8 Weeks to a Better Me: Recap (kind of)

It's been 9 weeks now since the start of 8 Weeks to a Better Me, and I've absolutely enjoyed setting small goals and (mostly) achieving them!  Some of the goals I set have actually become a part of my daily life/routine, and I think that's pretty awesome. I thought it would be great to recap each of the weeks and break down how I did! So, last night I began doing so (it took me two hours with little flashes of internet window shopping)...hit publish, and blogger gave me an error message...and wouldn't let me go back. I logged in this morning hoping it had saved, but alas, it did not. I believe one of my goals was not to waste my time (if it wasn't it is now), so I am refusing to retype, relink, and rethink all of it! What I will say though, is how much I truly enjoyed this project, and perhaps I'll bring it back closer to the new year with fresh topics and ideas!

I also wanted to say thank you one more time to all of my fabulously inspiring contributors and super supportive (and equally inspiring) readers. I love you guys!

p.s. if you'd like to go back and read through each of the weeks, click the "8 weeks to a better me" tag below!

8 Weeks to a Better Me: Week 8/Awakening Your Creative Side

Oh my goodness! It's already been 2 months since I first began this little feature series, and today Leigh-Ann is here with the final week, all about awakening your creative side. I thought that LA was the perfect person for this last installment; she's one of the most talented and creative ladies I know, and it's such a pleasure to have her here on Sometimes Sweet today. Her contribution is absolutely amazing, and I know it's something I'm going to revisit time and time again when I need a little inspiration. I think there is absolutely something for everyone here.

I'll be back next Sunday with a rundown of all 8 weeks and my goal progress, so if you've been participating in this series be sure to check back again for one more week of 8 weeks. Thank you to both my wonderful contributors and to you, my readers, for making this project so fun! I've legitimately made positive changes due to the inspiration I've gained from these ladies (and one gentleman!) and I can't wait to do the final post. But for now, here's LA!

Hi :) I'm Leigh-Ann, a girl who gets obsessed with new things regularly… currently: songs (99problems by JayZ), tv shows (Community), colors (orange), habits (using iCal for everything), foods (I crave burritos for every meal), beverages (I drink way too much coca cola), clothes (i love my new skinny jeans), blogs (I can't get enough of a certain few), and hobbies (laying at the park/field under blankets). I live in Winnipeg, Canada and co-own Freckled Nest, a design and craft company that specializes in blog design and community. :) I have a lab named Lola and my boyfriend has a boston terrier named Tom. :) We love our little family and will soon be living together, eek! :) I just returned home from vacation in Missouri and San Francisco and feel totally refreshed and inspired… I can't wait to make a mini album with all my photos and stories. I love making stuff :)

The topic of Awakening your Creative Side is special for two reasons: firstly, when I embraced my creative side around age 23, I felt like I came alive, like there had been a missing piece of my life that was falling into place. Secondly, creative life has become both my passion and a huge part of my career. With each blog design client I accept, I want to create a totally unique website that embodies both my aesthetic and the clients style (based on the inspiration homework at the beginning of the process).  Since fresh designs are an important part of my work, I've made discovering new inspiration and ideas a regular part of my week and it's something that recharges me constantly-- I get an adrenaline rush just finding a new font nevermind a new concept for a whole project! ;)

Today I want to share a start to finish approach for Awakening your own Creative Side that includes:

1) Finding Inspiration
2) Translating it
3) Making a project with your inspiration in mind.


FIND

Whether intentionally or accidental, most creative goals or projects start with inspiration-- an idea, material, theme, visual, instinct, interaction, storyboard, etc. Below, I've shared 14 different approaches and options for seeking new inspiration; for now, choose 2 methods that appeal to you and give them a try over the next month, gathering a collection of ideas and things that inspire you.


Ideas for Seeking Inspiration:

 

1. Carry your camera in your purse so that you can point and shoot pretty & interesting things, building a photo album of your favorites :)

 

2. Write a list of all the things you love! Celebrating every big and little thing that make you happy will give you a mega boost!

3. Connect with another creative spirit. You will feed off of each other and thrive at the opportunity to share every exciting thing. That's how Red Velvet started and look where they are now! Creative friendships are powerful and so fun!

4. Start a Pinterest account to collect photos that inspire you and reflect your style (seeing eyecatching photos and collections will ignite ideas when you go to create your own project).

5. Join a weekly or monthly craft club where you work on your own creative project while visiting with others in the group (you can do this online or locally).

