123 Street Avenue, City Town, 99999

(123) 555-6789

email@address.com

 

You can set your address, phone number, email and site description in the settings tab.
Link to read me page with more information.

Blog

free shipping in the shop!

liz lamoreux

From today through Sunday, December 15, enjoy free shipping in the shop!

Use code DECEMBERFREE when you check out to enjoy free worldwide shipping. Just click "Apply shop coupon code" in your shopping cart to enter the code.

My studio assistant Bonnie and I are getting all U.S. orders to you in time for Christmas (just place them by December 17). International orders will still go out as quickly as possible, but we can't guarantee Christmas delivery at this time. 

Thank you for all of your shop support this year. It really is a gift to me to create these talismans and send them to you and your loved ones.

Blessings,

Liz

pinned it. did it. {with doña}

liz lamoreux

I'm delighted to welcome another guest today. Doña Bumgarner is sharing a fantastic project she did with her little one this fall. As we look toward winter around the corner, it would be fun to create these salt dough ornaments with snowflakes or other winter-themed shapes.

Thanks for such a great project Doña and for sharing some great resources below.

***

My daughter is not quite 3 years old and this month she quit napping.  It has been a hard transition for both of us and the middle of the afternoon often finds us both exhausted and mean.

On one such afternoon, when the stretch to dinner and bedtime seemed interminable, I turned to Pinterest for inspiration.

I have few boards of activities for little ones, but on this day I remembered reading something about using sensory input to calm overwrought toddlers, so I pulled up the sensory activities board.  I needed a project that didn’t require a trip to the store, because there was no way we were going to manage that.

Salt dough leaf ornaments.  Perfect. Easy to make, short list of ingredients and supplies, and fast.

I pulled out the mixing bowl and flour jar and Bean came running into the kitchen to see what I was doing. She loves to help me cook (and I try to let her, even when it takes much longer) so she was immediately hooked. And then when I told her she could mix the dough with her hands? She was in heaven.


The dough was warm from the water and the texture was similar to the Play Doh that she loves. And the impact was immediate. As soon as she got her hands in that bowl I felt her energy unwind. It was magic. She tasted it and smelled it and told me it felt soft and squishy in her hands.

I let her mix as long as she wanted, and then I divided the dough while she picked the dye colors. The original recipe used powdered tempura paint, which I didn’t have, so I substituted food coloring. This didn’t work very well and stained my hands, so if you try this at home, use the powdered paint as suggested or mix the color into the water before making the dough. She likes purple, so along with the standard leaf colors, we made a ball of purple dough.

I helped her roll out and cut the shapes and that was about the end of her interest for the day. I settled her with a TV show while I finished up by poking holes in the leaves for hanging and put them in my dehydrator to dry. You can also use an oven set on low for this step.

She was so excited about the leaves we’d made and showed them to her father as soon as he got home from work.


The rest of the project was split over a few days, continued whenever she indicated interest. One night after dinner we painted the leaves with Mod Podge (I highly recommend their washable version when you are crafting with little kids!). Another afternoon we went for a walk around the neighborhood to find a branch to hang them on. 


Then two or three ornaments at a time, because this part was more frustrating for her, we cut lengths of thread and hung them on our branch, which adorned our kitchen counter for a few days until our boy cat decided it was fun to play with.

What I loved about this project was that it was so simple and so accessible. I also loved that it gave us something to come back to over the course of a week. But the best part was it reminded me that when Bean is having a really rough day I can try to bring her back to center by introducing a project that engages her senses. That’s an awesome mama trick to keep in my back pocket.

If you’d like to see the other sensory activities I have pinned, that board is here. You can also check out my boards for arts and crafts with kidseducational play, and self-directed toys and busy bags

***

Doña Bumgarner is a writer, artist, mama and a craft project-collector from way back. She loves Pinterest and uses it to help solve a household dilemma at least once a week (see her “pinned and done” board here)  She lives in Santa Cruz with her partner, their little one and his almost grown one, and a collection of cats and chickens. She writes about the importance and struggles of moms with little ones to hold space for their own well being in the midst of raising a family on her blog, Nurtured Mama

Note from Liz: Over here in my corner, I'm trying to "use Pinterest for good." I really see it as a community of people trying to see the beauty and possibility in their lives. I'm adding a few new features here on my blog inspired by or directly about Pinterest as a way to invite others to look for this beauty within a social media community. Connect with me on Pinterest here. Read other "Pinned it. Did it." columns here.

the sparkle and joy collection

liz lamoreux

The Sparkle & Joy Collection

I have a confession: 

I've fallen in love with glitter. And sequins. And things that sparkle. As in, I can't stop myself. As in, I bought new pink glasses that have glitter in them. (For reals.)

It has spilled over into my shop when I spotted these beads and had to do something with them. Right. Now.

The Sparkle & Joy Collection is (very) limited edition and filled with a few necklaces and earrings to bring a little bit more sparkle into your world!

Check them all out right here.

