A SIMPLE MORNING ROUTINE

Every morning is a fresh start.

My littlest is waking up more times than i care to mention and I even thought about how little i am even able to wake up and commit some time to myself.  But so is life and I know deep down the importance of having this time.  It doesn't have to be every day.  Maybe even do it on a weekend.  I post this as a gentle reminder to put some time on the calendar for yourself. TAKE BACK YOUR MORNINGS...take them back from your children, your computer, your 3 cups of coffee,  your innate desire to keep hitting snooze whatever keeps you from a little bit of a.m. time to yourself.  I promise you that if you can give this morning routine a go you will no doubt feel better, accomplish more things, choose healthy food, etc.  My answer to every ailment is always yoga + food and a good morning routine. Here is mine:

MORNING YOGA + AYURVEDA ROUTINE

Wake up half hour before the sun rises or earlier if you like (6am is perfect)

Drink lemon water or just water (keep some next to your bed)

Rise and use the bathroom followed by splashing your face (esp eyelids) with cool water

Put the kettle on and make some tea.  Mint is nice.  Grab a banana or something light to eat 

Roll out your mat and do some light yoga stretches followed by some deep breathing and or meditation *

Take a shower followed by a cool rinse (bonus if you dry brush and self oil beforehand)

Eat a nourishing breakfast (my favorite right now)

This routine takes no more than 30 minutes.  And if you have longer than 30 well than you can really enjoy each step.  IF you don't have even 30 minutes just take some time to stretch and breathe.  This can be as little as 10 minutes.  But i really challenge you take the 30.  You deserve it.

LOVELOVE, 

Jax

* I am putting together a video for two simple yoga sequences: One for AM and one for PM.  Check back soon for those!

Photo by Bekah Russom on Unsplash

WHAT I MEAL PLANNED THIS WEEK

We are a busy family of 5.  My two girls are in school full time and have dance 3 days per week.  My little baby is 1 and well...need i say more?  I don't always meal plan and to be honest forget come Sunday but this past weekend i made it a point to do so.  1.  Its sometimes cheaper 2.  One less this to think about during the week.

So my trick or tip to meal plan is to pull one cookbook off the shelf.  Or one website that you particularly love. Pick 5 or 6 meals.  Create a shopping list.  Go shopping.  There you go.

Here is what our meals look like this week:

MONDAY:

Pan fried cod with roasted broccoli and sweet potato

TUESDAY:

Tofu fried rice with carrots and peas

WEDNESDAY:

Organic chicken drumsticks with salad and roasted thyme carrots

THURSDAY:

Minestrone soup with bread or grilled cheese

FRIDAY:

Mini homemade pizzas with salad

SATURDAY:

Pesto pasta with green beans

All recipe ideas from this book

NOTE:  Before you read this and think we all sit together at the table and eat the meals i planned think again.  My 5 year old will only eat yogurt, hummus and crackers, and cheerios.  Luckily she will eat lots of fruits and veggies but she is in a forever picky stage.  Everyone else is on board, thankfully.  I do not eat dairy so I only buy a small amount for the week and we generally only eat sustainable and/or organic meat once per week.  This is us this week.  Subject to change next.  SO is life.  

If you try this meal planning idea let me know in the comments.  Or let me know how you plan your meals for a busy week!

LOVELOVE

Jax

HOW TO START LIVING HOLISTICALLY AND MINIMALLY

Living well seems easy enough.  There are so many books and articles and gadgets floating around out there, but instead of helping us they leave us confused and feeling judged.  So I am here to help you sort through all the stuff and simplify this lifestyle.  Its time YOU do YOU all while coming from a place of health and vibrancy and saucy-ness.  

Living holistically, to me, represents living with care and making choices suitable for YOUR whole being: mind...body...soul....and environment.  Taking care of yourself and the planet is is high on your list.  You make good choices to sustain that.  The real YOU is always vibrating high and flowing with the natural flux of your days and seasons. You apologize for nothing. You are in tune and thriving. Everything that you bring into your life is nourishing.

Living minimally, to me, is keeping that which surrounds you light and simple.  From your thoughts, to your things, to your environment to your exercise routine to the food on your plate.  It means saying no to things that don't serve you and being ok with letting things go.  Stress can arise from clutter.  Just take a room...clean it fully and see how you feel.  Clarity and health are always at the other end.  

