[i] LoveLife

YOU ARE AWESOME + guest post.

Hi, Sunday-night-of-a-long-weekend. Snuggle in. I thought this was the perfect opportunity to share some stories resulting from the project that called YOU-ARE-AWESOME. The YOU-ARE-AWESOME project started in January 2009 with some bright + simple customizable posters designed with the intention of creating a positive impact and affirmation. When you see your name in print - it feels good. Whether you are just born, in highschool (I'll get to that) or a real-live-adult - it touches you somehow and gives you permission to believe it. You can find out more about the posters here. YOU CAN ORDER THEM HERE. And the YOU-ARE-AWESOME mini print set here. I've been enjoying these posters for so many reasons - but, the absolute best thing about them is the ripple effect I see when a poster is created. I know this is not rocket-science or ground-breaking-news... but, I fully and completely think that if something inspires goodness in someone - then it's BETTER than science or broken ground. IT'S A WEE BIT O' MAGIC. Like this...

So cool. I love seeing the names and YOU-ARE adjectives. There are so many wonderful stories about why you chose certain words and I seriously love it all. There are SO MANY great names out there, too. And so many requests for special YOU-ARE phrases. Here are some of my favourites...

Amazing stuff. I love when ideas evolve. I loved this teacher's idea so much - I asked her to write a little guest post...

Some days the duty of being a high school teacher is an unforgiving and thankless job. Some days the smallest most unexpected gesture makes me realize how much I like my job. In the back of my mind I have this crazy idea that all students arrive happy, excited and intrigued to learn.  Eager to fill their brain with knowledge, anxious to explore and motivated to succeed.  I keep forgetting that many students arrive dejected, fearful of failure and preoccupied with other problems.  Fitting in is hard.  Peer pressure is real.

I believe attitude is contagious. I believe an unwritten part of my job is to model a positive attitude (I actually believe this is part of everyone's job).  During the last few months of my maternity leave, while planning for my return to work, I tossed an idea out to some colleagues.  My idea involved using Kal's custom YOU-ARE-AWESOME posters.  I was setting a personal goal to pay attention to positive student behaviour and reward at least one student per week until the end of the year with a custom poster.  Most of my colleagues smiled and threw a negative slap my way by commenting that I probably wouldn't be able to find enough students.  I almost threw out the idea.  For some reason I kept believing that a positive attitude is just as contagious as a negative attitude.  I was bit apprehensive that because I teach high school.  Teenagers trying to be cool, trying to fit in, trying to distance themselves from being a "teacher's pet".  It didn't take long before I received some feedback.  One student response was, "when can I take my poster home?".  Another student response was, "can you get more than one?".  Another student response was, "I'm going to try for Meghan You Are Mighty".

This is the 11th week of my "Project YOU-ARE-AWESOME" and here's a sample of what students had to say about it.

"It makes kids feel special to see their name on the poster.  It is also good to see the people that get recognized for a good thing that they have done." ~ Amy P.

"I think project YOU-ARE-AWESOME is a valuable reminder to people that they are being noticed for everything they do.  Even though people probably wouldn't admit it, they would likely feel good that they were recognized by another person for doing something helpful, and they would also be more likely to notice and comments on the good things that other people do.  Keep up the good work!"

"I think that Project YOU-ARE-AWESOME is a lot better than the other projects we have for recognition in our school.  Knowing that your name is on a poster makes you feel included." ~ Steph P.

"I like the bright colours but think there could be more colours like pink or other themes.  They are very personalized and make you feel like it is just for you.  The words pop out and look nice.  They are fun and make you want to do something good." ~ Kim B.

"It might give people a much needed boost to be told they are awesome!"

"I would really like to be in the YOU-ARE-AWESOME Project"

Has Project YOU-ARE-AWESOME had a positive impact in my classroom?  Absolutely. Students are often asking when I will be adding new posters to the wall.  There is something infectious about the "YOU-ARE-AWESOME" posters.  It must be some psychological mind game to see your name in print with a positive adjective.  It feels good.  Students appreciate being recognized, without blowing things out of proportion or having them stand in front of the entire student body and risk public humiliation for being or doing good.  Last but not least, students earn "YOU-ARE-AWESOME" posters for more than just high marks or perfect test scores.  It's not all about being perfect ... everyone has the ability to do something good.

Amen. I thought that was particularly cool. I also thought these were amazing emails to receive...

