Beautiful Inspiration for Your Week...

I hope you are having a wonderful week so far!




* audrey, quote image

How do you make others Feel?

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend filled with warm, breezy spring air and sunshine kisses. I've been keeping my head down and focused on work for most of the weekend and I'm nearly finished a few new designs which I'll share with you all shortly. In the meantime, I thought I'd leave you with another one of my favorite quotes from the ever wise Maya Angelou to inspire your day.

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead, see you tomorrow!


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Learn to Dance in the Rain

It's been raining for the past three days here in FL and the radio now tells me that there is a Tornado warning in effect. Isn't life like the weather sometimes? You're going along minding your own business and then out of the blue the unpredictable storms of life begin to roll in!

We can choose to let those storms dictate how our days will play out or we can embrace them. Like the grass, we too need a little of both sunshine and rain in our life to stay balanced and although it's a bit of a disruption to our plans some days, it's usually exactly what we need to grow into all that we are to become.

Sometimes this process can be painful as we fear becoming uprooted, losing ourselves in the process or having to start all over again but every storm builds strength, character, love and a compassion for others that we may never have known otherwise.

What's the weather like where you are?

 

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Inspiration for your Success

In nature as with life, we move through different seasons of our life. Sometimes we live through the 'winter' season in a quiet time of quiet reflection, healing, rest and transformation so we can be reborn into something more amazing and other times we're at the height of success, joy and celebration during the 'summer' months.

Springtime is a time for rebirth, newness, growth and nature to bloom. It might also be the season you're experiencing at the moment as I am, breaking forth into new areas and treading through new territory. Maybe you're getting ready to launch a dream business, move to a new place for a great job opportunity or give birth to your first child (before anyone asks, I don't have a little bun in my oven ). Wherever you are at right now, it's wise to heed this advice from Mark Twain.

It is so important to surround yourself with positive and supportive people in your life. When we decide to be bold, take a leap of faith and launch out into the deep is when we need positive and uplifting people by our side the most.

Some people are mockers or dream squashers-beware of them! They see that you have direction and a vision and are often jealous, have their own agenda or are miserable and want you to live there with them in their unhappiness. Resist the urge to sink to that level in order to maintain a friendship or keep someone in your life. I liken people like this to a backpack full of rocks slowing you down and holding you back from your true potential. It may be time to drop the backpack and leave it behind lest you lose your momentum. If someone is a true friend, they will ride the storms of life with you and celebrate in your triumphs and personal success as well.

Let's also be that friend to others. Sometimes it's hard when you are in your winter season and they are experiencing their summer season. You may feel deflated, frustrated and unsure of the future while they are riding their wave of success. Rejoice with them, everything comes full circle, the seasons always change and soon enough it will be your turn to ride the wave.

Here's to dreaming big dreams this year!



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Sunday Inspiration: Kindness

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” ~Mother Teresa

"Words can be beautiful or hurtful because they reveal someone's true heart. We must really think about both what we say and how we say or write things to others." ~Karla M. Davis

Now more than ever, with what seems like an overwhelming amount of desperate acts and those that are the result of cruelty, maliciousness, hatred, fear and anger flooding the news, we must remember to be kind to one another. Regardless of our personal opinions, viewpoints, beliefs or goals in life, we are all part of the greater picture and are all worthy of love, kindness and compassion.

Have a blessed day!

~Karla

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Mid-week Inspiration

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your sincere birthday wishes over the past few days as you entered the $55 CSN Stores birthday giveaway. I read every comment and each personal note warmed my heart. It's  wonderful to meet so many sweet women through blogging. :) Also, if you haven't entered, there is still time, the giveaway closes Sept.6th.

This past week has been a reflective one. While I've enjoyed reading several bloggers' posts so far this week, I haven't felt much like writing lately myself. I'm having one of those months where I feel like my "to do" list will never end and it's hard to focus without feeling guilty that something else isn't being attended to.

In my absence of words, how about some powerful words of inspiration from others for the rest of your week?

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that frightens us. Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us."

~ Nelson Mandela, inaugural address, written by Marianne Williamson

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."

~ Leo Buscaglia

"What a blessing it is that life can be such a challenge. For it is in working through those challenges that we truly shine. "

~Ralph Marston

“Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.”

~Anonymous

“Obstacles are things a person sees when he takes his eyes off his goal.”

~E. Joseph Cossman

A few months ago I came across Ralph Marston on twitter. He has a website called The Daily Motivator and I really enjoy reading and re-tweeting some of his messages. This particular message spoke to me today as it pertains to time, timing and taking action. I'm really big on creating plans of actions and goals and sometimes tend to focus on the finer details. This was a good reminder of the power of action and momentum.

Effective Action

Stop sitting around wondering if this will work out or if that won't work out. Get busy and find out for yourself.

Stop wishing that you had more to work with. You have more than enough to get started in this moment.

Once you start, once you make that first effort, you'll be able to tap into the power of momentum. The initial results you get will enable you to make the next effort.

Quit worrying about not having enough time, for that worrying itself just wastes your precious time. Simply and gratefully make use of the time you have, and you'll always be making progress.

Put thought into your efforts, but don't make your thoughts a substitute for your efforts. Get busy and put your best thoughts into effective action.

Give your best to this day, give your best to the effort, and good things will come from it. Though it won't always be the way you expect, you will always find ways to create real, unique value and richness in your life.
~Ralph Marston

Happy September!

Words of Inspiration from Audrey Hepburn

I wanted to aim for a less wordy post today. ;) So, I thought I'd let Audrey Hepburn share some of her inspiring words in the form of quotes since we share the same 'beliefs'. Enjoy!

This one below I've never actually seen before, but I LOVE it!

If everyone woman followed the advice below, wouldn't our world be so much sweeter? 

 Happy Friday! I hope you enjoyed your shorter week. :)

I Want YOUR Feedback

Have you ever dreamed of seeing your name in print before? Well, I'm going to give you a chance at just that. As many of you know, my book for real women that desire to live a classy and fabulous life is due out next month. Included in my book will be some quotes from real women like yourself who have defined what a 'Classy Woman' is in their own words.

Many of you have voted in my sidebar poll about what best describes that woman for you. If you would like to participate in having your very own quote on what makes a woman classy, please leave your quote in the form of a comment below, a few sentences will work. If you do not want your quote displayed here, please e-mail me directly via the envelope in my sidebar instead. :)

The number of quotes I use will be determined by the number in total that I receive. I'm looking to include several though with varying definition and detail.

Because I am in the final editing stages, I will accept your personal quotes for one week up until April.30th at 11pm EST.

Please include your first name as well as your city and State or Province so I can post it with your quote. If you would like to include your last name or last name initital, you can. It will look something like this:

 ~Karla D., Orlando, FL.

This is open to ALL ladies worldwide.

I updated this post to remind you all to leave your name and city and I also extended the date to include more quotes. Thank you in advance for participating!

Quotes by Oprah

Today's post is short and sweet, I'm sharing some of my favorite quotes from a classy woman that ALL of you know and many of you love-Oprah! I hope these 7 quotes will cause you to think about your own life and go after your dreams this year!

'Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.'

'My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life, but doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.'

'The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams!'

'I believe the choice to be excellent begins with aligning your thoughts and words with the intention to require more from yourself.'

'There's no easy way out. If there were, I would have bought it. And believe me, it would be one of my favorite things!' (on exercise/losing weight)

'Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.'

'The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but significance - and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning.'

~All quotes listed above by Oprah Winfrey.

What is your favorite quote? It doesn't have to be one from Miss. Winfrey, but I'd love to hear which ones you refer to when you need some inspiration!