The pieces of MY well-being pie:

+ nourishing whole food 

+ movement 

+ travel/adventure

+ a clean/simplified environment

+ creative work

+ owning my personal style

+ self love and beauty

+ a clear/calm/and present mind

+ adhering to the seasons through Ayurvedic wisdom

Small simple ideas for each piece above:

+ One plant-based meal per day

+ Start a Yoga and/or Meditation practice (this is my foundation you can read about it here)

+ Take a walk outside daily or drive a different way or take a weekend day trip and explore

+ Clean out your clothes closet to reveal a wardrobe that is undoubtedly YOU

+ Wear said wardrobe even to the grocery store

+ create something: write, sing, paint, start a business, cook, etc

+ Breathe/Mediate for 5 min or just 5 breaths daily

+ Always wake up with the sun

//Your wellness pie can be whatever combination suits you.  Remember the foundation to living and feeling well and functioning at a frequency that suits your soul so perfectly is always changing.  We are always changing and there is no one specific formula that works for everyone.  Support in the beginning is crucial to getting new habits in place.  Reach out for a SESSION to get started on living this soul affirming lifestyle. //

My mantra for you:

You are YOU today and that is beautiful and we as a collective universe thank you for that.  We do not judge you because we know you are choosing what is nourishing for yourself today and we stand by you. 

LOVELOVE,

Jax

HOLISTIC/ MINIMALIST/ MOTHERHOOD

I took a little break to gather my thoughts, have a baby, reconnect to me and essentially what i want to share in this space.  September is like a new beginning.  My soul is ready to teach again and i am so happy to be back.  

There are so many changes heading to this space but for now expect to see some posts on topics like:

+ revisiting what the practice of yoga REALLY is

+ seasonal routines 

+ short am and pm yoga practices

+ un-defining yourself

+ simple food recipes (seasonal)

+ a personal journey of being a mom with nomadic feet

+ a peak behind the scenes of starting a business

+ minimalism as a mother

+ how to begin a holistic lifestyle

and more of connecting to our wild, spiritual, feminine nature.

Hope to see you all here soon...interacting and asking questions and maybe just saying hi.  Please sign up below to stay connected...

Email Address *

Thank you!

p.s.  this is not a photo of me....hang tight while i get all my ducks in a row and get some great pics of me and my brand.  xx

CREATIVE MAMA | RACHEL GARAHAN

//Happy 2017 lovely readers!  Let's kick off the new year (and my birthday) with a new interview. Today we have the lovely and so very talented mama, Rachel of One Part Gypsy.  She is a mama to Benjamin River, 18 months, as well as a creative consultant, blogger, and author!  Her book, A Beauty Collected, shares her stunning photography in an ABC format.  Rachel is one part gypsy and many parts a soulful being.  Read.  Enjoy.  Share.//

Dwell

After nearly 10 years of living in Venice Beach, we recently moved to Ojai in September. It’s been a really wonderful change with more green grass, crisp air, and the brightest stars and moon. We’re in a furnished rental at the moment, which is quite frustrating as we moved here with only 1 suitcase each- literally every other thing we own is in storage! As you might imagine, I spend a lot of time envisioning what our future home will look like. A little beachy, minimalist, lots of white and wood, earthy, comfortable, eclectic, zen. See what I’m dreaming about here!

On Creativity

So many things inspire me, and I’m constantly pouring through books, making notes, collecting bits of nature, window shopping- but surprisingly the best ideas come to me when I’m watching TV at night (I have to watch something with a plot before I go to bed, but then I’m constantly pressing pause to make notes about something completely unrelated that struck me) or when I’m sleeping. I’m always reaching to write things down in the middle of the night or when I first wake up.

On Simplicity

I eat the same foods every day and wear basically the same clothes over and over. I’m also very good at making decisions. I’m not an anxious person and tend to know what needs to be done and just do it.

Personal style

I’m a basics girl for sure. If it’s not comfortable I won’t wear it. I also like to say 70’s flowerchild x 90’s grunge x modern California. Flowy dresses, birkinstocks, jumpers, ripped jeans, black or white T-shirts, beanies, leather jacket… i love good clean lines, but a little messy is fine with me. I read an article about Amanda Bacon (of Moon Juice) saying that "At any given moment, she is ready to attend the chicest event ever or just take a nap” and it stuck with me as just the ultimate YES. I love these T shirts from Club Monaco, I buy them large- theyre really thin and silky and just get better with time. Also Natalie Martin Collection, Just Say Native, Eileen Fisher, Black Crane, The Rose Bowl Flea.. More inspo here.

Habits

Drink so much water. Like way more than you think. Count to 5 instead of taking a wimpy sip. Water helps you sleep, makes your skin radiant, puts you in a better mood, allows your body to release waste and weight … there’s nothing simpler or less expensive than water as trick to living well. That said, I’m probably dehydrated as I write this right now. Ojai is so much drier than LA and it feels impossible to get enough! 

Typical day 

Mondays and Wednesdays are Me days. I just started taking pottery classes, go on artist dates to random places that interest me, and I consult and design for clients. The rest of the week are Mama days- I take Ben to the park, to playgroup, music and gym classes, friend dates, go on hikes with my husband and our pups- we try to stay busy as I get stircrazy sitting at home with him, especially if it’s just me. While I could do with one more “Me” day each week, my husband is really good about letting me sleep in, work, or do my own thing on the weekend when I want to. I’m incredibly grateful for that because work + mom + dogs + house + LIFE is the most insane juggling act! He keeps me sane (ish).

