i'm coming back!

Happy Monday everyone! Over the past 10 days or so I have run into a surprising number of people (both near and far) who have brought up the blog. They have told me how much they enjoy it, but want me to post more often. It's funny, can you be both flattered and stressed at the same time? Because I have definitely felt that way. It makes me so happy and pleased when people mention how much they enjoy my little blog, but they want me to hop back on the blog roll more consistently. 

Within the past two weeks or so I have spent many evenings lamenting over not having the time to blog. My posting whittled down to once a week and I felt horrible about it. I want to post the right things, but I just haven't been in the swing of it. As much as I like to think of this as a hobby and personal portfolio, I have learned that it's much more than just an activity for me. I realize how many people are influenced by Twirling Clare.

My mom runs into women who tell her they read my blog every week. Friends, family, and past teachers read my blog as a way to keep tabs on my life. Even mothers of people I went to college with keep up with Twirling Clare. And, of course, the countless readers I don't even know! 

When I first started blogging three and a half years ago, I remember how excited I was to have a couple dozen visits a day. I'd obsessively check my stats page and try so hard to get followers...but, after awhile, that didn't seem as important. I valued having a unique space, a true reflection of me rather than a top-trending blog. I wanted to inspire the world with stories, articles, and images. It didn't matter to me how many read my blog; I just wanted to keep scattering the seeds and see what came of them. 

Like everything in life, you can't predict when things will take off. Patience is a beautiful thing and God always has a way of coming in when you least expect. The past couple of weeks (especially this weekend) has been very motivating for me, and it's funny how these unexpected "messengers" have helped encourage me to keep up my little creative exploration. My inner turmoil of finding inspiration, time, and the passion to continue, was answered. Not exactly how I'd expect it to be...but that's what makes life a beautiful adventure. 

With the kind words and appreciation of Twirling Clare and my creative spirit, also came a request to keep it alive. Not that I was ready to shut-down the blog, but Twirling Clare deserved a bit more love and attention. All good things in life need nurturing, cultivating, and love and Twirling Clare really is part of my spirit than needed reinvigorating. So thank YOU for the encouragement and passion!! 

It makes me incredibly grateful to hear of so many people enjoying my happy space and little musings. Twirling Clare is one of my proudest accomplishments, I won't be posting every day, but hopefully be more immersed back to my creative space. 

 Thanks for not just inviting me, but challenging me, to come back to the party...

(via)

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Lenten Prayers

Greetings all, today is Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. I have always appreciated Lent and am especially looking forward to this upcoming season. I think it is a great check point for those New Year's resolutions and a time to dive deeper into practices that are better for your soul. It is the perfect time to reflect on how we're feeling and what we can do to be better people. The Lenten season is a time for us to give-up a couple of things, so we can make time and room for those things that are more important - especially our relationship with God. A 40-day opportunity for us to change our lives and become better people.
The winter blues are so easy to wear us down, especially with the winter we've been having. Daylight savings time is this weekend and spring finally feels like it's right around the corner. It's amazing what a little light can do! Light energizes us both in our health and our hearts. What a perfect time to start a Lenten Journey!

This lent, I am giving up and doing things to motivate me to be a better Christian. Additionally, I have fallen off the bandwagon in some of my new year's pursuits - so I hope that this will allow me to become rededicated!
I haven't failed COMPLETELY in my endeavors for the New Year, and I have actually had a few significant accomplishments. I go to yoga class about 2x a week. The square near my house has a couple of studios and they offer community classes on the weekend, which works perfectly with my schedule. I feel much better and even a little stronger since taking the classes. I have been busy reading once again. I had read a lot of books over my holiday trip to Arizona. Although I haven't knocked down four books in a week like I did on our trip, I have been incorporating it into my lifestyle. I am reading The Alchemist right now and just finished Fountainhead. Next on the list? One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Bill O'Reilly's Killing Jesus (I feel like now is a better time than any).
Let me know of your reading reccos!

So what am I doing for Lent?
I am giving up my phone after 8:00. That's right. No liking my way through Instagram, no late-night tumbling, no Facebook scrolling. I want to focus on using the evenings to relax, spend time with family, start new projects (crafts, books, etc), take walks, or attend functions. Hopefully, this will help me be more motivated in the mornings as well. Studies have said that looking at your smartphone after 9:00 can produce symptoms that make you feel like you're hungover the next morning. And that's the LAST thing I need. Hopefully I will be more rejuvenated in the mornings and can spend time either going to morning mass at 6:30 and/or taking a quick jog before work. The light (and early sleep) can do wonderful things.
And for indulgence sake, I am giving up ice cream. I have been enjoying my creamy dessert sooo much this year and I think it'll be a good practice to take a break from the sweets for a few weeks.
In the past, I have had a couple successful Lenten seasons. One year I gave up celebrity gossip, Coco Perez, People.com - the whole slew. I knew more about Suri Cruise than I did about my own life sometimes! It worked magically and I haven't gone back since. In fact, I sometimes still think it's 2009 in the Hollywood world. Do you know how many marriages have failed since then??? Anyways, another year I gave up sweets and I never remember feeling better. In fact, it was a couple weeks after Easter before I even ate treats because they seemed so unappetizing.
I want to focus on nightly reflections - to expand beyond my prayer journal and reflect on how I am feeling, where I am, how my day went, and other things that we as humans ponder quite often. This will be a daily prayer, a time to take away from mindless tasks - to actually allot to God. A catch-up with him, giving him a low-down on my life. Yes, praying can be that easy.

Wishing you a blessed Lenten Season. I'd love to hear if you have any goals for the Holy time.

Toodles!

(via)

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