sources: made by girl (love candy gold) | tiffany & co (charms) | kate spade (spade paperweight) | judith leiber (crystal handbag – lattice)

PS The incredible journaling e-course giveaway ends this Friday September 23rd! And be sure to check-out the comments on the post so far—they are truly incredible.

Related posts:

1. Color Me Happy: Royal Blue
2. Color Me Happy: Chartreuse
3. Color Me Happy: Green

It feels so good to let ourselves melt into the flow and allow our work to come naturally, unencumbered, and with grace. What better time to invite some ease into our lives than the last weeks of summer?

I recently asked some inspiring artists what ease looks like for them. The latest edition of the free desktop wallpapers series is a compilation of their work. Be sure to stop by and download some summertime ease for your desktop!

The gorgeous pieces include:

• Fly by Stephanie Corfee

Meet Stephanie: “I am an artist & designer living and working in Malvern, Pennsylvania. My personal aesthetic is quite varied and changes with my mood. It’s a little bit bohemian, always colorful, and, when it comes to my children’s work, definitely VERY whimsical. No matter what style i’m feeling on a given day, there does seem to be a constant of intricacy & detail.”

• Kindred by Jess Swift

Meet Jess: “I’m interested in color. And the way images speak and capture truths and feelings that words simply can’t. I believe we are visual creatures, and we crave worlds filled with sights and images that make us feel joyful. I believe we are meant to do what we love, to feel joy. I’m blessed to be a full-time artist and graphic/surface pattern designer; I’m truly living a life that I love.”

• Summer’s Full by Allie Creative

Meet Allie: “A girl with a plan. Or, perhaps more accurately, a girl who’s always planning. Constantly working to make others’ lives simpler and my own as complicated as possible. Aspiring to be a domestic goddess, letterpress shop owner, sommelier, voiceover actress, novelist, and Anthropologie window display designer. And all in this lifetime.”

• Reve d’Ete and Summer Poem by Fleur Bonheur

Thank you so much to all of the talented artists who shared their beautiful visions of ease!

Related posts:

1. The Rhythm of Struggle and Ease
2. Practicing Ease
3. The Manifesto of Kindness

First, I must say yet again this journey is truly incredible. The community support and daily reminder to do something just for “fun,” are such treats. I look forward to continuing more creative adventures like this one. If you’ve never tried something like this, I highly suggest you jump outside your comfort zone and get started TODAY (yes all caps!).

This past week, I indulged in crayon therapy. I can’t remember the last time I used crayons. My incredible fiancé, Ben, bought me a special surprise – a jumbo package of 64 Crayons (even comes with a built-in sharpener). I mean that’s definitely a sign – he’s a keeper!

I think I may need to go back to preschool. I found so much enjoyment using my crayons!!

A few more pages that were wrecked since my last wrecking update…

I colored the entire page with a beautiful lilac crayon. Lilac happens to be my favorite color! I was going to doodle on the page, but decided to leave the crayon masterpiece simple – yet so very full of meaning.

This page was one of my favorites. I absolutely adore office supplies, especially colorful ones. My office is always full of color from Russell and Hazel. I created a border of pink tape around the page – pink office tape is too much fun! This is only the first “office supply” page – so be sure to check back for page 2!

The final page to share this week is one of my favorites, “Ask a friend to do something destructive to this page. Don’t Look.” Ben’s sister, Malka, took on the challenge and did an incredible job!

–> Ben took the picture. I wasn’t looking!!

What did I learn or realize from Week 4 of Wreck This Journal?

I realized why this journal is so important. Because the aim of the task is to literally “wreck this journal” through every method one can think of, the focus is not on the outcome. The outcome will be a wrecked journal. And I don’t think I know of anyone who has perfectly wrecked something – is that even possible? So while the activities may seem silly, that is just a disguise. The real joy in each page is to learn to focus on the process and not the outcome. Each page forces my mind to focus solely on the new and unique prompts. And then I just, “start,” and do what feels fun because the outcome is not what I’m after — I’m going for an incredible wrecking journey!

And now it’s on to week 5, Happy Wrecking!

