Everyday Glimpses...

Project 365+1 {days 15--21}

2012-01-23T23:28:00.002-05:00

"An unhurried sense of time is in itself a form of wealth." ~Bonnie Friedman

The week of January 15-21

Project 365+1 {days 8 - 14}

2012-01-16T23:03:00.001-05:00

I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see. ~John Burroughs

Project 365+1 {days 1 - 7}

2012-01-10T09:59:00.000-05:00

"In just two days, tomorrow will be yesterday." ~unknown

"You can become blind by seeing each day as a similar one. Each day is a different one, each day brings a miracle of it's own. It's just a matter of paying attention to this miracle." ~Paulo Coelho

The week of January 1 - 7

25 Days of Giving...The gifts

2012-01-03T18:08:00.001-05:00

"The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in." ~Morrie Schwartz

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and a very Happy New Year! Our month was busy...filled with good food and fun times spent with family & friends.

Although I didn't keep up on blog posting, I did continue with the 25 days of giving during the month of December. It was a great to wake up in the morning thinking..."what can I give today?"

I gave...thanks
             hugs and kisses
             a helping hand
             directions
             donations (clothes & money)
             a cup of hot chocolate to a Salvation Army bell ringer (on a cold, cold day)
             a smile to someone who needed one
             a kind word (I called the manager of a store to compliment a cashier)
             the gift of fun & laughter
             a prayer for someone in need
             encouragement
             Christmas gifts to elderly ladies in a nursing home (who didn't have any family)
             the gift of making memories with (and for) my kids
             reassurance
             healthy meals (which is hard to do with everyone's schedules)
             the gift of keeping family traditions (like our advent calendar)
             myself the gift of peace & quiet
             hope
             the gift of keeping in touch with family & friends
             flowers to a friend
             the gift of paying it forward

Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2012!

25 Days of Giving...The gift of finding beauty.

2011-12-05T10:54:00.001-05:00

"Beauty comes as much from the mind as from the eye." ~Grey Livingston

"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Everybody need beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in...where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul." ~John Muir

The gift of finding beauty is a gift that I give myself (and hopefully I've given to my kids as well). Beauty can be found in the most ordinary of things...in the most ordinary of places. I took this picture in a parking lot on a cold grey evening. The sun was just beginning to set and I looked up and saw the branches of a tree silhouetted by this gorgeous colorful sky. Beautiful. Such a gift.

25 Days of Giving...The gift of time.

2011-12-04T15:45:00.001-05:00

"If a person gives you his time, he can give you no more precious gift." ~unknown

"Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly Merry Christmas."
~Peg Bracken

"Being there for someone is what matters most, just a smile or even a hug can turn someones day around. To us, family means putting your arms arouond each other and being there."
~Barbara Bush

One of the greatest gifts you can give someone is the gift of time and of just "being there" for them (especially if that someone is your child). My daughter had her first indoor track meet and we had no idea what to expect. All I knew is that is was going to be LONG...they were leaving for the meet at 1:30 and not getting back until after 10:00 pm! I had a million things on my "to-do" list...but I wasn't going to miss being there for anything! I was so glad I went. It was a lot of fun to watch...it was like being at a three ring circus.

The important thing is that we were there...showing our support. Letting her know that we cared enough to be there....no matter what. Documenting her first track meet with my camera. Her Dad being there to help out with the team. Sending in water and Cliff bars for the girls. Hopefully being role models for when she grows up and has kids of her own. There's a quote by Anna Quindlen that I love..."When in doubt, choose the kids. There will be plenty of time later to choose work."

Welcome December...25 days of giving

2011-12-01T18:28:00.006-05:00

"Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast." ~William Shakespeare

"Welcome every morning with a smile..." ~Og Mandino

"Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God's handwriting- a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair sky, in every fair flower and thank God for it as a cup of blessing." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I know I say this every year, but I can't believe that it's already December! We put most of our decorations up over Thanksgiving weekend, so it's starting to look a little bit like Christmas around here. Although I'm not crazy about it getting dark outside before 5:00, I do love the month of December and all of the holiday activities leading up to Christmas Day. While the days are getting shorter, my "to-do" list always gets longer this month.

I'm going to add one more thing on my "to do" list though...I'm going to try to give a gift every day between now and Christmas. Twenty-five days of giving. It might be something I give to a friend...or to a stranger. It won't always be a gift that someone can hold in their hand. Most likely it will be simple. It may be handmade....or handwritten. No matter what the gift is, it will come from the heart...because giving brings me joy and makes me happy.

Three word Thursday...Blessings & Thanks

2011-11-24T21:49:00.008-05:00

"All that we behold is full of blessings." ~William Wadsworth

"We often take for granted the very things that deserve our gratitude."
~Cynthia Ozick

"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has." ~Epictetus

"I would maintain that thanks are the hightest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." G.K. Chesterton

Any day...not just on Thanksgiving...is a good day to count your blessings and to give thanks. For the roof over your head and the food on your table. For family and for friends. For technology and for the arts. For teachers and for those that serve & protect us. For music and for books. For the wonders of nature and for the everyday miracles of life.

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving day filled with friends, family, food and football.

Two word Tuesday...Aim Higher

2011-11-01T19:35:00.002-04:00

"Aim higher in case you fall short." ~Suzanne Collins

"In the long run you only hit what you aim at. Therefore, though you should fail immediately, you had better aim at something high." ~Henry David Thoreau

"The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark." ~Michelangelo

Two word Tuesday...Life is

2011-10-25T23:27:00.003-04:00

"Life is to be enjoyed- not endured." ~Gordon B. Hinckley

"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all." ~Oscar Wilde

"The most important thing is to enjoy your life- to be happy- it's all that matters."
~Audrey Hepburn

Life is...

fun and exciting
happy and joyful
messy and cluttered
calm and peaceful
busy and hectic

In the last month or so we've celeberated 2 milestone birthdays (16 and 18) and all the things that those birthdays bring with them...like learners permits and applying to colleges.

We also celebrated a milestone wedding anniversary...25 years.

Life around here has been about going to fall baseball games and cross country meets. It's been about taking time to read and making good food and exercising and having tea with friends. It's been about spending time with family. It's been about organizing closets and drawers. It's been about taking photographs and creating new art. It's been about volunteering for a good cause. It's been about taking time to notice the beauty of nature.

Life around here has been about love and family and gratitude.

Two word Tuesday...Plant kindness

2011-09-13T16:12:00.003-04:00

"Plant kindness and gather love." ~unknown

"The highest from of wisdom is kindness." ~The Talmud

Two word Tuesday...Begin now.

2011-09-06T23:31:00.003-04:00

"The future is always beginning now." ~Mark Strand

"From small beginnings come great things." ~Proverb

"The beginning is always the most important past of the work." ~Plato

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

To me the start of a new year isn't really January 1st...it's that day in September when the kids go back to school. It's the time to start fresh...with newly sharpened pencils and a blank notebook.
It's time to get organized (I do more "spring" cleaning and organizing at this time of the year, than in the Spring). It's time to get back to a regular exercise routine (my summer exercise consisted mostly of leisurely bike rides in the neighborhood). It's time to stop procrastinating and to just start!

