A reason?

 Have you ever really thought about this?

Sometimes I wonder, especially when things happen seemingly "out of the blue", what am I suppose to do with this or learn from this?

I know there are all kinds of reasons that things happen, but this really hits it on the head.

Try not to miss the message OR the reason.  

The message may not be to do something, it could be to NOT do something.  Don't be so stubborn and believe that YOU and only you, know what to do. 

Believe it or not, there are times when we really don't know. 

I'm pretty sure we will miss out on something good if we do.  

Follow that dream

 Sometimes I think dreamers have the right idea.

Now don't get me wrong, I am the "practical" one.  Oh I tried to be artistic, but in the long run, that was better left to my sister.  I just wonder if I can be the "practical" one AND the "dreamer"?

What do you think?

Can you be both?  Or do you have to pick one or the other?

Trust your gut

 I know you have heard the saying Trust Your Gut.
There are many people who live their lives trusting their gut. 

They believe it is how they have gotten this far in their lives.

Sometimes it feels like it's the only thing that you can believe in, it's the only thing that keeps you safe.

In some instances, you could be right.  

I'm learning to trust my gut and to listen to what it is trying to telling me.

I think, maybe, I could have been able to skirt around some of the difficult things in my life, if I had just trusted my gut.

How about you?

What you tell yourself

 I had seen this a little while ago, and to be honest, I didn't originally see it as a positive.

At first I was thinking this was going to be intensifying any "down" feelings that you have about yourself or a situation.

But as I have been thinking about it further, I realized that THIS is the way to turn around any "down" or "negative" thoughts and feelings you have about yourself.  It tells you that YOU have the power to turn things around, by looking at the positive aspects of any situation and focusing on those.

Once you are focused on the positive aspects, you can make yourself feel more positive.  The more positive you feel, the more positive things will be coming your way.

Think about it.

Pray for everyday blessings

I'm not saying that you shouldn't ask for things that you feel that you need.  Prayers are always used for our wants/needs.
God listens and will give you what it is that He feels you truly need.

What I am saying is that it's not the only reason to pray.

You should be praying every day, but it doesn't have to be a "formal" prayer.  God loves to have conversations with us.  

I can feel the difference when I don't reach out to him just to "chat". 

And sometimes, just sometimes, things happen that are unexpected as a result of our little chat. 

Do what is right for YOU

 I love finding little gems like this.

It doesn't mean that you are being selfish.

It doesn't mean that you are being unkind to others.

It IS taking care of yourself and being the best that you can be in any situation.  

Women over 30 ...

Everyone seems to have an idea of what you should be doing at any given time.
You are either too young to do something or you are too old to be doing something.

Personally there are times that I want to know who died and left them in charge.

Now I know that I would be the first one to be beating the band when children or the elderly or those who can't advocate for themselves.
I would also be beating the band when it involves animal care/welfare.  

But once you become an adult and are "old enough" to take care of yourself, you should be making good decisions for yourself without someone else telling you what to do.  This doesn't mean that you could never ask for help and get that help, if it is truly needed, but if you are an adult it is time to act like one.

This however is something that I think every, and I mean EVERY, woman needs to hear.  

Now that's not to say that it only applies to those women over 30 because it definitely doesn't, but by the time you get to the age of 30 it is time.  Let's face it, most of us have expectations of ourselves that are pretty high and God knows we can be pretty self -judgmental.  

I hate to say it, but I wish I had seen this before I got to 30, because I really think it would have been one of the best pieces of advice I could have been given.  

Some interesting New Jersey Facts

Many of my readers know that I am from New Jersey, wasn't born here (Philly) but since my family moved to Jersey when I was 12 (yes a very long time ago) I have never moved out of the State.  Even when I went "away" to College, I was still "In the State".

New Jersey has a lot of unique qualities and some rather interesting facts that I am afraid most no longer know about .. so when I saw this I just had to "borrow" it and share it with you.  If you've ever lived in Jersey...you'll appreciate this!!! 
If you live somewhere else, you might find it interesting:

New Jersey is a peninsula.
Highlands, New Jersey has the highest elevation along the entire eastern seaboard, from Maine to Florida.

New Jersey is the only state where all of its counties are classified as metropolitan areas.

New Jersey has more racehorses than Kentucky.
New Jersey has more Cubans in Union City (1 sq mi.) than Havana, Cuba.
New Jersey has the densest system of highways and railroads in the US.

