Pondered Primed Perfected: inspiration

Showing posts with label inspiration. Show all posts

2/20/13

My Exciting News and a Thank You...

Hey! How are you today?

I have something exciting to share with you!

Have you heard of Beckie Farrant? She blogs over at Infarrantly Creative....oh and Roadkill Rescue...and did I mention Knockoff Decor?! Yeah, you read that right. Beckie is the brains and creative brawn behind all three of these amazing blogs!

Beckie is a crafty gal who shares and inspires people by the thousands to pick up a paint brush, a hammer, or a staple gun and create something awesome.

She has definitely inspired me.

I'm sure Beckie is pretty darn busy managing three super successful blogs, and yet she still takes time to share her experience and know how with so many others through informational podcasts, Google+ hangouts, and presenting at blogging events. I haven't met Beckie in person yet, but I hope to one day. She seems really cool and down to earth. And I would love the chance to tell her thanks in person for featuring some of my projects on her blogs.

So, if you get a chance go check out my latest project being shared by Beckie at Knockoff Decor today:

Then you'll want to check out Roadkill Rescue, where she features amazing trash-to-treasure makeovers done by bloggers from all over. I've got a few items in her archives here too. ;)

And when you are done checking out all those knockoffs and makeovers, stop by and peruse Infarrantly Creative for even more creative inspiration and blogging tips.

Thanks again Beckie. You've made my day!

Sherry

2/13/13

Are You Serious ~ Why is the scale in front of the fridge?

Recently I joined with a couple of ladies at the gym to form a workout team. We'll call it group accountability. We're doing a lot of strength training that I wasn't accomplishing on my own. A little bit of P90X type stuff thrown in. For all of you DIY fans out there we will call it DIY for the body.

Each week I am seeing noticeable improvements in my strength and abilities. It's pretty awesome actually. And bonus, I get out of the house. There is another added benefit of adult conversation involved.

But last week I couldn't make the Friday workout and I sort of implied I would do the exercises on my own at home over the weekend. And I meant to...but I got kinda busy. Yep. Friday night I had a friend over to play cards and sit in the hot tub. Fun times, right!? Then Saturday and Sunday our son had a basketball tournament out of town and my sister came and stayed the night. Of course we went for Mexican food and Margaritas with Sis. It's our tradition.

Pretty soon it was late Sunday night and I was exhausted from a busy weekend and honestly that workout never crossed my mind again.

Until one of my workout buddies asked last night if I'd gotten my back and legs workout in? Insert very stern look here.

Ummmm, nope.

And at first I laughed it off. I mean, it's just one workout, right? Just one. Nobody's dying here.

But then I reminded myself that the reason I'd gotten so out of shape to begin with wasn't because I skipped one workout. And it wasn't because I didn't have someone else checking up on me to make sure I stuck with it. It wasn't even because I don't have the knowledge I need to eat right and stay fit. It's pretty simple really.

It's because there is ALWAYS an excuse. Always. And if I don't hold myself accountable, then I start offering more and more excuses of why I can't fit it in. And that goes for eating right too. I will always have stresses, or celebrations, or boredom to drive me to the fridge looking for that treat...

And as long as I am willing to accept those flimsy excuses instead of standing strong for what I really want...I'm not going to see a big change in my body.

So as a bit of a message to myself and my out-of-shape willpower, I moved the scale downstairs in front of the fridge. And I put a little message to myself on the door for when I'm standing there telling myself that it's just a little snack. Too bad I didn't have an extra full length mirror to E6000 to the front of the fridge! That might make me stop and think twice about having ice cream at 10 p.m. Ha!

Either that or I'd trip on the scale, fall and break something....

So, after I took some quick pictures of this setup, I sat down at the computer to edit them. As I was editing the photos My Honey came home from the grocery store and went directly into the kitchen to put something in the fridge. The next thing I heard was,

"Hey Honey, is this a hint?"

Lol

***P.S. Please note that this is meant to be humorous. I am fully and completely aware that eating a healthy, low calorie diet and exercising is the best way to maintain a healthy body. My intentions are never to shame myself or make out that I'm not worthy if I'm not my perfect self. I don't think fad diets or miracle pills are necessary. Adopting a healthy lifestyle is key. But if you know of a pill that will work miracles...haha...hey, just saying! ;)

****P.P.S. Amy and Shilo, you rock! Thanks for letting me join in the workouts ladies!

*****P.P.P.S. I first saw a scale in front of a fridge at my neighbors, Michelle. Can't claim it as an original idea. :)

Sharing some humor with:

http://www.stonegableblog.com
http://www.houseofhepworths.com/

12/2/12

Multi Time Zone Clock & Wall Art on Inspiration Cafe

I'm posting at Inspiration Cafe today. Come by Inspiration Cafe and check out the wall art that I've created in honor of my friends across the country and across oceans.

Click on photo to go to Inspiration Cafe!

Anais Nin put it best when she said, "Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.”

As I ponder the friends that I've been blessed with, I marvel at how fate somehow brings us together with the most unlikely of people, who turn out to be irreplaceable friends.

Meet me at The Cafe :)

Sherry ~ Contributor @ Inspiration Cafe

Author @ Pondered Primed Perfected

10/1/12

Happiness Agenda ~ Where do you rank?

