Digi In Deep: Cre8ive Challenge Lesson 1

Creativity 101 {lesson 1} Discover Your Creative Genius

{lesson 1} can be found here at ABCcreativity .

"Any time we see what we want, rather than blindly accepting what it is - we are dreaming." (Andrea Schroeder)

Here are some of my dreams:
- I would like to create a strong group of women for friendships, creative souls I can relate to
- I would like to join the gym, cut back on caffeine and stop smoking
- I would like to find a new apartment by spring, a place I can make into a home
- I would like to pay off some bills and start saving more
- I would like to feel comfortable leaving the house

"When you are focused on connecting with your creative genius and let it express - miracles will occur." (Andrea Schroeder)

When I repeat the words "I am a creative genius" in my head I know that I can do anything. It's up to me to live the creative life I have imagined for myself. I am a creative being and I need to trust in that. I need to believe it. I need to act upon it. For it is up to me what dreams I accomplish. It is up to me to shine.

I trust my creativity.

I am learning to trust in my creativity. I just need to believe it, to feel it, to breath it into my very being. Writing this affirmation down makes me feel powerful. Makes me feel as if I can do anything. I can make anything happen. The more I trust, the stronger I will be. The more I trust, the more I will accomplish. My creativity can take me anywhere I want to go. If I trust in that creativity I will move in positive directions.

DYNAMO: Currents

listening: to the sound of the air purifier (it's really getting on my nerves this morning)
eating: nothing yet
drinking: hot black coffee
wearing: track pants, t-shirt and a sweater
feeling: motivated
weather: grey -12 degrees (feels like -17 with the windchill)
wanting: to feel rested I am so tired of only sleeping a few hours each night
needing: to keep my eyes on the future
thinking: about a photoshoot I want to do with my mom
enjoying: my morning routine of coffee while I blog, read blogs and update Facebook
wondering: about whether I am going to go to the movies with mom tonight

Wordless Wednesday : Congratulations Emily

One Word 2011 : Challenge

I am really feeling as if I have definitely chosen the right word for me and what's going on in my life in choosing the word challenge as my word for 2011. I have been in a rut so long just hiding out that I never realized how many ways there are that I can challenge myself everyday. I am feeling so purposeful, so motivated and so positive.

Health & Wellness: I really haven't been challenging myself in this aspect of my life yet. In all honesty when it comes to exercises and nutrition I can be quite lazy. I hate exercises of any kind and I eat what I want whenever I want. This is an area that for the month of February and onward that I really need to work on. I am joining a gym called Curves where you do a 30 minute circut three times per week. I am challenging myself to force myself to go no matter how I am feeling about it. It really is time I got rid of the extra 30 lbs I am carrying. I am so tired all the time and spend night after night with very little sleep. I am going to challenge myself in a few ways for this. Firstly I am a huge coffee drinker. I am going to start limiting myself with my caffeine intake. I really do not mind drinking decaf coffee and in the past few weeks I have started drinking it much more often especially in the evenings. This is something I am going to continue to do. My goal is to have my first few cups of regular coffee in the morning, and then decaf the remainder of the day. I am also going to give in to my aversion to the sleeping pills my doctor has prescribed for me. The medications I take each day cause insomnia and I have always been to scared to take the sleeping pills. I am always scared I won't wake up if one of the kids needs me. I am going to start taking them every now and then as I just can't go on any longer with such a small amount of sleep. I have a doctor's appointment this week and am going to talk to my doctor about quitting smoking. It is something I have been thinking about for a long time and it's high time I get motivated to do so.

Habits: I have many bad habits I fall back on when I am feeling anxiety or depression kicking in. I am challenging myself everyday to not fall back on these old habits. To do something new instead of what I have always done. This week this has been working out wonderfully for me and I am more motivated than ever to break these habits.

Hiding: This week I have not been able to challenge myself in leaving the house everyday as the girls and I have all been stuck inside sick. Next week I will be back to making myself leave the house at least once a day for something other than driving the kids to school. The more I get out, the more I will feel comfortable doing so.

