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The past few months have been a whirlwind of art, frustration, pleasure, problem-solving, and a whole lot of plaster and plastic. The Recycling Project has taken shape in ways I couldn’t have predicted, and I’m beyond excited to finally share some of the progress. This project isn’t just about making art—it’s about rethinking waste – basically, I’m just sick of waste :P And how easy and fun  SO MANY projects art that can reduce the waste we send to the dumps.

The Process: Experimenting & Creating

I’ve been focusing on prep mainly, like getting the waste bins, shedding and composting sorted out (no small task it seems!!) but I have also been able to play with my rock frames and some more smooth frames – that’s been really interesting! I learned that a little packing tape and some upcycled plastic wrap can really save a printed picture from wrinkling while plaster dries! VERY COOL!

I’ve been testing different methods for incorporating plastic waste into plaster, some cement mixes (total fail so far by the way but we’ll see!), refining photo transfer techniques, and figuring out how to make each piece both beautiful and at least a little functional. Some experiments have worked better than others, but that’s the fun and frustration of it—seeing what’s possible and that rush when an idea works out well.

It has become my obsession! Whether I like it or not 😉 (luckily, I do like it … so far :P)

Working with the Community Arts Gallery
One of the most exciting parts of this journey has been collaborating with The Community Arts Council of the Alberni Valley & The Grove Gallery. They’ve been incredibly welcoming, supportive, and enthusiastic about The Recycling Project. My stuff is up for sale and that feels REALLY cool and weird! They are displaying and selling my frames, rock frames, clover jewelry and dirty tree magnets and stickers, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. It’s such a great feeling to be part of a community that values sustainability and creativity as much as I do.

Looking Ahead: Farmers Market, Social Media & Education
In just a couple of weeks, we’re kicking off the first The Recycling Project Farmers Market setup! The plan is to approach it like a mini-gallery—testing out different ways to display and present the work. This is going to be a learning experience, and I’m excited to see how people engage with it.

Beyond the market, I’ll be diving deeper into social media, sharing more behind-the-scenes content, and developing educational pieces to help others explore their own upcycling potential. There’s so much more to come, and I can’t wait to keep building on this momentum.

The social media stuff because it is NOT in my nature, it completely freaks me out, so please wish me luck 😉

Exciting News: Newspaper Feature Coming Soon!
Oh, and keep an eye out for an upcoming newspaper article about The Recycling Project! I’ll be sharing more details soon, but it’s another fantastic opportunity to spread the word about this project and the impact it can have.

Final Thoughts
This is just the beginning. There’s still so much to explore, refine, and share. But right now, I just want to take a moment to appreciate how far this has already come and celebrate the people and places that have supported this journey. Here’s to the next stage—let’s see where it takes us!

From here on out, this blog is going to be a daily(ish) record of what it actually looks like to build something like this from scratch. I’ve never done anything like this before. I’m figuring it out as I go, learning as I go, and just hoping it works. Some days, I might accomplish something. Some days, I might learn something. Some days, I might just stare at a wall and wonder what I’ve done. Either way, I’ll post a quick update about where things are at—because I want to show the real process, not the curated highlight reel.

To catch you up to now:
Hi, I’m Kalin. After years of chasing the “one big thing”/"my passion" that would let me be creative and actually feel useful to the planet, I finally landed on something that makes sense: reduce my eco-foot print and shred dry garbage and locking it into plaster to make beautiful, functional art. It sounds simple enough! BUT it’s helped me realize how weirdly hard it is (especially if you want to get to zero-waste)—and how badly we need practical, accessible solutions that regular humans can actually follow.

Right now, I’m showing and selling that art at The Grove Art Gallery in Port Alberni (which has been awesome), I’ve done two farmers markets (one great, one ghost town), and I’ve started offering classes at The Grove as well (two so far—zero signups, zero problem, still going). The point isn’t turnout yet. It’s proof of commitment. I’ve got a website, Facebook, Instagram, and Linktree—and maybe like 15 followers total. Starting from scratch? Yep. Fully.

This blog is the beginning of Phase 3: building a community education platform with bite-sized classes, teacher resources, and a centralized hub where people can learn how to reduce waste in real life. I'm giving myself two months to get the site loaded with content and running smoothly. Then comes grant-writing, collaborations, and connecting with the worldwide community of recycling artists, activists, and thinkers.

The long-term goal? Nothing wild. Just... change global systemic waste. "What are we doing tonight, Brain? Same thing we do every night, Pinky - Try to take over the WORLD!!"
 

GOAL: Building a global network to streamline recycling education, connect local ambassadors, highlight innovative reuse projects, and eventually influence policy, waste infrastructure, and even landfills and garbage islands. (And yes, I said statue gardens made from sealed waste capsules—because if we’re going to live with trash, it might as well be poetic.)

You know what they say - aim CRAZY high and you'll at least end up higher than you could possibly imagine you could now ;) (So, I'm adding to that list: meeting Oprah :D)

Right now, I’m one person doing two failed classes, one sold-out gallery shelf, and a dream that won’t shut up. But I’m showing up every day to prove that this can work—and that I’m worth your time.

This blog is my proof.
Let’s build something that lasts.

At the heart of this whole thing—the art, the education, the events, the market stalls, the endless glue under my fingernails—is one ridiculously simple goal: make recycling make sense. Make it clear. Make it doable. Make it accessible for everyone.

And lately? The universe has been making it very clear that it’s on board.

So here’s a quick catch-up on the string of strange, encouraging luck that’s lit the path so far:

• A surprise newspaper article featuring the project.

• A 50% discount on event room rentals at The Grove—and I landed Artist of the Month there in June.

• That gig led to “Port Day,” where I taught my first demo class and got direct feedback from real people.

• The Port Alberni Farmers Market? Warmest welcome ever, just $20 a stall, and I made $115 profit on Day One selling upcycled art and pendants. (Then $0 the next but we're not counting that one ;))

• My friends at Home Hardware gave me a serious discount on Plaster of Paris; way cheaper than anything online.

• Turns out I’ve already sold eight pieces in the past 1.5 months through The Grove—when I thought I’d only sold one!

• Free marketing tools landed in my lap thanks to Eventbrite and Google’s site builder.

And then today, a cherry on top: my friend and fellow artist (and author!) Natalie Edwards reached out to buy a canvas. Out of the blue. That tiny moment triggered something big—it reminded me of the plan I shelved out of fear: an online store. A real one.

And suddenly, it clicked—I already have so much to offer:

• Rock art, plaster/waste photo canvases, blank canvas sets

• Framing tutorials and DIY kits

• Four-leaf clovers, photo prints, magnets, stickers

• Custom work - for sure! 

