Live * Laugh * Write Fridays

I'm getting this writing house in order. It's long overdue and yet it feels like the time couldn't be more ripe. I am full of life and love and have created so much space for writing to flow into my life.

Not just writing, though. All things Creative. All things artistic. All things simple, and beautiful. It's a good place to be.

So, to start off this reentry into blogging -- an adventure for a working mom with lots of stuff going on, no doubt -- I am introducing a series related to my Web site, my mantra and my attitude.

It's nothing more than I have to live and laugh (which to me means play and have loads of fun) before I can sit down and write. That I must live and laugh through the pages of what I'm writing so that I can be what I call The Happy Writer. When I do all of these things, I am a Happy Woman. It's really that simple. Oddly enough. So, enough is enough. Here are some great resources you should check out related to this whole living, laughing and writing theme. Every Friday it will be here, waiting for you, holding your hand to ease you into your weekends.

*Live*

If you seriously can't execute (at least) one of your ideas after reading this post, then I'm just going to snap

Create a Summer playlist

*Laugh*

What do you want to do with your life?

7 Ways to make your living space more fun

*Write*

Breathe life into your fiction

Organize yourself to get writing

A big thanks to Jean at The Artful Parent, too, for featuring our repurposed toys turned art supply bins project that are in the picture above. She graciously linked to my mom blog and I'm grateful always for her weekly creative inspiration.

8 Things filling me up

I've been following a blogging world full of creative spirits for a couple years now but it's been the last two years that I've really turned to this. And while I started out as a mommy blogger, unintentionally, I've long outgrown writing about my children. I thought long and hard about writing about all the artsy stuff I do with them but I knew I wouldn't keep up with that to maintain a following. You can read all my mommy blogging stuff RIGHT HERE. I will still blog there occasionally.

But I've always written about trying to be creative while being a mother and so being a Creativity Junkie just sort of fits my life. I recently wrote a guest blog post for Magpie Girl and I can't wait to share that with all of you who still read here.

For now, how about I get a little started with this Creativity thing and let you know what's filling me up.

1. Writing. I recently learned a bunch of things were holding me back from writing and one of them was doing too much work writing. Funny how that works. But by letting the words flow, I have been more successful at writing. No more freelancing unless it feels right. No more blogging unless it feels right. I'm just creating now and that totally fills me up.

2. Sunshine. We have a lovely pool at our new house and wow it has transformed our lives taking me back to what it felt like to be a kid again just sunning and swimming all day. We actually stayed home for a whole day yesterday. The sun fills me up so much.

3. Music. I'm experimenting with new tunes on Pandora. I've discovered that I love Indian music. It's crazy but wow it makes me so happy. I also have known that I love Indian food and one of my MONDO BEYONDO dreams is to learn to cook it and then have a dinner party. I've also been experimenting with what music does to my writing.

4. Dreaming. I just love to sit around with a notebook and pen and dream about life. I'm taking Mondo Beyondo and a couple other classes right now that are filling me up with dreams and actions to take those dreams on a journey.

5. My girls. When they are swimming or running in the sunshine and being true little kids, it's the best gift in the world. I see so much of ourselves in them and that is crazy filling.

6. The simple life. Homemade ice cream. Lemonade. Grilling outside. Picking strawberries. Spending time in nature -- deep wood nature. Watching the birds and listening to them.

7. Meditation. Yes. When all else fails, it's all I can do to fill back up.

8. Creative friends. I have a few and am working to build a tribe locally. I have a book club debuting at my house this coming week. I'm excited to release this dream into the world. I also started an art group for the girls to get them building these creative friendships sooner.

To read more *8 Things lists, go here.