To be happy, one must find one's bliss!-Gloria Vanderbilt

{EAV:cf36012a888ed327}

During the month of December I have joined the Reverb 2011 Project.  Some of my posts will require much courage as I will be answering as truthfully as I can, brutally honest, reaching deep within my soul.  Something that I have been refusing to do for years.

17. Bliss

ImagineGolf

What are three things that make you feel the most blissed out? What can you do in 2012 to invite more of that into your life?

“Now a soft kiss - Aye, by that kiss, I vow an endless bliss.” 

― John Keats 

Relaxing on the ocean gives me great feelings of Bliss! The warm breeze, watching the seagulls and birds flying in the beautiful blue sky, hearing the waves hit the shore and the hot white sand between my toes are a few of the things that create peace within me. 

Where we currently reside there are no warm white sandy beaches!  The Pacific Northwest is beautiful but their beaches are lacking in that department! Therefore in 2012 there would need to be either more traveling to the Caribbean or maybe a move to a beautiful tropical island! Being loved and spending time with my family also creates feelings of Bliss and Joy in my soul. 

18. Ordinary Sparkling Moments

Image via Wikipedia

Reflect on the ordinary moments that bring you joy (e.g., the tea pot whistling, the sun setting). What moments would you like to relish in the coming year?

The first thing we do in the morning is have a couple of cups of coffee. Despite my Latin background, I never drank coffee before I married my husband.  The day just feels odd if we haven't done our java ritual!


When it is sunny and warm here in Seattle, we love to sit outside and drink our coffee. Sitting between the hummingbirds and butterflies fluttering around the flowers adds that perfect ambiance to our morning!


To be able to relish more of these moments it is looking as if maybe we should make that big move. As I write this, I am beginning to see a common thread! Will we actually make the move we are always talking about? Only time will tell...

19. Joy

Photo Credit Adriana Negron

What does a joyful life look like for you?

Overall a joyful life is one filled with gratitude.  I always love to say, "The best gift in life is when you recognize all the blessings that surround you!" 

When you are able to be grateful and recognize all these blessings as soon as you open your eyes in the morning, your day can only get better from that moment on!

For me to be surrounded by a husband that truly loves me, the blessings of my children and grandchildren help create a joyful life! Again with my theme, living near the ocean on the Caribbean, is the dream location I would love to be spending my joyful life!

20. Community

Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2011? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2012? (Author: Cali Harris)

These are a few online communities which I love.  My goal is to be more active in some in the upcoming year.

Related articles

• #Reverb11Days 13 & 14 (reachingforpink.wordpress.com)
• Where to go for a relaxing beach vacation? (ask.metafilter.com)
• Confused.com's top 10 holiday destinations for 2011 (confused.com)
• Sandals Resorts named top hotels in the Caribbean | British Airways - Travel Industry News (travelnews.britishairways.com)
• Reverb11 - better late than never! (therevandtheboys.wordpress.com)
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Peace on earth will come to stay, When we live Christmas every day. Helen Steiner Rice

Image via Wikipedia

 "The Angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High." 
Luke 1:30-32

I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  


I am so grateful for all of you who come and visit this blog and take the time to leave wonderful and meaningful comments!  


May your homes be filled with Peace and Joy and that the spirit of Christmas remain with all of you throughout the year.

Turn up the volume to watch this short inspirational video!  Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas. - Dale Evans

Image by Cool Text: Free Graphics Generator - Edit Image

How I Use StumbleUpon on Triberr

Explore StumbleUpon

Many bloggers are noticing that StumbleUpon is bringing additional exposure to their blogs and websites. Those of us on Triberr have the benefit of sharing each other's content via Twitter, Facebook, Google+, StumbleUpon and LinkedIn. Today I am ONLY going to speak about using StumbleUpon on Triberr because I have been noticing that some of my fellow Tribemates are potentially missing the StumbleUpon boat so to speak!

