Hello November

The weekend was such a blast - filled with Halloween parties and family fun.  We packed up the decorations and will soon get outside to tackle the maple leaves that are starting to fall.

I had a follow-up appointment with my midwife this morning and enjoyed my first time driving since the c-section.  I felt like it was my "coming out" party!  I treated myself to a decaf soy latte at Starbucks.

My energy is coming back and I'm super excited to start preparing for my January session of Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery e-course.  (Mark your calendar - registration opens for this session in one month!)

And today for my Art Every Day Month project I picked up my bamboo knitting needles and finished this yummy scarf.

Your Personal Reflection:  What sparks your creativity and what fun are you having today?

Love Yourself; Love Your Life (and a sweet give-away!)

Today marks the end of the first session of my e-course, Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery.  It has been such an amazing experience.  I'm left feeling so overjoyed at the amount of deep connecting, sharing and exploring that has taken place over the last 28 days.

I light this candle, as a symbol to honor the "closing ceremonies" of class, and to show that today is not the end, but rather the beginning of the rest of our lives.  May each of you see the direction you're heading, stay connected to your community, and radiate your authenticity, from the inside out.

To celebrate this incredible journey, I'd like to give away one spot to my spring session.  The next Inside Out e-course starts April 5th, and to learn more, visit HERE.

To enter for your chance to win, leave a comment on this post by Sunday, Valentine's Day, at midnight US Central time.  I will announce the winner on Monday!

Enjoy a few of the beautiful comments shared by the bold explorers who just completed the course.

By giving my thoughts some space and time, it has helped me to see my inner wishes better.  My intentions have showed up and now I feel the need to realize them in art.  They have been ready for this for a while.  I have questioned myself with, "Why have I waited so long?"  Life is life.  I had to do other things to get to this moment.  This is not the goal and there is a lot to discover.  I think I found the very right source - ME!

I'm loving all the creative ideas.  I have learned that I don't have to just sit still and think through the hard parts to write them down.  I can paint, draw, glue...when I'm stuck!  It gets my juices flowing and opens me up which makes the 'writing-down-part' so much easier!

Allow softening of the edges of the walls and paths of history.  Grow leaves and branches out.  Come home to my own, my heart - my self-reliance will give me peace.  And every day, in every way, I am becoming more me.

 I am learning that to live life I have to participate, but that I don't need arbitrary rules.  This course has been a fabulous opportunity for me to practice just that: to take it as it comes, to resist the perfectionistic tendencies that leave me stuck in the mud, and to explore my creativity without self-editing.

Over the last few weeks I have let a lot of emotions out that I have been keeping inside for some time and it feels liberating.  I have learned that I choose my thoughts and that I can change the negative into the positive.  As a result of this course I became brave and told my husband my dreams and wishes.  I knew he would be supportive, but I had to let go of my own self-doubt first and believe that I could make them a reality before sharing them with anyone.   Now that I have said them out loud, they've become more than just thoughts, but tangible goals.  Another thing I have learned is to let go of the guilt.  This is hard to do, but every time I feel like I'm not living up to the person I think I should be, I step back and repeat that "I am enough."  The positive affirmations have been so healing for me.

I love the things that have come 'out' of 'Inside' me!  I so truly love me and am ready to BE BOLD!

I have learned that I have lost my own personal confidence, and most importantly, I have learned that I can get it back!  I have learned that I can be a creative person, that I am a creative person, and that I am good enough to be the person that I have always dreamed of being.

Your Personal Reflection: Are you creating a life you love?

*The art journaling photos were provided by class participants.

Enjoy the "opening ceremonies" of the Olympics tonight!  If anyone is interested in reading behind the scenes, my father-in-law works for the US Ski Team and is blogging about his adventures in Canada HERE.

Humbled

These gorgeous flowers are gifts from my husband and mom to celebrate the start of my first 4-week e-course.

My sweet husband wrote this in his handmade card:

"There is nothing more wonderful than to watch u grow."

Today marks the end of our first week and what a gift it has been.  The final count is 67 participants from all over the US and the world, including Canada, UK, Sweden, India, Australia and the Netherlands!  In just 5 days these explorers are making some incredible connections, insights, reflections, artwork, journal entries and personal growths that are truly inspiring to me.  I told the group that I am not the teacher of the course, but simply the person holding the space.  I know from years of teaching yoga that it's truly my yoga students who teach me, and that continues to hold true in this course.

Each day I get the privilege to participate in kind and vulnerable discussions posed on our private group page. The compassion towards one another, and the support that each person shows, is truly powerful.  There is such a longing for personal meaning and making space for what matters most in our lives.  I think there is also a deep need to be connected to a like-minded community.  For those who like to ask the deeper life questions, contemplate the meaning of things, and peel away layers from past experiences so that we can live more full, vibrant lives, having the support and community from others is vital to our spiritual awakening.  I am grateful so many beautiful beings have come together to share this self-discovery journey.

