uniquewonderfulme

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving...

noreply@blogger.com (uniquewonderfulme) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 21:18:00 +0000

This year I am thankful for:

The strong support I received from friends during a very trying time.
The learning experiences I have been given and my ability to push myself past traditional boundaries.
My therapist for helping me see things more clearly.
My newfound independence and newfound outlook on life.
That those around me have experienced less stress and pain this year.

This year definitely presented me with new and intense challenges. For those of you this year who showed me unconditional love, support, checking-in on me, laughing with me, experiencing life with me, lending an ear for me, being my very vocal cheerleaders...Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I truly needed that. The people and experiences above have help set me up for a life of success and possibilities. I have managed to grab the reigns and am taking control of life and all it has to offer.

A Little Humor for the Week

noreply@blogger.com (uniquewonderfulme) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:18:00 +0000

One of my fav videos. Marcel the Shell! :)

Done Any Good Daydreaming Lately?

noreply@blogger.com (uniquewonderfulme) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:21:00 +0000

The ability to daydream has to be one of the best gifts mankind has been blessed with.

I find daydreaming to have very positive affects on who we choose to identify ourselves as on any given day.

Moderate daydreaming is almost a necessity for me. I believe the art of daydreaming keeps you mentally sharp, sparks creativity, gives you hope for the future, motivates you and encourages goal setting, and allows you to push the boundaries within your own mind as well as those created by outside sources.

No matter how outrageous our daydreams are, they must hold at least an ounce of truth about ourselves and a clue to our true potential. If they didn't, then why do so many people daydream and recall their daydreams with such emotion?

It is the earliest process that helps create the next President, the next Tim Burton, the next Steve Jobs, the next artist, doctor, acrobat, magician, political/environmental activist or whatever else you can think of.

So how about letting your daydreams take over for at least a moment each day...maybe you will learn a little more about yourself and discover the key to your true potential ; )

My Favorite Things #6

noreply@blogger.com (uniquewonderfulme) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:49:00 +0000

A nice cup of hot cocoa on a cold day/night : )

A Love Letter to Myself

noreply@blogger.com (uniquewonderfulme) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:39:00 +0000

Dear Me,

I'd like to take a minute to give thanks for me. I deserve a slice of cheesecake, a chair massager and the Relsilience Award, because I think I truly rock!

Remember earlier this year, when I did all my charity work, competed in my first obstacle course and skydived? Not to mention the fact that I frequently try to help those close to me without hesitation. Someone with my caring, creative, adventurous and humorous attributes should be feted with a huge party!

So this weekend, I vow to take at least a few hourse for me. I'll craft, give myself a nice hot bath followed by a hot cocoa and pedicure, and give someone special a call that I have the most enlightening conversations with. I may even wear my new dress and refer to myself as Ms. Hottie all afternoon!

Starting now, I'll remember to acknowledge that I deserve time for my hobbies and space for my meditating/reflection. In short, I'm going to enjoy the heck outta myself every day!

Expressions of Gratitude

noreply@blogger.com (uniquewonderfulme) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 19:16:00 +0000

Sorry all for disappearing most of this week :).

As the week ends, it would be considered good karma to look back and think of the things you are grateful for this week. So for me I am grateful this past week for...

(1) the creative energy that I was able to find within myself and was able to act on.
(2) the motivation I gave myself to prepare fresh/healthier meals for most of the week.
(3) supportive co-workers.
(4) beautiful fall weather.
(5) the re-emergence of the season for hot chocolate :)
(6) reassurance and support I received from close friends.
(7) the opportunity to slow down and take a break in this fast-paced world.

This weekend I intend to show my gratitude by,
(1) offering up my time to volunteer with children and mothers from abusive households.
(2) continuing to clean my apartment to create an atmosphere of cleanliness, motivation, clarity and productivity.
(3) donating clothes I no longer fit.
(4) accepting rest during the day to promote a healthier mind/body.

What are you grateful for this week and how do you intend to show your gratitude?

