Thursday, January 19, 2012
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting! Are you on Facebook?
Well…guess what? I am! LOL!
Nah, but seriously, I wanted to share with you the NEW tips and tools that I’m sharing over on my Calm Mama page.
Every Monday through Friday I’m now posting…
❀ a daily quote
❀ a morning Calm Mama tip (which is different for each day but revolves around doodling, movement (my word for exercise), self-care, photography and food)
❀ an afternoon tip that revolves around helping us mama’s create more calm
❀ and then lots of personal fun in between.
Here’s an example of one of the tips I posted on doodling.
I make sure to add fun pictures, too! Gotta have those visuals. :)
So if you’re not following me on Facebook yet and you wanna join in the Calm Mama fun over there, click LIKE today so you can enjoy all my F.R.E.E. tips ASAP – oh, and I’d love to hear your tips, too, so leave them on my wall whenever you’d like!
Don’t have any tips to share, then just say hello, ask me a question, share you’re page if you have one and just help build this wonderful calm mama community!
See ya over on Facebook (oh, and don’t worry, my blog will still be going strong, too!).
Until next time…
{life is beautiful }
If you enjoyed this post, I’d love to keep the calm mama *creative* tips, recipes, products and services flowing to you! Would you? If so, then let’s stay connected by subscribing to my blog by email or RSS, tweeting on Twitter, connecting on Facebook and emailing me any questions you many have (I love answering questions!).
Also, don’t forget to sign up for your F.R.E.E. “101 Ways to FEEL Calm and Energized During Each and Every Mommy To-Do List Day” and Calm Mama E-Newsletter. I’ve got lots of colorful, calm mama tips and tools(for subscribers eyes only!) and articles to share.
You know those days when you think you’re SO far behind on picking up the house?
Now that C is getting older, her toys are now consisting of more and more pieces. I keep them all in zip lock bags and in a bin, but during the day these pieces can be EVERYWHERE and can start to drive me a little nutty.
Well, the other day, I walked into the kitchen and this is what I saw.
This is her learning tower she got for Christmas that we have in kitchen so she can help with cooking and such.
As soon as I saw it, all my Type A gotta-clean-up thoughts melted away and I just smiled and felt a sense calm wash over me.
I can’t even tell you how much these little things melt my heart.
I absolutely LOVE seeing my daughter place her toys around the house like this. It reminds me that she’s not a baby anymore and she’s growing older and she’s starting to play on her own more.
It’s SO wonderful to be the observer of her exploring her world around her.
I especially LOVE how she moves her toys around the house and places them like this. Then leaves them as so and moves on to something else. LOVE IT!
All the mess in the world doesn’t compare to this. ’Cause before I know it, all these little toys will be replaced with more and more grown up things. :)
Until next time…
{life is beautiful }
If you enjoyed this post, I’d love to keep the calm mama *creative* tips, recipes, products and services flowing to you! Would you? If so, then let’s stay connected by subscribing to my blog by email or RSS, tweeting on Twitter, connecting on Facebook and emailing me any questions you many have (I love answering questions!).
Also, don’t forget to sign up for your F.R.E.E. “101 Ways to FEEL Calm and Energized During Each and Every Mommy To-Do List Day” and Calm Mama E-Newsletter. I’ve got lots of colorful, calm mama tips and tools(for subscribers eyes only!) and articles to share.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Last week I had a doctor’s appointment. It was the first time I had been to this office, so when I was in the waiting room, my mind chatter was working on overdrive more than I’d like.
I don’t know, with all the moves that I do, I always get a little nervous before seeing my new doctors. Once I get settled and I get to know them, I’m fine. But I always get nervous for the official meet and greet.
This time I brought my small moleskin sketchbook and a pen so I could doodle while I wait. ‘Cause you know how long you can sit in those waiting rooms, right?
I’m SO happy I did this because, first, the waiting room was tiny. And, second, there were many “coughers” in the room, which led to others voicing out loud after every cough that they didn’t want to get sick. And, let me tell, they didn’t sound HAPPY about this at all.
One guy even made a point to tell the entire room that he was moving to another chair so he didn’t “catch what was going on in the waiting room.”
While all this was going on, I was doodling.
Yes, I heard all of these thoughts loud and clear, but as I doodled, those thoughts just passed me by. I even said to myself, “Nope, not me! I’m not gonna catch anything!”
