Dare to create...

LOAD 19

2012-02-19T16:10:00.000+01:00

Pages made for LOAD - Feb'12.

Click HERE for
Pages 20 & 21
for my Christmas'11 album.

LOAD 18

2012-02-18T12:57:00.000+01:00

Page made for LOAD - Feb'12.

Click HERE for
Page 19
for my Christmas'11 album.

LOAD 17

2012-02-18T12:47:00.003+01:00

Page made for LOAD - Feb'12.

Click HERE for
Page 18
for my Christmas'11 album.

What I do to get Creative, by Karen Grunberg.

2012-02-17T23:16:00.001+01:00

As you already may know, I'm participating in LOAD-Feb'12, by Lain Ehmann.

Today, I've found this video about Creativity and wanted to share it since it's very interesting and motivational. She's Karen Grunberg, and her projects are so colorful and inspirational. Enjoy!

-- Feb. 16th, 2012: What I do to get Creative --

By Karen Grunberg at Karenika.com

LOAD 16

2012-02-16T21:47:00.000+01:00

Page made for LOAD - Feb'12.

LOAD 15

2012-02-15T23:05:00.001+01:00

Page made for LOAD - Feb'12.

8.5"x11

LOAD 14

2012-02-14T11:29:00.001+01:00

Page made for LOAD - Feb'12.

Click HERE for
Page 17
for my Christmas'11 album.

Happy Valentines Day!!

2012-02-14T00:00:00.003+01:00

Don't forget to say "I Love You!" to the people You Love every time you get the chance.

LOAD 13

2012-02-13T20:57:00.001+01:00

Page made for LOAD - Feb'12.

Click HERE for
Page 16
for my Christmas'11 album.

LOAD 12

2012-02-12T21:32:00.001+01:00

Page made for LOAD - Feb'12.

Click HERE for
Page 15
for my Christmas'11 album.

LOAD 11

2012-02-11T21:30:00.000+01:00

Page made for LOAD - Feb'12.

Click HERE for
Page 14
for my Christmas'11 album.

LOAD 10

2012-02-10T23:59:00.001+01:00

Page made for LOAD - Feb'12.

Click HERE for
Page 13
for my Christmas'11 album.

LOAD update.

2012-02-10T00:04:00.003+01:00

I'm still participating in LOAD - Feb'12, but I haven't post days 8 and 9 because:

- day 8: it's a page for my nephew's album, and I'd like to give it to my sister for his b-day before I share it here. Pablo will turn 1 next Feb 22nd :)

- day 9: it's page 24 for my Xmas'11 album, but I'm still on page 12, and I'd like to make the pages in between first :)

LOAD 7

2012-02-07T23:28:00.001+01:00

Page made for LOAD - Feb'12.

An 8" x 8" page about
my beginnings in the English language
when I was 12 :)

LOAD 6

2012-02-06T15:18:00.001+01:00

Pages made for LOAD - Feb'12.

Click HERE for
Pages 11 & 12
for my Christmas'11 album.

LOAD 4 + 5

2012-02-05T23:12:00.001+01:00

Pages made for LOAD - Feb'12.

12"x12"

LOAD 3

2012-02-03T14:45:00.003+01:00

Page made for LOAD - Feb'12.

8"x8"

And this is me
Scared and determined
An endangered species
As real as life
And this is me
Now comes my moment
I will not resign
I do not want to waste time

(El Sueño de Morfeo)

LOAD 2

2012-02-02T22:05:00.005+01:00

Page made for LOAD - Feb'12.

12"x12"

LOAD 1

2012-02-01T20:09:00.004+01:00

Page made for LOAD - Feb'12.

8.5"x11

Keep going.

2012-01-29T09:37:00.000+01:00

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Keep going

When you have a long way to go, keep going. When you’ve almost reached the goal, keep going.

Success is achieved by those who simply do whatever it takes to keep going. All it ever takes, is taking the next step.

When you’re frustrated, make note of your frustration and keep going. When you’re tired and weary, take time out for a little rest, and then keep going.

The real joy is in the journey, so give yourself the joy of making that journey. Pick yourself up, again and again, and keep going.

You know full well that you can do it, so do it. Remind yourself why you’ve chosen to get there, and keep going.

You are a bundle of beautiful and unique possibilities. Keep going, and bring the best of them to life.

— Ralph Marston

As you are.

2012-01-25T21:59:00.000+01:00

Friday, January 20, 2012

As you are.

