Birthday!

I am having the best birthday ever.  I got a nutribullet first thing and I have already made several smoothies and ground up some nuts and its just brilliant.  Really loving how powerful it is and how easy to use.   Then out for lunch  at Silo.  A super treat.  And then home to some awesome gifts from my boys.  Bub chose me a super snuggly koala? owl? onsie.  OOH i love it.  I got a bread knife from Bro -not just any bread knife mind, but the best bread knife in the world.  And lots and lots of amazing giftst and cards.  Brilliant. 

THIS! made me cry with joy and want to DANCE so very very much. Enjoy

Swing Dancers vs. Street Dancers @ Montreal Swing Riot 2015 from Alain Wong on Vimeo.

There is something about this clip that makes me so very excited.  I wish wish wish my body was able to do what these folk do.  I love to dance so much and feel the music.  I know in my head I am doing this when i hear music i love.  And hey - dance like no one is watching.  But if they were...they wouldn't see this.  This ROCKs.  I love a dance off - I love the whole thing of it, and how it gets better and better.  Just love it.  

Day 6 of the Reading Embargo. Oh and a new Laptop

I don't think the two things are related.  But I do have a rather spinky spanky new laptop.  My old one had been slowly getting slower and slower.  I need a computer for work.  And so now I have thigs.  Am very happy with it.  Am going to start afresh.  New empty computer.  Going a bit cloud based with everything.  Oh hello future.  It doesnt even have a bit to watch DVDs on it.  Get me. 

Oh and also for my artists date - I went and had an intuitive card reading.  It was really fun.  She was good - intuitive.  No massive truth revelations, but I enjoyed it a lot and she got some stuff really right which was interesting.  And fun.  It was definitely something I don't normally do and also something I had really fancied doing. 

Day 3 of no reading.... its getting harder!

So am on day 3.  I had to go onto FB today to do some promoting of some workshops I am doing.  Its hard to post and not read, so I did cheat a tiny bit by accident.  But only a teeny weeny bit.  And Other than that, I have been very good! No reading!!   Am definitely getting more done as a consequence. 

And I had a decaff coffee today  - instead of a real one.  I used some Smallbatch decaf coffee that I bought yesterday.  It was freshly ground and tasted and smelt delicious.   I tried an ecomil almond milk i bought this morning.  I have to say it wasn't a patch on the latte I had at Silo.  But I am thinking that perhaps they didn't give me almond milk.  It was incredibly creamy.  I think I may have to revisit to test it out again.  The almond milk I had in my coffee today was not creamy.  But it was an OK enough drink.  And  - so, the whole detox things  - I  am working my way up to it... slowly slowly!

I went to see Max St John of Wild Things today.   I would like to do his cohort business school thing.  Which is 3 sets of 2 days of thinking and experiencing around a bunch of things I know something about  - which I think  - feel - will be 1. interesting and 2. helpful  and 3. with a bunch of great other people. 

I have a thing.  Its probably imaginary, or a construct.  But its not helping me.  And I want to face it and  - deal with it, somehow.  This may help that too.  It may not.  But I don't exactly know how to deal with it so at this stage anything that seems as if it might help is worth a punt.  

So.  When I say thing.... its like a confidence crisis thing.  Or ... a tendency to.... get down on myself when maybe I don't need to?  I think this is what the thing is. ... Its something along these lines.  I mean, "They say"  that "the only thing holding you back is you". And I think it may be something to do with that too.   And mainly I want to be in a place where it doesn't matter.  But I don't want it to be a place where I have backed off and given up and not done something I really want to because of this - fear... .......it probably is a fear isn't it.  they ususally are, these things.

So....what is it that I am afraid of, exactly?   

 

Day 2 of No Reading

Yes  - its um, interesting this no reading thing.  I find it hard to not write.  Or communicate.  Funny to be doing it one sided, like broadcasting.  Well, narrow casting.  I am not sure that many people are reading this!

I am finding it really energising.  Slipping into mindless internet browsing is so easy and this embargo has stopped me wasting my time doing that.  Even eating feels more satisfying.  As I can't escape to somewhere else and distract myself while doing it.  Its making me more present in everything I am doing. 

