Free Spirit Knits

Moving Day!

2012-01-25T15:15:00.000-06:00

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.

- Lao Tzu

Well, my friends, the time has come. My moving day is officially here. I've been writing in this space since February, 2009. It has been so good to me. I've shared a lot. I've grown up a little. I've felt vulnerable. I've made mistakes. I've cried. I've celebrated. And I've connected with so many of you from all over the world. (I feel so blessed.)

I hope you will join me in my new space - A Free Spirit Life. I will continue to explore creativity, mindful living, personal wellness and mothering with heART. I am dedicated to creating community that is authentic, sacred and passionate about creating a life we love from the inside out - with one small step at a time.

If you have been following this blog through email, make sure to fill out the "follow by email" form on my new blog. (As you won't be receiving emails anymore from this site.)

Visit my new online communities HERE.

And check out my new February challenge Laugh, Play, Love!

What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.

-T.S. Eliot

I'm so excited to share my new home with you - A Free Spirit Life. And I know that closing this space really is just the beginning of a new adventure on this life journey.

Happy Birthday Kestan!

2012-01-16T12:09:00.001-06:00

"Mom, every time I close my eyes I see my cupcake." - Kestan, age 4

Today my sweet little boy turns four. He had a wonderful party yesterday with all of his family and friends. The presents, the place, and of course the cupcakes, were all great. But the very best part was watching Kestan beam, as he felt loved by all the special people in his life. He grew up a little more. He exuded confidence. He laughed and played and bounced around like any excited four year old would.

And as I look at him today, of course, I can still see that brand new baby who took 9 months to grow and 36 hours of labor to be born. But now I see something new - a little boy coming into his own. A boy heading down a different path - one of making new friends, discovering new discoveries, taking new adventures that test his courage, and a new found freedom and enthusiasm that simply comes from being four.

What a gift it is to be a mother.

Thank you, my sweetest first born, for teaching me what pure love, joy and bliss are all about.

Your Personal Reflection: If you could stop for a moment and see the world today as a four year old, what would you see?

Softening (& winner announced)

2012-01-10T11:55:00.000-06:00

I've been a little quiet on the blog front lately. We jump right from the holidays and New Years to a month full of birthday celebrations and it hasn't stopped yet. My husband turned a year older last week and my oldest little dude's big day is coming soon.

In between all the planning and parties, I am working on a revamp of my website, an e-book, and the launch of the 6th session of my Inside Out e-course.

So needless to say, any free time I have is spent taking full advantage of playtime, park time or sleep time!

I've also been feeling mixed emotions lately. Some days I'm full of energy and raring to go. Other days I'm swimming in muck. I have this deep sense that I'm in the transition of the transition. Like bigger, deeper change is on its way, but until then, I need to soften into the space of the unknown. So here I am, letting the big blue sky lead the way.

I want to hear from YOU.

Your Personal Reflection: How are YOU doing and feeling now that we are 10 days into this new year?

AND...the winner of the last free spot in

Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery e-course is...

Kate!

(Thanks to all those who entered. I appreciate you sharing your intentions for 2012.

Kate - please send me your email.)

Enjoy the Day

2012-01-05T07:00:00.000-06:00

Well I did get out of my jammies long enough to celebrate my birthday this week. And I should have ridden my bike since I pretty much ate my way through the day. But heck, I'm doing away with "shoulds" 'cause life is too short to not enjoy...

yummy coffee,

a local brew,

a fresh slice of pizza,

or the most decedent piece of tiramisu...right?

I've had a great couple of days just hanging with my favorite people.

And although my birthday celebrations have changed since having kids...

I wouldn't have it any other way.

Your Personal Reflection: Enjoy YOUR day today!

And...make sure to enter for the very last chance to win a spot in the upcoming Inside Out e-course. Check out the previous post for details.

Letting Life Naturally Unfold (& a give-away!)

2012-01-02T20:26:00.002-06:00

Slow down and everything you are chasing will come around and catch you.

- John De Paola

Am I the only one who isn't ready for the new year? Don't get me wrong, I've been organizing a bit. I've been reflecting on the past year. I've written some goals down in my journal. I'm ready to pack up the Christmas decorations and vacuum up the evergreen needles. And yes, I love a new start. A fresh. clean. slate.

But I'm not quite ready to get out of my jammies. I feel motivated. I feel excited about what this new year will bring. I have an idea of the direction I'm going in. But my pace is...well...slower. I've either been enjoying my morning coffee by the fire a little too much, or maybe...just maybe...my thoughts are changing and my body is listening. Maybe I am really starting to see that I can still conquer my daily "list" AND get on the floor and play with the kids. That reading yet another book at "nigh night" doesn't really take up that much time. That when I make space for painting or yoga or time away from the family to recharge my batteries, it's beneficial to everyone. That if I stop at my son's request to play in the middle of sweeping, well, heck...the sweeping still gets done. AND the world doesn't end if I don't finish that "list" in a day's time.

Huh.

I'm a lover of New Years. I'm the queen of writing intentions and resolutions. Reflecting on the past? Planning for the future? Setting goals? Making lists? I got that stuff down.

But here at the start of 2012, I feel the need to open up to the moment that is here, right in front of my eyes. I feel more creative that way. I feel more centered. I feel happier as I drift through the day, with less expectations, less control, and less freaking out when things don't go my way.

My focus for 2011 was to receive, to learn to live without, and to embrace stillness. In 2010 I focused on reducing clutter and creating space. In 2009 I set an intention to live more boldly.

And now...I am listening to that inner request to slow down, to celebrate each moment, to LAUGH MORE, to PLAY MORE, to focus on my health and wealth, and to continue mothering with heART.

So I guess I really am ready for 2012, but rather than writing some crazy list of things to accomplish, I want to stop pushing and stop chasing. I want to keep celebrating living each day and simply be more open to letting this new year (and my life) naturally unfold...

******

To celebrate my birthday (It's tomorrow!) I'm offering one last chance to win a spot in my upcoming Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery e-course. Just leave a comment on this post to the following question for your chance to win! I'll announce a winner this Friday.

Your Personal Reflection: What is your intention, phrase, special word, feeling or simple goals that are guiding you into the new year?

Moving Slowly into the New Year

2011-12-31T12:28:00.001-06:00

Although we haven't seen a glimpse of snow this winter, we continue feeding the fire, making it warm and toasty inside. So much so that it's been quite the enticement to stay home and snuggle in every day.

And since Christmas morning that's pretty much the scene around here. Fire going, bed head, jammies, new toys spread throughout the house and new games being played together.

Our holidays have been filled with little surprises and special moments seen through the eyes and wonderment of our children. Making us feel young again. Reminding us of the important things in life. Gently forcing two busy parents to stop. Get on the floor. Play. Be messy. Stop worrying, because there's nothing to worry about.

And if that smile doesn't pretty much say it all, I don't know what does. When you take the time to be together, to really, truly be together - enjoying the moment that is now - well, joy, bliss, happiness and contentment will make you shine.

Today is a gift. Just as YOU are a gift. Today and every day, YOU are a gift in this world. Shine like the brightest star, because the world needs you. Take time today to reflect on this past year and celebrate the one yet to come. Slow down just a little more and feel the fire inside and all around you. Now, more than ever before, is the time to embrace this moment, and LIVE slowly, fully, boldly and freely.

Happy NEW Year!

Your Personal Reflection: In what ways will you slow down today as you celebrate the start of this new year?

2011-12-25T06:00:00.000-06:00

Living Every Day Like It's Vacation

2011-12-21T06:30:00.000-06:00

A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in.

-Robert Orben

Most photos by Chris Duh.

We spent a week in Park City, Utah visiting family and in a way, I felt like I had stepped into another world. It's amazing the fresh perspective that can come from new surroundings.

The day before our travels I had a massive "to do" list and feelings of looming stress. On the morning of vacation day (even at the airport), I felt more relaxed and relatively stress-free. The only thing on the "to do" list that day was to play with our kids, travel safely and not lose anything (including the kids) along the way.

Because we were staying at my mother-in-laws home, we packed pretty lightly knowing we could do laundry half-way through the trip. So we each brought just 3 outfits for the 7 days. I brought one knitting project and a book. Ski clothes, car seat, a couple of toys, snacks, camera and an iPad. It was still a lot, and yet it felt easy to handle.

And because I was on vacation my mind told my body it could...relax. And that I did. It certainly helped that our family took such good care of us while we were there. They spoiled us with good meals, gifts, free skiing - heck, my mother-in-law even did our laundry!

Here are some things I was reminded of while on vacation...

I like taking a break from being in the driver's seat.

I'm only as stressed as I let my mind make me.

Seeing the world as a 4 year old...

and as a 1 year old...

really does make the simplest things, like playing ball with a dog or touching the snow, pretty darn special.

I was reminded of the love shared when giving and receiving gifts.

I was reminded that when you have space in your day to be spontaneous, you find new discoveries that you never imagined possible.

And when you let go of expectations and go with the flow, taking the wrong train can turn out to be a really good time.

I was reminded of how fun it is to see new places...

I was reminded of my growing passion for cooking as I discovered the kitchen of my dreams in the real version of the "Up" house.

I was reminded of how much fun it is to play and be silly.

I was reminded of the joy that comes from sharing something you love with your kids for the first time.

I was reminded that I really love slow mornings, without anything planned for the day, except to eat, knit, play and see what comes up.

I was reminded that no matter where you go, your daily life is what you make it. You can swirl and twirl and frazzle and stress, but ultimately the choice is yours.

It's been a week since our trip. And I've caught myself several times slipping into stress-mode. But then, I remember that I have a choice.

So I'm choosing to practice living every day as if I were on vacation. Sure, I still have laundry to do, food to make, and people to take care of. But I can move more mindfully throughout my day. And the slower I go, the more present, connected and happier I feel.

Being present is a state of mind.
And it's a state of mind that I like.
Because when I'm more at peace and filled with wonder - like my children - this LIFE journey feels like an adventure worth traveling.

Your Personal Reflection: As you travel through the holidays this week, simplify your "to do" list and allow yourself to immerse in the peace, love and joy that truly are all around you.

I wish you a holiday full of peace, love and joy!

******
Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery e-course registration is going strong. You can learn more and register HERE. (Gift certificates are available, too!)

And for those of you looking for a way to celebrate the winter solstice, here's an idea.

Inside Out Registration is Now Open!

2011-12-04T17:00:00.001-06:00

The 6th session of Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery e-course opens today. I am thrilled and excited and I sure hope you will join us! Oh...and by the way...I know times are tough right now for so many. I felt a tug at my heart to lower the price for this winter session. SO...you will see the offering for class is $79 for 5-weeks. And if you find a friend to join you, the offering is $120 for two.

Visit HERE for more details and to REGISTER.

Visit HERE to read just a few testimonials from past participants.

Visit HERE to read why I created this class.

Are you wanting to make some changes in your life?

Are you ready to make 2012 the best year yet?

Are you a mom of young children and feeling lost?

Are you a mom of older children and are thinking...now what?

Are you a women desperately longing to find her creative passions in life?

Are you feeling stressed and overwhelmed?

Are you ready to define your life's purpose and be of service to the world?

Are you wanting to slow down?

Are you interested in playing with paint but don't know where to begin?

Have you been creating your whole life but are needing some new inspiration?

Are you ready to find stillness?

Are you feeling a little blocked?

Are you feeling pretty darn good and happy but just want to regain clarity for a new year?

Are you curious about what "else" there is in life?

Are you wanting to express yourself but don't know how?

Are you needing some courage to follow your heart?

Are you ready to set some new goals in your life?

Do you have a big dream you are ready to manifest but are just needing some support?

Are you wanting to regain balance?

Are you seeking more adventure?

Do you feel alone?

Are you longing for connection and community?

Are you overjoyed and want a tribe to share your bliss with?

Are you ready to let go of "perfect," be messy, play more, laugh more and have more fun?

If you resonate with any of these questions above, than maybe this 5-week Inside Out e-course experience is for you.

Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions.

All life is an experiment.

The more experiments you make the better.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Feel free to email me with any questions. livefreely@mac.com

We are packing up the kids, car seats, snacks, and winter clothes for a family adventure. I'll be back in a week or so after our vacation!

Be well and have a peace-filled day.

Your Personal Reflection: What action will you take today towards creating the life YOU love?

The Gift of This Season

2011-12-02T14:59:00.001-06:00

photo by Chris Duh

Here it is. December. The time of year where our hearts long for stillness, serenity and solitude. And where we seem to be bombarded by everything but. Black-Friday-this, cyber-Monday-that, sale-upon-sale, and advertisements that make us believe I gotta have that. right. now!

I'm making a conscious effort this year to stay. calm. To slow. down. To be present rather than buy presents. And just when I think I'm relaxing I get a little tripped up. I notice I'm back to running around again, feeling the tension in my shoulders rise up to my neck, where that stress headache lingers on, reminding me that I've done it again. I over-committed. I over-spent. I'm trying to do too much, take too much, give too much. All at a pace that is...stressful.

So as I relish in the aftereffect of giving thanks for the last thirty days, I'm reminded of the intimate notes and beautiful comments I received. I'm reminded of the wisdom that was brought to light. I'm reminded of the new connections that were made (from all over the world). I'm reminded of the free coffee given, the tears of joy shared, the email from my grandfather, the note from my 84-year-old friend, and the amount of joy received from being more mindful and making space for the people in my life.

And when I remember the simple gifts that come from going slower, I can take pause from this fast-paced world, and truly embrace the peace that can come from this season, and which ultimately comes from within.

I'm choosing stillness, serenity and solitude. How about you?

Your Personal Reflection: How will you stay centered this holiday season so you can bring the gift of stillness and solitude into your life?

If you are feeling a little on overdrive, you may be interested in reading my newest Rhythm of the Home magazine article, Honoring the Gifts of Winter. There is also a give-away going on right now for a spot in my upcoming Inside Out e-course, along with many other wonderful prizes.

AND...there is still time to enjoy the 2-for-1 offer for Inside Out registration. Visit my Facebook page with all the details. Offer ends tonight at midnight C.S.T.

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the

highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.

-John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Day #30: It's Just So Wonderful

2011-11-30T20:46:00.000-06:00

Today, on this 30th day of giving thanks, my 3-year-old and I were creating small thank you gifts together in our art room when this song started playing on one of my Pandora stations. Kestan said, "Aw, this song makes me cry - it's just so wonderful." And instantly my eyes filled with tears and I felt nothing but pure love.

