Category: Uncategorized

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

Choose Joy at Christmas

AuroraLeave a comment

When you choose joy tree

When you choose joy, you feel good. And when you feel good, you do good. And when you do good, it reminders others of what joy feels like and it just might inspire them to do the same.

Anything you find on this site is something that struck a cord with me and I knew would be relatable and helpful to others. This quote perfectly defines that idea. I have to be honest, the last few weeks have had me feeling a little down, and I even felt myself not as much in the Christmas spirit as I normally am. The cause of this has been worries in my life about things that haven’t even happened yet (and are not guaranteed to happen) that I have allowed to take control of my happiness and attention. I also have some goals in the New Year, that I’ve been worried I won’t reach, and I stopped and asked myself: WHY? Why would I allow something that hasn’t even happened yet, or that I’m not even sure will happen, control so much of my happiness… and the joy I should be feeling around this time of year?

A good friend of mine often reminds me to take a step back and remember that nothing like this is guaranteed. The things you are worried about (that keep you up at night, prevent you from doing things, etc.) have not even happened yet. You are worried about them happening, and you’re not even sure they will. I like to refer to these things as time robbers-OR- joy robbers. These are the things you allow to take up space in your heart and mind and they block out the things that matter- kind of like now- the joy of the season.

So I’m deciding to choose joy.

I have often referred to myself as a positivity promoter and allowing myself to feel down over silly things that are not present in my life simply is not worth it, nor does it make me feel good! So this is the leaf I am deciding to turn over, and there is no better time to start then at Christmas!

Joy, Happiness, Positivity, Excitedness, Cheer (etc etc etc) FEELS GOOD!!! The other feelings don’t… so why not take some time and remind yourself to feel happy today, the rest of the holiday season and into the New Year! I am so thankful for the blessings that have been put into my life and for the wonderful life I am lucky to live. I am going to make sure I let the people in my life know how I feel about them this holiday season, and plan to continue this into the 2016- and I encourage you to join me!

Go ahead and tell the one you love how much they mean to you, or reach out to that friend who is far away but means more to you than you let me know!- it’s the holiday season— Spread the Joy!!!!!!

Merry Christmas my dear friends. I am taking this moment to tell you how much I appreciate you reading this today, and the times you stumbled across my words over the last 3 years.

Sending joy and light to you and yours this holiday season.

Xo- Aurora

Friendship · Goals · Motivation · Self Realization · Uncategorized

I No Longer Have Patience For Certain Things

AuroraLeave a comment

 

IMG_1525

“I no longer have patience for certain things, not because I’ve become arrogant, but simply because I reached a point in my life where I do not want to waste more time with what displeases me or hurts me. I have no patience for cynicism, excessive criticism and demands of any nature. I lost the will to please those who do not like me, to love those who do not love me and to smile at those who do not want to smile at me.

I no longer spend a single minute on those who lie or want to manipulate. I decided not to coexist anymore with pretense, hypocrisy, dishonesty and cheap praise. I do not tolerate selective erudition nor academic arrogance. I do not adjust either to popular gossiping. I hate conflict and comparisons. I believe in a world of opposites and that’s why I avoid people with rigid and inflexible personalities. In friendship I dislike the lack of loyalty and betrayal. I do not get along with those who do not know how to give a compliment or a word of encouragement. Exaggerations bore me and I have difficulty accepting those who do not like animals. And on top of everything I have no patience for anyone who does not deserve my patience.”

-Meryl Streep

I just love this quote. As I continued reading it for the first time, I thought to myself- who could have such insightful thoughts, and will it have a written author. Low and behold- Meryl Streep. Not only do I love her as an actress, but when someone you know is in the public eye, actually says something from the heart that’s so inspirational, it’s refreshing.

I’m going to keep this one short- because I think the quote speaks for itself, but I think pieces of what Streep says make it possible for anyone to relate. Think about the aspects of your life that you’re consistently trying to control, change, be validated for etc and now imagine just saying you’re done with it. In a single moment you’ve freed yourself from the burden of pleasing others, putting up with hurt, stressful situations or negativity. This is why I love this quote- it opens your eyes to the thought of freeing yourself from the things that weigh you down. Something I know that I’m working on all the time!

