What I've Been Up To...

Is it already the end of the weekend? Wow! Times flies when you're having fun.

The only time I had to work on art projects this weekend was to start this canvas:

And a little more progress on this one I posted on Thursday:

I recently joined the Panhandle Chapter of the Florida Trail Association after going on a great hike at a local conservation park I'd never been to. I've been planning on some events to attend with FTA in the coming month. I found them through Meet Up. I'm also a member of a meditation and a yoga meet up in my town. I went to two different events with them this weekend. I went to an open heart meditation where a guy was playing a Native American hand-carved flute and a woman was playing her singing bowls as she led us through the meditation. Absolutely beautiful! I have a singing bowl I picked up in India and have yet to learn how to use it.

I also went to a kirtan event. If you're not familiar with kirtan it's a call and response type chanting and means "praise" in Sanskrit. If you've never been and have the opportunity you should totally go for it. It's such a heart-opening celebration of love and spirituality. You don't even have to know what the words mean in order to FEEL them. It's an amazing experience and something I was able to enjoy in India.

Robin Renee was visiting from Philly and led the kirtan. I picked up a couple of her CDs to enjoy at home. Here's a (terrible) picture from Saturday night of Robin playing the harmonium:

Besides all that goodness, I've been working through my house decluttering. Last weekend was my bedroom and closet. This weekend was my kitchen. You know how they say things get worse before they get better? That phrase fits organization perfectly. My kitchen is a disaster right now but it will look amazing in the end. 

I started with the drawers. Ideally, I would have transparent trays and slide pretty scrapbook paper underneath to peek through but I have white ones instead and have no intention of purchasing new ones. I'm trying to keep this makeover low-cost by reusing current trays and bins or purchasing needed items from the dollar store. I don't want to spend too much money but clean, organize, and get rid of stuff I no longer use. My solution was to cut the scrapbook paper to fit into the tray sections and seal with Mod Podge. 

Here are my drawer before pictures:

Messy, huh? I used one style paper for the silverware tray but mixed it up with a coordinating paper for the other trays. 

I started with glossy Mod Podge but decided it was too shiny and used matte for the fourth and final coat. Here are my after pictures:

Super cute, low-cost, and organized. Okay, so I did replace the silverware tray. My old one was black which didn't match the rest and was cracked.

I'm working on a project for my spice cabinet that I should be done with tomorrow and can post those pics. I'm still working through my other cabinets which will take me a few more days. I have a nice stack of items to add to my yard sale pile. I'm getting together with some friends in a few weeks for a group yard sale. It'll be my first yard sale ever! 

Have a good Sunday night!

Hugs,

What I've Been Up To...

Finished Pieces 

It say's, "We are all connected and cause a beautiful ripple effect. Do good. Be kind. Love deeply."

In Progress

Hugs,

Quote - Seek

image credit

The deepest secret is that life is not a process of discovery, but a process of creation. You are not discovering yourself but creating yourself anew. Seek, therefore, not to find out who you are, seek to determine what you want to be.  ~Neale Donald Walsch

Begin here.

image credit

Start today.

Why put off till tomorrow what you can take care of today? Procrastination leads to stress and anxiety. Tomorrow will never come but today is happening right now.

Begin here.

Hugs,

Note to you

image credit

Gentle, sweet soul,

You spend so much time worrying what others think of you that you fail to see your own amazingness. You are so strong and courageous to rise above the circumstances you’ve been dealt. You’re always triumphant. Please stopping focusing on your flaws and realize your strengths because you have way more strengths than imperfections. Know that this is truth and it will set you free.

Hugs,

Quote - Dance of Life

image credit

The moment in between what you once were, and who you are becoming, is where the dance of life really takes place.  ~Barbara De Angelis

Quote - We were born

image credit

We were born with, and continue to possess, deep wells of wisdom and creative impulses just waiting to be listened to and acted on. The key to unlocking these inherent creative forces begins with letting go of the fear and negative stories that hold us back in order to make space for the new, positive stories to emerge.  ~Flora Bowley, Brave Intuitive Painting

More Found Hearts

More found hearts!

Hugs,

How-To: Be the Change

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.  ~Mahatma Gandhi

I often write about how to “Be the change” and about Random Acts of Kindness (RAOK). I’ve also written about my adventures in RAOK Week and 36th Birthday Challenge. Today I want to share with you how to go about your own RAOK mission and how you can be a part of the change you wish to see.

According to Wikipedia:

Kindness is the act or the state of being kind, being marked by good and charitable behavior, pleasant disposition, and concern for others.

Decide you want to make a change.

Determine what act you wish to achieve. What are you passionate about? What touches your heart the most? Would you like to do volunteer work, make a donation, help a person/family in need, perform a RAOK, or get involved in a cause?

Review resources for ideas and information. Who will you serve? What organizations spark your interest? Look at specific areas of interest – disaster relief, children, homeless, environment, your community, in the U.S., and worldwide. Look at free or low-cost ideas if you’re financially strapped. Look to organizations that could use your help volunteering.

Determine the steps necessary to achieve your goal. What will you need? Do you need others to get involved? Will it be anonymous? Silently serve? When will your action take place? Where?

Make it happen! Just do it and with your whole heart.

Feel good about it. Know that all it takes is one person to make a difference to the life of others. Even though it feels good to serve others, seva is not meant to gain personal rewards. Always from the heart and you’ll never go wrong!

Seva (Sanskrit) is the idea of selfless service and considered an essential devotional practice in most Indian dharmic religions and yogic traditions. Seva is a term used to denote service performed without expectation of a reward.

Here are a few of my favorite resources / causes:

Kiva
Sevenly
To Write Love on Her Arms
American Red Cross
Humane Society
Random Acts of Kindness
Love Infinitely
END7
charity: water

The Girl Effect
Mother Miracle School, Rishikesh, India

Feed My Starving Children

The Shine Project

Panama City Rescue Mission (local, homeless shelter)
Animal Rescue Center of Bay County (local, rescue/adoption)

What are your favorite charities and resources? I’d love to hear about any plans you have or recent RAOK missions!

Hugs,

Quote - Banish self-doubt

image credit

There is so much work to be done right now and the question is not ‘Who am I to do this work?’, but ‘Who am I not to do this work?’ How dare I let my self-doubts and fears get in the way of the work that needs to be done.  ~Seane Corn

Quote - Changes

image credit

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.  ~Maya Angelou

Finding My Path

I spend time working through tutorials from other creative’s as a way to learn new techniques. When I’m working on one my intention is always to make it my own. As much as I admire other artists and love their work I don’t want to try to duplicate their work. I want to learn from them and honor them but never copy them. 

I often worry that by working on the tutorials of others that I’m not honoring my own voice and making something that’s completely my own. I like to make time for both and remind myself that I’m still a student learning from my teachers. Tutorials are there to assist me in learning new techniques as I walk this journey to finding my style, my voice, my path – me. I have so much to learn and so much inspiration and many muses to guide me along the way. I wish for the day that I come into my own but I know it’s not about the destination but the journey. 

I’m a work in progress and as I’m molded into the person I am to become I will ease into my new skin and recognize myself at last. Until then I will continually unfurl my many layers, one at a time, until my true self emerges. Then I will exclaim, “I have arrived!”

Lots of love,