Never forget that once upon a time, in an
unguarded moment, you recognized yourself as a friend.
(Elizabeth Gilbert in Eat, Pray, Love)

When I first moved to Raleigh four years ago, I knew no one. I arrived with little more than a big suitcase and new Ikea furniture. On most nights, I went home and got cozy. I journaled, read books, watched TV and took a lot of baths. I frequented a Starbucks downtown (that’s still my favorite!) and took myself to the movies. After college, a few breakups and moving from San Francisco, I needed a breather. I savored the time alone.

Soon enough I made friends, met my Mister and got busy being social. I’m a naturally chatty person who most would call outgoing. I talk with strangers in the grocery store. I interview people for a living. I explore new places and spend time with friends. That said, this extrovert craves her space—and revels in the clarity that comes from stillness.

The past few months were busy, with many days spent running from one place to another. It’s fun to make new friends, go out to dinners and have lots going on. I enjoyed all of it—sushi dinners, book club, happy hours, bunco nights and craft dates. It was a sparkly, happy time that was a bit exhausting. There were many nights when I didn’t get home (or eat dinner) until after 10 pm, only to wake up at 6 am and do it all again.

When I started the Whole Living Action Plan last week, I committed to giving up one more thing in addition to processed food and drinks, added sugar, dairy, gluten, caffeine, and alcohol—I decided to take a social sabbatical. A month of kindly declining invites. Nothing against my friends and their fab soirees, but I need some time to hibernate.

The following playlist is to listen to while relaxing at home, cutting up magazines, drinking tea, baking kale chips and laying a fantastic foundation for the year. The links below lead to iTunes, so head over and have a listen. I hope you enjoy!

Who You Are / Jessie J
Los Angeles / Peter Bradley Adams
I Am A Wanderer / Steve Earle
Moonshiner / Redbird
A Change Is Gonna Come / Allison Moorer
Go / The Civil Wars
We Mapped the World / Joy Williams
Mexico / The Staves
What the Water Gave Me / Florence + The Machine
Daylight / Matt & Kim
Good Feeling / Flo Rida
Coming Home / Diddy – Dirty Money & Skylar Grey
New York / Snow Patrol
This Years Love / David Gray
Tonight / Lykke Li
Walking On a Dream / Empire of the Sun

Would you like to join me in celebrating a whole new year of inspiration? Sign up today to receive Inbox Inspiration and Muse Memos!

Image Credit: From this day in April via Noukka Signe

You may wonder, ‘How can I leave it all behind if I am just coming back to it?
How can I make a new beginning if I simply return to the old?’
The answer lies in the return. You will not come back to the ‘same old thing.’
What you return to has changed because you have changed.
Your perceptions will be altered.
You will not incorporate into the same body, status, or world you left behind.
The river has been flowing while you were gone. Now it does not look like the same river.
(Steven Foster)

In a recent conversation with my Mister, he pointed out something I’ve known to be true my entire life. I write about it often and you may find pieces of yourself in my story.

I tend to bite off more than I can chew.

Eager aspirations, best intentions, and ambition-infused plans are my weakness. Mediocrity makes me uncomfortable. Not finishing a project—or just putting forth 80% effort—is not in my nature.

This combination of perfectionism and internal drive has been a great gift. The places I’ve been, the relationships I’ve built and the things I’ve done are a result of that hunger.

“…but not at the expense of happiness. Of enjoying your life,” he reminded me.

He makes a valid point.

I am a busy lady—and while stopping to smell the roses is something I try to pencil in, it often feels ironic and contrived. I want gratitude, mindfulness and joy to become practices deeply rooted in my daily life. I know this will take time, attention and intention.

I’ve never been in the practice of saying no. I’m not one to take time for unscheduled bliss and unstructured exploration. As someone who always wants to do more, be more and share more of myself, this may prove to be a lesson for lifelong learning.

