Posts in LIFE
Make ‘Making Time’ A Priority
Photo by Tim Goedhart

Photo by Tim Goedhart

Self-care is a mental health must, but how do you make time when you're crazy busy? Everyone who successfully creates time for self-care has their own little rituals that help them stay on track. My first ritual of the day starts with a hot cup of coffee and something sweet, in my favorite spot of the house - the one with the view of the rose bushes. 

TIP: Instead of setting aside a full hour every day, try dividing up time for self-care into smaller bits.

LIFE
New Year, New Goals

I’m not a fan of New Year’s resolutions. Mostly because I don’t think we should limit ourselves. Right now is sort of an ideal opportunity to review what you want to accomplish and who you want to be.

Living through something we’ve never lived through before gives us a chance to look at our lives from a different angle. It’s an opportunity to take a real look at your personal goals and really examine if they make sense and resonate with your values. Your priorities have probably changed and you may come to realize that you need to pivot some aspects of your life. I say, make that choice now rather than later. And make it a continuous, ever-evolving thing.


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LIFE
Photo of the Week
Photo by Annie Spratt via Unsplash.com

Photo by Annie Spratt via Unsplash.com

Found another beautiful photo from Annie Spratt that would look great as your desktop wallpaper or cell phone background. Click to download.

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LIFE
Reading Nook
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Every home deserves a library. A quiet corner to get away and escape into the pages of a good book. It doesn’t even have to take up all that much space. All you need is somewhere to kick up your heels and a place for your books.

DESIGN, LIFE
Monday Motivation
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Too often we are afraid of life. Sometimes it’s fear of failure. Other times we anticipate the worst, When we don't know what to expect we say no. And by saying "no" to opportunities and new experiences we reject many of life's great chances. So don’t be afraid. Just say yes.

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LIFE
Photo of the Week

Happy Friday.
This photo by Andrew Neel made me happy today.
You can see more on Unsplash.com

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LIFE
I Didn’t Mean It
Photo by John-Mark Smith

Photo by John-Mark Smith

Sorry for what I said before I had my coffee.

Coffee is magic. It energizes you and improves your memory, and it has been linked to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. But miss one cup, and suddenly you feel like total crap!

THE REASON: Caffeine causes your blood vessels to constrict, which reduces blood flow to your brain. It can make you irritable, foggy, anxious, and even depressed, according to a review in the journal Pharmacology. If you're used to a daily dose of caffeine, skipping one cup is enough to throw your system out of whack! So be kind to yourself and others, have some coffee.

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LIFE, EAT
The Sun Will Come Up
Photo by Ravi Sharma via Unsplash

Photo by Ravi Sharma via Unsplash

This photo made me happy today. And reminded me that tomorrow is another day. We can try again, set a new goal, or just get back up. You CAN do it!

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LIFEPHOTOGRAPHY
Terranium DIY
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I’ve decided to add some terraniums to my living room. They’re actually quite simple to make.

  1. choose an open or closed glass container

  2. cover the bottom with pebbles or rocks

  3. add a thin layer of activated charcoal

  4. add a layer of potting soil

  5. place plants in terranium

And just like that, you have a beautiful, low maintenance plant for any space in your home.

LIFE
Monday Motivation

photo by jeremy beck via unsplash.com

It’s Monday…we all need a little pick-me-up. I have a couple projects on my desk and I’m not feeling too creative this morning. Luckily, there are endless sources for inspiration. These are the images inspiring me this morning.

photo by nathan dumlao via unsplash.com

photo by nikita kachanovsky via unsplash.com

photo by ahmed zayan via unsplash.com

Lovely Mum
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Chrysanthemums are one of my favorite flowers. The Daisy-like pompon symbolizes optimism and joy. In Japan there is a “Festival of Happiness” to celebrate this flower each year. Meanwhile, in some European countries, this flower symbolizes death and rebirth.

Mums are a special favorite for me because we used white mums in the centerpieces for our November wedding. Coincidentally the chrysanthemum is the November birth flower.

LIFE
#MondayMotivation
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At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can.
— Frida Kahlo

getting motivated is an easy goal to set. I know, I do it all the time. But staying motivated, that's a whole other story. Staying motivated doesn't just happen. The way to stay on the right path is by being intentional about our behaviors. A lot of times, people often tie motivation to huge goals that are unattainable. What happens is that you use all of your energy to "power through" and all this does is lead to burnout and waning willpower.

The way around this is by being specific and making it a challenge. According to the American Psychological Association, people who set goals that are both specific and challenging, are 90% more likely to achieve what they’ve set their mind to. Setting realistic goals is crucial. And don't forget to celebrate the little wins. By celebrating those little wins, you'll find a much needed daily dose of motivation.

LIFEFLOWERS, MOTIVATION, QUOTE
Take It Easy
Photo by Clem Onojeghuo

Photo by Clem Onojeghuo

We all need a reminder sometimes, that not everything is as serious as we think. There are so many times in life when we think that a bit of bad luck is the end of the world. The truth is that every problem has a solution. And you can turn things around if you stay focused and just keep going. What’s important is to live a life you’re proud of. And don’t overthink the little things. I’m sending good vibes out into the world and hoping that you will do the same.

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LIFELife
I Saw The Sign

Happy Monday!
You totally got this, and you are going to be just fine.
How do I know?
I saw a sign.

Photo by Anna Sullivan

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LIFE
Love Is All You Need
Photo by Clem Onojeghuo via Unsplash.com

Photo by Clem Onojeghuo via Unsplash.com

The thoughts you think are made up of energy, and the Universe responds to those thoughts. Let love guide your way. All you need is love.

LIFE
Always Be Learning
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The library is the temple of learning, and learning has liberated more people than all the wars in history.
— Carl T. Rowan

It brings me delight to see a home library every single time. I jump at the opportunity to be able to browse random books and wonder how many times each of those stories have brought joy to someone. It inspires me to create a library at home. All it would really take is will and a corner space. Everyone should discover the joys of serendipity that come from the discovery of a new book.

Retail Therapy

LIFE, DESIGNLibrary, Quote
The Palm Tree
Photo by Shifaaz Shamoon via Unsplash.com

Photo by Shifaaz Shamoon via Unsplash.com

The Palm Tree

Palm-tree: single-legged giant,
topping other trees,
peering at the firmament –
It longs to pierce the black cloud-ceiling
and fly away, away,
if only it had wings.

The tree seems to express its wish
in the tossing of its head:
its fronds heave and swish –
It thinks, maybe my leaves are feathers,
and nothing stops me now
from rising on their flutter.

All day the fronds the windblown tree
soar and flap and shudder
as though it thinks it can fly,
As though it wanders in the skies,
travelling who knows where,
wheeling past the stars –

And then as soon as the wind dies down,
the fronds subside, subside:
the mind of the tree returns.
To earth, recalls that earth is its mother:
and then it likes once more
its earthly corner.

- Rabindranath Tagore

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