January 2013 – Ananda Leeke

Happy Creativity Thursday!

Posted by Ananda Leekeon January 31, 2013in Creativity ThursdayLeave a comment

Happy Creativity Thursday!

Last week, I had so much fun sharing articles, quotes, reflections, web links, and videos about creativity that I decided to dedicate one day per week to celebrating creativity. So join me for my first Creativity Thursday celebration. It’s something new I am trying out on my blog and social media platforms. So far, it is keeping me focused on my own creative expression. Thanks to HootSuite I have been able to schedule many posts for today, February, and March. My hope is that my sharing inspires you to be more creative!

So what’s cooking in your creative life today?

How are you celebrating creativity this week?

What are you planning to do in February to keep the creativity energy flowing in your world?

Here are a few highlights from my Creativity Thursday.

1) I shared how Gail McMeekin’s The 12 Secrets of Highly Successful Women has been a source of inspiration for my creative process especially with my books. Her book is currently helping me finish my Digital Sisterhood memoir. I even quote her in the memoir!

2) A Facebook friend posted a photo of Eileen Fisher, one of my favorite creative women entrepreneurs. The photo included a quote that made my day! See below.

“I want to encourage women entrepreneurs and firmly believe that business can be used to create social change, even if the economic climate is uncertain.”

PS: I have been wearing her clothes since 1994! I still have one of the first black silk sweaters I purchased back in the 90s! Vintage EF!

3) I tweeted how much I adore my digital sister Leah Piken Kolidas’ Creative Every Day and Art Every Day Month celebrations. They helped me move through writer’s block during my novel and memoir writing days. PS: Leah was named 2012 Digital Sister of the Year – Creativista!

Photo Credit: Spelman College Museum of Fine Art

4) Spelman College Museum of Fine Art posted a great photo of its upcoming exhibition, Multiple Choice: Perspectives which opens February 7. It features the work of ione rozeal brown, a Washington, D.C. born and bred artist I simply adore! Seeing the photo got my creative juices flowing about my own painting. I need to get back to the paint brushes and canvas.

That Which Awakens Me - my creative memoir — That Which Awakens Me – my creative memoir

5) I shared several links to videos that feature me sharing reflections during my book launch for That Which Awakens Me: A Creative Woman’s Poetic Memoir in 2009. Seeing the videos really made me proud of my work. See video links below.

Ananda’s Talk on Social Media Leadership Coming to BlogHer 2013 in July!

Posted by Ananda Leekeon January 30, 2013January 30, 2013in Blogher Conference, BlogHer13, Digital Sisterhood Leadership Project, Leadership, Social Media LeadershipLeave a comment

Happy Digital Sisterhood Wednesday!

I am really excited to share that I will be giving a talk on social media leadership at the BlogHer conference on July 26. What Type of Social Media Leader Are You? is the title of my presentation. The presentation will give me an opportunity to share my thoughts on social media women’s leadership and to introduce the Digital Sisterhood Leadership Project to a larger audience. I am so grateful to the BlogHer team for giving me a platform to share my leadership thoughts and work.

The BlogHer 13′ conference will mark my fifth year of participation. BLOGHER-WOW! It’s gonna rock! So get ready Chicago!

The Business of Being Ananda: Staying on Track with 21 Days of Feminine Business Model Telejam Series

Posted by Ananda Leekeon January 29, 2013January 29, 2013in Business of Being AnandaLeave a comment

Happy Tuesday!

For the next three weeks I am participating in Tracy Lee Jones’ The Feminine Business Model’s Global Telejam Series. I am using the Series as my reset button for 2013. So far, I have watched the “How to Cultivate Your Creativity (aired today)” with Jennifer Lee of Artizen Coaching, Goddess Leonie Dawson, and Laura Hollick.

Jennifer Lee’s book, The Right-Brain Business Plan has been so powerful in my life. Goddess Leonie is someone I have admired for years. I met Jennifer and Leonie while reading the Pink Heels blog and web site (no longer in existence) created by Jennifer Moore. I also connected with them through Jamie Ridler’s Next Chapter Book Blogging Group. Leonie is a true inspiration!

Ananda's Creativity Folder — Ananda’s Creativity Folder

The Telejam Series is helping me stay focused and on track with my intention to live dharma happiness. My intention guides my fierce living commitments to healthy eating and cooking, regular fitness (biking, running, walking, weight training, and taking a weekly yoga class at Tranquil Space or Embrace DC), making time each day for meditation/Reiki/yoga, getting sufficient rest and sleep each day, having fun and laughing daily, dancing, maintaining my home as a creative/loving/healing sanctuary, spending time with family and friends weekly, enjoying/expressing my creativity, participating in my spiritual communities on a monthly basis, and finishing the publisher’s edits for my Digital Sisterhood memoir and having the book published this winter with EASE, GRACE, JOY, and PEACE!

