Simply Mad about "Rojin No Hi"

picture courtesy: Tokyo Times

Today is a national holiday in Japan - "Rojin No Hi" or the Day of the Elderly.  Created in 1966, it is held on the third Monday of September (September 2013 will have 5 Mondays by the way) and it is dedicated to show respect for older generations and to celebrate longevity.

Every Japanese tradition or holiday I have learned about since I moved here seems to be full or whimsy and imagination; a degree of charm only Japanese know how to accomplish.  "Rojin No Hi" is no exception. 

In Japanese, babies are referred to "aka chan" or "the red one".  Traditionally a Japanese person will will wear red on their 60th birthday - 60 years complete a cycle on the Chinese calendar and it is also said that after 60 you become a baby again....how darn cute is that!?!?!  Everything Japanese do has a reason to be, a meaning or some sort of symbolism and I love that about their culture and customs.

The elderly are well respected and esteemed in Japanese society so it is no surprise the younger generations go out of their way to celebrate their lives with bells and whistles when the day comes.  Meals are delivered to their houses and school children prepare dances and performance to entertain and honor the "older folks". 

So...here is to Japan's "Old Folks" on their special day; today September 16, 2013!  Cheers!

data and this picture: courtesy of "A Celebration of Women"

Simply Mad About Summer Festivals

Unique traditions, cultural differences and charming, fantasy-filled tales like the one below is what I enjoy most about traveling and about the opportunity to live internationally.

Here is the love story of Orihime & Hikoboshi...Enjoy!

One of the major summer festivals in Japan is the Tanabata Festival or the Star Festival. This festival originated from the sad, sweet tale that stems from Chinese folklore about two stars, Vega and Altair, also known as the weaver girl, Orihime, who was the daughter of the Emperor of the Galaxy, and the cowherder, Hikoboshi, who fell in love but neglected their respected duties of weaving cloth and cowherding, thus drawing the wrath of the Emperor of the Galaxy upon them. Separated by the Milky Way, or Amanogawa, and forbidden to see her lover, the weaver girl wept, and the tears moved her father to allow the lovers to meet once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh month, but only if it doesn't rain.

In Japan festivities take place usually in early July or August, as August 7th is around the 7th day of the 7th month in the lunar calendar. These festivals, call matsuri, are exceedingly popular with locals and tourists. There are always plenty of food and beverage stalls available with music
and lots of entertainment which varies locally from spot to spot. Many local vendors put up elaborate decorations that try to outdoor the decorations of their neighbors.

Common elements in the Tanabata festivals include the display of a large, or several large poles of bamboo, with many small branches called sasatake. This is sometimes called a "wish tree," and people write wishes on colored strips of paper and tie them to the branches in hopes they will come true. Other colorful paper decorations are hung representing things like long life, good health, success in business, in one's studies or skills, and so on.

Simply Mad About Spinalonga Island

I am getting ready to list designs from my newest collection for Simply Mad Jewelry and wanted to give a little background about where the inspiration came from.  I hope you like it and I hope you get an opportunity to visti Spinalonga one day, if you haven't already done so!

This collection was inspired by a tiny and deserted Greek island, called Spinalonga.  Spinalonga is located off the northeast coast of Elounda, a charming fishermen’s village in Crete (Greece). The intriguing and unoccupied island has an ancient history, but it is the period between 1903 and 1957 which has fascinated me since the first time I saw the island.  From 1903 until 1957 the island served as a leper colony and it went on to be the last leper colony in Europe.  

  

I have had the opportunity to visit Elounda a few times and every time I go, admiring Spinalonga from the distance is one of my favorite things to do.  I am transported to that period when lepers roamed the streets, sick but happy to have a community in which they were accepted, love, supported and a kind of normalcy was possible.  A lot of the images that fill my mind come from a book I read after seeing the island for the first time – “The Island” by Victoria Hislop.  The book relates the story of a family whose mother is sent to Spinalonga after discovering she had contracted leprosy.  Hislop’s descriptive scenes of daily life in leprosy-ridden Spinalonga are what play in my head every time I think of the intriguing island. 

