Be like the Flower

"Be like the flower, turn your face to the sun" ~ Kahlil Gibran

Photo Credit: ringydingydo

Attitude of Gratitude

I had been so preoccupied this past week with the jarring notion that summer is almost over. Initially, I honestly felt cheated. Cheated by our weather (unusually mild and humid for So Cal), cheated by time (can it really go that fast?), cheated by lack of exciting things I’ve done. Just plain old cheated.

Then a few days ago, I had a revelation: I – Julie – have a bad attitude. I was squattly sitting in my own little pity party. Where I should have been basking in gratitude with my memories of this past summer, vacation in Washington, fun times at the beach, dinner with the best of friends, Laughlin NV, I instead was lamenting that they had past, and that there was “nothing” to look forward to. Yeah, I know….whoa is me! My focus was way off.

I just wanted to share that I have honestly had a change of “heart”. My heart hadn’t been involved in my past attitude; it was purely my mind that was leading me astray. But as of yesterday, I vow to live with an attitude based from my heart.

Photo Credit: Gabriela Camerotti

Star

"To be a star you must shine your own light, follow your own path and not worry about the darkness, for that is when stars shine brightest" ~ Anonymous

Photo Credit: findstuff2

12 for 12

On my quest to health, joy, and serenity I decided to participate in Marilu's "Dear Diary ~ 12 for 12" online class. I've mentioned Marilu's website previously and have been a member for 7 years. Gleaning ooodles of information, friendships, and support. This current online course is nice and short - 12 days (even I can do that!) Simply it's a support group to help each other with 12 healthy habits for 12 days - and these healthy habits don't need to be daily.

I thought I'd list my "12 for 12" for accountability and also to encourage YOU to join along also! So here is my list of 12:
1) exercise
2) no alcohol during the weekdays
3) body brush
4) make personal time w/hubby
5) clean/declutter 15 min. per day
6) moisturize daily
7) post on the Marilu boards daily
8) do something fun daily
9) eat greens
10) eat fruit first thing in the am
11) floss
12) read

What would your 12 be?

Vacation Recap

I've been home for a week now, and just downloaded my vacation photos. It was such a pleasurable week, I thought I'd Recap for you how it was spent.
Lake Cabin

We spend the first 5 days at the Lake, enjoying the company of 30 of our relatives. There was no shortage of food, card playing, wake boarding, jet skiing, boating, swimming, and storytelling of adventures past.
My son wake boarding

We then headed south to my Mothers home for 2 days. It was very relaxing and I always enjoy spending time with her. After, we headed to Eugene Oregon to visit with my mother & brother in law, Nieces and Nephew.

Deciding to take the scenic route home, we headed towards Reno, Nevada and spent 2 nights at a really nice hotel. The remainder of the trip was a 9 hour drive, broken up by periodic stops, The first was my favorite, Walker River just south of Tahoe. We then stopped for lunch in Bishop then straight thru to Huntington Beach, stopping once for gas.

Walker River

I'm sad that my vacation is over, as always, time went by too quickly. But am savoring the memories. Thankfully we'll be on a mini vacation this weekend - we're heading to Laughlin Nevada to go boating on Mojave Lake and the Colorado River with good friends. Fun in the Sun!

Favorite new quote

I saw this quote this morning on twitter, and it has now become one of my favorite quotes!

"Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape" ~ Author Unknown

Let's hear it for flexibility in body, mind and spirit!

MeMe Blog Award

I've been awarded the fun MeMe Blog Award from both Melita and Michele! It's quite a lot of fun to learn new things about our blogworld friends!

The rules to this award are as follows:

1) share 7 tidbits about yourself

2) share this MeMe Blog Award with 7 blogger friends

So here's my tidbits in no particular order of importance:

1) I get giddy when I harvest my garden goodies and make a meal with their yumminess! Current crop: English cucumber, tomatoes, Japanese eggplant, jalapeno, strawberries, thyme, oregano, rosemary, sage, fig and lime.

2) I really love the idea of exercise, I just don't like doing it.

3) I asked my husband to marry me, and we're going on 20 years! Who says the man has to pop the question?

4) Finding it very difficult to think of 7 interesting tidbits about myself. So they may not be too interesting. ;)

5) Love to dry my sheets on the clothesline in the summer!

6) The first car I purchased was a stick shift, and I learned how to drive it on the way home from the dealership!

7) Get a thrill in creating a different meal from leftovers.

Whew! I did it!

And the MeMe moves along to:

getting back to basics

turquoise diaries

the analyst

nollyposh

blujay studio

montrealaise en californie

rescuegirl

A short "hello"

We'll, I'm back from vacation and almost back in the swing of things...only 2 more loads of laundry (after the dozen I've done since Sunday evening) Whew, why is it that vacations are sooo much work? There's something wrong with this. The vacation elves should swoop in and clean the house and do the laundry and organize all the stuff whilst you sleep the evening after you arrive~am I correct? Anywhoo, they must be off on the other side of the world, because obviously they have missed my house.

I'm super excited to share my vacation stories, pictures, etc. with all of you, but it will take me a while because my vacation elves are MIA ~!