Friday, January 30, 2009

Great Plan

"Learn the past, watch the present, and create the future." - Jesse Conrad

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Tantrums of an inner brat

Okay, so I've been trying and trying to get into this "creative woman" thing, really I have. I've read my chapters, fiddled in my mind as to what to do. But that inner brat in me just really doesn't want to have anything to do with anything the last week and a half! Really!

Me: What fun can we have today? Beading, painting, coloring?

Brat: NO!

Me: Why Brat, that doesn't sound very reasonable, you know we always have fun when we do something creative!

Brat: I DON'T CARE! NOT GOING TO DO IT! YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!

How much more can I take! It's been a dozen years or so since I've had to deal with a tantrum (from my own little toddlers) Really, how does one overcome a brats tantrum? Any ideas, please post!!! I'm at my wits end!

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Skin Care

With winter weather comes itchy skin for me. My hands look like old alligator skin - yuk! And it's just not comfortable. Here's my remedy for winter skin:

Jojoba Oil

This natural oil is a miracle worker! It is the most similar to human sebum (skin oil) and it moisturizes and protects better than any commercial product I've tried. Jojoba oil doesn't evaporate like water based products do, and it's stable, meaning that it doesn't break down or become rancid like most other oils. You can use it as a cleanser, moisturizer, hair conditioner, it reduces wrinkles and stretch marks, it lightens and helps heal scars, treats acne, cold sores and skin diseases such as psoriasis. It's not an eye irritant and non allergenic. See, it is a miracle worker!

I keep a bottle of it in the bathroom and after I shower I slather it on. At times I have put several drops of my favorite essential oils in the bottle (making sure that it isn't a skin irritant) such as lavender. Lavender itself has great healing properties, plus it's one of my favorite scents! Please be certain that if you purchase jojoba oil that it be pure, without any additives and organic is a plus as well. The oil does permeate your skin, so if you wouldn't eat it ... please don't put it on your skin!

Do you have any special treatments you use during the winter season?

Monday, January 12, 2009

Acknowledging Your Creative Self

The Twelve Secrets of Highly Creative Women

Secret #1 – Acknowledging Your Creative Self

I am a creative woman! Gail McMeekin seems to think so, and so do I. I just don’t act on that creativity. Gail begins chapter one with her own story on how her creativity evolved thru her illness and how she honored the creative cravings that she felt. She sought out mentors/role models who are successful creative women to fuel her imagination of where her transformation was to go.

I was struck by the opening paragraph of the chapter: “Recognizing your creativity leads you into a life of self-expression, fulfillment, and contribution.” Creativity IS a contribution. I haven’t fully expressed my creativity, with the thought that the time doing so was selfish, self absorbed and there were so many other BETTER things to do with my time such as things for my family, work, ect. Were as not expressing my creativity is being selfish..I am not contributing! Wow! What a revelation!

I do enjoy being creative in the kitchen with meals, or posting thoughts on this blog. But my real craving is in arts and crafts. I do have a project here or there that I have done, but nothing that I lose myself in. And that my friends is what I am craving. To lose myself in a project – ahhhh! Wouldn’t that be nice!

I look forward to the following weeks to learn how the different women in Gail’s book came to honor their creativity!

Friday, January 9, 2009

Forecast for 2009


As a Sagittarian (and proud of it) the following is the forecast for this upcoming year. If you don't happen to be a Saggitarian, you can go here to find your particular forecast. Hope this year brings you all that you desire and more!


Year 2009 Overview
You tend to attract just about everything you want this year through your warmth and magnetic Sagittarian That said, you may also go through some great transformational shifts in 2009 as you realize that your happiness no longer depends so much on possessions, but rather on the deeper meaning associated with things symbolic of love and sharing. Instead of controlling what's happening around you, you now have experiences that perhaps you don't understand, but in allowing new insights to come in and have a voice, the rearranging of your resources and your values gives you a sense of security and growth.
By surrendering to your higher power, you realize you don't have to struggle as much to get what you want. As you open up to the ideas and energies flowing around you, your priorities shift dramatically. And -- you'll be happy to know -- you don't need to work as hard to enjoy sensual pleasures either!
Great opportunities arise as your explore your potential, and discover what kind of environment best serves you in your endeavors. Being in touch with this part of yourself helps you align with your higher purpose, and your drive to continue will lead to great success. Life becomes much easier when you trust that the universe will take care of you.


Also, I planned to post today on the Creativity Book Club, but haven't had the chance to read thru the 1st chapter. So my first posting will be this weekend! I'm looking forward to it!
Photo credit: Christy963

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Getting Creative in 2009

Well, I'm still swirling in my mind as to what I want to accomplish in 2009. I've always been resistant to yearly resolutions because I see the failure and not the accomplishments. But I'm slowly seeing the cup 1/2 full when it comes to resolutions, and the "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again" mentality. Yay me! So hopefully this weekend I'll have a few moments of self reflection and inspiration to write down what I want for this new year.

In the meantime, I found this great blogging book group that will be reading "The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" by Gail McMeekin (thanks to Jennifer at Pink Heels). I had read this in the summer with the Online Creativity Circle thru Hiptranquilchick and really wanted to dive back into it. There are soooo many wonderfully inspirational stories, exercises that it really is worth a re-read. So here's the plan....Every week I'll be reading a chapter and posting here my thoughts of that chapter and the results of the exercises. Should be fun!

If you're interested - please come and join here!

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Notable Quote

"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.” ~ Audrey Hepburn