Brene Brown eCourse

Oprah is teaming up with Brene Brown to bring her Gifts of Imperfection to an eCourse.  I would love to take this class, but know that it won't be the right time for me.  But have to pass it on as it is so exciting and since I saw Kelly Rae Roberts and Ali Edwards went to Texas to see Brene - I am sure they are going to do segments in the class which would be fabulous addition to the Gift of Imperfection.

Sick & 52 Week Photo Project: Week 35

I have been sick which is why I haven't been posting with August Break.  I did find that August Break actually made me less inspired. I used to post everyday on Instagram and with August Break, I felt like I had to stick to the prompts instead of whatever photo I wanted to take that day.  So I actually didn't get a daily photo throughout August. 

August Break

Susannah Conway is hosting August Break. These are photo prompts that I am going to try to follow along for August.  I probably will be just posting photos this month to do this, but I guess I will have to see how it goes.

52 Lists - Week 17

I did this list and well I would really like to publicly share the people on the list, but I realized it was a little too personal and I didn't feel the need to share it with the world.  Instead I have been crafting some emails, cards, notes and packages for people I admire as I feel it is a better way to do this weeks list.

I will say I am constantly in a state of admiration by the depth of feeling, inspiration and just kindness of people in sharing of themselves.  I see it daily offline in people as well as through updates of friends and family on Facebook, people I follow on Instagram and Pinterest. So many people inspire me and make me think and I admire each.

Women Heal

So beautiful.

52 Week Photo Project: Week 4

Last Friday Michael and I went on a Poetry Date and I snapped a bunch of photos. We saw so many wonderful pieces that inspired us. So for Week 4's photo I used the top photo, but adding the second photo of it too.

This old secretary desk. Michael and I really liked. We actually started looking at it because of a tea set on top. We were talking about it and so I opened it up. Inside it had photocopies of marriage and birth certificates of a couple who received the desk as a gift for their marriage. The top paper was a handwritten note with some of their story. Each item in the store has a story, but this one was included with the piece. It was a nice surprise to open the drawer and find it.

My Word is Joy

I believe it was Ali Edwards that started picking a word for the year. That will represent the goals and thing to keep present in your life for the year. This year I picked the word joy.  The end of last year, I really tried to practice finding joy in everyday.... whether they were ordinary moments or something quite extraordinarily. I found it helped me on so many levels...mentally, emotionally, creatively and physically. Although it didn't cure my pain, it helped me not get so swallowed up by it that I couldn't see anything, but the pain. I didn't pick a word last year, but kindness probably represented my year - being kind towards not only others, but myself. I always try to be kind, but I guess I wanted to take that a step further and be kind towards myself as that one is always hard for me.

So this year is joy and finding those moments of joy everyday. Today I was washing dishes and a moment of joy was looking at my dishcloth. It is a yellow handmade dishcloth made by an Aunt. It is always more enjoyable to wash dishes with a dishcloth made by someone I love.  A moment of joy in the middle of this ordinary task.

Poetry Dates

When Michael picked up poemcrazy by Susan Wooldridge, he fell down the rabbit hole like I did after reading it. He immediately started playing with words to capture moments he was seeing.  He suggested we do poetry dates. We made a list of places to go to that would inspire words to create poetry.

After making a list of these places, I cut them into strips of paper and stuffed all of them in a jar.  We will pick a strip of paper from the jar each week to go to and do poetry dates. This first week's pick was Habitat for Humanity Restore.

I snapped photos along the way to help us remember.  It was an outing that surpassed my expectations. It was completely inspiring and enjoyable. I really can't wait until our next date.  I think it was perfect for Michael too - to unplug from work and play creatively.

Each item in the Restore has a story and it was so delightful to look at them and create stories for them. To see beyond just an item sitting on a shelf.  It was perfect for our first date.

Here are some photos I snapped and poetry I am sure will come later.....

old brick tiles

figurines

typeset

I pretty much was swooning over the typeset. There were 2 boxes this one was 18 point and the other was much smaller. Both surprisingly intact. I mean missing some letters, but quite a lot more then I have ever seen in a set.

antique dresser with top row of wicker knobs

pottery

vintage Singer sewing machine

Beauty Every Day

The other day Upworthy resposted an article that appeared in The Washington Post about violinist Joshua Bell who went to play incognito in subway station. It was a social experiment by the journalist, but as a quote in the article points out....and I am adding a word to it...what beauty do we miss every day?

