Pulls Me Through

"Be yourself,
Stay humbled,
Do your best.
And, as they say,
God
Will do the rest."

 ~Mama

Word of the Day

Hello there,

I don't know why, but this word has been stuck in my head, lately. For some reason it is just constantly replaying itself lik a broken record! Scruple, scruple, scruple- enough! So I took that as a sign to do something with it, so now I am doing something with it! Use it wisely. Enjoy.


scru- ple

[skroo-puhl]

noun, verb, -pled, -pling. noun

1. a moral or ethical consideration or standard that acts as a restraining force or inhibits certain actions.

2. a very small portion or amount.

3. a unit of weight equal to 20 grains (1.295 grams) or ¹ / ₃ of a dram, apothecaries' weight.

4. an ancient Roman unit of weight equivalent to ¹ / ₂₄ of an ounce or ¹ / ₂₈₈ of an as or pound. Compare as² ( def. 2 ) .

Scruple,

IotaDaily

Distracting Distractions

Happy Motivational Monday, folks! Ready, or not, here it comes!

So since today is typically a day where people are "getting back to the daily grind," a lot of times you might find yourself having a hard time concentrating, or constantly being distracted. Well, I found this fascinating video that teaches you how to distract you from your distractions. Although it might not be the most practical, I found myself compelled to share it with you and hopefully it lightens up your marvelous Motivational Monday!

Stay Motivated!
IotaDaily

Stereotypical Weekdays

Okay, so tomorrow is another Manic Monday, again. *sigh*

I know that people typically don't like this day. I have heard words like "dreadful," and "tedious." But, honestly, Mondays are tragically misinterpreted! They are meant to be the beginning of our weeks, not the end of our weekends! But somehow it has translated into our minds- from the very start- that Monday means, "Its time to stop having fun and get back to work."

Well, what I say to you is: seriously? You don't let your life control you- you control your life.*MMS... You are going to let things like stupid stereotypical weekdays bring you down? You should know, right now, that stereotypical weekdays have no place on this blog. So suck it up and look at this Monday, and all the Mondays to come not as Manic Mondays, but Motivational Mondays! You know, or, you could just continue being overwhelmed with intimidation every seven days. It's your choice, but I have to say that, my friend, is just a terrible way to live!




Keep in Control,
IotaDaily

Week 3, Day 21

Week No.3 and still in love with my beautiful blog! I really hope you've enjoyed my rants and raids and have stayed with me long enough to get a feel for what Daily Dose is all about! I know I tend to talk a lot, but I really would love to hear what you have to say, too! Laugh, cry, leave a reply!


So, because this is another special day, I though I would include a gluten- free recipe for cupcakes. You know, considering I would have brought cupcakes to celebrate if you could actually eat them. They are so delicious, you would have never have known they had absolutely no wheat in them! My mouth is watering, as we speak, so without further ado- here is a celebratory cupcake for Week No.3!

Gluten- Free Vanilla Cupcakes w/ Mocha Icing

Keep Talking,
IotaDaily


P.S. Recipe and picture from Gluten Free Goddess. Go to http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/ for many more gluten free recipes.

Smartphone Dorks

Hidey ho, reader- oh! It's Friday!!


In the name of this long awaited and cherished day, I have a down-right hilarious video that I laugh at every time I watch it! Whether it's the guy at the beginning with his deep voice or the three smartphone dorks, I can't help but chuckle when I see it! I think I'm most attracted to it because I can relate to the dorkiness factor of it...

Now I love all the Geico commercials- I think they are genuis-ly designed to make people repeat it word-for-word! Like last night, my mom and I were going back and forth with the, "Can switching to Geico," trying to match our voices to the guy at the beginning. Though I don't have one, I know enough about smartphone apps for this to make me smile!



Enjoy your Friday!!!





Stay happy,
IotaDaily

When You Wake Up

Salutataions!

How are you all today? Good, I hope! :)


So today, my mama says me to pay attention to what you are doing when you wake up. You see, she believes it is important information that we are getting from something beyond ourselves right before we wake up, and right as we are falling asleep at night. Now, I don't know if you believe in a higher power or a God or whatever you want to call it- I concider it all basically the same thing- but I do know that I have gotten the ideas for some of my most inciteful and meaningful pieces of written work right when I wake up.