//

I’m putting the blog on pause. I will be posting less frequently, with a bigger focus on reading, connecting, tweeting and keeping a light touch on the happenings.  I’m taking time to let my tea steep. Soaking in the tiny moments that make up this life. I’m letting my red wine breathe. Spending time with friends, family, my Mister and my thoughts.

Image Credit: Chris Chavez Yoga at Spanish Banks via lululemon athletica

Today’s Truth, Love & Insight interview with Carolyn Rubenstein is touching, honest and filled with inspiration. I hope Carolyn’s words give you a sense of joyful calm to carry through your day. Last week’s feature of Micaela Maxham was absolutely delightful. Have you had a chance to read it yet?

I’ve followed Carolyn on Twitter for awhile now. She’s a brilliant, busy and positive gal who always seems to be doing something new. I really enjoyed her collaborative project Spring Inspiration. Here’s a little more about Carolyn, in her own words:

I’m Carolyn Rubenstein, author of Perseverance: True Voices of Cancer Survivors (How Young People Turn Fear into Hope and How They Can Teach Us To Do The Same); non-profit organization founder; authenticity advocate; Huffington Post and Psychology Today blogger; believer in resilience, gratitude and respect; and graduate student.

That may sound a bit heady, and maybe it is. So I’ve created A Beautiful Ripple Effect to be a place for great conversation, and for providing you with tons of fresh, inspiring content for your downloading and sharing pleasure. Together, we’ll uncover truths, persevere on our quests and inspire one another as we take a stand against life-as-usual. (And, you know, talk about the things we love, big and small. The things that make us smile, squeal, sigh. A couple of mine: awesome quotes, yoga, and my dog, Lila Rose.)

A Beautiful Ripple Effect celebrates the essential journey we’re on, encourages questions, fosters understanding.

1. How did your blog get started?
My blog got started with a quote. The words by Christine Mason Miller helped me realize that I needed to begin opening up about my personal journey. At this point in my life, I felt very alone, and I craved involvement in a community where I could be completely and imperfectly me. This quote gave me the nudge to start a simple blog; it had no design, no “about” page, just posts, and my story has grown organically from that place.

When we focus our energy towards constructing a passionate, meaningful life, we are tossing a pebble into the world, creating a beautiful ripple effect of inspiration. When one person follows a dream, tries something new or takes a daring leap, everyone nearby feels that energy, and before too long they are making their own daring leaps and inspiring yet another circle.
(Christine Mason Miller)

2. What motivates you to continue sharing your story with the web?
My main motivation is completely selfish—sharing my story is incredibly therapeutic for me. It allows me to examine my life from a different perspective and to avoid a state of analysis paralysis. The second reason is a total cliché, but it’s true—I wanted to inspire others to unveil their authentic selves (first to themselves, then to others). My story is just getting started, so I think my blog is in its infancy; the best is yet to come! I can’t wait to see how my inspiration unfolds and the community grows.

3. If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself as a budding blogger?
There is no “right” way to blog. Allow yourself the freedom to create your own blogging journey. Remain true to your voice and recognize the importance of sharing it with others. Treat your readers as individuals—don’t take anyone’s presence for granted. The journey ebbs and flows, so hold on tight and enjoy the ride. If you do fall down, get back up and keep going!

4. If you could go forward in time, what is one question you would like to ask yourself? How do you imagine you might answer it?
Q: What about blogging lights you up and fills you with incredible happiness? How do you focus on that work and not get overwhelmed by all the little details that can overwhelm the sparkling moments?

A: The process of writing (actual pen to paper) lights me up and makes me giddy. I love creating, especially creating something tangible—seeing my words and handwriting filling up journal pages. I also love connecting with others, especially the people who read my blog.

In the future, I hope that I have learned how to focus my time and energy on these two aspects of blogging and am able to spend less time on the digital administration of blogging (which completely zaps my energy)!

