Are you going to join me?

I feel like the kitchen is really the core of the home, it is where food is prepared to feed the family, to fuel them with the energy that they need to survive. On a whole I enjoy cooking for the family but like most people have those days when I wish I could afford my own private chef or at least someone to come and clean up after I have made a complete mess in there.

What I have found though, is that even on those off days, it is not so challenging if I can just get in, do what I need to do and get out. Then only way that this works is if my kitchen is properly organized, I have a couple of cupboards that need a good sort through and then I thought it would be fun to run a bootcamp, so we can all tackle the kitchen chaos together.

So here it is... the ultimate 7 day kitchen clear out...

Want to join in? Just sign up HERE. (it's totally free!)

We will kick off January 28th and each day I will send you an email telling you exactly what to tackle. I believe in doing things little by little, baby steps if you like, so each day should take only 15 - 30 minutes.

Plus, I am going to be giving away prizes through out the week and at the end of the week you will have a beautifully organized kitchen. Are you in? Just click HERE to be taken to the sign up page.

please pin me!

I would love to get 100 people signed up to do the bootcamp so I need your help to get the word out, please share this post on Facebook, twitter etc. Thank you so, so much!

I am messy and I know it...this is where I spill the beans

As I said in the last post, this time last year I promised myself that I would step out of my comfort zone at every opportunity, I knew that in April, Ebi-kun would be starting school and I would have a bit more time to work on making an income. I had some serious decisions to make and some ideas I wanted to explore.

I had the idea for My Organized Chaos about 3 years ago but it wasn't anything concrete, just several pages of scribbles, notes and ideas, I knew what I wanted to do but I wasn't sure how to pull it all together. Then one day I clicked through to Mayi's blog from something else I had been reading. I started watching her crazy funny videos and blog posts, little did I know at the time but that one click started a snowball of effects.

Now, Mayi is self confessed OCD whereas I am a self confessed messy bugger. That said, I am organized messy, it may seem like a contradiction but it's not, honest! I am creative and messy and often surrounded by piles of work in progress but I know where everything is and where I am within the pile, get my drift? I love notebooks, I have lots of them, filled with ideas and patterns, doodles and lists, my mind is a constant whirlwind of projects and things to make and do but I hate to admit that business wise, I am not so enthusiastic, don't get me started on doing my accounts...

So, when Mayi when announced her e-course "Life is Messy Boot Camp" it started the cogs ticking. I had never paid for an online course before but I bit the bullet and jumped in. The course is aimed at creative entrepreneurs and perfect if you are starting out or struggling to get your business organized.

Not only did Mayi's genius help me organize the parts of the business I was struggling with, everything started to fall into place with the new project. I took all those scribbles and notes from the last couple of years and sat down and pulled them into something more substantial. Admittedly My Organized Chaos started as an e-book but ended up as an e-course, and the Life Is Messy Bootcamp was the boot up the arse that I needed to get all my thoughts and ideas into a marketable product and Mayi's help and encouragement played a big part in that.

Joining the Life Is Messy Bootcamp also introduced me to lots of great new people and was the first stepping stone of many for the year, I'll write a post about the business course I did at a later date. Mayi is launching her 2013 version of her course now, if you are planning on starting a creative business or looking at expanding, then take the next step, take a deep breath and jump in. If you are not sure and want to ask me any questions, fire away. Messy is good but organized messy is better!

the plunge....

I think if you have been reading this blog for any length of time you will know that I am far more comfortable behind the camera than I am in front of it. You will also know that I decided that now Ebi-kun is in school it was time for me to step up my little business and put some serious time and effort into it. Which, is why I signed up for Mayi's Life Is Messy Bootcamp. One of the things I have taken from bootcamp is that I really need to step out of my comfort zone, which I have been doing with baby steps but yesterday I took a really big breath and just did it. Yep, I got in front of the video came, I edited and put it up on youtube.

Now, why on earth would I do that? Well Mayi sent me over to Marie Forleo's B-School and I was super inspired by her video's, her take on life and her program, now I see why Mayi was raving about her. If you are a woman and looking to grow your business, watch my video then get over there! Marie is offering up a scholarship for a place on her next course, I would LOVE to join, so I bit the bullet and here is the evidence...

and no snickering at my dodgy northern accent OK!

