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By eliza_cross, on January 8th, 2012%
 Photo by Stephen A. Wolfe “Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.” ~ Mary Lou Cook
What can you make this month, from materials you already have? Here are some ideas to get you thinking:
Bake a chocolate cake
Make a wallet out of a coffee bag
Build a birdfeeder from a pop bottle
Sew an Anthropologie-inspired ruffled scarf
Gather twigs and make a pretty candle holder
Make a pendant from a recycled red plastic cup
Or do your thing, whatever that may be–take a photograph, paint a picture, make a sculpture, create string art, write a poem, sketch, make jewelry or try something new.
If you’re especially creative, you may want to take some time this month to research online venues where you might sell your art to generate extra income, like Etsy, Fine Art America or Red Bubble. Or perhaps your art belongs on a t-shirt or a coffee mug; in that case, check out sites like CafePress and Zazzle.
Unleash your inner Michelangelo and create something this month — and don’t forget to tell us about it.
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Win a Deluxe Happy Simple Living Gift Basket
I’ll be giving away a gift basket chock-full of home and garden goodies plus several books at the end of the month. On January 31, 2012, I’ll draw one random name from everyone who commented during the month and that lucky person will win the gift basket. I hope you’ll stop by often this month and share your own ideas, thoughts and experiences.
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By eliza_cross, on April 20th, 2011%
“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” ~ Robert Brault
One of our favorite Easter traditions is a putting out our collection of colored eggs. Each year we unwrap these fragile Easter eggs and arrange them in a bowl on the kitchen table. We’ve created the eggs over a number of years, and they cost nearly nothing to make. The process begins with the tricky first step: yours truly always has to prick the ends of the eggs and blow out the contents — a task that thoroughly grosses out both of my children. (The eggs are perfectly fine, though, and can be scrambled or used in an Easter brunch casserole.)
We’ve decorated the eggs with different media; some are dyed, some are painted and some are colored with markers and crayons. My daughter created several of them when she was home sick one day, and several are new additions that my son and I made earlier this week. Some of the eggs are the result of our experimentation with a Pysanky kit. A few are naturally colored eggs in pale green and brown from a friend’s chickens. We seem to break a few every year, and that’s okay.
As this holiday of hope and new beginnings approaches, may you and your family find joy, peace and love — and may you make happy memories enjoying the simple things together.
By eliza_cross, on March 19th, 2011%
“What amazes me is that most days feel useless. I don’t seem to accomplish anything – just a few pages, most of which don’t seem very good. Yet, when I put all those wasted days together, I somehow end up with a book of which I’m very proud.” ~ Louis Sachar, author of more than 20 books
Why I Began Thinking About The Value of Small Steps
I recently decided to open a separate investment account to begin saving for our next car. I don’t plan to buy an automobile for many years, but I like the idea of having the money set aside so it’s there when the time comes.
For now I’ve been putting aside $25 a month, and I was a little discouraged when I reviewed the account statement recently and saw that the balance had reached just $175.00. “What’s the use?” that negative little voice in my head said. “At the rate you’re going, it’ll never amount to anything.”
“Not so fast, Kemosabe,” the positive little voice in my head said. “Stick with your plan.” Thank goodness the wise voice is the one I try to listen to. After all, I’ve lived and breathed the benefits of incremental acts and persistence, from writing books to saving money to paying off debt. You probably have, too.
After I told the negative voice to beat it, I made a list of some of the amazing things that can be accomplished with small steps, consistency and perseverance:
1. Learn a new skill. Got 15 minutes a day? You could learn how to speak a foreign language, play an instrument or Continue reading 15 Amazing Benefits of Small Steps, Consistency and Perseverance
By eliza_cross, on February 10th, 2011%
I’ve always loved making homemade Valentines, and this year I got inspired by the grocery and advertising newspaper inserts that were headed for the recycling bin. I simply cut out hearts from the paper and glued them on a plain card that I purchased in a pack of 50. The cards retail for $6.99 at Michael’s, but if you use one of the 40% off coupons that frequently run in the paper, the cost is $4.20 a pack or about 8 cents per card. This definitely beats spending $3 to $4 for a card! Write your own sentiment inside, and your loved one will have a one-of-a-kind, eco-friendly Valentine.
If you’re making Valentine’s Day cards from unusual materials, we’d love to see what you’re up to. Happy Hearts Day and hugs to all,
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