See what transpired when you let over 30 individuals loose with branches and twigs, no rules and a workshop filled with supplies……I set out to inspire others at this workshop and at the end of the day I was the one that walked away inspired!  

http://blog.couragetocreate.com/2010/03/courage-to-create-408.html

Cheers to the natural goodness that comes from using your hands and expressing your creativity…it doesn’t have to cost anything, it can be enjoyed by anyone and everyone, anywhere and everywhere, it’s an incredible stress buster, relaxant and mood booster….but don’t just take my word for it…..see for yourself.  

michele.

I’ve been a fan of a hot bath forever and always.  Growing up we didn’t have a shower in the house, so the quick convenience of one wasn’t an option.  And that’s exactly how I view a shower..quick and convenient.  What you do when you’re in a rush.  And sadly, that’s how everyone’s lives are anymore…hurried and rushed.  I love a bath so much that we even saved our pennies to splurge on ‘my dream tub’.   And no, not some fancy thing that’s decked out in the latest gadgets and jets.  Just a simple, rustic handcrafted copper tub.  The copper naturally retains the heat of the water better than porcelain tubs, there’s a natural antibacterial property with the copper, it’s color and texture is warm and inviting, it’s long and deep and absolute HEAVEN.  There are very few extravagances that I long for, but this was one that was definitely worth waiting, working and saving for.

Soaking in a bath has NUMEROUS health benefits and it’s a natural luxury that all of us can easily and inexpensivly treat ourselves to on a regular basis.   It seems like lately I’ve been pouring baths for everyone in the family for one reason or another. Last night, my 7 year old daughter didn’t feel the best, she’s been battling a minor cold and had an upset stomach, so I set her up in a relaxing, ’spa’ bath…lights off, candles lit, lavender scented epsom salts….the works.  It was the funniest thing..it completely changed the bath experience for her…she was chatting about how she could stay in there for hours, how much better it made her feel…I believe the word she used was ‘fresh’.  Even my  husband (the guy who never really saw what the fuss was all about and used to consider it nothing more than “swirling around in my own dirty water” ) has become a big fan for his ‘aches and pains’.   

Make it a personal event for your well being, and set the stage so it’s an experience you treasure and long for….place a plant or two in the room, scatter some candles all around, turn on some ‘good vibe’ tunes, pour yourself a cup of green tea, have an inspirational read nearby as well as your favorite bath products….shut the world out for a short time, sit back, soak and enjoy this heavenly treat for yourself!

Some of the natural benefits from soaking in a hot bath.

• Reduces stress and anxiety
• Improves your immune system
• Detoxifies
• Stimulates circulation
• Improves the quality of your sleep.
• The heat of the water helps knock down on viruses and bacteria. 

When you add inexpensive epsom salts to the water, there are even greater benefits….this list provided by the epsom salt industry council:

Prevention or easing of migraine headaches.
Improved formation of joint proteins, brain tissue and mucin proteins.
Improved absorption of nutrients.
Improved oxygen use.

Improved ability for the body to use insulin, reducing the incidence or severity of diabetes.

Reduced inflammation to relieve pain and muscle cramps.

Relieved stress. Excess adrenaline and stress are believed to drain magnesium, a natural stress reliever, from the body. Magnesium is necessary for the body to bind adequate amounts of serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of well being and relaxation.
Improved nerve function by electrolyte regulation. Also, calcium is the main conductor for electrical current in the body, and magnesium is necessary to maintain proper calcium levels in the blood.

Improved heart and circulatory health, reducing irregular heartbeats, preventing hardening of the arteries, reducing blood clots and lowering blood pressure.

Flushed toxins and heavy metals from the cells, easing muscle pain and helping the body to eliminate harmful substances.

Cheers to one of the safest, age-old methods of treating common, everyday ailments.   The serenity, peace and natural health boosts that come from this one simple activity can be enjoyed by anyone and everyone.

michele.

I’m sure at first glance you’re thinking this has to do with some sort of blah, blah about good eats, stocking your fridge with healthy, nutritious things or maybe even about storage containers….BUT nope, it’s an ‘in-depth’ ::) look at what’s ‘GROWING’ in your fridge?!  You know, the things that we may have let occupy our cold storage space a tad too long.

