{making the most of the morning}

Slept through my early alarm this morning and I really could have let it throw off my entire day. But since I wasn't able to get my shower before the boys went to school, I took a walk and discovered all sorts of beauty including this fuzzy guy... 

I discovered one on my last walk too. I think I've found a new morning walk goal!

Our neighborhood is so lovely in the morning sun, and it is filled with all sorts of intricate mushrooms right now. I find them so intriguing! I want to study every little detail.  

Thankful for the ability to be flexible and see opportunity instead of frustration this morning. My hope is that you can do the same!

XO,

{100!}

And just like that, I'm done with #100daysofyourtruth! 

I'm feeling equal parts proud + sad that I've come to the end of this adventure. Proud because HOLY COW I finished 100 illustrations in close to 100 days and I've never stuck with a project like this. And sad because I've gotten really attached to this lettering baby of mine...watching it grow day by day. 

I wanted #100 to reflect how I've felt about this journey, and this one from Rumi sums it up. I'm so thankful for all of you who have continued to encourage me and fan my flames. You all are awesome!

And now my wheels are spinning with all of the ideas I have for these illustrations. I'm thinking about a calendar or maybe an inspirational card deck? And of course I've already been making prints of my favorites and adding some to my Society6 and Redbubble shops. Whew...so many possibilities!

Head over to my Instagram for a fun video recap of all 100 days! 

XO,

{fall-happy}

I don't really know how to put into words how happy I was today. 

There is something about fall-like weather that brings me to an entirely different level of existence. I think if you are a fellow fall fan, you totally know what I mean, right? 

There is a fall-happy that doesn't match any other level of happiness in the world. 

I found myself at my computer this morning, feeling the 60 degree breeze blowing in the back door, sipping my coffee while working on a fall illustration and searching Pinterest for anything and everything autumn. 

Pure bliss.

I rounded up a box full of acorns in our yard and bought apple cider donuts at the orchard. I planted a mum. I'm seriously ready for fall. 

And today made me SO giddy about being able to enjoy this autumn season while I'm on sabbatical. It is a huge gift that I'm not taking for granted. This slower pace of life during this particular season is such a blessing. 

This was the view from the parking lot at the orchard today. Clear blue Indiana skies sitting atop bright green corn fields are one of my favorite things. 

I want to stuff everything about today into a jar so I can savor little bits of it whenever I need a boost. 

And not that today needed any help in the sunshine department, but here is 99/100 of #100daysofyourtruth...

Holy cow I'm one illustration away from finishing this project!

What will I draw for #100? Stay tuned friends! 
(teaser...I have absolutely no idea!)

XO,

{98/100 of #100daysofyourtruth}

Wow...I can hardly believe I've made it to 98/100 of my 100 day project! 

I honestly didn't think I would stick with it. And there were a few days when I wanted to throw in the towel. But I'm so glad I didn't!

Here's #98...



And in vibrant color! I love coloring in these fun letters...

Hope you're able to find a good rhythm this weekend!

XO,

{getting unstuck}

I felt stuck this morning. Kind of like I was in the same fog as our backyard this morning.

I was struggling with my drawing. Having a hard time feeling relaxed. Being annoyed with myself for feeling stuck. You know that cycle, right?

So I forced myself to take a walk. And just like I thought...it loosened up all of that yuck that was bogging me down. 

Here are a few bits of my walk including a new friend who I bet is going to turn into something even more beautiful soon...

What is your favorite "get myself unstuck" activity?

By the way I even pulled weeds this morning and enjoyed it. This sabbatical is doing weeeeird things to me! 

XO,

{have no purpose - on purpose}

So this sabbatical thing is a crazy ride.

On one hand (OK both hands really) I am super thankful for it. This time to be home, to pick my boys up from school every day, read a whole book in a day if I want to (who's life is this?!), listen to podcasts for two hours straight. Heaven!

And I am loving it. And also feeling annoyingly guilty about it.

My inner narrative is going something like this:

"Mandy...it is nearly 10 am and all you have done is read, listened to a few podcasts, and eaten breakfast. Surely you can be more productive! Clean up the kitchen! The rug needs vacuumed! And remember that leak in the basement? Surely you need to do something down there. And oh yeah...you need a shower." 

And yes, I can't completely abandon my adult responsibilities. (bummer) But who says that a day can't be spent reading? Other than my inner voice, who apparently has a bit of a tough time relaxing.

