hello world

Today I am writing this in the Blue Dog Gallery.  There have been no customers, but at least the lovely owners suspected that this might be the case.  Last Monday they thought it would be dead and someone came in and snapped up 2 amazing metalwork and glass chairs for £1200.  That sort of thing is worth staying open for just in case.  Me, well I just love the opportunity to earn some cash, read my book (well I just started reading a book called Life of Pi - my brother and a couple of friends said it is a good one.  Have you read it?) and luckily I can even hoss about on the internet. Get me.

The universe is being kind to my quest to earn this  year.  Next week there is the possibility of 3 supergroups, though of course, I may get none, depending on the whims of fate.  However I'd like to think that the universe will be on my side again and hopefully give the ones on Tuesday and Thursday.  Much as I would quite like to travel to Birmingham and stay over in  a hotel for an extra £100 it would be awkward for child care as the focus group we had to move is now rescheduled for that date.  And poor Bub would be in the hands of someone who he won't be used to at bedtime.  But as we are at the moment, we are going to have to lump this one.  If that is how it pans out. Hub has got some more work too, which is all fab.  But it is precarious, in that, we both have no idea how much work will or won't come in in the next few months, and last year the 99% certain job did not come in, wiping out our saved monies.  At least I had something saved.  And good thing that I am in charge of the finances!! I think we have to forge on and put our faith in said lovely and beautiful Universe.  That work will continue to come in throughout the year, and that both of us will create ways of increasing our incomes.  I have more recruitment work too. 

Tomorrow I have a meeting with the Yoga Teacher re joining the Teacher Training this year.  I have just read the email and its all about getting plugged into the whole training experience.  Which means going on retreats really.  Universe I would LOVE to go on as many Yoga retreats as he does!!  More money and time away!! Although he does do one dayers and hopefully that ought to do for now!  Although, how, universe can I justify going on a week long yoga retreat???  How can I afford it? 

My week this week is a busy one now.  Today is Gallery work and yoga class (am pleased that I am making these twice a week so far this year)
Tomorrow I am meeting up with 2 mummy friends (one with new born and one who may not be able to make it as she is already a week over due!) Then on to my Yoga Teacher Training meeting.  Then collect Bub from Nursery and hang out all afternoon, awaiting the online supermarket delivery.... Oh and I am expecting a delivery of tee shirts (I sew labels into them for cash)

Wednesday is Playgroup and French class
THursday is my rescheduled trip to the Saatchi Gallery in London
Friday I am babysitting M (3 yr old) for cash
I think I put my name down for a stall at an art fair on Saturday.... not sure if I did or not.  But I could be doing that....
I think I put my name down for a stall at an art fair on Saturday.... not sure if I did or not.  But I could be doing that....

And ....  today is my 21st day of not drinking coffee.  And I have only eaten meat once (sarnies provided at work were very un vegetarian friendly).  I have drunk alcohol 3 times (onces in anger, oops and twice for social reasons) I have had considerably less milk (no lattes helps) and lots more veggies and less bread too..... It hasn't made any difference to my weight sadly, but at least I am eating well!!  I did find myself craving craving craving a coffee yesterday.  But am glad I held out to get through my 21 days.  I think I will generally be going for the vegetarian option from now on as well.  Not dogmatically, but still.  I just am starting to want to avoid meat eating. 

Lastly, for this is a long and rambling old post.  We are thinking of getting a car.  It is a luxury as we are fine without it. But we do have the money from the payout we got from our insurance on our car being written off.  And we will only be getting a tiny cheap car.  A Panda.  Very economical.  That's the plan anyway!

And having read a book about detoxifying childhood.  I am revisiting my desire to build community in our street.  I am not sure how. How about Universe  you help me come up with some ideas?  I have thought of having a party.  Its the simplest route n'est ce pas? Or just a project visiting the neighbours and getting to know them a little bit, just like that.  Maybe another more interesting idea will come to me now? 

I am looking forward very much to attending the Do What You Love retreat.  And - though I have been workly restricted from doing the more painterly and messy tasks on the brilliant Experimental Art Course even re reading the posts Amelia does is filling me with enthusiasm and ideas.  Go Amelia.  She is fab. When I do my creative retreat, she will definately be doing a workshop or 3!  xx

Laters y'all.  Love blossoming out to y'all.  Smile!