Let's face it, we are all busy, aren't we? Since we are living in this fast food society, any additional work is an added load for some. I must confess that when I am sharing my Tribemate's posts, if the StumbleUpon  icon has not been submitted, I rarely have time to do it for them. The author of the post is the best person to decide which topic and tags their post falls under. So, in my meager opinion we should all be submitting our own posts as soon as we blog them!

"This is Howie Do It" via Triberr! Sorry I have had that song in my head for the past week!  (Of course you can submit your own blog post directly from your blog! Just in case you didn't, and you are already on Triberr or live on there as I do, you can also do it via Triberr!) Here goes, so simple, go to your Tribal Stream and click "Load Social Buttons":

Click "Load Social Buttons"

If Michelle's post, "Almost Wordless..." were mine, I would click on "Submit" as soon as it pulls onto the stream!  See below:

Click Submit

Then this little page should pop up! As you can see not everyone is a Saint and would do this for every post! Usually you just want to Like, Stumble and roll to your next task!

Fill it out, please!

Once you fill it out and your Tribal Stream is refreshed, there should be a number 1 showing (where the 3 is here in this picture). In Jane's case below, most likely she submitted her post and then 2 other people have "Liked" and "Stumbled" it, that is why there is a 3! 

So now when we come along to share your post on StumbleUpon and it has already been submitted by YOU..., then this little pop up will show up, click on "I like it!" then click on "Stumble"! So easy, we are done sharing it on StumbleUpon!

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Image by Cool Text: Free Graphics Generator - Edit Image

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough! Mae West

Image: arztsamui / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

13. Love

"A loving relationship is one in which the loved one is free to be himself -- to laugh with me, but never at me; to cry with me, but never because of me; to love life, to love himself, to love being loved. Such a relationship is based upon freedom and can never grow in a jealous heart" 
— Leo Buscaglia

What are the things (or people or animals) in this world that you love the most?

I love my family so much. We have five sons and they have become the best men in my life! Our eldest and his wonderful wife have given us the blessing of two beautiful granddaughters. Thankfully they live a few minutes away from us so we get to see them quite often.  

I recently was able to go to a family reunion and was struck by the love I saw between my cousin and her husband.  This is their second marriage and they have five grown children between them.  They both are great step parents to their children.  I was thinking at the time that blended families should be more like them and if they aren't why not?  

Image: piyato / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

14. Marvel

“It's been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will.” 
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

What have you done well over the past year—the little stuff and the big stuff? How do you celebrate the positives?

Despite my health, financial concerns and physical limitations, I stopped feeling sorry for myself early in the year.  "Normal" is gone, and "normal" may not be coming back anytime soon or ever.   I am learning to embrace who my outer shell is now, but I am still the same person inside. Sure when I look in the mirror at times I may not recognize the person looking back at me, but my soul continues to be full of love and joy.  

I really enjoy spending time with my family.  Creating memories for my children and grandchildren is so much fun for me.   I celebrate by thanking God every day for all the blessings He has given me. 

CIRCULAR FEAR
© Jurie Maree | Dreamstime.com

15. Fear

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” 
― Nelson Mandela

The easiest way to overcome fear is to confront it. Rather than brainstorming reasons to avoid your “fear,” shift your attention to the reasons for confronting your fear. What fear would you like to overcome in 2012?

I really would love that 2012 will bring ME back. I want to stop going in circles. I think that I have cycled through certain situations over and over again in my life.  2012 is going to get me off this roller coaster!  I have always wanted to paint, write books and continue to travel the world.  I want to look back on my life knowing that I tried everything I always wanted to do. I am not sure what has kept me from doing these things.  Fear of Success? Fear of Failure? 

Image: wiangya / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

16. Transitions

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” 
― Mother Teresa

Over the past year have you experienced any major/minor life transitions? How has your life changed? 

These past three years have brought some changes to my life. I used to take for granted being able to walk a few steps without feeling ill, stand, think clearly or any physical activity for that matter.  

