It is not what you are flapping about but what is coming from your heart that truly matters

SUMMER TIME COCKTAILS

Nothing says summer like sipping an ice cold, fruity cocktail out by the pool (or, fine, on the unfinished cement rooftop of your apartment building), a sensation DavidsTea seems to know intuitively, having launched cocktail teas that coincide with the start of summer.  (Photo:  David's Tea)  For more information, visit www.davidstea.com

A super-simple tea cocktail recipe:

1. Brew up a glass or pitcher of your tea of choice and let come to room temperature or refrigerate.

2. When cool, pour it into pretty glass with ice until its 3/4 full, and add a small shot of your spirit of choice, such as vodka, tequila, or rum.

3. Add fresh fruit and herbs like mint or basil (if your fridge complies and you feel like getting decorative), and stir.

3. And voila, you have a cocktail that’s likely healthier (not to mention fancier) than your average sugar-packed mojito.

We tried the raspberry mojito mixed with rum, raspberries, and muddled mint, and it was refreshing, fruity, and flavorful, without being at all saccharine.

So you can enjoy it on a hot night—and tell your guests that while it might give you a buzz, it’s not coming from the sugar. —Amy Marturana WellnGood 

6 TRENDS DRIVING NEW-HOME DESIGNS

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR(R) Magazine

What is luring home buyers to new homes? Technology, the outdoors, and “super kitchens” are among what Nick Lehnert, executive director at KTGY, and Mollie Carmichael, principal at John Burns Real Estate Consulting, recently shared with BUILDER Online on some of the design drivers in the new-home market.

Here are some of the trends they point to:

1. Super kitchens: The kitchen is not just a hub for cooking but has become a center of the home for entertainment and conversations. Builders have been opening the kitchen to other rooms and the kitchen island is becoming key to separating the spaces. The island adds more seating along with extra prep space. As kitchens become more open, pantries are getting bigger to accommodate the need for storage.

2. Outdoor/indoors merged: The interiors are feeling stretched by carving out spaces that seamlessly allow home owners to walk into outdoor retreats. But buyers want those outdoor spaces to be private, a stray from the once traditionally “public” backyard. As such, more builders are taking note and carefully positioning the architecture of the home to make sure the outdoor space offers more privacy.

3. Bigger garage spaces: Builders are taking note of buyers’ preferences for more space in the garage, and not just for squeezing in their cars. The garage can be a workspace, hobby haven, and place for added extra storage.

4. Office space: The office/den is in demand as more people work from home, but the best location for it is to still in question. Traditionally, the home office has been located off the main entry of the home. But now builders are rethinking the location as buyers show preferences to have the office closer to the “living” area, particularly near the kitchen hub and family room.

5. Tech-spot: More home owners are constantly plugged into their technology, and the growth of connected homes likely will lead to even more need for tech hubs in the house. Some builders are designing small “server” rooms as smart technology enters more homes.

6. Dual homes: More people are squeezing under one roof as young adults stay with their parents longer, aging parents move in, and cultural preferences further the trend. Builders are taking a keen interest in multigenerational living arrangements. For example, Lennar has launched a NextGen brand of floorplans geared to multigenerational living, which include separate main entrances and options like a 500-square-foot attached suite for a private residence. 

FOR COMPLETE ARTICLE CLICK HERE

BLUE OCEAN MINERALS

There really is no one size fits all for every human in terms of supplementation.  But there is one fact, the human needs water and minerals from an outside source.  There are hundreds of supplement mineral sources available. Unfortunately, due to the depleted soil, gone are the days the human can get the FULL spectrum of minerals from our food.

The human's body and blood chemistry matches the ocean chemistry.  We have the same mineral and trace element matrix that sustains life in the ocean.  A superior choice of mineral supplementation are the Blue Ocean Minerals.  These minerals contain all the minerals and trace elements known and UNKNOWN that create and sustain life in the Great Barrier Reef, one of our planets great wonders.

The majesty in nature is far superior to what our current human mind can declare as 100% truth.  What we think we find in the laboratory curating a mineral supplement as complete "full spectrum minerals" could be lacking in the "unknown" elements that exists in nature.

