money

oh the things you can do with money! I have known what it's like to have enough money to get by AND save. I have known what it's  like to have almost no money at all. But no matter which scenario it does not buy you happiness, in my opinion.

there's so much I'd buy if I were rolling in the dough. It's funny, my husband is constantly fantasizing about winning the lottery. He lists all the people he'd help and how. He lists what he'd buy (cars, homes, etc). But at least he actually plays the lotto. Gotta be in it to win it right? I don't believe in the lotto. I feel the odds are too high.. waste of money.

I never let money control me. I saw my parents fight over money, budget, lack of saving, etc. Neither of them were cheapskates they used credit cards a lot though. And we always went on great vacations in great quality hotels. I wish they had saved more.

My husband is very frugal to say the least. Always comparing prices every where were go. Gasonline, food, clothing all has to be bought if its a reasonable price or sale. I DON'T think that way until now. Now I second guess every purchase I make. Do I really need this? Is it in my means/budget?

Once I said to my husband recentely, wow Pat Sayjack from Wheel Of Fortune must get sick and tired of spinning that wheel. To which he said, its a good job, I'm sure he makes a lot of money. I never even looked at it that way. I look at jobs as something you want to do and hopefully have a joy for. I like to do service work. Work to help others. My husband believes in doing work that pays the bills.

I racked up quite a debt with my 2 student loans. Undergrad at University of Hartford and Grad school at Hofstra. And it got me seemingly nowhere. I guess I wouldn't have met my husband if it weren't for my recreation therapy job in NYC. My husband always says why did you study art therapy if you knew it makes no money??! You should have been a nurse they make a ton of money and always jobs available. But I didn't want to be a nurse. First off the subject matter to study in school was not my strength. Math, science, etc. I wouldn't have excelled. At least in Art Therapy school I graduated in distinction.

Overall I want and like money but I don't let it rule my life. I understand the need for it and they glory of all that it brings.

Today's drink: Carmel crunch Frappuccino

Sisters

There's nothing like the relationship with a sister. I was reminded of this yesterday. My family and I got together for a lobster bake! Well, I never cracked a lobster on my own and had no idea what to do. My sister was nice to work on my whole lobster before she even touched hers. This may seem like no big deal but to me I thought .. how considerate! She is a mom and moms eat last but as a sister that was just so nice of her. She is always doing things to help me out.

My sister and I had a pretty bad relationship while we were children. Predominately my fault. I didn't want a sister and when I was four.. I got one. They were twins, her and my brother. My brother was perfectly acceptable as he wasn't 'replacing' me. I really thought my mom wanted another girl because I wasn't good enough. true story. So,.. I didn't make a relationship with her. Everything she did or liked (for example: Backstreet boys) I made fun of her for it. I teased her about her weight and basically ignored her. I am NOT proud of this AT ALL. in fact I now realize how much I missed out on.

Jealousy jealousy jealousy! Oh my God. I compared myself to her in every way possible.  I still do at times. I'm not going to list what I was jealous of because I feel that is very personal. I feel like her best friends are her sisters and they are closer with her than I ever was.



It wasn't until a few years ago that I started to have an actually relationship with her and dare I call it a friendship!!!! She has always been there for me. But it hasn't been since the last 5-6 years for me to recognize that.

I planned her bachelorette. I was so upset that the games about how you know the couple's history were answers I had no clue from. I really missed out so much of her life. Usually sisters know everything about each other. Well at least in my opinion. I went away to college and that REALLY distanced us.

Overall I now have a great relationship with her. She sets an example for me in regards to relaxing and not worrying so much. I wish I had that trait naturally. She seemingly doesn't worry much at all. She is someone I can go to for advice that I welcome. When I was sick she was the first person I called in time of panic.. she was so good with bringing me to a relaxed state. I love you sis with all my heart. I would do anything for you in a heartbeat. I look forward to growing even closer with you. Which I feel is possible with any relationship.

