Burning Bowl Ceremony

My KTG girls and I have been talking for the past month or so about doing a ceremony or ritual to bring in the new year for our first gathering of the year. Something that would signify that we were ready to start anew. Since my apartment was already decorated for just such an occaission I volunteered to host our NewYears Gathering. I appreciate these women on so many levels. They never give up on me, are always there to lend support, and they are enabling me to become a better person.  A more complete and well rounded person. So I wanted to make sure that our new year cleansing meant something for all of us. I scoured the web searching for ceremonies and rituals and finally decided that a Burning Bowl Ceremony was the best choice for us.

The Ceremony consists of writing down regrets from the previous year. Things that you want to let go of and purge from your soul. Once written you can either tear up the paper and add it to a burning pyre or you can burn the full paper which is what we chose to do.

While you are burning your woes you read the following:

Ready! I release and let go, ready to make the most of this present moment.

As I reflect on the events of the past year, I recognize successes and failures, gains and losses. Each event has taught me something and made me wiser. Knowing this, I acknowledge and release the past year in gratitude.

In contemplation of the coming year, whether I am excited or apprehensive, I know [the spirit of God/the spirit of the universe/my spirit] will empower me to meet every situation with confidence and strength. With this in mind, I release any concerns I may have about the future.

Today I am ready to stand tall in this present moment. I appreciate the now, perfectly balanced between the blessings of the past and the promise of the future. This is the moment of power and action. I am ready!

I placed a glass contained candle inside a large beverage tub for the burning portion and had a glass of water on hand in case we had any incidents. But all went according to plan. As an added touch to close the ceremony we read the declaration together and then jointly blew out the candle. Short sweet and definitely to the point. Ready or not 2013 watch out here we come!

As per usual life got in the way for a good percentage of the girls, but the few of us that made it made the most of it. I can't wait to see what this year brings. I can feel it in my bones it's going to be a great one.

Happy New Year to ALL

Happy New Year to you all from Mr Mine and I!

Jessism of the Week: All Things Miyazaki

My first experience with a Hayao Miyazaki movie was actually when Spirited Away came out. But it wasn't until I started dating Mr Mine that the true obsession took hold. You see one of Mr Mine's favorite movies happens to be Miyazaki's Castle in the Sky. Once we started watching them we just couldn't stop. And once I had seen them all I wanted to own them all. I cannot think of money better spent when it comes to movies. My friend's kids love them.

Howl's Moving Castle, Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke, Ponyo

Spirited Away, Kiki's Delivery Service, Castle in the Sky, The Secret World of Arrietty

Nausicca of the Valley of the Winds, My Neighbor Totoro, The Castle of Cagliostro, Whisper of the Heart

If you have young children (2-3) I highly recommend starting with My Neighbor Totoro and maybe even Ponyo. Even though these are all anime's they are definitely not all geared towards just children. As an adult I find them quite charming. There is new one called From Up on Poppy Hill that came out recently but hasn't yet been released in the USA. I've been reading a lot of positive reviews about it and can't wait to add it to our collection.

Also he is currently working on a new movie called The Wind Rises that at the moment is slated to come out this summer.

New Year's Party Prep

Ok, I will admit it. I am a person who is very set on having her own way. Especially when it comes to event decorations. I like to have a color scheme and I like to stick with it. So when Mr Mine and I decided last minute to have a New Year's Eve party I  had our scheme picked out the second I walked into Party City.

Color Scheme: Robin's Egg Blue, White, and Silver

I bought a gazillion balloons in those colors and decorations galore. I wanted to make this party extra special since it was our first ever New Years party. Even though I knew that it was only going to be a small group of us I wanted the "Wow" factor. We started our day by heading to target to pick up a new chair and a new lamp. I picked up this side chair 3 years ago with the intention of refinishing it to match the apartment. I sanded, attempted stripping, and even bought the fabric to re-upholster it. But it just has not gotten done and I finally got fed up and decided to put it aside. I will finish it one day but I knew it just wasn't going to happen in time for New Year's and it was a complete eyesore in our living room in the meantime. So when I saw this simple brown chair at Target over the weekend I decided it was our best option.

Once in place I realized that it was a tad small, but it still looks a helluva lot better than the old one.

After our errand running was done it was time to get down to business. Mr Mine and I each took our party tasks in hand and rocked them out. My job was to blow up the bazillion balloons that I had bought and Mr Mine's job was to figure out how to fill up our 2013 balloons. Fortunately we both were successful in completing our tasks. Although I have to say I definitely got a much better workout than he did! My abs were crying by the time I was finished. Who knew that blowing up balloons was a great ab workout?? Oh and yes, that is an air compressor that he is using. Worked perfectly for our big numbers.

