Beginning to exhale...(a poem)

Even though I feel one way, I will profess the way I choose to feel.
Feelings they seem to rule me.
Think they always have.
I've got something to say. Is anyone listening? God. Divine One. Creator of the Universe.
I am a child of God. I am a Divine Being. It's time to embrace it. I am a piece of the highest love.
I love. I laugh. I give.
I have something beautiful to give. I have something wonderful to do.
I have love to bestow. I have thoughts to share.
I am a kind being. I am a good listener. I am a smart woman.
 I am a caring friend. I am strong. Stronger than I sometimes think or feel.
I am confident. I am moving through this phase of the journey, being drawn closer to the God within.
I forgive my mistakes. I ask for the lesson to be learned through it all.
I give thanks for breath right now. I am worth loving.
I let go of judgement, isolation, comparisons.
I can. I am.
I can feel joy. I can spread it.
I am love.
I am love.
I am love.
I am smiling. s.m.i.l.i.n.g. smiling. And so it it!

Sending love your way

This or that? ;-)

Hello and welcome glorious, lovely summertime! Can you feel the heat? I sure can in peachtree city aka the ATL. :-)

So, I'm starting out the sunshiney season with a little of "this or that". Random thoughts that make me think hmmm, what/which do I really prefer. Here goes:

*** Who does better voice~overs Morgan Freeman or James Earl Jones? Gosh, my first thought is to say Morgan...hmmmm. :-)

***Smoothies or freshly squeezed juice sans yogurt? >Juice for me.< 

***Single Ladies or Girlfriends? (for those who may not know, both are television shows about 30- something year old women with different personalities, dealing with various life experiences). Girlfriends, hands down for me. I miss that show. I loved seeing what Joan would wear! But more than the wardrobe, the show actually had some thought-provoking story lines, good acting, and great chemistry between the cast. Single Ladies...hmmm. no comment. ;-)

***Candles or air fresheners? I'm a sucker for a deliciously scented candle. I'm loving the Indigo brand candles at Whole Foods these days. I go through my "scent phases." For about 3 to 6 months I really like a particular scent, then I don't want to smell it again for a while. I'm over orange, citrus aromas at the moment. ;-)

***Bali or Australia? Hmmmm. Both are on my Bucketlist. Yet, if I had to choose, Bali all the way! Bali, I'm coming to visit you one day. :-)

***A day sailing the ocean or laying on the golden sand watching the sun glisten off the deep, blue sea. :-) I dig both! hmmm. It would depend on the beach and where I'm sailing.

***Paintings or photographs? I love art. However, a photo can be priceless! :-)

***E-readers or books? I prefer a good, ol' fashioned book. However, when I used to ride the subways everyday, it would have been nice to carry a Nook or something, instead of lugging around heavy books and magazines. :-)

***Curtains or blinds? Depends on the room... hmmm

***Lastly, kickboxing or Zumba? Kickboxing all the way! It relieves stress, burns calories and teaches you a little self-defense. Gotta love it! ;-)

Your turn.

Sending goblets of goodness your way. Tag you're it!

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!