The stunning beauty of Floral Arrangements from the Sea

As unpleasant as these things are when touching them with the legs while swimming in the Ocean, as fascinating they are to me when looking at them at the beach.

A casual floral arrangement of sea plants designed by Mother Nature, rubber like flexible tubes with inflated ends mixed up with leaves, some smooth, looking almost like they were cut out with scissors, others feathered and textured, all in a blend of harmonizing earth tones, ranging from yellows and amber, reds and oranges to green and brown hues, delivered and gently placed in a bed of sand by the Ocean, a gift to those who can appreciate it.

Susan Placek

THE THOUGHT BROILER

THE THOUGHT BROILER Team in Palm Springs, California for Ulrike’s Book Signing Event, July 21, 2012, at the CRYSTAL FANTASY Store. We had a great time and we will be back to Palm Springs. Almost all books Ulrike had at the store sold!

Get your copy of “Because you CAN!” and “Inspire Your Day!”

Lovely store, very nice store owners, thank you Joy & Scott!

I LOVE! this video - it’s the work of our latest vendor and recommended services which THE THOUGHT BROILER offers in the program.

AERIAL FILM FX is an exciting new and young Southern Californian company specializing in Aerial Videos taken by remote helicopters with attached cameras. The boys are for hire and they are among the best in their industry.

Company Owners Berny Placek (Director of Technology & Pilot) and Aaron J. Spicker are the highly skilled team producing these videos for any industry or for private parties.

The sky is truly the limit to what these two passionate entrepreneurs can do …

We, THE THOUGHT BROILER Team, are happy to announce a great new addition to our website, a thoughtful gift from us to YOU:

Authentic “The Thought Broiler AFFIRMATION CHECKS”, download them for free as high quality PDF file, personalize them, cut out and give these Positive Thought Deposits to family and friends or anyone you care about. Add them to gifts or simply to cheer someone up with a helpful positive Affirmation.

Check back frequently as we will offer many more of these FREE goodies!

Life to me seems like a journey through a tall building where our walk begins at the ground floor the moment we are born.

When we are introduced to our new “home” it is hidden to our eyes how tall the building is and how many floors it really has, but we can’t wait to explore what’s ahead of us. At first our step is light and easy, we are full of energy and sometimes we take two steps at once to get higher up faster, we expect nice amenities and a better view up there. It’s fun to open the windows; Looking down and seeing how far we have come already gives us a sense of pride and self-confidence.   

And indeed, as we move on up everything seems fine, things are continuously improving, we keep learning and we get to know everything around us. We also notice that the higher we come up in this building, the more interesting and different our perspective becomes, what has been going on in the lower levels of our life looks way different from up here. Some of it even seems to make sense now while it didn’t back then. Sometimes we hear rumors about the very top floors, supposedly it’s not so much fun up there but we hardly ever waste a thought about that, why should we. We got plenty do deal with right there. We rather make ourselves comfortable where we are, we want to linger but some invisible force keeps pushing us to move further up to more elevated heights.

So we go on but more frequently now we find obstacles in the way and oddly enough we notice that not everything is quite as fancy the higher up we get in this building. Our step slows down and the baggage we carry along sure has become heavy. Over time we have accumulated lots of memories, good and bad, experiences, emotional clutter, resentment, stress and unsolved issues.

By now we are not so much in a rush anymore. Why hurry?

As our climb gets quite exhausting it becomes obvious that maintenance is necessary in the house, in some places things begin to crumble and we start concentrating on the obstacles in the way rather than on the changing and ever greater view. At times we think that all the fun we had down there seems to have turned into a struggle, everything takes so much more effort now and often causes pain, and we begin to wonder if what we heard about the upper levels might be true after all.

We have become like little squirrels, trying to gather stuff and making sure we have “enough” of everything, as if we could take it all along to keep when checking out of the building, we are so busy with preventing the place from falling apart and catching our breath, that we don’t even pay attention to the windows anymore. But …

… isn’t this what we came for in the first place, hasn’t our goal been all along the grand view which lets us understand what life is all about?

