Jellybean Toes, Cheerios, and a Scrapping Hullabaloo

Simply Magnetic

2012-05-09T16:32:00.000-05:00

I promised you something new in store this week. And so, by request, here they are, mini print magnets! Just $5 each, beautiful crisp quality and vibrant colors ( I couldn't be happier), and they are available in all of the prints you see in my shop. I did these thinking beyond the fridge; a bit of encouragement hung inside a special kids locker at school, a little brightening on the filing cabinet of a teacher who goes the extra mile, even a bit of heart stuck along the metal strip of an office cubicle as a reminder of how much brightness is there for the taking...you get the idea! Everyone needs lifting up sometimes, everyone likes to feel appreciated or understood, and that's kind of the point of my art. To shine a light into all of the wonderful places in our lives, as far as we can possibly reach!

You can look for these here in my Shop on Monday

The Soccer Season Kicks off

2012-05-08T22:47:00.000-05:00

Last night was the start of soccer season for us. Emy doesn't play, she's a swimmer and has no interest in a sport that would require kicking at people, she has such a gentle heart. Tiara was pumped to be back at a sport she adores, little Kaiella was super nervous because it was her first "real"game and she didn't want to make a mistake (sweet munchkin), and Coach Cam was ready for screaming girls and lots of fun. I only had my phone with me but I thought I'd share a few favorite moments I managed to snap.

It turned out to be a lovely night; The evening sun couldn't have been more beautiful... the perfect warm golden glow.

Tiara scored twice to kick off the season with pizazz, and little Kaiella did wonderfully ( see! nothing to worry about after all little one).

I think this is my favorite moment of all though. So happy to be the coaches kid, proud as can be after a great game. She is a total daddy's girl walking away from the now emptied field towards the setting sun, chattering happily together. Melts my heart to bits! This life, these regular little treasures hidden in our day; These are the moments I want to remember forever.

Today is a Gift

2012-05-07T08:12:00.000-05:00

My two random winners from Friday's post are

Kathleen and Michelle!

Congrats girlies, send me an email so I can get you hooked up with all of your goodies

You guys are all amazing, you really touched my heart last week; from your openness to share your challenges and how you have chosen to overcome them with positivity here in the comments , to your honesty on facebook where I asked the same question, and even private emails I got last week sharing with me from an open heart and with such a positive attitude. I am encouraged, I am moved, and I am honored that you cared to listen to my story and felt comfortable enough to share so many of yours with me.
THANK YOU.

Taking Art off of someone's site is usually a Big "no no", please know this.
BUT... This time, I would Love for you to go ahead and right click the image above, save it, and print it out at 5x7 to hang somewhere as a reminder that it's up to YOU to make some sunshine in this world, to Make the choice to see TODAY as a gift no matter what may come.
xo it's My little gift to you.

ETA: The giveaway is now closed, the print above has been replaced with a web sized image and will be added to my etsy shop later this week

It's been a rough weekend/start to the week, my headache & other pain came back full force to try and kick my butt right back to bed and to laying there trapped on my frozen veggies. POOOP!
It's super duper intense BUT I'm doing as much kicking back as I can, there is just too much good living to be had! I did everything in my power to just keep going like a Rockstar. And we made all kinds of good family memories YAYY!

The truth is it could be partly my fault, I need to double check ingredients and be more careful this week with what I am eating, I have a sneaking suspicion that I accidentally may have had some wheat and dairy hidden in good eats which is most likely the culprit.
Live and learn, and then help someone else, right?!
If you have any amazing-must-try wheat free, dairy free recipes please please shoot me an email! I am getting really bored with my few stand by options. And don't have enough culinary imagination to invent my own.

