My pal Mindy Tsonas just unveiled her newly redesigned wishstudio, a gorgeous online space brimming with creative inspiration.

I’m blown away by this beautiful virtual community space that Mindy has created. It’s an inviting place where creative souls can gather and where wishes grow wings. Lovely! In addition to the wishstudio blog (where I’ve been a contributor for the past couple of years), there are now online workshops (I can’t wait for the wishfull*retreat happening at the end of the month), discussion boards, an inspiration lounge, and lots of other yummy goodies. Please stop on by and check it out!

The wishstudio is also featured in the spring 2010 issue of Artful Blogging. It was the perfect thing to snuggle up with while I nursed my cold last week. I loved reading about how the wishstudio got started and Mindy’s dreams for where it’s heading in the future. Here’s to wishes coming true!

I just got Carolyn Rubenstein’s book Perseverance in the mail today. I was teary-eyed before even making it to Chapter 1! Carolyn is truly an inspiration. She has championed kids with cancer since she founded her non-profit Carolyn’s Compassionate Children when she was 14 years old. I’m excited about Carolyn’s book because it provides a positive, uplifting look at cancer survivors and what we can learn from their courage and strength. Cancer has shown up in my family quite a bit, with eight people who’ve been affected by the disease. Fortunately, my mom, sister-in-law, cousin, and aunt are survivors.

Take a look at the inspiring video of Carolyn talking about her new book and pick yourself up a copy (along with some tissue, as you’ll no doubt be touched by these amazing stories).

In this day and age of e-mail, Twitter and texting, old-fashioned snail mail is a breath of fresh air.  Over the past few weeks I’ve received several handwritten notes that have brightened my day, including the amazing correspondence with Dee.  I was thrilled to receive the actual 1967 newspaper article about my grandpa from her earlier in the week.  To honor her kindness, I snail-mailed her a Heart is Hot heart.  (And, thank you Sahara Damore for creating the Heart is Hot goodwill movement.  This story was the perfect example of what Heart is Hot is all about!).

My friend Britt Bravo is one of the sweet souls who penned me a lovely card.  She also shared with me some cool snail mail resources including:

• LetterLover
• The Missive Maven
  
• Leafcutter Design’s World’s Smallest Post Office
• Good Mail Day: A Primer for Making Eye-Popping Postal Art by Jennie Hinchcliff (It looks like fun and comes out next month)
  

While we may not have the time to decorate an envelope or letter as extravagantly as in Jennie’s book, a cute sticker or a small doodle can add a personal touch.  I like to use artsy cards and especially am loving the following:

• Jessie Marianiello’s Stray Dog Arts greeting cards – perfect for dog-lovers!
• Christine Mason Miller’s postcards are super inspiring and beautiful
• And I can’t wait to get a set of Leah Piken Kolidas’ gorgeous cards when I visit her in Boston next month for our Creative Play Workshop.

Also, isn’t it funny how the perfect book seems to find you at just the right time?  I recently finished reading my book club’s latest selection The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.  I loved how the story unfolded through correspondence.  It underscored for me the power of taking the time to write a heartfelt letter.

Is there someone you’ve been thinking of lately who you can drop a quick note to?  How about snail-mailing a card to someone who inspired you this week?

My husband is the tech-geek of the family, however, I must say that I love my iPhone.  I’m lusting after the new one with video and voice command, but will be patient for our next upgrade.  In the meantime, there are several apps that make my life so much easier and more fun.

I’ve highlighted some of my favorites here:

Inspiration

• Vision Board Delux – The awesome Carla White just launched her new Vision Board app today.  Yay, Carla!  I’ve been having fun playing around with it.  Since I’m a big believer in vision boards (I’ve created my own portable vision board kit), I love that I now have a digital version that allows me to easily move things around.  I can create boards for very specific goals and also add my own positive affirmations.  Plus, Carla’s got inspiring images from a featured artist that you can add to your board.
• Gratitude – Another one of Carla’s creations.  This was one of the first apps that I downloaded because it’s right up my alley.  I love what Carla has created with this simple way of noting what you’re grateful for each day.  Plus the icon is just plain cute!
• iMantra – This app is loaded with lots of mantra options to help you meditate or feel more grounded.  You can also move the virtual mala beads for an even more meditative experience.
• SUZU Meditate – A simple app that let’s you set a singing bowl to chime after a set period of time.
• TED – Love TED videos and love that I can watch them easily on my iPhone!

