{weekly intention}

Feel free to join me in this blog challenge found at ABCcreativity.

"Every Monday, I share my intention for the week and welcome you to do the same.
This is not about setting goals or creating to-do lists and working our tails off to achieve them. This is about taking some time to be quiet and still and ask “What do I need this week?” and setting an intention from there to align ourselves with that. It’s about paving the way for success, joy and dreams come true to find us throughout the week."

My intention for this week is to not give into bad habits, to stop and catch myself instead of just doing what I am used to. I wish to challenge my thinking and allow myself opportunities to grow by doing something different.

My Best Shot Monday

Mental Health Monday : Breaking Free From Borderline Personality Disorder

What Borderline Personality Disorder feels like...(TRIGGER)

It's not just me ...

One Word 2011

Challenge really played a key thought in my mind this week. It is something I am trying really hard to think about daily. To find situations each day that challenge me in some way. I really challenged myself in leaving the house this week, made it to 3 appointments, went to my parents for dinner, and went to my friends for coffee, and took the girls tobogganing. Once I was out of the house it ended up feeling really good to be in different surroundings. Felt good to no longer feel trapped inside. This is something I am going to continue to challenge myself in doing over the course of the next few weeks. I think it is really good for me to get out. I have been challenging my thinking, really taking the time to evaluate what's going on around me and how I am feeling. I have been challenging myself to not fall into old patterns, to not give in so easily. I really think that so far Challenge has been the perfect word for this year. It feels so good to extend myself, to make myself do things that may be uncomfortable, for I know in doing so I am growing and learning everyday.

My Favorite Things Saturday

One of my favorite things this week was going to my parents for supper with the girls. It was so fun watching the girls and my mom play Scrabble.

Straight Out Of The Camera Saturday (SOOC)

Thoughtful Friday

Friday Fill-Ins

And...here we go!

1. Up, up and away.

2. the world keeps going around.

3. Coats and scarves, mittens and boots: so necessary in our Canadian winters.

4. I'd love a nice back rub.

5. I'm thinking about scrapbooking.

6. Jack be nimble.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to just relaxing with the girls, tomorrow my plans include reading and scrapbooking and Sunday, I want to really enjoy the few hours I am going to be having alone!

Simply

Creative Therapy Catalyst #127

If you would like to play along with this challenge you can find all the details at the Creative Therapy Blog. Catalyst #127 is :



What's your word or focus for 2011.



Here's my layout using this catalyst:

Before & After Thursday

This is a weekly challenge where you take the photo you posted for Straight Out Of The Camera Saturday (SOOC) and you show the same image only edited on Thursday. So here's mine for this week.

Thursday Thirteen : Reasons I Love My Girls

Thought this week I'd share 13 Reason's I love my girls. They are my whole life.

1. they have the most amazing smiles
2. they have the best "from the belly" laughs
3. they have pure hearts
4. they are so well behaved (well for the majority anyways)
5. they love each other so much so nice to see how close they are
6. they still love hugs & kisses
7. they are always thinking of others
8. they love to learn
9. they still believe in magic
10. they have an immense amount of love inside them
11. they love family
12. they are beautiful
13. they love themselves and always allow people to see who they really are.

Sandra Collins Photography

Valentines is coming quick. Why not think about having a couples session done for Valentines. $35 includes session, editing and a disk of all images. Contact me for more details.

You can contact me:
1) here on my blog by leaving a comment
2) on my Sandra Collins Photography Facebook Page
3) by email : sandracollins76@hotmail.com

When I am not affraid to fail, I won't.

Currents

listening: to the silence before the kids get up for school
eating: nothing yet
drinking: cup after cup of coffee - what else?
wearing: track pants, t-shirt - the usual
feeling: somewhat rested for once
weather: still dark out -11 degrees
wanting: more positive results from challenging myself in 2011
needing: to stay focused and on track I can do this!
thinking: about my day ahead have to go to an eye apt.
enjoying: my morning routine of coffee while I blog, read blogs and update Facebook
wondering: if I can really do this this time

Wordless Wednesday

Color Combos Galore #176

You can play along here with Challenge #176 over on the Color Combos Galore Blog. Here's this week's color palette: Deep Blue Sea, Puffy White Clouds, Steel Grey Sky, Tradewinds Taupe.

