Be Nice {Period}

My office resides on a very busy street and in rush hour …bumper to bumper traffic.  The other day I was leaving my office and managed to pull out of the parking lot fairly easy {not a simple task}.  As I made my way home I noticed someone else trying to creep out onto the heavily populated street.  I slowed down and flashed my lights to give the ok to pull out in front of me {fully knowing how difficult this task is daily} and the car behind me blared their horn in disapproval!  “No way!” I thought to myself.  I then began to … question.  If this horn loving person has ever tried to pull out onto this street at this time of day would they be more understanding?  What did this simple gesture cost them?  Would a few seconds of time to take your foot off the accelerator be that terrible?  Why oh why can’t we just ‘be nice’ to each other?  Be courteous, be thankful, be generous to our fellow peeps.  We are all just trying to make it in this life together … right?  I guess I will never be able to fully answer this question.  All I can do, all I desire to do … is to be nice!

Have a ‘nice’ day everyone!

Artfully Yours, L

Everyone is Important

I had the honor of participating in the celebration of the 80^th birthday of a friend over the weekend.  I entered this beautiful home filled with warm, welcoming smiles and spent the afternoon ‘listening’.  I just love getting to know people, listening to their stories and appreciating the person that is before me.  Every person has wisdom and life stories to share and each story is all good and right because it’s theirs!    You can learn so much about the beauty of a person by simply just listening.  Yes, you may not agree with their political views … that’s ok.  Yes, you may not enjoy their career path … that’s ok.  Yes, you may not see eye to eye on a topic … and yes, that’s ok.  What the person before you has to share is a gift especially for you!  Yes, and that gift is a piece of them for you to share in a positive way with others!  If you open your mind and heart to understanding their point of view … wow, you can grow so much as an artist, accountant, doctor, musician, chef {whatever your passion is} and, in turn, inspire others with your new found wisdom.    I’m ready!  Bring on the celebration of … Everyone!

Walking {My Body Says Thank You}

As I get older it gets harder and harder to move my body to keep fit.  My life is so full {all good} but it’s hard to fit one more thing into my day.  I know how important it is to exercise your heart yet I seem to skip that part every day coming up with some excuse why I can’t go for a walk, do some yoga or stretch into some Pilates.  When I do focus on calisthenics I feel that other parts of my life get pushed aside.  I need to remember it’s all about balance – to manage my activities based on family, health, career and friends.  I feel so much more alive when I can move my body for about an hour.  I think I am more productive, happy and focused and, in turn, end up getting more accomplished than I realize.  All aspects of my life are essential but without my body I can’t enjoy any of those significant moments.  Ok, let’s get moving … *wink*

Here are some inspirational life and walking books you might … Enjoy L!

A Life in Balance

Guide to Walking

A Walk in the Woods

My Silly Life View

Do you know the song ‘Silly Love Song’ by Paul McCartney?  I was listening to this song the other day and thought … hmmmm I do believe this is how I feel most of the time.  I look at life with such a child-like, romantic view … some would say it is a ‘silly life view’.  I am tremendously optimistic most of the time always looking at the glass half full so to speak.  So what’s wrong with living in a silly love song every day?  I wish more people could experience the pure joy of living a sanguine life.  Yes, I am totally and completely in love with my husband but I think that love is magnified by my desire to live simply in love with life.  Don’t be shy … go ahead and live a silly love song!

Here are some {not so silly} books you might … Enjoy L!

Love Is A Mix Tape

The Other Side of Desire

The Secret

Dream a Little Dream

What’s the difference between dreams and goals?  One definition of ‘goal’: The purpose toward which an endeavor is directed; an objective.  One definition of ‘dream’:  A condition or achievement that is longed for; an aspiration.  Well, from the formal definitions it seems dreams may or may not come to fruition without set directives.  I always thought the word ‘goal’ was such a cold, structured word, almost to the point of unfeeling yet ‘dream’ was a kinder, gentler way of describing a goal.  In my mind, I think of a dream to take on both meanings above.  Both descriptions go so beautifully together; like ball and glove, or music and lyrics, or canvas and paint.  It’s certainly important not to stay in the ‘dream’ place without having goals written down so you can make your dreams a reality.  I love dreaming about sailing, my next painting, the next adventure with my love and much more.  I know when I have created realistic goals to accompany my dreams I am blessed to say they have all come true!   Dream a little dream today {oh, the possibilities!}  

Some dreamy things for you to share … Enjoy L!

