Ruby loves the snow!
Look at that expression on Ace...must have been some really cold snow!
Joy!
Working out that cabin fever!
 

Source: punk.com via Holly on Pinterest

Source: zappos.com via Holly on Pinterest

Source: endless.com via Holly on Pinterest

 
I just finished "The Giver" for the first time. Many have read it for a school assignment but for some reason I never did. I highly recommend it...very thought provoking. I'm dieing to discuss it with someone, so if you have read it, please share your thoughts about it. How did you feel about the ending? Do you think our world could ever come to this? How did you feel about the boy's father? The community in this book somewhat reminded me of The Hunger Games...
Speaking of...YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK: "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins. The movie is coming out in March and I get goosebumps just thinking about it! Read it before you see the movie. I cant wait to see it...I will be there at midnight. This trailor gave me even more goosebumps!
 
On New Year's Eve I sort of came across a little focus group about my blog. Well, really I just asked some of my friends and family what they thought about it. Some of the comments were:
1. I dont post often enough.
2. They loved what I did post.
My response was..."Well I'll be damned, I didnt even know you were reading my blog and I had no idea if people like what I posted or not. Why dont you comment?"  So, my conclusion is to encourage everyone to please leave comments with feedback! I want my blog to be a place to interact with people. I send things out into the great unknown, never knowing if it touches someone or if a recipe turns out really good or if I competly scare off people with my misspellings. Thank you to my friends who DO leave responses, like my blog posts on Facebook and/or email me their reactions to my posts. I read every one of them and they inspire me to continue. As a child, I wrote and published a sticker collecting newsletter that I sent to all of my penpals. This is the adult version of my childhood passion. I live out that love of creating, writting, and interacting with others here on this blog.  I have a lot to learn but I thank you for reading and responding. It means a lot to me! Let me know what you think!

Source: flickr.com via Holly on Pinterest

 
I dont know about you, but I absolutley love shoes. You might never guess this by seeing the shoes I wear. This is because I have bunions and sore feet all the time! I think it's the many years of retail I worked that now cause pain in those things! So I stick to comfortable, which isnt always cute. Crocs anyone? That doesn't mean a girl cant dream, right? I thought for my Year-of-Turning-40 I might give it a go and wear sexy heels more often...didnt last long at all. I think as you get older, you get wiser and decide that pain isnt always worth the beauty. But hey, every once in a while I might still bear the pain for it, they are just too hard to resist sometimes, like pieces of art on your feet. So here are some of the best shoes I've come across on pinterest. Shoes I would have in my Dream Closet. I have so many saved up on there I might do a Shoes...if only Part Deux another time. Enjoy and feel free to follow me on Pinterest!

Source: etsy.com via Holly on Pinterest

Source: google.nl via Holly on Pinterest

Source: chiq.com via Holly on Pinterest

 
I came across these happiness tips for 2012 by Gabrielle Bernstein while visiting one of my favorite websites www.positivelypositive.com I encourage you to add it to your favorites and follow them on Facebook. She practically read my mind and articulated what I am striving for this year! I am going to check her out too, at http://gabbyb.tv/home

Check out  Gabrielle Bernstein's Top 12 Happiness Tips for 2012!

Tip 1: Let go of 2011 baggage.
It’s likely that 2011 brought many ups and downs. This
year, resolve to focus on the good stuff. Choose to let go of what went wrong
last year, and commit to what will go right this year. Be grateful and
appreciate all that you have. When you appreciate what you do have, you create
more of what you want. Stop focusing on lack and let the energy of gratitude
create a more abundant life.

Tip 2: Change the conversation.
Make a resolution to change your dialogue about fear
and negativity. When you think, talk, and act from a negative place, you attract
negativity into your life. Commit to a new conversation. Begin the New Year
talking and thinking about what you love about your life, rather than replaying
the same old negative story. You might just be surprised by the
results.

Tip 3: Give.
Being altruistic not only benefits the person you’re
helping but greatly enhances your own life, too. This year, commit to the mantra
“How can I give?” rather than “How can I get?” Giving produces endorphins, which
make you feel great! Plus, giving to others helps you get out of your own way.
When you focus on giving you can stop focusing on what you’re not
getting.

