A blog tour (a week late)

Well, as usual, I seem to be running about a week late with things that aren't on my "must do to stay alive" list, so I'm about a week late in getting my blog post up for a blog tour I am part of.  I suck.  I know.  I'm ok with it.  Anyway....

I was asked to be part of a blog tour by the lovely and talented Eileen Nishi.  I met Eileen at Serendipity last October, and although we didn't really spend a lot of time together there,  any time we did interact I thought "this chic is just cool."  Since then, we've become blog/instagram/facebook friends and I admire her eye for  photography, her laid-back-mama-of-boys parenting style and her funky fashion style (her glasses! Her shoes! swoooon.)  You can check her out at www.westofwhimsy.com.  She's awesome.  Go see for yourself.

Anyway, on with my blog tour interview. 

What am I working on?
Most of my writing and photography these days is about capturing memories for my family and my daughter.  I burned out of scrapbooking in a very big way before Riley was even born, but I have been really diligent about taking photos and writing in my journal all along,  and I'm currently working on curating some of that into what I hope becomes a personal history of my life as a mother.  It's a very private undertaking, which is why I haven't talked much about it, and it's turning out to be deeply healing.  Besides that, I'm working on some other writing projects (fiction!  short stories!) and also working on a photo project that I hope to turn into something awesome someday.   

 How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I'm not even sure what my genre is. Blogger, I guess, although that feels more defined and real than I consider myself to be.  Writer is more accurate, because although I write all the time, 95% of the stuff I write will never show up on my blog.  I write about being me, being a mom, being a sister, daughter, aunt and friend.  I write about what's happening in my world and I write about how it makes me feel.  I write a lot of poetry - some good, some really, really bad. Character sketches.  Essays.  Lists.  Random crap.  I write a lot for no major reason, which perhaps is unique in and of itself.  I'm just trying to get the words out. 

Why do I write/create what I do?

Quite honestly, I write to stay sane.  Because there is not better way for me to work through an experience or process what I am feeling.  Because once I can lay down the words that are bouncing around my head into some sort of cogent structure, I can start to bring them to center and integrate them into my life story.  Simply put, if my words can't come together to tell the story, I know I have more soulwork to do.   My reason for my inteest in photography is also simple.  I take pictures because I want to remember things.  I try to learn about technique, composition and form because my life continues to offer up beautiful moments and I want to capture those in a way that reflects that beauty when possible.   It's that simple. 

How does your writing/creative process work?
One of my New Year's Intentions was to be more conciously and consistenly creative.  Althought I am constantly writing in my head, I am not the best about getting words down in a meaningful form unless I commit to it. So a few nights a week, I've been setting my timer for 30 or 45 minutes and just working on something.  Anything.  My photos, my writing, a jewelry piece, a sewing project or the Project Life Album Riley and I are keeping this year....whatever.  Something. I do something creative.  It sometimes feels forced, but when the timer rings, I'm always glad I did it. 

So, I had three people who agreed to take part in this tour, and for different and valid reasons, all three were all unable to do it.  So, how about some of my readers take over?  Anyone want to help continue this blog tour?  Shoot me an email and we'll get you going.  And thanks, Eileen, for the invitation to join!  

Rainy nights and HELLS yes!

I am stretched out on a squeaky twin bed in a rental house in St. Simons Island, GA.  My little girl is in the twin bed beside mine, having finally exhausted her seemingly endless stream-of-consciousness chatter and dropped into an even-breathed sleep. The rain is hitting the rooftops of this old, charming house in a steady, solid rhythm that I find soothing and sleep-Inducing.  Our friend and her dog are both asleep in the other room, their presence a reminder of the lovely people we are lucky to have in our world.   The four of us piled in the car and drove a rainy five hours from Atlanta to the Georgia coast hoping for sunshine, but it looks like we may only have tiny slices of that particular commodity.  That's ok.  Rain or shine, I'm grateful for the time away from my day-to-day and time to spend with my little one and my friend.  And rain or shine, I'm certain some small adventures will be found this weekend, in this beautiful coastal place. That seems to be what happens with this particular cast of characters.

