{new coloring book!}

Oh friends I have the most exciting news to share today!

For a few months now I've been working with a publisher on a new adult coloring book, and today it is available on Amazon!

To say this is exciting is a bit of an understatement. In fact, I cried like a baby when I first saw it. Even though I've known this was going to happen since August, seeing it finally finished and available, with my name as the illustrator, blew me away. I have a legit Amazon "author" page! Holy moly! :)

If you have purchased my original coloring book, this one has all of the pages from that version, with eight new fabulous pages for a total of 25. This one below is a personal favorite...

And the book is only $7.99 right now! You really can't go wrong. 

From the bottom of my doodling heart I want to thank you for supporting this journey. 2016 isn't even here yet and it is already going to start out with a bang. I'm so darn grateful.

XO,

{free Christmas printable}

Hello and happy weekend!

I have a fun free Christmas printable for you tonight...

You may recognize this doodle from the December calendar. I did a little tweaking and turned it into a chalkboard print in two different colors. Perfect little addition to your holiday mantle, entryway, cubicle or frame it as a quick neighbor gift!

Get the green version HERE

Get the black version HERE

Hope you have a fantastic weekend!

XO,

{holiday happies}

I am having SO much fun shopping for happies (aka gifts) for all of my family and friends this year. 

Here are a few of my most favorite recent finds!

This pen...

I picked one of these up at TJ Maxx and it is super fun. I mean, come on. Like a magic 8 ball but so much better.

These freaking adorable bookmarks...

I have this coffee set and they are super sturdy and make reading even more fun.

These banners from Paper Source...

I really want to get the potty mouth one, but will probably settle for good vibes, because, 7-year-olds. 

This book...

Because Glennon is the best. 

This Christmas album...

Mindy's voice is so angelic and beautifully happy. I promise you'll love it. 

You can't go wrong with a good Christmas pillow...

And hello free shipping!

And cozy slippers are just a necessity if you live anywhere with an actual winter...

These are only $14.99. And again with the free shipping!

And finally how about one of my coloring books with a fun set of markers...

That's a whole lotta happy! 

Have you started Christmas shopping? Post links to your favorite finds in the comments!

XO,

{Because life.}

I haven't been blogging much these days, but this morning I have the itch. 

Thinking about decorating for the holidays, and thankfulness, and anxiety.

I pulled out my box of Christmas decorations over the weekend. It is an old plastic tote that was probably passed down to me from my Mom when Dan and I got our own place. And after years of adding to our stash of tinsel and cardboard sparkly houses and garlands it was overflowing when I put it away last year. But I pushed the lid on as well as I could until I heard the sides pop, and put it away in the downstairs closet to wait another year for attention. 

When I opened it Saturday, and started to pull out our "Santa stops here" sign and my hand knitted garland, I saw it.  Mold. Apparently leaving everything in a musty basement closet in a box with a not so tight lid wasn't the best idea I've had in my lifetime. 

I cleaned what I could, threw away what I couldn't, and without a tear went to TJ Maxx to replenish what had to go in the trash. 

A few years ago I would have cried over that mold. I would have let it ruin my day and been sour grapes for at least 2-3 hours. I've never been so good with change...with molding. 

The past few years have molded me into an entirely new person. That molding was painful, and still is some days. Becoming a mother...every day becoming a mother. Struggling with a painful split in my family that seems like it will never heal, but has taught me so much about myself. Learning how to be a better wife to Dan through lots of mistakes and, thankfully, forgiveness. 

Holidays give us the time to look at what we've molded ourselves and our life into...and reflecting on what we've created.

The Christmas decorations are just icing on the cake, really. They don't define the holiday. They are the backdrop for the really good stuff we are placed on this earth to enjoy. 

The conversations with my boys about what they want Santa to bring them, and what they want to
buy for each other. Sitting in a comfy chair next to the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree, enjoying a mug of coffee with whipped cream. A shopping trip to Wal-mart with my Mom to pick out Legos for the boys and happily peruse the Christmas decorations. Picking out happies for my Grandmother so I can send her a Christmas care package full of things to make her smile. Shopping for two teenage girls who's mother needs a bit of extra help this year... lip gloss and journals and candy. Watching my husband, who is not a fan of photos, snap picture after picture of the boys decorating the tree. Remembering to take a selfie with both of my parents after a day spent with them and the boys, making Christmas cookies, decorating their tree and enjoying pizza.

All of that up there has me feeling SO blessed this year.

But can I be honest? At the same time I am sad. And scared. And anxious. 

Because life. 

I used to beat myself up over feeling those above things...because life is good and I have everything I need and blah, blah, blah. But not anymore. Because life is complex and hard and the biggest contradiction we'll ever face. To quote one of my favorites, Momastery, life is "brutiful". 

I don't know if this post has made any sense at all, but I just want you to know that if you feel happy, blessed, scared, sad, anxious, overjoyed...all at the same time...you're not alone. I truly think, at our most true selves, that's the way God intended us to feel. A big old ball of emotions. Thankful and anxious. Noticing the blessings and the hardships. 

Because life. 


XO,

{holiday coloring book!}

Hello friends!

With the holidays in full swing, {raise your hand with me if you already started Christmas decorating/shopping!} I thought a holiday coloring book would be a fun way to help you de-stress and relax.

So I put together a five-page printable holiday coloring book with lots of festive images from a cozy fireplace to lots of holly to happy ornaments. 

You can grab it today in my Etsy shop! And remember to tag your photos with #coloringwithTGD! 

XO,

{shoes and morning fog}

I have a favorite spot in our local park that I intentionally drive by as often as possible.

