I will be the first to tell you that 2010 Deb was indeed correct in that conjuring your Perfect Day is in fact dangerous work. Shortly after that Working, my company started to gently collapse until it collapsed completely. It turns out that I need a little more structure in my Perfect Day (i.e. at least a part time day job) than I thought I needed because not leaving my house is not a good look for me. I think I also didn’t really understand how much work goes into writing a book, starting a tiny blogosphere revolution, and starting successful craft businesses.
My new ideal day isn’t something that can be scheduled as I scheduled my first one but it builds off it. It’s more of a perfect week which looks something like:
* Part time nanny work (two days would be ideal for about 15 hours a week)
* 12 hours-ish devoted to my craft business (networking, shows, creating new things, internet work)
* 12 hours a week for writing (books, short stories, articles, blogging, etc.)
* 4 hours a week at home to housefraus (cooking, cleaning, organizing)
* 4 hours a week for active stuff (archery, walks, bike riding, roller skating, zumba, yoga)
* 4 hours a week for devotional practice/magic
* 12 hours a week for fun (seeing friends, exploring new places, reading, going to places I like, etc)
* 63 hours a week of sleep (delicious sleep)
That leaves me approximately 40 hours a week to deal with bullshit (driving places, obligations, paying bills, grocery shopping, etc) and unexpected stuff.
I’m not that far away from it and I’m getting closer to it every day.
And now, a mood board that is inspired by my perfect week. I have no logical reason why I associate embroidered pants (especially with tiny lobsters) with a good/prosperous/fun life but I do. I got the ones listed here already to get a jump start on things. The bike is because I want to pretend to be French and riding to a cute little bakery for a baguette . . .though I’m surrounded by highways.
1. Schwinn Women’s Gateway Bike, Target $199
2. Women’s Embroidered Graphic Boyfriend Skinny Khaki, Old Navy, $19
3. Ball Home Canning Discovery Kit, Amazon, $10
4. Ashford Traveller Double Treadle, Single Drive, Lacquered, The Woolery, $720
5. Phantasmagoria Oil, Twilight Alchemy Lab, $25
6. Samick Sage Recurve Bow, Lancaster Archery, $130
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Her frequently updated catalogue of published work is available on Author Central.
She writes about Glamour Magic here at Charmed, I'm Sure. Her podcast appearances are available here.
Her craft shop, The Mermaid & The Crow specializes in old-world style workshop from 100% local, sustainable sources featuring tempting small batch ritual oils and hand-spun hand-dyed yarn in luxe fibers and more!
In a previous life, Deborah founded the first Neo-Victorian/Steampunk convention, SalonCon which received rave reviews from con-goers and interviews from the New York Times and MTV.
She resides in New Jersey with her husband, Jow and their cat, Max II. She has a terrible reality television habit she can't shake and likes St. Germain liquor, record players and typewriters.
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4 Responses
Beth
Your ideal week doesn’t look too far different from my own, with maybe a few hours shuffled differently here or there. Also, thanks to you I am going to have to look into archery lessons as soon as there is time/money available for that. ;P
Deborah Castellano
My sekrit goal is for us to do awesomely enough as fiber artists that we can eventually be bi-coastal and do shows together!
Archery, be prepared to be pissed off. ;p
Meliad
My ideal week doesn’t have nearly enough hours in it to contain all the stuff I want to accomplish.
Which explains at least a little bit.
That said, I love how you’ve done this – not an hour-by-hour schedule, but a clear idea of how much time you want to devote to X, Y, and Z while being successful.
I’m with you on the part-time work, though. I’ve come to the conclusion that, like you, Never Leaving The House is not a good look. Plus having to get my ass to and from a particular destination on a regular basis means that I’m actually getting out and Taking A Walk for an hour or so every time I do it. Two birds, one stone, right? Right.
How goes the archery? 🙂
Meliad recently posted..J is for Jerry-Rigged – Pagan Blog Project 2013
jonquil
My ideal week gets skewed with the necessaries involved in caring for my three grandchildren. I have #3 & found the little green basket too small for my needs. I have a water bath canner & jar lifter/handler for my batches. The basket holds my soaps instead.