past & present

I often find myself relating my present to the past. Especially on this amazing journey that I am on to find what really makes my heart flutter, what I cant live without, and why its THESE things that I hold dear to my heart.

Just a voice and some strings.

My dad and step mom use to play just the good old fashioned-guitar. They would have books of songs that they would sometimes allow us to make our requests. Mine, that I can remember were usually "You are my Sunshine", "This Little Light of Mine", "We Didn't Start the Fire", and "American Pie".



That's just a taste of some things I love. They'll be more to come. Trust me.

AJ

i sure didn't take this language class in school

Have you heard of the 5 Love Languages? Its this genius concept by Dr. Gary Chapman who wrote the book "The 5 Love Languages". I was blessed enough to find this as an audio book and find it very interesting.

Here is what Dr. Chapman says are "THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES"

• Words of Affirmation-Is just how it sounds. Complements make you satisfied.




• Quality Time- Sitting in front of the TV while talking IS NOT under this category. You want to hear " I love you", you want undivided quality time with your partner.




• Receiving Gifts-This person appreciates receiving gifts. Its not just material things, it's everyday gestures that make this language thrive and satisfied. A love letter would be just fine.

• Acts of Service- The author says that "anything to ease the burden of responsibilities" is under this category. Don't break a commitment with someone who holds this quality!




• Physical Touch- Hugs, pats on the back, kissing, and holding hands all fall under "Physical Touch".

Interesting right? Dr. Chapman says that most people aren't just 1 of these categories. Most people are a few of them. I would say that I am

Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, and Physical Touch.

What would you say your love languages are?

For more info on The Five Love Languages, head over to http://www.5lovelanguages.com/learn-the-languages/the-five-love-languages/ for details!

finding answers.

It's interesting to me, how things happen in similarities. I find it so fascinating, and it kind of makes my heart stop when it happens. It's that moment where you are looking for an answer or you just want someone to tell you what you've needed to hear. Maybe it comes in the form of lyrics to a song, maybe it is words printed onto a page of a book, OR JUST maybe it is those last words spoken on a TV show that you could barely keep your eyes open for..... but that line woke you right up as if it were screamed in your ears. That my friends, is what happened.

2011 is definitely a transition year (OK, hopefully not the whole year, maybe just the first few months!?). I have been asking myself questions as if I need to know the answer now. I have been trying to find who I am and where I want my life to go. Then, on a sleepy Monday evening I hear this......

"maybe the past is like an anchor holding us back. maybe, you have to let go of who you were to become who you will be.”
Carrie Bradshaw
{Sex and the City- Anchors Away 2002}

Thank you New York's "most coveted fashionista". Thank you for an answer.

AJ

better your relationship

I often find myself cruising over to John Tesh's radio show website for his series of "Intellegence For Your Life". He covers everything from "Where germs come from", to "How volunteering makes you live longer". They have great stories over there and I'd like to share one. I am always working on bettering my relationship with my fiance'. The last thing I want, is for us to just stay at a certain level in our relationship. Just the way I feel about the way I live my life. Why not keep learning more about eachother, more about what makes a succesful marriage, and what other couples do to stay happy.

The Secrets of Happy Couples

"Most couples focus on avoiding conflict, but happy couples know to maximize the positive – even if it means a little teasing every now and then. Want to be one of those couples? Here’s how, courtesy of Psychology Today magazine.



•Poke fun at each other. Dacher Keltner is a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. He says that playfulness is one of the first casualties of a busy life. When your days consist of nothing but working, paying bills, cleaning and sleeping, play can disappear from your relationship. You have to keep it alive, by joking around and even using silly nicknames. You may think a serious talk is the best way to handle a serious situation, but Keltner says that couples who tease each other in the heat of a conflict actually feel more connected when things are resolved.

•Notice what’s new about your partner. Ellen Langer is a psychologist at Harvard University. She says that most of us get so familiar with our partners that we stop noticing them. Just because you’ve stopped looking doesn’t mean they’ve stopped changing. So, make it a point to detect differences, and each time you do this, look for three things about your partner that have changed since the last time you looked. Langer calls this “mindful awareness.” She points to one study which found that when non-football fans watched a game while writing down things they noticed about the players and the stadium, they became more enthusiastic about the sport.

