Celebrate Easter! Celebrate Spring!

Welcome!

Since it's Easter, I decided to share with you some pictures and sayings to help celebrate this wonderful time of year.

"For I remember it is Easter morn,
And life and love and peace are all new born."
-Alice Freeman Palmer

" 'Twas Easter Sunday.  The full-blossomed tree
Filled all the air with fragrance and with joy."
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life."
-S. D. Gordon

"Easter is the only time when it's perfectly safe to put all of your eggs in one basket."
-Author Unknown

"Bunnies are cuddly
The large and the small.
But I like the chocolate one
The best of them all."

Positive thought:  

Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky

Every Day Is an Adventure

Welcome!

To me, life seems much more fun and interesting when things are not always the same, day in and day out.  Every day, I try to do something a little bit out of the ordinary.  In fact, I believe every day can actually be an adventure!  (Years ago, I read about someone who had started an adventure club.  I thought having adventures was a great idea, so ever since then I've tried to live an adventurous life.)

Each morning, when I wake up, I have a general plan for the day which includes something that is different.

For instance, I planned to fix a different dish for supper last week.  Asparagus is not one of our favorite foods, but I thought it would add variety to our meals, so I researched a bit and found an easy, but relatively healthy recipe.  I'm certainly no gourmet cook, but Greg and I thought it was pretty good, so I added it to my list of regular menu items.

                                                Asparagus with Lemon Butter Crumbs

Sometimes, however, the day doesn't always go as planned.  Such as, last week, an organizing client called at the last minute and postponed until next week.  I've had to learn to be flexible and go with the flow, so I decided to use that time to go out and take pictures.  It was a beautiful day, the first day of spring, and several trees were in full bloom.  To me, that was a great way to celebrate the arrival of spring.

The adventure can be small or large, but, in my opinion, even a small adventure is better than no adventure.

Here are just a few adventurous ideas:
-Trying a new food in a restaurant
-Visiting somewhere different
-Looking up a new website
-Learning a new skill
-Cleaning out a junk drawer

Bet you could add to this list.

May your life be full of positive adventure.

Positive thought: (I happened upon this fitting saying one day when I was having a bad-hair day.)  "Life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful". -Annette Funicello
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky

A Few of My Favorite Things

Welcome!

Just like the song says, in one of my favorite movies, The Sound of Music , "These are a few of my favorite things," is the subject of this blog post.  I'd like to share some of the little things that have made my life a little happier and more positive with an emphasis on things Irish, as St. Patrick's Day is this Sunday, March 17.

First of all, Greg and I both have Irish blood flowing through our veins, as do most people in our Southwest Virginia-East Tennessee region.  So, how could we not love things from the Irish culture?
(In fact, so much of our area reminds me of Ireland.)

Just a couple of my favorite Irish quotes are these:

"St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time-a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic."
-Adrienne Cook

"May the Irish hills caress you.
May her lakes and rivers bless you.
May the luck of the Irish enfold you.
May the blessings of St. Patrick behold you."
-Irish Blessing

Some of my non-Irish favorites are:

We couldn't believe it when we came across these cookies from Australia which bore our name, which is not a common last name.  It's not only great fun because of the name on the package; these cookies are actually delicious.  (And, I don't get a dime for saying so.  Shucks!)

Another of my favorites is animals.  To me, they are fascinating.  We can learn a lot about people by observing them.

Greg and I are both fans of warm, sunny weather.  In fact, Greg jokes that if he were a TV weather man, he'd like to be a fair-weather specialist.

Well, that's my short list of favorites.  What are some of yours?

Positive thought:  May the leprechauns be near you,
                             To spread good luck your way.
                             And may all the Irish angels,
                             Smile upon you St. Patrick's Day. 
                            -Irish Blessing
Beannachtam na Femle Padraig (Happy St. Patrick's Day!)

Thanks for visiting!  "And until we meet again (next Sunday) may God hold you in the palm of his hand." -From "An Irish Blessing," Becky

Positive Quotes

Welcome!

Spring is a time of beginnings.  Let's celebrate the upcoming arrival of spring (on Wednesday, March 20) with some positive quotes.

"Spring adds new life and new beauty to all there is."
-Jessica Harrelson

"Yesterday ended last night.  Every day is a new beginning.  Learn the skill of forgetting.  And move on."
-Norman Vincent Peale

"Wake up every morning with the thought that something wonderful is about to happen."
From pinterest.com

"Wherever she went, happy bloomed."
--Written on a sofa

"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone."
-Audrey Hepburn

"A thing of beauty is a joy forever."
-John Keats

"Smile!  God loves you."
-Unknown

Final positive thought: "Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results."
-Willie Nelson
Thanks for visiting!  Until next time, Becky

Clutter, Organizing Tips

Welcome!

It's nearly that time of year again.  Yes, it's about time to clear the clutter and get organized.  Spring is traditionally the time to improve our homes (but actually, that can be done all year long, as I well know as a professional organizer.)

Whether you do it yourself or get someone to help you-a friend or better yet, a professional organizer, the important thing is to get it done, the sooner, the better.

Clutter is not just inconvenient and an eyesore, but it can actually adversely affect you physically and emotionally, as well.

                   Does your home look like this, if so, it's time to call in the troops!

So, I'm now going to give a few tips to help you get started on your clutter-clearing, organizing journey.

Tip number 1:
Before you organize anything, you need to decide what to trash, donate, sell, or keep.  Get rid of anything you don't need, use, or love.

Tip number 2:
After clearing your clutter, you can decide what organizers you might need.  Before buying anything, be sure to measure the space to see what sizes the organizers need to be.

Once organized, it's important to keep it that way.

Tip number 3:
Whenever you bring something new into the home, be sure you really have enough space for it. 

Tip number 4: 
Go through your home at the end of each day and pick up anything that doesn't belong in that area and put it in its rightful place.  What your mama told you is true, "a place for everything and everything in its place" is a great idea.

Getting and keeping your home organized takes some effort, but doing so just might make you feel happier and more positive!

Which of the following would you rather come home to every day?

                                                                        This?

                                                                         Or This?


Photo Feature:

Congratulations to our talented little niece whose lovely piece of art work is now on display in the children's area of the Frist art museum in Nashville.

Positive thought:  "Wherever she went, happy bloomed."  (Words I saw written on a sofa in a store, and now its written on my heart.  I carry its message with me wherever I go.)
Thanks for visiting!  Until next time, Becky