Living Life To The Fullest
What’s the biggest risk you’d like to take — but haven’t been able to?
Allowing myself to be fully transparent on this blog. Ugh, sometimes there are things that I really want to share but I just can’t yet. And truthfully it frustrates me.
I feel like if I do allow myself to be completely raw it will be like opening Pandora’s box and that kinda scares me.
Full Original Article
Ways To Switch It Up
turn your vertically lined books to horizontal stacks
swap around drawers – linens, silverware, files in the desk
rearrange the kitchen cupboards
switch up the refrigerator shelves
push furniture an inch to the left or right (or completely into another room!)
switch lamps out to different rooms
move the chairs around your table
put everything dropped by the door back in its space
color-code your closet (or bookshelves!)
fold your towels a new way
organize the spice drawer / shelf
hang the dog leash somewhere that reminds you to take her for a walk
shake out the front door mat
edit the book pile by your bed
move your phone charger out of the bedroom
change the bulbs in a light to a brighter watt
flip a table arrangement so everything on the left is now on the right, and the right is now a lefty
move art on the walls around
turn all the shoes in your closet so they face one direction — with the toes facing out
dress the table with a linen-cloth and make mealtime a little more fancy
bring a few candles that normally sit somewhere unlit into a room where you’ll light them
take everything off your desk, wipe it down, and put everything back (ahhh!)
switch out your bed linens or add a different quilt to the foot of the bed
move an entire room around and try it out for a week
move the fridge magnets around
put something different in front of a mirror so that it doubles something new in your life
sharpen your pencils
give the dog bed a hearty shake and fluff / rotate the cat condo
turn the plants around so the other side soaks up the sun
flip the rugs, mattress, or couch cushions!
why 27 items, you ask? the short answer—it’s a shui thing. twenty-seven is [a multiple of] the number 9, the number representing power, manifestation, and completion. bonus: you don’t need to add or buy anything.
@simpleshui
What makes a good neighbor?
Well, let me tell you about our neighbor Bill. He’s an awesome neighbor.
First let me share how I met this particular neighbor of ours. A couple of years ago I was driving home and pulled over to check the mail. I had my 3 daughters with me (the oldest ones were 3 I believe at the time) and our little dog, Calbie (bless his heart and soul).
As I was checking the mail Calbie jumped on the window and locked the car door from the inside. Which then locked me out with nothing but a mail key and a handful of junk mail.
I just stood there for a moment processing what had just happened. I was proud of myself for not really panicking. I was more like, “damn this sucks, my phones in there too…..”. I tried to encourage my girls to unbuckle their seatbelts to unlock the door but they couldn’t. Can you believe that! Ha!
All of a sudden this guy pulls up in a white truck with a trailer of landscaping supplies (thank goodness I wasn’t standing there long!) . He asked me what had happened, I explained, and come to find out in that small moment that he lives in the house behind ours.
Long story short another neighbor (John, whom I just pretty much met as well) pulls up close to the same time and immediately takes me to my house while Bill (the neighbor I just met too) stays and watches my kids so I can get the spare set of keys.
Essentially I got in the car with a stranger and let a stranger watch my helpless children. Trust good vibes.
Just in that small moment I saw how amazing my neighbors were and still are.
Bill particularly has become one of our good friends. Came to found out he’s a retired executive chef too, so we get to reap those rewards often. It’s awesome, he made these bacon wrapped dates this one time that I still think about. He also makes this amazing soup filled with shredded meat and lots of veggies that can cure any stress in your life!
He spoils our children with goodies weekly and our kids just love him. I joke that our dentist needs to send him a thank you card since he gives them so much sweets. We’ve come to know his wife and kids and on occasions have all got together for a game of cards or lunch. His wife and daughter have horses (they are barrel racers) and we often pay them a visit during evening feedings and our kids enjoy that. Especially one of our daughters whom they have let her ride a few times!
But our neighbor Bill is a real gem. He is always willing to lend a helping hand or make us laugh with joke just to cheer us up. He thinks of us and makes us feel special.
He’s a good neighbor. Thank you Bill.
Print and bring with to the grocery store a week or two before the Holiday.
Appetizers
Main Course
Sides
Drinks
Dessert
Desserts served with milk, coffee with cream, or hot cocoa
*get extra food storage containers to send guests home with leftovers*
Extra Things
I don’t need to know you or see you to know that you reading this, dear reader, are beautiful.
Sometimes we need to be reminded how special and unique we are. Allow me to remind you.
You are a once in a lifetime. Shaped and molded in a way that cannot be duplicated. A rare commodity.
You aren’t perfect my friend, and guess what, nobody is. Each of us is flawed in our own way. But isn’t is wonderful?
How boring it would be if we were all the same and shared all the same experiences. It’s our differences that bring color and vibrancy to this world and universe. It’s the differences that help us to grow and grant us permission to see through the many different filters of life.
Celebrate those “imperfections”. Learn to love yourself. Learn to see yourself. You are worthy of your own love. Love yourself. You are loved.
There is no need to seek approval from the outside. When unkindness greets in those unexpected moments you shake it off immediately and most definitely don’t take it personally.
But again, I don’t need to know you or see to know that you are beautiful. You are. You are a miracle. You are here, you are alive. You’re doing it.
You’re a gift, you know that right? You truly are. You have purpose. You have value. You have magic flowing in you. There is so much light in you, even if right now the clouds are blocking the view. It’s there glowing brightly.
You are beautiful.
The Wild Gems 