the f-word

that's right kids, january is over.

it seems like forever ago we rung in the new year & thought about what we want to accomplish in 2013. goals were defined, minds were made & resolutions were set.  now, 31 days in: what’s happened to them? while statistics vary from source to source, all point to the fact that most resolutions go pear shaped within the first month.  many – including an earlier version of myself – would say, you failed. & i want to stop right there. 

you see, i have this thing against that word: failure. i want to remove it from my vocabulary completely. & from here on in i'm calling it the f-word.  my main problem with it is it sets you up.  it’s one sided.  there is no room for negotiation & it’s game over.  problematically, as a concept it’s fundamentally flawed.  it leaves out one vital clause: to err is human.

yet, failure carries a stigma. no one wants to even confess when they're wrong - so when it comes to admitting failure - good luck! even in the thesaurus, failure is tantamount with fiasco, letdown, disappointment, catastrophe. when really failure should just be a synonym for being par for the course. by default, it has to be factored in. i think the f-word should be (ok, this will sound cheesy) renamed the journey because, yes, it's par for the course.  

 & it’s the journey that i’m interested in.  

i've been thinking a lot about this over the past month.  i thought the recent study that found that when people tweeted about their diet, they lost more weight. social networking provided extra accountability to reach that objective.  but others feel different.  there's this great ted talk from a few years ago that says if you have a goal the best thing to do it keep it yourself. like mark twain has famously said: show don’t tell.  

doomed if you do, doomed if you don't right? & that's why i hate the f-word.

so those resolutions? tomorrow is february 1 after all. you have 11 more beautiful months to continue your journey.  (just maybe don’t tell anyone. jk! i’d love to know!).

tomorrow I’ll be posting tips to making resolutions last.  what has worked for you... & what didn't?

image via here

i heart you

how fabulous are these special valentine's day edition heart balloons from geronimo balloons? i'm swooning! i also love everything about the outfit: the coloured tights, the gold dress, the pink bow - such outfit inspiration!

images via here & here (thanks oh joy) & here (thanks bauble bar for pinning!)

to hairdo or not to hairdo

emma stone's February 2013 w cover & photo shoot.  no explanation needed.  but i'm loving her hair. i've been debating getting my golden locks cut a little shorter.  and emma stone's messy look is kinda my style.  super tempted to get it chopped of like this.  thoughts? to hairdo or not to hairdo? (i probably won't, at least not for a while. but so tempted!)

images via w magazine here

interior envy

ever since i did my little diy bookshelf project a few weekends ago (before/ after), i've been lusting to do some more decorating.  maybe it's cause i'm inside a lot now - it's been a blustery -10c! yes, that is a negative sign folks! anyways, i digress.  while i love a lot of color, i like my 'base' to have a lot of white with splashes of colorful hues (like my new turquoise bookshelf).  i just find a clean, neutral base makes a space lighter, brighter & as a result, somehow bigger. this is important for me - especially in new york city where space is at a premium. when i stumbled on this living room/ dining space i had to share it with you guys. one day i'd love a space like this.

images via here

creativity exploration with labyrinth ear

i am on an inspiration hunt.  i am just so curious to know what inspires people to write, sing, act, do.  i asked my friend emily, singer & other half of the musical duo labyrinth ear, what are some of the things that influence her in the creative process.  she wrote: "the art of jiri trnka, a children's book illustrator and puppeteer is always an endless source of inspiration for me."  and wow, i can see why! when i look at the image emily sent over, i can almost hear the soft, hidden & magical layers of her & tom's music.

be sure to check out labyrinth ear here.
and aw, this is the lovely emily below. such a style cuddle, right?  she'll be contributing more to the creativity exploration over the coming weeks, so watch this space.

read more creativity exploration posts here.