On Feeling Beautiful

When I’m well rested, bare-faced, have some sun on my skin, vibrant food within reach, journal in hand, and on an adventure somewhere new.  

Beauty regime

I’m pretty simple but it’s actually a goal to spend some more focus on this.  I just got back into oil pulling in the morning which feels really good. For makeup I just do a little Omica Geranimum Lavender hydrosol, Nucifera balm, and RMS un-coverup– thats about it. One of us takes a bath with Ben every night as part of his bedtime routine, and we fill the bath with lavender oil, light candles, put on good music.. it’s really relaxing but not exactly me time. I’m a total spa junkie though and really need to take things up a notch. I envision deep epsom salt child-free baths, getting an infrared sauna (justified by the fact that I’m always freezing!) and more regular facials and massages. Self-care is everything!

On balancing motherhood and creativity

Invest in help where you can. Mothers have this idea that we need to and can do everything… but we can’t. In order to be healthy and creative, we need off time, even more of it than seems is ok for a mother to want. But for every hour we give to ourselves- doing whatever it is that puts energy back IN- the investment comes back tenfold and the better we can be when we’re on. This is something I talk with clients about all the time too- and not just moms, but women in general. It seems there’s a lot of guilt and no matter what we’re doing- if we’re working, we should be working out. If we’re hiking we’re looking at the emails coming in on our phone, thinking we should be at our desk. If we’re out with friends, we should be with our kids. If we’re with our kids, we wish we were at the spa. If we’re at the spa… you get it. I suggest starting by taking a pause in the morning to figure out what it is we really need most. If there’s the option tp, do the thing that’s calling you, regardless of the hour, day of the week or what else you had planned. Flowing with your natural creative or energetic rhythm makes everything easier. And if we don’t have the luxury of choice- have to wake up and do the thing we don’t feel like doing- do it well anyway, and without annoyance or resentment. So that when you get to the spa, or the beach, or the coffee shop for that one peaceful moment, you can really be there too.
 

//Thanks Rachel for sharing some of what makes you you!  And, stay tuned for more interviews coming here on C+W.//

RACHEL'S LINKS:

INSTAGRAM

WEBSITE

BLOG

BOOK

//ALL PHOTOS ARE PROPERTY OF RACHEL GARAHAN//

CREATIVE MAMA | JULI DAOUST BAKER

// Hey creatives!!! Its been a while, I know, but what better way to kick it off then with the beautiful Juli of Mjolk, a Scandinavian and Japanese design shop in Toronto.  Her design aesthetic is so aligned with everything that this blog embodies: slow, simple, with a hint of wild beauty.  I feel so grateful to have stumbled upon her on social media (our daughter's are both named Elodie and are the same age) and lucky she is here today sharing all of her creative mama wisdom as well as a peak inside her gorgeous home and shop. //

Where do you live? Describe your abode.

We are fortunate to live above our shop, in The Junction neighbourhood of Toronto. We bought our building during the recession with this intention. We looked in many key retail neighbourhoods but there wasn’t much available—our building was so special, with the last tin facade in the city, and Victorian appeal, that it drew us out to this unfamiliar neighbourhood. When we first moved in it was us in the second floor apartment, and we had tenants on the third floor. We knew we would be starting a family so we set about doing a full renovation with Studio Junction architects (they also did our shop) to make the upstairs a single family home.

The second floor is where we sleep - it’s set up with an internal hallway, whereby all the rooms link via sliding doors which gives it a more intimate feel. The third floor is an open concept kitchen/dining room and living room. There is a courtyard in the middle to provide us with some outdoor space, and a divider between kitchen and living room that you can see through but provides some degree of spatial separation. It’s nice because even when the kids are playing in the other room, we can see what they are up to (like when our son is about to dive bomb over the back of the sofa). One thing about our home is that it is very calming, despite us living on a major street. Large windows everywhere provide us with so much light, and the white oak details and douglas fir floor provide warmth.

What makes you a creative?

I am not sure any one specific thing makes me creative. My parents raised me to be well rounded, introducing me to a little bit of everything. I also traveled a lot from a young age. I was always engaged in the visual arts and music, but never connected in a confident way. I tested the waters academically and professionally during my twenties, via graphic design, art curation, photography and publishing but nothing really stuck in a meaningful way. When my husband and I decided to team up to create Mjolk, I think that is when all of my life experiences clicked together. Mjolk allows us to put on many hats, and we have many outlets for being creative. We maintain a blog and other social media like instagram, we curate our shop, produce a book— John does the writing and I take all the photos, we host exhibitions for the craftspeople, and more recently we product manage local production of exclusive Mjolk products designed by international designers. So if one asks me if I’m creative, I kind of shrug, but when I put it all down on paper, I think I can say that I am indeed creative!

