Monday Mind Musings

* WHY is it Monday already?! I'd rather be in bed. As usual.

* Speaking of bed, I was in it for most of the day yesterday! The weather was yucky and rainy, and I had the day off! So I was content to spend the day napping, watching tv and reading, all from the comfort of my cozy bed. As a matter of fact, I stayed in bed until about 6:30pm when Sky suggested we get dress and venture out into the real world! I'd say it was a pretty successful Sunday!

* Only 1 1/2 days left in January 2012! Here we go with another whirlwind year as time slips by faster and faster (it seems that way to me anyway).

* I've totally been dropping the ball on my domestic responsibilities lately, and I want to do better! As soon as I'm done with work for the day I'm heading home to clean the house and start cooking dinner. I'm trying out a new recipe tonight; I'm hoping it turns out well!

* I'm 250ish pages into The Witching Hour by Anne Rice. I can't tell you how many times I've read this book, but it's been a favorite since the first time I picked it up. And reading it again reminds me why I love it! It is so, so, so good! Such good storytelling, so imaginative, very suspenseful and romantic, so addicting I have trouble putting it down to go to bed... Oh, how I love books!!!!

* Big, big, big changes are afoot. It seems I rarely have dull moments in life, and this is no exception. I'm looking forward to sharing the news of these huge changes, as soon as I figure them out and have a plan! Ain't life grand!

It's just another manic Monday

I wish it were Sunday

Cause that's my fun day

My I don't have to run day

It's just another manic Monday

- The Bangles

Friday Mind Musings

* I started a new journal this week! I'm guessing this is around journal #40 or so! I stopped journaling right after I lost the Blueberry last year, but I felt ready to start back up. It feels good to be writing for myself again:)

* The modeling job I booked back in November was supposed to happen on Thursday, but the ocean was a choppy and it was overcast and rainy so we had to postpone. Still looking forward to a day out on a boat as a bikini model!

* I'm so excited!!!! I'm no longer working 7 days a week! I actually have a whole day, Sunday, off! Working every single day was definitely starting to wear me down, so I'm very much looking forward to a day to do nothing every week!

* 1,000 government jobs have been cut in the USVI, the oil refinery on St Croix closed leaving 2,000 more people unemployed, and 2 popular restaurants on St John closed within the last week. For a territory that employs around 120,000 people, losing that many jobs seems troubling. I said it before and I'll say it again, the economy here is making me nervous! Sky figures we'll cross that bridge when it gets here, but I plan on having several back-up plans, just in case that bridge is nowhere to be found when we get to it.

* My new favorite Pandora station is Indie Kids. Don't ask me why! But really I'm loving the mix of music!

* I'm still ridiculously obsessed with Pinterest!!!!!!!!!!! I. CAN'T. STOP!

* I've heard that AT&T is raising their prices, again. I already pay an arm and a leg, AND the signal is on the shittier side of shitty here. So yeah, I'm thinking we may be ditching that company.

* I'm doing my best to become an impressive, world class DIYer (Do-it-yourself-er) buuuuuuuut, it's so hard to find the things I need on this little island! I'm in the middle of 4 or 5 DIY projects that I can't go any further on. Why? Because I can't find simple things like knitting needles, fabric, non-slip rug mats, buttons, canvas or about 10 other things necessary for my projects. I'm not going to lie, it's a bit discouraging. It'd probably be easier to just buy things new, but that would be completely against the point, right?!

* I'm finished with work for the day, and I feel TERRIBLE!!! So I'm going home to dive into bed and watch movies and stuff my face with ice cream and other goodies!

Happy Friday and Happy Weekend friends!!!!!

xoxo

Positive Affirmations

I am a big fan of saying daily positive affirmations! I definitely feel that they help manifest wonderful changes and it helps me stay positive and focused on my life goals! I have lists of them everywhere, and I make a habit of repeating them several times a day, every day! Here are a few of my favorites:

- Today is a beautiful day and will be full of happiness and love!

- All of my relationships are loving and harmonious!

- I am thankful for all the wonderful things in my life!

- I open my heart to allow wonderful things to come into my life!

- I am healthy, wealthy, happy and successful!

- I am prosperous!

- I am a loving, kind, generous person!

- I love and accept myself exactly as I am!

- I am healthy and full of energy!

- I send out love and it returns to me multiplied!

- I am grateful for everything I have received and will receive in life!

 "What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve." Napoleon Hill

Friday Favorites

These are my 5 favorite things this week:

1. Reruns of Bones

2. DIY projects (I'm in the middle of 3!)

3. Surfing

4. Our friends Roy & Jessica for gracious entertaining :)

5. YouTube (I've fallen back in love with it)

18 Rules for Living

Here are the 18 rules for living according to the Dalai Lama. I'm posting this in my home! So many great things to remember and try to live by...

