the end of reverb (for 2010 that is)

Author: Molly O'Neill
Harper Collins Children's 
@molly_oneill

Prompt: Core story. What central story is at the core of you, and how do you share it with the world? (Bonus: Consider your reflections from this month. Look through them to discover a thread you may not have noticed until today.)


My core story? I think just learning about myself and accepting what I learn.  Good or bad, usually have a harder time accepting the good frankly.  I can take criticism (that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt or I don't cry but I do try to listen to the heart of it).. I usually have a harder time with the good, as I always think of how I can be better and in turn that means i'm not 'good enough as is' right?   So I'll continue to learn and explore the inner depths of what makes me tick, I'll pontificate and ponder the great secrets of my soul and hopefully teach my kids that all human beings are a work in progress, including the adults in their life.

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Let them eat cake!

Author: Holly Root
Waxman Literary Agency
@hroot

Prompt: Gift. This month, gifts and gift-giving can seem inescapable. What's the most memorable gift, tangible or emotional, you received this year?


It's probably the most memorable gift I've received, ever frankly.  I married a non-gift giver.  He is a he and as a he, he isn't programed to think creatively of gift giving.  Gift giving is an art, to him it's a list.  I write the list he goes and gets the stuff.  I hate lists, I could just go get the junk myself really.  I want to be surprised, I want someone to know what to get me without me saying.  It doesn't mean it has to be huge, and this gift wasn't.  It really is the thought that counts.  Now before you think my 'he' is completely without regard, he has gotten me some wonderful things in the past to my surprise.  It just doesn't happen a lot.  When my birthday came around I was prepared for the usual routine.  I go get myself something, I get myself a cake, I pick a restaurant I like and we get carry out from there.  As a mom your birthday is, well your responsibility most of the time.  (not complaining just that's the lot in life, not a lot, but it's life right?)   


This year my good friend Angie showed up with a cake for my birthday.  She didn't make just any cake; she knew a cake I spoke of, that's only available around the holidays.  She looked online, found the recipe and made the cake for me.  (Scrap Vegas retreaters, it's the same cake we had at the retreat).  Now that is by far the greatest gift, and yes it cost the amount of the ingredients and her time which are appreciated but it was the thought that far exceeds all other gifts.

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let me apologize ahead of time...

Author: Kathryn Fitzmaurice
The Year the Swallows Came Early
@KFitzmaurice

Prompt: Defining moment. Describe a defining moment or series of events that has affected your life this year.

Let's just say there was a defining moment and it is still going on.  Let's just say I feel it was a good thing it happened.  Let's just say I wish circumstances hadn't led to it having needed to happen in the first place.  Let's just say I'm sorry for reasons I'm sure everyone understands I can't elaborate on the who or what, it's not entirely my story to tell.

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list o'10

Author: Tara Sophia Mohr
The Women's Seder Sourcebook: Rituals & Readings for Use at the Passover Seder
@tarasophia
 
Prompt: Achieve. What’s the thing you most want to achieve next year? How do you imagine you’ll feel when you get it? Free? Happy? Complete? Blissful? Write that feeling down. Then, brainstorm 10 things you can do, or 10 new thoughts you can think, in order to experience that feeling today.
 
I want to really work on my 101 Things list and work on just being more "together".  Both in the definition of being more organized and having a handle on things and spending more quality time together with people important to me.  This is all a stride towards being 'complete'.  I have 10 resolutions to help achieve this:

1. Use my planner, make sure I'm managing my time wisely and balancing it between duties, family and self.
2. Create, as much as possible.  Art soothes, it heals and it inspires.
3. I am joining a book club that will study the Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, to help me find my areas that most need work or areas I can pat myself on the back for
4. Participating in the Day Zero Project, where you list 101 things you want to do in 1001 days, is going to motivate my inner list maker
5. Focusing on quality vs quantity.  We spend a lot of time in this family occupying the same spaces but I wouldn't call it quality.  More game nights, more talk of the movie we just watched together not just watch and everyone goes off and does their thing.  
6. Have accountability partners, friends like Terri, Cindy, Celia, Angie, Michelle, Debbie, etc. who remind me of my goals, taking it easy or just giving general support on the things I'm doing in my life are important.  Even if they don't realize they are doing it, they are.
7. Make time.  There are 24 hours in a day, I still suffer insomnia to some extent so what am I doing with my time?  Use it wisely and do not even utter "i don't have time" 
8. Take the road trip of my dreams.  It is very important to me to drive to Michigan this summer, very important.  It is a roadtrip with my kids and the chance to 'unplug' and just hang with them.
9. Blog, when I blog and put stuff 'out there' I feel more committed to doing it, probably fear of looking like a cyber failure
10. Remember to keep life fun, the things I do, the time I plan and the choice I make should have the same result of upping the fun factor

