Truth Serum

Lately, I've taken a step back to examine my life...not even just my life, but LIFE, and through several attempts to view things clearly, I feel like I'm finally starting to really get to know myself, and am realizing that there are ways for us all to transform any situation, any dilemma or challenge, big or small, into something that truly benefits us and those around us, allowing everyone to grow and mature with our experiences, while learning from them, if we try hard enough to pull from what we already know and have as well as that which is staring us in the face. How's that for one big happy run-on sentence??

There's something about working at a middle school that forces me to be brutally honest with myself about life, happiness, self image, integrity, reality, (and the list goes on and on), and makes me wanna change the world. I've always felt that there's something to be said for being real, being honest, and being different, and always trying to do the right thing, in a world where everything seems to be sugar coated in some way or another, and having integrity isn't necessarily valued as "the cool thing", although it definitely should be!! I strive to be these things. Isn't it difficult to always do the right thing, or at least to try and do the right thing...or do what you think is right, even when it means that you might be laughed at or you feel as though you're laying your soul out on the table, no matter how old we are??

There are so many times when I wish I could totally go out on a limb to improve the quality of someone else's life, but feel like I have limited means or resources...or something, or maybe I'm not brave enough yet...or maybe I'm too prideful, or maybe I'm scared, but I've set out to make this one of my goals for the week - To reach and reward as many people as possible just for being awesome and having integrity, and...just because I'm extremely thankful that they're in my life in some capacity or another.

On my way home from school today, I began thinking about all the relationships we have in a lifetime, and how unique and special they are, whether it be an exceedingly close knit relationship between two sisters, a first love, the unconditional love between a parent and a child, and I started remembering middle, high school, and college years...all the different people you come to know and love, comical things that happen, feelings we all experience...those incredibly special moments that you wish you could have back again even for just a second, those times we all felt completely invincible, those moments when you've said to yourself, "I will never ever forget this night..." those sorrowful moments during which you swear the intense pain and suffering you're feeling will never subside while your parents and friends tell you that this too shall pass...and it eventually does...

Thank God for all these people, and experiences, even the hurting we face and no doubt grow strong from...Without these things, how would we advise others, how would we grow wise, how would we be able to dig deep down in our souls and know what these things feel like, how would we truly experience life in all its depth, glory, and sadness, and joy??

House Hunters - OPEN HOUSE, Sunday 12:00 - 3:00

OPEN HOUSE
SUNDAY 12:00 - 3:00

House Hunters come Hither!!

Small Inspiring Spaces

Great things come in small packages right?? Here are five AMAZING small but inspiring spaces!! The 2nd photo is from "Bower Power", the 4th photo, "The Lettered Cottage", & last but definitely not least, the 5th beautiful space, "Small Place Style"!!

Mom & I had an awesome time at HomeGoods this morning, & although we scoured the entire place for unique finds, we managed to not become too carried away, & came home with a new bright blue pillow for my (ahem...I mean...) Jon's office chair, & a couple of small rustic accessories, & of course a couple of photo albums, which brings me to my current problem - My camera. I've been attempting to avoid even thinking about this, but the other day, I could not possibly find my wonderful new camera, which Jon just bought me for my Birthday. I searched the entire house, however, much to my dismay, It was no where to be found until...I went to transfer a load of sopping wet clothes from washer to dryer, & low & behold, at the bottom of the washing machine, there she lay, still, cold, wet, & unconscious, just waiting to be freed from her cloth camera case, & revived!! MY CAMERA!!!!! Oh no!!!! I'm still letting it dry out, which I'm assuming won't work, since it just will not turn on, after several attempts made by an insane, frantic, wanna be photographer such as myself. Anyhow, long story short, I won't be taking/posting any new pictures for a little while now, only ones I've been saving, & obviously pictures that are fairly recent. Sad face!!

TGIHF - Thank God It's HOMEGOODS Friday

I'm REALLY HAPPY!! Can you guess why? I'M HOMEGOODS HAPPY!! Mom & I have planned a trip to our favorite store & I've been up since 6:00 AM (of course, I can't help it, since my body & mind...& my cat...are completely programmed to wake up at 6:00 on the dot) preparing for this exciting journey, not that I desperately need anything, or have much room for any new gadgets, furniture pieces, bold artwork, etc, for that matter, but I always discover amazing treasures at that wonderfully eclectic & inspiring place, & somehow make it work!! Well, it's off I go!! Happy HomeGoods Friday!! HAVE AN AMAZINGLY MOTIVATING WEEKEND!!

Bold, Blue, Beautiful!

Good Evening!! Just sharing a quick exciting DIY project that can easily be done on any worn out piece of furniture in need of a little style or color boost, in less than 1 hour. I had bought this little unfinished wooden table at The Amish Farmers market a couple of years ago, & when I had found a new piece to take its place in my family room, I decided to move it up to my little "office in progress", with intentions of punching it up a little with some color & pattern!! Voila!! Wish I had a before photo, but it was basically oak & unfinished, & now it's bold &...well, blue!!

All Will Be Well

Do you ever feel like you find yourself spending more precious time carefully planning out your future than living as fully as possible in the present? It's almost as if you have these tremendous grandiose dreams that you wish to make a reality, but you're stuck in a rut, where you're scared to move forward, or are faced with several paths, and continuously go back and forth with yourself as to which path to travel down, frightened that if you choose the wrong one, the "unknown" lying ahead could be riskier than the "known" of today, although you know there's a great chance that the "unknown" could bring about something amazing and wonderful, something you were born to discover?

I've been thinking non-stop lately about everything - present, future, lifestyle, occupation, family, spirituality, balance, physical fitness etc, and sometimes I experience difficulties attempting to prioritize all these aspects of life. I've been reading an inspiring book that I was introduced to while in college entitled "Awaken the Giant Within"...Reading it for the 2nd time, and trying to adopt some of the important principals about how to alter our thoughts and habits, and be more positive, empowered, inspirational, successful, and enlightened, and I've been taking notes!!

There was a period of my life where I loved read motivational self-help books; I would always search for ways to increase positivity, success, and personal development on various levels, and I feel that it's exceedingly important to revisit materials from our past that promote growth and inspire us to better ourselves, and it's always interesting to me that many of the concepts mentioned in these books are things that we already know deep down, but maybe haven't taken the time to face or think about, especially in a fast-paced world where technology is slowly abducting our brains. People are still reading books these days right? Real books...

My struggle this week has consisted of asking God for patience, strength, clarity, and consistency in my life, especially with decisions I've made, or have put off making due to a lack thereof. I need to live as fully and as positively as possible, even when there is uncertainly, which is always present in our lives in some capacity, and when I feel like the ground beneath me is shaking. In the words of singer song-writer Gabe Dixon, "All will be well, even after all the promises we've broken to ourselves. All will be well. You can ask me how but only time will tell."

Adventures of Cecelia Botbyl

Good Morning!! I've been meaning to post about Cece's latest three-day-long adventure at the Gloucester County Animal Hospital, where she was fixed & declawed, from which she's recuperated considerably well, with help from banana flavored anti-biotics that she actually enjoyed!! She was frightened...downright freaked out actually when I brought her in last week, & I wish I could say that she adapted quite well, but was still frightened & freaked out when we picked her up three days later. Nervously burrying her face in her newly soft & claw-less paws, she couldn't wait to curl up in her little bed & rest, which she did!!