A few years ago I was fortunate to be able to participate in the launch of Go Mighty, an awesome website created around setting goals and finding your team to cheer you on, provide support and share in your success. If you’re a longtime reader, you already know what happened next, but for any of you who are new, here’s the short version. I posted the goal of “Capturing the Essence of Motherhood” in a photograph, and was lucky enough to be selected by Olay, who then sponsored this goal. The next few months were a whirlwind, as I worked to complete my project in time. I was thrilled when I reached my goal, and my elation was only elevated when I found out that Olay would be donating a sum of money in my name to a charity of my choosing, to celebrate the completion of this project.
While I’m involved in several charitable organizations in my area, I wanted to make sure this money would specifically be supporting women and mothers, as that’s what the goal was all about. In keeping with that idea, I chose the Willow Domestic Violence Center as the recipient. The Willow is located in Lawrence, Kansas, and I was a women’s and children’s advocate there from 2000-2004, assisting women and children who were recovering from domestic violence and/or living in the Willow Center’s shelter. It was heartbreaking work, but there I learned what real love, joy and recovery looks like. It was glorious, and I knew there was no better recipient for my grant from Olay.
In the years since, the incredible staff at the Willow Center have stayed in touch, and we often talked about working together on a community art project to raise awareness of domestic violence and money for the center. I’m so proud and excited to share that this project is finally HAPPENING!
The Phoenix Project will be launching in the spring of 2015, and is so much more than one single event. It is about archiving the stories of female survivors of domestic violence, through art, writing, storytelling and many more mediums. The Phoenix Project is about giving a platform to women who have been silenced, and listening to their voices. It’s about recovery, and rising from the ashes of pain and horror into something new.
I am so honored and humbled to have been asked to participate in this project, and document the beauty and strength of these survivors. Last week I did a portrait session with several volunteers, brave women who want to show their faces and tell their stories in order to help others. As I photographed these amazing ladies, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for this opportunity to capture their courageous spirits and share a piece of them with all of you. As the project launches, several of these portraits will be posted along with the women’s stories at the Phoenix Project website. I encourage you to visit and read them with open hearts.
I will be passing on more information soon on how to purchase art pieces, such as prints of some of these images, which are included in the Phoenix Project. 90% of the proceeds from the sale of these prints will go to the Willow. The Willow Domestic Violence Center fields upwards of 1600 crisis calls and referral calls per year, houses 250-300 women and children annually, runs adult and child support groups, and offers services and public education in Douglas, Franklin, and Jefferson Counties.
You guys, this is why I do what I do. I’m a storyteller, and I understand the importance of having a place to share your story, and the priceless value of our stories as women and survivors. It’s such a gift to be able to help give these incredible women a platform and to be able to share them with all of you.
http://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/IMG_9588-fb.jpg34565184Meganhttp://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Crazy_Banans_Logo_WebsiteBanner.pngMegan2015-02-27 08:00:072017-02-22 15:58:20Sneak Peek : The Phoenix Project
This post originally ran in September of 2013, but it’s one of my favorites! I am definitely NOT a decor expert, as made very obvious by the before photos of this room. I was so grateful the Land of Nod offered to help a girl out! I loved working with the Land of Nod, one of my favorite brands, on this preschool to big girl room makeover. I hope you enjoy!
——————————————-
Lulu has grown up so much in the past few years, sometimes I find it difficult to keep up! This week she loves Justin Bieber and yesterday she still loved Dora. A year ago she insisted her favorite color was not just pink, but PINK!!!!! Now she refuses to wear the color and wants everything around her to be blue, blue, blue. She is opinionated and feisty, and I wanted her room makeover to reflect that. We moved to our suburban Kansas City home when she was still in preschool, and her room was a mess of a couple of styles and thrown together looks. Her twin bed actually still sat on the floor instead of on a bed frame, from way back when she’d roll out of it every night as a toddler. For her 7th birthday, Lucy asked if I’d redecorate her room to better reflect her personality, and I jumped at the chance. With some help from The Land of Nod, I was able to make her “blue mermaid party” room a reality!
