Stuck in the chrysalis

Do you think caterpillars know they will eventually turn into butterflies, and butterflies realize they were once caterpillars, or… is the chrysalis state a time of uncertainty or fear of the unknown for these lovely creatures?

I think we are all like caterpillars and butterflies but experience the chrysalis more often in life. My love of journaling started at a young age. Through the years, I have filled many journals with multiple entries which include lists about myself, heart-felt notes, and so many other things. Reading through my journals, I have laughed, cried, and been in awe about things I wrote. For example, in the fourth grade, I had an obsession with writing about my “husband-to-be” whose name was Danny. Little did I know that I would meet and marry a man whom everybody called Danny. Coincidence?

During my early years of journaling, I had a distinct writing style. My thought process remained similar, although my world was changing drastically. Being a late bloomer, the notes I wrote in the 9th and 10th grade were not much different from those of the 4th and 5th grade. I noticed the first big change in entries during the 11th and 12th grade. Until then, I sounded like an angry kid who didn’t understand the world. I wasn’t naive but did make excuses for many things. When I was bullied, I would write about what I may have done to cause it. Many of my reasons revolved around what I looked like. If only I was blond, or didn’t have braces, etc. In the 11th and 12th grade, my writing turned a corner since I started to accept myself more. I began focusing on my future and reminding myself things would change. One of my entries read: “My mom keeps telling me that it won’t be like this forever. Once I go to college, everything will be different. Maybe she is right. I think it’s time for me to remind myself about that when I start feeling sad.” After that, my entries changed and had a happier tone. I don’t know if I ever truly believed her but I wrote like I did. I changed my thought process and my last two years of high school changed because of it. Things did become more positive. Life in school was more tolerable. The most troubling moments didn’t seem as bad. I started finding my place within myself. - thanks mom

The chrysalis state is a time of transformation. We may not know what lies ahead, but should take moments in our chrysalis and turn the fear of the unknown into breathing in our future and opening our eyes to the beauty of what lies ahead. Since high school, I have spent a few periods in a chrysalis. Each time, my chrysalis was more comfortable and I came out more beautiful. Fortunately, I know I have many more to go and am excited to embrace each.

Posted in Daily Inspiration | Tagged Butterfly, Caterpillar, Chrysalis, living, Positive Thinking | Leave a comment

A Blog – A Challenge – A Linky

My first few months blogging were a mix of finding my voice, trying to meet other bloggers, and of course linky love! All beginner blogger books tell you to link up. It seemed almost imperative to join every linky party you could.

Somehow, as I got more entrenched in the blogosphere, I stopped connecting as much as I used to. A pit stop at a blog I love,

(insert comma here)

made me reconsider my hiatus and join in a little blog fun: Blog every day in May. As you can imagine, this will be a challenge for me. What I love are the writing prompts for each day. Since I decided (tonight) that I was putting my television watching on the back burner for one month, finding this challenge could not have come at a better time! That said, May 1st is the day I begin. I will feature the topic of the day and my post! Take a minute and click on the link below to check out what I will be writing about!

Posted in Blogology 101 | Tagged Beginner Bloggers, Linky, Writing Prompts | Leave a comment

Wedding Season Is Here

…and I found the perfect gift for any bride to be! It’s the hollywood fashion secrets bride’s fashion emergency kit from Bliss.

and… it’s only $25-

So, what’s in this essential kit?

For starters, it comes with a perfect clutch for her wedding day!

The kit also includes:

6 Hollywood Fashion Tape strips• Sewing Kit • Blister Pad • 2 Bobby Pins • Tissue Pack • Nail File • 30 Lint Removing Sheets • 50 Oil Blotting Tissues • Hair Band • Stain Removing Wipe • Static Guard (3ml) • Drinking Straw • Deodorant Wipe • Faux Wedding Bands (just in case) • White Chalk • Blue Garter

Posted in Gifts | Tagged Bliss, bride, Bridesmaid, presents, wedding | Leave a comment

Living inside out

Do you have the courage to live inside out?