{Summer 2011} - Goodbye to summer

2011-08-24T20:52:00.004-04:00

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." ~Dr. Seuss

I know that this is a little premature. According to the calendar there are still four and a half weeks left of summer. To me summer is over once the kids start gearing up for school (although they don't go back until the day after Labor Day). They're starting their sports practices...gathering up school supplies...and the September days are already filling up with activities. Don't get me wrong...I also love September. It's like the start of a new year.

But...I love our summers because we get to take time to just "be". As my daughter is starting her senior year of high school I am so grateful for all of the time that we've spent over the last 17+ years just "being".

So, as I'm ending my Summer 2011 posts I'm going to start a new series of posts on Wednesdays...Take Time. Take time to laugh...to be silly...to watch a sunset...to hold hands...to love.

ps. a note to Summer 2011...thanks, we had a blast!

Two word Tuesday...Surf's up!

2011-08-23T23:14:00.003-04:00

"The best surfer out there is the one having the most fun." ~Duke Kahanamoku

"It's all about where your mind's at." ~Kelly Slater

"Don't talk. Keep it in your heart." ~Duke Kahanamoku

Three word Thursday...Listen very carefully

2011-08-18T23:55:00.003-04:00

"I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen." ~Ernest Heminway

Two word Tuesday...Summer breeze

2011-08-16T22:54:00.004-04:00

"Summer breeze makes me feel fine..." ~Seals and Crofts

"Palm trees are growing...warm breeze is blowing...I picture myself right there...on some beach...somewhere." ~Blake Shelton

Two word Tuesday...Seek light

2011-08-09T23:00:00.003-04:00

"Be like the flower, turn your faces to the sun." ~Kahlil Gibran

"The flower that follows the sun does so even on cloudy days." ~Robert Leighton

"Deep in their roots all flowers keep the light." ~Theodore Roethke

Look for the light and keep it with you always.

{Summer 2011} - At the beach

2011-08-04T00:00:00.004-04:00

"The voice of the sea speaks to the soul." ~Kate Chopin

Two word Tuesday...Carpe diem!

2011-08-02T23:57:00.003-04:00

"Carpe diem! Rejoice while you are alive; enjoy the day; live life to the fullest; make the most of what you have." ~Horace

{Summer 2011} - Ride bikes.

2011-07-27T23:41:00.004-04:00

"Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride." ~John F. Kennedy

"Ride as much or as little, or as long or as short as you feel. but ride." ~Eddy Mercky

"When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having...just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking." ~Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Three word Thursday...watch more sunsets

2011-07-21T22:32:00.002-04:00

"When I admire the wonder of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in worship of the Creator." ~Mahatma Gandhi

Two word Tuesday...Happy Feet

2011-07-19T23:31:00.004-04:00

Memphis - "Whatcha doin' there, boy?"

Baby Mumble - (tap dancing) "I'm happy, Pa!"

Memphis- "Whatcha doin' with your feet?"

Baby Memble - (looks down) "They're happy, too!"

My feet aren't tap dancing, but they're always happy when summer is here!

{Summer 2011} - Fly a kite

2011-07-13T23:46:00.002-04:00

"Throw your dreams into space like a kite and you do not know what it will bring back...a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country." ~Anais Nin

"Don't be afraid of opposition. Remember...a kite rises against, not with, the wind."
~Hamilton Wright Mabie

"The optimist pleasantly ponders how high his kite will fly; the pessimist woefully wonders how soon his kite will fall." ~William Arthur Ward

Two word Tuesday...Wish Big

2011-07-12T23:47:00.004-04:00

"There is hope in dreams, imagination, and the courage of those who wish to make those dreams a reality." ~Jonas Salk

"We can change our lives. We can, do, have and be exactly what we wish."
~Anthony Robbins

"You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it true. You may have to work for it, however." ~Richard Bach

Whether you're wishing upon a star or wishing for the moon...I wish you luck and hope that your wishes comes true.

Three word Thursday...At the beach

2011-07-07T22:07:00.003-04:00

"At the beach life is different. Time doesn't move hour to hour, but mood to moment. We live by the currents, plan by the tides and follow the sun."
~Sandy Gingras

There's no place that I'd rather be than by the sea.

{Summer 2011} - Fresh produce

2011-07-06T22:20:00.004-04:00

"I believe that the energy of humans who touched those beans goes into the beans as well. They become vibrant because of the handling. This vibrancy is something that a machine or harvester doesn't have. From my standpoint...I believe that if food is grown and prepared with love...infused with love...well, it can be the humblest of food, but because it's prepared with love, it's special." ~Valerie Phipps

Visit a farmer's market.

Stop at a roadside "Mom & Pop" produce stand.

Buy fresh.

Buy local.

Buy something grown with love.

Two word Tuesday...Look Closely

2011-07-05T22:32:00.003-04:00

"Look closely. The beautiful may be small." ~Immanuel Kant

"Within everday ordinary people, if you look closely, you can find some extraordinary things." ~Joseph Badaracco

I believe that the extraordinary is in the ordinary...with people or in nature or in life. It's the small, everyday things (that often go unnoticed) that really are the most meaningful and beautiful of all.

Three word Thursday...Be a friend.

2011-06-30T22:50:00.003-04:00

"Are you upset little friend? Have you been lying awake worrying? Well, don't worry...I'm here. The flood waters will recede, the famine will end, the sun will rise tomorrow, and I will always be here to take care of you." ~Charlie Brown to Snoopy

{Summer 2011} - Go swimming

2011-06-29T21:48:00.003-04:00

"The water is your friend. You don't have to fight with water, just share the same spirit as the water, and it will help you move." ~Aleksander Popov

"If you want to learn to swim jump into the water. On dry land no frame of mind is ever going to help you." ~Bruce Lee

Two word Tuesday...Keep calm.

2011-06-28T21:07:00.007-04:00

"Always behave like a duck...keep calm and unruffled on the surface, but paddle like the devill underneath." ~Jacob Braude

Three word Thursday...Have a ball.

2011-06-23T23:20:00.003-04:00

"We're here to have a ball" ~Art Blakey

Have a ball...enjoy...celebrate...have fun...live it up...have a good time...take delight...have the time of your life...take pleasure...have a blast!

{Summer 2011} - Look for seashells

2011-06-22T19:39:00.010-04:00

"Today is a smooth white seashell...hold it close and listen to the beauty of the hours" ~unknown

My favorite day of the year isn't Christmas or my birthday...it's the first day of summer! This year I was lucky enough to welcome summer by spending the afternoon on the beach. There's nothing like feeling the ocean breeze in your hair, smelling the salt air, and feeling the sand between your toes...it's so good for the soul. I took a walk along the shore and looked for seashells...I found a few to add to my collection.

