I found myself considering the original look of 7 Green Stairs in terms of what I wanted you, the viewer, to experience. I concluded that the old design was simply too busy and that it’s time to simplify. The content is all still there and I hope this will actually make it easier to see what’s new. There may be a few small tweaks as the design settles. So, does it work for you?

I’m sure there’s a life lesson in this experience somewhere; mostly it’s just fun: http://www.cesmes.fi/ Move your mouse and watch the circles subdivide over and over:-)

Technorati Tags: inspiration from unusual sources

I try not to overload but some purely entertaining TV or a good chick-lit novel is something I consider essential to my well being and personal development. If you defer all gratification, you’ll lose momentum! Now that the Fall TV season is about to start I’m noticing my viewing habits have changed in the last year. I’ve cleaned house on my entertainment schedule and I think I’ll be reading and doing more instead. I thought it would be fun to share what I’ll be watching this Fall:

What’s in:

• Lie to me – love those moments when they show real-life images of people demonstrating facial cues
• Bones – a little gruesome but I identify with the hyper-academic who’s utterly clueless about relationships
• Royal Pains – I confess to having a fondness for foreign men who know more than they say so I watch this one for the character Boris- I’m hoping they don’t write him off…
• Sporadic viewing of Project Runway – not worth staying up for but sometimes I catch the reruns while doing laundry

What’s out:

• Mad Men – it’s down to where everyone is unhappy and no hope in sight. Life neither was nor is  ever quite that bad
• Biggest Loser – I’m bored with the campy product placement and really irritated with the phrase ‘if I were thin, I’d have a boyfriend’
• So You Think You Can Dance – they’ve gotten too good, there’s less drama now

On the fence:

• Glee – could go either way, we’ll just have to see
• Drop Dead Diva  – cute so far but could get old fast
• Cash & Treasures – if they move back into the realm of the possible I’ll be an avid fan but I’m unlikely to go emerald hunting on Colombia
• Real Housewives Atlanta – I don’t know why I started watching and why it was this one but there it is – I may break the habit shortly…

Technorati Tags: crafting a creative life, going with the flow

I think that one of the big benefits of having or knowing young kids is having a ready supply of cheerful art for the refrigerator or bulletin board gallery.  Part of what makes that art fun is the lack of rules, so…  when was the last time you picked up the crayons?  No worries, thanks to technology there are now free online drawing tablets.  I can hear some of you saying that you’re no good drawing with the mouse – how good were you at holding a crayon when you were four years old? If you didn’t let that stop you then, why are you stopping now?  It’s good to exercise the right side of your brain now and then… Have some fun!

• Free drawing at Art.com (where I created the lovely flower above;-)
• or AllMyMagic.com
• Draw Online at Queeky.com
• Create your own icon or favicon (like the little green 7 for this site) – how would you represent yourself?
• Make your own e-card from your drawing
• Or check out the exhaustive list of online tools at AG Design

Technorati Tags: creativity online

I’m not usually one for superlatives but the series opening for this Star Trek spin-off series is my favorite of all time. I’ve been known to just watch this part before flipping to another channel. That it covers 400+ years of major human exploration and innovation in less than two minutes is both fun and inspiring – to see each voyage linked to the past and the future is to see the enduring ability to persist in the face of fear and uncertainty.

Technorati Tags: exploration, inspiration, persistence