Spring/Summer 2015 - Achievaloutions

I added a jar to each classroom on our first day of classes in January and declared them our Achievaloutions Jars. Students and visitors are encouraged to add notecards with their Achievaloutions (things they feel good about having done) throughout each month. This series will share all of the Acheivaloutions in hopes of inspiring you to do good things AND notice them when you do!





Spring/Summer 2015  - Achievaloutions

1. “I came to a bellydance class!” – Margaret
2. “Biceps!” - Anonymous
3. “Went a full day without make-up, yikes!” – Tracy
4. “Completed a 4-day cleanse which got me back on healthy eating track.” – Maike
5. “I’ve been remembering to feed my dog.” – Yvette
6. “Changed up my hair.” – Maike
7. “I designed a coloring book! It was my reward for doing my taxes successfully! Also I hated doing taxes.” - Anonymous
8. “Signed up for a TV show. We’ll see if I get in.” - Anonymous
9. “I have gone just over 2 weeks with out alcohol!” - Anonymous
10. “I lost a pound! I was on ‘the way up’ for months. Now, I’m  ‘on my way down’.” - Anonymous
11. “Emiire shimmy” - Anonymous
12. “I am no longer afraid of choreography.” – Catherine
13. “I woke up!” – Zinta
14. “I bought a new canvas and am ready to start painting.” - Anonymous
15. “I turned 13!” – Aoife
16. “With this very card, I moved a big, nasty spider outside for Malik. Also, I kept my weights up for the two arm songs in Moxie Boxing, Woot!” - Anonymous
17. “ Cleaned my room.” - Anonymous
18. “Washing dishes.” – Cecelia
19. “I ran twice this week.” - Anonymous
20. “I got pass a level that is really hard.” – A message from RJ
21. “My encaustic collages will be at creative co-working!” – Maike Marvels J
22. “I finished a goal.” – Sammi
23. “I got to the final round in Desafio.” - Anonymous
24. “Retagged all my inventory for RAW on Thursday.” – Maike
25. “I started soccer.” - Anonymous
26. “I was invited to write & perform a script for Steppenwolf Theatre.” - Anonymous
27. “Started a new painting this week.” - Anonymous
28. “I baked a banana bread with my daughter.” - Anonymous
29. “I learned a new dance.” - Anonymous
30. “I built a puppet show. I love it.” – Somach
31. “Made it into the studio.” – Donna
32. “Made great connections last Thursday. Had a fabulous RAW Chicago event.” - Anonymous
33. “Organized all my clothing!” – Catherine
34. “Made and posted more Mother’s Day creations on Etsy.” – Maike’s Marvels
35. “Today I enjoyed my evening belly dancing and having fun meeting new ladies. Thanks Malik.” – Talaya
36. “Enjoyed a fabulous Ladies Night out at Hip Circle w/ Noktivo Spa and Rebecca Sturgeon massage.” - Anonymous
37. “I made varsity!” - Anonymous
38. “I had a Bat Mitzvah and became a Jewish adult!” –Ronni
39. “Attended a fantastic Hip Circle Anniversary Party!” –All Hip Circle regulars J
40. “I was a keynote speaker!” –Donna
41. “Two Moxie Boxing sessions this week!” –Anonymous
42. “Had a fabulous critique workshop with Fusto Chicago.” – Anonymous
43. “I rescued really dark videos and made them viewable!” – Malik
44. “I cleaned up the yard to get ready for warm weather.” – Anonymous
45. “Yesterday I was a guest on “RU Famous Yet?” –Roberta
46.  “Made keychains with See Jane Sparkle at the Zumba fitness party.” - 5 lucky Hip Circlers
