Color Crush:: Orange

All of my friends know of my obsession with the color orange.  I have a pinterest board dedicated to the color.  There was even a theme with Christmas presents I received this year as well...an orange fleece, orange gloves, orange scarf.

So you can just imagine my delight when Pantone decided to make the most amazing color around it's color of the year...TANGERINE TANGO.  I feel so ahead of the game...I was in love with it last year.

To me, this is a happy color, a fresh color, an energetic color, a vibrant color.  It's sticking around for a while.  I hope you're crushing on this color as much as I am.

Do you have a favorite color?  Every Wednesday is Color Crush Day.  Let me know some of your favorites and their might just be a little inspiration board just for you.

images: {row 1} balloon, kate spade, orange lights, oranges, trailer, flowers; {row 2} orange door, dress, farm, chair, bridge

Inspiration:: The Great Room

We have a "great room" in our house.  It's the family room and living room all rolled into one.  I'm wanting to do a little redecorating - SHOCKER!  My mood seems to be more of a shabby chic vibe with a modern twist.  This room doesn't get a lot of natural sunlight so I'm gravitating towards white with pops of color.

This little inspiration board include my current loves for the room.

What inspires me about these images:
1:: A white sofa with pops of color (image via)
2:: Striped wall would be so fun on the main wall in the room (image via)
3:: The zebra ottoman would be casual yet chic. (image via)
4:: Large mirror and Parsons desk would make the space look larger (image via)
5:: Gallery wall filled with family photos (image via)
6:: Windowed dutch door would bring in lots of light (image via)


Do you Pinterest?  Head over and check out my boards.  I'm always adding more and more inspiration.

My 2012 Motto

I'm sure that some of you will agree - we don't always live the life we imagined.  We get stuck just going through the motions.  Well - for me and as a family...we decided that we weren't going to do that.  I'll be posting through out the year, things that I've dreamed about and how they became reality.

What have you imagined for yourself?

image via:: RUE Magazine facebook page

Possibilities

I went running today along a trail that runs about 15 miles long (No I didn't run 15 miles...I ran 3.5).  The scenery changes based on where you enter the trail.  Our home backs to one part of the trail that doesn't have a ton of trees which gives us the feel of open space.  The part of the trail that is close to my office has tons of trees and is so lush.  It was such a refreshing change to run this part of the trail.

It made me think of possibilities and "what ifs."  I believe that we have to be open to possibilities.  We all have a master plan in our minds of what our lives are suppose to look like.  But - what if?  What if there is another plan?  One that you just fall into?

I had a vision for my events company and I can tell you right now - my vision 5 years ago isn't what my business looks like now.  It's changed...it's evolved...I've changed.  What was once a focus isn't as much of a focus because the need from our customers has changed.

Anyone who knows me personally knows that my mind is going a million miles an hour.  I'm constantly thinking about possibilities and what ifs.  What if we try this or let's do something different...it's constant for me.

This was my running view...isn't it glorious?

So as we enter this Tuesday...I challenge you to think of possibilities and what ifs, be open to new things and ideas...because you just never know what could happen.

Tootles,

Caryl

{Life Lessons} Part 2: live, love, do

Our dear friend Jerry was going to be 75 on the 4^th of July.  What an amazing day for a birthday…just imagine the celebrating he did each year.  If you knew him, you would say…It’s so fitting he was born on this day.

He LOVED life

He LOVED what he did for a living {he would never say it was a job}

He LOVED to travel

He LOVED his family

HE LOVED to play and have fun

He didn’t get caught up in the day to day mumbo jumbo…he LIVED!

LESSON TWO: LIVE like you’ve never lived before

How do you live your life?  Constantly scheduled and not taking time out with your family and friends…always saying…I’m too busy…I don’t have enough time?

Do you like what you do?  Are you so busy making excuses why you can’t do this or that…but DO YOU LIKE WHAT YOU DO?  That is the big question.

If you spend the majority of your time working – you better like what you do…don’t you think?

So there were two instances this weekend where this came up for me…the FIRST time, I was reading a blog post by Emily Ley of Emily Ley Creative.  She said something in her video that really hit home for me.

{If you’re not excited about what you’re doing ~ nobody will be}

{If you’re not producing from the heart ~ it will be obvious}

Then she asked a couple of questions…

{What fires you up?}

{What makes you get out of bed each morning excited?}

Interesting statements and questions that really made me think…

The SECOND time was listening to Jerry’s family and friends talk about Jerry and how he LIVED and LOVED…

So the question for me…do I love what I do?

Yes – I absolutely LOVE events.  I love to dream about them and create them.  Am I using my creativity to it’s fullest potential…YES for the events that I’m doing…but I want more…I want to do more and utilize my creativity to it’s fullest capacity.  I'm growing and evolving and that means my creative expression is too.

