Author: Tova

Brain Farts.

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I’ve been having a lot of them lately and they are making it hard to sit and write about all the muchness that is actually happening all around me- Big things, from working on MUCHNESS TV(!!!!!) to little things, like how incredible the gourmet chocolate shop, neuhaus, in the mall was. And the more I try to get to the bottom of this case of mental flatulence, the worse it gets.

It is also August. The shadow of September looms in these warm months. I am missing the twins a lot. Thinking about them. I wonder if it would be different if I’d chosen a different path after they died. If I did what so many people try to do- take that pain, lock it in a box, and move forward, never to speak of it in polite company. If I didn’t create this beautiful project as a tribute to them, if I didn’t create a place for me to speak of them. Maybe I’d think of them less? Maybe I’d be further along in my grief? Further Behind?

Anyway, hoping that just releasing some of my feelings will, um, release some of my feelings so I can get back in the swing of things. Because really, things are swinging!

Today I went to the Mall. Not a place I head to frequently but I needed to pickup some Thank You Cards and knew Papyrus would have some super Muchy ones (I was right)

…and a whole host of other Muchtastic glittery cards!

I was feeling sorta ‘ehhh’ about all the stuff I mentioned above when this chocolate shop caught my eye.

OMG— I loved how they just filled these cases with perfectly perfect mounds of mini chocolates all lined up just so perfectly. I walked in and the woman that worked there gave me this one to try. I thought it was poetic, since it was actually sparkly! I’ve never seen sparkly chocolate!

And if I tell you, that hint was devine!

So I bought two more and left the shop, only to be drawn into LUSH- that shop that sells all natural creams and lotions and potions and soaps.

So, this is why I never head to the mall. I always end up romanced into buying shit I never knew I wanted and didn’t know I needed. I walked into the store because the stuff looked beautiful and colorful and Muchy and I was needing a little of that.

Look- they even have gold bath salts!!

The women offered to give me a mini ‘treatment” on my hands using one of their rubs.

It felt nice.

It smelled good.

I bought it.

Then, they showed me their color wheel. She sat me down and spun the wheel while I held my eyes shut. She instructed me to open my eyes and select the three colors that I felt drawn to, today. Not my favorite colors,per sé, but the colors which grabbed me by the Muchness Meter. (My words. 😉 )

These are the three I selected:

She then “read” me my feelings for the day and kaboom! They were right on target!

After that, I told her about The Muchness Bands which ALSO have a color associated with a positive and inspiring feeling!!! I told her how when people wear their muchness bands they are reminded to look around for their Muchness Moments and see the light and positivity all around them!! (Are you a Member of the Finding My Muchness Community? Log in to your account for info on a special weekend sale on Muchness Bands!!!, Not a member, sign up now!!)

As I am wrapping up this post, I received a text from a friend telling me that this site has inspired her friend to do something huge!Love how the positive energy comes just when I need it the most!

 

 

Rainbows & hearts & bunnies = Muchness for 7 year old boy

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Sometimes at work I listen to podcasts of This American Life storytelling on public radio. Every week they select a theme, and then share a few true stories that discuss that theme from different perspectives. I was listened to today’s podcast, (which is actually a rebroadcast from 2002,) and the theme was about people who are “different” and at what point they realized they were different. The host, Ira Glass, was talking with a mom and her then 7 year old son.

Her son was born with a mental disorder that presented as very angry, scary and violent episodes when he was just a toddler. Discussing her son’s behavior, she described how at 3 years old he’d talk about death and dying a lot. He’d draw pictures of black holes and talk about falling into them. She talked about specific acts of violence he’d engaged in, and the remorse and lack of understanding of his own behavior that quickly followed. To hear his mother describe his violent behavior and destructive mental state was at once shocking and heartbreaking. And then they started him on a medication, and within two days they saw a difference. By five days, he was a different child. He stopped talking about death and stopped trying to hurt small animals and talking about black holes, and instead started drawing pictures of rainbows and hearts. It was when his mother described this change that I found myself getting all choked up. Have a listen:

[youtube_sc url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIsSKGj-4bo”]

“…All those hearts and rainbows and bunnies that he talks about all the time, it’s not because he’s silly, It’s because he’s been through [more] pain and powerlessness…. He made an informed decision that he’s gonna be happy with the good parts of life and he’s gonna spread them around… It all came out of something very hard”

Hear the full episode here

He found his Muchness— things around him that make him feel happy and grateful for the joyful little things in life. Have you found yours?

 

Have you seen your new Member Homepage?!?!