"If we can't take the time out of our lives to stay a moment and listen to one of the best musicians on Earth play some of the best music ever written; if the surge of modern life so overpowers us that we are deaf and blind to something like that -- then what else are we missing?" from the Washington Post

Here is some of the video...I know there is one the above link too.

Julius Shulman

photographer Julius Shulman

Michael stopped me this morning before I dived into work to watch a documentary on Julius Shulman via Netflix instant. Oh....I am so thankful he did...it was captivating.

From Amazon: "Narrated by Dustin Hoffman, VISUAL ACOUSTICS celebrates the life and career of Julius Shulman, the world s greatest architectural photographer, whose images brought modern architecture to the American mainstream. Shulman captured the work of nearly every major modern and progressive architect since the 1930s including Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard Neutra, John Lautner and Frank Gehry. His images epitomized the singular beauty of Southern California s modernist movement and brought its iconic structures to the attention of the general public. This unique film is both a testament to the evolution of modern architecture and a joyful portrait of the magnetic, whip-smart gentleman who chronicled it with his unforgettable images."

I will tell you the truth, I didn't know the name Julius Shulman, but as soon as they started showing his photographs...I recognized them. The film and his photography are impactful and inspiring. Extremely glad Michael persuaded me to take the time to watch it. It was well worth every minute and I know I will be floating on daydreams of beautiful architecture all day.

52 Lists: Week 2

This week....List Your Greatest Comforts

holding hands with Michael - watching movies with Michael - creating art - going to museums -purring kitty cats - soft sweaters - snuggling under a blanket - pillow talk - the smell of soup simmering - hot soup on a cold winter night - tea with cream & sugar - cool drink on a hot summer day - reading books- Brene Brown books - Paulo Coehlo books - Eat Pray Love - chatting with friends - hugs from friends & family - sending & receiving snail mail - listening to music - office supplies - art supplies - cardamom cookies - smelling & eating freshly baked bread - warm fuzzy socks // hot cocoa - Christmas - chocolate -baking - singing - touch - dreams - sunsets -mountains - photographs - candles - notepads - journals - chapstick - memories - snow - rain - coloring - crying - laughter - road trips  - Asian food - Thanksgiving dinner - making lists - Sunday mornings

Join in doing 52 Lists hosted by Moorea Seal.  I love them and it has been not only fun, but really interesting exploring some areas I buried or never really noticed about myself.  #52lists2013

Resolution or Desire and Intention

I have never really made New Year's resolutions. I might have a very loose list of things in my head of things I want to work on, but they don't necessarily come with just the new year. They are just things in my head that I am constantly adding to, working on and doing throughout the year. I evaluate my life and think about what I want and where I want to go with my life throughout the year - not just at the new year.

The last few years I have some goals written down as I felt seeing them in black and white gives them intention and vision to do them. So I guess in fact they have been resolutions as the definition of resolution is resolving to do something or setting a course of action and being firm in determination.

Why I have never called them resolutions though is because to me a resolution is more firm or outlined and often - well I am a dreamer and think with my heart so things are always changing and moving for me. I don't always have a clear vision of how to get to where I want to go, but kind of leave it up to where the path may lead me - not always to the final goal, but something I needed anyway.

This year a good friend of mine wrote me to ask how she could support me in my new year goals. I was blown away by her kindness and generosity, but she did make me look at my goals. I am still not making clear plans or outlines really. But I am making intention.  Intention of what I desire and where I would like to go with my life. Again my path my steer me off sometimes, but I trust in the universe to guide me to my dreams, desires and intention for my life.

One of my desires for the new year is get Danielle LaPorte's Desire Map program. As always she speaks to me and with this new year of setting desires and intentions for myself it of course speaks even more clear....

52 Lists: Week 1

I found this via Pinterest as I follow Moorea Seal there and enjoy her blog also. She is doing a list a week for the year - 52 Lists.  I love lists so I am going to jump into this project.

Right now I am reading the book Inner Excavation by Liz Lamoreux and she suggest collecting a word toolbox. Gathering words to create poetry. So this first list is perfect for that too...the first weeks list is Words that Touch Your Soul.

The words I have on my list:  love - Michael - grace -living - stillness - joy - devotion - vibrant - laughter - star - dream - believe - feeling - spirit - celebrate - rainbow - simplicity - play - passion - kindness // journey - open - peace - friendship - family - gratitude - wholehearted - hope - mountains - acceptance - being - beauty - expressive - hearth - home - energy - sisters - understanding - giving - knowledge // vulnerable - courage - doing - truth - reality universe - touch - tea - silliness - artistry - purple - mermaid - darkness - light - enough - enchanted - faith - music - growth - possible

Join in doing 52 Lists hosted by Moorea Seal.  I love them and it has been not only fun, but really interesting exploring some areas I buried or never really noticed about myself.  #52lists2013

2012 A Year in Review by Google

Yesterday I posted a commercial that had a song in it that I like, but made me think of commercials and last night while watching Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin Eve - Google had a commercial that made me cry. As I said to Michael - Google commercials always get to me. They have an amazing advertising department. So inspiring.

