Why is life so busy?

No matter who I talk to these days it seems the standard answer I get when I ask how they're doing is, "Busy". Life is just busy-there are things to do, places to go and people to take care of. That doesn't even include the mental business we engage in when we have a constant stream of thoughts running through our head when we're trying to plan, organize, and get ready for whatever might come our way. I had a great visit with a friend today who has three kids and I know life is busy for her yet she took the time to come over and say hi and see our new place. Thank you. It allowed me to stop and smell the flowers you so graciously brought us.

What I know for myself is that I can sometimes get lost in the business of it all and it usually takes something like getting sick to slow me down. Not this time!!! I am choosing to slow down this weekend by saying "NO" to many things I don't like doing and saying "YES" to things I sometimes don't make time for. To get into a perspective that allows me to do this I have to think when it's all said and done, when it's over will I really care that I always got the laundry done on Saturday or that the floor was clean? Or, will I care more about the relationships I nurtured, the good times I shared, and the fun I had. SIMPLE.

I encourage you to say "NO" to a few things you don't like doing--that will create some space to allow you to do something fun instead.
Dream big. Imagine. Be inspired.
Good night.

Making the world a little bit greener--one step at a time

I am officially in love with my brand new environmentally friendly, coffee-to-go cup.  It proved today that it can keep coffee hot and withstand being thrown 8 ft by a toddler and not leak or chip.  I hate it when I end up getting coffee and use a "to-go" paper cup. I always look at the line up of people and then think about the 9000 stores that exist worldwide and if the average Starbucks serves 100 people/day (probably a low estimate) that's 900 000 paper cups being put into garbages around the world every day. And that's just STARBUCKS! Then there are 3000 Tim Horton's, however many Second Cups, a bazillion independent coffee shops---how many trees are sacrificed to make paper cups and how much landfill space do they take up?  My new commitment to the earth is that if I don't have my fabulous new coffee-to-go cup with me, I can't buy coffee. Simple.  So that's my rant.  If you drink coffee go buy a nice "to-go" cup. You'll feel good about yourself and help the planet out a little bit too.

Rejuvenate Yourself, Rejuvenate Your Life

This heavenly place is Willow Stream Spa at the Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta.  I have to say that I'm not much of a spa girl but going to this place was one of the most incredible experiences I've ever had. Pure indulgence. It was a completely rejuvenating experience and I swear I looked and felt years younger when I left compared to when I got there.  It all started when a girlfriend of mine suggested that we go together as a treat after spending two full days packing up my house (this was before we moved). The idea is that it would help me unwind and give me some time to myself in the midst of August chaos.  I readily agreed. So, off we went, lattes in hand for an hour of great conversation and tons of laughter on our mini road trip there. We pulled up to the Banff Springs hotel, checked the car, and walked into Willow Stream Spa.....beautiful, perfect.  

Planning is now underway for the ultimate retreat weekend for women -- "Rejuvenate Yourself, Rejuvenate Your Life". There's more to this weekend than just going to the spa but I'll save that for a later post. I don't know the exact dates yet but I'm tentatively planning one in November and two in February so if you're at all interested or curious, get in touch with me as space is limited (8 women/weekend).  

Survival

I love this picture! I found it on the shutter sisters blog and I realized how totally tired I am and how much I look forward to my favorite caffeinated drink in the morning. August was a rough month and I think it's all catching up with me and that's OK, in fact, it's necessary. In the last 6 weeks we sold our house, put my best 4-legged friend of 12 years down, bought a new house, moved, transitioned from being on "vacation" mode to "back at work" mode and I've been struggling at keeping up with all of the change. What I know is that I need to create some structure for myself and set some goals for the fall. Goals? Yes. Specific, achievable, fun goals. Once I know what they are I'll post them. For me this is when I take the time to dream big, imagine, and be inspired -- that's what it's about. LIVE.

Ahhhh--broke my commitment already!

What can I say...I already broke my commitment of posting something everyday but it was BUSY here last week. There was work getting done, food being cooked and my beautiful little boy to play with.  As soon as I figure out how to post recipes I will because we had the amazing luxury of having my godmother come and stay with us for a few days and she always makes the most fantastic meals for us.  THANK YOU!!!  Also, if you have 3 minutes watch this short movie. It won the Cannes Festival Award and I absolutely love it. The only way I know how to add it is to include the link...still working on my blogging skills here but I'm learning [slowly].

http://www.historiadeunletrero.com/

Home Sweet Home

Change. Change can be good and hard and scary and rewarding and exhausting all at the same time.  What I've realized with this move is that change makes me think about what I'm doing and where I'm going so that even when it is hard (and packing up a 2 story house and moving is definitely hard with a 1 yr old) I'm still feeling fulfilled by what I'm doing and the reasons I'm doing it.  Change. It shakes things up a little and you get the chance to choose what you want to keep and discard what doesn't work for you. I like that. Change. Change is good. 

Baby steps

I have to remind myself that at least I'm finally starting--these may be baby steps but I'll get things figured out pretty quickly with this whole blogging thing.  Right now it seems a bit overwhelming with all of the different things to do--patience, I just need  some patience with myself.  Jake took his first real steps today and it was such a treat to watch his tentativeness mixed with his excitement and pride as we both cheered him on.  I think I need to do that with myself when I start something new. 

Anyways, hello and welcome. I'm very excited that I'm finally part of the blogging world.  I'm not a 100% sure what this space is going to be for but I know I like to write and this seems like a great way to share thoughts, opinions, stories and so forth.  So, that leads me to ask you to leave comments if you read something you like or even something you don't. I want to hear your two cents too.  

Dream big. Imagine. Be inspired.