Gathering Inspiration & Gratitude

Formerly Feel Good Friday.

Playing with the MOON! LOVE it!

Thank you NINA for sharing in your GREAT posts series.

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I am adding this to my project list.

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Stop by LOCATION CENTRAL to add your blog to the list.

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I enjoyed reading Inspired Ideas and I am looking forward to the Holiday issue.

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5 things I am grateful for this week:

{1}A day off from work to catch up on some cleaning and organizing around my house.

{2} My great boss who is always understanding and flexible with my schedule and “family” life.

{3} The opportunity to “move on” in my career in Early Childhood and to resign on my terms from my previous position at our local school district.

{4} My two children: I am lucky to have two kids that don’t shut me out and love to talk to me about what is going on with them in their preteen and teenage lives.

{5} My love who is always understanding and supportive.

I am a lucky woman!

What are you grateful for this week?

You Capture: Autumn

My favorite time of year will soon be coming to a close.

Everywhere I turn there is beauty and inspiration!

I hate to see Autumn go!

Wee Bit Wednesday: Halloween Edition

{one} have you ever seen a ghost?

Nope

{two} when was the last time you dressed up for halloween?

two years ago…roman goddess.

{three} what’s your favorite candy?

I definitely have a uncontrollable sweet tooth. I love candy corn, kit kats, caramel-apple suckers….oh how the list could go on and on….

{four} did you have a favorite costume growing up?

Not that I remember.

{five} did you carve pumpkins this year?

Not yet. My kids are getting older and haven’t even mentioned it yet.

{six} what’s your favorite scary movie?

I don’t care for scary movies that much so I don’t have a favorite.

{seven} haunted houses or corn mazes?

Corn mazes for sure. I love anything that is NATURE and seasonal.

{eight} are you superstitious?

somewhat

{nine} have you ever owned a black cat?

I currently own a long haired black cat and have for about 9 years.

{ten} what are you plans for this coming halloween?

We are watching the big MSU game (Go Green) with friends and family over to our house, handing out candy and then attending a halloween party at the local establishment in our downtown. It will be a fun filled day!

Wishcasting Wednesday: What do You Wish To Shed?

“Revere the body and care for it, for it is a temple.”

What do I wish to shed? I wish to shed years and years of low self esteem and body image issues. I wish to feel everyday that I am magnificent, just as I am! My body is a temple that is deserving of the utmost care. I have my good days and I have my bad days. I wish to have more good than bad. Logically thinking I know that I am worthy of everything that is wonderful, but I have some days where I just don’t “feel” it. I believe it, I preach it to others, but those days when I don't feel it myself can be depleting. I wish to shed whatever it is that hinders me from “feeling” it more.

Idea File: These are Beautiful!!! Painted Pumpkins

See how Alisa made them HERE.

Life Lesson for Women #1

Love yourself first and everything else falls into line.

Lucille Ball

Life Lesson #1:

Take Stock of Your Life

You have a choice --- You can create a life you LOVE.

The first step in doing this is to look back over  your life, not with a critical eye, but rather to discover the connecting thread that gives your life rhythm and meaning. In recalling our lives we re-collect ourselves. We gather together our forgotten priorities and passions.

We all have them. Even if we live the most satisfying life each of us pushes aside a passion or two to keep balance. We put them aside with the hopes of being able to focus on them at another time when life isn’t so busy or full.

My list of forgotten passions…

Creative pursuits: Life got in the way the last few months. I haven’t had any time to focus on connecting to myself in a creative way. I feel rejuvenated when I can create something beautiful. I vow to take this time for myself.

Connecting with other women: Gathering with a group of women who have a passion for celebration, self-growth, and sharing is a necessity for me. I vow to take this time for myself.

Journaling: I would love to learn techniques for art journaling. This is a practice that I hope to begin implementing more. Art journaling is a combination of self reflection and creativity. Both are vital for me to feel balanced. I vow to take this time for myself.

Spending time in Nature: I love celebrating the joys that each season has to offer.

Spring: A season of growth

Summer: A season of activity

Fall: A season of gratitude

Winter: A season of reflection

I vow to take time this time for myself.

