Tag Archives: 2016

8 Cute Valentine’s Day Ideas

This is the “month of love” and it’s no secret that Valentine’s Day isn’t really my jam. My husband is thankful that I’ve never expected a delivery of grossly over-priced flowers or some fancy jewelry. And for the love of God, do not get me a stuffed animal. Even though I don’t get carried away in the hype of the holiday, I do think it can be a sweet day. Rather than being all about a significant other, I think it’s a good opportunity to show love and kindness to anyone…children, coworkers, and even strangers. You don’t have to be happily married, living in a two-story brick house, with 2.5 children to enjoy Valentine’s Day.

My apologies. That was a bit of a soap box moment. Even though I do have some tiny issues with the commercialization of the holiday, there are a ton of really cute Valentine’s Day items around the web. Here are links to some of my favorites this year.
Joanna Gaines' Tic-Tac-Toe Valentines. Read more at pamelapetrus.comI loved these handmade tic-tac-toe gifts by Joanna Gaines. This could be as simple or as elaborate as you’d like. At first glance, one would probably think that only the over-achieving Pinterest moms would do these Valentines. However, it wouldn’t really take that much effort, and I love that it’s not something that’ll be thrown away in less than a week. That longevity is a major win in my book.

Funny Valentine Cards. Read more at pamelapetrus.comThese funny Valentines are right up my alley (and free to print)! I’m not much of a mushy gal, so something with a bit of humor is more fitting for me. And these are quite funny.

How to say “I love you” around the world. What a great skill to have!

We’ve been eating a lot of cheese and crackers lately. (Random, I know.) Why not use a cookie cutter to cut it into little hearts??

What a cute idea for Valentines from the kiddos to their grandparents, etc.

Valentine Socks. Read more at pamelapetrus.comI’m a sucker for a cute pair of socks (especially fuzzy ones). This would be a great, inexpensive gift to hand out around the office. Or teacher’s gifts?

And I just loved this full-blown plan for Galentine’s Day. Seeing someone put so much work into celebrating their friends gives me all the feels.

This french bread pizza is more like how the Petruses will actually celebrate Valentine’s Day….except probably without the hearts.

Happy February, friends. Go wear something red and tell someone you love them!

Also, my Valentine’s Day last year and my Valentine’s favorites from 2014.

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January: Review in Pictures

January in Review. Read more at pamelapetrus.comJanuary was such an awesome month. It’s naturally one of my favorites because it’s my birthday month. I also love the “fresh start” and the emphasis on goal-setting. These things combined mean January can’t help but be at the top of my list. As we welcome the month of love, I decided to highlight a few of my favorite moments from this past month.

  1. We finally hung curtains in the living room! It’s been a year and a half since we’ve been in this house…with no curtains. I chose to add these to the month of memories because this overdue change made such a difference in the room, and I feel so happy and accomplished every time I look at them.
  2.  I started working on my daily step goal! I’m not doing super awesome at it. I’ll admit it. However, progress is better than perfection, and I’m definitely more aware of my activity level these days.
  3.  All the houses! January has started off with a bang in the real estate arena. I’m so thankful for a good jump on the year, and I’m so very excited about the growth/changes on the horizon. (P.S. Be sure to let me know when you hear of someone looking to buy/sell a house. I can help anywhere in the US!)
  4.  Our dining room got a bit of a makeover. This photo symbolizes the changes we’ve made in our dining room to create a temporary workspace for my growing team. It also shows that I’m keeping some plants alive (a 2016 goal) and that I FINALLY pulled out this adorable print that I ordered almost 3 years ago. This photo celebrates a lot of milestones and progress for the month.
  5.  I celebrated my 30th birthday!!! We definitely couldn’t recap the month without mentioning this fact. It was definitely the highlight of my month.
  6.  I chose a word for the year and talked about it here on the blog. I’ve already had multiple opportunities to practice being courageous.
  7. I’m painting! I set up a painting nook, and I’ve done some random painting lately. I also talked about some hesitations and developments in the area here.
  8.  This truly is my year. I know without a doubt that 2016 is going to be one of those fundamental, unforgettable years. Big things are going to happen. I just know it. This photo represents the time I spent goal-setting and planning for the year.
  9. I worked on several house projects! One magical day, Matthew and I got so much done around the house. This photo is from a project in my closet room, and I’m happy to report that this room is so close to being “finished.”