I am not sure what to do as my Artists Date this week.  Its an 'invitation to play' apparently.  So it ought to somehow be fun.  I am inclined to go a bit worthy with everything I do.  So  - I want this one to be purely delightful.  Just for mine own delight.  2 hours.  I'd like to do a floatation tank thing.  I am considering dancing - but that feels energetic and requiring of bravado to get there and start.  I would like to go to storytelling or maybe the cinema on my own.  To see something.... planned or unplanned.  Horse riding - that has to happen at some point.  I can ask Charlotte about that.  Oh and I need to make a Moussakka.  And get some outer spacers (sherbet in paper shaped like flying saucers)  That's about doing things you liked doing as a kid.  Maybe putting records on and dancing in shorts.  HA!  hilarious. 

The other thing I am gearing myself up to is this detox.  No caffeine, no sugar, no dairy... I have now bought myself some proper decaff coffee to make expresso decaf with.  And I need to buy some almond milk to go with that.  Hanover will sell me that I am sure. 

And we need to sort out Bub's 8th birthday party - party bags (Star Wars / Space themed) and a home made banana cake with no sugar in that we can eat.  And a sugary one for everyone else who like sugar. 

Its funny how we none of us even like sugar any more.  Its just off menu completely!

And I am going to be very very busy in November and December.  Lots of work.  Don't let myself be so busy I can't stop myself from being busy.  Keeping my Fridays and my Art Journaling in.  Needed.  Breathing space. 

M

The Artists Way - week 4. Reading Embargo

I am in week 4 of the Artists Way -  doing it with a group of people at No 45 in Brighton.  I have been really inspired by this book and done bits of it before, and indeed got into the habit of writing the artists pages every morning......but I have never done it all the way through and I certainly did not keep up with the Artists Date side of things.

So now I am in company  - I even have a buddy to keep me on track.  And this week.  NO READING.  For me, this included the general browsing on facebook I do rather too much and in a rather addicted like fashion.  I do use facebook for work, but I also use it for an equivalent of mindless TV viewing.  And as it is reading, not talking.  I am giving it up for a week.

This is actually kind of a relief.  I had been wanting to have a break for a while.  But had not been able to resist it, which had begun to make me feel angry and annoyed with myself. So it is a welcome challenge.

So what is going to happen instead. Evidently blog posts!! ha ha! I won't be reading any blogs, but I can write them!

I had a new client for my business today.  The lovely photographer Sophie Sheinwald.  So far so good.  Just got a text from her sayind, "God, this is brilliant!!!"  I am taking that as a good sign.

With my associate work, I am going into a phase of intense activity - and also learning.  I am considering whether to take on some professional training, and in the mean time I will be doing some shadowing - to expand my range upward to more senior and executive levels.  Very exciting - and also a bit scary.

One of the things I have noticed from doing the Arists Way is a tendency to not put myself "out there" I had an intention  - a while back - to "get into the arena" and I did.  And I think its time to up my game again.  A bigger Arena.  Where more confidence and leadership skills are required.  Where i need to have more authority and be stronger.  So - stretch time again.  Which is a little uncomfortable but also necessary.  I'm feeling good about it.  Even though it is a little scary.  A little scary is good and exciting I think.

I have also been doing a lot of gratitude work.  As in writing 2 pages of gratitudes every day.  Also really good.  Especially after the pages.... (if you don't know what they are  - have a look here - will put a link in)

What else.  Regarding the tracking.  and the caffeine etc.  Today I have been a bit rubbish.  lots of tea and a coffee.  Yesterday I didn't even have a coffee.  Well I dscovered that Silo do an awesome decaff with almond milk latte.  It was delicious.  So am thinking I may get some proper lovely decaff coffee  - and one day I will make my own nut milk (I know Silo do, bless em) too.  In the mean time I have discovered a delicious creamy dreamy way to make a decaff diary free coffee taste bloody amazing.

Alcohol.  hum.  had a glass of wine yesterday.  only a little one....but still.  am working my way up to a week's detox before the retreat (with Erin Faith Allen in Glastonbury)

All is good. 

tracking day 2

 

Hiya!

Me again.  Tracking again....

And this - this is part of  my keeping record.  Always has been this wee blog.  I return to this when I am working on myself.  This time its to do with detoxing / eating clean / nourishing myself.  I am working on cutting down on my caffeine intake.  Oh and alcohol as well.  Less of that.

