Make-A-Difference Monday: Pets for Vets

As you have probably noticed, I am a dog-lover!  (Hence Dog Day Wednesdays)  I’m really an animal-lover in general but dogs have a special place in my heart.  I think the love for and from a pet is one of the sweetest gifts in life.  My dogs are my children and I can’t imagine going through life without them!
I have always been a big supporter of animal charities and Pets for Vets is especially great because it helps animals and Veterans!  Their slogan, Healing Vets & Saving Pets, says it all!  This organization is amazing!  The goal is to provide a companion pet for Veterans that are suffering from conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).  The rescued shelter pets are trained specifically for each Veteran to make the perfect Veteran-Pet match.
Anyone who has a pet, knows their love and companionship can be a source of strength and comfort!  I can only imagine how a companion animal would help a Veteran struggling to overcome the traumas of military duty and transition back to civilian life. 
There are multiple ways to help this organization.  You can donate, volunteer (in a variety of ways), and purchase items from their sponsors who in turn donate and/or support Pets-for-Vets.  I encourage you to learn more about this organization!  It truly is a great way to help rescue animals and support our U.S. Military Veterans!
Happy Make-A-Difference Monday!  Please let me know of ways you are Making A Difference by emailing me at Tess.LostInLife@gmail.com.  I would love to hear about other organizations and learn ways I new ways I can help Make a Difference!

Friday Fashions - Paris Fashion Week

I realize it’s Fall but I’m going to talk about Spring Fashion today . . .2014 Spring Fashions.  :)  I love Paris Fashion Week , really, any Fashion Week!!  I love to see the colors, fabrics, hair, makeup, everything!!  I love to drool over designers that I could never afford and laugh at the crazy & unexpected!  I love to see the styling & accessorizing!  I think you get the point.  :)  (I really love everything about the runways!)
I thought about posting all the over-the-top designs but I’m sure you will see those all over the web, as they usually get tons of publicity.  So, I decided to share a few trends and designs that I actually want to wear . . .

Manish Arora (SS14 Ready to Wear)
I feel cheerful just looking at this dress!  How could not with these colors & details?  The movement of the fringe makes me want to go dancing in this dress!  I love the accessories and the hair is amazing -  A completely unrealistic style, yet somehow it’s sleek and sexy.  It’s like the Pixie meets Something About Mary.  :)


Alexis Mabille (SS14 Ready to Wear)
This collection combines two of my very favorite styles – Western & Military!  Love it!!!  The designs are the perfect marriage of the two influences.  I love how the designer makes these normally casual styles look chic and feel . . . almost urban!  Plus, I love the headbands!!!! 
 
Alexis Mabille (SS14 Ready to Wear)
This style gives me so many ideas on how to transition my Summer dresses into Fall!  The masculine sweater with the frilly skirt is the perfect balance.  Plus, the sweater brings in another element since it looks Collegiate and feels a little bit jock-ish.  The cowboy boots are the perfect compliment to these styles!
Happy Friday!  (TGIF)

Suggestions, Not Goals

It’s almost October 1st which means Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas will be here before we know it!  It’s also a sign that the cooler weather is coming!  So, it’s time to break-out the boots, coats, & sweaters ! Yay :)  But, the scary thing is – it means it will be 2014 too soon! 
As I get older it feels like the years pass quicker and quicker.  As, we enter the last quarter of 2013 it makes me reflect on the past year and question how I’ve lived my life.  Did I keep any of my New Year’s Resolutions?  Am I where I wanted to be at the end of this year?  Have I lived a life to be proud of?
As I’ve noted in several of my previous posts, there is definitely room for improvement in most areas of my life!  However, I know it is not reasonable to think I can change everything overnight or even in 3 months.  So, I want to take this opportunity to make a few short-term goals to finish out the year in a way that makes me happy & proud!  I think it is important to re-evaluate periodically and make sure I’m on “track".  I haven’t been very good about doing this in the past few years and I wonder how my life would be different if I had. 
As I strive to become the person I want to be, I think it is necessary to constantly reflect and make adjustments.  However, I have to be careful because I can easily become obsessive and lose sight of what’s most important – enjoying life!  Part of my downfall has been to only focus on goals and forget to live.
So, in an effort to keep a balance between enjoying life and working towards being a better, happier person.  I have made a list of the things I want to do more of and the things I want to do less of.  This is my list of suggestions – not specific goals!  I don’t need to beat myself up if I don’t make any changes!   If I am conscious of the things that make me happy and the things that impede on my happiness then, I can choose to make adjustments. 
MORE:

• Exercise
• Reading
• Blogging
• Photography
• Time outdoors
• Crafting
• Meditating
• Fruits & Vegetables
• Donating
• Volunteering

LESS:

• Procrastinating
• T.V.
• Shopping
• Time indoors
• Pizza
• Coke
• Laziness

I hope the next few months are as good as the past few have been!  Cheers to finishing out 2013 happy, healthy, & with a positive attitude!

Dog Day Wednesday–Beach Bums

It has been raining for the past 3 days so I’m sharing photos from Labor Day Weekend.  The pups officially like the ocean but love the beach!   Laying in the sun is their very favorite activity at the beach!  Here are a few shots after a swim in the ocean.  Wet Dogs (in need of haircuts)!   Enjoy!  :)

Make-A-Difference Monday: Giving

I have to admit, in the past few years, I have not been very compassionate  or generous towards the needy.  I never intended to think or act this way!  I just sort of became hardened (maybe even cold-hearted) and complacent over time.  I also became so wrapped-up in my own life - in the daily-grind, that I became less and less aware of the world around me.  I stopped thinking about things like poverty, not intentionally, it was just out of sight, out of mind.
I used to be very active in different non-profit organizations, but over the past several years I became so engrossed in work that I quit volunteering.  I paid less attention to what was going on around me and quit taking the time to stay informed.  I am ashamed to say, it got to a point where I was just donating money when people asked.  I completely quit seeking out opportunities to help.
However, when I moved to Tampa Bay I could no longer avoid or ignore poverty as there were signs of it all over.  The first day I drove into town I passed many people holding signs, asking for help.  I immediately noticed that they were all wearing neon vests.  I was really shocked by this.  It made me question how bad the problem of poverty is that the government (or some other organization) would distribute reflective vests? 
As the days passed and I noticed more and more people asking for help.  I started to reflect on my own attitude toward poverty.  Although, I would consider myself a generous person, I realized that I have not been acting very generous.  So, I decided I needed to make some changes.  I want my actions to reflect how I feel so I knew I wanted to start giving.  The easiest way to start was by giving money to those that were asking.  So, I decided I would give something to every person that I passed holding a sign or asking for help.  I’m not a rich person, but it’s obvious that I have more than these individuals.  I made a promise to myself that I would at least give something to anyone asking. 
So, over the past several weeks I have made a point of keeping cash with me so I always have something to give.  I have to admit the more I give, the more I want to give.  Selfishly, it makes me feel better about myself too.  I thought I was doing something to help other people but really it has helped me.  It amazes me how stopping to give someone a dollar can make my day so much better.  I just hope my actions are really helping other people too!
I realize I’m not doing much, but it’s a start.  Plus, it has made me so much more aware of other people’s struggles and has reignited my passion to seek out opportunities to help. 
Please share your suggestions with me on how to Make-A-Difference!  Email me at Tess.LostInLife@gmail.com

Friday Fashions - Boots

A few years I had to give up wearing heals.  It felt like the end of the world .  . .  a little dramatic, yes, but I think a lot of women can understand my feelings.  Shoes are such a huge part of your wardrobe.  Mine were pointy-toe stilletos, the flashier the better.  Shoes always made me happy – they always fit (even if you gained weight), always look good, and make any outfit look better.  So, when my doctors told me I had to quit wearing heals after suffering a hip and back injury, I was crushed!  I immediately decided I was smarter than the doctors and could switch to platforms and chunky heals rather than switching to . . . .flats (gasp).  Just saying the word made me kringe a little.  However, I quickly came to my senses when the platforms and chunky heals did not help reduce my pain.  I finally surrendered and went on the hunt for my first pair of Flats.  It was Winter and I found Riding Boots.  Ever since, I have loved them!  Not only are they comfortable but I love how they can give my outfit an edgier look.  This season I am looking for more casual styles to match my Florida style.  Plus, I want to wear them with miniskirts and dresses since my winter will be much warmer this year!
I love this Rustic Brown style from Madden Girl and appreciate the affordable price (under $100)!  The quality is great too!  My Madden boots always last multiple seasons!