5. What are your favorite creative resources?
Pinterest is a huge creative resource for me.
Blogs are my second creative resource—I try to read a large variety of blogs to gain different types of inspiration.
And of course, my huge collection of books. Sitting in a big comfy chair with a stack of books is my favorite activity.

6. Who inspires you online? Offline?
I am inspired by people not afraid to show their scars and their unfiltered stories. I can’t connect with people who try to create a world that is always sparkly—although I do adore The Glitter Guide (and definitely consider myself a *glitter girl!*).

If you’re anything like me, you want me to name names… okay, just this once! But please realize this list is far from comprehensive and doesn’t include people without hyperlinks. And one more note of caution—the list got a bit unwieldy, so I forced myself to pick just a little sample from my ever growing inspiration list!

Gwen Bell
Marissa Bracke
Havi Brooks 
Jess Constable
Kaileen Elise
Aby Garvey
Charlie Gilkey
Carolynn Giordano
Chris Guillebeau
Hope Wallace Karney
Brandon Ledford
Tiffany Moore
Tobe Reed
Julie Reif
Allie Rice
Kendi Skeen
Jess Swift
Michelle Ward

7. How do you make every day an extraordinary adventure?
By focusing on the present moment and in particular on gratitude. It’s in these ordinary moments that I notice myself smile and sparkle with happiness. And a splash of glitter always helps!

Image Credit: via Carolyn Rubenstein

Shall we make a new rule of life from tonight:
always to try to be a little kinder than is necessary?
(Sir James M. Barrie)

Self-care is an interesting topic. There are many opinions out there, and we often hold varying viewpoints within ourselves. Have you ever teetered between feeling proud of yourself for having good self-care, while also wondering if what you’re doing is selfish? Should you put yourself first? What about caring for those most important to you?

Today’s guest post from Holli takes a close look at these questions. She brings up some great points — most importantly, what works for me might not work for you. We can share our tips and tricks with each other, but it’s up to each individual to discover what makes her heart sing. What provides her with solace, comfort and peace.

Lately, I’ve found joy in rising early so I can spend time blogging before heading into work. I put my headphones on, sit down, and write. It feels so good — a little space for me before diving into a busy day. I hope you find Holli’s guest post thought-provoking. I would love to hear your insights on self-care in the comments below!

Holli (or as she is known on her blog, A Wondering Spirit, the Great Askini) is a 30-something accountant, wife, and mother. Her blog focuses on life & how to improve it, which sometimes includes thoughts on parenting, creative writing, style and exercise. She also attempts to fulfill her dream of being the next Dear Abby each week with her Wondering Wednesday advice column. Follow her on Twitter at @thegreataskini.

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Three years ago, I found a job which requires me to only report to the office four days a week. After my daughter was born and I returned to work, I started taking her to daycare on that fifth day and using it to do the kind of household chores that would normally get done during the weekend—things like going to the grocery, running other errands, getting my hair cut, and washing dishes and clothes. I did this so that I could spend my entire weekend focusing on our little family and not rushing around feeling like I had hardly seen my daughter. (It helped, of course, that my daughter loved daycare and begged to go, even on weekends.) Is this self-care or simply selfish?

I love to ride my bicycle, do yoga, and walk. Back in April, I walked my first half-marathon, and I’ve signed up to do another one in October. Lately, though, due to some sleep issues, I’ve been too exhausted to do much exercise. I set a goal of exercise every single morning as I’m getting ready for work, but by the end of the day, that goal is almost always left unmet. I tell myself I’m taking care of myself by listening to my body and recognizing that I’m tired, but I also feel that I’m not taking care of myself by moving my body lovingly and helping to increase my life expectancy. Is taking a day off from exercise self-care? How about two days? How about two weeks?

