New site

Please visit my new site at http://www.amykimesdesign.com

There doesn’t have to be a reason…

Silentfool.com blog

Blog posting of a Twitter friend of mine @silentfool. “There doesn’t have to be a reason. There doesn’t have to be a why.” He also writes… “As an artist, I love this statement.”

How many times do others ask you the big question of “why”? Why did you put this here? Why did you use this font? I love this posting that explains that there doesn’t always have to be a why. It’s ok to have no reason. That’s art. We are artists. We don’t have to have a reason each time.

Looking for a graphic designer job…

No… stop… not me. I love working as the web/graphic designer at WACC. This post was inspired through so many, but mostly through my good friend. Just thought I’d share what has transpired and some helpful info and links that might help someone else out there looking for work as a graphics/web designer.

A great friend, neighbor, former coworker and awesome designer is looking for a job. No new thing there with the economy. But is hard as she has never worked f/t outside the home since having 3 kids and their busy schedules of sports, lessons, music and being the “taking care of it all mom” for many years. She currently does freelance, but it just isn’t enough. We chatted the other day for some time. It included laughter, tears and brainstorming on what she could be doing to take some steps toward finding f/t work.

These are some of the things we came up with:
NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK – Join Facebook, Twitter and LinkedInto name a few good ones.

Search job listing sites more targeted for designers -
(Most listed below are targeted for designers, but a few may be more general like Disney)
Crunchboard
Disney
Coroflot
PhotoshopCafe
AuthenticJobs
CareerBuilder
CreativeGroup
HowDesign
MediaBistro
SmashingMagazine
CraigsList
Monster
The Center for Church Communication Job Lab

If you have anymore designer job listing links to add to this… please forward them to me or comment on them. I’d love to add them to the list.

Create an online portfolio
Here’s an article I found the other day that has some great ideas in it for new online portfolios, if you already have one and if you are thinking about doing a redesign… like myself.
10 Steps to the perfect portfolio website

Here’s mine… Totally need to redo. Old style… 5 years old I think.
Amy Kimes Design
This project is on my vision board.

Got Exercise?

I am saddened that after selling my treadmill over a year ago, purchasing an exercise bike and selling it at the end of 08, that I still have not found my exercising ways.

Yes, I understand the extreme difficulty on getting time set aside to exercise with 4 kids, working, all the kids activities and my husbands different fire department schedule. But, I still feel I just need to find that right form of exercise, time and ways… I can do it. I am determined to make it work…

… but then I have to make that choice. I now sit with my espresso before getting in the shower and waking my kids up for school. I am not doing my Wii Fit.

I also have this thing called “fear”. I fear walking alone. Not because I desire company. I fear of someone hurting me. I fear of getting hit by a car(my brother was killed from being hit by a car) I fear walking in the hills because of my shin splints and injuring them again(which is easy for me to do). I can’t run because of my neck injury. I fear of joining a gym because of the germs. If you know the Kimes family well, we seem to be sick a lot… and when we get sick, we really get sick. I fear that if I take time for a walk after picking kids up from school, they won’t get their work done or end in a huge fight that I will then come home to.

I’m hoping that writing this will help me work through some of my issues. Look at them. Read them. Analyze them.

Do I need a group to walk with? How do you find one?

I purchased a pedometer last night and found this great site this morning. I can compare how accurate my pedometer is… or the website. NOW… I just need to go use it!

http://www.mapmywalk.com/

Vision Board 2009

To see my Vision Board larger, click on it and it will take you to my Flickr album.
These are my desires and wants for 2009. Reminders of who I am and what I need to stay focused on. Let’s see how much I do in 2009.
This was inspired by my friend Cindy Ronzoni. See her blog post here and maybe it will inspire you to make one too! Let me know if you do. I’d love to hear about it and/or see it.

What do I want out of 2009?

Been thinking about this a lot. Like a lot of other people as we count the days, hours, minutes and then seconds to the new year of 2009. I’ve made a a lot of changes in my life in 2009. Some were out of my control, good and bad and sad. I anxiously look forward to a new year full of hope, dreams and knowing there will be a reliving of sad memories of loss.