Susan Placek

Co-Owner of THE THOUGHT BROILER

A forum for all things ‘Positive”, thinking, mindset, inspiration and thoughtful gift giving

http://www.thethoughtbroiler.com

http://www.facebook.com/TheThoughtBroiler

Thoughts about INSPIRATION …

To me as artist and very visual person, colors are a beautiful source of inspiration. Looking into a box of crayons or color pencils makes me feel like I am absorbing energy. While art and nature inspire me in my work, meaningful wording, music, lyrics, good people and animals inspire me as person and are food for my soul. I guess that is the reason why I enjoy so much doing what I do, creating thoughtful and inspirational gifts for people to make someone feel appreciated with.

Looking at the night sky, at the tiny little part of the Universe that we can see from our planet, gives me a better perspective of life and inspires me to be an inspiration to others.

Inspiration, what does it mean to YOU?

Susan Placek

Co-Owner of THE THOUGHT BROILER

A forum for all things ‘Positive”, thinking, mindset, inspiration and thoughtful gift giving

http://www.thethoughtbroiler.com

http://www.facebook.com/TheThoughtBroiler

By Guest Blogger Pamela Wills, CPC

Be Your Self.  How often have you heard that instruction?  About a million, right??  Well, it’s not so easy to do, I know that.  But it is ALWAYS super important to practice, especially when you are under pressure to conform.  I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that conforming is the fastest road to Zombieland.  If you conform all the time, you will eventually lose sight of your essential YOU, your true Self.  So, I’m here to give you 8 ways to follow the instruction and rediscover YOU:

1) Define your Self, on your own terms.
Oscar Wilde said it best: Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.  But who is that Self?  What does it mean to you to be YOU?  One way to find out is to ask yourself a bunch of questions about yourself.  Go back and do my exercise of 200 things: Take a half hour and write down 200 things about YOU.  That’s right, 200.  From the color of your hair to your favorite color.  When you get to #98 and you think you can’t think of any more, think again.  You are full of surprises, I am sure of it.  200.

2) Let the past be the past.
If you keep re-reading the same old chapter in the book of your life, how will you ever get to read the next chapter??  Allow yourself to grow.  Scary?  Yes.  Worth the risk and the pain?  Absolutely.  Turn. The. Page.

3) Quit caring about what other people think of you.  Cold turkey!
Some people will like you and some won’t.  Why care?  If you are being your true Self, living on your own terms and someone doesn’t like that true expression of you, then maybe it is time to re-evaluate your relationship with that person.  If it is a toxic relationship, treat it like the poison it probably is and bring it to the nearest hazardous waste dump right away.  You will thank your Self very soon, trust me!

4) Be honest, with your Self and with others.
What have you got to hide?  If you feel like you are holding too many secrets (for yourself or for someone else), write them down.  Once they are written down, burn them (safely!) and watch them disappear as they turn to ash.  Or, if you’re feeling really bold, tell a trusted friend.  Maybe that friend can help you to stop hiding and start living.

5) Treat yourself as well as you would treat a best friend.
Do whatever you can to be nice to your Self.  Talk to your Self like you would talk to a really good friend.  Be supportive.  Say nice things.  Give yourself a hug!  You need love, affection and emotional support as much as the next person.  Maybe even more.  If you can’t reach out to a real, physical friend, at least reach out to YOU.

6) OWN and express your individuality and style.
If you want to wear red lipstick every day, wear it!  If you want to follow a vegetarian diet, do it!  If you want to make friends with that new mom from the park with the cute twins, go for it.  If you want to take a run at lunchtime every day, good for you!  There is no reason to let anyone dictate these things to you.  You deserve to make your own decisions.

7) Stop comparing yourself to others.
Comparing your Self to others is the best, quickest way to drive yourself mad.  As in crazy.  YOU are the only YOU on this Earth.  Everyone else has their own challenges and struggles, the ones meant for them.  Why spend your time trying to be like someone else (what would Oscar Wilde say to that??) when you could be spending it more wisely figuring out who YOU really are.  The next time you catch yourself making a comparison between your Self and that model on the cover of whatever magazine, STOP!  Make a quick list of your top ten best accomplishments or features.  Got great hair?  List it.  Great at scrapbooking?  List it.  Play an instrument like nobody’s business?  That’s right, list it.

