A BIT OF HOUSE CLEANING - A Bit Long But Necessary

 Fall is the perfect time for a bit of serious housecleaning. Some deep clean in the Spring. Me, I'm all about hitting the Reset and cleaning things out as Autumn begins to appear.

Today, I'm talking about my blogs, in particular.

I started off really well back in July, then things got dumped back into the studio before I was ready and blogging was no longer a priority. I simply sat on the deck with Bob every day, worked on my journals a bit and did stuff with him. 

During one of our coffee mornings I explained that while I had been off-kilter the past six months, I needed to change some things if I'm to meet my goals.

I've sat for over six months,  not doing much of anything. Not even completing most of the journals I have started through Julie's challenges. Why?

Well, the reason finally came to me last weekend. I haven't been using my blog/ editorial boards or my planners since the end of February... when I started the reorganization of the studio/ office. 

I am a VERY visual person. Even during my days of selling Christmas Around the World, House of Lloyd and Undercover Wear whenever there was a promotion, I would buy a sheet of poster board and create a chart to track my progress towards a goal.

Saturday, I pulled out mynotepad and decided there were changes to be made.

1- Work only with blogs that bring me joy.

I had six blogs. I made the definitive decision to close the Living Through Weightloss. 

I am keeping this blog. This is where I come to ground and explore my faith. 

2 - Still In Debate

I started the Ozarks Journal blog back when I first met the Polish Sinfonia and needed a place to post pictures from the grade school students so that the orchestra members could all go look at them. I still like the blog idea but I'm making a couple of changes.

I want to keep talking about prepping, my garden and household. I was talking 'household' on the weightloss blo, after all a clean house does make for a better self-journey but something in me decided I could keep the household with the Ozarks Journal. I mean, I LIVE in the Ozarks. LOL So OJ will be more about my corner of the Ozarks and our home here.

3- Staying on Task

This required evaluating what I really want to do.

I want to write

I want the Etsy shop or some other sales form to destash my stuff and let it bring joy to others.

For that reason, I am putting a more solid YouTube stream in place, getting my shop open and Keeping THIS blog but with a few changes. I'll be talking about those on Friday.

4 - More time to craft and to write.

I still have book series I want/ need to write. I'm starting back to a regular writing schedule next week. Hopefully, by the time Bob comes home I will have a routine where even if I only take thirty minutes, the words will flow.

Overall Goals

To create beautiful things while destashing our home

To stay more on Task

To focus on Faith

To write more books

To have a financial plan in place that has the house paid off in two years.

I'm not saying these goals will be easy, but with visuals in place  I have a much better shot

I'm spending the rest of this week getting posts written/ scheduled, batch-recording videos and putting the office back together from company last week.

I will see you back here on Friday (September 11) to talk about the new schedule.

 until then...

A NEW YEAR DAWNS

Blessed 2020, everyone!

I'm a tad behind in this greeting, but with good cause.

Since October I've been on a serious deep clean of my studio and office... mostly the studio for now.

In September I made the decision to no longer actively sell Stampin' Up! products. I'm still a hobby dem for the time being. Hobby Dem means I make sure to meet my quarterly minimum in sales to keep my discount and get all the perks - like early order on products before they're released to our customers.

The downside was that I focused on 'pushing' product to my customers and just wasn't having any fun! I got into SU not for the discount or to sell, but to make sure I had catalogs when they came out. Prior to my becoming a 'dem' I didn't know about sales throughout the year. My reps never told me anything about spring sales, Christmas catalog or specials throughout the year! Once I became a dem I realized how much I'd been missing. (okay, that might be a stretch for some but for a passionate paper crafter like me, that's HUGE!)

While I was 'selling', I kept all the 'current' product separate from the general populace of my craft supplies and so much was not being used! I decided that needed to change. So I reverted to Hobby Dem. That meant clearing my work table of the current product and integrating everything together so I could PLAY!

I'm almost finished.Jut a couple things on my work table today and stamp sets to catalog and I will have gained control of my studio once again. FREEING!

My focus has changed to selling something I'm passionate about. Junk Journals and junk journal supplies. My Etsy shop is set to open in time for Imbolc and I'm so excited. I won't have any witchy items in there until probably Beltane but I do want to offer junk journals for everyone. That said, if you have a sweetheart, you'll find Valentine Love Note journals in the shop in February.

I've also strayed from not following up on blog posts. I post Part 1 then Part 2 never materializes. That, too, is going to change. 2020 is all about Craft/ Crafting/ Follow Through. My One Word is TIME.. and I'm making TIME to do the things that are important to me.

How is your 2020 shaping up? What are some of your goals? Please share. Put the intentions out there for them to grow!

Blessings
~Rain

WOLF MOON! - Gorgeous

What a way to ring in a new year! I'd been watching the moon since New Years Eve. The light radiated across the frozen earth of southcentral MO and in spite of the bitter 2* F last night I was compelled to step out onto the deck not once but three times to enjoy the glory of the Goddess. I feel she has blessed us with promise.

2018 is an even year, meaning if you believe in your great great great (and beyond)mother's predictions, this will be a very productive year. Plants should provide an abundance and anything we put our back into should reap more than we need. Plan to share your bounty and knowledge this year.

What are you hoping for in 2018? My word for the year is ACHIEVEMENT. I want to achieve so  much more than I did in the past couple of years. For the first time in a very long time I feel as if I'm finding balance. I'm hoping to complete some long-in-process projects as well as begin ones that have been on my mind for a long time.

Later this week I'll be sharing my plan to get my spiritual practice back on track.
One of the things I want to add to the blog this year is actual Book Reviews so if you have one coming out, please add me to your Reviewer's List. Know an author who's book you'd like me to review or have as a guest on the blog, please let me know using the contact form on the sidebar.

I look forward to being more organized, more on task, more productive and ACHIEVING many of my goals... As I ask, so mote it be.

Blessings
~Rain

What Do I Write About?

What do I write in my journal?

So what do we write about? As you can see, dreams and the messages they carry are great. Some things you might include:

1) Listing areas you want to target in your Spiritual Growth.

2) Journal a Tarot or Rune reading

3) How did I honor Mother Earth today?

4) Bits and pieces of new spells or rituals as they come to you.

5) Books you’ve read – both recreational and on the Path.

6) What did I learn about myself today?

And you can expand on any of these such as exploring the individual areas you want to target, or list ways you can honor Mother Earth.

Maybe you have Goals you want to accomplish on your journey. List them. Then as you take the steps towards those Goals, you’ll have additional things to write about.

GOALS are the important key to any successful trip. Determine what you expect from your Spiritual Journey. Your Goals might include:

1) Regular Altar Time

2) Participating in or attending a Circle Sanctuary gathering

3) Contributing to a Pagan publication or writing your own book.

4) Creating/ updating your BOS

5) Showing respect for the God and Goddess through Service to Others

6) Planting a Healing Garden

7) Writing your first spell or ritual

8) Start a blog about your journey – We’ll link up!

Remember –

Your GOALS are NOT set in stone. They will change as you grow.

Blessings on your journey

Rain