Why Do We Celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day?

When you think of Saint Patrick’s Day, what are your thoughts?  Is it about green beer and corned beef cabbage at the local pub?  Do you go to the big parade, dress in green, and enjoy that party atmosphere?  Why do we celebrate saint patrick’s day?… READ MORE

10 Quotes that induce inspiration

10 Quotes That Induce Inspiration

All aspects of life can easily be expressed in words.  Letters gathered together in order to portray education, entertainment, and emotion.  Formulated into meanigful statements, here are 10 quotes that induce inspiration… READ MORE

Footprints

Turning Life’s Trials Into Treasures

The famous poem “Footprints” is one that helps us to see the good that results after bad happens; or, as it happens.  We tend to see circumstances and pain when tribulations occur in our lives.  And we often dwell there.  We fail to see the change that results.  The positive movement that occurs is what should captivate us because it is where the riches lye.  Let’s talk about turning life’s trials into treasures…. READ MORE

Mandee

A New Year, A New You

Every new year brings about the desire to change certain things about ourselves.  Maybe this year the decision to stop smoking, or spend more time with family has been made.  Weight loss is always a top choice.  The truth is that resolutions never really work.  Visit a gym in the first few weeks of teh new year and you will find them packed with those hoping to get fit.  Those same establishments will not be as busy after the first few months of a new year… READ MORE

Pizza ready to go

A Night of Pizza and Root Beer

October nineth is national pizza and beer night.  Had it been a day in my late twenties, my husband and I would have had a great oprdered pizza and some grocery bought beer.  Being a mom, I decided to play this up a little and make it a night of pizza and root beer floats.  I gathered a dough mix that is easy to make, a pizza sauce, and all the toppings my family loves….READ MORE

suicide is preventable

Suicide is Preventable

As I was scrolling through my Facebook feed the other day, I came across a photograph of a man on a bridge.  His standing outside the rail, on the ledge, led me to believe he was attempting to end his life.  The picture caught my eye because the man was kbeing held by the arms and hands of several complete strangers.  From inside the rails, on the bridge, they held him until help arrived.  Meeting him in his despair, these people shared empathy.  Through kindness and compassion, they showed that suicide is preventable…READ MORE

50 things to do before you turn 50

50 Things You Should Do Before you Turn 50

Take a momnet and look at your life.  Are you where you thought you would be?  Are you doing the things that you thought you would be doing?  We all have expectations in this life.  We take stock, what have I accomplished?  Have I done the things I wanted to do?  I say stop looking back and get to being that person you always wanted to be and doiong the things you always wanted to do.  Here are 50 things you should do before you turn 50…READ MORE

empathy

Empathy

Some say that empathy comes when you have more experiences.  I have come to understand that it is not only an inherent trait in manyu, but it can be taught as well… READ MORE

The Seven Days of Love:  Storge…

A natural, unforced, instinctual affection for another human being.  Deeply rooted in the ideas of family, it is a love that binds and develops over time.  In other respects, it is instantaneous and unexplainable; such as the love of a paretn for their child… READ MORE

https://life-with-mandee.com/the-seven-days-of-love-eros/The Seven Days of Love:  Eros…

The arrows forcefully leave the bow and plunge into the two bodies.  Destined to intertwine with one another in passionate love, their hearts are pierced with an overwhelming desire to connect… READ MORE

https://life-with-mandee.com/the-seven-days-of-love-ludus/The Seven Days of Love:  Ludus…

Ludus love is flirtatuious and seductive, playful and selfish.  Having a crush and acting on it can begin this affection seen between lovers.  A ludic lover may have many conquests.  Yet, they remain uncommitted.  This being needs attention.  They play with the emotions of others.  As a result, they lack attachment and cheat.  Ludus is a narcissistic love with one player having the potential to spiral into mania… READ MORE

https://life-with-mandee.com/the-seven-days-of-love-pragma/The Seven Days of Love:  Pragma…

Pragmatic love is an enduring love.  It is an aged, mature, practical appreciation for another human being; founded on reason.  The seven days of love:  Pragma focuses on the intimate connection found in this forever love… READ MORE

https://life-with-mandee.com/the-seven-days-of-love-philia/

The Seven Days of Love:  Philia…

You become a friend to many when you have a strong love for God and a healthy love of self.  It releases you to love your fellow human beings with ease, comfort, and compassion.  The seven days of love:  Philia encompasses brotherly, emotional, and affectionate love.  A shared good will.  That of friendship… READ MORE

The Seven Days of Love:  Philautia…https://life-with-mandee.com/the-seven-days-of-love-philautia/