6. Gather a collection of your own favourite things! You probably already have some really cool stuff-- something from your grandma, a treasure from the day you fell in love, a neat box from a garage sale… make a nostalgia vingette on your dresser to inspire you every morning :)

7. Create a tradition to celebrate the opportunities you have to nurture your creative-side.
Ideas: a special apron, a favourite drink, a new album on itunes, your partner takes care of the kids, a Skype chat with your bestie while you craft long distance, a sweet set-up in a corner of your home, quiet time by yourself, or maybe it's just a journal entry celebrating what you're doing.

8. Read blogs where creative people share DIY's, stories, completed projects and inspiration--and that they motivate you to do the same :) Creative role models with a magnetic personality have a contagious energy and joy!

9. Make a style binder that collects your favourite magazine pages and clippings.

10. Blog about your inspiration finds and creative projects. Sharing is exhilarating!

11. Listen to your daydreams and night dreams (I once build an entire mini album in a dream while I slept, then woke up and realized I could make it for real!).

12. Reorganize your own craft supplies to feel a fresh start. Along the way, you might rediscover supplies you forgot about and project ideas you haven't had a chance to start (or complete).

13. Look for themes from your childhood. Games, TV shows & Movies, Toys, Vacations, Friendships… they can all offer fun inspiration and ideas for your crafts!

14. Vintage items have awesome stories, texture and style-- go on a thrifting field trip to search for inspiration (and supplies)!

Be present in everything you do-- when you're *watching* for inspiration, you will see it much more easily and life is even more fun!

TRANSLATE

Collecting inspiration is invigorating; so is wallpapering your teenage bedroom with pictures of soapstar hunks (I did that) but if you collect forever and never use it, you might be an "Inspiration Hoarder". Let's talk about translation and application :)

Inspiration usually translates into two types of application:

1) Inspiration can offer motivation and 'a high' to get you started. This charge happens naturally when you've found a piece of inspiration that connects perfectly with your style and personality or you find a project that you 'have to' make or you have an interaction or experience that invigorates you.

2) Inspiration can initiate a set of ideas that give your project strong direction.

Identify what you like about each piece of inspiration.

The color scheme?
The photography style?
A font?
Pattern?
Supply that was used?
Technique?
Function?

Once you figure out the key part that you're drawn to, evaluate if it's something you can use too or how you will adapt it to be unique to you (and respect the original creators work). Doing this regularly, you will recognize your style coming together or evolving and the process will feel very natural in no time! Then, when you sit down to make something, you will have a great collection of ideas to draw on and play with :)

MAKE

Now that you've awakened your creative side, you're more than ready to start using it! Pick a project, gather some fun supplies that reflect your inspiration and then-- make it. Easier said than done right? Making it is sometimes the hardest part… we put pressure on ourselves, overthink it, feel like we need "___" in order to get started, or-- maybe we're just afraid to "be creative".  This is probably why inspiration hoarding comes so naturally, we're safe in the stage of identifying creativity, an endless journey. If you feel scared or procrastinate, you're not alone… it's hard to try something new, with no rules, coming up with ideas that feel right to you. BUT, it is totally worth it to push past those fears, be willing to make mistakes & not be perfect, and actually make what you want to make! Be brave and make it. Why?

The journey is so fun!
You will feel amazing!
You will make neat stuff that you are proud of (and can use!!)
Working with your hands to create something original is incredible!
Translating your inspiration into a craft is a thrill!
You get to *use* those supplies you love shopping for!
Your friends and family will be so impressed, it's crazy fun to give handmade gifts!
You will come alive, honestly :)

Choose to awaken your creative side: Find Inspiration, Translate it and Make, make, make :) I hope you have so much fun that you explode :)

Love, LA

1. This week, I am going to finally start using my Pinterest. I've had an account since it began but was a little wary to get sucked into a new site...I'm totally inspired now to get all of my inspiration in one place. It will be nice to have a place I can go when I need a little creative recharge, suited just for me.

2. I loved what Leigh-Ann said, "Creative role models with a magnetic personality have a contagious energy and joy," and it is so true! This week I am going to focus on visiting my most favorite inspirational blogs, and find some energy and joy through some of these amazing women.

3. Go on a few walks this week for the sole purpose of finding inspiration, rather than tuning out and just trying to exercise. Take it slower, maybe take some photos too. Enjoy my surroundings.

How about you? How are you going to awaken your creative side?