Usually, I’d be the same way as the others. Thinking I’m gonna catch what’s being coughed which then results in my left-brain worrisome thoughts growing louder and louder that sound a little like this:
“I can’t get sick. I have to take care of C.”
“Oh man, everyone’s sick. I’m SO gonna get sick now”.
Well, this time, because of my mindless-right-brain-doodling-activity I was able to stay present, stay in the moment and stay in a happy place, without any worry of catching anything.
I also noticed that as I doodled my nervous-meeting-new-doctor -for-the-first-time-thoughts were easing up. Ahhh, yes…my 2012 word, ease, is showing up nicely here!
I left the office calm and happy!
I was SO happy because this time I didn’t care if others saw me doodling in public (if you remember when I posted about the time I doodled on the airplane and put it away immediately when the flight attendant made a comment about it. Yeah…I’ve come a long way, baby!!).
So if you find yourself frazzled, around people who are complaining or worried, or just want to calm those left-brain-worrisome thoughts while waiting for something you don’t really want to be waiting for…get a notebook and pen and doodle!
All I did was put my pen down on the paper for 3 seconds. Made swirly lines without lifting up and then I doodled in the circles and did some tracing to the outline.
I wrote an article on how to do this over at Girlfriendology.
I’m telling ya…doodling may look like something for kids, but the meaning behind it is HUGE when it comes to calming down worrisome thoughts. :)
It has changed my life completely!
What’s one thing you like to do to calm your frazzled thoughts?
Until next time…
{life is a doodle}
If you enjoyed this post, I’d love to keep the calm mama *creative* tips, recipes, products and services flowing to you! Would you? If so, then let’s stay connected by subscribing to my blog by email or RSS, tweeting on Twitter, connecting on Facebook and emailing me any questions you many have (I love answering questions!).
Also, don’t forget to sign up for your F.R.E.E. “101 Ways to FEEL Calm and Energized During Each and Every Mommy To-Do List Day” and Calm Mama E-Newsletter. I’ve got lots of colorful, calm mama tips and tools(for subscribers eyes only!) and articles to share.
First, I’m SO excited to share with you that I’m featured on my favorite blogger, Liv Lane, I’m Choosing Beauty,’s site today.
Why?
Because I took her How to Build a Blog You Truly Love Course last fall. Or, otherwise known as #BBTL in twitterland (do a search with that hashtag and you’ll see all the goodness being talked about on there about the course!).
You see, before connecting with Liv and her course, I really wanted a clearer vision/clearer guide on how to really get my blog rolling smoothly.
I read books, articles…anything I could find that would help clear the decks for me, but I still felt stuck.
I REALLY love writing on my blog. I REALLY love connecting with you on my blog. And, I REALLY love what the blogosphere is doing these days and I REALLY, REALLY want to be apart of it (in my own unique way, of course!).
So when I found Liv and learned more about her course, I was immediately hooked.
Not only does Liv’s blog speak to me in so many ways when I read it, but having her lead a course on blogging was going to be awesome in itself.
AND, not only was I going to get all of Liv’s awesomeness, but I was also going to get the awesomeness of 20 contributors throughout the course as well. Um, Heck Yeah!!! Wanna know why a heck yeah???
Because the majority of the contributors I’ve been following for quite some time and I absolutely LOVE them. Contributors like SARK (LOVE!! and mentor of mine!!), Michelle Ward (who is one of my mentors and I took her Declaration of You ecourse!), Jessica Swift (who ran the Declaration of You ecourse with Michelle – great ecourse!!), Christine Kane (another mentor of mine), Kelly Rae Roberts, Aimee Dolich from Artsyville (I absolutely LOVE and admire and I have some of her work in my office), Amanda Oaks from Kind Over Matter (LOVELOVELOVE!!), Andrea Schroeder from ABC Creativity (again…LOVE and taken some of her courses, too!).
I mean, WOW! I love all of these women. They’re celebrities in my world (and Liv, you’re a WOW! too and a celebrity in my world, too!!). So yeah, I signed up.
((SO.MUCH.INSPIRATION. in one course!!))
But, having all that inspiration, I had no idea how much more I’d truly connect with my inner-authentic self.
From the very first post I was hooked (Liv has this way of teaching her course that makes you feel like she’s talking just to you in a coffee shop).
I found myself giddy like a little girl waiting OH-SO-VERY-PATIENTLY for the next lesson. I couldn’t get enough of what Liv and her contributors had to say.
As the course went on, I finally felt like a big brick was lifted off of my shoulder with trying to figure out the “right” way to blog.