My heart is SO full right now.  My years of perfectionism that kept me from taking big creative leaps is dissipating.  My fear of failure stuck its ugly head out this week as I thought, "Dear God, I have 60 plus people looking for me to provide them with a class that has meaning for them.  What happens if I fail them?"  Well, luckily I won't allow myself to wallow in this place for very long.  This is a thought I do not need to think.  Instead, I trust that we are all here at the right time, at the right place, sharing our journey together for a reason.  I will not diminish the essence of this experience by giving my inner critic and fears much face time.

Instead, I take a deep breath.  I honor the light in myself, the light in the kind souls that have joined together, and the light that is guiding our way.

The next Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery starts April 5, 2010.  Registration for the spring session starts February 22.  Mark your calendars as the first session sold out!  A big thanks to Hip Mountain Mama, Shivaya Naturals and Artsyville, (along with so many others!) for your great help in getting the word out about our first class.

Your Personal Reflection:  Do you have a supportive person in your life, or a community of like-minded people that you belong to?  If not, what small steps could you take, starting today, to find others you can share your journey with?  Remember, you are not alone.  We are all in this together.

12 Personal Highlights from the Past 12 Months

1) Intentions: I set an intention for 2009 to live my life more boldly, fully and freely. (I also started my blog and joined Twitter to share, connect, and grow with other free spirits.)

2) Celebrations: I honored Kestan on his big, first birthday,

and celebrated 6 years of marriage to this awesome guy.

3) Gained Insight: I learned a great lesson on this wonderful, summer day, from my sweet little boy, about Going Shoeless.  I also reread Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth, and listened to his podcasts. I discovered Oprah's Soul Series, and enjoyed the teachings of Wayne Dyer, Rev. Ed Bacon, Elizabeth Lesser, and so many others.

4) Wellness:  Enjoyed abundant tomatoes in our garden, perfected my hummus recipe, and experimented with gluten-free cooking.  Loved dancing at Zumba each week and occasionally hit a yoga class.

5) Inspiration: I had the privilege of participating in some amazing on-line courses that made me see things in a new way. From Elise's Get Crafty class, I was reminded to see the special details in the everyday. In Lisa's Visual Journals workshop, I was reminded how journaling has always been a huge part of my life and creative process, and her insight helped me embrace myself as an entrepreneur.  SARK's Juicy Journaling simply reminded me just how much I love SARK.  She has always been a source of inspiration to me. In fact, for years, I used to say, "I want to live a SARK lifestyle."  (Like keeping time by the amount of tea cups you've used, or taking naps every day!)  I actually started living the lifestyle I've always dreamed of, and SARK is one person who's helped me get there.  (During her course, I got to personally thank her, which was a very special moment for me.)

 

6) Risk-Taking:  I left a consistently paying job to become a stay-at-home and work-from-home mom.  Getting my Iphone allowed me to go mobile.  I was able to keep Kestan out of daycare and merge my personal career goals with being a hands-on mommy.

 

7) Pure Love:  In October, we celebrated my gorgeous sister's magical marriage ceremony to her wonderful husband, Matt.  My husband took the photos, my brother's band played the music, and many family and friends lent their helping hands.  It truly was a family affair, and the most beautiful celebration of what it means to love another.

8) Creativity:  Enjoyed a creatively inspiring month of making art EVERY day, and joined the Create Every Day group for next year.  I reconnected to a deep longing to paint.  It was a transformative experience for me, one that opened my heart and reminded me what it means to trust.  Thanks, Leah!

9) Abundance:  I started my Etsy shop. (and made some sales!)

10) Connection:  I created, developed and opened registration for my first ever e-course:  Inside Out - A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery. This is a whole new journey for me, one that makes me feel as though every cell in my body is radiating with excitement and happiness. (And, a little scary, too!)

11) Joy:  The joy I feel about being a mother is somewhat indescribable.  What I can say is that spending the days with my little guy is a great gift.  I am full of gratitude for an amazing holiday season, with Kestan's first knowledge of "anta, and more snow than we've had in years - sledding and snowman making galore!  Watching him grow is like Christmas everyday.

12) Space: I introduced Reduce Clutter; Create Space 2010 and was overwhelmed by the response from other like-minded souls who want to take this journey with me.  I invite this new year, as a year to simplify, to reduce, and to make S P A C E for what's most important.

Whoa.  It's been a big year.  Now, I sit back.  I take a big breath.  I exhale fully and smile.  And, now it seems, a nap is a really good idea.

Happy new year to each of you!

Your Personal Reflection: What are YOUR highlights and celebrations of this past year? 

Time for Celebration and Renewal

Here we are, the week before Christmas, and a time for celebration! If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, today marks the winter solstice and the shortest day of the year. For many of us, we're moving into colder weather, however, the solstice reminds us that the daylight will gradually increase, and the warmth will one day return.

In the meantime, though, winter is a season that invites us to embrace solitude. It's a time to slow down, snuggle up and stay in, and it offers us a beautiful opportunity for internal reflection and deep renewal.

