2010

I have to say that 2010 has been a bit of an up and down year for me. Obviously there have been some great highs- James and I brought our first home together, I finished my degree, I got a proper job; these are all good and exciting things. Yet amid all of this I have struggled with unemployment for a time, I mostly hated the last semester of my degree and I have over stressed and worried about just about every decision that I’ve made. Grown up life is scary. And after writing that it sounds to me like it was the process of this year that I have struggled with whilst I enjoyed the outcomes, which is possibly a good description.

All over the blog sphere there are plenty of inspirational posts from amazing women who are reveling in the goals which they achieved in 2010 and setting themselves new ones for 2011. This is a laudable process and I truly, truly admire people who have the self discipline and will to make these things happen for themselves on their own. I am not that girl. I struggle with motivation and general all round laziness. I need a good kick up the butt from our old friend motivation to get me doing things.

Thus I have decided to make myself small goals. Achievable goals. But goals which I think will be beneficial to me none the less. Goals where I will have help getting there. A hand to hold on my way. I am guilty of not taking the time to care enough for myself, I get too wrapped up in working, stressing and letting tiredness overcome me, so my goals are designed to help me overcome these traits.

With this in mind my aims for 2011 are centered round the idea of happiness. I want to be happier. Less worried and more accepting of ‘what will be will be’. Not complacent. But to get a greater appreciation of the idea that there are things in this world which I cannot change and that worrying about them will not help. To be generally more at peace with the world.


Photo Credit

So without further ado in 2011....

1. I want to take the time to nurture my artistic side. I love drawing, taking photos and creating things. But this often takes a back seat. I want this to change for me and spend more time making myself happier by letting myself feel free to do this sort of thing.
2. I want to create myself some ‘downtime’ one evening a week. Some time just to relax and not worry about achieving anything.
3. I want to drink more water and exercise more.
4. I want to create myself a regular posting schedule on this blog and be more disciplined in my writing.

There we go. No where near as far reaching as some of the goals I have seen people try to attempt, but these are goals which I really think will help me be happier and more focused in 2011.

I hope everyone has a relaxing and safe New Years Celebration planned. As I am working tomorrow I don’t think James and I will get much further than a bottle of wine and some time on the sofa, but still, sometimes those evenings are the best!

Its been a pleasure to write for you in 2010 and I look forward to continuing this conversation in 2011.

Stay safe, Lindy xxxx

Little starfish

I'm going with better late than never on this one. He was drawn whilst listening to jazz and relaxing on my sofa! A very calming draw which turned out far better than expected.



(Sorry about the photo quality it was really far too dark!)

Lindy xxx

A fish called Wanda...

Todays drawing offering...



I had a bonus day off of work today. I had some spare holiday to book and had completely forgotten that I had booked it for this week. Bonus!

Happy Sunday

Lindy xxx

Saturday Steals Vol 18

So I was thinking about what I could tell you about this week. I considered this beautiful glass butter dish that was given to James and I by his grandmother.



But then I thought about all the other things that might be worth more than a butter dish. You see I have a lot of 'stuff', and sometimes I wonder whether it is too much. Now its not that I don't value the butter dish, and its not that I'm not very grateful for the gift. Its just that I've been thinking recently about all the things that we get for free that might be worth more.

Like this morning. The first thing that James told me as I woke up was that I was beautiful. The first thing that I told him was that I loved him.

He downloaded this music for me because he knows that its my favourite song.


Its the little things that we do in out everyday lives that add up to the really big happiness.

Here is the picture I managed to draw for today. For some reason she looks really really worried!


Hope everyone has a love filled weekend!

Lindy xxxx

That Friday feeling...

Last night for dinner James made me this...


Its true I am a very lucky girl! Steak and garlic potatoes. I very much enjoyed this!

Today, amongst other things, I watched an awful lot of House and drew these little cuties!





I tried for a second time because I ran out of room at the top on the first one!

I also decided to buy some new sketching pencils. Over the years I have had loads of different sets, but seem to have ended up with a glut of 4H's and 3B's and not a lot in between! Thus a new set was required. I managed to get this tin from W H Smiths for half price at only £2.74- a pretty good deal I thought. But that aside the thing that amused me about these was the warning on the back.



What I was trying to show, through my poor photography skills was the warning which said 'Recommended for age 14 years & above'! I mean really. They are only pencils, those below 14 don't have the right to draw?! Madness, I tell you. Madness.

Lindy xxx

Lion

My paltry offering for today on the drawing front...






I enjoyed this one. For the first time in ages I'm drawing things which look like actual things!

Happy Thursday xxxx

Drawings

I've decided that I wanted to take a bit more time to work on my drawing. I did art up to GCSE level but didn't take it any further. I haven't drawn for many many years and I decided to look on the net for a bit more instruction. I found this site called 'Drawspace' which gives loads of really detailed lessons on how to draw lots of different animals and things. Below is my first attempt!



I think I'm really going to enjoy this new challenge. I want to bring more creative things in to my life and I'm going to try and do one of these lessons every day for a month. I'll try to post what I manage to create!

Happy Wednesday! xxx