Build a Masterpiece

What kind of world do you want?

Think Anything

Let's start at the start

Build a masterpiece

Be careful what you wish for

History starts now...

The above lyrics are the chorus for "World"

by Five For Fighting ... It's a great song and makes you think!

Let's start at the start ...

A ‘Rainy Day’ Soundtrack …

It’s been raining all night and it’s still coming down. I had dreams last night of rain coming through the roof and even woke up a few times to feel the ‘drops’ that seemed so real in my sleep! Amazing how powerful dreams can be… I’m sure on some mind level I was on the beach with an umbrella enjoying every drop!

Have you noticed how most of the really great movies have a really great soundtrack? I love movie soundtracks and own quite a collection of them. I think rainy days like today deserve soundtracks! So, I took the liberty of creating a list of tunes (feel free to get them from iTunes) and play it on the ‘rainy days’ in your life!

Cheers to the pitter patter that adds green and magic to our world…

Put your Rainy Day Songs on …
Here’s my play list -

You’ve Got a Friend by James Taylor
Sacrifice by Elton John
Imagine by John Lennon
Down Under by Men at Work
Wind of Change by the Scorpions
Your Song by Elton John
Key Largo by Bertie Higgins
Clocks by Coldplay
Fire and Rain by James Taylor
What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong

Movie recommendation for ‘rainy days’ …
My Fair Lady

(You'll love the soundtrack to that one!)

WARNING: Lovers Ahead …

I absolutely love taking road trips. There is something wonderful about hitting the open road and enjoying the miles from the seat of a car. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed the various road signs that pop up along the journey. I’ve laughed several times at random road signs and sayings… Someday, I hope to make a road trip across the United States and fill my vehicle with traveling treasures. I just had an idea – I think I’ll plaster the outside of my car with magnets … Can you picture it? Me too! If you happen to be driving down the road and see a car plastered with magnets from around the country – feel free to honk. It’s probably me!

Back to the road signs, I have to say my favorite road sign (thus far) was one I saw in Virginia! What did it say? Kiss and Ride. Isn’t that romantic? They have special lanes just for lovers! You get in the ‘lover’ lane and put the car in neutral – then you get out of the car and kiss (in this designated kiss and ride spot) and then one of the lovers goes his/her separate way and the other lover drives off. Very cool! I think every state needs a kiss and ride lane …!!

Fast Fact -
The state of Virginia has a slogan …What is it?

Virginia is for lovers. That savvy slogan has done wonders for lovers and tourism.

For more information, feel free to check out the link below -
http://www.vatc.org/pr/factslogan.htm

Virginia is for Lovers ...

Apricot blossom ...

I recently heard a man give a very interesting talk and as part of his speech, he used the following quote: What you are looking for in the Universe...is looking for you

And today as I enjoyed a walk outside (in the gorgeous spring weather), I bumped into an apricot tree in full bloom. It was beautiful and made me appreciate (to a greater degree) the miracle of seasons :) .... I guess the apricots and I were looking for each other!!

Happy Monday!

Photo: Library, streets of Minsk, Capital of Belarus

Good things happen at the Library …

Isn’t that a beautiful library? I think so too! Our public library is not as visually appealing as the one pictured above. However, it does contain a great deal of information. I love libraries. And you just never know what’s going to happen at the library – who you’re going to meet, what special book you’ll discover or who you might be able to help.

My daughter and I made a visit to the library yesterday and we had so much fun. Before we left home, we created a list of all the things we hoped to find and discover while visiting the library. For the record, we accomplished everything on our lists… And we both left happy! :)

Would you like to know what book I’m reading?
It’s called – March by Geraldine Brooks
I’ll let you know what I think of it when I’m done …

What is my daughter reading?

A darling children’s book called: Bunny My Honey by Anita Jeram

(She loves it).

PS:
Go visit your library and experience some ‘good stuff’ …

Geography Moment:

Map of Belarus
http://www.belarusguide.com/as/heritage/clickmap.html

For more information on Belarus -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarus

Journey to Minsk -
http://homepages.nsys.by/minsk/

Filled with good stuff ...

Hershey's kisses are one of my favorite little bundles of yummy goodness. Especially the ones that are filled with mint, cherries, caramel, peanut butter and so on.

My husband and I taught a workshop on Saturday for teens (ages 14-18). Our topic was: Am I doing anything right? Our answer to them was: YES... and then spent the class time helping them recognize and discover all the things they were doing right. It was a fun afternoon!

For the closing ... we gave each person a hershey's kiss and I told them this -

These kisses are filled with good stuff. But remember that YOU are filled with greatness... And we encouraged them to take their greatness and do something with it.

PS - there's greatness in you too :) ...

Breathing Space

Have you ever read a copy of Oprah’s Magazine? I have several times and enjoy the way it flows. One page just runs into the next and I love to create time to sit down and get lost in its pages. The Magazine is called O … And one of my favorite sections found in each issue is called: Breathing Space.

It’s a two page layout of a gorgeous photo and the reader is supposed to sit back and imagine that they are there. One particular issue contained a photo of the beach on the Dominican island of Cayo Levantado and we were to feel the cool water of the Caribbean lapping at our feet and savor the quiet that surrounded us… So I closed my eyes and felt myself running on the sand with the water chasing my feet. I felt the breeze from the palm trees and the sun on my face … It was lovely. (I was there!)

And when I opened my eyes – I felt rejuvenated and ready to take on the REAL space surrounding me… It’s like I took a mini vacation while sitting on the fluffy, comfy couch in the front room!

I highly recommend it. Amazing what our minds can do …!
Where will you go?

Don’t bunt. Aim out of the ballpark.
~ David Ogilvy

What a great quote huh? I thought so too!
Aim high – hit hard and enjoy the game!!

This quote reminds me of the importance of goals and making things happen!

What is Success?

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

To laugh often and much;

To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;

To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;

To appreciate beauty,To find the best in others,

To leave the world a bit better; whether by a healthy child,

A garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;

To know that one life has breathed easier because you have lived.

This is to have succeeded.