5 Tips to Create More Consume Less in 2015

2014 included a lot of down time. Which meant lot's of reading, Pinning, subscribing to newsletters, following blogs, adding podcasts to my Stitcher list, audiobooks from the library (who loves free?!), and general consumption of incredible amounts of information. So much good! And then there comes that moment when it's all spinning around in your brain and it's just. too. much.

When my brain is * all jazz hands * all the time * there is no quiet space.  

No room for that one big idea to be born. No space for that quiet whisper that has led me to so many greater places than I could have planned myself.

Lately, I'm reading more about how to blog than I'm blogging. Swallowing more ideas on ways to heal than I'm actively making time to heal. Somethin's out of whack here. Yes there is a time to learn and boy howdy do I love Google and YouTube for a quick how to. It just seems that far more learning comes from the doing. You know what I mean?

2015 is going to be so freakin' amazing! I'm planning it well: Plan A, Plan B and the one the Universe actually delivers. I will be ready.

Here are 5 ways I plan to consume less and create more in 2015:


1. Take Scheduled & Unscheduled Information Breaks

• Every Sunday will be screen free. Even Instagram. Gasp!
• We don't have a TV (or watch on a laptop) and plan to keep it that way.
• I listen to radio news only (local and national) and not everyday.
• Once a month I'm scheduling a three day information break. All books, audio, radio, screens (accept necessary email), newsletters, magazines- all information. I'll use that time for a mix of creating stuff like writing, and creating quiet through more yoga and tiny hikes.
• When I start to feel that spinning feeling, I'll know it's time for an unscheduled break.

2. Unsubscribe Ruthlessly 

• When I get all excited about something (green smoothies, anyone?), I can go a little overboard subscribing to newsletters, adding blogs to follow, and generally signing up for way too much information. After the dust settles (7 days or a few months), unsubscribe ruthlessly. If you find yourself deleting without reading, just unsubscribe. You can find it in a hot second if and when you really need the info.
• When money blocks were a big growth area I was focusing on, I subscribed to over a dozen money manifesters, money block coaches, and the like. I got a feel for each, how our style worked together or didn't- then unsubscribed ruthlessly. 

 My new rule is follow 3 people for each focused subject if I want to dig deep, stay focused, and learn. 

• Same goes for junk mail and sales calls. Take the extra minute and ask to be removed or call and request it. Worth it.

 3. Schedule time for blog and newsletter reading.

• 2 hours a week (1 hour 2x a week)- 8-9am Thursdays and 2-3 Tuesdays are on my calendar to read newsletters and blogs. If it takes more time than that, it's time to unsubscribe and make tough choices. Staying focused is helping me do more with my time and energy. Workshops and self paced classes are different and scheduled in as I can manage them. Thanks to Courtney Carver for the 2 hour max idea!
•   Create a filter in your gmail so newsletters automatically are filed in their own special folder. No wasted time moving them as they come in or tempted to get off task and down the rabbit hole!

Tutorial on Turnstone to create filters and another from Google.

4. Set a daily goal for creating. No consuming until you have created.

• My starter goal is 100 words a day. No email, blog reads, or even instagram until that is done.

 5. Fill your self up so there is more of you to give! 

• More staring at the sunset. 
• More standing under trees. 
• Sitting by the sea side. 
• Pausing in the middle of anything for a few needed long, filling breaths.

What moves you? What fills you up? What feeds your creativity?

Leave me a comment below. I'd love to hear!

xo,

Amy

Saturday. Billy Bragg, Vermicomposting, Yoga Workshop. And Breakfast.

Happy Saturday! Breakfast from the garden (mostly). Love pulling out our home dried tomatoes from summer farmers markets. Tomato plants are not happy growers in our foggy little garden. Kale and greens thrive and we are so very glad.

Today I'm listening to some old Billy Bragg songs.

Headed to a yoga workshop at mBody on Energy Management using holistic health tools by Malia of namasteslo. Yes, please.

Tidying up the worm bins. Have I mentioned we are vermicomposters? 

Yes, it's going to be a lovely day.

How about your Saturday? Leave a comment below. I'd love to hear!

xo,

Amy

How Susan Branch Helped Me See My Awesomeness

I have always known how awesome you are. Yes, you. Wherever you are on this journey, whether you see it or not, I can see you are awesome.

