Everyday Simplicity

Dream Bedroom

2012-02-11T19:01:00.001-08:00

This is a perfect princess bedroom.

Happy Saturday!

2012-02-11T12:46:00.001-08:00

So today I am at home working on a project and really enjoying the quiet mood of productivity. I have a Trapp Candle burning in No.64 White Lotus and Lychee. It smells so wonderful! It is a blend of white lotus flower and creamy jasmine rice. The box says there is a bottle of perfume in every bottle. It is such a lovely scent but not at all overpowering. If you can't tell I am completely hooked on this new scent! I have soft music playing and all is right for working. So tell me what Saturday projects you are working in and what do you do to enhance your work environment?

Here is the link to the candle website if you want to check them out http://www.trappcandles.com/whats_new.aspx

A lovely thought

2012-01-28T01:26:00.001-08:00

a lamp post forest….http://t.co/FZH2kIEl -- ellefowler (@ellefowler)

Back to Blogland

2012-01-27T23:41:00.001-08:00

So I took a break for awhile and decided to peek my head out and test the waters in Blogland again. I feel like I have been disconnected so long. Feels good to be blogging again. So even though I haven't been blogging I have been keeping up with happenings on the Web and always reading and trying out new things. I have so much to post about but do not know where to begin....! Since this is my main blog, I am just going to let it evolve into its own and just have it be a random all things me blog. I consider myself to be a well rounded person so this blog should reflect all facets of my life and personality. I attempted last year to have a specialized blog about books and reading that did not work too well. I felt trapped into one mold and it totally squelched my creativity and thus lost my interest. I believe this has always been a sort of guinea pig blog anyway and it will continue to be. I will be catching up on blog trends and tips and you will see the fruits of those tips here. As always I am open for feedback and any comments. I look forward to being back in Blogland with you all.

Summer To-Do List

2011-07-14T11:49:00.001-07:00

OK, so if you are anything like me, you love making lists. I composed a summer to do list of things I would like to do before summer is over. Just thought I would share with you : )

1. go to the beach

2. eat home made ice cream

3. read all my summer reading picks.

4. hang out by the pool and sip yummy drinks

5. See all the current action movies

OK, so there is my list. Now how about sharing yours with me?

Summertime : )

2011-06-28T12:01:00.001-07:00

OH, don't you just love the summertime? It is so wonderful to have lazy days off to kick your shoes off and pour a glass of lemonade and settle in with a good book or take off to the beach. I wish summer would last forever.

Five things that make me happy : )

2011-05-29T18:17:00.001-07:00

1. Making homemade cards.

2. Homemade seven layer dip.

3. Redecorating a room.

4. Reading a good book.

5. Making homemade confetti.

Part 1 of Summer Reading List

2011-05-17T22:19:00.001-07:00

The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins

The Help

Room

Tinkers

Leaving by Karen Kingsbury

Persepolis 1 and2

Summer Reading List

2011-05-17T22:17:00.001-07:00

Ok! Time to dust off those books on your bedside and get them in order. Its summer reading time! Over the next few days I will be posting some of the books I hope to read this summer and I hope you join in as well. :-)

My Dream Job

2011-05-12T11:26:00.000-07:00

Hey there!

Long time no see! I apologize for the hide and seek game I have been playing with my blog as of late. I recently landed my dream job! I am working for my town library. It has always been a dream of mine to work at a bookstore or library. I love it. It is one of my passions to read and to be among books. Having this job allows me to read the titles, be amongst the books and all the current happenings in the literary world. So far it has encouraged me to read more and also to read different things than I have been accustomed to. We are also getting ready to gear up for the Summer Reading Club for the children and juniors. Should be a lot of fun. I have not yet started on my Summer Reading List but I will shortly and would love for you to share yours with me. : )

Happy Reading!

A Day Off Today

2011-04-20T11:00:00.001-07:00

Today I have a day off. Lately my days have been so full of wonderful activities and work that I have not really stopped much.
So today I declared it my official day off! Sitting here with one of my favorite movies Message in The Bottle, a Strawberry Buttercream Yankee Candle burning, and absolute bliss. It doesn't take much to please me :-)

Yesterday was pleasant as well. Got to take a rare shopping trip with my mom which was lovely and look what the Easter Bunny brought me early.

Inspired by Spring

2011-04-06T02:48:00.001-07:00

Oh how I love Spring days! Blue skies and cool breezes, the feeling of fresh grass under my feet and the bursts of color all around. Nothing beats it. It makes me want to fill every room with fresh flowers and open all the windows. I am continuing my Spring cleaning project and it still amazes me how much stuff that seems to keep turning up! How does one deal with all the papers that seem to collect from somewhere in the unknown regions? :-)

A Lovely Fun Day!

2011-03-25T17:06:00.001-07:00

Oh how I love sunlit and cool days with low humidity such as it was today! Woke up early and started morning routine and then hung out with a friend which was so much fun. Time with your girlfriends is such a rare treat these days but its so necessary. Its fun to sit and chat and catch up on what's going on and laugh and be silly. Its those simple pleasures in life that makes me most happy and spring and summer is just full of opportunities to slow down and savor the simple. In this hectic, crazy mixed up world its so vital to sit back and be grateful for those things in life that you can't put a price tag on. Here are my Simple Pleasure for today.

1. Laughter
2. A tall glass of tea with lemon
3. A brisk walk
4. Fresh lemons
5. Leafing through a Country Living Magazine:-)

My blog is undergoing some changes.

2011-03-20T17:33:00.001-07:00

Pardon for the mess but Everyday Simplicity is under construction once again. I love blogging and I am struggling to find a focus for this blog for some reason. I originally intended for this to be a blog that chronicled my thoughts and life in general and anything interesting I learned along the way. I then thought it would be cool to focus on books and reading specifically but that is kind of hard to keep up with and stay consistent. So I am just going to let this blog be what it wants and let it evolve on its own. Thanks for being patient with me and I hope you continue reading!

Mobile Blogger!

2011-03-17T08:54:00.001-07:00

So excited to have this feature on my smartphone now. My laptop has been on the fritz and thus my blog suffered but now I am back! Hooray! How could I ever achieve my goal of becoming a power blogger if I never get to post? :-) just wanted to post this and let ya'll know that! Happy Blogging!

