Thank you for 30 days of blogging

Thank you for 30 days of blogging

 

 

Nothing has prevented me from this challenge. As I was harping on my sister to post this blog that I'd written 2 hours earlier the power went out. Just as we were about to head out the door to head to a nearby wifi coffee shop the power came back on.

Thank you.

On behalf of the academy I’d like to thank you all for your support over these last 30 days :).  I’d like to thank Donna Maria for coming up with this brainchild of blogging for 30 days.  During our busiest time of year, she made it sound so exciting, so alluring that I literally threw caution to the wind and jumped in with both feet so excited to be a part of this challenge.  You are a good leader Donna Maria and I am proud to be a part of your online family.

To my sweet sister (aka Little Bloom) who dutifully helped me with the blog every single day when I would manage to do something to crash the screen.  Or the days I would wail and moan and explain to her why we simply could not continue on with the blog.  She never complained, she’d ply me with tea and cookies and help me with ideas and suggestions.  She knew she couldn’t write for me, but her job was to walk alongside and encourage when she could and at other times stay far away from me while I plunked on the keyboard :).

And most importantly to this amazing community of makers that took the time to send comments and answer questions.  To those of you that took the time to click ‘like’ you will never know how on some days it was a lifesaver to continue.

I learned that I love to write and express myself, it is my favorite way to communicate.  The mere discipline of putting my bum in my seat every day had the crossover effect of bringing discipline to other areas of my life.  Because I had to write every single day it meant that I had to be organized in other areas of my life.  Suddenly the desk that was piled sky high with papers could not be tolerated another day so I organized it.  No time for exercise? Not true, there was always a pocket of time that could be found.

So thank you, I am a better person because of these 30 days, I feel like I’ve opened a door to a creative side of me that I didn’t have time to explore.  #grateful

To keep up with the Two Blooms see our blog home.

Caron is one of the blooms of Two Blooms Design Studio Est. 2002. She is the dreamer, production manager, self taught chef and the social media wannabe. Caron is married to the word adventure and she will never stop dreaming.

Service with a smile

Service with a smile

If you've been following along today is Day 10 of our 2nd 30 day blogging challenge. Caron (the other bloom is participating this time).

To get a package from point A to point B requires several steps.  Wrap the package and affix the correct address.  Gather yourself together with sufficient postage money and go to the post office.  Yes there will be a long line, yes there will be screaming children who stomp on your toes, yes people will complain and grumble but you choose to stand and wait your turn.

Finally, you are called up next and with a spring in your step and a wide smile you greet the person who will weigh your parcel or scan it through for you.  Perhaps you’ll offer a lighthearted comment about the weather or compliment a piece of jewelry the worker bee is wearing, anything to be pleasant.  And since you’re Canadian, you will use your ‘thank you and sorry about that’ phrases liberally, showing that you are thankful for their service and happy to be there.

How did I not get the memo that ‘Cranks R Us’ run this particular postal outlet?  They really should post a warning outside that clearly outlines that the people who work here are miserable and will do everything in their power to make you cranky as well.  I’ve tried this venue hundreds of times expecting a different outcome (yes, there is a saying about insanity and expecting a different outcome but that’s for another blog post :)

So now, I drive the opposite direction, down the road to a quaint little village by the sea where the post mistress must spend her weekends working at Disneyland as Snow White because she is so sweet and gentle and genuinely lights up when she sees you walk in.  Today, I stood in a line and she tried to get my attention to move me up in line so I wouldn’t have to wait. Seriously?  And the store that houses this postal outlet has coffee and cookies as soon as you come in, just to thank you for stopping by.  She’s memorized my mailing code, gives me free stickers, offers me candy by the front till and when I finish my transaction, she says "it was so good to see you today, take care and hope to see you soon".  Honestly, I almost cry when I see her and yes, I write Canada Post consistently to praise her.  Service with a smile, so simple yet I’ll drive out of my way for a little kindness.  

Tell me about someone who blew you away with kindness, I love company on this blog :)

Like this post see our main blog page here.

