Breathe It All In.

It has been a minute. So much has happened since I paused my life here on blogger, some good, some bad, *ahem covid*, and some just ... well just was- not everything is good or bad, sometimes it just is, what it is- that has been a good part of my break, it just is what it is.

I've always had a hard time stopping something that I felt mattered to people, I feel like my blog had it's place, and then I felt like my blog owned me.  I felt constrained in the space of "having to write" never not once did anyone tell me I had to write this blog. Not once did anyone tell me they were disappointed that there was not a post today, not once was I made to feel badly from stepping away from this space, except by myself.

I feel like sometimes we hold ourselves hostage to things that do not bring us joy anymore, they have gone from something we love, to something that we have to love. And as you know, anything that is forced on us, we immediately dig in our heels and put up a wall. Or is that just me? (like honestly, sometimes I get in the shower, and because I literally just did this yesterday I rebel and I stand there, unwilling to wash my body, I'm here, but I am not washing- sometimes when I say things out loud, or write them I see the folly of my ways- but I'm STILL NOT WASHING ;) 

Taking some time away to just live life, through probably the hardest 2 years of our lives on planet earth- Covid, and then to the year 2023, in which, I think, everyone believed was going to be the best year ever- because we are out in the light of life again- and then for me, 2023 has been a real, pardon my French- shitshow. It has not lived up to my expectations on so many levels, I have felt disappointed in the year so many times. Seriously how much disappointment can one year bring, well if it's 2023- lots. 

BUT, I'm here to say, I have a month left, and I a not letting this year get the best of me. Being it's CHRISTMAS season all up in here- a season I love for many reasons, a seasons that is marked with craziness, and joy, and let down, and family stuff... it's still my favourite. (take a read HERE if you want to know a little about my Christmas seasons and what I like to do to get through them unscathed). I'm going out with a bang. I will be celebrating all of the goodness in my life!

I've been taking more time to just be aware of the wonderful that is around me, for instance, I'm sitting in my favourite chair, with my favourite dog, in front of my favourite fire place... so many magical things around me that bring me joy- I am not wasting this moment. I'm inhaling the beauty and comfort of it all.

I'm not wasting anymore time, I have 1.5 months to enjoy the rest of 2023, will there be let downs? of course, will have have disappointments? Yes... but will I wallow in the disappointment? nope.

I'm here, I'm choosing Joy, I'm choosing consistency (I'll share more about that in the next little while) I'm choosing to be happy, I'm choosing to make these moments count... even if it's just taking a moment to breathe in the fresh cold air of November and breathe out gratitude for being alive.

Care to join me?

Share the love,

M.

Antsy in my Pantsy!

Do you get antsy when the seasons change? I do, I've got pent-up energy and no idea what to do with it! So I try to funnel it into a project, and then I end up frustrated because honestly, it's not the right time. I feel on edge like I've had too much coffee, and I can't seem to relax. The Holiday season is coming and I feel like I am living for the future waiting until I can decorate, and start to "enjoy" it... 

Do you feel me? Are you there too? are we in this crazy weird whirlwind together? Ok, I hear you... I know what we've got to do... we've got to RELAX. Like, really relax. Not lounge about, but just be in the moment breathe it in, and breathe it out. (I know, easier said than done, trust me, I know, I feel you)

As a beautiful reminder to you... below is a desktop background to keep you grounded during these antsy days of anticipation...

If you are a worrier around the holidays or live in nostalgia like I do... I have learned some tips and tricks to help me get through the holidays and keep my emotions in check, you can find that here: My Merry Christmas List.

Don't forget to head over to the website and subscribe, to be part of our Creative Hive, lots of awesome offerings there, while you are there, check out my new shop! (take advantage of free shipping to Canada and the continental USA!) there are many fun holiday hoodies to get you in the mood + plus I'm positive you'll be able to check some gifts off your list!

Share the love,

M.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ^ FULL SIZE

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ^ FULL SIZE

Breathe, You've Got this!

2016 a new year, new projects, new hopes, and new goals all sound well and good, but along with all of those crazy awesome new ideas and dreams comes along new anxieties, frustrations, and fear. What the heck?! Seriously I want to punch fear in the face. Taking a step out of your comfort zone to pursue a new career, passion, hobby... is often, littered with fear. Why are we so afraid of trying something new?

Apparently it's been studied and this pretty much sums it up:

33% will like what you do
33% won't like what you do
33% won't actually care what you do  (gasp! I know right!)

AND 1% (these are the people we don't actually care whether or not they approve of us- I added that part, and when I'm home alone, I have a more colourful word for this group of... well, use your imagination.)

So what do we have to fear? Letting ourselves down? because going out and trying something new doesn't usually let others around us down. Because the people who actually matter, you know the ones, our cheering section, the ones who see our talents way before we ever do, and are continually trying to convince us to pursue our passions, are not going to love us any less if we try following our dream, they are going to saddle up along side of us and enjoy the ride.

So in light of a new year, and in light of new possibilities (by the way, every day is filled with new possibilities, and the ability to stop one thing and start another, without owing anyone an explanation - but I digress) Let's Saddle up the horses,  let's charge forward with our hopes and dreams... and let's not forget to BREATHE, because We've Got THIS!

Share the love,
M.

LostBumblebee ©2016 MDBN
BREATHE, You've Got This!
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Soul Ship

It all started innocently packing my bag with all sorts of goodies and prints, for an upcoming conference away. I wanted to know how much it weighed, so I stepped on the scale. DO NOT DO THIS. It might make you cry. The premise was to step on the scale, read what it said, step back on holding giant suitcase. Try doing this with tears in your eyes and utterly frustrated at yourself, is an entire ordeal in itself! 