I have chosen these pictures of Spinalonga (seen from Elounda) as inspiration for the Greek Goddess of Summer Collection.  I love the soothing and summery combinations of blues and tans with a touch on gold to represent the Mediterranean sun.

I hope you will connect with some pieces from this collection that will make you go on a journey across the Aegean Sea hoping from one Greek Isle to the next including a visit to Spinalonga.

Here is a preview from the collection...

Shop Simply Mad Jewelry here

wear it & be happy!

Simply Mad About Japanese Festivals

The best of traveling and living abroad is meeting the people and learning about their culture, traditions and festivals.  And in Japan there is no shortage of any of this.  Whimsical tales abound and numerous festivals are held throughout the county all year round.  Its ancient culture, intact traditions and endless festivals make Japan one of the most fascinating countries to explore.  And I am lucky to have the opportunity to be here to experience it all first hand!

Today I want to tell you about Children's Day, celebrated on May 5th ever year.  Originally girls had their own day and festival on March 3 - "Hinamatsuri" - and boys had their own special day on May 5th - "Tango no Sekku".  In 1948 the government declared May 5th Children's Day for all children - "Kodomo no Hi" - and made this day a national holiday.  Girls still have their festival on March 3rd but is not recognized as a holiday.

Both festivals are meant to celebrate children and show gratitude for their mothers.  People pray for the children's happiness and healthy growth.

During "Hinamatsuri" family display dolls in their houses dressed in traditional Heian (period from 794-1192costumes and they offer rice cakes and food to the dolls.  Below you will see a sample display on three tiers covered with a red carpet with the emperor and empress sitting on the top tier followed by other members of the court in order of ranking.  These displays can have up to 7 tiers.  The dolls are used as charms and amulets to ward off evil.

As part of the celebrations, paper dolls are placed on rivers; these floating dolls are also believed to ward off evil spirits.  These practice is called "Nagashi bina".

During "Tango no Sekku" there are no dolls involve but carp fish instead.  Carp "flags" are flown outside every house, one carp per boy in the house.  These flags are called "Koi Nobori".  According to Chinese mythology, the Dragon’s Gate is located at the top of a waterfall cascading from a legendary mountain.   Many carp swim upstream against the river’s strong current, but few are capable or brave enough for the final leap over the waterfall.  If a carp successfully makes the jump, it is transformed into a powerful dragon.  For this reason carp symbolize strength and success.  The way the wind blows in the wind makes it look like they are swimming upstream.

"Koi Nobori"

I hope you have enjoyed reading about this tiny slice of Japanese culture and tradition.  There is so much more to what this country has to offer as far as cultural education, festivals and whimsical celebrations.  Stay tuned for more.

Fun/Unofficial Fact:  Like March 3rd (3/3) is Girls' Day and May 5th (5/5) is Boy's Day; I have been told that "unofficially" April 4th (4/4) is Gays day!  I think that's cute and funny!

More soon!

Simply Mad About Sun, Wind & Sea

A new Simply Mad collection is taking shape and here is the inspiration behind it...

Sometime ago, on a whim, I took a trip to Martha’s Vineyard by myself and stayed in a charming bed & breakfast called The Charlotte Inn in the town of Edgartown. I was in an adventurous stage in my life during which traveling alone and making last minute plans were the order of the day! Every weekend…another adventure with me, myself and I. I had never been to Martha’s Vineyard before and had no idea what to stay.

The Charlotte Inn

In the days leading up to my trip, I was reading a book called “When God Winks on Love”. It relates real-life love stories and how these couples found each other by what most would call coincidences, but the author argues that these events were God’s winks nudging these people to follow their intended destiny.

One of the couples whose story is told in the book, Paula & Gary, happened to own The Charlotte Inn in Edgartown. If that was not a wink from God to me, I don’t know what is! I immediately put the book down and called the Inn and made my reservation for my 3-night adventure.

Edgartown Lighthouse

Edgartown is a charming, charming little town where relaxed living, sailing, eating and beach going are top priorities. I remember marveling at the amount of sailboats lining the horizon and at the salty smell the air was charged with. 

