♪Jazz washes away the dust of every day life. -Art Blakey

Tonight Im feeling jazzy--

floating to a place I've never been before

engaged in beautiful sounds and words of Nat King Cole and Billie Holiday

I'm in my momentary bliss of never ending curiosity

their music takes me to a fancy place, a place where there's no time, a place where life is lush, my very own paradise

Yet I feel lost in this state of time;as if I belong where they were

with my lavishing silk dress and fur coat,flower in my hair,tears of diamonds drooping down my ears, waving the long cigarette in my hand, the music playing and the champaign flowing; purely enjoying life, just dancing to the beauty of immortality

I imagine myself in a jazz restaurant and then suddenly I'm exploring the world beyond measures

meeting new people,eating great foods, being head over heels in forbidden love

I just want to lose myself in this moment, let everything go, for once-be free

everyone with a smile on their faces, no problems -no judgments,

only love unchained to vivify

we're all laughing with no worries of tomorrow,

there is no time to stop us now- no need to hurry

only tonight exists- like that dream we never grew weary of;

jumping from one place in time to the next

dancing amongst the stars with our problems left in time

all our savings packed and we're on our way to other places just you and I

loving deeply, living deeply,

deep in our world we can be who we truly are

time to be boldly spontaneous

making new trails you and I

we're meant to be someplace,sometime,together in this dream we call home in our paradise unknown.✴

--Andrea J ♥

art:Debra Hurdof

The ART of Breasfeeding ♥

It is only in the act of nursing that a woman realizes her motherhood in visible and tangible fashion; it is a joy of every moment. -Honore de Balzac

---

Since this week is World Breastfeeding Week I wanted to do something fun and 'proactive'. I did a mini photo shoot aspired from the famous painting; "Maternity" by Pablo Picasso from 1905. I believe breastfeeding is a natural form of art, because it takes a lot of patience and time but the love that comes out from it is beautiful and incomparable to any other kind of bond that exists. It is the best form of food for any baby, breastfeeding is designed especially for your baby's wants and needs, what more can we ask from it? a custom made food just for them, it is amazing how God has created a mother's body to form life and create such a perfect food to go along for our little infants,or shall I say toddlers too?--

"Women have been producing such a miraculous substance, breastmilk, since the beginning of human existence." -Gabrielle Palmer

Breastfeeding is hands down the BEST food for any baby, it may not be the choice for all mothers for whatever reason, but it should, people should not feel overwhelmed or 'embarrassed', if you do, join a group, learn more, because you don't know what you or your baby would be missing, it is great for both mother and baby not just health wise but also parental bonding wise. It helps create a wonderful vibe for your baby, he/she will be able to get the warmth and love that they are used to from the womb, if you want a calm, healthy, and smart baby believe me you should consider breastfeeding, it may be hard at first but as I said, it is an art. As you learn it gets easier every feeding, don't give up because in the long run you will love it and your baby will be getting what they deserve.---

"Breastfeeding is an instinctual and natural act, but it is also an art that is learned day by day. The reality is that almost all women can breastfeed, have enough milk for their babies and learn how to overcome problems both large and small. It is almost always simply a matter of practical knowledge and not a question of good luck." - La Leche League

FOLLOW YOUR INSTINCTS... Give your baby the love and attention that they deserve, don't leave them to cry, pick them up, hug them and nurse them. Everything is new to them they don't mean any harm, they don't know what manipulation is, this is the time they are building their trust in the world, if they don't get that warm feeling from you, how do you think it would affect them in the future? As they say, you push them away now with toys,play pens, and bottles , when they get older they'll be pushing you away too because that's what they were taught.

