A new year..........

I've decided to challenge myself this year to find my way back to being healthy, in mind, body and spirit. I need to take better care of myself and the ones I love. My challenge will consist of

1. Being more mindful of what I eat. Choosing the healthiest alternatives I can.
A. Cutting out ALL processed foods.
B. Cutting out refined sugars.
C. Trying to eliminate gluten from my diet.

2. Committing to at least 30 minutes of some form of exercise EVERY day.
-gotta use it or lose it, right? I'm not getting any younger!

3. Taking 15 minutes EVERY day to just be.
A. Reading, listening to, or watching something positive.
B. Guided relaxation.

4. Learning how to use the time I do have to its full potential,not just
getting overwhelmed by all the things that need to be done, but doing them.

5. And finally, doing everything I can to identify my talents and finding the best
way to put them to use.

PHEW! Quite a list, but I figure if I obligate myself to check in every day with what steps I've managed to incorporate into my day, then I'll be more likely to be mindful of what I am doing with my health and well being. Seems silly to have to actually spell all this out, but a lot of us women tend to put ourselves last and get lost in the details of every day life. We're usually too busy taking care of everyone one else and putting their needs first.

So, I will challenge myself to taking positive steps toward a healthier life. I welcome any tips, tricks or resources that anyone wants to share.

And as we leave the old year behind and head into the new,
I wish you all the best and may all your dreams come true.

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Promise Yourself
By Christian D. Larson

Promise yourself….

To be so strong that nothing
can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity
to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel
that there is something in them
To look at the sunny side of everything
and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best,
and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others
as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past
and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times
and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself
that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,
and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world,
not in loud words but great deeds.
To live in faith that the whole world is on your side
so long as you are true to the best that is in you.
5.

Wishcasting Wednesday: What do you wish to do one day?

This week the wishcasting prompt is "What do you wish to do one day?" If you'd like to join the wishcasting, please visit Jamie Ridler Studios.

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One day (sooner, rather than later), I wish to move far away from where I am now to someplace that looks like this....

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or this.....

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Where I can do lots of this....

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and this....

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Or maybe someplace that looks like this...

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and this...

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Just someplace that I can hear myself think without the buzz of electronics 24/7 and fresh air and clean streets.

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With a huge securely fenced yard for the dogs, and a cozy fireplace for all of us.

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or...

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We have to accomplish a few more things before any of this can be implemented, but I'm counting the days, hours and minutes, until we can re-establish ourselves in a more comforting environment.

Happy Wishing!

Wishcasting Wednesday: What do you wish for fall?

It's Wishcasting Wednesday again,If you'd like to join this magical circle of dreamers and doers, please visit Jamie Ridler Studios. And thanks to everyone who has wished with me.

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Well, my favorite season is Fall, so I would like it to last longer than it does. This year we have had more gloomy,rainy days than I can ever remember. Usually we get some spectacular sunny days followed by cool, crisp nights. Not so much this year. The leaves are definitely turning, but it's all a big soggy mess.


can be found here

My wish this week is simple. I just wish for two brilliantly sunny cool crisp fall days on my birthday weekend. We are going to Galena, IL for two days, and I just want to enjoy the season in all its glory! I want to breath fresh air, and feel the sunshine on my face, and see lots of beautiful trees in all their autumnal splendor. I want to drink hot chocolate in the evening, and have a fresh apple donut in the morning. Just fully experience the short time we have to our selves.

Happy wishing everyone!


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State of the nation...and other random rants

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Thanks to doing some reading and hearing about the volatile trading the past few days, I've been wondering about our economy. Deep thoughts I know, but I have to write this stuff out, if only for my own peace of mind.

The actions of the Federal Reserve today led investors to conclude that the U.S. probably won't recover from the current economic issues for 'several' years. And guess what, the markets went crazy. Who benefited from that?

Back in the early 2000's, we bought our first place. Being first time home buyers, we did our due diligence and researched the whole process of mortgages, real estate, so on. Still felt like we had no clue, but we did ok. Well, back then, banks were throwing mortgages and refinances at anyone and everyone. They approved us for some ungodly amount, even though in reality, there would have been NO WAY we could afford that size mortgage. But, to our credit, we made sure we did NOT over extend ourselves and only spent as much as we knew we would be comfortable paying. And guess what happened!? The stock market and the real estate market tanked! Big time! But, our mortgage is still less than we would pay for renting a place this size, so despite our pocket books taking a BIG hit, we can still afford to keep a roof over our heads. Unfortunately for many average folks, that is not the case. The rate of foreclosures is astronomical and downright depressing. Many people lost their jobs and lost everything they had worked so hard for.