Millionaire Mind

How do you prepare for a challenge? What I do is read up and psych myself up for it, then start taking action.  I have a few of books about... well they are kind of about manifestation.  Somehow though they often have different titles, they seem to be able the same thing.  Anyway.  Yesterday I decided that first and foremost I need to get my mind and heart in the right place to set forth on my quest.  To Have Both.  To go on this retreat AND have Hub back me up that it is a worthwhile outlaying of cash and that I deserve it.  The main way to do this is to SHOW how much money I have got coming in.  Generally when I make a focus of my ability to bring in cash,  cash comes in.  I need to step this up right now as you know.  So I was babysitting for a friend last night and I took with me a bag load of my books.  Some on which chakra to focus on, some more about positive feelings being the way to manifest, and some like how to get rich books.  I read the Yoga book first, and well, I am pleased to say that on so many levels i am very glad to be getting back into my yoga again.  If I am looking at getting my financial life together (along with everything else, as its all interlinked) then Yoga is a good thing,

Then J woke up and I had to go and  settle him down again as he was crying.  He didn't want me to go away and so I ended up sitting there on the bed while he fell asleep (and it wasn't an instant thing, I would creep off and he would wake up again, so I just decided to stay there for a bit)  So I was getting bored and looking around, and there was a bookshelf in front of me, and its full of my friends books.  I can't see everything very clearly so I reach in and randomly pull a book out. Talk about manifestation,  Its called 'The Secrets of the Millionaire Mind' by T Harv Eker and 2 of my friends have mentioned it to me recently.  Cool.  The right tip for an evening spent studying ways to improve my wealth generation!

And indeed it is a very interesting book.  I have been reading it all day in my gallery job.  And am definately all fired up about some serious wealth creation!  One Idea I LOVE is that you have gotta think BOTH -  life not being either or, but asking the question, " How can I have both?" "How can I Do What I Love AND make a lot of money" or for me, "How can I go on this retreat AND have Hub feel great about it and support me whole heartedly in it"

And I like it because, it isn't all about being greedy or selfish to get wealthy.  It was about how to be of more use, to have more power, to HELP more people. So none of this depressing face reality or get harsh and selfish stuff.  But lots of the think creatively, take action (Ready, Fire Aim) and work it out as you go along.  Also it combines really nicely the whole, yes earn more money, but you also gotta save, and invest AND simplify your needs.  So for me it ticks  lots of boxes.  Am enjoying it.  One thing I also like is about money management.  It suggests you create a bank account for 'Financial Freedom" and you put in 10% of your income in there and this is used for investment purposes and buying passive income producing streams.  And you have a Financial Freedom jar in your house and you must put something into it daily, be it a penny or all your loose change or whatever.  To create the habit.  I like this. And then you also have a 10% which is PLAY money.  And you use this to spend on things that make you happy and FEEL Rich.  SO it balances your life and you don't feel at all deprived and likely to blow your savings.  Then he recommends 10% on long term savings for spending account.  10% for Education, 50% for necessities and 10% to your give account.  This he says means you can manage your money and be happy and be financially free on a much smaller amount of money than you thought.  And its worth setting up and doing even if you only have £1 a month to put in each account.  Just allocate something to it, and build up.

Anyway I am liking his thinking.  And I know Danielle La Porte somewhere said she liked naming her bank accounts with crazy outrageous and specific names... I want to set up an account somewhere called Financial Freedom Account.  I have in the past gone through long periods of saving 10% and it totally works.  (I also save 25% as I am self employed and I have to keep some back for tax). I definately want one of those jars in the house.  Cool.  And of course.  For me.  I am going to have a JAR for my Do What You Love Retreat fees.

I am also all psyched up for ACTION.  I have got a list of things to do. And I am doing them.  I did one today.  I contacted Dottie Angel to see if she would like me as a volunteer assistant on her retreat in Suffolk this summer.  Not only do I love her style and think I could be a good helper, but it is about seeing how different retreats work and meeting the artists/ craftspeople and workshop doers I admire. (another part of this books is all about learning by doing, getting involved, being there to see)

seeking vegan recipes....

