**THROWBACK POST**
February 26 2013:
Little ole birthday message from me … I’m on the right track y’all, I was born this way!! I had just buried it under a whole bunch of mental clutter! Oops! đ I choose to BE! My birthday wish is that each and every one of you align with what you feel your purpose is and to live a happY and meaningful life. What does that inner voice urge you to do? That thing that you haven’t done yet … Do it! Love and HUGS Y’all!
February 1 2017:
Great news this afternoon!! The Nevada Museum of Art will soon be selling Biggest Little Photographer too! YAY!! For some reason, I have an image of Snoopy dancing around in my mind … HA!
February 3 2017:
What a great day for a trip to the post office. Two “D iz for Different” books – One to Idaho and one to Washington. Plus, one Biggest Little Photographer to New Orleans …. just in time for Mardi Gras!
“The eye cannot
Conceive the miracle
It beholds.
The beauty surpasses
The knowing of
The senses.
The heart knows.
Hallaleua!
The heart knows.
The heart remembers
How to fly
Into the mystic.
Delivering remembrance
To every cell
Returning us to
and revealing the oneness
Of all.” -2016 Camilla Downs – Author, Lessons from Nature
**THROWBACK POST**
February 7 2015:
She is one of my greatest teachers …. one of the hardest roles and biggest learning opportunities I have in this life is decision making regarding this wonderful young lady. xoxo
**THROWBACK POST**
February 7 2013:
What fun this was!! Thank you Susan Hill and Annie!! WoooHoooo!!
February 14 2016:
Art from the Heart – Thomas and Lillian joined me yesterday. Having such a good time painting and just playing around with brushes and mixing colors.
I had been waiting until I had the right materials and the money to pay for a class. No more. This is FUN! Using the brushes we have, acrylic paint we have, and using thick recycled cardboard from food packages, boxes and rocks for the canvas. Just love, love, love.
***************************
Yum! Fresh coconut and raw honey. Plus, we had it dipped in melted dark chocolate last night during our movie! Yum, yum, yum!!!
*****************
I just finished reading Camillaâs book, “D Iz For Different”. Â What a truly inspiring story! I loved every bit of it. The quote below seems to capture the essence of the journey from A-Z through the various chapters: each one of us is a âtreasuryâ of many gifts. It is easy to forget this when our lives donât seem to match the ever-elusive standard.
Yet, in each chapter, Camilla gives a reason and discusses a strategy for treasuring life in whatever form it might present itself in the moment, sharing her own experiences, particularly as a mother. This ranges from allowing ourselves to feel what we feel, to be present in the moment, and to not postpone happiness.
Life is not always easy, but brings many opportunities for laughter, light-heartedness, and celebration if we recognize that we have a choice in how we see and experience each moment, and the people we share it with. An absolutely beautiful book!!! -Michaela, Reno, Nevada
***********************
February 14 2015:
Love shines brightly. It is always there, no matter if it can be felt or seen. It’s what we all are at our core. Happy day of LOVE! Picture from Autumn 2014 in Sparks, NV … “Love wishes to be known, completely understood and shared.
It has no secrets; nothing that it would keep apart and hide. It walks in sunlight, open-eyed and calm, in smiling welcome and in sincerity so simple and so obvious it cannot be misunderstood.” -from “Lessons in Love”
********************************
The actual day is not til the 26th but The Romano Duo will be out of town. So we had an early birthday celebration. YAY and YUM!!
**************************************
Team TLC movie night … Our 1st choice, Stuart Little 3, was too damaged. In about 20 minutes it had skipped over 50 minutes of the movie. So … since it feels like Spring …..
________________________________
February 14 2014:
Here’s to Love and spreadin the Love … ALWAYS …. Cheers from Team TLC …. Apple juice/water for Thomas and Lillian and Ruby Red Chai tea for Mamma!! YUM!
*******************************
Okay, Okay. Got it! I’ve made the decision, now I’m gonna make it the right decision. Finally got to see the inside of the place we were going to move into tomorrow. Something just didn’t feel right. I spent all day yesterday trying to make the uneasy feeling go away.
Woke up this morning and decided that the feeling is there for a reason, so we will not be moving just yet. Thanks to an amazing and awesome friend I reached out to in my spiral of confusion yesterday, I’m moving forward with letting “stuff” go that does not serve me and is NOT the real me!! Thank you tons and tons B!
Now, Thomas is taking Lillian and I out to lunch with a gift he received from another amazing friend! Thank you Catherine Via Burzio!!! He’s taking us out for burger and fries at Inn n Out Burger! Happy LOVE day y’all! Show love every day, not just on this “designated” day … xoxo
***********************
Thank you Thomas for treating Lillian and I to a burger and fries!! And thank you to my friend Catherine for giving him the means to do this! So awesome that you included a special card just for him in the Team TLC care package! Love is in the air …… Every day!