Two word Tuesday...Capture beauty.

2011-06-21T21:39:00.003-04:00

"We see with our hearts. Our eyes are simple catalysts that carry images. Our eyes capture flowers and our heart knows serenity. Our eyes capture a child at play and our heart knows joy. They capture beauty and we know love." ~Leslie Hasken

Three word Thursday...ready for summer

2011-06-16T16:01:00.005-04:00

"Then followed that beautiful season...Summer. Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light, and the landscape lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood." ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time." ~John Lubbock

Although it's not officially "summer" yet, the kids are out of school so it's summer in my book. I just checked the calendar and there are about 12 weeks of summer for us to enjoy. This season always flies by so fast that I wanted to be sure to treasure every moment of it. I made a little list of things that I knew I wanted to do before school starts back up. I may add to the list as I go along, but these are the things that are my basic summer essentials.

Every week for the next twelve weeks I'm planning on doing a blog post on Wednesdays to keep track of how I'm doing with my list. What are some of the things that would make your summer complete? Feel free to make your own list and join me every week in celebrating summer!

Two word Tuesday...See Things.

2011-06-07T20:02:00.003-04:00

"We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are." ~Anais Nin

"You see things and you say "Why?", but I dream things that never were; and I say "Why not?" ~George Bernard Shaw

There is always more than one way of looking at something. It could be an object that you're going to take a picture of... or a situation that you're facing in life. Sometimes all it takes is changing your perspective. Look at it from all angles. There's not necessarily a right way or a wrong way...but just a different way.

Three word Thursday...Gifts of nature.

2011-06-02T14:31:00.002-04:00

"Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature." ~Gerard de Nerval

"If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom." ~Terri Guillemets

"Flowers have spoken to me more than I can tell in written words. They are the hieroglyphics of angels, loved by all men for the beauty of their character, though few can decipher even fragments of their meaning." ~Lydia M. Child

Two word Tuesday...play fair.

2011-05-31T22:24:00.005-04:00

"Play fair. Don't hit people. Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody." ~Robert Fulghum

"Let common sense and common honesty have fair play, and they will soon set things to rights." ~Thomas Jefferson

Do the right thing...respect others...respect yourself...don't lie...don't cheat...be a good winner (and a good loser)...be kind...have honor...remember the Golden Rule.

Two word Tuesday...Shine brightly.

2011-05-24T23:44:00.004-04:00

"Embrace life. Shine brightly." ~Unknown

"Dream big, dare greatly and shine brightly." ~Robin Sieger

Don't ever be afraid to let your light shine brightly.

Three word Thursday...by the sea.

2011-05-19T20:54:00.005-04:00

"The waves echo behind me. Patience---Faith---Openness, is what the sea has to teach. Simplicity---Solitude---Intermittency ... but there are other beaches to explore. There are more shells to find. This is only a beginning." ~Anne Morrow Lindbergh

By the sea...there's no better place to just "be".

Two word Tuesday...Capture Life.

2011-05-17T14:31:00.008-04:00

"A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you." ~Brigitte Bardot

"Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever...it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything." ~Aaron Siskind

Yesterday morning I spent almost an hour just sitting in the morning sunshine (just me and my camera), watching the iris blooms slowly open to the day. Yes...I had a list a mile long of "things to do", but I didn't want to miss this miracle of nature. I wanted to capture this brief period in time and hold on to it. I feel the same way when I take pictures of my kids. The moments are fleeting and time passes quickly. I want to savor the ordinary, everyday times of our life.

Two word Tuesday...Live Inspired.

2011-05-10T21:58:00.002-04:00

"When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive..." ~Patanjali

Three word Thursday...Loved beyond measure.

2011-05-05T23:05:00.005-04:00

"Intense love does not measure; it just gives." ~Mother Teresa

"The measure of love is to love without measure." ~St. francis de Sales

Two word Tuesday...Magical Days.

2011-05-03T19:55:00.005-04:00

"Something so simple...but I didn't know how...could you shine more brightly...than you shine right now." ~Lou Rhodes

"These are the days...these are days you'll remember...it's true that you are touched by something that will grow and bloom in you....these are days you'll remember...when May is rushing over you, with desire to be part of the miracles you see in every hour...these are the days you might fill with laughter until you break...these days you might feel a shaft of light make its way across your face...and when you do you'll know how it was meant to be." ~Natalie Merchant

Magical days are the ones that are sprinkled with the little moments that bring you joy. Today that included sitting under a cherry tree in our yard... among the pink blossoms sprinkled on the green grass...the sun shining through the leaves...and a cool breeze blowing through my hair.

Wishing you days filled with magical moments.

Three word Thursday...Brighten someone's day!

2011-04-28T18:06:00.004-04:00

"A kind word is like a spring day." ~Russian proverb

"Will someone else's life be brighter tomorrow because of what you have done today?" ~William A. Ward

Make someone's day...give a compliment...call to say "I love you"...send a note to a friend "just because"...give someone flowers (they don't have to be expensive)...leave anonymous "hope notes" around town. Sometimes all it takes is a smile!

Two word Tuesday...Be happy

2011-04-26T22:59:00.002-04:00

"If you want to be happy, be." ~Leo Tolstoy

"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." ~Abraham Lincoln

Three word Thursday...Find joy today

2011-04-21T22:42:00.004-04:00

"Scatter joy!" ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Joy delights in joy."

"Joy is not in things; it is in us." ~Richard Wagner

"Joy is the feeling of grinning on the inside." ~Dr. Melba Colgrove

Lately I've been finding joy in taking pictures of the blooming magnolias and cherry blossoms. They are simply gorgeous. I really think that I could spend an entire day just shooting them non-stop.

What are you finding joy in today?

Two word Tuesday...Be amazed.

2011-04-19T18:51:00.008-04:00

"The more I study nature, the more I stand amazed at the work of the Creator."
~Louis Pasteur

Three word Thursday...Take a ride

2011-04-14T11:34:00.004-04:00

"Buy the ticket, take the ride." ~Hunter S. Thompson "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

Take a ride...on a bike, in a car, on a train or a plane. Go down the street...across town...in another state...or another country. Go to the city...or the country. Visit the beach...or take a trip to the woods. Do things that you've never done before, but have always dreamed of doing. Go places that you've always wanted to go. Enjoy the view. Enjoy the journey. Enjoy the ride. And if you don't like the ride that you're on right now...get on another ride and change it!

Two word Tuesday...Hello Sunshine.

2011-04-12T20:10:00.005-04:00

"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine." ~Anthony DeAngelo "Some days you just have to create your own sunshine." ~Sam Sundquist "Think sunny, happy thoughts when you arise in the morning- think of what a precious priveledge it is to be alive...to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love." ~Marcus Aurelius "Wherever we are we have the capacity to enjoy the sunshine, the presence of each other and the wonder of our breathing." ~Thich Nat Hahn

Three word Thursday...You are beautiful.

