Teaser from "Paradise Found"

Teaser from the book "Paradise Found"

They strolled down the length of the shore hand in hand. It was evening and the air was cool and crisp. The sun reflected off the water as the waves rolled in and out of the shoreline. A few clouds hovered overhead in the distance.

            He had not told her exactly where they were going, just said he wanted to surprise her. She hadn’t questioned it much further; she was beginning to trust him more. She actually enjoyed the spontaneity and not knowing exactly what was in store for her.

            All her life it seemed everything had always been scheduled or planned for her. Everything from her classes, to her dinner dates had been planned out. With him she enjoyed just being able to do things on a whim. Even their last minute adventures had turned out enjoyable.

            They approached a small resort area and she followed him curiously. The building was a small two story building painted light blues that seemed to match the sky. Palm trees dotted the area and tropical flowers grew in many areas around the grounds.

            They continued up the stairs and under a large arc way held by fabulous columns. Upon entering the terrace a large pool of sparkling water took up most the area. Several waterfalls poured down gliding over the rocks and emptying into the large pool of water. The sight was a spectacular feast for her eyes.

            She glanced at him and realized he was watching her intently with a satisfied smile on his face. “I thought you might like it” he told her.

            “Like it? I love it!” She exclaimed.

            “Want to get in?” He smirked to her. She watched him curiously as they approached the water’s edge. “It’s OK I do work here.” He assured her.

            She was full of excitement and quickly removed her wrap and discarded it on one of the nearby chairs. She scanned the area and realized it was rather desolate at their location. She wondered if being alone with this gorgeous man would be a good idea for her. She seemed to not be able to resist his charm.

            She slipped her small hand into his and let him lead her into the water. The water was cold on her skin but he pulled her close to him which instantly warmed her up. The water rippled as they moved though it and the sounds of the waterfall flowing near them intensified the experience. They could see the emerald waters and sugar white sand in the distance.

            “This truly is paradise” she said taking in the experience. With that he put his lips upon hers and let them linger before he let his tongue invade her mouth. She loved the way he kissed her with such intensity and passion. She was overcome with emotion for this man and gladly accepted his kiss and embrace. As he pulled away he looked deeply in her eyes making her heart swell with passion.

            “That is paradise, my dear.” He whispered to her. She couldn’t help but smile at him as his eyes pierced the depths of her soul. She was falling for this man and her feelings for him were becoming stronger every day. She knew she was in trouble now.

            He pulled her closer towards the waterfall. She could already feel the mist of the water splashing off the pool onto her skin. As they approached the waterfall he slid his hand over her check, gently caressing the side of her face.

 She allowed him to push her up against the side of the waterfall. She could feel the water flowing over her shoulders and down her back. He watched her expressions and pulled her towards him again devouring her in another ravishing kiss. He ran his hand through her hair and wrapped his arm around her waist. The feeling was overwhelming.

She leaned back and let the water from the waterfall splash down into her hair as lightly kissed her check and the length of her neck. She wondered how this man could have such an effect on her. With him she was able to let herself go and let all her normal control go.  She opened her eyes and looked at him.

He was so gorgeous gazing at her with those deep blue eyes. His hair wet and messy fell in sandy locks against his face. He wore an amused smile. She ran her hands over his muscular shoulders and over his chiseled chest. She could feel his heart beating a little faster. She wondered if she had the same effect on him as he had on her. Wondered if he felt the same passion she did.

He parted his lips as if to tell her something but then stopped. She cocked an eyebrow in curiosity. He simply looked away towards the ocean.

“Come with me. I have something you may enjoy.” He said simply.

“There’s more?” she teased. At this moment she felt she would follow him to the ends of the earth if he asked.

Roll with the Tides

When I first moved to the beach I asked a friend about rip currents because I wasn't educated on how they work and how to avoid them. After he explained to me that they are basically currents in the ocean that keep pulling you back from reaching shore, he told me "The best way to get out of one is to swim with the current, instead of against it". He explained to me that if you swim against the current it will just continue pushing you further back. However, if you swim with it you will be exhausted but you will eventually be able to free yourself from it.

Now, I would like to put that thought into everyday life. We all go through struggles throughout our life. Every one of us has something that may not go exactly as planned. Even the economy can factor into this and the universe as a whole. Sometimes pushing harder against something will not get you the outcome you desire. Suggestion... "go with the flow". Sometimes in the mist of whatever you struggle with, it may be a good idea to swim with what is going on, and see how you can turn it into an opportunity. So next time your stressed out just remember.. swim with it.

Rose Colored Glasses

                     Here's an exert from my newest book "Little Black Breakup Book" by Tori Bradley :

Now it is time to take off the rose colored glasses or beer goggles. After a breakup people tend to reminisce on all the good memories. You may look back at all the good times and wish you were still together with your ex.

