Softening (& winner announced)

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.)

Living Every Day Like It's Vacation

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.

The Gift of This Season

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

On Lockdown

We are up to our knees in snow and it feels like the 100th straight day of zero degree temperatures.  My phone isn't working, my husband has the car all day, and Kestan and I find ourselves on the 5th straight day of staying home. Here's how the weekend is shaping out:

 

 

  

 

Staying home has been great fun, but we're both ready to balance that with an adventure out of the house!

Examples of stir-crazy are starting to present themselves.  HELP!


Your Personal Reflection:  What craziness and fun are you up to this weekend?

Intentions for a New Year

For me, this photo represents vast spaciousness - something I find myself needing more and more of with each passing day. (And one of the reasons why I took a week off from my blog. Glad to be back!) What started as a de-clutter December project, has now turned into my personal quest for the year of 2010. (This week I'll be introducing "Reduce Clutter; Create Space, 2010" project. I hope you'll join me!)

What does this mean? Well, every year around this time, I grab a warm drink, my favorite pen, and my journal, and I reflect on the past 12 months. I write about the events and celebrations that stand out. I write about lessons I've learned. I write about where I find myself in this moment as I approach a new year.

Rather than write resolutions, I usually write a word or phrase that sets my intentions for the coming year. Sometimes I think about it for weeks, and sometimes the phrase comes instantly. This past month of clearing clutter has erupted a deep desire in my soul to let go of more.

So my intention for this next year is to create S P A C E. I intuitively know that the more space I create, the more open my heart feels. And the more open my heart is, the more peaceful I feel.

I look around my environment, and what was once a place that suited my needs, has now felt as though I'm being swallowed in it. The more I clear, the more piles I find. And these piles are sneaky and hidden. Because on an external level, my house looks clean and orderly. But, when I start to go deeper, I find more and more treasures to sift through and learn from. It's hard. I get why so many of us avoid going deeper in our lives. Sometimes it's easier to not see. To stuff it away. To hide it in the closet. The drawers. Sweep it under the rug. But the physical stuff, the tightness in my throat, and the mental chatter reminds me that I CAN'T live that way. I need to go deeper. I need to clear. I need to breathe. I need to feel free. I need to be.
The creation of more space in my life is SO exciting. I see the open road, and I smile.

Your Personal Reflection: What is your intention for this new year?

(You can see the list of what I de-cluttered for the month of December on the right side of my site.)

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?