Tuesday, November 30, 2010

My husband is a forgeiner.


I got married about 2 months ago. So far marital bliss has been just that, blissful! I blog about my adventure into married land and you can follow our adventures here.

I wrote a post about our interracial marriage.
Talking about some of my thoughts and in sites at this point in our life together.

I just wanted to put it out there to a wider audience. Are any of you in an interracial marriage? Or married to people from other country?
How have you blended your cultures and traditions?
What road blocks have you met?

I am grew up in Northern California. Went to University in Utah. Lived in Ethiopia where I met my husband. Due to a unforeseen circumstance we ended up getting married in the US, where we are now living and working on the immigration process. After we were married a Lawyer in the LDS congregation I attend pretty much Told Adam & I he would need to immigrate if we ever wanted to visit my family again. 

Adam is an Ethiopian National. Who living in a town about 40 miles south of the capital. He studied Law in an Ethiopian University. Worked for a US company. where he met me. 
So here we are.

Are there others of you out there in a similar circumstance?

I would love to know more.

♥ Single Girl
Now known as
the MRS.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

New blog to share!

Hey all! As you know, I've been tirelessly working on my new business venture for the last few months. Since I was having trouble seperating the "work" and the "personal" side when dealing with this blog, I decided to make a dedicated blog just for my business. Here it is:

http://littlebirdiebaby.blogspot.com/

Go check it out, become a follower and tell your friends! I'm pretty doggone proud of myself because I designed and created my new blog completely from scratch to match my store, my business cards, and all my other media. Feedback is always appreciated too!!

XOXO
Rach

Monday, November 8, 2010

AMASS IT & SHOW IT: COLLECTIONS

TOO MANY ITEMS IN YOUR COLLECTION TO FLAUNT THEM ALL AT ONCE; ROTATE PIECES TO KEEP YOUR LOOK INNOVATIVE


WHAT BETTER WAYS TO SHOW YOUR GROWING COLLECTION THAN TO HANG IT ON THE WALL.



GAME BOARDS DISPLAYED ON ONE WALL, THE ENTIRE COLLECTION FROM TOP TO BOTTOM

WHEN DISPLAYING A SHELL COLLECTION, DON’T OVERDUE BUT A VINTAGE TUREEN FILLED TO THE BRIM WITH INTERESTING SHELLS YOU’VE FOUND ON YOUR TRAVELS WILL EVOKE MEMORIES OF YOUR TRIP FOR MANY MONTHS AFTERWARDS. GLUE SHELLS ON A MIRROR,COVER WOOD BOXES LIKE THE WIVES OF SEA CAPTAINS DID LONG AGO,PROP STARFISH IN A WINDOW,PUT SOME IN A BATHROOM LEDGE OR WINDOW, MAKE CURTAIN TIE BACKS. THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS


CANDLE STICKS, TRAYS, CAKEPLATES & CHARGERS ARE GREAT TO DISPLAY AND ALSO USE IN VARIOUS ROOMS IN THE HOUSE. A CAKE PLATE TO HOLD SOAPS OR WASH CLOTHS IN THE BATH, WILL KICK IT UP A NOTCH.

HANG A QUILT OR COVERLET FOR INSTANT COLOR
OLD BOTTLES DISPLAYED ON SHELVES OR IN WINDOWS IF THEY’RE COLORED, THE LIGHT WILL SHINE THROUGH THEM & BRIGHTEN YOUR ROOM. I MAKE FRENCH BOTTLES OUT OF VINTAGE BOTTLES WITH A COPIED FRENCH POSTCARD, VINTAGE CHARMS & KEYS.






FROM MY UPCOMING BOOK "I'M DECORATING AS FAST AS I CAN ©"

Sunday, November 7, 2010

365 Lessons-Lesson 311: Manage Your Time, But Leave Some Room for Spontaneity

I'm a list maker, how about you? It doesn't mean I'm super organized. Quite the contrary. It means that I write it all down so I won't forget, which I have a tendency to do if something is not written down. The funny thing is, sometimes I lose my list, which I take as a sign that perhaps those things on it weren't so pressing anyway or that they'll get done in due time. I have to believe that anyway.

I also have a calendar on my wall in my office right next to where I write. As soon as I have anything scheduled, I try and write it down. I have to get things on the calendar or I end up just forgetting.

So, I have half a book due to my editor the first week of December. Several months ago I mapped out a plan to write 6-7 hours a day Thursday through Sunday. I thought that was a reasonable plan, but I didn't factor in that I need to eat, attend my yoga class, walk, meditate, shop, clean and all the other things that take up a day. I had this image that I'd just go to my writing room and pop out 6 or 7 hours later, eyes blurry from staring at a screen for so long.

What I've come to realize is that balance in all areas of my life is key. A few weeks ago I left a Facebook status update to my friends that said something like, "Talk to you all in March." Luckily my best friend from elementary school piped up and said, "Umm, I'm not following that rule!" Even though this was meant to be a joke, I also felt that I was also being honest in the fact that my time would be limited. March 2011 is when my entire book is due. I've always been a very focused person, but that was going a bit too far. I mean, I have to meet friends and enjoy myself from time to time too!

So, I make my list and if I get half of it done in a weekend, I'm happy. This is the balance part. I don't sit there and fret over what didn't get done. I believe I will get to it all eventually. That's been my experience anyway. If I feel like watching a movie with my husband, taking a walk on a sunny day, going to yoga class or talking to a friend, I do it. In fact, I try to take a walk everyday. Somehow walking clears my head and makes me appreciate more what I'm doing and what I have in my life. I see the beauty of nature, I get my dose of Vitamin D and I'm good to go.

I simply can't stay locked in my writing chambers all weekend on a beautiful sunny day. So I get out and walk. After I get a walk in, I'm o.k. to get down to business and tackle those things on my list. It seems to work, I've currently written 142 book pages out of 250. I think I'm right on schedule.

One thing that has helped me with time management is creating space in my schedule. I don't try to schedule too much. I leave plenty of gaps. I teach ESL at a local community college. I absolutely LOVE it and it helps me get out and socialize after I've been in my writing cave for too long. Teaching compliments writing. They are so opposite. One is very extroverted and the other is introverted. This is a nice balance for me. Also, I only teach three days a week. This gives me the rest of the time for pursuing my other passion: writing!

Leaving space for spontaneity and pursuing my passions have proven to be such great benefits in my life. By leaving lots of space empty in my schedule, I find that there is time for crossing things off my list of things to do and enjoying the unexpected "fun" things that might pop up during my weekend. This balance has made my life enjoyable.

Reprinted from my blog Lessons from the Monk I Married where I am writing 365 Lessons for 2010.