It’s a cold, snowy day here, pretty rare for southern New Mexico. Days like this turn many of us into gleeful 5 year olds and snow photos show up on our social media feeds, usually featuring goofy family members and pets frolicking in the fluffy white stuff or beautiful landscapes.

 

When you come back inside to warm up, here’s an idea for some family fun over cups of hot chocolate:

 

Word Clouds

 

We’ve all seen them, those intriguing word clouds made up of colorful words related to one topic that are really like a poem or condensed story. It’s lots of fun to try one as an artistic version of your life story. They make great gifts too, let your inner child play a bit! Here’s a link to one site where you can make your own:

 

https://www.wordclouds.com/

 

What about creating a word cloud unique to your family and framing it for the start of the New Year?

Wishing you a Happy New Year,

Karen

Sooo—I don’t know what your Christmas holiday preparations look like, but here’s a peek at mine—The good, the bad and the ugly. Today has been full of wrapping up of loose ends and daydreaming (creative planning) for future projects. I’ve spent a couple hours scanning historical 100 year old photos for a business client. Then, dropped off a big plate of delicious homemade fudge and Christmas wishes at their office.

 

Home to get ready to apply a second de-stink treatment to our young dog who had a recent run in with a skunk and still stinks! Prep treatment, leave dog to think all is well and there’s no bath on his horizon. Head off up the valley to deliver a children’s workbook to the winner of yesterday’s FaceBook giveaway. Thanks for sharing your Christmas memories! Then, home to catch pup and administer the de-stink bath. Oh, and did I mention my washing machine broke the day after he got sprayed the 1^st time? And the part is on back-order? Well, I’m thankful I have more than one set of clothes-ha!

 

While he marinates for 30 minutes I can’t help but see the humor and absurdity in today’s schedule and thought I’d write about how thankful I am to be alive and be able to experience all these things. This month has also brought the joyous wedding of my son and precious time with my family.

 

There is much to be thankful for.

 

This afternoon will see working on an article and beginning to line out some memoir coaching classes for the new year. I’m also developing some new printables to help you tell your story a bit at a time. My online shop will be up and running soon and you’ll be able to find these in that section as well as gift baskets, journals, workbooks and a variety of other useful and intriguing items.

 

Then—when all is quiet this evening I’ll pet the cat curled up on the couch, start a fire in the fireplace, light some beautiful candles and make a double batch of  Christmas sugar cookies. No, mine won’t look like they belong in a magazine, but they’ll taste just as delicious and my family will enjoy them and relish the tradition.

 

Here’s hoping you find the joy and humor among whatever your holiday preparations bring. Life is a gift!

Karen

Santa brought me an early new toy– a cookbook template I’d love to fill with your favorite recipes, photos and memories surrounding your family gatherings. Graduations, pre-Christmas parties, weddings and friendly pot-lucks are already gearing up early this month and every one of them has wonderful food. Party chit-chat often involves traditional family favorites or new dishes people want to try. We love those treats! Our desire to eat three times a day drives a creative enthusiasm around the topic of delicious food.

 

As you gather with those you love this holiday season collect those recipes and stories or memories surrounding your meals and holiday traditions. Take those scraps and bits and bobs of recipes from Aunt Leta, Grandma and Uncle Joe’s fabulous BBQ sauce and bring them all together in one place. I’d love to craft these together into a one-of-a-kind personalized cookbook for you and your family. What a meaningful, unique gift that everyone will cherish and add to over the years.

 

The first five people to help me test my new cookbook template will receive a 15% discount on their project. Offer expires on 12/15 so get in on the goodies now!

Karen