The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

Your subconscious mind is very impressive! Orison Swett Marden said, “It is psychological law that whatever we desire to accomplish we must impress upon the subjective or subconscious mind.” God...

101 Pieces of Advice For Spiritual Growth

ADVICE is: an admonition to action counsel to conduct exhortation to excellence guidance to govern instructive information words to the wise There are many forms...

The Power of Words To Shape Our Lives

Words are not only powerful, but they empower us for living. Words have the power to: create change determine destiny foster friendships generate goodwill produce...

The Fine Art Of Forgiveness: Freedom Awaits You

Forgiveness is the ability to pronounce pardon on both an offender and their offense. It also dismisses debt and overlooks obligations. Forgiveness does not deny or...

The Beauty of Simplicity: Living A Simpler Life

Simplicity is, quite simply, freedom from complexity. Living is an art. So ask yourself, “What picture am I painting with my life?” Is it like...

Reclaiming Virtue: Living Honestly to Honestly Live

VIRTUE, from the Latin virtus, is moral excellence. Virtue is: excellent ethics high-minded honor incorruptible innocence meritorious morality perfect prudence righteous rectitude total trustworthiness Matthew 12:35...

9 Ways To Nurture Your Soul

NURTURE means to feed and protect. Nurture means to develop, to support and encourage. In this work-a-day, hustle bustle world, it is all too easy...

5 Healthy Habits To Fight Fatigue

Fatigue is being weary from mental exertion, often to the point of exhaustion. When we are fatigued, our strength is spent, and brain fog sets...

9 Ways to Supercharge Your Vitality

VITALITY is the POWER of your PURPOSE. When I hear the word vitality, I think of the Latin phrase, “Vita Brevis.” Translated, it means...

12 Ways To Prepare For Great Success

PREPARE to BE SUCCESSFUL. No matter what you want to ACHIEVE in life, these words are always appropriate. I don’t know of anyone who does not, at...

17 Ways To Extend Your Ability

Ability is the: aptitude to take action capacity to comprehend employment of special skills Ability is qualified competence and resourcefulness – the power to perform mentally,...

17 Ways To Foil Fear and Get Your Life Back

Fear is imagination begging for reality. Samuel Butler described fear as… “static that prevents me from hearing myself.” People fear for many reasons. They fear:...

22 Ways To Get The Most From Today

Today is the eternal genesis of now. Today is the day you only dreamed of yesterday. Undoubtedly, you have heard the phrase, “Today is the first...

Why Spiritual Growth Is Important

Spiritual growth means to become progressively stronger in your inner life. Spiritual growth is important for a number of reasons. The first reason will always be...

The Power Of Personal Affirmation

An affirmation is a statement regarding something you wish to see take place in your life, such as health, happiness, or financial freedom. An affirmation can be a...

The Power Of Being Vulnerable

Being vulnerable means you are in an unguarded position, like a sitting duck — accessible, defenseless and susceptible. To be vulnerable is to risk being wounded, not just...

26 Ways To Ruin Your Life and Be A Total Failure

Failure is a pivotal word. Some people are determined to be a sure success, believing that failure is impossible. Others believe they are doomed to...

25 Traits Of Highly Successful People

*This post is a tribute to the late John R. Wooden, known to many simply as Coach. I had the privilege to partake of John’s wisdom...

17 Ways To Improve Your Happiness Right Now

Happiness is soul satisfaction. Happiness is knowing deep down, despite life’s difficulties and challenges, that you are content with who you are and what you...

5 Reasons You Should Share Your Message Through Your Story

Your story is the most powerful tool you have in your toolbox. Your story is the message that you want to share with the...

Dare You To Do These 12 Things

When we are given a dare, we are not being asked, we are being challenged.  But the question is… “Do you have the necessary courage,...

Childhood Summers

For some reason, I’ve spent a lot of time this summer thinking of other summers I’ve spent here on the North Shore. Perhaps I’ve...

Week in Review, Vol. 25

I’m sorry I missed last week’s week in review post! I was visiting my Grandma, who lives in Tampa on Davis Islands. It had...

The Elusive Wardrobe Item

On Wednesday night I was talking to my husband about one of my elusive wardrobe items–the Lilly Pulitzer Dark ‘n Stormy shift dress. I...

10 Things to Know Before Moving to New York City

Although I was born and raised in Manhattan, I hadn’t lived in the city for a long time before I moved back with my now-husband. When...

Week in Review, Vol. 23

It’s been a rainy week all week and it’s been kind of nice! I love summer rain, and it’s been so relaxing to sit...

Collecting: Carpet Bowls

When I was little, I remember seeing large bowls filled with decoratively painted balls in my grandmother’s house. They were beautiful and came in several...

North Shore Explore: Sagamore Hill

Sagamore Hill, Teddy Roosevelt’s Summer White House, is a place justly famous for its beauty. Oyster Bay residents are proud of its history–the Oyster...

Week in Review, Vol. 20

This has just been a great week! The weather has been perfect and my first trip into the office post-baby went smoothly, especially commute-wise!...

