Have a great weekend y'all!

I'm knocked out with a major allergy attack. Enjoy fun musics in the meantime and have a great weekend!

I'm feeling the strong lady power vibes, guys! Hope y'all do too!

Have a great weekend!! 38 days left of Summer!

Happy Friday, y'all!

Taken by moi in Apalach, 2014.

It's the "end" of another week and the beginning of another weekend. What do you have planned? I plan on checking out the last Blue Moon until 2018 (probably on my porch with a glass of wine with ice cubes in it- classy!). As for the weekend, I know not what is on the agenda. Perhaps antiquing with a buddy- perhaps schlepping about doing errands. I do know I have to take my car in to get the recalls fixed on it. Bugger- not having a vehicle for the day to run errands and grocery shop but I can make do!

Anyway, there's only 52 days left of Summer. It'll feel like even less when I see the big yella school buses roaming the city in two weeks. Where does the time go?

Instead of wasting time reading fifteen random (and totally awesome) things I've picked out for you, how about we go outside and get a sno-cone or go swimming or lay in the grass with our dogs? Eh? I mentioned this a few weeks ago, but I have the sneaking suspicion a lot of y'all stayed inside in the air conditioning instead (not that I blame you). However!!

Let's be Summery while the days are still feeling so free. As soon as school starts back up (even for those of us not in school and with no children at home), it signals something inside of us that wants to hunker down and get new pencil boxes and fresh notebooks, find corduroy pants and get a new haircut and that freedom of those last dog days sparkles and fades away.

Embrace these last weeks. Check out the Blue Moon on Friday night. Drink wine with ice cubes in it too. Why the hell not? It's Summertime, right? Let the little kid inside you swing in the hammock of that loveliness a little while longer.

X's & O's. I hope you have a truly wonderful weekend, friends!

The Big One.

Throwback Thursday, 2009. Dancing in my apartment in my favorite jammies and favorite fuzzy hat. Somethings never change. 

Well y'all! It's hard to believe, but it's been one year since my semi-meltdown/rant and attempt at gaining more positivity in my life by starting this little blog. Exactly one year ago, I was dealing with a work situation that was toxic at BEST. I was paying too much in rent and making unhealthy choices. I was also 18 lbs. over where I was most comfortable with.

So much has changed and yet so little too! It's definitely a world away from where I was a mere 241 posts ago. For that, I'm super grateful. The hubs and I are healthier. We pay much less rent for our cute little tiny house too! The job situation has improved a bit and I even lost a few pounds too!

I try not to worry about the future as much as put forth the effort to ensure the utmost appreciation of it. That's my wish for this next year. To make the most of each and every single day so that when the future does arrive (as it tends to if we're lucky), the little chips I made in the stone will be revealing some pretty sparkly gems.

To you, lovely friends and loyal readers, thank you for joining me on this ride. It has definitely had its ups and downs. Format changes, ideas that never were realized and multitudes that have been. But I've had fun and I know y'all have too now and then.

I hope to keep you smiling and thinking positively in the next year as well!

I truly hope you have a wonderful day!

Summer Readin'

Hey y'all! What are you reading these days? I tell you, this summer, I've been devouring books. I think I've probably read about a half dozen. Here are some of my favorites!

Blackbird House. Usually I don't care for Alice Hoffman's writings as much as anyone who knows me would think I would. But, there is something about this book that is wondrous and strange and lovely.

Bad Monkey. Sent to me by my sweet buddy in D.C. with whom I have a homemade mail-order book club with. I laughed so hard, so many times. It makes me want to go back to Big Pine Key again and drink out of a coconut while the hubs lets Key deer walk all over him. So good and irreverent!

Telling the Bees. It starts great. Gets slow. Gets slower. Then boom! The action picks up and your fondness for the main character grows. Interesting interesting book. The descriptors seem a little vague at first due to the subtleties of the authors choices until you suddenly realize what a careful tapestry has been woven and you feel transported to each place and time. It's really something. It surprised me, actually.

State of Wonder. Another mail-order book club specimen. Much like Telling the Bees, it has its slower moments and then boom! Action and odd twists and turns. I'd love to know what you think of the ending too. My buddy and I had a great time talking about it.

