Posts Tagged ‘write it down make it happen’

Today, I woke up with a need to be creative and express myself. I’ve been having so much fun with my nieces — they help me reflect on the simple things. They inspire me, and I love it. So this morning, I just wanted to be free … alone with an open mind, chalk and some sidewalk.

I wasn’t sure what to write or draw, or really want I wanted to say. But that’s the great thing — sidewalk and chalk is like life — you have a whole big open space to do whatever you want. If you mess up, you can start over or move on to the next big thing/space. You can “be” big, small, simple, loud — whatever you want!

I love that I just got out there this morning. I didn’t care that it was 8 am and the neighbors were out walking their dogs and that they might think I was a lunatic … and it’s Easter Sunday. Sometimes you just need to go do what makes you happy — short or long term — and be ok with being alone with your thoughts.

Next time you get the urge to do something, don’t hold back! Let Go, Live Loud, Have No Fear.

I love living serendipitously — accepting invitations, taking chances, starting conversations and learning whatever I possibly can. With this outlook, the sun is always shining. The opportunities unfold. I laugh a little harder … and I’m less stressed because life’s an adventure.

I’m amazed at the people I’ve met. Published authors, athletes, crafters, designers, business owners … it’s pretty awesome. And, I’m happy with my adventures and the stories that go with them — mud runs, flea markets, photo shoots, traveling, trapeze classes, rock climbing, fundraisers … and more.

There is so much out there, and it’s a shame that sometimes we get so “stuck” in routine. Well, you know what? I encourage you to do something different and have an open mind about it. Try a new class. Have lunch with a co-worker. Cook a new recipe. Host a theme party. Volunteer. Set a new goal. Start a new hobby.

When you open yourself up to adventure, you never know what could come of it. Life is meant to be enjoyed. GO FOT IT!

Photo by happyshooter.

It’s been exactly one week and a day since I got let go from my full-time gig. I’m no longer an “account executive” in a marketing department, and I’m no longer in the financial services industry.

“Account executive” doesn’t actually describe the work that I did. I didn’t have an account, but I surely had a lot of internal “clients.” I’d say I was a copywriter. I wrote for the internal and external newsletters … among other things. It was a good experience, and so was my work at my position before that (in a marketing department in the healthcare industry).

At both of these places, I met some of my closest friends — and my two mentors. At both places, I doubted myself as a writer (pushed through it, obviously!), and I was challenged all the time. I loved it! These experiences are what makes me who I am today. I got affirmation about what’s important to me, and clarity on how to live a life with passion.

Here I am
I cried in the car driving away from my old job. I called my fiancé, my mom and my best friend. And, during the hour drive to teach my kickboxing class, I “got over it.” Life is about change, and opportunities are out there for me. I haven’t felt bad about myself or gotten emotional about it since. Why? Because I did my best and have no regrets. It’s like Don Miguel Ruiz says:

Always do your best. Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

My current goals
I just want to keep learning and keep myself challenged. I want to meet more people and keep helping others. I want to be creative, energized and do what I’m good at.

I want to teach as many exercise classes as humanly possibleand show off my “Gwenergy.” I want to keep motivating other people to be healthy, and I want to inspire them. I’ll also get a personal training certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

As far as writing, I’ll keep up my blog, write for other blogs and publications and work with as many editors and writers as I can.

From there, I’ll take my time finding work. I want the right thing! Ideally, it will incorporate fitness, healthcare and social media.

I’m not worried
This is all meant to be. I’m happy with what I’ve accomplished, and how things have fallen into place. I’m excited for new opportunities!

Photo by worldmegan.

The unselfish effort to bring cheer to others will be the beginning of a happier life for ourselves. – Helen Keller

Photo by Michael Tienzo.

Sometimes, being “sexy” and feeling “sexy” is a state of mind. It’s true … when you look great — you feel great! In honor of Valentine’s Day, get a little flirty, fun and playful with your workout routine.

Here are some creative fitness moves you can do at home. All you’ll need is a chair, music of your choice and good attitude.

Hip roll, head roll – Stand behind your chair. Roll your hips to the right and to the left. Then, roll your head to the right and to the left for a quick stretch. Keep one or both hands on the chair for balance. Suggested: Do one to two sets of 15 reps.

Long stride, short stride – Take a sexy walk around your chair. Try big steps and work your way around with just five steps. Take small steps and work your way around with 10 or more steps. Suggested: Go around the chair a total of 10 times, alternating your stride (5 steps – 5 times; 10 steps – 5 times).

