Everyday, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive,
I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it.
I am going to use all my energies to develop myself,
to expand my heart out to others;
to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings.
I am going to have kind thoughts towards others,
I am not going to get angry or think badly about others.
I am going to benefit others as much as I can.
(Dalai Lama)

Happy Friday to you, my lovelies. Are you looking forward to the weekend? I try to mix fun to-dos with necessary chores to keep my weekends happy & productive.

This week I’m looking forward to spending time with my Mister, blogging & reading blogs, flipping through the big stack of February magazines on our coffee table, and grocery shopping for the Bonus! Week 4 of the Whole Living 2012 Action Plan.

Do you have anything exciting planned for the weekend ahead? The following list of ideas and creative weekend to-dos are intended to inspire. Consider this a friendly reminder to seek out little delights and exceptional joys in the days ahead. I invite you to share your plans in the comments below!

embrace these 10 real-talk blog tips
make new playlists for yoga & running
set up external hard drive for MacBook
sort through Google Reader & add a few new blogs
run 2 miles on Saturday, 3 on Sunday
finish reading Style Statement
watch an inspiring manifesto
download new podcasts

I hope that you find yourself happy and enjoying some time for yourself this weekend, however you end up spending it. See you here again on Sunday for another Good Eats & Gratitude post!

Image Credit: 16-05-10 Last Of The Summer (Wine) via Bethan

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If you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track
that has been there all the while, waiting for you,
and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living.
When you can see that, you begin to meet people
who are in your field of bliss, and they open doors to you.
I say, follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and
doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be.
(Joseph Campbell)

This fall, I will be celebrating my blog’s 3-year anniversary. Three years of showing up, sharing inspiration and connecting with more creative souls than I ever imagined possible.

The keys to a happy blogger? Make a plan, set realistic expectations, write as often as you can, and believe in a little magic. Then wait to see what happens next.

My intentions for this year and KaileenElise.com are one in the same. I plan to focus my energy on living a healthy, active life. I want to blog regularly, but without the pressure and pace of posting daily. I have a content map, plus a long-term strategy and short-term goals. I’m giddy about what’s next—eager to curate links, quotes and images that will inspire you.

I’m quite fond of outlines, lists and game plans. Knowing this, I identified 12 intentions for 2012. Guideposts for this journey, touchstones threaded through each month. Overall, this year is about focus and heart…with a touch of sparkle!

Hat tip to Lifestylista Monica McCarthy for the wonderful idea of compiling a vision board of sorts for 2012 intentions. I love how mine turned out. It’s going straight to my desktop—and I plan to create mini versions for my iPhone each month.

Have you done something like this for your blog? I’ve never sat down and thought an entire year through like this, so I’d love to know more about your experience!

Image Credits: My Work Desk via DeaPeaJay
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12

I believe that everything happens for a reason.
People change so that you can learn to let go,
things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they’re right,
you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself,
and sometimes good things fall apart
so better things can fall together.
(Marilyn Monroe)

The last month of 2011 has arrived! Are you ready for it?

This is my favorite time of year. I am feeling giddy about twinkling lights, cozy sweaters, wrapping presents, Christmas music, holiday parties, visiting family, living in gratitude, reflecting on the past, ringing in the New Year, dancing, singing, and celebrating.

It’s hard to believe that Gwen, Cali and I were kicking off #reverb10 this time last year. Now the project has been turned over to the community. Yesterday I shared my plan for #reverb11 — with a loving invitation for you to join. During the week I will be writing to each prompt in my journal, then posting thoughts on Saturdays.

Life’s been busy, but so very good to me. I set my intentions for November in this post, and while I didn’t cross everything off my list, it was a great month.

The Highlights:

• Try 2 new recipes: Yes! Come back this Sunday for a new series I’m calling Good Eats & Gratitude.
• Workout 5 times each week: I didn’t reach this goal, but I did run 8 days in November, for a total of 20 miles. Better than nothing!
• Run 2 races – 5K on 11/3 & 8K on Thanksgiving: I’m proud to say I actually made this happen. The 5K was super tough, but the race last Thursday was wonderful.
• Finish reading A Place of Yes and Loving Frank: I got through Frank, even though it was a slow read. The ending was a real shock, so I’m glad I didn’t give up. A Place of Yes has been tough to get into, but I’m determined to finish soon.

