Being an unforgettable women who changes is okay!… Every man is looking for the woman with too much inside her.
Sparkle on, ladies. ✨
💖Aurora
Category: Goals
How to Relax and Have “Me” Time
Hello 👋! Over this last weekend I finally got to enjoy some “me” time. On most days off from work, I think I usually consider it “me” time when I’m catching up on Tv by myself or quickly running errands throughout the day. Attention all people everywhere- THIS. IS NOT. “ME” TIME. To me, “me” time is stopping. It’s slowing down, catching your bearings and taking in what’s going on around you. I wish I could tell you the time before last weekend that I had done this, but unfortunately it’s so long that I can’t recall.
As I may have written in some of my previous posts, I live in the beautiful Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania where there is always a lot to do and take in. We’re full of great, new restaurants, tourists attractions, nationally know universities and who can’t forget Musikfest. I live in a town where it’s easy to get involved and even caught up in the daily hustle and bustle of a busy city. And while I absolutely love the hectic-ness of where I live, it’s a great thing to be able to take a second and enjoy all the beauty that’s around me.
This Mother’s Day weekend, we closed down our Main Street and had a ton of vendors come in to sell artwork, soaps, sculptures, blown glass, you name it- it was incredible. After a busy morning, I chose to walk around Main St. by myself, grabbed a coffee {from the amazing Johny’s Bagels} and ended up having a great conversation with a women whom I had just met. It was wonderful. Not only was the half hour conversation nice, it was unexpected and light. “When I was your age I used to love coming here with my husband…” and “Yes… You need to watch for that construction on 33...” we exchanged back and forth.
It was a beautiful day, but what made it better was that it was my definition of “me” time and my ideal moment of taking time for myself. What does your “me” time look like?.. And when is the next time you’re going to take it? YOU. DESERVE. IT!
Here’s so pictures from my “me” time. Enjoy!! 💋
-Aurora
One Year of Happiness- #100HappyDays x 4!
Is it possible to be happy for 100 days in a row? I can confidently tell you, yes, because I’ve done it. Is it possible to be happy for 200 or 300 consecutive days? I can tell you yes to that too- because I’ve reached those mile markers as well. Somewhere during my 200s I decided that I wanted to complete ONE YEAR of happiness and that I was going to do it by not letting a day go by without finding something that made me happy and grateful for the life I have. I blogged about this experience as I began it because I wanted to see who would pledge along with me- a few of you did, and I know in comparing stories that someone of us finished, and most of us did not. IT’S NOT ALWAYS EASY to find something every single day that makes us happy, but that’s what the #100HappyDays campaign is all about!
I am a currently on my 4th consecutive round of #100happydays as I have been tracking my own personal “#365HappyDays” to achieve a better, happier life! Can someone find happy moments every day for a year? They can! My thought is, people want to be happy– I was one of them. This challenge helped me to see that there are small things every single day that contribute to our happiness- why not celebrate them? If we open our eyes to what is already there, the world can be a lot happier of a place, we just need to take a second each day and do it! Here are some of my favorite happy days this year:
The year was filled with my grandmothers 94 birthday, my grandparents celebrating 60 years of marriage, my cousin getting pregnant with the most beautiful baby boy Linkin, volunteer events, my engagement (!!!!), vacation with my closest friends and that amazing gift from my best friend. All moments that I want to treasure forever, and made average days happier. During this challenge, on many days that could have been labeled as “bad days” I found that I was able to turn around the way I felt, by simply noticing the innocent way my pup was laying on my lap or a thoughtful letter a friend sent from far away just to say hello. These are the things that make happy days! Bad days have a habit of creeping up on us, and changing the possibility of a really great day to happen! Don’t be one of those people who let a bad moment make a bad day! It’s a decision, choose to be happy. To beginning year 2… ✨
Click Here to join the movement now!!
-Aurora Beani
I Never Thought I’d Be One of THOSE Girls.
“What is that?!” The question I’d often ask when I’d see the green cup of yuck pictured about. Smoothies. When I would think about smoothies in the past, even up until two weeks ago, I would think, how gross!? Think about it, you can put anything you want into smoothies. You can add bananas, kale, strawberries, yogurt, really, any fruit or vegetable you could think of and then some.
As someone looking to look amazing in a wedding dress in a little more than a year, I searched for an alternative to just a regular dieting, really, I was looking for something that I actually like! While I enjoy fruits and vegetables, I wanted to try something that would be filling and giving me even more of a nutritional value. When my roommate began making smoothies, she offered for me to try one, and I immediately knew this was something I wanted to continue, so where do I start?
What do you put in smoothies? I thought to myself. I knew the fruits I liked, but what is BEST for your body?! I searched online and found some recipes I liked, and visited a great site: Emerald City Smoothie that not only is a business, but they show you ingredients to make great smoothies right in your home!! My fiancé had a nutritionist from their location come in to his work to show them great and healthy recipes that actually taste great, so that peaked my interest even more.
The picture above is my actual smoothie I made for breakfast this morning that tastes absolutely incredible and helped me to feel full all morning into lunch time! Ingredients: 2 bananas, orange juice, spinach, lime juice, grapes and lots of ice! Easy and filling.
