Day Ten: Donald & Melania Trump

Here is a family photo of our possible soon to be President and first lady.  Now you can look at this photo and criticize all you want.  I have decided to choose to see the positive.  

Here is a very successful couple who have lived the American dream.  Donald Trump has achieved what many men only hoped to achieve in a life time as far as wealth.  And, he has been blessed with a beautiful wife that loves and supports him.

Melania is drop dead gorgeous and she herself has her own career in modeling which again, is the dream of most young ladies in America.

The presidential candidates are not running on the platform of their strong religious beliefs.  We can not fix that.  What we can do, is pray that somewhere along the way they will be exposed to the power of God, His riches that are far beyond any earthly riches and a God that will empower them to lead as no other leaders.

I do know that Hillary has indeed been exposed to truth as she and Bill have been personal friends of one of our ministers I personally know.  Yet, they have not turned from their wicked ways.

I hope the Trump family will inspire Americans to find the American dream.  I hope the first lady will inspire women to embrace their beauty.  Let's hope for a skinnier America.  lol

I appreciate Trump's stand on abortion and same sex marriage.  

Philippians 4:8King James Version (KJV)

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

I choose to find the positive in these people.  As a Christian, I will pray for my leader and believe in and build on every positive report I can find.

I know this is a very touchy subject and it has been difficult for many, especially Christians to give their vote openly, but I felt it would be a good thing for those who are older and grounded to openly give their voice.

Day Nine: Abundance

This morning in church there was a word that LEAPED out to me:  Abundance.

When in the battle of living life, your mentality of provisions may have been like mine:  scarcity to enough.  But to be in the place God really wants us to be is to live in the mind set of ABUNDANCE.

We can know Him as our provider and living a blessed life.  God is looking for people who he can use as a conduit to channel His blessings through.

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall MEN give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.  Luke 6:38

This is part of the endless possibilities God wants us to live in.

Are you ready to live where you are, just making ends meet or are you ready to know what it is like to have more than enough?  It is not our job to figure out how but to see ourselves living in abundance in every area of our lives.  The "how" will finds it's own way to you.

Abundance is not just money.  It can be blessed relationships, a new job we love, knowledge to make right decisions, open doors and the list can go on.  Whatever area of life you feel is just maintaining and not in abundance, join me to expand your mind to believe for abundance in every area of your life.

Be blessed!

Day Eight: Lucky Five

I am feeling like a give away tonight.  I am thankful for my readers on my blogs and social media sites.  I am hoping someone will want and be thankful for this give away.  I am offering to the first 5 people who respond a quick sketch of an area you would like to some help in or a vignette.  It could be an idea on how to style your fireplace mantel, coffee table, a dead corner that needs something and you just don't know what to do with, or whatever!

Email me with at least one photo of the area.  I will respond and let you know if you are "in".  Once we get to 5, I will make a post on this blog and let you know the contest is over.

Here are a few I have done for clients:

This one is an entire room, I am offering a segment of a space but, you may get lucky and get the whole plan!

This was showing an area for a child in the client's home office.  I explain in actual presentation what each thing is.

Here's a dead wall that needed an idea.

These are all done on my iphone with one finger drawing.  I do some in my sketch book also.  Now, let's see if I have any takers.  Here is where to enter:

donna_r_madden@yahoo.com  If it is easier for you to respond via facebook, simply send me a back message with your photo and say "I'm in"!

I will post on Facebook and this blog when the contest is closed.

I'm excited!  Hope you are too.  

Day Seven: Priority

Ok, let me be honest.  After a super busy day, my hubby and I decided on a late night date.  It was so nice and most of all he deserved some time out from a super busy week.  He has a home office and does tax and bookkeeping.

When my head hit the pillow last night, "Yikes", I realized I missed writing in my blog.  I was way too tired and made a split second decision, I went on to sleep.

Just so you know.  We'll be back tonight. 

Smiles.

Day Six: Seeds in Your Day

This has been one of those days that to make October awesome, it will be partly because of some good seeds planted.

