Rainbows & Change

Rainbows

I remember when I finally came to terms with the fact that it was time to put my first business, Buttons & Rainbows, to bed. I say put to bed because I was open and still am open to the possibility of working on it again in the future. But at the time, I was really saying goodbye.

I sat in my office and cried for almost an hour. Then, for about a week, I didn't step foot in my office. I could barely look at my door. I don't remember how I spent my time, probably doing housework and working on my laptop downstairs. But I just couldn't go in my office.

Life & Numbers

My life has been full of numbers recently.

*Getting places on time.
*Figuring out cost of goods sold for my Farmers Market items.
*Planning my weekly Couponing trips.
*Playing Masters of Venice with my husband.

Numbers are really dragging me down. I guess I'm good with numbers but I'd rather work with ideas, images, yarn, pastels, words, actions...

Bumber Stickers & Rhetorical Questions

I saw this bumper sticker on the way back from BloggyCon today that said, "What greater wisdom is there than kindness?"

At first I thought it was a challenge and I immediately started to think of answers. "Well, there's honesty and accepting humanity, both the messy and the beautiful parts and there's helping people provide for themselves..."

Brands & Symbols

The problem with brands is they give us a false sense of security and confidence.

Yesterday, at BloggyCon, Debba Haupert from Girlfriendology.com talked about branding your blog. I understand why someone would want to brand their blog. I get the power of branding. But is it the only way? And do brands hurt our sense of self education?

We are all taught that we are busy people. Graphic designers are told that they should design for a 5 second attention span. So they churn out huge, attention-getting headlines add a few emotional pictures and tell us why something is the greatest ever in under 5 seconds all while connecting to their brand.

The Mountains & Bloggy Con

The Mountains

Driving through the hills and trees to get to the Bloggy Conference in Ohio I realized that I felt extremely comforted. I'm from Illinois where it's flat as a pancake. It feels airy and thoughtful. But over the last few months I have realized that feel most comfortable taking action instead of thinking all the time.

Although I'm naturally an action-oriented person I've been spending much of my life thinking and planning. It's been quite frustrating. Last month I threw away my endless todo list and while a couple times I've had so much going on that I just had to write stuff down I don't have the years worth of tasks and chores anymore.

Control & Release

It has not been a Sane & Satisfied week.

I've been juggling working for my dad and starting my business for a while now and it's getting to me. I try to use the techniques and advice I talk about on here but sometimes there's just too much.

I should be leaving right now, actually, to go to the Bloggy Conference in Mason, OH but I felt the need to journal. Sometimes you just need to get it all out. And sometimes that's all you can do.

Frugality, Humanity & Money

I started reading a book this morning called Frugal Luxuries. I have found many books like this that come to me at the most perfect of moments. It's been sitting on the floor by my bookshelf for a while (the shelves are overflowing at the moment) and I almost forgot I had it until this morning.

For a few years, I've been trying to pay attention to the small comforts of life. My husband and I made a hammock stand last year and I try to relax in it as much as I can (although, I have to admit, it's not as often as I would like.) I've also been making sun tea for ourselves and to sell at our local Farmers Market. And the simple fact that I get to sit outside all morning at my booth at the Farmers Market has become a simple pleasure. I enjoy eating freshly made food at home and singing along with my Jazz CD while I clean or do the dishes.