Masha

How to Really Achieve Your Dreams

Hello fabulous you!!! Happy Friday. Hope you’re well and feeling great!!!

I hope the start of this new year has been gentle and kind for you. I had a really great rest, I did some thinking of the direction I want to take in 2022, what I would like to accomplish and what’s the one dream I want to manifest most of all and how can I achieve it.

Taken while on a Disney cruise to Mexico 2018

While I was contemplating, this quote by Albert Einstein popped into my head “we can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” and everything became clear to me, thank you Universe. Here I am dreaming of my one biggest dream, a dream I’ve had for years and wondering if maybe it’s time to let it go, wondering if I still want it, and asking myself, if I do, then how come I haven’t done anything about it? And it had never occurred to me that, I can’t take a step forward while holding on to the same thoughts that are keeping me, locked inside thoughts that are not letting me move forward. WOW! (revelation)

So I got my journal, got real honest with myself and I dug out every thought I had about my dream. When I looked at my list, there was only one thought that was at the root and the catalyst for all others- this is too hard – a thought that stems from my childhood. This thought makes me feel afraid, anxious, makes me want to run in the other direction. The thing that surprised me is, how uncovering the root of the why I haven’t taken a step towards my dream, suddenly freed me.

Breakthroughs can come from digging out your deepest beliefs.

So, my invitation to you today is to examine your dreams, goals, resolutions or intentions that you’ve been carrying with you, maybe like me, for years, spend some time reflecting on what your core root thoughts are about them. You just may be totally surprised.

Every goal, resolution, intention, dream is possible, lots depends on the thoughts you hold onto about them.

*********

Here are a few lovely things that have delighted me

If you like muffins and you like one bowl cooking, you gotta check this out, here

I love organization, if you do too, here are beautiful ideas for linen closet organization, here

I’m currently reading this book about about crafting your best writing, here

And

On my insta this week, here and if you’re not following me, come on over be a part of our community, love to have you.

I hope this post inspires, and serves you. Share your thoughts and leave a comment below, I’d love to know.

Wishing you a wonderful Friday, weekend & week ahead & blessings!

January 14, 2022

Masha7 Comments

Give Yourself Some Nourishment

Hello fabulous you!!! Happy Friday. Hope you’re well and feeling great!!!

I believe in the power of listening to my inner self. Over time I’ve come to know that, when nothing is showing up, when I have to pull and push and struggle and stress to find a spark of creativity, it’s time to give my creative self a break. So I’m listening and following my inner guidance and this will be my last posting for 2021. I’m gifting myself some space to rest, nourish, reconnect with my deepest self, read something just for the fun of it and pamper myself.

I originally posted this nourishing piece in December 2013 and I’m reposting it with a new title and picture, read below.

Wishing you a magical Christmas or, whatever other holiday you may be celebrating, may all your wishes come true. Happy New Year, I’ll be back next year.

When you become aware of what you need to nourish yourself every day, your life becomes more magical. Ask yourself…

What do I need to do to nourish myself today? –

Maybe just five minutes of quiet time alone

Just a moment of rest or to reflect

A moment to bring yourself back to center

Maybe what you need is a nourishing meal

Drink water to flush your system out

Bring good thoughts to your mind

Stretch – Yoga – Exercise – Take a walk around your neighborhood

Forgive yourself

Praise yourself

Love yourself a little more today

Maybe you need to connect with your passion

Shine your light

Say no to a party you don’t want to attend

Believe in yourself

Have faith

Say yes to your life

Look inside yourself

Bring your awareness inward

Start a journal writing practice

What do you need to do to nourish yourself today?…

*********

Here are a few lovely things that are delighting me right now

Check this out, little gingerbread houses if you like to bake, so adorable.

Love Wonder_doodles, here

A few festive breakfast treats everyone will love, here

If you like DIY crafts, you’ll love this do it yourself scents for Christmas, here

And

I started to read the first few pages of Will Smith memoir on Amazon and couldn’t stop reading, so it just may be my next read, here

On my Instagram this week, here

I hope this post inspires, and serves you. Share your thoughts, I’d love to know.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday, may all your wishes come true, and Happy New Year 2022!!!!!

December 17, 2021

Masha9 Comments

4 Tips for a Calm Holiday Season

Hello fabulous you!!! Happy Friday. Hope you’re well and feeling great!!!

Tis’ the season…I don’t know about you but, after another pandemic year, I’m so happy to be in the holiday spirit. Last week I bought a new wreath for my front door, and I’m laughing because this whole year I’ve had last years wreath hanging, I never took it down and I even considered not changing it LOL

I’m all about calm and self-care this season, I believe that it’s important especially during times when things can get way out of hand and we can let ourselves get stressed out to the max, I believe it’s important to find ways that can support us in creating more calm for ourselves.

