Luck Is A Matter Of Preparation Meeting Opportunity.

Happy 2011! Just as I was sitting back marveling at what a fantastic year 2011 was going to be, the phone rang. Well,not really. Actually I got an email, but it was a TSN Turning Point kind of email. Let me preface this by saying when you do something you love and you do it because it is what your heart tells you to do,although not everyone will understand why you do it and that is just fine as long as you believe in what it is you are doing. When you have spent ten years creating something you love and working hard to get it into the retailer market, the home show circuit, donating it to copious amounts of different charities & fundraisers, regularly giving it away to friends and sometimes even to strangers, in the hope that eventually the right person will see what you have created, and maybe, just maybe, one day it will lead to the right person seeing what you have created and it will inspire them to send you a TSN Turning Point kind of email. The email I received this past Thursday was indeed that TSN kind of email. So much so in fact, that I kept looking around waiting for Don Cherry to show up at my front door. The email was from a Stylist in Los Angeles that is responsible for sourcing the contents of the VIP gift bags that are being given to the Nominees, Presenters and Celebrity Stylists at the Oscars this year. Indeed, the right person at the right time found their way to my website, liked what they saw and contacted me with confirmation that they would like to invite me down to participate in this years Academy Awards Style Lounge. The Style Lounge is where the celebrities gather to do a little free shopping. Although I am absolutely stunned, flattered and honoured to be invited, and just to know that this year I am beyond excited to have my jewelry included in the VIP gift bags,is going to be enough for me this year. I have decided to graciously decline the invitation to be present, rather I will spend my time from this point forward preparing to attend next years awards circuit. You see, once you are 'in' the circle you are invited to sponsor other awards shows such as Grammys, Emmys, Golden Globes, ESPNs, American Music Awards, CMAs, the list goes on and on... So now is the time I get myself prepared before I launch my brand on such a grand scale. So 2011 is the year I learn more about the marketing aspect of my business. I have spent the past ten years laying the ground work by working my brand, sending as much love and light into the universe while protecting my karma and now the universe has listened and provided me with this opportunity. As you know I am inspired by Oprah and many of her words deeply resonate with me. One of her quotes that I hear over and over in my head is this: "Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity." - Oprah. I believe that when we follow our passion and step into the world with our deepest authenticity, we are preparing to receive the next opportunity that will innately further our journey along it's way to take us to the exact place that we belong in any given moment. Today I am giving thanks to all of those people who believed in me and encouraged me to follow my passion and to dive into my creativity. To those people who purchased my work when I was still figuring out my mediums, thank you for your support. Eleven years ago when I was seeking jewelry for my bridesmaids to wear at my wedding. When I was unable find anything that I liked or that suited me and my girls... it was two of my 'Moons' as I referred to my bridal party at the time. I had four women in my bridal party. Each of them 'represented a season of my life' as I had known it up to that point... each season has a new moon... you get the picture I am sure... Sorry I digress... So anyway, two of them, My Wise Old Indian(who will be referred to as 'Big City in all future blog postings) & The Princess, suggested I make my own jewelry. That suggestion triggered an action in me that has led me to today. I need to thank them both for believing in my creative ability even before I did. As a gesture of thanks, I promise that whenever I hit a red carpet, you will be on either side of me... but no one else is allowed to have their hair up. ;) a little inside joke for My Moons. Please sign up to follow my blog. I will be posting updates as this journey reveals more little twists and turns everyday. I am giving an interview tomorrow with one of our Canadian publications! I will tell you how it goes in my next post. Love & Light, t.

Thank You 2010

If I didn't know better I would swear it is still September. Where did the time go? A testament to my age and that where in my youth a day would feel like three days sometimes, now a day feels like the length of a morning meeting. I wish there were time and space to account for all of the amazing blessings that found their way to my heart this year. I am more humbled as the years go by and more grateful for less and less. Not to say the blessings are not bountiful, indeed they very much are, more so than ever. It is just that it takes much less to stop me in my tracks. I see everyday miracles that I used to rush past before. Slowing down and living in the moment has opened my world to so much beauty that I was not available to appreciate before.

Recently I wrote our Christmas letter...( that's right, I said it, I said it!- ) Chrisssstmassss.

that will be sent out with our Christmas cards and I found myself tearing up as I recounted what a fabulous, family focused year we have spent together in our home. Beyond the great trips, the children's milestones, the business success, the new puppy, the Olympic fever, the new sports, the great friends, what really struck me and made me stop in my tracks were the 'teachable moments'.