Related posts:

1. Start Here
2. A “Perfect” Mess
3. Instruction Destruction

I had a feeling that the “coffee” page would be my favorite. I am a bit (okay — HUGE) of a caffeine addict! So of course I didn’t want to waste a drop of my beautiful cup of coffee, but I did — I needed to wreck my journal! I feel a little bit guilty that I had looked at other wreckers and saw the result of their “coffee” wreckage. It creates a mess! And I didn’t want that to happen — soo… I put a piece of card stock behind the page to protect leaking through to other pages. I also covered the area with newspaper to make sure nothing got ruined. Then I carefully used my straw to create a perfect mess with my last few drops of coffee. And it wasn’t much fun! I think the leaking and making a mess are required for the “fun.”

Note to self: create a mess!

But I had fun decorating the page with my coffee love! And then moved on to poking every inch of a journal page. Finally, I started drawing lots of fat and thin lines — but am still working on this little creation!

What did I learn or realize from Week 3 of Wreck This Journal?

I learned to “Draw Outside the Lines.” [See Daily Tip #18!]

On to week 4! Happy Wrecking!

–> Week 3, The Next Chapter: Wreck This Journal

Related posts:

1. Crayon Therapy
2. Start Here
3. Instruction Destruction

Last week was more difficult than most for me. I thought hard week > wreckage. Well, not the case! It seems that I LOVE to follow instructions and fit inside a neat little box when things start to go haywire. It was definitely a challenge to keep pushing forward with my wreckage… but I DID! I didn’t put the book away. I didn’t stop trying. Even though it was difficult, I kept going as hard as it was.

Writing is definitely a release for me — not drawing (wish it were!). So I did lots of writing in my journal and even began to burn a page until the smoke alarm looked as if it wanted to go off and make A LOT of people upset with me! So I had to hold it outside the window for a bit :). If any Bostonians saw someone hanging a book outside a window this morning — that would be me!

On to week 3! Happy Wrecking!

–> Week 2, The Next Chapter: Wreck This Journal

Related posts:

1. A “Perfect” Mess
2. Start Here
3. Crayon Therapy

Today, with great hesitation, I took Wreck This Journal off of my bookshelf.

Over and over, I caught myself staring at the book on my desk and thinking, “Seriously, I’m going to do this? Now? I absolutely cannot.”

And then just a few minutes ago, I looked at the book again and noticed a small arrow at the bottom of the cover. I somehow completely missed it until now. The arrow contains two words: Start Here.

That little arrow served as a huge wake-up call. I realized that I never feel this internal resistance when working on a project that is tied to some sort of extrinsic expectation. And of course, the project is typically something I’m doing for someone else. Yet, a small personal project with no expectations but to color outside the lines and I am suddenly rationalizing why I can’t do “this,” now.

And now just a few minutes later, my whole perspective has changed. I am ready and excited to wreck my journal – for me. No expectations except one:

Each day, I must make the time to be creative and have fun. For me, this intention would be difficult to practice without some sort of trigger. At this point in time, I can’t just drop what I’m doing and “have fun” for five minutes – it would feel forced. The “Start Here” arrow will serve as my trigger to let go, explore, and just be me. Can I rationalize not doing this? No Way!

I am passionate and determined. I am going to Wreck This Journal!

Do you want to start here?

Each weekend (Friday, Saturday, or Sunday), lets post what we did just for ourselves. I’ll post about my Wrecking and any wild realizations that happened during the week.

What will you do? Will you be wrecking your journal as well?

Okay… start here … NOW!

{Cover Image via Amazon}

Related posts:

1. Crayon Therapy
2. A “Perfect” Mess
3. Instruction Destruction

… image via lululemon …

Weekly Snippets of Information + Inspiration [File 3]

… image via rfrantzdesign on etsy …

InformationFiles:

-> Event: BookExpo America [Largest book publishing event in North America occurring in New York City from May 29-May 31. I am just starting to learn about this event and it seems absolutely incredible. Check out the website if you are at all interested in books or the publishing industry! I'm very excited to be signing advance-release copies of my book from 12:30 - 1:30 pm in the Author Autographing Area on Saturday May 30th -- come say hi if you'll be there!]

