goals

On Blogging – Part Two, or Revisited

Posted by on 1 Comment

Last week, I had drinks with a fellow blogger – Hannah – and we got on the topic of blogging, obviously.  I mentioned that I haven’t been feeling very creative lately, on the blog and off.  I have quilts that are mostly done, but they’re just sitting there.  I have ideas that are forming and formed in my mind, but they’re just sitting there.  I have loads of fabric and two girls who need new clothes, but they’re just sitting there (the fabric, not the girls.  The girls don’t sit still).

Then, today, Facebook reminded me of a post I wrote two years ago.  There is a part that stood out.  Mostly because it was so shockingly true to how I’m feeling now, two years later, to the day:

…there will come a time that I’m not inspired and I don’t feel like I have anything to post.  And the blog is quiet.  And (I know this sounds precious) my soul is quiet.  It isn’t that the work of the blog gets overwhelming, it’s more that I’m just not taking the time to create.  When I’m making things, and cooking things, and growing things, I am inspired.  I’m inspired to write and share on the blog.  Those are the times that I feel the best and the happiest.

Wow, past Carolyn, you sure hit the nail on the head with that one.

I feel the best when I’m taking the time to create.  I feel the best when I’m taking ideas and using them to create actual, tangible things.  I feel the best when I’m taking the time to sit down and write.

Right now, our garden is sprouting and I’m going to take that as a sign that my creativity needs to sprout right along with it.

My to-do list is long, but at least I finally wrote it all down.

Productivity

Posted by on 1 Comment

One of the things I’m choosing this year is to be more productive.  It’s hard to get into a routine since my days are all so different, so it’s been really hard to figure out the best way to be productive.

I have three things this year that are really helping me get stuff done. I have realized that I am all about extrinsic motivation.  If I’m going to do something, I need to get something out of it.

The first thing I’m using is something I also used last year – Elise Blaha’s goal trackers.  I use these to make my goals public and visible.  I get to color in a little circle every time I accomplish something.  It’s ridiculously satisfying to color in the circles, and to step back and see all the colored-in circles.

The next thing I’m using is my Get to Work Book, also from Elise Blaha.  If you need some motivation, go check her out.  She has incredible ideas and is a fantastic writer.  It has taken me a while to figure out how to best use this book for me.  I’m still figuring it out, actually.

Right now I’m using it to make daily to do lists in the daily sections.  One thing I love about the planner is all the extra space for project ideas, little notes, and reflection.

I like using it for lists, but I’ve also seen some amazing ideas on the Instagram account.  Once again, drawing a star on each of my to do items is ridiculously satisfying.

This last one is a new one.  It’s an app called Forest.  I set a timer in the app and if I don’t leave the app before the time is over, I get to grow a tree.  Then all the trees are put into a forest.  This app combines so many of my favorite things – trees, video games, extrinsic motivation, and pretty illustrations.  I use it when I’m trying to get work done.

I also use it when I want to spend time playing with the kids without distraction.  This has been the best part of it, honestly.  When I have Forest set up, I don’t randomly check Instagram and Facebook.   In the end I get a tree, and, even better, I know I have spent my time well.

“I Choose You” – a One Little Word Theme Song

Posted by on Leave a Comment

I like to have theme songs.  Music has always been a huge part of my life, and right now, Sara Bareilles is a huge part of my life.  (I’ve written about her here and here and here and here and here).

This song keeps popping up on my Pandora and Spotify stations, and it is spot on for my One Little Word – CHOOSE.  I mean, “I Choose You” is a love song, but I’m listening to it as a love song to my self.  There are some lyrics that are particularly perfect for how I’m feeling about CHOOSE for 2016:

And I believe in something again
My whole heart
Will be yours forever
This is a beautiful start
To a lifelong love letter

Tell the world that we finally got it all right
I choose you
I will become yours and you will become mine
I choose you

I’m choosing, this year, to write a lifelong love letter to myself.  To make choices that are good for my body and soul.  I’m choosing to do things that will affect and impact my life for more than just 2016.  That’s the magic of these Little Words.  You never know where they will take you, or what they have in store for you.