The guys just shared with me some of my forgotten, neglected ‘lunchables’ that were hangin’ out in our office fridge for I can’t tell you how long.  It made me laugh and I thought it would be fun to share because I’m fresh off another similar experience at home…and it had prompted all kinds of curious thoughts.

I had left some tomatoes sitting out in a pan that needed to go to the compost bin and when I removed the lid (a couple weeks later), there was this most amazing fungal jungle type of thing going on.   (I’m kicking myself for not snapping a picture of it) It was fascinating and beautiful in its’ own unique way.

As is what’s happening on this (Onion, I think).  Yet no two ‘growths’ are alike.  The stuff on the tomatoes was various shades of grays, lots of different textures and patterns…..

I wish I was more educated in this area.  I have all kinds of questions about what’s naturally occurring.

Look closely at all the different things that are ‘blooming’…

• Could these blooms be indicators as to how long its’ been sitting in the fridge?
• Could you tell what was underneath JUST by identifying what was growing and how it was growing?
• Would I get sick if I ate it? (not that I would, but just curious).
• What’s harmful, what’s not?
• Any ‘fung-ologists’ out there that can identify what’s growing on here.

The guys weren’t quite as excited to discuss it with me….they found it to be more….I believe terrifying was their word….than fascinating or ‘beautiful’…What do you think?

And for those of you who don’t find this fungus inquiry the least bit interesting……I posted a fun project for your more naturally creative, hands-on side over on our sister site: www.couragetocreate.com

Cheers to looking at things a bit differently!

michele.

Sunday, I took Jon to a Raw Foods Valentine’s Day dinner.  Anyone who knows him knows that most vegetables are not his friend. He likes to start a lot of his days with an icy-cold mountain dew and thinks that meat, potatoes, cheese and bread are the staples to a healthy diet.  BUT, he’s also very easy-going and will play along with just about anything so it turned out to be a great ‘date’.  He surprisingly cleaned every plate of every course, (I am guilty of making sure he went hungry though because that always ups the chances of enjoying food/drink type things::), he drank the greenest, leafiest lemonade ever, had unexpected combinations like onions and apples, and consumed more vegetables in that one sitting than he’s probably had in his entire life, and WASN’T needing to go grab a burger the minute we left.  It says a LOT for how you go about preparing things, for sure.   Now I’m not a raw foodist, or a vegetarian or vegan or any ‘label’…I simply love all of the foods that go along with those lifestyles.  I always encourage people to get past the labels and still add some of the different cookbooks for those lifestyles to the mix.  It’s just naturally great food and these resources expand the possibilities for ALL of us, with ALL of nature’s finest.  They’re certainly not exclusive to just those who do embrace those lifestyles.   I pick up those types of cookbooks all the time simply because of my love for fresh produce, and these are the resources that naturally have some of the best concoctions out there using fresh, healthy ingredients.  It may sound bizarre, but they’re also the ingredients that make me ‘feel’ good to work with, to look at and to eat.  I’ve never gotten the same ‘feelings’ cracking open a bag of chips, or throwing together dinner from a box, the drive-thru or the freezer.  These types of recipes also give you the opportunity to get introduced to a few new ingredients that you otherwise wouldn’t look for when grocery shopping.    You will be pleasantly surprised that little by little your diet keeps getting naturally better and better and it will be customized by you, for you, at your own pace and choosing. 