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I’m terribly excited to share with you the new member area homepage!! Ever since I started this project, the thing I loved the most was watching new members join and make the commitment to find their Muchness by documenting their Muchness Moments. If you’ve been a long time reader, you know that I have been through so many iterations of this site trying to make it just right. I’ve had so many ups and down, the biggest down being The Great Server Crash of 2011, where I lost some incredibly beautiful, inspired and healing Muchness Challenges. In a panic, I hastily moved the site to a whole new “pre-designed” platform with lots of bells and whistles, but it just never felt ‘right.’

So now, I’ve been slowly building and rebuilding the site and community to really represent what The Muchness has grown into.

We are a community of support, sharing, healing, fun and sparkle, but ultimately, we are and have always been, about YOU and YOUR journey to find YOUR Muchness. 

We just give you a give you a place to explore, create, experiment and push yourself into bigger, brighter, more colorful and joyful places in your world. Creating that space for you is truly my joy and that’s why I put So Much energy into creating a safe, encouraging and easy space for you to blog and document your Muchness Moments!

I know what you’re saying… You’re saying “Yes! I love that! But every time I sign in I’m still confused by what to do!” and I am here to say NOT ANYMORE!!! Check out your new member page:

That’s all the groovy muchtastic stuff you can do when you’re a member– all easily laid out for you!! I have put so much thought and heart into creating this site and I want it to be a spot of joy and comfort for you to come back to, time and time again. For that to really come to fruition, I knew that making it easy and pretty was an important step.

As with all technology, there may be some bugs getting started, and I am counting on you to let me know if you come across any!! Please let me know your thoughts, questions, likes, dislikes in the comments below. Go LOGIN to your membership area to check it out for yourself! If you like what you see and want to join the Muchness Community, Click here!
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Like what you see but not ready to make a commitment yet to Get In Touch With The Much? That’s OK, sign up for our Free Weekly-ish Newsletter to stay up to date on all the much going’s on! When you’re ready, we’ll be waiting!
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Oh, and one more thing- Beryl and I have been working on our big plans for the Muchness Meets Photography Guided Group Challenge and I am getting so stinkin’ excited!! If you haven’t signed up, GO! Do it! Even if you can’t make it to the August 28, live virtual event, you will receive all the info via email- inspirational tidbits, photography tips, creative, joyful challenges… I promise, it’s TOTALLY worth the price of admission!! (Did I mention it’s totally FREE?)  

Can’t wait to see you on the flip side!

 

Hanging out in the old internet neighborhood…

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Once upon a time, before I’d ever heard the words TTTS and Babyloss, I used to spend my free time meandering around the internets on blogs that were lighthearted, enjoyable and fun. It’s been a while since I’d visited any of those sites, but today, I thought “hmmmm, I wonder what’s going on at Apartment Therapy?” I used to read that blog all. the. friggin’. time.

Today I logged on and boy has it changed! I mean, it’s still a home decorating blog but there is just a whole lotta other stuff going on there! hmmm. nice.

I saw this post and I thought “Oh, that’s pretty muchy! I’d like to share that on my blog.

Check it out: 10 simple things that can make you happier at home.   

If you have a minute you should check out the list- there are some gems there, but my favorite is #5: 

“If you can’t get out of it, get into it. This tip comes from The Happiness Project By Gretchen Rubin. I love the message: The dishes are not going to clean themselves, so you will do it, and you will like it! (Unless, of course, you can outsource this job, in which case I say: Nice work!) Otherwise, get into doing the dishes. Feel the soothing warm water on your hands. Enjoy the tickle of the tiny bubbles. Crank your favorite album at an unusually loud volume, do a couple fist-pumps while shouting “Can I get a hell yeah for the dishes? Hell! Yeah!” and pretend you love it.” 

Ya know what’s funny? I got an advance copy of Gretchen Rubin’s second book, and it’s called Happier at Home and I’ve been meaning to finish it and write a review, but I’m a slow reader (especially when it’s filled with so many gems I have to stop every 5 seconds to highlight something…hmmm- put that on my never-ending to do list…. right below “rewrite to-do list because Liat scribbled all over this one…”)

OK- I’m rambling. The other one I loved was number 4:
Start a one-line-a-day gratitude journal.
Ya know why I loved that one, right? OF COURSE YOU DO! That’s pretty much your Muchness Challenge!!! (Take a picture! Upload! Share!! Muchness Multiplied!… yay!?)

