30 Day Challenge... Day 2...

I woke up this morning thinking I knew exactly what my challenge for Day 2 would be.

How quickly things can change.

I am a big believer in things happening for a reason.

Either fight it or go with it.

I go with it.

This morning I let my dog out {we have a large fenced in back property with grass and lots of woods.} He loves being outside so I didn't think anything of it when 20 minutes had passed and he didn't scratch to come back in.

I called him a few times. Nothing...

I put some food in his bowl and shook it {usually guaranteed to make him come running.} Nothing...

I went outside and started looking for him and calling him. Nothing...

I heard crunching leaves in my neighbor's back woods and was trying to see if it was him or just some squirrels. Nothing...

I started to panic. I thought he somehow got loose and was a good distance away by now. He is a rescue from Mississippi so he likes to roam and be outdoors. I was on a tight schedule and didn't want to be late for work... but I wasn't about to leave without finding him first. No way!

I was running all through our woods yelling his name. Nothing.

As I stood there unsure of what to do next and feeling totally panicked, I spotted him ever so quietly walking towards me from the other side of the woods. His nose was filthy; he was obviously digging and completely in the zone and had tuned me out 100 percent.

My first reaction was anger because he scared me half to death. But I stopped myself cold in my tracks. This was the best news I could have received. Instead of him being lost, far away from home or walking on a main road, he was by my side... safe and sound.

I immediately felt grateful. I flipped the thought switch from being angry to grateful... and just like that my day has been filled with so many things that I feel gratitude for {things I most definitely would have overlooked if my morning didn't start out the way it did.}

So my Day 2 challenge is: GRATITUDE {for big things but very small things too.}

I could go on and on with all the little things I've deeply become aware of this morning and feel true gratitude for. Not just saying it because it's the "right thing to do" but rather really feeling it deep in my bones. Yes we are all grateful for the big things: family, health, food, shelter, etc.

But stop and notice all the little things that make up your day too. Did your car start this morning? Did your kids get on  the bus safely and make it to school? Did you find your dog that may or may not have been lost? Were you able to go for a walk without being in pain? Were you able to make choices today of your own free will? Did you sleep with a blanket last night to keep you warm? Were you able to get a clean glass of water from your faucet without worring about disease or sickness?

My God, we have so many things each moment of each day to be grateful for.

xo

30 Days To A New Self... Day 1: Organized

Good morning my little fuzzy peaches.

Happy Monday!

I have been thinking a lot about self improvement. And I thought I might like to do a little 30 day challenge. They say that it takes 30 days to form new habits and routines.

And so it begins...

Whether it's career, relationships, finances, getting DIY crafty, helping others, expanding my mind, working my body, volunteering, opening my spirit, being mindful, whatever, I want to do one thing each day to better myself.

I'm not even pretending I know how or where to start. All I know is that I want to start.

I am sure some days it will be something big but other days it will be something very tiny. But hey, improvement is improvement and I don't have {or want} the measuring tape police to gauge my success...

So I was thinking that I needed to start tomorrow but... I already did something today towards a new me. I got completely caught up on all my paperwork this morning.

ORGANIZED...

That is Day 1.

It's actually a huge step towards a better me. Sometimes I can procrastinate and then I get overwhelmed and then I procrastinate even more. Today I woke up and sat down and just got going on all that paperwork. And now it's done. It feels really good. Phew. I have to make this more of a daily priority in my 30 day challenge too. There are many, many things that need to be organized in my house and in my life.


I really need to think and get creative about what to do each day. I want to continue to learn, stretch, grow, run, launch, leap, skip and dance through my life. I want to do new things that give me fear but make me bolder. I want to taste the unknown. I want to explore. I want to wake up each morning feeling exhilarated for what the day will bring {or what I can make out of my day!}

This is going to be fun. I hope you come along on my journey and even feel inspired to start your own 30 day challenge!

Stay tuned...

xo

Having Faith...

I try to be as authentic as possible on my blog.

Some days are good... some aren't.

Today is 9/11, making it a day of reflection.

But today is also the day of my friend's wake. I woke up this morning with a pit in my stomach. I tossed and turned all night. I don't think I can go. The feeling of guilt for making that decision was overwhelming. But as the morning progressed, I reflected deeper... I want to remember her spirit as vibrant and feisty with that mischievous sparkle in her eye. I want to remember her laughter and her love of art. I want to remember her intelligence and curiosity. I want to remember her love of yoga and natural things. I want to remember her funny sense of humor. I don't want to remember her in a casket. I can hardly even type that sentence.

I know this isn't a happy post, but it's how I feel today and I needed to share. Sometimes just writing about things is a good cathartic release. I will visit her after I can wrap my brain around it a little more. I know she is in a beautiful place now and I can almost hear her giggling and happy with no more sadness in her heart. I have Faith in that...

