I am in the mood for some reading!

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Hello again everyone! Today is the first day of October and boy does it feel like fall has finally arrived! My favorite time of year and I couldn't be happier! Mercury is still retrograde until the 9th. (Click here is you want to know what this means) This Mercury Retrograde has been more difficult then I anticipated. I haven't been able to go inward or even wanted to like I normally feel pushed to do as soon as mercury retrograde appears. Today I felt it.

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All I have wanted to do all day was read. I want to dive into a book and get lost in the world it brings like I have so many times. I have a long commute to work and it has been a year this month since I discovered audio-books. It really has changed my drive and allowed me to always stay with books even when life gets busy.

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I remember as a child when I fell in love with a book for the first time. I had read many books before and enjoyed them greatly but nothing captured my attention and made me lose reality along with sleep than Harry Potter. I truly believe that Harry Potter and the entire series will always be the most amazing thing of my childhood. I think every time I start a new book or search for my next one I am hoping that it will even come close to grabbing my heart like those books did. 

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     Sometimes I feel guilty reading books. I have this undeniable need for constant production. Even to the moment before I go to sleep I have the need to check emails or update a listing on my Etsy Shop. During movies you can normally find me sketching or writing this very blog. Reading doesn't allow me to be "productive" and I have convinced myself that taking time for me to read is selfish and I feel I will fall behind. I have been thinking about how to change this. How to read more and change my feelings of guilt and anxiety about reading. It is something I love and I should take time to do it without a negative aftertaste.

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Reading before bed instead of working on my phone is a good start. Does anyone else feel the way I do? It's sad, books inspire me so much. Books help awaken parts of my imagination that are so crucial for making art. I would love to use reading as a tool for creativity.

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Right now I am reading a wonderful book that has me gripped by its world and characters. It's called "The Book of Lost Things" by John Connolly. I am not going to tell you anything about the book. Just trust me and go get it!

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What are some of your favorite books? Do you have any reading rituals? I love a good cup of tea and a blanket when I am reading. How do you think I could get rid of my negative feelings of guilt when trying to set time aside for reading? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Until Tomorrow - Dream Away
Samantha Menzo
Cloud Nine Studios

Etsy Featured Item of the Day:

Book Necklace by - OxfordBright

Song of the Day:

The Best Indian Chill Out

Color of the Day:
Benjamin Moore Evening Sky 833

Where do you do your best thinking?

Where do you do your best thinking? Is it in the shower, in the car, when meditating, or maybe it's when you're exercising? Do you think the best when you first wake up, or right before bed? Do you have any habits that help get you to this great thinking place daily? Do you use your best thinking space to it's full potential or just use it to unleash the minds to-think list?

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I am a thinker of thinking and I think about my thinks. My mind is always restless and as I get older I become better at sorting out the crap from the productive inner monologues. (Which I believe is actually one of the key signs you have entered adulthood.) Either way, my mind is ALWAYS on overdrive. Which is why I find calm rainy days, meditation, and journals to be so helpful. But where and when do I get my thinking accomplished?

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When I get my best thinking accomplished is very late at night. I tend to get the newest ideas and thoughts right as I am about to drift into sleepyland. I am most relaxed and least restless at this time. This sometimes proves as a problem because if I am just about to fall asleep and I get a great BIG IDEA I am now awake and wanting to further explore the thought. Also I don't want to forget the dream but if I get up to write it down for later I am now awake and restless again. 

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I have come up with three things that I do when I get a great idea right before bed!

1. I allow myself to think about it but give a time limit and stick to it. I have found that trying to ignore the thought to force sleep is frustrating and ends in broken sleep. Allowing the thought to enter and explore it helps fall asleep easier and possibly even dream about the thought! But I HAVE to make sure I stick to my time limit so I don't stay up all night on the thought and waste my energy.

2. Come up with a time and place to remember the thought the next day. I do this with dreams as well. If I want to have a dream and remember it, I tell myself I am going to dream and I will remember it tomorrow when I am getting dressed....or whatever I choose. It tends to work most of the time and it works just the same with big ideas before sleeping. 

3. Make sure I write it down or write about it the next day. Late at night is where I get my best thinking time but writing about it is where I get my best productivity with my thoughts. Writing a thought down for me has always helped me solidify it. I have always kept journals of lists, thoughts, doodles, and dreams and being able to go through and put my thoughts down on paper takes it to another level. Also sometimes you have great thoughts but it's bad timing and if you keep record of your thoughts, you might go back to your writings and explode with inspiration from something you thought years ago!

