Believing on the Inside

This is the lesson I'm learning right now. I am always doing some kind of self work, but lately I feel a real shift happening in my life. I have been working on changing some of my old belief systems and in turn a lot of cool shit is happening.

I'm mostly finding this is in some of the authentic and inspiring people I've been able to connect with lately. It's amazing how the when people are following their right path it can give you an energy bolt (or that's how it feels) and make your world expand just that much more.

I am very intrigued by the idea of manifesting and it's something I'm working on a bit lately and finding the work is all internal.

As a person who has looked for outside approval for years, this inner thing has really got it going on!

Thursday's Blog!

When I write these blogs, sometimes I have an idea in mind and other times like today, I read a quote that really speaks to me and I want to share.

I celebrated my 15 year wedding anniversary last month. My husband surprised me with a trip to New York. It was awesome!

The reason I bring this up is that there are some experiences that open you up to further possibilities and this was one of them. Sometimes the day to day of life can actually be pretty uninspiring and taking yourself out of your environment, routine and structure seems to expand things.

I'm in a place right now of stepping back, working on my priorities and values and staying true to this process for really the very first time. What I found is that being away from 'regular life' it was easier to get clear on what's important.

Dreams surface, ideas brew, inspiration arises. And the small stuff, well, just seems small.

Enjoy...

Love This Quote...

I was just about to hit send on my Thursday Blog Post and decided not. The reason...It felt inauthentic. I want to commit to my Thursday Inspirational Posts but I don't want to just post something that seems inspirational but I'm not feeling it...you know what I mean?

So I deleted it and started over with something does feel inspiring to me.

I have been on the Oprah bandwagon reading Dr. Shefali's book Conscious Parenting. I haven't read a parenting book in quite a while, but this one is different. It's really more of a book to learn about your own self and in turn become more present with your kids. I relate to a lot of her writing and really recommend it!

On that note, I follow her on Facebook and yesterday saw a quote she posted on what she would tell her younger self. Here it is below. I love it. I think we all have this angst for things to happen. I have so many ideas and for some reason feel like they all have to happen tomorrow or they will just fade away. I found this comforting and I hope you do to...Enjoy!


"You will find your manifestation. Don’t be so restless. It’s going to come to you. I used to be so restless. I knew I had a message and I just didn’t know where it would come forth. If only I had trusted it more. I began trusting it much later, but in my early years was full of angst and chaos to get it out there. If only I had trusted the universe and that it would come to me. That I would manifest it.”

What Would Beyonce Do?

I kinda love this. The reason I love this doesn't really have a lot to do with being a fan of her music, though I do really like that 'drunk love' song. It's more to do with the fact this girl is gotta going on!

I watched part of her documentary a few months ago and to be honest was pretty fascinated with her. Not only is she mega, mega, mega successful but she gets the inner stuff as well. 

One of my favourite things she said was that life is like a puzzle. People and things come into your life for a reason and if you're paying attention it becomes so easy to see why and make the next move or decision. And when you look back you see how this puzzle all came together. It's how you get into the flow of life.

I'm trying to be more aware of those 'puzzle pieces' these days and where they show up. And, if that doesn't work just say...what would Queen B do?

Enjoy!

Creating Space...

The interesting thing about committing to this Thursday Blog Post is it has me reflect on what is going on for me that week. My intention is to share in hopes of inspiring with all my other "self help junkies" out there.

This week has been pretty awesome actually. And for me to say that is a big deal. I'm not naturally a glass is half full kinda gal. I think I was born with the gene to be a 'realist' as my mom calls it. This can be a good trait in the fact that I am in tune with things but over the years I really wished I just lived in la-la land once in a while.

The reason this week has felt pretty awesome is I have lived a bit more on the side of the quote above. I am in a process of really nailing down my priorities and creating space for them. It's allowed a week of a great date night, a fun seawall outing with my girls, and some creative new ideas I have brewing for my design biz.  I haven't changed anything major, just created some space.

Feels pretty darn good!

An Inspired Design...

It's Thursday - my day for an inspirational post. I was feeling some pressure today as I didn't know what I was going to write about but want to keep my commitment to this.

What I'd really like to do, is feature people I know who are inspiring me right now and pick their brains a bit for us all to tap into that feeling.

