Thoughtful Thursday April Fools’ Day

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April usually marks the beginning of Spring but this Friday is April 1st also known as April Fools’ Day. It has been the day of countless practical jokes. Some funny and some not so funny especially if the joke’s on you. Here’s how it all began…

In 1563 France was called upon by the Council of Trent to change from the Julian calendar which recognized the new year beginning with the spring equinox around April 1st to the Gregorian calendar which recognized the new year beginning with January 1st.

Historians believe that the people were either slow to get the news of the change or simply didn’t care that the start of the new year was moved to January 1st and they continued to celebrate the new year from the last week of March through April 1st. As a result the jokes were called April fools. Some pranks even went so far as to have a paper fish placed on their backs symbolizing an easily caught fish and a gullible person. Wouldn’t want to be that person, definitely an incentive to stay up to date on changes 😂

I hope you enjoyed this little history snippet. Thanks for stopping by!!

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“April showers bring May flowers.” ~Unknown

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Impossible to Fail Journal Pages

I had some leftover paint from one of my paintings and didn’t want to waste it so I used it in my Strathmore 5.5″ x 8″ Mixed Media Journal. I tried a new face stencil by Jane Davenport and loved it! I added a quote by Dorothea Brandt that reads “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams, Act as though it were impossible to fail.”

What would you do differently if it were impossible to fail?

Hope this inspires you today 😊

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Flourish Painting

Flourish

I started this painting with something completely different in mind but couldn’t stop thinking about beautiful blooms. So here it is, Flourish. It’s painted on a 10×10 inch canvas with vibrant and happy colors of blue and pink. It has lots of texture and of course a little glitter for some magic. Flourish is available in my Etsy shop. I have more coming so stay tuned…

Have a lovely day!

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Thoughtful Thursday Rosemary

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Rosemary, native to the Mediterranean, has been used for centuries as one of the most popular aromatic healing herbs. My dad used to rub rosemary on his arms in the summer to keep mosquitos away. At first I found it hard to believe, but it really did work. When you rub fresh rosemary on your body, it leaves an oily film which is what repels mosquitos.

Rosemary has many uses such as antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, circulatory stimulant, relaxant, plus it also stimulates the brain and enhances memory function and focus to name a few. Not to mention it’s delicious to cook with.

I have two rosemary plants in my garden and I love to rub the leaves and smell the delightful scent. It’s so soothing and calming to the soul. The rosemary plant is pretty easy to grow. Give rosemary a try in your garden and enjoy the benefits of this wonderful plant.

If you would like some ideas on aromatherapy, natural DIY recipes for beauty, personal care, food and overall wellbeing, visit Stephanie Gerber’s site HelloGlow.co. Stephanie is the author of two great books both are available on Amazon, “Hello Glow” and “Essential Glow.” So take good care of yourself, you deserve it!

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“Nature is so smart, it put the medicine inside of food.” ~Uknown

Bloom

I finished my second painting in this series, Bloom. It’s painted on a 11×14 inch canvas with bright happy spring colors and lots of texture. Plus a little bit of glitter for spring magic. Bloom is available in my Etsy shop. I have more coming so stay tuned…

Have a blooming day!!!

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Abstract Painting Spring has Sprung

Spring has Sprung Abstract

This is my first finished painting in this series. It’s painted on a 9×12 inch canvas with bright fun colors and lots of texture, ready for spring! It’s available for purchase in my Etsy shop. I have more coming so stay tuned…

Have a great day!!!

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Thoughtful Thursday Uniquely You

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There are 7.9 billion people living on our beautiful planet. Out of those 7.9 billion, there is only 1 UNIQUE You! I’m currently reading the “The Inflammation Spectrum” by Dr. Will Cole and to be honest, I never realized how truly unique each of us are.

I always thought I was an oddball because of how I react to my environment and to food. But as it turns out, everyone is completely unique. That’s why a certain diet will work for your friend and they’ll lose 20 pounds, while you’ll struggle to lose 1 even though your both eating the same things. A medication may have no side affects for one person, while the other will experience multiple side affects.

Dr. Cole explains in his book that just about every health issue we face like anxiety, depression, fatigue, diabetes, digestive issues, heart disease, hormone imbalances, autoimmune disorders and more are inflammatory in nature or have an inflammatory component. The trick is to determine what is causing it. Dr. Cole explains how to determine what works for you and what doesn’t in order to create a custom diet that is tailored specifically to you.

This sounds like a complicated process but it really isn’t as hard as you think. I will say that I was surprised at some of the foods that tend to lead to inflammation. The majority of us suffer from one ailment or another so I recommend reading his book and giving it a try, you’ll be amazed at what you learn about yourself. I’ll also keep you posted on how I’m progressing, so stay tuned.

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“When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need.” Ayurvedic Proverb

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Make a New Ending Journal Pages

I was playing with my paints and wanted to try a new color combination. I loved how the background turned out so I started working on 2 canvases. Stay tuned for those.

I just got some new artsy ephemera in the other day and thought I’d use it for this layout. I found this quote by Maria Robinson that resonated with me “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”

Hope this inspires you today😊

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Beauty of Dreams Art Journal Page

Thought I’d have a bit of fun in my Strathmore Mixed Media 9″ x 12″ Journal. I painted her in watercolor paints but with a limited palette of 3 colors. I added a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt which reads “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” What are your dreams for the future?

Hope your weekend is off to a great start!

Thanks for stopping by!!⠀

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Thoughtful Thursday Back to Basics

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I love listening to Earl Nightingale’s coaching session called “The Strangest Secret” which can be found on YouTube. There’s also a book on Amazon. This was the first life coaching session that was ever recorded back in 1956. I’ve listened to it countless times. I’m often asked “Why do you keep listening to it? It’s basic stuff and you already know all of this.” My answer is always the same, “Yes, I do know the basics but hearing this recording helps to remind me of what they are and keeps on track.”

Let’s face it in today’s world we have hundreds if not thousands of distractions each and every day. With so many distractions, it’s hard to stay focused. So sticking to your goals and having clarity can be pretty difficult when we keep running after each new shiny penny we see.

I recently listened to one of Brendon Burchard’s podcasts and he made some really good points. In this podcast Brendon said “Common sense isn’t always common practice.” And that’s so true. We know we should be doing x, y and z but often we don’t and as a result we fail in life and in reaching our goals.

Earl’s recording reminds me of how easy it really is to reach your goals and create the life you dream of. The power to create is in you, in your mind. If listening to Earl isn’t your thing, that’s ok. Then find a life coach that works for you. Or make a list of reminders that you can look at first thing in the morning to help keep you on track. But be mindful of where your thoughts take you so you can stay focused on what’s important.

Hope this post inspires you. Thanks for stopping by!!!

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“Perhaps the world isn’t giving you what you want because based on all your distractions and lack of discipline, it’s simply unclear what you are asking for.” ~ Brendon Burchard

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