Thursday, April 14, 2011
like the peacocks wandering the walkways of the zoo...
creative outlet. we have stumbled those words, linnea and i, and many others, more and more this past winter, yet quite sure of our thoughtful answers. we all need a creative outlet. i've been a part of a lot of interviews these past 3 months that the question is proposed so simply "so what is your craft?" or "why did you decide to do this?"
creative.
outlet.
from my day job. from all of our jobs, if we are working ones that feel draining. that don't feel like what we want to be doing. that we don't want to define us. that don't fill our lungs with fresh breath and reassurance that life is more than charts and insurance companies.
and, really, the creative is different for you and for me. but i would simply toss this out there that the creative is whatever those things are that make you feel alive. that life is MORE. think about the most depressive person you know (fun, right?;)). imagine them creating something. gardening. designing. writing. painting. man, doesn't it just seem like it'd have to spark joy inside the most dullest, sullenest, saddest person?
i'm going to probably take this course offered by Red Velvet. ($38! = pretty awesome). i don't want to give up hope that maybe i don't need to be a nurse forever and don't have to come home completely exhausted, having to drink loads of cold press Dunn Bros. before i can flip on the sewing machine to begin to learn. the sleep is just so enticing in those moments. i don't want to spend the rest of my evenings on the sofa watching more episodes of (the best ever) thursday night programming...and wishing i was better at _____. or trying______. or learning______. and finally, when i have arthritic knuckles decide to start creating!
i'm not {totally} naive that i have to work and make money. that healthcare is a field that should equate to intense job satisfaction because "we help people." and i don't mean to take my awesome job for granted. and maybe i'm just meant to *hobby* it up. maybe my life is just out of balance. maybe i just need to have a baby. (AAAY OHHH! snap. just kidding. not the answer to any of our problems.). maybe it really is just supposed to be an outlet. i think that really could be okay.
but...40 more years of just a creative outlet?
i'm just wondering...
what if there's a way to do something you completely love? or maybe not love every day, but know you are created to do because of that feeling you get like you're in the right place, the right time, surrounded by the right people. or maybe not get to do every day, but do as often as you dream of. maybe we're meant to create it instead of waiting for it to come to us?
we could do more waiting in this life than we were meant to be. all of this complaining...never creating.... i just wonder with the hugeness of worldwide corporations, if we avoid opportunities to invest into a dream...as the likelihood of being smushed could be relatively high. but i think we are still needed...whoever of us dreams of creating these awesome dreams to live to reality.
ramble ramble. this is what attempting to blog regularly does. incomplete thought-filled circles! but if you want to have coffee sometime at Plan B down in Minneapolis, that's what i'm best at! talking in circles...
NOW. it is your time and your moment. if you're completely dissatisfied with what you're doing or where you're going - what are you doing about it? after i realized i wasn't getting headaches every day last year from stress (hello, chiropractor), i decided to go for it. begin to discover what more has been laid out there for me and my bare, wandering feet. i am definitely not sure of each step i'm taking. but i'd say a lot of it is because i'm trusting that the restless desires of my heart aren't there in vain.
i'm going to take that dream job class and if you want to join me in it, maybe we could meet up a couple times and talk about what we're learning.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
inspire me on hump day...we're more than carbon and chemicals...
the workweek pushes us past our ability to be more than waking up at 6am, eating from noon to 12:30, and going to sleep...later. so it's easier to just move with the ebb and flow of life than to step out and be...who we are.
let's just remember that it doesn't have to be so drawn out. we can be ourselves. we can actually be more than ourselves! and, i do believe, we'll feel quite free...
and, sometimes, being ourselves, is just frickin' awesome. (video link above).
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Try it Tuesday: nevermind our planmaking - we'll start living!...and how to make a sweet, simple, to-do list.
So let's just admit it, for as much as I don't want to be all plan-y in life, roll with the punches, and make amazing...*stuff*...happen, I do need (especially right now) some massive organization otherwise I'm going to lose at this game! I've been taking this sweet indie business course online and followed a super-easy "how-to" on organizing a very nicely visual organization.
In the past 9 months I've started 3 "businesses"...some of which I wouldn't have called "business" until my taxes told me I needed to! They are all going in all sorts of directions and I NEED HELP to organize! I'm dreamt so long of having a massive sticky note on my wall (which, yes, I realize they sell - but spendy little suckers!) and so this idea was the next best - if not better! - thing!