The Forgotten Garden

2011-02-08T08:25:00.001-08:00

The authoress Kate Morton. Image taken from Amazon.com

This book is the perfect escape. It is about one's sense of self and how fragile that can be. The imagery immediately sweeps me away to a beautiful, untouched, magical world. Wouldn't it be lovely to simply close your eyes and wake up in your destination of choice? I am languishing over every word and thus enjoying it immensely. So have a cup of tea with me won't you as we escape together to our own "Forgotten Gardens."

Please forgive me.

2011-01-26T10:36:00.000-08:00

This year so far has started off with a wonderful bang and I have been so busy trying to get it started right I have not been blogging as much. I promised you a review of The Forgotten Garden but honestly have not even started it yet. Shame on me :( My goal for the rest of this week is to get that read and post my reviews.
Happy Reading!

Things to Ponder...

2011-01-05T15:35:00.000-08:00

To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life. ~W. Somerset Maugham

Reading well is one of the great pleasures that solitude can afford you. ~Harold Bloom

Happy 2011!

2011-01-05T14:45:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I am a person who usually does not make Resolutions but rather goals I would like to achieve. This year my goal is to simply: Have a better Life. I will do whatever it takes to make this happen. To break it down into small monthly, weekly, daily bites so that I will not become overwhelmed by the whole process.

As I believe that reading is a way to become a better you I will attempt to make my reading be productive and enjoyable at the same time. Any suggestions to add to my To-Read List for 2011? I would love to hear from you!

Everyday Simplicity: Books to Read in 2011

2010-12-29T10:26:00.000-08:00

Everyday Simplicity: Books to Read in 2011

Books to Read in 2011

2010-12-29T10:25:00.000-08:00

Ok fellow readers! It is time to make your Books to Read list for 2011 if you haven't already. There is a world of books just waiting to be explored and read. I have been thinking about my list but haven't gotten it down yet. I can think of 5 books off the top of my head so I will start with those. I love to see what other people are reading so please feel free to post back and share your lists with me. I would love to get a lively conversation going about the books we want to read this year.

1). The Corrections- Johnathan Franzen
2). Freedom- Johnathan Franzen
3). The Forgotten Garden- Kate Morton
4). Summer at Tiffany- Marjorie Hart
5). The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks- Rebecca Skloot

Its Been Awhile

2010-12-15T23:05:00.000-08:00

well hello readers it has been too long. i was forced to take a sabbatical from blogging because life reared its ugly head and I had to deal with it. i have missed being connected and in many ways really really enjoyed being disconnected. needless to say i have many topics to draw from my experiences and could actually write about something interesting. of which i intend on doing some point in the future. as we are halfway into December now i have begun thinking about the new year and my goals and what i would like to make of th2011. naturally loving reading like i do and all things books led me to begin thinking of my reading list of 2911. i have not done it as a blog topic but think it will be fun. i remember a while ago i published a blog topic about love for books and i have to say it has been one of the most popular topics of my blog history thus far. so i shall ask of you to put on your thinking caps and share with me your list of books to read in the new year. and i will share mine and as always am open to suggestion and discussion of all things books. happy reading.

2010-08-14T17:07:00.000-07:00

Image taken from Cloud9living.com

August 14, 2010

“Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without words, and never stops at all.”

Emily Dickinson quotes

Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragement, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak”
Thomas Carlyle quotes

Thought for Today

2010-08-03T07:26:00.000-07:00

Good Morning! This photo from travelphotoguide.com caught my eye. I have always been inspired by blue skies over water. I wish I was there with my fishing pole in the water and my camera set up on a tripod, ready to capture scenes from nature.

There is something about nature that helps me feel so connected and at peace with God and myself.
Here is an excerpt from my morning devotional that I found very thought provoking.

This is taken from Streams In The Desert written by Mrs. Charles W. Cowman

" We must remember that it is not in any easy or self-indulgent life that Christ will lead us to greatness. The easy life leads not upward, but downward. Heaven always is above us, and we must ever be looking up toward it. There are some people who always avoid things that are costly, that require self-denial, or self- restraint and sacrifice, but toil and hardship show us the only way to nobleness. Greatness comes not by having a mossy path made for you through the meadow, but by being sent to hew out a roadway by your own hands. Are you going to reach the mountain splendors?"

taken from Google Images peilife.com

A little inspiration

2010-07-15T19:37:00.000-07:00

The Beauty of Books

2010-04-15T15:37:00.000-07:00

I love books. Though this statement is not new to me, it is a new revelation of times before. You see, I go through phases, as I think we all do, in which there are times when we read more and then there are times when we read less. This month is one of those when I am reading, or shall I say, devouring more books. I find often in times such as these that my life is posing many questions or uncertainties, and my soul is on a search for the answers and the one way in which I know to do that is to read and have many satisfying luxurious stacks of books in my living space. Reading and books have always been a faithful, constant companion of mine for as long as I can remember. There is something so comforting about settling in and getting comfortable with a hot cup of tea and losing yourself in the writer's world. Our problems float away on a sea of words and suddenly its as if we are in a different world. To me that is relaxation at its best. So, what are some of your favorite books?

2010-03-31T18:28:00.000-07:00

Looking for decorating inspiration

2010-03-31T18:26:00.000-07:00

I am dreaming of my ideal bedroom hideaway. Here are a few of my favorites. I envision my room to be cozy, beautiful and simple vintage inspired goodness.

Spring is Here!

2010-03-24T09:55:00.000-07:00

I am so inspired by the onset of spring. I love the warmth after it has been such a cold winter and wet and rainy. Ready to feel the warmth of the earth on my feet and have the sun beat down on my shoulders. Even though today is a cloudy day I am still looking to Mother Nature for inspiration. I have been searching for new inspiration for my life lately and today I thought I would go to one of my favorite spots for inspiration: Half-Price Books. I love to just go browse among the shelves and get lost in the titles and the beauty of books. I love the smell and feel of the book in my hand. The artwork feeds my senses and I am immediately inspired. A book can take you anywhere you want to go, you can become, vicariously through the author, whoever you want to be. You can learn things, experience a different life, if even for a moment. So as we have ushered in Spring once again, I am thinking of spring cleaning and decorating and naturally need inspiration from books for that. That will be my goal of this bookshop trip. I am looking ahead to think about decorating my new bookshelves so maybe if something catches my eye I can get it for that. So much fun and bliss! So nice to know I am so easy to please : ) I will post again to share what I found.