Before my heart used to race after I ran or walked briskly a few miles.  Now I get to feel my heart twittering like a hummingbird in my chest without so much of a slight change in position. Despite all the physical changes there is a reason for it all.  I am not sure what it is yet, but I know God has a plan.  

During the month of December I have joined the Reverb 2011 Project.  Some of my posts will require much courage as I will be answering as truthfully as I can, brutally honest, reaching deep within my soul.  Something that I have been refusing to do for years. 

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Buffer | Twitter | Facebook | Triberr

http://bufferapp.com

I love anything to do with Social Media, extensions and applications! When I see something new and if I feel I could use the tool then I will check it out! So a few days ago while I was Stumbling around I found Buffer!

The creators of Buffer, Joel Gascoigne and Leo Widrich explain how it works, "We designed Buffer to offer you a both personal and yet more efficient solution to handle Twitter.  Buffer makes your life easier with a smarter way to schedule tweets. Work out all your tweets at one point in time during the day.  Then fill up your Buffer with your tweets and Buffer schedules them for you.  Simply keep that Buffer topped up and you will then be tweeting consistently all day round, all week long."

Of course you can schedule your tweets with either TweetDeck or Hootsuite, as I have used before. One of the features that makes Buffer different is that it also includes the "Inspire me!" button.  Different quotes will appear for you to tweet to your followers.  If you "Post Now" your post will immediately show up on Twitter or if you choose "Add to Buffer" it will be scheduled to tweet in the future based on the schedule you have chosen.

Right now Buffer is available on Chrome, Safari and Firefox, or you can add the Bookmarklet.  I only use Chrome, so I am not sure if the Buffer icon is visible on the other extensions' tweets.  As you can see below Buffer appears on the tweet.

Click on Buffer directly on Twitter and then you can edit and schedule your RT.

You can even check the Analytics of your tweets right on Buffer. Here is a tweet that went out today at 12:17 PM.  So far there were 35 clicks and 2842 potential views. 

I am enjoying the ease and time saving features that Buffer has to offer both on Twitter and Facebook. I have also been using Buffer on Triberr with the Promotional Tweets.  My Christmas wish is that Dino Dogan and Dan Cristo from Triberr will add the Buffer icon as an option for us to use when we share our Tribemate's posts! 

Image by Cool Text: Free Graphics Generator - Edit Image

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A Caged Bird~Mistakes

SONGBIRD
© Bumidin Iberhim | Dreamstime.com

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

12. Mistakes
It’s easy to focus on our mistakes—to reflect with 20/20 hindsight and berate ourselves for what went wrong. Bring your awareness to a mistake you’ve made over the past year. Unveil one positive lesson from that mistake. How can you actively use this lesson moving forward?


I am positive I have made several mistakes this past year. However, the biggest and most currently painful mistake is expecting people to treat me like I treat them.  This is not just anyone that I am speaking about, it is someone that you would expect would want to treat me special. 


Each morning I wake up wanting to make this person feel loved, but day in and day out I am hit with the realization that they just do not feel the same or want to do the same for me. For years I kept on turning the other cheek so to speak, giving without expecting anything in return. Right now I am feeling that continuing to do that is just a load of crap and a waste of precious time! 


Due to my current situation I am like a bird in a cage. One of these days someone is going to open the door to this cage and I will fly away. Not to search for a new nest or a new bird, but to be free to be happy.  If that means alone so be it. 


The one positive lesson that I am  learning from this mistake is to not make the same mistake again, ever. I pray that I have learned this difficult and sad lesson. 


During December I am joining the Reverb 2011 Project.  Some of my posts will require much courage as I will be answering as truthfully as I can, brutally honest, reaching deep within my soul, something that I have been refusing to do for years. 

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REVERB 2011~Days 1-11

As usual I am a little late to the party! I had not heard of Reverb 2011 until today on my friend Anna's blog, Be healthy, well & inspired.  The Daily Prompts are for the month of December. Since I am starting a little late I will enter all my posts through today December 11th. Please visit Carolyn Rubenstein's Blog  for additional information on this activity. 

