my mentor's mentor passed away

Death is never quite easy. This one was a special one.

My former boss, wonderful friend + my mentor, Kim, lost her mentor, the person she admired professionally and, personally. He was the one who gave her the positive fire-y conversations when the going got tough. He reminded her that she could do the impossible. I remember when Kim would come back from a working dinner with John and be ready to take on the next BIG challenge with more energy + vibes than the average person could ever muster up! I would walk in her office the next morning and besides her hangover, she was cheering and full of ideas about how to improve the most current situation. I must say, it was a lot of fun + as if John's dinner wasn't enough, I would perform cartwheels literally across her massive office! Seriously, it was part of my job!

Sadly, Mr. John Rosenthal passed away yesterday after a long hard battle with prostate cancer. He was 70 years old. John was a bright and extremely passionate light who reminded us all to work with intention. He would be the one saying make sure you leave a trail of goodness for the world to marvel at... And, make sure you do the right thing.

John's office was located right next to Kim and I when I worked for Pennrose. He was a tall man with a great big smile. He was warm, approachable and always wanted to know how you were doing + if you needed anything, you were always welcome to sit on his couch to just touch base. (He never come across as the multi-millionaire that he was...) He was just John.

In honor of John's battle, Kim set out to do a 100 mile cycling event on October 4th to help raise money to fight the Prostate Cancer battle. Her goal is $10,000 and she is almost there!

Ironically, John passed away before her event this weekend.

It just reminds us all, once more, how fast cancer can spread + how precious life is.

In memory of John, I know I am thinking a little bit more about the pebbles + stones I am leaving on my trail. What will I leave for the world to marvel at?

birthday. brooklyn, ny.

happy birthday to one of the dear angels watching over me...

peace + thanks to you tonight.

xo,
kat.

Oh, yea, Mercury is in Retrograde + I am a Virgo

I figured it out.

Mercury is in retrograde + I am feeling it hard = September 24 to October 15.

Mercury goes retrograde three times a year for three weeks. During this time, one often feels mentally wobbly, forgetful, and introverted. This can be a great time for renewal and self-reflection. (dailyom.com)

...What can we experience during Mercury retrogrades? – most often, increased frustration, interruptions and snafu's that make even simple projects seem impossible. You will need more caution, more care, and a pinch more of elbow grease to get things done. Typically there are delays, interferences, miscommunications (especially for those of us with strong Virgo or Gemini in our charts (Mercury is the ruler of these two signs). It is not a good time to launch or initiate new projects. You will be pushing off, symbolically, just when the tide is going out, and it will be more of a strain to make headway with your plan – better to wait until the current is moving with you. (astrologyalive.com)

Why would the Universe give us Mercury retrograde? Because to move forward it is sometimes necessary to backtrack and reconfigure our paths in life. It is important to reconsider, repair, reflect, and reconnect. Mercury forces us to slow down and fix what's broken, and in so doing, rethink things. (astrology.zone.com)

There you have it. My communication is off.

Be patient with me, please.

Still,
kat.

Pretty In Pink

singing to soothe my soul...

I have been quiet the last few days; still. I am not sure where I am sometimes, but I am working out the process via music + earrings... Oh, and a brand new dance class (ouch!) and more yoga.

Sometimes this happens. Our words get stuck. I think right now it may be a good thing.

However, I hope yoga inspires me to share something good tomorrow.

quietly,
kat.

picture pages work when your words disappear...

a few friends + a few drinks

Saturday Morning Me

Well, I have found my way back to Saturday Me.

It's been a whirlwind of sorts + this week led to some silence + mind(full)ness all over the place. I made it back to finding myself on my mat on a Saturday morning and I am pleasantly pleased with my efforts! The 1.5 hour yoga class aligned my thoughts + my chakras.

Yoga early in the AM requires less on a Friday PM. And, for me that used to be okay -- years ago. For various reasons, I let it sadly slip away and now I am ready to commit to getting me back to me. I enjoyed a few early drinks with friends yesterday after work, but was home for dinner + a nice phone conversation and a great night of sleep. Yea! I have not had good sleep this whole entire week... Quite honestly, it felt amazing not to be out late in a bar drinking. My home is warm and mine + the newest Domino issue was waiting for me in my door. My absolute FAVORITE magazine! I couldn't wait to sit on the couch + feverishly flip through the home design concepts with Javier lying beside me chomping on her newest bone. She was the sweetest dog last night. And, I was a-okay.

I learned something new + eye-opening yesterday on a very personal level and I am still sitting + sorting through it. I was given the chance to look deeply into my soul + actions + desires. I feel like I have been given that control alt delete button to restart and reshift. Time to set some brand new intentions!

It is a new year (for me) where I get to choose more wisely in every aspect of my life. I have always said, we have a choice in how we carry ourselves. And, that my friends, is the truth...

Namaste,
kat.

new earrings on etsy.... keep checking back!

the muscianesi gals!

Thank the Above for a Brand New Year

32 arrived early Monday Morning.

And, with it one practical well-needed wish that was gently added to my list of wishes via a phone call from an old friend in California. I thank him for that reminder. And, like he promised, I should feel the effects of this wish in 1.5 weeks. I hold him to it!