Digital Scrapbooking and Challenges: I have been keeping up with some of the challenges I have committed to participating in this year. Project 365 is not going as well as planned. I will continue to challenge myself in taking pictures each day. I also challenge myself to finish my Digi In Deep V2 class, Joy of Love workshop and to continue to work on Creativity 101.

Thinking: I have been doing really well at challenging my thinking. To look for a better way to deal with what is going on around me. To remain more positive and motivated. The more I challenge myself this way the more it will feel more natural to focus on the positive.

Straight Out Of the Camera Saturday (SOOC)

My Favorite Things Saturday

One of my favorite things this week was the blizzard we had on Wednesday. Loved it! Loved watching all the gorgeous sparkly snow falling out the window. Especially loved having the kids home with me an extra day.

Thursday Thirteen : Favorite Foods

You can play along with this blog meme here:

1. Weinerschnitzel (especially from Maxamillians Restaurant)

2. trail mix, the kind with dried fruit
3. Stuffing


4. steak, medium rare

5. spaghetti

6. baked potato with TONS of sour cream

7. meatloaf

8. cucumbers with lots of salt and pepper

9. crab legs with melted butter

10. coffee (I know, I know, it's a beverage, but to me it is a food group all unto itself)

11. chicken, chickpeas, tomatoes & rice

12. broccoli, chicken & cheese casserole

13. apples with salt

Before & After Thursday

This is a weekly challenge where you take a photo and show the straight out of the camera version (SOOC) and the edited version. I always take the photo I used for Straight Out Of The Camera Saturday (SOOC) and then show the edited version on Thursday.

This photo was taken with my daughter's point and shoot camera, a Kodak Easyshare one. I edited the photo with Pioneer Woman's action Old West.

you are beautiful

love this video. i have been so much more aware of the beauty around me, of the beauty inside me this year so far. a lesson I have needed to learn for many years.

Creative Journaling: Exploring Your Roots to Discovering Your Authentic Self

This was an incredible exercise by Andrea Schroder found on the Roots of She Blog.

Here are the links to the 4 separate parts of the exercise:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Here is my tree. This tree represents me. It is beautiful, full of sparkle and dreams.

All trees need roots to grow. My roots are what keep me grounded. My roots are filled with love, insight, peace, comfort, trust and acceptance. They help me to feel whole and to feel complete. They make me who I am today.

When I dig deep and explore my roots I pleasantly find my life is full of gifts, dreams, wishes. I am filled with power, caring and passion. I am open and creative.

The gifts I have inside of me make me shine. They help me to excel at the things I love and they help me to believe that I can do anything!

This is the first creative journaling exercise I have ever completed. I love the feeling of creating from within. Not just making a page for the sake of making a page, but creating for myself. Creating my feelings, creating from what is deep within my heart and soul. I feel incredible finishing this creative journaling page. I feel powerful, I feel intense love.

{weekly intention}

Feel free to join me in this blog challenge found at ABCcreativity.

"Every Monday, I share my intention for the week and welcome you to do the same.
This is not about setting goals or creating to-do lists and working our tails off to achieve them. This is about taking some time to be quiet and still and ask “What do I need this week?” and setting an intention from there to align ourselves with that. It’s about paving the way for success, joy and dreams come true to find us throughout the week."

My intention for this week is to not give into bad habits, to stop and catch myself instead of just doing what I am used to. I wish to challenge my thinking and allow myself opportunities to grow by doing something different.

My Best Shot Monday

Mental Health Monday : Breaking Free From Borderline Personality Disorder

What Borderline Personality Disorder feels like...(TRIGGER)

It's not just me ...

