Oh, summer is moving along so fast over here. Here are a few highlights from the last couple of weeks around here lately…..
True is turning three pretty soon. He’s turned a corner into a world of more independence, outward expression (not so shy anymore!), and the sillyness is in full effect. I find myself really loving and enjoying his company lately, and am amazed how his imagination is beginning to take shape. He has the dearest and sweetest conversations with his stuffed animal friends. It crushes me (in all the best ways).
He’s also quite stylish, no? I LOVE this dress up phase! He had been asking for a pink tutu for awhile. While he loves ‘breakdancing’ he also loves practicing ‘pirouettes’. He was so lit up when he finally found just the right pink tutu. And as any mama knows, there’s nothing like witnessing your kid light up. Love how FREE he is to express himself at this age. Lights me up, too!
We’re in the midst of planning his first ‘real’ birthday party and there will be music, lots of it. This kid continues to be happily obsessed with instruments, making up songs, singing, and dancing. When he’s not doing those things, he’s doing something physical like biking full speed (or running) down the sidewalk. Whew! Hello, energy.
The amazing
Alex Franzen came to
Soul Shine Studio to teach a couple weekends of writing workshops. I have worked with Alex a few times professionally, and I don’t know anyone that has the kind of superpowers that she has when it comes to helping people extract and distill the pieces of themselves that make them unique and powerful and then, with clear focus, put all of that into words (a bio! a sales page! a book! and more). She has a gift and there’s nothing like witnessing someone in the center of their gift and using it to powerfully serve and transform lives. Love, love!
I set up the studio all pretty for the writing students (me included!) and enjoyed a full weekend of being in this space with 20 other amazing women. There’s no other time when I feel more empowered and inspired than when I’m with a group of women who are passionate about the work they do in the world. The energy is crazy good.
On the home front, lots of fresh flowers. My mom created all the above little arrangements for us. Love that she pops into our house from time to time and leaves it more pretty than when she arrived. It’s the little things, no?
Also really enjoying our back deck quite a bit. These months of awesome weather are limited here in Portland, so we’re sure to enjoy it while it’s here. The weather could not be more perfect right now.
I’ve been on a big book kick lately, and this is one of them. I just kept hearing about it and finally
bought it. It’s a good one, friends. Highly recommended!
John and I celebrated our anniversary a couple weeks ago. We spent the weekend at Skamania Lodge – a gorgeous resort in the Columbia River Gorge. We did things we don’t get to do that often together (sleeping in! lounging and eating without interruption!). It was awesome. I also rediscovered pop rocks. Hello, happy!
And hello, together 14 years. The roads travelled, the
heart expansion, the healing work, the easy years, the hard years, the
all if it. I chose well when I chose him and still so happy he chose me. Love always wins, indeed.
This is a beautiful bridge near where we stayed for our anniversary. It’s the same bridge mentioned quite a bit in
Wild – an amazing book, also highly recommended. Sometimes, I can’t believe how beautiful it here in the Northwest. Wowzers.
I’ve been finding all sorts of goodness during my neighborhood walks, including the sign above which was posted in someone’s front yard, inside their
poetry post/pole. Love! Do you guys have poetry poles in your hood? They’re everywhere in Portland 🙂
We’re also finding lots and lots of fairy doors around our hood, too. I mean, how cute is this? It took me awhile to figure it out, but it’s all a part of a Tiny Door Project. This kind of community building/sweetness/for the kids/and for the adults stuff makes me swoon. It’s why we have a little free library in our front yard.
Love that painting is a big part of what we do with True. I’ll do a post soon on what we use, our general set up, but honestly we just throw the canvas cloth down (the kind with plastic on the bottom) and get out the paints (tempera) and let him go. It makes me wildly happy co-creating with him and watching his own little process.
There was an afternoon awhile back where we were having a bit of a rough day, and once I pulled out the paints and gave us both some quiet time to work on our paintings, things shifted in big ways.
I’ve also been working on my own art pieces lately, too though lately it seems to take forever to finish one painting as I’m doing it in tiny spurts here in there. I’m struggling a bit with carrying and juggling it all. It’s a constant practice to manage the biz side of what I do and still have time for creative time and still have maximum time with my family. I know I’m not alone in this particular journey.
Through it all I see the journey of motherhood and biz as one big playground in which to practice my values, my lessons, my soul work, my celebrations. I am fortunate, always, for the path I’m on.
More soon!
XO,
Kelly Rae
Jana! Thank you so much! Get in touch via hello@kellyraeroberts.com and we will email you when it's for sale. Sending love for you and your beautiful daughter!
i adore the sail boat/courage piece! My daughter has smith magenis syndrome and we all need courage every single day!!!! would love to know if its for sale. so truly happy to find you on here! xxxx
Hey cutie!
I have nominated you for the Sunshine Award.
Please go to my blog post this month to find out all the details.
http://www.alifeinbalance.com/blog
Hugs and kisses, Terri
I enjoy reading your blog and I just wanted to comment and agree about how energizing being around other women who are walking a creative path can be. I used to belong to a group like that and since I've moved, I've yet to find another and it has been a huge loss.
However, I am reaching out to great creative women online and I am making some connections. Even if it is slow going, I know the effort is worth it.
Thanks for sharing your process and your inner light.
Hello Kelly Rae, I just found you on Pinterest and am so happy to have done so! I have seen your work before and really like it – but mostly I love your philosophy and generosity of spirit! I am a happy follower of your blog 🙂
I really wish there was a giant "Like" button!
Love your blog…great post and so inspiring. Thank you!