i have been dreaming of creating fun, silly, whimsical, “childish” things and spaces. this image from chanel’s spring/summer 2013 show resonated with my sense of imagination and wonder and creation: models walk down a runway made of solar panels between thirteen full sized wind turbines. beautiful. whimsical. unreal. inspiring.
What’s your favourite colour beloved? I’m currently in love with YELLOW. Completely. I want to change my sitting room wall to yellow. I want to wear it – accessories and clothes that are organic-egg-yolk-yellow! Love.
Just the other day I was thinking about it and realised that my favourite colour has changed or changes over time. I wonder if this is the case for everyone – that our favourite colours change with our life; situations; experiences; place of being; age… Curious.
I once asked my daughter, Sweetpea, this question and got a response that was kinda like this… “Green… Pink… Purple… Blue… Red… Yellow…” on and on. Wasn’t sure if she doesn’t understand the word favourite or that she just loves them all! :- )* I figured she loves them all.
So beloved, what about you? What’s your current favourite colour?
Have a bright and sunshiny week, the colour of yellow :- )*
Inspiration 1: Creative Collaborations: i love collaborations that bring seemingly unrelated sectors together towards a great cause and/or have a great story to tell. i stumbled on this one between the obama campaign and fashion designers : RUNWAY TO WIN: to raise funds towards the campaign, the designers have each made a special piece for sale. i love, love this project.
inspiration 2: while we’re on the Obama’s…. Mrs O makes the list.It’s been a while since i checked out Mrs-O.com, the site dedicated to Michelle Obama’s fashion – what she wears almost every day. Then i did and seriously, very nice! Besides her beautiful clothes and great fashion choices, I am constantly inspired by how healthy and glowing she looks.
inspiration 3: Following your passion: I recently learnt that one of my favourite uncles has started taking flying classes. He turned sixty not too long ago and says he’s always wanted to fly so why not? The wise doc and I are both inspired by his choice.
Beloveds, a few experiences and a blog post that i have loved in the past few weeks.
image by r.kimani
Experiencing other culture: I recently attended an event in Kajiado, which is mostly Maasai land, and enjoyed various aspects of it: Watching the interaction between the older and younger people was comforting – it left me with a sense that the younger generation is cared for and nurtured purposely. The dancing and the songs were fun and listening to the Maasai language and the pride that I sensed in most of the speakers was great. And of course, the beautiful beaded jewellery that is so completely synonymous with the Maasai was gorgeous to behold. One day, I might learn to adorn myself like that! And then, also, the wonderful company I had for the journey!
Good company; deep friendship:I recently reconnected with a long time friend and we’ve spent some time together since then and it’s really wonderful. Good company is great; Deep friendship is enriching, expanding, heart-growing! Do nurture and treasure your friendships deeply – we are truly made for relationship.
This beautiful goodbye:Goodbyes are often associated with pain; with separation; with not so nice stuff, but this post from 1000 Awesome things, reminded me that there is a way to do goodbyes well and soulfully and completely. I want to learn to say goodbye, be it to people or things or experiences or even to life itself, with this grace, ease and gratitude. the post is titled: Looking Back, Smiling and Saying Thanks.
With that said, good bye! Have a loving, inspired weekend.
random sweet experiences with my Sweepea (3 year old daughter)
Experience One:
I got home one day to find my Sweepea with a hugely swollen lip.
“What happened?” I ask her anxiously
“I was bitten by a bee” She informs.
“Goodness. How did that happen?”
“I was trying to catch it then it chased me and bit me”.
I put on my most “I am so sorry face” while inside I am laughing so hard! What? She was going to catch it then it chased her? What a turn of events!
Experience Two:
My Sweepea is walking around in the morning with saliva drooping from her mouth. She is already dressed for school and if she goes on like this, her clothes will have to be changed. Anxious, i ask her:
“Sweetie. What are you doing?”
“I am blowing bubbles”, she informs me as she continues to practice her bubble blowing. Clearly, she hasn’t got the concept yet but i am laughing too much to even ask her to stop. Let her pour saliva until one day, it will be an actual bubble!
beloveds, it has been so long since i wrote and in that time so much stuff has happened. how about i return here with the list of those happenings?
