Cloverdew Creative

For me, last year was all about gratitude. Without choosing the word specifically, I had a connection with it from the beginning of the year. I started each day with a morning ritual and took on a “less is more” attitude about social media and life in general. I wrote myself a love letter, reminding myself to be grateful for everything around me. I wrote often about things I love and that make me happy. I cleaned up and out and was more grateful for the fewer things I had. I worked at it and eventually, it became habit. Gratitude was abundant.

In 2010, I chose three words as themes for the year: Learn, Create, Invest. This year, I am revisiting the idea of putting all my energy into three aspects of my life. This year, my three words are: Create, Celebrate, Simplify.

Create

• Goal word: CREATE
• Path 1 to the goal: write and continue personal blog
• Path 2 to the goal: scrapbook
• Path 3 to the goal: finish family cookbook and continue cooking blog
• Distractions: time management, lack of patience
• Steps to the path: blog at least once a week, finish a novel; build a scrapbook from scratch; collect and organize recipes for cookbook
• The finish line: write “The End.”, have sections of the cookbook mapped out
• What’s next: edit the novel, put together and edit cookbook in InDesign, continue blogging with new features and fresh ideas, move on to photography and other media

Celebrate

• Goal word: CELEBRATE
• Path 1 to the goal: celebrate with friends
• Path 2 to the goal: celebrate with family
• Path 3 to the goal: celebrate myself
• Distractions: money, time management, other priorities
• Steps to the path: remind myself that each day there is something to celebrate; rejoice in small victories; take every opportunity to socialize, treat myself, and appreciate others; in short, Celebrate Everything!
• The finish line: feeling great about myself and the world around me
• What’s next: Celebrate more!

Simplify

• Goal word: SIMPLIFY
• Path 1 to the goal: simplify self-care
• Path 2 to the goal: simplify my space at home and at work
• Path 3 to the goal: simplify online presence
• Distractions: work and home responsibilities, time restraints, lack of motivation
• Steps to the path: eat well (no nitrates, chemicals, preservatives, or hormones, eating a balanced diet, eating often but not lots at once); exercise (walking, biking, and getting out more); clean and organize often; get rid of clutter and unnecessary items; donate to charity; cut down on the number of social networks I’m involved in; step away from technology more often; take great care of myself, including a nightly and weekly beauty routine
• The finish line: feeling mentally and physically healthy, a clean and organized living space and working space
• What’s next: Keep it up!

Image credits: create – IHeart Organizing; celebrate – That Kind of Woman; simplify – The Container Store

My last post had me thinking about adventures… what exciting new things will I do this year?

I wouldn’t say these are goals so much as a brainstorm of what wonderful things I have to look forward to should the conditions be right:

Go to Singapore and Indonesia for my brother’s wedding

Start a new career

Start a scrapbook from scratch

Finish a novel

Write a personal mission statement

What exciting adventures do you have planned for this year?

No, I’m not talking about a run or a walk, but rather a word sprint. I spent most of my weekend writing. I sat with a computer on my lap and typed. And typed. And typed. When I got stuck, I skipped ahead in the story. I brainstormed with friends. I typed some more. Before I knew it an hour had passed. I had word wars with other writers (who can type the most words in 15 minutes? 30 minutes?) and took my characters from Greece to Italy. I gave my main character a reason to be pissed. And heartbroken. And by the end of all that, by the end of the day on Sunday, I had written over 7,000 words this weekend and over 5,000 words in one day. It felt phenomenal. And I felt totally exhausted. It was totally worth it. I had one of the best days in recent memory, holed up in my room, drinking a peppermint mocha, with no one but my characters and a few online friends for company. And it was heavenly.

If you ask me why I like to write, I’ll tell you: writing is therapy. There is a lot going on in my personal life and the best way to deal with reality is to use writing as an outlet, whether it be journaling or writing fiction, poetry or prose. You are what you read (or write) and an experience like this changes you. Writing helps to work out thoughts and figure out answers; it heals heartbreak; it builds character. Much like exercise, writing helps stretch you, challenge you. And at the end of the day, you come out stronger. You feel more yourself because of what you have put into your writing.

