vintage purse giveaway (it could be yours!)

hello all!  this is my first ever giveaway (and it's a good one)!  rachael, fellow blogger and total sweetheart from it's simple love, and i are hosting dual giveaways.  i'm giving away this adorable and super chic vintage purse from her etsy shop on my blog, and she's hosting a giveaway of my book and two (handcrafted) t-shirt necklaces on hers : )  lots of fun!

could it be cuter?!

it's simple love is one of my dailies.  rachael blogs about life, love, travel, music, photography and (of course!) amazing vintage fashion.  her personal style and positive outlook are to be coveted!  i strongly recommend stopping by her blog and vintage shop...they're totally worth a (prolonged) visit.

...wish i could enter...

so...on to the good stuff...how to win!

to enter vintage purse giveaway:
you must be (or become) a follower of my blog, lifestyle maven, and leave a comment below : )

extra enties:
+1 follow it's simple love (make sure you come back and leave an additional comment to let me know)
+2 blog about this giveaway or add a link to it on your blog (again, be sure to let me know)

remember to write a separate comment for each entry.  open to u.s. and canada residents only (sorry!).  the giveaway ends friday oct 15th, and the winner will be chosen at random.

thank you for entering & best of luck!  (p.s. i'll be totally jealous of whoever wins this purse...)

oh and don't forget to stop by it's simple love to enter for a chance to win a (signed) copy of my book and some very awesome t-shirt necklaces : )

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Don't Worry, Be Happy : )

Did you know that you have everything you need within you at this very moment to be happy? You just have to recognize it and choose it. Yes, happiness is a choice. Sure, if you had a bit more money or weighed a bit less, maybe you’d convince yourself (or allow yourself) to be marginally happier for a short time, but what it really comes down to is your attitude.

Every day we are faced with a thousand little things that we need to take care of. We all have to go to the grocery store, walk the dog, go to work, make dinner, pay bills, etc., yet some people just seem to enjoy the ride more than others. Some people see life as a journey, enjoying each precious moment; others see it as a destination, always waiting for the future moment when they can “enjoy” life. When you think about it, doesn’t it seem a bit wasteful to put happiness on hold until some future date when the stars align, you magically lose 20 pounds and win the lottery? Because, chances are, that day will never come, or even if it does, I’m sure your hair will be frizzy or you’ll get in a fight with your husband… If you can’t be happy now, what makes you think you’ll be “happy when…”?

Happiness grows from the inside out, not the outside in. Choose happiness. Choose it now. When something starts to bother you, and you feel yourself slipping into that negative, dark space, take a deep breath and smile. It may seemed forced, but over time that smile will transform into a genuine grin : ).

The Myth of Perfection

As I've mentioned, I'm currently working on my latest book (working title Health, Happiness & Home).  It's going to address how to live your best life by listening to your intuition, simplifying your life and home and seeking beauty in all things, including yourself.  Here is a taste of what I'm working on...

     The myth of perfection permeates our lives. We constantly measure ourselves and our lives against standards that no one (or at most very, very few individuals) can attain. Worse yet, when we fall short of these unrealistic ideals, we criticize ourselves and feel like failures. We believe that we have to be the perfect wife, sister, daughter, mother, employee, boss, lover, etc. in order for our lives to feel happy and complete.

     This idea that only perfection is acceptable; only perfection can be appreciated, only perfection can be loved drives many of our lifestyle decisions and goals. Yet, these goals, as important as they may seem, are often completely ego-centric and unattainable. We scrutinize every pound we gain and turn to unhealthy methods to lose weight, truly believing that if we could weigh a bit less (or a lot less), we would be able to get our lives on track and find that elusive harmony and true satisfaction we’ve been craving. We wish for more money, nicer clothes, a bigger home and better car, thinking that if we only possessed these tangible symbols of happiness, we would truly be happy. But, as physical as these emblems of success and happiness might be, they’re not real. They are not (and never will be) what truly makes us happier, healthier and saner.

     The problem is that the concept of perfection is flawed. The notion that only perfect, ideal, faultless beings are allowed to partake in what makes life miraculous and are the only ones deserving of true happiness is ludicrous! Nobody is perfect. No one has their act together all the time. The trick is to do the best you can with what you’ve got and have faith that if you believe that you deserve happiness, happiness will undoubtedly begin to make its way into your life.

So there you have it.  Just a little sample of what I'm working on.  Hope you enjoyed it!  And keep checking back for more : ).

Book Signing!!!

I'll be at the Flemington Shop Rite on Rte 31 on Friday, December 11th from 1:30pm-6:30pm signing copies of my newest book, Well-Designed Living. Stop by to chat or to get a signed copy of my book! If you want to order a copy online, visit www.CailenAscher.bravehost.com.

Hope to see you there!.