Day 6 of no coffee.  And pretty much vegan eating and drinking.  I have not cut out tea with milk as I felt it would be just too much so I am drinking a wee bit of milk in tea, but that's it.  I have to say today I got major cravings.  I have been eating some sort of vegetable stir fry with quorn for several days now.  And I just really really wanted to chow down on some toast and honey, or chocolate brownie.  But I did manage to resist.  I am thinking that, if I really want to do this then I am going to have to think of some other things to eat.  So I have been wandering around the internet looking for tasty vegan healthy recipes that don't require a Vitamix or really totally out there kitchen equipment or ingredients.  I also think I may need to grow or buy some herbs.  Fresh herbs can really make a difference! The following that look pretty interesting.... The 2 recipes below are from a site called my edible advice

Makes 5-7 Pancakes

1 ½ cups thick rolled oats (certified gluten free, if available)

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda (aluminum free)

1 ¼ cups rice, almond, or hemp milk

2 tablespoons of melted virgin coconut oil

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1 banana, lightly mashed

coconut oil for cooking

1.Grind oats to a fine powder in an electric grinder or coffee grinder. Place ground oats, baking powder, and baking soda in a medium sized mixing bowl and stir together.

2.In a separate bowl, combine milk, coconut oil, maple syrup, and mashed banana and stir together. Pour the wet ingredient into the dry and mix together. Be sure not to over mix the batter! Gently fold in the blueberries. Add more milk if batter seems too thick.

3.Heat skillet over medium-low heat. Add a little coconut oil to the pan and drop the batter by the ½ cup full into the pan. Cook for about two minutes on each side. Watch temperature very carefully to avoid burning. Add more coconut oil to the pan before you make the next pancake. Repeat this process until all the batter has been used.

Serve with almond butter or pure maple syrup and enjoy every delicious (and healthy!) morsel.

Minty Green Smoothie

Serves 1-3

1 ripe banana, peeled and broken into pieces

1 medium apple, cored and cut into chunks

1 ripe pear, cored and cut into chunks

1 lemon, juiced

2 to 3 cups filtered water

3 to 4 spinach leaves, rinsed

3 to 4 kale leaves, rinsed and stem removed

¼ cup fresh parsley leaves

2 to 4 tablespoons fresh mint leaves

1.Place the banana, apple, and pear pieces, lemon juice and water into a blender. Blend on high.

2.Add the spinach, kale, parsley and mint leaves; blend again until very smooth. Add more water if needed. 

Broccoli Pesto Salad

2-3 heads broccoli

1 cup spinach leaves

1/3 cup pesto

2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 tbsp soy sauce

½ red onion, chopped

½ cup raisins, cranberries, or dried apricots

1 cup mixed sprouts

½ cup toasted pine nuts

½ cup feta cheese

1.Lightly steam the broccoli florets.

In a large bowl mix broccoli, spinach, onion, raisins, and sprouts.

In a small bowl mix together pesto, balsamic and soy. Toss over the vegetables.

Top with pine nuts and feta cheese. Chill well before serving.

ps there are pictures to go with these but the internet connection is really not allowing anything so complicated as uploadind images

thank you universe

So, the other day I asked for a bit of help with my work situation, having lost out on 2 jobs.  And today I got a call from the gallery with 2 days work for next week (that don't clash) and the possibility of more in Feb when they go on holiday.  Am very grateful. Thank you Magical Universe.

I have also via Kind over Matter, discovered a blog called, Zebrasounds its very cheery and lovely and because of its Love Project (check it out, its great) it inspired me to start a chat with a lady on the bus . I recognised her as one of the other mum's from Bub's preschool and was about to start texting but stopped and decided to say hello and start up a conversation with her.  And we had such a nice chat! It turns out she is a fellow creative, and is planning on starting up a home made kids clothes business, and may come along to a Likemind with me one day. 

I spent this evening watching Raging Bull as part of our Film Club.  Classy picture, beautiful, gruelling in parts (violence), amazing performances, sometimes a little too lovingly lingering, a tad indulgent (slow) but always made up for it in the beauty of its shots.  Every scene like an incredible photo. Not my favourite film though (Singing in the Rain, Citizen Kane both better in my book)

p.s end of day five without coffee.  virtually no milk. and no meat. and no cake.  I rock.


p.p.s thank you, again, Universe, your help is much appreciated.

Hub's on Fire and I have managed 3 days without coffee

Well I haven't really hit the ground running with the work this year.  But at least Hub seems to be getting  a good strike rate this year.  Good stuff.  Go Hub!! Fingers crossed he gets so much exceedingly well paid work he gets all generous and buys me a place on the retreat as a present!!

On the plus side for me I am now on DAY 3 without coffee.  And I have had very very very little dairy (like 2 cups of white tea's worth) and I have eaten really healthy stuff. My snacks have been like nuts and raisins.  I even went out to Bills (oh I love it! I want my life to be like going to Bills!) and had a really super lovely brunch with one of my mummy friends - haven't seen her for ages and she is a week away from her due date.  So it was a bit of a treat.

