New Goals for 2017!

Hello New Year!  I can’t believe it is already 2017! Of course, like most of us, all I can think about is setting new goals for the year and reflecting on 2016.  The last few months I’ve majorly slacked on my creativity, journaling, and this blog because life happens.  I’m pregnant and I’ve got a bun in the oven that’s making me SUPER sick! I am 5 months pregnant now and FINALLY getting a little relief from this little peanut.  Wooo Hoo.  It feels so good to be almost back to my old self!

Now that I am feeling saucy and creative, I’ve got plenty of goals in mind for the new year.  I’ve immersed myself into some of my favorite creative planning books along with a new one called “Your Best Year 2017: Productivity Workbook and Creative Business Planner” by Lisa Jacobs.  I’ve heard great things about this creative planner from fellow bloggers and just had to get my hands on it.  So far I’m loving it.  My main focus this year will be directed towards improving my business/blog and getting a little bit more organized in that regard.

I also want to motivate other creative entrepreneurs and share my creative journey as a business owner in hopes you can learn something.  That’s the one thing I’m constantly searching for from other successful bloggers…..how did they do it? What did they do to get to where they are today?   I feel like it is kind of a hidden secret. I mean, I want to know the products they use,  marketing strategies, the workshops they’ve taken, and all the tips and tricks along the way. Even the horrible mistakes.  I want to create a road map of my journey to help you with yours.

Some other changes I’d like to make are posting on a consistent basis.  I am very guilty of posting on a whim when I feel motivated.  Does anyone else have that problem? I surely can’t be the only one!

I think I am going to get rid of the monthly journal prompts for now just because I’m kind of over it.  Don’t get me wrong.  I still think journal prompts are great.  But I feel like doing something a little bit different. Instead of the monthly journal prompts for each day of the month, I’ll do ONE journal prompt for the month along with a journal spread to inspire you.

Here is a spread from my bullet journal on quarterly goals inspired by Boho Berry. I just love this idea. I still have to fill out my action steps.

Okay. Okay. Enough about me and my goals. I want to hear about you and your goals for 2017! Lets make 2017 great!

My challenge for you is setting five goals that you can accomplish in the next three months.  Then creating an action plan for those goals. Make sure you set S.M.A.R.T goals.

S: Specific

M: Measurable

A:  Achievable

R:  Relevant

T:  Time-Based

Please share some of your goals with me in the comments!  Would love to hear them. 

Setting Up Your Bullet Journal (How I Set Up Mine)

 

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Have you heard of Bullet Journaling?  It is all the rage among list makers and planner keepers!  Bullet Journaling is a personalized planner for goal-setting, list making, memory keeping and tracking your day-to-day activities in a fun, colorful way.

I came across Bullet Journaling a few years ago but never really understood it and thought all the symbols seemed way too confusing.  That is until I discovered Bohoberry.com, Kara, the blogger of bohoberry is a bullet journal guru.  After reading her blog and looking at some of her YouTube videos, bullet journaling really piqued my interest again.  I always wanted a better way to plan and organize my goals but hadn’t really found a system that worked.

Luckily Mother’s Day was just around the corner.  I asked my husband for a Leuchtturm 1917 (A5) Dot Grid notebook (has index and pages already numbered) and a set of Staedtler markers to begin my bullet journaling (a.k.a. bujo) adventures.  While waiting for my notebook to arrive, I researched the basics of bullet journaling, watched YouTube videos, and looked on Instagram and Pinterest for inspiration.

This is how I set up my first bullet journal.  I am still tweaking and figuring out what works best for me.  And will continue to customize my bujo for my needs.  I encourage you to do that as well!  Keep what works and remove what doesn’t!

The Key:  Represents the symbols I use for my tasks, events, appointments, and notes.  I looked on Pinterest for bullet journaling key ideas and chose what I liked best and added a few symbols of my own.

I also, added a Color Chart Key for my daily Time Tracker (tracking 24 hours of the day in my daily spreads for the time spent on activities.) I will discuss this further down in the daily spreads section.

Affirmation:  I designated a page for my affirmation.  This is the area in my life that I am focusing on at the moment….CREATIVITY.  Some people just choose a word for the year but I like affirmations better because I always see positive change when I use them consistently.  I may even write an affirmation at the beginning of each month.  It just depends on my needs at the current time.

Calendar:  I made a year-at-a-glance calendar spread.

Headers and Banners Inspiration:  I watched a bohoberry Youtube tutorial on banners and headers and doodled along with the video.  It’s a good way to practice.  I also looked on Pinterest and Instagram for header and banner ideas too.  Pinterest and Instagram will become your new best friend if you want some bujo inspiration!  I use different headers and banners for the date on my daily spreads.

