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The Creative Family

I bought The Creative Family by Amanda Soule a year ago when it came out, and I’ve just pulled it off the shelf again, refreshing my memory of everything I want to do with Liliana.  For a peek at Amanda Soule’s lovely, thoughtful, creative blog, go here.  For her other projects, click on the various titles in her header.  She even organizes the mailing of knitted baby caps to Haiti.  How wonderful is that?  She has a bookshop, full of other books I’ve read (and am intending to introduce to Liliana someday…like Zoe Weil’s book on kindness).

I’ve made several decisions–that life is too short for regrets, any regrets…and that life must be grabbed by tail, and you must never let go.

Here’s a run-down of what you’ll find in the book:

Gratitude Hugs
Daily Gratitude
Inspiration Wires (you’ll have to get the book to see these!)
Pencil Rolls
Constructing Pants out of Old T-shirts
Imaginative Play with Props (oh, those colorful scarves!)
Freezer-Paper Stenciling
Stuffed Art
Embroidery, Knitting, and Felting with Children
Questing (don’t you just LOVE that word?… “We shall go on a quest today, sugar plum.”)
Seasons Tree
Journals
Bedtime Bags
Henna Art
Birthday Crowns (I’m SO doing this one…I have four months!)
Hootenanny (another crazy, gorgeous word!)
A Banging Wall (are you up for this one?!)

That’s just a sampling.  Believe me, you’ll not regret the nourishing read, at least.

And here’s another great site, full of fab finds (courtesy of my friend Kel). Pioneer Woman, known in other realms as Ree Drummond, cooks up some mean victuals, home schools her kids, and takes unbelievable photographs.  She’s funny, too–always a plus in my book.  If you haven’t already clicked on her nickname above, you can find her website here.

Here’s her, describing herself.

“I’m a thirty-something ranch wife, mother of four, moderately-agoraphobic middle child who grew up on a golf course in the city. I attended college in Los Angeles and wore black pumps to work every day. I ate sushi and treated myself to pedicures on a semi-regular basis. I even kissed James Garner in an elevator once. Then, on a brief trip to my hometown, I met and fell in love with a rugged cattle rancher. Now I live in the middle of nowhere on a working cattle ranch. My days are spent wrangling children, chipping dried manure from boots, washing jeans, and frying calf nuts. I have no idea how I got here…but you know what? I love it. Don’t tell anyone.”

If you’re not laughing already, this website isn’t for you.  But my guess is that you are, and you’ll enjoy perusing her site.  Such creativity and joy out there.

It makes me thirsty.  Yeah, you heard me.  Ever get that feeling like you want more, more, more, because you’ve tasted only the tip of the iceberg?  That’s me.  I want it all, baby!  Even if it means wearing lime green nail polish some day.

Enjoy!

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