This One and Magic Life. Oh de-lolly do I love a good magical realism book. This one doesn't overdo it, but it is heady and lyrically fragrant (that may not make sense, but you'd probably agree after reading). The ending is just terrific too. So my kind of ending! Also, Anne Carroll George wrote a series of hilarious Southern murder mysteries that I provably wouldn't have picked up otherwise but have devoured since my Mom gave them to me. Excellent and so funny!

Now I'm beginning The Girl on the Train. I have heard mixed review, so I'm super intrigued to see where I land on it.

What have you been reading? I'd love to know!

Happy Friday!!

Lulu & Kit playing in the grass. She's happy, I swear!

Hey y'all! What have you got planned for the weekend? I'm brunching it with Mom on my day off as well as running a million errands, then working on Sunday again. I hope you have much more relaxing planned than I do!

Here's this week's list of funs, pretties, happies, interestings and what-nots to get your weekend kicked off right! Enjoy!

*Did you take me up on my challenge last Friday to do 3 Summer things? If not, here's a great recipe to try! 

*This video made me laugh.

*This is cool. The 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 method of packing for trips.

*This photographers life and career was changed by one chance encounter.

*Sixteen surprising things about parenting in the Netherlands.

*There's a place where you can swim with baby otters and play with all other kinds of animals. Yes please!!

*I love this! These couples make the best of their rainy day weddings!

*I've posted this before but it makes me genuinely laugh out loud every single time I find it. So even if it was two weeks ago, I'm posting it again. I don't care, it's that amusing to me.

*Mind, Body, Green's 10 songs to make you happy right now! Some of them I can vouch for, some I'm making it to this weekend.

*This is pretty cool. A trove of letters between German POW's in the US and the people who lived in the town around them shines a different light on...well, it's just very poignant, and interesting!

*Eight years after its series end, why the Gilmore Girls fandom lives on.

*Oh the cute sleepy puppy!

*I love this wreath for the Fall!

*This cracked me up! "My baby monitor just produced a paranormal horror movie"! So funny and the teeniest bit creepo!

Have a truly wonderful weekend, guys!

A challenge for your weekend!

How to Be Active in the Summer Heat

Hey guys, it's finally Friday amiright? I personally can't wait for my (one) day off and I just didn't feel like doing the typical "Friday Happies" today.

Instead I put forth the challenge to do three "Summery" things this weekend. Eat corn off the cob cooked on the grill, or hey have a whole cookout! Soak your feet in a kiddie pool while having a nice glass of something cool and refreshing. Watch a storm from your front porch.

Check out the (oftentimes free) outdoor concerts in your town and dance off the hamburgers you grilled out!

Hula hoop, play frisbee or go to the beach (or hula hoop while playing frisbee on a beach- even better)!

Carve up a watermelon and eat it outside (yes, even if it's a little warm out).  Set up the sprinkler and run through it like you did when you were little. I guarantee whatever "Summery" thing you choose, it will bring a smile to your face.

There are only 67 days left of official Summer. Be present in it instead of wishing for Fall (like I've been all week). Let's make the most out of the dog days we have left!

Have a truly wonderful day y'all!

Bastille Day it like a French Gal!

History of the croissant!

Bonjour! It's Bastille Day, and I have no idea why I've always liked and celebrated this holiday. I'm a good ol' 'Merican girl in the Dirty South for crying out loud! However, I just love it and usually hit up my favorite French bakery in town for a fruit boat and tea. I thought it'd be fun today to get some inspiration from these French-inspired lovelies! Why not, oui? Oui!!


First, fashion! I always imagine one of the many reasons the French stereotypically look at Americans the way they do while Americans basically worship French women is somewhere in the French psyche, they imagine the Americans as a clingy lover. One who idolizes and changes in the relationship, when all French people seem to grasp that being a true representation of oneself is key. They certainly don't have articles in French that extol the secrets of the American je ne sais quoi!
Philosophizing aside, it's f-f-f-fashion!

Un: How to create a 5-piece French wardrobe and (theoretically) CHANGE YOUR LIFE! Ha! Love it.

Deux: 12 Secrets to dressing like a French woman!

Trois: How to live like a French Girl!

Food!

Quatre: Poulet Saute Chasseur (Hunter's Chicken). Looks so delicious!

Cinq: Galette de Pomme de Terre (Potato Galette). I love a galette!

Six: 44 Classic French recipes with wine pairing suggestions!

Beauty!

Sept: Twelve French ways to style your hair. SO chic!

Huit: French drugstore products that really work...I'm personally addicted to Rose Witch Hazel.