2011-04-07T12:11:00.003-04:00

"Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart." ~Kahlil Gibran

You are beautiful.

The things that make you beautiful aren't things. It's not your shoes or your clothes or your manicure. It's not the color of your hair or the color of your skin. It's not how much you weigh.

It's not how much money you make.

Your beauty is found in the things that matter.

your smile

your compassion

your spirit

your mind

your generosity

your laugh

the sparkle in your eyes.

your soul

your determination

your courage

your grace

your dreams

your attitude

the love in your heart.

your kindness

your optimism

your hopes

your values

your sense of humor

your voice

the joy you bring to others.

Remind your mother, your sister, your daughter, your friends. Remind yourself. Don't ever forget...you are beautiful.

Two word Tuesday...Mend fences

2011-04-05T13:43:00.003-04:00

"We all want to fix things. Just as we all believe that so much in life can be rectified. Mend fences, build bridges, reach out, engage in mutual healing." ~Douglas Kennedy

"Throw your heart over the fence and the rest will follow" ~Norman Vincent Peale

Mend fences...reach out...take the first step. Call or write. Say you're sorry. Whether it's your mother or your sister or your brother or a friend. Misunderstandings happen. Be strong. Be brave. Life is too short. It's not too late. You won't regret it. At least you tried.

And the giveaway goes to...

2011-04-04T10:13:00.005-04:00

"What you keep to yourself you lose, what you give away, you keep forever." ~unknown "To give and then not feel that one has given is the very best of all ways of giving." ~Max Beerbohm "Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. .... But if the drop were not there, the ocean would be missing something." ~Mother Teresa

First I'd like to say a big "Thank You" for all of your kind comments and words of encouragement. They were truly appreciated!

I'm happy to announce that the winner of this month's giveaway is Ann:

"I really like your banner etc. for your new store just go for it girl. I like your three work Thursday print (well I like most of them actually LOL) But, I guess my favorite would be, "Celebrate Everyday Life" live the cupcake on it. My second favorite and almost a tie is, "Bloom and grow". Keep us posted over on JS forum on your store progress. hugs ~Ann"

Ann...if you could email me your address I can get the print off to you this week.

I believe in giving (in giving back). It just makes me happy. That's why, when I started selling my cards and prints locally, I decided that I would donate a portion of all sales to a local cancer image center. I'm able to give a little bit here and a little bit there...and I'm going to continue doing this once I open my shop on etsy too (so wish me luck)!

Three word Thursday...The Little Things (and a giveaway!)

2011-03-31T17:14:00.007-04:00

"Why not learn to enjoy the little things - there are so many of them." ~Author Unknown "Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." ~Robert Brault

It's the little things in life that make me happy. Little things like finding a beautiful shell on the beach...the warm sun on my face...reading a favorite book...my feet in the sand...the salt breeze blowing through my hair...the sound of the waves breaking on the beach. Paradise.

Today I'm starting a monthly giveaway on my blog. On the last Thursday of every month I'm going to be giving away a 8x10 copy (matted to 11x14) of one of my prints from any of the "Two word Tuesday" or "Three word Thursday" posts. All you need to do is leave a comment with one of your favorite two or three word phrases by 8pm Eastern time Sunday night (April 3). Also let me know which print you would like. The print will be packaged in a protective bag and shipped in a stiff envelope. Winner will be chosen by a random number generator.

Can't wait to see your words!

Two Word Thursday...Unforgettable Memories

2011-03-29T17:22:00.010-04:00

"Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose." ~Kevin Arnold quote "Memory is the diary that we all carry about with us." ~Oscar Wilde "The true art of memory is the art of attention." ~Samuel Johnson

I know that some people have amazing memories...they can remember what they were doing on this day in 2005. Not me. I'm lucky if I can remember what I had for dinner 2 days ago. That's why I take pictures. That's why I scrapbook. That's why I make lists. That's why I journal (I love using http://ohlife.com/ ).

We just got back from our Spring Break trip to Florida. The weather was pretty much perfect. We went to the beach and to Disney...we had a blast! I took pictures (many, many pictures). I'm planning to scrapbook some of the trip. I wrote down what we did each day. And I'm making a list of some of the things that I want to remember before we take another trip.

Things like: clean out refrigerator & empty trash before leaving for trip... cancel newspaper & put a hold on the mail... take ziploc bags (they're good to put snacks in...or seashells)... take Clorox wipes (to wipe down the remote in the hotel room)... take the luggage scale with us (it doesn't take much to get to 50 lbs)... remember to tie bright ribbon/tape onto luggage handles (easier to find them in baggage claim) take an extra camera battery (check to make sure it's charged before you get to Magic Kingdom)... also take extra memory cards... write down what parking area you're in (Journey 8, Dopey 118)... Fast Pass...Fast Pass...Fast Pass... Relax...Enjoy...Have fun!

Three word Thursday...Color your World.

2011-03-17T21:47:00.006-04:00

"Life is a celebration of passionate colors." ~Leialoha Cator

"Every body needs a little color." ~Mark Herma

"Color is joy. One does not think joy. One is carried by it." ~Ernst Haas

"Your attitude is like a box of crayons that color your world. Constantly color your picture gray, and your picture will always be bleak. Try adding some bright colors to the picture by including humor, and your pictures begin to brighten up." ~Allen Klein

(I'll be taking a break next week...will be coloring my world with Mickey & Minnie!)

Two word Tuesday...Breathe Deeply

2011-03-15T16:32:00.005-04:00

"Smile, breathe and go slowly." ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

"Things to do today: inhale...exhale...inhale...exhale... Ahhhh!" ~Kobi Yamada

"To insure good health: eat lightly, breathe deeply, live moderately, cultivate cheerfulness, and maintain an interest in life." ~ William Londen

Take a long, deep breath. Hold it for a second or two. Let it out slowly. Doesn't it feel good?

Spring is just days away...take time to breathe in the fresh air (just be sure you've taken your Claritin first)! I love the spring smells of flowers in bloom...of freshly cut lawns...of the rain on the pavement. Breath in...notice the beauty around you. Breath out...let go of the sadness or the anger or the disappointment. Clear your mind. Relax. Everything will be ok. Breathe and feel peace.

Three word Thursday...Bloom and Grow

2011-03-10T00:01:00.000-05:00

"People deal too much with the negative, what is wrong....Why not try and see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom."
~ Thich Nhat Hanh

"It's vital to be growing through your life rather than going through your life. The object is not to change other people or situations; it's to do the inner work they stimulate." ~ Wally Amos

"Courageous risks are life giving, they help you grow, make you brave and better than you think you are." ~ Joan L. Curcio

"The powers of reason, of love, of artistic and intellectual creation, all essential powers grow through the process of being expressed." ~ Erich Fromm

Two word Tuesday...Tea time.

