What if you found $40,000!!?

I heard this story on the radio last night and it pulled on my heart strings!! If you went today and bought a couch at a thrift shop and found a nice surprise tucked in your new couch cushions....... and by a nice surprise I mean envelopes of money!!! What would you do??
Well these New York students did the right thing when they found themselves in this situation this past week.
Three young men went to buy this old $20.00 couch and when taking their first seat they found envelopes with a woman's name on them. Inside these envelopes was the name's life savings of $40,000. While in the hospital for a broken hip her children sold the couch not knowing the true value of the old thing. The boys did the right thing and reached out to the name on the envelope. They were rewarded with $1,000 for returning the money and the knowing that they did the right thing. What sweethearts their mama's raised those boys right.
:)

Flash Mob for Amy

Some of us have had to deal with the death of a loved one way to soon. But what do you do when something as tragic as cancer ends up on your doorstep?
I hope my family would rejoice like Amy's did when they found out about her ovarian cancer. They did not dwell on the outcome, but instead reminded Amy what she lives for. What we all should live for.... the people we care about most.
I can only hope my loved ones will surprise me with a flash mob of 50 people when I need it most!!!
We all need to learn to celebrate our lives and what we live for!!
Check it out!
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=e2wjpopJf_E

Anxiety

Do you suffer from anxiety? Here's some food for thought and another reason you should get out your yoga mat!!
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5352548/

Tips

Who has tips on self tanning? I am so tired of being pale and let's face it everything looks smaller when tan!! I have tried so many brands and yes I end up tan, but also like a Dalmatian.  My girlfriend who is the master of the self tan tells me to mix it with lotion. But I always end up going straight for a spray can. I'm trying out this Neutrogena micro mist airbrush sunless tan 

Wish me luck! 

Any tips for next time? 

Passion

For as long as I can remember people have not been able to understand me....not even in the slightest. I am different. I accept this, but what I can not accept is the people I care about not being able to see through what the average eye sees. I do not allow just anyone in because I am scared of the outcome. I do not expect them to understand, but only to look past what seems like flaws from an outside perspective to find the good that people that really know me can find.  My passion is and always will be my biggest downfall. I do not know how to separate my passion for my relationships with caring so much it hurts from my anger that lashes out so hard it destroys. My passion will always be replaced with anger I have fought to control it, but instead I have let it ruin some of the most important relationships to me. At the end of the day there is only one friendship that I wish I could change the outcome of......that I feel was a victim of this characteristic of myself that I wish I could express differently.. it would be ours.. K.B 

Take your judgement elsewhere

Can not help it I love this clan! They put it all out there with a take it or leave it attitude.

Watch it grow

I currently live in a condo, but there is not a day that goes by where I am not on my Internet search looking for a house for our little family. The main reason is my adventurous toddler NEEDS a backyard. Mama needs a backyard too because I am dying to start a garden. Not only to be proud of my beautiful flowers and feel accomplished the first time I cook with one of my delicious tomatoes, but for my daughter and me. For us to have a special hobby and place where we can go to watch our planets grow, but more importantly our relationship.
Nola (my daughter) loves flowers, so since we can not have our garden I dream of now we decided to start out smaller.
We are starting out with this...

A small plant we purchased for $5.99 and since then it has brightened both of our days ever since we bought it home, four days ago. When we bought it it did not have any buds, but as you can see in the picture above our beautiful flowers are starting to bloom. :)
I had no idea my two year old would not only enjoy are plant as much as she does, but understand the process of making it grow. Each day we have sat on our little patio, watered the plant, and then I sit back with a smile as Nola talks up a storm and loves on our baby. This is such a good activity in soo many ways, I urge you to try this one out.
It also makes for a fun activity just walking around looking at all the flowers while searching for your plant. 

"Pain goes away but it's never that far"

Days like today remind me why I started my blog in the first place. I wanted to inspire people to live life lighter and let go of whatever is holding them back. To remember each day is a new one and you can be WHOEVER you wanna be.

Our alter ego is in all of us, but each and everyone of us needs reminded of it.

I know I do. I believe there will always be ups and downs when your never really are able to let go of  an unforgettable pain from the past. It can be triggered inside of you from the slightest thing. A scent, taste, hearing a similar story..... before you know it your replaying a memory you thought you had erased. 

My goal in Find your alter ego is to not only to help any of you out there who need help fighting your demons and making your day a positive one, but to help myself. 

To practice what you preach. 

Canvas People

I am sure many of you have ordered canvas photos before, but they are my new obsession! When I hang my new photo that I absolutely love, all blown up it completely lightens the whole vibe of the room. 