8) Accept that some days you’re IT and other days you are just… not it.
Sometimes, you will be the center of positive attention.  People will want to be with you, sit next to you, call you and ask your advice.  Other days, people might roll their eyes at or even ignore you.  But if you can respect your own Self, shrug it all off and say, “Whatever!  I am who I am!” then others will respect you, too.  Bonus: You will no longer have to rely on others for your sense of Self.

1) Make a decision to take some action
2) Try out one of these 8 Ways to Be Your Self
3) Tell someone else about this blog. Why keep a good thing to yourself?

Pamela Wills is a Certified Coach (CPC) and Licensed Educator based on lovely Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  With her coaching company, Elasticity Coaching, her mission is to help you rediscover your true Self and learn to own your truth.  As a Self Discovery Expert and Truth Coach, Pamela would love to work with you, especially if you are a brave soul who has finally left a codependent, controlling and/or emotionally abusive relationship and now have a burning desire to express your authenticity.  Sign up for her free weekly eZine, subscribe to her blog, follow her on Twitter and like her Facebook page for events, deals and free stuff.  Or simply send a message to pamela@elasticitycoaching.com.  Pamela and her Elasticity will help you bounce back, better than ever!

By Guest Blogger Pamela Wills, CPC

Happiness and change, change and happiness… What’s it all about, anyway?

Tell me something:  Why does the word “CHANGE” strike so much fear and dread in the hearts and minds of so many otherwise confident people?  Why does it send so many intelligent, active adults scurrying for the exit signs as quickly as possible?  What is the big deal, anyway??

Well, having put myself through a gamut of changes over the years — some very recently — I can tell you firsthand that change definitely does shake things up!  For many people, change is a very big, very hairy, very scary deal.  Fear of the unknown is a huge part of our fear of change.  When we know what to expect — even if we HATE what’s coming — we tend to feel safer and more comfortable.  The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know, right?

But staying safe and comfortable does not necessarily bring passion, freedom or happiness to your life.  Wait a minute … HAPPINESS???  What is THAT???

So many people say that happiness is a state of mind, not a place.  Or that it’s a right NOW kind of thing.  A way of life.  Not something you can buy, or copy, or find.  You have to just BE happy.

Well, I don’t know about you, but whenever I read this I always want to just SCREAM!  “Just BE happy”, yeah that sounds all very nice and fine but how the BLEEP are we supposed to just BE happy???  When the roof needs repairing and the car needs new tires and the kid needs braces and the partner isn’t pitching in with the housework and the boss is on the warpath and the dog is running away all the time and — STOP the madness!  How do we get off this crazy thing, anyway???

Here’s my prescription for getting back on the road to sanity, at the very least: CHANGE!  You know that old expression, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, right?  Well I say, turn that saying on its head: If it isn’t working, CHANGE it!

Therefore:

Happiness = Change
and
Change = Happiness

Don’t believe me?

Try this:

You’re still stuck in your dead-end job after too many years, hating your boring work / crazy boss / negative co-workers / depressing view of the parking lot / life in general.  Now… don’t change a thing.  Keep on going to work there like that every day.  Expect to wake up happy every morning.  Expect to come home to your family in a good mood every night…

…

… Can’t do it, can you.  Thought so.  =(

Now, try this instead:

Same scenario, same life-hating life.  Got the picture?  Okay.  Now, CHANGE it up!  That’s right, do something different.  Be nice to your negative co-workers.  Hang pictures of your favorite destinations on that window without a decent view.  Give your boss a small token of appreciation for giving you a regular paycheck (even if that token is just a mysterious smile).  Start looking for a new job!

Yes, these actions may seem strange, nerve-wracking, maybe even a little bit scary.  But I guarantee you, the end result will be YOU.  SMILING.  MORE.  =)

Maybe you won’t LOVE life instantaneously.  But you sure will be one step closer to happy than you were yesterday.  And maybe, just maybe you will gain some confidence to help you make even more changes on the road to… scratch that, no road!  Happiness is not a place!… More changes within yourself to help you just BE happy.