Productivity/Tools

• To Do which I sync with Toodledo – It’s easy for me to organize and keep track of my tasks on my laptop and also access them on my iPhone.
  
• Calendar synced with Google Calendar – I love using my Google calendar, so I was thrilled when I was finally able to sync it to the iPhone Calendar.
• Kindle for iPhone – Originally I wasn’t into reading books on my phone.  I did used to have the Rocket eBook when my husband worked for Nuvomedia, so I’m not opposed to electronic books.  It’s just the iPhone screen is pretty darn small for reading.  However, I must admit that when I finished reading my library copy of Twilight for my book club, I just had to immediately download the next title in the series.  I was hooked (on both Kindle for iPhone and yes, the Twilight series!).  I love having multiple books to choose from at the touch of the screen and that I can read easily in the dark.
• MileBug – I was more than happy to say goodbye to stuffing a pen and notebook in the car door pocket and having to enter all the data into a spreadsheet.  Now I just plug my trips in my iPhone, run a report at the end of the month and e-mail it to my bookkeeper.
• HopStop – Helped me get around NYC by subway during my last trip.

Games

• Wurdle and Tangram Pro – The games I use to kill time or if I’m being a total insomniac.

Social Media

• Tweetie and Facebook -  For feeding my social networking addiction on-the-go.
• Wordpress for iPhone – Great for approving comments when I’m away from my computer.

I also love to upload photos of my collaged vision boards, values cards, art and other inspiring pictures so I can access them for inspiration on-the-go and even rotate them as my screensaver for visual reminders.

I’d love to hear what apps you find useful, fun and inspiring.  What are your favorites?

These past couple of weeks have been filled with serendipitous events.  I love when that happens.  As @peacemeals shared with me on Twitter, “It’s how the universe talks to us.”

Well, the universe has been sending me lots of messages that I’m on my path and in my flow.  The other week, just a I was having an intuitive hit about an idea for a friend, she sent me an e-mail.  Yesterday, when I sent an e-mail to an editor I met at Book Expo, she wrote back with amazement that she had just pulled out my file that afternoon.  And I experienced several more e-mail related synchronicities over the past few days.  I also discovered that a friend of mine works with someone that I’ve been wanting to get in touch with.  Crazy!

I got to meet with a potential client from out-of-state as she happened to be in the area while en-route to Asia and another new client happened to be traveling to the Bay Area so I get to do my Foundation Session with her in-person instead of over the phone.

On Monday, I happened to bump into my dear friend Julie Daley at Bittersweet and we had a deep, heartfelt discussion about life and creativity.

To top it off, today I received the card that Kimberly Wilson had us write to ourselves three months ago at the Hip Tranquil Chick retreat.  My goals then revolved around completing my book proposal with ease and having a fruitful trip to Book Expo in May.  Perfect timing considering I just finished sending out my book proposal today!

In the wise words of my dear friend Leah Piken Kolidas, “loads of serendipity tells me I’m headed in the right direction!”

What path are you on?  What messages is the universe sending you?  What synchronicities have you opened yourself up to?

Photo by Kate Prentiss, kissthepaper.com

On Tuesday, my friend Kate “love bombed” me.  She left a bundle of cheerful cherry blossom branches and a handmade Valentine’s card on my front porch.  You can see more of her “love bombs” like the one above on her Kiss the Paper post this week.  I love getting surprise handmade gifts like that (see #46 below)!

