Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Quote of the day ... Oct. 31, 2012

"Only one book is worth reading: the heart."
~Ajahn Chah

Ever get a feeling that just seems to radiate from your insides out?  That gut instinct that you just cannot ignore?  What do you do with it?  Do you question and second guess yourself? Or do you just go with and it trust that everything will work out?  

I always follow my gut. There has been very few times when I have decided to go against my gut instinct only to have it blow up in my face and I end up going the way of my gut.  I may not always understand the reasoning for my instinct or know the exact outcome, but I always know that no matter what my gut instinct will never lead me astray. 

Whenever people come to me and ask me what I think or what I think they should do .... my advice is always: Trust your heart.  Always.  Follow it thru and see where you end up. 


Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Quote of the day ... Oct. 30, 2012


"I was the shyest human ever invented, 
but I had a lion inside me that wouldn't shut up!"
~Ingrid Bergman

Coming out of your shell is sometimes the hardest thing to do.  It's like walking around completely naked in a room full of complete strangers who are judging you.  I feel like that when a microphone is placed in front of me.  I could talk to just about anyone, have a conversation about almost anything but put a mic in front of me and I become a blubbering fool. True Story.  I'm also very shy. Most people challenge me on this, but it's truth.  I honestly am a very shy person, I CHOOSE to force myself out of my little box of comfort though.  The reason I do this is so that I know I can succeed under any circumstance.  It's not always easy nor is it always fun, however, to me, it is necessary for my personal success.

How do you answer to your inner lion? Do you let it out and allow it to take you where you are meant to go or do you hide from it?  If you are still hiding from it, let it out and see where it takes you. You won't be sorry. 

Friday, October 26, 2012

Quote of the day ... Oct. 26, 2012


"If you scratch some saints you will find the devil."
~Austin O'Malley

We all  have a good side and a bad side.  There's no point in trying to hide that fact.  What is important is which side we CHOOSE to have on prominent display for all to see.  The choices you made in the past do not necessarily have to mean you are still that person today.  And there's not point in regretting those choices either.  There is a lesson in every choice you make.  Your past, whether good or bad, has made you who you are today and the choices you make today will determine who you evolve into tomorrow.

There should be no shame in having made poor choices in your life.  Every person has made at least ONE poor choice at some point during their life and the person who tells you otherwise is probably the biggest offender who just doesn't want to admit it.  But when it comes right down to  it, if you have a bad side that you wish to keep at bay, don't hide it, don't run from it, face it head on and start to make the choices you know you should be making so that you are almost always putting your best foot forward.  Yes, I said almost because let's face it, what fun would life be if we are ALWAYS being good???? 

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Quote of the day ... Oct. 25, 2012

“If you can't get rid of the skeleton in your closet, 
you'd best teach it to dance."
~George Bernard Shaw

I seen this quote the other day and fell in love with it.  We all know how hard it is to keep secrets about ourselves under wraps, partly the reason why I am such an open book about my life.  There are just some parts of life that people wish to erase, but why?  This has forever been a question in my mind. Why not try to learn from the occurrence?  Why have a heart full of regret and a head full of secrets?

Freud believed you could gain insight by making your unconscious thoughts conscious, meaning by repressing certain occurrences and making yourself believe that they never happened, you are doing yourself a great disservice.  In most cases, bringing to light the reasons behind what happened can often bring you to a place where you can live with the occurrence.  He believed the treatment process for many depressed and anxiety ridden beings was to go through a psychoanalytical healing process where repressed emotions and experiences are brought to the surface and dealt with on the conscious level.

This is not to say that if you have skeletons in your closet that you are depressed or have anxiety attacks, and it is also not to suggest that you need therapy.  However, if you are keeping skeletons locked away, and are in any way feeling the burden of them, free them, or, as Mr. Shaw suggests, teach them to dance.  The first step in any process of healing is always to accept that we no longer have control over what is ailing us.  The step is there, it's up to you to take it, it is also the hardest. But is well worth it.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Quote of the day ... Oct. 23, 2012


"I was proud of the waves I had made, but wondered 
how many boats I was supposed to rock."
~Phil Donahue

Perhaps we don't realize the affect we have on others, on people we don't even intend to be a part of the waves we are stirring up.  When you are causing a disturbance with an intended party, others, almost always, are also affected.  Sometimes this can be a good thing, sometimes, not so much.  We must always think before we act so that we can understand the full outcome of our intentions.

