Search Results for “publish my writing”

Search results for 'publish my writing'

“my wish list for life”…written when I was 19

(me with my skydiving instructor on my 24th birthday after our jump, 2006)

In an attempt to find some inspiration for my new goal list this week I turned to the “wish list for life” that I wrote when I was 19 (I’ve always been a list maker). I am SO happy that I actually found it because it seriously cracked me up. Who knew that “play with a monkey” and “have a baby” could be on the same list. After reading the list I realized that while some things change completely in 10 years…some things stay exactly the same…

my wish list for life (written at 19)

-spend a summer in Italy (this still sounds lovely. I’d take France too)

-have a baby (yeah, I still want one of those)

-have a happy marriage (how nice that I clarified happy, huh?)

-act in a play (definitely don’t want to accomplish this anymore. My days as an actress were fleeting…and painful…for others to endure)

-own an apartment in New York (I’m not going to tell you that this wouldn’t be nice but it’s not a top priority. I’d rather own one in LA first)

-publish my writing (you elusive little sh*t…i’m still after you)

-volunteer with children (YES)

-take my mother on a trip to New York (how cute is this? I’d still love to take my mama on a trip…anywhere she wants)

-scuba dive (ehhhh, considering I am claustrophobic and scared of the deep ocean I’m going to say I no longer want to conquer this)

-get close to a shark (ummmm no idea why I put this on the list. I plead insanity)

-travel to Japan (YES)

-learn how to make sushi (considering how much sushi I consume on a weekly basis this may still need to be accomplished)

-learn how to drive a sports car well (who do I think I am? I can’t even drive a stick shift…although I will admit that this still sounds fun)

~~-swim with dolphins~~ (CHECK! Such a fun experience)

-complete my family tree (I’d also love to visit Ireland)

-travel to Africa (DYING to do this still)

~~-fly in a private jet~~ (CHECK! this was soooooo much fun until the landing…big planes are cooler)

-teach a class (I would still love to do this but the question still remains…what kind of class?)

-win an Oscar or at least get nominated (or at least get nominated? Hysterical, right? this falls under the same category as act in a play…no interest anymore)

-travel to Thailand (DYING to do this still)

-buy a home by the age of 28 (screwed that one up)

-donate to a cause (rather broad huh?)

~~-go camping~~ ( CHECK!)

~~-go sky diving~~ (CHECK!)

~~-build a bonfire on a beach~~ (CHECK!)

-go skinny dipping in a lake (very strange thing to put on a list but I will admit it still sounds kinda fun)

-play with a monkey (I guess I can understand why I put this on the list…monkeys are pretty cool)

-learn how to play poker well (meh…don’t really care anymore)

-learn to live in the moment (I think I have gotten pretty good at this but it’s still something I work at…daily)

~~-drive across the USA~~ (CHECK!)

-eat dinner on a yacht (I mean sure…why not)

~~-learn how to meditate~~ (CHECK!)

Tags: 365, 365 til, 365 til 30, adventure, goals, Gratitude, happy, Inspiration, inspirations, Joy, Kate McClafferty, turning 30, universe, wish list

Comments 14 Comments
Categories Inspiration, Gratitude & Surprises

check-in

7 Mar

When I originally started this blog a year and a half ago, it was ALL about accomplishing my goals. My obsession with it was actually verging on insane! I was NOT going to turn 30 without accomplishing all of them.

While it is still is a blog about setting goals and making them happen, it has also become a blog about everything that happens in between! All the lovely moments that make up my life.

The other day it dawned on me though…holy shit I am more than half-way through my 30th year?!!?!? WHAT!? Seriously? WHAT?! I’m going to be 31 in four months?!?! With this daunting realization I thought it would be a good time to check-in with myself on my progress with the goals for the year….

– Overseas trip (CHECK!)

When I put overseas trip on my list I had no idea where we would end up traveling. I just knew I needed to get out of the states and go on an adventure with Brian. We settled on Hong Kong and Nepal and I am so grateful that we did because what an adventure we had!! If you haven’t read about our trip you can below!

Big news / the travel doctor / the toe / Hong Kong 1 / Hong Kong 2 / Arriving in Nepal / Kathmandu / Patan / the monkey temple / Bhaktapur / trekking: the group / trekking: the water buffalo / trekking: the starry night.

zeeee list is done!

