2011: Doing things better...

I'm trying not to do this too hastily. Afterall, the new year is about doing things better, right? Well, there's no need for full out resolution surgeries here, but I know I'm in need of a little life nip and tuck. What better time to don my scalpel than during the start of a new year? Here's a list of some of the things I would like to improve upon during this upcoming year. I'm going to divide it into three sections: personal, work, relationships.

art by Marie-Chantale Turgeon

Personal

• Be more gentle with myself and give myself more freedom for mistakes. Afterall, life is an exploration.


• Be more bold.


• Eat less sugar. I'm usually pretty good at this, but the holiday season really got to me. It's not that I eat that much sugar compared to most Americans, but I can feel it making my brain foggy and it's just not that good for me!

• Drink more water.
  

• Take more time for activities that bring presence and stability into my life.


• Focus more on one thing at a time. I'm the queen of multi-tasking and it's starting to take a toll on my productivity in a negative way.


• Become more postive and attract more of what I want in my life.


• Appreciate everything more!

Work

• Get more business minded. Take care of all the business aspects that I hate dealing with. Time logs, licensing, accounting, taxes, marketing (although I like this).


• Make business cards and fliers. Drop them off at local places.


• Add more products to both my Etsy shops. I have some exciting ideas in mind!


• Communicate more with other bloggers. I think this one is really important for two reasons. First, it's important that we support each other and I want to let others know how much I appreciate them. Second, I'd love to get my work more publicity and it would be great to be published on a well known blog someday.


• Be more consistent with my blog posts and more deliberate about producing posts that get people inspired!


• I'd like to submit some of my work to magazines in the hopes of being published. If anyone has suggestions for this I would love to hear them.


• Become more involved in fPOE (Female Photographers of Etsy).


• Talk to more people. Be more outgoing. This is huge for me because I am very shy around new people and I hate starting conversation. It's so hard but I know I need to push myself and create some real and meaningful relationships.


• Get my work into a gallery, shop, or cafe.

Relationships

• Get out from behind the computer and spend more time with friends, face to face.

• Be more present in my relationships, expecially during conversations. I have wandering-mind-syndrome.


• Be more focused on helping others. Give more. Love more.


• Listen better.


• Communicate better. Make less assumptions. Be more upfront.


• Send more hand written notes to distant friends.


• Inject more fun into my relationships.

I may just have to add more as I think of them, but for now these are the big ones. Do you have a list of your resolutions? I'd love to hear them. Feel free to post them in the comments or provide a link to them.

Thanks friends, for all your support!

2010 Recap: 12 Months of Mostly Good...

2010

This year has been an amazing one! Full of ups and downs, but mostly ups. And while it hasn't been all roses, I'll take this moment to share the most important events which happily revolve around mostly positive moments. So here goes nothing:

January started out rather uneventful yet a little rough. I continued to work my engineering job, run my etsy shops, create, and rock-climb. I worked on mending my heart from a couple of past relationships.

In February I started talking with a wonderful man (let's call him D) who, little did I know, would become the love of my life.

March came around and I met D on Saint Patrick's Day for a little rock-climbing and food. After that our relationship began to blossom.

April begins a gorgeous spring in the desert. Rock-climbing and my first "Beanfest" at Cochise Stronghold in Southern Arizona. D was the "Beanmaster." For all of you who have never heard of it, it's a big party of rock-climbers who get together for great food (including lots of beans), tons of climbing, unfortunate amounts of tequila as well as the ritualistic beaning of each participant. Go to your tent with beans on your head or risk retribution! :)

May brought a trip to San Diego: cold dips in the Pacific, fish tacos, artsy towns, Balboa Park, old friends, and camping by the ocean. The best trip to San Diego ever.

In June we took a trip to New Orleans to visit D's family. I loved that city!

More climbing in July, along with a visit from my mom.