For today, I want to share the inspiration from a design I'm working on. My mandate is to 'create spaces that inspire people about their home.' To some this may sound cheesy, to me it feels real. Loving your home can make a huge impact on your life.

I am working on a living room design that gets me so flipping excited right now. It's a little different in some ways than other rooms I've worked on. It's fresh and contemporary but I also has a mix of softness and edge.

It's still a work on progress...but here's where we are in the process.  Enjoy...

How do they make you feel?

This week Maya Angelou passed away. She seemed to live her life on a higher frequency. There have been many of her quotes floating around social media this week and this one really stuck out to me. 

I used to have what I called a bit of a "paranoia" if I said the right thing. I would never want someone to take things the wrong way because I know where my intention is. What I am getting more clear about with my own self and others is it's not what people say but their intention behind what they say and that's how you feel the words. There is an energy around it and we all "feel" this around people. 

For me this is a good reminder to not worry so much about saying and doing the right thing, but to be clear on the energy I'm bringing forward in each situation which is what people feel.

Happy Thursday...Enjoy!

When A Man Loves A Woman...

For today's inspiration, I saw this statement given by Brad Pitt on "Angie" and how to love your woman. It's worth sharing. Enjoy...

Wise words. Brad Pitt about his Lady:

"My girl got sick. She was constantly nervous because of problems at work, personal life, her failures and children. She lost 30 pounds and weighted about 90 pounds. She got very skinny and was constantly crying. She was not a happy woman. She had suffered from continuing headaches, heart pain and jammed nerves in her back and ribs. She did not sleep well, falling asleep only in the mornings and got tired very quickly during the day. Our relationship was on the verge of a break up. Her beauty was leaving her somewhere, she had bags under her eyes, she was poking her head, and stopped taking care of herself. She refused to shoot the films and rejected any role. I lost hope and thought that we’ll get separated soon… But then I decided to act. After all I’ve got the MOST Beautiful Woman on earth. She is the idol of more than half of men and women on earth, and I was the one allowed to fall asleep next to her and to hug her. I began to shower her with flowers, kisses and compliments. I surprised and pleased her every minute. I gave her a lot of gifts and lived just for her. I spoke in public only about her. I incorporated all themes in her direction. I praised her in front of her own and our mutual friends. You won’t believe it, but she blossomed. She became better. She gained weight, was no longer nervous and loved me even more than ever. I had no clue that she CAN love that much.

And then I realized one thing: the woman is the reflection of her man.

If you love her to the point of madness, she will become it."

Ending the Mommy Wars Article...

Photo by Meagan Baker Photography

I like Gwyneth Paltrow. There, I said it. I think she gets a lot of flack because she does a lot of cool things and it seems people who do cool things get a lot of flack.

Recently she was slammed in the media for some comments she made about being a working mom and how it's easier for those who have a 9-5 job etc. She recently posted more about this on her lifestyle website - http://www.goop.com/journal/be/283/ending-the-mommy-wars

What I liked about this article was it opens up a subject that a lot of women don't talk about. The judgment of the working - stay at home mom wars. Everyone says they support, but come on, let's be real - there is judgement on every side.

I've been the corporate working mom, the stay at home mom and the mom starting her own business. I have struggled with each of these stages in my 6 years of parenthood. I think I'm finally finding a groove that works for me and my family (maybe?) but what I do find is we all still have to justify why we do what we do or choose what we choose.

So for any mom out there that relates a little to what I'm saying this article is worth a read. I think it's time to drop the super mom thing and be the real mom thing. Enjoy...

Are You in Prison?

Somedays I am. I saw this quote early in the week and it was like a big whack in the head. I have had some really great things happen lately and with the wave of life there is always the challenges that come, teaching some sort of lesson.

For me, this quote is the lesson. Actually to be honest, looking at challenges as a lesson that I will grow from has helped a lot in putting them into perspective.

I was thinking - imagine how free everyone would feel and how you would get to see the best and most creative parts of people if they didn't care what others thought. Now, with this might be some nastiest, but the nasty people will be there doing their thing, it's usually the good souls who worry too much.

The older I get I do get glimpses of this freedom. Sometimes I then get knocked back down but the difference now is I'm trying to get back up quicker, dust off the negative self talk and live life with authenticity and integrity, imperfections and all!