Life Under Glass

Spring is in full bloom here in Maryland. I can not get enough of putting my hands in the dirt and planting flowers and getting the garden beds ready. I would sit outside with my feet in the grass and my face to the sun, all day, everyday, if I could. 

I work with a woman who is severely allergic to any type of flower or plant, so I'm unable to have any at my desk. Then I saw Etsy was having a workshop on terriums and I thought what a great idea! Little green life all enclosed and under glass, for my desk! So of course I'm all over Pinterest looking for ideas! I especially love the ones that reuse glasswear that would otherwise be tossed.

 

Have you guys tried any DIY terrariums? What fun containers can you think to reuse? I'm on a search for something fun to use!

All pictures are either property of Twisted Whimsy or from Pinterest.

Front Page!

So my dream is to one day (soon I hope) be a feature on etsy's blog in their "quit your day job" series. I don't mind where I work now and the people are great but I really want to be my own boss, make my own hours and make a living doing what I truly love. On Sunday I checked my Twisted Whimsy email account and saw tons of people had added me to their circles. Turns out one of my treasuries had made it to the front page of etsy.com.

While I know I still have a way to go to be able to quit my day job, seeing my name there on the front page was a reminder of my goal and an inspiration that I'm one step closer.

You can check out the wonderful items in the treasury here: Spring into I Do
Thanks to all the sweet shops that gave me inspiration that day :)

Today's shop in the series is super awesome, hoakonhelga. I loved her story and her lovely words to keep plugging and believe it'll happen.


Peace & Whimsy,
Joanna

Crazy Sexy Life

A couple days ago I pulled out my book by Kris Carr, Crazy Sexy Diet

If you haven't added this one to your bookshelf it is a must have. She is a fierce wellness warrior and inspiration for a total life upgrade. It's not a diet book at all, it's more about getting back to real food, putting our true selves first and as the book cover says "ignite your spark and live like you mean it."

But it's not always easy right? I often struggle with that word perfection. If I can be the best, I'm defeated. I don't even want to try.  As so often happens the universe drives me someplace to kick my ass out of the pity party and defeat...I ventured to Kris' blog tonight and was scrolling through and found the most amazing post, by Sherold Barr. 

She asks the question does perfect really matter. Not really, that you have to be willing to "suck" to live your best life.  But suck doesn't really mean suck the way you first think...
She goes on to say that means you have to be... 

-Willing to show up and take action.
-Willing to accept whatever comes back to you -– be it praise or criticism.
-Willing to be vulnerable.
-Willing to do what you love no matter what anyone thinks.
-Willing to break the rules.
-Willing to be fearless.
-Willing to do what you want to do, not what others want you to do.

 

and the one that really stood out to me:

-Willing to look underneath shame and acknowledge the universal belief with which we all struggle, from time to time that tells us, “I am not good enough.”

Because guess what... you are enough! I might make that my new mantra. 

A little self-care is good for us all!

I've been going a bit inward lately, attending the SouLodge with a group of wonderous sisters, realizing that I have all of these ideas stirring in my head, heart & soul. Creative needs, business wants, life expectations but they always seem to stop at ideas. I rarely move forward with a lot of things that I know are meaningful and that I want. I've placed this wall, this barrier that keeps me from moving forward and honestly I think often keeps people out. But I feel changes coming and a new strength that's helping me take some well needed baby steps to complete projects and get to goals.

Part of this self-care has opened up a vision on the world around me, nature in particular. Sounds corny, I know. But I've never been a fan of winter and this year I find myself enjoying early morning cold walks with my dog. Listening to all the birds chatter and taking it all in.

The weather in Maryland has been a bit warm but we had a bit of snow the other day and it was so fun to run in the backyard with Crosby and look up as the huge snowflakes fell. Ahhhh, I've got a little room to breathe the fresh air and it feels so good. I hope to meditate on this feeling and keep it going for 2012.

A Full Moon

I found this beautiful picture on Pinterest.

I was sitting on my couch yesterday evening and suddenly took a pause when I noticed the moon rising into the tops  of the trees. So white with this flare of light glowing around it.

I've always pulled strength from the sun. Especially in the winter months. I find the sunniest spot in my house, site cross-legged on the floor and soak in the golden warmth. But this winter solstice I did a releasing ceremony with the awesome guidance of Pixie Campbell. And for the first time, I think in my life, I've followed the moon through this cycle with awareness...watching its enchantment changed each night. And this evening as I sit on the couch I find myself soaking in the sparkling ivory warmth from this full moon. It's like its light is shining directly into my window and landing on my soul. Stirring my creative spirit and coating me in protection. I find myself gaining strength now from the moon. 

"Don't be afraid to move forward with your passions, dive in, actively participate in your life!" -That's what I imagine its saying to me tonight :)

Another year... older!

Wow, I can not believe my last post was before the holidays. How the days fly by. Such a reminder to stop and savor.

Today as we move into the 3rd day of 2012 I am celebrating another year of this life. A simple but amazing thing happened to me this morning. Some back story... during my releasing ceremony for winter solstice, one of the things I let go of was worry about what others think of me. My aunt gave me a gift card for Christmas and I found this fabulous outfit that was fun and bright and different from what I feel I "have" to wear to my boring corporate job. It was these great mustard yellow cords and funky chevron sweater. I decided it would be a great birthday outfit and fun for first day back to work since the holiday time off. I got dressed, put on a new necklace I just made this weekend (pics to come!) it went perfect with the pants. I felt good and then... I stood in front of the mirror and the doubt started to sink in. The pants are too bright, I know people are going to say things. Any other day this would have turned into a 20 minute ordeal of me trying to find another outfit, more fitting for work, another boring black shirt with plain old pants. And then! I remembered that I had let go of that worry and you know what, it allowed me to just smile and enjoy my outfit. I still got the comments and looks at work but I let it roll off. My birthday wish... that I can continue this courage throughout 2012!

Peace & Whimsy,

Joanna 

Winter Solstice

A couple of months ago I set up my Etsy shop. I set aside a lot of fear I had in putting my art out there for all to see. And in doing so the universe brought me to connect with so many blogs with so many sweet souls that have touched me in ways they may never know. One of these blogs is Pixie Campbell's. I started to read her postings just as she was mentioning the upcoming winter solstice and her intentions for a releasing ceremony. This ritual release is in her words "a way to "bind the medicine" of moving beyond the past, the pain, the obstacles, the resistance, the old traps, the excuses."

This is something I've never celebrated. Normally winter is a tough time for me, long days, cold nights, craving the warm sun on my face. I felt moved reading Pixie's words, so I sat down and wrote the things that tug my heart down and hold me back.

I don't have a fireplace or fire pit so I created my bundle and burned it in an old coffee cup.

What an amazing feeling to literally throw those things you no longer need into the fire and watch them crumble away! Once the fire burned out I put the ashes in my compost, perhaps those negatives can become a new life in my garden in the spring.

I sat for a while and watched the sun set thinking of what great things can now fill my heart in 2012. What intentions I will set. I invite you to join in, what will you release and let go?