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How is your best thinking time and place helping you? Does it help to inspire your creativity? Does it help with new ideas for your business? Does it increase your happiness or productivity? Think about how you can better use that time to accomplish goals or execute the best thoughts! Maybe keeping a notepad in your car, or using your notes app can help. Maybe blogging about your ideas can change your productivity! I know it helps me :] 

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If you do you best thinking during therapy how can you use that for your business? If you do your best thinking with friends what can you do when you know you are going to meet with them to make sure you use it to your full advantage? What about nature walks? If you do your best thinking on nature walks and feel most creative, think about bringing a sketchbook! 

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My Gemini Sun, Virgo Ascendant is a THINKER. Being ruled by Mercury makes this topic come very naturally to me. I would love to hear your thoughts about my great idea before bed routine. Also what kind of things work best for you and your best thinking space and time? I hope you all have a wonderful day and are inspired to Think Big!

Until Tomorrow - Dream Away

Samantha Menzo

Cloud Nine Studios 

Etsy Featured Item of the Day:

Light Bulb Boho Necklace by- PaisleyBeading

Song of the Day:

Lissie - When I'm Alone

Color of the Day:

Dark olive 2140-30

My inner Girly Girl and "Embracing the Pink."

Hello Everyone! I am in such an inspired and motivated mood today. I spent most of the last few days locked inside my studio trying to get as much done as I can and I really am hearing that clock tick with the DIY Art Fair right around the corner. I was able to finish up so many half done pieces and that was so gratifying. I also was able to take a good chunk of the day to prepping more wine bottles. I soaked them and peeled the labels and then took them outside to spray some base colors on them and I can't wait to get back and knock some cute new wine bottles out! 

So yesterday I was on Facebook scrolling along when I came across a video that caught my eye. I clicked on it and was instantly hooked. It is Lil' Fairy Doors and my inner child was squealing with delight! I was so excited over this little pink door that I had to take a step back and look at exactly why I was so giddy!

(My brother and I fishing as little kids :] Happy Birthday Zachary!)

So I began to think about how I was raised with a tom-boy sporty spice kinda attitude. I loved my cut off jean shorts and bandannas. I loved showing up the neighborhood boys in any sport I could and after a certain age I made it by business to HATE pink. I even convinced myself that the thought of pink made me mad. Why? 

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When I started playing disc golf around 2 years ago, I had a disc that was my favorite to use but it was pink. I was the best at throwing that particular disc and slowly I grew fond of the color. I had a connection with it and a positive one. Slowly I started wanting more pink discs. Then I wanted pink shirts, then a pink bag, until I slowly was EMBRACING THE PINK!

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I realized a connection with this transformation after listening to part of Gretchen Rubin's - The Happiness Project. She wrote about how for so long she suppressed her love for children's literature. She wanted to be known for reading intelligent books and not fairy tales. She figured out what she was doing one day and decided to ditch the thought and embrace her love for children's literature and she started a small book club dedicated to it! 

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I was suppressing my inner Girly Girl. I wanted people to think I was tough, and cultured and intelligent and somehow me liking pink went against that notion. So i decided to start my own book club......well not really. I just decided that I loved pink and girly girl things. When I saw the Lil' Fairy Door I wanted one so badly. I made me think about my art pieces that I create in my studio. 

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I have mentioned making "sell-able art" vs "enjoyable art." I have struggling with this thought lately because of trying to prepare for this Art Fair. I have found myself knocking out so much generic sell-able art just to make sure I have inventory and it's not as enjoyable for me. When the fair is over I have decided to dedicate a chunk of my time creating fun and light girly pieces. I still love my rustic pieces on wood and wine bottles but I am missing something and it's all for my inner Girly Girl!

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So I hope you all enjoyed the blog today and remember to embrace any and everything you love in life because we all want the real you! I will be Periscoping in my studio tonight at 7pm Eastern Standard Time if any of you are interested in joining me you can find me @Cloudninestudios. 

Until Tomorrow - Dream Away

Samantha Menzo

Cloud Nine Studios

Etsy Featured Item of the Day:

Pink donut watercolor PAINTING rainbow sprinkles (fine art print realistic food doughnut girly pastel art nursery dessert kitchen decor) by - ASheaDesignLab

Song of the Day:

Beyonce - Run the World (Girls)

Color of the Day:

Coral