2010-03-09T22:13:00.001-08:00

The mask is gone
the end of delusion
the mask of pretension
exists no more

I am just as real as you
I have pain, I have just been numb
Finally alive to myself
I ask myself who am I
Who do I want to be

It hurts too bad
but I must allow myself to feel
no longer can I be numb
to the delusion of who I thought I was

No longer desiring to just exist
Wanting something more
of my meager existence

Stripping off all the pretense
leaves me feeling naked and vulnerable
sensitive
alive
the pain and anguish
screams out from my veins

2010-02-28T12:33:00.000-08:00

Random Thoughts

I refuse to let you take me there again
thought you wanted something more but now all you act like is a friend

what happened to the closeness we had
now i look at you over a deep chasm

the silence, the feelings left unsaid
I feel like I can't reach you
or maybe you don't want to be reached

I feel myself slipping away
how did we get to this point so soon

the blueness envelops me
your silence is strangling me

if i could turn back the time
and return all the winks
and say everything I didn't say before
instead of freezing up and looking at the floor

don't you know what you do to me
what you continue to do
I cannot let you do

I must move on
but all I know how to do is keep hanging on
to the silence and the hope that i once had
is now growing dimmer
and my resolve is growing thinner

I will not sit here and hand you my heart on a plate
so that all you will do with it is break it.

How long do you think I can wait
I guess I will just have to leave it up to fate

2010-01-29T15:50:00.001-08:00

You say you are broken
Please let me pick up the pieces
If you give me your heart
I promise to take care of it
and
My love for you will make you soar

Restore you to the man you were once before

I promise to share with you all that I have

You have re-ignited my fire within
please let me show you
When can we begin

The times we share are so precious to me
it gets harder and harder to leave

u say u are broken
I am broken too
lets take the pieces of what is left of our hearts
and make a fresh start

A poetic moment

2010-01-24T12:06:00.000-08:00

My Testimony

This is my testimony,

I have spent too much and lived too fast,
wasted too much time on things that just won't last.

But, God is my hope
and He has given me grace

He has stored up for me
a Heavenly place

So daily I will try
to seek His face

Please, dear Lord help me endure this race.

1/24/10
-Phaedra Alwell

Thought for Today

2010-01-18T18:26:00.001-08:00

Clarity of mind means clarity of passion, too; this is why a great and clear mind loves ardently and sees distinctly what it loves.
— Blaise Pascal

Living Intentionally

2010-01-18T18:18:00.000-08:00

How do you want to live your life? This question has been on my mind a lot this new year. As people make resolutions and attempt to live their lives, to make something out of very little at times, we all tend to turn inwards and focus on our selves. It is not a bad thing. We are evolved human beings and possess the intellect to make choices based on what we need and want to get out of life. I have thought alot about purposeful living and what it means to live intentionally. To me, living intentionally means to not be swayed or tossed about by what life or people throws at you. Living intentionally means that you have a purpose, a focus, a goal. Life does not happen by accident. It also does not slow down and wait for you to "get it". You wake up in the morning and decide what you want out of the day. Personally, my life's intention this year is to live a life of love. To wear my heart on my sleeve, to live by my heart and not my head and my feelings.

To be motivated by love and not fear. To serve with love, give with love. To not do things halfway but to do them excellently, to the best of my abilities. God wants us to be our best, do our best, and anything lessjust simply does not cut it. Living by accident and letting "whatever happens, happens" doesn't cut it. I intend to live a life of love intentionally, every day.

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A Nurses Prayer

2010-01-14T12:46:00.000-08:00

A Nurse's Prayer

Give to my heart, Lord...

compassion and understanding.

Give to my hands,

skill and tenderness.

Give to my ears

the ability to listen.

Give to my lips

words of comfort.

Give to me, Lord...

strength for this selfless service

and enable me to give hope

to those I am called to serve. -Anonymous

Time to Breathe

2010-01-14T12:28:00.000-08:00

Thought for Today

2010-01-14T12:22:00.001-08:00

The Challenge

Let others lead small lives,
but not you.
Let others argue over small things,
but not you.
Let others cry over small hurts,
but not you.
Let others leave their future
in someone else's hands,
but not you.

Jim Rohn

Simple Pleasures

2010-01-14T12:16:00.001-08:00

1). spending quality time with the people you love
2). being loved unconditionally
3). Getting a new job!
4) reading
5). hot tea

The One Minute Writer for Thursday

2010-01-14T12:14:00.000-08:00

Today's Writing Prompt: Odds

In what way have you beat the odds?

That I have managed so far to stay free from chronic diseases even though I am not at an ideal weight. I am able to exercise daily and have the most energy that I have had in a very long time. I pray that it continues this way and that I am able to get healthier and healthier day by day.

Writing Prompt courtesy of the One Minute Writer

2010-01-09T14:06:00.000-08:00

SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2010

Today's Writing Prompt: Accomplished

We have completed the first 8 days of 2010. Write about something you accomplished in that time.

I have been able to accomplish beginning my life fresh and new and changing my mindset from defeat to success. To not listen to the negative voices and to not be swayed by what others think of me. To begin to act and live courageously instead of living a life of fear and uncertainty.

Simple Pleasures

2010-01-09T13:52:00.000-08:00

1). joy and laughter on a child's face
2). a cool wintry day when the sun is shining
3). a cup of hot chocolate
4). helping others
5). knowing its ok to admit when we ourselves need help

Thought for Today

2010-01-09T13:49:00.000-08:00

It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows great enthusiasms, great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those timid souls whoknow neither victory nor defeat.
- Theodore Roosevelt

2010-01-07T07:45:00.000-08:00

Time to Breathe

2010-01-07T07:43:00.001-08:00

Thought for Today

2010-01-07T07:39:00.001-08:00

The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed.
- Carl Jung

Simple Pleasures

2010-01-07T07:31:00.000-08:00

1). Honesty with yourself
2). Having abundant amount of energy
3). Great friends
4). New opportunities
5). a loving kitty kat : )

Simple Pleasures

2010-01-04T17:31:00.000-08:00

1). Belonging
2). Saying you will do something and you do it/
3). Warm blankets and a hot cup of coffee
4). Connecting with others
5). A winning game by your favorite team!! : ) (Hats off to my Texans!)

Time to Breathe

2010-01-04T17:28:00.000-08:00

My favorite quotes on goals

2010-01-04T17:19:00.000-08:00

I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen. -Frank Lloyd Wright

JOHN F. KENNEDY:
Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.

Leaders aren't born they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that's the price we'll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal. _-Vince Lombardi

ALBERT EINSTEIN:
Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-04T17:08:00.000-08:00

Hope this finds everyone well and happy in our new year of 2010! I love January. It is a month full of hope and goal-setting, a renewed energy for life and all that it has to offer. I have never been much of a resolution maker because they are broken as soon as they are made but rather, just be very aware of changes I want to make in my life. This year I want to just get back to the basics of life. Just pair everything down and just try to live and be the best I can be. Nuff said : )

Would love to hear about YOUR goals, resolutions!!

