Parenting during the pandemic- Feeling our emotions

 

I use images from Pixabay for my blog

Often times with parenting we have emotions that can be really strong, and it comes out in different way. I am writing this as a way to help parents recognize what Anger is.

Is Anger something that happens when something doesn’t go right? Or is there more emotions than as if a switch is being flipped? Phycologists classify anger as a normal emotion that we have, just like happiness, sadness, even anxiety. You might be wondering why does anger have such a strong emotional charge to it when we feel it or even mention it? Anger is a secondary emotion because we tend to cover up our vulnerable feelings like feeling fearful.

 

I use Pixabay images for my blog

Understanding that anger can have a strong emotional charge to it, anger can manifest itself in the most unlikely scenarios. Understand where anger comes from can help u to feel how we really feel. Even when you are Happy, you can still be angry from the night before because of a disagreement with a loved one, why? It is a secondary emotion. You feel hurt.  You are feeling the emotion of being angry but what is really happened is that you got your feelings hurt. We could have easily felt hurt, and dealt with the stress,

and not have felt angry.  Thomas S Monson in his talk in 2009 had said “No one can make us angry. It is our choice.” Sometimes anger can be a cover-up for our true emotions, and when we don’t know what the root emotion is, anger comes out to steal that emotion away.

Clearly, it’s easier to feel anger than to own our own emotions, I liken it to a toddler throwing themselves onto the ground because they don’t know why they are feeling the way they are feeling. Our test, is to find out why we are angry and do something with it, are you Angry like a toddler because they just needs a nap? Then your answer is easy, take that nap! Owning our emotions make it possible to deal with stress, and to live life in a more peaceful manner. Where your emotions don’t rule your actions, like a toddler throwing themselves on the floor.

              Many people feel that anger is something that happens instantly when we get upset. We have all felt angry when someone has cut us off when driving. There wasn’t any extra emotion to that, or was there? Often times anger comes in a form of fear. When getting cut off from another driver we instantly feared our safety, fear was the driving force behind the anger we felt. In the book Positive Discipline, A-Z the Author helps understand what anger is “anger is a feeling that follows the belief that you can’t get what you want or that you are powerless in a situation. It can also be a cover-up for hurt feelings. This quote helps us see Anger for what it is, and helps us understand that there is always another emotion behind that anger.

 

I use Pixabay images for my blog posts

In conclusion, I would like you to ask yourself, (when you are feeling angry,) why? Stop and just ask why am I feeling anger? When I stop and analyze my emotions, I am better prepared to feel what is really and truly bugging me. At times I have found myself surprised at the root emotion, and most often than not the root emotion then can be addressed for what it is, or aired out to dry so to speak. When we are able to live life knowing that anger is a secondary emotion, we are able to feel more joy and peace in our lives because we are pausing and letting our emotional wellbeing take over to help heal our disappointments and our fears.

4 things every SAHM needs

I have been a stay at home mom for over 11 years now- crazy to believe that! right?

In this Corvid 19 Era- I have had some isolation in my life and thought I would share my insights.

When my oldest was 3 months old, My Dear Husband and I moved to a rural town in Iowa, I knew no one, and had no clue what I was doing, and worst of all my family was 1.5 hours away- I was alone in a new small rural town with no one I knew but my husband who worked 60 hours most weeks, I Had no clue how to be this SAHM, and felt very isolated. not only that, the nearest target, mall and other retail shopping venues that I took so much for granted was over an hour away.
 Over the years I found some things that really helped me, and my family to thrive:

 Balance
 space
 Routines
  finding your sweet spot

Finding Balance

My family, Dr. asked are you taking care of your self like you should be?, and I was like sure- with 3 children under 6 and staying home with them while my husband works 60 hours a week, sure, that's the answer you want to hear right? Never mind that I cry like every day, and feel grumpy most days- sure I am taking care of my self.  (6 years ago) Not me now- and yes, looking back I was in a depression.

After my third child, I was stretched thin, My Mother just passed away- I was emotionally beat.

That was 6 years ago- My balance was off-kilter. It was killing me slowly and driving a wedge in my Husband's and I's relationship. I now understand what it means to have a balanced life.

When I talk about Balance for a mother, My mind often goes to the mental part of your daily life. I didn't realize 6 years ago how much of life I was missing out on.

Sometimes we all have to stay home with our kids that are "turkeys" it's my nice way of saying you're being a real brat, or pain in the... (you get the point.)  We can carry this Cross with the courage and make it work for your family.

Here are my go-to ways to bring balance to my life:

Daily check-ins- they sound crazy, or silly, and maybe, but I do know and can tell a difference when I check in with my self on those days that I don't It's a way for me to be more accountable with what I do in my life, and in the life of my kids.

