Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Kanga the Blind Golden - Tails of Hope

Old Window Sign

I am totally into the whole chalkboard sign trend as of late. I love creating boards for myself and for friends. For a project, I wanted to take that same concept, but change up the medium a bit. So I thought, instead of art on chalkboard, let’s experiment with art on glass. It is a whole lot easier to make because all you need to find is a window or picture frame you like, instead of finding a chalkboard or creating your own. I’m obsessed with wall decor to the point that there is literally no empty space on my bedroom walls. They are just covered in posters, pictures, and things I’ve made. That being said, I thought it would be fitting to make my first DIY post about wall decor! This project is so simple and versatile for any need.
  • old window sign, crafts
Supplies:
- Old window frame
- Staple Gun
- Burlap Material (Or any fabric you want as your backdrop)
- Window Paint Pens
  • old window sign, crafts
Simply lay your window out on top of the burlap to get an idea of how much you need for the back. Don’t worry about getting an exact measurement, just make sure you have cut more than you need as you can trim the excess later. Cut out around the frame and then staple this to the back of the window frame. Then go around and trim the extra material off to clean up the edges.
  • old window sign, crafts
Flip the window over and go ahead and write out whatever message you wish to have on your window. I wanted this window to be placed right outside my front door to welcome my guests in the home. Window paint pens are so easy to work with and forgiving. If you mess up, just wet a towel and wipe off the mistake.
  • old window sign, crafts
The great this about this project is the amount of freedom you have with the wording and purpose of your frame!

I can see you...

You know if you put your hand up there to touch those cute little paws you might lose a finger.

Magnesium, NOT Calcium, Is the Key to Healthy Bones -


http://www.healthyfoodteam.com/

Beautiful Plant Pot Wreath.

Plant Pot Wreath... love it!
http://www.shelterness.com/40-inspiring-diy-herb-gardens/pictures/16892/

Monday, July 6, 2015

7 Surefire Ways to be Successful

If you stay consistent in your efforts to achieve your life goals, you will be successful. When you’re successful, you feel great inside and you transmit that positive energy to others.
Apply these strategies for success and pursue the sweet life you want:

1. Find a mentor.

To help you in your quest to get ahead in your career, refine specific skills, or get in the best shape of your life, seek out someone who’s done it before. Ask for their counsel.
  • Learn from someone who’s been there and continues to excel. Take them out for coffee and pick their brain. Have your specific questions in hand. Listen to what they say.

2. Care less about what others think of you.

Care less about what others think of you and more about how you feel about yourself. When you react to what others think of you, it hampers your own sense of self. Instead, listen to your heart. Recognize that what you want for yourself is more important than what someone else wants for you. Go after your own dreams.

3. Be clear about your life goals.

Nothing can derail your efforts for success like being unsure about what you want. To get clarity on your goals, journal about where you want to be physically and spiritually in the next year, three years, five years, and ten years.
  • Looking ahead will lead you to see what steps to take to reach the success you’re seeking.

4. Surround yourself with positive people.

If you have friends who rarely work, complain frequently about their career, or make unhealthy life choices, they are likely bringing negativity into your life.
  • When you hang out with those who are upbeat, interested in making a difference, and committed to personal achievement, you’ll find yourself modeling their feelings and behaviors. Practicing their way of living will put you on the road to success.

5. Embrace your failures.

Rather than fearing and loathing the mistakes you’ve made, take them in, study them, and find the lessons in them.

6. Each day, take a step closer to your goals.

One of the best ways to keep your goals in mind is to infuse aspects of them into your daily life. If you want to save $10,000 for a trip to Europe, at the end of each day, place all your change in your money jar. You can literally watch your goal come to fruition. Add a $10 or a $20 dollar bill at the end of each week.
  • When you do something daily to work towards a goal, it becomes an important aspect of your routine existence. You’ll feel happier, more in control, and increasingly confident.
  • 7. Use a pros and cons list to make quick decisions.

    If you’ve ever been unsure about a decision, you’ll appreciate learning to jot down a quick pros and cons list. Weighing out the positives and negatives of your issue can lead you in a positive direction.
    • Rather than staying in a state of confusion and uncertainty, use this method to attain better control over what vexes you.
    Regardless of where you are in life, you can get closer to achieving your goals by applying these useful tips. Use your inner strength to create dramatic personal growth within yourself. Start today.
Understanding and accepting your errors will provide you with the information you require to succeed the next time.                                                                                                                                              http://facthacker.com/ 

12 Tips for Simplifying Your Life

When you are constantly feeling overwhelmed and stressed, it’s a good sign that you probably need to simplify your life. There are many stressors in life that are unavoidable and uncontrollable, but what most people don’t realize is that they are in control of much of the stress that is occurring.
We often make our lives more difficult than they need to be, so when we dial it down a notch and make things simpler, our stress levels will fall rapidly making our lives much more enjoyable.
It is a choice we can all make.
Many times we think everything is of equal importance in our lives, but there are some great ways to evaluate what really matters so we can gain a new perspective on life.
Below are 12 tips for simplifying your life.

