ventures

A snapshot from the side of a building on Iowa Avenue in Iowa City, IA.  I used to walk past this boutique and mural all of the time and sure do miss the days of  college.

Recently, I have not been feeling my usual self.  I have noticed this since moving away from college and beginning my own life and career.

In high school and college I jumped in head first  - to organizations, classes, meeting people, sports, extracurricular, you name it.  And I excelled (at everything but sports haha).  In my adult life, or so we will call it, I have been sensing a void lately.  With my refection on 2014 (see previous post) and some new year thinking, I believe I have pinpointed just where my odd feelings lay.

Staying busy and active forced me to be organized.  It made me spend my time wisely and chose thoughtfully that course which occasion and conscious demand.  Hoot hoot!

That quick pace and constant movement kept me happy.  It kept me fulfilled and striving for more.  Not that I don't value relaxation and time spend cuddled on my couch with my love - because that could quite possibly be one of my favorite things to do in the whole wide world EVER.

I have decided to find that place of activity and growth again.  Since moving to Kansas City and taking my grown up job, my schedule has certainly changed from what it was as a teenager and collegiate.  I need to create a schedule and pace of life that is fulfilling, yet not overwhelming.  

This weekend I started taking the first steps.  I updated my blog and gave it this new look that I am thrilled about!  I can't wait to fill this up with pretty pictures and fun things.  I also downloaded my Adobe Lightroom, so that I can edit photos to everyone's delight.  Lastly, I have begun an EBay store from all of the items I have cleaned out of my closet this month.  More to come on details around the big overhaul, I promise.  I have already sold 7 items!

With these extra tidbits to add to my daily routine, I hope that I can gain something.  May these ventures allow me to learn and grow!

a reflection on 2014 and a look ahead

MY 2014

    I found this reflection this week when I discovered a new favorite blog to follow - Into Mind.  I thought this would provide a good look at my 2014 and allow me to process it and set goals and intentions for 2015.  Here goes! 

    

1.      What one event, big or small, are you going to tell your grandchildren about?

NYC for Dana’s 21^st

2.      If you had to describe your 2014 in 3 words, what would they be?

Adventure, family-filled, motion

3.      What new things did you discover about yourself?

My number one priority is family

4.      What single achievement are you most proud of?

Attending blogging conference.  Despite feeling intimidated and under-prepared going into it, I walked away with a new breath of creative air, inspiration, and new local acquaintances. 

5.      What was the best news you received?

Peter’s first nephew being born

6.      What was your favourite place that you visited in 2014?

     Vail, Colorado

7.      Which of your personal qualities turned out to be the most helpful this year?

Home style.  As Peter and I moved into our first place together, I got to take the reigns on the interior design.  I found that I truly have a passion for putting together a cozy, creative, beautiful, functional place to call home.  I loved researching on blogs, Pinterest, a website called Houzz, local stores and businesses to find the style that spoke to me...and him.

8.      Who was your number one go-to person that you could always rely on?

Peter.  I think as we both transitioned jobs and roles and took a large step of moving in together, we relied on each other as a support system and learned a lot about each other and our living patterns.  I have to say, we have had more fun that I could ever imagine and he is a wonderful roommate!

9.      Which new skills did you learn?

Blogging, photo-taking.  Although I think I will continue to learn and refine these skills for the rest of my life.

10. What, or who, are you most thankful for?

The opportunities that I have had this year to see the world and experience what each place I visited had to offer.

11. If someone wrote a book about your life in 2014, what kind of genre would it be? A comedy, love story, drama, film noir or something else?

Adventure/travel documentary.  There were times that I felt I never stopped moving!

12. What was the most important lesson you learnt in 2014?

Friendship, and how communication plays a vital role in that.

13. Which mental block(s) did you overcome?

Friendship challenges

14. What 5 people did you most enjoy spending time with?

I have to say that people are my favorite thing, so it is hard to narrow it down to 5.  I valued time spent with my sister the most.  She is a senior in college and I feel us constantly growing closer.  She also keeps me cool and teaches ME many life lessons.  I have amazing memories from weeks spent traveling or laughing in Cube-landia with my work team.  They are a special breed and I love 'em!

15. What was your biggest break-through moment career-wise?

Promotion to Solution Architect.  This was a role I never really thought I wanted, but I felt extremely proud reaching this level and know that I am succeeding in my career.

16. How did your relationship to your family evolve?

Closer to my sister.  I also hosted my first family Christmas in KC.  It was a whirlwind, and a wonderful Friday-Tuesday.  I think as my sister and I get older, we get to see a different side of my parents and they have definitely become good friends to us (although we still get plenty of "lectures")

17. What book or movie affected your life in a profound way?

GirlBoss.  While reading it, I got the urge to do something BIG.  To stop being afraid of focusing on my own passions.  To listen to them and run with it.  Why do people have jobs they love and that I sometimes feel envious of?  Because they put time and effort into their endeavors.  If I want to have the perfect, creative, purposeful, meaningful job...I can create it!

18. What was your favourite compliment that you received this year?

Your Instagram feed is amazing, you take the best pictures.  I love photography and highlighting beauty.  It really meant a lot to hear this from a friend, because it validates that other people enjoy what I am putting out into the world.