Daily check-ins help put things into perspective. It's a way to share my thoughts and feelings in a notebook, Sometimes I will ask my self some questions, like how do I feel about... and see what comes up. I have a whole blog post about my Morning pages, (which are what Daily Check-ins) However you do daily check-ins- it's worth it. Here is another good example personal daily check-ins might look like.


Mental and physical balance is key a well. as a stay at home mom, I don't get those hour blocks of time to myself. I get moments of time to myself, and I utilize those moments for the benefit for myself and for my kids.
For example, keeping a gratitude journal, if I am feeling anxious or uptight, I keep a journal of gratitude, it's simple, it started out to be a list of things I was grateful for- and the lists were very seasonable, during spring it was the color of the beautiful tulip, or fall it was the tree and the leaves that I saw on my walk with my dog. My gratitude journal has morphed into a sketchbook of what I love, usually the natural world, but for those 5-10 minutes of sketching has saved me from saying hurtful things to my kids or to my husband, because I took the small amount of time to unwind and take a break, to bring back more balance.



Finding your space
Everyone- even our kids need space. even if it's a small corner in your house. a space that you can call your own, and that you can make it into whatever you want it to be. For me, it's two places in my house, a makeshift "art studio" and my bedroom, (where I go when I don't want to be around my kids)

My "art studio" has a computer in it, and a workspace where I can go and be alone and create to my little's heart desire. there is where I picked out the countertop that I love, I decorate it however I feel like, and it's my space.

My "reading nook" is my space in my bedroom, it has an old Lazy Boy recliner that I can read in, and look out my window. I will often let my kids read on that chair, it's not much, but it does help save me from being too uptight when I need a couple minutes to unwind, rejuvenate, and just be able to breathe.

During the months that I can be outside, I have a little cafe table that I use to paint outside or read outside when the weather is nice and my kids are playing outside. It's simple but brings me a lot of peace and joy.

When finding a space to call your own, make sure it's a place where your whole family knows that when you are in your "space" you are not to be bugged. It's not a place that should be on the main level of your house (although my painting easel is on the main level on my house.

I really liked reading this experience about creating a personal space I also enjoy knowing where you are in life, this author has some good insight to personal space. 

The goal here is to be able to take a break, and use this space to feel more peace and joy and breathe.

Finding Your Routine

Going back to feeling isolated, and then at some point getting into the "depression state" I was in, was really due part to the fact that I didn't have a routine for me, I had one for my kids, but not for me- I was "too good for it" Really!? yes really. Until I had my daily check-in and found that routines for me personally will really help.

My life was centered around my kids, I was slowly killing my inner spirit. Literally, I was making everyone around me miserable.

One of the basic needs that psychologists will recommend is a routine- I just took it a step further and created a routine for me. I wake up 2 hours before my kids wake up to meditate, write, paint, do my daily check-ins and it gives me so much peace, that way I am ready for the kid to be awake and for me to be the mom they need me to be- it's that simple. then the family routine comes into play, and our routines blend well.

Some articles that I thought were helpful in illustrating this point are:
The procrastination Vortex 
Why Routines are good for your health
I love this one about making a morning routines

Finding your sweet spot. Whatever you are- Be a good one! 

With feelings of isolation from friends and family, we are losing our direction- Or at least I am at times. I have had to "soul search" what is most important. Sometimes it writing it out, Sometimes, most often it's taking a quiet look around, and just sit, take in the atmosphere, and then breath, I then ask myself, what is really needed? How can I make the best out of today? I always tell myself when I am feeling like I lost my footing, and can not quite find the words to express how I feel, I tell my self over and over again: Whatever you are- Be a good one! 

When I ask myself, what am I, how can I be the best at that- answers come- they come when I listen to my true self, usually when I do the mundane things, like laundry, dishes, sewing, painting, it comes. (did you know I have another blog where I can share my creativity?) MaydreamRose.com I so love sharing peace and joy that creativity brings me!

I challenge you to write out your thoughts for 30 minutes, or 3 pages whichever comes first. The goal of this exercise is to get to the heart of your sweet spot, it takes time and it takes weeks, even months to write every day for 30 minutes. It's worth every minute I promise you- as a successful Stay at home mom during this really trying time, it's been a blessing to write my thoughts and feelings out- no one has to read it, Don't let anyone read it- it's yours to own, and to keep.

Here's what and how I write- I call them Morning pages, it came from Julia Cameron's The Artist's way, and partly from the Health Coach institute on stress relief. 

1. write out what is making you stress, and get those feelings out- take your time- if it takes all 30 minutes- great! your feelings and drama should be on the page- not in your thoughts, or brain.

2. Now that those intense feelings are out on the page for them to "dry out" list a couple things that I am grateful for, proud of what you did, and how you made someone smile in the past 24 hours. 

