how to build a life doing what you love
Category Archives: creativity
my week of alchemy + hustle: 5:4:13
social + culture
Snooping around vintage, antique and junk stores. Easter Friday – lovely lunch at St Heliers with new peeps talking about exciting ideas. Easter Sunday – walk and breakfast with an old friend. Lots of mooching around eating with family. Mid week dinner at Andiamo’s - a restaurant I’ve always wanted to eat at…….talking big ideas with new people!
my business
The need for focus, routine and discipline has been at the forefront this week. Nailing this powerhouse of a trifecta has been on my mental wish-list for an AGE (truth be told, hitting my straps on this one would be cause for champagne).
I’m going to start with routine. I used to seriously dislike everything routine stood for, would literally find other words to use when referring to it. Could not be in the same room as it. On reflection it was all in the vein glory of ensuring my personal freedom was at large to do what it wanted. Little did I realise routine is not a dampener on personal freedom, the opposite in fact. Its the launching pad!
Routine plays a significantly large part of successful peoples day to day. Sarah Wilson writes a fair bit about it and I like this post on morning routines……..was a bit of a game changer in terms of my understanding of routines importance. Highly recommend you give it a read if you’re struggling with getting some routine and structure into your world. I read it an eon ago and am still skipping around the edges of its adoption.
creating
I’ve been creating little turrets in my energy pool, nothing else. I’m juggling a whole lot of things and my creative outlet and blog is suffering :-(. Im working on it!
wellness + balance
I think I must sound rather harpy, but the walking is working well for me. And its free – what a bonus! My eating on the other hand is not my greatest asset at the moment. Its gone to the dogs and I’m feeling it, big time. So that’s where I’m placing my focus going forward, to get me back to optimal.
Early morning starts of late have gifted me the most beautiful sun rises. Standing on the beach centring myself in this glory is the BEST way to start the day. I think.
my week of alchemy + hustle: 28:03:13
oopps, this regular weekly update post is flying out a day late – I’ve been rather busy! Though my lateness gives me a lovely opportunity to wish you a lush Easter weekend full of relaxing, family, friends and wonderful food. Or just doing nothing. On your own, with people……whatever floats your boat. Enjoy.
social + culture
A lovely walk with friends around Lake Pupuke + working out of the gorgeous new neighbourhood café ‘Little King’ + morning walks + skype calls to friends overseas. Oh and hanging out with family, that’s made up my social + culture quotient this past week.
my business
Theres been some jig jiggedy shifts this week in the little big world of my seedling of a business idea. I’ve been asked if I would be interested in doing some freelance blogging. Yes you heard right……how exciting! Its very early days, but just being asked is a great boost to my own business vision!
Building my business case has raised a barn fire of questions. Can I do this? Do I want to do this? Do I really want to do this? Will it make money? I cannot recommend enough writing a business case if your thinking of – going it alone, starting a business, launching a creative idea. It makes you REALLY feel into and think about every nut and bolt. Not in a squash the oxygen kind of way, more a ‘lets take this seriously, whats it going to take’ kind of way.
creating
Oh how I’ve wanted to create something this week. Starting my Zine recently got me all a ‘go’ on having fun and making things with my hands. And then my to do list got big and I’ve had to put me Zine on hold for a couple of weeks = boo hoo. Sometimes you have to prioritise (got that sounds so grown up and boring, but its true).
wellness + balance
Walking is still being an awesome tool for my wellness and balance. When I’ve felt a bit off (brain a little clouded and lacking positivity) I’ve found myself walking to clear it out. It helps enormously.
And the trump card this week has got to be the landscape I’m living in and the weather. I’m getting some good time healing and nurturing vibes from my surroundings, from the land. It’s one of my favourite places in the world and I’m just so blessed to be able to spend time in it everyday. Truly.
Oh and I started my self-programmed detox this week.
I’m still thinking about the incredible donut from Little Friday I had four days ago (my last day of treats). There’s a wee Mexican stand off taking place between me, and a future donut that wants to be eaten. I’ll keep you posted.