-> Book: The Courage to Give (Jackie Waldman) [I am grateful to know Jackie. She is even more unbelievably caring than any story can possibly portray. She volunteers her time to help select the recipients of CCC's college scholarship program. A little intro from Jackie's book website: "We all have something to give, no matter what. That's the courage-the courage to step out of our own lives, even when we think we can't, and step into the life of someone else. When we find the courage to give to someone else, sharing what we love to do and making a difference for someone else, that's when we can begin to live joyfully, no matter what." Jackie is also on Oprah's Angel Network, and has an article called, Begin with Yourself. I love how Jackie discusses volunteering as something that must begin within rather than an activity that is purely extrinsic. An unbelievable woman who is changing the world through her own experience with MS, her words, her books, and most importantly -- her personal actions.]

-> Mind + Body: Hip Tranquil Chic [I found Kimberly Wilson (i.e. the Hip Tranquil Chic) through twitter and just love her unique and fun approach to yoga and tranquility. SCARY! I promise I didn't know about this before just now -- check out who was featured yesterday on Kimberly's blog -- Featured Tranquilista: Christine Mason Miller! I feel like a stalker. Christine, I promise I am not stalking you! But if Christine is a tranquilista, then you gotta know it must be worthwhile to make a stop and read about the tranquil chic and how to become one.]

-> Creative: Are you creative? Answer: Yes. I would love your help! My non-profit, CCC, is creating a few fun designs and slogans to sell on apparell as a way to help increase donations (100% of every dollar donated goes to a scholarship). If you have any ideas or know someone with ideas, please let me know! You can learn more about the organization at our website and gain inspiration from there as well for different design ideas. But we want to do something a bit different than our normal image – so all ideas are welcome! Please just leave me a comment below and I’ll email you with more details (and yes there will be super thank you gifts from yours truly). CafePress has an abundance of ideas — but it can suck you in! Since I know nothing about the design world, I thought I would appeal to my design friends and readers :).

-> Care: What Gives?! [A social goodworking blog. Want to do more to help a cause, but not sure where to start? Have an idea and need support? Want to know about the cool stuff happening behind non-profit work? A community of supportive individuals who have questions -- just like you and me -- and want to do good and have fun at the same time.]

… remaining images via seejanework …

InspirationFiles:

-> Wear: SocChic: Chic Necklaces Benefiting Social Causes. [Dream: one day CCC becomes "SocChic" -- a girl can dream! Update: The dream came true! Check out the Bright Side Necklace!]

-> Website: Lululemon [Definitely mentioned before (apologies for the repetition), but the website keeps getting better! Some favorite parts: goal setting, the community, manifesto, blog]

-> Visual: ColorSchemer [You don't need a big project to add fun colors to your life -- think: bullet points, document header, font color -- little pops of color in unexpected places do a lot to boost your mood]

-> Quoted: Marian Wright Edelman (see below) read this Shel Silverstein quote to conclude her speech:

Listen to the mustn’ts, child. Listen to the don’ts. Listen to the shouldn’ts, the impossibles, the won’ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me… Anything can happen, child. Anything can be. – Shel Silverstein

-> Power of One: Marian Wright Edelman (President, Children’s Defense Fund) [Commencement Speaker at University Of Miami 2009 -- Best speech I have ever heard. Period. And now I can't find the speech online (oops). I'll find it and post an update. I found an excerpt of the speech, that you can peruse in the meantime. Additionally, you can read Marian Wright Edelman articles every Monday on the Huffington Post. My mom was so moved by the speech that she told Edelman that she was a better person just after hearing her talk. My mom was much more eloquent than that of course -- simply put: everyone was inspired by the commencement speech and the life's work of Marian Wright Edelman.]

Bonus:

-> Featured in Post (Say Tweet!): @bookexpoamerica, @tranquilista, @cccscholarships, @jessconstable, @lululemon, @childdefender

-> Thank You Gift (from me to you): SocChic Necklace — Visit the website and let me know in the comments which necklace you love and why — it will be hard to pick one! I know this thank you gift is a bit buried, so I’ll remind you later in the week just in case! Comment by Tuesday May 26th at 10:00 pm EST. Please only one comment per family. Thank You! Winner will be announced by Wednesday May 27th at 10:00 pm EST right here!