Caron is one of the blooms of Two Blooms Design Studio Est. 2002. She is the dreamer, production manager and the social media wannabe. Caron is married to the word adventure and she will never stop dreaming.

 

Do you need a cupful of joy?

Do you need a cupful of joy?

Today is a guest post by Victoria Guzzo.

In Canada the flowers have faded, and are preparing for their winter’s nap.  Their colors have been replaced by deep colored autumn leaves.   Big orange pumpkins and other colorful squash are shining in the grocery stores.   Cooler weather brings out the woolies and a warm throw over the sofa.  Nesting in with a bowl of popcorn while watching a move and relaxing at the end of the day,  is something we all look forward to in the Fall. 

This is so not your life, I can hear you say.

How do you find joy when you can’t find it?  Or do you even know what brings you joy any more?  So many needs around you and so little time.  And so many demands on that time.

Do you remember the last time you just burst over with joy?   When you finished the 10K run?   When you endured to the end of a spin class? When you reached the top of that mountain climb?   Is joy really that elusive?

What can you be grateful for today?  Who can you rejoice with?  Can you phone an old friend because you want to hear their voice and tell them you miss them?  It’s as simple as thanking a person for a favor, sending off a quick e-mail, or acknowledging someone that supported you in a work project.

Thanksgiving is this week end.  A time to pause and think about what we are grateful for.  I am sure what you are not grateful for comes to mind first.  But as a small boy said when asked what he was grateful for.  “I am grateful for just being me.”  I think he said it best .   Are you grateful for being you?  There is no one else like you.  

Yes, this blog is about joy, as being grateful leads to joy. 

Life is full of joy, find that cupful today and pass it on.  

If you like this post stay up to date with our blog.

Joyfully,

Victoria

Victoria Guzzo is world traveller and lover of people.  Two Blooms products are her favourite.

Back To The Beginning

Reflected Rainbow | Senja, Troms, Norway | by Seffis via deviantART

Back To The Beginning

It’s interesting the way life works. Years ago when we moved to Victoria, I had a group of friends who were all artists like me. I even started a “Dead Poet’s Society” gathering  (we had a different name but at this point in time I can’t remember what we called it) in our back yard complete with a tent and tiki torch where we would all get together to read poetry. There were many friends there that day and Randy came when he could. He was my age, very wise and I always appreciated his input.

Years went by and I didn’t see Randy anymore. I went off to university and moved through many different phases of my life. I always knew Randy was in Victoria but our paths didn’t really cross. Then about a year ago Randy came to one of the markets my sister and I were selling at and it was so nice to see him. I didn’t think anything of it at the time and wondered if our paths would cross again.

Then about 8 months ago my family and I had gone through a really difficult time. We were part of a group of people we really cared about and suddenly there was a dramatic change and everything became fractured and broken.
The story isn't that important now in hindsight. The point is we were all reeling from this experience and felt very isolated and alone.  It was Randy that came back into our lives and encouraged us, met us for coffee and offered wise words of wisdom.  He spoke into our lives and really breathed new life into me and helped me realize my potential. Now we are good friends again and I marvel at the fact that he knew me way back when and was a part of a special poetry group I started. Not many people know that side of me and it was wonderful to reconnect with an old friend.

Has life surprised you lately with it’s twists and turns?

See bloom worthy news right when it happens.

About Michelle
Michelle is one of the blooms and founder of Two Blooms Design Studio Est. 2002. She is in charge of production, designing all of our labels in house, photography, customer service, alchemist behind all of our scent blends, designer, creator and pretty much whatever else needs to be done.

Being In The Moment

Photo Credit:  Pinterest

It’s day 31 and I’m still blogging and will continue to do so.

Are you living in the moment? This is something I find myself asking?

A month or so ago I was watching this medical television show and one of the main characters was having this argument with his wife.  Really he was a bit clueless and he had this patient going through this emergency and all his efforts were focused on this patient and nothing else.  This wasn’t the first time though this has happened. In fact his job was ruling his life. His wife comes in to complain and she basically says she has had it because he is never there for her or their kids. It looks like the marriage is over but then at the end of the show she pulls up in her car as he is exiting the hospital and she says “Get in the car, we are going to Julie’s dance recital and you are going to sit there and be present.” He agrees to this and they drive off.

