The most important part of this project is to connect to your intention for it – not your expectation of it.

I say that because it may be a project that you love, but your kids aren’t interested in it. If you’re expectation is to all sit around drinking sparkling cider and merrily creating a time capsule and they would rather not, you’re not going to enjoy this at all.

But if your intention is to capture memories for yourself (and maybe for them later), then you will be able to recognize that you can capture those memories in a dozen ways that feel good to everyone (even if that means they head off to play or watch movies and you work merrily toward your intention).

Some intentions to consider:

• Connection – If the whole family is interested, keep connection – not the idea of how connection “should” look – at the forefront of your mind.
• Fun – Pretty self-explanatory. If you’re not having fun, shift.
• Capturing Memories – Slowing down, creating mindfulness around our experiences, around where we’ve been and where we’d like to go, spending time with the experiences that have fed us or taught us.
• Creating Memories and Traditions – Just creating these New Year’s time capsules will create memories and traditions that you and your family have the opportunity to look back on. Sorta wraps all four of these intentions into one.

The second most important part is to decide when you’d like to open these New Year’s time capsules. Since I don’t know the actual term for it, I’m going to refer to this as the “opening date”.

You can do so the following New Year, 5 years from now or depending on your kids’ ages, you can create a shoebox full of annual time capsules to give to them as adults.

If your kids would like to participate in this, let them decide…and let them change their mind if they’d like to! Remember: Intention, not expectation!

Photo Source

What You’ll Need For Your New Year’s Time Capsules

Like I said, there are many ways to do this, so I’m going to offer you a few ideas to get the juices flowing. You can do one or all or some combination of these ideas to create your own family time capsule. (I hope you’ll share your ideas in the comments below!)

1. A  Letter to Your Child/ren – You can write a letter to your children, elaborating on their past year: their favorite things, their best friends and what they’ve done. Add a recent photo (or photos) of them to the envelope, seal it, label it with the child’s name, date it and write down it’s “opening date”. This is probably the simplest (although possibly most time consuming, depending on how it’s done).
2. A Letter From Your Child/ren – If your kids would like to be involved, I do NOT recommend asking them to write an entire letter. That’s a lot of pressure for most kids (although some will love it!). I’d recommend printing out something like a questionnaire that they can answer, and leaving plenty of space to write or color pictures. Some questions to get you started:
• What was your favorite part of the year?
• What was your least favorite part?
• Other favorites: toy/game, movie, clothing, color, activity, food, etc.
• Who was your best friend this year?
• The question can obviously vary based on the child’s age. For older kids who are interested, you may look up writing prompts to get some really juicy answers for them to read later!
• You might also add some basic info to these, such as gas prices, political leaders, major events, etc.
3. A Fortune Teller Letter – This one is a lot of fun for kids. Ask questions that allow your children to play Fortune Teller with their answers, essentially trying to “predict” the upcoming year. (These are good ones to read at the end of the next year to see who was closest. Think of questions such as:
• How much do you think gas will cost at the end of next year, five years, ten years?
• Who do you predict will win the next election(s) and why?
• What one amazing world event do you expect in the coming year(s)?
• What one amazing thing do YOU expect to do in the coming year(s)?
• What’s going to change about [you/me/someone or something else]
• What do you think you’ll be doing in [choose a month or year]?
• What would you LIKE to be doing in [choose a month or year]?
• You can also add questions about one another or other people you know, predicting what they might do later in life, who they might marry, where they’ll live, etc (um, might wanna keep it positive – don’t want to open something hurtful in the future).
4. A Photo Time Capsule – These are really fun. Take film photos of everyone (no digitals, since you’ll have copies of those and they won’t feel all time-capsuley that way, unless you’ll print them out and delete or hide the digital copies). Look at them one time, then place them in the time capsule. You can take photos of everyone doing something they love or showing off their favorite things. You can take good-natured funny photos (as long as you think everyone will find them funny). You can even create a video to burn to DVD and lock it away.

Saving Your Time Capsule

After you’ve decided WHAT you want to create, and WHEN you want to reopen your time capsule, your next step is to find a secure place in which to put everything.

