Abercrombie dress (wearing small, tts); Heart sunnies (under $10!)

About a month ago I was listening to a podcast in my car (Don’t Keep your Day Job, LOVE,) and one of the guests mentioned a book, “The Artists Way” by Julia Cameron. I happened to be driving by Books A Million right that second and pulled in and grabbed it. Funny how the Universe works sometimes, yes?

From the moment I opened it up I felt like this book was written FOR ME. It’s interesting how life and the real world and beliefs about how we should be steers us away from who we really are. I grew up artistic and creative and if I had picked a career as an 8-year-old I would have said either “fashion designer” or “artist.” I had blank journals of outfit sketches and was basically drawing and creating all of the time. Yet I went to college for business (because it was practical), and grad school for teaching (because it was a job that I could find as we moved a lot), and none of that had anything to do with my creative inner self.

My creative self loves writing, drawing, decorating, making live videos, searching for inspiration, and all things style and beauty. I often wonder what would have happened if I had gone to fashion design school or art school, but them all I have now wouldn’t have happened, so in the end I KNOW my path is where I was meant to be. You don’t have to know what you are doing at 18, or 28, or 38. Just take some small steps to do what you love each day.

That’s where this blog, and as this all became popular, social media came in. It has been a way for me to express my creative side. Coming up with blog topics, writing on a (mostly, lol) regular basis, coming up with live video topics for Facebook, creating social media feeds that are cohesive and share pieces of me. All of this helps feed my creative life.

I just heard recently that not being able to create is a form of depression, and I completely agree with that. Often enough if I am in a funk, it is because I have not created SOMETHING. And that something doesn’t have to be big, but I can’t just coast and live this Groundhog’s day, routine life. I have to feel like I am expressing myself, even if it is in small, minute ways. Some ways I create:

1. I write! I have a journal I write in each day (I try to do 3 pages each morning before everyone is awake, and when I am feeling pulled to do so, I write here. Basically I try to write every single day, even if it is to- to lists and copies of inspirational writing from Pinterest.
2. I plan home decorating projects. We are at the tail end of a two month renovation project over here and creating the space has been really fun. I love picking out tiles for the floor, handles for the barn doors, how the cubbies in the mudroom should look, and the furniture in the new family room. I can’t say I am an amazing decorator, but I do have skills in creating a cohesive home look and spending time finding inspiration for that is really fun for me. Next up, a kitchen re-do! (Check out my Pinterest for all my inspo…)
3. This doesn’t happen as often, but sometimes my creativity comes out in a meal or baking. I generally do not enjoy cooking, mostly because it is a need rather than a want, but sometimes I feel the pull to make something fun. Right now I am loving desserts and I’m planning on making this later this week as  a fun treat.
4. I mentioned above that as a kid I was always drawing. I had a lot of blank sketch books in which I would use those fashion templates to draw the bodies and then I would create endless outfits. (I wish I still had those!) In high school we had to choose majors, and I “majored” in art and took so many classes that I really enjoyed. (Why I didn’t pursue this is a mystery to me….) Anyway! I recently purchased a sketch book and some drawing pencils and I have been drawing again and it has been really fun. My daughter likes to draw as well, so it has been a fun outlet for both of us.
5. Lastly, something that brings me great joy is personal style and creating looks and outfits that feel like me. I recently came up with two looks that I want to wear over and over again this Summer and shared them in the highlights of my stories section on Instagram. I know in the grand scheme of things what we wear is not groundbreaking, but I find immense joy in shopping, looking online for inspo, and creating a closet that brings me joy each time I walk into it.

Tell me, are you a creator? How do you express yourself in your life?