back: Sarah B, Cat, Jill, Dawn Marie, Sue; middle: Christine, Lupe, Lisa, Pamela, Sarah J; front: Cindy

Inspiring thoughts, ideas and information provided by women business owners.

The purpose of Keystone Women's Circle is to unite, support and promote women business owners. A keystone is the stone in an arch that binds all others in place. In a circle of stones, every stone is a keystone. We believe that together we can create a foundation, not of brick and mortar, but of relationships and mutual support, enabling all of us to prosper.


Friday, April 30, 2010

Testing your supplements

Do your vitamins and supplements work? A great way to test is by putting them in vinegar for 30 minutes. The vinegar replicates stomach acid, and the 30 minutes is approximately how long it takes your stomach to absorb the supplement. If your supplement doesn't dissolve in vinegar, it wont dissolve in your stomach; and that is literally throwing your money down the toilet. Have a great weekend! Pamela

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Change your mind, for the Kingdom of Heaven is within you

Tonight I attended a follow up potluck for a class I took a couple of months ago at Unity of the Valley, in Savage, MN. In telling our stories of what had happened to us in the two months since the class, one theme was apparent: Every time someone changed how they chose to think about themselves or a difficult situation, there were immediate changes in the people around them, or in their own bodies.

It's true that we create the life we experience. If you are faced with difficult people, you can choose to believe differently, and they will change their behavior toward you. If you choose to believe differently about yourself, others will automatically follow suit. One man told of being burned out at work, and his wife pointed out that he liked to be appreciated. He had a flash of insight that he himself had not been appreciating his good qualities, and he spent a restless night thinking about this. The next morning, feeling a sense of peace, he was going about his job when the two most difficult people he was dealing with called him in to ask a quick question. To his surprise, the dynamics were completely different! They were appreciative of his contributions, and they had a long, productive and enjoyable conversation. Needless to say, when his wife called him at lunch time to say she was fine with him quitting, he told her "No, I don't think I need to."

"Changing your mind" can be difficult. Two of my best recommendations: A book called "In the Flow of Life", by Eric Butterworth, which gives great insight into how to change your mind, and hypnotherapy sessions with Sarah Bran de Leon (link is on the right side of this page), which can be very helpful to root out deep seated beliefs. How do I know they work? Thanks to a refresher reading of Butterworth this morning, pain in my heel that flares when I am stressed disappeared within minutes of an attitude adjustment, and thanks to Sarah, I've let go of a little over twenty pounds (so far) without dieting.

And, if you want to see where I found this translation of the words of Jesus and St. John, check out http://www.carvingart.com/, click on "icons", and look for the icon (painting) of St. John in the Desert, clicking for details. Even if you aren't actually religious, the detail and beauty of the art is stunning.

Wishing you a heavenly weekend!...Dawn-Marie

Monday, April 26, 2010

The Act of Receiving

We are accustomed to the act of giving. It has been stressed throughout all belief systems. Lend a helping hand to those in need. Share your gifts with others etc. Giving can be perceived by some as a virtue.

What about the act of receiving? For some this is a hard thing to do. You may feel guilty about accepting gifts and help from others. There may be some anxiety as to how you can repay this person for the gifts and help they so graciously offered. In order to create balance there needs to be a give and take, or more appropriately a give and receive.

Below is an affirmation that I came across on the Cirkla Holistic Directory that explains this process very well. So the next time someone wants to give you something, accept it. Really accept it and when the time is right you will be able to continue that circle of energy and pass it on to someone else.

Receiving affirmation:
I give and receive without expectation. I accept gifts from
others with an open heart and allow myself to do it without
feeling a need to reciprocate immediately.

I know that when I truly receive without reciprocation, it opens
a channel to allow me to give without expectation at another time
for someone else.

I also know that, by giving without expectation, I am freeing
others to experience the gifts of the universe with an open heart.

Be sure to give and receive today with an open heart! Sarah Jaeger- Mystic Journey

Friday, April 23, 2010

Laugh to reduce cholesterol?