3.. when you have felt that relief of writing out your frustration, and feeling proud that you got something accomplished, then you can ask yourself- how can I change what I can do to feel more joy and peace in my life?  This takes me most of the time to work through

Here could be a short example of my Morning pages-writing:

I am so annoyed that my kids are not helping me clean up- they leave their crap out all day long I go around picking up after them all day long. 

using phrases like:

I am also annoyed that...

it makes me upset that...

I am really angry that...

These statements help you get your feelings acknowledged and out of your brain so you don't have to carry it around all day. 

Then I would write something like this:

Life isn't all that bad, I made my kids smile when I told them that our favorite old-time movie is playing at our local theater, and we are going to go see it Thursday.  I am proud that I finished painting the office/studio and now we are just waiting on some countertops! I am also glad that my tomatoes and strawberry are blooming, and I can't wait to eat some garden-fresh produce from my garden!

I think keeping my sanity is important, and I think to bring back some of that joy in our home, my kids are going to have to be more accountable for picking up after themselves. I could gently remind them to pick up instead of being harsher to them by being sharp and snappy at them. I will try that next time they leave their plates on the table, see if that changes anything. 

Something like that... Do this every day- Set an alarm clock everyday 30 mins before you wake up to do them. 

Writing out your chaos in your mind is huge, and now I am ready to find my sweet spot, I have often found that my sweet spots are in every day, small moments of my life- especially as a stay at home mom. 

Another challenge is to find 20 things that make you happy- if that is too hard, write 20 things that you are personally grateful for this will help you find your sweet spot again. 

Here is my list in no particular order

making a tried and true seasonal recipe in the kitchen

doodling in my sketchbook

playing with color schemes in watercolor

painting with Brushos (watercolor crystals)

reading on the porch swing

walking around my garden in the morning

Gardening and planting 

taking my dog for a walk

playing a card game with my kids

going to the pool with my kids

sketching my garden and flowers

visiting a park or trail

watch the sunrise

canning jelly and other things (hence the garden)

taking a nice long bath with lavender and bergamot essential oils

sending a card in the mail to a friend

calling a friend and just talking and listening to her.

painting an intuitive landscape or floral

visiting our local zoo (zoo memberships are worth every penny.)

stamping and making a card or two! 

There you go, it's getting real you guys! Trying to hold nothing back on my end so you can become the best that you can be!

Take care of yourself!

Luvs- 

Lisa Christensen

 

Silly Faces Art - a collaboration between parent and child

I wanted to share some of our go-to art "games" that brings smiles and lightheartedness to your home.

I remember in Middle school when I would go up to my art teacher and say I finished my project she would say- great, draw some eyes on it, and say- make a face- make it silly, make it how you are feeling or design a monster. So I did. I have no idea what I drew, but I can remember the feeling of drawing because it was fun, or latest to let out my creativity with nothing holding me back. That is what I hope for this exercise can do for your children.

I love this collaboration, because the parent, can draw simple eyes, and the child has control over how they want to make their faces.

If you are like- no way do I draw eyes- Totally get it- faces are not "my thing" either, get some googly eyes, and have them draw faces, just don't say I don't like to draw, that will hinder their creativity.

we spend hours of fun drawing faces, it's a fun way to express how you are feeling.

Here is the link to get you started!

https://thefineartcafe.academy/courses/drawing-silly-faces/?fbclid=IwAR18hBwRJVq_1wVGanOxqZM37w756jxzjqidY7iwV7GTdo7fZsErCyBYWKo

Purify EO blend

I have a new motivation to clean my house so I can make my house smell AMAZING!  This scent helps me feel peace and security while motivating me to keep my house clean, You have to try this one!

My new favorite room freshener and surface cleaner spray:

Purify: (adapted from Do Terra's Purify.)

in a 2 oz glass spray bottle add:

1.5 oz water

splash of witch hazel

10 drops of grapefruit and lemongrass

5 drops of Cedarwood, lemon Eucalyptus, and cinnamon leaf 

Spray when needed, I have one for the bathrooms upstairs and one bottle for my kitchen! 

6 ways to feel peaceful in any situations

 Got Chaos? I have some small and simple ways that I have personally felt peace on a daily basis. These ideas can really help ground you and help you feel more freedom from earth's care. The experiences I have shared has also helped my artist come out to play and create.

Walk by yourself. Walking helps the brain digest stress, I love my walks. I am happier for it. All I need is a good 30-minute walk,.  I get to walk around a pond every morning, or if it's one of those days that I need to get "lost" in my thoughts the trail by my house is a great one to escape into my thoughts. 

A clean house helps bring peace and happiness. I "shine" my sink almost daily it brings me peace.

