Life in a Venti Cup:

March 18, 2013

From the Venti Archives: Improve Your Life in Just One Week

{originally posted June 2009...}

Once a year I do what I call a life tune-up. I reassess my goals, my plan and make sure I'm on course to achieve that. It's also a good time to give myself an honest once-over and make sure I like what I see. Am I excelling professionally but not calling my mom enough? How is my fitness? Do I like what I see in the mirror? What do I REALLY want to do with my life? Has it changed since last year? Am I getting enough time with my spouse? Are there any bad habits I've let creep into my life? How about my friends? Am I making enough time for them? Too much time?

I genuinely believe you have to design the life you want. Great stories don't just happen. Do you want to be a venture capitalist? (I do.) So where's that money going to come from? What am I going to do with that success? Travel? Develop new businesses? Where will I live? What kind of friends will we have? What do I want that to feel like on a daily basis? Am I doing things RIGHT NOW, every single day to work towards that goal?

I'm telling you this because it's time again. I can feel it. Time to shake things up and make sure I'm on pace to win in life. If you've never thought this way or done such a thing, I'm inviting you to take a look at my process and inviting you to play along. But I'll warn you, it is absolutely life changing. So be prepared to enjoy life better in just seven days.

Here goes...

Hit Record
TV has to go. Just for a week. Trust me, in this age of TiVo it'll be there at the end of the seven days. But you may find you've been letting too much television into your life. So for just a week, stop watching people live their lives and start living yours.

Do Something Every Day That Scares You. Every. Single. Day.
This one is small but very important. We're trying to establish a habit here. So it's important that every day you take a small step for big results. This can be reaching out to an old friend or mending a relationship. Making a call to ask about a new job. Applying for school. Admitting you were wrong. Accepting an apology - or make one. Having that difficult conversation. Calling your mom. Finishing that personal project. Asking your boss for more responsibility, less responsibility, a raise, a vacation...whatever. Making the appointment. Cleaning the closet. It can be small. It can be large. But do something every day that you DON'T want to do.Look fear in the face and DO IT ANYWAY.

Break a Few Bad Habits
We've all got some form of substance abuse. Caffeine. Gum. Cookies. Candy. Soda. Martinis. Something. Give it up for one week. Personally, I eliminate all drinks but water for the week. I give up coffee and tea. It's not easy, but at the end of the week I feel and look trimmer, feel better and my skin looks radiant. There's something in your diet that you are using as a crutch. Give it up for a week. Just trust me on this one.

Start A Few Good Ones
It's important to do some things you love. Listen to more music. Laugh harder. Surf. Dance. Chat on the phone for hours with an old friend. Run. Kiss a bit more. Hug a bit longer. Go to an art gallery. Skate. Ski. Dine al fresco. Relax by the pool. Whatever it is you love doing but normally don't make time for...do it now. Do some things you'd otherwise be too busy watching mind-numbing television to enjoy. Whatever it is you love, do a bit more of it this week (and hopefully thereafter).

Get Moving
Part of cleaning up your mind requires you to move your body. Never underestimate the mind-body connection. If you workout already, just keep it up. Maybe use this week to change up your activity or take some new classes. Not working out? How about walking 10-15 minutes a day. Maybe take the stairs, not the elevator. Park at the back of the parking lot and walk further. Again, the key here is just to do some kind of movement every day. It's summer...take a swim. Whatever. Just get that body of your moving.

Write it Down
Here's the most important part of all: write down what you want. Get a journal, a notebook, a Moleskin book (ideally, something you can keep and refer to in the future) and write down what you REALLY want out of life. What is your ultimate vision of the future? Forget about the "now" and any reasons you've come up with as to why you'll never have, do or be your best. I want you to write down your ultimate life fantasy.

What would that life look like? Would you live where you currently live? Would you spend your days running a meaningful non-profit? Would you have your own business? Would you have three homes - one in Positano, Italy? Maybe you've got three homes. Would you finally have that pilot's license?

What would the ULTIMATE dream of yours look like. Write it down. Write it down without fear that anyone else will ever see it. This is just for you. It's your private documentation of your ultimate vision for your life.

What would you look like? Would you be more fit? Would you dress differently? What would you be like? Would you be more caring? ore patient? More ambitious? How would you treat your spouse? How would you spend your days?

The key here is to put down as many details as you can. Imagine what you'd look like, feel like, dress like. What are you driving? Where are you living? Do you have children? How happy are you? Is it sunny where you vacation? What do you really, really, really want out of life? And here's the key: free yourself from wondering how on earth any of this will come to pass. This part of the process is about the
"what" without ever wondering about the "how."

