Category Archives: Family

Thoughtful Thursday

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Soap Nuts

Soap nuts, also known as Sapindus mukorossi are native to India and Nepal. They are not nuts, but actually a fruit, a berry to be specific. However, when you dry them, it forms a hard outer shell that looks like a nut. The shell contains saponin, a natural detergent. Saponin gets released when the shell absorbs water, it also softens your clothes. Soap nuts are a great alternative for people with allergies who need a chemical free detergent.

To use soap nuts you would need to put about 4-6 of them in a muslin bag and then toss it in your washing machine with your laundry. If you prefer a scent just add essential oils to the muslin bag before tossing them in. Soap nuts don’t create a lot of bubbles and can be used several times before they break down. They are very eco friendly and cost effective!

You can also use soap nuts to make facial washes, shampoos and natural soaps. I found quite a few site online that sell soap nuts. So I’m going to buy some and see how it goes.

 

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” ~Mahatma Gandhi

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Watercolor Angel of Serenity Journal Page

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This is my latest angel that I created in my Strathmore 5.5″ x 8″ watercolor journal. I always start with a light pencil sketch first and then paint with bright fun colors. I’m currently working on a larger angel but she isn’t done yet, so stay tuned.

Once I get the colors to where I like them I let them completely dry. Next I painted her halo with gold acrylic paint and let that dry. I then added doodles with my white Posca pen and a little more detailing with watercolor paints and colored pencils. I finished her off with a little bling. I love the little sparkles of magic.

I hope she inspires you to create your own angel.

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Thoughtful Thursday

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Choices

I think we can all agree, 2020 is a year we will not soon forget. But the New Year has begun and it’s filled with endless possibilities. More importantly these possibilities will be a direct result of the choices that are made.

When you think about it, our lives all boil down to the choices we’ve made through the years. There are the good choices we’ve made when everything was simply peachy. Then there are those choices that when we look back, we question what the heck were we thinking at that time. It would be great if we had a crystal ball to see how things would turn out based on our choices. But where’s the fun in that?

I strongly feel that in the “not so great choices that are made” are important lessons to be learned. Sometimes the lessons are revealed quickly while other times, it just takes a while before it shows itself to you.

Make 2021 a Great Year! Be patient and kind to yourself, as well as with others. Do the best that you can. When faced with adversity, take a minute to breathe deep before responding harshly. Make the choice to have a positive enlightening day! Turn those days into a week, month and year!!

“May your choices reflect your hopes not your fears.” Nelson Mandela

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Watercolor Angel of Harmony Journal Page

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I hope you all are doing well and enjoyed your holidays. I ended up taking an unplanned but much needed break from the digital world. I feel refreshed, recharged and ready to start the New Year and I hope you do as well!

I love the dreaminess of these angels. I can’t stop painting them, lol. I created this simple angel in my Strathmore 5.5″ x 8″ watercolor journal. I started with a light pencil sketch and then painted her with bright fun watercolor paints.

Next I added doodles with my white Posca pen. I added more detailing and shading with watercolor paints and colored pencils and of course a little bling with Stickles. I love owls and added one in on this painting which is something you will notice more of in my art.

I hope she inspires you to dream big and reach for the stars in 2021! Wishing you a Year filled with Joy, Good Health and Prosperity!

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Thoughtful Thursday

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Holiday Indulging

The holiday season is a very special time of year for celebration and good cheer with those you love. But they also can be tough for many reasons and this year goes without saying. I’m always looking for the silver lining in the cloud and I’ve found that for me, all this craziness has meant more time with my family. So tomorrow night we’re doing a little bit of baking, something we haven’t done for the last several years.

I’m not sure how you do with indulging in holiday treats but I know at this stage in my life, the weight goes on quickly and fairly easily but is hard to get off. Sometime it seems like I just look at the sweets and the weight goes on, lol. But seriously, the holidays only come once a year and this year, I’ve decided it’s okay to indulge a little. Now, I’m not going gung ho and eating an entire batch of cookies but I’m definitely going to savor each bite enjoy a few.

The more you avoid something you really want, the more likely you are to binge eat. So having a few sweet treats is acceptable and should be enjoyed guilt free! But then just make sure you get back on track to eating healthy again and exercising if possible.

