Don’t we all grumble and complain?

Consider under every complaint you have a wish, a desire for goodness and joy.What if you paused before you declared a complaint and asked yourself, “What do I want?” Imagine how it would be see your whining as a powerful request.

“I feel fat.” I wish I felt light and sexy.

“I can’t stand Monday’s.” I wish my job was fulfilling.

“I feel overwhelmed and tired.” I want to learn to meditate.

“I need a break.” This is my constant complaint. My husband is away a lot – I miss our family time and my solitude.

Try it and let me know it feels.

C

Photo via Keri

My twin sister and her family are coming to stay at our cottage this summer, The McCarthy family will be reunited, 18 of us, except my brother. I’ve been thinking about him a lot, life is not the same since he died tragically at 21 years old.

“I’m so sorry your brother passed , he is no longer with us, we lost him years ago,” All  words expressed at a heart wrenching time in my life.

I often wonder why people pad this experience with a lighter, less painful words? I know it hurts too much to declare they’re dead or it’s not Politically Correct to talk about death, or we’re uncomfortable with people’s pain…

And yet we know death is inevitable, not avoidable. There is no life without death. What if we didn’t sugar coat this? Instead we spoke openly about death with our children, sat with our loved one’s heartache, didn’t fix a broken heart but  were ok with the uncomfortable messiness of life?  Words are powerful, they tell the truth. Dead, is the literal term for no longer physically alive.  What if we owned the word , if we accepted the destiny, would the journey be more graceful? I imagine yes, it has been for me.

FOUR WORDS

Here’s a pure and simple way of to thank dad this Father’s Day: Give them a sincere, short list of words that expresses why they are a treasure to you. This small gift can infuse the busyness of a get-together with meaning this Father’s Day.

One way to present your words of thanks is to create a card and write “I am grateful for you” and list four words that convey how your dad  shines in your eyes. To be grateful is to truly see.

For you Dad.

love, C

This is the front of my card for my dad, a crazy dog lover. Go ahead gather stamps, nature, old stamps and create a handmade card for your pops, like you did as a kid.

My sweet friend Patricia Larsen gave me the dog print, I’m recycling!

Traditional

Spirit: Traditional gets tremendous joy from nourishing a sense of community and family, whether within a neighborhood, group, organization, or among family members and friends. They are curious and learn from what has come before, especially anything pertaining to time-honored orthodox doctrines and practices. Traditional is keenly interested in finding the best way to do something. What has worked in the past? and What will work now and in the future? are their guiding questions. And when they find something that works, they happily dispense advice, and share best finds, how-tos, and personal learning. If they can’t find an established way of doing something that works for them, Traditional will create their own customs, routines, or rituals and ultimately legacies. They build things to last—relationships, creative works, a sense of home and place, policies, products—and they hang in there. Traditional typically has a strong personal sense of right and wrong, which at times can cause rigidity. At their best, Traditional is actively curious about the perspectives and creations of other cultures.

accustomed, acknowledged, ancestral, classic, classical, conventional, customary, doctrinal, established, family, historic, homespun, handmade, heritage, legacy, native, natural, old, oral, origins, passed on, popular, rooted, time-honored, timeless

Look & Feel: Respectful, classic, timeless, enduring, conventional.

Designers:  Ralph Lauren Home , Bass Shoes, Pringle sweaters (watch this sweet video), LL Bean tote bag, Restoration Hardware

This the place you feel most grounded and connected to yourself. How do you feel when you’re there?  What do you most value about your home? Follow your  heart and your heart will find home.

My favorite answer;  (from 2,000 clients)

“With my husband!”

Sweet, simple and absolute.

photo credit:  Gaile Guevara, fellow Canadian and fabulous Interior Designer. if you’re love modern design, her site is a must see!

I’m off to  Palm Springs tomorrow, where it’s hot, really hot. You’ll find me hanging out by the pool, reading a trashy mystery novel and drinking  G & T’s with my hubby. Can’t wait, only one more sleep!

It’s been three years since our last holiday, just the two of us. Then baby came, exhaustion set in, and busyness took over. Easy to be married to your to do list, the master in our house. We finally gave that master a kick in the rear, and reminded ourselves who runs the show, we do!  Since we’re experts at creating to do lists we decided to let go and make a no list:

• NO computers
• NO answering the phone unless it’s a little one 411
• NO pressure to fulfill our wish list
• NO  pajamas
• NO one else invited
• YES  to – plan our next holiday. New York here we come.

What about  you, what’s on your holiday not to do list?

Photo thanks to Garance

ps – refer to the synnoyyms of  your 20%, Yearning Word.

Carrie, Refined Treasure

via stay fancy free

It’s always a good time to be yourself. And it’s never too late. Possibility exists all of the time, everywhere. You haven’t missed your chance to be your most beautiful.

~ Style Statement Manifesto of Style

The lesson of this old saying—“if you love something, set it free; if it comes back, it’s yours; if it doesn’t, it never really was”—can be applied to the lost parts of ourselves. Even if we’ve continuously repressed or neglected the truest aspects of our being, the slightest invitation can bring their energy back into our lives. That which is true rests easy and hopeful, like flower bulbs rest in winter, knowing that spring always comes. So don’t fret. Your true power is always within reach.

This weekend ponder a part of yourself you’d like to revive—the part of you that was playful no matter who you were with, the part of you that used to plant a big kiss on your partner when they came home, the part of you that believed the world was waiting for you with great anticipation. Put a name to that part—free, sexy, bold—and let that be your word for the weekend  (if you have a Style Statement, it may be one of your two words). You don’t need a “revival plan” or an action list. One word, invited back into your heart, can work wonders.

My word for the weekend is play. What’s yours?

photo by illustrator Kristina, don’t you love her whimsical and playful work?

The definition of Style is,” The way in which something is said or expressed.” The definition of Statement is, “a declaration, an affirmation.”

Style Statement is a declaration of  the real you.  And when your life is guided by the real you – what feels right, what brings you joy, what lights you up –  something truly magical unfolds. You receive more of what you want. So it makes sense if you feel stuck, cranky and numbed out you’re probably not getting what you want.

If  life not’s working a well as you’d like it to, here’s a juicy question to ask;

“What  guides my life ?”

1. Fear – Not living in the moment, anxious  and tired
2. Proving - Comparing yourself to others, driven by ego, and life feels hard
3. Joy – Opportunities come your way, your body feels light, and you manage stress gracefully

Joy is about becoming yourself. Joy is about acceptance, curiosity and daring.

This weekend  instead of proving I’m super momma I’m going to let the dishes pile up, roam book stores and mountain bike in the forest. What about you?

Photo credit: Fear by Mat Honan

Photos are a big deal. They are an incredibly important tool for connection, and if you’re promoting yourself in any way—from a blog to a company brochure—a shot of the best you is imperative. On a more personal note, there is precious value in keepsake photos. They honour life, celebrate our beauty, and allow us to see ourselves in a new light. A picture stops time so we can treasure it more.

Saying you look horrible in photos is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Declare no more. Great photos, here you come!

IDEA: Imagine the camera is the face of a loved one. Smile. Always smile.

Feel Beautiful

This is a great exercise in creating an outer package that supports the true you. Whether you’re smiling wide or giving your most penetrating gaze, your genuine moments speak volumes.

Photo credit: A Cup of Jo