One way we fill ourselves with love is to be creative, in whatever way that fits us.  I love to be creative.  It motivates and inspires me not just in the realm for what I am creating, but also spills over into other areas of my life.

Well, for Valentine’s Day my crafty creative bent came out to play.  Oh my!  When the inspiration hit there was no stopping me … all h#@@ broke loose in my house until I had all the supplies and, of course, that meant staying up late.  It was SO much fun and even more more fun giving my homemade Valentines and treats as gifts.

Below are the promised pictures and information for my projects that many asked for on Facebook.  I hope that you become inspired to create something … anything!  Something that takes you away from the mundane.  Something that takes your head out of your to do list.  Something that lets you play again like a child!  Something that will fill your heart and spirit with love!

Love Notes

This is not the greatest picture but this is so cute.  This was a gift for my son’s girlfriend.  I made cute little paper fortune cookies with love notes my son wrote for each one.  I found this idea at One Lucky Day

Be My Valentine Treat Bucket

I gave these cute treat buckets to my family members.  The buckets came from the Dollar Tree.  I covered Hershey Bars with very cute Valentine wrappers and made individual Valentine S’more packets.  The candy wrapper idea is from Anything But Perfect and the Valentine S’mores is from Welcome to Pittiepat Paperie

Chocolate Chip Valentine Cookies

These are just regular chocolate chip cookie bars but I used Wilton’s Brownie Combo Cutter and piped a little icing on them.

Well there ya have it!  Remember, a little (maybe a lot) of creativity is good for the soul!!

Here we are in the month of February already. The time of year we typically think of love and romance.

This year I would like to suggest something that may be a little different for you.  I suggest that you express love to yourself filling your own love tank regardless of who may or may not be around to do that for you.

Valentine’s Day is about love.  Women of Wonder, let’s step it up a notch or two by falling in love with who we are, embracing, and celebrating the wondrously unique creations that we are … so THEN we can give love to others from our overflow!

I introduce to you  … “Love Notes With a Twist”.

Everyday write a love note or a love quote to YOU! Yes YOU!  Write about all the things you would love your secret admirer or lover to say to you.  Write about all your great qualities, all the things that you appreciate about you. Write about all the things you wish others would say to you and appreciate about you.  This is the time to celebrate YOU!

Each love note is going to go into a special love container.  It can be a secret treasure box, a decorated jar, a beautiful vase, etc. You will have a month’s worth of special notes to yourself that you will use throughout the rest of the year when you need a lift or some encouragement.

So what’s the twist?

“Love Notes With A Twist” is a gift from YOU and for YOU that will keep giving all year long!  And, of course, you can continue to add to the love container throughout the year as you think of things to celebrate about yourself.

Don’t wait until you find the perfect container.  Just start now and put them in any jar or mug for now until you land on that special love container.  That is my plan.

Whatever you decide on, take a picture of your finished “Love Note With A Twist” container and send it in to me and at the end of the month I will feature a couple of them with the hopes of inspiring others to do “Love Notes With a Twist”.

Below are a couple of really cute love container ideas and where you can find directions on how to make or buy them.  You don’t have to get this elaborate, but for those of you who are creative I thought you might find these ideas fun.

There is a video on facebook that will show you how to recycle any kind of  jar.  Click here => Love Jar Facebook Page

Love Letters Mailbox from I Love Nap Time

Love Jars from One Lucky Day

DIY Custom Valentines Day Sweet Love Notes Jar

Are you in?  Let me know in the comment section below if you are going to do  “Love Notes With A Twist” with me so that we can be an encourage to one another!

Related Posts:  Filling Your Love Tank On Valentine’s Day

Girlfriend, I love chocolate just like most other women I know.

Today I decided to make a very healthy Chocolate Mousse for a treat. (Recipe below) It turned out that when I was ready for this yummy dessert, I was the only one in the house.  My guys were all off watching the Steelers win (yay!) elsewhere leaving me at home alone, which by the way, I didn’t mind at all.

So while I had the Steelers game on I decided to turn something ordinary into something extra-ordinary turning dessert into a self-nurture activity.

I could have plopped this lovely chocolate dessert into a bowl and woofed it down, but I didn’t.  Instead I used one of my cute tea for one sets accompanying the Chocolate Mousse with fresh fruit and Peppermint Herbal Tea, and I also used a tray lined with a pretty napkin.  It truly was not much effort at all, but it was one that was special.  We treat company special, why not treat ourselves special, right?

I am reminded of a note that I keep on my dream board that says, “Treating myself like a special object will make me strong.”  Anytime we treat ourselves special we are making ourselves stronger because we are sending a message to our inner self that says we ARE special and valuable causing our spirit to lift and hopefully soar!

This activity is one you will want to add to your self-nurture practice.  It is so simple to turn something ordinary like eating a snack into something extra-ordinary.  It not only lifts the spirit, but it also can help you to de-stress especially when you allow yourself to be “in the moment”.