New Jersey has the highest cost of living.
New Jersey has the highest cost of auto insurance.
New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the nation.  (definitely not something we want to be the highest in!)

New Jersey has the most diners in the world and is sometimes referred to as the "Diner Capital of the World."

New Jersey is home to the original Mystery Pork Parts Club (no, not Spam): Taylor Ham or Pork Roll.  Oh come on, Pork Roll, Egg and Cheese on a hard roll ... yumm!

New Jersey is also home to the less mysterious, but the best Italian hot dogs and Italian sausage w/peppers and onions.

North Jersey has the most shopping malls in one area in the world, with seven major shopping malls in a 25 square-mile radius.  I think even as Malls seem to be dying off, we still have the most.

New Jersey is home to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

The Passaic River was the site of the first submarine ride, by inventor John P. Holland.

New Jersey has 50+ resort cities & towns.  Some of the nation's most famous: Asbury Park, Wildwood, Atlantic City, Seaside Heights, Long Branch, Cape May.

New Jersey has the most stringent testing along our coastline for water quality control than any other seaboard state in the entire country.
New Jersey is a leading technology & industrial state and is the largest chemical producing state in the nation, when you include pharmaceuticals.

Jersey tomatoes are known the world over as being the best you can buy.  Most definitely!

New Jersey is the world leader in blueberry and cranberry production (and here you thought Massachusetts?)  I believe the land that Rider University was built on was once a huge Cranberry Bog!

Here's to New Jersey - the toast of the country! 
In 1642, the first brewery in America opened in Hoboken.

New Jersey rocks! 
The famous Les Paul invented the first solid body electric guitar in Mahwah, in 1940.

New Jersey is a major seaport state with the largest seaport in the US, located in Elizabeth. Nearly 80 percent of what our nation imports comes through Elizabeth Seaport first.

New Jersey is home to one of the nation's busiest airports (in Newark), Liberty International.

George Washington slept here. 
Several important Revolutionary War battles were fought on New Jersey soil, led by General George Washington.

The light bulb, phonograph (record player), and motion picture projector, were invented by Thomas Edison in his Menlo Park, NJ, laboratory.

We also boast the first town ever lit by incandescent bulbs.
The first seaplane was built in Keyport, NJ.
The first airmail was started from Keyport, NJ, to Chicago.
The first phonograph records were made in Camden, NJ.
The game Monopoly, played all over the world, named the streets on its playing board after the actual streets in Atlantic City.

And, Atlantic City has the longest boardwalk in the world,
Not to mention salt water taffy.

New Jersey has the largest petroleum containment area outside of the Middle East countries.
The first Indian reservation was in New Jersey, in the Watchung Mountains.
New Jersey has the tallest water tower in the world. (Union, NJ)
New Jersey had the first medical center, in Jersey City.
The Pulaski Skyway, from Jersey City to Newark, was the first skyway highway.
NJ built the first tunnel under a river, the Hudson (Holland Tunnel).

The first baseball game was played in Hoboken, NJ, which is also the birthplace of Frank Sinatra.

The first intercollegiate football game was played in New Brunswick in 1889 (Rutgers College played Princeton).
The first drive-in movie theater was opened in Camden, NJ, (but they're all gone now! So sad).
New Jersey is home to BOTH of "NEW YORK's" pro football teams!

The first radio station and broadcast was in Paterson, NJ.
The first FM radio broadcast was made from Alpine, NJ, by Maj. Thomas Armstrong.

All New Jersey natives: 
Sal Martorano, Jack Nicholson, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Jason Alexander, Queen Latifah, Susan Sarandon, Connie Francis, Shaq, Judy Blume, Aaron Burr, Joan Robertson, Ken Kross, Dionne Warwick, Sarah Vaughn, Budd Abbott, Lou Costello, Alan Ginsberg, Michelle Kelly. Norman Mailer, Marilynn McCoo, Flip Wilson, Alexander Hamilton, Whitney Houston, Eddie Money, Linda McElroy, Eileen Donnelly, Grover Cleveland, Woodrow Wilson, Walt Whitman, Jerry Lewis, Tom Cruise, Joyce Kilmer, Len Twist, Bruce Willis, Caesar Romero, Lauryn Hill, Ice-T, Nick Adams, Nathan Lane, Sandra Dee, Danny DeVito, Richard Conti, Joe Pesci, Joe Piscopo, Robert Blake, John Forsythe, Meryl Streep, Loretta Swit, Norman Lloyd, Paul Simon, Jerry Herman, Gorden McCrae, Kevin Spacey, John Travolta, Phyllis Newman, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Eva Marie Saint, Elisabeth Shue, Zebulon Pike, James Fennimore Cooper, Admiral Wm. Halsey,Jr., Dave Thomas (Wendy's), William Carlos Williams, Ray Liotta, Robert Wuhl, Bob Reyers, Paul Robeson, Ernie Kovacs, Joseph Macchia, "Uncle Floyd," Kelly Ripa, Francis Albert Sinatra, Rick Toscano.  Pretty awesome list right?

