Tag Archives: holidays

6 Simple Rules to live by: Be happy, be nice, be a leader, be organized, be a lifelong learner and be healthy.

Posted on January 5, 2012 | Leave a comment
6 Simple Rules to live by: Be happy, be nice, be a leader, be organized, be a lifelong learner and be healthy.

6 Simple Rules to live by: Be happy, be nice, be a leader, be organized, be a lifelong learner and be healthy.

Hi friends. Welcome back. New visitors welcome.

6 Simple Rules to live by: Be happy, be nice, be a leader, be organized, be a lifelong learner and be healthy.

I started out the New Year with gusto thankful that I have been able to laugh. It’s a nice thing. I don’t know if you believe in making a resolutions because it seems that whenever you make one they only last a while.

I prefer making changes slowly, one step and a time, then implementing them into my life—much like getting into a swimming pool. I’ve always liked to take my time.

For some reason, I feel full of hope, full of possibility. Life is good.

I thinking writing down goals in specific terms is important. I know that when I have a list in front of me I tend to get it done. That does not exclude the fact that I at time goes for long periods of time without lists and still life goes on, doesn’t it?

For the sake of adventure, I’m going to attempt to make sense out of my goals and write them down. Here they are in specific terms.

My 2012 New Years Goals are to

1. Obtain a healthy balance of body, mind and spirit.

2. Continue with my walks. Do yoga, stretching and bike rides on a regular basis.  I love how walking clears my head. The most difficult part is just getting out the door, but I’ve noticed how simple life is on a bike. There are no keys and no cell. You just get the bike and ride.

3. Spirit. I belive in the power of prayer. I’ve also been doing some really nice healing meditaitons I found online. I love the way it calms me. I usually google Guided Healing Meditations.

4. Mind. The only way I know how to keep my mind healthy is to focus. I focus by pushing my limits. I love a clean house and that keeps me busy going room to room.

I’m also working hard on my house. I’ve made a list of things I need to accomplish around here, being an strong animated restructured house and all, and I’m just tackling it. We’ve been here now for quite some time so most of the hard work is out of the way. Still, I enjoy keeping it in order and that takes time and dedication.

Well, as always I thank you for visiting. I pray this post finds you lovely, lucky and in love.

Julie

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#6 My Amazing Friends also known as MAFSS guest M. Risser

Posted on November 22, 2011 | 15 Comments

You might be new here, so please make sure to add a bookmark, follow me on facebook or follow me on twitter at jbuliesblog.

Running side by side friend.

Run the Hill by guest blogger Michele Risser

Run the hill is a phrase I use when things get hard. Run the hill is focus. Run the hill is determination. Run the hill is tenacity, strength and endurance. Running the hill is the thing you have to do to become a better runner.

On a long stretch of highway you can see the hill, ahead in the distance waiting for your arrival. There are certain things you must do as you approach it. You must unclench your fists and relax your shoulders. You must straighten your back and expand your chest. You must raise your head. Most importantly, you must turn up your music.

Stay focused.

As you begin the ascent, you must find a point just ahead of you to become your mini goal. It may be a crack in the road, a sign or a post, a tree or a flower. All you aim for is that next little goal. It is very important not to look, glance at, or focus on the top of the hill, it is overwhelming.

You must stay focused on your mini goal until you pass it and then hone in on the next crack, tree, post or flower until again you must select a new one.

As your music keeps your pace, as your eyes look forward, as your chest expands to receive oxygen and your head is held up to supply that oxygen, you begin to realize you are running the hill. Little by little, breath by breath, one leg and then the other stepping up, up, up. You are running the hill.

Jumping over obstacles.

Those things in life which are the hardest to do are the things we must do. They make us stronger, more patient, compassionate, they improve us.

They give us the experiences in life which require focus, determination, tenacity and perseverance.

Doing hard things helps us to grow. At times those hard things may seem overwhelming and so you set a mini-goal.

Perhaps solving one problem at a time, improving a fault little by little, mending a relationship, gaining knowledge, overcoming pain, hurt, anger, depression or addiction. One hour at a time, one day at a time, one lesson at a time, one achievement at a time.

Triumph

When you reach the crest of a hill and you know within a minute you are will be at the top, you must push with that one last burst of energy that is hidden deep inside of you, but is always there.

For a brief second, just an instant, you are able to see the view from the top of the hill. The view is glorious, spectacular, breath taking and not because of what you may see, but because of what you feel ~ your moment of triumph.