DAILY PROMPTS

1. One Word 

El Morro Puerto Rico             Image via Wikipedia

Encapsulate the year 2011 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2012 for you?
(Author: Gwen Bell)

Gratitude would be the word I will choose. On December 1st my son called and spoke to my husband.  He is in the Navy EOD and we hadn't seen each other in 6 years.  He wanted me to go with him to a family reunion in Puerto Rico on December 2nd! I had been praying about going on this trip for months. I wanted to go so badly. It was also my Aunt's 82nd birthday and her and my Uncle's 60th wedding Anniversary party. At the time I didn't know that my husband and my son were discussing this trip. I had been so sad that I wasn't going to be able to go. However, I kept praying for something to happen. The party was on December 4th and I still didn't even have an airline ticket! I finally got the go ahead and purchased the ticket at 8:30 that night, leaving the following day! I thank God in Heaven for making this happen. There are too many circumstances to discuss, but this trip was truly a miracle!

Nicole, Debi, Uncle Abe, Titi Chelo, Me and Chris

The word I would choose for 2012 would be Freedom. For the past 3 years I have been not working due to an illness. So I am hopeful as God answered my prayers this past week, if it is His will, He will grant me the freedom from this illness so that I can return to work. 

2. Writing

What piece of writing are you most proud of from 2011? How does this piece differ from your other pieces? 

I feel that my greatest work has yet to be written!

3. Year in Review

As you reflect back on the happenings of 2011, what were your high points and what were your low points? What do you notice as you look back on the year as a whole?

My high points were when I felt loved and cherished by my husband. I am grateful for those days even if few and far between. Another high point was finding the Neurologist at the University of Washington who knew what my condition was and how to manage it. Living close to my son and daughter-in-law and our sweet granddaughters. They keep a smile on my face and laughter in our home. The joy when I received the call from my son and the return  to happiness that I could hear in his voice when he spoke. 

The low points were when I was too sick to get out of bed and wishing I was back to normal. The moments when I was grieving the loss of the person I used to be and the things I used to be able to do.  But those feelings are short lived.  I always try to focus on the 90% good instead of focusing on the mere 10% of not so great that happens during one's day!

4. Beauty

How have your standards of beauty shifted in the past year? 

As I get older I am more accepting of the changes that I am noticing about my body. I am embracing the little smile lines that I am seeing. That means that I have smiled more in my lifetime than frown! I notice the beauty around me more, the new blooms in my garden, the birds and butterflies that roam our yard, the happiness of our pets when they see us, the innocence of our granddaughters and their sweet giggles is beauty to me. 

5. Reading

What has been your favorite book (or books if you can’t pick just one) that you’ve read this year?


I normally love reading mysteries and romance titles.  I have read a few books this year but I had the pleasure of reviewing a children's book recently. The author's message is so important.  
"My Feelings are Hungry" by Ava Parnass is a book I would recommend to anyone with children. I wish I had had this book when I was raising my children. You can read more about this book on my blog.  
  
6. Ease
What can you do to add ease to 2012?

The best thing I can do is to have faith.  Faith that the upcoming year is going to be a great one, that my year will not be defined around my illness and what I can't do but of the blessings God will grant of me and for me. 

7. Giving

“The purpose of life is to discover your gift. The meaning of life is to give your gift away.” (David Viscott) What is your gift to give? 


One of my gifts is to share with others.  Now that our granddaughters are getting a little older I want to share with them some of the things I learned from my grandmother and mother. 

8. Limits
We often learn about our limits the hard way. Were there any limits you realized this past year? Alternately, what self-imposed limits were you able to move beyond this year?  


There were physical limits. However, I learned to get around them! The self imposed limits that I overcame was realizing that despite the limits given to us, miracles do happen! 

9. Superpower

If you were a superhero, what would your power be?


