INSPIRATION BUDDY!!

2010-06-01T08:53:00.000-05:00

2010-05-18T15:51:00.000-05:00

Swiped from mnmlist.com: the only thing you can change

2010-04-15T16:56:00.001-05:00

You can’t change your entire life.

You can only change your next action.

—

You can’t change a relationship with a loved one.

You can only change your next interaction.

—

You can’t change your entire job.

You can only change your next task.

—

You can’t change your body composition.

You can only change your next meal.

—

You can’t change your fitness level.

You can only start moving.

—

You can’t declutter your entire life.

You can only get choose to get rid of one thing, right now.

—

You can’t eliminate your entire debt.

You can only make one payment, or buy one less unnecessary item.

—

You can’t change the past, or control the future.

You can only change what you’re doing right now.

—

You can’t change everything.

You can only change one, small thing.

And that’s all it takes.

I am not taking credit for this- just wanted to share! :)

Today, we should

2010-04-05T13:30:00.005-05:00

Do something that makes you think. Solve a problem. Crack a code. Play some chess.
Find a newspaper and do the crossword! Just get your brain working. It feels weird and strangely good. Here are some suggestions to get your synapses firing:

http://www.logic-puzzles.org/
You're given limited information and, using a chart, have to fill in the blanks.

http://www.eastoftheweb.com/games/Cryptoquote.html
Crack the code to read the message.

http://thinks.com/daily_crossword.htm
Daily crossword puzzles

http://www.jigzone.com/
Jigsaw puzzles

:)

Decisions

2010-03-30T06:17:00.005-05:00

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"A real decision is measured by the fact that you've taken a new action. If there's no action,
you haven't truly decided."
-Tony Robbins
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My decision that I've FINALLY acted on: reading the news more. I made FOX and BBC my homepages yesterday. Operation be more involved in the world and have something to talk about. (For example, today is a day of mourning in Moscow, Russia)

p.s. I don't know about you, but puppies always make me feel better. That and reading a good book. :) Have a good Tuesday.

Source: lululemon.com

2010-03-20T13:02:00.003-05:00

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Drink FRESH water and as much water as you can. Water flushes unwanted toxins from your body and keeps your brain sharp.

A daily hit of athletic-induced endorphins gives you the power to make better decisions, helps you be at peace with yourself, and offsets stress.
Do one thing a day that scares you.
Listen, listen, listen, and then ask strategic questions.
Write down your short and long-term GOALS four times a year. Two personal, two business and two health goals for the next 1, 5 and 10 years. Goal setting triggers your subconscious computer.
Life is full of setbacks. Success is determined by how you handle setbacks.
Your outlook on life is a direct reflection of how much you like yourself.
That which matters the most should never give way to that which matters the least.
Stress is related to 99% of all illness.
Jealousy works the opposite way you want it to.
The world is changing at such a rapid rate that waiting to implement changes will leave you 2 steps behind. DO IT NOW, DO IT NOW, DO IT NOW!
Friends are more important than money.
Breathe deeply and appreciate the moment. Living in the moment could be the meaning of life.
Take various vitamins. You never know what small mineral can eliminate the bottleneck to everlasting health.
Don’t trust that an old age pension will be sufficient.
Visualize your eventual demise. It can have an amazing effect on how you live for the moment.
The conscious brain can only hold one thought at a time. Choose a positive thought.
Live near the ocean and inhale the pure salt air that flows over the water, Vancouver will do nicely.
Observe a plant before and after watering and relate these benefits to your body and brain.
Practice yoga so you can remain active in physical sports as you age.
Dance, sing, floss and travel.
Children are the orgasm of life. Just like you did not know what an orgasm was before you had one, nature does not let you know how great children are until you have them.
Successful people replace the words “wish”, “should” and “try” with “I will”.
Creativity is maximized when you’re living in the moment.
Nature wants us to be mediocre because we have a greater chance to survive and reproduce. Mediocre is as close to the bottom as it is to the top, and will give you a lousy life.
lululemon athletica creates components for people to live longer, healthier and more fun lives. If we can produce products to keep people active and stress-free, we believe the world will become a much better place.
Do not use cleaning chemicals on your kitchen counters. Someone will inevitably make a sandwich on your counter.
SWEAT once a day to regenerate your skin.
Communication is COMPLICATED. We are all raised in a different family with slightly different definitions of every word. An agreement is an agreement only if each party knows the conditions for satisfaction and a time is set for satisfaction to occur.
What we do to the earth we do to ourselves.
The pursuit of happiness is the source of all unhappiness.