"Hi Kal. I just wanted to let you know that it was my 47th birthday today and a my daughter had you make a poster that she gave me this evening. Perhaps I should preface this by saying that I am a senior partner in a law firm in San Antonio and I am the last person who might admit that it was quite a moment to see my name next to the words You Are Loved and Admired. We have had a challenging relationship since her mother and I divorced - so the words were very meaningful to me. The poster will go in my office where I will see it everday. Thank you for this incredible gift. ~Michael" 

"Dear Kal. When I came home from school today my mom put my poster in my room and it made me feel proud because it said I am incredible. That is cool. I like the monkey. ~Logan"

"Hello Kal!! I wanted to let you know that my sister loves the poster you did for her. She's been feeling low and this was the perfect way for us to remind her that she is an amazing person. ~Meghan"

To Dan and Kal - thank you for the posters! They arrived today and they are even nicer than I expected! Thank you for shipping all the way to New Zealand ~Kiri" 

Cool. Very cool.

It's not too late to get your own YOU-ARE-AWESOME poster.  Order them here.

Today: well, it's actually late at night and I'm going to get some rest before a busy holiday Monday around these parts. Life is good. Actually - it's awesome.

GO!

Word to the MOTHER.

Hi internet. Today was a beautiful day and this is a short NIGHT POST from a tired mama.

In the last few months, I've received lots of emails requesting a piece for mothers... And since I am very, very new to this thing called being a mother - it caused me quite a bit of thought. Which was hard. What makes a good mother? To be perfectly honest - I don't feel any different since becoming a "Mama" (as Pilot would put it). I don't ball up tissues and stuff them in my sleeve like MY MOM DOES. I don't drive way TOO SLOW FOR WORDS (like my mom does). And I don't cook amazingly delicious meals or have a way with making every holiday feel special (like my mom does). And truthfully, every now and again I find myself watching the clock instead of my babies. SHAME ON ME. Some days - I'm quite certain I'm not qualified to be in the company of such awesome new souls.

BUT, WHAT I DO KNOW is that my whole world slows a little when one of those pretty little small people cracks a smile. Or makes me laugh. Or sees something for the first time. I catch my heart hurting for those who have lost their mothers. Or especially for mothers who have lots their babes. So, while I do not feel any different - something has changed my heart...

If you HAVE a MOM, or you ARE a MOM, or you KNOW a MOM - this might be something you will appreciate. I've been working my butt off to get out two customizable PRINTS FOR MOMS. In time for Mother's Day. I'm only taking orders for a little while because these ones are a fair bit more work - but MOMs are worth it. If you're interested - I can only say ACT FAST. ORDER THEM HERE. Send the link to your kids. To your partners. To your friends. To new moms. To long-time moms. To the moms you love.

From a MOM.

(Goodnight... )

2 snowballs + 3 winners.

Monday. YOU AGAIN? Man, weekends go by fast. It was snowball-making weather this weekend and that means one thing: SPRING IS ON THE WAY. Unless you live in a cold place I don't think you can truly appreciate the feeling of warm sun on your face after a long winter. Spring. It makes me all jittery - like I want to run a marathon and get a short haircut and plant flowers and take up African drumming (none of which are my style). It really does makes you want to clean things and chip ice and follow puddles as they river along into drain sewers. What an awesome feeling. It will be a long time till the snow is gone... but that's okay because the ball is rolling now!
[Pilot doing snow-yoga.]

Our first family photo with Penn! I like this one because Crash is too busy ripping around to be in the photo (I love a happy dog) and Pilot is wondering why Penn has just started screaming and Penn is screaming because we just ripped her out of her nice warm stroller AND THAT HAS GOTTA SUCK. Ah, life. I heart chaos. AND SPRING. And the three people in the above photo with me. Thanks for the wonderful weekend.
Last week I got a gift that hit me in a big way. I've been yammering on about seeing your name in print and how that makes you feel validated and allowed to take up space. I believe that entirely. Even more now. Lisa Leonard sent me a BEAUTIFUL necklace and it was the FIRST thing I had in my possession with BOTH the name Pilot and the name Penn. Together. It was kind of amazing in this HOLY-CRAP-THOSE-ARE-MY-PEOPLE kind of moment. It made me cry. Because these two amazing little people never existed before. And now they do. And seeing their names hand-stamped in a beautiful heart pendant makes that a little less of a dream and a lot more real. What an awesome gift. Especially for a mom. (This is, by the way, my new favourite Lisa Leonard piece because it's HEAVY and thick. I love it.) Thank you, Lisa!

[Dan is awesome! This is the one I did for his office.]

[I love how Marsha framed up her 12 x 18 posters. This looks GREAT!]