As with all things, we must be our own teacher and decision maker.  I encourage you to try these minerals and see how your physiology, mental and emotional health respond.  

Begin with a half or one teaspoon in about 5-6 ounces of water and gradually work up to 2 tsp. a day.  The minerals will quickly alkalize your physiology and relieve your nerves.  If you experience detox, simply cut back a little and work your way up.  Dosage is individual so it is up to you to discern.  

For more details, search Blue Ocean Minerals on You Tube to see President Malcolm McDonald support your questions.

To order look under the product section of Spirit Repair

In beautiful health!  Susie Sondag

4th QUARTER MANHATTAN SALES REPORT

The Manhattan sales market for the final quarter of 2013 saw a number of records set for sales, inventory and prices. What was thought to be a moderately active year turned out to be one of the busiest in years. Pent-up demand, record setting rents and concerns about rising mortgage rates pulled many buyers into the market. Although challenges remain, the New York City economy continues to improve and we anticipate further housing market gains in early 2014.  I am here to answer any questions and certainly would be honored to assist you in finding your new home.  

Susan.Sondag@Elliman.com

1995 Broadway

New York, NY 10023

Manhattan & Brooklyn August Rental Report

2nd Quarter Manhattan Real Estate Action

A Talented Designer, Ron Marvin

Ron Marvin Design, New York City

Traditional Home magazine recently named Ron one of their Top 20 New Traditionals, showcasing him in the launch of their new online magazine Trad Home. Ron’s work has also been featured in Lonny Magazine, as a part of the premiere issue. A makeover project was published in The New York Times. His New York home has been shown in Metropolitan Home magazine, and on the HGTV show “Small Space Big Style”. After being featured on the show, Ron was asked to join the show as an on-air expert.

 - Ron Marvin is not just a talented man, but a sincere breath of fresh air.  Ron is a long time college freind of my sister's and a fellow Iowan. If you are born and raised in Iowa, a blueprint is embedded within you of grounded integrity and gentleness that even New York City cannot dilute.  I can't seem to get to a high enough mountain top to sing prasies for not only Ron's talent, but for the contagious happy spirit that is Ron Marvin.  He is animnated, overflows with creative vision and energy, and truly LOVES his work. 

Ron Marvin Design
119 West 23rd Street
Suite 409
New York, NY 10011
info@RonMarvin.com

I Wish You Enough

A mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport as the daughter's departure had been announced. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said:

"I love you and I wish you enough."

The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom." They kissed and the daughter left.

The mother walked over to the window where I sat. Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry.

I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?" "Yes, I have," I replied. "Forgive me for asking but why is this a forever good-bye?"

"I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is the next trip back will be for my funeral," she said.

When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, "I wish you enough." May I ask what that means?"

She began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail and she smiled even more.

"When we said 'I wish you enough' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them". Then turning toward me, she shared the following, reciting it from memory,

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye."

-Author unknown

The Plaza Hotels Iconic "Astor Suite" on 5th Avenue New York City

New York's Top Real Estate Company

MEET JOHN DOUGLAS, SYDNEY AUSTRALIA

NATURES MAGIC, THE BLUE OCEAN MINERALS

BLUE OCEAN MINERALS are an incredible gift of nature. Here we have comments from John Douglas of Spirit Repair, LLC on the minerals from his observation of the minerals in the body and the unbelievable results of the magic that occurs when one consumes just one teaspoon every day.  There is no one size fits all in supplementation as each persons physiology is unique.  However, one fact is the body requires full spectrum minerals and when given in the correct synergistic balance according to nature, the minerals are 100% biologically available or absorbed by the body.  There is no comparison to synthetic supplements.  Following are John's comments.

"Blue Ocean minerals contain known and unknown elements of nature. Minerals which all play a part in our body's processes and all play a part in the regeneration and nourishment of our cells. There are known minerals in Blue Ocean minerals but there are many unknown compounds which I have identified which have many, many amazing properties and work in different areas of the body. 

Blue Ocean minerals rejuvenate and regenerate the body giving you a zing in your step.  Why? Because with the state of the earth, the soil, and even organic farming we are often not ingesting enough of the micro nutrients our body needs to be healthy and strong. Various types of malfunctions and illnesses in the body accompanying a mineral deficiency, or mineral malfunction Blue Ocean minerals are one of the most powerful compounds giving us known and unknown gifts of nature. 