Thank you Nat! Talk about artists and women supporting each other. No competition here - just love :)

So now the plan is clear:
Start with the hub—writing and recording educational classes, both paid and free. Two months of building that solid foundation. Then I’ll reach out to other environmentalists and artists to build the network. This movement doesn’t belong to me—it belongs to all of us who care about doing better.

And to fund it? I’ll launch the store. Finally.

Now, real talk—today was still a full workday. I had to do my day job, take care of the dogs, and shop for a few months worth of bulk cooking (thank you to my extra large freezer!). Because yeah, sustainability includes feeding myself without melting into a food-decision-making puddle every night.

I’m not at the finish line - but I drew the map.
- we got this!

Not gonna lie—today, I am cooked.
And so was one of my casserole dishes. RIP.

Pro tip: When bulk-cooking 3 months’ worth of freezer meals, double-check which burner is on before you set anything down. Because sometimes, glass explodes. And sometimes, so does your dinner plan.

But the funny thing is, in the chaos of kitchen carnage, I had one of those “aha” moments that only show up when you're too busy to be looking for them.

See, this whole bulk-cooking thing I’m doing—it’s not just to save time. It’s to stay sane and because I'm NOT making it pay-cheque to pay-cheque so I need financial loop-holes. I’ve got six different meals, loaded with veggies and nutrients, all prepped to rotate through so I don’t have to make one single food decision for the next two months but I have tons of variety and they are all super healthy and yummy (which is a dream.) The kicker? It cost way less than I expected.

And that’s when it hit me: this is environmentalism.

This—batch cooking, planning ahead, eating real food, cutting back on waste and takeout and last-minute spending—is part of what sustainable living really looks like. It’s not some fancy, overpriced lifestyle the media markets to rich yoga moms in organic leggings. It’s just… smart. Resourceful. Accessible.

Which brings me to today’s big realization:
This project stands on two solid pillars:

1. Streamlining recycling and environmental action
   → Clear, doable, accessible systems. No more confusing rules or vague guilt trips.

2. Reframing sustainable living
   → It’s not expensive. It’s not elite. The myth that “eco” equals “luxury” is just that—a myth. The confusion is what costs us, not the lifestyle.

So, sure—I didn’t get a single piece of actual project work done today. Today was my first environmental education class and no one signed up or showed up. BUT my dogs are walked, my fridge is full, and my body is tired. And, I’m still building the foundation- so it is allll goooood. And today helped cement a huge truth:

Living sustainably is just… living smart.
And I’m here for it—even if my casserole dish isn’t.

Today was not a recycling project day. Today was a meal prep survival mission. Because after yesterday’s Great Casserole Catastrophe of 2025 (may that eggplant rest in peace), I had to start from scratch. And I do mean scratch—like, supportive-footwear, multiple-burners-going, onions-in-everything levels of cooking.

But here’s the thing: even though I didn’t work on the art or the recycling project today precisely, I did reflect on the journey that got me to this whole functional environmentalism thing in the first place. And funnily enough, it loops right back to how I eat.

A few years ago, I had this wake-up moment. I realized, “If I don’t take care of myself—like, really take care—who’s going to do it?” No kids. No partner. Just me, and a growing understanding that longevity is not a given - and definitely not a strong and capable mind and body if I kept treating it the way I was. I had always struggled with weight and nutrition. Honestly, nutrition wasn’t even in the room. Growing up, a Caesar salad and a Coke was considered a healthy lunch. (Shoutout to the 90s.)

I’d tried every fad diet out there. Keto, paleo, whatever was trendy. None of them stuck. So I said screw it—I’m going to take it slow. I’m going to actually learn. About food. About my body. About what I think I like versus what my body actually wants. And I did. I found out some things I assumed I hated, I now love, and thought I loved that turned to be pretty gross, once I paid attention to the after effects. I discovered I need bigger meals earlier in the day, and that some foods hit differently depending on the hour. That my energy, cravings, moods are all tied to this wild ecosystem inside me. 

• Yeah yeah, everyone told me, but who knew they were RIGHT!??!

Out of that came what I now call (totally lazy and cringing) The Journey, because I'm the friggin' worst at naming things LOL. BUT I lost 50 pounds and, more impressively, kept it off for over two years. Which is, frankly, a damn miracle in my personal history.

The key wasn’t perfection. It was streamlining the mess. Just like I’m trying to do with the recycling project—taking something messy, overwhelming, full of conflicting information and half-truths—and turning it into a system that works. Something that makes sense. Something empowering.

So yeah, I bulk-cooked 15 weeks of pasta and fish meals in, like, two days. No, I don’t recommend that approach. But I know myself. When I obsess, I obsess. And now that the food stuff is handled, my mind is racing back to the project, itching to get back in there. Now what i had been procrastinating is the first thing I want to bang out - so worth it on all fronts :)

And that’s the beauty of it—sometimes stepping away gives you that ants-in-your-pants motivation to tackle the less-fun parts. The admin. The grant research. The tasks you’ve been “meaning to get to.” I suddenly feel like there’s no time to waste, and I’m using that fire to do the heavy lifting I’ve been avoiding.

Also? Eating intentionally is environmentalism. It’s sustainability. It’s care. It reduces waste, allows for mindful shopping and is WAY CHEAPER. And it’s one more root in the foundation of what I’m building.

One clean meal, one recycled frame, one fire-lit to-do list at a time.

• And while I'm cooking I am basking in ice-cream and pizza - cuz that is still delicious and the name of the game is NOT perfection ;)

Saturday: no day job, no alarm clock, just inspiration and dogs.
I woke up pumped—ready to write a class for Port Alberni about how to make money recycling. Big ideas were flowing before I even had coffee: global art exhibits, physical community centres, hands-on kid zones, science corners, swap shops, adult hangout spaces—all spinning out like a vision board on espresso.

Was it a little detour from the class? Yes.
Did it further cement the future of the Recycling Project? Also yes.

But dogs don't care about visionary breakthroughs—they care about walks. So off we went into the blazing sun. When we got back, my phone started glitching, forcing me to finally switch over to the backup phone my mom gave me (back up to her, years newer than mine LOL). And that reminded me why I do all this in the first place: tech like phones are devastating for the planet, and we have to honour them at the end of their lives. I plan to upcycle this old one into an art piece. There’s power in reverence.

Anyway, I decided I’d earned a break.
Enter: My Five Senses Bath.

I do this once a week (minimally - cuz I'm fancy like that ;))—a full DIY spa vibe:

• Sight - Space projector on the walls and blackout cover on the window. 

