The 100 Day Project: #the100dayofdays

Happy Spring (even if it doesn't feel like it)! And Happy (late) Easter! And Happy Monday!
Tomorrow is a big day...and not just because it might reach a temperature above 50 degreese (seriously?!! with teh April snow showers? I can't take it anymore!) It's the start of The 100 Day Project!

If you're not familiar, The 100 Day Project is a creative challenge where you do/make something...anything...every day for 100 days in a row (and then share about it on Instagram, obviously). It's become wildly popular, with artists, writers, and creators of all kinds joining in each year (check out #the100dayproject to see- or follow- all the fun).

Last year I participated for the first time- my "theme" was #100daysofshowyourreal (just sharing something real from my life every day- through words and pictures). And I fell in love with the project. It pushed me to create more, reflect more, share more...I felt inspired, and stretched, and loved the sense of community that formed as others were willing to get vulnerable along the way too. At the end of 100 days I had a collection of thoughts and memories (which I made into a book), so it was not only a fun exercise while I was in it, but it lead me to create a meaningful record of my work, and my heart.

So when the project came around this year, I knew I wanted to do it again- I just had to figure out my idea. I only had a few stipulations...Whatever I landed on needed to be:

• Easy- 100 days of anything is lofty, and I didn't want to get burned out just because I set the my expectations or perimeters too high. I'm an eternal "bite off more than I can chew" kind of girl, so with things like this I'm working on setting reaaaaaaally reasonable goals for myself, so that I can be pleasantly surprised when I exceed them rather than constantly frustrated that things are more overwhelming than I thought.
• Meaningful- without passion and a purpose behind it, I know I won't be able to stick with the project. Feeling like the output matters- for any reason, and even just to me- is key in helping me push through the creative block or struggles with keeping up. Yes, there is absolute value in doing for doing's sake, so I don't want to get caught up in making every single day a masterpiece, but at the same time, if I'm going to devote this much time and effort to something, I want to feel like it there's a larger point to it all in the end. Doesn't have to be life-changing...just something tangible to look back on with pride and gratitude.
• Portable- the time period overlaps with a couple vacations, and work trips etc. so it has to be something I can do on the go. This is helpful even on "regular" days too, because it means I can get it done anywhere, vs. having to carve out dedicated space/time to do it.
• Fun- or why do it, right?

What I loved about my Show Your Real project is it was basically a journal, with a loose theme; enough structure to give me a purpose, but enough leeway to not feel too confined with my ideas. The fact that it was just photos and captions meant I could do it anywhere and anytime. And while it didn't really push me to pick up a new skill (like drawing or hand-lettering etc.) it did encourage me to express myself more often, and devote more attention to hobbies- photography and writing- that I really enjoy.

Since it worked out before, I more or less just wanted to repeat my approach from last year, with a new "creative hook". And after a week or two of mulling it over, I found my inspiration- Days! (it was right there in the title all along!) But specifically- I'm thinking of those crazy "official" daily holidays that someone somewhere made up, and the whole internet just goes along with. You know what I'm talking about: National Kitten Day, Craft Beer Day, Hug a Newsperson day (joke..but it's real, and it's coming up). I'll use those days as a starting point (I downloaded an app so I can keep an eye on the upcoming days)...but from there it's pretty free-form. Sometimes I'll participate in the actual holiday (anything with a food theme, probably), but more often I plan to use it as a jumping off point for musings...a writing prompt and inspiration to share some related memories, viewpoints, or ideas. Many of these days are pretty silly, so I'm excited to embrace some of that, and just lean into the cheesy simple pleasures of it all. We can all use a few more reasons to celebrate, right? How 'bout 100 more reasons? But at the same time, I'm hoping to also take it a little deeper than just executing 100 random tasks. I want it to be more about reflection than endless action, so I think it'll be a good stretch for me to focus on a different topic every day, and see what thoughts and emotions it stirs up.