 

 

xo

pics via: pinterest

The Beauty Of October...

Hello friends.

October is my favorite month of the year.

I anticipate its arrival with bated breath.

It is when Connecticut takes a leap into another world that is bursting with color. The leaves become shades of orange, yellow and red that drip from the trees. It is always quite breathtaking. People drive from all over to see the "fall foliage" in New England.

I love decorating for fall. Hay bales, corn stalks, pumpkins, gourds, candles, all of it. I like to decorate with natural elements, not so much "Halloween" decor. I also love putting cloves and cinnamon sticks in a cast iron pot to simmer on our wood burning stove. It makes my whole house smell delicious.


Oh how I love a good pumpkin patch at a farm!

Yum! Hot cider!

Gorgeous decor for the porch!

Just pretty...

Fun fall sign!

Fall invigorates me and kind of gears me up for a fresh start. Usually people pick January 1st as their day to make some changes. I pick a day in October. The air is cool and crisp and makes me want to get moving outdoors. I don't do well in the heat... it's just hard for me to breathe. When it's cool, I exercise more, eat better and sleep better. The one down side to the fall is that it gets dark at 5:00 PM. No bueno in my book. I wish it would stay light out until 7:00 PM year round.

Another thing I love about fall is style. I love to wear my jeans, tall boots, a scarf and my J. Crew puffer vest. It's my favorite and most comfortable look. These boots are at the top of my wish list!

Enjoy your day.

xo

Pics via: pinterest

Fixer Upper = Awesome...

It was a long weekend. Filled with lots of emotions yet some fun things too.

We didn't get around to painting the dining room as planned but... I'm glad now because I think I'm changing my mind about the color. I think I will get sick of blue. I think I need more neutral with blue accents.

My new absolute favorite decorating show is called Fixer Upper on HGTV. I love the couple who is on the show and I love her eye for decorating. She does an industrial farmhouse look for most of her projects which is exactly what I am turning my house into. They live in a farmhouse in Waco, Texas and they take old houses and not only renovate them but also decorate them for the new owner. She also owns a store called Magnolia with some really cool stuff. Go visit her website!

They make such a lovely couple. I can't tell you how sick I am of that show Love It or List It. The bickering hosts made me cringe.

Fixer Upper is like a breath of fresh air. They are a married couple with four kids who adore each other and give a bit of friendly banter back and forth along the way. Super adorable. The husband rescues newborn calves who were abandoned by their momma's. Sweet, huh. And they also have goats! Hello? I want goats so badly! Just 2. And no horns...

Anyway, if you love to decorate in the farmhouse industrial style, you should tune in. They are a refreshing change to what is on television these days. I love that she uses words like "couch" instead of "sofa." She is just a regular girl in a regular world. Can't wait until the new season begins!


Here is a picture of their farmhouse that can be seen on her blog: magnoliahomes.net/blog. Tune in for some great tips and advice!

And a few of their sweet little goats. Love.

Hope you enjoy this show as much as I do! You can also find her at www.themagnoliamom.com.

Pictures via: www.magnoliahomes.net/blog

Life. Is. Beautiful.

Today is a very sad day. I learned of the heartbreaking loss of a friend. She struggled in life and did not always have it easy. But she always tried so hard... to be loved, to be accepted, to put a smile on her face. She was a bright light in this world... but her flame was extinguished far too early. May she be at peace now. Such a tragic loss for a beautiful person.

Rest
In
Peace
my friend.

xo

My Happy Little Kitchen...

Hi friends!

I just got home from a walk with my mom in town. It was a hot night but a beautiful night. It was so nice to spend time together!

And........ my kitchen is finished! I am going room by room. Dining room is next. I'm going to do a pretty blue on the bottom and a lighter blue above the chair rail. I think the hallway will be after that. I'm thinking a light shade of gray with bright white trim. Crisp and clean.

So here are a few pictures of my kitchen. It's not a huge kitchen by any means but it's perfect for our little family. There is another area that I didn't take pictures of because there was some mail and such on my stove that I didn't feel like cleaning. So here is a little peek into my mission of turning my colonial home into my little farmhouse. The walls used to be cream and now they are a dark mocha. New industrial metal chairs. Chippy old farm table. I love how it turned out!

 

 

 

That strange looking skinny object to the left on the floor is a stretched out paw... My pup decided to hang out with me during my photo shoot. 

See that basket on the window sill? It's my cat's new favorite spot to sun herself. I guess I can't blame her. It does make for a cozy cat nap bed.

A better look at my new chairs. I went with silver instead of blue. More neutral if I want to change things up!

Hope you had fun.

xo