{power year} march madness!

It sure is March Madness!  This month's assignment and challenge from Megan Quicke's Power Year came through on March Eve and already there's been a maddening amount of goal-getting!  (Read the March Message here for yourself if you'd like to play along at home.)

Megan's challenge this month is to share our plans publicly.  As I thought of possible public declarations of my intentions for my Power Year, none of which really excited me, this invitation came bounding into my email inbox:   a Salon-Style Bicycle Art Show!!!  So, see Goal #3 and #4 below. Done and done!

Madness!

My March Madness Goals:

1.  Send an email offering an introduction and explanation of my services to have friends share with their friends. (Due:  3/5)  [Update:  done!!!]
2.  Create goodies for the Power Day give-a-way happening March 11th!  Stay tuned on how to enter!
3.  Test and complete artwork to show at the Salon-Style Bicycle Art Show!!!   (Due:  3/22) [Status:  In progress]
4.  Sign up for MailChimp email service, upload all of my contacts, and send an announcement about the art show.  (Due:  3/16)
5.  Do the math on an affiliate program I will offer and send around an email announcing the program.  (Due:  3/31)

And overall, aim to do 32 hours of work that either is directly billable or will lead to income generation.  Build up to that this month.

*Bonuses that will rollover to April:  do my taxes; complete or schedule these tutorials from The Curious Pug.


A Wrap-Up of February: 

It went amazingly.  I gave myself just enough structure and just enough space to really have fun fulfilling these goals that will serve me well on the way to my dreams coming true!  It really boils down to being OK with succeeding and having compassionate expectations of myself; that's what's new for me this go-around. 

Thanks for all the support and encouragement!

xox

what i like today...

• The way this frame is fashioned with a stitched-down fabric border... 

//source//

• sleeping babies!
• getting a full week of work hours, and more for Monday.
• a free evening to devote to my Power Year.
• remembering to do my 11 minutes of meditation this morning.
• sticking to my food budget of $9 per day! 
• cute 20-minute totes with easy-to-follow directions (and a simple way to use up my fabric stash... well, ok, make a small dent).

 

//source//

• the way the ribbons for these lace-up shoes falls to the right...

 //source// 

• being hopeful!

How 'bout you?

xx

{power year} an introduction.

//source//

Hello peeps.  I just reviewed my twenty-11 intentions and all is so far, so good.  And that's good news. 

Why?  Cuz I've just embarked on a supportive process with Ms. Megan Quicke of The Power Year, and also Coffee Adventures.  I'm doing my own Power Year.  You can too if you'd like to follow along on her blog.  Very inspiring.  She lays out the steps to getting goals accomplished one by one.

At the end of January I was on the facebooks and asked Megan if she'd be doing any online workshops like the ones she's led in-person in Denver.  Don't you know, lo and behold, she acknowledged my comment in 2 minutes and in just the next 29 minutes got a call to action and sign up deadline for her Online Power Year Pledge Class posted on her facebook wall!  Inspiring.  I signed up.

Here are the first few tasks she charged us with, her Online Power Year Pledge Class, and my responses.  I'm tellin' ya, so i'll be accountable to ya.  Thanks in advance.


1. Write a SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time bound) goal for your creative project.

My Power Year SMART Goal:  "Produce well received and highly sought-after, profit-generating art." 

Now here that is broken down into what the Specifics look like... (most of these will be Measured in time - at least 3 hours of activity in these areas per week, that's a stretch for me to make that time commitment Attainable, but I'm up for the challenge.  These examples are Relevant to succeeding at my goal and the Time-boundness equals 3 hours per week throughout the Power Year!)

Produce:  schedule creative time; have ready supplies, inspiration, skill, and s p a c e; create prototypes to maximize efficient generation

well received:  develop packaging/branding; provide awesome customer service; seek feedback

and highly sought after:  online marketing of my brand; IRL networking; utilize Facebook and Twitter; offer my own affiliate program; guerrilla/community awareness; ask other bloggers/artists for reviews; comment on other blogs, utilize Etsy...

profit-generating:  participate in affiliate programs; host blog ads; wholesale goods; set appropriate price points to cover time, labor, overhead, etc.

art:  develop my own style; practice sketching; review and practice what I've been taught; study; collect inspiration

2. Then, write down five or less rules (or if you like the word “guidelines” better, cool) you will live by, in order to help you achieve your goal.

My 5 Power Year Rules:

1.  80/20 rule - if 80% completion is reached - celebrate!!!
2.  Be productive for at least 15 minutes each day
3.  Create and follow a budget
4.  Put self-care first (11 minutes meditation, 3 meals a day, 30 minutes exercise 3 times/week, get 8-10 hours of sleep/day)
5.  Jump in where I am - no accumulation!

3. Finally, identify five or less items that will be your FEBRUARY FOCUS

My February Focus:

1.  15 minutes per day clean and organize!
2.  Dating clean up - use the time to get my sh*t together first!
3.  Take a current life status inventory - what's what and where I'm at
4.  Practice my routines for the year, add them in, get up to speed, test what works (i.e.  my Power Year rules)
5.  Design and launch my Power Year give-a-way or promo (it'll be on the 11th [my Power Day] of each month, starting in March)

and P.S. my Power Year Animal is the Walrus (slow, but moving) and my Power Year Word is *pleasure*!!!

That's it folks.  A lovely foray to success and accomplishing my goals!!!  Couldn't come at a more grateful time!  I'll be sharing updates to my progress with the Power Year, my monthly focus, and for you - a monthly give-a-way or treat of some kind... stay tuned!

xo, Z

i want to ride my bicycle...

i want to ride my bike.

there's a bike in my squatter's storage space...  it use to be outside and got rained on.  a lot.  now there's a dusting of rust over each of the unpainted parts.  and the chain is dry, dry, dry.

i've been inspired by other bicycle make overs, like this one from the folks at somethings hiding in here...

and the colorful graphics on the liberty of london bikes...

oh, and it comes in paisley too!

and i'd have to get some gold teef to sport one of these beauties...

so, stay tuned as i work on my bike, making it brand-as-new!  i'm thinking spray paint or there's this really cool baby blue paint leftover from my friend's office redesign.  of course, there's always decoupage - i could find a big flower print on discarded wallpaper samples...

first i'll have to make it over to the bike kitchen to get the fundamentals fixed on da bike.  their mission is to teach "people of all ages and backgrounds how to repair bicycles. through bike repair and bicycle related projects, the bike kitchen promotes personal development and provides leadership opportunities. operating as a cooperative shop, we provide affordable ways to acquire and maintain a bike, offer youth programs, encourage re-use and recycling, and work with community groups to get more people on bicycles."  they even have ladies night!


and now... let's sing it all-together:

i did! i did go!

dear blog,

wow!  what a blessing to be able to follow up on a goal!  back in october i had stumbled upon hospitality house's community art studio during an open studios walk.  i found a wonderful welcome and the offer to come back and paint, work with clay, make an artistic kite, paper machie...  so many creative options!  i was like, "ok! i'll be back within a week to have an artistic day".  cuz i knew if i didn't do it soon, i may never get back.  jump right in!

however, i did not go back in a week.  instead it's taken me 7 months to get my creative little hands back to that site.  but i made it!  and it was a wonderful experience.

not only did i get a personal lesson on how to throw clay on a wheel, i met some other inspiring artists who make time for their creativity, got shown the screen printing set up, and found a wonderful new community.

i really sunk myself into the moment as i was working with the clay on the wheel.  to cone it up and cone it down, feeling the cool clay work against my hands as the wheel forces it around and around...  it was just as i had imagined way back (at least) since 2004!  that's when i ran a girl scout camp with two potters wheels.  i thought i'd have the whole summer to make lots and lots of pottery.  yet, i made only one item, hand pieced and had to reboot the kiln after the art teacher had shut everything down for the season! 

so there's a glimpse at how i use to dis my inner-artist.  that's why it's so important to me today to listen to that creative voice and take action to explore my talents!  and to practice at messing up and improving my technique!  i give thanks to the artist's way book group i'm involved with this year and for it just being time for me to hear this message from the universe.  creativity is vital, it's a gift, and it's an obligation!

xoxo,
rootmix!

oh, and p.s.  the clay was recycled!  bonus!

it's a new year for me!

hi all, yesterday was ma burfday!  it was a fun time.  lots of love!  i'm now 37 years old.  whhheee!!! 

i've been inspired by folks who do those birthday lists and i've been drafting mine for the last couple of months.  well, the day is here now!  below is my final [?] list of stuff imma do for me for the year.  my adventures.  there's some fun stuff in there and some challenging items as well.  some things i've already begun doing and feel they are important enough to mention and keep up for my 37th year.

side note:  may examples of other peoples lists are from 20-somethings... is this fair?  i'll just have to keep focused to get my longer list accomplished!  i did come across one woman's blog who had a 50@50 list, but it looks like she's taking longer than a year to complete.  cuz that's almost be a thing a week!  coincidentally, her blog is called 37days and each morning she asks herself, "what would i be doing today if i only had 37 days to live?"  i plan on using that guide as well to accomplish my year's vision.

