I keep reminding myself..

My daughter (10) and her BFF are asleep in the next room after a slumber party happened here last night...they were up until well past 2:40am..at least that is when I lost count and finally fell asleep myself. Chewie is sitting on the desk here beside me and it is raining and cold outside.

In my heart, there are so many things I want to try, places I wish I could go...and things I feel like I need to do. But now is not the time for me. Of course I am finding balance.. a few minutes here and there to myself.. but the majority of my time is spent caring for my daughter.

Noise cancelling headphones... cool holiday music and the smell of gingerbread men in the house right now... (I'll share the best tip I have read on the internet in a long time...pour royal icing into condiment bottles that you can find in the grocery store for $1....so much easier to decorate cookies and handle... light bulb moment. I can't believe I didn't figure that one out sooner!)

I am so grateful for the online teaching community I have here...and the ability to connect with you all from my house. Don't forget that I am available to answer your emails every day...and I always love seeing your artwork.. as much as I would love to be able to attend and teach at art retreats myself, I can't swing it at this point in my life... so hopefully you will stop by and say hi here in one of the online workshops I teach.

I am ending the month-long sale I have had here on the website on December 26..if you've been thinking about making a purchase, now is the time to do it.

Painting in black and white...with techniques featured in the Layer Love v2.0 online workshop.