Blessings and Thankfulness

Finally......a moment to breathe, to reflect, to rest, to regroup. As a second year Assistant Principal, the roller coaster ride hasn't slowed down. No time for creative moments and reflective thinking. But Thanksgiving has brought me 5 days to do just that. And so......I head to the lake in Central Texas. Time with family. Enjoying the big, Texas sky. Watching the sun sparkle on the lake. Who needs a spa retreat when you can just go home?

Wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving full of blessings for peace and prosperity in the holiday months to come.

~Allison

Meet my friend, Patricia!

Since I transferred to a new school with my new position a year or so ago, I've made many new friends. However, you've just got to meet Patricia. She's been teaching over 10 years now, but she started her own small business on the side and I'm just so impressed with her products.

Agape & Zoe Naturals was founded when the owner/founder, Patricia Malemes, realized there were no natural perfumes or scents that pleased her and none that created and evoked the kind of emotion and feelings that her old perfumes did. Ahhh...toxic memories...She had thrown her designer perfumes out months earlier and was now in need of a natural, safe, non-toxic, but most importantly "phthalate-free" perfume. Inspiration struck and today Agape & Zoe Naturals has six pleasing scents, sure to inspire and delight the senses.

While I'm not a tree-hugging, all-natural kind of gal, I must say that the longer I know Patricia, the more she turns me on to wonderful, all-natural products. What I love the most about Patricia, is that if she can't find the product on the market at a reasonable price, she starts working on developing her own product at a much better price. I bought her Sampler Set of 5 rollerballs it was only $22!! Each rollerball secent is only $5! Great Gifts!!!!!
She also sells her fragrances in 2 oz. spray bottles for $20. The coolest thing about these liquid parfumes is that they have only TWO INGREDIENTS......100% organic, grain alcohol and essential oils and plant extracts. The fragrance lasts all day, too!

And now..........I just found out that she has put together a line of solid perfumes with her signature fragrances! These are made with only THREE INGREDIENTS .....organic beeswax, organic almond oil, and 100% essential oils and she's selling them for $15 a piece. The only problem is that I can't decide what fragrance to purchase.

Today, Green is the fragrance I wanted to wear. While I don't really like cucumber types of fragrances, Green has a fresh and clean scent. It has the cool, crispness of cucumber with an energizing touch of mint and the sweet tartness of mandarin orange.
But there are other days when Faith is my favorite fragrance. It has the sweet scent of Vanilla and a little tang of grapefruit. Sounds odd, but smells GREAT!! Her other fragrances have equally transcendental names such as Botanica, Peace, and Pure Innocence. Check out her website and you can find her on Facebook, too. Sometimes she has specials and giveaways on her Facebook page. You can order product off of her website and she'll ship it to you. If you visit Agape and Zoe Naturals and try her product, let me know what you think. I think you'll be pleasantly pleased!

Hope you're enjoying your weekend!

~Allie

Perception and Thankfulness

Is the glass half full or half empty?

It all has to do with perception.

I'm learning that how I look at things can make a big difference in my level of happiness. Does that mean that I'm aging? Like a fine wine, I hope!!

I'm thankful I have to pay taxes.

It means I have a job.

I'm thankful I have to get up at 5:45 am Monday through Friday.

It means I have a job and can provide insurance for my family.

I'm thankful I have to fight my grey hair and color it every 6 weeks.

It means my hair isn't falling out.

I'm thankful I have to worry about my bank account.

It means that my daughter is going to college and continuing her education.

I'm thankful for my over $300 electricity bill in August.

It means we were able to stay cool during the weeks of 100+ degree weather in Texas.

I'm thankful for the mounds of laundry I have to do each week.

It means I have plenty of choices to clothe myself.

I'm thankful for muddy paw prints in my house on a rainy day.

It means I have my sweet scottie, Pippen, to make me smile every day.

Is a dandelion a weed or a flower? It's all in your perception.

Finding time to quiet my mind and center my thoughts this week was priceless. Even if the only quiet time is driving home from work, it's made a difference in how I get through some pretty stressful days. I've already had to suspend a second grader and we've only been in school for 4 weeks. The long hours aren't helping either. Just have to put it into the proper perspective.......half full? half empty?
~Allie

23 years ago today..........

I married my soul mate, my one true love. Happy Anniversary, Patrick. Here's to many more wonderful years together.

Hopefully we'll be as blessed as my mom and dad who've been together for more than 50 years.

I love this picture of me and my dad. That penny in my shoe has brought us good luck so far!

I love you, Patrick.

~Allison

Things that make me smile............

No school for 3 days......time to play on the computer!

Hope you're enjoying your Labor Day weekend, too!

~Allie

Question..........

How does one go about living a creative life in the chaos of every day life?
~Allie

And it starts again....................

The beginning of another school year starts tomorrow. We had Howdy Night this past Friday night, cooking hot dog dinners for everyone who joined PTA (even though it was over 100 degrees!), teachers meeting their students, school supplies being purchased and brought to the classroom, laughing, and just trying to enjoy the fact that school starts on Monday. I feel just like one of the kids.....have my first day of school outfit picked out, ironed, and hanging on the back of the closet door. Hopefully I'll sleep tonight! Do you remember those back-to-school jitters?

~Allie

(and no.....that's not me in the dancing dolphin get-up. It's one of my teachers who has more energy than the energizer bunny!!!)