You know you're from Jersey when . . .

You don't think of fruit when people mention "The Oranges."
You know that it's called Great Adventure, not Six Flags.
A good, quick breakfast is a hard roll with butter.
You've known the way to Seaside Heights since you were seven.
You've eaten at a diner, when you were stoned, or drunk, at 3 A.M.
You know that the state isn't one big oil refinery.
At least three people in your family still love Bruce Springsteen, 
and you know the town Jon Bon Jovi is from.

You know what a "jug handle" is.
You know that Wawa is a convenience store.
You know that the State isn't all farmland.

You know that there are no "beaches" in New Jersey - there's the shore - and you don't go "to the shore," you go "down the shore." 
And when you are there, you're not "at the shore;" you are "down the shore."

You know how to properly negotiate a circle.
You knew that the last sentence had to do with driving.

You know that this is the only "New" state that doesn't require "New" to identify it (try . . Mexico . . . York .! . . Hampshire-- doesn't work, does it?).

You know that a "White Castle" is the name of BOTH a fast food chain AND a fast food sandwich.
You consider putting mayo on a corned beef sandwich a sacrilege.

You don't think, “You’re from Jersey? What exit?," is very funny.

You know that people from the 201 area code are "a little different."
Yes, they are!
You know that no respectable New Jerseyan goes to Princeton--that's for out-of-Staters.

The Jets-Giants game has started fights at your school or local bar.

You live within 20 minutes of at least three different malls.
You refer to all highways and interstates by their numbers.

Every year you have at least one kid in your class named Tony.
You know the location of every clip shown in the Sopranos opening credits.
You've gotten on the wrong highway trying to get out of the mall.

You weren't raised in New Jersey -- you were raised in North Jersey, Central Jersey or South Jersey.

You know that people from North Jersey go to Seaside Heights, 
and people from Central Jersey go to Belmar, 
and people from South Jersey go to Wildwood. 
It can be no other way.  
Ok its a little different now but early on ... this IS the way it was - ALWAYS

You don't consider Newark or Camden to actually be part of the State.

You remember the stores Korvette's, Two Guys, Rickel's, Channel, Bamberger's and Orbach's.

You also remember Palisades Amusement Park.
You've had a boardwalk cheese steak and vinegar fries.
You start planning for Memorial Day weekend in February.

And finally…
You've NEVER, NEVER pumped your own gas.

You have to learn how to pump your own gas if you travel outside of NJ ... yes I did learn but it is still nice to not have to get out of your car when it is snowing or raining while someone else is pumping that gas FOR YOU!  

So tell me ... where are you from and what interesting "Facts" can you share with us?

Allow things to pass

Whether you know who Warren Buffett is or not, the man is pretty intelligent.  He is someone that we should at least listen to every now and then.

Although I've never been to one of his Stockholder's meetings, which I understand are pretty awesome, he is more than just an investment wonder.

Yes he has made a ton of money for himself and those who invest with him but he is pretty down to Earth.

When I saw this statement I was pretty blown away because it felt like it was something that was directed at me.

Yes I know that does sound a little egotistical because well lets face it he wouldn't know me from Adam.  But the words hit me because I know there are times that I do act emotionally when things are said to me or I hear them said about me or those with me.

I have to work on this and keep telling myself to look at things objectively and logically and not just react.
Keep my restraint and to keep breathing.

Oh and to let things pass

Those three bones and a Change

Two of the most important things we need to be sharing with our kids/young "folk".

This one, I can't tell you how many times I have "fallen back on" one of these 3 bones and to be honest, I am not sure which have been used the most.  
Although sometimes that funny bone gets a ton of work out, especially when you keep saying to yourself ... you just can't make this stuff up.

But to go along with these bones, you much remember this.

Sometimes, no matter what we do or say or wish, there is only one way that you can thrive in your life.  Only on way to make your life the way YOU want it to be.
You must accept this one ... and then have the backbone to make it happen.

