Dirt & Beauty & Rain

I lost my mom a few months ago after a long battle with Alzheimer's. I only got glimpses of her during the last few years, but her optimism and positive spirit continued to reveal itself until the very end.  She liked to encourage everyone she met and you couldn't help but feel better after you spoke with her. 

Losing her left a space in my heart that no one else can fill. She was my biggest cheerleader—always believing in me, even when I couldn’t see my own potential. Her words of encouragement echo in my mind during the toughest days, reminding me to keep going, to trust myself, and to be kind. She had this way of making me feel like I could do anything, and even now, I find strength in her unwavering faith in me.

She always loved that I created my art to help encourage others. And though it's been very tough these past months, I know she's up in heaven now, completely cured and spreading joy to everyone she meets.  

I finally felt inspired again and have been in the studio painting like crazy. I miss her deeply, but I carry her love and support with me always. Thanks mom for continuing to encourage me.

Letting Gratitude Create a Better Life - Thankfulness & Blessings

 Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.
It turns what we have into enough, and more.
It can turn a meal into a feast,
a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. 
Melody Beattie
 

You are Capable!

 Recently my sweet cousin sent me a quote that encouraged me
during a stressful time in my life. 

When you're focused on a tough situation, it's too easy to forget that
you are more than capable. You got this!

It made such a difference and inspired me to create my latest piece.

Remember... You are Capable of Amazing Things!

The Real Secret to a Fabulous Life

Storms, Rainbows and the Best View

The Greater Your Storms
The Brighter Your Rainbows

 

Grow Through what you Go Through

Do you sometimes get paralyzed with the thought of making a mistake?

Why did I do this?
Why is this happening? 
I never do anything right!

Let yourself off the hook and change your way of thinking. Instead of beating yourself up, look for ways you can learn, grow, and improve as you move forward.

 Fail Forward - acceptance of failure as a stepping stone to future success.
You choose to respect each failure for the lessons it teaches you,
and to apply those lessons to future efforts.  John Maxwell

 There is no innovation and creativity without failure.  Brene Brown

I have not failed. I have found 10,000 ways that don't work.  Thomas Edison

 

Why You Need to Retreat from your World

Think about a place or time in your life where you got to get away from it all?
A time where you could think.
A time where you could breathe.

Was it the beach?
Was it the mountains?
Was it your own back yard? 
Or just having the house to yourself?

In a Mel Robbins podcast I recently listed to, they used a phrase that struck me.

"We need to think of rest as a right, not a reward."

Throughout our life, we're taught, once you get your work done (homework, chores, cleaning, errands, whatever...), then you can take a break. 
What happens, more often than not, is we NEVER get our work done.
There's ALWAYS something that needs to be done.

What if we switched our mindset and scheduled in the relaxing time, the quiet time, the fun time, the I don't want to think about anything time?
Giving yourself actual space and time to recharge.

Give yourself a Place to Retreat;
where the World Grows Quiet enough for your Soul to Speak.

Retreat

For the Amazing You!!!

 For anyone who focuses too much on the things they do wrong.  

YOU ARE ALL KINDS OF AMAZING!!!

Show a little love to yourself or a friend.

It's Not the End

 We tend to look at life from a very narrow perspective - seeing only what's right in front of us. 

Wondering if a problem will ever end. 

Will I get through this? 

Pain. Grief. Sadness. Loss. Stress. 

Not being able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

It helps to remember that problems are temporary and that everything will ultimately work out.

But often it's not the timing we hope for.  

 

Everything will be alright in the end.  If it's not alright, it is not the end.

It's not the end. You got this.

Having the Strength to Let Go

I have a friend who's been struggling the last several years - caught up in the past and having a hard time overcoming all the negative voices and tapes in her head. Feeling she needs to hold onto things, but knowing it's not the healthiest. 

It's been wonderful to see her start to break free from the past - I knew she had
taken some very large steps towards freedom and happiness
when she shared this quote with me....

