27 days until Christmas...Imagine 300+ days

I wonder how many people don't see many of their families until the holidays.

300+ days of not seeing and possibly speaking with family, then one day or maybe two they all get together. Strangers at best trying to find out all the scoop of one another in a short time, in the sake of the holiday cheer.


Imagine keeping in touch much more often than that.....


I wonder how many people dread seeing their family during the holidays.

300+ days of ignoring certain family members because of drama, dislikes, disagreements and/or just because you have better things to do.  Then you show up and find yourself forcing a one day or maybe two of a family relationship.  Just to dread it for 300+ days again.


Imagine just accepting someone as they are knowing that everyone has a reason for being who they are.


I wonder how many people for selfish reasons prefer to be with friends or even strangers at a party, rather then be with family.

300+ days of seeing friends, meeting people and yet still on the holiday you rather be with them then give up some time for family.


Imagine getting them all together.  Just throwing your own party and inviting them all.  Would it be fun?


I wonder how many people are alone in the holidays.  Weeping for the lost ones, the forgotten ones and themselves.

300+ days of loneliness compounded on a day or maybe two where everywhere you turn you see it's time for togetherness.


Imagine how that person would feel being invited to spend a day or maybe two among company.


I wonder how many people will read this and agree and yet still do the same.


Imagine if for this holiday season we would extend ourselves, change our routine and just be...


Oh the possibilities of it carrying for 300+ days more.

Inspiration me....change

I have been allowing the serenity prayer to marinade in my brain....


God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference.

It is in reading this in reverse that I have found it the best way to understand.  The wisdom to know the difference.....

I have spent the better part of two weeks thinking.  When ones life is completely in chaos one must stop, listen and breath.


My breath caught up to me in the place it always does.....the mountains.  It took so long to get there, the commute exhausts me.  Two days in a weekend goes like two hours.  Thanks to the holiday I had two days to rest and two days to get to Serenity and come to peace.


Talking to my Uncle and Aunt does something for me.  Allows me to hear my own voice.  These days one can't have a conversation without interruption.  There...I can talk, repeat and recycle until I understand....me.

I understood what I already knew I just understood further.  I understood that it was time to take action.  If my life were a pie half would be commute and work.  A quarter would be family and the last quarter would be a monotonous occurrence.  Something that doesn't change no matter the hope or belief.  Something that I allow even though no one should.

So there I have it.  I know where the difference is and it is long past time that I make a change and relieve some of life's stress and turmoil.


I can't change family, they are for keeps, what I can change is how much I allow.  This is a good acceptance and I have been working on it.  It's not enough to remove chaos.

I can't change my commute, no matter where I move it's the same hell.  If I leave Jersey again it will be to a year long warmer climate state.  Economically this isn't the time.  I can't change or control this yet.

The pie leaves me with the last quarter.  This I can change, this I can control.  This will give me a quarter of my life where for a while it will hurt, it will despair me but there will be hope that it will become a quarter filled.  Filled with something that is mundane, a monotonous occurrence or momentary respite.

One quarter hope.  One quarter faith.  One quarter relief.  That's a whole lot more then I have had in the last 3 years.


I accept the things I can not change (and hope and have faith that in time it will).
I have the courage to change the things I can (and know that the pain will ease as it should).
I have the wisdom to know the difference (and that was a long time coming).


Letting go, letting be, letting me.  That is my new mantra.

Beauty in the mail

BEST BIRTHDAY GIFT

A friend of mine gave me the most wonderful birthday gift this year.  A six month prepaid subscription to Sample Society.

Anyone who knows me will say that I hate shopping.  I will pick one thing and get the standard brown, blue or black.  Simple and consistent.  Makeup is just as routine.

To get me out of my comfort zone with colors and also to help me with my dread for shopping, she signed me up for this wonderful treat.  She is familiar with my subscription with Allure (love that mag) and began buying it herself when she found this service.

I began to investigate further and found some gems.  I will post each beauty in the mail type business in separate posts.  I will start with my fav.

SAMPLE SOCIETY

Sample Society is an online service by Beautybar.com.  This service will send you on a monthly basis FIVE deluxe-sized samples from luxury brands like....