I am simply exhausted. The festivities caught up to me quickly. The wedding was beautiful. The family was warm. The company delightful. The drinks flowed from Wednesday to Monday, seriously, I am jonesin' for my evening vino...

Another experience, I immersed myself into that gave me Big Clarity.

Don't go backwards. Simply, move Forward.

This year I wish to be led Forward and to hold quiet Peace warmly in my soul.

Enthusiasm

Today was perfect.

I felt really good in my super cute Monika Turtle skirt (http://www.artatsophi.com/artatsophi-about.htm) crafted by this fellow yogini and fashion extraordinaire located at art @sophi where my yoga studio is, too. Last night after class, Monika's studio had racks of items marked down to 5 bucks! I purchased a really cute bright patterned skirt that I simply tried on in the middle of the hallway. I then proceeded to try on a few shirts. And, Voila! I found a cute off the shoulder piece. My sister gets one too, of course, shh, just don't tell her!

Tonight, I set a new intention in class. Think Less. Move More. And so I did... I decided to go a bit easier on myself and pulled off on the headstand for some legs up the wall. Mmmm it felt amazing! The group tonight was full of giggles + grunts. Apparently, our class sounded like a tennis match between two Wimbledon pros! Between our giggles, grunts, sighs, moans, purrs, raspberries and lion roars, we couldn't help but laugh with each other. It felt beautiful to really, truly laugh out loud + connect to that energy.

We worked on opening our 5th Chakra which governs communication with chanting + singing. I really enjoyed the open sounds. Chanting, singing, speaking and reading aloud are all good for the 5th chakra. The vibrations of all these things affect the body down to the cellular level. Deficient energy in the 5th Chakra can cause neck and throat pain. Excessive energy in this area can cause too much talking and an inability to really listen.

Interesting.

As class began to wind down into savasana, I had this thought that I needed to pull an Angel Card from H's little secret box of fortunes. So, after class I requested we pull out the cards and each draw one for some further insight. Each person's "fortune" was perfect. I picked enthusiasm. Ironically, I felt like Miss Enthusiasm today, finally!!!

I came home tonight and decided my 5th Chakra needed a little bit more work and I pulled out my guitar and worked on a song. Javier loves when I sing + play, seriously. Just like when I taught nursery school music in over 20 pre-schools, Javier curls up at my feet, closes her eyes and wags her tail + truly becomes that animal I love to pieces! Okay, the kiddies didn't wag their tail, but they became focused and all mine for the time I had them. They smiled + sang and became that beautiful little attentive audience I adored for years... I can't lie, I miss those days sometimes more than I would like to admit. It was a ridiculous schedule of over 40 classes a week, but I felt so honored and respected growing up besides these little ones who truly thought I sang on the radio. I remember one day arriving to a school and one little 4 year old boy saying, Miss Kat., I heard you singing The Littlest Worm on my mom's radio today! I smiled and laughed so hard... And, then went with it... Hey, if he thought so, who was I to argue!

The next few days will be so great + busy. I am so excited to see all of my faraway family + be part of my brother's wedding. It will be chaotic and blissful. It is truly going to be a big ol' Muscianesi Ball~! I am looking forward to sharing this experience with the people who mean the world to me... and with the old-new friend who I am looking forward to meeting on that dance floor.

Here's to Enthusiasm.

ps.... My mom has graduated from the oncologist check-ups! I couldn't be more happier! She will still have her routine mammograms, but right now she is all good - five plus years later. Scary, but I have to start the process in the next year as both my mother and grandmother battled breast cancer successfully.

Waking Up up Up to my Journey

Something happened tonight. This may be the something I have been searching for. The something that took over me during yoga meditation where I decided I can't do what I have been doing anymore. That's it. That simple. But there it appeared in color forms behind closed eyes.

And, it may not really have totally happened there, but here. I sat down and thought about Eat, Pray, Love - the book written by Elizabeth Gilbert that actually fell into my hands by accident shortly after it came out and became the Thing to read. I remember my boss getting it in the mail in January 2007 as I was headed to Florida for a week to visit my parents who had invited me to literally lay on the beach via their elevator and door. My boss told me to take it with me. I was going to read it first. And, I vividly remember every day sitting on that beach by myself reading + basking... and thinking about my choices. My life was shifting in Philadelphia.

Tonight, for some reason, I am right back on that terrace watching the sunset with a glass of red wine. I am sitting alone enjoying nothing else in the world, but my time with the ocean waves + sand. I remember telling my parents I wanted nothing planned or expectations of me because all I wanted was that amazing beach outside their door. I look back at that place just under two years ago. At that story. At what was going on in my head + body. This was the same period when I was going through a mysterious refractured rib break that I never even knew I had once before (?) I was going for lots of testing full of worry + fear because there were many things happening to my body that the doctors could not figure out. I persisted and learned a few things, but I distinctly remember how unhappy my body felt to me. I gave up yoga and many yummy foods. I did allergy testing, an endoscopy, an ultrasound, two series of xrays and countless visits to doctors. How they just didn't know what was happening inside? But, I distinctly remember the Florida beach condo evenings where I fell asleep with a heating pad upon my painful right rib cage and another hard conversation in my heart...