The official challenge starts next week, but today’s “holiday” is too much fun to resist. So based on today’s actual events, here are my (official/unofficial) contenders for Make Up Your Own Holiday Day: *Supper Club Day (/Eat Spam for Dinner Day) * Work From Home Day (/Good Hairday Gone to Waste Day) * Throwback Craft Day (/Tile Your Kitchen Floor with Melted Beads Day) * Shameless Outfit Repeating Day (see also: tomorrow) * First Day of Spring Break (/TV as a Babysitter Day) * Bring Back a Catchphrase Day (/“That’s a No For Me Dawg” Day) * Take a Risk Day (/Bargain Meat Expiration Day) * Carpal Tunnel Awareness Day (/Lengthy Instagram Caption Day) ... See you in a few days! #the100daysofdays #the100dayproject #makeupyourownholidayday

A post shared by Courtney Bowden (@the100daysofdays) on Mar 26, 2018 at 8:33pm PDT

So...that's the plan. Plan-ish. Loosey-goosey. Feels good.

I'll be posting on @the100daysofdays using the hashtag #the100daysofdays. I'd be delighted if you'd follow along. And please let me know if you join in the project as well...I love following other folks' creative endevors!

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Put one foot in front of the other

Writing is hard. 
It takes patience, inspiration, and...words. 

I always want to write in theory, but in reality, sometimes the words (and the patience, and the inspiration) don't come. And recently, I've just been in a not having the words kind of season. 

I have the occasional kernel of an idea bouncing around in my head, but lately those seeds haven't been popping into full blown written thoughts. It takes effort to put pen to paper (even electronically) and right now, there are so many other things calling (screaming) for my attention- so they're winning. But I miss writing. The action, but also the end product. I want to express my stories, and I want to have those stories recorded for the future.  

Dustin and I were discussing an unrelated topic last night, when the idea of "Fake it 'til you make it" came up. I'm not typically a proponent of fake, but in this case, I really believe in the value of this concept. For me, it's not about pretending to be something I'm not. It's about putting one foot in front of the other (or both hands on the keyboard) and doing things even when I don't feel like it...because it's worth it. (And other such cliches). 

So I'm embracing all the pithy sayings and going for it. The best time to start is yesterday, but the next best time is today. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good. Just do it. Etc etc. and so on. 

But what am I actually committing to? Well, I'd love to say I'm going to blog more often (for me, not for my imaginary readers "clamoring for more", finish the baby journals that are currently sitting in electronic piles of drafts, and stretching myself into new writing styles and formats. But I gotta be real. Right now, I'll be lucky to eke out a line or two a day. So that's exactly what I'm going to do:

One Line a Day Journal! 

My mom found my grandfather's journal last week (really a couple journals, and an entire box full of photos and letters he wrote while he was serving in the war.) There aren't words for how awesome it was to dive into the collection of his stories and get to know a "him" of 65 years ago. Such a huge payoff for me now for the time he spent so long ago. 

So that's the impetus for my renewed promise to an old line a day journal of my own. I dug it out of the basement, and have been enjoying reading snippets of 2010 (the first and only year I wrote in it). It may have taken me five years to give it another go, but better late than never, something's better than nothing, and keep on keepin' on, I always say. 

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Life Story on a Napkin

Ahhh, Mondays.
Usually said in an Eeyore tone, in a "Somebody's got a case of the..." kind of context.

But I think Mondays should be fun! (Note: should be. Could be...even if a whole lotta them aren't.) So let's take a stab as something fun to start of the week, mmmm'kay?

 A few years ago (um. actually five years ago. Where is my LIFE GOING?!), I wrote about my Cocktail Napkin Life Story. It's kind of like an Elevator Pitch...where you try to sum up your story quickly. This specific challenge limits it to 100 words. 

So since it's been half a decade since I attempted to cull my life down to what can be scrawled on a 4"x4" piece of paper...and since I've done a lot of livin' since then, I thought it'd be fun to give it another shot.

just kidding...sort of... 

Here's what I came up with this time around: 

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Type-A from birth. Possible first words: “I have a better idea”. Learned to channel bossiness into more socially acceptable: ‘driven’. Worked, strived, achieved my way through design school. Met my way better half. Woo’ed him into lifetime commitment. Hustled my way into my dream job. Learned the ups and the downs of having a passionate personality. (hint: SO many, SO much of each). Had a baby.  AKA- Got my world rocked. Realized I didn’t know as much as I thought. Had another baby. Realized knowing you don’t know is half the battle.

Thankful for this adventure. A real-ly lovely adventure. 