This Black Combat style from Sketchers will be great with dresses, especially for knee-length styles since the boot height is only 14 inches, reaching a few inches below the knee.  I also like that this style offers a slight western feel giving them a softer look than other combat- and military-inspired boots. 

Another military style I love is the traditional lace-up style – think Dr. Martens!  Unfortunately, I never like how they look on me.  I wear a size 10 and have a small calf so I feel like lace-up styles extenuate my large feet and “chicken legs”.  However, I found this style from Aldo that has just enough detail, like the double zippers and buckle, to balance out my proportions.  This styles is a little more expensive that I would prefer but still a great value at under $150!  (Hopefully, I can hold out for a sale!) 

Happy Boot-Hunting! 

Stop & Smell the Roses

I took an opportunity to Stop & Smell the Roses this week.  It’s something I am trying to do more often now.  Even though I have been much better about making time to enjoy Mother Nature, I am guilty of getting in the habit of visiting the same places.   So, I checked my list for a new place to explore with the dogs & I came across Florida Botanical Gardens.  I did a little research online, finding that it was free (bonus!) and open 7 days a week.  So, I grabbed my camera and we headed out! 

The Gardens were absolutely beautiful!  I didn’t really know what to expect since the last time I visited a Botanical Garden was on a family vacation when I was very young .  Unfortunately, my memory of that experience was just being miserably hot!  So, I was a little nervous to go since we are still having high temperatures of 90 degrees!  However, I try not to let the heat deter me from enjoying the outdoors;  I did move to Florida because I wanted to live somewhere warm!  :)  Plus, with it being free admission I knew we could make it a short trip if it got too hot.
As I pulled into the parking lot, I was a little overwhelmed.  There were huge plants everywhere with flowers of every shape, size, and color!  It was really impressive – Much prettier than I had imagined!  The actual Gardens were even better! There were so many beautiful flowers and all types of plants!  We started by taking the main path around a bond full of Water Lilies and surrounded by a huge assortment of other plants.  There were several different types of birds in this area too. 

Although the flowers and wildlife are beautiful to look at, I could not get over how wonderful everything smelled!  It was unlike anything else!  I can’t really describe it – it smelled better than any perfume or flower arrangement.  It’s like when the flowers first start blooming after Winter and the smell just makes you smile . . .times 10!  I could tell even the dogs were overwhelmed as they ran from one plant to another to, smelling each one! 

Next we visited the Fruit Garden and Herbal Plant area.  Again, I was totally amazed by all the colors and smells!  Then, stopped to take a break in the shade.  (Fortunately, there was a lot of shade throughout the Gardens, including some covered seating areas.)
The last area we visited was the Wedding Garden.  It was especially pretty with tons of flowers, beautiful hedges, and one of my other favorite features, the Aquatic Reflections.  These are beautiful mosaics on the seating areas and around the entrance to the Wedding Garden.
We only spent a few hours exploring, as it was pretty hot!  We probably could have stayed all day – there was so much to see!  I’m so glad I took the time to explore somewhere new!  This is exactly why I need to avoid getting stuck in a habit of going to the same places. 
This was another experience that really made me stop and think about how lucky I am to be living my dream!  I’m so thankful to have the opportunity to enjoy nature’s beauty!  I still can’t believe how different my life is now! 

Dog Day Wednesday - Tongues!

It’s Summer and it’s hot!  We spend a lot of time outdoors and no matter how much water they drink their tongues are always hanging out!  (I think Milo’s tongue is longer than his legs!)  Enjoy!