*
Enjoy!

When was...

2010-03-19T06:37:00.002-05:00

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I don't know about you guys, but I am personally so GLAD it is Friday. I'm still weak from being sick and my body can not wait to get some more rest. TGIF!

Getting There

2010-03-17T14:02:00.003-05:00

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"Most of what you do with your free time revolves around habits, so you’ll have to make a habit of working toward your dreams. Developing new habits takes time, diligence, and practice."
-tinybuddha

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Happy St. Patrick's Day!
:)

2010-03-16T09:11:00.001-05:00

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March 14 = 3.14...

2010-03-14T12:58:00.002-05:00

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Happy Pi Day! :D

If I'm lucky, I might be eating some pie later today (banana cream if I'm really lucky)- how about you?
***
Today's bonus points: go to piday.org and gain some knowledge!

2010-03-12T20:41:00.000-06:00

Doing new things isn't just fun,

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it will open up a world of opportunity and a new way to look at life.

A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.
- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr

Tasking, Time, and Enjoying

2010-03-08T00:01:00.003-06:00

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I was recently reading a very good article on using time wisely from that awesome other inspirational blog, tinybuddha, when I noticed that it stated a contradiction. First, saying one should single-task... and then a few bulletpoints down saying one should double-task. Whah?!

I thought about it for a moment before realizing what it was really saying (please excuse the dead-bird imagery):

Killing one bird with one stone is good. (Single tasking)
Doing one thing at a time, such as enjoying a refreshing beverage, is a good practice. It allows the mind to focus on one thing, take that thing in, and enjoy it fully.
Killing two birds with one stone is good, and possibly better. ("Double" tasking)
Doing one thing that accomplishes two ends is even better as far as making good use of time. Think of playing tennis or chess with a friend (you're maintaining a relationship AND building your skills). Or maybe you invite a neighbor over for dinner (doing a good deed AND eating AND having someone to test your new recipe on-bwahaha)
Killing two birds with two separate stones at the same time is not good. ("Multi" tasking)
(Let me take this opportunity to say that texting while driving is NOT OKAY. I don't want to pull out a statistic (as Mark Twain said, "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."), but a surprising number of people wind up in the emergency room every year from WALKING while texting. Just don't. Whoever you're talking to can wait.) Multitasking is, simply, doing multiple things poorly at the same time. Not to mention that you can't really enjoy something you're not focusing on.

I encourage you to read the tinybuddha article linked to above for more on making the most of your time! :)

Something I Found, Awesome

2010-03-06T19:37:00.001-06:00

Want to buy this shirt? Go to: http://wordboner.spreadshirt.com/-I10186416

Huggy Thursday

2010-03-04T06:30:00.001-06:00

Hugs are great. Hugging a friend.. or a pillow... (or a pillow while looking at your friend, like, "Yeah, this is what you've got coming, buddy.")...

...hugging a cute little animal (gently, of course)...

...Hugging a best friend...

...or anyone you feel a connection with...

...even if that someone is a tree...

...maybe you'll want to hug 'old movie' style...

...or 'you're my best furry little buddy' style...

So let the hugs flow! Even a kitty can do it!

Just be careful when giving hugs to cacti,

And if the hug fails, go ahead and try again. :)

2010-03-02T21:28:00.005-06:00

If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door. Then always keep the door open, so that opportunity doesn’t have to knock.

