Summer is Here! How Should You Spend It?

June 11, 2014June 12, 2014 AuroraLeave a comment

Summer is right around the corner! WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR FUN? What’s on your list of things you want to get to before fall? I’ve compiled a list of things I’m making sure I do this summer, from pictures I took last year!

ENJOY this beautiful time of year, doing things you care about, with the ones you love! Let us begin!

1. PLAN A VACATION.

If you’re like me, you work your butt off throughout the year. Your job is your main focus and you are less likely to take a tropical vacation in mid November or December than most. It doesn’t need to be anything exotic, it can even be 2 days or a week… and it can be close by or far away. You deserve the time to turn off from responsibility, work or other everyday routines and to recharge.

2. VOLUNTEER.

What cause is near and dear to you? Is there something you and your family or friends have gotten close to personally? Is there an organization out there that you want to get more involved in and learn more about? Last year my boyfriend and I planned a softball tournament to benefit The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and it gained so much popularity that we’re doing it again this year!! {Check my Give Back Tournament link at the top of the page} When people see how passionate you are about giving back, it spreads! So who can you bring along for the ride? Live in the Lehigh Valley? Check out my Community Outreach calendar above to find an event that interests you!!!

3. SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY and LOVED ONES.

Summer is that perfect time to take a trip to see someone you have missed and care about. Have a family member who lives a few hours away? Maybe it’s time to take that road trip to see them! Someone who lives hours away? Try and organize a meet up, or plane trip to see that person. Time keeps flying by, take a break from priorities and see the ones who mean the most to you. I mixed this idea with volunteering last summer. I threw a summer luau to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis and invited all of my family and friends with Pa, New York and beyond. It was an amazing time!! {Yes that’s my grandma in her little Hawaiian get-up!}

4. DO A FUN COMMUNITY EVENT! {Like a Color-Me-Rad-Run!}

THIS was awesome!!! Google your local community and see the fun events going on, and GO! Any outdoor concerts or local kid friendly activities for the family? In the Lehigh Valley we have Discover Lehigh Valley which is your one stop shop for everything and anything going on locally! I bet your community has something similar, so look around! Many times if local event are selling tickets and it gets down to the wire, you can find discounted tickets on Groupon or the venues box office!

My advice would be to sit down and make a list. What is something your deserve to do this summer and what are some things you’d like to do with family, friends, etc.

On my list I have :
1. Beach Vacation (scheduled in OCMD!) with some of my best friends!
2. 2nd Annual Give Back Softball Tournament (to benefit Cancer).
3. Trying new a new brunch at Apollo in Bethlehem
4. Visiting my best friend in NYC🗽
5. Spa Day for myself 💆
6. To be continued!!….

Why not make your list today and check it off/ edit as you go!!

Happy Summer Sparkle fam! Let me know some fun things you have planned! I’d love to hear it!

✨🌟 Aurora

Friendship · Goals · Motivation · Paying It Forward · Self Realization · Uncategorized

How To Use Your Time Wisely

May 25, 2014May 25, 2014 AuroraLeave a comment

How to use your time wisely.

It’s funny I’m writing about this… Because I am a prime example of how to use your time poorly. Not consistently, of course, and probably not as poorly as most, {as you know I love volunteering, giving back, etc}, but where it has mattered lately, I feel like I’ve short-changed a few areas of my life.

But, this is the exact reason why I’m writing about it. I’ve thought long and hard the last 2 months about how I am spending my time: where I feel like I’m wasting it and where I need to give more.

To discover that you’re wasting your time is crazy… Which is where I am now. I’ve been wasting way too much time on situations and people who don’t mean a lot to me… And have watched people I love and places where I’m needed, not get what they deserve.

It took some time for me to get to this point and it took a lot of deep digging to realize I wanted to make a change. It’s interesting, but sometimes you find support and inspiration in places you least expect. My boss, who maybe could have been typical-boss status at times, is one person I bounce many feelings and situations off of. She’s open minded and listens. She listens. What a rare quality that means so much… But you don’t find in many people. It means a lot to know I can have real life conversations with her that help me think/sort thoughts out.

