Mood, Mindset, and a Movie

What the HECK is a MoodPanda?!

Ever notice how you feel like a BILLION bucks at some point in the day, only to have a few hours pass and your practically ready to slit your wrists???? If you're like me, this pattern gets EXHAUSTING.

Here's my latest plan (along with healthy eating, proper sleep, exercise...): track my moods throughout the day at 5 key times for a month and analyze the data to see if I can outsmart myself and circumvent some (underscore "some") of the crazy! :)

Found this cool app called "MoodPanda" in the app store. It uses a sliding scale from 0-10 to help you rate your mood along with a space for a few lines of text describing what's up. Although it's very social-media-y and I see plenty of whining worldwide, I'm using it as a private tracker. Love the graphs and little diary that allows you to look back over your thoughts. Pretty sweet.

I had to set a reminder in my iPhone for 9:30am, 12:30pm, 3:30pm, 6:30pm, and 9:30pm so I always take note at the same time daily.

Here's the scale I'm using to keep the number ratings consistent:

10. I'm invincible and fully realized! There are no limits

9. Just one more thing...and everything's perfect!

8. Pretty good:) 

7. Optimistic and cheery

6. Positive contentment. I'm on the right path.

5. Neutral

4. Slight anxiety

3. I'm in a funk

2. K, now I'm angry/mad/grumpy

1. I feel totally worthless. I add no value to this world. F this.

0. I'm dead.

This research project will definitely be intriguing. Hope I can learn some new, personal cheat codes! :)

Mindset and Movie

Movies that change you are the successful ones. Just watched one that inspired some SERIOUS action-taking! :)

 After watching Erin Brockovich with Julia Roberts, I immediately opened my laptop and tackled some copywriting that I had been avoiding for WEEKS. Seeing Erin scrape by with her babies and hours and HOURS of hot, sweaty, thankless work before she finally accomplished a seeminly impossible task was a fabulous reminder to fight and pursue the things that are important to you. Thinking big picture and long term is tough....but reflecting on her pigheaded determination and how it was the only thing that brought some relief to hundreds of people, gave me some extra juice to sucker-punch my duties.

If you feel like an underdog (and are tired of watching Rocky!;)   ), flip on E.B. You won't regret it.

Sandal Update!

Tiny update for the sandal project! 

1. I've finished the colored pencil sketches (after finally tracking down my Prismacolors! Phew!). 

2. The graphic artists are going to create the computer renderings this week!

3. Still looking for a local prototyper. Everyone wants to work in bulk or just doesn't get these kind of requests. :/ Okay, no biggie...I'll keep searching. There's got to be a PDX cobbler or leather worker interested! 

4. Messaging a few folks on Etsy to see if they could remotely create my samples off of the sketches.

Here's this week's action items: 

1. Identify some similar blogs, FB pages were I can find some ladies (or guys!) who would be interested in pre-ordering!

2. Settling on a name! Yikes - so many to choose from.

3. Popping up my website. 

Enjoy the pics below and bounce me a message or comment sharing the status of YOUR latest project! :)

Can't wait to see what you amazing people are up to! 

Scattered art....soon to be REALITY!

Wedgie! :)

Handmade Sandals

Release the Ideas!

Ever think of an AMAZING idea? A fantastic one? It's creative, artful, unique, innovative, and fresh? Did you take it anywhere? What did you do to quickly bring your thought to the world to share your value? Or did you let your darling idea languish away in the back of your head soothed to sleep with slippery thoughts like: 

     It will never work...

     It's too much effort and I'm strapped as it is.....

     Everyone will laugh in my face.....

     If it was a good idea, someone would have already done something about it before now....

I did. 

But now I'm in outright revolt against my own sense of self-preservation and drive to safeguard my tender ego!!!

I'm releasing my idea!

Wanna see? :)

The Need

Here's the scoop: I want classy, organic sandals that incorporate the beauty and fire of our planet while accentuating the natural loveliness and strength of the women whose feet they grace. I can't find any....

Sure, there's the all natural, organic shoes formed with eco conscious awesomeness....but they look too "recycled"...too "tired"... and I'm on a quest for a classy, elegant, crisper form of "green" sandals. 

Then there's the rhinestone-bedazzled flip-flops and other gaudy nonsense...but nothing that embraces the "treasures of the earth" in an upscale, tailored fashion that compliments the tom boy and the business executive alike. 

The Elements

Concept actualization in process...

Slender

Well-formed

Contoured

Natural

Earth-toned

Organic

Wholistic

Shell

Agate

Amber

Opal

Turquoise

Copper

Leather

So here I sit bleeding my concept out onto paper. I can see it perfectly in my mind's eye and soon you will too! The goal is to have some beautifully rendered images to show you in several days. In the mean time, post a comment and share what one idea YOU'RE going to finally take action on and start sharing your beautiful mind with our community! (PS - it will feel invigorating! Trust me! )

Dahlias - finally available from a farmers' market near YOU! :)

Summer Saturdays

The Summer Solstice

Summer wins. So many of my best childhood memories translate me back to grassy suburban yards, the tinkling sound of the ice cream truck, breezy car rides with the windows down, and long evenings in the warm, haziness listening to music and poking bonfire embers with the ever present neighborhood gang of friends.

Everything was perfect.

Now that I'm a "grownup" with responsibility and irons dutifully laid in the fire, rekindling the lush indolence of the summer vaca has required more effort.

I've had to make a mindful effort to enjoy summer life - here are three different ways.

The Summer Read

Ch 9

History + Fashion + Entrepreneurship + Visionary Lady = An Awesome Read!

I picked up The Gospel According to Chanel by Karen Karbo and LOVED it. Reading the adventures of a forward thinking visionary like Chanel who overcame abandonment, the male establishment, and multiple world wars to emerge radiant as a gleaming fashion god was inspiring to say the least. 

Here's one of my favorite "Chanelisms:" There is a time for work and a time for love. That leaves no other time. 

If you are looking for a sprightly, vintage tale filled with witty observations by fellow Portlandian, Karen, flip through this spledid peak behind one of the world's most iconic brands and the strong lady who forged it.

The Summer Garden

I got lost on Mississippi Avenue yesterday. Stumbling around look for some healthy sustainence, I veered into a Healthy Planet (thank god for the Cuban bowl!) to refuel. Swigging some fresh water to wash down lunch, I decided to march up to the corner before making the drive back into town. 

Passing by a tiny garden path snuggly tucked between two buildings, I ventured into what appeared to be a delicious urban nursery. Hark! What's this?! A tidy urban chicken coop complete with well-behaved little hens clucking softly. Had I stumbled into a Beatrix Potter story?

Nope! I'd found Pistils Nursery: the darling gem-of-a-garden-boutique.

Soaking in the quaint and unsual assortment of shrubs and perennials with the chickens chatting in the background I made my way in to the garden-shed of an office. Beautiful air plants dangled from tree limbs and sparkling glass terrariums filled with rustic wood shelves. You'll have to head in and check out the moss balls. Enough said.

Stunning, textural air plants

Pistils Store Front - South Park Style! :)

The Summer Song

Love haunting songs that make your heart lub against your ribcage and your pulse throb in your throat? Me too. I dare you to listen to this spectral melody around twilight when your neighborhood is quiet, warm and restful. Feel the lyrics tug at your spirit...as if to beckon you out into the night toward a midsummer tryst with the shadowy souls of the Victorian departed. Just don't let your evening candle flicker out! ;) 

Sliver of Coldplay's new "Cemeteries of London" lyrics