Today's shop special

Over on my new FB group, I've been sharing shop specials all week. Today's is the Mystery Soul Mantra Necklaceand it's available for only $15 (which is 25% off!). The mystery is that I will choose a soul mantra word for you from my collection of favorites. Words on my studio table today include enough, rest, wonder, worthy, hope, and love. Perfect for gifts and as a surprise just for you.

pinned it. did it. {with meg}

liz lamoreux

Meg's sharing another recipe today! It's perfect for this time of year and for those of us who want to try cooking without gluten but keep wondering if what we make will really taste as good as we hope.

****

It’s no secret that I like things made with pumpkin. And with it being the holiday season and just after Thanksgiving here in the U.S., I’m tempted to have a pumpkin treat each day. It just seems festive and appropriate. So I decided to start with a recipe that I’ve been wanting to try for a long time now - and I am so glad I did.

 

These pumpkin mini muffins are grain-free. They are also dairy-free and refined sugar-free. I admit to being a bit skeptical of the end result. As someone who has been in and out of various dietary restrictions over the years, I have had my fair share of disappointing baked goods. However, I was thrilled at the outcome of these muffins. They are incredibly soft, fluffy, spongy, and bare no resemblance to any dense or gritty grain-free recipe I’ve tried thus far. I would serve these to anyone and am willing to bet that no one would realize that they are not the typical flour and sugar made muffin. 

In our house, we love Justin’s Almond Butter**. In this recipe, I used the honey almond butter. The end result has a very subtle nutty taste, much less noticeable than if I’d used peanut butter. We did not have mini chocolate chips on hand, so we sprinkled the tops of a few with regular chocolate chips. (Keep in mind if you are dairy-free or have allergies, you will obviously need to use something like the chocolate chips made from Enjoy Life. They are dairy, nut, gluten, and soy free). These muffins are also delicious without the chocolate chips. They would be great with the addition of chopped nuts or a touch of cream cheese-type filling. There are so many possibilities for expanding this recipe. 

 

They whip up with only 8 ingredients (9 with the chocolate) in the blender and bake at a very quick 7-8 minutes. They also keep nicely in the freezer for up to 4 months. I will be baking a few batches at a time and freezing them for a quick breakfast in the cold months to come. 

What pumpkin goods have you been making lately? Are you enjoying the pumpkin season as much as I am or are you someone who doesn’t care for it? Wishing you all in the U.S. a happy Thanksgiving this week and sending love to our readers all around the globe.  

**This almond butter can be expensive. We find really good deals at regular grocery stores and health food stores. I got two 16oz jars on a buy one get one free sale at my regular grocery store for $10 so be sure to watch the sales!**


Meg Brothers is an artist, photographer, mama, and dreamer. She loves cooking, tattoos, and sporadic dance parties in the kitchen. She prefers dark chocolate, black coffee, and flip flops when weather permits. She is a lover of Pinterest and truly believes in integrating ideas and inspiration - big or small - into normal life. Meg lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, Dustin and son, Julian. Meg writes about photography, family, and creative inspiration at megbrothers.com. Find her on Pinterest here and on Twitter here

***

Note from Liz: Over here in my corner, I'm trying to "use Pinterest for good." I really see it as a community of people trying to see the beauty and possibility in their lives. I'm adding a few new features here on my blog inspired by or directly about Pinterest as a way to invite others to look for this beauty within a social media community. Connect with me on Pinterest here. Read other "Pinned it. Did it." columns here.

finding compassion in the space between

liz lamoreux

print available here

I came across the following words that I wrote around this time last year and wanted to share them today:

Friday evening, I was cuddled up in bed with Ellie. She had a fever and was in the midst of crabbiness and wanting to be held and not wanting to be held. My exhaustion was pretty thick and I was holding on to patience by the tips of my fingers. Finally, she sighed and leaned against me. In that moment, I consciously took a deep breath and found the space between my inhalation and exhalation. The space where my body and mind could rest even if just for a second. In those seconds, a quiet voice inside me gently said, "You've got this." Within just a minute or two, she was back to grumpiness, but I felt my patience expand and I was able to move from a place of compassion and gentleness, which is what she most needed. What I would most want if I wasn't feeling well. 

The seconds where I found the space to notice my breathing and recenter was like first aid to help me stay present for Ellie, for myself.

Today, this glimpse into a year ago reminded me to breathe deeply and come back to compassion for the now three year old who is trying on different ways to stall instead of going to bed. And it helped me to come back to compassion for myself as I navigate the different unexpected curves on my current path.

Finding compassion in that space between the inhalation and exhalation is such a beautiful practice to carry with you. I thought I would share it in case reading this story might be just the reminder you need today too. 

***

To receive little reminders and stories like this one in your inbox, sign up to receive my (almost) weekly newsletter here.

YES to sparkle & joy

liz lamoreux

You Are Invited to My Facebook Holiday Party!

This week, I'm hosting a holiday party on my new Facebook page.

There will be recipes and holiday music and party favors, including shop specials [today, all bracelets are 20% off!] and other free goodies, and connection with kindreds and other good things! All who "like" my page will be entered into a giveaway to win a box of some of my favorite gifts to give this season + a necklace from my shop.