Life is one huge learning experience. Pass it on.

I set an intention in class tonight. An amazing class with a soft quiet energy. I told myself I needed to be gentle and take care of me. That is all I really need to do these days. And, if I must remind myself every single day, so be it.

Going gentle into Tonight and every night here after.

Tomorrow, I think you should be gentle on yourself, too. And maybe pick up Eat, Pray, Love.

Awake,
kat.

Sharing

I am very grateful for what this weekend brought me + who it brought me to.

I thank the friend I shared drinks + dinner with on Friday night who I had not seen in a few months. An old pal from the old neighborhood. I enjoyed her insight, friendship + company.

Saturday found me being super creative all around. The rain kept me quiet and reflective. I listened to new music and Javier enjoyed staying in one place. (She told me she liked our simple couch + play time).

Today, I spent the morning with a good old friend running errands + discussing ideas and the afternoon with a brand new friend. A once yoga teacher of mine + a newby friend shared some floor time with me sifting through amazing beads and findings. For a ridiculous flat discounted fee, I walked home from her apartment with a bag of expensive goodies and new truths. Our bead sifting led to heart sharing and common grounds.

Sometimes, I sit here late at night and just simply reflect at Philadelphia and me. Four years ago, September First, I came to this town knowing no one. I picked up from the NYC area and decided to start fresh - no job + no direction. This city has changed me + brought me beautiful people who have expanded my soul. I have made true friends I could not imagine not having in my life to share my story with...

Ahhh.

More Creations: Earrings for Laura + Me for the Wedding

Rainy Day Collaging

(horrible camera images, but...)





I asked him why there were so many holes in the wall.

He said don't worry about it.

And somewhere along the way, I got it.

I bought a patch kit.

Home + Me from Above Me

Neighbors.

A little email I sent one week ago got a group of us girly neighbors together + a bit more than buzzed.

Sitting upon a backyard rooftop tonight, the gals and I talked Life. We laughed + Opened up.

Four of the gals are new to me + the world works in mysterious ways. Two of them are shop owners...

Neighbors. The people we all live with.

It was that easy + that simple.

This little town of mine, house + all, is where I need to be.

I hope my path keeps moving this way.

Thanking Something Often for the Road that keeps shining ever so Brightly...

xo,
kat.

Workouts to Waterworks!

It's late for me right now. This normally would not be, but today it seems that way. 12 am. I am so tired and decided food really wasn't important to me today. However, it is a perfect time for a glass of wine! And, there you have it: Me, the Merlot, Javier and Jezebelle (my guitar).

The last few nights have found me extremely tired, but restless because my intuition had me going to places I already understood. And, my intuition was right, of course!

I also really should crawl under the covers right about now, but my head is moving.

I decided to set various peronal intentions for myself today and with it came many things I had to handle on so many levels. I barely made it to yoga because I was running behind schedule, but I knew it was the place I mostly needed to be in order for those healing angels to swoop on in and shake things up. They sure did!

Getting to class four minutes late, the door was understandably locked, but someone came down specifically for me to open the door as I fumbled with the handle. She heard through the grapevine that I was behind schedule. This is why I love that Tribe of mind. The class all on their mats waited for me!

So, I thank the stars above for sending a fellow yogini to greet me with smiles. I needed this tonight.

It was physically really hard, too. We sweated our booties off. I mean drenched our clothes-up until we started to disrobe. The windows were shut and the candles burned away. I even inhaled once and had that water-up-my-nose feeling from all the sweat... I had to giggle! Gosh, I LOVE a good sweat. And, then it became emotionally hard. I had many tears too... Ugh. I will admit it. I secretly cried tears and tried to disguise them as sweat (who doesn't?), but by the time savasana came, I decided to go with the healing process and Let Go. For Real. Who cares?

Yoga does this to me. It opens doors and lets in to let out.

I stayed in child's pose for some time after class while the folks dwindled out + I found my ground. I also discovered that I am not the only one this teary process happens to. It seems yoga opens the gates to a slew of pent up emotions that we tend to carry quietly everywhere else we go. And, I have read that the body holds onto many emotions that the mind may have already dealt with. The body-mind workout also encourages you to contemplate life much more. Motion to bring Emotion. We all think about a broken heart, but sometimes we forget about our broken body...

Anyways, after all that nonsense, I came home to discover I sold three more pairs of earrings on Etsy and this was AFTER I was contacted to put my work in a Northern Liberties store last Tuesday (15 pairs). And, sold my first pair in hour one. Oh, and they raised my prices as a result!

What I am trying to say is I set some intentions that I truly believed sparked my universe forward. So as a result of doing or saying what I held in for way too long, they gave me some positive feedback in the form of all of this. Because, let me tell you, that store came to me after I put two other intentions down on paper in my basement right here.

I say it's great to believe in Something. All I do know is there are a band of angels with my name performing for me nightly. So, when I eventually fall asleep they slip their little wings to the tip of my shoulders and help me fly a little higher each day.

The highest form of maturity is self inquiry. (Martin Luther King Jr.)