Life's Gifts

I am so full of energy, it is an amazing feeling right now. The last couple of weeks, I have been struggling with a cold but who has time for that, you know? As you can see, I’m still working on my site. I’ve been behind on a few things, hopefully I’ll catch up this weekend. The week before last, I had a wonderful visit with a friend whom I had not seen since high school, we’ll call him Dr. S. We had a fun time in Tampa, where he lives… good food & drink and great conversations. I took some neat shots of Tampa University, where he is a professor, as well as Ybor City. I will be posting those shots soon here and on the website Save My Sunshine if I can figure out how to make individual galleries.

Last weekend was a little rough due to my cold really kicking in, Dr. S. came to Orlando to have some fun and to meet up with some other high school buddies. We met up for lunch and then for drinks later that same night. Sunday was spent trying to rest up and get over my illness before I started my new job on Monday! Yay.. a new job!

Monday I was off to Kansas City. By Tuesday night, my brain hurt and I was exhausted. It is hard putting in a full days work. But at the same time I was and still am so energized by the people I met, the strengthening of relationships and connections with others, and the work I’ll be doing.

I really fell behind in my writing and photography last week. I think I am a week behind in the 365 Project – Photo a day! Yikes. I took some pictures last week, but not enough. I’ll do better next week. I’m going to need to re-learn how to balance my creative projects with my work load. I tend to go full steam ahead on whatever I am working on, so I will need to make balancing a priority.

So.. last week was also full of wonderful gifts from amazing women. First and foremost, I have to mention Amelia Maness-Gilliland over at Mom’s Daily Retreat – Notes from the Edge. She is such an inspiration to me, she is an amazing woman, with a big heart, who manages to find time to take care of her beautiful family, manage her amazing careers, learn and reinvest in herself and still have time to spread kindness to so many. Amelia, thank you for taking the time to check in and always lifting me up.

Thank you to Karen at Journey to Spirit Through Art and Creativity for checking in on my blog and taking the time to comment! That means so much. Your blog postings are so honest, candid and evoke such emotion. Thank you for sharing your journey through your blog with me.

Aren’t surprises in the mail the best! I was filled with joy to receive beautiful handmade flower magnets from Lily in the mail last week. I opened the package and did a happy dance! Thank you Lily for sending such joy! You can check out Lily’s website here.

Also in the mail… (it was a GOOD mail week!) I received Dreamsetting Kits I had ordered from Amelia Critchlow over at www.ameliacritchlow.co.uk. Check out her blog here. I ordered one for my daughter and one for myself, they are so sweet and lovely, I can’t wait to start working on them. Amelia calls them a ”mini-book of dreams and goals to be carried around in your bag or wallet for daily reminders of your aspirations and dreams.” Isn’t that awesome! I encourage you to check out Amelia’s art and blog she is such a talented artist.

I would be remise if I didn’t mention Susannah Conway, she is the reason I was able to meet these wonderful women. It was through her e-course Unravelling that we all became connected. Thank you Susannah for bringing these wonderful women into my life.

I value the relationships I have in my life, both with men and women. They are the most precious gifts of all. I learn something everyday from the people I surround myself with and I am so grateful and honored to have that opportunity. The more we allow ourselves to open up to others, the greater connections we will make, there is nothing that can replace an intimate feeling with another person, to be able to open up and not be hindered by fear or self-consciousness, open our minds to new possibilities… can you imagine the power and freedom that can bring? There are no jobs or material things that can replace a positive human connection.

If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting? ~Stephen Levine

So much going on....

... and I am sick! Caught a cold and I am trying to overcome. I will be posting soon. For now I will give you a quick run down:

1. Got hired
2. Met up with a good friend from High School in Tampa
3. Had fun taking pictures in Tampa (picture above is of a display window in Ybor City)
3. Going to Kanas City on Monday

So more to come when I am feeling better! Talk to you soon.

Love & Peace,
Kim

Exciting News... I think!

I'm launching my own website... soon. You can check it out the progress here. I've been working on it over the last couple days and I think it is coming along nicely. My goal is to eventually have a web-store and offer some creative goodness. Wish me luck!

