Be Your Own Personal Sun: Tips to Stay Positive

I think one's attitude can effect every facet of their life. Much like one needs light to see the magic a kaleidoscope holds, one's attitude can cast a spell on their day in either a positive or negative manner.Wouldn't it be great if we could wake up to gentle birdsong like a fairytale princess? Unfortunately the reality is most mornings can lean toward the chaotic and can easily turn sour. Having a negative attitude could transform a not so good morning into the worst day ever! However if you’ve got a positive attitude your so-so morning could develop into a great day-even if things continue to make your mouth pucker.I'm a naturally positive person. But being my own personal sun hasn't always been easy for me. Over time I've learned a few things that help me to maintain a positive outlook.

1. Be grateful. Keeping a gratitude journal or even acknowledging things you're grateful for can really help you focus on the good things in your life, even if during a particularly difficult time it's a smile from your child or a hot cup of coffee.
2. Nurture your spirit. Do things that bring you pleasure and make you feel good. For me that's writing, crafting, reading, and though I don't do any volunteering now, in the past giving of my time has enriched my positive outlook in way I never imagined.
3. Surround yourself with positive people. I've learned keeping a positive spirit and surrounding yourself with “the glass is half full” types can really help you remain positive in ways a "Debbie Downer" never could.
4. Exercise. I never thought I'd say that but it's true! I've never felt regretful after a workout, in fact just the opposite has happened. On occasion while running I've burst into laughter because I was enjoying myself so much!
5. Disengage from negative self dialogue. Don't berate yourself or focus on the things you may not exactly be thrilled about body wise, etc. If negative self talk is something you struggle with, I suggest you look in the mirror and tell yourself at least five things you like about yourself every day. Patting your own back is not a bad thing.

love & positivity,nicōlephoto: I took at Lake Mirror in Lakeland, the quote just happened to be shared by Margarita Bloom on their facebook page as I was writing this post-so I went with it!

My Impression of the Windows Nokia Lumia 920 AT&T Review

I'm an iPhone girl. I love my iPhone, it's practically an appendage. So when I was asked to try a Windows phone I was excited as I've never used a Windows phone before and the Nokia Lumia with it's great celebrity endorsements made me want to try it.What I Liked: The Nokia Lumia 920 Windows Phone has a super sensitive screen you can use with gloves, which is great when it's cold outside!It's got a HUGE screen. My iPhone 4 fits snugly inside the entire phone. Which I'm not sure is exactly a plus, but it does make for fun game and video play which is what I mostly did on this phone.My favorite feature was the camera. It does take great photos. However my favorite photo application Instagram isn't on it. I did discover a similar ap called Lomogram but it just wasn't the same,  so that was a major Debby downer for me.My boys LOVED all the games available. I liked that there are a ton of fun FREE ones that my boys ages 8 and 4 actually liked to play.What I didn't like: This phone feels clumsy in my hands. I also didn't like that on occasion I can feel the components on the inside vibrating or moving around. I thought this was totally weird and shouldn't happen on a smart phone. Made me wonder if Nokia had slipped in tiny smart phone gnomes to do all the magic smart phone thinking.The camera does take awesome pictures, I just would've liked to see more settings for it.Navigating through this phone took some getting used to. The screen scratched easily with very little abuse.Overall impressions: This is a nice, feature-rich Windows phone. Would I switch permanently from my iPhone, no I wouldn't but it is a fun alternative to an iPhone.I received the Nokia Lumia 920 from M80 in order to facilitate my review on behalf of AT&T.

My Impression of the Windows Nokia Lumia 920 AT&T Review

I'm an iPhone girl. I love my iPhone, it's practically an appendage. So when I was asked to try a Windows phone I was excited as I've never used a Windows phone before and the Nokia Lumia with it's great celebrity endorsements made me want to try it.What I Liked: The Nokia Lumia 920 Windows Phone has a super sensitive screen you can use with gloves, which is great when it's cold outside!It's got a HUGE screen. My iPhone 4 fits snugly inside the entire phone. Which I'm not sure is exactly a plus, but it does make for fun game and video play which is what I mostly did on this phone.My favorite feature was the camera. It does take great photos. However my favorite photo application Instagram isn't on it. I did discover a similar ap called Lomogram but it just wasn't the same,  so that was a major Debby downer for me.My boys LOVED all the games available. I liked that there are a ton of fun FREE ones that my boys ages 8 and 4 actually liked to play.What I didn't like: This phone feels clumsy in my hands. I also didn't like that on occasion I can feel the components on the inside vibrating or moving around. I thought this was totally weird and shouldn't happen on a smart phone. Made me wonder if Nokia had slipped in tiny smart phone gnomes to do all the magic smart phone thinking.The camera does take awesome pictures, I just would've liked to see more settings for it.Navigating through this phone took some getting used to. The screen scratched easily with very little abuse.Overall impressions: This is a nice, feature-rich Windows phone. Would I switch permanently from my iPhone, no I wouldn't but it is a fun alternative to an iPhone.I received the Nokia Lumia 920 from M80 in order to facilitate my review on behalf of AT&T.

A Swan's Haiku

In the light she sitscelestial starlight ablazeAngelic Lilly

I love swans. They somehow manage to elicit the ethereal, graceful, and magical all at once. They are indeed my favorite bird, and play a symbolic roll in the novel I've been working on.They seem so delicate and precious too...So much so they make me wish I could cup one in my palms much like The Childlike Empress cradled that single grain of sand in The Neverending Story. *Sighs dreamily*I'm a blabbering whimsical mess tonight.  I'm off to go drown myself in a yogurt parfait. (As any self respecting adorer of the chimerical would do.)love & whimsy,nicōle

Dreaming Dreams

I love this. It speaks to me in countless ways.Speaking of dreams....I had the craziest dream last night.I was writing on a never ending staircase, like literally on the stairs, with a silver Sharpie perfectly content and rather happy with my large scrolling handwriting. When I peered over the balustrade I discovered the staircase I'd been writing on came out of a canal in Venice. I remember thinking when I was through (writing) I'd hop over and go for a swim. Which made perfect sense...incidentally, I was wearing a big poofy organza gown.love & dreams,nicōle

Wish You Were Here....

I went to Barnes & Noble today to well, it's a bookstore, one doesn't need a reason to visit a bookstore. Finding parking on the street in certain areas of South Miami can be practically impossible. As I neared the street where the book heaven is located I quietly chanted, "please let me find a good spot", sure enough as I rounded the corner right in front the store a person was just pulling out. I parked and when I got out to pay for parking I discovered  my parking space was no. 127 which also happens to correspond to my anniversary. This January my husband and I will celebrate our 12th anniversary, he'll still be overseas, but it made me smile.

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The End of Missing Someone #Quote

I came across this quote and it immediately spoke to me, as I am so looking forward to the end of the missing of my beloved.19 months and counting.photo: I took it while on a plane back home during my failed attempt to see my husband in August. Sigh.