I know that when we get up in the morning we have gunk in our eyes, horrid morning breath, and are probably pretty groggy and out of it, but- if you can- try to remember what you just dreampt about or if there was anything in specific that you were thinking about (other than coffee), you might just get a masterpiece!


So that's all my mama has to say today! Enjoy!



Pay Attention,
IotaDaily

Grandpa's Midnight Snack

Hello, loves!



So, while I was surfing the web the other day, I came across this very cool baking video. I know what your thinking- "Cool baking video? This is, seriously, the best you can come up with?" But don't judge based on my lack for better adjectives! It's not like your typical youtube video, where someone just turned their video camera on and started doing stuff. It's actually relaxing.

I know the sound of beet cake makes your hair turn gray, but I'm sure it is not that bad. It probably just sounds like something you would find your grandparents splurging on for a midnight snack. I know, I know, it doesn't give it much credibility for the fact that I have not actually tried it, myself, but the video was just so beautiful I just could not wait! Although my attempts will probably not be as photogenic, it has inspired me to make it. And I will get back to you on how that goes. But for now, just sit back and watch the video! For you, my loves!


Stay healthy!
IotaDaily


P.S. If you liked this, you can check out more videos by Tiger in a Jar on http://www.vimeo.com/.

Which Intelligence Are You?

So here we are- Monday, again!

I know, not the funest day of the week, not an easy- breezy Sunday, nor a normal, status-quo Tuesday, but look at it this way: they only come every 7 days! Well, to kick off the new week, I thought that I would share with you a quick quiz I took last year. Maybe it will give you a clearer picture on how you learn and make this week, and weeks to come easier to handle.

So, I took this test at the very beginning of my seventh grade school year and thought it was really cool! You answer the questions given and it calculates your score on which multiple intelligence section you are strongest in. Which ever one that is, is supposedly how you learn best. Whether it be through visual pictures, moving around and physically doing things, or through musical songs and hums, that is how you are able to catch onto things best. It was a great tool for my middle school teachers to know how to get the lesson through our thick skulls! ;) If you like taking tests and learning things about yourself, click on the link below and it will bring you to the site. You can take the test, see your results, and learn about the different intelligences. Which intelligence are you?


Multiple Intelligences Test

Hang in There,
IotaDaily

Her Morning Elegance

Hey, loves!

It's Sunday fun-day! And today, do I have something to share with you! I with this post, I attached my favorite video ever! I've probably watched this video, oh, a good... 50 times! It was made by a bunch of still photo shots played consecutively to create a video stream. How cool is that? And the song is perfect for the video, which always makes flow things better. :) I love, I'm sure you'll love it, so now, I shall share this masterpiece with you- enjoy!

My Sister's Closet

Hello, hello, hello!

Are you interested in cute clothing, but only budgeted for some much to spend? If you are living in the state of Arizona, my friend, My Sister's Closet is the place to go!

My Sister's Closet is a consignment business that, with your help, makes money off of your clothes. But even better: they help you make money off of your clothes! You take a collection of unwanted clothing to a shop in your area, give it to the people who will sort through which ones they think will sell, and while they are doing that, you can walk around and scope the store out for yourself. Now, the My Sister's Closets are not just your typical consignment shop- they have standards. First off, their store is always decorated and all dolled up with cute accessories that make you feel like you are anywhere, but a consignment store. As far as clothing, they will only take clothes that have a certain brand. Absolutely no dirty stains or tares. And the clothes they take have to be generally cute so they can sell. And trust me, these standards make for good shopping- you can find designer brand clothing for practically nothing! So in this short time period, you have gotten rid of unwanted clothing and picked out new ones! And best part: you're account will grow and grow with every time someone buys one of your pieces.

This this is great for starving fashionistas, looking for quality clothing and some extra cash. With the money in your account, you could have a store credit- where you use that money on anything in the store- or you could "cash out" with just a few bucks less than the store credit and spend that money anywhere!

Folks I'm not joking, here! I love this store and find great pieces that I love to wear! It is worth a peek!
From my closet to yours: Enjoy!