•Put it in writing. A study from the University of Texas found that when couples wrote about their relationship for 20 minutes a day, three days a week, they were more likely to be going strong three years later. They also sent more positive instant messages. So, the next time you think fondly about your partner, write it down. Even better - share what you wrote with them."

Off I go, to write my fiance' a love letter.

Head over to http://www.tesh.com/ for more stories and studies that will make you a better person.

To: Me. By: Me

As you will learn about me during this blog-excursion, (and maybe even learn about yourself) I am inspired by so many things around me. I tend to analyze my inspirations. It's not very often that I find the inspiration that the source was meant to have. I find it in my own, and tailor it to MY life and how I WANT to be inspired.

Now I introduce to you this song. I blast it in my car or on my iPod when I need a boost. I use it as a song I would sing to myself. Nobody is singing it to me, no one is dedicating it me, it's perfectly {To: me, By: me}. *Just the video itself is heaven as well!

every move you make. every step you take.

With an (almost) perfected skill of not making time to take care of myself and my responsibilities I have learned to fit random acts into my day. The rush of the world and my passion to make the best person I can be out of myself, makes it difficult to work out these days. I use to enjoy the gym (and when I DO go, I still enjoy it). But to take the time out of having an evening in with my fiance' or doing laundry, cleaning the house, or just relaxing; to go to the gym seems like such a burden. Anyone else feel this?

I have learned to squeeze some exercises in while, say...... blow drying my hair or driving to work.

Here are a couple little work outs to mix into the madness of your day!

{double shot of stairs} This is so simple and I hear other people do it too! (It's not just me looking kinda silly). Here's how it goes. Instead of stepping onto each stair, step onto every other! Done. Do this on every set of stairs you walk up. When I'm at home cleaning house, this exercises gets a lot of practice.

{a side of hair drying}As I blow dry my hair every (other) morning or flat iron it, I will do side-bends. Also holding in your hips and just going side to side with your upper body helps tone in your midsection and abs! I'll do about 20 bends on each side. Sometimes I'll throw in some squats if I'm really feeling motivated! :)


{shower squats} Sounds weird, I know. As I'm washing my hair in the shower I do my squats. Might as well make the most of your only alone time during the day.

{all about the bend} Every chance I get, every move that I can, I try to do it as a dancer would. I probably look stupid, so I do it when I am alone. BUT I LOVE THIS! When I bend to pick something up I extend one leg up and out. If I am reaching over to get something I reach from my waist. I always try to inhale and exhale my movements especially when it comes to my back.

{driving the stretch} In the car I keep it pretty simple. This is almost more of my Yoga time. I work on my breathing, my wrist stretches, neck stretches and shoulder stretches. Breathing will help you relax in the commute as well as opening up your lungs and get your blood flowing for a healthy start to the day. It's funny, I notice that breathing is really the last thing a lot of people overlook when it comes to working out and taking care of yourself. It releases stress and loosens up your muscles. Drive time is an easy place to concentrate on this practice. (Tip: turn of the radio to really focus)

Is there something that YOU do, that makes you feel content when you don't have time for your fitness routine?

risky business.

It's 2011. A new decade. Let's take some risks.

With a new career move in the works, a new season on its way, and well... longer hair :) what better time to jump outside of the box, and explore new opportunities!? So with Spring just around the corner Im ready to amp up my lip color! (I know, Im one crazy risk taker.)

How amazing is a hot pink lip? It's a 'POP' of pop culture with a garnish of playfulness. It's Barbie's pink corvette and Betsy Johnson's entire colllection. L.O.V.E, that's all.

Orange. Aww, my current obsession on lips and cheeks. It screams "Spring!" and looks fabulous on a variety of skin tones. Don't want to buy a new blush to complement? Dab a bit of any coral/orange lipstick on the back of your hand and use your fingertips or creme brush to apply to the apples of your cheeks as a creme blush. Look at you, Georgia Peach!

Mmm, a red lip. It's timeless, feminine, and sassy. One suggestion for this look, take your skin tone into consideration. Do you choose a warm undertone (orange) , or a cool undertone(blue)? This makes all the difference.

Hmmm, what shall be on tomorrow's LIP MENU?

Graze over some great tips and suggestions with these colors at Harpers Bazaar online.
http://www.harpersbazaar/.com/beauty/makeup-articles/spring-beauty-looks-0211#fbIndex1

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