Monday's Musings - People who come into our lives

Have you ever stopped and thought about the people in your life and how they came to be in your life?

I truly believe that each person that comes into our life comes into our life for a reason.

It could only be for a short period of time or it may be  "forever".  

People may have come into our life and moved on...and then returned to fulfill yet another purpose in our life.  We should always embrace these people that are placed in our life and learn the lessons that they bring.

Sunday's Inspiration - Elevator to Success?

Saturday's Simple Thought - Being Good

Friday's Find - What defines success?

Thursday's Thought - Let's be Happy!

Today I refuse to be sad, mad or overwhelmed with things in my life!  Today I shall look for something good...something that will make me smile and happy.  

I challenge you to join me in this journey today.  It might be something as simple as walking outside and spotting a cardinal...listening to a bird sing its simple song...or seeing an old friend!

Let's do it!

Wednesday's Wisdom - Search for Happiness

I found this cartoon so cute but yet so profound at the same time!

The child in me wants to stick my tongue out when faced with a crazy, stupid or difficult situation which of course means that I would stick my tongue out at least once a day!

You know - I really think that this childish action might just be the silliness that will allow me to move on!

Goodbye difficulty...hello silliness and a smile! 

Tuesday's Travels - Where do you want to travel to?

Where would you go this year that you have always wanted to go?

My dream trip would have to be a trip to see the Northern Lights in Alaska!

I know that I must first dream a dream before a dream can actually come true.  In order to make my dream trip to Alaska come true I have decided to begin researching various trips to Alaska.  Do I want to take a cruise?  Do I want to fly into Alaska and travel via a tour group?  So many questions so few answers.

The one thing that I do know is that it will take a lot of planning and there is no time like the present to plan!

Monday's Musings - Leaving your past behind!

It is so easy to blame your past for the reason for anything that goes wrong in our life.  I like to think that my past does not define me as much as it a just a small part of my life that has allowed me to become who I am today.

Every parent wants their children to become more than they are...but if we allow ourselves to live in the past we can never appreciate the present or become who we are meant to become in the future!

I will not allow my past to own my power today!  I will treasure the good memories of the past, learn from the bad and look forward to tomorrow!

Sunday's Inspiration

I love Facebook!  I of course love keeping up with friends and family however it is a great place to find tidbits of inspiration!

As I wrote many posts ago - this blog was originally to be a blog about inspiring and motivating my friends.  Through the process of inspiring and motivating my friends...I also found that this little blog of mine is a daily inspiration to me!

I found this wonderful inspiration post on Facebook - thank you Karen Kline Jackson for sharing this on Facebook.  It truly spoke to me and I know that it will too speak to others here!

Thankful for Saturday

It is has been a difficult week (professionally) and it would be so easy to just throw my hands up and say..."enough is enough".

I realize that my crazy week doesn't even compare to those who are fighting illnesses, unemployment, underemployment and other life impacting issues.

I know that my issues are so minor and I should be thankful for the many blessings in my life.

I am thankful that it is Saturday and that I have survived this oh so crazy week!

I am so ready for this weekend!

Friday's - Finance 101 - Saving at the Grocery Store

I know...what a boring topic right?  Sometimes it is a topic that we avoid like the plague...but let's face it...the majority of us are not millionaires and we (as the song says) work hard for the money!  We want to make sure that we spend our money wisely too!

I am not going to sit here and type out this story about what a great saver I am and I not going to type out that I am perfect when it comes to my finances.  Sorry folks...but I am human!!!!  I do try hard to balance my finances so that I can have some breathing room.  That is why I got so excited when I discovered this grocery tracking spreadsheet!  For some odd reason it validates me.  It makes me feel good about going to the grocery store (I HATE GROCERY SHOPPING!).  It is a visual affirmation that I can and I do save money with coupons and with a little bit of planning.

I have decided that another one of my new goals this year is to become a much better tracker of where my grocery dollars are going.  I am also going to use more coupons.  AND do not be surprised if you see a coupon post coming up one of these Fridays...I LOVE to save money so I do use coupons.  I am not one of those "Extreme Coupon" folks that you see on the television although I would love to one day go to the grocery store and walk out with bags of groceries and not have to pay anything!  Wouldn't that be awesome?

