taking on something challenging...

and not just not falling on my face with it, but actually doing it well enough to be told, "you know what?  This is gonna be good.  You can do it!"

And what exactly is "it?"  I've been working up singing some new songs lately... going with the rock/alternative genre to get out of my comfort zone and challenge me vocally.  I chose the song My Immortal by Evanescence for the fact that I love the song and I knew it would be a piece that was going to stretch my vocal abilities.  As Philip and I were practicing last night, he asked if there was another Evanescence song we can ADD to the current song list.  We took a look at YouTube and pulled up Bring Me To Life and listened to it to remember which song it was.  As soon as I heard it, I was like, "No way!!  There is no way I can cover that song... totally out of my vocal range."  So, Philip said, "Just give it a try.  Sing along with the video and into the mic and let me hear."  Well, I did and holy cow it wasn't bad... it was actually good and we've added it to our set list...along with My Immortal!!!  Wahoo for taking risks!!

"He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life."

 ~Muhammad Ali

books

.

...because I love to read.  I love to learn.  I love expanding my imagination through the words on the page before me...  BOOKS RULE!!

“A room without books is like a body without a soul.” 

~ Marcus Tullius Cicero

Kindness

In this moment, I am feeling an immense gratitude for the generosity of loving kindness received from seeing a friend at church that I haven't seen in a very long time.  What a real treat to see you this morning, Marie!!

Creative Endeavors

I put together a photo montage video yesterday of the first MY Session held by MY Music Yoga this past June.  Here is the end result which I am completely pleased with.  Happy viewing!!

"Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort."

~Franklin D. Roosevelt

Low Country Boil

My sweetie, Philip, told me this morning that he's going to cook dinner for me tonight... a low country boil!  A week ago today we were in Savannah and that's what we had for dinner.  It was delicious!!

Actually, we had a date night last night to record some music and then come home for a low country boil dinner.  Our plans had to change because we had to go to out to Galilee to take care of some things for some campers that are there right now.  I decided I wasn't going to let the change ruin our night.  We took care of what we needed to take care of.  We did it together as a team... no complaints.

And tonight... I get my low country boil and I get to share it with sweetie!!!  Yay!!

You gotta learn to just go with the flow of life and good things will come to you.

spontaneous fun!

My sweet love, Philip, and I are on our vacation headed down to Orlando, Florida.  We stopped into Charleston yesterday and spent a little time at the battery.  He was taking a few photos of me when he spotted the kids climbing along the fence and then he said to me, "Get up there with them!"  At first, I was like, "No!"  But then I jumped in and had a blast with the kids!!  I'm so thankful for Philip bringing out the fun little girl inside of me yesterday.  Pure joy, sweetie!  I love you!!!

You can be childlike without being childish. A child always wants to have fun. Ask yourself, 'Am I having fun?'  ~Christopher Meloni

facing my fears

...for the courage it takes to face my fears (rowrrrrrr!)

...for deciding that I'm moving forward and will no longer be kept down

...for being strong in the face of doubt

...for acting with grace and kindness

...for the empowerment that comes with telling myself and the non-believers and the non-supporters, "Hey!  Guess what?  I'm here to STAY!!"

“When fear ceases to scare you, it cannot stay.”

~ Gary Zukav

Heart-Shaped Shells

I love finding heart-shaped shells on my beach walks!!!

"This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness."

~Dalai Lama

A super, fabulous awesome Tuesday...

...spent with my Sweetie!!!  :-)  From teaching yoga class while Philip played the guitar, to sharing lunch together... to a sweet afternoon nap, to choir rehearsals... to the beach and to more singing and playing the guitar in the evening.  I am so thankful that we spent almost the entire day together and had so much friendship, fun, laughter and LOVE to fill our day!!!

"I believe that two people are connected at the heart, and it doesn't matter what you do, or who you are or where you live; there are no boundaries or barriers if two people are destined to be together."
~Julia Roberts

Sweet Rainy Mornings

I love the sunshine, but I also love those grayish mornings when the day begins its entrance and I hear the sound of falling rain.  There is something very delicious in that.  Of course, it invites me to stay in my cozy bed and not get up... perhaps the only drawback to the rain!

"And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow."

~Gilbert K. Chesterton

Hugh McRae Park

I could sit at this spot for hours and daydream.... or write.... or meditate... and just enjoy the beauty...

Nature surrounds us, from parks and backyards to streets and alleyways. Next time you go out for a walk, tread gently and remember that we are both inhabitants and stewards of nature in our neighbourhoods."

~David Suzuki

my delete button :-)

Yes, I am totally appreciating and loving my delete button.  With so many emails, files, pictures... and well, just, STUFF that is saved on the computer there is a certain sense of ahhhh-ness and relief that comes with clearing out space where I can.  So, yay for the delete button!!!

“Some changes look negative on the surface but you will soon realize that space is being created in your life for something new to emerge.”

~ Eckhart Tolle

singing fun!

10, 15 and even 20 years ago if you had told me I would one day be writing my own songs, working on & practicing my very own set list in preparation to share the music with others, I would've said, "Yeah, right!!!  You're crazy!  What are you smoking?!"  It's such a testament to life and being open to its infinite possibilities... and also, leaving yourself open to being ALL that you are meant to be, which in my case, has obviously been shown to me to be even more than what I envisioned my life to be.  But BE OPEN because in that openness is a delicious adventure awaiting you.  So, that's what I'm thankful for today... Openness, Creativity and Singing!!!!!

"I want to be singing to everybody, and I want everybody to think that I'm singing to them. Guys, girls and everyone in between."

~Joan Jett

pretty skies

no words needed.  i think the picture is enough.  :-)

"Excuse me while I kiss the sky."

~Jimi Hendrix

time to read

I LOVE TO READ!!!  I mostly love to read something that I can hold in my hands whether it be a book, a magazine... heck, it could even be an interesting brochure or pamphlet that sparks my interest and maybe even has some cool & colorful graphics!  So, when I have an opportunity to be OFF the computer and sitting outside with the warm breeze blowing and reading... well, just color me HAPPY!!

“We don’t need a list of rights and wrongs, tables of dos and dont's: we need books, time, and silence. Thou shalt not is soon forgotten, but Once upon a time lasts forever.”

~ Philip Pullman

sunshine

After a few days of cloudy and rainy weather it sure is wonderful to see the sun shining bright today!!  Yay!!

"Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves."  ~James M. Barrie  

Office Space

With so many places offering free wi-fi these days, it allows me to enjoy office days away from my home office.  I so appreciate the opportunity to enjoy the different types of scenery at each locale and, well, it's great fun to people watch, too!!  Today, I'm enjoying office time at the new Starbucks and doing some blogging.

Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

~Confucius