Renew...The Blog Hop and Giveaway!

Hello and Happy Friday EVE my friends! 
Yes, I am a few hours early for once in my life!!!!!
Normally our blog hop posts go live Friday but all of us at ReMe wanted to get the party started a little early and celebrate with you!

                     Welcome to Week 3 of the “ReMe” Blog hop! 

 

  Over the last couple of weeks we have met 2 of the instructors and hosts for ReMe Retreats. Jean Skipper and Penny Arrowood ,   have taken us on an insightful journey, showing   how the ReMe motto:

 

Photo courtesy of Jean Skipper's Originals

                                                                "Rest, Relax, Renew"

 applies to their personal life and how it will apply at our destination retreat in Ocracoke.  Through our musings we hope  you can truly see how our motto, is actually a mantra that can feed one’s life and creative muse in many ways (personally and professionally).  If you didn’t get a chance to visit their blogs during the hop, please stop back when you have a chance as both Jean and Penny really dug deep and poured their heart into their posts.  BTW…I have a couple cool prizes to give away as well... so read on and find out how you can enter to win!

   For those of you who don’t know me and are stopping by from a link that led to another link,  allow me to introduce myself! My name is Jodi Ohl, and I am one of the instructors and founders of ReMe Retreats. I wear a lot of hats on a day to day basis from taxi cab driver (okay carting my 13 around to his various practices, friends, school, entertainment), to maid…haha…sometimes I feel like one…to full time artist, business woman, teacher,  and of course my most important role as a Mother to 2 boys, ages 13 and 19.   I’m also a single parent who never knows if she is doing things right or enough of the right things.  Admittedly, life gets amazingly rough as often as it is smooth sailing because of my own personal doubts and worries (insecurities more than likely). I can go from zero to homeless in about 60 seconds. When I’m at that point of no return or recognize the signs that I’m going there, I know I need to incorporate some self-love into the mix. That's where my word, "Renew" comes into play. Truthfully, I am a very positive person. I want you to know however,  that even the most positive or energetic people need to reel it in from time to time and simply breathe, refresh and well, renew.

 I am going to talk a little bit about how I “Renew” myself while in the midst of running my home, and business, and still stay (somewhat sane). So thank you for joining me in this little ‘musing’.

                                 My Top Ten Tips for ‘Renew’ing My Inner (and Outer) Self:

    1. Change up your routine.   We all get into a rut running mindlessly at times going through our day to day routine. If you change just a little bit of that routine, you will be amazed at how it can give you a new perspective on your daily activities.

   2. Get some sunlight and feel the wind on your face.  Maybe you are already an outdoors person but if not,  there is a lot to be said about just feeling the sun on your skin for a few minutes each day.  I truly believe in the winter blues, I used to live in the snow belt where sun is few and far between for 6 months every year. Now  that I work from home and live in the South,  you would think that it’s easy for me to get outside and enjoy fresh air every day, and it is…IF I make time for it! 

       3.  Exercise.  Okay so this is one where I am re-discovering the benefits of daily exercise. Without a strong body, it’s hard to have a strong mind.  I’m still a work in progress, believe me, but I feel much more capable of handling life in general than I did say 6 months ago when I started to re-incorporate exercise into a daily or somewhat daily routine.  Bonus, I've lost 10 lbs and several inches...just wait to the summer baby...just wait;)

    4. Swimming. This goes along with #3 but even if you hated exercising,  being surrounded by water and just floating or doing laps,  it almost encases you and transports your mind to another time. I can’t explain this to you in any other way but to say that it is one place that I feel unplugged for a little bit and incredibly peaceful. Lucky us, our first retreat is on the Outer Banks in Ocracoke Island...not sure if will go swimming but the same transportation to another world happens when my toes hit the sand or I see and hear the waves of the ocean lapping onto shore.
Sighhh..
(no picture in my swimsuit..sorry. I know you are disappointed ;)

5
    5.   Drive. I love to drive and it doesn’t have to be to anywhere in particular, however once I’m heading out on the open road (back roads are best whenever possible), I try to take in what’s around me and get lost in thought. Even better if I (or we) find a cool little shop or a local dive restaurant that only the locals know about with the best food/books/trinkets/treasures to be found...or even a drive to a scenic look out that you shouldn't miss if time allows.  Totally renewing to me.

      

Read On for the Rest of the Story and a chance to win ANOTHER Giveaway!!!
 Here's a sneak peek at the ReMe blog giveaway:

 (an original painting I created especially for this blog hop).

For stopping by my blog  you can get one entry into my personal giveaway of two of my 

Renew pieces:

"Renew" everyday inspirational ornament, and a "Renew"  Sweet HeART Magnet

Simply comment here and tell me one way you find a way to Renew in your life.
I can't wait to hear what YOU do.

Don't forget, stop over to ReMe for the rest of my tips and another chance to win a 
10x10 original painting!!!!! (Share this post or ReMe's post for an extra entry, just come back and make a second comment to let us know you shared the love!)