Close-open, close-open – Sit on your chair and open and close your legs. Make your movements slow and measured to really work your inner and outer thighs. You can also add your own “resistance.” Focus on squeezing your outer thighs with each “open” movement, and squeeze your inner thighs as you bring your knees together. For an extra challenge, keep your feet off the ground and grip the seat underneath you for balance. Suggested: Do three sets of 15.

Flirty kick – Sit on your chair and move forward so you’re on the edge. Lean back and grip the seat underneath you. Lift your legs up, squeeze your abs tightly, keep your knees together and kick — tiny little kicks — to work your abs. Suggested: Do three sets at 30 seconds each set.

Drop it like it’s hot – Sit down on your chair and stand up — to work your quads, hamstrings and glutes. Concentrate on that squat position to make a 90⁰ angle with your lower half and squeeze your glutes tightly as you stand back up. Suggested: Do three sets of 15.

Dip, baby dip – Stand with your back facing the front your chair. Grip the edge of the seat and keep your fingertips facing toward you. Bend your elbows to make a 90⁰ angle and bend your knees to make a 90⁰ angle. Lift and lower — keeping your hips up — to work your triceps. For more of a challenge, do the same arm movement and keep your legs straight and extended. Suggested: Do three sets of 15.

Sexy lunge – Stand behind your chair and push one leg back, squeezing your glutes. Bend your front leg and make sure your knee is on top of your ankle at a 90⁰ angle. Hold on the back of the chair and slowly pull your back leg up to meet your front leg to work your legs, hamstrings and glutes. Suggested: Do this 15 times each side — two to three sets.

Lean back – Sit on your chair backwards. Hold on the back of the chair and lean back to stretch and exercise your back. Shake your head to toss your hair! Do three sets of 15.

Step-up and walk away – Place one foot on the seat of your chair. Push though the heel of that foot and step up to pull yourself up and work your quads, hamstrings and glutes. Step down and walk away. Do this 15 times each side — two to three sets.

Open and up – Lay with your back on the ground in front of your chair. Stretch your arms out to the side or keep them under your hips. Open your legs to be on either side of the bottom of the chair, then bring your legs together to work your abs. Do three sets of 15.

If you want, show your “honey” these sexy fitness moves … and enjoy your night!

This blog was also featured on MrsMosNJ.com. Photo by B G.

Ten fun, cheap and easy things to do together …

1. Cook together. Choose kid-friendly recipes and work together to create an appetizer, entrée and dessert that your whole family can enjoy. You may want to try cooking a special family recipe or your child’s favorite meal.
2. Create a family tree. Map out your family tree on a piece of paper, then work together to replicate it on a large piece of poster board. If you can — add photos, draw pictures and include the birth place of each relative.
3. Be the next “American Idol.” Have each family member dress up and take turns singing their favorite song. Be sure to award prizes for each performance. 
4. Decorate food. Bake cupcakes together. When they cool, decorate them with different types of icing and assorted jimmies.
5. Camp out. Depending on the weather, have an indoor or outdoor camping adventure. Bring sleeping bags and make sure to use flashlights in the dark.
6. Give back to the community. As a family, think of ways you can give back to the community. For example, create a gift box — using an old shoe box — to send to our troops. Or, make a list of the perfect “holiday” meal — then write letters and emails to friends and family asking them to help gather these items for a less fortunate family. 
7. “Hunt” for prizes indoors. Write clues on scraps of paper and lead each family member to an exciting prize — such as a new board game you can play together. You can even have each person “find” items — such as a DVD, popcorn, candy and soda — for a family movie night.
8. Have an indoor picnic. Enjoy a meal on the floor of your family room. Lay out a blanket and serve picnic items such as sandwiches, salads, chips and juice. If space allows, play a modified version of horseshoes or beanbags — by tossing coins onto sofa cushions placed on the ground.  
9. Play with pictures. Go through old photo albums together and tell stories about each picture. Tell your kids a little bit about yourself when you were younger — or their age — and be sure to tell them what they were like as a baby and toddler. If you can, take more photos that night.
10. Have a dance party. Have everyone choose their favorite songs and be sure to include some that are slow and sentimental.  Take turns “fast” and “slow” dancing together. You could even incorporate “instruments” such as pots and pans to bang on — or a box of pasta to shake — and have an indoor concert.

This article was published in South Jersey Mom Magazine. Photo by jek in the box.

I asked my Twitter friends to tweet me their favorite quote. Below is what they sent. Enjoy the inspiration!