Blue Ocean minerals are derived from the pristine underground wonderland of the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, the largest tropical reef in the world.  The Great Barrier Reef is teeming with life, and life energy and lots of nutrients and magical things. Blue Ocean Minerals  are extracted from the waters of the Great Barrier Reef and will regenerate the cells and help rebuild the body effectively and quickly.

Blue Ocean minerals are a definite gift of nature.  Many people are not able to absorb water because of a lack of necessary minerals which are necessary to control the chemical reaction to metabolize water into the cells to hydrate, the result is dehydration.    One spoon  of Blue Ocean Minerals in a little bit of water corrects this malfunction immediately. It's unbelievable.   All of the cells in everyone who takes Blue Ocean Minerals come alive and start to respirate to push poisons out because they are coming to life with complete synergistic mineralization in perfect balance as crafted by Nature."

For more information or to purchase the minerals, www.Spirit-Repair.com under products, or www.BlueOceanMinerals.com

BLESSED ARE THE CRACKED

THE ALCHEMY OF CHANGE

can you feel it?

it's time we change this planet for good

and it starts with one

that is you

now is your time to create your own alchemy within the entire recipe of you

begin your own magical process of transforming your operation 
from ordinary to extra-ordinary

become x-cellent, a highly functioning organism

how to begin?

through the magical power, the process, the alchemy of becoming self aware

how well do you know your self?

when you know every part of yourself you have the power in
your structures to discern the best path for you 

can you cease the need to look for answers, direction and validation from others?

this is power

power to feel

power to listen

power to discern

the power to know....is this right for me?  
should I take this chance?  do I need to take this?  

holding this power, this frequency is strong

it sets you at ease and others can sense it

you are magnetic, glowing, attractive, beautiful

becoming self aware is required for change 

it involves tuning in and becoming aware of every part of you.

how do you fuel your body?  

how do you listen to your inner guidance?  

do you attend to the clean up of your inner biology and cleanse?  

do you move your body?  

are you aware and discerning of your emotions or are you a puppet to reaction?  

what are your dependencies?

can you let go?

can you be open?

can you try something new?

can you trust?

find a practice to refine your self awareness

it is body building for your senses

crack your code

empower yourself
for blessed are the cracked

they will change the world!

-Susie

ALCHEMY: 

concerned principally with discovering methods for transmuting 

or finding a universal solvent and an elixir of life.

Any magical power or process of transmuting a common substance, 

into a substance of great value.

LAUNCH YOUR CHANGE

TIME FOR A CHANGE

With the turn of another calendar year, once again its time to take stock 

in what is running you and your life

where are your actions and intentions taking you

what are your patterns

where are you stuck

what do you want to keep

what is ready for an upgrade

where are you in your self awareness

 how discerning are you of your intentions, actions and relationships 

that are guiding you along a certain path

are they the best for you

how sharp is your ability to sense the options nature is showing you 

for your highest life path

do you seek your answers in others

how aware are you

how still can you be to hear the intelligence in every particle of nature around you that is guiding your every action and decision

are you living your life to what is expected or deemed normal to those around you

 are you choosing according to your desires and passions which is your happiness

how well do you know yourself?

do you know nature

do you have a sense of the divine in your daily life, or do you take it for granted

are you tethered to your soul

do you know what your spirit is

are you open to all possibilities in nature, or do you need to read it in a book

are you stubborn

do you conform

do you need to be told

can you feel

can you sense

are you open to the un-imaginable and the magical 

or do you need it to be scientifically proven in order to be true

how open are you

how flexible are you

how willing are you

how free are you

do you move your body

do you look after the cause of your discomforts or do you treat the symptoms

are you productive

are you creative

are you flourishing in your life work or is it time for a change

does your nutrition regime consist of whole, pure and colorful foods full of vitality and life which serves as the paint brush creating a natural beauty and glow

or do you consume a vast amount of packaged, processed and preservative packed food 

what you eat becomes your physiology, the art work on your face

are you bright as the sun or stiff as a board

are you clear and healthy or clogged and inflammed

do you spend time in contemplation of yourself

do you make time for love, giving and compassion

do you take time to be still, quiet and alone

do you smile

do you laugh

do you cry

do you love

do you give thanks

do you share

do you give

do you serve

do you try

how well do you know yourself

choose to make this year your special year to release yourself from all you think you need to be.  have the intention and take the steps to invest in your senses of self awareness and discernment.  try something new each day.  make efforts to upgrade your nutrition, start a new workout regime, make time for love, make time for contemplation, look for answers in yourself, take a risk, try something new.