I am now on my third canvas and have gotten the last two for only the cost of shipping!! So I wanted to make sure your going through the right company! There are a million in one companies to choose from, but as soon as I signed up with canvas people and bought my first photo I will not order from anyone else. 

I constantly have a new deal in my email that is too good to refuse!! 

www.canvaspeople.com 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

There are soo  many emotions that come along with motherhood, but the most important....love. The bond between mother and daughter is unexplainable. Today I send my love to all the mother's out there that are blessed enough to get to experience that bond and love every single day. I know we usually get all the gratitude, but lets count our lucky stars.

 

No excuses

Hey y'all so even though I have not posted about it I'm still keeping up with my 30 day challenge!! I'm still getting up for my 6 am hot yoga classes and I feel better than ever. On days I do not take a class I still try and dedicate 30 minutes a day to some sort of exercise. Now ladies I know it is sooo easy to use our children as an excuse to why we can not exercise. But let's all admit it is just that.... an excuse! So when ever your mini me is running around the park getting their exercise get off the bench and switch off from your squats, lunges, anything to get you moving!! If your babe is to young for the park, use nap time to your advantage!! Do a quick work out video on your on demand or netflix! No excuses!!

So I know I look a little silly here, but whatever it takes! Nola wanted to play in the sandbox so I got my squats in on a wobbly log! :)

empower

Within the past year I have fallen in love with Kate Spade. I can not begin to tell you how much I adore her. I adore her inspiring random one liners you find through out her collections and the bold one word statements. If I go to her site before a blink of in eye I have 30 items in my wish list!! Today when I got my daily email, she made me fall in love with her even more.
http://www.katespade.com/on-purpose/ks-shops-on-purpose,en_US,sc.html?cm_mmc=ExactTarget-_-05052014_45_CSR_KateSpadeOnline-_-05052014_45_CSR_KateSpadeOnline-_-http%3a%2f%2fwww.katespade.com%2fon-purpose%2fks-shops-on-purpose%2cen_US%2csc.html&utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=05052014_45_CSR_KateSpadeOnline&utm_content=http%3a%2f%2fwww.katespade.com%2fon-purpose%2fks-shops-on-purpose%2cen_US%2csc.html&extgid=extg_05052014_45_CSR

Click on the link above and find out what she's up to next and help support on purpose!!!

I know I'm getting this bracelet in several colors such a great cause!! 

photo of the day

These are mentality challenged parents who are raising their beautiful healthy little girl. This picture brings me to tears not because I feel bad for this family, but because this is inspiration for every mother and father out there who do not step up to the plate. Anything is possible when you set your mind to it. Our children are everything. What we teach them now is building the world they will live in when we are gone. To all you dead beat parents, I hope you wake up and realize your children need you.

Forgiveness

Every single day of my life I battle with trying to find the courage to forgive you. Our whole lives we have all been taught you must forgive who caused the pain in order to move past it. What if you have tried with all of who you are, but still find yourself holding on to the same grudges you have tried so hard to let go of?
It's like she wants it to be this way, I reach deep inside of me with hope I will wake up one morning and feel different...... but I don't. I know and believe God wants us to forgive over, over, and over again. But why can't it be that easy?
Matthew 18:21
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times? "Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."
I try again and again, but what if it is not a matter of forgiveness. What if it's character with in her that will never not repeat... what if she continues to hurt me over and over and over. Am I still suppose to continue to be opened armed and filled with forgiveness? A part of me gave up on you along time ago, but the other half still has faith.

Are any of you in this situation and have any type of inspiring insight?

Black Roses

I can see your eyes staring into mine. But it's a battlefield
and you're on the other side.
You can throw your words sharper than a knife.
And leave me cold
in another house on fire.

I lay low, lay low,
and I watch the bridges burn.
I lay low, lay low,
What more could I have done?

Now you only bring me black roses
And they crumble in the dust when they're held.
Now you only bring me black roses
Under your spell.

She told me twice, all her good advice.
But I couldn't see
I was clouded by your lies.
Up in smoke, a vision she foretold.
She said stay away
'cause that boy's a warning sign.

I lay low, lay low,
and watch the bridges burn.

Now you only bring me black roses.
And they crumble in the dust when they're held.
Now you only bring me black roses
Under your spell.

And I'm done try'na be the one,
Picking up the broken pieces.
And I'm done try'na be the one,
Who says I love you dear.
But I'm leaving.

Now you only bring me black roses.
And they crumble in the dust when they're held.
Now you only bring me black roses
But I'm not under your spell,
I'm not under your spell,

I'm not under your spell,
I'm not under your spell,
I'm not under your spell.

