We Found Out The Results Of The IVF...

Just before six o'clock in the evening we received a phone call from our doctor.  As the phone was ringing and Mara prepared to put her phone on speaker, she asked if I wanted to grab my phone to record the call that we hoped would be good news.

Choosing Happiness: A Sunday Sermon

A few months ago, Mara had a post titled The Work I Did To Be Happy.  It's one of my favorite posts on a topic I find most interesting.  It just so happened that when Mara was writing that post, that same week I was asked to speak in church on the topic of choosing happiness.  My comments are very similar to Mara's, but with a more religious take due to the setting.  I hope you find these thoughts helpful to you on your own journey in understanding happiness, whatever religious connections you may or may not have.  The pictures are from a beautiful sunset this week after a terribly rainy Brooklyn day.  Enjoy.
- Danny

More important than the words I will speak today, if I’m successful, will be the love and confidence you feel from me, and more importantly, through me from God.  The most important prayer I offer as I prepare is not that I will be inspired (even though I certainly pray for that), but that you will be…that each of you will see through the weakness of my words to the truths that I am trying to convey, truths that mean the world to me....

One Thing That Helped Me To Be At Peace With Infertility...

Many years ago, when I first began to heal emotionally/spiritually, I was seeing a fertility acupuncturist in Manhattan. Little did I know that my time with her would change my life for good.  (Sometimes I still can't believe it happened...I remember so clearly the days when it seemed it might be impossible to truly ever have any inner peace.)

I remember our first session together. I was laying on the table and during the acupuncture, she had me listen to this meditation CD called, "Help for Fertility" by Belleruth Naperstak. I had never listened to anything like this before. It's basically just words to music...but it just spoke to my soul. I laid on that table and just wept.

Today I feel honored to share with you a portion of those beautiful words that were so very transformative to me then, and have been a part of the script in my head ever since as I've thought about being a mother. I know these lines so well now - - they even feel sacred to me. I think any hopeful mother or mother would love this...


"Affirm your intention to support and care for this body of yours. And know that in the deepest part of you that you have the heart, the mind, the strength, and the love to care for a new young life. Everything you need is right here. And so you can gently invite this new soul to come into your life...by whatever route it chooses to take - in it's own right time. And you may feel certain that you know what that will look like...or maybe not. But for right now, for just this moment, you can let yourself surrender into just being, knowing in the deepest, truest part of you that this will unfold exactly as it should. And remember that this body of yours will be your ally - your oldest friend and your steadiest companion - sometimes wiser and more attuned to your life's path than even your own mind can know or say."

"And you might have a sense of other hands - resting gently on top of your own - of smiling ancestors and special guardians offering encouragement, sending a greeting and a blessing, bringing in for you all the love and sweetness that has ever been sent your way - from any time or place in your life.  Every prayer and good wish.  Every loving smile and comforting gesture. " 

"And whether (the process of a life developing) is happening inside your own body - or some place else- you know that this new being is the one that was meant to be placed in your keeping to be loved and taught and guided by you. And you can sense the presence of smiling ancestors watching over this new, evolving life - wherever it grows. Crooning soft lullabies in low loving voices, tenderly offering gifts and visions and guidance, promises and blessings...because they see the child who will pick up their banner and carry the best of what they stood for into the world. And so they stay close. Smiling and nodding. Whispering this child's name.

And you know that this new life will know the feel of your lap. The tambour of your voice. The rhythm of your breathing like no other. This child will respond to your touch, your smile, your scent, your mood, and your love like no other...just as you will thrive on the love that opens up and blossoms inside of you like no other."

"And suddenly you are certain. You know with your whole heart - your whole being - that this child is a gift. A gift like no other. A precious link in the great human chain. Necessary and perfect. And with your guidance, will leave the world a better place for having been in it. Understand that you can let go of striving and worrying and just allow this to happen. In it's own way. In it's own time. As you continue to live your life fully and completely - surrounded by those who love and support you - visible and invisible; loving your body; embracing your life; and taking gentle good care of yourself. Because you know that you can trust this journey...that you are already blessed with everything you need to fulfill your promise."

:)

I'd love to hear what you think.  Also, do you meditate? Do you meditate silently, to music, or a guided meditation? My meditation normally comes in the form of a prayer, but I would actually love to learn more and more about what other people do. For awhile I've been dreaming of going to India to visit a Vipassana Meditation Center. They have 10-day meditation courses where they teach you, feed you, house you, and immerse you in meditation - and they're even free of charge! Have you ever done something like this? Would you? (I say let's go!)

(The beautiful photos are of my oldest New York friend, Abby. I've known her longer than anyone and we've been through so much together.  And, I just can't help but mention that her instagram feed is a work of art - she's one of the most talented people I know.)

AND: Congratulations to...
TarrinJune 12, 2013 4:44 PM
You won the reflexology sessions!  Please contact me within a week to provide your address.

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Today's Topic: What Will Happen if Our IVF Doesn't Work...

A few have worried that if the IVF doesn't work, that it will be incredibly devastating to us.

Here are my thoughts...

Our Good Luck Fairy

I just had to share with you the sweetest thing that came our way...

On the day of the embryo transfer, we received this little doll in the mail.

It was sent by the daughter of one of our blog readers. The little girl made this yellow (!) fairy doll, hoping it would bring us good luck for the IVF. She later added a scarf after seeing that I recently posted about a scarf.  Can you even believe the sweetness?!?  Oh my goodness, we just love it so much.

