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Magnolia Blossoms

6/9/2022

1 Comment

 

Choose your Environment

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​I took this beautiful magnolia blossom from its tree a couple of days ago. I placed it in a jar of water. The next day, it opened up; it’s beauty and fragrance filled my room. This brought me so much joy. I woke up the next morning, and it was completely withered and brown. Reluctantly, I placed it in the trash.
Moments later, I realized what I did - selfishly, I took something that was flourishing in its natural environment and placed it where I knew I could not provide the nutrition it needed (all for my own short term gain). I knew I could not invest the time nor energy that its tree provided which allowed it to become what it was the day I found it: beautiful, strong, healthy and vibrant. Instead, the environment I provided drained the life out of it and caused it to die. The magnolia had no choice. I clipped it, and it had no means of getting reattached to its tree.
We, however, have a choice. When circumstances place you in an environment that is unwilling to provide or invest what you need to grow, be the beautiful person you are, and flourish in doing so, remember what happened to my flower. Remove yourself. If it doesn’t bring you life, let it go. Walk away. Don’t allow it to clip you from your tree. And if you thought it was a better environment, leave as soon as you notice it isn’t. Don’t stay once you know it is sucking the life from you… the longer you wait, you might not be able to be reattached to your tree.

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A little less than three years ago, I bought a dog from a rescue shelter.  I knew that I could provide what she needed to blossom and grow.  I was willing to make the investment to provide what she needed. The handler said, "Ma'am, this dog is very challenging... If you are unable to manage her, then just bring her back. She requires a lot of patience." The lady handed me a card and Sunny (my dog) stood beside her shaking so confused.  At that moment, she did not have a home. Her current environment was not providing what she needed, and she heard the words of discouragement this lady was feeding to her new mother. Imagine what she was going through not knowing what the next day or moment will bring - not knowing if her new environment was going to bring happiness or pain.  That day I made the choice. I committed to the investment and sacrifice to provide a better environment for her. Today, that once difficult and scared 5-month old puppy who hid under my dining room table for two days  now runs my household. She has blossomed.  She is my heart and my best friend.  Again, she did not have a choice, but she was provided an environment of growth and love where she trusts that her owner mom will continue to provide the best for her. 
These two examples provide some valuable lessons.  I was the investor in both situations. For the magnolia flower, I knew I could not provide what it needed. For Sunny, I made the investment.  One thrived and one died.
Here's what you need to ask yourself before making a choice to change your environment:
1) Will that environment invest in you more or comparably to what you have invested in yourself?
2) Will you be in a place to grow and blossom?
3) Over time, will the environment sustain a healthy level of growth and development?
Remember, most of the time, it is your choice. Choose wisely and if you make the wrong choice, be willing to walk away!
Be Blessed!  ~ Hugs, Carla 

1 Comment

No Where to Now Here

10/4/2021

1 Comment

 
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No Where and Now Here are the same letters in the same exact order but are totally different perspectives! ♥️ Sharing my experience for if I will ever need to revisit it again and for anyone who may need to hear this… ​
When something is going wrong in your life, don’t get caught up in the why. Don’t worry about why people upset or disappoint you. You will not find your solutions there. It’s a distraction from God’s Purpose… ​
I’ve been tried to the ten thousandth degree recently and retreated to complaining mode (asking Why is this happening? Why I’m going through this? Why all my efforts seem to exacerbate the situation?) There was no peace to be found there.

The situation kept pressing, and yes, the feeling of helplessness was slowly tearing me down. I needed to be there, because I needed to see how I was focusing on the external. I reached out instead of reaching in! In that particular area, I forgot about what God has done in every other area of my life. For several days, I wanted so badly to fix it, claim the victory, and move on that I was putting band aids on battle wounds! Me, of all people whom God has carried through many storms before forgot to give this one over to Him! I slipped up.I’m always telling others that “God’s got it”! And when I reached a mountain, I forgot to remind myself of that! The time I wasted trying to climb the mountain by myself is time I will never get back!

Well, I definitely remember now!!! God moves mountains so there ain’t no reason to waste energy on a climb! He got me! I’m not helpless! I am strong! I’m not weak! My Faith is powerful! I’m not weary! I am blessed!