Cleaning your living area. I strongly believe that a clean house is conducive to a more peaceful life. I hate cleaning but I can feel more peace once my house is organized. With that said I balance organized chaos and a clutter free house very well. Also if you are a creature of habit or routine, staying on a cleaning routine helps a ton, and it's in those times that I can feel peace.

Letting go of control. For me there was nothing more important than letting go of that control, I felt free and almost like my soul was going to burst with goodness. What do I mean by control? It could mean that you came to your aha moment about that life isn't about you (it's about your kids.)

I tell myself, not my circus, not my monkeys I try really hard to not let others bother me, including what they are doing or are not doing. Which then leads me too...

Let your people help you: Yes we all want to be self-sufficient. and not "need" any help, I am talking about your family members. Let your husband help load the dishwasher, fold the clothes. We can't and shouldn't be able to do it alone. If you need help ask! You are cultivating a relationship with each and every family member, let them feel like they are part of your loving and caring family, even when they give you that laser soul crushing stare.  

Change your environment. Your environment plays a huge part of what and how you feel. I like an analogy about a fish tank, there is a crucial ph level that all fish need to have, if you go over or under that ph level they can not thrive. Same thing with us, there is a level of tolerance that we can thrive in. Is our environment something that we can thrive in. If not change it.

DO SOMETHING FOR YOURSELF I am a huge advocate for mental health. I know that if we don't take care of ourselves we are more likely to get in a funk, or even worse get into a depression. I know I sound dramatic, and maybe it is, but doing something small for yourself isn't being selfish.

captain's living quarters during the Civil War

I like to think about this analogy: When there is a war, the leadership: (captains) have a better living quarters than the soldiers, why? because they need that space to think, make the right decisions, how can they when they didn't have a good night's sleep, and not taking care of themselves.  We need to do that for ourselves. I believe it's not being selfish it's having foresight for what's to come.  For me personally, I need a good 3 hours of creative time a day to feel peace and calmness in my life. Those three hours are my time to help me be the best mother I can be. I get that time in the morning before school, and after bedtime.  

Do you have anything that brings you peace with a house full of children? I would love to know your secrets and ideas!

Happy creating a peaceful self! 

Why I haven't bought face moisturizer for two years!

I have the best face moisturizer! it's my favorite, you can't beat it, and it's not that expensive to make....

This is my amazing face moisturizer recipe I have made. You can thank me later!
I would not double the recipe unless you use a double boiler,  and you plan on giving it away, the shelf life is for about 3 months, and a little goes a long way! I always seem to run out of one batch three months later. So if you double give it away. You can also melt the ingredients in a microwave, I would do 1 min. intervals.

Best Ever Face moisturizer
3 Tablespoons of Shea Butter
1 teaspoon of shaved or pellet size beeswax
1.5 Tablespoons of Aloe Gel, I like the clear gel
1 teaspoon of a carrier oil, I use coconut or grapeseed oil

+ EO's that you like, I use Frankincense 10-15 drops, lemon 10 drops, and lavender 10 drops in mine, but use what you have, I have been known to do just put lemon and lavender in the moisturizer.

Melt the shea butter and the beeswax until it's all the way melted. I use a melting pot from Ranger, but you could use a double boiler or a microwave for this.

Then once that is all melted, I add the aloe gel and the carrier oil, let that all melt together then I pour the moisturizer into a glass jar with a lid and add your oils, and mix that up.

Let it stand for a day or so, it needs time to rest, I don't know why but waiting a day makes it better.

And that my friend is how you make face moisturizer, remember if you go outside add some sun block to your face, I like SPF 30 for my face!

To break down the price, you might laugh, but here it goes

$12.97

$14.17

$9.38

Grand total for the base of this amazing moisturizer is $36.52 without Eo's

The math of the breakdown:
you use 1.5 oz of shea butter per batch, so there are 10 batches of shea butter for one jar! so for $3.65 plus whatever EO's you use, it's very cost effective! and that my friend is why I don't buy face moisturizer.

Dont' you just love when you can make something you use all the time for cheaper than you can buy at the cosmetic counter?  I mean you know what you put in it, you can customize the scent to whatever you dream up, (I have made a night time one and a daytime one with different scents.)

I have been making this for over 2 years now, and I still have half the jar of Shea butter, and a lot of beeswax left. Use what EO's and carrier oils you have on hand you will love this!



the Pharmacist wife is coming out, here is the why I use the bulk ingredients:

Shea Butter Benefits: Moisturizing: The concentration of natural vitamins and fatty acids in shea butter makes it incredibly nourishing and moisturizing for the skin. 

Aloe vera contains something called proteolytic enzymes which repair dead skin cells. It's a natural anti-age agent, it feels amazing on your skin, especially in the winter when your face is windburn or sunburn. 

