Discover Your Bliss

Bubbles, Bubbles Everywhere

While visiting the San Diego Wild Animal Park, I caught the tail end of something called - The Bubble Show. 

The bubbles are amazing and it's downright challenging not to smile when in the presence of bubbles.

The bubble begins...

And it gets bigger...

Almost there!

There's something magical about bubbles. 

How can bubbles change your mood?  What's your "bubble" fool-proof smile-creator? 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries!

Back To School Savings

Here's a great bargain secret that I have to share. 

Pay attention to the mega-sale seasons and you can save big bucks.

What's the mega-sale season?  It's a specific time of year that centers around an event or holiday which prompts stores to have mega-sales.

Not going back to school?  No problem. 

I've found that this is the best time of the year to buy tissues (Kleenex, Puffs, etc.).  They're usually bundled in a three or four pack and priced at bargain basement prices (kids usually have this kind of stuff on their supply list). 

I recently purchased a four pack of Puffs for $3 at Target.  This pack is usually priced at $4.40 and higher.  I also purchase a four pack of Kleenex for the same price. 

Many of the office supply stores have crazy sales like 5 cent folders or weekly free items (you just have to send in a rebate form). 

Pencils, pens, paper, rulers, staples, folders - you name it - can all be found at bargain basement prices. 

The best time to purchase economy packs of white tissue paper is at Christmas time.  If you wait until after Christmas, the packs usually go for half price.  Instead of paying a few dollars for five pieces of tissue, I usually pay 50 cents for a package of 500 sheets. 

How does looking at something from a different perspective support you?  What would it look like to search for opportunities in unfamiliar surroundings?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries!

Tuesday Quote to Ponder

"It is better to begin in the evening than not at all." --actress Ashley Judd, quoting an English proverb that has helped her fight her depression

Where Do Your Clothes Come From?

Anyone can look at the label in a shirt and see that it was "Made in China" or "Assembled in Canada," yet do you ever think about the process behind the location?

Recently, I discovered a brand of clothing - GreenSource.  Their slogan is - Care What You Wear. 

Each garment is made from organically grown cotton (or any number of environmentally-friendly materials)and comes with a tracking code.  The tracking code links you to the garment's history from field to finished product.

Go to their web site - Green Source Organic - and enter the tracking number on the garment's label.

Just for kicks, you can enter one of my tracking numbers - S6045-K28 or S6044-K25

You'll see the item purchased, the cotton field, the spinning mill, the factory and information on development. 

True, this could all be made up yet I believe it's a wonderful idea and a step in the green direction.  What an amazing gift it is to be connected to every step of the production process of an item.

How can connection to a process support you?  How does connecting to a process shift your perspective?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries!   

Abundance or Lack? It's all about Perspective

I've never been one to wear make up or let alone know how to do it.  It's been an on-going process for me to explore that world and ease into it slowly.

The most important items I put on my face are lotion (with an SPF), sunscreen (when I go out) and lip Medex (in a little pot like Carmex except the pot is blue and I like it better). 

When I go to meetings or out for something important, I add a few make-up-like items to my face. 

It all started with a tinted moisturizer -not base.  The moisturizer allows my natural skin color to show through without making me look like a blank canvas (my cheeks are naturally a bit red, so it looks odd when that goes away).

My tinted moisturizer usually lasts me a year.  When I can no longer squeeze the moisterizer from its container, then I know it's time to buy a new one.  This year I did something a bit different.

Instead of throwing away what I thought to be an empty container, I cut it open.  I was shocked to see how much product remained in the tube. 

I quickly put the tube in a Ziploc baggie and continued to use the product. 

I cut open the tube in May. 

I flew to Colorado in early June and took the tinted moisturizer with me in its Ziploc.  After Colorado, the Ziploc (containing the cut open tube) I traveled to Oklahoma in mid-June.

Even though inside of the Ziploc became coated with the product, I continued to use the moisturizer. 

One more flight back to Los Angeles in mid-July put another stamp in the Ziploc's passport. 

Last Monday, the Ziploc (with only half of the tube left) found its way to the trash can.  By cutting open the tube of moisturizer, I extended its life by two months.

Now comes the important question - Is this from a place of lack or abundance? 

If it had been from a place of lack, I would have cut open the tube because I thought I didn't "deserve" or "earn" a new tube and wouldn't spring for a new one. 