Where does simplicity show up in your life?

I’m still working on purging my old life—it seems that a prerequisite of being in your twenties is accumulation—but I think the number one thing is to only surround yourself with the things (and people) you love.

I also currently have a say no policy. With two young children, I just can’t be running around to events and classes all the time...yet. I keep my schedule wide open, but slowly we are engaging more with the city and design community.

What is a typical day like for you as a creative + mama?

I get up around 7 to the sounds of the kids—who needs an alarm clock? The first two hours are all about having breakfast and getting dressed. I am sure we’ll miss this leisurely pace once our kids are in school. Then, my day is either spent at work (3 days a week - on these days I go out for lunch with my husband) or with the kids (park visits and denying television). Once the kids are in bed we’re usually too tired to do much.

I just picked up a few books— Playful Learning and The Creative Family—that I am hoping will help me bring about more creative opportunities with the kids. I feel badly because for the last year my daughter has missed out on spontaneous creativity because her younger brother would make a mess of whatever she was working on, so I would just not offer it. I find it challenging involving him since he mostly just eats everything. Recently we started leaving crayons and paper out again, and I told my daughter that she can access the art drawer on her own. I can’t believe what a difference accessibility is to creativity. I am now trying to add to this through other free play resources (blocks, play silks, etc).

What is your personal style? Any particular uniform you are wearing lately?

That’s a good question, because I am still trying to figure it out! My body and mind have changed quite a bit since having two children. What I strive for is classic—think mid twentieth century clean lines and shapes. The challenge is finding it out there in the shops. This summer I bought a whole new wardrobe—I figured I deserved it after bearing two children! I am due now to turn over my fall/winter wardrobe, but spending money is holding me back.

I guess in general my uniform is dresses. I have never been a jeans and t-shirt girl. I envy a woman who looks fab in that simple look! One thing I want to try to do is get away from having so much black in my wardrobe. I also look forward to when I can wear necklaces more regularly, once the toddler loses interest. Because I dress so simply, and don’t even have my ears pierced, simple midcentury modern jewellery is how I accessorize.

What is your beauty regime?

For skin care and makeup (I use natural brand Jane Iredale), I go to Satisfaction Spa in the Junction for deep moisturizing facials a few times a year, and then I use face creams and wash from Pure + Simple. I prefer the natural makeup look, so I just use a BB cream, blush and mascara. I am trying to use lipstick more regularly too. The one I have from Jane Iredale actually stays on my lips for a long time which makes the effort easier.

Have any daily habits or routines?

I’m still just surviving right now. My dream would be to get up before everyone, do some stretches and have a cup of tea or coffee. My problem is I like to sleep so I refuse to get up before 7am. I also like to get out for a walk when I can. We work and live in the same building and our neighbourhood has what we need within a block of us, so I have to make an extra effort to take some time to move about.

How do you approach living well?

One thing our business allows is for us to make our hours. So we can take time when we need to, even if it’s just a lunch out with my husband (recently we finally tried Bar Raval, which felt a bit decadent for a Monday work day). Spending time in nature and with family are important, as is taking some time to travel. Making exercise a priority is something I am working on, and although we eat organic, meals are a source of contention with young children so one day it’d be nice to enjoy cooking, which is such a vital part of life.

When/how do you feel most beautiful and most aligned with yourself?

When I feel like I have some order in the chaos. Recently I’ve started working out twice a week, which is actually for the first time in my life helping me both physically and mentally.

I think spending years with little energy starts to feel like a new normal, which can be depressing. Now that I’m coming out of the fog, I feel like I have more days where I feel aligned. I’m in the pursuit of more energy, and I assume everything else will fall into place!

We are constantly growing and working on ourselves. What are you working on right now?

I get very overwhelmed and then have trouble doing anything. I also sometimes talk too much, especially to my kids, when I need to learn to be quiet in the moment. I am still learning to embrace these things.

I can be a bit of a complainer so my new thing is adopting a more optimistic outlook. Also related is to stop trying to control everything. I remind myself that we are all a work in progress, that I don’t have to be perfect, and neither do my loved ones. It actually helps me relate to my kids, to see how hard it must be being 18 months or a preschooler - the world is big, there is so much to learn, and the learning doesn’t end when you become a grown up. It allows me to let them just be, to explore. I was much more rigid when my first born was a toddler.

What are 5 things you are loving right now?

+ My son isn’t talking quite yet, I am really enjoying his exploration of language and nuance and dialog. It’s still babble so it’s cute and endearing and it makes me laugh. Actually because he’s my (last) baby, I am filled with awe as I watch him navigate this world. I feel so happy to get to enjoy the baby/toddler phase this time around.

+ My daughter is 3.5 and I love all the subtle things she does, like a graceful movement while dancing, a drawing with surprising details, her outfit and accessorizing, her ability to communicate emotion...just to see this little person grow!