Beeswax carries antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties that are essential in fighting chapped skin and bacterial infections that tend to affect us most in the dry, winter months. It forms a protective wall by sealing in moisture in our skin without smothering and clogging up the pores

Doing this 10 minutes every day for 2 weeks changed my whole life!

Spring flower interpretation from 2/2017

Wait! What? Really doing this small thing for two weeks really will change my whole life? Y-E-S! Without a doubt it will, and I am not the only one that thinks this, just search for the power of Affirmations. Ok, I rest my case. Here is a good article.

My experience: and it's transforming me into something amazing:

I remember a good friend said, maybe you need to do some affirmations, tell yourself you are good and better than you think. Hoey stuff I said, that's for people that have real problems, I don't have that issue.

Later that year, or in that same season of my life, I told myself, Hey: you really need to love yourself and learn how to become who god wants you to be.

Spring flower interpretation

All good stories of my life starts at the mall::  I was in Barnes and Noble and the book was right there as if it was placed in my way for just me! The Artists Way, I was familiar with it, my college professor swore by it, and recommended it to me personally. I was too good for it back when I knew it all. This time I bought the life changing book, and started the 12-week program the next day.

Week one is about feeling safe, and you start to feel safe by letting your own mind heal from all the negative junk that is holding you back from becoming who you and god want you to be.


How do you start to become better you ask? You do that by Affirmations. Yes, the ones where you say something nice about yourself, not just once but 30 times a day for two weeks.

Is it crazy talk? You do it and decide, your life will change! You, my dear friend, will be happier for it, and your family will notice a difference.

I know what you are going to say: I totally have control of my mind and thoughts, I don't need to tell myself that I am awesome, I sorta already know that.

wild rose interpretation, Windsor & Newton wc, round brush 14
  

What Affirmations do for you is changing what you think too how you think...

Here is a small exercise to do:

List me something you love about yourself, be detailed, don't skimp.
Was it easy? Did you know right way what you would say to yourself?  NO right? why, because you need to change the way you think. It's that simple.

Ok, now tell me something that you don't like about yourself...
(Really? you have something that fast?) isn't that funny?

We are so negative to ourselves it's horrible. Just plain horrible!

Inspired by the hymn lead kindly light From my sketchbook

Affirmations really are the antidote to kindness.

To be very transparent

My affirmations from the Artists Way
(I picked three out of the 20 she provided)
1 .My creativity always leads me to truth and love.
2. There is a divine plan of goodness for me and my work
3. I am willing to let God create through me

Last year my three affirmations were:
1. I am allowed to nurture my artist
2. I use my creativity to heal myself and those around me
3. Don't be afraid to use my creativity to bless others, because of my creativity I am serving my Father in Heaven.

I can't tell you how many times I would send a small piece of creativity to a friend, or someone I was thinking off, (like a teacher, a friend.) It brightened up their day and made them feel happier. One of my mantras now is:

Go to bed feeling like the world is a better place because of you. (Even if you demanded time alone in your studio to work on your art while it could have been a family day.)

Try it, write three affirmations, then for two weeks. Write them down ten times each, I usually do it in one sitting but you can do it throughout the day. It will change your life, or at least your perspective!

Need some ideas: I listed some good links
For the visual learners
For mothers on a side note, this is a great post to read!
For the family, I really like number 8 on the list....

Do you have a good Affirmation that works really well for you? I would love to hear it!

A free tool that changed my life

Morning pages saved my life!

I love how I feel after a 3-page writing session, it's my crack if I were a drug addict.

Here are some of the reason's why I love writing

I get to the other side of things, You may ask, what is the other side? It's when something isn't sitting right with you, maybe it was a thought that you just can't get out of your head, or maybe it was words that someone said that didn't sit well with you, maybe it's an idea that is wonderful but you have no idea how to implement that idea. Simply put you get all your frustrations on a page and then realize the real meaning behind why you feel the way you do. It's life changing, I think the world would be a better place if everyone took 30 minutes a day or even 30 mins. twice a week to get to the other side of things.

I often go back and re-read my morning pages and highlight ideas that I want to remember.

Writing helps you dream. It gets dreams out of your brain and into a place that you can see what you are thinking. I may never get to have my dream blog that I want, but at least I can dream and write about it in my morning pages. Morning pages can give me hope and faith in my dreams. It's a place to dream up the craziest dreams. I remember writing about 9 months ago about wanting to just go do Disney world, and how that won't happen, a powerful thing happened: 9 months later we surprised our children at Christmas that we are going to Disney World, and I can't wait... Dreaming is a powerful thing, and writing it out is even more powerful.

I plan, I explore other ideas, and just like that as if it were truly a magical experience, I get ideas, thoughts to problems that can be solved, an a-hah a hah moment, a way to deal with whatever issue I am facing. Recently my two sons are boycotting everything I make for them, words were exchanged by DH and I, I cried, and felt miserable for two days, After writing about it on the third morning, I figured out what to do... (spoilers for an upcoming blog post.)

