justalittlefluff

Relaxing Reminders

2011-02-10T08:26:00.000-06:00

I am thankful for reminders that it is ok to kick back, roll over and relax for a few minutes. Be loose.

A Penny Saved

2009-12-07T12:47:00.002-06:00

It is true a penny saved is a penny earned. Do you toss pennies? Do you pay any attention to your pennies?It was amazing how many pennies I found scattered around my home this last weekend. There were pennies in drawers and pennies in pockets and pennies in purses and pennies in the wash.

My pennies added up. I started thinking about a newspaper story I read years ago about a man that had saved pennies for years. He had one million pennies.

If we all paid attention to our pennies and saved them and then gave them away to charity it would make a difference.

Just as one person can make a difference, so can your pennies.

Listen To Your Heart

2009-10-19T08:04:00.003-05:00

According to the Awe Manac this is evaluate your life day. The subliminal message is "listen to your heart." The note to myself says: How many times does my intuition have to prove it was right before I start listening to it?

I have a pretty good life. But then there are the days when I feel my life is not in sync with my heart. I was the wife and the mother and the volunteer but now that I am left with the wife what is the rest of me about?

Did I volunteer in areas because it made me feel better about myself. Did I volunteer because I needed validation? Did I volunteer to ignore some situations at home?

I loved being a mother. Is there a void in my life now because I need to reaquaint myself with me? Is there a void because I am missing having a passion in my life? My children were my passion and now they have their lives and their passions.

My heart tells me to follow my passion. My pocketbook tells me to stay at my job. My intuition tells me that I am not following my true purpose. Is my intuition right? Should I be listening? If I did would I become the person I was meant to be?

So many questions. No answers yet. Perhaps it is because I didn't face my fear in my previous post. Do I need to face my fears and will I then be able to follow my intuition? Is this all about trusting me?

Maybe the answers will come tomorrow when I listen to my heart.

My Hero

2009-10-15T08:22:00.002-05:00

I'm inventing a new hero today. That is the Aha Phrodesiac of the day in Awe Manac. I don't have too many heroes in my life. What is a heroe? It is certainly not a sports star. I would probably pick Mother Theresa as my hero. But she is well known.

I know there are many heroes that I encounter every day but because they are silent heroes their deeds are not broadcast. Thank you silent heroes. You know who you are or you probably don't because you don't see yourself as a hero.

My new hero today would be "Razatazzle". Razatazzle dresses in bright colors and old clothes from thrift shops. Razatazzle has long locks colored bright pink. And when Razatazzle is in hero mode she glows.

Razatazzle rescues people from homelessness. Razatazzle may appear strange and weird. She belts out songs on the street and makes people laugh and smile. She is looked at as being a little daft and possibly mentally off balance.

That is what Razatazzle does so she can be unnoticed as a hero. You see Razatazzle seeks out those that do not have a home and she wisks them to a huge pink house on a country farm. She has many pink houses. She wisks the homeless families to these houses and she feeds them on the food she raises. She makes them laugh and helps them feel better about themselves. She nourishes them so they can once more become a productive member of society.

But they must tell no one when they leave for a new start in life with a job and a place to live. They must tell no one how they were wisked off the street and made to feel like life was worth living again. That is Razaltazzles secret. She does it in secret. To the world she is a wacky woman that no one on the streets take seriously.

People judge her pink houses and her garb and her silliness but they know not the lives she saves in those houses. People judge her as being strange and weird but Razzatazzle is a hero in the lives of the people she helps.

Razzletazzle's motto. I will razzle you with my tazzle. And she does.

Day of Courage

2009-10-11T13:55:00.002-05:00

I am in love with Jill Bodonsky's Book " The Awe Manac". It gives you day by day permission to be silly but in that silliness there is a bit of truth. Today October 11 is a day of courage.

Soul Vitamin of the Day tells me I gain strength and confidence by every experience when I stop and look fear in the face.

She knows me well. She knows that I am a fearful person. I try and overcome but it sneaks up inside of me and presents itself like a demon waiting to pounce.
Jill has a journal juju every day. I am going to take the time to journal everyday with Jill's journal juju.