If I’m going to be honest ~ I would say…I need to have more fun…be more spontaneous…do things…remember to stop and smell the flowers…listen to the birds chirp in the morning.  Just sit and be.

So what fires me up?  FAMILY, FRIENDS, EVENTS, DESIGN

I bought a plaque this weekend that is sitting on our mantle and the saying sums it up…

Happiness Is Not A Destination

It Is A Way Of Life

My promise to myself…LIVE like I’ve never lived before, LOVE like I’ve never loved before and DO like I’ve never done before.

What’s your promise?

xoxo,

Caryl

What is your "Pin-spiration?"

I have found so many inspiring things that I have put on Pinterest...

creative packaging

camping party inspirations

my orange obsession

barn doors (yes...I secretly love them and want them for my house)

amazing kitchens

you name it - I've probably made a pinboard for it.

So today - I wanted to share my inspire board.  These are words that make me ponder and SMILE!

via theloveshop

via cr.e.at.e

Here is a snapshot of more thinks on my "inspiration" board.

Wanna see more of my pinterest boards? Follow me.

xoxo,

Caryl

Do You Love What You Do?

Let this print be a reminder...

Life After A Cleanse

It's been about 2 weeks since I completed the 28 Days to Health Cleanse and you might be wondering...

did she go back to her old ways of eating?

is she eating a bunch of junk again?

did she lose any weight?

is she drinking coffee again?

drinking wine?

eating baskets full of bread?

is she eating all those treats she has been making?

Actually, before I tell you - let me say ever since I remember, I've been allergic to wheat and milk.  I've always known how they effect me.  Too much wheat gives me headaches and too much milk would give me very bad leg cramps.  So I was extremely curious how this cleanse would effect me by eliminating both wheat and milk from my diet.

I really felt great on the cleanse.  The first day was awful and in week 3, when you drink 3 shakes a day for 4 days - that just stunk.  Other than that - it was really good.

I have not gone back to the way I was eating.  For the most part, I'm actually staying gluten and dairy free.  I still have my protein shakes in the morning for breakfast (it's so easy and I really enjoy them).  For lunch, I'll have a salad (I am having some balsamic vinaigrette which I couldn't have on the cleanse and I'm good with that).  For dinner, I'll have chicken, steak or fish with some quinoa and asparagus or butternut squash.  I'm fascinated how my tastebuds have changed.

I lost 12 pounds on the cleanse - which I was very happy about. YAY!!  And I'm making my own Latte's with Almond Milk.  I love foam and so excited that Almond Milk foams.  No more Skinny Vanilla Lattes for me.

It would be great if Starbucks or Peet's Coffee offered Almond Milk, but for now - I'm making my own with my Nespresso.

Am I having wine again?  That would be a yes!  Have I finally tasted the treats I've been making?  I have tried them and what's interesting is that sweets are VERY sweet.  I haven't been having a ton - just nibbles here and there.  I did make this last night - we had friends over for dinner.  Tasted it just to see how it was.  It was delish!

I did make some Gluten-free cupcakes and mini-donuts as well (the frosting wasn't).  These were so yummy.  I want to work on perfecting some recipes that are gluten and dairy free.

I have found that the days that I added in wheat and dairy - I got headaches...so for the most part, I'm steering clear.

All in all - it was a great experience doing the cleanse.  I hope that my posts have helped those that are on a cleanse or maybe even inspired some to actually do one.

Keep your eyes posted for more recipes...(I'll be posting here and on facebook.)

Caryl

Martha & The Magic Bullet = Complete Awesomeness

What a whirlwind week it's been.  I was in the Big Apple this week for Martha Stewart's Dreamers into Doers Conference.  I met so many fabulous ladies and the seeds of long friendships have definitely been planted.  It was truly amazing.  Just being in the Martha Stewart Corporate Offices was so inspirational - it gets your creative juices flowing.  But it gets even better.  We actually got to be part of the audience of the Martha Stewart Living Show.

Yup, that was me.  Pretty cool - huh?  I can't wait to show you more pictures...but I need to find my other camera connector. LOL

So, I bet you are wondering...how the heck did Caryl do on her 28 Days to Health Cleanse?  Well - let me tell you.  I did really well.  I was nervous about going to restaurants and to my surprise I was able to have some really amazing food.  I knew I was set on the shake front because of this....

yes...the Magic Bullet.  I had everything labeled with a sharpie so I really didn't have to think.  I found the whole foods when I arrived and bought my Almond Milk, fruit and so much water.  I was set.

I'm already two days into Week 2 which consists of 2 shakes and 1 meal.  To be perfectly honest - yesterday I was hungry.  I think because I didn't eat enough for lunch.

Last night I went to Fresh&Co and had them make me a salad for the flight today.  I knew I wasn't going to be able to make a shake on the airplane.  I was definitely thinking ahead.  Today has been great!

~Caryl