June Log:  This is a monthly-at-a-glance calendar spread.  It’s a general overview of the events/appointments happening in the month.   I used the day of the week and number that correspond with that day.  I did this format instead of a typical calendar spread because I already have the months graphed out in my creative journal.  Didn’t want to repeat it in this journal.  Plus, formatting the month this way makes it super easy and not as time consuming as graphing a standard calendar.

Ugh, I messed up when I first wrote June and covered it up with a magazine scrap.  I don’t love this spread for that reason but I am not going to agonize over perfection.  You will have mistakes and that’s okay.  The important thing is tracking your appointments, events  and writing in your bujo.

Projects:  I added some goals/ projects that I’d like to complete for the month.

June Memories:  I did a memories page for the month of June.  This is where I doodle cute little pictures of important activities, events, and highlight memories that happened during the month.

Okay, I’m not perfect….I started this post in the beginning of June…and it is now August.  My June Memories page is still blank. lol I still like the idea of keeping a memories page and will continue to do so.  I’m just going to go back and doodle my memories for June this month.

June Tracker:  My June Tracker is a habits tracker that tracks which activities I do regularly.  I got the inspiration for this spread from bohoberry.  I really like the habit tracker because you feel like you are accomplishing tasks and it lets you know how much you are doing something.

Gratitude:  I love my gratitude spread!  I write one thing I am grateful for each day of the month.  You can write as many gratitude’s as you’d like for the day but I find that writing one per day is manageable.  I enjoy it.  It reminds me to be thankful for even the little things in life I might otherwise overlook.  And helps me be more optimistic.

Doodle Challenge:  The doodle challenge is meant to get me drawing and doodling more on a regularly basis.  I am supposed to doodle each day of the month.  I’m not gonna lie.  Sometimes I didn’t doodle and just made up for it by doing more than one doodle on other days.  I looked online, mostly Pinterest for doodle ideas.

If doodling or drawing isn’t your thing you can create any type of daily challenge.  Maybe you want to read more.  Create a challenge for getting some daily reading done.  Or if you want to exercise more maybe you create a fun exercise challenge spread.

Daily Spread:  Daily Spreads are fun because they look pretty and colorful when you are done.  I add a time tracker before the date. Throughout the day, I color in the time spent on  activities.

• Time Tracker:  I number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 to signify 24 hours in a day.
  • I fill in the times I’ve spend on activities using their proper color code from my Color Chart Key.  For example,
    • Sleep = Blue
    • Appointments = Green

As you can see on (Thursday 6-2-16)  I slept from 11 pm- 7 am and had an appointment from 1-4 pm.

Next, I doodle the date.  Then add the days weather with a weather icon.  I really don’t need to add the days weather because I can just look on my phone but it’s fun drawing them and adds a little color to the page.

I add my goals/tasks for the day and checked them off when complete.  I add quotes and affirmations that resonate with me.  I don’t always add quotes to my dailies only when I feel like it.

You can add a Weekly Spread into the mix too.  I didn’t do it this time and probably won’t because I think with the Monthly Log and my Dailies I track enough.  It just depends on your needs and how busy you are.  I just love the customization of the bullet journal.

I will keep you updated on the evolution of my bullet journal as time passes.  I’d love to hear some of your tips and tricks too!

Facing your Inner Critic–My Creative Journaling Process

How do you face the blank page of your notebook?  Do you tackle it with ease and start writing right away?  Or does your inner critic kick in making you worry about perfection and fill you with self-doubt?  Maybe that loud pesky voice urges you to create a master piece, so you don’t start at all, in fear that others may not like it. Or you have too many art supplies that you can’t decide which one to choose and you get overwhelmed?  I am guilty of that one, that’s for sure!  I’m kind of an art supply junky! 🙂

Each time I sit down to journal I approach the page differently depending on my mood. Sometimes, I look through my magazine clippings first. Select a few images I like and put them aside until I am ready to glue them down and journal.  If I’m in the creative spirit and have a little extra time, I’ll do it right then and there. Or I paste a few images ahead of time randomly throughout my notebook if I don’t feel like writing at the moment.

Most of the time, I don’t add any images and just get my thoughts down on paper.  I let the writing flow without making judgments about myself.  I don’t worry about my messy handwriting or scratchy marks.  I let my intuition guide me through the process. Then, weeks or months after the fact, I skim through my notebook to paste images down to old entries–that is, if space allows it–and add some additional color with markers and Washi tape.