But who is ultimately responsible for that loss? Well, seeing as banks were throwing money at people who in reality could not actually afford to buy half million dollar homes, hmmmmm, well, sure people should know better, but what happened to the regulations that banks were supposed to operate under to keep this kind of problem to a minimum? Oh, yeah, congress repealed that little thing thanks to Phil Gramm and Jim Leach in 1999.

It seems that everyone is passing the buck when it comes to responsibility for any of this 'economic crisis'. People who overextended themselves say oh it's the bank's fault for giving me such a huge loan, and it's the government's fault for not helping me....you get the picture. Then the banks are all surprised that suddenly people can't afford to pay their $4500 a month mortgages, and they are defaulting on their loans....a vicious circle, don't you think?

So at what point do any of us take responsibility for our own actions? There are millions of people living well beyond their incomes all over the country, we fell into that trap as well, but we will be out of debt within the next two years. And boy did we have a LOT of debt. Who should we blame for all that debt? The credit card companies? Well, they do like to raise your credit limit when you send them payments on time for a while. And if god forbid, you are even one day late on your payment, they jack up your interest rate to some undgodly number, say 29.99%. So, again, we find ourselves in a vortex of debt.

As I read somewhere not too long ago, Eddie Murphy is hosting the Oscars, plaid is fashionable, and the economy is in the toilet, did I wake up in 1991? As funny as that is, I finished college in 1991 and there weren't a whole lot of job opportunities out there at the time. Been there, done that, did NOT want to do it again.

We are at the mercy of the people in power, and these days that includes, politicians and big business. Nothing really new about that, but aren't we the ones who vote those politicians into office? We are in the middle of a gigantic shift in the way things work, not just in our country but all over the world. We need to take responsibility for our own lives and effect change where we can. To borrow something that was posted on Facebook today, "Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: - Knowing when to come in out of the rain; - Why the early bird gets the worm; ... - Life isn't always fair; - And maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies, don't spend more than you can earn and adults, not children, are in charge. His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife Discretion, his daughter Responsibility, and his son, Reason. He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame and I'm A Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, do nothing. "

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As we head toward the holiday season, it makes me wonder. It used to be a magical time for me, but over the years, the commercialism has really ruined it for me. So I'm going to be trying to recapture some of what the holidays should really be about, friends, family and spending time with the ones you love.

Wishcasting Wednesday: What guidance do you wish for?

It's Wishcasting Wednesday again,If you'd like to join this magical circle of dreamers and doers, please visit Jamie Ridler Studios. First, thanks to everyone who has wished with me.

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So, today the question is what guidance do you wish for?

Today I am wishing for the right guidance on the next path we have chosen for ourselves. The success of this particular endeavor will have quite a bit to do with finding the right person to guide us on the journey. As of right now, the goal seems far away and the hurdles insurmountable.

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Right now I feel like I'm standing at the edge of a cliff getting ready to take the first BIG step.

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But with the right guidance, perseverance and luck, the end will result will all be worth it. I'll feel freer to share more details as things progress. For now I'm keeping my fingers crossed! Keeping our eyes on the prize. :0)

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Ten years ago today.....

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The most disturbing part of 9/11 for me was the lack of airplanes for the short time following the attacks. We live near one of the busiest airports on the planet, and we see planes every few minutes heading in and out, but for that period of time, the sky was eerily quiet. Our world came to a standstill as we all watched in disbelief the events as they unfolded on our tvs or as we listened on our radios.

Ten years later, rewatching any of the news coverage from that day still makes me cry. I cry in anger, frustration and sympathy for those who were lost, and those left behind. That day will live in our memories for the rest of our lives, we saw it happen, whether it was on tv or in person, it affected all of us. The events of that day forever altered our sense of security. Tragedy can strike any time, any where. My biggest lesson that I took from that day: NEVER take your life for granted, be mindful of all your blessings, and pass on some kindness in whatever capacity you can on a daily basis.

We will never forget.

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Wishcasting Wednesday: What path do you wish to follow?

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It's Wishcasting Wednesday again,If you'd like to join this magical circle of dreamers and doers, please visit Jamie Ridler Studios.

Today Jamie asks, What path do you wish to follow?

Wow. That's a tough one for me. I've been on one very narrow and concentrated path for the past seven years. Now I find myself at the very end of that path, searching for the right path to turn onto. I am still aiming at the same result, just have to approach it from a completely different direction than I had expected. The old path was full of fear, stress, disappointment and sadness, with a few glowing moments interspersed. The new path will be very similar, but all the work getting on that path and persevering will be worth the result. I am not alone, there are lots of others on similar paths to mine, but each one of us has our own individual hurdles to overcome. So I will embark on this new path, end result in mind, and putting in the work to get from here to there. No one said it would be easy, but I've got good hiking boots, and the best companions, granola bars, and lots of water. I'm in it for the long haul.