Neuf: What French women NEVER do to their hair. Fascinating!


Design!

Dix: Seven secrets to French decorating. Love it!

Onze: "French Women" secrets for a healthy home. 

Douze: Eight Feminine French rooms. 

Youngins!

Trieze: What French children are taught about food that American children are not.

Quatorze: This little French bebe, telling quite the tall tale about Winnie the Pooh. My heart, it is so cute!

Au revoir, mes amis!

Friday Happies!

Friday rainbow!

Hello my lovely dearies! What's your plan for the weekend? I'll be trucking along at the shop, hopefully it will be drama-free and go by quickly so I can hurry up and enjoy my Monday off! Because I'm super ready for a long hot bath and bed, I'll jump right in to this week's list of happies, funs, pretties, interestings and what-nots to usher you into a rad weekend of happiness and hilarity!

*This guy does 10 second songs in a bunch of different styles. It's a little bit mind blowing.

*I love this guy! Alan Rickman talks about working with strong, talented, brilliant women. Oh you!

*I loved Alice Gao's interview on A Cup of Jo. What great simple style!

*This is one of the funniest artist series I've seen in a minute. "The Distance I Can Be From My Son". 

*This started out as an article that I wanted to roll my eyes about. Parents who think their kids' Minion toys in their Happy Meals were cussing. It turned out to be a great article on words and their meanings and how we, as adults, sometimes cause more harm than good in teaching our children about what's "good" and "bad".

*Bruiser just wanted to belly flop in the pool. He certainly succeeded.

*SO COOL! A Sun Printing Kit!! I want one!

*Weird things couples are thankful for. HA!

*These lovely gals tried on Victoria's Secret bathing suits, and this is what happened!

*A five step guide to Making S--t Happen!

*To Basil on your 10th birthday! My heart!

*Comedians talking about fatherhood.

*Both impressive and creepy! This guy can do makeup so well, he can transform himself into celebrities!

*Common entertaining mistakes and how to avoid them! I've done 'em all, y'all!

*And to round it out, 10 Ways to Remind Yourself You're Worth It!

Awesome! Have a wonderful weekend friends!!

Tuesday Sounds

Hey y'all! Did you recover from your holiday weekend? I surely hope so! The hubs and I drove to a favorite beach spot nearby and watched this movie as fireworks exploded all around town. It's incredible but I've been having weird dreams ever since. Ha!

Anyway, I've been feeling a rut in music over the past few years and recently it feels like I'm finally entering a new era of fresh music that speaks to me. First, with this song I posted a few weeks ago and then again when a friend introduced me to this guy this weekend, and I have been playing his albums non-stop. It has sparked my muse again and the creative writing has been flowing. Thanks to my buddy for the recommendation! Have a listen!

Particular favorites are Fun Times in Babylon and Tee Pees 1-12! What have y'all been listening to lately? I'd love to know! Have a truly wonderful day!

Happy Fourth of July Weekend!

Organized Chaos.

Happy Fourth of July weekend, friends! I surely hope you get some time to celebrate your independence. If you have to work, I say to you- stay strong and steadfast friends! Celebrations are everywhere you look!

 There's something so magical about this time of year. Perhaps because it is exactly the halfway point between the beginning and the end of the year. Perhaps because it's full of the nostalgic feelings of freedom that children have running about with sparklers and Otter Pops and what-not. It stays in your marrow, even as an adult. I don't know- there's a certain sweet, heady, hot and twinkling...magic this time of year. There's no other word for it.

I hope you find some magic this weekend too, friends. And here's this week's list!

*Check it this weirdly interesting optical illusion dance recital.

*Smaller than I dream of, but a rad tiny house nonetheless. Loved the Beer Moth House too!

*My joy takes nothing from you. Love it.

*Proud Mama rents a billboard for her son's graduation. So sweet!

*Hahaha! Weird ways couples mess with each other. I know I've posted it before, but I spent an hour watching all of their videos over and over and I just want to be friends with them!

*Gilmore Girls Sports Bar? Where is Jess is more...

*Woah. Poignant and telling and...well check it out... Like A Girl.

*Cool!!! Blood donors in Sweden get a text when their donations save a life or helps someone! That's so damn neato I can hardly stand it! We as Americans are just narcissistic enough to find that really rewarding! Ha!

*Gloriously un-retouched thighs. Yes!

*24 Parents You Wish You Knew In Real Life...Hilarious and great, but my folks should be on there too!

