As I turn the pages that lead to a new chapter

Today I donated my complete collection of graphic design books, cook books and lots of graphic design and crafting magazines to my local public library. It's definitely a bittersweet experience. It feels good to donate and pass things on to someone who will appreciate and use them. Perhaps it wouldn't have such an impact on me if I wasn't getting rid of most of my belongings in such a short period of time. I'm okay with it, but it is a process. Not just a physical process, but an emotional process as well. I went through each and every single one of my HOW (graphic design) magazines before placing them in the donation box. I sighed. Some I was tempted to keep, but after contemplating the idea for a second or two, I came to my senses. When would I actually read them again? I remember how excited I would get when my subscription arrived in the mail, or each time I picked up a crafting magazine from the shelves at the store. I remember thinking "I need this!" Perhaps I did. I bought many of them before the Pinterest and blogging era, before inspiration was so abounding on the internet. I thought about all the money I invested in them, and what I could have done with that money instead. Regret? No, I didn't feel regret. They served their purpose. I did however feel, wiser. Wiser about how I choose to spend my money at this point in my life. Wiser about how I will choose to use my space from this point forward. I felt good about myself, for being able to let go, for having taken such great care of my books and magazines, to the point where they still look brand new. It put a smile on my face to think that someone else, perhaps a design student, or a paper crafting enthusiast like myself, would find these little treasures and be struck by inspiration from the images, articles and recipes found within their pages. Inspiration that will lead them to create, to enjoy the creation process, to further discover their capabilities, inspiration that will uncover dreams, and the motivation to make those dreams come true. In fact, that's exactly what these books did for me. That's how Paisley In Paris® was born.

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Robot theme Save the Date card

All while juggling a full-time job, getting ready to move, cleaning, condensing, decluttering, training for a half-marathon and raising a 7 year-old, I made a little time to add a new item to my stationery shop. I had a custom request for Robot Wedding Invitations, which will now of course, turn into an entire wedding ensemble - I love it! All they needed were the invitations, but little by little I will continue to add other elements until the entire robot wedding stationery suite is completed. So far, in addition the invites, I've added the Save the Date cards shown below.

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Update on my 6 week decluttering challenge

Instead of enjoying a relaxing evening last Friday night, unwinding from the hectic week, I dove into sorting out many of our belongings at home in preparation for a yard sale the next day. I was looking forward to it all week, actually! Most major items sold within the first hour. Lots of new-ish kitchen items and a few pieces of furniture. The rest was basically an abundance of nothing, if that makes sense. Mostly purchases I've made over the the past decade, without really thinking. You know, when you go to the store and buy something just because the price is right, it caught your attention, you know you don't "need" it, but it won't break your bank. Amazing how much you can acquire even when you don't consider yourself a shopper. I don't go to the store for fun. I see no fun in it, actually. I only go to the store when I need to, but it never fails. I get distracted by all the pretty things, and sooner or later I grab a thing or two that I don't quite need, but it's too cool of an item and very reasonably priced to leave behind. Well, this is exactly the type of habit I'm trying to change. Not because it's a financial burden, but because of the physical burden we know all know as clutter. Every new item you bring into your home competes for space with the things we actually do need. We then have to find a place to store new items, and make sure they stay there when not in use, or else the house begins to look messy. I am so done with that! Well, mentally anyway, because physically, I still have a long way to go. Aside from my latest 6-week decluttering challenge, I am also committing to keeping the clutter out once and for all by removing an item from my home for every other item that enters from this point on. This should help keep the clutter under control as well.
So how did the yard sale go? Well, in an effort to sell as much as we could, we priced everything fairly low, and our yard started looking empty rather quickly. I spent Saturday evening gathering more stuff to continue the sale on Sunday, but with the time change, we lost an hour and both my husband and I were too tired to get up in the morning and setup again. Instead, I made two trips to Goodwill, and you know what? Donating my stuff felt much more "liberating" than selling them. Granted, the extra cash we earned will help with my husband's upcoming auto repairs. I am thankful for that. But being able to create more space within a couple of hours by simply boxing everything we didn't use and driving it to Goodwill, gave me a sense of relief that the yard sale didn't. For one, the yard sale was far more work. I invested much more time and energy, but I did enjoy it. However, by donating twice as much as we sold, I know I am still recycling (which is important to me), I know the proceeds will benefit a good cause, and I regained territory in my own home in less time, with less effort. I'm so happy to see the progress, but I'm not quite done yet...the process continues.

