So I just recently finished this amazing free coaching series, 5 Rules to Create The Life You Want with Jay Shetty Wow! He can motivate you! It took place over 7 days and I filled almost an entire notebook up with meaningful tips, motivational sayings, and solid advice. 

I thought I would share some of the things he said about each rule. Some of them are common sense things, but man, sometimes you just need to hear those things out loud. 

Rule number one...


He started the series off talking about making peace with your past. I am so guilty of this. Constantly beating myself up over things I no longer have control of.  We need to learn form our past, remember the good things, and move on. Yes, yes, easier said than done. However, if you lay down that anchor, you will never go anywhere, it will keep you right where you are as the rest of the world goes on around you.

You must feel, deal, and heal. So true. Remember what you did, deal with the emotion or outcome of it, and heal from it. Learn, grow, and put it behind you. For every one negative person in your past that brings you down, have three people around you that lift you up. Fill yourself up with the present, don't live in the past. 

One of the things I have always said to my own kids was look where you are going, not where you have been. I think it honestly started because my son would always walk into things while he was running away giggling. Regardless, it is true. If we are constantly looking back, we are going to miss what is waiting right in front of us. Good or bad, it's gonna hit you, so you might as well see it coming.

Rule number two...


Another profound thing Shetty said was If you don't master your priorities, you will end up living someone else's. WOW! That is SO true! 

If you are not busy working on your own plans, then you are working on someone else's. Now, this doesn't mean that you have to quit your job, or stop helping others, it just means, you need to take time for YOU. Set your priorities, carve out time for your plans, your passions, your goals. Don't live someone else's life...live YOURS.

Take some time to really look at where you spend your time. Are you spending your time on urgent and important things? Or are you spending your time on non urgent and not important things? In other words, at the end of the day, do you look at your to do list and say "Wow, I got a lot done, but how come I don't see any evidence of that?" You never get anywhere this way. 

I also learned that I am NOT multitasking when I am doing several things at once. Actually, the majority of us aren't! We are throwing a bunch of balls in the air and juggling, but nothing is getting done. We need to focus on one thing at a time. Prioritize, make a task list the night before and stick to it. We can certainly work on everything, but, spend more of your time tackling the urgent and important items. One task at a time. 

It's important to remember that when you are prioritizing and making your to do or task list, you need to carve out time for self improvement, your own goals, and your own passions. Pick one thing that you want to accomplish for YOU and take BIG steps toward that and tiny steps toward some of those other areas you want to improve. Never try changing everything at the same time, it will never happen, you will get discouraged. 

Shetty talks about learning when we are the most productive. Look at when you go to bed and when you wake up, look at your day, when are you the most productive? Is it in the morning, mid morning, afternoon, evening? When are you the most creative? Carve out time for YOUR goals and passions during your most productive and creative time. 

Rule number three...




One of the most profound things he said was when he was talking about unlocking your potential. Focusing on your potential instead of your limitations. He said that we are being told a lie over and over again...

You can't be everything you want, but you can be everything you are. 

What? I have told my own kids that. You can do anything you set your mind to right?!

But when he put it into perspective...

You can be everything you are.

If you do not have the skills to be a pro football player you won't be a pro football player. If you are a fish that is told you can climb a tree, and you spend your whole life trying, you will end up feeling like a failure. 

In other words, find where your skill sets are, what your gifts and talents are, and go for it! Sure, if you want to try being a pro football player...do it...but don't be afraid to fail. If you have never failed you have never tried anything new. You will never please everyone, so it is you that you need to be at peace with.

Because the people that believe they can change the world are the ones that do. - Steve Jobs

Know who you are, are you a risk taker, outgoing, reserved? Own it. Don't try being something that you are not. Don't worry about what other people think, you go out and do YOU! Realize where your gifts and talents are and work on improving those and being everything that you are! 

Live your truth. 

Rule number four...


Some of the most successful people have daily practices

Think about it...

When you are hungry you eat. When you are dirty you shower. When you are tired you sleep. Well, we must also feed and clean our minds. For me this is mediation. I use it to calm anxiety, motivate me, keep me on track. We need to surround ourselves with positive thoughts, positive people, and positive energy.  Take out the clutter in our minds and focus on daily practices that will help improve and nourish our minds. Even if the task is hard and makes you nervous.

Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you that day.- Mark Twain

I really like this saying. Whaaat? No you don't actually eat a frog. It just means, tackle your hardest or most unnerving task at the beginning of the day, start off with something challenging to set the pace. Maybe you are not good at public speaking but you have to give a public speech. Get it over with. I know that I always feel better after accomplishing a daunting task, so this one hit home to me. 

It's also important to feed and clean our minds to continue to grow. Read books, turn off the television, schedule your day the night before (you set your alarm clock the night before), use your time wisely, meal prep, anything that can help you improve your day and your well being.

Invest in YOU, go all in for YOU! Don't follow your passion, invest in your passion. Take classes that align with your passion, invest in coaching, find a community of like minded individuals, and be consistent!

Surround yourself with people that will encourage you, build you up, and help you grow physically, mentally, emotionally, financially, and spiritually. 

I loved this one...If you don't sacrifice for what you want; what you want becomes the sacrifice.  

MIND. BLOWN.

Take complete responsibility and action in your life. 

And finally, rule number five...


One of the last things he talked about was people and relationships. Powerful relationships can transform your life but toxic relationships can destroy your life. 

I have always told my kids It's not what you know,it's who you know. You can read it in a book, but instead surround yourself with people that are living it. Learn from them, grow from them, and network. You can have a whole posse of friends and still be lonely. Find those one or two or three friends that will be there for you no matter what, that challenge you to be all that you are, who push you to reach your limits, and that encourage you and lift you up along the way. 

He also talked about being a better listener. Wow, I am so guilty of this! Recognize what type of listener you are. 

Are you listening to them while thinking about all that you have to do? 

Are you listening to them and thinking about what they are saying and how it is going to relate to you and how you will respond? 

Are you listening to them fully?

Are you listening to them fully and watching their body language? 

Relationships are two way streets.  Surround yourself with relationships that will help you grow and at the same time be that same person for them. Recognize the value in relationships and don't take that for granted. Know that we are all in this together, you can not do it alone.


Remember, you can be more than one thing, but you can't be good at everything. Focus on what you are good at, your gifts and talents, and grow in those areas. 

If you have a chance, check out some of Jay Shetty's podcasts, he really is amazing. I hope I was able to pass along to you some of the wonderful information he shared during his free coaching series. Again, a lot of it is common sense, but sometimes we just need a good kick in the pants to get us motivated again.

Bottom line, find your passion, INVEST IN YOU,  LIVE YOUR PASSION, and HELP OTHERS along the way. 






For those of you that know me, you know I love animals. My social media feed has gone from family pics to animal pics. Yes, I still love my kids! But, unlike my kids, the animals are much more patient with my picture taking madness.


Ever since we adopted our beautiful cremello mare Roxy (See my blog posts She Picked Me for her story), our love of animals has grown.

We moved to the country and now I have an endless supply of willing subjects to take pictures of.

Horses...







Chickens and ducks...




Cats and dogs...









Bunnies...





And even the an occasional critter that decides to visit.




Sure they can be sassy at times...

This is our Rooster Richard...we call him Dick for short. He drew first blood...oh it's on!
Sometimes they take great pictures for me...



Sometimes, well, I feel like they are laughing at me...


But all the time they are touching my soul.

When I look into their eyes I see unconditional love and kindness. They bring such joy to our lives.






They touch our lives...and those that come and visit...












I highly recommend it!

Thank you for stopping by! 


Oh I love me a good DIY craft! Especially one that I can pamper myself with or give away as gifts. 

One of my favorite things to make are these essential oil roller bottle blends. They smell soooo Ah-Mazing!



I'm not an essential oil nut, maybe an obsession perhaps, but I do enjoy making my own lip balms, roller bottle blends, rooms sprays and other fun stuff. BONUS: read through to the end for an awesome DIY lip balm recipe!

Today I thought I would share a few of my favorite roller bottle blends with you. 

For all of the recipes you will simply add in your essential oils, fill with carrier oil, cap, and your done! Super simple!

Please take note: after you put in your drops and you are adding your carrier oil, remember to leave room for the roller ball cap. I usually fill up to the bottom of the threading on the bottle, so just where the bottle starts to get smaller. You don't want your precious oils to get squeezed out and wasted when you put on the roller ball.

