creative thursday: book review + giveaway

i first came across marisa's shop, creative thursday, in late 2007 while browsing etsy for woodland-related artwork. i fell in love with her sweet characters and her story: she'd started following her creative path by reserving one day a week to her artful pursuits.

it's been exciting to watch marisa's growth and expansion over the years and when her book, creative thursday: everyday inspiration to grow your creative practice,came out i knew i had to have it!

of course, me being me, it's been a minute. i picked it up almost six months after it came out and i only recently finished it, but let me tell you, it's been my trusty sidekick for three months. i quickly read through it once and then again slowly, savoring every bit. like any favorite book of mine it is now complete with water (or coffee?) stains and my own notes throughout. i knew i'd like it but i had no idea just how perfectly executed it would be.

mine has seen some use!

if you're a visual artist, you need this book. no matter where your discipline is or where you are on your journey, marisa's words provide gentle assurance and reminders that our creative voice matters.

this isn't a huge book but it is JAM-PACKED with inspiration, motivation, and guidance that honors how our creativity is connected to every aspect of our lives. i was delighted to find that every few pages or so marisa would present a concept that was familiar but with the strength of her own voice and experience, it was like seeing it for the first time. and the illustrations! oh. every page has gorgeous, full-color photographs of marisa's artwork or beautiful surroundings. truly a feast for mind + spirit!

while reading creative thursday, i was also reading art + fearand both touched upon the unique challenges that artists face when it comes to managing time and expectations but i will refer to creative thursday much more often as marisa's attention to distraction, resistance, and fear spoke directly to my heart. she really has a way of expressing the importance of pushing through our comfort zones with grace and peace.

just as i was finishing up the book i already knew it would be my handy guide for years to come and that i was going to read it again, right away, but go deeper. take notes. etc. the pages had already been ruined by a cup of water that one of the boys spilled, i'd already lightly underlined some things, it was already cherished and these thoughts were racing through my head as i get to marisa's final thoughts, in which she shares that her wish is for the book to be with you for years, sit among your most treasured items, and provide just the thing you need to see if you pick it up and open a page, at random.

it was as though she was reading my mind. her wish came true for me and she has so generously provided me with a signed copy for one lucky reader (and i bet her wish will come true for you, too!)

i am so excited to share this beautiful, positively uplifting resource. like i said, i came across marisa on etsy several years ago. shortly thereafter i decided to "make art everyday" because dedicating a single day, or even several hours, once a week seemed so impossible. i turned, what felt like a negative, into a positive by being satisfied if all i managed was a quick napkin doodle some days. i knew that i had to create momentum, everyday, no matter how small and it was in some part due to marisa. my own journey in the last five years, which has been perfect, has also felt arduous and slow, at times. just last month i reached out to a long-time friend, ready to put up my paints forever. the demands of art and motherhood had become too heavy and i was desperate for help. through a beautiful, humbling experience, we came up with a supportive solution better than i could have imagined and i now have five hours a week to dedicate to my creative work (or general self-care, solitude, and silence). and as it turns out, the five hour chunk of time my friend could provide me happened to be on thursdays! seriously, unplanned, but oh, how i love little coincidences (and here's a couple more: marisa and i both go by our first and middle names *and* she printed my very most favorite anais nin quote in the book.) ♥

no doubt i love anything with the word 'blossom' but this quote is just perfect.

now for the giveaway...(i love this part!)

how to enter - you may enter up to four times but please leave a new comment for each entry:

1. tell me when you first heard of creative thursday (the shop or the book) or how you find your creative time. you may also share some tips on how you best manage your time or what your current obstacles and challenges are.

2. share this blog post on facebook and leave a comment stating so, for another chance to win.

3. follow me on twitter and then tag me in tweet (@valeriblossom) about this giveaway with a link to this blog. then leave a comment here for an extra chance to win.

4. share this on your blog and leave a comment, linking to your post.

i will select a winner, at random, next thursday, september 26th, by 5pm EST. good luck!! now i have to get ready for adventure tomorrow in santa fe with tracy verdugo and a group of other creative ladies before we take tracy's paint mojo workshop this weekend. squeee!

eta: this giveaway is open to all US and Canadian residents.

eta, part two: a winner has been selected. yay!!! and only a week late (eep!). blogging is going to become a bigger priority, it will, and i apologize for my delay. a couple of peeps mentioned they'd shared the giveaway on FB in a single comment so i added an extra entry for them and *drumroll please......*


the winner is ....