We can’t ever take our health for granted. For me personally I think it’s one of our most valuable ‘possessions’, if you will..  Like most things, there are so many factors that come into play with vibrant health, but one that we do have control over is what we put into our bodies.   I can’t ever understand how good nutrition got  to be so complicated and so out of whack for so many of us, and in a lot of ways….undervalued and underappreciated.   There is so much ‘empty’ food out there and it’s being gobbled up by the masses.   Healthy choices especially with kids are sadly ‘perceived’ to be the least fun, the least popular, the least tasty and it boggles my mind.   I try not to make a big issue out of things with my daughter, but I do find myself confronted with ongoing battles over things like ‘lunchables’ with her and have to come up with a colorful spin on how we can create our own ‘healthier’ versions….(which she totally DOESN’T find as fun or exciting) or the most recent one which was over some sort of flavored water that she wanted to buy that I mistakenly thought had splenda or that in it….My biggest ‘cringers’ are lifeless, overprocessed foods and diet, synthetic sugar products.   I just don’t think our bodies are naturally equipped to ‘deal’ with them and I want to make sure that my daughter stays as healthy as is humanly possible…WITHOUT harping on the issue, or making her feel like she’s ‘missing out’ (ironically enough).  It just kind of scares me to think that some of the food options out there could possibly be ‘making us sick’.  I’m a firm believer in nutritional medicine and have nothing more to back that conviction up than independent researching, reading and mindful ‘feelings’, beliefs and instincts.   I’ve always been fascinated with the role nature plays in our bodies and our health since a very young age and am always ‘home schooling’ all things that are naturally health oriented.  That certainly doesn’t mean I don’t make less than healthy choices now and then and am FAR from perfect with it all, but I am very conscientious of the choices I make.  I actually started out college wanting to be a doctor…only at that time of my life, I didn’t commit wholeheartedly to the effort and allowed myself to get consumed in anything and everything else that in the end took me down a different path.  No regrets, just part of the journey……. but to this day, I still have a passion for healthy living and the natural means to heal, strengthen, grow and live vibrantly.  I also respect “to each their own”,  but do love to stir positive conversations on the subject.   For me, there’s an even greater gravitation towards all things  ’alternative’, or natural, holistic solutions if you will…for no other reason than that’s what I BELIEVE works for ME.  I  have a deeply rooted faith and belief in nature’s ability to heal itself given the proper environment.  That doesn’t make it right, wrong or otherwise…..it’s just what makes sense to me.  What makes sense to you? 

Cheers to looking to nature for solutions and good nutrition! 

michele.

How about setting out a sweet treat for the birds this Valentine’s Day weekend?!  Fill your feeders, set out a feeder if you haven’t already, or create your own.  Birds need a high-energy diet to survive frigid temperatures and conditions.
If you’re savvy to the types of birds that you have in your yard, tailor your treats to their liking.

Important to remember that once you do start feeding the birds in your area especially in the colder regions, they will come to rely on your offerings, so if you start, make a commitment to continue until the snow clears and they can come by things more easily and naturally!  Also remember to position your feeders in safe, high places so they have a place to perch and so that they can snack in peace and not be in danger of the family or neighborhood cat while they snack! 

Cheers to our feathered friends…..they really stand out against the bare branches and the snowcovered ground.  

michele. 

Here are a few naturally creative, budget-friendly ways to ’show the love’, my friends:

(this is one of my favorites)…People overlook the most obvious gift idea sometimes and thats the gift of a HEART.  A heart that you make yourself working with whatever material you’re comfortable with…wood, paper, clay, window screen, fabric, willow branches, metal, etc.  Do up any size or style of heart in a thoughtful, imaginative way and you have a FABULOUS gift. The cool thing about it is that you can do one every year in a different material or style and you’ve started a pretty special collection for someone, while at the same time eliminating the stress of having to figure out what to get every year.  Brilliant!

Candy inspired rocks — Painted rocks sound simple but they can be painted up in a really sweet ‘Valentine’ way.  Grab a handful and paint them various hues of reds and pinks, add words and expressions like be mine, true love, etc.  Place them in an interesting container and your special someone can set them out on their desk or a table.

Carved Branch — I LOVE THIS ONE! Search for a branch you like the looks of and carve or woodburn your initials inside a heart on it. Shellac or wax to preserve and finish off, and you have a naturally sentimental tabletop display.  You can also do small scale versions and turn them into pendants for a necklace or even do a small painting of your initials inside a heart.

All the things I LOVE about YOU jar — The only creative effort required here is with how many ways you can say I love you.  This is also a fun one that you can do together and then swap jars.  Cut out a determined number of hearts and write on each one the different things you love about that someone.  Throw them into a clear glass jar along with a few of his/her favorite candies.

DIY Chocolate Bowls — You’ll wow’em with this one….Melt some chocolate and cut out an 8 inch circle of parchment paper.  And there are a couple of different ways to go about it….shape your parchment paper over your glass or cup and then spoon the chocolate over it, gradually building it up and letting it drizzle down the sides…..OR pour your chocolate onto your circle and then drape over a drinking glass or bowl to create your ‘bowl’ shape.  Can also play with dark and white chocolate swirls for even more interest.  Place in the freezer until you’re ready to serve.  Fill with fruit and you have a delightful Valentine offering.