My friend, Cindy Ronzoni, a respected PR professional, recently posted a blog that got me thinking more about 2009. Expectations and what am I waiting for? She will be posting on how to make a vision board later this week. I’m looking forward to that. Being a busy working mom of 4 kids and married to a fire captain who works a lot (no complaining… I’m very thankful he has a stable, awesome career… his schedule is just the way it is… good and bad). I need more assistance with my vision and making things happen. I have a lot of vision, but it all seems to take a back seat behind sick kids, homework, work, bible study, sports, husband, home, elderly parents, family, Facebook and cell phone addiction… shall I go on?

A few things that come to mind on what I want out of 2009 (besides the obvious of good health, happiness, joy, PEACE, love, etc…) :

Take next steps on my photography profession
Learn lighting
Purchase lighting essentials
Schedule time to enjoy my photography and go on locations/in studio and shoot
Purchase new camera by the end of the year

Assist my kids in their interests and desires
Kat – theatre: create resume, photos, and research some auditions for Spring/Summer.
Kaycee – art: assist her on creating her art portfolio.
Karly – guitar: keep pursuing.
Danny – baseball: find a late Spring/Summer league.

Redesign my website/portfolio by end of the year. Why? Not sure exactly. Need to think about it. Something I’ve been wanting to do for awhile though.

Ok… have to throw in fitness. Our family is sick a lot and when we get sick… we get really sick and it can take weeks to recover. I’ve come to accept it as “it is what it is” (my new favorite saying thanks to my good friends Danielle Franck and Kim Songer). But, I do feel that my profession as a graphic/web designer and sitting, sitting and sitting in front of the computer doesn’t help in my getting exercise. Some say having the busy life I have should get me enough exercise. But, it’s not the right kind. My heart doesn’t get pumping. Well, sometimes depending on the day at work or home… but not the way we need to when we are exercising. haha. I sold my exercise bike(it didn’t fit me right) within the last few months and started doing Wii Fit. Not enough though. I can go on and on about this one, like most of us out there. It’s a struggle.

As I struggle with our family being sick for weeks now, through Christmas and now looking at ringing in the new year sick… I anxiously wait for 2009 with hope that it will bring change in my desires and dreams. But, I know I can’t only hope. I need to pray. And I need to take action. Maybe Cindy’s vision board will help. It’s another step right? Do yo have other steps you can suggest?

What is Twitter you ask?

In plain english and video, here is a fun and great explanation of what Twitter is and how it works.

My finds tonight…

I’m a nerd and am addicted to Twitter, Facebook and blogs. After seeing one of Matt Singley’s posts on his blog, I landed on this cool page. Evhead – CEO of Twitter. Off of his site, I found some new and cool(and somewhat nerdy)things.

1. Flickr My Background. Put your latest Flickr image in your Twitter background. It syncs every hour. Haven’t tried it yet, but I’m sure it works. Follow me on Twitter and let me know if you try it. @abkimes

2. Fitbit – Fitbit automatically tracks your fitness and sleep. Did I get enough exercise today? How many calories did I burn? Am I getting good quality sleep? How many steps and miles did I walk today? The Fitbit Tracker helps you answer these questions. $99. Taking pre-orders now. I’ve been wanting to get something that tracks my steps, calories and distance… and now sleep. Too cool.

Waiting 4 a friend

Waiting… it can be so hard. Especially those that are young. Nothing seems to come fast enough for them. My son Danny has a play date today with one of his besties, John. I caught him sitting at the window, looking out, just waiting. This was after the countdown of minutes on the clock. Now, comes the question of when is John going to be here? He is now late. The anxiety must just be torture. They haven’t seen each other since the last day of school in mid June. It just reminds me of so many things. Being patient for the things you most desire in life. And friends. Everyone needs friends. I have so many awesome friends from so many circles and seasons in my life. I love that even though some I haven’t seen in years, I can still pick up the phone and the closeness like we just saw each other is still there.

One of the best & funniest plays I’ve ever seen

Iceberg Ahead @ the Lizard Theater in Alhambra.

The funniest and best plays I’ve ever seen. Small theater in a half round type seating style. Awesome actors. Awesome writer/director Jay Parker. And of course my good friend Kimberly Aguilar was amazing as always.

Can’t rave enough about it. Awesome show.