Chocolate Lover’s Gift Basket

 

Alie’s Wishes

A Chocolate Lover’s Gift Basket …
Godiva Chocolate & Godiva Liqueur

Although I have several gift ideas to share with you this year, my favorite of all was created just for me - "Alie’s Wishes". It’s a Chocolate Lover’s gourmet gift basket filled with Godiva liqueur and Godiva chocolates. I couldn’t believe one of my favorite companies created a Godiva Gift Basket just for me. It’s delightfully indulgent and deliciously decadent … exactly my kind of gift.  Click here to buy it!

♥

 In my book, "The Ugly Duck Makeover", I present the case for treating ourselves to with Small Indulgences. Here’s an excerpt from Step 4, and it will show you why I’m so excited about offering this beautiful gourmet gift basket this year to my friends and family:

 

"Let me begin with my own example of a small luxury. This luxury would cost me about $10.00. First, I would go to the Godiva® Chocolate Store in my local mall, and buy a few chocolates. Then I’d go to my favorite coffee shop and buy a cup of rich, smoky coffee (in a mug, of course). I would find a little nook and spend 30 minutes savoring my treats - relishing the solitude, enjoying the flavor of the coffee, and the taste and texture of the chocolate.

 

 

The reason this qualifies as a gift of luxury is because I never take the time to do it. Every time I go to the mall, I pass by Godiva® and look in the window at their beautiful Gift Baskets and display of Chocolate Covered Strawberries. I always say to myself - "next time", or "I wish someone would give me a Gift Basket this year for the Holidays."

 

 

So, when I finally give myself permission "to indulge", it feels like a luxury. Once the permission is given and I commit myself to the purchase, my anticipation is great. I immediately begin to imagine the delicious treats of chocolates and coffee, and the few moments of reflection and relaxation that I will soon receive.

 

 

30 minutes … $10.00. Not much time, and not much money, but definitely a small luxury …" 

♥

So, if you’re a Chocolate Lover, I hope you’ll enjoy my recommendation for this Gourmet Gift Basket of Godiva Chocolate and Godiva Liqueur. Let me know what you think! … Alie
 

Dreaming Song …

is the name of my Blog.  I hope it will inspire you to live a natural and healthy life.  Women’s Health and Beauty is a topic we all care about - for themselves and in their Homes.  More specifically, it’s about Healthy Living, Intuitive Home Design, and about my own life as a "resistantly" aging Baby Boomer.  I hope the stories and ideas about "healthy aging and ageless beauty" will inspire you to DREAM for BIG things to happen in your own life.  

Here’s the story behind the name … and as you read it, you might enjoy listening to
 Izzy Kamakawiwo’ole’s song, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow".

Many years ago I lived on the Big Island of Hawaii.  It was often that we came upon a rainbow - right upon us, in fact.  Truely, it was like passing through emerald green daylight.  While there, we listened regularly to Hawaiian music, and especially loved Izzy’s music.  My favorite song is his medley, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World".  It seems most appropriate to feature his song in this post, especially in response to my previous post, "The Rainbow Connection". 

I came upon the expression, "Dreaming Song", in the movie, "Austrailia". The reason I was drawn to it was because of the beautiful, magical connection Baz Lurhmann created between Lady Ashley and Nullah throughout the movie, and his linking of the song, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" to that expression . 

First she told him the story about the far-away land and sang him the song. It was a song that gave him a reason to stop mourning, and begin a new "story".  Nullah called it, “The Dreaming Song”, and it never left him from that point on.  

"The dreaming song” connected their hearts together.  Whenever they parted, he said, “I’ll sing you to me, Mrs. Boss”.  The song penetrated the "noise of their lives" and reminded them to hope together, for each other … for a new story.  

Since it’s important to name your Blog, I decided to call mine, "Dreaming Song".   "Dreaming Song" is a Blog that encourages us to make our Lives & our Homes naturally Beautiful, Healthy & Happy.  

It’s also about my life experiences, especially as a home design Consultant, natural health & beauty Advocate, resistantly aging Baby Boomer, new Author, photoshop Dabbler, country music Enthusiast, and reality show "Philosopher".

My hope is that "Dreaming Song" will connect us to each other, and allow us to weave our hopes and dreams together.  I’m sure we’ll have lots of good "stories", and learn how to sing them out into the far-away lands.  

♥

Below is the trailer from the movie, "Austrailia". 
This treats you to the origin of "The Dreaming Song".

 

I’ll Keep Travelin’

Don’t Run (out the door, to another city, to another person)

Don’t Scream (at God, at your loved one, at your boss)

Don’t Give Up (your life, your job, your relationship)

Don’t Hide (under a blanket, from your fears, from your perpetrators) 

Don’t Be Afraid (to be alone, of death, of loss) 

 ♥

Do Believe (in yourself, in tomorrow, in your dreams)

Do Hope (for a new beginning, for strength, for courage) 

Do Remember (everything’s temporary, day follows night, you can make it)

Do Forget (the pain, the terror, the longing for the good ‘ole days) 

Do Love (yourself, your life, your peeps) 

If you don’t and you do these things, you’ll make it through ..

The question is then, where to?  

Well, I can’t answer for you this time.  Only you can answer this. 