Love and Relationships

Self Understanding

You and Your Life

{Laughter} Get Your Fest On!

Don’t you just LOVE it when you laugh so hard that tears are brought to your eyes?  It’s one of my favorite emotions.  There is a freeing elation, a unique sparkle that you feel to your core when that moment is understood.  It seems your whole outlook on life is altered in a positive way … you feel loved, you feel happy, you feel alive!  What events or avenues bring that deep belly laugh to your lips?  Hmmmm … it’s usually at vary random times for me.  My husband when he over pronounces the l and b in ‘album’ {totally cute}, reminiscing with my sisters about childhood pleasures, or when I get together with my girl friends are all milieus for a laughter fest.  I am hoping to attend one of those ‘fests’ this weekend … you are cordially invited to attend too! *wink*

Maybe some of these will tickle your laughter fest … Enjoy L!

Dan Smith – Comedian, Writer, Producer

Gotham Comedy Club

Improv Boston

The Elegance and Art of Wine

I’m not sure when I began enjoying the elegance and exquisiteness of wine but certainly have grown into a love for the ‘art’ of the enjoyment.  I gravitate towards the dark, full-bodied wines.  The rich flavors, smooth textures, sexy legs, and the romanticism of sharing a bottle with the one you love.  In our family we call the celebration of the ‘drink’ ‘toes up’.  Sitting back, glass in hand, with your feet up after a long day at career … WOW! What a tremendous feeling.  Wine embodies my love for art as well.  Generations of families have made the celebration of creating wine a lifelong love and passion.  It’s in the fête … it’s in the styling … it’s in the art … it’s in the joy of pride in the family business; all to bring you the bursting flavor discerning your palate right now.  I have begun creating some mixed-media art in celebration of my love of wine … stay tuned !  ‘Toes Up’ everyone!

Here are some ‘vine experiences’ that I am hoping to partake in someday … Enjoy L !

Kendall-Jackson

Belhurst Castle

Boston Winery

For the Love of Reading

I recently became awakened to my LOVE for collecting books!  Sailing, art, fiction, business, picture it doesn’t matter, the feel, smell and the content … it’s all good!  I’m collecting picture books for my ‘someday’ grandchildren, collecting art books for reference and beauty, collecting business books for inspiration and sailing books, well, for my pure love!  I pick one up every once in a while and thumb through the beautiful pages reading about the wonders within the bound folio before me.  Some days I bring my favorites out in the sunshine, lie in the grass and drink in the sensation of the written word.  Just the act of stopping … being … and relaxing in the expression seems to almost be a lost art.  Do you have a favorite book or genre?  Do you enjoy more than the contents and go beyond into the experience of reading?  So many wonderful books, so little time to read them … well, off to my next ‘reading’ adventure!

Thank you for visiting my book shop!  If you don’t see a book that fancy’s you, please let me know and I will be happy to add it to my store … Enjoy L !   

A Reef Knot

Some days you just don’t feel your ‘bouncy’ self so here are a bit of affirmations I personally need today to untie the knots in my head … Enjoy L !

“Being happy doesn’t mean that everything is perfect. It means that you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections.”

 “Love is when the other person’s happiness is more important than your own.”  – H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

 “You just have to do your own thing, no matter what anyone says. It’s your life.” – Ethan Embry

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”  – Herman Cain

“Let the sun shine in your soul, let the warmth brighten your spirits then shoot the extra rays out with your words to lift up others” – Lisa Farmer

Groovy

Ok, I am so totally a hippy girl!  Oh, wait ‘totally’ is an 80’s term … I am a hippy girl ‘to the max’!  That’s better *wink*  All day long I have my 70’s music streaming into the room, my art reflects ‘grooviness’ most of the time and I think bell bottoms are so ‘far out’.  Those times for me were carefree and easy.  I guess we all reflect on the simpleness of our childhood as we get older and, for me, it is remembering the fun of the 70’s.  I discovered my passion for creating art and would draw out everything!  As corny as it sounds I loved watching Charlie’s Angels and had a huge crush on Shaun Cassidy (Hardy Boys) and David Soul (Starsky & Hutch).  I remember spending hours trying to blow dry my hair straight so I could get the ‘feathered back’ hair like Cheryl Ladd.  I created my ‘Peace Flower’ [nature, flower child and peace rolled into a cheery design] as a reflection for my love of the 70’s.  She is dear to my heart and brings a smile to my face when I see her.  I hope the world will think she is pretty ‘fab’ too!   ‘keep On Truckin” everyone!

Enjoy!