Published on Saturday, December 12, 2009 by Hevyn Allen Richie and I just watched Julie & Julia, the biopic about Julia Child, gourmet, and Julie Powell, the woman who cooks her way through the famous cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Julie Powell, a temp clerk, lived an uninspired life and looked to her love of food as a guiding light. She purposed to make it through Mrs. Child's collection of 524 recipes in ...

Published on Monday, September 7, 2009 by Hevyn Allen I’ve been rewatching the old Pink Panther movies (circa Peter Sellers) and for the first time enjoying their humor. As a kid, I didn’t like them very much. I was always upset to watch the movies and never catch a glimpse of the funny Pink Panther. When my parents tried to explain to me that the Pink Panther was a diamond instead of an animal, the concept made no ...

Published on Friday, August 28, 2009 by Hevyn Allen Okay, maybe he just makes you FOOTLOOSE and fancy-free. But, have you ever heard of the Kevin Bacon Game? In 1994, Kevin Bacon boasted to the press that he had worked with everyone in Hollywood or someone who had worked with them. Three college kids came up with a game in an online forum where they could link Kevin Bacon to any actor (dead or alive) in Hollywood by ...

Published on Thursday, August 27, 2009 by Hevyn Allen Gratefulness is like a loom-woven tapestry. As we express our thanks, we weave a long life of love, contentment, and beautiful images. When we complain or gripe or refuse to honor our blessings, we unravel that life a little bit at a time. We're left with nothing but a pile of yarn that will never amount to anything more than wishes of what could have been. Be gratef...

Published on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 by Hevyn Allen Do you remember in high school when it was really cool to make a "mix tape?" I had a few. I labeled them for my moods: "Melancholy," "Happy," "Aggressive," "Heartbroken." Oh, yes. Pretty pathetic stuff, really. I'm sure that Celine Dion, Bon Jovi, and Lynyrd Skynard (don't laugh) populated the majority of it all. If I wanted to cry, I would just pop in my "Heartbrok...

Published on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 by Hevyn Allen Question: Have you ever heard of a cheerful hermit? No, it's not a crab. Most of the time, when you hear about hermits (or see them portrayed in movies), they're mean, territorial, and talk with a backwoods accent. Again, not a crab. Truth is, they're not concerned with social niceties and don't really like anyone else's company but their own. Are you a stay-at-home ...

Published on Monday, August 24, 2009 by Hevyn Allen Forgiveness is one of THOSE things. You know, those things that a good person does without effort. For the rest of us, though, it does require a little bit of effort, a lot of prayer, willingness to look like the fool, and [GASP] taking the responsibility for something we did (and sometimes didn’t do). Honestly, it’s hard at first. But the more you do it, the eas...

Published on Thursday, August 20, 2009 by Hevyn Allen TO BUY: www.Amazon.com This book is not what I initially expected. I didn't realize that Gail Blanke was a life coach and motivational speaker when I first started reading. I am an organization fanatic and anti-clutter freak. I thought that maybe since her book was at the top of the bestseller's list, she had something new to say about the topic. I was right about...

Published on Thursday, August 20, 2009 by Hevyn Allen Buddhists believe that a smile radiates from the outside to the inside. In other words, if you force your face to smile, you’ll start to feel that smile on the inside too. There's a lot of truth to that concept. It’s the basis of the song “Smile” written by Charlie Chaplin (Hevyn’s Mix Tape for Rainy Days). My favorite lyric: “Light up your face with glad...

Published on Thursday, August 20, 2009 by Hevyn Allen Warning: Eclectic Mix Ahead! Tunes sure to keep your day golden!! "The Best Is Yet to Come" - Michael Bublé on Call Me Irresponsible "Positivity" - Stevie Wonder on A Time to Love "What Could Be Better" - 33 Miles on 33 Miles "New Soul" - Yael Naim on Yael Naim "I Know Who I Am" - Israel & New Breed on A Deeper Level "Out in the Open" - Amy Gran...