About Tracy Lee Jones and the Telejam Series:

Tracy Lee Jones is a Life Coach, Mentor to Emerging Entrepreneurs, and Founder & Chief Inspiration Officer of The Feminine Business Model. Tracy launched The Feminine Business Model’s Global Telejam Series to help women make motivation a habit. Her series includes 21 days of awe-inspiring videos from women all around the world. It’s free too! So sign up ladies: http://thefemininebusinessmodel.com. It is a great investment in YOU, your most precious asset!

Web Site Relaunch of My Novel, Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One

Posted by Ananda Leekeon January 28, 2013January 28, 2013in Love's Troubadours - Karma: Book OneLeave a comment

Happy Monday,

Five years ago I launched my web site for my debut novel, Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One (2007). Last year, I realized the site needed a makeover. Click here to check out the new look (very simple compared to the old site). Let me know what you think. And be sure to read the book summary below.

Book Summary:

Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One tells the story of Karma Francois, a thirtysomething Oakland-born BoHo B.A.P. (Bohemian Black American Princess) with Louisiana roots and urban debutante flair. The novel begins with Karma’s life in an uproar. Her relationships and the museum curator career that she struggled to form in New York City have crumbled, leaving no viable options to rebuild. Relocating to Washington, DC, Karma struggles with denial, depression, and debt. A lack of full-time employment opportunities forces her to craft a gypsy existence as a Jill of Many Trades:
yoga teacher, art consultant, and freelance curator at Howard University Gallery
of Art. Unable and unwilling to appreciate these jobs as gifts, she wallows in a
pool of lost identity-and doesn’t see a way to keep from drowning. When she looks in the mirror, Karma sees a woman whose choices have dishonored her true character. Now, for the first time in her life, Karma must learn to see herself for who she really
is. To purchase a copy on Amazon.com, click here.

Enjoy!

Ananda

PS: Watch the short videos from my 2007 book party.

Happy New Year! Happy January 2013! Happy Creativity Friday!

Posted by Ananda Leekeon January 25, 2013January 28, 2013in Blogging2 Comments

Happy New Year! Happy January 2013! Happy Creativity Friday!

How has your new year been so far? What’s been bubbling up in your world this month?

My month has been so much fun! I gave myself the gift of regular yoga classes at Tranquil Space and have been taking time to slow myself down and breathe in the beauty of each day!

I also found a groovy new coffee and crepes cafe to hang out in. It’s called Coffy Shop. My creative digital sister Jessica Solomon introduced me to the place. I love it because it’s based on Pam Grier’s 1970s movies. She’s one my favorite actresses! See photos below. Click here for more photos.

Last week, I had a ball at the Inauguration events. Check out one of my photos from the “To Sir With Love” Inauguration Ball for Creatives below. Click here to see more photos.

Ananda at "To Sir with Love" Inauguration Ball for Creatives in DC — Ananda at “To Sir with Love” Inauguration Ball for Creatives in DC

Right here and right now I am taking a few moments to pause and look outside of my window. Why? It’s snowing. It’s the wet kind of snow. I wish this D.C. snow was the Michigan stick to the ground, make a snowman kind of snow I was born into so many years ago. I wanna walk in it … Be zen-like with my Starbucks apple cider as I walk down U Street or up 16th Street to Malcolm X-Meridian Hill Park, breathing in the fresh morning air. But that’s not happening. So I decided to write this blog post to share some of my creativity thoughts I’ve been spreading around the digital world via Facebook, Google Plus, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Twitter.

This morning, I woke up feeling very creative. So I named today Creativity Friday. Have you ever had a day like that?

After proclaiming it Creativity Friday, I launched my creative inspiration and content sharing efforts with the help of HootSuite (my dear scheduling tool that allows me to post content and messages minutes, hours, days, and months in advance).

So here’s what I shared.

1) Inspirational Quotes

“There’s room for everybody on the planet to be creative and conscious if you are your own person. Tori Amos, Pop Rock Singer (WISDOM and TRUTH)
“Creativity takes courage.” Henri Matisse (been needing courage these days to make the changes my publisher iUniverse recommended for my book, Digital Sisterhood — been dragging my feet in a silent protest…. Note to self: Time to get back on track and finish the book).
“Clean out a corner of your mind and creativity will instantly fill it.” Dee Hock (SO TRUE – cleaning your home helps too — I just finished my two year decluttering project thanks to my amazing life coach Yael!)
“Be brave enough to live life creatively. The creative place where no one else has ever been.” Alan Alda, actor (Taking this with me into February!)
“Because you’ll find that when you’re free, your true creativity, your true self comes out.” Tina Turner, Singer (let the creative church say AMEN!)

2) A groovy Pinterest board of Creative Inspiration (I love Pinterest!) http://pinterest.com/anandaleeke/creativity-inspiration/

3) My Creative Coaching session video on what creativity looks like. http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/5010388

Thanks for stopping by!

Ananda

PS: Next week, I will share news about my 2012 favorite moments, more updates on my January yoga/creativity/Internet geek adventures, and lifestyle blog on Tumblr — Ananda@16thandU: Lifestylista in Love with DC!