Some ideas: If you’re doing letters to be open the next year, you can label them and place them on your desk. If you’re doing something bigger or longer-term, consider a small safe to hold your New Years time capsule in (without worry of water or fire damage). You might even want to use a safe deposit box, or a canister of some kind (like a metal coffee canister) to bury them.

You can even do a virtual time capsule with letters and photos, saving everything online (they even offer “virtual time capsule” services). And let the kids go wild with decorating or creating a really artful was to encapsulate the project if they want to!

Just remember to think long-term!

You don’t want to forget about it (setting a reminder on your online calendar is a good idea) and you don’t want to leave it or bury it somewhere that you might not have access to later (or where someone else might find it).

But then that goes back to intention.

If the time capsule is lost or forgotten, your intention of connection, creating and capturing memories, and having fun (rather than your expectation of how that intention would look) can still be honored and enjoyed.

This year I intend to write a letter to Zeb and will continue writing these letters to give to him as an adult. We may also do a time capsule together, but 12 year old boys tend to be rather unenthusiastic about these kind of things (or maybe that’s just my 12 year old boy ).

What ideas can you add to this list?

I was freaking overwhelmed. I had a plate piled high and my mind wandering off in 14 different directions all at once – quite painful, I might add.

I was finding myself feeling unrooted, scattered, unable to be present or feel authentic. (Not authentically overwhelmed; I had that covered. But authentically my real self: grounded, kind, patient, compassionate.)

So I began to practice my own mindfulness meditation.

I would practice it in the tiny slivers of a moment between the action and my reaction.

I would practice it after it all took place.

But soon I found I wanted to practice it outside the moments all together, so that I could get firm in it before the world shook beneath my feet.

So I created a Guided Mindfulness Meditation for myself.

No intentions of sharing it. I created it just for me. And I practiced it.

And it was goooood.

I felt myself settling in…feeling rooted, grounded in mindfulness and the benefits of it.

I felt the chatter of my mind start to fade as I practiced listening deeper in and out of the most overwhelming days.

And as I sank deeper into my own mindfulness, it began to ripple around me.

My sweet husband, Justin, began to breathe with me, to reflect back to me the inner work I was doing and to organically begin to practice it himself. Even Zeb, at 12, started to notice and would begin to reflect it back for me, asking me how I was feeling when he saw my tension rise, unconsciously giving me that gentle reminder to move into mindfulness.

But it’s effectiveness truly showed itself during one of Life’s trials.

It was when we had a really hard couple days, when some really challenging things threatened to shake us up, when my ability to remain grounded was tested to the extreme and I knew my ability to remain mindful meant the difference between total success and total failure within the situation.

It was exhausting, and emotionally heartbreaking and took every last ounce of energy from me.

But no matter how exhausted I became, how close to my edge I thought I was, when I needed it the most I found myself able to remain grounded and mindful through this practice, transforming the challenge with the compassionate presence I found I was never without.

I had been wanting to offer this guided mindfulness meditation for weeks. But it wasn’t until I recognized just how powerful a practice it had become, that I truly felt ready to share it with you.

The Organic Sister’s Guided Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness is remaining present and deeply connected to Who You Are within any moment or situation.

It’s the ability to remain calm and centered around your values and the organic actions that spring from your values.

Life challenges that mindfulness. It offers so many opportunities to lose yourself.

We all know what it’s like to not feel mindful.

When we’re not mindful, we feel scattered, uneasy, irritable, overwhelmed, unable to see clearly and prone to losing our temper or our stability, to losing ourselves within the drama or commotion or emotion flying around us.

Gaining or regaining that mindfulness is crucial to what you’re ready to experience in your life.

This meditation is for anyone ready to:

• Move out of the chaos of your mind’s chatter
• Cut through the layers of complexity in any moment
• Experience the deep grounding feeling that mindfulness brings
• See clearly through the eyes of Compassion and Wisdom
• Learn to stop your knee-jerk responses – you know, the ones you regret later
• Offer support and steadiness to those in need around you
• Bring calm, clarity, and kindness into your interactions with others.

This Guided Mindfulness Meditation is an organic practice. And as you practice it, both within the meditation and using the practice in your everyday life, you will experience the power that mindfulness holds for you.

What You Can Expect From This Meditation

This Guided Mindfulness Meditation is a 45 minute mp3 that is immediately available upon payment via download.