Oooooooh, oooh

Read more: Nashville Cast - Black Roses Lyrics | MetroLyrics

#bringbackourgirls

I'm sure a lot of you have heard of the abduction on April 15th where 300 girls ages 14 to 18 were taken from their school in Nigeria. While some escaped there are still over 200 girls being held hostage with a threat of being sold by a Islamist extremist group, Boko Haram. Today President Obama made a statement that the United States would do everything in its power to help bring these girls home to their families and find away to put a stop to organizations like this. Stories like these literally break my heart. It is not just an expression our children OUR the future it is a fact and it's up to us to give them the right stepping stones to build it. I will never under stand the mindset of these people, they should be wishing for nothing less then nurture and guidance for these children, but instead they rip them from their homes scaring them for life due to this traumatic event.
Any individual that follows a religion that believes "education is sinful" needs to immediately rethink their beliefs. Sorry, but that's my opinion..
My prayers go out to all these brave little girls that I pray will get home safely and be able to continue furthering their educations.

Giveaway for my hot mama's!!!!

Thanks to everyone who took the time to check out our blog giveaway! I have loved checking out your hot mama tips. We will know the winner soon!! :)

An angel who walked among us

"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone."

"As you grow older, you will discover you have two hands, one for helping yourself and one for helping others."

"Pick the day. Enjoy it - to the hilt. The day as it comes. People as they come... The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present - and I don't want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future."

That Special day back in 1929

Yesterday was a busy day for me so it's been bothering me all day that I did not get my post in before midnight to say Happy Birthday to one of my biggest influences. Not only is she one of the most inspiring icons for decades but I also consider her to be one of the biggest hearts to cross the big screen, in case you didn't guess yet...the answer is the stunning Audrey Hepburn. For as long as I can remember I have adored her for her undeniable poise, classic style, and her natural beauty. But as I've gotten older I now realize there was so much more to love about Ms.Hepburn.
Audrey played in 31 films and was one of the few people to ever win an academy, Grammy, Tony, and Emmy award but these were no where near her greatest accomplishments. Later in life she realized she wanted put her efforts and passion into something else that had always moved her. So from 1988 to 1992 she dedicated her life to  traveling the world with UNCIF visiting orphanages, walking the villages, and talking with leaders to try and fix life threatening issues. When you read her thoughts of her travels to the rough environments of south America, Somalia, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Japan, Sudan, and Turkey it deeply inspires me. Here is a quote from where you can find sad, but interesting details of her travels from "Audrey Hepburn- ambassador of children", this quote below can give you an idea how passionate she was about the hungry.
"I went into rebel country and saw mothers and their children who had walked for ten days, even three weeks, looking for food, settling onto the desert floor into makeshift camps where they may die. Horrible. That image is too much for me. The "Third World" is a term I don't like very much, because we're all one world. I want people to know that the largest part of humanity is suffering, that starvation exists even in a wealthy country like America - which is scandalous, a true disgrace...."
To me her biggest accomplishment was making her final trip in 1992 to Somalia just four short months before she died of cancer. She literally devoted herself  to making a difference in these starving malnourished children's life each step of the way until the day that she died. The world needs more people like this caring beauty. Audrey you inspire me with every step I take, Happy Birthday!! Know that you are remembered and adored.

30 day challenge

Bikini season is just around the corner, but when I took a look in the mirror I wanted to cry!! When my daughter was born I busted my butt to lose the eighty pounds I had gained. I got so close, but some how I became comfortable with almost to my goal weight.

 Now that my daughter is almost two years old I am wondering how I allowed myself to be satisfied with this extra 15 pounds I've been carrying around. 

So after being motivated by a dear friend I decided it is time to step out of my comfort zone and push myself for the month of May. It starts with Bikram's Hot Yoga three days a week at six am. Why on earth would I go to a six am class you ask...... because I have to go before my daughter wakes up or don't go at all. Which leads me to another part of my challenge..NO EXCUSES. We all can find an excuse not to work out because let's face it most of us do not enjoy working out until we see results! :) But we have to force ourselves to make it a priority. All of us want to be happy with the reflection we see in the mirror. 

The hardest part of my month of May challenge is to eat healthy. One thing I can not resist is carbs, salts, and sweets. So I have been trying to find healthy alternatives while still keeping things I enjoy in my diet. Eggs for breakfast, grilled chicken for lunch or dinner, and fruit for snacks. My main goal is to slowly cut out my favorite thing in the world... Dr.Pepper and absolutely no fast food!! It isn't easy, but a bikini bod is worth it. 

Start your own challenge for the month of May. Set your own guidelines no matter how big or small, but start tomorrow. You can do anything you set your mind to and there is nothing that can replace the feeling of setting a goal that seems impossible and accomplishing it. Take a before and after picture so you can look at your transformation and be proud.

Seems simple right... think again I almost passed out :)