To live a well balanced, rewarding life of our dreams by day and sleep restfully at night.
When life gets stressful, focus on these eight things that make life GOOD!
Published April 19, 2013 | 
Life is good when:
1. You have supportive people all around you who love you and “have your back”, no matter what!
2. You are excited about something… (a new project, a vacation in the works, a book you are reading, new people you are meeting…)
3. You start your day with good coffee and end your day with good beer or wine…
4. The sun is shining…
5. An excellent film comes into your mail box via Netflix
6. You receive hugs when you need them
7. Comfortable clothing, socks, blankets…
8. Having faith: faith in God, faith in yourself, faith in our society.
In Peace,
Debra
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Posted in Happiness, Positive living, Self-empowerment | 
happy when..., life is good | 
Leave a commentA morning journal gratitude list
Published April 11, 2013 | 
As each day comes to us refreshed and anew, so does my gratitude renew itself daily. The breaking of the sun over the horizon is my grateful heart dawning upon a blessed world. ~ Terri Guillemets
It is a great practice to begin and end our day focused on what we feel thankful for.
This is my gratitude list for my journal writing this morning…
I am thankful for:
1. My life
2. My strong and healthy body
3. My loving and supportive husband
4. My sweet daughter
5. My son
6. My cat, Mew
7. All of the help and support that is always there when I need it
8. My friends
9. The doors of opportunity which are swinging wide open for me right now (it is quite exciting)!
10. All of you here who are visiting The Warm Milk Journal. Love, peace, and hugs to all of you!
Your turn… what are you thankful for right now?
Have a blessed day!
In peace,
Debra
For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
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An anxiety free life happens when we habitually do these five things.
Published April 10, 2013 | 
photo credit: Dreamstime
I believe an anxiety free life comes from these five things:
1. believing in yourself,
2. taking care of yourself,
3. having faith in God and the wisdom of your intuition,
4. pushing your edge, taking risks, and embracing change…
5. having love be your guiding compass!
That’s it. Simple. We can all do this.
Much love and peace to all of you tonight.
Debra
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Thank you for the smiles I received… an evening prayer
Published April 8, 2013 | 
Dear God,
The day is over and sleep is near.
I am thankful for this day.
Thank you for the smiles I received,
the attentive children in my classroom,
the companionship of my family this evening.
I am excited about the new people and opportunities that are
presenting themselves to me.
This chapter is an exciting one.
I so appreciate my life.
God,
Please send your love, guidance, and healing to those out there who feel:
pain,
sadness,
alone,
stuck,
or adrift.
Thank you.
Amen.
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Heart, What Do You Have To Tell Me? (A journal writing exercise).
Published April 1, 2013 |
Only one book is worth reading: the heart. ~ Ajahn Chah
What is in your heart? What stirs you deeply within depths you didn’t know exist?
That is this evening’s journal writing prompt: exploring the depths of the heart. This may be April Fool’s day, but following our heart is not foolish.
Our hearts our intelligent. What is your heart saying to you? (if you take the time to listen, you may find out).
So, this prompt is simple.
Talk to your heart. If there is something going on in your life that you need an answer to (whether it is career related, family,etc.) ask your heart…
Breathe deeply. Close your eyes. Put your hands to your heart and just sit and breathe. Be still…
When you are ready, open your eyes and write on your journal page:
Heart, what do you have to tell me?…
Then breathe deeply and write when you feel compelled to write. Don’t judge. Don’t edit. Just write.
This one is a bit personal so I will do this exercise in my private journal this time (perhaps I will share with you in a future post though).
Much love to you…
In peace,
Debra
Alas! there is no instinct like the heart… ~Lord Byron
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A Three Day Wedding Anniversary Adventure in Charleston
Published March 29, 2013 | 
A few days ago, we wrote about taking adventures…
I truly believe that adventure and trying new things is the spice of life. What adventures have you been on lately or plan on taking? Please feel free to share your adventures with us here at The Warm Milk Journal… (simply comment at the end of this post or you may share on our Facebook page too).
My husband and I just returned from a few days of adventure in lovely Charleston, South Carolina for our second wedding anniversary.
Did we have adventure? Yes!
Did we have romance? Yes!
Am I still glowing from this little get away? Most certainly, yes!
I wish to share with you just a few highlights of our Charleston adventure….
Day 1:
1. Discovering Pepper Palace on Market street. I thought my husband had died and gone to heaven. There’s like a thousand different hot sauces, barbeques sauces, mustards, salsas, and butters. What fun!
2. Tommy Condons: an Irish pub and restaurant where we enjoyed good beer and a real low country boil . Everyone was so nice in this place and we enjoyed watching the Florida Gators Basketball game (Florida beat Minnesota which was looking like quite a nail biter for a bit).
3. Strolling through magnificent Charleston Place filled with high end shops for fun window shopping and a lovely hotel. The Thoroughbred Club is a great place to stop, have a drink and tapas, and listening to the pianist… I have since learned that they offer a “high tea” in the afternoon but we missed that one (perhaps for the next visit).
Photo credit: Southernliving.com
Day 2:
1. Taking a cruise on the Charleston Harbor on The Carolina Belle. Captain Dave was funny and we learned a lot too. He informed us that he was willing to retrieve lost hats out on the water if our heads were still attached to them…
2. Afternoon coffee at Saffron Cafe and Bakery. This place was so incredible. Great coffee, mid-eastern foods, and the dessert showcase was such a feast (I gained a few pounds just by looking)! This place seriously made me wish I lived in Charleston.
3. Dinner at Mercato. We had one of the best Italian dinners ever! My husband is Italian and he had high praise for their lasagne (they evidently got the tomato sauce right). I was thankful to have a relaxing place to sit with my husband and sip on some wonderful wine (after a day of touring in unseasonably cold and windy weather).
