"Everyone knows somebody that needs to read this book (Perseverance) !" –Kathie Lee Gifford, Live on NBC’s Today Show
"Perseverance offers… profound insight for all of us seeking to lead a meaningful life." –Daniel H. Pink, New York Times bestselling author of A Whole New Mind
Buy Perseverance
April 2nd, 2012 | 3 Comments »
I heard this week’s quote while watching the trailer for the movie, People Like Us. The words struck a chord with me and I thought they may for you as well :). I’ve also embedded the movie trailer below so you can hear the quote if you would like.
I created the image using a fun geometric pattern created by August Empress (recently released in her online shop).
–> The quote can be heard around the 1:55 mark!
March 30th, 2012 | 4 Comments »
I originally posted my Mighty List and the concept behind it in October. Since that post, I haven’t looked at the list. However, I’ve noticed myself thinking about it on many occasions. Today I thought it would be fun to revisit the original list and see what I’ve completed to date.
A little refresher on the mighty list:
I was inspired to create my list after reading Victoria’s (of SFGIRLBYBAY) post about her own list. Victoria’s description:
I encourage you all to create your own mighty life list — 100 or so things you’d like to accomplish in your lifetime. putting it all down on paper makes all those dreams just a little less daunting, and sharing them with others, one step closer to accomplishing. you never know who might be able to help you cross something off your list, or who you might be able to help cross something off of theirs — that’s a pretty swell feeling, too! have you got a great group of women to round up and create some mighty life lists? do it – think of it as book club, but where you get to write your own happy ending.
carolyn’s mighty list
launch a gorgeous paper pop-up shop1 | attend new york fashion week with my mom and sister | host a glittery zen retreat/workshop (think yoga, glitter, and champagne) | practice yoga everyday | learn to knit | take a watercolor class (for super non-creative beginners) | commission a custom illustration of my wedding dress to hang in my home | create a blurb wedding coffee book | have a date night with my hubby once a week forever2 | create a line of jewelry with my sister | attend the national stationery show | host a workshop/event in my dream space in miami | learn how to use photoshop3 | donate my book to at least one cancer center/support group in each state (book genies?!) | join a book club | adopt | build a dream home | write a handwritten thank-you note everyday | teach a journaling workshop | learn to bake | have a regular girls’ night with friends | attend a yoga retreat | be a vegetarian for a week | give mindfully for 29 days | appoint an email genie so i can go on email sabbatical | write and publish a second book | create a unique coffee table quote book (beautiful nourishment for the eyes and the soul) | sip champagne along the seine in paris with my hubby | learn how to create my own perfect iced coffee4 | throw a holiday party | create a signature gift wrap style | host a “just because” soiree | be a correspondent for a national news show | wear anything but jeans for 30 days | design a custom charm for my mom’s charm bracelet | take a trip with my brother and sister | be a mentor | help someone learn how to read | help to de-stigmatize psychology and mental health | get regular massages | learn how to do a cartwheel | take a photo-a-day for one month | go on a picnic in paris | publish a blog-post a day for seven days5 | organize evernote so it’s a complete digital sanctuary of information and inspiration | write a guest post for 100 different blogs | train for and run a half marathon | change my twitter username6 | be a calm traveler (create self-care rituals to help with this) | create a tiny line of exquisite candles | tackle 50 things that i think i can’t do.
carolyn’s mighty list updates!
1. (a thought, not really an update) launch a gorgeous paper pop-up shop — this mighty item would be fun to do with my paper partner in crime julie after I launch my little paper dream!
2. have a date night with my hubby once a week forever — we’ve officially started doing this once a week and LOVE it!
3. learn how to use photoshop — check! (thanks to blogshop)
4. learn how to create my own perfect iced coffee — I can’t take credit for this one, but my husband can! he has perfected the art of iced coffee. I am now even more addicted to caffeine than ever :).
