32

five mins to 32.  i thought i was done-zo with this blog, but her are a few pearls as i age.

1.  family is the most important thing,  frustrating, flaws, annoying whatever.  deal.  i am eternally thankful for mine.
2.  the best piece of advice i ever got.  you are not over something till you can speak about it and not cry. 
3.  be the best you can be everyday, your best tuesday may not be as good as your best thursday,; still give your best.
4.  trust others - you'd be surprised
5.  make new friends
6.  cherish old friends
7.  find yourself and be true to that.  read, write, sing, play, paint do whatever that pushes your buttons.  ASK QUESTIONS!!!
8.  smile. tons.
9.  listen
10.  dom't hold grudges.  people do the best they can with what they have.
12.  be careful with judgements.  you'd be surpried how quickly roles can reverse.

be peaceful.  be happy

XOXO

save the best for last...

i love this story.  it sums up quite a bit of the past few years.  cheers to the new adventures of life, and the experiences and people who have brought me to where i am today!

THERE'S A HOLE IN MY SIDEWALK Autobiography in Five Short Chapters By Portia Nelson Click on a chapter heading to learn more.
Chapter One I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost .... I am helpless. It isn't my fault. It takes forever to find a way out.	Chapter Two I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend that I don't see it. I fall in again. I can't believe I am in this same place. But, it isn't my fault. It still takes a long time to get out.
Chapter Three I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it is there. I still fall in ... it's a habit ... but, my eyes are open. I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately.	Chapter FourI walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it. Chapter Five I walk down another street. xoxo, eliana

Happy (Almost) New Year 2012!

If you wanna roll, you gotta have wheels.  Here's to rollin through 2011!

”In the depths of winter I finally learned there was in me an invincible summer.”Albert Camus

"We all Float on."Modest Mouse

xoxo, Eliana

A Different Kind of Fine By Ashley Ernest

My amazingly tanlented friend, and RI-based Artist/Designer, Ashley Ernest, "specializes in one-of-a-kind jewelry and couture body adornment. Unique and handmade. Serious design, limited series, and custom made!"  Just in time for Christmas Shopping!!!!

Available at Ashley Ernest (A Different Kind of Fine)

"All pieces available are made of Eco-Friendly resin (meaning resin derived from natural materials), vintage fabric!, and plated brass fish hooks. Light on the eyes and ears! Affordable."  Currently, you can only purchase Ashley's designs by visiting her website or Etsy.  The line is soon to debut in local boutiques so stay tuned!

xoxo, Eliana

My Christmas Mixtape

I have been JAMMING out to this Christmas mix:
1.  Last Christmas Wham  (My Very Favorite Christmas Song Ever)
2.  Winter Song Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson
3.  Blue Christmas Elvis
4.  Do They Know It's Christmas Band Aid
5.  I Believe Andrea Boccelli
6.  Shimmy Down the Chimney Alison Krauss
7.  Silent Night Yo-Yo Ma
8.  River Joni Mitchell
9.  I'll Be Home Christmas Dolly Parton
10.  The Christmas Wish John Denver and The Muppets
11.  Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time Paul McCartney
12.  Grown up Christmas List Harry Connick Jr.
13.  Sending You A Little Christmas Jim Brickman featuring Kristy Starling
14.  Rocking Around The Christmas Tree Brenda Lee

All Tracks Available at Amazon

That Magic Moment By Paulo Coelho

Paulo Coelho has long been one of my favorite writers.  The Alchemist's message struck a chord in me and forever changed my life.  I will be reading his latest novel, ALEPH, during my trip to Spain and I am sure it won't disappoint.  Here is a 40 SEC reading from Paulo Coelho's Blog.  May you find your moment today, tomorrow, and everyday! xoxo, Eliana

40 SEC READING: the magic moment

by Paulo Coelho on November 7, 2011

“You have to take risks”- he said.
“We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen.
“Every day, God gives us the sun–and also one moment in which we have the ability to change everything that makes us unhappy.
“Every day, we try to pretend that we haven’t perceived that moment, that it doesn’t exist–that today is the same as yesterday and will be the same as tomorrow.
But if people really pay attention to their everyday lives, they will discover that magic moment.
It may arrive in the instant when we are doing something mundane, like putting our front-door key in the lock.
It may lie hidden in the quiet that follows the lunch hour or in the thousand and one things that all seem the same to us.
But that moment exists–a moment when all the power of the stars becomes a part of us and enables us to perform miracles.”
In “By the river Piedra I sat down and wept”

Check out my brother, Nick's new blog, which will be journaling his adventures while studying abroad in Spain this year!

 Mas O Menos

Btw, Nick got the idea of the blog name from me because mas o menos is always my reply when he speaks to me in Spanish.  It means more or less.