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Ordinary, extraordinary

Author: Brené Brown
The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are
@brenebrown

Prompt: Ordinary joy. Our most profound joy is often experienced during ordinary moments. What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year?


This reminds me of an article I recently prepared for the January Masterful Scrapbook Design series.  Karen Grunberg wrote about ordinary moments and while I was editing, inserting pictures and reading her words, I realized it was right then an ordinary moment.  I was sitting on the couch with my laptop, Keagan singing along to some show and the older three boys in school.  Each day there are a few quiet hours then Austin comes home, then Kyle then shortly after I run out to get Zach.  It's every day life 90% of the time and it's in this routine that I feel at ease and happy.  Hearing Austin tell me a few things about his day before Kyle gets home, getting a few minutes of Kyle's time to hear how guitar went or which class he's interested in that week, then trying to extract any information from Zach about his day when all he wants to know is what he can have for snack.  In my opinion, living happens in these ordinary moments and I enjoy them all.

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food for the soul

Author: Elise Marie Collins
An A-Z Guide to Healing Foods: A Shopper's Reference
@mysticflavor

Prompt: Soul food. What did you eat this year that you will never forget? What went into your mouth & touched your soul?


My friend introduced me to Buca di Beppo on her birthday.  It's AMAZING.. it's family style italian dining.  The atmosphere is wonderful, with all kinds of eclectic things to stare at and the most amazing salad, followed by a chicken carbonara to die for.. I love the family style too I love sharing it makes it feel more like a 'together' event.  

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You want me IN FRONT of the camera??

Author: Tracey Clark
Expressive Photography: The Shutter Sisters' Guide to Shooting from the Heart
@shuttersisters

Prompt: Photo - a present to yourself. Sift through all the photos of you from the past year. Choose one that best captures you; either who you are, or who you strive to be. Find the shot of you that is worth a thousand words. Share the image, who shot it, where, and what it best reveals about you.


Uhm.. very few to choose from, I still don't step in front of the camera much.  Here's my favorite, not because I look so fabulous but it reminds me of a few things.  I'm not too stuffy (or old) to just get down on the ground.  I like figuring things out for the joy of figuring it out, but asking for help can be even more enlightening.  Moments after this shot was taken I asked Katrina Kennedy what I was doing wrong to find out I had the exposure compensation set (the expression off the charts comes to mind), she reset me and I was happily snapping colors that actually exist in life.

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I'm ok, you're ok...

Author: Kate Inglis
The Dead Crew
@sweetsalty

Prompt: Everything's OK. What was the best moment that could serve as proof that everything is going to be alright? And how will you incorporate that discovery into the year ahead?


We'll go with the first thought that popped in my head.  When I dropped Zach off for his first day of school.  


1.  He didn't freak out, he was nervous, afraid, anxious but all was overridden by eagerness for a new adventure.  (He will not let his fears rule him)


2.  Keagan was sad to see him go, and Zach was sad Keagan couldn't come.  (As much as they may fight, they do love each other and like being together)


These two things stretched into Austin & Kyle's relationship, they may squabble with the best but all in all my boys have good healthy relationships with each other.  I worry they'll hate each other, or that their tendency to be mean to each other will ruin their relationship, but once in awhile there's a moment I realize it's going to be alright.

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Becca Wilcott
Truly, Madly, Deadly: The Unofficial True Blood Companion
@beccawilcott

Prompt: New name. Let's meet again, for the first time. If you could introduce yourself to strangers by another name for just one day, what would it be and why?


