Art Heals Mommy

Art is all around us. It is vibration through speakers, ink on paper, seeing through a lens and creating with our hands. Art is something that almost all of us can find a common ground with. There is something that we can all agree on….art is everywhere. So how does art heal? And how does it heal this mommy? To me, art is a necessity. Much like air and water; art feeds my soul and gives me strength to get through the days ahead. I take each and every artistic moment of my life and keep it locked away within me, ready to surface into my work space when the time is right. As a mother it might be hard to tap into your creative self. How in the world are we to find our creativeness amongst the care giving of our young? How do we find time to make creativity happen in a day limited by time screaming past us? My children are my keyhole to the creative world……a creative world for moms. My children give me the gift of seeing the world through their eyes and this gift is a beautiful one. I see life piece by piece, with movements slow and colors vibrant.

A tree is no longer just a tree. A tree is a skyscraper with arms; colors that are crisp earthy forest greens and browns. This tree is so much more to my children then I ever gave it credit for and so with that the art of play has taken place. I get inspirations from my children. Every story they tell, cloud they marvel at and hug they give has opened my eyes to what they value as artistic and fun.

Art has given me a chance to embrace difficult times as a parent. It heals the heart and allows a re-birth of the mind. During the time I lived in Montana I was constantly surrounded by beauty. The scenery was amazing. Mountains were so high it looked as though it was a path to heaven; climbing towards the endless powdery blue skies. I would lose myself in thought as I watched the clouds pass by. During my time in Montana I began to write….a lot. I tapped into the art of writing and fell in love with the freedom of it. Every time I would write I was allowing a little piece of me to spill out onto paper. How vulnerable of me yet exciting all at once. Now as a mother I write for the same reason….I love it, but also because my children keep each and every day interesting and fun which gives me more and more inspiration. Art is alive and well in my home.

Here are 5 ways Art Heals<this>Mommy:

1)      Art, such as writing, clears a cluttered mind: I can release thoughts that are crowding space within my mind. Whether good or bad, writing allows me to “get it off my chest”.

2)      Art keeps me grounded: Seeing, reading etc someone else’s art opens my eyes to the diversity and the amazing talent that others have. I become a student every time I dive into someone else’s work.

3)      I’m bonding with my kids: Nothing heals more than to see our children happy. Art can be painting a picture or running through the mud and making foot prints on the concrete. My kids dig it and so do I.

4)      I can “find” myself through art: As a mother it’s easy to feel like I’ve lost myself but art allows me to feel connected to who I am as an individual.

5)       Art is stress free in a stressful world: If I’m working on a project I don’t feel stressed. Art gives you a chance to open the creative flood gates and turn off the panic button.

So, as long as I can fulfill my creative needs and share this love with my children, I will continue to be happy and inspired by all that surrounds me.

I love my new home but I might get knocked out before the end of this year:

I said knocked out NOT knocked up…for all of you doing a double take reading title=)

My new home is great. It’s spacious, new upgrades and best of all awesome neighbors but there just might be a downfall to this picture perfect set. When I first moved into the home I met one of my neighbors. A wonderful couple and their pooch greeted me with open arms. We talked for a bit and then the women asked me if I had encountered any golf balls yet. Our backyard faces a golf course and although that sounds great; nice view, no neighbors directly behind us, there is a bit of a danger with this. I started looking around our backyard and noticed that we had TONS of golf balls sitting all over our grass. My friendly neighbor told me to watch out for golf balls flying into my yard and potentially knocking someone out. At that very moment 2 golf balls flew over my house and onto my front yard. Ok, now I know nothing about golf but how bad do you have to SUCK in order to hit a ball onto someone’s front lawn….mind you, my front lawn is NOT facing the gold course!!!! I don’t know the entire “lingo” for golfing but the area where you hit the ball (trying to make it into the green (?)) is no where near my home. Anyway, the point I’m trying to make is that it’s strange that balls land in my front lawn.