Now, I am known for my love of everything. I had a friend comment on my Facebook status yesterday saying that I am sure 'loving' lots lately. It could easily be assumed that my world is near perfect, no heaviness or loss. No stress or disappointment to mention. Well, those who really know me know that is far from accurate. What is true is that the biggest gift and blessing I have received this past year is how to make the most of the 'teachable moments'. Those are what I like to call the moments that come to us and stop us in our tracks without barely a moment to decide that crucial decision that we face every moment of every day, which is how can I use this experience to better myself and my family/ loved ones? In what is before me, regardless how dark it may seem, where is the love? Where is the light in this for me to focus on? I have learned that if I am able to keep my eye on the ball or light in this case, I am going to grasp this situation and learn what I am meant to learn.

I suppose this is an easy philosophy to adopt considering my belief system, which is that everything happens as it should, when it should and to whom it should. I am usually met with great debate when I mention this in public but I know it in my heart of hearts and I have faith that whatever is put before me, I can handle. It's all in the handling.

It is all in the handling, but more accurately it is all about our own individual 'tool boxes'. I have discovered that missing tool this year, and that is how to define the teachable moment, and what to do with it when it arrives. We have such vastly different tools and coping mechanisms that it is difficult to understand why certain people react to certain situations the way that they do. What I have learned is that rather than judging one another in these moments, why not be open to share our own tools and be willing to adopt some new ones along the way.

Let be clear though, I do practice these methods for sure, but I should also disclose one of my most sacred tools, I like to call it my ' bff- circle of trust.' This is the one I usually pull out at the end of the day and it is one of the most used in my toolbox. If it weren't for these girls who listen to the venting which comes with every teachable moment, I am sure I would lose my mind. This is where I drop my F-bombs (plural) and get all of my 'tough guy' dialogue out so that I may return to the level headed, TM practicing world peace keeper. Everyone needs a vault that they can secure their emotional baggage into and feel that it is safe and honoured and taken with a grain of salt. I call these ones, The Wise Old Indian, The Writer & The Princess. My wish for the world is that every one has a few of these characters supporting them also. They are priceless and I would not trade them in ever.

My greatest learnings from 'teachable moments' this year:

• I have learned this year that it really is okay to be different (we teach our kids this, you would think I would know it myself, but knowing it and living it are very different).
• To be 'that mom' who will not over schedule her child. Good for you if you want to expose your kids to 5 different after school activities this term, have at er'... I have chosen to do only 2.
• I have accepted that I do not have to be that social hostess that has company over every weekend. I prefer to do all my hosting in August and December, it's just how I roll.
• When all the women around me are discussing where they get their manicures done, I am comfortable with my callused hands that have glitter under their nails and are chipped from making jewelry.
• I have come to love that I am one of the only people I know that drives a car that is at least 5 yrs old and does not have room for carpooling. I love my Outback... I mean I LOVE my Outback!
• It's okay to boast about how great your husband is. Amazing husbands are rare... I am gonna brag... just sayin'
• When friends get divorced- it sucks for everyone, and at the end of the day despite the greatest efforts, sides will reveal themselves organically and you just have to stay true to who you are through the process.
• When someone is yelling and smacking a child in a grocery store for touching a box on a shelf, it is okay to walk up to the mother calmly and tell her that if she wants to hit someone, why doesn't she hit you, someone her own size instead.
• I get a thrill when people ask me where I got my shirt and I can proudly brag that I got it from the good will and I quickly brag that I also got a pair of Jimmy Choo Boots and Christian Louboutins there also. Shnap! Recycle, Reuse, Renew!
• When it comes time to greet people or say goodbye, I have to hug you, it's just the way that I am, always have been and always will be and I secretly think I am changing the world one hug at a time.
• I have learned that reconnecting with old friends feels better than making new ones.
• Making new friends feels better than keeping old ones that are energy vampires.
• I have made peace with the fact that there are days when I just want my kids home with me, and it is okay to skip a day of school here and there... it is time well spent loving and laughing.
• This year I realized that no, I cannot will someone to be a better person, that I can only stay in a place of love and compassion and choose to invest my time and energy in those who mirror my sentiment.
• And the greatest personal gift I received this year was that I had done, said, did, all of the above without an ounce, not a single iota of guilt. I have accepted all of the things that others made me feel were somehow shameful, and I have learned that only I can judge me. The rest of the world's impressions do not exsist when we live in the moment, rather those are our own projections that we identify with. I guess if I had to sum the year up in one word it would be Freedom.

So yah, thanks 2010- it's been a good year.

Love is as love does. Let's love 2010 out and 2011 in.

Namaste,

Tiffany

Squint Your Eyes And Look Closer...

