Author Archives: LA Blogger Gal

How Many Impossible Things Have You Believed Today?

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The Queen of Hearts and Alice in the Garden, t...
Image via Wikipedia

“I can’t believe that!” said Alice.

“Can’t you?” the queen said in a pitying tone. “Try again, draw a long breath, and shut your eyes.”

Alice laughed. “There’s no use trying,” she said. “One can’t believe impossible things.”

“I dare say you haven’t had much practice,” said the queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”

I’ve been spending some time rereading The Game of Life by Florence Shovel Shinn (a New Thought metaphysician in the 1930’s). One of the reasons I love her books is because they’re all about affirmations and speaking up and asking for (sometimes even demanding!) what you want. 

Since I seem to have lost a few things lately – more recently, a huge bag of Hungarian paprika.  I figured it was about time to find some stuff again.  And well, if I can get flowers and plants to show up on my doorstep just by saying out loud that I’d love some flowers, then surely I can get some other things delivered. 

The good news, it’s working!!!

I found the paprika yesterday and yes, it was right where I looked over and over.  This of course means that next up is the GPS unit and the (seemingly missing) money from those fraudulent credit card charges.  It’s going to work itself out, somehow, in just the right way (I don’t need to know the details) and just show up in the damnedest of places.  The paprika showed up in an empty oatmeal box of all things.  

Let me just say…I LOVE this stuff!!  Words are powerful as Florence Shovel Shinn, Napoleon Hill (and so many others) keep telling us.

So what seemingly impossible thing have you believed?

Nothing Beats LA After it Rains

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The smog is washed away and it’s clear enough you see the entire city…
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You can get an clear shot of the Hollywood Sign…
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The Griffith Park Observatory…
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So of course we had to head into Hollywood Land to get even closer to the sign…
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You can even see all the way to the ocean (that reflection just above the mountains)…
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So we headed out to the ocean and ended up in Marina del Rey…
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And watched the sailboats…
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Such a blue, blue sky…
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The rains were starting again in Culver City which gave us a teeny tiny rainbow in Mid City (just to the right of the bulb itself)…
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And then the rain starts all over again and we started heading back home…
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I’m Feeling the Urge to Shop

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Woman putting on her lipstick in a park with U...
Image by The Library of Congress via Flickr

Did you ever notice that when you really need to save money, or be on some sort of budget, that’s when the shopping urge comes to town?  I’m not a crazy shopaholic (despite what my recent lipstick purchases might otherwise suggest).  I work from home, so I don’t often shop for new clothes or shoes.  I think I typically spend my money on books and smelly body products if I spend it on anything.

But now, tell me that I can’t spend any money or put me on a budget of sorts and blamo, I want to spend a small fortune on things. I’m feeling the pull of online shopping!!  The power is weak in this one.

Right now I’m coveting dresses of all things.  I rarely wear dresses (or get that dressed up), but I joined a networking group where the ladies tend to get all dressed up.  So of course, I think I now need to buy dresses (logic, I tell ya).

I’m also on a bit of a mascara kick.  I’ve decided that I don’t wear make up often enough to warrant spending the big bucks on high end mascara.  So I’ve been testing out all the drugstore versions to see if I can find a favorite (I’ll blog about it once I try a couple more).  Of course, by now I’ve spent enough that I could have bought that Lancome Definicils already.  But that’s not really the point here.

I’m also considering some new shoes and a new purse.  Thank you Coach for that 25% off coupon that I don’t intend to use.  Luckily, I know better than to spend $300+ just because I want a new purse.  I most certainly don’t need a new purse.  In fact, if truth be told, I’d much rather save that money and apply it to a 5th anniversary trip in May.  But that still doesn’t get rid of this urge to shop. 

So what’s a gal to do, pick up something small, but fun (like I need yet another lipstick) to curb the urge?  Or do I just hold strong and avoid all stores at all costs? Or should I just consider tonight’s splurgey Girls Night Out (nice dinner and a movie) as my spend for the week?

What do you buy when you feel the urge to spend?  What are you coveting right now – will you give in and get it or just covet from afar?

The Photo 4×4

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I just realized that I never got around to doing Jax’ photo 4×4 meme.  Funny enough, I told her that most of my photos are in my Flickr, not on my computer, and would be a difficult to find folders.  I didn’t realize just how difficult it would be.  Just finding four actual folders was tough.  Most of my photos are hanging about loose and unidentified, without any sort of label or organization.  But I still played along 😉

Here are the rules:

Choose the fourth folder of photo storage on your computer.
Choose the fourth photo in the folder.
Explain said photo, tag four people to do the same.