Hooray for a productive month! I feel like it’s been waaaay longer than just 31 days, and I’m thrilled about how much was accomplished. I’m also VERY encouraged for the rest of the year. If as much happens the rest of the year as it has in January, I can only imagine what all I’ll have to report in December!

Looking back on the month like this is fun! I think I might start a new tradition. Hello, February…can’t wait to see what we accomplish together!

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Black on Black

A trend that I’ve been digging lately is all black outfits. I’ve pinned so many of them, and I just think there’s something super sleek (and courageous) about wearing black on black. This isn’t a trend that I’d recommend for the fashionably conservative because there are a few “tricks” involved. However, I think practically anyone can pull of this look with just a little effort.

I think the trick here is to be sure to layer different textures or weights of fabric. For example, wear leather with cotton or a thicker knit with silk. If you layer multiple black cottons or similar fabrics, you could end up looking like a tired and angry art teacher. You also want to be sure none of your black items are too faded, unless it’s a distressed denim that’s intended to look that way. When pairing black with black, it’s important that all of the blacks look fresh and crisp. Here are some of my favorite black on black looks from around the Internet. These show a good mix of ways to rock the trend and mix fabrics appropriately! (Sources are provided at the bottom.)

Black on Black (4)Black on Black (2)Black on Black (7)Black on Black (9)Black on Black (3)Black on Black (8)

What do you think? Think you’d feel comfortable wearing black on black? I think with the right fabrics and accessories, this could be a super easy and timeless look for anyone. I’m off to look at my options!

For more fashion inspiration, check out my Pinterest board!

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I am a good painter.

A Good Painter at pamelapetrus.comFor Christmas, my husband gave me a tabletop easel and some other paint supplies. He’s always encouraged me to paint more. Come to think of it, I’ve never quite understood why that is. I also got a beautiful brush holder from my mother-in-law and some new brushes. I had the makings of an awesome, new painting nook, and to be honest, I felt quite nervous about setting it up. I planned out the area in my head and neatly stacked all of the supplies there. I decided where to hang the brushes and what inspirational art to hang near by. I started looking for a tall stool and knew the lighting in the room would be great. Still, several weeks went by and I didn’t paint a thing.

Before receiving all of these fancy supplies, I didn’t paint often because it was a hassle to drag out all of the supplies, paint for a bit, and then put them away. I always said, “if I had a space for this, I’d paint more.” Well, after I developed a bit of a space, I still wasn’t rushing to paint more. Suddenly, I realized that while convenience did play a factor, the main reason that I wasn’t painting was because I was scared.

Here’s a section about fear from Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic:

You’re afraid you have no talent.
You’re afraid you’ll be rejected or criticized or ridiculed or misunderstood or—worst of all—ignored.
You’re afraid there’s no market for your creativity, and therefore no point in pursuing it.
You’re afraid somebody else already did it better.
You’re afraid everybody else already did it better.
You’re afraid somebody will steal your ideas, so it’s safer to keep them hidden forever in the dark.
You’re afraid you won’t be taken seriously.
You’re afraid your work isn’t politically, emotionally, or artistically important enough to change anyone’s life.
You’re afraid your dreams are embarrassing.
You’re afraid that someday you’ll look back on your creative endeavors as having been a giant waste of time, effort, and money.
You’re afraid you don’t have the right kind of discipline.
You’re afraid you don’t have the right kind of work space, or financial freedom, or empty hours in which to focus on invention or exploration.
You’re afraid you don’t have the right kind of training or degree.
You’re afraid you’re too fat. (I don’t know what this has to do with creativity, exactly, but experience has taught me that most of us are afraid we’re too fat, so let’s just put that on the anxiety list, for good measure.)
You’re afraid of being exposed as a hack, or a fool, or a dilettante, or a narcissist.
You’re afraid of upsetting your family with what you may reveal.
You’re afraid of what your peers and coworkers will say if you express your personal truth aloud.
You’re afraid of unleashing your innermost demons, and you really don’t want to encounter your innermost demons.
You’re afraid your best work is behind you.
You’re afraid you never had any best work to begin with.
You’re afraid you neglected your creativity for so long that now you can never get it back.
You’re afraid you’re too old to start.
You’re afraid you’re too young to start.
You’re afraid because something went well in your life once, so obviously nothing can ever go well again.
You’re afraid because nothing has ever gone well in your life, so why bother trying?
You’re afraid of being a one-hit wonder.
You’re afraid of being a no-hit wonder . . . Listen, I don’t have all day here, so I’m not going to keep listing fears. It’s a bottomless list, anyhow, and a depressing one. I’ll just wrap up my summary this way: SCARY, SCARY, SCARY. Everything is so goddamn scary.