You can upload it on your iPod, your smartphone or save it to your computer.

And slowly, gently, it will guide you through a process of relaxing, grounding and connecting you to your awareness, to your body, to your heart. Then I will guide you to bringing this into any moment with the confidence that you can make this happen, that you can create the results of mindfulness in your life, before leaving you with several extra minutes to finish your meditation practice at your own pace.

And then The Holiday Thriving Kit was born.

In that same place of meditation I felt a very clear call and sudden call to create something more.

Something WITH the Guided Mindfulness Meditation…AND some other practical tools.

Tools I had recently shared with the Organic Tribe.

Because I know, as we come up on the holidays, mindfulness is a necessary and powerful practice to transform your experiences.

And I know that sometimes you might find you need a little more than mindfulness…you might need something to do next.

For a limited time, only until Wednesday, December 22…

.

What is your sanity worth this year?

Receiving this amount of coaching and tools personally from me would normally cost several hundred dollars or more in one-on-one coaching.

But for a short time, only until December 22nd, you can receive several hours of tools, coaching, and support for $74 or choose the meditation alone for $35.

Most gifts we give ourselves last a few hours, maybe a few weeks or months…

This gift will last you years.

And not just over the holidays. These are tools you can apply all year long.

Give yourself a gift this year.

Mindfulness. Grounding. Peace. Clarity.

The ability to think straight.

To hear your own Organic Wisdom and trust it.

The experience you and your entire family are needing.

P.S. Yes! Anyone who purchases either the Guided Mindfulness Meditation or The Holiday Thriving Kit will be invited to join The Organic Sisterhood! You’ll get that info upon payment.

Hope you’re having a beautiful week! I can’t wait to share more with you SOON!

I love inspiration. I am an inspiration junkie. I eat, breath and dream it. I get excited when it hits me and I get excited when other people are swimming it.

Smack in the middle of my 3 part series on personal growth, I was hit by it and it derailed me a little with getting part 3 up on time.

I was hit so hard I had little choice but to heed the call and make my trek deep into my Creative Cave. And there I’ve been for the past 3 days…and there I’ll be for a couple more.

And I’m excited. I’m inspired. And I’m scared a little shitless.

Because I’m creating something real, valuable, soul-driven.

I’m creating an e-book and audiobook on the biggest, most important piece of personal growth.

So, part three of this series is coming very soon, in the next couple days.

And soon after that, my new creation, my heart and soul and inspiration will be finished and ready and put out into the world.

Sharing the Love

If you’re interested in getting first dibs and a super special offer on what I’m creating, you’ll need to sign up here.

In addition to a super sweet deal, you’ll also get a copy of Be Organic: An Invitation to Change Your World.

If you’ve already received that e-book and you’re still on the list, you’re golden. Just hang tight and I’ll get you the goodness very soon.

Oh I’m excited! And I think I need to barf. Good, good things.

Susannah is a photographer, writer and the creator of the Unravelling e-courses. A Polaroid addict and very proud aunt, she is currently hard at work on her first book, to be published in spring 2012, and collaborating with Jenifer Altman and Amanda Gilligan on a how-to book about Polaroid photography, also coming out in 2012.

Hi Susannah! Can you introduce yourself and tell me a bit about what you love and the work you do?

Susannah: I am a photographer and a writer and for the last two years I’ve been teaching a self-awareness e-course called Unravelling. The course has been the inspiration for the book I’m currently writing about healing and creativity, and I’m also collaborating on a book about Polaroid photography with Jenifer Altman and Amanda Gilligan. Both books will be published in spring 2012.

You have such a gorgeous creative style. How would you describe it and your inspiration?

Susannah: This is actually a really tricky question to answer! My home is filled with mid-century furniture and I shoot all my photographs with vintage Polaroid cameras, so I guess that vintage aesthetic filters through into everything i do. I’m also very inspired by simplicity – in colours, words, intentions and living. I own a lot of books, and way too many cameras, but everything else is kept to a minimum because i don’t like clutter, either in my house or on my website

You talk a bit on your website about always having a hand in photography but rekindling that inspiration after the death of your partner. Can you talk a bit about those middle years…the years you weren’t as inspired, and why?