What I love about my sister:

her carefree spirit

helps me see that everything is OK no matter what

fabulous mother

loyal and devoted wife

super talented at her career

always willing to try new things

goes with the flow

beautiful



Today's drink: Soy chia tea

gratitude

So if anything else in this world its to be thankful. Although we have challenges aka problems we still need to put value on our life. In the worst or best of times one thing needs to stay consistent and that is gratitude.

grat·i·tude

ˈɡradəˌt(y)o͞od/

noun

noun: gratitude

1. the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

 

 

 

 

I pray every night- thank you God for all you have given me today. I want to get in the habit of praying and being thankful every morning too!

 

 

  Here's a great website all about gratitude:

http://www.unstuck.com/gratitude.html

 

Here's an example situation from that website

 

When you find yourself
in a bad situation ask:
What can I learn? When
I look back on this, without emotion, what will I be grateful for?

 

 

here is a site with 3 apps you can download

 

http://happytapper.com/

 

I keep a gratitude journal. It should be done daily if possible. I admit I forget to make an entry frequently. But if you can make a habit out of it you will realize there is more to life that we know it.

 

An entry could go something like this:

I am grateful for:

 

- getting out of bed

- this yummy white mocha drink

-the weather is practically perfect

- being able to sit outside and blog

-my family is healthy

-I have the freedom to do what I want daily

my furry daughters

 

OK I'm sure you get the idea.

 

lastly:

 

Today's drink: White Mocha Raspberry

 

 

Why Still Alright to Smile

Hi everyone! Today's post will be about why I named the blog Still Alright to Smile.

So first off this phrase is a quote to a Guns N' Roses song. The song is 'Patience'. The song goes as follows...
 Shed a tear 'cause I'm missin' you
I'm still alright to smile.

So this song is really about a man that misses his ex girlfriend. But regardless, I love love love the quote.. 'still alright to smile'. Because in life no matter what happens you still need to keep in mind that life isn't that bad and this too shall pass.

I have wanted to tattoo this on me but I think my patience tattoo will suffice.

When I was going through a big breakup with my ex of 8 1/2 years I was also obsessing over Guns N' Roses and more particularly Axl Rose. I firmly believe that my obsession is what kept me sane and distracted during the break up. Axl was a transitional force for me. I was always fantasizing about him and I together. Of course I was into the old Axl. He didn't age well, let's just say that.  But Guns N'Roses really kept me relaxed. Particularly the song Don't Cry.

The song Don't Cry is what catapulted my obsession. Because of the breakup  I was so sad and suffering from frequent bouts of crying hysterically. When I heard this song it was like he wrote it for me. I admit to letting it play on repeat for countless times.

Have you ever had a song mean so much to you???

 

Talk to me softly
There's something in your eyes
Don't hang your head in sorrow
And please don't cry
I know how you feel inside I've
I've been there before
Somethin's changin' inside you
And don't you know

Don't you cry tonight
I still love you baby
Don't you cry tonight
Don't you cry tonight
There's a heaven above you baby
And don't you cry tonight

Give me a whisper
And give me a sigh
Give me a kiss before you
tell me goodbye
Don't you take it so hard now
And please don't take it so bad
I'll still be thinkin' of you
And the times we had...baby

And don't you cry tonight
Don't you cry tonight
Don't you cry tonight
There's a heaven above you baby
And don't you cry tonight

And please remember that I never lied
And please remember
how I felt inside now honey

So after that song was engrained in my head I moved on to listening to the entire cd. And all the other cds they have. I started collecting photos on the computer to add to my Myspace page which was a complete worship page of Axl and GNR. Then I discovered DVDs of Guns in concert! Now not only can I hear the songs and I can see his hottie self dance around stage.

 

 

Original artwork for album cover

 

So I began buying tons of GNR related things from Ebay. I have the original cover of Appetite for Destruction. That cover was banned right when it came out and I have a mint condition copy of it! See above image. I have mousepads, cigarette cases, record singles, magnets, magazines, dvds, cds,

 

So basically to end this blog.. My passion for Axl and all GNR songs reminds me that no matter what.. I'm still alright to smile.



 

My obsession has since died down. I no longer listen to their CDs on repeat or watch the DVDs daily. But I'll never ever forget how this band has gotten me through hard times.


