Last night I headed to Vancouver, WA with my boyfriend to go dancing. We were invited by a friend he used to work with and promised fun people and a great time – she was right.
The evening started with an hour long Zydeco dance lesson. I thought I was back in my college ballroom dance class (what a great choice for PE credits!) as we learned new steps and kept rotating to new partners. After the hour-long class, the lights were dimmed and the real dancing began – wow!
Many of the dancers are regulars at the Vancouver Ballroom and even had their own dance shoes. How fun to watch them do the “East Coast Swing” and of course, lots of Zydeco.
Craig and I tried but let’s just say, “we don’t quite feel the beat”. We had fun and boy did we do a good job laughing at ourselves! It was a great change of pace but I’ll keep painting and probably won’t be buying my own special dance shoes anytime soon…
If you are like me and never heard of Zydeco before, here is a video which happens to feature our teachers.
Trying new things is the spice of life so get out there, overcome your fear and aprehension (I sure had to!) and give it a whirl!
Jinkies, how did I get to be 42? I still, quite vividly, remember planning surprise parties for friends when we were all turning 13. Or making construction paper cars to put on a locker to make sure everyone knew a friend was turning 16… (and to make her embarrassed… wonder if Sue will read this post?) Let’s not forget turning 21… and the headache the day after.
Well now it seems I have somehow reached 42! Last year it was my son turning 16 not my friend. (I got 16 cars from the Dollar Tree and hung them over the table instead of the construction paper stand-by.)
Anyway, I fine with my age and thought it would be fun to sit down and write the 42 things that came to mind that I have learned in my 42 years. Some are silly and others just might make you go hmmm… (remember that song? The video is at the end of my list)
So here goes…42 things I’ve learned in my 42 years
I love my 40s! (and I knew I would!)
Your mom isn’t always right… (unless your name is Kyle and I’m your mom.)
Things you hear as a child STICK in a person’s head for years so be careful what you say to children!
Big Boobs doesn’t necessarily = Sexy. There’s more to it.
Being yourself is always the best way to go in the long run!
Your education doesn’t have to determine the rest of your life.
Risks are rewarded – sometimes with wealth and other times with lessons to be learned.
There is always a silver lining if you are willing to look for it.
Swollen feet on airplanes is not fun.
I love to Twitter!
Highlights aren’t for me – I have dark hair and I love it! (Gray isn’t for me either so I’ll dye the heck out of any that try and invade my head.)
Being a parent is hard work – but worth it. You get out what you put in.
Everyone doesn’t always choose the best partner. Pick again. (But not the same person with a different name – lots of people seem to do that too!)
The internet isn’t a fad. Thank goodness! How did we survive without it?
Live with no regrets, it makes for a happier life than second guessing yourself.
I’d be really wealthy if all the “Lotto” winnings I got in my inbox were real!
Shoe size has nothing to do with anything except how big your feet are.
Finding someone who gets you is something to be cherished!
Laughter is an awesome way to spend time.
Travel to foreign countries expands your perspective.
Trust your intuition, even if it goes against everyone else’s advice. You usually know what’s best for you.
I can’t sing or dance… and I haven’t quite come to terms with that!
My mom was right: “If you don’t ask, the chances of getting a “yes” are slim to none.”
She was also right when she said, “The worst that can happen is they say no.” (I’ve discovered you can always survive that.)
My dad was mistaken when he said, “They wouldn’t call it work if it was fun.” (Sorry dad) I have found a way to make work = fun. Yippee!
If you do things right, you really do get wiser when you get older, so listen to those that are even older than you and see what you can learn.
I actually do have a sense of humor. (phew!)
Sometimes it really is ok to sit and do nothing… for hours.
Sometimes you get what you pay for. Other times you get more or less… be careful how you spend your money.
I don’t enjoy cooking.
Not everyone is meant to stay in our lives forever but everyone that comes into your life serves a purpose or provides a lesson you need to learn.
Doing the best you can with what you know at the time is all anyone can ask for.
It’s ok to admit that you were wrong.
Our beliefs don’t always make sense – even to ourselves! Keep the ones that work for you and try to change the ones that hold you back.
Knowing yourself and being honest with yourself is the key to all things.
Success is more than the size of your bank account.
Time really does seem to pass more quickly the older you get! (I remember my mom telling me that when I was about 8 and thinking she was nuts!)
I like to know how everything works. Which can cause me to do more than I should by myself.
I’m “micro-social” – I would choose to be with small groups of people over large gatherings.
I’m glad I was able to stay home with my son for 10 years but I’m really thriving building my business and being his mom at the same time!
There is no “right answer” that will work for everyone. (No matter what the question is.)
I’m excited to see what this next year brings…
No matter how many candles you have on your birthday cake this year I hope you are growing wiser and laughing more with each passing year! Now where’s my cake?
I’m really excited about tonight and wanted to share a new resource with you!
Last year I took a class, Teleseminar Secrets, and met some amazing people in the process. One of those people was Kelly Rudolph – always ready with a sunny smile and happy thought. She has turned her positive attitude into a website to help and inspire women to stay upbeat, positive and happy, in spite of all the negativity floating around.
Watch videos. Listen to audios. Connect with other positive women.
The site is a membership site and the big launch is tonight! I’m so amazed at everything she has done and put together – how thrilling to get to be a part of the launch! (I will also get to be a part of the site, we just have to set the time and format – so you’ll hear more about that later!)
The launch is at 5:30 pm PST / 8:30 pm EST tonight, Wednesday, January 27. Kelly has asked me to lead the “Tweet-Up” – meaning keeping the conversation going and connecting with everyone on Twitter during the launch. So if you decide to listen in and tweet at the same time, be sure to add #PWR to your tweets so I and all the other Positive Women can find you! (find me at www.Twitter.com/ArtistTaraReed)
I encourage you to take a look and see what this is all about and hope to see you tonight on Twitter because you know what? Positive Women really do ROCK!