DALAI LAMA’S 18 RULES FOR LIVING 

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

3. Follow the three Rs: Respect for self, Respect for others, Responsibility for all your actions.

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone every day.

9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy
it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the
past.

14. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.

15. Be gentle with the earth.

16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.

17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

 18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

Friday Favorites

Here's my list of 5 things that I'm in love with this week! My 5 Friday Favorites!

1. Pinterest

2. My zebra printed body pillow (a gift from Sky, it makes going to bed heaven!)

3. Warm-from-the-oven butter croissants from Starfish Market

4. Carly Simon station on Pandora

5. Whole Living Magazine (why have I never seen it before? Seriously in love!)

Pinterest Inspired Ideas

Yes, I'm gushing about Pinterest again! I cannot get enough of browsing and repinning and ooohing and aaahing over all of the genius ideas and pretty things and DIY projects! Pinterest is actually helping me along with one of my New Year's resolutions, which is to work on beautifying my surroundings! There are endless ideas and inspiration which is helping to kick start my creativity. Here are a few projects on my To Do list, with the help of Pinterest. I'll try to include the original link to each!

Here's a project for our home that I plan on doing with the help of Sky. I repinned a blog post titled "21 Ways of turning pallets into furniture". The coffee table in the photo below is a redesigned pallet! How smart and crafty, but also pretty! I'm excited about this one. Who doesn't love turning trash into treasure? 

21 Ways...

This is a photo I pinned from Shabby Chic. I am so in love with this room and the color scheme! I'm currently working on redecorating our bedroom in a similar way: soft shades of white, blues and tans. So pretty!

How cute is this DIY rug? I love it! And the best part: it's made out of old tees. Perfect way to clean out the closet and add some homemade charm to our little apartment! I'm going to make one for the bedroom in similar colors as above! Find the easy instructions here: Rags By Sock Monkey

This was an idea repinned from Martha Stewart. It's genius! Why have I never thought of this before? A super easy way to keep all of your linens organized and easily accessible. Basically you tuck the entire set into the pillow case after folding. Smart, easy, practical.

Another clever idea from Pinterest! It's a wine rack that can be used as a towel holder in the bathroom. I love the idea of not having to fold our towels! I couldn't find this exact rack, but I found a style I love from Pottery Barn.

Another brilliant idea. This woman found a home made recipe for Febreze that she estimates only costs her $0.15 per bottle to make! Go here to check out the recipe: Fake it Frugal As soon as my mega bottle of Febreze is finished ($12.99) I'm all over this one!

Wednesday Mind Musings

* I can't believe it is 2012!!! Can you?! I caught myself writing "2010" the yesterday. Not sure where that came from! Anyway, I'm very much looking forward to this year! I have a feeling LOTS of amazing things are ahead of me!

* Speaking of amazing things, Sky and I are GETTING MARRIED this year!!!!! I'm so happy and excited and nervous and in love and a plethora of other emotions! 244 days before we say "I do"!

* My birth control is the devil. It makes me nauseous every single day, it gives me headaches, tummy issues and my boobs hurt if you even LOOK at them. I was told to give it 3 months to even out and for my body to get used to it. I don't know if I can last 3 months with side effects this awful.

* I'm obsessed with Pinterest. If you aren't on it, I encourage everyone to at least check it out! I'm in love! I now have endless ideas for crafts, room decor, recipes, clever ideas, genius tips and DIY projects to last me a lifetime. I'm telling all my friends here about it!

* My music vibe lately has been easy, breezy 70s: Carly Simon, Seals & Croft, Chicago, Player, Paul Davis, Carole King, James Taylor and the like. I can't get enough!

* I got a Brazilian wax today for the first time this year, and WOWZA did it hurt! But I love the look of it! I started getting Brazilians done last year to stop the vicious cycle of shaving and razor bumps since it's bikini weather year round. Supposedly the longer you wax, the softer and finer your hair is, the easier it is to remove. I haven't noticed the waxing sessions going any easier yet, but I'm still hopeful. Painful, but totally worth it!

* Season is in full swing here! The island is packed, both of my jobs have been crazy busy, traffic has been nuts (nothing compared to state-side traffic mind you) and the grocery store lines are always out the door now! Our little island is very active these days!

Happy Hump Day! Hope it's a good one for everyone:)

Inspiration

~ Inspiration for you and for me and for anyone who needs it. ~

Happy 2012!

Happy Happy New Year friends!

Last year was very much an adventure for me, but then again when isn't life an adventure?! I had many up and downs, learned lots of lessons, gained and lost friends, tried some things for the first time, had a plethora of new experiences both good and bad; I laughed, cried, loved and lived and I am utterly grateful for every single moment! I can't believe another year has come and gone but I'm very much looking forward to all the surprises and gifts that 2012 holds for me! Here's to a beautiful year ahead!

This bright new year is given me

To live each day with zest

To daily grow and try to be

My highest and my best!

-William Arthur Ward