You will feel your strength, your determination, tenacity and endurance, all of the those characteristics that helped get you to the top of the hill.

You can do it. I believe in you.

Then, you begin to run, down, down. No longer is a mini goal needed. Your breath begins to relax, no need to concentrate on the song to keep pace.

For a moment you have a repose, a rest from the intensity of pushing yourself, from doing something physically and mentally challenging.

Even though you know that there will always be another hill, you immerse yourself in the glory of running without effort. You feel light, you are floating, you are free from the burden of climbing the hill and all you can do is look in wonder and gratitude at what is around you.

You feel like you can fly.

Becoming a stronger you.

We cannot avoid running the hill, we must run it when it is there before us. We must not be discouraged if it not our best run, or our strongest, or fastest or our most successful. Running the hill will be different every time, because all hills are different. The constant lies in us and the tools we use from experience, to make the run bearable, to finish. Remember that each time you run the hill, you become a stronger you.

Run the hill, run the hill, run the hill. It is what I repeat over and over in my mind as I make the climb, both in running and in life.

If you’d like more information about Michele and running you can leave a message here below, contact her on twitter, or contact her on facebook.

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Posted in happiness, motivation, relationships

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Time flies when you’re having fun.

Posted on December 1, 2010 | 8 Comments

If you miss love, you miss life. ♡

Hey guys, thanks for stopping by my blog to check in on what is going on in my part of the woods. I appreciate the click. I haven’t written I believe for a couple of weeks although I still see a steady stream of visitors clicking over here. So thank you.

How ARE you? What is up? ‘Tsup out there?

I’m starting to freak out that Christmas is around the corner. First of all, can we just all agree that the Christmas decorations in the stores go up WAY too early? I know I’ve seen them since Halloween. It seems somewhere or another I catch a glimpse of how many days are left until Christmas. This countdown number is helpful and stressful.

I just LOVE the Christmas season yet I put a lot of pressure on myself as a mom and wife to make the season special. This includes the magic touches that I think make all of our lives special: cool decorations, candles, the Christmas tree, the lights, the pressies, the perfumes, the food and the music.

I am getting rid of the old to make room for the new.

That’s always a joy and a challenge. My kids seem to be growing WAY too fast. I keep hugging them to try to keep them from growing but they just squeeze by. I try to be a good mom and every day seem to fall short of that goal. I don’t know HOW my mom did it. It just seems like you need an ENDLESS amount of patience.

It also seems like there is NO knowing when the joy or sorrow moments are going to come. They just happen so you have to be ready for them. I suppose I can say this is teaching me to be a bit more elastic. I remember in my young single days living in my rent control apartment in Santa Monica how I liked everything just so. I liked to alphabetize my spices. I liked to have my clothes in my closet divided by type and color.

Ha ha ha.

{Those were the days my friend.}

We thought they’d never end. I remember my mom sang that when we were little in a play she was in. We have always been involved in theater and art. How wonderful.

I think the most wonderful thing about being a kid was seeing my mom’s art on the walls. In one of her classes she copied a Picasso. It was so cool to see the picture on the wall painted from different perspectives. In some way I think that gave me courage to pursue painting.

When I’m in the classroom, I like to tell the kids that we are ALL artists. We are ALL creative. God made us that way. I think anyone can do anything they set their minds out to do. It just takes will, patience and perhaps repetition.

You Can Do Anything

You can learn to paint, speak another language, construct houses, construct cities, cook, program, play ANY sport, even solving puzzles with a bit of conviction. I believe in you. I know you can do it if you set your mind to it.

What would you like to do if you could? I was thinking about learning how to knit a scarf for Christmas. Ha ha! As if I have time. :) In the mean time, I hope this little post finds you smiling, lovely, appreciative, lucky and in love.

Have a wonderful day and God bless.

Julie

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Posted in family, happiness, holidays

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LIfe is beautiful ~ Time for an Italian Vacation

Posted on August 13, 2010 | Leave a comment

Click on over for great Italian summer vacation info. ❀◕‿◕❀

Hey kids, welcome.

The month of August in Italy is dedicated towards tourism. So for your reading pleasure I’m directing you over to one of my favorite blogs, Bleeding Espresso.

Gita means trip. :)

Click on over. I know the blog writer Michelle has put some fantastic information together that not only is inspirational and informative, it’s like going on virtual vacation.

Julie

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Posted in holidays, Inspiration

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Reporting Live ~ Back from My Italian Seaside Vacation

Posted on July 26, 2010 | 2 Comments

Like This!