"A recent study compared two groups of diabetic patients who were getting standard drug therapy: One group spent half an hour watching a funny show every day; the other just took the drugs. At the end of a year, 26 percent of participants who watched the show had higher levels of HDL (good cholesterol), compared with only 3 percent of the other group." 6 Steps to Reduce Cholesterol, Body and Soul Magazine, April 2010

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Make your own dressing

Chef Mark Bittman was on the Today Show this morning showing how easy it is to make your own salad dressing. I got to thinking, what is in those bottles to make them last for EVER? Why not take 5 minutes and make your own so you know exactly what is going in your body? Plus, I have to think it will taste so much better and no bottle to throw away when you have finished it!!
Here is one of his recipes - the rest can be found on the Today Show web site under food and wine. Enjoy!!
Lisa Fahey

French dressing
Mark Bittman
Makes about 3/4 cup of dressing
INGREDIENTS
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons or more red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 small clove of garlic
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Combine all the ingredients in a blender — or use an immersion blender — and turn the machine on; a creamy emulsion will form within 30 seconds. Taste and add vinegar a teaspoon or two at a time until the balance tastes right to you. If the mixture is too thick, add water a tablespoon at a time until the consistency is right. Taste, adjust the seasoning, and serve. This is best made fresh but will keep, refrigerated, for a few days; bring it back to room temperature and whisk briefly before using.Read more: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/36671580/ns/today-today_food_and_wine/#ixzz0lkUiDmPe

The power of beliefs!

Let me introduce myself. My name is Sarah Bran de León. I am a certified Hypnotherapist. Wife and mother of 2 beautiful children. I love reading and learning about the mind, or I should say the power of the mind. Its always fascinated me. I would love to share with you a story about the power of the mind, and the power of beliefs.

A man named Roger Bannister, was a world class runner, he was also the first person to run the mile under 4 minutes! Up until Roger, physicians and trainers believed that it was impossible to run a mile under 4 minutes. How did he do it? He believed that he could!!!!!
First he put a piece of paper in his shoe that had "3.58" written on it, every time he ran he was constantly reminded of his goal. Than instead of thinking of his goal in term of minutes he broke it up into 240 seconds. It was a lot easier to think of shaving off a couple seconds instead of a minute. And in 1954 he achieved his goal.

What happened after that was even more impressive. After Roger broke the 4 minute record, within 1 year, 37 other runners broke the 4 minute mile also, in the year after that 300 other runners did the same thing. Now remember that before Roger, no one had run a mile under 4 minutes. What changed was that since Roger accomplished it, they all Believed that it could be done. They tapped into their full potential!! They always had it in them, but until someone showed them that it was possible, they didn't believe it, they didn't tap into that potential that they always had.

What do you believe? And are those beliefs limiting or empowering. I will write more on this next time. Thank you for allowing me to share this with you. Have a great day.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

It's All in the Journey

My folks are on a seven week vacation, taking a "train cruise" around the country (this is their second time), stopping to see all the kids and grand kids, seeing the sights and visiting places they never got to see before. They are absolutely sold on train travel.

They enjoy the amenities of sleeper cars on the longer legs of travel, and rave about the quality of service of these well-staffed hotels on wheels. Since Mom doesn't drive, Amtrak (amtrak.com) gives dad a chance to relax while someone else does the driving. Unlike an airplane, on the train you are encouraged to get out of your seat, wander about, talk to strangers, look out the windows of the observation deck, play cards in the lounge car, and generally relax. Sure, it takes a good bit longer to get from Phoenix to New Orleans on a train, but you'll have a lot more fun, way more leg and elbow room, and you won't leave something like an elephant size load of carbon in the atmosphere (find the exact carbon footprint science through earthfuture.com).

In some cases, a train ticket may not save you a lot of money over air travel, but it will get you into a lot of places that aren't served by airports. Their tickets ran under $2200 for the two of them, with several nights of sleeper cars and meals, and they figure their whole seven weeks with seven "ports of call", enjoying themselves and their friends, treating their kids, and spoiling their grands comes in under $4,000. Where else can you get a 7 week cruise for two for that price, and share it with all the people you love?