Today I need to write a list of the tiniest steps of courage I could take in the next day, month or year. I am to visualize and feel 5 percent more courage in my body during moments of daydreaming.

My fear to conquer today is driving in the dark. It must be an old lady thing. I never had problems driving in the dark when I was younger. The dark held moments of romance and quietness and peace. So I have been invited to go out into the night tonight and drive a distance. I shall conquer my fear. Be here tomorrow, same time, same place to see if I succeeded.

Until tomorrow. Life shinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin as printed in Awe Manac October 11.

Pet Peeve Week

2009-10-08T08:30:00.002-05:00

It is National Pet Peeve Week. What are your pet peeves? I have to say one of my pet peeves is having to go to work but oh well, I guess that is normal. I think my biggest pet peeve is those plastic cartons that hold all electronics. You can't get into them, you can't get things out of them and they are very good for cutting your fingers. In this technology age there must be something they can do about that. Maybe they want us to get frustrated and if we can't get it open we would give it up and keep buying something new to replace it.

Silly thought isn't it. Well that is what a fluffy blonde thinks even if her hair is almost gray.

Max needs a home.

2009-09-09T08:35:00.000-05:00

This is Max. Max is so lovable. It is hard when you can't keep a pet anymore. Pets give you unconditional love. They drool with excitement when they see you. They accept your handouts and warm your feet at night. Pets make you smile when you least feel like smiling. Max is an Airedale. He is housetrained, aways energetic and upbeat. His owner can't keep him anymore. Do you have room in your heart and in your home for Max?

Stickiness

2009-09-08T08:26:00.002-05:00

On this day in 1921 Scotch Tape was invented by Richard Drew. Thank you for helping us stick together.

FarmTown and FarmVille

2009-07-23T10:02:00.002-05:00

I am addicted to FarmTown and FarmVille on Facebook. There is something about an imaginary farm that lifts one spirits. You don't have to get your hands dirty. You can visit your farm anytime even in the midst of a busy day and take a small vacation gazing at your apple trees, flowers and listening to your farm animals bleet their greetings. Take a vacation and enjoy the farm witout the aroma.

It's Good News Week

2009-07-06T17:20:00.002-05:00

There are some weeks I just want to pull the covers over my head and not come out. My morning was like this and then it all changed. It is amazing how things can change in a minute. So keep the faith and remember no matter how low you go the next minute might change everything for the better.

Albert Lea Tribune | Seeing the results of the Purpose Workshop

2009-06-15T11:39:00.001-05:00

Albert Lea Tribune | Seeing the results of the Purpose Workshop

Shared via AddThis

A Lucky Break?

2009-06-11T10:34:00.002-05:00

May 21st the date of my last post. I walked out of my house, visited with a friend and stepped into a hole. I dug myself a deep one because I broke my foot. My fluff was gone for a little while.

Breaking your foot and ending up not being able to walk for six weeks changes your life. I knew I was needing a rest. Last time I needed a rest I broke my ankle. Is someone trying to tell me something?

I have a cool cast. It has psychodelic colors and brightens my day when I look at it. Getting around has been challenging. You do not realize the difficulty people have that are handicapped when you have two good legs.

The Blue Zone challenge in Albert Lea, Minnesota is a chance to change our lifestyle to live longer. I found it is more difficult to take of eating healthy and exercising when you can't walk. I will document how all of that goes now that I have gotten over my writers block.

Be fluffy with a broken foot. Get a psycodelic cast so you can smile when you look at life as more colorful even with a broken bone.

"Hara Hachi Bu"

2009-05-21T08:42:00.003-05:00

I am having a hard time with Hara Hachi Bu in the BlueZones Challenge. I can wear my bracelet but if the food is good I have a hard time not going back for seconds.

If I only cook so much I am looking for something to eat a little later. I am still hungry. I don't know how to turn my stomach off. Or get a little more will power.

But I have't been saying those words before I eat. My paper tells me I should do that. I will have to see if that works cause what I am doing isn't.

On the plus side. I have been weighing myself everyday and I have lost 2 pounds so maybe even if I am cheating on the Hara Hachi Bu I am making some progress.