8 Weeks to a Better Me: Week 7/Personal Style

Hello there! I'm Elsie From A Beautiful Mess. I'm a lifestyle blogger from Springfield, Missouri. I own Red Velvet, a boutique, and just created my first dress collection this past spring! While designing dresses is my passion in business, collection fun personal pieces is also my most beloved hobby! I started wearing vintage in high school and have never stopped. In more recent years I've also grown fond of collecting pieces that support up-and-coming independent designers, like myself! In short, I love fashion. I'm here today to share with you my top three tips for developing a personal style that you love!

1. Only wear trends you absolutely love!

Trends will always come and go. I am a huge fan of 50s and 60s clothing and this year 70s styles have been incredibly popular! I've enjoyed picking and choosing the aspects of the 70s that I love to wear. It's really important not to pressure yourself to try every single trend. Just choose the trends that make you happy! 

Over time you will develop a style of dressing that you will consider your 'comfort zone'. I have this with 50s dresses, bows and heels and big hair (ultra feminine). Once you have established your basic style, you can incorporate trends and off beat pieces that inspire you on occasion! It's definitely fun to try new things! Just be sure to be true to yourself and your favorite styles at least 75% of the time.

2. Know your body type and choose a fit that flatters! 

Every woman has a unique body and styles that flatter her shape! It's important to know your shape and know what looks good on you (and, of course, what does not). Here are a few easy ways to figure this out.... Find a celebrity, musician or even fashion blogger (anyone who is photographed often) who has a similar body type to yours. Watch what they wear and what looks best! Another easy thing to do is look through your own photos and try to spot the most flattering outfits. Choose new styles that are similar in different colors and patterns. 

It can be discouraging when a major trend rolls around that doesn't work with your body type. A couple years ago flowy tops (similar to maternity tops) were popular and they were really unflattering on me. Over time I've learned a few tricks. I'm short and busty, so I almost always wear a belt or fitted waist. Also, I like to keep my hair color pretty dark, so I feel like color looks good on me. I stay away from all black outfits and I don't usually wear flat shoes in photos. 

What are your best physical features? You should definitely play those up! Choose outfits that show off the things you love about yourself and stay away from styles that cover them up! 

One more tip.... I took a huge step in confidence when I choose to work with my natural body type instead of against it. When I was younger I felt like the problem with finding clothing was me. Learning to dress for my natural body type has been a huge self esteem builder for me!

 

3. Save lots and splurge a little! 

I love thrifting, but I also love picking dresses off the "not sale" rack at Anthropologie. My best tip is to save a lot and splurge a little. It's fun to buy new clothes every season. I also love the challenge of being thrifty. I like to buy most of my pieces for reasonable (and sometimes low) prices. Great example of this are vintage shops, Etsy, mall stores and even thrifting. That said, it's also good to buy special pieces that you can wear for more than one season. My grandmother was great at this and in the last few years she's given me some amazing bags and swimsuits from the 1960s. She still remembers the exact price she paid for them, because they were a splurge. Splurge pieces should be items you will want to keep forever. I have a few really nice dresses that I know I'll keep for life. I think that it's a great combination for guilt free wardrobe building to save your pennies on trendy and daily wear pieces and invest in more special pieces like dresses, outerwear, bags and shoes. 

I hope this little feature has inspired you to work on building your personal style. Styling is a great hobby for any age. It's a confidence builder and a lot of fun! Don't be afraid to start simple and build your dream wardrobe as you go! There's no reason why you shouldn't dress the way you really want to dress!

Have fun! Elsie

This week's post has me really thinking, because recently I've been super into purging my closet to make room for items that really speak to me and make me happy. In the past I've shopped too much, and bought things without really thinking about them. Sure, a blouse may be cute, but now I try and ask myself if I really see myself wearing this season after season rather than impulse buying too many items. So, here are my goals for this week!  We only have ONE more week left, and I'm excited to make a goals run down post to conclude this project as well.


1. Do another Shop My Closet. I did one two weeks ago and it was so successful- I made tons of room for new items, and go to reevaluate what I need and what I don't.  This next round will be even better, because it's all the items I really wanted to keep, but the more I think about them, the more I just want to simplify my wardrobe. This week I'd also like to go through all of my clothes and take a look at what fits well and what doesn't.  I feel best when I wear flattering clothing, so why not have an entire closet filled with flattering items?

2. Lately I feel like I've been stuck in such a style rut. I've been wearing the same outfits, feeling totally uninspired. Looking at Elsie's pretty photos has me feeling super motivated to change it up a bit, and work some new fun twists into my daily outfits- maybe a cute pair of heels or a fun hairstyle.