Also termed as "planned happenstance" it is your responsibility to "create your own luck" instead of waiting for things to magically fall into your lap (they won't). You have to initiate your own luck by taking positive action to create opportunities for yourself. Remember that the good things in life are earned :)

If you're interested in reading some articles about this topic, I have a few I could recommend :)

Where There's a Will...

2010-03-02T15:11:00.002-06:00

You only need TWO things to DO ANYTHING:

1) a WILL
2) a WAY

You can't do anything until you have these two things. A plan and the willingness to carry it out. More often than not, it's the will that is lacking.

Another route to happiness

2010-02-28T09:00:00.002-06:00

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mnmlist (and enjoy your Friday!)

2010-02-26T06:14:00.004-06:00

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This is one of those infrequent times when I share a little bit about myself. :) I don't know about anyone else, but there are a few fantasies I have always sort of had, and I can't explain why. And, they tend to be of places. The one I want to bring up in particular is of a big window letting light pour onto a bed with fluffy white blankets, pillows, and sheets. Whenever I go off daydreaming about my future home, this image is there. Simple, bright, and beautiful (and clean, because I love the clean).

At the heart of it, I believe that all of us are simple and want simple things. Love, happiness, safety, etc. And in a world where we are always wanting more more more and even in a blogosphere that is full of stuff-lust, it's healthy and even a relief to remember that it's all pretty simple. Going with this idea, here is today's bit of inspiration:

* * *

"Stop buying unnecessary things.
Toss half your stuff, learn contentedness.
Reduce half again.

List 4 essential things in your life,
stop doing non-essential things.
Do these essentials first each day, clear distractions
focus on each moment.

Let go of attachment to doing, having more.
Fall in love with less."

source: mnmlist.com
Thanks to Katie for finding this!

The Statement You Are About to See is a Complete Lie

2010-02-24T15:20:00.001-06:00

You do not need any more money than you have right now (even if that means none) to be happy. Really!

Think about this one:

2010-02-22T22:33:00.004-06:00

The grass isn't greener on the other side, it's greener where you water it.

If-

2010-02-22T06:58:00.000-06:00

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Today

2010-02-20T18:45:00.002-06:00

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2010-02-19T07:01:00.000-06:00

“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity [or felineity] cannot survive.” -Dalai Lama

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FRIDAY!

Why?

2010-02-17T15:49:00.001-06:00

Inspiration for the Year of the Tiger

2010-02-15T06:56:00.002-06:00

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Happy Chinese New Year, Everyone!
And have a great week. :)
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2010-02-14T16:16:00.003-06:00

"There is only one success, to be able to spend your life in your own way." (anonymous)

Oh yeah, and HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!

The most important

2010-02-12T06:53:00.003-06:00

"The most important point is to accept yourself and stand on your two feet."
~Shunryu Suzuki

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TGIF! :)

2010-02-10T12:20:00.001-06:00

Try

2010-02-08T06:39:00.002-06:00

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Have a good Monday. I mean it. You deserve it.
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2010-02-07T10:24:00.003-06:00

photo by Amy Krill

Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

Have a good weekend; get out there.

2010-02-06T17:47:00.001-06:00

Don't push off your opinions or feelings.

2010-02-03T22:58:00.001-06:00

source:weheartit

To all you procrastinators out there...

2010-02-02T22:43:00.004-06:00

"Until you value yourself, you won't value your time. Until you value your time, you won't do anything with it." ~M. Peck

Happy February!

2010-02-01T00:32:00.004-06:00

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"Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love."
-Rumi

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May this be the best February yet! Cheers!

Remember:

2010-01-31T12:28:00.001-06:00

Life is beautiful!
Have a nice Sunday, everyone :)

Outlook

2010-01-30T22:39:00.004-06:00

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"Your outlook on life is a direct reflection on how much you like yourself."
-Lululemon

2010-01-27T01:37:00.002-06:00

Aim for success, not perfection. Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose the ability to learn new things and move forward with your life. Remember that fear always lurks behind perfectionism.

David M. Burns

On the way

2010-01-25T06:57:00.004-06:00

source:weheartit

“There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way.”
-Thich Nhat Hanh
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Happy Monday.