The before photos of the room really are sort of pathetic, aren’t they? Just keeping it real, over in Crazy Bananas Land. More proof I am not a home decor person. Originally that tent was fashioned to be a cool hideaway and book area, but it was unfortunately way too big for the space. We tried hanging it over the bed, but the darkness scared her at night and it just looked kind of ragged. The wall hangings over her bed were added later, but they were all mismatched and didn’t have any coherency to them. Her craft area was basically a Rubbermaid tub filled with paint and markers, with no real space to create. Her dresser was one I had in college, but attempted to fancy up using nobs from Anthropologie. The block letters spelling out her name were made by a friend for her nursery, and though we loved them, it was time for them to go.
Lucy requested her room be blue, her favorite color. The color she picked out was a VERY bright turquoise, but we convinced her to tone it down a bit. She picked out the mermaid bedding from Land of Nod and we designed the room around it. Lucy loves to swim and dreams of being a mermaid herself, plus the reason she loves blue so much is because it reminds her of the ocean, so the bedding is perfect for her. Early on in this process, I created a mood board to give us an idea of where we wanted to go with the design. Once we were inspired, it was easy to pull together an updated room that was fun and perfect for a seven-year-old mermaid in training!
Lucy’s poster bed was mine as a child, then was handed down to my niece, and now finally to Lucy. The beautiful blue moth wall decal from Land of Nod is one of Lucy’s favorite parts of the room. She angled it just so, as she wanted it to look like it was flying across her wall.
The sidetable, chest of drawers and dresser were all purchased from a local furniture store. The bedside lamp was bought at Wal-Mart, and the sketch of a mom and daughter was purchased for $3 in the frame at a local thrift store. The L and the P (her initials) were in her stocking at Christmas a few years back.
The dresser and giant mirror were specific requests from Lucy. She wanted a space where she could get ready every morning in private, as her two-year-old brother has started to impede on her space. We fancied up the plain white with some fun paper letters spelling out her name from Minted.com. The aged jewelry box was given to Lucy by her aunt, and although the original plan was the polish it up, Lucy decided she liked it better as it was. I agree!
The desk was purchased at IKEA, and my mother-in-law painted an old chair with a sample of the VERY turquoise paint that Lucy originally wanted for her walls as a compromise (Can you imagine that on the walls? Yikes!). We pulled in a lot of the turquoise detailing throughout the room, from picture frame to her lava lamp, which her super-cool dad bought her as a nightlight. The pendant desk lamp from Land of Nod brings it all together, using almost all the colors that are featured throughout the room. The yellow art caddy gives Lu a space for her art supplies that she uses on a daily basis, and it can be easily stashed away in her desk cabinet when little brother’s grubby hands are looking for some crayons to color the walls.
Here is a little warning to all you DIY mamas out there…make sure your husband knows your DIY plans! Originally, the cork board and the frame for the incredible art print by Lucy’s desk were decorated in fabulous washi tape that I used to cover up their bland black and brown edges. But when I asked my husband to hang them for me, he thought it was protective packaging tape and ripped it all off! Oh well, they still look nice, although I probably will update them again at some point. It wouldn’t be an at home makeover project without a hiccup or two!
The details of the room are my favorite parts. I am in love with the floor bins I found at Land of Nod, as Lucy is a bit of a clutter bug, and they make clean up easy and stylish. The rainbow felt garland brightens up the darker blackout curtains, which Lucy originally hated, but once they were hanging with the garland, she loved. We found some amazing art on Etsy that we hung on the walls and personalized the space with lots of family photos. Lucy loves reading, so we made a space where she could display her favorite books of the moment on her chest of drawers. The cute XOXO bookends are from Target.
Creating this beautiful space for Lucy was such a pleasure and a joy! I am so happy she finally has a real, put together space to call her own, which truly reflects who she is. I feel like this room is child-like, but will grow with her through the years.
