Where have I been?

That is a very good question... where have I been? I've been out and about, I'm not standing still, that's for sure! A couple of weekends ago, Rich and I took a ride on the Harley, we went to Blue Springs to say Hello to the Manatees. What a beautiful afternoon. We stopped at the 7-Eleven for drinks and snacks to take with us for an impromptu picnic. Love days like this.

On Wednesday we celebrated St. Patrick's Day at our local Irish Pub, Scruffy Murphy's. We live in walking distance to the pub, so it is very convenient. They had a tent outside with an Irish band and dancers. When we had our fill of Irish beer, we walked next door to Paxia for some Mexican food, it was an international evening. Our good friends joined us along with our daughter, fun fun night.


Last Saturday, I had the best day with Hippie Chick (our daughter). We started the day with breakfast at our local College Park Diner with the guys, Road King, his father, brother and nephew. We were two giggling girls, I think the guys were still asleep. Then Hippie Chick and I went to the Tattoo place to get my nose pierced! Yep, I did it! I love it! It hurt, hurt, hurt and I did bleed a lot, sorry to be so graphic, but I did! It is still a little sore, but I do love it. Next we went to Cache and found the perfect prom dress for Hippie Chick, absolutely gorgeous on her. Then off we went to my mother-in-laws house for a Pampered Chef Party. Lots of laughs spending the day together.


Sunday it was a rainy day, Road King and I had planned to go to the Art Festival, but the weather didn't hold out. So we ended up going to lunch and then shopping for Road King. Can't remember the last time we went specifically to shop for Mr. Road King. He bought new sexy jeans, plus a pair he picked out. (Ha Ha j/k... love you honey) Bought a few shirts and a hot pair of boots. I ended up getting a hot pair of boots too, can't wait to wear them. Road King talked me into it, I swear.

During the week, I'm working... I have really been missing my photography and writting. I am so behind on my photo a day project it has become a photo a week project and slipping into a photo a month quickly. I still have hope I will catch up. This last Monday, I did go to djembe drumming lessons, that was a blast and I can't wait to get my own drum, should be ready next Monday or so. Yeah! I'll be sure to post plenty of pictures of my new drum.
I'll go for now, still lots more going on, I will catch you all up soon.
I've missed you guys!

Love & Peace,
Kim

Playing For Change | Peace Through Music

Playing For Change | Peace Through Music

Posted using ShareThis

Music can evoke so much emotion, it can bring back memories, it can make us feel happy, joyful, playful, energized and even sad at times. It can connect us… bring people together. Music is powerful. I found this movement called “Playing for Change.” Watching the videos and listening to the music makes me smile, such amazing energy! I love it when our world becomes smaller. Spread the word…

Playing For Change | Peace Through Music

Posted using ShareThis

Set a Goal, Train, Focus and Achieve

There is more inside you than you dare think. - David Brower
Those who have accomplished great things have had a great aim, have fixed their gaze on a goal which was high, one which sometimes seemed impossible - Orison Swett Marden
Saturday morning our daughter participated in the largest 15K in the country, The Gate River Run. Friday night we headed north to Jacksonville, Fl to stay the night so we could be up nice and early for the race. On the way, we stopped at Carrabba's Italian Grill for a wonderful relaxing dinner. We made it to Jacksonville about midnight and had a few good hours of sleep before getting up at 5:00 AM to head to the race. The race started and finished around the Jacksonville Jaguar Football Stadium. It was a beautiful morning, it started off a little chilly but warmed up nicely, gorgeous day! The enthusiasm of the runners was admirable and watching every ones pre-run rituals was an experience. The race draws over 20K participants and 100K spectators.

This was our daughter's first 15K and she was super excited! She has been training for this for awhile and could not wait to start running. My cousin, his son and fiancee and a two of his friends also participated in the race.
Road King and I took pics and cheered the runners on!

Our amazing daughter completed the race in 1:37:13 seconds, this was her official chip time. She ran 10:28 minute miles! WOW! She is my hero! When we saw her at the finish line, she had a smile from ear to ear. She loved every minute of it. In fact, she said "This was the best experience of my life." ... and so began discussions on running a half marathon next!
Her father and I could not be more proud of her. She set a goal, she trained, she was focused and she did it! Congratulations!! You are AWESOME! We love you.

"We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort."
--Jesse Owens



Love & Peace,
Kim

8 Things...I love about Drum Circles

8 Things was started by Magpie Girl as a way to balance her passion and creative days with those that are not. It is a way to keep quotes, ideas, thoughts and quandaries collected for further exploration.

Here are my 8 Things I love about Drum Circles:

1. The people, so open and friendly, everyone is welcome

2. The positive energy and the feeling of joy

3. The music, the instruments, feeling the rhythm

4. The relaxed, fun atmosphere and being with friends

5. Djembes and Tibetan Crystal Bowls

6. You don't have to be a professional musician to participate

7. Learning to play new percussion instruments

8. Fire twirler and belly dancer

If you have never been to one, I highly recommend it. Good for the soul. When I leave the drum circle I feel so joyful and energized.



