Tag Archive | inspiration

30 Days of Photos – Day 20 {Jenny, Jenny, I got your number} <3

Aug25

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“You don’t know me but you make me so happy…” ❤

Isn't it amazing how someone who doesn't even know we exist, maybe doesn't care or give any thought to us, can still just put a big smile on our face?

😀

Smile! You never know who you are inspiring, whose heart you are capturing even if you don't know it!

It can be quite painful but it’s ok to not be loved back, all that matters is that we keep loving and wishing everyone the best. ❤

Day 20 of the 30 Days photo challenge, was August 20th for me and that day I took a picture of a page in my daily quotes book.

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It has numbers on it, which is the topic of the day, and also some words of wisdom about laughter. I truly believe that laughter IS the best medicine.

Laughing & smiling can lighten a heavy heart no matter what is going on. 😀

Also, I took this picture a couple days before Day 20 and I think it’s a good one.

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And here is the lovely song!

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8675309 – desktop

One day, not so long ago, my dad was blasting this song and singing it to my mom and she was appalled because it seems to be about a promiscuous girl. And her name isn’t Jenny. lol

Like I often say, whatever floats your boat! As long as we are not hurting and directly interferring with others, we should be able to do as we please.

oh, yes, and I heard, many years ago, that this was the girl’s real phone number and she had to get it changed. lmao

😀

❤ ❤ Much0 love to you tonight and always! ❤

xoxo Kim

30 Days of Photos – Day 19 {places} <3

Aug25

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“There are places I remember
All my life, though some have changed
Some forever, not for better
And some have gone, and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I love them all”

Day 19 for the 30 Days photo challenge, which for me was August 19, our goal is to get a picture of places.

Here are my pics!

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This is me outside of a movie theatre going to see the movie “Dark Places.”

And here is me yesterday at work:

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One of my favorite songs is Bette Midler’s version of In My Life .

In My Life – mobile

In My Life – desktop

Much love to you,<3

xoxo Kim 😀

It’s beginning to look a lot like….Fall?!

Aug22

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“By all these lovely tokens September days are here, With summer’s best of weather And autumn’s best of cheer.” ~
Helen Hunt Jackson

As much as I LOVE Fall and am absolutely thrilled that it is almost here…sort of, I feel a tinge of sadness whenever I hear someone talk about the “end of summer.” Part of me even wants to yell it’s not the end! It’s still only August! We have the rest of August and the whole month of September almost!

I have been cherishing every bit of Summer. The warm and cool breezes, the bright green leaves and flying insects all around, the Summer nights with the bright moon and crickets chirping and the vibrant green light of the fireflies, the fragrances of green and wet Earth, the golden sun, the flowers…all of it. Well, all of it except for the disgusting heatwaves. I will never love 100 degrees weather and heatwave after heatwave. 

But my heart dances with joy when I think about how soon pumpkin coffee will be here(i think it already is here in some places but eww, it’s August, it’s not pumpkin season yet! Pumpkin coffee is made for cool nights with crunchy leaves floating around under an Autumn sky, not for hot, humid, sticky Summer nights!)!! 
And pumpkin smoothies and donuts and crispy colored leaves all over the ground! And cool nights and hoodies and the Eastern State Penitentiary haunted prison attraction! Who is not thrilled for all that?!

It’s absolutely amazing how just the thought of a certain season or weather can have me in a state of like pure ecstasy.  Something as simple as that. Like I just won a billion dollar lottery or got an amazing new job or am falling in love. I AM in love but at this moment it’s not romantic love for a person but love for life itself.

I love when I can feel this way.

And it’s not only when it’s my favorite seasons. I can feel it any part of the year, just out of the blue. It’s not a regular/general kind of happiness like I usually experience. It’s like a thrill that is usually reserved for when something out of the ordinary happens but I feel it out of the blue even when nothing unusual happens. It’s not a quiet serenity or calm bliss. It’s more of an ecstatic joy. And I love it! 

“Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of chance and none can say why some fields will blossom while others lay brown beneath the August sun.” ~
Kent Nerburn

So here are some of the sweet signs of Autumn I have encountered:

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These may not really be Fall leaves but they sure are crisp and colorful! And quite lovely. 

