Enlighten Up - Healing Hug

Okay, I look goofy as all get out, but hey... that's me.  I'm just plain ol' Rocki that simply expresses myself as is. 

Anyway, this was in our motel room (nope, it's not X-rated, lol!) when we went to Sedona last year to celebrate my 1 year of being cancer free.  It's a short video about... well I'll just let you watch it.

Peace and luv,
Rocki

Happy Pink Peace Buddha

Happy Pink Buddha - Peace!

Just a quick share of my new pink peace luv'n Buddha!  I spotted this adorable happy Buddha at Ross this past weekend and knew right away that he was coming home with me.

He's happily blessing our backyard by the pool.  Now he's in my studio where I can see his happy peace luv'n face while I work.

Peace,
Rocki

Waking up to Peace and Love

Peace and Love

Sharing my morning cup of peace and love to start the day.  Take a sip and pass it down.

Peace n ♥
Rocki

Peace Mends All

Peace Sign Duck Tape

So much to blog about...like my fabulous vacation for starters, but after returning home I ended up sick and have been on the slow side.  I've been healing myself as usual and now on the mend.

Speaking of mending... Mark surprised me with this awesome peace sign Duck Tape!  I came across it on Facebook and he knows how much I love peace signs, especially the meaning behind it.  Well yesterday he came home with a surprise package.  I LOVE surprises!

I think I'll take my peace tape with me wherever I go and when I see someone or something that needs mending, I'll give them a piece of my peace.

☮ ♥ ॐ
Rocki

Inner Peace - right in the palm of my hand

"The life of inner peace,

being harmonious and without stress,

is the easiest type of existence"

Norman Vincent Peal

 

♥

 

"I would rather have eyes that cannot see;

ears that cannot hear;

lips that cannot speak,

than a heart that cannot love"

Robert Tizon

Tranquility

Linda G'eez - Peace, Love & Smiles!

I was originally going to blog about my fabulous, adorable, cute, beautifully handmade & packaged Itzy Bitzy cards that I recently purchased from my flower power gal pal, Linda G'eez, but after receiving them - and becoming friends - I have to brag a little more about her!

Linda & I met when she purchased from me the first time about a month ago. We seem to have quite a bit in common, especially since we are both flower children :) Anyway, you can immediately feel the vibes of peace, love and smiles that Linda gives just by looking at her Etsy Shop banner. Her Shop Announcement fills you in on the rest of the vibes.

In Linda's shop you will find lovingly handmade natural gemstone jewelry and the most beautiful handmade floral cards and photos - which were photographed from her actual home garden - how much more handmade can you get?! And hey, the peace, love and smiles that you leave with after visiting her shop are free!

I love how Linda combines leather with the gorgeous Jasper gems above. Very earthy and oh so fabulous!

The Diablo Ninebark above is simply fascinating! Linda's Flower Power with Love cards are full of her many garden flowers as are her as many more flower photographs that she has in her shop.

"Omm Jewelry"... Linda is very expressive with her descriptions and I just love it! You can truly feel the love she put in each and every item she creates. The Sacral Chakra Carnelian earrings above are one of her "Omm Jewelry" pieces. She describes in detail about her creation, as she does with all her listings. Just reading this one brought happy tears to my eyes!

I just love Linda! There - I said it! I have met so many wonderful people on Etsy & Blogger in which I have become friends with that it astounds me. Linda is one of those people that you instantly like. Not because of her talent or her awesome Etsy Shop, but because of the honest to goodness person she is.

"Peace, Love & Smiles",
Rocki

p.s. I REALLY love my Itzy Bitzy cards and may find it difficult to part with them. But hey, I can just buy more!

Busy as a BEE!

Yep, I'm still around, just been busier than a one winged bee is all. So, for today just thought I would do a quick post to say HELLO EVERYONE and to show you the view from our bedroom door. Our little piece of solitude we call our Tropical Desert Island - our backyard.

Go ahead, jump in, but no running around the deck, keep the swimsuits on and have fun. I hope to be out there later today.

Enjoy your day!

Rocki

p.s. hope you brought a towel!

4th of July Holiday Relaxation Break

Awe. A holiday. Time off. Short Break. Relaxation. Sedona - my happy place.

Peace. Quite. Tranquil. Sedona - our 2 hour trip to sublime nirvana.

Stillness. Calm. Serene. Reliving our week in Kauai. Natural beauty. Sounds of nature. Naturally at ease.