Arrange a Photo Shoot:  Grab your camera and take some fun pictures together or of things you love.  You can then use these pictures in creative ways to create artwork, books, cards, etc.  This will give you some fun stuff to use throughout the year, as well.

Wear your creative heart on your sleeve, figuratively or literally and create a valentine for YOURSELF.   Make it your talisman.  Create a heart to remind you to put your heart into everything you do every day!

Cheers to YOUR naturally creative heart!

michele.

Whoo! Hoo!  The tiles are THIS close to getting laid.  The resourceful approach to renovating our kitchen continues and we’re in the midst of getting the floor finished off.  It looks like we’ll be using some reclaimed lumber that my dad had stored away under the house as well as a few of the pieces we had leftover, and we’re thinking we’ll need about 12 of the 8 foot boards to get enough slices to fill the space.  We’ve done several sample boards experimenting with patterns, woods, adhesives, sealers, which direction to run things, and anything else that could go into this application.  (As much as I like to just jump in and go — sample boards are always time well spent!) We’ve discovered some wonderful eco-friendly products to use for certain steps and talked with professionals who install this type of floor all across the country to try and get any additional insight or thoughts.  Those conversations boosted our enthusiasm for things even higher.

Creative visions of this reclaimed flooring concept have been dancing in my head for years and I initially thought I wanted all different kinds of woods, different sizes and a random pattern, maybe even a few log slices thrown in….but surprisingly, I’m leaning towards the simple, one size tile, one kind of wood, traditional cobblestone look. It maintains the flow from the other room, it keeps things looking spacious and won’t compete with all the other reclaimed projects that are going to be installed.   When you repurpose and work with what you have, you usually end up using a variety of different materials, so we have to be careful to not have TOO many different things going on or there will be a disconnect with it all and WAY too busy.   I just want the materials and the applications to speak for themselves and the end result to be simple and rustic.

SOOOOOO excited to see it all in place.  It’s been a fun process of prepping and I’m expecting the installation to be even more so.  It’s going to be one of the ‘warmest’ floors in the house….it’s incredibly economical…a resourceful use of reclaimed materials and a relatively simple process that anyone out there can grab on to…..LOTS of heart and soul going into this one.  

Cheers to trying something new while reusing something OLD!

michele.

Proof that time slips by entirely too fast because it seems like we just got done shooting with these guys…only it was a couple of months ago already! The spring issue of the Do It Yourself Magazine just hit the stands and it has loads and loads of fun, creative ideas for you guys to grab hold of and make your own. Pick one up or check them out online. These gals and guys work hard to fill the pages with a variety of innovative things you can do yourself. I shared my enthusiasm for the hollow core door canvases in this issue and hopefully everyone will now look at those drab doors with fresh eyes before ever tossing them to the curb. It’s an exciting way to repurpose, and they do make the most magnificent, versatile surfaces for just about any type of art application.  They are an inexpensive alternative to traditional canvases, they have a nice deep edge and they’re lightweight to hang. Bi-fold closet doors, interior doors….they’re available in various widths…..and you can use them in their entirety for a LARGE canvas or cut them down into the desired sizes. You can repurpose them out of your own home, pick them up at places like the REstore or, even buying them new is VERY economical as opposed to the cost of traditional canvases of that size. They’re literally the cheapest kind of doors you can buy. We share the how to in the pages of the magazine as well as some different techniques for you to try….you can also get a glimpse of the process in action through one of our courage to create video quickies available online at diyideas.com/easyartvideo….this project is titled “wall art from an old door”.

Yesterday marked another fun day with the gang from the magazine, only this time we spent the afternoon in our bathroom sharing another fun, unconventional idea for people to play with….. do it yourself vanities. It’s so exciting to take your passions or collections and to transform them into functional home decor so you’re surrounded by what you love.  I LOVE old toolbenches and they’re a big part of what I do for a living, so we took one from an old school shop class, cut it in half and turned it into his/her vanities.  It’s a daily reminder of my love for how-to, tools and salvaged materials in a very UNEXPECTED place.  It’s also a truly SIMPLE project that any one can do or replicate with just about any piece of furniture. The how-to lowdown will be available in their next issue, as well as online through our video quickies and in an upcoming episode of b. organic. In the meantime, if you’re in need of a vanity…this will give you something to think about that may steer you in the repurposing direction instead of relying on the standard fare available at home improvement stores.  (We have so much more to share on this subject, but I’m going to hold off until everything hits the stands, as they say!)

