Adorable Pet Halloween Costumes

Greetings all!

I would like to ask my readers who own pets - will you be dressing up your pet for Halloween? 

Here are some adorable costumes that put a smile on my face!  

Photo: Amazon OMG Adorables Cat Lion Mane

Photo: Amazon California Costumes Pet UPS Pal Dog Costume

Photo: Amazon Idepet Pirate Cat and Dog Costume

Photo: Petsmart Thrills & Chills Guinea Pig Lobster Halloween Costume

Photo: Chewy Frisco Shark Attack Dog & Cat Costume

Photo: Chewy Frisco Stegosaurus Dinosaur Dog & Cat Costume

See additional costumes here: https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/07/cnn-underscored/pet-halloween-costumes/index.html

Drop me a line and let me know which one was your favorite and whether your pet enjoys being dressed up!

Thought of the week - Decision

Greetings all!

Here is an inspiring thought for the upcoming week (from http://www.deeshan.com). 

Be yourself!

World's 10 Most Scenic Airports in 2020

Greetings all!

I think majority of travelers are usually excited and/or relieved about arriving to their destination. The first glimpse of the welcoming airport always makes my heart beat a bit faster with anticipation!

As we are dreaming about future trips, here are the World's 10 Most Scenic Airports. My favorites are #9, #6 and #1!

10. Fiji's Nadi International Airport 

(image Courtesy PrivateFly)

9. Dubai International Airport, United Arab Emirates 

(image Courtesy PrivateFly)

8. Praslin Island Airport, Seychelles 

(image Courtesy PrivateFly)

7. Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Maarten 

(image Courtesy PrivateFly)

6. Bora Bora (Motu Mute) Airport, French Polynesia 

(image Kyprianos Biris)

5. Barra Airport, Scotland 

(image Ewen Weatherspoon)

4. Orlando Melbourne International Airport 

(image Courtesy PrivateFly)

3. Skiathos (Alexandros Papadiamantis) Airport, Greece 

(image Courtesy PrivateFly)

2. Msembe Airstrip, Tanzania 

(image Ulf Rydin)

1. Donegal Airport, Ireland 

(image Owen Clarke)

Located on Ireland's northwest Atlantic coast, Donegal Airport claimed the top spot for the third year in a row. Steve O'Culain, the airport's chairman, said, "When they can, we hope more travelers will come and share this beautiful part of the world with us, located in the Gaelic-speaking Donegal Gaeltacht on the Wild Atlantic Way."

Read more here: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/scenic-airport-landings-2020/

What did you think? Drop me a line! 

Lost in Translation

Greetings all!

Do you ever find yourself feeling or experiencing something but unable to describe it? Well, you might be able to find the perfect word in another language but there is a catch - that word is not easily translatable! 

I have just finished a lovely book by Ella Frances Sanders “Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World” – and here are my favorite words!

Image by ArtTower from 

https://pixabay.com/photos/forest-sunbeams-trees-sunlight-56930/

SAUDADE (Portuguese, noun) – A vague, constant desire for something that does not and probably cannot exist, a nostalgic longing for someone or something loved and then lost.
MY NOTE: This was the word that piqued my interest in this book after I read an article that mentioned it. I think many of us have experienced this but did not know how to describe it. And now we know the word for it – Saudade!! And in Brazil, January 30^th is the official Saudade day!

COMMUOVERE (Italian; verb) – To be moved in a heartwarming way, usually relating to a story that moved you to tears.
MY NOTE: For me, it is a good book or a news story about people’s kindness.

MANGATA (Swedish; noun) – The road-like reflection of the moon in the water.
MY NOTE: You might recall this word from my post “Take a fika!” and the word FIKA also popped up in this book! Read my Fika post here:[https://findingbalanceandjoy.blogspot.com/2018/06/take-fika-lagom-not-too-little-not-too.html]

MERAKI (Greek, adjective) – Pouring yourself wholeheartedly into something, such as cooking, and doing it with soul, creativity, and love.
MY NOTE: We could use more of meraki in so many areas of our lives!

 

PISAN ZAPRA (Malay, noun) – The time needed to eat a banana.
MY NOTE: What a fun and funny word!

 

KOMOREBI (Japanese; noun) – The sunlight that filters though the leaves of the trees.
MY NOTE: What a lovely image! Read my Shinrin-Yoku [Forest Bathing] post here: https://findingbalanceandjoy.blogspot.com/2020/07/shinrin-yoku-forest-bathing.html 

BOKETTO (Japanese, noun) – Gazing vacantly into the distance without really thinking about anything specific.
MY NOTE: This is one of my favorite activities – I find doing nothing and just being is very restorative and meditative.

What did you think? Drop me a line! And in the meantime, let’s all pause and enjoy a moment of boketto!

Our Deepest Fear [Poem of the Week]

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us.

We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God. 

Your playing small
Does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people won't feel insecure around you. 

We are all meant to shine,
As children do.
We were born to make manifest
The glory of God that is within us. 

It's not just in some of us;
It's in everyone. 

And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we're liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others. 

By Marianne Williamson

(Source: https://www.personalgrowthcourses.net/stories/williamson.ourdeepestfear.invitation)

Ruby Red Rosé

Greetings all!

Doesn’t this drink look perfect for a lazy afternoon? 

Image and recipe from https://www.totalwine.com/cocktail-corner/how-to-make-a-ruby-red-rose

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz Vodka
• 1 1/2 oz. Grapefruit soda
• 1/2 oz. Lemon juice
• 1/4 oz. Grenadine
• Rosé Prosecco
• Grapefruit slice
• Mint leaves

Instructions

• Add vodka, grapefruit soda, lemon juice and grenadine to glass with ice.
• Stir and top with Rosé Prosecco.
• Garnish with a grapefruit wedge and fresh mint.

Bon Appetit! Let me know how you like it!

Thought of the Week - Choice

Greetings all!

I recently came across this quote and it really resonated with me.

“Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely.”~ Roy T. Bennett

Image from https://pixabay.com/photos/choice-select-decide-decision-vote-2692575/

We can choose what to think and how to act. We can choose to be happy and kind and giving and patient. Some choices are easy but others require an effort. Depending on the situation, small steps and a bit of preparation might make the choice a bit smoother.

For example, one of my least favorite things to do is to wait in line. I can choose to be impatient and annoyed or I can choose patience. I used to chat with people in line to pass the time but nowadays, social distancing and mask-wearing are making quiet conversations a bit more challenging.

So now, I just make sure I have something interesting on my phone that I can listen to. The other day, as I was mentally preparing for a long wait in a grocery store, I started a language lesson. Well, I was barely 5 minutes into the lesson, as I was invited into the store. Impatient no more – I actually wanted the wait to last a bit longer and that made me smile!!

What do you choose today? Drop me a line!