I have been feeling incredibly busy over the last several weeks, especially after opening registration for my e-course. I am still finalizing many details for the class, and the fact that it all hits around the holidays and new years (not to mention my entire families birthdays!), I've definitely been feeling the stress.

So to honor this new season, and my deep desire of wanting to be present for the holidays, I've decided to take one week off from my blog (and reading blogs!). My intention is to "create space". (In fact, "creating space" is going to be my theme for this next year, and I'll share more about that when I return!) For me, in order to make space for something, I have to let another thing go. I need to make space for my journal, to reflect on the past year, and to get grounded for the new year. I need to make space for family connections. I need to make space for play. Letting go of Internet writing and reading for one week will help me create some much needed space for the things I need most right now. Ahhh, I'm already feeling less stressed just typing these words.

The best thing we can do for ourselves in celebration of the solstice and the holiday season is to connect to our inner stillness, for it is in the stillness that we can more clearly see where we want to go in the future. This is a great place to be as we prepare for 2010.

So bye-bye blog world for the week. I have so much gratitude in my heart, and I'm especially grateful for each of you. Thank you for visiting. I wish you a mindful, peaceful and super-fly fun holiday!

Feel free to leave a comment and share:

Your Personal Reflection: How will you celebrate the holidays? What are you grateful for? Do you have enough space in your life that allows you to connect to your inner stillness? How will you prepare for the new year?

4 Creative, FUN, & Inexpensive Gift Ideas that Moms (and kids) will Love

Looks like we've got another computer junkie in the family. I informed Kestan that he couldn't start blogging until he was at least two! So until January I have offered to write his blog posts for him. Here are some of his ideas, for all the mommy's in the world, on some creative, fun and inexpensive gift ideas this holiday season. A few ideas are for your kids, some are to do WITH your kids, and some are just for YOU (or moms in your life).

1) Toilet Paper Roll Recycled Cars
I found this idea in Family Fun magazine and I couldn't resit trying it out for my car-lover.

Supplies:
* toilet paper rolls
* plastic lid tops
* toothpicks
* straws
* nail & hammer
* hole puncher
* scissors
* hot glue gun

First, paint the paper rolls and let them dry. Use a hole puncher to create holes on both ends for the straws. Cut the straws just a little smaller than the toothpicks. You will insert the toothpick inside the straw, then the straws inside the holes, creating the axle for the wheels. Use your hammer and nail through the center of each plastic lid, (using a nail the width of the toothpick). This will create the hole for the toothpick. The lids will go on each end of the toothpick and hot glue in place.

You can find a fancier "How To" version here.
I have to add that these aren't the sturdiest cars! They certainly didn't last very long, but were very fun to make and a great lesson to teach your kids how to recycle ordinary things in new ways! I thought they could make great stocking stuffers.

2) Frame Your Child's Masterpiece
This is so easy and can be a great treasure for any grandma, mom or special family member to receive. I purchased half price pre-cut matte's at the local craft store. Tape the artwork on the back, and tape a piece of yarn, length wise, for hanging.

3) Support Hand-Made Artists
Times are tough and money is tight. Think about spending your money more wisely this year by discovering and supporting a new artist. So many of us creative mom's want to stay home with our kids, but still have to nurture our creative spirits (and bring home some bacon), and nothing helps more than keeping our art going!

Go to ETSY and play around. And check out a few of my new favs:

Allison Strine

Aimee at Artsyville

Andrea Stern
(10% of her proceeds in December go to Toys for Tots)

Shannon at Free Spirit Knits

(Ok, yes, this is me! I have found it hard to promote my own artwork,

and I'm changing that. I have to be one of my favorites, right?)

Give your kids the best gift ever, by giving YOURSELF the gift of rejuvenation!
5) Take a Virtual Restore and Renew Retreat
You can find so many amazing mom's doing really amazing things through the web. The following women offer mindful writings, products and services that support your personal wellness.

Owning Pink is a beautiful community started by the lovely Lissa Rankin. Her blog offers wonderful reminders and support that invite you to feel safe while exploring your truth. Give yourself, or a mom in your life, the gift of renewal by introducing her to this lovely community.

Hip Mountain Mama is one of my favorite Twitter friends. Suzy owns a family business in Colorado that offers all natural products for mama's and babies. She also shares awesome craft ideas on her blog. And sticking with the recycling theme, check out her "One Small Change" project and join the challenge. You are bound to feel revitalized after a visit there.
Here I go again...but let me remind you, that Kestan put me up to this blog entry. He loves his mommy and thinks my upcoming e-course is going to be especially awesome for other mommies. (And so do I!)

If you are looking to renew your spirit, set intentions (and stick to them) for a new year & new life, looking for more balance between your personal wellness and interests with your responsibilities, and wanting to put YOURSELF first, then think about signing up for Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery. It's the best $39 you can spend on you, and you get to participate at your own pace, in your comfy home, under your favorite blanket. Learn more about why I created the class, here. (Gift certificates available!)

Your Personal Reflection: What small gift will you give yourself this season that doesn't cost much, but offers huge rewards?