I thought about making a christmas wish list,

but it wouldn't be a list with just one thing

...

xoxo

Fall

Oh Yay! Fall is here!

I love the colors of the trees. 

Gorgeous.

xoxo

The Artist's Way: Week 4

Goals of 12 week program: 

1. Learn to be gentle and positive with and about myself

2. Start habit of morning pages that will carry on for life

3. Break down the liver's (like to live, not liver like thing my generation abuses) block

Here's the deal, I had to do this week twice. I thought about it after the first time with Week 4 was over and I realized did not give it even half of the attention it deserved and so I decided to go through the week again. I re-read the parts I had underlined the first time I read through it and then gave myself some time each day to work on a task. I paid more attention AND focused on getting my morning pages in. So, this post is going to be about the second time I went through Week 4. 

Week Four: Recovering a Sense of Integrity

This week was about solitude, about finding out what my real feelings, wants and needs were outside of what I publicly acknowledge to be my feelings, wants and needs. There was a call to action, or a call to inaction when it came to reading. I must admit, I didn't do that well on that part. I would catch up on blogs and then realize that counted as reading, or I would not be able to stay away from a book, so in order to compromise I would work on another project first, or do a task in this book but then I would read a chapter (or more) of a different book before bed. 

In reading less, (or not at all as Cameron called for) you have more time to do other things and she theorizes that once you stop reading (besides the chapter for the week) you'll eventually be forced to do other things. I think it was a way to realize that even seemingly good things can distract you from creative work.

My Favorite Quotation:

One of the clearest signals that something healthy is afoot is the impulse to weed out, sort through, and discard old clothes, papers and belongings.

Favorite Task:

Describe your ideal environment...

My ideal environment changes often but the one that I always come back to is this photo I found in a magazine of a women in the doorway of her small cabin (and I mean small). This cabin was her writing room. She had very few things in there, no internet hook up, just a computer to type on, journals to write in and a coffeepot or something. Well the details I am imagining and trying to remember from the interview with her. But something like that feels like my ideal environment. A cozy house or room, with a desk with little on it, maybe journals and pens to write with. Books, lots of books, see my ideal place wouldn't be  my work zone, but I could work in that area if I wanted to. It would be my happy place. Comfy chair in a corner with a good reading light above it. The desk facing a window, not a wall, so I could look out and see the seasons. My favorite season? Fall. The different colored leaves on the ground, wet from recent rain. 

My other ideal (I guess I'm greedy, or flexible, with two) is an east coast style beach house, with a back and or wrap around porch that looks out to the ocean. Maybe a pier leading to the shore, not 100% sure but I would be able to go out on this porch wrapped in a cable knit sweater and drink tea and write or read while taking in the sounds of the ocean and every once in a while (or all the time) staring off into the sea. This ideal situation takes place in the morning, with fog. Not a fog you can't see through but a little bit of a haze.

Check In:

1. Morning pages: 6/7

2. Artist Date: 

No artist date that I can remember. This isn't to say I am not leaving the house and having a horrid time, that's not the case at all. But artist dates call for being alone when exploring new things or going places and most of the time I just wanted to be able to share the experiences with friends. Friend dates instead of artist dates this week. But they are supportive friends, so I guess that's better than nothing right?!

3. Instances of Synchronicity: 

Synchronicity was popping up all over the place during week 4. Job interviews, opportunities etc all possible. Things were looking rosy. And while they didn't all crash and burn (remember I'm behind on these so I'm now into week 6) they didn't work out quite as wanted. Maybe my week 6 synchronicity will take care of that.

4. Other issues:

Is there a right or wrong way to do the morning pages? Only issue. Am I doing it right? Is there a right way? I just want to make sure I'm getting the most out of this!

xoxo

Nerding Out

Oh my goodness gracious, me oh my. Seriously guys, I'm stoked. 

I just saw on Powell's website that the 4th book in the Eragon/Inheritance series is FINALLY out!

You know what that means? Rereading 1-3 because it's been a while. And then... BOOK 4!!!

I had a mini freak out session when I saw this. So very stoked.

I was hesitant to read this series at first. Kind of like I'm hesitant to read all super hyped books or listen to super hyped music. I didn't get into a lot of stuff that many people did, I either didn't understand it, was tired of it before I could give it a chance or just don't care. I mean, if I've heard the whole story before I can turn the first page I may not be interested. (Unless of course I'm rereading a book.

This series seemed SOOOOOO geeky. Like dragons, elfs, magic the gathering players* (may as well be) but for some reasons I kept being pulled toward it anyway. 

And then I was sucked in completely. 

I gave up looking for the fourth book even though I thought about it from time to time when in Powell's. (like 3 times a week) but didn't actually look for it.

And now, when I stopped looking, it came to be. 