47. “I got 109 coloring books printed, stamped up so the covers look nice, and bundled with 4 colored pencils each, color scheme optimized for maximum variety per bundle!” – Anonymous
48. “Woke up at 8:00am, but still made it to Moxie Boxing – whoo hoo!” –Anonymous
49. “I recorded my monologue at Steppenwolf this morning.” – Roberta
50. “Hip Circle membership!” –Maggie
51. “I did not freak out (very much) for a blood test!” –Melissa
52. “Made it through screen-free week.” –Anonymous
53. “I got married and I stayed in the moment, and was so excited I shouted my vows and everyone laughed.” –Anonymous
54. “I maintained my weight on an 8-day vacation!” –Anonymous
55. “Moxie boxed today!” –Maike
56. “Found correct alignment in side-lying without cueing.” – Anonymous
57. “Garnering lots of momentum with a variety of projects and organization.” –Maike
58. “I sat through conversations about doctors while exercising.” –Zinta
59. “I lived through my first (and second) spin class!” –Wendy
60. “I started running again!” –Maggie
61. “Lining up a new project and not freaking out about it.” –Anonymous
62. “Completed a creative project I’ve been talking/thinking about for a month!” – M
63. “I signed up for a summer membership.” – Donna
64. “Got a B in math finals and general math grade.” –Anonymous
65. “I have made a concerted effort to cook more and cook healthy foods, and I have gone from zero meals cooked per week to at least 2 meals per week for one month straight!” –Anonymous
66. “Finished a commission and sold a few pieces last month J yay.” –MVW
67. “Had a productive meeting for a project.” –Anonymous
68.  “Did the bathing suit photo shoot!” –Donna
69. “Flash-mobbed divinely at Custer Street Fair.” –Anonymous
70. “Sent a record four articles in to be published today!” –Anonymous
71. “I convinced my boss to do a walking meeting!” –Donna
72. “I came to Moxie Boxing!” –Roberta
73. “I started writing a new play.” –Anonymous
74. “I led the completion of two major projects at work this month; usually it’s one a month. I successfully shuffled to get them done. J” - Anonymous
75. “Had a fabulous pop-up at Swedish Days last weekend!” –Maike’s Marvels
76. “Took three classes in four days with Cara… yoga on!” –Tracy
77. “Participated in an awesome body-positive photo shoot on the beach!” – Several Hip Circle ladies
78. “I didn’t let the mean girls at work make me quit.” – T.
79. “We made time for date night!” –Donna
80.  “Got rejected from a show, but I applied to it! J”  - Maike
81. “I danced divinely in Minnesota. “ – Anonymous
82. “I moved a clavinova!” –Donna
83. “I had a two-year anniversary for a volunteer gig at a world-class museum this week!” –Anonymous
84. “I performed divinely tonight!” – Roberta
85. “I survived crazy summer camp scheduling.” –Donna
86. “Blogged about our body-positive photoshoot.” –Maike
87. “I completed my mid-year goals at work (and then some)” –Anonymous
88. “Got accepted into Morpho Gallery’s Edges show”  –Maike
89. “Finally strong enough to paddle board again.” –Tracy
90. “Enjoying summer J” - Anonymous
91. “Health check week 1 J Going to doctors is good for your health” - Anonymous
92. “I went to an archery class and I hit my target word, which was ‘Magical.” - Anonymous
93. “I successfully carried a hiking backpack that was ~50 lbs that my super fit friend couldn’t even lift! I hiked over half a mile with my gear!” - Anonymous