I'm curious if you are able to do this when you have the free time. Because all I've wanted to do for a whole week is read, absorb inspiration from as many places as possible, stay home in my comfies, and shower of course (only because I can't handle being stinky).

Reading Present over Perfect has made me think about this even more. Shauna says in the chapter Learning to Play, "Have no purpose - on purpose." But that is so hard, isn't it? To decide that for an hour or even 10 minutes you aren't going to put pressure on yourself to perform a task or create an outcome.

Here's another quote from that chapter:

"What would our lives be like if our days were studded by tiny, completely unproductive, silly, nonstrategic, wild and beautiful five-minute breaks, reminders that our days are for loving and learning and laughing, not for pushing and planning, reminders that it's all about the heart, not the hustle?"

I've never been a big fan of the word "hustle" and even more so now in this season of my life. Certainly there are times to work hard to achieve our dreams, but right now I'm content with filling a few hours with nothing but a good book.

Are you able to work in times of no purpose - on purpose into your life? I'd love to chat more about it with you!

XO,

{a few reminders}

Happy Wednesday friends!

{new coloring page}

Hey there! Happy Tuesday!

A quick email today to show you a new coloring page that will be going out to my email subscribers...

Are you on the list? Sign up here and you'll get it in your inbox!

XO,

{Hello Monday}

A bit of advice as we enter a new week filled with lovely and stressful and happy and frustrating things...

XO,

{Present over Perfect}

One of my birthday gifts from Dan was Shauna Niequist's newest book, Present over Perfect.

I've been anxious to read it since she announced she would be writing it, because Shauna's writing hits me in so many perfect places. She is honest and raw and just all around wonderful with her story-telling. 

And boy did it meet and surpass my expectations...I read it in three sittings and this morning I was so sad I was finished with it that I re-read lots of my favorite parts. 

I do want to share a book review at some point, but for now, her words have inspired my last three illustrations for #100daysofyourtruth (I'm at #92 now!)... 

I'm working on adding color to them today. Hope you're having a great weekend friends!

XO,

{on being holey}

I've figured out one thing about myself.

On weekend mornings, I'll be a whole lot less cranky if I get myself up before the rest of the house, make coffee, grab a favorite (or new) book, and sit on the patio for a bit reading and sipping. I think it is a mix of the birds chirping, fresh air on my feet, and underlined words from a past reading...mixed with the sweetened milky coffee, of course...that all combine to help me find my best self. 

Before the boys need cereal and the cat litter needs attention. 

So that's how I started out my 38th year this morning. It was 8:40 by the time I pulled myself out of bed, and I knew I had precious little time for this ritual. So I grabbed Carry on Warrior (never a mistake to grab, that book), threw the last bits of hazelnut coffee in the pot, and plopped myself down in the patio chair despite a few cobwebs and leaves crunching under my feet. 

It had been awhile since I had practiced this ritual and my mood has reflected that fact.

One of the first pages I turned to was the one you see up there. 

Dog-eared AND underlined...I knew I needed to stop and re-read.

Holy Holes...very fitting for how I'm feeling on this day of being another year older. I'm honestly feeling quite holey today. Broken and unfilled, as Glennon puts it. 

And I've been annoyed with myself because I've always loved my birthday and enjoyed the week and days leading up to it like I was waiting for Christmas. But this year I feel different and I'm trying to be OK with that. This holey-ness feels holy so I'm looking for God in these empty spaces, as I work through random tears and frustrating frustration. 

Reading her words reminded me that I'm not being ungrateful for feeling this way, or being unreasonable. I'm just being my natural, holey, human self. 

And I have people in my life I can turn to that fill those holes in so many ways. 

My friend Amy, who reassured me over lunch one day when I told her I was afraid I might cry if we talked about that thing I was scared to talk about, that she had kleenex. She reminded me it was OK to cry. OK to by holey. 

My husband for hugging me tight last night and telling me how lucky he is even though I've been a cranky, head-achy, crying mess this week. Despite my holes, that he is thankful for me. 

I could create quite a list of people that fill up my holy holes but I'll leave it at that this morning, since the mosquitos have decided to join me on the patio and I don't want to spend my birthday itchy and covered in cortisone cream. 

But this is how I feel so far being 38. 10 hours in. 

Thankful, and yet, still very holey/holy. 

XO,