25 Jul

I’ve certainly taken my sweet ass time deciding on what my new goals for the year will be, haven’t I? In my defense, I found it extremely hard to choose them this time around, maybe because I now know how much effort it takes to make them a reality and I want to choose them carefully. I also really want to be thoughtful about what I want to accomplish this year- my first year as a thirty year old. I want to pick goals that feel like the organic next step for me in my career, relationships and life.

My long time readers may notice that a few of my goals have been carried over from last year. Why? Well, because I haven’t accomplished them yet and I still want to!

Let the fun begin! Here goes…

Volunteer as a big sister

I decided that when I volunteer this year I want to work with children. I also now know, after last years volunteer work at PATH (People Assisting The Homeless) that I prefer working on a one on one basis. Armed with those two pieces of information, I settled on volunteering as a big sister. I am realllllly looking forward to this experience.

Overseas trip with Brian

Brian and I both LOVE to travel (Thank God because I honestly don’t know if I could be with somebody who didn’t love to travel too) The last big trip we took together was to Nicaragua in 2011 and it was amazing experience. Well, other than the stomach bug we both got, but hey, it only brought us closer. We have both been visualizing another trip somewhere foreign and are on a mission to accomplish it this year. Our top choice would be a trip to Thailand and Cambodia but we would pretty much go anywhere for the right deal as long is it was out of the country and neither of us had been before.

Nicaragua April 2011

Art

I have always been a fan of the book “The Artists Way” (side note- you must read it if you haven’t. Even if you don’t consider yourself an artist it’s still inspiring) One of the tenets that I love most in the book is the idea of taking yourself on artists dates once a week. What’s an artist date? Anything that brings you inspiration and makes you feel alive- a trip to the museum by yourself, a walk in a new neighborhood, painting classes, pottery classes, photo projects, spend the day watching a bunch of old films, go somewhere you haven’t been since you were a child, take yourself on a picnic in the park, finger paint, garden….you see where I am going with this right? I got to thinking about how long it’s been since I have made time for such things in my life on a regular basis…too long. So this year I want to get back into carving out the time to take myself on a date once a week.

New living space

We really need to move from our sweet 1 bedroom home into something different. It makes us both sad because we LOVE our little place by the beach (morning walks on the sand are hard to beat!) but we really want a bigger space, a yard, an updated kitchen and I personally want a bigger closet- my shoes are cramped!

French Bulldog

Frank! I’m coming for you!

Ballet classes

When I was a little girl, I danced ballet for 10 years and I found such joy in it. The other day I got to thinking..why can’t I take ballet again at 30? Clearly, I’m not trying to become a professional dancer or anything but there must be classes for a girl to have a little fun in, right? So what it’s been twelve years (oy) since I put my point shoes on! Like riding a bike, right?!

Publish my writing

This is a carry over from last year. I. Still. Want. To. Accomplish. This. Goal…very badly. Onward!

Yoga retreat

Considering I am a yoga nut, I can’t believe that I have never been on a retreat. This year that is going to change! I signed up for Jennifer Pastiloff’s Manifestation Yoga Retreat in Ojai, CA in October. If you have read my blog before than you know that Jennifer is not only one of my favorite yoga teachers, she’s also a dear friend. Her retreats are known to be beyond amazing and I am so excited! I also get to sleep in a yurt with a bunch of other people….so there’s that to be excited about too.

Tags: 365, 365 til, 365 til 30, bis sister program, cambodia, Explore, French Bulldog, goals, Gratitude, happy, humor, Inspiration, inspirations, Jennifer Pastiloff, Joy, Kate McClafferty, Manifestation yoga, nicaragua, retreat, thailand, The Artists Way, travel, universe, yoga retreat

Comments 27 Comments
Categories Art, Ballet Classes, French Bulldog, New Living Space, Overseas trip, Publish My Writing, Yoga Retreat

138

21 Feb

Coming off yesterday’s post, I am sure this will NOT come as a surprise to you- I have hit a bit of a midlife crisis with 365 til 30. Or, as Maggi, my life coach so kindly put it- “I think 365 til 30 is starting to run you now, instead of you running it”. Ouch. What a painful thing to hear but so true. The ten goals that gave me SOOOOO much joy 6 months ago have started to feel like chores- totally not the point of this project! Maggi has urged me to remember why I originally wanted to accomplish these goals and to focus on the joy and excitement the thought of experiencing them brought me.

When I started 365 til 30 six months ago, I was off and running right out of the gate. Full of excitement and wonder, I happily embarked on the adventure of camping and Tassajara. After accomplishing them I moved onto my other goals for the year- learn to cook, master the tango, speak French fluently, work with my favorite websites, publish my writing (I have a book proposal floating around at a publisher…fingers crossed) and volunteer. I have realized these goals are less finite and instead are an ongoing process. I am constantly tending to them.