As you can see, I have a lot of issues with self-care. I tend to be an “all or nothing” thinker, and I have a hard time with the lines between self-care, self-indulgence, and simply beating yourself up. Lately, I’ve been using an affirmation along these lines: “I’m not perfect, and neither is anyone else, and we are all okay.” Although I feel silly saying this to myself over and over again in my car during my morning commute (hopefully everyone else thinks I’m on a Bluetooth!), I have found that it helps alleviate some of my feelings of guilt about doing what I think is best for me and for my family on any given day.

Spending my day off doing errands while my daughter is taken care of by someone else might not be right for you. It might not be right for most people. But right now, it’s right for my family. Not pushing my body beyond its capabilities might not be right for you either. But right now, it’s right for me.

I’m not perfect, and neither is anyone else. But we are all okay.

Where do you draw the lines between self-care, self-indulgence, and feeling selfish?

Image Credit: 0256 via Cia de Foto

Whenever you undertake a new project,
attempt to make as many mistakes as rapidly as possible
in order to learn as much as you can in a short period of time.
(Dan Zadra)

Hi there. What’s alive in you?

For me, it’s carving out new routines. Discovery. Change. A fresh path.

On Tuesday, I started a new job with a really amazing company in downtown Raleigh. I’m delighted to be able to do what I do (corporate recruiting) within an incredibly talented and creative atmosphere (digital agency). I cannot even begin to express my delight. My joy. The excitement bubbling up inside.

I’ve kept my shifting employment status a bit of a secret on the blog because I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to write. How much to share. When the search might end. What feelings were fleeting and irrelevant. Which were worth exploring and sharing in a public forum. Exposing personal details has been a challenge for me, so I’ve shied away from going too deep.

This life’s journey continues to evolve and develop into an amazing adventure. I feel so blessed and grateful to have an opportunity to learn alongside so many smart, funny and inspiring people.

At home, my Mister and I are learning to balance his demanding MBA program with my new commute and work schedule. It’s a juggling act for sure, but we’re both in the pursuit of our dreams. So we feel lucky.

Online, I am part of this unbelievably supportive community. Getting back into a blogging groove has filled my heart with joy. Opening my MacBook is like a little gift I give myself. Each time I sit down to write I wonder what might unfold. When I open my Google Reader, I revel in joining you for pieces of your journey.

At the office, each minute is about learning. Today marks day 3. There are pieces of me that feel like I already know how to dive in. Other parts still feel like the new girl. It’s an automatic beginner’s mind, disorienting and wonderful at the same time.

Image Credit: Railroad Weeds via Kevin Dooley

Live with intention.
Walk to the edge. Listen hard.
Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh.
Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends.
Continue to learn. Do what you love.
Live as if this is all there is.
(Mary Anne Radmacher)

Hi there! I’m Analiese, and I blog about food, health, and holistic living at Green Plate Studios, though some of you may recognize me from my former blog, Tulips & Tea. As a long-time reader and fan of Kaileen’s blog, I’m so excited to be guest posting today!

A couple years ago, frustrated with my lack of energy and general feelings of blah-ness, I embarked on an effort to transform my health. In the process, I discovered a passion for wellness that changed not only my physical self, but also my career and life’s work. Wanting to help others experience the same level of health and happiness, I enrolled at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and now spend my time writing about and counseling others in nutrition and wellness as a holistic health coach. What an amazing two years it has been!

It can be difficult, especially as a woman, to prioritize our own wants and needs. There’s a lot of pressure to maintain a façade of perfection: fabulous social lives, successful careers, and always-amazing relationships – not to mention a physical appearance that meets with society’s approval. Yet, it’s critical to realize that we must first nourish ourselves – literally and figuratively – in order to build a strong foundation that will enable us to truly live the life of our dreams (our own dreams that is, not anyone else’s!).

Sounds great, you might be thinking. But how exactly do I put it into practice?