5. publish a blog-post a day for seven days — check! (thanks to reverb11)
6. change my twitter username — check! (it is now: @carolynr)
- – -
I’ve officially tackled five items on my list in five months! I’m pretty proud of that number and can’t wait to see what I can do in the next few months. Have you created a mighty list of your own? If not, I highly recommended you get started! It’s a ton of fun.
Happy Weekend and Happy Life List Dreaming!
March 29th, 2012 | 4 Comments »
First, I want to thank you for the kind comments, tweets, and emails in response to yesterday’s post (about my little paper dream!). I read only the first couple of comments and then needed to step back but will be reading and responding to everyone within a few days. It was scary posting my thoughts on this little paper dream, but am so grateful that I did. The support you provided helps me feel a little less vulnerable and alone as I embark on this journey. I’m excited to continue sharing the process with you!
I approached today’s “Color Me Happy” post a bit differently than usual. I was pulled towards one image full of pink and orange. Every time I looked at it, I felt my spirits lift. Rather than find other images to go with this captivating one, I decided to jot down some cheerful thoughts associated with these colors. Together, I think it forms a lovely little color story. I hope it brings you a moment of joy :).
I am going to put the “pin it” button below as many find it useful. However, I’ve heard from a few people who receive posts via email that the button is giving them issues. If you are having issues, please let me know so I can collect data and figure out a solution!
top image: found via beautiful things tumblr (original source: unknown)
… more color inspiration: color me happy on pinterest
March 28th, 2012 | 15 Comments »
Over the next few months, I will be writing periodic reports on my little paper dream. These reports are written in a journal format to help express how this journey unfolds. I would love your feedback/comments as I write these reports (would be really helpful!). Also, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask in the comments or via email!
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with paper goods. As a little girl I learned the art of handwritten letters from my mom who instilled the habit of writing a handwritten thank you note for anything and everything—when in doubt, write a thank you note on beautiful stationery! Then, as a teenager, I began a pen pal program focused on writing handwritten letters to children in the hospital. I found the benefits of these letters to extend far beyond the words on the paper. To hold a tangible sentiment from another person builds a unique connection. To receive handwritten letters lifted the spirits of the children isolated from their social world. But what I loved most was how these letters became treasured items kept and displayed for years. When my best friend, Matt, was in isolation after his stem cell transplant, I promised to send him 30 letters to help him through this time so he didn’t feel so alone. These letters became a sacred thread in our relationship. I will always treasure the notes I have from him. Even though he is no longer physically present, whenever I miss our connection, I can open my box of cards and see his handwriting and hear his voice.
What I’ve learned is that the art of the handwritten letter is multifaceted. It’s not simply about pulling out a piece of stationery, writing a couple sentences, and putting the letter in the postal box. It’s also about the life of this handwritten letter. How will the recipient feel when she receives this card in the mail? How will she hold on to this sentiment as a reminder of the joy in her life? Most often, we end up with cards in boxes or a couple displayed on our desk. And for me, this diminishes the potential impact of the handwritten letter.
For many years, I’ve talked about this little dream of mine—to start a small collection of paper goods that would somehow change the impact of the handwritten letter. In 2012, I am making this dream a reality—crazy, scary, exciting, and oh my gosh is this really happening! My emotions are all over the place because this is a very new type of project for me. I also know that I’ve built this project up so much in mind that the reality will not equal the fantasy. As such, I must tackle my perfectionistic tendencies every step of the way to make this happen. I hope that these reports help me do that by making me more publicly accountable.
With all dreams and huge scary goals, we must choose to start—somewhere, anywhere. I’m going to post little reports over time as I navigate this process and hope these reports inspire you to begin bringing one of your dreams into reality.
