Super Brain Yoga

Barbie has and does it all!

Seeking Treasure?

Check your clutter.

I have a lot of stuff. Some days I discover even more stuff. Stuff that I didn't know I had. Some of it is cool. Some has gone bad while I was saving it for a special occasion. That's the thing about tucking stuff back for later. If you don't take the time to rotate it, you are likely to just forget about it.

As I was clearing off the bookshelves one more time, (I do a last look before I walk out the door with donations.) I discovered ink for my printer. I have a Lexmark X3430. It is an all-in-one. It scans, copies, prints, reads flash cards and had PictBridge. It probably does way more stuff, but I have no idea. I need it to scan, copy and print. Years ago I bought it for a fabulous price and loved it until I had to buy ink cartridges.

One of the advantages of working in an office is that you can print at work. The concept of printing at home was foreign. That said, my cartridges lasted quite a while, until my children and their friends needed to print assignments or just printed for the fun of it. One day they announced that the printer was out of ink. I directed them to the store to replace it. "Well, it's expensive." "Yep."

What I later learned is that the ink also dries out if not used regularly. So my $30 cartridges are just wasting away. That stopped my purchases all together, until... As I am home these days without the convenience of an office for printing, I was looking for a resource.

Back to my clutter. I found, on my book shelf, an unopened ink cartridge. It has been sitting on my desk until today. I finally took it back to the store because 1) it cost almost $30 and I can use that money better, and 2) I can print at the library for five cent a page. On my return I found a very big 3) color cartridges are expected to get only 175 pages. It is written on the package. And, 4) my printer only takes a color cartridge. I only need black ink.

Refund totaled $29.09

These days you can buy a brand new printer with a cartridge for the cost of a cartridge. So, I collected my refund and bought groceries. It was a great day. While I make most of my food from scratch, I picked up Progresso soups and one pound bags of frozen vegetables both on sale for $1. For an easy meal, I place a cup of spinach in a bowl then cover with a can of soup. Microwave until hot and serve with crackers or bread. Quick and easy.


Dig around in your stuff. You never know what you might find. Enjoy the adventure.

Learn Something New Everyday

Almost two weeks ago, I turned off my computer in an effort to save energy. Previously, I rarely turned it off. Usually it runs night and day so I can access information at the speed of my thoughts. But I thought I would try out the shutdown at night and reboot at daylight - hibernate in between. On Monday, two weeks ago, I shut down my computer and when Tuesday morning came all I had was an amber light. The amber light would not go away no matter how many times I pressed the power button. I cut off the power surge strip. Then I waited. Had some coffee. Paced a bit. A gentle freak out. Exhale.

I turned the power strip back on and powered up the computer. Yea! We were in business, for about five minutes. Then the screen went blank and the amber light blinked at me. I repeated the process. Repeatedly. Finally there were three beeps, then the amber light.

A visit to the library and search though Google confirmed that the power supply was out. You can actually look up beep codes for your computer. When it can't communicate with you through the screen it sends a message in beeps. More exhaling...

After more research I found and ordered a power supply. In the meantime I have read articles and watched videos on how to replace the power supply. I actually found a rating that said it was easy. Today I am working again on my desktop and delighted to tell you I learned a new skill. I had some challenging moments but thankfully other people have had them already and posted both the questions and answers.

I'm still not clear about where I'm going but today was wonderfully full, delightful and productive. I completed an overdue task, worked out (upper body), practiced yoga, found a great deal on Topsy Turvy planters ($1) and my favorite crackers - All Bran (5g fiber - no inulin). It was sunny out and I stopped to take photos downtown.

Next, I plan to make yogurt in my crock pot. Stay tuned!

New Year’s Resolutions

Add More Wine

Over at Life Around the Curves I post 100 Promises to Myself. This is my concept of thinking well about who I am and how I plan to show up as a happier, healthier, and far more interesting person. Even though I do introspective work for personal growth, I like to read other people’s resolutions. It seems that only the usual make the headlines, but I found one I know I will be able to keep and enjoy along with my promises.

Drink the whole bottle of wine. Think of is as getting all the antioxidants.  Let go of any guilt around enjoying what give you pleasure.

~~~That said, 

Accept only what you need, whether it is an invitation or advice, or stuff. Decide if you have a place for what’s being offered; if not, pass. Practice moderation in what you bring home (in heart, mind and space). Mind stuff that has to be tended but does not increase your joy. This will also facilitate the letting go process.

Re-evaluate the rules: Eat this, not that. Do more, have less.  As we focus on conscious living, we decide in the present what the best course is for us. When in doubt, simply add more wine.

Open to a new experience every day. Learn a new word. Read a new book. Meet a new person. Comment on a blog. Share an idea. Brush your teeth with the opposite hand. Stretch. Reach. Expand. This is the process of growth.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

More Money?

Spend less. Give more.

Holiday season thrift tips were abundant and now that the New Year has arrived it is either time to continue conscious spending or settle created debt. If there is still old debt floating on the balance sheets, this is a great opportunity to resolve that as well.

Spend less.

• Know how much you need to live – housing, utilities, food, fuel, insurance – necessities
• Know how much you are spending monthly and identify where every cent goes. How much is funneled into the miscellaneous category? Include clothes, meals and snacks away from home, and all expenditures beyond necessities.
• Identify the bare minimum for your life and family. Each of us has a ideal standard of what we need and how we are willing to live. When we know what that is, we can make decisions more clearly about what we are willing to change.
• How much is your ego costing you? Egos are vultures and will strip you of your cash and available credit. The ego knows your secret desires and will declare eminent death if left unfed. Changes in choice and habit will be challenged from within with fear of loss and limitation. Be thoughtful, precise and aware.
• With a visual of spending habits, subtract the necessary from the pattern of spending. This is the resource. It is from this balance that we will pay off debt, save, and give more.

Give more.

I give in love because I love to give. Sharing opens our hearts to others, to the human experience. We are blessed to have more than we need and the opportunity to share brings the realization of our blessing directly to us. Give to places or organizations that serve in an area that interest you or that feed you spiritually. Give sufficiently that you feel the experience in giving.

If giving is already part of your commitment, give more. Acknowledge that you have more than enough. Is there any doubt? Check the numbers again. Spending, saving, and giving each have emotional tags. We calculate and understand the numbers cognitively, but at disbursement we face deep seeded ideas about money. As we open, examine, embrace and accept these ideas we are free to choose which actually serve our lives.

Imagine there is more than enough. As we accept this realization, we find there is even more.

There is enough of everything for every one, even you.