********************************
Way cool LEGO BBQ grill Thomas made. Check out the awesome light brick creating a very realistic look!
WOW! A sky full of love …..
************************************
Team TLC is blessed by The Romano Duo! Thank you tons for the yummy lobster and champagne dinner tonight! All dinners with The Romano Duo are special. Spread love everywhere you go, every day …. Yum ….. for the food and love!
_________________________
February 14 2013:
Happy Love Day Y’all!
Stoppin for a little park adventure!!
**************
February 14 2012:
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” -Steve Jobs
Happy Valentine’s Day Friends . . . Remember that you are AWESOME, you make a difference and NEVER let bumps in the road cause you to turn around . . .
Thomas’ homework today: Count to 100. I say to him, “Count to 100 when you finish what you are doing.” He says, “I already did, in my imagination.” That’s so good I think I’m gonna let that one slide!! Hahahaha!
*************************
Adventure with my little sweetheart!!!!
Valentine’s dinner with Thomas …. Guinness in a champagne glass? Even better!!!
**THROWBACK POST**
February 5 2012:
A post Lillian wrote almost a year ago just came across my radar. It’s special to me, maybe it’ll warm your heart too . . .
**THROWBACK POST**
February 3 2016:
Thanks so much Michelle Colon-Johnson for having me as part of your wonderful blog!! xoxoxo “Check out our latest Guest Blog Post by author Camilla Downs. Camilla shares her story How Purging the Garage Led to Writing her book “D iz for Different”. It is a great article you won’t want to miss!”
How Purging the Garage Led to Writing a Book: Author Camilla Downs
January 22 2017:
Making a thick and creamy soup today. As I sliced the ingredients, the beauty and swirls of this ingredient caught my eye. Incredibly magical on the inside.
It was the perfect day for potato leek soup topped with scallions. Thick, creamy, and oh my goodness …. incredibly delicious!! xoxo
It was in the latest Chopra Center email newsletter (just pasting straight from there).
I always tweak recipes so I did not add the rosemary, oregano, and parsley. Yet, I added ground ginger. I LOVE the kick ginger gives to dishes.
Potato Leek
There is only one word to describe this soupâcomfort. Itâs thick, creamy, and bursting with flavor. Leeks are often underutilized in the kitchen, but theyâre a phenomenal source of vitamins and antioxidants, not to mention quite delicious.
Ingredients:
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 4 leeks, sliced
* 3 garlic cloves, chopped
* 4 russet potatoes, cubed
* 4 cups vegetable broth
* 1 (14-ounce) can white beans
* 1 teaspoon rosemary
* 1 teaspoon oregano
* 1 teaspoon parsley
* Sea salt and pepper, to taste
Directions:
Sauté leaks in oil over medium-high heat for about five minutes, until softened.
Add garlic and potatoes and sauté two more minutes.
Add broth, beans, and spices.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 15 minutes.
Remove from heat and puree mixture in a blender. If soup is too thick, add water until desired consistency is reached.
Add salt and pepper, to taste.
*****************************
The warm and creamy potato leek soup called for a refreshing and satisfying side salad.
Cucumber and arugula! English cucumber, arugula, pickles, scallions, kalamata olives, topped with warm beets and fig balsamic dressing.
Plus a side of baked potato medallions. The entire meal was food bliss. xoxo
January 26 2017:
Carrot Ginger Soup tonight …. creamy, flavorful and incredibly pleasing. So yummy!
January 27 2017:
Oh ginger, how I love thee!!! Yummy!!
January 28 2017:
Best chili yet! A spicy veggie chili with red peppers, mushrooms, and jalapeño. I am in food bliss!
So good I had it for breakfast this morning with a cup of yummy coffee. Both brought out the flavors of each even more. So incredibly satisfying.
Top 10 Countdown Continues! The Number NINE 2016 CamillaDowns.com blog post with the most views (Three blog posts tied for this space. Here’s one.): “The Tao of Letting Go” ……. xoxoxoxoxo …….
Just read this again for the first time since it was written last February. I’m inspired! Thanks for writing this post Camilla! HA!
from the post …. “Recently, I let go of âThe Deskâ (the new term weâve coined for my desk thatâs been in storage limbo since June 2015). The Desk was handmade for me some time around 1999. I spent countless hours at that desk. The Desk witnessed many moves, life happenings, and events.
I had a strong knowing that I was to let it go. Not only that, but I knew the exact person who was to receive The Desk. I related this to the … ”