Inspiration #21 - A Family Affair

It's something we all have, in some way, at some point in our lives, regardless of blood. I believe that the friends we keep are the family we choose for ourselves. The support our family gives us is immeasurable. Whatever the type of support they give, the strongest one of course is love. No matter what you do your family loves you. Ironically, I don't think as I was growing up I fully understood the power of the family unit. I've known my entire life that family was important, but I don't think I knew just how important. Now that I am older and have a family of my own, I realize that, while we all have moments of wanting to be alone, I'd much rather be with my family. When I am frustrated and fed-up, I turn to my family to help see me through. Be that my immediate family or the extended family that I have surrounded myself with, it's still my family I want to be there for me. It's amazing how large a family can grow and how the love for them never seems stretched thin.

When I want to give up, it is my family there to help motivate me. When I want to learn something new, try something different, or want to just crawl under a rock, my family is there to be supportive. When my son is sleeping peacefully beside me, nothing else matters. When he is playing with his daddy and laughing, it makes everything else melt away. Nothing is as important as family and the love that the family fills you with. I am so lucky to have a wonderful family.

“The Family is the Country of the heart. There is an angel in the Family who, by the mysterious influence of grace, of sweetness, and of love, renders the fulfilment of duties less wearisome, sorrows less bitter. The only pure joys unmixed with sadness.”

~ Giuseppe Mazzini

Trying to have a warmer feeling, I think more about how amazing it is to have such a beautiful family. Enjoy your families as much as possible. Make what you can of the time you have with your family it truly is a gift.

Inspiration #20 - Light of my life

Sunlight through the trees.

Light is such an important part of life. We are always trying to "keep things light" or trying to lose weight to be lighter or bringing more light into our spaces. We need light to read, to grow plants, to function in everyday life. Light is one of those wondrous things that provides so much. When we are down, we feel like we are in a dark place. When we want to wake up, one of the things that help us do that is light. There are many different types of manmade light, but one of the greatest gifts we have is natural light. It gives us such beautiful images to behold. Here, I photographed the light coming through the trees and leaves but, another beautiful example would be how light filters through things and shines upon different objects.

Light gives fully of itself. It graces all surfaces, bending, contouring, and hugging everything in it's path. There are precious few things that this can be said about. Light has an incredible way of making things beautiful. So the next time you are out there, stop and take the time to see the light. It's worth it!

Inspiration #19 - Lovely Lace

Image coming soon.

How lovely and intricate and delicate and truly feminine. Lace is one of those beautiful things, that people spend hours, days, weeks, months, etc working with love on. To those of you who make it, thank your for your countless hours of dedication and hard work! It is well worth it. Lace is one of those pretty details that can be cute, pretty, sexy, sensual, it has so many facets. Lace is one of those things we replicate from nature, the way light filters through trees and plants, the way we peek up at the sky through the leaves of trees. The way it simulates the webs of spiders. Apparently, I am not the only one to think so.

"I consider lace to be one of the prettiest imitations ever made of the fantasy of nature; lace always evokes for me those incomparable designs which the branches and leaves of trees embroider across the sky, and I do not think that any invention of the human spirit could have a more graceful or precise origin." ~ Coco Chanel

And just for giggles, while I was surfing the web for things relating to lace. I came across this pair of quotes:


""It is difficult to see why lace should be so expensive; it is mostly holes" ~ Mary Wilson Litle
...
"Yes, but have you any idea how hard it is to get those holes to stick together!"~ A response from an English costumer.

Silly, I know, but I thought adding something a little light and airy would be fitting for this subject!

Inspiration #18 - Cupcakes R Us!

Who doesn't love a lil cake now and then?

