For Reals.

While I know it is a little corny, I really wanted to thank everyone for the patience, understanding, enthusiasm and friendship you have extended to me the past several months. Challenges have been overcome and new challenges have arisen, but at the end of the day I {enjoy} what I do and have become a better person because of it. I have said it before, but I really have the best {friends} & {family} in the world. Please know that I am thankful. . .

Just {ME}.

I'm intuitive with a rich fantasy life, have high goals and I strive, strive and strive again, rarely letting small failures get me down.

I'm enthusiastic and you know what, enthusiasm is catching.

I love to delegate responsibilities but often I find yourself at the head of the pack anyway, in my role of urging and inspire others onwards.

I'm a freedom-lover and woe betide any mere mortal who comes along and tries to clip my wings.

I veer towards over-ebullience, talking the legs off tables and even coming across as arrogant or preachy.

I love a good time in between time spent educating myself about the worldview and the spiritual.

I will usually say what I say and I'll do, but I'm not the best at staying interested in something for too long.

I love novelty.

I'm a great pal and always up to something.

I have grand plans and I'll fight for right and justice at the drop of a hat.

I'm ridiculouly cool.

I {heart} Cake.

I {heart} cake.
We think that the hardest thing in a relationship is finding the right person. After that, we fall in love and live happily ever after, right? Those in a relationship know all too well that fairy tales are only true in the movies. The truth of the matter is that having and maintaining a relationship is not easy.

The ability to tell each other thoughts, feelings and wants is so important to a relationship. Good, open, and honest communication is like oil to a car. Without oil in the car, internal parts will burn up and the car will be ready for the scrap pile. Communication is important!

There are no mind readers. For a relationship to grow and prosper, likes, dislikes, desires, hopes, dreams and problems need to be said. If a couple’s communication is restricted, the relationship is destined for major problems down the road.

All of these ingredients will add to the makings of a fine, wonderfully iced cake.

{Anyway}

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some genuine enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you;
Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world your best anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

Mother Teresa

{Powerful}

To me...powerful is being true to myself. I need to take care of myself and do what's best for me. I need to trust myself and believe in myself. I need to be honest with myself and not be afraid to share my thoughts and opinions. I need to just be me and accept me for who I am right now. Of course there are lots of changes I would like to make in my life right now, don't get me wrong, but I need to remember to just be satisfied.

What is powerful to you?

I Am.

There are so many things I am, so many things I am trying to be and not trying to be at the same time. The one thing I know is that I am trying to create a better me and a life I love. Everyday brings it's own joys and struggles, but I am learning something new everyday and I am thankful for that.

I am loving this journey

Six.

Sarah Ban Breathnach: The six threads of abundant living, which when woven together produce a tapestry of contentment that wrap us in inner peace, well being, happiness & a sense of security. The first of these is gratitude. When we do a mental & spiritual inventory of all that we have, we realise that we are very rich indeed. Gratitude gives way to simplicity- the desire to pare down, clear out & realise the essentials of what we need to live truly well. Simplicity brings with it order, both internally & externally. A sense of order in our life brings us harmony. Harmony provides us withwith the inner peace we need to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us every day, & beauty opens us up to joy.

Totally Delightful.

It's a fact. Focusing on our own selves only makes us feel worse, and focusing on others always makes us feel better. Is anyone else out there weary of the "it's all about me" mentality? I mean really...aren't we all worn out, under-appreciated, overlooked and neglected, treated unfairly, emotionally starved (and on and on)? It's called being a female human. It's life. But listen to my voice of experience when I tell you that it's our turning inward and dwelling on this that brings on the bitterness, pain and self-pity.

So here it is a brand spanking new year and the perfection of opportunity to turn it all outward. Join with me in ushering out the era of "it's about me" and replace it with "it's all about you" . I created a visual reminder that I'll keep to quit with the ME and turn toward the YOU.

Great Expectations.