I highly recommend doing a weekly check in if your - changing something in your life / hitting goals / building a life you love. Set aside 15/30 minutes every week (on the same day if you can) and ‘check in’ with how your doing, how your moving your vision & goals forward. whats working, what needs re jigging. it’s powerful!
my week of alchemy + hustle: 20:03:13
Wow, what a difference a week makes.
social + culture
I caught up with an old friend Katy Wallace, we were thick as thieves back in design school days. It was great to hear the exciting design projects she has on the go, I particularly liked this one. We checked out an opening of Martino Gamper‘s work at a little place called everyday needs and then enjoyed a vino at The Commons. Catching up reminded me how important community and connection are when your building something outside of a nine to five work environment. When you don’t have a ready-made network to go to.
my business
For the last 3.5 months I’ve been slowly prising my writing and business idea out of my fear like grip at a slow and steady pace. Attentively managing my inertia and Achilles heels along the way. As a result it’s been the most productive, focussed and committed I’ve been to something for near on 15 years. My wee foibles make me slow on some things, but it’s been lightening pace in comparison to the past.
This week I’ve been looking at ways to turn my business dream into a reality – and now find myself writing a business case. And OH LORDY this one wee task has really shaken me up from what feels like a deep sleep. It’s made me drill down and review how I’m going to take my ideas and turn them into a sustainable and viable business. And I realised “shit, I’ve never taken my ideas seriously before”. I mean I’ve spoken about them, moaned about being unhappy working for the man in a soulless job. But that’s been it, I’ve never ventured beyond that part of the forest before. I’m in new terrain.
In the shake up my initial reaction was fear in the guise of a lot of questioning. I ran around scared for about 12 hours, quietly going “WTF was I thinking”. Then I went for a walk this morning and had a little chat that went something like “YOU CAN DO THIS MAREE, YOU CAN DO THIS”. “YOU ARE DOING THIS MAREE”. And that was that.
I also started creating a zine (a little self published booklet) for the alchemy of hustle. I’ve wanted to create one for ages, so it’s rather exciting to be finally making it happen. I have contributions from a craft maker, cook and photographer so far. I’ve really loved making something with my hands, drawing and writing. Oh and I started writing my first ever short story!
wellness + balance
Oh how the walking is paying dividends. Of late I have found myself getting up and going for a walk 4-5 mornings a week. It’s great for my body plus I get a meditation session of sorts, a time to ‘talk things out’ and get clear and focussed. It’s win win. And seeing the sunrise is a magical way to start your day.
Ma and I visited Love a Duck and I got SO much joy from a bowl of rice noodles and crispy pork for $9. It was a big bowl of ‘feel good’ which I needed. I just love the way food can make me feel so great.
Oh and I’ve decided to go on a self-programmed detox for four weeks, starting in a couple of days. Well starting after I finish the slice of lemon and coconut cake in the kitchen that super food god Anton made (It is SO good). The last three to four months have seen foods that I’m intolerant too slip back in, I wrote about my intolerances here. My eating habits are sliding and a short sharp burst of recalibration is needed before I hit the abyss that’s SO hard to get out of. You know it.
I highly recommend doing a weekly check in if your - changing something in your life / hitting goals / building a life you love. Set aside 15/30 minutes every week (on the same day if you can) and ‘check in’ with how your doing, how your moving your vision & goals forward. whats working, what needs re jigging. it’s powerful!
Find something you love to do…..
“Find something you love to do, and you’ll never work a day in your life”
- Harvey MacKay
do you wake up in the morning happy to go to work?
“When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like – ‘If you live each day as if it were your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right’.
It made an impression on me… and since then, for the past 33 years I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself – ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I’m about to do today’. And whenever the answer has been, ‘no’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.
Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything: all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure… these things just fall away in the face of death… leaving only what is truly important.
Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked; there is no reason not to follow your heart”
steve jobs, stanford university graduation speech, june 12, 2005
I’m sure you’ve seen this quote before, but I thought it was worth posting. When I first read it, it striked my malaise of work unhappiness right between the eyes. It got me thinking differently.
So…..do you get up in the morning jumping with joy for your working day ahead?
How to get your mojo singing ‘Hell to the Yeah’
Truth be told I’ve been trying to get my mojo to sing loud and proud for an age, to middling success.
