The 2013 Life List

Can you believe it? Here we are at year number four of creating the life list. The original was inspired by Traca Savadogo and has evolved from there. Some things have been easy to cross off the list (learning to draw, taking up crochet, sewing classes) while some have remained a bit elusive like that trip to France...

This year I decided to take a look to see what I really wanted to keep, what I needed to add and what I am no longer moved by. This is me, now 37 and a half (what, if my six year niece can rock it, so can I!) and ready to really live more fully. According to my own standards!

My 2013 Life List is not about what I want to do before 2014. It is about what I want to do with my life. One of my all time favorite quotes Opportunities multiply as they are seized by Sun Tzu seems so apt here. They are easy to get when you reach out and grab them! Be sure to share what goals you are adding to your life list, I would love to see!

1) passport.....The paperwork is filled out! Just need the pictures and to pay the fee!

2) practice tea blending. I played around a bit last year, it's time to get serious! (see #11)

3) crochet clothes. I really need to make myself some sweaters!

4) Do more diy, canning, cocktails, accessories. Life skills, baby.

5) Visit Portland. Which will happen soon so I can hang out with this guy. He says it is best to come in the spring.

6) learn to spin fiber. My amazing friend Maia from Tactile Fibers is teaching me. I am not yet good.

7) Move more. Pilates, dancing, yoga. Whatever gets me moving I want more of it.

8) Archery and knife throwing. I can already hear the cries of terror. Haha!

9) Take Thai, Indian and Chinese cooking classes

10) Eat at August. Eat at Herbfarm.

11) Own a tea shop that is craft store adjacent.

12) Record an album of my songs.

13) Publish my books (short stories, poetry, cookbooks? sure)

14) Host my own TV show

15) Become a better swimmer

16)  Become more minimalist

17) sell more of my art

18) Learn to play an instrument

19) Travel! The Pyramids, Seattle, Alaska, the Caribbean, Hungary, Greece, Spain, Paris, New York, Ireland, Britain, Santa Fe, Amsterdam, Tokyo, Russia, the South of France, my beloved N'Awlins. Oh hell, I'm changing it to 'Become a jet setter.'

20) Get back into pastry. I want to play with Austrian and Hungarian pastry. And make more candy!

21) Immerse myself in art. Drawing, painting, photography.

22) Be kinder to my inner child. Thankfully, I am already more compassionate to my outer adult.

23) Become a better sewer and make my own clothes

24) do more diy skincare. Because I don't want to live in a bubble!

25) Go fan girl on Pierre Herme. I went fan girl on Emily Luchetti in 2012. She was so sweet!

26) Get a bicycle

27) Move into a nicer space

28) Give in to my inner girlie girl.

What are you ready to add or remove from your life list? What things are you ready to tackle for a fuller expression of life?

My First Etsy Sale and Daylight savings

I made my first sale on Etsy! I am pretty excited that the buyer bought what is truly one of my favorite pieces. You know how much I love things that sparkle & shine! And it feels good to have made my first sale!

 Last week was rough because everyone has been sick. Weirdly being sick made more focused so I did four paintings and started a crochet bag as well as working on my crocheted baby sweater. I sadly had to scrap one of the paintings due to the paper but that is still the survival of three I am really happy with!

I am also convinced that I am the only person I know who is excited about daylight savings time. For me it is a time of more light which equals more freedom. When I was younger I had to drive mom around in the winter due to her night blindness. It meant that my winter was never my own and the early dark still makes me a little sad. I never feel like I have lost an hour so much as I have gained more time over all.

My neighborhood at sunset

What successes are you celebrating this week?

Letting out My Inner Girlie Girl

I have a confession.

I'm a girl. I mean a grrl.....no, I mean a girlie girl.

You see, I grew up, well, weird. My oldest sister is girlie. My middle sister is a tomboy. My mother is girlie but flippant. I am admittedly the first girl who wants to play with knives and went renegade in my teens by becoming the only Black goth in town. I wore velvet dresses and combat boots. To this day I loathe the color pink.

I do however loves skirts, adorable cardigans, bunnies with rayguns and yummy yummy pie. Pie!

Bunny! With a Raygun! Hell yes!!

Why am I telling you this? Because I guess it's time you knew. There are some changes going on inside me, I am, I guess, reaching out to the part of me that resists being like Jess on New Girl and really needs to get over herself. I do believe people are inherently good. I do want to bake. (just not professionally anymore, so do me a huge favor and please stop asking me that question, k?)

I plan to get some more petticoats and some adorable cardigans and dress like my mother did in the 50's because that is what I feel. But I won't give up my raygun toting bunnies. 

What are you being resistant to that you need to embrace? Is today the day to make it so?