five (really) good things

I've been living in my "love makes us brave" shirt over here. It is so soft and it makes me take a deep breath every single time I read it. My friend Jen designs shirts to be worn when you are the thick of it... in the deep living and creating and loving parts of life. And lucky for us, the shirts are 20% off today and tomorrow when you use code 2DAYSTOSAVE.

Curvy girl note: This shirt really does run true to size. I have an XXL and I love the fit. It is actually a bit more scoop neck than this photo shows.

In fact, everything over at Jen Lee Productions is 20% off, which means you can also get my home retreat kit, The Gift of This Moment, and my poetry collection, Five Days in April, on sale today and tomorrow by using the same code 2DAYSTOSAVE. I'm so proud of this work and deeply thankful for the space to share it.

For a few months now I've been using Anna's oils and sugar scrub. Sometimes my c-section scar really aches, and I was looking for something to use when that happens. It brings up a lot of emotion for me, and I want to tenderly take care of myself. Anna was wonderful to work with and I love how everything I have smells and feels. I use the "I Create" second chakra oil along with the Root "I Connect" oil and the Wise Woman scrub. I'm adding a few more good things to my "If I was buying myself a Christmas gift" pinboard to help Santa out when he goes to fill my stocking this year...

Tea. Tea. And more tea. Ellie now says, "Time for Mama's tea" when she sees me reach for a mug. Yes, sweet girl, it is time. Right now, tea really does feel like a deep breath in a cup. Currently loving: Trader Joe's winter tea called Vanilla Cinnamon Black tea (if you don't have a Trader Joe's near you, Harney & Sons Holiday Tea is wondrous) and Republic of Tea's Twenty Herbs Tea.

And twinkle lights. I've been saying I want to put them up forever. But each year they only go on the tree. We now have them in the bathroom and across the mirror that is on the fireplace. I love it. There is just something about that soft light that makes me smile. Planning to add a few more sets throughout the house. I'm sharing this because if you are like me and have been saying you want more twinkle lights in your house but haven't done it yet...well...TODAY is the day. Make it happen dear one. Yes.

what do you need?

It was a "get out of the house and into the fresh air or the grumps might take over the day" kind of morning over here.

So we bundled up and went to the park. And Ellie loved running around and going down the slide with her daddy.

And oh my gosh I love this photo. I love this real moment of Ellie's bravery when she climbed up to this tall slide and then looked at me and said "I'm scared." So her daddy climbed right up next to her so they could slide down together. Even though he groaned and mumbled as he tried to figure out how to fold down to join her, he did it anyway. And she cheered, "I did it!" when they got to the bottom. 

If I hadn't listened to what we all needed this morning, we might have missed it.

The days are full over here. This holiday season has me working like a little elf as my shop is the busiest it has ever been. (I'm deeply grateful for this.) I'm trying to be present to the holidays and this time of year with my family. As I move through the day, it can feel intense and awesome and beautiful and so damn hard at times.

I'm gently encouraging myself to try to let go of the expectations of this time of year. But goodness how they just hang there waiting for you to notice them, don't they?

In the midst of it all, I'm giving myself some space to notice what I need.

 Sometimes this means closing my eyes while taking one deep breath and saying quietly, "What do you need kid?" And then allowing for space to listen to the answer.

Yesterday that answer was 10 minutes of rest while Ellie napped.

Late last night that answer was a promise to myself that I need a vacation in early 2013.

This morning the answer was to get outside away from work and have an hour of play with my family at the park and then to Starbucks for treats.

In this moment, my answer is a big glass of water and music I love.

What do you need today?

It's okay to be honest with yourself.
It's okay to speak it aloud.
It's okay to let your loved ones know.
It's okay to rest, to dance, to ask for an hour alone, to ask for a hug, to say "no."

Yes. It's okay to do all of this and more for you to help you feel supported and present this time of year.

If you need someone to catch your answer today, feel free to share in the comments or email me.

Blessings,
Liz 

*****

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yes

yes

to ruffles
to layers
to soft i could sleep in this clothes
to letting go of "what not to wear"
to colors that feel like home

to hats
to headbands
to oils that glide across my skin
to white after, before, and on labor day
to candles lit at dusk

to cozy
to cooking
to letting the shoulds be 
to listening
to choosing love 

today, i say yes
to ruffles
to layers
to me,
just me. 

***

I cleaned my closet Saturday and instead of the usual "you should keep this because it makes you look thinner" or "what if you need that white blouse for a meeting" or "do you know how much that cost" voice that I usually hear in my head when tackling the closet, I first heard the wisdom of my friend Hannah encouraging me. And then after the first shopping bag was full, I began to just hear my own. Yes. 