This scene has stayed with me because I’m guilty of not living in the moment a lot of times. There is always something to do in business and often I find myself glued to the computer or making products. I’m missing so much of what is happening around me and I’m absorbed into what I think is some emergency but in reality it’s really not that important.

I used to work at a grocery store as a cashier and my biggest pet peeve was when I was the cashing out someone’s groceries and they would be on their cell phone the whole time ignoring my “Hello, how are you this today?” Now I’m not against cell phones but at least acknowledge me or say hello. Or have you seen people on the street walking or driving and they are texting? These are all examples of not being in the moment.

The challenge to me and to all of you reading is to spend more time in life being in the moment and acknowledging the beauty of the relationships or surroundings happening right in front of you.

See our posts as soon as they are published.
 

About Michelle
Michelle is one of the blooms and founder of Two Blooms Design Studio Est. 2002. She is in charge of production, designing all of our labels in house, photography, customer service, alchemist behind all of our scent blends, designer, creator and pretty much whatever else needs to be done.

6 Men and 2 Blooms

Photo Credit:  tiffanysavion.com

Today is a guest post by the other bloom Caron.

We were meeting a friend for coffee (and in our business, that’s considered a vacation :) and we were relaying a recent disappointment. He listened intently, bought us coffee, gave us a hug and tried to help.  We loved him for it and at the end of our time he said, “you need to come to a group I meet with every two weeks”.

Sure enough, two weeks later an invitation comes to a local restaurant for a breakfast meeting at 7:30am.  The morning of I was thinking of excuses why we couldn’t possible attend.  But the other bloom was up and getting dressed so I figured we could do this.

We get to the restaurant and 4 men were sitting over coffee laughing, too late to make a run for it we grabbed coffee and sat down.  Soon a copywriter and a government employee sat down and we were surrounded.  Awkward.  Where could we go?  How could we get out of this?  

Soon enough the leader started engaging us, what did we do, how long had we been doing this and soon enough we had 6 men completely immersed in our story.  They asked intelligent questions, they laughed at the right times and offered wise counsel and guidance.  By the end of the hour we didn’t want them to go.  They had looked at our business from a completely different perspective and given us advice that was golden.  Things we had been struggling with they dismissed kindly and told us to move on to what we were doing right.

Later that day the facilitator send us some materials that were spot on – we were in love!  And grateful that 6 men put aside their own agenda that morning and helped us see the other side of things.

Our takeaway - look for people not at all related to your business or even in your field and ask them what they think.  You might be surprised at the results.

Stay up to date with our most recent posts.

About Caron                                                                                                                                                             Caron is one of the blooms of Two Blooms Design Studio Est. 2002. She is the dreamer, production manager and the social media wannabe. Caron is married to the word adventure and she will never stop dreaming.

Shake It Up

Photo Credit: theperfectpalette.com

Remember when you were a kid and you built forts, skateboarded, made mud pies etc. Then your mom would or dad would say let’s go for ice cream and you’d drop everything and just go.

When you're an adult it’s more difficult to just do something spontaneous because there is always something to be done and especially if your in business for yourself you always have a to do list a mile high and things just seem to get in your way. You stop and think about all the steps involved in spontaneity like you have to finish what you are in the middle of, check to make sure everything in your house is unplugged, make sure you are properly dressed and not in your PJ’s.

 McFlurry Photo Credit:  Caron Somers

So yesterday I was in the middle of designing a soap label and my sister was reading. This past week was a hectic one for us.  Victoria is experiencing very hot weather and we had just finished a day selling at our local market and were wilting in the heat.  So at the spur of the moment we decided to run out for ice cream but the rule was we had to wear what we had on and not change into something else.  My hair was a mess, I had an old dress on that was nice and cool.  So the instinct was I gotta  change, finish up my label design, get dressed etc.  Instead I saved my document and closed it, did a quick check that nothing was plugged in and we headed to McDonald’s for an ice cream sundae with nuts and giggled at our messy style.  I wasn’t really in the mood for ice cream but when we got to the drive through we saw they had the McFlurry and our eyes light up with glee (yup simple things amuse us).  It’s a Canadian thing and it’s like an ice cream shake with crushed up Oreo’s or Smarties or Skor bits. I got the Oreo Cookie and Caron the other bloom got the Smartie (a Canadian M&M) one.  We parked and hoped no one noticed us in our unfancy unkempt garb. The stress of the day, the rude customers, and the blazing heat melted away and for that moment nothing else mattered.  We enjoyed our ice cream and I felt like I was a kid again.

