[I won't lie-- I had to look up the difference between capital with an a or with an o. Oh grammar, I just can't quit you!]
Lately, I've been trying some alternatives to traditional career moves and I came across a website my friend Redd from college has been actually making a LIVING off of. I have been so proud of her because she's one of the most creative and industrious people I've ever met. A couple of highlights about her...she moved from the UK for college in the US (so brave!), has supported herself working in a career of her dreams (stage management) in Atlanta, then took a huge leap and moved to Las Vegas and worked for Cirque du Soleil! How cool is that? She has written an excellent, relatable food blog that she also published as an e-book cookbook. Now, she's been doing voice over work for a long time and has made her career off of this site called fiverr. Her voice is beautiful and she's technically minded, so she can edit and market herself quite brilliantly. She's my "living her dream" hero!
A few months ago, I started my own fiverr. I'm sticking with stuff I know-- letter and card writing, water-color painting, and homemade natural living products. I'd like to add some editing and other digital services, but for now, that's what's on my plate.
So, if you're interested, please take a look! Feel free to share far and wide, because I'd sure appreciate it.
Remember my post about making natural deodorant? You can buy your very own container of it-- customized with essential oils of your choice. Click HERE for deodorant.
Want to relax and take a break? I've read recently about the effects of magnesium deficiency in our diets from the environment being stripped of certain minerals. Did you know a nightly (or weekly, comeon, ain't-nobody-got-time-for-that) bath in epsom salts can help restore your magnesium levels naturally and safely? Check out my customized bath satchets HERE.
My fiverr gigs also include hand painted water-color cards (or could be on a small, frame-able paper) HERE, post cards from Colorado HERE, and hand written, locally printed (Leanin' Tree Art in Boulder, Colorado) cards HERE. If you know me in real life, you know I send cards and postcards like nobody's business already. ;)
If you're interested in something along those lines from me...please send me a message! I am pretty shamelessly plugging myself here, but maybe you'd be interested in this cool world of five-bucks-a-pop.
Payment note: fiverr.com uses paypal. For some people, that's very easy. For others, it's a new financial system. Until recently (thanks, Trina!) I was not a paypal user. It's safe and easy...and I'm still scared of bitcoin.
Showing posts with label far from home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label far from home. Show all posts
Friday, October 17, 2014
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Grateful for...stuff.
I've had this feeling. It's been growing- waxing and waning since about May. It's this overwhelming, but not scary, sense of gratitude. A sense that the town crier shouting, "12:00 and all is we-lll," is maybe, just maybe correct. It's late-- past my bedtime for sure. But this peaceful gratitude-- it means All Is Well.
All is well? Yes. In two days, I'll be out of my apartment. My apartment was my safe haven, my cozy little spot. It was under 400 square feet-- just a rectangle with a closet, a bathroom, a kitchen, and lots of windows. Since I moved in my sedan, I didn't have furniture. So in August of last year, I was in little apartment with a slightly leaky loaned air mattress and a few boxes, bags, and suitcases of my things. I had a few things shipped from Georgia; I went to Goodwill, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Ikea, and Target; I checked freecycle and on Craigslist. I found an amazing amount of treasure next to the dumpster on my street, just waiting to be discarded, but with a former owner who hoped it could get some more use. Somehow, that little rectangle box with good windows-- it became home. It had my magnets. My cards. My pictures. My books. Somehow, all those things become you, even though 'you' aren't 'stuff,' our 'stuff' makes us feel like we belong. Have roots.
In August last year, I bought a futon to sleep on. In November, I decided I was too damn old to sleep on a futon, so I bought a bed. That was a good choice. My little apartment with good windows had a rug, shelves, plants. The plants came from freecycle with many of the pots from Goodwill. Amazing what plants will do for a living space.