It incorporates -
posterboard (thicker)/scrap wood/anything you find flat and large enough
chalkboard paint
chalk
sticky notes
twine/rope/ribbon
hot glue
scissors
World Peace (cat) enjoyed watching each step. I used thick posterboard, but I will warn, it does "curl" a bit after a couple days from the amount of paint I used. But I don't mind at the moment at least! We have scrap wood, I just wanted something super lightweight for whatever reason. The class actually just uses a wall to paint and do such organization on that.
I used a regular Purdy paintbrush (favorite brand) to paint and freezer paper to protect!
(I'm messy...and tend not to think ahead - thus why I sell Norwex, too! Gets me out of a lot of trouble!).
After 2 coats, I let it dry for an hour (impatient).
Did I mention this is ridiculously easy and probably not worth a "tutorial"?! Anyways, to measure my "table" I used the same amount of stickies to divide up the space as categories I wanted to organize into.
Used chalk and another posterboard to draw lines!
And chalked up wrote the categories I wanted to organize. For me, this is "ash life" so I remember important things such as Monday night potluck, skype with K&K for Korea, etc., "Unglued '12," "mark.," "Norwex," and "Blog" (just 'cause I want to be a regular blogger the more I enjoy doing this!). I'd imagine if I was planning a wedding, taking a class, even cleaning, crafting, etc. I'd add such things, too!
Because I was going for easy and materials I had (no buying for this!) I used a hot glue gone to make a back hanger and a piece of twine.
This went up on a nail near our kitchen. Kind of tucked away and not an annoying-ruin-your-party place, but still where I notice and stop by to look near our kitchen.
I color-coded the stickies under each category. I leave the stickies and a sharpie on top of our fridge so it continues to be accessible and easy-to-use!
The man who has to endure my endless lists and the chalkboard door in our kitchen we had leftover pain from!
Best parts - I get to move the stickies around to prioritize and remove when thus said task is complete!
But, always always remember, to cling to your plans more tightly than the ones you love will destroy you. #1 - people come first. But it's easy to make this excuse reversely and never get things done b/c you're BS'ing all the time;) #2 - our plans need to allow for flexibility otherwise you'll crack under pressure.
And as mewithoutYou sang
"nevermind our planmaking, we'll start living!"
Monday, April 11, 2011
life's like quicksand, just take my hand...
Let's take this slow...
we're going nowhere...
wishing you're there...
Let's take this fast...
life's like quicksand...
just take my hand.
Spring's beauty steadily overtakes the desolate, flooding valley...in a way reminding us that there's...more. Everything and more...I mean, seriously, not just outside, but that dead, dry feeling you get that lasts way too long throughout winter. Then you finally hear the robin...see the tulip starting to bud (heather, this is just starting here, you lucky SC people!), see an actual sunrise before work...
Can't say I've seen the blossoms...but it's bound to happen.
(I think you should join me in the apple orchard down south and take photos when it blooms).
And I found Mark Twain, surprisingly, sums up my inability to put into words:
"It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!"
Mark Twain
In the spring, everything old is new...maybe we should take advantage of the moment while we have it.
In the spring, everything old is new...maybe we should take advantage of the moment while we have it.
Friday, April 08, 2011
fashion friday...pencil skirts
Polyvore's blog gives some sweet hints for high waisted skirts...
"High waisted skirts do a great job of accentuating (or creating the illusion of!) an hourglass figure. If you're trying to create curves where there are none, we recommend a full skirt or an A-line. Just make sure to wear a form-fitting top, as a baggy shirt can make you look frumpy.
The simplest way to wear the trend is to take a plain white tank or t-shirt and tuck it in, then add colorful accessories."
Probably my favorite way of pulling together an outfit with a pencil skirt is dressing down:)
But what's even more sweet is MAKING your own!
What it is said in a few words, is this blogger found a thrift store dress she would never wear, and then cut it at the waist to make it awesome and high waisted and SKIRT! May have to be a new project soon...
Or check out this sweet mark. "darling denim" high waisted skirt...love it...
Well, this is what we call a whirl wind of a week! Hope yours was amazing and we'll see you Monday!
xoxo
ashley
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