This week; my girls are going to wow me with their swimming, Tiara and I are going to head to the city together today to do some getting healthy. Our first soccer games officially start up which will be extra fun cuz two girls are on the same team and Cam is their coach, so I guess you could say I am a seriously invested fan! Later this week I have some new stuff to share going up in my etsy shop for gifts, another fun happy giveaway, and all kinds of pictures from snapping away during week in the life. Have a great Monday friends, let's be rockstars together and kick this week in the butt hardcore!!!

giveaways, life, & inspiration

2012-05-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

This month's BYOC kits are bright and full of happy color and best of all they are ready to go! These 3 just went up in MY SHOP at the lilypad, and EVERYTHING in the store is 30% off to celebrate international scrapbooking day this weekend! I just kinda like the idea of shopping for good deals in jammie pants with no line ups ;)

{photos by Kal Barteski}

Every once and awhile there are those people who cross your path and leave an impact forever on your heart. My friend Kal is one of tho people; anyone who has taken a class from her, listened to her speak, or who has the pleasure of knowing her is a person who is left changed, left better than they were before. The new pack above is a kit celebrating that incredible beauty, cuz I think the world needs more people like Kal and this is just what my hands did with all of that thinking. Check out HER BLOG, she has beautiful Art and words that stir the soul. You will be inspired I guarantee you.

There's a story behind my kits this month. They are all about Living life, loving life, going for it with all you've got and sharing the best of what you have!
NOT something I take for granted these days. It is only a few weeks ago that I couldn't even join my kids for a walk no matter how badly I wanted to. So not only am I inspired by my friend Kal's fierceness, bravery and strength as she has been walking a similar journey, but I am trying really hard to learn to make the best health choices I can. Trying do the best I can with what I have each day, and do my little bit to help fill the world with goodness and light. Amazingly it works every time, sharing goodness makes me feel a whole lot better and brighter. Hence, the frenzy of giveaways this week. ( did I just say Hence? oy)

I am trying to be more open, trying to share more and that means I need to tell you a bit of what's been up. Weeks ago I got rid of all wheat, dairy and sugar ( as well as a whole bunch of other things)... I had had a wicked migraine for months with no relief, severe pain all through my neck and back and nothing was helping at all, no pain killers no treatments and though I have suffered with migraines for most of my life That has never happened before. I'm usually a smile and keep on going kind of girl. But this time all I could do was lay there on ice for months and tell my girls to come and cuddle up. Such a trapped and helpless place to be. It was a tough road figuring out some thyroid problems, and then battling through this at the same time. Hard to be inspirational, hard to just get up and try to be a wee bit wife and mommy while hurting so so much. I'm not telling you this to bore you with a sad story, just being real. I definitely want to not only live life, but absolutely adore every minute of it! Simply existing is just not an option for me. NOT!!! I've never been someone who just let's the days all run together, and I don't wanna be, SO here's to all of that positivity I'm grabbing at, here's to mighty conquering and choosing to give life your ALL no matter what comes your way...aaaand a few spray painted butterflies thrown in cuz spring is my fave and they make me happy.

I LOVE this beautiful layout by Amanda Resende, she always manages to wow me with her flow on a page but this one makes my eyes so happy I just wanna keep looking! The wood grain paper looks perfect next to my journal tree, I adore her use of warm colors, and she did an excellent job of clustering everything above the line, leaving lots of white space to rest the eye. Amazing job Girlie!!! Show her some Love HERE

The kits are up and you can find them HERE

OK friends, Leave me a comment by Monday morning 9:00 CST and tell me how you are fierce in the face of life, how you are choosing to put goodness into the world. I'll will pick two peeps to win all three of these sets. I'm happy to help you get it printed if you are a non computer person.
Can't wait to hear how you shine!

Blue Day sharing

2012-05-03T23:57:00.000-05:00

It was a Blue day around here. The Skies looked so amazing, perfect Blue, lots of sun and fluffy clouds. But... looks can be deceiving, it's still pretty chilly in these parts. Brrrr, I'm a big suck and our furnace is broken So it's been blankets and slippers and all of the warm wear I can dig up. Anyways, after a quick yogurt parfait for breakfast ( yogurt, protein powder, almond butter and blueberries. YUM) I head out to tackle a day of appointments and running around armed with the fluffiest warmest hoodie I have...yep happens to be blue too.
obsessed much?!