Something to think about...Ringing in the New Year (a few of my favorite quotes)

2009-12-26T23:22:00.000-08:00

Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past. ~Henry Ward Beecher

For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
~T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding"

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day. ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

A happy New Year! Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I've played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year.
~Edgar Guest

One half of knowing what you want is knowing what you must give up before you get it. ~Sidney Howard

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. ~Author Unknown

It is never too late to be who you might have been. ~George Eliot

The One-Minute Writer: Today's Writing Prompt: Award

2009-12-15T08:12:00.000-08:00

The One-Minute Writer: Today's Writing Prompt: Award

The One Minute Writer for Tuesday

2009-12-15T07:59:00.000-08:00

Come up with an end-of-the-year award (serious or tongue-in-cheek) for someone you work with. If you don't work with someone, give the award to someone you know.

I would give a Best Friend award to my friend Cindy. She is sweet, we hold each other accountable, she is fun and full of energy and inspires me to be a better person every day. She is a true friend.

A Cozy Evening

2009-12-06T16:31:00.000-08:00

The fire is lit in the fireplace
embers dancing to and fro

The warm smell of apples and cinnamon wafting from the candles
a thick blanket to snuggle under
a good book to read from

this might sound simplistic to some
but this is my dream of how to
spend nights with you

You see, as long as I have you
I do not need anything else in this world

Your love and acceptance,and companionship is all I need
Is all I have desired for so long
Promise me you will stay beside me
That we can do life together
Taking life's journey one step at a time
Walking hand in hand
With each other we can only soar
Above and beyond anything we could ever imagine

I see the light in your eyes
when you look at me
I feel the love in your smile
I hope you and feel and see the same things with me

Though we are only beginning I feel like we have
been down so many roads already together

As long as we are together
on cozy evenings such as this
My heart will forever be filled with bliss.

Giving Thanks

2009-11-27T17:09:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a great and happy Thsnksgiving. I really did. I spent it with dear friends and loved ones. It is so nice to feel a part of something bigger than you are. We had a lovely dinner and plenty pf lively conversation. My heart was so full to sit back and observe the activities. I felt very thankful to be there, to be so blessed with a house full of people and plenty of pretty things to look at. I am so grateful for everything that God has blessed me with this year. Good health, my job, church, my mom and all my special friends. It is so easy to get busy doing and running and miss the truly important moments. I have decided that I am going to scale down my activity and expectations and just be so I do not have to let a single moment pass me by.

Thoughts of You

2009-11-22T18:24:00.000-08:00

Sitting by the fire tonight
Thinking of you
As the embers dance against the night sky
I think of you
I remember how you held me
That warm summers night
Under a midnight blue sky
and shared your heart with me
You told me things I never thought I would hear you say
My heart still flips when I think of that

So as you are there and I am here
All I have are my memories of you
And the fire to keep me warm
I get lost in the flicker of the flames
The same way I get lost in your eyes

I just want you to be there
I want you to hold me
tell me everything is going to be ok

I want to stroke your hair and tell you the same
I want to take away all your hurts
and help mend your heart
and maybe draw you closer to mine

When you hold me I feel like I am holding everything
Don't you know you have been my whole world?
I would do anything for you
I want to dry your tears
Erase all the hurt and sadness from your years
Restore you to the man you once were
Inspire you to be the man you could be

You said so long ago
We would be good together
I agree
How can I tell you I have already known you are the man for me

But when will we be joined together as one
I do not know
I have waited and I will continue to wait
My heart is already yours
It's yours for the taking
I gave it to you so long ago

As the fire continues to glow
and the feelings of love for you grows
I sit here with my empty bottle
and pray for you to call
to tell me you are ready
to give me your heart
and knowing that one day you will
I wait for you and
the fire in my heart remains.

Six Word Saturday

2009-11-21T11:21:00.000-08:00

My soul has so many questions.

Six Word Saturday

2009-11-14T09:16:00.000-08:00

My life is chaotic, but pleasant.

Broken Into Beautiful

2009-11-02T16:09:00.000-08:00

This past few weeks my church has been doing a series entitled "Broken Into Beautiful". We have covered such topics as depression, guilt, etc. "Stinking thinking". It is amazing to me that God takes all of our "pieces" : shattered lives, broken homes, illness, divorce, loss, grief and makes something beautiful out of it. We simply just need to reconnect with God, give Him all our worries and broken pieces and let Him do the fixing. It is easier said than done though. In our self sufficient world where we supposedly are "the Master of our Domains", oftentimes God is forgotten and we take our lives in our hands and try to do it ourself often with disastrous consequences. How I remember being a child and crying over a broken toy and being frustrated because I wanted to fix it myself. And try try again until I gave up in anger and frustration. I could hear and see my dad in the foreground saying "Give it to me, honey and I will fix it." How much easier it would have been to hand it to him first and say "here daddy, please fix it for me." I could relinquish all control and save myself anger and frustration. Such as it is with our Heavenly Father. When we are broken, we can just give it to Him and He will fix us or teach us what we needed to learn to move on. There is so much power in that, it is beautiful.

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T21:25:00.000-07:00

As I was driving to a babysitting assignment, I noticed several trick or treaters along the way. Little princesses, cowboys, Spider-Man, Tinkerbell. All going door to door to collect goodies for their buckets and bags. It seems like only yesterday I was excited to dress up and go out in the neighboorhood with my dad. Mom would help me get ready in my costume of choice the one I remember the most was a ballerina, homemade of course. I felt so beautiful in my long braided hair, black leotard and pink tutu. My face was shiny and mom did my makeup. I thought I was on cloud nine, feeling beautiful and walking hand in hand with my dad to collect candy and treats. When we got home he would make me dump it all out on the floor and he would inspect it and take a few treats his self. It was all in fun while it lasted. Now that I am an adult Halloween is not so fun. I really do not believe in all of the bad stuff, scary stuff. I believe in light and not darkness like Halloween promotes. But it is just a day and even if only I reminisce about Halloweens gone past, I can treasure the innocence of being a kid again on Halloween. What memories do you have of Halloween?