Pure love for this child.

Pure love for this moment.

Pure love for this life.

And then in Kestan fashion he added, "Mom? How do onions make you cry?"

Our kids.

They make us laugh.

They make us cry.

They make us crazy.

They make us fall in love.

Again.

And again.

My heart is full, I'm very THANKful, and giving and receiving is just so wonderful.

Your Personal Reflection: How will you keep the spirit of giving and receiving thanks beyond the month of November?

And a special thanks to each of you who shared this month with me. I have so enjoyed hearing your stories of giving. Please keep them coming.

Day #29: Thank the Quiet Givers

2011-11-29T09:03:00.001-06:00

We kicked off the Christmas season on Sunday at an annual holiday party with some friends. I met these two women years ago standing in line at orientation for our new job (which only one still works there part time). We worked for the same company but didn't work in the same area, and yet, managed to remain friends. Since our first day we've all gotten married and now each have two kids, so our holiday party has grown in numbers. This year we celebrated our 11th party with a wonderful dinner and gift exchange. The kids had a great time playing and us parents enjoyed wine and yummy food.

And it wasn't until a day later that I started thinking about how much effort my friend who hosted the party must have put in to prepare for our visit. She had us over at her house, which we all know means you have to clean. She cooked the main meals, including an extra vegetarian option. She made side dishes for the kids. She had drinks and appetizers. And she did all of this at the tail end of a holiday weekend where she even had houseguests. Oh and did I mention she is a mom of two, with the youngest being a four month old baby girl who has acid reflux and who is fussy most of the time? Oh yah, and her husband travels and was scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. the following morning. We brought an appetizer and salad and my other friend brought dessert, but that was not nearly the amount of work as our gracious host!

Needless to say, this very giving mama deserves my thanks today. So I have a handwritten note ready to go and will drop in a Starbucks gift card before mailing. Because even though we do things for others because we want to and it makes us feel good, it also feels good when they notice.

Your Personal Reflection: Who in your life is always quietly helping others? You know they aren't looking for acknowledgement, but take some time to recognize and give thanks for their kindness today.

Have you seen the 2-for-1 Inside Out e-course special I have going on until Friday? Check out Facebook for details. (And if you don't do Facebook but still want to know about the special, email me at livefreely@mac.com.)

Happy day!

Day #28: More Action, Less Words

2011-11-28T21:50:00.001-06:00

Sometimes saying "thank you" requires no words at all.

Your Personal Reflection: Whether it's giving your partner a foot rub, or bringing cookies to your friendly neighbor, or giving your child an extra long hug - share your thanks this week with action, rather than words.

Day #24, 25, 26, & 27: We Rest

2011-11-27T20:06:00.001-06:00

This is how I feel after 4 days of playing with family and friends. It has been a wonderful holiday and now I dream of jammie day tomorrow with a fire and some soup on the stove.

I've been thanking the people closest to me. And tomorrow I will return to letter writing and thanking some very special people from my past.

But until then...we rest.

Your Personal Reflection: Do you feel the need to rest after the holiday buzz this past week? I hope you enjoy the gift of slowing down today, too.

And the winner of Carole's beautiful yarn bomb is...

Anne! Thanks to all of you who entered.

I will be announcing a really sweet discount for Inside Out very soon, so if you are interested, make sure to join my Facebook page or newsletter. xo

Day #23: It's All About Family

2011-11-23T14:49:00.001-06:00

The love of a family is life's greatest blessing.
-unknown

Today, I am taking a quick break from food prep and "pine cone turkey art" to share my complete love and gratitude for my husband, Chris. He is the most gentle, compassionate and dedicated man I know. And because of his care and support, I get the amazing opportunity to be with our children during the days and work from home.

Chris, you are the love of my life. You are my best friend. You are and will always be my home. I love you forever. Thank you for being you.

Check out Chris' photo taker website and see the photos where he captures the love of family in his third wedding shoot. He's an artist and designer, but photography is becoming another creative endeavor that he's turning out to be pretty amazing at.

I'm taking a blogging break over the next few days as there is too much food to eat, too much ping-pong to play and too much family fun to have.

Be well and happy week. Thank you for being in my life.

Your Personal Reflection: Take a moment to close your eyes, enjoy a deep breath and smile softly as you embrace all that you are thankful for in this moment.

And the random winner of Susannah Conway's print is...

Suzy!

Stop by THIS POST to enter to win a "yarn bomb!" (I'll announce a winner this weekend.)

Psst...A special announcement about Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery e-course registration is coming soon. Make sure to join my Facebook page for early bird discounts!

Day #22: Sharing the Love (& another give-away!)

2011-11-22T15:39:00.001-06:00

Some of you may remember that I discovered Yarn Bombing this past summer. I love anything that involves spreading goodness anonymously - so it must be why May Day was always one of my favorite holidays growing up. (Does anyone do May Day?)

Well, my mother-in-law, secretly known as the "yarn doodler," is one creative, inspiring woman - that is for sure. On her last visit she...er...um...I mean...the "yarn doodler"...dropped a yarn bomb at our neighborhood park at Kestan's request. After I left a felted flower at our local farmer's market, Kestan started making his own knitting creations (balls of tangled yarn) to be secretly dropped in locations of his choosing. So he was more than ecstatic to share this experience with his cool grandma.

With hammer in hand, together they discovered a new happy home for this felted flower - in perfect view from the swings and slides so Kestan could see it each time he visited the park. (Unfortunately it was gone after a few weeks, but that is the exciting nature of "yarn bombing" - you just never know where it will travel to next.)

So today I'm thanking the "yarn doodler" (due to her sleuth yarn bombing international skills - her name must remain anonymous.) YOU...knitting-felting-painting-dancing-full-of-joy-and-love-beautiful-woman...are such a source of happy light in our lives. Thank you for all you do for us and thank you for being YOU!

And as a thank you to one of YOU, the "yarn doodler" herself is giving away a hand-made flower like this one - ready to be dropped anonymously at a location near you.

For your chance to win, simply leave a comment here and I'll announce the yarn bomb winner this weekend. And you can still enter to win yesterdays give-away HERE.

Make sure to visit the Yarn Doodler on Facebook and Do Dads For You to see more of her fabulous creative crafts.

Your Personal Reflection: Have you ever dropped an anonymous gift to someone before? How about giving it a try this week?

Day #21: It's All About the Food (& give-away!)

2011-11-21T10:17:00.001-06:00

A special thanks today goes out to Kelly for hosting the Clean Food Challenge this past week. I did it! I went a whole week without eating gluten or dairy. Granted I don't eat much dairy to begin with, so that one was really easy for me. But, gluten - not so much. I would take a good piece of freshly baked bread over just about any other food. Maybe, just maybe, even over dark chocolate.

I cook gluten free for my family, but usually hide away some whole grain or sourdough bread just for me. So I was very excited to see giving up gluten wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Granted, it was just a week. However, I am committed to keep my home gluten free. Sure, I may have a bagel or pastry from time-to-time. But I really like how I feel off the stuff.

I noticed at the beginning of the week I felt really, really hungry! So I had to make sure to plan ahead. And towards the end of the week I noticed there was a moment when I found out some disappointing news and my first reaction was to want to go eat something, ya know, like a chocolate croissant with a frothy latte. That'll make me feel better. I resisted. I passed on the pastry (although I did still stop for a dairy-free latte). I sat with the feelings and they soon dissipated. That was pretty cool. It was a good reminder to watch the next time I reach for food in an emotional state. Maybe if I stop feeding that hunger with gluten I might discover something new about myself.

Another reason I'm so thankful for this past week is that it really got my creativity going in the kitchen. We tried different green smoothies each morning (which has now become second nature). I made egg salad and instead of bread we used cucumber slices. Instead of toast we had brown rice cakes with apple butter. Other snacks included roasted pumpkin seeds, celery with almond butter, popcorn, and nut crackers with hummus. For lunches I made corn tortilla tacos, home-made gluten free pizzas and this raw vegan broccoli salad (so good).

What I learned is that eating this way takes time and commitment. And since I continue to work on slowing down, it's probably a really good practice for me.

It's been far too long since I've shared one of my creative-in-the-kitchen recipes. Since black beans are a staple in this vegetarian home, I'm sharing today one of my favorite soup recipes. It was a good filling option for us this week.

Black Bean Cilantro Soup (vegan & gluten-free)

2 cups of dry black beans (soak for 8 hours)

OR 4 cans of cooked beans

1 T olive oil

1/2 cup chopped onion

5 garlic cloves (minced)

4 cups of veggie stock

OR 4 cups of water & 2 veggie bouillon cubes

1 1/2 cup sliced carrots

1 T red wine vinegar

1 T cumin

1 T chili powder

4-8 drops of liquid smoke (optional)

3/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

salt and pepper to taste

Cook your beans according to the package (I use a pressure cooker). If using canned beans - drain and rinse them. Heat up the olive oil in a large soup pan and saute the onion and garlic for a few minutes. Add the carrots, cumin, chili powder, and a little salt. Stir to mix the flavors. Then add the beans and broth OR water with bouillon cubes. (If you are wanting this to be fully gluten-free, make sure to get a gluten free broth or bouillon.) Cook on medium and then turn down to simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Just before eating, stir in the cilantro and season to taste with salt and pepper. This meal goes great with a salad or gluten-free cornbread. You can also top it with green onion slices or vegan cheese.

Would you believe that these brownies are made with black beans? I've wanted to try these for a while now as I'm a huge fan of sneaking in healthy food wherever possible. And I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. They are really good and you can't taste the beans at all. I used this Whole Foods gluten-free flourless brownies recipe.

And a big thank you to all those wonderful chefs (like Gluten Free Goddess and Elana's Pantry) for making up new, delicious vegan and gluten-free options that make eating healthy and working through food allergies much easier and delicious!

Your Personal Reflection: Who in your life has been a positive influence on your health and wellness path? Take a moment and share your thanks with them today.

And speaking of food...

The lovely, talented and super authentic Susannah Conway, is giving away this print, Cupcakes of Happiness, to one lucky reader. This Polaroid is featured in her Polaroid book coming out in May. It may not be gluten-free, but we can dream...

For your chance to win - simply leave a comment on this post. Tell us what you are thankful for in this moment. I'll announce the winner on Wednesday!

Day #20: Baba!

2011-11-20T20:24:00.001-06:00

This is my dad, known to my kids as "baba." When Kestan first started talking he had a hard time saying "grandpa" so he said "baba" instead, and well it just sounded so darn cute that the name stuck. And now Ashton is starting to say it, too.

They sure do love their baba. In fact, at dinner tonight the two of them were yelling his name as loud as can be, "baba baba baba baba baba!"

Thank you dad, for never hesitating to get on the floor and play with the boys for hours and hours. You are the best "baba" (and dad) ever.

Your Personal Reflection: The relationship between grandparents and grandchildren is so very special. Thank a grandma, grandpa, grammy, papa, nana, or baba in your life this week.

Day #19: My Mom and Sis

2011-11-19T17:37:00.001-06:00

Sometimes pictures just say it all. Thank you, Mom and Lins, for a wonderful day together. I am so grateful that we live close and get to share moments like these. You make me laugh. I love you!

Your Personal Reflection: Who makes you laugh? Thank them today.

Day #18: A Little Sweeter

2011-11-18T17:27:00.000-06:00

While we were shopping at Trader Joe's today, a woman gave this little monster finger puppet to Kestan. He gave her a smile. After she left he pushed his child-size cart down the aisle with his new friend "monster mash" as he made up stories about their adventures together in the grocery store. Everyone shopping seemed to be in a good mood. Great music was streaming through the speakers. The clerks were super friendly. So today, I thanked all the people who made our grocery store experience just a little sweeter.

Your Personal Reflection: Who made your day a little sweeter today?

And the 5 winners of the random drawing

for a spot in either

Creative Courage,

Journal Your Dreams,

Sparkles,

Rooted or

Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery

e-courses are:

Jennifer D.

Lynette G.

Kristen

Caroline

Shannon J.

Congratulations! I will email you with details.

Thanks to each of you for your thoughtful comments. xo

Day #17: Jump With Both Feet First

2011-11-17T17:13:00.001-06:00

Throw caution to the wind and just do it.

-Carrie Underwood

Our red maple dropped her leaves overnight and we woke to a yard covered in some crunchy goodness. Seriously, it felt like a snow day! And I'm sure my neighbors would much prefer we rake and bag them, but we happily ignored that notion.

We did in fact get out the rake, but that was only to, as Kestan put it, "rake the biggest pile of our lives!"

And that's how the story goes. Life, like the dropping leaves, surrounds us with ever-changing beauty. There are times for cleaning up the mess, disposing of the piles, and seeing what lies underneath.

And then there are those times when you throw caution to the wind.

When you are ok with imperfection.

And when you know that messing up the piles is exactly where you need to be.

Today, I thanked my beautiful boys for sharing their playfulness with me.

And I thanked our babysitter for continuing to play in the leaves with them so that I could enjoy some quiet time in my art studio.

Later, after the boys finally came in the house to warm up, Kestan ran and gave me the biggest, sweetest hug "of our lives," which was his way of thanking me.

Your Personal Reflection: Let it go, embrace the change, and be ok with the mess. Go ahead...jump in the pile with both feet first. See what happens when you throw caution to the wind and just go for it.

If you haven't already, get on over to THIS POST and enter to win a spot in one of four life-changing e-courses.

Day #16: The Gifts of Giving

2011-11-16T16:35:00.001-06:00

For it is in giving that we receive.

-St. Francis of Assisi

Halfway through Thirty Days of Giving Thanks and I'm completely grateful for the little bits of sunshine coming my way. It's simply beautiful - the gifts that giving thanks can bring.

Your Personal Reflection: What comes your way when you give to another?

Day #15: The Joys of Ordinary Life

2011-11-15T15:24:00.001-06:00

Isn't this just peaceful? I love this time of the year so completely. The leaves continue to fall and the weather is just cool enough for sweatshirts, but warm enough to be outside crunching and jumping in the piles.

And you know what I'm trying to practice as we gear up for winter? How to keep this peaceful, playful feeling inside me, even within the walls of our home.