2011-03-08T10:43:00.004-05:00

"Thank God for tea! What would the world do without tea! How did it exist? I am glad I was not born before tea." ~Sir Philip Sidney

"Tea and books...Mmmmmm, two of life's exquisite pleasures that together bring near-bliss." ~Christine Hanrahan

"If man has no tea in him, he is incapable of understanding truth and beauty."
~Japanese Proverb

"Tea is drunk to forget the din of the world." ~Tien Yihing

"Tea...is a religion of the art of life." ~Okakura

With apologies to my coffee drinking friends, there is nothing better than a cup of hot tea to start the morning. Green tea, decaf, Earl Grey, or just plain Lipton's...I love my tea. One of my favorite times of the day is sitting at the kitchen table in the morning, sipping my tea, reading the newspaper, listening to the birds chirping outside, thinking about nothing (and thinking about everything)...it's my version of meditation. Tea means many things to me...it is comfort and peace...it is happiness and hope...and it nurtures my soul. It can be fun time spent with friends or it can be time spent in blissful solitude. I read somewhere that tea is liquid wisdom...and I believe it!

I'm always on the lookout for new teas...any suggestions???

Three Word Thursday...Celebrate Everyday Moments.

2011-03-02T19:16:00.004-05:00

"Celebrate the sacred in the ordinary." ~Sarah Breathnach

"There are exactly as many special occasions in life as we choose to celebrate" ~Robert Brault

"Life isn't a matter of milestones but of moments." ~Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy

Celebrate the sunrises and the sunsets...take as many pictures as you can.
Celebrate the simple pleasures of life...enjoy the moment.
Celebrate the beauty of a flower that's just beginning to bloom...smile.
Celebrate kind souls...pay it forward.
Celebrate creativity...write it, draw it, sew it.
Celebrate new challenges...you can do it!
Celebrate small achievements...buy yourself flowers.

Celebrate the ordinary.

Two word Tuesday...Go Places

2011-03-01T14:25:00.004-05:00

"To go places and do things that have never been done before...that's what living is all about." ~Michael Collins

"The more you learn, the more places you go." ~Dr. Suess

Go. do. Branch out. Go places.

Go for a walk. Go to the zoo. Go take a class. Go create art. Go take a chance. Go on a trip. Go read a book. Go to lunch with a friend. Go to the movies. Go ride a bike. Go to the beach.

Just go for it!

Three word Thursday...Love New Beginnings

2011-02-24T00:01:00.002-05:00

"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.

2011-02-22T15:04:00.007-05:00

"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.

2011-02-17T12:28:00.005-05:00

“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.

2011-02-15T11:02:00.005-05:00

"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.

2011-02-10T20:19:00.006-05:00

"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

2011-02-05T15:01:00.008-05:00

"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.

2011-02-01T18:31:00.004-05:00

"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.

December ABC's...V is for Visiting

2011-01-31T09:50:00.006-05:00

"Don 't hurry. Don't worry. You're only here for a short visit. So don't forget to stop and smell the roses." ~Walter Hagen

I had the hardest time finding any positive quotes about visiting family and friends...most of them were the negative "fish and visitors smell after three days" type of quotes. I may be in the minority, but I love spending time with my family and friends (especially over the holidays).

We eat great food, catch up on each others lives, play games, give presents and get hugs...what's not to love!??! Life is too short...enjoy the time you get to spend with your grandparents, parents, siblings, cousins, and friends.

December ABC's...U is for Up.

2011-01-29T13:25:00.006-05:00

"Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven..." ~Lamentations 3:41

"Today gives us a chance to love, to work, to play, and to look up at the stars." ~Henry Van Dyke

"Up" things that we do around the holidays:

Look up...at the night sky on Christmas eve, looking for the lights of Santa's sleigh.

Lift up...our hearts and spirits by helping others (donating money, toys, clothes, food).

Dress up...get new clothes to wear for Christmas.

Stay up...try to stay up late on Christmas eve to listen for Santa.

Wake up...get parents up very, very early on Christmas morning

Open up...gifts under the tree (we take turns opening the presents)

Clean up...after opening gifts (try to recycle as much as we can).

Lighten up...enjoy the day, don't get stressed, have fun!

December ABC's...T is for Trees.

2011-01-27T18:34:00.004-05:00

"It is difficult to realize how great a part of all that is cheerful and delightful in the recollections of our own life is associated with trees." ~Wilson Flagg

"It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit." ~Robert Louis Stevenson

"There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it." ~ Minnie Aumonier

I love the trees of winter. Whether it's a Christmas tree, all decked out for the holiday...or the bare trees, silhouetted against the gorgeous winter sky at sunset...or branches encased with ice, sparkling in the sun...or birds lined up on a limb of a tree. They're all delightful and beautiful, each in their own way. You just have to take the time to stop and notice...and maybe take a picture or two along the way.

(p.s. I think I should have called these posts "Winter ABC's", since December has come & gone...oh well!)

December ABC's...S is for Snow.

2011-01-21T16:41:00.003-05:00

"The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?" ~J.B. Priestley

Things I love about snow....

Watching kids catch snowflakes on their tongue.

Waking up in the morning & listening to the radio to see if schools are closed.

Sitting on the sofa, reading a book, and watching the snow gently falling outside of my window.

Building a snowman.

Going sledding and then coming inside for a cup of hot chocolate (with mini-marshmallows).

Standing at the top of the mountain(in Vail,Park City or Jackson Hole)& looking out at the vistas.

Putting the finishing touches of "snow" on our Department 56 Snow Village.

Looking at the different types of animal tracks that are in our yard after a new snowfall.

Taking pictures of the trees & bushes covered in snow.

Taking pictures of the kids playing in the snow.

...about the only thing that I don't love about snow is driving in it.

December ABC's...R is for Rejoice!

2011-01-19T13:28:00.002-05:00

"This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
~ Psalm 118:24

"Be Content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you." ~Lau Tzu

“Carpe diem! Rejoice while you are alive; enjoy the day; live life to the fullest; make the most of what you have.” ~Horace

Rejoice...feel the joy of this moment...be glad...delight in the little things...enjoy life...be grateful.

December ABC's...P is for Peace & Quiet

2011-01-15T10:27:00.004-05:00

"A happy life must be to a great extent a quiet life, for it is only in an atmosphere of quiet that true joy dare live." ~Bertrand Russell

"Quiet is peace. Tranquility. Quiet is turning down the volume knob on life. Silence is pushing the off button. Shutting it down. All of it." ~Khaled Hosseini (The Kite Runner)

December = shopping, wrapping presents, decorating, sending out Christmas cards, holiday parties, school activities, travelling, cooking and baking. It can be hectic, stressful and overwhelming...but only if you let it. I try to be organized...I start early, make lists, do less and, at times, say "no". By saying "no" I'm really saying "yes" to peace and quiet. I'm saying "yes" to taking the time to enjoy my family and taking the time to celebrate what the season is really about. I'm saying "yes" to the true joy that's found in the quiet moments of life.