Make-A-Difference Monday: Miss You Can Do It

Miss You Can Do It is a HBO Documentary Film about an annual Pageant of the same name.  Abbey Curran, Miss Ohio 2008, started the pageant several years ago to help girls with special needs experience a magical weekend where they focus on their inner beauty and build confidence through traditional activities  of a pageant.  Abbey was the first person with a disability to be crowned a Beauty Queen.  Her ambition and drive is really incredible.  It was definitely not an easy path to the crown but she persevered and it paid off!  
I basically cried through the entire film.  It was amazing to see how happy the girls were!  Even though they face daily struggles, they have the most amazing attitudes and positive outlooks on life!  I was truly inspired by the children and their families!  The parents of these children were so strong and brave!  I was also really amazed by how loving and caring the siblings were.  The film featured brothers and sisters of all ages and they were all so supportive and understanding.   Having both, a brother and sister, I know it is not easy to be patient, kind, and supportive.  I was so impressed that these children were not jealous or impatient, even though their sibling(s) with special needs often required so much attention and care.
Although the film was inspiring in many ways, it was also very heart-breaking.  It was really difficult to listen to the parents talk about how their daughters were tormented by other children and even adults!  Many told stories of name-calling and bullying, some even showed photos of vandalism to their homes and cars.  Sometimes I forget how cruel people can be.  These girls and their families already face so many challenges in life, it is hard to imagine that anyone would want to cause them additional harm.
I can’t begin to understand how other people think and I won’t try to guess why they act they way they do.  I can only control my own actions.  So, instead of pointing a finger or judging the people that torment these children and their families, I want to take this opportunity to think about my own words and actions.  I may not be guilty of saying cruel or hateful things to people with special needs but I’m sure there are many instances where my words or actions have hurt other people.
Watching this film was a good reminder that what we say and do truly affects other people.  Even if my intentions are not hurtful, I need to be more conscientious of the things I say.  I also need to be careful not to joke at others’ expense or act in a mocking way.  In addition, it is my responsibility to stand up for what is right!  This means speaking up when someone else is saying or acting in a way that is hurtful to others. 
This film really reminded me of the importance of compassion and  kindness.  It also reminded me that hatred and cruelty takes many forms.  It does not just take violence to wound someone.  Words can be just as damaging, if not more so. 
Most importantly, this film highlighted the strength, courage, and beauty of the girls participating in the pageant , as well as the other members of their families!  It also showed how good people can be.  Abbey and the many volunteers that help make the pageant a success each year are perfect examples of truly caring and loving individuals.  They inspire me to be look for ways that I can help others.  They remind me that unselfish acts of kindness can change lives! 
I hope you have a chance to watch this documentary film, Miss You Can Do It, as it is truly inspiring!  I also encourage you to learn more about the non-profit pageant!  I know I will be making a donation!  Another great thing about this pageant (and a testament to Abbey’s kindness and desire to help others), is that 100% of donations go to the pageant!  
Happy Make-A-Difference Monday! :)

Friday Fashions

I love fashion!  I even owned a boutique when I lived in Missouri.  One of my favorite things about owning the store was researching trends, designs, and buying for a large customer base.  Even though I don’t have the store anymore, I still like to follow fashion trends.  Stop by on Fridays to see some of my current favorite fashion trends, products, designers, and more!  Please send me some of your favorites, too!
This week is all about Fall!  This is my first time experiencing Fall in Florida!  So far it’s not very different from Summer!  Of course, that’s part of the reason why I moved here!  I love the warm weather and want it to feel like Summer year-round!
However, the fashion world is still experiencing a “normal” fall and I have been seeing all the new trends in magazines, look books, and on the runways.  This year my Fall Favorites are much more casual compared to last Fall (when I lived in Missouri).  I’m finding that Florida is a more slow-paced, casual, laid-back environment and my personal style is changing to fit that lifestyle.  In addition, I am not working in the same field and therefore am not dressing for the office Monday – Friday.
I love the throw-back trends with denim, plaid, and more masculine styles!  I could post a million plaids that I love:  Shirts, Shorts, Socks, Tights, Hats, Bags!  I never get sick of plaid and with all the great color options I could wear it everyday!  This lightweight button-down shirt from Guess is perfect for Fall (even in warmer temperatures)! 
                         