• Smell and feel - Bubble bath, Epsom salt, baking soda for hard water Ph balance, honey hair and face masks, followed by a mayo hair mask (then an apple cider vinegar rinse once that double washed out), and leg shaving.

• Sound - Guided meditations, and audiobook escapism.

• Taste - Today I went with a mandarin orange.

Total reset. I came out of that tub glowing like a mushroom in the forest. Spa-level chill.

By 3 PM (oops!), I was finally ready to work on the class. I put in three and a half hours. And... meh. It was fine. Technically fine. Full of “here’s where to consign,” “here’s Facebook Marketplace,” “here’s the bottle depot,” blah blah blah. But it wasn’t clicking or popping, wasn't even something I wanted to finish - so why would anyone want to listen to it :P

SO I pulled my head out of my ... butt, and talked it out with a friend -  and we flipped the whole thing!

We kept the technical stuff but reframed it into something bigger:

• How to shift your mindset from trash to treasure

• How to write a pitch for your first sale

• How to script your first consignment store conversation

• How to organize your home like a mini profit-recycling hub

• How to see clutter as capital

Boom. The whole thing leveled up.

Takeaway of the day:
Sometimes I’ve gotta admit when the work isn’t working, check my ego (SO HARD sometimes LOL) and just ask for help.
You don’t need to be drowning to ask for a lifeboat.

• I am going to TRY to keep this in mind moving forward too - seems the kind of lesson I need to learn over and over, and OVER again :P 

Huge thanks to my friend (who wishes to remain nameless) who helped me pivot. You saved my class and my floundering confidence :D

Sunday was supposed to be sacred.

After three days of non-stop batch cooking, kitchen crisis response, and visionary class-writing marathons, I made a solemn promise to myself: Do. Nothing. Just one whole day to rest, rebalance, and maybe pretend to be sick so I could guiltlessly lay around like a cat in a sunbeam.

It started strong. I woke up early and joined my best friend, author Nikki Haffner, and her absolutely delightful family for a breakfast buffet. (And shoutout to her husband Jay, who wasn’t there but absolutely deserves a mention because the man rocks - they are one of those happy couples you hear about but don't truly think exist.)

Brunch was wonderful. The kind of morning that fills your cup and makes you feel part of something easy and warm.

I came home, walked the dogs, and told myself I’d take it easy—maybe go on a new hike, maybe do a little shopping, or maybe just settle into full fake sick day mode.

Naturally, I did none of those things.

Instead, I thought, "I’ll just tweak one little thing on the class."
Cut to five hours later, I'm in full-blown creative flow, deep in edits on the “How to Make Money Recycling in Port Alberni” class. Not because I had to—but because I wanted to.

It’s wild how different work feels when it’s not scheduled or pressured. I wasn’t trying to perform. I wasn’t chasing a checklist. I was just... in it. Enjoying myself. Working from a place of real joy, not obligation.

-A whole different kind of productivity.

Eventually, the dogs reminded me that I do, in fact, have responsibilities beyond recycling reform. So I took them for a sunset walk and intentionally shut off the computer when we got home. I made myself a lovely, healthy dinner and actually—actually—relaxed.

Not the pretend kind of relaxing where I reorganize a closet “just for fun” or brainstorm ten new exhibit ideas while stretching. No. I’m talking about genuine brain-off downtime. I let myself do nothing for a solid couple hours.

And of course, right before bed—ding! Inspiration struck again. A whole new idea for a better way to do moulds.
Because when you let the brain rest... it whispers magic.

Today was one of those slippery little Mondays that manages to disappear while you’re not looking.

I was busy all day. Doing things. Moving things. Handling things. But ask me what I actually did? I… don’t know. I’ve got nothing to show you but some tired legs, a few mystery tasks ticked off, and some clovers slowly testing themselves in a sunbeam.

Okay, fine, I did a few things:

• I tested some new keychains and lamination paper for my clover art line. They're in the window now, soaking up light and judgment.

• I made fish fried rice that turned out so good I almost cried because traditionally I'm NOT known for my cooking. (Add sesame oil next time and I might propose to the leftovers.)

• I walked the dogs, sorted out phone stuff, and did a bit more tinkering on The Recycling Project's grander timeline.

• And some prep for tomorrows art class at The Grove Art Gallery (Rock Frame day!!).

But, all in all, it felt like one of those “foundation days.” You know the ones? Where you're just setting things up, laying groundwork, making test batches, tidying the mental corners—the kind of day where you don’t build the castle, but you mix the mortar. Quietly. Consistently. Behind the scenes.

And I’ll take that.

Well, it happened! We held our very first formal art class under the banner of The Recycling Project where people signed up—and not only did someone sign up, three people came! Actual students! In-person! With hands! And questions! And glitter, probably!

The vibe? Electric and joyful. We had an absolute blast.

It was the first time I’ve had multiple people working through this specific process at the same time, and wow—what an eye-opener. I learned so much about what this program needs in order to be both accessible and fun without turning into an endurance sport for the instructor (aka, me).

Takeaways:

• Stations are essential. Next time, I’m setting up individualized, pre-prepped workstations with everything a person needs for the entire class—tools, materials, and printed step-by-step visual guides. It'll save time, reduce confusion, and help students move at their own pace.

• Reusable instructions with images might cost a few pages of paper up front, but if I laminate or keep them clean, they can be reused. Worst case, they get shredded and turned into art—on brand, baby.

• It gets messy. People don't clean as they go like I do, in fact I insisted they didn't even think about clean-up. I actually enjoy it—it felt like the dust and colour of creation. But I’ll definitely prep the space better next time for group chaos.

Despite the whirlwind, everyone had fun, made something they were proud of, and left smiling —and honestly, that’s the win (though I did appreciate the killer feedback). It wasn’t just a class. It was a joy lab, where creativity and laughter lived together in a big ol' recyclable mess.

So here we go—four classes down, one with humans in it besides me, and an evolving system in motion. The vision is getting sharper, stronger, and more solid with every person who picks up a glob of plaster or glue.

The Recycling Project is alive. It's real.💥🌍✨

Today, again for the millionth time, what I thought was a crystal clear plan started to feel like chaos, and then that chaos started to re-crystallize. The swirling ideas, the endless possibilities, and the passionate tug-of-war between creativity and education found another, firmer structure. I officially mapped out the backbone of the hub—The Recycling Project program's core branches. It feels like the program took its first real breath today.

Three key pillars emerged:

1. Art & Upcycling – the heart of it all, where creative waste alchemy happens - and what to do rather than toss into landfills/garbage islands.

2. Practical Recycling – the clarity zone, cutting through confusion and giving people real, useful info they’ve actually needed this whole time.

