YES 3X.....

YES, YES, YES.....

Sister Love

Big Sister Diamond showing a lot of love to Baby Sister Chanel.

8 May 2012 ~ Chanel's First Day Home

Introducing "Chanel"

INTRODUCING 

my new puppy

"Chanel"

Born: 18 March 2012

Breed:  Shih Tzu

Dogs have given us their absolute all.  We are the center of their universe.  We are the focus of their love and faith and trust. 

Nail Polish

'Just bought these today...love them!

Happiness List


1. Falling in love.


2. Laughing so hard your face hurts.


3. Chocolates, and lots of it!


4. No lines at the supermarket.


5. A special glance.


6. Getting mail.


7. Taking a drive on a pretty road.


8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio.


9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.


10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer. 


11. Chocolate milkshake.


12. A bubble bath.


13. Giggling.


14. A good conversation.


15. The beach.


16. Finding a 20 dollars in your coat pocket from last winter.


17. Laughing at yourself.


18. Eye contact with someone you love. The eyes says it all!


19. Midnight phone calls that last for hours.


20. Running through sprinklers.


21. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.


22. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful/good looking. 


23. Laughing at an inside joke. 


24. Friends. 


25. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you. 


26. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.


27. Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new partner).


28. Making new friends or spending time with old ones.


29. Playing with a puppy. 


30. Having someone play with your hair.


31. Sweet dreams. 


32. A hot shower.


33. Road trips with friends.


34. Swinging on swings.


35. Yummy dinner.


36. Making chocolate brownies (and eating them...!).


37. Having your friends send you “I miss you” cards.


38. Holding hands with someone you love.


39. Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change. 


40. Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much-desired present from you. 


41. Watching the sunrise.


42. Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another beautiful day. 


43. Knowing that somebody misses you. 


44. Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply.


45. Knowing you've done the right thing, no matter what other people think.

Love....

Tulips

Tulips

by Linda Hogeland

The tulip has great strength as it pokes up from the sod


The strong green leaf surrounds the bud and acts as a façade

Then as the leaves spread open and the colored heads appear


The beauty of God’s planning often cause my eyes to tear

The jagged edge is lacy as it gently opens wide


And as it does, you will be blessed by the beauty found inside

The stamen stands so proudly in the center as on cue


And the colors vary greatly in the star shaped colored hue

Their splendor is a statement, yet in a simple way


They give a casual beauty to a lovely new spring day

I clip each color gently as I picture my display


I gather quite a bounty and they form a big bouquet

They grace my table sweetly as they stand so straight and tall


And then with time they curtsey and they take a humble fall

It’s like their bowing over to give their quiet nod


To their talented creator, to the Great Almighty God

Each time I see a tulip, my heart is drawn to Him


So I think I’ll plant more tulips… and let the praise begin!

At Least Try

At Least Try

You should do something, at least try

Because they are making them cry.

What if it were you being bossed around?

What if it were you being pushed to the ground?

Don’t let them go home sad.

There is comfort to be had.

You are hurting them by watching it,

By not standing up,

By not getting help.

Don’t let them make them scream or yelp!

Don’t let them be hurt outside or in.

The last thing you want to do is let them win.

Easter tells us...

Easter tells us that life is to be interpreted not simply in terms of things but in terms of ideals.

~ Charles M. Crowe

Great day!

I thank God for this most amazing day; for the leaping green spirits of trees, gorgeous blooming flowers, a great book to read, and a blue true dream of sky. For everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is YES!

Easter 2012

Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life.

~S.D. Gordon

Pamper Time

~Enjoying my full body massage in my own private room ~

So I wrote about the blog about tips on pampering yourself. However, it doesn't hurt once in a while to go away to a spa to have someone take care of you. Spa time for me is like therapy. Well, I try to do it twice a month, if my schedule permits. I go to this wonderful spa here in Korea and it is an "ALL DAY" event. It starts with a healthy breakfast, then a full body wash, fullbody scrub, then an awesome full body massage. Then after that, they put you in a full body wrap called "MERMAID WRAP" for two hours which gives you enough time to nap in an elegant room with candle light, fresh flower scent, and a soft music. Then they come and wake you up with a great green tea and small snack. Then they begin the magnificent facial that last about 2 hours to include cold/ice compression. Then they bring you a wonderful light lunch. After that, here comes the mani/pedi time. Then they wash your hair, trim or curl if you like, and then fix it up for the evening. Once everything is done, they offer you a scrumptious dinner and a bag full of great gifts and surprises. I hope you find a place and take the time to do something to refresh you and make you feel good all around. You deserve it!

~ Love my tiger print nail art design ~

Pamper Yourself

There are women all over this country who feel like they’ve lost themselves somewhere along the way of life. While their reasons are many, the answers are all the same, “There’s just not enough time in the day for me.”