Strength to Let Go

Give yourself permission to Let Go.

Love, Loss & Remembering

 ​For any of us who have experienced loss, it can be so hard to navigate the pain.

Recently, several friends have lost close family members, but while they're suffering, remembering all the sweet and funny and loving moments has momentarily eased their heartache.

 

Here's to never forgetting our special memories.

Bees Bees Bees - So Many Favorites

The Hum of Bees is the Voice of the Garden

Elizabeth Lawrence

Fun Bee Decor, Art, Jewelry, Clothing and more.... 

Check out all My Bee Favorites from small handmade sellers.

Confessions of a "former" Control Freak

 As a former (now just once in a while) control freak I was always focused
on making sure everything went well. 

Work, People, Whatever. 

Have you ever thought this way?
If I was organized enough, read enough peoples minds,
worked harder, worked longer, anticipated every possibility,
then I was sure I could change things or people and make things turn out right.  

It was exhausting.  

And ultimately unsuccessful.

You can't change circumstances. You can't change people. You can't change behavior.

We can only change ourselves.

So focus on you, on how you will feel, on how you will react, on what you'll decide.
And let go of what you can't control.

Freedom Awaits!

Love, Steph

Prints and more available in my Etsy Shop

Our Hardest Climbs Can Lead to Our Best Views

per·se·ver·ance

/ˌpərsəˈvirəns/

noun: perseverance

persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success

determination, endurance, stamina, tenacity

 

 

Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.
Walter Elliot

Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance.
Samuel Johnson

Just remember, you can do anything you set your mind to,
but it takes action, perseverance, and facing your fears.
Gillian Anderson
 

You Can Do It!!!

The Light Remains

 This past week marked seven years since I lost someone special.
I know, like anyone who has suffered a loss, that time both goes in a blink and drags on.
The smallest things will suddenly bring back a memory and you're missing them all over again.

There are some who bring a Light so great to the World,
that even after they have gone,
the Light Remains

Now in my Etsy Shop 

 

Wishing you fond memories of those whose light still shines for you.

Love, Steph 

Who Wants to Let Go of Yesterday?

 She let go of Yesterday so her Heart could Find Joy Today.

CreativeSteph13 Etsy Shop

Here's to a happier, healthier and more joyous new year.

Love, Steph (and Sweet Pea)

Rising from Your Ashes

Sometimes it seems like our world in on fire, at least for those of us on the West Coast right now. Watching and hearing about reports of devastating fires ripping through towns and communities, driving people from their homes and then having them return only to find ashes.

Yet, during this time, I've personally seen my little town and others like it, step up to help their neighbors, to help their animals, to help provide shelter and care and compassion. 

And then you view in awe the unending dedication of those fighting to overcome the fires.

Rising from the Ashes - it's something we all do.
Hopefully only once in our lives, but too often the number is several.
Digging out of the weight of personal, emotional or physical destruction.
 

But once we do, we discover just how strong, brave and determined we can be.

Rising

Sending prayers and strength to anyone trying to rise from their ashes.

Invest in and Encourage Yourself All Year Long

 The New Year is upon us. 

Instead of guilting yourself into resolutions you feel you "should" do, 

how about figuring out ways to encourage yourself all year long?

Do you Feel Like You've Been Buried?

I came across this quote a little while ago and it made me think of the many times in my life I've felt overwhelmed, unequipped, alone with no end in sight.

How many of you have felt the same way?

Weighed down with responsibilities and expectations. Trying to juggle it all and barely able to come up for air.

Buried.

When you're in a dark place, you sometimes tend to think you've been buried.
Perhaps you've been planted. 
Bloom. 
Christine Cane

Isn't it wonderful that our perspective can change everything?
What if we decided to look at things a different way?
What if we decided to let go of all the stuff that clutters up our soul?
What if we decided to nurture that tiny seed inside of us until it blooms?

 Prints & Magnets available here.

May this week bring you a new perspective that helps you to dig out
of what is weighing you down and bloom. 
Love, Steph