You are here, as you are, and it is good. You are alive, aware, uniquely inspired, and able to choose from a vast array of possibilities.

Don’t get caught up in worrying about what could have been or what should have been. Instead, turn your awareness toward the very real and present beauty of what is.

There is a great and growing abundance that surrounds you. From that abundance you can fashion meaningful joy and fulfillment.

With what you have here and now, you can live your life in the way you choose. You are ready and able right now to move solidly in the direction of your most treasured dreams.

The problems will come and you can successfully deal with them. The joys will come and you can delight in them.

You have this amazing and valuable moment, so live it to the fullest. Feel the immense goodness, as you are, and be all you can be.

— Ralph Marston

Christmas'11 - Front cover.

2012-01-22T14:31:00.001+01:00

You can see it clicking HERE.

Thanks!!!

Doing.

2012-01-19T10:40:00.002+01:00

Doing.

The way to achieve is not to try. The way to achieve is to do.

The difference between trying and doing is all in your perspective. That difference makes all the difference in the world.

When you see yourself as trying, you are burdening yourself with the expectation of failure. Instead, put all your energy and focus into doing your very best, and into expecting the best results.

Merely trying is itself an excuse, and it gives you permission to make all sorts of other excuses. Doing, on the other hand, gets results.

If you’re going to make the effort, then make it count. Let go of any thoughts that you’re just trying, and embrace the most positive expectations.

You are absolutely capable of making a real and valuable difference. So forget about trying, and with well-deserved confidence, go ahead and get it done.

— Ralph Marston

My word for 2012.

2012-01-15T12:25:00.002+01:00

Following Ali Edwards' tradition of choosing a word for the upcoming year, last year, I chose ACCEPT, and, although I didn't finish the class I signed up at Big Picture Classes, which is on this year too, I got to the objective I was looking for when I chose that word.

Now that I've moved on, I choose my new word:

FORWARD

Look FORWARD,

walk FORWARD,

continue FORWARD,

whatever it is but always FORWARD :)

The essence of life
is going always FORWARD.

Sometines, it's better to close your eyes
& continue FORWARD.

Go!

Great weather for a New Year :)

2012-01-03T13:54:00.007+01:00

Found on Google.

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T10:31:00.001+01:00

The best of 2011? No doubt about it: my nephew Pablo :)

Stuffy nose...

2011-12-29T22:14:00.004+01:00

... for a couple of days now. I'm going to look like Rudoplh soon :)

Don't worry, I'm feeling OK and waiting for the New Year to come :)

A big hug,

Elf'11

2011-12-25T22:49:00.002+01:00

If you would like to see this year's Elf...

---- CLICK HERE ----

New look :)

2011-12-18T20:13:00.002+01:00

Shorter hair and my second Xmas present from a good scrapping friend, Mª Engracia. THANKS!!

My first Christmas present :)

2011-12-14T09:57:00.004+01:00

My beloved brother, who is living in London, UK, has sent me through Amazon.es my first Christmas present, which I received last Monday, December 5th.

Thanks so much bro!

I hope It makes me want to read :)

Christmas Pinterest :)

2011-11-30T09:21:00.003+01:00

Since Journal Your Christmas, by Shimelle Laine, starts next Thursday, December 1st, I think it's time for sharing some Christmas inspiration. Enjoy! :)

Christmas Scrapbooking.

Christmas cards & tags.

Christmas decorations & other.

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-24T00:00:00.002+01:00

To all my friends in the USA...

Martha Stewart Crafts™ Glitter Techniques

2011-11-17T18:44:00.001+01:00

Now that Christmas is getting closer, I start thinking about glitter :) Enjoy!!

[Video founded at http://store.scrapbook.com/ms-m112304.html]

In a corner of my new Studio... :)

2011-11-07T12:25:00.001+01:00

More coming soon...

New look :)

2011-11-05T21:22:00.000+01:00

Here I am this morning still in the hairdresser's :)

Vacation time is over…

2011-11-01T08:58:00.002+01:00

Vacation time is over… well, officially, because I won't be on duty at work till next Thursday, November 3rd hehehe

I was going to write an elaborated post, explaining a few things, but I think I’ll go directly to the point, just like a telegram :)

- Almost 4 months ago, my life changed, and I feel so good now. I’ve recovered the calm I was missing so much. But I know I must be alert…

- My trip to the USA, to visit a great friend of mine and her family, was a success, oh yeah!: introspection, group therapy and tons of shopping :)

- I begin a new stage of my life totally renewed: batteries charged, new wardrobe, freshly painted in white apartment (when the painters come...) and new Studio,

because I’ve moved my scraproom into the master bedroom, and it’s going to be My Studio to scrap or make cards, to either paint or do a mess with gesso if I feel like it, to learn how to use my sewing machine, it’ll be my dressing room too, and to study…

- Yes, you’ve read “to study”. I’m back to the university!