The Land of Nod provided products for this room makeover project, but all opinions are my own. Thanks Land of Nod!!!
http://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/rainbow-felt-ball-garland.jpg550550Meganhttp://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Crazy_Banans_Logo_WebsiteBanner.pngMegan2015-02-26 11:26:402015-02-26 11:26:40Throwback : Room Makeover with the Land of Nod
I made it, you guys! If you read my last blog post, you’ll know that I was getting ready to go to a workshop this weekend and I was a little, tiny bit nervous. Ahem. And although I felt like a huge dork-face posting that video, I tend to do much better in situations when I’m authentic and real from the get go. So, yep, I was nervous. And yes, of course I felt a little silly walking in to a room of beautiful, talented, stylish women when I didn’t know anyone. But here’s the thing, I feel like when you own up to your fears and flaws, you take away their power. When I’m feeling anxious about meeting someone or making small talk, it’s just so much easier if I start out with, “Wow, I’m so nervous! I don’t normally do this, but I’m so pumped to meet you.” For me, that diffuses the fear and everyone seems to take a big sigh of relief. Not one person I met this weekend said, “Wow, you nerd, get a hold of yourself!” They were all kind and gracious, as people usually are. And you know what, if they aren’t, they probably aren’t people who I’m gonna want to hang out with anyway.
Lesson: Nerd out. Your kindred spirits will find you and it’s so much less work than pretending to be someone you’re not.
The presentations at the workshop were perfect for where I’m at in my blogging journey, but the best part was they were relatable for the attendees regardless of how long you’ve been at this blogging thing. I’ve been doing this for over 10 years, which basically makes me 80 in blog years, but I still got so much out of everyone’s comments and suggestions. The opening keynote was by Tobe Reed from Because It’s Awesome, who graciously left an encouraging comment on my video last week. She talked a lot about aligning yourself with what you want and trying new things. She also focused on trusting your gut, which is something I struggle with. At the end of her presentation, she was kind enough to hang out and chat with a few attendees, and I was lucky to grab a few minutes with her. So inspiring!
Next were several breakout sessions focusing on different aspects of blogging. I attended a rad photography session with the incredible Cassandra Castaneda. Much of what she said was not new to me, as a photographer, but I still learned so much about programs I’m not using (Lightroom!) and online tools for photographers and bloggers (Blogstomp…how have I never heard of you!). She also had some beautiful handouts that will be so helpful for future shoots. I’m working on some material for an upcoming photography workshop I will be leading for new photographers, and Cassandra’s presentation really inspired me and helped me see what a great teacher can do.
Next up was a session on video for blogging with Ivy from Wake Up for Makeup. If you’ve been reading for a while, you know I’m looking to expand in to more video, and since I come from a video production background, I have some of the experience and tools…but I was missing the inpsiration! Problem solved. Ivy’s energy and upbeat presentation left me ready to get filming. She also provided some amazing tips on equipment and her process, which I will definitely be referring to as I try to get this video blogging thing up and running!
I was a little unsure about the next presentation on web design and coding, because I have a lot of experience with that topic…however, as always, I was surprised by what I didn’t know. Which was a LOT! I’m a blogger that has grown up on this medium, so I have pieced my site together myself for years. However, after my redesign in 2012, when I finally hired a real deal designer to do the work for me, I swore I’d never go back. Fast forward a few years, and here I am again, with a major relaunch a few weeks ago designed by yours truly. It was a mess! Next time I’m definitely calling Ashley from The Blog Salon, who gave an awesome presentation with great tips, tricks and such helpful handouts. She talked a lot about the organization aspect of designing a blog, and that’s something I need to work on. Plus, Ashley is adorable and we chatted while I awkwardly waited to speak with Tobe Reed earlier in the day. I was nerding out all over the place and she was super-kind and funny, making me laugh my nerves away. Again, authenticity wins.
The closing keynote was by Morgan and Carrie from Ampersand Design Studio. I love those ladies! I met them in the airport on the way to Alt Summit a few years back, and have always admired their beautiful work! Their phone covers have lived on my iPhone since I discovered them, and their print work is fantastic. They also do an incredible job of collaborating with large companies, which they talked quite a bit about. These ladies didn’t dumb it down for us…they told us all about their high points and the lows of their careers, with humor and grace. They told us step by step how the got huge projects with big brands, and really got me thinking about collaboration and hard work. My favorite quote, “If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.” Truth, friends.