Note that I rarely spend a lot of money on something like a tea for one set.  These types of things I typically stumble upon either on sale or at resale shops.  You don’t have to spend  a lot of money on stepping up your experience a notch or two.

By the way, this recipe and activity is great for Valentine’s Day!

Did you catch at the beginning that I said I made a “healthy” Chocolate Mouse?  The ingredients will surprise you!

Chocolate Mousse

(From Lifestyle for Health Cookbook by Dr. Cheryl Townsley)

2 pkgs. Mori Nu “lite” Tofu, firm

1 to 1 1/2 cups Sunspire chocolate chips – or carob chips (I use a 12 oz bag)

1/4 cups honey – or sweetner

2 to 4 tbs. milk – or milk substitute

2 tsp vanilla

1.  Melt chips being careful to not scorch them.  2.  Blend tofu, honey, milk and vanilla in blender until smooth.  3.  Blend melted chips into tofu in blender until smooth.  4.  Chill mixture until firm.  Store in refrigerator and use within five days.

Note:  It needs to be chilled and set for best flavor.

Me & Miss Karly (my brother's puppy)

Bringing in the New Year for me was crazy, wild, hectic, a blast and … well… upsetting.

The crazy, hectic, fun part was the party that we had for my son and all of his friends that lasted the entire night and into the next day, today. They are a great group of teens with really good hearts who I enjoy having over so that was all good.

So what was upsetting?

Based on the title of this post, yes, I was robbed! Don’t ask me how but I had left my purse at Borders Bookstore the afternoon of New Year’s Eve. It did not show up in the hands of the manager until today, New Year’s Day.

I was relieved to find my new camera that I had gotten for Christmas, all of my debit and credit cards, drivers license, etc. Even the little bit of cash that was readily available was there. But what was missing was the $110 stashed away that I was to give to my mom.

At first it felt like a kick in the gut. I had to work through the feelings of disappointment and such. I kept thinking that I need to be grateful because our bank accounts could have been robbed and more, but they were not.

I also could have gone victim thinking and feeling … “Oh boy! The New Year is starting out lousy already, etc., etc.” But NO! I have been working through that since last night, New Year’s Eve, and finally after it was all said done my thoughts and energy began to shift.

What if whoever took the money really needed that money? What if they needed to buy food for their children? What if they needed the money to keep them out of trouble? What if?

And so I truly have entered into an attitude of gratitude for being robbed that some how I was able to bless someone in one way or another, that I otherwise would not have done. I know that may sound strange to some of you, but I would rather be in this place of gratitude for what was saved and for blessing someone (whether they needed the money or not) rather than being in a place of anger, resentment, and upset.

I do not believe in coincidences. I believe that everything happens for a reason and purpose. So, once again, I am believing and trusting that the money released from me will go to good use and be returned to me ten fold!

Today I am thankful for the flow of abundance and for how God takes care of us all!

By the way, my first blog post of the New Year was going to be on joy-filled focus and joy-filled weight loss! It’s a good one and it is coming so stay tuned!

Here’s to a more joy-filled, grace-filled, peace-filled, abundance-filled, love-filled New Year!

How thankful I am for each moment I had with family, each moment I had to spend time alone, each moment I had making gifts, each moment I spent with favorite family pets, etc.  Each of the different moments filled my cup of joy up in different ways.

What were some of your treasured Christmas moments that filled your cup up with joy to overflow?  I would really enjoy reading about them … please do share in the comment section.

Moving quickly towards the New Year!

~ Shileen

A free scrapbook by Smilebox

For the next few minutes as you watch this clip from Charlie Brown Christmas, be still. Let everything go for the moment, and allow this simple message to penetrate your spirit. Allow the simple message of Christmas to bring you Christmas joy and peace filling your soul with hope.

What does the message evoke inside of you? What does it cause you to want to do? How might you relate to the different characters, even to what we refer to as the “Charlie Brown Christmas tree”? I love it when Linus says, “… all it really needs is a little love”. The gang proceeds to give the ugly little tree some love and suddenly the tree shines. What might we learn from this?

Again, be still in the moment and be blessed by this little 5 minute clip. Don’t judge what might come up .. just let the thoughts come and go and in the moment let all be right in your world.

You can make your own little Charlie Brown Christmas tree as a reminder that there is always hope and with a little love, anything can shine.  Let us remember that even about ourselves … offering ourselves love in a way that will allow us to shine!  Click here for instructions => Instructibles

As beautiful as the Christmas season is, it can be stressful.  No matter how organized you are, no matter how many lists you are checking off twice, Christmas stress can still creep up on you and bite you in the behind.

For that reason I highly recommend that you create a sacred space to de-stress.  If you have created a sacred space to heal as Georgie Holbrook and I shared about in a teleconference call, then creating a sacred space to de-stress should not be foreign to you.