One Word 2011

Challenge really played a key thought in my mind this week. It is something I am trying really hard to think about daily. To find situations each day that challenge me in some way. I really challenged myself in leaving the house this week, made it to 3 appointments, went to my parents for dinner, and went to my friends for coffee, and took the girls tobogganing. Once I was out of the house it ended up feeling really good to be in different surroundings. Felt good to no longer feel trapped inside. This is something I am going to continue to challenge myself in doing over the course of the next few weeks. I think it is really good for me to get out. I have been challenging my thinking, really taking the time to evaluate what's going on around me and how I am feeling. I have been challenging myself to not fall into old patterns, to not give in so easily. I really think that so far Challenge has been the perfect word for this year. It feels so good to extend myself, to make myself do things that may be uncomfortable, for I know in doing so I am growing and learning everyday.

My Favorite Things Saturday

One of my favorite things this week was going to my parents for supper with the girls. It was so fun watching the girls and my mom play Scrabble.

Straight Out Of The Camera Saturday (SOOC)

Thoughtful Friday

Friday Fill-Ins

And...here we go!

1. Up, up and away.

2. the world keeps going around.

3. Coats and scarves, mittens and boots: so necessary in our Canadian winters.

4. I'd love a nice back rub.

5. I'm thinking about scrapbooking.

6. Jack be nimble.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to just relaxing with the girls, tomorrow my plans include reading and scrapbooking and Sunday, I want to really enjoy the few hours I am going to be having alone!

Simply

Creative Therapy Catalyst #127

If you would like to play along with this challenge you can find all the details at the Creative Therapy Blog. Catalyst #127 is :



What's your word or focus for 2011.



Here's my layout using this catalyst:

Before & After Thursday

This is a weekly challenge where you take the photo you posted for Straight Out Of The Camera Saturday (SOOC) and you show the same image only edited on Thursday. So here's mine for this week.

Thursday Thirteen : Reasons I Love My Girls

Thought this week I'd share 13 Reason's I love my girls. They are my whole life.

1. they have the most amazing smiles
2. they have the best "from the belly" laughs
3. they have pure hearts
4. they are so well behaved (well for the majority anyways)
5. they love each other so much so nice to see how close they are
6. they still love hugs & kisses
7. they are always thinking of others
8. they love to learn
9. they still believe in magic
10. they have an immense amount of love inside them
11. they love family
12. they are beautiful
13. they love themselves and always allow people to see who they really are.

Sandra Collins Photography

Valentines is coming quick. Why not think about having a couples session done for Valentines. $35 includes session, editing and a disk of all images. Contact me for more details.

You can contact me:
1) here on my blog by leaving a comment
2) on my Sandra Collins Photography Facebook Page
3) by email : sandracollins76@hotmail.com

When I am not affraid to fail, I won't.

Currents

listening: to the silence before the kids get up for school
eating: nothing yet
drinking: cup after cup of coffee - what else?
wearing: track pants, t-shirt - the usual
feeling: somewhat rested for once
weather: still dark out -11 degrees
wanting: more positive results from challenging myself in 2011
needing: to stay focused and on track I can do this!
thinking: about my day ahead have to go to an eye apt.
enjoying: my morning routine of coffee while I blog, read blogs and update Facebook
wondering: if I can really do this this time

Wordless Wednesday

Color Combos Galore #176

You can play along here with Challenge #176 over on the Color Combos Galore Blog. Here's this week's color palette: Deep Blue Sea, Puffy White Clouds, Steel Grey Sky, Tradewinds Taupe.

Here's my take on these colors:

My Best Shot Monday

{weekly intention}

I've decided to follow along with this weekly challenge found at ABC Creativity. I like the idea of setting intentions, setting goals. This will help me develop and challenging myself throughout the week as I have chosen for One Word 2011. It will give me somewhere to document what it is I wish to accomplish and how I plan my focus for the week. If I write it down I am so much more likely to follow through.

"Every Monday, I share my intention for the week and welcome you to do the same.

This is not about setting goals or creating to-do lists and working our tails off to achieve them. This is about taking some time to be quiet and still and ask “What do I need this week?” and setting an intention from there to align ourselves with that. It’s about paving the way for success, joy and dreams come true to find us throughout the week."