So, yep, I was definitely nervous about this conference. I was worried about not fitting in and not belonging in this group of amazing, talented, creative women. But in the end, I am so SO GLAD I followed through and went for it. The speakers, the other attendees and the awesome team from Go Blog Social made this a workshop I won’t soon forget. Thank you all for making this nerd feel welcome!
http://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/IMG_4516.jpg1024767Meganhttp://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Crazy_Banans_Logo_WebsiteBanner.pngMegan2015-02-24 14:29:302015-02-24 14:29:30Go Blog Social Workshop 2015
Sneak Peek : The Phoenix Project
/0 Comments/in Crazybananas Photography, Giving Back /by MeganA few years ago I was fortunate to be able to participate in the launch of Go Mighty, an awesome website created around setting goals and finding your team to cheer you on, provide support and share in your success. If you’re a longtime reader, you already know what happened next, but for any of you who are new, here’s the short version. I posted the goal of “Capturing the Essence of Motherhood” in a photograph, and was lucky enough to be selected by Olay, who then sponsored this goal. The next few months were a whirlwind, as I worked to complete my project in time. I was thrilled when I reached my goal, and my elation was only elevated when I found out that Olay would be donating a sum of money in my name to a charity of my choosing, to celebrate the completion of this project.
While I’m involved in several charitable organizations in my area, I wanted to make sure this money would specifically be supporting women and mothers, as that’s what the goal was all about. In keeping with that idea, I chose the Willow Domestic Violence Center as the recipient. The Willow is located in Lawrence, Kansas, and I was a women’s and children’s advocate there from 2000-2004, assisting women and children who were recovering from domestic violence and/or living in the Willow Center’s shelter. It was heartbreaking work, but there I learned what real love, joy and recovery looks like. It was glorious, and I knew there was no better recipient for my grant from Olay.
In the years since, the incredible staff at the Willow Center have stayed in touch, and we often talked about working together on a community art project to raise awareness of domestic violence and money for the center. I’m so proud and excited to share that this project is finally HAPPENING!
The Phoenix Project will be launching in the spring of 2015, and is so much more than one single event. It is about archiving the stories of female survivors of domestic violence, through art, writing, storytelling and many more mediums. The Phoenix Project is about giving a platform to women who have been silenced, and listening to their voices. It’s about recovery, and rising from the ashes of pain and horror into something new.
I am so honored and humbled to have been asked to participate in this project, and document the beauty and strength of these survivors. Last week I did a portrait session with several volunteers, brave women who want to show their faces and tell their stories in order to help others. As I photographed these amazing ladies, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for this opportunity to capture their courageous spirits and share a piece of them with all of you. As the project launches, several of these portraits will be posted along with the women’s stories at the Phoenix Project website. I encourage you to visit and read them with open hearts.
I will be passing on more information soon on how to purchase art pieces, such as prints of some of these images, which are included in the Phoenix Project. 90% of the proceeds from the sale of these prints will go to the Willow. The Willow Domestic Violence Center fields upwards of 1600 crisis calls and referral calls per year, houses 250-300 women and children annually, runs adult and child support groups, and offers services and public education in Douglas, Franklin, and Jefferson Counties.
You guys, this is why I do what I do. I’m a storyteller, and I understand the importance of having a place to share your story, and the priceless value of our stories as women and survivors. It’s such a gift to be able to help give these incredible women a platform and to be able to share them with all of you.
Throwback : Room Makeover with the Land of Nod
/0 Comments/in Homestyle, Lucy /by MeganThis post originally ran in September of 2013, but it’s one of my favorites! I am definitely NOT a decor expert, as made very obvious by the before photos of this room. I was so grateful the Land of Nod offered to help a girl out! I loved working with the Land of Nod, one of my favorite brands, on this preschool to big girl room makeover. I hope you enjoy!
Lulu has grown up so much in the past few years, sometimes I find it difficult to keep up! This week she loves Justin Bieber and yesterday she still loved Dora. A year ago she insisted her favorite color was not just pink, but PINK!!!!! Now she refuses to wear the color and wants everything around her to be blue, blue, blue. She is opinionated and feisty, and I wanted her room makeover to reflect that. We moved to our suburban Kansas City home when she was still in preschool, and her room was a mess of a couple of styles and thrown together looks. Her twin bed actually still sat on the floor instead of on a bed frame, from way back when she’d roll out of it every night as a toddler. For her 7th birthday, Lucy asked if I’d redecorate her room to better reflect her personality, and I jumped at the chance. With some help from The Land of Nod, I was able to make her “blue mermaid party” room a reality!