Several years ago, I was, dare I say "victim", of a group of people making waves for someone I was close to at the time.  This caused such drama in my life and I wasn't even the target.  It has taken me many years to overcome this with much understanding and mental strength that I was not the intended target.  It caused me to feel as though I couldn't go certain places, always worried I would run into these people.  Once I released that fear I no longer was under their control.  My point here is, if you haven't gotten it by now, that you need to evaluate your intentions and keep them on the positive side.  Whether you believe in karma or not, you certainly have seen reaping what is sowed in action.

Before acting, think about the waves you will create, the boats you will rock and what your intended outcome is. If you cannot find a way to get your point across without hurting others, perhaps you need to re-think your intentions and make sure they are true and real. 

Monday, October 22, 2012

Quote of the day ... Oct. 22, 2012

"Don't miss the donut by looking through the hole."
~Author Unknown

The bigger picture. It's a wonderful thing. When we open our eyes to the bigger picture we are enabling ourselves to see things from a different perspective.  Often times we are so close to the situation that we are unable to see past the immediate.  It helps to take a step outside the clouded box and clear the fog from your eyes so you can begin to see clearly.  Open your mind to fresh and new ideas that you may not have thought of.  Don't reject an idea just because you don't think it will work.  Every idea, whether it works or not, is a step on your path to success.  You have to know what works and what doesn't.  That also doesn't mean that just because it didn't work in the past it won't work in the future.  Keep your mind open, at all times, and see how high you can fly! 

Friday, October 19, 2012

Quote of the day ... Oct. 19, 2012

"Service to others is the rent you pay 
for your room here on earth."
~Mohammed Ali

How often do you help others? Do you help when you are asked? Do you offer help when you know someone is in need? You may not even realize it, but your every day actions may be helping another person.  I recently was told by someone that I was a mentor to them and I have met this person maybe twice, simply by my posts on social networks.  I was shocked, honored and a bit proud of myself as well.  Proud?, you may be asking ... yes, proud.  Proud because by me, just being me, I have, even if it was in the smallest form, help someone else become motivated about their own life.  Someone who is almost a stranger.  Think about that.  How many people are you really helping just by being ... YOU?  No matter how big that number, the point is you are being of service to others, whether it be mentally, physically, emotionally, near or far, you are helping people.  That is <insert whichever higher power you believe you in here>'s  plan.  To be of a greater good is to be of service to those around you as well as yourself. 

Even a smile can be the highlight of someones day, the uplift they needed, even if you don't get one in return.  Holding the door for the mother with the stroller so she doesn't have to struggle or helping that little old man who is having trouble getting his hands to work the way they use to.  It takes a very minimal amount of time to help another, and even if it takes longer then you anticipated or expected, remember that everything happens for a reason and the delay was to prevent you from choosing another path to go down at that particular moment.  Being of service to others brings us back to a point in time when things didn't move so quickly.  When life had meaning and people valued others. The more you help others, the better YOUR world will be.  Being the change you wish to see does not have to be on a global scale, it simply has to begin ... and end ... with you.  

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Quote of the day ... Oct. 17, 2012


"Are you really sure that a floor can't also be a ceiling?" 
~M.C. Escher

I firmly believe that life is what you make of it and the situations that you stumble upon onyour path.  There comes a point in life, at I'm not entirely sure it can be pinpointed, when you realize that all you need is a few really, really, amazing and fabulous friends in your life.  It is almost always at that point when you also stop drawing over-dramatic people and situations into your life, or at least you want to stop. 

I hear people complain all the time about how life is hard, things are never easy for them, they wish they could just get a break. If you are one of those people, then I'm glad you are reading this.  Here's a little secret ... it doesn't have to be that way.  The laws of attraction are at work for you, you get what you put out to the universe.  Negative thoughts are your enemy, by negative I don't mean thoughts where you are constantly thinking someone needs to die, I mean that in which you have a negative basis to your thought.  For example, you start feeling a bit run down and your first thought it is "Oh great, I better not be getting sick!" You don't even realize it but you have just put a negative spin on your thought.  Your thoughts should immediately go towards what you want ... in a positive way.   By saying "I better not be getting sick" you are actually sending out to the universe "I want to be sick".  Still with me?  Good.  Try this instead: "I want to be healthy. I have this party to go to this weekend and I want to be able to make it."  Now, go drink your 4 gallons of orange juice, take your Airborne tablets, get as much rest as you want ... just the same as you would have with your first thought, and chances are, if you believe that you want to be healthy and  you aren't just saying it, you will not end up with that 3 month long cold that you get every winter.  