What are your forgotten passions?

Idea File: Repurposed Halloween

Family First: Homecoming

Saturday marked a “first” for our family. My oldest is a freshman in High School and she attended her first formal dance.

It was a day filled with lots of fun and opportunities for “Motherly” advice.

I love watching her grow into a smart, beautiful, and inspiring young woman. Her smile and energy light up every room she enters!

A Beautiful Ripple Effect

This woman SPEAKS my language!!

I am perfectly imperfect.

 I have embraced my perfectionist personality enough to make it a part of who I am,

for better or worse.

And surprisingly, I have come to celebrate what makes me imperfect,

to shed light on the parts of myself that don’t fit together cohesively into a nice neat container. While part of me craves

 structure, routines, labels, and definitions,

 there is a huge part of me that wants to venture beyond the known,

the safe and cozy comfort zone.

For it’s through venturing off into side roads

and unmapped territory

that we can discover and create

 rather than steer solely in cruise control.

That’s where I am today and where I hope to be tomorrow,

one step at a time nourishing the sparkly moments along the way

as well as overcoming the less-than-sparkly moments

 that are always a part of the journey. 

I feel like I’m finally settling into my identity

 rather than trying to constantly redefine it.

 This is me… who I am, authentically and wholeheartedly.

 I am all in.

A Beautiful Ripple Effect.



Feel Good Friday

I LoVe this Mantra from Melody Ross

Kind Over Matter

I enJOYed reading about

 Lara’s experience at

 BRAVE GIRL CAMP

 and can relate to

 her list of personal truths.

See what is inspiring others at:

Wee Bit of Me Wednesday

{one} have you ever crawled through a window?

Only when I have locked myself out of my house. I have sent my kids through a window also when we have locked ourselves out.

{two} what’s one subject that you wish you knew more about?

Literature & History

{three} who’s your favorite villain?

Villain? Honestly I am not usually drawn to the villain, usually it is the hero instead.

{four} have you ever hit a jackpot on a slot machine?

No, but my parents won $10,000 dollars at the casino once.

{five} what is your favorite Disney movie?

Aristocats & Brave Little Toaster…my childhood favorites.

{six} if the whole world were listening, what would you say?

Be empathetic…walk a mile in someone else’s shoes…LOVE, LOVE Yourself…Build STRONG children…treat others as you want to be treated!!!!

{seven} if you could choose one song to describe you or your life, what would it be?

Better Together-Jack Johnson

{eight} your desk: messy or organized?

My desk at work is organized. I wouldn’t be able to function otherwise. My desk in my craft room is chaos. And I haven’t functioned in “there” for sometime now.

{nine} have you ever had surgery?

no, thank god.

{ten} if you could have any animal as a pet, what would you have?

I wouldn’t give up my cat.

 

Idea File: Doily Stars

Head on over to

The Happy Home Blog

to see how to make

these doily stars.

LOVE this!

Stephanie Ryan Art

Take A Sip

I LoVe this print

A Sip of Creativitea

by Eva Juliet

on Etsy.

Idea File: FALL in LOVE with Pumpkins

Use spray paint.

photo source: All You magazine

Stack upon each other.

Photo source: All You Magazine

Wrap with ribbon.

Photo Source: Good Housekeeping

Drill in a pattern.

Photo Source: Martha Stewart

Use a doily as a stencil.

Photo Source: BHG

Add a hurricane lamp shade.

Photo Source: Unknown

Idea File: Doily Table Runners

Photo Source: Country Living

Photo Source: Good Housekeeping

Photo Source: Ruffled Blog

Weigh In Day!!

Wish me LUCK!

I am in LOVE with these.

You can find them at SEA FINDS DESIGN.

I adore all things beach glass!

Go GREEN!!!!

Shades of the Season: Autumn

Fall provides an

abundance of opportunities

for taking photos!

It is a favorite

season of mine!

 I am lucky to live

 in a small town that has

 a wonderful riverwalk

connecting our two parks.

I try to take a walk

 in the evening

as often as possible

 so that I can

capture the beauty

of the season.

 

Ahhh...what a beautiful sight!