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Today?! It’s only August but I guess it’s never too early to start preparing for flubug prevention! So influenza season is right around the corner, which means that pumpkin patches, haunted attractions, Halloween, hayrides, and other lovely Fall gems are too, so at least there’s a bright side! 😀

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But let’s not forget it’s still Summer and have fun basking in all of the end of Summer treasures like this little thing here:

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What in the world is this beautiful creature? He hisses real loud and flies in people’s faces scaring the piss out of them. He is BIG! Like gargantuan. Like bigger than a large butterfly.
Bigger than he looks in the pictures. 
 He has been hanging outside my work for a few nights and one night he came up to a man and grabbed his dollar and the man pulled it back and the thing hissed and flew away. Lol It was hilarious! He is really cute and I hope he lives a long, happy life wherever he goes. I kept trying to get him to put him in a safe place but then decided that he would just fly wherever he wants anyway and I don’t want to provoke a heart attack in him by scaring him silly when I’m trying to pick him up. 

He flew into the window with a loud thwack and I thought someone threw something at me until I saw him. 

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I love him. ❤

😀

Good day or night to you!

Xoxo Kim ❤

Warrior of the Light

Aug17

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“A Warrior of the Light is never predictable.

He might dance down the street on his way to work, gaze into the eyes of a complete stranger and speak of love at first sight, or defend an apparently absurd idea. Warriors of the Light allow themselves days like these.

He is not afraid to weep over ancient sorrows or feel joy at new discoveries. When he feels that the moment has arrived, he drops everything and goes off on some long-dreamed-of adventure. When he realizes that he can do no more, he abandons the fight, but never blames himself for having committed a few unexpected acts of folly. 

A Warrior does not spend his days trying to play the role that others have chosen for him.” 

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This is a page out of a book I’m reading by Paulo Coelho, called “Warrior of the Light.”

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It’s a book of wisdom about embracing life for all that it is. ❤

I love this message I found on page 11! It's beautiful and grounded in so much wisdom and love for life. ❤

It is my hope that it will inspire someone else like it inspires me. 😀

I'm wishing you much love & light. ❤

Xoxo Kim 

Head in the clouds {cloudy update} <3

Aug16

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❤

In my last post I wrote about how there were no clouds today. But now there are! Just a few but I’m sharing the photos of the ones I captured and some quotes!

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“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.” ~  Rabindranath Tagore

“Forests, lakes, and rivers, clouds and winds, stars and flowers, stupendous glaciers and crystal snowflakes – every form of animate or inanimate existence, leaves its impress upon the soul of man.” ~
Orison Swett Marden

“People ask me when I’ll get my head out of the clouds, I tell them never, I like this view.”

Much0 love to you!

❤ 😀

~ Kim

30 Days of Photos – Day 16 – {Beauty Up Above} <3

Aug16

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“There’s beauty up above and things we never take notice of
You wake up and suddenly you’re in love.” ~ Billy Ocean ❤

Our goal for Day 16 of the 30 days challenge is to get a picture of clouds! One of my favorite things to get pictures of. Everyday for the last few days, maybe even a week, there have been beautiful clouds in a beautiful bright blue sky and even on the rainy gray day, there were some pretty pearly clouds!

But today there’s not one cloud in the sky which is very unfortunate since today is the day for clouds (for me, you can start the photo challenge any day you want). I’m annoyed. 

So here are my clouds for the day:

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On Tuesday, August 11th, there were some stunning clouds. Unusual ones. Rainy ones. Delicate pearl white with like silvery outlines. 
I don’t see ones like those ones much. I don’t know exactly how to explain in words what they were like but they weren’t bright white and not really gray. But they were bright and white just in a different way. They were kind of like translucent maybe.

And in some parts of the sky there was like a hint of pink and orange trimming the clouds. 

Then later the clouds were more dramatic with a beautiful setting sun. I remember the date because I had a splitting headache that day, worse than usual and it really stood out(one of the benefits of having terrible headaches – things stand out in ways they usually don’t to someone without excruciating, agonizing headaches). But August 11th, for me, wasn’t the day for clouds but for landscape, seascape, or urbanscape photos. Too bad. 

I got some pretty cloud pics that day though! 

Here they are:

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And here is one later in the day:

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They were prettier in person. But these pics will have to do since I can’t bring back the actual clouds that day and even if I could, I wouldn’t be able to share them through the Internet, physically (yet – but who knows what technology is currently being conjured up?!). 

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This picture turned out not how I intended because I was in my dad’s car and was trying to get a picture of a building (this is August 12th, the day for me to get pics of buildings), and he started to drive away. So my picture got messed up. But I LOVE how the reflection of the blue sky and clouds can be seen in the car windows. 

I love reflections and shadows! Both of which are the subjects for two days in the 30 days challenge!  😀

This is my very favorite kind of sky! In the photo above with the reflection. Bright blue with fluffy white clouds.

Tomorrow is the day for mannequins! This shall be interesting! I’ll have to go traveling to find a creepy mannequin! Those things really are kind of on the creep side. And they’re often missing heads!  

So I’ll be seeing what I can find! 

