I keep forgetting....;-)

Hi and welcome to Friday!!! (almost). This posting will be brief. I believe every day we receive lessons, some big, some little. I know somedays I am not open to receive "my lesson." Yet, those days when I am, it's like gaining a little more clarity. :-)

Today, I was reminded that repetition is the key to life. Yes, repeat, repeat, and repeat again. I actually forgot that I must do things more than once to find my groove, build some stamina, and make whatever I'm doing become a habit and a part of my life.

Repetition creates strength in what you are aiming to make a part of your life. You can even overcome a not-so-good habit by repeating a really great one over and over and over. It's not about stopping, it's about starting and being consistent on a very regular basis.

So, here's to keeping on. As Dory said in the movie Finding Nemo, "just keep swimming, just keep swimming." :-) You can do it, and so can I!

Sending endurance your way! Tag you're it!

A pic and some thoughts...;-)

Hi out there! It's so funny. Now that I've moved, I feel like I'm extra far away. :-) It's June and it's hot! If I could I'd be on a beach every other day. Something about the big, blue ocean that just warms my soul. The sound of the waves, the depth of the sea, the soft, golden sand--if you're lucky! :-)

As I make myself at home here in the ATL, each week I'm discovering little differences between the big city and the quaint south. Even though I grew up in Georgia, so much is foreign to me now, since I left 20 years ago. (Plus, I didn't live in this particular southern city).One major observation is that customer service--so far-- rocks here. It's so refreshing to ask for help in Whole Foods or Target or wherever and be given wholehearted assistance. Not only have the salespeople I've come across in my mere 3.5 weeks here been helpful, they've also been pretty darn cheerful, upbeat and friendly. Upon walking into Bed, Bath & Beyond, about 3 sales folks offered a chipper "hi, how are ya?" Wow. You can't help but smile. It seems so natural.  Not to say in my fun~loving, fantastic years in NYC that I never got a happy "hello" or a warm welcome into a store--once in a while. However, the vibe is a tad different down here. And I think I get what it is. Many folks here seem to be really content with their work/job/gig in life. It doesn't seem to be based on a fancy title or big corner office or anything superficial. From the guy cutting and wrapping up the fish behind the counter at Whole Foods (which I am in love with the Whole Foods here--no line EVER!!!! and some really funky music playing over the sound system) lol, to the furniture store owner who simply loves living in Atlanta and helping customers find a sweet deal in her shop. It's a nice feeling.
It makes sense when you really think about it....Life down here is a little slower. No hustle and no crazy bustle. In fact, I'm still adjusting to walking slower. Stores close earlier. Folks seem to have a real home/family-life balance. Work is work, but family life or whatever it is that one values outside of work is really important too. In fact, even more.
Am I totally settled in yet? Not quite. This gal on the go is still getting the hang of things. I am grateful to have lived in a few different places in my journey thus far. Spices life up a bit! ;-)
In the meantime, I'm embracing being an essential part of a team. That team being marriage. Creating plans together, learning new things together, taking on new challenges together with a terrific partner. May the adventure get better and sweeter as each new day begins!

Sending boatloads of love/laughter/light your way! Tag you're it!

Two cent tidbits:-)!

Happy Friday, first weekend of the summer mi gente!!!! Just knowing summer is around the corner gets me giddy! I love sunshine. I love the beach. I love road trips and flying to exciting places, and meeting up with my gal pals, and walking in the park with my hubby. The sun moves me to my good place. :-)

So it's been a minute, but I have a few two cent tidbits. I'd love to hear yours. Here goes:

***I get a kick out of listening and watching Whoopi G. on the View. I dig her "i am what I am, love it or not" attitude. I dig her non-judgmentenal vibe. I am aiming to be more like that. Breathe freer, be freer. ;-)

***Does distance really make the heart grow fonder? I'm in a new town. Really the new gal on the block. I am missing my girlfriends! It's funny, even though I may not have seen each one of them daily or weekly, just knowing they were just a borough away was a nice feeling. Girls keep me in the loop. I will hop on a plane for a good girls bonding day/sleepover. :-)

***There is nothing like a good workout! Gotta sweat!

***Any thoughts on Arnold S.....it just seems to be a fact, men with power often cheat. Sending good thoughts to Maria and all the children. She's a strong woman, she'll be fantastic in a while. Life.

***Godspeed. I've heard this sparingly throughout my life. I like this word. Godspeed.

***I'm thinking of starting a group called something like "NY tulip aiming to blossom into a GA Magnolia" for NY transplants now living in the ATL. What do you think? Ideas. Suggestions. Members? ;-)

***I love how it rains buckets of water and hail one day and is glowingly sunny the next. God is just amazing!!!!

***Still smiling whenever I think of my special day 3 weeks ago today!!!!! I"m so glad those we care about and love so dearly were with us to celebrate. :-)

***Ready for more celebrations!!! Bring them on.

***Any exciting road trips this summer? We may be heading to Jekyll Island next week. I've never been. Love going to new places. The world is like a treasure map and I'm itching to discover more treasures!!!

