Flying Lessons. Rings. Authenticity and Play.

Zinnia - chartreuse ring by olive & hope

I have yet to mention that I enrolled in Kelly Rae Robert's e-course called flying lessons. {The course is all about tips and tricks to help your creative business soar}. Maybe it's because I took on so many things at once...maybe it's because I have been absolutely immersed in it. Actually it's a yes to both! I wasn't going to enroll for a couple of reasons...money, and time. But as the weeks (two to be exact) went by, I kept seeing people I follow on twitter post about the wealth of info and how amazing it was...that led me to tweet my regrets, and longing to be on the journey. And an angel in the form of Tiffany Moore came to the rescue (big thank you)! I followed my heart and decided to dive in and catch up. Let me tell you that the amount of information Kelly is sharing is A Lot, and so good. It took me a bit, and I had very tired eyes from all the reading but I am offically all caught up on the lessons (there are as many as 500 comments sometimes!).

One thing that I learned about in class is picnik, which is a photo editing tool that's user friendly and free. I think I'm a little late to the party on this, but I thought I would share in case there is anyone out there (like me) who needs something like this. I spent some time playing with it, and it's a lot of fun! I edited the photo above and added a lomography type of effect to it. I don't have anything other than a point and shoot, so the fact that I can play with F-U-N effects, makes me smile! I'm sure that it's not on the same level as having a fun camera - lomo diana, holga, polaroid, etc. but exciting for me nonetheless. And maybe just the thing that I need to move me through my fear, and into my desire to play more with photography.

I am also going to be loving up on my etsy shop a bit more, it's been neglected due to the slow going over there. I have been frustrated with the progress of my little shop, and thus, haven't been giving it much attention. In reality, I haven't been putting enough effort into it...period. I do really well with the rings in person, when people can touch them, and try them on. When they can see the colors up close and personal. And see how comfortable they really are. I feel comfortable talking about their virtues in this type of setting. The rings make me really happy, and I'm told that they make others pretty freaking happy too. So I will be taking my approach from that place. If you want a little more happy in your life...buy a ring. And then you can take it on the road with you. Wherever you go.

The truth is that marketing in general, makes me a little squeamish. I am not a pushy sales person. In fact, I got let go from my first paying job (at 16) in a clothing store (after only a few days) for not wanting throw extra clothing over the door at the customers. I knew I didn't want anyone pushing things on me (and still don't), so I wasn't comfortable doing it to others. This is where the dis-comfort comes in around marketing/selling, but facts are facts, and if I want people to know the rings exist, I must talk about them. And because much of my focus around these parts is authenticity, self love and the like, I will occassionally be mentioning my lovely little rings as authentically and lovingly as I can. This should spare me discomfort, and you from being pushed around! Hopefully it will be a win-win for all of us.

 I recently had the pleasure of having some interaction with Miss amazeballs herself - the lovely Michelle Ward (she is as authentically playful as it gets)...and I discovered something about myself and my shop. I have been neglecting to share my playful side with all of you. Well...maybe sometimes I give you a teeny tiny glimpse? I want that to reflect in all I do, because playfulness is important to me. So that is another thing that you will notice around both this space, and ye old shoppe. When I started making the rings, I decided to name them after girls and left it at that - I'm happy to announce that the girls will now be getting some personality! Sometimes I wince when I write something silly, and Little Miss Inner Critic whispers that people won't get it, or they will think I'm a huge doohfus. You're going to be seeing more of that side of me, and I'll let you decide for yourself whether or not you think I'm a doohfus or not - because it's really none of my business what you think of me. And maybe, just maybe...you'll love me even more than you already do! Happy Friday. xo

Everyday Courage.

Do we avoid risks in life...so that we may make it safely to death? - philosoraptor via fear.less

Today's post is about courage, and not the fists in the air, I'm gonna punch you in the nose if you hurt me kind. Or the jumping out of airplanes kind. I'm talking about the kind of courage that we face each and every day. I think courage is found even in the baby steps. Trying something new - without having all of the answers. Following your own path, your unspoken desires. Telling someone about your dream, knowing full well you may not be understood. Taking a class in something that you are interested in, but have no idea how to do. Even in searching the interwebs for places to take said class. Looking yourself square in the eyes in the mirror, and recognizing your full power - Simply because you are alive. Looking into that same face in the mirror, and saying I Love You (even if it feels funny to do it at first). In my opinion these are all acts of courage. Whether the action is big or small, if you are willing to try...that is courage my friend. I watched two really inspiring videos over the last few weeks. I've included them below. If you haven't already seen them, I highly recommend you do. Neither is very long, and so so worth the few minutes it takes.

