Monday Mojo - And Let The Tiny Tidy Challenge Begin!

Linda. xox

Monday Mojo - Simple Is Best - And My First Attempt At Audio!!

Hi everyone, I thought I'd try something different this Monday. So, here's my first attempt at some kind of audio for you using a great little tool called Audio Boo.

Don't laugh too much, I'll get better.

Image from French By Design

listen to ‘Monday Mojo - Simple is best!’ on Audioboo

Those of you reading via email or a feed will need to click through to access the audio.

May your mojo be with you this week!

Linda. xox

Monday Mojo - Finding Contentment....

Image found on A Life's Design

I think contentment is HARD.

Such a simple concept, and yet the thing that seems the trickiest to get a handle on in any consistent fashion.

I think being grateful and approaching life with an attitude of thankfulness helps a lot, and I sometimes have to take myself to task and remind myself how lucky I am when I'm having a down day or a shitty moment.

I have a cosy little home, things I love around me, a wonderful family, supportive friends, and a cool cat! I get to do things I enjoy (read, sing, perform, decorate, design, write), and I'm free to express who I am in a way that makes me happy.

Sure I don't have a big mansion, heaps of money, a glamorous car, a wardrobe full of expensive clothes and too many pairs of shoes to count....... but I am SO lucky to have what I do.

And, it is enough.

And, when I sometimes feel it isn't enough, I think that's more an indication of a part of me that's not being fulfilled in relation to my heart and soul, rather than permission to go out and get more stuff to try and fill the void. (Although, a little bit of shopping therapy does happen on occasion!)

Do you struggle with contentment?

Let's hope we all find some this week, and may your mojo be with you!

Linda. xox

Monday Mojo ~ They'll Tell You....

Image from Olanise on Tumblr

How was your weekend lovelies?

I got the time to read a few chapters of my newest Robert Goddard novel, catch up with friends, and rehearse for a short play I'm currently in (interspersed with a fair dollop of work).

I also seem to have lots of things I'm halfway through at the moment, some with regards to the courses I'm writing and new projects.

Procrastination, for whatever reason, has reared its ugly head a bit lately.

So, when I found the quote above, I thought it was timely to remind myself that "Yes, I CAN do the things I'm planning to do, even though sometimes the road seems a little hard and I have doubts."

We are all capable, strong, talented women with lots to offer the world!

Happy Monday, and may your mojo be with you this week. :)

Linda. xox

P.S. Click here for lots of other great quotes. You know how much I love them around my home on walls, doors, and the fridge (to name a few places!).

Monday Mojo..... Something To Remember...

Image from Fresh Home

The phrase 'it's a once in a lifetime experience' usually only gets thrown around in reference to massive events or rare opportunities.

But, when you think about it, every moment, no matter how big, how small, how magnificent, or how insignificant, can only happen once.

I think finding joy in the smallest moments can play a part in helping us through the darker ones, and keeping hope alive by finding our inner spark can connect us to inner happiness (or at least give us strength to make it through).

As a friend of mine always says when life's giving him a hard time, the alternative (not having a life to give him a hard time), isn't great.

And, even if I'm having a crappy time of it and I feel like balling my eyes out, I always try to remind myself that at least I can FEEL. I'm alive, and I can feel. I can experience the depths of life (oh the DRAMA of it!!), which makes the wonderful moments all the sweeter.

Happy Monday Lovelies! This week, may you treasure all the moments of your wonderful life, no matter what they are, for they will never come again.

And, of course, 'may your mojo be with you'.



Linda. xox

Live In Such A Way...

Happy Monday lovelies!

It's time for some Monday Mojo and wise words.

Image found on Marcus Design Inc.

I try my best to do this every day.

May your own special mojo be with you this week as you enjoy each day and give it all you've got.

Linda. xox

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Do You Have One Of These?

Lately my energy has been diverted away from those things I consider a part of my 'calling' towards things that have to be done to keep the budget ticking over and ensure the bills get paid.

Unfortunately, this has trampled all over the time I spend with friends and family, and just as importantly (for me), the time I spend with myself and in the process of doing the things that nurture my soul and feed my creativity.

The balance has been lost, and for the moment, it's going to be staying that way as I forge through the year ahead trying a new day job on for size. I've dedicated at least one whole year to it to see what it brings.... but I have to say, if it continues to impede what I consider to be my true calling, it may indeed have to bite the dust.

Currently, the time I used to dedicate to getting my courses (Pathways to Home and The Tiny Tidy Challenge) ready has disappeared down a fast moving sink hole, then drained away. This is not good for my overall life-time dreams and goals.

