life?  The answer that comes to the foremost of my mind tells me that the first concept is to acknowledge that change is needed.  We cannot change anything until we first accept that fact. We could use this stimulus of

Exercise ! Ugghh! I hate exercise.  I don't have time.  What's the point?  We're all going to age, we're just postponing the process. It's painful. Who's going to watch my children? Excuses.  We've all been there right?  The ebb and flow of life.  We all have cycles and we must respect that.  So let's approach exercising from a different point of view. We all have that favorite dress or picture of that dress or clothing article that we remember.  We liked the color, the texture, the way it felt on your body and yes,  you looked amazing in it.  Alright, we do live in a visual society and everyone enjoys a compliment. But as my thinking and body matures, I want to really understand the health benefits of exercising. Vanity speaks and tells us for every calorie we ingest, equal exercise pursues.  It sounds like a chore to discipline yourself and the reward is punishment.  So we join the crowd, set a goal and often times reach it only to go

Sharing & Caring ! The 21st century is an exciting Era to live in.  Isn't it fascinating to imagine our future?  Technology today embraces all cultures and parts of the world with one stroke of the " enter key " on our smart devices.   Entering the unknown stirs passion and curiosity within our souls.  There are also knowns that try its best to scare and frighten us about futuristic events.  But there is  a happy place within to assist us with finding the proper balance in our lives. Facebook is the medium that keeps us all connected.  It's the means that keep family members in touch with one other.  We find friends or friends find us.  We are S haring life experiences, stories, recipes and news events because we are C aring people.  We fill our empty spaces with creations of possibilities that keeps us all connected and bonded.  We laugh, we cry, we philosophize, we cheer, and we sympathize.  How wonderful is that?   Personally, I find it so engag

Love ! by poet Kahil Gibran  When love beckons to you, follow him, Though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold you yield to him, Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you. And when he speaks to you believe in him, Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden. For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning. Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun, So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth. Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself. He threshes you to make you naked. He sifts you to free you from your husks. He grinds you to whiteness. He kneads you until you are pliant; And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast. All these things shall love do unto you that you may kn

Raspberry Coconut Thumbprint Cookies 3/4 pound (3 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water, for egg wash 7 ounces sweetened flaked coconut Raspberry and/or apricot jam Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar until they are just combined and then add the vanilla. Separately, sift together the flour and salt. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture to the creamed butter and sugar. Mix until the dough starts to come together. Dump on a floured board and roll together into a flat disc. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes. Roll the dough into 1-1/4 inch balls. (If you have a scale, they should each weigh 1 ounce.) Dip each ball into the egg wash and then roll it in coconut. Place the balls on an ungreased cookie sheet and

Ho'o pono pono ! Do we all suffer from the addiction of engagement? In todays world of electronics, how could we not be?  Social media today is the forefront of all our activities that we participate in.  Why do we have this need to connect with one another?  What's going on inside of us that we need to be aware of? Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len, former psychologist at Hawaii State Hospital had the task of rehabilitating mental patients in his ward. Where other doctors failed in restoring mental health, he succeeded.  He had a different method of therapy.  His area of expertise was the art of "Ho'oponopono.  This art is about the cleansing process. He states that we are all individuated aspects of Source. We are perfect and our original state of being is--purity of Love!  However, it is claimed that we are operating from the eleven million bits of information stored in our consciousness called "Data".  We think as though we have free will but do we r

Laughter! I remember growing up and laughter was a big part of life. We were young, adventurous and fun. Now, I'm told and reminded of our seriousness and how unattractive it is.  To listen to constructive criticism is one thing. But implementing these wise words for self development is where the new beginning starts.  We all have trials and tribulations, we are all the same in that manner. But where do we begin?   The beginning is always the answer, right? Once we open up to new advice and suggestions, messages just seem to come at us at lightening speed.  Traditional movies filled with laughter magically appears on TV.  Inspirational quotes fill my laptop screen.  Songs fill my air space with remembrances of my youth.  There's a song in particular that I woke up to in the middle of the night, how uncanny is that. Days of my Youth by Kui Lee, a Hawaiian Song Artist (song sung here by another artist).  He lost his life to cancer.  He was at a pizza place when h

Illusions ! Within each of us are cells circulating at such a rapid rate that it's truly astounding!  Each cell has many different parts to it.  The command center of the cell is the nucleus.  It sends directions to the cell to grow, mature, divide, or die. The nucleus is surrounded by a membrane called the nuclear envelope, which protects the DNA and separates the nucleus from the rest of the cell.   So what exactly is DNA?  DNA is sometimes called "the molecule of life."  Each persons DNA is unique, it's like a fingerprint to their cells. Molecules are groups of atoms.  Atoms are the basic building blocks of ordinary matter. Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space. The fun part in discovering the building blocks of life is that we can witness all the BEAUTY around us.  We never really stop and think of the process involved in the creation of life itself.  We get so caught up in the illusions of life which limits ourselves to understandin

Friendships ! What would life be without friends?  Where would we go if you did not have friends to visit with? Who would be there to listen to our secrets? Why not have an experience that could complement our existence?  When will we ever have to opportunity to embrace a once in a lifetime friendship? How can we acquire more friends? The journey of responsibilities---work, home, children, paying our debts has keep us on a narrow path. To fully engage all our brothers we meet in life is a chore. We are all too busy. We all have many acquaintances in our lives--school, soccer, church and our next door neighbors.  When will we stop, get acquainted and treat each other with the respect we all deserve. We are all gifted to make people feel the genuine "LOVE" that resides inside each and everyone of us.  It does not matter what Church you belong to.  Your political beliefs may differ from mine and that's okay.  We are all unique individuals and we were created