KAT!!!! ♥ ♥ ♥
(which is pretty cool because she's not too far from me and maybe we can snag a coffee date!)

thanks everyone ;)

the i like book (for couples) review + giveaway

UPDATE: comments closed, winner selected. congrats, di linh!

i have an i like book for each of my boys and i really like the concept! they've got a couples version and i think it's really beneficial for those of us trying to balance the juggling act of marriage, life, work, and children. of course, this book could benefit any couple but sometimes awesome papa and i hardly have time to say three things to one another and it's totally because we have kids ;)

awesomama papa and i are coming up on eight years together but i still learned a thing or two after we took turns filling out the first page. this is going to be a great way to take a few seconds out of our busy days to reflect and share with one another.

i am looking forward to using this book and continuing to learn things about my husband (and about myself). i am convinced that changing perspectives is possible and that a little positive thinking can go a long way. focusing on the good, or at least acknowledging the good, helps make those minor frustrations a little less significant. i like books make it easy to focus on the good and strengthen our relationships, "one like at a time"!
the i like book for couples is packed with cute graphics, inspirational stories, quotes, and phrases to encourage and enhance relationships. when we focus less on the grumps and complaints, we can better see all the reasons we not only love our partner, but more importantly, why we like them.

readers of this blog are welcome to use the code: ilikeyou to take 40% off of any book purchase from the i like book store and one can lucky reader can win a i like book for couples of their very own, just in time for valentine's day!

to enter just:

follow this blog via google friend connect then:"like" the "i like book" on facebook

~{ then come back and leave a comment stating you've liked their page. }~

for additional entries:
~{leave comment for each one }~

1. blog about this giveaway

2. post this giveaway on facebook

3. tweet this giveaway

4. like awesomuffin on facebook

5. leave a comment stating one thing you like about your significant other

other important info:

contest open to US residents only.

please leave your email address with at least one comment.

this giveaway will end at 12:00 MST on Tuesday, February 8th.

winner will be selected by comment order and entering total number of comments into random.org. (next time, i WILL use rafflecopter!)

winner will be announced and contacted same day.

the lovely people from the i like book will ship out your book

and it may arrive just in time for valentine's day!

*i received a free copy of the i like book for couples in order to complete my review. this did not influence my opinions and review of the book.

check it - art classes and giveaway

so...amy mc donald is hosting a giveaway and promoting some early bird pricing on two new classes being offered july 14th on flutterbye. one of them is goddess territory and might be completely worth checking out! hint: click the link below for class details.

my littlest is crying at me, i haven't finished my coffee, and *omg* i start my new job today soooooo, i can't go into all of the giveaway details but consider this a sort of fun scavenger hunt (that's really easy) and check out this post for further instructions. hint: the giveaway is for a gift certificate to a really cool art supply site!

love + toast giveaway

contest now closed and winners have been selected, a day late but not a buck short!

random.org generated #8 and #28, so congrats to stacy and meredith.

will be emailing you two shortly :)

a couple of weeks ago, i came across vivi girl shop.

i found they had quite the quaint selection of delightful little things and the best price on an orla kiely midi sling bag from the fall 2010 collection.

i eventually ordered a bag and some awesome honey coconut hand creme made by love + toast. if you're at all familiar with anthropologie, this stuff is made by the same makers of tokyo milk and lollia stuffs, which are also awesome.

i think i was more in love with the hand creme than the bag, at first. the detail on the box alone made me all giddy.

remember, i like boxes.

check out the sweet detail of the heart-cut out on the inner flap. swoon.

and then the toast cut out. TDF cute! love + toast's mission statement is printed on the back, too!

inside is an inspiring and fun info sheet with further explanation of their mission, as well as the ingredient list for their all-natural, sweet-smelling good stuff.

this stuff works. in the cold of winter and the dry of the southwest, my hands have never felt so quenched.

 the cheery graphics on the tube are soul-quenching, as well, and the tube is the perfect size for throwing in your purse or diaper bag!

i was so pleased with my good mail that week and how quickly the the vivi girl team sent out my package that i sent along a thank you email.  the customer service i received was outstanding and the vivi girl team agreed to sponsor a giveaway for my readers. they no longer have the honey coconut hand creme but, instead, have offered not just one BUT TWO of my readers the chance to win a little luxe eau de parfum in the paper flower scent.

(i had actually considered buying myself one, but decided on the hand creme instead, so if you win, let me know what you think of the scent, pretty please).

now on to the giveaway details....what can you do to get your hands on one of these babies?

Enter to Win

1. Simply follow this blog through the link in the top blogger banner and leave a comment stating that you are a new follower and you'd like to be entered to win. If you already follow this blog, you must leave a comment stating so, for a chance to win. 

This contest is open to US residents only and ends at 12:00 pm EST on March 14th, 2011

Additional Entries

1. I like comments. I don't have many here. I miss that about livejournal. For additional entries, check out my older blog posts. Leave a relevant comment on my older blog posts. Leave a link in the comments of this post. Can be done once per day for a chance at 15 (fifteen) additional entries.

2. I like followers. Tell your friends! Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post, leave a link to your blog post and automatically get 2 (two) additional entries.