Join me on my adventure to discovering new and healthy ways to get in shape and feel great!
To healthy living… 💋
-Aurora
2015 Manifesto ✨
WELCOME to 2015!!! ✨✨✨
My 2015 Manifesto!!!:::
1. Guard your time. (it’s YOURS!)
2. Let kindness rule.
3. Create good habits. (Break the bad!)
4. Choose to focus on the good.
5. Start each day with goals. (3 before you leave the house!)
6. Find the best in others. (You can!)
7. Be the best version of you. (#1)
8. BELIEVE anything is possible.
Happy New Year everyone! How are you going to spend it? What changes are you going to make? I’m taking inspiration from each one of these quotes and applying it to my resolutions! Positive thinking, effective planning and a great attitude will you help you reach your goals this year!
To a sparkling 2015… ☆ ✰ ✫ ✬ ✭ ✩ ☆
-Aurora Beani
New Year. New You. 2015
One of my all time favorite posts I’ve written & it’s all about RESOLUTIONS 2015!
You personally deserve nothing but the best. Click the link and think! What are you going to do differently in the new year? Me… total focus on financial and health wellbeing. Prioritizing bills, saving for our wedding and making those pesky doctor appointments I’ve been pushing off! This year I’ve been working on myself a lot and am happy with some changes I’ve made- with financial and health wellbeing becoming a primary focus, I know 2015 will be even more promising. How about you? Click the link & comment below on what you’re doing to better yourself in 2015!
To a sparkling new year ✨✨
-Aurora Beani
When Lovers and Friends Become Strangers
It’s an interesting concept. You meet someone, get to know them, and at some point, determine that this is a person you want to form a relationship with. I’m talking about romantic relationships, of course, but what I’m about to discuss can also be applied when thinking about friendships, co-workers and even sometimes, family.
stran·ger
ˈstrānjər/noun
“a person whom one does not know or with whom one is not familiar.”
We all start out as strangers. Something along the line then brings us together; whether it’s friends, family, work, other strangers, something brings us to the point of wanting to become connected. These connections, I think depending on your personal beliefs, can be fate or they can be by chance. Personally, I think we meet who we’re supposed to. They teach us what we’re supposed to learn and they either remain in our lives, or we are destined to be apart… to become strangers.
In a discussion with a close friend recently we discussed this. She had been in an on-and-off again relationship with someone she had cared about for a long time, and at one point, the relationship ended. Both tried to make it float, but fate jumped in and proved it couldn’t work. Recently, she heard of this person, years later, being in the same city as her, only a block away, and immediately questions of ‘is this fate’ and ‘what does this mean’ came to mind for her. Incredibly happy in a current relationship, guilt set in for her. Why and I thinking these things?; What do these thoughts mean?; I know I don’t care about this person anymore, why am I over thinking this?
My instant response: It’s OKAY and you’re human. It’s an unfortunate cycle sometimes, but often, we start out as strangers with some people and end as strangers. You will always remember the great times you had, what built your relationship etc, and our natural human-like instinct will be to go to those memories and wonder what if? Intense relationships have a habit of making us second guess, and that’s okay, as long as you’re able to pull yourself from those thoughts and remain current. These people become strangers once again, and the moments and memories you have, no longer dictate the kind of person they might be.
I say this applies to other relationships, because it does. I’ve recently ended two big friendships in my life, and while I never could have seen it happening, I often remind myself that I’m better off because of it. These two people, have become strangers. My friends ex boyfriend, a stranger. Your freeze-frame of what your relationship was is no longer. They have changed, you have changed, and what was might not ever be again. And I say again, that’s OKAY.
I think it’s human nature to want relationships to last, to fight for the ones we care about and to try and salvage the great moments we once had. I think the point of this post is the support you and remind you that it OKAY to move on from relationships that no longer serve you and help you grow. And in the moments where you feel weak, or wonder, don’t feel guilty. Sometimes people come in to our lives to teach us lessons, give us love, guidance, whatever it is we need, and then they are destined to move on without us. We are destined to move on, without them.
To the forever relationships in our lives and the ones that make us grow… And to the strangers…♡
-Aurora Beani
Move. You’re Not A Tree.
” If you don’t like where you are, move. You’re not a tree.”
What a quick reminder of reality. Sometimes we think we’re stuck in a situation or worry about circumstances, and don’t realize that they are just that- situations and circumstances. Too often, I think we forgot that have have power over both of these things in all aspects of our lives. This sits most recently with me, as I’ve come to the realization that things I am currently unhappy with, can change… and that I have the power to make that happen, when I want. That’s the key to getting what you want, deserve, are looking for… you make it happen by flipping the switch.
Do you want to lose weight/create healthier habits? Are you in a relationship that you feel you shouldn’t be? At a job where you know you need to try something new? Or maybe you’re looking to start a relationship, get on the dating scene, or take up a new hobby- YOU have the power to jump-start all of these things and to make them happen for yourself-NOW.
That’s what this means… YOU, ARE NOT, A TREE. The only thing rooting you down is yourself. The things you want to change, can change, you just have to hit the start button.