Inspiration Sunday - Mayi Carles

I recently signed up for the Life Is Messy Bootcamp, I have found these type of Internet based courses are great for motivation and meeting new people. The mastermind behind the Life is Messy Bootcamp is Mayi Carles, who can also be found at heartmadeblog if you have your own business she is worth listening too, she has lots of great ideas to share.

Could we start off with you telling us a little about yourself and your background?

Sure thing. Well my real name is Maria Alejandra Carles. At least that's what my parents called me upon birth, but please call me Mayi (pronounced m ah jee).

And here goes, the self-proclaimed job title (drum roll please): I'm an artistic inventor + organizational master + pocket-size creative business fairy. Pow!

Ohh + I'm addicted to cupcakes. Severely hooked to the Red Velvet kind. 

Were you a creative child?

Are you kidding? I was 2 years old in 1984, the year my parents framed my very first crayon doodle, which still hangs in my mom + dad's bedroom in its shiny gold painted frame. At the age of 4, I took up my version of "mural painting", applied Mattel plaster + splattered tempera paint to wall surfaces. When I turned 7, apparently inspired by the otherworldly works of Salvador Dali, I drew on my little brother Coco the first of many permanent moustaches.

To say the least, I've been a little too curious + hyperactive for my own good, always testing the limits of those around me with all the tutu dancing + wall painting + shower singing + party propping + sewing kit playing + all that jazz. 

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be an immigrations officer when I grew up, that's how much I love stamps. When I realized the job didn't involve crayons or wearing my pajamas + I quickly changed my mind. 

Ginger Triometric Headband

You studied art in Florence, Italy (I also lived in Italy and loved it), what did you gain from your experience there?

I gained 15 pounds from eating too many gelatos + a tsunamic understanding of who I am + why I'm here. Florence was a very spiritual moment for me. It was right there + then where I knew I had a gift that I couldn't silence any longer. No wonder Italy is home to so many masters. There is something in the air I'm sure. 

From reading your blog, you appear to wear many hats as it were from being an artist, designer, TV presenter, creative business coach to vice president of a natural juice company, how do you manage it all?

Oh boy! I wish I could tell you I have an army on umpa lumpas bouncing around my studio helping me out. Unfortunately, that's far from the truth. It's just me + my 10 little fingers here doing "all the work" (and by "all the work" I really mean "some of the work" because I do give in sometimes + ask for help when things gets too insane). It also helps to have inherited my fathers intensity + obsessive discipline, so I'm naturally very self-driven + hyper active. My Life is Messy Planners are also oh so handy to jot down all my crazy ideas + forget "nothing" (and by "nothing" I really mean "almost nothing", because I do mess up, even if the wonder women complex in me has a hard time admitting it LOL).

 So, can you describe a typical day for us?

Would you believe me if I told you I don't think I have typical days? At least not now that I'm my own CEO! Every day feels so different for me. I guess that's the fun part about being a creative entrepreneur that your job requires you to constantly push boundaries + take risks + do things that scare you + always be on your toes. We're a little bit like adrenaline junkies, minus the bungee jumping :)

Today, for example I'm taking the afternoon off to bake some Banana Nut Expresso cupcakes for hubby cuz it's his birthday + preparing next weeks action plan to world domination. Sometimes I really need chill days like today to compensate for the frequent all nighters. 

 As an artist, what is your favourite medium to work with? and can you share a bit about your creative process?

I'm severely hooked to my scanner these days, using it to digitalize my hand-illustrated whimsical drawings. 

Now, just to prove that you are really human can you share a creative disaster story, such as the time I sewed the embroidery I was working on to the shirt I was wearing or like the time when I muddled up the arms and legs on a doll somehow and ended up with the freakish looking doll ever.

Oh boy! This will be my first time airing this. Here goes. During junior year in college I accidentally drank a full gulp of turpentine thinking it was my Martinelli apple juice. I had to call an ambulance to the rescue + hours later there I was in the ER with charcoal (or something that surely felt like it) in my throat to pump the venom outside my system.

Funny part of the story is that for the following weeks I got many calls from the college's psychologist asking if I was OK. Later she confessed that they just wanted to make sure it was an "accident" + not something I did on purpose.Now I keep my food + my supplies at miles difference :) 

Finally, who or where do you draw your inspiration from?