Here’s my photo:
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This is a house not too far from where I live.  I drive by it almost daily. I think they have that quintessential white picket fence and when things are in bloom, it’s just beautiful.  So there you have a pretty, white picket fence. The end.

I don’t tag (since I rarely participate in memes myself) so feel free to play along.  Just make sure you let me know so I can check out your photos as well.

I’m Getting Things Done Today

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Not that you need a day by day update, but I have been busy today.  Headed out to the crazy inexpensive fruit & veggie store, then headed out to the grocery store after that.  I talked with folks about upcoming contest promotions – my February is lined up and it’s time to work on March.  I worked on my friend’s blog and tried to figure out her mysterious RSS issues. I made a mailing list for all the prizing I need to ship out this week (dreading the packaging and shipping, but oh well).  Contacted a friend regarding her upcoming Valentine teleseminar for those still nursing a broken heart.  And I also designed my site’s newsletter using DreamWeaver – never used it before.

Not too shabby if you ask me (especially since so much of it require staying glued to the computer).  Now if I could only figure out those seemingly annoying glitches in Quickbooks, I’d be thrilled.

Otherwise, not much to say here.

Later!

What Would You Like for Valentine’s Day?

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Image by mozzercork via Flickr

Buying gifts for the various holidays and birthdays just isn’t very big in our house.  Even when I do ask for a gift, it’s typically something housewares-y or domestic (which is hear is all wrong).  I’m planning on creating a shopping guide  (you have no idea how much I adore checking out shopping guides) just for this Valentine’s day for my site and our newsletter.

So I ask for your input…what would you like for Valentine’s Day? Chocolate, jewelry, perfume, a new lipstick, a special book, what?  I’m open to any and all suggestions.

What the Hell, it’s February Already?

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The longest
Image by dhammza via Flickr

Where did January go?  Maybe it would seem a bit more like February if we actually had had some cooler January temperatures.  Seriously, 80 degrees in January?!?!  There’s just something seriously wrong with that.  Especially when the rest of the country is dealing with crazy cold temperatures, snow and ice.

Well, I guess I just need to suck it up and welcome dear February.  The good thing about new months, is that it gives you permission to try something new.

Thanks to my bloggie friend and fellow Masterminder, Sarah (otherwise known as  Mar Vista Mom),  I have decided that for the entire month of February (give or take a day or two) I’ll be spending all my time and energy working on my website…not my personal blog, not my business blog or consulting clients, but on my community, its blog and the various ongoing contests.

This is big for me.  For the first time in a long time I feel more in control of things.  For so long now I’d been feeling like I was being pulled in too many different directions and I was never sure what I should be focusing on.  Sarah suggested that I allot a certain amount of time (be it days or weeks, or a particular day of the week, or week of the month, or whatever) and focus exclusively on one thing at a time.  If something pops up – and I’m sure it will since I’ll be doing my best to ignore whatever I’m not working on – I’ll write it down and get to it later.

This is perfect for me.  Why couldn’t I see this myself and figure it out?  Probably because I was too caught up in what seemed to be massive feelings of overwhelm (with possibly a hint of fear thrown in for good avoidance).  This my friends is why you need a good network of friends!

Of course, it means I’ll need to still created at least 4 posts for my business blog since I don’t want that to sit dormant for too long.  But I can do that.  In fact, my goal for today is to address the specific things that aren’t related to the site such as our taxes, phone calls, and those previously mentioned blog posts.

Here’s hoping it all works out the way I’m hoping for.  Wish me luck!

So what have you been avoiding that you could spend some time focusing on this month?

It’s Almost That Time Again: Ulitmate Blog Party

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Last year I happily participated in the Ultimate Blog Party hosted by 5MinutesforMom.com.  Basically, it’s a bunch of bloggers opening their doors to other bloggers and tempting them to become new subscribers and bloggie friends through giveaways.  Okay, that’s my version.  Either way, it’s fun for all involved.

Last year over 1500 participated.  If you’re looking to meet new blogging friends, promote your blog or win some cool prizes you might want to consider it.  It typically runs for a week and beyond a “welcome to my party” introduction kind of post, you don’t even need to worry about feeling obligated to post daily.  Just go ahead and be your typical, friendly, chatty, bloggie self. You know, the person we all know and love 😉

This year it’s going to be held March 20th through March 27th.  This of course gives you plenty of time to decide if you’re up for participating and partying with some fellow bloggers.  It was quite a bit of fun last year, so just just might want to give it a whirl.

And if you’re talented in a graphic artist sort of way, you might want to try and design their new banner.  You never know, it could be your design that gets chosen.

As for me, I know I won’t be submitting and banner options, but I will be tossing in a prize or two.  Just need to see what I have or what I could get to give.