Playlist Time...A Little Late

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1. It's a little late, but here is your new playlist.
2. I think I'm slowly getting into folk music.
3. I am loving the banjo these days.
4. Happy Saturday everyone!

Here Is What I Know

1. It's Tuesday and time for "Here Is What I Know" Tuesdays.
2. I'll have to reiterate what I've said before, but if you're anything like me, it doesn't ring true until at least the fourth time, but this is it folks...
3. You have two choices:
4. Dream realistically and see it to fruition with hard work and dedication,
5. Or,
6. Dream outrageously, and see it to the end, wherever that may be, with hard work, dedication and a little luck sprinkled in.
7. You can look at it two ways (isn't that always how it seems to be?):
8. Many people did it. Many icons. There's no reason why I can't?!
9. Or: There are those that are the lucky few, oh to be one of them. Oh, if only!
10. Either way, take your life into your own hands. NEVER leave it to someone else.
11. I'll be harsh here, but, in my opinion, it's better to always fail on your own terms then to succeed on someone else's.
12. We are all worthwhile. It is only a difference of who strives to be recognized.
13. Those who decide to Matter.
14. If you want it, figure out how to take it.
15. Oh dear, we must end on a happy note, mustn't we?
16. I'll be really honest with this one...you'll love it or hate it. Give it a chance...

Prelude To Playlist Wednesday

1. I don't know about you, but I always get excited about switching it up..
2. Never fear, Playlist Wednesday is right around the corner.
3. In the meantime...
4. Kindly enjoy this nugget,

5. Oh, so sweet. So beautiful.
6. So much in life is ugly. The only solution I have for you is to remember the little things, like this song, that make you smile.
7. If you can focus on that, you are nearly there.
8. Goodnight.
9. I will return tomorrow with a brand new playlist for you to enjoy.
10. I feel I must leave you with this snippet:
"It will all be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end." -Anonymous.

Sandra Cisneros

Even Though It's Not Playlist Wednesday...

1. I just can't help myself.
2. I stumbled upon the singer/songwriter Josh Ritter and just can't get enough of this song.
3. 
4. Enjoy!

At Night

Soft and grey,
lying on the floor.

I washed your shirt.
It looks like your favorite.

I think of September endlessly.

Song Flashback

1. Yes, yes, I know it's not Playlist Wednesday, but I just can't help myself.
2. If anyone remembers Matilda, they'll be especially fond of remembering this little nugget....



3. This song never fails to make me happy. 

Playlist Wednesdays

***

1. Everyone walks to a theme song.

2. Let's walk to an entire playlist.

3. Let's switch it up weekly.

4. Why not?

Umbrella Love Part 2

1. Something about umbrellas always gets me.

Could it be their mystery?

That protection we feel we can control?

The sense that, maybe after this, it will be okay?

The contrast of light to dark?

 

It's the Mary Poppins that always gets me.

That thought, "Maybe I could fly?"

Who could stop me?

Few can understand, but that is what Umbrella Love really is.

The Happiness Project Continues

My Picture of the day.

1. I've been attempting to be diligent about my Happiness Project. 

2. Happiness Assignments so far have been to organize my life and practice The Little Things.

3. I've been doing pretty well with The Little Things, though I have to admit that today's Picture of the Day is an old picture that I just turned black and white. Revamping counts, right?

4. I do have to give myself a major pat on the back though because I cleaned out my nightmare of a car and then organized my room (including the closet and under the bed!) and only kept the things that I really love.

5. It was a seemingly insurmountable feat, but I conquered it! 

6. I have to say, I feel great. This is truly adding to my happiness. 

7. I think I may start a Happiness Group (click here to learn more) in my hometown! 

Dear Etsy,

1. Dear Etsy, 

    Have I told you lately that I love you?

A Wise Map.

2. Etsy is my favorite place to find unique things. I love that normal people like me can make a living by being creative. Just out there doing what they love. 

3.

An Adorable Dog Dish.

4.

Handmade Plates

5.

Mini Journal

6.

Light the way.

7.

Rules to live by.

8.

True words.