Love & Peace,

Kim

When you give yourself away

Today I got an email from an inspiring friend that totally made my night. He shared with me the lyrics to Gary Allan's song "When you give yourself away." He said the lyrics made him think about how many different ways we "give" pieces of ourselves to others. I loved that he said in his note that I was "one of the few people that would get it, sharing your energy and spirit with the world." This just made me smile from ear to ear. Not because he paid me an amazing complement, who wouldn't want to hear that they are sharing their energy and spirit with the world, I mean that is an amazing thing to hear! What really got me... is that HE GETS ME! & and I love him for that! He knows me, sometimes I feel that there are people in my life that don't really get me. He knew that I would get the lyrics to this song and he knew that I would love his SMILING exercise that he did today, giving a little piece of himself to others. My beautiful friend consciously made a decision today to see how many people he could make smile by simply smiling first, not a single word was spoken. He lost count at 30! 30+ random people he walked by, made eye contact with and smiled and got a smile right back! As my friend so perfectly put in his email... "What a beautiful day!"

Get out there and SMILE, make some one's day and your day beautiful!

Thank you my friend for being such an inspiration. xoxo

Filled with Gratitude

Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving. -Kahlil Gibran

As I began reflecting on the activities of last week, especially the weekend, I think about the fun things we did, but mostly I think about all the wonderful people in our lives. Some new, some renewed and some we've known forever. I am so thankful for the warmth, the smiles, the laughter, the kindness, the generiosity, and the love that our amazing friends show us each and everyday. The positive energy has been in abundance
and I'm filled with gratitude.
Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Others stay awhile, make footprints on our hearts
and we are never, ever the same.I recently saw this quote on a friend's blog, I love it!
Thank you ALL for surrounding us with your love.
P.S. this is a sampling of wonderful people that have blessed us in so many ways, there are many more not pictured.
I might have to do a part II.
I am filled with gratitude for the abundance in our lives.
















Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose.-Tennessee Williams

Love & Peace,
Kim

Yes a 12:01 AM movie, on a Thursday!

First, an update about going to a 12:01 AM movie.. I did it, I stayed awake and I was even able to get up in the morning and at work on time, but by the afternoon, I REALLY wanted to take a nap! I never did, really couldn't during a work day, but I really wanted to. I pushed through and got my second wind about 7:30 PM Friday night.

About the movie, visually, it was wonderful! Sadly I'm not sure about Depp's character, the Mad Hatter? I Did not fall in love with him like I thought I would. I enjoyed the movie overall... and I didn't fall asleep, all good things. I may have to see again to see if I missed anything.

Friday night, I went to a 40th birthday dinner at Bahama Breeze with a group of women I worked with at AT&T over 7 years ago, we still make it a point to get together every few months. Last night we celebrated a 40th birthday! Such a wonderful and fun group of women.



Have a wonderful day!

Love & Peace,
Kim

Feel Like A Kid Again

Picture credit: Fandango.com
Tonight Mr. Road King, my hippy girl, a good friend and I are going to see Alice in Wonderland 3D at 12:01 AM! Midnight movies were popular when I was a teenager but I was never allowed to go. Then when I got a little older I just didn't go. Mind you, I had my son by the age of 21, midnight movies and babies don't mix. So yes, I feel like a kid again, going to a midnight movie on a "school" night no less! Can't wait to get some "dank" candy, have some popcorn and stay up late with my peeps. (the word "Dank" was introduced into our vocabulary by hippy girl and is often used by Mr. Road King) According to the Urban Dictionary, Dank is an expression frequently used by stoners and hippies for something of high quality. Now it is interchangeable with the word "awesome".

Picture credit: Showstalker.com

Hope everyone is having a dank day!

Love & Peace,
Kim

10 things that make me terribly happy!

Hello,

I haven't posted my 10 things lately, so today seems like a great day to do so. Especially after the fun weekend that I had.

Here goes; 10 things that makes me terribly happy.

1. Going to Scruffy Murphy's on Friday night after work to have a few drinks with friends. It's about the friends not the place.

2. Eating at Hollerbach's Willow Tree Cafe for a Birthday celebration with friends, yummy food and a boot full of beer.

3. Knowing that my husband was having a good time, despite the bad weather in Daytona at Bike Week on Saturday with his brother and friend.

4. Also knowing that our daughter was having a great time with her friends in Tallahassee.

5. Doing a little shopping at Best Buy, upgraded from Vista to Windows 7. Yeah! laptop seems to be running better now... this makes me very happy!

6. Being surprised by my husband buying me flowers at the farmer's market Sunday morning.

7. Spending the day with my husband on Sunday going to Daytona for Bike Week and having beautiful weather. (Chilly but sunny!)

8. My new straw cowboy hat and my new Harley Davidson Boots that my husband bought me and being completely spoiled by him!

9. Finishing out the weekend with two friends I adore feeling the music and wonderful energy at a drum circle.

10. Ending the day with my daughter reading me the forward to her book she is writing. How exciting! And Getting an e-mail from our son, his deployment will be over soon, can't wait to see him.



"Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact"- William James

Love & Peace,
Kim