Currently Loving Linkup #1

Today I'm taking part in a linkup created by the awesome Crystal over at The Happy Type where we get to share our favourite things. The Currently Loving Linkup is open to everyone, so if you fancy sharing some of your favourite things right now, head over and share your post. Here are mine...

I've been hearing some bad things about Gotham this week, but I'm loving it. Ben McKenzie is perfect as Gordon and Robin Lord Taylor is creepy as The Penguin. The relationship between Bruce and Alfred is slowly becoming my favourite thing about the show though especially with the fight with Tommy Elliot in the latest episode. It's not perfect Batfans, but hey, I likes it. 

Peter and I went down to London to see Hans Zimmer perform live and it was incredible! He and his crazy talented orchestra played all of our favourites, The Lion King being the highlight for me. He also played Journey to the Line, which I'll be honest in saying that I've never really thought much about it, I have it on my PC and I listen to it occasionally, but it's never really given me the musical shivers before ( I know you know what I mean). After hearing it live though, crazy shivers! I even got a little teary and now I can't stop listening to it!

I'm obsessed with lettering and finding new pens to write and sketch with has taken over my life! My new Zebra pens are beeyootiful and I can't stop using them. I'm pretty sure they're going to run out before I actually sit down to create something with them, I just keep writing.

I found this online and I couldn't stop laughing, so I printed it out and it's sitting on my desk. So whenever I end up on the internet, looking through Pinterest or looking for funny Supernatural gifs to laugh at instead of concentrating,  I can take a quick look to the left and there is Batman telling me to get sh*t done!

My most favourite thing about the linkup is that Crystal asked me to create the button for her. As always it was a pleasure to design for Crystal as she knows what she wants, but also trusted me enough to play around with the idea and get creative. The result is one of my favourite things to have designed, so thanks Crystal!

Don't forget to click the button to check out all the other links and get sharing!
 
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Hello Again & Giveaway

Hello Blogland, how have you been? I haven't been ignoring you, I knew you were there I've just been a little... intimidated. I think that's the right word, but I'm back now with a new (ish) look. What do you think?

I've not blogged in a while and I'm of the habit, so I'm just going to throw some rambling thoughts I've had at you. My ultimate dream is to work for myself selling my work and designing loads of awesome stuff for folk and I was going to use this past week to take all my ideas and make the master plan as I had time off work. When I finally packed up last Friday and got home I dropped in a heap on the couch absolutely burst. Sod's law ensued and I've been full of the cold all week - my week off!

So my plans went out the window and I had a few PJ days watching telly, reading my comics and trying to finalise the line work for my 30th birthday tattoo (I'll blog more about that in another post, but here's a sneak peek).

In the middle of all that I started drawing, just drawing for no reason. Something I've not done for what feels like forever! It was so much fun and so relaxing and when I'd finished I felt happy with what I'd done. It was at that point I realised I have been putting so much pressure on myself to succeed. So much so that nothing was getting done. I've been going round and round in circles making plans, getting too stressed and abandoning them or just not taking the time to do the things I want. In turn this was making me frustrated and angry with myself and feeling like a failure.

Now that little burst of negativity is out of the way, what's the good point in this story? Well, realising all that made me feel like this:

It's time to stop making plans and just DO! I am going to design awesome things and sell then and I'm going to be happy doing it, because that's what I want to do. How's that for a plan? :)

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So to kick off my return and to celebrate Halloween, I thought I'd do a wee horror-esque giveaway. Everyone loves horror movies and Funko Pop! Vinyls don't they?  Well, you're in luck. I have a cute little Jason to giveaway along with one of the sketches I did this week, here's a looksee.

I'm also offering to colour the sketch with some Promarkers if you'd like, I'll ask the winner about that when he/she is announced on the 2nd November. Please read the T's & C's and tell me what you're favourite scary movie is in the comments...

Thanks for reading folks, I'll post again soon.

1. Please actually do what the giveaway asks. I do check the winning entry to make sure the entry is valid. If the entry isn’t valid I will pick a new winner.
2. Once the winner is validated and emailed, he/she has 48 hours to reply and accept the prize. If he/she does not reply within 48 hours a new winner will be selected.
3.  The giveaway is international so enter away :D

 

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Creative Collective #2 - The Epic Playist

This Creative Collective challenge wasn't exactly created by me. In fact in no way whatsoever did I create the list, but I had to share it as it has inspired my creativeness over the last week or so. 

Valentine's Day is something Peter and I take part in unashamedly. We're not one of those couples who says "every day is Valentine's Day" or "Valentine's Day is just a load of crap thought up by card companies" and "we don't need a special day to show we love each other" blah blah blah! Yes all those things are and should be true, but who cares. Why shouldn't folk partake in a day where we spread the love a little more?