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So that's my gist. What about you?
Wanna join the fun? Jot down your story...Literally on a napkin, or in the comments here, or maybe on your blog, or facebook....you get the idea. Just give it a shot. 

And if 100 words is too hard, make up your own rules. Do it in 5. Or 500 (still counts as a napkin story if you write teeeeeeeeny tiny!)

Tag it #lifestoryonanapkin if you want.
Because it's Monday. And Mondays should be a why not!? kind of day.

A Word With You :: Green

Sorry for the delay on announcing this month's word. We're three months in, and I'm already losing track! But don't worry, there's still time to be a part of this month's link up.

Our word for March :: Green

Third verse, same as the first: no rules, just write something that ties in with this month's word in some way. On Monday, March 25th, we'll host a link up so that you can share your word with us!


Check out other Word With You editions:
(make sure to scroll to the bottom to see posts from all of the participants)
January :: "Direction"
February :: "Ordinary"

And feel free to spread “the word” on twitter and instagram: #awordwithyou, and grab a button for your sidebar:

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A Word with You- Ordinary

Ordinary.

See also:
Lame
Boring
Not special
Plain
Forgettable

At least in my mind...
I'm sure I'm like a lot of people in thinking that ordinary is a negative word. At best it means harmless or average, but even then, it still seems like a bummer of a concept. I mean, who ever says they want to be ordinary? No one I've ever heard. Most of us want to be extraordinary. The best! Famous, top-notch, notable, memorable, set apart, revered! And you don't become those things by being ordinary.

Or do you? 

Can you?

I've talked before about how I'm a type-a striver. I'm a believer that anything worth doing is worth doing well. (And for money, but that's another story for another day). So while I don't have to be the best at everything, I do at least want the chance to excel. But there are so many tasks in life that are necessary, but don't come with the opportunity for glory. Being a corporate cog, raising kids, keeping a clean house...so much of what we have to do each day is ordinary. Sure, we can do those things to the best of our ability, but rarely does everyday life present us with opportunities to be seen as anything really exceptional. 

Right? 

Or is that a lie? 
A lie that I've been tricked into believing... Life isn't a competition (nor should it be) but on the other hand- living well is something to take pride in. Or it should be! Somewhere along the line I've convinced myself that if no one is handing out trophies, then my efforts must be going unnoticed.

So what if we took a minute to recognize the value that comes with being "ordinary"? The world needs people that work more than they talk. People who encourage rather than boast. People that support others instead of promoting themselves. Being "ordinary" may not be a negative trait. It can mean that you're willing to put your head down and really get things done- regardless of who's watching. Or that you're humble enough to take a servant's role when the rest of the world is clamoring to be masters.

I'm not sure I want to live my life with one eye on the casket, but I do sometimes think about the legacy I'll leave when I'm gone. Do I want people to wax poetic at my funeral about what an extraordinary hip hop dancer, mommy blogger, Popsicle stick joke teller, or other fill-in-the-blank accomplisher I was? Well...yes. Part of me does want to be remembered as a unique and irreplaceable force of a woman (Dustin- go ahead and jot that down in case I die first. Or feel free to start referring to me that way in all future birthday cards). But the true measure for me? The way I'll know that I "done good"? Will be the ordinary. Did I love often? Did I listen well? Was someone, somewhere just a little bit better off each day because of something I did?

Sure, there's worth in being the best. Having a gift, honing a talent, and showing off a skill with pride. But there's also value in being part of the 99%. An ordinary, run-of-the-mill, neighbor, family member, friend and partner to others. God has given us each unique talents, and it's absolutely in His will that we use them...but for His glory. Not ours. He adores who He has created me to be, but He certainly doesn't need my spectacular design skills, my flawless way with words or my mind-blowing ability to guess what time it is without having seen a clock for hours, to accomplish His divine plan. If I'm lucky (or more accurately- if I'm obedient), He'll allow me be used by Him, and those gifts He's given me will shine...Shine light back to Him. And a little less attention on ME and WHAT I CAN DO might make me seem a bit more ordinary. And I'm learning to be ok with that.

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Meg and I would love to have a word with you.  

Join the link up below to share your Ordinary thoughts.

Then stop by some new blogs and say hello!