+ Reading! After three years not really being able to engage with anything due to sleep deprivation, I am super into my pre-bed reading time. I am currently devouring We Are All Beside Ourselves, but some recent absolute favourites have been: I’ll Give You the Sun, The Orenda, All the Light We Cannot See and Where’d You Go Bernadette.

+ I have a feeling that a lot of parents of young children spend the bulk of their evening watching tv, because there’s not much energy left after bedtime (even when it goes smoothly!). Although we are pretty engrossed with zombies, I think Aziz Ansari’s new Netflix show Master of None is a real pleasure to watch. It’s smart, funny, and real. It’s a gem among the usual 20-30 something self deprecating woe is me shows.

+ The long Autumn we just enjoyed gives me hope for a more pleasant winter!

What advice do you have for mothers looking to find balance in both being healthy and staying creative?

I’m not sure I have any answers to this one. All I know is for the first few years I had to let go of absolutely everything. The first year was the hardest in this process but it gets progressively easier. Now that my kids are a bit older, I am able to start looking inward again. Reconnecting with grown ups is a big one. I joined a book club recently, I’m taking a jazz workshop (and am trying to find other creative ways to get moving). I’m hoping the creativity will just follow the more engaged I become!

// Thanks so much Juli for being a guest here on C + W.  Please check out all of her links below.  Her design blog is fantastic.  Much love...  //

MJOLK SHOP

KITKA BLOG

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

TWITTER

NO. 1: PRACTICE YOGA

(you can read about the   c r e a t i n g  s p a c e   series  here)

First idea for  C R E A T I N G S P A C E   is to  P R A C T I C E  Y O G A.    

Because,

freedom  SELF LOVE  gratitude  PRESENCE  kindness  CONFIDENCE  creativity  WILD BEAUTY  surrender 

always result from this practice.  And, you don't need to have an ounce of experience to do it.  

I have been teaching yoga for the past 10 years.  It is my foundation.  Practicing yoga helps me get through tough days and keeps the anxiety and stress of being a parent tempered.  It inspires me to be kind and loving.  It reminds me to pause and breathe deep.  It encourages me to help others and ask for help and what truly inspires me is its ability to make me feel whole.  Inside and out.

Yoga is a vast subject with a plethora of ideas and philosophies on living a super life.  If we look beyond what we may think to be yoga:  an hour long mat practice at your local yoga studio: or mastering headstand; or donning yoga pants...we will find that yoga is a practice easy enough to do daily for the benefits are foundational and life changing.  

Simple poses linked with breath are very much an important part of yoga because they create heat in the body and space in the mind.  What results:  creativity, beauty, health, and lightness.  A simple stretch is just as wonderful as a full length practice.  I encourage you to blend a bit of yoga on the mat as well as off: (this is what i call slow yoga and what i teach all of my students).  

Remember...nothing is permanent...everything will change....perfection is over rated and the goal is not as important as the journey itself.  Just practice for the love of practicing and you will always have space whenever you need it.

Here is how you can practice yoga on and off the mat daily:

light stretching morning and evening

deep breathing as stress arises (inhale for 4 counts exhale for 6)

saying something nice to a stranger/to yourself

writing in a journal everything you need to release and then everything you want to fill up with

awareness and presence with your children

speak slowly

one sun salutation 

call your mom/dad/brother/sister/friend and tell them how much they mean to you...say i love you

10 mintues in nature and breathe in the surroundings (use all 5 senses)

smile often

stand up straight...with your shoulders back and your heart saying HERE I AM

let sadness happen never hide it or ignore it

eat a nourishing meal slowly with a friend 

believe you are beautiful

Ideas/objects/things to root you back to balance or into a  yoga inspired state

a photo

a candle

insence

a scarf

mala beads

essenital oils

daily mantra or quote

a song

fresh flowers

a yoga mat

Pick one practice and one trigger object and do this for one week.  Its that simple.  Give yourself at least 5 minutes a day and you will begin to feel some roots growing down through your feet and out into your life.   

 LOVE LOVE,

J

Stay tuned for the next   C R E A T I N G  S P A C E   idea:  

OWNING LESS 

CREATIVE MAMA | LISSA SNAPP

// Hey ladies, we are back with another amazing interview!  Today we peak inside the life and talents of Lissa Snapp, 26.  She is the founder and creator of Barnacle Bags.  These bags are made with love and care and are absolutely perfect for moms everywhere.  I found Lissa through her Instagram feed.  She captures through photo  what it is like to live and work on an island in the PNW with her family.  A mom to Owynn, 24 months, she is living a pretty amazing life, following her passion of designing and creating but also riding the uncertainty of life as a mother.  Read on. and, again, you will have found another creative soul to admire. //

Where do you live?  Describe your abode.

