things i learned this weekend...

things i learned this weekend:

hanging with my senior friends is such a gift

hairdressers always have the best stories

three coins in the fountain, love in the afternoon,

roman holiday - old movies are the best

bike riding with the sun shining is awesome

smiling at everyone i passed feels good

steff (my baby) is preparing some awesome

vegan meals these days and the veggie/fruit

juices she prepares are yummy

i miss my guy this time of year - he works too hard

the upside of that is: i have alot of time to myself to

read, watch chick flicks, catch up with friends

i miss my son everyday, loved seeing him last week

it makes me happy seeing my kids healthy & happy

walking around the neighborhood looking at

landscaping makes for a very beautiful walk

nothing beats cafe mochas & shortbread cookies

i love seeing new pictures of baby mason (hint,hint)

how much i love this time of year when the

sun is shining and a light breeze is blowing

my heart and prayers go out to japan

having lived thru a pretty big earthquake

in the SF bay area and feeling how helpless

and frightening they can be, not knowing

if the next tremor will be even bigger is

terrifying to say the very least

how wonderfully giving people are

especially in times of need

i watched secret millionaire tonight

and it made my heart sing

be the change - one person can

make a difference. be that person

xxoo

(photo via here)

I believe it...

I love Rodney White's vintage-like art.  I have a few of his prints in my office and this one is on my wish list!  It makes me smile every time I see it.  I truly believe that happiness is a choice, and I for one choose to be happy!!  Whatever you are doing out in the world today - make it fun, make it meaningful and enjoy!

xxoo

don't you forget...

This quote really spoke to me.  I remember when I  figured out

what kind of non profit I wanted to start.  I'd been wanting to do

something for years, but just couldn't figure it out.  When I finally did

I planned and plotted for months without saying a word to anyone - as

it was my baby and I didn't want anyone to deter me from my mission

or discourage me.  When I finally did divulge to people what I wanted

to do, I had a few naysayers that didn't quite understand why I would

want to do this, but I truly devoted myself to this project and went

completely out of my comfort \zone to get it going.  I am a very shy

person at heart.  If you were to meet me, you wouldn't think so - but

inside myself I am EXTREMELY shy, so by starting this non profit

and opening myself up to alot of different people and explaining

what I was doing took alot of deep breaths on my part.  As much

as I adore my seniors that I visit often, it took awhile for them to

understand why I would do this.  A few times they'd ask "what are

you getting out of this?"  I'd say "it's filling my heart with joy and

meeting so many awesome seniors and listening to your life stories

are just about the best present I could ever receive."  I went into

this wanting to make a difference in their lives, to bring a smile or

a laugh and what it did was it changed my life.

All in all, when I saw this quote above - it made me just want

to shout from the rooftops - DON'T EVER GIVE UP ON YOUR

DREAMS!  Sometimes they turn out different then you have planned,

sometimes it takes many twists and turns and some tears mixed in with

the smiles and laughter.  But doing something you love is worth it!!

So there, I'll get off my soapbox now!

Carry on and have a beautiful week, everyone!

Do yourself a favor and share some kindness with

everyone that crosses your path
your life will never be the same!
I promise!

xxoo

(photo via here)

love.this.quote...

"Happiness is a butterfly which, when pursued is just beyond

your grasp..but if you will sit down quietly,
may alight upon you."

 ~Nathaniel Hawthorne~

love is in the air....

There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved.

~ George Sand ~

(photos 1-4,6,7 via here, 5- mine)

Yum! for the Ho Hum Days....

Baileys & Coffee

& Chocolate Pots

= One Happy Woman

Serves 8

If you feel like sharing

Hands-on Time: 30m
Total Time: 2hr 30m
Ingredients
2/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
3 cups whole milk
4 large egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
Directions
1. Mix together the sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan. Add 1/3 cup of the milk, stirring to form a smooth paste. Whisk in the remaining milk and the egg yolks.
2. Cook the pudding mixture over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or spatula until thickened, about 15 minutes. (Do not allow to boil.) Remove from heat.
3. Add the vanilla and chocolate, stirring until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Pour into eight 4-ounce ramekins, glasses, or teacups and refrigerate, covered, until well chilled, at least 2 hours and up to 48 hours. Sprinkle with the cocoa powder before serving.

(Recipe from real simple )

Happy Sunday!

"All Happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast"

(Photo via Little French Nest)

My Kind of Garden

(Photo via The World According To Isa)

Happy Birthday August Babie's

This is my birthday month, so I thought that I would

do a collage of my favorite things , and also to wish all

the other August babies a very Happy Birthday!

The best present that I am getting this year, aside from

the health of my family and friends, is time away with my

beau in two beautiful cities - New York City and Chicago.

It will be my FIFTY SECOND BIRTHDAY, and I am very

proud of that. Life is good, enjoy each moment everyone!

My 5 Fave Things!

Fresh Flowers - Always # 1 on my list!

I love the smell of Vanilla - this is the best!

http://www.smallflower.com/

Coffee Lovers - I dare you to eat just one!

http://www.traderjoes.com/

My Born Boots are so comfy!

A wonderful memory of a dream trip to NYC with my guy!

What are your 5 Fave Things?

Live Heartfully

It is not how much you do, but how much

Love you put into the doing that matters.

- Mother Teresa -

Lake Shrine in Pacific Palisades

A beautiful place to spend the afternoon with awesome friends!

http://www.lakeshrine.org/

Peaceful Easy Feeling

It's been almost 28 years, but to this day - it is the only time that I remember having such a peaceful easy feeling. It had been a long 24 hours of labor pains on and off, and finally after 5 1/2 hours in the hospital (I know I was very lucky) with intense labor, a new person, my beautiful son, entered my life and it was at last complete. Later that night, I was in my hospital room all alone and my window was overlooking the parking lot that was dimly lit, the moon was shining bright and reflecting off of the water in the parking lot from the rain. As I looked out into that parking lot, I had such a peaceful feeling - knowing my son was here and healthy and looking forward to a life of adventures. A life of adventures - it truly has been!

Almost 10 years later, my gorgeous daughter was born and life took on a whole new meaning - what a wonderful ride it's been having these two beautiful kids - thru all the good times and bad times, they are the shining lights in my life, and I am so proud of the people they have become!

A song that makes me smile

This song is my daughter's ringtone for my cell phone. So when this song starts playing on my phone, I know my daughter is safe and all is right in our world.