I am wondering what this has to do with reflecting or manifesting.. perhaps I lack the creative writing morsel in my brain that allows me to grasp this exercise but all I think is I like me and my name.  If I did change it for a day it would be something utterly idiotic.  I worked in an office where we had to do mailing lists and one person had legally changed their name to MostBeautifulMostAmazing.  I know a high school teacher who had a friend who changed his name to LettuceHead.  I love the movie "My Life in Ruins" just because a main character's name is Poupi Kakas.  I think if I picked a new name it'd be off the wall ridiculous.  Like "fartknocker" or "jabberwocky" ooh.. how about cattywampus?  Ok, all jokes aside I would change my name to Razzle Dazzle Jazz Hands.  I would make all my friends introduce me to their friends, I bet none would be able to restrain themselves from actually doing jazz hands when they introduce me!

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Stay-cation anyone?

Tara Hunt
The Whuffie Factor: Using the Power of Social Networks to Build Your Business
@missrogue

Prompt: Travel. How did you travel in 2010? How and/or where would you like to travel next year?

I didn't.  It was a let down, but I did explore my home and city.  We tried geo-caching, headed to a local petting farm, pumpkin patch, found a new place for some yummy hot chocolate.  Does driving to Pahrump count as travel? 


Next year, frankly ANYWHERE would be good!

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To whom it may concern....

Author: Jenny Blake
Life After College: The Complete Guide to Getting What You Want
@jenny_blake
Prompt: Future self. Imagine yourself five years from now. What advice would you give your current self for the year ahead? (Bonus: Write a note to yourself 10 years ago. What would you tell your younger self?)


Dear Past Self,
Hug more, laugh loudly, sing along to the songs and your house is really not that bad.  Don't forget how great you felt when you went to the gym regularly, it's not just about losing weight.  Try not to worry about money, it will work itself out in the end.
Love, your future self

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Oops, oh well

Love Dina Wakley's mantra "Oops, oh well" it applies not just to art but life.  Yesterday I did the #20 prompt, so here's #19:

Healing. What healed you this year? Was it sudden, or a drip-by-drip evolution? How would you like to be healed in 2011? (Author: Leonie Allan)


Well, I'm sure I have hurts and pains that need to heal.  I'm sure I could do better at healing, but I'm not sure how to answer this.  I guess I will just share my thought that no one ever fully heals from anything.  Just as a many wounds give you scars, emotional wounds are just the same.  Maybe scar is just too negative a word, because I don't think it's all ugly stuff.  I was wounded by someone's words, I didn't 'heal', the words still hurt when I think about them.  Probably more for the fact they were said and by whom than by what was actually said. I did learn to put more stock in my opinion of myself than what that other person thinks.   Maybe that is healing, I don't know.

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want some cheese with that whine?

Author: Jake Nickell
The Threadless Book
@skaw
Prompt: Beyond avoidance. What should you have done this year but didn't because you were too scared, worried, unsure, busy or otherwise deterred from doing? (Bonus: Will you do it?)

I avoided housework.  Seriously, it was an issue.  Not to say my house is filthy it's not.  Cluttered, yes beyond belief.  I have toys here and toys there and laundry doesn't get put away, the kitchen is a little worse as we dirty more dishes in a day than the dishwasher can do in a load.  I'm not consistent in checking chores that the boys are suppose to do, all in all I failed as a housekeeper.  Truth be told I gave up.  I just stopped caring because frankly it's annoying to clean the kitchen and have someone come in and spill something and not clean it up, or only clean half it up.  It's frustrating to look at our backyard with leaves and whatever the winds blew in from California.  What's the point of picking up the bikes in the backyard, will it some how make it look "clean"?  The household duties just seemed like such an insurmountable task that I adopted the feeling there was no point so I stopped caring.  I realize it's not by any means as bad as one would see on hoarders or that child protective services should be called (just for the record, and my need to make sure you in cyber space realize I dont live in a total pigsty, it really isn't more than clutter spot issues), but it's not what I want to live in, and it really did feel like a one man show with me in charge of it all for the most part.  And all of it was just overwhelming.  So this one man show quit.  But as always, I will try to start the new year off, after the chaos of christmas, with a fresh attitude, & a clean house.

