VernetteOutLoud

BBQ: All things Rara

You start a blog for many reasons, but what they don’t tell you is that once you start blogging and people start reading and you start reading other blogs, you don’t know when it happens but suddenly you are part of a family of mostly strangers you come to love almost as much as (and in some cases) more than your real family. It is one of the unexpected and beautiful surprises about blogging and that for me…has been one of the reasons I keep doing it. Because with this family, I can be truly me…moles (I have least 6 at last count) and all…no judgement.

This week my blogging family was plunged into sadness…anger…for me it was mostly denial. One of my absolute favourite bloggers Rarasaur, was unjustly sent to jail. She was falsely charged for a crime she did not commit, but with no resources to defend herself, she will now spend a year in prison.

Bloggers for Peace

She is a giver, a teacher, a peacemaker. I am joining with another member of this family of bloggers I have come to love: Kozo Hattori and I am also asking you to “reach into your hearts and give to help one of the greatest peacemakers in the blogosphere”. You can donate to her freedom fund by clicking here: http://rarasaur.wordpress.com/2014/05/06/i-didnt-go-to-jail-today-and-other-notes/

I am dedicating this week’s BBQ and Bloggers for Peace post to Rara. I wish you peace, light and love and I pray that this too will be the past and you will have your new beginning.

BBQ - 11.01.14

We are well into 2014. How are those intentions you set at the beginning of the year when everything was all shiny and new going? How has your One Word, affected your journey thus far? Wait…do you even remember your one word or theme for 2014? How about your resolutions? How are things going on that front?

Are you feel discouraged because maybe you bit off more than you can chew, or maybe you’re just lazy? Some of us are waiting on Monday to start, because you cannot start a gym program on a Saturday obviously. Or maybe you’re waiting for the beginning of June, because who can start that project on the 10th of the month right? Might as well enjoy the old habits for a little while longer.

Like Rara said here, “Everyone wants to start with a bang! They want to see results in moments, or they wait to start until they’re at the starting place.”

Guess what…the starting place is right now. You can begin today, right now, right where you are, just as you are.

So my lovelies, will you start again? Or for the first time?

Right where you are today?

No fireworks…bangs, crackles or pops?

I posted this back in January and the words are as true today as they were five months ago.

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I’m participating in this super cool series created by Kozo over at everydaygurus.com If you haven’t heard about it please click here to read more.

BBQ

Do you want to be part of this
yummilicious BBQ?
Here’s how you do it:

    Take a quotation from a favourite blogger
    Create a BBQ post with the quotation
    Link back to the blogger you quoted
    Tag your post BBQLUV
    Link to other BBQLUV posts (optional)

Yup! It’s that simple.

BBQ: You are my dream girl

Man do I suck at dating.

And dating on an island with just over 1.3 million people can be damned hard at times. Everybody knows everybody…and after I factor in married men, incarcerated men, men who like men only, men who are actually ready for a relationship, the ones I’ve dated which I can count on one hand aaand my brother (is it weird that I included my brother here?)…I’m not left with that many options.

Yup sometimes things can get very bleak! That’s why today’s Beautiful Blog Quote is an important reminder that Love and Loving starts within. (Tweet this)

GGRenee, of All the Many Layers is one of my favourite bloggers. I am always inspired by her posts and interviews. On Tuesday she interviewed the lovely Isis Nezbeth and her woman to woman advice is nothing short of a diamond. You can read the whole awesome interview here.

Dream Girl 2014

GG Renee is living life her way. She is focused on “constructing the present and dreaming the future”. She is always creating and if you want to read more about her and be as inspired as I am you can click here.

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I’m participating in this wonderful series created by Kozo over at everydaygurus.com If you haven’t heard about it please click here to read more.

BBQ
If you want to be part of this awesomeesauce BBQ, here’s how you do it:

  • Take a quotation from a favourite blogger
  • Create a BBQ post with the quotation
  • Link back to the blogger you quoted
  • Tag your post BBQLUV
  • Link to other BBQLUV posts (optional)

BBQ: Do the Crazy thing

do-the-crazy-thing-imagine

Life is short and you’re not getting any younger. That “forever thing” that’s still on your F### It List…it’s time to get that checked off. Someday isn’t a due date home slice. It’s time.

Today’s Beautiful Blog Quote comes from Elizabeth Griffin, of Lark & Bloom who posted this lovely post on all the “crazy” things she has accomplished and is the process of accomplishing.