Here's my take on these colors:

My Best Shot Monday

{weekly intention}

I've decided to follow along with this weekly challenge found at ABC Creativity. I like the idea of setting intentions, setting goals. This will help me develop and challenging myself throughout the week as I have chosen for One Word 2011. It will give me somewhere to document what it is I wish to accomplish and how I plan my focus for the week. If I write it down I am so much more likely to follow through.

"Every Monday, I share my intention for the week and welcome you to do the same.

This is not about setting goals or creating to-do lists and working our tails off to achieve them. This is about taking some time to be quiet and still and ask “What do I need this week?” and setting an intention from there to align ourselves with that. It’s about paving the way for success, joy and dreams come true to find us throughout the week."

My intention for this week is to do one thing out of the house each day this week not including taking the kids to and from school. I have been hiding in the house way to much lately, afraid to leave my comfort zone. If I challenge myself to go out everyday I really feel that I will become more comfortable with walking out that door. That's the hard part. Those first few steps of leaving the house and walking out the door. Once I am out I can usually make myself focus on what I am doing and each time I go out I feel that desire to run right back home starts to go away.

So there it is ... I will leave the house each day.

Fear Leaving House – Understanding a Fear of Leaving the House

I have been having a really hard time leaving the house lately. It is something I have been dealing with for years. I have my good days and my bad days both. Lately there have been a lot of bad days. Days where it's all I can do just to drive the girls to and from school. I've been challenging myself this past week to get out anyways. I've been doing some reading on anxiety and agoraphobia and came across this article. Thought I'd pass the info along, might help someone else.

Fear Leaving House – Understanding a Fear of Leaving the House: "If you have a fear of leaving your house, it is probable that you have an intense fear of being in certain situations in which escape is difficult or potentially embarrassing, or where help is not readily available. More specifically, the focus is on the fear of having a panic attack in such situations.
Agoraphobia
A fear of leaving the house is associated with agoraphobia, though not all people with this disorder have this concern. Agoraphobia can occur on its own, but is more commonly a complication of panic disorder.
You do not need to be home bound to be diagnosed with agoraphobia. Agoraphobia can cause a panic response in an array of situations, including traveling by car, train, plane or bus; being in an elevator, crowd, large store, or confined area; being on a bridge or standing in a line. The fear associated with agoraphobia is so intense that a person will usually go to great lengths to avoid the feared situations. At the most extreme cases, agoraphobia can develop into a fear of leaving one’s house altogether. One’s home becomes his or her “safe zone.”"

According to this excellent article found here there are 4 main ways to help you get over your fear of leaving the house.

1. Get professional help. The sooner the better.
2. Learn and practice relaxation techniques. Use them when you need to!!
3. Keep stress in check.
4. Learn and practice Systematic Desensitization. Imagine yourself in fearful situations and use relaxation techniques to decrease the anxiety. Eventually you will become able to use the technique in the current moment and allow those techniques you imagined work for real.

Beautiful Sunday

Project 365 : Weekly Photos

I found that this week there were simply just days I forgot to take pictures and days I forgot to take my camera out with me. I own a Canon D60 and it is quite big. I love it don't get me wrong but for Project 365 a small point and shoot would be so much better. I would always have it one me. Think I may ask one of the girls to borrow their camera this week. See if having a small camera with me at all times helps.

One Little Word | Challenge

As the week has been progressing challenge has been on my mind all the time. I have been challenging my thoughts in almost all I do. I have been learning and growing in my thinking, learning and growing inside of myself. Coming to some realizations as to what I need to be doing in my life right now. My biggest obstacle these past few weeks has been that my anxiety levels are at a major high and I have not been wanting to leave the house. This week I have had a few times where I have made myself go out and once I was out doing something my mind was occupied from the fact that I was out of the house. It ended up being a real good thing. I know that in order to grow I need to challenge myself all the time. I am starting to become more aware of the daily opportunities that present themselves to me. As this year unfolds I hope to challenge myself in many, many ways. The few weeks so far in January are really showing me how much I will have the opportunity to do so.

Straight Out Of The Camera Saturday (SOOC)

My Favorite Things Saturday

One of my favorite things this week was seeing Emily try out these little pigtails. They looked so darn cute on her!

Friday Fill-Ins

Friday Fill-Ins: "And...here we go!

1. So many of us look so forwards to the weekend.

2. I need to be greatful, even in hardship.

3. Those who are accepting of each other will find much delight in their lives.

4. Spring is waiting quietly.

5. Light is in both the tool of a photographer and the nourishment of my soul.

6. I can find beauty in all that is ordinary.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to having dinner with the girls at my parents, tomorrow my plans include playing with and having fun with the girls and Sunday, I want to have some quiet time to myself !"