To get things hip hop moving along I spent a couple of days at the first ever Blogcademy in New York city. It was hands down one of the best things I’ve done to move my ideas forward in a really long time. The BEST. I think I may have a choir of mojo about to sing Hellalujah. It got me thinking about how we get our mojo’s to sing…..I’ve jotted down some ideas at the bottom of this post if your needing a wriggle on.
Two gloriously affirming days hanging out with 29 other fabulous bloggers at the direction of three superstars of the blogosphere (and all things individual expression) Gala Darling, Nubby Twiglet and Kat Williams. And lets not forget the superstar of photography Lisa Devlin.
I was plunk in the middle of a master mistress class and it was amazeballs!
The alchemy of hustle is all about living your joy and passion on your own terms and these women were rocking right out on that, they are alchemical hustlers in the truest sense of the title. They are tap dancing on the head of their passionate reason for being, and it is a glorious site to behold*. Unabashed, unadulterated full expression of self with the added bonus of making a very successful living from it. Is there no other holier grail than that? Well for me there’s not, its my life’s work.
The workshops style and delivery were perfect for the way I learn. Informal, packed with awesome content (from lessons learnt, tips, the basics, what works, what doesn’t etc) and with loads of space for Q&A. I came away learning SO MUCH about all things blogging and how to make my blog fabulous. I am inspired with a game plan = ignited. And unexpectedly I learnt about the power of really living my mojo, singing from my own voice full time (not part). Over two days I soaked up the authentic voices of our teachers and it unconsciously washed over me and settled into my psyche. Seeing somebody else rocking it out prompts your subconscious to say “hey, why not join in”?
The other surprise gem has come from the community that has sprung to life and that is continuing to grow. A big nugget shared was the power of community, collaboration and support and the life these bring to our work, ideas, inspiration and selves. It’s the relationships that make the difference. I am loving being a part of this community.
Blogcademy graduates on a high after finishing the workshop. Photo taken by Femke Leemans.
So if you’d like to get your mojo singing ‘Hell to the Yeah’ you could try a few of these:
- get clear about your joy/passion, what you want to do. this is a good read if your a bit murky.
- feel more, think less
- get your vision up where you can see it, it helps keep the main thing, the main thing. I wrote about how to make a vision board here
- start dabbling or dive right in, there will never be a perfect time (because there is no such thing as perfect) there is just now
- build your community – meet other like minded peeps for fun, inspiration and ongoing support. Veronica Varlow who attended Blogcademy wrote an awesome post on how to build community here
- get some steer and support on how to make it happen, I just found out about this fabulous woman/firestarter. want more than just a book/online resource? a life coach can be an incredible resource for creating change or a mentor could be your thang
- make self care a priority, good food/sleep/balance/water/friends/fun are all part of the equation
- learn from the best, ask questions from those that have done it……soak it up (trust me it is priceless gold to be in conversation with people who are successfully singing from the top of their mojo’s lungs – see Gala, Nubby and Kat’s links above).
- be yourself, its a fruitless task being anybody else
What gets your mojo singing loud and proud?
*My description of these fabulous woman may to some sound a tad gushy, it is not. I write with authenticity and honesty on the things and people that genuinely inspire and motivate me (and shining a flood light on powerful woman is a good thing, I feel). Seeing individuals doing their thing/joy and being truly themselves is powerful, it is a massive agitator of change and enhancer of mojo happiness. I found that out this weekend in bucket loads.
my holy grail of joy
On day 13 of my 30 days in America I find myself having lunch in Sonoma deciding how to spend the next week mooching through both Sonoma and Napa wine regions. After my visit to the info centre I was overwhelmed with options…….there are SO many vineyards, hotels and spas!
To move through the overwhelm I decided on a glass of local Chardonnay and some prawns…….and am now ensconced in a LOVELY hotel room (also muchos affordable). And shortly am off to taste wines…..
For those of you that don’t know me well, I think I’m entering the holy grail of weeks……where I shall roll around in mud like a pig with a large grin on my face at all times. Nothing to me is more relaxing and brings more joy than good food and wine and I am very excited to be here!
No disrespect to LA, Las Vegas, Santa Barbara, Saint Luis Obispo, Big Sur, Carmel by the Sea, Monterey or Santa Cruz……but I’ve found my place of happy on this trip. Well lets not get ahead of myself, theres still New York for nine days coming up which may have me waxing lyrical, but right now I can’t see anything topping this.