December ABC's...O is for Ornament

2011-01-13T17:41:00.006-05:00

Ornament \Or"na*ment\ n: That which embellishes or adorns; that which adds grace or beauty.

We have many different types of Christmas ornaments on our trees...fancy Christopher Radko decorations and a collection of the official White House ornaments. We have many from our travels (from California to Bermuda and places in between). We have ornaments that represent things that we love...like baseball and horses and photography. But the decorations that mean the most to me are the ones that were handmade by the kids when they were little. The ornaments that they put glue and glitter on...that they molded and painted...that has the kids cute pre-school pictures on them. Those are the most beautiful and valuable of them all.

December ABC's...N is for Nutcracker

2011-01-11T17:07:00.003-05:00

"The nutcracker sits under the holiday tree, a guardian of childhood stories. Feed him walnuts and he will crack open a tale." ~Vera Nazarian

Our child-sized nutcracker doesn't sit under our tree...he stands guard in our foyer, at the bottom of the stairs. If he could talk, he would tell stories of love & laughter...of family & friends...and of magic & memories.

December ABC's...M is for Making Memories.

2011-01-06T11:16:00.008-05:00

"You never know when you're making a memory." ~ Rickie Lee Jones

"Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose." ~The Wonder Years

"Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children."
~ Charles R. Swindoll

It's the little things that make the sweetest memories...

making sugar cookies with my mom and the kids
making felt christmas tree ornaments with my daughter
making hot chocolate & going out on our deck to watch a meteor shower in the middle of winter
making time to play ping-pong with my son

December ABC's...L is for Light.

2011-01-03T19:27:00.006-05:00

"Ever since we crawled out of that primordial slime, that's been our unifying cry, 'More light.' Sunlight. Torchlight. Candlelight. Neon, incandescent lights that banish the darkness from our caves to illuminate our roads, the insides of our refrigerators. Big floods for the night games at Soldier's Field. Little tiny flashlights for those books we read under the covers when we're supposed to be asleep. Light is more than watts and footcandles. Light is metaphor. Light is knowledge, light is life, light is light." ~Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider

"Light gives of itself freely, filling all available space. It does not seek anything in return; it asks not whether you are friend or foe. It gives of itself and is not thereby diminished. " ~Michael Strassfeld

I can always tell when winter is approaching...not by the colder temperatures, but by the way the sunlight changes as it filters through my kitchen windows in the morning. It highlights the dust on the floors...it casts shadows of the plants onto the pantry door...and it shines in my son's eyes as he's eating breakfast.

I love light...it's pretty essential to three of my favorite activities...photography,reading and being at the beach in the summer. I also love the light that December brings...the soft glow of candlelight and the white twinkle lights on the trees. So peaceful.

December ABC's...K is for Kids.

2010-12-31T10:10:00.007-05:00

"While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about." ~Anonymous

"The child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn't been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him." ~Pablo Casals

"Children will not remember you for the material things you provided but for the feeling that you cherished them." ~Richard L. Evans

My kids = laughter, smiles, joy, happiness, hugs, kisses, fun, delight, kindness, silliness...and love!

December ABC's...J is for Joy.

2010-12-30T16:39:00.003-05:00

"Somehow, not only for Christmas, but all the long year through, the joy that you give to others, is the joy that comes back to you." ~ John Greenleaf Whittier

I love words, so I thought I'd start a new tradition this year and add a "word" tree to our home. I found some ornaments that have words that inspire me...words like love, dream, laugh, peace, faith...and joy. One of my favorite words is joy...to me that's what Christmas (and life) is all about!

December ABC's...I is for Ice.

2010-12-26T15:12:00.003-05:00

"Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate." ~ Albert Schweitzer

I took a walk around the lake...it looked beautiful with a layer of ice over it (with only a small opening in the center). It was a cold and dreary day, but it was so tranquil at the lake. There weren't many other people out walking...the only movement was the geese flying overhead. Even in the coldest & gloomiest of days there is still beauty to be found...you just have to know where to look.

December ABC's...H is for Holly.

2010-12-22T19:12:00.004-05:00

"Have a holly jolly Christmas...it's the best time of the year." ~Lyrics

I love having holly trees in our yard...they're a great (free) source of decorating over the holidays. All you need are some branches and some pinecones...and you can make a gorgeous centerpiece. I love bringing a little bit of nature indoors, especially in the winter!

December ABC's...G is for Gifts.

2010-12-19T23:04:00.005-05:00

'Tis a gift to be simple,
'Tis a gift to be free,
'Tis a gift to come down
Where we ought to be
And when we find ourselves
In the place that's right
'Twill be in the valley
Of love and delight. ~Shaker hymn

This year for Christmas I'm giving myself some gifts...

The gift of simplicity...I'm using kraft paper & white paper to wrap presents...and for ribbon I'm using bakers twine and garden twine. I'm making paper flower "bows" out of recycled magazines & book pages and vintage buttons.

The gift of time...I'm giving myself permission to slow down and not "do it all".

The gift of gratitude...I'm finding something in every day to be thankful for.

The gift of quiet...I'm listening to the sounds of nature (like the sound of geese flying overhead).

The gift of mindfulness...I'm reminding myself of what this season is all about.

December ABC's...F is for Fortune.

2010-12-16T18:57:00.003-05:00

"Character itself is a fortune." ~Samuel Smiles

"Every man is an architect of his own fortune." ~Unknown

"Only learn to seize good fortune, for good fortune is always there." ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"One thing I've learned for certain; I am not going to find my fortune in a cookie."
~Brian G. Jett

We love Chinese food, but we especially love it in the winter. There's nothing like a steaming cup of Hot and Sour soup to warm you up on a cold December day. This week we ordered some P.F. Chang's to take home...and this was the fortune inside the cookie that I got. At this time of the year, when we get so busy with holiday parties and social gatherings, it's good to remember that you don't have to do it all. It's okay to say "no" to an event. Spend time at home with your family...drinking hot chocolate...watching Glee together...playing games (cards, board games, ping-pong)...baking cookies. You can spend time with your family and have fun...without having to spend a fortune! Home really is where the heart is.

December ABC's...E is for Enlighten.

2010-12-13T18:56:00.004-05:00

"The words that enlighten the soul are more precious than jewels." ~Hazrat Inayat Khan

"The greatest gift is to give people your enlightenment, to share it." ~Buddha

"To be enlightened is simply to be absolutely, unconditionally intimate with this moment. No more, no less." ~Scott Morrison

I love light and sunshine so, needless to say (although I'm saying it anyway), that when it's time to set our clocks back for Daylight Savings time I'm not a very happy camper! However, I'm helped with the transition by the lights on the Christmas trees. There's nothing more peaceful than sitting in a dark, quiet room that's lit only by the glowing lights on the tree.

