Shine On!

I love to visit St. Augustine,Florida half an hour from my home I try to visit at least once a month. There is this beautiful church there called Our Lady Of La Leche. On these historic grounds I stop at this filled to the brim religious shop where they sell all things holy for your home and for gifts.

My family has had some health issues and I being Catholic wanted and NEEDED to pray for them. you can buy these amazing candles in this store and go to the mini historic chapel and pray to God, Mary his mother or a saint of your choice.

I have always loved the peace I feel from looking at these lit candles and the ritual rich in history. In NYC,Washington D.C. and in my travels throughout Europe.

I adore the way the candles light up the room,my face up and best of all what they do for my soul.

There is beauty all around us. I usually right about beauty or skin,lifestyle,food,share recipes and or my travels. But this week I wanted to share with you to light a candle wherever you are and just glow!

There is beauty all around us. Yes, even in everyday life,seek it and it will come to you.

Bask in the light around you and shine on …Beautiful, Shine on!

I believe…

Merry Christmas it is Christmas day to those of you who celebrate it…Blessings to you and your family too.

I am in Florida and not with my family today. They are up north freezing away.But they are in my heart each and every day. I believe in CHRISTmas,Santa and all the beauty of this season. I am imagining I am at my beautiful Polish church attending mass in Polish and singing all my fav Christmas hymns and songs.I see myself at the table eating Polish food from my mom’s heart.I am imagining I am with my twin and my parents who are no longer with me on earth. I am pretending even just for a few minutes I am with my sisters and laughing all the way. If you are able to be with your family…This Christmas and year, hug them a little tighter. Shower them with sweeter kisses.
As Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz would say.There’s no place like HOME.

Wesolych Swiat …My Polish Christmas

Christmas has come and gone but my memories of Christmas days gone linger on and are beautiful ones. We were a family of humble means but oh we were oh so rich~

The recipe of ME: My mom was American but of  Polish ancestors. My dad an American but of Chinese descent and the luck of the Irish. Although no one ever believes I am anything but Asian or Hawaiin. Growing up my Polish roots were very strong and so was our Catholic religion. My mother taught me Polish and till the day she died even wrote letters and cards to me in Polish. I rememeber and so love the the magic of the Polish holidays and the tastes of the delicious Polish food.Pierogi,kielbasi and cabbage rolls…comforting and old- fashioned, old European country  food …at it’s best!

I so loved the pastries fo prune and cheese with light golden brown crust. The poppyseed cake and the fresh baked Polish rye bread.

My visits to church were laden in music and gold. My Polish church was like a castle and magnificent to me. I CAN STILL HEAR the Polish Christmas carols we sang in my head right now. I can still sing the songs and in Polish too.

My BABCI (grandma in Polish) took care of us as my dad died when I was just a child…and my mom had to raise all of us herself and work full time too. She too taught me that religion and family were very important.

I miss my mom with the beautiful blue eyes, my babci, my dad and my beautfiul huge church.

I am thinking of all the Polish masses I sat through, sang throungh and prayed at.I miss lighting all those glorious candles with my twin and praying out loud. Oh and I above all miss my twin, although he was born with Down Syndrome he actually knew both English and the Polish language.

We were one exotic Polish family.

I invite you to feed your curiousity,mouth and soul. Go out and enjoy some other countries churches amazing food and customs. I am thrilledddddddd to be Polish from the waist down and Chinese from the waist up. I love being this combination platter right off the Chinese Take Out Menu~

Wesolych Swiat…Merry Christmas! I hope your Christmas or Chanukah is and was bright, delicious and just right.

 I’d love to hear about your delicious Christmas and what made your day wonderful.

Let us never forget the reason for the season.