It’s sill too hot now, but a Denim Jacket will be my go-to top layer as it starts to col down .  I love this longer style from H&M and you can never go wrong with their affordable prices!
My other new obsession is Hair-Jewelry.  I used to always wear my hair down in  pretty much the same style everyday.  The only difference would be curly or straight with the occasional ponytail (usually at the gym).  Now that I’m hitting the beach and taking a dive in the pool almost daily, I have change my hairstyle! 
There’s no point in taking the time to blow dry & straighten my hair, so buns and headbands are a necessity!  I love this wideband from Free People!  It compliments air-dried beach waves perfectly! 
        
The Bun Combs & Tiaras from Free People make it easy to go from the beach to dinner, even with wet hair!  Plus, they are on sale now! 
My next hair piece is going to be a Hair Chain.  I like the little bit of color in this one by LaLaRocque (available on Etsy)! 

            
Lastly, I’m obsessed with bags!  Not just for Fall – I love bags anytime!  Handbags, Overnight Bags, Beach Bags . . .seriously I love bags!!  I really have to control my impulses and think about my purchases because I get a little carried away when it comes to bags (no pun intended)!  I bought this messenger bag from Target a few weeks ago and I love it!  I usually carry by camera with me so it is the perfect size to fit everything from my purse and my camera case!  Plus, it is lightweight and easy to carry! 

Dog Day Wednesday

Another new tradition for Lost In Life!  :) I am an Animal-Lover and my 2 pups are my Best Friends!  I know all Fur-Parents love to brag on their babies and share photos so Dog Day Wednesday is a chance to share photos of our Favorite Fur Friends!
My pups go everywhere with me!  Since moving to Florida, I have turned them into little sand-monsters!  It took a few trips to the beach before they were really comfortable but now they love it as much as I do!  We are blessed!

Make-A-Difference Monday: A House in the Sky

On Friday evening, Dateline, aired a story about Amanda Lindhout, a former freelance journalist that was kidnapped in Somalia.  It honestly changed my life.  I know that may seem outlandish, exaggerated, or even impossible.  However, it is true.  Since I watched the show, she and her story are all I can think about.  Last night, I woke up having nightmares for her.  It is hard to explain because it was unlike any experience I have had before.  I woke up actually feeling terrified for her.  I stayed awake the rest of the night/morning thinking about her story, but really just about her (and ordering a copy her book, A House in the Sky).  I knew that I had to take action.  I can’t just sit and think about how great her actions are, I need to follow her example.  
So, I spent several hours on the internet reading everything I could find about her.  I wanted to learn more, but I was also trying to figure out what I should do next.  I had all these feelings of inspiration but I wasn’t really sure what to do with them.  How could I turn all these feelings into something more.  So, I kept reading, I learned about the foundation she established, Global Enrichment Foundation, and immediately knew that I wanted to donated to several of their programs.  However, giving money just doesn’t feel like enough.  I want to contribute more, I want to actively participate in helping others.  So, after reading about Global Enrichment Foundation, I continued researching other organizations, looking for nonprofit groups with local chapters or offices where I could volunteer my time and provide support in a more active role. 
In addition, I came up with an idea for my blog.  Since I knew that I wanted to make a difference, I came up with the idea for Make-A-Difference Mondays.  I decided that every Monday I will dedicate my blog to Making a Difference.  Whether it is documenting my own experience volunteering or sharing someone else’s story, I want to share what I learn.  After all, that is how I was impacted, by someone sharing their personal story.  People like Amanda are incredibly brave.  I can’t imagine what it must be like to share an experience so horrifying and heart-breaking.  It is bad enough that she had to live it, but then to continuously retell it to complete strangers – reliving the terror and brutality - seems like another nightmare in itself. 
I don’t want to tell Amanda’s story as I cannot do it justice.  Instead, I encourage beg you to read it or watch it for yourself, as I truly believe she deserves to be heard.  More importantly, I believe it is a story we can all learn from.  I want to emphasize that it is not the story of the kidnapping that I am referring to, when I say her story.  Her story is about much more than being a victim of a kidnapping.  It is about being a survivor, being strong in your weakest moment.  It is about having a will to live even when living is just a another form of hell. It is about believing in good when you are surrounded by evil.  It is about showing kindness, compassion, and forgiveness to those that don’t deserve it.
It is about overcoming the worst of the worst and choosing to live.  But, not just live, live each day to the fullest, dedicating your life to helping others.  It is about choosing to be happy even though you have endured so much cruelty.  It is about being a light in a world that is full of darkness, a voice for the voiceless, a hope for the hopeless, a gift for the forgotten. 
I feel like Amanda is the person we all want to be.  She possesses the qualities and traits that we all wish we had.  She demonstrates kindness, compassion, and forgiveness in a way that we all know we should but don’t.  She is the person that we want to be but aren’t, because we are unwilling to make the effort, too selfish to make the sacrifice, or just too distracted by our lives to ever make the commitment.
It is easy to see that Amanda was an amazing person before she was kidnapped.  The fact that she is still this person after all that she endured, is the most inspiring part of all. 