*Waking up with Katia and Tilvie (the bunny). I just love the pictures and the artist's morning routines aren't too shabby either.

*#ProudtoLove. Oh, did it ever make me tear up!

*A 3 year old receives unbelievable bill for damaging neighbor's car!

*Gorgeous little farmhouse in...New York City...on the roof of a 6-story building. It even has a yard and garden!!

*How to attract fireflies to your backyard! (Try to ex-nay on collecting them though, their numbers are dwindling).

*Some extra fireworks fer ya!

I hope y'all have a groovy Fourth of July weekend. Take a few moments to send out some gratitude for your freedoms, liberties and those who have come before you to keep them. Ciao, friends!

Leap Second

The Earth at night.

I'm super fascinated by this Leap Second deal today. Due to my hibernation last week, I had no idea this was a thing until this morning. Have you read much about it?

Here's a few links!

*Leap Second via Wikipedia

*From the New York Times.

*From The Guardian.

Not quite sure why I'm so into this. But it does make me think of Cam's Leap Year birthday episode of Modern Family. Remember that? What if some little kid is born during that second? Hahaha!

Have a truly, scientifically wonderful day!

Wine Smoothies...

Image from High Heels to Hot Wheels

Last week I was looking for a recipe to help me get through my (tiny) freezer full of frozen fruit. I love smoothies, but just haven't been in the mood in the mornings to make them. I didn't want to bake any cakes or casseroles with the fruit because I don't want sweets around the house. Then I stumbled upon a recipe for wine smoothies. Whuh? Yes, wine smoothies. The hubs and I aren't really feeling drinking much (it's too dang hot here in the South right now), but I did brew up a glass last night to see what the hubbub was about. The result? Those things are delicious!

Here are a few recipes from around the web:
*Cooking with Curls. The Classic.
*Dessert for Two. Peach White Wine Slushies.
*High Heels to Hot Wheels. Red Wine Smoothie.

If you're looking for a lovely and light summer indulgence, then this may just be the ticket. But remember to stay hydrated, it's way too hot for over-indulgence! Would you try wine smoothies?

I hope you're having a truly wonderful day!

Friday Happies!

It's over y'all. You've made it to another weekend! Got any plans for Father's Day? I have to work all weekend, but I'll be calling my Papa in Nashville (can't say his gift on here because my folks are my most devoted readers- you cutie patooties) and spending time with my B after I get off work on Sunday (I'm lucky enough to have two men in my life to honor- though with wildly differing tastes). So, in honor of those great men in our lives, I've put a few fun gift ideas, some inspirations and some regular ole Friday Happy regulars to get you stoked for your weekend! I hope you enjoy!

*I <3 Dad chocolates! Because he's sweet and deserves a treat!

*This homemade shirt for Father's Day too, because Awww!

*James Taylor releases his first new album in over 13 years! It's great and what a good gift for a Papa in your life (or really anyone, because its so good!).

*How about keeping his favorite radio station pumping out the great music he loves? Donate here!

*A modern classic for him to enjoy. 

*A classic classic for him to enjoy.

*Why not make him a watermelon grill? He may just laugh himself silly! I almost did.

*A great cookbook for him too (as he loves to experiment in the kitchen)! I'm partial to the John Besh one myself.

*Awesome site of dads and kids! Like Iron Man & Iron Son above. Sooooo good!

Now on to the rest of the list!

*I want to try Graze.com's snack line!

*This is a great article not only on the tiny house movement, but on the "New Old" house movement (of which I am super into!).

*The cast of Gilmore Girls reflect back on one of the best episodes of the series, the dance marathon episode (*geek out*).

*Meet Lenore. She is 99 years old, and very interesting and self-sufficient.

*Have y'all heard of a She-Shed? Let's all go have these now, please!

*Well, here's one way to make lemonade. Due to her dog's rampant stealing of food, this photographer created an adorable series of...her dog stealing beautifully photographed food.

*I saw Jurassic World this week. I loved the action, could not ignore the sexism (really Hollywood?) and delighted in the references and Easter eggs hidden throughout. Oh, and I LOVED Jimmy Buffet's cameo! Loved it!!

*Then zookeepers around the globe began making memes teasing at the the image of Owen and the Velociraptors from that very film. It's called Prattkeeping. Silly and fun!

