Touches of Halloween.

Every year we try to decide how much to decorate for Halloween. We don't have any wee ones yet, but we are pretty enthusiastic about (all) holiday decorating nonetheless! There is a point where decorations go overboard, and I will admit it....I have been an offender once or twice, (especially when we were first together) it was a holiday decor explosion. Our two worlds collided and a holiday sonic boom ensued! We have since tamed it down and brought it back to a respectable level, one that this "self respecting designer" can live with. My honey and I are both silly and easily entertained, and this is one of our outlets.

I thought I would share my favorite little guy this Halloween before it's too late.

I just love him.

I love his vintage quality first, the striped arms and legs, and the jack o lantern bucket he's carrying. He pretty much just makes me smile. We are gearing up for tomorrow night....holding out hope that we will get more than one or two trick-or-treaters (like we do every year). We'll be enjoying our Halloween Eve by carving pumpkins, looking for something spooky to watch, and preparing our wonder pup for the possibility of lots of knocks on the door tomorrow night.

Blogging Paralysis

I haven't been blogging as much as I hoped to. I get stuck in a place sometimes, and can't seem to get out of it...one of those places has to do with the use of photos, rules of creative commons, etc. I am feeling gripped by "analysis paralysis" too much thinking... focusing on details, and not making any progress. But I have vowed to push through...that's become my mantra the last few days. It seems to be working so far...here I am writing a little post - without pictures even.

I really love the idea of blogging. Now I just have to do it. Even if it's just text for now. That's where I'm at. Maybe I will even reach out to one of the lovelies that I am a loyal reader of, and ask for help.

Twitter - To Tweet or Not to Tweet

I've had a twitter account set up for a few months, but just haven't been sure what to say...I got on today and posted my first tweet...and I'm still  not convinced. I read so much about social media and the power of it all, and I really want to get on board, but it's a struggle to find my voice in the "world wide web". It feels so vast to me! However, this is a challenge I want to take. Tweet - one at a time, until I find my voice amongst the other tweeters. See where it goes without having all of the answers up front. I am extending the hand of friendship to you twitter, let's see where this thing goes!

A Walk on the Beach Made Me Think

I do this walk a couple of times a week, a portion of it's trail, and the rest of it is sand. I was walking this morning, the tide was high, there was little room for walking, and I caught myself focusing on each and every step I took. My thoughts and awareness, were not on the beauty that I was surrounded with...they were on my steps, and making sure that I was steady on the loosely packed sand.

It made me think, how many of us are so focused on the path that we are on... each and every step, calculating and worrying about every move?? What if we were to stop thinking so much, and took the time to be grateful for the small things? To appreciate the beauty around us? A smile from a stranger. The clothes on our back. The color of the sky. The beauty of the ocean. The sound of our families. The smell of our food. Our own uniqueness.....

If we all got down to basics, would it ease the struggles? Times are hard for many people right now, and there's always someone who is struggling more than you or me. Maybe it wouldn't take away your worries about paying the mortgage or rent. Maybe it wouldn't ease the exhaustion you're feeling from working two jobs. Maybe it wouldn't ease the pain or the loneliness that some are feeling. But maybe, if in those moments, we are able to see the beauty in the small things....we will open ourselves up to something more. An appreciation for the basics. Maybe we'll become the one who starts smiling at strangers, even if we're not feeling particularly overjoyed. Maybe that stranger appreciates that single smile, in that one moment...and passes it on.....and so on.

Calculated moves, worry, and meticulous planning, don't always bring the results we hope for. Maybe a few moments of appreciation, and awareness is all it takes to open the door to a new opportunity, or a new outlook on what the day will bring. One moment of awareness is all it could take to make a difference in one life or many.....wow. I got all that from a walk on the beach?....  :)