Top 3 FREE mobile apps to stay organized

Top 3 FREE mobile apps to stay organized

I like to keep things simple.  These three apps are sufficient in keeping your notes, reminders and finances organized without having to shell out any money or by adding extra time or work into your life.   I find this helps me free up my time and stay focused to do what I really want and love to do by helping keep me on track with my time management and goals. Sunrise Calendar – This to me is the most useful calendar app because the visual and functionality components to this app are cohesive and intuitive. You can see your schedule a month at a glance, it syncs to your gmail calendar and you can add reminders to your phone or email. Evernote – I love this note taking system because you create notebooks, add images, web clippings and or bullet points  into your notes.  This is great for visual artists and projects with images.  It also has a feature where you can search for key words if you can’t find a note. Mint.com – Here you can safely sync to your bank, create budgets and if you over spend it will send you an updated notification. This is great because you don’t have to do anything manually and it’s secure.  Keeps you organized and you always know where you are financially. You can pay your bills online from here and do a credit check. While you try out these apps, here is a simple strategy for effective planning in life and business.  The 80/20 rule explained in an infographic below. Love and good melodies   photo source ...
What you seek is seeking you – Rumi

What you seek is seeking you – Rumi

    My friend and I were looking for inspirational music to cover, she found this.  Very beautiful song.  It’s delicate and inspiring. Kimiko Yoshida is one of my favourite self-portrait photographers, she is able to convey high-quality abstract concepts into master pieces visually. She inspires me because she uses her self as the main centrepiece and focus to her artwork but yet she disappears into her work visually. This series she has a comma on her face, the space in between words; that give us a breath while we read. This has significance to me because when I look at music, the most talented artists I find give space to the song, they don’t need to take up every part of the song with singing and it creates a greater impact.   My question to you is, what inspires you? What art and music do you like? Please share with me.   Love and good melodies    ...
New years resolutions and lessons learned from an introvert…

New years resolutions and lessons learned from an introvert…

  This year a tried a lot of new things like Ariel silks, rock climbing, airBnb-ing, salsa dancing, created a 21 day photo challenge that had attendees from all corners of the world and djing.  I’ve been thinking about what I loved and didn’t love, what worked and didn’t work, and of course what is it I actually want to invest my time into…     Photo challenge   One thing I realize is that it’s been fun trying all these new things, but what I really would like to do is narrow down my focus.  I’ve been thinking a lot about how painting, drawing, singing and crafting makes me very happy.  So I’m challenging myself to be as creative as I can through out my week. I identify with being an introvert.  This doesn’t mean I’m shy, it means  to me that I need to be alone to restore my energy.  When I’m with people all the time I get tired.  Last year I did a lot of new things and was very very busy meeting new people in lots of group activities.  I realized that this wasn’t sustainable for myself because I need to be alone and be creative alone. So when reflecting on your new year. Here are some questions to ask yourself: What was awesome? What didn’t go so well? What do I want to improve upon? What environments and situations brought out the best in me this past year? Can I put myself in more of those situations? Can I have one focus for the year instead of 3-5? Good luck with your resolutions,...
Vacation to Kauai, Hawaii

Vacation to Kauai, Hawaii

In 2014, I visited an islander friend who is from Kauai Hawaii.   Living in Canada with 4 strong, different seasons where the colours of tall trees are always dark green and or fall colours of red and orange become the usual… Going to this tropical gem was like seeing colour for the first time.  The Ocean blue is such an incredible colour, trees grow 200-300 feet or taller with giant blossoms of flowers in various colours wildly dangling down the vines.  Roosters crow at all hours of day and night and wander the island like squirrels or another wild animal.  The most incredible thing to me; was not just the abundance of nature, beauty and warmth but the people. These people are some of the most generous people I have ever met.  Taking me in as family for the time I spent, I was called Auntie to the neighbors children respectfully.  People openly speak the truth, and their opinions with no filters and welcome tourists and strangers to their island.  Talking to shop keepers was like talking to long lost friends. I discovered my love for Thai food, previously I thought Thai food was just “OK”, but going to Kauai, made me just ADORE it.  I went to Mema (808)823-0899, 4-369 Kuhio Highway, Kapaa, Hawaii. There are many types of fruit I had never seen in my life that grow on this island. When I first stepped of the plane, the lady who welcomes you said “Welcome Home!”.  When I arrived I did feel like I was home.  It is a strange feeling when you feel at home...
Dream Love Grow

Dream Love Grow

What is Dream Love Grow? from Dream Love Grow on Vimeo. Mailyne co-founder of Dream Love Grow and I have known each other for several years.  We both have the love for art, singing and skateboarding and giving back to our communities. Dream love grow has a free art and multimedia workshop for A.R.T in Action.   scheduled for this February at the Pinecrest Queensway Community Health Centre in Ottawa. We have done several collaborations over the years including a singing/painting performance at the National Gallery of Canada, music collaboration when Mai was in the Philippines and also a music video. What’s special about Dream Love Grow? The thing that sets them apart is that they give back to the community very generously though different endeavours.  They give back to local charities as well as international.  They inspire me so much because anything goes.  Play and following your heart seems to be an essential ingredient of their business, and also helping make the world a better place through the arts. Do you have enough to give back now? I’ve been listening to the inspirational self-help guru Tony Robbins in podcasts with Tim Ferris and I was totally blown away by Tony Robbins.  I really wasn’t familiar with his work before this podcast.  I was inspired by Tony’s life story about not having enough for Thanksgiving dinner and someone dropped by a huge box of food for him and the family.  This transformed his life by realizing that people (strangers) do care. When he could make enough money to give back he started giving out food for those who needed it. ...
Getting un-stuck and being comfortable with the unknown…

Getting un-stuck and being comfortable with the unknown…

I’ve had my share of heartache, family deaths, moves, changes and uncertainties in my life.  I’ve moved over 40 times and have settled into the Ottawa area for the past 20 years of my life.  My close friends always remind me of how inspiring I am to them because “I get sh!@ done” and make incredible things happen… I am honoured they remind me of this regularly and that I have amazing friends. I thought it would be helpful to share with you what I’ve learned over the years that help me get through the hard times and enjoy the good times… When I feel stuck I do the following: Make time everyday to work out (even 15 minutes) Make time to journal (even 15 minutes) Look at how I can add more greens into my life (juicing, or something else) Do something for me, which serve no purpose except to bring my joy Make sure I’m eating exclusively nutritious foods, or learn about it so I can improve my diet. I remove the following from my life: People that are hurtful and non-supportive of my life and dreams; De-clutter my home, including clothes and things that no longer bring me joy; Clear my schedule so I have more time for myself; Then when I have a goal, I do my 15-minute miracle…. I don’t know who made it, or how it got to me… but it’s been a really great writing exercise for me to keep focused on what I want in my life and to listen to my heart. Then I take action.  I write down all...