Daily Writing

2009-10-01T14:04:00.000-07:00

Thursday, October 1, 2009
Today's Writing Prompt: Mess

Is there any part of your life that's a mess? Describe it.
Posted by C. Beth at 5:00 AM

I would have to say that I have such a mess right now in my living space. I am slowly working on getting it cleaned and organized. I recently moved back home for financial reasons and then got stuck. It feels so good and is so empowering to get uncluttered and for me personally, it is so rewarding to throw stuff out! My vision is to have a beautiful, clean, uncluttered and organized space to live and work in. I think the hardest part is just getting started. It is a big project but I feel so much better already just seeing small steps of progress being made.

2009-09-29T16:10:00.000-07:00

A Beautiful Fall Image

Writer's Block?!?!?!

2009-09-29T15:19:00.000-07:00

Well folks, here I am again. I am at the intersection of procrastination and being fed up. I made it one of my resolutions to begin writing more. Of course that seems pretty simple to do but then when you get right down to it it is very hard to include writing in an already jam packed day...! I think, at least for me anyway, the hardest part of writing is overcoming the mental block when you sit in front of the computer or desk with pen in hand. I procrastinate because I am deep down a perfectionist of sorts and deeply afraid of failure. I am fed up with procrastinating. It is such a two-horned monster! I am ready to slay it though. I am tired of literally dredging up motivation through this awful sludge in my brain. I have dreamed forever it seems like that I have wanted to be a writer. Oh, I do not think I will write the Next Great American Novel or even close but just getting a story down on paper (or computer if you prefer : ), something I can call my own. I am ready to begin cultivating this desire into something beautiful. Yes, I have big dreams but what is living if you do not have big dreams? I am reminded of a poem by Langston Hughes

Dreams

Hold fast to dreams
for if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.

In an effort to nurture my love and knack for writing, I have been reading voraciously just to feed my brain with "good stuff". I will also make it a priority to blog. I love blogging because it really can be a "writing laboratory". I will feed my creativity by keeping my environment clean and beautiful because I know that a cluttered living space produces a cluttered mind. I desire to have a beautiful inspiring blog in which people will look forward to coming to and being inspired by. My little blog has been so fun to work on and be creative with. This new season of fall is just the time for me to make this happen. And it will also be a nice creative vacation from drudging through Pathophysiology! : )

Until next time,

What is My Style?

2009-09-17T18:01:00.000-07:00

Just found this quiz thanks to my friend at Inspired Room and I think it is so true!

Phaedra , you are a Country Classic
You have a naturally refined sensibility with an appreciation for tradition and history. You value beauty, craftsmanship, and family heirlooms, but you like to open things up with pretty, easy-going pieces like painted wood or distressed furniture, lovely florals and other patterns, and bunches of fresh flowers that give your home a breezy, relaxed feeling. You love unique finds, have a thrifty, creative side, and can make these things work together.

You value comfort. Your home is a warm and open friendly place, and you feel happiest when everyone is cared for and relaxed in your space. Elements like pillows, throws, overstuffed furniture, and good lighting set the mood. You may also enjoy layering different fabrics or mixing patterns to create a cozy effect.

Back to School Time!

2009-08-20T09:42:00.000-07:00

I just love this time of year! Being a "nerd" myself, I have always loved school. This is the time of year that parents get back on a regular schedule and try to get the kids to do the same. I am doing that as well. Back to bed on a regular time, no staying up until the wee hours of the night, time to retire the flipflops and lazy summer days and lemonade stands. Getting organized right off the bat with all the essential notebooks and supplies and a fresh calendar for organizing school dates, tests and activities. I am waiting on pins and needles for fall to usher in. It is perhaps my most favorite time of year and one in which I get a burst of energy and lightness in my step.

Keeping Your Head Above Water

2009-08-04T13:50:00.001-07:00

In this day and time of uncertainty and ever changing situations it can be really difficult to maintain a positive outlook on life. With a recent job change myself I know how life can surprise you and knock the wind out of your sails. With every struggle that I go through I try really hard to think about the positive to minimize the negative thoughts and feelings that come my way. Yes, they will come in a flood to try to get us down, distract us from what we know we should do. But it is all in how you handle things that determines the outcome. Sure, I have had days, and will continue to, that all I want to do is pull the covers over my head and block out the world and everyone in it. I have spent enough time in the mud wallowing in my own self-pity and doubt. A certain amount of grief is good and even beneficial but there comes a time when enough is enough and we have to decide to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and determine from this point where we shall go. I have recently read a quote that the "only way from down is up". That is so true. I know that it is not going to be easy and that I will probably get knocked down again a million more times and that is ok. As long as I continue to get up again. I am in the mode now where I am actively seeking for a full time position in my field and in this day and age the job search in itself is a full time job. I know I may have to wait for what I want and in order to get there I may have to take whatever comes my way until I get a more ideal position. Rarely is there a person that desires to be in a top position starts out at the top. In the meantime I have chosen to focus on the things that I know that I can do and continue to perservere in the face of adversity. I want to focus on my talents and things that make me happy. Being able to continue to take my college classes has been such a blessing and the one positive thing that I can actively do towards my long-term goals. Also, regularly taking stock in my talents and abilities and strengths, and when need be, cultivating those. I have had many wise people give me advice and have heard from other people that are in the same struggles as I echo the same sentiment..." you just have to keep going forward". So that is my advice to myself and others as well.

Simple Pleasures

2009-07-20T14:33:00.000-07:00

1). Waking up in the morning with energy and feeling great!
2). Friends who support you no matter what
3). English tea for breakfast
4). Staying on task with things to do
5). Finishing a really great book

Simple Pleasures for 6/10/09

2009-06-10T09:09:00.000-07:00

1). waking up feeling refreshed
2). tea with milk and sugar
3). sticking to a schedule
4). dangling my feet in a pool
5). studying

Simple Pleasures for 5/20/09

2009-05-20T15:11:00.000-07:00

1). meeting up with an old friend
2). reading a great book
3). feeling the sunshine on my face
4). knowing I am God's child
5). being able to lay my head down on a cool pillow

Simple Pleasures for 5/1/09

2009-05-01T21:28:00.000-07:00

1). Getting hugs and smiles
2). beautiful music
3). being accepted for who I am, regardless of faults and imperfections
4). cool lemonade
5). looking forward to a new day : )

HOPE

2009-05-01T21:20:00.000-07:00

“Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark.”
George Iles

Dinner Recipe

2009-04-27T08:53:00.000-07:00

Avocado-Mango Chicken
Serves 4

INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons adobo sauce (from canned chipotle chiles)
2 limes
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (4 oz each)
1 large mango, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro
1 tablespoon finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons sea salt
4 white-corn tortillas

PREPARATION
Mix Worcestershire, soy and adobo sauces with juice from 1 of the limes in a bowl. Place chicken in a sealable plastic bag and pour in marinade. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine mango, avocado, cilantro, onion, salt and juice from remaining lime in a bowl, then refrigerate. Transfer chicken and marinade to a baking dish and cook until tender and no longer pink, approximately 20 minutes. Remove chicken from oven, place each breast on a plate and top with 1/4 of salsa. Serve with 1 tortilla each.

