Happy Girls Shine Brighter

I believe this more than I believe that Robins eat worms, guys like to have sex and it is important to brush your teeth.

I saw the quote on my friends Instagram and it instantly rang true. I didn't like the layout of the one I saw, so I threw this little one together because I wanted to share it.

Okay let's do a little exercise here. Put on your thinking caps, pull out your paper and pencils, sit up to a desk, you may need a calculator and scratch paper and you are only allowed 1 page of notes. If I see any of you cheating, I will have to give you a zero. This test will be timed... Oh wait, it isn't anything like that. 

All you need is your memory and to know a few people. 

First I want you to think of someone that when you first met them your first thought was that they were either beautiful, extremely handsome or maybe someone who stood out to be extra cute. But as you got to know them you saw that they weren't very nice, they frown and scowl a lot and are really negative and always complaining.

Take a minute to think about how they look to you now. How they really look and how you feel when you are around them. Think of their eyes and their expressions. Think of the energy around them and how it affects you.

Next think of someone who when you met them they didn't stand out as any more than a plain Jane but who is happy, kind, positive, smiles and laughs a lot. 

Again, take a minute to think about how they look to you now. How they really look and how you feel when you are around them. Think of their eyes and their expressions. Think of the energy around them and how it affects you.

Isn't it insane how the initially pretty person doesn't seem so pretty? And how the not so pretty one just shines?

Since we don't know the same people and because I would never want to talk poorly about anyone on this blog, I decided that I would pick the next best thing to prove me point... REALITY TV!  

You can totally see this transformation on pretty much every single reality show. 

One example that sticks out to me was Tierra from the Bachelor last season. At first she seemed very pretty, Sean even gave her the first impression rose but as she complained, cried, bitched and moaned about things her beauty quickly diminished and soon I could no longer see her as I did before. She wasn't at all attractive to me, but actually the opposite. 

An example on the other aspect is the newest member of RHOC, Lydia. She didn't stand out to me as a classic beauty but as I have seen her be positive, kind and especially watching her spend time with her sons and husband, she has transformed into someone much prettier to me.

Another example (that I probably shouldn't share). There is a person in my husband life (no names) that was and is always crabby and always scowling. As time has moved forward this persons face has literally transformed from a pretty face to a harsh and not very pretty face. If you were to put a picture of this person next to a younger picture of this person, you would be shocked. I was. I can't help but wonder if this person would have transformed in the other direction had they chosen to smile more and enjoy life more.

The moral of this looooong post. 

Be Happy!  

Choose to be happy. 

Choose to shine. 

My first 5 on Friday.

1. Hi! this is me and my blog is brand new.

 

 

My 5 yr old actually took this picture while I was watching TV and folding laundry. I kind of liked it.

2. I work at a fabulous Day Spa one night a week. 

I used to be full time there but these 2 little people came into my life and started calling me mom so I stepped back to stay home with them. 

I find working once a week and being around other women in such a fun, relaxing, chatty atmosphere is the perfect escape to keep me from losing myself in my 2 beautiful boys. 

It also helps me to stay current on all the newest beauty trends. 

 

3. I was bit by an ostrich when I was in High School. Surprisingly, it didn't hurt.

 

4. I love this quote and have it as one of my screen savers as a reminder as to just how important our thoughts really are. 

 

5. After realizing that I'm surrounded by boys, and that I will be for the rest of my life, I decided that I wanted to be sitting on the couch yelling and screaming with them instead of at them. So, I have taken up football (watching). 

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

 

Not to mention some of the gear is really cute. And it is really fun to shock guys at the car repair place (what is it called?) or wherever with your knowledge of how so-n-so blew last nights game with a bad pass. They look at you with a new set of respect and awe. It's fun. 

🐘Meg

 

 

 

 

 

Golf Widow's Club: current member

The hubs is going on a golf trip this weekend. 

So I got myself a babysitter and I'm going on a Golf Widow's Date with my BFF (pictured above), who's husband is also on the trip. We frequent the golf widows club together and have for years. After years of frustration and annoyance about those long 18 holes taking longer (much longer) than promised, we have finally cracked the golf widow's code. Now when he goes golfing I can honestly be happy for him and sincerely wish him well on his game... 

Are you ready for the secret (for those of you that don't already know it)? Newly married couples, listen carefully.

My final words to him as he happily bounded out door, with his cleaned and perfectly shined clubs slung over his shoulder, went something like this:

"Happy {early} Fathers Day Honey! I love you so much and want you to have the best time ever. You totally and completely deserve this.   ...Oh and just so you know, I already have a girl's spa day planned and booked for next Saturday. Bye."

Hey, this girl knows how to work it. 