9.

Vintage Hairpins

10.

A locket that's a work of art.

A Picture A Day

1. I've started on a Happiness Project recently, inspired by Gretchen Rubin's best selling book.

Check it out here.

2. First, you must pick twelve areas where you need improvement- areas that would make you the happiest if they were improved. These are your Twelve Commandments. Then, you pick one main goal a month to focus on and create daily challenges for yourself.

3. It's such a simple concept, why does it take a book to point it out?

4. For me at least, it's very easy to get caught up in the tide of every day life and forget to just stop and ask yourself why you are doing something. "Is this really making me happier?"

5. Obviously, you have to go to work, but if you have no children or no one who really depends on you- you have no excuse not to go after those activities that bring you the greatest joy.


6. So it takes someone like Gretchen, who incidentally does have two children to take care of, to shake you out of your self imposed "life-coma".

7. We're not zombies, but we are human and it's natural to get stuck. Stuck and complacent and sad that you aren't exactly where you want to be. Other people are. Why not you?

8. But sometimes you just have to accept The Big Things- the ones out of your control, and manipulate The Little Things.

9. Thanks to Gretchen, here are my Twelve Commandments:

A Dilettante's Twelve Commandments:

1. Practice "The Little Things".
2. Speak Up.
3. Stay Organized.
4. Act The Way I Want to Feel.
5. Love More.
6. Say, "Yes"- Be Brave.
7. Let Go.
8. Write.
9. Be Healthy.
10. Be Erica.
11. Volunteer.
12. Be nice.

10. Like I said, it's all very obvious. Regardless, it only counts if you follow through.

11. I started with "Practicing The Little Things." 

12. My first task for the month has been to take at least one picture a day. I love pictures, but rarely take them. 

13. Somehow, I only think of taking pictures when it's planned. For example, Moneek, Chris and I spent an entire day taking pictures at a park. Through the trails, walking down the dock, peeking through windows of an old building. 

14. And then there's "Obligation Pictures". Birthdays. Christmas. A friend of a friend's son's birthday party. 

15. The pictures I want are the "accidents". That moment when you're completely calm and you see something and wish you had a camera. Or wish that there was no one around to give you that questioning look. 

16. I've noticed that some Commandments are intertwined. By "Practicing The Little Things" inevitably I'm going to run into "Being Erica". Or rather, Becoming Erica.

In my own backyard. 

My Adorable Dog, Castor Troy.

17.  I've been doing great so far, but The Little Things are always the easiest, aren't they?

18. I leave you with today's quote that I found at the bottom of my journal page:

      

"Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and with a breadth of kindness blow the rest away." -George Eliot.

19. What if he is talking not about another person, but of you doing that for yourself?

20. And I can't resist- here's a song that captures my mood too-

 

Om Nashi Me

1



2. I am loving this song. 


3. These are the lyrics:
Om nashi me
I love you
And I love you forever
And I’m loving you now


4. Simple and beautiful. More beautiful because they're simple? I think so.


5. Apparently, the phrase "om nashi me" is made up. According to Jade from Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, "Alex made it up...but apparently it means, 'oh infinite nakedness' in sanskrit...even though we're not quite sure."


6. Valentine's Day day is just around the corner......

I actually already got this cute print for R. I can't wait til it gets here! 

7.  Some more ideas:

8. 

From CollageOrama. I am loving this shop on etsy.

9. 

How cute!

10. 

Love Birds

11. 

I may have a slight obsession with typewriters....

12. 

Fun.

13. 

 Do the Robot! Dodododododo

14. 

Coasters!

15. 

Hehe:)

16. Happy valentining!

Lively Lofts

1. R and I may be living in a loft by year's end. 

2. I hope it has wood beams.

3. And wood floors.

4. Perhaps a ladder or two.

5. Tall windows that invoke a feeling of stained glass.

6. Paper lanterns.

7. Vintage chandeliers.

8. Neapolitan buildings.

9. But most of all, coziness....

10......and lots of  books.

11. I am over the moon excited.
12. With a little nervousness sprinkled in. Don't tell:)