Driving around all day gave me lots of time to think and pray and think some more, Lots on my mind and never seems to be enough alone time to process it all. A couple of lovely people in our life are going through stuff and are on my heart. We are walking a very interesting journey with one of our girls that I am not ready to share yet, but it involves some digging and diagnosing and then some life changes, will be a good thing. But it's big and definitely weighing on me right now.

BUT...Despite the blue start I got to meet up with my lovely mama for an impromptu sunny lunch picnic in the car. We broke all of the rules just like we used to do when I was little and it was just the two of us hitting the town. Feet on the dash, ate right off the cheese block, laughed at things we maybe shouldn',t and let me tell you, IT RAWKED. yayy for happy amazing moms, yayy for picnics, and yayy for breaking a few rules!

Lastly I'm still working fiercely on new designs tonight, and what's coming from my hands right now honors a really cool artist friend of mine. More to come on that this weekend.

- Loving my iphone, it is the first one I have owned and it is fairly amazing
-Loving instagram, sharing made so so simple
-Seriously Loving how easy both of them make it to capture life as it happens.

What makes you blue? How is your weather? and whatcha Loving right now?

2012-05-03T23:54:00.000-05:00

Random.org says It's YOU, Congrats on winning the New book Meagan! I Loved your comment about how you try and think of the pictures you wish you had from your own childhood and capture those moments for your daughter. perfect. So so many other great ideas in the comments too, I read each one, BUT it's been a super busy-out of the house-eat wrong-and give yourself a migraine kind of a day today, Soooo I'm still working on putting all of your great tips and comments into one big post. As for all of you who didn't win today, pop back tomorrow afternoon for more celebrating and another chance to win some goodies before tomorrow night's big Launch Party!

Click below for more info and a VIP invite

Tonight I am going to drink tons of water and stay up as long as I can to try and get lots of designs finished for the big national scrapbooking day bash at the Lilypad this weekend...so much partying So little time!

2012-05-01T05:21:00.000-05:00

It's TIME!!! Are you ready for some fun? Today is our Everyday Storyteller blog hop, each of the contributors are sharing some bonus tips, and more...

Here is a little bit of a bigger Peek at some of the project bits from my article in the book. There is Lots of Color, and TONS of tips for how I tell each of my life stories loaded with Heart. I can promise you at least 13 ideas from my article alone, I can't wait to see how many more the other ladies will be sharing too!

I think for such an occasion a little bit of extra fun is in order, sooooo here is what we're gonna do... Leave me a comment telling me YOUR favorite way to capture the heart in your life's stories, by 11:59 pm Central and I will be GIVING AWAY a copy of the book to one lucky storyteller before it is available to the public!

Have you ever thought of your kitchen as a Great place for sourcing out your next storytelling tidbits? You'd be surprised how many treasures the heart of the home holds just waiting for you to discover! To make a great little page like this one, simply grab some extra non-slip mat from lining your cupboards, and some leftover sticky drawer liner. All you have to do is trace out a shape you love, like this bird, get creative stitching it in place, and add a photo or some journaling strips of your own! Voila, no cost cuteness!!!

OK friends, one last happy detail for today- are you signed up for the Big party yet? Head over HERE to sign up for a VIP invitation to join in our Book launch party at 8:30pm CDT on Friday, May 4. There will be almost $800 in prizes given away from our sponsors during the party, it's sure to be a BLAST!

Come back and visit me throughout this week, I will be sharing more tips, more peeks, and maybe even a giveaway or two of my own to keep things exciting! If you want to keep on blog hopping today and gather up all kinds of Bonus tips, here is the list of inspirational peeps who have lots of goodness for you, HAVE FUN!!!

ETA: if you have time to read through some of the comments, there are Great ideas coming in so far from everyone! I will put them all together in a Big post later this week

Happy Thursday highlights

2012-04-26T23:30:00.000-05:00

I Have been Loving the way "Week in The Life" has captured all of the bits that make up "us" right now. Capturing everything from, what we are eating, to school activities, cuddles with little people who won't always be so little, the weather, and what my day looks like working from home. I can't wait to put this all together so we can look back on it and remember what life in the Muckosky house in 2012 was all about! Today was toast for breakfast, healthy snacks, love notes from my little one, a never ending game of fetch, after school giggly cuddles, Bible study catch up by the fire place, supper on the go, and a clear night with a sparkly sliver of a moon out my window. There was much much more but that's just the highlight reel. Are you doing "week in the life" too? share a link in the comments so we can see what you are up to!

