Food Fun Family

Belief {The Answer to The Meaning of Life} #WisdomOfMerlin

Lolli — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 20:47:31 +0000

This post was sponsored by author T. A. Barron and was inspired by his upcoming gift book “The Wisdom of Merlin: 7 Magical Words for a Meaningful Life.” This book is the wizard Merlin’s answer to the question “What is the meaning of life?” Surprisingly, the answer has only seven words — including belief. But they are the most powerful words of all. The Wisdom of Merlin is available for preorder now, and will be available wherever books are sold on March 23, 2015. All thoughts are my own.

Belief (noun):
1) an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists.
2) trust, faith, or confidence in someone or something.

When I was first given the challenge to write a post centered around a single word – BELIEF – my mind automatically turned to my religious beliefs. But as I pondered what I wanted to say, especially with the hope that my words might resonate with my readers, I realized that this simple 6-letter word – BELIEF – held so much more meaning for me.

What do I believe?
Who do I believe?
Why do I believe?

Why do my beliefs matter?

When I asked myself that last question – why do my beliefs matter? – a lightbulb went off in my head. Whether I believe in God, a certain philosophy, someone else’s opinion, my family, myself….the people and things in which I place my beliefs (ie, my trust, faith, and confidence) are going to be the things that drive me. They are going to be the source of my strength as well as the source of my peace (or the lack of both).

Believing in Myself

This year, as I started my first-ever weight loss journey, I came to the overwhelming realization that I had never believed that I could have the self-control it would take to lose weight. I had honestly convinced myself over the last few years that I was consigned to be heavier for the rest of my life because I had had so many kids, my body was older, and so many other excuses. The fact was that I loved food (I still do, for the record) and I got a lot of satisfaction out of eating food. If I was stressed, I’d eat. If I was happy, I’d eat. If I was bored, I’d eat. I didn’t want to take away my “happy place.”

But when I realized that I wasn’t, in fact, HAPPY, a switch flipped and I decided that I could make changes. I decided that the work and the effort were worth it. I decided to start believing in myself.

Once I started to believe in myself, I immediately had the power, the drive, the strength to make changes.

And guess what? It’s working.

BELIEF, whether it’s a belief in yourself, a belief in God, a belief in family, a belief in something you’ve heard or read, is the driving force behind success. Believe you can do something and you CAN. Believe you can’t do something, and you won’t. Believing in myself gives me strength and drive to meet my goals and to be a better me.

What do YOU believe?

How do your beliefs drive you to do better? To be better?

How has your belief influenced who you are today?

Check out the trailer for The Wisdom of Merlin, and see what other words join BELIEF to answer the question “What’s the meaning of life?” Which of Merlin’s 7 magical words have the most meaning for you?

About Author T. A. Barron:

T. A. Barron is the author of The Merlin Saga, The Atlantis Saga and so much more. His new book, “The Wisdom of Merlin: 7 Magical Words for a Meaningful Life,” features 8 key principles for leading a meaningful life and is appropriate for all ages.

Many thanks to T. A. Barron for giving me the take a look inside and ponder the meaning of life and the importance of belief – no matter what those beliefs may be. I know I’ll be eagerly awaiting The Wisdom of Merlin when it comes out in March. I invite you to go check it out, too!

Note: all images used in this post, except for the book cover, are my original photos. Please feel free to pin and share the quotes but do not modify the images in any way. Thank you!

Who Needs Sleep? Sleep Quotes and #PSF

Lolli — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 03:21:01 +0000

Who needs sleep?
Well, you’re never gonna get it
Who needs sleep?
Tell me what’s that for
Who needs sleep?
Be happy with what you’re getting
There’s a guy who’s been awake
Since the Second World War

My hands are locked up tight in fists
My mind is racing, filled with lists
Of things to do and things I’ve done
Another sleepless night’s begun

There’s so much joy in life,
So many pleasures all around
But the pleasure of insomnia
Is one I’ve never found
With all life has to offer,
There’s so much to be enjoyed
But the pleasures of insomnia
Are ones I can’t avoid.

– Barenaked Ladies (Who Needs Sleep)

I was chatting with my friend, Brett, this morning about how badly I wanted to take a nap. I’ve been keeping myself too busy lately, between work, kids’ activities (and the insane hour I have to wake them up in the morning), and life in general. Sleep is one of those things I long for every day but never seem to get enough of.

No day is so bad it can’t be fixed with a nap. – Carrie Snow

And since I’ve been too busy/tired/distracted to take any noteworthy pictures this week, I decided to dedicate this Photostory Friday post to sleep.