Next came hanging them and putting out all of the finishing touches.

Speaking of Jonesing..

We just opened our Jessmas presents from Mr Mines parents and I am soooo excited! I received 4 new DWJ books!!! Yay!!! I'm smiling so much that my cheeks are starting to hurt :) Love, love, LOVE!

Jessism of the Week: Jonesing

Diana Wynne Jones
1934-2011

I am completely and utterly obsessed with the magical worlds of Diana Wynne Jones. It's definitely on my life list to read every single one of her books. In fact I even made a complete list and sent it to my mother-in-law Mrs Milly since she was asking what I would like for Christmas or I suppose I should say, for Jessmas ;)

It all started about two years ago when I was telling a dear old friend of mine about movies that I loved. Case in point I believe I was talking to her about my Miyazaki movie obsession and mentioned Howl's Moving Castle. Well this darling friend, Mrs Hepburn, asked me if I had read the book and as I had not, loaned me her copy to take home. This was just before my wedding and it is with joy that I remember reading the last few pages the morning of my wedding. I was in love. So in love that I keep buying copies and giving them to my friends to read. It was the perfect way to start that day and I have even re-read the book several times since.

I was exceptionally sad when I heard she passed away back in 2011. I remember that I had just finished reading Enchanted Glass, one of her last two books. It made myself and Mr Mine both exceptionally sad knowing that these new worlds that we were falling in love with would remain mysterious. Her books always left me with wanting more. More adventures, more history about the land they were set in, more, more, more. I suppose it's the same with any series that comes to an end. You don't want to have to say goodbye to your new friends. You want to keep following them on their journey's like in the Neverending Story. I'm grateful that she did manage to write so many books in her lifetime and I am looking forward to all the new adventures.

Diana Wynne Jones Books: books I've read or own

SERIES
Howl's Moving Castle
Castle in the Air
House of Many Ways

The Chronicles of Chrestomanci:
The Lives of Christopher Chant #1
Conrad's Fate #2
Charmed Life #3
The Magicians of Caprona #4
Witch's Week #5
Mixed Magics: Four Tales of Chrestomanci #5a-5b
The Pinhoe Egg #6
Stealer of Souls: World Book Day Edition (chrestomanci #2.5)


The Dark Lord of Derkholm (#1)
Year of the Griffin (Derkholm #2)

Deep Secret (Magids #1)
The Merlin Conspiracy (Magids #2)

Cart and Cwidder (Dalemark Quartet #1)
Drowned Ammet (Dalemark Quartet #2)
The Spellcoats (Dalemark Quartet #3)
The Crown of Dalemark (Dalemark Quartet #4)

INDIVIDUAL Dogsbody
Fire and Hemlock
Enchanted Glass
A Tale of Time City
The Tough Guide to Fantasyland
Unexpected Magic: Collected Stories
Archer's Goon
Hexwood
The Game
Eight Days of Luke
The Homeward Bounders
Power of Three
The Ogre Downstairs
Black Maria - (also titled Aunt Maria)
A Sudden Wild Magic
Witch's Business
Earwig and the Witch
The Time of the Ghost
Changeover
The Skiver's Guide
Puss in Boots
Digital Dreams
Firebirds: An Anthology of Original Fantasy and Science Fiction
Firebirds Rising: An Anthology of Original Science Fiction and Fantasy
Stopping for a Spell
Believing is Seeing: Seven Stories
The Dragon Book: Magical Tales from the Masters of Modern Fantasy
Hidden Turnings: A Collection of Stories Through Time and Space
Fantasy Stories
Warlock at the Wheel and Other Stories
Everard's Ride
Spellbound: Fantasy Stories - collection of story chapters.
Minor Arcana
Yes Dear 
Wild Robert
Reflections: On the Magic of Writing

Simply Divine: Chocolate Covered Sea Salt Butterscotch Caramels

I absolutely adore these Chocolate Covered Sea Salt Butterscotch Caramels that I bought from Trader Joe's. I picked up a bag on a whim for our New Year's party and have been eating them regularly every day since. They are rich enough that I find I can stop after only a few but it does take some effort. The salty buttery goodness swirls around your tongue and it almost feels like a shame to swallow. Each seven ounce bag contains about 55 pieces of divine deliciousness. If you loved the Salty Pretzel Carmel ice cream  and you love dark chocolate I highly recommend giving these a try. You'll be in heaven.