Well...let me tell you about a nifty little spreadsheet that I discovered.  I really like it because as I said - it validates the savings when I plan ahead prior to grocery shopping and use coupons!  You just input the amount that you spent and the amount you paid...*voila*  it calculates the percentage of cost savings...VALIDATION!  If you would like a copy of this spreadsheet for you very own use...just leave a comment and I will send you a copy!

I would really...really ....really love to get that savings percentage up too!

How do you save money at the grocery store?

I would really...really ....really love to get that savings percentage up too!

How do you save money at the grocery store?

Simple Thought for Thursday

Wednesday's Wisdom

Tuesday's Travels - Glacier National Park

There are so many wonderful things to be said about Glacier National Park including the glorious and inspirational mountains and lakes.  Any trip to Glacier will require a place to stay overnight and I am here to tell you how lucky I was to find the place that I found!

First note to anyone planning a trip to Glacier - PLAN ahead!  Accommodations are hard to come by and most places book a year in advance.  Now considering that my trip was one of those "last minute" decisions I was incredibly lucky to find a place to stay...and let me tell you how lucky!  This trip was obviously meant to be because my accommodations could not have been better.  I called the National Park number for hotel accommodations at Glacier (1.855.684.3402).  This number saved a lot of time and stress since I didn't have to go searching online for someplace to stay. 

It just so happened that when I called they had just received a cancellation and they were able to find me two nights in a lodge at the Historic Tamarack Lodge in Hungry Horse, Montana.  This facility is not in the actual park but just about as close to the West entrance as you can get!

When we drove up to the lodge we were quickly taken with the site of the main lodge.  It was an old, beautiful log cabin that just welcomed you to walk into the front door!  Once I walked into the rustic but yet updated building I was greeted by a staff member who made me feel like I was a long lost friend!  He informed me that he had a very special cabin for us...the Griz...and it was just a few steps away from the main lodge.

Isn't it just the cutest cabin????

This rambling establishment has several cabins as well as lodge rooms in which to stay.  I loved the fact that I could walk outside the cabin, sit on the porch and gaze up into the stars at night.  One note to know though - no air conditioning but you really do not need it!  I opened the windows at night and actually found myself a bit cold. 

Another thing that I loved about the Tamarack Lodge was the tons of outdoor space which included picnic tables, old wooden swings and a fire pit!  Can you just imagine roasting marshmallows over the open fire and the delicious s'mores you could make?

Another favorite place to spend some time had to be the great hall in the lodge.  It was such a warm and inviting place.  With the huge fireplace and the comfy furniture - I just wanted to curl up and read a book.

 

Isn't this the perfect spot to have your morning coffee?

I found myself leaving all the stress behind and enjoying the peaceful and relaxing atmosphere of the Historic Tamarack Lodge.  I found myself re-energized and at total peace with life during my stay!

I am so ready to go back again...and will some day.  

The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.  I am not in any way receiving reimbursement for my thoughts and opinions!

Monday's Musing - Planners for 2014

I am a big fan of using a planner.

I have been a devoted Franklin Planner user for over 10 years and it is an excellent planner.  The Franklin planner is an investment but there are some very good reasons to go with a Franklin.  For one - once you decide on your binder...you use it year after year...no need to replace the binder unless you just want to buy a new one.

 

As noted - once you have the planner you just need to purchase the new calendar each year...

Last year I decided that I wanted to take my planner up a notch!  Enter Erin Condren...

Erin Condren

 

I love the Erin Condren planner because it has so many different covers to select from - I can customize and it is lightweight!  It can easily fit into my purse!

While I love my Erin Condren I discovered another new planner - Lorna Jane

Lorna Jane

Now I have to admit - I LOVE..love...love this planner...I love the inspirational quotes in this book - very...very inspirational.  Now this planner is a bit larger than the Erin Condren planner but I love the special quotes that I read each and every day.

I would love to hear what type of planner you use...please share!

The opinions written here are all my own.  I have not been reimbursed by any of these companies for the review of these products.

 

Sunday's Wisdom

Saturday's Reason to Smile!

A Friday Funny

Do you ever just have a day when a picture says it all?

Well...today is one of those kind of days!

Thursday's Thought - Goal Setting

I am still struggling with setting my 2014 goals.  I am really not sure why because I have always been so very faithful about doing this in the past...but this year?  I feel like I am in a fog...

I know that I really...really need to conquer what ever it is holding me back because the longer I begin each day without a goal is a lost day for me!