3. Sustainable Living – the bigger picture; realistic living techniques for real humans to all this in accessible and realistic ways.

For the next two months, the first two pillars are going to by my focus. Building classes, carving out digestible, actionable learning moments, and starting to show people how to actually recycle—not the corporate greenwashed version, but the "real talk, real solutions" kind. That’s what this whole project was born out of in the first place: a desperate need to cut through the bulls*** (my rage is real LOL).

I've also drawn a clear line between the hub work from my individual artist work—like untangling two vines that had been wrapped around each other. Now I can see them both more clearly, and they can each grow the way they need to.

After that breakthrough? Boom—back to real-world chores. Got paid today, so cue the Survival Sprint: refuel the car, restock the dog food, dance with the grocery store gremlins, and return spoiled meat because… of course and then deep washing my newly 'spoiled meat smelling' kitchen. Add a full workday of mental organization, admin, and prepping future content to the mix, and I didn’t stop moving until 10 p.m. Another 14-hour day of purpose-fuelled hustle - cuz even in my 40's I still seem to function best on 14-hours awake and 11-hours of sleep LOL.

But even with the tired legs and stretched brain, I feel it: things are clicking into place.

After my work day, I hijacked my own productivity to sneak in a mini home reno project. I turned part of the living room wall—specifically, the strip that isn't window—into a full-blown art gallery. Screwed chicken wire into the wall and hung up a bunch of my pieces so I can live in the work. Literally surrounded myself with it. It's inspiring as hell. Now I can see what needs tweaking, what’s working, and where it’s all headed. Not to toot my own horn, by it actually looks amazing, like a real-deal gallery wall—but with the added bonus that I don’t have to wear pants to walk through it.

I also had a bit of a shift in strategy today. I decided to move all of the recycling education classes online and make them completely free (so far). No one’s signing up for them in person (yet), and honestly, I want the info out there more than I want to chase down bodies to sit in a room. So I’ll record and post them instead. Impact over ego. I'm reserving in-person time for art classes only during August—because let’s face it, it’s vacation season, and I’d rather focus on showing up reliably than chasing ghosts. The consistency matters more to me than the turnout right now. People will show. And when they do, I’ll already be standing there with glue on my hands and glitter in my eyebrows.

Overall, I did a full house vibe reset today—cleared out clutter, opened up the energy, got the flow right. Call it interior design for the creative spirit. Whatever it was, it worked. The space feels alive again. Like it’s conspiring with me, not against me. Does it wound like I'm procrastinating actually WRITING the classes... hmmmmm I'm seeing that too ;)

All in all? Big shift day. Feels like a clean turn toward what’s actually working, with no hard feelings toward what’s not. Just letting the project evolve, one chicken-wire wall at a time. AND clearing the visual chaos so I can dive into the writing side of things!..... soon ;)

Today I danced the classic waltz of creative procrastination AGAIN: avoid the writing, fix all the art.

And wow, did I fix the art.
I went through every busted, bruised, or just plain “meh” piece in my stash—stuff I’d been ignoring, silently judging, or flat-out hiding from daylight. I patched, I painted, I reinvented. I don’t know if it’s brilliant yet (tomorrow's sunlight will be the real critic), but I felt the shift. Something clicked. Something moved.

I also prepped for my friend to visit—cleaned up, got the house cozy—and still found time to test out some new building techniques. That’s right: 3D canvases are officially in play, and I even tried out the first draft of the “glue frame mold” idea with fabric. Spoiler alert: It felt promising.

But let’s be real… I know I’m avoiding the class writing.
Not because I don’t want to do it—but because it matters. We all know that kind of weight will slow us down. You’d think excitement would speed things up, but sometimes passion pulls you into a creative fog where it’s easier to do anything else. Clean, paint, hike, invent a new form of sculpture using moss and spite—anything but the One Important Task.

And yet, I’m not mad at it.

Because this wasn’t idle avoidance. It was rooted in preparation. Momentum. Self-care.
And tomorrow? Tomorrow’s when the real work begins.

My friend’s coming midday. After she leaves, the writing window opens. I’ve got two classes targeted for completion by Sunday night. Thanks to the pivot to online, they’re streamlined, meatier, tighter. No fluff. Just clear, teachable brilliance.

I’m excited to begin. Genuinely. Obsessively.
And even though I’ve been orbiting this work like it’s the sun, I think I’m finally ready to land.

Tomorrow, the procrastination ends.
The page awaits.

I dug deep into the concept of The Recycling Project Hub today-

The Hub isn’t about flashy graphics or social clout.
It’s not about being famous or selling a personality online.
It’s about building a central space — a portal — where adults can come to learn in the way that actually speaks to them.
Whether they learn through videos, infographics, zines, blog posts, or before-and-after photos, the Hub will meet them there. We will say it 90 different ways if that’s what it takes. Because it matters that much.

This isn't just about information — it's about translation, and making people feel like they belong in the conversation.

And on a more personal note, today I found myself thinking again about addiction — about my own history with it, and how deeply tied it is to anticipation.

That ache in my mouth, that tug in my chest — I used to think it was about sugar, or alcohol, or food. But it’s not. Not really.
What I’m addicted to is the rush of what's coming.
The fear of becoming something bigger. The craving to escape having to try. The comfort of not failing... or succeeding. The relief of not being seen.

I’m not addicted to the specific 'thing'. I've come to realise I'm likely addicted to the avoidance of becoming.

And I wonder how many others out there are too.
How many of us — especially those who’ve struggled with addiction — are actually world changers in hiding?
Afraid of our own potential. Afraid of what it would mean to rise.

That realization breaks me a little. And fills me a lot.

So today, I took the day off.
I let the house be clean, the art be finished, the dogs be happy, and the plan be enough.
Because it is enough.
The foundation I’m building now — the courses, the flexibility, the clarity — it’s exactly what will draw in the people I need to collaborate with. It’s honest, and personal, and alive.

I keep saying “it’s all coming together.”
And maybe that’s because it is — again and again and again. Like waves. Each one a little closer to shore.

This is not about being perfect.
This is about showing up, with a big heart and raw truth, and building something that invites the rest of the world to do the same... hopefully ;)

Well, I was down for the count the last few days — a bit of sickness knocked me off my rhythm, and the daily updates took a hit. But! I’m back. And baby, I’m creating again.

This week has been a blend of fresh energy and deeper experimentation - because, as always seems to be the case, when you cannot 'do' you 'think', and that's when the great ideas come (or the ideas you think are great until you try them and they SUCKKKKK LOL). I’ve been trying out new pieces with dried clovers and petals — adding them to keychains and potentially… what are those dangly window thingies? Ah yes, suncatchers. Beautiful, shimmery little memory-catchers. I can see them now, turning bits of the natural world into something that sparkles with meaning.