There is something very alluring bout these New England coastal towns where luxury and easy living co-exist brilliantly. The casual style mixed with high-end elements make these quaint and charming feel like little piece of heaven.

I hold great memories from that weekend in Edgartown staying at a bed and breakfast I had a secret “wink” in  common with and I still smile when I remember how I came to choose The Charlotte Inn. And by the way, I did meet Paula and Gary! I have recently re-visited those memories and inspiration struck during my reminiscing and a new collection was born!

Mood Board

Sun, Wind & Sea is Simply Mad’s nautical-themed collection inspired by my weekend in this gem of an island. Reds, blues and gold tones abound in the designs evoking a sense of glamour, images of infinite and mysterious seas and the magic of a breathtaking sunset.

Sailboats and sailing are synonymous with luxury, old world elegance, freedom and romance. Let your hair loose and let the wind blow your troubles away, let the sun warm your skin and enjoy the endless sea sparkling all around you. Let these jewelry pieces take you on a sailing journey where you can be carefree and happy while you relax & enjoy the Sun, the Wind & the Sea!

Here is a preview of designs from the collection...shop "Sun, Wind and Sea" designs HERE


                                                                                                  
   

Simply Mad About...Family & Celebrations!

Hello!  It has been a while, hasn't it?  Well, I have recently gotten back from a trip to see mine and Trey's family in the US.  I spent three happy weeks with them, celebrating birthdays, spending quality time with my parents and Trey's and showcasing the latest Simply Mad Jewelry designs.

I told you Fla. was relaxing!

After two relaxing days in Florida, I flew to Puerto Rico to see my crazy, loud and awesome family.  The main reason I chose these dates to visit, was to surprise my dad for his 70th birthday and surprise him I did!  I also surprised my mom.  My dad and my sister share the same birthday so I got to celebrate hers as well.  The day after my arrival, my brother and his family also arrive as a surprise and over the weekend we treated my dad to yet another surprise - a "sailor themed" birthday party with friends, family and lots of dancing music so the "dancing king" (i.e. my dad) indulge and show off his dance moves.

dad and my sister blowing b-day candles with mom

the "dancing king" and I

Going to Puerto Rico is hectic and busy...there is always something to do; we are always going to or coming from somewhere.  But it is always good...the goings and comings are usually to one of my sisters' house to sit around the dining table sharing stories, catching up, cracking jokes and drinking wine.  And if we are not going to one of my sisters' house then we are going to a local restaurant for a "much-missed-and-deliciously-heavy-meal-of-rice, beans and fried plantains".  It doesn't matter where we go to or where we come from, I cherish these moments and hold them dear to my heart.

After the my dad's birthday party, it was time to get to work.  I had a week to prepare for Simply Mad's 4th Annual Bazaar in Puerto Rico.  It is always a great opportunity to catch up with friends and to meet new ones and this particular year the event got covered by the lifestyle section of the major local newspaper - El Nuevo Dia.  I was a happy camper and the Bazaar was total success!

at the Bazaar

sparkly necklaces

choices!

After the Bazaar...I had two full days to spend with my parents who have recently retired.  It was, to my delight, a full 48 hours of uninterrupted, quality time with them.

On my way back to Tokyo, it was time to pay Trey's parents a second visit...especially his dad whose birthday was the day after I arrived.  Lucky me!  I get to spend birthdays with both our dads!!!  Those two extra days in Florida were relaxing, winding me down and getting me ready for the upcoming days which were filled with airports, hotels and a very loooonggg flight back home.

Birthday dinner for Jay in Fla.

birthday hug!

From Florida I flew to Boston on the same day the first "Boston Marathon Bomber" was killed...ay ay ay!  I made my flight with some fear but a lot of excitement because I was meeting my nephew Eric Andres who was scheduled to tour one of the colleges in town.  The day we arrived, we were holed up in the hotel room following the request from the police to stay indoors.  It looked safe outside but every store and business was closed.  It gave us a chance to nap, talk and bond over room service lunch complete with wine and beer - why not?  We had a nice dinner together and via You Tube he introduced me to Hannibal, a very funny comedian I had never heard of.  By the end of the night, the second suspect had been arrested and we were FREE and psyched to see a little bit of Boston the following morning.  And so we did, we got up early and strolled around downtown Boston - what a great city.  Beautiful brick architecture and small shops lining Newbury Street.  What a treat it was for me to have that time with him, to get to know him better and to help him with college selection process.