This is your year of unlimited greatness you shall not struggle to be recognized...
Your gift shall announce you,you are entitled to daily fruitfulness...Every darkness in your life shall give way to the light of God...All your lack will give way to abundance...You shall enjoy uncommon marital bliss this year...The rejected shall become the selected...People shall hear your testimonies and follow you to God In everything you do, you will succeed...What you have never done before for good...you will do this year...By the time this year ends, you will look back with joy  and ahead with great expectations...You will take charge of your life as you master your
time...You will discover how to maximize your time and add value to it...You will become the star of your family...and the hope of your generation...Because you know where you are going...the whole world will step aside and follow u....May you find favour with God and men...May you grow in wisdom and stature...May you walk in dominion over every circumstance and situation...May every day in this year be for you days of success and purpose...In this year never forget to act as if it were impossible to fail...because for people like you and me...the word failure does not exist...your success is non-negotiable...This year will be the greatest year of your life and the beginning of unprecedented success in your life!

{Life} Right Now.

Good. Very Good!

Essentials.

What are your essentials? If you had to get rid of everything and just keep a modest amount, what would be on your list?

Forever Teach.

I {heart} being a teacher because I love children. I {enjoy} helping children learn. I {open} the door to opportunity for all children and let them explore their minds. I {give} children guidance, love, attention and help them gain knowledge so they can grow up to be intelligent adults. Children inspires me to be creative. I {help}kiddos gain knowledge and "figure out the answer." By teaching I {help} children develop skills that they will have the rest of their lives! And that {feel} mind blowing!

Yummy.

When You Say Nothing At All.

I think you can tell a lot about a woman by what her favorite flower is and the way she describes it. Most people know that my favorite flower to recieve is a gerber daisy. In fact in the spring time I go to the farmers market daily and fill a vase with gereber daisies and set it on my on my desk at home. I think they're bright and bold and fun and yet a little fragile. I think that is usually a pretty acurate description of myself. I think daisies are such a feminine flower. There is nothing better to me than to have a whole room full of gerber daisies.

I {heart} the way they smell.
I {heart} the colors.
I {heart} the tiny petals.
I {heart} that they overpower a room.
I {heart} how bold they are and yet how delicate they are.

I {heart} Mondays.

Why? Because it is just a day. And so much can happen in a day. You only get one shot at it, just like you only get one shot at all the other days of the week. Make the most of it. I wish you all a happy, productive, and stress-free Monday.

Amanda {+} Mike

Care2Connect.

Isn't it wonderful to be in love, to fall in love, to be consumed by love? I remember the childhood fairy tales & bed time stories filled with love, living happily ever after, always in a state of love & bliss.....So, is the quality of love or a relationship directly related to the length of time the relationship lasts; or is it the quality of the love & connection felt, even if it only lasts for fleeting moments, never to be recreated again?
Would you consider a long distance relationship if you thought you found someone you would like to experience love & passion with? Would you move across town, across a state or even across a country?

Great Quote.

"Life is a constantly morphing thing. Just when you think you know where it's all headed you wake up the next morning to a completely different view. The landscape has changed along with the seasons, but the trees are the same trees, only your view has changed. So you try to cling to the old things that used to comfort you, clinging to the familiar, but they provide little or no solace. The fears do not subside. At this point we have no choice but to surrender to the unknown.

...that is where the real beauty lies.

It is not in the knowing, the familiar, the expected. But in the embracing of the unknown. a willingness to walk down a new path and to trust that everything is as it should be. perfect. as it is.

Schopenhauer said,"When you look back on your life, it looks as though it were a plot, but when you are into it, it's a mess: just one surprise after another. Then, later, you see it was perfect."

Sometimes there are little glimpses of the perfection, amidst the mess. It is at those times we feel blessed beyond measure."

{Change}

Marvin J. Ashton suggested 4 important steps to make change a valuable tool in our lives:

1. Understand the NEED for change. An unexamined life is not worth living. The recognition of the need to change has to be a greater force than the luxury of staying the same.

2. The facts must be authentic. We need to know how,what, when, where, and why to change. With knowledge, a person will have a greater strength to improve. (we can improve little by little, remember smalls steps)

3. A system for change must be established. (for me, i plan to take things one small step at a time, instead of all things at once) Make a plan for orderly plan for change and once the plan has been made, FOLLOW THROUGH

4. "Great souls have wills; feeble souls have only wishes." You must be commited and have the will to improve. Unless you have the will to improve, all the other steps you are taking to change are all for nothing.

Be {ME}

{Express} Yourself.

