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Friends of Every Kind..

“Enthusiasm finds the opportunities, and energy makes the most of them.” – Henry Hoskins

“A true critic ought to dwell rather upon excellencies than imperfections.” – Joseph Addison

“I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.” – Socrates

“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.” – Lao Tzu

Last week I spent some catch-up time with my friend, M. We visited Blend Cafe in Durham in the Golden Belt (which I didn’t even know existed before that day). I kind of knew a part of the Golden Belt, but I just didn’t know I knew. I’m confused, show of hands – who’s with me?! So I’d been to this place called The Scrap Exchange before, but because I entered the parking lot a different way, I was unaware of what awesomeness also existed in this chunk of the town. There’s Blend, The Cotton Room (a great event space), The Scrap Exchange, Liberty Arts, artist studios, a yoga studio, & a host of other venues. After lunch at Blend, we were given an unofficial tour of a few other locations. We ended up taking pictures on the dock – we were goofballs! Hope you enjoy our results!! ALSO – thanks to M, I now know that Obladi Oblada is a song by the Beatles. Yes, my music knowledge has improved immensely in recent years, peeps. Here’s a video of the song!

There was also one day where I spent the better part of an afternoon with my bfrand. I’ve seen many-a-day with this lady. It’s rare to find one (let alone two..my second person being my guy) person who gets you & has had a similar life path. Thanks to A&P (anatomy and physiology) I met this awesome chick and we’ve been together ever since. This particular day, we ventured to Cocoa & Cinnamon in downtown Durham. A pretty neat spot off Geer St. Where I was fascinated by this place called Motorco down the street. I still don’t know what was written on the sign some guy was standing next to..that will probably bother me for weeks. We visited Daisy Cakes before they closed (love their desserts!). It was B’s first time there. She approved : )

We wandered around downtown for a bit after that with Baby (my camera) in hand. We caught some pretty neat shots! One of my favorites is the one looking down the track. And it only took about 50 tries to get our reflection picture, but we did it! I could not imagine my life without this girl! Everyone should have a B in their life.

The next day, my cat and dog were especially clingy and looking so cute, so I got Baby back out. I went for a brief and freezing walk that morning and noticed how our flowers were starting to bloom outside. When the sun peeked out a bit more, I took Baby outside and clicked the shutter a few times.

It was nice to have a bit of free time last week & enjoy it with some special peeps!

I am thankful for: friends & pets!

A Bull creation outside Liberty Arts..way cool!

The dock

My gift from M – a necklace with a map of Maine!!!

2013: 02/19
CATEGORY: Animals I Heart
Artistic
Awesome Places
For A Good Cause
In My Own Words
Landscape
Musical Influences
Quotables
Special Peeps
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Those September Days..

sometimes it’s worth getting lost to see who will come looking for us. ~ robert brault ..via @TamaraLackey

“Anything is achievable. Be positive, be enthusiastic, and project confidence.” – Sarah Doukas

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.” ~Buddha

“Sing your song. Dance your dance. Tell your tale.” – Frank McCourt

Allow me to begin this post about September with a song entitled, “September” by a musical group you may know – Earth Wind & Fire. Thank happy goodness I was in Aromatherapy (maybe?) at the time. Regardless of the class name, my classmates helped me tremendously by thinking of this song title. I happily hummed the melody for the better part of 3 classes and one glorious day, S came to class and told me the name of the song! Here is a youtubed version of the song for your enjoyment..

My excitement and distractedness toward the middle of that month stemmed from one of the happiest events (I’ll venture to say) of my life. Yep, peeps, I said it – “of my life”. I have a valid reason..in the month of September, I met one of the greatest men ever. And no, I’m not just saying that because he’s my boyfriend. I’ll avoid getting too mushy on you and tell you of some of the best places we visited my first trip to Maine instead!

Our first date was to see the Portland Head Lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth, ME. So pretty! The weather was incredible the first day there and we got some pretty awesome pictures! We also got to see (and walk to) the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse. It was a long, but pretty fun walk in the rain mist. We saw tons of lobster buoys and passed a few other couples making the mile long walk along the breakwater to the lighthouse. That same day we met Andre..well, sort of..there is statue of Andre the seal, who was very popular in the ’70’s. Andre spent his summers in Rockport, ME and his winters in Boston, Mass. for over 20 years. We experienced a bit of Camden that same day – a town we plan to visit again for sure! We made the drive up to the park there which overlooks the bay only to be greeted by fog. Not to worry – it cleared! There were so many new discoveries and memorable places. Stay tuned for more!!