​Today, I ask for His Forgiveness for my hesitation in turning this over to Him. Today, I’m thankful for the reminder that every situation is covered by things bigger than me.  And today, I am most grateful for that humbling moment when the sun rays began to shine through the clouds again. I AM NOW HERE☀️💫♥️🙏🏾👑 #waymaker
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Stand while I work

2/21/2021

2 Comments

 
PictureClick to buy Yellow Floral Jumpsuit.
MY STANDING DESK
When I made the transition to working online 13 years ago, I was very concerned about the amount of time I would spend being seated during my day.  Working at home has many benefits, but without a plan, it can take a toll on your health. With meetings and work demands, you may spend hours at a time sitting if you are not aware.  I hope this post is helpful for those who are working at home because of the pandemic.  ​

It is recommended that every hour you spend 45 - 55 minutes seated at the computer and 5-15 minutes of moving around.   Well, I've tried that for years.  I tried it with a timer. I've tried it with an app.  Regardless, I end up spending 2-3 hours sitting and working at a time.  I've heard about standing desks and treadmill desks for a while now. Well, the treadmill desk was not an option - imagine the complaints I would get from my clients hearing the heavy breathing LOL. Five years ago, the price range for standing desks was $250 - $400. Now, the prices are finally coming down.  Today is my first day working at my new desk and I love it. I'm excited about burning the extra 24 calories per hour that standing uses compared to sitting.  I'm also excited about the improved circulation in my legs and being able to do a few squats while waiting for the voicemails to pick up.  I think this new office design is really going to improve my health and quality of work. So from now on, I will be standing and not whistling while I work. 
2 Comments

GoodBye 2020

12/28/2020

4 Comments

 

What once was will never be

"2020" We may never ever need to say that again. In a few days, we will be starting a new year. I'm so looking forward to it, but I hope I'm not the only one who can say that despite the challenges of 2020, I experienced the most growth both personally and emotionally than I have ever done throughout my 46 years. Let's dive right into it!
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Here's my going-into-2020 family photo. One year ago, I was newly divorced with new dog and two amazing adult children. I was focused on starting a new life and my independence - I was tightening my boots for an exciting era of growing my work life and my business, bringing stability to my family, and possibly entering the dating scene. To be honest, it was a little scary and delightful at the same time. My new normal was ready to emerge into something wonderful, then the pandemic hit. 
My first thought was that nothing really would change. I was working from home for the last 12 years, so I was accustomed to being at home most of the time and what's a little mask wearing going to do. 
Well, the challenges started to roll in. First, I was starting a new relationship with an amazing man, and as we were just getting to know each other, there was a statewide mandate to stay at home. Additionally, my daughter was in college in an area deemed as a hot spot for its growing rate of viral cases. Each time my son left for work, I was very worried about the risks he faced too. My hopes for an amazing year began to crumble.  I was Blessed to still have steady income, but the unforeseen challenges began to pile a mile high.  I couldn't do events with my clothing business which was the majority of its income source. I couldn't visit my friends and family like I wanted to. I couldn't even find toilet paper and it was running low!
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Then the voice in my head said the most important words I needed to hear, "Stop focusing on what you don't have and focus on what you do!"  Pushing out the negative thoughts led to a movement inside me to focus on positivity.  I made my glass half full instead of seeing it as half empty.
Seeking positivity allowed me to have more creative thoughts. Challenges began to generate opportunities.  I began to focus on my needs and how I was going to stop worrying and do more praying. Building stronger relationships with God and self was the goal. 
These challenges are temporary and what once was will never be again. Even if history starts to repeat itself, I'm stronger and different from my 2020 self. ​So how do you make it through a global pandemic and say you are better than before it started? I discovered three things:  Maintaining what works, Trying new things, and Promoting Self Love.
Maintaining what works - In the absence of being physically present, you can show and interact with love ones by answering when they need you, using Facetime, and reaching out through cards or texts. I remember when my son and I were doing a walkthrough of a house I was thinking about buying.  He and I included my daughter by having her on Facetime. She was able to see what we saw and hear our thoughts about the house in real time. She also asked questions to the realtor. She was in a sense there. Yes, it was different, but it worked. 
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Trying something new -Another challenge was the lack of social interaction. I'm an outgoing person. I imagined myself visiting museums, going on vacations, enjoying new restaurants and attending festivals and concerts especially with my new guy. Unfortunately, a lot of the activities were canceled. Luckily, I  could still go on walks with my dog, spend the day at the beach, and learn new things too. One new skill I wanted to master was baking cakes. I could never make the layers the same size or make it stand up straight. With the pandemic encouraging me to stay home, I started practicing with my favorite, the jelly cake. All of my baking challenges were just opportunities to build my strength in trying. Growth often occurs from failure.
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Promoting Self Love -I've had a lot of time to reflect during 2020.  So many things happened that were beyond my control that I had to rediscover what at the end of the day makes me happy.  Sitting down to a movie with a glass of wine, studying a different language, reading a book, treating myself to a bubble bath in the middle of the day, enjoying a walk on the beach, or even having a quiet moment of meditation were all ways I showed myself self love.  When you try, you can make something beautiful from very little. For example, I began to mix lavender oil and shea butter with cane sugar, honey, and coconut oil to create an all-natural scrub. Along with warm water, my bath tub became an oasis for refreshing my soul and exfoliating my skin. 

