Posted on 03/03/2011 by alli woods frederick

I am so relieved that it’s a new moon this week.  Waxing moons mean creation; a building up of energy that reaches its zenith on the full moon.  I’m banking on this new moon to bring new opportunities and lots of great ideas.  This new moon I’ll take my cue from Nancy Sinatra…I might as well since her music has been stuck in my head all week.

Strawberries, cherries and an angel’s kiss in spring.  -Nancy Sinatra “Summer Wine.”

Things I Love Thursday:

the spring has sprung  edition

Glory of Spring by Jill

Reiki.  I’m conducting a session tonight and am so excited!  I love doing reiki!  *  My husband’s obsession with scooters.  It can be a bit much at times (I’m not kidding when I say “obsession.”) but the way his face lights up when he talks about them is really cute.  *  This article from DarrenBarefoot.com(note Maxim’s use of the word “girls” instead of “women.”  Very creepy given the overtly sexualized images of females it publishes.)  *  Chartporn.org.  Oh hell yes!  *  The fact that tomorrow’s Friday.  Enough said.  *  Getting my favorite pair of wedges fixed!  Woohoo!  *  The very long and involved conversation my kitty, Mischa, had with me yesterday afternoon.  It would seem he had quite a lot on his mind.  He fancies himself a philosopher and can be prone to bouts of  loquaciousness. *  The fact that my honey just asked if he could post a TILT of his own.  So be on the lookout for a guest post from my hubby!  I never thought I’d see the day!  *  Those moments where one realizes that life is fleeting and that each moment of each day should be lusted after and savored.  *  “I’d prefer not to.”  Preach on, Crispin.  Preach on.  Spread the gospel of Melville.  *  Missfits Magazine…I’m swooning over its awesomeness!  Read it and be proud of being a woman.  *

So what’s making your heart melt this fine Thursday?  Share, share, share away, my dears!

Kisses & Chaos,

Alli Woods Frederick

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Posted on 02/28/2011 by alli woods frederick

We all have those sleepless nights from time to time; those night where you just lay in bed, eyes closed, getting more and more frustrated that sleep won’t come as the minutes tick slowly by. We all have them and I believe we can all agree that they suck more than the suckiest suck in all of suck-town. In an attempt to assuage your frustration with the elusive Queen Mab, I have compiled a list for you, my dears!  Some will help you sleep and some will encourage productivity…but don’t worry…there’s something for everyone!

50 Things to do when Insomnia Strikes

"photocollage of woman in bed with hands holding pocket watches"

insomnia by Jenny Teraksaki

  1. Write someone a letter…NOT an email but an honest to goodness stick-a-stamp-on-it letter.
  2. Take a nice hot bath.
  3. Do some alternate nostril breathing.  It is wonderful at calming the central nervous system.  You’ll look silly, but who’s watching you at 3 in the morning?
  4. Bake cupcakes…but make sure you share with me!
  5. Read that book that’s been languishing on your bedside table for the past 6 months.
  6. Surf tumblr or pinterest for images of cute, fuzzy animals…if you can’t sleep you might as well be happy, right?
  7. Watch the original Star Wars trilogy for the billionth time…or take it a step further and
  8. Put on your own Star Wars finger puppet show.  This is a good one for chronic insomniacs.  If anyone actually tries this, PLEASE post the results of your efforts.  I would LOVE to see them!
  9. Clean your purse out…girl, you know it’s nasty in there.
  10. Meditate.
  11. Stargaze!

    "illustration of redheaded girl gazing at the stars which spell out you & me"