I like all of these journaling methods.  It adds great variety and spontaneity to my journal. It helps quiet my inner critic.  Some pages I love and find beautiful.  Others are bland and ugly and I don’t care.  My more thought out pages (like below) are usually prettier than the pages where I’ve written first and later pasted images down.  But with the combination of each of these styles it gives me freedom to express myself and makes no demands when I haven’t the time for it. And that’s what I love.  What are some of your favorite journal methods and techniques? 

Through all of this, one thing is certain, my inner critic is like a revolving door that keeps going and going if it isn’t silenced. It surfaces when I try to make the page a piece of art I’d like the world to see.  Or if I edit as I go, in hopes, to achieve grammatically sound sentences to win some outlandish, non-existent Nobel prize.  Can you relate? Well, let’s try out one of my favorite methods and conquer the blank page together!

Grab your favorite drink, journal supplies and let’s begin!

No matter what method I choose I always date my page before I write an entry.

Step 1:  Start with the date.  Write the date different than you normally would.  Maybe write it vertical instead of horizontal.  Play with different font styles and sizes.

Step 2:  Browse through some magazines and rip out any pictures that catch your eye.  I had an old Anthropologie catalog sitting on my desk and ripped out images I liked the day before.  Select a few images you like and play around with different layouts.  Once you like how the images look on the page then glue them down with a glue stick.

Step 3:  Start journaling!  Let your intuition guide you during the writing process.  Write whatever is on your mind.  Have fun discovering more about yourself.  You might be surprised with what you find.  Or use a journal prompt.  I have a great list of prompts ready for you to use from my monthly prompt series.

Step 4:  Add a splash of color with markers, crayons, or color pencils.  I colored the date with the same color scheme as the images to finish the page.

Aww…journaling is so much fun! Bam! You just punched your inner critic in the face!  That should quiet her down for a while.  At least, let’s hope!

I hope you enjoyed this mini tutorial!  I’d love to hear how you quiet your inner critic.  Please, share your ideas and journals with me!

JUNE JOURNALING PROMPTS!

June is almost here! YaY! I love summer! I’m creating a new journal series. I’ll post a list of monthly journaling prompts for each day of the month, probably a day or two before the month begins.  Feel free to print these prompts and glue them inside your journal! Have fun with markers and colorful pens.

Happy Journaling!  ENJOY this list of journaling prompts for each day of June!

1. “If I knew I couldn’t fail I would…”
2. What does your future look like?
3. List 20 things you are grateful for?
4. Write about someone you haven’t totally forgiven.
5. Write down your thoughts about any stressful situation in your life, past, present or future.
6. When was the last time you listened to your intuition?  What happened?
7. Write about your favorite childhood memory.
8. “One of my biggest desires is…”
9. What do you feel as you envision your best?
10. Write down your experiences with taking time to reflect.
11. Getting away from it all means…
12. “NOW I’m going to…”
13. “Enhancing my creativity means…”
14. How do you feel about your body?
15. Write a letter to your younger self.  What would you say?  What advice would you give?
16. Write about your dream house?  What does it look like?  Where do you live?  Who lives with you?  Describe the decorations and furniture.
17. “The thing I fear most is…”
18. Write about your favorite summer memory.
19. How would your best friend describe you?
20. “If I could change ______…” Why?
21. Who is your role model?  Why do you look up to them?
22. What made you smile today?
23. What do you keep putting off for another day?
24. How do you feel most loved?
25. Write about a family tradition.
26. “If I could met anyone, it would be….”  Why?
27. What new skill would you like to learn?  What would be the very first step in making it happen?
28. Describe your perfect date?  Who are you with?  What are you wearing?  What are you doing?
29. What do you love to do?  Name a hobby or talent that you would gladly do for free.
30. List your three month goals.  What steps can you take to move closer to you achieving your goals?

Creative Journaling Tutorial

Necklace: Boho Gypsy by Trendovy

Materials:

• Notebook (I use the Piccadilly Essential Large Notebook)
• Black Pen (I use the Rolling Ball Precise V5)
• Glue Stick
• Old Magazines
• Paint Chip Sample (or colored card stock)
• Colorful Envelope
• Washi Tape
• Colored Pencils, Markers, and/or Gel Pens
• Black Permanent Marker

It’s creative journaling time! Get ready to set goals and write affirmations! If you didn’t read my previous journaling tutorial be sure to check it out!  The style is similar and I go through the journaling process step-by-step.

Are you ready?  Gather your supplies and lets begin!