I live on a small island off the coast of Washington State. The population is about 2,500 year round. My boyfriend and I bought a raw piece of land back in 2011 on the south end of the island. Our property is south facing and in a valley that was historically used for farming. Shortly after we bought our land we moved a small cabin onto it which was once used by fisherman on a nearby island. It took about a year of renovations before we could move in but once the cabin was ready we moved onto our land and have been working on our homestead ever since. There is still so much that we need to do to our home and land but little by little the projects get marked off.

What makes you a creative?

I am a dreamer, I spend most my free time dreaming up new designs for my business Barnacle Bags, new colors schemes, new business ideas, taking photos, working in my garden, taking walks and enjoying the outdoors. I feel like my whole life is surrounded by so much beauty that creativity is everywhere. Creativity is just part of my daily life and never seem to lack in being inspired. If that makes sense…

Where does simplicity show up in your life?

It shows up all over. From what I wear, my bag designs to my home style. A key part of keeping my home more simple is decluttering as much as possible. Each new season I go through clothes, dishware, books and other miscellaneous house items and send them off to new homes. I think less is more and I struggle with this but I generally have a pretty simple home and enjoy the process of shedding belongings.

What is your personal style?  

A little bit of everything. I like modern, vintage, simple, rustic, bohemian … I love handmade items and items I find abroad when traveling. I wear a pretty simple wardrobe but a vintage sweater, jeans and colorful scarf are often apart of my daily attire. I have a small rustic home so I am limited to what I bring in it and at this point I keep it fairly simple looking, white walls and handbuilt furniture and of course all our essentials plus a little more.   

Have any daily habits or routines?

I go for a walk most days. I spend a lot of time sitting at my sewing machine or standing at a table cutting out bags for my work so a walk outside each day is key to preserving a happy self and keeping the creative energy alive.

How do you approach living well?

We live in a place that grows an immense amount of beautiful, organic and fresh food. Most of our meals consist of homegrown vegetables, island raised meat, fresh eggs, bread baked on island and always organic everything. I think I struggle with keeping a balance in my life with work and homelife and not taking time to look after myself but I can say we eat a healthy diet. Just taking the time to slow down and enjoy nature each day seems to really play into living well in my idea of living well.

What is a typical day like for you as a  creative + mama?

I work from home which has its pros and cons. We wake up early and all try and go for a walk together as a family before the busy day starts. Get back start a fire, start breakfast, hop in the shower, dress my son Owynn, eat a fried egg and toast and then get ready for the babysitter to arrive. Soon after I head over to the studio and begin my work. I live near family and have an amazing group of friends. So about 4 days a week a friend or family member will watch Owynn for 4 hours while I work. Afternoons are my favorite. I eat lunch, take Owynn for a walk in the stroller while he drifts to sleep. After the walk he usually sleeps for another hour outside in the stroller outside my studio so I work until he wakes and then we play outside together. Dinnertime comes quick, then a bath and then off to bed. I spend about an hour every night responding to emails, ordering materials and planning out a list of to-dos for the next day. It is busy and I never stop moving but it's good and I wouldn’t have it any other way!  

When/how do you feel most beautiful and most aligned with yourself?

When outside in nature or traveling. I love exploring new places out in the wild as well as visiting cities.

What are some of your imperfections and how do you embrace them?

I get stressed out very easily. Since having Owynn I have learned to let things go more then I used to. I just don't have the time to stress about something. I try and think of the positive in the situation and if I am dreading an item on my to-do list that day I try and do it first so I am not worrying about it all day. I constantly struggle with this but taking time to slow down and be away from home helps ease stress too.

We are constantly growing and working on ourselves. What are you working on right now?

Taking better care of myself. I work a lot and when not working on Barnacle Bags I am looking after my little one. Time to look after myself does not really exist so I am trying to tune into my body if it needs something or taking time to be alone is key. I try and spend time in the garden a few hours a week and this really helps me get perspective and clears my mind.

What is your beauty regime?

I shower most mornings, moisturize everyday, wear face sunscreen, apply blush and then that is about it. I am from a place where not many people wear makeup and use natural or handmade beauty products. I am used to it and so my beauty regime is simple and also I believe a hot bath at night seems to relax and create for a healthier looking self.

What are some things you are loving right now?

+ my blundstone boots for being the most practical shoe around for the fall and winter

+ our woodstove for keeping us warm on these chilly fall mornings

+ all things wool for me and my little one

+ changing colors of the season outside which seems to get more dramatic everyday  

What advice do you have for mothers looking to find balance in both being healthy and staying creative?

Take time for yourself, wake up a bit earlier to fit it in or ask a family member to look after your kids one afternoon. Learn to turn off your work side of brain with your family and be present. Turn off your phone and get outside with your kids... it helps them and you so much!