    we were written in the stars by christina tsevis

  12. Learn origami and start a thousand cranes project.
  13. Do some yoga.
  14. Mani-pedi anyone?  Yes please!
  15. Take some melatonin. (Make sure you consult with your Doc or pharmacist before taking any supplements.)
  16. Take a cold shower.  Yes, a COLD shower.  Cold showers can actually make you sleepy.  Just shower then tuck yourself under the covers and let mother nature do her thing.
  17. Write yourself a love letter.
  18. Clean out your closet.  Try this hanger trick…it’s a brilliant way of tracking what you wear.
  19. Create a vision board and help make your dreams a reality.
  20. Try to figure out the last episode of Rosanne…So if Becky really married David and Darlene really married Mark then which one of them dropped out of school and eloped?  Becky or Darlene?  This questions has plagued me for years.  If you figure it out, please let me know.
  21. Join ancestry.com and discover your roots.  I found out my husband’s family and mine have been bumping into each other (and not always in the friendliest of fasions)since the 1500’s both in Europe and here in the states.  Crazy!  Proof to me that it’s kismet.
  22. Plan your dream vacation.
  23. Learn about multiverse theory…there are some interesting ones out there.  Bubbles? Yes, bubbles.
  24. Go on a midnight cheesecake run.  Not into cheesecake?  Then how about a scone?
  25. Self-publish a book of all that angst-ridden poetry you wrote in junior high and high school.  It will give your kids something to laugh about when they stumble across it in 15 years.
  26. Sew all those missing buttons back on to your clothes.  It’s not fun, but it needs to be done.

    "row of jars filled with brightly colored buttons"

    Button Jars by Sofia Katariina

  27. Give yourself a facial.  Your skin will thank you for it.
  28. Watch all of Conan’s “In the year 2000” skits.  Prepare to have your sides split.
  29. Prove there was indeed a shooter on the grassy knoll.
  30. Replace the batteries in your smoke alarm.  If you can’t remember when you last replaced them, then you are overdue.
  31. Dust.  Possibly the most fun (if that’s what you want to call it) and most neglected of all household chores.
  32. Work on your Zombie Survival Kit.  It’s better to have one and not need it than need it and not have it.  Emergency plans save lives.
  33. Teach yourself a new language…or even better, make up your own!
  34. Go on a midnight picnic with your honey.  Nothing beats champagne, cheese and chocolate…yum!
  35. Get in touch with your inner child by playing beauty shop.  Try out a new hairstyle or experiment with your makeup.
  36. Give your computer a little TLC and clean up your hard drive.  Organize all those videos and photos.
  37. And while we’re on the subject of photos:  Get them printed!  All those photos bring you no joy if they’re trapped in your computer.  Print and enjoy them!
  38. Clean out your fridge.  Unless you are trying to grow your own penicillin then there’s no reason for moldy food.
  39. And now that your fridge is clean, get inspired for your next trip to the grocery store by finding new recipes.
  40. Roll your change.  I’m always baffled by people who pay those silly machines to do it for them.  Save your money and roll those coins!
  41. Catch up on your blog reading.  I know my google reader is overflowing with unread posts.
  42. Learn how to darn your socks.  It’s another way to stretch your dollar.
  43. Here’s my husband’ suggestion:  “Go to sleep.”  Hilarious, isn’t he? *insert rim shot here.*
  44. Call your night owl friends and have an impromptu pajama dance party.
  45. Have a cup of chamomile tea.  It promotes relaxation.
  46. Write a MASSIVE gratitude list, or, if you’re tired of writing try illustrating your gratitude.  Feel free to share your results in the comments section.  I would LOVE to see them!
  47. Learn the lost art of shadow puppetry.
  48. Read JessicaMullen.com and get inspired.  She’ll rock your socks!
  49. Write an ode to…well…whatever strikes your fancy.
  50. Snuggle.  Snuggle with your honey, a pet, a teddy bear, or  a pillow.  It’s my go to for everything…and if you aren’t going to sleep then you might as well get some snuggle time in.  Feel the love, smile and enjoy.

What are your trips for drifting off to dreamland?  Do you have any ideas for ways to be productive when you can’t sleep?

Kisses & Chaos,

Alli Woods Frederick

Posted in LIFE | Tagged | 3 Comments

Posted on 02/25/2011 by alli woods frederick

So we are learning to conquer our creativity killing demons.   Thus far we have slain the evil monsters of stress and the lack of inspiration.  So what, pray tell, is the third evil creature?  I’ll give you a hint:  It’s big, it’s mean and it sucks.