*

2010-01-23T14:51:00.000-06:00

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"Winter is long, but Spring will come."
-Amy, in a rare moment of wisdom

Thankfully, we can simulate spring by starting things afresh.
We (your awesome inspire-ers) are shaking off the winter blues by switching up templates (hope you like this one).
What will you do to shake off the blues?
***
Please pause to answer our poll. Or the next post will be a frowny face.

Inspiration from tinybuddha.com/blog

2010-01-20T03:00:00.000-06:00

Do Happy: Look Longer

“Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other’s eyes for a minute?” ~Henry David Thoreau

You’re riding on the subway, immersed in a book. You’re running in the park, lost in your iPod. You’re waiting in line at Starbucks, fixated on the menu.

Sometimes we act like we’re completely alone, even when surrounded by lots of people. It’s like we’re following an unspoken rule that suggests we shouldn’t look at each other, at least not for too long.

It happens all the time: you suddenly make eye contact with someone you don’t know, and your discomfort compels you to avert your eyes. If you do manage a smile, it’s probably perfunctory, without real joy and affection behind it. Those are emotions you reserve for people you know–people you’re more intimate with.

Some studies have indicated people who live in cities are less apt to make eye contact with strangers than people who live in suburbs. This may be a response to crowding; when you feel you don’t have enough personal space, you’re more protective of it.

If there’s truth to that hypothesis, it’s somewhat ironic. You move to a city to experience the life that pulsates through it; and respond by shutting down in everyday situations.

Resist the urge to shutdown. Instead of walking with your eyes glued to your feet, hold your head high and connect with people. Really see them and let them see you. If you’re not a confident person, connecting for more than one second may feel incredibly difficult. Just try.

When you make a genuine connection you acknowledge the person in front of you is real and worthy. You remind both them and yourself that no one operates in a vacuum. That the world is so much larger than the constructs we operate within: our families, our teams at work, our friends. And lastly, you foster the type of spirit that stays open to possibilities.

When you look a little longer you see more–more in other people, more within yourself, and more within your reach.

Do happy. It’s something you’re due.

***
I found this article especially insightful and fresh. I hope you do too.

On Education

2010-01-19T11:29:00.001-06:00

What sculpture is to a block of marble
education is to the human soul.
Joseph Addison

NOTICE:

2010-01-15T01:29:00.001-06:00

The writers are extremely busy with school projects, extra-curricular choir trips, and moving! Try to unplug yourself for the weekend and snatch up that dusty book off the bookshelf, you know you want to! ;)

Untitled

2010-01-12T23:14:00.000-06:00

Indifference is the strongest force in the universe. It makes everything it touches meaningless. Love and hate don't stand a chance against it. - Joan Vinge

Things that can cause the universe to explode:

2010-01-11T23:57:00.000-06:00

(CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Frowning at a baby koala for twelve straight hours

Sitting on a table and eating from a chair

Being really damn angry on a carousel

Have a Good Monday

2010-01-11T06:50:00.000-06:00

source:weheartit

Something a professor shared with my class:

2010-01-08T00:14:00.001-06:00

I've learned that we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I've learned that no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I've learned that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. The same goes for true love.

I've learned that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I've learned that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I've learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I've learned that you can keep going long after you can't.

I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I've learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I've learned that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.

I've learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I've learned that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I've learned that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I've learned that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I've learned that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

I've learned that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them, and less to do with how many years you have lived.

I've learned that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I've learned that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do love each other.

I've learned that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.

I've learned that two people can look at the same thing and see something totally different.

I've learned that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

I've learned that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care back.

I've learned that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you you will find the strength to help.

I've learned that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I've learned that the people you care about most in life are sometimes taken from you too soon

Quotes for Happiness

2010-01-07T06:55:00.000-06:00

source:weheartit

"Happiness is in itself a kind of gratitude."
-Joseph Wood Krutch

"Happiness mainly comes from our own attitude, rather than from external factors."
-Dalai Lama

"True happiness means forging a strong spirit that is undefeated, no matter how trying our circumstances."
-Daisaku Ikeda

2010-01-06T22:17:00.001-06:00

One less thing to worry about

2010-01-05T06:26:00.000-06:00

You're beautiful!

