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

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

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

When we engage in what we are naturally suited to do,
our work takes on the quality of play and it is play that stimulates creativity.
(Linda Naiman)

I am so grateful that summer has arrived. I love how my heart warms as the temperatures rise. There is magic in poolside parties, friendly barbecues and late night walks. Even a good thunderstorm awakens joy in my soul. With the long weekend ahead, I find myself looking out the widow at the office (just like a little girl who wants to go play outside). It is time to kick back, relax, and enjoy a little summer fun.

Things have begun to settle at work. I’ve been with my new company for 15 weeks and I no longer feel like the new kid on the block. It took awhile to get adjusted to a different way of doing things, but new habits are beginning to form.

As I continue to play hide and seek with blogging, life speeds along at record pace. I feel so alive when I’m sitting at Starbucks, typing away on my laptop—and I miss being actively engaged in conversations with you through our emails, tweets and blog comments. It’s only a matter of time before I’m back into a routine of reading, writing, connecting and blogging. I can feel it in my bones.

My darling Beetle has had a few hiccups lately, and I have begun to consider purchasing a new car. I heard once that a person’s values are revealed in the way they spend their money. While I have paid good money to fix my car, I don’t exactly value a product that is in need of constant repair.

I’m a Mac user, an iPhone addict, an IKEA fangirl and Target shopper for life. I value smart designs, neat packaging and effective uses of space. I get excited about ingenious innovations like Apple’s MagSafe power connector and healthy & yummy treats like Larabars. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I want a cute, functional, safe and reliable car that is fun to drive and fits in with my aesthetic. Is that too much to ask?

image credit: edenpictures’

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

Stuff happens. We dance with it.
The better & happier you dance, the better you do.
(Seth Godin)

Hello February, another turn of the calendar and a fresh new month. I disappeared last month as January flew by—you might have noticed that I rarely blogged, tweeted or connected with you lovely souls. I missed our community and am looking forward to getting back into the flow.

Some of you already know about my news from yesterday—I am excited to announce that after 2.5 years with the same company, I am moving onto bigger and better things!

Quitting my job was difficult, especially since I’m not one to retreat or give up. I knew that leaving would be a challenge, but I didn’t expect to learn so much through the process. The experience taught me about the fine line between loyalty and self-preservation. I am thrilled with my decision and will happily share more details as things progress.

With the rest of the week to myself, I am planning on cleaning my apartment, getting my haircut and enjoying some quiet time for reflection. Everyone is on their own time-line and for whatever reason, last month was at warp speed. This month, I am setting a few attainable intentions that will help me build the stage for a fantastic 2010!

Intentions for February

• revamp my wardrobe by adding a a few fantastic basics and classy accessories
• reconnect with my routine by sticking to a bedtime and working out 3 times a week
• reengage my creative juices by blogging more and indulging in artist dates

It seems as though there’s a theme around revamping, reconnecting and reengaging. Perhaps my overarching goal for February is to nurture myself with love, positive energy and productivity.

What are a few of your intentions for February? I would be so grateful if you shared how you plan on nurturing your soul during this love-filled month.

photo credit: sister72

Miracles come in moments. Be ready and willing.
(Wayne Dyer)

Hello my lovely friends. It has been way too long since we last spoke. Your kind emails and comments have been wonderfully overwhelming. Thank you for all the sparkle and support you have sent my way.

Some fantastic, exciting and unexpected things have happened lately. It’s funny how life throws magic your way when you begin to believe in the beauty of dreams.

My silence here and on twitter is in no way a reflection of my love for you, my dear readers. Have you had a chance to follow me over at Tranquility du Jour? I have posted a few things I think you might enjoy.

If you are a relatively new reader (or if you enjoy vintage), please take a moment to read a few of my favorite posts. You deserve to know a bit more about me, my dreams and what makes me sing.

I anticipate life settling down soon. I will be back in full force. Better than ever. I promise!

photo credit: laura burlton

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

Be always at war with your vices,
at peace with your neighbors,
and let each new year find you
a better [wo]man.
(Benjamin Franklin)

I may be a bit tardy in presenting my resolutions, but I figure there’s still plenty of time with 350-ish days left in 2010. In addition to my modern girl’s manifesta, there are a number of things I want to focus on this year.

As I planned my intentions for 2010, I thought of ways to begin living my ideal life. An ordinary, yet completely fantastic, everyday existence. Keeping in mind that it’s the journey (not the destination) that matters, I resolve to:

practice yoga weekly

be kind to the girl in the mirror

eat with the intention to fuel my body

support my spine by sitting and standing up straight

wear my hair down more often

treat money with respect

consider tomorrow when spending today

enjoy time with friends and family

embrace my mister with love and kindness

adore my art & writing

relish every bit of my creative being

send invisible parcels of love into the ether

This year’s resolutions are much more abstract than normal, but I am tired of setting out to lose 10 pounds. It’s a new decade and certainly a good time to adjust my goal-setting strategy. By incorporating these resolutions in my daily routine, I will be well on my way to living the life of my dreams.

photo credit: via weheartit