Something sweet. Something pretty. Something perfect for sharing. Cupcakes just bring people together! I love cupcakes, I'd almost rather have cupcakes than regular cake! Seems silly, but cupcakes are so wonderful. Perfect for a party or dessert after dinner. They are just enough to satisfy the sweet tooth and offer a enough room to maybe have another of a different variety. Cupcakes have so widely grown into a huge market that competition is fierce. Which means killer cupcakes with the most amazing designs, which means.. more yummy delights for us!
Recently, I have taken up making something that is just outside the norm of the cupcake realm, but perhaps if you stretch your view you'd see it fits. Cupcake Truffles. Basically, they are about mini-cupcake sized ( perhaps a little larger ), made of cake with a chocolate shell. I made them and they are so yummy. They look so elegant and unexpected. Having them for a party without telling people, they'd expect they were getting truffles, but once you bite in, surprise! You have all the wonderful cupcake flavor surrounded with decadent chocolate. There are so many wonderful things about cupcakes, you can do them for kids parties, bake sales, picnics, brunch, dessert, wedding receptions. Anywhere you want to make an impact. I just love how versatile a simple thing such as a cupcake has become. There is a cupcake for almost any occasion! I wish more things were as useful!

~ o.X.o.X.o ~

Inspiration #17 - Flutterby Butterfly

Flutter flutter

Simple and delicate. Even the way they flutter as opposed to fly and glide is, in a way, refreshing. Some how it seems more fun and light hearted rather than, down to business. As dumb as this may sound, much like dragonflies, I think butterflies are fairies that nature allows us to see. Living in the city, it isn't always easy to run across such beautiful things as butterflies, so when they do grace us with their presence, I find it only fitting to stop and watch them for a moment. I love so much about their wings like the colors, patterns, and shapes.

  May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun
  And find your shoulder to light on,
  To bring you luck, happiness and riches
  Today, tomorrow and beyond.
  ~Irish Blessing

What a wonderful blessing! I love it. Let us not forget that the butterfly wasn't always a butterfly. It started out as a caterpillar, fat and worm-like, spending most of it's time eating, before wrapping itself up in a cocoon and sleeping for a very long time. And once the time comes, it emerges from the cocoon beautiful and lovely with wings that carry it wherever it wants to go. Life lessons as taught by nature.

Inspiration #16 - "Fairy" Tales

I DO Believe!

I don't have good images yet for this topic, so until I do, the fairy dolls will have to be stand-ins. I wish so much for a fairy tale life. With magic and greenery and nature surround. I know that it's completely unrealistic to wish for things like that however, I do believe that we can attempt at creating our own versions of these things. By attempting to surround myself with the things I find beauty in or by learning to embrace what we have to work with, I can create my own version of a fairy tale. Okay, so I might not live in a mushroom, or in a tree trunk, or have wings to fly about, I am aware of this. But if I don't try to come close to the idea, what am I really doing? I recently made myself some soft, sheer, billowy type curtains for my bedroom for this purpose. I find it adds an air of whimsy and romance that wasn't there before. Silly? Maybe so, but I definitely enjoy looking at them more than I did before! And isn't that what it's all about? I recently redecorated the living room as well, and while there is nothing fairy tale about it, I feel it is more romantic and whimsical than it was before and I far more enjoy sitting out there now.

Fairies are invisible and inaudible like angels. But their magic sparkles in nature. ~ Lynn Holland

Upon finding this quote I realized, this is exactly what I think. I believe in the beauty of nature. Dew drops on flower petals. Lacy leaves scattering sprinkled light onto the soft grass below. Mossy rocks and glittering streams. I love all of these things, I so enjoy nature and the gifts found there. I try to bring a bit of that into my life as much as possible. And if fairy magic sparkles in nature, and I bring nature to me, then just maybe I will be fortunate enough to encounter my own lil "fairy" tale.

Spread your wings and let the fairy in you fly! ~ Author Unknown

Inspiration #15- Remembering to Dream

Sounds so simple, but it seems all too easily we forget.

I've had my share of difficulty remembering this because, as I sleep I rarely dream. And when I do, it's almost never good. So I've got to remind myself that if sleeping dreams do not come, I need to think more of lucid dreaming. Whatever it was I wanted all my life some how escapes me more times than not. Yet, I am married to the man I love, I have a wonderful, albeit crazy, son. So far, majority of my dreams have come true. I still want for a larger family, a house of my own, some place I can create an oasis of the things I love. I want my own castle of a home, a place that can be changed as we need it to be. But the dream? Right now I have no idea what that is. So I thought this was a good quote to help remind myself, if no-one else, dream. Because if you can dream, you can turn your dreams into wishes, wishes into goals, goals into success and finally, success of the dream into reality.

Inspiration #14 - Beholding What We See

Mirrors to the soul. Pretty graphic I found online.