1. Figure out what is truly important.

This is really so simple. You must identify what is important to you and more or less eliminate everything else. This is easier to do than you may realize. Start with an organized plan of how to simplify by making a list of all activities you have going on in your life right now that take up time or create stress.
What has the most emphasis on a day-to-day basis? What could be scaled back or eliminated? Once you make this list, it’s a whole lot easier to see where you’re spending most of your time and what is causing the stress.

2. Clear the clutter.

In your home and office there are probably a lot of things that are cluttering your space. Everything must have its place – even if it’s in the trash! When you clear the clutter from your space, you’ll find that cleaning, finding things, and simply going about your daily life is a lot simpler and a whole lot less stressful. Likewise, just the mental and emotional aspect of clearing out the clutter is really helpful to simplifying.

3. Limit time on media.

Most people don’t realize that a lot of their time is consumed by social media as well as television. Carve out specific times for this and limit yourself. Most people find that limiting these activities, creates much more time and space within their day.

4. Reconsider your commitments.

If you are stressed out all the time, it may be time to pare down your commitments. Many times we simply over-commit ourselves. You should look at the “extras” in your life and see how they align with the things that are most important to you. If there are things that you are committed to doing that you don’t enjoy or don’t add meaning to your life, consider giving them up. You can reduce stress and make your life more relaxed when you release yourself from commitments that are only tying you down.

5. Reevaluate your buying habits.

Many people feel stressed out because of finances. Simplifying what you purchase can create much more peace in your life. Evaluate what you are purchasing regularly and determine whether these items are necessary. Also, does food go to waste in your fridge? Reconsider how you do your grocery shopping and what is useful and what goes to waste.

6. Create dedicated alone time.

Dedicate a certain amount of time to yourself to be alone each week. During this time, do an evaluation of what you can continue to simplify and what is going well. Then take a bit of your alone time to rest and breathe.

7. Say no.

Many times when we’re stressed it’s because we don’t know how to say no to the people in our lives. Saying no to kids, family, friends, and even the boss is important. It can be tough to say no, but you can say it with grace or by delegating the request to another capable person. If you’re finding it difficult to stay firm, remember that you are not superman or superwoman. You can’t possibly take on the world by yourself!

8. Pare down your beauty routine.

This area is often time-consuming for women. Chances are that you are putting more into your beauty routine than is necessary. Figure out where you can eliminate time and still feel great about yourself.

9. Simplify your work.

Every day when you’re at work you likely have a 10-page to-do list. In reality, there are things that just aren’t all that important and aren’t worth the effort. And yes, there will be some things that you’ll never get around to. That’s okay! Accept that fact and re-evaluate your activities to determine what is really essential and do away with the rest.

10. Keep surfaces clear.

Just like clearing out the clutter, keep your surfaces clear on a daily basis. Taking just a couple minutes a day to clear out your mail and your countertops can do wonders for your emotional state. When things build up, it creates mountains of stress, literally.

11. Involve the family.

There is as much to do at home as there is at work. Make your family your team and involve them in the home activities. Get everyone involved in the little tasks around the home such as taking out the trash, dusting, and doing the dishes. For example, you can require that each family member pick up 5-10 things around the house before bed. This way, cleaning the house is a lot easier and you can spend more of your time relaxing instead of worrying about every little task around the home.

12. Learn what is enough.

We live in a world where it seems like everyone always wants more. Learn what is enough in your life and stay there. You will find more fulfillment in what you already have and learn that seeking more is only a means to create more stress.
As you can see, simplifying your life does not have to be difficult. You just need to get back to basics and do away with everything else. Living a simple life is living a happier, less stressed life and that’s something that we can all aspire to do.
http://facthacker.com/



THE SERENITY PRAYER

GOD GRANT ME THE SERENITY
TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE;
COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN;
AND WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

LIVING ONE DAY AT A TIME;
ENJOYING ONE MOMENT AT A TIME;
ACCEPTING HARDSHIPS AS THE PATHWAY TO PEACE;
TAKING, AS HE DID, THIS SINFUL WORLD
AS IT IS, NOT AS I WOULD HAVE IT;
TRUSTING THAT HE WILL MAKE ALL THINGS RIGHT
IF I SURRENDER TO HIS WILL;
THAT I MAY BE REASONABLY HAPPY IN THIS LIFE
AND SUPREMELY HAPPY WITH HIM
FOREVER IN THE NEXT.
AMEN.

--REINHOLD NIEBUHR