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Morning Time

Favorite time of the day is early morning. I love the peace and quiet. The space in between where the world has yet to wake up and my time to just BE and DO what my heart wants.  I look forward to waking up as early as I possibly can manage ... more time to set my own agenda before the day begins and where  time belongs to me only. 

 

Path Positivites

During this difficult time ... more than ever people have been out walking the paths around our neighborhood.  Along the path people have been writing words of encouragement and painted rocks to brighten the walkers day.  

Olivia created an Instagram account and hashtag to capture all the little joys and hopes people encounter along the path.  

New Normal

I actually really hope this isn’t the new normal and only just a brief moment in history where a virus kicked our global butt. We will learn and rise up even stronger than before. Next time ... we will be ready!! 

Ten products every woman needs

I started to pick at random various topics from a book I had sitting on my shelf for years,  365 Blog Topic Ideas.  

This is the topic picked for today. My list is a quick brain dump of items that I use daily and enjoy. 

1. Sunscreen 

2. Silk pillowcase 

3. Perscription Retinol-A

4. Lumbar pillow for office chair

5. Yoga mat

6. Apple ear buds

7. Ember heated coffee mug

8. Vit C and D

9. Sparkling water. My favorite brand is La Croix

10. Cordless vacuum cleaner. I have a Dyson. 

Baby Chicks

Since we are home bound during Covid-19 we decided we might as well foster some baby chicks. I’ve always wanted to do it .... and now seemed like a good time. We bought the little chicks from Great Country Farms and picked up the necessary accruements to keep them alive - mainly a little warming plate.  

They are adorable and so far so good.  They are already two weeks old. We named them after women country singers and we have an odd ball name as well. Dixie, Dolly, Kasey and Omelette.  Omelette already had something I researched on YouTube called “poppy butt” - lol. So Dan had the honor of performing poopie butt extraction.  Gross!!  But how Omlette is happy and pooping freely again. 

Book Review - The Gift of an Ordinary Day

The Gift of an Ordinary Day  will most likely be added to my most loved books of all time. It’s funny how a book finds you just when you need it the most.  I have seen this book quite a number of times over the years as the title is something that I’m typically drawn to; however for whatever reason at the time I never decided to read it.  About a month ago I was puttering around a giant book warehouse when I came across this book again. I decided I was going to actually read it this time. 

The moment I read the first opening paragraph I knew I would want to devour, but at the same time savor every word. I have never underlined so many passages that spoke to me ... and still think about to this day. Dare I say that I won’t be surprised if I re-read this book every year ... especially the year Olivia spreads her wings and flies off to college —- which is next year!!  

I felt like the author was a kindred soul - our life alike, but different in many ways. The book spoke to me about the process of letting go and holding on at the same time. Appreciating the small moments of your ordinary life - which in turn actually is the recipe for your one big beautiful gift of life we all receive.  Each person has their own unique path ... including, and most especially, your children.  Have faith that they are on their own journey ... separate from yours ... and they too will figure it all out in time. 

So many passages spoke to me in a way that answered a yearning question on my heart. 

I’m equally excited to start reading her 2nd book, which is equally appropriate for this time in my life - entering my 50’s. 

I’ve also enjoyed her blog. 

Magical Journey

Elevate your ordinary

I’m starting a new hashtag series on my instagram called #elevateurordinary.  Since my word for the year is elevate ... I wanted to share ways that I’m elevating small and big parts of my life. Most will just be making an ordinary mundane moment just 1% better. 

Here’s my first post. Please join me ... follow me on Instagram - my link is above.  

Swimming

For the past few months I have committed to swimming for 30 minutes every Sunday morning (and sometimes I’ll go on Thursday’s as well).  I realized recently that it’s the only time during the week where I’m not surrounded my some sort of background chatter or listening to a podcast/audiobook.  

I didn’t like the silence at first - so much so that I went through a couple rounds of trying to find waterproof earbuds to no avail.  Now I embrace the quiet sounds of the water  and my breath as I swim my laps back and forth ... back and forth.   

Oftentimes I’ll say several mantras in my head as I swim my laps - it’s a great way to kick off the week. After my swim I’ll sit in the steam room for a few minutes before hoping in the shower.  

It has become one of my favorite self-care routines and an exercise I have come to enjoy. 

50 Lessons - 50th

The only regret you’ll have is putting off what you could have done yesterday. Get started today, now, in this exact moment!

50 Lessons - 49th

You are 100% responsible for your life ... so own it and cultivate what you want it to be.  If it is to be, it’s up to me!  

50 Lessons - 48th

Growing older is a blessing.  I certainly don't want the alternative.

50 Lessons - 47th

Avoid catastrophizing your day, your something goes wrong … there is always something that went right … like your lungs didn't forget how to breath!

50 Lessons - 46th

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. 

50 Lessons - 45th

Once again life is 50/50, ups and downs, it's a roller-coaster.  Don't wait to only enjoy your life only during the sunshine … if you do, you'll miss a lot.