I do things that seem impressive to others and things that people find trivial. I do things that no one else understand but God and myself. Some I do well and others I fumble. But I do them.
Go ahead. You were made to do the crazy things. – Elizabeth Griffin

2014-03-02 06.56.32

Elizabeth believes that our lives were meant “to be lived boldly & voices are meant to be heard.” She also thinks “that the world should smell like an Anthropologie candle.” If this resonates with you, click here to read more about her journey.

Now my lovelies, what’s languishing on your “Someday List“? It’s time to get it DONE!

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I’m participating in this wonderful series created by Kozo over at everydaygurus.com If you haven’t heard about it please click here to read more.

BBQ
If you want to be part of this awesomeesauce BBQ, here’s how you do it:

  • Take a quotation from a favourite blogger
  • Create a BBQ post with the quotation
  • Link back to the blogger you quoted
  • Tag your post BBQLUV
  • Link to other BBQLUV posts (optional)

BBQ: We plan and God laughs

I am a control freak planner. However, this life of mine…has rarely if at all gone according to the “plans” I envision for myself. I suppose that is part of the fun of living. And I’m learning to love the adventure.

Today’s Beautiful Blog Quote comes from Therese Shwenkler, creator of The Unlost who shared this on Wednesday. And according to newly minted 30-year-old Therese, “…this life, right here, right now, no matter how off-track it may feel right now, is exactly it.”…and I totally agree. All we get is this one precious life and that’s it.

THIS IS IT. You don’t have time. All you have is right now.

What are you doing with your time? Are you happy? Are you excited for another day?

Earlier today I was telling my sister that I am on the path towards yet another fork in the road. I see it up ahead and I am excited to meet it. And as I move towards it, which ever way I choose to go, I know that it will lead to another adventure.

Whatever the path, there is no good or bad…just experience and lessons. And that is okay. Because while I set goals and have a destination in mind and work towards that end, I have released the attachment to a specific outcome. And I have most definitely released the need to have a strict road map to get there. I will dream. I will act. I might succeed. I might fail. Either way, I will learn. I will grow. And I will start again.

Life is about growth, not about progressing according to “plans.” It is about growing, step by step and day by day, into the person you were meant to be. It’s about claiming the life that is yours and yours alone, the life that can’t be rigidly planned and mapped out because it’s yet to be explored — until now.” – Therese Shwenkler

BBQ 22.02.14

Therese describes her blog as “a reality check for those who are faking their way through life. Be you and don’t be ashamed of it.” If this resonates with you, click here to read more about her journey.

Now my lovelies, has your life gone according to “plan”? Yes or no…please feel free to share below.

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I’m participating in this wonderful series created by Kozo over at everydaygurus.com If you haven’t heard about it please click here to read more.

BBQ
If you want to be part of this awesomeesauce BBQ, here’s how you do it:

  • Take a quotation from a favourite blogger
  • Create a BBQ post with the quotation
  • Link back to the blogger you quoted
  • Tag your post BBQLUV
  • Link to other BBQLUV posts (optional)

BBQ: Walk Free

Have you ever had an idea for a blog post or a prompting of your spirit to write about something…then you started writing…got frightened of where your thoughts were leading and how much of your real self you were sharing and you either stopped writing, saved it as a draft or abandoned the post altogether? Or in my case…all of the above?

Man this struggle is real and I have over 21 “drafts” to prove it.

“There are so many things I want to write about, I get overwhelmed and write about none. And the crazy thing about that is, it feels like I keep myself locked inside a cage.” – Michele-Lyn Ault

BOOM! I’m not alone.

Today’s Beautiful Blog Quote comes from the lovely, faith-centered Michele-Lyn Ault, of A Life Surrendered who shared this post on Monday.

It was exactly what I needed to read that day. She was so honest about what she was facing and I felt that her words were echoing my struggle of late. When I lock myself in this cage of fear, I deny my soul the expression it needs.

And according to Michele-Lyn, “Only I have the key.” Which is the even crazier thing about this fear. I created this cage and I am the only one who can free myself.

BBQ 08.02.14

Face the fear. Open that cage. Walk free.

Are you struggling with this fear? How are you dealing with it? Please feel free to share below.

You can read more about Michele-Lyn’s journey on her blog: A Life Surrendered.

_________________________________________________________

I’m participating in this wonderful series created by Kozo over at everydaygurus.com If you haven’t heard about it please click here to read more.

BBQ
If you want to be part of this awesomeesauce BBQ, here’s how you do it:

  • Take a quotation from a favourite blogger
  • Create a BBQ post with the quotation
  • Link back to the blogger you quoted
  • Tag your post BBQLUV
  • Link to other BBQLUV posts (optional)