So here are the “actionables” I personally am working on to make sure I’m giving time where I feel is important. I’ve made it into a picture with hopes that it’s easy for you to save and use as you feel needed.

How to Use Your Time Wisely:

1. Define what Quality Time means to you.
2. Create a list of people/things that are deserving of your time.
3. Take #1 and #2 and decide how much of your time each listed item deserves.
4. If something feels off, it probably is. Revisit #2.
5. KNOW that it is okay to say NO.
6. Say No.

My biggest take away from the list I’ve created is to say no. Like many of you, I choose to be a people pleaser. I say yes when I should say no, and too often it’s because I want to make others happy, rather than myself and the people in my life who deserve it.

It’s unfortunate that sometimes something big needs to happen, to help us see the bigger picture, but it’s moments like that where we need to listen, and make changes. I’m sure this won’t be as easy as I hope it would be, but here’s to saying No, and making sure you spend your time wisely.

✨🌟 Aurora Beani

Goals · Motivation · Paying It Forward · Self Realization · Uncategorized

Being Able To Move Forward From Personal Fears And Suffering

May 6, 2014May 7, 2014 AuroraLeave a comment

“People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.”

I’m so hard on myself. Do you ever feel the same? Ever have something happen to you, whether it’s a moment of something hurtful or it was over a period of time, and you just can’t let it go? You allow this occurrence to take up so much room in your heart and mind, and feel like you’re about to drive yourself crazy? In reality, I’d say it’s comparable to self torture.

You take the occurrence that happens, and allow it to snowball in your mind {to places it shouldn’t be} and let it effect your daily thoughts and mood. It’s so sad, and unnecessary for us to do this to ourselves.

While I know it is easier said than done {I’m living proof of this all time!}, it’s so important to take these burdens off your shoulders and try to move into a more positive, suffer-free future.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, as I’ve had things over the last few months I let continuously bother me. Where I found that many of us do it too, is in recent situations where friends and family have shared their suffering as well.

We hold onto relations we shouldn’t, hurt ourselves with past disappointments and rather than move on from it, we sometimes stick with that suffering because it’s familiar and what we’re used to. It’s easier to stand still sometimes rather than deal with the fear of moving forward. I get it… Because I’ve done {and do} it.

So what do you do to move forward? You tell yourself what you would tell a friend… And do it. Ever feel like you can give great advice, but when it comes to taking it, you can’t? While it’s always easier said than done, you owe yourself the opportunity to move past the negative in your life and to open a new perspective.

So as I write this, I am committing to closing a door that has bothered me for awhile, and am choosing to put down a cross I have carried, knowing it will improve my overall well being and mental solitude.

Take your advice you’d give to a good friend and run with it. You deserve to put the past BEHIND you and move forward. And I’m not saying it’ll be easy, I’m saying you can’t head down the road, until you take the first step.

♡-Aurora Beani

Community Giving · Friendship · Goals · Military · Motivation · Paying It Forward · Self Realization · Uncategorized

10,000 Sparkles.

April 8, 2014 Aurora2 Comments

So amazing. When I started TheWeeklySparkle.com I never thought it would reach as many people as it has! With a little over a year of posting inspiration and trying to add sparkle in others lives, today, the site has reached over 10,000 views worldwide!!!!!! CRAZY!!!!!

My dream of this site was to inspire others to look inward as well as to spread positivity and to pay kind acts forward… And we’re doing it!!!
Every week I’m receiving messages about how some of my posts have inspired individuals, helped them make a change or feel connected when they needed it most. This is the exact idea of what I wanted from the site, and I couldn’t be any happier to see the outcome!

To celebrate 10,000 I’ve committed
to completing the #100HappyDays Challenge! This world wide project challenges individuals to recognize 100 consecutive things that make them happy! We all have something that makes us feel good everyday, why not take a second to identify and appreciate it!? Sign up and get more info in my last post! You won’t regret it! I’ve begun the challenge 5 days ago and already have been feeling even happier than before!

It amazing what happiness you find in your life when you’re actually identifying it!

While I have no end result or goal with this site, I can tell you that it will continue to build, grow and change as it needs to over time. Please continue to check back and share the site with anyone you think could use a burst of positivity!