Mary, thank you, thank you, thank you!! Your little doll and your kindness still have us smiling from ear to ear.  :)   

P.S.  I am putting together a Natural Beauty Night here in Brooklyn! I'm so excited about it.  I've been testing products for months now to find the very best ones...and pretty soon I'll be sharing all my findings on the blog.  :)  Fun stuff ahead. 

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Angel Feet & The Perfect Date in the West Village

Today's post is near and dear.  We got to go to Angel Feet for a date!! You guys, it's such a little NYC gem. This place will sweep you away in minutes. I'm so happy to share it with you...

Angel Feet is known as the best reflexology place in the city. I have known about it for probably 10 years and have always wanted to go. I looove reflexology (is there anything better than having someone with skills go to town on your feet?) Read ahead for our full date experience in the West Village. And, something fun today:  One reader will receive a gift for two! See the end of this post!!!  :)

Angel Feet is nestled in what is quite possibly one of the cutest neighborhoods in existence - the West Village. (It also reminds me so much of Brooklyn.  I think that's why I love it. :)

Now, Danny is not so experienced with all my natural/holistic ways...but since we've been together, he's been loving so much of what I've introduced him to.  (hee, hee.)  I've got him drinking my green smoothies with me every day, drinking almond milk, eating all kinds of greens from the farmer's market. He even laughed the other day when he realized we have a sugar and flour bin in our cupboard that we never use. (We use almond flour and honey/agave/stevia instead.)  Anyway, it's cute to see him enjoy some of my holistic ways. And let me tell you, this man looooooved the reflexology :) :) :)

From their website:  "Reflexology is a natural and gentle form of relaxation which promotes harmonization of the body, mind and spirit. By gently stimulating reflex points located in your feet and hands (which correspond to your whole body), tension and stress can be released giving you a feeling of peace and well-being."

Going in, I was ecstatic.  Danny still didn't know what he was getting himself into.  :)

We were attended to by two of the sweetest relexologists I think there ever could be.  They tucked us into these suuuper comfortable chairs and wrapped us up to stay awhile, gave us something to drink, tucked pillows all around us, started our feet soaking, and then wrapped and propped up our feet.  Um....we were kind of dying over how relaxing it already was and they hadn't really even started.  The hustle and bustle of NYC could not have been further away.

Yes, this guy was loving life.

Our dear reflexologists worked on us simultaneously.  We had a 1 hour session so they had time to work on both our hands and our feet.  It was heavenly!!!



And that feeling of "peace and well-being" that reflexology is supposed to help create?  Yes, yes, yes! We felt it.  :)  :)  Oh my.

I've always loved that official Reflexology Foot Chart. It was actually hanging up on our wall near my mom's desk my entire childhood.  She would often do reflexology on us if we had any aches or pains.  :)  (Also, I looove this amazing, modern chart, designed by Erin Jang.  It shows some of the more basic points that you could massage at home. I think I need to carry on tradition and have one of these hanging on my wall. :)

After our sessions, we were so relaxed we didn't want to move...

It felt strange to put shoes on again.

Afterward, we headed to Taim, a tiny Israeli place and one of our favorite restaurants in the city.  They are famous for their falafel. I love the "green falafel" with parsley, mint, and cilantro  (GOOP says it's "the best falafel in the world!")  I also love getting their coconut milk smoothies (the date, lime, banana is amazing.)

There is always a line at Taim, so snag a seat on the bench out front or on one of their stools as soon as you can!

Our day ended with watching the basketball players at West Fourth Street.  This scene is just classic New York.

Such a perfect day.

And now, Angel Feet would love to share this experience with one of you!

They have offered a Gift Certificate for (2) 1-hour sessions so you can take your partner or a friend on a date!  Just leave a comment below. We'll choose one of you after 12 noon on Friday, 6/14/13.  This would also be the perfect thing for anyone visiting the city.  (NY has a tendency to tire out visitors' feet.  :)  And if you don't think you'll be in NYC anytime soon, you could also gift it to a friend in the city.

(FYI, the one hour session gives you the opportunity to have both hand and feet work done, if you wish.  I highly recommend it!!!  You will be in heaven!!!!)

Also, Angel Feet would like to offer 15% off to ALL our readers this Summer (through August 31st, 2013).  Just mention A BLOG ABOUT LOVE when you book your reservation.  :)

Angel Feet:  77 Perry Street, 212-924-3576.  Appointments recommended.
Hours:  Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (10 am - 9 pm)
Tuesday:  2:30-9:00 pm
Saturday & Sunday:  10:00 am - 8:00 pm

Taim:  222 Waverly Place, 212-691-1287
Hours:  11 am - 10 pm daily

UPDATE:  The lipstick!  It's one of my favorites on earth.  I gave up Nars, you guys.  They have LEAD in some of their lipsticks.  That is so not cool.  I've been going all natural and this brand is the cream of the crop.  A little goes a long way...I feel it will last forever.

Brand: Ilia.  Color: Wild Child.

OK, and the sunglasses: Target.  :)

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The Day of Our Embryo Transfer

It happened! It really happened! This embryo transfer was the final step of IVF. I took some photos of the experience. If the procedure works, I thought it would be fun to show our children these photos one day... [Also, I recorded these photos (and many more) on "Days" (June 8). So you can click over there to see more details, gifs, etc... if you prefer. ]

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On the way there, Danny says:  "What's some good baby-making music?" haha. 

(Many more photos after the jump!)