Day 3:
1. Strolling Meeting Street and touring some of the beautiful homes. We just happened to be in town for Charleston’s Historical Foundation’s Festival of Houses and Gardens (which is still going on until April 20, 2013) These were private residential homes that the owners opened up to us (for a three hour window). It was awesome.
2. Taking a horse carriage tour. My husband was skeptical at first, but our guide, Ben, was both intelligent and hysterical. Our horse, Loretta (which he called “Slowretta”) was precious. I learned so much about Charleston’s history and I got to relax and cuddle up next to my hubby as we slowly cruised through some extremely quaint alleys and streets in the Historical District.
3. Last, but not least was our anniversary dinner at Circa1886, which is a lovely restaurant set in the carriage house of The WentWorth Mansion. . So many little things made this a meal to remember. My husband even had antelope!(talk about adventure).
This is how they brought our dessert out along with some champagne!
After dinner, we strolled through the lobby of the magnificent lobby, and felt rich and satisfied…As we strolled outside to our car,the full moon shined upon us…
Did we have adventure? Yes! It wasn’t perfect… it was cold, our hotel room had some issues… but now we can both look back at this experience and laugh and smile. Adventure is great. Adventure shared with your best friend in the whole world and life partner is magnificent (I will sleep well for many nights to come as I warmly bask in the memory of this trip).
To many more adventures!
In Peace,
Debra
My hubby John ordering lunch at Blind Tiger Pub on Broad Street.
Debra at the Battery
One happy couple…
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Enjoy the evening, however it unfolds…
Published March 27, 2013 | 
If it’s warm where you live,
go out and take a walk in the woods or sit in the sun on the beach with a good book or journal.
If it’s cold where you live,
cuddle up in front of the fire with family or your journal. Relax. Write…. perhaps put some good jazz music on and cook up something good! (like a great soup, stir fry, roasted chicken, or lasagna).
It’s cold here in North Florida tonight and it was very cold in Charleston, South Carolina where my husband and I just spent the last few days.
Well, it is still cold and that is okay.
Tonight, no matter what the temperature is outside, I invite you to:
1. Stretch and breathe
2. Look at a beautiful coffee table book that fills you up with joy (for me it is gorgeous books about old Charleston gardens)
3. Listen to jazz (or whatever delights you)
4. Pour yourself that glass of wine (or whatever you enjoy)
Now, look around… peace. love. home.
You are right where you need to be, now.
Enjoy the evening, however it unfolds (you are off to a fabulous start)!
In Peace,
Debra
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Posted in evening verses, Family life, Happiness, Love, Positive living | being happy, evening relaxing | Leave a commentAdventures I will have (a fun, spirit lifting journal writing exercise).
Published March 24, 2013 | 
One way I like to use my journal is for times when I feel stressed, anxious, a little run down, or sad. This great exercise immediately lifts my spirits and galvanized my energy to something more cheerful and positive. There is nothing quite like the sweetness of anticipating adventures: big and small.
At the top of your entry, simply write: “I will have these adventures”. *Note, we are affirming these adventures as if they are going to happen (rather than saying “I would like to one day do..”
Then write away. What adventures are in store for you? I find if I write rather quickly, without thinking too hard or editing myself, my heart’s true desires will eventually come out on paper.
Ready to begin? As I often do, I will get my own list started and then you begin yours.
Let’s see…
I will have these adventures:
1. I will explore the charming city of Charleston, South Carolina with my husband. I will stroll the charming streets and tour the mansions and nearby plantations. I will also eat some great food and listen to jazz music.
2. I will take wine tours in the Napa Valley and Tuscany, Italy.
3. I will ride on the Orient Express.
4. I will read a juicy novel.
5. I will try a new recipe out this week.
6. I will go on a retreat! A retreat for writers, yoga enthusiasts, meditation, and one for couples.
7. I will visit Virginia
8. I will go on a class III river rafting trip in North Carolina
photo credit: sunsetfarms.com
This is a great exercise. I feel perkier and excited about my life. I will keep going in my private journal so that you may begin yours.
Have fun!
In Peace,
Debra
Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind. ~ Seneca
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From panic to peace: the experience of being human
Published March 23, 2013 | 
I have recently experienced panic,
and empowerment.
Joy,
and deep sorrow.
Feeling victorious,
and then beaten down.
Inspired,
and stuck.
The human condition puts us through the ringer so to speak. We definitely have our peaks and valleys. When I am despairing and dying of thirst in the midst of death valley, I find it helpful to remember that:
1. This too shall pass.
2. Change is part of life.
3. I am strong.
4. My emotions are simply emotions. I don’t have to attach any more meaning to them than I would passing clouds in the sky above me.
As I write this, there is a storm brewing in North Florida. Thunder booms and the rain is coming down.
The thunder outside, like our anger with its temper and tantrums… will subside and go away in due time.
The rain, like our tears that flow and flood our anguished faces at times, will stop.
The sun will come out again. We will be centered and feel peace again.
And so it is.
In Peace,
Debra
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These five thoughts will let me sleep very well tonight.
Published March 20, 2013 | 
As the day winds down and I ease into the evening, I know that these thoughts will help me sleep well tonight:
1. I Am whole
2. I Am peace.
3. I Am thankful for my health, home, and family
4. I Am love
5. Anything that causes me stress, anger, resentment, jealousy…etc…is a passing, temporary condition. My permanent status is one of love, peace, grace, and wholeness (as stated above).
I am quite confident that I will sleep well tonight. I wish the same for you!
In peace,
Debra
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