And then I think I may just have to call it a night and get more than 5 hours of shut eye tonight…

I’ll leave you with a few of my favorite quotes about sleep…

Sleep is perverse as human nature,
Sleep is perverse as legislature….
So people who go to bed to sleep
Must count French premiers or sheep,
And people who ought to arise from bed
Yawn and go back to sleep instead.
– Ogden Nash, Read This Vibrant Exposé

People who say they sleep like a baby usually don’t have one. – Leo J. Burke

If a man had as many ideas during the day as he does when he has insomnia, he’d make a fortune. – Griff Niblack

People who snore always fall asleep first. – Author Unknown

There is no snooze button on a cat (or a child!) who wants breakfast. – Author Unknown

Do you have any favorite sleep quotes? Share them below!

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

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An InLinkz Link-up

Sunday Inspiration: Setting Our Aim (Too High or Too Low?)

Lolli — Sun, 12 Jan 2014 13:00:06 +0000

The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.

~Michelangelo

30 Inspiring Quotes from Type-A Parent Conference 2013

Lolli — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 15:23:43 +0000

It’s hard to sum up the awesomeness that was my 3rd Type-A Parent Conference this past weekend. The keynotes, the sessions and the hands-on workshops were inspiring, educational, and uplifting. And, as usual, I’ve got a list of dozens of things that I want to change and do better.

Type-A Parent Conference is the ONE conference that I will not miss. Apparently, it has just the right combination of information (I always leave feeling like I learned SO much), good people (these are people that I relate with, enjoy being around, and aspire to be more like), and fantastic brands (some of my best long-term brand relationships have been born inside the Type-A expo hall). I can’t say enough good about it.

I’m still feeling slightly overwhelmed since I’ve gotten back (to the tune of a few hundred pictures and a list of 8+ posts that are due soon), but I know that I need to get some of my thoughts down while they are still fresh in my mind. The majority of my Type-A conference notes were taken on Twitter, as I live tweeted many of the sessions that I attended. Since those short but to the point sound bites seem to so accurately represent the feel of the conference (plus, they say what I want to say so much better than I can say it right now), I thought I’d put together a list of some of my favorite quotes from Type-A.

What is your favorite quote from the Type-A teachers?

Disney Inspiration via @Gary_Jerry:

1 – “Pie Crust Promises” are easily made and easily broken. Date the idea, don’t marry it!

2 – Curiosity keeps leading us down new paths – Walt Disney {Have a short memory and look ahead!}

3 – I would rather entertain someone and hope they are educated than educate someone and hope they are entertained — Walt Disney

4 – The difference between what Buzz called a “laser” and Woody said was just a “little light that blinks”….Imagination!

5 – “If you’re coasting, it means you’re going downhill.” -Walt Disney

6 – When you create content, remember the human element.

7 – “It’s not where you take things from. It’s where you take things to.” – Jean-Luc Godard

The importance of email marketing for bloggers via @phollows

8 – 5 mailing list tips: above the fold, social proof, incentives, respectful popups, don’t get complacent…test!

9 – Instant gratification matters…and works. Reward readers for joining your email list.

10 – Social proof – people like to feel like they’re not alone when they join a list.

11 – A FB like on a post is like an air kiss. When a reader becomes an email subscriber its like buying curtains together

12 – Seth Godin: “I get 10x more response to my blog from my email subscribers than I do from anyone else.”

13 – Make sure your email marketing is mobile friendly. 40% of emails are opened on mobile devices. wow!

Working with brands and firms:

14 – Be real, be you, and create great content for the brand & you’ll create that lasting partnership

15 – Yes, companies are looking at your community, no matter how small. The ROI doesn’t always exist with the big numbers.

16 – Don’t be afraid to negotiate! It’s not about greed, it’s about worth.

The value of the written word via @AnissaMeyhew and @postpartumprog

17 – Put more volume into what you say…not filler words!

18 – Remember brevity – when someone new comes to your blog, you’ve only got a few seconds to impress them and KEEP them.

19 – Don’t become paralyzed by what other people are doing and what you are NOT doing.

20 – When blogging…Keep it fresh – pay attention to what’s going on outside your content area.

21 – Be passionate about what you are writing about! If it’s not there, figure out a way to maintain OR move on.

22 – Be awesome + be authentic. Words to live by.

23 – Bad grammar is just as bad as auto play music on blogs! I so agree!

Courage…via @AmberCadabra

24 – Cultivate resilience. Regret is a much heavier burden than failure.

25 – Remember…you are not the only one “faking it” – beware if real life Photoshop. We all have struggles.

26 – “Having it all is…having enough!” So true! We don’t have to balance everything.

27 – I want to die empty. To have all the laughter, joy, fear, anger dispelled from me. (something to aspire to)

28 – Every successful person puts big things on the line. Also…sometimes its ok to quit things.