I’ve registered in the National University of Distance Learning, UNED, to start a Degree in English Studies. I’ve been thinking about it for a few years, and I’ve felt right now is “the moment”.

I’ve never studied/liked subjects like History or Literature, so I face this challenge a little bit expectant but excited too.

- I’ve also joined a gym to burn some energy.

I think I’m done. Yes, I know I said “just like a telegram”, but it was impossible for me to summarize it in fewer words.

As for my job, we’re still “in danger”, but as long as the days and months continue going by…

If you’ve read through here, THANKS, and, if you feel like it, I’d appreciate your opinion as well as your encouragement, which is always good to hear, well, to read

A big hug and read you soon,

P.S. I forgot to mention my visit to the hairdressers' sometime during this week...
coming soon...

Halloween 2011

2011-10-31T00:00:00.000+01:00

On vacation :)

2011-10-01T20:25:00.004+02:00

I won't be on the beach, but I'm on vacation :)

I'll be back as soon as my batteries are charged and I've had tons of fun :)

Take care,

:)

2011-09-24T12:05:00.002+02:00

Mistakes :)

2011-09-15T22:03:00.001+02:00

A few words for scrappers...

2011-09-12T21:31:00.005+02:00

A fellow scrapper has shared THIS article in a board, and, as a scrapper myself, I wanted to shared the lasts lines with you:

But time won’t stop. It won’t even  slow down. That’s why we’ll pay attention and take pictures. So we’ll  never forget the day. So that even when it’s passed, it will remain.- Beverly Beckham

Impossible is Nothing.

2011-09-05T07:19:00.000+02:00

Have a great week!!

This is me :)

2011-09-03T11:33:00.002+02:00

Have a great weekend!

To live :)

2011-08-30T22:32:00.002+02:00

Feeling so much better :)

2011-08-28T12:10:00.001+02:00

Just wanted to tell you all that I'm feeling so much better :)

I've enjoyed a great Summer with my family, and I've been doing great at work.

I'm almost done with the major reorganization of my apartment, and I hope I finish with my new scraproom sometime during next week :)

Thanks for reading and being out there :)

Be Positive!

2011-08-16T15:53:00.001+02:00

2011-08-11T20:54:00.000+02:00

No make up. No Photoshop.

2011-08-08T21:08:00.004+02:00

Just a month ago, around this same time, my life turned around 360º.
Just a month ago, I embarked myself on a path [again] that is leading me to find the balance I had lost...
Just a month ago, my head and my heart heard that "click" that frees you from some silly chains that drag you to the darkest side of your soul... and leave you there...

But I'm back.

I have embarked myself on a solo travel, but not alone, and I'm feeling so much better.
I know that it's going to be hard, but I don't care about it because I'm not sure either if I want to go back to my old self... I have learned a lot, there have been tons of good things and I have had lots of support and love that have lighted me in my return to sanity.

I'll be again that smiling and cheerful woman who talks way too much and loves hugs. The rest "just" would have marked my life forever.

New paragraph. New page.

Mariangeles is back.

THANK YOU.

Have a great weekend!

2011-08-06T09:12:00.005+02:00

Hello!

It's finally Saturday, and I was up at 7.30am!! It's going to be a productive day :)

I hope you have a great weekend.

Here I'm sharing some Inspiration for you :)

My Pinterest board for Shoes :)

and a cool staircase :)

"A precious human life..."

2011-07-29T18:29:00.003+02:00

Everyday, think as you wake up,

'Today I am fortunate to have woken up,
I am alive,
I have a precious human life,
I am not going to waste it.

I am going to use all my energies
to develop myself,
to expand my heart out to others,
to achieve enlightenment
for the benefit of all beings.'

Tenzin Gyatso

14th Dalai Lama of Tibet
From Inspiration Peak.

A candle for Norway...

2011-07-24T23:25:00.003+02:00

About the attack in Norway...

:)

2011-07-22T23:25:00.003+02:00

Strength...

2011-07-17T20:41:00.004+02:00

Exactly!