See you on the other side.
learning a new craft
I found myself learning something new tonight. And it was FUN.
At first I stumbled with clumsy fingers and an out of tune brain. I felt like a fish in roller skates. Progress was slow but leapt to a dazzling pace after encouragement and guidance from our fabulous teacher.
I’m working with a bunch of great peeps at the mo and I joined in on their monthly craft night, where the talented Genevieve teaches all who are interested how to crochet. Yes you heard right, crochet. In a pub. Balls of yarn, hooks and budding crafty enthusiasm nestled in amongst pints, hot chips and great banter.
I managed to master single stitch. Okay master could be seen as a slight embellishment, but Im proud of my wee length of string. I shall take on a new stitch next month.
In the blink of an eye I went from not knowing how to do something. To knowing. I went from ‘this is really hard’ to ‘this is fun and easy’. And in addition to the fun and connection, I got a timely reminder about the incredible capacity we each hold to try and learn things we don’t think we can do. Okay so it was crochet, not open heart surgery…..but me thinks the principle holds true for pretty much anything.
finders, keepers and creators of bespoke joy
Im a lover of bespoke creativeness, of inspired artisans that dedicate their working life to their passion, to their craft. So I revelled in my visit last night to the Finders Keepers Market. Oh there was MUCH revelling. I’ve been nibbling round the edges of my desire to earn a crust from my creative genes for awhile now. I look at those that do with a little envy, truth be told.
The market was a wonderful dose of inspiration….and I felt like a kid as I squished through the bustling crowd to peer onto the tables laden with delights.
getting my child on and loving it….in one of TMOD’s headdress party hats (which I bought)
A friend and I did a *little* shopping. And I am ridiculously excited about the arrival of my hand made to order Marque shoes (in shell blue) crafted by the lovely Marina (they are my official 4oth birthday present to myself). I also had a mini splurge on BESPOKE letterpress boutiques stationery, I love there wares. There was just so much too see, so I took a few snaps…
There was music, food and wine all around as you mooched and shopped = heaven.
beautiful sparkly lights
Falling back in love
Have you ever fallen out and then back in love with something? With somebody?
I thought it auspicious on this Valentines day to share my refall back into love……back into love with my hometown – the North Shore. I haven’t lived in New Zealand for ten whole years, I’ve visited a fair few times but not lived on the old home soil. It’s undoubtedly one of my favourite places in the world and it definitely feels like home, though I can’t say I have found it inspiring……and there hasn’t been any pull to return to live.
Last night Ma and went for a spot of dinner and along the way we came across all these gems in our backyard.
Love a Duck Restaurant - Northcote
Green tea at Love a Duck
Delicious Prawn and Pork Dumplings
I hadn’t been to Northcote shops in an age. It was great to see it so full of life and crammed with every Asian cuisine you can imagine. The food at Love a Duck was exceptional and true Hong Kong style. A treat I wasn’t expecting to come across.
View from Stanley Point, Devonport
View of Navy Ships from Stanley Point, Devonport
Driving around my old stomping ground of Devonport I was reminded of why I love it so. It’s a beautiful part of the world, great little beaches, views across to the City and it’s crammed fill of old Villa’s and wide roads. It is my favourite suburb in the North Shore and Auckland. And I could live there again, no problems.
Glorious little second hand store in Cheltenham, Devonport
And I couldn’t believe my eyes while driving through Birkenhead (another old stomping ground)……the new Library was finally up and running (it took an absolute age to be designed and built). What a lovely architectural find……a beautiful wee space. I wasn’t expecting something so progressive from the council initiative – surprised was I.
Birkehead Library - Interior Shot
Birkenhead Library - Resting spot
Birkenhead Library - Sculpture
It’s official, I have fallen back into love with my hometown. It’s got layers and colour and diversity and stories and beautiful beaches and unique landscape and a myriad of cultures. And on this trip I was inspired.
On this trip I realised I hadn’t been looking previously, so I hadn’t seen all the colour, joy and beauty of this place that was right under my nose. I saw new hidden gems that I didn’t realise existed……because I hadn’t been looking.
And there it is, I’ve fallen back in love because I lifted my head up and looked with open eyes and I was pleasantly surprised.