One: Dr Wangari Maathai, nobel peace winner, died after a long battle with cancer. She surely and truly made her mark in the world and i am inspired. Watch this video to get some of that inspiration:
Two: Steve Jobs, founder of Apple and Pixar also died. I shared one of his lectures that really inspired me on SFL already. And how amazing that one person could be at the founder of such powerful companies with such popular products? Amazing. Giftedness. Purpose.
Three: I sang in church. Now this is a very big deal because I cannot quite remember the last time that I performed in public. It happened most “randomly” (but then again, in this situation, i really don’t believe in random) and then, just like that, i was singing, soloing infront of the church.
Four: My sweet daughter, Sweepea, graduated from her car-seat! Yes. The era of the car-seat is now over! Milestone. Wonderful. She is growing everyday.
Five: I had a meeting that left me questioning so much this system of grants and grantees. It has to be done with sensitivity and integrity and needs to be built on a mutually fulfilling relationship – where both parties are honoured and bring something very valuable to the table and where the person holding the money is not the one “in charge”.
Six: This thought begun to stir up inside me the birth of some potentially interesting dreams… Let them stir and shake and come forth!
Seven: I became a Twitterer! Okay, that may have happened even before I went to Cape Verde but I just had to share it here. I am now on Twitter (@mutheumbondo). It’s a very new space but so far, so interesting. I love it for being able to stay connected with so much in the arts world. And then i realise there is definitely a gap in regards to information on the Arts in Africa.
Eight: And speaking of Arts in Africa – i want to be the home and source of that information!
Nine: I continue to realise everyday how much i have to be grateful for!
Ten: Organising a huge project at work that is stretching me very much. Yes to stretching! Yes to challenge!
And what about you beloveds, what’s been happening since we last connected? What’s Sweet? What’s Fresh? What’s full of Love? ;- )*
beloveds, here at SFL, friday’s coming early! ;- )* i am loving the New African Woman magazine, issue 10, which i just got a copy off – prompted by my sister the wise doc who wants to check it out. then as i begin to thumb through it, i find that i am so thoroughly inspired by the stunning images; the colour; the super focus on african fashion; the arts and entertainment segment focusing on cool african women singers (fatoumata diawara; asa; ayo; sona jobarteh)… i find that i absolutely love it! i shall definitely buy the next issue to triple check that i am indeed onto a great african women-focused publication.
here, i share these images that grabbed me because of the colour; the super, natural look of the model (it’s official, i love the natural look! smart as can be. when make-up works as it should to bring out the inner shine! ;- )*
the cover of issue 10. buy yourself a copy, huh?
from the feature titled:” Afro dazzling the Camden Trend” in new african woman magazine, issue 10.
beloveds, it’s a jam-packed inspiration post! we begin with laughter.
Inspiration One: this past weekend was full of it! i had a Saturday morning project progress meeting and we ended up laughing almost half the time! Really. There were of course many moments when we were frustrated by parts of the project but despite that, we had moments to literally roll on the floor laughing. Laughter beloveds is healing and i have begun to really believe that God is inside the spaces and places where there is abundant laughter. (and yes of course, God has made it a point to also be where tears flow – i love God for this!)
Laughter also has an amazing way of bonding people together sweetly. You never look at someone the same way if you’ve shared belly-aching; chest shaking; uncontrollable laughter! And at another meeting after that, (this time at my church) i found again that there was much shared laughter in that space too. (i thank God for a church that laughs together!) and i just felt all round blessed.
My wish for you: For this week, i wish you laughter. The real, uncontrollable kind that threatens to make you roll on the floor! So, what are those things that bring you this kind of joy? If it is a person, find her or him and spend some time. If it is a movie, please find it and watch. (“Dude Where’s My Car?” used to make me roll on the floor! Wharr?) Laugh beloved. It will heal and refresh you.
Inspiration Two: This image because i find stunning images and design from Africa truly inspiring!
package design by heidi chisholm who's work i heart!
My challenge for you: What images inspire and attract you? Find some and stick them somewhere near where you work for a sweet dose of inspiration throughout the week.
Inspiration Three: And then, this video by beyonce. I don’t know if men get this video or love it much but for this Monday, i send it out as inspiration. Because it is creative; it is fun; it is full of “girl-power”; the beats are strong and powerful; you can dance to it. And yes, more “gals” need to hear this song for moments when we need a “pep-talk”! ;- )*
My wish for you: For this week, i wish you inspiring music. Find the stuff that inspires your heart and have a listen. Better still, get up and dance!
Sweet Fresh Love! 