Mid-Year Check-In

Hi Friend,

We have made it to the half-way point in the year. The newsletter this month is really just a check-in with you. How has your year gone so far? I am not one to write resolutions at the beginning of the new year. I do however, think of a word that I want that new year to embody or a word that I will reflect on as I make decisions throughout the year. My word for 2023 is Adventure. I came up with that as we were about to move across states and I had quit my full time job and did not have a solid plan in place for what I would do once we landed. "Adventure" makes all the change not seem so scary, right? 

I am settling in to my new town now and have started making new creative friends and reconnecting with old friends who already lived here. My daughter has settled in too and loves her new job. Plus, I am working on some big "Adventures" for Handcraft Happy Hour and will keep you updated on all the fun stuff happening as it comes along.

Do you tend to create resolutions or goals at the beginning of the year? Do you have a different ritual? Reply back and let me know and if you create a word of the year, what is your word this year? 

Affirmations

Are you feeling a mid-year slump? Maybe it is the heat of the Summer, maybe family obligations over the summer have pulled you away, or maybe you just aren't feeling super creative - just because. 

Here are some affirmations I came up with to encourage myself to get back to my creative adventures. I thought they could help you too! I say these as part of my morning routine and in the evenings to remind myself that creativity is a process.

Meditation

Another process that has helped me adapt to my "Adventure" lately is meditation. I use the app Calm and there are a couple of meditations on there that I do routinely - Daily Move and Daily Trip.

Meditative Art is amazing too! I am currently working on this Vintage Butterfly (although I think they are moths?) from Breathe People. These kits come with a link to meditation sounds you can listen to while painting. One of my best friend's bought a different one for her daughter who is in her PHD program. I love that her daughter sent me a picture when she finished it saying that she loved it! You can find them along with other paint-by-numbers HERE. 

Gratitude I make a practice to write 3 gratitudes during my morning routine. Somedays, if it has been a real crap day, I will write 3 more at night. One of my gratitudes this morning was the joy of friendships. I am starting to host a monthly "Framily Dinner" next month and was thinking of a fun cocktail I can serve everyone, even the teens, and came across this one from Taste.com I hope you make it for your friends too! Enjoy! Cranberry Sangria Makes 4 Servings Ice 1/4 Pineapple peeled, thinly sliced and cut into wedges 1/2 an orange, thinly sliced and cut into wedges 1 passionfruit quartered 2 cups cranberry juice 2 cups ginger beer (swap prosecco, champagne or cava to make it alcoholic) 1/2 cup fresh mint for garnish. Divide the ice and fruit between 4 glasses. Mix the liquids in a pitcher and divide that between the 4 glasses. Garnish with fresh mint!