31 Things........
I don't know what you heard about me but here are some things you might not know....







1. I cannot sit still and do nothing. It is hard for me. I like to have a million things going at once. I think I couldn't function otherwise. I think being busy makes me happy which is ironic because sometimes it is a source of unhappiness.
2. I have a hard time letting people do things for me. I do not like to ask for help very often because I feel guilty that I am putting people out by doing so.
3. I love reading trash...Hollwood Rag and ASocialLitesLife....Luv it!
4. I get jealous sometimes because my sister did it. Krista's little sister...
5. I love to take pictures. I love to see the images I create.
6. If I don't know the answer, I ask. If I can't get an answer, I go nuts trying to find out the answer myself.
7. CREATING makes me incredibly happy. When I design something and it comes together better than I envisioned, I am like heck yeah!
8. I love passionate kisses!
9 I love teaching. Especially Reading
10. I wish my house looked like the Pottery Barn catalog.
11. I love Audrey Woulard photography.
12. I am my own worst critic. I am always telling myself I can do better, be better.
13. I draw inspiration from everything around me.
14. I love music. I love my iPod.
15. I love color.
16. I love B&W pictures.
17. I like to talk a lot. I also like to listen.
18. I like to sleep. I like to take naps. Naps are a luxury to me. They don't happen too often so I treasure them. I do.
19. I care a lot about a lot of things even when I shouldn't.
20. I long to sit on the warm beach in Maui and just stare out into the crystal blue water.
21. I am sad about all the hatefulness in the world. there are just so many people who are mean, ugly, and selfish and as a result, hurt others.
22. I like to learn NEW things.
23. I do not like to disappoint people and I don't like feeling disappointed.
24. I like change. Change for the better. Change is good. I think I can grow from change.
25. I think I am way too sensitive sometimes.
26. I love pillows. I love the feel of them all around me when I go to sleep.
27. I hate carpet.
28. If i could pick only one scrapbook company to design for, it would be Basic Grey. I love their paper. Seriously I do.
29. I love R&B.
30. I can't wait to be married.
31. I love children and can't wait to be a mom. The best mom.

My {heart}.

Love and Me
I′m most vibrant when I′m in love. I′m drawn to the excitement, passion, and sheer adventure of romance. My attitude toward life is enthusiastic and positive, and being in love intensifies these glowing feelings. When I′m in love I positively radiate happiness and energy.

Love is not just passion but a challenge. I′m a perfect playmate but only as long as I find the game worth playing. I′m not one to make the best of a bad bargain. If I′m unhappy, I won't resign compromise or myself or try to work things out. I′ll just walk out.

I can't take love as seriously as other women do. It's part of life to me, not the end or the beginning. If I find a man who's a real companion, who shares my pleasure in sports and the outdoor life, and of course shopping, who likes to travel and hates to be tied down to any one place, then love is a wonderful extra added attraction.

To me, life means moving forward into the future, and each new love is a learning experience. I don′t take into account that when a romance is over it may leave behind a trail of wounded feelings. If an old lover harbors resentment, I′m genuinely surprised.
I love men and enjoy the flirtations and maneuvers of a developing affair. I can't help wandering over to the primrose path to pluck whatever blooms strike her fancy. When I do find my big romance, however, I believe in loyalty to my man. I′m a romantic who will marry for love's sake rather than for money or social position.
I have a sense of humor I′d like to think that this is my nicest trait, and I′m not interested in a man who lacks a sense of fun. I don′t welcome tempestuous, heavy-breathing relationships that put me through an emotional wringer. What I look for is a lover who can share my sense of adventure. I prefer men who are intellectually stimulating, well read, and well traveled.
Basically, I enjoy life and try to make sure everyone around me enjoys it too. I′m clever, amusing, optimistic, high-spirited woman. When I finally settle down with some lucky man, I′ll be the most delightful companion he can hope to find.

Everyday.

Everyday you make me smile.
Everyday you make me laugh.
Everyday you make me think.
Everyday you make me happy.

Everyday...so lucky.

Drink Up.

Quenching my interal thirst for learning...If you can give me good times, great trips and mind expanding opportunities, then you have a better chance of getting my love and affection.

{Succeed}

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 to 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 even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

I {heart} Audrey.

Myspace Layouts

Heard it Through the Grape Vine.

Image code by deepbox.com

Yes.

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

December Beauty.

