Happy New Year Gaia!!

It's Jessica :)

Here we are. 2009!

What mysteries does it hold? What joys? What loves? What learning? We have a whole year ahead of us, filled with possibilities. Isn't that exciting?

So, this week, our Friday Five is about the potential of the New Year. To review, just copy the following questions into your blog and add your own answers. They can be as short and sweet as your heart desires. Tag your post with "Friday Five". Then, share your entry with friends and invite them to respond too.

We never know what a New Year might bring, but it's fun to dream and share...

1) How did you celebrate the New Year?

2) What new thing(s) do you want to do this year?

3) What is one (or two!) of your goals for 2009?

4) What do you wish for the world?

5) What do you hope to nourish in your own life?

Here's mine!

I hope you all have a blessed year filled with wisdom, love, growth and laughter.

Hello Beautiful People!

Jessica here :)

The holidays are a lovely time. But, they can also a bit stressful. I had an amazing season with friends and family, and yet there wasn’t too much time just to relax. And, I think many of us get right back to work as soon as we have the chance! Studies say that Americans work the longest hours in the world! Wow!

Now, I know many of you on Gaia are not from the US, but perhaps you have a bit of stress in your life? Perhaps you are in need of a little relaxation and fun to sooth the soul? So, this week’s Friday Five is about just that.

Let us know how you like to unwind and enjoy life…

1) What do you love to do in your free time?

2) What music helps you relax?

3) What movie did you enjoy recently?

4) Who makes you laugh?

5) Where do you go/ do to recharge?

Here's what I do!

So, I invite you to copy these questions and answer them in your blog too, as always, tag 'em with "Friday Five"!

If you click here you'll see the new main Group page.

The picture shows our testing environment (as well as just the top half of the screen), but if you could scroll down you'd find "Popular Favorites," "Official Gaia Groups," "New and Interesting," "Media Groups" and "Random Picks."

We thought this was a good way to showcase active groups, keep new ones up top, and also provide an ever-changing selection of content. (The "Media Groups" represent the integration of our "Book Groups" into the main Groups areas. Except... we'll be including Films and Albums, for those who want to chat about other art forms, as well. In short, it'll be much more easy to find and begin conversations around your favorite authors and works.)

Here's a picture of what's inside each Room.
Each Group will have separate Rooms (now known as 'Boards'). My favorite part is the new panel on the right. It's made of clickable accordions that open up so you can easily see members, recent activity, and the 'About' sections. (So much more easy than the current version!) And instead of 'Boards,' each Group has 'Rooms,' with discussion threads inside.

Once you enter a discussion / conversation thread you'll find this.
It should look pretty familiar, as the layout is the same, but we've cleaned things up a bit and added a few extra surprises. (See the 'Group Grapevine'? I know. Eee!)

Hello my lovely Gaians!

This is Jessica :)

I hope you are having an amazing day.

This week I've been appreciating the beauty in life. Beauty, they say, is in the eye of beholder, but to me, it means those things that move your heart and inspire a certain sense of awe. The world is certainly filled with difficulty, but it is also filled with blessings and beauty. So, this week our Friday Five is about the lovely stuff in life. Just copy the questions below to your blog and type in your answers and send then invite your friends to play along, as always ;)

1) What do you think is beautiful about the Earth?

2) What animal(s) do you think are beautiful?

3) What are your favorite flowers?

4) Do you like to watch sunset or sunrise?

5) What makes your life more beautiful?

What a wonderful world eh? Thank you for all of your wonderful hearts. They certainly make my life more beautiful.

Here's mine!

Hello Beautiful People!

This is Jessica.

Guess what!?!

I just returned from Washington, DC and the historic inauguration of President Obama. It was amazing. Now, whatever your politics may be, it was incredible just to be present in our nation's capitol for this event. The small freezing city was filled with celebration and anticipation. The National Mall couldn't accommodate the crowd, so it spilled over into smaller venues across the city where people could watch the swearing in on-screen. But, no matter where they were, everyone seemed to feel part of this special moment in time. As for me, I was at Union Station with so many others, huddled around small screens, voices silenced so we could hear the speeches and Aretha Franklin. It was a communal experience.

And, that is why I'm inspired to make our Friday Five about history, politics, and the world. You know what to do :) Copy an paste the questions to your blog and then invite your friends to do the same! I invite you all to explore with me...

1) What political/ historic figures have inspired you?

2) Did this week's inaugural events in the USA impact you?

3) What do you think is an important trait(s) for leadership?

4) Do politics interest you?

5) Do you like to read the news?

Here's what I have to say ;)

To a changing world...

Hello my lovely people!

This is Jessica :)

It is a beautiful day here in Los Angeles. I hope it is beautiful wherever you are too! 

The world seems filled with magic and creativity today. Maybe it's because I'm settling in to the Chinese New Year of the Ox and new things seem on the horizon. In any case, it inspired this week's Friday Five about art and expression. Won't you share? Just copy and past into your blog and invite your friends to play, as usual! Tag it with Friday Five.

1) How do you like to express yourself? (words, actions, writing, song?)

2) What songs/ music inspires you?

3) Do you like museums?

4) What is your favorite color(s)?

5) What kind of art or décor do you have at home?

Here's a bit of my inspiration.

And, speaking of creative expression, have you seen Annika's blog about her film Belladonna? She been on Gaia a long time and just posted the trailer in her blog and it looks gorgeous. It seems like an amazing love story filled with deep connection and passion. It moved my heart and I wanted to share :)