"Worry never robs tomorrow of it's sorrow. It only saps today of it's joy."
-Leo Buscaglia

2010-01-04T14:44:00.001-06:00

Smile! Laugh! Cookies for everyone!

(maybe not that last part..)

Happy Monday folks! ;)

Make Every Day Different

2010-01-03T10:22:00.000-06:00

“You can become blind by seeing each day as a similar one. Each day is a different one, each day brings a miracle of its own. It's just a matter of paying attention to this miracle.”
-Paulo Coelho

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If you do the same thing every day, they'll all blend together for you.
Find your own way to make each day stand out!
Do something new everyday or work on something different everyday.
Being the list maker that I am, I've started a list which gives a headline for each day,
such as, "The day I bought that new CD and it made me cry, it was so good."
Not a real example, but.. :) You get the idea.
Get out there and do it!
*

Can you hear the music?

2010-01-02T08:52:00.000-06:00

Happy Twenty-Ten!

2010-01-01T09:52:00.000-06:00

source:weheartit

We're back!
This year will be awesome, all because of you!
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Inspiration for the Rest of the Year

2009-12-23T12:11:00.000-06:00

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Get off the computer.
Be with people.
We'll be here next year.
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Just do this:

2009-12-21T14:01:00.000-06:00

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Outer beauty can only go skin deep,
but inner beauty can shine all the way out into the world!
Smile, be confident, happy. Shine! You can make the world brighter!
*

Learn Something New Every Day!

2009-12-18T12:47:00.001-06:00

I just found this great new website that posts an interesting thing every day --> it makes it hard not to want to learn more! :) check it out: http://lsned.com/

What You Are

2009-12-17T05:27:00.000-06:00

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“What you are is what you have been. What you’ll be is what you do now."
-Buddha

Check out this article on 'what you do now': Do Happy: Start Late

Get some Sun

2009-12-16T18:57:00.000-06:00

Winter means less sunlight, and less sunlight means we're more likely to become moody and depressed. Luckily you can realize this before it happens & prevent it from happening by getting outside or sitting by the window when the sun does show it's bright face. :)

Attitude

2009-12-15T06:44:00.000-06:00

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"It isn't what happens to us that causes us to suffer; it's what we say to ourselves about what happens."
-Pema Chodron

It's Monday!

2009-12-14T12:58:00.001-06:00

Spread your wings and fly!

Don't Complain

2009-12-13T12:27:00.000-06:00

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It's getting cold out there, and we're freezing.
Everybody knows it's unpleasant to be cold, and plenty of complaining is going around.
Listen, sometimes it's good to complain - if a solution can come from it. But this cold of winter? Not the complaints of every cold human in the world would help it. So instead of complaining- brace yourself. YOU are a penguin, my friend. You were MADE to survive the cold.
Trust me, other people will be happier not to hear it, and you will even feel better not hearing it.

Inspiration Revealed

2009-12-12T16:13:00.001-06:00

I typed "Inspiration is" into google and this is what I got:

Inspiration is magical

Inspiration is the inbreath of spirit

Inspiration is something to have and to hold

Inspiration is everywhere!

Inspiration is 1%, the rest is making it happen

Inspiration is only the beginning of great work

Inspiration is where you find it (...? lol!)

An Inspiration is an inspiration (confirmed.)

Inspiration is an old piano

Inspiration is perishable

Inspiration is wonderful when it happens.

Inspiration is all in the family

Inspiration is just outside your door.

Bad times

2009-12-11T06:29:00.000-06:00

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Hey-

2009-12-11T01:26:00.000-06:00

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I love the exclamation point!

Be Happy

2009-12-09T15:09:00.000-06:00

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"The difficulties of life are intended to make us better, not bitter."
~Unknown

"All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become."
~Buddha

Things to do in the snow!