Happy Friday

noreply@blogger.com (uniquewonderfulme) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:07:00 +0000

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

Make the most of your weekend :)

15 Interesting Facts About Me

noreply@blogger.com (uniquewonderfulme) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 22:52:00 +0000

I like to fall asleep to Comcast soundscapes.
I am ambidextrious and trained to draw with both hands.
I don't know how to ride a bike.
I have a secret love for 80s music.
I had a large collection of seashells collected from my trips and from friends/family up until my late teens.
One of my ears sits lower than the other.
I still watch (and love) kids cartoons.
My current obsession is with ancient & current Indian/SouthEast Asian art and culture.
But ancient Egyptian art and culture has been my favorite all my life.
I won a burping contest between a group of boys in 5th grade. One liked it so much he became my secret boyfriend :)
I love crafting.
I'm addicted to researching things on the internet.
I don't really like deli sandwiches.
I'm a pretty resourceful person and can find a use for almost anything if I think hard enough.
I can either be extremely outgoing or extremely shy.

It's Dance Your Pants Off Monday!

noreply@blogger.com (uniquewonderfulme) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 22:51:00 +0000

Happy Monday!

CHECK OUT MY ETSY JEWELRY!

noreply@blogger.com (uniquewonderfulme) — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 05:32:00 +0000

After a year of designing, crafting and procrastinating...I finally launched by jewelry web site! And I get to write one goal off of my fall bucket list :)

Please show your support and take a look at all of my wonderful jewelry designs available for purchase.
While there are only a few items up at the moment, I couldn't help but celebrate my achievement!

There will be plenty more items up for sale in the coming days...stay tuned!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/deannadesigns20

Dinner Anyone?

noreply@blogger.com (uniquewonderfulme) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 13:00:00 +0000

10 people, dead or alive/fictional or non-fictional, I would love to have dinner with:

Siddartha Gautama
(The original Buddha himself)

Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
(Hottie McHottie with a unique personality to sweeten the deal!)

Justin Timberlake
(Who wouldn't!)

Malcolm Gladwell
(Author of The Tipping Point, Blink and Outliers)

George Clinton
(Godfather of Funk)                                              .

Alice from Alice in Wonderland
(Someone to ponder life's deepest questions with)

Rama from the Ramayana
(So many stories he would tell!)

Zack Morris from Saved by the Bell
(Because he's the coolest! DUH!)

Lucille Ball
(The Woman...The Talent...The Legend)

Tim Burton
(Creative Genius)


(As I write this, I am realizing how male-dominated this blog is...whatever! It's my dinner table...I can have as a guest whoever I want! lol. Stay tuned for an all-female cast!)

RIP Steve Jobs: A Creative Genius

noreply@blogger.com (uniquewonderfulme) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:22:00 +0000

Every Person Fulfills Their Purpose When The Time is Right

noreply@blogger.com (uniquewonderfulme) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 03:40:00 +0000

I have spent some time reflecting on the above statement posted by DailyOM today (Where You Need To Be)

A great portion of my time this year has been devoted to personal development. I have jumped from support group to support group, seminar to seminar, conference to conference trying to solidify my purpose in life and bring self-satisfaction with where I am. While I have learned a great deal on this journey and have been transformed by it, I still feel there is so much more I can be learning; so much more I am blind to around me. And I push myself to continue to go out and explore new ideas and approaches.

Erykah Badu, one of my favorite musicians, when asked about the release date for a future album, once stated that she believed in "lifelines not deadlines". More specifically, she said this:

“I don’t quickly serve something up just because people expect me to. I serve it up when it is well done, cooked and ready. I go by the lifeline, not by the deadline. I believe in lifelines not deadlines. I do it when I feel it.”

That is SO true! If only we all could recognize this, the results we produce would be so much more quality and satisfactory not just for our supporters and those making demands of us, but for ourselves because we allowed time to nurture our full potential. We as human beings are constantly judging ourselves and our ability to perform and produce. Work too fast or produce too soon without proper preparation/application and you are bound to experience some level of dissatisfaction, no matter how good the work appears. You will always feel like something more could have been done to make it better.

