{getting cozy}

Things are looking all glowy and cozy at our house these days...

My goal is to cover as many spots with twinkle lights as possible. 

Ones like this are my favorite.

Ben helped me with the little shelf display above. He picked out all of the pieces and I did a little rearranging and added the lights. We make a good team!

 

And oh how happy I am to have these kitchen shelves to add little snow-topped houses and holiday cheer to! 

The rest of the house may look like a tornado went through, but at least I have these happy scenes to distract me!

Did you do holiday decorating over the weekend?

XO,

{Etsy SALE}

Happy Black Friday!

Are you doing some serious shopping?

I must admit I'm having a bit of trouble getting started on my Christmas shopping this year, and if you are too I have a sale in my Etsy shop to get you going!

I'm offering two deals:

BOGO Free prints 

(free print of equal or lesser value)
*Simply purchase the print(s) you want to pay for, and entere the one(s) you want for free in the notes to seller at check-out.

-OR-

20% off of your total purchase of $10 or more 

Use code "SAVE20"

Not only do I have lots of happy prints in my shop, I also have holiday cards and my 2017 calendar. 

OH, AND everything in my Society6 shop is 20% off + free shipping today too! (Helloooo mugs!)

And if you are local, you can purchase lots of my goodies at Roscoe's Coffee Bar, Veach's Toy Station, or The Tin Cup!

Happy shopping!

XO,

{a November exhale}

Hello out there!

Is anyone still with me over here on my lonely blog?

November has been a bit of a doozy hasn't it?

Are you feeling that way too? 

Mine has looked a bit like this: I started back to work which was in itself a big shift. I also spent the entire last week sick with a nasty sinus infection and chest cold that I'm finally on the other side of. And I had an art sale last weekend. And oh yeah...there was an election.

Deep exhale.

I've found myself medicating with cozy sweaters and of course lots of coffee.

And cat cuddling...

As well as doing my best to be kind to everyone I encounter...

Especially those who might feel extra tender and scared right now.

Have you needed to implement extra self care this month? What have been your methods?

With Thanksgiving two days away, I know most of us are also probably feeling some sort of pressure or tension. Whether it be with making sure the meal is prepared, or spending time with family you don't necessarily see eye-to-eye with or...

Another deep exhale.

Stick with what you know is good and true, and let the rest slide away. That's my best advice. And maybe a bit of this...

We really are all in this together. And I hope in some small way I can help you feel encouraged today. 

And now on to some fun art news!

I'm working on putting together a new printable holiday coloring book! Here are a few sneaks at the pages in progress...

I'll have it in my Etsy shop soon!

And I'm working on a Black Friday/Small Business Saturday/Cyber Monday Etsy sale. I'll share details very soon once I figure them out! 😂

Oh, AND if you are local, I'll be selling lots of my illustrated goodies at Roscoe's Coffee Bar on Friday, December 2nd from 6-8 pm...

There will also be a bunch of other amazing local artists selling their creations. So come see me and do some Christmas shopping! (Follow the event on Facebook)

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving (my American friends!) and times of rest and perhaps a few more deep exhales during this busy holiday season.

Lots of love,

{Society6 Sale!}

Happy Thursday!

How is your week going friends? Good I hope!

It has been a doozy for me going back to work but I'm happy to report I'm hanging in there with the help of my trusty coffee, a slightly embarrassing amount of candy, (THANK YOU HALLOWEEN!) and a yummy fall scented candle in my window.

Thank goodness for a lovely view!

Now that November is here I'm starting to think about Christmas shopping. Do you shop early? I try to start in November so I can space things out and not get too overwhelmed by it all. 

And speaking of Christmas shopping, Society6 is offering their best sale of the year right now - $5 off + FREE shipping on EVERYTHING! Woohoo!

So if you've been eyeing something in my shop for yourself or a gift, now's the time to grab it up! The sale is good through November 6th.

Use THIS LINK to start shopping!

I recently purchased one of their pillows in my new acorn pattern and I'm super happy with the quality...

(Don't mind the lumps...I need to buy a proper pillow insert!)

And of course I have lots of mugs, totes, phone cases, and other happies in there as well!

Their totes are super great quality - heavy canvas and the image is printed on both sides!

I'd like to think I'm helping you beat the Christmas shopping overwhelm by sharing this sale with you. 

So, you're welcome! 😉 

Happy shopping!

XO,

{go with the flow}

Well friends....that is my office there behind me.

Which means one thing. 

My lovely sabbatical is over. All six months of it. Which is SO hard to believe. 

Cue all of the feelings. Seriously...ALL of them within a span of about 4 hours. 

This morning I went from "OK this isn't so bad" to "I might cry" to "NO ONE TALK TO ME!" to "OK my coffee has kicked in I guess people can see me" to "I can totally handle this". 

I really do drive myself nuts, but that's how my brain works. Can you relate? Please...someone tell me yes. It is a rollercoaster living in my mind. 

A virtual amusement park! 😂

But honestly I wouldn't change it for a thing. 

The sabbatical was a tremendous gift.

And as much as I am resisting going back to work, it is here and happening and I'm going to do my best to embrace this new season and look for all of the lessons it will teach me. 

Because I know it will. 

And this is going to be my mantra for the week as I transform back into "professional" Mandy (if that's even a real thing!)...

Maybe you need this reminder right now too? 


XO,