19. What little things did you most enjoy during your day-to-day life?

Cuddling, cooking with my partner in crime, grocery shopping, styling, making our concrete loft a home

20. What cool things did you create this year?

Worked on blog, took pictures, put on my second luncheon for Chi Omega alumni in Kansas City, tablescapes for holidays

21. What was your most common mental state this year (e.g. excited, curious, stressed)?

Overwhelmed  This seems like a surprising and negative answer, but I think I chose this because it is one of the reasons I am going in another direction for 2015.  I think this revolves primarily around understanding who I am, what is important to me, what do I want my daily life to look like, how can I have a dream career while paying of student loans and maintaining my ability to leisurely travel and enjoy life.  I feel a ball of creativity inside me, but I don't know where or how to direct that energy in a productive way.  I also realized that I have too many things, and this may also be giving me more anxiety...or at least it is likely restricting me from being able to produce and focus and live fully.

22. Was there anything you did for the very first time in your life this year?

Snorkeled with sharks and sting rays in the Florida Keys and skiing [down the gopher mountain in Vail, Colorado, between my boyfriends fathers legs]

23. What was your favourite moment spent with your friends?

Glamping was a beautiful and wonderful experience to share with girlfriends, as there is nothing quite like combinging beautiful nature and glamorous & girly things.  I would also list NYE as a top favorite.  We had one of our closest married couple friends [and their Dachsund] over for a salt block dinner and sleepover.  They ended up staying 24 hours in total because we were having too much fun: eating, dancing, drinking plenty of champs, playing Settlers of Catan and Cards Against Humanity, lounging in pj's all New Year's Day watching football.

24. What major goal did you lay the foundations for?

Blogging.  I started creating this space, pushed myself to attend the conference and learn more, and now I can put time in to really develop it and find a voice to share.

25. Which worries turned out to be completely unnecessary?

Many!  I over-think things much to often.

26. What experience would you love to do all over again?

Colorado, Derby, Keys, Thanksgiving

27. What was the best gift you received?

Kate Spade wallet from all of my friends for my birthday after the mugging incident.  They all went in together to get me a new, gorgeous teal wallet the day after my purse was stolen.  I was in a fragile state on my birthday, and the thought and contributions that went into that gesture were so meaningful to me.

28. How did your overall outlook on life evolve?

Prioritizing. 

29. What was the biggest problem you solved?

 Kitchen storage in the new place - HA! Bought 2 Omar shelves to combine in a little nook.  BAM - problem solved!

30. What was the funniest moment of your year, one that still makes it hard not to burst out laughing when you think about it?

Not quite sure I can think of a moment that epic, but I think I laughed the hardest and the most at Thanksgiving.  This is typical, and one of the reasons I love spending those 4-5 days with my family in St. Louis.  Antoher unreal weekend was at my cousins' lake house in the Ozarks.  We had a girls weekend to celebrate her birthday and it was one of the goofiest, funnest weekends I have had in a very long time.  Bye Felic

31. What purchase turned out to be the best decision ever?

It is a toss-up between our $275 Craigslist sectional couch (that I spend wayyy to much time on) or a scrumptious Bergamot candle in a pounded copper bowl that we found at West Elm's KC store opening.  Unfortunately it just ran out last night and we have searched high and low online, without any luck of finding it again.  We don't have the brand name or an identifier on it and store associates haven't been able to assist us.

32. What one thing would you do differently and why?

Stop worrying!  It didn't get me anywhere and wasted time that I could have spent doing something more positive. 

33. What do you deserve a pat on the back for?

 Finding good deals!  One of my favorite pastimes proved vital when furnishing and decorating our place.

34. What activities made you lose track of time?

 Reading two of my favorite blogs:  un-fancy.com and mrandmrsglobetrot.com

35. What did you think about more than anything else?

 What do I want to do with my life?  How can I find my perfect, creative career?

36. What topics did you most enjoy learning about?

 Photography, beer, wine, coffee, make-up, babies

37. What new habits did you cultivate?

 Washing my face everyday!  Thank you Santa for the Clarisonic!!!

38. What advice would you give your early-2014 self if you could?

 Don't worry, put that time into your blog.

39. Did any parts of yourself or your life do a complete 180 this year?

 I think I have become even "lamer" than ever!  Don't get me wrong, I do love a good night out on the town but this year that type of agenda basically fell to the bottom of my totem pole.  And I don't even care!  Rather than going out to get crunk and dance every weekend, I realized I much prefer Happy Hours, dinners that just happen to involve wine [lots of it], First Fridays, and basically any scenario where I don't think I will be raging and it ends up naturally being a super-duper fun time. It might even get crazy.  I think this doesn't fit well with the lifestyles of some of my single and wilder friends...but I think we still find things and times and places that appeal to both of us!

40. What or who had the biggest positive impact on your life this year?

    Family! Friends! The people I choose to surround myself with!

YOUR 2015

41. What do you want the overarching theme for your 2015 to be?

Focus.  Minimal-ize.  Intent.

42. What do you want to see, discover, explore?

Pacific Northwest, Michigan, Alaska

43. Who do you want to spend more time with in 2015?

Old friends, college, cousins, sister.

44. What skills do you want to learn, improve or master?

Adobe Lightroom, photo-editing and taking.

45. Which personal quality do you want to develop or strengthen?

Organization, and not feeling overwhelmed by my own belongings.  I want to love my belongings and not have so many that it makes me feel buried or stuck.

46. What do you want your everyday life to be like?

Meaningful, productive, hard-working for my own goals.

47. Which habits do you want to change, cultivate or get rid of?

Waking up late, watching too much tv, not blogging.  These have all been pitfalls for me this year.

48. What do you want to achieve career-wise?

Explore my own interests.  Blog every day.

49. How do you want to remember the year 2015 when you look back on it 10/20/50 years from now?

That I made my wisest personal growth and career decision(s).

50. What is your number one goal for 2015?

Blog/Declutter/Find my passion.  I think that the first two will lead or help with the third.