Consider this your invitation to pay attention to the daily occurrences, the simple things that make you feel good, those things that fill you with joy, that make your heart sing. Write them down and do more of them.

Here are 4 things to try:

Start the day with gratitude. Being grateful feels good and benefits your overall well-being. Thank the universe, God, Higher Love, whoever you believe in, start with saying thank you for your life. Thank you for all that you have, thank you for your family, thank you for your health. Say thank you for whatever feels good to you.

Give yourself some time to enjoy a nourishing breakfast. Maybe that means getting up half an hour earlier than you normally would but, it’ll be so worth it. A nourishing breakfast will give you energy, it will help you to think better, it gives your body the fuel it needs to function properly. The benefits are many for your health and they have a lasting effect.

Take a pause during the day, if you’re working, consider spending your lunch time by yourself. No social media, no texting, instead – read a book, listen to music or an uplifting podcast or just stare out the window. Turn your lunch time into a little sanctuary for yourself.

Set the intention to have a calm holiday season and – this is really important – instead of focusing in on the how stressful this time is, focus on how you can create a little calm in the day for yourself, create a plan and stick to it. What you place your attention on is what you experience in your reality.

You can have a calm holiday season, you can make – calm – happen by exercising a little self-care every day.

*********

A few lovely things that are delighting me right now

If you’re into festive nails, you gotta check this out love them all 🙂

I’m doing December Pause with Liz Lamoreux, I did it a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it, here

Follow me on Instagram, here, love to see you there.

And

I’m so excited the December issue of the Inspired Guide mini mag is out now, find it here. My article “Get Ready for the New Year, New You” is on page 20 full of inspiration and guidance to empower you to start the new year ready.

I hope this post inspires, and serves you. Share your thoughts, I’d love to know.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend & week ahead & blessings!

December 3, 2021December 3, 2021

Masha6 Comments

A Little Delight and Goodness for You

Hello fabulous you!!! Happy (black) Friday. Hope you’re well and feeling great!!!

Anyone doing any shopping today? I hope you had a joyful and safe Thanksgiving yesterday and since this is the start of the holiday season, most of us are pretty busy, so I’m keeping this short and sweet.

First though, before anything, I want to say THANK YOU – A – BIG – HUGE – THANK YOU to each one of YOU. Thank you for being here, thank you for liking my posts, thank you for your wonderful comments and support, you inspire me. From the bottom of my heart – THANK YOU!!!!!

Today I’m inviting you to take extra special care of yourself during this holiday season and offer you some self-care ways that can support you.

What really helps me to take care of myself is, I remind myself that I’m important, that I also have needs and I’m allowed to give to myself and that I am magnificent and deserve my own attention on myself. And, because it’s way too easy to forget this, what I do is leave a post it note on the fridge as a reminder.

A few self-care tips- stay hydrated, take a little nap when needed, go for a short walk, get your nails done, order take out, do some stretching, relax for a few minutes with your favorite book. And, this is a big one to keep stress at bay, plan ahead and be prepared. Also, be aware of the little things that you’re letting bother you, ask yourself, how important are they? Laugh, watch a funny video. Do something that will delight you. Just giving yourself 15 minutes in the day, will reduce stress, you’ll feel more calm and in charge and guess what? You may even wind up really enjoying the holiday.

I believe that, staying connected to yourself, giving yourself “me” time each day, mindfully navigating each day, with you in mind, will set you up to a more delightful holiday season.

Here are a few lovely things that are delighting me right now

I’m reading this, Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year. “Celebrate a new kind of holiday season this winter – one where you radiate calm and cultivate delight.” Wonderful book.

Speaking of delight, I’m enjoying reading The Book of Delights by Ross Gay. Delightful.

I don’t normally wear red nail polish a lot, but I was in Target and saw this and decided this is my color for the rest of the year 🙂

And

In my kitchen this week, red carnations, make me so happy 🙂

*Full disclosure, I am not an affiliate with any of the products, I do not get paid for mentioning them.*

I hope this post inspires, and serves you. Share your thoughts, I’d love to know.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend & week ahead & blessings!

November 26, 2021

Masha4 Comments

I Love My Oatmeal Because…

Hello fabulous you!!! Happy Friday. Hope you’re well and feeling great!!!

Did I tell you guys how much I love oatmeal for breakfast? I not only love the way it tastes, but every day when I eat it, with every spoonful, I can actually feel the goodness in my body.

The older I get the more I realize the importance the food I eat makes on my overall wellbeing. I almost never eat processed food, and I carefully look at the ingredients and try to eat food that is not filled with preservatives and is more natural and oats is one of those grains that is chuck full of goodness. I once read that your stomach produces acid while you sleep and eating oats first thing in the morning is great because the oats act like a sponge in your stomach absorbing the acid.

One thing I’d like to mention is, there are a variety of different brands on the market to choose from but, don’t be fooled, you may think that oats are oats but, when shopping for oats my suggestion is read the ingredients first, especially those that come already flavored. I personally like organic oats, that have nothing added to them.

