Slomo!

Inspiration for your Thursday...

Ever since Brett showed me this video a few weeks ago, I can't stop thinking about it.  The inspiration I get from "Slomo" and his story is literally off the charts.  What an amazing perspective!  It makes me really think about how I'm living my life and what kind of changes I could make to live my life even better than how I am right now.  I am all for continuous life improvement.  I mainly think of my career/work when things like this pop up.  This video challenges me to take a step back and look at my life in a different light and make sure I'm truly "doing what I want to."  Am I really doing something I am passionate about?  And if I'm not, it is okay to change, even if it doesn't match society's standards.  It's not too late to reinvent myself.  I mean, what a breath of fresh air.  We don't all have to do the same thing and do what is expected of us!  One way is not the right way!  Live the life you want to!

I hope this brings as much inspiration and insight to you as it did for me.

Now, go be awesome and...

"Do what you want to!"

Don't Lose Your Creativity...

Watch this video.

My mom sent me this video this morning and I can't get over how beautiful it is.  The dancing and especially the commentary.  So often, people are told to forget about their creative and artistic abilities and focus on something more practical, more "safe", more financially secure for the future.  This video proves why we need not listen to these close-minded people and instead follow our dreams, no matter how impracticable they may seem to others.  This message truly hit home for me and I wanted to share.

Enjoy.

And happy weekend!

The One Where I Fall in Love with a Sunflower Field

Something amazing happened last Friday.

Brett and I were driving through Maryland, on our way to Blackwater Falls for a camping trip with Lee & Jess.  Brett was driving and I was in the passenger seat.  I was mindlessly staring out the window at the scenery passing by as we drove down route 219, heading towards the state park.  Next thing I knew, I caught a glimpse of one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen.

A sunflower field.

I'm not kidding when I say I literally started geeking out.  I looked over to Brett wide-eyed and before I even knew it, he was turning the car around and pulling into a little pebble lane that ran along side of the sunflowers.  We drove down this little lane and I was completely in awe at how gigantic this sunflower field was.  About half way down, we parked the car, jumped out, and I literally raced over to the sunflowers.  I had the biggest, geekiest smile on my face for the entire time we were there.  We had to have taken over 100 photos.  The sun was starting to set, providing the most perfect lighting for this moment.  I'm pretty sure the exact words "this is God's anniversary gift to us!" came out of my mouth on more than one occasion.

It may seem trivial to you, but I have been dreaming of coming across a sunflower field for years.  I've even gone as far as googling locations of potential sunflower fields nearby, but never came up with any results.  Taking a photo in front of a sunflower field has been on my "life list" for a long time.  And last Friday, I finally got to cross that goal off my list.

It was seriously one of the best days ever!*

Thankful...

Here's to a great & inspiring week!

(full of all these things)

via

Be Grateful

Random Acts of Kindness Day

Happy Random Acts of Kindness Day!

Some may think this is a silly holiday, but I happen to believe this is one of the most meaningful and important holidays of the year!  It is almost sad that there has to be a day designated to being nice to one another...but I digress.  Do you realize how much one tiny gesture of kindness can mean to someone?  It may not seem like much to you, but you never know if someone is fighting a hard battle and all they need is a little cheerfulness.  So please, go out there today and be the absolute best version of yourself.  You never know how much it can impact someone.

Here are some ideas:

Hold the door open for someone

Compliment someone and mean it

Pay for someones coffee in line behind you

Wipe the snow off someone's car

Tell someone you love them and mean it

Make coffee for your husband/wife before work

Let someone in front of you in traffic

Just smile and greet people as you walk by them

 Can you imagine what the world would be like

if everyone treated everyday like 'Random Acts of Kindness Day'?!

Let's start!*

Morning Sunrise... and an Early Spring?!

This week, my car has been in the shop for inspection, so Brett and I have been carpooling to work.  Brett has been nice enough to share his car until I get mine back (hopefully tonight).  On normal days when I have my own car, I'm out the door around 6:10am.  It's pitch black when I arrive at work in the morning.  Since we are carpooling, I've been leaving for work later than usual (around 7:10am) and driving into work as the sun is coming up.  Oh my goodness... what a change it is driving an hour later... this is what I've been missing out on!

Snapped this as we were piling into the car at our house this morning:

 

And then, as I drove to work... I witnessed such a beautiful sunrise.

It put me in a great mood instantly.

The clouds almost look like fire, don't they?  It was such a beautiful sight.  And I have to give mad props to Brett for being so great about sharing a car.  I know it sucks when two people, who both work full-time jobs in different parts of town, have to share a car.  Routines are thrown out the window and you have to compromise.  But, I baked him delicious chocolate chip cookies last night as a thank you... so it's okay, right?  (A post on those cookies will be coming later...)

Once I get my car back, I will still continue my normal routine of leaving around 6:10am (there's SO much less traffic at that time...), but it's nice to change it up every once in a while.  You never know what you might stumble upon, like a gorgeous sunrise that just makes you thankful to be alive.

Hope you guys are having a great Wednesday!

Oh, and Happy Groundhog's Day!

 Punxsutawney Phil is predicting an early Spring...