This morning, while eating breakfast with my family, I noticed my daughter’s shirt was inside out. I helped her get ready and wondered, how did I miss that? Sure, it looked pretty normal but her tag was definitely on the wrong side. I giggled. Of course, like anyone who loves to disseminate everything they experience, I assimilated this moment to the human race and the term “normalcy.“

A quirky teenager (aka ME), thought to herself one day… why don’t I fit in like everyone else? I feel pretty normal. The reality: I was NOT normal. Then again, neither was anyone else. From afar, the popular girls seemed happy. It was assumed everyone liked them. The jocks seemed like they were all friends. Again, this was from afar. What I didn’t pay attention to, was that the popular girls were doing things like stealing each others boyfriends, bickering about who got to buy the ah-mazing dress they saw at the mall, and who’s hair was highest (yes, I did grow up in the 80′s). Within every group, there were outcasts. Each of them, desperately trying to fit in so much, that they forgot themselves. I realize today, that I allowed myself to fall into that trap too. While I was trying to fit in with the “popular” crowd, I didn’t pursue things that made me happy.

Living inside out is exactly what most of us forget to do. It is the truly strong that are willing to expose who they are. I want children in this world to stop living outside in and start living inside out. My daughters shirt may have been inside out, but it made me smile. It’s not about perfection or imperfections, it’s about being real and true to yourself. Exposing oneself is a lot more fun than hiding who you truly are. It’s living inside out and giggling.

Posted in Inspirations, Parenting, Ruminate | Tagged bullying, Centered, living, Popularity, Self Discovery, Self-Awareness | Leave a comment

One Week | One Cause

Sevenly.org is an organization I am proud to represent. Each week, they donate $7 from every t-shirt purchased on their website to a different cause.

This weeks charity:
End7

Can A T-Shirt Change The World?
We think so. Watch this video and you tell us.

“END7 is an international advocacy campaign seeking to eliminate seven neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) by 2020. These diseases include elephantiasis, river blindness, trachoma, snail fever, hookworm, whipworm and roundworm.” (sevenly.org) You can find out more about End7 below.

website
facebook
twitter

Sevenly.org products are stylish, comfortable, make a statement and give back. I picked out a few of my favorites below. What do you think?

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// Girls Baseball Raglan // 3 Notebook Kit // Womens Lightweight Hoodie // Muslin Swaddling Cloths 4Pk

Check Out This Week’s Cause Tee – Now at Sevenly.org

Posted in Gifts, Humanity, Shopping | Tagged causes, Charities, Donate, philanthropy, Sevenly, shop | Leave a comment

It said to “Just Write”

Something I read: just write… in the raw…

So that is what I decided to do. A book I stumbled upon in a local bookshop said to just start writing. As this is supposed to be a creative writing exercise, I decided to do it. I am actually in the middle of doing it right/write now. As I write, I have music playing by Jesse Cook. The album is The Rumba Foundation, and invigorating.

As I peer out the windows at Panera, I see that the sun finally decided to come out. It’s beautiful. I can tell the warmth is beginning to envelop our city. I am glad. Recent events have put a damper on lives, and lives lost. The Boston Marathon tragedy may be behind us but will never be forgotten. The MIT Police Officer who died following the event is being put to rest today. Thousands will be at the funeral, but that is no solace for a life lost. Rain today would have been too somber. He deserves to be put to rest on a beautiful day. His life, as well as the others should be celebrated.

When I started writing this post, I did not think that I would write about last weeks events. I really did not know where my words would lead me but I just came to the conclusion that I don’t want to forget the harsh reality of last week. The rawness of what happened. It’s one of many reminders we need to cherish every moment we have. We do need to live for today and leave all the petty bullsh*t at the door. Stop focusing on all the negatives in life and embrace the goodness.

In friends: Don’t focus any time on the ones that don’t make you feel good about yourself. Nothing good comes out of them. Forget the people you “think” you should be friends with. Forget social standards or the desire for so-called popularity. Surround yourself with people who DO make you feel good, people who make you smile, laugh and allow you to relax around.

In work: Do what you love. Do what you want. Even if you have another job, strive towards the one you really want. Welcome a change, a new career path if that is your dream.

In Family: Just love. Accept family members for whom they are. Don’t try to change them. Just love them and savor every moment you have with them.

In Life: Smile. Be gracious, kind, and generous. Wish well upon others. Live freely. Let your hair down and start enjoying every bit of it. Make note of all the beauty surrounding you. Smell the air, sink your hands in the ground. Be aware of all your senses and savor them. It’s amazing how good the “little things” feel.

How I feel now: I had to add this piece because writing freely has never come easy to me, although writing has. I am doing zero edits to the above. I have yet to read what I wrote but am posting it “as is.” The reality is that I am a little nervous about how it may be taken or I might sound like a bit of a freak (clearly, I am afraid of being judged) but today = step 1 of my new adventure… Finding my TRUE AUTHENTIC SELF.