Not everyday is a rip roaring wonder full of obvious greatness.  We just know that when we are doing what is right, investing in our days and in the lives of others, it is a cinch that life will produce all in good time.

It is comforting that you don't have to not stress out and worry, but just be assured that when you have planted some good seeds in your day, everything WILL be ALL RIGHT.

Just what could good seeds be???  Here are a few:

• Investing time in your passion
• Taking care of your body
• Doing something kind for someone you love
• Planning for some days to come
• Planting seeds into your spiritual life for example some time set aside to fast, read a book that encourages your spiritual growth, time listening to wholesome uplifting music, etc.

In my younger days, I had to work on scheduling and working to develop good habits.  We never stop growing.  Every now and then we must evaluate, assess and adjust.  The best habit of all is to guard your thoughts.  I like something I read once, 

"Your thoughts determine your actions, Your actions determine your habits, Your habits determine your character, Your character determines your future."

Thanks for stopping by.  See you tomorrow night! 

Day Five: Something is not right

 I was super excited to have just painted some accent walls in my living room and styling it.  But ....  I could not get over the feeling:  "Something is not right".  I thought of a favorite story in my daughter's library as a little girl, Miss Clevel in Madeline.

There was some sort of disconnect.  As a designer, I love when I step back and say "it is good" that I got it right.

It really makes me think of Genesis 1 in the bible when the writer writes that after God's creation  over and over it says and God saw it was good or and it was good.  I just know when it is right and I just want to celebrate the "it is good".

I thought you may enjoy my labor of working in my living room today and see the difference.  It looked good in the beginning but I think you will see with a bit of fine tuning, it indeed came together.

I am considering a larger rug but until I find the right one, this one is going to do.  I decided this space plan would suit the needs for my husband and me.  With just a few minor adjustments I can be party ready to accommodate a larger crowd in no time.

Let's go back.  Here is an instagram pic when I still had my old sofa.  Just a little look at how it was back then.

And, this was some time back when I got my new sofa.  Photo borrowed from Instagram.  I really loved this rug but it was 100% cotton ( I knew better) and got very dirty fast.

I found myself drawn to a certain green color and would see it mixed with the color of my sofa.  One day I walked into Baybrook Mall's new Arhaus and there it was, the perfect green.  I contacted the manager and got the exact color the designer used.

Sherwin Williams | Relentless Olive

Thankfully, I had my helper to help me kick off the project.

All done and all back in place but I could not put my finger on it, but it just was not right.

I felt it was too busy, too disjointed and not the right flow.

Here is my final finished room.

I'll walk you through it.

I quietened the color and honed in a simple scheme of green and white.

The matching tables have helped me get some symmetry into the room.  I treated the second table in similar colors, green and white.

It just smoothed out the background and brought the focal point back to the sofa.

Thankfully, browsing shops at Baybrook this week, I found a steal of a deal:  these white flowers at Z Gallerie, normally 17.99 each for 1.50!

I left my niche the same.  I do really love the blue and white vases an

 the art colors are perfect for fall.

I simplified the lettering on the black board.

This is a favorite piece.  I found this frame on the side of the road!!  I removed the broken mirror and replaced it with a home made chalk board.  ♥

Just before entering my living room is an area that opens up from the entry.

So nice when you get a fresh look.

Across from this area is my gallery wall.  We added a few fresh touches there also.

I decided to showcase a photo that I sent to my son 10 years ago when he was in boot camp.

The caption was, this is how you most likely remember us most.

Drinking morning coffee.  Hannah, 10 years old, took the photo.

Hope you enjoyed the tour.  Leave a comment please.

Great Day ♥♥♥

Day Four: Learning to Relax

I have a secret love affair for coffee cups.  They seem to speak to me right off the shelves of my favorite stores.  Why? I think it is partly because it is a way to express my day, my mood and my taste.  It also it a big part of my routine of relaxing moments in my day.  A cup of a perfectly made cup of coffee is high on the list of the interpretation of
R E L A X.

