Friday, January 8, 2010

Free For All Friday: New Year, New You

T.G.I.F.

We are warming up in the new year (a figure of speech, as it is a chilly 26 degrees outside right now).

We don't have a lot of ground to cover, but it's a good start to the new year. Don't miss our update about the Super Bowl Snack Throw Down...

.

Signing off until tomorrow...

16 comments:

Robin said...

I'm glad the book made it! Now, my first piece of advice is to spend your writing time working on the proposal. Sounds backwards but don't write the book yet. It's sort of like running without your shoes tied, you can make the journey but you're more likely to trip and fall along the way. The book explains it better! LOL


Tracking for me will involve appointments. I need to do at least one me centered activity (massage, pedicure, etc.) a month. Ideally I'll plan ahead and not let myself back out. I'll make contingency plans for times when I absolutely have to cancel.

Mandy said...

You guys are so sweet for giving me such a warm welcome!! Thank you!

Tracking for me will be a couple things...
1- keeping a tally of when I stand my ground and decline the rearranging of MY schedule to appease someone in my family.
2- I want to call one person a week who I feel I want to catch up with or reconnect with, by my choice and on my terms.

I am proud to say that I said no yesterday! I am NOT going to drive an hour and a half to have dinner in Rochester, because they really prefer not to drive here. Why should I pack up my 3 kids and my guy (who they have not met, in an ENTIRE year!!), and drive out there because they're too busy and don't want to come here?!?! I live in the middle, and have relatives an hour in both directions... and contrary to popular belief... I am busy too, and even though I am self employed, I have to work too!! :)

Kat said...

OK, so I am feeling like my resolution is a little overly ambitious. I am not quitting or anything, but doing something every single day seems like a lot.
I think I will start by checking off a day on the calendar each day that I follow my routine. Then hopefully those days will increase throughout the year.
Heather- One piece of advice I would give you would be to choose what area you are decorating ahead of time. Then when you are out shopping or whatever you can pick up pieces as you go. To me, this is much easier then going out and trying to get everything in one, day. Check out http://www.thenester.com/ and http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/ for inspiration!

Mandy said...

Where do you all live? (just curious!) I found you through one of my customers in NJ, when she posted about me on a different site... so I kind of assumed that's where you all were.

And to Kat- I had to check out the sites you sent for Heather- thanks! I love them too!

Heather- Etsy is a great place to find amazing hand made home decor! I'm totally addicted!!

Claudia @ Highlowaha said...

Nice beginning to the day, women.

Mandy, good job not just giving in to the long drive, just so you don't have to disappoint a family member. Isn't our happiness really about the small decisions we make all along the way? Yesterday you made a good small decision. Here's the the Year of Family.

KAt, great suggestions for Heather. I'm taking notes too! AND... good for you for recognizing your goal might be more ambitious than is necessary for you to be successful. Honing our goals is exactly what the purpose of this week's activities was all about.

Robin, it will be hard for me to do, but I will trust the process. I've already started reading part of the book and it's got some great information.

Claudia @ Highlowaha said...

Mandy, We are in Dallas.

Katie said...

For tracking, I am making tally marks in my calendar. My goal is to have more tally marks for a month than I had for the previous month. That way, as my comfort level is rising each month, I will make more phone calls each month.

Cheryl- that's a promise I made to you- not the whole world!! Making progress, one person at a time.

Mandy said...

Well then... I have no idea how I got here!! LOL- Obviously I need you! Thanks for the encouragement!

Peggy said...

I'm in Illinois, but please don't call me a Flatlander... I was born and raised a Cheese Head (Est. 1964 Wisconsin) The Fab Four (with Katie at times) are all in Dallas, but we all have connections to Claudia.... like 6 degrees of separation....

For me and the Year of Balance... I will have many ways to measure:
numbers and stats for body balance,
for mind... clear conscious, positive feelings, calmness, soul... the amount of pleasure I give and receive through RAKs, positive reinforcement and many others TBD.

All these things can be written down in a journal(I love writing on my blog ... http://prdesigns.blogspot.com
or on a calander or just as a positive note in my brain.

I also want to be on other HLA-ers journeys... because the tips and advice can work for me too! Making ME time... the thrill of the find (especially at a thrift store) Each of those things can give me balance to learn and be more well rounded too...

Katie said...

Peggy and all:

Now that you mention the Fab Four, I need to let you all know that I have taken a step down from the "head table" of this blog. It was simply not a role that I could continue to fulfill given the point I am at in my personal journey. I will still be around to be a part of this great community, but just won't be holding that leadership position any longer. Those fabulous ladies are now the Tremendous Trio!

Heather @ HouseofShine.com said...

Kat thanks for the websites and Mandy I love etsy too!

I'm obviously a bargain shopper so it will be hard for me to actually make a purchase but I am forcing myself to at least do one a month.

Claudia @ Highlowaha said...

What I love about Heather is that I totally cannot relate to the angst she experiences over spending any and all money whatsoever.

I wish someone would tell me it was my task to purchase one piece of furniture a month!

Cheryl Houston said...

It's too damn COLD here today. My internet is back up and running at home- yay- and I made it into work at the half way mark of the day.

Great input everyone.

Katie- just trying to help. :)

Tracking- I think I'll hvae a better grip of how I can track my time after my workshop but as to what Claudia was saying I need to plan out when I'm going to dedicate time to creating my art. Part of my time needs to dedicated to organizing my junk room into a studio space where I can be efficient and inspired.

The rest of this month will be spent preparing my paper and canvas as well as gathering other materials for actual painting at the workshop. :)

Heather @ HouseofShine.com said...

Claudia by all means...if you want to come purchase furniture once a month I'll give you a place to "store" it.

=)

Peggy said...

Share-
I would like to share a cool place with y'all:

http://heidiswapp.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Heidi has a cool blog, I've been following her for more than two years (she lived in Beijing during the Olympics), right now she might have a little bit of something for EVERYBODY. She is an author, mother of 5, crafter, entrereprenuer, decorator, entusiastic. Check out her WEBCAST from Wednesday. She is so darn cute, pink is her signature color. She is setting goals for herself.... (of course you can buy her scrapbooking/craft supplies) plus today for Claudia she is posting a crock pot recipe that got 14 thumbs up from her family. I think she is very fun!

Claudia @ Highlowaha said...

Peggy... I think a thank you is in order. I checked out the site you recommended and 90 minutes later I am just resurfacing!!!!!

There is so much to look at, so much to see, and so much to understand.

I must digest. I love the idea of the webcast and am thinking we might try to delve into this at some point.

Thanks for sharing.