The last two goals…Drive Across the USA (which I am in the process of planning for April) and getting Frank, my French Bulldog (which will happen when we move) are goals that I am still working towards. With the road trip fast approaching I happen to think about it all the time. I am DYING with excitement to drive across the USA with my girlfriend Rachel– she is the perfect friend to do this with and equally excited! This goal has always been one of my favorites on the list because it’s something I have dreamed of doing since I was little girl and I can’t believe I’m finally going to do it! As the trip approaches though I have started to feel a bit anxious about it. When I put it on the list I always wondered how I would take the time off to do it right. It’s not like it’s ever really convenient to leave your life for 3-4 weeks…work and money are valid concerns. My remedy for the fear is to remember the joy the idea of accomplishing it brings me and keep putting one foot in front of the other.

With so much on my plate I decided I needed a focused plan towards finding the joy in the goals again.

I start another round of tango classes on Monday the 27th for 6 weeks and I will not skip one class…not one!

I will find one new exciting dish a week to learn! (last night it was fish provencal! It was soooooooooo gooooood- post coming!)

I will continue my volunteer work at PATH once a week.

I will spend 4 hours a week practicing my French in preparation for my trip to Paris in July!!!

I will finalize all the details for our road trip from a joyful place instead of an anxious place so that we are ready to embark on the journey in April!!

I will stay positive and grateful about the fact that my book proposal is floating around in the world instead of anxious.

I will re-stratagize my approach for working with Take Part and Explore- I have had sooooo many meetings with both of them and feel like the timing has been off…but maybe I need to re-think my approach.

I will commit to weekly sessions with Maggi starting this week. It doesn’t matter how busy I am! They will be a priority because they always keep me focused, calm, joyful and on-track.

Oh, and most importantly, I will commit to being grateful and enjoy the process….otherwise what the hell is the point right??!

Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death.

Anais Nin

Tags: 365 til, 365 til 30, adventure, Buddha, Buddhism, camping, Cooking, dinner parties, drive across the USA, Explore, French Bulldog, fun, goals, Gratitude, happy, humor, Inspiration, inspirations, Kate McClafferty, Learning French, One Part Gypsy, Paris, Tango, Tassajara, turning 30

168

21 Jan

PUBLISH MY WRITING

As we all know by now one of the 10 goals this year is to publish my writing. I have decided to think big and write a book proposal. I have been working on it non-stop for the last two weeks and It’s been a serious test of patience. I never thought it would be so hard. I was arrogant enough to think it would be a breeze considering I write every single day. Wrong…wrong…wrooooonnnng. I can’t even explain why it’s been so exhausting. After staring blankly at my computer screen for a few hours last week, I decided that I needed some inspiration so I sent an email to a friend who has published many books before and asked her what her secret was. Hoping there was some magical secret…some nugget of anything she could offer.

Her response…

“Book writing is up there with climbing the Himalayas for degree of difficulty. It is lonely and intellectually complicated. Also very worth doing.”

Love, M

“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”

Ernest Hemingway

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Categories Publish My Writing

169

20 Jan

INSPIRATION VIDEO : PUBLISH MY WRITING

I love this woman and I love this TED talk she gave about nurturing your creativity.

“As for discipline – it’s important, but sort of over-rated. The more important virtue for a writer, I believe, is self-forgiveness. Because your writing will always disappoint you. Your laziness will always disappoint you. You will make vows: “I’m going to write for an hour every day,” and then you won’t do it. You will think: “I suck, I’m such a failure. I’m washed-up.” Continuing to write after that heartache of disappointment doesn’t take only discipline, but also self-forgiveness (which comes from a place of kind and encouraging and motherly love). The other thing to realize is that all writers think they suck. When I was writing “Eat, Pray, Love”, I had just as a strong a mantra of THIS SUCKS ringing through my head as anyone does when they write anything. But I had a clarion moment of truth during the process of that book. One day, when I was agonizing over how utterly bad my writing felt, I realized: “That’s actually not my problem.” The point I realized was this – I never promised the universe that I would write brilliantly; I only promised the universe that I would write. So I put my head down and sweated through it, as per my vows.”

