Joie de Vivre!!

Life is what you make it....Life throws us curveballs...Life is a never ending roller coaster ride...Life is beautiful!

I'm taking some time today to reflect and be truly thankful for the life I have...the life I lead....and the life I have ahead of me.....

GO LIVE YOUR LIFE!!!!!

RR

The Little Things...

 

I've been looking through my photos from the past few weeks and realized, the moments I have photographed...the moments that make me smile....are those little moments...everyday life...

They are those moments that make me happy and that make up what I am lucky enough to call my life.

 

 

Watching the world go by....

 

 

Mother Nature can be fierce...

 

 

A furry friend enjoying breakfast....

 

 

A collection of namesake jars.....

 

 

Sunrise.....

 

 

A Saturday morning at the market....

 

 

Homemade mac and cheese.....

 

 

Flowers....

 

 

...flowers...

 

 

..and more flowers....

 

 

Letting the sun shine in......

 

 

 

 

Live my life and be happy....The most important thing!

 

Hope you're having a great week!

 

RR

Take a few moments...

When it rains...it monsoons!....My Aunt and I coined this phrase with everything going on in our lives lately....These past few years have 'tested'my family and other families around me beyond what I could ever imagine and have also made me ask..."Why do so many bad...horrible things happen to good...very good people?!"

We will persevere...we have persevered...and most importantly, we will continue to live our lives and make every single second count!
 

My Instagram page captures my life's moments...and believe me, I am living every moment! Here's a snapshot....




A New Day = A Gift




Some quiet time to look through House and Home magazine and fell in love with this Woodland Retreat!




I was also sharing my quiet time with this guy on the couch beside me...





"Be daring!"





The first snowfall....Charlie LOVED it!





Branches dusted with fresh snow.....





Saw this brooch wreath inspiration on Pinterest and there is also one on the cover of Chatelaine this month...and....




....with all of these baubles of my Great Aunt's, I will make my own! A great way to display sentimental jewellery this holiday season or even all year round!




Sunset...it had been a gorgeous, sunny Fall day....a perfect ending....

Take a few moments......go for a walk in the snow, curl up on the couch with a good book/magazine, surround yourself with things that inspire you and that you love....and most importantly...be daring and enjoy the gift you are given every day!

RR

 

Busy, Busy, Busy...

The past few weeks have been super busy.....at times it just feels like there are not enough hours in the day!

 

Time is flying by, but I am making sure to live every minute....every moment....

 

These pictures are just a few of the moments of my life over the past few weeks...

 Sunset at Emma's Backporch in Burlington on Lake Ontario....Retirement party for my amazing boss....We're really going to miss him and I will be forever grateful to him for everything he taught me, the opportunities he afforded me...and for him just being the truly wonderful person he is!
 

 

 Charlie and my Dad...having a a very in depth conversation....note the crossed paws :)
 

 

I was looking through old pictures of Charlie...those big brown eyes....that pouty lower lip....he had my heart since the first time I laid eyes on him!
 

 

Sunset on my flight into Thunder Bay... 

 

 

 Clouds.......flying at sunset is my favorite time of day...

 

 

 Looks like cotton balls....

 

  

 My outdoor holiday decor....ready and waiting to be displayed....The leaves have been raked, outdoor furniture has been put away, the gardens have been tended to....bring on Winter!

 

 

 A cozy corner in my home.....this was taken as I was lounging on the couch, glass of wine in hand just enjoying being home and enjoying the coziness of Fall...

 

 

Candlelight makes everything better! Romantic, warm, cozy....perfect ambiance...




As I look back on the past few weeks...past few months in fact...this statement couldn't be more true but it also reminds me to not waste a second and really get out there and live!

RR

Life is too short...

The world lost an amazing man this week......an old friend who could make you smile in any situation, who knew just when you needed that hug, someone that you could laugh out loud with....an always generous soul who drew people to him with his charisma and his always positive outlook on life!

 

His life was cut much too short...he had so much more to live for...but...one thing I can say about Adam...he lived every second that he had and he sure loved life!

 

 

As I look through pictures from the good ol'days, I think back to how at that point in our lives we felt that we have the world at our feet...that anything and everything was possible.......This week reminded me to always continue to think that way...life is all about perspective, how you approach it and how you throw yourself into it and live every single moment.

 

Adam....thank you for your friendship....thank you for what you brought not only to my life but to lives of many, many others....

The thought of your smile will always bring a smile to my face...

Your kindness will never ever be forgotten....you..will never be forgotten...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adam....we love you and you will be with us always.....

 

  

 

RR

Work.....

Some see it as another 4 letter word.... W-O-R-K....

I'm lucky enough to have found a career that I thoroughly enjoy and that challenges me every day....but, that being said, I wouldn't be human if things didn't get to me at times, anger me, and have me re-assess my decisions to do what I do day in and day out. I think that's 100% natural...especially for someone who is passionate about what they do. You care so much about what you do, that when blips in the road come up (and they most surely will) ....you sometimes have to take a step back, take a deep breath, re-group and really remind yourself the reasons why you do what you do and why you enjoy them as much as you do.

I am very, very lucky due to the fact that I work with amazing people every single day! We all share the same passions and are striving for the same thing. I have been truly blessed with the co-workers I have had, throughout my career..I have learned so much from them. Not only about the work we do every single day, but about myself as well.

RR

"Oxygen Mask"

One of my recent posts was about looking back and reflecting....this post is about looking forward, planning and truly LIVING every single day.

Quite a few people are already talking about resolutions for 2012...but I have decided to start them now....immediately! Those of you who know me well, know I do not sit still all that well and what better way to keep moving then to keep pushing forward, set new goals and really focus on something that I hope is so very important to all of us..."Oxygen Mask".

I use this analogy quite often...when I'm out presenting to my work groups, when I'm speaking with friends...but, like a lot of us, a lot of the time, I forget to actually implement it myself. I was on a flight the other day and like every good airline steward/ess says during their pre-flight..."Please put the oxygen mask on yourself before trying to help others". Such a small sentiment but with such HUGE meaning!!

You MUST take care of yourself (mind, body and soul) before you can even begin to take care/help others! 'Oxygen Mask' is my #1 resolution...take care of myself before I can take care of others!

Like these 2 quotes say...see each day as a new beginning and begin each day with a deep breath (put on your 'Oxygen Mask' and the air begins to flow)! If the 'going gets tough' throughout your day, take a step back and "just breath".

A part of the 'Oxygen Mask' and taking care of yourself, is knowing yourself. Knowing who you are, what you stand for, where you want to go in life and how you want to get there, strengthens you in so many ways. The stronger you are in who you are (when you have your 'Oxygen Mask' fully on), you can begin to truly live every day of your life...and help others.





A HUGE percentage of everyday well being is psychological..how you approach your day-to-day and everyday life..this is the oxygen flowing into that mask. This quote says it all.....

.........."then be" your own 'oxygen mask' and LIVE every single day of your life to the absolute fullest!