Serendipity As I walked into this house on Wichman Street, Walterboro South Carolina, I felt as it was serendipity that bought us here. Unintentionally finding a piece of valuable property by happen chance seemed incredibly fortunate. To make a discover as such was fascinating because this neglected home needed some tender loving care and hard work! Primed for the right person to help it regain its original beauty was the nightly dreams of this magnificent structure. To assist it's foundation to it's original strength was the work of strong, hard working men. Many long, arduous days looked forward to pleasant evenings when soaking in a claw foot tub would be relaxing.  This journey was getting more exciting daily as we met the people of this small, charming community.  The young men and women in this Southern town is very polite and always address us as Ma'am or Sir.  It is a refreshing change.  To witness and to be part of recreating this home that

Balance I have a mentor that has taught me a valuable lesson.  She was having brain surgery and the scheduled operation was a month away.  Can you imagine that!  There was a lot of undue stress in that waiting period. She decided that she had nothing to lose and everything to gain if she would start having a relationship with God.  She didn't know where to begin because her life was focused on a successful career and God wasn't included.  So she simply PRAYED!   She reached out into nothingness and decided to have faith that God heard her. She decided there was a reason she was having this experience. The foundation of her life was shaken to the core. It was time to slow down and prioritize her life because there may not be more time for her.  She wanted to start Anew. Balance became the topic that occupied her mind.  She bought a planner and set new goals.  Goals that would have meaning--such as including FAMILY into her busy work schedule. She set time schedul

www.youravon.com/rickymae Beauty! Beauty is more than skin deep I often hear!  Let's examine this statement, just exactly what does this statement imply?  One definition states " Beauty is more than skin deep means a person can be beautiful inside and out."  Another definition states "It also means that inside of every beautiful person is something better that should be noticed more than their looks. Looks are good but personality is better. Still another adjective implies, "Not deep or lasting; superficial:  used to say that a person's character is more important than how they look.  I beg to differ.  I want to combine all these definitions so that we're able to see what "Beauty" really entails.  To see Beauty is one thing, to speak Beauty is another, but to feel Beauty is the "Ultimate" way of expressing Beauty in my humble opinion! One of my favorite quotes by Kahlih Gibran sums it up perfectly fo

http://www.youravon.com/rickymae Belief Do you ever wonder why you think the way you do? Why you believe the things you do?  Do you ever stop in your tracks and say, "My goodness, why did I say that or think that."  I often read that we are the sum total of our beliefs. What! Where did our beliefs come from?  How do I change it?  Yes, oh yes, it starts with our upbringing and with all the associations around us such as our immediate family, family members, school, church and gatherings. Okay great, I realize this now what?   I've pondered many years about this and I've decided to ask myself a range of questions.  First  and foremost was--Are You Happy?  Well, my answers changed according to my emotions. The true answer for me was that I've discovered that there is a difference between my beliefs and my values .  Generally speaking, beliefs are judgments about ourselves and the world around us. Values are traits that we hold such as loyalty

Dreams! I wake up each morning and decide how to start my day.  Is there an appointment that I need to keep? Is it bookkeeping time?  Does the yard need tending? What will be on the menu for the day?  I'm sure my day planner is no different that any other person starting their day. However, I wonder how many of us dare to DREAM?   How many of us speculate on living a different life, as a different person, in  another place doing what you love?  Dreaming is the start of that evolution! It's not to say that your life isn't perfect the way it is.....it's about experiences.  What would life be without our daily experiences?  A friendly "hello" to a passerby, eye contact, opening the door for anyone, complimenting one another, finding the good in all that you witness and feeling alive! We are all directors of our own lives and we can make of it anything that we want it to be.  In each moment we are always choosing.  What is it that you want to exper

A Hidden Pearl in all of Us! It's wonderful to know that we are all Special! We wake up in the morning and realize that we have a full day to embrace.  We wake up to the daily negative news that fills our atmosphere and it has the possibility of ruining our day.  But now today, from this day on--we've decided to fill our thought process with something to look forward to.  Within each of us is a hidden pearl waiting to shine through the cleansing process of ridding ourselves of false beliefs.  You are loved.  You are special. You have the ability to change any circumstance that is troubling you.  One step at a time, one more positive thought, one more positive step, one more positive action will cause the unfoldment of Love!  It encourages us to choose our words more carefully, express our feelings tenderly and to gently remind ourselves every time we feel otherwise to return to Love.   Each individual is a part of us, they shows us parts of ourselves. Parts

Congratulations for opening my Avon Parlor Blog! I've decided to create an Avon Parlor Blog that would delight and inspire us. I feel inspiration would encourage us to enjoy the benefits of thinking, feeling and looking better--right? So today, I will start with my favorite word-- LOVE ! What is Love? Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. This is the definition according to my favorite book--The Bible. I Corinthians 13:4-7 So in sharing with you, I am recalling how I feel when I am kind, patient and truthful. The passion it stirs inside my soul is summed up in Love's definition. Today I will reflect on Love's definition and gently guide my thoughts and actions in that directio