The Third Monster of the Creative Apocalypse:

Self-Doubt

"photograph of text that reads "stricken with selfdoubt""

Stricken with Self-doubt by Luc de Leeuw

Self-doubt. Wow.  What a big nasty monster it is, made up of cold pricklies and all wrapped up in negativity.  It can not only put the kibosh on our creative spark, but it can squelch our desire to even be creative.  I firmly believe that each and every artist is plagued by self-doubt at some point in their creative journey.  I’m inclined to believe that any artist that says they’ve never gone toe to toe with this big nasty is either fibbing, is in complete denial or is well on their way to encountering it.  It is a universal problem among creatives and it can be brutal.  It often leaves your head overflowing with “what-if’s.”

Where does it come from?

Self-doubt can arise when you stop creating for yourself and start creating for the mysterious and omnipresent “they.”  When you find yourself asking questions like: “What if they don’t like it?” or “What will they think?” then you have started down the dark, tangled path of self-doubt.

What can you do about it?

Return to your roots.  Try to remember why you love to create.  If you create for the sheer joy of the act, if you truly create from your heart then self-doubt will begin to melt away.  The exception to this is if you are extremely self-critical and find yourself striving for the ever elusive (and ultimately impossible) perfection, a topic we will address in the fourth and final installment of this series.

You must learn to let trust and faith be your constant companions in your creative journey.  Reconnect with your heart, love what you do and love why you do it.  Trust your higher-self.  Trust your creative vision.  Trust your ability.   At the risk of sounding preachy and more than a little like Yoda, you must give in to your intuition and let it guide you down your creative path.   If you’re having trouble hearing your higher-self try relaxation exercises or meditation.  They’re great ways to realign your creativity with your heart.  Now quit second guessing yourself.  You rock!  Let your brilliant and creative light shine!

Next Friday we’ll address our fourth and final monster:  perfection.

Kisses & Chaos,

Alli Woods Frederick

PS – Want to catch the rest of the series?  You can find them here:

The Culprits of Creative Slumps Part 1:  Stress

The Culprits of Creative Slumps Part 2:  Inspiration?

The Culprits of Creative Slumps Part 4:  Perfection

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Posted on 02/24/2011 by alli woods frederick

Wow.  This week has wiped me out!  I have been sleepy all week and all the caffeine and b vitamins in the world haven’t made a dent.  This weekend I fully plan on catching some serious zZz’s.  Once my head hits my pillow Friday night, I’ll be dead to the world, but in the meantime how about a little gratitude, hm?  Oh yes.  There is much to be thankful for this week, so let’s get the ball rolling!

Things I Love Thursday: the whirlwind edition

"photo of old house with tornado approaching in the distance"

Dorothy doesn't live here anymore by Jerry E Shelton

My husband.  This Sunday marks one year of us dedicating our love and support to each other.  It’s hard to believe we’ve been married for one year.  It honestly still blows my mind that we found each other.  He is my light in a storm and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t feel blessed to have him in my life. *  My migraine medicine.  I am a big advocate of alternative and preventative medicine but there are some instances (my migraines being one of them) where I am a firm believer in better living through chemistry. Hallelujah. *  Reaching out to make new connections and finding others who are willing to extend their hand. *  Going for it…because no one can live my dream for me. *  Opening the door when opportunity knocks. *  Trying new things, even if they’re scary and make you feel old…like, oh…I don’t know…chaperoning a lock-in full of teenagers for the first time (thus the need for sleep!). *  My family and their unwavering support. *  New ideas. *  Gumption, both in practice and the word itself.  It isn’t used nearly enough and it’s such a great word…so is chifferobe.  Let’s bring them back, shall we? *  Preparing for adventures…planning is half of the fun…the surprises that you get along the way are the other half. * All of you wonderful and glorious people.  Keep shining!

What are you thankful for today?  What is knocking your socks off?