– Tara Reed
FTC disclosure: I am an affiliate of this site and will receive a commission if you decide to join. That is not, however, the only reason I’m telling you about it – I believe in it and think you should decide if it will benefit you as well. Here’s to great things in 2010!
I spent the first weekend in January walking the Gift Show in Atlanta – boy was I tired when I got home! 3 tall buildings, tons of things to see, people to talk to, trends to look for, a product signing and more… FUN!
A few of the new products I was able to see for the first time were designs licensed to kitchen textile manufacturer Kay Dee Designs. I have a set of two flour sack towels featuring my “Fashion Forward” art and humor as well as a line of 8 western motif products now available.
It is always exciting to see the art finally on the products – this process can take 6-12 months on average. The next excitement will hopefully be to see them in stores! (If you see them, snap a pic and shoot me an email, ok? Always makes my day!)
As well as working, the Atlanta Show is always a great place to meet and see celebrities as well.
I met Meredith Baxter (remember her from Family Ties?) – she has a skin care line and was as nice as she seemed on TV.
During my signing with Thirstystone, where I was giving away “Walk on the Wild Side” coasters, I had the pleasure of meeting author Patricia Cornwell – who was surprised that I recognized her. (She looks just like her photo on the books and we had been talking about enjoying her Kay Scarpetta books at dinner the night before, so she was on my mind.) When I asked why she was at the show I learned that she not only has a gift store, but a turkey farm as well!
Marie Osmond was there but I didn’t see her and Mary Engelbreit had a ‘meet and greet’ for the launch of her Christmas ornament line with Katherine’s Creations. I didn’t get to meet her either, as I had to get 10 flights up to my signing with Thirstystone.
Over on my other blog, ArtLicensingBlog.com, I started a little contest. My goal is to get artists to share their stories about art licensing – how they got into it, why they like it, etc. So I thought I’d share my story with you, just in case you ever wondered!
This career is the result of a single phone call from a trade show floor…
Here’s to whatever path life, and phone calls, take you down!
If you are like many people, you plug your digital camera into the computer, transfer your photos and delete them from the camera. You share a few on Facebook or by email… but do you back them up?
Backing up your photos and saving them in multiple locations (as in, physical buildings – not all in your home) is essential if you want to ensure you have your pictures for years to come. Lane Hill of Lasting Impressions, the makers of the Memory Mixer Digital Scrapbooking Software that I design for, got me thinking and taking action.
Here is a video showing you how to export your photos from iPhoto to jpegs, so you can burn them to DVD’s (CD’s only last about 5 years but DVDs have an average life of 60) and store them off site.
Here’s to the safe preservation of your memories!
– Tara
P.S. Want to do more than have folders of jpegs lying around? Check out Memory Mixer Software – it makes scrapbooking quick and easy – it will change how you think about scrapbooking!
P.P.S. Have the software and want to see the designs I have currently have available? (I hope you do!) CLICK HERE
(disclosure: I have no vested interest in your purchase of iPhoto or Memory Mixer software, but do earn royalties on the sale of Memory Mixer kits featuring my art.)
Happy New Year! If you read both my Art Licensing Info blog and this, my personal art business blog, you may recognize this post. But I want everyone to consider the concept of picking a verb to describe the coming year. Wishing you much happiness and prosperity in 2010.
VERBS have been coming at me from several directions lately and have caused me to stop and ponder…
My teacher, Alex Mandossian, asks his students to “proclaim their verb!”I ________, therefore I am! Some verbs from that class include teach, inspire, blog, nurture… mine is create.
Then local artist and entrepreneur coach Rebecca Shapiro suggested choosing a verb to define 2010 instead of making resolutions that would more than likely be forgotten or defeated by the end of January. I love this idea! SO watch this short video and pick a verb… feel free to leave your choice in the comments to inspire others.
Tis the season to be social and travel about, bottles of wine in hand. Hostess gift for the dinner party, holiday thank you to friends and staff at work, the neighbor down the street who helped when your kids were locked out of the house, that hard-to-shop for relative who never seems to be without wine in hand…
There are so many people to give wine to this season… why not make your bottle stand out by presenting it in a fabulous wine tube? There are many designs and styles to choose from but of course I think the best wine is wrapped in this tube… featuring art from my “Wine Cellar” collection and available now at A.C. Moore stores.
Licensed to Tri-Coastal Designs, I was quite excited to learn that I only got 1 of the 12 samples promised because they sold all the tubes they made! This is my first foray into the ‘wine wrap category’ and hopefully not my last.
If you have an A.C. Moore near you – head on over and grab a few!
– Tara
P.S. Like the look of my “Wine Cellar” art? It is also available on the following products:
disclosure: these are links to purchase my products, on which I receive royalties for sales but not for the clicking and purchasing via these links. (except the Wall Art, that is an affiliate link so I earn an extra % if you click and buy)
Tonight is the beginning of Hanukkah. My ’special someone’ and his family celebrate so I am much more aware of the dates than I used to be! (I’m an “Santa Girl” myself.)
If you know anyone observing the holiday, why not hop over to my website and send them an eCard? It’s free! Then crank up the Adam Sandler Chanukkah Song and have a fabulous day!
Tis the season to be social and travel about, bottles of wine in hand. Hostess gift for the dinner party, holiday thank you to friends and staff at work, the neighbor down the street who helped when your kids were locked out of the house, that hard-to-shop for relative who never seems to be without wine in hand…
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