Stay savvy!
IotaDaily

Berry Goodness

Berry Goodness

• 1/3 cup of organic pomegranates
• 1/3 cup of organic raspberries
• 1/3 cup of organic blueberries
• 1/3 cup of beet juice (it sounds bad, but really it makes the smoothie!)
• 1 organic banana
• water
• ice (optional)

Story Time

"Okay, so once upon a time, there was these friends: 1/3 of pomegranates, 1/3 of raspberries, 1/3 cup of blueberries, and, well, you know the rest of the crew. At 5:59 AM, right before the doors of Trader Joe's were about to unlock, everyone shot a quick glance at one another, and mouthed, "This is the day," with a subtle nod. They don't know how it happened, but they had become the food that everyone seemed to just... miss. As the expiration dates crept closer and closer, and the hours ticked on, you could practically smell ethylene gasses in the air. The crew was starting to get nervous. Poor, lonely, stand- alone banana's skin started to bruise with pain as he watched all of his friends get snatched right from under him. Who would want just one banana when they can get five for the same price? Perhaps the young lady and her mother out, smoothie shopping? Possibly, but spirits were down and the crew had come to know that the woman always seem to have this discerning taste to them. They know when a banana has had his say.

But, not this dynamic duo- they figured it was a long day, all they wanted was just to get home and relax. So they wung it, and off the check out counter victoriously flew the ecstatic crew. What was in store for them? They had no idea, but were just so happy to be chosen. From the store to the blender, the crew mixed and swirled beautifully together, creating a nutritiously delicious beverage that filled it's consumers with just about as much joy as they felt. And they all live happily ever after... The End."

The Cold, Hard Truth

Beautiful story. Very inspiring! And to be honest, this drink was just as good as the story told! Very easy to make and very easy to drink. As opposed to those nasty green concoctions that people tell you is good for you. I'm sure it is, but by the time it gets into my stomach, my body is ready to return it, if you know what I mean. (I mean "throw it up," if you didn't get the reference.) This yummy beverage is nothing like that. It doesn't have any yogurt to give it some consistency so, if anything, it's more of a juice, rather than a traditional smoothie. Although it is smooth, so would it be considered a smoothie?... Oh, I guess it's up to you to decide!

One Week Down...

Guess what today is!

Okay- yes, today is Saturday, but it is a very special Saturday! Today marks one week all alone with my blog! And if I do say so myself, I think I have done pretty darn good! No panic attacks or breakdowns, thankfully, and I have stayed right on it attending to it's needs. (Which is pretty good considering anyone who knows me would tell you that I tend to have a problem following through with things.) I am a committed Blogger Mama! I have given the poor thing a few drastic makeovers, but I think we have both hung in there.

Anyways, I just want to thank you- if there is anyone out there reading this. Thanks for hangin' in there with me! There is plenty more to come, so stay tuned!



Keep Moving Forward,
IotaDaily

Me and the World

Hey, YOU!

It's Friday, everyone! For some this means weekend is near, others it means the week has just begun, and for some, it might just feel like any other day. Wherever you are, out there, I hope you will enjoy your day, have enjoyed your week, and are enjoying your life!

Something struck me the other day: it's August 19th. Do you realize that, my friends, we are 3/4s finished with the year? That means that another year, another 365 and 1/4 days are almost, yet again, behind us. Now I don't know about you, but I feel.... hungry. But, aside from that, I feel like in all my thirteen years, I haven't done much. I haven't gone to outer space and lived to tell the day. I haven't thrown caution to the wind and climbed to the top of Mt. Everest. Heck, I haven't even seen the world's biggest ball of yarn! What have I, Alexis Szoke, done? What influence have I made on this big world?

You know I've never really thought about it, how small we are. Not in the sense of how much we matter to everyone else, but how small our individual, physical body is. I mean think of how many people fit on this earth and cohabitate together. I don't know exacts, but I'm pretty sure that that's a lot of fingers. Think of the value of one person over another. How can one person have a bigger value than another when, in retrospect, we are all pretty much the same? We all start off as a small speck in the universe and, to be honest, that doesn't change though out your whole life. No matter what you do, how many people you influence, or not, we all are just specks. Perspective.

So for as small as we are, why is it that our problems seem to be so dang big? I mean, "in the history of the universe".... really? Are they really that big? Please tell me how- for as small as one person may be- your, mine, their problem is really any bigger than anything else. The substantuality of any one thing that happens in our own worlds is not "just the way it is"- we make things as big, or as small as it is to us, in our own worlds. But, when we stop getting so sucked into our own worlds, and take a step out into THE WORLD, we would see how tiny our own problems and our own world is.  Perspective. *MMS...