*I am super intrigued by this group of boys (The Wolfpack) and this documentary about their entire young lives spent locked in a tiny apartment together in NYC. Fascinating and resilient young men.

*Why is this photograph of Professor Sydney Engleberg holding a student's infant child during his lecture sparking conversations on parenting? Check it out for yourself, it's pretty great!

*The Elf Whisperer of Iceland?! Yes please!

*There is a facility/day school in Seattle that is for the very young and elderly to be together. It is awesome and makes me very happy to know it exists.

*This restaurant decided to restructure their financial system by barring tips April 1st. What happened? Their profits tripled, y'all! Their employees and customers all report better experiences all the way around. Check out their cool story!

I hope you have a truly wonderful weekend, y'all! Don't forget the first day of Summer is this weekend!

 Keep the love and positivity flowing. Pour your gratitude out every day and make sure you always tell those special people in your life that you love and appreciate them. 'Specially those daddies! Ciao!

New Obsession

Admission. When I was a little bean I took my handy dandy faerie identification guide out into Grandma's gardens and spent HOURS looking for signs of faerie life. I built houses and left flowers and fruit and it was genuinely magical.

As I've gotten older, I've always kept them in my pocket. The idea of faeries. But I never liked the tattooes (thanks Britney) or the hokey tchotchkes that forced me to keep my love of that childhood magic a secret.

In fact I've even been known to roll my eyes and scoff at the myriad of faerie accoutrements I've seen in my local favorite nursery...until recently.

Recently I've been thinking of making a seasonal planter to celebrate the changing of the seasons. See, I come from a long line of decorators. My mother, grandmother and great-grandmother's seasonal decor was something to be wonderstruck by. I've never been good at that whole-hog type of decorating because- quite frankly- I don't want clutter and I don't want to store a lot of things.

However, I believe celebrating the seasonal changes is beautiful and simple and kind and good for the heart. I want to do that like the women before me.

But in case you haven't noticed a trend with me...I gotta do it my way!

All of this to say, I want to make a Summer faerie planter for the first day of Summer, this weekend!! I'm super geeking out about it and have been researching like a lunatic about it. Ahem. At least I'm honest about my lunacy.

Check out these awesome sites for making faerie gardens or "miniature gardens" as the grown-ups would say...

*The Garden Glove.
*The Juice. (Or gardening with adorable little ones!)
*The Magic Onions (great name for a gardening site!!)
*This, That & Everything In Between.

Would you do something fun and whimsical like this or is your garden a more structured type of homage to the seasons? How do you acknowledge the passing of the months? I'd love to know!

Friday Happies!

Pineapples.

Hey y'all! What do you have planned for the weekend? I have a family reunion here and I'm going to take off a few days for myself to recover from the insanity of the past month as well. Yay! I most likely will be going to see this one afternoon to snort laugh by myself. Anyway, here's this week's list of funs, happies, pretties, interestings and what-nots to get you geared up for your weekend whatever you may have going on!

*Have you had fish grilled in pineapple bark? What the what?! It sounds amazing!

*Some guy took a picture of a woman nursing her infant at a restaurant (a total stranger mind you) and posted it to his Facebook, shaming her for feeding her kid in public. She wrote back.

*I love this summer time gift wrap! So cheeky!

*Now that is how I'd wear a one-piece swimsuit (add high wedge heels and dramatic hat and shades).

*I have to bring something to the family reunion this weekend that can get warm and not kill anyone. I'm thinking this. Any standby recipes you make for gatherings like that? I'd love to know!

*It has been said at times I have the sense of humor of a frat boy. National Lampoon's anything, 21 and Over- those are my movies I watch alone while I laugh like Beavis & Butthead. All of this is to say, THERE IS A NEW VACATION coming out!!!

*And the bluegrass side of Ed Helms (who happens to be in the new Vacation film). He's so talented!

*Molly Ringwald at 47. She's so cool!

*This was so sweet! A dad stops the father-daughter dance at his daughter's wedding to play catch with her. Ack! I ugly cried.

*The British Prince and Princess's debut photographs side by side.

*Fifteen words to eliminate from your vocabulary to sound smarter! Yeeeeah, I pretty much use them all...

*A sweet video of an expectant family and their dogs. Aw!

*For the new front porch (my house is yellow).

*Smart kid. He gets paid to wait in line at one of the most popular barbecue joints in Austin.

*This picnic blanket is awesome!

Have a wonderful weekend, y'all!

Friday Happies!