Yes there are some habits that we should get rid of

I know that there are many many habits that we try to make part of our lives.
Then there are others, that we should be stopping because they are just not good for us.
And no they aren't just things like over eating or smoking or drinking too much.

They include things like this that can shorten our enjoyment of life.  
And we ALL need to be finding enjoyment in our lives.

Now I believe it takes 21 days of doing something every day to make it a habit.
Let's start today, working on this list, and scratching them off our list of "daily habits" so that by the end of the month we will have eliminated these "habits" from our lives.  

I'm in ... how about you?

Hugs

I guess I am a hugger.
I hadn't really given it any serious thought.  
It's just part of who I am.  
And not just with family.  
Unless friends, longtime friends, count as family.

What about you?
Are you a "hugger"?
Are you more of a touchy-feely kind of a person or more of a stand-offish person?
Do you react differently depending on who you are with?

Success

I've been thinking about this a lot lately.
How do you define success?

When can you claim success?

Is success what we do or what we inspire others to do?

I would think if you strive to be a teacher, and I don't just mean as a profession, it would be what you inspire others to do.  What you help them to learn about what they can do, what they shouldn't do or what they are meant to do.

I know there have been times that I have thought I was going to be so successful and end up thinking about what is in it for me, and then I really am not sure if I succeeded or not.  
Oh you can be successful and unsuccessful at the same time.

WHAT?  WAIT .. what did I just say?

You can be "successful" because you accomplished something monetarily, but is that the true measure of success?
You can be "unsuccessful" at the same time if all you have accomplished is put money in your pocket.  
You need to make a difference when you are successful.  

In my opinion, you need to make people want to do the same thing that you have done, accomplish the things that you have with your help.  Your help can be just being the inspiration, by sharing the knowledge that YES YOU can do it.

Let's try to be the type of successful that helps us to inspire others to do what they want and are able to do, without putting limits on what they can do.

THAT in and of itself could be the true meaning of success.

Help in finding the real you

If you are looking to "find" yourself and don't know where to start (like me) you might want to check out Martha Beck.

Martha is a sociologist, a life coach, an author and speaker.  From what I heard, she was a speaker at Limelight by Alcone's conference and did an AWESOME job.  I wish I had been able to be there, because from what I heard the conference was phenomenal but her talk sounded like it was one of the highlights.

I will be perfectly honest here.  
I had actually never heard of her before, which is kind of crazy because she has so many books that she has written.  
In fact, when I looked on Amazon they listed 103! 

I am forever looking for things to read on Amazon (love to keep my Kindle "full" so I can always find something when I'm waiting) and I had NO idea.  Hang head in shame....

When I first looked into her, because of all the Limelight buzz, I saw this ...  "All my life, I've addressed crowds because I'm scared of public speaking..."  I was immediately drawn to learn more, you see I saw "I'm scared of public speaking" and said to myself ... a kindred spirit.  I know, I know, I can talk about a lot of things but public speaking .. definitely NOT my cup of tea.

I figure I've found something/someone good, someone who just might be the catalyst to finding out just who I am or who I want to be.  I know, after all this time, I still don't know if I am where I am suppose to be, where I want to be, so it is definitely time to get my act together.   Better late than never, right?

But hey I'm not the only one who is thinking she is pretty good person to help me on this journey, even Oprah Winfrey said "She's one of the smartest women I know".  Pretty nice endorsement, don't you think?

You can find Martha's blog here.
I'll see you there.

Do you know what June is?

Other than my anniversary month that is ...

Yes it is also my mom and dad's anniversary (#61 this year), but that still isn't what I am talking about.  
Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

If you have a teenager, or if you have what has in many "worlds" been called the teenage curse, you may know that June is Acne Awareness month.

Now I have had 2 teenagers, one boy and one girl, so I've seen it from both sides, as well as having had my own bouts with the teenage curse in my adult years, but even I did not realize that June was Acne Awareness month.

That is until I joined LimeLight by Alcone and started seeing the blog posts by Madison at LimeLight by Alcone Life.  Granted the post I am sharing is already a year old, but that doesn't minimize the great information that you can find here.

I am in love with LimeLight's skincare products.  
It was probably the second reason I joined the LimeLight by Alcone team, first being the awesome foundation, but that's another story.

I love that the skincare products are leaping bunny certified, 

and has ingredients that are good for your skin and not full of chemicals.

Interested in seeing more?
Jump on over to my LimeLight by Alcone site and look around.
Have any questions, feel free to give me a shout.