Susannah: Those middle years saw me pursuing a different path for a while. After art college I didn’t have the confidence to pursue my photography dreams so I worked a regular job before going back to university to do a journalism degree. From there I worked on several national newspapers before taking a job as a fashion editor – that lasted two years before I left to go freelance. Writing has always been a part of my world, but I am so grateful to have now come full circle back to photography. The two work together for me – a 50/50 even split that bounce off each other!

I think lots of us have experienced that lack of confidence in pursuing our dreams. What do you feel was holding you back or bringing up that self-doubt? And how did you overcome it?

Susannah: Age and circumstance. When I left college I was 22 and back then (1995) the photography I wanted to do didn’t seem to have a place in the world yet. I didn’t want to be an editorial photographer, which is where most of my peers were headed, and I couldn’t see how I could make a living as a fine art photographer. I also didn’t own a computer and digital photography was still in its early days — i didn’t know how to find an alternative path.

What has changed for me now, aside from advances in technology and opportunity, is that I feel more confident in myself and my voice. As I healed in the years after he died I really got to know myself, a painful yet powerful journey which has changed everything for me — I guess this combo of being older, a bit wiser and feeling more ‘me’ has helped me to feel more confident in my work. I still have my bad days and lots of insecurities, but going through a bereavement like I did means I know intimately how short life is, and I just don’t want to waste any more time. We’ve gotta be brave and put ourselves out there, in whatever way that means for us.

Wow! Such a powerful message to absorb, that life is short and we have to be brave, put ourselves out there and stop wasting time. Was it this message that inspired your Unravelling e-course?

Susannah: Unravelling started as an evening class I taught locally. I didn’t want to teach a regular photography class so I drew inspiration from my healing journey and how I’d been using photography as a way to get to know myself again. The class was a great success and as blogging was such an important part of my life it seemed natural to find a way to share the class online somehow.

Can you tell me more about your course, what kind of transformations it’s inspired in yourself and others, what are your intentions with it, etc?

Susannah: Unravelling is an eight-week course for women that I first led online in January 2009. It’s not a photography class in that I don’t teach any photo techniques or talk about processing — instead, I invite the Unravellers to use their cameras to look at their lives, almost like they’re looking for clues and documenting what they find. The writing exercises get them digging even deeper into how they view themselves and their world.

In week five we turn our cameras to our faces and time and time again it’s the Unravellers who didn’t want to share their face photos who end up making videos of themselves talking to camera! The magic happens when women gather together in a safe space and are willing to delve into their lives with fresh eyes — they support each other and the transformations are always so incredible to witness.

As for me, leading the class has taught me how to be brave on camera as I share a new video with the class every week; it’s given me the confidence to share my thoughts without being embarrassed. Going forward into 2011 I’ll be launching an Unravelling members’ site in June—it’ll be a cosy supportive space where people can hang out, make friends and nurture their hearts. As soon as I’ve delivered the manuscript for my book I’ll be starting work on the new site!

I talk about unjobbing on my blog and I’m always fascinated with the creative ways in which people fulfill their life purpose while also paying the bills. Can you talk a little bit about fulfilling your own purpose with the work you do and some other challenges you’ve overcome (or are overcoming) in the past few years?

Susannah: In the years since the bereavement I have learned how to live on my own as an independent and self-supporting woman. It hasn’t always been easy— and I have the credit card debt to prove it! — but I got a first sense of my true purpose when I moved to a new city (by myself and not knowing anyone there) in the autumn of 2008. That was when I was invited to teach the evening class, and from that small beginning I discovered the work I feel most passionate about — holding a space for women to heal their hearts and reconnect with themselves. Helping them learn how to become their own greatest ally.

I always hated working in an office and have been self-employed in one way or another since 2002, but for the last two years I’ve been creating this online business of mine; there’s no how-to manual so every step of the way I am learning and figuring out what works and what doesn’t. I’ve never considered myself to be a business-minded person so it still surprises me that i have a business at all – I guess it helps that it’s not exactly a traditional business

SO loving what you have to say here Susannah; so many tangents we could talk on. But I want you to leave everyone with one answer: If you had to sum up in a single short sentence one piece of advice you’d give to women, or even one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self, what would it be?