Strivectin, Erno Laszlo, DDF, Deborah Lippmann, Oscar de la Renta
to name just a few.

The subscription price is a dreamy $15 per month.  If you have commitment issues you can cancel anytime.

I also got a nifty $15 coupon in the box to use against any full size purchase of the samples.  AWESOME!

I loved all the samples in my first bag.  Here's what I got:

Dermalogica Precleanse Deluxe sample

(LOVE THIS, I plan on buying a full size, although the sample has lasted 2 weeks so far and I use it daily)


Alterna Bamboo Smooth Kendi Dry Oil Mist - this baby just makes my hair shine without any greasy feeling.


Diego dalla palma The Lipstick Deluxe Sample #42-Frost Golden Brick.
I was not too fond of this color for my skin tone but the texture was great for a lipstick.

L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream Deluxe Sample
This hand cream is smooth and smells clean and fresh.  I really liked it and would purchase just for travels.  Great handbag cream.


Diptyque Volutes Eau de Toilette Deluxe Sample

The sample was one of those tiny vials.  Loved the scent but I am not a perfume person.  It is really is a romantic, will wear when going out to impress scent.  Not too heavy nor floral.

All that for $15?????  I was very surprised and pleasantly so.

I mean I get to actually test nice size samples of things for only $15 a month?  Yeah!  I'm keeping and extending this subscription.

I don't know about  you but I thought this gift was BRILLIANT!  I not only love my samples, but I love that on a monthly basis I get a box with some surprises in it.  Kinda makes it feel like it's my birthday every month.

I think this is a great gift idea, the kind that keeps on giving!

The next sample/beauty in a bag posting will be on Little Black Bag.  This one is just plain dangerously addictive.  There's trading and choosing and deadlines OH MY!

Until then click below to see Allure magazines list of beauty sample boxes by mail.  I will only post on those I have tried...curious about the Birchbox one though:

ALLURE

4 things to keep in mind when blogging

I read blogs...ALOT and I have noticed some things that for the most part lacks etiquette.

1.  Follow me! Follow me!

Having followers is great.  It tells you that your hard work and written material are liked and hopefully shared.  But are you following back?  Are you even taking the time to see who your followers are?  Do they have a blog?

Step outside of your blog box and see what others have to say.  Check out their sites as well you may be pleasantly surprised. Perhaps their site is not to your liking...how would you know?

I'm not a numbers person, heck my blog doesn't even have a follow me link.  I rather subscribers - come look when you like and leave when you like.  Most of my followers subscribers are from my International penpal profile and have been reading for years.  However, I have seen blogs that are looking to increase their numbers in followers whether for a cause listed, contests they are participating in or to spread important news.  Be kind and meet your followers and visit their blogs.

You don't have to follow all, you may be surprised at some real fascinating writers.

2.  Got your Widgets on?

I am a Google Plus fan.  Although I keep my Facebook page active I am rarely on.  I have hundreds more in G+ than Facebook.  Add all ways for someone to LIKE or + your blog.  Keep updated with social networks and add their widgets so more visitors and followers can spread the word.

3.  You talkin to me?

I don't always comment but I have a pet peeve of commenting and noticing a stream of comments where the blogger has not acknowledged, responded or appreciated them.  I often think - Why bother? Are they even reading it?  A quick note is all it takes most especially if the comment is in the form of a question.

4.  Spread it like Country Crock butter!

Love a blog? Got a chuckle? Spread the word link.  Don't be so greedy, let someone else know about a great post, article, blog, story or better yet tid bits of a book (love me some of those).  Add a note so your followers know why you recommend the link/blog.  I do it all the time and it's not time consuming, heck in Twitter you only have 140 characters. Short and sweet is best.

Well...that's it.  I have to go and read me some blogs!

Twitter, Facebook, G+ Oh My...can I have a TweetDeck?

In my humble opinion...

I keep hearing/reading of the same complaint.  Now I have more sites to check.  Social Network bombarding is getting the best of us.

I have been testing the TweetDeck from Twitter.  Since joining the G+ craze I have found myself on Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and G+ to name a few.  I have to say that going browsing from tab to tab has been a bit much, especially when I have several other tabs going on.

Someone mentioned TweetDeck but the Twitter was only thinking of testing it.  I jumped right in.