 

{click to see larger image}

a caveat - i will complete these 37 listed items by the time i turn 38.  i will periodically update my list to show my progress, i'd love your support!  i reserve the right to swap out a listed item for something more relevant or of equal challenge.  cuz i can't predict the future.  mpdl.


have you worked on a set of goals for your birthday year?  how are those 2010 goals going?  let's all jump in where we are and bathe in the abundant awesomeness waiting for us to make a splash!

xoxo,
rootmix


p.s.  the key word for the year is *discovery*

{sunday's bouquet} focus!

{via yes, please}

it's going to be a lovely sunday! i'm getting my now & later list together for the day. oh, what's a now & later list, you ask? it's just a little technique i use to stay focused throughout the day. it helps me work on my priorities and keep first things first.

what does it look like in action? ok, well, i determine what deadlines i have for the day and what MUST get accomplished. (and i'm realistic about it - there's a difference between must-have and nice-to-have.) then, as i work on my *now* list, and i get thoughts in my head of what to jump into next (like paint my walls, or take out the trash - both things that will have to get done) i write them on the *later* list. it's not going to maim anyone if the trash is taken out tomorrow rather than today. but i do have deadlines today - so stay focused on the now list!

when i get my now list done, i can then select the top priorities from my later list - making sure to include some of the fun tasks as a reward for staying focused earlier in the day!

what do you do to stay focused? share your brilliance in the comments below!

xo,
rootmix!

{white rabbits!} february style!

hope you're having a lucky day! month number two for our new year!!! how're things going so far? what has brought you joy this year? what will you work towards next?

i've been getting my studio organized, got a few new storage cabinets. i'm up-to-date with making daily aceo's. it's been a lot of fun trying new techniques all within 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches.

for february i'm planning on finishing my encaustics piece, destashing some yarn via new knitting or crochet projects, and get my wardrobe together!!!


february is the relationship month, heh? these rabbits look like they're getting a lovely date night going. fun!

{via lisel jane}

this delicate little cross stitched rabbit is sure to bring luck if hung on your wall.

{via nea}

this snowy rabbit makes me think of the cold weather which will now start to defrost and bring us a bright spring!

{via rachel's cabinet}

oooh, an adorable, inquisitive softie..

{via dragon house of yuen}

and finally, here's a charming white rabbits greeting from way in the past - when the area around this statue was still a full open park.

{via jason powell on flickr}

here's to a peaceful and joyful february twenty-ten!

xoxo,
rootmix

...and then you give yourself a reward?!?!?

{via tony fitzpatrick}

dear blog,

you know, elsie, over at a beautiful mess, has invited us to share our goals for the week. she sets her goals then rewards herself with a motivating treat if she's accomplished her goal by the end of the week. wha??!!?!?

i usually am stumped on how to motivate myself, but i'll be giving this a shot as twenty-ten is the year for me to be a beginner and try stuff out. i'll have to think of what my reward would be... hmmm? a massage!!! yes - that'll get me motivated!

i'm already 2 for 2 on my daily aceo project! yay! i'll keep that up for the week - 5 more aceos; complete an encaustics piece; and draft my business plan!

oh, i've also promised a tutorial for a heating pillow, you know, the kind you can warm up in the microwave? well, this tutorial will have options for hand sewing and a trick to its design so the filling doesn't get all caught up in one side of the pillow!

i work best when teaming up with others so this public posting thing could be a happy way to be held accountable for sharing goals and rewards with you, blog, and precious readers!

let me hear your goals too. and make sure to include what your reward will be! we can do this!!!

cheers,
rootmix!!!

a re-imagined life - carpe diem

{via the lil bee}

dear blog,
today i worked in abundance for what i am welcoming into my new year. this included willing to be a beginner, pulling my bike out of storage and riding it, (even just for 5 feet in front of my house on the wet, rainy sidewalk), pulling out my encaustic materials which i have not set up in almost 2 years - i am showing willingness to use the tools, blog. this even led to sketching out my first piece of the year and i'm excited to get started layering on the melted wax. it was WAY easier to do then i'd spent the last year fretting about!

another thing i noticed about my approach to the day was taking immediate action. case in point: when i sat down to design aceo card #010110, first of a daily series, and found a pen was half dry (which has been the case for the last year, don't know what i was saving it for...) i made a new choice and stood up immediately to toss it in the trash! i know! it's the little things that are the most phenomenal!

{via alicia tormey}

staying focused, making intentional choices for the year, and not getting side-tracked. what i'm welcoming and including in my daily life. and the best awareness is that i get to do the exact same thing today: the attitude, the welcoming in, the choosing what's on the plate today, and the negotiating between choices that compete for time. i get to choose how i want to spend my time and practice the first *live* of *live and let live*!

blog, here are some of my first day ta-da's, since you asked!

