reverb10 :: december 17

December 17 Lesson Learned

What was the best thing you learned about yourself this past year?

And how will you apply that lesson going forward?

I think I've known this for sometime, but I need to keep knowing it, being reminded of it, and having it reinforced. That lesson or rather that thing about me is that my goal needs to be to start my own business. I've known this since the day I started working in the toy store right after I turned 16. I'm not satisfied with a desk job. At all. Class after class, business plan after business plan this last year, I'm getting closer to be ready to do this. What exactly? I kind of have an idea that I blogged about a little bit ago. It will be a tremendous amount of work, but something that I think I can find joy in. I'm not trying to be picky about my job, it's just I know that there's one out there that can be fulfilling, even it means not making as much money, which doesn't bother me at all.

Throughout my classes, I've realized what a control freak I am about things. I'd rather take on an extra work load in groups so that I can make our presentations beautiful and our paper fabulous. I can't say all my group members have had this same "passion" or desire to have our deliverables pretty or in perfect APA formatting. For example, in my presentation last night, although I offered many times and even started a incredible-looking powerpoint, my other team member wanted to put our presentation together. And I didn't say a word. It looked great. I'm still a little stressed thinking about it. I have to give up some of that OCD control I tend to have. In a team environment, I'm able to practice this more and more. And I have to know - it will be ok.

reverb10 :: december 15

December 15 5 Minutes

Imagine you will completely lose your memory of 2010 in five minutes. Set an alarm for five minutes and capture the things you most want to remember about 2010.

• Seattle Trip in May: sisters and sisters-in-law, bridesmaids, co-workers, bainbridge, longest walk ever, sunshine
• Sean & Lauren's wedding in Hawaii: hot malasadas, lane calling kayla a can-indian, dolewhip, wild cats at the beach, coffee bean
• Craftfest 2010 with Darcy: gluttony, buying crafts, crafting, degrassi marathon, laziness, missing liz!
• Ashly & Jay's wedding: lovely ceremony, fun with family, silly dad & uncle, dancing the night away
• How wonderful it is when your puppy is healthy! (and not sick, like he was in May)
• Being involved with the Horseshoe Market
• Having visitors come to Denver!
• Jury Duty for an 8-day case
• Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds
• Waiting to see Eclipse with good friends (including getting there early to wait in line)
• 60% done with my degree!

reverb10 :: december 14

December 14 Appreciate

What's one thing you have come to appreciate most in the past year?

you can purchase this print here

Biking. And I don't mean that I bike all the time. Or often enough. But, this time I do spend on my bike, I enjoy it and I feel like I need it. It took me about two years to get my bike tuned up and re-inflated, and I wonder why I waited so long. I love every minute on my bike - it gives me time to think and take my time. You can't be rushed on a bike because it (I) can only go so fast. Also, I don't have to worry about the 20 mph school zone speed trap on the way to work.

reverb10 :: december 13

December 13 Action

When it comes to aspirations, it's not about ideas. It's about making ideas happen. What's your next step?

In my last class, Internet Marketing, we were all assigned a show-and-tell kind of presentation to our class; to teach each other in areas of the internet marketing that we were pseudo experts in. I chose to "teach" on social media for a small crafty company. I had been volunteering for the Horseshoe Craft & Flea Market and helping out with a marketing plan for the market. Through that incredible experience (which I am so fortunate to still be helping with!), and having to design this class presentation, I came to the realization I had a skeleton business plan to do consulting for small crafty businesses. Since I can't take my own advice and start a crafty biz myself, I think this consulting thing could be a good fit for me. My professor was really helpful and definitely made an effort to push me to think about this as a possibility. I still need some more pushing, a solid business plan and some clients, but I feel like this may be heading in the right direction.

So, take that 2011! Something to act on!

reverb10 :: december 11

December 11 Things

What are 11 things your life doesn't need in 2011?

Being a huge fan of getting rid of stuff (when I get around to it), here is a list of things that I need to get rid of or stop collecting more of:

1. crafts - seriously, I love them, I love collecting them, but until I produce something I really don't need to purchase any more. But, if they are gifted to me, I'll gladly accept :)
2. items that have been with me move after move - it's like carrying my own box of trash with me. With 888 sq. feet, purging is a quarterly task.
3. distractions - this will be difficult. how will I procrastinate?
4. less time in the car = more time on the bike
5. thinking I need to get a coffee in order to start my day right
6. any item, non-decorative, that collects dust

ok...I couldn't think of 11, because, well, I got distracted and started cleaning my closet. and my room. and my house. of which hadn't been cleaned in, well, awhile.

reverb10 :: december 10

December 10 Wisdom

What was the wisest decision you made this year?

This is easy - taking 8 weeks off of school and going to Hawaii. Mostly for the sake of our sanity!

reverb10 ::december 9

December 9 Party

What social gathering rocked your socks off in 2010?