Take time to slow down and enjoy life...it's all about the journey!

Posted by Dawn-Marie, Artist in Wonderland at theartofthehome.blogspot.com

Wednesday, April 14, 2010


My family and I returned recently from a most magical vacation. I am absolutely amazed at the level of customer service I received when I misplaced my camera (with over 300 photos from the trip to that point.) I had left my camera bag at our dining table on a cruise ship. I noticed a few hours later when we were back in Orlando at our hotel. I called the cruise line and they promptly called me and said they indeed had found it. I was overwhelmed with relief. Photography is my passion and this had been a trip of a lifetime. To my amazement, I was told that a courier service was on the way to deliver my camera to the hotel I was at. It was at the front desk by the time we returned from dinner and there was NO CHARGE to me for what clearly was my error. What company goes the extra mile and takes care of their customers in such a way as this? DISNEY, of course! I will make it my goal to take care of each of my customers the way DISNEY took care of me. 100% satisfaction and more!



Lisa Fahey

Friday, April 9, 2010

the simple things

Yesterday while enjoying a slow day, I watched my family (my husband and I have two large dogs and a cat). After dinner, when I'm not working, we go for a walk. My dogs became so excited, very comparable to the excitement someone would display if they won the lottery.

They display this behavior at the simplest things. Another example is when I come home. I could run to the grocery store and be gone for 15 mins, they act as if they haven't seen me all day.

Maybe we all should slow down for a few moments and take thanks for the small things that are important to us, and really, really observe how we feel at these times. Then express those feelings.

Have a great week end! Pamela

Thursday, April 8, 2010

scattered thoughts

In preparation for my parent's upcoming visit, I was cleaning my desk today, and came across this scribble...

Everyone knows you can read tea leaves in the bottom of your cup, and now I wonder, if you dunk your morning toast in your coffee, can you read the resulting soggy crumbs in the bottom of your mug?

I hope your desk looks as sparkly and fresh as mine does, and that the floor around your desk looks considerably better than mine, which now has a dozen piles of neatly sorted filing! I think it's gonna be a long night.

Dawn-Marie
theartofthehome.blogspot.com

Friday, April 2, 2010

The upside to gloomy spring days

Few individuals look forward to days like today; gloomy, rainy, tiring. But look at the bright side, we need these spring days for everything to grow. Thanks to rainy days the world around us will change. Things will go from brown and dull to green with blossoms and become beautiful. Everything will awaken. -Pamela

Thursday, April 1, 2010

No, foolin', it's April already! Here in Minnesota, despite the very warm weather, there really are nearly two more months until garden season. Two more months inside, staring at the drab walls you meant to paint all winter, but didn't quite get to. Perhaps only two months until your teen graduates and you host the big bash, for which you meant to redecorate the whole house. It's not too late! Okay, maybe you're pushin' it for the whole house, but there is still time for a few rooms.

Even though you will be outside most of the summer, you still start the day indoors. The aesthetics of your home have a huge impact on how you live your daily life. Not only is it beneficial that your home functions smoothly, it really can change your whole outlook on life when you start out from a place that is beautiful, that reflects your own inner beauty. Your home can do much more than shelter you from Minnesota hailstorms (just a part of garden season!). If you give some thought to the colors, function and furnishings of each room, you can create spaces that nurture your family, bodies and souls; spaces that inspire dreams, and support your daily activities. If you can't wait to get outdoors and plant flowers, perhaps it's not just gardener's itch, but because your interior needs a bit of tending.

Click on over to theartofthehome.blogspot.com for inspiration. Borrow some ideas and get out the brushes! Feel free to call or email me with your questions. You can, of course, hire me to show you how to do your own faux finishes, or if you want something fully finished while you peruse the seed catalogs, I do have room in the schedule to finish a few more projects before summer arrives for real. Paint Happy and Live Juicy! - Dawn-Marie