Monday, March 28, 2011

Failures of the Great

What's this? A blog? A blog that I said I would write in faithfully 6 times a week?

Oh. Right. Hello again.

In the past couple week's I've attended a children's ministry conference, worked double hours as a nanny, stayed up on my freelance writing, and discovered that I am lactose intolerant. I also went to the gym some. And read a little... And had some cool dreams... And didn't write much... :(

I hate feeling like I've failed at chasing my goals. My real goals. Sure, I'm keepin' up appearances, but I'm not pursuing my heart's desire as fully as I should. And it's nobody's fault by my own.

So to inspire myself I pulled out a list of famous people who really screwed up... Maybe it's sick and twisted, but it helps me realize that everyone, even Mozart and Lincoln were epically human and had epic failures. We remember the greats for their successes. But they too, didn't always get it right.

Here are some of my favs from the list:

  • Walt Disney: Today Disney rakes in billions from merchandise, movies and theme parks around the world, but Walt Disney himself had a bit of a rough start. He was fired by a newspaper editor because, "he lacked imagination and had no good ideas." After that, Disney started a number of businesses that didn't last too long and ended with bankruptcy and failure. He kept plugging along, however, and eventually found a recipe for success that worked.
  • Albert Einstein: Most of us take Einstein's name as synonymous with genius, but he didn't always show such promise. Einstein did not speak until he was four and did not read until he was seven, causing his teachers and parents to think he was mentally handicapped, slow and anti-social. Eventually, he was expelled from school and was refused admittance to the Zurich Polytechnic School. It might have taken him a bit longer, but most people would agree that he caught on pretty well in the end, winning the Nobel Prize and changing the face of modern physics.
  • Winston Churchill: This Nobel Prize-winning, twice-elected Prime Minster of the United Kingdom wasn't always as well regarded as he is today. Churchill struggled in school and failed the sixth grade. After school he faced many years of political failures, as he was defeated in every election for public office until he finally became the Prime Minister at the ripe old age of 62.
  • Abraham Lincoln: While today he is remembered as one of the greatest leaders of our nation, Lincoln's life wasn't so easy. In his youth he went to war a captain and returned a private (if you're not familiar with military ranks, just know that private is as low as it goes.) Lincoln didn't stop failing there, however. He started numerous failed business and was defeated in numerous runs he made for public office.
  • Lucille Ball: During her career, Ball had thirteen Emmy nominations and four wins, also earning the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center Honors. Before starring in I Love Lucy, Ball was widely regarded as a failed actress and a B movie star. Even her drama instructors didn't feel she could make it, telling her to try another profession. She, of course, proved them all wrong.
  • Jack London: This well-known American author wasn't always such a success. While he would go on to publish popular novels like White Fang and The Call of the Wild, his first story received six hundred rejection slips before finally being accepted.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Mozart began composing at the age of five, writing over 600 pieces of music that today are lauded as some of the best ever created. Yet during his lifetime, Mozart didn't have such an easy time, and was often restless, leading to his dismissal from a position as a court musician in Salzberg. He struggled to keep the support of the aristocracy and died with little to his name.
  • Babe Ruth: You probably know Babe Ruth because of his home run record (714 during his career), but along with all those home runs came a pretty hefty amount of strikeouts as well (1,330 in all). In fact, for decades he held the record for strikeouts. When asked about this he simply said, "Every strike brings me closer to the next home run."

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Why Everyone Should Try Yoga!

So tonight my hubs and I are going to a yoga class! The teacher's name is Al. He's a dude. He doesn't look like your stereotypical fitness instructor. But that's cool (his paunch makes me feel more fit... hah!). Here's some fabulous facts about yoga:

Myth: Those who participate in (and actually enjoy) yoga are abnormal contortionists born with high pain tolerance and spines made of jello.

Truth: You don’t have to be flexible to enjoy yoga. Really.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Motivational Monday - C. S. Lewis Quote

Amazing man...        

Happy Monday! (As the wise Pollyanna once said... the best thing about Mondays is that it's an ENTIRE WEEK before the next Monday...!)

Here's a quote that I find inspiring:
To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.
Choosing to love can be tough. Painful sometimes. But without it we WILL wither. So hang in there!!!

(Got any motivational quotes or love inspiration? Comment and share!)

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Top Tips For Reducing Clutter

There's no point in having a stylishly decorated home if it's buried in a mountain of clutter. And even if you don't like the way it's decorated, chances are an outdated 80's theme is still better than the "I haven't opened my mail in 6 days and I'm still folding last week's laundry" theme.

By nature, I'm a horrible clutter bug. It just seems to... HAPPEN... However, my burning desire to have a lovely and stress free home keeps me motivated to reduce clutter and to keep things organized. Here are some of the best tips and tricks I've learned for reducing clutter. They've helped me. Maybe they can help you! :)

Friday, March 11, 2011

The Best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe... EVER

WARNING: This recipe is dangerous. I once consumed two dozen of these cookies by myself... in one afternoon. These are hands down the most delicious and addicting oatmeal chocolate chip cookies I have ever encountered. I'm not even sure I can bring myself to try another chocolate chip cookie recipe... I have no good reason to. These are life changing cookies.

If you do ONE thing this weekend then let it be to bake a batch of these cookies. Life is short! You can burn off the calories later! These cookies are truly heaven on earth. So ditch the jeggings and go put on your loosest pair of comfy pants. It's time to make some of these bad boys!

*Hallelujah Chorus*

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Spring Break Blues - Staycation Ideas



I’ve got the Spring Break blues, baby. Last year it was the gorgeous beaches of South Carolina that broke up the monotony of March’s gloomy weather. This year... well, I’m stuck at home (and although I truly like the paint color on the walls of my house, it’s not exactly a great substitute for blue skies and sunshine).

If you’re like me, your 2011 Spring Break plans probably won’t involve any beaches, cruises, or relaxing spa getaways. Be it lack of finances or lack of time, vacation plans are on hold and you’re staying put.

But before you pout your way through everybody else’s Spring Break week consider these refreshing STAYcation ideas:

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down

The past two weeks have not been good for blog writing.

The past two weeks have not been good for goal accomplishing.

The past two weeks have been a mashup of injuries, sickness, discouragement, apathy, exhaustion, and falling behind on countless tasks.

It all started about two weeks ago when my hands decided to be suicidal... Please note - the following two items do not mix well and may lead to a shredded left index finger nail and profuse bleeding: