Do you really learn something new everyday?....

Hello and welcome to the weekend! Even though, I am not working outside of the home, at the moment, I still cherish the weekend. Everything just feels more relaxed! It’s like my mind gives my body permission to chill out a little bit more on Saturdays and Sundays, without any guilt. Just be. And of course, do what I can to have some f-u-n.

So, I’ve been thinking can one really learn something new every day? Being at home more days than I previously was when I was working and skedaddling all over the most fascinating city in the world (NYC J), I thought probably not. However, I was wrong. I’m in a new phase of my life journey and every day, if I pay attention, I am enlightened by even the tiniest morsel of wisdom I gain about myself, my surroundings, other people, and/or the world in general.

Let’s see, this week I learned…. J

~A new word, pergola: a framework that supports climbing plants. I like saying this word, it just rolls off the tongue, pur-guh-laaa. I like the way it sounds, too! Check out this pretty pergola.

~~There are so many great websites that make it easy for you to help others. One cool site is www.sparked.com, which matches people with online volunteer opportunities.  

~On a spiritual side, I learned that if you can see yourself in everyone, then you can easily forgive and love anybody. :-)

~Arugula is absolutely delish with a dash of extra virgin olive oil, a splash of fresh lemon juice, and a sprinkle of Pecorino Romano cheese. It’s a great option for lunch (at home)!

~That I can cook tasty and healthy dinners for my husband and I, 4 out of 5 nights a week, without going bonkers! It feels good to eat well. I’m eating more veggies than I have in my whole life. Yay!

~Yet again, that we have a phenomenal first lady! Did you see her do 25 push-ups in a row in a friendly competition with Ellen on the Ellen Show? Even better, Mrs. O said she could have done even more. Now, I want to do 25 in a row by my bday which is 2 weeks away. I’ll let you know how that goes. J

~The simplest gesture or kind words really make a gal feel special.  It happened twice this week, unexpectedly, and it made my heart smile.

~Calories keep burning 14 hours after a 45 minute vigorous workout. That’s awesome!

~Hot water with lemon is a necessity to start off my mornings and end my evenings. It does the body good!

That’s all for now. Off to my first rock climbing lesson!  What'd you learn this week?

Sending smiles your way!

Celebrate Mondays

Hello and happy Monday evening! A new day, a new week, yet another chance to do something different….  I’m still on my quest to find meaningful work.  And boy, can it get draining some days! So, I thought this would be a good time to revive my “Celebrate Monday” postings.  J

I consider celebrating ~ expressing gratitude. After all, it has been said if you are thinking about what is good in your life, whether big or small, then more goodness may flow in.

Here are 8 things I’m celebrating right now.  (I have an affinity for the number 8):

v  Exercising without going to a gym, thanks to Comcast OnDemand. They have a variety of free workouts that you can try right in the comfort of your home. I’ve tried several. Kickboxing segments are my favorites!  It’s great, because now I can still get my heart rate pumping and burn some calories even when I am not motivated to head to the gym. Whoo hoo!!

v  A good laugh! Sometimes just hearing my husband’s “hee, hee, hee, hee or HA!” makes me laugh. J

v  Discovering a delicious Caribbean restaurant in Atlanta (Little Five Points). Stir It Up has warm, stylish décor, scrumptious Jamaican food, and attentive servers. I’m a sucker for good food AND great service. The curry chicken rolls were my favorite. Tasty chicken with fresh vegetables wrapped in a filo type crust; a unique take on egg rolls; with a side of perfectly spiced curry for dipping. Yum!!

v  Reconnecting with a childhood friend. Nothing compares to a true friend. J

v  Detoxing from my “vice,” sweets, for the next 3 day. Thank God for fruit, vegetables, ice and blenders!

v  Anything that inspires me to create. Most recently it was Fat Chef, a new weight loss show on Food Network. Stay tuned to what develops....;-)

v  Speaking to my cousins. They make me smile!

v  My health. That is worth more than gold. Very grateful that the only pain I have is from doing 50 squats during my OnDemand workout today. J

Is there anything you’re celebrating right now? Do share!

Sending good vibes your way. Tag you’re it!

Ride the Tide~

Hello out there! Happy 2012. I know, I know. It’s nearly February, already.  J I hope so far your year is all you want it to be.

It’s been a heck of a few months for me -- marriage, moving, new role as a wife, new home, new city, and even loss.  Change is good but sure isn’t always easy. I’ve always thought of life as an ocean, sometimes calm, sometimes exciting like a catching a big wave and being carried back to shore, sometimes scary like when the wave is so huge is takes you out into the sea farther than you wanted to go. I am learning to ride the waves and sustain a steady balance. It takes effort, but it is possible, right? J

(I took this picture because I saw a heart in the middle of the rocks. Sedona, AZ. Path to the Stupa.)

Last night, my hubby was sharing his intrigue about the Northern Lights. He was energized as he explained to me how phenomenal it would be to see this dazzling radiation storm in the sky up-close and personal, specifically in Iceland. J This is after all the strongest solar storm since 2003 (according to National Geographic). I must admit when I saw the first photos of the ultraviolet sky show, I thought the photographer enabled special effects on his camera.( lol, silly me)  It Is quite amazing to see what happens when a giant wave of charged particles from the sun slam into the earth’s magnetic field.

My point in mentioning this is that life is overwhelming interesting. The world is so wide and wonderful and captivating and wild and delicious and chilling and mysterious and mystical. Yet, there can still be times when we feel so far from all the fantastical stuff. While looking at websites about the Northern lights and Iceland, a banner ad caught my eye. It read “make every moment an experience.” Of course, it was promoting all the great adventures you can experience in Iceland, like taking a dip in the hot springs, whale watching, or simply spotting a glacier (just to name a few). How awesome! But, what about on an everyday basis, how can we make every moment an experience? For me, when I read that statement, I thought of “an experience” as being something grand or memorable or exhilarating.  I suppose experience could be defined in less mind-blowing terms. Because, honestly can every moment really be that way?  I suppose I could make every moment an experience by appreciating every moment for what it is.  Most moments are simply more breaths that allow me more time on this planet. Most moments I don’t think could be my last. Most moments go by so quickly I fail to relish in them. Most moments I’m figuring out what to do next from the menial to the major decisions in life….Most moments I don’t even realize I could make the most of it simply by being OK and grateful. I suppose no matter what is going on in my teeny spot in the world, there is always something to be grateful for. Something or someone to appreciate.  I’m thinking that the key to me making every moment an experience is to not let certain challenges keep me down. I’m thinking if I can find a way to quickly and easily connect to the light within, I will be making more of my moments an experience. And I’m thinking one of the simplest ways to make this connection is to believe  it’s ALL (life and the stuff that goes on) happening as it should.  So, for now, I think that those moments that I can smile and feel some sense of all is well (or at least make someone else feel that way), then dang on it—I’ve honored that breathe, and in doing so made that moment “an experience.”

I am surely a work in progress. And I’m open to hearing how or if you make most of your moments marvelous. Let the sharing begin! J

Sending solar-powered, radical streams of good energy your way. Tag you’re it!

                     

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!