What fun things are you doing in this summer heat?

Why don’t you shake up your world and do something out of your comfort zone.  It just might provide some clarity.  #IBN30

See our latest posts right when we publish them.

About Michelle
Michelle is one of the blooms and founder of Two Blooms Design Studio Est. 2002. She is in charge of production, designing all of our labels in house, photography, customer service, alchemist behind all of our scent blends, designer, creator and pretty much whatever else needs to be done.

You Big Ole Beautiful Soul

Vintage Books Photo Credit:  blog.jennibick.com

Looking for yesterday's post? I forgot to post it so you can find it here. 

This is the second version as I write through tears because I lost that moment of the first draft when my browser decided to quit and I lost everything I had written.  It was a moment I can’t get back but through tears I choose to write it again in the hopes that this version will be even better because of it.

I saw him (at least 4 generations older then I) and thoughts took me back to two months prior the first time I laid eyes on him. This time I was grocery shopping and exiting the store and whispered to my sister “I think that’s him”.

Rewind two months ago and I was shopping at this same grocery store with my mom. We decided to have coffee and relax after we finished shopping.  There was a man nearby sipping his diet coke and eating a candy bar. While I continued in conversation I was riveted by this man. Did he fight in the war? Was he married or alone? Did he have anyone living who cared about him? What kind of job did he have and I wondered about the pages of his life he left behind. I fixed my gaze on him and I wanted him to know that he and his story mattered.  I wanted him to know for that moment that he wasn’t invisible and that his story was just as important. 

For that one moment in time I wanted to shout it to the rooftops that he and every other person mattered and were special no matter how they felt. Tweet This

Today this older generation is often forgotten and ignored. Media is all about the trends the young, the famous, those who have accomplished so much but is anyone more important than this man sitting in front of me?

I wanted to say hello to this man and ask him about his story and his life but I didn’t know where to begin and didn’t want to disturb him. He got up after finishing his snacks and stumbled away. He couldn’t walk very well but he was managing. I really wanted to know where he was going and was he okay?

Window Frame Photo Credit:  comeinjus.tumblr.com

After coming home I tried to go on with my day but I couldn’t stop thinking about him. So as I tried to fall asleep I cried over this man who I didn’t even know and through tears I prayed for him.  I worried he was discouraged or sad or had no one and I wanted him to feel loved and special because he deserved that.

For that one moment in time I wanted to shout it to the rooftops that he and every other person mattered and were special no matter how they felt. Tweet This

 

Today as I was exiting the store there was a narrow pathway and he wasn’t looking in my direction. He had a walker and bike helmet this time and seemed to be on a mission heading towards customer service. I told my sister I thought it was him and looked back but only saw the back of his head.  In seeing him again today I knew I had to write this post and not save it for another day.

The title of this post is “You Big Ole Beautiful Soul” and I don't mean the man was big in size but big in accomplishments and he had a rich soul that I’m sure could fill museums.

I’m still not sure why he tugged at my heart that day and maybe it was because he was a kindred spirit in disguise or maybe it was to show me the beauty and richness of this man’s life. Or maybe someone reading this needed to hear it.

What has moved you lately? I’d love to hear it in the comments below if you feel comfortable sharing.


See our blog posts right when we publish them.

About Michelle
Michelle is one of the blooms and founder of Two Blooms Design Studio Est. 2002. She is in charge of production, designing all of our labels in house, photography, customer service, alchemist behind all of our scent blends, designer, creator and pretty much whatever else needs to be done.