FYI - I didn't post this yesterday because I was at a Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds Concert. yes. incredible. wonderful. my throat hurts from singing so much. joy.

For social gatherings - there weren't too many. No graduations, not many friends weddings, just COUSINS WEDDINGS! Two of my wonderful cousins got married this past year. Both beautiful days, each uniquely them and now new cousin-in-laws!

Seanny-boy (as Kayla and I will forever call him) and Lauren got married in a little ceremony in Ko Olina and had a lovely reception after. We were all happy to go, I mean, it was in Hawaii. Not really, I wouldn't miss that boy's wedding for the world. I hope he will ultimately forgive Kayla, Mikayla and myself for dressing him up in girls clothes and calling him Katy so he could play with us. But, I'm sure thats too much information. All-in-all, an absolutely wonderful day!

Then, just about two months ago, my lovely cousin Ashly got married. Another beautiful ceremony and reception. I loved hitting the dance floor with Kayla, Linds and Ash. Us four Blincow girls sure know how to get down. And, well, so do our dads... Not to mention, Ash's cousin broke out Thriller. And that was awesome.

As 2011 approaches, will be getting to celebrate Kyle's graduation from college, Trents graduation from High School, Derek & Tracy and who knows what else?

reverb10 :: december 8

December 8 Beautifully Different

Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up.

i love the princess diaries, books and movies

i have an in-depth knowledge of early 2000s rap

there's nothing better than mac n' cheese, especially from noodles&co

i'm a creature of habit, especially with food

i had to have gold braces

you've never met anyone so dedicated to the 1996 women's dream team

the moment i started procrastinating was in the middle of fourth grade

i collect completely random information

reverb10 :: december 7

December 7 Community

Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010?

What community would like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011?

Yes and No. Can I just leave it at that? I suppose not.

After leaving the incredible community of Westmont a while ago, community has had to have a learning curve with me post-college. Moving to Seattle was a bit lonely, even though Kalin and Liz were there. I had wonderful co-workers, but outside of work, we really didn't have a close-knit community. I'm sure we would have made more of an effort if we would have stayed there longer.

When we arrived in Colorado, we were able to connect to a Westmont couple that I really didn't know well during my time there and from that friendship sprung new ones and a small bible study and from that there were marriages and two babies. It was really good.

With babies and school and most of all the responsibilities that come to new parents, that bible study disbanded, although we get to see each other once in awhile. During this past year, we had found a new church that we absolutely can't say enough about. After church-hopping for perhaps too long, we've found a new community. What I've enjoyed most is our Supper Group we had last Spring - just to get together and eat. It was great. We all laughed a lot and enjoyed the company. But that group was brief and our school schedules haven't worked with joining another group. Or, have we not made time in our schedule for the group?

Community does sound nice and I wish I had a well-defined one that we are a part of, but another side of me really isn't into defining a community because I, by nature and Myers-Briggs definition, am an introvert. Surprising? Not really. I need time alone to recharge. Selfish? Slightly.

In this chain-of-thought kind of response, I realize that I am apart of learning community in my MBA courses and absolutely love it. If you knew me in undergrad, I was never going to speak up in class. ever. Now, I worry that I talk too much. It's the content we talk about - I can actually relate vs. trying to think of questions about utils and diminishing marginal return. The active learning environment is so good for me. I love to work in my groups and be creative in the various aspects it provides and I enjoy the weekly challenges to come up with new ideas. But, I get really burned out after class and for a few days to follow...all of which lead me to procrastinate...as I have mentioned before...

reverb10 :: december 6

December 6 Make

What was the last thing you made? What materials did you use?

Is there something you want to make, but you need to clear some time for it?

Perhaps I should respond to this post by what things I need to actually finish. Seems more fitting. I've started or purchased items to start many a project. A break is coming up and there is a plan to pack in as much crafty goodness as possible during this time.

I made this purse from the Amy Butler's Swing Bag pattern using Erin McMorris' Weekends fabric. I've also made a few baby blanket's from her other fabric, but I can't get enough of the Weekends collection. I made this bag when Kalin was in Tahoe this summer. I got this lovely bag done in a weekend. The sewing pattern is super easy and it's also reversible! There's an included pattern for a sash or bow you can add to the bag. I have the fabric for the sash...just need, to, uh, start it.

Ah, yes, my quilt-in-progress! I keep plugging away at this super-wonderful project. I have added the sashing on the sides and have pinned in the batting and the backside, but am just taking my sweet time getting ready to hand-quilt it. It's two years in the making. Luckily, there is a new modern sewing guild that just started up and I am extremely excited to meet up with some area quilters and to possibly use that time to quilt a little. This quilt will definitely be joining me on my break in hopes it will be ready for the trim!