2011-07-11T17:37:00.003+02:00

(founf here)

A free scrapbooking online class :)

2011-07-09T08:30:00.005+02:00

I've taken tons of classes at Big Picture Classes, and I just love it!!

From time to time they offer free classes, and now they're offering the Big Idea Festival from August 15th-27th.

They classes run from around $10 up, so you can spend as little or as much as you can/want :)

If you're not registred already in the website, could you "say" I sent you? :)
My Refer-a-Friend code is B777D203.
You could use this link to register in the web and then sign up for the class, and enjoy!!!
Once you purchase your first class, we'll both receive a code for 10% off** our next order!

P.S. I don't get anything from BPC for this post :)

Perfect for starting my week at work :)

2011-07-04T08:00:00.001+02:00

Who runs the world?? GIRLS!!!

2011-07-02T14:02:00.002+02:00

She's so energetic and inspiring!!

Who runs the world??
GIRLS!!!

Beyonce - Run The World (Live @ X Factor 2011) por Henrietta-Aime-Fumer_Tv

Pablo's album - 3

2011-06-27T17:36:00.001+02:00

A few more pages for my nephew's album.

You can see what I've made so far -->> HERE <<--

I'll try to...

2011-06-25T11:52:00.005+02:00

Positively powerful.

2011-06-23T09:19:00.004+02:00

I've found this today in Greatday.com. Just perfect :)

Positively powerful.

Relax, and remember how truly beautiful and unique you are. Relax, and remember how positively powerful you can be.

Don’t waste your time wishing for something outside of you to magically make your life easier. Instead, make life easy on yourself by making full use of your magnificent capabilities.

The pain of what you worry about is mostly in the worry itself. The joy you seek to experience is yours as soon as you allow it to be.

Feel how truly good you know your life can be. Act on those feelings, right now, and the goodness comes to life.

Most of the difficulties are difficult only because you have decided they are. Gratefully embrace them, and you’ll touch their positive value.

Remind yourself how good life can be. From there, you can make it even better.

Welcoming Summer :)

2011-06-21T13:09:00.002+02:00

I just hope I survive this hot & humid weather...

P.S. Images from around the web.

My Pinterest boards 1.

2011-06-19T21:26:00.003+02:00

I've already shared my Pinterest. I want to share today two of my boards to inspire the new week ahead as of tomorrow :)

-->> Places <<--

-->> Dancing <<--

Have a great week!

Remember...

2011-06-16T23:13:00.002+02:00

... just remember
to breathe and
look up to the sky more often
:)

A double 12x12 LO.

2011-06-13T08:56:00.001+02:00

My dad's b-day is April 3rd and mine April 4th :) These are the pics from this year :)

Some inspiration for the weekend :)

2011-06-11T11:40:00.005+02:00

I'm sharing with you my boards on Pinterest. They may inspire you for this weekend wheter you are scrapbooking or just relaxing :)

-->> click HERE <<--

Another quote :)

2011-06-09T22:18:00.003+02:00

I found this quote HERE, and though it was worth to share :)

A travel journal.

2011-06-06T10:09:00.001+02:00

I've found this and I think it's worth to share :)

Enjoy!

Enjoy your weekend!

2011-06-03T19:15:00.001+02:00

The best therapy :)

2011-05-30T19:30:00.000+02:00

I slept over at my sister's on Saturday, and came back home on Sunday early evening. My nephew Pablo took a great nap on my lap :)

A great reason to smile...

2011-05-27T21:07:00.002+02:00

I'm just feeling a little bit blue today, but I know I have a great reason to smile, among others :)
My nephew Pablo turned 3 months last Sunday, May 22th. I witnessed his birth, and I can't think of a better present in my life.

Love you Pablo. Love you sister. Love you brother in law. And thanks to the three of you.

Have a great weekend. I will :)

A quote...

2011-05-24T22:17:00.003+02:00

Pablo's album - 2

2011-05-21T20:16:00.004+02:00

A few more pages for my nephew's album.

You can see what I've made so far -->> HERE <<--

Be glad of Life...

2011-05-21T12:30:00.000+02:00

Seven Strategies to Create Change, by Aby Garvey, from simplify 101.

2011-05-16T08:57:00.001+02:00

Seven Etrategies to Create Change
by Aby Garvey, from simplify 101.

When it comes down to it, what I do for a living is help people create change. Every single person who has stopped by my website to learn about online workshops, or called me to inquire about my coaching services or in-home organizing was in some way dissatisfied with their current situation. They wanted to make a change. Maybe they were overwhelmed and didn’t know how to begin the organizing journey, or maybe they were tired of feeling as if their home (or life!) was controlling them, instead of the other way around. Regardless of their specific reason for looking for simplify 101, everyone who has ever looked for a professional organizing company, at some level, wants to create change.

Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about the change process. Below are seven strategies that will help you create the change you crave in your home and life.

Strategy 1: Decide what you want. The first step in any change process is to decide what you want. Often, though, this is easier said than done. Why? Well, have you ever let yourself daydream about something better—a more organized home, or a better job or losing that last 15 pounds—when all of a sudden there’s a little voice that chimes in tells you why you can’t or won’t do it? Perhaps your little voice reminds you of the last time you tried and it didn’t turn out how you wanted. Or maybe the chatter in your head is telling you that you’re being selfish, or you don’t have the time or “how on earth are you going to do that?” Regardless of the exact message, to decide what you want, you have to silence that voice for a little while. Simply tell her I am not being selfish, or I will find the time or I will figure out how to do this! Then, quickly turn your attention back to deciding what you want.

Strategy 2: Create a benefits list. Once you decide what you want, it’s time to become really clear about why you want it. What benefits will you experience as a result of creating this change in your life? Pull out a piece of paper and start listing everything that pops into mind. Then, dig a little bit deeper. How will you feel? What will it look like? Write down as many reasons as you can come up with as to why you want this change. This list will cement your commitment to making the change and will help you stay motivated throughout the process.

Strategy 3: Identify potential obstacles before you encounter them. Here’s something to keep in mind: Change is a process; it isn’t an event. You don’t simply declare what you want and see it in the next instant. Instead, you decide what you want, and you begin taking steps to make it happen. And along the way you will encounter some roadblocks. (Please notice that I didn’t say you might encounter some roadblocks—I used the word will.)

Here’s the cool thing—when you anticipate a speed bump (and respond accordingly), it’s much less jarring to your system than if you didn’t see it coming. When you’re out driving in your car and you see a speed bump coming, you simply slow down and adjust, instead of slamming on the breaks and stopping your journey altogether. Right? Use the same thought process when you create change in your life. Anticipate the obstacles and when they arrive, look at them as a normal part of the process, instead of a reason to stop.

Strategy 4: Get support. I believe everything is more fun with a friend along for the ride. Not only will you enjoy yourself more, when someone is there to support you and cheer you on as you create change, you’re much more likely to succeed. So enlist the help of a friend and ask her to be your accountability buddy. Or join (or create) an accountability group. As you create your own change, it’s very motivating to surround yourself with people who are improving their lives, too. As you support and encourage others, you solidify your own commitment to the changes you’re making. Or consider getting the help of an expert. Whether your goal is to lose weight, organize your home or earn more money, there is an expert out there ready to help you succeed.

Strategy 5: Identify one small step that will move you forward. It has been said that every journey begins with a single step. Often, though, we don’t take that very first step because we aren’t sure about all of the other steps we’ll have to take after that first one. You don’t have to know the entire way to your goal before you start taking action. Simply identify a step you could take—it doesn’t have to be the perfect step or the best step—just a step that will move you in the direction you want to go.

Strategy 6: Take that step! That’s right. Once you’ve identified a step that you could take to move yourself forward, go out there and take that step. If you’ve already thought of a step you could take to move you closer to your desired outcome, go do it now. Step away from the computer and go take that step. The rest of this newsletter (and the rest of your change journey) will be waiting right here when you get back….

Strategy 7: Do it again. If you did get up and take that forward step, I bet you’re feeling pretty motivated right now! You’re on your way…and it feels good. And guess what? You’ve taken the hardest step. All that’s left to do now is keep repeating strategies 6 and 7 until you create the change you desire.

Remember, you will encounter obstacles along the way. But when you give yourself permission to want what you want, list the benefits you will realize as a result of your change and set up a support system to help you navigate through the obstacles—you will get there!

Color combos to inspire your weekend :)

2011-05-13T21:44:00.005+02:00

Some inspiring color combos found in Flights of Fancy.

And this picture just because I love it :)

If you create something inspired by this post, please tell me!!

Two more Pages for Pablo's album.

2011-05-11T10:25:00.003+02:00

My sister during delivery:

Pablo was here :)

A letter to myself :)

2011-05-09T00:27:00.003+02:00

It's in Spanish. I've posted it just in case someone can read it :)
It's an 8x8 kraft paper page where I tell myself to keep on going writing a list with the little things I need to do to be healthy and comfortable.