// Thanks Lissa for being a part of the C + W series and sharing with us a peak into your life as a mother and entrepreneur.  Please leave a comment for Lissa below and check out her gorgeous bags (i love this one) as well as her blog and instagram.  Have a great day everyone and see you next time. xx //

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Also be sure to check out previous CREATIVE MAMA  interviews:

//GRETCHEN//  //ALLEGRA//  //MARISA//  //CARMEN//  //CHARA//  //JESS//  //CAMALO//  //KYLAH//  //ZSOFI//

//LAURA//  //KACEY//  //JULI//  //SHANNON//

C R E A T I N G S P A C E

Happy Fall my friends!  I have created a little mini-series for you here on c + w that is all about making space and clearing the clutter.  It's for any woman/mother/creative/all of the above who feels a bit spread thin.  Mamas do a lot of giving and of course that brings so much joy to our hearts but at times we feel overwhelmed and depleted.  We claim there aren't enough hours in the day or we're just so busy, or i could use another arm.  Ha.  I get it... i am that woman. And sure it ebbs and flows (good days and bad days) of course, but i find when i am overwhelmed my light is stifled.  You know that light-filled space in our being that feels absolutely absolute.  Its the light in our eyes, its the creative pen to paper, its in our choice of style, our way with words, its an undeniable feeling of beauty and confidence and alignment with our wild woman ways.  

Translation:   F R E E D O M

Here is a typical example of overwhelm:

We over book: over work:  over consume: overstimulate:  over eat:  over think: etc.

When this happens our minds and body feel stress.  There may be guilt involved.  We become anxious. Our body feels weak and tired.  Our living space is chaos.  There is too much stuff inside...outside...and we feel like we cannot breathe.  Our health may deteriorate and we fail to be present and do things 100%.  Mistakes are made and we forget things.  OUR creativity suffers and the light...oh that light dims....wayyyyy...dowwwn.  

So yes, we are human and our days will continue to be full and our kids will need us and so on. These tips are just another way to look at things.  To react differently.  To say no or yes or later.  Our goal is to not have a perfect life with sparkly white washed walls and kids and lives that are textbook.  No they will still be imperfect and lovely and chaotic....YOU will just feel more in control and free and beautiful all the while.  Simplicity is our driving force.  Lets all work to brighten our lights... because women living this way brings so much inspiration for each other.  

C R E A T I N G   S P A C E ...   simple tips on decluttering mind, body, soul + environment

begins in October

xx

ps: Idea #1 here

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creative mama | shannon maclaggan

Hey friends!  Today we have Shannon Maclaggan from Prana Parenting as our guest (our 12th inspiring guest) and i am so excited.  This beautiful yogi mama is full of warmth and wisdom and feel-good vibes.  She helps mamas bring the beauty, calm and clarity from their spiritual practice into their journeys as whole-hearted mamas.  A gorgeous soul inside and out.  Enjoy!

Where do you live?

Rural Ontario, Cananda

Describe your abode.

This is actually kind of a sweet story.  My husband and I had been driving by this old stone farmhouse for about a decade  just drooling and dreaming and coveting this piece of property. We were smitten. Its 170 year old stone farmhouse, 5 acres, two beautiful barns, gorgeous fields and it simply took my breath away.  I can remember saying to Pete, “Those people are never going to move. Who would leave that house??"  Well, two years ago, we drove by it one day and there was a 'for sale' sign. And instantly I started to bawl my eyes out. We pulled over onto the side of the road, called the realtor and bought it two weeks later. We’ve been living and loving here ever since. 

What makes you a creative?

Creativity is so subjective, isn’t it? A person can be creative in the way that they dress, the food that they make, the words that they speak, the thoughts that they keep, the dynamics of their relationships ~ all of it can be such an expression of creativity and I guess in some way, they all show up in my life in one way or another.  I would, however, have to say that the part of myself that makes me feel the most creative is my writing. I have been putting pen to paper (or pencil to locked Strawberry Shortcake Diary) since I can remember and I have always processed the major events in my life through my writing. Its always been very cathartic and healing on a deeply personal level and its become an outlet I have come to value and trust and turn to daily.

Where does simplicity show up in your life?

Well, to be honest, my life is pretty complex running two businesses and raising three babes, so I do try to simplify in most areas that allow for it. Saying no to activities or projects that aren’t completely resonating, choosing my purchases with care, choosing to go to bed early, using the slow cooker for healthy and easy meals, keeping free space on my schedule to just breathe and BE ~ all of these result in a little less crazy and a lot more happy.  My yoga practice, while it used to be pretty wild and sweaty, at this point in my life, is simple and slow and so, so sweet. Its tender, familiar and comforting and such an expression of clarity and ease in my life. So grateful. 

Describe your personal style.
Farm chic :)  Natural colours, stripes, cardigans, layers, scarves. Bluntstones and birks. Simple outfits with tons of jewelry to feel unique and feminine while being practical and comfortable. 