While low self esteem has never been a label I would slap on myself, I don't think I've ever seen my own awesome. And I think it's getting in the way. In the way of complete and miraculous healing that I am so ready for. 

Yesterday, Susan Branch (and a few others), helped create one of those Aha! moments in my life.

My dear friend, Barbara, has the happiest of shops. Susan Branch was coming to do a book signing. I jumped in to both help my friend and just soak up all of that happy I knew the women coming would be simply bubbling over with. Some traveled from Minnesota to meet Susan!

As I re-folded tshirts and helped pass out cupcakes, a few women recognized me from my former business. I was a Cupcake Lady what seems like a life time ago. One thanked me for what I had made for her (I am still particularly proud of my gluten free and allergen free recipes). Several wanted to know what I was doing now and share some happy thoughts both about and for me. So very kind, I thought. People are so very awesome.

Women (and a few husbands) waited with patient excitement to meet Susan. 

Now, friends, I have come smack face to face with Michael Jackson as I entered a side door in Vegas and he with his entourage tried to exit. Weird was all I thought. Growing up in California, I've met many movie stars and the like. I have never understood the idolization of stars or even collecting autographs.

As I watched woman after woman hold Susan's hand, some crying some too excited to stand still, as they told their story and how her soft and cheerful paintings, her gentle written words lifted them through cancers, caring for and then losing loved ones, and so many stories just as big to each person. As I watched her listen with open hearted love, never seeming to let it take from her own energy...

I got it. 

They didn't want Susan's signature. 

They wanted to stand in her light.

and her signature would be a token to remember that moment by. Hopefully to be inspired by. 

Susan remembered me from an intimate show she had hosted several years ago here in her home roots- and mine. I was touched. All of these people from events, business, life...and she remembered me. Again, I was touched by the amazingness of others.

Later, Barbara shared how incredible that Susan remembered me. I don't recall what she said but for the first time I thought of the others that had asked about me, thanked me, remembered me that day and for THE FIRST time it occurred to me that I, too, am worthy of being remembered. That what I give to this world is something others are thankful for. That the kindness and gifts I have and choose to share are also pretty darn awesome. 

This isn't about how awesome I am or even how awesome Ms. Susan Branch truly is. I want to share the beginning of my accepting my own awesome and it is my lovelies of wishes that you know how awesome you are! Watch out, 2015, I'm bringing all of my awesome with!

PS You can read about our day on Susan's blog! Scroll down to Past Events here.

You are loved.

You are loved.

Get Rich, Lucky Bitch: Book Review & What I Learned

When I first came across this book in my online meandering readings, I was not drawn in. The opposite for me. Too strong a title and I want peace and abundance, I told myself, not a shiny new car or giant beach house. Then I saw this chat with the author, Denise Duffield-Thomas and Leonie Dawson (love her!). Randomly it seems, but I really don't believe in random. Wow, I like that girl, I thought, and went back to check the book out for real.

Turns out, it's not really a get rich quick book at all. It's totally about creating an abundance mind set, letting go of old tools and blocks, letting yourself be open to all the possibilities. Which are, of course, unlimited.

It's about getting out of your own way.

My goals with money are different than Denise's and at first that distracted me from the bigger point. It doesn't really matter what your goals are. It's about getting out of your own way so you can reach them.

You're totally smart enough. You're totally capable. I know I am, too. Denise helped me see some of the blocks, excuses, and fears I have been stuck in while also sharing a few practical tools to get over it and get on with it. Thank you, please!

This is my big giant take away:

1. De-clutter every area of your life that isn't conducive to your goal. Every. Area.

2. Decide *exactly* what you want.

3. Surround yourself with +positive+ energy, people, and things.

4. Take inspired action.

5. Receive. Fine tune.

6. Keep digging deeper.

Have you read Denise's book? Or maybe another book is currently rockin' your world. Leave a note and tell me all about it!

Places to visit:

Denise Duffield Thomas: Money Mindset Mentor website

Follow my Good Books board on Pinterest

Leonie Dawson's Create Your Amazing Year Calendar and Workbook



 This post does contain affiliate links.