***
Information + Inspiration [File 1]

Information + Inspiration [File 2]

Say Tweet @clrsimple2

Related posts:

1. Information + Inspiration [File 2]
2. Information + Inspiration: June Gems [File 4]
3. Snippets of Information + Inspiration

… image via istockphoto user: crossbrain66 …

Finals are over, which means I’m back!! Oh, I’ve missed this blog — our little community of the most powerful and inspiring individuals on the web (yup – that means you!). I am filled with excitement and lots of ideas to share, but without further ado, I present:

Weekly Snippets of Information + Inspiration [File 2]

… image via messenger bird press …

InformationFiles:

-> Event: Wreck this Journal by Keri Smith [Join The Next Chapter book blogging group for their third online session -- Completely Free. Registration just opened and the online event begins Friday June 5th! I'll be wrecking my journal along with the incredible Michelle Ward.]

->Book: LibraryThing [Book lovers prepare for a new addiction! This book site is so much fun. It's a virtual world for books, readers, writers, and authors -- everyone can connect in one space (where else can you hang out with more than 35 million books on members' bookshelves...). You can even sign up to become an early reviewer and receive free books from your favorite authors before they are released -- all you must do in return is review the book on the site. Okay I could go on and on. If I had an extra hour in the day, it would often be spent on here!]

-> Mind + Body: Happiness in this World: Reflections of a Buddhist Physician [Recently came across this blog, written by Dr. Alex Lickerman. From the blog: "Alex writes this blog to share his views on all topics relating to health and happiness.  His principal aim is to explore spirituality from a scientific point of view and help people think about life, happiness, and themselves in ways they never have before."]

-> Creative: An Apple A Day [Create a New Habit and Art at the Same Time -- doesn't have to be an apple -- you could use fun stickers or a colorful marker to track your progress towards a goal and then you get to keep the letterpress poster as a reminder of your success.]

-> I Care: I am so grateful to the individuals who quietly helped me throughout these past few weeks. Little words of encouragement are so very powerful. Never underestimate the power of a simple note or even a kind tweet. For me, these simple acts of kindness made a dark tunnel feel less lonely. I haven’t been brave enough to face my email yet so I apologize if I haven’t thanked you — and I have lots of blog comments to read (so excited – thank you for the treats). For those of you reading this post and have stuck with me through this rough patch, Thank You. It has meant more to me than I could possibly articulate.

… image via presentandcorrect …

InspirationFiles:

-> Art: Willow Love Studios: What the world needs now is love sweet love [Is that not the best tag line you've ever heard! I found this beautiful collection of inspiring pieces on papernstitch. My personal favorite is HOPE* -- primarily due to the quote that accompanies it. Every time I read this quote it gives me chills: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead]

-> Website: Art of Noncomfority [Chris Guillebeau, a new twitter friend has inspired me with his contagious passion for life and of course his philosophy of world domination -- simply stated: this site contains a vault of tools that will help you get where you want to go in life (even if you don't know where that is yet).]

-> Quoted:

“The Dalai Lama is a lot more playful than your average Harvard professor, which is one reason his appearance at a Harvard psychology conference on Friday was so entertaining. The Dalai Lama — who at 73 has an agile, mischievous mind and an abiding interest in psychology — accepted Harvard’s invitation because he wanted a lively debate about the latest science on mental health. He wanted to play. What he got was an audience of earnest academic worshippers. He played anyway….

Before Linehan spoke, the Dalai Lama had asked a playful question: ‘What, exactly, is psychology?’ No other panelist answered him, but Linehan addressed the question as soon as she spoke. She called psychology ‘the science of behavior, including the behavior of the mind.’

And for the first time, the Dalai Lama seemed truly delighted, since here was something, and someone, to engage. ‘You mean psychology is not just the mind itself?’

‘No,’ Linehan answered. ‘It is the study of the mind. You study it also, of course.’

Playful as always, he looked at Linehan approvingly and said, ‘Now, your answer, instead of solving the problem, creates more confusion … I feel I am still in kindergarten.’ And with that, he laughed like a little kid, and finally, so did everyone else.”