THANK YOU for the incredible support! I look forward to the next 10,000 views and hope to continue delivering a positive experience each time you’re here!

✨ Aurora Beani

Community Giving · Friendship · Goals · Motivation · Paying It Forward · Self Realization · Uncategorized

100 Happy Days Challenge

April 2, 2014June 10, 2014 AuroraLeave a comment

This is it! The Weekly Sparkle has been active for the better part of a year now, and our 10,000th view is upon us! With this big milestone right around the corner, we wanted to think of the best way to celebrate and help our viewers continue to become their Best Self!

One of my amazing friends shared this incredible movement with me and I knew this was the best way to continue to motivate and inspire our viewers to STAY POSITIVE! It’s the #100HappyDays challenge and I’m adding a #DailySparkle twist to it!

I want you to think about the last time you were truly appreciative. What did that look like? How did it feel? Remember how happy you were in that moment? I bet you can picture it in your mind right now, and it’s even making you happy in this moment.

THESE are the moments I challenge you to acknowledge every day.

I’m sure now you’re wondering WHY you should do this?

Most importantly, you’re recognizing the amazing life you’ve been given, and while at times it can be hard, it’s your only guaranteed time here and you might as well make it worthwhile.

What you do!:: Take 1 picture a day of a moment in which you’re happy. Give it the hashtag #100HappyDays {and/or #DailySparkle} and upload it to a social network of your choice! What I’m going to do, is upload these to my Instagram page, as well as create a Facebook album {on The Weekly Sparkle} dedicated to my #100HappyDays showing my #DailySparkle and what inspired me to smile that day! At the end I will print the pictures and have a memory of 100 amazing, happy moments. Will you join me?

Day 1 begins today, April 3rd, 2014. Start any day you’d like, but why wait?

Thank you for 10,000 reasons to be happy. You guys are the best!

✨💖 -Aurora Beani

P.S. You can officially register here.

Community Giving · Friendship · Goals · Motivation · Paying It Forward · Self Realization · Uncategorized

It’s Not About You

March 26, 2014March 26, 2014 AuroraLeave a comment

It’s Not About You

Wow. These four words, while small, are extremely powerful. I had the opportunity of standing among some of the most motivated and inspiring people in the Lehigh Valley last night, and some of their words really stuck with me. At the annual Lehigh Valley Suits Awards, one award recipient started her acceptance speech with these four words. I’ve read them before from the book The Purpose Driven Life and was reminded that these are the very first words in the entire book.

This is what giving is all about. It’s not you. It’s not for you to get something from it, it’s not for personal gain, it’s not for praise or awards. You give and do good things, for others, for them. I love this. This honoree continued by stating that giving and helping others is about the reward and not the award. We do things to benefit others, and then see the amazing impact that was made and how others, communities, etc are changed. You propel the change by your good acts, and then the ripple affect begins! It really is amazing to think about.

How can you give now and immediately? The easiest everyday example of giving would be to smile at everyone you see. Think about it. What if each person you walked by, made eye contact with, passed in the office, etc. you consciously made the effort to smile or say hello to. It’s a small gesture, but I can personally attest to the power of a smile when feeling down or in a bad mood. The easiest thing to give, a smile. Simple concept, great reward.

The other speakers last night were nothing short of inspiration and their impact in our Lehigh Valley community is remarkable. I am proud to have been able to stand among them, and am honored to have received the Emerging Leader Award sponsored by the United Way.

The award ceremony last night made me appreciate the efforts of those right here in our community who are make positive changes and leaving their mark every day. My challenge for you is to see where you can make a difference, and go for it. The first step to volunteering and making a difference is to actually get up and go.

Find your passion, light the spark and make it happen.

And remember, it’s not about you.

Pay it forward ✨
-Aurora

Community Giving · Friendship · Goals · Motivation · Paying It Forward · Self Realization · Uncategorized

How To Live Well

February 18, 2014February 25, 2014 Aurora2 Comments

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

Wait, what do you mean the purpose of our existence isn’t to be happy?! Don’t we all strive to reach a place of happiness and contentment? I. Love. This. Quote. It makes so much sense! It’s not telling us not to be happy, it’s telling us to think more.