Relax roller bottle blend


15 drops Lavender
10 drops Cedarwood
Fill with carrier oil

I use this blend every night or when I just need to wind down and relax a bit. 

I also love Lavender and Chamomile together and have a pillow mist that I use every night. 

Headache be Gone! roller bottle blend


t

10 drops Peppermint

5 drops Panaway

5 drops Lavender
10 ml roller bottle
Fill with carrier Oil

You can also use Frankincense and Copiaba in place of the Panaway.


My Scent roller bottle blend


This is a perfume blend and it smells Ah-Mazing! Seriously, every time I wear this people always say, "Ohhhh, I love your scent! What is that?!" You can see where I got the name.

20 drops Abundance
10 drops Lavender
10 ml roller bottle
Fill with carrier oil

Abundance contains: Orange, Frankincense, Patchouli (one of my favs!), Clove, Ginger, Myrrh, Cinnamon Bark, and Spruce. It actually is wonderful just on it's own, but I am a Lavender lover so I use it in a lot of my blends.  

Valor roller bottle blend


Valor is another great oil and I use this one in a roller bottle as well. Listen, roller bottle blends are a great way to stretch your oils. They aren't cheap ya'll! So whenever I can, I do.
To me Valor is having strength of mind and spirit, facing your fears with bravery and courage, and being bold by stepping out of your comfort zone.

20-25 drops Valor10 ml roller bottle Fill with carrier oil

OK so I know this post is about roller bottle blends, BUT I also wanted to share my favorite lip balm recipe with you! I mean, it is perfect lip balm weather! Brrr!

Peppermint Lip Balm


Note: I buy most of my ingredients from Amazon, just do a search. 
1 tbsp. Shea Butter
1 tbsp. Coconut Oil (I bought organic from our local grocery store)
1 tbsp. Beeswax Pellets (so much easier to work with than the bricks!)
1 tbsp. Sweet Almond Oil
1/4 tsp. Vitamin E Oil

10-15 drops Peppermint essential oil (I used 15)

for these next few items I have included links to help.



Combine shea butter, coconut oil, beeswax, and almond oil in a glass measuring cup. Place the glass into a pot with shallow water on the stove and melt. Bringing to a simmer, not a boil. Stirring every 30 seconds. Temp should get to 175 degrees.
Once fully melted remove from heat. Be careful, that glass is hot! I also use plastic disposable droppers to fill tubes, less mess this way. Now, add Vitamin E oil and Peppermint essential oil, mix well and pour immediately into lip balm tubes or small jars.

Let cool and cap! This recipe makes approx. 8-10 lip balm tubes.

Enjoy! And remember to give someone a hug today!






Happy New Year! Cheers!


Wow! I still can't believe it is 2019. I mean I remember when I was partying like it was 1999 and unplugging all the computers before midnight. Nah, not really, but I might have partied like it was 1999, just saying. 

2018 felt like it flew by! So many things in my journal, so many things STILL in my journal. Projects and great ideas left undone. Still haven't taken our dream trip to Portugal. Still haven't figured out a way to retire and pay off our mortgage before we are too old to celebrate it. 



So yeah, January...I'll be another year older and I keep writing some of the same things in my journal year after year. I start to get down on myself. 

When I was younger and complaining about not being able to get my ears pierced, or able to drive yet, or not able to get into the bar (to dance of course!), or whatever, my mom would always say, "Terri, stop wishing your life away, the older you get, the faster it goes." 

Man was she right! If she was still with us on this beautiful Earth I would hug her right now and tell her she was right, and possibly about that one time that I had a party and we drank my dad's mini liquor bottles. (Sorry Dad!) He's not with us anymore either, that's why I'm owning up to it now.  

So now that I'm all grown up, and don't have to sneak the liquor bottles. I still find myself wishing for things. They may have changed slightly. For instance; I wish I am able to live a long and healthy life that allows me to watch my children raise their own kids. I wish we could remodel the kitchen (can you say DOUBLE OVEN! Drool!)  I wish I could sky dive without fear of breaking a hip!  I wish to be debt free, follow my dreams, and be happy right where I am. 

It has kind of come full circle; I've stopped wishing my life away and I am the one telling my kids to stop wishing their lives away. To stop, take a breath, and just be in the moment. Enjoy life, don't let it get the best of you. Focus on being happy right where you are. 