Taking on this new job has, however, been an extremely clarifying and eye opening experience that has helped bring many things in my life into sharp focus. For that, I am truly grateful no matter how long I continue to do it.

I truly do believe if you feel you have a 'calling', you must follow it with all your heart. I think I've made the path to my calling a little hard to follow for a while, but I'll never lose sight of it, and I'm more passionate about it than ever.

Do you have a 'calling'?

Are you following it in your life now?

Linda. xox

PS: Thank you to those who have signed up to the Tiny Tidy Challenge in the last couple of weeks! I promise it will be on its way before the end of the year. That's not as soon as I would have liked it to happen, but I'm determined it WILL happen!

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Are You In A Superb Meteor, Or A Sleepy Planet?

It's time for a little sprinkle of 'Monday Mojo'!

Happy Monday lovelies!

May your mojo be with you this week.

Linda. xox

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Monday Mojo - Are You Sitting Still?...

Often times I need to remind myself that just because I've made a decision about something, or I think I'm on the right track.... if I don't actually DO something to take action about it.... then it's probably just as bad as not being on the right track anyway!

This harks back to books like 'The Secret' that seem (I admit I haven't read the actual book) to propose that merely visualising a dream, or writing down a list of what you want to manifest, will magically cause it to appear as if some dream fairy swooped down and sprinkled instant gratification sparkle dust all over your life!

Critics of books like 'The Secret' suggest that of course none of your wishes/dreams will actually happen unless you take some type of forward motion or action towards what you want (other than just thinking about it of course!).

I have to say I agree whole-heartedly with them. Getting off your backside and actually DOING something walks all over just thinking or writing about it.

That being said, according to Dave Kohl, a professor at Virginia Tech in America, people who regularly write down their goals earn nine times as much over their lifetimes as people who don't. Yet, says Prof. Kohl, 80% of Americans don't write down their goals. Sixteen percent do have goals but don't write them down. Less than four percent do write them down, and fewer than one percent actually review them on an ongoing basis. (This info taken from my copy of the book 'Where Will You Be Five Years From Today?')

Imagine then, the small amount of people who actually write them down, review them.... and DO something about them.

This week I'm going to challenge myself to get my 'goals folder' out of the cupboard (yes, I really do have one with different categories and lists, a lot of which have to do with things I want to do around my home), blow the dust off it, and then see what I can actually DO about some of them.... even if it's only baby steps.

Time to stop sitting still.

I hope you have a happy and productive week!

And, as always on a Monday....'may your mojo be with you'!

Linda. xox

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What Would Your 20 Seconds Result In?...

I haven't seen the movie We Want A Zoo, but a few weeks ago I saw the trailer whilst I was at the pictures, and the quote below struck me like a bolt of lightning.

What marvellous and magical things we could achieve if we just sometimes gave ourselves the chance and followed our heart (and our gut).

There's so many things I'd like to try if only I had the courage...... so many things that could change my life if only I took a chance.

What might your 20 seconds result in, I wonder?

Have a terrific week everyone.  May you find the courage to do the things you feel you want to do deep down inside you, and as always on a Monday.... 'may your mojo be with you!'

Linda. xox


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Monday Mojo - Have A Magical Week Everyone!

This week, I hope your days are full of glorious opportunities and wonderful beginnings. Here are two quotes to start you on your way.....

'Everything that is was once imagined'. (Ted Joans)

Photo found on Poppytalk via Cristina Re and Meggielyn.

'There are many wonderful things that will never be done
if you do not do them.' (Charles D. Gill)

Have a great week everyone!

And, as per normal on most Monday mornings (missed a few lately)..... 'may your mojo be with you!'

Linda. xox

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The Aforementioned Article - Written Around Six Years Ago!

I'm back from school camp, and my muscles have recovered from various hiking, walking, running and beachy activities. I had serious aches for about 3 days afterwards due to the discovery of muscles I've obviously avoided using for about a decade! The kids all had heaps of fun and so did the staff!

So... back to the world of blogging!

Here's the article I mentioned in this post about my T.V. watching (or non-watching as the case may be) pledge. I wrote it quite a few years ago, around six I think, so it looks like I didn't listen to my own advice and 'step away from the T.V.', because I'm still faffing around about doing it now!

Time for some serious action me thinks!

If you watch the Dr Phil Show you’ll have heard his infamous saying "How’s that workin’ for ya?”

This is the question he asks people who are stuffing up their jobs, lives, relationships etc by doing something that’s obviously not working for them.

Except it’s not so obvious to them, and there-in lies the problem.