Posted in Blogology 101, Centered, Create, Inspirations, Ruminate | Tagged Authentic Self, creativity, Just Write, MIT Police Officer, write, writing | Leave a comment

Imperfect

“It was clear from the data that we cannot give our children what we don’t have. When we are on our journey of living and loving with our whole hearts is a much stronger indicator of parenting success than anything we can learn from how-to books.”

-The Gifts Of Imperfection, Brene Brown

The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

Have you ever really thought about this? In reading some wonderful books, like The Gifts of Imperfection,
I realized some startling things about myself. It’s a new awakening I was not looking for. Things I don’t like about myself surfaced:

I am not “living” my true AUTHENTIC SELF (then again, most of us are not)

I still have not FULLY opened up with how I write (I am working on that)

I don’t trust most people (I’m not sure I want to work on that one)

My INTUITION is too strong, causing more pain than I want to feel

I’ve spent more of my life TRYING TO PLEASE OTHERS and DOING WHAT I THINK OTHER PEOPLE WANT ME TO DO than PLEASING MYSELF

Only a few books have made me realize this. If I read too many more, I might spontaneously combust!

Posted in Bookworm, Centered, Inspirations, Ruminate | Tagged books, Brene Brown, Self-Awareness, Self-Help, The Gifts Of Imperfection | Leave a comment

The Spring Kitchen

The One Kings Lane Day of Kitchen sale is here just in time for Spring! This is one of the best sales of the year because of the variety of high quality kitchen items One Kings Lane offers! Below are some of my favorite sales they are hosting. Remember, One Kings Lane sales only last 72 hours so when you see an item you love you should definitely buy it! This Day Of Kitchen sale is live from today-4/26. Let me know what you wind up getting to make your space ready for spring time!

The Spring Table Sale at One Kings Lane
Set a table that blooms with these light, bright entertaining necessities. Full of floral dishes, playfully printed linens, and vibrant flatware, we’ve got something to freshen up every spring soiree.
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The Composed Counter Sale at One Kings Lane
From cookware inherited for your first apartment to the bone white china on your wedding registry, a fully-equipped kitchen is a highly-personal thing of beauty. For those missing a few key pieces, we’ve created a collection of kitchen essentials, perfect for function, family, and entertaining.
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Entertaining Essentials Sale at One Kings Lane
Warm days and balmy nights — this season is just made for entertaining. Whether you’re planning a casual alfresco brunch or an elaborate outdoor party, these colorful wine glasses, tumblers, coasters and cake stands make every occasion stylish and chic

photo b166750d-d77e-4bc5-9dc0-545379da7708_zpsc1a8de78.jpg The Eat-In Kitchen Sale at One Kings Lane
The eat-in kitchen is the heart and soul of the home. It’s where friends and family gather, meals are prepped and served, and memories are made. We selected our favorite kitchen and dining finds, from furniture to table linens, so you can create your own freshly-styled, functional eat-in kitchen.

Posted in Get Organized, Gifts, Inspirations, Shopping | Tagged color, decor, design, Home, Kitchen, spring, style | Leave a comment

How an innocent day at the park can go wrong

An innocent day at the park with 6 kids and 2 mothers. What could possibly go wrong?

It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, birds were chirping and kids were playing. And then, one mom decided that it was time to take some pictures. What this mom did not realize is that the pictures would result in the below.

I just had to post them because they gave us suck a chuckle when we “actually” looked at them!

Posted in Children, Flummery, Funnies, Girls, Kids, Mom, Motherhood, Parenting, Photography | Tagged fun, Innocence Lost, Park, sun | Leave a comment

Just Like I Am

Landon Pigg is looking for love “Just Like I Am”… well, at least that is my favorite song of his.

This handsome American Singer-Songwriter/Actor definitely has a way about him. I’m not sure if it his guitar playing or lyrics but somehow, they all mesh perfectly. It only took me one song, “Just Like I Am,” to become hooked on his music. ”Walking On Eggshells,” another song of his came next and I realized that I was in the middle of a secret love affair with his music. Fortunately, he isn’t too bad to look at either.

Just for the record… my husband is still, and always will be the only one I hold in my heart. Don’t get any funny ideas here! If you don’t believe me though, just take a listen to Mr. Landon Pigg.

Want more?

Posted in Media, Music | Tagged actor, Landon Pigg, pop, Singer-Songwriter | Leave a comment