Eric & I in Boston Common

I have been back in Tokyo now for a week.  Between jet lag, a very good book I am reading and a general feel of "I-am-completely-out-of-my-routine-and-I-don't-know-how-to-fall-back-into-it", it always takes me a while...but here I am...I AM BACK!!!

Have lots of things to share with you...new jewelry and an exciting promotion I did with Macho Spouse for Mother's Day!  

Simply Mad about being HAPPY!

The UN has declared March 20th as the International Happiness Day.  Being that the tag line for my jewelry line is "wear it and be happy", I couldn't let this day go by without writing about it.

I consider myself a happy person...I am not 100% happy 100% of the time, but I am happy and I work hard towards having a positive outlook in life.  I like to read and have read my fair share of self-improvement books most of which have the same goal/message - how to be happy!

I try to stay away from people who bum me out - you know the nay-sayers who complaint constantly and those who make a sport out of disrupting harmony.  I also try to limit my exposure to negative situations and thoughts.  A meditation coach once told me: "when you have negative thoughts, gently push them out" and I do!  I literally say: "please leave my head and make room for happy thoughts".  I also read a sign somewhere, sometime that said: "don't believe everything you think" - I choose to not believe negative thoughts.  I believe negative energy and worry attracts bad things, the kind that makes us unhappy and so I try my best to stay in a positive place and that for me results in happiness.  I find staying in touch with some spirituality also helps a great deal!

That's just me, but you don't have to buy my formula.  There are plenty of books and movies about the psychology of being happy and how to pursue the seemingly elusive feeling.

I have recently watched  "Happy" by Roko Bellic - a documentary about the pursuit of happiness.  The documentary has very enlightening interviews, interesting studies, and helpful suggestions.   All fascinating, but what I want to share with you is the one thing that stayed with me long after I watched it.

The documentary presents a 50/40/10 pie chart - 50% of our disposition to be happy comes from our genes.  Some of us are genetically pre-disposed to be happier than others and/or to return to our happy place easier after having an "unhappy" experience; 10% of our happiness comes from our circumstances, pretty much how much money we make, our social status.  These are some bleak percentages, one could say that 60% of how we achieve happiness in to some degree beyond our control, but DO NOT fear.  The remaining 40% is your free pass!  40% of how happy we are comes from "intentional behavior", things we do to make ourselves happy (or miserable).  Here is where our ability to make choices - happy choices - come into play...and the good news?  We are 100% in control here!

Here are some things the documentary suggests we do to fill that 40%...

1 - variety - do different things often or do the same things differently, change you routine a bit, add a little spice to your life, be adventurous
2 - believe in something larger than yourself - nurture your spiritual side
3 - excercise - we all know this one, physical activity releases chemicals from the brain that produce a sense of happiness
4 - cutlivate perosnal growth and friendships and help others
5 - "get in the zone" - you are in the zone when you are doing the one thing you enjoy the most, what you are passionate about, what makes everything around you go quiet, still and gray because at that moment none of it matters - only you and what you are doing matters...find what that is for you and do it as often as possible

{ What puts you "in the zone"? }

I hope there is something on your daily routine that makes you happy!  When life gets in the way, it is difficult to pursuit happiness or even remember what makes us happy, but what's the point of our lives if we are not happy!

{ What makes you happy? }

Benjamin Franklin said:

“The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.”

What are you waiting for?  What will you do today to make yourself happy?

Happy International Happiness Day!!

Simply Mad About My Business

Simply Mad Jewelry

Happy Monday!  Welcome to another exciting week full of magic and the unexpected!  I wish you a happy one!