But a year has come and gone. I've added clothes and accessories to my wardrobe I never needed before my life up here at 5280 feet. Snow boots, thermal layers, woolen socks, a headband with a hole for my ponytail. Hiking gear, running gear, picnic-in-the-park gear. I noticed it when I moved, and it became true for me-- I think Denver people don't mind having small apartments-- because they get to spend so much time in this great grand wonderful outdoors. The sun is shining 300 days a year-- even when it's cold, it's rarely miserable out.
All of that stuff came in-- one bag or box at a time and all of it had to leave too. So, here we are and I'm back to being grateful. I sublet my apartment (shh!) while I was in Atlanta for a conference and much-needed family time and it turned out to be the best situation for both of us. My "housesitter" was recently out of a bad relationship and needed a homebase that wasn't squatting on her well-meaning friends' couches. She kept the place clean and nice and took care of my furniture. She's a photographer and makes beautiful art. She paid on time and in full. Can't be anything but grateful there.
And here I am again, feeling grateful. A mom I met, selling her that futon that I got back in August, pointed out that she "meets the nicest people on Craigslist." I couldn't agree more. For all that furniture that I required to make my little space mine, a lot of it had to go. The counter stools, the futon, the ottomans, the mounted dish rack, the vacuum, the bed. One by one-- with ads on Facebook (a bust!), posted by apartment laundry rooms and door frames (a bust!), and craigslist ads, I got rid of those pieces one by one. I haven't met one mean person on craigslist. They've all been grateful for the deal they got and excited for the "new to them" from my home to theirs. Two of the women I met selling things I no longer needed? Also started out, this summer instead of last, with a car full of stuff and nothing else-- departing from "back East" to this haven of buildings, mountains, and rivers in Colorado. Something so poetic and cyclical about getting the things that I needed to replace to someone in nearly the same situation, a calendar's turn around the sun later.
For all those things I "needed," I realized I had too much. I gave away items on freecycle. I placed books in Little Free Libraries. I brought a load of odds and ends to the Goodwill (the cycle continues!). And somehow, my Christopher could stop gently correcting me for saying "your" apartment to "our" apartment. My magnets and books and jewelry and things were incorporated with his books and video games and art and Das Boot memorabilia. The stuff? It's our stuff. Or it's now someone else's. Lots to be grateful for tonight.
So what about you? Could you distill your life into a few small boxes and bags? Fit everything in the space of a car? What stuff would you get rid of in your life...if you dared?
All is well? Yes. In two days, I'll be out of my apartment. My apartment was my safe haven, my cozy little spot. It was under 400 square feet-- just a rectangle with a closet, a bathroom, a kitchen, and lots of windows. Since I moved in my sedan, I didn't have furniture. So in August of last year, I was in little apartment with a slightly leaky loaned air mattress and a few boxes, bags, and suitcases of my things. I had a few things shipped from Georgia; I went to Goodwill, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Ikea, and Target; I checked freecycle and on Craigslist. I found an amazing amount of treasure next to the dumpster on my street, just waiting to be discarded, but with a former owner who hoped it could get some more use. Somehow, that little rectangle box with good windows-- it became home. It had my magnets. My cards. My pictures. My books. Somehow, all those things become you, even though 'you' aren't 'stuff,' our 'stuff' makes us feel like we belong. Have roots.
In August last year, I bought a futon to sleep on. In November, I decided I was too damn old to sleep on a futon, so I bought a bed. That was a good choice. My little apartment with good windows had a rug, shelves, plants. The plants came from freecycle with many of the pots from Goodwill. Amazing what plants will do for a living space.
But a year has come and gone. I've added clothes and accessories to my wardrobe I never needed before my life up here at 5280 feet. Snow boots, thermal layers, woolen socks, a headband with a hole for my ponytail. Hiking gear, running gear, picnic-in-the-park gear. I noticed it when I moved, and it became true for me-- I think Denver people don't mind having small apartments-- because they get to spend so much time in this great grand wonderful outdoors. The sun is shining 300 days a year-- even when it's cold, it's rarely miserable out.
