The {A} List.

Love your lists Ali. that magazine looks cool. Had to try a free copy ;).
Right now I need to take my faith to the next level. putting what I believe into action. into daily life. :)

So many things I feel like I need to take to another level! It is almost depressing for me when I look at my list of things to take to another level.
You are so inspiring....thank you!

When you mentioned HOW last night in your chat, i wanted to post, "HEY....i got mine today too!!!!"
Only sometimes...and this does happen from time to time, there are things i read and i think, 'Why can design be so...pretentious?"
I think, and this is just me, and my I didn't go to art school frame of mind, that design is for everyone.
then again, there are many times i feel like i need to take MY approach to...you guessed it, another level.
that, and exercise.

you know I have been thinking about the same thing lately. The next level, where I want to go, what I want to do, strive for? It is easy to get complacent... so I need to push myself. For now my kids are always calling my name! Does that count? ;) But seriously...I think it is the inner artist, creative being that is screaming let me out. So I will just go with that... hoping it happens naturally. In whatever forum it chooses, scrapping, art, journalling, photography, painting. It will come! I trust that.
Shelley

i need to take my parenting to the next level. Quinn just turned one and the past year it has been easy to say, "oh, i can work on the computer, he's playing and he doesn't know the difference" or "i can scrapbook and just let him explore" i don't do this all day, mind you, just too much now...now that he walks over to me and shows me what he's got, or looks at me like 'come play!'. the next level for me means researching games and cool things we can do together. now that he is so interested in the world i think it's about time for me to be too...
thanks for the kick in the butt, ali!
i needed it...

Your last item makes me think of a live recording by Israel and the New Breed...at the beginning he is shouting to a HUGE audience
"Say - 'This is what its all about!
We're goin' to another level!
Say - This is what its all about!
We're goin' to another level!'
I want you to get on BOOOOAAAAARRRRRDDDDD!!!!"
Everytime I hear it, I can't help but SHOUT ALONG!!! WOO HOO!!!

Love the quote from Gandhi! Another one of his quotes "We must become the change we want to see in the world" has been sticking with me alot lately.

How is my favorite mag! Oh, and those snack baggies are just way too necessary!

Taking something to the next level for me is my business idea. I can not keep thinking about it and it is calling me big time.

Ali - it's so wonderful how you touch our lives, even if it's to make us think :) The next level for me is simplicity - being content with what I have been blessed with (faith, family, friends, career, and an amazing hobby) and not comparing myself to others to gain worth. Also, making a difference in the lives of others - doing something small or big that makes an impact - "Random Acts of Kindness" - and remembering that we have opportunities everyday to make a difference. Reading a book to a child, volunteering as a Girl Scout Leader (or any other volunteer work, having my teenager's friends over for pizza - whatever it is that shines a Light and plants a seed of kindness so that it can be passed on to others.

I love it that the Ziplock people took their baggies to another level with the snack size...thank you, Ziplock people. :D

I'm digging the Ghandi quote! I linked it on my site.

Another big HOW fan here...I actually carry it around with me in my binder at work...sneak looks at it when things are slow...I'm never without my HOW!

A recommendation from you is always a good thing. :) Loving the {A} list. You know, I've been buying the HOW at the bookstore, pricey little thing here in CDN$. Maybe I should sub. But a lot is over my no training in design head. And love me some Prince too. When Doves Cry is on my all time top ten list!

Thanks for the link to HOW magazine, I wanted to look that up after you mentioned in the chat last night! great list of stuff!

I am married to the biggest prince fan of ALL TIME and so I have long since been converted. I am in love with his music (old-school prince is the best) and really- the man is a genuis. as for 'brave on the rocks'... so glad some kind person sent it your way. now you must get your hands on 'messy thrilling life' as it also rocks the proverbial casbah.

Ali,
For me, the next level is asking myself, "Does this path have heart"? I want to look at my art, my life, my kids, my home and know that I was living from the heart, speaking from the heart, creating from the heart. I have a new favorite quote glued on my daily journal.
Tao 22 says:
"The woman of Tao holds oneness in her heart and her world is at peace. Does not try to please and therefore shines. Does not seek attention and therefore excels. Does not justify herself and is therefore trusted. Does not imitate others and is therefore herself. Does not compete and therefore no one in the world can surpass her."
Loved the Gandhi quote!
Michelle

Hi Ali. My next level would be to leave yesterday behind me and get up each day, one foot in front of the other and do what I want to do, even before I believe I can!

Another firm believer in snack-size ziplocs...though I have to admit that I used Target's version (so much cheaper!). And that HOW magazine looks pretty neat! I remember stealing all of my brother's graphic design annuals and magazines whenever I visited home (time for another visit me thinks, ha ha).

Funny - your album class took me to another level in scrapping. Since last August I find every day my life reaches a new level in some aspect. Graditude and faith rise each and every day when I think how blessed we are that we only suffered the damage we did. Patience is at an all time high and there are more than 200,000 of us here waiting for something. Refridgerators, windows, FEMA aid, our meal at a restaurant (service is not what it use to be - gives new meaning to leisurely dining!).
Devotion and dedication to my home town is off the charts as is a rampant desire to help others in our community.
And my personal favorite, my appreciation for young mothers like you, in the early stages of their journey. As my youngest is set to graduate school in just over a month, I can finally step back and look at my children and say... dang I did OK. Of course that is until they all start writing books and I find out how deprived their childhoods were.... ;)
renee