I would love to be Tinker Bell, there is something about Fairy Dust that I love so much more than dust bunnies!

10. Soul Food

How do you nourish your soul? What activities are essential nutrients for your soul’s well-being?

Spending time with my family and quietly thanking God each morning. The best gift in life is when you recognize all the blessings that surround you! 

11. Anticipation

What is the one thing that you are most looking forward to in 2012?


I am looking forward to spending more time with my children, family, friends and be able to travel more. To be the person God wants me to be. 

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"My Feelings are Hungry"~How You Can Help Childhood Obesity

As the Author, Ava Parnass states, "Did you even know that feelings could get hungry? Well they can! My Feelings Are Hungry, discusses the power of feelings and the need to discuss them. 


Children don't know what they feel and need to be taught the words to describe the feelings inside so they feel better and behavior improves. 

My Feelings Are Hungry teaches them to express themselves in a creative way while still knowing they are in a safe environment.

I have been a child and family psychotherapist for over 15 years and am a strong advocate for a comprehensive approach to a healthy lifestyle. I developed these products entirely with the children in mind and helping them better communicate their thoughts and feelings to their parents and loved ones in order to grow up in a healthier environment."


Just in the United States alone, obesity is a growing epidemic and childhood obesity is sadly increasing to a staggering number. 


According to the CDC: 

Approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2—19 years are obese.
Since 1980, obesity prevalence among children and adolescents has almost tripled.


Mushy
That is why I was so excited to be given this opportunity to review My Feelings are Hungry by Ava Parnass, Illustrated by Al Margolis and Contributor Rebecca Parnass! 


Mushy is a Fairy Godmother and Hero all tied up in one cute and loving character! Everyone of us has the opportunity to become like Mushy. Whether as a parent, grandparent, family member or even in the classroom as a teacher.



Rebecca is having a bad day and replaces her feelings with snacks and junk food. Mushy appears and takes her on a journey to a special place called Feeling Town.


We can all learn how to deal with feelings of anger, sadness and even loneliness. Instead of quickly choosing to bury her feelings with unhealthy food choices, Rebecca learns that she can deal with these feelings in a healthy way.
 




You will enjoy reading this book to your children.  I guarantee that both you and your child will learn many valuable lessons from Mushy! I know I did!

"The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread." Mother Teresa

"Join Ava Parnass, a.k.a. “The Kid Whisperer,” author, songwriter and child therapist who specializes in marrying Entertainment, Emotional Intelligence and Time-In not Time-Out parenting for kids. 




Ms Parnass helps kids figure out how they feel through playing, talking, listening, reading, singing and dancing so behavior improves! 




Her multi-media materials, books and songs can be found on: 
Amazon, Website and YouTube.


The books and songs are entirely devoted to helping Parents have fun while improving their child's behavior, tantrums and/or overeating for the better. Since children learn how they feel through playing, talking, listening, reading, singing, and dancing; My different products reflect the way kids learn. We want to help parents achieve their goal of raising kind, loving, fun, well-behaved children. 




Read the books, sing and dance to the songs, and have fun while learning that feelings are hiding underneath behavior and need to be talked about so behavior improves. First, "Listen To Me, Please!" Time-In, Not Time-Out will give you the low down to raising socially-competent, well-adjusted and better behaved children. All without time-out! 




Use this book with your children, connect with them on a deeper level and watch misbehavior disappear! It's pure relationship magic! In addition to helping you listen to your child more effectively, this book will help you accentuate the positive while allowing you to help your child handle tough feelings, deal with the pressures of modern life and learn from mistakes. This book is part parenting field guide and part interactive story book." 

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As an Occupational Nurse Consultant, I saw many disability applicants with conditions mostly caused by obesity.  On my journey towards health and wellness I have been encouraging others to regain their health and fight the obesity epidemic. You can read more great articles about obesity on Health and Fitness Times!  I did not receive any monetary compensation for this book review.  I was given a free PDF copy of the book by the author.