Love & Peace,
Kim

Believe

Believe in your dreams.
Believe in today.
Believe that you are loved.
Believe that you make a difference.
Believe we can build a better world.
Believe when others might not.
Believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Believe that you may be that light
for someone else.
Believe that the best is yet to be.
Believe in yourself.
I believe in you.

- Kobi Yamada

I took these pictures Sunday morning at our local diner while we were eating breakfast. The lighting in the diner was wonderful as we were right by a window and it made for some good exposure effects. I used various preset actions in Lightroom to get additional effects. (& although everyone at the table was not in the mood for being the subject of "A photo a day" project... I am happy with the way they turned out.

Intimacy

356 Photo a day project: My love and I

Live Out Loud

Hippy Chick

Template by House of 3,Texture by SkeletalMess - Festival Glow

Had a mini-photo shoot with Bekah yesterday. I am so glad she lets me practice my photography on her! She is so much fun. I had her jumping and jumping.. (and this was right before she went to the gym). I think this is one of my favorite photo sets of her.
I hope everyone is having a great Saturday.

Love & Peace,
Kim

A Camellia

...blooms in the winter! What a lovely surprise to find this beautiful camellia tree on my walk last night. I didn't even hesitate, I walked right up to it in someones side yard and started snapping away. (It was really between an empty lot and a house for sale, I think it was empty) I'm in love with these flowers, I think they look so vintage and feminine. A beautiful find.

I used the aged canvas texture #5 provided Sketalmess HERE and a mask AASPN FotoBlenzCM11-2

Things I Love Thursday!

I really need to remember this topic! I am terrible at consistency... Things I Love Thursday... Things I Love Thursday...Things I Love Thursday, how many times do you have to repeat something to have it memorized?

First I want to say my thoughts and prayers are with all the people in Haiti; what a terrible catastrophic event to happen to a country already struggling so much. Also please keep all the volunteers for the relief efforts in your prayers, that they will have safe journeys. Please see my previous post from today on places to donate, it's as easy as a text message.

All the more reason to remember the things we love, put things into perspective, lighten the heavy heart that we are all feeling right now. So, with that said...

Here are my Things I love {Thursday}:

1. I love that I can turn on a TV, Radio, my iPhone, do a Internet search and I have information at my fingertips. I know what is happening locally and around the world. I am so grateful for instant communication.

2. I love to eat animal crackers with Publix icing. I love that friends gave this to me as a gift!

3. I love when my dogs snuggle with me after Rich leaves for work.

4. I love fresh cut flowers.

5. I love the new crocheted vests and layered looks that are in fashion right now.

6. I love going to new places. New resturants, new vacation spots, new parks... just new and different.

7. I love my red sofa.

8. I love that when I am home first, my husband always gives me a hug and a kiss when he walks in the door. I especially love it when he is still wearing his motorcycle jacket, dark glasses and gloves! Yummy :)

9. I love that I am fortunate to have a roof over my head, a comfortable place to sleep, food to eat and clean water to drink.

10. I love my children with all of my heart and everything I am, unconditionally.

I took all the pictures on this post this evening while on a walk.
P.S. I love photography... just in case you didn't know.





Love & Peace,
Kim

What can we do to help?

In the wake of the catastrophe earthquake in Haiti I want to send you over to my friend's blog Phydeaux Designs. She has outlined some great ways to help our friends in Haiti. Please keep Haiti in your thoughts and prayers and donate if you are able. Thank you.

Also, here are additional ways you can help: Through Mobile Giving you can text to donate and the charge will appear on your wireless bill.

The following organizations are accepting SMS donations in the US only:

SMS text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10
to Red Cross relief efforts

SMS text "YELE" to 501501 to Donate $5
to Yele Haiti’s Earthquake Relief efforts

SMS text "DISASTER" to 90999 to give $10
to Compassion International

Compasson International sponsor children and families and have people on the ground providing care and shelter for orphans.

I missed a few: Go HERE for more mobile donation information.

Also accepting cash and in-kind donations are the following sites:
UNICEF (1-800-4UNICEF), Direct Relief, Yele Haiti, Partners in Health, Red Cross, World Food Program, Mercy Corps (1-888-256-1900), Save the Children, Lambi Fund, Doctors Without Borders, The International Rescue Committee, Care and Compassion International. This is not a complete list but will get you started. There are many wonderful organizations who are helping and raising monies to help.

