Ink on my fingers

A change of address

Ladies and gentlemen, I would be honoured to have the pleasure of your company at my new home, SusannahConway.com. xo

Four blogtastic years

I missed my blogiversary again - it was on Monday. Four years of blogging in this space (well, three years technically, as the first year was hosted by Blogger.) I can't believe it's only been four years, as sometimes it feels like i have always been doing this, that's how important this place is to me. I feel antsy when I haven't posted in a while, wanting to come here to share and connect, to write out my thoughts or have a little moan (see yesterday's post ;) It would not be an exaggeration to say that this blog has changed my life. Just over a year after my life had changed for a much more devastating reason, I opened a Blogger account and took the leap, not knowing what this place would come to mean to me, or what magic it would bring into my life. I've made friends and found an amazing community; I've healed my pain and shared my story; I've had a place to let my photography blossom; I've opened up to possibilities like teaching and book writing. Who knew all of that would come from writing a few words on the internet every few days?

Next week Ink on my fingers will be no more as I relaunch my website and start blogging over at susannahconway.com... and for some reason this is making me really nervous. I mean, I know it's just a blog, so why does it matter where it is in the blogosphere? But ... it matters to me. This is my online home, and now I'm packing my virtual boxes and heading out to a new space. I'm taking all my archives and comments with me, and now I've had the decorators in it's looking pretty snazzy over there and I'm excited to show you the result next week, but still there is this strange lingering sadness to saying goodbye to my inky blog. The irony is, i have more ink on my fingers these days than ever before, but it's time to blog under my own name... officially. It's all part of that pesky expand word I chose for this year. (what was i thinking?!)

I'm going to be quiet here for a few more premenstrously unproductive days and then, if all goes to plan, I'll be opening up the new space for visitors on Tuesday. I really hope you'll join me in my new digs!

UPDATED: As part of my online make-over I've changed mailing list provider which means all my lovely subscribers will get an email asking if they are happy to stay subscribed to my list. We can only import half of the list at a time, so the first half got an email this afternoon..... with my SURNAME spelled wrong. People, i am mortified! I believe this stage of the game is called teething troubles.... oh dear.

So if you got an email from some chick called Susannah Conay today, please know that it is truly me and I'd love it if you stayed on my mailing list :) The email is going out again tomorrow to the rest of the list, and fingers crossed I will spell my own name correctly this time.... sheesh

No words Wednesday

It's PMS week - oh happy day! Another chance to delve into the depths of my paranoia and monkey-mind while eating chocolate and hating myself. Huzzah! Got so many blog posts i want to share with you, but first i gotta get through this to-do list. Actually, it's more like a to-do scroll.

I wish i was sitting on that bench right now. Maybe tomorrow... wanna join me? I'll bring the cupcakes.

:)

Spring, how I love thee

 

One week old today

I don't know how much their little feeties change, but right now baby Noah has feet *exactly* like mine but in miniature; I can't tell you how much this thrills me! It's hard being away from my family - Abby & Noah have been figuring out the breast-feeding thing, and he is slowly starting to put weight on. My sis is a total rockstar for the way she's persevering through the challenges and doing what he needs right now.

I am a very proud big sister/auntie.

I also wanted to share this tweet from Danielle because it really made me smile and i thought you guys might like it too:

Danielle's burning the house down

I don't mind admitting that i have bit of a girl-crush on Danielle LaPorte; I'm never easily influenced by other people, preferring to figure stuff out for myself, but when i find someone who speaks the truth, I listen carefully and make notes. Last year I invested in a Fire Starter Session with Danielle and it turned out to be the best investment I have made in my business so far; I needed to talk through my plans, i wanted to get an expert's opinion on how things were panning out and where to go next, and i got all that and so much more. She's run businesses and a Washington think-tank; she wrote the hugely inspiring book Style Statement and now counsels entrepreneurs with her business savvy and expertise.

But what i appreciate the most about Danielle is how her business wisdom translates into life wisdom. This week sees the pre-launch of her new book, The Fire Starter Sessions, a downloadable e-book, meets video seminar, meets cosmic transmission of love (I'm counting down the days till i get my hands on it - see? I'm a groupie :) If you pre-order this week you'll get a sneak peek of one of the chapters; the worldwide release is on May 12th. If you're self-employed in any way shape or form - or aspire to explore your entrepreneurial side - this is the book for you (and it's tax deductible!)

I interviewed Danielle for my Creative Life series back in November (and answered her Burning Questions in return); wanting to help spread the word about her work I asked her some questions this week, and am thrilled to share her video responses with you over here - enjoy! 

Updated: the links to Danielle's book in this post are affiliate links, which means that if you buy her book I'll get a bit of money in return. This is the first and only affliliate link I have signed up for - that's how much I believe in and value her work :)

He's here!

Welcome to the world, little beautiful baby Noah... I have no words to describe how amazing this little chap is, but I know they will come to me soon. Just need to get a good night's sleep, one of the major perks of being an auntie (you get to come home). But i miss him like crazy, and I miss his mummy even more. She endured a 26-hour labour and was so brave, so amazing, so primal warrior-woman. It was an honour to help bring him into this world; I will never forget how his face looked as he slipped from my sister into the waiting hands of the (lovely and sweet) doctor......

Noah Irving Birkbeck, born at 7:57pm on April 1st 2010

Is it April already?

Seriously? April? You didn't waste any time getting here, did you. It was only New Year's Eve a couple of weeks ago - it's amazing how much faster the years pass as you get older. These days i count years like i counted weeks as a little girl. And there's so much i want to squeeze into this year, so many plans i have, and places i want to go, and cities i want to move back to, and photos i want to take. And nephews i want to get to know.

This morning I realised that today is the day.... the day to write that email. The day to make that phone call. The day to dream your wildest most daring dream. The day to throw caution to the wind and take a chance. The day to chill on your sofa and let yourself breathe again. The day to finish that novel. The day to kiss and make-up. The day to get a tattoo. The day to make a pavlova. The day to wander aimlessly. The day to paint your toe nails. The day to feed the birds.

I want to remember this every day this month, so I've made some new wallpaper* to remind me every morning when i sit in front of this computer monitor... today is the day! I thought you might like a reminder too:

Small: 1024x768
Medium: 1280x1024
Large: 1600x1200
Extra wide: 1920x1200

* The images are for your personal use only and I retain the copyright, etc etc :)