be open

be free

launch a change

amen

WHAT DO YOU LEAVE IN YOUR WAKE?

what trail to you leave through your journey?  

what do you leave people with every day, every minute, 

what do you leave people with?  

what do you leave in your wake?  

do you leave people better then they were? 

do you leave a battle with nature?  

if someone is not conforming to your plans, or requirements, 

or needs, do you fight the natural flow of nature in someone else?

do you reject nature when it is convient to you?  

how do you deal with oneness in your daily life? 

do you reject nature when someone didn’t turn up on time?  

do you reject nature when someone let you down on something?  

does it work out later on and you think, what was i worried about?  

what was i upset about, its worked out.  

do you have the realization to know,  

to sense the order of nature in your life?  

are you manifesting the correct things?  

are you vibrating in the right way to make your path most effective?

what do you leave in your wake?

-Master John Douglas

www.spirit-repair.com

"No man ever manages a legitimate business in this life 

without doing directly far more for other men 

than he is trying to do for himself." 

- Henry Ward Beecher

Intuitive Impulses?

I am not sure I know what you mean by "intuitive impulses" or hearing guidance can you expand?  Sure.  So from a personal recollection if I think back some years and I would hear someone suggest I "listen" for guidance or follow your intuition etc etc.  The idea of that would sparkle and flicker in me, but I was not sure how to access that guidance or reach it.  Would I hear a voice or something like the biblical television production of the 10 commandments that we would watch without fail every Easter in my Catholic household.  I can remember seeing Noah or Moses all of the sudden get  LOAD voice from the heavens calling their name :)  Is this what would happen for me when I would hear the guidance....although in a soft "Susie" and not a shrilling scream...though the louder the better to get my attention.  

Anyway, moving on here, over time from my own personal growth efforts and most importantly actually and truly learning about the faculties that each human has of "clairvoyance" and after finding that awareness from John Douglas of Australia www.spirit-repair.com and using his lessons and tools to more or less, "power up" or super charge those faculties or what John refers to as "pilates of the spirit", I am growing these structures and becoming almost like a powerful radio tuner.  I can "feel" the guidance I need to get to make the next choice in my life.  I personally don't "hear" voices but rather all of the sudden see a picture in my mind of me doing something, like a daydream, and I recognize that as guidance by how it "feels" in my heart.  Typically it is like, "Oh yeah, of course, that is what I should do" or thoughts come through that stop and make a certain kind of impression on me that I know that was not just a "susie thought", but rather one coming in from "the frequencies of nature" or the "unbounded intelligence in nature" that is ultimately God no matter which way you slice it, dice it, label it, paint it...period end it is God.

That is what I refer to as an "Intuitive Impulse"  pretty cool.  How, when or where does this come.  Well, firstly it is without me trying, seeking, asking or looking.  I use John's CD. Psychological Repair to state or ask a question I am seeking guidance for in my life.  On the CD there is a point that you are prompted to "ask" and I do.  Then I let it go and in faith I know I will get a daydream image, or someone will come and ask me or tell me something and my heart will flutter so I know that is the answer I was requesting.  John's CDs are from my truth, the pinnacle of spiritual technology we have on the planet today to access the highest frequencies of nature to attend to the consciously growing human.  Check them out at www.spirit-repair.com or please email me and I can give you the skinny on them.  I have known John for almost 5 years and work with him and have seen so many things happen for others around the globe, I cannot help but trust nature and the process that is going on before my eyes, and directly with me.

