Oh, to laugh! . . . .

“I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person.”

-Audrey Hepburn

Happy Friday!

Living a balanced life . . . .

Live a balanced life. Learn some and think some and draw some and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.

-Robert Fulghum

Keep your cool . . . .

Summer travel plans have begun, and we are bound to have this happen once or twice. If you anticipate it happening, and it doesn't . . . .  bonus! 

How will you react if it does?

Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.

-Thomas Jefferson

Joy ride . . . .

How are you treating the most important person in your life? I'm not referring to your significant other, parent or child, I'm referring to YOU! Many people sacrifice their own happiness for others, thinking they are being a good person. We are taught to put ourselves last, and as a consequence, we begin to feel unworthy, undeserving, and not important enough. Those feelings eventually lead to resentment. Are you treating yourself with love and respect? When we tend to our own joy, and do what makes us happy, we are a joy to be around! We become a shining example to our children, and every person in our life. It is our own responsibility. We have to tend to our own joy, before we can give joy away! When you are feeling joy, it becomes effortless to emit feelings of happiness. The more you emit, the more you receive. What a wonderful ride to be on!

Pure pleasures . . . .

Cookies & milk.

Moments like these.

A good night's rest.

Coffee & conversation.

Rocking chairs.

Fresh, clean sheets.

A warm, roasted marshmellow.

Who's Your (favorite) Daddy?

Andy Griffith

Charles Ingalls

Ward Clever

Mike Brady

Cliff Huxtable

Ray Barone

Frank Barone

Al Bundy

 Happy Father's Day!

Ahhhhhh, clarity . . . .

My office is clean!, and it feels like the cobwebs have been cleared from my mind.

My visions are much clearer now, and I am heading happily in to the weekend!

Happy Friday!

Note to Self . . . .

What is your vision for the life you want to live, and do your life choices reflect that vision?

I love this question! . . and it came at a perfect time. My messy office has lead me astray, and it has interrupted my vision. My choice to let things pile up has left me unorganized, unable to focus, and I have lost the clarity that I love so much. We all have things in mind that we want to accomplish, things we strive for, and promises we make to ourselves, but just how many of our daily choices actually move us towards those things? If we're making the wrong choices, we often end up sabotaging our own dreams. When you can stay focused, you'll run straight towards your dreams. So clean up that office, girl.

It's time to get back on track, and I couldn't be happier.

(Gosh...all that because I don't deal well with clutter.)

Just something yummy . . . .

Cinnamon Banana Spring Rolls 

with Caramel-Butter Sauce

Caramel-Butter Sauce

1/3 c. butter

1/2 c. packed brown sugar

1/3 c. cream

1/2 c. milk

1 t. vanilla

Cinnamon (optional)

Melt the butter in a saucepan with the sugar, milk & cream over medium-high heat. Stir mixture constantly, until it reaches a rolling boil. Boil for 3-4 minutes. Add vanilla, turn to low, and leave on burner until ready to serve.

Cinnamon Banana Spring Rolls

Bananas

Spring Roll Wrappers

Cinnamon

Vanilla Sugar

Whipped Cream

Chopped nuts, optional

Peel the bananas, and cut them just a bit shorter than the length of the  spring roll wrappers. Place the banana at one corner of the wrapper. Sprinkle with cinnamon and a dash of vanilla sugar (or regular sugar). Begin to roll the banana up, folding in the sides of the wrapper, and forcing the banana to lay straight, since most have a slight curve. Wrap as tight as possible. Heat oil in pan, and fry until all sides are golden brown. Top with whipped cream, nuts & caramel-butter sauce, or even powdered sugar, if desired.

Recipe via Hot Off The Garlic Press

In memory of my cousin, my friend . . . .

Love you John. Rest in peace. xoxo

Loving these images . . . .

The ultimate prize . . . .

Crossing the finish line . . . .

I've been busy the past several weeks with a project that had a deadline, and I managed to finish today. Don't you just love the feeling of accomplishment? I get such a sense of satisfaction with completion. It tends to give me the inspiration that I need for the next project. I often wonder how I would do if I didn't have a deadline? I have a paperweight on my desk that reads, "the ultimate inspiration is the deadline." I love deadlines! I need deadlines! I'm thinking I should begin to self-impose deadlines for things like, . . . . . laundry! The laundry is due at 4:00, or, or,....you're fired!

If you're feeling unproductive today, take a baby step toward something that has been left undone in your life. The progression you make will motivate you to continue. The important thing is to simply begin.