3. And on the same note, try out new outfits all week. This week I'm looking forward to mixing matching some of the clothes I already have to create outfits that look and feel great.  Elsie inspires me to step out of the box a little- I think it would be great for me to stay true to my personal style but branch out a little more. For instance, I love the look of her layered blouse and dress above- I have a lot of fun separates that would look great paired in a new way.

So that's Week 7!  Thanks again Elsie for being a part of Sometimes Sweet today. How about you? What are you three goals for the week?

8 Weeks to a Better Me: Week 6/Home Sweet Home

Welcome to week number six!  This week's wonderful guest poster is the gorgeous and talented Mandi.  Mandi is one of those girls that could have written on any one of these topics, but lately I've really been admiring both her lovely home and her design aesthetic, so what better person to talk about making your environment a great place to be?  Mandi inspires me on a daily basis and I always find myself eagerly clicking on whatever she posts- I know that when I leave her blog I will always be filled with a sense of happiness, and of course, inspiration!  If you don't already read "Here's Looking at Me, Kid," then I suggest you hightail it over there...after reading her awesome contribution though- I know you'll love it!  Thanks again, Mandi.

Hello friends! I'm Mandi, from Here's Looking at Me, Kid, and I'm so honored to be a part of Danielle's 8 Weeks to a Better Me series. Making home a wonderful place to live is a great passion of mine, and sort of a necessity that goes along with living in Northeast Ohio. (Spending 6 months of the year inside can be a bit rough if you don't like your home). Danielle asked me to share some ideas for beautifying your living space, so I've put together three great tips on ways you can make your home a better place to live.

1. Don't buy or keep anything you don't love.

This one can be a tricky rule, when you factor in gifts from well-meaning family members, personal indecisiveness, and the original cost of said item. I adhere pretty strictly to this rule, but I do leave things in my home that are of absolute functional necessity. These things are called "place holders." You might not like it, and you're looking for something better to replace it, but in the meantime you just gotta have something to serve the function.

That being said, keep things personal. I like to have family heirlooms, things made by my family, and things of sentimental value out for display. I might not have selected it for my home had it not been made by someone I love, but I like it, and more importantly, someone I really love made it. So it's more likely to make the cut.

2. Start small.

Choose one room and tackle it! Transforming your space into your dream home really doesn't take a lot of money (take it from my personal penny budget), but it does take a lot of motivation and attention to detail. It can be really overwhelming to look at your home, not really like it, but also not know where to begin. My best advice is to start with one room, or even a corner of a big room, and start thinking about how you envision it to look. Browse home tours on blogs like Design Sponge and Apartment Therapy for inspiration, if you're lacking any, and then start getting rid of things you don't like or need (excluding placeholders, as mentioned above). Start a pinterest or, if you use Google Reader, star some favorite home decor images so that you can hone in on design elements that you really and truly love.

Sometimes paint can make a great difference. I personally love the fresh feel of white space, and while my apartment walls are off-white, I really wish I could paint them all a bright snowy white. My landlord did consent, however to my painting our kitchen cabinets white. The room didn't need much more than that, just a few cute thrifted accessories to make it feel happy and pretty.

3. Don't neglect function.

It's pretty easy to get wrapped up in prettifying your home, that you might overlook organization and function. For instance, if you have a lot of makeup, perfume bottles, hair brushes, and other things that take part in your morning routine, it's easier to keep them out on your dresser. But it's even easier for them to get out of control. I don't like to keep these things in drawers (out of sight, out of mind), because the drawers just get unmanageable and things wind up getting lost or forgotten. So I like to find little trays at the thrift store to corral everything together. They might all still be out in the open, but grouping them together looks a lot neater.

Also, if you are a crafter, an artist, or have children, please don't live in years of denial, like I did. I used to think that I could stow everything away in a closet, but that just resulted in either me not crafting, or crafting and being too overwhelmed by the mess to clean it up in a timely manner. Now, I have turned a corner of my living room into a crafting area. I hung up a pegboard wall so I can easily get things out and put them away. The desk I found for the space has plenty of drawers to keep the not-so-pretty items. I am not a girl who can't function (in a tidy fashion) using a desk without drawers, so I would never buy one or fool myself into thinking it will work. (Sometimes really pretty desks will try to deceive you into thinking this is not so! Trust me.) If you're going to be engaging in specific activities (especially the cluttered kind), make sure there is a place to do so. It will not only save your own sanity, but your family's too!