Specifically, I realized I was afraid of not being good. I was afraid of wasting money on supplies to produce shitty paintings. I was afraid that people would tell me how terrible everything I did was. Some of these fears are justified, as hurtful things have certainly been said to me. However, they’re not justified in the fact that by listening to these people, I’m choosing to live small.

The realization snuck in one morning that while I’m not a “good painter” in the regard that I paint wonderful works of art that are desired by many, I can still be a painter. I think a “good painter” is someone that insists on painting. I finally came to terms with the fact that I just have to paint something. Whether it’s good or not isn’t what matters. What matters, is that I make something. Anything. Good, bad, or more commonly, mediocre. Much like writing, the only way to get better at something is to practice and do it repetitively. The stuff you churn out in the beginning likely isn’t as good as what you’ll be doing years later. I don’t have to rival Picasso; I just have to paint something. Maybe, I’ll have something good come out of 10 shitty projects. Maybe it’ll be 1 out of 50. It doesn’t matter. I’m not painting to win any awards or support my family. I’m painting because I think it’s fun. And that’s what a good painter does – they paint.

Just as importantly, I realized that I’m not even necessarily afraid of how terrible something might be. I’m actually just afraid of what people will say. If someone sees a mediocre painting propped up in my house, will they say something hurtful? There’s a chance. Like practically everything else in my life, the fear of what other people will think/say has held me back from doing something fun. The fear of my feelings being hurt by someone’s unintentional (or intentional) comments, is a roadblock that I haven’t been able to drive around for the majority of my life. Basically, I’ve been letting fear control my creativity.

If you’re hoping for the formula of how I overcame that fear, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. As I finish Big Magic, I might be able to offer you some sort of “solution.” For now, I’ll just go paint something. I’ll slap some paint on a canvas without any clear intention. I’ll mix colors and attempt new strokes and I’ll hope something beautiful comes from it. If it doesn’t, that’s ok too. The goal here is to face the fear. It’s to know that the fear is there, and insist that I’ll act regardless. I’ll paint. I’ll dance. I’ll make something mediocre. And I’ll do all of these things with that fear running right along beside me. However, I know that eventually after “putting myself out there” more and more, I’ll eventually tame that overarching fear just a bit. I’ll live boldly and courageously and say with pride – I’m a good painter.

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The Day I Changed My Mind About Blogging.

Blogging at pamelapetrus.comI’ve been writing here for several years now (Several technically means three or more, so that’s accurate.) and it’s been such a fascinating ride! I’ve grown as a writer, a photographer, a story-teller, and a sharer. I’ve experienced ups and downs, small victories, and a full range of other emotions. I’ve learned how to listen to my own feelings, if for no other reason than to be able to reiterate and clearly communicate them here. At the risk of sounding trite, starting this blog is one of the things that I’m most proud of myself for doing and thankful for. Recently, I’ve realized a few things and I thought I’d take a quick moment to share.

  1. I feel like I’ve finally come into my own. At first, I worried a lot about what I’d post. Even when there were only a few readers, (Thanks, Mom.) I analyzed every word and was truly concerned about what people would think of me. Don’t get me wrong…I still worry more than I should and often cringe when hitting publish. However, I feel like I’ve hit a groove. I’ve been creating regular content for over a year now and I’ve grown so much more comfortable with my voice.
  2. I should take myself more seriously. At first, I’d use a poorly lit photo because “it didn’t really matter that much. Only a handful of people would see it anyway.” I excused half-assed work because I didn’t have thousands of eager follows. Lately, I’ve learned that I’m selling myself short with that sort of attitude and that I need to hold myself to the same standard whether I have 10 readers or 10,000. I recently “applied” for a writing position in which the process alone scared the shit out of me. Prepping my application was a big slap in the face in regards to how low of a standard I’ve held myself to. It was a turning point in which I decided I needed to act more legit, no matter how many readers I have.
  3. I really did become a better writer by churning out regular content. When I first started this little project, my husband told me that my first step should be to write tons of posts. What?! Without a perfectly-designed platform to share them on? Without one million dedicated followers?! It felt like such a waste to write and write without a reason. (And I didn’t follow his precise instructions — who’s surprised?) Nonetheless, he was right. The more I wrote, the more comfortable I became and the more easily I could articulate my thoughts. I’m probably not going to win any literary awards just yet. However, I can say with 100% certainty that I’m a better writer today than I was three years ago. And for that reason, I’ll continue to share here so that I’ll be even better three years from now.
  4. I love where my audience is right now. I went through a bit of a period where I felt so pressured to do more. I needed more followers, more comments, more repeat readers. I needed more content and more shares. Bullshit. Those things don’t actually matter. It turns out that I’m actually happy with the level that I’m on right now – I’m just not happy with how nonchalantly I’ve approached it. I have enough readers. I have enough comments. What I don’t have enough of is confidence that I’m enough.

