Thoughtful Thursday Book Review – Grace Notes by Alexandra Stoddard

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With this year coming to an end, faster than I’d like I thought I’d share this book review with you. It’s written by Alexandra Stoddard and is titled “Grace Notes.” In this book Alexandra offers 365 daily meditations of grace, one for each day of the year. So with January 1st fast approaching now is a good time to get the book so you can start the new year off on a positive note.

The book is beautifully written with inspiring words of encouragement, love and grace. She even gives you a few lines at the bottom of each day to write you own thoughts if you like. Alexandra also includes with each day famous inspirational quotes and her own personal insights. You can find Grace Notes on Amazon where you can also preview a few sample pages to get a better idea of what the book is really like.

With as crazy as things have become, this is simply a nice way to start each day. It’s a gentle reminder of how to live life with grace. I highly recommend this book!

I hope you enjoyed this book review, thanks for stopping by!!!

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Thoughtful Thursday Fall Essential Oil Blends

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Living in the South you don’t get to enjoy a lot of the autumn colors and scents so I’m always looking for ways to bring the warmth of the season into my home. One of my favorite ways is to use a diffuser and add drops of essential oils to make some of the most tantalizing autumn scents.

The fragrant oils can affect your mood and give you a sense of complete joy and harmony. They may even bring back some wonderful memories. There are a lot of premixed synthetic oils but most are full with harmful chemicals. Plus many people can’t tolerate them and that’s why essential oils are great because they’re natural.

These are a few fall diffuser blends I found online. If you don’t have a diffuser I would recommend buying one. You can check out the websites below for recommendations or Amazon has plenty to choose from with reviews to help you find the best one. But don’t go crazy buying lots of essential oils. Pick 1 or 2 blends from the choices below and start with that to see what you like. Let me know how it goes.

Have a lovely day and thanks for stopping by!!

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EssentialOilHaven.com gives recommendations for oils and diffusers.

CountryHillCottage.com gives easy ideas and recipes for living well.

TheOilDropper.com has useful information on using essential oils.

New Abstract – Grow a little love

This is a new abstract I finished this week. It’s painted on an 8×8 inch wood panel. It took quite a bit of time to complete. The textured background is what made it hard but then a heart emerged. I guess it was a labor of love.

I was thinking of titling this one “Grow a little love” but wasn’t sure. What do you think? Any ideas for a title?

Hope your weekend is off to a great start!

Thanks for stopping by!!

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Stay on the Sunny side of Life! Art Journaling

I’m almost done packing up the studio and I had a lot more supplies than I thought. So in the midst of the chaos I thought it would be fun to share one of my older journaling pages with you.

I created this fun whimsical design using Derwent Inktense pencils. I love how bright and bold they are. I like that I can create and finish a journal page in a short period of time. It’s satisfying to complete a piece of art that makes you smile 😊

I’ll do my best to get back on track with my blogging now that the packing is basically done 😅 I’m very excited to get the new floor in!

Hope this inspires you in some way today.

Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by!!!

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Thoughtful Thursday Scary Truth about Rabies Vaccine

Cocoa

I was horrified when I found out the adverse affects of rabies vaccine on my girls. Most vets give you the option of a 1 year or 3 year rabies vaccine. The majority of pet owners opt for the 1 year vaccine because it’s cheaper and they think their pet is getting a lower dose.

But here’s what you don’t know. The dosage for the 1 year and 3 year are the same. The reason is because the vaccine will stay in your dog’s body for about 3 years. So if you’re getting annual rabies shots you’re basically overdosing on the vaccine.

Adverse reactions to the rabies vaccine can be mild like swelling, lethargy, or vomiting or they can be much more severe. Reactions can show up shortly after getting vaccinated or over a period of time and can cause permanent damage. Dogs Naturally Magazine has a good article online that outlines 65 ways the vaccine can harm your dog including cancers, seizures, epilepsy, autoimmune diseases and so much more.

Sadly I didn’t find out about this until it was too late. I had Cocoa vaccinated annually her entire life. She had the energy and vigor of a young dog until she got her last required vaccine. Within 3 months of getting vaccinated, her health rapidly declined and she passed away within a year.

I miss her a lot but at least now I know how detrimental the vaccine is to dogs so I won’t make the same mistake again. I don’t want you to take my word for it, but do your own research as scary as it may be. Your pup will thank you!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

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“65 Ways Rabies Vaccination Can Harm Your Dog” by Dogs Naturally Magazine

Rosie at 9 weeks old

Memorial Day

Day of Remembrance (201501280015HQ) by NASA HQ PHOTO is licensed under CC-BY-NC-ND 2.0


With deepest gratitude for all who served in our military and gave their lives protecting our great nation and our freedom and to those who fight for us today. From the bottom of my heart, Thank You 💖
â €
Have a safe Memorial Day!

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” ~John F Kennedy

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Thoughtful Thursday The Road to Happiness

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It seems that most of us are in a perpetual state of searching for happiness. If I only had that car, owned that house, had more money I’d be happy. But is this truly what happiness is?

For some, the material world and all it’s contents define their happiness. But happiness looks completely different from one person to the next. For me happiness is the scent of warm bread baking in the oven. It’s hearing the wind gently rustling the leaves on the trees. It’s seeing the sunlight sparkle and dance on the waves in the lake. It’s completely losing myself in my art, painting and letting the outside world with all of it problems simply fade away, at least for a little while.

Don’t get me wrong, you can buy “things” that make you happy, but the happiness is short lived. Although these “things” are nice to have, they don’t make you feel alive. They don’t bring that sense of joy and wonder into your heart and soul, filling every cell in your body with true happiness.

So what is happiness for you? What does it smell, taste or feel like? What makes you smile from ear to ear all day long? Have you found happiness or are you still looking for it? Would love to hear your thoughts….

Have a beautiful day, thanks for stopping by!!

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New Notecards

Very excited to share a new item with you available in my Etsy Shop, set of 3 Angel notecards with envelopes. They’re perfect to send warm wishes to someone special. Whether they need well wishes, birthday or uplifting words of encouragement, these notecards are ideal. They’re professionally printed from my original art on heavy cardstock. Each card measures 4.25×5.5 inches and is blank inside for your inspiring sentiments.

Included in this Set 1 of each design:
â–ª Angel Valentina
â–ª Angel of Tranquility
â–ª Angel of Wisdom

Thanks for stopping by!!

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Home is Where the Heart Is Art Journaling

This was a fun and whimsical zentangle design I created with alcohol ink markers, Home is Where the Heart is. Sometimes it’s just so much fun to let go and draw whatever comes to your mind! This was created on 9×12″ mixed media paper and will be part of a handmade book that I plan on creating once I have enough pages.

Hope you’re having an amazing day!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

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She Wore Flowers in Her Hair Art Journal Page

I came across my Strathmore 6″ x 12″ watercolor journal and because of it’s size it’s a bit more challenging to create in but I thought it would be fun. I just finished her last night and found the quote after she was done and it couldn’t be more perfect “She wore flowers in her hair and Hope in her heart.”

Have a beautiful day!

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