Hi guys, welcome back. New visitors, welcome. You might be new here, so please make sure to add a bookmark, add me on facebook or follow me on twitter at jbuliesblog.

✩ ♥ ❀ be a better person ✩

I just now am relaxing down to write about my latest vacation days at the beach with my family, old and new friends. I spent twelve total days at Marina di Ravenna on the Italian Adriatic Coast. Also, I had four visitors come by to keep me and da boyz company that included two great friends from Bologna, and my husband and mother in law when they weren’t working.

How do you feel about camping? Do you like to have your vacation in a five star hotel, at the lake waterskiing, or do you prefer camping? I think camping for kids is a great experience. As adults, I think we get used to our comforts.

Since I walked into my home only three hours ago, I have what I call fresh eyes on the entire vacation. Even though we had a fantastic time, this is one of those vacations when you kiss the floor when you walk into your house.

all work and no play makes jb a dull boy ✿ ♫

I joked a couple of weeks ago because I said I won’t be too sad about not going to California this summer because I’m consoling myself going to the Italian Riviera. I got a couple of laughs out of that. Now I’m going to give you the entire story, the good, the bad, the heat.

The good.

I finished two books. Yay! I love to read. I finished The Power of Now by Eckhart Toole and The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. Both were excellent. I came home to some great news.

love and friendship have no limits. ╰☆╮

you inspire me ╰☆╮¤°.¸¸.´¯`»¸¸.·☆ Thx Tana!

For one, my friend Tana has dedicated a blog article to me and I love her for that, so sweet. Another friend of mine, Liz, bless her heart, sent me the film Julie & Julia because she knows I don’t get to see films here for months after they come out.

Next time, when I go on vacation, hopefully I won’t have to be without internet for five days. I didn’t bring my camera, because quite frankly I had enough on my mind caring for two rather small kids.

Okay. The trip.

We went to a place called Marina di Ravenna which is found straight east of here. You can drive it in about an hour. We stayed at my mother in law’s camp ground that is private. BUT there is NO running water in the camper, or better yet, no drainage. Well, there is running water, but I didn’t use it because I didn’t want to empty the containers by hauling waste. Yikes!

The GREAT parts.

I like to think of six impossible things before breakfast. ✿ ♫

I like to think of six impossible things before breakfast. ✿ ♫

We were walking distance to the beach that took no more than five minutes. My mother in law has a reserved umbrella set up with two chaise lounges available for the summer season.

Who is coming to keep me company?

The nonna is working so she has left the camp site to our complete disposition. That is so overwhelmingly nice of her.

Here in Italy, the kids have entertainment. The way it works is that you can leave your kids with counselors at the camp ground park 10 to noon and four to six. I never did though, except yesterday when my kids did some coloring.

In the evening around 9:00 p.m. there is music and dancing. The kids love this because they are free to roam around the camp ground. Literally, I think there were about fifty kids running around playing hide and seek. They found some cats. They exchanged t shirts. They made friends. They played endlessly.

The WORST part.

There was no running water. Or, as I said, I didn’t use the running water in the camper. That meant to brush our teeth we had to walk about three minutes down the gravel path to a common bathroom. Sure, it was super clean and organized but I just hated having people look at me while I brushed my teeth. I ended up brushing in the camper. Ugh.

It wasn’t so easy to get my kids to brush either.

Great

The Adriatic sea water was clean, salty ~ the air good for you. The kids got a little inflatable boat and spent hours upon hours playing in the light waves while I read.

Bad

There was too much sun and I don’t like being tan. I seriously don’t like being out in the sun too long. I stayed in the shade as much as possible worrying about my kids getting too much sun.

Great

Watching my boys being brothers. I cannot emphisize how happy that makes my mother’s heart. My little guys were playing billiards together, helping each other. Every time I look, they are together. We all spent HOURS on bikes. That was super cool because there was a shady bike path.

Overall

A nice Italian vacation on the coast? Well, why not. I liked it. I just have certain things I cannot live without, like internet, like my washer dryer, like running water, like a cool place to hang my hat.

Next time

Time share of course. I married a man with a time share. We still have two or three more weeks of vacation coming up and love my honey, we get four and five star treatment from here on in. Yay. We plan on going to the mountains to cool off and to Umbria that is just striking.

Well, thanks for reading, thanks for your comments.

My question to you is this. Camping? Can you take it? Does it build character? Best holiday? Worst holiday? Any stories you care to share are appreciated.

Julie

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Posted in happiness, holidays, Inspiration, Italy, journal, motivation, relationships

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