The winner of the...

Hip Mountain Mama $30 gift certificate is...

Thanks for stopping by and for leaving your fabulous comments.  I'll be introducing another free spirit soon with another great give-away!

And mark your calendars...registration for Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery opens December 1st!

Your Personal Reflection:  Are you ready to make 2011 the best year yet?

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Create Wherever You Can (& another chance to win!)

This next Free Spirit Spotlight introduces you to Suzy, creator and owner of Hip Mountain Mama.  Many of you are probably already familiar with her as she has a wonderful presence on her blog in the world of Twitter.  She sells natural products for mamas at her on-line store.  I just ordered a Moby wrap from her and can't wait to start using it with Ashton. 

Enjoy her lovely interview, and leave a comment for your chance to win a $30 gift certificate to use at the Hip Mountain Mama shop!

*Photos provided by Hip Mountain Mama.

1) How did you come to a place in your life where you embrace yourself as a creative person?

I guess I have always felt like a creative person.  There are certain mediums that I am better at using than others, but as a whole I'm pretty creative.  I think a lot of this comes from my mom always telling me how creative I am.  She really boosts my confidence when it comes to my creativity and it has been important to have someone in my life to keep me feeling good about my creations.  I honestly feel that we are all creative beings; we just need to recognize and embrace it.

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

I really enjoy putting things together...making something beautiful from just a few materials.  Things like jewelry, knitting, and basket weaving.  I feel that when given a few materials and asked to create something, this really brings out ones personality and is such a wonderful freedom of self-expression.

3) Where do you get your inspiration?

I get a lot of my inspiration from nature.  I love creating things using natural materials or even things taken right out of nature.  I also find tons of inspiration from other creative people through blogs, craft fairs or friends.

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

Well, if you are literally talking about space...I usually find myself crafting on my bed, or couch, or the kitchen table with materials spread out all over.  I don't have a craft room or area of the house, so I keep most of my supplies in my closet or mixed in with the kids art supplies.  As far as time goes, I usually create with the kids so I am basically killing two birds with one stone, right?  I get to spend quality time with the kids while teaching them the importance of fostering their creative sides, while also getting to embrace my creativity at the same time!  There are also times I find myself knitting in the waiting room of the dentist office, or in bed at night, or in the car on the way to Grandma's house...I sneak it in when I can!

5) What is a free spirit to you and do you feel like one?

I totally feel like a free spirit.  My definition of a free spirit and why I feel like one is: 

~having an open mind ~willingness to try new things ~not afraid to get messy ~lots of laughing and having fun ~exploring new places.  

To me, being a free spirit means having a blast, but also taking care of your loved ones and acting in a caring and responsible manor.

6) What would you say to those who want to live a creative, free spirited life but don't feel very creative and don't know where to begin?

Like I said in the beginning, I completely believe that we are all creative beings.  Think about it...when we are kids, we are all given crayons and glue and other materials and we know just what to do with them.  There is some point in our lives when we stop playing with those materials and we seem to lose the desire to create.  My advice is to start creating again!  Pick up those crayons and doodle, paint, learn to knit, start a blog, or take guitar lessons.  Don't worry about the outcome or about getting messy - just have fun!

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BIG thanks to you, Suzy, for sharing your creative spirit with us.

Your Personal Reflection:  Do you carve out enough time in your day for your creativity?  Leave a comment here for your chance to win a $30 gift card to be used at Hip Mountain Mama.  Join my Facebook fan page if you want a double shot at winning.

I'll announce the winner later this week!

Self-Discovery is a Life-Long Journey

I met Hip Mountain Mama on Twitter last year, and we've become good "virtual" friends ever since.  She has been a wonderful supporter of my e-course, and she experienced some life changing moments from taking the class.  Please enjoy this honest, authentic reflection of a glimpse into her self-discovery journey.

Why were you originally drawn to signing up for Inside Out?
I am always looking for ways to tap into my true self...to live the life I really want for myself.  In this busy world we live in, it can be hard to take the time to work on YOU.  I was reading your blog one day and saw that you were offering an e-course on self-discovery...this appealed to me on many levels and I knew I wanted to be part of it!  I really liked that it was an online class that could be taken on my own pace, but that there would also be support from you and the other members.

Have you ever taken an e-course before?
No, this is my first one.

What did you enjoy the most from your experience in the course?
I really enjoyed the guided meditations!  Having the extra nudge to take 15 minutes for me each day was just what I needed.  I also really enjoyed journaling and the deep and thought provoking questions that we addressed.

Did you encounter any surprises along the way?
I think my favorite and most surprising day was when we were figuring out what was really important to us in life.  To do this, we first took the approach of what we did not value or like in our lives.  By doing this I was able to realize there were many situations that did not go along with my values and I needed to let a few things go in my life!  By letting some things go, I was completely surprised by how at peace and happy I felt!

Did you learn anything new about yourself and what are some of the things you've discovered in the course that you've now applied to your daily life?
I learned that I am great at stuffing my feelings and going along with things in my life that need to be put aside.  I have learned that I need to feel and that it is OK to feel and to let these feelings out.  As I said in an earlier answer, I have let some things go in my life that caused me stress and allowing myself to do this has been life changing!

Would you recommend this course to others?  
Absolutely!  Whatever place you are in your life, this is a class that everyone can learn from.  It is amazing to hear how the class affected other people and how everyone takes from it what they need.


Anything else you'd like to share, especially to those who are wondering if the course is right for them?
One of my favorite things about taking the class was waking up knowing I had a friend to go to each morning.  Reading the post for the day, answering questions, journaling, meditating, doing some artwork...I never knew what was going to be in store for that day's class and that was really exciting and fun! Take a leap of faith and see what this class can do for you!

Thank you, Suzy, for sharing your enthusiasm for life with us!  I remember one of her favorite guided meditations from class was the one that focused on creativity.  I'd like to share that meditation with each of you.  Click here to download the audio podcast, set aside 10 minutes of quiet time, get comfortable and enjoy the gift of stillness.

Your Personal Reflection:  Think about the last time you took a leap of faith.  What big, healthy risks have you taken in your life that have changed you?  Are you ready for a new one?