Simple Pleasures for 4/27/09

2009-04-27T08:48:00.000-07:00

Simple Pleasures

1). waking up rested after a long night's sleep
2). cleaning
3). receiving an unexpected gift from an unexpected person : )
4). HOPE
5).

Simple Pleasures for 4/21/09

2009-04-21T19:37:00.000-07:00

1). a hot breakfast of toast and eggs
2). going to class and learning something
3). spending time with friends
4). a basketball game on the radio
5). reading a new book

Simple Pleasures for 4/20/09

2009-04-20T17:48:00.000-07:00

Simple Pleasures Today

1). A long nap in the afternoon
2). An unexpected email from a friend
3). A cup of hot tea
4). A surprise gift of earrings from a friend
5). Waking up to see a beautiful blue sky and sunshine

Simple Pleasures for 4/17/09

2009-04-17T13:02:00.000-07:00

My Simple Pleasures list is something I would like to start as sort of a "gratitude" journal of the little things that make me happy. I have read that we should stop daily and try to remember and be grateful for 5 things that made us happy that day. It is so easy to be negative and bitter and complaining but it is so much more joyful to focus on the positive things that warm our heart and help to make us a better person.

1). the new issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine
2). A trip to the library and coming home with a new stack of books : )
3). a spring breeze
4). a gentlemen who held the door open for me at the post office
5). freshly laundred bed linens

Special Moments to share...

2009-04-17T12:47:00.001-07:00

Yesterday Mom and I and our special long time friend got together and had a "ladies day out." We started our adventure by sharing a beautiful lunch at a local tea room. We had finger sandwiches stuffed with chicken salad, pimento cheese, a pumpkin bread with rich cream cheese frosting, hot baked potato soup that was so rich and creamy, and a strawberry dessert that was so heavenly and whipped. I had Chai Spice hot tea served with my own personal white tea pot and cup and saucer. The tea room is called Charleston Tea Room. As you enter it is a gift shop and the dining area is in the back. It is decorated so lovely and you just feel as if you could be in Victorian England having an afternoon tea. We noshed and shared our lives with each other. After lunch we proceeded to make our rounds to our favorite little shops and nooks and crannies along the way, laughing, talking and picking up special little treasures as we went. It was visually stimulating and so much fun and very special to me as I love these ladies very much and they are so important to me. In this day and age as everyone is so busy, special times spent with friends and family become more precious to me, and means so much more than my "to-do list".

Dinner Anyone?

2009-04-15T10:57:00.000-07:00

Quesadilla Pie

Ingredients

1 10-ounce can green or red enchilada sauce
1/4 cup heavy cream
4 8-inch flour tortillas
2 cups (8 ounces) grated Monterey Jack, plus 1/4 cup for the top
1 3 1/2- to 4-pound rotisserie chicken, shredded
1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
1 zucchini, quartered lengthwise and thinly sliced
1 cup salsa
1 avocado, diced
1 cup fresh cilantro leaves

Directions

1Heat oven to 400° F.2In a small bowl, combine the enchilada sauce and cream. Spoon 1/4 cup of the sauce mixture into the bottom of a shallow 2-quart casserole or 9-inch springform pan. Top with 1 tortilla and a third each of the cheese, chicken, onion, and zucchini. Repeat twice to form a total of 3 layers. Top with the remaining tortilla, sauce mixture, and cheese.3Cover loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 minutes more. Slice into wedges and serve with the salsa, avocado, and cilantro.
By Sara Quessenberry, March 2007

My Spring Reading List

2009-04-15T08:16:00.000-07:00

Books I plan to read for Spring Reading Thing 2009

1. Sunday's At Tiffany's - James Patterson
2. A Homemade Life : Stories and Recipes from my Kitchen Table- Molly Wizenberg
3. Oolong Dead - Laura Childs
4. Love Your Life: Living Happy, Healthy, Whole - Victoria Osteen
5. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly- Jean Dominique Bauby
6. Summer at Tiffany- Marjorie Hart
7. Redeeming Love- Francine Rivers
8. American Wife - Curtis Stittenfield
9. The Forgotten Garden - Kate Morton
10. Love or Something Like It-Deidre Shaw
11. Lady in Waiting- Jackie Kendall
12. The Great Gatsby -F. Scott Fitzgerald
13. The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway
14. Slaughterhouse Five - Kurt Vonnegut
15. Henderson the Rain King- Saul Bellow
16. My Stroke of Insight- Jill Taylor Ph.D. 17. My Guy Barbaro- Edgar Prado
18. Frill Kill- Laura Childs
19. Consider the L ilies- Elizabeth Buchan
20. Gift From the Sea- Anne Morrow Lindbergh

The books I complete are in italics.

My favorite bedroom rugs!

2009-04-14T18:07:00.000-07:00

I have two of these, one on each side of my bed and I love the design!
Would really like to continue the scroll theme in the room as well.

2009-04-14T17:18:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of a picture I made. I started out with an empty picture frame, added scrapbook paper and some favorite quotations and Voila! Instant Art!! : )

This is my wall of faith/inspiration, in order so that I can see it when I come in and when I go out..

I have a black and white duvet cover, it is just not in the pic and I have a piece of art I have my eye on to go above my bed... this is just the beginning but a little change will do you good.

My Room Redeco Part 1 !!

2009-04-14T16:50:00.000-07:00

This has been a while in the making but I am finally redoing my room!
Here is some of the work so far...

Before...

After!

Before...

After!

Of course, this is a work in progress. I would love to paint soon...I am trying to decide on colors right now... oh which shade of green shall I choose?

My color scheme I am going with is black, white with an accent of green. I am adding French and Parisian accents with wrought iron, hopefully some architectural art, etc... I am excited with the change already though!

Inspirational quotes

2009-04-06T09:24:00.000-07:00

“If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies.”
Nadine Stair quotes

New Orleans Toile Items for every room in the house

2009-03-24T12:28:00.000-07:00

2009-03-24T12:19:00.000-07:00

Thanks Pretty Organized Palace for having a Toile Party! I thought i was the only one who still enjoyed this lovely stuff!