It seems silly to think that this little space on the internet could have aided in my personal growth as much as it has. When I first started, I didn’t even quite know why I was doing it. I didn’t have a goal in mind necessarily; I just knew I really, really wanted it. Looking back, I can clearly see that I needed an outlet. I needed a place to spill my thoughts and ideas where I felt like I could possibly use them to encourage or motivate someone else. I needed a place where I was telling my story…both the ups and the downs. Now, over three years later, I can honestly say that I’m a better person and more self-aware than I was because of this blog. I’m a better writer and communicator and I’m definitely more supporting and encouraging of others. Something about putting your life “out there” twice a week will certainly make you more understanding of others!

As I wrap up a year of regular content (I’ve posted every Monday and Thursday for a year now!), I realize just how influential this space has been for me, and I’m thankful that I took the leap. Deciding to post regularly was a huge commitment that felt incredibly regrettable and daunting at times. I’ve felt brave and scared, talented and incapable, strong and weak…and experiencing all of the emotions has made me a better, stronger person. My intentions are to continue this endeavor and in doing so, I can’t wait to see how much I grow over the next year. I can also encourage you with certainty to attempt your big ideas and dreams. Whether you sink or swim, you’ll inevitably learn something and to me, that’s what life is about anyway. 2016 is in full swing. Will it be a year of change and growth? Or will it be another year that slides by without any exciting transitions? You decide.

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How to Get it All Done

How to Get it All Done at pamelapetrus.comWe could probably uncover thousands of posts on this topic if we did a quick Google search. I think we all struggle with the concept of getting everything done at some point. It’s so easy to feel like we’re falling behind as our to do list grows and grows. Then, we see a coworker or someone on the internet who seems to have it all together and is doing more than we could even imagine. At first, I think of that internet famous quote, “You have the same amount of hours in a day as Beyoncé.” It’s a little silly, yet so accurate. We all have the same number of hours in a day. Why do we sometimes feel like we’re the only ones not getting anything done? Today, I wanted to offer a bit of perspective on the topic.

I often have people ask me how I do everything. How do you blog, work, travel, and still wrap fancy-looking presents? When do you have time to sip coffee or read books? What about the laundry or groceries? I had this exact conversation with a close friend when I sent out our moving announcements.  There’s a spoiler here, or a cheat code, if you will. If you don’t read anymore of this post, be sure to pay attention to this one point. Although, you should definitely keep going because quitters never win. Are you ready?

No one does it all.

I don’t do it all. You don’t do it all. That perfectly put together lady down the street doesn’t do it all. We all do some things, not all things. It’s easy to compare ourselves to someone else, yet we forget to take the entire scenario into consideration. That being said, here are a few tips for bridging that gap in your mind.

  1. Decide what you want to do. Since we can’t do everything, we must choose what’s important to us. Your list will look different than mine and vice versa. If you need to, make a quick list of all of the things you want to do. Then, prioritize them, keeping in mind that you will only be able to focus on some of them, not all. We aren’t super heroes, so pick the most important things to you.
  2. Do whatever you chose really well. If you decided having a home cooked meal every night is what’s most important to you, do that. Keep in mind that you’re deciding to forfeit another opportunity in using that time for cooking, and that’s perfectly fine. Whatever you decide fills you up should be what you focus on and what you do really well. Cut yourself some slack on those other things. I, for example, choose to write, wrap pretty presents, etc. These sorts of creative tasks take the place of time I’d spend cooking or cleaning. I made that choice and therefore don’t try to do everything else. I do what I chose and feel good about that.
  3. Stop comparing yourself to others. When you find yourself thinking so-and-so has it more together than you, stop it! They chose their priorities just like you did. There are most definitely areas they’ve chosen to ignore, even if they’re not immediately obvious. The reason that we often feel inferior is because we take note of the items someone else is doing that we’re not. When we see them accomplishing something that we’re not, it makes us feel like we’re dropping the ball on life. Rather than taking this approach, focus on the things you are doing well. Remind yourself that they’re doing awesome with this part and you’re doing awesome with that other part. It all levels out and we’re all dominating something.