Big crazy scary dreams have a way of percolating within our minds. They seem to stay there gathering dust until something triggers forward momentum. For me, this dream of creating a line of greeting cards has been on the back-burner. Until about nine months ago, the dream was to create a general line of stationery in the very distant future. Then, I had a flash of inspiration while getting ready to go to sleep. I could visualize my first designs. It was crazy exciting (an understatement!). I sketched these visions onto scrap paper and tucked them into my journal. These sketches were the triggers that began the forward momentum. The sketches made this dream more tangible. I now knew the product I wanted to create and was determined to figure the rest out.
It’s not always necessary to share your crazy wild dream with someone else. For me, I needed to go over this dream with my husband. I showed him the sketches and shared the general concept. Then, I asked him repeatedly, “Is this crazy?” “Should I go for it?” I was full of uncertainty and wanted to be sure that he also believed in this dream (he did and does!). Most importantly, we then needed to crunch some numbers to determine how much we could safely invest into this project without going into our savings. With a target budget created*, we came to the decision that it was GO TIME! YIPPEE!
* I love numbers but am horrible with budgets and creating financial models. I also know nothing about the world of retail and the different costs involved. While I could have spent an incredible amount of time learning the ins and outs of the stationery business, I decided that since this is still a little dream (and not my full time job) that I would try my best to connect with the right people who could help me along the way. For the financial side of this little paper dream, I knew my husband was the best person for the job. I have appointed him Chief Financial Paper Dream Guru. He also has a lot of experience in retail so that knowledge comes in handy when thinking through the details of producing a product and then figuring out the best methods for selling this product. For the ins and outs of the stationery business, I turned to Carolynn of Two Brunettes. I adore Carolynn and have worked with her for years on both personal and professional projects. She can read my mind which is a pretty amazing talent. Carolynn is helping me navigate this process (lots of hand holding) and really making the experience more enjoyable than I ever imagined.
In the next report, I’ll share more information about this process and where we are in the design/production. I’ll also continue to share any resources that I find helpful as I navigate this unknown territory. I don’t have a “launch date” yet but am hoping for this summer. My first line will consist of four designs (likely sold separately as well as in a set). The collection will be small so I’ll probably set up a pre-order form in the near future so you can reserve cards before they are released.
As I move through this process, I’m learning that there is so much that I will need help with! I’m going to flex my “ask for help” muscles in these reports. If you know someone or are someone that could possibly help with an item below, please send me an email at carolynblog@me.com with the subject, “Little Paper Dream.”
=> Virtual Assistant to help manage this project. Super organized, Loves paper, Some experience related to a similar project would be a plus, Loves learning and Self-Starter.
=> Product Stylist to work with me to create the vision I have in mind for the product photo-shoot. If the stylist and photographer work together in the US (but not in Miami), I am willing to travel for the photo-shoot.
=> Photographer to work with me and product stylist to create product images and look-book.
=> Product Launch Consultant to help launch my little paper dream to the right people.
… Feeling: I’m feeling pretty vulnerable and scared. I know I can’t do this on my own and hope that I find the right people to help make this dream a reality. I am fearful that I won’t find these right people and I’ll get stuck at the finish line. Of course, I also fear that no one will like these cards and I won’t be able to convey what makes these cards truly special and different from what is available. While these feelings are lurking within, I am fueled forward with each new step I take (like sharing this report).
… What I Know: I will make this dream a reality. There may be a few more bumps than I would like but each bump will contain new knowledge.
images: top image by katie rodgers (paperfashionshop on etsy) [pin top image -->  "Pin It")
], bottom image by carolyn [pin lower image--> 
]
March 26th, 2012 | 4 Comments »
Welcome to this month’s Pen & Paper: Living Between the Lines written by the amazing Hope Wallace Karney. To learn more about Hope and the column, please check out the announcement post!
My good friend’s daughter has always loved looking at my daily journal. Whenever we were together she would ask to see the journal I keep everyday. Not being one to hide my journal or its contents (if I have something I do not want to share I journal it in envelopes or under flaps, etc) I love showing it to her.