Hara Hachi Bu, Hara Hachi Bu, Hara Hachi Bu.

Stick To It

2009-05-21T08:25:00.003-05:00

My journal descibes my birthsign which is a Gemini as this: Flexible, versatile, restless, a jack-of-all-trades, lively, alert, quick-witted, literary, communicative, a good conversationalist, changeable, sociable, logical. This does describe me to a tee.

I don't usually believe in astrological signs but how can I argue when it hits so close to home.

The bluezones challenge is progressing for me. Because of the challenge coach I actually am making sure that I sit down and spend some time with God. Right now is a time I really need to spend time with God as there are many things going on in the lives of people I love and all I can do is pray. However I think without the spiritually part of the blue zones I probably would not make as conscious of effort. I would probably pray on the fly. I probably would not take the time to meditate even though I know it calms me down.

My life is busy and when it is not busy I am lazy. It isn't hard to carve out moments for my soul to connect with my higher power but if I do not make a conscious effort something else more exciting or more stressful seems to stop me.

Perhaps it is the Gemini in me that keeps me from taking down time and just being. Perhaps it is the Gemini in me that keeps me restless enought to stop me from doing what is good for my body. I must admit the bluezones challenge coach is helping me. I want to add days not subtract so the coach works.

Well, it is time for my vegetables so I must flee.

First Days Working with the BlueZones

2009-05-18T08:10:00.002-05:00

I am very excited about the BlueZones Challenge. Technically I do not live in Albert Lea but apparently I am part of the zip codes approved because of those that work in Albert Lea. Hopefully we qualify because of my column and my husband spends most of his working time in Albert Lea with his business.

Friday I logged on and created my account. I am older than I thought. When I answered the questions I was two years older then I should be. That was a welcome relief. Only two years!!!! I expected ten. I can tell you that some days I feel much older. Hopefully that will change.

Even if someone doesn't qualify to be in this BlueZones Challenge it would be a good way of life to adopt or a good challenge for you to take on your own.

I like the idea of the Vitality Coach. That is a great part of this challenge. AARP seeems to know that without a little nudge it is hard for us to stay on track.

I chose practice a positve outlook for one of my choices. I chose this because I do let life get me down. I look sometimes for the negative instead of the positive especially now because some people I love are facing some serious challenges in their life. I need to have a positive attitude for them. I am not sure how I am going to accomplish this.

I also chose to get in touch with your spiritual side because I am feeling that I have been neglecting that in the fast paced world I live in.

And I chose to eat more vegetables. This is very hard for me. I do not like vegetables. I like donuts. Four servings a day is going to be very hard.

But I do think I chose the easy ones. One of the choices was to be physically active 60 minutes a day. I am not sure my body is ready for that. I do not feel angry so I don't think reducing the anger in my life would have been a good choice.

I've charted my course. The changes should not be hard. Will we see progress?
Will the excitement die down and this fade out? Will I eventually be able to get out of this chair with out creaking?

We're Not In Kansas Anymore

2009-05-15T07:42:00.002-05:00

At Awe Manac we are supposed to name today. I am going to name today a "new day in the life of me". We attended a bluezone kickoff last last night in Albert Lea, Minnesota. If you are wondering what that is, go to http://www.bluezones.com. Dan Buettner wrote a book after researching longevity in many parts of the world. AARP and Dan chose Albert Lea, Minnesota as a test project to see if we could live longer if we adopted some of the premises of the people that live in the BlueZone.

So along with the Awe Manac I am going to journal about my BlueZones journey. So again today is a "new day in the life of me." Changes from the Blue Zones challenge are small and seem easy. They gave us a list to start us off. This is not a weight loss plan it is a life plan for a long journey for your life. I will share more tomorrow but one of the things that they strongly suggest is to weigh yourself every day. So I started easy. I weighed myself today. I have actually lost 2 pounds and didn't know it. I have been trying to eat healthier. I will share more of the journey in a later blog. Blue Zones is fluffy.

Today Jill B. tells us to decide on a place you no longer are literally or metaphorically in your life. She uses big words sometimes. Then decide on a place you no longer want to be.