Pondered Primed Perfected is embarking on a journey. It's been titled The Happiness Agenda.

This journey will examine what factors may help each of us as individuals flourish and feel content.

(I'm not a Psychologist, Doctor, Scientist, or Scholar. I'm just curious, aren't you?)

Wanna see what I've been up to?

I have been taking some interesting Happiness Tests at *Positive Psychology's website **Authentic Happiness

Go register and take the tests that interest you! Just click the Authentic Happiness link above to get started.

I would love for you to share your results or ideas in the comments section at the bottom of this post if you feel comfortable doing so.

And some recent images from my life....

A friend once told me that I could post about anything, even if it was just about my grass growing, and she would be happy. Well, I don't think she meant it literally, but it certainly made me feel good to hear it!

*Have positive people in your life, they certainly up the "happiness factor".

Our dog, Sadie, has enriched our lives in more ways than we can count. She's sunbathing here. She looks so sweet and innocent. You'd never guess she dumped me on my face recently at football practice, would you!? It definitely brought a laugh! OMG, I love her.

*Having a pet can enrich daily life and diminish feelings of loneliness.

Watching my children go all out and succeed at something is definitely one of my biggest happiness triggers, and it's just as rewarding for them to work hard at something and succeed.

*Do something you're good at and enjoy; that is a reliable happiness inducer.

Our son being congratulated *briskly* by his teammates for running a touchdown!

*Be part of something that serves a purpose higher than your individual needs and desires. Kind of like team sports...do it for the team! If you aren't athletic you could volunteer for a cause that you find important.
So many ways to go here, if you think about it.

I'm using these mini pumpkins as fall decor. Their color alone brings a smile to my face, they are adorable. Eventually the little kids will decorate them and take them home with a smile on their faces! (The pumpkins AND the kids! lol)

*Surround yourself with things that make you happy.

I like to bring some Nature inside for decorating. Isn't this fall foliage pretty in my little green creamer?

*Enjoy Nature. It's free! And it comes loaded with fresh air, inspiring colors and natural wonders.

Two things: A sweet gesture from a friend, and a sweet magazine to get lost in.

*Appreciate the "little things" in life.

Vitamin C...I changed the chalkboard tag on this canister when I added our Immunity C for cold and flu season. These little chalkboard tags I made make me smile. :)

*Take care of yourself.

I may feel some trepidation that Summer has ended but that won't stop me from appreciating the magic that is Autumn. Nature is amazing! This is the tree in my yard!

*Enjoy the now. Appreciate the moment.

*Nature is AMAZING!

Spend time appreciating the wonders of nature...with people that make you feel happy.

*Positive Psychology is a branch of psychology which focuses on the empirical study of such things as positive emotions, strengths-based character, and healthy institutions.

**Authentic Happiness is the homepage of Dr. Martin Seligman, Director of the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania and founder of positive psychology

Sharing Here:

http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/

http://homestoriesatoz.com/

8/8/12

Catching a Wave of Change

My boy looking out toward the sea and surf just over that grassy knoll.

Contemplating...

I was looking for a quote...something that would inspire me to see things with a fresh perspective and with a heart filled with hope and possibility. I am working on a fresh perspective. I found the quote below by C.Joybell C ~ it is definitely speaking to me.

My life has been surrounded by uncertainty lately. And I know I'm not the only one going through difficulty and change. Our nation as a whole seems to be going through an identity crisis. And I realize I am so blessed in my life ~ to have what I do have. A loving family, true friends, a job, a home. I'm very thankful for these blessings and so I try not to dwell on my own uncertainties. What I have come to realize is that if there is something in my life that needs changing...I should take steps to change it. That's scary for me. I've been avoiding making big changes for fear of how it will affect my family. I don't know what the right decisions are now. I may make mistakes and have to start over. What I do know is that the waves of change are defintely coming. I've been a bystander for too long. I need to affect a change. It's time. I can see the waves coming and this time I'm thinking I will jump in and ride them. That seems like a better option than sitting back on the beach and just watching and waiting. If this seems vague it's because I still don't know what direction I will be going...I may not know until I get there!

Here are a few photos from our weekend in Westport, WA with family:

I love this! This wave is painted on a surf shop in Westport.

Surfboarding anyone?

How about some biking? I was drawn to these rusty old bikes with weeds growing up amongst them. They are just beautiful to me.

This one was parked at the Tinderbox Coffee shop. Not sure if someone actually rode it there or if it was just a prop. Either way it was adorable.

Another wonderful vignette at the Tinderbox. This coffee house really has an amazing beach ambience. I could definitely hang out here regularly.

My boy played around on a skim board for the first time. He quickly picked up the intricacies of skimboarding. There are some tricks to doing it well! ;)

We went out on a charter boat trying to catch our limit of King Salmon. Christopher caught one (the guy in the hoodie in the back) but all Alex caught was some seasickness. Poor guy. I'm so proud of him. He didn't once complain about being sick the whole time and he continued to fish AND smile in between! He's such a wonderful young man.

Vanessa at least caught a dogfish ~ which actually looks like a little shark.