I’ve also started playing with a new layering technique in the plaster world. Picture this: a fully finished piece — plaster base, photo, paint, the works — and then BAM, another layer of plaster on top. Not over everything, just parts. And then? I reapply the same photo, painted the same way, on top of that second layer. The effect? Kind of wild. It’s like the art is echoing through dimensions, peeling back layers of time. OR jsut simply a fun jagged line effect ;) I’m honestly loving it. I'm also scaling up — making larger canvases to sell and see where that takes things.

On the education front, I’m getting serious. I’ve got a solid framework for the Psychology of Waste class and the goal is to finish it tomorrow. Once that’s locked in, I’ll be a third of the way through the full curriculum. And that’s major.

Here’s the thing — switching between art-making, admin tasks, dog-walking, self-care, writing, and big-picture planning is exhausting. It’s like doing a mental parkour routine every day. But I’ve realized I can’t keep stalling. The procrastination has finally run its course. I’m feeling ready now — like actually ready — to buckle down and finish these classes.

The plan? Get into the groove and stay there until it’s done. Because once these are complete, I can start uploading them, chopping them up into bite-sized learning videos, clips, and infographics, THENNN I can finally start reaching out to artists, activists, and environmental changemakers, and watch this whole thing bloom beyond me.

No more delay. This is the work. And it’s time.... and as I say that I can't help but to LEAP ahead and start thinking of the app we're TOTALLY gonna need!!! OK - pin in that - write classes NOW (Sheesh Kalin - FOCUS LOL)

The past couple of days have been a grind, but a good one—the kind where you can actually feel the work paying off. I dove deep into the recycling classes and honestly? I feel like I knocked it out of the park. More than half of them are now fully written and structured, and they’re solid. They’re not just outlines—they’re DONE! and now ready to tear apart into bite-sized pieces that people can actually use, learn from, and maybe even get excited about.

Next step: chopping them up into short, sharp social media videos. The social media element is totally foreign to me, but I’ve hit a rhythm with writing now, and once the rhythm’s there, momentum tends to follow. If I stay on it, I think we can have the entire set finished ahead of schedule—which is wild to even write.

And timing-wise, September feels right. There’s something baked into us—maybe from years of “back-to-school” seasons—that makes September the month to reset, focus, and get serious again. Summer is for distraction, but September? September is for traction.

On the flip side, I’ve been bumping hard into the question of my own art. How do I sell it? Where does it even belong? It’s not really Etsy work. And a personal website feels… like shouting into the void. Why would anyone buy from me when I’m, well, me—just some random artist who’s still figuring it all out? Marketing isn’t my strength. Social media is even less so. Maybe more local galleries are the way to go. I don’t know yet. 

I’ll let that thought sit and see what rises.

Today was all about zooming way out, squinting at the big picture, and asking: what would it actually look like if all the recycling activists, artists, podcasters, YouTubers, and random TikTok trash geniuses joined forces under one banner?

Right now, finding reliable recycling info is like trying to Google “how to fold a fitted sheet” and getting 12 different tutorials that all swear they’re right. I want a single hub—a place where anyone, anywhere (starting with Canada), can show up and know: this is legit, this is current, and this is where I’ll find what I need.

But to do that, we need buy-in from everyone—creators, educators, even those people who are way too passionate about their city’s composting rules. I’m picturing local leads in every town—people who know their community’s quirks and keep their section of the hub updated and accurate. Not a full-time gig, but something sponsors and grants could actually fund. (Hey Patagonia, call me.)

And branding matters. I’m thinking a red fox mascot—cute, smart, quick, and not overly “Canada-only” like a beaver (simply because I want this to go global - not because I'm not a proud Canadian :)). Imagine a little fox icon in the corner of a video or post, saying: this has been verified by the hub. A tiny visual handshake of trust. I'll explore more animal ideas but I feel like foxes have agility and a vibe that says, “Yes, I can deliver your recycling facts and look super cool doing it.”

In the afternoon, I switched gears. A friend came over, and I admitted I’m totally of stuck figuring out what to do with my own art. It’s doing well at a local gallery, but, ya know - small town = small audience pool - I'm itching to grow! And momma needs more funding ;) Etsy doesn’t feel like the right fit, so we brainstormed other avenues—restaurants, shops, places that love showcasing local creators. It was one of those conversations that doesn’t produce immediate results but shifts the energy from “meh” to “ohhh, this could work.”

So yeah. Big visions today. Mascots, national hubs, and the small but mighty question: how do you get people in every corner of a country to care enough to help build something that helps everyone?

No big breakthroughs today—and that’s okay. Sometimes the quiet days are where belief gets stronger. I didn’t move mountains, but I felt good. Confident. Settled. Like I’m exactly where I need to be, doing what I need to do. The Recycling Project is still in my heart, still in my bones. Not every day has to be electric—some just have to be true.

What If Someone Gave Me $100,000 Today?

Let’s play pretend—but like, strategic pretend. Because if someone walked up to me and said, “Here’s $100k. Go build your vision,” I know exactly what I’d do - and I've definitely come to learn that the game of "Best Case Scenario" is my #1 way to carve out my dream life - cuz you can't do 'it' until you know WTF 'it' is you want!! (is this a real game? Whatever - it is to me ;))

First thing: I’d immediately hire someone for tech and social media support—ideally the same unicorn human who can help me film, chop, post, and vibe it all out online. Because that is the biggest missing piece in my engine right now. I’ve got content, purpose, clarity—but getting it to people in a way that’s clean, consistent, and magnetic? That’s a job for a pro.

Then, I’d get someone on the business side—a kind of logistics translator. Someone who could take all my wild, creative systems and help bridge the gap between idea and infrastructure. You know, the person who says:

“Here’s who you talk to for this. Here’s the next move for that. Let me help you formalize this brilliance into something funders and schools can say YES to.”

Honestly, that’s what I’d buy with $100k:
Momentum, team energy, clarity, and speed.

And yeah... I'd take a leave from work. (Let’s not kid ourselves.) I’d finally give myself the gift of full-time space to build this thing. I could do that in September. Maybe I should do that in September. Hm. A girl can dream!!

I’m not waiting on a magical check—but if one showed up?
I wouldn’t panic. I’d accelerate.

And maybe... August is my month to start planting those seeds!

I used to feel like I was drowning in all of it. The project, my dreams, my responsibilities, my own body. I had so many ideas, and all of them felt so big that they just stacked up on top of me like a pile of bricks labeled “someday.”