Sometimes When writing I stare at a blank page, I know what I have to write about it, but it doesn't make it any easier. You see I have pride, lots of it, and I know that when I start writing my pride goes away and I am left feeling vulnerable. Yup, that's why it took me 3 days to write about the meal issue in our house. It happens every time but I am better off, and can usually get to the root of the problem with problem-solving strategies.

I can vent, seriously no one likes to hear me vent, I save that for my morning pages while venting I take stock of my emotions, and it's almost like a therapy, I can validate my feelings, and my injustice and then get to the other side of it. And it feels really good to just say what I want to say without hurting someone. Most often I can offend my family because I didn't have tact, I really like to tell it like it is, and I have hurt the ones I love the most with unkind words. Since I don't plan on sharing these morning pages with anyone in the near feature I  can be as tactful as I would like. (although I do hope that my children will get a good laugh when they are older and read them.)

some of the journals I have kept. Nothing spactacular!

Writing helps you heal! Mental abuse and other Abuse doesn't go away just by writing, but writing it out, can manage some of the hurt and pain that comes from the abuse.  There are days when I feel like I am just like my parents (mentally abusive.) I know I am not, but that ghost of the Nursery is real and it's enough to drive anyone crazy, Especially me. I don't like talking about it, I feel like no one can relate to me, so I write about it. Sometimes at the end of the writing session my soul feels nourished and free. It doesn't change the fact that it happened but by perspective has changed, and so has my soul, Writing helps me feel grounded to the world that I have created with my loving husband.


When you are in the healing process your sense of self is altered a bit, Writing helps you feel grounded, and have a sense of who you really are, Last year I wrote five affirmations to help me become more creative and find joy in my artistic talents, I wrote out five of the affirmations 3 times each day, for two weeks, It changed my life. If you are feeling less than your best, try it, you may be amazed at what comes next.  Try it, This is a great way to start journaling. I remember thinking to myself, I probably even wrote it before I wrote my affirmations for the day; with a thought like "this isn't really going to work, this is a waste of time". Maybe it was until the last couple days when I mentally saw my thoughts change to: I am glad I painted today, I really am able to bless the world by using my artistic talents! (one of my affirmations I wrote down 3 times for two weeks.)

I would love to know:  Do you journal? Does writing prompts help you? I love reading comments, please comment below!

Craftsy's Bogo Event going on this weekend

I love getting things free, and amazing classes are perfect for winter days. Learning and doing things keeps me out of trouble. So I am so excited to get a new class for those long winter months. I thought I would share a couple pair ups with you since Friday Craftsy is starting their BOGO class event. see the bottom of my post for all the details or click here



Here are some of my pair-ups: For Craftsy's BOGO event on all classes!

For a sweet treat:

Celebrate with cookies And The Perfect Cupcake once you know how to make the perfect cupcake and cookie, you will never ever have to buy them in the store, and they are both worth the money, it has saved me money not to buy cupcakes for birthday parties, and cookies for celebrations! both classes are really good choices if you like being in the kitchen. My kids love watching these two classes also and then helping me in the kitchen. Here is my class review for The Perfect Cupcake. Look for my class review for Celebrate with cookies in February!

For healthy fun in the kitchen I recommend:

Make the Most of your Food Processor with Greorge Geary and Guilt-Free Comfort food with Anna Bullett You will be using your food processor a lot in these classes! Both instructors are amazing at what they do, and I was so captivated by the content and knowledge that they taught! These two classes can really help you eat healthier with lots of flavors. With the help of a food processor, it makes short work of eating healthier! These classes also make cooking in the kitchen fun! Here is my blog post for Making the most of your food processor, and Creating Guilt Free Comfort Food with Anna

For watercolor: I have 3 pair ups

Luminous Watercolor and Simple and stunning watercolor techniques If you are thinking about starting watercolor, or need a push to get out of a rut, these classes are perfect, I learned so much from both instructors, It's tricky to get the right color in watercolor, but with a limited pallet you can do so much, Kateri teaches that for you! Mary Murphy does such a great job explaining in-depth about brushes, pigment, styles, and unique ways to stretch yourself as an artist.Both are wonderful for any skill level that wants to take their paintings to the next level. Here is my class review link for Luminous Watercolor and Simple and Stunning Watercolor Techniques. 

Painting florals in Watercolor
Kristy Rice's Getting Started Watercolor Fresh Florals and Anna Mason's step by step Painting Realistic florals. I love painting and creating flowers, and watercolor is the perfect medium to paint florals. These two teachers teach their unique style in painting their florals and pairing them together, learning from them will help you become a better floral watercolorist. Art is a process, and I love each style, taking these two classes helped me with my techniques and skills. My best advice is to keep practicing! This is a class you could practice over and over until you get it right! You can see my two class reviews for Kristy's Class and for Anna's Class both have great youtube channels too!




