Mindful Monday

Sunday's Inspiration

Saturday's Wisdom - A life full of Richness

Do you have someone who believes in you more than you believe in yourself?

Do you have someone in your life who just accepts you as you are ?

If so - you have richness that can be found with money alone!

May your life be full of this kind of richness!

Fabulous Friday!

Happy Friday Y'all!  Do you have any plans for the weekend?  Will you be resting. going out to dinner with friends or going to a movie?

It is still quite warm here in Texas so outdoor activities are still a bit limited yet,

I hope that your weekend is full of peace and blessings!

Thought for Thursday - Starting Over

Wordless Wednseday

Tuesday's Travel - Places to Eat in Tuscaloosa, AL

Well hello everyone. As promised last week I wanted to do a Tuesday Travel blog on places to eat in Tuscaloosa, AL.  If you are there for a Bama football game - you can find plenty of places to eat.  My mouth just waters when I think of some of them!

My #1 favorite has to be Taco Casa - now I have to tell you...there are other fast food Mexican restaurants with the same name...but buyer beware...the original Taco Casa was opened in Tuscaloosa and can be found with the cactus out front!

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Everything is delicious there but I love the mild tacos and mild frijoles.  You can order your food with either mild, hot or very hot sauce.  Let me tell you a secret - they have yet another sauce that they do not advertise....it is not for the faint at heart.  It is HOT...HOT...HOT...f you are brave enough to try it...ask them for the hottest sauce that they have.

If you are looking for a nice Italian restaurant - you should try Depalma's located in downtown Tuscaloosa.  It has some of the best food that I have ever tasted.

Depalmas Italian

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Just a word of warning...be prepared for a wait.  You know that it has to be good if you have to wait.  IT IS SO WORTH IT TOO!

If you are in the mood for fish - you might want to try Chucks Fish:

Chuck's Fish Tuscaloosa

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Something special about Chucks - on Thanksgiving they offer a free Thanksgiving meal.   All that they ask is if you can make a donation to do so.   This restaurant truly knows how to give back to the community!

Last but not least this week - do yourself a favot - have breakfast at The Waysider on Greensboro.  The best homemade bisquits, grits, gravy...*oh yummy* 

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This is only a small sampling of the wonderful restaurants in Tuscaloosa.  I could write a blog just about bar-b-q that can be found in Tuscaloosa!

One last thing....ROLL TIDE and please do enjoy the culinary delights that this city has to offer!

Monday's Musing - Do not Give up!

Sunday's Wisdom - Rid your life of negativity

Solitude

Listen to your thoughts, your needs, your heart.

Do not be afraid of what you hear!

Friday's Thought - Facing my Fears

One thing that I have learned in my years here on earth is that fear can paralyze you!  It can grab a hold of you and not let you go until you realize that the only way to escape is by your actions!

I have one major fear - the fear of unemployment.  I have worked outside of the home for almost 25 years but I am now faced with the ending of my job in the not so far future.  When I first heard about this I was in shock and denial.  THEN...I was scared...so much so I really did not know which way to turn.  I am not old enough yet to retire so I really do need to continue working.  I think that I have had two interviews in 25 years?  What is acceptable wear these days?  Is my resume strong enough?  What do I want to do when I grow up?  These are all questions that I faced and needed to address quickly.

It would be so easy just to sit back and let the pieces fall where they may...afterall...I am scared!  BUT...I am even more fearful of being "owned" by fear.

I made the decision that only I can take control of my situation.  I have no control over the fact that my company is downsizing but I do have control of how I handle this situation!  I can take ownership of my fear by updating my resume, getting my "go to interview" clothes ready and network...network...network.  YES...I can do this.  

I faced fear in the face and so far - I am winning!  Fear - you can so go away and find another home...for you are not welcome here!

Thursday's Thoughts - Running to catch the Destiny train

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Destiny is no matter of chance.  It is a matter of choice.  It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved

William Jennings Bryan 

My daily motivational reading today deals with destiny and it really spoke to me in such a profound way.  How many times have I heard that someday I will fulfill my destiny...and I have to stop and ask myself this question.  Am I waiting around waiting for that destiny train or am I doing something each day to achieve my destiny?  I have a motivational print on my office wall called the Station.  It talks about the journey to the your destiny.  You know - you can take that train anywhere you wish to go but will it take you to your destiny or is the journey really your destiny?

Today I will look at my day...my life as a destiny.  I refuse to sit back and wait for that destiny train.  Today I take charge of my travel to destiny.  Either I run to catch the destiny train or I am left behind by it.  I choose not to be left behind!

And in closing - the following quote says it all!

You control your future - your destiny.  What you think about comes about.  By recording your dreams and goals on paper - you set in motion the process of becoming the person you most want to be.  Put your future in good hands - your own.