The mission to take my jewelry business flying high continues.  I have made lots of progress and it was time to take another step.  I needed to define a few things about my business and answer the "why do I make the kind of jewelry I make?" question.  Something that had been difficult to answer until I gained some clarity about my drive and intention earlier this year.  It was time to write my "About Page".

I like writing, but "writing" and writing about myself are two VERY different things and the task seemed daunting at first.  I decided, after much financial consideration, I decided to hire a copywriter.  They asked me for as much detail as I could give them about myself, my business, my dreams and my ideal client or in a more bussiness-y term, my target audience.

I sent all the required information and shortly after I got the first draft.  Now, I had never worked with a copywriter before so I didn't know what to expect but the first draft was disappointing - perhaps my fault.  I felt it was a little bit of "copy & paste" of the info I had provided.  { If any copywriters are reading this, please do not be offended }.  After telling my husband about my disappointment, he said, "I don't understand why are you paying someone to do this; you like writing and no one can write "about you" and tell "your story" better than yourself.  He was right!

image borrowed from www.theprofitguide.com

I sat down and looked at all the details I had sent to the copywriter and right there hidden in all those words was the reason I do what I do and the person I do it for...I was able to spell out my wish for my jewelry and I finally gave my ideal customer an identity.  It took several drafts, more than a few re-reads and enough strokes of the "delete" key to have my fingerprint show on it, but I did it!  I DID IT!  Yay for me!  I ended up with an "About Page" that gives me direction, keeps me focuses and best of all, it gives me great satisfaction to have done it myself!

And you my dear - my ideal customer, my muse, my constant companion.  You are fashionable but not trendy...you like a good dose of classic style with just a tiny twist that quietly sets you apart from the rest!  I can now picture you every time I am designing a new piece and take you with me when I am out shopping for my "raw"materials.  You are amazing!

This is the end result...

About Page

Hello! I am the Mad(eline) in Simply Mad and I am glad you are here!

I love creating with my hands and traveling and I have been blessed with the opportunity to do both in the last 3 years.  My husband travels often for work and my jewelry and I tag along every chance we get.  

Up until recently my inspiration had come from a very personal place making it difficult to give each piece its own story, its own voice.  The new collections will be inspired by an experience, a souvenir, a picture, a local flea market or any other treasure found during my travels.

There are few things more satisfying than seeing something take shape from inspiration, to sketch, to final product and know that once completed it will go out into the world to make someone happy and live out its story while creating unforgettable moments along the way.

♥ { My wish } ♥
I wish that my travel-inspired jewelry will transport you to a place you have been to which holds great memories for you or to new lands you want to explore where happy memories are waiting to be made.  I want you to connect with your Simply Mad pieces and share the story behind them with your friends and family.  Tell them how your piece came to be, where in the world it was “born”,  and what inspired it.  When I sit down at my design table I have you in mind…the future wear-er and I always wonder what kind of adventures are in store for my newly created pieces and its new owner.  What great moments will my jewelry bear witness to?  I want my jewelry to be more than just an accessory, I want each piece to be an experience every time you wear it.

I hope you will come along on my journey and will embark on your own adventures with your travel-inspired Simply Mad Jewelry.


What do think?  I love hearing from you so comment away or email me :o)

Simply Mad About THIS LOVE Story - last one!

Mariana (right) & Claudia (left) circa 2004

We have one more story!!!! Yay!!  This one is very special to me.  It is about the cousin-hood, friendship, sweet sisterly love and bond between two teenage cousins.  This amazing girls are my nieces Claudia Sofia (14) and Mariana Nicole (12).  This is how Claudia describes their relationship...

Here is Claudia's love story...Happy reading!

{ So this may not be your typical love story but here it goes. You might think I am going to start telling you about how I met this boy and how he’s so great and lovely but I am actually writing about my cousin, Mariana and I, because while boys come and go she’s always there. I shouldn’t actually mention her as a cousin because we’re actually kind of sisters since we spend loads of time together and see each other every day, but to avoid any confusion, yes we are cousins. Our age difference may not seem like that big of a deal considering that it’s only a two year difference but in some occasions the type of problems we each have can sort of collide, meaning that when she’s experiencing all the stuff that I already went through I am here getting bombarded with new stuff that I, on my own, have to sort out. You can say she has a sort of advantage because any problems she can’t solve I am here to help but she actually is a big help when I need to vent my problems to someone.