So the lesson I am learning:
Don't rush your progress. Apply what you have learned from your past, accept your present, give yourself time to absorb what you are currently learning and keep your eye on the future possibilities. Dedication as well as patience bring positive and truly fulfilling results. Good things will happen to you when you have learned to recognize your real strengths, challenge your weaknesses, and you are good and ready to accept positive results into your life in return.

My Fall Bucket List

noreply@blogger.com (uniquewonderfulme) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Take the 21-Day Meditation Challenge in October.
Complete my Etsy jewelry account and put my items up for sale.
Allot time for involvement in Urban Gateways.
Return for the fall/winter to lead an arts & crafts afterschool program for kids.
Cook myself a nice meal and a glass of wine AT LEAST once a week.
Exercise AT LEAST 15 min., 3 days/week.
Purge my home items. Sell or donate unwanted stuff.
Begin the process of identifying and mapping out my goals for 2012.
Read at least one professional/personal development article a day.
Begin budgeting more faithfully.

My Favorite Things #5

noreply@blogger.com (uniquewonderfulme) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Amethyst :)

The Girl Effect

noreply@blogger.com (uniquewonderfulme) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:52:00 +0000

Today, I came across an initiative I just have to share in an effort to help make a difference in the lives of girls around the world.

What is Girl Effect?

Girl Effect is the powerful and social economic change brought about when girls have the opportunity to participate.

Facts:

By 2016, almost 165 million Girls will be married before the age of 18
96 million girls in developing countries are illiterate
Half of sexual assaults worldwide are against girls younger than 15
Pregnancy is the leading cause of death in girls 15-19
75% of HIV+ teens in Sub-Saharan Africa are girls
70% of 130 million out-of-school children are girls.
Today, more than 600 million girls live in the developing world, with numbers on the rise.
One-quarter to one-half of girls in developing countries become mothers before age 18; 14 million girls aged 15 to 19 give birth in these countries each year.
A survey in India found that girls who married before age 18 were twice as likely to report being beaten, slapped, or threatened by their husbands as were girls who married later.

How Can You Make A Difference?

Give what you can -- Today, less than two cents of every international aid dollar is directed at the solution of adolescent girls. Donate to organizations working to unleash the girl effect like BRAC.

Educate yourself -- Learn about organizations and girls unleashing the girl effect, follow what’s happening on the global agenda, read everything you can.

Share -- Tell others about the girl effect, show the Girl Effect video. The more who know, the better.
Join -- Follow the girl effect on Facebook and Twitter, start dialogue, participate in the discussion, voice your opinion.

Go to www.girleffect.org to find out more information and watch videos of girls sharing their stories around the world.

Sweet & Sour

noreply@blogger.com (uniquewonderfulme) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 02:21:00 +0000

SWEET:

Hot, peppermint oil baths on a cold day
A nice cup of hot Mint Tea
A slice of lemon cheesecake
No line at the grocery store checkout
Hearing Michael Jackson on the radio
Ghirardelli Hazelnut Hot Cocoa
Jazz hands!
My cat chatting away and shaking her tail in excitement when I get home from work
70 degree weather
I Love Lucy marathons
Absolutely Fabulous marathons
Finding you still have money in your bank account after all your bills are paid!
Chatting away on the porch with some good friends
Singing at the top of my lungs during car rides
Crossword Puzzles
Candid photos
Improvisational humor
Seeing the smile and excitement on a child's face
Mojitos
Dancing in the dark
Realizing you went to work and DIDN'T wear mismatched shoes!
Lazy Sunday's
Any and every breakfast item on the menu
A good hug

SOUR:

Going to work in 35 degree weather or below
Missing your bus/train
Burning your dinner
Hangovers
Finding there's no aspirin in the cabinet to help your hangover
Bills
Jersey Shore marathons
Sudoku
Losing your keys...only to find they were in your hand the whole time!
Getting assignment after assignment piled on your desk at work...all with the same deadline!
Being picked last in a sport
Forgetting how old you are (and considering it a sign of old age)

My Favorite Things #4

noreply@blogger.com (uniquewonderfulme) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:04:00 +0000

MOJITOS!!!
(nothing like a good mojito to take the edge off!)