We catch glimpses of this other world (aside from our own) from time to time, but to actually live in this space of not yours, not theirs, but just the world, you would be living for something so much bigger than you and me. And that, in my mind, is how to live.* Then, living your life by how many days, weeks, years will no longer matter. What you "have done" is no longer relevant to what the world has done with you. Your influence is not measured by how many people you have graced, but not at all. Perspective.

"Whether single events or processes that take weeks, months, or years, these experiences remind us that the world remains a magical place."

Keep a Perspective Mind,
IotaDaily

Numerical Out Look on Life

Hello, again!

I hope you are having a great day, where ever you are, out there!

Well, today I have this cool little out look on life I came across while surfing the web. If you can crack the code, it's really clever and totally true!

*MMS...

(Let me give you a hint: A=1, B=2, C=3, etc.)

Keep a Positive Attitude,

IotaDaily

The Rut Cycle...

"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing- that's why we recommend it daily" -Zig Ziglar

So I thought I would start the day off with nice little motivational quote on self motivation!

Something I have not only noticed with myself, but with others around me, is this cycle people go through when setting goals for ourselves.

Like going to the gym- we feel really excited and gung- ho about that idea of a firm and tight body we got from those airbrushed fitness magazines, so we enroll in a gym membership. We are already feeling like a million bucks from just enrolling and feel totally compelled brag to everyone about the fact that, "I have a gym membership." We pack our cute little $20 gym bags that we bought from Target, and we strut in the gym with it hanging off our shoulder, a towel wrapped around our necks, like we are some pro. Again, feeling like a million bucks. We stroll on over to the weight section, do a once- over of the long rack of weights, and- of course, being the inexperienced cocky gym fools, we are- go straight for the 50 lb bench press. 2 minutes later, we stumble out of those same doors we just ever-so-casually wandered into, with buckets of sweat pouring down our bright red faces. Needless to say, that's the end of our gym memberships! At this point, we want nothing to do with that place! Well, until a year later when we're flipping through those fitness magazines, again. Then, we find ourselves feeling really stupid for ever quitting and giving up on that goal, so we go and enroll ourselves in a gym membership, again.


So not to say that you have the same problems I do with that torture hall people call a gym, but do you see the pattern? I call it the Rut Cycle.

The Rut Cycle

1. You set a goal and you feel really confident about it.
2. Then, you actually start putting that goal in action.
3. Soon, you wonder why you ever even thought this was a good idea and stop.
4. So you feel guilty and start all over.

Does this sound familiar?

What I think I forget about the goals that I've set for myself, is that this energy and motivation I felt at the very beginning needs to be constantly being replenished with some motive to keep you going. For some it is dedicating that goal to someone else and have that other person to constantly be their motivation to keep them going. Others are those people who, every day they wake up, sike themselves up in the mirror, saying things like, "You can do this. You are amazing and awesome and there is nothing that can change that. Let's go out there and make it a rock star day!" For me, I need to blare my radio and jam out to my favorite tunes to get me motivated. But, you know, we all have our ways to self motivate ourselves, and everyone might come across it in a completely different way then the next, but the thing we all seem to have in common is that we have to be persistent. Whatever it may be, it has to be something that we can count on. That is what will keep us going.

So I agree with Mr.Zig Ziglar- motivation doesn't always last, that's why we have to have something to resort to to save us from the Rut Cycle. The goals that we set for ourselves are kind of important, whether it feels like it or not, because it represents us moving forward. When you get trapped in the cycle, you aren't moving forward. We have to keep moving.


Keep Moving Forward,
IotaDaily

God Bless America!!

One of my latest "ABC Obsessions" is America's Got Talent. I wasn't really a hard core fan until last year when my mama and I started watching the show. We were amazed at how much talent America does have! This season seems to be no different! From the hilarious auditions at the beginning of the season, to now, mind boggling magicians, heart racing real life stunt devils, to adorable children singers- this show is like a Vegas show every week! My mom and I have found some acts that have just crashed and burned, then acts that are phenomenally inspiring! Like this one:

(Those are people!!!)