Sometimes the most beautiful thing to me is looking into my son's eyes as he looks up at me. He's so full of wonder and curiosity. Funny I love to look at him while he's sleeping and his eyes are closed, but I can still tell how he sleeps from the amount of peace and serenity I find in his eyes. Eyes are one of the absolute first things I notice about a person, animal, creature. They can tell and hide so much. I am one that believes in the saying that eyes are the window to the soul. There are so many wonderful quotes out there about eyes, I thought I'd let some of them do the talking for me!

“The eyes indicate the antiquity of the soul.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“To any artist, worthy of the name, all in nature is beautiful, because his eyes, fearlessly accepting all exterior truth, read there, as in an open book, all the inner truth.” ~ Auguste Rodin

“The eye sees a thing more clearly in dreams than the imagination awake.” ~ Leonardo da Vinci

“My eyes are an ocean in which my dreams are reflected.” ~ Author Unknown

“There is a road from the eye to heart that does not go through the intellect.” ~ G. K. Chesterton

“The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend.” ~ Henri Bergson

“Love is blind; friendship closes its eyes.” ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

“If only we could pull out our brain and use only our eyes.” ~ Pablo Picasso

“Nature and Books belong to the eyes that see them.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

There are so many more of these wonderful quotes that I could go on forever! There can be so much said in a simple look, love and anger, sympathy and compassion. They shed tears of joy and sadness, express pain and elation. Eyes have this mystery about them. Sometimes what they are not telling is more telling than words on lips. We can find comfort and peace or trepidation through someone's eyes. You can find smiles and laughter in someone's eyes. Sometimes you can see their whole lives without speaking a word. I had to pick eyes as an inspiration because there are precious few things in this world that do so much by just being what they are.

Inspiration #13 - Orchids

A true luxury of beauty and elegance. I believe the species of orchid in the picture is: Phalaenopsis.

An incredible flower, the orchid has many amazing variations. The symbolism that revolves around the orchid is as follows: luxury, love, strength, and of course beauty. The orchid is seemingly delicate yet are found in the strangest more precarious places. To me, the orchid is exotic and luxurious. A symbol of class, power, understated strength and respect. There are so many different types of orchids, from the common dendrobium, to something more exotic like the Brassia there is bound to be something for everyone to fall in love with!

I found this poem online, it seems to fit nicely here:

The Orchid Flower
by Sam Hamill

Just as I wonder
whether it's going to die,
the orchid blossoms

and I can't explain why it
moves my heart, why such pleasure

comes from one small bud
on a long spindly stem, one
blood red gold flower

opening at mid-summer,
tiny, perfect in its hour.

Even to a white-
haired craggy poet, it's
purely erotic,

pistil and stamen, pollen,
dew of the world, a spoonful

of earth, and water.
Erotic because there's death
at the heart of birth,

drama in those old sunrise
prisms in wet cedar boughs,

deepest mystery
in washing evening dishes
or teasing my wife,

who grows, yes, more beautiful
because one of us will die.


Sad, ironic, and true. I have such an appreciation for orchids since my grandmother had such a large garden including many different varieties of orchids. Including some that I got for her a few years ago. Orchids really do set apart from other flowers. They are a true standout among the many in nature. And let us not forget the wonderful Vanilla orchids! Not just beautiful!

Inspiration #12 - Dragonflies

Dragonflies have awesome glass-like wings!

How cool are dragonflies?! When I see them I feel so privileged, they are fairly rare around here. Found mostly near or around water, they are around in Southern California, just not as common as in other places. They fly by with such ease and make me feel lucky to see them. I've always thought of them as good luck symbols and as creatures of wind, they are bearers of change.

There are around 5,574 different species of dragonflies.
Fun Fact: Dragonflies have 6 legs but cannot walk.
Some of the meanings or symbolism of the dragonfly are:
• Maturity
• Power & Poise
• Living In the Moment
• Opening of One's Eyes
• Prosperity
• Strength
• Peace
• Good Luck
• Harmony
• Purity
• Renewal
• Change

They are so intriguing the way they skitter over the water and flit around. They are strange and beautiful all at the same time, with glassy wings and brilliant shimmering colors. It's said the movement of the dragonfly's darting on the water is said to symbolize deep thoughts surfacing and represent lessons learned. It's amazing how many cultures and symbols are linked to this creature!