All of that stuff came in-- one bag or box at a time and all of it had to leave too. So, here we are and I'm back to being grateful. I sublet my apartment (shh!) while I was in Atlanta for a conference and much-needed family time and it turned out to be the best situation for both of us. My "housesitter" was recently out of a bad relationship and needed a homebase that wasn't squatting on her well-meaning friends' couches. She kept the place clean and nice and took care of my furniture. She's a photographer and makes beautiful art. She paid on time and in full. Can't be anything but grateful there.
And here I am again, feeling grateful. A mom I met, selling her that futon that I got back in August, pointed out that she "meets the nicest people on Craigslist." I couldn't agree more. For all that furniture that I required to make my little space mine, a lot of it had to go. The counter stools, the futon, the ottomans, the mounted dish rack, the vacuum, the bed. One by one-- with ads on Facebook (a bust!), posted by apartment laundry rooms and door frames (a bust!), and craigslist ads, I got rid of those pieces one by one. I haven't met one mean person on craigslist. They've all been grateful for the deal they got and excited for the "new to them" from my home to theirs. Two of the women I met selling things I no longer needed? Also started out, this summer instead of last, with a car full of stuff and nothing else-- departing from "back East" to this haven of buildings, mountains, and rivers in Colorado. Something so poetic and cyclical about getting the things that I needed to replace to someone in nearly the same situation, a calendar's turn around the sun later.
For all those things I "needed," I realized I had too much. I gave away items on freecycle. I placed books in Little Free Libraries. I brought a load of odds and ends to the Goodwill (the cycle continues!). And somehow, my Christopher could stop gently correcting me for saying "your" apartment to "our" apartment. My magnets and books and jewelry and things were incorporated with his books and video games and art and Das Boot memorabilia. The stuff? It's our stuff. Or it's now someone else's. Lots to be grateful for tonight.
 |
| Farewell little Dexter St. apartment. We had good times. |
So what about you? Could you distill your life into a few small boxes and bags? Fit everything in the space of a car? What stuff would you get rid of in your life...if you dared?
Sunday, May 11, 2014
another Mother's Day...
Happy Mother's Day to all the mommas out there. The biological mommas, the doggie-mommas, the surrogate-mommas, the teacher-mommas, Scout leaders, piano teachers, aunts, grandmas, sisters, stepmoms...even dads who acted as moms...you know who you are. I thank you for your listening ears, hugging arms, and words of wisdom. For the mommas we're missing...the ones who have passed on or the mommas who're missing children, my thoughts are with you, too.
I spent (yet another) holiday away from my family this year. When you have a budget-destroying job, and live 1500 miles from the town where you lived for 30 years, you don't get to come home as often as you'd like. Since moving to Colorado in July, I've spent Thanksgiving hiking (in snow!) in the mountains, Easter here (outdoors at Clear Creek park and in the Indian hot springs), and Mother's Day in Estes Park/Rocky Mountain National Park. I've missed my brother, my aunt, and my sister's birthdays, which we usually do together. I guess I keep going to Mother Nature...since I can't be with the other folks I love.
This year, though, I was struck by how much love I've gotten from other places on this journey of leaving behind much to find even more. Through facebook, in particular, I've found so much support in the kind words people have posted or messaged to me. I've received cards and care packages from friends, past coworkers, teachers, and family. I've posted words of frustration, and received words of guidance or strength. I've posted words of triumph, and received words of solidarity and kindness. My dear and wonderful friend Allyson (who is a mom to a Thespian-Three-Year-Old), has been tireless in her texts, cards, and care packages.
This year, my dog had a big, expensive surgery, and I posted a lot here and on fb about it. I received so many words "lifting me up," as we say in the Christian tradition-- helping me stay strong, while I've been alone here out West. Words on email, on my blog, on facebook, in cards. I asked for donations for my school's scholarship auction, and I received gifts and items from my acupuncture studio here in Denver, handmade items from my mom and stepmom, and delicious goods from friends, friends' moms, and my aunt. Way to make a girl feel special...telling me with your words and actions...what YOU, Adrienne, do, matters. We support what you support. It brought tears to my eyes, every time a package arrived for the auction.