It wasn’t always like this, actually when we were younger everyday was an immature fight about who knows what and we would literally not speak at each other and automatically go our separate ways making the adults ask questions about what happened and their endless effort in trying to get us to apologize to each other made me even angrier at times. This was until one day, playing with plastic Barbie dolls and a little pink mansion that I realized how stupid we were being. So my then 8 year-old self looked at my then 6 year-old cousin and said “If we fight again remember what the fight really is about, and how stupid it really is because it’s not worth getting mad at each other.” Mariana stared at me with a smile and nodded. From there on every time we fight we’d say “Why are we fighting again?” and then any anger in us would vanish. I guess since then we became really close and I am glad cause the age difference between my other cousins and I is greater and  it is always easier to talk to Marian than any other. As we became older we started going through things together. She told me everything; I told her everything. It’s a never ending cycle and she really does help. I might bore her with my ranting sometimes but  the fact that she’s there to listen means a lot because as I am telling her how confused I may be or how frustrated and exhausted I am of a certain problem I get to understand myself and sort out a possible solution. So I thank her for that, and all the other things she’s done for me. For the laughs, fun times, every unforgettable memory and for being my partner in crime, thank you. }

Simply Mad About LOVE Stories - February 14th

Happy Valentine's Day!  I have skipped the last few days of love stories because I didn't have any, but Marisol has come to save THE day...the big day of love...

Here is Marisol and Jose Enrique's love story...a rough start, followed by long distance but all along surrounded by heavenly conspiracies to make this couple get together!

Marisol has her own blog, she writes about all the things that she likes, that inspire her and that make her laugh!

Happy reading and Happy Day of Love, Friendship and Affection!

{ In March 1997, Mayra, the friend I used to go out with the most, mentioned that her friend from Venezuela would be visiting Puerto Rico (where I was living at the time) for business and would be staying for 2 weeks.  “Marisol, we will go out with Jose Enrique for the next two weeks” Mayra announced.  The first night they went out I coulnd’t go as a had tickets to go see a play with another friend.

  

The next morning Mayra called to report about what a great time she and Jose Enrique had had the night before and while we chatter she told me I HAD to meet this guy!  That night Mayra and Jose Enrique were going to see the play I had seen the night before and Mayra assumed I wouldn’t want to go.  But I had really enjoyed the play and said “Of course I will go, the play was great and I want to see it again!”

I am not sure I can say it was love at first sight; some things were less than perfect that night…he was wearing and yellow shirt and I don’t like yellow, I was so nervous every joke I tried to make came out anything but funny, it was awful so much so tha even at one point he said saracastically: “very funny”.  Oops!  It didn’t look like a good start.

In any case Mayra had to work the whole weekend and asked me to show Jose Enrique the southern part of Puerto Rico.  They had to “twist my arm” (hahaha!) but I agreed to serve as his toru guide for the weekend.  We got to know each other a bit better and sparks flew!  There was another minor problem though, Jose Enrique had a gilfriend-on-a-break (he had asked for some alone time to think) back in Venezuela.  Obviously I was very disspointed when I found out.

Jose Enrique returned to Venezuela when his two weeks in Puerto Rico were up and that same night he ended things with the girl back home.  He started calling me every day until he had a chance to come back to Puerto Rico.  During that second visit, on April 29, 1997 we became boyfriend and girlfriend and we kissed for the first time.  That night, he asked me how long did he have to wait to ask me to marry him. I almos had a heart attack and I said more, you have to wait a lot more time!  OMG!  I wasn’t ready for that question.  We had just embarked on a long distance relationship and we had many concerns about how to make it work.