We are not perfect
We’ll learn from our mistakes
And as long as it takes
I will prove my love to you
I am not scared of the elements
I am under-prepared, but I am willing
And even better


Let the bough break, let it come down crashing
Let the sun fade out to a dark sky
I can’t say I’d even notice it was absent
Cause I could live by the light in your eyes
I’ll unfold before you
Would have strung together
The very first words
Of a lifelong love letter

Tell the world that we finally got it all right
I choose you
I will become yours and you will become mine
I choose you

There was a time when I would have believed them
If they told me you could not come true
Just love’s illusion
But then you found me and everything changed
And I believe in something again
My whole heart
Will be yours forever
This is a beautiful start
To a lifelong love letter

Tell the world that we finally got it all right
I choose you
I will become yours and you will become mine
I choose you

We are not perfect
We’ll learn from our mistakes
And as long as it takes
I will prove my love to you
I am not scared of the elements
I am under-prepared, but I am willing
And even better
I get to be the other half of you

Tell the world that we finally got it all right
I choose you
I will become yours and you will become mine
I choose you

35 Things to do Before I Turn 35

Posted by on 6 Comments

Yesterday was my birthday!  I am now proud to say that I have made 34 trips around the sun.  Pretty cool journey we get to take each year, flying around in outer space.  For my 35th years, I decided to make a list of 35 things to do before I turn 35. ABM_1424992821Here’s my list:

  1. Read a book a month.  This should be easy since I have book club every month.  If I keep up with the club, this will be complete!  Note to self: must get this month’s book!
  2. Sign up for life insurance.  Not to be morbid, or anything.  But, yeah.
  3. Try a Barre3 class.
  4. Get a monthly massage.  I would love to complete this goal, but I think it might be one of the less likely.
  5. Try acupuncture.
  6. Get a haircut.  I’m pretty much on a once yearly schedule, and my last haircut was last March.  I did this right before my trip to California!  I love it how the stylist thins out my hair.  Feels so much lighter!
  7. Try 5 recipes from my new cookbook!
  8. Spend a weekend at the beach.
  9. Spend a weekend in the mountains.
  10. Can something.  Maybe tomatoes, pizza sauce, green beans?  What do you think, friends?  I know I have some amazing canning friends!
  11. Get our garden going again.  It has been sadly ignored since I’ve either been pregnant or living with a small baby for the past 3 summers.
  12. Focus on getting my Etsy shop going.  Note:  It has a new name and address – CaroMade!
  13. Post one new listing on CaroMade every month.
  14. Do a creative retreat – either an organized one, or organize my own!
  15. Get more chickens.
  16. Get back on my daily chore schedule!  Our house neeeeeeeds it!
  17. Go to Disneyland!  Yes!  We took Alma there with my cousin and his family.  So perfect.
  18. Go to a Broadway musical – it will more than likely be on tour, but it will count and it will be amazing.
  19. Hike 35 miles.  Or maybe 35 kilometers might be more attainable.
  20. Get the trailer set up and go on bike rides with the girls.
  21. Rent a limo.  I’m thinking wine tasting, or Christmas lights?
  22. Make and sew a huge cushion for our hearth.
  23. Get chairs recovered.
  24. Get estimates to get our house painted.
  25. Set up some good seasonal capsule wardrobes.
  26. 5 Days of Christmas crafts on the blog.
  27. Get going on a creative, relaxing morning routine.
  28. More author interviews on the blog.
  29. Plant a tree, or lots of trees.
  30. Take a class.  Sewing?  Cooking? Writing?
  31. Sew some clothing for me.
  32. Make art of Alma’s and Harriet’s rooms.
  33. Go to the Country Fair.
  34. Go camping.
  35. Build a sandcastle or a snowman.

And…. GO!

Oh How I Love Fresh Starts -Autumn 2014

Posted by on 1 Comment

IMG_6684To me, there are three times in the year when we all get fresh starts.  Fresh starts to set new goals, or to recommit to old goals.  These are my favorite times of the year.