I thought I wasn’t good enough, not ready enough, always behind. I was constantly chasing the idea of who I needed to be to make this happen.

And I don’t think I’m actually that much further ahead now, time-wise or milestone-wise. But something big has shifted: I’m not drowning anymore. I’ve started to swim.

It’s like... before, I knew things logically—like that my childhood feast-or-famine patterns didn’t have to control my adult life, or that I could build a dream without burning out—but I didn’t feel it. Not in my bones.

But this project—this wild, stubborn, brilliant recycling dream—it’s helping me feel those truths now.

Somehow, tackling something this massive is rewiring everything. Like, if I can hold this boulder of a passion in my hands and start to shape it, maybe all the other struggles aren’t as heavy as I thought. Suddenly, I can see:

• That active rest is real rest for me, and I don’t need to feel guilty about that.

• That my body isn’t the enemy—it’s just asking for a new kind of rhythm.

• That I’m not “behind,” I’m just pacing myself for the long haul.

• That clarity doesn’t come from waiting—it comes from moving.

This project isn’t just teaching me how to recycle waste. It’s teaching me how to recycle my own pain and turn it into something damn beautiful. Maybe that’s what this is about. Not just art, not just activism—alchemy.

I’m not building this because I’ve already figured it all out. I’m building it while I figure it out. And weirdly, that’s making everything else make more sense, too.

Okay, we’re officially cooking with compost heat over here.

The past couple days have been a bit of a whirlwind, but a beautifully productive one. Yet again - I’ve moved from “hey, I have this cool class idea” to “oh snap, I'm laying the groundwork for a full-on licensing empire.” Not in a corporate-overlord way—more like a cozy network of humans who care and want to teach stuff that actually matters.

Here’s what’s solidified:

1. From Classes to Licensable Content:
We’re taking what was already amazing (community classes and bite-sized learning) and laying it out in a way that anyone—from community leaders to schools to indie educators—can pick up and teach themselves. Not just a course. A whole licensable package. With structure. With support. With soul.

This means we can reach more people, faster, and unite our network under something cohesive and credible. It’s the beginning of building that shared infrastructure that makes our message scalable—not just passionate, but professional.

2. The Series Have Official Names + Focus:
There are now two powerhouse learning arcs underway:

• The Reality Behind Recycling

• The Reality Behind Landfills

These aren’t your average “3 R’s” school posters. We’re diving into the gritty, uncomfortable truths—but in a way that invites action instead of despair. Think real talk with real impact, plus a raccoon mascot who’s way too sassy to let you give up hope. (oh ya - I swapped the fox for a raccoon - felt fitting and my sister's family voted it in unanimously so they won!)

3. Mood Board Magic:
I finally built a mood board. Feels like something I would have done ages ago :P and, yes, it looks amazing ;) to me :P Yes, it gave the project a visual backbone that feels like the mission: grounded, practical, but with just the right amount of creative rebellion. We’re not here to guilt-trip people into caring—we’re here to build a movement that makes caring the coolest thing you can do.

4. Legit Vibes Only:
The licensing structure also helps us level up the legitimacy. Instead of a scattered mess of classes and good intentions, we’re building something that funders, schools, and even government bodies can trust. It gives us a home base. A lighthouse. A raccoon in the corner saying, “This? This is the real deal.”

So yeah. We’re building the bones of something big—and it’s finally starting to feel real. Not just a dream, but a framework.

And now, if you’ll excuse me, I think it's time to curl up with exhaustion and the vague desire to be spoon-fed cream soup ;)

Today was one hell of a productive day, and not even in that “I did laundry and replied to one email” way. Nah. Today was “met a real human and unlocked a new level in the Entrepreneur RPG” kind of productive.

So I was diving down the grant rabbit hole—standard scroll of doom, right? But then, plot twist: I found an actual human being to talk to. Not a chatbot. Not a “fill out this form and we’ll maybe get back to you in 6-8 business decades”—an actual person who talked to me and pointed me somewhere useful. I KNOW. I was shocked, too.

They led me to a website with this juicy little checklist system where you can click through specific criteria to see what support fits you. Grants didn’t quite hit the mark. Loans weren’t it either. But then… mentorship.

Cue record scratch and spotlight.
“Wait, what’s that over there in the mentorship section? For women in BC with disabilities?”
Hi, it me—walking spice rack of mental health extras. I clicked.

Fast-forward to today: I had a meeting with the program rep, and I went in expecting a basic situation— some webinars, group chats, and maybe a few semi-helpful PDFs. What I got instead? A FULLY STRUCTURED 20-WEEK COURSE. Like, an online Hogwarts for building badass business plans.

Each week builds on the last, giving you tangible skills and tools until BAM!—you've got a polished, comprehensive business plan you can actually use. But wait, there’s more—one-on-one mentorship. Not just “figure it out on your own with vibes and caffeine.” Real, tailored support from women who've ben through it all before. Plus webinars, networking, and… drumroll please… financial support.

Because of my financial situation, I qualify to receive $100 per week while I’m enrolled. AND they might even send me a new laptop to replace my tired, wheezing dinosaur of a machine. Like, I just showed up for the learning and accidentally got a support package worthy of Oprah’s “You get a car!” energy. Honestly? I would’ve taken this program just for the classes, and they’re out here giving me laptop upgrade options and cash to survive while I do it? I’m stunned - NO exaggeration - STUNNED. Oh OH oH and when I told her my project she was legitimately impressed and I quote "Wow! We really need a program like that!" - now THAT was a compliment :D

And if that weren’t enough to call today a win, I also managed to help a friend with a completely unrelated project. So, check it:
✅Found mentorship magic
✅Secured real financial help
✅Got inspired as hell
✅Helped a friend
✅Didn’t forget to feed myself (important)

Feeling wildly supported and more hopeful than I have in a long time (and I'm an optimist so that says something ;)). Turns out, this little recycling-powered dream of mine? She’s got legs. And now, she’s got a business plan bootcamp to make those legs run like hell.

Tonight, I sat outside like I have for the last 3 evenings—same chair, same dusk breeze, same “ahhhh” feeling in my body. But this time, I skipped the 2 beer I've taken to lately. I haven't drank more than 2-3 times a year in the past 2-3 years and its shocking how quickly chasing that little buzz and the relaxation comes back. So tonight it was just me, the dogs, a couple of cigarettes (I know, I know, I quit that with the booze, but they go together LOL and I had leftovers :/ ), and a moment of curiosity:
Can I still feel that deep, soul-melting exhale without the drink?