Dance Your Pants Off MONDAY!!!

noreply@blogger.com (uniquewonderfulme) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:00:00 +0000

I'm totally motivated today and looking forward to the week ahead!

Can't wait to stretch, to do the laundry I put off for a week now, to prep my dinner for the week, sell some old clothes, work out, read some MindTools, socialize, meditate and sleep.

When the mood comes to be productive you have to take advantage of it :)

Not sure why, but I feel like I want to dance my pants off....again....

Happy Monday!

IT'S FRIDAY!!!

noreply@blogger.com (uniquewonderfulme) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:12:00 +0000

Take full control of your weekend! Enjoy! :)

The Power to Choose

noreply@blogger.com (uniquewonderfulme) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:05:00 +0000

When we fail to recognize our ability to take control of your life, we fall into a pattern of "life sucks", "why them and not me?", "I will never get this done" or "I will never be able to achieve [fill in blank]". Do you realize how much these thoughts weigh you down and turn you into a helpless/hopeless victim lacking the ability to take responsibility for your present and your future?

It's not easy taking yourself out of victim-mode, especially if you have lived a significant amount of your life this way. But. if you don't make the decision to act now, all you are doing is fueling the continued cycle of helplessness. When you phrase your actions/decisions in this manner, you remove self-imposed pressures and stresses that you associate with the task.

Making a point to incorporate choice into my daily life has shown me strength, courage and discipline that I used to think never existed nor was it possible to manifest. As you will recognize below, life can be a series of trade-offs and your choices serve as a catalyst for positive or negative results in the near or distant future. Remove words like "I can't", "I have to" and "I should (or shouldn't)" from your vocabulary. They hold you back more than you may think. Instead, replace them with affirming statements such as the ones below that I use for myself:

I choose happy thoughts.
I choose to make time for exercise in order to live a more healthy lifestyle and reduce my risk of illness/injury in the future.
I choose to not let other's opinions of me or my work affect my self-worth.
I choose to focus on my work (or I choose to surf the web instead).
I choose to forgive others. In forgiving others, I release the unnecessary burden of pain that I previously chose to cling to.
I choose to pay that bill (or I choose to not pay the bill and accept the priviledge of paying late while incurring late fees).
Given the choice of chocolate or vanilla, I pick vanilla. Why? Not just because of the taste, but because that is what I choose to pick.

Phrasing your actions/decisions in this manner help you to remove self-imposed pressures and stresses that you associate with the task. Life then becomes a more empowering experience with endless possibilities.

If you are not sure where to begin to take control of your life, I figured I would give you a little jump-start. There is a book I am recently read (and am re-reading!) called The Now Habit that speaks in depth on the topic as it relates to procrastination. It helped me realize a lot of things I am speaking of in this blog today. There's also a powerful story on this topic that popped up on the Tiny Buddha yesterday. There is a plethora of other resources you can turn to for help on taking charge of your life...books, magazines, blogs, seminars...if its something you really want, you just have to make the choice to get up and look for them ;).

My Favorite Things #3

noreply@blogger.com (uniquewonderfulme) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:55:00 +0000

Orchids : )

360- Degree Journaling

noreply@blogger.com (uniquewonderfulme) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:00:00 +0000

While visiting one of many blogs I follow, I came across a unique and interesting method of realizing my potential through 360-Degree Journaling. I found the exercise pretty fun and would love to share with you what I came up with. It seems like something that has the power to help you recognize your accomplishments and bring motivation into your life:

East (3 ideas, urges, callings, opportunities that arise):

Membership in the Urban Gateways New Arts Forum for young professionals.
The ability to make a difference in the lives of others through volunteering, event planning and blogging.
Newfound desire to get my jewelry site up and running for business.

