Cold, winter nights...

It has been an insanely busy and full few months...

but I have some great things I would like to share.

Reading the book Half The Sky by Nicholas Kristoff and Sheryl WuDunn has been a life-changer, and this months issue of National Geographic has covered some of the same topics--- it was shocking really to read about and see how women are being treated around the world.  It was both extremely depressing and totally inspiring and I am forcing the stories on the people around me like a missionary with a village to convert--- 

READ IT.

More changes ahead...

1) New school year (teaching all art classes in my secondary school)
2) New PLC course started- part-time hours for a full-time Certificate in Photography
3) Two nights of teaching a new night class... Intro To Digital Photography at AIT (Athlone Institute of Technology)
4) Weekly photo shoots for www.spence-photography.com -- fun & exciting!


then add:

weekly pilates & yoga (for me), kids dance classes and lots of football for the husband.... to schedule around too!

It is the beginning of a lot of new stuff... scary.
Wish me luck!

Oh, and this is happening too...

Getting there...

It has been a very busy few weeks... months really.  So much has been going on and getting accomplished, which feels really great.  I decided to finally start my own photography business-- have been designing a website, business cards, etc, and working on some promotional stuff.  I also got an "associate lecturer" position -- extremely part-time, and on top of my secondary school teaching, but it is teaching photo as well, so I am moving in the direction of choice.  So, lots of preparation to get going on.
In addition to that, I am still in the midst of correcting exam papers for the SEC, and am leaving for JAPAN in less than 2 weeks!
That is really exciting.
So, that is my life at the moment.
Also, put my house up for sale... interested??
Lovely, rural Ireland at it's best.  Chickens included.
:)

Supercute! "Not To Write About Boys"

A Great Week

Support my fund-raising skydive for Baby Bella!

It has been a really nice week... busy, but good.  Today, we got 2 really cute bunnies, I collected nearly €300 towards my skydive for my niece, Wednesday my husband attended the Landmark event and we had a great conversation that night, and earlier in the week I got a dozen 'hatching eggs' for €10 and hope to have some cute little chicks in 2-3 weeks.  Half of the eggs are safely under Serena, our broody hen, and half are in an incubator at my school, where the science students are getting a hands-on exercise in Ag Science.
Lily (my 4 year-old) had her first real friend over after school today, and they were so cute together.
All is going well, and I am genuinely having unique experiences each day...
that is the new challenge.
Try something new everyday!
Stop saying YES out of obligation, but to experiences that will move, inspire and excite me.
So, that is the plan for avoiding the same day, over and over again...
wish me luck

some very new days...

Some remarkable changes have been taking place in my life since I completed The Landmark Forum. I have really wanted to get back to this blog and share a bit of what I have been up to, but I have been too busy trying new things, making changes, making art.... NOT creating the same day over and over... so I just thought I would leave this link for your interest....

There will be a special introductory evening on Wednesday, May 12th in Dublin at the Castleknock Hotel and Country Club, Porterstown Rd, D15 (7:30pm) if you want to learn more

http://www.landmarkeducation.com/landmark_education_home.jsp

life improvement 2010

so, I did not make any resolutions this year, but I have been taking baby steps into a new way of life in 2010. I will be 37 this year, which is shocking, since I still feel as clueless as when I was 22! I have been making a dedicated attempt at regular exercise (at least 2 classes a week and walking), less sugar, and a more positive way of thinking about my life. Along these lines, I am excited to be enrolled in the Landmark Forum next month in Dublin, and look forward to having some breakthrough moments, which I have been assured that everyone has. I am tired of things feeling the same (less than hoped for) all the time. When I started this blog I felt like everyday was the same-- and I suppose we all fall into ruts, routines and safety zones... but I have been trying since then to have a more FULL and fulfilling life, yet still find myself down about things too easily. HOPEFULLY, I can make the change that I so desire.

Along those lines, check out PLANET SARK, and her wonderful, bright, inspiring offers...

Click here to visit Planet SARK.

back on the wagon

thinking about this blog-- which I clearly haven't done for 8 months...

what do I want here?

who am I sharing with?

A student of mine suggested that I share my thoughts and ideas about my artwork as I do it...

problem is, I haven't done much, and am still working on the same project for the last 2 years.

So, maybe I will TRY to motivate myself by attempting to do this, or maybe I should just turn this into a teaching tool for my PLC class??

Don't know... but with think about it.