At first glance you are a bit overwhelmed.  Once you start adding your accounts and populating  your columns it seems a bit much.  The more accounts and followers you add, the more activity all at once.  But after several minutes it became easier to follow.

As tweets and posts come in you see it populating, the most recent at top.  G+ is still not on this but I am down to one additional tab.  I get my wireless news, tech news and all other updates from my social networks on one page.

I like it.  I'm surprised that I like it.  Responding is easy either within the new tweet or post or at the top of the TweetDeck page where you will see a COMPOSE box.  Once you start typing the box extends to show an icon of your accounts, you can pick which to send from.

Notification can be selected with the option of pop up and/or sound.

You can click on a post or tweet to check if you are following/friend them and can do so if you are not.  One click additional...works for me.

Worth a try for anyone that wants all their social buzzing on one page.  Not for those that can't tolerate too much on one screen.

Of course I am only one day in.  But I have been viewing, replying and following all through TweetDeck today.

If stars were the factor I would give it 3 out of 5.

Update to blog site

I will be revamping the site.  I want more space for different types of writing.  Stay tuned.

Twitter Is Removing Your @Mentions Folder. Here’s How To Get It Back. - AllTwitter

http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/twitter-is-removing-your-mentions-folder-heres-how-to-get-it-back_b12569#.TkVOao2nggg.blogger

G+ Chat: What is Google Plus?

G+ Chat: What is Google Plus?: "One week of testing Google Plus ( Google+ from here on) has left me confident that this is no Wave or Buzz. People 'get' Google+. It's intu..."

UPDATE

Watcher's Notes will be back shortly.....with a whole new frame of mind!!!!!!

HIATUS

Well folks, it's that time of year when I go into writing hiatus.  See you in a few months.

For inspirational material I shall continue with the writings of the below authors, I hope you will too:

Biting Back by Claudia Cunningham
Inner Power Wisdom by Dr. Antonia M.
The language of letting go by Melody Beattie
and the many works of Dr. Dyer.

This site as well as Facebook will be deactivated.

Happy Spring Folks!

~gracey

Update

Sorry folks, had some issues with getting into my own blog.  I shall be posting all the crap I couldn't write in the last couple of weeks.  Get your bitter juice ready!

Sister Wives...yep, I watched it

Sister Wives...yep, I watched it and it is as disgusting and stupid as I thought it would be, give me back my channel 5 and 9!

For those that have not tormented themselves, the wives are not actual sisters.  Up until the season finale there were 3 wives (20, 17 and 16 years married), with those wives he has a total of 12 kids plus one on the way.  (I wonder who pays for the medical on the non legal wives and their kids).

The show tries to tell you that he is innocent.  It is the wives that want the multiple marriages.  The first and only legal wife acts like a scouting ant and trolls for an addition to the 'fold'.  The other two do a 50/50 of sulking and approving.  Then there is the latest victim/potential wife, she has 3 kids of her own (I wonder what the father (divorced) of those children think of her going all Poly and shit).  She lives 5 hours away and he must travel there to 'court' her.

So.....he is 'really' only doing what his 1st, 2nd and 3rd wife want, for him to get another wife.  Yet, throughout the show you hear them complaining about it.  The lack of space, the lack of time with him, blah blah.  Throughout the show you see their emotions are anything but happy.

In a short span of 3 weeks, one wife gives birth, the other is celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary, a third is burning toast ('because toasters kill more people than sharks') and the forth is planning out the wedding reception in record speed.

The 3 wives give the courting potential a claddagh ring (I wonder how the Irish feel about that), something each wears as a bonding, because sharing a man and his spit isn't bonding enough.

In the end, they sit on the sofa, all 'Four' wives like one great big happy family.  Only if you watch wives 1 thru 3 they really don't look happy at all.  Wife 4 is still in delirious mode to be married, has moved closer so that 3 other people can raise her kids while she has a turn with the Nick Nolte look alike stud.

It goes without saying that I am against plural marriages.  But this show really made it something I find disgusting.  The children go to a 'school' for Polys that is not accredited, so they have to take a GED.

Like a train wreck, you don't want to see it but you can't stop watching.

There...now I shared that misery with you!