3. I am still not hip enough to get all super involved with twitter on top of everything else so no need to follow me there. However, you can follow vivi girl shop for 1 (one) additional entry.

4. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a link in the comments for 1 (one) additional comment. Can be done once per day for another 15 possible entries.

5. Check out the love + toast site I linked to above. Tell me which love + toast product(s) you've tried, which one(s) you'd love to try, or share something cool you discovered on the website. Link to it/them in the comments for one additional entry per day. Again, with another 15 possible entries.

Now GO and GOOD LUCK!

*note* i have received no compensation or free product but the lovelies at vivi girl shop have agreed to provide two readers of this blog with prizes. at the end of the giveaway i will announce winners and contact them via email, if they have included an email address in their comments. i will then forward their information to the vivi girl team :)

Inspired by Finn Review and Giveaway

some many moons ago, inspired by finn sent me an amber teething necklace to try out and review. my little sprout has been wearing it ever since.

he was a late teether and only had the top two and bottom two center teeth when we received the necklace. shortly after it's arrival, his next two top and bottom teeth came in and i would have never known except he had a slightly runny nose, mild temperature increase, and wanted to nurse ALL NIGHT LONG for two weeks. he was pretty calm throughout the ordeal, though, and there is no doubt in my mind that the amber necklace helped!

i had an amber teething necklace for pea, as well, and that is when i became convinced that amber really was beneficial. while teething, pea hardly displayed any discomfort and when he did seem to be in a bit of pain, i'd give him two or three humphrey's pellets , nurse him, and he'd be asleep within five minutes. every time, it never failed. after sprout was born i was looking at the inspired by finn site and learned that the more opaque the amber, the better the analgesic properties. pea's necklace had been much more transparent and contained misshapen beads that seemed uncomfortable so when i was able to select a necklace for sprout, i chose one with more opaque beads (but also some transparent ones, because i prefer their appearance). each bead is smooth and rounded for maximum comfort! i would take pea's necklace off from time to time, though he did wear it consistently through each teething episode, whereas we have not taken sprout's off since we got in march or april (yes, it's been that long).

last month sprout got all four molars in. i didn't notice. this is a testament, in and of itself, to how well the opaque amber beads worked in providing superior pain relief and decreased swelling. there was no drooling, no crying, none of the typical "signs" one expects when their child is teething. two weeks before i noticed his newly exposed molars i thought he might be teething because he increased his nightly nursing sessions and had a very mild rise in temperature but those were my only clues and before i thought to check, he was back to his normal self.

when my oldest was getting his teeth, it was a completely different experience. i remember the many, many nights my mom and i would walk with him, screaming and crying in our arms. i did use humphrey's back then, and orajel, and infant tylenol because i wasn't aware of amber beads as an alternative (and i while i nursed him, at first, he was on the bottle before his first tooth came in). despite all of the over the counter methods, teething was rough on my first son.

it was a completely different experience with my younger two, and i think the amber necklaces made all the difference! and the more opaque beads on sprout's necklace made for an even better experience with much less discomfort.

even if you're not a believer, you have to admit the necklaces are cute and it certainly wouldn't hurt to have your child sport something so adorable. we get compliments on it every. time. we. leave. the. house. i'm not even kidding.

now, i am very happy with our necklace - it was called the honey dot oval, though i don't know if this option is currently available, however i have noticed that inspired by finn is now carrying a line of unpolished/raw necklaces and they are awesome! i'm going to get one for myself and everyone on my christmas list! i think the lemonade one is my favorite!

the giveaway:

Inspired by Finn has generously offered one of my readers the opportunity to win one amber necklace, up to 17" in length, in winner's choice of color!

how to enter:

you must be a follower of this blog to enter
if you're not already following the awesomama blog, please leave a comment once you've become a follower - if you're already following and want to be entered, leave a comment saying so :)
(note: there is a "follow" option in the blue blogger navigation bar at the top of the screen, must be logged in)

extra entries:

1. tell me why you want to win an amber teething necklace - maybe you're a mama that believes in the power of amber, maybe you're curious, or want to sport one for youself, just for the simple beauty of it!

2. visit inspired by finn's hyenacart shop and link to your favorite product in your comment.

3. tweet about this giveaway and link to the tweet in the comments (may be done once per day, for one additional entry every day!).

4. tell me how you heard about this giveaway :)

5. become a fan of inspired by finn on facebook and comment here with your facebook username

bonus entries

blog about this giveaway, link back to your blog in the comments for an automatic three additional chances to win (yes, that's 3 entries!)

this giveaway is limited to U.S. residents only, 18 years of age and older.

contest ends wednesday, october 20, 2010 at 10:00 p.m. EST.

winner will be chosen by random.org

now, i am super excited to announce our giveaway but my readers may also order from inspired by finn and receive 20% off of their order. just enter the code below at checkout...

inspired by finn coupon code: blog68