Month: April 2015

  • Being Seen and Heard

    freedom bike

    Hey all.

    It’s nice to be writing for you again, even in my sleep deprived state of mind. I even mentioned to my coach this week that one of the things I absolutely love to do is to write (even when tired), so coming up with content and sharing my heart with you is something quite special.

    I hope you liked the transitions interview series. I seriously  learnt a lot myself. I still have one more interview to go up as part of it but unfortunately the lovely lady is unwell at the moment. (You know who you are. Big hugs).

    Today I just wanted to direct you to some other websites where I have been featured. It’s so nice to see my articles all pretty and I consider it an honour to write for other people. I don’t take the task lightly. When I started “The Butterfly House” I did so because I wanted to encourage and be a positive voice for women in a world that can be so full of negativity and comparison-itis. I also wanted to be able to write proudly about my faith as a Christian as I know a lot of you in my tribe love learning about ways you can grow in Him. Sometimes I wonder if anyone is reading my posts but people are writing me and telling me they see me and hear me. Thank you so much for your encouragement as it can sometimes feel like all I can hear are crickets.

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  • Transitions – Interview Series

    Louise

    Hi gorgeous ladies! How are you? Today is continuation of the “Transitions Series.” If you’re new around these parts this is where I’ve invited experts in their field to talk about how they tackled the various transitions in their lives. Today I have the lovely and incredibly talented Louise Williams from Emotive Images.  I first met Louise when I chose her to do my professional photos for “The Butterfly House.”  I specifically chose her because of her background in psychology and I hoped she would use this in helping me get the ideas out of my head and into the branding for my images. (Which she did, oh so well).You see, I’m an ideas person. I am creative by nature. I just didn’t know how to bring these all together. This is where Louise came in. She took my ideas and turned the images into a true reflection of who I am.

    Check this photo out below. She captured my laugh just perfectly!

    EmotiveImages_141029_Diana_WEB_015

    Louise Williams is a self-proclaimed seeker of all things that expand our hearts and connect us to great discoveries about ourselves. Her calling to serve others began with her journey as a Psychologist for over 12 years. Eventually burning out in this career was a blessing in disguise as it led her all the way back to her first love of all things art, expression and creativity. In a very short period of time, she received multiple awards nationally and internationally for her work as a Photographer. Louise guides her clients through a journey of literal ‘Transformation’. Her soul’s life purpose is to facilitate those she connects with to pursue their core desired feelings, help them discover ways to “let go”, ground themselves and become mindful of how they truly want to feel.

    WELCOME TO THE SISTERHOOD – LOUISE WILLIAMS

    + Maya Angelou once said that “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”  What changes have you gone through over the years that have shaped you as a person and have developed what you do at Emotive Images?

    I wonder whether the caterpillar instinctively knows that it is in a moment of transition before it even begins to change into a butterfly?  Is it aware that each step as a caterpillar is bringing it closer to that anticipated transformation?  Or is it a complete surprise for the caterpillar?

    For myself, my journey feels very much like the caterpillar’s transformation.  When I initially made the decision to pursue Photography full-time, I had no idea that for the past few decades I had actually been working towards a moment when I would leave my career as a Psychologist for good.  I spent so many years studying to achieve a Bachelor degree and a Masters degree in Psychology and establishing my own successful private practice.

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  • Transitions – Interview Series

    Alana Wimmer Photo 2

    As I am recovering from having my baby Flynn and as I work through this new transition in my life, I thought it would be nice to interview some lovely ladies who can provide expert advice about the transitions in their own lives.

    Last week I interviewed Naomi Arnold from Project Healthy Happy Me.  This week I have the incredibly talented Alana Wimmer, founder and creative director of mini digital publishing house Raspberry Stripes and digital publication Raspberry Magazine. She works with rad lady entrepreneurs to design eBooks that create positive change. Aside from working with clients, Alana also blogs about eBooks, running a business, and design tips on the Raspberry Stripes website. When she isn’t moving pixels, reading or talking about eBooks you can find Alana walking Rory and Roxy the boxers, with her husband in tow, probably on her way to pick up a green smoothie.

    I originally found Alana through my coach Claire Baker of This is Lifeblood because she had mentioned Alana had designed her e-book “She is Radiant.” I signed up for Alana’s newsletter and one day she sent out a free ‘7 Top Insider Tips for Delightful E-Book Design.’ (You too can get it if you sign up to her newsletter.) Thanks to Alana’s super helpful tips I was able to finally get my opt in out to you girls!  Before that, it seemed so overwhelming.

    I then subscribed to her ‘Raspberry Magazine’ which is devoted to ‘curating insightful articles, amazing interviews and helpful resources for lady online entrepreneurs, freelancers, bloggers, digital nomads and those aspiring to be.‘ It’s a truly beautiful space.

    As I read through another interview that she had done, (ok, so I’m totally fan girling over her), I learnt that she had once been a health coach so I thought it would be great for her to tell us all about her transition from being a health coach to running a digital publishing house.

    Alana Wimmer Photo 1

    WELCOME TO THE SISTERHOOD – ALANA WIMMER

    + Maya Angelou once said that “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”  What changes have you gone through over the years that have shaped you as a person and have developed what you do at “Raspberry Stripes?”

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  • Transitions – Interview Series

    Naomi Arnold (2)

    Today is the beginning of the ‘Transitions Series.’ For the past nine months I really struggled with knowing that I was going to go on maternity leave. Who would take my job? Would I have one to come back to? Would I be bored with the baby? Will I feel cooped up at home? 

    All these questions plagued me and the more I talked with you girls I realised how common these thoughts were, no matter how small or large the transition.

    One such lady who has gone through some transitions and thrived is the lovely Naomi Arnold from “Project Healthy Happy Me.”  I met Naomi through the Beautiful You Life Coaching Academy and we both hit it off. Her drive to succeed no matter what hurdles are thrown her way are admirable. However, she knows how to incorporate good self care routines when these times come. She’s designed a number of free resources for you. One in particular is called the “21 Day Me Challenge.” Naomi is a generous soul and I’m so pleased to introduce her to you today.

    naomi dusty daniel

    WELCOME TO THE SISTERHOOD: NAOMI ARNOLD

    + Maya Angelou once said that “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” What changes have you gone through over the years that have shaped you as a person and have developed what you do at “Project Healthy Happy Me?”

    Wow, what a powerful quote. I have been through so many changes over the years which have led me to where I am now with Project Healthy Happy Me. Some of these have included: (more…)