Everyday Simplicity: Crazy about Toile

2009-03-24T12:16:00.000-07:00

Everyday Simplicity: Crazy about Toile

Crazy about Toile

2009-03-24T12:12:00.001-07:00

Here are the Toile curtains I ordered for my bedroom, just yesterday. My room is going to be black and white with an accent of apple green. It is coming along, but slowly. These curtains will really help.

Thought for Today

2009-03-16T14:48:00.000-07:00

The Choice to Worry or Worship.

When we worry, we lay awake at night and ponder Satan's lies. When we worry, we have pity parties where the guests of honor are Negative Thinking, Doubt and Resignation.
But we can make the choice to worship. When we worship in these hard places, we are reminded that none of this is about us- it's all about God. We turn our focus off of ourselves and back onto God Almighty. God can use empty places in your life to draw your heart to Him. He is the Great Love of your life that will never disappoint.

We all worship something. We must choose whom or what- we will worship. Will it be the opinions of others, our fears or even our own comfort? Or will it be the One who created our souls to worship? Whatever we worship, we will obey. As we choose to be radically obedient and say yes to the Lord, we must be radical about choosing to worship Him and Him alone.

The result of choosing to worship Him, and Him alone is peace. Isaiah 48:18 says, " If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea."

-Selection from Lysa Terkeurst book, What Happens When Women Say Yes to God.

Thought for Today

2009-03-13T08:10:00.000-07:00

“[More Than Conquerors] And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”- Romans 8:28
Today's passage is from the New International Version.
courtesy of BibleGateway.com

Dinner Ideas

2009-02-28T06:10:00.000-08:00

Grilled Scallops and Succotash

Ingredients
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 ears corn, or 2 1/2 cups frozen corn kernels, thawed
1 (10-ounce) package frozen lima beans, thawed
1 medium zucchini (about 1/2 pound) quartered lengthwise and sliced
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
1 1/4 pounds large sea scallops (about 16)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
Directions
Parsley Drizzle, recipe follows

If using ears of corn, cut the kernels off and set aside. Discard the cobs.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Stir in the corn, lima beans, zucchini, and tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, about 7 minutes.

Spray a large nonstick skillet or grill pan with cooking spray, and preheat it over medium-high heat.

In the meantime, prepare the scallops. Pat them dry and season them with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Add the scallops and cook until the inside is opaque, 5 to 6 minutes, turning once.

Stir the vinegar and basil into the succotash, season with additional salt and pepper, to taste, and serve topped with grilled scallops. Garnish with Parsley Drizzle.

Parsley Drizzle:
1 cup lightly packed flat-leaf parsley leaves
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons water, as needed to slacken
Combine all ingredients in a blender and puree.

Yield: 1/2 cup

Recipe Ideas for the weekend

2009-02-28T05:59:00.000-08:00

I like to cook on the weekends and so I was perusing the web for interesting things to add to my recipe book.

** Pictured above is the perfect breakfast parfait I enjoyed every morning while in Australia: a local mango that would make my fingers smell wonderful all morning, Mundella natural yogurt, and Good Girls' Summer Fling muesli with macadamias and cranberries -- just thinking about it makes my tastebuds tingle. (And it is pictured here in a proper bowl, because I took that picture in Albany, where my room was equipped with a kitchenette -- oh, the luxury.)

Courtesy of Chocolate and Zucchini

I found this on FoodNetwork.com Healthy and Fast Recipes
Warm Bacon Spinach Salad

Ingredients
10 ounces pre-washed baby spinach
2 slices bacon, finely chopped
3 ounces Canadian bacon, finely chopped
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 red onion, sliced (about 1 cup)
1 pound button mushrooms, coarsely chopped
1 cup apple cider
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper
Directions
Place spinach into a large bowl. Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat for about 4 minutes, or until it is just crispy. Add Canadian bacon to the skillet and cook for 2 more minutes, stirring frequently. Remove meat from pan and place on a plate lined with paper towels. Drain any remaining fat from the skillet. Add olive oil and onions to the skillet and cook for about 2 minutes, or until onions soften slightly. Add mushrooms to the pan and cook, stirring frequently, for 2 more minutes. Put onions and mushrooms on top of the spinach. Add apple cider and vinegar to the skillet and turn the heat up to medium-high. Stir to scrape up any bits that are stuck to the bottom of the pan and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until cider is reduced to about 1/2 cup. Whisk in mustard, salt and pepper, to taste. Pour warm cider dressing over the mushrooms and spinach and toss until the vegetables are well coated. Sprinkle the bacon on top and serve.

Fabulous Friday

2009-02-28T05:34:00.000-08:00

I apologize for Fabulous Friday being on Saturday, but life gets first priority to blog.

This fabulous friday post leaves me desiring to revisit past resolutions. In January I made a resolution to live a simple and beautiful life. As we close out this month, I have made an inventory on how that is coming so far. February was a great but hectic month. I learned a lot about myself and my goals stayed intact. The world goes so fast that we must resolve to stop and take time to reflect. Plato said: " The unexamined life is wasted." I leave you with these pictures to help you reflect and ponder your goals and being fabulous.

Beauty in the simple things

2009-02-20T15:11:00.000-08:00

I receive such great joy in life's "little things". Here is one of them

Fabulous Friday

2009-02-20T02:49:00.000-08:00

Well here we are again, another Fabulous Friday has come upon us!

Another element of being fabulous is not limiting yourself and not getting settled into the "comfort zone". Wikipedia defines the comfort zone as: "A comfort zone denotes the limited set of behaviors and environments that a person can engage in without becoming anxious." It is our "boundaries", if you will, or our "box". In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with boundaries and living in the box, myself I do much better when I stay in the box consistently instead of living outside the box in a chaotic existence that I naturally gravitate to. The problem is that it is all too easy to get settled into your routine and get so set in your "box" that you can't see out beyond the box. Doing the same things day in, day out kind of lulls you into an inertia state, a monotony. You tend to go on "auto-pilot" and run the risk of becoming numb to life around you. That is where you do not want to be for very long. Life is beautiful, inspiring, there is so much around us to feed on and enjoy and use to make us who we are. Try new things. Take a different route. Sit in a different area at lunch, anything to inspire change and creativity and add a little spice to your life : ) Embrace life for what it gives you and don't be afraid to be fabulous!

