February 1, what happened to January?

Posted on February 1, 2017 by Gigi in Life Style 2 Comments

gigi

January is in the past! We so eagerly celebrated and welcomed the New Year and now it is just a memory. Some of us have already fallen off the new commitments we made and that is okay. Just start again today.

Savoir each day to the fullest. Last week my neighbor was on his evening walk with his dogs and he had a massive heart attack and died on the sidewalk. It was disturbing to say the least, to see a life depart so suddenly, I could not help but to wonder what was his day like prior to his last walk…was it a happy day?

So while January 2017 is gone, lets embrace the coming months and strive for balance. I am so guilty of the over full, never finished schedule, I am taking time for my yoga practice and it is really helping me to balance. Being in my own business where I wear all the hats, it is difficult to end the day because there is always some task to be done, but my new approach is that I am only doing what I can do, and I am figuring out a comfortable workflow that I can balance with my personal life.

Being so over scheduled with the never ending “to do” list interferes with living a full life. A life where you take time to really see a friend not just a face book message or a text. You go to an exhibit at a museum, not just look at it online. You take a moment to enjoy this world we live in…not focusing only on the turmoil that is going on, finding some good in something that brings you joy.

So my friends do something today that brings you joy, it may be as simple as going to have a tea or coffee somewhere instead of having it in a cup in your car. Just take a moment for you-

XOXO,

Gigi

Is busyness an illness?

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Gigi in Life Style 1 Comment

#17 gigi

Is busyness an illness?

Yes! Busyness is an illness and I have it bad. This photography business is what has taken me to the edge. There is always something to do, something to finish, someone to call, someone to photograph. Although I love every moment, at times it is a bit much.

I sometimes yearn for those days prior to my photography gig, I can’t even recall what my life was like back then. What was I doing with all my time? I realize now that time is a real luxury item, and being a lover of luxury, I am going to have to figure out a way to tap back into those leisure days.

I don’t like getting sucked into that crazy busyness that causes anxiety and stress. Time is precious and I don’t want to miss out on the simple things that busyness blocks. Like my blog space, I made a commitment to be consistent this year- and those of you that follow, know I have made good on that promise. My blog is my guilty pleasure- I do it no matter if one person stops by or a bunch.

So, I’m going to restructure and figure out what works for me, which is going to look like a max of 8 clients per month- a number that I can give an incredible experience from start to finish and still have my life and time to do what I want to do…a selfish move but at 56 there are so many more important things that I don’t want to miss out on…

How do you manage you time? Can a person have it all? Do you have the busyness disease? How do you treat it, I’d love to know…

Happy Thursday!

Gigi

Welcome 2016

Posted on January 4, 2016 by Gigi in Life Style 10 Comments

2015 was a year filled with some highs and some lows. I am planning on 2016 to be a ~~good~~ great year. As time seems to fly by faster and faster the older I get, I’ve been finding it more important to savor blissful moments and reflect on the things that made me smile, my son’s graduation from high school, underwater photography, my east coast travels, spending time with friends- experiences that contribute to my well being.

one of my favorite underwater portraits

With a new year comes a time to renew, start fresh, with new goals, ideas and opportunities. While I did not make an obligatory “New Years” resolution list, I decided one of my goals is to just be present- present and engaged in the moment- being the best version of me each and every day.

I also plan to focus each month on an objective- January being organization. Everything from my home, (editing stuff and getting rid of what no longer serves me), to my workouts,(having balance returning to a consistent yoga practice) business (organizing my schedule so I have time for my continuing education) and family (always having quality time for them).

We are all on our life journeys , maybe it is a career shift, relocation, divorce, change in family dynamics, health challenge or perhaps working out the kinks in a new business as I am, allow yourself the space for those unexpected uncertainties that can come out of nowhere and turn your life upside down.

This last quarter was especially difficult, hence my disappearance from here…so sorry, but if any of you are still around I’m back!