29 – Whatever is scaring you and holding you back…forget them. Take big risks to get big gains.

30 – Courage is about being afraid and doing it anyway!

The We Still Blog finalists read their inspiring, often tear-inducing, sometimes laugh-out-loud, always incredible posts on Sunday.

Were you at Type-A? What was the most helpful thing you heard or learned at the conference? If you weren’t there, what do you wish you could have learned?

*All pictures in this post were taken by me, as one of the official Type-A Atlanta photographers. A ton of my pictures will be added to the Type-A flickr stream and will be available to share soon.*

8th Grade Graduation – #PSF Give Me Your Best Shot

Lolli — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 21:30:54 +0000

Last night my 2nd daughter, Necco, graduated from 8th grade and took her next step towards high school. We went shopping together on Tuesday (way to be last minute, Lolli!) and found the perfect dress and sandals for her. My old tomboy, in a floral dress! How beautiful is my girl?!

I thought it was quite a coincidence when we met up with her two best friends before the ceremony and found that her dress coordinated perfectly with both of theirs. It was a surprise to all of them.

At the beginning of the graduation exercises, Necco and a few of her friends sang the National Anthem in front of a very full house. I was so proud of her while she sang out…and then a few minutes later when she was recognized for the Presidential Gold Award (3.5-4.0 GPA across all 3 years of middle school).

At the end of the evening, in keeping with her school’s 8th grade graduation tradition, she had to chose one person to whom she would present a white carnation. She didn’t have to think twice about who she wanted to find…

I was tickled to find out that Necco’s special teacher is a blog follower (waving hello!).

Cultivate your garden… Do not depend upon teachers to educate you … follow your own bent, pursue your curiosity bravely, express yourself, make your own harmony… In the end, education, like happiness, is individual, and must come to us from life and from ourselves. There is no way; each pilgrim must make his own path. “Happiness,” said Chamfort, “is not easily won; it is hard to find it in ourselves, and impossible to find it elsewhere.”

–Will Durant

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

An InLinkz Link-up

Real Isn’t How You Are Made – Velveteen Rabbit Quote #WW

Lolli — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 22:54:35 +0000

We have a few wild rabbits that enjoy breakfast in our backyard every morning, and this week I decided to be ready with my zoom lens when I went down to the kitchen. I’m sure the rest of the family thought I was silly snapping a dozen pictures of a rabbit I see everyday, but it was worth it to me. This shot reminded me of a favorite Velveteen Rabbit quote:

Are you playing along with Wordful or Wordless Wednesday today? Link up!
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Rainy Day – Wordless Wednesday

Lolli — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 22:20:10 +0000

Today was a rainy day. As I waited for T outside his piano lesson this afternoon, I was struck by the beauty of the rain.

The winter strips our area of all color. Or so it seems. I found a few splashes of color in the drab scenery.

Are you playing along with Wordless or Wordful Wednesday today? Link up!
Want to grab my button?

Proud to be Unique – Walt Disney Quote # PSF

Lolli — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 21:30:46 +0000

I don’t think I am more proud of my oldest daughter, Kit Kat, than each year when the school holds Spirit Week. When she was a freshman, she dressed in what I thought at the time was the wackiest Wacky Wednesday costume ever. I was insanely proud of her confidence and the fact that she didn’t care what the other students (especially upperclassmen) thought of her.

She was proud to stand out. Confident enough to be unique.

This Walt Disney quote says it all:

PS – these are some of the outfits that KitKat (who is now a Junior) wore to school – for 80s Day, wear-your-grade’s-color day, and Wacky Wednesday. She also dressed as a twin with her BFF, but I didn’t get a picture of that.

These photos may not be technical or artistic masterpieces but they are works of art to me. I have created a confident, unique daughter.

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Steve Jobs Quotes from his Biography

Lolli — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 18:00:44 +0000

I am loving reading Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, and have been highlighting sections like crazy. I thought it would be fun to post a few Steve Jobs quotes.

Do you have any favorite quotes from Steve Jobs? Come join me in my Copia book club as we discuss Steve Jobs this month. Note: I am compensated for my participation in the Copia book club.

Favorite Quotes – The House at Riverton

Lolli — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 19:02:21 +0000

I’ve been reading Kate Morton’s The House at Riverton for my Copia book club this month, and I came across this quote that I love (I’m sure my love of photography could have something to do with why this quote stood out to me).

This week, I’m sharing a few more of my favorite quotes from The House at Riverton over in my book club. If you’ve read the book (even part of it!) come share some of your favorite quotes, and weigh in on a few of mine. Quotes make great discussion!