Thoughtful Friday

Before & After Thursday

This is a weekly challenge where you take the photo you posted for Straight Out Of The Camera Saturday (SOOC) and you show the edited version on Thursday. You can always play along here: Pixel Perfect

Thursday Thirteen : TV Shows

For this week's Thursday Thirteen post I thought I'd do my 13 favorite tv shows. Here they are in order. Guess i never really realized before how much I like reality-type shows. Good think I can watch free tv online so I can catch up when I miss episodes on tv.

Currents

"Was reading one of my favorite blogs the Linar studio a few months ago and came upon this wonderful post called currents. The idea originated from life love paper . Seems like such a wonderful way to share and record those things that are going on in our lives this very moment. Thought I'd try it out as well and Wednesdays seem to suit me the best. So, here goes.

listening: to the quietness in the house as the kids just left for school
eating: just ate a Tim Horton's breakfast sandwich
drinking: another cup of coffee (that's about 4 now lol)
wearing: pj pants a t-shirt and sweater and warm socks
feeling: positive, looking forwards to the future
weather: overcast about -11 degrees
wanting: a good nights sleep for once more than 4 hours would be so lovely
needing: to pick up milk I can't forget but I'm sure by the time I go out later today I'll will forget and then will have to go back out once again as I have an awful memory
thinking: about goals and dreams and what I have to do to get to where I want to be
enjoying: my morning routine of coffee while I blog, read blogs and update Facebook
wondering: what my year is going to be like for Sandra Collins Photography

DO MORE

"Do More

By William Arthur Ward

Do more than belong: participate.
Do more than care: help.
Do more than believe: practice.
Do more than be fair: be kind.
Do more than forgive: forget.
Do more than dream: work."

Wordless Wednesday

Color Combos Galore #175

Challenge # 175 is up over at the Color Combos Galore Blog. Here's this week's color pallet: Orange Bliss, White Serenity, Chartreuse Comfort & Green Peace.

Here's my take on these colors:

My Best Shot Monday

Baby Steps

I received this email in my inbox this morning from Lynn Cutts from the Weekly Challengers found at the Manage Your Muse Blog.

Baby Steps
"When you're trying to make, and keep, a New Year's resolution, it helps to focus on one small step at a time. Don't bite off more than you can chew. Choose one small action that you know you can do successfully, do it for three or four weeks, and then increase it or add another. That way you're building on success instead of courting failure.
Until next week, may the Muse live happily in your heart, and may passion bloom in your soul,
Lynn"

This email arrived on a perfect morning, one where I find myself re-assessing goals and dreams and thinking about what I want from my year ahead. It really made me think specifically about my plan to participate in Project 365 this year. This is a big goal for me as I am the type of person who tires of routine and daily things I feel as if I "must" do. It is one I have set though as I want to document and record my time spent, special details of my children's lives, my thoughts and my feelings. These photos I take daily will help me to do that, they will help my family and myself to remember.
This morning I was beating myself up over the fact that I did not take pictures this weekend. Reality is my anxiety levels were at a max and I just didn't feel like taking pictures, I didn't feel like recording any moment from my weekend.
This morning I felt like I had failed at my project already.
Then I read this email and my mood and my expectations of myself changed. I no longer feel as if I failed at my project, now I feel as if I took a much needed few days off and am now back and have already taken my pictures today. I'll just move forward and remind myself that there will be days I just won't take pictures. And that's alright.

Mental Health Monday : Words of Wisdom

Just a few things I've needed to remind myself of these past few weeks. Thought perhaps someone else might need to here these words of wisdom as well.

Original photo by Zephyrance Lou

Original photo by Sean Ganann

found here

Originally uploaded by Rachel Smith

Beautiful Sunday

Straigh Out Of The Camera Saturday (SOOC)

My Favorite Things Saturday

One of my favorite things this past week was watching the kids as they put on a show for us. They sang and danced, Emily did magic, and Amber played her guitar. It was awesome!

Thoughtful Friday

Thursday Thirteen : 13 Guilty Pleasures

candles

fresh cut flowers

getting new pyjamas

my favorite bottle of wine

TV show marathons

hot baths

Lindor chocolates

apples with salt

listening to Eminem

s'mores poptarts

the Sims

being home alone with the music loud

smarties