The show had me speechless, again for another one of their shocking contestants- Silhouettes. This contemporary dance group has an amazing expression of art that I don't think anyone has ever seen before! In honor of America, the beautiful, and everyone who has risked their lives defending her, Silhouettes contortion-ized their bodies in ways to look like famous American landmarks and it is just phenomenal! They are definitely top runners in the competition for me, but aside from that, they are one of the most unique forms of expressions of art I think I have seen to date!*MMS... I'm so excited to see what they bring to the table next week!

If you love them, too, be sure to vote for them!

Stay unique and stay tuned!
IotaDaily

CA Yogi

Goood morning!

Hope everyone is having a... Monday morning! : /

I know, they are not the most fun, but this is why I bring with me a little somethin' to share with you. Something that will cheer you up! So yogi heads out there, listen up: if you like yoga, California, health and wellness, or anything in between, check out www.cayogi.com. This blog is jam- packed with great tips on how to lead your best life! If you are interested in learning more about healthness (health+wellness) click on the link, and it will bring you straight to CA Yogi! Laugh, cry, leave a reply on there and the very own CA Yogi, herself, will instantaneously get back to you! She loves to hear from followers, so don't be afraid to speak up! Believe me, this site it worth looking at- it just might brighten your not-so-fun day Monday!

Keep that frown turned around!

IotaDaily

We're Marchin On

To a start of a new life, lessons learned, changes made, battles won and battles lost, we found the strength to take it all, and keep moving forward. To us!


Keep Moving Forward,
IotaDaily

Letting Go

Good morning!!!!

So today: August, the 13th, 2011, is the first day of this blog. It's not quite the day my baby blog was born, but rather the day I get to take my beautiful baby blog home and start the rest of my eternity being a proud Blogger Mama. Today marks first day of mine and my baby blog's long and joyous lives together!

To celebrate this joyous day, I was oh-so-pleasantly awoken to alarming sound of my baby blog crying out to me! And as any responsible Blogger Mama would agree, it is not the least bit wise to just so easily ignore the poor sound of your eager little baby blog calling out to you and pull the covers over your head! No, no, NO! You must leap out of bed in the most heroic way possible, stereotypically throw your hands to your hips, then intensely dash off to your hungry bundle of joy. (Even if it is 7:00 on a Saturday morning...)*MMS...

(As you can see, the following is {braced}. I do this because I don't want to make you sit through paragraphs of me rambling about my beautiful baby blog and my wonderful adventures through Blogger Mama-hood if you don't want to. All of the bolded is everything that is absolutely, 100%, life or death, FATALLY IMPERATIVE that you know right now at this exact moment and no later. SO I won't delay you any longer.)

{Saturday morning, 7:00. So my mama (my bebe's grand-blogger) has an intent desire to better herself with every step she takes, of every day she walks this earth, with every inspirational juice she can get out of anything. Beautifully wise in so many ways, I'm so lucky to have her as my mom :) Well this morning I awoke to this video she had found on The Facebook that related life to a boat. This video talks about the wakes of a boat. So unless you are a boat fanatic, this should not be an average term in your vocabulary! The wake of the boat is the jet stream of white water that gets left behind after the boat passes. Now, I specifically use the term "gets left behind" because the wakes resemble the past. Our past. As the boat moves on from the spot it was previously in, it leaves behind it's past, instead of taking it with and letting it weigh the boat down. What this video is basically eluding to is that- like a boat- we should move on from our past. Let it go, move on, and don't look back.}

Now I am not relating anyone to a boat! Please: if you are going to take anything from this very first celebratory blog, it's not that! But as the start of a beautiful new thing, we have to somehow move things around, take things out, whatever you need to do to make room for it. Because let's face it: you are probably going to get more progression in your life taking things out and moving new things in, as opposed to keeping everything the same and not moving in any direction at all- that's how the "What am I doing with my life?" syndrome happens. Bottom line, there will be no room for anything new, if it's cluttered by our pasts. See where I'm getting at? We can't move forward if we are still holding onto our pasts. One door has to close before another one opens. Come on, guys I am throwing golden life lessons at you here!

So as the beginning of my eternity with my beautiful baby blog begins, I am letting go of my wakes and moving forward. I invite all of you (all of you one or two people reading this) to jump on the bandwagon and join the massive breakdown of our pasts. Let's let go of the old and make room for a new change and new progression in our lives!!

Keep Moving Forward,
IotaDaily