I'm putting my shop in Vacation Mode for 3 full days (7/3-7/5) as Mark & I are taking off this weekend - to do absolutely nothing. Nada. Zip. Zero. We will enjoy this holiday and be thankful to those who allow us to do so.

However you spend this 4th of July Holiday, I wish you peace, happiness, joy and safety.

Rocki

I Finally got it! Groovy Baby, Yeah!

When I was in high school, Kaycee B, my best friend of many years, and I had big plans for when we graduated high school. Yep, we were going to buy a van, paint it in groovy love and peace colors, fix up the inside with love beads, curtains, cushions, etc. and travel the world. We even had a list of what all we wanted inside the van from color scheme, type of curtains, rugs, cushions - you name it and we probably had it listed. Not only that, but we had drawings of what our groovy hippie van would look like. It was a groovy van indeed.

High school came and went. We each got married and went our separate ways. Years later we caught up with each other and reminisced about our "groovy hippie van" and although we got a chuckle out of it, we truly wanted to see that dream through. It never happened... until the other day - well, sort of.

Mark has known about my "groovy hippie van" practically since the day we met. Most of my family and friends know about it as well. The closest I've come to having my love n peace van is with our utility trailer. While doing shows and such, Mark thought it would be fun for me to paint it like I would have with my van. Cool idea yes, but never had the time. That brings me to now...

Mark came home the other day and said he had a surprise for me. Yep, it was my groovy hippie van at last!

It is a very cool van indeed! Rather roomy inside and good on gas.

Plenty of trunk space for, um... traveling gear.

The only thing is I haven 't quite figured out how to fit my 5' 2" body inside this 5"x2" van. At least I don't have to pay insurance.

I love my groovy hippie van honey - thank you!

Groovy peace & love,

Rocki

Gratitude & Compassion

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us."
Albert Schweitzer

With sincere thanks to my sweet friend, Mary Jane, for her very kind post this morning. You have lit the spark within me.

"Compassion, in which all ethics must take root, can only attain its full breadth and depth if it embraces all living creatures and does not limit itself to mankind."

Albert Schweitzer

May you spark someones flame today and show compassion to all living beings that you come in contact with.

Peace, love & happiness,

Rocki

Feeling the love

Imagine there's no heaven

It's easy if you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today...

Imagine there's no countries

It isn't hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion too

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will live as one.

By John Lennon

Just feeling so much love around me that I wanted to share my favorite person and song.

Tomorrow I'll be doing a blog feature on a fellow etsian. Until then...

Peace,

Rocki

Beautiful Day

I found the above picture for a friend, just something to brighten her day. When I came across it, all I could think about was fresh air, peace, happiness, relaxation and Kauai.

Yes, Kauai. Mark & I took a much needed vacation in 2007 to Hawaii. It was my first time there, but not for Mark. Being in the Navy he traveled there a lot and this was one of his many ports. Anyway, with the extremely busy weeks I've been having and wondering how I'll get through the day sometimes, just looking at this simple picture brings peace to me and positive thoughts to a racing mind. A bit of fresh air actually. So with that, I leave you with a few quotes:

"The brain is like a muscle. When we think well, we feel good. Understanding is
a kind of ecstasy."
- Carl Sagan... Broca's Brain

"Love What You Do. Do What You Love."
-Wayne Dyer...Secrets to Manifesting Your Destiny

"I wish I could make a happier world -harmonious, friendly and peaceful."
His Holiness the Dali Lama...Tying Rocks to Clouds

"The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up."
Mark Twain

"When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy."
Rumi - a 13th century Persian poet

"Happiness held is the seed; happiness shared is the flower."
Author Unknown

Last but not least:
"Well," said Pooh, "what I like best," and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do. There was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called.
A.A. Milne

Peace, Happiness & love,
Rocki

Tonglen

Tonglen is a Tibetan word for a "sending and receiving" practice. As a Buddhist layperson, I practice this often. However, you do not need to be a Buddhist to benefit from this most compassionate form of healing as it can be done by anyone.

What does it do? In my way of describing it, Tonglen is a visualization technique to receive the pain, hurt and suffering from others, as well as yourself, and to send out healing love, peace and happiness.

