Best of 2009: Project

[I'm participating in Gwen Bell's Best of 2009 Blog Challenge, in case you're all like, what's with the theme?]

Project. What did you start this year that you’re proud of?

I started viewing life differently. Which made me start approaching it differently. More honest. More open. Fewer layers. Less bureaucracy. Asking for what I want. Asking for what I need. Allowing silence. Settling into my own skin.

It’s changed things. When I remember my mental space from a year back, it feels like I”m wearing a cheap, ill-fitting suit. With a sweat moustache. This year? It’s about what I’m doing, who I’m loving, how I’m moving through the world. Totally different.

I’m proud, yeah, but more than that, I’m simply grateful.

[PS, I never get tired of that photo. Taken by yours truly at a brewery in Wellington, NZ.]

Best of 2009: New person

[I'm participating in Gwen Bell's Best of 2009 Blog Challenge, in case you're all like, what's with the theme?]

New person. She came into your life and turned it upside down. He went out of his way to provide incredible customer service.Who is your unsung hero of 2009?

Nothing major ever happens as the result of just one person. It’s a group effort. And this year has been nothing if not major. So, here (in alphabetical order) are the new-to-me-this-year people who contributed to making my world bigger and better.

• Colleen Wainwright (technically falls under 2008, but she greatly impacted my 2009): Colleen gave me the mother of all jumpstarts at the end of 2008 with her kindness, honesty and mad expertise. I adore her, and that’s that.
• Daniel Thurston: Daniel is the older twin I’ve never met (he prefers “Vetertwin”). It’s complicated: we’ve decided our parents dumped him on the North Island of New Zealand and then settled in Los Angeles, where I was born eight years later. (I am the “Twingenue.” Obviously.) We’ve got a couple of really cool projects going on, in addition to some rather obnoxious and constant banter on Twitter.
• Danielle LaPorte: Speaking of jumpstarts, Danielle’s client and gig referrals did more for my business than anything else could have. (I’m glad I’ve already got a firstborn, or my sense of justice would force me to promise one to her.) I’ve also picked up more than a few pointers on badassness from her.
• Dyana Valentine: Dyana does this thing wherein she brings your pencil-drawing dreams to life. I don’t really understand it. (It’s like that A-ha video, but better.) Bottom line: she’s helped me to be more, without feeling apologetic about it. Which is huge, and deserves its own post or book or feature-length film.
• Kelly Sims: Kelly and I worked as a team for a good chunk of this year, which in itself made my world bigger and better. He taught me a lot about myself, about work, and about how kind people can be. Because he is one of the kindest around.
• Sarah Bray: Have you ever just felt an instant kinship with someone? Sarah is one of those people for me. She also happens to be an incredible businesswoman, and I can’t wait to learn more from her than I already have.
• Tamara Komuniecki: We followed one another on Twitter. Then we met, and could not stop talking. [Longest. Breakfast. Ever.] Then she hired me to write for Long Beach Magazine. Now: good friends, with Top Secret Fun Project set to launch in 2010.

People. You are fantastic. Thank you for inspiring me, helping me, shaping me.

photo courtesy of left-hand.

Best of 2009: Car ride

[I'm participating in Gwen Bell's Best of 2009 Blog Challenge, in case you're all like, what's with the theme?]

Car ride.

I sat behind the driver’s seat. My son sat next to me. Cows and horses and sheep out the windows.Open sky. Grass. Trees. Green, red, orange and yellow leaves. A chill in the fresh air. Warm inside the car. Easy conversation. Easy laughter. Comfort. Safety. Some things are so good that you recognize there’s very little you might do to screw them up, accidentally or otherwise.  And the family you choose for yourself is very often one of those things.

Best of 2009: Shop

[I'm participating in Gwen Bell's Best of 2009 Blog Challenge, in case you're all like, what's with the theme?]

Shop.

This has been a year of not buying.  (Conveniently, it’s a lot easier not to spend money when you work from home; no lunches out, no dress code; no happy hours…and yeah, it’s also depressing. But I digress.) What little shopping I did was almost all via Etsy, excluding necessities like a new laptop (to replace the old busted one) and a new iPod (to replace the one that was, ahem, stolen out of my car). It ain’t news, but Etsy is a wonderland of gorgeous things, many of which can be had for practically a song. I love Etsy and I love its merchants. Here, the treasures I procured there in 2009 (click on each title for an image; I’m having some really dumb trouble with formatting. AND MY LATTE IS TEPID! WAAHH!).

Caramelo Fascinator

purchased from Stella Fashions to wear to the Leonard Cohen show.

Laptop Bag

purchased from Selina Vaughn

Mad Scientist Earrings

purchased from thioviolet

While The Empires Burn Down Porcelain Poem Pendant

purchased from panoply

So, to sum up:

throw as much hard-earned money at Etsy as possible. Etsy deserves a party.

Best of 2009: Word or phrase

[I'm participating in Gwen Bell's Best of 2009 Blog Challenge, in case you're all like, what's with the theme?]

Word or phrase. A word that encapsulates your year.

Intense

Amazing

Backbreaking

Liberating

Vital.