*image credit: Annie Rosse

NaNoWriMo is a wonderful adventure. And it sucks. It’s a fantastic writing exercise and a terrible thing for my social life. During the month of November, I tend to drink way too much caffeine, get way too little sleep, hide away from my friends (unless, of course, they are also writing for NaNoWriMo and we end up at Write-Ins together). I spend too much money on coffee and on food, eat too much junk, and neglect to get dressed on Saturday until I’ve finished my word count for the day.

I carry a flash drive with me everywhere, am constantly looking at my word count and refreshing my score on the NaNoWriMo boards, and I compulsively save after each paragraph. When I come to a stopping point, I save the draft on my flash drive, on Dropbox, on my computer’s hard drive and back-up drive, and e-mail it to myself via Gmail.

But, aside from the eccentricities, NaNoWriMo makes me grow as a person. I had no idea I was capable of writing this many words this fast. I’m actually on par with where I should be at this part of the month, something that’s never happened before. It’s quite an empowering experience to be able to come up with an entire story with just a few prompts and your own imagination.

This story has already taken twists and turns I didn’t expect and I’m sure there are more to come. It’s really a beautiful thing to acquaint yourself with characters and just let them talk to you. Here’s hoping mine keep talking!

*image credit: andy teo

A list of gratitude and wonder:

♥ having breakfast with three beautiful deer, grazing in the morning sunlight ♥ opportunities to interview with interesting organizations ♥ Lark Rise to Candleford (who doesn’t love a period drama?) ♥ testing out fun recipes from foodie blogs ♥ picking apples and making homemade apple butter ♥ good friends who rescue you from going stir-crazy ♥ ending the evening with a phone call from my sweetheart ♥ being able to do something nice for someone else just to put a smile on his/her face ♥ pumpkin spice lattes ♥ fall temperatures and being able to wear sweaters ♥ putting together a playlist on Spotify for the express purpose of writing ♥ spending a full day outside with good friends at the Renaissance Festival, wearing pretty garb, watching a production of Hamlet, and enjoying music ♥ LUSH’s Dream Cream (with every essential oil good for your skin in one lotion… it’s decadent and scrumptious) ♥ Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab’s autumn scents (Pumpkin Latte, Sugar Skull, Samhain, etc.) ♥ leaves turning many colors, falling, and crunching under my feet ♥ It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! ♥ homemade cheddar, shallot, and chive scones and broccoli cheese soup ♥ the start of NaNoWriMo ♥ Trader Joe’s dark chocolate peanut butter cups ♥ having a job ♥ making holiday plans ♥ all of the fall colors ♥ pedicures ♥ drinking wine and socializing with some great people ♥ firing up the fireplace to keep the house warm ♥

*image credit: jek in the box

It’s almost time for NaNoWriMo and I actually have an idea of what I’m going to write this year. I’m very excited to say that I’m going to be writing a young adult chick lit adventure novel. The premise is this:

When the Fates decide the Olympians have been abusing their power, they condemn them to live as humans. With each life, the gods and goddesses have a fresh chance to learn their lessons. When they finally learn how to use their strengths and control their weaknesses, they will be free to return to Mount Olympus. Headstrong and calculating Athena does so by falling in love, learning to live in the moment, and deciding maybe living as a human isn’t so bad after all.

So, what happens when she’s finally learned her lesson? I’m not quite sure and I can’t wait to find out.

It’s official. Cloverdew (aka yours truly, Sara Halperin) is looking for her next career opportunity.

Reference:
Here’s what my previous boss had to say about me: From my experience working with Sara, I certainly would point out her creativity as a strength. She also has excellent writing skills and demonstrates much enthusiasm for professional development and acquiring new skills. She is a quick learner and has a good eye for how to help with systems improvements that lead to efficiencies.