My backyard is another story….I assume it will start raining golf balls and if it does I’ll be right there, basket in hand, catching every single one of them. One day, while sitting in the backyard with the kids, I noticed that a cart was coming in our direction. Two older guys were in it and seemed to be looking for their ball. No biggie. It wasn’t until they opened their mouths that things got….uncomfortable. “Hey, there…have you seen our balls?” the driver said to me…..he was seriously asking this. I paused for a second, looked him in the eyes and said “nope, I haven’t seen….your balls”. Is this not just weird?! Okay, I’m not trying to be a kid and laugh at such a silly thing but I was laughing....A LOT…. to myself….deep inside. So after that situation occurred I noticed that we had a new addition to our ball collection. Someone had just hit a ball over and I happily placed it into my basket. Should I sell these balls to naggy golfers looking to annoy me, yet entertain me with their useless “have you seen my balls” banter? Nah…..I will usually throw it back to them IF their nice=)

So my backyard experience has so far been good. I hadn’t been knocked out yet and most importantly my kids were safe…..everything seemed to be okay UNTIL a ball came flying over almost hitting me!!! <GASP> what the heck?!? I looked around, searching for someone to catch. No one was around just the distant sound of “FOUR”. How am I supposed to release my furry if I have no one to do it to?? I could have been knocked out but MOST importantly my kids could have been hurt!! I make it known that if my kids are hurt then I morph into one nasty person. A nasty person I would advise no one to see. Luckily we have something we can roll down that kind of barricades the patio. It’s not that bad but I definitely have to be on the look out and if a ball comes flying my way then it better be flying into a bush.;)

Moments.....

Here I am. A wife to a man that is truly my other half. I'm a mother to three amazing kids. Their ages are 4yrs, 2yrs and 6mo and each day, as the aggressive clock of life ticks away, I become more and more aware that my little kids are getting bigger....older. I feel like the ticking of this clock is set on high; the sound blasting through a megaphone, penetrating the auditory nerves and shooting an unforgivable pain down my spine. I've realized that my children can't stay small forever and it terrifies me. I'm terrified that the moments of my children's lives, as precious as every moment is and will be, wont be remembered the way they should be. The smile, kiss, hugs, laughs...all of this will not be remembered in the most vibrant way as when it occurred that very second. I remember the day my first child was born. I remember his beautiful face looking up at me. His eye's squinting from the bright lights and his little body curled up next to mine. But I can't remember his sweet smell. The way that very moment was is forever a distant memory and as my children get older, so does my memory of the early days. I try to remember though. I always reminisce the days of their births, first steps, words etc. I keep my memories stored in files within my mind. It's much like a filing cabinet , really. A filing cabinet in my mind where the most recent memories are stored in a file that is placed front and center; easily accessible. Memories from years ago are placed in a file towards the back of my mind. I have to search and dig for these memories but once their retrieved it is that moment played all over and the elation of that day is once again.
Before having children I was a different person. I was someone that allowed things to happen, turned my back at what was important and filled my desires with wants instead of needs. My children have made me better. Sure, there are times when I'm ready to pull my hair out; the baby wont let me put him down, my 2yr old throwing a tantrum and my 4yr old demanding something I can't get to him quick enough BUT these three children have taught me patience, love and what happiness on this Earth is all about. When ever the kids and I go outside I like to sit back and watch them. Their curiosity for life and all that is around them is exciting. A butterfly that passes grabs their attention. They begin their enchanted journey following this butterfly, hiding behind trees and rolling in the grass. Their enjoying life in the most simplest, purest way. It's great to watch. These precious moments go by so fast and I hate the fact that I can't freeze time. I try to savor each hug and smile the moment it happens. Sure, I can hug them a million more times but nothing will capture that very moment. Sometimes when I hug my children I just can't let go. Letting go would mean that the moment is gone and I have to rely on my memory to keep it fresh. A giggle and soft squeeze from my daughter brings me to reality and I reluctantly let her go. So I guess my problem is with time. Time is unchanging. Time is constant....constantly moving forward. Somehow in the flow of life I am expected to except this process that is guaranteed to make my children grow up. Every fiber of my being wont let me except it. So, here I am...a wife and mother trying to balance life on one hand; painfully watching as time robs me of my moments and hoping to come to terms with this reality. For now I have those special moments filed away nice and neat inside my mind but most of all I have it all tucked deep within my heart.