This winter is going to be filled with so much good reading!

xoxo

*while they are no magic the gathering players in the actual books I imagined that would be the audience these went for. Truth be told, I started to learn how to play Magic a couple years AFTER I started the books. Yup. I went there. 

Taylor Swift

As noted a couple of times here, I recently went and saw Taylor Swift perform. It was awesome and incredible and amazing. I haven't seen that big of a production in a long, long time. I mean, her back up dancers knew several different kinds of dance, they also knew how to play violin (definitely one of the harder instruments or so I've heard) and they were acting out the songs. 

Then there were aerial performers, Taylor played a twelve string guitar AND a banjo... 

As you can see in the last picture there was a floating blacony thing, there was a tree that came down and she went to the other side of the stadium and played some songs.

All in all she put on a great show. If I had paid for it I would have thought it was worth it. Not always the case with concerts and shows. High five to this one.

She's just so cute and playful.

Taylor Swift, can we be besties please?

xoxo

Stuff and Things

source

I'm getting ready to move my stuff around again, I moved out of my first one bedroom apartment and I once again find myself on dear Nicole's air mattress on her floor. It's a little more cozy this time than last... She has a studio now and no basement to hide all of my stuff. 

Good news, I gave a BUNCH of stuff away before I started crashing here. It is AMAZING how much stuff I accumulated in the past 8 months. Ridiculous actually, not that amazing at all.

So I decided that I didn't want any more than could fit in a car once again. Maybe a slightly bigger car than the one that I drove up here (and is now totaled) but a 4 door sedan none the less. Today I went through my stuff again and I think I've done it! I think I've narrowed it down to things that will fit in a car. It's difficult sometimes. I mean, a girl needs clothes and books and what not. By the way, on the subject of books, I have parred them down a HUGE amount... I'm patting myself on the back here. 

I keep wondering if I can get rid of more, I mean, when my Dad was my age he'd take a backpack when he moved. Yup, clothes, undies, wallet, keys, good to go. 

That's less than I carry in my purse all day every day. 

So I bargained with myself and decided everything that fits in a car. One day, when I have nice house stuff, dishes I actually like, pots and pans, etc, I will have to upgrade my space to that of an suv at least. ;) But for now, a car works and for that I am quite proud of myself.

I'm going to try from here on out to really think about the things I bring into my home (or Nicole's...haha). It all adds up fast, fast, fast and things I THINK I need end up going to someone else reaaaal fast. I need a want list to stick to. 

Some of the stuff I gave away

I just don't want to be tied down to things. I've been thinking a lot about this for several months now for a couple of different reasons. I mean, there's The Burning House Project for starters. I mean, what would I grab if my house were on fire? Should I keep those things in a bag by a door? Should I have copies of those things (like pictures and stuff) elsewhere if I want to display them? While I do adore all that I have kept this time through I can't say I would cry more than a day over most of my stuff if it were to go up. I mean, maybe a dress or two, there is that Betty Page one, a record, a book, a stuffed bear. I've backed up most of my pictures on an external hard drive and now have a fire and waterproof safe to keep it in. So I wouldn't need to grab that. Come back for it later.

That's one of my reasons for thinking about the amount of stuff I have, another is my constant want to try new places. If I have a bunch of stuff bogging me down I might not feel like I can get up and go even if the opportunity arises. Yes, I know there are storage places, but there's a line in Eat Pray Love (the movie and maybe the book) where she's looking into the storage unit she's putting all her stuff in and she says "I can't believe my whole life fits in this thing" and the guy helping her says something to the effect of "no one can." I think there's another line in another movie where someone puts all of their stuff in a storage unit and something is said about how many people never return for what they considered their "whole life." 

I've stuck to buying books and art lately. Well, and food, but that doesn't get left around unless we are talking fat cells and those I don't really mind losing. :)

Art to make my home, where ever it may be, pretty and cozy and books to read, to learn, and to inspire. I'm headed into a record kick soon, I can feel it. I am keeping my favorite cds until I have the vinyl version to replace them. They'll fit just fine digitally in my computer and external hard drive.

I don't want to be owned by things, I want to be made up of memories and laughter and accomplishments. 

What about you? What are your thoughts on things?

xoxo

Hyperbole and a Half

Soooo, I know if probably shared my complete and total love for Hyperbole and a Half here before but but OH MAN, so in love with that blog. She makes me laugh, and cry, and pee my pants. No, actually, that's probably just nature*. Can't blame that on anyone else...

Anywho, 

She put a new post up about depression and I'm just going to share a couple of the art pieces she created for the post. 

Why I think HaaH is so great... well, first off, look at the acronym for the name... it can be folded in half (hamburger style) and it's the same thing!

2. I can relate... to these drawings on depression, to being an adult... I completely get it.

3. The drawings, while seemingly simple, are so awesome. 

That, my dears, is (another?) introduction to my love for Hyperbole and a Half... check it out!

xoxo

*jk I don't really pee my pants...

often