The one brick that lifted was when Liv said, “Before your blog can feed others, it must feed you first.”
That one sentence hit home and literally changed everything for me (with the help of Liv guiding me to my real purpose behind my blog and how I wanted to connect with my readers by entertaining, informing and inspiring them!).
I’d see other blogs and I’d compare and notice how their blogs truly represented their passions and what they were giving to the world. I wanted to do the exact same thing, but I’d find myself struggling on how to be like the “others”.
Well, after taking Liv’s course, I finally threw in the comparison towel because I connected with clarity and finally saw how my blog needs to BE ME! And by that, I mean, I finally connected with what lights me up, what makes me FEEL GOOD, what ignites my passion for life all while keeping it real and not just showing a world that’s filled with rainbows and fairies.
Liv guided me to be more real and authentic and to just truly be me in a way that feels the most comfortable for me. Forget the rules and just do what feels right to ME!
I wrote my very first authentic post, called My Yin and Yang Life. Which goes perfectly with my message behind The Calm Mama – because I’m definitely not a calm mama 100% of the time.
I reconnected even more with my passions – food, photography and doodles – and now know 100% that these 3 passions are what feed my soul and how I want to help feed others as well.
Because of that connection, I fed my soul by doing a blog series called Doodle Calm Thoughts and {Picture the Holidays} where I connected with my passion for creating more calm in my busy mama life with coloring and photography.
I rebranded my site completely - in a way that truly represents everything I am now. And, I came up with a new title that represents how I stay calm as a mama – with those three passion of mine – food, photography and doodles.
I’ve taken many, many ecourses, and Liv’s is the first one I’ve ever promoted or blogged about. :)
I’m still learning (I’m always re-reading Liv’s) and I even signed up to be apart of the course again.
The reason being is because last fall I worked on my blog so it could feed me first, before it could feed others. Now I’m ready to learn again and take it a step further…a step that now feeds you!
So if you want to take your blog up a notch or want more direction on how to connect more of YOU (your true authentic self) into your blog or you just want to start a blog, I highly recommend taking Liv’s course.
It starts today! No worries if you’re late…she gives you plenty of time of catch up!
And, remember, not only do you get Liv’s awesomeness (and her easy to understand material and her guide to creating your very own blogging blueprint) but you also get the most amazing, creative, fun and successful contributors as well, oh and not to mention, a closer look into what YOU are truly passionate about and then being guided on how to get your passions out there in the most authentic and unique way via blogging!
If you’d like to learn more about Liv’s course, check out all her information here.
Until next time…
{life is passion}
If you enjoyed this post, I’d love to keep the calm mama *creative* tips, recipes, products and services flowing to you! Would you? If so, then let’s stay connected by subscribing to my blog by email or RSS, tweeting on Twitter, connecting on Facebook and emailing me any questions you many have (I love answering questions!).
Also, don’t forget to sign up for your F.R.E.E. “101 Ways to FEEL Calm and Energized During Each and Every Mommy To-Do List Day” and Calm Mama E-Newsletter. I’ve got lots of colorful, calm mama tips and tools(for subscribers eyes only!) and articles to share.
Ease….Ahhh…just typing it helps me feel more calm.
If you read my last post, you know that I chose two words for 2011 – creativity and nurture.
When I thought about last year and what I’d like to have this year, the word ease came to mind.
2011 was a wonderful year with little bits (oh, heck…lots!!) of stress mixed in.
The wonderful- watching my daughter explore the world as a one-year-old (and now a 2-year-old), taking her to the beach for the first time, having real conversations with her (for the most part – but I’m starting to understand her…yippee!), finding clarity around my business and writing a brand new program that consists of 12 sessions (this one is HUGE for me), reconnecting with a friend that I’ve known since Kindergarten (we hadn’t spoken in 5 years – since my wedding…gesh, Renée…not good…but SO happy that we picked up right where left off!), celebrating Mardi Gras parent style (the other two times were college style – BIG difference!), finding an amazing babysitter who C adores, doodling more than I ever thought, painting more than I ever thought and falling more in love with photography than I ever thought.
The stress - having a dog who is always, and I mean ALWAYS! under my feet since having my daughter (he never was like this before having her), my husband leaving for trainings many-many times, struggling living away from family and friends (for the first time ever!) while learning how to be a mommy, finding time to stay connected to myself, my passions and my husband, wondering if I’m doing the mommy and wife thing right, grocery shopping with my toddler, cooking (yep…this started after becoming a mama!) and having neighbors who keep their (constant barking) dogs outside ALL DAY and EVENING and NIGHT (sorry…I’m trying really hard not to complain about this one!).