Crochet Creations by Alisa~ Giveaway~

 Crochet Creations by Alisa

GIVEAWAY

I am honored to have Alisa Newman, owner, designer and creator of CROCHET CREATIONS BY ALISA  Sponsor this amazing giveaway!! Alisa will be giving one adorable crochet black beanie away. Placed on the beanie is a flower on the side and gem placed in the center of the flower. The winner gets to pick the color of flower out of these options: Lavender, light Pink, gray, orange, teal, brown, mixed grey/black, mixed purple/blue, sienna- a burnt orange/green/beige mix, green with sparkles, pea green or white with sparkles. The gem color options are: pink, black, red, blue or green.
NOTE: BELOW ARE EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE BEANIES ALISA HAS DONE AND SOME OF THE FLOWER COLOR OPTIONS. THESE ARE NOT BEANIES TO SELECT FROM IF YOU WIN.

 

       How to enter to win:

For each 'LIKE', 'FOLLOW', repost or referral that you complete, it is an extra entry  which gives you a greater chance at winning.

NOTE: YOU DO NOT HAVE TO COMPLETE EVERY POSSIBLE ENTRY. DO AS LITTLE OR AS MANY AS YOU LIKE. THE MORE YOU DO THE BETTER CHANCE OF WINNING!

1. 'Follow' Surviving Motherhood Early Years blog
2. 'LIKE' Surviving Motherhood Early Years on Facebook (click 'LIKE' button to the right of this page)
3. 'LIKE' Crochet Creations by Alisa on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Crochet-Creations-by-Alisa/192730317431013?closeTheater=1
4. 'Follow' Surviving Motherhood Early Years on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/survivnmotherhd
5. Post about this giveaway on your Facebook page and then post link here so I can check=)
6. Post about this giveaway on twitter and then post link here so I can check=)
7. Post about this giveaway on your blog and then post link here so I can check=)
8. REFER a friend! For every person that enters this giveaway, and was referred by you, is an extra entry for you!! So, if you refer 5 people then that means you post below with the name of the person you referred (they have to complete at least TWO form of entry: ie- follow OR like me AND Crochet Creations by Alisa) and your email 5 seperate times!

With each 'LIKE' and/or 'Follow' you do it is a seperate entry so leave your name AND email each time you comment below!!


***On the evening of May 5th, 2011 I will be announcing a winner picked by Random.org (NOTE: If there is not at least 5 people entered for this giveaway then I will extend it and will notify you all via Facebook.

The winner will be emailed by me and then the sponsor. If you do not have your email listed with EACH post you make then I will have no way of contacting you and a new winner will be chosen.

If you have any questions email me at survivingmotherhoodearlyyears@yahoo.com ~ I check my email once a day, occasionally more if I have time so please be patient with me=)


***PLEASE make sure you post something on Crochet Creations by Alisa wall when you 'LIKE' her on Facebook. Let her know that Surviving Motherhood Early Years has sent you and tell her THANK YOU for the giveaway!
Alisa is not only a busy mom of two but she is donating all funds from her business to Project Mexico, a charity through her church. How amazing is that!! Let's just make sure we give her a BIG thank you so she knows how much we appreciate this!! <3

GOOD LUCK!!

OR

HOW TO BUY:

Would you rather just make a purchase? Or perhaps you would like to enter to win AND check out Alisa's Facebook page for purchasing an item... No problem! Get ready to be amazed by her talent!! She has pictures up of her work so once you 'LIKE' her facebook page, take a peak around and check out the pictures. Send Alisa an email on facebook for purchasing=)
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Crochet-Creations-by-Alisa/192730317431013?closeTheater=1

 

~Cheri<3

Pink Sparkle and Lace~~Giveaway~~

Pink Sparkle and Lace

GIVE AWAY

I am honored to have Tammy La Motte, owner, designer and creator of PINK SPARKLE AND LACE sponsor this awesome giveaway!! She will be giving a Hobo Tote to one lucky fan. You get to choose which bag (out of 4 total) you would like.