For some of you, this may be the very first time you've asked yourself these questions. It might be a lot for you to process. If it takes you all week to write this out, I think that's wonderful. And feel free to keep improving the vision as the week goes on. It may take you a few days to freely allow yourself to dream. But it's important that you get this down on paper. Visible. Readable. Physical. So that you can SEE your heart's desires. It may be tempting to just think about this and not write it down, but it just doesn't work. You have to see it in front of you.

Take A Good Long Hard Look
At the end of the week (or whenever you finish writing your life's wish) read it. Really, really, read it. Digest that information. Read it a few times. What does that say about you? How far from your present situation is this new scenario? This better, more fulfilled you?

And here's the hook: what's it going to take to GET THERE? Figure out what you'll need to do (or think, or believe) to get there. (For example: If you want to be a fitness model but haven't so much as been to a competition, it's time to do some investigating.)

This is where those small fears you've been conquering all week come into play. You'll have knocked out some trivial tasks that have been hanging on your to-do list for too long. You'll be more likely to take bold actions now.

Ask yourself: how can I make those dreams come to pass? What can I do each day to get me closer to those goals. I guarantee, if you ask better questions, you'll get better answers.

Bottom Line
Be fearless this week. Be bold. What's seven days? Aren't you important enough to set aside one week? Isn't your future happiness worth it? The answer is yes.

I'm starting this process on Sunday because I like the Sunday to Saturday format. It helps me frame the experience. It helps e feel organized and in control. I'm inviting you to join me. In the meantime, I'm knocking as much off my to-do list as possible and setting my self up for success next week. Yes, I'm already doing something every day that scares me or that I've been delaying.

So... care to join me?

{image courtesy of DeviantArt}

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January 02, 2013

The Future

2013... I'm coming for you. My "word" of the year? Receive. Not take... receive. I believe we often push away opportunities and goodness for myriad reasons. So this year I'm unshackling myself and not just allowing but INVITING all of that goodness and wonder to come into my life. You might consider doing the same.

But don't just wallow and wait.Write is down. Make an afternoon of this task. Buy anew notebook, a special pen. Write every tiny little thing you want, wish and pine for down. Write furiously and feverishly. No judging. No negative self-talk. No bouts of "how could that happen?" may enter the mind. Just write. Allow your deepest desires to pour forth and land on page after page of this notebook. Offer details, scents, scenes, colors... details. Write out the life you wish to live. The person you wish to be and the places you wish to go.

Put it "out there" and don't spend a moment doubting its possibility. I assure you, there is magic in this activity.

Now.... go forth and DO IT. Buy that notebook today and prepare to fully enjoy this excercise. Then... allow yourself the gift of receiving that goodness into your life.

{image via}

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November 06, 2012

Longing

Sometimes you want something so badly that a deep longing is felt inside of you. Whatever it is you want in your life - a fresh start, true love, success - put all of your efforts towards achieving that goal. You are the only one in your own way. No one can get between you and your dreams except for you.

My suggestion? Invest in a brand new journal. Write down everything you wish, you want, you dream... write it all down. Read it back to yourself. See it as present in your current life. Repeat often.

{Monica Vinader 18k gold "Siren" earrings}

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April 12, 2012

Passionate Pursuit of Excellence

If you listen closely to leaders, entrepreneurs, moguls and admirable people a common theme will ultimately emerge. Excellence. They demand it from themselves, they expect it from their team and they strive to create it with whatever grand idea, innovation or product they are developing. A simple word but a lifelong challenge: the pursuit of excellence.

Immediately names like Steve Jobs (known for his relentless pursuit of perfection) and Richard Branson (who refuses to take no for an answer) come to mind. People for whom "it's not possible" or "it's good enough" readies them for the challenge.

Also look at Alli Webb the founder of DryBar. Do one thing and do it exceptionally well. That's her (and therefore her brand's) goal. Be the best. Accept nothing less. Offer exceptional quality and service. Raise your standards and be far better than anyone else would ever dream should be expected of you.

These thoughts all came to mind as I attended a Nespresso event at one of Dallas's hottest eateries, PrivateSocial. Once in, I had the opportunity to sit with Padma Lakshmi of Top Chef fame. She shared with me why she partnered with the brand and what makes a famous model/author/host/mother/businesswoman choose to add coffee spokesperson to her long list of titles. Her answer was fairly straightforward: excellence.

Listening to her speak about coffee was eye opening. The vocabulary she used and the passion she had for the topic was something I'd only seen among oenophiles. She spoke of varietals and picking the berries (yes, berries... for in face what we call a coffee bean is actually one half of the seed within the delicate berry) at the precise right moment from the right location and roasting them to the unique roasting level that is best for them. Using terms like "science" and "respect" she shared stories on how far and wide Nespresso (a European phenomenon) goes to source the ultimate product. Perfection is the goal.