Angela Fehr's Better Paintings with watercolor Sketching and Watercolor Flower Bouquet with Mary Murphy. I like these two classes together because they teach you about creating the whole painting, it's not technique based, it's looking and painting with the whole picture in mind, from start to finish. They expect you to know your style, or to have a knowledge of how to paint and then take you through from start to finish, this is a very open-ended class that can really jump start your finished painting! Here is my Class review for Angela's Class, Look for my blog post review from Mary soon!


If you love mixed media, I have the perfect pair up!

Painting With Water Based Media with Nina Weiss and Mix it up Mixed Media Step by Step with Lindsay Weirich aka The Frugal Crafter Both instructors are amazing at mixed media, I love both of their styles, I have really enjoyed learning from them. There is a ton of information that you can branch of off with these two classes, They are worth your time and money!

Paper Crafting: With Pigment:
Water Color Cards with Depti Malik and Wild Cards with Catherine Pooler
These two classes go very well together, I find using watercolor and ink can really make your cards look amazing! Both classes offer unique styles to help you use your supplies is ways that are stunning! Both classes have about the same material list or are very open ended to the materials, You can get away with using all inks, or watercolor. Both have great ideas to make your cards look amazing! My best advice for these two classes would be to use what you have, most times one medium or tool can be used in different ways! I have a class review for both: Depti's Watercolor Cards and Catherine Poolers Wild Cards Both classes are excellent resourcesfor paper crafters!

Paper Crafting with paper and tools

Cards with Dimension with Daniel Flanders and Fresh Eyes on your Card Making supplies with Mariam Prantner. Both teachers really love layers, and using supplies in their own exclusive style that you can imitate to make it yours! They both love paper and layering it, and making cards into really neat works of art that you can be proud of! Here is a blog post that was inspired by Daniel's Cards with Dimension, and here is my blog post for Mariam's Fresh Eyes on your Card making supplies

Peace Be Still

I haven't always been at peace with my self, soul, or life. I would say for most of my life I haven't felt that empowering peace. Until recently I have felt that peace that comes in the stillness of the quiet times in my life.

This world is not a peaceful place, It's never going to be, so Peace needs to start in your heart, and let it expand to your family, and then to the world, I think that is what Peace Be Still is all about, when your heart is healed, and ready to be at peace with your life, you can be still, and realize how amazing this world can be. Only then can you feel that joy that comes from living, only then you can start to share that peace with your family. Family First right?

I came to this conclusion by pondering about Christ's ministry, and example. He calmed and healed every one that he loved. Because Christ's disciples needed to be healed, or comforted because they believed in him. It sounds simple and it is simple, to have your heart healed, and comforted, to find that peace that we hear so often is to believe and come to our savior with a believing heart. 

That sound easy enough right? This is what I did/do to help me get the stillness part of peace in my life. For me it's internal and very much about my soul.

1. Never be too busy to read scriptures with real intent, or  meditation if you meditate. The point is to clear your mind and soul and not worry about a thing. Which then leads me too Morning Pages

2. Morning Pages, I started writing three pages a day of long hand, I call it my life saver. It's simple: you write three pages of what ever comes to mind, you don't read them after, you just write, if you can't think of anything to write, you start writing words to lyrics, or scriptures, or a poem, it helps get your brain to relax. If you do have things to ponder this is a great place for your thoughts to go. write it, don't let any one to read it, if you do want to go back and read it, let it sit for a couple days or weeks then go back and reread it, the whole point of this life changing experience, is that this is a place for your thoughts to go, your deepest desire's in life, a place you can vent about your family, when no one else wants to hear about it. Write till you get to the other side of the problem.

3. I am grateful for the blessings I have,  I write them out, I talk about it with me kids, it's not like a big thing, sometimes I will say I am so grateful that we have caramel apples to share with each other, or I am so grateful the sun is shining today because I need the sunshine today in my life. paying attention and having a grateful attitude towards life helps bring more peace into your life. 

4.Don't compare! We are all made differently, none is alike or should we be. So why is it that we compare? Looking around and realizing what our potential is, is more productive than looking at what other people can do. This will help you have peace in your heart. Once I stopped  comparing myself to others, my life has became a lot more peaceful. 

5. Music, when all else fails, listen to uplifting music, and sort our your thoughts and feelings. I love listening to the Piano Guys, classical music or hymns. I find that lyrics can really distract my thoughts. Listen to anything that can help you sort out your thoughts and feelings. I am a true believer that if you don't sort out your thoughts and feelings, those thoughts and feelings will rule you, if you don't like a thought or a feeling get to the root of it by pondering!