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The Minimalist Path

I think I've always been a minimalist, I just didn't know it. Trust me, anyone who comes into my house wouldn't know it either. There's stuff everywhere and I hate that it's like this! Over the last year, removing clutter from my home has been an ongoing task. I have donated quite a bit to Goodwill and have sent bags full of clothing, shoes and household items to relatives in Mexico for them to keep or sell, or donate. Even so, there's so much more I want to get rid of.
I know that it took years for us to acquire all of our belongings and that things can't just disappear overnight. I mean, they could if I were to just toss everything out, but I want to make a proper assessment about each item. I am looking at every item individually and determining whether it would make a good gift for someone I know, if it should be thrown out, sold at a yard sale or donated to Goodwill.
In all honesty, I know that most of the things I own, I can do without. For this I am thankful. I have shelter, food on the table, clothes and shoes, as does my family. Everything else is a bonus.
So, we're having a yard sale this coming weekend and I'm going to try to sell as much as I can. Actually, I wish I could just invite people into my home and say "give me an offer or anything you want!" But my husband won't let me do that. If it were up to me, I'd get rid of the large TV in the living room (I'd keep the smaller one in the bed room), I'd get rid of the the coffee table, most of our movies, CDs, toys, extra wine glasses, and so much more.
You know, at one point, I started looking for a bigger place thinking we had outgrown our current space. Then I realized, the larger the place, the larger the expense, the more money and time to maintain and clean, and who wants to clean when we could be having fun? Not me!
If my circumstances were ideal, I'd say that by the end of this summer (in about six months) my home would be just the way I want it. But, I'm actually moving into a smaller place next month, so the time to declutter is now, and the time frame is one month. Am I overwhelmed? You bet I am! I spent 6 hours this weekend working on my office alone, and it feels as if I only made a small dent. I've sat here just staring at everything wondering how am I going to get it all done. I'm doing a pretty good job sorting everything, not wanting to keep much, but it is also interesting to evaluate my connection with certain things. As I go through every item, I notice how they each make me feel. Some good, some sad, some make me smile, others I can easily part with. For example, I have a stuffed animal my husband gave me a year ago on Valentine's. I hate stuffed animals and have been wanting to get rid of it since he gave it to me. But I kept it because it came from him. Hope his feelings aren't hurt when he see's it out with the rest of our stuff at the yard sale this weekend!
One thing I know for sure. After this move, I do NOT want to accumulate anymore things than what I actually use. Aside from my family, I only want to share my home with things I use on a regular basis, like my toothbrush and pillow.
I feel so strongly about it, for many reasons that I'll need to break up into different blog posts. I think there's a minimalist in me struggling to come out, and that makes me smile. Oh, the peace I feel when I visualize a clean room with much space to be filled with laughter, love and memories. Not things.
From what I've read, I don't expect to narrow down my possessions to 100, or 60, or 33 items as some people have. I do however, love open space. I am not seeking deprivation nor am I hoarder aiming to go from one extreme to another. I think that perhaps, in the last year, God has shed some light over my own priorities. I love my family so much I want spend as much time with them making memories. And believe it or not, owning things takes up so much of your time. You begin by shopping for things, then you spend more time and money maintaining and cleaning your possessions, so much that sometimes you have to cut down time or hold yourself back on spending when it comes to entertainment or fun activities with your family because your possessions took up your extra time and money. Personally, I'd rather be at the park playing Frisbee with my daughter than dusting shelves full of DVD's I don't watch. Wouldn't you?

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My coworker's vanishing undies