The appropriate question to ask ourselves is how we define ‘happiness’ and where we get it from. Is happiness feeling good about ourselves mentally, physically, spiritually? Is happiness money? Watching your kids play? Getting good grades in school? Having a powerful position in the work place? What is your happiness? If it could be a picture what would it look like? Are the places we get out happiness from healthy? Do we selfishly gain our happiness?

The reason I ask all these questions is because whether we know it or not, much of what we do/ say/ feel stems from our own happiness and how we arrive to it. I firmly believe that. we learn from a young age that it’s important to be happy, but Emerson implies in this quote that happiness is not what life is all about. Life, and living well should be defined in our impact on the world around us. Are you leaving your mark and are you honorable in your pursuits?

I have to say this is the thing in our society that drives me crazy the most… When people don’t do the right thing. You know, that feeling in your gut when you’re making a wrong decision or doing something unjust? If you get that feeling, good for you. I’ve seen a lot of people lack those feelings or ignore them all together.

When we wrong people who don’t deserve it, or do the wrong thing, even to a complete stranger, you’re not contributing positivity to the world around you— you’re proving that the world still has a lot of changing to do.

This is what I love about the “Random Acts of Kindness” campaigns that have swept the nation over the last year… It feels good for a lot of people to see random good acts within our communities.

At the end of it all, the end of our roads, no matter where we personally believe they lead… I can guarantee the question we ask ourselves or that is asked of us, isn’t “How happy did you make yourself in your lifetime?” You’ll think back and be most proud of the times where you showed compassion, love, made good decisions, made the best decisions, had honor and respect and lastly, you’ll think about the people YOU MADE happy and the impact you made in their lives. That, to me, is living well, and leaving your mark.

As I’ve stated on this site in “About The Sparkle,” and time and time again, I’m here solely to leave my mark. I encourage you to think about how you’ll leave yours. ✨

Xo Aurora Beani

Community Giving · Goals · Motivation · Paying It Forward · Self Realization · Uncategorized

New Year, New You, New Goals

January 14, 2014January 14, 2014 AuroraLeave a comment

Happy New Year!

How are you? It’s been one heck of a new year so far for me and we’re only 2 weeks in! I hope the year thus far has brought you some luck as well as hopes for a great year to come. Each year, I propose a challenge to become my best self by trying harder to meet goals I set for myself. This time last year, these were the goals (New Years Resolutions) that I come up with:

I put my resolutions next to my bed, on my night stand, as a reminder each day of what I’ve promised myself for the upcoming year. This eliminates the possible out of site out of mind dilemma that gets many of us off track when setting new goals. Try this. I’m telling you it works, as I’ve had a successful year with each one of my resolutions! I’ve increased my water intake immensely, having multiple glasses daily and substituting other (unhealthy) beverages for it! My website went from zero to 60, rounding to almost 8,000 views, showing me that spreading positivity is possible {and enjoyable}! I’ve worked hard on becoming more punctual {but will continuously work on this during 2014} and set time aside to plan my days, priorities, etc. I did this by utilizing daily planners, calendars and communicating better to my family, friends and co-workers. Lastly, I feel that this year was one of the strongest years where I came into myself.

Let me go more into this one, as it was one of my biggest realizations and had one of the largest impacts on me in 2013.

I set the goal in 2013, to “Be YOURSELF.” In reading it, I see that it’s a bold statement with a potentially broad meaning. The truth is, I wasn’t exactly sure what I meant at the time, but I knew I wanted to make some positive changes to feel better about myself, and what I was projecting out to others. I discovered through 2013, that where I really lacked “being myself” was in my confidence. While I knew I was a good person, treated others with respect and had a good head on my shoulders, something just didn’t feel right. It’s one thing to have accomplishments and be successful, but it’s another to know your worth and not being afraid to put it out there. In 2013, I put Aurora out there, which was scary, nerve wracking, unpredictable and uncomfortable. But the best part I discovered, is that these feelings are essential as you head down the road to becoming what you want. Every change in your life is going to bring some kind of discomfort, because it’s not natural– that’s why it’s called change. So that being said, while I continue to put my best self out there and work on all goals from the previous year, here are my new goals for 2014::

What are you going to do to become your Best Self in 2014?