Hallelujah!*

my favorite artist

ok, so i have this sister...

and she is kind of an amazing artist.

don't you agree?

and i think she needs to open up an etsy shop.

because i think her drawings...

are incredible.

tell her you agree:
on twitter

that is all.
:)

i heart toms

this makes my heart happy.

i own 10 pairs of toms shoes
(and counting).
meaning i have put 10 pairs of shoes on
10 underprivileged children
who didn't owe any shoes before that.

this is what it's all about.
there need to be more companies like this in the world.

toms shoes, thank you for allowing me to be a part of this.

I DID IT!!

I know I haven't posted in a while. It's probably because for the last couple weeks, I have been physically and mentally preparing to run a marathon. Well, I hope to be back into regular blog posts now because.... I DID IT!! I ran and FINISHED the Pittsburgh Marathon on Sunday, May 2nd!!! Here we are at the finish line with our marathon medals:

It's truly an amazing, amazing feeling! To read my full recap of the marathon, visit my health and fitness blog.

So now back to regular blog postings, I promise!*

Dreamers Awake

Hi everyone!

I hope your Tuesday is going well. It was quite chilly at the bus stop this morning. But they say it's going to be in the upper 70s and sunny towards the end of the week. I'll take it! I wanted to stop by and tell you about this really great artist that I have grown to love. Her name is Kelli Murray. She creates such beautiful paintings and illustrations. I am completely in love with these:

Dreamers Awake

Bride to Be

Power to the Peaceful

Let Me Fly

Isn't her artwork amazing? These pieces are definitely on my wish list of things to buy some day, especially the "Dreamers Awake" and "Bride to Be" pieces. Be sure to check out her Etsy shop because she is awesome!

On another note, last night I went to check out a dance class! The Dance Cafe was offering a free hip hop cardio class downtown, so I decided to go. I heard about it through a new friend of mine that actually teaches at the studio. I am so glad I went. I was debating whether or not I wanted to make the trek downtown, but I'm really happy I did. I've been a dancer all my life, dancing at studios during my childhood and on the dance team in college. Then once I graduated, I had nowhere to go. Then this class came along and I was just in heaven. It felt sooo good to be dancing again. I hope to pop in to some more dance classes in the near future. Dance will always hold a special place in my heart.

Well, it's time for lunch. Just a side note: if you ever plan on trying Campbell's french onion soup... don't! It's gross! Ok, until next time!*

Happiness is a Journey

"For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time to still be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment that you have. And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time and remember that time waits for no one.

So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until you are off welfare, until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die, until you are born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy. Happiness is a journey, not a destination."

-Alfred D. Souza

This quote is perfection to me. Exactly how I'd like to live my life.*

Life is Short. Stay Awake for It.

I stopped at Caribou Coffee yesterday morning for a tastey latte and I am loving their new cups and napkins!

"Savor every sip. Marshmallows have no nutritional value, and that's ok. Step 1: Rave leaves, Step 2: Jump! You'll only be your current age once. Only look back if it makes you smile. Be the ruler of your own life. Be the first to enter and the last to leave the dance floor. Indulge in chocolate therapy. Plant lots of trees. Learn to say thank you in ten languages. Dare to adventure. Spend time with your kids, tomorrow they're a day older. Give your change to charity. Have a favorite charity. Spin the globe then pack your bags. Pour yourself a cup full of karma. Be the first to apologize. Sing out loud. Don't wait for New Year's to make a resolution. Donate blood, you have plenty. Dance in the rain. Lighten up. Get your hands dirty."

"Life's too short for: grudges, fake anything, putting profit before people, over-roasted coffee, crabby people, waiting for change to happen, wifi you have to pay for."

"Stay awake for: maxing our your passport, ghost stories around the campfire, adopting a four-legged friend, playing an instrument, break dancing, luscious oh-so-delicious chocolate."

"Do more cannonballs. Dream big, act bigger. Surprise your B.F.F. with a cup of coffee. Build communities, not empires. Pick up the check. Read poetry. Send your grandma a card. Give a kid some crayons. Sleep under the stars. Get there on two wheels. Tell someone you love them. Hold hands, not grudges. Take the stairs. Kiss slowly and forgive quickly. Remember where you came from. Do the hokey pokey. Say 5 nice things about the person sitting across from you. Go home early and play with your kids. Run your feet, not your mouth. You are as wonderful as your dog thinks you are. Take a 7 day weekend. Sip it, sip it good. Max out your passport. Technology is good but people are better. Stir emotions. Teach a child to fish. Question authority. Roll down the hill. Marry your sweetheart. Re-read your favorite book."

Mary Engelbreit

I am a huge fan of the artist Mary Engelbreit (I get this from my mother). She has just the sweetest pieces of art. I admit they are sometimes cheesy but overall, I just love them. I have a ripaway calendar of hers that has her drawings with sweet quotes each day. I love looking at it every morning. It always gives me such a happy feeling to start my day. Here are some of my favorites:











Aren't they just too sweet?!*

You Are Beautiful

I discovered this little message on the inside of my jeans the other day and it completely made my day! I've had these jeans for about 5 years and have never even noticed it. In love!*

Life is Good

I love my new bracelet. What a find! I love wearing it because it's a simple reminder that I am very fortunate for the life I have. :)

Life is good!*