In my newsletter this month, I shared a story about creating a list of 100 things that you love.  This is a great way to look for the good in your life, to indulge in what brings you joy and to create positive change.  Your list can include what you love about you, the people and world around you, your favorite things to do or just simple pleasures that bring a smile to your face.

Here’s my list of what I love:

1. My husband, Brian
2. Snuggling with our dog Emmett
3. Being creative
4. My work – I am doing what I love
5. My lifestyle – I get to do what I love in a way that I love!
6. Ice cream
7. Reading in my hammock in my backyard
8. The homey feeling of my house
9. My family
10. My heritage
11. Walks in nature
12. My iPhone
13. Getting awesome free apps for my iPhone
14. Art and handmade things of beauty
15. Getting lost in a good book
16. The color green
17. My dear friends
18. Gelly roll pens (fine point)
19. Martha Stewart
20. That Obama is now our president
21. Flipping through Anthropolgie catalogs
22. Black boots
23. Collaging
24. Crafting
25. Waking up without an alarm clock
26. Vacationing in relaxing, tropical locations (I would love to go back to Tahiti where Brian and I honeymooned!)
27. Visiting New York, Chicago and London
28. Finding a great piece of clothing on sale!
29. Inspirational stories
30. My self-care day
31. Learning, learning, learning
32. Ashtanga Yoga
33. Laughing so hard until I cry
34. Connecting with my friends from Leadership
35. When my house is clean (preferably cleaned by someone else!)
36. Meaningful, deep conversations
37. Going on dates with Brian
38. The feeling of accomplishment when I finish a project
39. Generosity
40. Authenticity
41. Expressive Arts
42. Co-leading the Creative Artists Community with Kathy
43. My blogging friends and the Nurture Huddle
44. Hanging out with my mucha muchachas
45. Sharing resources
46. Giving and receiving handmade, thoughtful presents
47. Beautiful views of the bay or the ocean
48. Cala lilies, sunflowers, orchids and Gerbera daisies
49. Taking naps
50. Understanding myself better through different personality typing systems
51. Books, bookstores, the smell of a new book
52. Handwritten type
53. Getting compliments
54. Cute aprons
55. Japanese calligraphy
56. Quiet time
57. That I trust my hairstylist enough to let her do whatever she wants with my hair
58. Going to museums
59. Taking workshops and classes (art, personal development, etc.)
60. Tempura udon
61. Feeling productive and checking things off my to-do list
62. Visioning
63. When things just flow
64. Massages – hot stone and Thai, especially
65. Having good laughs and good food with my good friends from book club
66. Really flavorful and/or spicy food
67. Discovering new, innovative ways to do something
68. Feeling in shape and healthy
69. My Butler Bag
70. Going for a swim on a hot, sunny day
71. Random acts of kindness
72. My fingernails
73. Facilitating groups and leading workshops
74. Seeing people living their dreams
75. My wedding and engagement rings (coming from someone who for many years didn’t believe in getting married!)
76. Eating really delicious food made by someone else
77. Herbal tea
78. Hot cocoa – Spicy from Bittersweet
79. Slumber parties
80. Winning fast-paced board or card games
81. Japanese paper
82. Meeting friends for lunch in the middle of a weekday
83. My determination
84. Laughing at funny childhood stories with my cousins
85. Smoothies
86. Finding just the right dress to wear for a special occasion
87. The smell of Hawaii
88. Ethnic candy of all kinds
89. Feeling organized
90. Blue skies, white clouds and green grass
91. Having freedom and flexibility
92. My Inner Muse
93. Being part of Kiss the Paper
94. My patio furniture
95. My Jade yoga mat
96. Painting
97. Eating a delicious raw food meal at Café Gratitude – complete with the I am Elated Enchilada and the I am Devoted Coconut Crème Pie (I also love their forward-thinking business philosophy)
98. Beautiful sunsets
99. Watching aerial acrobatics
100. Wearing inspirational jewelry
101. Knitting
102. Anything sweet

What are the 100 things you love right now?  What themes do you notice?  And how can these be clues to what you’re wanting to create more of in your life?