What do you no longer have patience for? And when are you going to decide that enough is enough? I’m taking my tips from Streep- I no longer have patience for things that don’t deserve my patience. 

Take care

-Aurora ✨

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

Why The Hell Not. 

AuroraLeave a comment

   
Have you ever wanted to start something but were afraid to take the leap? “Something” can be anything… It could be a diet, work out routine, joining a dating site, going for that promotion, moving somewhere you’ve always wanted to live, standing up to someone, running a marathon, telling someone you love them, leaving a hurtful relationship, taking that vacation – anything that you’d have to hit the gas pedal on and not lift your foot until you’ve reached your destination.    
   Honestly. Why the hell not? I’ve written a ton of blogs that address my starting this website and what it means to me to connect to people world wide about a range of topics. I’ve always wanted a connector like this, or an outlet, and never took the time to research and discover it. 

Until one day, I did. 

I think a lot of us think of things we want or what to do, and put them on the back burner because we’re afraid, don’t know where to start, fear the unknown, we’re comfortable right now or we come up with another excuse that pushes what we want away. We think that we will have time. I’m telling you because I know, and I’ve been there {and will be there again I’m sure}, that we don’t. You don’t. When you have something you want to do in your life, now is the time. Not tomorrow or next year, because tomorrow and next year become the next day and the following year. Why risk that the one thing you really want won’t happen? It’s silly isn’t it?  We do a million different things each day, but how many of these things bring us closer to what we want? You don’t like your job– are you taking the time to look into ones that might better suit you? You want to lose weight- are you still eating things that you know aren’t healthy? You are unhappy in your relationship- but do you help correct what’s making you unhappy or leave this relationship? I think a key thing many of us forget is that you’re not alone. In the driver seat of your life, no one else can push the gas pedal but you- however, there’s always someone to help pump the gas.

    
My website is the example. I knew I wanted to reach people in a positive way and to get my insights/thoughts out there with the hope of inspiring others, both to think deeply and let them know they aren’t alone in their thoughts. I wanted to do this for some time, and with the help and encouragement of my boyfriend (now fiancé) I was able to get this idea off the ground, and find out more information on starting a website. He helped put the gas in my tank, because he knew the correct way to do it and what resources to offer me. Who in your life could help you get to where you want to be? Who inspires you? Motivates you? Who is someone you look up to or admire? Essentially, who knows things about the stuff that you don’t? We can’t be afraid to tap into the assistance of others. That’s what networking, friendships and relationships are all about. 

In a former job that I held, I would often encourage my class of clients to imagine themselves in the position they wanted- then– had them fill in the blanks of how they got there. Who did they need to contact? What did they need on their resume? Did they have a connection to help get their foot in the door? I find myself doing this all the time in my own life. It doesn’t have to be a big task, it would be as easy as learning how to cook healthier meals or how to write a business proposal. Come up with A, imagine yourself at Z, and fill in the rest. 

Three years ago I imagined a website that would inspire others and spread positivity world wide  where needed. I wasn’t sure where to start, but found the right person to help make that dream a reality. Currently, I am writing to you from my website, The Weekly Sparkle, which I’ve run for almost three years. As of today, with this post, I’ve connected to individuals in 182 countries (!!!whoa!!!) world wide and have reached 100,000 views. In this time I’ve also expanded to Facebook and receive emails weekly from people around the world who want to connect on a topics I’ve written about or who are seeking advice. It’s absolutely, amazing. 

So I’m asking you, what is the one thing you really want right now in your life? How can you start taking the steps to get there? Sure, it may be scary, or not the right time, but will it ever be? Taking risks can be nerve wracking, and perhaps you might not succeed at first, or come to the success that you envision. But if you don’t hit the gas now, when will you? 

Go for it. Why the hell not. 

💕- Aurora 

Thank you to everyone who has helped make my dream a reality. 100,000 positive vibes go out to each and every one of you! Cheers ✨

Goals · Motivation · Self Realization · Uncategorized

Beginning a New Career- Saying Goodbye and Hello at Once. 