Achievaloutions - March 2015

I added a jar to each classroom on our first day of classes in January and declared them our Achievaloutions Jars.  
Students and visitors are encouraged to add notecards with their Achievaloutions (things they feel good about having done) throughout each month.  

This series will share all of the Acheivaloutions in hopes of inspiring you to do good things AND notice them when you do!

March 2015:

1. "I went to my first full kickboxing class" - Mia 
2. "Made it to Moxie Boxing despite the time change and did not put weights down during speed bag" - Anonymous 
3. "I memorized my Torah portion (mostly) and have started my D'var Torah" - Veronica
4. "Learning that proper hand position is a glorious accent point to a movement" - Nancy
5. "Took steps to hire new help so I could do my job better" - anonymous
6. "A breakthrough in stamina" - Nancy
7. "I did my first yoga back bend!" - Melissa
8. "Came back to Kettlebell & endured with distraction" = Anonymous
9. "I signed up for the Race Against Hate!" - Donna S.
10. "Commenced Women Out Walking" - Anonymous
11. "Went out on a huge limb and added performance art to my list of experiences." - Malik
12. "I went to Kick Boxing today alone for the first time since mom wasn't feeling well.  I had a great time!  I hope mom's feeling better now." - Mia
13. "I wrote my 1st Sci-Fi story" - Roberta
14. "I finished the 1st draft of my book." - Mia
15. "Did not put my hand down for balance on sides in Pilates for the first time." - Tracy
16. "Got 2 weeks worth of blog posts out of the way for the month." - Anonymous
17. "Balancing work & fun more." - Anonymous
18. "I learned how to grapevine" - Aoife
19. "I walked 10,000 steps a day, everyday last week!" - Margaret
20. "4 performances over 2 days" - Roberta
21. "Making it back to Pilates this month has been great" - Anonymous
22. "Filed ALL my taxes on time." - Malik
23. "I worked on my personal pillars for my own life's 5 year strategic plan" - Donna
24. "Kicked off a new FUSED Chicago year" - Anonymous
25. "I tried bellydance even if I was usually on the wrong foot." - Anonymous
26. "I did two back-to-back Hip Circle classes!" - Donna
27. "Performed at ChiFi Convention.  I am officially a nerd." - Roberta
28. "Got invited to a show after 3 rejections" - Anonymous
29. "I finished the first draft of my new play!" - Anonymous
30. "I got up the guts to talk to my dad about possible onset of dementia" - Anonymous
31. "Just did personal training & circuit back-to-back" - Roberta
32. "I renamed/rebranded my blog.  Visit me at healthydonna.blogspot.com " - Donna
33. "I learned how to shimmy" - Anonymous
34. "Carefully retrained my muscles after a shoulder injury and got back to doing a full Kettlebell AMPD class with the 8 lb kettlebell." - Malik
35. "I now understand a piece of choreography that I was struggling with!" - Catherine
36. "I accompanied a friend to radiology appointment/consultation for 4.5 hours and took 5.5 pages of notes." - Anonymous
37. "I held a short plank for 90 seconds!" - Lindsey
38. "I have achieved the most awesome rank EVER!  My niece (she's 10) wrote me a letter, listing 5 things she was excited about, including her birthday, Easter, her school field trip, DONUTS, and our gay wedding!  I am as exciting as DONUTS!  That's pretty epic!!!" - Anonymous
39. "I made it through 2 foam roller (Pilates) classes in 3 days!  Yahoo!!!!" - Anonymous
40. "I danced with my daughter at her 1st CardioBelly class & she loved it like I do :-)" - Sara Jane
41. "I came to boxing & it was fabulous" - Roberta
42. "Got tax papers together" - Anonymous
43. "Drafted more Etsy listings" - Anonymous
44. "Auditioned (as was accepted) for the Thursday night Tribal Revolution show." - Malik
45. "This month, I worked out 8 (!) times at the studio, 4(!) times at the work gym AND hikes on top of that.  This is the most I've exercised in a decade." - Anonymous
46. "Made it [to the studio] after a long night of dancing." - Anonymous
47. "Performed a jazz gig with a sound system that was NOT functional." - Roberta
48. "I volunteered at the Field Museum to lead 3 tours this month & increase science literacy in the population!  I spoke to abut 150 people, in total, for March." - Anonymous
49. "I passed 8 Elements Initiation!" - Rebecca
50. "Worked on a difficult WBEW assignment" - Maike
51. "I registered for W.O.W." - Wendy
52. "Participated with Malik & Lyna at a feminism convention" - Roberta
53. "Mom and I got to go to CardioBelly.  It was my first time going and I really liked it!" - Mia
54. "As of last week this is the longest I've kept up a workout routine since I was a student! (I'm 34)" - Anonymous
55. "Made it through the ENTIRE WINTER without a single fall." - Malik
56. "I chopped off my ponytail for pediatric cancer!" - Donna
57. "Making it here by 8:15 am DST" - Anonymous
58. "Helped a friend move things out (and am inspired by her to go declutter)" - Anonymous
59. "I lost 100 lbs!" - Rachel
60. "I've gone 7 weeks without eating sugar!" - Margaret
61. "I was able to spin in CardioBelly & not lose balance" - Roberta
62. "I stood my ground in a calm but stern way." - Anonymous
63. "I signed up on the Hip Circle team for WOW!" - Donna
64. "I started contributing to a new humor FB page" - Anonymous
65. "Got 100% on a math quiz." - Anonymous
66. "I finished my 2nd 100Days challenge (and started a 3rd) without missing a single day of recording." - Malik

Achievaloutions - February 2015

I added a jar to each classroom on our first day of classes in January and declared them our Achievaloutions Jars.  
Students and visitors are encouraged to add notecards with their Achievaloutions (things they feel good about having done) throughout each month.  