Many years ago I had a mentor at work (this was a formal mentor program that the company I worked for encouraged us to participate in) who opened my eyes to the importance of goal setting.

I was taking a training class and there were only 2 of us in this week long class.  The gentleman and I started having lunch together during this week.  Now I will say this is not someone who I would have normally had lunch with.  We of course knew each other but we worked in two separate divisions within the company and I thought he was a bit snobbish - he wasn't - he was just shy!.    Anyway - we were having lunch and he mentioned that he had just celebrated his 10 year anniversary with the company.  He went on to say that he woke up recently and realized that not only was he about to celebrate this milestone with the company but he was still working in the same role that he began 10 years ago.  THAT really bothered him because he didn't want to wake up after 20 years and still be doing the same thing.  That was the day that he joined the mentoring program.  While listening to him I realized how easy it would be to get so comfortable in a job that I too could easily find my self in that same situation.  I immediately went out and joined the mentoring program.  The first meeting with my new mentor was quite interesting.  His first question to me is "what do you want to be when you grow up".  That sounds like an easy question...right?  W.R.O.N.G.  I could not answer that question.  So he then challenged me to write down my goals...and to have one goal for each year of my life.  It was because of this first mentoring session that I realized how much goals could guide me in my life.  I still have that original list and I add a new goal each year!

Isn't it amazing how a "chance" lunch with someone can have such an impact on one's life?

Wednesday's Wisdom - 52 Week Money Challenge

I love to read blogs...I mean L.O.V.E. to read blogs.  I read every kind you can think of...blogs about cooking, about traveling, about personal finance and some just basic personal blogs!

This past weekend I came across a blog that inspired me to try something different this year.  I am pretty good about saving money but this little program takes it to a new level.  I have decided to give it a try and see if I can stick to it.  I will keep you updated and let you know if I am able to reach this financial goal of 2014! 

I am happy to say that I have made it through the first 2 weeks...*ha*

 

Tuesday's Thought of the day - My daily goal

My goal for today is to NOT put off living a dream.  I always have travel listed as one of my primary goals each year and of course I want to continue to reach my goal of visiting all 50 states in the U.S.

Today I will begin my research on which state will be the next state to mark off my list.  Will it be Oregon?  Will it be Alaska?  How about Wyoming?

I will let you know after I compile my research and of course I will blog about my travel plans along the way!

Monday's Musing

There is a very wise saying attributed to Albert Einstein that says the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

How often are we guilty of doing this exact same thing?  

The time has come for a change!  What is one thing in your life that you need to change in order to see a different result?

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Sunday's Wisdom - Live your dreams

I have been doing much soul searching lately about my new goals for 2014.  Along with the "usual" goals of living a more healthy lifestyle as well as being more diligent with organizing my financial situation there is one goal that I really...really would love to fulfill this year.  That is to fully live my life to the fullest.  Life is not a spectator's sport...it requires getting involved and experiencing life.  

It is time to stop worrying about failing or not achieving (which could hold many a person back) and set my goals and fulfill my dreams!

Stay tuned for an update on my goals and how I hope to achieve one of my lifetime dreams!  After all - it I write a goal down here on my blog - I must do everything that I can to achieve that goal!

Saturday's Wisdom - Zig Ziglar

"You can make positive deposits in your own economy every day by reading and listening to powerful, positive, life-changing content and by associating with encouraging and hope building people."

~Zig Ziglar

Don't allow negativity to withdraw happiness from your life.  Deposit happiness, love and joy and you will always find positivity in life!

Friday's Inspiration - Facing Fear

While trying to talk myself in doing my annual "goals" list...I found myself pretty much stuck.

If you have read my posts from previous years you will see that I do not believe in resolutions but in goals.  Goals are meant to be written down, documented, reviewed and checked off when completed!  Goals should have certain characteristics such as being measurable and have a timeline associated with it.

As a result of being less than motivated I realized that perhaps it is not a motivational issue but perhaps more of a fear issue.  Am I afraid of falling short of reaching my goals?  Why is it that I am so lackluster about writing down my 2014 goals...and then...it came to me in form of an email.  Read below for what I think might just be my problem!

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

• A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles", Ch. 7, Section 3 (1992)P. 190. 
   
  
  
  After all - if I do not write down my 2014 goals - I do not have to fear of not making my goals...right?
  
  
  But there is a little voice inside me that keeps saying...you would never leave on a road trip without your map so why do you think that you can lead a productive life without goals?