The before photos of the room really are sort of pathetic, aren’t they? Just keeping it real, over in Crazy Bananas Land. More proof I am not a home decor person. Originally that tent was fashioned to be a cool hideaway and book area, but it was unfortunately way too big for the space. We tried hanging it over the bed, but the darkness scared her at night and it just looked kind of ragged. The wall hangings over her bed were added later, but they were all mismatched and didn’t have any coherency to them. Her craft area was basically a Rubbermaid tub filled with paint and markers, with no real space to create. Her dresser was one I had in college, but attempted to fancy up using nobs from Anthropologie. The block letters spelling out her name were made by a friend for her nursery, and though we loved them, it was time for them to go.
Lucy requested her room be blue, her favorite color. The color she picked out was a VERY bright turquoise, but we convinced her to tone it down a bit. She picked out the mermaid bedding from Land of Nod and we designed the room around it. Lucy loves to swim and dreams of being a mermaid herself, plus the reason she loves blue so much is because it reminds her of the ocean, so the bedding is perfect for her. Early on in this process, I created a mood board to give us an idea of where we wanted to go with the design. Once we were inspired, it was easy to pull together an updated room that was fun and perfect for a seven-year-old mermaid in training!
Lucy’s poster bed was mine as a child, then was handed down to my niece, and now finally to Lucy. The beautiful blue moth wall decal from Land of Nod is one of Lucy’s favorite parts of the room. She angled it just so, as she wanted it to look like it was flying across her wall.
The sidetable, chest of drawers and dresser were all purchased from a local furniture store. The bedside lamp was bought at Wal-Mart, and the sketch of a mom and daughter was purchased for $3 in the frame at a local thrift store. The L and the P (her initials) were in her stocking at Christmas a few years back.
The dresser and giant mirror were specific requests from Lucy. She wanted a space where she could get ready every morning in private, as her two-year-old brother has started to impede on her space. We fancied up the plain white with some fun paper letters spelling out her name from Minted.com. The aged jewelry box was given to Lucy by her aunt, and although the original plan was the polish it up, Lucy decided she liked it better as it was. I agree!
The desk was purchased at IKEA, and my mother-in-law painted an old chair with a sample of the VERY turquoise paint that Lucy originally wanted for her walls as a compromise (Can you imagine that on the walls? Yikes!). We pulled in a lot of the turquoise detailing throughout the room, from picture frame to her lava lamp, which her super-cool dad bought her as a nightlight. The pendant desk lamp from Land of Nod brings it all together, using almost all the colors that are featured throughout the room. The yellow art caddy gives Lu a space for her art supplies that she uses on a daily basis, and it can be easily stashed away in her desk cabinet when little brother’s grubby hands are looking for some crayons to color the walls.
Here is a little warning to all you DIY mamas out there…make sure your husband knows your DIY plans! Originally, the cork board and the frame for the incredible art print by Lucy’s desk were decorated in fabulous washi tape that I used to cover up their bland black and brown edges. But when I asked my husband to hang them for me, he thought it was protective packaging tape and ripped it all off! Oh well, they still look nice, although I probably will update them again at some point. It wouldn’t be an at home makeover project without a hiccup or two!
The details of the room are my favorite parts. I am in love with the floor bins I found at Land of Nod, as Lucy is a bit of a clutter bug, and they make clean up easy and stylish. The rainbow felt garland brightens up the darker blackout curtains, which Lucy originally hated, but once they were hanging with the garland, she loved. We found some amazing art on Etsy that we hung on the walls and personalized the space with lots of family photos. Lucy loves reading, so we made a space where she could display her favorite books of the moment on her chest of drawers. The cute XOXO bookends are from Target.
Creating this beautiful space for Lucy was such a pleasure and a joy! I am so happy she finally has a real, put together space to call her own, which truly reflects who she is. I feel like this room is child-like, but will grow with her through the years.
The Land of Nod provided products for this room makeover project, but all opinions are my own. Thanks Land of Nod!!!