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if at first you don't succeed...

Author: Kaileen Elise
kaileenelise.com
@kaileenelise

Prompt: Try. What do you want to try next year? Is there something you wanted to try in 2010? What happened when you did / didn't go for it?


Hmmm.. well next year I want to try a 'bucket list' of sorts.. but more on that come new year's day :D  Sorry to tease but it's pretty big!

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Tami 101

Tara Weaver
The Butcher and the Vegetarian
@tea_austen

Prompt: Lesson learned. What was the best thing you learned about yourself this past year? And how will you apply that lesson going forward?


Well the glaring reality I'm learning right now is that not everything I say is profound yet, I want it to be.  I want to write something that makes someone go "wow, this gal is amazingly keen and I am moved and inspired".  It expands to art, not every thing I create is going to move someone to tears or make them run for their paints to duplicate it.  I'm not as funny as I wish I was all the time, sometimes my jokes are off timing or flat out just off.  (Or worse, I think of the funny thing hours after the moment is over)  I am learning my list making ways aren't the norm for most.  I make lists as long as your arm, and rarely ever get every item ticked off.  (Though I often get ticked off mid-list at the fact I made such a demanding list)  Basically I'm learning I'm me, and with the perceived imperfections are some valuable strengths.  I can keep a virtual world organized, my kids are happy for the most part (lets face it they wont all agree when they're in trouble), I have amazing friends and when I say amazing I mean on a scale of 1-10 most of my friends rate at about 50.  Now how could I manage to have friends like that if I didn't have a little spark of amazing in me?

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Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes

Author: Martha Mihalick
Editor at Harper Collins
@curiousmartha

Prompt: Friendship. How has a friend changed you or your perspective on the world this year? Was this change gradual, or a sudden burst?


Another doozy of a question... perhaps it hits to the belief I don't think people change overnight or the fact I'm too close to the subject matter, but I'm hard pressed to think of how I changed this year.  It may seem like a default because I've discussed this already, but it's the only thing I can think of and that's the idea of what art is.  I have a habit of categorizing things, I like order.  I like all Zach's clothes on small blue hangers, Keagan's on red, Kyle's on white and Austin's on large blue.  I like all of my Christmas decorations in one bin, other holidays in their own bin, I like my canned goods grouped together, and yes I prefer labels out a la sleeping with the enemy.  (Not to say they stay this way I'm not the only person in the house)  So when Debbie added some gal named Dina Wakley to the roster at Get It Scrapped I was introduced to a new world, art journaling.  When I first started, I did art journaling in my art journaling books, but this year I've slowly dabbled a little with the idea of putting 'art journaling' things into my scrapbooks.  After Inky Fingers in September, it felt like a burst of an idea to go home and do the layout for this article.  It was inky and messy and still scrapbooky.  I love my new perspective on my art and am glad I finally feel like I'm coming into my own style.

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Will you listen to me for five minutes

Author: Patti Digh
Creative is a Verb: If You're Alive, You're Creative
@pattidigh

Prompt: 5 minutes. Imagine you will completely lose your memory of 2010 in five minutes. Set an alarm for five minutes and capture the things you most want to remember about 2010.


Wow, five minutes.  Well I will do this five minutes as my life exists, with interruption and distraction so here goes.... 


My mind is blank.  I don't know that monumental things happened in 2010 but I know that there are things I want to remember when I lose my mind.. memory in five minutes.  I want to remember how funny my family is, and not in a demeaning way but that they are just witty and when I least expect it will make me laugh even when I don't want to.  The other day Kyle was being his usual hyper self and I asked (very frustrated and fed up with it) "Is that necessary?"and he quoted the move Dodgeball "Is it necessary for me to drink my own urine? No but it tastes good" I don't know why he thought of it in that moment but it made me laugh.  Yesterday on facebook Austin's friends got into a squabble on one of his status updates, when it ended quickly, he commented "dang I just made popcorn for the show".. my younger two are no less witty.  I took Zach to see Tangled last night, when the guy gives the girl the lovelorn look, in the quiet theater Zach says "oh geeeeze"... once my sister in law was picking at Keagan who abruptly turned around and said "HEY! what's the big idea??" All of this wit and humor happens on a daily basis, so what do I want to remember about 2010, that I smiled... a lot.

