I am on a mission to become a better business. Well, maybe I need to actually BE a business before I worry about becoming a BETTER business! But, seriously, how does an artist skillfully navigate the business world AND nurture the creative spirit at the same time? I follow blogs and websites of artists I admire, Kelly Rae Roberts and Juliette Crane for example, and they have been able to build a wildly successful business while also staying connected to their artistic self. People do it, so there must be a way.

To help figure it out, I made a crazy impulsive decision a few weeks ago and purchased an e-book from Kelly Rae Roberts, "Flying Lessons: Tips + Tricks to Help Your Creative Business Soar". Even with the super special half-price sale the cost was way more than I ever pay for a book, but I considered it an investment in my soon-to-be wildly successful business and took the plunge. I'm not quite half-way through the e-book yet and I believe it is helping me visualize a way to build my business. I especially dog-eared the chapter that discusses blogging and creating your very own website. A website all to my very own? No, really? Should I or shouldn't I? That seems like a lot! And what vehicle would I use for my website? Should I register my domain name before someone else does? Am I ready for that step? I'm pretty sure the time is not right, that seems like way too much.

And...I'm afraid to read any further...baby steps, yes?

Please tell me there's a chapter that teaches me how to squeeze in laundry and grocery shopping (and the kids and husband!).

So many things going on at the house today! We are in the middle of Spring Break and have actually been enjoying staying home this year. Several families we know are enjoying fabulous destinations this week - Hawaii, the Grand Canyon, a cruise to the Virgin Islands - and we are living vicariously through their FB postings. Meanwhile, the kids and I have a pretty good list of things to do and places to go today.

A quick trip to the post office to mail my mother's (belated, sorry!) birthday gift, complete with artistic, handmade tag. Then we'll head downtown for a visit to my favorite art supply store, Artist and Craftsman  to pick up the gesso I forgot to get last week while at Hobby Lobby (Ok, and maybe a few other fun things might jump into my basket while I'm not looking!). Just around the corner from the art store is the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. A new exhibit, Young At Art,  just opened and it will be a great chance for us to see some art that we'll all enjoy.

A side trip to check in on the kitties we are cat-sitting, a stop at the library and a trip to the grocery store to pick up something yummy for the grill tonight rounds out our list.

Another exciting item on the to-do list for today is "help Aaron complete his college application"! He'll be staying at home for his first year, maybe two, going to the local technical college before transferring to a larger college to finish his degree. It's a great decision for all of us - allows him to do some more soul searching for his true passions while getting his general ed courses checked off, and it saves his mom and dad A TON of money!! 

Off to the shower...gotta get moving!!

Today has not been the best day. I'm trying to destress with a little art therapy and a little extra therapy that comes in a wine glass.

One of my two part-time jobs has gradually become a lot more stressful than I expected and I'm not sure where/how I'm going to continue to fit it in my life. 

On the surface, working for the local school district seemed like an ideal situation for a mother of school age children looking for some supplemental income. What I didn't understand is that, even though I have received no formal training, I would sometimes be responsible for students who have very deep emotional and/or mental health issues, students who maybe need more services than a school district should be required to provide. 

Fortunately, I have options and I will now have to be more choosy with the assignments I accept so that I can have the kind of day that still allows me to be the kind of mom and wife I want to be when I come home from work.

Tomorrow will be a new day. 

I started this blog two years ago with what I considered to be a proper amount of enthusiasm for such a big responsibility. I had no direction, no goal aside from "get thousands of followers who love my witty prose and the breathtaking photographs of my artistic endeavors and my beautiful-beyond-all-measure family and life".

I managed to eek out three posts. Seriously, how pathetic is that? 

Fast forward to reality. I'm still here, still trying my best to find the creative part of me that, on a good day, I can show to the world without feeling terribly embarrassed. Looking back over the two last post-less years, I realize I actually did have plenty to write about, plenty to show the world - it just wasn't always "pretty". And I didn't think anyone would find it interesting if it wasn't pretty.

To add insult to injury, on those "good days" when it really was pretty, I almost never wanted to slow down long enough to take a picture or write a couple hundred words about it. I was too afraid I'd ruin my mojo or jinx the creative karma that had bestowed itself upon me for that moment. And so, I just didn't post.

Take 2. I will post. At least once a week, maybe more once I find my groove. I will post pictures of things that are pretty and things that are not. And things that haven't decided yet if they are pretty or not. In an attempt to keep things interesting, I will tell you about my life, not just my art, and I will try very hard to not let my fears be my editor. This blog will become as much a part of my life as laundry, shopping, playing and creating are. 

Stop in and visit when you can. Leave me a comment if you'd like. Ask me a question. Tell me about yourself - I'd love to meet you!