Tip 4: Take a ME break.
Commit to a ME break at least once a week. Take time
out to focus on yourself. This is a powerful habit to create early in the year.
Need some suggestions? Take a long yoga class, prepare a nice meal for yourself,
or create an evening ritual. One of my favorite ways to take a ME break in the
evening is to give myself a facial.

Tip 5: Get naked!
This year, make a commitment to be authentic. Get naked
with your truth, offering the world your greatest gift: your authentic self.
Begin a practice of being yourself on dates, in the office, or even in your
home. We all thrive on true connection. So this year, get naked with your truth.
Don’t deprive the world of your authentic gifts. Even if it feels uncomfortable
at first—go with it—you’ll feel liberated in no time.

Tip 6: Get creative.
This year, I commit to spend more time painting. This
creative hobby takes me out of my daily patterns and ignites my inner spirit.
Pledge to engage in a creative project as often as possible. You’ll find that
time spent in creativity heightens your happiness, and gives you more energy for
the other areas of your life.

Tip 7: Do innovative exercise.
Each New Year, millions resolve to hit the gym and lose
weight. This year, make your physical resolutions fun! Rather than locking
yourself up in the gym for days, find cool ways to shed the pounds. I am a huge
fan of Hoopnotic, a
rockin’ workout with a Hula-Hoop. When I Hula-Hooped as a kid, it was just a fun
thing to do. I never would’ve imagined doing it as a killer (and totally
addictive) workout.

Tip 8: Practice the F-word.
Carrying resentments into the New Year will only
recreate the patterns from years prior. This year, vow to let go of resentments
by practicing the F-word and forgive. Become conscious
of whom you need to forgive (including yourself) and be willing to let go of
your resentment and turn it over daily. Each morning when you wake up, set the
intention to forgive. This daily intention will ignite a consciousness of
forgiveness and provide you with the necessary tools to allow the F-word process
to set in.

Tip 9: Eat mindfully.
To keep your Spirit Junkie mentality intact, you must
feed your soul superfoods. This New Year I’ve committed to kicking the coffee.
Rather than go nuts trying to eliminate everything bad in your diet, keep it
simple and choose one thing to let go of. My spiritual running buddy Kris Carr
offers amazing tips for cleaning up your palate in her book Crazy Sexy Diet.
Let Kris’s book inspire you to keep it simple and wholesome. There’s no need to
kick it all at once. Small shifts create powerful change.

Tip 10: Be Authentic.
Rather than conform to what you think the world wants
you to be, in 2012, serve the world more of YOU. Make a New Year’s resolution to
be more authentic. When you share your truth with the world, your genuine gifts
shine through. Plus your authenticity gives others the chance to be truthful,
too!

Tip 11: Sit back and receive.
I work hard to balance my go-getter mentality with my
sit-back-and-RECEIVE approach to life. This year, welcome stillness and
receptivity. Through a daily meditation practice, you can begin to transform
your need to control outcomes and learn to sit back and receive. You’ll come to
understand that stillness is sometimes the greatest action. Begin a meditation
practice today with one of my FREE Spirit Junkie guided meditations. CLICK HERE to
download.

Tip 12: Expect miracles.
Kick off the New Year with a miracle mindset. Begin each day with a prayer for
peace and happiness. Say out-loud or to yourself: “Thank you, inner guide, for
reminding me of all the love and light in my life. I welcome positive support
throughout this day. I expect miracles.” This daily prayer will jump-start your
day with a miracle mindset and awaken your consciousness to the greatness around
you.
Featured in the New York Times Sunday Styles section as “a new role
model,” motivational speaker, life coach, and author Gabrielle Bernstein is
making her mark. Expanding the lexicon for the next generation of spiritual
seekers, Gabrielle is the #1 bestselling author of the book,
Add More ~ing to Your Life, A Hip Guide
to Happiness
. In September 2011 Gabrielle launched her second
book,
Spirit Junkie, A Radical Road to
Self-Love and Miracles
. In 2008 she launched her social
networking site HerFuture.com for young women to find
mentors.