Little Chick Thrifty Quilt- in progress

This isn't your average quilt. It's thrifty and easy. I know you can do this and if you have actual quilting experience...no doubt even better. But if you have no experience but can stitch a stitch- you can make this, too.

I used:
a thrifted sheet with embroidered trim, cut into 42" square
wool blanket someone had washed and tossed in the dryer- super soft!
found doily and sweet hanky I stitched with one of my favorite embroidery patterns you can see here, Aunt Martha's 3753

Lay 'em out, stitch 'em up!
Place your scrappy bits (lace, trim, doilies, hankies, etc) on your top sheet until you have the look you want. Sew in place.

Now, lay your blanket right side DOWN on your kitchen floor. Layer your sheet on top, right side UP. Pin and smooth, pin and smooth. You want to make sure you don't stitch any lumps in place.

I used my acrylic ruler that happened to be four inches wide to draw lines across the quilt with a disappearing ink pen. Hand stitch (or machine) down each line.

The blanket is almost done! I still need to make the binding (using this method) and bind it. Bedrest has me stitching up a storm but no able to dash off for the perfect fabric for the trim. I'm a big believer in using what you have but I want a certain something not in my collection of fabrics. We'll see if I hold out for a fabric shop run or make do! I'll post the finished quilt soon. For more crafty ideas, follow along with my Pinterest board, Handmade and Handmade Embroidery!
What are you working up lately?
xo,
Amy

Happy Fall! My Hopes for the Season

Enjoying breakfast on the porch this morning.

It's the day after Halloween! Time to get started planning and making holiday goodness. This is the first holiday season as a family for my Fisherman and I, plus the wee one on the way. Being on bedrest, moderate or not, it's a humbling chance to slow down. Soak up the season. Enjoy tiny moments. My hopes for celebrating the season:

• not spend any money on decorations, including a Christmas tree. use what we have, make the rest, use nature to bring the season inside. 
• purge even more of my own holiday decoration collection 
• make a short list of simple gifts to make and share and stick to it. 
• spend time on handmade cards. mail early.
• above all else: keep it simple and roll with it.

Bam. That's really just about it. How do you hope to celebrate this season?

xo,

Amy

Embroidery Projects- finished!

A couple of weeks ago I shared a handful of stitchery projects I was working on. Well, I finished them up and a few more, too!

 Aunt Martha's 3771 Hooty Owls

                                                   Aunt Martha's 3753 Barnyard Happenings

another pick from Aunt Martha's Hooty Owls #3771

a happy little whale. not sure where I found him.

What projects are you working on? For more of my favorite embroidery ideas and patterns, follow along with my Pinterest board: Handmade, Embroidery!

Enjoy!

xo,

Amy

Little Embroidery Projects

Just a few things I've been working on in my abundant down time. I've been embroidering anything that will stand still long enough for me to get some stitches in! What have you been working on?

Aunt Martha's 3753 Barnyard Happenings

Just starting this little guy and haven't decided what color he'll be. Colorful is my go-to combo but he might be all in Blackwork...

Aunt Martha's 3771 Hooty Owls

Baby bumps are darn handy.
For more of my favorite embroidery ideas, follow along with my Pinterest board: Handmade- Embroidery!

Enjoy!

xo,

Amy

Update: Whew. See the finished embroidery here!

Lola. Our Black Sex Linked Hen

Lola is one of our Black Sex Linked laying hens. See the touch of iridescent in her feathers? She's a pretty one and likes to strut her stuff. Here she is coming in from the rain.

The other girls pretend not to notice as Lola rocks to her own tune. 

 A few things to ponder if you are considering this breed:

• mega layers! these girls lay around 300 eggs per year.

• chosen for their above mentioned egg laying power house but sometimes used as dual purpose
• they are less aggressive than Rhode Island Reds but they can be pretty darn bossy themselves
• a hardy bird, good for colder climates
• averaging 5.5 to 9 pounds
• their name come from the direct link between their color and their sex: females are a beautiful iridescent black, males have much more red
• beautiful chocolate brown eggs
• a cross between Rhode Island Red and Barr Rock

Do you have chickens or thinking about them? What are your favorite breeds? For more ideas and resources on raising chickens, follow along with my Pinterest board, Chickens and Garden!

Enjoy!

xo,

Amy