Today we're sharing our favorite holiday tunes. Come over and join us!


 

yes, even this

liz lamoreux

This week has held sadness right next to joy. It has held laughter and disappointment. It has held conversations that open one's heart just a little more alongside unexpected grief. 

And today, we cook. And we feast together. And we nap. And we laugh. And we miss deeply. And we remember.

Through it all, I keep feeling this infinite yes. Even in the moments with tears. Even in the moments of toddler exhaustion. Even in the moments of unstoppable giggles. Even in the moments before coffee. 

Especially in the moments cooking side by side. Especially in the moments where Ellie Jane runs to her grandparents. Especially in the moments where deep breaths are remembered. Especially in the moments where gratitude arrives unexpectedly.

I just keep thinking: 

Yes, even this.

That is my prayer today.

(for you, for me)

Yes, even this.

****

To receive little reminders and love notes like this one in your inbox, sign up to receive my (almost) weekly newsletter here.

the kind light of creative community {a guest post}

liz lamoreux

Today, I'm sharing another guest post from my blog series "A Circle of Kindreds." This series includes stories from a few people I consider my kindreds who are shining a light on the true stories and sharing adventures from their own creative self-care practices.

Today's post is from my dear friend Jenna McGuiggan who is one of my favorite storytellers, and someone I can talk to about anything because she's also a very good storycatcher.

Sometimes phone conversations take the form of magical excursions into truth and possibility. One such conversation happened a few years ago between Jenna and me. She shared an idea, and through our conversation, the idea took form as it stretched until it had wings. She put the idea out to others and they answered her call. Over a few short weeks, her idea was loved into reality into a beautiful little book full of wisdom and truth called Lanterns: A Gathering of Stories.

I am honored to have contributed an essay and a couple of photos and to be in the company of six amazing women in this book. It is one of my favorite things to share with others, and today, Jenna is sharing a story from Lanterns and a bit more about it.

*****

Several years ago, I was inspired to celebrate women in creative community. The result was Lanterns: A Gathering of Stories, a collection of prose, poetry, and photography by seven women writers and artists. Every time I hold this beautiful book in my hands I’m grateful for the power and grace of creative collaboration. Today I’m sharing the essay that closes the book (plus a special kindred spirit holiday sale). You can read the essay below or listen to an audio recording of me reading it (just click on "Lanterns" at the end of this post to hear the audio).

I can chart my life's course by constellations of friendships. The stories of friends past and present shine like stars in the night sky. Some have faded like a bittersweet distant star; others have exploded like a blazing supernova; some burn steady and bright. Every star with her own name, her own story.

She is the girl who made ice cream floats with cheap vanilla ice cream and generic grape soda during weekend sleepovers. Together we belted out Whitney Huston songs and played mad scientist with a chemistry set. We took long walks in the humid summers, our young hearts longing for something beyond the acrid smell of hot, sticky blacktop in our small hometown.

She is the roommate, the hallmate, the classmate in college. She taught me to love the precise smell of lavender and folk music; before her, I was all baby sweet and pop culture.

She showed me that a kindred spirit with a goofy sense of humor can lurk beneath a picture perfect exterior.

She taught me that shared friendship will outlast shared crushes almost any day.

She introduced me to the pleasures of cheap Australian white wine and American sitcoms on foreign telly. She took me home for Christmas when I was thousands of miles from my home. 

She sees straight through me to the other side, between where I am and where I could be. She calls, she texts, she chats, she emails. She comes for a visit. She invites me into her home. She writes me poems, shares her story, folds me into her journey. She is laughter in the dark, sobbing in the light.

She is a creative companion, my very own personal cheerleader. She holds my hand, hugs me, calls me on the carpet, tells it like it is. She inspires me to try crazy things and to encourage her to do the same. When I'm sad, she listens deeply and with love. When I run out of creative juice she inspires me, reassures me, kicks me back into gear. When I rejoice, she celebrates with me.

These are my lanterns, my friends. When I stumble and feel lost, they hold up their lights and say, “Look: You know the way. I'll come with you.” They are, as Lisa [Ottman] has called her essay, “lights unto my path.” By their examples, by their words, by their laughter, they have lighted my way and lightened my load. They have been, to borrow a phrase that contributor Rachelle [Mee-Chapman] often uses, my “withmates” on this journey of living the creative, authentic life.

You are here with us. As Jena [Strong] wrote in her essay, we are all “alone, together.” There are many women along these paths, each of us finding one another in the beautiful twilight, in the deep dark: gathering together, pooling the light from our lanterns until the darkness itself is invisible and everything glows.

* * *

This holiday season, I’m offering a kindred spirit special on Lanterns: A Gathering of Stories: Buy one book and receive a second at half price. That’s two copies (one for you and one to give as a gift) for $27 (normally $18 each).


Jenna McGuiggan is a writer, editor, and teacher.

Visit her in The Word Cellar, where she writes about everything from living the writing life to playing roller derby.

(Photo credits: Photo of Jenna by Vivienne McMaster; Lanterns front cover photo credit: Darlene J Kreutzer; design by Tilky Fernandez

Lanterns