Ashes of the Phoenix

Quickie Book Review: Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls

2010-01-26T20:43:00.000-05:00

I won a copy of this book and I have to say, it has inspired me to write some of my remaining family’s history. The author’s words evoke images of life before all the amenities we now take for granted, in such a way that you yearn to have experienced the life of her grandmother, Lily. Lily is such a strong female character – I am happy her story has surfaced and made its way into the world – she demonstrates just how strong and savyy women really are, even in seemingly impossible situations.

What's in Your Trash?

2010-01-26T00:14:00.000-05:00

Our society thrives on consumerism, but our environment suffers because of it; the by-products of our über consumerist ways are ultimately transformed into über waste. Take a look at your trash, and ask yourself these questions:

Is there anything in here I can recycle?

Is there anything in here that can be repurposed?

Is there any other way I can reduce my waste?

If someone was to randomly sift through your garbage on trash day, would you be embarrassed?

{CCC} Commandments for Cleaning Clutter

2010-01-15T13:26:00.000-05:00

Last night's episode of Private Practice had a segment about a woman with a severe case of hoarding. As with all behaviors we want to change, it is essential to identify the reason behind the drive to accumulate items, in this case. Most of us are hoarders to some extent, keeping mementos of our past, either on display or packed away. But not all the physical items we keep have positive associations in our minds (the "ex-box" or the gift you display only when the gift-giver visits). Time and time again TV Land shows us how liberating it can be for both your physical space and your psychological state, to finally purge all the "stuff" that has been taking up all that space in the back of your closet and mind: Clear your clutter to clear your mind/soul/emotions. Whether you use guide books, internet how-to articles, Feng Shui or TV show wisdom, start clearing out the clutter.

Here are Kat's 3 Cs : Commandments for Clearing Clutter

1. Thou shalt not hoard

In this day and age, you can obtain just about anything you can think of - whether vintage or a reproduction - if by any chance you actually need or want something from your past.

2. Thou shalt purge your belongings.

No matter what anyone else promises, the only real way to get organized, is to own less "stuff." You can buy fancy boxes, bins and label makers, but the only way to really clear clutter (instead of just stacking it in pretty piles) is to get rid of it - donate or recycle.

3. Thou shalt use a scanner and a digital camera.

You will be amazed at how much easier it is to let go of things when you have a scanner and a digital camera at your disposal.

All you paper clutter can be fed into the scanner, then shredded and recycled.
All your memorabilia (especially the things you will never display) can be photographed, then donated.
All your printed pictures can be scanned. Keep only the best of the lot and display them in one or two quality albums on the coffee table. Or better yet, invest in a digital photo frame and display your favorite hundred or so images, without the need for hundreds of frames! The rest can be stored on your computer, or on CD. - BONUS: By scanning all your pictures you can store them on a few CDs or DVDs and place them in a few secure locations - just in case.

On a more personal note...

Since December 1st, I have:

donated a garbage bag full of clothes I was keeping "just in case" I gained or lost weight
recycled about 75 lbs of paper clutter (there is still much more to go, but it's a great start!)
emptied 12 boxes of memorabilia from the past 15 years which included, among other things: pressed flowers, ticket stubs, two empty boxes of hair dye, countless notes and letters passed in class, 4 yearbooks (I scanned them and recycled them), a party had, half a cigarillo from 1999, and a pez dispenser.
bought an external hard drive and stored pictures, videos, and writing - I am planning to buy a second one to keep in a safe place outside my home, just in case.

to be continued...

{FFF} Femme Fatale Favorites: Emily The Strange

2010-01-12T14:22:00.001-05:00

It has come to my attention that I have been missing out on some great literary (and some historical) heroines. On my latest trip to the local library, I came across a... strange book on my way to the loans desk: Emily the Strange: Lost Days. I picked it up and leafed through it, and decided to take it out. It is, simply put, a great read, and I truly wish I had come across this book in my early teens.

From emilythestrange.com:

"Emily the Strange came to life in the early 1990's and quickly became a beloved counterculture icon all around the world. In her earliest years, she was a quiet but sharp-witted stranger, slinging philosophy and cultural observations in a series of hand-screened t-shirts and stickers. As her presence grew and became a standard in the cultural underground, Emily's own story began to emerge in a series of gift books, then comic-books and graphic novels, and now a novel series for young adults.

Today, Emily continues to be a voice for individualism and self-awareness, and her appeal is especially strong among alternative-minded young women and girls who identify with her signature singularity. Her presence in the worlds of art, pop culture, literature, and fashion celebrates non-conformist and reminds us all to cultivate that which makes us unique."

She definitely makes it to the top of the Femme Fatale Favorites!

Best Of List - Take 1

2010-01-03T17:25:00.000-05:00

Inspired by Danielle Laporte's "best list ever", here are a few items on my "best of" list so far:

❈ Stationary. Especially pens and notebooks. I have tons, and I always crave more.

❈ Lush’s “Gorgeous” face cream. Just divine.

❈ Chamomile from the mountain in my grandmother’s village. Nothing beats the real thing

❈ Water from the source in the Laurentians. I bottle it myself

❈ Nuxe Huile Prodigeuse Dry Oil. Great for everything

❈ Macs. They really are tools for creative souls

❈ Elizabeth Gilbert’s TED Talk on Creative Genius. Thank you for this.

More to come as I weed out the mediocre things in my midst and concentrate on the crème de la crème.

Life List

2010-01-02T15:00:00.001-05:00

I have created a Life List of the things I want to accomplish. The making of this list was inspired in part by Gwen Bell's Personal Manifesto, The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, books with " --- things to do before you die" in the title, the movie The Bucket List and my own personal obsession with making lists, among others.
There are just over 100 items, with completed items in white (22 so far). What I would like to create by the end of January, is a small scrapbook about the size of a small photo album, with a memento of each item completed on the list, then keep it updated. I found a great Semikolon notebook that looks just right:

The best way I can think of completing a few more items on the list is to commit to one of the items for the next few months. As it happens, there is enough snow gathered on my lawn to start making an igloo. Maybe I'll make that my item for the next few weeks.

Mindfulness: Think About It

2010-01-01T15:00:00.000-05:00

There's been a lot of talk about authenticity in the last year, first among social media circles, then into broader circles like the news. It seems everyone is trying to be more authentic, but when it comes down to you, me, and the next person, how does authenticity translate into our daily lives? We need to become more aware of our daily actions and our interpersonal relationships. Our every motion, down to our very breathing pattern sends out signals to the world about who we are and establishes our place withing the vast expanse that is the universe. It's time to be more mindful about living authentically - which, for me, includes lists, images and charts. I hope you'll come along for the ride, and share your experience.