A Word with You: Ordinary

Last month was our first "A Word With You" link up, and it was a great success. It forced me to write...plus I got to read other great posts on the subject, and continue the conversation with a larger group. If you missed "Direction", check it out here (scroll to the bottom to see all of the participants.) And if you missed being a part of it- you've got another chance this month!

Our word for February :: Ordinary

Again- no rules, just write something that ties in with this month's word in some way. On Monday, February 25th, we'll host a link up so that you can share your with us!

Feel free to spread “the word” on twitter and instagram: #awordwithyou, and grab a button for your sidebar:

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A Word With You

With so much in my life, I’m fast.

Ok...maybe more impatient...but still fast. I’m a fast talker, a fast eater (except when I’m too busy fast-talking), a relatively fast driver....In general I like get things moving. I like to plan and talk out ideas, but sooner than later, I want to start doing them.

But when it comes to writing. I am slow. Like a turtle, walking up hill, in the snow, carrying a crock pot on its back, kind of slow. If I could invent a cord that would plug into my brain and connect it to my keyboard, I’d be the happiest little tortoise you’ve ever seen. It seems that my brain runs so fast, but getting those zooming thoughts in some sort of order to be able to share is a challenge sometimes. I find that I have to be in a writing “mood”, which doesn’t always align with when I have writing time. If I’m not in the zone (and even sometimes when I am) I end up spending forever trying to organize my thoughts and looking for the right words, phrases, and structure to convey what I’m thinking and feeling. It’s a version of writer’s block, I guess. But it’s not a matter of not having anything to write....it’s that I have SO many ideas and memories I want to share, they get kind of jammed up. Then more often than not, I find myself overwhelmed and frustrated, not knowing where to begin. So I just don’t. I’ll go weeks without writing because with all the ideas swirling, I can’t quite get in gear to just pick one thing and get it done.

What I need, is a goal. A deadline. And some accountability. My blog is for fun, so I don’t have delusions that readers are stopping by constantly, tapping their feet, begging for new content. But I find when I make a commitment to posting something, I am MUCH more likely to actually do it. Fortunately I’m not the only one that struggles with the push-pull of wanting to write, but needing a little help making it happen. So my friend Meg and I have formed an idea to help motivate each other to set aside the excuses, and put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboards.)

Introducing:

Each month we will pick a word to write about and share a story from our lives. Our aim is to make sure we make time to record all the little things that fill our days, that might otherwise go undocumented. By forming a group of people with the same goal,  we’re hoping that it will motivate us to keep at it. If you have a blog (or even if you don't), we would love for you to write with us each month and join in!

Our word for January :: Direction

There are no rules, just write something that ties in with this month's word in some way. On Monday, January 28th, we will share our posts and include a link up so that you can share your post with us too. I'm looking forward to it!

(Feel free to spread “the word” on twitter and instagram: #awordwithyou)

Guest Writer {@ MomColoredGlasses}

Happy Friday, friends!

Today I'm honored to be featured as a guest writer on Mom Colored Glasses sharing about the day we found out "Baby B" was a she. Scoot on over to read more, and make sure to check out the rest of their awesomely informative, and encouraging site.

And for those of you new to Bowdenisms....Welcome! If you prefer your nonsense random- then feel free to poke around and discover our personal brand of quirk. But if you're in the mood to keep your mom colored reading glasses on- check out the archives by topic for more pregnancy, motherhood and perspective posts.

No, this photo has nothing to do with this post...I just firmly believe 

that bathing suit ruffles,and double-baby-chins are meant to be shared.

Influence- Meet and Greet

For the past month or so I’ve been toying with the idea of attending a blogging conference called Influence. My fellow blogger, and friend-in-real-life Kacia is a community leader for the conference, and has been spreading the word about what an encouraging, inspiring and FUN event it’s going to be. I haven’t made the leap to committing to going yet, but she just posted an online meet and greet for attendees to help everyone get connected before meeting for real next month. Though I’m not 100% if I’m going to take the plunge and attend, I wanted to participate, in the hopes that joining the pre-conference party might get me psyched up for the real deal.