Happy Wishing Everyone!

My favorite time of year.....

It seems everybody is mourning the coming end of summer. Well NOT me! My favorite time of year is autumn.

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To me the sky seems bluer, the colors brighter, the air fresher, and it's just generally a more pleasant time of year for me.

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I spend so much time indoors in the summer, that it feels like I've been released from captivity when the air finally cools off enough for me to be comfortable. For me, anything over 70 degrees is just too darn warm. Dunno really why that is, but I've been like that as far back as I can remember. Always hated heat. It always made me physically ill. Gives me a rash too. :o) So when the autumn weather begins, and especially when the days are sunny and warm, and the nights are nice and chilly, it just makes me happy.

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When the weather gets cooler, I get outside more, taking longer walks in more inspiring places...

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I also LOVE decorating the house for fall, maybe even more than for Christmas. I personally love holidays that give me an excuse to gather family around a good meal and some fun times.

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That's probably why I like to vacation further north during the summer, places that are warm during the day and cool off comfortably at night.

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So I for one am very much looking forward to the change of the season. Hope you all have some beautiful sunny days wherever you will be this autumn!

Wishcasting Wednesday: What Do You Wish To Say No To?

Today is my third Wishcasting Wednesday. If you'd like to join this magical circle of dreamers and doers, please visit Jamie Ridler Studios

Today Jamie asks, what do you wish to say no to?



I wish to say no to being a wimp.

I wish to say no to not doing what I know I need to do to get where I want to be.

I wish to say no to doing what is safe.

I wish to say no to remaining in the same place, never trying anything new because I am comfortable there.

I wish to say no to the status quo because I can do more....

Happy Wishing!

Entertainment Center redo

So I have been wanting to redo the area for quite some time now. It was really dark and crowded, and although the living area is actually really big, it started to feel smaller with the big pieces of furniture.

Here is the before...


The big gigantor brown armoire and the icky chair the dog liked to sleep in. Notice the arrow, it is pointing to DUCT TAPE. Yup, the puppy tried to disembowel the lovely sea foam green chair.

Well, you'll all be happy to know that that lovely piece of furniture is no longer with us. Much to the disappointment of the dog. :o(

I 'inherited' my parents old entertainment center, which was a medium reddish brown. Not a color that went with ANYTHING in my house, so, after a quick trip to IKEA where we purchased two smaller bookcase type thingies, I decided to paint the entertainment center to match the bookcase thingies, which I decided to buy in a pale off white, hoping to lighten up that whole area.

Here is the entertainment center before....


Unfortunately the flat screen did NOT come with the tv stand. Bummer.

So here is the same area now....


Definitely makes the area lighter, brighter and more open. I still have to cover the wires and such, but not too bad for a hand me down. :o) But doesn't the tv look sooooooooooooo tiny?!?! When all debt is paid off, there will be a giant flat screen in it's place. And the stereo next to it...it has a turn table...that actually plays record albums. Either I'm really old, or a dj..... ;o)

Eventually the idea is to put up a half wall behind the entertainment area. But for now, it is an improvement.

Wishcasting Wednesday: What do you wish to enjoy?

Desktop Nexus: Wallpapers > Animal Wallpapers > Birds Wallpaper

Today is my second Wishcasting Wednesday. If you'd like to join this magical circle of dreamers and doers, please visit Jamie Ridler Studios.

This is a tough one for me today, as I've spent most of the day feeling sorry for myself....over the past three years I have really lost my ability to enjoy anything. So I am trying to climb back up to who I was before that...

But here goes...I wish to enjoy

-fresh hot popcorn at the movies
-listening to my dogs telling me about their day while I was gone at work (no really, they feel the need to tell me all about it)
-sitting and reading a good book in a freshly laundered bed that smells like lavender
-listening to the wind in the trees
-the sparkle the sun creates on the water at the lake
-a great song on a nice day played loudly while driving with the windows down (kinda like how my dogs seem to feel when they stick their heads out the window.)
-learning something new just because, like belly dancing ;o)



There, that's a good start I think. As someone said to me recently, we are so busy with our lives, we really don't take the time to actually SEE the world around us.

Happy Wishing!

My Wallpaper Heaven

"Very good news is coming your way today, and you need to find another person to share it with! It doesn't matter whether this person totally understands the magnitude of your relief or happiness -- what matters is that this person knows how to have fun. Celebrations like this call for creativity, and although you have tons of that, you need a collaborator. Think of the friend you can always have a good time with; then call her or him up and make plans for tonight!"

This was my horoscope for today. So far all the news today has been pretty crappy, so I think I'll hold off on the celebrations. No relief, no happiness, nada. SIGH. Just more of the same old crapola. I know I have to change things myself if I expect to change my circumstance, but on days like today, I'd just rather crawl under the covers and ignore the existence of the outside world for just a little while.