From one former tree to another,
Aurora Beani
The Impact of Moments
“Have you ever thought that if one thing hadn’t happened, a whole set of things never would’ve either? Like dominoes; a single event kicked off an unstoppable series of changes that gained momentum and spun out of control, and nothing was ever the same again. Don’t ever doubt that a mere second can change your life forever.”
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about these words lately; for over a month actually. It’s amazing how much time we can spend thinking about something, when it weighs so heavily on our conscious, dreams, life decisions etc. Have you ever stopped for a second and thought about the moment you’re in? How did you get there? Who are the people around you and where did they come in to your life? Was it a quick decision that got you to where you are right now, or was it a series of events that lead your there?
What makes me think a lot about this lately are some decisions I’ve made and how I am able to see the opposite outcome if I was to have chosen another path. An example would be my schooling… I was down to the wire between Penn State and another school when perusing my undergraduate degree. Based on a single conversation with a good friend I respected and looked up to, I chose Penn State for the amazing things the university has to offer. From that, I gained life long best friends, began my community outreach as a young adult, found my love for Penn State football and culture and so many other things. I don’t regret my decision to go to Penn State for a second, but have thought about what my life would have been like if I didn’t go there. The key significant life changers, heavy decisions, amazing moments, gained and lost friendships… What my life would be like if those things hadn’t happened… And wondering what my life would have been like if I was somewhere else.
The toughest part about decision making and single moments, is the uncertainty. Many tough decisions are like jumping without a safety net. “What if I chose this and don’t like it? What if I regret not going the other way? What if I’m unhappy with my decision?” This is the aspect that gets me the most. The type of person I am, I like to be in control of situations and am completely accountable to my own decisions- the idea of free fall and the uncertainty of it, scares me.
Is anyone else like that?
While new-ness and different journeys can be exciting, I don’t blame anyone for feeling like it’s scary,too. I think what I’ve been thinking most about this lately is that decisions and moments we create that have significant impact should in fact not be perceived as scary, but rather, brave.
The truth is, every decision we make is a gamble. The uncertainty will be there, our insecurities may surface and there might just be a time or two when we realize we should have chosen the other route– and that’s okay. The bravest of people are able to take life as it comes, learn along the way and changes paths when needed. No decision, or moment, no matter how big, can’t be changed. Be confident in your decisions, trust that you’re exactly where you should be and appreciate the moments. It’s these moments that dictate our memories and allow to learn and grow.
To the moments… ♡
-Aurora ✨
Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone
“Great people do things before they’re ready. They do things before they know they can do it… Doing what you’re afraid of, getting out of your comfort zone, taking risks like that — that is what life is. You might be really good. You might find out something about yourself that’s really special and if you’re not good, who cares? You tried something. Now you know something about yourself.” -Amy Poehler
I recently had an amazing opportunity to attend an all women’s night out for the Summer Solstice. For those of you who aren’t too familiar with the solstice, it happens each year around June 21st, (which is the beginning of summer) and has the longest period of daylight. While many worldwide interpretations are different, many recognize this event in festivals, rituals, reflection and it sometimes has a theme of religion or faith.
A very well know women in my Lehigh Valley community, Jane Wells Schooley, invited me to attend her women’s night out with about 30-40 other women. I didn’t really know anyone else attending, nor did I know much about the Summer Solstice, but I knew I wanted to continue to get more involved locally, especially with someone as inspirational and influential as Jane is. I was honored to have been invited, so although I felt a little out of my comfort zone and unsure about what to expect, I decided to go anyway.
This brought me to think about how many other opportunities we miss out on simply because we aren’t sure what to expect or what the outcome will be. Our comfort zone is the area we’re used to, stand by and most likely don’t even think about everyday. But, is staying there going to help us grow? It might seem like a small deal… “Come on Aurora, how hard is it to go out with a bunch of women for the evening?” I get, it does sound silly when you pose it like that, but think about it. The small voice in the back of my head telling me, “you don’t know anyone, you might feel uncomfortable,” could be enough to make any of us turn down an invite.
Without going into tons of detail about the event, I can tell you that it was amazing, and I’m so glad I went. I’ve never been in a group of women like that before, where everyone was encouraging, supportive and getting to know one another openly. While I was nervous in the beginning and unsure of how I would feel, I took the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and to meet new people. I’m beyond thankful for the invite and know it was a great decision to attend regardless of what my little voices told me.
This is the reflective part… Think about one time you wished you had later done something that you chose not to, because of stepping out of your comfort zone. Did you miss out on something new, different or exciting? Are you afraid to say or do something you normally wouldn’t because it’s not normal to you?
Try it out. Life is still going on when you’re not ready or sure of the path you want to travel down, so why not just go? Be uncomfortable, take chances, be open to vulnerability and allow yourself to grow. It’s okay to be scared, nervous or unsure, but why limit yourself and stay there? They say life truly begins at the end of our comfort zone, and while I’m not 100% sure of that’s true or not, I’m gonna give it a shot.
To our personal comforts… And leaving home without them. ✨
-Aurora Beani
The Weekly Sparkle 