I know I just posted, but I had to share my morning’s inspiration to add instant spice to our day:

Add chocolate chips to the pancakes.

What’s your recipe for instant spice?

Cooking, Inspiration, Magic moments

I feel like I’ve been in a season of gathering lately. Ideas and inspiration are being found and stored away, to be put to use after pondering and thought. These are some “nuts” I’ve picked up recently:

Steady Days

The Art of Simple Food

Simplicity Parenting

I haven’t really put any of these ideas to use yet; I’m kind of letting them simmer for a while to see what ends up bubbling up to the surface as important.

What’s inspiring you these days?

Books, Catching the vision, Inspiration

I’m reading this book.  Don’t get judgy on me.  It’s awesome.  An example of awesome is this quote:

You bear God within you, poor wretch, and know it not

I’ve been sitting with that idea for several days, and it really resonates with me.

Would you like to do an experiment?  It’s probably raining where you are, so an experiment where you don’t have to go outside might be nice…

Will you sit with the idea that God is inside you for a few days, and let us know how it goes?  I hope you do…

Catching the vision, Inspiration, Magic moments, Refilling the Well- You time

I read this today and wanted to share. This is Vera Farmiga, talking about the book Pilgrim at Tinker Creek (a book that looks AMAZING, by the way).

“In one sublime passage, she [Dillard, the author of the book] talks about how in order to see things in all their dazzle and beauty you’ve got to be still. I’ve always found that paragraph very poignant, because in the age of high-speed Internet, fast food, and express checkouts, we attack everything at breakneck speed- so many people cannot, will not, and do not know how to be still.”

Do you take moments to be still? Can you make one today? Will you?

And will you share with us the dazzle and beauty you see?

Inspiration, Refilling the Well- You time

My sister and I have been talking about working together on a bunch of projects this year.  We are both very excited to make both things for our homes and for ourselves and our children.  Today we spoke for a little while and solidified our intent to get our craft on.

She started making a tangible list of projects and that has inspired me to make a list of projects too.  With the thought of creative list making in mind, I was wondering what blogs inspire you.  We have discussed it here on MDM in the past, but I was wondering if anyone had any new inspiration blogs to offer.

A few that I have been enjoying and gleaning inspiration from are:

Burdastyle – a site dedicated to sewing and altering patterns to express your own individuality.  There are a whole bunch of free patterns that you can download and and print out, and some that are offered at very low prices.  Their blog is very active and frequently makes say out loud, “I want to make that!”

The Purl Bee – While I would classify myself as NOT being a knitter, I do enjoy fiber arts and one day will put myself in that category.  Until that time, I find a lot of inspiration for projects from the Purl Bee.  They have many knitting projects but they also have a lot of other types of projects too.

Nap Time Crafts – I love this site because it constantly reminds me that even with small children I can still make time to work on projects.  She has really colorful and cute projects for herself and her home and often puts together tutorials for the things she makes.  She’s very big on sharing knowledge and telling her readers how she made things and I LOVE that attitude.

The Little Green Notebook - This site is run by a woman who is a great home decorator.  She is getting back into the game and opening her business after having children.  She posts projects she has worked on for both herself and her clients, things that inspire her and how she did the occasional project too.  I find a lot of inspiration from both her designs and in where to buy certain items.

Steep Street - As a photographer, I have been finding great inspiration from this blog.  She always inspires me with her creative use of PhotoShop and her ability to capture the light and see things in angles that I might not think of.  She has really inspired me to learn my software better and be able to use my tools to create more creative art pieces.

What has been inspiring you lately?  Are there any projects that have been bouncing around in your brain lately?  Are there specific colors or themes that have really been catching your eye lately?  Where are you finding your creative inspiration?

Creativity, Inspiration Crafts, Creativity, Decorating home, Inspiration, Photography, sewing

A new year! Hooray!

I love the opportunity a new year affords me to look back, look forward, assess where I am and where I’d like to be.  Last year, right about this time, I came up with a list of themes to focus on for the year.  They were:

Love
Create
Dance
Celebrate
Worship
Minister
Taste

I set a number of my uberlist goals around them, and tried to check in throughout the year.  I succeeded in some areas better than others; in one or two I think I actually ended up farther back than I ever started.  But it was definitely a worthwhile endeavor.

This year, I’m just picking one word, one concept.  (I was going to pick two, with the second being “simplify”, but that seemed somewhat ironic.)

My word for the year is connect.

There’s just so much there. I want to connect with my family,  my body,  my friends, nature. I want to connect with a sense of peace. I want to connect the steps between wanting (ie. an organized house), and doing. I want to help others connect with new friends, new ideas. I want to connect my own thoughts in new ways.  I want to connect with the Divine.

What are your goals for the new year? Did you come up with an uberlist? If so, please link to it! I love seeing what other people come up with! (If you want to see mine, go here.)

Catching the vision, Inspiration, Refilling the Well- You time, Traditions

“True greatness is not always tied to the scope of our tasks, but to the quality of how we carry out our tasks whatever they are.” -Spencer Kimball

I was going to write more about this, but reflecting on the content of the quote- the quality of what I’d write wouldn’t be great, so I’ll pass for now. We’re in the midst of ear infections and sore throats and the like, so I’m struggling to make the quality of any of my tasks great at the moment.

Expect more consistent posts once the new year starts… it’s on my Uberlist!

Inspiration

From yesterday’s Vespers Office:

…that I may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and in the breaking  of bread.

The experience of Communion is usually how I come to know Christ in the “breaking of bread”, but upon further reflection I think that I can come to know Christ at home, as I “break bread” with friends and family.  For example, I’ve learned so much about the love of God from hearing my grandfather say grace at Thanksgiving dinner.  His careful petition for the Lord’s blessings on his family is moving in it’s simplicity.

What are experiences you have had over a meal that have helped you come to know Christ?  What are ways we can create those experiences for those who eat at our table?

Inspiration

Today for our preschool adventure day we braved the local Rosicrucian museum. I say braved because we went with a passel of 3 year olds, and there were mummies involved. But for the most part the mummies went right over the kids’ heads and hopefully there won’t be any nightmares tonight.

The reason I’m posting, though, is because of a section of the museum dedicated to home life in Ancient Egypt.  And I quote:

Women ran the household and its industries, bore and raised children, and saw to the spiritual activities that took place in the home. Egyptians cherished their children, and much of the household ritual and magic was related to procreation. The women of ancient Egypt appreciated beauty, not only in temples and palaces, but also in the objects of everyday use.

I’ve always had a affinity for ancient Egypt, and reading this today, I felt a deep connection to these women who lived so long ago, but who worked at the same things we do, worried about the same things (in general), and loved the same things.

In one of the display cases they had a series of carved figures that were made to be buried with a woman when she died, portraying her different roles throughout her life. I love that thought. We all do so much, and are so many things to so many different people; sometimes we need to sit back and realize just how much we do. Preferably before we’re dead.

So that’s your challenge for the day. What roles do you fill in your life? Which do you cherish? Which do you dread?  Why? Which would you carve into little figures to be buried with you?

Inspiration

I thought we could all use a little encouragement.  This is from the Vespers Office a few days ago…

I now place the work of the day into Your hands, trusting that You will redeem my mistakes, and transform my accomplishments into works of praise.

Catching the vision, Inspiration, Refilling the Well- You time, Traditions