Motivational Monday

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.
Henry David Thoreau


Learn from the past, set vivid, detailed goals for the future, and live in the only moment of time over which you have any control: now.
Denis Waitley



If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.
Jim Rohn


Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice.
Wayne Dyer


Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.
Tony Robbins

Wishcasting Wednesday: What do you wish to choose?

Today is my first Wishcasting Wednesday. If you'd like to join this magical circle of dreamers and doers, please visit Jamie Ridler Studios.

What do you wish to choose?

I wish to choose happiness. Life will always be full of ups and downs, I want to choose happiness whichever side of the see saw I am on. Nothing and no one is perfect, but if you approach everyone and everything with kindness, more of that will come back to you.

I have over the years practiced verbalizing my gratitude for the kindness of others. It sounds simple, but always saying please, and thank you, really acknowledging another person for doing what they do for you because they love you, helps to remind them that you love them back. And it is always nice to know that you are appreciated. We so often take those closest to us for granted and forget to appreciate them for being there for us. Please and thank you, tiny little words that carry a big sentiment. Feel free to spread them around as much as you feel comfortable with. It's just good Karma to take a second to let someone know that you truly appreciate them and all they do. By being kind to others as well as yourself, you up your happiness quotient exponentially.

“There is only one cause of unhappiness: the false beliefs you have in your head, beliefs so widespread, so commonly held, that it never occurs to you to question them.” Anthony de Mello

No one is in control of your happiness but you; therefore, you have the power to change anything about yourself or your life that you want to change.
- Barbara de Angelis

Wishing everyone whatever you wish for yourself!

Meanwhile....

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...or rather suburban townhouse, I have been looking for a small cabinet to put our tv on in our master bedroom. Not having had any success after trying EVERY store on the planet including online, I had all but given up. It was doubly inconvenient seeing as the tv was on my bedside table. So this past weekend, I cleaned out our walk in closet (more on that later), and had gathered a bunch of stuff to be taken to Goodwill for donation. So we packed up the stuff and headed over to Goodwill. After we dropped off our stuff, I suggested we head on inside on the slight chance there might be something useful as far as tv cabinets go. It was pretty slim pickins but my hubby wandered over to this thing....



It was a cute shape, and size wise it was perfect, height depth and width all were just right. Fortunately I have a good imagination and after checking the price ($14.99!!!!!!) We decided to take it home. One of the pulls was broken off, so we would need new ones.

Here it is after a good scrubbing and some espresso high gloss spray paint...



Sure it doesn't match the bedroom furniture, but it doesn't have to. It just looks so darn cute. Oh, um, yeah, please ignore the kitchen towel under the tv, I didn't want the tv to scratch up the lovely new paint job. ;o)

This is what the tv was on before my cute new cabinet came along....



Not the right height and I really missed having my night stand next to the bed.

Doesn't this look so much better?



And today I was at Target, and found the perfect little knobs for it too...



They are tiny little smoky green acrylic knobs...so darn cute...

Who would have thunk I'd find the perfect little cabinet at Goodwill? :o)

Wishing you sunshine

Volunteering

With all the devastation happening around our country, this time in Missouri, I've been wondering about all the amazing people who give their time, money and resources to help others when they find themselves in need.

There are so many amazing organizations dedicated to being the helping hand to those hit by circumstances beyond their control. A very FEW examples being the Red Cross, who is always there when disaster strikes, Habitat for Humanity, helping those who need a home to call their own, and countless other smaller groups that just do whatever they can to make others' lives better.

All of that got me to thinking about volunteering my time and energy in whatever small capacity I can. I used to volunteer at the Field Museum as a docent for school children, kindergarten through second grade. That was a lot of fun, and it never ceased to amaze me when I ran into children who had never seen even seen a racoon or possum. I had always taken for granted that we ALL had access to forests and the outdoors, but having met some kids whose idea of wildlife was Chicago rats, my perspective has changed just a little.

I went camping and exploring as a scout, and with my family when I was a kid. It never really cost a whole lot of money. So I was under the impression that anyone could go and do the sames things we did as kids. Until I started volunteering. I guess I just never thought about the fact that some kids never leave the borders of the city and to them wilderness is the lake front or an abandoned lot somewhere. Really made me stop and think how that really gives someone a very narrow view of the world and limits their thinking to their immediate surroundings.

So I have been looking around on the inter webs, learning about all the millions of volunteer opportunities out there. Now all I have to do is narrow it down to one. ;o)

In no particular order:



Sierra Club
http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/national/service.aspx

The Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org/donate/volunteer/

And one of the best resources...
Volunteer Match
http://www.volunteermatch.org/