We aren't expected to be perfect, and to not make mistakes...by anyone other than ourselves. Everyone feels fear at times, everyone stumbles, everyone makes errors, and everyone has (earmuffs) oh shit (earmuffs release) moments. So let's not hold ourselves (or anyone else for that matter) to an impossible standard. Let's dust ourselves off and move forward.

"Excellence comes from the drive to get back up" - Danielle La Porte

*this video was found via Tiffany Moore aka Crafty Fanny 

And I also highly recommend watching Elizabeth Gilbert's video from O magazine's 10 year Anniversary party. It reminds me how important it is to listen to my intuition, my inner voice - the one that leads me down the only path that exists for me. The talk reminds me that it's ok not to know the way, it's ok to make mistakes. That we are on a journey that only women in the last 80-90 years are on, blazing trails, risking failing, making our marks, making the world a better place, finding our way through so many choices, choices that were not available to the women who came before us. The only place of power is that of where we are standing right now. No comparisons to other women, or humans, or the dog (what a life!). Celebrate your authentic life, the real you - there's no one alive that's youer than you (Dr. Seuss). The importance of self forgiveness. The importance of sharing our journeys, so that we might learn from one another. The shame, the fear, the self doubt have no place in this picture; because if we don't share how we are feeling, what we have been through, or what we are currently going through - we might just miss out on sharing a gift with someone else. We are making the way for future generations of girls and women. See how pumped up I am? Now don't you want to watch it?...Really, you should.

I hear the inner critic saying...you're rambling, you have no business writing this. Who do you think you are? My bit of courage right now, is to answer that voice and say...I am me. And this post comes straight from my heart, and if it's rambling...so be it. But I won't be afraid to share my words and both of these amazing videos. Thank you little miss inner critic for giving me the opportunity to be brave. (*picture me cupping my hand to the side of my mouth here - because I'm letting you in on two little secrets). I like to thank her, because she does have lessons to teach if I listen...but sometimes I get the urge to kick her in the shins or pull her pigtails. Hey...I'm only human right?

What little or big thing makes you feel brave?

Spinning, Savasana, and Furry Friends.

Today I discovered the beauty of letting go, once again. I was doing the yoga portion of Bindu's 21.5.800 challenge, and I decided that today I needed savasana. My heads been spinning with a lot of things. Career, blog challenges, e-courses, etc. Because I've been a bit spinny, and after my morning pages...I thought surrender was in order. Savasana here I come! I got everything ready, laid down, got settled, and my helper (the one you see above) showed up. I would really love it if he would participate like the dog in the commercial (have you seen that one? - it's escaping me whose commercial it is). My wonder pup decided to get involved - and not in a really helpful way. I did not have a camera laying around in case of a photo op, so this is an older photo of him doing one of the things he practiced (2 inches from my face), during my savasana. Adding to my surrender experience. As much as I cursed it, my time was enhanced. The love of  my pup wanting to be with Mom, worked out just fine in the end. Things don't always go as we plan, and we can choose to go with it or fight it. I went with it. It all worked out. Unconditional love is good stuff! And tomorrow is a new day.

I decided to jump in on Bindu's challenge - 21 days of writing and movement. 21 days of | yoga 5 days a week, and writing 800 words per day. I am starting on day 3 of the challenge, but I'm ok with that. (Between you and me - I do have a wee bit of agita about coming in late, but I am going to move past it). This challenge is exactly what I need right now. Yoga has been calling me, calling my soul for much too long now, so I will take this as the final loving push from the Universe. You can never ignore a soul's longing, not forever at least.

I am also looking forward to spending time writing...what I will write? I don't know. But I'm excited to see what comes up. I know that some of my loveliest discoveries have come from not knowing. And I'm so looking forward to participating with all of the lovely souls who have also signed up. If you would like to join us, head over here now. It's not too late.

There is Possibility in Awareness.

Dwell in possibility ~ Emily Dickinson

I was asked the other day - if a Genie granted you three wishes what would they be? My answers were as follows - One | I would wish for my big dream (more on that later) for my career to come to fruition. It is both creatively and soul fulfilling, and those are both at the top of my priority list. Two | Good flow of money coming in. Consistently. Three | (This is where it got sticky for me) I would absolutely wish for babies. My first inclination was to wish for only one. But the truth is, if I were Really wishing. I would wish for two (because that is what I want). In this moment, while writing down my three wishes, I realized that I was holding back on wishing for myself. Myself! Thank goodness for self awareness. I took a deep breath, erased what I wrote, and added not one but two babies.