 

How to enter to win:

For each 'LIKE', 'FOLLOW', repost or referral that you complete, it is an extra entry  which gives you a greater chance at winning.
NOTE: YOU DO NOT HAVE TO COMPLETE EVERY POSSIBLE ENTRY. DO AS LITTLE OR AS MANY AS YOU LIKE. THE MORE YOU DO THE BETTER CHANCE OF WINNING!

1. 'Follow' Surviving Motherhood Early Years blog
2. 'Follow' Pink Sparkle and Lace blog http://pinksparkleandlace.blogspot.com/
3. 'LIKE' Surviving Motherhood Early Years on Facebook (click 'LIKE' button to the right of this page)
4. 'LIKE' Pink Sparkle and Lace on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pink-Sparkle-And-Lace/186866321326544
5. 'Follow' Surviving Motherhood Early Years on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/survivnmotherhd
6. 'Follow' Pink Sparkle and Lace on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/PinkSparkleLace
7. Post about this giveaway on your Facebook page and then post link here so I can check=)
8. Post about this giveaway on twitter and then post link here so I can check=)
9. Post about this giveaway on your blog and then post link here so I can check=)
10. REFER a friend! For every person that enters this giveaway, and was referred by you, is an extra entry for you!! So, if you refer 5 people then that means you post below with the name of the person you referred (they have to complete at least TWO form of entry: ie- follow OR like me AND Pink Sparkle and Lace) and your email 5 seperate times!

With each 'LIKE' and/or 'Follow' you do it is a seperate entry so leave your name AND email each time you enter!!


***On the evening of April 23, 2011 I will be announcing a winner picked by Random.org (NOTE: If there is not at least 5 people entered for this giveaway then I will extend it and will notify you all via Facebook.

The winner will be emailed by me and then the sponsor. If you do not have your email listed with EACH post you make then I will have no way of contacting you and a new winner will be chosen.

If you have any questions email me at survivingmotherhoodearlyyears@yahoo.com ~ I check my email once a day, occasionally more if I have time so please be patient with me=)


***PLEASE make sure you post something on Pink Sparkle and Lace wall when you 'LIKE' her on Facebook. Let her know that Surviving Motherhood Early Years has sent you and tell her THANK YOU for the giveaway!
Tammy is a VERY busy women with a heart of gold. She has generously offered one of her Hobo bags for this giveaway. Let's just make sure we give her a BIG thank you!!


GOOD LUCK!!

OR

HOW TO BUY:

Would you rather just make a purchase? Or perhaps you would like to enter to win AND check out Tammy's shop... No problem! You must be warned though...there are TONS of awesome items for sale and it might be difficult to purchase just one thing!=) Check out the links below to visit Tammy's website and Etsy shop!

http://www.wix.com/pinksparkleandlace/products

http://www.etsy.com/shop/pinksparkleandlace

~Cheri

Auction and Giveaways!

Don't you love auctions?? I sure do! Well, Surviving Motherhood Early Years is gearing up for an auction once we hit 100 fans on Facebook!! The feature item for the auction is a BRAND NEW Dooney & Bourke Jenna Tote (retail value $210, STARTING BID $75~~ the starting bid may even be lowered!!) Other items will be added to the auction as well. This is a great way to get awesome items for great prices AND find out about other Facebook pages/shops. So go ahead and click the 'LIKE' button to the right of this page and tell your friends! =)

Giveaways!! I LOVE giveaways!! It's such a fun way to find out about great Facebook pages/shops and have a chance at winning an awesome item!! If you read the Fabulous Female Feature then you are somewhat familiar with the ladies that will be sponsoring the giveaways. Each lady has agreed to donate an item from their shop to YOU! Deatils to come on how to submit entry for your chance to win!

~Cheri

Fabulous Female Feature!!

I am absolutely giddy to feature three women that exude such an enormous amount of talent that it would be an injustice to all to not spread the word about them! Each of these women have a business that is fueled by passion, consideration for their client and a whole lot of heart! I know each of these ladies personally, some longer than the other but what I have realized with each person is the positive energy that each exude and how this energy is passed on through their work. It is an honor to feature each lady and I hope that you take the time to 'LIKE' them on Facebook, follow on Twitter, Blogs and/or check out their Etsy shop if they have one listed.

Now...drum roll please.....