Since the hubby and I did our IVF treatments my weight has continued to go up slowly- I mentioned it to my doctor about hormones, he said nah, everything looks normal- and the hormones should be out of your body shortly. That was 3 years ago. 

So I had to give myself a little pep talk. Come on lady... now is not the time to freak out, you've got too much ahead of you to worry about this at this moment, you need to breathe, shake it off and get your thoughts back on track. Who knows just how easy it is to spiral down, down, down, when you step on the scale? Telling yourself you knew better, you did this to yourself, etc. etc. etc. blah!

So in the midst of my very own pep talk to myself, I had to remind myself, my body is the vehicle that carries this beautiful soul of mine. It carries my thoughts, my emotions, my creativity, my giving heart. I had to get out of my own head. If you ever get yourself in a little scale pickle, don't stay there too long. Remind yourself, that this body, this is just the ship, that carries some seriously precious cargo. That cargo, that is you, that is your beauty, that is your light, that is your life. 

Here is a little reminder, if you need to print it off and put it on your mirror, in your car, at your desk, on your fridge, wherever you need to put it, to see it, do it. This body is fleeting, but your spirit and soul will live on forever. They are what truly matters. 

Share the love-  today with yourself and others!

M.

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Just Breathe.

Breathing- a natural phenomenon of taking in air and nourishing our cells which our bodies do it without us even thinking about it... and yet sometimes in this world we live in, with the hustle and bustle, we still forget to just breathe.

We hold our breath when we are nervous, we hold our breath when we are frustrated, we breathe shallow breaths instead of deep nourishing breaths...

Breathing deeply can change your body and your mind. Take a moment, even though it may not seem like there are enough moments in the day, take one, just one and make a conscious effort to stop, now take one long deep breath. Take a moment to look around your world and breathe in gratitude and breathe out thanksgiving.

Gratitude and thanksgiving will change your heart, change your mind and ultimately change your world. I know this to be true. I am living proof that gratitude can change everything.  I make a decision daily, a conscious -albeit sometimes difficult- effort, every-single-day, to look around me and be thankful.

What are you thankful for today?
Share the love in the comments below...
M.

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Facebook Cover Image (72 dpi, not for print)

1280x800 (not for print 72 dpi) Desktop Wallpaper

Happiness.

Come' on Get Happy! After all Happiness is Heart-made...

I've been thinking about what makes me happy, it's stupid little stuff like a hot coffee in the morning, a warm tea in the afternoon, Timothy the Dog, Duy (my Hubby) coming home from work, the tingly feeling your body gets when the car shuts off (I like to sit in the car and just enjoy it!), talking to my mom on the phone, waking up to sunshine,  a warm house after a walk in cold cold weather, the first snow, a long chat with a girlfriend, my family, green grass, blue skies, the smell of horse manure, eggs, Instagram, my comfy chair, books, quiet time alone to think (I usually get myself in trouble if I take too much time to think!) and the list goes on...

I believe the recipe for happiness is: gratitude + forgiveness + acceptance + fresh air. What do you think? What makes you happy?  What's your recipe?

Share the love,
M.

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I'm Not Messy!

I'm not messy, just creatively organized.
see.

I've got a cute little print just for you :) to remind people, you aren't messy, you are creatively organized.

Share the love,
M.

Yup this is what #Studio809 looks like :)

 

seriously I know where everything is.

Where the magic happens.

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40 in 40. Freeing Up Space in our Homes and in our Hearts!

I was asked to participate in a "40 Bags in 40 Days" project by creating some printables to encourage simplicity, downsizing and well, just plain good sense! I was in! Mostly because I love to design, but in reality more because I have 40 places in my house that need a serious clean up, can you say storage room, art supply closet, front hall, book shelf, junk drawer x 12 ( I think I have one in every room of the house!), winter clothes... etc. I can come up with 40 places in probably 40 seconds.

How about you? are you overwhelmed with a little too much clutter? Do you need a little encouragement to get down and dirty while cleaning up and freeing up breathing room in both your house and your heart? Come along on this journey with us...

Here is a note from Katie about 40 in 40:

I first stumbled up the 40 Bags Challenge a few years ago on Pinterest. The idea is simple - choose 40 spaces in your home and try to get rid of (at least) 40 bags of unwanted stuff. It seemed to me like a good way to clean up my house and organize a few drawers so I decided to give it a try. I quickly realized 40 Bags is much more than a quick, surface fix. As I worked through my spaces, I was forced to take a deeper look at the things we hold on to and ask myself why we surround ourselves with so much stuff. I was motivated to purge, edit, and give away the things we don't really need. In the process, I learned we really can live with less and, more importantly, rediscovered the freedom found in simplicity. The last time I worked through this challenge, it was during the season of Lent, so the 40 spaces corresponded with 40 days. This time around, some friends and I are taking the entire summer (about 12 weeks) to work through our lists at a slower, but still intentional, pace. If you're inspired to find out more, you can follow along on my blog. 

I can't wait to start! There is so much to do in my house... I need to just do it, and with an encouraging group of people who are working through their junk too- I'm encouraged to get it done!


Don't forget to head on over to Katie's blog and participate in this very exciting project... The Terpblog :)

Let's get rid of the clutter in our homes and hearts!
Share the love,
M.

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