A Week In The Life begins

2012-04-23T23:00:00.000-05:00

I am really looking forward to this week, Ali Edwards has inspired a whole community to capture a "week in the life"-documenting all kinds of everyday bits of life going on in your home! I Love my life, I Love the motivation of a good challenge, and so will do my best. My good camera is in the shop with a broken shutter so it will be mostly iphone pics this year, but it is so handy I think I may even capture more that way! Here is a little look at our Monday; Leaving with friends, sharing Art time, beautiful blue skies, A special lunch date, an evening at the pool, waiting for giggly girls to finish changing, Tim's with a sweet friend, and at last little Angel's off to dreamland.

Join the fun and share your links here! I'd love to see what you're up to

Guess what I'm working on?

2012-04-05T02:55:00.000-05:00

I'm super excited to be a contributor in this Great e-book coming out in May! I have had many hours sitting on the floor in my studio, creating happy colorful new projects that showcase some of my favorite tips for telling the stories of life.

Keep an eye on things here over the next month as I get ready to share some more sneek peeks and give you the chance to win some great prizes.

In the meantime check out this Teaser video for a bit more info!

In other news, the weather here has suddenly been extra warm For Early April in Manitoba, the kiddos have a little extra spring in their step. The windows are open and the bird song filling our house makes my heart so very happy.

Little Jellybean Toes are muddy from hunting for ladybugs, Daddy is taking walks to the park and of course out for ice cream

Skies are Blue, Bikes are out, and on the whole everyone seems a little more merry now that the snow is gone from sight.

Enjoy the fresh start that comes with Spring my friends!

Lovely anyone?

2011-11-18T08:12:00.001-06:00

You see I know this lovely lady who has an incredibly lovely store nestled in the country just south of Winnipeg off of highway 59. It is a wonderful little old outbuilding, turned country gift store.

This time of year you walk in to find it brimming with Lovely Christmas gift items, a crackling fire, and the smells of Holidays in the air ( mmmm it's like a mix of gingerbread cookies and cider and warm vanilla).

Tonight is the second night of Christmas open house festivities including live music, a yummy chocolate fountain and other munchies, great sales on gift items in the store and more!

I am happy to share that I have matted art prints, kindness cards and Christmas postcards in the store for the event, they will be on sale at 20% off today ONLY, and I will be there from 5-9 this evening to sign prints and serve hot apple cider and Yummy hot chocolate! So if you are local and feel like a warm and cozy festive night out to kick off your Christmas mood, grab a friend and please come and join us! Here is a map and here is a quick peek at a couple of this years Christmas cards available starting tonight!

To keep it fun for all of you who aren't local, all of my prints will be on sale for 20% off online as well, but Only for today! Just enter the coupon code CHRISTMASKICKOFF when you check out.

Hope to see you there!!!

thought for the day

2011-10-19T05:43:00.016-05:00

I was helping My little Kaiella get ready for school earlier this week, lucky for me she is the one who still lets me pick her clothes which makes mornings go much smoother, and as I am guiding her little legs into the cutest pair of distressed skinny jeans she gives a big BIG sigh and says "Awww MAMA, you KNOW I hate skinny pants...they squeeze my legs!" Well, truth is she hadn't really told me that before so, surprised, I said "oh?" and she goes on to tell me "I don't care if my friends like them and my sisters like them, these are NOT their legs (pointing down to her little leggies),these are MY legs!!!" I burst out laughing and of course had to agree with her that these sweet little pudgy legs are indeed are all hers. We went off to find a pretty skirt and I got to thinking "wow, I wish we could all be a little bit more like Kaiella.