Susannah: Next time you stand in front of a mirror, smile at the woman you see there; she is your greatest ally and it’s time to get to know her.

Thank you Susannah for your beautiful, wise words!

You can read more about Susannah Conway’s shenanigans on her blog at SusannahConway.com and connect with her on Twitter. Registration for the next Unravelling class opens on Saturday December 4th.

I had only had my camera a few months and had joined a photography group for fun. We were out shooting the full moon when he strode up to me, gently took my oh-so-precious brand new camera, cleaned my lens and then grabbed this weird round glass thingy from my bag. It had come with the camera but I had zero idea what it was for.

He told me it was called a lens filter and that it had one major benefit.

And that is this: when you bump your lens and this happens….

…you’ll be mighty happy it only happened to an inexpensive lens filter vs. your nice (expensive) lens.

He was so right. Two years later and in the energy of Thanksgiving, I’ve got to give a great big thanks to Dave.

What little thing are you feeling grateful for today?

I’m nearing the end of my last month on the Visionary Mom Team. I have only a few weeks left to go before I’ll have to say goodbye to Lisa and the 9 other women who have supported and encouraged me since August. I underestimated what a gentle but pivotal role the team would played in my life. I shouldn’t have.

You should never underestimate the power of a collective female energy.

The very foundation of nearly a dozen mamas on one cooperative journey is rooted in creation. But it also resonates a strength, a nurturing and a no bullshit attitude that is the unmistakable art of such empowered women.

It also brings balance to the experience. Each one of us had a slightly different story to tell, a slightly different path to take, a slightly different view of the world. And we could offer it all without fear or judgment. One mama could see things another couldn’t. Another could offer something no one else had. We had humor and caution, drive and gentleness and eleven lifetimes of experience and resources to feed each others’ dreams.

It could not have come at a better time for me. In a summer filled with inspiration, but complete and paralyzing unassuredness, the Visionary Mom Team stepped in and saved my ass.

Have I mentioned that I was working on my photography shop for four months prior to joining? And that I managed to accomplish my goal in just three weeks on the team?

How about that I did more for Sustainable Baby Steps in 7 weeks on the team than I did in the 13 previous months that I had been working on the site?!

On top of lighting a fire under my ass the team has helped me to:

• Identify and overcome numerous creative roadblocks
• Acknowledge my personal groove
• Figure out and execute a plan
• Stay accountable along the way

I’ve learned that going it alone is just short of crazy.

And a little bit lonely.

We are communal, social beings after all. It only makes sense to me now that I would work better professionally in a communally creative setting, as well. We’re not meant to always go it alone. I’m understanding that better now.

To say the team has been pivotal is an understatement. Having 10 other women as invested in my outcome as I am in theirs is flat out transformational, not just in my productivity but as it translates into other areas of my life as well (because there is no “work life” and “personal life” around here – it’s all part of one big, beautiful pot).

That’s why I’m joining another team.

Yes, it’s just that good and no, I am not ready to let it go.

I’ve talked my good friend, Heather, into hopping on board and I’m pretty sure another sweet mama, Alicia, is going to join us.

But I want to make sure we have a full team, so I can be sure to start again in December. Sooo…..

Want to join us on the next Visionary Mom Team?

I know there are plenty of you out there cooking up some Big Ideas. I know there are plenty of you feeling stuck, too. I know that we could all use a little (or a lot of) motivation to feed our dreams. And I now know the power of a collective determination.

We start December 1st and there are only a handful of spots available, so go here to check it out and sign up.

Will you join me?

UPDATE: I’ve just been informed two four more mamas have jumped on board! That means FIVE THREE more spaces. Are you in? Hurry!

Another Update: Yahoo!! The team is full! I’m SO excited! And to everyone who didn’t make this team, Lisa still has options, so don’t hesitate to shoot her a message!

This one seemed to be a top pick – along with its quoted card!

I’m am super pleased, however, to announce the two winners chosen by Random.org…

Of the laminated print, the winner is……#50 Lauren who commented:

I’m happy for you and feel good about this move you made. Of course you should sell your photos! I love the one of the frog… He did look like a zen master there on that long leaf… good luck with everything! I love your blog.