Around that time I was looking for a job as an international auditor.  I didn’t like my first interview in the US or the whole US experience for that matter so when I got a call for a second interview I was apprehensive, but Jose Enrique convinced to go to the interview.  I went and the first thing they said was that I would have to move to Tampa but most of my time would be spent in Venezuela.  I couldn’t believe it.  God is Great!  I got the job, moved to Tampa and indeed I started speding most of my time in Venezuela.  It gave me the opportunity to meet Jose Enrique’s large family and to fall in love even more with him.  Even when I didn’t have to go to Venezuela, we would always found a way to see each other.  One time I was in Venezuela for work having dinner with his parents while he was in Puerto Rico for business having dinner with my parents.

We got married on August 29, 1998 and planning the wedding an adventure.  All my work colleagues had been accomplices and witneeses of this love.  Our wedding was in Puerto Rico while I was still living in Tampa and he was still living in Venezuela.  More than 50 people from Venezuela flew to Puerto Rico for the big day.  It was the best wedding of my life!  (hahaha!).  Truth be told, our biggest accomplice was God…he created the path for us to find each other and create a life together even when there was great physical distance between us.

Jose Enrique was waiting for his visa so we had to keep our honeymoon in the US, so we went to Maui, Hawaii.  WOW!  A dream!  We lived in Tampa until Spetember 2000 when we moved to Puerto Rico.

This year we will celebrate out 15th wedding anniversary and we have to beuatiful children who have come to enhace our love and help it grow every day.  Thank you God, Jose Enrique has been, by far, my favorite gift! ]

Simply Mad About LOVE Stories - day 11

Hi there!  If you have been following "14 Days of Love Stories" I think you and hope you have been enjoying them.  Today I have come to a dead-end sort of speak.  I have ran out of stories to tell - wa wa wa :( I looked up Cleopatra's, Isolde's and Juliet's but they are all riddled with death, tragedy and sadness.  I want a different kind of love story.  I want happy stories that inspire those around us to share and spread love.  I will leave the tragic romances to historians :o)

If you have a love story to share or know of a happy story that should be told, please email it to me at
simplymad@ymail.com.  We still have a few more days before Valentine's Day!

We will see what tomorrow brings...Hopefully I will get some more stories in my inbox or will come across a happy one online.

Stay tuned and thanks for reading!
Madeline

Simply Mad About LOVE Stories - day 10

 Day 10 of "14 Days of Love Stories" is here and today I      
 bring you the love story behind the monumental Taj Mahal,  
 on of the Seven Wonder of the World.  Happy Reading!


Here is the story of Shah Jahan & Arjumand  Banu...
{ Taj Mahal, the magnificent monument that stands at the heart of India has a story that has been melting the hearts of millions of listeners since the time Taj has been visible. A story, that although ended back in 1631, continues to live on in the form of Taj and is considered a living example of eternal love. It's the love story of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, two people from the course of history who set an example for the people living in present and the future to come. An English poet, Sir Edwin Arnold best describes it as "Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passion of an emperor's love wrought in living stones." The story that follows next will prove why the statement is true.

Taj Mahal - Agra, India

Shah Jahan, initially named Prince Khurram, was born in the year 1592. He was the son of Jehangir, the fourth Mughal emperor of India and the grandson of Akbar the Great. In 1607 when strolling down the Meena Bazaar, accompanied by a string of fawning courtiers, Shah Jahan caught a glimpse of a girl hawking silk and glass beads. It was love at first sight and the girl was Mumtaz Mahal, who was known as Arjumand Banu Begum at that time. At that time, he was 14 years old and she, a Muslim Persian princess, was 15. After meeting her, Shah Jahan went back to his father and declared that he wanted to marry her. The match got solemnized after five years i.e., in the year 1612.