To just choose the path and make the choices that are best for our life no matter what the world is telling us we SHOULD be doing. I truly wish there were more of us who could pray about it,think about it, and make the BEST choice simply on what is right for our own life and our family...regardless of all of the expectations and "should dos" that come down on us.
Just my thought for today.
Thanks little Bella!

side note: photos are from a fun field trip I got to tag along on last spring. The rare photos like this one of her and I together are a total treasure to me.

The time has come...

2011-10-10T08:41:00.002-05:00

There is far too much that comes along and threatens to steal away with all of my inspiration and mind/heart space. You feel me? Wether it be laundry or "stuff", or just time that gets eaten away all too quickly by this and that... I often find myself chasing the day and left with no space for the call of my heart, no space to hear it and no space to answer.

What I need is to simply clear it all away sometimes, set aside days or even just hours where I either remove myself all together or put on blinders to it all simply so that I can answer the beautiful callings of my heart, of my spirit. This time will not simply come knocking at your door and invite itself in, the space is yours for the taking but you MUST MUST claim it and then dive! This is what I am learning slowly but surely, And so that is thre story behind this little piece from this post

Prints are in and available in my shop, if you too need a reminder to simply sweep it all aside for a time and clear yourself some beautiful space for inspiration!

Workin' On it Wednesday

2011-10-05T21:06:00.157-05:00

I am totally inspired by the responses I got from last weeks' "WOW", thank-you. Time for round 2 and this week and I am happy to say one of the things I am cooking up is a monthly newsletter since the vote was a resounding "YES". Thanks for that too! I'm excited to see how that unfolds as I gather content and learn how to put it all together. Me and my peeps are all miserably sick around here this week, and so what I am really working on right this moment is sleeping like crazy and getting us all better. Luckily though, I am also still in the midst of making these two new little art pieces that I started in my hotel room on the way home from San Francisco last week. It is amazing how much can spill from a heart overflowing after some time away with amazing ladies.

WOW#2

This first piece is about how very much we have to offer everyone else when we first remember to take the time to nurture ourselves and our own spirit. It's a whole hubbub of stuff all dancing together; watercolor, pencil crayon, pastels, japanese patterned tape and acrylics, hand stitching... and all in a little plain page notebook that lives in my purse for these moments of burning inspiration that can't be denied

I had a blast playing with these Japanese acrylic paints that I got from the dollar store in San Fran's Japan Town...sigh, that store (Daiso) was a whole lotta fantastic! These ones are pearly and shimmery and not quite as thick and creamy as the ones I would buy at home. Just different and different keeps my attention and makes things extra fun!

This next piece below is taking shape on the same little purse notebook, for now, I will build it a nice home to stitch it onto soon. That one is just wonderful watercolors and a ton of pencil crayon, cuz I have missed both of them over the summer and am still warming up my hands and my heart to get back in the swing of things now that the girls are in school all day. This one is inspired by my own need to clear away the distractions when my heart is calling and be sure that I have space to let it pour out.

Possibly the simplest, yet most exciting to me; I am spending my next couple of evenings "arting" up my next round of shipping envelopes so I can march on down to the post office, with my wee little puppy in tow, and send out a bunch of happy art prints. Mail is exciting to get and I figure if it has a little bit of extra love all over it then it is even MORE happy! I have been feeling like I am sending Christmas presents every time I send them off, and that makes me really happy! Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you to all of you who have supported me in this little Art sales adventure. It has been a long time coming and I am thourally, though a bit shyly, enjoying sharing all that I have been working on this year as it is ready and up in my store.

My last thought for today is this; Share joy.
Just go out and spread happines, cuz you can. Don't wait for the right time because the time will never be just right. Life keeps rollin' on. Simply make time. Even a few minutes to go above and beyond. I guarantee your heart will be filled even more than the one you are sharing with. Send mail (real actual mail), pay for the guys coffee behind you in line, Say something really nice to the next 5 people who pass by... you get the idea. It will not be expected but it will change the tone of someone's day, and YOURS!

watercolor yum

2011-10-01T00:17:00.008-05:00

Have I told you lately how I Love Paint?! All paint has it's own kind of yummy, but tonight it is watercolor, really it's always my first choice with paints. I just adore how it is not permanent, just like life isn't permanent and you simply have to roll with it. With watercolor you can add and you can remove, you can change the look by dripping water into it or using the corner of a tissue to suck some of it off the page....sigh. You can let it rest and come back a different day to toy around some more, it's drippy and sploooshy and can also be super precise. Oh watercolor how I adore thee.