So this year I was surprised with flowers, a card and go karting - what's wrong with a little healthy competition between partners? But our Valentine's continued over to the next morning when I woke up all alone hearing Peter click away on the computer next door. When I went through he announced he was making me and Epic Playlist, an epic list of  movies scores to get me all inspired. In other words, a mix tape!

Ok so it's a folder full of MP3s, but the thought and hard work is still there. Any kid of the 80's & 90's must have fond memories of making complex, thought out tapes recorded from the radio, TV and movies. I once spent hours trying to perfectly record God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You and the Reaper Rap from the end of Bill & Ted's Bogus journey! Well Peter spent an entire day on this so I'm pretty over the moon with all 87 tracks, some I know and some I don't. He even edited bits out, bits together or shortened some of them down to my favourite parts. Awesome!

It may not be my creative hard work, but listening to it every day since the moment he finished it has been like therapy, helping me concentrate on my work and designs,. Even inspiring me to come up with new ones, so in that way it totally counts! It's also one hell of a Valentine's Day gift from one movie score geek to another.

Here's a little sneak peek at some of the tracks on the Epic List

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Creative Collective #1 - My Word of 2014

Finding ways to be more creative is always a good thing and something I'm always trying to do. So when I read about Melyssa's Creative Collective idea over at The Nectar Collective I couldn't wait to get started.

Our first assignment from Melyssa was to think about the year ahead:

Think of a word that you want to focus on in 2014.

Find a piece of paper, cardboard, old pizza boxes, whatever, and write your word out. You can include photos, magazine clippings, paint splotches, random household items, or anything, really, that embodies this word to you. Make it colourful, if you like. Then hang it somewhere in your house or bedroom where it can inspire you and help you maintain your focus throughout the year.

It took a while to narrow it down to just one word, but I kept coming back to the same one - Growth.

I did a fair bit of growing last year with regards to my outlook on things, but there's still plenty to be done. I should be kinder to myself - I'm my own worst enemy and critic so it's time to let that go and be a little bit much more forgiving.

This year I'm also challenging myself to meet my fitness goals - to grow to love myself and body more. A bit mushy I know, but hey! I've got the January blues at the moment being pretty unhappy with my weight, but more importantly unhappy with how unfit I am. This must change! If I get my fitness back I'll grow healthier, more alert and more energetic - all good stuff!

With each experience we grow and I'm aiming to take on new experiences and grow and learn with each one. The Creative Collective will be a great way to get this going, get creative and connect with new bloggers - again all good stuff. 

Like I said in one of my previous posts, this is my positive year and it's time to Make it So!

Have you linked up with Melyssa's Creative Collective yet? Join in by hitting the button below and get your creative on!

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Get Fit Giveaway

So we are now midway through January and how many of us made fitness and weight loss goals at the start of the month due to the new year? Well, if you made a little fitness resolution to pursue in 2014, then welcome to your perfect giveaway!


 The 'Get Fit' Giveaway is all about giving you all the tools, support, and motivation you need to achieve your very best in 2014! No matter what fitness goal you've made for yourself this year the 'Get Fit' Giveaway will help set you on the path to success and self-love, because being healthy isn't just about what's on the outside.

Visit Cassey's website, Blogilates, for amazing monthly work outs, encouragement, and much more!

You'll find yourself rejuvenated by Cassey Ho's 12 Week New Body Makeover Meal Plan and completely inspired by her Pop Pilates Total Body Workout DVD. Cassey is a certified Pilates instructor and shares her love of fitness, self-love, and empowerment for all by wrapping it all up in a ball of positivity that will keep you motivated and moving for your entire body blasting workout. Cassey is all kinds of fitness guru with a thriving Youtube channel full of quality workouts, Ho was included in the Youtube 2013 Rewind featuring the year's top viral videos, and was even named the #2 most influential online personality by Sharecare (second to only Jillian Michaels).



Feast your eyes on all that Blogilates Swag!! The 'Get Fit' Giveaway is all about giving you everything you need to make a lasting change for 2014 and here's the lowdown on what one lucky winner can look forward to winning:

1 x Yoga Bag Bow My Gawd Blogiltes Bag $45.00 value

1 x Yoga Mat Train Insane or Remain the Same Blogilates Mat $25.00 value

1 x Pop Pilates Blogilates Workout DVD $14.99 value

1 x Blogilates Fit Journal + 12 week nutrition plan $30.00 value

1 x Beast Mode Blogilates Water/Shaker Bottle $9.95 value

1 x Sistema Lunch Box $11.85 value

Which comes to a whopping $136.79 value!