Years ago I heard Ani Difranco sing 32 Flavours. The song resonated with me then and decades later it still speaks to me. So often we know someone for years and years and we have this virtual photograph of them in our mind. We think we know them, what they like, how they think and ultimately who they are as a person. In the past couple of years I have been having to ask people to take a new snapshot of who they think I am. We are all evolving and becoming who we are meant to be. For some people and myself included, trauma of some sort at an early age can paralyze our evolution and can change us from who we were meant to be to a slightly dimmer version of that.
With the right guidance and or therapy we can find our way back to the path that will return us to the journey we were born to live.


With every year that goes by we are all continually learning about ourselves and who we authentically are. It has been my experience that the older we get the easier it is to shift into and remain in the state of presence, where we function as our authentic selves. Largely due to the fact that the older we get the easier it is to find the confidence to fore go the  comfort of peer acceptance.


Recently, I found myself in the company of someone that I had labeled as 'superficial'. Now just to be clear, although I felt that way, I still valued the individual for being interesting, funny and charming. I appreciated the fact that this person was sweet, just not the person I would confide my deepest emotions in. I believe it takes all sorts of personalities to nurture the 32 Flavours in me. Everyone in our lives- feeds different parts of our spirit.


So here I am face to face with this person, and to say the least I was not in the mood to discuss the latest fashion find or place to be seen. I entered the conversation with my back up and my tolerance low. I think the phrase "Get me the f@#K outta here" crossed my mind. To my delight the conversation that I was dreading actually was a figment of my imagination. Shame on me for projecting my expectations on this person. In fact it had been several months since we had met up and it was clear to me that a massive shift in her had occurred. I had to step back and reenter the conversation. I had the biggest Aha! moment. I had to take a new snapshot of this old acquaintance. Just as I have had to ask people do for me. I needed to offer the same respect and allowance for this person's journey.


Looking at her again with fresh eyes it was clear to me that she too had changed at a cellular level. It brought me back to Ani's 32 Flavors which I have added below this post. "I am beyond your peripheral vision, so you might want to turn your head." I have been spending more time turning my head and seeing the bigger picture of this person and truly she is a beautiful spirit. I have to wonder how much of her I have been missing out on because I have had this old snapshot in my head which had been blocking my heart from reaching out to her.


With Christmas around the corner and the hustle and bustle that innately comes with the season, I am grateful for the reminder that each person who crosses our path deserves fresh eyes and an open heart. Having just celebrated Thanksgiving, I am more grateful than ever for having these life lessons sneak up on me when I have fallen asleep and fall back into the comfort of auto-pilot.


I will use my daily meditation to visualize open hearts connecting with white light- seems appropriate considering today is 'We Day'.


Love & Light,


Tiffany

Ani DiFranco - 32 Flavors (HQ)

Autumn Brings Her Blessings

Windows are open. The fall air is crisp and the sun illuminates the room. Is there anything better than basking in a morning like this? Complete with a big warm sweater and a cup of coffee. Sitting back down to the keyboard I am slightly overwhelmed by thought of everything I have experienced since my last entry. We returned from a magical week in Kauai only to head off again to Alaska as a family... and I mean the whole family. The Silver Fox's parents took both of their boys and their families as well as each of the grandparents sisters on a cruise. A very beautiful and thoughtful gesture, never mind generous... but more than anything... it was a great big life lesson! (I'll come back to that later)

We returned from Alaska just days before the start of the school year which saw us sending our baby girl to grade 1. (insert sigh and heavy heart) I have said it several times since the beginning of September that it is such an injustice that just as our children become these capable, amazing friends to us, that someone else gets the pleasure of enjoying their company all day long. I clearly remember holding Miss. B when she was 3 months old while she was wailing and I was tired and at my wits end- thinking to myself "it's okay Tiff- 5 yrs and you will have a bit of your old life and freedom back!" The joke is on me. And it is a cruel joke... I don't want my old life back and the only freedom I pine for now is that to be able to spend everyday with my 6 yr old beauty. Again, all of 'those women' who told me to savour every single moment with my children because they grow up so fast, were not exaggerating. 