My own photo, taken at Descanso Gardens. Click on the photo for larger image.

Inspiration #11 - Polyvore is neat!

Find me on Polyvore

Here I picked a really cool site to share with you. This site is awesome because if you are a creative type this site allows you to express it, and if you aren't a creative type but want to make things it magically gives you ideas and inspiration. It also makes creating something cool really easy. The images above are what I created there and I've only belonged to the site for like 4 days! In any event, all you need is an idea, and if you don't have one, you can explore and see other things people have made, it's quite fun. Happy creating!

Inspiration #10 - Pick Me a Posy... or Peony!

Beautiful and lovely, so delicate and sweet. Simply love peonies!

Flowers play a large part in nature ( as the reproductive structure in flowering plants ), bees and birds alike frequent the fragrant beauties. Not only are they an integral part of nature, but they play a big part in human life. We grow them for our viewing pleasure, trim them to pretty-up our homes or give to loved ones. We use them at funerals to honor the people we've lost. They are also symbols in many different cultures and represent many different things. I've chosen the peony because they are so classically beautiful and remind me of my Aunt and Grandmother who had them growing in their yard. I actually hand carried a bunch on a plane from PA all the way to CA. ( Back when they still let you do that sort of thing! ) Memories of a simpler time I suppose.

Inspiration #9 - A Mourning Dove

Late at night I sit and wonder,
what does a dove so lovely mourn over?

Is it for love that's not yet found,
or maybe one that's worn and broken down?

Could it be for love that's lost?
Here you sit broken, heart cold as frost.

No, that feels more like me,
sometimes when I cannot see,
the full lush forrest whilst I wander out amongst the trees.

Is it for self that you mourn,
or is it something much more forlorn?

Perhaps you are singing songs of sadness and despair,
to show us that our world's in disrepair.

For my part I know the fate,
right now I feel I must escape,
run from all my hurt and pain,
oh please lord just let it rain.

And then you sing that haunting song,
your coo-ing makes me strangely calm.

With your song I reminisce,
on all the love in my life that I now miss.
But in the hopes one day they will return,
I sing with you that sad, sad song,
my heart unburdened.

~D. Archer

Normally, I wouldn't post this sort of thing on this site, but as of late there has been much suffering in my life. I find comfort in knowing that there are other things out there that can still be beautiful, while carrying such a deep, evoking name. These creatures are not only beautiful but a true wonder in their peaceful calm nature, thus they inspired me to write this poem and post it for everyone to see.

Inspiration #8 - The Perfect Time

An inside thing shared between me & my husband.

So, I bet you're wondering just why I'd post something like this, huh? I am aware that this may seem trivial to some, but it means something to me. See, I hadn't thought about this in a long time, then I came across this little quote, and smiled. It was something so truly silly, but sweet. I always had this idea that 12:34 was the perfect time, and it was the best time to tell each other that we loved one another. I smiled for the memory, but also because we weren't the only crazy ones out there that thought that 12:34 was special!

~ Love is time well spent, not wasted.

Inspiration #7 - Little Things

It is all about the little things, isn't it?!

I found this quote online some place, and I fell in love with it! How true is this? I know that we all know this, but it doesn't hurt to remind ourselves every now and again. Take time to enjoy some of the simplicities during the day, sometimes things don't seem as rough. The little things can be some of the best things in
life! I love the sound of my baby laughing, or watching him play with his daddy. Going outside in the rain to watch the water or play in the puddles. Buying a gift for someone for no specific reason, just because ( the best reason in the world! ).

Progression from something small!


~ Small doesn't feel so small after all!

Inspiration #6 - Luscious Lips

Lips can be so pretty and sexy and inspire all kinds of things! ( Random free image )

There are so many wonderful things in life, and lips are definitely one (pair!) of those special things. You can give a healing kiss to a suffering child, a loving kiss to someone dear to you, a passionate earth-moving kiss that leads to something more. They facilitate one of the greatest fascinations known to man; a smile. Without lips life would definitely be dull and boring! Whether smiling or pouting or pursed up in anger, lips help make us as expressive as we are. Sparkling or plain to sugar coated or glossy lips can be quite inspiring.. of what? That depends on the lips! People should strive to be so versatile!