I'm working on a small words only piece and doing it all tonight. a bit of spatter and some careful strokes...it is almost like a wee bit of my heart spilling over right onto the paper. Sigh...gooood stuff.

what's your favorite medium right now? do tell.

Finger Knit necklaces

2011-09-30T16:27:00.120-05:00

This week's Link Lovin' is finger knit necklaces.
Which will be funny to anyone who sat through knitting class with me at inspired 4 years ago, trying not to laugh while my face contorted and my arms cramped into some version of bird wings flapping as I tried with all of my might to create my little square. Yeah, it was a MAJOR no go. I managed to turn out a demented crooked triangle-ish shape that I decided to give my youngest as a "Barbie face cloth". Well, it IS possible that Barbie never received very good directions about doing laundry, right?
Look I even dug up some proof of the whole sad affair...

For those of you who were NOT in my sadly failed knitting class, I was fine with my failure. I decided to keep the basket of wool and use it on a scrapbook page or something.

Back to our cool link lovin' ( sorry I get side tracked) My girls and I needed a birthday gift for Great Nana and of course something happy to do together to enjoy an afternoon of girl time. Sooooo we made these necklaces happily after finding this link. Turns out, this type of knitting is more my speed! We all LOVED them. My only disclaimer is that this project is probably best for about 9 years old and up, Bella's little fingers weren't quite ready for the co-ordination of even "knitting" (but we won't tell her that!) They were finished in under ten minutes (per necklace), we could still chat and giggle while our fingers worked away at it, and we found everything we needed in my random crafting stashes. I'd say that is an all around WIN! Wanna try?

Here's what you need:
- a roll of string ( just hardware store string, nothing special)
-some chain (can get this at a bead store for nicer stuff, but can also get it at the hardware store on a roll)
-some little pliers/snips to cut your chain ( I raid Cam's tool box, Great source!)
-a few wooden beads
-any old scissors

photos above from "P.S. I made this"

And here is Emy's finished result!
Have fun and be sure to share your results with us.

Workin' on it Wednesday...

2011-09-28T11:50:00.020-05:00

Something I thought might be fun, is to tackle hump day and head into the rest of the week feeling productive by sharing what I'm elbow deep in each week, even if it isn't finished projects ( mostly won't be, hence the "workin' on it" title) just the behind the scenes works of it all...I totally enjoy taking a peek at others' inner workings and seeing the steps that build behind their cool art.

So here we go with

WOW #1

Right now I am finishing up some backgrounds for a few canvas pieces that I have in the works; this blue one will be about having faith and spreading wings etc. the words and pictures are all well underway in my mind but of course need a place to land...

So far, lots of blendy acrylic, lots of drippy watercolors, some india ink for good measure, and now time to look at it across the room and decide if it is ready for the good parts!

For this bigger canvas, I am illustrating the story of someone's life and all of the different chapters.

I drew out this huge stack of books first, and then decided the texture needed here was to cover much of the rest in vintage book pages (of course backing up the theme of the piece).

I find this page piecing done best, and with no loose edges, by using gel medium under and over the text pages. watery white glue is fine and so is mod podge, but this is just my fave. Oh, and as you can see, I also prefer fingers to paint brushes or palette knives...they are super washable ( no kidding!) and I have FULL control over what they do.

And lastly for Right now, I am finishing up an art journal on Kraft.

Not sure yet where all of these little pages will go, but they will be packaged up and sold as printable mini backgrounds in the next couple of weeks. And then I can get personal with my own and make it into a spilling over of heart.