Good day to you! Or night! 

I hope it’s a good one!! ❤ 😀

Suddenly – Billy Ocean – mobile

Suddenly – Billy Ocean – desktop

xoxo Kim ❤

30 Days of Photos – Day 15 – {Where You Lead} <3

Aug16

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“Loving you the way I do 
I know we’re gonna make it through 
And I will go 
to the ends of the earth, 
’cause darling, to me that’s what you’re worth 
Where You Lead 
I will follow 
Anywhere that you tell me to 
If you need-(If)you need me to be with you 
I will follow 
Where you lead” ~Carole King/Louise Goffin   

Day 15 is intended to be a day for leading lines. It’s one of my favorite topics. But another one I don’t quite have down yet and have much to learn! It’s fascinating and an opportunity to get creative! But I got some sorry excuses for leading lines photos today! I intended to go out and get pictures but my mom, sister, and my dad went out and I stayed home and watched the dogs. They tear the house apart when we’re out so it’s good if someone stays home. And also I wasn’t sure if I would be back in time for work if I went with them. So, at work is where I decided to get the pictures since it would have been dark outside after work. I probably could have found things at home but just decided to get them at work! 😀

I am reminded of a couple lessons. Again, something is better than nothing/it’s the attempt that counts. And also I feel that my brain is being pushed to be creative even more than if I were outside since being in a store/work there is less obvious things to get pictures of! So I felt my brain working hard, looking at ordinary things in different ways even more than usual. Not that these pics are creative, they kind of suck(although I like the fan one!). But still, I’m reminded that all we have to do is look and open our minds and there’s bound to be something to take a picture of that is kind of ok even if it’s not brilliant. 

It’s not really about the subject of our pictures but how we look at things, our feeling of inspiration, and our passion.

So here are my pictures for August 15th:

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I like this one too. The color & texture help to make it more interesting than just a stack of paper bags.

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lol

And here is a sweet song by Carole King. I love the mother-daughter version she sings with her daughter Louise.

Where You Lead mobile

Where You Lead desktop

I hope you are having a wonderful day/night!

It’s about to be 12:00am here in Philadelphia! Sweet dreams! ❤

xoxo Kim 😀

30 Days of Photos – Day 13 – {I’m Beautiful Dammit} <3

Aug14

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“Well, I woke up one morning,
flossed my teeth and decided,
“Damn, I’m fierce!” You look good!
You can be just like me! A goddess? Yeah!
Don’t just pussyfoot around and sit on your assets.
Unleash your ferocity upon an unsuspecting world.
Rise up and repeat after me: ‘I’m beautiful!'”

Day 13 of the 30 day photo challenge is to get a picture of our own self, specifically the face.

I got quite a few pics of me today! August 13th. Here goes:

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And without makeup:
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And here’s a few recent ones but not today ones:

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I’m not usually this vain! Although I do love taking pictures of myself! I’m just having super, super fun with this photo challenge, taking new pictures for the topic of the day and going back and finding previous ones! 😀 And today happens to be photo of the self day! lol ❤

And here is a song I love, featuring Bette Midler:

I’m Beautiful – mobile

I’m Beautiful – desktop

❤

I love this song about celebrating our own and each other's beauty which includes physical beauty. There's nothing wrong with appreciating the physical beauty of a woman, including our own. It's fantastic to celebrate!  

We're often made to feel that physical beauty is wrong to celebrate, that it's shallow or stuck up or wrong to others who may not feel as beautiful. But it's not shallow or objectification  unless that's all we see and care about and it's not stuck up unless we act like we are better than others. And loving our own selves, expressing our appreciation for our own beauty in a truly loving way can inspire others to do the same with their own beauty. 

The most important beauty, in my opinion, is within. But that doesn't mean we should not also cherish the physical.

And physical beauty comes in various forms, dark, light, big, small, tall, short, long hair, short hair, blonde hair, black hair, gray hair, orange hair, blue eyes, brown eyes, wrinkles, curvy, scarred, stick thin, tattoos, young, old, middle age….there's no specific definition but we can cherish it when we encounter it. ❤

Also, non physical beauty comes in various forms, tender and quiet, fierce and assertive, loud and bold, simple and laid back, bitchy or syrupy sweet, inquisitive or just going with the flow, badass or gentle, witty and funny or thoughtful and warm, motivated or not…or a combination of all of these things. Let's embrace all that we are while encouraging, accepting, and building up others. 

Let's celebrate our own and each other's inner & outer beauty! ❤

I love how in the song she acknowledges her own beauty & strength while encouraging others to do the same. Confidence is sexy and it's even sexier when it's humble enough to allow other people to be just what they are and seeing beauty in it. 

