Holiday Party Saturday!

Visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads...Come join us this Saturday for our annual holiday party. This time we are pampering YOU! Free mini massages and tarot card readings, complimentary gift wrapping, yummy appetizers and Holiday Glogg, we got it all goin' on!

And, we're starting a little earlier in case you want to swing by on your way to the Encinitas Holiday Parade. Bring the kids and they can play with our new puppy, Enzo, while you get your shoulders worked or your future told!!

Don't forget to RSVP to suz@cocoon-designs.com to be entered in a drawing for a special prize upon arrival! Looking forward to seeing you!

Here's what you need to know:

Saturday, December 3rd
3:30 - 7:30pm
Suzanne Balestri's Home & Studio
985 Windsor Creek Court
Cardiff, CA 92007

Bring some cheer, bring a friend, bring your tired shoulders and be ready to relax and enjoy. Hope to see you there!

Monday Meditation: You Have A Body

During the holiday season, it is easy to become disconnected from our bodies and bodily sensations and be distracted by all of the items on our "To Do" lists that need to be completed as we prepare for time away from work and for holiday travel and family gatherings.

Does this sound familiar? Take a moment and ask yourself if this is happening to you right now. Are you modifying or reducing your workout routine to buy time?

• Time to shop for gifts;
• Time to gear up your inventory or holiday services to accommodate the seasonal push;
• Time to plan a family trip to get away or visit family for the holiday.

I know I am doing all of the above and have definitely sacrificed my exercise routine to do so. I have had a pain in my lower back and my neck that I keep hoping a few spinal twists every three or four days will alleviate. My mind is a complete flurry of, no - not visions of sugar plums,

Talmadge Art Show

I'm really looking forward to this show Sunday - so much talent under one roof! Cocoon will be there as always. At the NTC Promenade - a must see if you've never been. Don't miss it! Details...

Yoga Studio Holiday Sale

If you're at the Encinitas street fair or just running around Encinitas this Saturday (11/19), stop by the Anahata Yoga studio on 2nd & I street. I'll have my new ornaments, art for the home and, of course, jewelry!

Ripe Fruit

Thanksgiving is around the corner - it's easy to lose mindfulness of the food that passes your lips in the midst of celebration, family, and delectable delights! The Slow Food Movement, which started in Italy advocates restoring sensuous pleasure and quality ingredients to cooking and dining.

This meditation from Madonna Gauding's, The Meditation Bible, will help you be more mindful of your senses as you cook and eat. A piece of ripe, organic fruit, unspoiled by chemicals, waxes or sprays, is a delight to the nose, the eye and the tongue.

Brick and Mortar

I wish I could spend more time in the Los Angeles area. There are so many great spots that I just get glimpses of here and there.

I was celebrating my wonderful friend's birthday over the weekend - she lives in Redondo Beach so we went to dinner at Primativo (yummy tapas and sangria!) in Venice.

Unfortunately we got there after most of the amazing shops were closed, but the window shopping was almost as good and definitely much less expensive! I can't wait to come back when I have a full day to just immerse myself in the glory of Abbot Kinney street - to pet the clothes, browse the bookstores, smell the aroma from the coffee shops, and wander the galleries.

I just loved this piece of outside art as we were walking to the restaurant. I want to know what the story is behind this portrait/sculpture on the side of a brick building. Who is this woman? Who made it? Is it plaster over brick? Is it old, or was it just done last year? Anyone know? I'm on a mission to find out.

Monday Meditation: Take The Next Step

Manifesting your dreams requires having a clear idea of what your 'dream' looks like. This meditation, adapted from Madonna Gauding's The Meditation Bible, can help you to be more purposeful visualizing your dream and in uncovering the steps you need to take next on your journey.
Your dreams mainfest through your thoughts and through your actions. Your mental, physical and spiritual actions