I cut open the tube from a place of abundance - just curious to find out if there was anything left in the tube.  Once I saw how much moisturizer was left, the whole process became a game for me to see how long I could make the open tube last. 

Almost everything can be from a place of lack or abundance - it all boils down to perspective.

How can you see the lack and perspective in your daily life?  What's something that you see from a place of lack and how can you spin it to a place of abundance?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries! 

 

Rocks Can Be Beautiful pt. 1

While traveling through the town of Appleton on our way to Lucerne Valley, California, we came across an amazing rock formation.  It was amazing to explore and the sky added to the drama of the rocks. 

I hope you enjoy the view as much as I did.  Have a fantastic day and remember that you never know where you're going to see beauty. 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries!

Protective Moms: Killdeer

If you've seen any of my posts about the Killdeer hatching, you might have wondered if the mom or dad had a heart attach with me getting so close to their vulnerable babies. 

Yes, the Killdeer didn't like me getting close (I told them I just wanted to take a picture and did not want to harm their children - yet I don't speak Killdeer). 

Something I love about Killdeer - the mom and dad share all duties - so all of the responsibilities of raising the babies doesn't fall on one bird's shoulders. 

The mom usually stays closer to the nest, while the dad keeps watch from afar and warns of any potential danger. 

Any time I would approach the nest, the mom did this "my wing is broken and I need you to follow me so you don't hurt my babies" dance. 

Here's what it looks like to have a Killdeer mom do anything she can to distract a predator to the nest. 

 

What's the difference between the Killdeer as a "protective mom" and you as a "protective mom" (even if you aren't a mom or female)?  What would it look like to exhibit a beauty in your every step?

I'd love to hear your comments and thoughts!

Find the Money in the Wait

After I attended a concert, there was this mad dash to exit (with little room to do so).  As a result, the parking lot was jammed and there was little to no forward movement for almost an hour.

Instead of sitting in the car (I was the passenger), I decided to stand outside of the driver's door and enjoy the wonderful night. 

In the few moments that the car got to inch forward and one or two bursts of moving several feet at a time, I either walked along side the car or acted as if I was racing the car (and winning, of course).

I didn't care what others were thinking of me or how I looked - What I cared about was being in the moment instead of "waiting." 

In one of the few feet moving moments, I looked down and saw a dollar bill.  I immediately picked it up and said, "I am a money magnet."  I looked at Jon and said, "We are money magnets!"

It was as if the universe said - Okay here's your reward for being in the moment.  Now I'm not saying that the universe is going to pay you for being in the moment.  What I am saying is - I recognize the rewards of the present moment and can attach the "gifts" that I reap as a result. 

If I had decided to sit in the car and "wait," I wouldn't have found the dollar.  I wouldn't have had the fun.  I wouldn't have enjoyed the time in the parking lot (well, not as much I suspect). 

What the difference between the present moment and "the wait" for you?  How does it feel to "wait" verses being in the present moment?  How does it shift your energy?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries! 

Tuesday Quote to Ponder

"Gratitude, like faith, is a muscle.  The more you use it, the stronger it grows."  --Alan Cohen, inspirational lecturer

Free Public Fruit for the Picking

Ever wonder if that limb with ripe fruit hanging over your neighbor's fence is fair game?  Enter Fallen Fruit.

Here's the concept behind Fallenfruit.org -
"Public Fruit" is the concept behind the Fallen Fruit, an activist art project which started as a mapping of all the public fruit in our neighborhood. We ask all of you to contribute your maps so they expand to cover the United States and then the world. We encourage everyone to harvest, plant and sample public fruit, which is what we call all fruit on or overhanging public spaces such as sidewalks, streets or parking lots.

We believe fruit is a resource that should be commonly shared, like shells from the beach or mushrooms from the forest. Fallen Fruit has moved from mapping to planning fruit parks in under-utilized areas. Our goal is to get people thinking about the life and vitality of our neighborhoods and to consider how we can change the dynamic of our cities and common values.

Yes, it may be a bit adventurous, yet it's a fun project that can benefit many. 

Although there may not be a map of your area, you can learn a lot from exploring the site and its links.

Here's a video of a Fallen Fruit outing:

What ideas do you get from Fallen Fruit?  How does this concept apply to your life?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries!