Happy Weekend friends! Hope you’re staying cool and refreshed in this hot summer heat. I’ve enjoyed a short work week after coming back from a long weekend at the beach on Wednesday, but am still very excited about the Saturday and Sunday ahead. It’s been a long time since I have gone away on vacation and I’ve forgotten how jarring it is to come back to a busy desk and dirty home.

Productivity is on the top of my agenda for the days ahead, but that isn’t going to stop me from enjoying some delightful creativity. The following collection of creative to-do’s are intended to inspire extraordinarily joyful weekends. Consider this a friendly tap—or slight tug—towards exploring creative shenanigans of your own desires. I invite you to join in!

take the plunge & order a filofax

research local yoga studios

dream up an ideal routine for daily bliss

drop by the office to get ready for a rockin’ week

think about living by these rules

respond to emails & blog comments

read a book by the pool

explore etsy for new wall decor

image credit: charlotte.morrall

Don’t ask what the world needs.
Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it.
Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
(Howard Thurman)

Happy Saturday my friends! I hope you’re enjoying a summery day full of joy and creativity. I’m feeling a particular brand of lazy—the kind that visits during the hottest, most humid days. With a brief (but busy) work week behind me, I feel like inviting this lazy feeling into my home with open arms.

Typically, my Creative Weekend To-Do Lists are collections of creative to-do’s that are intended to inspire extraordinarily joyful weekends. Friendly taps—or slight tugs—towards exploring creative shenanigans of your own desires. This week, I’ve listed a handful of things I promise not to do in the weekend ahead. I invite you to join in!

set the alarm to wake up early

feel guilty about watching Bethanny’s wedding again

fill the weekend with objectives and goals

stress over what to wear out tonight

cook, clean or wash my car

image credit: Edward Allen L. Lim

Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark.
In the hopeless swamp of the not quite, the not yet, and the not at all,
do not let the hero in your soul perish and leave only frustration
for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach.
The world you desire can be won, it exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours.
(Ayn Rand)

Happy 4th of July, friends! I hope you are enjoying beautiful weather and patriotic celebrations. This last week has been an interesting test of stamina, patience and passion. An exciting opportunity landed on my desk and without much notice, I was pulling together a presentation for a key player at my company.

Between quarterly reviews and this surprise meeting, I found myself closely examining my strengths, areas for improvement and places to apply more focus in my work, real and online lives.

The results of said meeting revealed an interesting conundrum: I bring a lot to the table in my current role, and still have plenty of time to grow with what I’m doing now. Rather that dilute my attention by taking on another job responsibility, it is probably just best (for me & the company) that I focus on the task at hand. It wasn’t exactly the result I was pining for, but I’m happy all the same. It’s funny how life works out like that sometimes.

With an extra day of weekend and no ‘out of town’ plans, I’m looking forward to lots of relaxation, creativity and fun in the days ahead.

The following collection of creative to-do’s are intended to inspire extraordinarily joyful weekends. Consider this a friendly tap—or slight tug—towards exploring creative shenanigans of your own desires. I invite you to join in!

set intentions & goals for the next 1/2 of 2010

grill delicious kebabs on the bbq

drink plenty of water & wear lots of spf

splash around in the pool like a little kid

dive deeper into sarah susanka’s the not so big life

check out these patriotic tweets

mix up a new yummy cocktail for poolside indulgence

create a playlist that inspires spontaneous dance parties

roll out a blanket & enjoy fireworks with friends

image credit: AlphaTangoBravo / Adam Baker

We should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy,
even if it is only picking grapes or sorting the laundry.
(E.B. White)

It’s a gorgeous Saturday morning and I’m grateful the weekend has arrived! An action-packed week has me craving some solo creative time, so the mister is whooping it up with his buds at the pool. With nearly 1/2 of 2010 behind me, it only seems appropriate to sneak in a little intention-setting and creative dreaming.

The following collection of creative to-do’s are intended to inspire extraordinarily joyful weekends. Consider this a friendly tap—or slight tug—towards exploring creative shenanigans of your own desires. I invite you to join in!

evaluate the last 6 months & dream about the next 6

package up a little snail mail treat for a friend

take pictures & become a better photographer

organize closet, do laundry & set aside old items for goodwill

pay bills & assess finances with a smile

do something on this summer must-do list

schedule a massage, pedicure or tarrot card reading

compliment a stranger and see what happens

enjoy a new book while soaking in a bubble-filled tub

order customized energy bars

put together a garageband mix of yoga & tunes

image credit: seanmcgrath

It’s time to celebrate the arrival of a new weekend. After five days of mind-bending work, I am ready for a little sunshine. The following collection of creative to-do’s are intended to inspire extraordinarily joyful weekends. Use this list as a little tap—or slight tug—towards exploring creative shenanigans of your own desires. Of course, I’d love to hear about your plans for the weekend ahead!

dance like crazy while dusting & find mindfulness in cleaning the toilet

discover a new favorite quote

pick up a few books on the summer reading list

tribute dads everywhere by enjoying slurtles and beer & pretzel caramels

sleep in, relax, give yourself the freedom to have agenda-less weekend mornings

explore a market – farmer’s or flea

pour a glass of wine, watch a great movie, or visit a local vineyard

gaze up at the stars and remember this

consider sharing one of your secrets

image credit: via apartment therapy

You will find as you look back upon your life
that the moments when you have truly lived
are the moments when you have
done things in the spirit of love.
(Henry Drummond)

Summer has arrived and creative weekend to-do lists are back! This past week has been filled with inspiring moments. Most notably was connecting with one of my biggest web heroines, the lovely and talented Gwen Bell.

