the holiday spirit is strong this year :)

so i ventured out this evening/morning to save the most money possible. my husband was a bit worried - just knowing potential danger that's out there (i mean u do hear tons of freaky, ridiculous, selfishly horrible stories on the news). i wasn't going for crazy hi-ticket items, just the deals for friends & family - especially the kids.

well, i noticed online at about 10 pm that  there was an AWESOME giveaway (which i won't mention 'cuz its a present) that was actually exACTLY what i decided to get one of the kids in my family at old navy at midnight.

i thought, hey, its worth a shot right? so i finished up some work for our own black friday sales and i headed out. i approached the algonquin commons area and it seemed pretty quiet (sans walmart traffic). then i got closer to old navy and i'm like....omg.... there's a lot of people. THEN, there's a lot of people in LINE! it was about 11:30 and the line was about 3 major big box store fronts long...i thought, hey, i'm goin for it, and if i can get this giveaway, well heck, this is a PERFECT present!!! i can't pass it up.

so i'm in line, in the company of hundreds, i'm one of maybe 4 or 5 people there alone. not too cold, but ok, cold for a light jacket, lined up at almost midnight outside of old navy. people are generally in good spirits. no one attacked anyone going in and we all made it in one piece.

i get counted as i go in. I'm thinkin' - hey could be good, they're still counting, that's possible for a giveaway! i get through the crowds, pick up what i need (and a couple things i don't) and get in the line (now starting to resemble a line for a ride at great america). a few steps in i think "hmmm, i should ask anyone if they know if there's any of this giveaway left" i overhear some people talking about a bracelet. wahhh wahhh :( i don't have a bracelet

there's a cute young, very well styled couple in front of me. i'm pondering just leaving now as they talk about going out drinking with his friends after she fixes her hair (which was perfectly gorgeous already), and then waking up (or not sleeping maybe) and getting back there at 6am, then... she has a game in the city she's asking him to drive her to in chicago later!!!! now i'm a bit work crazy at times and can go go go, but that's impressive. his girlfriend walks away to get more clothes that she says later she'll get reimbursed for from her parents. seriously, i think these are the cutest, most innocent, young souls i've ever encountered. so i hear him talking about the bracelet again. i told him, "you know you should be careful, if you don't want that and you're announcing you're selling it, you could get totally mobbed. i'd take it in a second" we laughed a bit. his girlfriend came back and he asked her if she would be ok with him selling it. she laughed.

i told him he could make some major cash as the giveaway was valued and worth quite a bit. he luaghed and said "selling for cash anyone?" no one answsered and a couple ladies said "do you take credit cards"? i just laughed with them both and listened a bit more. i said ya know if you're serious, i would seriously give you cash? he said a small amount and i said, i'll give you more than that, you're too nice!! so not only did he give me the giveaway bracelet, but his girlfriend made absolutely sure it would work out and made him stand at the register with me.

they were there at 9:30, waiting for 2.5 hours, still all smiles and gave away something they could have taken, sold or gotten more than 10% of what it was worth. no pushing, no questons, just simple good natured people. thank you old navy couple - you made mine and a few in my family very very very happy!!!

as i continued the trip to a couple more stores, i encuntered nothing but happy faces and kind words and sharing stories.

let's keep it up folks. this is a good feeling and this is a good place.

peace on earth, good will to men
luv u all
xo
k

i get by with a little help...

there is nothing in the world that feels the same as laughing with your friends. everyone has so many different experiences, personalities and viewpoints they can bring to your table. the more you invite, the more colorful your world becomes. with love can come hurt. when you open yourself to others, you uncover a bit of vulnerability. but when i sit back and reflect, the small amounts of pain that may have occurred are absolutely nothing in comparison to the joy and light i have experienced.

take every good moment of time you can from the good times you share with the different little monsters in your life.

i am so very thankful for all of my wonderful friends. you all bring such joy and laughter to my life and without you all, i would be empty and lost.

luvs & hugs

k

If you've had a rough day or night, just remember, you get to give it another go in the morning!!!
Hugs
K

its all about the marketing in the end...

so, i was thinking, wouldn't a velcro closure, or a hidden belt of some sort, or maybe even buttons, or a zipper be an even more convenient, kick-butt, awesome feature of the snuggie?

however, at that point is it then just a robe?

then again, if they didn't have great marketers to brand the belt-less, button-less, zipper-less robe a "snuggie" and create a launch that hit every household in america and beyond via info-mercials, late night commercials, home shopping networks, drug stores, big box chains and as seen on tv stores, would it have been remotely as successful as it was/is and will be? i'd like to think not.