DECEMBER BEAUTY
This straight-up means ur the most good-looking, loyal and generous. Patriotic. Competitive in everything. Active in games and interactions. Impatient and hasty. Ambitious. Influential in organizations. Fun to be with. Easy to talk to, though hard to understand. Thinks far with vision, yet complicated to know. Easily influenced by kindness. Polite and soft-spoken. Having lots of ideas. Sensitive. Active mind. Hesitating, tends to delay. Choosy and always wants the best. Yeppers, it's me.

Think {Tink}

Myspace Layouts

""All you need is faith and trust... and a little bit of pixie dust!" {Personality} pouting, jealous, good-hearted, spiteful, flirty fairy...{ME}

So.

so positive.
so peaceful.
so focused on family.
so focused on the good in life.
I belive it's there.
We just have to find it.

Myspace Layouts

I {heart} Mondays.

Love Mondays!
I know I have talked about this before... how much I love Monday! This is my To-Do list for today...and you know... I almost got it all done! I did some stuff that wasn't on the list, and I had to add it so i could cross it off, so that I could feel like I accomplished something! I am not really a 'list' person... and it really helped me today! I got a lot done. It's 5 pm and I am tired.

I still have a bunch of creative stuff that needs to get done...

First {Kiss}

Your Candy Heart Says "First Kiss"

You're a true romantic who brings an innocent hope to each new relationship. You see the good in every person you date, and you relish each step of falling in love. Your ideal Valentine's Day date: a romantic dinner your sweetie cooks for you Your flirting style: friendly and sweet What turns you off: cynics who don't believe in romance Why you're hot: you always keep the romance alive

What Does Your Candy Heart Say?

Stream of Thought {Luck}

I'm so {lucky} for

marshmallows, sunshine, cloudy days, pattering rain, my kiddos, Lily Belle, kisses, handshakes, friends, cheesecake, the color green, good music, happy thoughts, true love, warm socks, fuzzy bathrobes, pretty smiles, a lovely mother, my little toes, a fab job, ribbon, late nights, metal rulers, sharp scissors, glitter, plane rides, the perfect dress, a comfy bed, all my pillows, harwood floors, paint, the color pink, pretty paper, big desks, time, best friends, good music, diet coke, you.

What are you {lucky} for?

{Enjoy}

Ang & {A}

Lots of just clowin'.

Warm Fuzzy.

In Decemeber I recieved this letter from a parent of one of my students.....

STEADY AS SHE GOES
My teacher is a very unique and beautiful young woman. She is not just beautiful on the outside but she has an inner beauty that no words can justly describe. To say she puts up with me is an understatement. God has truly blessed me with her and I can't thank Him enough.

I {heart} Me.

This time last year I didn’t know what a blog was - well, I had a vague idea but had never looked at one in the flesh, so to speak, and would never have imagined that through writing one I would allow myself to share myself. This blog has given me permission to be creative - publishing poems, prose and photographs - and recently it’s the photography that has been ringing my bell the most.
This is the secret I have learned in recent years:: to be happy we must find the thing that makes us excited; we must nurture a rich interior life, one filled with images/music/words/scents/yarns/fabrics/paints/beads/glue/films/recipes - whatever it is that make our mouth water, that honors the creative spark we all carry inside.
Relationships are very important of course, but before we can commune with another (before I can commune with another) we must be able to commune with ourselves and be able to sit in that quiet space, all alone, and listen to what it is we need on a soul-level.
This last year has been a gift I was given - the chance to really be on my own, meet that woman inside myself and look her square in the eye in silence. I know one day I will consider myself lucky that I’ve had this time - I think I’m starting to already… despite the complicated ‘stuff’ that I deal with in my everyday world, this feeling of gratitude, of okay-ness, is starting to permeate every thought and feeling I have. Perhaps this is the invincibility of grief coming back - knowing I’ve survived I can take on the world! - but I don’t mind its return.

No matter what the world throws at me, no matter how many disappointments and let-downs I face, I have found my inner core of self-awareness - I am my own best friend - and that means I will be okay.

Love. Peace & Joy Out.

I can honestly say I {heart} what I do. My job is to capture the true spirit of a kiddo: playing together, laughing together, being happy together, leaning together, give and taking together. What a treat for me that these kiddos allow me into their lives for a small moment. I'm a lucky gal.

"Happiness is not about what happens to you, but how you choose to respond to what happens. That's why it's called happiness not happenness."

{Amanda}