What I Wish I Knew: Losing a Parent

One of the most difficult experiences that anyone can go through, in my opinion, is losing a parent. You’re not just losing a person–you’re...

Recipe: Dark ‘n Stormy Popsicles

We’ve almost reached the official start to summer, which means that we’re finally entering dark ‘n stormy season! With the evenings at last warming...

Classic Summer Reads

I love to read, and will read upwards of 100 books a year. When I was little, if I got into trouble my mother would punish...

How to Find Your Signature Scent

One of the only beauty products I indulge in, or wear at all, is perfume. (Four years at an all-girls’ boarding school helped me...

Week in Review, Vol. 14

It’s been a great week this week! Not only have we been able to see some of our son’s first smiles, one of my...

My Summer Staples

I wrote about my spring staples back in March and I’m here today with my summer staples! Once the weather finally warmed up it seems as...

Five Time-Saving Things I Can’t Live Without

Before I became a mom, I knew that my life would change. And, of course, it did! I talk about some of my feelings...

Style Inspiration: Sara and Gerald Murphy

I’m always captivated by people who incorporate grace and style in their every action, and two people who certainly took that to the next...

Living a Beautiful Life: April

It’s finally feeling like spring–finally! It’s seemed like a never ending winter, but we’ve had a few warmer days lately that have me eager...

Taking Care of Your Stubbs & Woottons

My favorite shoes to wear are absolutely my Stubbs & Woottons, which I inherited from my grandmother. Not only are they fun and whimsical, they...

Tennis, Anyone?

I’ve always been drawn to the clean lines and simple practicality of tennis attire, both on and off the court. There is something very...

Inspiring Cookbooks

While I work on setting up a new system to keep track of what inspires me in the kitchen, I’ve been drawn back to flipping...

Style Inspiration: Debo Mitford

I can’t remember a time when I haven’t been intrigued by the fascinating Mitford sisters (Jessica, Nancy, Pam, Unity, Diana, and Deborah). The last...

How to Store Your Sweaters

One of the little things I’m focusing on this month is taking care of my sweaters properly. I have a large collection of wonderful vintage sweaters...

Recipes of the Week, Vol. 4

While it’s now technically spring, I’m sure the cold weather will linger a little bit longer, which means there is still time to make...

Interior Inspiration: Emma Burns’ Barn Conversion

As an avid reader, I’m always drawn to spaces that incorporate books as part of the home, especially when it is clear that they...

Week in Review, Vol. 7

And I’m back! We welcomed our son on the first day of spring, and his first full day in the world was during the...

Lilly Pulitzer x Pottery Barn Collection

I’ve been a huge Lilly Pulitzer fan for years, especially vintage Lilly. Some of my favorite dresses are old Lilly shifts from my mother...

Week in Review, Vol. 6

As we’re in the last stages of getting ready for our son’s arrival, I’ve been busy making sure the nursery is set up, placing...

Recipe: Irish Soda Bread

What is St. Patrick’s Day without some delicious soda bread? While you can easily find soda bread in the stores at this time of...

Living a Beautiful Life: March

I can’t believe it’s already been just over a month since I started this blog! I knew that I’d enjoy writing it, but I’ve...

My Five Spring Staples

I’m not necessarily someone who enjoys shopping. When I don’t have any purchases to make, I do enjoy browsing the new arrivals at a handful of...

Week in Review, Vol. 5

After losing power for a day and experiencing two back-to-back nor’easters, I’m really ready for spring! Below are a few of my favorite links from this...

Shift into Spring: Five Great Shift Dresses

It’s almost spring! We’ve had quite a few warm days in February and I’m abundantly ready for warmer weather. In anticipation, I’ve been doing...

Best Bad-Weather Museums in New York City

There’s something so magical about rainy and snowy days in New York… as long as you can spend them indoors gazing out the window...

Interior Inspiration: My Grandmother

My grandmother was, and remains, one of my most profound influences in both my personal style and in my life. She was an exceptionally...

Week in Review, Vol. 3

I hope that my week in review posts aren’t always going to start with a discourse on the weather… although this week I feel...

Recipe: The Best Hot Chocolate

I thought that today I’d share my favorite hot chocolate recipe. I love hot chocolate all year round, even in the summer. It just...

How to be an Armchair Traveler: Provence

For the first time in my life, my only desire at the moment is to be an armchair traveler. I’ve always loved to travel,...

In the Garden: Winter

For some reason, February seems like a particularly long month this year. Perhaps it’s because of the erratic weather this winter–warm one day, bitterly...

Week in Review, Vol. 2

I can’t believe it’s time for another week in review! I don’t know if I’m on the verge of getting sick (hopefully not the...

Best Baby Blankets

I never realized how easy it was to get caught up in how many adorable things there were for babies until we started shopping...

Recipes of the Week, Vol. 2

I’m excited to continue my “recipes of the week” series today! While I’m generally planning to post these on Friday, this one is Valentine’s...

Spring Cleaning, or Clothes and Sentimentality

This weekend was a busy one. We spent all of Saturday and most of Sunday doing a deep clean of the house, and I’m...