crafty fanny

it all boils down to being brave

Hi friends!

I've been a little bit absentee these last couple of weeks, but don't y'all worry, I've been living it up out in the real world!

But, if you are missing my brilliance and wisdom, I wanted to let you know of two posts that you shouldn't miss:

• I wrote about owning it last week over on Spring. Y'all know this is my favorite thing to talk about, so get on over and read all about it!
• I also posted on the Courage of Kindness over on Kind Over Matter. I really love this blog and love that Jenn and Amanda are creating such a community of kindness. Good, good stuff!

Oh, and I thought it would only be fitting to showcase the rewards of my own bravery this past weeked.

Are you ready for it?

Cause this is good stuff...

Y'all. This weekeind. I met The Avett Brothers!!!!

(This pic is my favorite cause it captures how I'm probably telling him that no, he is that awesome, and he's realizing that he has to shut me up with a hug. It worked)

Right?!?!?! Are you freaking out too right now?!?

Let me just say, all those boys are some of the nicest people out there. They were so sweet to me, their "Can I just tell you how awesome you are and how much you've affected my world?" fan.

And had I not been brave, I would never have talked to them.

Lesson of the week: Be Brave. Do it. And watch the magic unfold.

PS. If I'm a little absent this week, it's cause I'm working on my new website!!! OMG! And I'm going to show you very, very soon!!!

friday's confession: I'm a goober

Yes, you heard it here first: I'm a goober.

No, really, I am.

Goober, goofball, joker, whatever you want to call it, that's what I am.

And I'm owning that, because it's one of the things that makes me me. Authentically me.

We set up a post challenge over at Spring this week: What makes you authentically you? so here's my list including the good, the bad, and the ugly:

• I'm a goober (see above)
• I make myself laugh on a daily basis. Seriously, I crack myself up all the time.
• I would like to live in France someday.
• Or just inside an Anthropologie store.
• I am a crazy super fan-girl of The Avett Brothers.
• Giraffes make me swoon. Especially baby ones.
• I want to get married in a barn and dance all night at my wedding.
• I use inappropriate humor to diffuse awkward social situations.
• I am really loud.
• I like karaoke a LOT despite being a horrible singer.
• Champagne at breakfast is one of life's greatest pleasures.
• I fight waking up every single day, but am slowly discovering that I actually am a morning person.
• I have a scary ability to simply ignore mess and clutter and just live my life around it.
• Words of affirmation and quality time are my primary love languages.
• I talk to my dog all day long when I'm alone with her.
• I have an amazing vision for my life that I'm slowly working towards.
• I am insecure.
• I fake confidence until I feel it.
• I love shirtdresses and would wear one every day if I had enough of them.
• Musicals make me crazy. Even bad ones, like Lestat, the Musical.
• I sing a LOT.
• I laugh a lot.
• I smile all the time and don't realize it.
• People have told me that I'm the most cheerful person they know.
• Some people don't get me and think I'm crazy.
• I cry a lot too.
• I love to cook.
• I don't love to clean. In fact, I sort of loathe it.
• I am an artist.
• I'm finding my style as an artist.
• I still have a whole lot to learn.
• I want to make a lot of money in my life so I can spend it all traveling and eating amazing food.
• Watching people play pac-man makes me anxious.
• I'm a worrier.
• When I'm stressed out or nervous about something, I get insomnia.
• At my last day job, I had insomnia for months.
• I almost went to business school for an MBA.
• I'm so glad I didn't go to business school.
• I love children and will have one of my own someday.
• I am fiercely loyal to the people I love.
• I have a tendency to be co-dependent and take care of everyone around me first.
• I love taking naps. If I was President, I'd mandate daily siestas.
• I think our time here is too short to live lives that don't make us feel sparkly inside.
• I want to bring joy into people's lives.
• I think everyone in this world is beautiful. Including you.

Wanna play along?

my random bits, aka, my balls!

Ah...We've finally made it past Mercury's freakin' retrograde! Doesn't it feel so good?

