Merry Christmas to all!!!

I am in a particularly generous mood this Christmas season!  You may be thinking, well she must be doing well for herself.   No, I am not any better off financially than I have been in years past. What is different this year, is that my perspective on what I have has been altered. I SEE now how blessed I am and how fortunate I am and I know that I would not be without the huge support of my family, my friends, my facebook, my business associates, and my customers.  By support, I mean fellowship, friendship, cameraderie, love, etc. The feeling of being appreciated, whether it is for my work, my ability to make a good grilled cheese and have the right clothes cleaned on time, or just the fact that I take the time to listen when a friend calls, is SOO valuable to me.  I have come to realize that I have so much more to GIVE than before.  No, I am not talking about the bags of old toys and clothes that need to go to goodwill, or the pennies and nickels in a jar that I plan on putting in the Salvation Army kettle, or the bags of nerf guns and barbie dolls I just bought to give the kids, I MEAN REAL GIVING.... Like a smile to the person who thinks they are completely invisible, or a hug to your neighbor who lives alone, or helping someone to their car with their groceries because you are on your way anyway and they look like they could use a hand, like telling a total stranger how much you admire their hairstyle because you do, or like giving a hot lunch to a beggar on the corner. The smallest gestures make the biggest gifts.  I know this because I have been the recipient of more small acts of kindness in my life this year that made the biggest difference and I knew I could not pay them back.  What I could do is to pay them forward.  I used to think I did not have enough money to make a difference,  I was just little old me, how could I make someone's day or do something special for someone when i could barely buy groceries for my family.  I now know that I am not little, and I have SOOOO much to give.  Every day is full of opportunities to change the world and I miss them all the time, but now I look for them.  I hope this season, regardless of your material worth, that you will open your eyes to the opportunities to change a life or at least an attitude that await you each and everyday!  May you GIVE of yourself this Christmas season and see how blessed you are!  I wish you all MANY MANY BLESSINGS this HOLIDAY and in the year to come!  Remember, Christmas is not just about the presents, but PRESENCE... LOVE TO YOU ALL

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Hello Friends,

I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful Spring we are having.  It is wonderful in Kentucky!  We are growing a garden and watching the caterpillars crawl into their cocoons, birds are nesting and feeding their little babies.  It is beautiful to watch the earth come alive again after winter.  I have one gripe though, that I don't think I have talked enough about.  I illustrated a children's book for a wonderful author and songwriter a few years ago. We have not been able to get it published yet, but the basic moral of the story is that the "HERO is within each of us.  I, like most people I know, get saddened and burdened by the news lately.  There are floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, fires, car accidents, corruption, and devastation almost at every turn.  I hear so many people complaining about the government and the president and looking for someone to bail us out.  I just do not understand how well educated and capable people don't see that we need to step up and make the situation with our economy and our future better ourselves.  We each have in us the capability to make a change without a bailout.  If everyone would commit to buying local and putting their money into local businesses and local owned restaurants  and stop buying from large manufacturers and box stores, then it would save our economy.  When we buy our food and our goods from Wal-Mart and Target and those places, even though it is cheaper(short term),  that money goes to other countries and goes to slave labor in many cases and to factories that are contributing to polluting and chemically poisoning our planet.
 Why do we need bottled water?  Water is free.
Why do we buy food that is full of chemicals and wrapped in tiny packages that costs us so much to even process the wastes?
 We have become a selfish and hasty society that only lives for the minute and seems to be barely concerned that we ourselves, NOT our government, are sabotaging our own futures by making poor purchasing decisions EVERY DAY!!!!
1) BUY Fresh Fruit and Vegetables from your farmer's market
2)  Buy goods from locally owned businesses.
3) Eat at locally owned restaurants.
4) Plant a Garden
5) Use Reusable bags when shopping ( EVEN AT THE MALL!)
6) Use Fewer chemical products when cleaning
7) Simplify, Simplify, Simplify!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
8) RENEW
9) REUSE
10)RECYCLE!
It is no longer a TRENDY thing to do, or just a better choice.  IT IS a NECESSITY.

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HELLO ALL,

I would like to thank you for continuing to check in on my blog. THe new news of the day is that EVERYTHING is on sale now!  TOMS SHOES are 50% off, Pangea Organics and World of Good products are 75% off.  Bee Happy Bags for the Planet are 50% off and ROSA LOVES tees are 50% off.  Be the Change Tees are 75% off.  Please contact me at 859.806.5844 if you are interested in any of these products. 

Kids and Adult Art Classes will start up for the next session at the Lexington Art Factory, March 6,
We will be offering a class for Toddlers age 2-5 from 10:00-10:40 for 5 weeks on Saturdays,
We will be offering a class for 7-11 year olds from 12-2:00 for 5 weeks on Saturdays,
And a class for adults from 2:30-4:30 for 5 weeks on Saturdays.

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Merry Christmas to ALL!!!!
Well, I have just finished the last session of Art Classes.  We had a lot of fun, and produced some beautiful artwork.  I will be posting the kids creations on the Art Factory website.  I will be starting the next session January 9th on Saturdays for toddlers, 7-11 year olds, and adults.  If you are interested in registering for any of those classes, please go to www.LexArtFactory.com.

Unfortunately, I will no longer be able to take orders for Christmas. I have met my maximum.  I am already booking orders and in-home installations for January, so if you have something in mind, please call soon to get on the schedule. 
GIFT IDEAS:
I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays! 
If you are looking for some great gift ideas and need a boost, here are some sure to fit someone on your list:
If you are familiar with my site and my store, you may already know how passionate I am about TOMS shoes.  I really hope if you are considering a gift for that college student who is hard to shop for or someone in your life who travels frequently, or your teenager ( who will think you are the coolest), or your parents who LOVE comfort, that you will consider gifting TOMS SHOES this Christmas.  Not only will you give the "hottest gift" to the one you love, but you will also be giving a pair of shoes to a child in need somewhere in the world, who may not even own a pair of shoes. 

 Another great gift idea for kids, grandparents, is my handpainted tree swing.  I have one picture on the site. I have them in store in Midway.  I have a double swing, (so they won't fight over whose turn it is), and a single to choose from.  GREAT GIFT! 

Also if you know someone who is hesitant to switch to reusable bags, Happy Bags for the Planet are your stylish solution to reusing! Give them a HAPPY BAG and they will not be able to resist. Fill it with some of their favorite magazines and a snuggie or a gift card to the grocery!   I LOVE THE HAPPY BAGS!  Many styles to choose from.

 Also, present your Christmas table or gift a gift of a homebaked item in our beautiful "Bamboolicious" bowls and plates made from real bamboo by a family in Vietnam who sells their wares for fair trade through WORLD OF GOOD!  Many sizes and colors to choose from.  They make up a beautiful table used as an entire set for entertaining or can be given individually as gifts with your homebaked items.  Traditionally in Asian cultures, rice is given as a wedding gift to offer the new couple a life of abundance and good health.  These bamboo bowls can be given with a bag of rice and wrapped up with a bow and a little card to wish your friends and family a year of abundance and good health and it makes a beautiful gift.

Also K.Hall scents for the home make great teacher gifts. I have hand soap in MILK and FIG, and room/Sheet Spray in Milk and FIG scents. They smell wonderful and are sure to come in handy in the classroom!

If you would like to know more or would like to see these special ideas in person, you may call 859.806.5844 or you may visit us inside Le Marche' at 104 West Main Street, Midway, KY

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!  Wishing you all a safe, happy, and healthy Holiday Season.

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