Here’s what I’m looking for:

• a place I can grow and learn; something that will provide more questions than answers, something that will get my creative gears turning
• work that utilizes my writing skills, but challenges me to build my skill base beyond that which I already know
• an environment that is teamwork-oriented, fosters creativity, and cares about the employees, as well as consumers
• a living wage with adequate health benefits
• direct and honest communications

Today, I was really inspired by the bravery of my friends, Amber Naslund and Melissa Case, who put themselves out there on the web, describing who they really are as people. Not putting their thoughts about work or culture or books online, but sharing intimate details of themselves with the world. I decided to take the plunge, as well. Here are a few details about me (in no particular order):

I love to write. From the time I was a small child, I have been writing stories. I spent many an angsty evening as an adolescent writing poetry. Since I was thirteen, I have been keeping a personal journal in some form. For the last six years, I have taken part in NaNoWriMo and, although I have yet to finish a novel in a month, I am currently working on a novel that I am very excited about and hope to finish this year.

I speak German. I lived in Germany for a year after I graduated high school and before I started college. I lived with a host family, went to German high school, learned about culture, politics, and history, struggled with the language until I started dreaming in German (which I still do periodically), made friends for life, and gained more knowledge about myself as a person than I could ever have imagined before I left.

I am a Unitarian Universalist. This has had a profound affect on my life in many ways and I am so grateful to my parents for raising me in a church that let me explore my own spiritual journey, ask questions, gain insight, and develop my own world view and belief system from the time I was a very young person. I have always had a strong sense of social justice, equality, and respect for the earth and all living things. I don’t preach and I don’t expect others to have the same world view as me, even within my own religion. Every person is entitled to his/her own journey and I respect that. As I hope you will respect mine.

I have a strong affinity for the Middle East. In college, I had many friends who were from the Middle East or had spent a lot of time there. With their influencing, I spent a semester in Amman, Jordan, where I learned a little bit of Arabic, a lot of culture, and of the wonderful, hospitable nature of the Arabic people. I ate delicious Mediterranean food, smoked a lot of hookah, and reveled in the dusty architecture that held so much history. I spent a week in Syria, visiting Damascus and Aleppo, learning about Syrian history, government, and people.

 I love spicy food. My dad has been eating hot peppers (and putting them in dishes for the family) since I was very young. I’ve always eaten lots of different ethnic foods and my favorites are Indian, Thai, and (though not particularly spicy) Italian.

 Art is my passion. I could spend hours in front of one painting or sculpture. I adore Mark Rothko, Vincent van Gogh, and Michelangelo. One of my favorite books is The Lost Painting. Both in Germany and Jordan, I studied art, and I couldn’t ask for a better way to break a language barrier.

I am a firm believer in positive psychology. I choose to focus on all the things I am grateful for in my life, from the mundane to the awesome. Mindfulness, gratitude, and a positive attitude can go a long way. The more we appreciate what we have, the more wonderful things come our way. I have been fortunate to be a part of the Adventures in Manifesting eCourse offered by Sarah Prout and Sean Patrick Simpson, who have also brought together those involved in a wonderful online community. This community is a great place to explore positive psychology and support one another through many life changes. It is truly a blessing to be a part of this group.

Cooking and baking are some of my greatest joys. I love to cook and I love to entertain. Cooking and baking for friends and family makes me about the happiest person alive. I am currently revising, editing, adding to, updating, and re-publishing my family cookbook, which my mother put together in the 1980s. This version will be digital, so friends and family can view it on a computer, e-reader, or print at their will.

So, what do you think? Will you tell me a little about yourself?

Fresh pumpkins. A bright evening sun on a summer’s day. Orange evokes brightness and happiness. Even the scent of oranges, the fruit the color is names after, is said to be energizing.

1. Orange flower, 2. orange vintage, 3. Orange Overload, 4. Orange Sunbrellas, 5. orange, 6. orange walls, 7. Orange on Orange, 8. Choco Orange Macarons, 9. Orange & Blue

Orange is the color of luck. It is the representative of the second chakra. It evokes the warmth of fire. Orange is full of energy. At its best, orange strengthens confidence and contributes to creativity. Orange stimulates. It increases activity, appetite, and socialization. It is a “love it or hate it” color, demanding action. It is a color of enthusiasm and joy, celebration and festivities!