Being Alone

As I continue on my quest to change, I have discovered the importance of spending time alone.  In the past, I only associated negative feelings (such as loneliness) with being alone.  I’m not exactly sure why, but I think part of it was just being scared to face myself.  I think, deep down, I always knew that I was unhappy with my life. I’m sure this was one of the reasons I was always focused on the “finish line”. It was just another way to avoid the truth. I have been running and hiding from my feelings for most of my life. It started when I was a young child, influenced to believe that my feelings, emotions, and dreams were either unnecessary or unworthy. So, I would bury them. This wasn’t an easy task since I was a very sensitive child. Unfortunately, I quickly learned that I could ignore almost anything by staying busy. As I grew older, there were so many neglected feelings buried deep within me that I was like a volcano and would erupt anytime I was alone.  When I finally decided it was time to change, I knew I would have to spend a lot of time alone.  I knew I would have to relive all of those buried emotions and face things that I had been avoiding for years. This is what scared me the most about trying to change, and justifiably so, as it turned out to be the most difficult part of my journey (so far). I experienced a lot of anger and sadness for many months.  I even tried to stop the whole process, but once I had started there was really no turning back.  Eventually, things got better and I finally began to understand myself.  I even decided to start living a few of those buried dreams! The more I experience the rewards of self-discovery, the more I enjoy spending time alone.  It has been a long and difficult journey, but, it was worth it! Life is not perfect but I no longer have to run or hide from the truth.  I am able to face the challenges and trust in myself.  I am no longer afraid to be alone!

Liberation

The true value of a human being is determined primarily by the measure and the sense in which he has attained liberation from the self.

-Albert Einstein

I’m at a point in my life where I really enjoy reading books that are thought-provoking (as opposed to just entertaining).  I want to be stimulated in a way that expands my mind, opening me to new perspectives or a different way of thinking.  I look for books that will increase my knowledge and understanding of myself and the world. 

I just finished reading, Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife, by Eben Alexander, M.D.  It was definitely thought-provoking and provided an interesting view on a topic I have not really spent much time thinking about.  As I read, I found myself pausing often to reflect on the author’s words, but it was the quote above from Albert Einstein that I really identified with. 

I always find it inspiring when I see, hear, or read something that seems like it was meant for me.  Like a sign.  I’m not sure if it comes from God or the Universe or just my subconscious looking for confirmation that I’m on the right path . . . doing the right thing . . . making the right choices.  I don’t try to look for these signs but when I find them, I feel validated that I’m at least doing something right.  It’s like breathing a sigh of relief, I can actually feel myself relax a little. 

I don’t know if I truly believe in signs or if I just want to believe in them.  Either way, when I read this quote, I felt like it was a meant for me.  I immediately related to it, thinking about the changes I’m trying to make in my life.  I hadn’t really considered these efforts as a liberation from myself.  But after reading this quote, I realized that is exactly what I’m doing.  I’m freeing myself from my own restrictions, harsh judgments and unrealistic expectations. Slowly, as I learn to just live, enjoying each moment for what it is, I am attaining liberation from the self. 

It seems ironic to me that this quote comes from a Scientist, someone we might refer to as a “thinker".  I would have imagined Einstein was always stuck in is head, calculating, computing and evaluating.  At the same time, I know he must have been very imaginative to create and invent.  He was obviously a visionary and as I reflect on the quote more, I wonder if it was his liberation from the self that allowed him to see possibility where others couldn’t.