@Amethystnangels: “Well-behaved women rarely make history!” — Unknown

@>@mikeshippey: “There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination. Living there you’ll be fee if you truly wish to be.” — Willy Wonka

@>@michellemyers24: “You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.” — Wayne Gretzky

@>@Lalicat: “There is a place where you can touch a woman that will drive her crazy. Her heart.” — Unknown

@>@LesMacDee: “If you listen carefully, everything sings.” — Warren Deer

@>@ToddWeissCFA: “Work like you don’t need the money. Love like you’ve never been hurt. Dance like nobody’s watching.” — Satchel Paige

@>@PrincessLV: “All great achievements require time. “— Maya Angelou

@>@onepowerfullady: “For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but the spirit of power, love and self disipline.” — 2 Timothy 1:7

@>@AmyTara19: “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” — Jimi Hendrix

@>@liakov: “To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.” — Frankie Lora

@>@onlyoneHalcyone: “The difficulties of life are intended to make us better, not bitter.” — Unknown

@>@JeffMello: “In every passionate pursuit … the pursuit counts more than the object pursued.” — Bruce Lee

Photo by @>Niklas Plessing.

Last week, I saw “The Eclectic Society” with my future mother-in-law (I call her “Annaree” ) and my future sister-in-law. The play was part of our season ticket package at the Walnut Street Theatre. (Isn’t my Annaree awesome? This is the second set of season tickets she got for us.)

Anyway, I thought the play was amazing. I was on the edge of my seat! I’d say it took a good twenty minutes to really start getting into it … but as I was watching, I was “wow-ed” by the concepts and teachings. This play seemed like something I’d study in high school. It was that much of a learning experience. The play was so “AllThingsGwen” I had to write about it!

So here’s a quick summary of the ideas covered in this play:

Give people a chance. Not everything you hear is true. If you don’t know, then don’t make assumptions.

Embrace change. The world becomes a bigger and better place once we learn from mistakes and open our minds to new things.

Know yourself. What are you really good at? What are you really in to? “Own” who you are and share it with the world.

Have faith in others. If you have faith in others, they’ll have faith in you.

Rise from adversity. Your past doesn’t define you. Commit to being your best self.

Grow from your challenges. You can be strong in areas you’d never thought you would be.

Be strong in your convictions. Stand up for what you really believe is right. Take action.

Do the right thing. If someone needs you, be there for them. If something is wrong, fix it. Sometimes you need to sacrifice something to do the right thing.

Click here for more information about “The Eclectic Society” including ticket information. If you get to see it, let me know what you think!

Photo from the Walnut Street Theatre website.

He who has faith has … an inward reservoir of courage, hope, confidence, calmness and assuring trust that all will come out well — even though to the world it may appear to come out most badly.
- B. C. Forbes

Photo by ChrisMoncusPhoto.

You know me. I find something. Ask about it. Love it. Then tell a million people.

I was at the Moorestown Mall the other day; I was looking for a “crazy” tee-shirt. After all, I can’t possibly celebrate my birthday without wearing a random tee-shirt. Of course, I stop at the “kiddie” shops — Journeys, Hot Topic, Pacific Sunwear … Zumiez. I really like that skater-ish stuff, even though I’m going to be 30 in four days. Kinda too old, but whatever!

So I see this shirt — a few shirts — that say “To Write Love on Her Arms.” I didn’t know what that meant. I thought I should buy it, and it would be cute. I love my Billy and I love to write! Plus, Billy already said I shouldn’t wear what I wanted to wear — an airbrush tee that said “The Future Mrs. Meise.” (He said that’s a bachelorette appropriate shirt.)

So back to this “To Write Love on Her Arms” tee. Loved it. So I asked the guy at Zumiez what it meant. What really happened was …. I said – “I’m old. What does this mean?”

This is what I pulled from the site:
To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery.

Part of their vision:
• The vision is that we would learn what it means to love our friends, and that we would love ourselves enough to get the help we need.
• The vision is better endings. The vision is the restoration of broken families and broken relationships. The vision is people finding life, finding freedom, finding love. The vision is graduation, a Super Bowl, a wedding, a child, a sunrise. The vision is people becoming incredible parents, people breaking cycles, making change.
• The vision is the possibility that your best days are ahead.
• The vision is the possibility that we’re more loved than we’ll ever know.
• The vision is hope, and hope is real.
• You are not alone, and this is not the end of your story.

I am so impressed with this organization. Now … I’m going to Facebook fan them, follow them on twitter, and email someone there to let them know I’m digging it. If you like it too … do the same!! Read about the organization, be inspired and do what you can to help others that need it. Open your heart!

Photo by euanmayte.