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Showing appreciation...

 

Author: Victoria Klein
27 Things to Know About Yoga
@victoriaklein

Prompt: Appreciate. What's the one thing you have come to appreciate most in the past year? How do you express gratitude for it?

Well, I have to say I feel like I failed at this particular topic in 2010.  I have always appreciated the things I appreciate but not sure anything is entirely new nor did a more dynamic level of appreciation for any thing happen.  Perhaps if I had to choose I would self indulge and say that I grew a greater appreciation for what I do in the lives around me.  I tend to undersell myself and the things I do, but this year I started realizing there's value to things you do and that maybe it's just cooking dinner that I know someone would like or picking up a little something that will make someone smile.  These little things have value and add value to my relationships.  They aren't always reciprocated but that's not to mean they don't mean anything, their value is how they make me feel doing them.  

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Inspire, Desire, Aspire

I am inspired on a daily basis.  I help other get inspired by my work at Get It Scrapped & Masterful Scrapbook Design.  What I desire to do is aspire to use the inspiration.  (How's that for a tongue twister?)

When I think of the things I want to do I mostly think of two areas of my life; family & art.  Today's reverb10 prompt has me pontificating on aspirations.

December 13 – Action When it comes to aspirations, it’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen. What’s your next step? (Author: Scott Belsky)

I have lots of ideas both family & art related.  I think for my family we just need to change our family time from the quantitiy to the quality.  We currently have some cabin fever and everyone seems to be on everyone's nerves.  I hope that after the holiday break (providing we don't go completely nuts on each other) that we take time to better appreciate each other.  I have ideas on how to do this (though more are always welcome!) but I wont elaborate because I need to work them out and plan on springing them on my family ;)


As for art and aspirations, my only plan is to plan.  I don't plan time for me well, nor do I stick to it well.  I decide on any given evening to go into my art room and 'play' then Zach & Keagan follow.  While I love my time in here with them it is counter productive to my well being.  They get into a lot of things which I don't stop them because I like giving them the freedom to create just like I want.  They aren't being bad, they are just trying to make art like I do.  How can I stop that?   The other issue is that Zach talks.  And I love my son to pieces, but trying to do something creative with non-stop talking in the background halts the creative processes faster than finding out your out of atg refills.


So my next step is to fill my 2011 calendar with play dates, or my family, for me, for my kids.  Play is the goal.

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A body in motion, will stay in motion

Unless it's mine.  Then it will be in motion until it finds a comfy spot..

Today's prompt is about the body:

December 12 – Body Integration This year, when did you feel the most integrated with your body? Did you have a moment where there wasn’t mind and body, but simply a cohesive YOU, alive and present? (Author: Patrick Reynolds)

I honestly find that I'm often a cohesive me, but it's not always a positive thing.  When I'm down, I feel down as a whole, bad inside & out.  When I feel good I feel good and am accepting of myself, again inside & out.  I'm kind of an all or nothing gal.

I will say that any discussion of body reminds me I need to get back to the gym.  It isn't about losing weight, though it's an added incentive, it's about how I feel when I work out more.  I do like a good sweat.  I feel cleansed.  I love the immediate affect of losing 'weight', yes I am educated and know it's water weight but as a woman I retain water, sometimes in my opinion the term "mass amounts" would fit here.  So when I get a good sweat going, I feel good.  I don't smell good, heck, I'm not sure I smell human.

I miss, and look forward to working out again.  Going to the gym, and spending an hour on the treadmill, then weights, then biking.  I always try to 'bring it'.  I don't allow myself to think about things.  I can't write lists or send emails while I'm running on a treadmill or trying to keep track of how many reps I've done.  It is a rare time when I purposely only allow my brain to be a unitasker.  

It isn't really just about the workout, but the after.  There is a moment after working out when I feel completely and utterly... detoxified.  Yes, I'm aware medical professionals, sweat only contains trace amounts of toxins, but we aren't just talking about bodies today are we?

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