Happy Friday, y'all! I'm ready for a weekend, how 'bout you? I'm working but it won't stop me from putting together a pretty epic and fun list of pretties, interestings, happies and what-nots for y'all. Heee're we go!

*This was fun. Meanings of names!

*BB's processional down Beale Street in Memphis. R.I.P. 

*The prettiest tablecloth.

*Made a garlic version of these and they were soooo good!

*Seven types of bad bosses. Woah. I've had a few of them, certainly hope not to again.

*I like Tiny House Talk. I don't live in an actual "tiny" house (more like smaller than a small house), but I very well may in the future!

*Gemma Hayes has been a favorite of mine for over a decade. Here's a wicked good cover of Wicked Game.

*Heh. Teddy. Funny.

*Ah! Want your hear tot grow forty-seven times its size? Here ya go.

*15 types of car radio singers. I'm about fifteen of them...

*Woah. The Little Prince movie trailer!! Jeff Bridges!!!

*Nick Offerman has a new book, Gumption. Dig it.

*Kid keeps his prom-promise to childhood friend!

*I love the heck out of Kate McKinnon from Saturday Night Live. Here's a great article on her bizarre mind and the sister that shares some of the same delightful and entertaining oddities!

*This little girl was shamed and bullied by teachers in kindergarten for wearing a sun dress to school. Her papa surely stood up for her and its awesome.

*Ohmigod,ohmigod! This woman's brain tumor turned out to be an actual EVIL TWIN! AAAAAck!

*This is my new favorite movie, other than Spy.

Have a great weekend y'all!! 

Saturday Meditation

It's almost here, y'all. Autumn (Septermber 22nd). Down here in the muggy South it's still quite warm (92-98 as opposed to 98-103 two weeks ago!). Yet, in the morning and in the evening, I can feel the chill of Fall creeping toward us. It is so lovely to feel the wispy tendrils of the season moving ever so closer toward us.

This weekend, take some time. I always say it, but go with it y'all. Take some damn time early in the morning or at dusk, or evening. Get out in it. Close your eyes. It doesn't matter if you're taking out the recycling or letting the dogs out one more time before bed...take the time out underneath the clouds and stars. Feel the changes on the wind.

Imagine for a moment you are a part of the landscape. Not a human, but a piece of nature. A tree, a hill, a majestic ox bow lake...just step outside yourself and pretend. Then let your mind wander to what you would be experiencing as that piece of nature as the season of Fall rolled around.

Would you be orange and yellow like a tree? Would your banks be inhabited with migrating birds like your local river? Whatever it may be, let it wash over you. Let yourself melt into your surroundings. We don't always have to be so individual and yadda yadda. We can be a part of something and be just as important.

It's the time of year to harvest all the things we've been working on since the New Year. All those resolutions. I bet you haven't thought of that before. I know I hadn't until a few years ago. That the seeds of change we make in January actually do take root and bloom and need to be harvested...? It's an odd thought to many I'm sure, but it's true.

As they say on Game of Thrones (and Schmidt on New Girl), Winter is coming. What are you going to do to enjoy every moment of the tail bits of Summer and oncoming lovely Fall? Be present. That's my suggestion. Live in it and treasure it because Summer has been beautiful and so shall be Autumn.

Life- well, she is beautiful.

Be kind to each other, y'all. I hope you have a truly wonderful day (and weekend)!

A Creative Saturday Meditation

Hello, friends! I hope this Saturday finds you well. I know from personal experience, it can be challenging to take a few minutes for yourself to decompress, or de-stress. Sometimes I get so frustrated at a lack of inspiration, I busy myself with nonsense instead of taking the time to beckon inspiration to me.

 Today, I want to walk you through a different type of meditation. A meditation for awakening your creativity. Steal some time today and play this song. Close your eyes and let your imagination run wild. Have trouble quieting a busy mind? Try these ideas:

*As the song begins, imagine a glorious blank canvas in your mind's eye. Now picture a fat drop of watercolor paint plopping down onto the page and morphing into different shapes as the music moves you. A dancer, a running horse, a waterfall- whatever your mind takes you to, go with it. Leave perfectionism at the door. This is your place, your sanctuary, your escape from stress. No one can see this but you, so don't allow any negativity or judgement in. Or try this...