This morning it was looking particularly ethereal, with the crisp morning air creating wisps of fog where it met the water. 

Contemplative is a word that describes me on any ordinary day, but the past few days I have been feeling stretched thinner than usual by worries both near to my heart and those of strangers, and finding a way to take what I define as personal flaws and showcasing them at the front of my mind. Giving them tiaras and trophies like they deserve to be applauded. 

Last night I picked up my devotional (Savor by Shauna Niequist) and the day's passage was about grace. How fitting.

"Grace isn't about having a second chance; grace is having so many chances tha tyou could use them through all eternity and never come up empty. Its when you finally realize that the other shoe isn't going to drop, ever. Grace is an even better gift...its forgiveness without forgetting, which is much sweeter than amnesia." 

Amen. 

Forgetting isn't really possible So let's do our best to forgive, and be thankful for shoes and morning fog. 


XO,

{around here lately}

Hi friends!

How are you? How has your week been? I've been thinking it is a day ahead all week, so basically in my mind today is Friday. Tomorrow morning I'm going to be a bit annoyed when the alarm goes off at 6:20. Oh Saturday...you can't come soon enough!

Here are a few things I've been up to around here...

My first podcast interview! 

My friends Jen and Danielle interviewed me over at She Percolates and it was so.much.fun! I talked about my definition of success, how I balance my day job with my art, who I would love to have a coffee date with, and I spill the beans on my newest project. You can give it a listen here!

This Girl's Doodles out in the world!

I'm super excited and humbled to have my artwork for sale in some local shops! You can purchase canvases, prints and cards at Roscoe's Coffee Bar & Tap Room...

I have a variety of prints at The Tin Cup, an adorable new tea room and gift shop in town...

And my coloring books are available at Veach's Toy Station...

This local support has been overwhelmingly awesome! I'll also have a booth at The Autumn Artisan's Bazaar November 6-7 with lots of new mugs, tote bags, prints, cards and maybe some other goodies. It will be a fantastic place to buy lots of handmade holiday gifts! 

#presentoctober!

October is my absolute favorite month, and I want to be as present as possible, so I'm sharing a photo a day on my Instagram where I take a few moments to stop, breathe, and be thankful and present. You can find my photos by searching #presentoctober and feel free to join in by sharing your "present" moments. {I did my first periscope about this...are you following me? I'm mandyford_art}

New projects!

I've been busy on a few new projects and I'm so thankful for the flow of work coming my way. This tree is part of a commission piece for a local college...

I created another free coloring page, just in time for all things fall! Click the image to download...

You can also grab the October calendar here.

And if you listened to the podcast, you know that major things are happening with the coloring book!! I can't wait to share more...hopefully next week!

Have I told you how awesome you are?!

I love each and every one of you. Hoping you have a lovely Friday tomorrow...oh yes, tomorrow IS Friday. 

XO,

{our stripped down selves}

A lot of things have me thinking lately about knowing who we are and liking who we are. 

When we strip away all of the material things, the titles, the accomplishments, the amount of likes and follows on social media, the number of times per week we go to church, the political candidate we support, the brand of religion we profess...when we are stripped down to the essence of who we are. 

What is left? 

Do we like what we see? 

Are we good to other people? 

Do we leave them feeling better about themselves? 

Do we encourage them? 

Do we make time for the people that matter most to us? 

In the end that's all we really have...liking our stripped down selves and being good to others. 

XO,

{new work: planner kit}

It is always exciting when I am asked to create commissioned illustrations, but this project stands out as one of my favorite so far. 

My friend Kimberley asked me to design a "dashboard" for her new planner kit club including the theme "frolic into fall" with all sorts of autumn icons including a cute coffee cup, bonfire, pumpkins and leaves. Here is how the kit turned out {In in LOVE!}...

And here is a close up of the dashboard illustration...

In addition to the dashboard piece, there are lots of fun stickers with the individual illustrations. So fun! 

Here is the link to buy the kit! 

Hope you are having a fabulous holiday weekend! I'm SO excited to sleep in again tomorrow.

XO,

{in my sketchbook}

Happy Tuesday friends!

It has been awhile since I shared a peek into my sketchbook on the blog, so I thought today would be a good day! I did a lot of drawing last night preparing some new coloring pages for an exciting collaboration. I'm not quite ready to share the news yet but hopefully very soon!

Here are a few of my sketches from last night...

That super intricate frame in the middle is my favorite...the middle will be filled with an encouraging handlettered quote. 

I also want to say a heartfelt thank you for the response so far to my coloring book. It is super humbling and exciting when people want to pay you to do something you love. 

If you want a copy for yourself or for a gift, you can preorder a hard copy here, or get an instant digital copy here.

You are awesome!

XO,

{who's ready to color?!}

Hello friends!

I'm sorry I've been neglecting this blog of mine. If you follow along with me on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook you'll know why I've been so busy.

I've been making a coloring book! And it is ready for purchase!

This book would not be a thing if it weren't for SO many encouraging words from SO many of you, so THANK YOU!

I have two versions of the book available. First is a printable for those who want instant gratification, and the ability to print the pages as you want to work on them. You can grab that version here.

I'm also doing a preorder for hard copies, which you can purchase here. 



I'm super proud of how this turned out. The pages are all single sided and on cardstock so your markers won't bleed through, and there is a spiral binding which makes it super easy to keep it open while you are coloring. 

I'm just over the moon excited to have this out in the world and be able to share it with you, and I hope if you purchase a copy you have lots of fun coloring my doodles!

And remember if you share your finished pages online, tag them with #coloringwithTGD!

XO,