The most important step in feeling like you get it all done is realizing that you don’t have to. It’s abandoning the thoughts in your head that tell you otherwise. Bid them farewell. The reason Beyoncé gets so many bad-ass things done in a day is because she doesn’t do something else. I guarantee Beyoncé isn’t spending her time scrubbing dishes. Instead, she’s using her 24 hours to do what she chose. That’s what we have to do too. Choose. And then do those things, ignoring that little voice in our head that tells us we should be doing something else.

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New Coffee Nooks & Change

New Coffee Nooks and Change. Read more at pamelapetrus.com.I’m sitting in my new coffee nook as I type this post. I’m staring out our big bay windows watching the world wake up. There’s frost covering the ground and the bird bath is frozen solid. I’m covered up and cozy in my favorite fuzzy blanket given to me by my oldest niece. Matthew is sitting next to me, likely catching up on the news while I’m reading about removable wallpaper. If this is sounding too glamorous, I’ll point out that just inches away there are tubs stacked head-high of decor from my birthday party and there are definitely cake crumbs on the counter. Life isn’t perfect, you guys. I didn’t want you to get the wrong idea.

However, this post isn’t about my immediate surroundings or the weather outside. It’s about change. It’s about dealing with that change, or better yet, learning to welcome and embrace it. The last several weeks have been allll about change. Imagine changes in my home, my business, and my family. I almost want to call it a major overhaul, yet I know that’s a bit dramatic. One of these changes was moving the breakfast table to the dining room to use as a temporary workspace. This meant, moving our morning coffee spot to the chairs in the breakfast space. This seems simple, and for many people (like my husband) they wouldn’t miss a beat. For me, even something this small can be overwhelming.

On one hand, I love to be spontaneous and adventurous. On the other, I value a routine. I think that I feel balanced as long as the routine is the most prevalent and that some consistency remains among the spontaneity. When I feel like everything is changing at once, I feel anxious. And that’s precisely how I’ve felt the last month or so. As I sit staring out this new window, I think about all of the changes. I realize that I want these changes. I realize that they’re all good and that everyone is still alive amidst the chaos. I realize no one was harmed in the making of this story. We’re alive. We’re well. And we’re happy. Thinking through these things makes me want to “go with the flow” and “embrace change,” while knowing that those two principles don’t ring strong in my emotional wardrobe. Nonetheless, as I sip coffee (that’s likely getting cold as I type) from a new location, I understand that I’m practicing being gracious through the transition periods. I’m practicing bravery or better yet, courage.  My hope is that when the next wave of changes roll through, I’ll be even better at navigating them.

It’s a bit silly to think about how much aversion I have to change sometimes. Why would someone put up such a fight when they know change is inevitable? When they want the change? I can’t answer those questions yet, and I know that I may not ever understand. However, I can hope that I’ll become better at it. I can consider each new endeavor as practice. I can focus on staying calm when I see that things are adjusting around me. I can learn to love to sip my coffee from this new nook and understand that someday…maybe even soon…I might sip it from somewhere else.

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How to Live a Beautiful Life

How to Live a Beautiful Life. Read more at pamelapetrus.comI’ve dabbled with the idea of a beautiful life here on the blog before, yet I’ve never quite perfected that speech. I’ve talked about the quest to get there and shared little windows into my own idea of a beautiful life, yet I haven’t event finished the dialogue in my own mind, much less developed words eloquent enough to share. Today, I want to finally talk about what a beautiful life means and how to get there.

First, let’s talk about why this is important. Why does it matter if you have a “beautiful” life or not? And isn’t life just ugly sometimes? How can we avoid that? At first glance, it seems like this concept is something from a self-help book that isn’t even attainable for the average person. Wrong. This concept is something I’ve stewed over for several years. It was born from the idea that I wanted to truly love my life and be thrilled about both the possessions and people that surround me. I had this dream of waking up in a lovely space, putting on clothes that I loved, and using various items throughout the day that made me happy. In this dream, I’d sip from an inspiring, beautiful coffee mug while covered in the coziest blanket and sit somewhere in a beautifully decorated home where every corner was filled only with items that bring me joy. There was no clutter or items or colors that I hate. At first, this was just a dream. At first, it seemed like an impossible feat to get there. Then, I realized that I simply had to start somewhere. If I started replacing a few mediocre items here and there with beautiful things, I’d eventually only have things that I loved. If I started thinning my possessions a bit at a time, I’d eventually reduce clutter and be able to have a beautifully decorated home without excess piling up here and there. I finally realized that like any other dream, you just start somewhere and if you work hard at it, it can eventually be a reality. I’m a couple of years in to the process of making my daily life look just like this dream and here’s how I’m doing it:

  1. You must decide what a beautiful life looks like for you. For me, it was getting rid of clutter and replacing things that were “good enough” with things that were beautiful and pleasing. Your beautiful might look completely different than mine. To determine what your beautiful life looks like, simply think about your most perfect day. If today was an ideal, amazing day for you, what would it look like? What are you doing? What are you wearing? What’s the room look like? Make a list of the items that stand out. These colors, textures, and items could be the making of your own beautiful world.
  2.  Determine the key elements that you’re missing from your ideal world. In your vision, you might have noticed lots of natural light. You might have been curled up in a cozy corner, reading your favorite book. If you identify that you’re missing natural light, a short term solution could be to change out darker, light-blocking drapes to something more airy. A long term solution could be to eventually install larger windows or make a plan and work towards a new home with more windows (and I can help with that!). If you dreamed of a reading area, you could simply create a cozy nook somewhere in your home. That could be as simple as getting rid of a piece of furniture you don’t really need and bringing in a comfortable chair, lamp, and table. Don’t make this process too complicated. Just do something…anything…that makes you feel more relaxed and excited about your world.
  3.  Realize the magnitude of the project. The next step is to realize that you won’t transform your entire life in one Saturday afternoon. It most likely won’t happen in a matter of weeks or months. I’ve been working towards my ideal life for a couple of years now, and while it’s a thousand times better than what it was when I started, I’m not “finished.” This step of the process is important because you must come to terms with the fact that this could, and most likely will be, a life long task. You may not ever “finish.” The goal here isn’t to complete it and mark it off the list. Instead, the goal is to continually grow and make your world a better representation of your dreams. It’s a daily task of a life-long process.
  4. Start somewhere. Now that you understand that you might not “finish,” just start somewhere. For me, it could have been completely overwhelming to realize that I couldn’t transform everything right away. Just considering the sheer magnitude of change needed to get from my current situation to my ideal one, was incredibly daunting. As a matter of fact, it was enough to make me give up. However, I knew how important it was to me to cultivate my ideal world. I knew that I wanted my daily life to look amazing…not to just dream of it. I wanted to feel comfortable and cozy in my home, and I knew that I had a lot of work to do to get there. Step number four is possibly the most important of them all. You must simply do something. It’s easy to think and dream and plan and then do nothing. Starting is often the hardest part. The key to making your dream life a reality is to realize that you can’t do it all today and then to start somewhere.

My journey began with two of the simplest tasks. First, I emptied my cabinet of those promotional coffee mugs that meant nothing to me, and replaced them with a couple of pretty ones that I loved. Second, I bought lovely smelling hand soap and tossed the old, nasty ones out. These two tasks were the simplest possible and what I could control in that very moment. Both of these happened when we were still in our rent house where I hated the wall color and lack of light. I couldn’t control those two things right then though, so I found a few things that I could control. For less than $10 and in less than 10 minutes, I evoked a change that’s been continual and ongoing. And because I started somewhere, my life today looks much, much better than it did on that day when I first began dreaming of options. You simply cannot change everything today and there’s likely a few of the elements that are simply not an option to alter today. However, something can be done right now. What is that thing? Go do it.

