My Serenity | Front Porch Facelift | Part 1

Everyone has their "go to" place to focus on their inner peace. For my boyfriend, it's a movie in the man cave. For my mom, it's on a bench in the front of the house reading a book. For my dad, it's out on the water with a fish on. For others it may be church, listening to music or cooking.

I have a new favorite spot to let my mind relax and quit the internal battle. I stop looking outward for solutions and focus my attention inward. This is tough to do -- so I must be in a spot that offers me serenity. This new spot happens to be my front porch. I have sounds of Sloan's Lake to the north, birds chirping in pine tree in the front yard, children laughing and playing a block down and the soft snore of my 12-year-old dog at my feet.

Yesterday I decided to give my new little spot a facelift. While not quite finished with my mini renovation, I wanted to share my finds of the weekend.

After a quick Craig's List purchase, I headed down to The Barn in Castle Rock, Colo.  Right behind it is The Emporium, which is very similar (although less cluttered). Both antique houses offer a number of different shops. I spent close to four hours looking around!

-New Chair, Foot Rest and Cushion
-Vintage Brass Side Table
-ADORABLE Owl Vase w/ Orange Flowers
-Pier 1 Candle Lantern
-Used Firefly Lights (from my storage)

This is the first phase of my DIY front porch. I am looking for ideas on how to be a little less "exposed" to the next four houses down. I'm thinking some type "see through" shades? I'm heading to Pinterest for additional ideas. Find me on Pinterest here: http://pinterest.com/bbloomfield/

I hope you find your "go to" place and make it the best it can be. Organization and focus will help get you to your inner peace. This will help heal, calm and clarify. Enjoy :)

Shoot me an email with DIY ideas!
-BabblingBrooke

Carnival Cruise Lost My Luggage -- Epic FAIL

Let's see how the customer service department handles this one... Emailed 4/17/13. 

Hello,

We just finished a cruise from New Orleans to Cozumel on Elation April 11th - 15th. 

Never got to even get in this pool! No swimsuit. @%$@!!!

We were in rooms E299 and E145, both charged to my mother, Nancy Bloomfield (copied on this email.) Hopefully you will see a note on the account showing that Carnival crew members lost my luggage and I didn't have so much as a swim suit the entire cruise. Thanks for the 20% off coupon to the gift shop -- which didn't sell a single swim suit. 

I was told that housecleaning looked in every room, in the closets and under the beds every day my bag was missing. There was a flier that was sent out, etc. Still no bag. Monday morning, while deboarding was in process, I stepped out of my room to grab a coffee before we left the ship and I walked by someone in line with MY BAG. I asked to see the tags and why he had it and he said there were three of them in the room and it was his friend's bag. While I don't think he intentionally stole the bag, I was irate. I grabbed my bag and wheeled it back to my room. His room number was U299. Right below mine. The whole time... 

I am thankful to have my bag back (no help from Carnival), BUT, I am pissed to say the least. If I wouldn't have walked out of my room RIGHT THEN, who knows if I ever would have gotten it back. I went four whole days with one pair of underwear and shorts. It ruined my trip. And in turn it put a damper on the other three ladies I was with. My bag was misdelivered, BY CARNIVAL and I was lied to about CARNIVAL EMPLOYEES looking for my bag on the ship. If I would have known no one was doing anything I would have knocked on every door myself-- but no, I was assured everyone was looking for it.

I had my bag for 15 minutes on the ship and wasn't even offered a free drink. I asked to use the internet to check my email since my email was on my luggage tag and they said they wouldn't want me to accrue any other charges!

Can you imagine going to a beach and not having a swimsuit? Seriously?

All that aside, I would like a list of all charges to both rooms so I can go over the charges with my mother, Nancy. I can't wait to put this experience behind me and never have to think about Carnival again! There should be a credit of $50/day at least on there- but I think the whole thing should be reimbursed in addition to the dress I had to buy just to attend the Captain's Dinner, and the internet charges since I was looking for any word on my bag. I get sick just thinking about it! 

Thank you,

Brooke Bloomfield

Positive accountability, is there such a thing?

Accountability. Most people cringe at the word. Defined as "subject to having to report, explain or justify responsibility" it's not not rainbows and ponies. It's a word that follows you throughout many different sectors of your life. It's not a job thing... or a home thing... It's a YOU thing. But, what most don't realize is that it doesn't have to be a bad thing.


During our monthly departmental meeting yesterday, we watched a webinar on The Oz Principles which is a must read for individuals who are compelled to improve their performance.  They refer to accountability in two ways; above the line and below the line.

If you are above the line, you ask "What more can I do?" whereas if you are below the line you think "There's no solution" and feel victimized and stressed. It's o.k. to be below the line, for a minute or two, but it's ineffective to live there. Everyone feels stress or needs to complain every once in awhile. But once you get it out of your system, move back up!

It's a personal choice to rise above ones circumstances and demonstrate the ownership necessary for achieving key results.

The Blame Game:

• ignore or deny
• finger pointing
• cover your ass
• wait and see mentality
• confusion
• not my job

People below the line stop playing to win and
start playing not to lose. 

Accountable people seek feedback. They see the bigger picture. Your employees are motivated by money. They are even more motivated by good leaders. But... they are most motivated by being part of a cause. 

I will continue to blog on additional information I learn. The Oz Principles seems to be a very powerful tool to continued positive development and building of winning teams and individuals.

-Brooke