– Excerpt from TIME Magazine online article, Mind Games: The Dalai Lama Takes Harvard

-> Visual: Chictopia [The online fashion inspiration destination -- Magazine/Reality/Sketches/Project Runwayish/and oh so much more! -- Love this image of Jackie Kennedy Onassis]

-> Power of One: Jon Gordon [My first book blurb came from one of my favorite authors -- Jon Gordon -- last week. I am so grateful that he took the time to do this for me in the midst of his own book launch. He provided support and encouragement I so desperately needed at the start of this very scary stage (i.e., launching a book)].

Bonus:

-> On the Download [If you don't know about the free downloads available on Blah Blah Blahg then you are missing out big time!]

***
Information + Inspiration [File 1]
Say Tweet @clrsimple2

Related posts:

1. Information + Inspiration: June Gems [File 4]
2. Information + Inspiration [File 3]
3. Information + Inspiration

… all images from room service home …

I am so excited to introduce a little treat that we can look forward to each Monday: Information + Inspiration.  I have wanted to add this new series for a bit so why wait any longer! I hope that you will join in and share what’s hiding in your secret little files!

Each Monday: Snippets of information and inspiration — no essays (I Promise!)

InformationFiles:

–> Event: Simplify101 Organize Your Paper Clutter Online Workshop [Brand New Workshop! Starts Tuesday April 21st... and of course, I signed up weeks ago!]

–> Book: Every Monday Matters [Much more than a book: an entire online community and grass roots movement has started focused on the theme, You Matter]

–> Mind + Body: Making the Most of the Spring Mood Bounce

–> Creative: Kelly + Olive [Design Duo in Chicago who also do a ton of virtual decorating (check out this Apartment Therapy post) -- so if you live in Boston (or Australia), they can help you create a magical space with design boards and personalized tips. I just worked with them and and can't say enough positive things. They are talented beyond belief and so *incredibly* kind -- like sending me the sweetest email this past week out of the blue. They have a ton of different packages and are very affordable. Check them out!!]

InspirationFiles:

–> Wear: “I Live and Love with My Whole Heart” Cuff by Uniq’leigh Allison [There is something very powerful about this cuff. I wear it everyday and look at it often to remind myself that, I Choose Authenticity (written on the inside of the cuff)]

–> Blog: Wonderful Friend and Artist Anne Harwell’s Blog, Annechovie

–> Words: “At the time, I had no sense that this would become a precious memory… but now it’s so vivid… and tinged with the sepia tones of nostalgia. Amazing what become printed in our hearts.” — Joshua Freedman

–> Visual: Violet Marsh Photography [Be prepared for visual stimulation overload -- seriously. After you look at the beautiful photos, you have to see Tanya's home featured on Apartment Therapy. Seriously -- gorgeous, bright, happy -- want to live there now! Tanya is the incredible photographer behind Violet Marsh Photography. Don't be too jealous, but I'm working with Tanya this weekend on some fun new photos!]

–> Power of One: Josh Sommer [To describe Josh, I would have to write an entire novel. I am so grateful to be a part of Josh's life. He is redefining the word "genius." I met Josh while at Duke and cherish our incredible friendship. I've mentioned his organization a ton on here, Chordoma Foundation. You can read this article/watch the video clip for a quick overview. He will leave you speechless. Oh, and keep in mind that Josh recently turned 21.]

Bonus:

–> Mailing Label: Have you ever ripped a box apart just to cut off the mailing label? Well, I hadn’t until Thursday. I purchased the print, “Ignore the Rain Look for the Rainbow” from Studio Mela. The Label: Cutest image and then a tiny message printed on the bottom, “let me say thank you with my whole heart. i hope you love what’s inside because a nice person like you deserves a really big smile.” Not throwing away that label!

–> Journal Addiction: Incredible Gratitude Journal

Goals for the Week:

Me Time! Take a CoreFusion class at the zen, Exhale Spa and workout with Alissa on Thursday! [Note to Self: Need to get out of office chair to do both of these activities.]