To check out more information about Mobile Giving, go to the Mobile Giving Foundation website found HERE.

Please pray for the people of Haiti, they need our help.

Love & Peace,
Kim

She believed she could, so she did!

This past weekend was absolutely wonderful. A very good friend of mine competed in the Walt Disney Marathon on Sunday. Wow.. wow.. wow.. she is amazing! She makes it look so easy and I know it is NOT! She is an amazing woman. Strong and gentle, such a kind heart. It was the coldest day of the year in Florida and we are having record breaking lows. It was about 27 degrees outside when she started the race. She did not complain or say one negative thing all weekend. Not about the weather, the time, nothing... all smiles, as always! She is such a beautiful amazing woman. Our group consisted of five supporters and two runners. Some of us stayed out at Disney the night before the race to minimize the driving time since the race started at 5:30 AM. We had a wonderful dinner together, then it was an early lights out. My roomie and I laughed until 1:00 AM... made for a fun night but we were a little tired the next day! Sunday the runners took off to the starting line up and we (the cheer squad) attempted to meet them at the 9 mile marker. Well... that didn't go exactly as planned. We failed miserably.
I won't go into all the silly details, but let's just say we did some turning around (directions provided by hotel, but we won't blame), we did some sprinting and waiting. Transportation was a little funky as we had to be blocked off from the runners. Needless to say, we missed our checkpoint at the 9 mile marker. I think it was harder keeping the cheer squad in line and on time than running the race. Maybe not.
We then raced over to the 12.5 mile marker viewing area. It consisted of a walk from Magic Kingdom Ticket and Transportation Center to the Polynesian Resort, then we continued on to the far side of the resort to find the runner's path. There we were able to see our runners and give them there much needed protein shakes and cheers! They were doing awesome!
Then we walked back to the Magic Kingdom TTC (Ticket and Transportation Center) and then to the car (because we forgot something) then back to the TTC. From there we rode the monorail over to Epcot were we walked to the far end of the parking lot to cheer on the runners approaching the finish line.
Watching all those people (over 20,000!) come in.. it was amazing. What motivation and determination each person has to train and compete in a marathon. 26.2 miles! WOW! I have so much respect for each of them for waking up, showing up and making it happen. My friend is amazing... I know she has been training for awhile for this race and she had a smile on her face when it started and she was smiling when it ended. I know it wasn't easy in the middle.. but she did it!! I have so much admiration for her and her strength and determination. Both runners did awesome, I am so proud of them and proud to call them my friends!
You inspire me.

She believed she could, so she did.

Love & Peace,
Kim

Our Gratitude Photos

We went to my Mother's house last night to wish her a Happy Birthday. It was her 71st birthday. We celebrated by making "Thank You" signs for the Gratitude Project as mentioned in the last post. Here are our "Thank you" photos we sent in for the Gratitude Project to Thankyou@thankasolider.net. We had fun taking the photos, eating cake and ice cream and wishing mom a very happy birthday!

Pictured from left to right: Bill: Stepfather, Bekah, Earl:Rich's Father, The Birthday Girl: My Mom, in the far back, Rich and on the right second row: Judy, Rich's mother.

Bekah & I, saying "Thank you" to all the service men and women

Thank a Marine, Sailor, a Solider

{006 & 007/365} Photo a day

{006/365} Spirit Mittens
Love these red mittens made by my cousin's awesome wife, Deanna. She made them in Bekah's school color so they match her cheerleading uniform and warm ups perfectly!

{007/365} Lake Ivanhoe
I took this picture during my walk last night. The relections in the lake were beautiful as the sun was setting.

Did I expect too much?