Honorable mentions:
**the grasshopper M and I found in his backyard – little dude was staring at me from behind the flower! Simultaneously way cool and way freaky.
**painting days with M – we painted outside – the weather was still pretty awesome, and one day we made an early Halloween craft, courtesy of Pinterest!

I am thankful for: airplanes, Andre, neat towns like Camden, the fog clearing (literally & figuratively), grasshoppers, paint, music, email.

Portland Head Lighthouse

Andre

The view as the fog cleared.

Walking the breakwater at the Breakwater Lighthouse in Rockland, ME. Standing at the lighthouse.

What we dubbed the halfway buoy.

2013: 02/13
CATEGORY: Awesome Places
Craft Time
In My Own Words
Landscape
Musical Influences
Special Peeps
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Hold Me & Dance..

DAY 254

9.10

“The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.” – Jimmy Johnson

“If you’re doing your best, you won’t have any time to worry about failure.” – H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

“Where there is love, there is life.” – Ghandi

“The purpose of life is a life of purpose.” – Robert Byrne

When a 2 year-old looks at you and says, “Brittany, hold me and dance!” your heart is bound to melt a little. Today was another great Monday with the tiny human. Lots of this new game I invented which involves running from the front of the house to the back of the house. Oh, and sometimes the small person will ask you to hold their hand whilst running – that’s difficult, friends.

I introduced him to the song “The Loco-Motion”. I can still remember the first time hearing that song as a kid. It was on a kid’s video about trains and all the kids were doing this little dance like they were the wheels of the train. Haha! Oh the things I recall.

After hanging with M during the day, I booked it over to school for a little reading time pre-class. I ended up being the nap monitor for a classmate and my teacher. Call me crazy, but I kind of think it’s like the best thing ever that our “desks” are actually massage tables and that the scenario of me being a nap lookout is like the coolest!

I am thankful for: the invention of the phone.

2012: 09/11
CATEGORY: Musical Influences
Quotables
Schooling Matters
Special Peeps
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Leafin’ It..

DAY 248

9.4

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller

“If you have the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed.” – David Viscott

I really love pictures of leaves! And this song..Enjoy!

I am thankful for: yellow leaves.

2012: 09/09
CATEGORY: Musical Influences
Quotables
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Last Minute Details..

DAY 246

9.2

“The wisest men follow their own direction.” – Euripides

“Realise that true happiness lies within you.” – Lucian

The last day of vacay with my homeslice we found Michael Jackson on a mini jukebox! Success was ours!

I managed to get a pretty cool shot of the metro the night before too!

I am thankful for: MJ songs & time with my Binstah!

2012: 09/09
CATEGORY: Awesome Places
Musical Influences
Quotables
Special Peeps
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C’mon Talk..

DAY 236

“It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy that makes happiness.” – Charles Sprugeon

“Rather than wishing for change, you first must be prepared to change.” – Catherine Pulsifer

“The secret of success is consistency of purpose.” – Benjamin Disraeli

“Improvement begins with I.” – Arnold H. Glasgow

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” — Mae West

“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.” – Hans Hofmann

Made one of the greatest discoveries today – a new musical talent introduced to me by Meredith. His name? Jarle Bernhoft.

Here is the little nugget of awesomeness I’ve been obsessed with all afternoon..”C’mon Talk”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxoiZZ8UBEY

I am thankful for: music.

2012: 08/23
CATEGORY: Musical Influences
Quotables
Special Peeps
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You May Say I’m A Dreamer..

DAY 225

“The greatest thing in the world is to know how to be one’s own self.” – Montaigne

“The quality, not the longevity, of one’s life is what is important.” – Martin Luther King

“It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.” – Seneca

“Confidence is a plant of slow growth in an aged bosom: youth is the season of credulity.” – William Pitt

“Nothing is predestined: The obstacles of your past can become the gateways that lead to new beginnings.” – Ralph Blum

..And you’d be correct! I’m currently viewing the Olympic Closing Ceremony. Yet another few hours of me feeling like there is nothing but good in this world! I’m only a tad optimistic. : )

Check this out – there was an article featuring the recent “ruins” of the Athens Olympic arenas. Seen here. It’s pretty wild to think that these places are so deserted and neglected knowing that they once were the place of great debuts, performances, and records.

Another great discovery I made via the Olympic Games was Phillip Phillips’ song “Home”. Have a listen!

