Mermaids of the Lake Blog

Pinterest, A New Obsession! Pinning Away!!!

By Mermaid Debbie

Oh, my!!!!!! Are you doing it? PINNING? We are and we are having an amazingly inspiring experience with the whole Pinterest phenomenon!!!

We admit, we were late starters. Friend after friend said to us, "You need to be on Pinterest! You will love it! Truly!" They were right!!! Truly!

For the two of you left in the world who do not know what Pinterest is -

Pinterest is a virtual bulletin board. Instead of bookmarking images and blog posts, you simply "pin" them to your own virtual board. Once you have created a Pinterest account, (easy peasy process) you create your own virtual boards, title them and start pinning, becoming more and more inspired and excited with each pin!

You follow other people's boards and they can follow yours! Pinterest has made it easy for you too! They provide this awesome little tool called a Pin it button. In two seconds you add it to your favorites tool bar. When you are out surfing the web, diving into blog after blog, and you find something you love, simply click on your Pin it button and a little box pops up and you choose which of your boards you want to place it in. PRESTO, you have pinned another image!!! When a friend or anyone out there pins something you love you can choose to click "repin" and the image is added to one of your boards!

I have found that creating boards, and watching them fill up with images of things you love, sort of validates YOU and your interests, personality and more! I think women and men are learning about themselves by the things they pin!!!! How cool!

It's also wonderful to see what kind of things your friends have pinned and what they name their boards. Sometimes you will see something they pinned and think to yourself, "Oh, that is so ____." or "____ would love this!!!!" It's a bonding experience! How cool!

Here is the most awesome thing for blog owners: when someone pins your image, Pinterest automatically provides a direct link to your blog post. So the source of the image is always credited. We were (and still are) thrilled to see all of the images that others have pinned of ours! What a way to network! How cool!!!

We each (Shelley and Debbie) have individual accounts and we also have one just for Mermaids of the Lake! Please come see us and give us a follow!!! We would love to get to know you through your pin boards too.

Mermaids of the Lake on Pinterest
Mermaid Shelley on Pinterest
Mermaid Debbie on Pinterest

Thank you for visiting our blog. Mermaids of the Lake is also an online women's magazine. Our greatest desire is to INSPIRE! Please visit us here: www.mermaidsofthelake.com

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Swirls and Twirls - Nature's Lovely Expression

By Mermaid Shelley

Do you find yourself drawn to a pattern or a certain motif? Leaves, hearts, diamonds, knots - all sorts of images can create an emotional response and resonate for a variety of reasons.

I've found myself once again fascinated with spirals. I'm not unique in this, as it's one of the oldest and most enigmatic sacred images known. 

It is one of the earliest examples of human creative expression, appearing in nearly every society in the ancient world. 

The spiral has universal appeal and has a mysterious resonance with the human spirit, it is complex yet simple, intriguing and beautiful.

The spiral pattern is found extensively in nature – encoded into plants, animals, humans, the earth and galaxies around us.

 

Mathematics can explain the complex algorithms, sequences and equations that make up a spiral pattern, but it can’t explain the lure and fascination of the spiral to the human heart.

Yet again, I find this elegant theme in nature resonating with me. I love that it is a theme found everywhere I look, whether it be in the night sky, the pattern on my thumb, or in the fern in the woods.

Look for God's order and beauty
He shows it to us in a myriad of ways! 

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A Beautiful Quote About Giving Thanks

Live your life so that the fear of death can never enter your heart. When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light. Give thanks for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. And if perchance you see no reason for giving thanks, rest assured the fault is in yourself.

~Chief Tecumseh, Shawnee Indian Chief

Giving JOYFUL thanks every day!!! Even (and especially) in the midst of hardship, trials and tribulations, giving thanks is essential to happiness.

And today, one of the things we are thankful for is Beverly of How Sweet the Sound and all the other friends we have made by being a part of Pink Saturday!

We know we show this alot, but we continue to be blessed with the most amazing sunrises here on our little lake that we love!

Happy Weekend. Happy Pink Saturday! ~Shelley and Debbie

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You Become Like Those with Whom You Closely Associate

By Mermaid Shelley

“Keep away from those who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you believe that you too can become great.” ~Mark Twain 

The other day I was reading wise words about the influence of the people who surround us. I'd like to share with you what Colin Powell has to say on the subject:

“The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity. An important attribute in successful people is their impatience with negative thinking and negative acting people. As you grow, your associates will change. Some of your friends will not want you to go on. They will want you to stay where they are. Friends that don't help you climb will want you to crawl. Your friends will stretch your vision or choke your dream. Those that don't increase you will eventually decrease you. 

Consider this: Never receive counsel from unproductive people. Never discuss your problems with someone incapable of contributing to the solution, because those who 
never succeed themselves are always first to tell you how. Not everyone has a right to speak into your life. You are certain to get the worst of the bargain when you exchange ideas with the wrong person. Don't follow anyone who's not going anywhere. 

With some people you spend an evening: with others you invest it. Be careful where you stop to inquire for directions along the road of life. Wise is the person who fortifies his life with the right friendships. If you run with wolves, you will learn how to howl. But, if you associate with eagles, you will learn how to soar to great heights. 

"A mirror reflects a man's face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses." 

The simple but true fact of life is that you become like those with whom you closely associate - for the good and the bad. 