My intention for this week is to do one thing out of the house each day this week not including taking the kids to and from school. I have been hiding in the house way to much lately, afraid to leave my comfort zone. If I challenge myself to go out everyday I really feel that I will become more comfortable with walking out that door. That's the hard part. Those first few steps of leaving the house and walking out the door. Once I am out I can usually make myself focus on what I am doing and each time I go out I feel that desire to run right back home starts to go away.

So there it is ... I will leave the house each day.

Fear Leaving House – Understanding a Fear of Leaving the House

I have been having a really hard time leaving the house lately. It is something I have been dealing with for years. I have my good days and my bad days both. Lately there have been a lot of bad days. Days where it's all I can do just to drive the girls to and from school. I've been challenging myself this past week to get out anyways. I've been doing some reading on anxiety and agoraphobia and came across this article. Thought I'd pass the info along, might help someone else.

Fear Leaving House – Understanding a Fear of Leaving the House: "If you have a fear of leaving your house, it is probable that you have an intense fear of being in certain situations in which escape is difficult or potentially embarrassing, or where help is not readily available. More specifically, the focus is on the fear of having a panic attack in such situations.
Agoraphobia
A fear of leaving the house is associated with agoraphobia, though not all people with this disorder have this concern. Agoraphobia can occur on its own, but is more commonly a complication of panic disorder.
You do not need to be home bound to be diagnosed with agoraphobia. Agoraphobia can cause a panic response in an array of situations, including traveling by car, train, plane or bus; being in an elevator, crowd, large store, or confined area; being on a bridge or standing in a line. The fear associated with agoraphobia is so intense that a person will usually go to great lengths to avoid the feared situations. At the most extreme cases, agoraphobia can develop into a fear of leaving one’s house altogether. One’s home becomes his or her “safe zone.”"

According to this excellent article found here there are 4 main ways to help you get over your fear of leaving the house.

1. Get professional help. The sooner the better.
2. Learn and practice relaxation techniques. Use them when you need to!!
3. Keep stress in check.
4. Learn and practice Systematic Desensitization. Imagine yourself in fearful situations and use relaxation techniques to decrease the anxiety. Eventually you will become able to use the technique in the current moment and allow those techniques you imagined work for real.

Beautiful Sunday

Project 365 : Weekly Photos

I found that this week there were simply just days I forgot to take pictures and days I forgot to take my camera out with me. I own a Canon D60 and it is quite big. I love it don't get me wrong but for Project 365 a small point and shoot would be so much better. I would always have it one me. Think I may ask one of the girls to borrow their camera this week. See if having a small camera with me at all times helps.

One Little Word | Challenge

As the week has been progressing challenge has been on my mind all the time. I have been challenging my thoughts in almost all I do. I have been learning and growing in my thinking, learning and growing inside of myself. Coming to some realizations as to what I need to be doing in my life right now. My biggest obstacle these past few weeks has been that my anxiety levels are at a major high and I have not been wanting to leave the house. This week I have had a few times where I have made myself go out and once I was out doing something my mind was occupied from the fact that I was out of the house. It ended up being a real good thing. I know that in order to grow I need to challenge myself all the time. I am starting to become more aware of the daily opportunities that present themselves to me. As this year unfolds I hope to challenge myself in many, many ways. The few weeks so far in January are really showing me how much I will have the opportunity to do so.

Straight Out Of The Camera Saturday (SOOC)

My Favorite Things Saturday

One of my favorite things this week was seeing Emily try out these little pigtails. They looked so darn cute on her!

Friday Fill-Ins

Friday Fill-Ins: "And...here we go!

1. So many of us look so forwards to the weekend.

2. I need to be greatful, even in hardship.

3. Those who are accepting of each other will find much delight in their lives.

4. Spring is waiting quietly.

5. Light is in both the tool of a photographer and the nourishment of my soul.

6. I can find beauty in all that is ordinary.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to having dinner with the girls at my parents, tomorrow my plans include playing with and having fun with the girls and Sunday, I want to have some quiet time to myself !"