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

Every day is an opportunity to be creative – the canvas is your mind,
the brushes and colours are your thoughts and feelings,
the panorama is your story,
the complete picture is a work of art called, ‘my life’.
Be careful what you put on the canvas of your mind today – it matters.
(Innerspace)

I came across this quote and found it to be a lovely reminder that we choose the lives we live. We pick the colors of paint that suit our mood and we influence the weight of the brushstrokes. We have no idea how the work of art will turn out, but we see glimpses of how it could be.

Take a moment to consider how complete or empty your canvas is today. Is there something that you can do to create more white space? Do you want to add some big, bold colors? What is your heart telling you?

I’ve been trying to listen to my heart lately, but I feel like I’m receiving mixed messages. Sometimes I feel the passion to write, be creative and get more involved in the beautiful webby community we live in. Other times I find myself wondering if I will ever catch up on all the ‘things’ I have and want to do. Then, there are other times when I decide that the ‘things’ I have to do are so immaterial and useless, and I should just live in the moment.

For now I am trying to hold still and listen. I know there is wisdom in patience and understanding in space. I hope you are well & loving your creative lives. I miss you & will be back in full force soon.

image credit: via weheartit

The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain.
(Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

The South has its own particular breed of spring. In the months before summer, one can feel the swampy threat of rain everywhere. These are the days when I love to sit on my balcony and wait for storms to roll in. Large billowy clouds carry round, wet raindrops. The rising heat from the asphalt crashes into the cool cleanse of a spring deluge. My favorite part is that just as quickly as a storm blows through town, it escapes without remark.

The following songs are a collection of tunes to enjoy during a pre-summer storm. Feel free to copy, link to and share this mix with anyone who might benefit from some new music this spring.

Green Grass of Tunnel – Múm
Green Gloves – The National
Ooh Oh – Keri Noble
This Is the Thing – Fink
Orange Sky – Alexi Murdoch
Tiger, My Friend – PSAPP
City Flower – Jeffrey Foucault
Skinny Love – Bon Iver
My Two Cents – Shane Piasecki
Careful – Guster
Creep – Ingrid Michaelson
Je veux te voi – Yelle
A-Punk – Vampire Weekend

all links will take you to iTunes

image credit: 1happysnapper iTunes album mosaic

It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and
seemingly secure, to embrace the new.
But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful.
There is more security in the adventurous and exciting,
for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.
(Alan Cohen)

Hello fabulous ones. How’s your week going? Mine has been super full! It seems that making a major change (like starting a new job) will do that to someone. Training is going great and I’m finally getting into the groove. Something really cool happened to me on Sunday that I’m dying to share with you…

Kimberly Wilson interviewed me for her podcast!

I’ve literally listened to every single podcast she’s ever put out. I began listening back in college and always wondered what it would be like to be an artsy, creative, blogger chick. I still can’t believe that I’m on the other side of things now. It really is a dream come true.

I will definitely let you know when the podcast goes live. I’m a bit nervous to hear how it turns out, but also very excited to soak it all in.

Kimberly made me feel comfortable and confident during the call. She asked so many great questions! I was honored that she highlighted my Modern Girl’s Manifesta and guest blogging over at Tranquility du Jour. My heart skipped a beat when she asked if I’ve thought about writing a book someday—seriously? I would love to.

edit: The podcast has gone live. Click here to listen to it!

photo credit: kennymatic

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

If you want to make your dreams come true,
the first thing you have to do is wake up.
(J. M. Power)

My mornings have taken many forms in past years. I’ve tried waking up super early—and rising with just enough time to get out the door. I’ve tested a variety of breakfast foods, and have yet to settle on something that tastes good & leaves me satisfied. I gave up coffee for 2 months, wrote volumes of morning pages and practiced yoga before showering.

All these attempts have been in an effort to find my ideal morning—a series of effortless transitions from sleepy a.m. tasks like waking up and brushing my teeth, to getting out the door looking gorgeous & ready to take on the world.

No matter how my morning goes, I always get in my car and drive to work. This playlist is for the that time I can always count on—the space between my front door and my desk chair. A consistent opportunity to get pumped up and ready to rock my day.

The sweet, adorable and always kind Chelsa Bea from Pencil Skirts & Pearls mailed me thoughtful note & mix CD in honor of my first day of work. Feel free to copy, link to and share this mix with anyone who needs good mojo for their morning commute.

All Love – Ingrid Michaelson
What I Wouldn’t Do – A Fine Frenzy
Like a Prayer – Madonna (Hope for Haiti Now)
Down the Line – Jose Gonzalez
Empire State of Mind – Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
Hey, Soul Sister - Train
Us – Regina Spektor
This Sweet Love – James Yuill
Heads Will Roll – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
1901 – Phoenix
Hot Mess – Cobra Starship
Imma Be – Black Eyed Peas
The Best of You And Me – Number One Gun
House By the Sea – Iron and Wine
You Are The Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne
Free Fallin’ (Live) – John Mayer

all links will take you to iTunes

photo credit: via weheartit, iTunes album mosaic

Love is love.
All, everything that I understand,
I understand only because I love.
Everything is, everything exists,
only because I love.
(Leo Tolstoy)

Hello gorgeous friends. I want to wish you a fabulous Valentine’s Day. Take time out to nurture yourself and those you care about. Enjoy a restful nap, relax by the fire, read a book, soak in a hot bath. Smell the roses, nibble some chocolate.

Find peace in your heart and joy in your soul. Know that love is all around you and it always wins. Check out these last minute Valentines and consult this kissing checklist if you’re in need of some holiday help.

Thanks for sharing your love, support and sparkle with me. Happy Valentine’s Day!

photo credit: papaya! blog