So just for my own satisfaction really
breakfast  = porridge without milk, with banana, apple, dried fruit and seeds of various kinds + 2 cups of tea
brunch  = roasted tomatoes on brown chewy toasted bread with pesto + cup of tea
snack = green smoothie (banana, spinach, almond milk, quinoa porridge, raspberries, pumpkin seeds)
more snacks = brazil nuts and dried fruit + green tea
dinner = miso soup and bowl of veggies and quinoa + bowl of muesli with fruit.

So no work but good eating for me.  Tomorrow is Likemind.  Looking forward to it, but I must say the whole no coffee thing is really going to be missed there, given that they are always in cafes that do seriously good coffees.... ouch. 

Its not the full on Crazy Sexy Diet (which is things like kale juice and low GI fruit) but its pretty health food as far as I am concerned. 

day 2 success and fails

I drank no coffee yesterday and I reckon I can do the same today.  I totally forgot about sugar and ate 2 enormous home made biscuits round at  friends house.  And then today I ate cake at playgroup.  OOPS.  so much for my resolve.  I am drinking a green smoothie every day (so far!!) which I am pleased with.  Generally its a better diet than where I was at. I have spent too much time online wandering around vegan and raw diet blogs.  There is a lot of stuff out there that I would like to try.  And I now find myself wanting a Vitamix.

I did do my experimental art coursework.  And loved one bit and found myself not so engaged with another bit - and amazed at what others managed to do with it.  Goes to show.

getting into gear

So its January 18th today and I am getting more and more motivated for the year ahead. I went to a yoga class on Saturday and last night.  And it feels soooo good to be getting back into that saddle again.  I had to write a letter to Jim Tarran who does the Yoga Teacher training here in Brighton.  It was really hard, as not really knowing what sort of thing that they are looking for (should I let rip and get all passionate and gushing about Yoga? Or are they really looking for a kind of Yoga CV and a list of things I have done.  I think what I wrote was OK.  Whatever I am glad I did it and handed it to him.  At the end of the day, it doesn't matter if I don't get in this year.  I am just glad to be getting back into my practice.  I figured that if I am not yet ready, then at least this will start the conversation as to what I need to do, or what sort of approach they are looking for so that I can get in.  And its not the only Yoga Teacher Training I can do.  the ball is rolling.  I am very excited.  I mean if it is a lot of study, at least its in something I am happy to practice and happy to study.  I fear that I am let down by my own lack of self discipline.  I mean how many years have I written on my to do lists 'DO YOGA EVERYDAY' and um.  How many days have I actually done it.  In a way, applying to do teacher training is a way of making myself step up my game. We will see.

Aside from the Yoga, or maybe because of it, I also want to start eating better and cleaner.  Christmas is not a time to be thinking of Green Smoothies or Vegan diets.  But today I AM thinking of those sort of things.  I have been reading Crazy Sexy Diet.... well I have been looking at the Blog anyways... and I am inspired.  What I liked about it, apart from the inspiring GO FOR IT warm hearted wake up call of it, was that it suggests a 60/40 or an 80/20 regime.  Where by its not the end of the world if you have a cake or a steak.  Just to try and improve your stats as to the proportion of raw, green, veggie stuff you eat.  There is a 21 day detox / kickstarter, where you pick something to improve and - for 21 days you keep to that improvement.  Like for example you can start with 'no fizzy drinks'.  Or in my case... I am going for the no coffee.  oUCH for 21 days.  I love my coffee, but it gets to be a habit I start to rely on.  I am going to cut down on the tea I drink.  But I am not going to go hardcore and have no caffeine at all.  I know it gives me headaches, so am being gentle with that.  I also want to drink a green smoothie everyday and cut down on dairy.  So to that end, its no milk in my porridge and as many herbal type teas as possible.  I am going to have the odd cup of builders with milk though.  And I bought some rather yummy looking Almond and Hazelnut milk to put in my smoothies. 

With my smoothies, its just a load of soft fruit with some spinach whizzed into  it.  Sometimes I use apple juice, and today I made it with this almond and hazelnut milk.  I am going to start growing my own alfalfa sprouts, which are really easy to do and hugely cheaper than buying them already sprouted. 

And this with as much Yoga as I can manage to fit in.  I like doing 2 classes a week.  But its GOT to be at least one.  And I really do want to start doing something on my own.

SO here we go with another one of these challenges..... its 21 days.  Are you into trying it? 
(am going to come back and put the links in to this, sorry they aren't there already!)