More on iNSD :)

2011-05-08T15:52:00.003+02:00

Two more challenges done for iNSD at Creative Crop - Big Picture Classes.

Little Organization:

Daily details:

Trying a new photo edit.

2011-05-08T00:13:00.003+02:00

Photo edited with Picnick for Shimelle's challenge #5.

New 12x12 LO: Daddy's Girls.

2011-05-07T19:24:00.002+02:00

A page I've had kind of sketched out for a few weeks: Daddy's Girls hehehe

It qualifies for LOAD challenge day 5, and Shimelle's challenge HERE for today's iNSC challenges.

BTW, Happy interNational Scrapbooking Day!!!!!!!!

This is the poem, just in case someone can read Spanish:

Tus hijos no son tus hijos,
son hijos e hijas de la vida
deseosa de sí misma.

No vienen de ti, sino a través de ti
y, aunque estén contigo,
no te pertenecen.

Puedes darles tu amor,
pero no tus pensamientos, pues
ellos tienen sus propios pensamientos.

Puedes abrigar sus cuerpos,
pero no sus almas, porque ellas
viven en la casa del mañana,
que no puedes visitar
ni siquiera en sueños.

Puedes esforzarte en ser como ellos,
pero no procures hacerlos semejantes a ti,
porque la vida no retrocede,
ni se detiene en el ayer.

Tú eres el arco del cual tus hijos,
como flechas vivas, son lanzados.

Deja que la inclinación
en tu mano de arquero
sea para la felicidad.

Khalil Gibrán

Pablo's album - 1

2011-05-06T10:50:00.008+02:00

These are the first pages for my nephew's album. I've used an AC 12x12 D-ring cloth album. I gave it to my sister last May 1st for Mother's Day. She and his boyfriend loved it :)

Now I'll keep on working on it from the moment Pablo was born, I was there!!

Thanks for looking :) And sorry for the quality of the pictures.

I feel good 8x8 page.

2011-05-03T21:42:00.004+02:00

Quick hybrid page done today for LOAD challenge, May'11 :)

P:S This is what I wrote in Flickr: "Quick 8x8 hybrid page so important for me. Today it's been a great day for my recovery, and I'll be back to work next week after 6 month dealing with anxiety issues.
I'm feeling so positive, and want to say THANKS to the world."

Family Love page.

2011-05-02T22:57:00.008+02:00

Done today for LOAD challenge, May'11 :)

Happy Mother's Day in Spain :)

2011-05-01T00:00:00.002+02:00

-- Happy Mother's Day --

May is almost here :)

2011-04-30T16:04:00.004+02:00

And I'm going to be so busy :)

- May with May, by May Flaum at Big Picture Classes.
She's so inspiring, and her classes are just GREAT!

- LOAD challenge, by Lain Ehmann at Layotaday.com.
I wasn't sure about this, but I'm finally in! It's going to be so challenging for me, and I hope I can participate and enjoy :)

Today, I've been on "cleaning mode", and I've even cleaned my scraproom :)
And I'm going back to work so soon, oh yeah!!

I'm so ready for May!!!

Time at hand.

2011-04-27T00:00:00.001+02:00

This text was published on April 25th at The Daily Motivator, and I find it so inspiring.

Time at hand.

You can’t make more hours in each day. Yet you can put more purpose and focus and meaning in each hour.

Blaming a lack of time is like blaming the sun for rising. There’s nothing you can do about it, so it’s not a factor to concern yourself with.

What you can do, is make the commitment to yourself to make each moment count for something meaningful and valuable. What you can do, is allow your authentic purpose to guide your focus, your actions and your use of the time that’s at hand.

Instead of worrying or being distracted about things that really don’t even matter, give your energy to what you truly care about. Instead of letting the time slip away, allow the best of your dreams to more fully unfold with each passing moment.

Remember constantly who you really are and why you have chosen to go in the direction you’re going. Every thought, word and action that comes from your true purpose will draw great value from the moment you’re in.

Whatever your age or situation, there’s plenty of time to live richly. And that time is here right now.

Ralph Marston, greatday.com

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T21:13:00.002+02:00

I hope you've had a

The Importance of Intentional Relaxation by Mandi

2011-04-19T14:47:00.002+02:00

An interesting article posted in Productivity Your Way.

The Importance of Intentional Relaxation.

by Mandi on April 19, 2011

A couple of weeks ago, I shared a quick tip for being more productive: just don’t sit down.