The point is, you have to put your thoughts on positive.  All of them.  When you start to have a thought, consciously stop and think about what you are saying or thinking, then find a way to put it in a positive manner.  Then WORK for it.  Nothing is ever just handed to us, we all have to work for what we want, it's just a matter of how many road blocks you are setting up for yourself by your own thoughts.

The concept of the laws of attraction is not a difficult one to understand, it is, however, not always easy to put into practice unless you are making a conscious effort at it.  You can free yourself from the gates you are gnawing at ... give it a try.  Get a life coach, talk to the experts on the laws of attraction, do yoga, start meditating ... anything to put yourself in a better frame of mind about what life can offer you.  You won't be sorry. I can guarantee that. 

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Quote of the day ... Oct. 16, 2012


"Love is the difficult realization that something other than oneself is real."
~Iris Murdoch


Love is my favorite thing. The feeling it sends through every inch of your being is simply amazing.  Love is not enough though. It may be patient, it may be kind, but it's not enough. 

Love needs to be embraced with understanding, communication, willingness to do whatever it takes to get through.  Love requires patience and kindness.  Love knows no wrong. Love can see how a past can make a person who they are today, and does not judge based on a place where one no longer lives.  Love can help you hold onto a future.

In my mind there is a clear difference between loving someone and being IN love with someone.  I have heard many people say that the part of being IN love fades to simply loving someone.  I do not believe this to be true.  I believe that in real love, it is imperative to find a way to fall IN love constantly.  Take Lucy and Ricky, no matter how crazy Lucy made him, you could always tell that Ricky was IN love with her.  It's all in the eyes and the body language.

Finding someone to spend a lifetime of falling IN love with may not seem realistic to many, but you know when you see those really cute old couples walking down the street or in the mall or at Target still holding hands and gazing at each other ... they have it. They are the ones that have held onto the fact that true love exists and gives the rest of us hope that we will find that same thing.  I believe that anyone can find this, it's all in how you grow together. More times then not, people get comfortable and without even realizing it, start to take their true love for granted, this is when I believe falling IN love fades into simply loving someone.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have that feeling you had back in the beginning when everything felt good, there was nothing to fight over, nothing to complain about, and you missed the person the minute you were no longer with them? You can have it again, and you don't even need to find someone new.  You just need to do something different.  You need to vocalize your thankfulness for that person being in your life.  Remember all the things that made you fall IN love in the first place, and find those things again. 

Sometimes we have to stomp on the grapes to make the wine, but the end result is always worth it. Go for it! I encourage you to find yourself being IN love again! 





Monday, October 15, 2012

Quote of the day ... Oct. 15, 2012

"Mirrors should think longer before they reflect."
~Jean Cocteau


Take a look in the mirror.  What do you see? Do you see someone you like, or more importantly, do you see someone you love?  In order to fully allow another to love you, you must first love YOU.  I firmly believe that.  I believe that without the love of oneself, it is impossible for another person to fully love you.  The reasons are simple, how can another love you when you aren't really who you want to be? How can you ask another to love you and learn who you are at the same time you are also learning who you are?  

Loving yourself is an important part of becoming who you want to be.  I honestly believe that people who settles on themselves are the ones who end up lost and looking for more change later on in life.  I do also believe that we are ever changing beings, constantly growing and evolving into who we were meant to be.  Some people just take longer to get there, but at no one's expense but their own. 

Look in that mirror again, really look at the person staring back at you.  How can you NOT love that person?  

Love you. Love your reflection. And let your self love shine. It's worth it, trust me.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Quote of the day ... Oct. 12, 2012



"Anyone who takes himself too seriously always runs the risk of looking ridiculous; 
anyone who can consistently laugh
at himself does not."
~Vaclav Havel


How much fun do you have in life?  Do you take everything too seriously? Do you live like it's your last day?  

I can remember a time, not too long ago, where I was always more concerned about what is going to happen next, rather then what is happening NOW.  Through much support and sharing, I learned to live in the moment, to let my free spirit soar in the moment of the here and now.  I no longer worry about what tomorrow will bring, because, well, quite honestly, tomorrow may never come.

I have always tried to never take anything or anyone for granted.  It is so easy to get caught up in every day life that we tend to forget to tell those whom we love just how much they mean to us.  We get caught up in the trivial things that occur on a daily basis. We forget to "stop and smell the roses."

What if ... becomes a norm in our thinking. 
If only ... becomes the excuse of why we have become complacent.

