KEEP YOUR GOALS TO YOURSELF

I mentioned here before that I'm practicing a unique principle for setting goals... keeping my goals to myself. Sounds opposite from conventional wisdom, right? Shouldn't I tell someone so they can keep me accountable?

As Derek Silvers says,

"Repeated psychology tests have proven that telling someone your goal makes it less likely to happen. Any time you have a goal, there are some steps that need to be done, some work that needs to be done in order to achieve it. Ideally, you would not be satisfied until you had actually done the work. But when you tell someone your goal and they acknowledge it, psychologists have found that it's called a 'social reality.' The mind is kind of tricked into feeling that it's already done. And then, because you felt that satisfaction, you're less motivated to do the actual hard work necessary." 

Oh boy, am I guilty of this! That's why I'm determined to practice keeping my mouth shut until I have some progress under way. So if I'm pretty secretive around here on the blog... well, now you know why. :)

Listen to Derek Silvers' TED talk.

Photo source.

GOOD READS

Lately I have been reading up a storm! It must be all of those summer reading programs at the library my mom took me to as a little girl :) 

Here's my current book and blog series of choice...

BEES

So far this is the only dear little bee I have seen this year. It makes me sad, and I hope this bee population crisis we're experiencing can be reverted somehow.

I could try to explain why this is an issue, but I'm not a biologist or researcher and really wouldn't be the best person for that. But! I am here to tell you that Samantha Jakuboski has written a wonderful article on this very topic over at Scitable.

Meanwhile I am going to google what flowers I can plant now to feed the darling little bees that have stolen my heart. ✿
P.S. If you concur, we should get these. 

PEONIES + RAINY PARKS

This rainy day we're having reminds me of this past rainy day we soaked up in Central Park last year on our honeymoon. I love how every texture in a garden changes when rain comes and fills every little crevice in the rocks and bark of the trees. Sigh...

BLACK TEACUPS

Sometimes I drink caffeine. Even though I KNOW it will keep me up until 5 AM. And one day I did drink caffeine, and it DID keep me up until 5 AM. This post is the result.

There's just nothing like browsing Etsy in the wee hours of the morning for things you absolutely do not need/don't have money for. It's the perfect mix of conditions for curating items that bring you inspiration, such as these gorgeous black teacups. They're so perfectly delicate and irresistibly morbid, like that heart-wrenching, depressing book you can't get over. 

WHAT I'VE BEEN UP TO LATELY

This past month has been surprisingly busy! There's so much I need to update you all on.

First...
I am now an organic farmer!! Well, I work for at an organic farm. Does that make me a farmer? Or is that not until I have a distinct farmer's tan, muck boots, and an insatiable desire to eat organic, local, heirloom tomatoes all the time? 

That last one isn't too far of a stretch...

Anyways, I now work for Lighthouse Gardens, which is a very unique organic farm; not only do they sell organic produce, but also organic starter plants (vegetable, herb, and ornamental), organic specially-formulated soil, and all of those in wholesale quantities, as well. It's a big operation! Apparently it's also one of the only organic farms that has each of those dimensions and operates out of a greenhouse in all of U.S.! Pretty spiffy.

It's been so much fun already. So far I have toiled in the fields, greenhouse, and the Brighton Farmers' Market. My favorite work so far has been in the greenhouse, because it is so beautiful, calming, and introverted! This job is a huge answer to prayer, because I have hated working so many extroverted jobs over the years and wanted something with a little more solitude. And this... is perfect. I'm so thankful!!

I'm also just elated that I get paid for doing something I love.

Which, and this might be a little sad, but... I forgot that could happen, that you could love your job, since I have had jobs that are totally against my personality for years. It's refreshing to realize you wouldn't mind working an hour longer when it's already time to leave. It's liberating.

I also have new creative endeavors! I am now consulting and assisting a friend with her newly formed Etsy shop, Painting 4 Him. So far it has been a blast! I love envisioning with her what she wants her shop to become and managing her online presence. She has already had a sale; isn't that great?? Check out her shop; she crafts adorable, colorful quilts and primitive art. 

As if I'm not busy enough between those two new developments, my other job, being a wife, and my Etsy shop, 48valentine, I've decided to make more handmade items! I can't go into detail right now because this theory seems to really apply to me. But I can't wait to go through this process and eventually reveal my handmade goodness to the world!!

What have you guys been up to lately? I'd love to hear what my readers do and what new adventures they're embarking on. Tell all in the comments! :)

Photo Cred:

First photo.

ALTERNATIVE PRODUCTS

Because I have gut issues, I have to be very careful of what kinds of things I consume. This includes not only food, but also medicines, makeup, and things like sunscreen and bug spray. I haven't totally reworked my medicine cabinet yet, but here's some things I have switched...