It's crunch time. Mother's Day is just around the corner and if you're like me, you're just now realizing it's time to get serious about gifts! If you're looking for something that will make your favorite creative mom's heart sing - or thinking about what might make your heart sing ;) I've got you covered! I put together some great budget-friendly ideas that can be to the door (or inbox) just in time for the big day! Online ...
Creative Education
How to Start a Nature Journal – A Beginners Guide
So you want to start a Nature Journal? I'm happy for you! Keeping a nature journal is one of my favorite things. I thought I'd start this post with a few of the many benefits Nature Journaling has to offer, just in case you need an extra nudge to actually get out and do it. If you already know the benefits, skip to the How to Get Started section. Journaling Is Good for You I think it's safe to say that we know that there are significant ...
How to Find More Creative Time: Six Tips From a Busy Mother of Four
Do you long for time to be creative? Maybe even dream of supplementing your family's income using your creative gifts? I often feel that my relationship with deep, uninterrupted creative work is elusive. So close - yet so far away! It's like we are at the same party but on opposite sides of the room. Close enough to make eyes at each other, but all I can do is smile and wave. And if I do finally make it through the maze of needs and ...
Why Cleaning Makes You More Creative
I swear some of my best ideas happen when I'm hunched over the toilet bowl with a scrubber. Maybe it's because I subconsciously want to be in another place? I've thought about this phenomenon (while cleaning) and wondered why for me, cleaning and creative epiphanies seem to always go together. So I did a bit of research (aka: I googled it). Why Cleaning Aids Creativity Turns out, I'm not alone! According to science, creativity and menial ...
25 Creative Things You Can Do in 15 Minutes or Less
Sometimes life is just plain old BUSY. But creativity doesn't have to suffer! Sure, it would be great to have a whole day to devote to your creative practice of choice, but there are seasons when that is just not possible. So, I thought I'd share some ideas of things you can do in just 15 minutes or less. I've discovered that doing a little each day really does produce amazing results. Doodle in a sketchbook. Paint a ...
Creativity Loves Limits – Good News for Creative Moms
"The enemy of art is the absence of limitation." - Orson Welles Do you need some good news today? Let me tell you about an artist I just discovered on the TED screen. His name is Phil Hansen, and he is pretty dang incredible. As an art student, Phil used a particular pointillist style he’d developed with great success. Tragically, because of the intense hand movements required to make all of those perfect little points, he ...
Nature Journaling For Mom – Why It’s Awesome and How to Get Started
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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, "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 wouldn't ...
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 ...