It’s SO easy for me stay focused on the negative that’s been happening in my life since becoming a mom. I mean, don’t get me wrong…I absolutely love being a mama to my sweet, Lil’ C, but I never knew what homesick (and very little ME time) really felt like until this past year. (I like to blame it on lack of sleep. Hehe!!)
But, I definitely am one who can make things feel like they’re harder than they probably are. Um, check out this post I wrote if you don’t believe me. I realized that I can tend to live my life in an upstream kind of way. When, in reality, it’s actually going pretty good. And because of that it’s crazy for me to be so upstream.
I think as a mama, well for me anyway, caring for an infant/toddler, whom you want to protect and bring up right, makes the worrisome thoughts go off a little more.
There’s SO much more for me to think about now (who would of thought…didn’t I already have enough to think about before becoming a mom? ha!).
And because of that, I want to make sure that what I’m thinking is thought with ease and what I’m doing is taken action on with ease.
When I live life with more ease, more calm, more gratitude, more positivity…life is easy (downstream).
When I live life with more control, more worry, more anxiety, more fatigue…life is hard (upstream).
Don’t'cha think?
This year, I’m making a commitment to remember my word ease….again, just typing it makes me feel…ahhhhhhh! Gosh, I love that!
I have many things I want to accomplish and put out in the world this year and I especially want to do it all with ease.
Those things involve my family, myself and my business.
This year I want to easily…
❀ get my do-it-yourself email courses up and running.
❀ get my e-course up and running (with the first round being a pay what you can afford price point, so I can get feedback and tweak it up where needed).
❀ run my e-newsletter on a consistent bi-weekly basis again.
❀ offer a brand new FREE gift (that is e-mail automated) that comes with my e-newsletter sign-up.
❀ blog on a more consistent basis with how-to articles, personal stories, struggles and triumphs as a mama and lots and lots of colorful inspiration.
❀ transition my daughter from diapers to the potty.
❀ transition my daughter from crib to big girl bed.
❀ cook more.
❀ remember to menu plan.
❀ find an awesome preschool that both my daughter and I love (the teacher in me has a hard time with this one).
❀ love cooking dinner again (I used to love cooking everything. Well, enter 2011 and I began to loathe cooking dinner. Breakfast was still good and lunch, too…but dinner…lol…that was the craziest time to cook this past year with a running toddler around to keep me on my toes.).
❀ stay connected to myself and my passions.
❀ stay connected to gratitude and positive thinking.
❀ create more “date nights” with D.
❀ love how the homes in our neighborhood are SO close together and it feels like their dogs live with me and bark right in my ear. ;) (I can’t believe how much I struggled with this one in 2011…this year, I have to change my outlook on this…I’m hoping my one neighbor is able to find homes for their 13 puppies that their 2 older dogs had together a few months back (and who stay outside all day and bark at us when we go outside) and my other neighbor brings her LOUD BARKING golden retriever and their 4 barking chiwawa’s who bark when the BIG golden barks (especially right when I open (or even touch) our back door inside more often (yes, I’m surrounded by 19 dogs, oh and not to mention the new dog that moved in across the street and barks for about an hour or so in the evening…OK…OK…I’ll stop now!! ease…ease….ease…). :)
❀ and a few other things that I’ll let you in on in a few months or so.
So there it is…my word for 2012. I’m SO happy with it!! It FEELS so good for what I intend for my life right now.
So, with that, I’ll keep you posted on all my “ease” plans that I listed above. Wooootothehooooo, 2012!!!!
Word.
Did you pick a word for 2012 yet? If so, I’d love to hear what you chose? 2012 Word of the Yearers UNITE!!
Until next time…
{life is ease…ahhhh}
If you enjoyed this post, I’d love to keep the calm mama *creative* tips, recipes, products and services flowing to you! Would you? If so, then let’s stay connected by subscribing to my blog by email or RSS, tweeting on Twitter, connecting on Facebook and emailing me any questions you many have (I love answering questions!).
Also, don’t forget to sign up for your F.R.E.E. “101 Ways to FEEL Calm and Energized During Each and Every Mommy To-Do List Day” and Calm Mama E-Newsletter. I’ve got lots of colorful, calm mama tips and tools(for subscribers eyes only!) and articles to share.
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by Renée
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