When you do things yourself, you can DO WHATEVER YOU WANT…..and I LOVE THAT!

My dad jokes that he never knows what day it is because my mom won’t let him hang a calendar anywhere in the house because “they don’t go with the décor”…something I must have inherited because I don’t really like the look of calendars hanging all over the place either, but if there is something that will get me to hang a calendar…it’s having one that my Dad is in….(on my birthday month, nonetheless)  I’m so proud of my dad and what he chose to do with his life for all these years.  He had a passion for fishing and has been sporting hip boots, and a boat and motor since he entered kindergarten.  His father and his grandfather were also fishermen.   It’s certainly not a glamorous life, LOADS of hard, stinky, dirty work for not nearly enough money, but he LOVES it and at 62 is still doing it….and I don’t see him ever stopping until his body tells him he just can’t do it anymore.  He’s in better physical shape than a lot of guys half his age, and it’s very inspiring and a testament to nature and working hard at what you love to do.   His favorite time of the day is sunrise and the daily doses of fresh air are great for the spirits because he’s always relaxed, happy and positive.  He knows the Mississippi River like the back of his hands, and has the most respectful approach to what he does and how he goes about doing it.  He fishes year round, regardless of weather, he builds his own nets, he’s respectful of his catch and maintaining the healthy growth and life of the river.  The river is an amazing, beautiful place, and the art of commercial fishing on the Mississippi is becoming a lost one.  It’s my goal this year to dedicate some time to preserve and document all the experiences and knowledge that this commercial fisherman I call dad, has acquired over the past 62 years, and to tell some naturally good stories before they truly are lost.  There’s something to be said for doing what you love for all the right reasons.  

I come by my love for nature naturally….and I have my Dad to thank for that.  Love you Dad!

He even dresses up once in a while!

Cheers to inspiring fathers everywhere…..and of course, those who love havin’ their calendars out in the open! ::)

michele

I recently read that quote somewhere and it got me thinkin’….I’ve always questioned the whole concept of dumping the old to run out and replace it with the brand new, greenest alternative.  Is that really the best option, or is it best to wait until there’s a need and then explore those replacement options.   Few people really use anything up until it wears out anymore.  It’s more that they simply tire of it, it doesn’t look the part anymore, or there’s the excitement of getting the newest, latest, greatest.   What happened to use it up and wear it out?!  What if we’re just more efficient with how we use the old?  Doesn’t that count just as much as having the most energy efficient option.  Or if we do decide to get new, what are the absolute best ways to deal with what we’re getting rid of….donate, recycle, use elsewhere? During our kitchen revamp, we were initially going to replace the water heater that was sticking out in the middle of the room with a tankless version like we have at our offices.  They only heat the water that is needed and of course tout substantial energy savings…..however, how much hot water your household uses varies the percentages and in my opinion a LOT more water gets wasted waiting for it to heat up at times.  And in some cases they recommend that you have separate ones installed for the things that use a lot of hot water in your home…..Well, that means more money spent, more consuming and are we really being that much more efficient and green?  We ended up deciding to keep the original water heater that really isn’t that old and just found a new home for it in the pantry closet.  We’ve decided to approach things with the mentality that, unless it’s ridiculously inefficient or doesn’t work properly….let’s make it work and simply be mindful of HOW we use it.  

For those who like to ponder….here are a few other quotes/thoughts that I read that were interesting to think about:

“Even though you make the ‘green’ purchase when consuming a brand new product, you are still making an impact on the environment……and that a second hand item is better than a brand new green product because it’s already manufactured…the damage is already done.”…..  One could also say we continue to do damage though by using inefficient, wasteful appliances……..There are multiple ways to look at things and that’s what makes the ‘green’ choices we make fun learning experiences and ultimately choices of many ’shades’.  What do you think?!

Cheers!

michele.