So, this year, for Mother's Day, I sent my usual people their cards-- the moms in my life. My mom and grandmothers and aunt have been my foundation for years and years. My sister Emily became a mom and this was her first Mother's Day. I've recently found a loving relationship that's helped me to feel joyous and surrounded by love every minute...so I'm happy. But something came to my attention today, that made me feel so terribly anguished.
A friend, named Lucy, who I have known since I started graduate school at Agnes Scott in 2007, has been experiencing a different type of Mother's day with her mom this year. Agnes Scott musicians are often connected with Ga Tech musicians-- I was fortunate to sing with Luchsingers a capella group for several years, even as an Alum. Lucy and her now spouse were members of the Ga Tech marching band in college and also singers. There were many, many happy concerts, parties, and events where I knew Lucy over the past several years.
If you know music people, or you are a musician, or you sang with a group, you might know that musicians play instruments and sing because they have too much emotion in their hearts to be contained. That energy, that chi, has to be released somewhere. Thank God for organized music. We'd all be a mess! Lucy is a music person...and music people...they're good people. Lucy's had a path...which has included being an avid member of Scouting, attending college out of state, and getting married to her true love.
Although, apparently, Lucy's mom's not too happy with the outcome of her daughter's path. Lucy has been bravely vocal via blogs and sometimes fb posts about her journey to happiness, identity, and love. She has posted her research and connections to other people's experiences in relation to transitioning to a new identity. She's in a stable and successful career, has time to travel and enjoy the relationship she has with her spouse. I can't imagine a mother being angry about this, but poor Lucy's mom...she is. Lucy posted about her mom and the vitriol that she spits in the general direction of her own child. It's heart-breaking.
My heart felt heavy, writing with Lucy today, in contrast to how light it's felt...my life feels like it's going in a good direction. I've fought demons of depression and suicidal thoughts for years, and to think of all the tears my mom shed for me for the struggles I have faced, I always knew she wanted me to be happy and well. It wouldn't have mattered what would have brought be happiness-- my mom would have loved me, no matter the path I was taking. It brings tears to my eyes for a mom to not see the wonderful person her daughter is...and that a daughter who's not like she expected, well, that's what all children are.
We come into the world, squirming, screaming, pooping, and are generally very needy. With any luck, over time, we find a way to be strong, loving, happy, and eager to share our light with others. My hope is that for this one momma (and I naiively think that there are very few like her), that she will see her child's light. That it is strong and good. And what more could a momma want, than her child to be an adult...one who's happy and thriving.
So my wishes today are this...that every child can feel the light and warmth of a mother who loves them. Maybe it's not the one who gave birth to them...maybe it's a person who is there along their path with angel wings to encapsulate and protect them. And for dear Lucy to seek the love of the mommas around her who know her path to be right...and to know, that while her momma hasn't come around this year, there's always next year. Mother's Day is a day, to celebrate the love that we dole out and accept year round. Be strong, friends. Hold each other up. Shine.
I spent (yet another) holiday away from my family this year. When you have a budget-destroying job, and live 1500 miles from the town where you lived for 30 years, you don't get to come home as often as you'd like. Since moving to Colorado in July, I've spent Thanksgiving hiking (in snow!) in the mountains, Easter here (outdoors at Clear Creek park and in the Indian hot springs), and Mother's Day in Estes Park/Rocky Mountain National Park. I've missed my brother, my aunt, and my sister's birthdays, which we usually do together. I guess I keep going to Mother Nature...since I can't be with the other folks I love.
