Who Doesn’t Love a Good Mystery?

November 21, 2016November 20, 2016 ~ Nicky M ~ 14 Comments

What is the mystery blogger award?

“Mystery Blogger Award” is an award for amazing bloggers with ingenious posts. Their blog not only captivates; it inspires and motivates. They are one of the best out there, and they deserve every recognition they get. This award is also for bloggers who find fun and inspiration in blogging; and they do it with so much love and passion.

– Okoto Enigma

Thankyou to Sasha, from Sasha’s Writings and Katelyn from Doe Eyes for both nominating me for the same award! This was an awesome honour – especially when I read the quote above from the creator of this award Okoto Enigma.

Rules…

Add the award image to your blog

List the rules

Thank whoever nominated you AND the creator and provide links to their sites

Tell your readers 3 random facts about yourself

Answer the questions you’ve been asked

Nominate 10 – 20 people and notify them by commenting on their blogs

Ask your nominees 5 question, with 1 weird or funny question

Share a link to your favourite post

Three random facts…

⭐️ I have tiny size 3 feet

⭐️ Hubby and I have been together for 28 years!

⭐️ I love falling asleep to the sound of the rain

Things you need to know about me…

As I was nominated by 2 different people, there are 2 sets of questions…phew!

1. WHY DID YOU START BLOGGING?

I started blogging because I’ve always been a fan of words and I felt I had a story to share.

2.WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO ON YOUR DOWNTIME?

I love to read, journal, spend time planning surprises for people. But in reality, all my spare time is spent here on The Shimmer Within Her!

3. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GENRE OF MUSIC?

Ooooh, I’ve written about this many times. I have an eclectic taste in music: jazz, heavy metal, 90s pop, 80s hair metal, classical – it depends where I am and what mood I am in!

4. WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE 3 LEGS OR 3 ARMS? (WEIRD/FUNNY)

Probably 3 arms as I would be able to give great hugs and get loads more done around the house!

5. WHAT IS SOMETHING ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

I don’t have a bucket list as such – but I have recently written a post about why. You’ll have to wait and see…

1.How many times a day do you look at yourself in the mirror?

Not that many!

2. What is your greatest strength and weakness?

My greatest strength is that I always look for the best in people and my greatest weaknesses are my children – although you could turn both of those answers around!

3. If your were the opposite sex for one day, what would you look like and what would you do?(wierd question)

Tough question! I would look pretty normal I guess, and spend my day trying to understand what it was like being a guy. Not a very interesting answer!

4. Name three things in nature you find most beautiful!

Oh, only 3! The night sky, flowers and a deserted beach.

5. What’s your profession and why did you choose this ? Did you choose this on your own or you have to by fate?

I am a Therapeutic Play Worker in a primary school by day. I have always loved helping others and this way I get to help children’s day s become a little brighter. My role evolved into this with the training that I did. By night I am a blogger whose passions lie in helping others find their smiles too (although I currently make zero money from this!).

Things I need to know about you…

1. If you were an animal, what would you be? (Weird question)

2. What is the nicest thing anyone has ever commented on your blog?

3. If I were to meet you for the first time, what is the first thing I would notice about you?

4. Name 1 thing people do that really gets under your skin and how do you let it go?

5. Name your favourite way to show love towards those closest to you?

I nominate these awesome people…

Katie Kuo

Untamed Wildfire

Comically Quirky

Born Again Minimalist

You’re What You Think All Day Long

Untangled

These awards are both a bit of fun and a way to get to know each other a little better – but more importantly they are a way to promote each other and share the love.

So nominate blogs you love and think we will love too. Help us find those amazing posts you are reading and expand our tribe.

Let’s take the mystery out of blogging!

It’s the Little Things 20.11.16

November 20, 2016 ~ Nicky M ~ 4 Comments

It’s been a cold, crazy week – but here’s a few little moments that have brought a smile to my face…

This little box of sunshine from America

As we get closer towards Christmas things can get a little crazy, busy and frantic. Look for the little moments in your day that bring a little happiness from the chaos.

What’s made you smile this week?

Keep smiling 💛

What Flowers Can Teach us About Authenticity

November 17, 2016October 28, 2016 ~ Nicky M ~ 12 Comments

My love of flowers is well documented on my Instagram account.