I am still whipping along with my Custom YOU-ARE-AWESOME posters. I like this project a lot. I totally LOVED going through the comments hearing about all the different ways the YOU-ARE-AWESOME mini print set designs could be used. I thought of a bunch of cool ways to use a set myself. Like for my friend Jamie who is coming back from Afghanistan soon. He gets the YOU SHOULD BE PROUD version. Like for our friends Cadence + Jared who brought us coffee on Sunday. They will get the YOU ARE UNDENIABLY AWESOME version. There were SO MANY great ideas - my mind is all a flutter again. Dan was busy all weekend packing + shipping so today is like a mini EXPLOSION of YOU-ARE-AWESOME into the world. Austria. Denmark. Japan. USA. Africa. Australia. ALL OVER the map. So cool.

I said I'd pick 3 winners. These winners get to pick ONE of the mini print from the set that they'd like to receive as an 8 x 10. (You can do this if you'd like... just order an 8 x 10 Custom YOU-ARE-AWESOME poster and specify in the note section which one you'd like.) Thank you for playing along. Here are the winners (email me if this is you):
Thanks again. PS. There aren't many sets left.

Today: Ooooooh, I don't know yet. I woke up without a plan - which is RARE. There's all kinds of things to do around here, but I feel like not-doing any of it. I feel like organizing and spring cleaning and playing in puddles and takings things to the DUMP. But, I STILL WANT TO GET MY GIRL-TRIBE A GOLDFISH. And go for a walk. And get a delicious out-of-house coffee. And finish reading The Prairie Bridesmaid. AND GET SERIOUS there are two small people hinging on this psuedo-plan. The YIN-YANG will be balanced around here today because Crash's buddy Otto is coming to shake things up a bit. It will be awesome. I hope Pilot + Penn are on board for a smooth-sailing kind of day.

I certainly am. GO!

You rock.

We made it. Friday. Just first let me say thank-you three times over. THANK YOU UNIVERSE for letting me steal some time to PAINT. THANK YOU BONNIE for taking my girl tribe so I could paint. AND THANK YOU INTERNET for being awesome. Wow. The response to the YOU-ARE-AWESOME mini print set was pretty incredible. All day long the phrase "it's not where you get them from, but where you take them to" kept looping in my mind because of the emails from people telling me what they were going to DO with the prints. Who they were giving them to. Where they were going to put them. How they were going to make a difference. Teachers were getting them for students. Bosses for employees. Life coaches for the lives they are coaching. Old people for young people. Young people for old farts. Fathers for daughters. Friends for friends. Mothers for children. Mothers for other mothers. US for EACH OTHER. It was humbling and very touching to feel the spirit of generosity picking up speed from a little design. SO COOL. (One lady was getting them for the baristas at her local Starbucks!)

DON'T FORGET: For every set of mini prints you buy - you will be entered in a draw for a big Custom YOU-ARE-AWESOME poster. On me. (Draw will be made on the 27th of March.)

Not sure what YOU-ARE-AWESOME mini prints sets are? Here's the post and you can order them here.
 
GIVEAWAY OF AWESOMENESS: leave a comment with what you would do with your prints - who needs them - what they might mean to you AND THREE LUCKY PEOPLE WILL WIN an 8 x 10 inch version of their choice from the mini print set. (see them here) Cool. I'll take comments until TODAY at 11:59pm Central Standard time.

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5 PROJECT-WEEK PIPE DREAM UPDATE:
MONDAY: fabric designs three TINY ARTS started
TUESDAY: custom baby book + TINY ART finished + photo organization and printing
WEDNESDAY: Tiny Art + YOU-ARE-AWESOME prints, posters
THURSDAY: painting + YOU-ARE-AWESOME mini prints, posters and emails.
FRIDAY: photo organization and printing

Check, check and sorta-CHECK! I did a not-too-bad of sticking to my list... with the exception of the fabric and the baby book design. And exercising. And eating healthy. But, I added a GIANT mini print project. And reading a whole book. And getting up twice each night with either Penn or Pilot. Okay. SO I kind of sucked balls at staying on track. BOOO. My list-making was a little bit useless. NOTE TO SELF.

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Today: (another Friday the 13th? Yikes.) Pilot's old nanny (except she's young and beautiful) is coming by for a visit this morning. I'm going to pack mini print sets. I'm going to organize my photos and send them for print. I'm going to work on the cow Tiny Art painting (shown above in the first stage) and get some scanning done during the afternoon naps. Mooooo. The weather looks good so we're GOING OUTSIDE so that Crash will GET OFF MY BACK ALREADY. And have company over for dinner. And drink some wine. And be together.