How do you do it? It can be done in full meditation style or anywhere, even in line at the grocery store. Visualize the person (eventually we want to visualize the world as a whole, but it's easier to start with yourself or another person). While breathing in, visualize dark black smoke - this is the pain and suffering. Turn this pain and suffering into healing love, peace and happiness while breathing out clean white smoke. Repeat this during your meditation period or for as long as you want. It actually makes you feel as though you are healing the other person, even though in reality we do not have that full power, yet. You, in return, receive healing from this practice.

Here's a quote from Pema Chodron's book "In Start Where You Are":

"When we encounter life situations that spontaneously evoke compassion, it is not necessary to go through all four stages. It's fine to begin with the third stage, the stage of breathing in the pain in the situation that confronts us and breathing out something that will help. It's fine to breathe in the pain and send out relief or love. There is no need to do the other parts-flashing absolute bodhichitta or working with the black, heavy, and hot and white, light, and cool. These can be skipped in daily life when you do tonglen on the spot."

So today I'm doing this practice for a someone near and dear to my heart that is going through a rough time right now. I hope she feels the healing love, peace and happiness that is in my heart.

Much love to all,
Rocki

Weekend of Happiness

This weekend was so full of happiness that I have a permanent smile on my face. When looking for a picture to post, I found the above which we should all truly take to heart.

So what was so special? I'll just list the main ones, otherwise this blog will turn into my first full length novel (and my friends know how I can ramble on):

1. Went to Danny's Pet Scan results doc appt. - miracles do happen! His lung cancer shrunk 90%!!! Even the doc was amazed. Danny is going to continue with chemo, but the doc changed the dosage due to the severe reactions it caused. Our 7 hour days will now be 3 hours due to the change. Yes, we were told that we still have to fight, he's not cured & there is no cure, and that his life span is short, but we're not going by that - we're just going to continue on with each day as it comes. Nobody can predict the future. We had a very nice celebration dinner right after we left the docs office. I'm still full!

2. Jeremy, my oldest son, called to confirm his plans for his trip in 2 weeks! I can hardly wait as it feels like it's been forever since I've seen him and it was *only* last year. Way too long for me! He arrives on the 14th and is here until the end of the month :) Yes, there will be a blog about his visit :)

3. Mark bought me a laptop - my first ever! I didn't think I would really need one as I have my own PC in our office, but wow... this is cool (I'm typing on it right now while sitting on the couch having my morning coffee!) I'll be taking it to Danny's chemo appointments (he has his own :), trips, outings, etc. This rocks!

4. We celebrated my Dad's 67th birthday at Laura's house (67 on paper, 30 something in life). He knew about the party of course as he was doing a lot of the cooking as well. He LOVES to cook, BBQ, grill, bake, make his own BBQ sauce - you name it, he does it. He's an Arizonian Emerill - BAM! A surprise was in store for Dad. My Uncle Bob from California came down to surprise him. Dad was in the kitchen when Bob called his cell and talked to Dad like usual - then Bob walked in the house while still on the phone talking. Dad finally looked up (while still on the phone) to see Bob standing in front of him! BAM!

5. My supply shop is taking off faster than I expected and I am more than thrilled! With each sell I make, I feel so very blessed and am grateful for each and every one! My biggest seller, so far, are my Signature Elfin Earwires. In fact, I woke up this morning to a return customer's sell & convo that she is submitting an earring design to a magazine - using my earwires!

Blessings have been pouring over me these last few days - must be my good karma ripening.

I wish you all peace, love and much happiness.

☼ Rocki

Calm Mind, Peaceful Life

This is one of my all time favorite photos of Sasha - one of my 'kids' who has me very well trained. I couldn't resist putting her on the coffee table (you should see all the photos I have from this day!)

Oh the Sunflower - my FAVorite flower of all time! It makes me happy. I actually love wild flowers over store bought flowers. Every once in a while Mark brings me home sunflowers from a local flower farm. Natural beauty - I love how they brighten up the room. I have sunflowers in many forms around the house actually - not too many where it's gaudy, just sprinkled about here and there. Oh and Mark says that he lucked out in the flower giving department because I'm allergic to roses, well, just about all heavy pollinated smelly flowers that is.

The reason for this blog? Not meaning to sound cliche', but we truly need to 'stop and smell the flowers' - just like Sasha. No, it's more than that actually.

I do my best to live my life day by day, moment by moment as we truly do not know what is in store for us tomorrow. But here lately there are so many things going on that I need to practice more of what I preach.