Did you make New Year resolutions? what do you hope to accomplish? I’d love to know…

xoxo,

Gigi

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My Bucket List…

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Gigi in Aging, Inspiration, Life Style 4 Comments

In my recent observations of life, in particular some that have ended way to soon unfortunately- I started thinking about my bucket list. At 55 I’m on the other side, I feel fine, not sure what “middle age” is supposed to feel like, but I’m embracing every day. I for the most part do the right “things”, but I am learning there is no rhyme or reason to these horrific diseases, there are no guarantees.

Here is what I came up with, in no particular order:

1. Travel to Brazil, Cuba, Bali, Turkey, Mauritius, New Zealand, Montreux jazz just to name a few destinations on my list.

Kauai

2. Become a really really good photographer.

Gigi

3. Write a book. (does not have to be a bestseller or anything)

4. Have a grandchild or two.

5. Get in incredible shape. (For me it is more difficult at this age-body parts want to relocate and shift…)

Gigi @ the beach

6. Start a non-profit. I want to make a difference, for women and/or animals- cats in particular.

What’s on your bucket list?

Happy Tuesday,

Xoxo,

Gigi

What is Luxurious ?

Posted on August 8, 2014 by Gigi in Life Style, My Style 3 Comments

“Stuff”

Luxury does not have to be a label or be expensive. In our consumer driven society we are encouraged to accumulate “things”, the latest model car, or the “it” bag, or a pair of those “red bottom” shoes…I have been guilty of all the above, but I know these things are not the key to a luxurious life. Time is a luxury, savoring a moment is the ultimate luxury. It is so easy to get caught up in the rat race, rushing from point A to point B, never taking a break.

“Luxurious” is a state of mind, it is the manner in which you go about your day to day activities. Every other corner now has a drive thru Starbucks, yes, they are convenient, but luxurious? NO. Waking up a little earlier and making your own coffee or tea, using your china, and sitting down for 5 minutes or so, that is luxurious. Taking a bath with a nice fragrant oil, instead of the rushed shower, or putting pretty lingerie under your outfit, are simple ways to turn up your luxury dial. Write a letter on some nice stationary and send it to a friend or lover instead of shooting another cryptic text or email. Basically in our “light speed” life…SLOW DOWN! What is the real benefit of rushing? Let me know…

21 Ways to add a little luxury to your life:

1. Fresh Flowers-make your own arrangement, from your garden, the flower mart or pick up a few from Trader’s Joe-

flowers are everywhere in Italy…these were sold from the back of a truck

2. Spontaneity- be flexible-don’t be so rigid- don’t think about it- just do something out of your comfort zone

3. Unplug. Shut it Down. Look across the table and make eye contact without a device in your hand or on the table

4. Prepare a meal from scratch- not something you made last week and stuck in the freezer, but something fresh

5. Have a dessert and savor it-

6. Plant a garden, it can be a little herb garden- just grow something that you can harvest

my garden

7. Invite friends over instead of “meeting” at a place

8. Sleep in, preferable in something pretty…or nada.

9. Appreciate where you are in your life.

10. Get a massage.

11. Photograph a moment through your eyes- take the time to capture something you find beautiful-our phones now have amazing cameras

12. Listen actively.

13. Play dress-up…put on a gown and go to the store-and see the reaction.

Gigi

14. Dance.

15. Music.

16. Burn decadent candles

17. Sustainable lifestyle-live in your “lane” but do it well- nothing worse than living on the edge- been there, not fun.

18. Always work on your body- inside and out

Gigi yoga

19. Cultivate your friendships- it is not the quantity but the quality–learned this one the hard way.

20. Take time to smell the roses…

Roses

21. LOVE YOU AND NEVER STOP- BE YOUR OWN BFF

Happy Friday! Have a Wonderful Weekend.

XOXO,

GIGI

Life Style

February 1, what happened to January?

Is busyness an illness?

Welcome 2016

My Bucket List…

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