several good things

Had a good meeting at work today; I shall be leading the next productivity workshop, which is exciting, and progress too.

I got myself some 'geranium' nail polish by essie.  which is going to be nice and bright for summer.  I might have mentioned that I kind of fancied bringing a bit of colour into my life.  and this lovely bright orangey red polish definately does the trick.  A really brilliant red don't you think?

I then also went on a small spree in town this afternoon.  I bought some black ballet pumps for £7.99, a pair of silky trousers for £7 and also crazy bright orange tracksuit hoodie  which is actually a size 13/14yr boys top from the children's section of H&M.  I also got Bub a new pair of swimming trunks for France for £3.

Oh, and a pair of black crocs.  My mum gave me a pair of pink ones, but even though I did find them very very comfortable, I just simply could not bring myself to wear them in public.  definately had the crazy old lady, or mum too frazzled to think air about them.

I know crocs are not cool.  but while I do care about style, I don't actually care what folk think and these things are a classic piece of good design, function being the form and all.  and f8ck it.  they are seriously like walking on clouds,  And in my book the black ones are OK for grown ups.  And they will definately be good for holiday.  

So a little bit of shopping booty.  Including some very useful things and a SPLASH of BRIGHT orangey geraniumy red.  Yum.

And we are off on holiday on Thursday.  Firstly the camping trip to suffolk.  Long may it not rain, and warm up a bit for..... not holding our breath about that of course, so will be packing the wellies and the very warm woolies. and then a coupla days later Bub and I are off to 'the warm bit of France' to stay again with La Famille Pring (et Stetler) at the Moulin de Pignac in the middle of nowhere.  Where hopefully things like swimming costumes and silky trousers will also be useful.

yoga day

I went for a full on, full day of yoga in a lovely hall in the countryside today.  I have to say I am cream crackered by the experience.  it was very very strong.  and I sweated.  I am battling with the notion of it being OK to be a yoga teacher and not yet be able to do all the poses.  I just don't reckon that I can manage some of them, maybe ever.  I don't know if I am being lazy in saying that, or realistic.  And of course I do know that this is not the point.  So its really only my ego that even cares.  And yoga is not meant to be about ego.  hmm.  I think I have answered myself there. 

I have also been on a bit of a low carb diet.  Tho I did break it today with a bit of cake. Being on a diet and practicing the yoga pose navasana are two things I am not very good at!! ha ha!

I loved the Olympic opening ceremony and am enjoying Hubs conversion to the whole thing.  He has been really enjoying archery and gymnastics so far. 

Decluttering my world

Decluttering.  GOD IT FEELS GOOD. It feels right.  I picked up a book on de junking your life from a charity shop.  I guess I felt i needed a boost in motivation.  And It totally worked.  The book drummed home the notion that junk is bad for your life, on so many levels.  In every way it sucks your life energy away.  If you collect and live in clutter and junk, if you watch it on TV, if you eat it..... its just BAD.

I got a rocket up my decluttering mojo. 

I had started to notice that the understair cupboard was getting out of control again.  So it was time for ACTION. 

now you can see the floor 

used jiffy bags and the excess clutter from the kitchen - to go

And for facing up to some realities.  Like the 2 massive bags of used jiffy bags and cardboard envelopes that I had been saving for selling ebay stuff.  I realised I was through with ebay (for itty bitty stuff anyway).  The last experience was a bad one: f some fussy shopper complaining about £1 she had spend on a used pair of kids pyjamas.  The whole thing was becoming more of a hassle than anyway of earning money.  And the book was clear that junk addicts are always saving stuff up for some elusive car boot sale, and I knew I was guilty.  However, because I am also rejuvenating my GREEN values, I need to recycle where I can.  And I am very glad to have rediscovered FREECYCLE.  The used jiffy bags were snapped up by an active ebayer.  And instead of the sale of baby stuff I have been meaning to set up since about 2 years ago (and the definate decision that I am NOT going to have any more children too, of course) I gladly offered the couple who are expecting a baby, ALL of the new born clothes and equipment I had. 

new born stuff to go

What was really lovely, was how nice they were, and how their reasons were ecological not just financial.  They got the cot, the baby towels, lots of clothes, a changing mat and various bits and pieces.  It felt really, really good.  And another mum collected the unused pull up nappies I had left over  - no longer needed since about a year ago. 

left over nappies to freecycle and 2 bags for the charity shop

And the charity shop I bought the decluttering book in? It got a fair amount of costume jewellery, some sets of body creams and brand new make up stuff I have not even opened, a load of clothes, some kitchen equipment  -  yes I tackled that cupboard too....   Loads of stuff actually 

getting rid of the financial clutter

Another area I am finally decluttering is my finances.  When I wasn't working I spent quite a lot of time seeking out the best interest deals and so on, squirrelling away money here and there, and opening up new accounts and new credit cards and so on.  And that, along with a decision to better align with my values in all aspects of my life.  I am in the process of switching our current accounts to the cooperative bank (the only ethical high street bank) and our savings into the triodos bank, which is properly ethical and also ecological.  Its going to take a while this, there are so many and they are all tied up to each other in ways that I keep remembering (my tiny numbers of share dividends pay into that account, the paypal comes of that account, itunes, amazon, all of that stuff.  Anyway.  Step by step, (I have a list!) I shall be disconnecting from Barclays, Tesco, Sainsburies et al and switching over to more ethical banking.  Am quite intruiged by the idea of funding circles for future investment purposes.  It seems a much better way of operating.  Sod the bankers and their greed over riding everything else.  I want to put my money where my mind and mouth is.  I know it was someone wise who said, that if what you think and what you say and what you do is all the same then you are a happy human being.  It might have been Gandhi. 