Am also tracking my Artist's Way journey.  I am  going through / doing the artists way again with a group of likeminded souls in a stuctured and supported way. The above podcast came my way as part of this.  its good.  have a listen.

I guess I ought to commit to how many days I am going to track for.  I am not good at committing.  committing ought to be something i work on .  maybe.  for now i am going with this in a relaxed way.

I had 2 cups of tea and one cup of coffee so far today. 

I did better yesterday.  But that was because my second cup of tea was caffeine free and rooibosh.  Tomorrow I can do the same.  To  be honest it works just as well for me.  I like one proper cup of tea but the other can be redbush.

I ate a goodly breakfast of spinach, smoked salmon, cottage cheese and avocado.  And my first drink of the day was hot water and lemon.

Yesterday was all good till chips for tea.  But not too many and I am not going to be harsh on myself.

am doing my morning pages, gratitudes and affirmations.

Am annoyed right now because my second phone appointment of the day has been postponed.  Which means I still have to do the work but have been sat here while I could have been doing something else instead. 

OK that's it so far.  I have very much enjoyed this podcast from Magic Lessons
and I am buying the book.  mainly because I think it will reaffirm everything I believe.  and because it is a book I wanted to have written.  nevermind.  I will write it again in my own way when and if the time comes. 

https://soundcloud.com/riverheadbooks/ep-12-big-strong-magic

art journaling and space clearing

Today I drove out to Forest Row to run an art journalling.  It was so very quiet out in the countryside.  I think we forget when we are used to living in a town how noisy it can be.  The quiet was palpable.  The art created was beautiful as was the raw key lime pie made by our host.

An update. some more tracking...

Blimey it has been a while.

I am back here, because I am growing and changing again.  And its a tracking thing.  I think that is what this space is for me.  A kind of checking in with how things are going.

I have come a long way since I started this blog and many dreams have come true.  I am an artist, I work as an art teacher outside the box, I am a qualified and now experienced yoga teacher.  And I am also a well paid consultant and coach and I help people declutter thier lives.  Life is good.  My husband has stopped eating sugar and is looking after his health.  And we are no longer completely broke.

So what am I tracking?  Well 2 things.  Firstly I am taking part in An Artists Way group so am going into that space again.  Artists dates, morning pages, all that.   And transitioning from a form of coaching I underwent which was all positive energy stuff.  No negativity.  This Artist Way stuff requires me to moan apparently.  I am actually pissed off and angry about being told to moan! ha!

But there's that.  And there is also the Erin Faith Allen art retreat I am going on.  Im not tracking that exactly.  But I have been asked to detox for it.  To allow better intuition.  I am unsure, but at the same time I have kind of been getting a bit of a message from - well.  Intuition.  That this might be a good idea.  I often write about wanting to be a "clean eater" and its always interested me.  So.  Is this my opportunity?

I am still unsure.  Or addicted to caffeine.  Hmm.  Probably the latter.  But having just had my large cup.  I am pondering how far I am going to go towards this.

I am committing to cutting down my caffeine intake.  That is as far as I am going at the moment.

Since the amazing holiday in France I am also slightly in the habit of having a glass of wine, er, nearly every night.... So that too.  I am cutting down.  I am not quite ready to cut it all out.  But cutting down.  And yesterday I did not have a wine, and tonight too I think I will skip it.  I can go for weeks...... so.  There is that.

Generally I have made small steps towards healthy eating and exercise.  I am eating a protein and veg breakfast and I am not eating sugar  - for the most part.  And no processed foods.  And I am doing a 1minute plank every day.

So I think I will  blog again.  And see how it goes.  Not too demanding.  But inching forward nevertheless.  Making it easy for myself.

This week's artist's date is going to be going to a meditation class somewhere i have not been before.  Or a class I have not gone to.  And a pedicure.  Actually the last one is pampering.  But that is actually in the artists way contract.  So its most definintely allowed.

Oh.  And having tried various coaches, I am going to work with one.  On quite a low key once a month or once every 2 months basis.  And see how it goes. 

Guest Blogger on Wild Motherhood

Rather honoured to be able to share my story of how I came to Wild Art Journaling over at WIld Motherhood. 

Have a look just here http://www.wildmotherhood.com/#!Wild-Art-Journalling/ctu0/561272ff0cf25fa7fe272a2d