To compensate for my indulgences, I’m planning on running an extra mile here and there but nothing crazy. So my words of wisdom to you are enjoy this special time of year with loved ones and really cherish these special moments together, and “ENJOY” your holidays treats because I’m sure they’re well deserved!

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Share the Love Watercolor Snowman

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This little snowman warms your heart with lots of love. Painted with professional watercolors on Cartiera Magnani 140lb Cold Pressed Watercolor paper, measures 5″ x 7.” I added extra shading with colored pencils and fine detailing with a Sakura Micron pen.

Available for purchase on ebay: Share the Love Snowman

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Thoughtful Thursday

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Holiday Essential Oil Blends

Aromatherapy is defined as the use of fragrances to affect or alter a person’s mood. And it does just that. Smelling a fragrant essential oil can completely change your mood. Some fragrances may even transport you back in time to a wonderful memory.

There are a lot of synthetic ways to bring fragrance into your home but most are loaded with harmful chemicals. Not to mention a lot of people can’t tolerate them and that’s where aromatherapy is a blessing because it’s natural.

Essential oils are a great way to add a nice fragrance to your home with a room diffuser. There are a lot of different blends. If you’re not sure where to start, I found a great website EssentialOilHaven.com hosted by Emma. Below are her 12 Favorite Holiday Blends. Now you can also create your blend. You just need to experiment a little and find what speaks to you. But at least you have a place to start.

12 Christmas Diffuser Blend Recipes

My favorite scents for the holidays are cinnamon and pine. I’ve been enjoying sipping Cinnamon Chai Tea and smelling the fragrant pine from our Christmas tree. It really gets you in a great mood for the holidays!

Would love to hear from you. What’s your favorite holiday scent?

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Watercolor Bird Angel Journal Page

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Creating these watercolor angels is simply magical! This is my latest angel that I created in my Strathmore 5.5″ x 8″ watercolor journal. Like my other angels I started by lightly sketching her and then painted her with bright fun watercolor paints. While the paints were wet, I added sea salt and let it dry, then brushed it off.

The next step was to add some doodles with my white Posca pen. I added more detailing and shading with watercolor paints and colored pencils and of course a little bling with Stickles.

I tried using gold leaf for the halo this time. It didn’t turn out the way I expected. Getting it into the small areas is hard but I like it much better than the gold gilding flakes I used in my last angel. It’s no where near as messy and easier to work with. But this is something I have to tweak a bit.

I hope she inspires you to create your own magical masterpiece. Thanks for stopping by!

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Thoughtful Thursday

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Treasure the Moments

The holidays themselves can be rather stressful, throw our unusual circumstances into the mix and it can easily become mega stressful. But this season, I’m finding the utmost joy in the little things.

I’m slowing down and simply enjoying being in the moment with my family. I’m making the time to bake cookies and cakes which is something I wasn’t able to do last year. I’m watching lots of holiday “feel good” movies and reading really good books. I’ve been playing a lot of holiday music, singing and bopping along as I work throughout the day which makes everything more fun 😊

My creative mind has been hard at work. Instead of buying all store bought gifts, I’m coming up with creative ways to make some unique handmade gifts. I’m even getting back to basics with giftwrapping and using brown craft paper nicely decorated with bakers twine and pine greens.

By slowing down and simply savoring each moment, it has made life more calm. I’m very grateful for that. I plan on capturing lots of special moments with my camera this year, so I can look back and always remember the love I share with my family.

What will you do to find the joy in all the treasured moments this year?

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Watercolor Sailboat – Tutorial

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I enjoy sailing, but never seem to do it enough. It is so very peaceful to sail in the open waters. I love listening to the waves splash against the boat as it zips through the water at the mercy of the wind.

I created this painting last month from an online tutorial. My art for this week is a bit behind schedule with the Thanksgiving holiday but I’m working to catch up. It was my first try at painting waves with watercolor and it was harder than I originally thought. I used a pen for a little outlining and that was it.

This is probably the only painting I’ve ever done without adding bling with Stickles. It was hard to do, but thank goodness I survived, lol.

I hope it inspires you to create!

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