Ahhh.  I look forward to smelling my way to the coffee pot each morning.  I am very spoiled with a hubby that is an early riser and enjoys his quiet mornings and gets his day kicked off with coffee and his personal time of prayer.

I am personally a night owl and enjoy my solitude at night when all is calm, I reflect on my day, plan for tomorrow and just "chill" from my day.  I feel I also set my next day in motion by being mentally and physically prepared the night before.  Otherwise, I can not sleep knowing I have too many things on my plate waiting to be done.  The truth is, my brain functions best at night.  In the mornings it just takes some time to uncloud my thinking and get all the gears going at one time.  Having bags packed, clothes ready, anything printed, emails answered, etc. etc. calms me and even if I am not 100% when my feet hit the floor, it is all ok because I already have my path cleared.

Just so you know, this is a best case scenario.  Grant it, I have my sluggish times and do not always hit the mark.  One thing age does, if you work on your life, in time, you begin to have some good habits in place.  There are still some new habits and goals that, fingers crossed, I will keep moving closer to.

Relaxing is actually hard for me and I have been working to get better at it.  I am by nature a pretty high strung person thinking I can't do anything without going 90 to nothing.

I remember always getting my kids from point A to point B with "hurry", always in a rush.  But, why??  Actually funny now when I think of it.  Poor little children.  lol

If you are like me, I'm sure you have a few things you do to slow down.  Here are a few of mine I do to slow down, tell myself that it is ok to relax, do nothing, lay the to do list aside and take a break. Even if everything is not perfectly in order before doing so.  If you live with people and have a home, it is an endless job keeping everything in it's place not counting your job and other responsibilities.

• Make your cup of coffee a ritual.  Purchase a pretty coffee cup, sit and enjoy that moment. Actually realize you have just enjoyed a cup of coffee.  This is contrary to rush to the kitchen, pour your cup of coffee, run to the bathroom, plug in the curling iron, start multi tasking while occasionally taking a sip of coffee that eventually gets cold or the pet gnat gets to it before you do!  

• Take some time to get comfy and just think.  Imagine you where you want to be, in a place you want to go, what it feels like to accomplish all you have on your list, listen to that inner voice that may be trying to tell you something.  

• I like to find good books but I go to Barnes and Noble online and purchase them used at a fraction of the cost.  Trust me, these books are like brand new.  I've never been disappointed. Time spent with a good book is pleasurable.  It can be taken with you to a favorite coffee shop, take to a favorite garden to read or snuggle up with it on a favorite chair.  

• Asian reflexology massages are very affordable and extremely relaxing.  If you have not tried one, I encourage you to do so.  You relax fully dressed.  They usually do not have all the fluff and fabulous aromas of a regular massage place but very worth the money spent.  I get the 60 minute reflexology.

• Find your favorite music on Pandora.  It is an online music site and free.  I listen to Edwin Hawkins radio, Loui Armstrong and even French Cafe Radio and many others.  I love music even more since I finally got some great speakers.  Christmas time I am nuts over Christmas music!  I think it makes the season magical.

• I am somewhat obsessed with the fragrance of a shower gel, Dirty Springwash.  I found at the Galleria after getting as a Christmas door prize at our family Christmas.  Here is the link on Amazon if you would love to try it.  Be sure and use a scrunci for maximum usage.

• Light a scented candle.  My personal favorite is Trapps Vanilla Orange.  The aroma of a good fragrance candle is very soothing and relaxing and brings a nice atmosphere.  I sometimes reward myself with lighting mine when I get a room all clean. I dim the lights and light a candle. Here's the link.  It also comes in votives for around $3.50.

• I love to go out to eat especially on Sundays but what restaurant can I wear my slippers, pj's if I want and have my hair stringing down?  So, picking up a good take out and coming home to eat is a good option.  Some of my favorites are Jason's Deli, Panera Bread or Southern Comfort, near our home.

The list can go on and on.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope you will think about our little chat and take a moment to be nice to yourself, give yourself permission to relax and live in the moment.

Have a great RELAXING day!