When she mentioned that she wanted to start a daily journal of her own, I was thrilled. I helped her find a good journal to use and encouraged her to start. By then I was invested in her journaling—so I started to check in with her every now and then. And eventually we agreed to share our journals with one another each week.
We got in the habit of texting each other photos (as shown in this post)—either of full spreads, or spreads in the works. It is especially fun when we did something together, and have the same ephemera and memories, to see how we each record that day in our journals.
Some weeks I will send my finished weekly spread, and it will help jumpstart her to catch up. Sometimes she sees how I incorporated something into my journal and she tries it in hers—which is a great way to play with techniques and find your own style.
I find that not only does it inspire her to journal, but also keeps me at it too, so we both are journaling regularly, but without pressure. Not only that, but it has strengthened our relationship outside of journaling as well. I look forward to seeing her spreads and equally enjoy sharing mine with her.
March 23rd, 2012 | 5 Comments »
Lisa Belkin wrote an incredible article about Anne Lamott this week for the Huffington Post. It really resonates with my current mindset and focus on simplicity. Belkin describes the inspiration behind the title of one of Lamott’s most popular books, “Bird by Bird.”
It comes from a moment when her brother was sitting at the dining-room table decades ago, surrounded by stacks of books for a report about birds. He was overwhelmed and drowning. So much to do. So far to the completed product. “Son,” she quotes her dad as saying, “just take it bird by bird.”
I have said that to my children often over the years, not about research papers, but about life. It has become shorthand at our house for break the problem down and tackle it in manageable pieces. I say it to myself even more frequently. No one moment, or one decision, or one mistake is an overwhelming whole, I remind myself. It is just one bird.
This knowledge is so rudimentary. Yet, amidst the trenches of overwhelm, it is so hard to remember.
In this post, I want to share two people that embody the beauty of simplicity. It is no secret that I crave structure and can barely function without it. If these two women could magically appear in my apartment, I would be one very happy lady :).
Arianna Belle Organized Interiors
Arianna’s blog is filled with beautifully organized spaces and stylish storage. She shares lots of simple tips that allow you to organize your space in bite size stages (or bird by bird!). What I love most is how she kicks your organizing butt into gear with her drool worthy images. Spend some time reading how you can recreate these images and you will find yourself sorting, purging, and organizing like a pro.
Annie’s creative ideas and eye for unique organizing solutions keep getting better and better. I really adore everything she pins and posts. This week she broke down the scary task of organizing your closet into manageable (and fun) chunks. It’s inspired me to tackle my new closet before it gets out of control! Like Arianna, Annie’s images are breathtaking.
While the images shared by both ladies are unbelievably beautiful, I don’t find them to be “perfect.” For the most part, the images depict beautiful organizing systems that can still work in our messy, chaotic, and imperfect lives. Their tips are actually achievable which for me is a huge relief.
I hope you enjoy these sources of inspiration as much as I do. As you enter the weekend and the upcoming week, remember to take things bird by bird.
images: 1. action organizing clips (via arianna belle) 2. this video (via arianna belle) 3. vanity tray (via live simply by annie) 4. desk photograph (via live simply by annie)
March 22nd, 2012 | 4 Comments »
I have a case of the blues this week. While it would have been easier to focus on dark moody colors, I chose to reach towards a color associated with lots of happy memories. Lilac has been one of my favorite colors for quite some time. It feels so light and airy that it’s hard not to feel a bit of weight lift off your shoulders when immersed in all things sprinkled with lilac. What color helps you combat the blues?
sources: flower headband (sunshine and carousels) | easter egg cookie (citrus and orange) | hexagon note card (angie allen) | turkish towels (istmus)
What color has been inspiring you recently?
… more color inspiration
March 19th, 2012 | 4 Comments »
Think for a moment about the last five decisions you made. Really think—you probably didn’t even consciously recognize making these decisions.