Here are the 4 elements of self-care that I’ve experienced as absolutely essential in my path toward wellness:

1. Find your glow with fresh, whole foods.

Clean, unprocessed foods boost energy levels and provide you with the nutrients you need to look and feel your best. Reclaim your right to super juicy good health (not to mention beautiful skin, shiny hair, and all-around goddess-like vibrance) by consuming a colorful, plant-heavy diet of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Eat close to the source by emphasizing local, seasonal fare and, as Michael Pollan says, avoid “anything with more than five ingredients, or ingredients you can’t pronounce.”

Have fun with food by experimenting with new recipes, and remember that a meal doesn’t need to be complicated to be good. Here are some of my favorite resources for learning to cook and eat with whole foods.

2. Integrate movement into your life in a way that feeds your spirit and invigorates your soul.

When it comes to movement, a world of delicious, heart-pumping adventure awaits. Think outdoor activities like swimming, running, walking, hiking, biking, kayaking, canoeing, surfing, rock climbing, and mountaineering. Restorative yoga and tai chi practices. Booty-shaking salsa dancing, hip-hop dancing, and Zumba. Martial Arts. Tennis. Boxing. Frisbee. Whatever makes you break a sweat and puts a smile on your face. Instead of viewing exercise as a chore, ask yourself what kind of movement you crave. Let your body’s intuition be your guide.

3. Release whatever doesn’t support your true self.

I believe that true wellness is so much broader than simply fulfilling the needs of the physical body. To truly call ourselves “healthy,” we must consider the whole package. True wellness means filling our lives with the things that align with our essential selves, and that goes for our relationships, careers, and virtually any other facet of life you can think of.

Take steps to clear out the sludge: toxic people (you know the ones I’m talking about), less-than-fulfilling relationships, negative habits, soul-crushing jobs, stressful commutes, etc., even if it means making big – and potentially scary – changes. Throw Out Fifty Things: Clear the Clutter, Find Your Life by Gail Blanke is great resource on this topic.

4. Create space for possibility.

When you let go of the clutter, you create a clean canvas on which to paint a new image of your life. Fill the newfound time and space with things and activities that will support your personal growth and feed your real self. That might mean nurturing friendships, creative pursuits, a new career path, or a renewed commitment to your own development. Ask yourself what you envision for yourself one year, five years, and ten years down the road. Set specific goals and trust the voice inside you, the one that whispers “You can do it!” You can do it. With your foundation firmly in place, you’ll soon begin noticing that suddenly, anything seems possible. Lean into the possibility. Your life awaits.

I hope these thoughts inspire you to begin (or continue) your own wellness journey! I would love to hear about your successes, challenges, and experiences.

Analiese is a food writer, holistic health coach, and sustainable foods advocate. A lover of vinyasa yoga, cooking, gardening, dark chocolate, and the outdoors, Analiese lives, works, and writes from her perch in beautiful Annapolis, Maryland, where she lives with her husband, Jason, and a fittingly foodie dachshund named Basil (yes, like the herb). Learn more by visiting Analiese’s website, or connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.

Image Credit: via We♥It

Three keys to more abundant living:
caring about others, daring for others, sharing with others.
(William Arthur Ward)

Breathe deep.
The Mister and I are in the final stretch of some major personal challenges. Friday could not come sooner. Until then, we wait patiently. Love each other a little extra. Rest. Believe in better things that are just around the corner.

Trust the process.
The next few months will bring shifting seasons. The Mister will begin his pursuit of an MBA in finance. I will dive back into yoga, running & healthy eating. We will slip into a new rhythm together.

Make something.
I’m starting to see how the new place can become a cozy home for the next few years. It’s a great space with high ceilings, wood floors and more than enough room for two. We have a beautiful Ikea bookcase on order. I’m dreaming of it filled with new books.

Ask for help.
When I mentioned I was seeking guest bloggers, I was delighted with the response. Taylor’s tasty recipes are mouthwatering, Jenn’s balanced approach is inspiring, and Caiti’s creative insights have me eager to explore my new town. There are more guest posts on the horizon, so keep a lookout—or email me if you’re interested in guesting these next few weeks!