Fabulous Female Feature!!

Crochet Creations By Alisa
Alisa Newman


Crochet Creations: Beanie

I am so happy to introduce you all to Alisa. She is a wife, mother of two and SUPER talented. Alisa is the owner, designer and creator of Crochet Creations by Alisa. Alisa makes the most intricate, beautiful crochet work that I have ever seen. Her attention to detail makes each item a work of art. I have purchased a beautiful headband for my daughter. The headband features an adorable, oversized flower which makes this accessory a favorite for my little girl. Alisa sells headbands-$10, scarfs-$15, beanies-$15, single strap headbands- 3 for $15, double strap headbands- $8 and baby bracelet- $10. The baby bracelet is adorable! My daughter wont take hers off because she loves it so much.
All profit goes to a charity called Project Mexico which is a ministry through her Church- Creekside Christian Fellowship in Irvine. One to two times a year a visit is made to Mexico to build homes for families in need. This is a fantastic charity and it is extremely generous of Alisa to contribute in this way.

Flower headband

Double strap headband

My daughter Isabella wearing one of Alisa's  crochet creation: flower headband.

Alisa has just recently started the Crochet Creations By Alisa facebook page. Go to her page http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Crochet-Creations-by-Alisa/192730317431013 and 'LIKE' it so that you can see more photos of her work!!


Pink Sparkle and Lace
Tammy La Motte

 Now, it's time to meet Tammy. A wife, mother of three grown men and creator, designer and owner of Pink Sparkle and Lace. This women can sew like no ones business, literally putting every bit of heart into each stitch she makes. I've known Tammy for quite some time now and anytime that I have seen something that she has handmade, I immediately thought she purchased it in the store. Tammy must be a perfectionist because her work is flawless!! I just recently purchased some items from her Etsy store. These items, shown here, are so adorable, comfortable and durable....as we all know, when we have kids we NEED things that will last; holding up to our kids adventures. Pink Sparkle and Lace offers an array of items from aprons- full and half size, toddler dresses and boxers, hobo bags, change purses and diaper covers to name a few. Her price ranges from $5 on up.

Pink Sparkle and Lace has a Facebook account, Etsy shop, Twitter, blog and website. There are tons of ways to connect with her, see her work and make a purchase!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pink-Sparkle-And-Lace/186866321326544

http://www.etsy.com/shop/pinksparkleandlace
http://twitter.com/PinkSparkleLace

http://www.wix.com/pinksparkleandlace/products#!products 



My daughter wearing an adorable red and white diaper cover.



My son wearing a Hawaiian print bib.



My son wearing comfy "chili pepper" boxers.



Orange Quilt Bee

Lisa Wiltse

Orange Quilt Bee

Last but certainly not least is Lisa- a wife, mother of 2 adult children and co-owner of the Orange Quilt Bee. Orange Quilt Bee is a shop that not only offers an array of materials and items for sale but they also offer classes to help you advance in your desired craft. I have known Lisa for almost 17 years!! Her daughter Sarah and I have been best friends since 7th grade!! Throughout the time that I have known Lisa, I have been amazed by her talents. Her attention to detail and passion for sewing and quilting shows through with each piece she does. Something that may interest quite a few crafty mommies (or dads) out there is that the Orange Quilt Bee sells a pattern for cloth diapers!! I have come across so many moms (and dads) that make their own cloth diapers or would like to start and need a pattern. Well, the Orange Quilt Bee is the place to go to for your cloth diaper pattern. Go to the Orange Quilt Bee site's that are listed below and contact them for purchase!!                                                      

A quilt made by Lisa for my husband and I. Our wedding gift.

A beautiful quilt made by Lisa for my daughter.



An adorable Dr. Seuss quilt made by Lisa for my son.



http://www.orangequiltbee.com/

http://orangequiltbee.blogspot.com/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please take a moment and visit their facebook, twitter, blog, Etsy and/or web page. Each lady has such wonderful things to offer and more importantly they are full of passion and love for what they do. Make sure you tell them that Surviving Motherhood Early Years has sent you!! Also, stay tuned for some fantastic giveaways from each of these ladies!! This is a great chance to win one of their items!!

~Cheri