1.  Number your pages.  Add the date.  I always write the day, month, and year.  Play with fonts!  If you need help writing different font styles, check out DaFont.com (you can browse different fonts and type the words you want to preview), it’s pretty cool.  Add a little doodle border around the date.  I doodled curly q’s but you can doodle whatever your heart desires.  Maybe dashes, mini triangles, or a bold straight line?

I like the fun colors and messy artist backdrop in this image.

2.  Next,  look through old magazines.  If you have a pile of magazine clippings start there! Find an appealing focal image.  Once you pick your image, glue it down with a glue stick and cut the excess paper.

One of the great rewards of creative journaling is discovering a style that’s authentic and uniquely yours!  You’ll slowly discover patterns and themes that reveal significant clues about your personality. I adore flowers, anything artistic, bold bright colors, females with blonde hair (probably because I am blonde), and sexy/edgy advertisements.

3.  Add some Washi Tape along the edge of your image. I cut my image a little crooked and covered it with Washi Tape.  🙂

I’m OBSESSED with Washi Tape!  It’s so versatile and easy to use.

4.  Add more Washi Tape!  Layer different colors, widths, and patterns on top of each other.  It will add depth and richness to your page.  Washi Tape is transparent (so, if you layer yellow and blue together, you’ll get a cool green!)

4.  Grab a colorful envelope and paint chip sample (you can find these at Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, etc. in the painting section–they are free! YaY!) that fits inside the envelope.  If you don’t have any paint chip samples, use scrapbook paper or colored card stock and cut to size.  The cute little orange envelope I used is a couple years old and it’s from an old ephemera stash–I believe it’s from the Dollar Tree.  Use what you have or make your own decorative envelopes!

5.  Add Washi Tape to your paint chip card.  I chose orange Washi Tape to cover the paint name and layered the decorative feather Washi Tape on top.  Next, glue your envelope down to your page using a glue stick.  Add Washi Tape around the edges of the envelope.

I wrote five goals I’d like to accomplish in the month of May.

6.  Let’s start this page off right and jot down some goals.  Who doesn’t love goal-setting and daydreaming of their future?  On the paint chip sample, use a permanent marker to write your goals.

Maybe you’re eager to work out but haven’t started?  Or you want to learn a new skill but don’t know how to start?  Or you want to eat healthy but keep eating Doritos?  Try listing your weekly, monthly, or yearly goals on separate cards instead.  Whatever it is.  Get it down on paper!  Be specific and add details.  You can focus on one major goal too.  Perhaps, write it on the front and the action steps on the back of the card?

7.  Write an affirmation on an area of your life you’d like to focus on and improve.  Maybe an affirmation to help with one of your goals?  If affirmations aren’t your thing than write a gratitude list or your favorite quote.  Have fun with it!  Get creative with markers or gel pens.

I read “Creative Visualization” by Shakti Gawain to help write better affirmations–it’s one of my favorite books on visualizing your goals and positive thinking.  The affirmation that I wrote is aimed towards my business and blog.  It’s the same one I’ve used over the past month or two.  I love this affirmation and will continue to use it until I move onto something else.

My Creative Affirmation:  “I am now an open channel for creative energy.  Creative ideas & inspiration are coming to me every day.  This or something better now manifest for me in totally satisfying and harmonious ways for the highest good of all concerned.  And so it is!”

I’ve noticed changes in the last few months after writing this affirmation over and over.  I believe it’s really helping me get things done and have clarity.  A lot of things that were difficult before seem so much more easier now.  I’m actually blogging regularly and writing blog posts with ease! YaY! That was a huge challenge before–all these ideas, not knowing where to begin, and feeling scattered. Ugh.  Maybe you can relate?

8.  Fill your page with all your hopes and dreams!  Add a little color and pizzazz. I added a little more Washi Tape, doodled and used colored pencils to finish the date.

Necklace: Boho Gypsy by Trendovy

Enjoy the process and don’t worry about creating a master piece.  Creative journaling is a rich journey of discovery, wonder, adventure, and excitement.

I hope you enjoy this tutorial and feel a creative spark inside.  Please share your beautiful pages with me!

I Love My Creative Notebook!

Today I am feeling extra motivated.  I gave my website a little makeover, opened a “business” Instagram account, and started uploading pictures of my jewelry and old journal entries.  It’s crazy how many likes I’m getting on these photos. Within a matter of minutes, my phone has been blasting with Instagram notifications.

I was a little hesitant to upload my personal journal entries, but I thought what the heck why not.  I like looking at other people’s journals and figured people would probably like looking at mine too.  Here are some of the journal entries I posted from my creative notebook.