Don't get me wrong, my life is fine. I'll admit though that there is some hard hitting reality going on that is a bit difficult to digest, but I'm dealing with that. With that said, I'm going to take in some fun activities that I've put off for way too long, step away from my studio and get out of the house more, not worry about slow sells (which I'm not actually) and simply enjoy my life as it is. I love my life!

Thought I would share my "Calm Mind, Peaceful Life" creation that came about while reflecting this week. Feel free to visit my shop to read more about it.

Happy Friday everyone!

☼ Rocki

Peaceful Surroundings

We recently had our patio extended by my brother-in-law, who also put in a lattice patio cover and replaced our bedroom window with an arcadia door. Then Mark & I, along with 2 of our nephews, removed the grass and installed granite. Oh, and of course added more rocks & small boulders that we've collected over the years. You know me and rocks - love'em all.

Our favorite place to relax is out on our bedroom patio (above). The view from our bedroom is absolutely gorgeous with the blooms of our Bougainvillea's and other blossoming plants, the pool and the sounds of the waterfall. Now with Kuan Yin overlooking our yard, it makes it even more peaceful and relaxing.

This is a view from our main patio. I can't express enough how peaceful it truly is, at least to us. We like the simple things really. We are humble and enjoy making the most of what we can with what we have. Being able to fix up our home is a good feeling, especially when we do it ourselves. We can sit back and truly enjoy what we have accomplished with our own two hands.

Kuan Yin is known as the Chinese Bodhisattva of Compassion, a female deity (also known by other names). In Mahayana Tibetan Buddhism, Avalokiteshvara (hard to pronounce at first, but trust me it gets easier) is recognized as the Bodhisattva of Compassion.

May everyone have compassion, love, peace and happiness.

☼ Rocki

Friday Tidbits

April Showers Bring May Flowers

I'm working on an article this weekend for Monday's big blog roll. I'm very excited about it and am sure you will enjoy it too - it is about a fellow Etsian! In the meantime, thought I would show you some of my new creations (shameless self promotion) and then leave you with a little quote.

Above is my April Showers Bring May Flowers earrings. I'm creating more new earwire designs and I'm having a blast! This pair is dangling from a smaller version of my Elfin Earwires. I will soon be offering these handmade earwire supplies in my shop!

Teeny Tiny Elf Hooks - Sterling Silver Earrings or Nose Ring

Yep, I am adding nose rings to my shop. I wonder why? This tiny pair looks so cute as a single earring, but works either way. You can read more about my Teeny Tiny Elf Hooks here.

I wish you all a rockalicious (my new favorite word, found it in the 'Rocki' dictionary), happy and enjoyable weekend. Please be kind to yourself and everyone you come in contact with.

Peace and love to all.

Have a happy day!

☼ Rocki

Even Squares Love Peace!

Due to being overly busy with family life & dealing with carpal tunnel issues, I haven't been able to keep up with my blog or create much. So, thought I would post one of my newest peace sign creations until later in the week when I hope to have something good to blog about :)

Feel free to visit my shop to find out more about my

"Even Squares Love Peace" creation.

Have a happy day!

☼ Rocki

With Loving Thanks!

I had another blog in mind for today, however after this morning I've changed my mind.

This morning I was working on another custom order when I received a couple emails along with corresponding Feedbacks in my shop. I had to stop working as I couldn't see clearly - my eyes were filled up with water... okay, tears. I wasn't boo-hooing mind you, but I was rather touched so very deeply that the emotions got the best of me.

My heart is so full of love and gratitude right now that it feels like it is about to burst. I'm not joking or padding this - I'm an emotional, touchy-feely type person anyway... or as my boys refer to call me their "flowerchild mom".

I put my whole heart into my creations and appreciate every single buyer! A few years ago I had no idea that I had this creative side in me. Just thinking of how Rocki's Rock 'n Beads was born is so very rewarding - it makes me feel whole again (maybe I'll blog about how this came about).

Thank you to all my buyers, friends and family. Actually, "thank you" just doesn't seem to be quite enough for all your kind words, your purchases, custom requests again and again and for the friendships I have made. I truly am happy when I hear that my buyers are happy - its such a good feeling! Please know that much love and gratitude goes into every piece I create. May this be felt every time you open your pretty little package :)

I'm going to try and finish that custom order... now where's the tissue box?

Much love, peace and happiness,

Rocki