So here we go:

3 get-to-know-me things

1. I live to eat, and don't understand those crazy "eat to live" people. I hesitate to say I'm a "foodie" because that implies a level of fanciness that I don't necessarily require. Sure I love an expensive cheese plate, but I'll also eat a whole box of Kraft Dinner (yes, that's its real name...for good reason) without looking back. Entire vacations are practically planned around food (I'm lucky my husband shares my sweet-and savory-tooth) and I am often looking forward to my next meal before this current one is over (or even begun).
2. I feel big. No, not the "my pants don't fit because of all that living to eat" type big. I mean I feel dramatically. I feel, care, and love passionately. There aren't many things I'm middle of the road on. When I'm happy, I'm thrilled. When I'm aggravated I'm...well...pretty obnoxious to be around.
3. I’m a strange breed of right/left brain combo which means I love sewing as much as I love spreadsheets (lots) and I get equally geeked about designing a party photo-booth as I do mapping out the seating chart (super geeked). 

2 things I’m looking forward to about the conference
Since I'm still on the fence about going, I'll share my two biggest hesitations:

1. I will feel like a big dorky mash up of a wallflower at a sixth grade dance, a freshman on dorm move in day, and a small time blogger in a sea of talented multi-hyphenate media powerhouses (oh wait- I really will be that last one...) There has been ton of talk about building community, making connections, no blogger left behind!...but I'm still worried that I won't fit in. As friendly as I'm sure all the ladies are, there will still be those awkward moments when I hold my figurative lunch tray and scan the room for a place to perch. Or those times when I pretend to be doing Really Important Things on my phone, just to not look like the loser in the corner while everyone else is chatting away. (tell me you've pulled that move before, right? Just me?)
2. Though I’ve been doing this crazy blogging thing for five years now (which in blog years means I’m pretty much a dinosaur) I still haven’t totally nailed down my purpose for this little web space. It’s part personal diary, part creative outlet, and part (sometimes it feels) silly waste of time. I’m worried I’ll be out of my league with all the “real bloggers”. You know, the pro and semi-pro writers that have sponsors, boast subscribers by the thousands, manage etsy shops, and run their photography/event planning/cupcake liner print shops on the side. Does a full-time working mom with a blog geared mostly towards updating the grandparents with pictures of a baby at the park really have any business spend the weekend gallivanting around town, wearing stripes and learning about social media? Well on second thought- gallivanting and wearing stripes are two of my favorite things....

1 thing that I cannot leave home without
In all honesty it has to be my iPhone, but I'm hesitant to count that because at this point it's practically an extension of my hand. So instead I'll say sunglasses. I have pretty sensitive eyes (ask to see photos of me in an eye patch as a kid...I have 5 years worth of pics!) so I pretty much don't go outside without my shades. Even when it's not that bright, I'm still thatgirl rocking the sunnies- now you know it's only partly to look cool, and mostly because I'm a big baby.


What about you all? Is anyone else planning on going? And if you are, do you want to pack some snacks, don some shades and be my friend for the weekend? (I'll figuratively help carry your figurative lunch tray!)
And for those of you on the fence like me...you can learn more about Influence here, and check out their things you should know series on their blog. See you there?

31 Things

After the wild success that was Photo a Day April, and then the big dreams but mediocre follow-through that is currently Photo a Day May, I've decided to ramp it up a bit. (Yes, you read that right...I'm currently failing at my commitment to take one photo a day with my "big girl camera", and subsequently have decided to make an even bigger commitment. That is just the counter-intuitive, over zealous, go big or go home, way I roll.) My new focus: a 31 day writing challenge.

I really enjoy writing, I love "memory keeping" (blogs, journals, photo albums) and I'm a sucker for a class, so when I heard about the online course 31 Things, I was sold.

photo credit: Ali Edwards

The basic idea is to respond to a different writing and photo prompt (based on a single word) each day for 31 days in a row, ultimately culminating in a month of thoughts, stories, snapshots and memories on topics that might otherwise get lost in the blurry shuffle of everyday life. I'm excited about the prospect of being forced to write more, and think differently, but I'm also a little nervous that I've bitten off more than I can chew (again!) and will end up bogged down in a mess of my own making.

But I'm going to try to stay positive. After all, the whole reason I signed up was so I could stretch a bit as a writer, but also simply because it's something I thought I would like doing. So I'm going to do my best, keep it light and strive to enjoy the process of telling my stories. One by one by thirty one.