yet another case study leading me to further my already strong belief that what i do is essential to the success of whomever i'm doing it for. :)

so ladies & gentlemen, in the end, it's all about the marketing.
'cuz really what sounds more comfy to you... a backwards robe or a Snuggie!
:)

much luv & laughter
k

never close your eyes....

if you're looking for inspiration, all you need to do is keep your eyes open. if you look close enough or look differently, you'll find so many marvelously inspiring things in your everyday lives. :)
xo
k

i'm considering a change

i've noticed my extreme lack of postings lately and it isn't because i'm uninspired. i'm quite inspired as of late actually. so... i believe from here on out, i'm going to be not so focused on having to deliver an inspirational life lesson. instead i'm going to write what i feel, observe, create, etc. and those inspirational life lessons/stories should creep in inadvertently every once in a while.

however, sticking true to my artistic nature, i will always blog to evoke emotion and provoke thought in my readers.

do what makes you happy,
much love
k

don't worry...

life is an ever-evolving landscape. it can be rough, overwhelming, joyous, passionate, amazing, painful and even more words possibly not even yet added to webster's dictionary. what is so remarkably wonderful about this life is that we're living it. WE get to make the choice to experience each moment exactly as WE want to.

there was a commercial that aired some years back (it was either for chiquita bananas or life insurance). it closed in on an elderly woman, (the cutest woman i've seen i might ad)and she says, "i have two choices when i wake up each morning; to be happy or not to be happy. i choose to be happy." i have a friend, actually a couple of friends who are memorably pleasant every single day, which in turn makes every experience i have with them, well...pleasant. they have each changed my life in different ways and i would love to do that for others.

i know there's a myriad of obstacles, changes, mishaps, diversions that can sidetrack us from the original focus for the day. how nice would it be to be able to wake up and say "i'm going to be happy today." if we decide to make this choice every morning, wouldn't it enevitably change how our entire course of our day goes? i think so. in fact i'm going to try it. if i choose to be happy every day, then no matter what comes my way, i imagine, my outlook and therefore the outcome will be better than what it would have been had i not made the "happy choice."

this all sounds a bit alice in wonderland like, but that's a world that makes sense to me.

reflections on 2010....

i've taken some random moments over the past week to reflect back on 2010. the word that sums it all up for me is change. i made conscious efforts to change the way i react to things, people and situations. this underlying thought process lead me to many wonderful moments over the past year.

the most recent being my new career path. it's been 4th months of crazy, unending challenges and i look back and know i have loved every second of it. i am one that needs to be constantly challenged and inspired to be the best i can be. the challenges this position presents me allow me to accomplish so very much and grow along the way. making this change has also lead me to a group of people who continue to make me reach out of my comfort zone and help me to reach past what i think i might be capable of.


the "change the way i do things" attitude i've upheld through 2010 has also allowed me to experience more selfless moments. i have always liked to give and make people happy, but i believe since having to rehab from my physical & emotional downfalls from my strokes, i had become accustomed to concentrating so very much on myself and just "functioning" that i got a little lost in myself and at times, forgot how important it is to think of others as well (without losing yourself of course). this gave me more balance.

the other thing my change in attitude brought me was more courage. now granted, i don't believe anyone has ever thought of me as frail, feeble or defenseless, but there are many things in my life i would not do at all or do without being extremely shaken inside. i may not be very good at hiding my passions or emotions, but i'm really good at hiding when i feel vulnerable. this new found courage and strength has freed me from missing out on life, feeling like a burden to others or irrational fears like flying or simply being me. i still feel some butterflies or have my weak moments, but never like i had before... no shakes, no sickness or tears, just occasional self doubt that i like to think just keeps me on my toes ;).

my inspiration to you for 2011 is this... give yourself a small mantra you can repeat in your head (or out loud, whatever you prefer ;) that makes you question for a moment if this is how you want to react to whatever you're encountering. one little shift of action, attitude or feeling and entirely change your life. do NOT be afraid of change! look around and reflect on all the wonderful things in life that seem to be the most beautiful! they are ALL about change! sunsets, eclipses, gems, snowflakes, seasons, water... on and on and on and on.

"be the change you want to see in the world" - Gandhi

much love, change, chaos, strength and beauty to you all...
-k-

i will continue to take this mantra of change with me throughout my life, now, for me, 2011 brings movement... "ONWARD"