Related posts:

1. Information + Inspiration [File 3]
2. Information + Inspiration: June Gems [File 4]
3. Information + Inspiration [File 2]

… image via kristybee on etsy …

Do you have tools that you rely on for inspiration? Whether you want to write a private journal entry or a public blog post, how do you get inspired?

While waiting for that moment of creative genius to hit and for this blog post to spill onto paper, I became aware of “inspiration mode.” I never consciously realized this mode before today. I think this mode is actually pretty common. It’s the lull filled with things that make you happy – make you feel creative and inspired – and of course, make you feel ready to conquer the world!

I had planned to write about something a bit more structured today: inspiration boards. I won’t be talking about “inspiration boards” directly today, but I want to talk about “inspiration” in general, which is a great introduction to the topic of inspiration boards. I suppose this is a more natural beginning for a series of posts on inspiration boards. In order to begin discussing the broad topic of inspiration boards, one must have a good handle on general inspiration, which differs for each individual. So today, I am going to discuss 10 sources of inspiration that I personally use over and over again.

• • •

The Basics:
What is inspiration?
(Noun) The process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative. [Oxford American Dictionary]
Ponder this question, what does inspiration mean to you?
Need some help: check out this great online resource – Creative Something: Inspiring your Creativity. One Idea at a Time.

I define inspiration in terms of the energy I get from a source. Is it positive or negative? Is it creative energy? Is it motivating… and so on? That is how I start. What do I gravitate towards (rather than away)? What do I enjoy and feel almost guilty for doing? It’s in these sources that I typically feel less cognitive strain and more creative thinking. It feels good. It feels fun. It doesn’t feel like work!

• • •

While, sitting, waiting, and wishing…

1)    Music. Quick Burst of Inspiration.
Create short playlists (about 5 songs) that you can listen to for a quick burst of inspiration. You may want to create different types of playlists for different types of inspiration. Do you need a song that makes you feel like writing, like working out, like focusing… and so on. Create a playlist that lasts approximately 15 minutes that you have ready to listen to whenever needed.

I am loving Susannah Conway’s playlists on her blog, Ink on my Fingers.

2)    Quotes. Words that Define your Mood.

Quotes are a fantastic source of inspiration; in particular, quotes that you refer to over and over again – the ones that are memorized and repeated multiple times a day. I usually find quotes organically while reading a book or an article. They jump out at me. I usually relate with the feeling that the quote describes or feel inspired by the words themselves.   And then they stick. If you tend to love quotes, but don’t have a way of keeping track of them see below for a few ideas.

• Write quotes in a little journal or notebook — designate an entire notebook to quotes or just a few pages of your daily planning notebook. It doesn’t need to be super organized — just nice to have them in one spot to locate later.
• Put quotes up on an inspiration board. I put up my most frequently used quotes.
• Store quotes in text documents according to different categories (e.g., books, moods, or any other categorization method).
• Store quotes in an old-fashioned Rolodex. I recently started to do this and love the flexibility of having this paper method. I jot down new quotes on a little piece of paper and add them into my file. The Rolodex I use is super cute, which makes it more approachable (rather than a paper system that I will quickly abandon).

3)    Photos. Images that tell a Breathtaking Story.

… “Posy” by Susannah Conway (2008) …

Photography is a beautiful source of inspiration – looking at photos and/or taking your own photos. I find wonderful photographs through flickr and etsy. My favorite photographs are by Susannah Conway. Susannah writes, “Each of my photographs is my attempt to unravel the world around me, to see the beauty in all things.”   Other incredible photographers with online portfolios to browse: Alicia Bock, Jennifer Causey, Yvette Inufio, Honeytree, and of course, Danielle Anthony!

You can look at photos online and/or order prints from individual photographers to create your own inspiring collection.

4)    Journaling. Otherwise known as Writing Therapy.
I recently started keeping a personal journal. I didn’t realize the therapeutic benefits of journaling until I started my own. I typically journal before I go to sleep about whatever is on my mind at the time. Some of my best ideas are jotted down in that journal. It’s where I keep those random ideas for “someday.” Little diagrams of how I see an idea evolving or the steps needed to make an idea concrete. I stick magazine clippings into it as well – so it’s a whole big journal of personal thoughts and ideas that have sparked creative energy within me.