Big changes in August with a move to the rural parts of southern Arizona (although still working in Tucson part-time). Adjusting to living 30 minutes from everything has been a little hard, but a great experience. I love the amazing mountain views, incredible 360 degree sunsets, proximity to my favorite Arizona town - Bisbee, lots of land for gardening, the incredible stars, and the peace and quiet. We also took another trip in August to Michigan, where I took D to my most favorite place in the world, Leland.

September brings cooler weather and a little trip to Sedona.

In October my mom moved to Phoenix, yay! We also got a puppy from the pound.

Lazy days in November. More rock-climbing and another Beanfest. We also started a lifestyle photography business, Twin Satori Photography.

December came so quickly and is already over! We had a great holiday season with a trip from D's parents and a few lovely visits from my mom. D and I had our first Christmas together and a magical end to the year.

Happy 2011 everyone. May it be safe and full of good!

When you want to take flight...

January 1st is right around the bend and I suppose that means I’m supposed to reflect on what I’m going to do better at next year, right? I’m not much for following traditions, but it does seem like this moment is as good as any to reflect on what needs to change.

My life is a little hectic right now and I’ve got so many things going on. I feel a little like I’ve been twirling my arms around in giant circles trying to fly while only wearing myself out and not getting anywhere. While I’ve really been enjoying all of the different aspects of my creative life lately, I feel like I’m spread a little too thin so that I’m not really able to do anything whole-heartedly. I’ve got several residential landscape design projects I’m working on, a graphic design project, my work at the engineering firm up in Tucson two days a week (pays some bills), my two Etsy shops which I am trying to build and add more products, and a portrait photography business I would like to grow. I’ve also had a huge urge to paint or draw lately but really can’t find the time.

What does all that mean for my blog? I wrote down some resolutions a few weeks ago and one of them was to be more consistent in my postings here. But lately I’ve been thinking, can I really do that? And should I? I know I haven’t been very good to you readers who I do appreciate so much. There are so many things I would love to do here, like add guest posts, more themed posts, share your work and work of others that I find inspiring, add some DIY or tutorials, do some give-a-aways! Sounds great doesn’t it? Ah, but where would I find the time? Plus there’s this little nagging thing…I really don’t enjoy writing. I’m such a visual person that sometimes the thought of writing is a deterrent in itself.

So quickly, before this sounds like I’m complaining (too late?), what I really wanted to ask from all of you is, how do you do it? I know there are many of you out there that are extremely busy and still manage to streamline your work to be consistent and high-quality. Can you share some secrets in the comments with me and the other readers out there? If you are still out there…

Thank you and thank you for sticking around.

I love friends. I love good thoughts.

My most favorite friend in the whole wide world, Katie, sent me the most thoughtful and beautiful message the other day. I just had to share it with you because I think she has incredible vision. Here's what katie said:

"Today, I suddenly became aware of the following, which no doubt will resonate deeply with you: EVERYONE in the U.S. today is feeling an emptiness. We see our parents working away their entire lives only to be allowed to come back to life once they retire. Then we're taught to get good grades, go to college, and get a job so we can do the same. Our parents don't like it; we don't like it; nobody likes it! A life like that is no life at all, and deep down, everyone senses that. But people are scared because "that's just how life is." How can it possibly change?

Well there was a time when "that's just how life is" meant that blacks and whites were segregated in every way imaginable. How could something rooted in HUNDREDS of years of history possibly change? And yet Martin Luther King Jr. dared to dream. Moreover, he dared to dream publically and peacefully. He brought to light what sat hidden behind fear in millions of hearts. He couldn't accept a future that reflected the world in front of him, and I believe that you and I (and no doubt countless others) are the same way. We can accept the quality of life as it exists in this moment, but we cannot accept it as our future.