You can't win a YOU-ARE-AWESOME poster if you don't leave a comment. HELLO FRIDAY! GO!

You should...

Hi today. WHAT DAY IS THIS? IT feels like Sunday. Or September. Or 2013 or something like that. It's been FULL around here these days. FULL diapers. FULL brains. FULL schedules. FULL. Everything FULL. And still - every now and then I look around and think quietly to myself 'I AM DOING THIS'. I am not feeling as lost as I did when Pilot was 5 weeks old. I'm not feeling as torn. I'm not feeling as defiant. I'm not feeling as broken and unrepairable. Don't tell anyone - but, I'm feeling a wee bit PROUD of small tasks like getting dinner on the table every night (okay, even if it's BAKED SPAGHETTI seventeen days in a row) and sweeping the floor once or twice a month. And the big tasks like keeping everyone here at Aubrey House alive and in good spirits. Oh yeah - I still can't manage to brush my teeth or return phone calls or remember where the heck I put my keys, but a small voice in my head said to me the other day, "you should be proud". I am.

Hey - it's THURSDAY. In the spirit of spreading awesomeness (and listening to a couple requests) I have something new to offer. Lots of people emailed asking for generic posters or smaller posters or different things (this one's for you Kathran!). SO UNTIL THEY ARE GONE - I am releasing what I call a YOU-ARE-AWESOME mini print set into the wild blue yonder. For $35 CAN (that's about $27 USD) - you get a nice little assorted collection of 5 x 7 inch mini prints. Ten in total (in fact the exact ten pictured above). FREE SHIPPING. Vibrant and colourful and (hopefully) awesome. Buy them HERE.
For every set of YOU-ARE-AWESOME mini prints you buy - your name will be entered in a giveaway draw for one of the big 12 x 18 Custom YOU-ARE-AWESOME posters for yourself (or whomever you'd like to give it to). DON'T TELL DAN. I'll make the draw on March 27th because that's my sister-in-law-that-I've-never-met's birthday (Hi Jess!). These little prints make great gifts and are inexpensive to frame which makes them even greater gifts. It's like a vicious circle only it's awesome.

EDITED NOTE: the ASTRONOMICAL SHIPPING IS FIXED!! Shipping is FREE. Shipping is FREE. Shipping is FREE. PayPal and I were not getting along. BUT DAN HAS FIXED THINGS! I must not have had enough coffee!

5 PROJECT-WEEK PIPE DREAM UPDATE:
MONDAY: fabric designs three TINY ARTS started
TUESDAY: custom baby book + TINY ART finished + photo organization and printing
WEDNESDAY: Tiny Art + YOU-ARE-AWESOME prints, posters
THURSDAY: painting (I STILL need to setup some nanny time for this one) YAY BONNIE!!!
FRIDAY: photo organization and printing

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Today: I'm off!! I'm gone. Screw laundry and errands and even BREAKFAST. My ANGEL of a neighbour is watching my girl tribe for a bunch of hours so that I can PAINT. I SAID PAINT!! That's about the BEST gift I can think of this week so I'm OFF to find myself at the bottom of a can of margeritas magenta. Oops! (Thank you Bonnie!) I'm coffeed up and out of here. Au revoir.

GO!!

LOOK.

Hi Friday. I have thoroughly enjoyed the last half of this week. Thank you so much. Me and my girl-tribe have been in fantastic spirits and what a difference that makes. I've been loving our days and our new routines. I've been loving having two small people at the same time - maybe even MORE than having just one. Oh, yeah - I'll be the FIRST PERSON to tell you that I suck hardcore at being good at this... but, I decided that I'm not going to worry about being GOOD - I'm just gonna try to make sure we laugh more than we cry around here. That's a good general rule right up there with tell the truth and DON'T HEADBUTT YOUR SISTER. So far - so good. I think know that ME being more at ease sets the 'chi' in our house to happier.

Check this out...
I've been working hard at the Custom YOU-ARE-AWESOME posters. Here's just a couple of the posters that went out this week. The more I do - the MORE I like the world. Seriously. People are showing LOVE and it's inspiring. YOU LOVE.

THE POINT BEHIND THE POSTERS: First, I wholeheartedly believe that seeing your name in print validates you in a way that moves from the inside... I think people are getting that. I have done posters with kids names, parents names, lovers names, friends names, students names, teachers names... if you have a name - it will work. I love the adjectives people are sharing with me. I love the names and colour choices and I could go on FOREVER about how much I enjoy them. YOU ARE SO AWESOME for liking them, too. Second, when I was a kid my Baba would buy us grandkids pens and rulers and things that were personalized. Everyone would get their appropriate name and I would get one that said LINDA or DAWN that my Baba would either carefully cross out with a black marker or just shrug and ignore the fact that MY NAME IS NOT SUSANNAH. Not even close.

