THE AMUSED LIFE BLOG

Before you say anything. I read tarot, but when I want clarity at times I like to go to another reader to get my mind out of the reading/interpreting work and just let it flow through someone who's not me. It's like counselors seeing other counselors...it's something you SHOULD do. I have to share that I just had what will be my annual reading/guidance session with Ash Mac and I'm going to be going for my check up in 6 months; and I'm honestly honored to spend this time with her. Last year, she met with me right after my car accident and pretty much laid out the landscape ahead with a lot of clarity and I told her that everything fell into place, not like I expected but it was the right thing and what I needed to have happen. [1] If you haven't had a reading from Ash, please consider it. Honestly it's like meeting with someone who genuinely wants the best for you but lays down those cards and gives it to you straight. She's a very cued in and atuned spir...

Today I started one of my few artistic/pop-culture challenges for myself of the new year. I'm calling it the Best Picture A-Z Challenge: watch an Academy Award Best Picture Winner for each letter of the alphabet plus a numerical entry. Oh and add in one catch...it has to be a film that I have NOT yet seen. So I build my list and then if there's more than one choice I offer up a vote to suggest which one to watch.  This first challenge is the letter A and so here were my choices: AND after the votes were in, my "A" challenge became to watch: 1960 ‧ Romance/Comedy ‧ 2h 5m Insurance worker C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon) lends his Upper West Side apartment to company bosses to use for extramarital affairs. When his manager Mr. Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray) begins using Baxter's apartment in exchange for promoting him, Baxter is disappointed to learn that Sheldrake's mistress i s Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine), the elevator girl at work whom Baxter is interested in himsel...

If this 2020 taught me anything, it's that what happens in my four walls are 1001% my responsibility. I've allowed overworking and over-engaging in distractions to keep me from participating in some small way from bringing the holidays into my home. I mean we do the traditional food basics on the high-holy-holidays of Thanksgiving and such; but no decoration. No specific traditions. Something that I realize now was a gift my mother gave me as a child. What I mean by that is, the creation of household traditions and decorating for a holiday gave this growing girl a sense of wonder. Holidays were extra special because the person I loved so much made them special. The traditions were steeped in family and home. The sense of love was so real and now reflecting on everything I and others have survived in this year, it's time for me to forge some beloved traditions of my own.  I think I didn't do this sooner because I've been silently grieving the reality that having a ch...

aka Carbs Glorious Carbs A week or so ago I was up early for work or perhaps it was my day off...either way I stumbled upon Good Morning America which I rarely if ever watch. Just not a morning show person, hell I'm not a morning person. However this show featured some pretty awesome STEALS AND DEALS (apparently they do this often); and there was one deal that I could not resist.  Having moved to the South in 2001, I frequently miss some of the flavors and sensibilities of my northern upbringing. Growing up in Pennsylvania just 75 minutes outside of New York City gave you such a perspective on food and flavors and thankfully Mom and Pop culinary delights often found everywhere you go up there. I also grew up with a fondness for BREAD. You know, crusty on the outside soft on the inside goodness? You know, slather it with butter goodness? B-R-E-A-D. The thing that as we age we're not supposed to eat because it turns us doughy. Oh well, when they aired this deal I was in...hook, ...

The Thursday Tunes playlist is dedicated to everyone who's doing everything they can these days to stay hopeful and positive and happy. This is for you...click the ALBUM COVER to go to the playlist! Enjoy.

I am excited to announce the November Collection and Holiday Preview which will be released on 10/31/20 to family and friend pricing for only 7 days after which regular pricing will go into effect and the items will be added to my Esty Store. To get in on family and friends pricing you have to be a member of my Facebook Group (Shopping with Anna) , a fan of my Facebook Page (Anna: The Black Pants Girl) or friends with my personal profile on Facebook or on Instagram.  I've attached the beads and gemstones I'm using in this collection which are blend of my favorite colors including black and white, silvertone, blue, green and red. It's a taste of what's to come for my holiday collection which I will release on 11/28/20 for small business Saturday. So look forward to a collection of 7 bracelets, 3 earrings and 2 pendants. In the meantime today features a collection of items that are only $5.00 that I'm working to clear out of my inventory. Check them out at the above ...

First thing, I'm a huge fan of the cosmos...the great beyond outside of our small bubble. Space, that final frontier as the Trek-fans so lovely call it. I love stars and as a child always told my Mom that when I grew up, I was going to have a dining room that was a planetarium complete with nothing but astroturf because EVERY night, if I wanted to have a picnic under the stars if I so desired. Ah the beauty and imagination of youth. <3 Well today I stumbled upon a friend's sharing of the following link: https://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/what-did-hubble-see-on-your-birthday NASA's incredible Hubble Telescope is still taking gorgeous shots of our incredible expansive space far outside of our own universe. I jumped at the chance to see whatever Hubble captured on one of my birthdates and was blessed with this image: The description is as follows... On April 14 in 2006 Galaxy ESO 99-4 ESO 99-4 is a galaxy with a highly peculiar shape. It is probably the remnant of a merge...