Aurora2 Comments

  You’ve got a new job. If you’re anything like me, change is not your strong suit. Many times in my life, I’ve run away from change like the plague and usually need to remind myself I can handle what’s changing and to continue to remain positive. I see this in my relationships, schooling decisions, friendships, living situations and the list goes on and on. What I love about writing however is that I’ve always tried to remain honest and share more of what I’m thinking than what I think people normally disclose. The biggest decision I have made so far in my life has been made- I chose a new career path and while I’m absolutely excited, I’m terrified. 

If you’ve found your way to my post, you’ve probably done a Google or Pinterest search wondering how others have handled getting a job job and/or leaving a job they really liked for a new opportunity. Well, you’ve come to the right place, because this doesn’t get much more spot on than that. I’m at this pivotal moment in my life, where an incredible career opportunity has presented itself to me, and through a lot of discussion {with myself and loved ones} and tons of list making {pros/cons etc}, I’ve elected to choose the career that will best fit my life and person goals. With this, I chose to walk away from a career where I had spent the last 10 years growing as a young professional and developing my leadership skills, along with lifelong friends and co-workers, who easily formed into a second family. Scary, right? Yes. 

Leaving your comfort zone is painful. It makes sense to me why people stay places where they are long overdue. When I reflect on how difficult the last three weeks have been for me, it makes complete sense. When you feel great in a place you work, why would you leave?  This is a question I’ve become a professional at answering recently, although it took me a week to figure out what the genuine answer was. Personal. 

The answer is personal. To be honest, with how hard this decision was, in the end it was completely personal. Meaning, I had to take my own life into consideration and think about what was best for me. And while working in a great environment where I felt impactful and appreciated was fulfilling and great, looking at what I wanted for my future (family, wedding, goals, travel etc) finally became clear to me. 

So I guess my advice would be to make sure you evaluate everything. As cliché as it sounds, write out your lists. Draw a line down the center of a piece of paper and list ever pro and every con you can think of. Bounce the list off someone you trust if you need it, but remember that the decision is yours. While talking it out with my fiancé and family {knowing they’d be impacted too} I appreciated that none of them told me what they would do or what they thought would be best for me- they let me figure it out on my own, offering support as I needed it. The last thing you want to do is add any additional stress to yourself, feeling as though you need to make someone else happy. 

Good luck in your thought process & if I can help… Come below!

To life decisions… 💟

–Aurora✨

Friendship · Motivation · Self Realization · Teenage Suicide · Uncategorized

Why It’s Okay to Grieve 

AuroraLeave a comment

  
Grief is like the ocean; it comes in waves,ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn how to swim. 

When we are going through a time of grief, it’s easy to get lost in the sadness. I know this, because like many of you, I have had to face a moment of grieving a time or two from the loss of a loved one. Most recently, a very close person in my family passed away, and it was very unexpected and troubling for my family to deal with. 

How could this happen? What if I had done something different? Did I tell them how much they meant to me? Is there a way it wouldn’t have ended up this way?  How am I going to move forward?

These are the heartbreaking questions we ask ourselves when we say goodbye to someone we love and care about. This is probably the most difficult part. If you’re like my family and I, this is usually the part where Faith comes in, because it’s a natural coping step we take. Whether you are Catholic like we are, or have the faith in any higher power, this is often the source of peace many of us turn to in this time of need. The reason I think Faith is so important in these situations and times when we’re grieving, is because many of us feel like we have to face the sadness alone. And that’s the thing, you don’t. 

Even aside of Faith, holding the burden on your shoulders and not allowing someone to help lift it off of you, can be difficult and even make that situation harder to deal with. In the moments where we are confused or hurting, it’s okay to let others in. 

Grief is a very natural part of life, so it’s only normal that we need to take a step back, take the time that we need and be vulnerable if necessary in order to heal. I’m sorry that you’re going through a difficult time right now, and want you to know my heart and warm thoughts are with you. 

Feel free to comment if you need any support, I’m sure others will benefit as well. ♡

✨Aurora 

Community Giving · Goals · Motivation · Self Realization · Uncategorized

How to Relax and Have “Me” Time

AuroraLeave a comment

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

   
          

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

One Year of Happiness- #100HappyDays x 4! 

Aurora4 Comments

  

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

Goals · Motivation · Self Realization · Uncategorized

I Never Thought I’d Be One of THOSE Girls. 

AuroraLeave a comment



“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