The only one who needs to know

Posted on Jan 20, 2012 in Work | 0 comments

Today, I’m writing as a reminder to myself.

In early December 2010, I sat in my office at work.  Everything was quiet and I was on the phone with my coach.  He asked me, “are you going to be ready to leave and know that no one will notice”?  “If you aren’t, then its time to start preparing internal accolades for yourself.  Reflecting on where you grew, what you loved, & where you were challenged.  You are going to have to be ready to leave and feel proud all on your own.  Don’t wait for someone else to say it; it might not be coming.”

The Pursuit of Imperfection

Posted on Jan 3, 2012 in Life, Work | 0 comments

“Don’t wait until you know who you are to make things.” Steal Like An Artist (Austin Kleon)

Ever since my self-diagnosis as a perfectionist, now recovering, everyday is a battle between getting out of my head and getting on to creating.  The voices in my brain give me numerous reason why I shouldn’t start, shouldn’t do it, shouldn’t try.  If the results are less stellar than envisioned or if I get bored in the middle and quit, the voices have a grand ole time with the “I told you so.”

I’ve been pursuing perfection for years – always seeking to please – and priding myself on all of the “doing” I had achieved.  In school, progress and report cards became evidence of my quest for perfection.  In my career, the question of the ages “will that look good on your resume”?   As a citizen, involving myself in more and more & more random initiatives in the pursuit of societal perfection.

Where’d the damn Bookmobile go?

Posted on Dec 16, 2011 in Life | 2 comments

Amazon continues to service my impatience with it’s 1-click shopping.  I love it and hate it.  Love it because I’ve ordered most of my Christmas gifts through them.  Hate it because when I’m lying in bed and wanting something to read, I’m chained to the $12.99 option of buying a book that I’ll read once and won’t be able to loan out.

My Kindle has killed my relationship with the library.  Before the Kindle, I only got books from the library.  I became a master of the HOLD system.  Yes, I would wander through bookstores, but only to look.  Always astounded by the cost (this is Canada, books prices are outrageous).   The book store provided my list for the library.

Am I too old to sing We Are Young?

Posted on Dec 9, 2011 in Life, Ordering Cupcakes | 0 comments

It’s somewhat shocking that Ordering Cupcakes has had a public presence for an entire year now.  In more ways than one, it’s been with me for years.  Most surprising to me over the course of this little project is how much it has changed – or how my intention, or voice, or writing has changed.  Which is certainly indicative of my year.

If I have to listen to one more professional blogger tell me “you have to find a niche”, I’ll likely scream.  Call it tales from work, of life, and for someone just writing about the journey.  Life never ceases and more words are in the works for 2012.  But in watching Glee’s rendition of We Are Young, it dawned on me, there’s likely another shift up ahead.

My Feet In Your Socks

Posted on Oct 12, 2011 in Life | 2 comments

Four years ago, I made a really good decision, I married this really dorky, Star Wars loving, pork-is-my-favorite-food, book-reading, financial-brained Canadian.  Today, I made another great decision, I bought him a cleaning lady.

Sitting in my hair dresser’s chair yesterday, she surprised me with news of her recent engagement.  I shared with her the same advice I received - ”hold on to that post-engagement feeling as long as you can”.  It is that three month, our-life-is-just-beginning phase that comes and goes so quickly and is inevitably fogged over by questions like, should we have beef or chicken…or both?