2012 A Year in Review by Google

Taking a Leap

The on-the-spot practice of being fully present, feeling your heart, and greeting the next moment with an open mind can be done at any time: when you wake up in the morning, before a difficult conversation, whenever fear or discomfort arises. This practice is a beautiful way to claim your warriorship, your spiritual warriorship. In other words, it is a way to claim your courage, your kindness, your strength. Whenever it occurs to you, you can pause briefly, touch in with how you're feeling both physically and mentally, and then connect with your heart-even putting your hand on your heart, if you want to. This is a way of extending warmth and acceptance to whatever is going on for you right now. You might have an aching back, an upset stomach, panic, rage, impatience, calmness, joy-whatever it is, you can let it be there just as it is, without labeling it good or bad, without telling yourself you should or shouldn't be feeling that way. Having connected with what is, with love and acceptance, you can go forward with curiosity and courage. I call this step "taking a leap." From Pema Chodron's book "Living Beautifully with Uncertainty and Change"

Desire Map Poem

Danielle LaPorte is launching a new project - The Desire Map. I can't wait to read, join, jump and be a part of it when it comes out. But here is a video poem by her. It is hitting many things I am working on and have been working for a long time. Looks like it is going to be very interesting and very helpful.

Sister Giant

I like Marianne Williamson. I have for many years. I have the Course in Miracles which she wrote a book based on that practice.  I also have her prayer book.  Now she is getting involved in politics - in getting women involved specifically. She has some interesting things on her new website Sister Giant and really enjoyed listening to this video she posted there too.

Geeky Soul Mates

The proof that we are soulmates from Emanuele Colombo on Vimeo.

Cute video and reminds me of Michael and I.

Living in the Present Moment

Source: flickr.com via Darby on Pinterest

I honestly do this too much...

“If you worry about what might be, and wonder what might have been, you will ignore what is.” ~Unknown

I think worry about what-ifs and the past and end up not living in the moment and for today. I try to work harder to know and see what is now and enjoy it.  It is something I will continually work on and I know I am happier when I do it.

TinyBuddha posted a good article about living in the now when going through a lot of stress. They did 5 points and then talked about each point. I am going to post the points but please go and take a look at the whole article as it is so good.

1. Realize thoughts are not necessarily reality.

2. Use breathing to center you in the now.

3. Stop comparing now to then.

4. Focus on the happy moments.

I missed the giveaway for Living Happily Ever Now: A Guide + Workbook for Living in the Present Moment, but have been eyeing the workbook and might breakdown and buy it.

Inspiring Women - Gabrielle Bernstein

You know I was going to sit down here and say that I am into reading or watching/listening too all these amazing women on the web who inspire me.  I am trying to apply some of what I read/hear into my life so that I can achieve my goals.  But what stopped me for a moment is because they are often labeled as self-help or in the self-help field.  Many are in the marketing field, business and life coaches - helping women become who they want to be. They are business and life coaches.  But really the word self-help is what stopped me for a moment because it can be a turn off.  I wish it wasn't that way. But often it makes people wonder why you need help. These women though want you to be able to discover and go after all you dream about and will help you take find a path to achieving everything you want.  Going after dreams is very healing and hopeful.  So I guess  in those terms - they are in the self-help field but it isn't a bad word to me because these women inspire me even when I am having a hard time with my chronic migraines getting in the way.  The remind me to be hopeful and keep moving forward in my dreams.

I thought I would highlight a few of these wonderful women the next few weeks.

My first pick and these aren't in order of favorites or anything. I just happened to watch Gabby's Monday Vlog and thought I want to share this...and share all the inspiring things I read from these amazing women. 

So today I am sharing Gabrielle Bernstein - The Spirit Junkie.  I watch her vlogs (video-blogs). I love her attitude and well...spirit. She is a bright light.  In this video she talks about taking your passion to the next level. She quotes Dr. Wayne Dryer who is very inspiring also. She uses his quote about being inspired means you are inspirit. She also says when we are inspired we are inspirit and when we are inspirit we know that the universe has our back.  I really like that and feel it is true.