——


Pamela Wills is a Certified Coach (CPC) and Licensed Educator based on lovely Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  With her coaching company, Elasticity Coaching, her mission is to help you rediscover your true Self and learn to own your truth.  As a Self Discovery Expert and Truth Coach, Pamela would love to work with you, especially if you are a brave soul who has finally left a codependent, controlling and/or emotionally abusive relationship and now have a burning desire to express your authenticity.  Sign up for her free weekly eZine, subscribe to her blog, follow her on Twitter and like her Facebook page for events, deals and free stuff.  Or simply send a message to pamela@elasticitycoaching.com.  Pamela and her Elasticity will help you bounce back, better than ever!

When I think of my childhood, the first picture that pops up in my mind is my grandparents’ house and garden filled with plants, rose bushes and fruit trees, cherry, apricot, apple, pear and plum. Late summer the kitchen was my grandfather’s playground for making preserves and plum juice.

Especially summer morning and early evening memories are filled with specific sounds and smells. A mild summer breeze moves the curtains in the room upstairs which used to be my mom’s teen years’ room; While I still linger in bed I can hear the “overture” to the new day playing in the kitchen downstairs; The sounds of the key turning in the lock accompanied by the cracking noises of the green wooden door opening to the backyard, and grandmother getting ready for setting the patio table for breakfast.

There was always tea of some kind, mostly black or peppermint. Bread and rolls, butter, soft boiled eggs and fresh cut chives from the garden were offered to me, simple but exquisite flavors blending with the scents of morning dew and green grass, bees minding their business and of course the occasional wasp, one of grandmother’s declared enemies.

The beautiful sounds of the blackbirds welcoming early mornings and evenings, a sound I truly miss here in Southern California.

Days were filled with activities, in the back of the garden my dad and grandfather built and set up a - seen through a child’s eyes - huge green toy kitchen, which kept me busy, a truly vintage piece with an antique ‘bassena’ style sink and real water coming out of the tab. The wooden garden tool and furniture shed represented a perfect mini-house to play in for me and my little brother and by the end of the day countless stuff was all over the lawn and there was never enough time for cleaning up. Needless to say, by the time it was dark it was always grandmother who had to store everything away while mumbling her disapproval of our lack of actions.

Grandmother had a vintage sewing machine in the basement, one of those that require your legs to work out in order for the machine to do something. I spent hours and hours sewing outfits for my Barbie dolls or bringing little trolls with fur hair to life, while Aunt Rosie provided me with a seemingly unlimited selection of fabric and lace left-overs from the dressmaker she used to work for. I can still smell the smell of that basement, even though the reasons for the smell were not good, I considered it a “good” smell. As long as I can remember there has been an issue with humidity in the walls of that house due to water coming down from a spring up the hill. This humidity was also one of the reasons for a yearly event that took place in the house, when thousands of visitors and “enemies” came, the event started with my grandmother yelling, “Oh my God, Ants!”, followed by a rush phone call to my mother for help and then a vacuuming frenzy … well, at least I had fun.

Of course in the later years the garden and the house were a far cry from what I remember from my childhood days. Grandfather passed away decades ago and grandmother too has passed on after living a long life of 96 years. House and property were sold by my family to a young couple. All trees, bushes and plants are gone and tomorrow will be the day when the house too has to go to be replaced by a new house.

This is my personal way to say “farewell” to my grandparents’ house and garden, I think back and choose not to remember the place in sadness but rather by letting go, knowing that the memories will always be there. I look at it as the ever changing scenery and stage of life, as the foundation and soil for who I am today. I choose to look at the bigger picture in life where nothing material lasts forever. There will be room for a new garden and a new house, a new stage and new scenery for a young family to grow and for many new happy memories to be created.

Life goes on and it’s good.

Susan Placek is the Co-Owner of THE THOUGHT BROILER, a place for all things ‘Positive’, thinking, mind-set, inspiration and gift giving.

http://www.thethoughtbroiler.com

http://www.thecreativeideashop.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/susanplacek