(Insert adorable picture of my youngest daughter kissing me) 


Geesh, when did I become so wise. I mean that sounded like solid advice right?

So why do we continue to put this pressure on ourselves every year. We make these resolutions, write in our journals, make big plans, only to pass through another year realizing, well, perhaps I had too many things on my to do list last year. 

Or life just gets in the way.  Taxes go up, mortgage goes up, and your salary doesn't go up. Can't afford the trip, DIY farm table has to wait, vacation? What's that? Super perfect business idea, nope, didn't happen, looked good on paper though. Stepping out in faith....Whoa! I don't know, that's kind scary! 

So, you find yourself right where you were.

Sure, you ticked a few things off. One graduated, helped two move, home schooling another, husbands surgery was a success, rekindled friendships, made new friends, had lots of fun....but then right back to focusing on the things that didn't get done.

Well, not in 2019 baby! 

In the words of one of the wisest woman that I do not know...

"Be thankful for what you have, you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never have enough." -Oprah

I mean I read that on the Internet, so she must have said it. Either way, those are wise words and to sum it up in one word...GRATEFUL. That is going to be my word, my mantra for this year. To be GRATEFUL for what we have, who we are, and where we are right at this very moment. 

Instead of beating myself up this year I am going to take a moment to reflect on 2018 and what I accomplished, all the good things that happened in my life, and yes even the bad. I am going to take time to celebrate my accomplishments, learn from my mistakes, grow in love, and then....MOVE ON! 

Being GRATEFUL for where I am in this very moment. 



When I log onto my banking website they have a picture of an adorable family smiling and enjoying the moment with these words... "Stop stressing about the checkbook and get back to the storybook" I love that! 

I mean sure, you need money to get through life, but most of the time worrying about it doesn't actually help. And do we really need some of that stuff we have? 

Time to regroup, throw out, purge, organize...one drawer, one closet, one thing at a time. 

Focus on one thing you want to do, then do it. Then focus on another, and do it. Before you know it you will have a year filled with accomplishments. No matter how big or how small, they count! 

It's a New Year and a new YOU! You are not defined my your past mistakes. So stop trying to do that to yourself! You are a beautiful creation. You are worthy. You are Ah-Mazing! 

So let's all stand together, focus on building each other up. Write inspirational quotes on our mirror, fridge, in our cars, wherever! Focus on the positive!



Focus less on strategy and more on listening to your inner Spirit!

I mean, 2018, thanks for the lessons, but 2019, let's do this!

Now go give someone a hug!

GRATEFUL.



Fall is such a unique season. It is full of life, vibrant colors, and busy wildlife. It is a time of long walks, comfy sweaters, and bonfire nights.

It reminds me of my parents, who are no longer with me.


It reminds me of the possibilities that we have in our life.


Trees release so that they may create new life, they feed the critters, and allow us to admire their beauty. What once was alive, falls into a slumber, only to awaken in a new season.


Fall is constantly popping up new wonders...



Life and decay come together to create magnificent works of art.


It is the start of the holiday season, and gatherings of family and friends.


It is a time to be thankful, a time to make new plans, and the perfect time to reinvent ourselves.


It also reminds me that I have a ton of things on my bucket list, that often I feel like I will never get to. For many reasons, like lack of money, life circumstance, or simply the lack of my own motivation.

Or maybe it's because I think I am supposed to be in a certain place, but in reality, the timing just isn't right for me yet.

Regardless, I like to create bucket lists of small things I can do everyday. To live in the moment, to be happy right where I am, to live in the metaphorical season I am in.


I feel like I am always in transition, hoping to come out of this season with a new understanding of who I am and what my purpose is. It seems to be a never ending search at times. My passions tend to get put to the side and life takes over.

But that's OK.

I realize that I can't force things, that my path isn't always straight, it might even feel like I am repeating the same thing over and over, going in a never ending circle.

But my life is not dictated by me, in His timing I will end up where I was meant to be all along.



Writing things down, like a fall bucket list, helps to take my mind off of what I can't control, and grounds me into the moment I am in.

Until we can learn to enjoy those simple things in life, the small everyday moments, of every season of our lives, we are not truly living.

Maybe, just maybe, we have to be happy right where we are, no matter the circumstance, before we can move forward. It might not be where we want to be or thought we would be, but we need to trust that it is all part of His perfect plan.

What's on your bucket list?