"This is an art form that takes on a life of it's own.....Society's views are something I take pride in trying to change in my personal quest to give my child the best. Maybe if more mothers looked upon themselves as artists creating the most beautiful and stunning portrait every time they nurse their precious child, just maybe they would reconsider any negative connotations about breastfeeding. That is my hope. I am living proof it can be done. Joyfully, wherever I wish, for however I choose, through anything I face. I have always been creative in my endeavors, but breastfeeding, by far, is my best work yet. "-April Almeida

To finish this off I just wanted to express the joy and beauty I feel that breastfeeding is, maybe most people don't understand it but I know the successful nursing mothers do, the rest ask 'til when?" well I say, 'until she wants to.' I'm not going to deprive my daughter of what she wants and what's good for her just because of society's take on certain things, I know this is what she wants and as a mother I will provide my child with what is best because I love her so much that I could not put into words how great our relationship is. She has brought me to another stage in my life and changed my view on things, she has taught me what unconditional love is, what life is, what responsibility is, and how to care.All of this came naturally with the birth of a 8.9 lbs beautiful baby girl. With the help from my attached parenting instincts and lactation consultants, this has been my greatest achievement and I am very proud to say that I am a breastfeeding mother of a 17 month old daughter(&counting)...Maybe this bond can be portrayed through our pictures.... enjoy:)

Please, let them be little,
‘Cause they’re only that way for a while.
Give them hope, give them praise,
Give them love every day.
Let ‘em cry, let ‘em giggle,
Let ‘em sleep in the middle,
Oh, but let them be little.
Billy Dean

"It is the nature of the child to be dependent, and it is the nature of dependence to be outgrown. Begrudging dependency because it is not independence is like begrudging winter because it is not yet spring. Dependency blossoms into independence in its own time."

Breastfeeding is a mother's gift to herself, her baby and the earth. ~Pamela K. Wiggins

✶Breastfeeding is a gift that lasts a lifetime. ~Author Unknown

Our happy, breastfeeding, co-sleeping,sling riding,non-vaccinated,smart,& beautiful baby girl:)

"My opinion is that anybody offended by breastfeeding is staring too hard." ~David Allen

(My cousin Jennifer and her beautiful BIG baby Isabella :)....Eva's thinking: Im next! hahaha)

♥

poem of the day:)

Make Believe

by Joannda Riche

Hold your breath and close your eyes,
Squeeze all the magic from inside.
Step through the circle that time defies,
And journey into wonderous skies.

Its's time to dance, its time to sing,
Enjoy the peace that fairies bring.
See their world through eyes of wonder,
And on their beauty you may ponder.

Go deep within the wooded ground,
'tis there the secrets can be found.
Enjoy your journey, that begins right here.
Close your eyes, and have no fear.

Life

4th of July 2008
a date I will never forget
The day I found out there was life stirring inside of me
six weeks of pregnancy and never grew suspicious
until the fireworks burst just before we head into the doctor's office
he thought; 'only nineteen and pregnant'
but this was a gift very few can experience
I was going to give birth, it was all meant to be
amidst all the fear, stress,and anxiety
I felt peaceful, thrilled, and positive
I knew I wanted you even before I heard your heart racing like horses on a track
This was going to be my decision, my life long commitment
With God by my side, without any doubt, I chose life for you
and named you after it too
your name "Eva" my beautiful and healthy baby girl
my life, my light, my love
now you are 14 months old and always bring joy to my days
every time I see your bright smile I contemplate on how wonderful life's blessings can be.

Happy Earth Day:)

“We have not inherited the earth from our ancestors, we have only borrowed it from our children”- Ancient Proverb


Last night I finally got the chance to watch the movie Avatar for the first time and thought it was truly beautiful and yet troublesome how people on earth can be so cruel, thoughtless, and ungrateful. We should definitely be more aware of our surroundings and learn that every action has a reaction. We can not go around cutting trees, digging, manipulating the Earth's materials for money and easy living.....or throwing garbage everywhere not caring about animals or the trees that we're killing. now a days everything is easy, cheap, and fast, take time to think about all the times you use a plastic cup and throw it out just to make your life easier. In fact that even goes to myself as a mom, to make my life easier I admit I do use disposable diapers, but when we are at home sometimes I just let her roam around with underwear instead of a diaper which isn't the best but it's a try & let me not forget that I breastfeed which is a natural thing I am very proud of!so I have half of it right haha...If we all just lose this laziness we have like eating from a plastic plate and throwing it out because we don't feel like washing the dishes we should remember it's not natural and won't go back into the ground which means more landfills to ruin the earth's atmosphere, ending it a bit faster everyday. Although the Earth is already scarred; how about we make it our everyday lifestyle to care about our actions and set the right example for our kids so that they can go on living healthy and happily in a beautiful world. Teach them the basic keys to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle... I'm not perfect myself but I am a bit more aware, you could ask my husband how I tell him everytime "don't kill the turtles!" just more cautious not to throw trash on the beaches or out the window..or before I throw out the six pack plastic I rip it up because fish can get stuck in the rings and die, many of the sea animals get tumors because of the toxic wastes out in the ocean and as our chain dies we die... we should wake up! and live as natural as we possibly can. Nature fascinates me and I want the best for our future generations:)
Ok so right After I finished typing and ready to publish this post I saw a picture on my friends fb that has the Earth wearing a t-shirt that reads "I'm with stupid" pointing to a human....Those were my exact thoughts while watching the Avatar movie!