PS. I have gotten more emails than I can count saying "I don't have kids so these posters are not of interest to me - get on with your art." ACK. I'm so tired of that email. Don't send me anymore like that. YOU need a poster in a bad way - just to improve your attitude. It makes me sad... only because FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE THESE POSTERS ARE NOT JUST FOR KIDS. Kids are not the only ones who are awesome. Or loved. Or incredible. I happen to know at least three adults that are quite fantastical. Okay fine - maybe only two. ;)

PS AGAIN. Sometimes I can accommodate a special request - go on and ask. I might surprise you.

PS. AGAIN PLUS. The prices are in Canadian dollars and include free shipping to WHEREVER YOU ARE.

Click here to get yourself some posters or to find out more.

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GET IT TOGETHER: I have too many ideas floating around in my pea brain right now. Baby books. Fabrics. Canvas wraps. Paintings. Posters. Website adjustments. LoveLife. Tiny Art. On and on the list goes and I'm not getting anything accomplished. Next week I'm going to try on a-project-a-day and see if that work to keep me focused.

Today: BIG PLANS. We're heading to Dan's office to visit him and say 'thank-you for all the gifts!' Then we are going to go to the library because I am boycotting buying books and will try this new-fangled idea called BORROWING THEM. I don't even have a library card, but in an effort to save money by not buying anymore bookshelves - I will give it a whirl. We're also going to get groceries so that we can make a special dinner to celebrate a full week of good things. COMPLETE WITH WINE. I'm also going to pick up posters, work on posters and organize my art supplies because I am stealing 3 hours tomorrow afternoon to paint. Yay!

I'm off to make LOVE TO Friday. GO!

Custom YOU-ARE-AWESOME posters now available.

Hi February. Hi Ground Hog day! I like February a lot. I think it's my second or third favourite month of all time. How can you not love a short & sweet idea like February? The river trails are open. Winter is in full effect. VALENTINE'S DAY is coming! The holiday hubbub is passed. There's a lot of GOOD in February. INCLUDING THE ARRIVAL OF OUR NEW PERSON. No, he/she's not here yet... but, the count down is ON and it's making me feel like making + sharing...

Custom YOU-ARE-AWESOME posters are now available! FOR A WEEK. I made poor Dan brainstorm with me for a couple hundred hours and we decided to compromise with each other and make the posters available - BUT MAKE IT AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE. Dan thought this was best considering that I'm having a baby in less than 12 days. HE'S SO SMART. No wonder I love him! {He also wanted me to point out that shipping rates in Canada have gone up. BOOO. AND the Canadian dollar has GONE DOWN - which is GOOD GOOD GOOD NEWS for US people thinking about buying this or other stuff from us!} LA TEE DA!

In a nutshell:
- you can order a CUSTOM poster in three sizes. 12 x 18* inches. 12 x 12 inches. 8 x 10 inches
- they make GREAT BABY gifts, but are definitely not just for babies
- you can get white, black or coloured backgrounds (see above options)
- because I like you, I can also do CREAM or CHOCOLATE for you earthy-toned peeps
- these designs coordinate with upcoming fabric designs (WOOT!)
- SHIPPING IS FREE. SHIPPING IS FREE. Who doesn't love Dan!?
- I will try my best to accommodate any kinds of special requests you might have
- the posters are ADORABLE and printed on glossy photographic paper (unless you request matte) for vibrance, clarity and WOW
- ORDER NOW because Baby2 is coming soon and I'm only taking orders until Monday February 9, 2009 (at midnight) or Dan will kill me.

*REALLY LARGE SIZED POSTERS. I know, I know - several people wanted to see REALLY big posters - ME TOO - but, the prices we got for individual posters were too high and it was going to make things complicated. I haven't ruled this out for the future - but as for right now I can't tackle it.

HERE IS THE LINK TO LEARN MORE OR TO ORDER POSTERS.

Today: I need to make another doctor's appointment for Pilot - she's coughing and wheezing. Not cool. We need to get curtains, curtain rods, and four gallons of paint. I have banana muffins in the oven as we speak and Monday's are normally reserved for LAUNDRY, puttering, and getting the week on track. I'm still craving sour jujubes and there are COOL THINGS a-brewing around here which is AWESOME. Hurray for February!

Tomorrow: watch for a new Bulletin Board.

GO!