Shah & Arjumand

It was in the year 1628 that Shah Jahan became the Emperor and entrusted Arjumand Banu with the royal seal. He also bestowed her with the title of Mumtaz Mahal, meaning the "Jewel of the Palace". Though Shah Jahan had other wives, Mumtaz Mahal was his favorite and accompanied him everywhere, even on military campaigns. In the year 1631, when Mumtaz Mahal was giving birth to their 14th child, she died due to some complications. While Mumtaz was on her deathbed, Shah Jahan promised her that he would never remarry and will build the richest mausoleum over her grave.

their tombs

It is said that Shah Jahan was so heartbroken after her death that he ordered the court into mourning for two years. Sometime after her death, Shah Jahan undertook the task of erecting the world's most beautiful monument in the memory of his beloved. It took 22 years and the labor of 22,000 workers to construct the monument. When Shah Jahan died in 1666, his body was placed in a tomb next to the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal. This magnificent monument came to be known as "Taj Mahal" and now counts amongst the Seven Wonders of the World. This is the true story of the Taj Mahal of India, which has mesmerized many people with its bewitching beauty. }

Thanks to www.tajmahal.org.uk for this information.

Simply Mad About LOVE Stories - day 9

I have ran out of stories of love from earthly people - although I wish and hope to get more - and so I have turn to Egyptian gods to fill this page today.  I have had the chance to go to Egypt and of the stories I heard from the tour guide has always stuck with me.  What follows is the love story of Isis and Osiris - true with a twist only a goddess could pull off!  Enjoy!

Here is Isis & Osiris' story of love...

{ Isis was the most powerful goddess of ancient Egypt, even greater than the gods; her worship spread through the Mediterranean world and became one of the main religions of the Roman Empire. Like so many goddesses, she had a long history. We’re not even sure that Isis is her original name, as Egyptian hieroglyphs didn’t include vowels. What we do know is that she came to embody so many of the qualities we seek that she is called “The One Who Is All” and the “Lady of Ten Thousand Names.”

Born of the Geb, the god of the Earth, and Nut, the goddess of the Overarching Sky, Isis held both heaven and earth in balance. She is a moon goddess who gave birth to Horus, the god of the sun; together, mother and child created all life and sustained it. She taught women to grind corn, bake bread, spin flax, weave cloth, and, perhaps most importantly, she taught them to tame the men so the women could live with them! Among her many attributes, she was also the goddess of medicine, healing, fertility, and wisdom.

So why was this Mother of Life also known as the Crone of Death? That title comes from what happened with her brother/husband Osiris.

Incest between brother and sister was allowable for the gods to keep the bloodlines pure. When Osiris became her husband, he became the first King of Earth. Set, their brother, was jealous and killed Osiris, sealed up his coffin and threw it in the river Nile. Isis grieved mightily, shredded her robes and chopped off her hair. Then she set out to find the body of her husband so she could bury him with proper honor and respect.

 

As she searched for her love, she met Queen Astarte in Phoenicia. Making a long story short, Astarte realized that Osiris’s body was hidden in her palace. Isis carried him back to Egypt and hid it in the swamps of the Nile delta while she prepared for his funeral. Her wicked brother, Set, found the coffin, furiously hacked Osiris’s body into 14 pieces, and scattered them in different directions. Searching and searching, Isis recovered thirteen of the pieces. Only his penis was missing, so she made one from gold and wax (some myths say mud or clay). Promptly inventing the rites of embalming, and with her magical powers in full force, Isis brought Osiris back to life and conceived their child Horus. Now that she was no longer grieving, Osiris was free to descend and became the King of the Underworld, ruling over the dead.

Isis is often shown wearing the symbol of an empty throne on her head, suggesting her husband’s absence and that she, herself, was the seat of the Pharaoh’s power. She carries the ankh, the Egyptian hieroglyph of eternal life. When in her funerary role, and as the protector of the dead, she is shown with wings. The ancient Egyptians believed that the Nile River flooded each year because of the tears Isis wept for her dead husband, and every year there was a ceremonial death-and-rebirth ritual.

When Christianity was trying to gain a foothold over paganism, the mother-and-child images of Isis and her son Horus in the many temples of Isis across the land were converted into images of Mary with her infant son Jesus, while images of Isis holding the body of her dead husband across her lap became Mary with the crucified Jesus.

For us today, Isis stands for qualities we all aspire to: feminine strength, deep caring about relationships, acceptance of our emotional depths, the act of creating life, and the wisdom surrounding renewal and reconnection. }

Thank you to Deborah King for providing this text.