Can we always be in a place we no longer want to be? Is it a choice? I made a journey a few weeks ago that faced a a fear. I no longer want to let my life be ruled by fear and the fear of the what if's. If you are a fearful person that is a hard place to be because fear paralyzes you.

I am going to wake up every morning and take myself out of the place of fear in my mind. I think working with fear has to be something like working with an addiction. It has to be one day at a time because fear rears its ugly head when you least expect it. Jill used the quote "I'm not in Kansas anymore." to challenge us. My quote will be "I'm not in fear anymore."

I challenge you to face a fear today even if it is small. Does that cute little spider scare you. Face it, walk around it but don't tell me if the spider didn't make it.

What Do I Fear To Lose?

2009-05-14T07:38:00.004-05:00

I love the book the Awe Manac by Jill Badonsky. I have decided that some of my posts will be the journaling that I am following in her book. Inspire yourself and be fluffy. This book may help.

Today Jill's soul vitamin is "Understand life's mysteries as mysteries to be
lived." The quote is by Robert Zemeckis.

For today's journaling Jill uses George Lucas "Train yourself to let go of the things you fear to lose." She challenges us to let go of one or two of them and writing about letting go, how it would make us feel and how would we act differently.

This is a good exercise for me today. What I fear the most is losing those I love.
Sam my faithful pooch has been diagnosed with heart disease and has an enlarged heart. I knew he wasn't feeling good but I had no idea the extent. He is only three years old. There is only one outcome for this. I have another two close relatives that are having health problems and I fear losing them too. It all came at once and yet it was Sambo that I cried over. I cried big overwhelming tears. It all seemed to be too much.

I know my relatives probably will be ok with medical intervention but Sam is surely going to die. And I am going to have to watch this faithful companion of mine go down hill.

Why these things are happening is a mystery. Illness and death are a part of life. I cried over Sam because I know that I need to be strong, supportive and funny and fluffy with my relatives no matter what the outcome. With Sam I can show my emotions.

I can't do anything about any of their outcomes. Only God can determine that but worry and fear seem to take over and when they do that they rule because I want to control.

I have a choice. I can cry and let those I love know how worried I am or I can let God handle my worry and whatever time Sam, and my relatives have left and hopefully for some it is years and years, I can make their life about living.

I fear to lose those I love but the best gift I can give to those I love is to chose to make their life fluffy and happy. I challenge you if you are facing worry and fear to choose what you have control over and how you want to live your life. You can do it. I know you can. Live the mystery.

Working On My Blog

2009-05-12T12:39:00.001-05:00

Ok, I am working on my blog. I am still looking for the right template so I am having fun trying different backgrounds and then I will be doing a new format for posting on my blog so if you are reading this be patient with me. God and this blog are not finished with me yet. I am looking for the right fluffy background.

Monday

2009-05-04T08:26:00.003-05:00

Monday mornings are so hard. Even if you worked hard all weekend or if you lazed for me it is always hard to get out of bed on Mondays.

The sun is shining and I am alive so I am going to savor this day. I will put one foot in front of the other, crawl of of bed, wait I already did that! Crawling out of those cozy covers was an accomplishment in itself. If I can accomplish that on a Monday morning I can accomplish anything and so can you.

Happy Monday.

I Love Dandelions

2009-04-23T08:18:00.004-05:00

I know spring is officially here. I found my first dandelion in my yard yesterday. I know most people think of dandelions as weeds but dandelions remind me that in the midst of weeds there is some beauty if we look for it. At times in our lives we are all weeds. Sometimes we are toxic but other times we bloom and grow and put out beautiful vibes for others. Pick dandelions today. See the beauty in the weeds. See the beauty in yourself. Even otters can show love.

Prioritize Yourself

2009-04-21T08:41:00.002-05:00

Make today about you. I know that sounds a little selfish but sometimes it has to be about you.

I have been feeling a little sluggish lately. There are so many things to do and so little time. I feel my health slipping but I haven't been making it a priority. If I don't make my health a priority who will?

If I am not feeling well I am not able to accomplish the things I need to do such as working, spending time helping my family and helping and being there for friends. If I do not take care of my emoional health I cannot be a support to others.