5)    An Inspiration Board. Make me Happy!

… image of my first inspiration board, Make Me Happy! …

This inspiration board is on the wall above my desk. It was my *first* inspiration board. It sat for about a month with a single post-it note in the center that says: Make Me Happy! I wanted a board that “made me happy.” And so that is how I started — my first creative venture. I’m starting my third inspiration board now on a different theme: A Beautiful Ripple Effect! I’m having a ton of fun brainstorming ideas for it and creating different projects. It’s a blank canvas and a wonderful source of inspiration. I also create mini inspiration boards for my mini personal organizer — love the idea of a portable inspiration board! It contains quotes, images, thoughts, and goals.

6)   Books. A Treasury of Inspiring Words.

I have a collection of about 15 books that I keep in my office all together. I have read these books multiple times and refer to them over and over again for inspiration. I have them close by and can always find exactly what I need in one of them. Some of the books include: I Thought it was Just Me (but it isn’t) by Brene Brown, Ordinary Sparkling Moments by Christine Mason Miller, The Organized and Inspired Scrapbooker by Aby Garvey, The Power of Less by Leo Babauta, Domino: The Book of Decorating, Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery by Garr Reynolds, Mindfulness by Ellen Langer and other inspiring reads.

7)  Blogs by Inspiring Bloggers/Writers. Simple Bites of Inspiration.

I may be biased, but I find blogs to be a great source of inspiration. In particular, I love blogs with a personal touch — typos, humor, less than perfect grammar, real world examples, and so on. Sometimes I need a blog with very few words (eye candy blogs), but most of the time I’m looking for inspiring articles to give me that creative edge. Reading a blog article is much more than just reading — you are given the key to a community of other readers interested in the same material. Within the comments, you can often find even more inspiration and community chit chat.

Some of my favorite blogs include: When I Grow Up, UpUp Creative, Decor8, Real Simple: Simply Stated, Treasuring, Made by Girl, Creative Thursday, Christine Mason Miller, Makeunder My Life, Annechovie, Creative Organizing, Melissa Loves, Ink on my Fingers, Ordinary Courage, Think Simple Now, Write to Done, and Zen Habits.

8)    Anything Family. And that includes Ben and Lila Rose!

Just thinking about my family and how much we love each other leaves me feeling incredibly happy, creative (and inspired)! I’m also inspired by how much each member of my family has done — from the little stuff to the really really big stuff. I’m proud of my mom, my dad, my sister, and my brother. We are all so different yet so driven to reach our dreams. Whenever I feel like something is too big for me to do, I think about what my parents did on their own. I know their story — and I know that at the end of the day being parents was their top priority. They taught me that you can do it all. It’s hard, but it’s possible. I could ramble on and on about them — that’s what it feels like (for me) to be inspired.

9)    A Beautiful Ripple Effect. Inspiration grows stronger as it is linked from one individual to another.

How can I describe this source of inspiration without the quote by Christine Mason Miller — not possible! I think I share this quote about every other post or so — have you memorized it yet?

10)  Care. Commit. Change.® Inspired by others who care about a cause and commit to creating change.

Which artists are committed to creating change? Who inspires me? Well, I created an event just to answer this question! And it began TODAY!!! So exciting!! We already have 700 applicants for our scholarship program this year – which is the largest applicant pool we’ve had ever – and probably the largest applicant pool for college scholarships for young adult cancer survivors (anywhere) so we are hoping that this online auction will help us support these individuals in their quest to go to college.

Why support young adult cancer survivors when everyone is feeling the strain of the economy? Take that strain being felt by everyone and multiply it by at least 10. And that is what is felt by young adult cancer survivors, many are hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical debt. College is not a possibility — ever. We are changing that through our college scholarship program and by providing *hope* that people (like you and me) believe in them. Should the cost of surviving cancer be the loss of a college education? Absolutely not. Help me — Help them. The auction will end on Friday April 24th. 100% of every dollar donated (every dollar used to purchase an item in this auction) will go directly towards a college scholarship for a young adult cancer survivor. [Update: Auction is complete. Thank you!]

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