Anyway. so a shed load lighter I am.  And still some to go.  Am not, for example going to be hanging on to the cardboard boxes that inhabit the loft.  All the baby stuff is going to go.  And probably a lot of other things from up there too.  I know its in the loft and I don't actually see it. But energetically.  Its hanging over me.  And its going to GO! yay!

Lastly,  and on a TOTALLY different note.  I watched Fire in Babylon  - which is a documentary about Cricket.  I am not at all a cricket fan - but it was a brilliant and highly inspiring and entertaining true story.  With music.  I advise you to rent it and watch it.  x

awesome. go john!

hearts and stars

This morning I had a sudden urge to relaunch and idea called Hearts and Stars.  Its an art / craft / design idea which  - its simple  really  - anything to do with hearts or stars. Because I love these shapes.  I love stars most of all, but hearts come a close second.  Shiny and loving both of them.  I think I will do it.  apart from anything else this could be the My Brightly Coloured Life arm of my being.  So far I have only made it happen on Pinterest.  If you fancy having a look at the pictures I have been getting happy over, check em out just here.


http://pinterest.com/moyra_scott/my-brightly-coloured-life/

oh yes I can

I hope that one day I can look back and chuckle at my struggles with confidence over standing up in front of folk and teaching them stuff.  I am looking forward to the time, when I am shining bright and go out dressed in beautiful colours, cutting a swathe of joy and respect wherever I go, and when I speak in a relaxed, joyful and in charge of myself manner.  like I just rock and what I do is utterly awesome,  and I am not bragging but just sayin' it like it is.  And even then, its just so apparent and unsaid that I don't even need to say it. And I just enjoy being up there. Like its just me in my sitting room talking about stuff I know and love. 

Is that what I mean? I don't know! I kind of had a vision today.  This lady came into the gallery and she was wearing such amazing bright colours, (and her feller likewise, wow, what a couple!) and she didn't look mad, though the colours really were totally out there.  No, she looked amazing.  It was the first time, since I went minimal on my arse about what colours I wear, that I kind of wanted to splash out and go wild on the colour front. 

Perhaps the time of black, blue and grey is coming to an end?  I am thinking.  Perhaps its time to come on out of the cocoon?

And I do want to get to the point of being relaxed with it all.  I know its already big steps forward. And maybe I am being hard on myself.  or maybe I am just too easy on myself and I need to step it up even further.  I do, its not over yet.  Keep on climbing.  Keep on.   Yes I can. Yes I can.

Life's too short not to use the good bath oil

So today started off well, and finished up well. I did an hour of gentle yoga this morning, with a tad of navasana and utkatasana too. And I ate a good lunch. And then we went to Bubs new school for a play hour I n his new classroom. And I made hub come along and he decided again that he really didn't l I've the place. And I got really quite sad about that situation. He left and went to try and see if the schools could be changed. When I got back he had found out that it was quite a hopeless feat to change the allocation, and had given up on his diet. I felt right miserable and decided to have a bloody coffee, despite my earlier resolve to avoid caffeine. And then hub went and bought doughnuts and cake and so I ate 2 of those in a proper sabotagey sod it don't care about anything anyway kind of way. And then we both felt even more rubbish! It never works!! So for dinner I reigned it back in and ate well, and we had a good chat and all is much better. And this evening I had a really good chat with my very old friend. And we had a proper sort your life out long old chat too. And I really do feel much much better for that. I started off writing this post because we were talking about how you have to work out what matters and then arrange your life around that. And how it's important to nourish your soul. And lots of other things like making enough money not to be scrabbling around in a panic too often. And so very shortly I am off to have a lovely hot bath with good bath oil. It's a Nora Ephron quote that has stuck with me for the last few days. Life is too short not to use the good bath oil. And while it's not strictly bath oil as I prefer bubbles. It is Neals Yard and it's organic, it makes the bath smell like I just had an aromatherapy massage and it is definately on the good side. And as I poured it in, joyously using it up, I thought about how I want to make sure that my life has hot baths and good bath oil in it. I want long chats with good friends Art retreats Yoga Good food that nourishes my body Time with my son A happy home Travel especially to France and warm places (ohmygod I am getting fed up of this cold and wet summer we are having) Festivals Dancing Creative brainstorming Fine quirky intelligent minds to bounce ideas around with Camping Art gallery visits for inspiration Enough money to not scrabble around or feel panicked, and to make my home hospitable, and to eat out for every meal, (if I wanted to) Love Kindness Am sure there are other things. But right now, the good bath oil beckons. And I am very glad I have my old mate to chat with on soul levels with. Am a better person for it.