If you happily and sincerely give to them and then take the initiative to treat yourself just as kindly, they will happily and sincerely give to you. Things don't always have to be even right then but in the long run it will even out. Just don't forget to stand up for yourself and to make things happen for you too. If you don't than you may end up always giving and not really getting. 

And to be quite honest I am so glad that my sweetie has hobbies and things that he is passionate about. And I'm so glad that he has friends to share his passion with. He supports me in my hobbies and I in his. Just a few weeks he ago he happily spent Mother's Day weekend with our busy beautiful boys while I was enjoying all that Las Vegas has to offer with 5 of my awesome girlfriends. He did not complain once and when I got home the house was spotless, the boys were happy and there were flowers and a card waiting for me.

So as I joke about being a golf widow this weekend, I really am so happy he is taking a much needed break and is going to spend some quality guy time doing some quality (and probably some not so quality) guy things. 

Oh and I really do have a spa day booked for next Saturday. We are getting   massages, pedicures, the works and then going to dinner. 

🐘 Meg

Endnote: The picture that starts this post was taken on Mother's Day while we were in Vegas and was captioned "Enjoying some Mother's Day golf. #ourhusbandswouldbeproud." Not that we were really watching but we still enjoyed telling the hubs that we were. ;)

Welcome

Welcome to my very own personal Elephant Sanctuary.

A place where I can share my life experiences with anyone who may happen across this little tiny bit of the Internet. This is a place where I can pull back from my hectic life and be quite, be still. This is a place where I can tell my daily stories while growing and learning from them.

A sanctuary where I can continue on my path of self.


(I had written some heavier stuff here but decided that maybe I shouldn't scare you away just yet)


I still have much to learn.


And I am excited for the journey.

Oh and on a side note:

• I am loving wife to a man that I am obsessively in love with.

• I am a mommy to 2 insane, wild, sneaky,  messy, heinous, stinky, loud, funny, courageous, busy, sweet, smart, cute, loving and perfect little boys. They are my heart and soul.

• I am an esthetician who works part time at a fabulous day spa and loves everything beauty related. I will try anything and have tried lots of things in the beauty world. Some have given me amazing results (laser resurfacing) and others have made me look like Bert from Bert and Ernie (way over tinted eyebrows).

• I wrote skin care product reviews for over a year and know a little too much about the random ingredients listed on the back of your favorite face wash, eye cream and cleanser. I also had to write a few male enhancement product reviews... awkward.

• I am obsessed with make up.

• I adore jewelry.  

• I believe happiness is a choice.

• Since getting married I have moved 22 times (for my husbands job), lived in 15 cities, travelled to fabulous tropical destinations and even more fun destinations around the US and Canada. We would move for the spring/summer months (enjoying a new city or two), and then come home for the fall/winter. It was the perfect combination. Explore the country, live in fun cities like Brooklyn, Virginia Beach, Bay Area, but we always knew we were going "home" to our friends and family.

• I am girly and love girly and cute things, but am so glad I have boys to do all the "boy" activities with like camping, watching football and playing superheroes.  

• I enjoy going out with friends and love going on on girls trips.

• My favorite book is Gone With the Wind.

• I worked at Disney World when I was 19. I wore a space outfit and had the elite job of helping people get their condiments at Cosmic Rays in Spaceland.

• I meditate.

• I pray.

• I am a pretty good cook.

• My favorite food is: store bought cake with way too much white butter cream frosting.
• I love summer time.

• I'm constantly and consciously working to improve myself.

• If I could only shop at 3 stores for the rest of my life, those stores would be Anthropologie, Costco, Nordstrom.

• I'm more calm and reserved, my husband is the "life of the party" skydiving type. Yin and yang baby. 

• I'm curious by nature. Talking to me can be like a game of 20 questions, but I promise my questions are sincere and my listening is genuine. If it ever becomes too much just tell me to mind my own business.

• I have recently started gardening and am mildly obsessed. (if I could just get my damn watermelons to grow, I would be a happy lady).

• I have struggled with anxiety my whole life.

• Elephants are my favorite animal.

I will probably write more in depth on some of these topics, while also sharing some of my favorite salon secrets and beauty tips. I am sure I will write about being a mom, a wife and dog owner (oh yeah, did I mention I have a yorkie?).

Maybe I will share my favorite recipes, quotes, pictures and stories as they feel appropriate. Or maybe I will let you in on the secret that I believe our thoughts and feelings have a much bigger impact on us and our lives than we could ever imagine.

I am pretty sure I will talk about elephants and what they have meant to me throughout different phases of my life and how we could all learn a thing or two from these magnificent creatures. I also hope to help inspire people who are going through a hard time to find peace inside themselves and I hope to be inspired by everyone I meet along the way.

Some of my posts may be deep and extremely personal while other posts are going to be fun and lighthearted.

 

Love.

Meg