Monthly Archives: April 2012

Your “About” Page Really Needs an Update!

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I just realized that my “about” page for for this blog was about 5 years out of date! Wow, that was a trip down memory lane… back when I was on bedrest for 10 weeks due to preterm labor while pregnant with Will.

He was only born “3 weeks and 1 day early”. He has been a very healthy little boy. Now Will in a Montessori preschool and growing so fast!

Here is an update to what’s “about” me these days:

Hi, I’m Christine. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. I moved here from Portland, Oregon July 2005. I have since worked at the Apple Store (where I met my husband), a yoga studio, Lululemon, DeepRoot, and TaskRabbit. I also used to teach bellydance and perform with the troupe Gypsy Caravan of Portland, Oregon.

I am now in the process of re-inventing this blog and myself as my 3.5 year old son has just transitioned into (nearly) full-time preschool.

I’m hell-bent on becoming a linchpin, living the well, rasing an awesome child, and social good. I also dream about dance and how I will revive it both in sharing the knowledge and collaborating with other dancers (both in class and in performance).

What moves you?

Yours,

Christine

Contact:
email me at: christine [at] maternityshare.com

Failing to Fail Properly

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Fail until you SUCCEED via http://fatfithealthy.tumblr.com/

I had to sweep the floor so that I could do yoga before I got started on my work. Then I had to check my email, my Facebook, and download Kickstarter gift from Beats Antique so I could have some sweet tunes to work to. But, actual my work is not getting done – and everyday this routine keeps repeating itself, the worse I feel.

Why am I stuck in a this cycle of avoidance? It SEEMS like I’m getting stuff done. But, that stuff is not what I need to get done first to show improvement in what I REALLY want to be doing.

My friend Almine posted a picture to Facebook today of a rock climber against a beautiful background so high up that only birds could (or so I would have thought) see that view. The caption was “Fail until you SUCCEED”. That image coupled with the spirit of Almine inspired me to post it on my own Facebook page so it would sit there as a reminder.

Okay, so, I know I am failing right now (because this blog post is not the work I am supposed to be doing), but, I don’t think that is what she meant by it.
In order to successfully fail I need to do my work. Put one foot in front of the other and JUST DO IT.

So, here I go. I am ending this post (which at least I can tally as writing practice) and moving on to the work I keep putting off: social media for an amazing new start up. I hope to be bold enough to post here about it here very soon.

Now, time to fail until I succeed.

Will, Framed by Paint the Moon

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These wonderful frames are a free download as one of the many delights that come with Liking the Paint the Moon’s fun, friendly Facebook Page. I wanted to try them out and, loved them so much I had to write about them right away. (Ok, I should have photo edited my photographs before putting them in those lovely frames but I will just have to learn that part next!)

I found the Paint the Moon site (that offers Photoshop Actions and Textures) after I stumbled upon the wonderfully charming blog Dear Button by the multi-talented mama Annie Manning. Both sites are filled with eye candy and are vibrant communities that are pleasure to be a part of.

Please go check out these wonderful sites. Annie’s love of life, her family and, making the world an even more beautiful place is a gift for us all. Enjoy, and be inspired!

http://paintthemoon.net/

http://www.facebook.com/paintthemoonphotography

http://dearbutton.wordpress.com/

Evernote Improves Lives.

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I have been working to streamline the information in my life and one of the ways I have been doing that is Evernote. I am offloading taxing information to my trusted friend:

Ah Evernote. Cross-platform, pictures, cool organizational features, and SEARCHABLE! I use it on my phone, computer, and iPad (anywhere I have internet access – or not – because you can use it OFFLINE too.

It has fast become a friend. And, a crutch. I realized that when I reached my capacity for my free account and ran into problems with workflow and sharing in the last two weeks. So, after a few days of denial, I broke down and went PREMIUM! $45 a year (you also have the option to go for the $5 a month plan if you just want to dip your toe in ;)

I will keep you up to date on how it goes. But, I am excited. Now I have lots of even cooler features available to me.

Some of my favorite features from that you can acces via the FREE version:

  • use smartphone to take pics of stuff (invoices, flyers for a show, sign up sheet at school to share with papa, etc, etc, etc!) LOVE THIS FEATURE!
  • create notebooks to file your stuff in (ex: receipts, journal, school info, health benefits card, and MORE MORE MORE!)
  • file sharing. Ooo-lala, not only can you keep info for yourself, you can share it with anyone you want to. Or, keep it private. Up to you.
  • search: search your files for your stuff by using keywords
  • clip articles and/or pics from the web (I store them in my “Read Later” file which is handy when waiting in lines.)
My upcoming adventures in the land of Evernote are as told to me by my confirmation email from the Evernote team:

WHAT MAKES EVERNOTE PREMIUM GREAT:

  • Your monthly upload allowance has been raised to 1GB
  • Your maximum single note size is now 50MB
  • You can access previous copies of your notes
  • For Android, iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users, access your notebooks offline
  • We’ll make your scanned PDFs searchable
  • You can send up to 250 emails to your Evernote account per day
  • Any images you send into Evernote will be given priority treatment by our recognition servers
  • You will now receive premium support

I will report back on my experience.

In the meantime, check out some other great tips and resources on using Evernote by these smart mamas:

Aimee Giese, who is an entrepreneur, graphic designer, web developer,
and lifestyle blogger wrote a blog post for the Evernote blog: 6 Ways Lifestyle Blogger and Working Mother Aimee Giese of Greeblemonkey Uses Evernote, says “I love technology, but I’m slow to change.” But you wouldn’t know it reading her list of inspired uses for Evernote. 

Orange Marmalade Mama had lots of thoughtful and practical uses. She included video and tutorials too.