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.

Shift your focus . . . .

"Develop an interest in life as you see it; the people, things, literature, music - the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself." 

-Henry Miller

Random NYC neighborhoods . . . .

Washington Square Park

5th Avenue South - this dog was DONE walking

Walking the kids home from school

Chelsea

The West Village

Book signing at SoHo Apple store

Lunch break - near NYU

Central Park

Flatiron

Near NYU

SoHo

Lower East Side

Chinatown

Astor Place

Photo's taken myself

Everywhere a sign. . . .

It was the last day in the city before heading home. It's so hard to leave a place that you love so much. I try to stay longer each time, and this time, even 2 weeks wasn't enough. Next time, a month perhaps. I must say, my feet are throbbing though. We walked through several neighborhoods looking for the word-of-the-day...signs.

Sharing just a few.............

Self-expression

All it costs him is his time, and he gets so much in return

"If there's any way I can help . . . . "

Wonderful assistance for students - photographed on a pole near NYU

Advertising his company

I also found this adorable short film entitled 'Signs' about communication, and I thought was worth sharing.

Photos taken myself

A Passionate City . . . .

While sitting at an outdoor cafe in SoHo, it didn't take long to load my camera with 275 additional images that described the word-of-the-day....Passionate. Another easy word to capture in this city...so much diversity.

A passion for life

A passion for fashion

A Passion for fun

Photo's taken myself

Never stop questioning . . . .

It was a very full day yesterday with my son's graduation, so needless to say, we got sidetracked with the photo exercise. I just wanted to take this time to congratulate Nick on receiving his BFA in Acting. We are so proud of you, and look forward to watching you make your way in this world. 

Nick, the reward in life is a feeling you will get at the end of the day when you have done something for someone who cannot repay you. Give, and you will get more in return than anything money can buy. 

We love you.

Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you. 

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

De-li-cious: adjective, highly pleasant to the taste; delightful . . . .

It was a Delicious day! . . . . hence, today's word. After walking so much yesterday, we decided to take a blanket, a picnic lunch, a bottle of wine & our cameras to Central Park. It was 84 degrees.....just lovely.

So how would you describe 'delicious'? My first thought was food! Something yummy. Something melt-in-your-mouth, scrumptiously delightful. I think of my son when he eats something that he loves. He closes his eyes and disappears in to his own tasty world. It makes me smile.

Another way that I view delicious would be anything that warms my heart, which is what I saw, and tried to capture in my photo's.

Here are my delicious photo's for today..............

In the eye of the beholder . . . .

The photo exercise continued today with the word Art. It is very easy in New York City to find art....it is literally everywhere. Some notice it, and others don't. What a shame to miss out! We walked several miles, and loaded our cameras with images that were just begging to be captured. I loved today's assignment!!

"Art is much less important than life, but what a poor life without it."

-Robert Motherwell

What do YOU love? . . . .

First of all, I love New York City. To me, it represents diversity, possibility and opportunity. I have been blessed to be able to spend quite a bit of time here over the past 4 years, and have made it my personal goal to spend even more time here.

My sister-in-law Jenni, http://pointofviewlens.blogspot.com, who inspires me to no end with her passion for life, has come up with a little challenge. For the next several days, we have decided to do a daily photo exercise. We will have a word of the day, capture that word in a photo, then blog about it. Our first word is Love.

Today, my photo's are about loving the moment. Loving family. Loving life.

I have found that if you love life, life will love you back.

-Arthur Rubinstein

What do you love?

Photo's taken myself

Put a lil' Love into it!

Today, I celebrate 25 years of marriage to my best friend. I cannot imagine my life without you, Reggie. I love more today than the day I married you! 

Happy Anniversary baby! 

"It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into the giving."

-Mother Teresa

Laugh it up! . . . .

How are you feeling? If your answer is "I feel good", that's awesome! Keep doing what you're doing! You are attracting more good things to you! It really is pretty simple. You have two sets of feelings: good or bad. If you are feeling bad, make a conscious effort to quickly change what you are thinking. Close your eyes, focus on your feelings inside, and smile for one minute. You can literally shift your awareness to purposefully elevate your mood! For me, it's as simple as  putting on my favorite music. Focus on what makes you happy. Focus on something funny. Laugh out loud. Make a list of 5 things you are grateful for. Say 'Thank You' out loud! It is guaranteed, if you can do this, you can make the switch to better feelings. Better feelings = more good feelings = even more good feelings. Keep it goin!

Looking at a photo like this might help!

Ooh, I feel better already!

Lovin' the ordinary. . . .

Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in the quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.

-Mary Jean Irion

Shakin' it up a bit. . . .

I had so much fun!!

It's always good to get away, but to me, it's always exciting to return home again. It always feels like a chance to begin again....start refreshed. If there was something that didn't feel right before you left, returning from vacation always feels like the perfect time to change that. I'm shifting gears in my mind now.....willing to take a look at my routine, and make any adjustments that might make my day a little more productive, organized, rewarding or creative. Time to shake it up a bit!