December Intentions:

• Write, journal or blog daily.
• Contribute to the #reverb11 community.
• Mail Christmas cards by Dec 12.
• Enjoy festivities with family & friends.
• Take more pictures!
• Set intentions for 2012.

And how about you? Share your intentions and goals for December in the comments below!

Image Credit: Snow “Explore” via Luis Hernandez – D2k6.es

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To practice any art, no matter how well or badly,
is a way to make your soul grow. So do it.
(Kurt Vonnegut)

The weekend has arrived! What do you lovelies have planned? I’m looking forward to spending time with my Mister, meeting up with friends, catching some extra sleep and blogging for next week.

The following list of ideas, links, and creative weekend to-do’s are intended to inspire. Consider this a friendly reminder to seek out little delights and exceptional joys in the days ahead. I invite you to share your plans and creative to-do’s in the comments below!

run a few miles on the treadmill & practice yoga
find a beautiful way to count the days
beam music to the could with iTunes Match & play with Drinkify
add Spoon Fork Bacon, My Baking Addiction, & The Notebook Doodles to Google Reader
paint nails, listen to The Civil Wars, do laundry & clean house
enjoy a midday shopping trip with a great friend
order holiday cards & finalize gift list
sign up for monthly crafty goodness
wrap a pretty gift for Micaela’s Ornament Swap
prepare & grocery shop for a Thanksgiving feast for two
find a few ways to put extra care into the everyday details
finish reading A Place of Yes and start this

Image Credit: untitled via hillary the mammal 

Just the knowledge that a good book is awaiting
one at the end of a long day makes that day happier.
(Kathleen Norris)

When my Mister and I moved in together, decorating came easy.

Our tastes mesh well — clean lines and dark furniture, artwork of city skylines. We agreed on getting one feature piece for our new home. While he’s not a huge fan of throw pillows and I could do without surround sound, we both wanted a bookcase.

He’s an avid reader and I’m an eager shopper — the combination makes for a considerable library. Organized by color and type. Business books toward the bottom, cookbooks in the middle. It’s really quite lovely.

Except.

My love for buying books has outpaced my reading in a big way. There are 50+ books in these shelves that I haven’t finished and most I haven’t even started. Because of this, I’ve asked myself:

Can you go 1 year without buying a book for yourself?

Yes, I’m up for the challenge.

For a lot of people this might sound easy, maybe even a little silly. But as someone who has a hard time walking past Barnes & Nobel without something catching my eye, I need to do this. There’s so much knowledge, entertainment and inspiration within reach.

My goodreads account is set up, and my unread books are listed on my to-read shelf. With the exclusion of gifts and book club books, I’m dedicated to reading what I own before buying anything new.

//

Have you tried anything like this before? If so, I would love to hear about your experience!

Image Credit: Needtobreathe via Always Bë Cool

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.
Nothing can be done without hope or confidence.
(Helen Keller)

Hello friends! I hope you’ve had a nice week. Mine has been a bit crazy, but in a busy/good sort of way. I know I said it before, but I seriously missed all of you. Diving back into blogging has made me such a happy camper.

Last night I stayed up too late catching up on my Google Reader. There are so many talented folks out there! If you’re looking for new bloggers to follow, I highly recommend that you check out my Daily Reads. (Click over to the blog if you’re in a Reader.)

On an unrelated note, the Mister’s been out of town the past few days for an MBA stock pitch competition hosted by The Johnson School at Cornell. If you have some winning vibes to spare, please send them his way!

Do you have any fun plans for the weekend ahead? I’m hoping to get a jumpstart on things by heading to Target and the grocery store after work tonight (something I usual leave to Sundays). If I’m feeling frisky, I might even get my laundry started.