It was Thursday morning, around 10 a.m. or so, I was in my office working away, when I heard a loud commotion in the hallway. I thought "Sheez, someone's having too much fun." I laughed at the sounds my coworkers made, not knowing what the fuss was all about. After all, laughter is contagious, you know. I continued with my work and about 15 minutes later I walk by the receptionist's desk, she waves me down and asks "Did you hear what happened?" I was intrigued, so I put my ear closer to her as I replied "No, what happened?" She could barely contain her laughter as she began to tell me the story. When I heard, I burst out laughing as well, headed back to my office and immediately shared with my boss what I had just heard.
A few hours later, one of our vendors that the older employees have developed a close friendship with shows up. (This is where I begin to refer to my coworkers by another name to protect their identity) He sits in the office across the hall to visit with his friend (my coworker) and my boss yells out "Hey Frank, why don't you ask Ms. Fancypants what she did today?"
So Frank looks at her and asks, "What did you do?"
She gracefully replies: "I was in my closet changing this morning. I had a pair of underwear, but decided on wearing another pair. I was fully dressed when I realized I was missing that first pair of underwear. I looked around, I looked on the floor, under the bench, and nothing. So I proceeded about my day. I walked the dog, I came back, had breakfast, and came to work. A few hours later, I went to the kitchen and I happen to look in the trash, and there they were! My missing underwear from this morning were in the kitchen trash - at work! I pull them out and I say out loud 'these are my underwear!' No one can believe I admitted to it."
By this time, we had all gathered around her office door to hear her tell the story. We all burst out laughing again.
Apparently, one of the gentlemen we work with found something on the floor. He picked it up and realized it was women's underwear, and he reacted by putting them on the receptionist's desk. The receptionist looks at the underwear and is both puzzled and grossed out by it. She scoops it off her desk and throws it in the trash bin in our kitchen/copy room. A while later Ms. Fancypants walks in the kitchen, looks in the trash and finds the underwear she was missing hours earlier. Ha! Mystery solved!
We're in the middle of winter, so I'm sure that as she changed this morning, somehow the extra pair of undies became trapped in between her layers of clothing, which is why she didn't feel anything. I however, like to think that static kept her "chonies" attached to the back of her sweater and I picture her walking around all morning displaying it on her back. It just makes for a funnier picture in my mind.
Ha, ha, ha! I love Ms. Fancypants! I want to be just like her when I grow up. She was such a good sport about the whole thing. We teased her all day, and when 5:30pm came around, the 65 year old proudly says "Good night everyone. I'm glad I was able to give you all a good laugh!"
This my friends, is why I love working around people. You don't get to share these kind of moments with your peers when you work from home.

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How I lost 20 pounds: Tips to keeping the weight off

It was February of 2011 when I decided I was done being overweight. My "normal" weight throughout my 20's was usually 135 lbs, I sometimes reached 140 lbs during the holiday season, but I always managed to lose the winter weight at the beginning of the new year. Well, after the birth of my daughter and a knee injury that limited my mobility for a few years, I gained about 15 lbs in my early 30's. Little by little, with physical therapy and exercise, I lost the limp and regained full mobility on that knee, but I didn't lose the extra weight. I was working from home at the time and the stress of meeting deadlines, caring for a toddler, and promoting my business led me to work 14 hour days, with very little time to care for myself, and many many sleepless nights. This continued for nearly five years, and during this time, I gained an additional 15 lbs. I didn't recognize myself in the mirror anymore and it bothered me to think that I weighed as much as I did when I was 9 months pregnant. I was in my mid 30's and 30 lbs above my normal weight, when I closed the doors to my design studio and accepted a full-time design position at a local establishment. I needed clothes for my new office environment, which made me a little depressed. I didn't want to buy big-girl clothes, but I did. Just a few items to get me through the first few months. Within a couple of weeks after starting my new job, I began to have more balance in my life. My daughter was now in school full time and I had a steady paycheck that required no overtime. I had more time to prepare healthy meals which led me to lose 5 lbs. I was happy about the slight weight loss, but the transformation didn't happen until the day, one year ago, that I decided to put my health at the top of my priorities and give myself the "me" time I had previously deprived myself of. I started by joining a gym.

This, my friends, was only the beginning. I made a few other changes in my daily routine that led me to lose a total of 20 pounds and keep it off. To my surprise, my journey to being "me" again, has been rather easy and fun!

Here are some of the changes I made:

• I joined a gym AND I work out 2-3 times a week. A gym membership alone isn't going to do the trick. You have to put in the time and effort.
  
