Go Explore.

I'm trying to convince myself to go explore today, for some reason I am so tired and cold, I can barely keep my eyes opened let alone go explore. All I want is peanut butter and toast, a hot cup of tea and a nap.

So instead I'll encourage you, go out and explore something, do it for me, I'll be napping :)

Share the love,
M.

This was actually yesterday's post, but I couldn't upload it, so I gave up  and took a nap :)

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I Wake to Make... pretty things.

'tis true :)
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M.

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Happiness.

Come' on Get Happy! After all Happiness is Heart-made...

I've been thinking about what makes me happy, it's stupid little stuff like a hot coffee in the morning, a warm tea in the afternoon, Timothy the Dog, Duy (my Hubby) coming home from work, the tingly feeling your body gets when the car shuts off (I like to sit in the car and just enjoy it!), talking to my mom on the phone, waking up to sunshine,  a warm house after a walk in cold cold weather, the first snow, a long chat with a girlfriend, my family, green grass, blue skies, the smell of horse manure, eggs, Instagram, my comfy chair, books, quiet time alone to think (I usually get myself in trouble if I take too much time to think!) and the list goes on...

I believe the recipe for happiness is: gratitude + forgiveness + acceptance + fresh air. What do you think? What makes you happy?  What's your recipe?

Share the love,
M.

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Be In Love With Your Life... every teeny tiny stinking detail of it.

That is such a romantic thought, I love my life… but every teeny tiny stinking detail of it? Come on- how can that be… Life is hard, life is messy… life sometimes throws you stuff you don’t think you could ever handle, it knocks you down, stomps on you a little - how do you love it through all of that? how? how is it even possible? 

Sometimes it is easier on the look back, they say "hindsight is 20/20” this means when you are looking back on your life, you actually have perfect vision of it- you can see the invisible hand of God… you can see how hard things worked out for the good, and you can see the grace that flowed.

Duy and I have been through the wringer (more than once) we have had hard stuff happen… but looking back on it, it has made our hearts grow- it has changed us, moulded us, created two new people- different than we were when we first met, even different than we were just last year… I am humbled, by the way things happen, by the bigger picture, and by grace.

So today- try it, try to love every detail of your life, see if it is even possible, look back over the trying times, the good times, the fun times, the hard times and see if you can love it, all of it... every teeny tiny stinking detail of it. Can you see grace that flowed? Can you see the fruit it produced?

We may not understand the why- because (as my mother says) we don’t need to understand everything, we just have to accept it… 

Share the love today!

M.

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Coffee? Yes Please!

It's kind of true, good things happen over coffee; making plans, planning days, drawing, talking, chatting, being on one page over something so simple as a cup of coffee.  Even a conversation starter, "what's your blend" with a stranger... it's kind of awesome... Thank you Juan Valdez. You rock.

Share the love and a cup of coffee with someone today and make a connection!
M.

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Chillin' in China

One Generation.

This Chinese Proverb has such a beautiful message... but looking at it another way, it is also a warning message... a warning that what we do today effects the next generation. Let's make today amazing for ourselves and for the next generation...

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M.

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Be Kind.

Sometimes I need a gentle reminder to be kind- (I know -hard to believe, but alas totally true!) You know everyone you meet is going through something that we know nothing about- and sometimes all they need is a little kindness and grace in that moment...

This would be super cute in a classroom, a child's room or on your office bulletin board as a reminder to yourself and others to just Be KIND.

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M.

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Yup, We're Back :)

P is for Panda

Currently abiding in the home of the Panda. Have I seen one yet? no... will I before I leave? not in their natural habitat - maybe at the zoo if I can convince the mister to spend the afternoon there one day.

But I've got pandas on the brain... so I thought I'd share :) I think this would be super cute in a kids room, or even in a bathroom. I wouldn't hesitate to print it off for just about anywhere :) But I'm slightly biased.

TGIF and remember P is for Panda :) 

Share the love,

M.

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Enjoy the Ride.

So I've been in China now for 2 weeks, and did it ever take a toll on my mental wellbeing. I got here full of expectations, feeling like I needed to see and do everything. I'm not technically here on a vacation. My Hubby is here working (6 days a week, 12 hours a day), and because he had already been gone a month, and they extended his contract, I decided to get on a plane.

Did I have an expectations?
Yes. To see China.
Do you know how BIG China is?

Yes. To meet people.
Do you have any idea of the language barrier?
I speak English and French, I can understand some Spanish and a tiny bit of Italian (basically food stuff), even little Romanian with hand gestures, but Mandarin. No. Nothing, nada, nope, pardon, pardon, pardon... ya I'm still not getting that, here let me get my phone and find my Mandarin app and see if I can try to tell you what I need.

Did I put a lot of pressure on myself to be an amazing tourist? Yes.
Did I have a long talk with myself and make myself relax about doing, wanting, and trying? Yes.

Has my stay been peaceful, wonderful, and uneventful since then? Yes.
Am I happy? YES.

Have I seen all there is to see in China? No. You would need a lifetime to do that, and then some. Have a met some wonderful people? Yes. Can I tell you how much I like Edison. Is he one of my favourite Taicang-ites, ever? Yes. Does he make my day when he comes up and say "Hewo"?  Yes. Will I remember him forever? Absolutely.

So I guess what I'm trying to say, is stop trying. Just enjoy the ride. Get rid of the expectations and just live. Life is about living, loving and being... you are not anymore valuable because you do things... just be you.

Enjoy the Ride.

Peace + Love From China!
Share the Love,
M.

PS. Is this my favourite print ever because of the lessons I've learned? Yes.

Leave a comment sharing one of your life lessons...

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Facebook Cover Image- 72 dpi- Not for print

Facebook Cover Image- 72 dpi- Not for print

Facebook Cover Image- 72 dpi- Not for print

Chemistry 101

The only chemistry I will ever need to know.
For all you science buffs- happy caffeinating!

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M.

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COFFEE: Always a good idea.

Usually, as much as I love coffee, it is a morning drink only for me. I drink  my fair share of coffee, but after 1 or 2 pm, I switch to decaf, or to decaf tea. However the past few days, it has been an "every time I get a chance" drink. Coffee? Yes please, here, there and everywhere.  Here is how I am feeling about it at the moment :)

Happy Monday!  (for me, Sunday evening for some of you)
Happy Saint-Patrick's Day!

Share the love, and pass the coffee. seriously.
M.

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By The Beans.

Coming to you live from China :) I think I love it here! There are so many people, it is crazy to navigate the metro. Day 1 done. It is now 4:30 am and I am up- thank you Jet Lag! I am totally ready to grab life by the beans and see more, do more, experience more! -however I will have to wait until the Mr. is up, he's been here for over a month, he has no jet lag, just questionable looks when I get out of bed at 3:30 am and start creating :)

What are you going to 'grab by the beans' today?  

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M.

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Facebook Cover Image- *Please note: 72dpi not print quality.

Coffee Most Important Meal of the Day. Period.

As you know, my adventure is about to start! Which meant no sleep for me last night. Why? not sure, couldn't quite decide what to wear on the plane, plus I kept packing and repacking my back- I'm totally exhausted this morning- but so excited -I'm shaking- coffee is probably not my best option for breakfast, but it is definitely my choice :)

Happy MONDAY! I hope you are having a caffein filled day!
Share the love,
M.

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