You'd think it would end there... but as the event went on we had the opportunity to talk to many people from the product team. It was pretty clear that although ceramic glasses and shiny proprietary equipment surrounded us, we we were hardly talking about coffee any longer. They were preaching a different gospel. How to conceive the best idea, execute it flawlessly and deliver it to the right people at the right time. Do one thing and do it exceptionally well. Better than your fans, your competitors, your supporters or anyone else expects from you.

Isn't this the formula for success for every business and - frankly - every life? Be the very best at what you do. Pursue excellence with every fiber of your being. The result in this case was incredible coffee in a very unique delivery system with some of the prettiest packaging and equipment I've seen. But how does this apply to your life? Are you striving to be the very best at what you do in life? In excellence your goal?

If not, take this moment to shift your focus. Decide to be unreasonably great at your craft, your business, your job, your life.

How did I get this from fabulous food and incredible coffee? Because it was clear that excellence was the goal of the PR team, the brand leaders, Padma, Master Chef Tiffany Derry and all of those involved. Passion for excellence is impossible to hide and always shines through.

Pursue excellence and don't settle for anything less in your life. Ever.

I'd like to graciously thank the Nespresso team for the invitation and the incredible products they shared with us. Thank you for a reminder to be truly great at even the finer details of my craft. True greatness is all in the details after all.

Posted at 07:45 AM in celebrities, dallas, design, entertaining, events, glamorous gifts, success, technology, the venti challenge | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

July 25, 2011

Live Boldly

You know that wise question, "What would you do if you knew you could not fail?" Try to live that way this month. Fearless, limitless, undaunted by doubt. Life is exceedingly short. If you don't rise up to star in your own life story, someone else will. Seize this life. It's yours.

The result? Happiness. Success. Satisfaction and an improved sense of self. There is no such thing as failure. There are only different paths to your own success. So go ahead... live a little.

Posted at 06:54 AM in life, observations, photography, the venti challenge | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

May 26, 2011

What It Takes to Succeed

mediterranean exterior design by dallas architect John Lively & Associates

AMS Landscape Design Studios mediterranean patio

mediterranean patio design by los angeles landscape architect AMS Landscape Design Studios, Inc.

Every day I have conversations with friends, colleagues and strangers who share that they dream of this or want that or hope for xyz. The thing is, do they? I'm not seeing much to show that they have a passion for that dream or possess a plan for attainment.

Hope to lose 60 pounds? That Snackwell cookie dangling from your lips while surfing the web isn't helping. Want to live in a mansion that you own free and clear? I hope you're reading this from your smartphone as you rush off to your next big pitch meeting.

The point is, it takes a plan of action and... wait for it... ACTION to get what you want. Success doesn't just happen. You have to know exactly what you want. Me? I want that fat house, free and clear. I want optimal health & fitness. I want a successful design business. Do you know what I do? I get up early, I work out, I hone my craft and I go for it... each and every day. Working on my plan. Pursuing my dream. Chasing it. Crushing it. It takes motion, movement and some sacrifices.

For me that sacrifice is a little sleep, missed BravoTV etc. My TiVo box is filled with "when I have time I'll see it" shows and to be honest, I am having trouble finding time. When I'm not busy working I'm spending quality time with my daughter and my husband and our friends. They take priority over whatever Kelly and Ramona might be doing this season. (Bethenny, however, is in a league of her own. I make time for her. Watching Bethenny Ever After is like watching myself on a reality show. She's a bit much for other people, but I totally relate to her particular brand of crazy. She's a self-made woman. LOVE. HER.)

Am I there yet? Fortunately, no. I have much to do before I "arrive" where I'm headed. I'm enjoying the process of designing it, building it, dreaming it, working for it. And I'm going to get there. It's just how I'm wired. And the process of working for it and seeing it come to fruition by my own actions is readying me to appreciate my vision of success when I achieve it. But step one is having a specific vision of what you want and be willing to actually change your life to pursue it. Without that you're just drifting along hoping. And "hope" may be a pleasant concept, but it isn't getting you closer to that rockin' body next to the infinity pool overlooking the lapping waves. It isn't building your brand, your company or your bank account.

So... how about it? What is it that will compel you to get out of bed early tomorrow? Hire a trainer. Read a book. Set an alarm clock. Make 10 calls you've been putting off. Do what it takes to shake yourself out of that "someday" state and get moving.

Posted at 08:51 AM in leisure, life, luxury, note to self, observations, the venti challenge, things to do before I die | Permalink | Comments (19) | TrackBack (0)

January 15, 2011

Feathering Your Nest

Nothing personalizes a room like art. It establishes your taste. It indicates your passions. It delights you. It intrigues you. It pleases you. With all of these great reasons to surround yourself with artwork I'm surprised so many of us don't. Affordability is no longer an excuse thanks to outlets like eBay and etsy where aspiring (read: sensibly priced) art can be found. In terms of judging good art from bad, the only thing that matters it speaks to you.