Yesterday we stayed home all day. It's something I'm calling "Maintenance Mondays." Because my husband and I share a car, he takes the car on Mondays and I stay home. with the kids. all. day. long. Otherwise, I have this deep urge to want to escape into the world of drive-thru lattes and other distractions so I don't have to face the stuff like...organizing, scrubbing, folding, wiping, budgeting - you know, the "maintenance" stuff that keeps things running a bit more smoothly - yet I usually want to avoid.

Sometimes I just love staying home - especially in the winter. Fires, cookies, snow and pajama days - oh the thought of it makes me smile. Yet, I am gearing up for the first winter with TWO little boys who get into EVERYTHING. And being home all day trapped in the mess, that is the nature of play, can really get to me if I'm not careful.

Yesterday I did feel some irritation. I did get frustrated at times. I was kind of moody and let the mess get to me. And towards the end of the day I got a little restless. But I did it. I resisted the urge to make plans and go out and do something and stayed home instead. I let the feelings of overwhelm come and go. And after getting the boys to bed I landed on the couch with Hand Wash Cold and read this:

In all this mess, I found the ingredients for the next stage in the spiritual journey: the opportunity to move beyond myself and into compassionate care of everything and everyone that appeared before me morning, noon, and night. I found myself in the very heart of life, an ordinary life, the best spot to give and receive pure love.

So as evidence by these photos, my house truly was a mess yesterday, as it is every day I stay home with the kids. It gets cleaned up at the end of most days. Sometimes it makes me crazy and sometimes it doesn't. And I guess this is the practice - to find the stillness among the chaos, to find the peace within the mess.

I may trip and stumble and get tangled up along the way - that is the nature of the journey, isn't it? And as I do, I continue to learn how to embrace and receive the joy and love that comes from daily, ordinary...life.

And now I sign-off to hit a yoga class with my husband, where I'll be thanking another wonderful teacher near and dear to my heart.

Your Personal Reflection: What joys in your ordinary life are you thankful for today?

And...make sure to enter for your chance to win a spot in some pretty awesome e-courses on my last post.

Day #14: Create Yourself (& BIG give-ways!)

2011-11-14T09:09:00.000-06:00

Today marks the beginning of week three of our Thirty Days of Giving Thanks challenge and I'm continuing to make space to thank those in my life who have taught me something new.

As a thank you to YOU for reading my blog, I'm offering you a sweet opportunity to win a spot in some of the best e-courses out there!

Nothing brings joy and inspiration into your life like learning something new while connecting to other women from all over the world. Here are just a few led by some of my very favorite women on-line.

Creative Courage - offered by Stephanie Levy
Creative Courage is an international e-course about finding, following and realizing your creative dreams. Creative Courage is a practical guide to help you clarify your own unique path and give you tools you need to start making your goals real. Creative Courage will run from January 9th - February 24th, 2012.

Journal Your Dreams - offered by Amelia Critchlow
This is a two-week long on-line workshop exploring dream-setting (reaching your goals) through watercolor, photography and collaged words. This course is open access and you can take it anytime from now through October 2012.

Sparkles - offered by Jamie Ridler
Sparkles is a creative e-course. For 31 days, you'll go on an adventure designed to awaken your creative spirit and fill you and your days with sparkle. Each day, you'll receive a quick-to-read, quick-to-do inspiring creative exercise in your inbox. Lessons come from an amazing array of creative guides from a wide range of disciplines (e.g. photography, writing, painting, sound, dance - even food!) They'll show you how to get creative even when you feel like you have no time at all! Registration is always open.

Rooted - offered by Megan Monique

Imagine your entire creation, your life, your body is a house. The Root Chakra is the foundation your house has been built on. In Rooted, you get the opportunity to take a good look at what it is your roots have grown into. You will get to explore as you gain tools to assist you with creating abundance, freedom and so much more. Registration is always open.

Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery
-offered by me.
Become a bold explorer of your dreams, celebrate your unique brilliance and embrace the REAL you in this 5 week e-course experience. Through art journaling, writing, guided meditation, and yoga principles you will learn how to limit the distractions of the outer world and reconnect to your intuition and creativity. Rediscover the inner wisdom and beauty that live within YOU and be inspired to bring it out more fully into the world - all in the comfort of your own home and at your own pace. This course runs January 23rd - February 24th, 2012.

1) To enter to win a spot in one of these e-courses, leave a comment below to the following question:

Your Personal Reflection: What are you feeling thankful for today?

Let me know if you do any of the following and I'll make sure to add your name for more chances to win!

2) For additional entries, join my Facebook Page or follow any of us on Twitter.

Stephanie @StephanieLevy

Amelia @AmeliaCritchlow

Jamie @Starshyne

Megan @MeganMonique

Shannon @FreeSpiritKnits

3) OR send a tweet out about this give-away or share it on your personal Facebook page.

I will announce a winner this Friday.
Happy day!

Day #13: Feeling a Shift

2011-11-13T15:57:00.001-06:00

I'm not gonna lie. Last night was kinda crazy. The boys were super hyped before bed. And I let their energy really get to me. And then I started acted kinda crazy. Once we all fell asleep the craziness continued. Ashy is teething so he was up every hour. Kestan woke up crying in need of some extra snuggle time, which of course woke up Ashton just moments after I finally got him back to sleep. And it seemed like between that and my own thoughts, the interruptions continued throughout the night.

I woke up asking myself, What am I doing? What AM I doing? And then, as if a light bulb went off, something switched. A new thought emerged. I smiled and said, I surrender. And in the morning I got up from bed feeling as if a deep shift had taken place.

This slowing down thing seems to have merit. Creating space is turning out to be a very good thing for me. And I'm understanding that the more I stop trying to control the outcome of things, my environment and the people in my life, the easier it is to surrender to what IS and man, that makes my heart feel a whole lot lighter.

I struggle to find balance between the love of my creative endeavors and the love of being home with my children. And for some reason, the light bulb switch - the declaration that I surrender - has helped me see some clarity about this topic that I've had a hard time seeing until now. Things they are a-changin'.

And in the middle of things today, I picked up Karen Maezen Miller's book, Hand Wash Cold. I literally had two minutes to read a few pages when the following sentence spoke to me - "Only when our hands and head are empty do we discover what we've been aching to find." That pretty much says it all. Ahhh...I surrender.

I sat there and felt the deep shift settle in. And a few moments later Kestan brought me a "mountain sandwich cookie boo" that he created out of Play-Doh - the perfect thing to get me out of my head and into my heart.

So as part of my Thirty Days of Giving Thanks, I thanked my yoga guru for his amazing guidance and teachings he's shared with me over the last 10 years. And I thanked author, Karen Maezen Miller, for sharing her beautiful wisdom and goodness with me and the world.

Your Personal Reflection: Have you ever read something or seen a piece of art or experienced a teaching that created a shift in your awareness? Take a moment to thank that writer, artist or teacher (or child) this week.

And the winner of the darling butterfly clutch is Debbie!

Psst...The Clean Food Challenge starts Monday. I'm going totally gluten-free for 7 days. If you are ready to make a change then consider joining us.

Day #12: Thankful for the Space Between

2011-11-12T08:44:00.001-06:00

Slow down and enjoy life.

It's not only the scenery

you miss by going too fast

- you also miss the sense of where

you are going and why.

-Eddie Cantor

Yesterday was the perfect day. The weather got up into the mid-60's, the sun was out and the fall colors are still quite magnificent. I took the boys on a much needed exploration day in the park (as the day before they felt a lot like wild caged animals in the house (full moon anyone?!). We picnicked, we walked, we climbed, and we moved very slowly, stopping to enjoy the beauty around us and looking for "hidden treasures" along the way.

And what I always seem to discover when I'm with my boys, with no agenda or time restraints, is that the relaxed and carefree feeling that comes in these moments IS the hidden treasure in itself.

So today, I'm thankful for the clarity that comes in the space between all the running, going, and doing. And as I move throughout my day today I will spontaneously thank those who cross my path.

Your Personal Reflection: Slow down and enjoy the scenery in your life today. What hidden treasures will you find?

There is still time to enter my last give-away - check it out in the previous post!

Day #11: Feeling the Love (& a give-away!)

2011-11-11T09:30:00.001-06:00

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another,

"What! You too? I thought I was the only one."

-C.S. Lewis

Doesn't that quote just say it all? There is nothing like when you find someone who you can relate to. That type of friendship is so invaluable to feeling connected in this great big world. This is the magic I've discovered from reaching out through blogging and offering my e-course.

Several weeks ago I got the pleasure to meet one of my on-line friends in person. I love when this happens! I am so very grateful for the opportunities to connect to so many amazing souls from all over the world. Thank you, Internet!

Lynnette took my Inside Out e-course and we've been friends ever since. She happened to be traveling through my area on her family road trip and they made a special trip to my home.

Thank you, Lynnette (and your family), for your visit. Your support, kindness and friendship have so enriched my life!

My new Internet friend, Stephanie, made this beautiful butterfly clutch just for one of YOU. It can be used as a wristlet style purse or an e-reader case. For your chance to win a spot, simply leave a comment on this post by Sunday morning. (I'll announce a winner that day.)

AND, check out Hip Mountain Mama's Thankful Giveaway for another chance to win a gift card at their lovely store!

Your Personal Reflection: Do you have a favorite blogger or a friend you've connected with through the Internet? Thank them today!

Day #10: Unexpected Surprises

2011-11-10T08:26:00.002-06:00

Today I'm leaving a little note for our postman. I thought it would be fun for someone who delivers mail all day long to pick up a little something for himself along his route. I included a gift card to a local cafe so he could get a warm meal after making deliveries in the cold.

Your Personal Reflection: Is there someone you come in contact with during the week that you don't know very well? Maybe today is the day to give them a little unexpected surprise?

Day #9: Giving Thanks as a Practice in Receiving

2011-11-09T10:41:00.001-06:00

Pure love is a willingness to give without a

thought of receiving anything in return.

-Peace Pilgrim quote

I read something this week that made me pause. A blogger shared that when she was traveling to Nepal her host politely asked her to stop saying "thank you." The host explained, "Everything we do for you is our delight and our honor, as an expression of our way of life. There is no need for thanks." This blogger became fully aware of how often she said "thank you" to just about everything and realized that doing so could become what she called a "distancing tool." She shared, "[Saying thank you] can be a way to clear up an obligation, to reciprocate in order to make the scales even once again. ...I had to admit to myself that while my excessive thank yous were often totally sincere, they often carried a twinge of worry. I didn't want to put anyone out and I felt uncomfortable receiving without having some way to immediately give back."

Whoa, right?

I totally get what she's saying here. All too often when someone does something for us out of the kindness of their heart, we feel like we have to pay them back - like we owe them something, and I think that's when excessive thanking can go awry. Because the act of "thanking" becomes more of a business deal, doesn't it? You did something for me, now I must do something for you, ya know, to keep the score even. I think when we start to play that game we end up rejecting the positive impact that gratitude can have.

Sometimes I find that when I offer to help out a friend or family member many will respond by saying, "No, I'll be alright. I can manage." And, heck, I know I've done the same thing. What happens when a friend offers to buy our lunch. "Oh, no...you shouldn't do that. Ok..fine...but I'll get you next time. Thank you." And we all know how it feels when we want to do something for someone else, but they just won't let us. It's not that they are being unkind, they just don't want to be any trouble. Yet, when we don't let others help us, or feel like we owe someone when we do, we are rejecting and denying that unconditional love. The love that wants to give simply to give.

It seems like a really good practice on our path of giving thanks is to learn how to receive.

So I don't think there is anything wrong with giving thanks. I do think it's important to become aware of your intentions when giving that thanks. Are you thanking someone because you feel you owe them something? Did they do something for you and now you are paying them back? Are you secretly expecting a thank you in return?

I remember an early memory of a family member getting upset if we didn't write "thank you cards" for her gifts. It became an expected practice to write thank yous for any gifts received. And although I truly value giving and sharing thanks, when it becomes an obligation or an expectation, it makes me pause. And then I have to look at my own children and how I parent. All too often I've seen us mamas out in public with our kids and we repeat, "Say thank you, little Johnny. Johnny? Say thank you!" I think there is also great value in teaching our children to give without force, to receive without rejecting and to determine when giving a "thank you" feels appropriate and intuitive for them.

I may be totally lost in the woods here - maybe making no sense at all.

What I do know is this. Giving thanks over the past 9 days has been energizing and magical. It feels as though I am starting my mornings with wider arms and a more open heart. And that's gotta be good, right?

I think the best thing I can do when giving is to learn how to fully, boldly and more openly RECEIVE.

So today I give thanks for the opportunity to be a mother, because to me, that's the greatest practice in giving and receiving. When I'm out alone with my boys, like on our weekly walks, we don't say "thank you." We just are. together. giving. sharing. playing. laughing. exploring. receiving. in. love. And that's the greatest act of giving thanks that I know.

Your Personal Reflection: I would LOVE to hear more about this topic from you. What do you think about "giving thanks" and do you have a hard time receiving things from others without feeling like you have to pay them back? Notice how many times you say "thank you" throughout the day. What are the intentions behind them? And when someone gives you something out of kindness, can you accept and receive it fully? Practice RECEIVING thanks from others today.

And...

The winner of Lori's beautiful

Surrounded By Love print goes to...

Manda!

Day #8: Special Friends & Synchronicity

2011-11-08T15:39:00.001-06:00

It's rainy and cold here and it seemed like the perfect day to drop by a little sunshine to my dear 84-year-old friend, Larry. I met Larry about 10 years ago when he volunteered with his wife, Nellie, at my former job. It's funny because I don't even remember meeting them, it just seems like we've always been special friends. Nellie passed away 4 years ago and I miss her a lot. Larry and I stay in touch and each time we get together we can talk for hours. And what I love about our friendship is that we can talk about the deep stuff, the unseen stuff, and the stuff that is hard to talk about with a lot of people. But Larry and I just "get" each other. We have that connection that no matter how long it's been between visits we can easily and effortlessly pick up right where we left off.

One thing Larry and I enjoy discussing is books. And recently while visiting one of my favorite used bookstores I found a copy of Eckhart Tolle's, A New Earth - a book I know Larry would really enjoy.

I left the book and a thank you card at his door today. I'm starting to get a kick out of my sleuth behavior as I secretly drop gratitude at my friend's doorsteps. This Thirty Days of Giving Thanks is turning out to be so much fun.

And get this, yesterday I wrote a letter to my bff and texted her in the morning to thank her for her friendship. A few hours later the postman delivered a letter from HER. (Thanks, Jen!) She had noticed my November challenge and wrote me a day prior to thank ME. Gotta love the magic of synchronicity.

