Freelancing isn't free

I stumbled across this infographic the other day and found it interesting. 

{via freshbooks.com}

Do what you LOVE what you do

{via Pinterest}

What do you do?

As I hear of the amazing career exploits of friends and acquaintances, I can’t help but consider and reflect upon my own career. What has led me to this point in my career? Is this really where I want to be? My soul-searching journey and challenge the next year or so is one of personal discovery and self-reflection, so that I can maximize my full potential and passionately become what God has intended for my life – both personally and professionally. I know that I have been blessed with opportunities, education and talents, but am I really using all of this to make a difference in this breath of time I’ve been given in this world? 

So much of our lives are tied to our careers, since we spend the majority of our day at our jobs. What is the one question you will be asked the most in life, besides what your name is?...“What do you do?” Sometimes I get a little annoyed by the question, because I think to myself..."Um, I do a lot of things." However, my canned response is usually, “well, I’m a graphic designer.” Really though, I’m not just a graphic designer. In fact, I didn’t even go to school for graphic design, but that just happens to be my career at the present moment. Sure, I love designing and appreciate good design, but to encompass my entire identity around “what I do” is so limiting and constrictive. I am not defined by what I do; what I do is just a part of who I am.

Last week, while I was thinking about all of this, I checked my e-mail and saw that a friend of mine had sent me a Bible verse reminding me of who we are in Christ. It’s amazing how God uses the people in our lives to speak to us exactly in the time that we need His word.

That verse was Ephesians 2:10. Download the free 4x6 printable here or click on the verse above to download and save the image as your iPhone wallpaper. 

Row, row, row your boat

{image source: riversportokc.org}

Think Oklahoma City is just a boring, small town with nothing to do? Think again! Who would have thought that a city in the heart of the nation is one of the world’s premier locations for rowing, canoeing and kayaking? And it happens to be home base for several world-class athletes training to compete in the Olympics. Really, how many cities have a Boathouse District? Currently, Oklahoma City boasts two multi-million dollar boathouse facilities, and there are future plans for construction of two additional boathouses, a finish line tower, a whitewater rafting and kayak center, and a race venue that includes grandstands, state-of-the-art race course infrastructure, a 2000m wind screen, permanent lighting for night racing and stadium-sized jumbotron screens. Even if you're not training for the Olympics or haven't even set foot on a boat, there are still plenty of opportunities to learn how to row or kayak alongside the elite. 

One of these opportunities is the Corporate Rowing League, which happens to be my newest challenge! That's right, my work has a rowing team, and I decided...why not join this season. Tonight was the first meeting and orientation for this season, so I toured the boathouse facilities, learned important safety tips and am now excited to begin this adventurous new endeavor.

Stayin' Alive

This past Saturday morning, I attended the Red Cross Save-a-Life Saturday free CPR class. When I arrived at the class, I was surprised to see that there were close to 50 people who also shared the same interest in learning practical life-saving skills. Several workers and volunteers were also available and circulated around the room to help answer any questions or assist in teaching. We first learned how to bandage a wound properly and actually had to partner up and practice on a stranger. Then, they went over what to do with a shock victim. And finally, they taught hands-only CPR, where we watched a video, were given some additional information and demonstration, and then they let us loose on the CPR dummies. We partnered up again and took turns practicing chest compressions. Click here for the handout we received in class.

Some CPR pointers that I learned from this class:

• When doing chest compressions, you will likely break a few ribs
• Each compression needs to be two inches in depth
• It is actually really tiring and quite difficult to continue these compressions for an extended period of time
• Do chest compressions to the rhythm of 100 beats per minute (or the disco song “Stayin’ Alive”)
• Put all your weight over the victim and bend from the waist

Here is the actual video we watched during the class:

How to Perform Hands-Only CPR on Howcast

Keep Dreaming

{via Pinterest}

Spring has sprung!

Time to spring forward! The warmer weather, the time change and the budding plants all signal the beginning of spring - my favorite time of year! Along with spring, apparently comes an inundation of junk mail soliciting lawn, landscaping and garden services. We are definitely one household that needs those services, given that we've managed to kill our yard and the majority of our landscaping in the relatively short amount of time we've lived at this house. I've also only been able to successfully keep one houseplant alive in our home, but sometimes that's even questionable.

Despite my black thumb, I've decided to plant an indoor herb garden. Yesterday evening, my husband and I joined the masses and flocked to our local Lowes in search of the perfect supplies for my little garden. After meandering through the aisles for a while, we left the store with a 3-pot herb planter, seeds and potting soil. The pot was $9.97, soil was $4.54 and the seeds were half price, so we got basil, cilantro and rosemary seeds for a total of $2.22. Today, I was eager to get these seeds planted, so I gathered my supplies and assembled my herb garden on our back patio...and now we wait (7-14 days, so the seed package says). Here are a few photos of the planting event. We even found the perfect windowsill to house our herb garden.

If you're looking for some creative ideas for neat herb gardens using everyday, ordinary items, below are a few I've found that might inspire you. 

Tea canisters

Florist vases

Shoe Organizer

Glass Bottles

Mason jars