Have any daily habits or routines or yoga rituals?

// MORNINGS
I wake up (most) mornings and do yoga ~ 20 minutes of postures, 10 minutes meditation, 10 minutes journalling intention/gratitude/insights. Then I typically sneak downstairs to put the kettle on and drink a glass of warm water, lemon and apple cider vinegar. I bring my huge cup of chai into the living room and quietly check my emails and get my to do list together for the day before my littles wake up. I LOVE this time. Any day that begins on a yoga mat is a damn good day in my books.
// EVENINGS
I teach three evenings a week at the studio, so on my nights off, I like to put my kids to bed fully present. I try not to rush them. Usually we do dinner, clean up and outside play (rugby at the moment) together. Then we head upstairs for a bath and some yoga. Bedtime yoga for them is a few stretches on the carpet and lots of thai massage from me. They love it. They love the attention and how much it relaxes them. Then we read a bit and I put a children’s meditation on for them (there are some cool apps out there) once the lights are out. Its simple but sweet and I really, really treasure it.

How do you approach living well?

I think the secret to truly living well - for me - is mostly trying to find balance in my life. I love drinking green juice and eating delicious salads, but I also really love pasta, red wine and almond croissants. For years and years (like, 20) I was so, so hard on myself for not having the perfect body (whatever the eff that is) and I have finally come to see that I am most happy when I choose to love myself. No matter what I ate or did today. To love myself as I am. Living well is making great choices for myself but not being afraid to grab life by the cajones and enjoy it, too.

What does balance look like for you being a creative and a mama?

Its a work in progress, but something that I am trying to be really diligent about is putting my laptop and phone away in the evenings to be with my family. After a few complaints from my little ones ("Mama, you are ALWAYS on your phone!!!”), I am trying to practice presence when we are together. Once I get them down, I usually do a bit more work, but I’ve found that carving out this time works really for us, and that allows me to be more productive when I do need/want to work on my creative endeavours.

When/how do you feel the most beautiful and most aligned with yourself?

Always, without fail, in Savasana. When everything just feels so sparkly and aligned. Every day in Savasana, I feel beautiful, I feel on purpose, I feel congruent, I feel lit up. Its very rare that I spend time in Savasana without wiping a few tears from my eyes from just pure gratitude and bliss for this life I get to enjoy.

What are some of your imperfections and how do you embrace them?

I can be impatient. I can be angry. I can be judgemental. I can’t say that I necessarily embrace these shadows, but I do remind myself that kindness and compassion starts with the self and if I’m to teach these lessons to my children, then I need to lead by example.

We are constantly growing and working on ourselves. What are you working on now? 

>> Radical, unapologetic self love. Catching my thoughts of self loathing or my old patterns of limited and habitual thinking and choosing a new way to speak to myself. This has been transformational. 
>> Recovering Control Freak. My house doesn’t need to be spotless, my husband isn’t hear to follow my rules and I’m not in charge of anything, much less my relationships. That is a daily practice for me and the one that I struggle with the most. 
>> Accepting my partner for all that he is. Letting love in. Marriage is so, so challenging it has to be an everyday practice for us. Its our very highest spiritual practice, I believe. So, taking the time for him, speaking from my heart, softening, slowing down, practicing presence. Everything flows when I let go of the expectations and the stories and just remember to look into his heart and meet him there.

What is your beauty regime?

>> Every morning, I dry brush my entire body in the shower before turning the water on.
>> I wash and moisturize my face with Sweet Almond Oil and moisturize my entire body with Coconut Oil.
>> I typically cover myself with a few essential oils in the morning too, just for good measure ~ lavender for stress, citrus for energy, clove when I’m sick and peppermint for clarity.
>> Really simple makeup application - concealer, blush and lipgloss and I’m ready to rock.
>> In the evenings after the kids are down, I preform Abhyanga ~ an Ayurvedic self massage with oil before sliding into a hot bath to end my day.

What are five things you are loving right now?

1. Trevor Hall. All day, every day.
2. Tons of basil (from my garden) in my eggs every morning.
3. When in doubt, slowing down.
4. Playing around with and figuring out my camera.
5. Cuddling on the couch with my sweetheart, dreaming and scheming and planning.

What advice do you have for mothers looking to find balance in both being healthy and staying creative.

Listen to what you need most right now. Close our eyes and ask yourself whats most important in this very moment. Be brave enough to let go of the rest. Say yes to the things that feel harmonious and say no to the things that are no longer serving your purpose. Remember that you are running your own race, take your time and lead with love. 

PRANA PARENTING

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Om Shanti Shannon.  Thanks so much for being a guest here at C + W.  Your beautiful lifestyle is inspiring and uplifting.  Please go check out her site where you can sign up for her FREE ebook, Mindful Mornings for Mamas as well liking and sharing this post with all of your creative mama friends!!!!  Until next time...

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