When I think back on the time when this concept was born, I remember my thoughts feeling much more cluttered then. I remember things feeling darker and more overwhelming. I can easily attribute some of those negative emotions to my surroundings. My home wasn’t a relaxing environment for me and I didn’t feel comfortable there. When I finally made the decision to start changing things, I felt a difference almost immediately. I felt like I had control again and I knew that by repeatedly making little changes, I would eventually notice a big chance. So today, I share pretty pictures of cozy blankets on Instagram (see above) and it almost looks like those staged photos all of the bloggers and instagrammers share. For me though, it’s about so much more than that. For me, those photos are about creating a life that looks like magazine worthy photos. Don’t get me wrong – I get behind on laundry and dishes just like everyone else. However, with each Instagram snap, I’m internally celebrating how far I’ve come. I’m celebrating that I’ve replaced that tattered old fleece throw with a beautiful fur one that makes me happy. I’m celebrating that I’ve created a cozy space to enjoy my coffee rather that sitting in a cluttered room or gulping it down on the go. For me, it’s not about creating an image online. Instead, it’s about celebrating the years of work that I’ve already done in building my own beautiful life and encouraging myself to keep going. Eventually, I hope to have thinned closets and drawers that are easy to open and close. I hope to have a place for everything so that nothing ever needs to gather on tables or countertops. Eventually, all of my days will be structured so that I always have down time to rest, relax, and recuperate. I’ll only drink from pretty coffee cups and all the the cabinets will be filled with pretty, inspiring things. I’m not there yet, and I’m working every day…a little bit at a time….to eventually get as close as possible to living that dream. And it all started with a coffee mug and some hand soap. Today, you can choose to start somewhere. Or you can choose to not begin at all. As with everything else, your life is a result of your decisions. What’s your choice today?

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Turning 30

Turning 30. Read more at pamelapetrus.comI’ve been excitedly looking forward to my 30th birthday for months and months. Back in the fall, I shared a bit of a synopsis of all of the many things I experienced in my twenties. These past few weeks have been full of posts about goals and intentions for the year, so sharing a list of intentions for my thirties seems a little excessive. However, I’ve been so excited about this birthday, that I just had to think it through.

When I attempted to nail down where this excitement comes from, I couldn’t come up with a ton of reasons. In a nutshell, I feel like turning 30 gives me some legitimacy. I’ve always been “wise beyond my years” and always felt a good 5-10 years older than I actually was. As a teenager, I was always referred to as “mature.” (We can talk about reasons for that another day.) In my twenties, I sometimes felt like people didn’t take me seriously enough. As I approached my late twenties, I felt too old to relate to the younger folks and too young to relate to those older than me. Thirty felt like a perfect middle ground.

As I thought about what I expected my thirties to bring, I became so very excited. Without firm reasoning, it feels like this will be my decade. Thirty will be my year. With just two days left before I officially turn the big 3-0, I thought I’d share a bit about what I’m expecting of the next several years.

  1. I think this is when I’ll come into my own. I’ve grown so much in the last 10 years that It’s hard to explain the ways. I’ve learned so much about myself and I see the opportunity to take that knowledge and learn even more because of it. I feel like my thirties are when I’ll develop most into who I’m meant to me. I also expect to finally have the courage to just be that person.
  2. I think I’ll develop a routine in business. In addition to learning a lot about myself, I’ve learned a lot about business. I see 1,000 opportunities on the horizon and I feel like I’ll get to realize a lot of those in the next few years. I look forward to taking risks in business and developing a long term routine for my work environment…one that supports my goals and ambitions.
  3. I think I’ll move. Whether Matthew and I stay here or move to a faraway land, I expect that we’ll make a move in the next several years. In my dreams, I have a pretty clear vision of what the next house will look/feel like, and I can’t wait! One of my most prevalent life goals in to create a home that we’re always thrilled to come home to, serves as a welcoming ground for all of our friends and family, and gives us the space to relax and try new, creative things.
  4. I think I’ll develop my creative side. I’ve been dodging my creativity for a lack of time for years now. I hope that my thirties are spent testing my creative boundaries and trying many, many new things.
  5. I think I’ll spend a lot of time nurturing relationships. I hope to spend a lot of time with the people I love over the next several years. Experiences and quality relationships mean so much to me.
  6. I think I’ll see the world. Matthew and I have really upped our travel game this past year and have even more plans for 2016. I expect that the next decade will bring with it experiences from around the world, and I simply can’t wait for that.
  7. I think I’ll go after several someday goals. I’m in the process of actually writing down what these someday goals are. I have all of these things tucked away in my mind that I hope to do…someday. I expect that I’ll go after several of those in my thirties.

If I had to sum it all up, I’d say that my main intention for my thirties is to truly become who I want to be and to mold my life into the peaceful landscape that I can imagine. I can so clearly see what I want my daily life to look like, and I hope to spend the next decade making that dream a reality. I’m sure there will be hundreds of additional hopes and dreams that weave their way into reality over the next ten years. Some of them I might not even be able to imagine yet. Regardless, I know that when I sit down to write something similar about turning forty, I’ll have so much to consider! I hope that the words flow out abundantly over what I’ve seen, done, and realized. I intend to spend the next ten years being sure that I can write that piece with excitement.