Therefore, I have a dream that love and joy take precedence over work and money. People no longer seek salvation in things but recognize that their true worth lies in who they are. There is no such thing as rush hour or a nine-hour work day. Companies no longer feel the need to compete for power and dominance; they recognize that their livelihood does not depend on it. There is no longer an onslaught of advertisements. People take pride in sharing what they have and enjoying each other. Material expansion is exchanged for beauty and a slower, simpler, more earth-friendly way of life. Food, homes, and health care are readily available to all because people are happy to share and help. People recognize that it's truly the little things in life that matter. School, education, and information take a backseat to compassion, peace, and humanity. Children are encouraged to pursue only what resonates with them. People’s “physical attractiveness” as we know it is completely irrelevant. Money is plentiful in the absence of greed, vanity, workforce servitude, and mindless extravagance masquerading as “technology” and “convenience.” Retiring existing thought patterns opens the gates for joy and abundance to flow to all.

It starts with the little things, since all life really is is little things: taking our time and choosing peace and kindness over fear.

This is the only future I can stand to look at. Do you feel the same way?"

Thank you

Photograph by TraciM

So, the holiday season is upon us again. For me the holidays are about family and friends, warm comforting food, cuddling inside, and remembering to be thankful for everything I have in my life. Being thankful is something I try to remember year-round, but there's something about this time of year that brings it all into light. So without further ado, I'd like to share a few things that I am grateful for each and everyday, be it cliché or not:

* A loving and supportive family.
* Kind and caring friends.
* A roof over my head and food to eat.
* Some of the daily comforts I may take for granted like clean running water, electricity, and heat.
* The gift of and desire for creativity.
* Some of the luxuries of living in this day and age like the internet, a powerful computer, a car that gets me places, air travel to visit my family, and a digital camera to capture the world around me.
* All of you out there who inspire me with your work, leave me comments and encouragement, and spread the love.


















Photograph by me

Also, I'm having a sale in my photography shop from Black Friday (11/27) to Cyber Monday (11/30). Free Shipping on any 8x10 or smaller print! See my shop announcement for details.

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!

"The most I can do for my friend is simply to be his friend. I have no wealth to bestow on him. If he knows that I am happy in loving him, he will want no other reward. Is not friendship divine in this?" - Henry David Thoreau

Hooray for Blissful Monday

Jess Gonacha Swift started this wonderful project at her Treasuring blog called Blissful Monday. I thought it would be a great opportunity to try to do a regular post here and to remind myself of all the wonderful, simple things I am thankful for.









In her words:

"Blissful Monday is a place for us to make our own rules. It's a place to talk about what makes us really truly happy. To ruminate on what we want our bliss-filled lives to look like, in all its dreaminess. To reflect on the past week and what we've loved. Memories. Aha moments. Insights. Touching compliments. A gorgeous breakfast. A smile. Gratitude."

What a great way to start the week, huh? If you want to join in, pop on over to her log and leave a comment.

So here's my BLISS LIST:

* Spending this Saturday with my friend's kids and we played in the park. We were running around doing cartwheels in the grass, playing with a hacky-sac, and goofing off. The sun was shining, the weather was perfect, and I felt like I was 8 all over again.

* Making my first sale in my Apples and Aardvark shop.

* Baking chocolate chip cookies from scratch and sharing them with friends.

* Hiking in the desert and feeling the cool October breeze.

* Singing out of tune with one of my closest friends and crying when the music becomes so moving and reminds you what life is about.

* Beat-boxing terribly and finding it incredibly hilarious.

Happy Sunday

Happy Sunday! I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend. It's been relaxing for me. I went on a much needed hike in the Tucson mountains yesterday...it's so renewing to get outside. Then I played at the park with my friend's kids...sometimes I just pretend that I am a kid too and forget about all of the grown-up stuff going on in my head and life. Do you ever do that? It's nice to escape adulthood every now and then :)

So here's a new one for my shop this morning. A little brightness to add to your Sunday.

And I'll leave you with this thought:

"In the hopes of reaching the moon men fail to see the flowers that blossom at their feet." ~Albert Schweitzer

Stressful thoughts be gone!

stressful thoughts
Created by Jess at pecannoot
Thanks for the awesome inspiration!