 Here's to having a peaceful time during the stressful holiday season! We are doing better than we think! 

To Be Joyful in any circumstance

I recently posted my story, it's a bit exciting, and scary, I feel vulnerable, and yet exhilarated! so cheek it out here.


I mention that I suffer from Seconal Depression, and it's October so for me it's starting and I can feel it in my mind and body, seriously I wold love to know why, in October it starts, and the peak of this depression is in January, then it subsided in April! Yay, 6 months of crazy! Sorry, it's not crazy, just a different feeling that I can feel, and I don't like it one bit.

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints we are encouraged  to be joyful in any circumstance,  Our October General Conference  multiple talks or sermons are about feeling joyful: here, here, and here (all in the Sunday Morning Conference) Elder Holland's Like a Broken Vessel is one of the best talks that I have cried through and felt like one of my prayers were answered.

So how do I handle the start of the Seasonal Depression? Here is my top ten list of ways to help Seasonal Depression, SAD:

1. READ IN THE SCRIPTURES.  There is great power that comes from heaven when we read from the bible, or other scriptures. If reading "isn't your thing" watch bible video's.

2. Positive thinking helps. I'm not talking about, I look good today, or what I call fluff thinking, although it can help. I am talking about positive energy. the more positive thoughts you put out to the universe, the more positive energy you will get back, then attract more positive energy from others.  For an example, I tell my self before I wake up my kids in the morning that they are awesome and they are going to do awesome things today. Think of it as perspective, and then see what happens. Go here for a more in depth about this positive thinking thing 

3. Cheek out the Artist's Way book, it has changed my life! (more on this in sooner than later post.)

4. Exercise, until you feel different, for me If I walk/ jog for 30 minutes my endorphin's kick in and I feel better for it. Bonus points if you are able to get out side and get some sunshine!

5. Own up to it, for a very long time I would hide behind seasonal depression, and just feel blah, That didn't help, so I own up that this is an issue for me and let every one know that seasonal depression happens to me. I will sometimes say Yes, I don't want to do anything because it's January and it's hard for me to want to. That doesn't sound lazy, I mean really who wants to do much in January anyways right?

6. Take extra vitamins especially Vitamin D, There has been research examining the relationship of vitamin D to seasonal effective disorder (SAD), schizophrenia, and depression. go Here for this article,  here and here to learn more about Vitamin D and how nutrition can help with Depression. I had to talk to my husband, (pharmacist) and tell the doctor to get a lab drawn to see if I had a Vitamin D deficiency, I did, it was super really low (like I was only getting 10% of what my body needed.) Most insurance doesn't pay for this lab work any more, I just buy over the counter vitamin D at the pharmacy I double up in October-April, talk to your pharmacist, they will lead you in the right direction. 

7.  This is one that I have helped me the most, but for some reason it's the hardest, it sounds simple, Pay attention, or more simply stated: look at the world around you in the here and now. For some reason when I am able to just focus on the here and now, my perspective changes for the better. some of my favorite memories were made from me focusing on the here and now. Yes life is tough, but if your able to give your child 20 minutes of your time and focus on them, you will feel different and better for it. This simple exercise will transform your life. 

8. Talk with friends, family, and most importantly loved ones. Just talk, I have a friend that lives across the state, so we don't get to see each other on a regular basis.  There have been times that I will call her at 1pm in the afternoon when I feel like I don't want to do anything at all. I will say, so I am calling you because I need motivation to..... clean, or pick up my daughter from school, it sounds horrible I know, but sometimes you need motivation and it's not coming,IT'S OKAY To have a friend that can talk with you, it's just a simple chat, nothing to deep or too long, but to have some one else to talk to is a blessing. Lord know's I needed a friend like this!

9. Taking time for your self. I wake up early in the morning to do my thing. Sometimes it's water color, or paper crafting, or blogging. carve time out for you, find time to do something that you like to do, and do it alone! for me I need at lest two 2 hour sessions of me time every week, usually it's in the art's. TV doesn't count, doing something with your hands, or making you think helps.

10. Last but not lest, Be kind to your self, tell your self, Self, you are awesome, and you will do awesome things ( a lot like positive thinking) but there have been times in my life that I have said over and over to my self (because I just felt like a horrible person,) I am a Child of God, I am made to be awesome, I am a child of God, I am made to be Awesome., I am a Child of God, I am made to be awesome! those horrible feelings I felt about my self went a way, and I was able to do the things I was meant to do.  So find an affirmation that suits you to help those feelings of inadequacy go away. The Artist's way book has a bunch, I will hope to post more about this sooner than later also! 

So I am sure there are lots of other ideas that has helped you, or some one you love battle this SAD disorder. I would love to hear what helps, I think with depression, it's a paradox, we feel lonely, and yet we need to be social.