2009-12-08T20:42:00.000-06:00

I googled "fun things to do in the snow" and this is what I found:

(something you can do while enjoying your snow day)

Ice cube scavenger hunt
Using food coloring, freeze ice cubes of one color or of several different colors. Hide cubes in the snow in a designated area and let the children try to find them. (LOL)

Footprint tag
Play tag, stepping only in others’ footprints.

Light a fire in the snow
Using dry firewood and perhaps some barbeque starter, start a fire in an open area. If done in deep snow, children will be fascinated to see how the fire gradually sinks deeper and deeper.

Catching snowflakes
Place a black sheet of paper into a freezer until cold. Take outdoors and use a magnifying glass to view snowflakes that land on the paper.

Winter wildlife detectives
After a fresh snowfall, look for animal tracks and try to figure out which animal made the tracks.

Have a snowball fight!

Go Sledding!

Be creative!

Light candles and watch movies and drink hot cocoa!

Friends

2009-12-07T07:00:00.000-06:00

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Do something with a friend today. Remind them that they're fun.

French Proverb

2009-12-06T08:26:00.000-06:00

Après la pluie, le beau temps.

After the rain, comes the nice weather.

Whatever you may be struggling with or stressing out about, you'll get through it, the storm will always pass. :)

Bear With Me

2009-12-05T09:54:00.000-06:00

I wanted to make Saturday a little more fun.
I love teddy bears (and real bears), so I thought I'd make a picture post.
Maybe they'll inspire smiles. Heehee..

click cartoon for enlargement. :)

Hey YOU!

2009-12-04T02:19:00.000-06:00

Yeah YOU!

You're a great person.

Just think of how far you've come!

Don't forget it, either.

Something I Found, Inspiring

2009-12-03T02:01:00.000-06:00

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I was going through my feed on twitter, and specifically paying attention to the inspirational tweets by tinybuddha. Usually it's a thought-provoking quote, but many times there are links to articles. This one, which I have lovingly copy-and-pasted for your convenience, I felt I needed to share.

***

5 Rules for Life

by Lori Deschene

When I first sat down to write this piece for 5 Rules for Life, I wrote Live without rules five times, each followed by a reason to keep your approach to life flexible. The way you live is largely a reflection of where you’ve been, who you’ve been, and the beliefs you’ve formed. Who am I to create a cookie-cutter hard-and-fast code that makes sense for everyone?

That’s when I realized I’d need to make a sixth rule to introduce these ideas: judge my words, and anyone else’s against your own reason and moral code.

Buddha said, “Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and common sense.”

The Dalai Lama echoed that sentiment with, “The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual’s own reason and critical analysis.”

Be critical. I invite it. These ideas help me, and they may or may not help you.

With that, I give you five guidelines that have helped me feel happy, fulfilled, and meaningful:

1. Be honest with yourself.

One of the most valuable skills you’ll learn in life is the ability to call yourself out—when you’re playing it safe because you’re scared to fail, or maybe even scared to succeed; or you’re closing off your heart because you’re afraid of being hurt.

In the moment it feels comforting. You can do what you always did, and not push yourself into unfamiliar territory. But we tend to regret the things we didn’t do more than the things we did.

Don’t lie to yourself about your instincts or motivations. It may feel safe in the moment, but it will one day grow into regret about who you could have become.

2. Let yourself be vulnerable.

I once felt there was nothing more terrifying than letting go of control. I held a tight grip on who I really was because I wanted to shape other people’s perceptions of me. I had a very limited list of approved adjectives: smart, kind, talented, successful, awesome.

I don’t love knowing someone may form a different opinion of me. But it’s liberating to honor where I’m at in any moment, and let people decide for themselves what they think about that. When you’re willing to be seen as someone who makes mistakes and has flaws, you’re essentially telling yourself being human isn’t something to be ashamed of.

People may sometimes form judgments. But they’ll respect your authenticity, and they may learn to let go a little themselves—something that can be a tremendous relief.

