10 places to find inspiration

Every other time I've tried to complete a writing challenge, I've had success if I've planned.

Of course, this month, I haven't planned a single thing.

So, it's no surprise that it's 4pm on day 3 day 5, and I'm still struggling to come up with something.

what do you like to read here

I mentioned yesterday that I'm taking a blogging class from September 1st.

I don't expect to learn much about the technical aspects of blogging. And I probably won't learn much about the mechanics of writing.

But I am expecting a huge dose of inspiration, and motivation.

I want to become "serious" about blogging. But I don't want to lose the important part of blogging for me.

The memory keeping. The stories of our days, weeks, years.

And I'm struggling a bit with finding that balance.

That's the bit that I'm hoping I'll find with this class.

But it's got me wondering

What do you like to read? The baby&kid stories? The finding-Cate stories? Tutorials? Recipes? Craft? Something else?

{I asked my facebook page, and someone said "better time management ideas." Clearly, she isn't a long-time reader!}

what is inspiring you lately?

Having a bub who never read the normal breastfeeding manual means I spend hours sitting on the couch feeding her (unless dad is home, then she doesn't feed at all) My iPad makes it easy for me to browse pinterest, following my latest crazy idea whim, and pin it to look back on later.

With the Clever Cookie School of Blog starting on September 1st, I'm inspired to make plans for the future of this space, and learn from lots of fabulous bloggers.

I'm inspired to learn more about watercolours through this class from Balzer Designs

I'm inspired to fill out currently cards more often

I'm inspired by winter skies and autumn colours.

What's inspiring you lately?

An InLinkz Link-up

guest post | simple things in life are the best inspiration

Have you ever searched for inspiration?  Life opens up when you are able to find inspiration in everything you see and do. This can be incredibly important to living a fulfilling life. For people with chronic illness or disease, inspiration can be the thin thread that keeps you hanging on through the tough times. 

Every moment can be special and memorable. Walking in the woods, listening to a waterfall cascade down rocks, watching flowers bloom, enjoying time with children, travelling the world (or even your own city), anything and everything can be inspirational, if you allow it to be. 

For many people, it can sometimes be difficult to feel inspired. For me, I try to look at everything with fresh eyes and an open mind. At any given moment, I may feel compelled to illustrate a quote, write an article, take a photograph, or create a scrapbook page. The flower in the quote actually came from a photograph I took of a flower my ten year old is growing in our kitchen window.

I also find incredible inspiration from other bloggers and when I discovered Life Behind the Purple Door, I was delighted with so much inspiration provided seemingly without effort. Being able to do a guest post for such a wonderful blog is an inspiration in itself for me, thank you for the opportunity. 

One example of how Life Behind the Purple Door inspires me is with the Less Pinterest More Do Section. In particular, a scrap lift was recently posted here and I created a page (see below) inspired by it! 

 

The dandelion near a sidewalk, the smell of earth after a rain, the rushing of traffic, are all examples of simple common everyday things that most of us forget to even notice, much less be inspired by.  Please remember the best inspirations tend to come from the simplest things in our lives that we tend to overlook.

 

May you all find a little unexpected inspiration in your life today! 

Todays post was created by Emily over at My Inspired Life with Fibromyalgia Blog.  Emily is a SAHM of two living in Oregon who is trying to increase Fibromyalgia Awareness by sharing her experiences and inspirations in life on her blog. Her hobbies are finding inspiration, digital scrapbooking, writing, painting, and spending time with her family. You can find it her at Facebook, Twitter, and her Blog.

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Emily and I met during the Blogging Olympics, hosted by Caylie from Better Business Better Life, which I found by clicking on a link at Our Little Sins (which I also found by following a link from somewhere)

sunday scrap | 3 to share

I went to a crop at Bella Paperie (my LSS) last night. I've found that I'm really productive when I limit my supplies, as I've shared in my LOAD212 post. In five hours I can create 3 layouts. I'm excited to see how many I can create at a retreat!

{inspired by this layout}

{inspired by this layout}

turns out I loved this photo so much, I've scrapped it twice.

{inspired by this layout from an elle's studio sketch}

Have you scrapped this past week?

sunday scrap | product samples for bella paperie

On Riley's first day at daycare, I took myself out of the house on some errands and ended up at my local scrapbook shop, where I was asked to create some samples with the new Basic Grey Picadilly line.

{inspired by this sketch}

{inspired by this sketch}

{inspired by the October sketch challenge at scrapbook savvy}

{inspired by this layout from Shimelle}

Four layouts in a week is the most I've created since layout-a-day in February! Feels good!

5 things to share

{prompt 3 from "Blogging for Scrapbookers}

"Log your Memory" could become the next P365
(it's designed for 8.5x11, anyone know if it prints okay on A4 paper? I'm really thinking I want to get this)

I've only learnt how to use Google Reader this week - and now my reader has almost 300 blogs in it, thanks to the class!

Sesame Street is 40 years old (I LOVE those google pictures for important dates to remember!)



Better Homes and Gardens and Martha Stewart have given me lots of ideas... for Christmas, making cards, creating gifts, I'm sure between them, they have everything covered!

And finally, I have to share a layout that I love, from the member's gallery at Two Peas...