a mother daughter love of plaits

Ok so, a little background for you. Recently I’ve been reading the Little House on the Prairie books to Ava Blu. And I have to say, we are both thoroughly enjoying them. If you can believe it, this is actually my first time reading the books. I totally loved the TV show as a kid and definitely dreamt of being Laura and having Michael Landon as a dad.

So with all the googling we’ve been doing of the “olden days” words, tools and food we don’t know of course we had to do a search on braids. And here are a few of Ava Blu and my favorites.  

http://pinterest.com/cindyannganaden/braids/ 

around here...

My studio looks like it was hit by a tornado, and that’s about as fast as I’ve been moving. I’m up to my elbows in painting and craft supplies, but I’m not complaining. I’ve got some exciting things in the works!!!

 One of which I will be revealing to you very shortly :) A bit cryptic I know, but I have to keep your curiosity piqued somehow!!

In the meantime here’s a quick look around the studio. - xo

p.s. if you look closely you should be able to spot a clue or two :)

20 Reasons to Have a Crush on Karma

Karma. How does one give and receive good karma? How do you keep the circle positive? These are some of the questions that tend to cross my mind on a daily basis.

This year I will be embarking on a creative journey to create and explore my enduring Crush On Karma.

So to get us started and stretch our karma building muscles here are 20 reasons how you too can have a Crush On Karma:

1. Stop and smell the flowers. - No Seriously, I mean it! A little whiff can really lighten your mood.
2. Treat Yourself. - A cup of your favorite tea. A 10 minute break sitting your eyes closed. A small piece of chocolate.
3. Smile at a Stranger. - It cost you nothing and you might be surprised to find that not only does it brighten up someone , but yours as well.
4. Practice Patience. - Take a deep breath and count to 10.
5. When you are in a bad mood, smile. - The simple outward act of doing can inwardly change and shift your mood.
6. Spend a whole day giving compliments. - They feel just as good give as they do to receive.
7. Start a conversation with a stranger. - Just start with HI!
8. Celebrate your mistakes. - We all make them. The real trick is to learn from them. 
9. Expect nothing and welcome everything. - And you’ll never be disappointed.
10. Practice Compassion. - It’s the thread that connects us with the other members of the human race.
11. Talk to your plants. - It can actually be quite therapeutic and they’re great listeners and will always  keep your secrets :)
12. Give with out expecting anything in return. - Pay the toll for the car behind you! It actually a lot of fun and you might be surprised at the jolt of energy you’ll receive.
13. Make a new friend. - You know, that person you see everyday at work or school but never talk to. Invite them our for a cup of coffee or dinner.
14. Don’t hold grudges. - They’ll just weight you down.
15. Remember what you’re grateful for.-  First thing in the morning is a great way to start your day. 
16. Dance with your kids. - Heck, dance with yourself!! It gets the heart pumping and is an instant mood riser.
17. Remember the past but let it go. - Learn from your past but continue to step forward into yourself.
18. Stop your Negative Nelly in her tracks. - When you catch yourself having a negative thought, close your eyes and breath it away.
19.  Your perception on life is your reality - So remember to be positive!
20. Try to learn something from everyone you meet. - There a lessons for us to learn from everyone we just need to know how to look for them.

Off to a CRAZY start

Oh boy this year has totally gotten off to a CRAZY busy start!! There has been so much that I’ve wanted to share with you but I just haven’t seemed to have a moment to spare. I’ve wanted to tell you about my amazing trip back East for the Holiday.

Hanging with family. Ava Blu showing in her first horse show with her cousins.

Tramping around Philly. Eating an authentic Philadelphia Cheese Steak. (I haven’t eaten meat in well over 12 years. Well, that is if you don’t count that cheeseburger I scarfed when I was super prego and having all sorts of crazy cravings.)

Spending a week in Brooklyn. I’ve been to NYC plenty of times, but never to Brooklyn. I totally dig it there. We caught a Broadway Show. Took Ava Blu to the American Girl Store on 5th Ave. Did some Ice Skating in Central Park. All and all a ton of fun even in the freezing weather conditions.

…And then there’s my mantra for 2013 that I wanted to share.

I originally planned on picking out a “word of the year”, just as I have done for the past 3 years, but some how a mantra seemed more fitting this time around since I’m trying to do things differently.

Doing the unexpected will have refreshing and rewarding results.

Cheers!!

Happy New Year!!

Returning to NYC in May

This is my ad that will be running in the Winter edition of Total Art Licensing with my pretty ladies :) Megan and I will be returning to NYC to host an evening of Cupcakes, Wine and Hors d’oeuvres!! We’re doing things up a little differently in 2013 

I’m a bit bummed that I won’t be able to make it to Atlanta for the Mart this time around, but it is for a really really good reason!!! You guys, I’m in the process of writing, illustrating and creating my first book!!! How frigin’ cool is that :) And just so happens that my first deliverable fall at the same time as the Mart, so I had to make some hard choices. Having too much going on is a really good problem to have and I am grateful for it. So all of you going to the Mart have a drink for me! Cheers~

...on the twelfth day of christmas

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me twelve Drummers Drumming.

 symbolism // The Twelve Drummers and the final verse of the song refers to the doctrine of the Apostle’s Creed:  belief in God the Father almighty, belief in Jesus Christ his only Son - our Lord, that Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, that He suffered under Pontius Pilate, and was crucified, died and was buried, then he descended into hell, that he rose again the third day, that he ascended into heaven, that he is seated at the right hand of the Father, that he is to come to judge the living and the dead, belief in the Holy Ghost, belief in the holy Catholic Church and the communion of saints, belief in the remission of sins, and belief in the resurrection of the flesh and life eternal. It can be said that by using the image of the drummers drumming relates to the reiteration of this creed on a regular basis as a Catholic to an almost musical rhythm.

Merry Christmas!!!

...on the eleventh day of christmas

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me eleven Pipers Piping.

 symbolism // The Pipers are said to represent the original 11 Apostles of Christ: Peter, James, John, Andrew, Phillip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, Jude, and Simon. Judas was the 12^th but was replaced by Matthias after his betrayal. Some argue that this symbol doesn’t have any religious context at all but represents nightingales instead. These birds’s songs are related to piping in nature and can convey a sense of cheeriness or sadness. This idea of duality is carried by the number 11. 

...on the tenth day of christmas

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me ten Lords-a-Leaping.

 symbolism // The Lords-a-Leaping are thought to symbolize the Ten Commandments. By personifying the commandments as “Lords” denotes a sense of authority while using the action of “leaping” in conjunction with this idea adds a sense of fun and pleasure to obeying the rules of the church.

...on the nineth day of christmas

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me nine Ladies Dancing.

 symbolism // The Ladies Dancing represents the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. This symbol can also be read as passion and courtship, conveying the message of living life to the fullest and finding peace in joy. 

...on the eighth day of christmas

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me eight Maids-a-Milking.

symbolism // The Maids represent the eight Beatitudes, found in the Holy Bible. They are: Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are the meek, blessed are they who mourn, blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice, blessed are the merciful, blessed are the clean of heart, blessed are the peacemakers, and blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’s sake. The beatitudes are meant to nourish our spirituality and uplift our souls.