Your Personal Reflection: Have you noticed any synchronicity in your life these days? What happens when you focus on gratitude?

(There is still time to enter the giveaway. I'll announce the winner tomorrow!)

Day #7: Sending Love Through the Mail (& giveaway!)

2011-11-07T10:55:00.000-06:00

To send a letter is a good way to go somewhere

without moving anything but your heart.

-Phyllis Theroux

Today I sent a text to my best friend forever. I thanked her for being my bff and told her this card is on its way. I really love writing letters the old fashioned way and I just don't do it enough. I think as I continue practicing slowing down, I am going to make more space in my life for letter writing. Email is awesome, yet it's so quick and fast and can be so consuming, much like our daily lives and culture. There is something quite special about making a cup of tea and sitting down quietly to write your thoughts and send them through the mail. I like it a lot, actually.

Another thing I really like is giving away awesome, beautiful, hand-made art. Lori Portka is an artist and blogger I connected with recently and I can't say enough wonderful things about her art and her awesome spirit. Her tagline pretty much says it all, "Spreading Happiness Through Art."

Lori has graciously offered to share a lovely 8 x 10 print, "Surrounded By Love" to one lucky winner! Simply leave a comment below to enter. (I'll announce a winner on Wednesday.) And make sure to stop by Lori's inspiring blog.

Your Personal Reflection: When is the last time you wrote an old fashioned letter? Take some time this week to surround someone in your life with love.

Day #6: Lending a Helping Hand

2011-11-06T09:14:00.000-06:00

Today I'm making a special delivery to my brother's girlfriend. She is always willing to lend a helping hand. And she's one of the only people who can put Ashton to sleep at night, so she has given Chris and I the gift of an occasional date night. Being able to go out for a few hours together during bedtime and not feel stressed is a priceless gift for us. So today, I thank Cristina for the love and care she so happily gives our children.

And...the random winner of Hip Mountain Mama's

$25 gift card is Ann with Harvest Moon By Hand!

(Check back Monday for your next chance to win another great give-away.)

Your Personal Reflection: Who in your life is always willing to lend a helping hand?

Day #5: Thank You Cooper

2011-11-05T22:18:00.000-05:00

My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am.

-Author Unknown

When I walked into my mom's house yesterday I noticed our best pal and family dog, Cooper, settling into his bed, as if he were getting ready for a long winter's nap. I paused. I watched him. And in that moment I realized, our sweet little beagle has aged.

My mom and sister brought Cooper home around 12 years ago and at the time I was still living in Colorado. A year or so later I returned home and lived with my mom as I regained my footing into a new stage of my life. I was searching and confused and trying to figure out who I was and where I was going and what I wanted out of life.

And Cooper was always there for me. I have such vivid memories of that time period and remember Cooper snuggling by my side. He's always been that kind of dog that will stare intensely into your eyes, never licking your face, just looking deep inside your soul as if he knows something. Or as if he wants you to know something. Whatever the case may be, there has always been a sense of comfort I've felt when I take the time to be in his presence.

So today, I thank Cooper, for being there for me. And for being there for our family. He's been quite a companion, especially for my mom. Sure, over the last 12 years he's ran away numerous times, displaced the bathroom trash all over the house and god knows how many meals Cooper has ruined by his quick maneuvers and hound dog scent. But as any dog lover knows, none of that matters when they do what they do best - love you for who you are - no matter what.

Your Personal Reflection: Thank someone, a person or an animal, in your life who loves you just the way you are - no matter what.

Day #4: Getting the Kids Involved

2011-11-04T15:35:00.000-05:00

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.

-William Arthur Ward

The lovely list of people joining us for Thirty Days of Giving Thanks is growing. It is such a thrill to see the kind of gratitude you are sharing with the world each day! And for those of you interested in joining us, let me know. It doesn't matter if you thank someone for thirty days, or just one - sharing your gratitude - big or small - MATTERS and it feels really good.

My 3-year-old, Kestan, has joined in on the fun. So each morning we ask each other, "Who do you want to thank today?" The other day he picked his babysitter, Lauren. When I asked how he wanted to thank her, he simply said, "I'll give her a hug." It doesn't take much, does it?

Today, Kestan wanted to paint a picture for his Nana. We were heading to her house today anyway, so we painted some signs together (along with my 1-year-old) and left our artwork hanging in Nana and Grandpa Steve's kitchen.

Kestan thought it would be fun to hang our paintings in the kitchen so they would be surprised when they came home from work today. I couldn't have agreed more.

Your Personal Reflection: Who, in your life, would appreciate a little surprise from you today? If you have kids, let them join in on the fun.

*If you haven't already, visit my previous post and leave a comment for your chance to win my first November challenge give-away. (More to come!)

Day #3: Thanking a Supportive Friend

2011-11-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

I met Suzy, owner of Hip Mountain Mama, two years ago this month on Twitter. It happened to be right around the time when I was launching the first session of my e-course Inside Out. Suzy signed up for the first course, sent out tweets and I think even blogged about it. And I believe her interest, enthusiasm and support is what helped me sell out my first class! Since then, she continues to share her excitement for the course and I'm so grateful.

So, today I thank YOU, Suzy, for supporting my dream. When I introduced Inside Out I was nervous and unsure. I told myself if I got at least 10 people to register that I would hold the class. And I truly believe that with your initial support, you helped my registration numbers jump WAY beyond my expectations. You helped me build the courage, excitement and dedication to continue sharing this e-course with the world, and after 5 sessions, the course has reached hundreds in over 15 countries.

THANK YOU for your positive energy. THANK YOU for your love and care. And THANK YOU for believing in me!

Suzy is offering the first give-away for our

November Challenge, Thirty Days of Thanks!

Enter to win a $25 gift certificate for her beautiful natural store,

by leaving a comment to one of the questions below.

Your Personal Reflection: Who will you thank today? What are you thankful for in this moment?

(I'll announce a winner on Sunday morning!)

Day #2: Thankful for 3-Year-Old Humor

2011-11-02T12:00:00.002-05:00

Today I'm thankful for my son Kestan's sense of humor. And I'm thankful for my husband's ability to capture it. Thank you both for making me laugh every day!

Your Personal Reflection: Who makes you laugh in your life?

Day #1: Thirty Days of Giving Thanks Challenge

2011-11-01T16:47:00.000-05:00

You cannot do a kindness too soon

because you never know how soon it will be too late.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

It's day one of the Thirty Days of Giving Thanks challenge and I'm REALLY excited! This is something I've wanted to do for a while. Many times throughout the day I'll catch myself thinking, "Ooh, I want to thank her for that," Or "I really want to write her a letter." But with the busy-ness of kids and work and life the day flies by and well, you know the story.

But with a challenge such as this, giving thanks is on the forefront of my mind. I'm much more conscious of it. And I'm thrilled to see so many of you up for the challenge, too. Thank YOU for joining me.

This morning I organized my cards, envelopes, pens and stamps, and have set up a special little spot for them on my art table. Now - no more excuses!

For day one, I wrote a letter to my friend who recently sent me a gift card for Starbucks out-of-the-blue with a note that simply read, Have a cup of coffee on me. I thanked her for her friendship and asked her to meet me for a coffee date, where I can treat her to the next cup.

If this sounds like something you'd like to try, join us! Let me know in the comments or email me at livefreely@mac.com. I will add you to the list of participants to the left of my blog. (If I haven't added you yet, please let me know!)

Your Personal Reflection: Who will you thank today? Or what are you thankful for? If you use Facebook share with us on my Free Spirit Knits page or if you use Twitter send out a tweet using #thirtydaysofthanks. Thank YOU!

November Challenge - Thirty Days of Giving Thanks

2011-10-28T17:31:00.000-05:00

It's simple.

Take a moment each day in November and thank someone in your life.

Send a text, make a call, leave a post-it,

write an old fashioned letter...

Make eye contact.

Smile.

And say, "thanks."

It doesn't matter how you thank them. Simply think of someone in your life - each day - and tell them why you are thankful for them. Give them your thanks.

Thank thirty people in thirty days.

Can't think of thirty people?

Look more closely at the people you encounter in a day.

The postman.

The barista.

The nice man at the bank.

The woman who always stamps your parking ticket.

Your neighbor down the street.

Is there a local store owner who makes you feel welcome every time you shop?

Do you have a favorite sacker at the grocery store?

How about someone you work with that makes you laugh?

Is there a person from your past that you always wished you would have thanked?

Do you have a favorite hair stylist, or a massage therapist, or have you appreciated the listening ear of a good friend?

Did you ever thank your favorite teacher?

Has anyone helped change the course of your life?

What about someone you are really close to - like your kids or spouse - what thanks would you like to share with them?

If you choose to join us - let me know! You can leave a comment here, or email me at livefreely@mac.com.

Post your stories on my Facebook Page, share your blog links there, too. Send out tweets and use #thirtydaysofthanks to mark your posts.

And as a special thanks from me to you, check back weekly the entire month of November for your chance to win some fabulous give-aways.

Grab a badge.

(Thank you, Meg, for your awesome design!
Thank you, Michelle, for the code!)

Spread the word.

And let's enjoy

Thirty Days of Giving Thanks

together!

Where Are We Rushing To?

2011-10-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

I notice I use words like, "Let me tell you this story real quick." Or "I'm going to run to the store." Or I catch myself telling my 3-year-old, "Hurry up, we are going to be late." Or "Come on, Kestan, we gotta get going."

Ick. Tired. Blah. Done.

I'm done with rushing. I'm making a choice to STOP. This past week I've practiced every day - walking slower, moving slower, being...slower. I notice it's pretty hard. My natural tendency in the morning is to bounce out of bed and start the day with excitement and thoughts of what are we going to do today? And usually if I have a morning plan - say story time, meeting friends for breakfast, doctor's appointment, whatever - there is this feeling of urgency. WE ARE GOING TO BE LATE IF WE DON'T GET IN THE CAR RIGHT NOW!

Yuck.

Photos by Chris Duh.

And I think it's actually why I hardly ever make plans to be anywhere in the morning (at least before 10) because I can't stand rushing my kids. So, I've been moving more at their pace. And yes, it's hard not to say, "Hurry up. Let's go," especially when I'm ready to move on. BUT, the more I practice it, the easier it is becoming.

And I'm noticing I actually am more productive and have less irritation when I move slower.

Doesn't that seem kind of funny? But think about it, when you are running late to work or getting the kids off to school and you are running all over the house to get ready, isn't that the time when you spill the milk inside the refrigerator or place your keys somewhere that you'll never find again?

Sure, I can still sense my restlessness (Come on already, why does it take you so long to get in your car seat!?) But, these kids know something. When you let them lead the way and set the pace, everyone seems a bit more peaceful.

On this day in the woods we spontaneously went out on an adventure. I left my phone in the car on purpose, mostly to prevent myself from taking more photos (since I'm still clearing clutter and have over 1000 pictures on my phone yet to clear), but I also loved not knowing what time it was.

We played.

We explored.

We let the kids lead the way.

And time stood still.

It just didn't matter what we were doing, where we were going or what time we were going to get there.

Sure, there are many moments in our daily lives when we have to be somewhere at a certain time. Yet, I'm wondering if we can get there without all the rushing. Can we move about our day with less urgency, less worry, and less stress about what the future will bring? Can we find the peace that comes from slowing down?

I guess I'm willing to try.

Your Personal Reflection: Do you rush through your day with a sense of urgency? Where are you going? Notice your pace today. Try walking a little slower wherever you go. Try breathing a little deeper and fuller. Notice how that feels when you slooooooooow down.

(Psst...I've posted the dates for my next Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery e-course. Registration opens December 5th. I hope you will slow down and make some space in your life to join us!)

ONE!

2011-10-13T06:56:00.000-05:00

It's been a year since the birth of our sweet Ashton Quinn. Seems crazy that this one-year-old was a newborn just four seasons ago. Now he is our joyful, wild-hair-blond, smiling from ear-to-ear, gotta climb on everything, must have that ball, needs to scale those stairs, and occasionally has to butt things with his head.

And of course, whenever there's music or he even hears the word "dance," well, there's just no holding back.

Today we are dancing with wild abandon and beaming hearts because we are just so dang happy this little dude took his first breath a year ago today, and that we were the lucky family he chose to laugh, learn and grow with.

Life is a gift - that is for sure. Thank you, Ashton Quinn, for gracing us with yours.

And now...we dance!

Your Personal Reflection: What makes you wanna dance? Get up off your seat and join us!

Such Beauty

2011-10-12T16:34:00.002-05:00

Your Personal Reflection: What beauty do you see around YOU?

Courage to Create

2011-10-08T06:30:00.000-05:00

Another word for creativity is courage. -George Prince

Artist Stephanie Levy, invited me to take part in her interview series for her new e-course, Creative Courage. I was honored to be included! And my friend and fellow blogger, Aimee with Artsyville, happened to be interviewed for this e-course, too.

Stephanie, who lives in Germany, had no idea that Aimee and I were blogging pals. We also only live 45 minutes apart. But not for long, as Aimee and her family are heading to the east coast very soon. So we met yesterday morning to catch up before her big move.

We shared coffee and doodled our way through inspiring conversation, and the boys played right alongside us. Which was really cool considering a recent exercise in both Inside Out and Creative Courage were to doodle, create and play like children. Their lack of hesitation is amazing and as soon as I pulled out the old school crayolas, Kestan and Ashton wreaked havoc on the blank page. And Aimee and I couldn't help but to join in on the creative fun.

Starting my day with Aimee - a woman who exudes what it means to create with courage - set the tone for the rest of my day. I left feeling excited and happy to be living a creative life, too.

Whether you are picking up a crayon for the first time in years, or signing up for that painting class that scares you, or making a decision to start a creative business, or taking a few small steps towards the direction of your dreams - it does take courage! YOU are creative and you can live a creative, courageous life, too. And you have that courage within yourself. So find your strength, get the support you need and start moving. Life is too short not to.

And if you are looking for more inspiration on ways to build your creative courage and live your creative dreams, then you must check out Goddess Leonie's World's Biggest Summit. You can register for a FREE ticket to receive classes from 100 inspiring teachers on topics like health, wealth, spirituality, creativity and business. Teachers like SARK, Julia Cameron and Andrea Scher are all speaking. And, I'm thrilled to be one of the teachers, too. So go sign-up and be on the lookout for my upcoming video on the summit, Finding Stillness in this Go, Go, Go World. (Making this video took a wee bit of courage, too, I must say!)