The first is obviously New Years.  I love to clean up all the Christmas decorations and go into the new year feeling fresh and clean.  The resolutions always feel a bit forced to me because there’s that overriding sense that we will all fail at these goals.  But, there is also the choosing of the One Little Word.  And the new numbers we have to learn to write in the date boxes on forms.

The next time of year when we get a fresh start is Novruz.  It is the Spring equinox, and a time of growth and rebirth.  At this time, we get to leave all our problems, worries, and bad things in a fire to get all burned up.

IMG_2874The third time is Autumn.  After a long, hot summer, It always feels so good to feel the crispness in the air.  The light starts to change.  The leaves turn red, yellow, orange.  The grass turns green again.  Kids and teachers are making new starts in their classrooms.  They buy new clothes, pencils, backpacks.  The school year is full of amazing possibilities.  I always loved when it was time to go back to school.  It’s no surprise that I went into teaching with this kind of attitude about school.

IMG_6659The summer is hard for me.  I don’t like the heat – it drains my energy and creativity.  I don’t like how everything looks dirty – without a good rain dust and dirt starts to build up on everything.  I do have to admit that summer is a lot more fun with kids.  It’s been great getting to play outside and swim so much.  I also loved all the fun things we did this summer  – the track meets, trips, and lots of fun park dates with friends.  But I’m pretty much ready for a cleansing rain and cooler weather.

IMG_6470aI always get a surge of energy around this time of year.  Energy for decorating my house (this is pretty much the only season I actually decorate – besides Christmas).  Energy for making things.  Energy to work in the garden.  Energy to drink tea and do jigsaw puzzles.  Energy to cuddle and wear slippers.  Energy to stay up late playing board games.

I know some people hate to see summer end, but I say bring on autumn!  And I’m already indoctrinating Alma.  I have her on the lookout for autumn – whenever we’re in the car, she’s looking for the changing leaves and yells “MOMMMMY!!!! AUTUMN!!! OVER THERE!” whenever she sees some.  Hattie even pointed out a yellow tree on our walk yesterday.

IMG_2876aSo, let’s set some goals.  Let’s clean up our gardens.  Let’s make things.  Let’s drink tea and cuddle with the people we love.  Embrace it!

I will leave you with my autumn anthem by Laura Kemp.  Enjoy!

Hannah Branch!

Summer List

Posted by on 1 Comment

1.  Read 5 Books (at least).  Here’s what’s at the top of my list:

These are the five books I have on hold for my Nook through the public library.  Gotta love free reading! I’ve also just joined a book club, so we’ll see what that will bring me!

2.  Read Alma all her books.  I seem to be in a rut with Alma’s books.  She was given so many books when she was born and we haven’t gotten to many of them.  I tend to read a couple of my favorites over and over to her, but I’m sure she’d enjoy some variety.

3.  Sew 3 dresses + some.  I am making three dresses for a secret project, but I also want to try some of the many dresses I’ve pinned on Pinterest.

4. Do push-ups and sit-ups ALL.  THE.  TIME. Jesse and I tried to do 100 Pushups a couple summer ago, but I don’t think we made it.  Time for the second attempt.  I also want to do 10 minutes of ab work every other night.

5.  Take Alma to the coast.  Can it be true we still haven’t done this?  Terrible, I know.

6.  Write 4 letters.  I got this idea from Elizabeth and thought it was a lovely idea.  I’ve really been meaning to write more letters anyway.

7.  Swim ALL.  THE.  TIME.  Wherever I can, whenever I can.  I’m hoping to get to the pool a few times this summer, and to spend some time in a river or a lake.  I love swimming more than being on land.

8.  Hike a mountain.  Luckily I am surrounded.

9.  Try 10 new recipes.  Another Pinterest challenge.  I’m going to try to focus on using whole foods and cutting refined and processed ingredients.

10.  Blog whenever I do any of these things.  This might be the hardest of all.