In the comments, a couple of people were concerned that I was heaping mom guilt on busy moms who already don’t take enough time to relax or enjoy their kids.

That’s not what I was saying at all, believe me!

The post was intended for people who struggle with motivation and end up wasting time and feeling guilty and depressed about it later. If, like me, you’ve done this before, you know exactly what I’m talking about!

And in those cases, the best way to keep moving is to just keep moving!

What Is Intentional Relaxation?

Downtime and relaxation are important as well, of course, but not any ol’ downtime will do.

You could get distracted by Facebook in the middle of the day and end up wasting an hour on Facebook — while feeling guilty because you’re neglecting your to-do list, job or kids — and walk away less relaxed than when you started.

However, take that same activity — surfing on Facebook — and do it intentionally, at a set time of day or in between tasks for a short amount of time, and suddenly it is relaxing.

The same could be said for reading, watching TV, working on a craft project or whatever your choice of relaxation may be.

It’s always more relaxing and refreshing when you do it intentionally rather than out of laziness or because you’re procrastinating!

How Do I Make Time for Relaxing?

If we all agree that having downtime is important, the question, then, is to how to be intentional about that downtime so it truly leaves you feeling refreshed and not more stressed out.

1. Understand your motivation. When you feel like it’s time to take a break, ask yourself: “Am I just trying to procrastinate or avoid an important task that I’m dreading? Or have I been working really hard, and I’m starting to feel burnt out and exhausted?”

2. Choose things that actually leave you feeling refreshed. The TV is the default relaxation method for many homes in America, and for some people — like my husband — watching TV really does leave them feeling refreshed. But personally, I find that sometimes what I really need is to curl up with a good book and just unplug for a little bit.

3. Make time for it ahead of time. Rather than just flopping down because you can’t keep going any longer, plan for relaxation before you reach that point.

For example, I rarely do much work on the computers on Saturdays because I know I’m going to need all of my energy on Sunday afternoon to work on posts for Life…Your Way for the week, so I take time to recharge ahead of time.

Plan times of relaxation into your everyday routines and schedules and make a habit of relaxing intentionally so that you’ll have the energy and motivation to get things done the rest of the time!

Another page :)

2011-04-17T10:24:00.001+02:00

Well, last night, while Jose was watching a soccer play, I was kind of lost. I wasn't blocked but uninspired. I thought: "I'm going to make something just for fun, let's see what pics I have on hand, a piece of paper I like, a fast page without much thinking,..."

This is the result :)

Thanks for looking!

New LO: A weekend oh yeah. Jan, 15th-16th, 2011.

2011-04-16T18:43:00.003+02:00

A friend of mine re-openned her LSS, bigger!! We had so much fun with all the people who met there. Two friends came from Madrid on purpose!!

A big hug and thanks for stopping by :)

10 Tips for a Mindful Home

2011-04-15T11:28:00.002+02:00

I found this post at The Huffington Post, by Karen Maezer Miller, and thought it's interesting...

10 Tips for a Mindful Home.

The idea of mindfulness seems to be catching on. That's good, but if we're not careful, an idea is where it remains.

To be sure, mindfulness is a concept most of us like: to improve our lives with special contemplative consideration, a method for making saner choices and assuring better outcomes. To actually transform ourselves with the wisdom of mindfulness, we have to start with the lives we're living from the moment we wake each day. We have to bring mindfulness out of our heads and into our homes. That's where ideas become harder to handle.

Here are 10 simple and powerful ways to bring a day of mindful moments into your home.

Wake with the sun - There is no purer light than what we see when we open our eyes first thing in the morning. Resisting the morning's first waking moment instantly adds stress to your day. Avoiding the sun, you commence a chase that lasts all day long: running short of time, balance, peace and productivity.

Sit - Mindfulness without meditation is just a word. The search for mindful living is always grounded in a meditation practice. Seated meditation is the easiest and fastest way to clear your mind of anxious, fearful and stressful thoughts. Meditation puts your overactive brain on a diet, so you have more attention to bring to the real life that appears before you. You will be far more productive in the ensuing hours if you begin the day by spending five minutes actively engaged in doing nothing at all.

Make your bed - The state of your bed is the state of your head. Enfold your day in dignity. The five minutes you spend making your bed slows you down from your frantic, morning scrambling and creates a calm retreat to welcome you home at night. Plus, making your bed means you've already achieved an even more challenging feat: getting out of it.