The silver lining to losing out on spending the days with my girl is that I finally have some one on one time with my boy. Precious time that I am savouring like I have never savoured anything else. I know better this time around. Every question and every discovery are moments that we dive into and daydream our way through. I love every second of it. (except for those moments that I feel like I want to rip my hair out and ask him to be quiet... yah- besides those moments, I love every second of it!) lol

After the start of school- I found myself at one of my favorite places to be, 

at Camp Kerry. www.campkerry.org

This year like the others I was humbled, honoured and inspired by the love and courage that is the foundation of CK. The families, the volunteers and of course my roommates for the weekend, Hol, Carrie, Coryn and the mice created a haven for healing. It was truly special. Each night after a big day of giving- the four of us (my roomies and I) would return to our bunkhouse and debrief. I could tell you that we didn't mock the over zealous lifeguards or that we didn't pass around wine gums and pringles... but that would be untruthful. What I can say is that these women are the most compassionate and giving people I have met and Camp Kerry is lucky to know there dedication and hard work. When I return from CK and I am back at home with my family, I always seem to hold them a bit closer and appreciate them even more.

When I referred to the lessons learned on the cruise, well, where to begin. Oh, I know, having the entire family on a boat for week. There is a good start! I kid, it really was a fantastic trip and fun was had by all. The issues arose when certain people realized or didn't realize that they had placed expectations on other people's agendas. I think some of our crew thought that having us all on a boat would imply that we would be spending a great deal of time together. Indeed we did spend more time together than we would have otherwise but location does not dictate nap times and meal times. When a three year old is 'done' they are d.o.n.e.- period. I believe that one forgets how fully surrendered you must be in terms of going with the flow when children are in the equation. Not only did my sis-in-law and I get all dressed up for more than one formal dinner, only to have to remain in our cabins sans joining the family for the meal- in order to put the needs of children first. Yah- a drag for sure, but truly not a big deal in the grand scheme of life right. Well, that's only right if you are able to go with the flow.... a tall order for some that created a downward ripple of disappointment which was unfortunate. The moral of the story is when you put expectations on other people and have those expectations being met account for your own happiness, you are bound to find yourself in self inflicted disappointment and unease. It was a loud reminder to me that I am in control of my own happiness and in each moment of everyday we can choose to be happy. Every morning is a fresh start, a clean slate and a blessing. That is what September is to me. A clean slate. A fresh start. When most of the world considers January 1st a new year, I consider September 1st as my new year. 

I am so excited about the next month. I am going to be knee deep in glitter and gemstones. I am crazy busy making jewelry for Holiday Home Shows and for Retail. I love this time of year. I am already excited about decorating for Christmas. The day after Remembrance Day I get to start decking the halls!! If you lived in a log house you would feel the same way. This home begs to be swagged and bobbled. It warms my heart just thinking of it. Is it just me or can anyone else hear Bing Cosby?

The next month is going to be full of goodness. I am going to try to keep my expectations on myself and find compassion for those who are still learning to make that effort.

I am off now to go find a pile of leaves to play in with my boy!

Happy Autumn. I know she will be good to us all.

Love & Light,

t.

ReClaiming, ReDefining & Refreshing

Every now and then we need to stop and look around. So often we get get on the wheel of life and forget that we don't need to just keep up with the pace, rather we need to set the pace. Recently, the Silver Fox and I celebrated our ten year wedding anniversary. Considering we never went on a real honeymoon- (again another sacrifice of owning your own business) so we decided long ago that for our ten year, we were going to do something very special when the time came.

So indeed, we booked ourselves in for a week in Kauai at the Koa Kea. www.koakea.com- It is a magical boutique hotel 10 feet off Poipu Beach. I wish I could describe the level of beauty or their level of customer service and care, but there is no describing it- it must be seen and experienced. What I can tell you is that from the moment your car pulls onto the property there is a team of people dedicated to making you feel special, welcomed and at home. 

The Fox and I chose Kauai because it was a place that neither of us had been and we wanted to return to the days of 'first times', discovering enjoying and experiencing things together all for the first time.

I could ramble on and on about the surf, the helicopter ride along the Na'pali Coast or the hours spent touring the island with the top down on the car, just enjoying the opportunity to just talk and laugh like the old days, but really the point is that just having that sacred time alone with my husband while not having to share him with our businesses, our friends, our children or even his iPhone was the greatest gift ever. It reconnected us in a way that I didn't know we even needed. Although it was difficult to leave our children at home with trusted family, it really was necessary in order to reach that level of intimacy that is not possible when the conversation is interrupted every several minutes by a well meaning three or five year old.


Being away on the greenest island in the world, in the middle of no where is a spiritual experience. There is an energy about those islands that is palpable. The people we met, the places we went and the things we saw were all amazing. I have never been so inspired artistically. Whether it was a colour scheme or new mediums - there were endless times where I caught myself sketching in my mind so that I wouldn't forget the designs I saw on a leaf or in the surf kissed sand.


