My Lately List

Lately I’ve been:

COOKING lots of pasta and not much else...learning to cook for 1 again is HARD.
SIPPING water. water. and more water. And maybe a vodka soda or two...or three.
READING Julie & Julia by Julie Powell. If I can't cook for myself I can read about other people doing it.
LISTENING to G.R.L. radio on Pandora. Can you say, "dance party?!!"

WANTING the calligraphy starter kit from LHCalligraphy. 
WATCHING Nashville, Friday Night Lights, Greys Anatomy & Parenthood. Netflix overload!
WAITING for fall and holiday product to arrive at the shop! 
ATTEMPTING to work out a lot. The spin studio walking distance from my apt has been a savior. 
LIKING being a not-so-strict vegetarian. I like my vegetables but if you cook bacon I might just eat a piece. 
HOPING that it rains soon. It would be nice to remember what that's like. 
NEEDING to get a new iPhone. Like, now. 
TRYING Juicy Couture perfume and loving it. 
WEARING tank tops and sandals. I heart California. 
LOVING everything pumpkin! These Illume candles we have right now are to die for!
PLANNING for the holidays. Shits about to go down at Boulevard 34!
MISSING my bestie in Arizona and my beautiful godchildren.
MAKING felt projects from Etsy. I needed something crafty to do and they were so. darn. cute. 
NOTICING that when I'm positive, even if I'm forcing it, things just get better.  
LAUGHING at this spoof of the Total Eclipse of the Heart video...an oldie but such a goodie.
ADMIRING how many beautiful girlfriends I have in my life. They lift me up and inspire me everyday. 
BUYING sweaters for fall. Even though it is 80 degrees outside. I have no willpower. 
CRAVING  macaroni and cheese. Always. 
DISLIKING negativity on social media. Can we get a positive status update please? 
FOLLOWING Whitney Leigh Morris on Insta (@whitneyleighmorris) She lives in the cutest lil' cottage!!
FEELING hopeful. Everything happens for a reason, right? I hope so.  

Sunshine and smiles with my beautiful goddaughter Peyton

Got this fun idea from my gorgeous friend and fellow blogger, Steph.
Check out her blog Pixels & Playbooks. You won't be sorry.

And try this for yourself, it was really fun! Just copy, paste and go!

Live beautifully sweethearts,

Start Again...

Wake up everyday and begin again. 

Forget yesterday's problems.

Stop thinking about that stupid thing you said.

Or that mistake you made. 

It's done. It's over. It is already in the past.

Today is a new day and you get to start all over again. 

Fresh. New. Bright.

So take a deep breath when you wake up in the morning.

And start again.

Just Do It

JUST DO IT.

I'm serious.

You know that thing that you have been wanting to do? That business idea you have, that blog you've been wanting to start, that book you've been wanting to write, that trip you want to take...

Just do it. Or maybe I should say, "Just start it."

Just having a good idea is not enough...you have to begin to execute that idea.

Because you know what? I hate to tell you this, but... It is NEVER going to be the perfect time to start.

We all make those excuses. You know the ones I'm talking about. You tell yourself you'll start next week, next month, when you're skinnier, smarter, have more time, making more money, when your kids are older, when your health is better...and so on.

But you know what? When you get skinnier, smarter, healthier, older or whatever it is that you're waiting for, then something else will come up. Some new excuse, some new obstacle will arise. Because that's life!

So what do you do? How do you start? Here are my 3 simple steps I take when trying to tackle a new goal or project.

How To Start

1. 

Write down your project, idea or goal. 

Then make a list of all of the reasons why you CAN'T start right now. 

I know, it seems backwards. You're probably wondering why we aren't making a happier list with positive vibes and motivation and rainbows! Here's the deal...when you write down all of your excuses on paper and read them back to yourself, they start to sound sort of silly.

One of my biggest reasons for not starting my business sooner was that I was afraid of financial failure, which to me meant that I would be homeless. Really??? As if my mom, dad, sister, aunts, uncles, grandma, friends, neighbors, spin instructor, etc. would EVER let me be homeless?! So silly...

Take those negative thoughts out of the darkness in your head, shed some light on them and I promise, they will seem a lot less scary.

2. 

Write down your project, idea or goal. 

Come up with 3 easy things you could do RIGHT NOW to get the ball rolling.

Purchase a domain name for your website. (They cost like, $10. Just do it.)

Google how much it would be to fly to your dream vacation destination.

Write a blog post. (You don't have to publish it.)

Update your resume.

Design a business card online with your dream job title on it. (You don't have to buy it. Yet.)

Start a savings jar towards your project/dream and put in $1 a day. Then make it $2, then $5, etc. (It's more than you were saving before...)

Buy a book that is relevant to your dream or idea.

Research other people that are doing what you want to do.

There are a million little things you can do that will at least get you to START. And all of these little things will begin to add up. Each little action will be sending out a message to the universe that you've begun. And when you have finished the first 3 things, write down another 3 and keep going!

3.

Deal with the fear of imperfection and 

write down 3 goals you wish to accomplish in the next 3 months. 

No one has ever started a business and made it successful in one day. Or published the very first draft of their book. Or perfected their vision or brand in one minute. It takes time. You have to be ok with the fact that you aren't going to be perfect when you start...or ever! You will make mistakes, you will mess up, one of your ideas or projects may completely bomb. 

But that's ok. I find that people relate to me better when I mess up or make a mistake because it makes me human. And the sooner you start, the sooner you will get over the initial awkward stage and begin to make something of your little idea.

Write down 3 goals you would like to accomplish in the next 3 months. Even if they don't have anything to do with your idea or project, getting into the habit of completing goals and seeing them materialize will shift your whole perspective. Vision boards, journaling and daily affirmations are also a huge help!

So...Do your research. Make the leap. Just do it. 

It's going to be scary no matter when you start, so why not now?