Mark Victor Hansen

Wednesday's Wisdom - Count your Blessings

Tuesday's Travels - Tuscaloosa, AL

Hello everyone.  As you know - Tuesday is always Travel Tuesday where I enjoy sharing with you some of my favorite travels.  I decided this week to share with you my favorite place in the world - Tuscaloosa, AL.  While I may now live in Texas - my heart belongs to Alabama.  I was born and raised in Huntsville but as a proud graduate of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa - Tuscaloosa will always be home to me!  I still have family there and  I so look forward to visiting Tuscaloosa as often as I can.

I thought today I would share with you some of the sites of my adopted "hometown".

First thing that any first time visitor has to see is the Bama campus.  It is old, stately and oh so beautiful!  The school was founded in 1831 and there are several original buildings on campus.

The Gorgas House on the University of Alabama campus is the oldest structure on campus being built in 1829

 Courtesy of gorgashouse.ua.edu

 Denny Chimes located on the Quad - erected in 1929

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An aerial view of Denny Chimes and the Quad.  You can also see the library (which I may or may not have entered during my undergraduate years at Bama.

President's Mansion (courtesy of University of Alabama - tour.ua.edu).  The President's Mansion in one of the few buildings that survived the burning of the campus in 1865.

There is so much southern history that is written about this glorious building.  If you are a history buff like me - you might enjoy reading up on it!

NOW...let's get serious here.  You can not talk about Tuscaloosa without talking about the incredible University of Alabama Football team - Bama holds 15...count them...15 National Championships!  Can I get a Roll Tide here?

If you are lucky enough to be in Tuscaloosa on a crisp Fall Saturday afternoon...you may want to head over to the Quad for some good ole fashion tailgating!

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There is nothing like being on the Quad a few hours before game time...enjoying the company of say a few thousand of your closest friends...you will hear the strains of the Alabama Million Dollar Band as they play the Alabama Fight Song...and of course...you ears will feast upon a few thousand Roll Tides!  How sweet is that sound?

One of my favorite parts of game day is gathering by University Blvd. while the buses carrying the opposing teams are driving up to the stadium.  I have to wonder how intimidating it has to be as they drive by thousands and thousands of loyal Bama fans shaking their crimson and white shakers as they yell out "Roll Tide Roll"  It almost makes me feel sorry for the opposing team as they are surrounded by such Bama spirit...NAH...it doesn't make me feel bad at all!

Once we have intimated the opposing team...it is time to make our way to Bryant-Denny Stadium to greet our oh so awesome Bama players!  It gives me chills to just think about the mass humankind that come to this stadium to cheer on our Bama boys each Saturday in the Fall!

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Until next time - just remember!

Next week's Travel Tuesday blog will continue with the best places to eat in Tuscaloosa as well as the best places to get some good ole sweet tea!  You can take the girl out of Alabama but you can not take the Bama out of the girl!

Monday's Musings - Wishing you a Day of Greatness

For today and its blessings, I owe the world an attitude of gratitude. W.T. Purkiser

Your Sunday Inspiration

Ready for the weekend!

'Nuff said!

Friday's Inspiration

No matter how rough the day has been, no matter how many times you had to pick yourself up and brush yourself off...never let it defeat you.  Be grateful for the lessons of the day and continue to follow your dreams.

Thursday's Thought of the Day

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday's Travels - Portland, Oregon

I just spent 6 weeks in the Seattle area which consisted of some weekends in the Pacific Northwest which meant that I also had some downtime on the weekends.

 

What is a girl who loves to travel do?  She finds a new destination to travel to.  Well...this was one of the easiest decisions that I have ever had to made.  I was headed to Portland, Oregon.  Why Portland you ask?  WELL..someone very special moved to Portland a few years ago and I always said that I would visit her some day...and that some day had arrived.

 

I quickly made my plans (and appointment) to visit Jenny Wells - Hairstylist Extraordinaire!

 

I met Jenny years ago (we are not going to say how many because why date us...right?) at Burt Grant Salon here in Texas.  An appointment with her always meant that you would walk out with incredible hair but you would find yourself laughing so hard at her antics.  It was always such a treat to visit with her.  Imagine how sad I was to hear that she was relocating to Portland.  I mean - I was happy for her because she would be surrounded by her family but gosh...I was really going to miss her.

 

I was so excited to hear that she found her new home in Portland - Mia Bella Salon.  All I had to do was to get to Portland to see her again!

 

 

 

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This is how I found myself one Saturday driving from Seattle, Washington to Portland, Oregon...a 3 hours drive.  I had my trusty GPS as well as my Smart Phone Drive program.  You see - I am directionally challenged and even with both of these tools - I still managed to get a bit lost along the way...but oh my...the scenery along the way was beautiful. 