• My workouts consist of strength training and cardio.
• I often go for a 30 minute walk during my lunch hour.
• I cut down on the amount of processed foods I consume and eat more natural foods. Processed foods are anything that comes out of a box, pre-made, and has a shelf life.
• I started eating breakfast - every morning, no exceptions!
• I started eating a different kind of breakfast as well.
  I drink protein shakes once or twice a week. I like to throw in a bit of oatmeal, nuts and/or fruit to make them more filling and to enhance the flavor. Sometimes, I grab one of my homemade protein bars and eat it along with a piece of fruit. I used to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but not anymore. Instead, I eat peanut butter and fresh fruit sandwiches. I substitute the jelly with bananas, strawberries or pears. Lately, I started skipping the bread all together. I slice up half a banana or a few strawberries and eat them with a spoon-full of peanut butter. Skipping the bread at breakfast, allows me to enjoy a nice piece of bread or a couple of tortillas during lunch or dinner - guilt free! I work close to a Pat & Oscar's restaurant, and I like to go every couple of weeks with my coworkers for a salad and freshly-made, garlicky, buttery, breadsticks. Hey, I might be 20 lbs lighter now, but I'm still human!

• The more I exercise, the hungrier I get, so I listen to my body and eat when I am hungry. This has resulted in 5 mini-meals a day. I just pay attention to what my body is asking for and make the right choice. There are times when I clearly am craving protein, sometimes leafy greens, and other times fruits.
  
• I keep food in the fridge at work, such as: hardboiled eggs, string cheese, deli meats, peanut butter, wheat crackers, veggies and fresh fruit. This ensures I always have healthy food available at the office for breakfast and snacks throughout the day. I’m telling you, the more I work out, the hungrier I get, and having these foods available prevents me from going into starvation mode (where your metabolism slows down) and keeps me from devouring those donuts and cookies often found next to the coffee station.

• I practice portion control. I envision my meals being served on my bare hands. If it looks like it's too much to fit in my hands, then it's too much food for my belly. As a result, my meals are smaller and my snacks are a bit more substantial. I find that my body is now like clockwork, where I am genuinely hungry every 2-3 hours. Only then, when I'm hungry, is it that I consume a meal or snack.
  
• I eat a protein rich diet. Protein helps muscle growth and makes you feel full longer.
• I drink lots of water during the day. I guess I'm lucky - I love water! I keep a glass on my desk and refill it about 4-5 times in a work day. I’ve noticed now that I keep myself well hydrated how much better I feel. I don’t feel tired, my lips aren’t dry all the time and my face has cleared up. This is the closest I've ever been to having clear skin! I rarely drink soda or fruit juice. I never really liked soda anyway, but when it comes to fruit juice, I much rather get the fiber and all the nutrients from eating a whole piece of fruit. Personally, if I'm going to consume 90 sugary calories, I prefer them in the form of chocolate, not store bought fruit juice. In other words, I'd rather eat my calories, not drink them. Oh, but wait a minute, I have a confession to make! I do drink beer and wine. Not all the time, maybe once a week or every couple of weeks. I like to drink a glass of chardonnay while I cook or craft. How about some pizza and beer? Anyone? Yes, please! As long as I eat a salad as my main course, a slice pizza on the side and a nice glass of cold beer...life is good.

• I cook more, but I keep it fast and easy. If it takes too long to prepare, it's probably not as fresh or healthy of a meal. So homemade, fast and easy usually results in a healthy, fresh, less processed meal.

• I fell in love with Zumba! It's a type of exercise that is based on a variety of Latin rhythms. I just LOVE the music. I'm Latina, so attending a Zumba class is like being at a family party! I love how the music keeps me moving, even if I'm feeling tired. I go to Zumba 1-2 times a week. Not only has my body seen the benefits, but it really does make me happy! It's a total mood enhancer. In fact, I love it so much that I recently became a licensed Zumba instructor! I’ll have to dedicate an entire blog post to this topic, but I can tell you now, getting licensed is the easy part. Creating your own choreography is where the challenge and the fun begins.

• I report my progress or fitness activities to two of my coworkers who are also very much into fitness. It really does help to talk to someone who understands your commitment to your health. They can encourage you to keep going and share some of their strategies and stories that'll keep you strong and inspired through your journey to better health.
• I don’t like math so trying to figure out how many calories I'm consuming is kind of a drag for me, especially because I make a lot of my meals from scratch. However, I do read more labels now and I try to use common sense. If it's fried, cheesy, in the form of bread, or if it’s sugary, then it's probably not good for me. I don't deprive myself, but I don't eat carelessly. Portion control is key, as well as eating only when I’m hungry. Never eat just because you’re bored.

• I wear a pedometer. My iPod Nano has a built-in pedometer and I use it just about every day! It tracks the number of steps I walk in a day and calculates my calories burned. It motivates me to beat my own record and keeps me aware of the amount of movement I've had in a day. The more you move, the more calories you burn.

