I’m ba-ack!  The funny thing is that the boys had a snow day today, so everyone is home when I’m trying to buckle down and get back to work!  While I’m enjoying the snow, it’s hard not to get pulled into the snow day spirit and take just one more day off, but it’s time to hop back in.  I have to say, I feel a little bit like a kid having to return to school after a long break.  I feel slightly reluctant, and a little rusty, but I also know breaks are sweeter when sandwiched between good work. So, what did I do over the break?  The first week was spent celebrating Christmas followed by days that were completely free of obligation (short of feeding the animals and taking Sebastian on walks.)  We ate leftovers and spent all day in our jammies.  I worked on a puzzle, read

While I love the decorating, crafting, shopping for presents, the build-up of anticipation, Christmas music, and the yummy foods, I think what I look forward to most about Christmas is the downtime we have once the bag of wrapping paper is taken out to the trash and the dishes are done.  We do puzzles, watch movies, eat leftovers, and live in our jammies.  We sleep in, don’t put anything on the calendar, and mostly stay at home.  I just really love that unhurried, unscheduled, open time with complete permission to rest.  I also take the time to paint, draw, read, knit, and take art classes.  In a busy world, it’s a sweet, slow time that I thoroughly appreciate. In addition to my Christmas break, I’m going to take off the first two weeks of January for a creative stay-treat.  I guess that’s a thing!  If you can have a staycation,

I’m back from my winter break and I thought I would kick things off by sharing a recap of what I did while taking time off of posting on the blog and social media as well as my observations about that time and what I gained from it. First of all, when I planned this time off, I imagined it being sort of an extended, at-home creative retreat.  It would be a time to play, create, read, study, plan, and rest.  As a large part of that idea, I pictured having the house to myself for a few hours each day while the boys were at school and Jeff at work.  That would be the time I would fill the house with my music and flit about working on whatever I felt led to without interruption.  I would also take a few day trips to get out of the familiar

Last year, when Shaunna and I were interviewing Jena Holliday for the Creative Exponent podcast, Jena mentioned she took the month of January off.  Not off in the sense that she didn’t work at all, but off in the sense that she took a break from certain aspects of her work.  I remember thinking…wow, you’re really doing that?  Good for you.  And that thought evolved into…hmmm, can I do that?  After giving that option some thought, I realized I could do that.  Not only could I, but it would most likely be very beneficial for me and my business in a variety of ways.  I decided earlier this year that I would take a break from certain aspects of my work in January.  I didn’t know the exact amount of time, but I knew what I needed a break from was sharing online, which has evolved dramatically since I started

I am often asked how I do everything that I do, so I’m going to attempt to answer that in this post and to offer some of the ways I maximize productivity.  The reason why I say I’m going to attempt to answer that question is that I really don’t believe there is one set formula.  Systems that work well for one person aren’t sustainable for another.  I also don’t know that I really have a set system.  Some of it is just how I operate.  Some of it is learned behavior.  Some is discipline.  We each have our own unique blend of traits and it’s important to be aware of them and not try to cram ourselves into a mold in which we won’t fit.  So, take what clicks for you and leave what doesn’t… milk painted dresser makeover maximize productivity tip one | most things don’t need to

Well, we made it through no-spend February!  I received a few confession comments/emails from people who felt like they blew it, but the point isn’t to be perfect.  The point is to become more aware of what you spend (and why) beyond tracking it in a budget.  I’m happy to report that I stuck with it pretty well and it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. So, first of all, did I buy anything in February beyond bills and necessary expenses?  Yes.  I ended up buying a few small things. I bought a , so I could finish my pair of socks.  I ran out of yarn halfway through and Jeff agreed it was a purchase to finish an existing project, so I could purchase it.  I only bought what I needed to finish. I bought another because I bent a couple of needles while making the