 

 

I spent several hours with Jenny at her new salon and walked out with a new look...as noted - she is hairstylist extraordinaire! 

 

 

Our loss here in Texas is Portland's gain.  If any of you readers out there in Portland are looking for a special hairstylist  I promise you a visit to Jenny Wills at Mia Bella will not disappoint.  The salon is located in a quaint old home that just welcomes you the minute you enter the front door.  If you do visit Jenny - please tell her hello for me!

 

AND...I can not end this post without telling you how beautiful Portland is.  I was overwhelmed by the incredible mountain and water views.  Portland - I will be back...but until then...I will just feast my eyes on the pictures!

 

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Monday's Musing - Your choice

I have to admit - at one time I really dreaded Mondays!  I dreaded getting out of bed and getting ready to go to work but I recently realized that my attitude was all wrong!  If I only look at Monday as an opportunity to have a chance to do things better...it wasn't so hard to get out of bed.

Try it - it might just work for you like it worked for me!

Mondays can be our friend!

Sunday's Inspiration

Remember who you are and take control of your destiny. Keep that sense of accomplishment and confidence close by, it will motivate you to keep moving forward.

The road that we travel

Even though the roads of life can be tough at times...and we question how we found ourselves on this particular road - allow yourself to search for the beauty of your new path.

Friday's are for Fun

My happy place - 

Wouldn't it be incredible to spend the weekend here?  This is my new Happy Place.

Okay - I do have many Happy Places but for this week...this one will do!  How i would love to runaway from every day life for just a few days in this paradise!

Thursday's Thought of the Day

 

What if we lived our life in such a way that we could inspire just one other person?  

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday's Travels

I have written several times about my bucket list and the one at the very top is to visit all the 50 states in the U.S.

So far I have made it to 39 of the States....not bad but that still leaves 11 that I need to visit.  One of my goals each and every year has been to visit one new state a year.  In 2013 I visited three new states. In 2014 - I did not visit any new states although I did travel quite a bit even traveling to 2 different countries.  So far in 2015 I have visited one new State - Oregon.

The remaining states that I have yet to visit are:

Alaska

Hawaii

Iowa

Minnesota

Nebraska

North Dakota

Rhode Island

South Dakota

Utah

Vermont

Wyoming

I know how important it is to commit a goal to writing because once you make that commitment it is out there for everyone to see!  Therefore I have a plan to mark some more States off my list - so here the plan:

By flying to North Dakota - I can also take a short drive to Minnesota...possibly even South Dakota.

Another trip that could allow me to mark off a couple of states would be to fly into Utah and take a short trip to Wyoming.

These two trips would mean that I could mark either 5 or 6 States off my list this year.

Monday's Motivation

Good morning Y'all!

It has been such a very long time since I have blogged and I have truly missed it.  Let's just call it a short vacation!

Today's blog is a hodgepodge of thoughts floating in my little ole brain.

First thing first - today is the first day of the rest of my life.  Today is the day that I am going to kick the nasty habit of drinking soft drinks.  YES...I love my soft drinks but I am determined that my life will be so much better without them.  And...my hips will appreciate it too!

Secondly - I originally started this blog to document those special moments in my life so I would not forget them when I was old and gray!  It quickly transformed into a blog where I offered motivational thoughts for all those who needed them.  And guess what?  I noticed the more that I blogged "happy" thoughts or motivational thoughts - the more impact that it had on my life.  I will continue to post motivational blogs along the way but I also want to document other life experiences.  So without further delay - here comes Monday's Motivation.  Not only is today a new day, it is also a new beginning...a new opportunity to start over again!

Since I am dedicating this day to a new beginning - what better way than to set some goals on how to make the most of each and every day!  I challenge you to create your own new beginning.  Listed below are some of the ways that I plan on making my day the best day ever!

Today I will start the day on a positive note.  I will accomplish this by reading a daily motivational book.  I personally prefer "Journey to the Heart" by Melody Beattie.

Each morning - I will drink 8 ounces of water.  Why?  Well for several reasons..during sleep you body loses much of its hydration.  By drinking water you re-hydrate yourself and feel so much better.  It also makes you fill full so you will be unlikely to stuff food into your mouth.  I will drink my water each morning even before that first cup of coffee!

Now - let's talk breakfast - breakfast is so important and something that I sometimes forget.  My goal is to eat breakfast each morning.  It could be something as simple as yogurt but it needs to be something!

I will also remember to stretch.  You know how much better you feel when you stretch right?  I may not have a chance to workout each morning but a good morning stretch makes me feel so much better!  Sounds simple...right?  When was the last time that you really stretched?

A new morning routine is just that...a routine...something that I need to create each and every day...but...today is a new day!

What do you do each morning to ensure that your day gets started on a positive note?