For many years my true art passion was sculpture and black & white photography. Lately, however, I feel so moved by color. I'm inspired to move to the canvas and fill my walls with pieces I create. I love charcoal sketches. I adore figure drawings. I love line art and fashion illustrations. If you can frame it, hand it or stretch it onto quality canvas I'm in heaven.And it's a skill I've let slide sue to work, interests, growing up, being busy... you name it.

As I surfed for fabulous images to illustrate my point (in more ways that one) I came across Tobi Fairley's 2011 goals. Amazing how similar hers were to mine. I've noticed all of my blogger/designer girlfriends are fiendishly working, building our brands, barely taking time to breathe. We are self-professed high achievers. We set goals and we accomplish them. We want it all and we are going for it. We're investing our hearts and souls into our work - our passion - but we're often losing that balance (or at the very least the sleep) we so desire.

This year I commit to spending more time pursuing my passions (creating art, making more time for photography and creating Blurb books from the best photos) and seizing the moment. The days flew by last year. I don't want that to happen in 2011. I want to be present. I want to be in the moment. More importantly, I want to document my life and adorn my walls with evidence of a life richly lived.

For me, art does this. Painting does this. Sketching delivers this. I'm away from the laptop. I'm in my "element" and I am in the zone. It puts me under somewhat of a spell and helps me tap into parts of my brain that I am often to busy to hear. Right now I need that kind of an outlet.

I've found that by stepping back for those moments to be in my own element I am actually more alive, more present and more engaged when I'm with others. It isn't a selfish act at all. In fact, it would be more selfish to not pursue those interests and tap into my true creativity.

If you've abandoned a passion of yours lately due to a busy schedule or mismanaged time, it's time. Write that book. Make those calls. Take that trip. Wherever you passion leads you - follow. Your work, your family and your friendships will all be enriched by the journey.

{images all via Suzanne Kasler's portfolio... she understands the power of art to transform a life and a space}

Posted at 09:16 AM in art, color trends, interior design, life, observations, success, the venti challenge | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBack (0)

July 02, 2010

Personal Freedom

Life in interesting. I noticed that the first year I worked for myself - really worked outside of corporate walls - my "true" personality fully emerged. All those years playing nice-nice and deftly working office politics resulted in a more muted version of me. Dress codes, corporate policies, internet usage protocols, meetings, break room etiquette, schedules... all part of the "work as a team" package. Imagine not having to abide by anyone else's rules or standards. That's freedom.

A few months into my journey I was shockingly aware that the fullness and realness of me had arrived. I laughed more, played more, worked more, delivered more and certainly learned more than ever before. The "real me" as Carrie Bradshaw would say had so fully come about that I could (and would) never again hide my shine from the world. Five years later and it's clear to me that the changes are irreversible. Never again will it be possible to work in the confines of a personality stifling office.

Surely this isn't the case for everyone, but for me - a very creative individual who might just be a wee bit too full of energy and a zeal for life - office living doesn't work. For me to fully embrace my creativity, my passion for fashion, my love of design and my desire to express myself fully it took building my own business. Maybe the changes simply coincided with personal growth that would have occurred anyway. Maybe building a personal brand changed me. Maybe the changes were inevitable. It doesn't matter. What does matter is that I'm free, I'm fabulously happy and it's empowering to create your own future.

Is it easy? No. Nothing worthwhile ever is easy. And I wouldn't want it to be without challenges. I savor the difficult projects and the ~~occasional~~ frequent long hours because it gives me great satisfaction to invest so fully in myself and in my future. If you give of yourself completely and bring passion and purpose to every engagement, success won't hide from you for long. Is it an awe inspiring responsibility? Holding your own future in your hands? Yes. But I wouldn't trade it for all the Herman Miller chairs and break room Starbucks coffee in the world.

On this long holiday weekend I find myself taking a step back to marvel at the journey of my life and appreciating my own personal braveness. Life is fun if you seize it. A good life - a full, exciting life - involves risk, periods of uncertainty and a complete trust in your instincts.

Do you want to know what defines true success? Being the best that you yourself can be. It's not about living to meet anyone else's standards. It's not about making 10% more than your neighbors. It's not about having what someone else has or wanting what someone else covets. It's about achieving all that you yourself can achieve. Being your own personal best. Nothing else will deliver such satisfaction.

Happy independence day everyone. I hope you create a terrific weekend for yourself. Relish and delight in your personal freedom. You deserve it.

{the above to-die-for shoes are none other than the delicious Yves Saint Laurent Tribute Sandals in Metallic Gold.}

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May 07, 2010

Affirmative Action

There are times in life when you can just tell that you're "in the zone" or on the right path. You're feeling good, you're doing well and all is right with the world. You are certain that this is the life you were meant to be living right here, right now. In my experience, these moments are fleeting. So the question is... how do we keep that state going?