***I believe I heard yesterday on the news that for the first time in decades there are less married folks than single in America. What do you think of that? Pros and cons to both, of course. At the end of the day, it's about doing what is best and healthiest for you. When you are at your best you bring it out in ohters.

***2 additions to my bucketlist for the summer: Tennis lessons. Project Organize our new home. :-)

***Color therapy works. What color energizes you? I love gazing at the wide, blue, turquiosy ocean. Ahhhhhhhh. That is divine!

***St. Martin is delightful island. Heavenly french food. Awesome sunsets.
                                              view from L'Esplanade hotel in St. Martin.

***Prayer works. Please send healing thoughts to my gal pal Tanya's mom. Thank you in advance.

***Sending hugs your way!!!!!

Go out and live, laugh, love. Tag you're it!

Hello there!...

Hello and welcome to the beginning of summer..almost! My favorite season. More importantly though, I'm back!!! on the blog that is.:-) What a fantastically wonderful, busy, once-in-a-lifetime kind of month I've had. I'm married! I can not even adequately articulate how much joy I felt on the most special day of my life thus far. Every ounce of effort was worth it. :-) Best of all, the sun made a glowing appearance all day--it was just perfect. I feel blessed. My heart is full. Life is good!

Honestly, I'm still taking it all in. Remembering the excitement of the last few months, as I slowly transition into my new "world." The world of sharing and merging. Bringing two ideas together to create something beautiful. It's a change for sure. And change is good. :-)

Speaking of change, new beginnings are happening all around us. Oprah's last show is tomorrow. :-/ (I've not watched any of the shows this week, not yet ready). Horrible weather is devastating parts of our country. One of my good friends is facing the biggest challenge of her life--so far--caring for and helping her mom defeat cancer. In the midst of life, I'm learning and seeing and realizing how B.I.G. life is. It's so much bigger than what I sometimes perceive. I send healing thoughts to everyone right now. I send love. I send light. I send laughter. I send energy. I send peace. :-)

Here's to rocking and rolling through life always. Embrace your goodness now and forevermore! Tag you're it.

Calm in the commotion...

At last, I'm home! I've been aching to blog, yet I've not had the energy amidst all the "to-dos" to get done, in the last 2 weeks. So glad I'm here now!:-)

I've really felt caught up in the commotion of running here and there, scheduling this and that, packing, reminiscing, letting go, rearranging, donating, creating, being inspired, being exhausted, going, going, and going. For a minute, I was forgetting to take time and breathe and relish in what an incredibly precious time this is in my life. It can become quite challenging to remember the sweetness of it all, with never-ending details, preparing, designing, choosing, etc. It's work!:-) It's take effort, prayer and support.

Someone recently described a wedding --in the bride's perspective-- as directing and starring in a Broadway play and hoping opening night goes off awesomely, because you only have opening night. When she said this to me, I was like bingo!!! That is exactly how I feel! :-)

Today, as I was on my way to yet another appointment, feeling like I was in a marathon, breezing through emails as I wait for the train to move, I receive an email from our new landlord. I quickly read the email and notice the kindest thing at the closing, an unsolicited good wish for our wedding & marriage. Wow! Right then, in that moment, I was forced to pause. Stop, breathe, take it all in. This time, this love, this change in my journey that is happening every second that I exist. Yes, people do this every day--this marriage thing. I know. However, that doesn't make it any less wonderful to me. In the last week, I was becoming a little stressed and a lot tired. But, like always, God is always on time with a little nudge to remind me of what is really going on. Just that simple, yet thoughtful sentence from someone I don't even know, moved me. It pulled me back into gratefulness for my life and this time right now.

So, I'm breathing.. again. Ahhhhh. Yes. And I'm excited too. I am really ready to celebrate the beginning of my next chapter!!!! Goodness, light, love and laughter keep on flowing in. I welcome it all.

Sending light your way. Tag you're it!

2 cent tidbits...and the countdown is on :-)

Hello and welcome to mid-April!!! Today felt like Spring, at last in NYC. It was like exhaling after a really, long winter. The sun was beaming brightly from the wide, blue sky. Just makes me smile thinking about it.

It's been too long since I've been here. Happy to be sharing tonight. I have a few 2 cent tidbits---so here goes...I'd love to hear yours too.
**Sunshine, as I'm sure I've mentioned like 100 times by now, makes me drunk with jolliness. :-)

**JCPenny's has really cute dresses and other items, for incredible prices! Who knew? ;-)

**Only 30 more Oprah shows. I want to be in her audience. She just rocks! I really feel like she's my friend and has been for 25 years. Since I was a child!!! I'm open and receptive to getting tickets to The Oprah Winfrey Show, come on into my life. :-)

**I have a major pet peeve. Lack of acknowledgment/gratitude. I think it stems from my upbringing. My mom really instilled in us (my siblings and I) that appreciation is essential. She instilled that whenever you receive any token of love, or any extension of kindness--be it a card, a caring note, a gift, a thoughtful gesture, that you must acknowledge it. At least let the giver know you received the "goodness," and always say thank you. I'm realizing that some folks just do not do this. It's almost shocking to me that someone would not automatically, without even thinking, say "thank you" whenever a kindness is extended in any form. To me it's simply inconsiderate and there's no excuse. :-/  It really takes no significant amount of time at all to type or write or say two words, "thank you." They mean so much. It matters. :-)

**I got a sweet surprise at work yesterday. Tulips from my hubby-to-be. What a guy!!! Thanks from the bottom of my heart, BBP. I totally didn't expect to ever receive any calls from our security guards these last days at my job. Made me smile all day!!