3 ways to fail

I share this because
1)  I have been seeing this happen way too often, especially of late.
2)  It almost seems to be the "norm" with the popular in our society, as if NOTHING could ever be their fault.
3)  It's time, past time, to take responsibility for our actions and realize that WE are the ones who need to GROW from OUR mistakes, OUR short-comings and be better for it.

What do you think?
Is this spot on?

How to live an Adventurous Life

I've seen this in a cute little shop that I just can't seem to get out of my head.














I guess it was something that was calling to me at just the right time.

Hopefully it will call to you as well.

Living an Adventurous Life

Does not Mean

Climbing Mountains

Swimming with Sharks

or even Jumping off Cliffs.

Living an Adventurous Life

Means Risking Yourself

by Leaving a Little 

Piece of YOU

Behind in all those

You meet along the way.

Lets spread all the good that is inside YOU

That way we can all live 
the life we want and need.

So that others can feel 
the Adventurous Life 
for themselves.

Its National What Day?

I guess I have been living under a rock.
SHHH you, I can see you rolling your eyes and mumbling.

I have NOT been so oblivious to what is going on to realize that EVERY day is a National "something" Day.

But early this morning I was watching the news and John Elliott @CBSNewYork mentioned a few things that were to be celebrated this day, and I was really just a little surprised at some of the day's "somethings" and how they may or may not be related.

For instance.
Today, according to NationalDayCalendar.com, is National Sea Monkey Day. Who knew that Sea Monkeys had their own day??  

And what the heck is a Sea Monkey anyway that they get their own special day?

John Elliott said you get a twofer if you pierce a sea monkey today, because today is also National Piercing Day ... I guess he wasn't thinking of all the other "somethings" for today because,

it is also National Love a Tree Day.
Is this what spurned the Tree Huggers or those Plant a Tree movements?

But my favorite "something" for today is 

National Mimosa Day.

When I looked, I was surprised to see how many different ways there is to making a Mimosa.  Here I thought it was just orange juice and Champagne.  Oh no my friends, there are many different combinations/flavors so long as there is a "base" of orange juice and champagne ... you can get creative with "additives" and flavored "splashes" to suit the day.

This of course got me thinking what the heck were other "something" days and were they related or unrelated things.

For instance, this past Sunday May 14th was Mother's Day.  But did you know it was also National Dance like a Chicken day?  So is this the day that the Chicken Dance came to be or was it the day that spawned the saying "Dance like no ones watching"?

My daughter's birthday is National Animal Cracker Day.  Too bad she was never a fan.  I guess I had her on the wrong day.  
But it is also National Columnist Day, I wonder if they are fans of Animal Crackers?

My son's birthday is National Re-Gifting Day and National Date Nut Bread Day.  He is probably a fan of a re-gifting day for all those things I have bought him that I "thought" he wanted but missed the mark.  
I'm not sure Date Nut Bread would go anywhere with him.  
But then since he moved South he does partake in things he would never touch when he lived up "North".

Now Hubby's birthday is full of tasty National Days.  He gets to celebrate National California Strawberry Day AND National French Bread Day. 
Now that just doesn't seem fair.

So now that I am on a roll ... my birthday has a few "interesting" items, like National Name Your Car Day or National Fried Scallops Day.  
Have you named your car?  
I know years ago my sister did. She named it after a character in Cats.  
I wonder if she still does?  I will have to ask her.

So tell me, what is the National "What" Day on your birthday?

The way they are

This could go over many people's heads.
It could cause a lot of folks to be "mad" at me and possibly unfriend me.
I know but it is a chance I need to take.

There is too much hate going around.
Too much fear mongering.
When all we see and say are that things are "bad" or "evil" or "wrong", perhaps those things are not whats' wrong....

Think about this one.

Yes there is evil around.
Yes there are bad things happening.
Yes there are those who wish to do us harm.
Yes there are those who are "different" .. 

But not everyone or every thing is bad or evil.  Just because something is different doesn't make it different in a bad way.

We need to stop looking at things with a BROAD scope and really start looking at things as they really are.  

Start looking at PEOPLE and THINGS they way they truly are .. not with that broad brush that hurts all of us.

Just 1 decision

I have heard people lament that IF they had done this or that things would be different.

There have been times I have said it myself.  
And yes, in some cases, it is true.

So we need to think about what we would change and what we would keep the same.

And then learn how to think through all the consequences when we have those decisions to make ... so we get the life we wanted.

And don't forget those unintended consequences ... those are usually the ones that get us.