Slowly, I will go through it all...the closets, the drawers, the under the bed stuff...and I will gently gather only what I love to me.

oh december daily, here we go...

The little box holds extra journal cards and a few embellishments and the suitcase holds extra papers, stamps, ink, and my star punch

I'm diving into December Daily, for real this time. Each year I'm inspired by Ali and each year I never quite get organized enough to begin.

But this year, I decided to just do it. Here's a little peek in my preparation:

Each open spread is one day but because the pockets are clear and the photos aren't in yet, you can see through to other "days"

I'm not one to really be prepared for much when it comes to crafty projects, but I know this has to be my way right now. I want the journal cards already ready for me to use. And I knew I had to stamp all the numbers 1-31 because I have to be able to know what day it is. In many cases, I'm using my star punch and put the numbers right on it (with these stamps) so that I can staple it to a photo or journal card later.

I'm using a Simple Stories binder with several styles of page protectors so that I can easily move things around based on the photos I take. Meaning, if I have two Instagram square photos I want to use for one day, I can grab a page protector for that size and then just move the journal cards around a bit. But something tells me I'm just going to make it work each day with what is already there.

The journal cards I'm using include Ali's digital cards that I printed out, Ali's story cards in grey (that I'm also using in Project Life but I might have to get the red ones too!), paper from this paper pack and a few other random sheets that caught my eye at Two Peas, and a few of Pam's cute printables.

I'm going with a Project Life feel to it all to keep things in my "memory keeping" comfort zone. I also cut up a little shopping bag from Starbucks and plan to use their "rekindle" phrase (from this year's holiday campaign) as part of my cover page I haven't made yet. Because this is the first year in a long time I've felt physically, mentally, and soulfully ready to lean into the holidays this year and I truly do feel a "rekindling" inside.

the tiny attacher, Smash pen, washi tape, and tags cut from this paper are going to be my go-to tools and embellishments

One thing I've had a bit of a teeny panic about with page protectors with Project Life and now this album is how easy it would be for a toddler to pick up the whole album and turn it upside down and then there would go all the inserts and I would have no idea where they go. Though I have to admit that I think I might just start laughing because really I'm not being a perfectionist about any of this and it feels so freeing to just get the memories out of my camera and my head and somewhere else.

Anyway, I'm thinking about ways to deal with this because I really want Ellie Jane to be able to look through these journals whenever she wants to. In many cases, this isn't a problem because I've cut the inserts to exactly the size of the pocket and they can't really move. One thought I have is to staple certain pockets if I know I won't be pulling the insert out again. For now, with Project Life, I'm stamping the first day of the week date on the back of that week's inserts. For this album, I might do the same thing. I also think clear washi tape might be a good idea for some pockets. I'm guessing there might be a whole thread about this somewhere full of ideas that I just need to find. (And really, taking a quick iphone photo of each layout might be the fastest option.)

Are you joining in? If December Daily seems like too much right now but the idea speaks to you, one idea would be to join in on Instagram or on your blog and just share one photo a day. You could then print them out and have a little album full of December moments.

Learn more about December Daily at Ali's site here.

why water your soul?

Watch on Vimeo

Recently I was asked, "Why a program in December?" 

My answer: Because we teach what we most need

In today's video, I share a story about how being neck deep in survival mode and wearing guilt like a shawl brought me to a place of not wanting to do anything for the holidays. Which led me to deeply see how we make our expectations of this time of year a thick layer on top of all the day-to-day living that continues in December. 

What if you let go of some of those expectations and in doing so created more space for joy, light, and the truth of what you most need right now?

Water Your Soul is an invitation to trust you are not alone in feeling whatever this time of year brings up for you.

It's about making simple moves in December that will help take away from the chaos, not add to it.

It's about being right here giving yourself the gift of replenishing you even as you also give to others.

A beautiful group is already gathering in our private Facebook space where we are checking in each day and beginning to share stories and connect. We "officially" begin December 1.

Click here to learn more and join us.

Please email me any questions you have.

a shop sale

Use coupon code HOLIDAY12 to receive 20% everything in the shop today and tomorrow!

To use the code, find "Apply Coupon Code" in blue writing right above your total on the checkout page, click on it, and type in the code HOLIDAY12.

new trust necklace (also customizable)

Note the customizable section in the shop where you can customize your Soul Mantra and I will create a special necklace just for you or someone you love. There are also new "one word" designs if you are already thinking about your word of the year necklace.

And you will see my poem note postcards and a few of the Chickadee Road temporary tattoos now in the shop too. These would make fun stocking stuffers!