Picture was taken while at a family reunion.
Lake Junaluska, NC July 2009

I've been pondering how I've been spending my time lately. As some of you know I got laid off from my job in April of 2009. I feel like all the productive, fun and adventurous things I planned to do before going back to work is slowly slipping away. I just wonder if I could have gotten more done. I'm not sure if I'm being too hard on myself... or maybe not hard enough? Being this is the first time in my adult life I have had this much time off, I expected great things. You know, my house completely organized and always clean, an amazing dinner every night of the week, all my started projects completed, volunteer, and oh.. I would get totally fit, in shape and look amazing. Well.. time is running out and I don't feel like I've accomplished that much. I'm certainly not fit, in shape, thus in my eyes don't look amazing, haven't completed all my projects, my house is partly organized, the house stays somewhat clean (not spotless), dinner well, let's just say some weeks are better than others. I did however have a perfect summer with my daughter and took a couple mini-vacations with friends and family. I also took time for me by enrolling in an online course, keeping up with my blog and working on my photography, all good things. Plus my Christmas was amazing, I have never baked so much in my entire life! I had a wonderful time with my husband and daughter, it was great having the time. But I just can't help but feel like I could have done more. I still have time, a week or so...then hopefully I'll be going back to work. I have loved being home, but the budget and my traveling gene doesn't like it as much!
I am wondering if I just expected too much. In all fairness to myself, I did do contract work from August to mid December, going into the office daily.
I am a bit disappointed in myself for not sticking to a better diet and exercise regime while I have had the time, I am working on that now. The other main projects that I need to complete is reorganizing the kitchen pantry and cabinets and reorganizing our bedroom. There is just too much unused stuff in the closet and way too many clothes and shoes I don't wear. Hopefully I will find the motivation to get those things done soon. My year is going to start getting busy and I need to make that "to do list" and get busy! Working full time for 23 years, I am not sure how I got half the stuff done I did. Wow! I guess maybe I do better under pressure and I do have an amazing partner that helps so so much. One thing is for certain, I am so much more relaxed, I'm happy and I am enjoying my time at home.

Happy Thursday... it's almost Friday!

Love & Peace,
Kim

Photo a Day: Staying Warm

Orange Pea Coat.
I took these photos today of Bekah when she came home of school. Loved the colors she was wearing against our red sofa.

Boy is it cold this week! In the 30s and 40s, doesn't feel much like central Florida. Rumor has it we may even see snow flurries on Thursday or Friday...hmmm that will be interesting. I am enjoying the change though! Extra cuddling, comfy blankets, sweatshirts, hot cocoa and a new orange pea coat what's not to like. I even went on a walk tonight, admittedly, I almost didn't, then once outside I wasn't sure I was going to make it. But when I got moving, it was enjoyable and I was glad I stayed with it.

Here are two more photos of the day, #4 & #5.
My hot cocoa with lots and lots of marshmallows in it from last night (In my opinion you can never have too many marshmallows). Plus a series of pictures I took of Bekah in her new orange pea coat today when she got home from school. She wasn't much in the "modeling" mood today... but I took pictures of her anyway and of course I LOVE them. She is a beautiful subject, isn't she? I'm a little bias, I know. Plus the colors are just wonderful. I love the colors of the orange pea coat against our red sofa. Fun!

Keeping warm, one cup of cocoa at a time

School's out, at least for the day! 4.5 months to go of high school.

My Lovely Girl

Precious Moments

{003/365} Photo Project

Use your precious moments to live life fully every single second of every single day. -Marcia Wieder

I used color burn Festive Glow and Aged Canvas Texture #7 by Skeletalmess at Shadowhouse Creations.

Picture details:
Nikon D60-f/1.8 - 1/60 sec. exposure time / ISO-200 / Max Aperture 1.6

Day 2 Yummy!

Bekah and I had a wonderful Saturday afternoon, a girl's day.
We started our day at the Briar Patch in Winter Park, on Park Avenue.

YUMMY!

Then we went out to the Prime Outlets to get Bekah a new pair of Nike running shoes. She also wanted to spend the gift cards at Polo and Victoria Secret that she had burning in her pocket since Christmas. We found a perfect pair of running shoes at the Nike store, Polo shop... not so lucky. The gift card will be saved for another trip. As for Victoria Secret, what could go wrong really? $3.70 left on that card now!