To a New year, 🌟✨

-Aurora Beani

Community Giving · Goals · Motivation · Paying It Forward · Self Realization · Uncategorized

Holiday Hope Chest and Holiday Giving Guide Followup!

December 11, 2013December 12, 2013 Aurora2 Comments

Hi everyone!!

WOW what an amazing, feel good opportunity the Holiday Hope Chests provided for over 100 of us who put together, wrapped and GAVE an amazing box of presents to children in need here in the Lehigh Valley. To say I’m in awe is an understatement. Each and everyone one of you, near and far, who donated is making a difference in the life of a child. How incredible is that? In the end, 70 Hope Chests were donated in the name of TheWeeklySparkle.com and our initiative to adding a little sparkle into other peoples lives.

The Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley was so excited to receive our boxes and sent their thanks to our amazing group of givers! Total, they received over 4,000 Hope Chests!!!! Can you believe it? It’s hard to understand how 4,000 children in our community would go without getting a present this holiday season, but I’m grateful and humbled to know that because of you, and what we’re doing, that they’ll have a piece of Holiday cheer, just as we all love this time of year.

Please contact me for more giving opportunities over the next 2 weeks before Christmas and be sure to check the Community Outreach Calendar at the top of the screen for regular giving opportunity updates monthly! Also check out my previous “Random Acts of Kindness” post for quick ways to make someone’s day this holiday season!!

Happy Holidays, and don’t forget to add sparkle to someone’s life this time of year 🌟✨

-Aurora Beani

Here are some great pics from the Holiday Hope Chest Collections!!!

Community Giving · Goals · Motivation · Paying It Forward · Uncategorized

2014 UPDATE! Redefine Th Possibilities! THON- Inspire Tomorrow’s Miracles

February 17, 2013February 23, 2014 Aurora2 Comments

UPDATE!!!!!:::: THE 2014 THON TOTAL IS::::: 13,343,517.33!!!!!!!!!!!! OH MY GOD!!!!!! FTK!!!!

The picture you see above is remarkable. Yes, the scene itself is colorful and the room is massive, but, there is more to this picture than what meets the eye, especially if you yourself have never been to THON. So what is THON?

The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, THON, is a two-day Dance Marathon that takes place every February at the Pennsylvania State University in University Park with the purpose of raising money to combat pediatric cancer. It was started in 1973 by the university’s Interfraternity Council, and in its first year, more than $2,000 was raised, with 39 couples dancing for 30 hours straight. Today, it is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, by involvement and revenue with $10,686,924.83 having been raised at the 2012 event. The money that is raised is donated to The Four Diamonds Fund, a charity devoted to defeating pediatric cancer through research and caring for patients at the Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. More than 15,000 students get involved in the event each year, organizing it and raising funds with the rallying cry, “FOR THE KIDS!”.

Above all, THON is a movement and a commitment that we will find a cure for cancer and together, there’s no limit to what we can do. THON is a large group of driven students who are loving beyond themselves and are standing up for life. They’re standing up to cancer and telling it that it has met it’s match. I had the honor in 2008 to be a dancer in THON and it has changed my life. I danced 46 hours straight, no sitting or sleeping, in support of our THON child, Jason Swope. Jason’s battle with cancer was a long, uphill battle, and so I was honored to represent him and his amazing family THON weekend and ultimately, my entire time at Penn State (and beyond).

The bonds I created and the amazing people I met because of THON is something I will be forever thankful for. When you have such a positive force in your life, you cherish it and want to pass it forward to others. I encourage you, strongly, to visit THON.org and webcast.thon.psu.edu/ and become inspired!! The students of Penn State have it figured out. When given the opportunity to influence the life of another, seize the moment. You get out of life what you put in it.

To all THON dancers, I’m so proud, and commend all that you’re doing this weekend, and the year round efforts you put in to make this event as successful as it is. YOU ARE Penn State! For The Kids, For Life, Until we find a cure, we dance.

For the Kids,

Aurora

Stay tuned to find out the total for this year!!!!!!!!! Coming to you at 4:00 pm today!!!!!

AHHHH! This just in!!!!!! THON raised 12.3 Million this year!!!!!!!! Amazing!!!!!!! Fight on State!!!!