I BELIEVE...

...just some of my observations and what I have learned about life...

When you shake someone's hand you should always look them square in the eye and smile.

 A good belly laugh always makes you love the person you are sharing it with even more.

Regretting something is another form of not accepting reality. What you can do about it now? It’s gone. It doesn’t exist anymore. Focus on what you can change now in the present moment, not yesterday or tomorrow. Live now.

 The song that was your favorite at 14 needs to be on your playlist every now and then.

 Learning as much as you can about what interests you makes you an interesting person to be around.

 Never underestimate the value of a great haircut.

 When you invite someone to dinner you should pick up the check.

 Sitting alone at a restaurant is perfectly Okay. If you don't enjoy your own company, how can you expect others to?

 You should make sure there are lots of photos taken of you smiling... someday someone will appreciate them when you are gone.

  Wearing pants that are too tight will actually make you look fatter.

  "Sexy" isn't about how much skin you show, it's how you carry yourself,  treat others and the amount of confidence you have.

 Men come and go but the jewelry stays.

 Never leave the house looking like you just rolled out of bed.

 You don't have to know or be great at everything, just figure out what you excel at and be the best you can at that.

  When someone is mean to you, most of the time it is not your fault, it's because they are working on their own issues and you happen to be their target at the moment.

You can't change anyone but yourself.

When a man hears a pair of high-heels walk by they always turn to look.

Scare yourself a little bit every day. It will expand your inner map.

Question everything. Thinking for yourself, getting all the facts and forming your own opinion makes the world rich and wonderful.

 Happiness starts with the way you see things and your reaction to the world around you.

Jealousy is an opportunity to find out what you really want.

 Beauty fades but grace will last a lifetime.

 Everyone has a story and wants to be listened to. A good conversation starts with finding someone's story.

 You are the author of your life story. 

Create your life story and make it an amazing journey that you will enjoy telling.

You deserve to be heard, just be sure you speaking with truth, kindness and  positive thoughts.

 A person speaking with kindness and love always say the right thing whether we want to hear it or not.

Hope is the feeling that what you want can be had or that things will turn out for the best. Without hope life would be miserable. 

Taking care of your skin, teeth and muscles will pay off in your later years.

Go for what you can do today and leave yesterday behind for good. It’s not here anymore. And tomorrow doesn’t even exist yet, so why bother. All you have is today. Don’t waste it.

 Doing what you love doesn't feel like work.


Focus on what makes you happy and make a plan to bring more of that into your life.

Once trust is lost it can never fully be brought back. It's OK to forgive but don't forget when someone shows you poor character.

 Everything you do, say and feel comes from a thought you had first. 

Life is easier when you are thinking positively.

A fabulous pair of shoes will make you walk taller.


Think about how you would like your children to speak to you when you are 90 and talk to them that way when they are young.


Buy Good bras, they pay for themselves.


If you gossip about one person everyone will assume you talk about them as well.  Every person's story is theirs to tell... not yours.


When you find a great friend, treat them well.


Follow A Coincidence
There really aren’t any coincidences. Everything has a purpose. If you witness something which may seem like a coincidence, then you’re very lucky, you just got a sign. Follow it with trust, it will lead you well.

Make yourself feel pretty. Go ahead and paint your toenails and try a smoky eye. Being a girl is fun!


Trust your inner voice more than any outside voice, it's your higher self speaking to you... when it tell you something feels bad, it is true.


Invest in a good set of pearls and a quality/classic little black dress that will last for years.


Forgive yourself, sometimes you do stupid things...you are human.

Feeling especially creative!

At Kismet, the styling station was perfectly good and nice looking but it wasn't my style and it didn't fit my new decor.

I felt a little guilty replacing this very functional piece of furniture.
 The station went to a good home, a salon in Windsor CO and the new owner was thrilled to have it.

My plan was to replace it with something no other salon has, something antique and beautiful. I already had my eye on a buffet at the antique store down the street, Serendipity. 

The store owner gave me a great deal too! So into the back of my SUV and down the street it went.

My plan was to paint it... a big job, I know. 

 A few people saw it in it's place before I started working on it's transformation. One person even suggested I live with the mahogany for a while... maybe it would grow on me....

...I don't let things grow on me, that's why I'm single (grin).

 I like making things unique and better ...and most of all I LOVE change.

It was time to start sanding.

 ... I really don't enjoy sanding.

 Once the sanding was done it was time to apply the primer. I had the fella at Home Depot tint it about one shade lighter that the paint color I would be applying.

The trick to painting furniture is to do thin coats of paint and primer, otherwise it will look "gloppy". 

I did about three coats this thin.

I forgot to take a pic of it all painted because I was way to excited for the next step....

I wanted to glaze the piece to make the carving detail "POP".

Here are two videos taken on my phone of applying the glaze and wiping it off. I hope you can watch them.

So here is the finished product.

I love it!
...ok one before & after...

Simplify, getting rid of the baggage.

Spent New Year's Day purging and cleaning while Hoarders played in the background so I could pause every now and then shake my head at the TV and say "geesh" for that feeling of superiority needed to complete the task.

I wasn't able to accomplish it all in one day, in fact I'm procrastinating at this very moment by sitting at my computer instead of tackling my closet.  The procrastination was not all in vain, I came across a book that I promptly ordered.

That lead me to a website...

The Website

 I'm inspired! I'm working my way from top (my bedroom) to bottom (my basement).

I have always had a problem with keeping stuff, mementos, things I might regret letting go of. 

When I was packing my belongings preparing for my divorce I knew my "replacement" would be moving in as fast as her gold-digging, homewrecking self possibly could. Every item I prepared to put a in a box I asked myself, "Is this worth taking?". The answer was always "Yes, I don't want her to have it and if I don't take it now I won't have the chance to come back and get it"... Sad, I know! 

This is not meant to be a "poor me" post. It's a post about less is more and the idea that if you want to bring new things into your life you must make space for them to enter.

 I have recently came to the realization that this stuff is not improving my life but weighing me down, it has negative energy attached to it that will not allow me to move on.  Every time I look at my basement I feel heavy and overwhelmed. So, every weekend for the next few months are dedicated to boxing things up, donating, consigning and throwing away the mementos from the house Turin Drive. 

This is my main goal in 2012... to let go, live more simply.

Why simplify your life, your closet, your junk drawer, your desk? Because when you have less, you appreciate more! SIMPLIFY today... it's just stuff!

 Beginning 2012 with the intention  of beginning fresh. Looking forward instead of back, a heart full of hope & love rather than bitterness & hate, my head will be thinking about my dreams, not caring about what was taken from me. Someone reminded me recently that enjoying the happiness of my own life and not focusing on the anger toward another is the best way to reach my goals. Living a full and happy life is the best revenge. Friends- hold be to this... If you see my dignity slipping remind me of who I am.