We were shocked with how many people were shopping. It took us 20 minutes to find a parking spot and we could barely see the mall! It also took us some time to find the car when leaving... oops! People following us to snag our parking spot were not happy when we weaved in and out of the rows of cars looking for our car. Oh well! The perfect spot was waiting for them somewhere I'm sure of it!

I cherish the times that Bekah and I can spend together one on one catching up on things, discussing the future and just being girlie.

We later met up with Rich and went to Buca Di Beppo for dinner, hadn't been there in a very long time.(had a coupon!)You guessed it, it was YUMMY! (I'm going to have to get back to cooking soon.)

Rich and Bekah at Buca Di Beppo

Day 2 of the 365 Project is a picture of Bekah at the Briar Patch. (1st picture above on the post) Love the expression on her face... "Yummy?" ... "are you really taking another picture, mom?"... or maybe she is breaking into an advertisement of some sort! So cute!

Hope everyone is enjoying your Sunday. Go Steelers!

Peace & Love,
Kim

My word for 2010: EXPLORE

Choosing a word. It was much more difficult that I thought. There are so many great ones. TRUTH * CREATE * BE * LIVE * All fabulous words. I read about choosing a word for 2010 from a couple different places. First over at Ali Edwards - One Little Word and then on a fellow Unraveller's blog, Lan, found here, and on Susannah Conway's blog. There are still so many more "words for 2010" posts to read.

So with help from these blogs and Christine Kane's Word-of-the-Year discovery tool. I have committed to a word for 2010.

I chose E X P L O R E.

Christine's discovery tool asks,
Why is this the perfect word for you this year?

EXPLORE is the perfect word for me this year as I started exploring last year, but I need more time. I want to explore me, explore my world around me. Stretch myself mentally and physically for a healthier mind and body. The word "EXPLORE" for me makes me want to move... expand and discover. It will push me to do something I've never done before continuing to unlock what is inside of me. Exploring in 2010 will help me with my journey to uncover my truth, live healthier spiritually and physically and push myself to do things I didn't think I could do.

Now that my word is in print, on paper so to speak - WOW! I'm excited and a little nervous too. I will need all the support I can get. So, I am putting it out there for the world to see.

Explore! My word for 2010.

Peace & Love,
Kim

Hello 2010

This is the very first photo I took in 2010. Rich holding Bebe, our pug. Bebe actually fell asleep like this and was snoring when I took the picture. She was up past her bedtime ringing in the new year, so she was a little tired.

Hello, I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe New Year's Eve and day. For New Year's eve we went to dinner with another couple, then came back to our house for drinks and games. We played the Seinfeld Scene It game and although my husband is a huge Seinfeld fan, so was our friend and they beat us twice! Humbling way to ring in the new year but still lots of fun.

New Year's Day started out around 11:00 AM... yep, and I'm not the least bit ashamed by that! It was a good sleep. Much needed sleep. Rich and I got up and went to one of our favorite restaurants for breakfast, The White Wolf Cafe. Awesome way to start the new year. After breakfast (around 1:30 PM) we decided to go see Avatar. So we drove to the first theater of our choice to find out the 3D showing was already sold out, so we hopped back in the car and drove to the next theater on the list. We were there about hour early. Bought our tickets and walked around the shopping village and scored some twizzlers at the grocery store. We went into the theaters about thirty-five minutes early. So glad we did...it filled up fast. We both really enjoyed the movie, at no time did we ever feel like what we were seeing wasn't real, unbelievably great!

Later, we finished off the evening at our local Pizzeria Restaurant & Sports Bar, Alfonsos. It was a wonderful, relaxing, raining day together.

If you are wondering what Bekah was up to, well she was with her friends today watching the FSU game and then going out to dinner.

Today I excitedly started the Shutter Sister 365 photo project that my friend Amelia over at Mom's Daily Retreat told me about.
You can find the Flickr site HERE or check out other projects at Shutter Sisters.

Here is #1 of 365. It is Rich at the White Wolf Cafe this morning at breakfast.


Happy New Year! I'm looking forward to an exciting 2010, meeting new people, cultivating the friendships that I made in 2009 and expanding my creative passion.

I hope you spent the first day of the new year doing exactly what you wanted to do and that 2010 brings you all the blessings a new year can bring.

Peace & Love,
Kim