My last five decisions:
… plug in my iPhone
… put my comfy shoes on
… move my husband’s dirty shirt off my chair
… open textedit on my computer
… begin typing my thoughts versus writing them by hand
Most of the decisions we make everyday are made in reaction to external circumstances (e.g., my phone battery being low –> plug it in, dirty clothes on furniture –> move these clothes). And these types of decisions are necessary. Really, this ability to react over and over again without much conscious thought is what makes humans so efficient (most of the time!). However, knowing that at any moment in time we have the ability to choose how we react is incredibly liberating. You do not need nor want to stay on cruise control all the time.
Many of the decisions we make are based on fear. While this fear based decision making worked remarkably well for our cavemen ancestors, it is no longer the most beneficial way to respond to our circumstances (unless, of course, there is a bear coming after you –> listen to your fear then!). In our everyday lives, fear can be seen as a flashing red light—something you need to look twice at to unravel the knowledge it is likely concealing. After you begin to recognize these flashing red lights in your everyday life, you can look at your life from 30,000 feet. From this perspective, where do you see a congruence of flashing red lights (e.g., social, health, financial, time, career)? The aim is not only to notice where your fear is most active, but also to use this knowledge to begin to create positive changes (decreasing the flashing red lights of fear) in that area of your life. Note: While I’m using the word “fear” in this context, you can replace this word with any other personally relevant negative feeling.
1. You do not need to wait for someone/something to grant you permission to change your status-quo. For example, if you’re unhappy at your job, you don’t have to be fired or win the lottery before thinking about other options. Write this down on a post-it note and remind yourself of this knowledge every time you feel like you have no control over what happens to you.
2. By being proactive, you can actually create bigger changes in your life without taking huge scary leaps. You can create these changes through a safety net that you build over time (even in 15 minutes a day!).
I’ve made a lot of BIG changes/decisions in my life. The changes I’ve made proactively have been my most rewarding, but also the most exhausting. They have been so exhausting because I tend to make every mistake possible along the way! While I ultimately get to Point B, the journey from A to B is not too fun.
Now, before I share this new “secret ingredient,” I have to state a fear I’m feeling. I fear that I’m going to sound like an infomercial which is so far from who I am and what I care about. Even though I have this fear, I am so passionate about this magic potion that I know the knowledge I’m going to share far outweighs the fear of what I will sound like (i.e., my own insecurities). The knowledge that I’m sharing is going to make the journey from A to B far more enjoyable :).
The Secret Ingredient = Effective Escape
My amazingly talented friend, Michelle Ward—The When I Grow Up Coach, is releasing An Effective Escape into the world today. The product is aimed at helping people break free of day job hell and create a big, fat, sturdy safety net for themselves (whether you want to work for yourself or someone else). I got to read through this new product last week and loved the amount of detail Michelle put into this creation (e.g., all the nitty gritty details including financial steps to take and how to maintain your sanity while creating all of these changes). Michelle meets you where you are—you don’t need to have anything figured out, any money saved away, or any other “thing” you think needs to be in place in order to begin planning your escape.
While the e-book is aimed at helping escape a job, I also realized that most of the information in it is applicable to any change you want to make in your life (i.e., any area with lots of flashing red lights). Maybe you want to escape your current weight or where you live or what you’re studying. The approach and steps would be very applicable to these situations as well. I really believe that Michelle’s approach to tackling big life changes will change A LOT of lives.
And one more exciting note! Today, in honor of Michelle’s 2nd anniversary as an entrepreneur, she is offering a pay-what-you-can-day. So only today, March 19th, you can grab this product for any amount you can pay.
Now that I’m done with my little infomercial, hop on over to Michelle’s site to check-out this secret ingredient (and to wish Michelle a happy 2nd entrepreneuriversary!).
image: coniLab
March 16th, 2012 | 5 Comments »
Recently, I’ve been tweeting less and spending more time reading blogs (yes, i’m an introvert!). As I come across online resources, I always email them to myself with the subject, “share!” Typically, I tweet a link to these resources—but less tweeting=less sharing. Well, today I’m going to fix that. Below are a few of my favorite (relatively new) sources of inspiration that I don’t think I’ve shared with you yet!