In design, orange is used to create energy and is often used with and juxtaposed to blue and green.

As with red, a little goes a long way. Use sparingly for a little life or an abundance to give life to a project.

• For a little orange in interior design, check out this post from Cottage Home Decorating.
• If you’re looking for inspiration, try Color In Design: Orange.
• The Llewellyn Encyclopedia offers an article on the Seat Chakra, also known as Svadhisthana, which is associated with the color orange, emotion, sexuality, pleasure and polarity.
• About.com tells you How to Use Orange in Feng Shui.

How does orange make you feel? How will you use it in your life? I’m enjoying bright orange sunsets and fresh oranges in Florida to bring more joy and energy into my life.

This morning, I met Jackie from Style Matters at her home in Sarasota for my first ever style consultation. From the time she greeted me in a perfect pair of jeans, sea foam green ruffled blouse, and navy blue tailored jacket, to the end of the hour we spent together, Jackie was a delight to work with. She asked me a few questions and before I knew it, we were talking clothes, shopping, accessories, color, and, of course, shoes.

In about an hour, she gave me a very thorough and defined baseline. She told me what length my sleeves and skirts should be, what necklines to complement my figure best, and how best to accessorize. Since I have nicely defined shoulders, she advised me never to wear shoulder pads, stiff sleeves or spaghetti straps, but instead to wear flowy fabrics or sleeveless tops. She did my colors and told me that I’m an Autumn, advising me to wear peacock blue, plum, orange, russet, brown, and other colors that fit into that color scheme. These colors should accentuate neutrals already in my wardrobe. Since I’m petite (5’2″), she advised me never to wear and ankle length pant, pants with cuffs, or prints on bottom, but rather to draw attention up with bright colors, accessories, and jewelry.

Jackie advised me to never tuck anything in, stay away from front-buttoned pockets or deep front pockets, and utilize shirts that end at the hip. Fabrics that are soft, drape, and have movement are good. Skirts that end at the knee and accentuate the smallest part of the leg are best. Fitted and skirts with flare are flattering. Scoop-neck and v-neck tops are perfect. I was even given advice on what kind of jewelry looks best with my figure and style. With all of this wonderful advice, I left feeling on top of the world.

I now have a lot to think about and more to do. My homework is to evaluate my wardrobe and figure out which of my clothes fit and look fabulous and which pieces in my collection should be tossed out. This is one set of homework I’m actually looking forward to!

Style Matters offers a variety of services including, but not limited to: Initial Consultation (optimum style assessment for goals of improved wardrobe, color analysis, and body/line and silhouette assessment for identifying cuts, patterns, fabrics, and combinations for personal use), Wardrobe Evaluation (an in-home four-hour session to assess your current wardrobe), and Personal Shopping (shopping for items together at retail stores), and styling for portraits, formal events, job interviews, and other important occasions. See Style Matters website for more information.

I’m in a bit of culture shock after moving from Northern Virginia/Washington, D.C. area to Bradenton, Florida. I am spending my days with wide eyes, gawking at the flat, wide, airy palm-ridden sun-soaked beach-filled area. Everything from the weather to the driving to the inhabitants of the area are alien. If people aren’t on vacation, they’re retired. The pace of life here is much slower. People aren’t rushing everywhere they go, honking horns and suffering from hypertension. People take time to stop and say hello when on their morning walks. It’s much more of a small-town type feeling.

I am enjoying my days when I’m not job-hunting by reading by the pool, swimming, creating craft projects, painting, and sketching. I have to be honest: I haven’t done much writing. I find that I need a certain atmosphere for that and I haven’t been able to create that yet. I’m still getting used to the hot, but not sticky (compared to DC) days, the cool nights, and the genuine Florida sun.

The entire health system in Florida seems to operate differently than in Virginia and the neighborhoods are confusing (all different classes houses neighboring one another) and I still don’t know my way around, so if I were without my trusty Tom-Tom, I’d be lost. I’m finding my way, little by little.