The following list of ideas, links, and creative weekend to-do’s are intended to inspire. Consider this a friendly reminder to seek out little delights and exceptional joys in the days ahead. I invite you to share your plans and creative to-do’s in the comments below!

sign up for a goodreads account
listen to this while cleaning the house
get organized for 2012 with a stylish planner
reflect on last month’s favorite things
do what it takes to follow your inner guide
think about yourself from a different perspective
get a new techcessory for iPhone or iPad
add a new favorite blog to the list
read, run & write for November Intentions

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Image Credit: Autumn. | Walking through leaves | Autumn Sunshine. via Eselle

To change your life:
Start immediately, do it flamboyantly, no exceptions.
(William Jones)

I love putting together playlists and listening to music throughout the day.

At the office, I put my headphones on when it’s time to focus, tune in and get productive. I also use them to block out distractions when I’m blogging from the coffee shop. Right now I’m wearing Skullcandy ‘s 50/50 earbuds, which are very comfortable and a nice alternative to the standard-issue Apple headphones.

In addition to mixtape and playlist posts on other blogs, I use  Pandora and iTunes Genius Recommendations to discover new artists. While exploring songs for today’s post, I ended up downloading Florence + The Machine’s new album Ceremonials and Coldplay’s Mylo Xyloto. Have you listened to either? I think I like F+TM’s better, but they are both pretty good.

The Autumn Playlist below is a perfect blend of mellow songs for a chilly day. I plan on listening to it while blogging, working through my emails at work, and folding laundry this weekend. All the links lead to iTunes, so head over and have a listen. I hope you enjoy!

Rude to Rile / Horse Feathers
Her Morning Elegance / The Opposite Side of the Sea
Broadripple is Burning / Margot and The Nuclear So & So’s
Paperweight / Joshua Radin & Schuyler Fisk
Lost Coastlines / Okkervil River
Brooklyn Blurs / The Paper Raincoat
A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall / Jason Mraz
Pancho Villa / Sun Kil Moon
Poison & Wine / The Civil Wars
Why You / Joe Purdy
Run / Matt Nathanson feat. Jennifer Nettles & Kristian Bush
Oh, La / Ra Ra Riot
Swans / Unckle Bob
Loro / Pinback
Rooms / Mia and Jonah
Strange & Beautiful (I’ll Put a Spell On You) / Aqualung

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Image Credit: 0394 via Cia de Foto

Hello friends. Thank you the sweet welcome yesterday. It feels good to be back!

Do you set goals for each new month?

It’s something I like to do — and it seems to be very popular across the blogosphere. However, my personal goals have been nothing more than good intentions recently.

My aim for November is to truly dedicate myself to the goals I’ve set. They are a bit ambitious, but I know I can achieve them with some extra focus and enthusiasm.

• Blog 5 times a week
• Try 2 new recipes
• Workout 5 times each week
• Run 2 races: 5K next weekend & 8K on Thanksgiving
• Finish reading A Place of Yes and Loving Frank
• Finish Christmas cards
• Plan gifts for family & friends

And you? I would love to know more about your goals for November, and if you have any tips for goal-setting success!

Image Credit: [101] there is a river made of light. via Stephen Brace

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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

Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself,
“I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today.
I can choose which it shall be.
Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet.
I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it.”
(Groucho Marx)

Inspired by my dear friend Analiese, here are ten good things I’m enjoying…

1. Collaborating with soul sisters* on secret projects.
2. Mailing handwritten gratitude.
3. Shopping for cozy sweaters and cold weather wear.
4. Brewing coffee at home in the mornings (instead making daily trips to Starbucks).
5. Working on my new computer and discovering new music on Pandora.
6. Counting down the days until my trip to Las Vegas & Napa!
7. Searching for inspiring Thanksgiving recipes.
8. Painting my nails and sipping on wine after a long day.
9. Laughing at damn you autocorrect‘s hilarious posts.
10. Reflecting on 2010 and preparing to manifest what’s next.

How about you, what good things are making you smile?

*Click this link to travel back in time. My love and gratitude for this community remains the same, one year later. It’s amazing to see how this space has helped to shape where I am as a woman today.

Image Credit: via weheartit