Another popular saying amongst motivational gurus also springs to mind...

‘If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten’.

Or, as Albert Einstein so beautifully put it…. 'The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results'.

So what are you doing that might be dragging you down and stopping you from forging ahead in leaps and bounds? What simple things could you change or remove to set you on a whole new path, or indeed make the one you’re on a whole lot easier?

Here’s a few little things that might be staring you in the face, yet flying beneath the radar.

The average person watches 3 to 4 hours of television a night. And the average person is not a monumental success. A coincidence - or not?

It’s not that TV itself is inherently bad, but the time it steals away from you is.

You could be doing so much more with that time… working on your business, spending quality time with your partner, exercising, reading, playing sport, learning a new skill, meditating, writing in your journal, planning a holiday, the list goes on.

Think of the TV shows you enjoy watching most. The characters always seem to lead exciting, thrilling, and dramatic lives. They’d rarely have time to fit watching television into their jam packed day. We’re fascinated by those whose lives are more adventurous than ours, we wish our own lives were more entertaining…. and yet there we sit in front of the TV, watching instead of doing.

So instead of automatically switching the TV on just for something to do, try picking 3 or 4 programs a week you really enjoy or find inspiring. Turn the TV on just before they start, and OFF when they're finished.

Email and procrastination. Two words that are intrinsically linked. Ever noticed how easy it is to get distracted for a whole afternoon by your email? Checking, reading, answering, checking, reading, answering, checking…. you get the message.

Yes your employer/customers/clients like emails answered quickly, but focusing obsessively on your email can seriously derail you from undertaking other productive activities.

Get a handle on the email monster and set aside specific times to tame it. Make your emails as brief as possible, and stop using it as an excuse for not taking care of those activities you’ve been putting off.

Preparation is recognised as one of the keys to success. But some people spend all their time preparing and never leave the gate. They read, research, make lists, draw up plans, create goals, read some more, talk to people, and go ’round and ’round in circles.

They gather all the gear they need to go swimming, but never dive into the pool. Half the time they’ve spent so long getting ready the pool’s dried up. Or, they dip a toe in, decide it’s not quite right, and more preparation ensues.

The folks at Nike have got it right.

It’s time to give up perpetually preparing.

Stop getting in the way of yourself, take a deep breath, and dive in. Every journey begins with the first step, and nothing begins until you begin it.

Just do it!

The road to success can be hard. Littering it with unnecessary roadblocks like television, email, procrastination, and over preparation is an easy (and often subconscious) way to avoid putting yourself on the line.

The average person rarely achieves excellence (hence why they are average), therefore if you seek greatness it makes no sense to do what the average person does.

So if what you’re doing isn’t working for you, do something else. Clearing your roadblocks to success could be as simple as thinking about what most ordinary people do, and then not doing it!

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Hope you liked it!

Now... back to seeing what I can do about mitigating my T.V. watching habits (effectively this time).

Linda. xox

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Monday Mojo - Don't Say You Don't Have Enough Time.....

I'm not sure all those people had families to look after (I don't know how some people manage a family and everything else they do) - but I take Mr. Brown's point!

In regards to my own time management, I've decided to make a bit of a pledge regarding the tele.

No more mindless T.V. watching to fill in time (when I really could be doing something else purposeful) or zone out. If there's a program I specifically want to watch I will watch it, and then get away from the T.V.

Perhaps once a week I'll allow myself some mindless channel surfing.... but, I don't know.... I wonder how I'd go without the T.V. at all for a few weeks?

Imagine what I might get done!

Any of you go without the T.V? I have some friends who don't own one... how about that!

I can't imagine that.

But, just because we adjust to things in our lives and view them as a 'given' because they're such a big part of our society... doesn't mean I HAVE to conform.

It's just a habit that's easy to fall into and I suspect may be a tad hard to reform.

Hmmmmmm.

I wrote an article about this very thing a few years back. I'll have to dig it out of my computer archives for you. :)

Unitl next Monday, I hope time treats you kindly this week, and as usual on a Monday morning, may your mojo be with you!

Linda. xox

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Monday Mojo - Some Words To Inspire You via a New E-Book Just For You

Hello Lovelies!

I've been working on another little project for the last week or so (thank goodness for holidays!), and I've uploaded it onto my Free E-Books and Goodies page.

But, I thought I'd like to share it with you today as I often post a quote on Monday mornings.... so here's a whole bunch of them!

Click on the 'expand' button to get the full view and turn the pages.