*Imagine a day beginning as the song does. Let your imagination create the environment and watch the weather change as the song does. Is it a beach on a cloudless day? A mountain view and a trickling stream? Perhaps walking through a lush forest or bobbing in a canoe on a lake? Are you watching a storm roll in? See what your mind wants to create. Let it take you there. It's only four minutes, but what a difference it can make.

You'd be surprised at how much good little exercises like this does. Cobwebs are swept out and perspectives, inspirations, and positivity trickles in. I hope you enjoy this one, I certainly have.

I hope you have a truly wonderful day!

Saturday Meditation

This image courtesy of BBC.

Even though I live in North Florida, I am starting to see signs that Summer is indeed fading away. Though, I am all about Autumn, I have to say I'm sad to see Summer dwindling. The days are getting shorter, there is a whisper of chill on the air at night. The fruits and vegetables in my parent's garden are going to seed.

A few days ago, I had a moment of nostalgia watching the setting sun lay long, wide swaths of golden light across my yard. I was reminded of what it was like to be a kid this time of year. Like a wild animal, you could feel it in your bones- the season was indeed changing. There weren't as many lightning bugs, the thunderstorms were less frequent. You couldn't quite stay in the pool or ocean as long as you could two weeks before without getting cold. What lay ahead began running through your mind. New books, new school clothes, new friends.

As if, at an old-fashioned ball- the adventures ahead lay before you like a vast and glistening buffet; and behind you the Summer steps solemnly, but gracefully back from the dance floor; waving at you and tucking her dance card away until next time.

Take pleasure in the last waltzes with Summer this weekend. Step outside in the heat and wriggle your toes in the grass. It's something you always miss in the Winter. Watch the sun set, feel the heat mix with the tendrils of Autumn cool. Have a cookout. Look at the stars. If you're a night owl look for shooting stars (last vestiges of the Perseid meteor shower from earlier this week). Eat watermelon,   run through the sprinkler like a kid, or splash in a pool. Eat OtterPops, and mango salsa. Dance. Remember dancing was a part of our lives when we were kids and its so appropriate for the end-of-Summer spectacular! Dance your face off to your favorite Summer tunes while they still feel relevant and haven't shimmied through the cracks into "memories" yet.

We have but a few weeks left of Summer, steal every moment you can. Be present and grateful and happy.

I truly hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Weekend Meditation

Image supplied by WMS

We are constantly surrounded by sound. Traffic, radios, cell phones, babies crying, children needing something, spouses, friends, co-workers, people on the street, cash registers beeping... Sometimes I wonder how on earth we are expected to hear ourselves think. Particularly if you are the caretaker in your family (even if you are single or have no children or pets- you are still the caretaker of your family unit).

There is a Full Moon this weekend. It is called the Grain Moon or the Corn Moon. It is the first Full Moon of traditional (see "ye olde") harvest season and it is special. Not only because it is usually big and coppery in color, but also because it is looked upon as a mini-Thanksgivingy celebratory moon. A time of great harvest (think of all the fresh produce bursting forth this time of year) and greater gratitude.

So often we forget to be thankful for the bounties around us. Just like with the noises that surround us constantly; we can become immune to the simple, singular beauty of looking outward with reverence and gratitude. I think it's a wonderful practice to grow your gratitude much like your muscles and your imagination, by working it out every single day.

Please try to take some time to quiet your mind this weekend. Sit outside and try to see the Corn Moon or make out constellations. Bring home some sunflowers and use them as a reminder to take a moment whenever you can. Breathe deeply and listen to crickets or a thunderstorm from your window. If you live in a loud city, try an app like White Noise and choose a nature sound that speaks to you. Close your eyes and allow your mind to settle down quietly into itself. You may have to shoo out anxious thoughts or that voice inside that says you don't have time for this. 

You do have time for this. In fact, you need this.

Be still with yourself. Let the sounds of this season speak to you. Maybe you can identify insect and bird calls you didn't recognize by imitating them in your mind and looking them up later. It beats refreshing FaceTube for the one billionth time and you learn about the immediate world around you. Your ecosystem. It's a beautiful thing.

While you're at it, send some thanks out to the world. However you do it, do it. Sing a song, say a prayer, light a candle, spread your hands out into the sky and smile, hug someone or something- even yourself. It all works. It all goes to the same place, and hopefully- you'll find a sweet spot to nestle into within yourself while being present in your current environment. 

Try it- it totally works and it is but the work of a moment that can change every thing.

I hope you have a truly wonderful day and weekend!