Questions are the answer.

The Morning Power Questions

"Our life experience is based on what we focus on.  {Re-read this sentence} The following questions are designed to cause you to experience more happiness, excitement, pride, gratitude, joy, commitment, and love every day of your life.  Remember, quality questions create a quality life.  If you have difficulty answering a question, just add the word 'could.' Such as, 'What could I be most happy about in my life now?'"

1. What am I happy about in my life right now?  What about that makes me happy? How does that make me feel?
2. What am I excited about in my life now? What about that makes me excited? How does that make me feel?
3. What am I proud about in my life now? What about that makes me proud? How does that make me feel?
4. What am I grateful about in my life right now? What about that makes me grateful? How does that make me feel?
5. What am I enjoying most in my life right now? What about that do I enjoy? How does that make me feel?
6. What am I committed to in my life right now? What about that makes me committed? How does that make me feel?
7. Who do I love? Who loves me? What about that makes me loving? How does that make me feel?

My dad gave this to me years ago, and I have kept these questions with me no matter where I've gone. College, Rome, Australia, California.  I am telling you such a huge family-kept-happiness-secret here, so print it, cut it out, and put it on your mirror.  I can't remember the name of the book, but I will carry these questions with me for the rest of my life.  If I have learned anything on this journey for finding happiness, it is that your thoughts determine your actions which determine your entire life.  So, start with your thoughts and just watch your life & mood change. And crazy, but true: you actually do have a choice when it comes to your thoughts, so choose to only keep the good ones and choose to toss the negative ones!

{picture via}

A Girl from Denmark.

One of my best friends that I met in Oz was Nanna from Denmark. I'm sure you remember her from my posts back when I lived in Surfer's Paradise... Hey Sweets,  40 Cent, & These Three Things.  I am so happy I met her, and I love these photos that just radiate her inner & outer beauty!
  She's still living in Surfer's Paradise, where I met her! Nanna taught me 'I love you' in Danish:
 Jag älskar dig (pronounced) Such a pretty language!

PS: Check out this Danish singer: Medina.  I love the song "Addiction."

They call me Summer.

One day, Izi and I were strolling around the harbour in Sydney, and we came across this concert/promotion for a festival happening the next day.  We didn't know who was performing, but we stayed anyways.  I've always loved the Ting Tings, and it was one of the coolest experiences to see them play acoustic just a few feet away.  We won free tickets to the festival for the next day worth $144 each.

This Day Is Mine.

Sipping summer through the air
Blows over the green to me
Leave behind spider lines
Underneath the tree where I was sitting

Finger trailing through the grass
Gently kiss my thoughts as they go
My feet are weightless carried on silver notes
Coming up from daffodils
Dance beside the road and

This day is mine this day is mine

Cartwheel leaves pass my feet
Tickling the ground as they go
Cardigan on my shoulders
Taking in the colors of the park
I've got the feeling of that first stretch
In the morning going on and on and on
Got my halo swinging on my finger
Playing Frisbee with the sun

This day is mine
This day is mine

And I want to share it, want to share it
Want to share it with you
Emma's Imagination-This Day

{Max Wanger Photography}

Green With.

This post from Viva Luxury convinced me that I need to wear more color, right now. Those green shoes...love.  Must. Find. Zara.  

I am going to go paint my nails for the first time in like 5 months. Au Revoir.

Let's Do Sunset.

I literally spent all weekend looking for a new place since our lease is up in July. 

I snapped a few photos of my friend's beach side apartment for some ideas for my future place. 

She's got mad Anthro-style.  Love it.

Meanwhile, this is what my place looks like:

My floor covered in listings with my belts laid out like the highways (see it?).  There are 5 of us now, so it's a full-time job trying to find the perfect place for all of us.  One of the best helps is the Trulia app on my iPhone.  I can search rentals around me wherever I am. Seriously, amazing.

Being proactive, but still trying to put it in God's hands. The hardest part for me is the commitment of a year-lease.  It makes me feel tied down, even though I know that this is where I want to be for now. A year just seems soooo long.  Don't worry, I'll still find a way to travel.  I'll just have a home... weird.

PS. new obsession: Coconut White Mochas. 

So. California.

I love Southern Cali for it's style, layed back and chill. {Swell} pretty much sums it up.

50 Promises.

(you can hold Him to it, He gave His Word!  All these promises are Truth to set us free from the lies we tell ourselves every day.  Even if you don't believe, these still apply. God's love isn't bound within your own belief. His love is so much bigger than that, and he will keep his promises to anyone who calls to him.)