Hopeful World is a global classroom where wisdom, knowledge and stories seed the ground of personal transformation and social change. Our online classes and digital offerings encourage personal growth while creating revenue for development projects around the world. Hopeful World is an economic experiment in transforming our drive to learn into a source of revenue and funding for emerging leaders uniquely positioned to make a difference.
We’re energized by the idea that we can help ourselves and one another at the same time and that real transformation happens when we learn the power of “we.”
The Everygirl is the newest online resource helping shape the creative, career-driven woman to experience her life better lived. It is the inspiration to help you achieve your dreams, whatever they may be. Whether it’s how to incorporate a little creativity into your day or motivating you to seek out your dream job, The Everygirl is for you. It is our mission and hope for you to use The Everygirl site to be inspired, but also to take action to become the woman who believed you could, so you did!
sisterMAG is a new digital magazine for widely interested, active women. Regularly we will cover topics ranging from Career, Technology, Future Trends to Fashion, Lifestyle, Traveling and DIY. Women’s magazines have always mirrored social movements and developments in their content and foci of coverage. With sisterMAG we want to target a group of females which has been neglected by traditional publishing houses and editorial departments: the many up-and-coming, well-educated, very active and independent women, which are enthusiastic for the digital world and want to be presented with new and exciting content in a visually appealing way.
“Why do you wear makeup?” the eight year-old asked. “Because it’s fun!” we inevitably answer. But when we really get honest, that’s simply not the truth. We both work for organizations that promote a message of inner beauty, empowerment, and self-confidence, and we still engage in Beauty Habits – like makeup, shaving, and wearing uncomfortable feminine clothing . We’ve believed for years that these habits would enhance our appearance. After much discussion, we found the difference between what we preach and how we choose to act on a day-to-day basis troubling.
We’ve often said, “I need to go fix my face,” but really – what is there to fix? This is our journey to explore what happens when we start living in complete alignment with the message we encourage others to live by. We do not know where The Naked Face Project will take us. We do not have a hypothesis we hope to prove or know how we will feel at the end of sixty days. We’re not trying to make a political or feminist statement. We simply want to live in our own space of authentic beauty and be more intentional in our actions. That’s why we’ve chosen to completely commit ourselves in the project for sixty days. It is only through this total immersion that we believe we will come to a more authentic answer for the hard questions little girls ask.
Honestly, we expect The Naked Face Project to be very uncomfortable for us because we’ve engaged in these Beauty Habits for so long. We feel like we’ve only approached feminine beauty in one way for our entire lives. What might reveal itself when we give ourselves the opportunity to experience another way?
What resources/projects have you recently been inspired by?
image: ello lovey
March 15th, 2012 | 4 Comments »
I am finally beginning to think about what accessories to bring into my new apartment. While the big pieces are essential for living (e.g., sleeping, sitting), it’s the little personal items that really transform a space into a cozy home. This week, we bought a regular black chalkboard for our kitchen. I love the idea of writing notes and drawing doodles in this not so fun (in my humble kitchen phobic opinion) area. However, I’m thinking of adding a little spark to this piece via some gold contact paper on the plain frame (possibly some tiny polka dots—inspired by joy’s studio). My eye has been pulled towards all the creative ways to turn ordinary store bought items into something more extraordinary—in particular, items dipped in gold! Have you transformed any ordinary items recently? What color is inspiring you this week?
sources: watch (kate spade) | earrings (a merry mishap via etsy) | gold leaf bowl (living the vintage life via etsy ) | gold shoes (found via paris hotel boutique journal) | gold sequin stars photograph (paper antler)
… more color inspiration