Elizabeth Gilbert

Tags: 365 til, 365 til 30, creativity, Elizabeth Gilbert, Inspiration, Joy, Kate McClafferty, Love, meditation, Publish, publish my writing, Tango, ted talks, turning 30, work, writing

Comments 3 Comments
Categories Publish My Writing

174

15 Jan

This about sums up the weekend for me! I plan to be home all day working again. Hopefully all this work leads to crossing a big goal off my list…publish my writing. Ooooh I got chills when I wrote that! So exciting to think of this actualizing. It hasn’t been all work this weekend though. I did break free from my computer last night for a very fun dinner party at my friend Alex’s house. This is the dinner party that I forced him to have so I could learn his Moroccan Chicken dish. It was such a good group of people and the meal was a huge success! I will be posting about the evening and dish tomorrow.

“When you’re a grown up, all there is to do is talk and work, drink coffee, eat spicy food and watch kids. Booooring!”

Mia, Sweet Fine Day

Tags: 365 til, 365 til 30, Inspiration, Kate McClafferty, publish my writing, turning 30, work, writing

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Categories Publish My Writing

334

8 Aug

INSPIRATION PHOTO : PUBLISH MY WRITING

“Writing is the best way to talk without being interrupted.”

Jules Renard

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Categories Publish My Writing

338

4 Aug

INSPIRATIONS, GRATITUDE & SURPRISES

When I put together my list of 11 goals for the year I choose them with my gut and not my head. After completing my first goal I had a realization about the list. The camping experience brought out a part of me I really like. She’s easy, adventurous and goes with the flow. It was then that it hit me. These 11 goals represented 11 different facets of my character that I wanted to strengthen moving into my 30’s.

CAMPING… Completing this goal brought out an easy, adventurous and go with the flow version of myself that I want to keep alive moving forward. She’s so fun, she eats chicken from an ice cooler and hikes 8 miles for enjoyment sake.

CONTRIBUTE TO MY FAVORITE WEBSITES… This goal was definitely chosen to feed the career orientated me. Not to mention my confidence has got to shine to get this one done.

DRIVE ACROSS THE USA… Since I plan to drive cross-country with no real plan I’m thinking this one is to strengthen the adventurous, fun and crazy me!

GET A FRENCH BULLDOG… I am totally convinced Frank will bring a more joyful and playful Kate out.

LEARN FRENCH… Langue français est un sexy. Assez dit.

LEARN HOW TO COOK… Cooking to me represents family, love and warmth. So I’m pretty sure I choose this to strengthen the nurturer in me. My future self is a wife and mother who bakes and cooks for the fun of it but in heels!

LEARN TO TANGO… The tango screams sex to me so I think it’s safe to say that the tango was chosen to strengthen the sexy, confident and commanding woman in me.

PUBLISH MY WRITING… Creative Kate. Creative Kate. Creative Kate. Try and say that 10 times. It’s hard.

TASSAJARA… After a week with Buddhist monks I’m hoping to see a more calm, grateful, kind, loving, forgiving and thankful Kate. I see glimpses of her all the time. But, then she vanishes when the coffee machine breaks or she get’s a flat tire.

VOLUNTEER… I plan to start working with the homeless. I choose this for obvious reasons…giving back and sharing love.

“If we’re growing, we’re always going to be out of our comfort zone.”

John Maxwell

Tags: French, French Bulldog, Gratitude, Inspiration, Kate McClafferty, Maya Angelou, Surprises, Tassajara...CHECK!!!, USA, Volunteer...in the process!, websites, work, writing

365 till 30

9 Jul

So the day is upon me. I am officially 29 years old. What this means to me, other than the joy of presents and cake, is that I am 365 days away from 30. Holy SHIT, how did that happen? Wasn’t I just a wide-eyed 23-year-old traipsing around West Hollywood causing trouble? 30…I just keep saying the number to myself in the hopes I will get used to the way it rolls off my tongue.

Being that I am 365 days away from 30 I have been obsessed with where I amsupposed to be by 30 and what I should have accomplished by 30. What things to cross of my bucket list by 30. The problem is thinking these thoughts, has led me to compare myself to every other human being ages 29-31. Strongest focus on females living in L.A., aged 29.

You see I choose to follow the creative path in my career and life. This path has led me to many great highs and many other moments which have left me wondering…hmmm maybe a stable 9-5 job wouldn’t be SO bad.

I have to say I am a very happy and fulfilled lady despite not having a stable 9-5 job, a mortgage or a baby. Although, I am sure when all of those things are mine one day I will be the asshole in the corner saying “I have never been happier”.