He will go with you, sustain you, and strengthen you. (Psalm 89:21, 22)

You are His beloved, He believes in you. (Rom. 1:7)

He will be your confidence. (Prov. 3:21, 26)

He has set you apart from the world. (Psalm 4:3)

He will deliver you—no matter what. (Psalm 18:19)

He will increase you mightily. (Deut. 6:3)

He will hear you if you ask for help today. (Prov. 3:21)

Even if chaos abounds, you will experience perfect peace. (Isaiah 26:3)

The waters may rise; but they won’t overtake you. (Isaiah 43:2)

You do not labor in vain. (Isaiah 65:23)

He will reward you. (Psalm 18:20)

If you are called to wait on Him, you’re gonna be okay there. (Isaiah 30:18)

He will fill you when you need it—just like He always has. (Psalm 81:10)

Your barn is going to bust open with blessing. (Prov. 3:9-10)

You can’t imagine the mercy ahead. (Psalm 18:25)

You will have the things you need. (Psalm 34:9)

God will restore your soul. (Psalm 23:3)

You will keep going and not grow weary. (Isaiah 40:13)

Your words will extinguish anger. (Prov. 15:1)

You will find happiness as you share. (Prov. 14:21)

Your reward beyond today is heaven—wow! (Psalm 23:6)

If you mess up, He will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7)

If you are wise, you will win souls. (Prov. 11:30)

You’ve got blessings waiting around the corner. (Psalm 24:4-5)

He’ll guide you through the rough spots and help you do the right thing. (Psalm 25:9)

Your soul will be at ease amid the storm. (Psalm 25:12-13)

You’re stronger than you think—because He will strengthen your heart. (Psalm 27:14)

Angels are encamped around you. (Psalm 34:7)

The troubles of this day can’t stand up to His power. (Psalm 34:17)

You will experience supernatural peace. (Psalm 37:11)

He will be the order that covers your disorder. (Psalms 37:23-24)

He will deliver you from wicked, conspiring people around you. (Psalm 37:40)

His Spirit will teach you and fill your gaps. (John 14:26)

He will bless those who declare His name. (Psalm 89:15)

He will hold all the pieces of your life together. (Psalm 46:1)

He will keep you safe under His mighty wings. (Psalm 91:1)

Nothing needs to offend you today. His Spirit in you is bigger than all of that. (Psalm 119:165)

Carry on through sadness. He will replace your tears with joy. (Psalm 126:5)

He’s going to tame your doubt and fulfill that dream in your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

He will provide everything—He’s your need-filler. (Psalm 23:1)

Have confidence. He will make His words known to you. (Prov. 1:23)

Surrender your view of things and people—He will give you spiritual eyes. (Psalm 146:8)

If you seek Him, you will find Him. (2 Chronicles 15:2)

With each day, you are growing stronger and stronger. (Job 17:9)

He will pour out His Spirit on you. (Prov. 1:23)

God will put a new song in your mouth—and many will put their trust in Him. (Psalm 40:3)

He’s got wisdom ready for you to use. (Prov. 2:7)

You will lay down tonight and have sweet sleep. (Prov. 3:21)

He loves you to eternity and back. (Psalm 146:8)

His covenant of Love to you will never, ever fail. (Psalm 89:28)

[Picture via, Post Credit: www.facebook.com/naeemcallaway via Daily Inspiration]

Dutchies.

I absolutely love this video and everything about it.  I wish I could make one of these for every city that I have been to. There are so many amazing cities in the world just like this one that people should see from a different perspective.  I went to Amsterdam while I was studying abroad in Rome, Italy a few years ago.  It was beautiful and clean and not at all what I expected. I loved that it is similar to Venice. The Heineken Factory is my top recommendation.

BUT... the absolute best part about The Netherlands is the Dutchies themselves. I met so many who were traveling in Australia, and I can't wait to go visit them in The Netherlands!

Yes, I know this is confusing, but I think I finally figured it out (correct me if I'm wrong): 

The Netherlands is the Country.

Noord Holland & Zuid Holland are Regions of The Netherlands.

Holland is also used the entire Netherlands.

Amsterdam is the Capital of The Netherlands.

They speak Dutch.

They are Dutch

They are also Hollanders, or as I like to call them: Dutchies.

Kokosnoot means Coconut.

Australia used to be called New Holland.

also...

Dutch people are really tall, so you should learn this phrase before you go there:

"Je bent echt lang"

(*thanks for the corrections my lovely dutchie: Christina from Fahs n Chips*)

Giraffe Eyelashes.

So, as you probably guessed, I went to the San Diego Zoo! It was fantastic, and I wished I could stay at each exhibit all day watching the animals and taking photos of them.  I'd say the Australian Zoo is still my favorite just because they let you hold the koalas (i.e. the best moment of my entire life), play with the kangaroos in Roo Heaven and feed the elephants.  At the San Diego Zoo you can feed the giraffes for $5 which is pretty sweet. We also got to take a double decker bus around the whole zoo with a tour guide (Disney came to this zoo to get inspiration for The Lion King) and we rode Skyfari, a gondola ride above the animals and across the park.  My advice to you if you come here: bring some comfortable walking shoes- the landscaping is a beautiful thing in itself, plentiful in hills, botanic gardens, and secret passages.  It took us 6 hours to get around the park, and we didn't even see everything!  

Next to do: San Diego Safari Park