I read about a very Zen approach to life once. I believe it was in a magazine I read on a flight. The contents of the article at the time seemed simple yet profound: spend a week saying yes to every opportunity that came your way. Yes, I'll join you for lunch today. Yes, I'll try that new Iced Mocha Half-Caf Grande Frappuccino. Yes, I'd like to try snorkeling. Yes, I'll take on that new project.

Hollywood types clearly read the same airline magazines I do, as by now you know 2008's Yes Man demonstrated the life-changing possibilities of this experiment. Jim Carrey's experience may have been dramatic... but don't you think saying yes for a week in your own life could yield some interesting results?

What if you indeed agreed to any and every invitation that was extended? (Barring, of course, invites for rides in suspicious white vans from strangers). Would your life change? Would your calendar be more full? Would you start to realize all of the resistance you put up from those around you? I suspect that if you would try this with me for one week you would indeed discover there's a different life experience out there waiting for you.

Life is calling... will you pick up and say hello? I urge you to pick up and see what she has to offer!

{lovely image above is not my own: These adorable little yummies were shot by Swedish photographer Therese Aldgård and styled by Swedish prop chick Lisa Edsälv. Found on Love the Cool}

Posted at 07:56 AM in celebrities, life, note to self, observations, the venti challenge, things to do before I die | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

May 06, 2010

Rise to the Occasion

This morning as I took a walk I was thinking about personal standards. What's completely acceptable to one person may seem outrageous to another. In life, we typically stay within the range of what we feel is "acceptable" to us. You stay pretty close to the weight and level of fitness you feel meets your image of yourself... your standards. You date, marry and befriend people you feel are like you or "on your level." Subconsciously you live at the income level or professional level that you think you "deserve" in life. The image in your mind you have of yourself and your life is indeed the life you live. If you don't believe that, you're living in blissful denial.

So... what happens when what you want, isn't what you currently have? You must change your mind. You must alter what you find acceptable. You must raise your standards. That's right... change your mind and you'll change your reality. Stick to it... decide exactly what you want to achieve or experience... determine WHY you need or want that to be your reality... and then figure out what you need to do to get there. But this is no time for autopilot. You have to take consistent action - or at least have constant focus on the goal - to get there.

The good news is this: once you raise your standards the rest is easy. For example, I would never, ever cheat on my spouse. Never have.. never will. It's unacceptable to me. So is a filthy house or an out of shape body. These images just don't fit the image of myself I have in my mind. They are beneath my personal standards. It's just something I don't ever think about because it isn't part of my personal mental image of myself. Those beliefs I hold, those self portraits in my mind cause me on a consistent basis to focus on my husband workout and clean my house. Silly examples.. but you get my point. My standards for myself cause me to do certain things but not others. If I raise my standards I'll improve those situations. Make sense?

The same could be said of any element in life. Are you behaving in a way you don't like? Are you living beneath your personal capabilities or potential? Are you coasting along living a life someone else has mapped out for you? Are you limiting your own potential? This isn't about others around you. This is about you... you as an individual. Your friends may have different standards. Your peers might not be destined for the same greatness you'll achieve. Your job isn't to "fit in" with those around you... your obligation to yourself and to the world is to be the best that YOU can be.

So... are you doing that right now? Are you living up to your own ideal? Are you focused on the right things? Are you working towards your ultimate oals in life? If not... why? Maybe... just maybe it's time for you to raise your standards.

{love the image? Make it yours at Vivre!}

Posted at 09:36 AM in fabulousness, life, note to self, observations, success, the venti challenge, things to do before I die, venti favorites | Permalink | Comments (12) | TrackBack (0)

May 02, 2010

Without Purpose, There is no Passion (Part Deux)

A wonderful twitter friend reminded me of this quote yesterday "Without Passion there is no Purpose." To her, I owe this post. Lately I've noticed a lack of... something in my life. Looking around I could not determine what was lacking. "Things" were not going to fill the void. My calendar was filled with activities. It wasn't work. It wasn't play. I felt stumped. Somehow 2010 had arrives, we'd accomplished some very heft personal milestones in our home and have big (big!) plans for the coming year and those ahead. And yet... I was painfully aware that I was missing something enormous from my life.

Then yesterday at 7:45 am, @AyeshaJ shot me this tweet. It was a quote from a previous post of mine. I was busy getting ready to go to a friend's house for breakfast. While Ayesha's notes had fueled my morning, the rest of the day's activities combined would drastically alter my life path. What I'd thought would be a quiet breakfast among friends turned out to be a mid-size gathering of powerful women. I don't mean captains of industry or bodybuilders (although some of those were in he mix)... I mean women truly in touch with themselves, their relationships and their purpose. The conversation over breakfast and the bonding that occurred was the best two hours I've invested in some time.