Find time for laughter.
Living amongst chaos is disorienting, but laughter offers momentary amnesia. The Mister and I have found relief in watching funny movies. Cedar Rapids and Horrible Bosses were both surprising saving graces.

Believe in love.
I took off last Thursday & Friday to spend time with family at a nearby lake. Waking up on the water brought peace to my heart. Being surrounded by love, snuggles and sweet kisses grounded me in a way I didn’t expect.

Celebrate joy.
This past weekend, the Mister and I found ourselves in the midst of our 3 year anniversary. It was unexpected, just like many things this summer. We tried out a restaurant that’s close to our new home. It was a sweet, easy & simple celebration.

Image Credit: Original Paper Cut Quote via mrYen

It’s amazing how much a home is like a puzzle, with so many pieces and just one way that it all fits together. We’ve finished the outline and are now working on filling in the picture. The toughest part is done and we’re left with fun things like picking out new sheets, picture frames and candles.

Recently I put out a call for guest bloggers and I was overjoyed when Jenn Gibson offered to share her wisdom on balancing work, play, and passion.

Jenn believes in dreaming big : she’s the creator of Roots of She. She loves yoga and the beach, is a photographer & writer, and isn’t above stealing snuggles from Bean the Boy Kitten. Daily parts of her life are paper journaling, talking to her dear sweet momma & sky-gazing. You can follow her on Twitter and visit her often over at Roots of She.

In art and dream may you proceed with abandon.
In life may you proceed with balance and stealth.
(Patti Smith)

And sometimes, may you proceed with all three at once.

In order to make my life work, I cultivate each of these things.

Abandon: This is how I choose to live, with abandon. I embrace each moment with bright joy and drink it down.

Stealth: When faced with a challenge, I move with stealth. Unobtrusively, I observe how I’m feeling, what I’m thinking, and go from there.

Which leaves us with balance, the trickiest of Patti’s trio.

Finding symmetry for balance and abandon is almost always a delicate thing, and rarely an easy thing. It’s something I keep coming up against and that I’ve been working on in my life, especially where it relates to the intersection of work and play: my job and my passion.

My job: I work for a nonprofit, and my main focus there is on social media strategy and creating original multimedia content. I’m always on the computer — Tweeting, updating Facebook, researching new social media platforms, editing videos, drafting questions for interviews.

My passion: I run Roots of She, a collaborative project that tells the stories of the female experience, in all of its shapes, sizes and forms. The site launched a little over six months ago, and it’s now in the third cycle of contributors.

My relationship with social media and technology is evolving — the more my job and passion become integrated with the social web, the more I need to ensure that things stay light and fun. That there is balance between work and play.
Which leads me to this:

Tools and tricks of my trade, or: some of the practices that help me find balance

• E-mail: I check my e-mail once a day, normally in the afternoon. It’s so easy for me to fall into the rabbit hole of rapid replies and obsessively refreshing my inbox. Putting gentle boundaries around this gives me the freedom to enjoy responding to the notes that come my way instead of having it become stressful and rushed.
• Auto-reply: I have an auto-reply on my e-mail that lets people know that I’m only checking e-mail once daily. This lets them off the hook for waiting for a quick reply, and it affords me the space to not be constantly checking my e-mail. It removes the obligation of a quick response, on both sides.
• HootSuite: This program saves me — one of its features is message scheduling. I can schedule tweets and messages days or even a couple weeks in advance, so when I log onto Twitter or Facebook, it’s all playtime — catching up and being silly with friends, checking out interesting links. Engaging with people in a mindful way: being present with them and not think ‘Oh I need to tweet this post’ or something along those lines. And your presence is powerful.
• Unplugging: I recently decided on a no-Internet after work policy. I don’t turn on the computer, I don’t even open it. I went so far and removed the Facebook and HootSuite apps from my Droid. I have to tell you, it’s a lot quieter now. I’m not constantly checking to see if the little LED light is blinking at me, instead I’m rooted to my yoga mat or writing in a paper journal or sharing a conversation on the phone. I’m connecting with the people, things and dreams that live in my heart.

