Hello, Creative Friends!
The middle of January can feel like a parade of grey, unnoteworthy days. The holidays are over, winter is in full swing and we are most likely finding ourselves wishing for a touch of springtime. However, it’s a great time of year to find joy in doing something creative, like using something as mundane as a carrot to bring joy to life! Here here are 3 simple creative ideas to…
Carrot Up Colors: Go to the local market and buy a bunch of carrots that still have their frilly tops. Take a moment to notice the colors of the carrots. Are their hats kelly green or evergreen? Is the orange a burnt sunset or a bright sunrise? Are the carrots a rusty purple or the color of cream? Snap a photo and think about those carrots and how much joy color brings to our lives and read about “Why Carrots Are Different Colors And Fun Facts” on Delishably.
Virtue In Veggies: Do something for the joy of it. For example, try a new recipe like this one from the New York Times, “Roasted Carrot Salad” by Melissa Clark. Add to the joy by having a friend over to munch on lunch together.
Wake With Wabi-Sabi: Create peace in imperfection by following the philosophy Wasbi-Sabi. Learn about “5 Teachings From The Japanese Wabi-Sabi Philosophy “by Omar Itani and create joy in the beauty of life even when it seems to be broken or irregular. Like the shape of a carrot no two are alike, they are all a bit wonky, yet each carrot holds so much sweet joy in just one bite.
Drop me a message and let me know what you are working on and how you will use something mundane to create joy in your life in this new year!
Also, thanks for reading along. This newsletter takes some time to pull together. Consider showing your support by forwarding it to someone who might need some inspiration or buying some of my artwork at INPRNT or Society 6.
If you are seeing this newsletter/blog for the first time and want to keep seeing content subscribe here.
Keep going, creative friends!
xoxo,
Andra
Hello, Creative Friends!
We are thirteen days into January and settling into the new year. Last week we talked about the new year being a time to get planning and evaluate goals. However, if you are a bit like me, this week I find myself wanting to do nothing more than slip into a fuzzy pair of slipper socks, flip on Netflix and settle in to hibernate the winter away. Maybe it’s the endless days of rain here in California or the fact the year seems overwhelming either way here are …
Fabulous Fika: Getting coffee has become a morning ritual for many of us but it can be a solitary and quick endeavor. We can find ourselves in an endless cycle of brewing coffee (or tea), drinking a cup, and doing work. However, what if we tried Fika, the Swedish tradition of taking a break to sip up the quality of life? Read more about the art of the Swedish coffee break here on “The Kitchen: What is Fika?” It seems like a great way to stay cozy and make winter joyful.
Hug The Hygge: Hygge is the danish word for getting cozy. What would be a better way to feel nurtured than cooking up something warm and delicious in the kitchen? Try one of these thirteen nurturing recipes from Elle Decor to get a hug from Hygge time. The Morning Porridge recipe looks like a breakfast to snuggle into the day.
Arrange The Day: Bringing the outside in can be a wonderful way to create joy as we settle into the winter. Grab a nice bunch of market flowers and be inspired to create a winter flower arrangement like Better Homes and Gardens “6 Winter Flower Arrangments You Can Make With Store-Bought Blooms.” Creating one of these beautiful arrangements might be just what we need to make any room a welcoming place to settle down and find joy this winter.
Drop me a message and let me know what you are working on and how you will make your hibernation mode more creative.
Also, thanks for reading along. This newsletter takes some time to pull together. Consider showing your support by forwarding it to someone who might need some inspiration or buying some of my artwork at INPRNT or Society 6.
If you are seeing this newsletter/blog for the first time and want to keep seeing content subscribe here.
Keep going, creative friends!
xoxo,
Andra
Hi, Creative Friends-
Happy New Year! The start of any new year brings the opportunity to evaluate goals and tap into new ideas. If you are a bit like me, getting started on planning a tiny or huge project can be overwhelming. I gave myself two weeks to define my 2023-year goals. Do you know what accomplished in two weeks? I baked a cake, played games with my kids, went for very long walks, and downright avoided planning anything for 2023. With a herculean effort, I did finally focus on the planning for 2023 but it took life hacks and fresh creative thinking. No matter the goal or procrastination level, here are 3 creative ideas to…
Make The Goals S.M.A.R.T: When thinking about goals, it can be easy to get lost. A great way to make progress on a goal is to make it S.M.A.R.T (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, And Time-bound.) More can be read about S.M.A.R.T. goals and why they matter on the Asana Blog.
Sketch The Situation: Not everyone is good with words. Sitting down with a pen and a journal to write down big ideas can turn productive time into a pause. If words overwhelm you, try sketching out what the goals might look like and read this article from Time magazine from the designer Ayse Birsel, “How To Sketch A Life Plan.”
Kale. Exhale. Repeat: Even if you hate eating anything green, just adding a few salads a week can help prioritize any health goals. Kale: some people hate it and some people love it. For what it’s worth, I’m on the fence about kale but this favorite salad from Marathon runner’s Shalane Flanagan “Run Fast Eat Slow” blog looks delicious. I have the “Run Fast Eat Slow” cookbook and it’s full of great recipes to pump up the energy and help us make progress on any 2023 health goals!
Drop me a message and let me know what you are working on and share your new year’s resolutions.
Also, thanks for reading along. This newsletter takes some time to pull together. Consider showing your support by forwarding it to someone who might need some inspiration or buying some of my artwork at INPRNT or Society 6.
If you are seeing this newsletter/blog for the first time and want to keep seeing content subscribe here.
Keep going, creative friends!
xoxo,
Andra