• I sleep more. Ever heard that lack of sleep prevents you from losing weight? I don't know why, but I’m living proof that it does. I was sleep deprived for many years, sleeping only 3-5 hours a night. Coincidentally, this was during my heaviest years. I didn't have the energy to exercise, and even if I did, it seemed like my metabolism was much slower than it is now and I wasn’t getting the results I wanted. I now sleep between 7-8 hours and I feel so much better!

• I play with my daughter. She's 7 years old and loves going to the park. An hour or so of chasing her around, playing Frisbee, pushing her on the swings, is an hour that I am moving my body, burning calories and bonding with the most important person in my life. It's a win-win!
• You will eventually hit a plateau. That’s where I’m at right now, and it’s where I’ve been for several weeks. I know I’d be more fit, toned, slimmer and stronger if I just tried a little bit harder, but like I said before – I’m only human! I don't want to stop eating breadsticks. I like butter in my popcorn. I like pizza and beer. I also know that I do want to get rid of the remaining belly fat and that I'd like to wear a two-piece bikini in the near future. For now, I am enjoying the recent changes in my body, while mentally preparing for the next step. For me, that next step is more strength training, running a half-marathon this spring, preparing to teach Zumba classes and enjoying those unhealthy foods I like so much more sparingly. If all goes well, I should be where I want to be by this summer.

So there you go. No magic pill, no magic formula. Just common sense, a little bit of discipline, portion control, less sitting around, less internet, less TV, and more time walking, dancing, playing at the park, doing chores – doing anything that “moves” me. I have to say that losing 20 lbs in 6 months wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I believe anyone can do it, you just have to find the inspiration and motivation, then make the commitment to keep your body in motion, moving towards a healthier, thinner, happier you!

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"Love You" handcrafted note card

Handcrafted note card, only $2.99
I created this folded card out of metallic powder blue card stock. The image on the cover was hand-stamped and the heart was colored-in with pearlized ink. The silver border was also created with metallic stock.

This card is perfect for someone who likes all things shimmer, and has a inclination towards clean, elegant and modern design. Card is blank inside awaiting your personal message, and is shipped with a matching white envelope.

Only one in stock, measures 3.5 inches wide by 5 inches tall. Ships within 24 hours from my studio in Palm Springs, California. Click here to buy!

View more handcrafted greeting cards and personalized invitations on our website!

Pottery Barn Bathrooms (Pottery Barn Design Library)

Excellent condition - like new! Only $4.25This book is full of wonderful ideas and inspiration! Click here to buy.

Ships from Palm Springs, CA. Thanks for shopping the Paisely In Paris® Virtual Yard Sale!
Check out our handcrafted greeting cards, and website!

Midori Double-Faced Satin Ribbon, Garnet, 2" width

Available at Amazon for $300, buy it here for only $195 +free shipping!

Roll contains 54.7 yards of ribbon. This type of ribbon was an essential tool for me when I had my couture invitation studio and created elegant wedding invitations such as the one below. It's absolutely gorgeous, and in my opinion, the highest quality ribbon available in the market today.

Only one roll available, ships from my design studio in Palm Springs, CA. Click here to buy.
Thanks for shopping the Paisely In Paris® Virtual Yard Sale!

Fiskars Border Paper Punch

SOLD for only $3.00
Rarely used, like new! ~ Thank you for looking, this paper punch was sold 2/24/12. More crafting supplies to be posted soon.
Shipped from Palm Springs, CA. Thanks for browsing the Paisely In Paris® Virtual Yard Sale!

Fresh Ideas in PhotoShop

Hardcover book by Poppy Evans: $2.25

Techniques and concept information for over 100 pieces. Published in 1998, but the artwork still doesn't seem too dated. Great resource for a beginner design student. Book is in excellent condition, no marks on any of the pages. Click here to buy!

Ships from Palm Springs, CA. Thanks for shopping the Paisely In Paris® Virtual Yard Sale!
Check out our handcrafted greeting cards, and website!

How to Start and Run a Successful Graphic Design Studio, book by Nat Bukar

Used, excellent condition: $2.99I bought this book about 5 years ago and I really enjoyed it. Easy quick read, simple terms, covers the basics and the things many people don't think about when starting their own business. Click here to buy!
Ships from Palm Springs, CA. Thanks for shopping the Paisely In Paris® Virtual Yard Sale!