I had to share this today as every morning I walk and hike through the trails here in Central Park in New York City with my pals Lilly and Bella.  It is when I am romping through nature by myself, repeating silently in my head a three word mantra John gave to me, I am almost like, if you can imagine whiskers or wings out from my body receiving, and feeling the same air that the trees are breathing and the oxygen they are feeding me.  I look up into the sky and feel the hot sun on my face, smell the dirt, hear the birds or the water from the water fall...then even better I will just look up and take in the entire majesty of a tree in front of me and take a deep breath.  Now, do you remember Star Trek and how when they said, "beam me up scotty" they would disintegrate into a million pieces and disappear?  Well this is what I imagine me doing....totally blending all of my perceived particles of my human body into the air with the trees...it is so darn cool....i encourage you to try it.  However, best to do by yourself or with your pet as sometimes it is hard to dismantle your mind if you have a human companion with you.

So back to my walk, while pumping up the steep hill, mind totally blank thinking of nothing I got an image of me wearing a t shirt with my soon to be released new website name, "Urban Opulence".  Thought not a thing of it, but OK...cool idea i guess that let it go.  Next Someone introduced themself to me at the water fountain at the park on the east side which is a big meeting place for everyone and the water is cold and comes out FAST in this heat.  My heart was so joyful she stopped and engaged in conversation as usually I am the one to do that :)  New to New York, she was curious who the "new chic" was in the park everyday as you do see familiar faces and greet each other with a smile.  So I am sure she will reach out at some point, bright woman she was, but the moral is that "image" I just got 20 minutes before romping through the north woods in the park came back and this time I connected the dots.  

Thank you God, Master Angels, Nature....so I should make a few t shirts with Urban Opulence on it to have people see in the park and perhaps go goggle when they get home.  The site will just be a tool for our planet to build community on consciously minded things so we can all work smart and not hard and share the things we find on our path to open a few windows to accelerated growth.  The site will not be one of a constricted mind locked in structure of "this is how it is" no, but "hey try this" knowing the path is different for everyone and it is our duty to discern, stay innocent, be flexible, question, be aware, senseful and do our best to become self aware and open to become to healthiest, evolved and powerful human we can become know we are more then just what we see in the mirror, but rather a full hologram of inconceivable layers of energetic pathways and faculties that all harmonize together that when we open our mouth, the symphony of it all is in the sound of our voice.  That was a mouthful I know.....but just take it in.

OK, finally before I diffuse my writing today, I picked up a book that lured me off the street the other day as an answer to a question that was given to me by a friend....another fun story for another day that is a direct result of an answer received, but the book is called, "Have You Been to Delphi" which is in Greece.  I frankly knew not a thing about Delphi but my girlfriend asked me how the idea of it "felt" to me because she was about to board a plane for Greece and was discerning her routes of travel.  So a few hours later, this book lures me to it and so there was her answer, perhaps?  The book is about Delphi an old ancient city in Greece that was a rather prophetic place where oracles were given to women called the "Pythia" they say one was "Unfolded into the light (or wisdom from God) by a woman.  Just before I started writing this to you regarding "intuitive impulses" , I looked at the book and opened it up to this,

 "When the prophetic faculty (or person, specifically the higher faculties of a person) is in the proper state to attune itself to the spirit, enthousiasmos (enthusiasm) is bound to come.  But when conditions are unfavorable, it is bound not to come."

So to discern that a couple things.  One.  If you yearn for receiving guidance for your path from nature, to know, to feel the clear telephone line, I suggest you do what you need to do to settle yourself down and clear your mind.  If that means go move, sit down and close your eyes, or even better get out in nature....it is just easier to dismount from your life to hear a different song, see or feel images etc etc.  Do all of this without your design that, OK I am going on a walk and am going to get an answer for this.  Sorry, it does not work that way.  Just put yourself in line with nature on a frequent basis and allow things to come.

Now if you would like to understand and begin to plow open and power up these pathways that you have that may be dormant (or like a wet noodle of a muscle), I would go to John's website at www.spirit-repair.com.  Go to the NEWS page and listen into a few of his audios about the nature of what he has to share with you about your nature.  You certainly can connect to me and I will get you rolling on some pretty knock down powerful tools and insights that are like the apple of spiritual technology for our time.

***When I write, I do not go back and re read, pay attention to grammer or run on sentences....not my style here so if your are bothered by that, innocently try to look past in and feel your way through it!  Warmly with a smile to your today, Susie