Kids are wild. Kids are uninhibited. Kids are JOY-filled. Kids are creative. Kids are courageous. Kids are free. So free in fact, that towards the end of our creative play I found Kestan coloring on the floor of the coffee shop! (Also visit HERE to see Aimee's post about our visit, where she shares funny photos from downtown Kansas City.)

Your Personal Reflection: When's the last time you had the courage to create, play, be messy and have fun like kids do?

Kestan Wisdom

2011-09-27T16:09:00.000-05:00

Photo by Chris Duh.

Words spoken by my wise little 3 year old...

Heaven is a planet.
There are stones and fire on it.
And there is magic grass on it that makes people new again.

Heaven is a magic planet.

Your Personal Reflection: What do you think?

The Miracle of Life

2011-09-20T17:36:00.000-05:00

Photo by Chris Duh.

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. John Muir

A dear family friend passed away on Friday at the age of 36. He was too young. And yet, his life was so incredibly full as he touched so many. The celebration of his life was beautiful, awe-inspiring, sad and joyous. He came from a family so grounded, so compassionate and so loving - that they are an inspiration of what living fully truly means.

This friend loved and respected nature. And his adventurous spirit would call him to the mountaintops where he could see the views, feel the peace, and connect to the miracle of life.

And although it is so hard to say goodbye, we know his love, his likeness, and his gentle spirit lives on.

We are all one. We will all take our last breath one day. So until then, I will forever be inspired by my friend and his dear family to embrace, respect and be grateful for my breath in this moment. And I will think of our friend each and every day as I am reminded to expand into the greatness of life, to live more fully, to be of service, to make deeper connections to others, to hug and kiss my friends and family and to say "I love you" even more...and...to let the mystery be...

Your Personal Reflection: There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. - Albert Einstein

Take your deepest breath, live your fullest life and see the miracles all around you - today and every day.

Change is Happening All the Time

2011-09-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

Photo by Chris Duh.

Your Personal Reflection: Are you noticing the changes taking place around you? What about the changes happening within you? Slow down today and simply notice... What do you see?

Chuck the "To Do" List & Get Outside

2011-09-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. -Lao Tzu

I can't seem to get enough nature these days. So on this particular day our "to do" list was happily left behind to "do this" instead. And while touching the dirt, feeling the warmth from the sun, smelling the fresh air, tasting the woods and seeing the joy in my boys - nothing else mattered.

Your Personal Reflection: What would happen if you throw out your "to do" list today? How about doing just that and see what it feels like when you stop rushing around and make time to reconnect with nature.

Mothering with heART Update

2011-09-10T00:16:00.002-05:00

Hey YOU. I'm on a road trip for a family wedding but I wanted to post a quick update.

Many of you have expressed your interest in my newest e-course, Mothering with heART. And I'm SO grateful and happy about that. But I wanted to let you know that this course will not be ready by the dates I had originally stated.

Some of you also mentioned that you were waiting to take this course instead of Inside Out. So if you are one of those people, please know that Mothering with heART won't be offered as an e-course until at least after the first of the year. I'll explain why soon. And there will be some other fun things we can do together that relate to this class.

So sorry about that. Sometimes you just gotta slow down and not rush the process...

If this news happens to change your mind about signing up for Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery, you can still register by this Monday, September 12th. Class starts that day.

Big hugs and I'll see you next week after we do lots of playing, dancing and cake eating!

Awaken to Your Authentic Exceptional Life

2011-09-09T00:11:00.000-05:00

Sometimes when I'm feeling confused, down or just plain blah, I get a jolt of inspiration when I read about the journeys of other women - how they cope, what energizes them, and how they find courage to stay true to themselves. This next Free Spirit Spotlight shares with you one such woman - where when you read a small piece of her story you can't help but take a deep breath in and smile.

It is a privilege to introduce you to Kelly Dahl. She is a mother, personal coach and a lover and explorer of life. Pour yourself a cup of coffee, kick up your feet and sit back while you enjoy her very personal, honest interview as she shares how she's learned to dig deeper, take some risks, and ultimately follow her heart down a path towards her authentic, exceptional life.

Tell us a little about yourself and your creative life.

Why is it that this question freezes me up? Who am I? Well, I am a person who is always seeking and working to figure that out, to grow and learn and expand all the time. I am my role as wife and mama, editor of Sparrow Magazine, personal coach and blogger. I love being with my 5 year old son and 2 year old daughter. I love being with my husband and experiencing the miracle of growing, learning, and figuring out life together.

I never really thought of myself as a creative person until Inside Out helped me fully embrace the glorious creative being inside of me. I can now see that creativity has been the spark illuminating everything that I’ve done. I was a middle school English teacher for several years before returning to get my Masters in Social Work. Most of my professional life has been dedicated to helping young people better understand themselves and the world around them, to gain the strength to go out into the world capable of seeing their dreams come true. Many of the young people I’ve worked with have had a variety of obstacle on their path, in the shapes of poverty, substance abuse, victimization, and cognitive, physical, and mental health differences. I know now that at the heart of all the work I’ve done is creativity, in my ability to connect with people different than me, and my ability to see the tiny sparks of hope in any situation.

Now creativity is part of my every day. Whether I am creating art by myself or with my children, or even just making a grocery list. I try to do things in a way that inspires me, that makes me happy, and that has a little bit of beauty in an every day task.

How did you get to a place in your life where you can embrace yourself as a creative being?

This can still be a struggle. Most of the struggle comes from the judgmental voices that I hear all the time. “You aren’t good at drawing and painting. Why are you wasting your time and money on that? There are so many people who are so much more creative than you. You might like that, but you don’t have the raw talent it takes.”

I was never a stand-out in the creative pursuits. Honestly, art classes were some of my lowest grades in school. But I was always happiest doing creative things.

The first step for me was really taking the time to recognize the judging voices. I’ve spent a good amount of time analyzing some of the sources (mostly past experiences and relationships). By exploring that I can sometimes name the voices or put them in context. This helps take away their power over me. I’ve also realized that my self doubts and the judging voices are going to be there no matter what. So sometimes I just hear them and say “Okay, you’ve said your piece. Now I’m going to do mine!”

It’s not a perfect system. I still get insecure and doubt myself. But most of the time I can just be free to create as I wish.

You mentioned that you took the Inside Out e-course - can you share a little bit about what you gained from taking it and how it helped you along your creative journey?

Inside Out was a life-changing experience for me. I was a part of the very first run of the course back in January of 2010. At that time I was in the depths of many struggles....possible post-partum depression, extreme exhaustion from never sleeping for more than 3 hours at a time, living in a new city where I didn’t have any friends or support. It was a very tough time.

Inside Out was a life line to other like-minded women. It also was the first time I really focused on being creative without judgment. I connected with amazing women around the world who were having struggles very similar to my own. I also connected with incredibly inspiring women who do admirable things, and for the first time was able to see them as women just like me. This was a major awakening. I realized that it doesn’t take genius or extreme talent to create something amazing. It just takes deliberate action, the freedom to create a vision, and being open to the creative process.

I participated in Inside Out a second time in January of 2011. This time I was able to dig even deeper and discover more about myself. It was really amazing to see the ways I grew between the two courses, to compare answers to some of the journal prompts, to see what obstacles I’d removed and what new ones had crept in. It was especially amazing to see that I had achieved some of my big goals. This made creating new goals that much more exciting, because I knew that I would see them come true.

I really loved being an active member of the Inside Out discussion forums. I’ve made some amazing friends through Inside Out, people that I know I can turn to for advice or if I need support. While these friends may live far away from me, I know they are there for me in whatever way they can be. These connections have made me a stronger person.

While the creative exercises opened me in new an amazing ways, the journaling was definitely my favorite part. I have always been a writer, and have looked to my journals to help me make sense of my life. The prompts in Inside Out took my self exploration and kicked it up a notch, helping me dig deeper than ever before. I now know myself better than I ever have in my life. I feel confident in the person I’m uncovering, like my true self is finally emerging and is ready to take on anything.

What's your favorite art medium for self expression?

Painting is my favorite medium right now. I love the fluidity and the unpredictability of it. When I paint I can turn off my thinking and analyzing left brain and just be with myself. I find it very meditative and soothing. If I’m having a bad day I can take out some paints, lose myself for even 10 minutes, and truly feel like I’ve hit my reset button.

What is a free spirit to you?

I believe a free spirit is someone who is living life on their own terms. A free spirit has created a life that meets their needs--creative, spiritual, financial, familial, and communal. A free spirit lets go of judgment and sees hope, beauty and love in everything.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I love to read, and do so all the time, whether it is books, blogs, magazines, or fliers hanging in the local coffee shop. I love to take in information, digest it, try to make sense of it, relate it to myself and others in my life. I even get frustrated sometimes that there aren’t enough hours in the day to read.

My children are amazing sources of inspiration. I love to watch how my children embrace life with so few filters. When they dance they move their body every which way and you can just see how good it feels. When they create art they do so freely, often with their entire bodies. When they play they are loud and messy. While this can cause problems, like when sand is thrown or a toy is grabbed or the paint goes flying across the room, it is so inspiring to watch. I love how both my kids love to go up to strangers and exclaim something as simple as “Me 2!” (from the 2 year old) or “I go to Kindergarten now!” (from the 5 year old), as if everyone is thrilled to know these things. They are free from thoughts of “Do they like me? Is my outfit cool? Do I look fat? Do I sound stupid?” I know these inner critics will come along for them at some point, but I relish in the lessons they teach in being free, confident, and happy to be alive.

How do you manage to find time and make space for your creative projects?

One thing I do every Monday is what I call Weekly Inspiration. I take some time in the morning and look through some of my favorite books. I have a habit of reading books like I’m still in school, underlining passages, starring sections. I leaf through the pages re-reading parts I’ve marked, until I find something that really speaks to how I’m feeling that day, or how my week is looking. Then, I open my big art journal and create a page for that quote or phrase. I might create a background, or a doodle, or do something with the words. I leave the page open all day so that I can add to it when I have a minute or two. Sometimes the page is finished in the morning. Other times I don’t finish it until the next day. I take a picture and post it on my website as a source of inspiration for myself and others.

I love having one little creative project that I can count on every week. I also love taking the time to really think about how I’m feeling and finding a way to express that in someone else’s words.

For me, the biggest thing that allows me to be creative as a mama is to accept and embrace imperfection. If I want to create something while my children are up and playing, I will be interrupted and my arm will be jostled at some point. If I expect anything different I’m setting us all up for discomfort, frustration, and some sort of yelling episode. If I really have something I want to focus on I do it after the kids are in bed.

What would you say to those who want to live a creative life and find their artist within, but don't know where to begin?

First, I would recommend signing up for Inside Out. I think that is a great starting point for anyone.

Then I would say practice creating freely, without judgment. Take a playful attitude to creating. Focus on the process, the feel of a paintbrush in your hand, the way the paint moves and swirls, the reaction between colors on a page, instead of thinking about the product. Don’t plan, just do. Then, put whatever you create away for a few days. Come back to it. It is always surprising how different your art looks a few days after creating it.

Dive into the process again. And again. Make the time to create, just a little, every day. Add a doodle to your grocery list. Draw some spirals on paper with your kids’ crayons. Tear inspiring images out of a magazine and tape them on a wall in your bedroom. Even if it seems small and insignificant, taking a little time to be creative can open up so much more that you would ever think.

What new projects are you working on and where can we learn more about you?

I just released Sparrow Magazine - a project I put together with my lifelong friend Emilie. Sparrow Magazine is an online publication dedicated to inspiring deliberate living. Emilie and I both believe very strongly in the idea that if you are making wise, mindful, and deliberate choices in all aspects of your life you can do really amazing things.

Every aspect of your life is connected -- the food you eat, the way you move your body, your home, your relationships, your creativity. Everything. When you nurture all aspects of your life it opens up enormous and glorious possibilities. Sparrow Magazine is about that. It’s about caring for your Body, Mind, Nest, and Connections so that your dreams can take Flight. The articles in Sparrow help inspire readers to do just that.

We’re so excited about the incredible response we have had to our vision. There is an amazing community developing on our site as people are reading and commenting on the articles. Sparrow Magazine is a quarterly publication, free for all readers. Our next issue will take flight December 1, 2011.

Perched to Fly is my Personal Coaching site. I work as a coach helping people to live an exceptional life. I believe very deeply that everyone is capable of excellence. I assist people in defining their own personal life of excellence and then taking action on making their dreams a reality. My work is a merging of my background as a teacher, Social Worker, and therapist, as well as my own life journey as a seeker, explorer, and believer in the creative process. I provide inspiration, creativity exercises, ask big deep questions, help clarify and synthesize ideas and visions, and whole heartedly support people in creating a life of excellence.

*******
Thank you, sweet Kelly, for sharing your beautiful, honest, creative, compassionate spirit with us all.

Now, pour your second cup of coffee and get on over to read the first issue of Sparrow.

Your Personal Reflection: In what ways do you allow yourself to go within and get more in touch with your true self?

TRUST and Express YOUR Creativity

2011-09-07T19:10:00.000-05:00

Today I'm sharing a few more testimonials from two past life-explorers who took my Inside Out e-course.

First, meet the beautiful, enthusiastic and 4-time-course-taker, Karen. Here she shares a little of what she learned about herself from her Inside Out experience - including her ability to TRUST the process, to stop striving for perfection and to embrace her own unique brilliance.

How did taking Inside Out change your life?
I have gone through periods of doubting my own intuition, not listening to my voice, not believing I am a creative person, or that I can create my own life and live it happily not worrying about other's opinions. Since taking Inside Out, I am learning to trust my own voice more. I am finding my self, my community and my own special creative life. I worry less about what others think of me and I am learning to just be ME and make that ME the best I can be. I have learned that I can be creative and artistic, even if my art and my creations aren't realistic or perfect. I am learning to let go more and be more free and find the balance of what works for me and my family. I am learning to be more in the moment and be more creative with my daughter as well, which is a nicer way to mother!