What I just wrote is because it’s a life lesson that I must learn.  I’m going through some dificult changes.  I feel scared, like I’m in the midst of an Inferno. There are flames all around me and they’re hot and threaten to burn me alive. I can scarcely breathe and I’m alone. I’m afraid, I’m sad and I wish it wasn’t happening to me. But when I woke up this morning, I heard one word – "DON”T!"  I began asking myself, don’t do what?   My answer is what this post is about.   It’s about perspective, and hope, and not giving up.

I will emerge better.  I’ll be stronger, more courageous, and wiser, with a chance to rebuild the things that were taken away from me.  When “they” say, you have to close a door before the next one opens, it’s people like me that resist the closing of the door with all their might. I just did not want the door to close. Not one little bit, I liked everything like it was. But we all know, we don’t get to call all the shots, do we?

♥ 

So, friends, I’ll heed this advice.  I will "don’t, I will “do”,
and I’ll Keep Travelin’ Thru …

♥

Travelin’ Thru
(by Dolly Parton)

Have a listen to Jason Castro’s "Travelin’ Thru"
from MySpace

Well I can’t tell you where I’m going, I’m not sure of where I’ve been
But I know I must keep travelin’ till my road comes to an end
I’m out here on my journey, trying to make the most of it
I’m a puzzle, I must figure out where all my pieces fit
Like a poor wayfaring stranger that they speak about in song
I’m just a weary pilgrim trying to find what feels like home
Where that is no one can tell me, am I doomed to ever roam
I’m just travelin’, travelin’, travelin’, I’m just travelin’ on

Questions I have many, answers but a few
But we’re here to learn, the spirit burns, to know the greater truth
We’ve all been crucified and they nailed Jesus to the tree
And when I’m born again, you’re gonna see a change in me

God made me for a reason and nothing is in vain
Redemption comes in many shapes with many kinds of pain
Oh sweet Jesus if you’re listening, keep me ever close to you
As I’m stumblin’, tumblin’, wonderin’, as I’m travelin’ thru

I’m just travelin’, travelin’, travelin’, I’m just travelin’ thru
I’m just travelin’, travelin’, travelin’, I’m just travelin’ thru

Oh sometimes the road is rugged, and it’s hard to travel on
But holdin’ to each other, we don’t have to walk alone
When everything is broken, we can mend it if we try
We can make a world of difference, if we want to we can fly

Goodbye little children, goodnight you handsome men
[Jason's version: Goodbye you little children, goodnight to all my friends
Farewell you lovely ladies and to all who knew me when]
Farewell to all you ladies and to all who knew me when
And I hope I’ll see you down the road, you meant more than I knew
As I was travelin’, travelin’, travelin’, travelin’, travelin’ thru

I’m just travelin’, travelin’, travelin’, I’m just travelin’
Drifting like a floating boat and roaming like the wind
Oh give me some direction lord, let me lean on you
As I’m travelin’, travelin’, travelin’, thru

I’m just travelin’, travelin’, travelin’, I’m just travelin’ thru
I’m just travelin’, travelin’, travelin’, I’m just travelin’ thru

Like the poor wayfaring stranger that they speak about in song
I’m just a weary pilgrim trying to find my own way home
Oh sweet Jesus if you’re out there, keep me ever close to you
As I’m travelin’, travelin’, travelin’, as I’m travelin’ thru

Goodbye little children, goodnight you handsome men
Farewell to all you ladies and to all who knew me when
 [Jason's version: Goodbye you little children, goodnight to all my friends
Farewell you lovely ladies and to all who knew me when]
Oh I’m just travelin’, Oh travelin’ thru, I’m travelin’ thru, I’m travel’ thru

You can also watch Jason’s "Travelin’ Thru" on YouTube from American Idol 

♥ 

 & Dolly’s "Travelin’ Thru" on YouTube 

 ♥ 

One more - Jason’s Best on You Tube - "Hallelujah"
 

Take Oasis

Have a listen to "We Walk" by REM 

"Take Oasis" …

Take a walk, take a bath … hey, just take a deep breath and stop what you’re doing!

There might be some deeper meaning in REM’s song, but I love the phrase “take oasis”. It’s like saying, “Just Stop!" or "Chill Out!"

For me, life gets too busy and confusing; I just need to stop and take a moment to relax and reflect.  Well, that’s the premise and solution I present in “The Ugly Duck Makeover” .   I’m always using the 7 steps in Ugly Duck to do just that. 

Here’s the bottom line, and what I think I’ll plaster on my car … 

Life is Short … Get the Last Quack!

Are you getting the last quack?  Let me know …

 

High Fives & Cartwheels

Either will do.  I’ve just been clicking away at all my links tonight, testing them out.  I’m absolutely amazed at the end result of a dream that started months ago - this website.  Personally, I’ve completed the editing and creatives.  A few more tweaks from me and another week or so of technical expertise from way across the ocean with Duncan. 

As you know, I’m so very indebted to him.  I hope you’ll allow him to help you with your Blogs and website development too, as a favor to me.  He is extremely patient with those of us "technically-challenged" individuals. 

♥

My daughter and I were out today at one of our favorite places, "California Pizza", and we heard the song, "My Wish".  A while back I featured  that song on a previous blog.  We sang the chorus together and gave each other wishes that our "dreams stay big and worries stay small".  Isn’t that a beautiful way to go about life?

So may I send that hope to you, too.  "Alie James" is my big dream that today, has come true.  And for that, my worries seem very small.  I’m counting my blessings, tonight.