Anyway, like I said, go check out that post. It kicks. And while you’re there, check out this FANTASTIC –  OMG – I CANT BELIEVE ONE WOMAN COULD SINGLE HANDEDLY CREATE THAT INCREDIBLENESS WHILE ON MATERNITY LEAVE – bathroom floor. I’d nearly forgotten that it was there… but I reread all the nice stuff people said about the bathroom floor that I retiled in pennies (all heads up! You betcha!) after Molly was born, and I thought “Hmmm, In January 2009, I asked the question: “How should I decorate this bathroom that I tiled in pennies.” and in the three and a half years since, all I’ve done is  hang a light and mirror. Maybe it’s time for a Muchy Makeover, Powder room style!!

Penny Floor

Good Questions: Ideas for the Penny Tiled Powder Room? | Apartment Therapy

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MUCHNESS pic of the day!

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Been a while since I posted a good ol’ MUCHNESS pic of the day!!
Today I was informed that nobody could catch a glimpse if my dress and NOT have it brighten their day. Just in case they were correct, I figured I’d share my dress! Hope it brightens your day!!

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Are you wearing something muchy today to brighten YOUR day?? Please please pretty please share!! You know I just love that stuff!!!

KC Bakers School for the Well Spoken Woman

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Last night I volunteered to work at this event created by KC Bakers School for the Well Spoken Woman.
I thought it would be empowering and inspiring to hear women speak about that which empowers them. And I was right. It would be. If I was in the auditorium listening. Which for most of the night I wasn’t. I volunteered for door duty. That meant I was the muscle making sure people didnt come and go in the middle of the speeches.
But that was ok. Because I was inspired anyway… By the women who joined me in the hallway. And by the women I did get to see-
The recipient of their “thought leader of the year” award was Regina Thomashauer.

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You may know her as Mama Gena and she is inspiring thousands upon thousands of women to live their dreams and find their passion. She is so high energy- so self confident- living in such a way that celebrates her womanhood that you can’t help but be infected by her passion.
So, ya know what I did? I introduced myself to her, twice. And I told her my story. And about The MUCHNESS. And she gave me a tremendous hug and told me to keep doing what I’m doing. I told her I have no choice. This is my calling.
And then, I went over to KC Baker. She founded and hosts the event. I’d been in touch with her “people” in advance and knew that she’d been to this site and loved the MUCHNESS Bands. So, after introducing myself and showing her my band, I actually gave it to her.

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The quote inside was “It’s time to start living the life you’ve imagined.” – which is basically the message of her classes.
And besides, it, like, totally matched her outfit!
I am on this MUCHNESS finding journey and somedays I feel empowered and some days I feel confused and lost. But it’s women like this who remind me that it’s ok to feel whatever I feel and just allow those feelings to be my guide and be my fuel. I remember that I don’t have to know the path laid out before me. I just need to put on foot in front of the other and the path will form. And it is my goal to use my voice to take what i learn from inspiring women and share it with you and learn it with you.
I look forward to doing more of that.

Muchness Meets Photography- A Group Challenge event!!

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Ya know what my goal is? To help you find your Muchness. That’s pretty much it. For Real. And how am I gonna do it? Any damn way I can. Why? Because I LOVE doing this.
I Love connecting with Muchness Seekers and helping them tap into the Muchness that is lying dormant inside them. I love it. It fills me with Muchness. True story. The end.

OK- here’s the deal- I have been in the process of creating a whole bunch of stuff for the site that I think you’re really gonna love. Stuff that’s gonna inspire you and help you tap into your Muchness in so. many. ways.
And the first thing on the agenda is getting me so pumped I’m actually bouncing in my seat.

About a month ago I met a woman, Beryl Ayn Young, on one of my baby loss support boards. She lost her daughter Bella the very same month we lost our twins, in September 2009. As part of her journey through grief and healing, she picked up a camera and started using it as a tool through which to see light and joy again… Essentially, Beryl found her Muchness through photography! And then, she started to share it with others- baby loss moms and other women searching for healing and joy and a creative way to express themselves.

Now, almost 3 years later, Beryl and I found each other. In an even more muchtastic twist, Beryl is also enrolled in Bschool because she too wants to share the joy and light and creativity she’s found with the world! Clearly, we had a whole lot to talk about.

