This and That

While searching for women's networking groups today, I ran across some great clubs:

Soroptimists

WomenSucceedwithEase.com

LadiesWhoLaunch.com

http://www.seattleccd.com/wbcmain/

Toastmasters

WomenBusinessOwners.org

http://home.earthlink.net/~everettbpw/index.html

Blogs:

http://fempower.typepad.com/powerplay/

http://everydaycourage.typepad.com/everyday_courage/


And products from woman-owned businesses:

Blankets with positive affirmations printed on them

Comfortqueen.com

I'll add more as I find them. :-)

What a Powerful Year Already!

I just wanted to let you all know how proud I am of you. This year has already been a season of big decisions and exciting changes. So far in these first four months of 2007, in just my small circle of good friends, there have been these developments:

• Four couples have bought houses (three of them first-timers).
• Two couples have gotten engaged.
• Two couples had babies.
• Two friends have chosen and committed to pursuing a rewarding and challenging career.
• Both of those friends are going back to college.
  
• One stay-at-home mom became a work-at-home mom.
• One friend has chosen her long-term career goal.
• Two friends strategically changed jobs.
• Three friends moved out for the first time.

I can't wait to see what the rest of the year has in store! Those of us that are working on creating change, keep in mind that this will continue to be a VERY powerful year and the perfect time to shake things up and grab hold of your dreams!

A few of us are going to be getting together on the 20th to make "Treasure Maps" to help us focus on the goals at hand. Treasure Maps are essentially collages you make with visual reminders of what you want for yourself. Simple as it may be, this is an amazingly powerful tool for focusing your prayers and energy into attaining what you want. I've yet to talk to anyone whose Map didn't "work", and they're fun to make!

"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe." - Anatole France

Go get it, my go-getters! :-)

ooo

Resolutions check-in

For accountability's sake, I wanted to check in on my resolutions and see how I'm doing.

1. LEARN TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!! Ummm... sorta
   
2. Take a walk with Matt or work out 5 days a week. Not so much. We walked this morning though, and we're recommitting to it now.
   
3. Become a rockin' good healthy cook once again. I've been working on it a little here and there - MIL is doing most of the cooking.
   
4. Think and speak positively. Usually... I have my mean moments.
   
5. Consume less! I've been doing better.
   
6. Actively practice my guitar and knitting. Knitting, yes. Guitar, no.
   
7. Find more good friends that fit where I'm at in life. This doesn't count yet, 'cuz I'm not home. ;-)
   
8. Get outdoors once in a while. Yes! We go to the beach and the park and even played catch.
   
9. Remember everyone's birthday and send the card out on time. Six out of six so far. Go me!
   
10. Do yoga every morning, even just a little bit. Not at all. Oops!
    

New Year's Resolutions

My main focus this year is on growing relationships; living a healthier, fuller life; and squeezing more joy out of every single day.

1. LEARN TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!!
2. Take a walk with Matt or work out 5 days a week.
3. Become a rockin' good healthy cook once again.
4. Think and speak positively
5. Consume less!
6. Actively practice my guitar and knitting
7. Find more good friends that fit where I'm at in life
8. Get outdoors once in a while
9. Remember everyone's birthday and send the card out on time
10. Do yoga every morning, even just a little bit

My Goals

I've been kinda undecided on what I really want for about a year now, and it's tough to get to where you want if you don't know what it is. This morning my old drive came back! I was reading Environmental Design and Construction magazine while groaning about my cramps (at least it won't be on Christmas, as the calender said it would be!) and it just woke up my business mind all over again. And so...

In one year:

• We will be homeowners.
• We will have a fully licensed and bonded successful contracting company.
• We will have a fantastic employee.
• We will have a bun in the oven.
• We will begin networking aggressively.

In two years:

• We will be Green Star certified contractors.
• We will have the extra money to hire someone to clean our house once a week.
  

In three years:

• We will have enough business and reliable employees for Matt to focus on the business aspect of our company and do very little hard labor.

In five years:

• We will build a LEED certified (environmentally responsible) condo building and sell it for a fortune!

• We will buy vacation property and build the perfect little cabin with our own four hands.

In ten years:

• We will expand our business to include new construction (until this point we'll mostly focus on remodels and additions) and build a Zero Energy Home neighborhood. http://www.toolbase.org/ToolbaseResources/level4CaseStudies.aspx?ContentDetailID=2469&BucketID=2&CategoryID=58

• We will open a small nonprofit apartment for low income single moms, which will also provide free seminars on finances, career planning, parenting, etc. for the residents and an in-house co-op and/or nonprofit daycare.

Our home will be...

Dani had a great idea, and I thought I may as well copy it (check out her blog in my links). ;-) She listed everything she wants in a home and it's so simple but the act of writing your wants and needs out and being able to see them (and especially in a blog where others see them!) makes them so much more real. There's amazing power in writing out your intentions. My mom is a big believer in this idea, and I wrote a list like this when I was car shopping and I stumbled over a car that was EXACTLY everything on my list. I had forgotten about the list long before finding the car and happened upon it later and was astounded. So, that said, Matt and I will be house shopping this Spring/ Summer (please God let us be approved for a good loan!) and I have paper lists around, but here it is out in the open:

My home is:

• A short drive from the beach
• Exposed to a lot of direct sun
• Walking distance to a park
• In a safe neighborhood with at least a couple great neighbors
• A rambler with a basement
• Easy to renovate
• Perfect for entertaining
• Energy efficient

And has:

• 3 bedrooms, 1.75 baths, and space for my office
• A very open and large living room
• A view
• HUGE windows
• Good energy
• A large enough yard for a swing set, 2 fruit trees, and a vegetable and herb garden.
• A big porch

It's a tall order, I know. I have faith that God will put us somewhere wonderful though. It's time to put down roots. As Pastor Tim says, "gotta have roots before you can have fruit!" Of course he's talking about rooting yourself in faith in God but I feel like it applies to this right now. We keep getting "transplanted" from one tiny pot to another and I'm ready for a big roomy orchard, with other nice fruit trees to make friends with.

UPDATE! - We just bought our first house, and we got almost everything on the list. The only things it lacks are the basement, big porch (but the ideal place for a big deck!) and a ready space for my office - we'll have to add that on when we have enough kids to fill up both spare bedrooms, but we'll probably have moved up by then!