Open publication - Free publishing - More inspirational

I'm getting better at doing my own graphics and fiddling around in Picnik, so putting all the quotes together with layouts and backgrounds was fun!

Happy Monday everyone - and as always on a Monday morning..... may your mojo be with you this week!

Linda. xox

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Monday Mojo - Lost For Words (for a change)...

This quote, (discovered today whilst browsing thinkexist.com), has struck me in such a profound way for some reason, that I'm quite speechless as to what to say about it, and I need to think about it quite a bit more.

Instead, I'll just say Happy Monday everyone, and as always at the beginning of the week... may your mojo be with you.

Linda. xox

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Monday Mojo - Which Person Are You?

Happy Monday everyone.... some food for thought from an old Chinese Proverb.

Which person are you?

The one interrupting....

or the one doing it?

And as always on a Monday - may your mojo be with you!

Linda. xox

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Monday Mojo - Do You 'See' With Your Heart?

I loved this quote when I first found it...

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly;
what is essential is invisible to the eye.   (Antoine De Saint-Exupery)

The real core of a beautiful room for me is its atmosphere.

Its soul.

The vibe it gives off and how it makes you feel.

What it does to you on the inside.

Image from the Marion House Book

Image from SF Girl By Bay

Image from SF Girl By Bay

Image from Tig Fashion

Rooms like those above may look gorgeous visually, (or not, depending on your preferred style), but it's how they make you FEEL that's the true test of whether or not the room is a success.

It's not until I get that satisfied and content feeling right in my core that I know I've got it just 'right' in a room.

So.... happy Monday everyone!! I hope you get to 'see' lots of things you love with not only your eyes but your heart this week.

And, as always on a Monday.... may your mojo be with you!

Linda. xox

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Monday Mojo - Wisdom, Knots, Paths, and Passion...

Image from Outdoor Photos

Happy 'new week' everyone!

This quote reminded me of one of my favourite all time quotes by Joseph Campbell about following your bliss.

I love the way this is worded.... I can envision what it means for me, and I think it translates beautifully into what I'm trying to do with my life at the moment.

I'm trying to untangle it and simplify it.

I'm trying to make more time for those activities where I feel like I'm in what's called a state of 'flow'. That's the zone you're in when you're doing something you love. Something that fascinates you, gets your juices going, and you lose all track of time. You're just in the flow of the moment, from one to the next, and everything else gets lost but those moments flowing past you and through you in a lovely state of bliss.

When you're in that state of 'flow', it IS as if you're following a path with your whole being. Your passion is funneled into that activity and all the stuff going on in the world outside your 'bubble' becomes superfluous for a while.

I experience that feeling with my decorating and design. When I'm in the midst of thinking about colours, or placement, or amazing design projects.... everything else becomes irrelevant and my world lights up.

That feeling of 'flow' or inner bliss is something I think we can also transfer to the atmosphere of our homes so that whenever we're in our home we feel more ourselves, more at peace..... just happier to be who we are.

I do have a passionate belief that our homes are way more than mere shelters. They're the external resting place for our spirits and souls, and if we let the feelings created by our 'whole being' leak and ebb into the rooms around us, then the untying of the 'knots' we get ourselves in is far easier.

This week I hope you find the wisdom to untie some of your own knots, and to live and love with your whole being.

Happy Monday, and as always.... may your mojo be with you.


Linda. xox

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Contentment Comes From.....

One of the best books I have on my shelf is a dog eared old copy of 'Open Your Eyes - 1000 Simple Ways To Bring Beauty Into Your Home and Life Every Day' by Alexandra Stoddard.

Alexandra is another of a select bunch (including Ilse Crawford, Sibella Court, Suzy Chiazzari, Denise Linn and Jane Alexander) who I feel embodies the way I feel about interior design and my own philosophy behind it.

Here's a passage taken from the book....

Contentment comes from creating and living in harmonious personal spaces. You learn to look at and really see space with your gut, not your intellect. The ability to identify sacred spaces - places that speak to your heart and soul, that open you up, expand your vision, your imagination and your dignity - should be cultivated.  (Alexandra Stoddard)

Images from Home and Garden via Little Emma English Home

If only all our rooms could speak to our hearts, 'open' us up, expand our vision, our imagination and our dignity.

Linda. xox

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Monday Mojo - Your Vision...

Happy Monday everyone! It's going to be a FABULOUS week.... isn't it!?

What is it you'd like to do this week?

What is it you'd like to achieve?

What is it you'd like to discover or create?

Quote by Carl Jung

Look into your heart and seek some answers.

Have a great week, and may your mojo be with you!

Linda. xox

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