Here are a few things that I think are fabulous this Friday:

This Sunday is the Oscars, for those of you that are into movies, as I am. Here is a great article I found about having a "Hollywood Glam" theme Oscar Party
http://simplystated.realsimple.com/celebrations/2009/02/hollywood-glam.html

Let me just say, if I had the room, I would so love to put this in my "boudoir" : )
It would definitely help you get into the "fabulous" frame of mind.

This is my new book I am waiting to read!
.

And for a fabulous way to start your day-
courtesy of Chocolate and Zucchini.com

Crêpes

- 250 g (2 C) flour
- 3 eggs
- 1/4 L (1 C) milk
- 100 g (1/3 C) sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla sugar or vanilla extract
- 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 Tbsp rum (optional)
- 1/4 L (1 C) still mineral water
- butter for cooking, and an assortment of toppings

In a large mixing-bowl, roughly combine the flour and eggs. Whisk in the milk, adding it slowly to avoid lumps. Add in the sugar, vanilla, oil and rum (if using), and whisk to combine thoroughly. Whisk in the water. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least two hours, preferably overnight.

Take the bowl of batter out of the fridge, and give it a whisk to "revive" it. Put a thick-bottomed, low-rimmed frying pan over high heat. Wait until it gets very hot (hot enough to make a drop of water sizzle). Melt a dab of butter in it, and spread the butter evenly in the pan with a wadded paper towel (watch your fingers).

Ladle a little batter in the pan (just enough to cover the pan thinly, we are not making pancakes here), and move the pan around so the batter forms an even disk. Wait until the edges of the crêpe start to pull slightly away from the sides of the pan, peek underneath, and flip the crêpe with a spatula when it is nice and golden. Cook for a few more seconds (the second side cooks much faster) and serve immediately, topped/stuffed/rolled/spread with the sweet condiment of your choice.

(This recipe can be used for savory crêpes also -- just hold the sugar, vanilla and rum.)

Have a terrific Fabulous Friday!

Thought for today

2009-02-20T02:30:00.001-08:00

www.channel4.com/.../force-of-nature_625x352.jpg
Image may be subject to copyright.

I am more and more convinced that our happiness or unhappiness depends more on the way we meet the events of life than on the nature of those events themselves.
Alexander Humboldt (1769 - 1859)

A Lovely Poem

2009-02-18T21:54:00.000-08:00

THINK not of it, sweet one, so;---
Give it not a tear;
Sigh thou mayst, and bid it go
Any---anywhere.

Do not lool so sad, sweet one,---
Sad and fadingly;
Shed one drop then,---it is gone---
O 'twas born to die!

Still so pale? then, dearest, weep;
Weep, I'll count the tears,
And each one shall be a bliss
For thee in after years.

Brighter has it left thine eyes
Than a sunny rill;
And thy whispering melodies
Are tenderer still.

Yet---as all things mourn awhile
At fleeting blisses,
E'en let us too! but be our dirge
A dirge of kisses.

John Keats

Today's Inspiration

2009-02-16T16:05:00.000-08:00

You are the embodiment of the information you choose to accept and act upon. To change your circumstances you need to change your thinking and subsequent actions.”
ecaptus
Adlin Sinclair quotes (British born Businessman, motivational speaker and Humanitarian, )

Today's Inspiration

2009-02-15T13:56:00.000-08:00

“Women need real moments of solitude and self-reflection to balance out how much of ourselves we give away.”
Barbara De Angelis quotes (American researcher on relationships and personal growth)

It' s the little things....

2009-02-14T14:58:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Love is in the air today! May you all be hit with cupid's arrow : )

Being a single woman I have mixed emotions about the holiday. But, I do like it because it helps people show love. I believe we should not save it for one day but find ways to show and give love every day.

To me that is easy because I was blessed with the gift of loving people for who they are. Love comes easy to me, even when it should be hard. Someone told me that I "exude" love. That is a beautiful comment to receive and I try to remember that even when I am tempted to be less than lovely. I believe that it starts by first loving yourself. If we cannot love ourselves, how can we be expected to give love to everyone else?

How can we love ourselves? By taking the time for ourself, I believe, is number one. The little things like a new lipstick and a soak in a bubble bath makes me personally feel like a million bucks.

Everyday Simplicity

Dream Bedroom

Happy Saturday!

A lovely thought

Back to Blogland

Summer To-Do List

Summertime : )

Five things that make me happy : )

Part 1 of Summer Reading List

Summer Reading List

My Dream Job

A Day Off Today

Inspired by Spring

A Lovely Fun Day!

My blog is undergoing some changes.

Mobile Blogger!

The Forgotten Garden

Please forgive me.

Things to Ponder...

Happy 2011!

Everyday Simplicity: Books to Read in 2011

Books to Read in 2011

Its Been Awhile

Thought for Today

A little inspiration

The Beauty of Books

Looking for decorating inspiration

Spring is Here!

A poetic moment

Thought for Today

Living Intentionally

A Nurses Prayer

Time to Breathe

Thought for Today

The Challenge

Let others lead small lives,but not you.Let others argue over small things,but not you.Let others cry over small hurts,but not you.Let others leave their futurein someone else's hands,but not you.

Jim Rohn

Simple Pleasures

The One Minute Writer for Thursday

Today's Writing Prompt: Odds

Writing Prompt courtesy of the One Minute Writer

SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2010

Today's Writing Prompt: Accomplished

Simple Pleasures

Thought for Today

Time to Breathe

Thought for Today

Simple Pleasures

Simple Pleasures

Time to Breathe

My favorite quotes on goals

Happy New Year!

Something to think about...Ringing in the New Year (a few of my favorite quotes)

The One-Minute Writer: Today's Writing Prompt: Award

The One Minute Writer for Tuesday

A Cozy Evening

Giving Thanks

Thoughts of You

Six Word Saturday

Six Word Saturday

Broken Into Beautiful

Happy Halloween!

Daily Writing

Writer's Block?!?!?!

What is My Style?

Back to School Time!

Keeping Your Head Above Water

Simple Pleasures

Simple Pleasures for 6/10/09

Simple Pleasures for 5/20/09

Simple Pleasures for 5/1/09

HOPE

Dinner Recipe

Simple Pleasures for 4/27/09

Simple Pleasures for 4/21/09

Simple Pleasures for 4/20/09

Simple Pleasures for 4/17/09

Special Moments to share...

Dinner Anyone?

My Spring Reading List

Let others lead small lives,
but not you.
Let others argue over small things,
but not you.
Let others cry over small hurts,
but not you.
Let others leave their future
in someone else's hands,
but not you.