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What once was SHOULD NEVER be again... The most important thing I gained from 2020 is that despite whatever hardships I will ever face, I possess everything already inside me to overcome them.  I am a warrior, I am a fighter, I am a lover, I am a protector, and most of all... I AM ENOUGH!
May all new experiences brighten our present and tomorrow. Happy New Year to you and your family!
Many Blessings to All in 2021!
​Wishing you all the love - Carla
4 Comments

Say What No Assembly Service

9/23/2020

2 Comments

 

My Garage GYM Is Growing

I totally get doing things yourself, but I like my stuff put together already.  I don't mind paying a little extra.  With the current pandemic, I find that with many companies, assembly service is not available.  They just want to leave it on the curb! Sometimes they won't even ring the doorbell to let you know your package was delivered.   I had to pull out the tools and with a little help from my dog, we did it. Ok, I may have also had a few glasses of wine too. LOL 
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So what did I buy?
I love working out.  I walk almost every day but some times the weather does not cooperate.  I know that my leg strength is important for keeping my knees strong to carry my curvy figure. Squats is one way to help build and protect my leg muscles, but I find doing them challenging - the whole no-leaning thing.  Well, I feel like I cannot master doing a squat correctly no matter how hard I try.  But wait... this tiny machine is perfect. It guides you down for the perfect squat.  All you do is push with the legs.  You can make it a full body workout to by pulling with the arms. There are also resistance bands to allow you to build your strength gradually. I am in love with the range of motion of this machine!

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Two Month Update
This post was long overdue. I purchased my squat machine in July and I have to say that it has been an awesome experience. I feel stronger, more confident, and motivated to get on it.  I use it about 3-4 times per week combined with a simple cardio dance routine.
When you find something that works, embrace it and share it.  I no longer feel like squats are difficult.  The guided assistance of this machine makes doing squats literally as easy as pie! 
Comment below if you are interested in getting one.  And remember... Keep your chin up, show yourself love, and do those squats correctly. Hugs, Carla

2 Comments

Create Your Space

7/30/2020

3 Comments

 

your environment matters

I've spent my whole life thinking of others and mostly, putting others' needs before my own.  It was part of my upbringing, the culture of what I was learned to do. Don't get me wrong, taking care of others is not a curse; it is, in fact, rewarding on many levels. It is still instilled in me, but that priority has changed.  
In 2016, I started my metamorphosis.  It was not on purpose.  I've always desired to own my own business, but I knew I could not afford to support my family if I quit my main job.  Instead, I started growing my business on weekends and late nights.  Many people will call it a "side hustle"; I now call it my expansion period.  Having the ability to change your work habits to gain what you need in order to grow is HUGE!
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Here in 2020, I have allowed myself to flow. I embrace change and I am comfortable in it. I'm also more aware of what I need around me to facilitate growth in my personal and professional life. I have long envisioned my SPACE - a space where I can enjoy my love of the outdoors, pray, eat, work, and a place that radiates my personality and level of comfort - A SPACE TRULY FOR ME!
The transformation of my space is not just physical.  It was necessary that it feeds my emotional side. A friend recently told me that "you have to let people do their thing and just watch and support".  When I seem to fall back into the overly protective mom rituals (that's a tough habit to break) - I am reminded to  "Let them kids be!"
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It has a Breakfast Cafe feel where I can relax before starting my busy dayl!
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The sound of the outdoors is my background music while I enjoy a comfortable home workspace.
PictureBirds in flight show the ability to embrace movement and change.
  • Taking a more hands-off approach has truly helped me refocus my energy into my self-growth. My space reminds me that I embrace change because growth is often uncomfortable.  My space is my sanctuary, so I can be relaxed in my thinking and creative modes.  This decoration of space means a lot to me, since everything and anything I do is always reciprocal of many hours of prayer.  I put God first in my decisions.  I am well aware of what God has done in my life and fully acknowledge that if it was not for Him, I would not be the strong, independent woman I am today.  This space was created for me to growth my life and faith. ~ Carla

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    Author

    Hello There!
    I'm Carla - mother, educator, business owner, and Certified Life Coach. I have a blast exploring new ideas, products, and services.  I love to share and hope to inspire you to do the same. Remember to enjoy life every day and always strive to be a BETTER YOU!

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