Mr Parrot: Step by step

This last few months I have been working on a pottery project at my local pottery studio.

This is my parrot's journey from hollow tube to creature.

Dance to your own beat

I was taught by my dad that your job can make or break you. It can crush your spirit and make you sad. Or it can motivate, lift and reward you.

How you get to a 'good' job is a secret no one tells you. It's one of those secrets adults don't let you in on [like living on your own might be fun, but there will be a lot of dishes]. I did not go to university, I left school with good grades and no clue what to do with my future. I worked. HARD. I temped, interviewed, got rejected and accepted. I learnt how to type, smile, do numbers and talk to people. I did lots of talking.

People noticed my can do attitude and took chances on me. I proved them that chances were worth taking. I made a big U turn from working in a comfy, secure public sector job to a tiny community project in a deprived area, taking a big pay cut and equally big risk. I used the same skills learnt at the start, and lots of listening.

This week I got the offer letter for my dream job. A community mental worker at a women's orgnasiation. I will work part time and study to be a counsellor part time. I earn the same as my boyfriend who spent 4 years in education and now in some debt.

There is no right or wrong way to get to where you want to be, but if you don't feel like following the crowd - that's ok. You cannot sit at home watching TV and life will work out a job for you, but you can choose to dance to your own career path tune. I credit my parents for giving me lots of things that helped me on my way [manners, being friendly to everyone and remembering never to judge], but if your parents missed some good building blocks, learn them yourself. Teach youself what you need to know to get on, always be waiting to learn the next new thing.

As I finish one job, and move towards being the *new girl* again, I feel just a little bit smug as I dance away to my own beat, and love every moment of it.

ps. Golden rule - never quit a job until you have one lined up!!

7 workouts, 7 days a week. 4 weeks.

Oh nelly.

I have set myself a challenge to get my fundraising for Tyneside Rape Crisis off to a good start this year. As the title suggests, a month of consecutive workouts, with no days off. 28 workouts. I started today with a 20 minute run and some core exercises. While I was out , I realised that I want people to know that I'm serious about this. I thought about sexual violence and how strong survivors are. I'm committed to help them get even stronger. Are you?

First donation to my just giving page gets a yummy treat baked and delivered to their door by yours truly.

22 before 22

The sun is out which means by birthday is coming round the mountain very soon! I have 7 full weeks before I turn 22 and I want to mark my birthday by accomplishing 22 fun things [and having a party...]! Some items are off my life list and others are just little bit and bobs I want to get done. The idea came from http://makingitlovely.com/ a blog I love and live on! Plus, spring feels like a time for getting projects underway and having fun and I just love a good list:

1. Lose those pesky last two pounds
2. Make art for my home
3. Blog every week
4. Link into someone else's blog
5. Win something
6. Have a really good picnic
7. Floss every day
8. Stop wasting food
9. Start some origami
10. Read 7 books [make a list of books i've read]
11. Cook vegetarian food
12. Play with my pets every day
13. Complete my garden remodel
14. Paint the bedroom
15. Make easter cards/gifts for family
16. Weekly date night
17. Do my to-do list every day
18. Eat at the table most nights
19. Do some yoga
20. Finish photo frame project
21. Play on rockband and pretend to be ringo
22. Turn 22 with grace.

 Picture updates and news to follow! Just a little picture of chip basking in the sun in our old city apartment. Actually he looks quite evil!!

*there are only more photos of chip because he sits still for longer!

Wedding update...

Just a quick one, having a quiet day in my pjs as in the midst of some hurty tooth problems. Pictures from the wedding...

Beautiful day x

Life list...

Consolidating and affirming my life focus, and here it is in all it's scary glory!

1. America Road trip
2. Machu Picchu
3. Perform in a musical
4. Get good at ballet
5. Sell a piece of artwork
6. Learn sign language
7. Go skiing
8. Go surfing
9. Go paddle boarding
10. Go rock climbing
11. Rescue more rabbits
12. Get my degree
13. Become a certified and practising counsellor
14. Use my counselling skills voluntarily
15. Rescue a dog
16. Northern Lights
17. Triathlon
18. Marathon
19. Have a creative blog as a business
20. Write a book
21. Create my perfect home
22. Go camping
23. Become a master free from cook
24. Jump into a chilly lake
25. Fly first class
26. Do 100 nice deeds for strangers
27. Go on a roller coaster
28. Go on a super romantic holiday
29. Become super flexible at yoga
30. Wake up early and like it
31. Remember all birthdays in a year
32. Learn to be punctual
33. Stonehenge
34. Disneyland
35. Look for Nessie
36. Rub a big Buddha’s belly
37. Gamble in Vegas
38. Skinny dip
39. Surprise party
40. Have a small holding
41. Try being vegetarian
42. Try being vegan
43. Try living with very little money
44. Create my life handbook
45. Learn to feel ok about making stupid mistakes
46. Stay in a log cabin with a fire
47. Berlin
48. Make out in a photo booth
49. Watch turtles hatch out and run into the sea
50. Do a job that makes a difference in the world
51. Go to Norway and see the fjords
52. Go to Brazil for carnival
53. China -Hong Kong
54. Japan - Tokyo
55. Buy skincare in a swish French pharmacy
56. Know where my meat comes from
57. Meditate
58. Make art for my home
59. Russia
60. Learn a new language
61. Find and stay at my happy weight
62. Learn to roller skate
63. Climb a mountain
64. Bartend
65. Be totally silent
66. See a sun rise and then set
67. Learn the constellations
68. Learn [or re learn] an instrument
69. Win something
70. Go on a totally spontaneous trip
71. Get wet in a waterfall
72. Read. Read. Read some more
73. Say thank you for good service
74. Make awesome origami
75. Inspire other people to live the life they can only imagine
76. See cherry blossoms in Japan
77. Let go of resentment
78. Have a really good picnic
79. Take loads of photos
80. Have kids. Survive kids
81. Bring up balanced kids
82. Go abseiling
83. Go base jumping
84. Do a cartwheel [well!]
85. Do a somersault
86. Go to Mongolia
87. Find my inner athlete
88. Floss
89. Have shiny hair and fresh skin
90. Grow and eat my own fruit and veg
91. Learn to sew
92. Go horse riding
93. Run 10k
94. Drink more water
95. Stop using products tested on animals
96. Make a gift for everyone on my xmas list to be green and save £
97. Weekly yoga practise for one month
98. Art every day journal for 365 consecutive days
99. Don’t waste food
100. Love. Live
101. Get a tattoo