I met the most amazing couple from Fair Oaks, California. They are locals of the island as they spend part of the year at their home in Poipu, and the remainder in California. The first time we saw them, it was a very freak meeting. We were all sitting on a gorgeous patio at a restaurant and I was trying to identify something in the tree. They saw how perplexed I was and offered some sage advice about the fact that no... it wasn't a pineapple- so don't be fooled and don't eat it. :) Very sweet people. Shortly there after we said our goodbyes and figured we would never see them again. A few days later at this amazing organic market down the road where The Silver Fox and I were having breakfast, just as I got up to refill my coffee I walked past this gorgeous blond woman and realized that I recognized her! She was the same girl from the patio. We began chatting with her and her husband about the island and some of their recommendations. The advice was golden and because of them we saw some amazing things that we would have otherwise not checked out. NOTE *** It needs to be said that this amazing couple owns a gorgeous store back home called ' Bungalow' - vintage living for home & garden. You must check out their website. They do all of their own buying, and their taste is simply exquisite! The best part is that they ship to Canada!!   www.bungalowvintage.blogspot.com

Our time on the island was so incredible. The people we met, our time alone and the reconnection of our authentic selves and who we are to each other. Realizing who we were then and who we are now is really not all that different. We have more in common by way of our children ( who we missed terribly) and in some ways less. We were able to acknowledge that the things that make us drastically different from one another are also the things that balance out our partnership and that continues to allow each of us our sense of self. We have enough common principles that it makes coming to the table with new experiences to share very exciting and very safe. There is never a question if we are growing apart or moving in different directions, because we are each other's biggest fan and we are always on the side lines cheering one another along.


Where I am happy for him becoming a pilot and enjoying the Paragliding culture, he is happy for me as I spread pearls and crystals from one end of the house to the other while I get high on creating new jewelry. We appreciate each other's passions and we acknowledge that we both need to do these things in our own space in order to nourish ourselves spiritually. 


This trip to Hawaii really was about reclaiming who we are, redefining how we work as a team and about refreshing all of those first emotions of falling in love.



I love it all, the bliss, the work, the fun and especially the dirtiness.


Love & Light

Tiff 




 

It's Like Rain on Your Wedding Day.

Forgive the space between entries. I was too busy living life to slow down and document it. I have a brief moment of reprieve between the next scheduled obligation. Seems like today has been full of deep sighs and deep gratitude. There have been so many beautiful moments with family and friends in the past 6 weeks that I just have been humbled time and time again. There have been 2 family weddings, a BFF's wedding, I co-hosted a surprise 50th Wedding Anniversary, adopted a 3rd dog, spent 4 days with my YaYa's at our Mecca aka 'the river house', saw The Princess buy a house and move away from me, took the kids on their first, rustic camping trip on the West Coast of Van Isle, watched my husband learn to Paraglide, watched my husband learn how to Kite Board, spent 6 hours in emergency with a 3 yr old suffering a fever of 104', have been saddened to watch two of my dear friends lose a father and a family matriarch, and tomorrow will be a very sombre day as I attend the funeral service of a friend who succumbed to cancer. So much good to rejoice, enough sorrow to reaffirm how precious life is. Which brings me to the greatest pride and joy of all of the events so far this summer, and that is that The Silver Fox & I celebrated our 10 year Wedding Anniversary a few days ago. 16 yrs together, and 10 yrs married have made for the greatest joy of my life.
We had always spoke of one day having a very cool & funky native Talking Stick, so this year I went down to the Squamish Pow-Wow in early July and gathered a few essentials that I needed and then just followed the inspiration of our own personal Haida art collection and went for it. Not bad for a first try. I used beads, and stones and even some woven organza that was used in our wedding ceremony and incorporated these things onto the stick. A personal touch that makes the staff a true reminder of our 10 yrs together, then and now. I also used a gorgeous Raven feather as an offering of this Raven's endless love for her favorite Fox/ Wolf really... So where I have not been actually making gems, I did create a sacred family heirloom that is among the most special pieces of art that we own.

So certainly this summer has been full, and it is far from over. The next several weeks are full as well. I have had little time to create jewels; however, my spirit has been nourished by many new friendships, many old friends and the smile of a bride despite the rain on her wedding day. My lessons have been subtle but frequent. My bliss has been ample and my craving for deeper connections within an even tighter group of people has been steeped. I just cannot ignore that the past several weeks have sailed by while I have barely had a moment to sit. It has reminded me that what is most important is what is in front of me, who is behind me and those whose hearts I guard. These are the bright lights that guide me and whose light I want to bask in.

That is all for now. Ramble as I have, it is a sign of how much has been on the go as of late, and when September rolls around with her promise of routine and predictability, I am confident that I will return to a regular date with the blog.

Until then, sending you Love & Light,

Tiffany