PLUS

 

Yup, we are even giving away a $50.00 Amazon gift card to make sure that the winner is able to get the protein powder the 12 week plan requires. Not only are we hooking you up with all the resources you need, but you'll even have access to me, Crystal from The Happy Type, because I'll be doing the plan right alongside of you! Anytime that you need support just reach out to me and I'll give you real-time support.

Together, we can do anything.

Yes, I know this giveaway is the bee's knees, so let's check out the wonderful group of ladies who are committed to making sure you've got everything you need to reach your goals.

| The Happy Type | nomElizabeth | Jade and Oak |

| A Moving Story | Daisy Bisley | Scattered Seashells |

| Chits and Giggles | The Style Dunce | Art of Balance |

I think they all totally deserve a slow clap, don't you? Yup.

Good luck to everyone who enters and for one lucky winner get ready for a life changing 12 weeks!

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*Winner will be notified within 24 hours of giveaway's end. Winner will have 48 hours to respond, before a new winner will be selected. Giveaway is open to international entries and will be shipped within 48 hours of winner verification. All entries will be reviewed and verified prior to selecting a winner.

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A Look Back

2013 was a great (and stressful) year. Peter and I moved in to our very own home, after nine months being out of work I was offered a great job, my freelance worked picked up to a point where I could barely keep track of it, but I managed and learned a lot in the process. Most importantly, however, is that my outlook has changed greatly over the past year.

Had I written the previous paragraph at the beginning of January 2013 it would have gone something like this: I lost my job and spent nine months unemployed being turned down by every job I applied for. This got so bad that I was convinced I was obviously terrible at what I do and almost gave up on my freelance work which ended up almost impossible to keep on top of.

I can't tell you how awesome it feels to have changed that! I still have a ways to go yet, but it feels fantastic that I've been able to make that one change - to see the positives when before I would concentrate on the negatives.

With this in mind, there are a lot of posts I've written in the last year that I'm very proud of so I thought it might be a good idea to share some as a little retrospective on my blogging growth and to keep the positivity flowing around here.

In 2013 I met some amazing folk. Three in particular have been a constant source of encouragement, support and inspiration. Whether they know it or not, they helped me a great deal in changing my outlook and becoming more positive and I'm so grateful to them. So I'm also sharing a couple of posts from each of these great bloggers that have helped me during the last year - a positive naming and shaming if you like ;)

My Favourite Posts of 2013
How to Keep Calm and Focused While Working Freelance
Five Things We Can Learn From Rocky
Embrace Your Inner Geek
Blogging 101 - What I've Learned So Far
Make It So

And now for a couple of my favourite posts from the lovely ladies I was telling you about

Crystal at The Happy Type
Protecting Your joy
Work It Out

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Melyssa at The Nectar Collective
15 Tips for Being Positive
The Rules of Positivity

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Erika at Chimerikal
Throwing Away My Bucket List
The Middles

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A Welcome Back

My blog has been sitting here in web space unloved, but not forgotten. Life in the latter part of 2013 got a little bit crazy. My freelance work boomed, I got a full time job and keeping on top of everything burned me out a bit.

After a much needed break over Christmas and New Year I'm feeling better, calm, collected, refreshed and ready to get back in to the swing of blogging. However this time I'm changing things up a bit with my approach.

There are a few conditions that come with my new blogging mission:
1. I'm making a promise to not get angry and annoyed with myself if I don't post everyday

2. I will not give up if I feel my blog isn't as good as others

3. I'm not going to get bogged down with numbers! My blog is for me to share and express my thoughts - not to make money

4. I must go easy on myself! Take inspiration from others, not try to emulate them - to be my own bloggy self!

These conditions are a result of what added to my burning out, taking my blog far too seriously and forgetting what my initial intentions were. Always worrying about numbers, content and whether anyone was reading.

You lovely and talented folk who have blogs full of killer content, making a living from blogging amaze and inspire me, but after giving it a go, full time blogging just isn't for me. And that's ok! I've realised that doesn't make me a blogging failure.

2014 is my positive year, a year where I'll be kinder to myself. So I'm taking a more chilled out and laid back approach - I'm blogging for me and my own sanity. If I make new connections and re-connect with old ones that will be amazing, but I won't be going crazy if there's only three of you reading this, that will be fine (and hey to the three of you).

So here's to a New Year, new and refreshed blogging aspirations, to new connections and old! I hope you've all had a great holiday season. Now it's time to kick 2014 in the ass and make it a great one!

Here's one of my new favourite inspirational tunes for a kick start!

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