Less Scrolling, More Living

I read an article recently about the way we can suffer from “Secondhand Stress” and I felt like it was speaking directly to the questions that have been haunting me over the past two months. “In our highly connected working world, we are hyper-exposed to other people. This means negative emotions and stress become even more contagious as we have high exposure to negative comments on news articles and social…

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Mealtime Movement

The table in our dining room is scratched and dented. There is a chair on each end and benches along the sides. I used to sit here as a child, squeezed in between cousins and aunts and uncles, sipping ruby red grapefruit juice out of a tiny yellow can. The kind with no added sugar that made my mouth pucker and eyes water. My grandpa would sit at one end,…

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Goals Revisited

At the beginning of the year, I set five goals for myself. Today is the day I look back and see how well I did (or didn’t) do with them. 1. Pare down my wardrobe. How I did: I tried my first capsule wardrobe this year, and I have to say, this was my biggest success. The goal was to be excited to walk into my closet, not overwhelmed. My spring…

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Gifts that Give Back (And a Giveaway!)

We’ve had Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. But today is my favorite shopping day because today is Generous Tuesday. Years ago when I did my first giving guide, the concept of fair trade shopping seemed like a relatively new concept. These days, it’s easier than ever to shop with purpose for everyone on your gift list. You can find tons of ideas on my Pinterest board “Companies…

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2015 Friendly Gift Guide

One of my favorite things to do every year is to show off my pals in the Friendly Gift Guide. Whether they are artists, musicians, or small business owners, these friends have something for everyone on your list! ***** First up are three albums by The Brilliance. The first two are Advent Volumes 1 & 2. Easily my favorite “everyday” Christmas music, I love the way these songs prepare my…

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How to simplify in a world of urgency

I get anxious at the same time every year. The same exact week, in fact. I always wonder what is hitting me, then I look back at my blog archives and realize that yep, it’s that time again! Time to re-evaluate everything I put onto my plate. Because we move around a lot and because my work is so fluid, the plate that I am evaluating looks entirely different every…

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Photography Lately

I dusted off the ol’ photography blog this week and added two new posts for you to check out. The first is my mother-in-law’s adorable wedding out in California, and the second is my shoot with the Mansfield Lady Tigers. You can see it all at alysabajenaru.com. Or click on one of the photos below. If you know anyone looking for a photographer in the Arlington, Texas area, let them…

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