The photo is of my view for the ceremony tonight. Finishing up cleaning the last corner of my room and studying, woohoo!

I am thankful for: unity.

2012: 08/12
CATEGORY: Musical Influences
Quotables
Reads
TV
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Squat Like A Chicken..

DAY 224

“There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept.” ~ Ansel Adams

“I’ve experienced many terrible things in my life, a few of which actually happened.” – Mark Twain

Another clinic day! I had great experiences that I can now add to my massage learning process. Met some great people, including one Cynthia Loving from Loving Scents! My teacher has talked about her for the longest time and it was a pleasure to finally meet her! And of course buy things! I think my neatest purchase was that of a necklace made in Taiwan by disabled women. It is gorgeous! Just look at the picture!

Also today, I finally listened to all of Alex Clare’s album – LOVE!!! Thanks, M!

Oh, so the title..I was describing my day to my mom and said something along the lines of “Yeah, I spent the whole day squatting like a chicken. But chickens don’t squat, do they?”

I am thankful for: aromatherapy.

2012: 08/11
CATEGORY: Craft Time
For A Good Cause
Musical Influences
Quotables
Schooling Matters
Special Peeps
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At The “Ding”, Turn The Page..

DAY 218

I know it is, because when I look at you, I can feel it. And I look at you, and I’m home. –Dory (Finding Nemo)

“To lose patience is to lose the battle.” – Mahatma Gandhi

“My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my life there.” – Charles Kettering

“I restore myself when I’m alone.” – Marilyn Monroe

“Pull the string, and it will follow wherever you wish. Push it, and it will go nowhere at all.” – Dwight Eisenhower

Reading has always been a huge part of my life. When I was little, my parents read to me. As I grew older, books became my place of refuge, camaraderie, & escape. Nothing has lasted so long in my life as my love of books & stories.

I love that I can share that with the tiny humans I get to spend my days with! They love stories. Each has his or her own preference, of course, but there is that hunger for knowledge, adventure, & escape!

Today, while looking for books for the little ones, I got a little piece of my childhood back. And I’m not just referring to the part of the day that involved testing out mattresses and bouncing on beds. My mommy gave me a Dr. Seuss book!! One that I’ve recently become even more fond of – Oh, the Places You’ll Go! I couldn’t be happier!! I also got The Little Red Caboose and Scuffy the Tugboat. Even my dad lit up when I showed him Scuffy!

I am thankful for: the gift of reading. alone and with others.

This is a song that’s been popping up a lot this week for me – I hope you enjoy!

2012: 08/05
CATEGORY: Awesome Places
In My Own Words
Musical Influences
Quotables
Reads
Special Peeps
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Take Me To The Sky..

DAY 186

“Our intention creates our reality.” – Wayne Dyer

Shoe shopping! First thing this morning, mommy & I roadtripped it to Tanger Outlets in Mebane for new shoes. I’ll be starting clinic next week and need to break in a new pair of comfy and supportive shoes. I found them! And then discovered their flamboyant cousin – my new running shoes! I don’t care if it means early mornings or late nights – I will be running. I love running and have missed it for a very long time. It’s high time I find my ground again.

We toured the outlets for a while longer. Retail associates doing their best to lure us into their air conditioned stores, which worked a few times. It’s always nice when you find what you’re looking for first and then have time to browse. Once home, I decided to wash my car. ‘Twas way overdue. This song kept me company [I decided to skip whistling while I worked]. It was also the inspiration for the title.

This afternoon, M and I decided to meet up, tour Franklin Street for a bit and then head over to Keenan Stadium at UNC for fireworks. We finally found the Pita Pit was open – having passed several places that closed early for the 4th. The lady was such a sweetheart & the food was delish! We made it back to the car, high tailed it to the parking deck, & M suggested snapping a few pics for the #yogaanywhere initiative that has been featured and shared on Twitter. Absolutely love it! Tonight’s featured poses: eagle, dancer, tree, and warrior 2 & 3. We walked to Keenan, were given free glow stick necklaces (woohoo!), and Vitamin Water (double woohoo!). Once inside the stadium, we were entertained by the most adorable 3-year-old girl. She was dancing to every song the Franklin St. Band played. And she was really into it! The wave made an appearance as did 6 beach balls (all of which made a disappearance as well, to the lower level). The band was great, fireworks were amazing, & photo sesh post-fireworks was so much fun!

Happy 4th of July!!

I am thankful for: the everyday reminders given to us by kids’ actions – be yourself, don’t be ashamed, have fun with life!