On the surface, it seems like my 30th birthday will be just another day. After all, how much of a difference can one hour on a clock make? I don’t expect to turn into a magical creature when the clock strikes midnight (or maybe I will…we’ll see!). Instead, I just use this birthday as a jumping off point for a new chapter…much like we do for the new year. It’s as if you finish one paragraph strongly (my twenties) and it lends itself to new adventures to explore as you turn the page to something equally as fascinating (my thirties). It’s not about the actual date or the time. It’s about the mindset. And today, as I sit here preparing for the day to come, I feel excited and encouraged that this will be my year.

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One Little Word – 2016

Courageous at pamelapetrus.comThe concept of setting a guiding word for the year isn’t new. Several inspirational and successful people that I follow use this technique every year. I thought long and hard about it last year and really wanted to commit. It just seemed nearly impossible for me. I really work best on more of a short term schedule. I talked a bit about struggling with the idea and attempted to set monthly words instead of yearly in 2014.

As 2016 rolled in, I thought about it again. I saw everyone else choosing words and having custom jewelry made and I wanted to do that too. Honestly, I just couldn’t quite understand why a goal-setting fanatic like myself couldn’t pick a silly word. Again, I do better with just a few options…not the entire English language. Then it dawned on me, I have sort of chosen a word without realizing it. If you read my ramble about looking ahead to 2016, you may have picked up on one line that really stood out to me.

I’m going to be courageous.

I touched on the topic of courage earlier in 2015, and as 2016 approached, I began preparing myself to exhibit the most courage yet. I knew that the new year was going to bring with it a lot of big changes, big decisions, and hopefully, big rewards. I knew that to be successful in any of the endeavors I was approaching, I’d have to have courage. In addition to needing the courage to make big, bold moves in business, I also began really wanting to be more courageous within my personal life. On New Years Day, I starting thinking about the desire I’ve had recently to be unapologetic about showing my true self. I started to regret not having factored that into my goals for the year. (Leave it to me to have some regret over yearly goals on the first day of the year!) Then it hit me….I just needed to focus on having courage. I already have the doodle from this post as my screensaver on my phone. I’ve already been wanting to be more courageous. I need to really focus on that this year.

Here are a few of the ways in which I’ll be practicing having courage in 2016:

  1. I’m going to be doing big things with my business. At the start of 2016, I will have two full time, health-insured individuals on my team…plus myself. I am committing to bringing in enough money to support myself and two additional people. That’s so frightening. I’ve weighed the pros and the cons, the risks and the rewards, until there can’t be anything else to consider. The next step is having the courage to jump.
  2. I want to be more vulnerable. One of my most well-developed skills is the ability to protect myself. I’m almost like a ninja of my own defenses. I can throw a guard up like a professional and I do so often. This usually means that I give off a different perception of myself than what’s really real. I’ve used this tactic as a defense mechanism for many, many years and I feel that it’s going to be a tough habit to break. Rather than putting up such a tough and unwavering front, I’d like to show my sensitive and vulnerable side a bit more. I’ve realized that this protection mechanism is there. The next step is having the courage to let my guard down.
  3. I want to worry less about what other people think. I do and say things often keep other people happy or to not offend anyone. I heavily monitor my public image. I act and behave a certain way in mixed company and it’s usually only my closest friends that get to see me in my true form. I am very careful of what’s posted on social media. You won’t see rants about politics (and probably still won’t) or a photo of me having a glass of wine. I’ve always monitored these things very closely for the fear of what other people would say or think. At 30, I’m really ready to move past that. I will undoubtedly always care what people think. However, I want to feel more comfortable with who I’ve decided to be and more importantly, with the fact that some people may just not like it or agree. I’ve decided that I want this freedom. The next step is having the courage to actually let loose.

In thinking through these things, it seems as if I have unintentionally set a “one little word” for the year – courageous. Without realizing it, I identified an area or concept that I really felt I needed to work on. I can’t promise that I’ll stick with it, or even that courage will prevail when the opportunity arises. However, I am willing to admit that I need to work on it. And for now, I’m committing to focusing on this powerful word for the year. Hopefully, by the time we wrap up 2016, I’ll have realized the magnitude of my own courage, much like the lion in the Wizard of Oz. I suppose I’m starting down my own yellow brick road this year. The journey will likely be as important as the arrival, and I hope to become a better, more courageous lion by year end.

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