In order to love others, you must first learn to love yourself.  Philautia is a love that can be bad or it can be good and it is dependent upon how one sees themselves.  Let’s dive deeper into the seven days of love:  philautia and talk about the good, the bad, and the beauty… READ MORE

https://life-with-mandee.com/the-seven-types-of-love-agape/

The Seven Days of Love:  Agape…

Agape is the love of the soul.  It encompasses the modern concept of altruism which is unselfish concern for the welfare of others.  It is a Christian term referring to the highest form of love, charity.  The love of God for man and man for God.  It is not a feeling; it is a motivation for action that we are free to choose or reject… READ MORE

10 Steps Toward Protecting Your Vibe…10 steps to take to protect your vibe

Vibes are the emotional signals a person gives out to those around them with their body language and social interactions.  In other words, the quality of ones life is directly related to the quality of their thoughts, words, food, fitness, purpose, experience, environment, and relationships.  Realize this and use these 10 steps toward protecting your vibe:  your being; who you are to your core… READ MORE

www.life-with-mandee/a family session

The Comforts of Home…

As a photographer, I meet a variety of people.  In this July sesion, I was invited to spend a few hours with this family.  I photographed them in the comforts of their home because the property was truly breathtaking…READ MORE

 

Reading As A Family…

We learn a great deal from books.  The lessons of life often jump off the pages to help us express emotion, socialize, or even learn language.  Books are a grat way to get children involved in learning because reading to your kids is the number one way you will get them interested in books.  Sharing a book connects families so, it is important to spend time reading as a family… READ MORE

 

70 Funny Anytime Jokes

There is an art to telling a joke.  The punch line needs to be said at the exact right time.  Lets face it, some people are good at it and others are not.  With this list of 70 funny anytime jokes, everyone is guaranteed to get a laugh.  So lets get started with the telling of jokes…READ MORE

Juliette 4 

7 Days Of Gratitude:  Day 6:  Juliette

“At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a sark from another person.  Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.”  In readig this quote by Albert…READ MORE

Eris B (life-with-mandee.com)

7 Days of Gratitude:  Day 5:  Eris

Someone once said that, “when we are thankful, our focus moves off selfish desires and off the pain of current circumstances.”  We all go through bad times.  Every one of us has had times of trouble.  The point here is to be thankful in the midst of hard circumstances…READ MORE

Traditions

As the holidays approach, our traditions are brought into the forefront of everyday life.  Because they are dependent upon our religious and familial backgrounds, we practice those of our particular cultures.  I believe that it is important to know what customs and traditions are and to practice them…READ MORE

table 2 (life-with-mandee.com)

 The Importance of Spending Mealtimes as a Family

Extended family is flying in.  Many are driving out to visit with their moms and dads.  Significant others are preparing the parental introductions.  The time to break bread with family is upon us.  I contemplate the importance of spending mealtimes as a family because Thanksgiving approaches with great speed and I worry about the health of those that I love…READ MORE

sam (life-with-mandee.com)

 7 Days of Gratitude:  Day 4:  Samuel

As a mom, the most important people in my life after God are my kids.  My relationships with them are ones I work the hardest at.  I worry about them, I fret over the decisions I make regarding them, and I pray for them all the time.  The thankfulness I feel for them is highest on my list of gratitude…READ MORE

thomas (life-with-mandee.com)

 7 Days of Gratitude:  Day 3:  Thomas

At times, being a mom is the most challenging character I play in life.  I have my daughter card, my sister t-shirt, my wife tiara, my estranged wife hat, and my mommy cape.  Among others.  On any given day you will see me engaging in a vast series of occupations as a mom…READ MORE

Mikayla (life-with-mandee.com)

 7 Days of Gratitude:  Day 2:  Mikayla

When I look at life, I think of a jigsaw puzzle.  All the pieces fit together, making you a complete person, when all are present and accounted for.  Relationships play a huge role in the finalized picture for me.  My kids take up the biggest parts of my puzzle and I would be nothing without those glorious beings in my life.  Gratitude day two revolves around my second daughter, Mikayla…READ MORE

Kameron (life-with-mandee.com)

 7 Days of Gratitude:  Day 1:  Kameron

The choice to expend more gratitude into the world is one easily made.  For me, spending seven consecutive days discussing the things that I am thankful for and appreciative of is exciting.  My hope is that you will carry on in these footsteps and open up about the things you are grateful for.  In doing so, you can put the words out into the universe and grow to be someone free from fear.  And thrive…READ MORE