Take care of yourself today. Eat right, take time to breathe. Take your vitamins, exercise or do some meditation and yoga.

Laugh and boost those happy endorphins in your body. Take care of you and then live your life.

Snap happy.

Blah Blog Video! Color Is In.

2009-04-16T08:45:00.003-05:00

I just took a tutorial on how to create a better blog. The person giving the tutorial specifically instructed us not to use bright colors on your blog. It isn't professional. I immediately changed my blog colors from black to colorful.

Colorful is what fluff is all about. America has gotten grey and I don't mean the hair. Where are the colorful houses? Now they are greying blogs.

How can you have fun without color? I decided blah to the gray and black and changed my blog to the unthinkable color of pink. We are also supposed to keep out text non colorful. I probably will never be blogger of the week but if I can't be blogger of the week I can be colorful.

So put some color in your life. If your house is gray paint a small corner bold and beautiful. Do something colorful today.

Pink rules!

I Made It!

2009-04-11T15:37:00.002-05:00

I do not have a lot of faith in myself when it comes to exercise. I am old and out of shape. However today I said ok to a walk along a river to see the falls at one park and many, many steps. I also said yes to a walk in another park.

I doubted I would make it but I thought it was a good way to start my way back to health. I also wanted to be a good sport.

First we parked in the middle of nowhere. It was a long walk to even get to the steps to descend down to our walk. I shiftily looked from side to side to check out where I might have to run to for a bathroom break or to hide in case I was needing a place to hide so I would not have to walk anymore.

We descended the steps. Going down was easy. We treked along. Did I mention I was also afraid of being on slanted turf high up over a river? I could see myself slipping and rolling and being washed away. However my gentle son-in-law offered his arm and I got over my fear.

I made it all the way along the river. It was time for the 110 steps back up. I had to be like the engine. I think I can. I think I can. I repeated it all the way to the top as my lungs were giving out and my breath was coming in short gasps.

But I made it. If you are doubting yourself give yourself a break and know you are stronger then you think. You might surprise yourself. I did.

Running Away

2009-04-09T08:17:00.002-05:00

Do you ever feel like running away? I know we are big, responsible adults and we are not supposed to want to run away from home. But admit it, every once in awhile you want to run away.

It's not that life is so bad it is just that sometimes the responsibilities overwhelm us. Remember when we could hardly wait to be an adult? Yeh, well how is that working for us?

Now there are times we long to be free of our responsibilities and just run for the hills. Many of us have forgotten how to play.

So if you feel like running away, do it. Pack your bag, start down the street, find a park and sit on the slide. Think about what you are going to do, who you have to leave and what you want to leave behind and what you would keep. Then as the little child did when we were kids, decide to walk back home because home is the best place. But leave some of those hurts back in the park and concentrate on what it is that you want to keep and what makes home a home.

Take the time in the park to leave your responsibilities behind for a few moments, a few minutes or a few hours. Running away every once in awhile is good for the soul. You will come back home refreshed and ready once again to be an adult.

A Day In The Life

2009-04-07T12:44:00.002-05:00

My dog Sam has a good life. I need to take time to review the way Sam lives life and adapt it to my own, especially his relaxation tecniques.

Sam knows how to relax. He doesn't get stressed out over too much. He does get excited when he sees his girldog Lola across the fence but he settles right down after they say hello.

Sam never hurries when he has to visit the outdoors. He stretches, meanders to a rug, stretches, lays down and then meaners his way to the door. Sam never hurries.

It is easy for Sam to relax. He can sleep anywhere. Noise doesn't bother him and neither do visitors. He concentrates on his relaxation.

I on the other hand have a hard time relaxing. I always feel there is something that needs doing. I gulp my food and find myself throwing lotion on after a bath because I am in such a hurry. In a hurry to do what I don't know.

I am going to watch Sam and try and adopt a little of his relaxation tecniques. Perhaps I will take the time to enjoy the flowers and my toys. Sam doesn't have a problem leaving his toys lay. He knows that he doesn't have to spend his time looking for them.

I have to remember something that Sam knows. The hurrier I go the farther behind I get. Thanks Sam.