What did you learn or take-away from this experience?
That I am a creative individual and I can create everyday. I don't have to create for money, for acceptance, or for praise. I can be creative in how I live, how I parent, how I cook and how I live my life. And I need to be creative everyday. It feeds my soul and makes me feel as if I have accomplished something worthwhile. It makes me peaceful. And then I can fully support the creativity in my daughter or my husband. So digging in the dirt for my daughter is more of a pleasure for me to watch than fretting about the dirty clothes she is making that I'll have to clean. I can fully support my hubby's love of gardening, as it is his creative outlet. I really feel how much creativity feeds us and now I know that I need it so much, I take time for it and I give others time for theirs. If I don't create now, I feel it. I get grumpy or cranky or rigid. So my intuition is much more important to me now and I guide more of my life by it. I am learning by taking Inside Out, to feed that inner voice and my own individuality and to love it all!

What did you love most about the course and the on-line community?
How open and honest we could be. How much support we got and gave each other. I loved the sense of community we had. We felt we were in this experience together and we felt understood in our passage through this course and our creative makings and endeavors to be more creative and free. The course was wonderful and I looked forward everyday to the readings and the play assignments. Even though I took it four times, I still loved it and looked forward to it so much every time. I always wondered, what will I uncover about myself today? What will I learn? What will I create or be brave enough to try? This course really got me playing with art and I have NEVER done that before. I always felt if it wasn't perfect, it was art. I know better now and that is so freeing.

Would you recommend this course to others and if so, why?
YES, YES, YES! Inside Out is so wonderful and I would hugely recommend it to everyone! I learned so much and have grown so much from taking it. Just to know there are creative people in the world who are reaching out to be more creative, more free, more themselves, is such a blessing in this world. Taking Inside Out has led me back to who I was before I was taught to be like others, to buy into what others thought I should live like, look like, create like. Now I am free of that. Now I listen to my own voice and trust it. Now I create. It is imperfection I create, but it is okay and I'm learning to love that and just create and be me.

******

Next, meet the lovely, wonderful Carol. Watch her video below to learn how Inside Out made a difference in her life, too!

THANKS to you both, for sharing a piece of your creative journey with us.

Your Personal Reflection: What part of your journey are you ready to share with the world?

How to Pick the E-course That's Right for YOU

2011-09-06T05:00:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend I was making a welcome video for my upcoming Inside Out e-course and decided to make this very impromptu video to help those of you wondering how to pick the e-course that is right for YOU.

E-courses I mention in the video:

Megan Monique's e-course: Sacred: A Journey through the Sacral Chakra

Amelia Critchlow's e-course: Experimental Art

Tracy Clark's e-course: Picture Inspiration

My e-course, Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery starts this Monday. Visit HERE to learn why I created the course.

Your Personal Reflection: Today, take a moment to write out all of your celebrations and everything you are grateful for in your life. Then, write about the things that may not be working as well. Take one small step towards creating a life YOU love.

Why Inside Out? (and your chance to win)

2011-09-02T09:23:00.000-05:00

If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies. -unknown

When I launched the first session of Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery e-course in January 2010, I had no idea what was about to take flight. The journey, the discoveries, the explorations, the support, and the love that have taken place over the last few years has been incredibly special. I also had no idea that I would get the amazing opportunity to meet so many fabulous women from all over the world. We have connected, shared and grown together. And many, many of us have continued to build life-lasting friendships.

For those of you who are considering taking the 5th session of Inside Out this fall, but have yet to take the plunge, I am sharing testimonials over the next week from just a few of the creative explorers who found the courage to sign-up, dive deep and share a piece of their journey with the world.

Today, meet the lovely Lee...

*****

BIG thanks to Suzy of Hip Mountain Mama for sharing why you loved taking Inside Out, and

to Jennifer of The GlutenFree Advocate for sharing your life-changing experience from taking the course, too!

Visit Roots of She and read my newest article Think a New Thought; Change Your Life - how journaling helps set your inner dreams free.

Two Chances to Win:

Visit Jennifer's site and Rhythm of the Home blog to enter for a spot in the upcoming Inside Out e-course that starts September 12th!

Your Personal Reflection: Are you ready to celebrate your inner courage and make a change in your life?

Rhythm, Sparrow & Your Chance to Win

2011-09-01T09:06:00.000-05:00

Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become. -unknown

As we prepare for the change in season, NOW is the time to make YOU a priority in your daily life. Stop by Rhythm of the Home magazine to read my fall article that gives you tips on making space in your schedule for the things that matter most to you.

AND, visit the Rhythm of the Home blog for your chance to win some wonderful prizes, including a spot in my upcoming Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery e-course! (Starts September 12th.)

There is also a beautiful new online magazine that came out today called Sparrow. Their tagline is "inspiring deliberate living" and it's full of mindful, inspiring posts. Check out my article, Play With Paint and Be Free.

Your Personal Reflection: The women who started these online magazines had a vision - they followed their hearts, took some risks, faced their fears and put a lot of hard work, love (and probably some tears) to make them a reality. What small steps can you take, RIGHT NOW, towards a creative dream YOU have?

End Your Summer With Ice Pop Joy

2011-08-31T07:03:00.001-05:00

Hard to believe summer is coming to an end. And although September is near, it still feels like summer around these parts. It's hot and humid, and I have a constant craving to be outside as much as possible! So I think I can still get away with posting about a really cool book I discovered by Anni Daulter called Ice Pop Joy.

This beautiful book offers a collection of healthy, organic ice pop recipes that are super yummy and so fun to make.

Ice pop photos from Anni Daulter's website.

The recipes include foods you would expect to see in a homemade ice pop - like strawberries and blueberries, and foods you may never think to use - like kale, kidney beans, walnuts, and quinoa! There are recipes for veggie pops, yogurt pops, herbal tea pops and more.

What I love about this book is it offers suggestions on how to introduce healthy foods your kids usually say "ewwww" to. There are so many recipes to choose from that everyone in the family will find one they love. I especially enjoy "Granola Goodness," which includes rice milk, bananas, vanilla flavored granola and wheat germ.

Kestan loves the "Blackberry Swirl" which has blackberries, lemon juice, banana, agave and yogurt.

For someone who doesn't like giving her kids sugar, I feel so happy when I see them eating an ice pop that has spinach and kale mixed in! Now, when I make a green smoothie in the morning I add the leftovers to the ice pop molds - easy, delicious and soooo good. (They are great for teething babies, too!)

Anni offers suggestions in her book on safe ice pop molds. I've been using the stainless steel molds and they work great.

I found this book to be such an inspiration all summer long. And I know I'll be referring to it year round because we are ice pop over-joyed!

Your Personal Reflection: What's your favorite summertime treat?

Helping One Another

2011-08-29T08:54:00.000-05:00

The Twist and Shout art auction for Joplin was this past weekend and it was AMAZING. Over 100 pieces of art were created out of the tornado debris and the event collected nearly $24,000!

I wanted to share more photos of the artwork with you, but only had my iPhone and it was just too dark. Visit this blog and you can see a glimpse of some of the artwork. Watch this video to learn more about the creation of this wonderful event. (See more about the piece I created in my previous post.)

This photo needs no description.

I had the privilege to meet the woman in this photo the night of the auction. Anne lost everything in her home. She shared her personal story with my mom and me, as tears filled her eyes. Yet, she had an amazing sense of strength and gratitude, and dare I say, happiness. She had a smile from ear-to-ear and said she could feel the love in the room. And oh was she right. The love and care and compassion everyone was exuding that night was truly magical.

This duplex has already been rebuilt and Anne's landlord wondered if she'd be returning. She told us, "How could I live in a place and think, There's where my mother's china use to be, and know I didn't have that anymore?" She showed us photos of her new home - a beautiful cottage with a wraparound porch. Anne is a grief counselor and this new house has a special place where she can work with her clients. I asked Anne how this tornado has changed her life, and although it's still so fresh, she knows it has given her a new sense of power, one she carries with her and shares with her clients when they are going through the many challenges they face. We hugged and thanked her for sharing.

Meeting Anne was a blessing - she is such an inspiration.

Here's the chalkboard robot my husband created using parts of an old door.

And here's the beautiful woman who purchased my felted piece, "Rising Up," - my mom! The piece had several other bidders, but in the end, my mom won, and she was so happy. And so was I! We had such a nice time sharing the evening together, which included many serendipitous moments, too.

160 people lost their lives. Many lost everything they owned. Many, many lives were changed forever. And this evening proved once again that we are resilient and hearts can expand beyond measure - especially when we connect, come together and help one another.

Your Personal Reflection: What are you grateful for - right here, right now? How can you be of service to those in need?

Heart Felt Art

2011-08-24T00:34:00.001-05:00

Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end. -Seneca

I was asked to be part of an amazing art project that I'm so excited to share with you.

On May 22, 2011, a major tornado struck the town of Joplin, Missouri. 160 people died and it now ranks as one of Missouri and America's deadliest tornadoes.

Kansas City Artist, Matthew Dehaemers dreamt up an idea - to gather a group of artists who could transform debris left from the tornado devastation into works of art, with the intention to give back to the people of Joplin. So he gathered a crew and they collected tons of materials from the wreckage - wood, metal, windows, doors, toys, bikes, car parts - just to name a few.

The team joined together with a local gallery, Leedy Voulkos, and created Project Reclamation. Over 90 artists sifted through the collected debris and have created beautiful works of art. These finished art pieces will be auctioned off at the Twist & Shout Art Auction, this Saturday, August 27th, from 6-9. (If you live in the Kansas City area, please come out and support this wonderful cause! Admission is $5 or you can bring a new art supply.) 100% of the proceeds collected from this event will be donated to support artists and arts education programming in Joplin.

My husband and I both made an art piece for the auction. We kept our collections simple - he chose an old wooden door and I stumbled across this sewing basket. The Precious Moments embroidery patterns, reading glasses, needles and thread were all still intact. As I looked through each item, I felt such compassion and tried to imagine whom this might have belonged to. Maybe a grandmother who was planning to make gifts for her grandchildren this Christmas? How sad to think she may have lost everything, maybe someone she loved, or maybe even her own life. I don't know who this belongs to, but this basket has a story - one that I tried to respect as I created my piece.

I chose to use the embroidery floss that I found inside the basket and incorporated it into my felting. I gathered my wool, hot water and soap (while my boys played with the soapy water, too) and felted a landscape of flowers opening up to the big blue sky. I had never needle felted embroidery floss before, and I really like how it turned out.

I also used the needle and thread found in the basket for all my stitching and finishing touches.

I loved felting this piece! I thought a lot about the preciousness of life while creating it - and was again reminded about how everything in this world is temporary - and how wonderfully important it is to awaken to the present moment.

There is a lot of devastation in the world, that is for sure. And there is so much beauty. When we fall, it is in the rising up where we tend to build the most strength, clarity and wisdom.

I feel honored and blessed to be part of such a compassionate project.

I am grateful for this moment.

And I embrace the possibilities that come from new beginnings.

Your Personal Reflection: How can you rise up from a challenge you may be facing in your own life and start living more for this moment?

RISING UP

Spring is a time of renewal, with flowers rising up from the ground as a sign of rebirth, bringing color to the landscape and joy to hearts. "Rising Up" symbolizes the rite of spring when the land comes to life. In this work, the hand-felted poppies rise up from the ground on stems of yarn and embroidery floss gathered from the sewing basket of a needlesmith strewn in the wind from the Joplin tornado. Just as spring brings color and joy, "Rising Up" is about new beginnings and the amazing beauty Mother Nature provides.

Pure Love

2011-08-17T23:08:00.000-05:00

No one who has ever brought up a child can doubt for a moment that love is literally the life-giving fluid of human existence. -Smiley Blanton

In my last post I wrote about mourning the loss of my children's newborn stage, and all of a sudden I get to experience the joy that comes from holding a brand new baby all over again. My sister had a natural, amazing, magical birth while her beautiful baby girl took her first breath this week. Lindsay and her husband, Matt, are floating and I can see their hearts are expanding into the realm that you really only know once you become a parent.

I have been floating, too, as I've gotten to hold this sweet soul a little each day. She's so tiny. She smells so good. She is pure love.

And I am a very proud aunt, indeed.

Oh, the cycle of life - what a miracle.
I love this moment.

Welcome to the world, Brynn Parker.

Your Personal Reflection: There is nothing more refreshing than watching a newborn baby see the world for the first time. What, in your life, are you ready to see with fresh, new eyes?

Let Go of More; Live Fully Now

2011-08-12T07:03:00.000-05:00

It has been a while since I've written about clutter. But, it's still something that's on the forefront of my mind and heart. Letting go of the physical, mental and spiritual junk is definitely a daily practice, and just when I think it's getting easier, something like baby clothes, reminds me just how hard it is to give away things, especially with sentimental value.

I've taken advantage of some hot days to organize and now I have two full bins of clothes that no longer fit the boys. Although I did set aside my very favorites, all the others I'm ready to let go of. Or so I thought. The bins have been sitting in my dining room for the past week. I couldn't get myself to bring them to the thrift store. The consignment shop sort of interested me, but still, I avoided going. Finally, I put a post on Facebook to see if anyone knew of a mom in need. I did get a response - a soon-to-be mom of 3 who is expecting her first boy. She could use some help. And, even though I am more than happy to help, I noticed some sad feelings come up at the thought of letting the clothes go.

After taking some quiet time last night to reflect on what I was feeling, I realized that I was clinging to the clothes, the things, because really I'm feeling a sense of sadness that the precious newborn and early infant stage for my boys is over. It's gone. Just like that. They are too big to fit in those tiny, tender little clothes. The clothes that at one time I held in my arms only wondering what my sweet little baby would look like wearing them.

And now, not one, but two boys are too big for them. They are growing before my very eyes. Yes, just the thought of it can make me cry, yet, when I sit with these feelings, I see that I really only feel that sadness when I try to grip, hold on to, and resist the rhythm of life. Everything changes. Moments are temporary. Life keeps moving on. My children are growing out of their clothes.

And then, I remember that I don't have to hold on to the past, because the only moment I have is NOW. I can let go. Sometimes letting go is easy. Sometimes it's hard. And if I choose to, I will carry the memories in my heart. I can take a big, deep breath and smile knowing that all I need to do is enjoy, LIVE, fully experience, and have gratitude for the moments I do have with my boys. And know that in letting go of the past I am making space for what's to come.

Bye-bye baby clothes. Oh, how I've loved zipping up my boys in those winter-newborn-jammies-with the-feet. I know you will keep another baby warm.

And I'll keep celebrating this moment as a mother to my growing boys.

One day.

One moment.

One breath at a time...

Your Personal Reflection: Is there something from your past that you are holding on to? What are you ready to let go of?