There’s something so beautiful about a flower when I look at it through a camera lens that I can’t help but smile. I adore having fresh flowers in my home and always wonder at the journey that has taken place to transform a small seed into this array of colour, scent and beauty.

Starting to live a more authentic life can be daunting. It’s about assessing which elements of your life no longer serve you or fit in with who you are becoming. You can feel lonely, even misunderstood or struggle to fit in where you once belonged. You may even encounter resistance from people who don’t want you to change.

But it can also be freeing, colourful and beautiful as you transform into the most beautiful and natural version of yourself. Some may see it as an opportunity to stand out, be different and blossom.

Flowers don’t concern themselves with what every other plant in the garden is doing and they certainly don’t copy or mimic other plants around them. They grow and evolve and become what they were always destined to be. Whatever that may look like. They show up every day, quietly occupying their own space beautifully.

Here are 3 thoughts to keep you motivated and reassure you that any path that takes you closer towards authenticity and being the best version of yourself is one that’s worth walking down.

Be who you are. Stand out, grow tall, bloom. Be there as the truest version of yourself, not pretending or trying to be like anyone else. Be extraordinary, whatever your role – be great at it. Put effort into all you do, even if no one is watching. Commend yourself on a job well done and remember to love yourself in all your uniqueness.

Wherever you are – be amazing. Claim your space. Your home, your work, your ideas. Don’t be concerned with what others are doing alongside of you. Focus on you and your little piece of the world. Make it work for you. Make it beautiful, fill it with things that inspire you, make you smile. Surround yourself with like minded people. Find your tribe, people who have great energy, who are great to be around.

Keep growing, always moving closer to your goals. Your journey is unique to you. Don’t be concerned with what anyone else is doing or how they’re doing it. Don’t compare yourself to someone else. Don’t run before you can walk but also don’t focus on the finish line. The learning is in the journey. The path may not be straight and there may be obstacles in the way, but it will be worth it. Change happens slowly and one step at a time. Keep going.

Where in your life can you be as authentic as a flower?

This is a previously published post that has had a little makeover and a lot of love added.

In My Other Life…

November 15, 2016November 14, 2016 ~ Nicky M ~ 35 Comments

Years ago, I used to play a game with myself.

It was called ‘Things I did in my other life’.

Let me give you a little more information. At the time I was working evenings and weekends, whilst studying during the week to become a teaching assistant plus taking care of three small children. Hubby was working long hours to pay the bills. We were burning the candle at both ends just to survive, like so many families do…you get the idea.

Anyway, back to my game.

In my darkest, frustrating, unhappy moments I would imagine what my life could be like if things were different or I was a different person. When I saw something I couldn’t afford, or a place I could only dream of visiting or an experience I had zero chance of having I would simply say to myself ‘In my other life I’d have that’.

Ridiculous I know.

However, it was a way for me to enjoy something from afar without becoming too hung up on all the things I didn’t have.

I was visualising a better life without realising it.

It gave me hope and a belief to hold onto; that things wouldn’t always be this way and I needed that, because we were working so hard for things to be different.

Holly from Holly Wren Spaulding wrote a post recently called what would happen if… and it reminded me of my little game.

What could our lives could be like if we imagined them to be beautiful and fulfilling, having gratitude for all we had?

What if we saw the lessons life wanted us to experience and learned that we are enough just as we are?

What if we were to let go of our expectations, stress and negative thoughts and spent our energy embracing the things that brought us enjoyment and excitement?

Not in another life, but right here, right now in this one.

Imagine a life where we could choose to:

Speak only words of kindness

Find something to get excited about every day

Say yes more often than no

Make friends with anyone, anywhere without fear

Wear a beautiful dress, just because

Treat our spouses like we did when we first fell in love

Like what we see in the mirror

Honour our values

Slow down when we need to

Spend time making ourselves happy

Notice the little things

Just breathe

Instead of replicating others’ lives, comparing ourselves or doing what we feel we should, how about we take a shot at listening to our own hearts, being authentic, or forging our own paths?

What would that look like?

Any thoughts? Let me know below…