Quote of the Day

(© 2006 Graphique de France – wall calendar)

“What is seen really depends on what is looked for.” - Felix the Cat

I love my Felix the Cat-isms so much that I’ve kept my 2006 wall calendar up for the last four years. He is one smart cat!

Now I’m not a pessimistic person by nature, but at times I feel a desire to dwell on the negative more than the positive. But I think we all have that natural tendency, especially if we are under a significant amount of pressure or stress.

But this month’s saying reminds me to stop those negative thoughts in their tracks and instead shift my focus on what is going right in my life.

While it sometimes seem easier to sink into the downward spiral that is self-pity, I’m done wasting my time and energy on such an unproductive hobby. And I’m finding that with practice, it’s becoming easier to get off that slippery slope and shift my focus to happier thoughts.

I remain, as always, a work in progress.

Just Another Saturday Shooting B Roll

Early Saturday afternoon, my boyfriend got a call asking him to shoot an interview piece with singer Faith Evans, who was in town to perform at the DC Convention Center.

When he asked me to join him to shoot B roll, I was instantly excited and nervous. In the past, I would have quickly passed up on the opportunity - out of fear and uncertainty over what would happen - but these days I’m up for anything (within reason, mind you) and after a quick tutorial with his new camera, I felt ready to go!

And even though we did a lot of waiting as the ‘quick’ interview turned into an almost five hour event…I was never bored. Instead, I was fascinated by my surroundings and grateful for taking advantage of yet another new opportunity.

And after seeing some of my footage in the end piece, I’m starting to consider a third career as a videographer…or at least a B roll technician.

Here are a few of the behind-the-scenes photos I took just for you!

The equipment

Backstage @ the Convention Center

Faith hitting the stage!

My boyfriend – never without a camera!

Petition for Cats in the Workplace

I’ve come to the conclusion that I wouldn’t dislike Mondays so much if they all involved sleeping in and hanging at home with my boyfriend and cats. Oh, and a massage!

Fortunately some Mondays turn out that way and, as luck would have it, that’s precisely how mine went today! I caught up on some sleep, got a massage, started on another art project and stalked my cats for their perfect close-ups (note badass ID tags):

Wylie

Sami

Can a Bookcase Be Inspired?

I love books but have never liked the way bookcases looked…especially the one that lives next to the TV in my living room. The easiest solution would have been to get rid of it all together but I love my books too much not to display them.

So instead, inspired by color organized bookshelves that I was seeing everywhere and an amazing DIY project by Danny Seo, I set out earlier this year to transform the piece into something I could be proud of.

I love the end result and send many thanks to Linda over at Heartfire at Home for giving me the opportunity to finally post about the makeover!

A punch of color in my new favorite corner of the living room!

Rainbow effect detail

Close up shot of the red-to-yellow shelf

The top of the bookcase displays one of my favorite DIY projects!

Quote of the Day

“Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.” - Gloria Steinem

I’ve always had a big imagination and often spent time as a child dreaming of my future – what my first boyfriend would look like, where I would live when I grew up and what cool job I would have.

Even today I continue to dream of what my future holds – of my future home by the water, of my successful company and being surrounded by wonderful family and friends.

Dreams are a wonderful thing and help motivate me to do things today to help me reach my dreams for tomorrow.

What do you dream of?

The Right to Vote…and Complain

This morning I waited in line to vote in the U.S. mid-term elections…and waited. And waited some more.

Three of the five voting machines broke down before I arrived and the line felt never-ending. But unlike the woman in front of me, I stayed calm. I wasn’t in a particular rush to get to work and, as a rational person, I understood that these things happen.

On the other hand, the woman ahead of me turned down a paper ballot to wait until she was at the front of the line to start complaining loudly that the volunteers should have prepared better for such an occurrence.

Really?? Sometimes I wonder about people.

Granted I still get road rage occasionally, but that is within the privacy of my own car. I don’t publicize my irrational behavior for all to see…unless I’m on the phone with family at the time and then they get to bear witness.

Perhaps this woman didn’t realize that she is lucky to even have the opportunity to stand in line and cast her vote. Hopefully she gets a clue someday.

As for me? I took my time voting and proudly displayed my “I Voted” sticker all day at work!

Well-worn and proud of it!

Petition for Cats in the Workplace

I love how closely animals resemble people - in their unique personalities, in their distinctive looks and in their sweet relationships with each other.

My cats have been living together for almost two years now and watching them grow to put up with and then love each other has been such a sweet thing to witness.

Of course sometimes there can be too much ‘love’…like when Sami gives Wylie a bath that goes on a bit too long. The one below lasted for almost five minutes before Wylie had had enough!

Sami loving on Wylie