Archive | May, 2013

paris: the new workout

29 May

we’re planning on going to paris in december.

 i’ve been wanting to go to paris for over 25 years.  i just really wanted to go with someone i loved.  like romantically (sorry mom.)

Amy Robert

so now, ROF is using his one week of vacation to take me there!  december may seem like an odd time to go, don’t you think?  not the spring when the buds on the trees are budding and the lovers are strolling down the Seine.  sidetracked <i hate that word ‘lovers’ by the way.  love-er.  almost hate that as much as the M word.>  

but there is a reason i picked december.  

it is the last month in the year and i’d like to lose 40 lbs before going to paris.  i better start.  that’s a lot of weight in not a lot of time.  the problem is, i don’t really want to change anything.  it’s no secret that ROF and i like the good life.  and that is what it is.  indulgence.  we like good friends, good wine, good food, good everything!  and i love living that kind of life with ROF.  but i’m going to have to tap the brakes, as they say, before paris.

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because this is my DREAM TRIP and i can’t settle for anything less than feeling great while i’m there.

so if you have some diet pointers (other than stop opening your mouth and eating good things) – send them my way.  use the code word “PARIS”.  I’ll know what you’re talking about.

it’s not a mess, it’s creative!

27 May

ask my mom. 

ever since i was in high school, i felt the need to be surrounded by creativity.  not mine, but others.  there is something about having it all around me – where i can see the details from wherever i am in the room.  what do i deem creative?  where he’s a short list:

kick ass photography – mainly fashion or decor
color – varies depending on mood.  black/white, pink, red, baby blue)
people who inspire me (audrey, diana, diane, woody)
people who i love (rof, dad, mom, sister
paris
quotes (it’s not who you are that holds you back.  It’s who you think you’re not)
dreamy landscapes and beautiful decor

so, like i’ve said in the past, i love to rip everything out of magazines and collage them up on a board.  In high school, i did this in my bedroom to every wall from top to bottom.  i may have been the only one that thought it was cool.  but – as you can see – i’m not the only one according to the latest on-line mags.  like these images from domino small spaces:

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so this weekend, while ROF was at the indy 500, i had the need to get creative.  side tracked<so much of our daily life is not creative.  status meetings, details, expectations.  let’s hover on expectations for a minute.  at work, i strive to exceed expectations.  my own, my clients, my peers.  does anyone know how exhausting that is?  i’m sure you do.  when you are being creative or just simply being inspired – there are no expectations except for you to trust your style. lovely>

so i grabbed my trusty scissors, about 50 magazines i had laying around, some books that never get opened and an xacto knife.  i snagged properly a rather large and ugly old bulletin board and got to work. have to say, i’m in my element when i’m doing this.  took me back to high school again.

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i love it!

appreciating this now

17 May

there is a daily thought that comes into my mind and comes out sometimes at our before-dinner prayer and that is:

i’m really really blessed.

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it shouldn’t be such a surprise every day how realizing this instantly de-stresses me.  this is my list today:

appreciating now:

– the anticipation of spending quality time with family we don’t get to see very often

– having niece and nephews that are fantastic, smart and so much fun to be around

– having a sister-in-law that is a deep thinker, has a wonderful heart and is such a good friend

– a husband that is so completely awesome

– blake shelton’s new song “boys round here” (had to break it up a little)

– a house we love

– beautiful michigan weather (right now!)

– a mom who is still a fantastic role model

– people who get it

-being driven by passion and not a paycheck.  the first one will always bring the second.

-expressing creativity

-thinking of paris

-good friends we’ve had a long time.

that’s it for now.

what are you happy about right now?