This is one of those subjects that makes me want to find a rooftop and a megaphone. :) Nature journaling is something I fell into when researching the Charlotte Mason method for our homeschool. We are at the end of our fourth year of homeschooling (phew!), and I can say in all honesty that nature journaling has been nothing short of a gift for both my kids and me. Let me tell you why: Benefits of Journaling I think ...
Articles
8 of The Best Online Art Classes for Creative Moms
There has never been a better time to improve your skill in your favorite art or craft. The internet is bulging with resources! The best part is, you can work on your art at your own pace when it is convenient for you. I love the freedom of finding a teaching style that works for me and going as slow or as fast as I want. Also, being able to rewind or pause when I am trying to master something is a game changer for me. Another huge plus is ...
The Lily and Thistle Resource Library
Hello! In an attempt to make life easier for you (and me) I decided to put all of my creative resources in one place. I now give you: The Lily and Thistle Free Resource Library! From now on, this is where I'll keep all of our free e-courses, how-to videos, ebooks, art/nature study guides, printables and whatever else I feel like adding. Inside you’ll find lots of fun options just for you! I add to this library regularly so ...
Loose Parts – The Ultimate Learning Toys
Am I the only one who spends hours reading toy reviews and guides at Christmas or birthday time - determined to find the ultimate toy for my kids and my pocketbook? I'm always sure I'll find that perfect toy that will engage my kid's minds and bodies and make them magically want to leave their ever calling screens behind. Lately, I've found that I don't have to go far or spend much. In fact, some of the best toys of all time both for ...
How Time In Nature Helps Me Be A Better Mom
We all want it. That deep assurance that "today I truly connected with my child". That knowing smile between mother and child; the shared experience carved deep in our hearts and minds. It can be so elusive in our distraction-filled world. But I have found a secret to making those moments happen more often - even daily. The secret is so simple, requires no money and actually very little time. The secret is simply exploring ...
Our Family’s Journey to The Simple Life – What We Gave Up and What We Do Instead
And Then One Day, We Decided To Change Our Lives... We were living in a great neighborhood, in a nice home in one of the most family-friendly cities in America. Our kids had coveted spots in the area's best charter school and were progressing. I was lucky enough to be a full-time mom and have a little creative business on the side. My husband Jeff, was providing well, working from home as a software engineer. Picture perfect, ...
The Art Habit for Moms – My New FREE Course
I hear myself saying to my daughter for what feels like the sixty-fourth time today, "You need to practice. The more you practice, the better you'll get". I stop in my tracks and listen. The voice in my head says, "Dear Hannah, YOU need to take your own advice". Making Art a Priority As moms, we encourage our kids to find what they love and do our best to help make their goals and ambitions a daily priority. We shuttle them to classes and ...
Our Homestead – The First Year
We moved from our large home in the suburbs to a smaller home in the country(ish). And we love it! We have discovered so many things we love about this life! More time for Nature, Art, and Creativity to name a few! So I thought I'd keep a log of what we are doing each year to add to our little (acre and a half) homestead. Year One (2016): House Finished - We learned a lot of lessons here. Most of them really hard. But, we ...
Ancestor Gallery Wall – How We Did It For Less
The Long, Dark Hallway When designing our home, we knew we didn't want the very popular open-concept floorplan. We wanted the kitchen to be its own space with a separate living room, dining room, etc., just like an old farmhouse would have. So, in order to do all of these separate rooms, it was clear early on, that we would have to have a long, potentially dark, hallway. Like 20 feet long. I did everything I could in the designing phase to ...
A Year of Living with Open Shelving: Pros and Cons
When we were planning our kitchen, I searched all over the internet for open shelving reviews. I love the look but worried about the maintenance. I had a hard time finding an honest review so I thought I'd do a quick post for anyone out there who might be searching. We ended up deciding to put open shelves in the butler's pantry area with a window behind to bring in more natural light. This allows me to put all of our "pretty dishes" on ...
Chronos and Kairos – Measuring Time When the Days are Long
From the Archives January 2012 The twins just had a birthday. Four years old now. I will spare you the "I can't believe they have grown up so fast" commentary because it has gone fast but in a lot of ways it has been slow too. Today I have been thinking about what my life has been these last four years. It's easy to sit here in my quiet studio and reflect when all of my kids are in bed and it is calm. It's easy to feel ...
How American Girl Helped My Kids Love Reading and History
Our love affair with the American Girl books started with a desire to get the twins excited about reading on their own, for fun. I wanted to find something that would keep their interest and make them want to come back for more. My cousin (who is just enough ahead of me in this parenting journey and oh so wise) told me how great the books are and what she did to encourage her girls. We tried out her advice with great success! A ...