What is holding you back?

I am writing this post for anyone out there who feels blocked from their creativity. I get this feeling a lot as a mom. I get all these great ideas in the back of my mind for things I want to make and then as the day goes on I get stuck in the routine and tasks of daily life and these ideas stay merely ideas. Sometimes I get some time to myself and sometimes I just want to do NOTHING. This has also been a roadblock. Then I will read some other creative mom blogs who have 5 kids, keep up 3 blogs, exercise daily, grocery shop, work from home, and still find time to paint and create beautiful things and I'm left feeling extremely inadequate. Does this ever happen to you? Do you have any tips for when you feel unmotivated or stuck?

I guess the trick is to stop coming up with excuses when I have time and to just make something. Even if it is just getting my watercolors out and playing rather than creating some grand miraculous work of art. I made the above screen saver/wallpaper as a reminder to myself. If you would like a copy for free just send me an email :)

Oh and I made this little painting yesterday and it is for sale in my shop now.

Hoping you can let your creativity flow today!

Kelly

STUFF does not make your life any happier in the BUT

a smile like this does.....

I was watching the oprah show on happiness this morning and I wasn't surprised to learn that the thing that makes for a much happier life is interaction with other humans!

I have to say that going out for lunch or going for a walk with with a friend can boost my happiness a lot more than going shopping alone or sitting at home and watching TV (I do have my shows don't get me wrong :)

Also on the show they found that the people who had more interaction at work rated their lives happier than people with less; So, special ed teachers, travel agents, clergy members, and fire fighters were found to be some of the "happiest" people. These people only make around $50,000 a year (at the most!) so it proves that making bucket loads of money does not make you any happier. I do believe you need enough money for food, shelter, mobility, and recreation. Not having basic needs would make your life more stressful and would lower your happiness level.

The most important happiness factor is making meaningful connections with people. This got me thinking that I would love to know the people who read my blog better. So if you don't mind say hi if you want through a comment or even an email. I would like to get to know you better! I know I have not been a regular poster and this is something I want to work on. Finding time has been difficult for this first time mom!

happy thursday!

9 Months *

Dear Sammy

You have turned 9 months old this past weekend and I can hardly wrap my mind around it. From 8 to 9 months there are so many new things you have learned and accomplished like: crawling, trying to share your sippy cup with me, pulling up onto your knees, opening dresser drawers, trying to use a spoon with help, brushing your teeth (with help) , sprouting two more teeth (for a total of 6), and trying to pick up and eat the tiniest of crumbs and scraps off the floor. Your dad and I talk about you after you have gone to sleep at night about how much we "like" you. You are such a fun kid already! You dad jokes that he is going to go wake you up because he misses you and wants to play with you.

How do you have this effect on us? It is a combination of the following I think:

your captivating smile, the adorable giggle when I make your stuffed animals talk to you, it is the dimples on your hands where eventually knuckles will be, it is the smell of your sweet head, it is the look of wonder on your face when you see something new, and it is the warmth of your little 20 lb 8oz body I feel while rocking you at night.

I love you Sammy :) God has surely blessed us more than we deserve.

Love Mom

Hello 2011

I've been thinking a lot about what I would like my life to look like in 2011. Then I remembered that a lot of the events and happenings in our lives really aren't in our control to begin with.

but

There are some things that I can control like:

Finding an even deeper connection to God and finding a church family

Striving to be an even better wife and mother

Finding more time for painting/decorating/crafting/cooking

Creating more traditions in my family

Simplifying my home (starting with the coat closet today)

2010 was a fantastic year! The best part was giving birth to the sweetest baby boy in the entire world. I adore him. My husband and I were just talking about how it is going to be hard for us as he gets older to discipline him because he is just so darn fun, funny, and cute and it's like we just want him to be our little pal! Oh dear.

This is not a very well thought out post. I am tired today but I really wanted to blog. So it is what it is.

I hope you had a wonderful 2010 and I wish you an even better 2011.

PS: I will post a pic later when I can find my camera and cord!

8 months

Dear Sammy

You turned 8 months old on the 15th and you are even more amazing than ever! You have 3 teeth and one more about to break through. They all came in at the same time a few weeks ago. This has made for some trying nights, but with a little tylenol and orajel you seem to be coping well. You can also army crawl. The very first thing you "crawled" after was a yellow ball. You love balls, remotes, cat tails, stuffed animals, putting things in your mouth, being tickled, being tossed in the air, and watching jeopardy. You are also getting a mind of your own and never want to take naps! You are very "attached" to me, and reach for me when you are upset. You love playing with your daddy, especially when he gets home from work. You love to touch his whiskers and teeth. You are such a fun and happy baby and we couldn't be more in love. Here's to 8 months!

Love Mom

:)

So thankful :) Sammy at 1 week old

We enjoyed a nice long quiet Thanksgiving weekend here in our little apartment. We live far away from our families so we did not have a huge spread of food, but I did make a ham, mashed potatoes and green bean casserole (my favorite). We also had left over ice cream cake from my birthday last Tuesday which is always delicious! To say that I am thankful this year is an understatement. I am so blessed to have a wonderful husband and a healthy baby and I just feel so content with my life right now. I hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving and that your bellies are full and happy. I know I need to get out and do some walking this week to make up for my over-indulging.

If you are still looking for a little holiday gift I am offering a 10% discount in my shop for the next 3 days. All you have to do is enter the code THANKFUL at checkout. Have a great cyber-monday!

Putting it out there

I want to live way up north in the woods.

In a cozy home with a front porch and swing

with a real fireplace

Where my kids can run around outside all day

and explore the land

A place where there is enough land for my husband to ride four-wheelers and snow-mobiles

and hunt

I want my kids to know how to build a tree fort and to skip rocks

I want a real christmas tree every year

I want my kids to know God, to have moral values and character, and to appreciate life

I want a garden in the summer

with veggies and flowers

I want a home where playing games and singing songs is the norm

I want to relearn how to play the piano

I want a creative space where my kids and I can paint and make things all day long

It doesn't have too be big

or fancy

I don't even need to live close to a mall

that's what shopping on the internet is for

I want to live closer to our families

so my kids know their grandparents

I want more kids eventually

I want a big hill to ride sleds down in the winter

I want my husband to find a job that pays enough for us to do this

and a job that makes him happy

I know this may be a lot to want

but I do

and I am putting it out there in hopes that it will come true!