As the day unfolded and the sun continued to shine (literally and figuratively) I began to realize I'd shifted into somewhat of an autopilot rhythm. That's not like me. I'm a firm believer in MAKING THINGS HAPPEN. In my mind, you must MUST design the life you want. Success, happiness, good health, abundance and wealth of spirit do not just happen. You aim for it, you plan for it, you pray in thanks for it, and you make it happen. Expect good things and they will indeed manifest. But go on autopilot and "hope things pan out" is not the key to a good life. And certainly not a fulfilling one. So after an unusual night of restless sleep, I feel more renewed and focused than I've felt in months. It's time I started swallowing my own medicine. The phrase "Rise to the occasion" has been on my mind for months. Months. Well, life... I am rising to the occasion.Thank you for the smack on the bum.

How do you go about change? 1) decide what you want 2) determine what it will take to get there 3) take small steps beginning IMMEDIATELY to get you closer to those goals 4) GO!

So I absolutely know what I want. I've written it down (a number of times) in a journal. But I'm going to write it down again. In even greater detail. I'm going to sit outside at the park while my daughter plays and write in my lovely pink leather bound planer (which I've been saving for an occasion such as this!) and write it out. I need to see it... in detail...again. For step two I already know many tiny changes to make in my daly life that will bring about tremendous change and instant gratification. It will bring me closer to those I love and build a better life for our family and friends. If you're sitting there wanting more, realize that help is not on the way. You've got to design the life you want and go get it. Remember, faith without works is pointless. You've got to get yourself into action to life a fulfilling life. Don't fall prey to letting the days slip by without being memorable. This is NOT a dress rehearsal, readers. It's May.... what do you need to accomplish by 2011?

Start by writing out your ultimate life goals. Go way out there and dream it...fearlessly. Write as if there are no limits whatsoever. Then take a step back and read it with fresh eyes. What's the disparity between that life and the one you're living? how do you reconcile that? Make major goals that you need to reach for, but offer yourself micro-goals as well. I like to give myself three mini-goals each day. It helps me feel a grand sense of accomplishment. I write them down on a fresh sheet of paper in my binder and cross them out as I complete them. Remember.. these can be small. The point is to develop momentum. Get moving.

So... as I sip my late morning cup of coffee I want to challenge you to join me on yet another Venti Challenge. If you missed the last one, you may want to read some of these posts to catch up.

Call it my annual mental spring cleaning... but it's time. Design the life you want. Now.

{creative art from my online boutique, the venti cafe}

Posted at 08:56 AM in life, note to self, observations, the venti challenge, things to do before I die | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

June 29, 2009

You Will Be Taught To Fly

"When you have come to the edge of all light that you know and are about to drop of into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: there will be something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly.”

Talk about a powerful quote. I think it ties in nicely to the message of this post. For over a year I've been quietly working on building my own online boutique. It began as an idea when I was expecting the arrival of my daughter. It was just a loosely formed thought, but I could not shake it from my mind. Instantly I knew the name of the shop, the vibe, the essential look it should have. I knew I would have to build this store and make it happen.

But until you put the hours in, an idea is really just that: a thought. How on earth was this going to happen? How could I fit this into my already packed schedule? And more importantly, what exactly was I going to have in the store? I've had many ideas on this and many attempts to see it come to fruition. In the end, I actually designed and built the boutique before my daughter was born.

The challenge: I hadn't quite nailed down what I would carry or how to handle the logistics of selling other people's creations. I spoke to many vendors, many talented people and danced with many (many, many) iterations of the original idea. And while I found many amazing products I could display in the shop, it seemed I was reinventing the wheel, as they were already for sale elsewhere. Why was I reinventing the wheel? It just wasn't adding up.

Many months later that initial seed of an idea has now bloomed into something much more meaningful and far more personal. In an odd way I'm happy it took so long to complete the project. It gave me time to distill the idea to a clear, elegant concept.
So...what's the skinny? It's simple, actually. Occasionally, in lieu of buying art for our home or office I end up creating pieces of my own. Sometimes it is the only way to get the desired result. Some of the designs offer bits of wisdom, some remind you to get out and explore the most fabulous destinations this planet boasts, and others are simply meant to be beautiful. (Hey, there's nothing wrong with just sitting there looking pretty.) Each design is colorful, happy and intended to inspire.After assembling a collection of work, it seemed only logical to share them with you. In short, I'm presenting to you a collection of modern prints I have personally designed. That's right, hipsters. I'm offering you some Venti Cup-style design for your own bad selves. After much delay, many long nights and much fussing over details, I proudly present to you...the Venti Cafe, my own little boutique! And here's the best part: 10% of the proceeds from the Venti Cafe are going to a charity very near and dear to my heart. This has become the driving motivator for this project and I hope you feel the same compassion I do for this cause. It truly made an impact on my life and I feel a deep need to give back.