It is very simple.  Choose a place in your home that brings you peace and joy.  It can be an entire room or it can be a corner nook.  You don’t want to create more work for yourself so if your home is a bit overwhelming right now, please choose a little nook that you can clean up quickly.  Be sure to add candles and whatever else that will bring you peace and tranquility.  You will also want it to have holiday cheer so add some simple decorations.

I am sharing with you one of my favorite spots in my home.  My guest room is what I call the happy room.  It is bright and cheery and always feels calming and safe.  I added a simple little lit Christmas tree, a poinsettia, and window candles, which all gives the room a beautiful peaceful glow.

Yesterday I was feeling the holiday stress so I grabbed my holiday novel (“The Christmas Letters”) and a cup of coffee and spent an hour reading in my happy room. =)  Oh my gosh!  It felt heavenly!  It is such a simple thing but I kid you not, the beautiful atmosphere and the time out for reading filled my cup with so much Christmas joy and peace.

And as a result I have had a much better day today feeling under control once again.

Don’t let your checklist of things to do steal your Christmas joy. Yes, you do have time to de-stress.  You don’t have time NOT to de-stress!  Why?  The more rested and well balanced you are the more you get done.  It is that simple.

Do yourself and your family a favor and stop right now for 15 minutes to create a sacred space to de-stress special for the holidays.  You and your family will be so thankful that you did!

Do you like to do holiday reading?

Some of you may be thinking, “Right! Like I have time!”  Well if that is you and you are wishing that you had time to read during the holiday season, I want to encourage you to make the time. 

Join me in The Wonder Woman Challenge Christmas Read.

But how, right?

Many women complain about not being able to enjoy the holidays because it is so much work.  Yes, it is a lot of work.  That is why in my last post and in a recent article at 21st Century Apothecary Holistic Magazine I have written about knowing what you are celebrating, simplifying, and practicing being in the moment.

Today I want to suggest to you that just because it is the holiday season, it does not mean we put ourselves on the bottom of list.  You are to still work on your self-nurture practice.  Busy times of high stress makes it even that much more important.

For example, today I committed to continuing my exercise routine throughout the holidays.   It is important to me.  My eating habits may not be perfect now, which by the way is ok, but I can still exercise.  It will help me  keep everything in check and help my body deal with the extra stress.  It’s a way to give myself the gift of love.

With that, I really do love to read holiday novels.  I rarely do, but this year I want it to be different.  I can sneak in 15 minutes here and there (and more when I can) to read a special heart warming Christmas story.

Picture it … the house is decorated for Christmas, candles are lit, fire in the fireplace (sometimes), and my homemade hot chocolate or mocha in a super fun holiday mug while reading a beautiful story.  Can it get any better than that!!  Even if it is only for 15 minutes a day it is worth it.  And if you have young kids at home simply time it when they are taking a nap.

Ok, this week I want to buy a holiday novel to do just what I described above.  You are going to join me, right?

So what shall we read? Please share your favorite Christmas novel below in the comment section to help give me and others some ideas.

And, let me know if you plan to participate in The Wonder Woman Christmas Read.

Happy reading & here’s to a more joy-filled Christmas celebration! =)

Related Posts & Articles:  Christmas: Less Stress, More Joy, Avoid the Holiday Meltdowns, Finding the Joy In Christmas

*Photo provided by: http://www.freechristmaswallpapers.net/wallpaper/Christmas-Tree-and-Fireplace/

The holidays are upon us … ready or not the beautiful Christmas season is here. My question to you is this. What do you want?

No, I am not asking you what you want “for” Christmas. I am asking you what do you want your Christmas celebration to be.

If you have your celebration defined, it helps take a lot of the stress away. As I wrote in an article for 21st Century Apothecary Holistic Magazine, we cannot do it all. We must wisely pick and choose being realistic as the holiday plays out.

With that, I suggest that you practice being in the moment, especially now. If you don’t, you will be ruled by your to-do list and miss out on all the beauty, joy, and peace this holiday season can offer if you allow it to.

Take moments out to notice things. Notice how beautiful the Christmas lights are when you are out and about and even in your own home. Notice the lovely aromas that we often only get to experience this time of year. Literally stop what you are doing to notice these things taking it all in for that moment. Allow the sites, sounds, and smells of the season to give you moments of joy, peace, and might I add miracles.

Truly, with this simple practice of noticing, you will be surprised in the difference it will make in your personal Christmas celebration.

This month I will be giving you hints and ideas on how to fill your Christmas celebration with more joy rather than stress. In other words, I will be giving you holiday self-nurture hints and ideas.

Merry Christmas!

Share with us below in the comment section how “being in the moment” is impacting your holidays season.

To read my full article at 21st Century Apothecary Holistic Magazine click here … “Finding The Joy In Christmas”

Holiday photo provided by http://www.williamshouse.com/christmas.html

~~ Shileen

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” —Melody Beattie