Besides that note;
Here's a nice poem I came across today about the materialistic world we live today and reminded me of a few sunset photos I have taken myself because it is a wonderful thing**


----


Have you ever seen

anything

in your life

more wonderful



than the way the sun,

every evening,

relaxed and easy,

floats toward the horizon



and into the clouds or the hills,

or the rumpled sea,

and is gone--

and how it slides again



out of the blackness,

every morning,

on the other side of the world,

like a red flower



streaming upward on its heavenly oils,

say, on a morning in early summer,

at its perfect imperial distance--

and have you ever felt for anything

such wild love--

do you think there is anywhere, in any language,

a word billowing enough

for the pleasure



that fills you,

as the sun

reaches out,

as it warms you



as you stand there,

empty-handed--

or have you too

turned from this world--



or have you too

gone crazy

for power,

for things?



-Mary Oliver

Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realise we cannot eat money. ~Cree Indian Proverb

☼♥

poem of the day:)

In My Sky At Twilight

In my sky at twilight you are like a cloud
and your form and colour are the way I love them.
You are mine, mine, woman with sweet lips
and in your life my infinite dreams live.

The lamp of my soul dyes your feet,
the sour wine is sweeter on your lips,
oh reaper of my evening song,
how solitary dreams believe you to be mine!

You are mine, mine, I go shouting it to the afternoon's
wind, and the wind hauls on my widowed voice.
Huntress of the depth of my eyes, your plunder
stills your nocturnal regard as though it were water.

You are taken in the net of my music, my love,
and my nets of music are wide as the sky.
My soul is born on the shore of your eyes of mourning.
In your eyes of mourning the land of dreams begin.

-Pablo Neruda

melts my heart for sure:)

Imagine☮

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
-John Lennon

Although I do believe in God, (which I think everyone should!) And positive there is a heaven and I will be there when I die, it is great to have that security for afterlife, I just believe everyone should respect decisions and beliefs of others if they truly feel happy doing what they do and lead a healthy happy life, in the end, it's all the same God, a supreme being. I just don't think it is fair to belittle people because they don't follow the same 'system' you do.Deep down God knows who each and everyone of us truly are, no one else but him can decide who is right or wrong, it's all up to him for only he knows who we truly are in our hearts. The world and people around us influence us to the worst, makes us do things that maybe if we all just kept our positive knowledge flowing wouldn't have been a problem, we would have done better we could have all been greater people with better hearts and minds but now we are all just left to work on it, to be strong. Happiness takes practice and we should practice and end hatred in order to make the world a better place at least for the sake of our kids.... aside from my beliefs I just wanted to share the song and lyrics on here, think about it....Besides the fact that John Lennon always promoted not following 'religious beliefs' , I still love this song, because I get where he is coming from. With lyrics so simple it has a mighty impact on listeners. Imagine all the people living for today, not planning for what will happen after death, being free without that worry on your shoulder about what will happen tomorrow or about the world coming to an end. People loving and in love! Imagine living life in peace, people at peace with themselves and respecting others! Imagine sharing the world, no physical or mental cruelty...One love, one life... Would this ever be possible? Only in our dreams, we all wish for it, but we never work for it. We keep lying,deceiving,judging and condemning instead of respecting, loving, and enjoying!

Even though we are singing John Lennon it reminded me of another, I'm going to end this post with
A Jimmy Hendrix quote;

☮"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."♥