3. Live in accordance with your values.

Everyone has a different idea of what’s important, and what it means to be a good person. If you try to align your life with someone else’s values, you’ll likely feel unfulfilled.

If your main source of joy is spending time with your family, would it really make sense to take on a high-paying job that limits the time you can spend with them?

Make a list of the cornerstones of your happiness, and then take an honest inventory of your current situation. Does it parallel the priorities you listed?

4. See as much as you can of what’s right in front of you.

People often live life caught in two mental strongholds: regret for the past, and worry for the future. In looking back on the years I’ve lived so far, I know I’ve spent more time engaging in those activities than truly being present.

Whenever I catch myself, I check in with my five senses and experience what’s in front of me as fully as I possibly can.

I notice the details. Hear the sounds. And seep into the moment. I know I won’t do this all the time, but it adds up to create more time truly living in the now.

5. Treat yourself like you want other people to treat you.

It happens all the time. You don’t get a job, you start reviewing all your failures. You hurt a friend, you start beating yourself up.

We make mistakes, and we always will. As long as you acknowledge them, make amends as best you can, and learn from them there’s no reason to stop treating yourself with kindness.

Other people will take their cue from you. You decide how you deserve to be treated.

***

Find more inspiration like this on the tinybuddha blog!

Make the time!

2009-12-02T02:54:00.000-06:00

A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent.

(can you tell we are coffee lovers? haha)

Make time for someone special today to help get yourself in the holiday spirit of love and sharing - whether it is done sharing a holiday drink, watching a heartwarming film, decorating the house or make holiday crafts is up to you!

Happy December!!

2009-12-01T06:52:00.000-06:00

photo source

Another new month, and the last of the year!
December- ah! The brisk, chilly, holiday month best spent indoors, all snugly.
And now for the inspiration:
Today (and tomorrow, if it works), ask yourself,
How can I make today better?
Better than yesterday, better than it's been, etc.

Keep it fun!
*

It's the last day of November!

2009-11-30T02:13:00.000-06:00

Start spreading the holiday cheer by smiling at strangers and holding doors.

(This cartoon made me laugh so I had to include it!)

I went back in time to bring you this post!

2009-11-29T06:45:00.000-06:00

photo source

Sorry I missed it the first time. :)

100th Post!

2009-11-28T12:01:00.000-06:00

"People are afraid to pursue their most important dreams, because they feel that they don’t deserve them, or that they’ll be unable to achieve them."

Paulo Coelho

Something Inspiring I stumbled across

2009-11-27T22:58:00.000-06:00

(a 1997 Commencement Address)

Wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.
Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 pm on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing every day that scares you.
Sing.
Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss.
Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.
Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch.
Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.
Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.
Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.
Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.
Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.
Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.
Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.
Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.
Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble, and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.
Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.
But trust me on the sunscreen.

One Thing I Love

2009-11-27T12:30:00.000-06:00

How was your Thanksgiving?

I had a wonderful holiday. I don't want to let you down though, if you're here for inspiration.
So, I'll share with you something:
Quotes are fine and good, but I really love proverbs.
So, here you go: a proverb from Mongolia

Ko kupuje ono što mu netreba, prodavaæe ono što mu treba
Tho one who is buying unnecessary things will eventually sell the necessary ones

...And further more...

2009-11-26T16:01:00.000-06:00

Eat and sleep!

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Heidi and Amy will be celebrating, giving thanks, and stuffing their little faces among family today.
Hopefully you will too!
Happy Thanksgiving!
*

Gobble Gobble!

2009-11-26T12:57:00.000-06:00

I think it's needless to remind us all that especially today, we should think of everything we are thankful for, but there it is. Have a Happy Thanksgiving everybody! :)

Get A Head Start

2009-11-25T06:24:00.000-06:00

photo source

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, make a list of all the things you are thankful for. I'm telling you now so that by the time Thursday rolls around, you'll have had enough time to think about it that you can really appreciate it (maybe even share your list with someone?). It can be short and simple, or long and specific. It doesn't even need to be a list. It could be a short essay. It could be a poem. Anything that makes you mindful of your blessings, for a further purpose:

"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving."
-W. T. Purkiser

2009-11-24T00:31:00.001-06:00

It's Hard, but...