December is filled with so much light...the light on the trees...and the outdoor holiday lights...and candles...and roaring fireplaces. Even the stars in the cold and dark night sky seem to shine brighter in the winter. We can try to shine brighter around the holidays too...be more appreciative of others...smile and laugh more...be nicer to the store clerks and postal workers...be grateful for the things that we have (because we really do have a lot)...find delight in the little things. Enlightenment starts from within.

December ABC's...D is for Drummer Boy.

2010-12-07T22:37:00.006-05:00

"The manner of giving is worth more than the gift." ~Pierre Corneille, Le Menteur

"It isn't the size of the gift that matters, but the size of the heart that gives it." ~Eileen Elias Freeman

"But it is a cold, lifeless business when you go to the shops to buy something, which does not represent your life and talent, but a goldsmith's." ~Ralph Waldo EmersonWhen I think about all the different things that make up "December", watching the classic holiday movies is near the top of the list. As a child I remember anxiously awaiting "The Grinch" or "Rudolph" or "Frosty" to come on tv...because that meant that Christmas wasn't far away. I also loved the songs that went along with the shows...and "The Little Drummer Boy" is one of my favorites.

Now that I'm an adult (as I'm running around trying to find that perfect present), I try to remind myself of the story of the drummer boy...that the best gift isn't the most expensive or the biggest. The best gift isn't fancy...it's usually very simple (often homemade). The best gift is the one that's given from the heart. It's what the spirit of Christmas is all about...love.

December ABC's...C is for Candy Canes.

2010-12-04T18:25:00.006-05:00

"We elves try to stick to the four main food groups; candy, candy canes, candy corn and syrup." ~Elf

"The children were nestled all snug in their beds, whle visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads." ~The Night Before Christmas

As far back as I can remember, we've always put candy canes on our Christmas trees. It's as much a tradition at Christmas as hanging our stocking or putting out cookies and milk for Santa. The smell of the peppermint brings back memories of making "reindeer" out of candy canes and pipe cleaners. We would usually find a candy cane or two in our stockings...along with other sugary treats like the Lifesavers Storybooks, hard candy lollipops (shaped like trees or snowmen), Swedish Fish, or Wrigley's gum. And to balance out all of the candy, we would find a healthy orange stuck in the toe of our stocking!

What were some of the traditional things that you would find in your stocking???

December ABC's...B is for Bells.

2010-12-02T18:57:00.006-05:00

"Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings." ~It's a Wonderful Life

"Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me as it does for all who truly believe." ~The Polar Express

"I heard the bells on Christmas day; their old familiar carols play, and wild & sweet the word repeat of peace on earth, good will to men." ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Jingle bells....Silver bells...Reindeer bells...Salvation Army bells...church bell choirs...

For our family, December and bells go hand-in-hand. Bells = Believe. Believe in the meaning and magic of Christmas...believe in family...believe in love...believe in peace...believe in hope.

December ABC's...A is for Advent.

2010-12-01T23:17:00.007-05:00

"Advent is concerned with that very connection between memory and hope." ~Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger

"Life is a constant Advent season: we are continually waiting to become, to discover, to complete, to fulfill. Hope, struggle, fear, expectation and fulfillment are all part of our Advent experience...may this Advent season be a time for bringing hope, transformation and fulfillment into the Advent of our lives." ~Connections

I think that every December 1st starts out the same way...with me saying to myself "I can't believe that it's December...it seems like it was just summer!" Then my very next thought is to get out our advent calendar. We've had our little wooden advent cabinet since the kids were toddlers...it was a gift to our family and it's one of our favorite holiday traditions. Over the years we've had small toys, candy, money and notes fill the tiny drawers. My son opens the odd days and my daughter opens the even days...and together they open the 24th. Today there were some Dove chocolate bars in the drawer...and the Promises message inside one of the wrappers said "Joy to...you."

The word "advent" comes from the latin word "adventus", meaning "coming". For me, Advent is more than just the period of time that includes the four Sundays before Christmas...it's a time of anticipation, patience, peace and celebration. There are other words that I like to keep in mind throughout this month (when things can get a tad busy)...words like gratitude, wonderment, simplicity, joy, generosity, grace, love and hope. My goal for this season of advent is to appreciate the little things along the way...to enjoy each moment...and to find something to celebrate in each & every day. And really, truth be told, that's my goal for each and every day throughout the year.

Joy to you.

Happily grateful...

2010-11-24T19:36:00.004-05:00

"In all things, give thanks." ~The Holy Bible

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, and confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow." ~ Melodie Beattie

Appreciate the little things...
Appreciate the simple things...
Appreciate what you have...

Happy Thanksgiving!

The ABC's of Life...Z is for Zest and Zeal...

2010-11-01T22:37:00.003-04:00

"True happiness comes from the joy of deeds well done, the zest of creating things new." ~Antoine deSaint-Exupery

"Zest is the secret of all beauty. There is no beauty that is attractive without zest."
~Christian Dior

"If you have zest and enthusiasm you attract zest and enthusiasm. Life does give back in kind." ~Norman Vincent Peale

"Experience shows that success is due less to ability than to zeal. The winner is he who gives himself to his work, body and soul." ~Charles Buxton

"Through zeal, knowledge is gotten; through lack of zeal knowledge is lost." ~Buddha

Live your life with eagerness and enthusiasm....with fire and passion. Be spirited and bring that energy to all that you do. Live your life to the fullest...and don't forget to have fun along the way!

I can't believe I finally made it to "Z"...thanks so much for reading along with my ABC's of Life! I hope you enjoyed the journey.

The ABC's of Life...Y is for Yes!

2010-10-17T13:35:00.003-04:00

"Every choice moves us closer to or farther away from something. Where are your choices taking your life? What do your behaviors demonstrate that you are saying yes or no to in life?" ~Eric Allenbaugh

"I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky, and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes." ~e.e. cummings

These are some of the things that I'm saying YES! to. What are some of the things that you're saying YES! to in your life???

The ABC's of Life...X is for eXamine

2010-10-05T21:25:00.005-04:00

"All that I say is, examine, inquire. Look into the nature of things. Search out the grounds of your opinions, the for and against. Know why you believe, understand what you believe, and possess a reason for the faith that is in you." ~Frances Wright

"Actually I think Art lies in both directions...the broad strokes, big picture...but on the other hand the minute examination of the apparently mundane. Seeing the whole world in a grain of sand, that kind of thing." ~Peter Hammill

I had bought a bunch of fall flowers from Trader Joe's (love that store!) and I wanted to take some pictures of the sunflowers with my macro lens. The morning light was so beautiful and I must have taken 20 or 30 close-up photos of the sunflowers. I didn't notice until I was walking away (and happened to look back at them from a different angle), that they were reflected on the countertop of the kitchen island.

Sometimes in life you need to stop and examine things from another point of view. You might be looking at something too close and have tunnel vision. Stop and take a moment to put on a different lens and look at things from various perspectives. Examine the options...evaluate and explore...analyze and study...observe and investigate...change your focus. There is always more than one way of looking at something!