I've mentioned before that my brain goes to lack first, and then in these moments of presence I catch myself and am able to shift course. This is a pattern I've lived with all of my life. Lack. So I am very grateful for the gift of awareness. It is life changing. We get stuck in patterns, moving through life as though we are on auto pilot. Rolling with the thoughts in our head, without questioning who or what is in control. We all do it - it's part of the human condition. But the beauty is...there is possibility in awareness, simply noticing, without even having to act. Or having to make some big giant leap. Just the act of noticing is all it takes, and with regular practice you begin to see those places where you get tripped up. Then the self awareness starts happening more often. And things start happening in your life - even without the giant death defying leaps, even with teeny tiny baby steps.

The baby thing is just one example of how the lack comes up for me, I could insert any number of words to fill in the __________. Money. Love. Success. Self Care. Etc. It's about claiming my worthiness. Recognizing my worthiness. I'm not saying that I am constantly in a low state|feeling down|wishing my life was different|feeling like life is not fair|searching for something outside myself. Though I do have those moments, I think if we're honest, we all do. The thought pops in - oh no, I couldn't/shouldn't have that. That's not responsible. Or prudent. Or possible. Whether it's having children, a new fulfilling career, more income, a new car, a trip to Europe, a trip to San Francisco, a big dream of any sort, being an arist, writing a book, splurging on a really fantastic dinner out, treating yourself to skin care or a pedicure, buying a new pair of shoes or three (I mean really...it is those simple things that we deny ourselves sometimes). I say it's all hooey! Let me be the first to say that perpetually dwelling in a lack mentality reeeallly puts a damper on wishing. So let's just do away with that! Yes of course there are bills to pay, and neccessities. But there is also possibility. Ways in which things work out if we only allow ourselves to wish it first.

It's in the moments of awareness that I know (you know, at the core of my being) that I AM worthy of all good. It's not something I need or have to change, it already exists - I just need to be present to it. And the feelings/thoughts of lack and separation are just that. Me on auto pilot. Rolling with it. Until I notice it. And then the possibility begins. So wish away...I say. To both myself and to you.

What 3 wishes would you ask the Genie to grant? dream big.

You deserve it.

This post is part of Dian Reid’s blog challenge at Authentic Realities. Head over and take a look at the challenge to discover other bloggers writing about Self-Evidence and Authenticity.

My Bit of Wisdom.

I can always find my center when I am at the ocean.

home

center

love

beauty

heart full

tranquil

alive

present

powerful

quiet

breathe

connected

happiness

fearless

still

all words that come to mind when I think of being there, with the sea. no matter where the path ahead leads...it's the place I can return to again and again to come home to myself.

*This post was written as part of Dian Reid's Self Evident + Authenticity blog Challenge

Time in a Bottle, Giveaways, and Other News.

Desi on a bottle by djkreutzer

I've been hanging back from the interwebs lately. Feeling a little like I needed a break from the distractions it provides me with. I land in the wonderful world of the web sometimes, and I turn it into a bit of a staycation, even when I should be doing other things. I know, I know...we are supposed to be gentle with ourselves, and be ok with where we are. So should I be saying that I should be doing other things? Well, if the truth is that I'm avoiding everything else to be on the interwebs - then I say a little shoulding on myself is in order. And it was in order. Here I am on what is really the beginning of the week, and I am on the web. The difference today after a bit of break, is that I am taking care of business. The web is part of my business, and making time to use it effectively is important. So I put a cap on it, put the time in a bottle, and put a cap on it. Now I can freely do what I need to do within limits. And my little secret? I will be back on later for some fun, as a treat for other work that I will do today. It's a win win. And that makes me smile.

Now onto business.

I wanted to let you know that I am taking part in a great giveaway, a 2nd anniversary blogtacular. Michelle Ward of When I Grow Up Coach is hosting 5 days of giveaways. This is day 2, so get your buns over there and see what she has going on before it's over! The good news is...she is taking entries until 6/8 and will announce all of the winners on 6/9. You can have one entry per giveaway day, and on some days she has multiple prizes! My rings will be featured on Thursday the 3rd, so make sure you enter for your chance to win. And if you don't know Michelle have a looksy at her site, she has an amazing coaching business, and she is so freaking adorable it almost hurts (in a good way of course).

In other news, I finally posted a facebook fanpage for olive & hope so get on over there and "Like" me if you wouldn't mind too awfully much. That would be just peachy of you! I'm hoping that having a page on facebook will make it easier to direct people to the rings - they can simply search olive & hope and find them. I am so grateful to those of you who have been passing out business cards (and keep running out), and to those of you who have purchased, and/or have shared my etsy page. It means so much to me. I have not been known to be the best marketer in the world, but I'm working on finding ways that feel right and good to me and my heart.

*the lovely photo of Desi on a bottle was taken by the most amazing djkreutzer of hippyurbangirl.com