Note: Be not mistaken. This is applicable to family as well as friends. Yes...do love, appreciate and be thankful for your family, for they will always be your family no matter what. Just know that they are human first and though they are family to you, they may be a friend to someone else and will fit somewhere in the criteria above. 

"In Prosperity Our Friends Know Us. In Adversity We Know Our friends." 

"Never make someone a priority when you are only an option for them." 

"If you are going to achieve excellence in big things,you develop the habit in little matters. 
Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.."..” 

― Colin Powell

So I ask you, who do you hang with? Are they moving forward, making good choices, being loving to others? Do they uplift and serve? Are you made more by being with them? Choose well, dears, for those who surround you are what you become.

Please visit our magazine, Mermaids of the Lake, for more great inspirational!

Your Ship Was Spotted Off the Coast This Morning!

Your ship is laden with treasures! Will you be ready? Are you prepared to accept her glorious gifts? You know.....

YOU DESERVE THEM!

YOU ARE WORTHY OF ALL THE AMAZING ABUNDANCE

THIS BEAUTIFUL WORLD HAS TO OFFER!

~Shelley and Debbie

 

We are linking today with Beverly of How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday. Please visit her to see all of the other pink posts in the blogging world today!

 

Visit our Mermaids of the Lake E-zine for women: www.mermaidsofthelake.com

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Make Happiness a Habit!

By Mermaid Debbie

Our happiness depends on the habit of mind we cultivate. So practice happy thinking every day. Cultivate the merry heart, develop the happiness habit, and life will become a continual feast. ~Norman Vincent Peale

Now this is a habit worth keeping!

Like a Box of Crayons, Every Color is Unique

By Mermaid Debbie

This is such an awesome little poem illustrating how equally important, beautiful, and unique we each are; all together to form one gorgeous, colorful painting! I love it!!!

While walking in a toy store
The day before today,
I overheard a Crayon Box
With many things to say.
I don't like Red! said Yellow.
And Green said, Nor do I!
And no one here likes Orange,
But no one knows quite why.
We are a box of crayons
that really doesn't get along,
Said Blue to all the others.
Something here is wrong!
Well, I bought that box of crayons
And took it home with me
And laid out all the crayons
So the crayons could all see
They watched me as I colored
With Red and Blue and Green

And Black and White and Orange

And every color in between
They watched as Green became the grass
And Blue became the sky.
The Yellow sun was shining bright
On White clouds drifting by.
Colors changing as they touched,
Becoming something new.
They watched me as I colored.
They watched till I was through.
And when I'd finally finished,
I began to walk away.
And as I did the Crayon box
Had something more to say...
I do like Red! said the Yellow
And Green said, So do I!
And Blue you are terrific!
So high up in the sky.
We are a Box of Crayons
Each of us unique,
But when we get together
The picture is complete.

~Author unknown

Please visit our online women's magazine for loads of inspiration, fun, helpful tips, recipes, awesome stories, and more! www.mermaidsofthelake.com

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If You Wish to Travel Far and Fast

By Mermaid Shelley

"If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears." ~Glenn Clark 

Thinking about how burdened we become when we hold on to other people's stuff. Have you read The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz? Ruiz beautifully instructs on the spiritual law of owning your own opinions of yourself. Being concerned with what other's think about you, what they have that you don't, the wrongs you think they done; all are energy misplaced. If you put your mind and spirit where it belongs, concentrating on how you can best live your own life and focus on your spiritual walk, amazing and beautiful things can happen! 

Our challenge to you is to let go, give to God. Take the focus off of others. Ask for His direction for improving the most precious person He created - YOU! 

For more great inspiriation this New Year, check out Mermaids of the Lake the magazine. 

Hearty and Healthy: Carrot Cashew Curry

By Mermaid Shelley

Sometimes a dish is so beautiful, so tasty, that you can't believe it's good for you. Don't you just love that? I do! This curry meets the criteria of seriously amazing. I am excited to have it in the good-for-me category of my recipe box. In this issue of Mermaids of the Lake, we are featuring several hearty and healthy recipes to inspire you to treat yourself right with nutrition packed recipes.

Carrot Cashew Curry

1 tablespoon canola oil
1 tablespoon butter
3-4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon freshly minced ginger
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon dill weed
1 teaspoon turmeric
2 cups sliced red onion
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
2 small potatoes, thinly-sliced
5 medium-large carrots, sliced small
2 cups orange, juice
cayenne pepper, to taste
2 red bell peppers, thinly-sliced
1 1/2 cups toasted cashew pieces
1 cup yogurt

If you plan to serve this over rice, start the rice to cook before you begin. Two cups of water to 2 cups rice. Bring water to a boil. Add rice and cover. Turn heat to low. It will be done in 20-30 minutes.

Melt butter and heat oil in a large, deep skillet. Add the garlic, ginger, and mustard seeds. Saute over medium heat until the seeds begin to pop. Add the remaining spices, and the onions, salt, potatoes, and carrots. Keep sauteing and stirring another 5-8 minutes. Add the orange juice. Cover, turn the heat to medium-low and simmer until the potatoes are tender. Add the cayenne, the bell pepper slices, and the cashews. Cover and let it stew another few minutes, until the peppers are barely cooked. Stir the yogurt into the hot curry just before serving.

For more beautiful and delicious recipes, please see our Recipe Directory