Seeing

It is HOT out there today, but I am thankful to be able to go for walks no matter what the temp may be.  I just returned from a leisurely stroll in NYC, where I work.  NYC is such an amazing place.  I have such a deep love/hate relationship with this city.  I am very happy that I get to spend time here though.  I try to remind myself to go for strolls or even take the subway to another part when I can, because there is so much to see and do and take in.  Sometimes you look around, but don't actually SEE what is around.  Sometimes you need to awaken your senses, remind yourself to truly see what is around you and in NYC that can be such a game changer.

I truly enjoy just LOOKING UP in NYC sometimes.  Next time you are in NYC remember to look up in the sky.  You will not be disappointed.  Today I walked to Rockefeller Center for a Blue Bottle Coffee (I love their New Orleans Iced) and some fresh air. I used to do this on the regular, but it has been some time.  The farmers market was set up today. I love farmers markets, what they stand for,  and their aesthetics. I really need to visit them more often.  

Mondays are HARD

As if Mondays weren't always tough, now that I have an offspring they are marginally tougher.  I miss her so much it's hard to breathe.  Weekends with my little crew (my husband, myself, and Zoey) are my fave.  Returning to the grind Monday morning -- not so much my fave.

A few scenes from the weekend:

Check out thoseMean Mugs

Summer Jams

Below you will find a few songs that have been getting me excited  this summer:

I obviously have some learning to do on how to embed videos on here, because I tried several techniques and the only one I could get to work was using the blogger function within youtube sharing.

But here they are to give you a little pep in your step this Monday afternoon.

DJ Snake & AlunaGeorge - You Know You Like It

Major Lazer & DJ Snake - Lean On (feat. MØ) (Official Music Video)

WALK THE MOON - Shut Up and Dance

"Seek Magic Every Day"

I am extraordinarily thankful for the ability to work from home some days. It's such a pleasure to get the extra time with Zoey, my house, and whomever may be there to help out if, and when I need.  I love that I can put up a load of wash in between email correspondences-- I get to see my baby's happy smiling face when she first wakes up in the morning, feed her a bottle, prepare her dinner --all things I usually miss out on every day I commute to work.  On my "lunch break" I can walk to the park with her, build a fort (as we did yesterday, since it was raining), read a book, or just roam the house with her little hand wrapped around my finger. Those extra moments are just worth so much to me.  I love my little lady, she is indeed the sunshine in my life. I am away from my house for about 12 hours every week day, so having a balanced life isn't the easiest of tasks, so when the opportunity for some balance presents itself, I welcome it with wide open arms and a big smile on my face. Yesterday was one of those days, I even made time to paint on my easel that I just recently purchased. 

When I was pregnant with Zoey, I painted a couple of  whimsical pieces for her bedroom that had positive sayings on them -- You Are Our Sunshine and Dream BIG Little One.   A couple of weeks ago, I came across this saying, "Seek Magic Every Day" it stuck with me and I decided that I wanted to add that to the collection.  I started the painting yesterday, and while my husband sat with me as I painted the base to this painting, I started telling him my plan for it -- since I couldn't remember where I had seen the saying and if it were, "Seek Magic Every Day" or " Seek Magic Daily", I, of course decided to Google.  Upon Googling, I discovered that Katie Daisy had created a piece with this saying.  If you do not know who Katie Daisy is, check her out on Etsy here: The Wheatfield
It is all beautiful, whimsical, and positive works of art.  I love her style, it reminds me very much of my own.  So, now I am using it as part of the inspiration behind my own creation. 

Here are the beginnings:

Sneak Peak!

It's been a busy and quick spring into summer.  I can't believe my little bee is going to be turning 1 the end of next month.....And then summer will be over just like that.  Here's a little sneak peak into Zoey's 1st birthday invite photo shoot.

She inspires me to take more pictures and to tap into my creativity more often. I'm very thankful for that.  

Reminder

The Mind

I just have the urge to write. Creativity has been knocking on my door lately and I wish I had more time to answer.
Sometimes I play pretend in my head like I did as a little girl to make my days feel more important, interesting, worthwhile, I guess.  It helps me to get through some of the mundane tasks I sometimes must complete.  I believe in mind over matter wholeheartedly.  If you make yourself think positively, you will feel positively. If you think negatively, those thoughts will only make your days worse. When I feel down and out, and upset with the world, I try to take a minute to remind myself of all the good I have in my life and that there is so much worse that COULD be happening.  Be thankful for what you DO have, for the life you ARE living, appreciate the world around you.  I feel that with social media these days people are always comparing their lives to others, and trying to outdo each other.  The thing is, social media can be easily masked.  Someone may travel a lot, but they may be lonely and unhappy deep inside.  The couple that may seem so happy and in love could be on the verge of splitting up.  Remember to be present in your own life, and to enjoy everything you have, LIVE, put down the phone, step away from the screens, unplug, and enjoy a real conversation, make real memories, take in all that you can.  Just because you didn't post a photo on instagram doesn't mean that it didn't happen.  Matter of fact, most of the time, it means you are living in the moment and enjoying yourself too much to be bothered.  Our minds take the best photographs. Don't you think?

Sensory

Sometimes I find comfort in just touching, feeling, holding, and gazing at things that have belonged to me for a while. They bring back memories and feelings that evoke emotions inside me. Nostalgia is a friend of mine. I like to think back and remember both good and bad. Memories are important to me. They are what life is made of. 

It's in your head... in your head...

Do you ever feel like you spend too much time in your head?  I absolutely do, and it's a problem. It can be very debilitating.  I've been raised by a family that didn't always make me feel comfortable talking or expressing myself.  There was a lot of anxiety in the house at all times - living in fear of being scolded, criticized, someone snapping at someone else.  It was a terrible environment..... and I think it caused me to have quite a few mental issues.  I sometimes have trouble speaking my mind, doing exactly what I want to do, and even being who I truly am inside.  It's kind of sad.  It also makes me wonder how others perceive me sometimes.  I carry around a lot of anxiety and as much as I try to be conscious of it and let go of it.  It's not as easy as i would like it to be.  I wish I was stronger sometimes, more outgoing, FREE of the anxiety that sometimes control the person I display to the world.