The ABC's of Life...W is for Wonder

2010-09-27T18:36:00.005-04:00

"We need a renaissance of wonder. We need to renew, in our hearts and in our souls, the deathless dream, the eternal poetry, the perennial sense that life is miracle and magic." ~E. Merrill Root

"Sophistication scares the wonder out of us. Cynicism downright annihilates it. Wonder leaves no room for meaness... for where wonder is, kindness is also. Wonder isn't harsh, but as gentle as rain." ~Connie Powers

"The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificient world in itself." ~Henry Miller

"You shall see wonders." ~William Shakespeare

"Wonder is the beginning of wisdom." ~Socrates

"If you enjoy living, it is not difficult to keep the sense of wonder." ~Ray Bradbury

"He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead."

~Albert Einstein

"A man is a very small thing, and the night is very large and full of wonder."

~Lord Dunsany

I hope I will always have a curiousity about life.
I hope I will always be in awe of the earth and the oceans and the heavens.
I hope I will always be amazed at all creatures (great and small).
And my biggest hope is that I will pass this "sense of wonder" on to my kids.

The ABC's of Life...V is for Volunteer

2010-09-17T21:27:00.004-04:00

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." ~Dr. Seuss

"I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catchers mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back." ~Maya Angelou

"Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve.... You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love." ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Help out...give back...lend a hand...be there. For your community...for your kids...for your world...for yourself. Donating money is great (give what you can), but there's nothing like donating your time and talents to help others. Be a coach...be a room mom...be a tutor...be a helper in a soup kitchen...be a sunday school teacher...be a fund raiser...be a Big Brother or Big Sister...just be a volunteer.

The ABC's of Life...U is for Unlimited

2010-09-12T10:51:00.003-04:00

"You are everything that is...your thoughts, your dreams come true. You are everything you choose to be. You are unlimited as the endless universe." ~Shad Helmstetter

"In the name of the best within you, do not sacrifice this world to those who are its worst. In the name of the values that keep you alive, do not let your vision of man be distorted by the ugly, the cowardly, the mindless in those who have never achieved his title. Do not lose your knowledge that man's proper estate is an upright posture, an intransigent mind and a step that travels unlimited roads. Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won, it exists, it is real, it is possible, it's yours." ~Ayn Rand

To paraphrase the lyrics of a song from Wicked (one of my all-time favorite musicals)...defy gravity! Don't accept limits, just because someone says they're so. Some things you can't change, but until you try you'll never know. Trust your instincts. Everyone deserves the chance to fly...just close your eyes and leap!

The ABC's of Life...T is for Thankful

2010-09-03T23:18:00.004-04:00

"It isn't what you have in your pocket that makes you thankful, but what you have in your heart." ~unknown

"Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses." ~unknown

"There is always, always, always something to be thankful for." ~unknown

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." ~Melody Beattie

Every day is a gift...be thankful for the little things...appreciate life...don't take things for granted...remember to say "thank you"...look for the silver lining. If you have a grateful heart it will fill your life with joy (and who wouldn't want more joy in their life?).

The ABC's of Life...S is for Silly

2010-08-26T23:26:00.003-04:00

"The best things in life are silly." ~Scott Adams

"Be silly. Be kind. Be honest." ~Emerson

"I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells." ~Dr. Seuss

"If people did not sometimes do silly things, nothing intelligent would never get done." ~Ludwing Wittgenstein

You're never too old for silly. Laugh, have fun, be goofy, dance, sing. Swing on the swings...blow bubbles...do cartwheels or stand on your head...read the comic section in the newspaper...run through the sprinkler...hula hoop...jump rope. Lighten up. Loosen up. Leave time for fun!

The ABC's of Life...R is for Risk

2010-08-19T22:03:00.005-04:00

"and the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." ~Anais Nin

"The person who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore." ~Dale Carnegie

"You have to take risks. We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen." ~Paulo Coelho

"Life is either a great adventure or nothing." ~Helen Keller

"Leap and the net will appear." ~Zen saying

"Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash." ~General George S. Patton

I must confess that I love my comfort zone...taking chances isn't second nature to me...and I'm not a gambler in any sense of the word. That being said, every so often I surprise myself and take that giant leap...ok, maybe it's more like little baby steps. However, I do love a good adventure every now and then. Taking a risk can be scary because there is the fear of failure associated with it. Try it anyway. Don't necessarily take foolish risks...you can still research and make mindful decisions before you step over the edge. Dream big. Do something different. Dare to fly!

The ABC's of Life...Q is for Quiet

2010-08-12T20:15:00.003-04:00

"Never be afraid to sit awhile and think." ~A Raisin in the Sun

"Within you there is a stillness and sanctuary to which you can retreat at anytime and be yourself." ~Hermann Messe

"Inside myself is a place where I live all alone, and that's where I renew my springs that never dry up." ~Pearl Buck

"Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing." ~Arundhati Roy

"A happy life must be to a great extent a quiet life, for it is only in an atmosphere of quiet that true joy dare live." ~Bertrand Russell

"There is always music amongst the trees in the garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it." ~Minnie Aumonier

Among the busy-ness and the chaos of our day to day lives, make sure to find time for solitude. Time to be alone with your thoughts...to unplug and be still...to stop multi-tasking and be calm.
Take a long, hot bath...work in the garden...take a walk in nature or run around the block...practice yoga...read...say a prayer...write in a journal...create art. Get up early if you have to, or stay up later after everyone has gone to sleep. Put the distractions of tv, computers and cell phones on hold and find serenity in the silence. Seek out the place that brings you peace (the ocean, the mountains, a church) so that you can restore your soul and nourish your spirit. Meditate...Contemplate...Relax. Quiet works wonders.

The ABC's of Life...P is for Perserverance

2010-08-08T23:43:00.003-04:00

"My motto was always to 'Keep Swinging'. Whether I was in a slump, or feeling badly, or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging."
~Hank Aaron

"Never let the fear of striking out get in your way." ~Babe Ruth

"Never let your head hang down. Never give up and grieve. Find another way. And don't pray when it rains, if you don't pray when the sun shines." ~Leroy Paige

"If you believe in yourself, have dedication & pride and never quit, you'll be a winner. The price of victory is high, but so are the rewards." ~Paul "Bear" Bryant

"Run when you can, walk when you have to, crawl if you must...just never give up."
~Dean Karnages

Although the quotes may (at first glance) be about baseball or football, I think that they are really about life. No matter whether you're swinging for the fence or trying to make your dreams come true, never give up. Keep trying to achieve your goals...work hard...be disciplined...do your best and learn from your mistakes. When you're faced with an obstacle in your path, find a way around it. If you get knocked down pick yourself up and try it a different way. Don't quit. Be motivated. Be committed. Be dedicated. Take risks. Believe in yourself. Get it done.