Here are just a few of the benefits:

Oats can lower cholesterol, help to stabilize your blood sugar, promote healthy bacteria in your gut, which is supper important. It can provide a healthy dose of antioxidants, and it can also provide protection against heart disease and colon cancer. Oats also keep you feeling fuller longer, which may help with weight control.

We all lead very busy lives and it’s very easy to just say I don’t have time and instead grab something on the go. But, the thing is that if you keep on telling yourself that you don’t have the time, then you will not have the time and other things outside of yourself become more important than you. Like I said in my blog post a couple of weeks ago (here) keeping my body healthy in optimum shape, is my priority. I have come to realize that a large part of my self-care is the food I nourish my body with.

To me, my health is worth spending 10 minutes in the morning cooking some oatmeal. I don’t like it mushy, my favorite way to eat oatmeal is cooked until pretty much all the water has been absorbed. I basically follow the instructions on the package, I use 1 cup water to 1/2 cup oats, I add a few raisins to the water, bring it to a boil, add the oats and when done I top it off with just a little drizzle of honey and yumm. You can also sprinkle some cinnamon as a garnish, add banana pieces, blueberries, a little brown sugar or, just eat it plain – bon appetite friends.

*********

I love this

20 Farm house neutral christmas decorations that you can make, here

Self-care tip on insta, here

And

On my insta, here

Hope this post inspires, and serves you. Share your thoughts, I’d love to know.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend & week ahead & blessings!

November 19, 2021

Masha8 Comments

Living an Extraordinary Life

Hello fabulous you!!! Happy Friday. Hope you’re well and feeling great!!!

I’m so happy to share my article that appeared in last months The Inspired Guide Mini Mag, get yourself a cuppa, get comfi and enjoy.

*********

I always knew that there was something more that I could be and could have. I always had that feeling that I wasn’t living my life in my fullness. I didn’t know what it was or how to get it but I knew that I wanted it.

I didn’t know it then but – I wanted an extraordinary life.

I’ve learned a lot since, the most important being that, I had to change in order to have an extraordinary life. I first needed to let go of the blame game I was stuck in for years, because no one is responsible for me. What happened when I was a child, what someone did or said, my mother my anything. My life and how I want it, is totally up to me.

It all started to change when I picked up that magic wand called ‘responsibility’ and I became totally responsible for everything about me.

It’s taken a while for me to recognize the gifts that assuming responsibility for myself have blessed me with. It’s empowered me to live my amazing life in ways I never knew possible. Living inside the blame game gave me the permission to happily veg out on the couch with a bag of chips watching TV, while blaming everyone else for my lack, pain, and inertia. Responsibility has empowered me to claim who I am and have dreams.

Being responsible for my own life, started my journey of healing emotionally, physically and spiritually. I’ve gained trust in myself, I’ve learned to value myself, to know that I’m worthy and deserving of all that I want and desire. To love myself unconditionally and live my life unapologetically me.

What I’m saying is, being responsible for yourself will change everything. I can’t tell you how to do it, I wish I could, there is no one formula that fits all. I can only share with you what works for me. But what I can tell you for sure is that, it’s your choice. You can either go for the rest of your life blaming everyone for your poor you situations, or you can choose to live your life in an extraordinary way, and once you pick up that magic wand and become responsible, your life will be magical.

Here are 4 things that transformed my life:

Wake up to your life. No one owes you anything. Staying in the blame game will only pull you down further into oblivion while your life is passing you by. You didn’t come here to play small, to be less than or to blame your life away.

Forgive yourself and forgive others. Don’t get me wrong when I say forgive, I know that this may not be easy, it wasn’t for me, it can be pretty darn uncomfortable. It also doesn’t mean you have to become anyone’s best friend if you don’t want to, but it will remove that heavy energy from your body and open you up to more inner peace, joy and free you to flourish.

Get to know yourself, read self-help books, spiritual books, spend time alone with just you, journal, ask yourself questions. Who are you? What do you want? The unraveling of yourself will open you to the wonders that are you.

Love yourself, the one most important love affair you can have, is the one that you have with yourself. It will lead you to your heart and open the way forward, it’s transformative.

Extraordinary asks that you remove, let go of, discard, change everything about you that doesn’t spell extraordinary. It asks you to remove your false self and open to your authentic higher self to live the vision you create for yourself.

Your self image, confidence, trust, success, transformation, it all hinges on if you’re living your life while rooted in your own power.

And here’s the secret, there’s nothing more freeing, empowering, loving and sacred than honoring yourself, shining your light and living your extraordinary life.

I love this

30 books to read out loud with family here

In case you’re wondering how to decorate your Christmas tree, here

And

On my Insta, here

Hope this post inspires, and serves you. Share your thoughts, I’d love to know.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend & week ahead & blessings!