Post: #21

Hi Kimberly! I just wanted to come by and show my support here for you. I had no idea your avatar was a painting, never mind that you made it yourself (I assumed it was a photo)! That's amazing!

Congrats on only having three pounds left 'til your goal weight, I know you can do it! I love that you have the same energy even now that 30DLBL is over! =)

Anyway, hoping the best for you! =D

Post: #22

Matt Wrote:Any new paintings since your tiger painting?

Hi Matt! Yep, I joined the Canine Art Guild and so I have finished a couple of dog-related paintings. I'm working on finishing up some Artist Trading Cards at the moment in watercolour, which I am really enjoying so far. Joining that group has been the best thing for me really... I was afraid to join at first because I am not nearly as good as them, but they are an amazing bunch of artists with lots of advice and encouragement.

Calae Wrote:Hi Kimberly! I just wanted to come by and show my support here for you. I had no idea your avatar was a painting, never mind that you made it yourself (I assumed it was a photo)! That's amazing!

Aww, thanks Calae!

_________________________________________

So it's official! I am now a volunteer at a HORSE BARN!!!! I am seriously so so so excited. I went for orientation last night and while I didn't try out to be a back-up trail guide (I am still a beginner at horseback riding, and haven't cantered on a horse without a lead line), they still let me be a "student" for the ones who were doing the test so I got to ride a horse anyway for about ten minutes.

Volunteering at a horse barn or rescue barn was something I was trying to do the whole month of July during 30DLBL, so I am truly happy that I can be a part of this. Here's what I really want to get out of my volunteering experience:

1. Learn how to properly take care of horses, including feeding, grooming, exercising, etc. I do want to have my own horse one day, so what is better than hands-on experience?
2. Take horseback riding lessons again. It's expensive, which is why I have not been able to have consistent riding lessons, but to my surprise, this barn counts my volunteer time towards the cost of lessons.
3. Feed my creative muse - photos, paintings, sketches... I plan on bringing my camera every day.
4. Make some new friends, hopefully. I still don't know anyone other than my coworkers in this town, and because I'm their boss, understandably I'm not the "cool" one to hang out with.

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
Find me at My Studio Blog or My Facebook Page

Post: #23

Hi Kim. It's great to see your photo after seeing only the elephant for 30 days. Thanks for being brave enough to post a photo.

Post: #24

(08-01-2012 09:18 PM)Kimberly Wrote:  I've been busy working, painting, and participating in challenges here on PE. I just finished up the 30BBM And 30DLBL challenges, which have both helped immensely with my long and short-term goals.

Right now I am working on a vegetarian challenge and getting started with volunteering at a horse barn. I am considering signing up for a photography course in the fall.

Very active, Kim! Whenever I see people involved in so many things and who work towards their goals, finding their purpose, it makes me feel energetic and encouraged to do the same That's why I like the PE forums: you always find someone sharing a piece of thought or advice which sets you off to greater things, too.

"You were born an original, don't die a copy." ~ John Mason | You can check my blog here

Post: #25

susan978 Wrote:Hi Kim. It's great to see your photo after seeing only the elephant for 30 days. Thanks for being brave enough to post a photo.

Thank you Susan. I was afraid to post a photo of myself for a very long time. It's much more comforting to "hide" behind the art. But I love seeing everyone else's photos, so I figured I would give it a try myself. There aren't many pictures of me to begin with as I am usually the one with the camera in my hands, but my husband stole my camera from me one day and took this picture.

(08-15-2012 12:56 PM)Lina Wrote:  Very active, Kim! Whenever I see people involved in so many things and who work towards their goals, finding their purpose, it makes me feel energetic and encouraged to do the same That's why I like the PE forums: you always find someone sharing a piece of thought or advice which sets you off to greater things, too.

Thank you Lina! I feel the same way, I love reading everyone's progress as I find it very uplifting and inspiring.

I'm going to have my work cut out for me (as usual) throughout the next few months as we are quickly approaching the "busy season" at work. Already, I am starting to feel the stress. We have a big event right at the end of the month, I have a new staff member to train, and the madness of seasonal training/preparation that is September is looming ever closer.

Every year I try not to let work consume me entirely from September - December, but it is extremely difficult to do so. This period of time is also a perfect opportunity to create new paintings for the holiday season, but as of yet I have been unable to balance the two. Instead, art gets pushed more and more to the side while I work like crazy to meet our goals at work, and to keep everything running smoothly.

I think that after my vegetarian challenge is over, I will switch gears and try a productivity/organization challenge. I might do this one for one month or two, I haven't decided yet. One thing these challenges do for me is to keep me focused on one goal at a time, and since I am a chronic "let's try to do everything at once but accomplish very little" kind of person (even Celes suggested I read her "Superstar" article, go figure lol), I am accomplishing more now with these challenges than I ever have before. So fingers crossed that this is the year I can finally achieve both my work goals AND my art goals!

Also, I volunteered at the horse barn on Monday for a couple of hours and loved it. There was a trail ride happening very soon when I showed up so I got to help get the horses, groom and tack them up. Of course I brought my camera and took a few shots afterward. I am really looking forward to having new material to paint. I am going to try and go once a week, if only for a couple of hours each time. Just being there with the horses was very relaxing and inspiring!

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
Find me at My Studio Blog or My Facebook Page

Post: #26

Hi Kimberly,
You came through after one of my recent meditations, so I thought I would check in with you. I see here that you are keeping very active in your world. Here's to your having a peaceful and calm "busy season"...at least peaceful and calm on the inside. And that you accomplish both your art and your work goals.
I must say that goal-setting and following through with the action steps makes a great difference in my organization and productivity. Which then makes me feel like I am really going somewhere...with purpose in tact. What a great feeling that is!
Your paintings are beautiful! What a wonderfully creative spirit you have! I am sure you will be even more inspired to create new paintings now that you are around all that horse energy at the barn. Talk about being at the right place at the right time....you are really in a nice flow, seems to me.
All the best for all in your world to go creatively in the most fulfilling and meaningful way. Written down/painted any more beautiful, empowering dream images/visions?

Post: #27

Well, it's been a while since I last wrote here and I hope everyone is doing well. Looks like the forums have been pretty quiet lately. I'll take that as a sign that everyone has been busy working on their goals!

I have been busy with work the last couple of months, and so far things are going well. I am counting down the weeks until the Christmas rush is over and everything can go back to normal.

A lot has changed for me this last little while as well. I found out shortly after I finished my vegetarian challenge that we are expecting. It's one of those things that was on my bucket list but that you obviously can't plan for. We just found out yesterday that it is a girl, so everyone is really excited. We can't wait to meet her!

I've also been lurking here the last few days waiting for a 30DLBL announcement but I guess that isn't going to happen. I'm sad about that... I miss my 30DLBL buddies. So I guess I will just work through it on my own for December.

Hope everyone has a fantastic last month for 2012!!

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
Find me at My Studio Blog or My Facebook Page