Thank you so much for your continued support. The opportunity to send these items I create in my studio out into the world for you to hold in your hands is such a gift to me. It is one way I feel so deeply connected to those who are walking beside me. And I love knowing that you have a Soul Mantra talisman to carry with you on your journey to remind you that you are not alone.

Blessings and love,
Liz 

what would happen?

In February of 2011, I was having a day that invited me to question my worthiness, my enoughness. I was feeling stuck in an old story of not being able to hear the kindness of others because my own self-doubt was so loud.

This contrast pushed me to give myself a pep talk of sorts. I turned on my microphone and recorded the words I would say to you if you were sitting across from me at my kitchen table needing an invitation to see that you are enough. The words became a love note to myself, to you, and when I came across the recording again this past weekend, I transcribed it (with a few little edits) and felt moved to share these words with you today (you can hear the original recording by clicking on "what would happen" at the end of this post):

As you sit in your corner today, what would happen if you just believed that your story matters?

What would happen if you just owned all the phrases that you say to others, the way you sign your emails to the ones you love, the way you encourage your friends with all of their pursuits in their life, what would happen if you owned that same belief that you have for your friends for yourself?

What would happen if you looked in the mirror and saw the beauty that others see when they look at you?

What would happen if you gave yourself permission to let hope bloom inside you?

What would happen if you listened to yourself when you experienced joy, if you listened to why, if you noticed why the joy comes up inside you when it does?

What would happen if you let go of wishing you were someone else and walked to the mirror and met for the first time the real you whose waiting inside you?

What would happen if you believed the kind things people say and write about you?

What would happen if you took the next compliment someone gives you and believed it?

What would happen if you quit looking at the phrase “I am enough” and thinking “oh yeah one day I’ll believe that” and instead just took it as part of your personal truth?

What would happen if you believed the phrase I am enough was part of your personal truth?

What would happen if you walked to the mirror right now and looked at yourself and saw the beauty that those who love you see?

What would happen if you walked to the mirror and let go of looking at the person reflected back at you and thinking “oh I wish her hair looked…if only she was…if only she was…” and instead of thinking if only she was, if you looked at the person reflected back at you and saw who she is?

What would happen if the next time the little girl inside you who loves to play with paint and paper or fabric or color or her camera or words, what would happen if you listened to her and let her play?

What would happen if you stopped trying to be that person that you aren’t and don’t want to be?

What would happen if instead you just were yourself?

What would happen if you walked across the room, down the hall, and found that mirror and looked at the person reflected back at you and chose love?

What would happen if you believed people when they paid you a compliment?

What would happen if you said, “you’re welcome” when someone said, “thank you” instead of saying, “oh it was no big deal”?

What would happen if you walked down the hall and looked in the mirror and chose to see love and chose to use love when you looked at the person reflected back at you?

What would happen if you spoke to yourself as softly and calmly as you speak to those you love? 

What would happen if you gave yourself the same space to just do the best you can that you give so many others?

What would happen if you walked down the hall and looked in the mirror and chose love when you looked at that reflection?

What would happen if you just believed that in this moment, in your corner, you are enough?

***

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What Would Happen

gift goodness

There is something really delightful about being able to shop for holiday gifts while still in my pajamas as everyone else is asleep. I've been doing that this weekend and here are some of the ideas I have on my list:

We love using our "Cuppow" lids on canning jars to turn them into travel mugs. And they now have lids that fit a straw, which is perfect for Ellie! A few people are getting these in their stockings. Just received a Cyber Monday email from them and all their lids are 25% off.

This year all retreat participants received mugs from The Universe Knows. I LOVE these mugs. My mugs often appear on my Instagram feed and someone always asks me about them. Be Like Water is my favorite. They are having a big Cyber Monday sale too with everything 25% off. I have one of their hooded sweatshirts and love it. Please note I am an affiliate for The Universe Knows because I really recommend their products and customer service! I'm going to be giving a few mugs this holiday season.

On Etsy I am in LOVE with:

• Lori Portka's calendar
• Catherine Odell's squirrel holiday cards (don't miss the story!) + skating Big Foot cards
• Kelly's misfit baubles
• Pam Garrison's You Are Loved print + her awesome stamps
• The constellation necklace from My Sunset Road (Jon got it for me for Mother's Day. It is lovely.) 

And oh my gosh have you seen these day-by-day calendars made from Instagram photos. Favorite idea ever.

More gift ideas are over on my Luvocracy page. (They have free shipping right now.) I've been creating a board all about gift ideas for my sci-fi loving husband and another board for other gift ideas catching my eye. I love the visual of these boards! 

I plan to share a few more gift ideas as we get closer to the holidays. I think it is such fun to see gift idea lists like these from bloggers. And of course there are lots of fun gift boards popping up over on Pinterest!