And in this song, they make it clear that we are not “too” anything. We are perfect how we are. 

“I'm not too short, I'm not too tall,
I'm not too big, I'm not too small.
Ooh, don't lemme start lovin' myself!
Ooh, don't lemme start lovin' myself!
I'm not too white, I'm not too black,
I'm not too this, I'm not too that.
Ooh, don't lemme start lovin' myself!
Ooh, don't lemme start lovin' myself!
I'm beautiful, I'm beautiful, I'm beautiful, dammit!”

And it's our responsibility to live how we want to live and maintain our own happiness no matter what other people say, do, or think.

“Too wack, too smart, too fast, too fine,
too loud, too tough, too too divine.
I said you don't belong. You don't belong.
Too loud, too big, too much to bear,
too bold, too brash, too prone to swear.
I heard that song for much too long.
Ain't this my sun? Ain't this my moon?
Ain't this my world to be who I choose?
Ain't this my song? Ain't this my movie?
Ain't this my world? I know I can do it.”

It's one of those “feel good” songs it's almost impossible to hear or read the lyrics and not be inspired and uplifted. It's a combination of inspiring, upbeat, and funny. They encourage us to feel beautiful and not just feel it but scream it off the rooftops! 😀

If you got it, flaunt it! And if you don't, flaunt it anyway! 

(many years ago at work, my coworker, who was struggling with body image issues, said this. She came to work wearing tight, revealing clothing and decided to say to hell with society's definition of beautiful and sexy, just be what you are and flaunt it! It inspires me ever since. <3) 

Check out the 30 days photo challenge!

“I know who I am. I am not perfect. I’m not the most beautiful woman in the world. But I’m one of them.” ~ Mary J. Blige

Much love to you,

❤

Xoxo Kim 😀

30 Days of Photos – Day 12 – {build me up, buttercup <3}

Aug13

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Day 12, yesterday for me, August 12th, is the day for getting pictures of buildings.

My favorite buildings are in Center City, Philadelphia but I wasn’t there yesterday. So I will share a few I captured previously.

And one I got yesterday. The one above with the gorgeous blue sky. ❤

Buildings are my love. One of my favorite things to get pictures of!! I probably have like thousands. 

Yesterday as well as today, the sky was/is very vibrant blue dappled in big, fluffy, clouds! My very favorite kind of sky to look up to.

It's interesting because my favorite weather is gray, rainy, snowy, cold, cool, wintery, fall, with a chill in the air, dreary, barren…you know the weather that many/most seem to think is miserable and disgusting. But the sky is my favorite when I look up and it's an almost animated kind of blue with pearly white clouds drifting through the streaming golden sunlight. So beautiful. So inspiring.

Nothing brings me more alive. I feel a stirring  in me, a strange and beautiful pull, when I look around and up and see vivacious green trees, a blue, blue sky, golden beams of sun all around.

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The Blue Cross building, one of my favorite buildings. I never been inside.

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I hope you are having a sweet day/night! ❤

😀

xoxo Kim ❤

30 Days of Photos – Day 11 – {It’s the attempt that counts} <3

Aug13

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Day 11 I was supposed to get a landscape/urbanscape/seascape picture but I wasn’t anywhere to get any good ones, just out running some errands with my mom while having a very severe migraine-like headache, triggered by my chronic pain condition(tmjd/tmd). I had to lay down for a while.  But I was still happy and the headache eventually let up after a quick rest, blueberry iced coffee, and a handful of Tylenol. Tylenol, which works wonders for me for regular pain, does nothing for these horrific headaches brought on by my condition, but sometimes it takes the edge off for certain pain before the pain begins to get severe or after the pain begins to end. But often only when I take like eight at once (which a doctor I used to have told me to stop because it is dangerous to the liver. But I can’t think of my liver and what may happen to it in the future when I’m in excruciating agony right now.) Not for all my tmjd related pain and not when it’s too bad already, but some. This headache was ending anyway and I took Tylenol to try to hasten the ending process. It seemed to work! Or could have merely been a coincidence! Who knows?! Or cares?! All that matters is it ended! I don’t usually take medicine because it doesn’t usually work. And Tylenol works the best when it does work. 

But I did get a couple pictures that I tried to come as close as possible to make constitute as a landscape or urbanscape photo. I don’t think I succeeded very well but trying (especially with one of the worst (migraine-like) headaches of my life) is success enough!! 

This was Tuesday, August 11th! It was a lovely rainy day. 

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I won’t ever let a devestating headache or any pain stop me or hold me back. It won’t kill my inspiration, only inspire me more deeply.

Check out the photo challenge here!

Much love to you,

❤

xoxo Kim 😀