So I hope you'll pop over to the cafe just to see what the fuss is all about. I'm sure you'll love what you see!

{P.S...In the near future I'll be adding new collections, including several designs for nurseries. Stay tuned!}

Posted at 07:09 AM in art, design, graphic design, illustrations, life, the venti challenge, things to do before I die | Permalink | Comments (14) | TrackBack (0)

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June 23, 2009

Just Say Yes

We just finished watching Yes Man, the recent Jim Carrey release. I've got to admit, the message isn't lost on me. Saying yes to what life places before you is a very Zen approach to life, and one I've been encountering more and more these days. In many of the books on my nightstand I've noticed a recurring theme, that good things are trying to come your way if you'll oly let them. That it's often you stand in the way of your own success. And if you'll stop fighting the current and go with it you'll discover that your life experience is so much better than the one you were fighting to establish.

This doesn't sound very compatible with achievement and goal setting...but are they in fact diametrically opposed? I'm not so sure. What opportunities would life place your way if you just stopped resisting? If you didn't hesitate each time you received an invitation, where would that leg of the journey carry you? What if those invitations, chances and opportunities are the answers to your master plan? What if each time you said yes to what seems to be a random event, it was actually putting you closer to your goals?

Saying yes doesn't mean you're an agreeable flake that doesn't make their own decisions. It seems the secret is to consciously choose to try new things that seemed like roadblocks before. It means adding more adventure, more fun and more experimentation to your experience.

I'm going to add "yes" to my process right now. Yes to opportunities that seem like diversions. Yes to chances that seem anathema to my goals. Yes to life's opportunities. Things are going so swimmingly well right now, that it seems like the perfect time. I'm not fighting the current. I'm not forcing things. So let's see if this added bit of Eastern flair makes an impact in my Western approach to success.

What about you? Are you saying "no" to life?

Posted at 06:29 AM in life, observations, success, the venti challenge | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

June 22, 2009

Work in Progress

The "venti challenge" was intended to take one week. I've come to recognize that I'll need two weeks to do the process justice. Over the past week I've done things I'd been putting off, braved new frontiers, knocked myriad things off my to-do list and boldly stepped in a new direction. But I found that I needed to organize my physical world before I focused on my future.

I anticipated a week of journaling and goal setting, but recognized that I wasn't going to be able to focus on anything until I deep cleaned my surroundings from top to bottom. Please, please... appreciate that this is a feature in my programming, not a bug. I've since organized every drawer in my home, decked out my closet like so that it shimmers like the interiors of a Tory Burch boutique, scrubbed my floors and rewashed nearly every item in my wardrobe. After all, once I cut out television I discovered I had quite a bit of time on my hands.

So this week is going to be the week where I get to the meat of the process. If you're playing along at home, feel free to join me in my continuation. Already done? Then you should be basking in the glow of your newly framed future. Drop me a note and let me know what your vision for life looks like. I'll certaily be sharing mine once I'm done.

Posted at 06:45 AM in the venti challenge | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

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June 18, 2009

Be One of the Few Who Do

Last night I felt inspired to ask a random question on twitter: "Wondering: do you have goals or just wishes?" It seemed to have struck a chord with people. There's a wide gulf between wishes and goals, my friends. A very wide gulf indeed.

This week I'm working on fine tuning my future plans. I journal out my vision of my "ideal life" in as detailed a manner as possible. Where I'd like to live, what it will be like to entertain, what I'll feel like, what I'll wear, where we'll vacation, what we'll do for fun, what we'll do for fulfillment. Details. Tiny details. These aren't wishes. These are plans.

How sad to have a book of wishes? You're tapping into vastly different emotions when you conjure up these images and categorize them as wishes. Think about it for a moment. Close your eyes and "hope" you get to work safely this morning. Hope traffic is easy. Hope your engine runs smoothly. Now....what did hope feel like? Did you feel an undercurrent of anxiety? Stress? Did you also see yourself getting to your destination in a less than positive mood?

With "hope" we are leaving the possibility in our minds that this thing we want might not happen. That doesn't feel good. Hope leaves the option of failure.

Let's try it again. Only this time "expect" to get to work just fine. Imagine the sun shining, you're listening to something great on the radio, traffic may be busy but things are going fine. Imagine yourself walking in and being greeted by your coworkers.

Now that's a much better day. Was the traffic, the weather or your office any different? No. But you were. You expected a good day, a great drive and a positive experience. And guess what? You gave yourself one. You're in control of much more than you realize, just use that noggin of yours correctly.

There's a physiology that accompanies stress and one that is present when we expect good things. When you're anxious or "down" about something you use your body differently. But when we are confident and sure of ourselves we stand straight. We feel good inside. We carry our bodies in a way that tells our minds to feel good.