Has your vocabulary been filled with "what if" and "if only" lately?  It's never to late to find new words and replace the current ones. 




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Thursday, October 11, 2012

Quote of the day ... Oct. 11, 2012

"Choices are the hinges of destiny."
~Pythagoras


You have choices. Every day, many a choice are placed in front of you to decide upon. Even when you choose to not make a choice, you are, in fact, making a decision.  The choices you make ultimately affect the overall outcome of your life. They lead you down one to path, then another, and another, until, eventually, you end up at that pivotal fork in the road that most people dread.

It is here, at this fork in the road, where you have either learned from the lesson that had been presented to you and you turn left where a new lesson will be presented to you, or you turn right, again, only to be faced with the same trials and tribulations of an unlearned lesson.  

The choices you make are what make you who you are. They are what others look at to make the judgement on you.  Your choices build your character, even if you don't intend on it.  Be the person you want others to know you as and the choices you make will always reflect the best of you. 

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Quote of the day ... Oct. 10, 2012

"You haven't seen a tree until you've seen 
its shadow from the sky."
~Amelia Earhart


Ever feel like you've all of a sudden been escalated to Cloud Nine? That feeling of pure euphoria, like nothing can bring you down?  If you have that feeling now then you are probably constantly smiling, having positive thoughts and have a little bit of pep to your step.  

Being on Cloud Nine does not have to mean you are delusional or unrealistic.  It just means that you have gotten rid of most, if not all, that causes you discomfort and stress.  It means that you have been able to step back from your own situation and see it from a different vantage point.  

I have recently been thrown up on Cloud Nine, without so much as a blink of an eye and *poof*, there I was. Just when I thought it to be impossible, reality hit me. HARD. I have gotten everything I have asked for this year, perhaps even a bit more, but when you stop to look at things from a completely different vantage point, the euphoria of life is right there, within your reach. 

What would you do differently to have that feeling of being on Cloud Nine? Would you be willing to take every risk put in front of you, accept the change when it presents itself and soar through the clouds?  

That whisper you are hearing, from your gut, telling you yes .... listen to it. Go do it.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Quote of the day ... Oct. 9, 2012



"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

~Albert Einstein


Does your life sometimes seem insane? Do you find yourself looking for a different answer in the same spot?  

Sometimes we are too involved in a certain situation that we can't see the reality of the situation and we find ourselves going round and round in circles.  When this occurs, it is helpful to just step back from the insanity and look at it from a different perspective.  It is also good to accept when a situation has gotten so out of control that you cannot possibly get through it on your own.  When you have a situation in your life that has taken complete control and caused your life to be unmanageable, it is necessary to accept this fact, first and foremost, otherwise, you will never be able to get through it.  Acceptance is the first step to your path of sanity.  Most people who have something that is so controlling cannot just walk away without the support of others.

I have been in a situation where things were so out of control they seemed normal. I had people surrounding me telling me that I wasn't being reasonable, that I was only setting myself up for further pain, but yet, they stuck by me.  They didn't judge me, they didn't tell me that I needed to do anything. They were only telling me what they were seeing from their perspective. I thought they didn't understand, when in all reality, it was ME  that didn't understand.  I sought out the services of a support group, people who were also in the same situation would surely understand why I stayed in this situation.  As it turned out, I was both right and wrong. Thankfully, I gained enough strength to walk away from the situation and have found a much happier place in my life, but I never would have or could have done it on my own.  I have found strength by living one day at a time and by accepting that I am not in control by way of  the serenity prayer: "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

Turn your life upside down, completely change your course of action, take that sharp right when you should have turned left, but most important, seek the help of others when you need it. 

2012 Holiday Photo Extravaganza Details


The Holiday Photo Extravaganza will be held 11/17 and 11/18 this year.  This year the session fee will be $70 and will include the 30 min sessions with 5-7 images to choose from for your package prints.  Call 716.848.9328 or email christine@lifetimememorieswny.com to schedule your session today.

Packages available: 

Package A

1 – 8x10
2 – 5x7
4 – 4x5
25 Greeting Cards




Package B

1 – 11x14
1 – 8x10
2 – 5x7
4 – 4x5



Package C

2 – 8x10
3 – 5x7
4 – 4x5




Monday, October 8, 2012

Quote of the day ... Oct. 8, 2012

"After all is said and done, a lot more 
will have been said than done."
~Author Unknown

Do actions speak louder then words? I believe the answer is yes.  When someone says they will do something, we all carry a small shred of doubt until the action is completed.  The biggest fallacy I've ever heard is "If you need ANYTHING, please let me know."  How often do you say this and hope and pray the person never cashes in?  I make it a point to never say this unless I fully intend on keeping my end of the bargain.  I mean, let's face it, there are some people, that, even tho you feel bad for the situation they are involved in, you honestly just do not want to have any part of.  If this is the case, why offer yourself as a strength? I find it better to simply offer your condolences and move on.  