Breathe Easier By Being You

2011-08-10T07:03:00.000-05:00

I'm very proud and delighted to share this next Free Spirit Spotlight with you! Lindsay Weiss is a beautiful woman, from the inside out. She is creative, kind, super generous and one of the funniest people I know. She also happens to be my little sister. Lindsay is expecting her first baby in the next few weeks and I couldn't be more excited for her. The way she lives her life, while staying connected to what she values in her heart, is a true inspiration. Enjoy her interview as she shares some thoughts on living an authentic, present, fun-filled life!

Laughter is the spark of the soul. -unknown

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am 28, happily married to the love of my life, and we are about to meet our first child this September! I love working with young people and helping them help themselves. I would love to meet Tina Fey someday because I just know we would be instant friends. I think comedy and a sense of humor is so important to have and to share it with others. I am always up for learning or trying something new.

How do you enjoy life and what makes you happy?
My family makes me most happy. My husband is a kind, strong man and he makes me laugh every day. My family is supportive and talented and very fun to be around. My dogs provide that unconditional love and they are always up for playing, which makes me smile. I enjoy my life by spending time with my loved ones and helping others. I have invested myself in my work by helping young people and their families the past several years.

How did you come to a place where you now embrace yourself and live an authentic life?
I have found that it is best for me to live my life simply and live my truth (whatever that may be). To live authentically, to me, means doing what feels right. It means caring about things that speak to your soul and has nothing to do with what your friends or neighbors might care about. I know how quickly the days go by and if you are living authentically or at least trying to, you can breathe easier every day.

What's your favorite art medium for self-expression?
I love writing, expressing myself through short poems, stories and accompanying them with drawings. I have loved photography since high school and continue to have a good eye for taking great pictures. I enjoy spending time in my art room by mixing different mediums together (oil pastels, paint, collage and words).

What is a free spirit to you?
A free spirit is a beautiful thing. I think a free spirit is someone who isn't afraid to be themselves and that takes courage. A free spirit does what feels right to them even if it looks completely abnormal to the next person.

Where do you get your inspiration?
I find a lot of inspiration from nature and when I spend time outside. I love road trips, getting to stop anywhere we drive and take pictures or just revel in the open land as I often crave more space. I often want to write after I make another good connection with a young person when I get to learn about their background and the things they have overcome. I am fascinated by the human connection and how sometimes it fails and other times it is magnificent.

How do you manage to find time and make space for your creative projects? Any struggles with balance? Any tips to share with us?
Reflection, reflection, reflection. I think we all need time EVERY DAY to just stop and breathe. Sometimes I get that time in the car quietly feeling the breeze, or singing, dancing, meditating, resting, walking or gardening. Time to think about your day and how it went and how you felt about it. I know this time creates balance for me because it helps me connect deeper to my own voice and I feel less stress and a better connection to what truly matters.

What would you say to those who want to live an authentic life but don't know where to begin?
I think living authentically starts with shifting your perspective. What is really important to you? What, at the end of the day, do you want to spend your time on? You first have to listen to yourself, take time to be quiet and reflect, and then figure out what it is you want to do (or don't want to do) and then put it into action. It takes daily practice to live authentically because it is so easy to get wrapped up in other people's stuff and chaos. When you start listening to yourself more often, you will realize it is worth any effort to try and live well.

How is being pregnant changing you and do you think it's allowing you to really listen to your heart even more?
My special time these days is when I get to see and feel my baby move - she is an active little one! Feeling this little being move and grow inside of me is the most amazing thing I have ever been a part of and I feel at ease as we patiently wait to meet her. I want to start setting an example to my daughter that it is important to take care of yourself, to find what makes you happy, to be kind to others and to try and live well every day. I know that it is important to listen to my heart and I want to pass this lesson on to my daughter.

****
Thank you, beautiful Lindsay, for sharing. There is such simple wisdom in your words. I love you and that sweet baby growing in your belly.

Your Personal Reflection: Take a deep breath, smile and listen to YOUR heart today.

More Life Lessons From a Darn Kidney Stone

2011-08-08T07:03:00.003-05:00

If you receive my newsletter, I mentioned that despite this amazing summer heat wave, I feel so blessed these days and it's hard to complain about the 100-degree weather. Sure, my garden has seen better days, and I feel like we've been trapped in the house for a few weeks. But, I have so much to be grateful for. And I know you do, too.

You may remember that I suffered from a kidney stone a few months ago. Well, since then, I had to make yet another trip to the emergency room due to the same darn stone! I started to get pretty frustrated, thinking maybe I didn't know my body as well as I thought I did. I was overheated, overwhelmed and just plain over feeling blah. (The stone is officially gone - thank you, lord.)

I'm a true believer that we can heal ourselves from the inside out, and when things are feeling off, I really want to go deeper and get to the core of the problem. So I've been mindfully (and sometimes not so patiently) observing why I've been feeling run down. And here's what I discovered.

Did you know that our kidneys represent the fire that fuels our essence? There is a yin and yang in the kidney area - a water and fire that when balanced, keeps our kidneys functioning efficiently. And the heat of summer, my husband's workload, my pitta body type, my tendency to overcompensate and take on more than I can handle, balancing being a mom of two, staying home with the kids, and growing my career - well, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that my fire was running on overdrive and my water was just plain running dry. And the kidney stone was simply a symbol - a reminder to slow down and listen.

So after two visits to the ER in 8 weeks, and a bout of mastitis, I continued researching, taking a food allergy test, going to attunement, meditating, resting, slowing down, asking for help, had an eye-opening massage and finally, I tried acupuncture.

The massage therapist I went to specializes in working with people who have deep tissue scars. It never occurred to me before, but the therapist believes some of the imbalances I've been feeling in my kidney and bladder area have to do with my cesarean scar. (You can read about my emergency cesarean birth here.) Hearing that connected so many dots for me, and since then I've learned about many women who have suffered from things like IBS, ovarian cysts and scar adhesions, after their c-sections.

Ok, then I discovered an amazing acupuncture practitioner and with the touch of my pulse, he could tell that I am a vegetarian and he looked into my eyes and asked, "Do you eat a lot of kale and spinach?" When I answered, "Yes," he explained that eating those foods and not drinking enough water was the cause of my kidney stone. What's so funny about that is after my first attack with the stone, my husband's first response was, "It's because of all the kale you eat!" His comment got me thinking and it's how I learned about high oxalate foods (like kale, spinach, and blueberries.) I even mentioned it in my first post about the stone.

The practitioner went on to explain that many women after pregnancy and childbirth need some rebalancing - and that's what acupuncture did for me. He said that over time we have build-up on our meridian channels (the pathways through which our energy flows). Think of it like little beavers building damns, and those beavers can be stress, toxins, fear or worry (just to name a few). The acupuncture needle helps break up the damn to allow for proper energy flow. And I'm telling you, I felt the flow return after one visit. My old self came flooding back. My energy was restored. And I haven't had any kidney or bladder issues since.

But it takes more than a few visits to a holistic healer to maintain our personal wellness. I make a more conscious effort every day to take better care of my body. I start my morning with lemon water or warm tea. I eat a good breakfast. I take my vitamins. I still eat my favorite health foods, but I drink a ton of water and I carry a water bottle with me everywhere. I take electrolytes. I do less (well, most days). I go to bed earlier (well, most nights). And I make sure to take time each day to listen to the messages my body so wisely communicates with me.

Why am I telling you all of this? Because I so believe in the power of sharing and connecting as a way to grow and expand. In my sharing I hope that some of you will gain a new awareness that you might be able to apply to your own life. In sharing I always learn something new from you, too.

And the other reason I'm telling you all of this is because I just can't help myself. Sharing my most authentic self IS my yin, my water, my flow... If I stop myself from going deeper, and from opening up to my vulnerabilities, then I'm just allowing another beaver to build a damn.

So here I am, allowing the water to fill up again...and flowing, breathing, laughing, being...ME.

Let it go.

Let it flow.

And listen to the healing wisdom that lives within YOU.

Your Personal Reflection: Every thing, message, person and experience in your life is a symbol. What are the symbols in your mind, your body, your spirit and in your life trying to tell you? Give yourself some quiet time this week and really, deeply, listen.

Photos by Chris Duh.

**Disclaimer: I am NOT a medical professional. Please seek the medical advice that is right for YOU. I am a woman, mom and a student of life - and these lessons that I share with you are the ones I've learned work for me. What you find along your path will be right for you.

Inside Out E-Course - Registration for Next Session!

2011-08-01T00:03:00.011-05:00

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. -Lao Tzu

Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery e-course registration opens TODAY!

This is the 5th time I'm offering this course and I couldn't be more excited. This 5-week life experience gives you an opportunity to become a bold explorer of your inner world. You know, that place where your secret wishes and creative yearnings live. You'll discover new things about yourself and learn how to shine light on those dreams ready to manifest.

The course is full of daily reflections and inspiration, creative play activities, art journaling, weekly yoga poses and guided audio meditations. One of the best parts about this course is that you get to do the exercises in the comfort of your own home, at your own pace, while connecting to women from all over the world through our on-line community. (Inside Out has reached over 16 countries and counting!)

If you sign-up by this Friday, August 5th, you will get to take advantage of my early bird special at the discounted price of $79. This is a $20 savings. (By the way, I've added another week of yummy, creative goodness, too.) And if you've already taken this course in the past, you get an even greater discount - so email me directly for details. (livefreely@mac.com).

Inside Out runs from September 12th - October 21st, 2011.

The on-line material will be available 4 weeks after class, and you will receive PDF's to download, so the class can fit around your schedule.

Space is limited so do sign-up early to reserve your spot.

To register at the early bird price of $79 for 5-weeks, visit HERE.

To learn more about the course, visit HERE.

To learn why I created the course, visit HERE.

To see frequently asked questions, visit HERE.

I could continue telling you just how wonderful the course is, how life changing the process can be and all the other amazing benefits you will receive once you sign-up. But instead, I'll let some of the past participants do that for me. Throughout this next month, I'll be sharing testimonials from Inside Out graduates, so you can get inspired by all of the beautiful changes they continue to make in their lives.

I thought I'd share just a few with you today...

"I would say to anyone wanting to connect (or re-connect) with their inner artist that they should pay a visit to Free Spirit Knits and invest in the Inside Out e-course. I've experienced this amazing e-course twice and my creative life has been transformed because of it. I am now much more confident about expressing myself creatively and not worrying about the outcome, learning to just trust the process. There is nothing more freeing than 'playing' with paint, being a child again, creating for the fun of it. And this e-course will definitely let you do that! There's also a great on-line community where you can feel perfectly safe sharing all your creations and connect with like-minded souls." -Jennifer, UK

"The course really helped me reconnect with my love of creativity and helped me try out different, simple, fun and colourful ways to explore and connect with my creative self, and especially to know that I can make the time and space for that most days when I choose to. It really helped me to look within a little, take the time for that self-reflection and actually be intentional about that, and journaling about it rather than just a passing thought. As a stay at home mum of a toddler, I often found I really didn't prioritise or make the space for this important self-reflection and care. It was really wonderful, encouraging, warm and inspiring to be able to share the journey with so many other women across the globe through the online community, and nice to still keep in touch with many of them." -Katie, Australia

"I loved Inside Out and it has done so much for me in so many ways, even though I am up in years, it is never too late to change and learn. I have been changing my life and really letting a lot of the artist side of me come to the surface. I love the ideas Shannon gave us to follow, think about, as she encouraged us to let ourselves go, which has been a very meaningful and eye opening experience. I am now trying to put some new ideas of mine to paper again, through writing, and I'm experiencing the joy of putting my thoughts down and expressing how I feel about aging and life in general at this time in my life. I would definitely recommend the course to anyone who wants to know what makes them tick, and to reveal some of their thoughts, feelings and expressions that are ready to take flight." -Iris, US, age 70+

To read more testimonials, visit HERE.

I'm so excited to share this journey with YOU...

xo,
Shannon

Your Personal Reflection: Are you ready to begin?

Simple, Special, Ordinary Moments

2011-07-19T17:05:00.000-05:00

We are printing some of our special family photos from this season to hang on a new photo wall in our living room. And as I narrowed it down to my top few shots, I couldn't help but notice that the simpler, ordinary moments tend to be my favorites. Swinging, picking berries, evening walks to the garden, lying on a blanket under the summer sun...

Here is a glimpse at some of the fun we've been up to.

In between the sunscreen, the laughter, the meltdowns and picking corn, pees and watermelon off the kitchen floor, I am working on a summer newsletter that will go out next week. If you haven't already, take a moment to sign-up. (psst...You'll be the first to learn about early bird registration for my next Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery e-course in the newsletter, too.)

Your Personal Reflection: What's one of your simple, special, ordinary family moments that have become one of your favorites?

Summer Days

2011-07-06T07:00:00.005-05:00

I like these kind of days.
Let's have these kind of days forever.
-Kestan, age 3 1/2

I haven't been blogging much because summer activities with the family are taking up most of my days and by the time the boys heads finally hit the pillow my energy is zapped. I'm having a blast reading, playing, making art and going on adventures, but as any mom knows, the heat and long days of summer can be downright draining. Walking, running, a bike ride or two (alone!), massage, restorative yoga and planning an art night out with my friends, have all helped me clear my thoughts and regain some much needed nourishment.

And taking time for my own personal wellness helps me wake up with a smile on my face and ready to do it all over again each and every day. My boys make me laugh. They amaze me. They remind me to not take life so seriously. And they are just so dang fun to be around.

You don't really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around - and why his parents will always wave back.

-William D. Tammeus

This quote made me tear up because Ashton has learned "bye bye" and repeating this action with him over and over brings us the greatest amount of joy! He is changing so fast and I just don't want to miss a second of it.

So I'm taking a quick break to let you know that registration for Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery e-course opens August 1st (course runs September 12 - October 14th). And Mothering with heART e-course creation is fully underway (course runs October 17th - December 2). I'll share more details about both courses very soon.

Also, my site is undergoing a new look with help from A Girl Named Fred and I'll be sharing those changes with you this fall.

I gotta run. The boys are calling me back to the merry-go-round! Until next time...

Your Personal Reflection: What fun things have you been doing this summer (or winter depending on what part of the world you live in)!

*Photo taken by Matt Weiss

*Photo editing by Chris Duh

We Are ALL Creative (yes...even YOU!)