Answer? Yeah, actually. I can. Though, it is something I will have to keep exploring, because although the buzz has been delicious the last few nights, the next-morning sinus pain and general yuck? Not so much. I’m done waking up feeling like my face lost a bar fight with a pollen bomb. Nor is that desire for that exquisite level of relaxation coming earlier and earlier in the day something I'm willing to tango with. Time for new nightly relaxation rituals - and relaxing is not so easy for a gal with my super fun anxiety and neurodivergences (not that I'm complaining - I have mostly turned them into super powers - but relaxing is still a beast).

Closing Chapters: A Deep Cleaning Project

Today was also the final chapter of the detox-cleaning saga at a friend's place—a massive job, physically and emotionally. But finishing it felt so good. Not just because it’s done, but because it unlocked something in me. As soon as I walked the dogs afterward, a creative flood hit me out of nowhere.
The kind that doesn’t whisper. It booms.

The Bigger Machine

It’s all clicking into place now.

• Dandelion Tea site — for my art, my store, my voice.

• RecyclingProject.ca — the Hub: community, education, free tools.

• RecyclingProject.com — the business backbone: licensable curriculum, scalable programming, grants, government outreach.

Each has a role. Each matters. But the Hub?
That’s the heart.

Enter: The Hub.

I saw it. Clearly. The RecyclingProject.ca site as something much bigger, much cleaner, and much more anchored than I had originally comprehended (it is very hard to picture a concept :P). Not just a page with a few downloads. Not just a collection of links. A true hub. A trusted place that cuts through the BS of modern sustainability confusion and says:

“Here. You’re safe. You’re informed. You can start now.”

Soul Work (✔️ Complete)

Inner excavation.
I named the vision, claimed the mission, and realized this isn’t a project—It’s my life’s work.

Core Building (August)

• Finalize class content

• Lock in licensing system

• Build out the website + resource hub

• Lay the foundation for what’s coming next

Public Launch (September)

• Pitch licensing to schools, cities, and government bodies

• Chop up fun social media clips for free content

• Start social media channels and share content and tools

The Artistic Alliance (October)

• Begin reaching out to fellow upcyclers, educators, and activists

• Build a global network of Activists, Eco Artists, etc.

• Travel to artist residencies and intentional communities to collaborate in real life

• Deepen the work, diversify the perspectives, and let the project evolve with their input and inspiration

Bulletproofing (Winter)

• Refine our messaging

• Create powerful case studies and data

• Build trust through consistency and transparency

• Make it impossible to ignore

Global Reveal with a PR Firm

• This is the big one and we will be ready to go LOUD

• The Recycling Project will hit the media cycle with the confidence and clarity of a cultural movement—because by then, it will be one! But not just for any one culture - the goal will be for ALLLLLL people all over the world - if ya don't aim high, what's the friggin point!?!

We’re not asking anymore.
We’re telling them: This is the new standard. Get on board.

Why This Matters

It’s not just about recycling. It’s about redesigning the culture of waste, ignorance, and helplessness.

The Recycling Project is about power—shared power. It’s about turning trash into tools. Confusion into clarity. Whining into world-shaking transformation.

And now, with this plan in place, it feels… inevitable. And the ultimate goal is looking mor and more attainable:

Ultimate Goal: Getting rid of Landfills and Garbage Islands

Creating a new system for waste and re-use on a global scale

And somehow, it all started with skipping a beer.

Funny how giving your body what it actually needs clears the fog. I needed space. I needed movement. I needed a damn shower. And I needed to just sit still and listen—to myself, to the project, to the next chapter calling.

It’s calling loud now.

And I’m answering.

Today, the game changed - yet again... or another layer was added at least. Not in a "new paint colour for the walls" way—but in a "rip the whole wall down and rebuild it into a gallery-windowed spaceship" kind of way. 

The vision is locking in: The Recycling Project is more than an art movement, more than a sustainability curriculum, more than even a community-building/uniting platform. It is a disruptor. It’s coming in sideways with plaster in its teeth and a blueprint in its back pocket. It’s not playing by the old rules, because the old rules are what got us in this mess.

I mapped out a new role today—an identity really. The Disruptor. The Interrupter. The non-consultant who just happens to roll through institutions and systems and say, "Hey, what if your framework was built on compost instead of concrete?"

This isn’t about begging for a seat at the table. This is about hosting the dinner elsewhere—with biodegradable cutlery and repurposed furniture and a dress code that includes safety goggles and imagination.

This new Disruptor role doesn’t need funding (at least not right now). It needs doors to open. It needs rooms to be entered. It needs decision-makers to be caught off-guard in the best way possible, and left wondering how they ever thought a linear model could save a circular world.

It pairs perfectly with the artist residencies timeline. Weekends. Weeks. Pop-ins and power hours. One foot in the studios and the other kicking down the walls of dead policies and dated curriculums. We’ll call it cross-pollination. Art world meets systems thinking. Rebel meets institution. Paint meets PowerPoint.

• Funny how the right word will shift something I was doing conceptually into something I am going to do in reality! "Disruptor"

And for the mentorship group? I'm not going to them with my hand out—I'm walking in with my brain out (LOLOLOL true and hilarious imagery). And if they want to connect me with other trailblazers, amazing. But this isn’t a pitch for pity or funding. This is a call to alignment. A magnetized mission that knows exactly where it’s headed.

It’s going to take a few more weeks to get the licensable content fully wrapped and ready. But when I do? That’s the slingshot. That’s when I can finally start making noise in schools, city halls, labs, galleries, and boardrooms.

Then all I have to do is get the hub and social media content out there and I can start reaching out to other artists and environmental innovators, via artist residencies & disruptor think tanks etc., to unite and bulletproof this plan for the BIG PR roll out - WOOP WOOP!!

• tell, don't ask - IT IS TIME! (... in 2.5 months LOL)

Today was one of those days where you put on your metaphorical CEO blazer, even though your body is running on fumes and caffeine vapours. After a full day of work (yes, the actual job that pays the bills), I still managed to dive deep into my soul project like a raccoon with a mission—and a raccoon with a mission always finds the glitter.

First big win: I officially signed the papers for the Ethos Mentoring: Entrepreneurs for Women in BC program. That means I’m now in the mentorship arena, baby. Not just dabbling in entrepreneurship—this is full send. And because the universe occasionally does show up bearing practical gifts, they even sent me a free laptop! Yeah. That’s right. A laptop. For free! Honestly, it was like getting knighted by the Startup Fairy Godmother.

Then, in classic Kalin fashion, instead of relaxing with a glass of wine and a TV binge, still buzzing from the rush of free stuff and the promise of future help, I pulled a creative second shift. I sorted out the gritty logistics of what it actually takes to make my content licensable for schools and funders. We broke down the components, mapped out the deliverables, and made a game plan that’s not just organized, but scalable. This is the kind of behind-the-scenes grind that turns dreamy passion projects into legit, income-generating platforms.