When you do offer yourself as a strength in any given situation be sure you have committed yourself 110%.  Only by doing will you be trusted as someone who stands by their words.   

Think about it, how many people in your life would you absolutely put everything else aside and be there 110%.  Kind of puts things into perspective when you really think about who you'd really be that person for, and chances are, those select few would also be there for you in a time of need.

Open your heart and receive the love that surrounds you, and give it to those who truly deserve it. 

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Quote of the day ... Oct 7, 2012

"Criticizing another's garden doesn't keep 
the weeds out of your own."
~Author Unknown

What do we gain by hurting someone else with our words? Self-satisfaction? Empowerment? Maybe, for at least a moment.  But in the long run the only thing we gain from hurting someone else is masking our own faults.  Oftentimes when we criticize others, it's because we see ourselves in that action and it is always easier to place blame on others then to admit our own faults. 

It's time to clear the cobwebs and start taking responsibilities for our own actions.  Give it a whirl, and find your inner beauty.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Quote of the day ... Oct 6, 2012

"We acquire the strength we have overcome."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Fear. Fear is something every person has, whether admitted or not. Facing fears is not always easy and rarely a fun experience. Necessary, nonetheless.  What are you afraid of? Are you afraid of failure, ridicule and pain?  These three things are not to be feared, they are to be endured.  We find success through our failures.  We become humbled by those who ridicule, or critique, as I prefer to call it. And we find strength through our pain.  It's not easy to make something positive out of a negative situation, but when you can, you will find it easy to remove fear from your life and can allow yourself to move forward.

Come out from behind the shadows of your fear and let the sun light your pathway to success and happiness. 

Friday, October 5, 2012

Quote of the day ... Oct 5, 2012

"Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely."  
~Auguste Rodin

Every chance you take on life provides you with a lesson, one you can either choose to learn from or ignore.  Ignoring the lesson put in front of you leads you blindly down the next path, which will only lead you back to the same fork in the road.  Taking the time to really see the lesson and what it's value is on your life will take you to the next path you are to be headed down.  

How do you handle your lessons? Do you embrace them and learn from them or do you ignore them and continue down the path to come back full circle only to wonder why you keep having the same thing happen over and over again?  The change you wish to see begins with you and only you.  No one else is responsible for your choices.  

Embrace your lessons.  Walk blindly no more. 

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Quote of the day ... Oct 4, 2012

"He who trims himself to suit everyone will 
soon whittle himself away."
~Raymond Hull

Why strive to be anyone but you?  Life is more fulfilling when spent being the person you hold inside.  Unleash the inner you and have fun.  There is no one else like you.  What makes you ... you? What sets you apart from everyone else?  

Go on a journey and find the real you, the one hidden underneath all those feathers.


Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Quote of the day ... Oct 3, 2012


"May you live to be a hundred years

With one extra year to repent."
~Author Unknown

A life of regret is something I refuse to ever have.  I love taking chances, risks and have faith that I will always end up on the right path.  I have recently been forced into change that I was not fully prepared for, although, I am probably more ready that I think I am, because I am here, doing this and loving it all. 

How do you react when change is forced upon you?  Do you take in stride or immediately panic? Do you turn inward and see how only the here and now is affected or do you force yourself to see the situation for what it is and what opportunities are there for you?  Your life is dependent on no one but YOU! Make it great!  

Go fishing where you are prohibited. 


Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Quote of the day ... Oct 2, 2012

"The best thing about the future is that it 
comes one day at a time."   
~Abe Lincoln

One day at a time is one of the hardest concepts to really achieve.  It takes time, patience and understanding.  It also takes great courage to be able to let go of yesterday, live for the moment and not worry about tomorrow.  Once you realize how wonderful it is to live one day at a time, you feel a sense of relief that you do not have to go back to a way of living that involves unnecessary pain and suffering.  

Give it a try.  Go live for today and only today. Let the sun shine thru your life!

No Body Is Perfect ... Models Needed

Does this sound like you?  "I'm fat."  "I wish I could just lose those last 10 pounds." "I'm ugly.&q...