2011-06-29T08:12:00.001-05:00

Today, I bring you a Free Spirit Spotlight interview with the lovely, amazing, and truly talented Stephanie Levy. She is an American artist and mom who lives in Germany with her family. Her creative energy is infectious and her lifestyle is an inspiration. Stephanie reminds us that we are ALL creative and that it is important to face our fears and make space for self-expression, exploration and new discoveries!

*Photos provided by Stephanie Levy.

Tell us a little about yourself and your creative life.

Hi, I'm Stephanie, an artist/illustrator originally from Tennessee, and for the last 15 years I've been living in Germany. I have two little girls and a German artist husband, and we live and work in a 1920's style apartment in central Munich. I love to travel, to cook and share recipes, and to make artwork - mostly collages. I am developing a couple of new projects this year that will incorporate a bit of everything I love...which is exciting, but challenging, too. I also enjoy meeting and communicating with fellow artists, designers, and crafters, and I love how the Internet has made this so much easier on a global scale.

How did you come to a place where you embrace yourself as a creative being?

I have been interested in drawing, painting, writing down stories, baking cookies, and making things for as long as I can remember. I suppose I started as a child and just never stopped. I sometimes think I have never really grown up. I've worked as a freelance artist and I've taught art classes, but I've never had a "real/corporate" job.

I have always been involved in a variety of creative projects, and fortunately my interest and energy has continued through the years. I truly believe - I know - that we are ALL creative. There is no doubt in my mind about that. It is just a matter of staying creative and not letting the challenges of life crush the energy behind the loves and passion we had as children. Picasso said, "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he (or she) grows up." And he was right.

What's your favorite art medium for self-expression?

I love collage because I can use such a variety of different materials - paint, ink, papers, glue, found objects - and combine them in unique ways. It's a little like putting together my own puzzle whenever I create a new collage.

What is a free spirit to you?

A free spirit is someone who realizes that we are all free, or at least have the potential to be free in our minds. Most of our personal boundaries are limits we create for ourselves. Too often fear holds us back from going after what we really want. A free spirit tries to live out her/his passions, her/his true path, as honestly and deeply as possible. There is no such thing as security in this life, so you might as well go after what you love most.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I am inspired by the countless number of creative people I see on the Internet every day - people going after their dreams, starting businesses, sharing their creative and personal ups and downs, the beauty they find in daily life. It is incredibly exciting - you just have to be careful that you don't spend all of your time surfing and becoming hypnotized by what other people are doing. You do have to turn off your computer and get up and go do your own thing - and then share it generously with the world!

My children also inspire me to no end - my daughters love to paint and draw and are without question the most prolific artists I know. They sit down and just make, make, make without feeling that they have to complete a masterpiece or something that will "sell" or "go viral" or whatever. They just make for the love of making - and that is the ultimate inspiration.

How do you manage to find time and make space for your creative projects and do you have any tips to share?

This is the big question for most of us, isn't it? With two small children, it is not easy to find loads of time each day. So I just try to use the time I have as well as possible. Sometimes there are dishes or wash or laundry to fold - and I just leave it and go to my art table anyway. If I cleaned all day long and had a home that was spotless 100% of the time, I would never have time to make artwork. My girls have an art table in the middle of our "studio/workspace/living room" - so they can draw and be creative while I am working. It is a fairly unconventional idea and probably not for everyone, but it works for us.

We live in the city and have limited space now, but I do hope that we will be moving to a larger living space within the next year. My dream would be to have my own separate workroom and studio where I can really spread out and make even bigger messes!

What would you say to those who want to live a creative life and find their artist within, but don't know where to being?

Trust yourself. Get quiet and ask yourself what it is that you really want. *What do you really want?* If you can get quiet enough to listen to yourself, then you will hear the answer. You already know the answer, but you do have to listen. And then you have to act. Believe in yourself and take chances. Go for it.

I recently read Martha Beck's Finding Your Own North Star and I loved it. Martha is so witty and she has lots of exercises to help you clarify what exactly it is that you want to do - what makes your heart sing. It helped me gain focus on some new directions I'd like to go with my work. Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way is another deserved classic. But it is not enough just to read these books - you must do the exercises - at least some of them - and go forward in the direction of your dreams. Step by step without fear. We have nothing to lose by expressing our creative souls; we only miss out when we don't.

What other creative fun are you up to these days?

I am working on two new projects that I am really, really excited about. One of the projects combines two of my great loves - European travel and art. The other project involves an ecourse that will be packed with creative artist interviews - another way to collaborate and communicate with the wonderful creative community we have here via the Internet. I see so many exciting possibilities for uniting people interested in arts and crafts throughout the world, and my latest projects are geared in that direction. The best place to find out about what's happening with these projects during the upcoming months is on my blog. I'll be announcing specific dates in my monthly arts newsletter as well.

I'd like to invite all of you to visit where I share my latest travel adventures, recipes, studio sneak peeks and artist interviews on my blog, Stephanie Levy: A Studio With a View.

You can sign up for my monthly newsletter HERE.

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Thank you so much, Stephanie, for sharing your beautiful, creative spirit with us!

Ahhh....now it's time to get off this computer and go make some art of my own. How about you?

Your Personal Reflection: What inspires you and your creativity? How about if you turn off the computer, the TV, and let go of the household chores today so you can paint, cut out images from magazines, knit or any other creative play that's calling you? Keep it simple and have fun!

p.s. NacherLuver is the winner of the last give-away.

The Winner Is... (and another give-away!)

2011-06-25T21:15:00.000-05:00

Trisha...

you are the winner (of the random drawing)

for the first spot in my new

Mothering with heART e-course!

And if you leave a comment by 8 p.m. (US Central Time) Sunday, you will have a chance at winning a spot in Amelia's upcoming Experimental Art E-course! It is a wonderful, awesome, inspiring experience (I've taken it twice!) and you won't want to miss this opportunity. (The course starts this Monday.)

Your Personal Reflection: When is the last time you tried something new?

Mothering with heART - (New E-course Give-away!)

2011-06-20T11:30:00.007-05:00

There is no "right" path when it comes to mothering.
The only path that is "right" for you is YOUR path.

I've mentioned before that I'm in the process of creating two new e-courses. I'd like to give you a sneak peak today about one of them because I'm just so dang excited! It's as though every cell in my body radiates when I think about it. Seriously, it feels so right and I'm on such a flow that this course is pretty much creating itself. Which is exactly how my Inside Out e-course came to life. (By the way, registration for the next Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery begins August 1st.)

So, rather than keep it to myself, I have to share with you a few highlights that will be included in this life-altering, creative, mindful, joy-filled, pleasure-ride of an e-course, which I've scheduled to launch in October.

What is Mothering with heART?
The intention for this e-course is to inspire all of you mothers, mothers-to-be, or even those of you who think you may want to become a mother someday. This course is about mindful mothering. It will invite you to connect more deeply to your intuition while nurturing your children and yourself. It's about listening more intently to your heart center and celebrating YOU as a mother. It's about building your inner strength so you can continue to mother from within - the place that is all-knowing and comes from love - while you release and let go of self-doubt, and the need to seek external approval or validation. And you'll do all of this while enriching your creativity and making art with your children.

So often we as mothers put our needs last and we all know where that gets us over time, right? Downright exhausted, frustrated, resentful, sad, overwhelmed, confused, lost... NOW is the time to take better care of our mind, body, and spirits as mothers. If we don't put ourselves first, then who will? If we don't listen to our hearts and let our hidden dreams take flight, then will they ever come to be?

If we, as mothers, continue to put our needs, desires and dreams last, then what kind of message is that sending our children? Since children learn best by example, wouldn't it be a great lesson in self-worth if we took the time to build our own courage and inner-strength? Wouldn't it be an amazing gift to our children if we teach them how to be confident, courageous, creative beings - ones that follow their own hearts and discover their life purpose and truly live a happy, fulfilled, vibrant life?

Of course that's what we all want for our children. Yet if we continue letting our own dreams collect dust, then what messages, even on a sub conscious level, are we passing on to our little ones?

When I say put ourselves first, I am NOT saying you shouldn't take care of your children's needs! Of course creating attachment, loving unconditionally and keeping our children safe is our job and our priority. Being a mother of two small children I know how hard this job is. (Rewarding? Yes! But a very hard, tiring job for sure.) And if I don't carve out time for my personal wellness and creative needs, then it's obvious I'm not living in balance - because everything just starts to fall apart.

So as I fumble and practice and try, try again, I'm learning how to honor my own needs for creative self-expression while I raise my two little boys. I'm learning how to listen to the whispers of my soul, how to manifest my personal dreams and how to let them fly NOW, rather than wait until the kids are grown. And I've built confidence in my ability to listen to my heart while mothering. I'm learning how to really listen to my intuition and to do what feels right for my kids, rather than just doing something because that's how "they," the doctors, the sleep books, the experts, other mothers say I should be doing it. And I'm excited to learn, share and grow with all of you moms or moms-to-be who are passionate about mothering with heart, too.

Mark your calendars for a 7-week creative e-course experience where you will get to make art with and alongside your children, while at the same time be inspired to dig deeper into your heart and pull out what's ready to manifest. You will build strength in your innate abilities to mother, enrich your creativity, and embrace your inner wisdom, beauty and joy...

Mothering With heART e-course

(Dates to be announced) - It will change your life.

This 7-week e-course includes:

weekly reflections on creativity & intuitive mothering, and inspiration on how to live your dreams and love your life.
weekly art projects (simple and green) to do with and alongside your children (of any age)
3 "mom's-night-out" happy-hour LIVE chats with on-line community
3 "mom's-night-out" art-night - art journaling projects for moms only (or moms-to-be)
weekly healthy, organic, family-friendly vegetarian snack ideas and recipes
tips and techniques to help you and your children channel your true feelings in a number of positive ways
ideas to strengthen your mother/child bond through art and quality time
ways to practice stillness through journaling, breath work and guided meditation
ideas on how to clear and make space for what matters most in your life
access to on-line community of like-minded explorers from class
an opportunity to share, learn and connect with other like-minded women from all over the world

Why am I making this class?

Because as a second time mother I've been reminded of just how confused I was when I became a mom. I read every baby book imaginable. I talked to every doctor, child development expert, seasoned mothers... Not only did I doubt myself as a mother, but also I fell into a bad habit of putting my needs last. After many months of tears and exhaustion finally something clicked and I saw profound shifts taking place in my life. I started listening to my own heart when things just didn't feel quite right. And the more I did that, the more I began to mother from within, and stopped looking for validation and approval from everyone else "out there."

I see so many moms (of children of all ages) who are struggling. Struggling to find balance. Struggling to find joy. Struggling to find sleep. Struggling to keep things clean. Struggling to find themselves among the craziness of family life. Struggling to find meaning. Struggling to find time or the energy to be creative. Struggling to hear the desires in their hearts. Struggling to fit into their old pants. Struggling to accept the gray hairs and the age lines. Struggling to let go. Struggling to slow-down. Struggling to let themselves be something other than "mom." (I know these struggles from first-hand experience!)

Somewhere we adopt beliefs that allow us to put our dreams last, to run ourselves ragged, to live a stress-filled, activity-filled life, to stop listening to our heart, and to keep on going, day-after-day with a smile and make-up on our face. And I'm here saying enough is enough. Let's raise our children the way we feel is best for them and best for us. And let's make sure we are taking care of our own personal health, creativity and wellness along the way.

I feel creativity is the gateway to our intuition and intuition is the key when it comes to mindful mothering. And so I introduce to you my newest baby, my e-course experience

- Mothering With heART.

Be Messy. Let go of perfect. Live Your Dreams.

Love Your Life. And always...listen to your heart.

To win a spot in this new course, take a moment to leave a comment on this post to one of the questions below, by Friday, June 24th. Join my Facebook page, or sign up for my newsletter, or send out a tweet about this post to be entered a second, third or fourth time.

Thank you for sharing this with all the mothers in your life! I look forward to sharing this e-course experience with you! (More details to come.)

Your Personal Reflection: What does Mothering With Heart mean to you? What do you find hard to balance in your life? What creative dream or inner yearning, in you, is waiting to be born?

Bombin' Some Yarn

2011-06-08T14:07:00.000-05:00

I just discovered what yarn bombing is from my coolest-ever-mother-in-law. As described in the new book, Yarn Bombing: The Book, "knit graffiti is an international guerilla movement that started underground and is now embraced by crochet and knitting artists of all ages, nationalities, and genders." Beginners and seasoned knitters secretly "donate" a knitted creation in public spaces.

I am so inspired and excited by this idea! Do you think that pink flower in this photo is real?

I hit the farmer's market this morning with the boys, my mom and sister and they helped me secretly drop off my first "donation."

International Yarn Bombing Day is this Saturday, June 11th. So now it's your chance to join in on the fun! Simply knit or crochet anything you'd like and tag a public space with your knitted piece. Take a photo of your "donation" and share it online. There are many flickr and Ravelry groups to share your yarn bomb creations, and also feel free to share with me on my new Free Spirit Knits flickr page. I would LOVE to see them.

Happy knitting and sharing!

Your Personal Reflection: What inspires YOUR creativity?

Helping Joplin, Missouri

2011-06-04T21:49:00.004-05:00

Two weeks ago on May 22nd, a massive tornado ripped through the town of Joplin, Missouri, killing 138 people. Joplin is about 150 miles from my home. Kelly, a fellow blogger in my area contacted me for help in sharing the word about her art auction that will benefit the people who are now trying to rebuild their lives.

To learn more and to make a bid on this beautiful photograph (framed and ready to hang), please visit K Sime Photo today.

I have also decided to bring back my Love print and will be donating 100% of the money raised to United Way to help rebuild Joplin.

To see just a small glimpse of what the people of Joplin have been through, watch this video that shows a group of people taking shelter in a dark gas station, then watch this video as they revisit that same gas station after the storm. This video shows you an aerial view of the damage.

To learn more visit Joplin, MO Tornado Recovery Facebook page, and to help out in other ways visit Rebuild Joplin.

Any amount you can give, big or small, will help.

Thank you.

Your Personal Reflection: What are you grateful for today?

Smile! (and your chance to win)

2011-06-01T09:35:00.000-05:00

This is what I call JOY.

Your Personal Reflection: What makes you smile from the inside out?

If you are interested in winning a spot in my fall session of Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery e-course, (or many other prizes) head on over to the Rhythm of the Home blog by Sunday to enter!

And check out my new summer project post Natural Playdough: Using the Garden for Inspiration.