{Don't believe any of this? Have you ever been to a party or a friends house and observed how confidently someone entered the room? They didn't speak a word to you yet, but you were drawn to their body language. They seemed at ease. There is absolutely a mind/body connection going on there.}

And the results are vastly different when we tell our minds to "expect" things. What if you were headed in for surgery. No one wants the surgeon who "hopes" things go well. That guy is nervous inside. I want the surgeon who expects the procedure to go well. He walks taller, comes off more confidently and has steadier hands. You might say this is a subtle difference in language and you'd be right. But just pay attention to how you talk to yourself. If you're wishing or hoping for a lot rather than planning or expecting, you might need a little adjustment.

Continue reading "Be One of the Few Who Do" »

Posted at 06:23 AM in life, observations, success, the venti challenge, things to do before I die | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)

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June 16, 2009

Stop Majoring in Minor Things

My big week is all about reassessing priorities and making sure I'm not spinning my wheels on the trivial details of this thing we call life.To me the secret to success is organization. I am definitely a list girl. Write a fresh list. Cross things out as you knock them out. And keep going. In fact...I keep a physical notebook for those action items and create a fresh "to-do" list almost daily. Without the list I tend to flail about like a fish without a current. I enjoy the physical act of writing the list (in blue ink, no less) and crossing things off one by one. And since I have a penchant for neatness, once the list becomes too cluttered (with all that crossing off) it looks messy and I begin anew. And again we begin the process.

But I find that lately I'm using my iPhone more and more for life organization. I don't get the tactile thrill of crossing things off my list, but it does a lovely job of allowing me to sync my digital world with my "real" one. And let's face it, I refuse to ever place an ink pen in a handbag again.

There are no shortage of apps out there for keeping track of your life, but a cult favorite with the designerati seems to be Things from Cultured Code. I've been getting along just fine without it, but I'm starting to see how this little investment might be an elegant way to integrate the on and offline worlds.

{Although I am very, very, very emotionally attached to my pretty notebooks and special blue ink pens. So I will probably use Things for business tasks and shopping lists...not my personal priorities and lists. I'd miss seeing my handwriting and crossing those items off the list so very much!}

If you're playing along this week and are knocking trivial or unpleasant things off of your to-do list, realize that once those are completed you can start LIVING that life of yours. You'll no longer be held back by the minor tasks in life. You can focus on what's really important. Start writing that novel, building that online boutique, starting that master's degree program, opening that bakery.

My commitment to myself is to stop majoring in minor things. And if it takes a cool app from the Apple store to do it or just a simple pen and paper solution, then let's get on with it. The big things in your life are waiting.

Posted at 08:54 AM in design, life, success, the venti challenge, trends | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)

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June 14, 2009

If You Want More, More, More...Jump!

This is one of my absolute favorite scenes from one of my favorite movies. Hugh Grant dancing - and being completely embarrassed once caught - in Love Actually. I love thinking that Tony Blair or "Dubya" had this kind of a fun moment on the evening they first won their elections. There's something great about seeing someone's private celebration of victory. (please...please...no political comments...this isn't that kind of blog)

This video kicks off day one of my Change Your Life in Just One Week event. Here is how the week is going to look for me:

Turn it off: no television whatsoever in the evenings. I'll just have to assume Dina will be there when I'm ready to watch her fabulousness next week on Tivo. (I love you, Dina!)

Let it go: I've decided I have to behavioral addictions I need to kick this week. First, shopping. That's right. Unless it's food or gas for my car I won't be shopping this week. No fashion purchases. No shoes, no jeans, no tops, no dresses. Nada. Actually, it's not about buying things or spending. I find very little I actually like enough to purchase. I'm extremely selective and it has to be beyond perfect for me to call it my own. But I need to stop looking for things to covet. I'm always on the prowl for gorgeous new things. I need just one week away from this habit. It's not just time consuming it's joy-robbing. It must stop. (Can I kick it? "yes, you can!")

Next...brewed no coffee after my morning cup. You might be curious about this...I seem to be consuming an odd amount of decaf coffee later in the day. There's nothing good in a cup of decaf coffee, no matter how good the coffee beans are. It's really a cup of creamer and Splenda. This has to go. I have no problem with the occasional afternoon decaf espresso-based Starbucks drink...but this home-brewed business must be put to an end.

Continue reading "If You Want More, More, More...Jump!" »

Posted at 07:34 AM in events, life, observations, success, the venti challenge, things to do before I die | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

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June 11, 2009

Who's Coming With Me?

When I first wrote the previous post, I wasn't sure anyone would "get it" or feel remotely inspired to join me. I definitely felt a bit like Jerry McGuire in those quiet moments before anyone spoke up and said they'd participate in my challenge next week. So in many ways this post is my way of saying thanks for being my Dorothy Boyds. :)