This is a hard one! I’m really inspired by so many things – a crafty blog + traveling the world + a freshly squeezed juice + dancing in the shower + jogging in the beach + kissing my man + post-it notes + supplies + April Bowles + hot tea + dreaming + music + my grandma’s food + my mom + cupcakes + my dad’s spaghetti's + surprises + Halloween + bubble wrap paper, just to name a few. 

Before you go, a question from Ebi-kun... what is your favourite local dish?

"Carimañolas de queso" made by a 100 year old lady in El Valle. Carimañolas are made with yucca + filled with fresh cheese + then fried, but I loved mine baked. Oh so yummy! 

I hoped you enjoyed learning a bit more about Mayi, I know I did! If you want to get your business organized I can highly recommend the bootcamp. It is self paced but there are few of us working at about the same speed  and we use the bootcamp Facebook group to ask questions, get feedback, encouragement  etc. You should come and join us!

You can also find Mayi at

Website :: Blog :: Life Is Messy Bootcamp :: twitter :: Facebook

All images on the post ©Mayi Carles

Inspiration Sunday - Annabel Port

One thing that keeps popping up on the Life is Messy Bootcamp is that I really should step out of my comfort zone more often. Writing to people asking for interviews falls into that category. As I was listening to the Geoff Lloyd podcast from Absolute Radio I thought, I should really interview Annabel. For those of who who don't listen to it (which in all likelihood is most of you, I think Geoff's listeners are rare yet loyal) Geoff has a co-host, Annabel and well, he gets her doing all sorts of insane things, the sort of thing make me blush just thinking about it. From trying to 'occupy' the flagship Top Shop to trying to start a fight with a Christmas elf, from hunting down Lord Lucan to becoming the next top fashionista.

I figured if anyone can give me some tips on stepping out of my comfort zone then Annabel is the one to do it and I was so chuffed that she said yes!

Could we start off with you telling us a bit about yourself - who you are and what you do?

I'm Geoff Lloyd's sidekick on the Hometime Show on Absolute Radio.

The main reason I wanted to interview you was that unless I have had several tequilas I am not a fan of making a fool of myself in public and would certainly not stick around in a job that had me doing just that several times a week. Yet here you are doing all kinds of daft things that Geoff sets you up with. So, do you actually enjoy these crazy errands Geoff sends you on?

Yes, I do actually enjoy it! One thing that I've discovered is how incredibly lovely people can be. It constantly amazes me how nice complete strangers can be and that always really cheers me up.

Do you have any secret method of psyching yourself up for the challenge ahead?

If I'm about to do something really embarrassing I do find myself morphing slightly into another character - a more simple, stupid, innocent version of myself - that helps!

I blush really badly and over the years have learnt to avoid all types of blush worthy events, do you suffer from the ole red cheeks?

I did go through a phase about 12 years ago of blushing a lot - often for no reason. But then it just stopped. No idea why.

Out of all the tasks Geoff has set, is there one that you ended up really enjoying, possibly more than you thought you would?

To be honest, I enjoy nearly all of them as they are often an excuse to do something ridiculous.

And at the other end of the scale, is there one where you wish you could reverse time and erase it?

I do regret the fact that I've been banned for life from the flagship Top Shop on Oxford Street after I tried to start an Occupy movement there in my sleeping bag. I used to get all my clothes from there. Still, I've yet to attempt a return - I suspect it'll be fine...

Has Geoff ever come up with some crazy idea that you have actually refused to do?

Never. I've moaned a bit though.

For one that who regularly steps out of her comfort zone, what advice do you have for people like myself who struggle with such things?

Tell yourself (depending on the size of town that you live in) I'm never going to see these people again. And when you've forced yourself to do it once, you'll realise how much fun it is and hopefully want to do it again.

What lessons would you say you have learnt from doing all these tasks?

Once again, people are lovely. Open, trusting, helpful, kind. I never thought that if I asked a stranger to scratch my back on the bus that they would - but they were happy to oblige. People are constantly surprising in the best possible way.

and finally, a question from Ebi-kun (who loves trying new foods) what is the strangest food you have eaten?

I'm not very good at trying new foods! That's one thing I need to be braver with. Sorry Ebi-kun.

We might have to help you with that! Thank you Annabel! I have made a list of things that I need to bite the bullet and do, one of them was to contact people i admire and ask them for interviews, I am doing OK on that score so far. I am working up to some of the others. Is there anything you really would like to do but are too scared to do it? Let me know!

 Follow Annabel on Twitter
And the Hometime Show on Facebook