2009-11-23T06:40:00.000-06:00

Why don't you...

2009-11-22T20:04:00.000-06:00

photo source
Take a hot chocolate break. A good week lies ahead.

Happy?

2009-11-21T11:53:00.001-06:00

2009-11-20T18:21:00.000-06:00

IT'S

F R I D A Y!

What could be better? :) Get outside and soak up that sunlight & fresh air!

T'day

2009-11-19T14:09:00.000-06:00

"May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us."

INSPIRE

2009-11-18T02:28:00.000-06:00

Happy hump day!

Make it meaningful.

Be...

2009-11-17T06:42:00.000-06:00

Have a great Tuesday!
*

2009-11-16T23:01:00.001-06:00

Sometimes, the truth hurts. But it's what you do with that hurt that really counts, whether you accept it and strive to do better, or whether you stay in the corner licking your wounds and blaming the world.

Sorry it's delayed.

Have a good week.

Happy Day!

2009-11-15T12:34:00.000-06:00

photo source
YOU ROCK!
*
(Amy couldn't get to a computer yesterday, sorry!)

I THINK I CAN I THINK I CAN...

2009-11-13T12:23:00.000-06:00

Many times we mistake a weakness of the mind for a weakness of the body.

I thought of this while sitting in orchestra class, and there are some long songs which require a long spurt of holding up my viola. Extremely tired, I dropped my posture and tried to play in a slouch. Not working. My muscles are weak! My arms can't take it! No- my mind can't take it.

Your body might be whining, but it's your mind that gives the OK for it to relax. And how difficult can it be to just think? Realize that sometimes you just need to stand your ground. Don't let your body get away with slacking!

TGIF!
*

It's not the end of the world...

2009-11-12T17:27:00.000-06:00

...if your technology fails you. I learned this the hard way multiple times - last school year, this summer, and today. Truth is, a computer/iPod/cell phone/camera is JUST an inanimate object, and we should be much more concerned with the things that actually matter in our lives, like our health and friendships. So next time you come across a malfunction, take a deep breath, walk away, and enjoy the temporary freedom from the clutches of our modern world.

If You Haven't Already,

2009-11-11T15:10:00.000-06:00

Do yourself a favor and read Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.
It is the most inspirational book I've read.

Happy Mid-Week!
*

p.s. If you have read this book (and ONLY if you have read it already), you should go here. :)

On Productivity and Motivation

2009-11-10T02:16:00.000-06:00

Allowing yourself to be motivated and productive is a mindset. It's not as easy to turn on or off as flipping a light-switch, it's like having to go down into your basement at 3am in the pitch-dark, having to manuever through your dirty laundry and collections of junk while cursing your pack-rat tendancies and the fact that you don't have a working flashlight in the house to find the circut-breaker, then experimenting flipping all these different dials and switches in your attempt to find the one that will successfully turn the electricity back on.

BUT the good news is, the more often you go down this same path, the better and quicker you will maneuver through those moments of blindness. It's all about making a habit out of it and finding what works best for you personally.

Good luck! :)

Today

2009-11-09T06:15:00.000-06:00

It's not about luck.

2009-11-08T09:26:00.000-06:00

Some things never change..

..and it's a good thing!

Can you think of something consistantly awesome in your life? (i.e. a friendship, your great hair, etc, lol)

A Note to the Readers

2009-11-08T00:01:00.000-06:00

photo source

Sometimes, the writers are busy.
Take this as your cue to go out and use the advice we've already given.
:)
Hope you're all having a great weekend.
*

New Moon Inspiration

2009-11-06T16:53:00.000-06:00

[obviously I didn't take this picture myself...]
I am scrambling for inspiration, and how about this? Looking forward to the release of New Moon definitely inspires me! Apply this to your life: what do you have to look forward to? Think of that every time you're feeling discouraged.