Midweek Motivation

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"It's a good day to have a good day." 

I think so, too. Trying to make the most of this crazy life and the best of each day. I hope you have an incredibly awesome Wednesday and an enjoyable rest of the week! 

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Weekly Wishes

What moving to college feels like...so many boxes, bags, and totes.

Last week, I really enjoyed linking up through Melyssa's blog, The Nectar Collective for Weekly Wishes. It is a great way to find encouragement and inspiration in the blogger community. Seriously though, your comments made me smile, your kind words are so appreciated and kept me going. Check it out if you need a little boost of motivation for your week. Have a lovely week! 

Last week my wishes were to finish my Couch to 5k training program, spend time with family, and finish my nephew's present. Well... check, check, and check! 

Run. Couch to 5k is now complete and I am rockin'! It feels so great to have finished this program; I have made a lot of progress over the last 9 weeks (a review coming soon!). On to training for a 10k! 

Spend time with family and friends. This week I was able to spend some much needed time with my boyfriend, grandparents, and friends over dinner, a softball game, a movie, and a trip to the mall. My sister also stopped over for an unexpected visit with my new, baby nephew! I am so happy to be an aunt (his favorite, of course!) and to have such a loving family. 

Finish my nephew's present. The Weekly Wishes held me accountable for finishing my nephew's present that I have procrastinated on for a while. Finally, I finished 3 onesies with snap-on bow ties. They are so precious! He is going to be quite the gentleman.

Moving Madness. This week is my last week before I head back to school on Saturday. So it is officially moving/pack-it-all-up and realize I have too much stuff week. I want to go through all of my stuff and decide what to keep and throw away. I absolutely despise clutter and junk so I am ready to donate, sell, and toss. This week I will be busy preparing to go back to school, but I can't wait to be back in Cleveland.

Happy Monday!

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Cloudy with a Chance of Joy

I love watching Tedtalks. They get me to think, question ideas that never really crossed my mind. The other night, I was in the mood to watch a Tedtalk. So I scrolled and scrolled through videos, until one little square caught my eye. I scrolled over it and the name of the video was Cloudy with a Chance of Joy. Interesting....so I clicked on it. I read the synopsis on the side and come to find out, Gavin Pretor-Pinney is the creator of the Cloud Appreciation Society. WHAT?! Is there such a thing? 

I have always had a fascination for the sky, for those big, fluffy clouds that remind me of the wallpaper (here) in Andy's room in Toy Story. My family makes fun of me for sticking my head out the car window to feel the wind, soak up the sun, and stare at the clouds. Pretor-Pinney says, "they are the most diverse, evocative, poetic aspect of nature." You can tell how much I agree with this by how many pictures I take of the sky, some of which are shown below.

I think the most important point that Pretor-Pinney nails that hits home for me is, "The exotic can be found in the every day." I always thought, especially after being abroad, that I needed some huge adventure to be inspired, happy, or "finding myself".  This just isn't the case. I can find all the inspiration I need just by stepping out the front door, or gazing out the car window, taking the time to slow down and meditate.

With the busy-ness of the world and the digital age swirling around us and clouding our minds (pun intended), we miss what is so beautiful and standing right before us! Pretor-Pinney exclaims, "Pay attention to something so commonplace that everyone else misses it." I encourage you to: Be mindful. Be inspired. Be present. 

Athens, Greece (top of the Acropolis) 

Wicklow National Park, Ireland

Seville, Spain (outside my bedroom window)

Gibraltar, Spain

It is good for your ideas, good for your creativity...good for your soul. 

Malaga, Spain

Seville, Spain

Sanlucar de la Barrameda, Spain

If you live with your head in the clouds, every now and again, it will help you keep your feet on the ground.

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Weekly Wishes

Today, I am linking up The Nectar Collective for Weekly Wishes. It is a way to encourage and connect with other bloggers to accomplish our weekly goals or tasks. When your Mondays are lacking a little bit of motivation, making a list of goals can be the perfect way to redirect and guide your thinking. I am a habitual list-maker and firm believer that they keep me organized, inspired, and excited. Completing goals can also provide a strong sense of accomplishment. 

These next few weeks are about to be very crazy with the start of school in just two weeks. You better believe I have a to-do list or two in my agenda. Here is a look at a few things I hope to complete this week. Check back next Monday for an update about this week's wishes. 

My Wishes

Run. I have one more week of the Couch to 5k program! I hope to squeeze in my last three days this week. 

Finish my new nephew's present. I started a present for my nephew before my sister's baby shower in June, but got frustrated with it and put it off. Well, now he is here and his present still is not done. I need to finish it so when I see him next (hopefully this week), I can give it to him. 

Enjoy this week with friends and family. I have two weeks until I am back at school for the semester. So far, I have plans to hang out with my co-workers, boyfriend, and sister. I look forward to hanging out with them this week so that the following week I can buckle down on packing and preparing for school. 

If you are interested in linking up your weekly wishes and becoming a part of an encouraging community of bloggers, please go to The Nectar Collective's blog for more details. 

Have a lovely Monday!

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Your Creative Responsibility {Linking Up with The Circle}

1. What does creativity mean to you?

Creativity is not just a way of thinking, but a way of feeling and being. It is where you can freely express yourself. It is where you are truly inspired by things that you love, in order to create new ideas and original thoughts. I believe everyone has a different sense of creativity and a special way of being creative. Creativity adds purpose and passion to life. Be creative; be yourself.

2. How do you stay creative? Who do you draw inspiration from? 

I am constantly inspired by the world around me. I always say I could sit on a bench in Central Park all day and people watch. People are incredibly dynamic and powerful. They say so much without even saying a word. My creativity stirs from observing first and creating second. Here are a few other places that I draw inspiration from:
-A good conversation -Travel -Reading books, newspapers, blogs,  magazines, etc. -Ted talks -Running -Watching movies -Pinterest -A powerful quote

3. What is a creative part of you that you don't share much on your blog (i.e. a talent, hobby, activity, passion, etc.).

I have not been blogging for very long, but, as of yet, I have not shared that I am very organized. You could say organization is a hobby or an activity, maybe even a talent, but it is how I keep my crazy life together. I am an avid list maker and note taker. I keep with me at all times a binder filled with calenders, to-do lists, projects, college information, workouts,....pretty much my entire life. I try to be creative with my organization from cute calenders, pretty pens, to colorful divider tabs. 

I am so glad to have done a link up and look forward to doing another one in the future. I also encourage you to do link ups as a way to meet other bloggers and spice up your content.  If you would like to do this July Link Up with The Circle, click on this link.