Remember earlier this year when Kimberly Wilson interviewed me for her podcast ? Well, video chatting with Gwen was a very similar experience in that I was super nervous, thrilled and honored to be discussing sparkle and super powers with a woman who I completely admire.

Gwen and I first connected when I tweeted a link to my post about finding a mentor. Her insightful comments were helpful, but she blew my mind when she went a step further and offered to test out mentoring me remotely. Wednesday was our first chat, and I have been buzzing with ideas since.

I’m excited to carry the momentum into the weekend ahead. Here are a few of my creative to-do’s, I hope they inspire you to do something fun. As always, I’d love to hear what you’re up to these next few days.

think of 10 things I would do if I were truly brave

finish reading this and mail it back to her

cut inspiring images out of july magazines

find a few summery accessories, like these

explore a new coffee shop, with macbook in tow

sip tea quietly before heading to bed

jam out to this song & create a new summer play list

make it to the mat… twice

mail a letter to a friend in a hand-made envelope

spend time journaling, set intentions for next week

image credit: visualpanic

Going around under an umbrella interferes with one’s looking up at the sky.
(Jerzy Kosinski)

I’m happy to report that this week flowed at a lovely pace. I enjoyed each day and am welcoming the weekend with open arms. The following items are from my creative to-do list. Please take a look and let me know what kind of sparkly shenanigans you will be up to in the days ahead!

create an art wish list

discover a new friend in the blog world

make time to be healthy

do taxes & hope for a big refund

savor soup made from scratch

get a big up of tea & watch a chick flick

find inspiration in glossy magazines

keep this in mind when getting dressed

appreciate the details in everyday life

photo credit: clairity

Slow down and enjoy life.
It’s not only the scenery you miss by going too fast—
you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.
(Eddie Cantor)

Are you excited? The weekend has arrived.

I hope you’ve had a productive and sparkly week. Since my big news on Monday, I have enjoyed a few relaxing days to myself. While it’s been a lot of fun, I’m looking forward to having the mister around this weekend.

My fantastic, terrific & awesomely wonderful job starts next week—which means I will spend parts of the weekend getting ready for my first day. Horay!

Thanks to all of you who signed up for my Good Karma Gift Swap. Remember that you can still join in on the snail mail fun by leaving a comment here before midnight tonight.

I hope the following pieces of my to-do list inspire you to do something fun and creative this weekend. As always, I’d love to hear what you’re up to the next few days.

buy fresh cut flowers for fun

shop for new work clothes & simplify closet contents

cook a yummy treat for the big game

dive deeper into the artist’s way

visualize a fantastic week at work

shop on etsy for creative inspiration

sip tea, read blogs

decorate journal with inspiring images

image credit: jenniferramos

Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn’t know you left open.
(John Barrymore)

Friends, I am elated to announce that another weekend is on its way. This week has been full of exciting moments and challenging times and I’m looking forward to spending the next two days enjoying creative bliss.

I have more than enough inspiring items on my to-do list for the weekend ahead. I hope the links and ideas to follow help inspire you to pick up a sketch book, sing along to a favorite tune or type out a bit of poetic prose.

Whatever your weekend holds, please share your creative plans with the rest of us!

order this organic (and inexpensive) tomato gift box

consider the possibility of an oceanside retreat

develop a morning routine renovation plan

get cozy at starbucks & check out their new healthy treats

email a friendly reminder to the future

journal about style icons

clean the apartment & get to know a few corners

make love packages for sweet friends

remember to shine brightly

forget to care about what other people might say

photo credit: aunt owwee via flickr

Breathe. Let go.
And remind yourself that this very moment
is the only one you know you have for sure.
(Oprah Winfrey)

Can you believe it?! The weekend is already here. I am especially excited since it’s my first non-travel and non-holiday weekend since the middle of December. Time to relax, recoup and begin to embrace a new decade. Here are a few creative resources and ideas from my to-do list for the glorious days ahead—

write a love letter to 2010 in my journal

discover other bloggers through this creative tribute

listen to chill tunes on my new favorite pandora station

enjoy a candle-lit bubble bath

re-read this inspiring post

create a collage that represents my word for 2010

wrap a friend’s birthday gift with style

register for an exciting online creativity circle

read a few chapters in an eye-opening book

I’m also planning on building on the intentions I shared in my 2010 modern girl’s manifesta. Enjoy your weekend my lovelies, and let me know what creative mischief you plan to do with your next few days!

photo credit: boomboxblitz via {etsy}