This series will share all of the Acheivaloutions in hopes of inspiring you to do good things AND notice them when you do!

February 2015:

1. "Figure 8 chest over hip shimmy!  It worked!" - Anonymous 
2. "I booked another singing gig" - Roberta
3. "Roberta pointed out..."Making yourself laugh" is an achievaloution so I do that all the time." - Maike
4. "We made it to Bellydance!" - Deborah & Anya
5. "Spoke up on controversial topic." - Anonymous
6. "Framed pieces for my March ARC Gallery Textual Encounters Show." - Maike
7. "Delivered a commission piece to a Hip Circle Student." - Anonymous
8. "I started a business at school selling duct tape flower pens." - Ronni
9. "Went skiing for first time in 10 years!" - Anonymous
10. "I finished a book in half of a day." - Sammi
11. "I successfully edited a computer coding script at work for a program I was never trained in (MATLAB)"! - Anonymous
12. "My nostril piercing finally healed!" - Catherine
13. "I've consistently Moxie Boxed since May - which means I didn't quit Hip Circle after 3 months like other gyms." - Anonymous
14. "I gained greater control of my core." - Lindsey
15. "I flossed everyday this week and gave up sugar for lent!" - Logan
16. "Cardiobelly fogged up the windows." - Malik
17. "I have written 2 monologues this month so far." - Roberta
18. "Made it back to the studio for 4 classes after a month and a half away. And did a headstand in yoga!" - Rosemary
19. "Hanging in there." - Anonymous
20. "I survived my first kettlebell!" - Donna
21. "I didn't lose my cool the 3rd time I called Comcast. I did the 10th." - Anonymous
22. "I wrote a phenomenal monologue and performed it on Sunday." - Roberta
23. "I cleared my February email inbox!" - Malik
24. "I came to CardioBelly and the blizzard didn't stop me!" - Charlotte
25. "Malik had a Bra-velation!" - Anonymous
26. "Finished another Etsy shoot for my #EstyMatchCampaign." - Maike
27. "I managed a tech rehearsal of 40 lovely women who wouldn't stop talking and the concerts were great!" - Anonymous
28. "I inspired someone to fitness - my dad at 88." - Roberta
29. "I had a transformational gig on Sat." - Anonymous
30. "Convinced self that it was important to get out of my head and come to exercise class! (huge)" - Anonymous
31. "Submitted revised artist statement for a group show." - Maike
32. "Challenged myself physically by going x-country smiling and snowshoeing." - Anonymous
33. "I worked hard and made it into a Mudlark show!" - Anonymous
34. "Having lovely business - pow-wows with kindred spirits this week." - Maike
35. "Worked on 2 encaustic pieces for spring exhibits." - Maike

Achievaloutions - January 2015

I added a jar to each classroom on our first day of classes in January and declared them our Achievaloutions Jars.  
Students and visitors are encouraged to add notecards with their Achievaloutions (things they feel good about having done) throughout each month.  

This series will share all of the Acheivaloutions in hopes of inspiring you to do good things AND notice them when you do!

January 2015:

1. "I am doing chores at home." - Augusta
2. "I had my first (and not last) kale smoothie today before I came to class." - Sara
3. "First class post-foot-surgery. - DONE!" - Debi
4. "I learned to bellydance." - Lilia
5. "I got strait As." - Anonymous
6. "Did a back-bendy yoga class without getting queasy." - Anonymous
7. "Took care of my beta fish." - Anonymous
8. "I've been healthy." - Alice
9. "12 days without sugar." - Anonymous
10. "I made time to work out 4 days in a row." - Donna S.
11. "Did a gajillion hamstring curls." - Anonymous
12. "I made a goal pyramid." - Donna S. 
13. "Planned quarterly business goals for 2015." - Margaret O. 
14. "I studied for a test." - Anonymous
15. "I did a headstand unassisted tonight.  Twice!" -Rachel
16. "I finished a big project at work." - Anonymous
17. "I got to dance with my mom for the first time in a while.  It was really great and fun.  I missed those kinds of moments." - Mia A.
18. "I got a 96% on a test." - Anonymous
19. "Becoming very comfortable in my improv, seeing it as having organized parts - even when I don't know the music." - Nancy C.
20. "Came to 8:15 am Moxie Boxing on Sunday!" - Anonymous
21. "Completing my 1 year anniversary with FHCC VA job I so love!" - Deb
22. "I love bellydancing!!!!!!!" - Posie
23. "Spoke up about/to someone being inconsiderate." -Rebecca
24. "Finished my class plan & syllabus." - Anonymous
25. "I sang row row row your boat in a opera voice." - Anonymous
26. "Last week I made 21 calls for singing gigs!" - Roberta M.
27. "Purged and sorted all my hard copy files at home - got rid of tons of paper." - Catherine M.
28. "I completed learning the first Aliyah for my Bat Mitzvah." - Ronni L.
29. "I gave my fries to a homeless man instead of eating them!" - Anonymous
30. "Took beach photos every day this week!" - Margaret O.
31. "Did speed bag with 3s(!!!)" - Anonymous
32. "Woke up & came to 8:15 am Moxie Boxing after a late night out." - Mara J.
33. "I got my hair pink." - Anonymous
34. "I told my story in front of half the school." - Sammi
35. "I started the year off right with dancing with my daughter." - Sara Jane A. 
36. "Nora and I choreographed an entire song! Yay!" - Ronni L.
37. "Got the new green card in the mail before February expiration.  :)" - Maike
38. "Untangled a blue hip scarf!  :-)" - Anonymous
39. "I tried bellydancing.  :-)" - Meg
40. "I resolved a 5 month internet issue, and I finally have working internet at home.  It was a huge battle and I feel like I achieved something great!" - Anonymous
41. "Launched my study/on-line survey." - Anonymous
42. "Did hundreds with toe touches in Pilates today - Woot!" - Anonymous
43. "Survived the first day of midterms." - Anonymous
44. "I booked myself a gig! (with no assistant & didn't get too mixed up)" - Roberta M.
45. "Exercise classes two days in a row." - Mara J.
46. "I finished 3 books in two weeks." - Sammi L.
47. "I checked out library books." - Anonymous
48. "Getting sales tax filed. :-)" - Maike
49. "I quit eating sugar!" - Margaret O.
50. "Making regular time to exercise even when it seems I am too busy." - Anonymous
51. "I conquered my fear of sleeping...in my dad's bed." - Anonymous
52. "Awesome insightful brainstorming with the WBEW group today." - Maike
53. "I baked 24 donuts and didn't eat one before class." - Anonymous
54. "Potty trained my daughter in a day." - Kristin M.
55. "My achievement I accept who I am!" - Anonymous
56. "I came here despite being so tired." - Anonymous
57. "Committed to fitness for 2015 in the coldest week of the year thus far." - Anonymous
58. "I've exercised every other day for the past 10 days!" - Jacqueline
59. "Getting my financial rear in gear (retirement planning)" - MVW
60. "I loved coming to class with my daughter - seeing her smile & enjoy movement is an achievement." - Anonymous
61. "I sang Happy Birthday in an opera voice." - Anonymous
62. "Performed and did an art show on the same night." - Roberta M.
63. "I took my first belllydance class." - Augusta
64. "I took my first bellydance class. (and loved it!)" - Sara
65. "I did a cartwheel in gymnastics class." - Miriam S.
66. "I rock at belly dancing." - Alice G.
67. "Started FUSEDChicago presidency. :)" - Maike
68. "There classes this week!  Woot!" - Anonymous
69. "I learned two songs in a day." - Anonymous
70. "Feeling grateful I was relaxed in my morning school process." - SJ
71. "I got nominated to go to Washington DC and learn to be a better leader for 6 days by myself." - Ronni
72. "Got a B on Geometry Midterms!" - Anonymous
73. "Went to the MS neurologist who congratulated me 2X!  For being in good control from working out." - Roberta M.
74. "I cleaned my room today." - Miriam
75. "I took advice from my mother to help me with a bully." - Anonymous
76. "Sold a painting Friday." - Roberta M.
77. "I learned some bellydancing!" - Lucia
78. "Finished 3 work projects before long weekend." -Mara J.
79. "I did yoga at home with the kids on our cold weather day." - Hannah
80. "Boosted productivity using the 52/17 technique." - Malik

Look at all the AWESOME we've done this month!  Way to go, Studio Community!  I'm looking forward to February!