This one is definitely keeping ink on my fingers and fun in the air! I LOVE the carefree that happens when your "canvas" is something as disposable as a roll of kraft paper...there is a whole other kind of freedom that doesn't always take place on an expensive big canvas, or GORGEOUS scrapbook paper that has been lovingly hoarded.

And last but not least, I need your help with something. I am trying to use my time better now that my girls are all settled in happily at school and I can work full time all day long ( or night)

So, I have a question for you; I am toying with the idea of finally doing a newsletter, it would include where I am scheduled to be teaching, newly released Art or products, and BEST of all there would be offers and a few tips or videos that won't appear anywhere else. Not sure if it is worth my time though, can you shoot me a note if you would like this? Or if you have any thoughts or opinions on what you would like to see content wise. I will do my best to bring you what you ask for!

Thanks and happy Wednesday!

Freedom and Faith

2011-09-26T15:35:00.041-05:00

"she marched to the Rhythm of her very own heart as it "beat, beat, beat" with passion and praise and the incredible Freedom that comes from living in Faith"

Here she is " Freedom and Faith"-inspired by a beautiful lady that is dear to my heart and has shown me over and over again the beauty of living in faith and the joy of a truly free spirit, march on my friend!

And to all of you who pop by here; may you step out and trust the little whisper within. Stop questioning, Stop doubting your own abilities, STOP getting in the way and simply choose to experience the total freedom of living in faith, the amazing feeling of soaring on wings that are far greater than you can even comprehend!

Homemade Ice Cream!!!

2011-09-23T23:36:00.079-05:00

YES, You read right this week's link Lovin' goes to seriously delish, homemade, 5 minute, SUPER easy, tastes like soft serve

ICE CREAM!!!

I would be lying if I said it is only fun for the kids, IT IS AWESOME FUN FOR MEEE!!!

We had done this as part of science waaaay back in Emy's preschool days, and I LOVED it then, but with a busy toddler at the time and then another baby filling my heart and food making mind, I went on to totally forget about ice cream in a bag until I found This Link.

Yayy internet, and yayy pinterest!

The girls and I got right to adding this to our "fun to-do" list, and it was as Rad as I remembered!

We did a batch with cream, and a batch for Tiara with vanilla soy milk. both were super, I actually liked the soy version better, kids liked the cream.

Here's what you need:

- small snack baggies, and larger sandwich or medium baggies

-2 TBSP sugar ( I did only 1 to make it slightly healthier)
-1 cup of Soy milk for lactose free, or Cream (either half & half or light cream, mmmmm)
-1/2 tsp vanilla extract
-1/2 cup salt; any kind is fine (I used sea salt)
- plenty of ice; you may want to pick up a bag if you don't have an ice maker
-hungry tummies!

1. fill your larger zip-loc about half full with ice and sprinkle the salt over it

2. Mix the soy milk or cream, sugar, and vanilla in your wee snack bags and zip them up good and tight. ( we used sandwich bags the first time cuz we had no wee snack bags)

3. Jump, dance and Shake what your mama gave ya

4. Check on your mixture and if it isn't frozen yet SHAKE some more!

( ours took about 4 or 5 minutes, bit longer for the cream)

5. when it is thick and frozen you can grab a spoon and eat it right out of the bag! Tiara dumped hers into a cup cuz that's how she rolls

6. Grin like crazy with the amount of happiness in your tummy and the sillies you have worked up from dancing around with a chilly bag!!!

WHOOT

OK I have an assignment for you; if you try any of our our Link Lovin' ideas and love 'em, let me know! It will make the girls' day. seriously. They help me get the pics and always ask me, "mama can you show people on your blog?"

Last but not least, I am out of the country adventuring right now, will post more on that later, so if I owe you an email please be patient with me, life is calling!

Gentle Pace

2011-09-22T02:13:00.064-05:00

"She always felt that she couldn't keep up with everyone else's pace, what she didn't see was how her gentle way of moving through life made them all slow down and see the beauty of the day"

Oh how those Gentle hearted sweet ones bring peace to us all, and somehow beat themselves up over and over again for not being as efficient as "everyone else".