I recently wrote a guest post for her site, and she’ll be posting one here in the near future so you can get to know here a bit better, but in the meantime, here’s what we’ve cooked up:
For the month of September, Beryl and I are going to combine our passions and host a 30 Day Muchness meets Photography Group Challenge on FindingMyMuchness.com!! It’ll offer you inspirational Muchness + helpful photography tips + constant support and creative ideas to help you make the most of your 30 Day Challenge and reconnect with Your Unique Muchness! It’s going to be a really incredible journey… and it starts with a FREE, LIVE Virtual Event!! (OK- I won’t lie- that “Virtual Event” word totally intimidates me both as a host and as a participant, but Beryl’s done tons of them and swears they are easy to participate in and a total online party… so, obviously, I am totally in— and so is my cocktail… and I hope, so are you and yours!! :))
To participate in this entirely free event (and maybe even get some free Muchness swag at the end, because, ya know, I love to share the Muchness…) all you gotta do is sign upand let us know you wanna participate! Yup! That’s it! Anyone can join! No matter where on your MuchnessSeeking journey you are, there is always more Muchness to be captured.We’ll email you the info for the August 28 event and during that live party explain how simple it is to set up your Muchness Blog on your computer- and even from your smart phone- so you can easily participate in the challenge. We’ll also offer some great “Theme” ideas to get you going, or, help you cultivate a theme that is uniquely and Muchtastically YOU! There’ll be some photo tips and other secret muchy stuff that I can’t tell you about just yet.. but trust me, if you’ve even considered taking the Muchness Challenge, now is the time to do it.
Yay!!! So psyched!
See ya on the sign-up form!!

Seeing ourselves as beautiful… everyday.

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Every day, while walking to work through the NY Garment district, I pass a bunch of buildings. They have recently been doing some construction on one of the older ones. I think it used to be a fabric store that had been there since the dawn of man, and I suppose they’ve recently leased it to this variety store. They’ve been doing the construction for a while but I honestly didn’t even notice. I walk by the store, usually on the same side as the building and, well, I had no idea.

Then, yesterday, I walked by on the side of the street opposite the construction. And that’s when I saw what was going on. I don’t know how I missed it before, but they are making this old, invisible store beautiful. They are scraping off the old paint, patching the cracks and breaks and  reviving the old architectural details that were probably hand crafted at the turn of the last century.

I feel like even if I’d seen this activity going on it still wouldn’t have really impacted me. But what I saw it from a distance, I could see the bigger picture:

See that? It’s the Before -Middle – After all at the same time.

I don’t know why, it just made me stop in my tracks and shoot the pictures. The whole rest of the way to work I thought about how – or maybe why- this was so compelling to me. I’m still not sure I’ve figured it out exactly, but it’s like, this beauty was there the whole time. Maybe the previous tenants saw it but didn’t care. Or maybe they saw a hint of the beauty in it, but decided it wasn’t worth investing the money to revive it. Or maybe they never saw it at all. But because they never did anything to share the beauty of their building, I never, ever noticed it. But this new tenant, he saw and recognized the beauty there. He put people to work to draw it out. He not only cleaned up the broken and neglected parts, and he not only painted it in a clean, fresh white, he decided to Celebrate the nuances and beautiful detail of the architecture by painting it—Muchy Silver— of all things!

And then I started thinking about us, as people. I think we all have areas about ourselves that are beautiful, that look, metaphorically, sorta like that “before” window. We don’t see the beauty there, or we don’t allow ourselves to see or share it’s value, we don’t nourish and express those parts of ourselves, even though, somewhere, deep down, we know that there is beauty there. Maybe we tell ourselves it’s not worth the effort. And sometimes it takes someone new in our lives who DOES see that beauty, who looks at us with fresh eyes to remind us that what we’ve got going on there IS beautiful. But then I started thinking that maybe it’s not only about someone else seeing it. Maybe the key is making the conscious choice, the daily effort to see ourselves through those fresh eyes. See our own potential for beauty where we may have been overlooking it before.

In a way, that’s actually what The Muchness Challenge does. Choosing to look at your world through these fresh eyes and think creatively for 30 days about the joy and beauty around you, opens you up to see the beauty within you. It’s really been so remarkable to see the challengers blossom as they go through the 30 days… It’s kinda like watching those windows go from sad and neglected to bright and Muchtastic.

I feel so grateful any time someone takes the 30 day challenge. I started this project because I LOVE being able to offer people an actionable way to put a smile on their face and find joy, and ultimately, reconnect with their identity and passion. If you’re thinking of taking the Challenge but don’t know where to start, Please contact me and let me help you muster up the courage and direction to get started. I LOVE doing that.

If you’re thinking you’d like to but aren’t quite ready, here’s a secret tip… In September we will be doing a Group Challenge that will not only help you tap into your Muchness, it’ll also teach you some incredible photography tips… AND we will even get a chance to chat online- face to face!! 🙂 I’m really excited about it! Stay tuned for more info to follow!!!