Three word Thursday...Love New Beginnings

"Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect." ~Alan Cohen

"I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning." ~J. B. Priestly

"The grace to be a beginner is always the best prayer for an artist. The beginner’s humility and openness lead to exploration. Exploration leads to accomplishment. All of it begins at the beginning, with the first small and scary step." ~ Julia Cameron

"The most sacred place dwells within our heart, where dreams are born and secrets sleep, a mystical refuge of darkness and light, fear and conquest, adventure and discovery, challenge and transformation. Our heart speaks for our soul every moment while we are alive. Listen... as the whispering beat repeats: be...gin, be...gin, be...gin. It's really that simple. Just begin..."

~Royce Addington


I am loving my new beginnings this week...I'm taking two workshops over at Big Picture Classes. The first one is called Picture Inspiration, with the amazing Tracey Clark leading the way. I love photography and I'm really looking forward to a year full of inspiration...along with a great community of fellow photographers.

The second class (called Got Paint) is a little out of my comfort zone, but I know it will be awesome. How do I know it will be awesome?...because it's being taught by the very talented Emily Falconbridge! I just have to remind myself that there is beauty in being a beginner :)

Two word Tuesday...Hope Blooms.

"In all things it is better to hope than to despair." ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"Dum spiro, spero" (While I breath, I hope) ~Latin Proverb

Never let go of hope. One day you will see that it all has finally come together. What you have always wished for has finally come to be. You will look back and laugh at what has passed and you will ask yourself... 'How did I get through all of that?' ~unknown

Three word Thursday...Life Begins Now.

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” ~Maria Robinson

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can. Begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now." ~Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

"Begin now, not tomorrow, not next week, but today. Seize the moment and make this day count. " -Ellen Kreidman

I love words & quotes... I love photography & design...and I love being happy & having a positive attitude. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I am going to combine some my favorite things and start a new series here. Two word Tuesdays...and Three word Thursdays. I'll create a design using the words of the day, and add some quotes that go along with them.

I hope they bring a little sunshine to your life. Enjoy!

December ABC's...Z is for Zone.

"The great omission in American life is solitude...that zone of time and space, free from the outside pressures, which is the incubator of the spirit." ~Marya Mannes

After the busy-ness of the holidays it's nice to take a day to just "be"....to give yourself space and to take the time to breathe. Take a walk outside in the snow with (or without) your camera. Snuggle up on the couch with a good book. Wake up a little early in the morning and sit at the kitchen table with a cup of tea and read the newspaper... in quiet. Turn off the tv and the computer....and listen to some of your favorite music. Write in a journal about all the things that you're grateful for. Do whatever recharges your soul.

(Thanks everyone for sticking with me through my December ABC's. I hope Z wasn't for zzzzzzz)

December ABC's...Y is for Year.

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." ~Charles Dickens (A Christmas Carol)


"I sometimes think we expect too much of Christmas Day. We try to crowd into it the long arrears of kindliness and humanity of the whole year. As for me, I like to take my Christmas a little at a time, all through the year. And thus I drift along into the holidays--let them overtake me unexpectedly--waking up some fine morning and suddenly saying to myself: 'Why this is Christmas Day!' " ~David Grayson

Christmas is a day filled with peace, love, hope, gratitude, magic, joy and kindness. My wish is that we can keep the spirit of Christmas alive in our hearts every day throughout the year.

December ABC's...X is for eXtraordinary

"It's the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary." ~Paulo Coelho

I love my macro lens...it's fascinating how even the most simple, ordinary things look magical. That's how I like to look at my life...like I'm looking through the lens of my 100mm 2.8. Even the most mundane things seem pretty amazing to me. Things like putting up (and taking down) the Christmas decorations, getting the kids ready for school in the morning, or even doing laundry (yes, laundry!) If you look at things with a different perspective...in a different light...they can be something special . When you thnk about it, the little things are really the big things. The blessings of having a comfortable home, a family to love (and that loves me), healthy food on the table, nice clothes to wear, presents under the tree, beautiful sunrises & sunsets...they're all pretty extraordinary in my book!

December ABC's...W is for Wise Men.

"The star of Bethlehem was a star of hope that led the wise men to the fulfillment of their expectations, the success of their expedition. Nothing in this world is more fundamental for success in life than hope, and this star pointed to our only source for true hope..." ~D. James Kennedy

The wise men were hoping to find a baby in a manger.

We hope to find all kinds of things under the tree for Christmas...things like new toys or new clothes or giftcards or the latest and greatest new gadget. This year I'm hoping for something different for you and for me...things like more love & laughter in life (because you can never have too much love and laughter). Things like more patience and kindness. Things like peace and joy....and safe travels and good health for you and your family.