~ Smooches!

Inspiration #5 - Hummingbirds

Beautiful example of the ability of hummingbirds. Photo by Marianne; shared on morgueFile

The other day, I was taking a walk with my husband and son and we noticed several hummingbirds visiting some flowers. We stopped to watch them as they came back and forth to the flowers and trees beside us. It was so amazing to watch them flit between the leaves with such amazing precision and poise. While they were aware of us, they weren't afraid. The way they moved was so swift and clean it was simply inspiring to watch them.
They are so fast and so accurate it was amazing to watch them just being themselves and doing their own thing. The way they can stop and hover mid-air is cool, but not half as cool as how they can fly backwards!It's just unreal! So fun to watch!

~ Feeling Fluttery!

Inspiration #4 - Bleu

These beautiful little Robin's eggs are an example of the color inspiration that started my house hold color theme. Pale bluish-cyanish color with browns and tans. They compliment each other so well. The house is coming together slowly but the color palette is set and I'm loving every bit of it. Neutrals with Robin's egg blue makes for a pretty, classic, and understated look. Curtains, vases, dishes and little touches are bringing the place together nicely. I've never seen a Robin before, but they SURELY do have beautiful colored eggs!

~ Just a touch blue!

(The photo is not mine, it was found on a site that people post to and share images for other people to use. Still looking for the original photographer to give credit.)

Inspiration #3 - Being happy with who you are

At the Calgary zoo, we happened upon the prairie dogs out in the sun for a little nibble. As I watched them lounging about eating themselves silly it occurred to me that these creatures were some of the fattest and cutest little guys I'd seen in some time. How absolutely content to be warming under the sun with a few buddies hanging out. And realized that people could learn a thing or two from them. They seem to have no worries what the others think of them, they go about their business without concern. Fat, happy and blissfully unaware of the jaded and skewed vision of the people around them. They are just content to be. I wish we all could be content with ourselves, not pass judgement on others, or be made to feel bad if we are different. What a life it must be. I wish I could be more like them and perhaps will try to adapt to their more simple way of just being. Wouldn't it be nice? To not care/worry about what other people think about us. Think about it.

~ Cheers!
Newly found appreciation for not being like everyone else

Inspiration #2 - Snow-capped Mountains

Mountains in Banff (from the moving car).

There were so very many beautiful mountains on the trip up to Banff Springs and Lake Louise. The scenes were breath-taking. They make the "mountains" that surround Los Angeles look like little dirt piles. It made me feel so refreshed as we passed through the them. It's such a peaceful calm place to be. An experience to relish for a lifetime and beyond. The mountains were so crisp and clean and bright, I felt so at ease. Naturally as this place, though never been there before, has a very special place in my heart. I've hoped for years to go there and find the beauty I had imagined and it was so much more spectacular than I had dreamed. These mountains and freshness made me realize I needed to find that serenity of my own, in my home and in my life. Perhaps this is where metaphysics comes into play, as I wanted to much to love this place and felt like I could be happy there, that I was. I actually FELT better just being there. Coincidence? I can't say for sure, but I am leaning towards: not so much.

Love the Mountains of Banff and Lake Louise. No more beautiful place to be.

~ Regards,
Semi-Rejuvenated

Inspiration #1 - Julie & Julia

So, I figured to kick this dealie off, I would give the first entry to the movie that motivated me to get on with this project. Julie & Julia. This movie was different than I originally thought it was going to be. Rather, I didn't know much more than a girl decides to cook her way through Julia Childs cookbook. Little did I know I could relate just a little bit more. Being a self-admitted "bloggie," I could completely get into this movie. I love food, love cooking, and if that weren't enough, I love writing/blogging. How fortunate I should stumble upon this movie at this point in my life. As with many things, I've been meaning to do them.. in this case watch this movie. I hope to be as diligent as Julie from the movie, I really want see this through as she did.

So with luck, Julie & Julia will continue to inspire me to motivate and keep up with my project. For my foodie friends, keep cooking! And for the rest, keep eating! And for me, I'll keep writing!

~ Yours,

Reluctantly Inspired