Because I know that when I practice these things, I feel calmer and more centered, I’m not drained or fatigued. I know that then I’m giving you the best of me, the best of what I am. You deserve no less than that, and neither do I.

Image Credit: Balance, originally uploaded by PiscesDreamer

The moment when you first wake up in the morning
is the most wonderful of the twenty-four hours.
No matter how weary or dreary you may feel, you possess the certainty that,
during the day that lies before you, absolutely anything may happen.
And the fact that it practically always doesn’t,
matters not a jot. The possibility is always there.
(Monica Baldwin)

I have this vision of my ideal morning.
It plays out quite similar to the start of a romantic comedy.

An easy Bon Iver song plays in the background. I unfold my skinny arms and legs into a looong stretch. I roll over, shut off the alarm and climb out of bed with a serene smile on my lips. Ready, open and excited to start my day. I sip green tea. Write my morning pages. I practice yoga, meditate and craft a healthy, yet delicious, vegan breakfast. I casually browse my favorite blogs, indulge in the perfect cup of coffee. I take a refreshing shower, find the perfect outfit and effortlessly apply my makeup.

Sometimes my aspirations get the better of me. The vision of what should be takes hold and shines a bright light on all my insecurities. If I was doing all I could to pursue my dreams, I would have mornings like this. If I was better at time management. If I were more disciplined. If I was more dedicated to the cause.

Maybe this is true. Maybe the morning is just a jarring transition from the safety of sleep and the glaring reality of day. Romantic comedy morning routines do not happen in real life.

When I get caught up in the woulds and shoulds, I find myself in a lose-lose situation. If I hit snooze a few extra times, I’ve missed my chance at a perfect morning. If I wake up earlier, I still can’t fit in everything before I have to run off to work. The result? I roll over, hit snooze once more, and curse myself as I rush out the door.

A morning worth waking to is the remedy.

An agenda-free greeting to the day. An excuseless opportunity to do whatever feels best. If I want an extra 15 minutes, so be it. There is nothing like an extra dream to start a day off right. If I want to rise with the sun and practice some yoga, excellent. If I wake with a brilliant thought to work through, morning pages will be where I begin.

How do you make peace with your mornings?
I would love to hear about how you approach the day!

Image Credit: via We♥It

It is impossible to live without failing at something,
unless you live so cautiously
that you might as well not have lived at all.
(J. K. Rowling)

Hello friends! I’m feeling excited and energized after a fabulous blogcation. The time away gave me a chance to relax and reflect, all while showering my Mister with extra smooches.

It’s really nice to step back and breathe. I’ve taken pauses from blogging before, but this is the first time I didn’t feel guilty about it. Pre-planning definitely eased my discomfort, but your encouraging comments helped me stand firm. Even though I was tempted to tweet, I surprised myself by staying logged off Twitter for a few days too!

I recently mentioned that it seems like I’ve lost my way. This is something I know we all go through from time to time — and I also know that the best way for me to get out of a funk is to get moving.

Over the next few weeks I plan to revitalize my workout & healthy-living routine, reevaluate my spending habits, reboot my online presence (a return to frequent posts & a spring swap!?), and reconnect to the people/moments/things that make my heart sing.

It might sound like a lot to bite off at once, but I’m promising to be patient with myself and to release my all or nothing tendencies. A little yoga here and there, mixed with some reality TV and healthy home cooked meals — sounds like the adjustment I’ve been craving.

Hopefully you will enjoy seeing more of me ’round these parts. I am definitely looking forward to rebooting and reconnecting with you!

Image Credit: VI ÄR FÖR JÄVLA BRA! via we♥it