West (3 things now ending in my life):

Accepting the past for what it is...the past.
Forgiving myself and rebuilding connections with friends and family.
Ending the fear of taking control of my life and my future.

North (3 things that stabilize me):

Mindfulness meditation
Balancing social interactions with relaxation time.
Exercising self-love (long hot baths, home mani/pedis, walks along the lake, etc.)

South (3 things that evoke spontaneity, creativity and spirituality):

TinyBuddha.com
Working on my jewelry designs.
Spending time with my unique, wonderful friends : )

I would love to know what you were able to come up with for yourself in this exercise!

On Being Mindful

noreply@blogger.com (uniquewonderfulme) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:53:00 +0000

What does it mean to be mindful?

Mindfulness is an ancient Buddhist concept that when utilized helps bring you to a more present and aware state of being. It is a very powerful form of meditation which encourages you to intentionally live in the present and to remove all judgment; to consciously be aware of all the processes it takes to perform a task, to eat a meal, to feel an emotion, etc. It has been proven to bring relief to various health issues such as stress, chronic pain and illness (See How Meditation Can Make You Happier). Mindfulness meditation is a very important part of my life. Without mindfulness, I wouldn't have been able to overcome the anxieties and irrational fears I was plagued with for a significant part of my budding adulthood.

After spending the last two years diving into the world of mindfulness, I have come to develop my own meaning for mindfulness based on my personal experiences. To me, being mindful has come to mean:

Having a good relationship with yourself. Caring for your physical health, mental health and maintaining a reasonable level of self-esteem while also being strong enough to experience humility.
Being aware and accepting of others, despite any shortcomings you believe they may have.
Taking your time and practicing patience. Not being so eager to rush through the days tasks.
Determining the root of your fears and challenging them with rationality.
Allowing flexibility in your life. Things rarely ever stay the same. The events and surroundings before you change from moment to moment. Making yourself aware of this helps prepare you for the next moment while allowing you to recognize and appreciate the past for what it truly was and the present for what it really is.
Treating every experience as a learning experience.

The definition of mindfulness will be similar or different depending on your experience. But one thing is for sure: once you get in the habit of practicing mindfulness, you begin to realize how much of your life you have been truly living in the dark.

If you are interested in learning more about mindfulness. I recommend you read more from a very well-known (and my favorite!) teacher on the subject, Jon Kabat-Zinn. He is the Director of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He has also written many books on the topic of mindfulness.

Today's Horoscope

noreply@blogger.com (uniquewonderfulme) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:36:00 +0000

My Horoscope Today from DailyOM

Decisive Evolvement
Sagittarius Daily Horoscope
You may feel friendly and approachable today and find that others are attracted by your charm. You may also feel outgoing and want to establish a larger network of friends and associates. This extroverted mind-set can help attract lucrative opportunities to expand your life circumstances, both professionally and personally. You may wish to give some thought to the aspects of your life you wish to expand upon today, and then come up with some simple action steps to help attract opportunities to grow. By making your intentions clear and your actions decisive, there are no limits to what you can create in your life. You could introduce yourself to someone new to expand your circle of friends, apply for a new job to expand your professional growth, or explore learning opportunities to expand your realm of knowledge.

Taking action on our desire to improve or expand our life circumstances will attract more opportunities to grow and evolve on emotional, spiritual, and professional levels. We can take full advantage of our outgoing mind-set by using it to attract lucrative opportunities into our lives. By setting an intention and then taking action toward a specific goal, we put powerful energy into motion that attracts opportunities to stretch our limits beyond what we thought was possible. The more decisive our actions, the more lucrative the outcomes we will experience. Our lives then become a journey of evolvement that results in greater meaning and fulfillment. By channeling your extroverted mood into decisive actions today, you can create many opportunities to expand your life circumstances.