Go Blog Social Workshop 2015
/4 Comments/in bloglife /by MeganI made it, you guys! If you read my last blog post, you’ll know that I was getting ready to go to a workshop this weekend and I was a little, tiny bit nervous. Ahem. And although I felt like a huge dork-face posting that video, I tend to do much better in situations when I’m authentic and real from the get go. So, yep, I was nervous. And yes, of course I felt a little silly walking in to a room of beautiful, talented, stylish women when I didn’t know anyone. But here’s the thing, I feel like when you own up to your fears and flaws, you take away their power. When I’m feeling anxious about meeting someone or making small talk, it’s just so much easier if I start out with, “Wow, I’m so nervous! I don’t normally do this, but I’m so pumped to meet you.” For me, that diffuses the fear and everyone seems to take a big sigh of relief. Not one person I met this weekend said, “Wow, you nerd, get a hold of yourself!” They were all kind and gracious, as people usually are. And you know what, if they aren’t, they probably aren’t people who I’m gonna want to hang out with anyway.
The presentations at the workshop were perfect for where I’m at in my blogging journey, but the best part was they were relatable for the attendees regardless of how long you’ve been at this blogging thing. I’ve been doing this for over 10 years, which basically makes me 80 in blog years, but I still got so much out of everyone’s comments and suggestions. The opening keynote was by Tobe Reed from Because It’s Awesome, who graciously left an encouraging comment on my video last week. She talked a lot about aligning yourself with what you want and trying new things. She also focused on trusting your gut, which is something I struggle with. At the end of her presentation, she was kind enough to hang out and chat with a few attendees, and I was lucky to grab a few minutes with her. So inspiring!
Next were several breakout sessions focusing on different aspects of blogging. I attended a rad photography session with the incredible Cassandra Castaneda. Much of what she said was not new to me, as a photographer, but I still learned so much about programs I’m not using (Lightroom!) and online tools for photographers and bloggers (Blogstomp…how have I never heard of you!). She also had some beautiful handouts that will be so helpful for future shoots. I’m working on some material for an upcoming photography workshop I will be leading for new photographers, and Cassandra’s presentation really inspired me and helped me see what a great teacher can do.
Next up was a session on video for blogging with Ivy from Wake Up for Makeup. If you’ve been reading for a while, you know I’m looking to expand in to more video, and since I come from a video production background, I have some of the experience and tools…but I was missing the inpsiration! Problem solved. Ivy’s energy and upbeat presentation left me ready to get filming. She also provided some amazing tips on equipment and her process, which I will definitely be referring to as I try to get this video blogging thing up and running!
I was a little unsure about the next presentation on web design and coding, because I have a lot of experience with that topic…however, as always, I was surprised by what I didn’t know. Which was a LOT! I’m a blogger that has grown up on this medium, so I have pieced my site together myself for years. However, after my redesign in 2012, when I finally hired a real deal designer to do the work for me, I swore I’d never go back. Fast forward a few years, and here I am again, with a major relaunch a few weeks ago designed by yours truly. It was a mess! Next time I’m definitely calling Ashley from The Blog Salon, who gave an awesome presentation with great tips, tricks and such helpful handouts. She talked a lot about the organization aspect of designing a blog, and that’s something I need to work on. Plus, Ashley is adorable and we chatted while I awkwardly waited to speak with Tobe Reed earlier in the day. I was nerding out all over the place and she was super-kind and funny, making me laugh my nerves away. Again, authenticity wins.
The closing keynote was by Morgan and Carrie from Ampersand Design Studio. I love those ladies! I met them in the airport on the way to Alt Summit a few years back, and have always admired their beautiful work! Their phone covers have lived on my iPhone since I discovered them, and their print work is fantastic. They also do an incredible job of collaborating with large companies, which they talked quite a bit about. These ladies didn’t dumb it down for us…they told us all about their high points and the lows of their careers, with humor and grace. They told us step by step how the got huge projects with big brands, and really got me thinking about collaboration and hard work. My favorite quote, “If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.” Truth, friends.
So, yep, I was definitely nervous about this conference. I was worried about not fitting in and not belonging in this group of amazing, talented, creative women. But in the end, I am so SO GLAD I followed through and went for it. The speakers, the other attendees and the awesome team from Go Blog Social made this a workshop I won’t soon forget. Thank you all for making this nerd feel welcome!