If you're craving more tips and inspiration, you can check out the "home" category on my blog where I share how my personal space has transformed through the years, as well as where I share some links to articles I wrote for Apartment Therapy.

1. Our dining room has been on my mind for weeks and week. There are a few small projects that I need to finish in there, but I keep getting overwhelmed when I think about all of the other things I need to do too. So, I'm going to take Mandi's advice and start small. I'm going to just focus on one room at a time, and this week it's the dining room!

2. I love what Mandi said about not keeping anything you don't love. I've already half-tackled that with my closet, but there are still some other areas of our home I could edit a bit. So, this week will "purge anything I don't love" week. Ahem, junk drawer!

3. And finally, I'm going to focus on getting up our family photo wall in the hallway. We had it up before but it could have looked better, so I took it down to redesign it. It's been months now and it's time for me to get on the ball. That hallway made me so happy when we had photos up, and I'm looking forward to getting it right this time!

How about you? What are you going to do to make your living space even more wonderful this week?

8 weeks to a better me: Week 5/Loving Life & Having Fun!

This week I am so excited to have one of my favorite blogging friends here on Sometimes Sweet, Lauren of Busy Bee! I recently and very briefly met her at the AZ Blogger Meetup, but since then I've gotten to know her better through her blog, twitter and Facebook. And let me tell you, I adore this girl!  She's truly a burst of sunshine, and Busy Bee is just such a witty, fun and beautiful addition to my daily "must-read." When I thought about this topic she's someone who immediately came to mind- Lauren is a girl who lives a deliberate life.  And by that I mean she chooses to fill her life with good energy, chooses to be positive, and in turn inspires so many other people to live authentic, positive lives as well.  It's a great thing, and I'm so happy to have Lauren here to share her love for life with everyone. 

A special thank you to all of you who have been participating in 8 weeks. Your goals are all so inspiring and it's neat to see how everyone looks at the topic a little differently. You all motivate me so much and I really appreciate each of your comments, messages, and linked posts. I've had so much fun reading through them! And now without further ado, here's week five with Ms. Lauren!

-----

hi, everyone!

my name is lauren, and i blog over at busy bee lauren!

i am so honored that danielle asked me to guest post on loving life and having fun!

this topic has such a special place in my heart...

i am girl in her early twenties who married her high school sweetheart, and has a pretty dang blessed life. but, i have battled serious depression and anxiety most of my life, so it can be a challenge to be happy a lot of the time. i am constantly looking for the beautiful and wonderful things in life that make getting up each day worth it.

the following things have helped me love my life:

[1] look for beauty in everything & document it!

i always carry my camera with me, just in case i see something that inspires me at that particular moment. i look back on my photos, and it brings back memories of how i felt when i took the photo. and 9 times out of 10, it's a feel of gratitude of knowing we are so blessed to experience such beauty in our lives!

[2] dress for yourself, and do it each day!

develop your own style that makes you happy! i have found that when i look my best, i feel my best. i have made it a habit to always get dressed in a cute outfit, even if it is just to go mail a letter at the post office, or to pick up some groceries. don't dress for others...dress to make you happy :) and beyond that, dress in a way that expresses who you are.

[3] never speak negatively about your significant other...

my husband makes me happier than anyone on this entire earth. and our love for each other is a great source of happiness. i have made a commitment to never speak negatively about him, even if he sometimes drives me bonkers. they key to happiness is to love. and love is something you have to work at. but it's the most rewarding thing you could ever have!

thank you, danielle for letting me share with all of you my ways to have a happy and awesome life!

1. I also really love documenting my life, and it makes me so happy to be able to look back when I'm sad and relive happy times. It always makes me smile. And to go off of what Lauren wrote for number one, I think it's so important to see the beauty in the little things. This week I am going to take my camera with me wherever I go and capture the beauty (big and small) in our days.

2. Goal number two is to simply dress for me everyday. Wear a pretty sun dress, a cute blouse, things that make me feel great and happy. This week will be a no yoga pants and tank zone!

3. My third goal is not to say one negative about anyone for this entire week. I really liked what Lauren said about not saying anything negative about your partner, and I never ever say anything negative about Hank, but sometimes  I do find myself saying random things while out and about. Like, "um why is she wearing that?!" That's just mean and there's no need for it. So, this week that's my goal.  No judging. I think it will really add to the positive energy in my life to kind of zap out that little bit of negativity I let float around from time to time.

How about you? What are you going to do this week to add to the quality of your life, to have a bit more fun and enjoy the beauty in our everyday? I can't wait to read what you share!