Whimsy and Stars Studio

New discovery!

I have been looking for the name of this great illustrator: Sara Midda. I just love her art! I started an Amazon Wish List were I have added some of her books (totally gorgeous!)

Here are a couple of links about her work:

Prints: http://www.storyopolis.com/portfolio-dbp.asp?ArtistID=128

Books: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0894807633/qid=1103859992/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-8639129-6580066?v=glance&s=books

Fav Book

Oh! How I love this book! This book has been a mind-changing experience in my life. It has so many great ideas especially for women like us trying to juggle what it feels like a million things at once...and still remain happy and focused. You know what I mean: working full time, be a mom, wife and working on art/design at night so we can fuel our dream!

I have implemented good ideas from this book, like: keeping a gratitude journal, taking some prayer & meditation time and surrounding myself with beautiful things that bring me joy.

Today I stopped by the Simple Abundance website and the writer, Sarah has great tips about reducing stress: http://www.simpleabundance.com

Some of my fav tips are:

• Cultivate gratitude.
• Carve out an hour a day for solitude.
• Begin and end the day with prayer, meditation, reflection.
• Don't over-schedule.
• Create quiet surroundings at home and at work.
• Always carry something interesting to read.
• Be instead of do.
• Set aside one day a week for rest and renewal. (I wish I could do this one)
• Laugh more often.
• Luxuriate in your senses.
• If you don't love it, live without it.
• Stop trying to please everybody. 
• Nurture friendships.
• Honor your aspirations.
• Set achievable goals.
• Savor beauty.
• Express love every day.
  (from Sarah Ban Breathnach )

When things get pretty stressful I try to remember what I did in the past to feel better...and interesting enough this book always comes to mind (besides my other devotionals).