On the drive here, and more so tonight as I sit listening to the rain, I've been thinking about what it takes to say "yes" to living the life I want for myself and my Girl.  About how I've had to say no to some things in order to say yes to something I want more or be strategic about where I put my energy so there is enough to carry me through the yeses.  I've been thinking about those times the yes was hard to hear and about the other times it wasn't just a yes, but a loud, deep and resounding " oh HELLS yes!"  I love the HELLS Yeses. The chance to travel, especially when it involves seeing friends and family and exploring new places is almost always a "HELLS Yes!" for me.  And even when if doesn't go as well as hoped, I've found that when I'm answering the call of yes, the rainy drives and cold ocean water don't disappoint me as much as ignoring what I truly desire would. 

So tonight I'm making a promise to myself to keep finding ways to say yes to the big yeses, the real yeses, and most certainly the "HELLS yeses."  I'm not sure what that means yet, but that's ok.  It's enough to know I'm working on setting up camp permanently in the land of yes.   It seems that, for me, it's the only place to live. 

Reset

Lately, I've had an irrepressible need to make everything feel cleaner and lighter.  I've been purging all sorts of stuff from around the house and spending time organizing and deleting documents and photos on my computer. I've opened windows to coax the spring air inside and moved heavy winter coats and clothing into storage.  I've brought in more plants to help the air quality in my home, and more flowers to help my mind focus on the coming spring season. 

With all this emphasis on "Clean" and "Light" in my home, I've been forced to take a hard look at the way I'm treating my body, the flesh and bone house that keeps my brain and soul and heart in one physical place. 

Guys....It's not pretty.  

I'm usually pretty good and living a healthy, clean lifestyle, but Holy Wow!  I could do with a little spring cleaning of my own. The past few months have not been easy in so many ways, and the fallout has been in the ways I care for myself.  I've not been eating well; not exercising nearly as much as I require.  I've been going to bed very late then getting up very early.  My days are fueled with caffeine and chemicals (Diet soda, guys.  Nothing more interesting than that, but honestly, that's bad enough.) My stress level is climbing.  I'm both exhausted and wired at all times. 

It's time to hit the reset button. 

I believe in moderation in all things.  I have tried hard core cleanses and crazy intense workouts, and while I love the idea of that kind of dedication and intensity, I know myself and my current lifestyle won't support it. 

So what will my life currently support?  What does "Clean and Light: 2014" look like?  Here's what I'm thinking for now:

• Open windows
• Lots of water (a ridiculous amount lately - I think I've been seriously dehydrated.)
• Plenty of greens and my favorite "whole foods knockoff superfood salad" 
• Fruit, especially citrus
• Sleep.  As much as I can get in. 
• Walking.  Again, as much as I can. 
• Weight training and strength work and lots and lots and lots of yoga.  
• Stronger boundaries- helps limit the drama that feels so heave to me (there's another blog post on this topic soon.) 
• Limit the bad sh*t (I mean that mentally, physically, socially, emotionally, spiritually, etc.  I'm getting rid of as much bad sh*t as I can.) 

It's not rocket science, but this is what works for me.  I'm sure that there will be slip-ups and let downs and days when I'm too tired to do anything but the basics and takeout is inevitable.  But it's a process, a work in progress, and will never be perfect. And that's ok.

Practicing Gratitude. Again.

I am at my happiest and most authentic when I'm consistently and openly counting my blessings.  It's a practice that I really worked to cultivate years ago, and one that I blogged about pretty regularly.  Although the formal practice has waxed and waned over time,  I always come back around to it when I am trying to shift into a more positive, motivated, mindful place.  Which is exactly what I am doing now.  So,  here we go...

 Tonight, I'm grateful for:
*My family and friends, who are always willing to listen and to help me out when I need it.  This single, working, trying-to-have-a-life parent thing would not work as well as it does without them behind the scenes.
*Afterschool care that keeps Riley active, engaged and learning.
*Upcoming travel plans.  We have a Spring Break trip coming up in a few weeks, and I'm planning an end-of-school-year Surprise vacation for the Girl.  (Shhhhh....) It's nice to have something to anticipate.
* Reruns of "The Office" and Pinterest Humor Boards.  As silly (lame, pathetic, whatever) as it sounds, these two things have saved my sanity the past few weeks.  Whenever things get to be just too much, a little humor break brings me back to calm.