This year, though, I was struck by how much love I've gotten from other places on this journey of leaving behind much to find even more. Through facebook, in particular, I've found so much support in the kind words people have posted or messaged to me. I've received cards and care packages from friends, past coworkers, teachers, and family. I've posted words of frustration, and received words of guidance or strength. I've posted words of triumph, and received words of solidarity and kindness. My dear and wonderful friend Allyson (who is a mom to a Thespian-Three-Year-Old), has been tireless in her texts, cards, and care packages.
This year, my dog had a big, expensive surgery, and I posted a lot here and on fb about it. I received so many words "lifting me up," as we say in the Christian tradition-- helping me stay strong, while I've been alone here out West. Words on email, on my blog, on facebook, in cards. I asked for donations for my school's scholarship auction, and I received gifts and items from my acupuncture studio here in Denver, handmade items from my mom and stepmom, and delicious goods from friends, friends' moms, and my aunt. Way to make a girl feel special...telling me with your words and actions...what YOU, Adrienne, do, matters. We support what you support. It brought tears to my eyes, every time a package arrived for the auction.
So, this year, for Mother's Day, I sent my usual people their cards-- the moms in my life. My mom and grandmothers and aunt have been my foundation for years and years. My sister Emily became a mom and this was her first Mother's Day. I've recently found a loving relationship that's helped me to feel joyous and surrounded by love every minute...so I'm happy. But something came to my attention today, that made me feel so terribly anguished.
A friend, named Lucy, who I have known since I started graduate school at Agnes Scott in 2007, has been experiencing a different type of Mother's day with her mom this year. Agnes Scott musicians are often connected with Ga Tech musicians-- I was fortunate to sing with Luchsingers a capella group for several years, even as an Alum. Lucy and her now spouse were members of the Ga Tech marching band in college and also singers. There were many, many happy concerts, parties, and events where I knew Lucy over the past several years.
If you know music people, or you are a musician, or you sang with a group, you might know that musicians play instruments and sing because they have too much emotion in their hearts to be contained. That energy, that chi, has to be released somewhere. Thank God for organized music. We'd all be a mess! Lucy is a music person...and music people...they're good people. Lucy's had a path...which has included being an avid member of Scouting, attending college out of state, and getting married to her true love.
Although, apparently, Lucy's mom's not too happy with the outcome of her daughter's path. Lucy has been bravely vocal via blogs and sometimes fb posts about her journey to happiness, identity, and love. She has posted her research and connections to other people's experiences in relation to transitioning to a new identity. She's in a stable and successful career, has time to travel and enjoy the relationship she has with her spouse. I can't imagine a mother being angry about this, but poor Lucy's mom...she is. Lucy posted about her mom and the vitriol that she spits in the general direction of her own child. It's heart-breaking.
My heart felt heavy, writing with Lucy today, in contrast to how light it's felt...my life feels like it's going in a good direction. I've fought demons of depression and suicidal thoughts for years, and to think of all the tears my mom shed for me for the struggles I have faced, I always knew she wanted me to be happy and well. It wouldn't have mattered what would have brought be happiness-- my mom would have loved me, no matter the path I was taking. It brings tears to my eyes for a mom to not see the wonderful person her daughter is...and that a daughter who's not like she expected, well, that's what all children are.
We come into the world, squirming, screaming, pooping, and are generally very needy. With any luck, over time, we find a way to be strong, loving, happy, and eager to share our light with others. My hope is that for this one momma (and I naiively think that there are very few like her), that she will see her child's light. That it is strong and good. And what more could a momma want, than her child to be an adult...one who's happy and thriving.
So my wishes today are this...that every child can feel the light and warmth of a mother who loves them. Maybe it's not the one who gave birth to them...maybe it's a person who is there along their path with angel wings to encapsulate and protect them. And for dear Lucy to seek the love of the mommas around her who know her path to be right...and to know, that while her momma hasn't come around this year, there's always next year. Mother's Day is a day, to celebrate the love that we dole out and accept year round. Be strong, friends. Hold each other up. Shine.
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