Kisses & Chaos,

Alli Woods Frederick

Posted in INSPIRE, MY LIFE | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Posted on 02/18/2011 by alli woods frederick

Last week we tackled the stress monster, where it comes from, how it effects us and steps we can take to manage it.  Now that we’ve got that creativity killer under control we can turn our attention to our second big nasty…

The Second Monster Of The Creative Apocalypse:
Inspiration (or the lack thereof)

"photographic homage to The Fountain with cosmic woman surrounded by stars blowing a bubble into space"

Death is the Road to Awe by Allison Redner

Inspiration is a bit of a sticky wicket.  It seems like it should be so easy to come by; we are, after all, constantly being told that inspiration is everywhere.  Why does this muse play such a frustrating game of hide and seek?  It seems the harder you look the harder she is to find.  Is she trying drive you insane?  Break your creative spirit?  Kill you with a fatal case of ennui?  What can you do to break the cycle and find that spark once again?

Why, oh Why…

Why do we lose our inspiration?  In short, we become stagnant.  We become such creatures of habit that our routines can quickly take over our lives…and little deviation in our day to day life snuffs out our creative spark.  Our minds become bored, dull and rigid.  Such mental conditions are a far cry from fertile fields in which to grow brilliant and beautiful ideas.  But…

I have good news!

Out of all the creativity munching monsters in this series, a lack of inspiration is one of the absolute easiest problems to solve.  The simplest way to find yourself overflowing with inspiration is to shake up your routine.  Here are a few quick and easy ways to turn that lone ember into a raging bonfire:

  1. Take up a new hobby. A few years ago I became insanely bored with knitting.  I was bored with the patterns I had, the yarns I found…the whole nine yards.  How did I get over this hump?  I took up spinning.  I bought a drop spindle, some roving and signed up for a class.  It renewed my love for fiber arts.  Spinning also had the added benefit of putting me into a bit of a meditative state which helped my creativity get back on track.
  2. Read a book and take notes. Take notes?  Yes.  Take notes.  I keep a notebook full of excerpts that speak to me.  It might be a few words, a few sentences or a few paragraphs but without fail I will always find a few bits of inspiration in every book I read.  One of my favorites?  “…these wiry children of chance…” five words that grabbed my attention in Mervyn Peake’s trilogy “Gormenghast.”
  3. Discover new music. This one is HUGE for me.  I know when I’ve found music that resonates with me because it’s like I have a movie reel playing in my mind while I listen.  My brain floods with ideas.  Music is an inspirational MUST for me.
  4. Take a road trip. It doesn’t have to be some far flung exotic locale and you don’t have to be gone for days on end.  Sometimes a quick day trip is all you need to shake things up.  I know my honey prefers flights over road trips, but for me, the journey is a large part of the fun.   The joy of discovery and sense of adventure is what makes  road trips so inspiring. If he had his way and we flew everywhere then we would miss out on awesome road side attractions like this:"roadside attraction photograph of woman in dress restaurant as seen on the Travel Channel"And how do you not find a restaurant that is housed in a giant woman’s skirt inspiring?
  5. Learn about history. Another go-to inspirational source for me is history, be it an event, a particular era or a historic figure.  There are so many ways to learn, it borders on obscene.  You can watch a documentary, take a class or read a book.  There are so many fascinating people and events, the possibilities are almost endless.  This piece was inspired by a Madame de Pompadour jag that I went on a couple of years ago:"fine art collage of madame de pompadour by artist Alli Woods Frederick"

Seriously?  Is that all?

Yup.  That’s it.  Absolutely anything and everything you can do to open yourself up to new ideas and new experiences will provide you with inspiration that can help pull you out of a creative rut.  I told you it was easy!  And it’s a great excuse to go out and have some fun!  So whether you join a club or go on a hike, you really can find inspiration everywhere.  You just have to move out of your comfort zone and try a few new things to get the ball rolling.

Where do you turn for inspiration?  Feel free to leave your tips and tricks in the comments section below.

Kisses & Chaos,
Alli Woods Frederick

Next Friday we’ll tackle our third monster (and boy is it a doozy!): self-doubt.

PS- Interested in the rest of the series?  You can find them here:

The Culprits of Creative Slumps 1:  Stress

The Culprits of Creative Slumps 3:  Self-Doubt

The Culprits of Creative Slumps 4:  Perfection

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