In an effort to slow down, to make, to relax, and to be creative, I've signed up for The Makerie (fitting for this post, eh?). April 7-10, I'll be just finished with an insane season at work and I'm heading directly to Chataqua Park in Boulder to live in the cabins, go hiking, do yoga, eat yummy food, meet new crafty friends and to learn how to make my own ballet flats and spend a day learning more about photography. Um. Can't wait.

reverb10 : december 4

December 4 Wonder

How did you create a sense of wonder in your life this year?

A sense of wonder, hmmm. I think a lot about being a kid when it comes to wonder. I can't say I've really had too much wonder lately. Just a few days into these prompts and I'm kinda like "I've got nothing...".

Ok, let's see here, I'll tangent this one to a time for thinking.

When I spend time embroidering or sewing, I find that in that very focused, yet relaxed time I'm able to work on a project, I can take the much needed time to think things over, to day dream and to collect all my thoughts. I come to conclusions, figure out what I need to write for papers, compile what needs to get done and what I want to be "when I grow up". I find lots of a joy from working on crafty projects. It's incredibly fulfilling, especially if I'm working on gifts for friends and families. When it comes to making gifts, I love having time to focus my thoughts on the recipients.

I suppose this time is my time of wonder, not like it used to be when I was younger and day dreamed quite a bit. In retrospect, a child-like wonderment for me, was free and unbound by any sort of rule. Now wonderment has evolved to grown-up (ish) thoughts with little sparks of wonder.

reverb10 :: december 3

December 3 Moment

Pick one moment which you felt most alive this year.

When I saw the word "alive" in the prompt, I automatically thought of this

picture of my sister in Hawaii from this past summer.

But, this really isn't how I'll respond to this prompt. The moments I've felt very alive have oddly enough been the moments when there is any and everything going on at the same time. There are the sayings "when it rains, it pours" or "bad things happen in threes". We've had a few of those throughout the past year. Particularly when our little pup, Mochi, would get sick. Helpless, in pain and we're heading into our finals week of class. It happens and we find extra hours in days we thought were full already.

And we make it through. We still see tomorrow. It's incredible actually. We can't pause anything. Life keeps happening to us, to everyone. I've felt most alive when I'm put into that "go time" mentality where my plans no longer have bearing on a task or issue at hand.

reverb 10 :: december 2

December 2 Writing.

What do you do each day that doesn't contribute to your writing — and can you eliminate it?

I've never been a consistent journal-er, I'm more interested in collecting beautiful books and diaries that I can talk myself into buying because I might fill the pages with all my thoughts, what's going on, ideas, etc. That's one of the reasons why I started this blog. Just to maybe get some things down. I've almost had this blog for three years. Wow. I'd say I average 0-7 posts per month, so not too shabby. Would I like to do it more often? Of course.

So, what do I do each day that doesn't contribute to my writing? "My writing", that seems odd to me. That makes me feel like an author, of which, I am not. I'm a random thoughts, random knowledge type of person. I guess more so, I don't write enough, well, I don't write enough on top of school papers. For when I do write/blog, the benefits are obvious. It makes it slightly more real. I feel indebted to the blog-o-sphere if I say I'm planning on writing about something on my blog and then I don't. It's happened. No one cares, except for me.

Which, I suppose is what matters. That's why it will be interesting to see if I make it to the new year with reverb10. I hope so.

Executive Summary: Ok. I dont' think I really answered the prompt, but more so realized I should blog more, it's good for me.

reverb10 :: december 1

December 1 One Word.

nonstop

Two master's degrees in-progress. We have started to live our lives in 8 week intervals, paper to paper, class to class. It goes by fast. Too fast. Dishes sit in the sink longer than I'd like to share or admit too.

We're past the half-way point with our programs and the end is in sight. But, I love it. I love being in the classroom, it's so different than undergrad. Once I hit the sixth week of class, I'm ready to go again. I'm interested to see what will happen after next summer, when this type of madness will be over. What will the next non-stop thing be?

Interestingly enough, I've been thinking recently how I haven't slowed down since graduating from Westmont a semester early. Briefly: work random job in Santa Barbara, move to Seattle, get engaged, get married, quit jobs, move to Colorado, get a new job, buy a house, get a dog, start master's programs... So thankful for Kalin being able to deal with my type of crazy!

In my current job, we are reading the Strengths Finder book and on the test, two of my strengths were Futuristic and Context. Past and future? I know I'm more than impatient.

But, I can't dwell on this too much, I'm thinking too much about what's going to happen in the next week to 5 years!

reverb10

Today I heard about Reverb 10: "an annual event and online initiative to reflect on your year and manifest what’s next. The end of the year is an opportunity to reflect on what's happened, and to send out reverberations for the year ahead."

So, I think I'll go for it. December 1 to December 30. Via this blog. Stay tuned.