**What a year of BIG stuff happening. Not just my BIG day --just 3 weeks away, not only Oprah's show coming to an end..But also, my mom is celebrating a wonderful new decade of living next Saturday. Yay, mom. I'm very grateful! And....All My Children, the soap opera I started watching with my aunt Joanne at 7 years old is coming to an end. I actually haven't watched Erica Kane or Adam Chandler or Jessie in about a decade, but wow. I will always remember Luke and Laura's wedding, and that beautiful song by James Ingram and Patti Austin- Baby Come to Me. Learning that this soap has been canceled made me a little sad. It's another chapter coming to a close. One Life to Live is ending too!

**I can't wait to start biking!~ I know I totally changed subjects on ya... lol

**I'm so excited about moving into my first townhouse with my husband in less than one month!!

**Last but absolutely not least, I was surrounded by love, laughter, warmth, and good people two weekends ago at my bridal shower. How blessed am I to have friends from 15 years ago; friends through the years; a new friend that drove 6 hours roundtrip; and my fun and always loving aunts and cousins (and family near & far) come to celebrate my new chapter. It was an evening I'll always remember. I cherish these times more than you can imagine. I take nothing for granted. This is my life. My big screen movie. I value every person that plays a part. I love each person that has helped me grow, accepted me, encouraged me, & even challenged me. I'm very grateful for this life. :-)

Sending smiles your way. Tag you're it!

Not because I love you..because I LIKE you :-)

Hello and welcome to APRIL! It's been too long since my last posting. Please forgive me. I've been in full-speed, coloring the pages of the new chapter of my life. The stress has simmered down, and now I'm feeling really excited!

 So much has happened since I last shared. I'm not only getting married. I'm moving! Leaving the place I dreamed of, as a little girl, NYC. Yes, I imagined living in New York, New York as a child. And I am so happy I got to fulfill that dream. I didn't become a famous actress, but I wouldn't trade my experience for anything. In fact, I've spent my entire adult life in New York. It's been wild, crazy, exhilarating, fun, and an adventure more days than you would think. I'll blog more about that later. ;-)

Right now, I wanted to share how I've been feeling the last two weeks. The word that comes to mind is awe. I'm actually amazed at how kind people seem to become when they find out you're getting married. I can't tell you how many times I've been told to enjoy "this special time" in my life. After about the 4th time, I think it started to really sink in. I've been recalling the last 4 months and it IS a really extraordinary time. Even amidst the planning, anticipating, packing, resigning, emotions, and all. One of the elements that makes this time so beautiful is that it is one of the few times in life when people want to shower you with blessings and good wishes and all that is wonderful. It's priceless!

Words are incredible. To be told by someone what they've thought of you all along, or think of you now and what they wish for your life, -- that's tremendously moving. I've felt this so many times in the last few weeks.

I resigned last week. I was a little nervous, I must admit. Though, totally ready and thrilled at the same time. After 8 1/2 years, I went into my supervisor's office to say, "the time has come..." Yes, that's exactly how I started it off. As soon as the words left my lips, I felt relieved and as if I took the first leap into the next phase of my "living.". And I do believe the net is appearing (as the saying goes). My boss said she was SO happy for me, but sad for herself. Sad to lose someone she considered a friend, as well as a colleague. She also said she hoped I considered her a friend, as well.  But, what deeply touched my heart, was her response to me after I asked if she'd be a reference for me. I was surprised to hear, "Deniceeee, of course I will. I'd adopt you as my daughter if I could." And me being me...couldn't stop the tears from falling after that. What a sweet thing to say! I am grateful. That was just the beginning of my colleagues, my supervisor and others that I've work with for the last 8 years expressing what they think of me personally and professionally. I'll take those positive words with me as I walk into my next roles (in this journey).

And so it is that in all of this, I kept thinking of this precious scene from The Cosby Show. (click the link below to watch) :-) The scene is with Denise (daughter) and Claire (mother). Claire says a few wise words to her 2nd born daughter Denise about college & life. Finally, Claire says, "I want you to know I'm gonna miss you," then she pauses for a split second and continues her thought, "not because I love you, but because I like you." Wow. How totally wonderfully beautiful!! The first 10 times I watched that scene, I cried. It's just pure sunshine to know that you are not only loved, but liked. And you know what, that's what I'm feeling right now in my life. Ahhhhhhhhhh. I'll keep this feeling in my heart always. :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6bP4GV3qgs&feature=related

Sending awe-some-ness your way. Tag you're it!