So yeah. Signed the dotted line. Levelled up the tech. Mapped out the curriculum package like a Queen. And came up with a plan to knock out the rest of the content in a focused, manageable sprint: one class per day, streamlined and strategic.

I’m tired, but I’m not worn down—I’m fired up. Because every tiny admin win is another gear turning in this weird and wonderful machine getting built - not just making art but building a movement.

Today was the first official meeting with my mentor. On paper, this sounds straightforward — a professional conversation about the project, a chance to learn from someone with decades of entrepreneurial experience, and maybe get a few great tips along the way.

But here’s the thing. I’ve been working from home since COVID. That’s five years of my human interactions being limited to neighbours, store clerks, the people who already know me well enough to handle my energy without flinching and, generally speaking, I'm a happy loner. Add to that: most of my recent work conversations have been purely work, day job work. I’m the expert there, steady and confident. But today? Today I was the little fish in the big ocean, meeting a whale who has already swum the entire map.

And oh boy — I noticed it. The eager puppy energy. That overclocked conversational speed. The way my enthusiasm sometimes jumps the queue and answers before the other person is done speaking. I wasn’t nervous exactly, but I was… over-eager. The kind of eager that, with men, sometimes reads as flirty, and with women can read as “bubbly” or “energetic” (words I don’t entirely love). I could feel myself going fast — too fast — and even though I knew I needed to slow down, it was like watching a movie of myself and yelling at the screen, “Take a breath!”

Here’s the thing though — this is exactly the kind of safe space I need right now. My mentor is an accomplished woman, retired from running her own soap-making company, a published author, an award winner. She knows the entrepreneurial climb. And I told her the truth: that this type of interaction is something I haven’t had to practice in years, and that I need to work on my pacing and presence before I’m out there in the real-world networking with professionals, pitching residencies, and stepping into think tanks.

Today wasn’t perfect. But it was honest. It was the first rep in a long training sequence — the one where I learn how to balance my excitement with deliberate listening, and how to make space for someone else’s story while still telling my own.

The Recycling Project has always been about systems: fixing what’s broken, connecting what’s scattered, turning chaos into something people can trust. But this mentor phase is reminding me that I’m part of the system, too. If I want to bring people together under this vision, I need to know how to meet them where THEY are — not just show up as the firehose of ideas, but also as the person who can listen, and adapt as needed.

So, Blog #29 is not about plaster, plastic, or policy. It’s about pacing.

Over the past two days, I’ve been deep in the creative zone — writing classes for my recycling project that I’m genuinely proud of (11 classes down 2 left to go.. until I think of more topics :P). There’s something magical about seeing ideas take shape, lessons turn into a curriculum, and the vision crystallize. Sharing the latest module with my mom, a former director of special education (yeah, my mom is pretty cool!), and hearing her enthusiastic thumbs-up was a boost I didn’t know I needed. It felt like validation from the universe itself.

But, as any creator knows, the glow doesn’t last forever. Soon enough, I hit that familiar existential snag: Am I naive? Am I fooling myself? Is all of this even possible? The questions gnawed at me like a squirrel on a power cable. I felt the weight of uncertainty heavy on my shoulders, wondering if my dreams of zero waste and community transformation were just castles built in the air.

Then, like a lifeline tossed in the storm, I had a heart-to-heart that helped me see the bigger picture. This project isn’t about overnight miracles or having it all figured out. It’s about building, layer by layer, a system that grows organically — a digital hub serving as the go-to place for curated zero-waste case studies and resources, pilot partnerships starting in my own community, proof-of-concept events that engage and educate, and small, fundable projects that build trust and momentum.

This is the blueprint. And I’m won't be alone in this for long (hopefully!). With new certifications on the horizon—short, punchy courses in zero waste, circular economy, grant writing, and project management—I’m gearing up with the tools and creds to turn vision into viable impact.

The doubt? It’s just a sign I’m pushing boundaries. The excitement? It’s the fuel that keeps me moving forward. So here’s to embracing the messy middle, the learning curve, and the uncharted territory ahead. Because that’s where real change happens.

Stay tuned — the best is yet to come.

Alright, so here’s the deal. The last couple of days have been a whirlwind of wins and setup magic that’s got me buzzing — like, actual excited-for-work buzzing.

First off, I wrote two new classes for the licensing content that I’m super proud of. Like, the kind of stuff I’m hyped to teach and share because it actually matters — no fluff, only game changers.

Then, big upgrade alert: I got my new laptop from the Entrepreneurs on the Rise group (shoutout to Ethos fam). This bad boy is all mine — customized, personalized, and dedicated solely to The Recycling Project. It’s like having a new sidekick who never complains and just gets the mission.

And the workspace vibes? Oh, baby. I created a cozy little office nook right in my living room. It’s the chair I love but never sit in unless I have company (I know, right?), and it’s smack dab next to my “official” home office corner. Big windows, dogs chilling nearby, TV for background white noise when I need it — no boring, lonely back room for me. This is my HQ for change, and it feels damn good.

Living and working my day job from home, adding in my art and The Recycling Project work from home, then layering on classes for the entrepreneur program — and soon, a stack of certifications — means I’ve had to block out different zones for different things. Otherwise, my “living space” would just turn into one big to-do list.

Sure, I wish I had more space, but I’m grateful for my cute little single-wide in the forest. It’s got a long living room, just enough for what I need — and proof that big dreams don’t require big houses or any stereotypical 'Instagram entrepreneur' lifestyle. You can be building something (hopefully) world-changing while barely making it pay-cheque to pay-cheque, because the only real requirement is not quitting (and maybe a touch of obsession LOL).

Yesterday, I got everything set up and today I dove headfirst into the first batch of Ethos classes. They’re interactive and engaging — like watching a pro drop knowledge bombs, then doing quick exercises to lock it in. It’s teaching me tons about entrepreneurship and also giving me killer ideas for how to design my own educational videos and modules.

And yes, the grind is real. I’m basically running a 12-hour work sprint and then crashing hard for 12 hours. No joke. Besides a dog hike or a quick pee break outside, it’s a desk-to-dusk hustle.

But here’s the thing — I’m not complaining. I love this. When I sneak in some TV, I get bored and want to get back to work. That’s a very good sign.

So, that’s where I’m at. Building the dream, setting the foundation, and loving every chaotic, exhilarating step of the way - and I promise I'll be honest when I hit the wall, burn out in flames and have to re-build a more balances 'work' day, but until then I'm coasting on productivity fuelled adrenaline and I'm LOV'N it!!