Please go to my dear friend Linda's website:
Linda's website


Today's drink: Blonde Grande w milk and sugar

 

 

Happiness is...

Happiness is… Art making Playing with my nephews Drinking yummy smoothies Being bored with your best friend Girl time Moving to Florida Smelly Angel perfume Vision boards Smell of fresh cut grass Listening to 80s music Hugs Finding money! Your pillow when you’re super tired Warm brownies  Today's coffee: Mocha Frappachino

Topics for this blog

Hey there everyone! I'm here at Starbucks and its another glorious day! I'm sort of second guessing myself about this routine. If I can pull it off it will be so beneficial and therapeutic. Even if nobody I know reads this I still want to do it. So here is a list of topics that I might blog about.

-art therapy

-seniors

-dementia care

-my battle with illness

-anxiety/ worrying

-depression

- children

-general life events

-long term goals in life

-mandalas

-family

-marriage

That's me deep in thought!!

So let's begin with anxiety/ worrying
If it can be worried about, I worry about it! I start with a lil' thought and then as time goes by it snowballs into something huge. My mind obsesses over it and it won't let go. Worrying doesn't make the future easier it makes the present harder. When I'm nervous my heart races, I feel it in my gut. It's oddly enough a guilty gut feeling. hmmmm... not sure what I'd be guilty about.

A miracle has occurred this year. I have rebuilt my relationship with God. I now 'let go and let God' for most things. But there are many things that that phrase doesn't help with. The anxiety is way out of my control at many times.  I have created a God box in which I put anything that I'd like to hand over to God in there.
Recognizing that there is a higher power who is IN CHARGE has been so beneficial for me.
I have many many a fears! Maybe I'll list some here.

Fears:
house fire
accident with car
dryer fire
daily mail (bad news???)
social situations depending on the atmosphere


I'm sure some people have similar fears but they don't let the fears control your life.
There are many more fears but these few are the major ones that concern me each day.
I know when I am art journaling my fears seem to disappear. This is why I went for a master's in Art Therapy, because it works!!!! it is so therapeutic. I might get a book of mandalas to color. They are so relaxing to make. I will post several blogs on the topic of Mandala in the near future. I want to read the book I have again called , 'Creating Mandalas".



OOOOh on another note ... today is Soul Collage Meetup!

 SoulCollage® is a creative and satisfying collage process. You make your own deck of cards - each collage card representing one aspect of your personality or Soul. Use the cards intuitively to answer life's questions and participate in self-discovery. Joyfully deepen your understanding of the relationships between your personality parts, you and your family/community/world, and you and your dreams, symbols, and Spirit.

 

Thanks for reading!

Today's drink: Cinnamon Dolce Latte

A new adventure

So.. I'd like to start by saying that I have wanted to blog for years. I opened this particular blog site a few years ago. My intentions were to post daily. What would my topics be? I wasn't so sure. My inspiration: Carrie Bradshaw with Sex and the City. She always seemed to have such poignant things to say. Granted she wasn't blogging but I feel a blog and a newspaper column are similar in length.

So the plan is to start my mornings every week day at Starbucks. Here, in the atmosphere of other people, action in general and enjoying a lovely coffee related beverage! My therapist suggested that I get out of the house at the same time every day for at least an hour. He feels like the more I sit at home, the more worrying I do. As my mind is not distracted by anything but my own thoughts. So my mom suggested this!

I am so thankful in life to have the liberty to do this daily. I know that I will be so proud of this if I can pull it off daily. It's so much more rewarding than watching Good Morning America and Kelly and Michael!
I desperately need structure but not the form of a job. Job would be too overwhelming for me at this point. I tend to imagine what would work best for me and then the TV wins. Ideally I would art journal daily, blog daily, read daily, exercise daily; you get the idea.

Stay positive!
Thoughts for the Soul
"They who handle a matter wisely shall find good: and those who trust int he Lord, happy are they" Proverbs 16:20

Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.

Bob Feller

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/start.html#8OvZAPLKS1sHW7fW.99

my drink of the day: caramel macchiato