• capturing video footage of market street
• running into a dear friend
• visiting a hipster coffee shop and
• blogging a timely entry (!!!)
• reaching out and connecting with friends
• meeting up with other peeps
• crocheting and troubleshooting granny squares!
• chatting with my housemate
• eating healthy food, including lucky lentils & kale
• meeting up with a good friend to walk in nature
• drinking 10 glasses of water!!!
• being in the moment and negotiating through my day
• practicing gratitude, meditation, being willing
• walking outside with my passport to welcome international travel this year
• (this was inspired by my sister's interpretation of walking out of the house with a suitcase on the first day of the year to invite travel for the new year)

i'm blessed with an early start to the day. i'll be working on that encaustic piece, getting my second aceo of the year done, and drafting the steps to my first requested tutorial. stay tuned blog and precious readers! let me know what you're up to, too!

xoxo,
rootmix

p.s. woooohooo!!!

{white rabbits!} new year's day style!!!

i like the sentiment portrayed in this card by badbird. choosing to fly. what choices have i overlooked? where can i jump in and make a selection for my life? what choices are you making for your new year? what ever they are, i hope you soar!!!

{via badbird}

once my new year's theme is chosen, i often need a reminder to keep checking in if i'm on track. or even just remembering i had made a choice. here's a lucky white rabbit to follow my progress all throughout the year!

{via snoozerlooser}

i am willing to be surprised! i know whatever comes my way, the tools to maneuver that surprise will also come my way.

{via pocketcarnival}

i've got a few *create something everyday* ideas for this year. love that yasmine surovec has a print-a-day thang goin' on.

{via aprintaday}

hope you enjoyed these new years musings with our lucky friend, the white rabbit!!!

here's to twenty-ten!!!

happy new year precious readers! there's a rainbow-like ring around the full moon tonight, a blue moon at that! what a spectacular way to enter the new year.

earlier tonight i met with friends at ocean beach and we created are own ceremony to shed the old year and welcome in the new year. (as some folks burned christmas trees on the beach and others followed a rio de janeiro custom.) i realized how diabolical it is that not only am i invited to something like this, but that I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE INTO THIS TYPE OF THING TO BEGIN WITH!!! i love it! i love them!


we had noise makers, we meditated, we shared what we wanted to leave behind, we spritzed with yummy smelling essence, we embraced what we wished to welcome into our lives, we hooted and hollered. a bit like a wild rumpus! we burned our lists in a huge bonfire pit while being sage-smudged. super-awesome.

i left with a sense of an open heart, possessing the courage to move through obstacles, embracing being a beginner and the stumbling that goes along with that. twenty-ten is going to be so much fun. i feel so blessed to be able to share it with you!

in honor of new year's customs, i made sure to sweep out my home, empty all trash, recycling, and compost, along with the old vacuum bag and filter, before the new year. i will incorporate activities into new year's day that i welcome in abundance for 2010. note: this does not include doing dishes, cleaning, lending, being in debt, um, and cutting my hair (?). not until the 5th of the year.

a couple years ago i heard on an etsy forum that leaving your house with a suitcase and entering your home again will attract travel! walk in and out as many times as you want to travel, or more, just to make sure it sticks! it totally worked for me. that was my year with the most travel to date! it even carried over to this year. oh, and the suitcase doesn't even have to be packed!

i'm not aiming at a lot of travel this year, though i've got two cousins getting married on the other side of the country, but i AM aiming to create something everyday. i will share more about that in the next post.

let me know how your new year's eve went and what you're looking forward to doing in the new year. if you need some help, check out this resolution generator here!!! monina velarde has hooked us all up!

xoxo,
rootmix

santa gets to rest now!

hope you all had warm and cozy holidays! i enjoyed time with my family and sending out holiday cheer to my friends far and near. i was a surprise leader in all the family games; who knew sudoku would train me so well for boggle!?!?!!!

i'm getting excited about the new year... all the seasons to come again, saying *twenty-ten* a lot, kicking off some daily crafty projects (*fingers crossed*), and FINALLY participating in thing-a-day february! whew! most exciting of all may be my round-the-clock decluttering & organizing marathon - can i get done by december 31st? stay tuned...

before i get to work, here's a look at some of my favorite holiday images and links i've been enjoying on YOUR blogs. you've really been getting me in the holiday spirit this year. it's been inspiring!

{click on pictures for source!}

this is a fun one! get one more dose of that holiday spirit while listening to some christmas songs on ukulele by lady harvatine! she's even got links so you can download the songs and a tutorial to fashion a fancy cd sleeve, if you so desire!
xoxo,
rootmix!!!

p.s. did you hear about the home alone twitter project?