I woke up yesterday with a raging headache, but after an Excedrin migraine and a pot of coffee (a combo I don't necessarily recommend since it left me feeling like I might jump out of my own skin) I felt so jazzed about the coming months I could barely contain myself. Surely this didn't have anything to do with my insane morning caffeine intake, right?

So, without further ado, here are the random bits and pieces I'm working on, or, as I like to call them...my balls:

{hehe, get it? Balls?! As in balls in the air?}

• custom printing options for the shop. I am so very excited about this and will roll our my first design this week! 
• a non-birthday party for Maggie (she turns 1 this week)!
• a new website with a fresh new design! I'm working with the amazingly talented Jess Swift on this! Cause she's awesome! 
• a new monthly newsletter
• development of what is sure to be the best present ever! For reals, y'all! I'm going to try to get on this this week...stay tuned!
• fun changes over at Spring including great new opportunities for guest posts and inspired life spotlights...which I'm sure all of y'all would be great for! 
• did I mention I'm Mati Rose's new intern? omg you guys, working with her is so super fun and inspiring!
• more cooking! and cooking videos for the blog! I've actually been attempting to write my own recipes (super hard btw)
• research for a super-secret-but-don't-worry-you'll-be-the-first-to-know project I have up my sleeve
• oh, and all the normal life stuff of work, painting, making cards, friends, family, blahblahblah

Phew! Are you still with me? Can you see why I've been so anxious for communication to become normal so I can get on all this?

Stay tuned friends! We're gonna have some crazy fun months coming up!

Wheeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!

wednesday's inspiration: Jess Swift on inspiration

Happy Wednesday!

Have you been visiting Spring lately? We've been on fire over there and have been rocking some amazing content. Be sure to check it out if you've been away for a while.

This month, we're all about inspiration, and co-host Jess Swift posted some great thoughts on inspiration last week. Mostly in response to the question, what happens when you don't have time to wait around for inspiration to happen?

I love how she addresses what happens when you have no choice. When you have to create something. When you just have to do it. And I LOVE that this is what she was able to come up with during one of those forced-to-create times:

Pandas with balloons? Brilliant!

I've been so inspired by this lovely that I went out and got myself a stamp carving kit. First step to lino block printing? Perhaps!

PS. Jess officially joined the old ladies club yesterday when she turned 30! Happy, happy birthday friend!

let it be easy

I LOVE this message: Let it be easy.

I'm over on Spring this morning talking about taking things easy and not being so hard on ourselves. Why is this something that is so hard for most of us to grasp?

In the meantime, if you need a reminder, this print is available in the etsy shop.

wednesday's inspiration

This poster might just be my new formula for success. (found here, thanks Dana!)

We've been talking all about the Law of Attraction this month over on SPRING. This is certainly a hot topic and one of my favorites to talk about. During our week 2 video (How do you use LOA in your life?), Jess Swift pointed out the great "Art of Success" podcasts by David Neagle (they're free, btw). I've been listening to them, and I have to say, there's some good stuff there. Especially if you aren't afraid of motivational speakers.

One of the big turning points that Neagle talks about in his own life was when he realized that he needed to start giving his 100% at work and treating everyone he met with absolute respect. It sounds like a given, right? Esentially, he needed to work hard and be nice to people.

But, it really does take effort. Lots. Of course, success is well worth the effort and, as a bonus, you might find that you actually feel better about yourself as a person when you give your all -- nicely. 

Also, our 3rd LOA video for June covers specific examples of how LOA has worked in our lives. Check it our to see how I convinced Tim to take me to Mexico for my birthday...before I even met him!

two things

I have 2 super fun things to share this morning:

1. Maggie graduated from her basic obedience class on Monday! I CANNOT believe that in the six months we've had her, she's gone from this:

to this:

Seriously, y'all, I don't know how people raise children without falling apart every second about how quickly they grow up.

2. May is Time Management Month over at Spring, and I just posted a video with my thoughts on the subject. Check it out and be sure to leave a comment to be entered into the perpetual calendar giveaway!