Imagine if the world was made up of only the super efficient? Everything would always get done on time and probably nearly perfectly, but All of that soft peace would be missing and things would be all out of whack...not cool. We all fill the perfect place in the world even the slow and steady, If only we could see that we were made just the way we need to be, each with the specific gifts that we were created to share. Go out my friends and be bright and shiny in the way that only YOU can!

Here's to those with a gentle way, may they stop trying to keep up with the rat race and see the beauty in the way they Bless so many as they softly go through life.

Prints of this sweet story are up in my store and ready to go!

Words

2011-09-20T09:24:00.000-05:00

This month has been a crazy one of here and away, family time, me time, travel time and a whole lot of getting into the glorious routine that is fall. I have oooodles of photos to upload, more prints to add to my store, I have a stack of happy art to finish up that I am pumped about ( always the result of me taking some time to nurture my own spirit). And steady through it all I have seriously been enjoying the power of words; their beauty, their ability to wrap you in a story, or find strength and sparkle within your own self.

Find words, write words, print words, and wrap yourself up in the ones that make you feel like leaping!

Link Lovin' - Loop scarves

2011-09-16T02:09:00.027-05:00

The girls and I spent the summer checking off our "Fun to-do" list. Oh believe me, it went wayyy beyond silly putty!!! Some we came up with on our own, sure, but mostly we found such great inspiration for so many of our projects online, that I am totally inspired to share some links and how it all worked out for us here on a regular basis. A little bit of Friday Link lovin' to wrap up the week just right. Are you in?!
If we found it, Loved it, and tried it.
You better believe I want to share it, it will be something good to bring the fabulous to your Friday! And kickin' it off are these awesome loop scarves we made...
Doesn't Emy look lovely modeling one of our new creations?

The ones we made are a combo of a few different online tutorials

For all of that great step-by-step inspiration you can check them out here , here, and here.

All you need are:

-some old t-shirts (or a trip to the thrift store and a quick round of laundry) note: we used the largest tees we could for nice long scarves

-some good sharp scissors

-and about 20 minutes or so.

This project was a total 5 star for cost, time and end result!

WHOOT!

As far as Link Lovin' Fridays go; Let me know if there is a cool link you have found that we totally should try, or if there is something you'd like me to hunt for and give it a whirl. The girls and I are having too much fun to stop now, even though school's back on :)

HAPPY FRIDAY

My Wonderful little Ladies

2011-09-13T15:33:00.001-05:00

I think this might be my new favorite shot of my girls.

The sun had almost set, the moon was already lighting our way, and the pinkish glow on the water was amazing . So what did we do as the mosquitoes came out and the air grew colder with each minute? the only logical thing one can do! Go down to the beach and run in the water, splash and giggle and get sandy and wet of course!!!

Who needs clean and dry and in bed on time anyways? Not US!

It is just one of so many favorite memories from our time away together as a family this past week ( yeah we pulled them from school cuz family time is too precious not too) It was simply amazing!

I am actually heading back to our friends' gorgeous cottage alone for a few days to get some uninterrupted "ARTing" done. With crisp air, quiet cups of tea, and nothing but creation all around me I have High hopes for awesome productivity!

note: Keep an eye on my Etsy shop it is filling up more each day

and the winner is...

2011-09-13T08:54:00.000-05:00

Picked by my little Random finger pointer, Congrats Megan!

Please send me your info so I can pass it on to Kal, and ENJOY what is sure to be an incredible class!!!

God's Light shines in you...

2011-09-12T23:16:00.028-05:00

This is my own very favorite card to give from my stash here at home. There isn't one person who can't benefit from knowing that you think they shine! This pack of cards is up in My shop, and I feel like sharing some joy today so tell me who shines in your life and why they totally need one of these mini prints, I will pick 2 winners at the end of the month to send out sets to!

For today; enjoy it, smile and shine, and dance through the day my friends, it's a total gift and it's yours for the making!

ETA: thanks for sharing your hearts with me, I was touched by each of your stories. Winners have been notified so check your inbox!