Of the set of cards, the winner is…#122 Rebecca who shared this on Facebook:

Tara is someone I have been inspired by (her life and her photography) and have been following on Flickr for I think 2 years. She is now opening up her own photography shop – and giving away two prints I entered the giveaway and so should YOU! My fave is ‘Boxcar Dreams‘. Anyone else have a fave?

Thank you to everyone who entered! You have truly, truly filled my heart.

I’ve been up to something.

Something both yummy and provoking that challenges my self-doubt and insists I push through the fears I’d rather avoid, thank you very much. It’s exciting and terrifying in the very best of ways.

I’m now selling my photography.

The idea fell into my head several months ago with such determined assurance I felt for sure it hadn’t come from me. And the way it quickened my heart and stirred up my fears confirms (as it always does) that it’s exactly what I’m suppose to be doing.

Of course, as is my fashion when I’m confronted with facing my own self-loathing demons, I procrastinated a good four months. But thanks to Visionary Mom and her awesome teams, I’m finally moving forward with a dream I’ve only toyed with for several years.

I’m still wracked with doubt. As a self-taught photographer, there is much I have left to learn and I seem to insist on perpetuating my doubts by comparing my work to the work of the many other fantastic, experienced artists doing their thing.

I almost gave up completely until this quote was whispered to me:

“Use the talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.” – Henry Van Dyke

I am very, very far from the best. You could write encyclopedias on what I’ve yet to learn. And some of my attempts make even me laugh. But occasionally I stumble across a shot that lights me on fire, and am in awe to hear it do the same for others. So, this is me singing my little bird song, adding my voice to the chorus of very best in the woods.

To add to my awe and amazement, within a week of putting my prints for sale, I sold my first! Not only did I sell my first, I sold it to someone in the UK. And I don’t care what anyone says, no one is bursting the bubble of excitement I create by calling myself an international photographer.

So without further ado, I’d like to introduce my RedBubble.

It’s where you can find my favorite prints, and order them to your specifications. You can also find cards and postcards with some of my favorite shots combined with some of my favorite quotes. And if there is something you’d like to see added, let me know!

The Giveaway!

I can’t wait to share my prints with TWO lucky winners:

• The first winner will receive an 8×12 laminated print: you choose your fave photo and border color.
• The second winner will receive a collection of each of my cards: you choose either postcards or notecards or a combination of the two!

How to enter:

There are FIVE ways to enter:

1. Leave a comment here telling me your favorite print or what you’d love to see me place on RedBubble
2. Tweet this giveaway (you can use the ReTweet button below) including the name of your favorite print
3. Share this giveaway on Facebook, including the name of your favorite print
4. “Like” The Organic Sister on Facebook
5. Blog about this giveaway, linking back here and to my RedBubble account, as well as sharing the name of your favorite print.

Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry for them all to be counted!

The giveaway will close August 31st at 8pm CST and the winners will be announced shortly after.

Good luck!

I hate even putting it out there because I know the tendency for life to hand me route changes. But if I’m going to accomplish even half of what’s on that list, I need to get moving and a little public humiliation accountability may just be in order.

I also love all the hooping inspiration that’s been traveling the ‘net and hearing so many new families picking up a hoop. It’s just fun! And if Sara can put her (admittedly much more awesome than mine) practice video out there, we can too.

Things to know about this video:

1. I think we laughed as much as we hooped. Then we watched the videos and laughed some more.
2. This was filmed at five weeks, which is almost two weeks ago. Because that’s how long it takes to edit and upload a photo these days.
3. Stick around to the end for Justin’s hysterical performance. I wish I could add captions or turn up the volume on what he said. So much of his hilarity is in his tones.
4. Notice how my child steps on an ant hill and I go right back to hooping? Mother of the Year, that one.

Hooping @ 5 Weeks from Tara Wagner on Vimeo.

Here’s the one of the elbow to elbow pass we talked about in the above video:

Hooping Practice – Elbow Passes from Tara Wagner on Vimeo.

I really enjoy hooping. I enjoy accomplishing a trick I didn’t think I could manage. I enjoy the movement and flow and energy. I really, really enjoy watching this video of an amazing hooper doing some stuff that literally dropped my jaw. I want to do what she can do.

Are you hooping? What new tricks have you learned?