It is time to stop glamorizing the past. Sure there were some good times and they are worth remembering but don’t forget the bad things too. There is a reason the breakup happened in the first place.

After the dust has settled its human nature to look back and want all the good things back from a relationship. Is it really worth all the bad you went through though?  You have to learn to remember the good and the bad and stop sugar coating a relationship that was not working.

I recall a time in my past when I was dating an individual and laying in bed thinking to myself “Is this it?”. Even after all the lying, cheating, and disrespect I still glamorized the relationship after the breakup. Of course I took my rose colored glasses off and trashed them. I realized I had a lot of fun but at the end of the day I was not happy. Now I think to myself “No that is not it... there is so much better out there for me!”

You may even be thinking “you don’t know what you have until you lose it”. Well let me tell you from personal experience, you don’t realize what you are missing until you find it! Until you let go of what you can’t have you cannot discover what you want.

“If you’re still hanging onto a dead dream of yesterday, laying flowers on its grave by the hour, you cannot be planting the seeds for a new dream to grow today.” ~Joyce Chapman

 

http://www.amazon.com/Little-Black-Breakup-Book-Handbook/dp/1490373551/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373385361&sr=8-1&keywords=little+black+breakup+book+by+tori+Bradley

 

Don't Take The Easy Path

Routines become so much a part of our daily life. This creates habits and keeps us in our comfort zone. I have realized stepping out of your comfort zone can be pretty scary at times. However, you never know what to expect and you don't know what is out there that you may find. Life has so many opportunities and things to experience. You are the only one who can limit yourself. Take a step, even a small one to try something new.

You may find you have struggles on your journey. You may even create excuses for your self that keep you from venturing out and discovering something you are passionate about. It's not always an easy journey. Some days you may be down right ill or feel hopeless in your situation. Although, it is so liberating to travel down your own path even if it isn't the same path everyone else follows. Enjoy your journey and see what you can discover!

Story of your Life

The most profound moment you can find is when you stop thinking "wow I wish I could do/have that" and start thinking "I will do/have that". That's when you clear your mind and open yourself to take action. Start making the necessary steps towards making your dreams a reality. I know it sounds so cliche but the moment you stop wanting and waiting is the moment you start doing and making things happen.

Life is full of changes. Some are good, some are bad. However no matter what change occurs in your life it is your own unique experience. Whatever happens in life is your story. This is something you keep with you the duration of your life. You have the choice to embrace it or let it hold you back. I choose to embrace it.

Why do I write? Why  do I tell my stories? Its not about simply putting words on paper or vocabulary in your mouth. It is about sharing a piece of your world, a piece of your mind, and a part of your journey with the rest of the world.

Take the time to start seeing your dreams as reality, embrace the changes and share your story with the world.

The Bigger Picture

If you woke you this morning.... CONGRATULATIONS!! Life is the most precious gift you will ever receive. Take full advantage of it. Be the person you want to be and pursue your dreams. Don't let fear hold you back from living your life to the fullest and breathing in everything beautiful in this life. Stop complaining about what you don't have and focus on what you do have. We all have problems and stress but that does pass. Even the pain we experience does heal. Stop complaining about how others live their life..it is exactly that.. their life. Start focusing on your own life and enjoy it. Start Really Living. Because at the end of the day if your still breathing you made it!

Prepare to Buy Your Dream Home!

Now is the time everyone is getting ready to purchase a house. As an assistant for a real estate agent and homeowner, I have seen firsthand what is involved in getting everything in order to buy the home of your dreams. It takes some preparation to get everything in order for the adventure.

First of all always make sure your credit is in order before you can even begin the search. I would suggest speaking with a loan consultant. They can assist you with finding out if your credit is good enough to get a loan or what steps can be taken to get your credit up to par. The consultation is completely free and confidential.

Next you may want to consider what loan is best for you. Most loans require a percentage of money down. However, there are some that are 100% loans that you do not need to have any money down. Find which one works best for you and determine the amount of money you will need to set aside. Another thing I would suggest is to put enough money aside for moving expenses, earnest money, inspection costs, etc. I have always done well with putting a budget together and sticking to it.

What happens if your credit is not quite good enough to purchase a home? In this economy there are options! There are many owner finance options available including rent to own. With the owner finance situations they usually require more money down. Therefore, start saving now and start looking for what other options are available.

Do your research on the houses you are interested in and find out what their down payment is and what loans the houses qualify for. This will save you time in the long run to filter the homes that will not fit your needs. It will also give you an idea of what money you will need to put aside for the purchase.

Buying a home is an exciting adventure. To avoid speed bumps in the process make sure you get your finances in order, do your research and find what works for you. Then the search is on for your dream home.