I have decided I need to shake things up a bit. Get out of my head. Forget about my regrets and stop thinking about the phrases “should have” and “everybody else”. I also plan to cross off a few goals on my bucket list and most importantly have some fun.

So, I have come up with a list to accomplish in 365 days. I will of course document it all through pictures and videos…for your enjoyment. Because, there will be no crying over 30 in this house.

GO CAMPING

Thank God, Brian has

1. Camped before

2. Has camping gear

3. Is handy with navigation

4. Likes camping

5. Seems like he could get us out of a sticky situation involving unexpected intruders i.e. spiders, bears, angry deer and angry rodents

*I have no way of knowing if number 5 is true but if I don’t believe it to be true then this goal will never be accomplished.

*Not to mention if numbers 1-4 weren’t true, I would probably die trying to accomplish this goal and never see 30. I would be one of those horror stories like that family who survived off of cheese whiz for a month.

LEARN FRENCH

I have always wanted to speak French fluently. I have had many opportunities to accomplish this goal. The first being my private school education grades 7-12. From those years I walked away with some killer French slang but beyond that not much. The second being the 3 summers I spent visiting my grandparents in the South of France. From those years I walked away with a killer French boyfriend named Jean Marc.

Since those two avenues didn’t pan out…I have chosen to pay for classes during my 29^th year on earth.

PUBLISH MY WRITING

Let me clarify something here. I mean publish my writing in places other than my blog. I’m feeling very hopeful about this goal. But, if Marie Claire and Cosmodoesn’t come knocking by day 327, I will have to resort to other measures. Measures that may involve me asking my fellow blogger friends to publish my writings.

LEARN TO TANGO

What a seriously sexy dance to watch! A dance that I am quite sure I will look seriously deranged doing. Thankfully, I can laugh at myself and thankfully I will be enlisting someone to film these classes so you can laugh “with” me as they say.

Mark my words…I will Tango. Oh and when I do I will dance the tango scene from Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

DRIVE ACROSS THE USA

This has ALWAYS been on my bucket list. Some people think this sounds just plain horrible but I think it sounds like heaven. Just you (and hopefully an adventurous co-captain) on the open road…stopping wherever we please…getting lost…getting found…seeing New Orleans…staying in funny motels…barns…Iowa…exploring…photographing…drinking beer with an old man in a dusty bar in Texas. Do you see where I am going with this?

GET A FRENCH BULLDOG

It’s time. It really is. I have waited long enough. He even already has a name…Frank. Or Franc when I’m in a French mood.

CONTRIBUTE TO MY FAVORITE SITES

Each of these sites inspires me to continue creating content that makes us view ourselves as a global community. I would be beyond thrilled to contribute to them.

http://explore.org/ – “Never Stop Learning”

http://www.takepart.com/ – “Inspiration to Action”

http://www.good.is/ – “For People who give a damn”

TASSAJARA

Spend one week at Tassajara, which is a Buddhist Zen center near San Francisco. There I plan to complete a work program and spend my time working in silence. Yes, not talking…to anyone. If accepted I can stay there free of charge in exchange for working at the center. I read the list of possible work duties to my mother, which included

Carpentry

Repairs

Plumbing,

Electrical

Gardening

Painting,

Cooking

Cabin preparation

and general maintenance work for the community.

To which she said…”I don’t hear anything that you can do?”

LEARN HOW TO COOK

This cooking “thing” falls under the same category as this speaking French fluently “thing”. I have had many opportunities to learn. But, still the kitchen gives me panic attacks despite my love of eating. So out of pure necessity I will accomplish this goal. Because, I have learned you can’t save money like “real adults” do if you buy your dinner from Whole Foods every night.

I will start with something very simple…like scrambled eggs. Maybe by the end of this year I will throw a lavish dinner party cooked by MOI. Like how I brought the French full circle?

VOLUNTEER

After reading my list of goals for the last 365 days of my 20’s I thought, “These are rather self-indulgent, huh?” So, lastly I will volunteer consistently for a cause that is near and dear to me.

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I am a writer, blogger and host living in Los Angeles, CA with my husband Brian and French Bulldog Frank.

I started this blog in 2011 on the eve of my 29th birthday because I was feeling frustrated with the state of my life. In an inspired moment I compiled a list of 10 goals to accomplish in the 365 days leading up to my 30th birthday. Goals that I thought would bring me closer to the life I wanted-- and with that, 365 til 30 was born. That year was an incredible journey and truly changed my life. Since then, the blog has grown to include everything that happens after turning 30.

My professional website can be found here.