Without adding that 25th (or even 26th or 27th) hour to your day, there are little things you can do to incorporate the four R’s (we’ll get to these later) of pampering into your daily routine. Remember when you had all day to and for yourself? You’d sit and perhaps do your hair or nails for hours. Boy were those the days. That was then though and this is now. Whether it’s your career, children, or other priorities, taking time out for you is more essential than what you think.

When you feel good, you have the ability to make those around you feel good. If you feel dreadful and unoptimistic about yourself, those around you will of course pick up on this. For example, have you ever noticed the mom at the supermarket who seems frazzled that all three of her children just happen to be misbehaving at the same time? This is usually because they’ve picked up on her stress and went with it. One is crying in the front of the cart and two are at the end of the aisle fighting while the mom is all but losing it trying to find her credit card or checkbook to pay for her groceries and hightail it out of there.

Taking time out to relax, refresh, renew, and revitalize doesn’t have to mean three hours a day for complete alone time. Here are few simple and little ways in which you can incorporate them into your daily life:

1. While running errands, or doing yard work, play a relaxing CD rather than an upbeat one. This will not only soothe your mind, but your soul as well. (This trick works will young children and falling asleep or calming down in the vehicle as well.)

2. While the children are napping or getting ready to come home from school, grab a quick face mask, apply, and then lay back in silence for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off the mask, and get ready for a great second-half of the day.

3. Have a home office? A plug-in scent diffuser with essential oils will help with little whiffs of pleasantness throughout the day. Do a little research on which oils appeal to you and you are on your way. If plug-ins aren’t your thing, all-natural candles and scents may be just way you need.

4. After the children are in bed, hubby is busy or not home for the evening, seize this opportunity for all its worth. Grab a relaxing CD, some candles, and go draw a nice warm bath. Soak for at least 15-30 minutes in the dark. Afterward, you’ll still have time for sugar scrubs or any other products you rarely get to use.

5. Warm up a spa neck pillow and watch some TV while your senses unwind.

6. Keep your favorite sugar scrub next to your hand soap and give yourself a mini-manicure. This literally takes less than thirty seconds and gives your hands the go signal for the rest of the day.

7. When stressed to the max, secure yourself a ME time block. This can be day or night, weekend or weekday. No one is going to regret that you need a break. Personal coaches that cost thousands of dollars to obtain, place this first on their list of things to do for their clients. You are getting the information for free. Save the money and purchase some new pampering goodies.

8. Drink lots of water and walk. Water helps flush your system of impurities and walking helps keep your physically and mentally refreshed. Offer to walk the dog from now on or if you are already the family dog-walker, make it a point to think about all the things in your life that make you happy or you are blessed with. Make your walks positive with a rule of no negative thoughts.

9. Quick showers are great refreshers, but what if you life depends on how quickly you can get in and out? Sugar scrubs are a great 30-second revitalizer. Apply all over after washing and just allow shower to rinse it away. The shine and softness will last all day long and you’ll feel and smell great.

Remember, this is YOU we are talking about...don't wait...DO IT NOW!

Irish Blessing

May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,

May good luck pursue you each morning and night.

~Irish Blessing

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

For every L O V E

For every beauty, there is an eye somewhere to see

For every truth, there is an ear somewhere to hear

For every LOVE, there is a heart somewhere to receive it.

~ Ivan Panin

Love Conquers All

Love is the voice under all silences

The hope which has no opposite in fear

The strength so strong mere force is feebleness

The truth more fierce than the sun

More lasting than a star

~ E. E. Cummings

Missing L O V E

L O V E is life

And if you miss L O V E,

You miss life.

~ Leo Buscaglia

Beginning of L O V E

Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.

~ Mother Teresa

Love is Invisible

Love is a force more formidable than any other.

It is invisible - it cannot be seen or measured,

yet it is powerful enough to transform you in a moment,

and offer you more joy than any material possession could.

~ Barbara de Angelis

Whisper of the Heart

For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.

~ Judy Garland

H O N O R

✿◕‿◕✿

What kind of example do you set with the people who surround you? Are you authentic or do you wear a mask? Do you connect with the people or keep your distance? Do you love and honor yourself or do you beat yourself up with self doubt? Do you walk your talk?

I am such a believer in self reflection and taking a look inside. If you asked yourself these questions and they trigger you, perhaps its time to make some changes. It all begins from the inside out. If your insides are a shamble, it will eventually leak out and show itself on the outside to the people who surround you.

Deep reflective work on your SELF will be the best gift you can give yourself in your personal and professional life. Honor yourself and others by showing your authenticity, from the inside out.