Empty the hampers - Do the laundry without resentment or commentary and have an intimate encounter with the very fabric of life. Doing laundry is a supreme act of personal responsibility. It requires maturity, attention and discipline, and it engenders happiness. Don't believe me? See how you feel every time you reach the bottom of an empty hamper.

Wash your bowl - Rinse away self-importance and clean up your own kitchen mess. If you leave it undone, it will get sticky. An empty sink can be the single most gratifying sight of a long and tiring day.

Set a timer - If you're distracted by the weight of what's undone, set a kitchen timer and, like a monk in a monastery, devote yourself wholeheartedly to the task at hand before the bell rings. The time you'll find hidden in a kitchen timer unleashes more of your attention to the things that matter most.

Rake the leaves - Take yourself outside to rake, weed or sweep. You'll never finish for good, but you'll learn the point of pointlessness. The repetitive motion is meditative; the fresh air is enlivening. Lose yourself in doing what needs to be done, without a thought of permanent outcome or gain. You'll immediately alter your worldview.

Eat when hungry - Align your inexhaustible desires with the one true appetite. Coming clean about our food addictions and aversions is powerful and lasting medicine. Eating is so central to family life and culture that we can pass on our habits for generations to come. Mindless overeating feeds our sickness; mindful eating feeds the body's intuitive, intelligent wisdom and nourishes life well past tonight's empty plates.

Let the darkness come - Set a curfew on the Internet and TV and discover the natural balance between daylight and darkness, work and rest. Your taste for the quiet will naturally increase. When you end your day in accord with the earth's perfect rhythm, you grant the whole world a moment of pure peace.

Sleep when tired - Nothing more to it.

Karen Maezer Miller, Wife, mother, Zen priest and author of Hand Wash Cold and Momma Zen. Posted: May 22, 2010 05:10 PM

Wednesday's question.

2011-04-13T00:00:00.003+02:00

Well, here we are again :)
You can take a look to previous stuff HERE.

Off we go!

Wednesday's Question to my followers for April 13th:

- What do you do with your time?
Do you work outside your home? are a SAHM? are you in college?
Do you scrapbook, sew, quilt, etc?
Do you take any language/dance/gym classes?

My answer:

I'm a full time nurse in a hospital, but now I'm on sick leave for my anxiety issues; I'm feeling a lot better.
As for crafts, I "just" scrapbook :)
I spend too much time surfing around the Internet, but I've been doing more physical activity lately... will do a post on that because it'll be so interesting to write about it... ;)
I don't watch too much TV.

LO 12x12: Change

2011-04-07T09:02:00.001+02:00

It's my birthday :)

2011-04-04T00:00:00.000+02:00

My scraproom on Crafty Storage blog :)

2011-04-02T11:17:00.002+02:00

You can see the post here:

http://craftystorage.blogspot.com/2011/04/mariangeles-studio.html

I'm so excited! :)

One Little Word: ACCEPT

2011-03-31T08:37:00.001+02:00

As I wrote in my post about my plans for 2011, I finally joined Ali Edwards' online annual class "One Little Word", for Big Picture Classes.

Last year, I chose my word, but didn't do anything about it. This year, I'm kind of keeping the samr word, but it'll be great for my therapy to work on it: ACCEPT.

This is what I've done for this class up to today; there're some more pages I won't post here since they're just printed texts, quotes, etc related to my word:

Page 0 (6"x8")

(the kraft paper was just for scanning the white page)
I may add a butterfly, a flower, or something like that...

Page 1.1 (6"x8")

(the kraft paper was just for scanning the white page)

Page 1.2 (9 pockets, 2.5"x3.5" each)

Page 2.1 (9 pockets, 2.5"x3.5" each)

Part of page 2.2 (8.5"x11")

Page 2.3 (8.5"x11")

Page 2.4 (8.5"x11")

Page 2.5 (8.5"x11")

Thanks for stopping by :)

i.Scrap

2011-03-28T20:45:00.002+02:00

i.Scrap is the name of the last online class I've taken at Big Picture Classes.
I'm still working on my album, but I'm done with the 8"8" photo pages and want to shared them.

I won't be sharing the journaling pages since it's a very introspective class and my words will be so personal. It's going to be a great therapy :)

Thanks for looking!!

A LO: Before/After :)

2011-03-23T12:44:00.000+01:00

Spring is here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-03-21T00:21:00.002+01:00

Happy St. Joseph's and Father's day in Spain.

2011-03-19T00:00:00.001+01:00

-- Happy Father's Day --

And Happy St. Joseph's Day specially for Valencia :) Fallas in Valencia.